A key meeting to discuss proposals to reconstruct the Scottish Premier League (SPL) that was due to be held today has been called off because of the bad weather. It is now hoped that it can be held on 4 January.
A key meeting to discuss proposals to reconstruct the Scottish Premier League (SPL) that was due to be held today has been called off because of the bad weather. It is now hoped that it can be held on 4 January.
It is quite difficult to keep up with a fast-moving picture in Scottish football as the McLeish review commissioned from the former First Minister by the Scottish Football Association was also published last week. A very informative analysis of the SPL proposals proposals which also refers to the McLeish report can be found here.
If I could summarise the situation in one sentence I would say that there was an increasing realisation that Scottish football cannot go on as it is if it is to survive at a level that attracts fans, let alone flourish. However, there is no consensus about what should be done and increasing signs of resistance to the SPL proposals.
At present four SPL clubs (Dundee United, Kilmarnock, Hearts and – most recently – Caley Thistle) are opposed to the plans for a 10-club league. The plan needs a 10-2 majority to pass, i.e., the Old Firm clubs are in a strong position to veto anything they don’t like.
However, the opponents may be won round to the 10-club top league plan if play-offs are introduced. These would give a financial boost and would add more excitement to the competition. However, the fundamental underlying problem is the dominance of the Old Firm who have won the league between them for 25 years but don’t get the level of competition domestically that sets them up to do well in Europe.
Personally I would not have objected to the Old Firm being brought into the English competition which would mean that the Scottish league would be genuinely competitive. But I recognise that there are two big objections to that.
First, it would deprive the smaller clubs of the boost of big crowds provided by Old Firm supporters. (I remember the coaches lining up outside the University of Strahclyde students’ union in the late 1960s when Celtic were playing away). Second, it would call into question the anomalous situation whereby the UK has four home associations represented in Fifa which in turn provides the basis for the Scottish national team. Scottish fans would not want a British team (and rightly so in my view).
One idea that McLeish has put forward which has won some support is bringing back Friday evening matches. Apparently, the police object to them, although they are prepared to allow other big events on Friday evenings. It might not be suitable for an Old Firm clash, but it might boost attendances at other games.
Some decisions are going to have to be made sooner or late and any plan is bound to upset someone. Scottish football cannot carry on its current condition.