Scottish Premier League chiefs discuss league expansion
In order to allow more clubs to join, the Scottish Premier League held a meeting to discuss a change to the league's format.
Chiefs from all 12 member clubs met at Hampden on Wednesday, 20 October, with talks over increasing the capacity of the league at the forefront. Private talks are believed to have been held between various chairmen over the last few weeks amid concern that
the public’s interest in Scottish football is dwindling.
An SPL spokeswoman told reporters, "It's one in a very long, long line of meetings on this subject. There have been many meetings on potential changes over the past year or so. In terms of decisions being made, we are still quite a bit off anything being
brought in front of the clubs to vote on."
Those present at the meeting included Rangers chief executive Martin Bain, Celtic chairman John Reid and Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, as well as SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster.
Should the changes go ahead, it is likely that two more teams will join the set-up from the Scottish First Division to create a 14-team league, with a relegation play-off system that will see two teams drop to the second tier and two promoted each season.
If the 14-team plan is implemented, it will mean that each club will play the rest of the teams once at home and once away before a split into either a top six or top eight. The clubs would then play each of the other sides in their section once at home and
once away.
It is believed that the 14-team structure, partly as a result of a review carried out by former First Minister Henry McLeish of Scottish football, is favoured, as it will remove the situation that has occurred in recent years of clubs having
too many away games after the split, while still ensuring that clubs in the top section will have four money-spinning home games against Old Firm sides Rangers and Celtic.
No decision was expected after Wednesday’s meeting but it is believed that those in favour of the move would like it to be introduced from next season. For any changes to the SPL’s structure to be implemented, 11 of the 12 top-flight clubs would have to agree.
A new reserve league is also among the proposals being considered. This would allow players not quite ready for first-team football the chance to develop and help clubs to develop their own players through their youth systems.
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