Doncaster stresses need for consensus before clubs vote

Published on Monday 10 January 2011 11:38

Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster has said a vote will only be taken on reconstruction once consensus has been reached over the radical proposals.

All 12 Clydesdale Bank Premier League clubs will reconvene at Hampden Park on Monday to discuss further the changes proposed by the SPL's strategic review group, headed by Doncaster.

Following last Tuesday's meeting, Doncaster insisted a consensus had been achieved, but scepticism surfaced from Dundee United, Inverness, Kilmarnock and St Mirren over proposals which included an SPL 1 and SPL 2, each comprised of ten teams.

Doncaster hopes an agreement is reached, with all parties agreeing change is necessary, but said a vote will take place at a later date.

"The meeting on Monday has always been and remains about what the clubs want and what they don't want," Doncaster said. "Yes, there will be voting on elements or the whole of the plan, but it will only be an in-principle vote.

"Everything you do is a vote. You need a consensus emerging from the meeting, whether you ask people to put their hands in the air or not.

"The concept of a formal vote is a red herring, because you can't have a formal vote on anything other than a full set of documents and a revised set of rules.

"That can't happen until you've got approval or other-wise in principle. It's just a rubber-stamping exercise."

When it comes to the vote, an 11-1 majority is required for the whole plan to be approved, while other elements require a 10-2 or an 8-4 majority.

The process has been ongoing for a number of months, with all top-flight clubs consulted regularly throughout the process. Doncaster led a strategic review group alongside SPL chairman Ralph Topping and featuring six clubs - Hibs, Motherwell, Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and St Mirren.

All clubs were informed of the group's proposals - plans for league reconstruction, involving all 42 clubs and a merger with the Scottish Football League, a summer start date and winter break, divisions of ten and play-offs - in November, with a document detailing the plans handed to them in early December.

Doncaster added: "The bare fact remains that clubs can choose their future."