Jon Daly not a fan of SPL’s new league proposals

By ANGUS WRIGHT
Published on 22/01/2013 02:18

THE SPL’s proposal for a 12-12-18 structure has not gone down well with Dundee United captain Jon Daly.

The plans – which require the approval of 11 out of 12 SPL clubs and 23 out of 30 SFL clubs – would see the top two leagues split into three pools of eight after 22 matches then play a further seven home and seven away games.

The top eight teams would play for title and European places, the middle eight would contest promotion and relegation in and out of Premier Division, while the bottom eight would decide who drops into the 18-team National League. “I don’t know whether I’m a fan of the eight-eight-eight split,” said Daly.

“I don’t feel it gives you a good crack of the whip. If you have a poor start to the season you can find yourself fighting relegation.”

Many supporters, fed up of playing teams several times in the one season, have said they favour a 16-team league and Daly agrees.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, the Dundee United striker added: “Obviously, ourselves and Hearts would have been battling it out for eighth spot if we’d have had the split after 22 games this season.

“Personally, I would probably prefer a bigger league.

“You get to know the teams you’re playing now because you play against them three or four times.

“I would rather play home and away but it’s probably down to financial reasons that everything is the way it is at the moment.

“But obviously it’s not for me to decide.

“Clubs have got to look at what works for everyone, so it’s a big decision to make.

“Whatever decision you come to, there’s going to be people happy and there’s going to be people unhappy.”

Rangers, currently in the Third Division, have been 
especially criticial of the 
12-12-18 plan and chief executive Charles Green recently said that “further consideration should be given to a 
14-14-14 model”.