Killie and Caley latest to speak out over SPL plans

Published on Wednesday 5 January 2011 10:59

KILMARNOCK and Inverness Caledonian Thistle are the latest clubs to voice their opposition to the Scottish Premier League's plans for a new ten-team top flight.

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has already said his club will vote against the plans and Hearts are believed to be the fourth SPL side opposed to the proposed changes.

The SPL needs an 11-1 vote in favour of the plans when the clubs meet to discuss the shake-up on January 17 but is unlikely to achieve that majority.

Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston believes that the SPL has tried to rush the proposal through and said: "If voting goes ahead as things stand, Kilmarnock will be voting against. To expect a proposal made on January 4 to be passed on January 17 is unfortunate."

Meanwhile, a statement from Caley Thistle chairman George Fraser also implied that he was unhappy with the timescale that the SPL has given to their member clubs to review a plan which had previously either not been on the table or had received only minimal support.

And Fraser stressed that ensuring the club's fans are happy with any changes is a priority for him and the rest of the Caley Jags board. He said. "We'll be holding a board meeting by the weekend to consider the additional information put forward at Tuesday's SPL meeting," his statement read.

"Our initial impression was that the SPL Strategy Group was looking to choose between 12 and 14 clubs and it was a big surprise to us and others that they have come forward with a proposal to actually reduce the SPL to ten clubs. That is much less attractive to a club like ours and we need to carefully consider the financial implications and what has now been placed on the table in that regard following this week's SPL meeting.

"Caley Thistle are first and foremost a community club. Our fans are our lifeblood and it is clear that all surveys of supporters show that a ten-team SPL is the least popular option. It does not appear that their views have gained precedence. There's a lot of discussion required before the crucial SPL meeting on January 17 and we will be in dialogue with all concerned in the meantime."

While Hearts have not officially become embroiled in the argument over how Scottish football should progress, Dundee United chairman Thompson has made public his concerns over the plans and says that there have to be major changes to the proposals before they stand a chance of being given the go-ahead.

"It's up to us to stand firm in what we believe in," Thompson said. "If we believe it's not right, then we won't vote for it. Or rather than not vote for it, which means voting against change, abstain, which is as good as a no vote anyway.

"In the current format I don't think it's going to happen, unless something dramatic changes within the proposals."

However, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster is unhappy with the criticism, insisting today: "No-one else has put any other plans forward. "If they have different ideas on how we should move forward, then bring them to the table."