Michael Johnston convinced ten-club SPL plan is dead in the water

Published on Monday 18 July 2011 13:24

Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston heard nothing at yesterday's Scottish Premier League agm to suggest that the resistance to the proposal for a ten-team SPL has weakened.

Johnston has been steadfastly against the move to reduce the top flight by two teams as have several other clubs, some of whom, indeed, are believed to be keen on increasing the numbers in the top league.

Although the issue was not on the agenda at the meeting at Hampden, it was mentioned and more formal talks are planned.

Johnston emerged from the meeting to say: "I was always confident that there was insufficient support for that to go forward and that remains my suspicion.

"I certainly haven't changed my position and I know that there are a number of other people round the table who haven't changed theirs either.

"So as far as I'm concerned, I'm not worried about anything that happened today. But no final decisions have been made about anything to do with league reconstruction so we will have to wait and see what emerges from further deliberations."

Ralph Topping was elected for the third time as SPL chairman and Motherwell vice-chairman Derek Weir was elected to the five-man board of directors. Topping, Weir and chief executive Neil Doncaster will be joined by Eric Riley (Celtic) and Steven Brown (St Johnstone) who were re-elected by the clubs to complete the board.

The chairman of newly- promoted Dunfermline, John Yorkston, was glad to be back among the top clubs again as they discussed several other radical ideas such as an SPL TV channel and a possible merger with the Scottish Football League.

Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie and St Mirren's Stewart Gilmour stepped down from the board after eight and two years' service respectively.

Topping said: "On behalf of the board and the clubs I would like to thank Rod Petrie and Stewart Gilmour for their time and valued input."