SPL clubs gather to discuss reform for Scottish football

Published on Monday 3 January 2011 12:10

Scottish Premier League clubs will meet today to discuss plans for wide-ranging reform of Scottish football.

The summit was scheduled to take place last month but the meeting was postponed due to the severe weather conditions.

All 12 clubs will now finally have the opportunity to get together and discuss the best way forward for the game north of the border when a number of proposals will be on the agenda.

Plans could include the introduction of a two-tier SPL, with ten teams in each division, and changes to the calendar, which could see an earlier start date to the season and a winter break.

The proposals are the result of an eight-month schedule of meetings of the Strategic Review Group, which comprises SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, SPL chairman Ralph Topping and representatives from Hibernian, St Mirren, Motherwell, Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen.

The six clubs not involved in those talks met with the SPL on Christmas Eve to air their own views. The meeting was described as a "worthwhile session" by Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson.

The proposals echo a number of recommendations made by former First Minister Henry McLeish in the final part of his Review of Scottish Football, which was published in December.

However, some proposals could be met with opposition from fans, according to a poll of almost 5,000 Scottish supporters by Supporters Direct.

The majority of fans were opposed to a ten-team league, with 88 per cent against the idea, while nearly half want a 16-team league and 27 per cent favour 18 teams.