SPL's ten-team plan runs risk of alienating lifeblood of game

Published on Wednesday 12 January 2011 12:25

THE 12 SPL chairmen who convene at Hampden Park on Monday carry the future of Scottish football in their hands.

As custodians of top-flight clubs, it is their duty to preserve our national sport. Pray then that they listen to supporters' wishes, and that their preposterous idea of a ten-team SPL is not voted through.

Such a scenario could alienate fans at a time when attendances are dwindling and finances critical. A recent survey by Supporters Direct, the national organisation of supporters' trusts, revealed that 88 per cent of Scottish football followers were against proposals for ten-team leagues. It cannot be any clearer.

Ignoring the so-called lifeblood of the game, supporters are more than mere customers, as some club owners view them, could become a fatal mistake if the SPL is ever to thrive again.

For now, no official alternative is being suggested. Monday's meeting is strictly to determine who is for the idea of SPL 1 and SPL 2, both comprising ten teams with relegation play-offs and a fairer distribution of money from broadcasters.

An 11-1 majority is required for the motion to be passed. Those with the guts to go against would be doing the entire country a massive favour.

At present, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Inverness Caledonian Thistle object to the idea, whilst Hearts, Motherwell and St Mirren are in the "remain to be convinced" category. Those clubs at least seem willing to listen to fans, as is the SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster who has spent much of the last fortnight speaking personally with SPL supporters' trusts. Doncaster was made acutely aware during the meetings that fans strongly oppose a ten-team top flight with clubs facing each other four times. This format initially prompted excitement in 1975 when Scotland's First Division became the Premier Division, but 36 years on it has become tedious, boring and stale. The general preference is to expand the SPL, either to 14, 16, or 18 teams, and to play each other twice or three times at the most. "The meetings the supporters' trusts have had with Neil Doncaster have revolved around the proposals put forward by the SPL. It has been put firmly that fans would prefer leagues which are larger, not smaller," explained James Proctor, development manager for Supporters Direct in Scotland.

"There is some support for different ideas. Given that the SPL has put in a substantial amount of time to get to this point, it wouldn't be right for us to decide that there is a perfect solution that they should be backing. The talks have only been going for a couple of weeks."

Proctor feels it is vital football's leading officials continue to consult ordinary fans regarding the way forward. "It would be a concern if there wasn't further discussions over how any league structure was implemented, regardless of which one they go for. We would hope to see more consultation before the clubs decide what format the league should take.

"We understand that the decision is for the SPL clubs to make. If there is an opportunity to discuss other options more widely then we welcome that. At this moment they haven't come back to us with that opportunity. They're still discussing it between themselves.

"We've been heartened by their willingness to start discussing it. We would have preferred to talk with them earlier in the process but let's accept where we are and let's try and rectify what's gone on in the past. Let's talk more. We see this as potentially a new dawn for how supporters are treated in Scottish football and what kind of impression they can make on how the game goes forward. Not just in terms of league structure, which is an important issue, but bigger issues lie beyond that in terms of financial stability and the level of competition we have.

"The discussion over numbers of clubs in the league masks some deeper issues in Scottish football which need addressed."

One of those, as Proctor mentioned, is finances. It could be argued that healthy crowds, balanced books and progressive youth development make for a healthy league system anywhere in the world. Most observers would agree Scotland has some way to go on all three fronts, but is two leagues of ten going to take us there?

Financially it is certainly viable: Four Old Firm matches a season, plus four Edinburgh derbies. Hearts meet Rangers and Celtic four times each, as do Hibs, Dundee United, Aberdeen and everyone else. Gate receipts from Old Firm supporters and money from live TV broadcasts are vital to every club so their reluctance to take a drop in income is understandable.

Broadcasters Sky and ESPN are worth 13million a season to the SPL. They would be expected to reduce their payments by as much as half if the number of high-octane fixtures were cut. A mid-table meeting between Partick Thistle and Raith Rovers in an 18-team league holds significantly less appeal than a Hearts v Rangers at Tynecastle.

But to prioritise money over the game's long-term progression is a dangerous business. "I think the fans we deal with through supporters' trusts and beyond that have a pretty sharp understanding of the finances of football," said Proctor.

"What we've seen with trusts is them being called upon to help clubs in trouble or to react to difficult financial situations. Over the last eight or nine years we've had a pretty sharp appreciation of the difficulty of finances in the game.

"From our survey and from wider discussions with fans, they understand the finances and the problems. They are keen to see a league structure which provides clubs with a degree of stability."Our research showed 88 per cent of supporters were against moving from 12 teams to ten in the SPL."