Vlad: League's profits 'should be decided democratically'

Published on Friday 14 January 2011 12:26

HEARTS owner Vladimir Romanov has told SPL clubs to recognise that the quality of football and a fairer cash carve-up are more important than the size of the league, as support for a 14-team top flight gathered pace ahead of Monday's SPL meeting.

SPL chairman Ralph Topping and chief executive Neil Doncaster held discussions with Romanov in Lithuania yesterday as they sought backing for the ten-team league, which is now becoming less and less likely as support dwindles. While the league chiefs had initially claimed there was no alternative to their plan, they now appear to have become more open to other ideas.

Romanov said after the talks that he would neither reject the ten-team plan out of hand nor support a 14-team league to the hilt. However, he argued that the restoration of some kind of reserve or youth-team league was essential, as was the redistribution of income away from Rangers and Celtic.

"First, it is obligatory that the tournament of reserve teams is resumed," he said. "Secondly, the distribution of the league's profits should be decided democratically."

Romanov went on: "As a whole I am in favour of the fact that they (Doncaster and Topping] seek solutions.

"It was nice to talk to people who are full of enthusiasm to bring changes. It is senseless to expect the changes from such an alien organisation as the SFA, which lives by its own rules contradicting the laws of the state, democracy and sporting principles. It is time for the league to protect the rights of the clubs.