A survey suggests that the majority of fans are frustrated at plans for a ten-team SPL league

The survey was conducted by the group Supporters Direct Scotland in response to the publication of Henry McLeish's review of the game and the subsequent decision by SPL clubs to push for a league revamp, with their blueprint for the future based on two leagues of ten at the higher echelon.

In direct opposition to the clubs' attempts to shrink the size of the top tier, 88 per cent of almost 5,000 fans who completed the online survey want to see the league stretched to include more clubs in a bid to relieve the monotony of clubs playing each other four times a season on league duty, with 76.5 per cent in favour of a 16 or 18-team structure

The fans group has now forwarded the findings to all SPL representatives in the hope that their views will be taken into account.

MAIN SURVEY FINDINGS

76% of fans would prefer a 16 or 18-club SPL to the proposed ten teams

76% of fans support the idea of play-offs between the top two divisions

92% of fans believe they have not been properly consulted on proposals

The findings take in everything from the proposed size of the leagues to the idea of summer football, an earlier start to the season and a winter break, through to the appeal of play-offs, thoughts on top-league teams entering reserve sides into the lower divisions and the desire to grant fans greater representation. Of those that took part in the survey, 92.5 per cent felt they had been inadequately consulted on proposed changes, with a third of all respondents backing up their votes with comments which should provoke food for thought within the meeting room this week.

Comments such as: "Pushing through a top league of ten simply makes a stale product rancid. If the aim is to drive supporters away from the game and watch attendances plummet even further, then they're going the right way about it," and: "Finances are important but cannot be the only driving force. Player development, competition, supporter satisfaction and interest are also of great importance," may be backed by many supporters, players and managers but at the moment only the men in control of club purse strings have a vote. This has upset nine out of ten of the fans surveyed. They feel that supporters should have greater representation in the SFA, which is backed by a recommendation in Henry McLeish's review, while 80 per cent say they should have a greater say in the running of their clubs.

It is a argument that is supported by both the players and managers unions, who also would like to have a voice when it comes to the big decisions which will impact on the game at as whole. Jack Ross, chairman of PFA Scotland, which represents players from all levels of the Scottish game, said they had been pushing for a forum where all key stakeholders in the game, including fans, players, managers and even referees could get round a table with the administrators and make their feelings known on a range of topics.

"In my role at the PFA, myself and (chief executive] Fraser Wishart have had meetings with the SFA and we are pushing to ensure that our members have a greater voice. I'm not saying the chairmen and administrators should turn over the running of the game to players or fans but I do think we should be listened to because contrary to what some people believe, there are a number of people out there with valid opinions who are able to articulate them well. Even if the clubs decide not to act on what they hear, these groups still deserve to be listened to and not just on the subject of league reconstruction.

"We as a nation are passionate about the game but fans and players are still being driven away. If we act now I believe we can get them back because people love their football here but just not the way we are packaging it just now."

He said that when he heard there was to be a league shake-up he was intrigued "because first and foremost, like all players, I'm a football fan, and I was excited to see what this radical change would be but when I heard it was to be a league of ten, I just thought 'is that it?' We need to look for something better than that.

"It's not just the fans who don't want this. Speak to any player who has gone to play in England and virtually every one of them will cite the repetitive nature of football up here as one of the main reasons (for them leaving Scotland]. Players get bored playing the same few teams and there is a lot of familiarity within the game. It is difficult to come up with something new or surprising when we all know each other so well. That makes the product stale and unexciting for us all, for the players, the managers and the fans. We need to come up with something more radical than this. For that, the opinions of the players, managers, fans should be heard because without them you won't have professional football in Scotland."

One fan who commented in the survey, backed that stance, saying: "Something desperately needs to be done to save the game in Scotland but four games a season against the same teams is a turgid thought and could push me over the edge towards giving up my season ticket."

Alex Smith, chairman of the Scottish League Managers' Association, says his peers are just as unimpressed with the current proposal on the table.

"Managers tend to accept what the chairmen decide because they are contracted to do a job whatever the league set-up is but very few would choose a league of ten clubs. Most football professionals would want the leagues stretched to 16 or 18 and we could even make it three leagues of 16. There are enough good and ambitious clubs out there, like Spartans and Cove Rangers to make up the numbers and freshen things up.

"But as it stands, everything needs sorted so the (television companies] can have clubs playing their four games against the Old Firm and the Old Firm can play each other four times. But we have tried ten teams before and it just means that things are fraught from the very beginning and that has always been the argument of managers and players. I don't think fans see the best football when there is no real breathing space and everyone gets stale playing in that league. It's not just the managers and the players who are browned off now, it's obviously the supporters as well."

But there are elements of the current proposals that do garner support, including a play-off between the top two leagues and an earlier start to the season to make the most of the better weather and help equip Scottish sides ahead of their European qualifiers. The majority of fans also supported the idea of some kind of winter shutdown and again their views were in sync with those of the players and managers.

All three groups were also against the idea of top-league teams entering reserve sides into the lower leagues, although, in the absence of the reserve leagues, there was an understanding of why the desire may be there. "If this proposal for B teams playing in our league goes through, I am finished with Scottish football," said one Scottish Football League fan. "If someone suggested that to me when I was at Clyde all those years ago, I wouldn't have been in favour," added Ross. "I can see why the top clubs might want it but they are the ones who voted to get rid of the reserve league - they would be better reinstating the reserve league. I think putting reserve teams into the lower leagues just demeans those leagues."

Again Smith agreed. "The argument is that it happens in the continent but that's different. The idea is not new, though. Even back in Jock Stein's time, in the late 60s, Celtic had about 30 quality players and he wanted that to happen, he wanted to field his reserve team in the old second division.

"But we have to remember this is a business. That's what people say when they make decisions based on finance. But if it's a business then the supporters are the customers and maybe the clubs should be paying more heed to them because they have always kept coming back no matter what but I think things are changing, that's no longer the case. Attendances are going down and this is not going to help that."

The SPL were contacted but refused to make comment but, along with all the individual clubs, they have been sent copies of the supporters' survey.