SPL move to change voting structure delayed

THE Scottish Premier League clubs’ attempts to reform the voting structure were blocked yesterday when two clubs - understood to be Celtic and Aberdeen - voted against the move.

• SPL move to change voting structure delayed until November 19

• Neil Doncaster: ‘Real appetite’ for league reconstruction

• Motherwell chief: ‘There needs to be change’

Under the current system an 11-1 majority is needed for major decisions - a stucture under which the Old Firm could previously veto any reforms they did not support.

With Rangers now in the Third Division, a motion was put forward at yesterday’s SPL board meeting to introduce a 9-3 structure on all issues.

However, those plans were rejected yesterday, and it was reported that Aberdeen had joined forces with Celtic to block the move.

After the meeting, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “On voting reform, it was agreed that the members’ resolution would be deferred and considered again on November 19.

“There’s a perception the voting regime is 11-1 but very few matters are 11-1. The vast majority are 8-4, some are 10-2 and a few are 11-1.

“The motion put forward would make everything 9-3 but there will be further debate. It requires an 11-1 vote to get that through.”

Momentum

Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster believes SPL clubs must support the move to a 9-3 system for the good of the game.

She told The Sun newspaper: “We haven’t got a resolution but we’re going to come back on that one very soon.

“What’s holding it up is what usually holds these things up. We couldn’t get to a position where we’re totally in agreement.

“Everybody wants to see a change, there needs to be a change in Scottish football.

“The game’s crying out for it, we need to sort it sooner rather than later and all clubs are acutely aware of it. A 9-3 is the structure put forward, the system favoured by most businesses. It’s the one favoured by most in the SPL.

“It hasn’t been solved in ten years but we’re trying now. Whether we get it done in the next two weeks or the next four weeks I don’t know.

“There’s certainly a momentum behind it, like there’s some momentum behind getting positive news out of Scotland as regards football.”

Reconstruction

On the subject of league reconstruction, Doncaster said: “There remains a real appetite for reconstruction of the leagues and talks are ongoing.”

Dempster added: “If you rush things you tend not to get the outcome you want.

“Most sensible people in the game will say there has to be a change in the format. If it means taking longer, involving more, then that’s what we’ve got to do.”