How the SPFL would look and operate if Hearts' league reconstruction proposal is confirmed

Hearts chair Ann Budge submitted her proposals for league reconstruction to the SPFL’s member clubs on Tuesday.

In a thorough document sent for clubs to read through, Budge made her case for a three-league system.

She told clubs: “In light of the increasingly uncertain times we are facing, I want to urge every member club to look at this proposal not as a way to save Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer from relegation, but as a better way for Scottish Football to deal with the current emergency, while at the same time righting an unintended injustice.”

How the SPFL could look if league reconstruction is passed. Picture: SNS | Other 3rd Party

The proposals would see changes made to the current league structure for two seasons.

Budge’s view

“I firmly believe that introducing a 3 League structure, for a 2 year period while we deal with these extraordinary circumstances, is the only sensible way to achieve the following outcomes,” Budge said.

She added: “In a previous paper, I made the point that “emergency situations call for emergency measures”. Surely, no-one would question that we are dealing with an emergency situation.

“The emergency measures being proposed involve implementing an amended structure, for two seasons, to minimise the negative outcomes created by the current emergency.”

So, what is involved?

Three leagues of 14 are proposed which would see:

No relegation for Hearts and Inverness CT promoted to the top flight.

No relegation from the Championship with teams placed 2nd-6th in League One joining Raith Rovers in the second tier.

The remaining teams forming League One with the possibility for an increase to 16 to facilitate Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers as Lowland League and Highland League champions.

How would it look?

Premiership

Aberdeen

Celtic

Dundee United

Hamilton

Hearts

Hibs

Inverness CT

Kilmarnock

Livingston

Motherwell

Rangers

Ross County

St Johnstone

St Mirren

Championship

Airdrieonians

Alloa Athletic

Arbroath

Ayr United

Dumbarton

Dundee

Dunfermline Athletic

East Fife

Falkirk

Greenock Morton

Montrose

Partick Thistle

Queen of the South

Raith Rovers

League One

Albion Rovers

Annan Athletic

Brechin City

Clyde

Cove Rangers

Cowdenbeath

Edinburgh City

Elgin City

Forfar Athletic

Peterhead

Stenhousemuir

Stirling Albion

Stranraer

Possibly including:

Kelty Hearts

Brora Rangers

How would the leagues operate?

The Premiership would see a 6/8 split after two rounds of fixtures with clubs playing each other twice more. The top six would play a total of 36 leagues games, with the bottom eight playing 40 matches, the extra fixtures acting as a way to offset missing out on an Old Firm match.

For the Championship, either a 6/8 split or 8/6 split has been proposed. The latter would potentially see a more competitive battle to avoid the relegation and play-off places, while giving more teams the chance to earn a promotion play-off spot.

League One would follow a similar split.

Concerns

Budge addressed the issue of increased fixtures. The SPFL are already operating on a tight fixture calendar.

However, the Hearts chief addressed such concerns.

She said: “Having discussed this with Iain Blair, he is confident that this can be accommodated. While fixture congestion is regularly discussed as a challenge, this occurs in the main in the Premiership as a consequence of date restrictions and is, therefore, not a major consideration.”

The greater variety of opponents and not playing everyone three/four times a season is regarded as a positive.

There is also the issue of ‘meaningless games’ in the bottom eight of the top-flight. Budge has suggested “introducing a play-off situation between teams that finish 5th, 6th and 7th to gain the new UEFA Conference League entry spot”.

Distribution models

When it comes down to it, clubs want to know how their bottom line will be impacted.

From 12th place in the Premiership to the top of the Championship there is a 2.25 per cent decrease in the percentage share of funds distributed to clubs.

Hearts have made a proposal which won’t change the money received to clubs below the top-flight but the share of the funds in the Premiership would be altered.

The document read: “If no restructure is approved and Heart of Midlothian FC remains relegated, then Premiership clubs will be faced with a reduction in funds of £300K to cover the parachute payment.

“Additionally, should the three relegated teams be offered financial compensation, this will clearly mean less money paid to all Clubs, with any deductions in line with the current distribution table.

“The financial impact on clubs of this proposed adjustment to the League structure is not considered to be material and should certainly not be a reason for rejecting the proposed model.”