Reconstruction: Scrutiny by Premiership clubs is first barrier to Ann Budge plan

Premiership clubs would need to vote 11-1 to pass Ann Budge plan
Hearts owner Ann Budge. Picture: Alan Harvey/SNSHearts owner Ann Budge. Picture: Alan Harvey/SNS
Hearts owner Ann Budge. Picture: Alan Harvey/SNS

Budge’s 14-14-14 set-up, which she proposes would stay in place for the next two seasons, was considered at an SPFL board meeting 
yesterday.

The board agreed to put it forward to divisional meetings of all 42 member clubs, starting with the current 12-team top flight.

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Budge’s proposal would entail a change in the financial distribution model for an enlarged Premiership which would include the Tynecastle club and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. That requires an 11-1 vote in favour from those clubs before it could even go before those in the Championship, League 1 and 2.

An initial move for reconstruction earlier this month, led by Budge and Hamilton Accies’ vice-chairman Les Gray, was sunk when several Premiership clubs – including Hibs, St Mirren and St Johnstone – indicated they would not consider backing it.

But after the SPFL board decided to curtail the 2019-20 season because of the coronavirus pandemic, relegating Hearts who were four points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership table with eight games left to play, Budge was given the go-ahead to come up with an alternative reconstruction model.

“The board has now received Ann Budge’s paper to clubs 
on the topic of league reconstruction,” said an SPFL spokesman.

“As these matters are ultimately decided by clubs via a democratic process, we will now facilitate a series of divisional meetings, starting with the Premiership on Monday, at which all 42 clubs will have the chance to discuss the proposals in detail.”

Even if Premiership clubs change their stance in sufficient numbers to indicate they would give Budge’s plan the necessary 11-1 support, it would still face significant obstacles among clubs in the other three divisions.

Championship clubs are especially sceptical of the proposal which could effectively mean six clubs are relegated from the second tier when the leagues are reconfigured again in two years’ time.

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