SPFL arrange for all 42 clubs to discuss Hearts' league reconstruction plan

SPFL officials at Hampden have discussed Hearts' league reconstruction plan.

Scottish Professional Football League officials today encouraged all 42 clubs to discuss Hearts’ plan for three divisions of 14 teams.

They will now arrange four separate meetings involving each of the current four leagues to allow those concerned to debate the merits of a restructure.

The SPFL board met this morning for talks on the proposal and believe it could be an option worth exploring as a potential route map for Scottish football through the coronavirus crisis.

Ann Budge, owner of the Edinburgh club, circulated her document to chairmen across the country on Tuesday and will welcome feedback from them all.

Budge has suggested a 14-14-14 set-up for two seasons with Hearts remaining in the Premiership – joined by Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle from the Championship.

There would be an option to expand the bottom tier to 16 teams to include the Highland League winners Brora Rangers and Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts.

The system would then be reviewed in 2022, allowing the option to return to the current arrangement of 12 top-flight teams and three leagues of 10 below.

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

“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.”

Hearts were officially relegated last week when the SPFL ended this season’s top flight. Partick Thistle and Stranraer were also demoted from the Championship and League One respectively by the premature end to the campaign.

Budge’s new system would put Thistle in the second tier of 14, with Stranraer in the third. The Tynecastle owner stressed in her document that the plan is flexible and should be viewed as an opportunity to help many clubs across Scottish football, not just Hearts.

A number of lower-league teams feel unable to take part in closed-door games due to the lack of income from crowds during the coronavirus pandemic. Budge is keen that her plan is suitably adaptable to that possibility.

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