Walter Smith adds voice to call for change in SPL by backing 18-team division

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster has declared himself open to new ideas after detecting a desire for change and admits officials are considering changing the current 12-team set-up to a 16-team division. But the Rangers manager would favour an even greater swelling of the league.

Throwing his weight behind a shake-up of the SPL, Smith yesterday said: "I heard Jim Jefferies and Craig Brown both state recently that playing each other four times is not right and they feel there should be a change. I would agree with that, I would like to see a change. I don't know whether a lot of teams quite like playing each other four times because it means they play the Old Firm twice at home and that gets them a level of revenue they would maybe lose otherwise.

"The ideal set-up is to have an 18-team league. If we could find a way of working towards that, I would be in favour of that. It comes into line with the other European teams and means we don't have the embarrassment of a split, with teams finishing seventh on more points than teams who finish sixth."

Most managers in the SPL have backed some form of change. St Johnstone's Derek McInnes believes the SPL must open its doors to help big clubs in the First Division.

"Whether it's summer football or extending the league, I think what we're producing now has to improve," he said.

"Good clubs in the First Division are struggling at the minute and if they don't get that one spot, it can have major implications for that club. I don't think we're far away from seeing a part-time First Division."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson, though, concedes that change is unlikely to be pushed through. He said: "I think most people involved in the game – players, managers and coaches – would think that would be a good thing but there are obviously financial aspects of it which, I think, would prevent it taking place.

"It's good that Neil (Doncaster] is talking about it and looking for suggestions. But will it happen? I don't think so."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray had no great feelings either way. "If you are going to expand it, why not go to 18 or 20?" he said. "If you go to 18, play 34 games and you could have a winter break."

Aberdeen's Mark McGhee is keen any change does not affect his transfer budget. He said: "We are struggling to compete and to sign players at the moment with the likes of the First Division in England, never mind the rest of the SPL clubs.

"If having 16 teams means we are going to have extra income, bigger gates, more TV money, more advertising and more revenue in general, then fantastic. If all it's going to do is dilute it further, I don't see why it would make economic sense."