SCOTTISH football last night stood on the brink of revolution amid fears more than one SPL club is going to the wall.

 

Record Sport understands a move towards the restructuring of the SPL will start as soon as this season's championship and relegation issues have been decided.

 

Concerned chairmen have been holding emergency talks in secret for weeks. Matters are now coming to a head in advance of financial figures being released which will show the catastrophe that's on the way unless the Top Twelve is expanded into an 18-team league.

 

SPL chairmen met at Hampden yesterday as calls mounted for a change of direction and even the SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster has now publicly admitted the split isn't the answer to falling crowds and declining standards.

 

One concerned club spokesman said: "There are balance-sheet figures about to come out which are appalling.

 

"Clubs will go to the wall. unless there's change across the board, and soon.

 

"We can't go on paying salaries that the clubs just can't afford. Income must become relative to clubs' expenditure.

 

"Chairmen have been talking to each other in the background but it would be inappropriate to speak out before the major issues have been settled.

 

"Scottish football needs restructuring because the game is the big picture.

 

"If you sort out the product then the financial picture gets better in time.

 

"It might be sore to begin with, and income might drop by as much as 30 per cent, but if we don't take steps to find our true level then there will be serious consequences."

 

Rangers manager Walter Smith has already stated his preference for an 18-team Premier League, reducing the number of fixtures to 34.

 

That would take away the complaint that the same teams are meeting each other too many times during the season.

 

Support for that change to the current system was growing last night .

 

Formal moves to alter the structure of the SPL and redraw the remainder of the clubs in the Scottish Football League are now only a matter of weeks away.

 

Taken from the Daily Retard so may be utter bollocks, but I certainly hope not.

I like the way they say they want us to move up the rankings but then give no ideas as to how to do it.

 

Not sure getting a lawyer to re-write the rulebook will do it tbh be honest.

 

 

I like the way they say they want us to move up the rankings but then give no ideas as to how to do it.

 

Not sure getting a lawyer to re-write the rulebook will do it tbh be honest.

 

It reads more like a wish list than a Russian 5 year plan doesn't it 

I think a British Cup would be great and would potentially put bums on seats.

I think a British Cup would be great and would potentially put bums on seats.

 

Agreed. Just aslong as they make games on Saturdays, not midweek.

I'm not surprised the football league threw the idea out. Yes it would put bums on seats, but it would be more aggro than it was worth (from their perspective). They haven't got a clue.

I'm not surprised the football league threw the idea out. Yes it would put bums on seats, but it would be more aggro than it was worth (from their perspective). They haven't got a clue.

 

I can't see what harm would have been caused with a trip to the likes of Leeds, Millwall or Cardiff!

I can't see what harm would have been caused with a trip to the likes of Leeds, Millwall or Cardiff!

 

Aye

I can't see what harm would have been caused with a trip to the likes of Leeds, Millwall or Cardiff!

 

Jager might pull his hamstring running away 

Jager might pull his hamstring running away 

 

Inverness have echoed Dundee United's opposition to the Scottish Premier League's proposals for a 10-team format.

 

The SPL's plans now hang in the balance ahead of a vote in May, with 11 of 12 clubs needed to approve change.

 

"Along with Kilmarnock, as things stand there would appear to be three of us against it," Inverness chairman George Fraser told BBC Scotland.

 

"But if the SPL have another document at the May meeting we'll look at it."

 

Kilmarnock's Michael Johnson has also previously expressed doubts about reducing the size of the SPL.

 

Many managers have spoken in favour of an enlarged top league, but that idea was ruled out when the clubs met to discuss reconstruction for the first time in January.

 

There were further meetings on the topic in February and on 18 April, while a vote should be taken by the middle of May.

 

On Tuesday, BBC Scotland learned that the Dundee United board, headed by chairman Stephen Thompson, would not vote in favour of the smaller top tier.

 

Fraser added: "Having spoken to Stephen a number of times over the last few months I felt that's the way he was leaning.

 

"It's good to hear that's the way he's moved and we'll be supportive of that going forward as well.

 

"We're keen on a 14-team league but I don't think that will happen just now.

 

"I think we'll stick with the current 12-team set-up - probably for a couple of years, see how that goes, introduce everything else in the SPL's strategic plan and then move on from there."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13607806.stm

 

Yorkston saying after today's meeting, a league of 10 is dead.

 

Seems like Aberdeen are one of the teams that are strongly for the league of 10 still.

No, AFC just didn't go to the meeting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13607806.stm

 

"A 14 reflects the wishes of the fans and would allow the development of players without the fear factor."

 

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure the majority of fans wanted a 16 or 18 team league (irrespective of the financial issues of moving to a larger league).  In saying that, I'd rather have 14 than 10.

No, AFC just didn't go to the meeting.

 

They didn't, but still a quote from them later on...

 

Aberdeen continue to back a smaller division and a club spokesman told BBC Scotland: "The 10-club proposal is the only one that is financially viable.

 

"We have yet to see any other model which is workable financially.

 

"A top tier of 10 with another tier of 10 clubs below is the one which we have publicly backed and is the only one that stacks up."

 

Yorkston, complete cunt, forgot that utter cunt was now back on the scene.

 

Well, AFC were right about Setanta and very much in the minority on that, maybe they are right again.

 

And I just don't buy this "bring through young players without the fear factor" pish either.

Players need the fear factor, thats why we're fucked!

Doesn't this 14 team proposal involve a league split of some sort?

Doesn't this 14 team proposal involve a league split of some sort?

 

I believe it does.

As some one who doesn't mind the current split I would say the 14 team league suggestion is utter madness.  If I remember correctly split would be after 26 games with a top 6 and bottom 8.  Yeeeehaaaa 

Does the 14 league team not involve the bottom 8 playing more games over a season than the top 6?

 

Bigger joke than we have currently!

Does the 14 league team not involve the bottom 8 playing more games over a season than the top 6?

 

Bigger joke than we have currently!

 

yup 

The words "piss-up" and "brewery" spring to mind whenever I hear about league "reconstruction" 

Does the 14 league team not involve the bottom 8 playing more games over a season than the top 6?

 

Bigger joke than we have currently!

 

Aye this is my problem with it. They've actually managed to find a way to make it worse. 

Why don't "the powers that be" just admit what they really want....a top league of however many teams you like, with a top 2 split right at the start so the bigots can play each other 30 times!

Why don't "the powers that be" just admit what they really want....a top league of however many teams you like, with a top 2 split right at the start so the bigots can play each other 30 times!

 

Give yourself a break.

 

All my mates were bored of Old Firm games by the end of last season.