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.

Messi, Inzaghi, di Maria, Xavi, Iniesta (diving git), Joe Cole, Ozil, the liist goes on.  None of them are exactly modern day Goliaths.

.   

 

That was kinda my sarcastic point afc have turned talented kids away before for having inadequate physical presence

I'd hope that would be less likely these days.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9279663.stm

 

Proposals for a two-tier Scottish Premier League of 10 teams each are to be put to clubs next Monday.

 

As part of the reconstruction, play-offs would be introduced, the season would start earlier and a winter break would be built in.

 

The leagues beneath the top two would be regionalised if the plans put forward by the SPL's Strategic Working Group are ratified.

 

It is anticipated any changes would be introduced the season after next.

 

The working group was meeting on Sunday to draw up final details of what will be presented to all 12 SPL clubs at a meeting on 20 December.

 

While the proposals could be voted on at next Monday's meeting, it is understood a deferral of the vote until January is more likely, to allow clubs to fully consider the detail of the plan.

 

Equally, it is possible change could be pushed through in time for the beginning of next season, but season 2012/13 is viewed as being a more realistic timeframe.

 

Eleven of the 12 teams would have to vote in favour of the proposals in order for them to go through, a scenario that is not yet seen as inevitable.

 

The headline elements of the plans are largely agreed upon but there are a number of fine details still to be ironed out.

 

The working group consists of the SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping and representatives of Rangers, Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell and St Mirren.

 

They have been working since the spring to pull together what will be put to their fellow SPL members.

 

Between the two SPL leagues, there would be an automatic one up, one down.

 

But play-offs would also take place between the ninth-placed team in the top flight and the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams in the second tier.

 

That would mean a league season of 36 games - two fewer than present - plus play-offs for those involved, with the league split being abolished

 

The season would be brought forward by a few weeks to allow the clubs participating in Europe to be better prepared.

 

That would allow a winter break to be reintroduced - though the exact duration and timing of that is still up for debate.

 

Another strand to the proposals is the introduction of SPL 'B' teams in either the second tier of the SPL or the regionalised leagues, similar to the model of the top teams in Spain and Germany.

 

Supporters of that notion believe it would be more beneficial for their younger players to playing at under-19 level or going out on loan.

 

These teams would not be allowed promotion to the top flight.

 

Among the other details still to be settled upon is how to revert from the current top 12 to a league of 10, with one possibility being the relegation of three teams at the end of the season prior to change, with just one coming up.

 

Unsurprisingly, some clubs traditionally fighting to avoid relegation are sceptical about the wisdom of voting for a smaller league, but it is hoped they can be persuaded if a system can be devised whereby relegated teams receive greater compensation, to ease the blow of playing in the lower tier.

 

A lot of thinking and talking still has to be done, but it appears Scottish football is closer to change than any time in the last decade.

 

I can't see 11 clubs voting for this.  Either way though, this is the sort of thing that would get us relegated!

In terms of re-structure, that is more like it! I think we need to get away from the split, the 14 team league would be an even bigger joke than the current set-up. Although ten wouldn't be ideal (playing each team 4 times) it would be better than 14! I can't see them going for 18/20.

 

 

Have also shouted for regionalisation below the top two leagues in the past, but is the desire there for it at that level?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9279663.stm

 

I can't see 11 clubs voting for this.  Either way though, this is the sort of thing that would get us relegated!

 

Tis what happened in 1993/94 when Raith Rovers, Dundee and St Johnstone went down. St Johnstone were effectiverly relegated by Brian Irvine on the second last game of the season.

 

Did the clubs vote that in or was that a time when the SFA just said 'were doing this!'

Are they for fucking real?! Has anyone ever said they wanted a smaller league? No.

 

More teams ffs.

So after all that talking about how the league needs to expand and have more teams the solution is to cut the number of teams back to ten?

This is Neil Doncaster's SPL you are either with us or against us.

Just make it a 16 team league and be done with it. Reducing it to a ten team league does nothing to resolve the sheer boredom of having to play some teams at least four times a season. The fans are bored of it, lord knows the players must be.

I did not mind the 10 team league however I cannot see this getting passed as it would threaten to many teams top flight status and turkeys do not vote for Christmas.

Just make it a 16 team league and be done with it. Reducing it to a ten team league does nothing to resolve the sheer boredom of having to play some teams at least four times a season. The fans are bored of it, lord knows the players must be.

 

Severin certainly was thats why he ended up playing for em er Dundee United.

Shite idea!

happy with the playoff idea, that would certainly make things a whole lot more interesting.

 

"Major Restructuring", "Radical Shake up"? You mean going back to a format we had just a few years ago, but with the addition of the SPL2 which will basically make those outside the "SPL" even more irrelevant and cut a drift than they already are, also seem to have decided they want to enforce a regional set up which I'm certain nobody has asked for at that level.  I presume the new "SPL" will become essentially a closed shop which will make it almost as thrilling as the status quo.

 

Added to that the ridiculous suggestion for B sides in the lower leagues, thus sucking even more potential fans away from smaller sides, totally distorting the league and adding to our bills unnecessarily (although I presume this has only been brought in to aid the OF as I can't see anyone else going for it given the lack of cash.  They got rid of the reserve league as it cost so much so quite how this idea is meant to fly I have no clue).

 

Finally on current form, if this is brought in for next season we WILL be relegated.

Awesome

Henry McLeish's review has backed this 10 team league now as well 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9291848.stm

 

The more I think about it, the more I don't want it.  More than half the league could be in a relegation battle so we'll see teams parking the bus all the time desperate to get a point.  A larger league would be far more competitive and lead to much more attractive games.  It's not fucking rocket science.

I dunno, I can't see St Mirren - Dunfermline being transformed into a Barca - Arsenal style game, just because they happen to be mid-table in an expanded SPL. Lack of quality is leading to horrible games to watch, rather than league structure IMO.

 

Having said that, I do feel expansion is the way forward, rather than the ten team option.

On the plus side at least he says SPL and SFL should merge which is long over due. Country of our size only needs one governing body for football.

On the plus side at least he says SPL and SFL should merge which is long over due. Country of our size only needs one governing body for football.

 

Totally, but could you call who would be willing to drop their name? They've al got egos that need to be massaged

If anyone wants to voice their opinion on league reconstruction:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/scottishfootball

the biggest problem with a 16 team league is the loss in revenue from only playing the ugly sisters twice each!

i'm all for a 16 team set up, but not 1 of the clubs will vote for something that has a detrimental effect on their finances, no matter if it is better for the game as a whole.

 

There just isn't enough teams with a decent support to make up for lost revenue from losing home games against the only 2 teams with a decent support outside the OF - namely, hibs, hearts and maybe DU.

 

In no way will games against total shite like Dumpfermline, Dundee, Alloa make up for losing money......hell, the SPHell is a joke as it with Hamilton averaging less than 3k at the home gate and ICT and MOtherwell getting terrible home crowds despite recent 'success'..

 

i'd love for us to have an 18 team SPL - i think it would be better l-t but financially it isn't a go-er and the SFL clubs havent done anything to show they deserve it...

If your club can only survive because it plays the OF a few times a season, it doesn't really deserve to survive.

....the reality for football in Scotland is that teams rely on gate money at home games as a large % of their income. The games against the OF generate the most money....

 

...I agree, it is sad. this is the reality.....

This is the fundamental flaw in the whole argument. Everyone is asking for a 16 team league and it is clearly the sensible choice for football in terms of less repetitive fixtures, less threat of relegation so arguably more competitive football etc etc. Yet, the recommendations are for a 10 team league. Why ?

 

Because its the commercial people who make these recommendations and the commercial people who will ultimately decide the outcome. Regardless of how many fans or pundits want to see an expanded league, the commercial reality is that no club will vote to give up revenue. Especially in the current economic climate. Its a moot point. 10 teams it will be. Fucked if I know how they plan to split the pot with another 10 in the SPL2 though, that one baffles me.

And the pipeline is frozen cause of the weather?

There's a Q&A with the SPL's marketing and communications manager in today's SOS:

 

Q: All available evidence suggests supporters favoured an enlarged top tier with teams playing each other only twice a season. Two leagues of ten and teams playing each other four times runs completely contrary to that. Why is this? Why not 14, 16 or even 18?

 

A: The 14-team set-up required a six-eight or eight-six split to avoid too many games. It retained the number of 'big' games attractive to broadcasters and removed any fixtures imbalance, but in the eight-six split it could have meant the seventh, eighth and ninth placed teams having nothing to play for across their remaining 14 games.

 

An eight-six split would have avoided this but it would have meant 40 league games for the top clubs. The fixture card is already extremely congested. With the possibility of a winter break, as well as the prospect of Scottish teams remaining in European competition post-Christmas, further fixtures for the top clubs simply cannot be accommodated within the season.

 

The 16-team set-up is what a lot of supporters say they want but there would be four fewer home game per season for each club, that is, a pro rata reduction of 20 per cent of each club's gate income. All teams would play Celtic and Rangers only once at home each season, leading to a further reduction in gate income.

 

The current number of 'big' games for broadcasting would be much reduced - leading to a negative impact on the value of the league's media deals. An 18-team is also what some supporters say they would like to see.

 

But, again, there would be significantly reduced revenues from a number of income streams and all the downsides of the 16-team set-up magnified.

 

The analysis we have carried out on the various models we believe demonstrates unequivocally that a 16 or 18-team league is utterly unworkable and that a 14-team league is not the answer either. A ten-team league is the only way that substantial funding can be pushed down to the second tier at the same time as protecting the revenues of the top tier. A ten-team league is also consistent with Henry McLeish's recommendations regarding the best playing the best.