SPL and SFL agree on new structure

Clubs in Scotland are ready to vote after the Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League proposed changes to restructure the game.

The vote is set to take place later this month – with plans to alter the number of clubs competing to 12, 12 and 18, as well as the SFL and SPL merging.

The changes, which could happen as early as the start of the next campaign, would result in the top two divided into three sets of eight teams after 22 matches have been played.

Speaking about the plans, Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan said: “We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland.

“I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football. That will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.

“There is a recognition that Scottish football is crying out for a new dawn and we have now got agreement to take to clubs. That is a huge step for the game in Scotland and it should not be under-estimated. We will deliver the change when we think it is the right time.”

SFL chief executive David Longmuir also backed the plans.

“I was hugely encouraged by today because we need to get the pillars of the game back in solid foundation,” he said.

“The governance of the game and distribution of wealth will now affect all 42 clubs, and I think that in itself is a major breakthrough. Every club should be able to embrace this because they are all going to benefit from it.”