Scottish Football League CEO David Longmuir Wednesday night challenged the Scottish Premier League "to put principles before pounds and back his bold vision for Scottish football's future," according to Euan McLean of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. Longmuir "threw down the gauntlet to the top flight after his plan was unanimously backed by the 30 lower-division clubs at a Hampden summit." The key element of the plan "calls for a merger of the two governing bodies overseeing a 16-team Premier League, a 10-team Championship and 16-strong First Division with no Old Firm colts sides." Longmuir, who also "unveiled plans for a Champions League-style revamp of the League Cup," admits that he "faces a challenge to convince the SPL’s 12-member clubs to back his plan." Longmuir said, "The mood for change is strong and our clubs want the SFL to take assertive leadership" (DAILY RECORD, 11/15). The SCOTSMAN reported Longmuir "will now take the proposal to the Professional Game Board and the SPL, including its CEO Neil Doncaster." Longmuir told STV: "I’m delighted to say that, at this morning’s meeting, we got clear direction from all 30 clubs unanimously that they would like us to continue to develop this proposal and to take it to, first of all the Professional Game Board, and then through dialogue with Neil and the members of the SPL." Whatever happens, compromise "will be required if change is made, with the possible merger of the SPL and SFL." Longmuir said, "I grew up in Scottish football with only one league body, and it served us quite well. We had differences of opinion, but we were able to make decisions quicker, we were able to grow the game better, we were able to come to conclusions" (SCOTSMAN, 11/15).
