All 12 of Scotland's top-flight clubs "have given their 'unanimous backing' to plans for a revamped 12-12-18 Scottish league structure," according to the PA. Scottish Premier League CEO Neil Doncaster revealed that "consensus had been achieved at a meeting of the 12 clubs at Hampden on Monday." Scottish Football League clubs "will meet to discuss the proposals, which include a merger of the two bodies, on Thursday." Doncaster said: "We got unanimous backing of the way forward today so it now goes to Thursday, and the Scottish Football League clubs will have their views." The plans "were originally backed by SPL clubs last year before Doncaster stepped up talks with his SFL counterparts." However, some clubs which were not involved in the previous meeting "had requested more information amid scepticism from fans but they appear to have been satisfied" Monday (PA, 1/28). The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported the plans, if approved by the SFL clubs, "would see both leagues merge and a fairer distribution of income, along with a pyramid system that would allow clubs to move into the professional league." The SFL "needs 22 of its clubs to back the plans with Rangers not allowed to vote as they are only associate members" (DAILY RECORD, 1/28). The BBC's Chris McLaughlin wrote Doncaster insisted that "the mood of the meeting had been positive." Doncaster said, "It was a good discussion. It's always a robust discussion between SPL clubs, but a positive one" (BBC, 1/28).
