No Fast Track For Rangers' Return To Scottish Premier League In Restructuring Plan

The combined rule book for a proposed 12-12-18 league set-up in Scottish football next season "has confirmed there will be no fast-track route for Rangers back to the top flight," according to Stephen Halliday of the SCOTSMAN. The first draft of rules for the new body also revealed that "there will be no championship trophy up for grabs for clubs in the middle tier of the new structure." The initial copy of the combined rules document formalizes "the composition of the controversial set-up." The rule book states that the 12 clubs in the top division for the '13-14 campaign "will be the first 11 clubs" in the current Scottish Premier League and the champions of this season’s Scottish Football League First Division. The second division of 12 clubs next season "will be made up of the club relegated from the current SPL, the eight clubs finishing from second to ninth place in the current First Division, the champions of the current Second Division and the winners of two playoff ties." The draft document states that the club, which finish second bottom of the current First Division "would go into the playoffs, but that is a clerical error." Those playoff ties would therefore be between the club, which finish bottom of the current First Division and the fourth-placed club in the Second Division; and the second and third-placed clubs in the Second Division (SCOTSMAN, 3/9).

REFEREE SUES FA: In Glasgow, Lindsey Archibald reported a referee who quit after giving Rangers a controversial penalty "is suing the Scottish FA for unfair dismissal." Steve Conroy "parted company" with the FA after allowing Gers a spot kick in an SPL match against Dunfermline in Dec. 11 (DAILY RECORD, 3/10).