Scottish Premier League CEO Neil Doncaster Monday night "tried to defend the proposal to create a new league system, which contradicts the idea football is a simple game," according to Hugh Keevins of the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The SPL plan "to have two leagues of 12 clubs splitting into three divisions of eight was slated" by some of the Scottish Football League chairmen who "will be asked to join the new set-up." One of them, Alloa Athletic FC Chair Mike Mulraney, predicted law suits and a winter of discontent. He said: "If this is just another solution to get Rangers back up quickly I don’t know how many people would support that idea. If they plan to cherry pick 12 clubs and to hell with the rest what happens when the others take them to court? Surely there’s no one naive enough to think this idea will fly with the fans?" (DAILY RECORD, 11/20).
TAKING ITS TIME: The SCOTSMAN reported the SFL will take its time "before forming an opinion on the SPL’s call to pursue an expansion of the top flight in Scotland" as it has "still to receive a detailed communication on the matter." SPL Operations Dir David Thomson said, "The issue is much more complex than just the size of the leagues as issues such as equitable governance, an all through distribution model, player development, stadium criteria, youth and reserve team football would all need to be considered. At the moment we know what our plan covers in these areas, but we have no detail on how the SPL view these issues. We will make comment on the SPL plans once we know more" (SCOTSMAN, 11/20).
