Scottish Premier League clubs have "unanimously" backed the league's plans for a reform, according to the Scotland DAILY RECORD. The SPL proposal "suggests two top-flight divisions of 12 teams, effectively an SPL 1 and SPL 2." That plan "was backed by all 12 SPL sides" at a meeting at Hampden Park Monday afternoon.
Afterward SPL CEO Neil Doncaster revealed that "they will now proceed with their '24-18 model' -- with the 18 referring to the remaining Scottish Football League clubs not included in the top divisions."
Contrary to early reports, "no official vote was taken at the meeting -- although a show of hands allowed the SPL board to proceed" with its plan.
The next step "will be to win the support of the SFL and Scottish FA" (DAILY RECORD, 12/3). STV noted SFL clubs "must give two full seasons worth of notice to quit their league." That rule can be bypassed if 66% of clubs "vote to do so at a general meeting." The SFL has opposing plans, which involve SPL clubs "returning to the body it broke away from in '98 to form the independent top flight." Under its proposal, the top flight "would accommodate 16 teams, with the second tier including 10 sides." The bottom tier, as with the SPL idea, "would also have 16 clubs" (STV, 12/3).
RANGERS BOSS SPEAKS UP: The BBC reported Rangers CEO Charles Green "has called for all-inclusive talks on reconstruction." The SPL and SFL "have drawn up significantly different plans to change the league format."
While the SFL has proposed leagues of 16, 10 and 16, the SPL is considering two top leagues of 12. Green said, "There are merits in both, but it needs all the clubs to sit down."
However, Green warned the SPL "not to assume that SFL clubs would want to join" its ranks should it pursue a second division of its own.
Green added,
"I'm not sure SFL clubs will rush to join the SPL. There is a big sense of injustice about how they were being told what to do over where Rangers should go, and we all saw the outcome of that" (BBC, 12/3).
