A BBC Scotland report has outlined the specifics of the latest SPFL reconstruction proposal drafted by Hearts owner Ann Budge.
The proposal was distributed to all other 41 member clubs on Tuesday and the SPFL board will meet to discuss its contents on Wednesday afternoon.
Budge’s proposal calls for the current 12-10-10-10 system to be changed to 14-14-14 for two seasons.
The change would ensure that the Jambos remain in the top flight with Inverness Caledonian Thistle being promoted from the Championship. Meanwhile, Partick Thistle would be spared relegation from the second tier.
It’s suggested that the proposal allows for the third tier to be expanded to 16 teams to include Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts should the other members vote for them to be promoted from the Highland and Lowland leagues respectively.
Budge has described the plan as “a better way for Scottish football to deal with the current emergency, while at the same time righting an unintended injustice” [BBC Scotland]
Verdict
This plan is different from the four-tier 14-10-10-10 structure a Scottish Sun report suggested would be put forward earlier in the week.
Budge has suggested that amid the financial uncertainty of the global health crisis, three enlarged leagues will make it more likely that all divisions will be able to take place next season, even if some clubs are forced into hibernation.
The proposal does look set to gain some support, with Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack already speaking out in favour of it [BBC Scotland].
However, the Dons also backed Rangers’ resolution for an internal investigation into the April ballot to end the lower-league season and it didn’t get anywhere near the required amount of ‘yes’ votes at the EGM.
It’ll be interesting to see how the plan is received by the SPFL board which meets tomorrow, but it’s hard to imagine 11 out of the 12 current Premiership clubs subscribing to it.
