Wednesday 8th May 2013
AT an all-club meeting at Hampden Park yesterday, the 12 Scottish Premier League clubs unanimously agreed on a package of measures that they hope will deliver a merged league in time for season 2013/2014.
According to the official SPL press release, the principles include:
– a single merged league of 42 clubs, in line with the stated preference of SFL1 clubs
– a 12-10-10-10 divisional structure
– an all-through distribution model involving substantial redistribution to the second tier
– a ‘pyramid’ for the entire game
– play-offs involving team 11 in the SPL and teams 2, 3 and 4 in the division below
A formal proposal to deliver the above will be brought back to the SPL clubs for voting this month.
The SPL says it looks forward to working with the Scottish FA (SFA) and Scottish Football League (SFL) “to deliver vibrant change for the game as a whole.”
Chairman Ralph Topping commented: “I am pleased that SPL clubs have agreed on a way forward for the game in this country. We have tremendous sympathy with the SFL1 clubs and their plight and with their shared ambition for a 42-club solution.
“Much work needs to be done in a short space of time to achieve our objective of a single merged league this summer. But, where there is a will, there is a way. The time for action is now.”
SFL clubs have yet to respond. The Sonstrust has issued a statement welcoming progress towards change.
Simon Barrow