League Reconstruction

By Neil Brown
January 7 2011

Representatives from fans' trust Supporters Direct have met with SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster to air their concerns over proposals for a ten-team league set-up.

The national organisation of supporters’ trusts presented figures from a recent poll which suggest that 88% of Scottish football fans are against plans for a smaller league. The poll also found that 92% of fans do not feel they have been consulted enough during league reconstruction discussions.

Although discussions were described as ‘a good exchange of views’, there are still worries from the trust over what is deemed as a ‘concerning’ disapproval from fans over the ten-team league set-up.

Development Manager for Supporters’ Direct, James Proctor said: “There was a good exchange of views on the wide-ranging proposals the SPL have put forward. We are acutely aware of the financial problems in Scottish football as evidenced by the work supporters' trusts have done over the last few years to rescue clubs and provide additional funding.”

“While we respect the SPL's Strategic Plan aims to improve the quality and finance available to the game we remain concerned about whether the current league proposals are able to achieve this goal in the long run. As evidenced by the recent Supporters Direct Fans' Survey supporters see the return to 10 team leagues as a retrograde step that is unlikely to arrest the current decline.”

“We understand that some SPL club representatives also harbour concerns and hope that, should the current plans fail to receive the necessary support, we can work with all parties in the future to develop a way to move to the larger leagues that many in the game would prefer.”

A fan’s survey, conducted from 17 to 22 December, also highlighted majority support for other SPL suggestions including play-offs between top two divisions and 66% support for a winter break.

All 12 SPL clubs will meet at Hampden on January 17 to vote on league reconstruction proposals which, if passed, could be implemented as soon as season 2013/14.