The “bribe” has been revealed

A joint statement from the SFA/SPL and SFA has laid out the terms being offered to ensure newco Rangers are placed in SFL 1.

The statement released after a meeting of the SFL Board today, although it doesn’t specifically mention Rangers going into SFL 1, we all know this is the reason for it.

The essence of the statement is as follows;

A working party will be formed, including three representatives from both the SPL and SFL, to devise a new structure for the senior professional game in Scotland. This group will have an independent Chairman appointed by the Scottish FA. They will be tasked with delivering by 30^th November, 2012, a recommendation for structural change effective 2013/14. This will incorporate primarily:-

a) The introduction of an enlarged top tier for Scottish Senior Professional Football.

b) A new detailed model for senior professional football in Scotland including number of divisions; number of clubs per division; number of matches per season per division; number of promotion and relegation places per division and the introduction and operation of play-offs.

c) An all-through distribution model providing certainty for all clubs as to the percentage of distributable income which will be received. As a minimum, clubs in the current third and fourth divisions will receive the settlement agreement proportion guaranteed as per the current arrangement. In addition, the value and number of parachute payments to relegated clubs will be considered.

d) The introduction of a pyramid for Scottish football to provide a route for licensed clubs to enter the new structure effective 2014/2015

In the event that a final decision is not reached by 30^th November, 2012, the Scottish FA will seek to implement a new structure in time for the 2013/2014 season. The members of the working party, including Chairman, will be announced in the near future and will ensure consultation with all stakeholders prior to final recommendations being made.

Point a sums it all up, given just over a year ago a ten team league, a reduction in top tier size, was the only way forward.

I read elsewhere someone said this is the correct answer, but to the wrong problem.

Hopefully this is enough to drive the Scottish game forward and see it flourish again…