SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster oversaw the meeting of the clubs today following the rejection of the roiling body's favoured 12-12-18 structure. How ever, part of the proposals, play-offs in the top flight, still remain a "possibility, no more than that". There were discussions on four different play-off options and the clubs will reconvene next Tuesday to consider the proposals in more detail. After the meeting, which lasted around three hours, Doncaster stressed that the most important factor for the SPL clubs to consider is cost versus benefit.He said: "It remains a possibility, no more than that. The clubs have expressed a keenness to get round the table again. It may be that nothing can be agreed but the clubs are keen to have that conversation. The clubs reluctantly agreed that given the time before now and the end of the season, it is not possible to achieve a full merger in time for the summer so it is looking unlikely that there will be any reconstruction involving a merger. But we looked at four different play-off models today. There was no formal proposal, it was discussion meeting to see if anything could be agreed. There is a view generally that play-offs could be a positive thing but it may suit some clubs more than others. The devil is always in the detail and whilst we all might like the idea of play-offs you need to know how they will work. The clubs need to understand all the facts and figures, exactly what the risk is and what additional money they would get as part of those play-offs. All of those remain work in progress. What you are asking clubs to do is to take on the additional risk of being relegated but without all of the financial benefits that would have been accompanied with that risk with the all-through distribution model and the merger. What you need to do is cost out what revenues are likely to be generated by one particular model and how you distribute those revenues. The clubs will be getting together next Tuesday but understanding there will be a note of caution because of the difficulties of taking one element of the proposals. It is complicated."Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson did not dally to offer a full comment after the meeting and when asked if things had moved any further forward, he replied: "No." However, Hearts' managing director, David Southern appeared more positive when he left the national stadium. He said: "It was a broadly positive meeting. The idea of league reconstruction will not be on the table but play-offs will. We are all still talking and all still moving in the right direction. There was no vote today, just discussions but play-offs are very much still on the table."
Source: ScottishFitba
Source: FOOTYMAD
