Source: FOOTYMAD
Still Some Way To Go To Change Scottish Club Football Structure
Changing direction is never easy and with so many strong-willed captains onboard it may yet prove impossible to agree the way ahead. The SPL are still hopeful that a vote on a major overhaul of football in Scotland can happen before the end of the season. However, one club chairman has expressed serious doubts over the necessary consensus emerging. Following the latest talks on Monday, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster reported that a "clear majority" of the 12 clubs were in favour of his plans, but Kilmarnock chairman Michael Johnston - a leading opponent of a 10-team top division - claimed they were "well short" of the 11-1 majority needed. A vote had originally been planned for Monday's meeting but it was apparent beforehand that Doncaster's plan had not received the required backing. Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne expressed optimism immediately after the three-hour meeting that a vote would be held next month, but the SPL refused to guarantee that happening after a lengthy second meeting, this time restricted to board members. Following this second meeting, the SPL released a statement which read: "No formal vote was taken at the meeting. However, a majority of clubs backed the strategic plan and it is hoped that the concerns of the remaining minority of clubs can be addressed over the coming weeks. It is hoped that a further SPL general meeting of clubs can be convened before the end of the season, with a view to approving the strategic plan - a process that requires 11 of the 12 clubs to vote in favour." Doncaster has consistently stressed that the "status quo is not an option", but Johnston disagrees. Johnston said: "Not everyone is prepared to agree on a number of key issues, like the size of the top division and the financial distribution model. It's unfortunate because there are a lot of good things in the strategic review plan which should be progressed and implemented but, because the SPL have decided to treat this as one package, all the good things are being held back because the controversial bits can't be agreed. So the whole thing has stagnated to some extent since December when it was first discussed. There have been changes and certain aspects of the plan have been altered, but not in as meaningful a way as I would like and some of the changes that have been proposed have been rejected. The big thing which has captured the public imagination and which fans all seem to agree on is that they don't want a 10-team top tier. That's where I stand. I want a bigger top division or if we can't agree on that, we'll stick with the 12. If we are going to take clubs from the SFL and create a second-tier then it has to be properly financed, and I don't think we have got the financial modelling right. Too much money is still focused at the top end and not enough of it filtering down." When asked how many clubs shared his opposition to a 10-team league, Johnston said: "It varies at meeting to meeting. Today it appeared to be a bit more than 50% in favour of the proposal, but there are a number of clubs who sit somewhere in the middle." Hamilton chairman Ronnie MacDonald, a supporter of the proposals, earlier described the meeting as "more of the same". Dundee United counterpart Stephen Thompson, whose position has changed over time, declined to comment in detail but felt some progress had been made. And Milne is optimistic that can be built upon in the coming weeks. The Aberdeen chairman said: "I think it is still moving in the right direction. There is a bit of work to do." The SPL chief exceutive now looks set to tweak his 100-page draft plan further over the coming weeks. He said: "There was a clear majority in favour of the plan today. What we're trying to do over the coming weeks is work on the details that are not satisfactory to some of the members. Certainly the momentum is very much behind change and bringing the plan forward." Doncaster's ultimate aim is for a merger with the SFL and introduction of a pyramid structure below that. The new Premier League of 10 teams would receive 80% of the money generated, 15% going to a Championship and 5% going to League One and Two teams. Doncaster claimed that would see £3.7million distributed among the lower-league clubs, more than double the present figure with the team winning the second tier receiving £500,000 - more than six times what the winners receive at the moment. The SPL have promised a more even share of revenue within the top flight, "redistributing money away from the top two positions in the league and reallocating it to the other eight clubs". Other features would see an earlier start to the season, a two-weekend winter break and play-offs between the top two divisions to create a potential second promotion/relegation place.
