Stephen Thompson has resigned from the board of the SPL citing "professional differences". The Dundee United chairman announced his decision amid ongoing discussions for the reform of the Scottish game. A statement on dundeeunitedfc.co.uk read: "Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has resigned from the SPL board with immediate effect, due to professional differences." The board is now made up of Ralph Topping (SPL chairman), Neil Doncaster (SPL chief executive), Eric Riley (Celtic), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen) and Michael Johnston (Kilmarnock). This change of the make up of the board will give the clubs something else to discuss when they meet next Monday to discuss reconstruction proposals. Earlier this month it was announced by the SPL Chief Executive that the clubs had "unanimously" agreed to seek the expansion of their membership. Doncaster said clubs were right behind an idea which could see the number of clubs involved double to 24. The plans would see two leagues of 12 split into three divisions of eight after 22 games. The top eight teams play would each other twice again for a 36-game season, two less than the current model, which splits into two after 33 games. The bottom four of the SPL1 would join the top four of SPL2 and complete their own extended play-off system, with the bottom eight teams of the 24 playing each other twice again. The proposals are radically different to those adopted by the 30 SFL clubs for a three-tier structure. Their plans are for a 16-10-16 structure with a number of promotion/relegation play-offs at the end of the regular season.
Source: ScottishFitba
Source: FOOTYMAD
