Major Restructuring in the Pipeline for SPL

[Kowalski]

The following statement has been issued on behalf of the Scottish FA, SPL and SFL:

 

"All three parties have been involved in productive discussions for some time on the subject of league reconstruction. This culminated in a positive meeting last night, out of which the two league bodies will now engage in a wider consultation with their member clubs.

 

"The discussions are based on the key principles for reconstruction outlined in the Henry McLeish Review of Scottish football:

 

* One league body in the senior game

* Promotion/relegation play-off between SPL and SFL First Division

* Single financial distribution model

* Pyramid system, with the potential for relegation from and promotion to the fourth tier

 

"Further consultation will take place in the near future, with the aim of reaching a positive outcome on a new model to take Scottish football forward."

 

As long it is not being done to provide newco with some sort of backdoor in to a league higher than the bottom tier.

[frewdon]

As long it is not being done to provide newco with some sort of backdoor in to a league higher than the bottom tier.

 

Considering the McLeish report was released in Dec 2010 and the 3 bodies only want to act on it now, I think there is only one conclusion to draw from it!   

[glasgow sheep]

Considering the McLeish report was released in Dec 2010 and the 3 bodies only want to act on it now, I think there is only one conclusion to draw from it!   

 

You cynic.

 

This chat has been going on for sometime, but yeah only really with any purpose in the last 6months

[glasgow sheep]

The governing bodies of Scottish football have announced that they have held further talks about radical change to the league system.

 

The Scottish Football Association, Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League are in discussions to create a single league system with a new financial distribution system.

 

In a joint statement, the SFA, SPL and SFL said:

 

"All three parties have been involved in productive discussions for some time on the subject of league reconstruction.

 

"This culminated in a positive meeting last night, out of which the two league bodies will now engage in a wider consultation with their member clubs.

 

"The discussions are based on the key principles for reconstruction outlined in the Henry McLeish Review of Scottish football:

 

    One league body in the senior game

    Promotion/relegation play-off between SPL and SFL First Division

    Single financial distribution model

    Pyramid system, with the potential for relegation from and promotion to the fourth tier

 

"Further consultation will take place in the near future, with the aim of reaching a positive outcome on a new model to take Scottish football forward."

 

All god but will take a year or two to implement.  Can't see that they can push this through to let the huns into div1, at least they better not.

[bloo_toon_red]

 

SCOTTISH football’s dramatic league reconstruction could see the top flight follow the complex Belgian model.

Express Sport understands the 16-team Belgian Pro League could be used as the blueprint for the top tier of the Scottish game.

 

The SFA has been involved in discussions with the SPL and SFL chief David Longmuir over restructuring the game along with a potential merger of the league bodies in the wake of the Rangers crisis.

 

One option on the table is believed to be a version of the complicated Belgian top flight.

 

The Belgian top tier consists of 16 teams, who face each other home and away before entering into play-off one, play-off two and relegation play-offs.

 

The top six team would contest play-off one, where they compete for the championship and European places.

 

The clubs from seventh to 14 would split into two groups of four, where the group winners would battle it out a Europa League play-off.

 

While the bottom two clubs will be involved in a relegation play-off, facing each other five times.

 

If a version of this was brought into Scotland it would be for the start of the 2013/14 season.

 

Another option understood to being discussed by league powerbrokers is three leagues of 14-teams and that would be introduced for the start of this season.

 

It is understood that option would see Dunfermline, Dundee and Falkirk promoted for the top flight for the forthcoming campaign, while crisis club Rangers would begin life in the second tier of the Scottish game

[manc_don]

Sounds like a complete mess. The bottom two facing each other 5 times? That's straight out of American sports play-offs. The Dutch eredivisie is a much better model that should be used.

 

It still concerns me that all reports are pointing the huns deceased in "div 1".

[jmo]

Sounds a little strange but at least means that there is something to play for even at the end of the season.

 

Though wouldn't that mean that potentially the club that finishes first would miss out on a European slot (if they lose out in the play-offs) but the team who finish 14th could potentially get into the Europa League through the play-offs?

[manc_don]

I think so jmo. I'm surprised they're even entertaining that format tbh. Dutch format below makes far more sense.

 

The Eredivisie follows a straightforward championsip format – each team plays the other home and away, for a total of 34 games in the season, with the team that finishes top being crowned champions. However, where in the past the subsequently placed teams qualified automatically for various European competitions, a playoff system was introduced in 2005/06 with clubs ranked 2-9 competing for European spots. The clubs ranked 2-5 compete for the second Champions League spot, and the clubs ranked 6-9 compete for the UEFA Cup spot (with an additional UEFA Cup spot becoming available if the KNVB Cup winner is already qualified for Europe).

 

With regards to relegation, the club placed 18th is automatically relegated to the Eerste Divisie. However the clubs ranked 16th and 17th go into separate playoff groups of 5, with the clubs ranked 2-9 from the Eerste. The winners of each group go into the Eredivisie for the following season.

[glasgow sheep]

Stewart Gilmour was the one that suggested this, haven't heard anyone else mention it.

League reconstruction is needed but should be discussed and debated over the next year with a view to changing for 2013/14 at the very earliest. 

Yes we should take advantage of the current climate to effect change but doing so overnight and in a way that will be widely viewed as (yet again) for the benefit of the bigger clubs and specifically Seveco.

 

 

[glasgow sheep]

The main points of the propsals are:

 

•Rangers are to be relegated with immediate effect and be replaced in the SPL by Dundee.

•Television rights for Rangers matches in Scottish Football League Division One are to be bought by the SPL for £1m.

•The SPL and SFL will merge into one body at the start of season 2013/14.

•Play-offs between the top two divisions will be introduced in time for the coming season

•There will be an increase in the parachute payments made to clubs relegated from the SPL.

•Changes will be made to the distribution model for clubs in the top two tiers with teams in the lower leagues earning a similar amount to the current set-up.

•A new pyramid system will become effective from season 2014/15 that will allow a potential place in the new league format for a team from either the Highland league or newly-created 'Lowland League'.

•Rangers newco acceptance into the Scottish FA would only be approved if they accept responsibility for the football debts and fines incurred by the pervious club along with their waiving of rights to a legal challenge.

 

 

It is understood Rangers chief executive Green has been "briefed" by Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie on the plans to gain their approval.

 

All these changes have to be approved by SPL and SFL clubs over the next few days.

[CtS]

That's fucking bollocks.

[glasgow sheep]

Actually if you take out all mention of Rangers (WHO DON'T EXIST!!) the proposals are good and are ones that I would welcome. 

But what the fuck are they "briefing" Green for?  Fucking sickening.

[manc_don]

Actually if you take out all mention of Rangers (WHO DON'T EXIST!!) the proposals are good and are ones that I would welcome. 

But what the fuck are they "briefing" Green for?  Fucking sickening.

 

That's the bit that got be angry. What have they got to do with anything anymore?!?! Ffs.

[maverick sheep]

if they were denied entry to the SPL then they cannot be relegated from it.

 

If this happens then the "we're not going to vote them in" was hardly anything more than a PR stunt to con the fans. I can only think the "briefing" was to make green aware of this for the smooth progress of his planning for newco.

[Kowalski]

if they were denied entry to the SPL then they cannot be relegated from it.

 

If this happens then the "we're not going to vote them in" was hardly anything more than a PR stunt to con the fans. I can only think the "briefing" was to make green aware of this for the smooth progress of his planning for newco.

 

Completely agree.  Looking like a stitch up, just hope it doesn't happen.

[glasgow sheep]

hmmmmm

 

YOUR GAME–YOUR CLUB–YOUR FUTURE

 

The Scottish Football League, for the last number of days, has been involved in intensive discussions with The Scottish Premier League, The Scottish Football Association and other crucial stakeholders in our game, to try and address, in a positive way, the current critical issues affecting our game.

 

The Scottish Football League will today send a briefing document to its member clubs – a logical and positive communication which will hopefully eliminate some of the understandable doubt, threats and insecurities that are apparent within the game at the moment. The consultation document will fully explain the short and long-term benefits of a number of scenarios which we will be considering at a full Club Meeting next week.

 

The Scottish Football League is trying to address the question of whether we are in a position to accommodate a solution to the Rangers F.C. scenario. We are trying to achieve a solution which will be in the best interests of The Scottish Football League and the wider game.

 

David A. Longmuir

Chief Executive, SFL

28th June, 2012.

 

What fucking bollocks is this?

Rangers (deceased) are being run by D&P and awaiting liquidation.

Seveco or some such company owns Ibrox, Murray Park and the Albion Car Park.  They are not affiliated to any footballing association, don't have enough players to enable them to complete one fixture never mind an entire seasons card and not members of any league.

 

"trying to address the question of whether we are in a position to accommodate a solution to the Rangers F.C. scenario" is really very simple.  They don't exist no more.  Any newco can apply to the sfl to join the league.  What is the need for any "document" and where do they get off heading their press release with patronising guff like "YOUR GAME–YOUR CLUB–YOUR FUTURE"

[Kowalski]

http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/108457-spl-threaten-breakaway-league-if-sfl-clubs-do-not-agree-to-rangers-plans/

 

No quotes but:

 

The Scottish Premier League could form a breakaway second tier if plans to put Rangers in the First Division are not approved by clubs.

 

STV understands a number of sides in the Scottish Football League have been warned they face being cut adrift from the top tier if they do not agree to proposals for league reconstruction.

 

Plans emerged on Thursday which would see the merger of both the SPL and SFL, the introduction of play-offs and a change to financial distribution between clubs in the top two tiers.

 

Central to the suggestions is the SPL finding means to relegate Rangers from their league, meaning they would play First Division football next season as a new company.

 

If they do not gain the approval of clubs, it is understood the long-mooted SPL2 could be created, with SFL sides invited to join.

 

[bloo_toon_red]

Central to the suggestions is the SPL finding means to relegate Rangers from their league

FFS! 

They don't fucking exist!

[Penfold]

Just as I thought it was looking like I would renew. As previously mentioned the restructuring looks good (amazing how quickly they can implement these things if RFC are in jeopardy) apart from the shite about Rangers in Div 1.

 

More bollocks on STV about the SPL "threatening to create an SPL2 if these plans are rejected by the SFL". They really don't understand that the SPL is the 12(11) clubs. If the clubs don't want it, it won't happen. The clubs have already signalled their intentions to go for sporting integrity.

 

How long is this shite going to drag on for? It's 5 weeks on Saturday that the season starts.

[Madbadteacher]

STV understands a number of sides in the Scottish Football League have been warned they face being cut adrift from the top tier if they do not agree to proposals for league reconstruction.

 

Err, excuse me if I'm picking this up wrong, buit that's a THREAT.

 

You can't go around TREATENING clubs, that'll open up all sorts of cans of worms, it's basically saying "let the ex-huns in where we want them OR ELSE"

 

Surely that canna be allowed?

[BrownyBrown]

The rest of Europe is enjoying the European championships meanwhile in Scotland the governing bodies and supposed 'guardians' of the national game are doing their best to bend over backwards to let the remnants of a club that cheated every other team in the country, local businesses and the taxpayer all in the name of 'success'. Despite what may happen from now, whether a newco club can be in such a state to play in any league next season, the fact that league restructuring is only at the top of the agenda now fucking reeks of self preservation, the the sole intention of making as much money as possible from the situation. Money, is that it? Have they learned nothing? They really don't understand the situation that Scottish football finds itself in AT ALL. Another 20 years of Footballing wilderness awaits.

[glasgow sheep]

Someone said last night that UEFA intervened when the Italian League planned to only demote NewCo Fiorentina down one league.  This intervention resulted in them competing in Seria C2 instead.

If this is true, I trust UEFA will similarly slap down this contemptible bullshit coming from Hampden

[Kowalski]

Latest Thomo tweets:

 

SFL powerpoint document should be met with utter contempt by all decent football fans - senior source in Hampden Pk tells #c4news

 

Source says this is nothing less than a crude takeover bid by Scottish Premier League for Football League...

 

Senior Hampden source tells #c4news cannot see how RFC were allowed to play last season at all. Doesn't believe they met finance criteria...

 

Senior Hampden source: they and clubs now inundated by fanpower demanding integrity over money. Says fans are right...

[maverick sheep]

Latest Thomo tweets:

 

SFL powerpoint document should be met with utter contempt by all decent football fans - senior source in Hampden Pk tells #c4news

 

Source says this is nothing less than a crude takeover bid by Scottish Premier League for Football League...

 

Senior Hampden source tells #c4news cannot see how RFC were allowed to play last season at all. Doesn't believe they met finance criteria...

 

Senior Hampden source: they and clubs now inundated by fanpower demanding integrity over money. Says fans are right...

 

As much as I fully agree with the sack cockwomble calls. This is not the work of one man. Surely he hasn't the authority make any suggestions/threats without the support of the SPL board, who are; Topping, Doncaster, Riley (Celtic), Thompson (DundeeUtd), Weir (Motherwell) and Brown (StJ).

 

Then there's the fact Longmuir's name is signed on the SFL document.

 

The entire governance of this country's football is utterly corrupt and not one single person involved should keep their job. To be frank, I can't understand why no one is in jail yet.

[Kowalski]

Do we take it from these tweets that the SFA are not on board with these proposals, and it is being spearheaded by the SPL?  If so, I'll take back what I've been saying in other threads about the SFA involvement.  Although its not clear whether a "senior Hampden source" is somebody in the SFA or not.