Jim Spence on breakaway plans

[SteveC 150]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22647194

 

"First Division clubs may break away from the Scottish Football League to join a new structure with the 12 Scottish Premier League teams.

SPL proposals for a merger with the SFL, a revised financial distribution model and more end-of-season play-offs appear unlikely to gain approval.

And the top flight is prepared to institute a 22-club set-up of two tiers, leaving 20 sides in the SFL.

In effect, the current First Division would become the SPL's second tier.

There would be one automatic promotion/relegation exchange between this 'Championship' and the top flight in addition to play-offs involving the second-bottom side in the SPL and the second, third and fourth sides in the division below.

However, there would not be play-offs between the Championship and Scotland's third tier.

Currently, promotion/relegation play-offs exist between the First and Second Divisions and between Divisions Two and Three.

The SFL held their AGM on Thursday and an initial show of hands reflected only 16 clubs in support of the SPL's 42-team proposals.

SFL motions require the support of 22 clubs to be passed and a formal vote will take place on 10 June.

Following the AGM, First Division clubs held a meeting of their own and Hamilton chairman Les Gray told the media: "We are at the end of it now and we think there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"We will do what we have to do now to proceed and we in the First Division are unanimous in our views.

"We have no meeting organised with the SPL but we will organise that in the coming days.""

 

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Edited May 23, 2013 by SteveC

[pete 2,499]

If the SFL teams -12 are set adrift then Rangers and the remaining teams should start negotiating with Sky for their own TV deal. Any legal action taken by the SPL could be covered with the SPL support of the 12 clubs breaking the SFL rules.

[Waltersgotstyle 307]

If the SFL teams -12 are set adrift then Rangers and the remaining teams should start negotiating with Sky for their own TV deal. Any legal action taken by the SPL could be covered with the SPL support of the 12 clubs breaking the SFL rules.

 

It's not 12 mate, it's the top 12 plus 10 (division 1)

[Gribz 919]

If the SFL teams -12 are set adrift then Rangers and the remaining teams should start negotiating with Sky for their own TV deal. Any legal action taken by the SPL could be covered with the SPL support of the 12 clubs breaking the SFL rules.

 

This is the way mate. Agree fully. Stay away from those theives.

 

The only show in town.

[bluebear54 0]

So the SFA sit idly on their hands while member Clubs act against their rules a articles?

Wonder what Yoofa will say about that?

Wonder what history will say about this?

[Davie P 4]

I think that the existing SPL clubs must be shitting themselves about this approach from the SFL 1 clubs. This was always a bully boy tactic to force the SFL to agree to be incorporated into the greater SPFL so that the financially and morally corrupt SPL can get control over the Rangers TV money. No Rangers, no interest, no TV money, but SPL will still need to find the cash to accommodate the SFL 1 clubs. They also presumably still have a binding contract whereby payment needs to be made to the SFL, so now they have a situation whereby they inherit the SFL 1 clubs (no major support or creation of interest iro additional derbies/intense rivalries - therefore minimal income generated), have no title sponsorship, have only the mysterious TV deal (which is so fantastic that they darent show this to anyone, just have to take our word on this lads!) and will still be compelled to pay a contractual amount to the remaining SFL 2 and SFL 3 clubs. Lets just forget about the stadium requirements and waive all of those additional costs that the current SFL 1 clubs would need to make in order to fit into the 'elite' SPL league. As long as Rangers are in the SFL, the SFL hold all the Aces. Let's just hope they dont fold for a pair of deuces!

[Zappa 0]

If it goes ahead, it's not going to cost the SPL clubs as much cash as you would imagine. A large chunk of the cash will be taken from the SPL's 1st & 2nd place prize money as previously planned. All of them will get reduced prize money, but most of the clubs won't have to take massive cuts.

 

For a country the size of ours, two large professional leagues would be more than enough, so at this point the breakaway 22 should fully merge into a 22 team top flight and SFL 2 & 3 should merge into a 20 team 2nd tier.

[Blue Moon 1,370]

The SPL were only interested in SPL2 when they were going to parachute us into it last year when they realised there was a chance we would end up in SFL3. They are now saying only a 42 team solution is acceptable. This is all about our TV money. If the SFL1 clubs think this will go ahead then they are deluding themselves.

[calscot 0]

This just seems like a bullying ploy to get SFL clubs to tow the line, hopefully the smaller clubs they will realise what sort of hand they have with Rangers being the wild joker.

 

The embarrassing thing and which really lacks sporting integrity is that they are still deciding changes for next season when this season is already finished. Clubs still don't know what they played for last season and even if their playoffs count for anything. It's about as amateurish as it gets.

 

I'm affronted by Scottish football these days and hope we can form a British league soon and if that means we lose our national team then that's no great loss. I never thought I'd say that, but better it's better to have a compromise that's full of life than something in a coma and dying a lingering death.

[bluebear54 0]

We keep mentioning the TV deal.

I think the key issue is sponsorship.

We have the biggest fan base, the largest attendance and the largest viewing figures.

That's what it's about.

But I agree that the SPL will desperately be working out press lines to say thanks, but no thanks.