IT’S ONE LAST CHANCE FOR RECON DEAL
FROM BACK PAGE Thistle and Stranraer had been thrown a potential lifeline from relegation after it emerged an 11thhour revamp of the current four-tier set-up could still be rushed through in time to save them from the drop.
And the potential for change was confirmed during a video conference call board meeting yesterday afternoon when it was agreed by the league’s governing body there is a “reasonable prospect” of clubs voting for a permanent new-look structure.
While a number of options were on the table yesterday, it’s believed one of the most likely solutions could be a permanent change to 14-10-10-10.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster is expected to write to the country’s 42 senior clubs today to outline the next step and ask them to declare their respective positions – while asking for their permission to go back to the ballot box at a short notice for an extraordinary general meeting.
But the clubs will also be told a failure to reach consensus at this stage will leave no further scope to debate other reconstruction models before the start of the next campaign.
The 14-10-10-10 blueprint would throw Hearts a Premiership lifeline while also catapulting Inverness Caley Thistle into next season’s top flight.
Partick Thistle would similarly be spared from dropping out of the Championship and Stranraer would start next season back in the third tier of the Scottish game. At the bottom end, Highland League champions Brora and Lowland League title winners Kelty Hearts would gain entry to the fourth tier.
Rangers have also put forward the prospect of launching Old Firm B teams into an 18-team League Two – while Hearts owner Ann Budge had suggested three divisions of 14 teams.
Budge, though, will be delighted by yesterday’s developments which confirm Record Sport’s revelations yesterday of an emerging mood for change among Scotland’s clubs.
It also came just hours after Tynecastle money man James Anderson announced he has made a £3million coronavirus fighting fund available to every club in the land.
Anderson is adamant that his cash will be made available regardless of the outcome of the reconstruction debate, with more money to follow.
But Hearts will hope his intervention may have helped to whip up support ahead of Monday’s deadline.
One club source told us last night: “The feeling among clubs is there could be support for a 14-10-10-10 set-up on a permanent basis.
“All the indications are the SPFL want us to reach a decision over the weekend. It looks very much like it’s now or never where reconstruction is concerned.”
Next season’s Covid-19 curtailed Championship format was also rubberstamped during yesterday’s virtual Hampden meeting with Doncaster instructed to formalise a 27-game fixture schedule with clubs agreeing to drop one round of matches from the 2020/21 calendar.