Top flight of 14 the way forward for Jags boss
PARTICK Thistle boss Ian McCall believes league reconstruction may be the best solution to a season abruptly halted by the coronavirus pandemic — but only in the short term.
One option that has been discussed by SPFL clubs in the wake of the Covid-19 shutdown is to move to three leagues of 14 in 2020-21 from the current four-league set-up of 12-10-10-10.
If passed, by a vote in favour from 75 per cent of member clubs, there would be no relegation from the Premiership this season — staving off the threat of legal action from rock-bottom Hearts.
Under that plan, runaway Championship leaders Dundee United and second-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle would both go up to the top flight.
There would be no relegation from the Championship while both Raith Rovers and Falkirk would be among six teams coming up from League One.
As things stand, McCall’s Partick are two points adrift at the foot of the second tier with a game in hand over ninth-placed Queen of the South, leaving a tough decision over who is relegated if the season cannot continue.
In League One, Raith lead Falkirk by just one point at the top of the table but that thorny issue of who is promoted would also be resolved with a move to three leagues of 14.
McCall is aware that a top flight of 14 teams could cause issues with television rights holders Sky Sports, who are contractually guaranteed four Old Firm league games to screen per season.
But he views reconstruction as representing the best short-term way forward in these unprecedented times before a swift return to the status quo.
‘We’ve a quarter of the season still to play,’ the Jags boss said.
‘We’ve got 25 per cent of our games to go. It’s not as if it’s only the last two or three games.
‘But I don’t think you need to reconstruct (in the long term).
‘I think you can put two teams up to the Premiership and then go back to normal after that season if that’s what people want.
‘I frankly don’t like playing teams so many times a season. I’ve said that for many years and I don’t think the fans like it either.
‘But there’s obviously a reason for that because we have one game that means a lot in terms of television in the top league.
‘But whatever people say, whatever argument people put forward, it will be flawed to certain people. We just have to accept that’s the way it’s going to be.’
McCall believes that moving to three leagues of 14 would not give rise to any squabbles over who wins the titles in the lower three leagues.
But he knows that would not be the case in the top flight, with Rangers already having warned the authorities that ending the season prematurely and handing Celtic the title would ‘impact upon the sporting integrity of sport in Scotland’.
McCall said: ‘Outwith maybe one notable exception, I don’t think the teams promoted from each league would be that bothered about who gets a title because of the circumstances.
‘That may be different in the Premiership but that’s a whole other kettle of fish. I do think the clubs (in general) will come together on this. I think there have been one or two unfortunate statements put out but, other than that, I think football does get together in times like this.
‘Wider society does, too. Outwith everyone’s health there are financial worries, too, and people have to get together.’