The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Listen to the players on league reconstruction’
UNION: Craig’s plea after PFA Scotland survey reveals strong support for revamp
St Johnstone star Liam Craig has called on football’s governing bodies to listen to players after a PFA Scotland poll showed 76% want league reconstruction in time for next season.
Just short of 700 players’ union members responded to a survey on the subject, which is to be presented to the SPFL’S working group on league reconstruction.
More than three-quarters of Scotland’s players indicated support for permanent reconstruction, beginning in the 2020/21 season.
Of those, 60% favour a 14-14-14 set-up, with a two-up, two-down plus play-offs format.
The PFA Scotland, which represents the views of players from across the SPFL, also showed 64% of footballers feel they are not consulted enough by the game’s authorities on issues which affect them, like reconstruction.
Union chairman, St Johnstone midfielder Liam Craig, said: “Everyone seems to have a view on league reconstruction, from our own clubs to supporters and the media.
“However, it is vitally important that the players’ voice is heard.
“That is why we asked PFA Scotland to put this survey out to our members so we can get their opinion on the possible restructuring of the leagues we play in.
“It is the future of the game we play that is being debated and we feel strongly that our opinion should be taken into consideration.”
Fraser Wishart, PFA Scotland chief executive, said: “While it is the governing bodies who make the decisions, players’ opinions seem to be largely overlooked.
“People tend to forget that players are at the heart of the game, it is their job and they care passionately about it. These results show that beyond doubt.
“Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak we have repeatedly called for everyone in the game to work together to find a way through this unprecedented situation the world finds itself in.
“We hope the working group will take the players’ views into consideration as their talks on league reconstruction progress.”
Despite players’ favour for three divisions of 14, proposals to create such a structure have been met with major concern.
League Two clubs have already agreed between themselves to back plans for the 14-14-14 format, despite the fact that no proposals have yet been brought forward by the SPFL’S reconstruction working group.
Clyde, who would suddenly find themselves in the bottom division, say the idea “makes no sense”, while fifthtier champions Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts, who would be denied promotion by a move to three leagues of 14, have expressed major disappointment.
The Fife outfit said: “If splitting the money up 44 ways as opposed to 42 was the main issue, then to negate that stumbling block Kelty Hearts FC would like to go on record to say that we shall be prepared to forfeit any league prize money for the first season if we were offered the opportunity to compete in the SPFL in season 20/21.
“This is a whole lot more than finances for Kelty Hearts FC and our 300-member-strong kids community club and very much about not being hugely impacted negatively and unfairly by this pandemic after so much effort and investment.”