SPFL agree to consider request over fixtures

THE SPFL say they will “consider” a request made by all 20 League One and League Two sides to introduce a 22-game season this term after lower league clubs released a joint statement on Thursday morning.

The clubs in the two leagues in the bottom half of Scottish football’s professional set-up were given the green light to return to training earlier this week after all fixtures were postponed in response to the Covid pandemic in January.

Any hope of completing a 27-game season – as was originally proposed at the beginning of the campaign – was snuffed out due to the months-long suspension of all football below the Championship.

In a letter signed by all 20 League One and Two teams (almost 50 percent of the SPFL), clubs revealed a proposition from the SPFL that would see each side play every other team in their division home and away – creating an 18-game season. But clubs have urged the governing body to reconsider, asking instead for a ‘split’ to be introduced after 18 games, with each side then playing the other four teams in their section once more - giving a 22-game season.

In a statement in response to the lower league clubs’ plea, the SPFL said that everyone is “keen to see the smoothest possible end” to the 2020/21 campaign.

The statement read: “We warmly welcomed the announcement by Scottish Government that League 1 and 2 clubs are permitted to return to play and share the desire of all 20 clubs, their players and fans for a return to league fixtures as soon as possible.

“Since the suspension was announced in January, we have been working with League 1 and 2 clubs on the various options. Everyone is keen to see the smoothest possible end to league season in all four divisions of the SPFL and, as part of that process, the SPFL Board will now consider the request.”