Final whistle

The media and many neutrals revelled on 27 April in the schadenfreude of realising six Championship football clubs faced relegation – 60 per cent of the total. That was as exciting as it was ludicrous.

The late football analyst Bob Crampsey argued that Scottish football was a unique business – you could not afford to bankrupt your rival. Yet on Saturday the city of Dundee and the large urban population of Falkirk saw their clubs demoted and facing an uncertain future, with cutbacks and playing and non-playing staff laid off.

Scotland is a little country of 5.4 million and we simply cannot afford to continue with major clubs out with the top tier. The arguments for a Scottish Super League resonate as much today as 30 years ago. A top tier with the current 12 but with the crowd-pullers (Dundee United, Falkirk, Dunfermline and Partick Thistle) added would rejuvenate the game.

With a quality product there would be increased crowds, more income, greater investment, no ridiculous split, enhanced youth development.

The present top tier is tedious with the lack of challenge to Celtic and over-familiarity with the opposition, as you could play them six times. There is no lack of interest in the topic. The last SFSA survey attracted 10,000 replies!

Of course, the problem is exacerbated by the ludicrous imbalance in the SPFL share of TV income. The SPFL talks of being committed to growing our game in the best financial interests of the 42 clubs. However, the Premier ship takes 83 per cent of the cake (the Old Firm has 23 per cent) while the Championship accounts for 11 per cent.

Scottish football is in a parlous state. Many Championship clubs are ambitious and full-time but they need rather more help from the football authorities. The increased TV money from Sky Premier Sports, BBC Scotland and Alba is welcome, but let’s see a more equitable share.

JOHN V LLOYD Keith Place, Inverkeithing, Fife