NUMBERS GAME

SPFL reconstruction talks see two separate plans for an increased top tier earn support One proposal featuring three divisions of 14 given unanimous backing from League Two clubs

TWO different league reconstruction models featuring a 14-team Premiership have gathered favour during the first week of task-force talks.

The group charged with discussing a revamp of Scottish football’s divisions have met twice in the last seven days and hope to convene again later this week.

While other suggestions remain on the table, two significant camps have emerged — an expanded top flight with three leagues of 10 versus 14-14-14.

The latter model has the unanimous support of all League Two clubs.

Hamilton vice chairman Les Gray, leading the group with Ann Budge, will deliver a paper to the 15-strong panel featuring what the SPFL board believes are the pros and cons of all the methods brought up for debate.

Gray reported ‘two good meetings’ had taken place, most recently a two-hour get-together on Friday.

He explained: ‘From the first meeting on Monday to the second meeting on Friday, they had all submitted a paper to Ann and I for consideration that laid out what they felt was they way forward and, also, after speaking to colleagues in their leagues, what they thought would work and might get the necessary support.

‘There have been views exchanged in an open and professional manner. There isn’t the toxicity that has been claimed.

‘The clubs are all trying to do the right thing. Whether they can get to an agreement or not, I don’t know at this stage.

‘There are two methods that appear to be gathering support and momentum. But there are two or three other suggestions that we have to get to the bottom of as well.

‘We will, as a group, have something that we think is worth discussing in detail with the board then think about how we put together a proper paper on that for full discussion and

consultation with all the clubs. At that point, it will become apparent whether we need to put forward a resolution.

‘We will not be putting forward a resolution until everybody has had a full discussion.’

Gray confirmed that neither a distribution model nor the temporary or permanent nature of the changes were discussed in depth.

‘That’s the next stage in the debate,’ he said. ‘If we can get a preferred way, can we then get to the nitty-gritty? That’s where we are at.’

However, a strong theme to come to the fore was participants making it clear they were not at the table to create a one-season measure to spare Hearts from relegation.

Gray (right) added: ‘We are not charged with finding a solution which fixes things for Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer. We are charged with finding a solution that is a remedy to the consequences of Covid-19 but, at the same time, has a firm eye on all 42 clubs and what is best for football.

‘When we eventually get back playing, we need to have a structure that we want to play in. So we need to carry on with this process and see if we can get to the end of it and, if we can’t, it will not be for the want of trying.’

Any change in overall number of clubs in the league or distribution of revenue requires an 11-1 vote from the Premiership clubs.

Advancing the claims of the ‘three 14s’ would deny Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts the chance to be added to the SPFL ranks.

Elgin City chairman Graham Tatters, whose team was in the promotion play-off mix when coronavirus stopped play, revealed that there was a 10-club consensus in League Two.

‘We are going, along with the guidance of (Cowdenbeath chairman) Donald Findlay QC, to back a 14-14-14,’ said Tatters.

However, Tatters fears there won’t be enough clubs still breathing to witness any new-look league structure.

He served another grave warning over the future of clubs, including his own, if salaryfunding schemes from the government do not extend throughout football’s off-season.

‘We didn’t want any change at all,’ he explained on BBC Radio Scotland. ‘We couldn’t see the reason in having change at the moment because no one knows in three months how many are going to be around to be involved in it.

‘Some clubs are not going to survive. If the furlough scheme doesn’t go beyond June, I can guarantee some will fail.

‘We’ve got to start thinking as a unit instead of bun-fighting. There is so much more going on for us to worry about than reconstruction because, in eight weeks, if they stop furlough, there might not be enough clubs. ‘We are not far away from that — believe me. I am in a difficult position where we thought we were doing really well, in the play-off spot, a form team, a really good squad. We signed up nine of that current squad. So, after June, we have nine signed.

‘If furlough stops, we are finished in a few months. No one has given us any guidance on contracts, what will happen with players.

‘The players have been fantastic and all accepted the 80 per cent. But afterwards, what about when we can’t pay them at all?

‘We’ve had no problem at all with the SPFL, never felt bullied, never felt coerced.

‘But I feel there’s so much going on that no one knows how to deal with it or where to go.’