SFA To Push SPL/SFL Merger for Start of New Season

hibby1875 · 16-06-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

The Scottish FA aims to push through a merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League in time for the start of the new season.

The governing body also wants to introduce a fairer system of income distribution and a pyramid system.

One SFA source told BBC Scotland: "We are at a situation of critical mass.

"Someone has to take a lead and sort out the internal bickering and point scoring and also to ensure that the Rangers situation never happens again."

With Rangers destined for liquidation, a new company will submit a bid to join the SPL in time for next season since there are no regulations in place to cover the issue of a 'newco' route.

Once that application is received top flight clubs must wait at least 14 days before voting on the matter.

Should a new Rangers fail to gain the necessary 8-4 vote, they could turn to the SFL and apply to fill any vacancy created by a team being promoted into the SPL to take the place of the old Rangers.

But the SFA has lost patience with the two league bodies and is now set to push through radical change in the way the Scottish game is structured by next season.

"We need to use the mood for change among supporters in the country to tackle the current inertia and do what is right for the game," the source continued.

"Change has to be democratic, but the time for talking has passed. We need action now to save the game."

It is understood that, over the next few weeks, the SFA, which is the body that licenses the clubs to play, will hold meetings with the SPL and the SFL to push through the changes it feels are needed.

The SFA wants to merge the two current league bodies, introduce a new method of wealth distribution and to reinvigorate the Third Division with the introduction of a pyramid system to allow new clubs entry to a national league set-up.

"There is complete anarchy going on," the source continued. "Both sides are agreed on the need for fundamental change, but neither side has been able to build an alliance.

"The fans are demanding fundamental change. The Rangers situation has intensified the need for a resolution and, over the next few weeks, we will meet with the SPL and SFL to find a solution."

Dunfermline, who were relegated from the SPL last season, could be the team to benefit if a new Rangers fails to win a place in the top division.

Pars chairman John Yorkston welcomed the idea of a SFA-driven merger, although he was sceptical about how quickly such a move could be realised.

"Someone needs to take the bull by the horns," he told BBC Scotland.

"There are too many governing bodies and this should have been done long before now.

"But whether or not it could be done before the start of the season I very much doubt."

Source: BBC Sport

Not sure what I think about this shit, mainly depends on whether Rangers get the boot or not. Sounds good on the surface but sounds very iffy & awfy rushed. Hmmmm.

matuag · 16-06-2012, 09:42 PM

so what's the plan ? relegate Rangers to SFL and then merge the two leagues

Nelly · 15-07-2012, 10:04 AM

The incompetence shown by the combined efforts of the SFA,SPL and SFL are truly staggering.Change is well overdue.

2 pro leagues and 1 governing body....is it really that hard?

ihaveamullet · 15-07-2012, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nelly

The incompetence shown by the combined efforts of the SFA,SPL and SFL are truly staggering.Change is well overdue.

2 pro leagues and 1 governing body....is it really that hard?

Apparently. I said it before and I'll say it again. Does a country the size of Scotland need a 4 tier system? The talent just isnt there to support that. 3 leagues of 10 and one of 12. How exciting!

ihaveamullet · 16-11-2012, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Rangers.co.uk

THE MEMBER clubs of The Scottish Football League unanimously backed proposals for a wide-ranging restructure of league football in a 16-10-16 format and a change to the League Cup.

The plan, revealed by Chief Executive David Longmuir and discussed at a meeting at Hampden today, will involve more play-offs for promotion and relegation and would mean an amalgamation with the SPL.

The format will introduce a 16-team top flight which has two automatic relegation places and a further relegation place for the loser of a play-off between the 13th and 14th placed teams. Each side will play 30 games in the standard season.

The second tier, called the Championship, comprises 10 sides, two of which will be automatically promoted and a third side will go up after a play-off between the third and fourth placed teams.

There are two automatic relegation places and the eighth placed team faces a play-off with the third, fourth and fifth placed side from the third tier.

The bottom side in the three leagues would play the best side from a pyramid structure to keep their league status.

A winter break for the Premier Division is incorporated into the proposal.

The League Cup is also to be revamped with sections coming back into play for the first time since the 1983/84 season, although this time the format would be different.

The bottom 20 clubs would play a knockout round with the winners joining the 22 other clubs in eight sections of four.

These sections would seeded and teams would play each other once with the 16 higher ranked clubs playing two home games and one away with gate receipts for all matches shared.

The top two from each section would qualify to the last 16 and the knockout stage to the final.

16-10-16? Not feeling it.

jimmy · 17-11-2012, 03:26 AM

anything would be better suited than the current structure we have at the moment, it isn't really sustainable (never has been) and the way upto the SPL has long since been a joke (1 up 1 down... scottish first division still the only league where second place counts for nothing)

either way rangers still banned from europe for the next two seasons after this so any quick route back for them to fame and fortune and sit on the back burner.

why the hell does scotland even have three governing bodies anyhow? even england doesn't have three bodies and has 10x the populous of this sacred land.

just forked out 24 of me hard earned notes on a ticket for the game tomorrow, gonna be interested to see how many others turn out.. should be a good game

still think ticket prices on a whole could come down by a fiver or so

6,287 at the dundee utd vs killie game last night, normal rates applied, could've taken note from tranmere n done a fiver entry, oh well. wasnt too shabby a game either way

hibby1875 · 09-01-2013, 03:57 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20941213

Ooft, no.

Quote:

The Rangers Chief Executive Charles Green will recommend Rangers try to leave Scotland if 12-12-18 reconstruction plans are pushed through @bbcsportsound

Ha! Ok!

ihaveamullet · 10-01-2013, 02:37 AM

This has to be a joke. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read and I hope it doesn't even come close to passing.

jimmy · 10-01-2013, 01:26 PM

could've been done adding a couple to the top tier in my opinion

good example of how lessons arent learned tho, pipe down charles green, trying to monopolise the scottish game from the depths of the scottish third division, at the expense of others to the detriment of the scottish game in every level. two finger salute to you!

caleythistleineurope · 10-01-2013, 05:59 PM

Charles Green has def lost the plot.

There needs to be more than 12 teams in the top tier - we need to be looking at numbers where we're playing each other team once at home and once away. None of this split nonsense! Jeez!!!