Reconstruction on the cards

Last updated : 12 December 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

There are a number of rumours floating around as to what we will get, but there are two that are likely to be up for debate.

One would see a return to the 10 team league that was in place before 2000, with the bottom side going down and the second bottom side being involved in some sort of play-off with the top sides in the first division, a bit like the existing SFL play-offs. The first division would remain at 10 teams, with the leagues below being regionalised.

The other would see expansion to a 14 team league, presumably with similar promotion/relegation pictures. The split would remain, with leagues of six and eight for the final part. The top clubs would also be allowed to have their B sides in the SFL.

Both plans seem to allow for an earlier start so that we can have some sort of winter break. And both plans are absolutely ridiculous.

The reason we ditched a 10 team league was because it didn't work. It was boring and repetitive. The only reason for going back to it seems to be it's slightly better than the current set-up. The idea of regionalised leagues seems sensible, but can you see the likes of Saints, Hamilton and Caley Thistle agreeing to a set-up that would involve the relegation of some extra teams for it to be set up?

However, it's more sane than the ludicrous suggestion of a 14 team league that involves a split. The split is ludicrous and should be ditched, but we're going to make it worse as teams in the bottom section will have played more games than teams in the top.

The way forward is a 16 or 18 team league, with the same underneath and then regionalisation. Everyone plays each other twice. Relegation would be two down with a play-off for a third slot or just three down. No splits, no silliness, just good, sensible football. But it will never happen, because the TV companies will always want four Old Firm games a season or else they'll pay less, if anything.

The worrying thing is Saints chairman Stewart Gilmour is on the working party that has come up with these proposals, so must think they're a good thing.

But don't worry, the chances of these proposals going through are slim. The wonders of the SPL voting system means that if just two of the 12 member clubs are against something, it gets knocked back. And in Scottish football, can you really see a day when 11 top flight clubs are in agreement?