FALKIRK chairman Doug Henderson will propose a 16-team top division in Scottish football at a meeting of all 42 teams at Hampden on Tuesday but Herald Sport understands the plans are already destined to end in failure. Not only are they deemed incompatible with the broadcast deals with both Sky Sports and BT Sport which stipulate the delivery of four Old Firm games a season, but they will almost certainly be condemned by the same dreaded top flight voting tariff, 90% or 11-1, which did for so many league restructuring plans in the past.

With the three-year locked in period which followed the merger of the SPL and SFL coming to an end this summer and the future shape of the leagues up for grabs again, getting the 75% majority of clubs in all divisions to change the allocation of teams and create a 16-team top flight remains the easy part. Back in August 2013, the top flight clubs retained their pre-existing 90% tariff for what it calls qualified resolutions, one of which includes altering the prize money allocation which would accompany any such restructure.

That means that just two sides, say Celtic and Aberdeen, would effectively be able to veto any plans which go forward. The Parkhead side and their nearest rivals have generally held a position that fewer teams, rather than extra teams, is the best solution for the top flight. Consequently sources close to the discussions believe that a 16-team top flight is "beyond unlikely".

As far fetched as that outcome appears, and a continuation of the current status quo of 12-10-10-10 still appears the likeliest scenario going forward, Herald Sport understands that one compromise idea which does appear to be gaining support is a 14-team top flight, supported by two other leagues of 14. Long-standing followers of Scottish League restructuring debates will recall this one, which was rejected by SPL clubs back in 2012, despite apparently being viewed favourably by both the then Rangers chief executive Charles Green and powerbrokers at Celtic.

That set-up, which envisages split into a six and an eight after three rounds of matches, allowing two more Old Firm games to placate the broadcasters, was shelved back then as the top flight instead decided to consider a 12-12-18 model, which ultimately failed to get off the ground either. As there would clearly be resistance on natural fairness grounds to introducing a 14-team top flight for next season, introducing it for season 2017-18 may be viewed in some parts as a chance to retain more of Scotland's biggest clubs in the top division.

Such scepticism on the 16-team model seems unlikely deter Henderson, who along with his manager Peter Houston, has gone on the record in recent times on their belief that a 16-team top flight is the best option for the game. With Scotland spending this summer on the outside looking in while England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland participate in Euro 2016 there is a feeling that drastic action is required.

"Change can be achieved as quickly as people want to achieve it," Henderson said ahead of Tuesday's summit.

"A lot of people that I talk to - coaches, supporters, players, even the general public - have quite strong views and most people think that some action needs to be taken."

Many other commentators, managers, fans and players agree, including Rangers manager Mark Warburton. In addition to lessening the number of meetings against the same teams, having only two meetings a season against Celtic would of course enhance every other team's chances of becoming champions.

"The gap between the top of the Championship and Premiership is not the same as down south," said Warburton recently. "Up here, the gap is much narrower and you can afford to have a competitive 16-team Premier League. I keep being told about the financial climate, but sometimes it's short-term pain for long-term gain. Right now, it's not working. I keep being told about problems with the national game, I keep being told that radical measures are needed; well, there might be some short-term pain."

Ronny Deila, meanwhile, said he felt the current 12-team league was working. "It's a tough decision," he said yesterday, "but I think the structure here is good. There are positives and negatives about everything. When you have less teams that gives you higher quality or you should get higher quality. When you have 16 teams the positives are you go out to different places in the country and also a lot of talent gets a chance."

One subject which has even less chance of progressing is the notion of clubs voting for 'strict liability' rules which would see them directly punished for the behaviour of their supporters, including sectarian chanting. That proposal was defeated two years ago and seems set to fail again. "It is balderdash and bunkum to say a failed system of punishment would be the answer to Scotland's bigoted behaviour," said Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney. "We need much more than that."