Dundee United chairman wants league reform by July

Football Writer

Tuesday 5 March 2013

STEPHEN THOMPSON, the Dundee United chairman, believes league reconstruction must come into effect for the start of next season or it will be "many, many years" before a similar chance to shake up Scottish football comes around again.

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Graeme Macpherson

Thompson was at Hampden yesterday for further talks as the clubs move towards the creation of a 12-12-18 (or possibly 12-12-10-10) set-up that will also mean the merger of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League into one governing body, a more equitable financial distribution model, and the introduction of a pyramid system feeding the bottom tier.

See our new dossier on league reconstruction - and how you can shape the debate

The SPL and SFL clubs are expected to hold a vote each in the coming weeks on whether to press ahead with the changes, although Thompson was reluctant to put a timescale on when exactly that might be, saying only that he expects the SPL clubs to vote first. The decision to implement the changes in time for next season has met opposition, especially from Rangers, but Thompson was of the opinion that if it didn't happen now, it may not happen for some time. "I think most people would like to try to get it over the line [in time for next season]," he said. "I think if you go longer then cracks will start to appear. It's the first time that I've certainly been involved, during 10 or 11 years with Dundee United, we've had all 12 clubs [in agreement]. "Okay, there are a few maybe not 100% behind it and they have queries but, generally the 12 clubs in the SPL agreed to take it to the next stage and that's what we're doing now. It can be done. There is a willingness from everyone to get there and we're working very hard to get it over the line but a lot of discussions need to take place yet." Thompson conceded that it would be difficult to get everything in place for August but felt it could still be done. "It is hard, there's no doubt about that, but there are a lot of good things in it." The United chairman also hopes that the clubs would sacrifice personal interest for the greater good. "I suppose if you want to look at it purely from your own club's point of view, most would probably vote against it but we're all trying to take off our club hats and look to the greater good of the game. "It spreads the wealth down through the leagues, there is a lot coming from the top six clubs, and it certainly supports the league below. I think that's a positive step forward." Thompson hoped, too, that Scottish football would now move on after the independent commission chaired by Lord Nimmo Smith last week delivered its verdict on Rangers' non-disclosure of payments to players over an 11-year period. "I was on the SPL board when we decided to go with the commission and I'm back on the board again. It was an independent commission and that's the route we decided was right, completely independent from the board. "The decision's been made and, as far as I'm concerned, that's it, it's done and we move on. There's no doubt the last year or so has damaged the image of the game and it's time to move on for the sake of game from the top down."

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Dundee United chairman wants league reform by July

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