Stewart Milne last night admitted that he has spoken with Roy MacGregor, the Ross County chairman, in an effort to convince him to agree to existing plans for league reconstruction.

The Aberdeen chairman has been in the vanguard of change and is desperate to force through proposals for a 12-12-18 league set-up, alongside other tweaks such as a more equitable distribution of money.

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All 12 clubs in the Scottish Premier League had reached consensus over change at a meeting in January but the momentum has since been interrupted by a change of heart by MacGregor and St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour. The top-flight clubs are to meet on Monday to vote on whether to pursue current proposals, and if both County – whose board will meet tonight to finalise their stance – and St Mirren go against existing plans then the motion will be defeated.

That prospect has provoked frustration and concern at Pittodrie, with Milne claiming the vote will be the "last throw of the dice" to effect positive change on the Scottish game. It is such an impassioned declaration which moved the Aberdeen chairman to contact his County colleague to plead his case.

"This is the last throw of the dice," said Milne. "We've worked these last eight months for a solution and we have looked at all the other options like 14, 16, 18-team leagues; none of them work.

"The only concern that came up [from St Mirren] in the December meeting was about the cash-flow to the middle section, and it was not about the amount, it was about when the payments were made. That was dealt with by the January meeting and all 12 clubs were in agreement."

Worryingly for clubs and supporters, there is no alternative should MacGregor side with St Mirren and vote proposals down. "We are at the stage we need to vote this through on Monday or nothing will change and we will need to face the consequences," said Milne. "There is no plan B. There's been huge compromises from every quarter to get to this point which delivers for everyone.

"We've got Celtic's PLC at one end and clubs run by committee at the other; that's what we have to try to cope with. The structure we are putting forward gives us meaningful games right through the leagues. The first 22 games will be crucially important and then we will an eight-team league going for the title and three or four European places.

"The bottom section will have two teams relegated and another play-off place. So, it will be competitive. The middle section will be a group of death. It's effectively an eight-team play-off with four teams fighting for promotion. This set-up gives every team 36 meaningful games.

"This is for the greater good of Scottish football. We are not going to get serious television money and supporters coming though the gates going along as we are."

Milne's concerns are shared by his Inverness Caledonian Thistle counterpart, Kenny Cameron, who has criticised both County and St Mirren for what he referred to as "pick 'n' mix" approach to league reform. He does not believe that clubs should wish to implement some aspects of change but resist others.

"This is not a 'pick 'n' mix' vote," said Cameron. "I will be disappointed if the new proposals do not go through as they deliver most of what the supporters and majority of clubs want. The set up is far from ideal from a Caley Thistle perspective but all 42 clubs should get behind the changes proposed with a willingness to work together for the betterment of all clubs in Scotland and the game in general.

"Let's use the proposed model as a stepping stone on the journey for change, the key that unlocks the door that has remained firmly closed for so many years. Make no mistake, it would appear that there is nothing else on the table. Attempting to be selective at this stage of the process is not an option."

That sentiment was also echoed by Steve Brown, the chairman of St Johnstone, although his concerns have grown to the point that he is not sure there is any hope for plans, with clubs in the Scottish Football League also speaking with dissenting voices. "We are for change. We think there's far more to be gained than lost," he said.

"I can understand Ross County's position; they have been quite clear and consistent from the start. I'm not convinced there's enough support in the SFL, either. If you've got clubs in the SFL who are not disadvantaged by no change, you can understand why they are a wee bit reluctant to move to something that might affect them.

"Unfortunately there is an unhealthy anti-SPL feeling within some of the clubs which means it gets a bit political. I don't know how you resolve that."