Plans for a radical reform of Scottish league football foundered today when SPL clubs failed to reach an 11-1 majority.

St Mirren and Ross County vetoed the proposals at a Scottish Premier League meeting.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne emerged from the talks to announce that they had failed to secure the 11-1 majority needed to send the plans to the Scottish Football League.

St Mirren had confirmed seven days earlier they were going to vote against the deal on the table, which was agreed in principle in January and could have come in next season.

The plans would have seen both league bodies merge in a 12-12-18 structure with a pyramid system below.

The most controversial aspect of the plans was for the top two leagues to split into three after 22 games in a bid to generate extra revenue, which would have been split more equitably with current First Division clubs.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster claimed he was more disappointed for clubs outside the top flight following the failure to secure change.

Doncaster said: "I'm extremely disappointed for Scottish football as a whole but I'm particularly disappointed for the First Division clubs, who were really relying on this vote today, relying on the SPL clubs allowing a redistribution of income that would have enabled clubs in the First Division to sustain full-time professional football in an environment where it's so difficult at the moment.

"That redistribution of money, the single league, the pyramid structure, play offs - all of those benefits that have now been denied us by this vote today."

St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour was first to exit Hampden after four hours of talks but would not comment.

Milne soon emerged and could not disguise his anger at the outcome.

The Aberdeen chairman said: "One club in particular you would need to ask just exactly what their agenda is - St Mirren.

"What was on the table for everyone to consider today was back the plan, an opportunity to move Scottish football forward.

"If it doesn't deliver to the extent that 10 clubs genuinely believe it will deliver, then the opportunity is there to re-look at it down the line within two to three years.

"It's the status quo. The offer of changing the reconstruction rules was rejected by the two clubs, which no one can see the logic behind."

Hearts managing director David Southern claimed St Mirren had rejected the offer of moving future league structure votes to a 9-3 voting system.

Saints had previously expressed a desire for a 14-team league and concern over the 11-1 system remaining on certain items, including limits on the number of home games each team can have screened live by television partners.

Southern said: "We were very close. The concession was a significant concession.

"All 11 clubs were led to believe the stumbling block was the 11-1 vote.

"The concession was to change the 11-1 to 9-3 so the stumbling block was removed.

"You now need to go and ask the club that believed that was the stumbling block and then change their mind."

Southern insisted none of the protected matters should have been "deal-breakers" and added: "I do believe that the 11-1 vote was just used as a smokescreen to protect other people's interests."

Milne hit out further against Gilmour and St Mirren.

"This is going to have major implications for Scottish football - it's going to potentially seriously damage the game in the long term," he said.

"I'm very angry because I think today we have let down Scottish football.

"St Mirren Football Club have really got to pose themselves the question: why are they prepared to put the rest of Scottish football in jeopardy just because of their own selfish interests?

"This is a massive opportunity that has been blown, particularly on the whims of an individual.

"In that room, we've got to be in there with the interests of our club but we've got a wider responsibility for the SPL as an organisation and also wider Scottish football.

"None of that was displayed by Stewart Gilmour and St Mirren Football Club."

Milne shared Southern's suspicion that St Mirren's public concerns over the voting structure were not the real reason behind their opposition.

"It's just another red herring that Stewart continually threw on the table," he said.

"If it was so important, why was he not prepared to back the change that was offered on the table today, that future league reconstruction would be dealt with a normal 75 per cent vote the same as the rest of business?"

Milne added: "I'm disappointed in Ross County as well. It was stressed to (chairman) Roy MacGregor that he has a responsibility that goes beyond Ross County, he has a responsibility as part of the SPL set up to have wider interest in Scottish football.

"Roy has given the reasons why they are not prepared to back it at this stage, which is very disappointing."

The SPL said in a statement: "At this morning's general meeting, all 12 Scottish Premier League clubs were present to consider proposals for restructuring of the Scottish professional game.  The proposals would have delivered:

*  an expansion of play-offs, creating more opportunities for promotion and relegation between divisions

*  a single merged league with meaningful games at every level

*  a pyramid structure for the entire game

*  opportunities for materially increased revenues coming into the game

*  substantial redistribution of revenues to lower league clubs.

"The proposals required 11 votes in favour to be approved.  Ten votes in favour were received, with two against.  The proposals were not therefore approved.

"During the meeting, and in an effort to break the deadlock, an amendment to the League's rules on voting was proposed.

"This major and progressive change would have allowed future league structure to be determined by a 9-3 vote, rather than the current 11-1 majority.  Prior to the meeting, a number of clubs had suggested that voting change would enable league structure change to be voted through.

"Unfortunately, this amendment was also defeated in principle on a show of hands, with the same two clubs voting against.

"The SPL board wishes to express its sincere thanks to every member of the SPL’s Restructure Working Group and to Harper Macleod for their hard work over many months.

"The Chief Executive and his team have worked tirelessly over the last three years to bring about positive change in the SPL.

"The board would like to place on record its deep disappointment that proposals to benefit the entire game in Scotland have been blocked."

SPL Chairman Ralph Topping said: “An overwhelming majority of SPL clubs voted for these proposals to go through.  The proposals foundered on the opposition of two clubs.  The package involved concessions from all clubs and was for the betterment of Scottish football as a whole.

"I would like to thank those who have supported these proposals, including those full-time professional clubs outside of the SPL who find themselves let down by today's vote.  Scottish football needs to change."

"I had previously announced my intention to step down once a successor had been identified.  I have today advised the Board that I will not be seeking re-election at the SPL's AGM this July."

The Scottish Football League said the special general meeting scheduled for Friday will no longer be required.

In a statement, it said: "The SFL have supported the core principles of the proposed League reconstruction plan since the Henry McLeish report was published in December, 2010. Henry’s review of Scottish football was well received and reflected a broad view of input from the widest range of football stakeholders.

"We believe that positive change for the good of the game can still be achieved, but this will require compromise, and a more flexible approach to some key issues. If all parties agree to this approach and some realistic time frames can be agreed, then the current momentum for positive change need not be lost.

"The board of the SFL will meet on Thursday to review where we are and a further statement may be appropriate at that time."