THE 12 Scottish Premier League clubs will meet again next week to discuss the possible introduction of play-offs after the prospect of league reconstruction being concluded in time for next season was killed off for good yesterday.
A fortnight after the proposed introduction of a new 12-12-18 league set-up – it included an all-through financial distribution model, the merger of the SPL and the Scottish Football League into a single governing body and the creation of a pyramid system below the third division – was defeated 10-2 in a vote, the clubs met again at Hampden to see if there was still scope to reshape the game in time for next year.
After a three-hour meeting, it was decided that it would not be realistic to implement substantial change in the timescale available between now and the start of the new season. Instead, the clubs discussed the possibility of introducing a play-off system to create one, possibly two, extra relegation berths at the foot of the Premier League.
With four different models under consideration, the clubs will reconvene a week today to discuss the financial implications of each one. It is hoped that potential extra income from play-offs – in the form of additional sponsorship, broadcasting rights and matchday revenue – might soften the blow for clubs who are relegated before the implementation of more equitable financial distribution. Neil Doncaster, the SPL's chief executive, admitted the introduction of play-offs was "a possibility, no more than that" but believed there was still an appetite for change.
"There was a view from certain clubs that having got so close [two weeks ago] with only two voting against out of 12, it was worth back to see if anything could be agreed, after all the hard work that had been carried out in the previous few months," said Doncaster.
"After a good discussion, the clubs agreed that time was probably too tight to agree on full league reconstruction before next season, involving a merger.
"It is now extremely unlikely that that will take place. But there was a desire to further explore whether simply taking play-offs remains possible, and the clubs will be getting together again next week to look at that in isolation.
"What you are effectively asking clubs to do is take on board the additional financial risk of relegation but without all of the financial reward they would have had through reconstruction. So I think it is more difficult. I think we need to recognise that going into next week's meeting."
David Southern, the Hearts managing director, added: "It was a broadly positive meeting. We are all still talking and we are all moving in the right direction. The idea of league reconstruction as a whole won't be on the table. But play-offs will."
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