The Scottish Football League board will meet today to discuss proposals for merging with the Scottish Premier League and taking Rangers newco into the first division.
With six top-flight clubs now having indicated an intention to vote no to the transfer of the SPL share, the key issue is how the SFL teams will react to accommodating the club.
Talks were held last weekend among the SPL, SFL and SFA over plans to merge the two leagues into a single body, but there are several details to be agreed. David Longmuir, the chief executive of the SFL, has, though, put all 30 clubs on notice of a meeting being called to vote on the issue. The proposals would also include the introduction of play-offs between the first division and the Premier League and new revenue-distribution rules.
However, the supporters of some first division sides are uncomfortable at the notion of Rangers playing in their league next season, not least because they fear it would compromise the title race. Partick Thistle fans have been vocal in their protest and the Firhill club has pledged their views will be of "paramount importance" in their actions.
A statement from the Firhill board read: "We want to ensure the sporting integrity of our game is upheld. At the same time, however, we also need to be mindful of the commercial situation within Scottish football, especially that of Partick Thistle. We believe Scottish football needs to be restructured – financial distribution needs to be fairer for all clubs and we believe play-offs must be introduced between the first division and SPL as a bare minimum.
"However, before making any decision which will affect Partick Thistle we, as a board, will look at all the facts and make what we believe is a fully-informed decision which will benefit Partick Thistle and Scottish football. We are keen to emphasise the views of our supporters will be of paramount importance to us.
"Working closely with the 'onethistle' group, we would make use of every avenue open to us to seek the views of, and canvas opinion from, our supporters to help us better formulate a position that promotes the best interests of Partick Thistle and Scottish Football as a whole. The future of the sport in this country is too important not to involve the lifeblood of the game, the supporters, in making the important changes necessary to safeguard the future."
Doing so quickly is equally important, according to John Christison. The chairman of Arbroath has urged the SPL to bring forward the July 4 vote so that SFL clubs can finalise their fixture lists – and even which division they will be playing in – for the new term.
Christison said: "Surely for the sake of clarity for all clubs this vote should take place quicker and allow us all to plan for the future? We don't know what league we will be in as there is no precedent and we don't even know what the fixtures will now be for the very first game of the season in the Ramsden's Cup.
"If Dunfermline Athletic are readmitted to the SPL, will Forfar Athletic play Rangers? Or if Dundee go up will it be Brechin City? How do these clubs plan when they don't know who they are playing?"
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