SCOTTISH football's three governing bodies last night outlined plans to expand the top flight for the start of the 2013/14 season.

Models for both a 14-team and 16-team league will be considered by a new working party although Herald Sport understands the emphasis is on a 14-team top tier supported by a further two leagues of 14, with the potential to expand to a 16 further down the line.

The seven-man working group, which will be formed in the event the SFL clubs vote Rangers newco into the Irn-Bru First Division at a special general meeting tomorrow, will contain three representatives from the Scottish Premier League, two from the Scottish Football League, and an independent nominated by each governing body. Other potential measures include the introduction of play-offs and installing a functioning pyramid system by the start of the 2014/15 term.

A deadline of November 30 will be set for the group to reach agreement on the detail before the SFA are forced to take matters in-house and impose a new structure for themselves. It remains unclear which aspects of the plan will go forward in the event the SFL clubs vote Sevco Scotland into the third division.

Members of the working party will be announced soon, although it is thought that the effective four-three split between SPL and SFL is a source of some discontent to the lower-league chairmen, whose clubs would retain their percentage share of the original £2m settlement agreement which was set up between the leagues at the time of the SPL breakaway in 1998. Relegated SPL clubs can expect an increase in their parachute payments.

"There are a number of options which involve the restructuring of the league," said David Longmuir, the SFL chief executive. "It's part of a mix, there are others as well that we are looking at. What we are trying to do here is to take Scottish football forward, and to take it forward in a way that excites and interests fans, keep clubs viable and doesn't lose fans to the game."

The joint memo of understanding issued by the three governing bodies represents a U-turn from Neil Doncaster, the SPL chief executive, who had previously proposed a 10-team top flight, but buys into the overwhelming consensus among Scottish football fans that bigger is better. It also clearly sets the agenda for tomorrow's vote of the SFL's rank and file, with a simple majority of member clubs required for any of the three resolutions to be passed.

The first talks of admitting Sevco Scotland as an associate member into "the league", the second grants the SFL board the privilege to install them in the first division subject to the endorsement of the SPL-SFL-SFA restructuring deal, and the third allows for the resignation of either Dundee or Dunfermline Athletic in order to take up the 'Club 12' vacancy in the SPL.

Clyde are just one club who feel that the wording of the resolutions is ambiguous and liable to misinterpretation but Longmuir will seek to soothe such fears prior to tomorrow's meeting. "You have the complete freedom to make whatever choice you see fit on Friday," Longmuir said. "No-one should feel under pressure or threat to make a decision that you feel is not in the best interests of our game."

If endorsed by the SFL tomorrow, the plan will then go before the SPL on Monday.