Scottish Premier League chief executive Neil Doncaster has urged the country's professional clubs to push ahead with reform this summer and described talk of a potential SPL2 as a "distraction".
Doncaster confirmed he had held talks with some Scottish Football League clubs after 29 of their members attended a meeting on Thursday which indicated that around half were reluctant to vote for immediate change.
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Fourteen of the clubs argued that league reconstruction proposals should be delayed despite previously widespread support for plans for a merged league with a 12-12-18 structure and extended play-offs to be implemented in time for next season.
But Doncaster insisted he was only answering questions at the impromptu meeting and wants to focus on unified change rather than discussing a possible breakaway of First Division clubs to join the top 12.
Doncaster said: "We're in danger of getting distracted. A lot of work has gone in to creating something exciting. All the elements have been agreed and we should push forward.
When you start talking about different elements and ideas, you are going to get distracted. We need to push on with what's been agreed and try to deliver it."
Hamilton chairman Les Gray and his Falkirk counterpart Martin Ritchie have both vowed to explore the SPL2 option if immediate change is blocked.
But Doncaster added: "Anything you talk about as an alternative to what's on the table at the moment is a distraction.
"I heard Les on the radio and he came across as eloquent and passionate about his club and passionate about the need for change."
He added: "It's not acceptable to start saying 'well, let's just push it back a year because we can'. I think we should focus on delivery of the deal for this summer.
"The deal is the deal agreed by all parties in January and for whatever reason some people want to push it back."
Gray had earlier outlined his club's position on their official website.
"It has always been my intention to try and find a 42-club solution," he said.
"However it appears that lower league clubs, either through self-interest or indeed for other reasons, feel they cannot support the structural changes on offer.
"With this in mind I am compelled to investigate all the other options available to the First Division clubs and as a result I led a party of nine clubs to a meeting with Neil Doncaster.
"I am still hopeful that after the SPL clubs vote on 15th April that the SFL vote may be different but I have to be honest and say I cannot see that happening.
"We hope that common sense will prevail but in the interim we cannot sit back and let other clubs determine our business model and finances in a fashion which will be a huge disadvantage to the club."
Doncaster ruled out implementing some interim piecemeal measures, such as play-offs between the SPL and second tier, and insisting the only options were the status quo or the full reform package - which would see the top two divisions split into three midway through the season.
Doncaster said: "The middle eight is the place where you are going to have exciting, meaningful games every week.
"The only way to persuade SPL clubs to vote for a far greater chance of relegation is to rip up the current distribution model and push a lot more money down to the First Division."
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