LES GRAY, co-chair of the SPFL reconstruction group, is confident clubs will have a “preferred option” to consider before the end of the week.
The 15-club panel held two remote meetings this week to explore the possibility of changing the existing league set-up in time for next season.
That could mean either a switch to three divisions of 14 clubs or expanding the SPFL to 44 teams by including the Highland and Lowland League champions and moving to a 14-10-10-10 arrangement.
Gray, who also sits on the SPFL board, insists any talks over reconstruction aren’t being driven by a need to find a “solution which fixes things for (bottom teams) Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer” but by the unique situation that has arisen as a result of the Covid-19 virus.
And the Hamilton Accies vice-chairman hopes the picture will crystallize in the coming days.
"We hope to have a paper going back to the reconstruction group next week with a view of meeting again towards the end of the week,” he said.
“That paper will hopefully give them as a group what we as a board of the SPFL think are the pros and cons of all the methods that have come up for debate.
“I'd hope to have a preferred option [by end of next week] and then it's into the nitty-gritty.
“What we haven't discussed in the group is the distribution model and we haven't gone into depth about the temporary or permanent restructuring of it. That's the next stage in the debate.
“There are two methods that appear to be gathering support and momentum, but there are two or three other suggestions still on the table that we have to get to the bottom of as well.”
Gray also insisted the first two meetings had been cordial despite each club coming to the table with disparate requirements.
“We have had two good meetings. The meeting we had on Friday lasted about two hours and there was a lot of views expressed and everybody got a chance to speak.
“From the first meeting on Monday to the second meeting on Friday they had all submitted a paper to Ann (Budge, co-chair) and I for consideration that laid out what they felt was the way forward and also, after speaking to colleagues in their leagues, what they thought would work and might get the necessary support.
“There have been views exchanged in an open, professional manner. There isn't the toxicity that has been claimed. The clubs are all trying to do the right thing. Whether they can get to an agreement or not, I don't know at this stage.”
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