By Andrew Warshaw
May 6 – In limbo since restructuring plans were kicked firmly into touch, Scottish football is now in further turmoil after 10 clubs announced they were considering quitting the Scottish Football League ahead of next season.
The BBC reported that a letter signed by the 10 has been sent to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) asking them to consider forming a new second tier instead
The move comes after last month’s rejection of a breakthrough pyramid plan that would have provided a more equitable financial distribution model for Scottish football with three divisions of 12, 12 and 18.
The 10 clubs are understood to be disillusioned with lack of progress and have taken legal advice about quitting the SFL without the required two years’ notice. For any breakaway to succeed, SPL clubs would need to approve the plan with an 11-1 majority required.
Hamilton Academicals chairman Les Gray told BBC Scotland: “We’ve given an alternative. It’s the last chance to do something for next season. We need to do something to create extra wealth for the second tier.”
The 12-12-18 proposal failed to receive the required majority when St Mirren and Ross County voted against. As a result, first division clubs met independently to discuss their own concerns that top-flight clubs had derailed the entire process, which was designed to close the financial gap between the haves and have-nots.
Rangers, Scotland’s biggest and best supported club alongside Celtic, would likely need to be in the new structure for it to have the power in the commercial marketplace it is looking for. Rangers, who have just won promotion from the Third Division after being dropped three division following bankruptcy, is not a signatory on the letter.
Reports in Scotland said the breakaway is likely to go ahead, provided play-offs are agreed as a part of a two-tier package.
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