Deadlock at the top, green light below: SPFL reform update
Herald Sport broke the news of a fresh move to reshape the leagues on April 1. And discussions will now revolve around expanding the Championship from 10 teams to 12 or 14, with Leagues One and Two merging to form one league of 16 or 18 clubs. Further talks are scheduled for May 7.
The move followed a feeling by lower league representatives on the CWG that the time was right for a conversation.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster has also spoken of the need address the issue of fixture congestion caused by the expansion of UEFA club competitions and to help to secure a softer landing for community clubs like Brechin City and Cowdenbeath when they drop out of the senior set-up to the largely unfunded Lowland and Highland Leagues.
While supporters broadly favour an expansion of the top flight to end the practice of clubs playing each other four times, the Competitions Working Group were unable to come up with a plan likely to obtain the 11-1 majority required to for major change in the Premiership. An assessment of ten, 14 and 16 teams found flaws in all three structures with no agreement reached.
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In contrast, there was a consensus around the idea of expanding the Championship and reshaping Leagues One and Two.
In a statement the SPFL said: The Competitions Working Group met on 29 April to discuss the possibility of league restructuring.
'It was agreed that there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus around a new format for the William Hill Premiership.
'There was, however, broad agreement around potential changes to the William Hill Championship, League 1 and League 2.
'These will be worked up with a view to conducting a consultation with clubs and other stakeholders.
Any rule changes are unlikely to take place in time for next season, with 2026/27 is considered a more realistic timescale.
Any formal resolution put to clubs by the SPFL Board would require the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, eight out of 10 Championship teams and 15 of the 20 teams in Leagues One and Two to pass.
A recent discussion sent to clubs proposed that the current fifth tier of the pyramid – the Highland League and Lowland League – should be replaced with a new tier of three regionalised leagues, based on the north, the east and the west.
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13 minutes ago
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Why I totally underestimated Leicester Tigers
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Of four critical Premiership fixtures since the Six Nations, I thought they would lose on the road to Northampton Saints and Bristol as well as in both home games against Sale. They won all of them; the first three handily and the latest, Saturday's semi-final, despite spurning nine points off the tee as well as three more after a skewed drop-goal attempt from Handre Pollard. Leicester have responded remarkably to a truly insipid Champions Cup defeat by Glasgow Warriors on April 5, landing five victories from six to navigate a congested league table and set up a defining date with Bath. No doubt they will relish praise being piled on to their opponents during the build-up, even if it is justified. Tigers thrive with a chip on their shoulder. They are better when a little bitter. In that respect, Cheika has been a fitting figurehead for a resurgent, restorative season. This term was never going to be dull and has not been without turbulence. Matt Everard, a hard-working and well-regarded defence coach, was dismissed abruptly following thrashings by Bristol and Toulouse in the space of a month. Leicester conceded 134 points across those two grisly games. Off the field, Cheika opted not to extend his contract and the search for his successor was not easy. Recruiting a fly-half to replace Pollard, a hunt that brought them to James O'Connor, became trickier as a result. Perhaps that uncertainty made it easier to forget that the current Tigers roster still represented a potent blend of youth and experience; a squad pressing up against the ceiling of the salary cap that has ripened. To use the Eddie Jones theory of maturation cycles, they are close to 12 on the clock face and reaching a peak. Nicky Smith, the Wales loosehead prop, always looked an excellent signing last summer and the January addition of electric wing Adam Radwan from Newcastle Falcons has been transformative – a coup for which general manager Richard Wilks deserves praise. Alex Sanderson, the Sale boss, commended Cheika's Tigers for an astute and accurate display on Saturday. Ferocity was a non-negotiable, especially at home, but Leicester were undeniably smart. Crucially, there is a balance to their front-line team now as well. Freddie Steward at full-back is an ideal foil for Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins, with the latter enjoying a fine campaign on the left wing. He has plundered 13 tries while growing more assured in defence and as an aerial operator. In the back row, the rangy Hanro Liebenberg and Tommy Reffell complement one another nicely. Nobody could have replicated Jasper Wiese's savagery, though Olly Cracknell has been thunderous at No 8. 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an hour ago
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney face up to £13.4billion reality after Wrexham promotion
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Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year. Sign up for Wrexham is the Game here Posting on social media, the Canadian wrote: "We've been with Wrexham for what seems like the blink of an eye, but so much has happened. "I remember the first press conference, we were asked what our goals were… and I think Rob jumped in with, 'The Premier League'. People laughed. They had every right to. It seemed insane… But we weren't kidding." Article continues below The co-owners have certainly taken steps to shore up Wrexham's financial position in recent times and prudently took out an insurance policy to cover the cost of promotion bonuses ahead of the 2024/25 season. However, climbing into the Championship will be the biggest challenge they have faced yet during their whirlwind journey.
Daily Record
2 hours ago
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Joining Larne was the best move I made, but I'm home for my daughter, says ex-Accies ace
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