No return to ten-team Premiership as SPFL eyes changes to lower divisions
There will be no return to a ten-team Premiership after the SPFL admitted that there was no consensus around changes to the top flight.
Discussions around league reconstruction returned earlier this month after it was revealed that a working group was considering options to change the format of the professional league set-up.
Different proposals were to be discussed, including a 14 or 16-team Premiership or even a return to a ten-team top flight.
The issue was being consideration partly to try and find a way to lower the number of games being played, as an increased number of games in UEFA competition and a busy international calendar had made for a tight schedule with little room to accommodate postponements.
Consideration of a ten-team Premiership proved controversial, with many fans and clubs opposed to a smaller top division, but some within the game believing it was the best option for the future.
The SPFL sub-committee held talks to see what recommendations could be put to member clubs and have reached a conclusion, ruling out any reconstruction that involves changing the size of the Premiership.
However, there is an appetite to look at changes to the other three divisions and a consultation is to take in the views of clubs and others affected.
An SPFL spokesperson said: 'The SPFL's 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.'
Tha announcement gives certainly about the format of the Premiership at the end of a season where 'the split' has ensured a fight to the end of the season to confirm European places, and a hard-fought battle between several teams to avoid relegation.
Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
From Cerny's water bottle to the fox that halted a cup tie, Mail Sport presents the A-Z of a brilliant but barmy season
That's all, folks. Some 331 days after the League Cup groups got us underway, Monday's game in Liechtenstein marked the end of the Scottish season. It's been exhilarating, controversial and entertaining. Say what you like about the quality. In terms of storylines, it's never dull. There's scarcely a month to exhale and recharge the batteries before we do it all again. So, let's briefly pause to recall the highlights, the lowlights, the weird and the wonderful from the campaign just gone. AMERICAN TAKEOVER They finally got the keys to Ibrox. After months of negotiations, a consortium involving 49ers Enterprises struck the deal which signals the start of a new era. As well as Rangers, there will be another four Premiership clubs figuratively flying the Stars and Stripes next season — Dundee, Dundee United, Livingston and Hibs, plus St Johnstone and Dunfermline in the Championship. BUDDIE HELL A third successive top-six finish for St Mirren under the tutelage of Stephen Robinson would have been a remarkable achievement in itself. But the feat was accomplished with the club parting ways with three players — Jaden Brown, Shaun Rooney and Kevin van Veen — who each had legal issues. CHAMPIONS Celtic again. Rangers stumbled from the off. Aberdeen gave the Parkhead men a run for their money then fell away. Brendan Rodgers' players didn't lose a Premiership match up until the New Year and coasted home by 17 points to wrap up their 13th title in 14 years. DON'T I KNOW YOU? Celtic fans attending the home match with Rangers in September might well have done a double take when they saw a certain figure making his way through the crowd. That's surely not Oscar-winning actor Christoph Waltz? Well, in fact, it was. Just taking a break from filming a new movie apparently. EUROPE Celtic enjoyed a strong Champions League campaign and were only narrowly beaten by Bayern Munich. Rangers fared well in the Europa but fell to Athletic Bilbao in the last eight. Hearts couldn't get out of the Conference League. Neither Kilmarnock or St Mirren got that far. Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen will do it again next season. FALLING SPIDERS Queen's Park's momentous victory over Rangers in the Scottish Cup was the point of no return for Philippe Clement. It was, bizarrely, the beginning of the end for Spiders boss Callum Davidson who was sacked after winning just one of his next seven games. GOING DOWN For the first time in the history of the national team, a relegation. Without a win in the three opening Nations League games with Poland, Croatia and Portugal, Steve Clarke's side scrambled a play-off spot. But, having won away to Greece, they capitulated at home. HAT DOFFED Willie Collum promised greater transparency and accountability when he became head of refereeing. There was no attempt on his part to close ranks on the many occasions his match and VAR officials got things wrong. His review show was refreshingly honest. INSOLVENCY Both Dumbarton and Inverness entered administration and were hit with automatic 15-point penalties. The Sons were relegated from League One. Remarkably, Inverness stayed up. Happily, both clubs look like they have brighter futures ahead. JOB SECURITY Only five clubs who started the last Premiership season will begin the new one with the same manager at the helm. Rangers, Hearts, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Dundee all made changes, as did St Johnstone who are now in the Championship. KEEP THE FAITH You'd like to think David Gray bought Rocky Bushiri a drink at Hibs' end-of-season bash. Gray looked set for the sack until the defender scored in stoppage time against Aberdeen in November. It changed everything. LEITH DELIGHT Hibs women took the title by winning at Ibrox on the final day of the season. There was consolation for Rangers as they beat Glasgow City in the Scottish Cup final and Hibs in the League Cup final. MORE IBROX BLUES Big expectations, yet another barren season for Rangers. They were right to feel aggrieved when they lost the League Cup on penalties to Celtic, but went out of the Scottish Cup to Queen's Park and were a distant second in the Premiership. NO STOPPING HIM Dick Campbell turned 71 in November. By the time the season was out, he'd taken East Fife up to League One via the play-offs. It was the seventh promotion of his career. He might just know what he's doing. OH NO! NOT ANOTHER ONE Scotland's end-of-season friendly against Iceland should have been easily forgotten. Alas, it will always be remembered as the Cieran Slicker game. An early sub for Angus Gunn, he was at fault for three goals on his debut. PARTY TIME Aberdeen's first Scottish Cup triumph in 35 years was achieved despite everything being against Jimmy Thelin's side. They hadn't beaten Celtic in 30 meetings and lost 5-1 at home to Brendan Rodgers' men 10 days earlier. A win on penalties was the cue for extraordinary celebrations in the Granite City. QUICK, ISN'T HE? Celtic's supersonic winger Daizen Maeda was often unplayable. He scored 33 times, many of those goals coming after he'd been moved into the centre to fill Kyogo Furuhashi's boots. RIP-OFF Dundee United supporters were offered the chance to own a digital piece of the hallowed Tannadice turf for 12 months at the cost of just £29.99. Anyone who missed out can always buy some magic beans. SAY THAT AGAIN After Rangers were denied a seemingly legitimate goal at Easter Road, John Brown, on co-comms for the club's TV channel stated: 'That's corrupt.' To which commentator Tom Miller replied: 'I'm not sure we can actually say that.' Brown: 'Well, I'm saying it.' TONY BLOOM The role Jamestown Analytics played in appointing Neil Critchley was never going to deter Hearts from welcoming a £10million investment from the Brighton owner for a 29-per-cent stake. Interesting times await under Derek McInnes. UPS AND DOWNS Falkirk, Livingston, Arbroath, Peterhead, East Fife and East Kilbride were promoted. St Johnstone, Ross County, Hamilton Accies, Annan, Dumbarton and Bonnyrigg Rose took the drop. VICTOR MELTDOWN As if Dunfermline's trip to Ayr wasn't spicy enough given it saw Neil Lennon and Scott Brown face each other in the dugout, the Pars also signed Victor Wanyama. A forgettable day for the Fife club was complete when the one-time Celtic midfielder was sent off for handball. WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? Musselburgh Athletic's Scottish Cup tie against Darvel was delayed after the referee asked for a fox to be removed from the pitch. Stranraer's league clash with Stirling Albion was held up as the ball got stuck up a tree. X-CERTIFICATE A depressing aspect of the campaign was the rise in objects being thrown onto pitches at grounds up and down the country. At Tannadice, Aberdeen's Jack MacKenzie was struck on the head with part of a chair launched from the visiting section. YOU ASKED FOR IT When Hamza Igamane scored Rangers' winner at Celtic Park in March, Vaclav Cerny soaked home supporters with his water bottle. Never let it be said the administrator of Celtic's official X account has a short memory. When Rodgers' side then clinched the title, the post read: 'We only spray champagne.' ZERO OUT OF 10 FOR COMMON SENSE
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Crystal Palace receive last minute takeover bid from Donald Trump pal that could rescue Europa League hopes
The would-be Palace buyer held an important role during Trump's first term TRUMP CARD Crystal Palace receive last minute takeover bid from Donald Trump pal that could rescue Europa League hopes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEW YORK JETS owner Woody Johnson has launched a bid to buy John Textor's minority stake in Crystal Palace, according to reports. Textor, 59, has been trying to flog his shares as Uefa threaten to throw Palace out of next season's Europa League. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Woody Johnson has launched a bid for Crystal Palace Credit: Getty The Eagles qualified for the Europa League by virtue of lifting the FA Cup last month. As Textor, who owns a 43 per cent stake in Palace, is also majority owner of French side Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League, the Eagles' place in Europe has come under threat. Uefa rules dictate that two teams under the same ownership cannot compete in the same competition. Textor could have placed his shares into a blind trust by March 1 to avoid this issue, but with Palace's FA Cup triumph still appearing to be a long shot at the time, the American businessman did not. Palace chiefs are currently desperately trying to convince Uefa that Textor has no involvement in day-to-day goings on at the club. The Missouri-native has long been thought to be trying to flog his shares. And according to Sky Sports, Jets owner Johnson has made a bid. Johnson, 78, served as US ambassador to the UK during Donald Trump's first administration. Last month it was reported that the New Jersey-native may even try to buy a controlling stake in the Eagles. Long-serving chairman Steve Parish owns around 10 per cent of the South London club, having helped to save them from going bust in 2010. Americans David Blitzer and Josh Harris own 36 per cent, with Textor possessing 43 per cent. Parish and Textor are said to have fallen out in 2023. And last year, the latter attempted to buy Everton, before being beaten by compatriot Dan Friedkin. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Brighton agree £29.8m Kostoulas deal
Brighton have agreed a £29.78m (35m euros) deal with Olympiakos for 18-year-old forward Charalampos teenager was undergoing a medical with the club on Thursday, ahead of signing a five-year contract that will start on 1 July. The deal represents by some distance the highest fee ever received by a Greek club, beating the £16.6m Wolves paid to sign Daniel Podence from Olympiakos in 2020. Should an add-on of £1.7m for Kostoulas be met during his time at Brighton, it would be a record paid for a Greek player - topping the £30.63m Napoli paid Roma for Kostas Manolas in 2019. The Greece Under-21 international made his first-team debut in 2024, having come through Olympiakos' academy. Kostoulas was a regular starter as the Olympiakos won the prestigious UEFA Youth League in 2024, beating Inter Milan and Bayern Munich on their way to the final, where they defeated AC forward netted seven goals in 22 league appearances last season.
