Spl And Sfl Set For Merger

The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League could merge from next season, according to SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster.

Doncaster spoke after meeting managers to explain SPL plans to move to a top tier of 10 and second tier of 12.

‘I think moving to a different league structure will take more time and that certainly won’t be for this summer.

‘But my hope is that we can move forward as one league structure sooner rather than later,’ said Doncaster.

The SPL’s present 12 clubs met on Monday, after which Doncaster’s working party has been assigned the task of revise the plan so that it can be put to a vote.

It is unclear whether those clubs who previously opposed the 10-team top flight have now been persuaded to fall into line.

And Doncaster admitted that some among Scotland’s managers and coaches were also sceptical.

But he said: ‘I was impressed with the quality of the discussion that we had. Ultimately, this whole plan is about people putting aside vested interests and trying to achieve something for the common good.

‘And I re-emphasise the point that the model being put on the table is the only model that looks after all 42 clubs.

‘While there was good debate and people had different points of view on the detail, I think the thrust of it was that people appreciated that we are trying to something on a bigger scale for the whole of Scottish football.

‘On some issues some people have strong issues and on other small issues some people have views against and ultimately it is about taking a package and not dealing with things piecemeal.’

SFL chairmen last week voiced their opposition to proposals for a regionalisation of Divisions Two and Three – and Doncaster did not wish to speculate on how the SPL’s vote would go.