Proposals for a two-tier Scottish Premier League of 10 teams each are to be put to clubs next Monday.

As part of the reconstruction, play-offs would be introduced, the season would start earlier and a winter break would be built in.

The leagues beneath the top two would be regionalised if the plans put forward by the SPL's Strategic Working Group are ratified.

It is anticipated any changes would be introduced the season after next.

The working group was meeting on Sunday to draw up final details of what will be presented to all 12 SPL clubs at a meeting on 20 December.

While the proposals could be voted on at next Monday's meeting, it is understood a deferral of the vote until January is more likely, to allow clubs to fully consider the detail of the plan.

Equally, it is possible change could be pushed through in time for the beginning of next season, but season 2012/13 is viewed as being a more realistic timeframe.

Eleven of the 12 teams would have to vote in favour of the proposals in order for them to go through, a scenario that is not yet seen as inevitable.

The headline elements of the plans are largely agreed upon but there are a number of fine details still to be ironed out.

The working group consists of the SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, chairman Ralph Topping and representatives of Rangers, Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell and St Mirren.

They have been working since the spring to pull together what will be put to their fellow SPL members.

Between the two SPL leagues, there would be an automatic one up, one down.

But play-offs would also take place between the ninth-placed team in the top flight and the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams in the second tier.

That would mean a league season of 36 games - two fewer than present - plus play-offs for those involved, with the league split being abolished

The season would be brought forward by a few weeks to allow the clubs participating in Europe to be better prepared.

That would allow a winter break to be reintroduced - though the exact duration and timing of that is still up for debate.

Another strand to the proposals is the introduction of SPL 'B' teams in either the second tier of the SPL or the regionalised leagues, similar to the model of the top teams in Spain and Germany.

Supporters of that notion believe it would be more beneficial for their younger players to playing at under-19 level or going out on loan.

These teams would not be allowed promotion to the top flight.

Among the other details still to be settled upon is how to revert from the current top 12 to a league of 10, with one possibility being the relegation of three teams at the end of the season prior to change, with just one coming up.

Unsurprisingly, some clubs traditionally fighting to avoid relegation are sceptical about the wisdom of voting for a smaller league, but it is hoped they can be persuaded if a system can be devised whereby relegated teams receive greater compensation, to ease the blow of playing in the lower tier.

A lot of thinking and talking still has to be done, but it appears Scottish football is closer to change than any time in the last decade.

What do you make of it TMT? Especially since Morton would be on the borders of the SPL Second tier and the 3rd tier. I'm personally more of a fan of the 16 team suggestion that was made last year than this. i don't like the idea of Rangers and celtic having B teams in the lower leagues and although I can see the argument for regional leagues I don't think it should start in the 3rd tier.

Would rather see a 16 team top tier and two divisions of 12 teams with a pyriamid system that would incorporate the highland league and other regional leagues. If the juniors were interested in getting involved that would be all the better as there are a few teams that would give the league teams a run for their money.

The old firm reserves teams should not even be being considered as league teams, don't care if they would draw in some crowds for the smaller clubs.

The regionalised leagues is a good idea in principal as it would cut the cost of travelling, for example Morton are due to go up to Ross county on Tuesday night I know at least one supporters bus only has five people travelling up, that won't cover the cost of hiring the bus

Interesting developments, it has always seemed strange to me the way the league is currently structured. I hope that any changes would be in the best interests of the financial improvement of the teams that are lower down than just the more well known ones.

Plus hopefully any developments will help Scotland to continue improving their production of good young talents. There seem to be a few coming through and more Scottish players playing in England than there have been in a few years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/s...rem/9336457.stm

once again football teams ignore their fans and do what only is of interest to them. RIP Scottish Football



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/s...rem/9334707.stm

Scottish fans get bored watching the same old teams 4 times a season plus cup games.
This just makes things worse ( for the fan ).

Silly me. I thought there were only 2 teams in Scotland. I guess you learn something new every day.

Radical? Isn't 10 what they used to have before it became 12?

2 more than the US

Looks like they could have a rebellion on their hands, according to this football365 article. To be fair, I see the guy's point, but it's hard to see Scotland being able to support a league much bigger than it is now. No support and no quality, really. The focus should be youth development.

people are bored with playing the same team 4 times a season and paying far too much for a sh*t product, if the league was 16 teams with teams playing each other twice then more people will go. However many SPL clubs will not vote for that as they are greedy c#8ts and want to have 4 games v Rangers and 4 v Celtic so they make a lot of money regardless of what their own fans think.

the league is in need of reconstruction but with the idiots running the asylum scottish football is heading down the wrong route, hopefully dundee united vote against it, i have read that hearts, kilmarnock and inverness are also against the 10 team league so there maybe is still a bit of hope that a better outcome will be found

Very disappointing. The fans have obviously seen the appeal of more teams, yet the clubs (especially the bigger ones by the sounds of things) have decided they would prefer to still be ridiculed as a 2 team league, but not a 2 team league of 12 but of 10. On the basis of finances as well which makes little sense. If the league in general had the chance to improve and appeal to a bigger fanbase then the teams would generate more funds allowing them to be more of a force in europe.

So a bigger league = more fans interested, more prize money from doing better in europe due to the better development of players from playing in the top tier and a product that is more attractive in general. That'd make more financial sense to me.

there was no vote but reports from the SPL meeting today suggest there is a broad agreement that a 10 team top league with a 12 team second league will be created.

the 12 team league will see teams playing 44 times, i dont know what idiot thinks that is a good idea as we already play far to many games

I just can't look past an increased league size as the only sensible option.

Wtf. Talk about trying to kill Scottish football. Pretty disrespectful to the lower tiers also to not consider the amount of fixtures that will need playing, adding the time to catch up games which get postponed over cold winters.