LONDON: The format of Scottish football could be set for an overhaul after both the country’s league bodies agreed in principle to a three-division restructuring proposal yesterday.
The decision was reached in a meeting of the Scottish Premier League (SPL), the Scottish Football League (SFL) and the Scottish Football Association (SFA), but Scottish clubs are yet to vote on the plans.
As part of the proposals, the SPL and SFL will merge, while the league system will be reorganised into three divisions, with 12 teams in the top two tiers and 18 in the third division.
“We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board, at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland,” said SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.
“I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football.
“That will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.”
Regan added: “The next stage is to take a worked-up plan to clubs and we hope to do that by the end of January.” Regan, who was joined at the meeting by SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and SFL counterpart David Longmuir, revealed that under the proposals, the top two divisions would split into three groups of eight after 22 matches.
“Ultimately it will be the clubs that decide but we have seen today a willingness to make change happen and a recognition that Scottish football is crying out for a new dawn and we have now got agreement to take to clubs for a single league body,” Regan said.
“That is a huge step for the game in Scotland and it shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea captain John Terry is making progress in his bid for a return to first-team action and could feature in this weekend’s Premier League match against Stoke, manager Rafael Benitez said yesterday.
The 32-year-old former England centre-back has been out of action for the European champions since a 1-1 draw with Liverpool on November 11 following a collision with Luis Suarez.
Initial indications were Terry would be out for three weeks but he is still to play first-team football nearly two months on.
Terry is due to face Chelsea’s west London rivals Fulham as an over-age player when the clubs Under-21 teams meet tomorrow. Agencies
