The Scottish football reconstruction saga has taken another twist after the country’s SPL clubs appeared to fall in line behind controversial plans for a top division of 10.
A number of chairmen, Dundee United’s Stephen Thompson among them, had previously been vociferous opponents of the format.
An SPL of 14 clubs was the most likely alternative but, after a three-hour meeting at Hampden Park on Monday, that concept was dismissed and “broad” consensus was found for the 10-team set-up.
The one key difference from the original plan favoured by SPL chiefs Neil Doncaster and Ralph Topping is a second tier of 12, rather than 10.
Aspects of the proposal still need to be “further developed”, and consultation will also now take place with the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Football League.
A statement released by the SPL read, “The Scottish Premier League clubs today reaffirmed their commitment to the work of the Strategic Review Group to develop a structure for the whole of Scottish football.
“Broad support was given to progressing a 10-team premiership and a 12-team championship at the top of a pyramid for Scottish football as the preferred option.
“The SPL clubs have asked the executive team to further develop aspects of these proposals and to update the Strategic Review Group’s report.”UnisonSt Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown is of a mind that the 12 SPL chairmen are now in unison.
He commented, “I would like to think we have consensus.
“When you’ve got 12 individuals round a table it’s very difficult to say you are confident about anything, but I would certainly describe myself as optimistic.
“I first suggested a 10-12 structure so it’s taken them a long time to agree with me!
“I would describe the meeting as very amicable. The one thing that’s certain is that there was never going to be a 14-team league.
“That number just wouldn’t work, and what would happen to the tier below?
“There will now have to be another comprehensive report prepared before we next meet.”
Tannadice chairman Thompson was unavailable for comment.
He and Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov have been among those lobbied for support by SPL chief executive Doncaster and chairman Topping in recent days.
Research has found a 16-team league to be the most popular option among supporters but it was dismissed at a previous chairmen’s meeting as unworkable.
Doncaster and Topping claimed it was not financially viable. According to their calculations each member club would lose around £1 million per year as a result of lost matches and television revenue.
A 14-team league, which would have involved a mid-season split, appears to have now met the same fate as the 16.
No vote was possible on Monday as a formal resolution needs to be put to clubs 14 days beforehand and this has not happened.
The package of reform, which was originally planned to be adopted for the 2012-13 season, involves play-offs, an earlier start to the campaign and a winter shutdown.