Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has revealed his club have come under intense pressure to back a 10-team league even being threatened with a breakaway set-up not involving them.
The Tangerines have been feeling the heat from the SPL and officials of other teams who are in favour of the changes proposed by the SPL’s strategy group.
However Thompson and the rest of the United board remain unconvinced of the merits of reverting to 10 from the current 12.
The Tannadice supremo believes they are joined in that opinion by at least another three and possibly as many as five SPL teams.
“We have been coming under huge pressure to back the proposal to go to a 10-team league, but nothing has changed as far as Dundee United is concerned,” said Thompson.
“I am still unconvinced that 10 is the way to go and that does not mean I am against change. I am not against change if it improves Scottish football.
“As we stand, I would say that there are four clubs who would vote no to the proposal were a vote to be held tomorrow, while another one or two are possibles.
“So that could be as many as half the teams in the league who have yet to be convinced 10 is the way forward.
“I keep getting told that if I am going to vote against then I need to have an alternative.
“What I am saying is that why can’t we keep a 12-team league and try to improve that, by introducing play-offs and looking at other ways of enhancing the product?
“Also, we need to start talking up Scottish football and stop knocking what we have up here.”
When asked if there had been any threat by those supporting a 10-team division to form a breakaway league, Thompson replied, “I have heard about it (breaking away) and it had been mentioned. That is up to them.”