SPL announce 'broad support' for 10-team format

The Scottish Premier League have announced "broad support" for a 10-team Premiership and a 12-team Championship to be introduced as part of a revamp of Scottish Football.

All 12 top-flight clubs met at Hampden today to discuss the best way forward for the game north of the border after initial proposals for a two-tier SPL of 10 teams in each division was met with opposition from some clubs.

A formal vote on the plans discussed at today's meeting could be taken in two months.

An SPL statement 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.

"The SPL will now consult with the Scottish FA and the Scottish Football League and its clubs before a final decision by the SPL clubs."

Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Inverness had publicly expressed their opposition to a 10-team top flight, while those plans were not fully endorsed by Hearts.

A Supporters Direct poll also revealed that almost 90% of fans polled were opposed to a 10-team top division.

But SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster hopes the latest proposals can lead to a consensus being reached.

He said: "Clearly when clubs haven't got a detailed, finalised plan in front of them, then we need to understand that clubs want to reserve their final position and need to see a final document in front of them before they can give their ringing endorsement.

"But all 12 clubs have agreed to the statement today so hopefully this gives us a mandate to move forward."