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Neil Doncaster has floated the idea of enlarging the top flight to 14 teams


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http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...6-17-1-3970519

 

LEAGUE chief executive Neil Doncaster has floated the idea of enlarging the top flight to 14 teams – with the possibility that such changes could be introduced in time for next season.

 

An increase from a 12 team to a 14-team Premiership is believed to have widespread support throughout the Scottish Professional Football League because the vast majority of the 42 senior clubs would stand to gain. These teams are currently configured 12-10-10-10 in a four-tier hierarchy. In the set-up under discussions, sides would be split into three league of 14. Effectively, that would earn 18 of them promotion from their present placing at a stroke.

 

Doncaster, speaking at the Scottish FA convention at Hampden yesterday, mentioned the idea of a bigger league in the context of the revamping of the League Cup.

 

The SPFL chief executive maintained that innovation had underpinned the £8 million deal with BT Sport announced on Monday for the redrawn tournament, which will begin in mid-July with a group stage including penalty shoot-outs in drawn matches. Such innovation could now be focussed on the league structure, he suggested.

 

“We always want something bigger and better than we have at the moment,” Doncaster said. “Hopefully, with the changes we’ve announced with the League Cup we’ve delivered that, but the discussion will continue.

 

“If you look at Denmark they are currently bringing in a 14-team league from what was a 12-team league previously. Innovation in league football always continues all around the world and we’re no exception.”

 

Doncaster stated last summer there was a widespread desire to reduce the number of matches. The perceived problem previously with a 14-team league was that, in order to avoid free weekends created by a 7-7 split after two rounds of matches, there would need to be a 6-8 split, which would mean the bottom section playing 40 league games.

 

However, the Danes have tackled this by splitting off the eight into two groups of four – one group comprising the teams in seventh, ninth, 11th and 13th; the other comprising the teams in eighth, 10th, 12th and 14th. As a result, after each of the 14 teams played each other home and away, the top six would play each other home and away again for a 36-game total.

 

The teams in each bottom section would play against their section rivals home and away. giving each club a further eight games for a 32-game total.

 

Points would carry forward. With fewer games in the bottom section in the regular season, play-offs could be fitted in without the current squeeze.

 

This format would be replicated througout the three divisions.

 

Could one of the boards team be facing relegation perhaps.:rolleyes:

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I'm no fan of Doncaster but he's only doing his job. Scottish football needs a strong Rangers in its top division. These proposals would guarantee that.

We need to be there next season. I bet our board would support this & they'd be correct to do so

Edited by RANGERRAB
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I'm no fan of Doncaster but he's only doing his job. Scottish football needs a strong Rangers in its top division. These proposals would guarantee that.

We need to be there next season. I bet our board would support this & they'd be correct to do so

 

I'm sorry Rab but I couldn't give a monkeys what the rest of Scottish football needs. They are all struggling right now. We on the other hand are doing rather well when it comes to finance through attendances. In my opinion this latest charade has nothing to do with improving the football on offer or the lot of Scottish clubs as a whole. Strings are being pulled to ensure that if that shower of shyte from the north east go down a safety net will be there to catch them.

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I'm no fan of Doncaster but he's only doing his job. Scottish football needs a strong Rangers in its top division. These proposals would guarantee that.

We need to be there next season. I bet our board would support this & they'd be correct to do so

 

This has nothing to do about Rangers going up and everything to do to cover Dundee Hivs relegation. It stinks of SPFL board covering Thompson's arse.

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