SPL clubs agree to reform

All 12 Scottish Premier League clubs have reached an agreement to cut the sides in next year’s top-flight to 10.

In a meeting at Hampden Park, it was agreed by the clubs that a 10-team top division would be better than the current format.

The clubs came to an agreement that would see the second tier involve 12 clubs and the SPL will now speak to the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Football League about the idea.

“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,” an SPL statement read.

“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.”

The 10-team format was preferred to a 14-team top-tier that had also been mooted and it is believed that other Scottish football clubs will vote on the proposal in the next few months.

“All 12 clubs have agreed to the statement today so hopefully this gives us a mandate to move forward,” SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said.

The decision for the clubs to agree on a 10-team Scottish Premier League is somewhat surprising, given the fact that a recent Supporters Direct poll showed 90 percent of respondents did not want a top division with only 10 teams.