Revolutionizing the Scottish Premiership: A Shift to 10, 14, or 16 Teams?

The Scottish Premiership is on the brink of a significant transformation, with discussions underway to potentially expand the league to 10, 14, or 16 teams. This move is primarily aimed at alleviating fixture congestion and improving the overall quality of football in Scotland.

Current Structure and Its Challenges

Currently, the Scottish Premiership operates with 12 teams, which split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, culminating in a total of 38 games per season. This format has been in place since the 2000-01 season. However, the repetitive nature of playing the same teams multiple times a season has led to calls for change.

Financial Implications

One of the major hurdles in any league reconstruction is the financial distribution model. Last year, the SPFL reported a record turnover of £44 million, with over £33 million allocated to the clubs. The top-flight clubs received more than £27.5 million of this total, with the remainder distributed among the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2.

European Solidarity Payments

Premiership clubs not participating in European competitions receive 'solidarity payments' from UEFA, distributed by the Scottish FA. Last season, these payments exceeded £600,000, with expectations for this season's total to reach around £900,000.

Calls for Change

Livingston manager David Martindale has voiced the need for change, advocating for a larger Premiership to provide smaller clubs with a more substantial share of the financial pie. He emphasized the importance of promoting youth and improving the quality of the game, which can become monotonous with the current structure.

SPFL's Stance

An SPFL spokesperson confirmed that the competitions working group will soon meet to discuss various options for league reconstruction. The outcome of these discussions could pave the way for a more dynamic and competitive Scottish Premiership.