Scottish Football League clubs have voted in favour of a proposed merger with the Scottish Premier League . The bodies will form a new Scottish Professional Football League in time for next season, averting a threatened breakaway from Division One clubs. A revised financial distribution model will be introduced, feeding more money into the second tier. The league structure will remain the same, with a top flight of 12 and three lower divisions of 10. SPL clubs had already unanimously agreed on a package of measures that would deliver a merged league body for the new campaign and play-offs between the top league and the second tier. There had been dissenting voices from Second and Third Division clubs but 23 of the 29 clubs voting backed the plan for restructuring. A minimum of 22 votes was required, while Third Division champions Rangers did not get a say as they remain associate members having joined last summer. Earlier plans for a 12-12-18 divisional set-up were jettisoned in April after the model failed to get the 11-1 majority backing required from the 12 SPL clubs. A meeting of all 42 senior clubs will now be called to formalise the creation of the new governing body in time for next term.
Good stuff. I really don't like the "rich get richer" model in England, so hopefully Scotland are going to move away from that. All it needs now it for Celtic to go the way of Sevco and have a proper competitive top flight!
