The SPFL’s termination notice will have hit some inboxes yesterday with a jolt.
Their proposal to put a cancellation of the Championship, League One and League Two to a vote, with position based on current points averages, leaves some teams significantly disadvantaged.
Promoting Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers – all current leaders based on regular league standings – is not too far-fetched, but the fact they are the only teams that move up and both Partick Thistle and Stranraer would be relegated is a far from perfect solution.
Let us start with our teams in the north. Inverness have been keen advocates of league restructuring, which could mean a 14-team top flight and they would be promoted alongside Dundee United. Based on the current proposal and scrapping of the end-of-season play-offs, for scheduling reasons, the Caley Jags would be condemned to a fourth season in the Championship. That could mean further cutbacks at a time when the club has already gone to great lengths to secure additional funding.
Brora Rangers would be snubbed of the chance to play for an SPFL place too. There is no mention of relegation from League Two or what happens to the Highland or Lowland League champions, with neither getting a say in the vote next week either.
Elgin City may feel aggrieved that they will not get the chance to play in the promotion play-offs, although this displeasure may be offset by getting their prize money early and helping stave off months without income.
The proposal would obviously benefit Cove, who have clearly been the best team in League Two anyway, in presenting them with the title and progression into League Two.
Peterhead would likely welcome it too, given it would ensure League 1 football for another season and stave off any threat of relegation.
However, there are numerous teams further afield that would rightly feel aggrieved by such an outcome. Partick Thistle trail Queen of the South by two points with a game in hand while Stranraer, albeit adrift, are not mathematically relegated from League One either. There are also numerous teams like Montrose, Falkirk and Airdrieonians in that division, plus Edinburgh City and Cowdenbeath in League Two and Dundee and Ayr from the Championship, who may feel they had a reasonable chance at promotion through the play-offs. There are also teams that stood a chance of getting into the play-offs. How far do you go down?
It has to be said that this has to pass a vote of all 30 teams, believed to be 75% per division, before it is to come to pass. It is by no means a certainty but is a significant step by the SPFL to resolve the final league standings.
They remain committed to trying to finish the Premiership season, but have said, should that prove impossible, the same termination would apply and points-averages used again.
A pivotal period lies ahead in the coming weeks that may well reshape the landscape of Scottish football.
