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Scottish lower league clubs says they’ve been ‘left in dark’ despite SPFL reconstruction talks

Hearts have left other clubs with an uncertain future similar to their own.
Hearts have left other clubs with an uncertain future similar to their own.

Lower-league clubs feel they are being left in the dark when it comes to proposed SPFL reconstruction.

A 14-person taskforce with representation from all four divisions as well as the Highland League and Lowland League was set up by the SPFL last month to discuss possible restructuring of the Scottish League set up.

One of the ideas the panel, which is being led by Hearts chair Ann Budge and Hamilton vice-chairman Les Gray, has come up with is set to be discussed by Premiership clubs today.

This plan would be to revert to three divisions with a 14-team Premiership, 14-team Championship and a third tier of 16 teams.

Although top-flight clubs may be being briefed on reconstruction options sources indicated to the Press and Journal yesterday that most clubs in League One and League Two have heard nothing from the taskforce when it comes to plans that they may in the near future be asked to vote on.

Budge said when the reconstruction taskforce was formed that she felt reconstruction could be delivered within three weeks.

Monday will be 21 days since the panel held its first meeting so clubs are expecting to receive a proposal in the coming days.

The 14-14-16 model would see Hearts remain in the Premiership and Partick Thistle remain in the Championship and would also see Caley Thistle promoted to the top flight.

Falkirk, Airdrieonians, Montrose, East Fife and Dumbarton would join League One champions Raith Rovers in the Championship.

However, the plan would be bad news for Peterhead – who were sitting eighth in League One – and for League Two champions Cove Rangers.

The Blue Toon, Clyde (seventh) and Forfar (ninth) would be relegated along with 10th-placed Stranraer to the bottom tier.

League Two champions Cove would miss out on promotion despite winning the title.

Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League winners Kelty Hearts would be elevated into the SPFL.

Along similar lines, a 14-14-14 structure has also been mentioned which would deny Brora and Kelty entry to the SPFL.

Another plan – for a 14-team Premiership and three divisions of 10 below the top flight – would see Caley Thistle, Cove and Brora promoted while Peterhead would remain in League One.

For a reconstruction proposal to pass 11 Premiership clubs would need to vote for it – with 75% approval also required in the other three Scottish divisions.

Last week Peterhead boss Jim McInally told the Press and Journal that reconstructing to three divisions and thus relegating the Buchan outfit, Clyde and Forfar would be immoral.

Scotland’s longest-serving manager said: “It would be totally immoral for Peterhead, Clyde and Forfar to be relegated as a result of this.

“It would show once again that nobody cares about the smaller part-time teams and it would just be wrong.”