Revolution not Evolution? How to reform Scottish football

Rangers, Celtic, Rangers, Celtic. Is it time for serious structural reform in Scottish football? William Heaney takes us through the options.

Scottish football has a history of missing opportunities and shooting itself in the foot. There have been numerous early exits at the group stages of the World Cup, with some infamous defeats along the way. Then there was the whole Berti Vogts era – the less said about that, the better. More recently the SPL clubs rejected a TV contract offer from Sky and instead went with the now doomed Setanta, before being bailed out by SKY and ESPN.

Is it about to happen all over again? During the second half of 2010, there has been much discussion about the restructuring of the Scottish leagues. The current 12 team SPL is far from popular, most notably for the ‘split’ which occurs after each side has played each other three times. The top six sides all meet each other once more and the bottom six do likewise. This can result in the team who finishes in seventh place having more points at the end of the season than the side finishing sixth. Problems with scheduling these final ‘post-split’ fixtures can also lead to a team playing against a rival once at home but then having to play the same opposition away on three occasions. It’s clear that change is needed but what are the options?

Two Leagues of Ten Teams

Former Scottish politician (and former East Fife player) Henry McLeish, was commissioned by the SFA to prepare a report on the state of Scottish football. One of his recommendations was a change to the league set-up, proposing an SPL and SPL2, each containing 10 clubs, playing four times a season. The chief executives of the SFA and SPL, Stuart Regan and Neil Doncaster, are also in favour of this format. However, a vote scheduled for 17/1/11, which would have decided whether two divisions of ten were introduced, has been postponed. It’s believed at least four clubs would have voted against the proposal, leaving it well short of the 10-2 majority required.

On the plus side, it means the end of the split. The TV companies would also be happy as it continues to provide four Old Firm league games per season.

However, we’ve been here before – since the mid 1970’s (when an 18 team league was scrapped), the top division of Scottish football has see-sawed between 10 and 12 clubs. The big issue with a 10 team league is the level of pressure on each club: a side pushing for the top four can lose a couple of games and be dragged into a relegation fight. This has a knock-on effect on the type of football played. Since clubs feel every game is a ‘cup final’, it becomes win at all costs every week. It also means some managers are less inclined to blood young players.

End First Past The Post

Yes, this is a serious suggestion. Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson believes that something has to be done to end the Old Firm’s domination of the Scottish game. He has a point, given that the last team to be champions, other than the big two, were Aberdeen….in 1985.

Thompson suggested that the top four teams in the table at the end of the season hold play-offs with a one-off match at Hampden to decide who will become league champions.

It’s never going to happen. While fans of US or Australian sports will be used to a championship ending this way, it’s not the norm for European club football, and hopefully never will be. It’s hardly fair that a club who could finish 30 points behind the league leaders, end up as champions.

The authorities would hardly be enthralled either, at the prospect of a Celtic v Rangers match on which the whole season hinges. Given the explosive nature of that contest, they would have to play the match around 3am…..on the moon.

A Bigger Top Division

While there is no perfect solution, increasing the number of teams in the top flight has to be the way ahead. Football fans in Scotland certainly believe so, with a recent survey by Supporters Direct finding that 70% of SPL fans would prefer a 16 or 18 team SPL.

Perhaps even more interesting is that 93% of fans feel that they have not been adequately consulted over the proposed changes. Yet despite this opposition to a 10 team league, the powers that be have no interest in a bigger top division.

Two divisions of 16 teams would be a step in the right direction. The remaining 10 teams in the lower divisions could then join up with junior (semi-professional) clubs and other non-league sides to form a pyramid structure with automatic promotion and relegation to/from the top two divisions.

Obviously there could be financial implications with clubs playing only 30 league games each season. However the advantages outweigh any concerns – less league games would allow the cancellation of fixtures as required, e.g. prior to clubs playing in Europe, or the national side taking part in qualifying matches. There would also be scope for a winter break. A 16 team league should also allow mid-table clubs some breathing space and aid in the development of young players.

Changing the league structure will not cure all of Scottish football’s ills: there are numerous other issues to be addressed including pricing, youth development and the fact that there are three governing bodies. However, whenever the member clubs meet to decide on league reorganisation, they will have the opportunity to significantly improve the long-term health of the game – hopefully they will take that chance.

Catch William Heaney over at Football Futbol Fitba.

(pic via Jonathan_W on Flickr)

Scotland, Scottish Premier League