Spfl Plans Delayed

Last updated : 27 June 2013 By Queens MAD

sfa PIC

Moves to ratify Scottish football's new single league body have been delayed after SFL clubs failed to reach an immediate decision on merging with the Scottish Premier League.

Representative from 30 clubs arrived early at Hampden on Thursday and were expected to rubber stamp the creation of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL)

However SFL sides, including Annan Athletic, have now expressed doubts over the financial implications of the new set-up after studying due diligence.

SFL officials failed to reach a consensus at a morning meeting and will reconvene for further talks at 4pm.

Senior SPL sources remain confident the SPFL will be created on Thursday. The top flight's 12 member clubs held their own separate meeting at the national stadium and are still waiting at the league's offices as they await word from their SFL counterparts.

Alloa Athletic's Mike Mulraney told STV: "We've got another delay but we are pretty adamant that it is going to take place today so hopefully we'll get there pretty soon.

"We've got teams of lawyers and accountants that want to make sure they're getting their job done properly and there's some technical aspects that they want to clear up."

Asked how likely a resolution was on Thursday, Mulraney replied "100 per cent. We will get it done tonight."

First Division clubs had threatened to resign from the SFL if the plans weren’t approved, with Raith Rovers secretary Eric Drysdale saying he had no concerns over the new body, even if all 42 clubs don't decide to join.

The proposals would see the current 12-10-10-10 league structure retained with a play-off introduced between the side finishing second bottom of the top flight competing with teams finishing second, third and fourth in the second tier.

A new financial redistribution model would be introduced in addition to a new governance model.

Earlier this month SFL chief executive David Longmuir hailed the “reluctant heroes” who voted through a plan to merge the body with the SPL.

On the same day, SFL president Jim Ballantyne said the SFL had been a “casualty” of the process and said it was unclear as yet if the move would help Scottish football move forward.