Jump to content

Rangers Propose League Change (Inc "B Team")


Recommended Posts

Rangers and celtic would both have 'B' teams in the bottom tier of a 14-14-18 league set-up being proposed by the Ibrox club for next season.

Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers would also be invited into the SPFL to make up an expanded League One, with the "innovation paper" also suggesting Hearts and Partick Thistle avoid their respective relegations.

Both Old Firm B sides would immediately pay a £125,000 joining fee, with further payments to be made in each of the following three campaigns.

That money would go to third-tier clubs and would reduce by £25,000 each term across a four-year deal, with the entire plan worth a total of £1.2m of "new finance".

What else is in the 'innovation paper'?

Rangers and celtic B teams can only get promoted as high as the Championship;

Their players will have an age limit of 21;

The Old Firm will purchase at least 200 tickets at a cost of £15 for each away game, with the money paid in advance;

They will also pay £1000 to stream each of those matches, should facilities be in place

Other Premiership clubs can apply to have 'B' teams starting in the Highland and Lowland leagues - replacing Kelty and Brora - with a joining fee of £25,000;

Alternatively, they could forge strategic partnerships with lower-league outfits that would allow up to six players, plus one coach to be loaned by the Premiership club;

Those partnerships would have a minimum three-year commitment and would cease if the lower-league club reaches the top flight.

How would the divisions work?

Hearts and Inverness Caledonian Thistle would be added to top 12;

League would split into a top six and bottom eight after 26 matches;

Top six would play home and away (total 36 games) as would the bottom eight (total 40 games);

One team would be relegated, and another would face a play-off as currently.

Raith Rovers, Falkirk, Airdrie, Montrose, East Fife and Dumbarton would be moved up;

League would split into a top six and bottom eight after 26 games;

Top six would play home and away (total 36 games) as would the bottom eight (total 40 games);

One team would be promoted, plus three more would make play-offs as currently;

Bottom two would be relegated, with the 12th-placed team in play-off.

Teams would meet twice each season;

Top two would be guaranteed promotion, with teams in third, fourth, fifth and sixth in play-offs to decide who would face off with 12th team in Championship;

Bottom side will enter play-off with Highland or Lowland League play-off winner as currently;

There is scope for second bottom team to also become part of play-offs.

Why are Rangers proposing it?

The Ibrox club say their objectives are to ensure no club is worse off as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic and to inject "new finance" into the "vulnerable" lower leagues to improve standards.

Furthermore, Rangers say they want to achieve the "freshness" that reconstruction would bring while making sure "the pyramid is respected" and keeping each club's share of prize-money distribution the same.

Another plank is to tackle the "player transition challenge" with a "menu" of options for different-sized clubs ranging from B teams to the existing loan agreements and reserve league.

What happens next?

It is unclear how much support exists for the proposals, although it is understood celtic do back them.

All Premiership clubs are aware, and will have had the full document presented to them by Rangers by Tuesday. Furthermore, the Scottish FA and SPFL have both been briefed, and other lower-league outfits have been sounded out.

There is also thought to be broad support for the strategic partnerships - an idea initially suggested by Stenhousemuir chairman Iain McMenemy.

Were the plan to go to a vote, it would need 32 of the 42 clubs to support it. Seventeen of those would have to be in the Premiership and Championship, with 11 of them in the top flight.

While Rangers are aiming for this to be introduced next season, they recognise that will be difficult and are prepared to adapt elements once they have consulted more widely.

Further stumbling blocks are that, while Stranraer would technically avoid the relegation from League One meted out after the early curtailment of last season, they would still end up in the bottom tier.

Clyde, Peterhead and Forfar Athletic would be in a similar situation, while Cove would stay in the bottom tier despite winning League Two last term.

Earlier this week, SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster wrote to clubs asking if they would back a 14-team Premiership for next season and, if not, how might their objections be overcome.

That followed Hearts' owner Ann Budge's failed attempt to gain support for a 14-14-14 structure for the next two seasons.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • Replies 197
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Only point i disagree with is the number of away tickets to be purchased. A little more admin required but we should not be obliged to buy any more away tickets than the home team has at thier away games. 

i.e. Elgins average number of travelling fans for away games the previous season is say 120 we then therefore are only obliged to purchase 120 tickets when we play Elgin. Montrose only have 50 fans on average then we only have to purchase 50 tickets for games the B team play them.

 

Otherwise clubs will get one season of additional revenue then when we are promoted that revenue goes away to the next league up. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Rfc52 said:

Think that's standard in Europe mate 

Fair enough if it is , I dont see the big advantage we get for 100k , surely it would be cheaper and easier to get a deal with a club where we give them 5 or 6 youngsters on loan each season 

Link to post
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, ger4life_1872 said:

Fair enough if it is , I dont see the big advantage we get for 100k , surely it would be cheaper and easier to get a deal with a club where we give them 5 or 6 youngsters on loan each season 

I think I mind reading about ajax paying to be their as are psvII etc. I may be way off mate but I'm sure it is 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Just now, kaiser1041 said:

We aren’t building bridges or trying to help hearts/lower leagues. We have wanted a B team for a long time and time are using this to try achieve what’s best for Rangers 

it’s big picture thinking 

Honestly what's the big advantage with this over sending players on loan ? 

Link to post
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, kaiser1041 said:

We aren’t building bridges or trying to help hearts/lower leagues. We have wanted a B team for a long time and time are using this to try achieve what’s best for Rangers 

it’s big picture thinking 

They’ll be plenty space in league when clubs start dying 

Link to post
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, ger4life_1872 said:

Honestly what's the big advantage with this over sending players on loan ? 

I’ve genuinely got no idea on the advantage or disadvantages but it’s an idea fully supported by our youth academy and has been wanted for some time 

Link to post
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, kaiser1041 said:

I’ve genuinely got no idea on the advantage or disadvantages but it’s an idea fully supported by our youth academy and has been wanted for some time 

I just dont get it , spend the 100k on the youths and build up a feeder club in the championship 

Link to post
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, ger4life_1872 said:

Agreeing to £15 to for tickets , tickets for hertha berlin are €20-€30 in the Bundesliga and include public transport all day 

Mate went to hamburg for the friendly and kept trying to pay on the bus and the cunt kept saying no its free. I thought he meant 3 euro 😂😂😂

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Upcoming Events

    • 30 March 2024 15:00 Until 17:00
      0  
      Rangers v Hibernian
      Ibrox Stadium
      Scottish Premiership

×
×
  • Create New...