SPL plans restructure...

[DarcheVinny 1,002]

Padonnez-moi if this a repost but i havent seen it...

From The Guardian

SPL plans restructure to allow Old Firm reserve teams in lower division

Both Old Firm clubs, along with Hearts and Hibernian, are planning to field reserve teams in the third tier of Scottish football as early as next season as part of a blueprint to restructure the game in Scotland. The Scottish Premier League is working on a proposal, which could have wide-ranging ramifications, to put before clubs to vote on next year.

There is now universal acceptance within the SPL that its structure, with 12 teams and a late-season split, must be altered following an alarming drop in standards and interest. The protection of vital broadcasting revenue is central to that train of thought.

The mooted alternative would see two divisions of 14 form an upper tier of football. Although the controversial split would remain in some capacity, broadcasters would be satisfied by the continued existence of four Old Firm fixtures.

A newly formed third division would be supplemented by reserve or "B" teams from Scotland's largest clubs, although other teams such as Aberdeen could seek involvement. The recent abolition of the SPL's reserve league has left a huge batch of players without competitive football.

Hearts have considered sending idle squad members on loan to Belarusian club MTZ Ripo, who are sponsored by the Tynecastle owner Vladimir Romanov's Ukio Bankas investment group. The Old Firm play regular friendlies against the reserve teams of English Premier League clubs. They are thought to be happy, in principle, to field teams in a lower league – a system already in place in many Continental countries.

A senior SPL figure confirmed today that next season would offer "the perfect opportunity" to implement change, but there are obstacles to the proposal: the three leagues outside the top flight are controlled by the Scottish Football League, over which the SPL would need to have control for the plans to succeed. It has long been recommended, though, that a single entity takes over governance of Scotland's league structure.

Sounds good in principal to me but am unsure as to how a split would still work with 14 teams...

Thoughts?

[Mansion 120]

Hmmm...would be good for youngsters i suppose, am no sure?

[Davie2909 21]

Would be great for the young players to get playing in meaningful games on a weekly basis. I think we should be aiming at 16 teams minimum in the SPL and ditch this split nonsense.

And lets be honest the Highland league sides and Junior sides will not be happy about this as they are chapping at the bit to get into the SFL

[DarcheVinny 1,002]

I don't think our squad could handle It right now but we could field plenty youngsters, as long as spl did away with 3 under 21s on bench rule

[ClintonGrey 365]

What happens when our reserves dominate so much the get into the SPL.

[Tumshie 205]

It's not great but I suppose it's a start. I think the split would happen after two rounds of fixtures rather than three.

26 games then the split with another 12 after it which would take us up to 38 games. Good idea about us getting players in the lower leagues. Would give them competitive football at an earlier age.

[bawbaggery 0]

Utter pish, they killed the reserve league off, and now want the bigger teams i.e. SPL to have reserve teams by the back door. Scrap the SPL an restructure the whole sorry mess.

[SammyEnglish 48]

What happens when our reserves dominate so much the get into the SPL.

My thoughts exactly

[disgruntled_bear 157]

To me it's just one more step for both Oldfirm clubs finally leaving the SPL, but still leaving some trace back here keeping everybody happy.

Have we managed to convince the SPL to let us go, time will tell. But this is positive news regardless

[ryan_rfc 24]

Would defo be good for the youth players, do a similar thing in Spain with barca B and real B flying up the leagues.

[PaulRFC1 115]

This is good.

The SPL's biggest game is the Old Firm and its the fixture SKY want and if we cut that to 2 fixtures a season then we will lose money from SKY so that's why they are adding 2 teams and not 4 I think.

[TexasGers 96]

What happens when our reserves dominate so much the get into the SPL.

In Spain the reserve teams just aren't allowed to move up regardless of how well they do I think

[fog 287]

Rangers B playing on the same day as Rangers 'A'. No one would be at Rangers B

[supermac 115]

All for it we can ensure our youngsters get a game and invaluable experience

[GOAT 28,141]

What happens in cups though? In theory, Rangers could be drawn against Rangers 'B'.

Like Spain and Germany they wouldn't be allowed in the cups. Although in the copa del rey in 1980, Madrid drew their B team and won 6-1! Because Madrid had already qualified for the European cup because they won the league Madrid B got into the Cup Winners Cup! They played West Ham and actually beat them in the first leg, although got pumped in London.

[1st_Jan_1994 4,866]

The only bit of restructuring that needs done is SPL 1 and SPL 2 - two leagues of 20. Play each other twice a year.

Share the wealth, let other teams get some of the gate receipts and save us playing shite like Hamilton or St Mirren upto 8 times including an additional top 6 split, and cups and replay.

But it would be like Turkeys voting for Christmas, that's the problem.

[docspiderman 879]

Idea I have been in favour of for years; would also help the finances of the lower tier sides.

However, the SPL has no authority to suggest changes to the SFL and is subservient to the SFA as well.

[kanjo 25,957]

Rangers B wouldn't get into the SPL as far as i'm led to believe. The closest runner up without a team in the top division would get it...i think thats how it works in Germany.

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

Good idea about the reserves but 14 team league does not make sense. One of the main problems is that people are having to watch the same teams over and over again and it is boring as hell.

[JM1872 3,306]

the b teams would probably only be aloud promotion as far as the first division, they would also be eligable to play in the alba cup

[Fergie1873 3]

wit happens when they get to the spl, cos they will ! RANGERS V RANGERS. ???

[1st_Jan_1994 4,866]

wit happens when they get to the spl, cos they will ! RANGERS V RANGERS. ???

I take it you've not been reading the thread mate?

[Nameless Ghoul 4,439]

Just makes scottish football look even worse, terrible idea. Although i am well up for getting rid of the split.

[GOAT 28,141]

Just makes scottish football look even worse, terrible idea. Although i am well up for getting rid of the split.

Two of the best leagues in the world do it....how on earth would it make it worse?

[Ted E Bayer 305]

I clicked on this thinking it was a restructure of Ibrox and got all excited at a potential capacity increase and filled in corners etc etc..

Damn my misreading titles!!!