27 Mar 2026 07:43:31
EHL reported on the SPFL not being rated by Balkan nations as a league where players will develop (so players don't want to come) part evidenced by our extremely poor record of developing home grown talent. Is it time to look at the league structure? Maybe an 18 team league with a split to keep the 4 Old Firm games? Or just have the 2 OF games (16 teams? ) and have a better environment to introduce young players.
This change can only come if the Old Firm drives it. If the current SPFL model is affecting business, maybe it needs to happen.
27 Mar 2026 08:49:49
The TV companies that give the money will not entertain less than 4 Old Firms.
27 Mar 2026 09:07:53
Something should be done, I agree, but who knows what. As I said before, though, Italy and England seem to like coming for our young players, so it's not all bad. Balkans have had mixed success here anyway.
27 Mar 2026 09:42:42
I've always liked the idea of 14, play each other twice (26 games) then split and play each other twice (+12 = 38 game season).
As long as Celtic make top 6 we'd have 4 Old Firms per season.
27 Mar 2026 10:04:57
There is an SPFL Competitions Working Group that has been looking at reconstruction for a while now.
I'm pretty sure that they have approved league reconstruction for tier 5 from next season - which I think is a positive change.
The current working proposal is the expansion of the SPL to 14, the expansion of the Championship to 14 and the merging of League 1 and 2.
The restructure of the Championship, League 1 and League 2 has been provisionally agreed, and formal resolution may be proposed without the restructure of the SPL.
Pretty much any change to the SPL is rejected as no one is willing to take the risk of any financial hit for the overall betterment of the game.
The working group have also proposed the reintroduction of Reserve Leagues, which again has been rejected as clubs wanted the league to fund it.
27 Mar 2026 11:05:10
Really don't like the mid season split idea. Top 6 is enough. More is confusing and leads to pointless games further down the table. Imagine having 12 games with nothing to play for. And can't start season in one league and finish in another. Just bringing back the reserves would be a major improvement.
27 Mar 2026 11:54:33
Kasier, the way it is just now is honking, though granted this season will be good, but how many haven't been? We have been crying out for league reconstruction for years, but clubs would rather line their pockets.
27 Mar 2026 12:03:07
Something needs done.
27 Mar 2026 12:10:20
I wholeheartedly agree with your idea of a 14 club Scottish Premiership, Dado. ?
27 Mar 2026 12:51:05
We would still have the 4 games against each other, and it just increases the meaningless games further down.
27 Mar 2026 12:54:44
I'd rather see a 16 or 18 team top flight, playing 30 or 34 games.
27 Mar 2026 13:05:35
I don't see how an 18 team league improves the standards. Watching the likes of Killie and Livi playing on plastic, and the other teams having to go there, doesn't improve standards. More teams playing like that doesn't improve anything. We would get more games that don't mean anything, but that doesn't mean that young players will get a chance.
Better pitches, better refereeing, better youth pathways are the way to develop better players and better football. Unfortunately, the people running the game in this country are either negligent or just clueless as to how to improve things.
27 Mar 2026 14:17:37
A split of 10 games home and away in a top 6 would be better, add another two teams to league and it gives 36 games all in, or a top 7 in a 14 team league would even the split out and give u 38, then no advantage to anyone. ??♂️ Still get 4 Old Firm unless Celtic don't make split in future. ?
27 Mar 2026 14:28:02
Maybe one way to help promote more attacking football and less meaningless games, wslgers4ever, would be to look at the points system which was eluded to on here before, mate. ?
27 Mar 2026 15:09:52
Wsl, I totally agree. The number of games doesn't do anything to affect the development stage of players, which is the biggest problem we have.
27 Mar 2026 16:21:44
Not bad idea, Dado. I like the idea of a bigger league to let more youngsters get a game, certainly in first half of season.
27 Mar 2026 16:22:03
Possibly a larger league creates a more substantial "middle ground" where teams aren't constantly fighting for survival. This increased job security allows managers to move away from "safety-first" defensive tactics and instead use those lower-pressure matches to blood young talent possibly.
For top clubs, a bigger league means more fixtures against sides that are still finding their feet. These games provide the perfect low-risk environment to give academy prospects meaningful first-team minutes - similar to how we might rotate the squad for a cup tie against a lower-league opponent like Queens Park.
Ultimately, removing the constant threat of relegation transforms mid-table games into a valuable testing ground for the next generation.
We don't have 4 games per season against them if you make it an 18 team league. Also, similar to Italy in Rugby Union, would the cannon fodder eventually find a way to start being more competitive with the increase in cash they get.