Post
by jimmygrumble » Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:45 am
It is difficult to see exactly who might benefit from these proposed changes.
Current SPL clubs - a 10 club league will result in two clubs, whether it be Hamilton, St. Mirren, Aberdeen or whoever losing their current SPL status and with it the financial benefits of hosting the OF on a regular basis.
Current First Division clubs - it is suggested that some of the SPL prize money will find its way to First Division clubs if they join an SPL2, in which case, chairmen will be rubbing their hands with glee. Of course, with two less SPL1 places up for grabs, the likes of Dunfermline, Dundee, Falkirk will find it more difficult to achieve the more lucrative ambition of promotion.
Current Second/Third Division clubs. The proposals are a real kick in the teeth for these clubs. Regionalisation would still require Elgin and Berwick to play each other every year, so offers very little in terms of cost savings. The prospect of SPL reserve teams taking part devalues the competition. The SPL clubs decided, all by themselves, to scrap their reserve league - that should not give them the right to hijack the SFL, just because their fringe players are now restricted to bounce games. Anyway, would Rangers fans flock to Ibrox to watch Rangers Reserves v. Albion Rovers, if the first team were playing at Motherwell on the same day? Most probably not. Not much away support either when Celtic reserves travel to Stranraer if the Hoops were entertaining Hearts at Celtic Park at the same time.
Minimum seating capacity (3000?) would result in most D2/3 clubs becoming ineligible to join the SPL2. Only Alloa, Clyde, Livingston and Queen's Park meet these criteria and could take advantage of promotion, and Clyde are quitting Broadwood anyway. Without any realistic chance of promotion, the SFL would become a stagnant competition, attendances would suffer, and clubs would wither and die.
Scottish League clubs prevented from entering the Scottish League Cup? This summarises the arrogant and patronising stance the SPL have taken in this matter. Was it not the SPL clubs who showed a total lack of respect to the Co-op earlier this year, causing them to withdraw their sponsorship of the competition?
I guess the majority of fans in Scotland support the OF, and from their perspective, these proposals are a genuine attempt to breathe some life into the game. For the rest of us, it is difficult to comprehend the logic behind such ill-conceived, greed-induced stupidity.
only sing when i'm fishing