Yorkston

By FOS Editor
May 31 2011

You’ve got to love Dunfermline Chairman John Yorkston, his team only got promoted to the SPL a few weeks ago and he has said the 10 team SPL is dead.

Yorkston was speaking after a meeting of representatives from eight of the current 12 clubs at Tynecastle to discuss the way forward for the top flight, Only Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibernian were not represented.

Despite previous assertions from the SPL, including Neil Doncaster, that a 14 team League had no support, these 8 teams seem to like the idea. Yorkston said after the meeting, "There was a unanimous decision in favour of re-investigating a league of 14. A 14 reflects the wishes of the fans and would allow the development of players without the fear factor.”

He then boldly asserted, “I think it's safe to say that, after today's discussions, a league of 10 is now dead. The SPL have been notified of this and we'll see how things move forward.”

The 10-club proposal was the result of an SPL working party containing directors from Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell, Rangers and St Mirren. Hamilton Academical chairman Ronnie McDonald also voiced his support for the proposal before the Lanarkshire club's relegation.

Aberdeen continue to back a smaller division and a club spokesman told BBC Scotland: "The 10-club proposal is the only one that is financially viable.  We have yet to see any other model which is workable financially.

"A top tier of 10 with another tier of 10 clubs below is the one which we have publicly backed and is the only one that stacks up."

It is amazing to me how the new man can come in and see through the bluster and then immediately cut to the chase! It would then appear the others have been prepared to listen to their “customers”, sorry fans, and have changed their mind.

It will be interesting to see how they can make the 14 team League work, for example, will it involve a split, will it be two up two down, will we play each other four times?? At least it could be back on the table for discussion.