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Plans to restructure the league system in Scotland have broken down following a meeting of Scottish Premiership clubs.<\/p>\nPlans to restructure the league system in Scotland have broken down following a meeting of Scottish Premiership clubs.<\/p>\n
A discussion was held on Friday, with talks centered around proposals to revert to a three-division model from next season as part of a wider response to the coronavirus disruption.<\/p>\n
A suggested split of 14 teams apiece in the top two flights would have preserved Hearts\u2019 Premiership status, as well as guaranteeing Inverness\u2019 promotion, while a 16-team third tier would have made room for Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts.<\/p>\n
The idea has now run aground after failing to win favor among the country\u2019s leading clubs, with the 15-person task force which had been looking into it disbanded.<\/p>\n
As a result Partick Thistle and Stranraer\u2019s respective relegations from the Championship and League One are confirmed, with Hearts set to follow should the Premiership season not resume.<\/p>\n
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack, speaking on behalf of those involved in Friday\u2019s talks, said: \u201cToday\u2019s meeting of the Premiership clubs was constructive, with a full and open discussion on reconstruction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strong feeling of the group was that we must focus all of our energies on emerging from the crisis we face, due to the pandemic, on getting back to playing football safely and getting fans back into grounds as soon as practicably possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst the group sympathizes with the plight of the situation the relegated teams are faced with, it concluded that this is not the right time to consider immediate reconstruction in the midst of a crisis. But the group is willing to engage in and pick up on these discussions once we are through Covid-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those to be adversely affected by the news are Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland counterparts Kelty Hearts, who stood to earn a place in an expanded 16-strong third tier.<\/p>\n
A statement issued by the Highland League criticized the manner of developments.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s news that the current work towards SPFL League Reconstruction has been brought to an abrupt and arbitrary halt is disappointing and frustrating in equal measure,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, albeit in difficult circumstances, the SPFL had its first opportunity since the introduction of the Scottish Football Pyramid to meaningfully embrace the spirit of the pyramid. It is a matter of great regret that the SPFL has chosen to turn away from that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll associated with the Highland League share the undoubted disenchantment that will be felt by Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inverness, Falkirk and Edinburgh City, runners-up in their respective divisions, will also rue a lost opportunity, with each club having been slated to move up a league had the reconstruction been approved.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, League Two side Albion Rovers announced manager Kevin Harper had left his role.<\/p>\n
The club said they were \u201cunable to agree mutually acceptable terms\u201d with Harper on a contract extension.<\/p>\n