Aberdeen chief Stewart Milne has criticised St Mirren’s decision to vote against league reconstruction.
Ten days after rolling out the red carpet to Charles Green the Saints board have decided to vote against plans to create a single league body and a new income distribution model through a 12-12-18 set up.
The SPL require the backing of 11 clubs to give the proposals their backing with St Mirren hoping that one other club will also vote down the plan killing off the need for a vote among SFL clubs.
Referring to the St Mirren decision Milne said: “It’s very disappointing on two counts. First of all, that they’ve changed their minds after us going public on all twelve clubs being in agreement and secondly, the manner in which they’ve done it.
“If they were having second thoughts, these should have been voiced at next week’s meeting rather than through the media.”
Most critics of the reconstruction plan want to see a larger top division but Milne explained why that’s not practical.
He added: “To introduce something like a 16 or 18 team top league at this point in time would finish many clubs due to a huge reduction in broadcast revenues and erosion of sponsorship income, while the most concerning aspect is the number of meaningless games that would have to be played.”
“We’ll be creating a situation whereby the first 22 games will be absolutely crucial to attempt to stay in the top eight, and post split everyone has something to play for.
“The top eight will be playing for the title or three or four places in Europe, the middle eight will be playing primarily to be one of the four clubs to get into the following season’s top flight, as well as battling against going into the play-offs and the threat of relegation. Every game will mean something.”
Should the new plan not go through Milne anticipates a bleak future adding: “Operating a football club right now involves massive challenges. The game is virtually on its knees and we’ve all got massive financial challenges as it is. Those challenges are only going to get greater if the vote does not get through.
“If we fail to deliver, there’s going to be a lot of clubs across the whole of Scottish football where the financial pressure is just going to continue to build and build.”
Correct!
Funny how they changed there minds after rolling out the red carpet to Charles Green and the rest of sevco. Hope they end up going down next season!
Fair play to the Dons for speaking out at chuckles new pal Mr Gilmour at st. Mirren, if newco get found guilty of lying to the sfa about chuckles and agent whyte then its tata to newco, so Mr Gilmour will have to watch who he entertains at st. Mirren park.
I don’t like this new structure, but if the honest money men at the honest clubs think it’s for the best, then I’d have to go along with it.
Let’s hope someone twists Gilmour’s arm before the meeting (or maybe his neck would be better), and reminds him that his loyalties lie with the St Mirren fans- and nobody else.
I agree with you about the new structure but there no other way to go forward just now, I also think whatever chuckles said to Gilmour its changed his vote not for his club but for sevco, so the St. Mirren fans need to step up and have there say as its there club that will suffer if they have anything to do with sevco. HH
This football debate is a farce, as exciting as an old lady knitting
IF STMIRREN VOTE AGAINST RECONSTRUCTION, ALL FANS SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THEM BY NOT PURCESSING TICKETS WHEN WE VISIT THEM
THEN MAYBE THEY CAN THEN JOIN THEIR SEVCONIAN FRIENDS IN THE ENGLISH LEAGUE.
The way the drama is unfolding at Mordor, Gilmour should be very careful of which table he sits. Almost every club in Scotland voted against further special treatment for Chuckles Green and Whytes tribute act. I hope he has very deep pockets, as pandering to Sevco will most likely be a costly mistake.
Well done the Dons, ‘The Mirrens’ (as I’m sure they’ll be renamed any day now) boardroom has been reeking of hun for quite some time now.
I respect what St Mirren have done as a club. They appear to have a good set up there and I was pleased to see them win the cup. However that’s a couple of times they’ve been caught in bed with Sevconia.
Be very careful Buddies. If you want to play with Sevconia feel free, take Ross County with you. Patrick Thistle and Morton will be more than willing replacements, with bigger travelling supports.