Aberdeen hit out at St Mirren's reconstruction vote
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.”