First Division clubs make their move for SPL2

Ten First Division clubs are set to resign from the Scottish Football League in the row over league reconstruction.

David Longmuir’s about turn on reconstruction led to anger among the First Division clubs who would have been the main beneficiaries of the proposed 12-12-18 set up.

St Mirren and Ross County vetoed SPL plans to back the new set up which would have brought all the clubs together under one body with a new income distribution model.

First Division clubs would have benefited to the tune of £300,000 a season under the new deal while the 12-12 top divisions would split into 8-8-8 effectively providing 4 promotion spots.

The ten clubs are believed to include Dundee and Queen of the South with a formal resignation letter on it’s way to Longmuir.

Two years notice is required to resign from the SFL but that could be negotiated in the same way as the SPL broke away in 1998 with an agreement to expand the SPL and an annual payment made to the SFL.

Despite the denials of Neil Doncaster a breakaway SPL2 has long been speculated over to meet the ambitions of First Division clubs anxious to retain full-time status.

Speaking on radio tonight Les Gray of Hamilton Accies confirmed that a letter to the SPL had been drafted outlining their proposals.

Gray stressed that his desire was for a 42 club solution but with little encouragement from Longmuir the First Division clubs have been left with little option but to approach the SPL themselves.

It is believed that the First Division clubs are hopeful that changes could be in place for the start of the 2013/14 season, any moves by the clubs will require the approval of the SFA.