Reconstruction proposal document lands at Celtic as SPFL board set Wednesday meeeting

By John McGinley

May 26, 2020

A reconstruction proposal document put forward by Hearts owner Ann Budge has been circulated amongst all 42 clubs in the SPFL, including Celtic, BBC Scotland reports.

Budge is presenting a 14-14-14 league setup to fellow members, for the next two seasons, that would involve the Scottish Premiership splitting into a top six and bottom eight.

Presumably, that would mean a 36-game campaign for Celtic, playing all 13 other teams in the division twice, then the other five in a top six another two times.

BBC Scotland quote Budge’s proposal as saying this is all “a better way for Scottish football to deal with the current emergency, while at the same time righting an unintended injustice.”

Hearts were relegated last week when the SPFL called time on the 2019/20 Scottish Premiership season.

Budge has been seeking alternatives that would not result in dropping to the Championship in a time of national crisis, potentially gravely impacting their finances, as well as the finances of other relegated teams in the lower leagues such as Partick Thistle.

Although adding two teams to the top-flight would change the distribution of prize money next term, it’s claimed that this can be offset by avoiding the £300,000 parachute payment due to be paid to Hearts as it stands.

Hampden stadium / (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

The SPFL board will now meet on Wednesday morning to discuss the proposals.

Plans can move forward if Hearts gain the support of that panel, or the Tynecastle club can seek to force yet another EGM if two other sides support her plan.

It seems all eyes will again be on behind-the-scenes league developments tomorrow.