Scottish League Two clubs agree on 14-14-14 reconstruction model which would veto any other plan

Stenhousemuir, based at Ochilview Park, want to bring change to Scottish football.

Scottish League Two clubs have unanimously agreed to support a 14-14-14 model for league reconstruction, which would prevent any other plan being voted through.

The ten teams in Scotland’s bottom tier intend to vote together in an attempt to convert the league system to three divisions of 14 teams.

It is currently set at four divisions of 12, 10, 10 and 10 respectively, but Hearts owner Ann Budge and Hamilton vice-chair Les Gray are leading a task force looking at a restructure.

They are part of a 15-team panel exploring a number of possible proposals for next season. A 14-14-14 structure would only require 75 per cent of support from all 42 clubs if prize money distribution was not altered.

Any change to prize money or an alternative plan to add more teams to the 42 would require an 11-1 Premiership vote, plus 75 per cent approval from the Championship, and 75 per cent across League One and League Two.

Should the League Two clubs stick to their intentions, no other reconstruction model could get the required votes from that division to be passed. A 14-10-10-10 system has also been suggested.

The Elgin City chairman Graham Tatters and his Stenhousemuir counterpart Iain McMenemy confirmed to the BBC that League Two teams have agreed unanimously that they would only support a 14-14-14 arrangement.

"We've tried to come to a consensus. We're willing to concede things among ourselves and come together," said McMenemy.

"There are winners and losers in there. Cove would not be moving out of the bottom league, for example, and it wasn't my first choice either but there are times when you have to give."

League Two chairmen are keen that their voices are heard after the SPFL passed a motion to end Scotland’s lower leagues prematurely due to the coronavirus shutdown.

That relegated Partick Thistle and Stranraer to the division below, with Hearts set to follow as the Premiership’s bottom team.

McMenemy is keen for potential solutions to suit as many teams as possble and not just those in the top flight.

"Because we have this system of democratic and financial apartheid in Scottish football, unless Premiership clubs support it you're not going to even get it on the table," he said.

"It feels as if the lower leagues don't exist but if they don't take us seriously there is a collective of 10 votes sitting there who want to be listened to or else nothing will go through."

Tatters is concerned that some of Scotland’s clubs may not be able to survive the financial crisis engulfing the game due to coronavirus. He called for unity from all concerned.

"We don't want to change because there is so much more to worry about," the Elgin chairman explained.

"In eight weeks, there may not be enough clubs to do it and we'll end up with all these clubs being saved anyway. We're not far away from that, believe me. We've got to start thinking as a unit instead of bunfighting all the time."