SPFL vote passed: Hearts owner Ann Budge to lead league reconstruction task force with Hamilton's Les Gray

Hearts owner Ann Budge wants a 14-team Premiership.

The Scottish Professional Football League have appointed Hearts owner Ann Budge and Hamilton chairman Les Gray to lead a task force aimed at expanding the Scottish Premiership.

The decision comes after Dundee finally voted yes to SPFL proposals to end the Championship, League One and League Two immediately due to the coronavirus shutdown – with the Premiership to follow suit provided UEFA give their blessing later this month.

The SPFL’s motion has now been passed by 81 per cent of the 42 clubs. That means Dundee Utd win the Championship, Raith Rovers take the League One title and Cove Rangers are champions of League Two.

The board of the SPFL have also committed to discussions on league reconstruction in time for next season and enlisted Budge and Gray to lead a possible expanding of the Premiership.

The current proposal to end the season would see Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer all relegated to the league below, but Budge is keen to make leagues bigger to ensure no-one suffers.

She is in favour of a 14-team top flight for next season and is now set to work with Gray to determine if, and how, that could be worked.

An SPFL statement today read: “The SPFL has announced that the directors’ written resolution ending Season 2019/20 in the Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2, has been passed with agreement by 81% of all members.

“The announcement comes after the remaining Ladbrokes Championship club signified their agreement to the resolution today; resulting in Dundee United FC being declared champions of the Ladbrokes Championship, Raith Rovers FC being declared champions of Ladbrokes League 1, and Cove Rangers FC being declared champions of Ladbrokes League 2.

“SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan said: ‘Firstly, I want to pass on my warmest congratulations to all three clubs on their successful campaigns. This was a highly unusual end to the season, to say the least, and not the one any of us would have preferred, but all three deserve enormous credit for their performances over the course of the season.

‘With the turmoil and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, there was always going to be a highly-charged and passionate debate about how we secure the future of Scottish football.

‘It is no exaggeration to say that this was an existential matter for Scottish clubs, with many of them telling us they were at real risk of going under unless the situation was resolved very quickly, so I’m pleased that the game has moved decisively.

‘Whilst more than 80 per cent of clubs agreed with the directors’ written resolution, it’s clear that others were strongly opposed. There has been talk of voiding the season, making emergency loans and so on, but what has been agreed today is not just the best way forward, it was the only realistic way forward and I now call on all 42 clubs to move forward in a constructive and positive way.’

“SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: ‘Prior to this positive result, we were unable to make the vital end-of-season payments, which will provide a lifeline to so many clubs in the lower divisions.

‘From our detailed discussions with clubs, many were facing an enormous cash-flow crisis. We have moved as quickly as possible to try to resolve this unprecedented situation.

‘We’ve achieved the 75 per cent agreement threshold in the Ladbrokes Premiership, Championship and Leagues 1 and 2 and will now be working as quickly as we can to get the end-of-season payments to members in the three lower divisions by the end of this week.’

“The SPFL board has also committed to consult on possible league restructuring in time for season 2020/21 around an expanded Premiership model and has appointed Hearts chair Ann Budge and Hamilton Academical chair Les Gray to jointly lead a reconstruction task force, bringing in other football figures to provide input and support.

“The SPFL executive will provide all possible services and support to make the work of the task force a success.

“The resolution also gives authority to the board to make a decision on the remainder of the Ladbrokes Premiership season and the board is committed to consulting with Premiership clubs before any such decision is made.”