Who are the 14 people on the SPFL reconstruction panel?

Task force examined as talks begin
The Scottish flag above Hampden Park, where the SPFL may soon usher in change.The Scottish flag above Hampden Park, where the SPFL may soon usher in change.
The Scottish flag above Hampden Park, where the SPFL may soon usher in change.

Monday's first meeting of Scottish football's reconstruction task force is understood to have gone positively. Those involved are clearly open to change across the four divisions of the Scottish Professional Football League.

The Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster withdrew from the original 15-person committee, leaving 14 others with the considerable responsibility of altering the game's future in time for season 2020/21. They come from varying and wide-ranging backgrounds.

Airdrieonians: Paul Hetherington

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Airdrie are polling supporters for their views on league reconstruction right now to ensure they reflect the views of the majority. Managing director Hetherington is co-owner of the club's stadium and has been heavily involved with Airdrie for many years. He has a financial background.

Ayr United: Lachlan Cameron

The long-standing United chairman labelled the idea of a 14-team Premiership "insane" only last week. Then he agreed to join the panel looking into it. A strange move, perhaps. He said a 14-team top tier would only be to help the likes of Hearts and Partick Thistle, so now he has a chance to air his views directly.

Cove Rangers: John Sheran

Director of football at Cove, Sheran oversees manager Paul Hartley having spent five years in charge of the team previously. Sheran is 59 and an experienced figure around football in the north east of Scotland. His club are already promoted to League One but he wants to discuss a better structure for all four divisions.

Dundee: John Nelms

Easily the most controversial appointment to this panel. Dundee's vote against proposals to end the season early famously arrived at the SPFL late, by which time managing director Nelms had asked the governing body not to accept it. Dundee then changed their minds and voted "yes", consigning clubs like Partick Thistle, Stranraer and possibly Hearts to relegation. Dundee maintain they deliberated to push for reconstruction.

Edinburgh City: Jim Brown

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The ambitious Edinburgh City chairman could see his club promoted to League Two just four years after joining the professional ranks. Second in the table, any reconstruction plan which adds to teams to the SPFL would likely catapult City into League One for next season. The introduction of the pyramid structure helped City gain access to the SPFL from the Lowland League and Brown is keen to explore any other options.

Falkirk: Gary Deans

The Falkirk chairman criticised the recent SPFL vote to end the season, saying it was a "shambles". A qualified chartered accountant, he runs his own consultant company and is an experienced business advisor. Falkirk were second in League 1, with rivals Raith promoted to the Championship as a result of the aforementioned vote.

Greenock Morton: Dave MacKinnon

A former defender with Arsenal, Rangers, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Airdrie and Forfar, MacKinnon has vast experience at various levels of Scottish football. He has been responsible for off-field operations at Dundee, Kilmarnock, Clyde, and Hamilton. Now 63, he is chief executive at Cappielow Park.

Hamilton: Les Gray

The Hamilton vice-chair is a veteran of league reconstruction working groups. He was involved in the successful move to reintroduce play-offs in Scotland in 2013 and saw his club benefit just 12 months later as Hamilton beat Hibs to gain Premiership promotion. He is joint-chair of this reconstruction task force.

Hearts: Ann Budge

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The Tynecastle owner is the other half chairing the task force. She wants a 14-team Premiership and has a vested interest with her club bottom of the league and set for relegation otherwise. An experienced Edinburgh businesswoman who ran her own IT company, she has supported reconstruction for some time.

Partick Thistle: Jacqui Low

Originally a communications professional with more than three decades of experience in media, business, politics and government. Low joined the Firhill board in 2015 and has helped Thistle strengthen their links to the local community. The Glasgow club will be relegated to League One without reconstruction – despite being only two points adrift at the foot of the Championship with a game in hand.

Queen's Park: Gerry Crawley

The Queen's Park president played professionally as a forward for the club in the 1980s. He also enjoyed spells at Dumbarton, Brechin City and St Johnstone. Now 57, he is the leading figure on the committee of the League Two club and is keen to engage in reconstruction discussions.

Raith Rovers: Bill Clark

A lifelong Rovers fan from Kirkcaldy, Clark enjoyed a long career in education and was an SFA referee from 1976 to 1994. He has made a significant financial contribution to Rovers to help secure promotion back to the Championship, which was confirmed after the SPFL vote to end the campaign.

Highland League: Rod Houston

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The Highland League secretary has welcomed the fact the region's 17 clubs have been given a voice at the reconstruction table. "We’re entering into this without any preconceived notions," he said after joining the task force. Brora Rangers have already been declared Highland League winners and, if new teams are to be invited into the SPFL, they would be first in from the north.

Lowland League: George Fraser

BSC Glasgow's general manager is also chairman of the Lowland League. He has played a significant part in driving his club forward, leading to the biggest game in their history in February when the met Hibs in the Scottish Cup. Fraser now gets the chance to lend his expertise at a higher level and also demonstrate his fervid passion for the Lowland League.

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