SPFL working group concludes “no reasonable prospect” of Premiership restructuring

Premiership reconstruction has been one the agenda recently and supporters were provided a major Tuesday update regarding whether they would see an expanded Premiership…

Celtic Park
Celtic Park ahead of the match between Celtic and Motherwell on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles Shutterstock

The SPFL’s Competitions Working Group convened on April 29 to deliberate potential league restructuring. However, they concluded that there is “no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus” regarding changes to the Scottish Premiership’s format. ​

Easter Road
Easter Road from above. Hibs v Celtic. 22 February 2025.Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Proposals considered included expanding the top flight to 14 or 16 teams or reducing it to a 10-team league, aiming to alleviate fixture congestion from increased European and international commitments. Yet, these suggestions failed to garner the necessary support, with any changes requiring backing from 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs and 75% of Premiership and Championship clubs combined. ​

While the Premiership remains unchanged, the SPFL indicated that discussions would continue regarding potential restructuring of the Championship, League One, and League Two. This could lead to an expanded second tier, offering more opportunities for clubs outside the top flight.​

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay
Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay watch on during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

For now, the 2025–26 Premiership season will proceed with its current 12-team format, maintaining the familiar split after 33 games. The debate over league reconstruction persists, but consensus on altering the top tier remains elusive. It might very well be a case that clubs interested in reconstruction can quietly go about attempting to adopt a consensus; however, convincing a club to limit their potential windfall from Celtic supporters attending at away games.

Tannadice
Tannadice Park. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Supporters have been positive towards league reconstruction with a number of different suggestions on social media gaining support. The major difficulty is ensuring that the broadcasters have access to four Glasgow Derbies along with a maximum amount of Edinburgh and Dundee derbies. For now, it appears that reconstruction is off the table.

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About Author

Born just as Celtic were stopping the Ten, Lubo98 follows Celtic home and away and helps run his local Celtic Supporters Club. He goes to all the games and is a Law Graduate. Has a particular fondness for Tom Rogic among the current Celts and both Lubo and Henrik form his earliest Celtic memories.

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1 Comment

  1. With a population of around 5,000,000 football league reconstruction in Scotland would be about as effective as rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
    In order to realise the football potential of the main northern European centres of population such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenberg and Helsinki we must consider some kind of northern European league designed to attract the TV and advertising income currently enjoyed by football giants such as Bournemouth.
    Other than that forget it