Scottish Professional Football League One and Two will restart on March 20 but SPFL raises concerns over proposed 22-game season with top and bottom half split finish
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Lower league football is set to return to Scottish grounds on Saturday, March 20.
However a 22-game split league finish being proposed by clubs in Leagues One and Two has raised concerns in the Scottish Professional Football League.
The SPFL Board met yesterday to consider a number of requests made by clubs in the lower two tiers, whose season has been suspended since January 11.
Clubs asked the Board to:
- Approve a league restart on Saturday, March 20
- Revisit the SPFL's concerns about a 22-match season including a split after 18 matches.
- Schedule League 1 and League 2 matches up to and including May 15, two weeks later than originally planned
- Delay the start date of the play-offs from May 5 to May 19.
The SPFL Board have already approved the March 20 resumption of play and fixtures will be released soon.
But the format of the league finish has yet to be finalised.
The decision on how to complete the campaign ultimately lies with the clubs in each of the two lower leagues, and the SPFL has no jurisdiction on the matter.
Clubs voted at the start of the reduced fixture campaign to play 27 fixtures, with the ten clubs in each division meeting each other three times.
That option seems unachievable now due to the limited time window, so the 22-game split looks set to come in as it is believed to be the preferred option for the majority of League 1 and 2 teams.
An alternative option, to further reduce the season to an 18-game schedule with teams finishing after two meetings each, is understood to have gained less support.
An SPFL spokesperson said: "However, the Board remains concerned regarding the realistic ability of League 1 and League 2 clubs to complete a 22-match season, including the introduction of a new 'split' in each division.
"Such a fixture schedule would mean one club in each half of the 'split' sitting out one round of fixtures post-split, including the final day of the season.
"It would also severely constrain the flexibility of the SPFL to schedule fixtures in the event of future disruption from Covid-19 and risks part-time clubs being required to play Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday.
"It is also guaranteed that a minimum of one League 1 or 2 club will reach Round 4 of the Scottish Cup, creating further fixturing challenges.
"However, the SPFL Board respects the right of League 1 and League 2 clubs to determine how many league matches they wish to play this season.
"The SPFL Board has therefore asked the League 1 and League 2 representatives to consider how they would wish the Board to deal with any club unable to complete a 22-match programme in the time available.
"Only then will the Board be able to consider the requests to push back the dates of the play-offs."
SPFL Chairman Murdoch MacLennan added: "We are pleased that League 1 and League 2 clubs have come together to propose a way forward for the resumption of their season.
"However, it's our duty to underline that the SPFL Board has severe reservations about the practicality of part-time clubs being able to complete a 22-game season, including a 'split', in time to compete in the end of season play-offs.
"In the Board's view, an 18-game season would have created far more flexibility but, that said, we respect the right of League 1 and League 2 clubs to determine how many games they will play this season."
