The SFA has decided to abandon plans for a potential new fifth-tier Conference League that was largely rejected by clubs.
A new ten-team fifth-tier idea was pitched with plans to incorporate Rangers, Celtic and Hearts 'B teams' - much like the Old Firm duo have done so far in the Lowland League with their Colt sides. The proposal was met with a message by a leading Scottish football fans group, urging those involved to give the idea a 'bloody nose' at the AGM which was set to take place on Tuesday.
The plan already looked like a non-starter in Tuesday's polls at Hampden Park after a number of clubs revealed plans to vote no - despite SFA lead Ian Maxwell giving the phoenix idea a baptism of fire with an appeal. But the league will not even be up for debate at the meeting with the entire idea being shelved after mass objection. Over 40 teams publicly stated that they opposed the idea, with the majority of the 102 clubs eligible to vote for the upheaval of the Scottish pyramid all likely to come together and block any chance of it forming against their preference.
Many have thrown shade at the Scottish Premiership trio for their selfishness in the entire ordeal, which they believed would be the 'gateway' to allowing their youth teams to be inducted into the current 42-team league in the future. The SFA's top men have also been accused of failing to read the room with the smaller clubs up and down the pyramid, which would relegate over 200 teams should the 'conference' league have gone through.
And the SFA have announced as such with a statement suggesting that whilst the idea isn't quite dead just yet, they will aim for a revamp which would appeal to all parties.
It read: "I refer to resolution 7 in the notice of the Scottish FA's AGM sent to members on 12 May, 2023. "Resolution 7 seeks approval (in accordance with Scottish FA Article 18.1) for the formation of the Scottish Conference League as a recognised football body.
"The Scottish FA board has received a variety of feedback in respect of resolution 7 and has concluded that it would like to carry out further consultation in respect of a player pathway to ensure the best development opportunities for Scottish players within the football pyramid."
St Mirren, Livingston and Queen of the South came out with statements on Monday to vent their frustrations at the idea of such an idea being approved, with the Paisley-based side having 83 per cent of their supporters being against the idea.
Scottish Football Supports Association chairperson Andy Smith reiterated his 'bloody nose' message earlier. Smith said: “I really hope that this daft idea based on the self-interest of just three members gets the bloody nose it deserves on Tuesday.
“The main difference between the clubs coming out and saying no and the SFA is that the clubs have been talking to their fans and communities, something the SFA and SPFL never seem to do. Fans know that Scottish Football needs change and changes and are happy to help but we need to have a plan and a programme and that starts with asking the right questions, not the usual railroading nonsense.
“We need some bigger thinking and football needs to realise that common good will always out trump self Interest. Fans are the real stakeholders and we want clubs to vote no to this nonsense and to ask for more and better from those who run the game.”
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