All 42 SPFL clubs will get financial help

Edinburgh-based philanthropist James Anderson’s offer to help Scottish football will assist all 42 league clubs rather than only those in the lower tiers.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster and chairman Murdoch Maclennan held what was described as a “positive discussion” with the investment fund manager via a video call.

A statement was later issued confirming the proposal intended to provide financial support to all 42 clubs rather than only lower-tier sides, as was intimated when Hearts owner Ann Budge revealed on Saturday that someone was interested in investing millions to help the game cope during the current Covid-19 crisis. She complained that there had been no leadership shown by the SPFL to follow up her initial offer to facilitate talks between the two parties.

Anderson has provided funds for Hearts since 2012, along with other wealthy backers.

After responding to that very public prod, Doncaster held talks with Anderson yesterday and delivered the news that all SPFL clubs would benefit from the assistance, with the exact nature of the offer set to be confirmed over the next 48 hours.

One League 2 club chairman has stressed his

The fate of Ann Budge’s SPFL reconstruction plan should become clearer over the next 48 hours when it is discussed by the Championship, League 1 and League 2 clubs she needs to convince of its merits, writes Stephen Halliday.

The Hearts owner’s proposal for a 14-14-14 set-up from next season, which would spare her club from their contentious relegation to the Championship, was discussed by all 12 Premiership clubs yesterday afternoon.

Today it will be the turn of the ten Championship clubs to assess it during a video conference hosted by SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster,

with the 20 League 1 and 2 clubs holding their combined meeting on Wednesday.

It remains doubtful whether Budge can garner enough support to even put it to a vote, with several clubs having already gone public with their opposition to three divisions of 14.

But Budge has insisted the reconstruction paper she compiled is just a starting point of an attempt to find a structure which would benefit all SPFL members as they look to survive the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Any new league set-up will need 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, eight of the ten Championship clubs and 15 of the 20 clubs from League 1 and 2 to vote for it.