Post by Salem6 on Aug 17, 2006 12:10:53 GMT
The Scottish Premier League has approved the creation of a second division, with invitations going out to 10 Scottish Football League clubs.
SPL chairman Lex Gold described the move as "seismic" and said the restructuring would be good for top-flight football in Scotland.
A meeting of the present 12 SPL clubs also approved the introduction of a cup tournament restricted to member clubs.
It is hoped to have the new arrangement up and running for season 2008-09.
The new two divisions will allow for promotion and relegation, with one club going up and one down each season.
Initiations will now be sent out to 10 clubs from the Scottish Football League.
Any club wishing to leave the SFL must serve two years notice, unless 20 of the 30 clubs that make up Divisions One, Two and Three support the change.
Those behind the proposal hope the development will generate new income streams, television deals and increase marketing opportunities.
At present, the three Scottish Football Leagues below the SPL are without a sponsor and do not have regular television coverage.
One First Division club owner told BBC Sport that a major international gaming company was lined up to sponsor both the current SPL and the new SPL Two.
And Livingston chairman Pearce Flynn told BBC Sportsound that, last May, nine First Division clubs had agreed to support the development of a new league under the SPL umbrella.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4796207.stm