'The same matches and the same players in front of the same fans'

THE Scottish Premierleague's invitation to the ten clubs in the First Division to come and join them requires a two-thirds majority of Scottish Football League members if change is to be immediate.

Judging by the reaction of member clubs to yesterday's news, a lot of work has to be done if the breakaway clubs are going to achieve that position.

ERIC DRYSDALE

Secretary of Second Division club Raith Rovers

"I cannot speak for the club as a whole. The board will have to consult and take a view. But, for me, there's just no change with these proposals. It's a change of name and a change of ruling body from SFL to SPL, with the associated need for 3,000 seats and undersoil heating.

"But it will be the same matches between the same players in front of the same spectators and I remain to be convinced there is a major change in the offing. Football competition is what should matter and there is no change there.

"I'm sure many people like me are fundamentally against promotion by invitation and not sporting merit. I don't want to get into the top league just because we have the right number of seats.

"I'm not resistant to change but I don't see what good is going to come of this."
JOHN SMITH

President of the Scottish Football League

"I'm very disappointed. This was all done very quickly and we knew nothing about it until the document was given to us at the management committee meeting. We expected discussions to take place before anything was put down on paper and we had been assured of that by the SPL and the clubs.

"The way this has happened does the credibility of football no good at all. We are trying to get sponsors for the game and it doesn't help. CIS have given us their backing and they've been let down by what's happened today.

"We've always defended Scottish football and done what we thought is right for the good of the game. We have been here for 116 years and we will continue."
BROWN McMASTER

Chairman of First Division club Partick Thistle and vice president of the Scottish Football League

"I think it's got to be the way forward for Scottish football but it's early days yet. There has to be a meeting between the SFL and the SPL to discuss things now.

"An SPL2 will probably be more attractive to investors, which can only be a good thing, but we'll need to wait and see whether that holds true.

"But if the leagues are going to be split in two, with a top half and a bottom half, then, as Partick Thistle chairman, it is my duty to make sure we are in the top half.

"I've only just learned about what is happening and we'll need to see how it unravels."
DAVID BIRSE

Chairman of Second Division club Brechin City

"No wonder we can't get a sponsor when there's all this talk of breakaways. My feeling is that, whatever is going to happen, the sooner it does the better, then we can move forward and maybe attract a sponsor.

"There's been too much talk and not enough action. Something happening is better than nothing at all at this stage.

"Bringing in sponsor money is the only chance of survival or clubs are going to have to cut their cloth accordingly and make significant cutbacks.

"But that is easier said than done. It is difficult when you've got players under contract to tell them you are going to have to cut their wages."
DOUGLAS RAE

Chairman of Second Division club Morton

"I'm in favour of anything which brings more money into Scottish football and if the SPL, through, for instance, Setanta showing live matches from SPL2, is going to do that then it must be good for the game because, as things stand, the SFL have no sponsor and have no chance of getting one with SPL2 on the horizon.

"An SPL2 would give the SFL the chance to have an SFL1 and an SFL2 on an equal footing on a regional basis with a play-off between the winners of the two leagues to get the promotion place to SPL2.

"There is no sense in the likes of Peterhead travelling all the way to Stranraer to play in front of 350 supporters.

"The important thing is there is scope for an ambitious side from the lower part to make it into the higher part."

Taken from the Scotsman