Scottish Premiership could increase to 14 teams following coronavirus shutdown

The Scottish Premiership could be increased to 14 teams for the 2020/21 season as plans to end the four professional leagues in an orderly manner remain up in the air.

Football in Scotland has been suspended since March 19^th and a statement from the Scottish FA on Thursday confirmed that will remain the case until at least June 10^th.

The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has polled clubs across all divisions on whether to abandon the season with current standings finalised on an average points per game basis.

Celtic are set to be awarded the Premiership title as they sit 13 points clear of Rangers with six and seven games to play respectively.

Rangers today sent a requisition seeking to compel the league to release loan funding to all 42 league clubs, which was rejected by the SPFL.

As of Friday, 39 of the 42 league clubs had voted on the resolution to end the season, with the Premiership and Leagues 1 and 2 garnering the necessary votes.

Seven of nine Championship clubs have thusfar voted in favour, with the final vote required in favour to reach the threshold of eight.

Should no agreement materialise, it’s likely the Premiership will increase to 14 teams next season, with no relegation, with Hearts spared relegation and Dundee United and Inverness promoted.

“It is very important that clubs consider carefully the resolution and we are grateful to those clubs who have voted already,” said a SPFL statement.

“With the Premiership and Leagues 1 & 2 each having approved the resolution, we await the voting slip from the one Championship club that has yet to vote.

“We will provide an update as soon as we are in a position to do so.”