The SPL governing body are set to meet at Hampden on the 16th July for their Annual General Meeting and the main issue up for discussion will be binning the SPL reserve league. Media reports are reporting that several clubs are ready to opt out of the reserve league due to squad cutbacks, partly down to the fall of Setanta, as well as their frustration at players picking up bans through bookings earned during reserve matches.

The majority of the 12 SPL clubs have been undertaking cost cutting measures, trimming down their squads to little more than ‘skeleton crews’ and an opt out of the reserve league is seen as another way of saving money by boards up and down the country. If any such vote is passed to make the reserve league optional rather than mandatory, it could result in the redundancy of hundreds of football players, as the clubs look to slash wage bills.

Both Celtic and Rangers have announced their intention of playing cross-border reserve games against the English game’s elite. This has proved successful with the likes of Manchester United bringing their youngsters to Glasgow last season. Other top-flight sides also see positives in being able be able to arrange bounce games when they like against who they like. Replacing the current set-up would have the added advantage of allowing teams to field as many trialists as they like.

Despite the SPL planning on continuing with the reserve league after discussions last season as we reported, the fall of Irish broadcaster Setanta and no deal agreed yet for the SPL tv rights for next season, it is proving a strain for the likes of Kilmarnock, St. Mirren, Falkirk and Motherwell to name but a few, who relied on the money from Setanta to pay most of their overheads.

Tagged with: crisis, finance, reserve league, setanta, SPL

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