Scottish Professional Football League

A Scottish football league system was first created in 1890, when the Scottish Football League (SFL) was formed. Traditionally the league had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. By the mid-1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure: Premier Division (formerly Division One), First Division (formerly Division Two) and a newly added Second Division. This system came into force for the 1975–76 season. This setup continued until the 1994–95 season[https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/rangers-and-hearts-owners-hibs-and-aberdeen-involved-celtic-wavering-recalling-failed-scottish-super-league-breakaway-of-1992-3207472?amp Rangers and Hearts owners, Hibs and Aberdeen involved, Celtic wavering - recalling failed Scottish Super League breakaway of 1992], Stephen Halliday, The Scotsman, 20 April 2021 when a four divisional structure was introduced, along with a new Third Division, with all four divisions consisting of ten clubs.

On 8 September 1997, the Premier Division clubs decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League (SPL), following the example of the English Premier League.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22132504 |title=Scottish clubs set for vote on league reconstruction proposals |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |first=Chris |last=McLaughlin |date=14 April 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to control more of the revenue generated by the game and to negotiate its contracts with sponsors and broadcasters.{{cite news|last=Grahame|first=Ewing|title=Low in attendance, low in achievement – the SPL's dismal legacy of failure|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/low-attendance-low-achievement-spls-dismal-legacy-failure-1618057|access-date=1 December 2021 |work=The Scotsman|date=13 July 2012}} SFL revenues had been divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions. The SPL clubs retained all of its commercial revenues, except for an annual payment to the SFL{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/5479407/SPL-in-move-to-ease-lower-divisions-fears-over-Setanta-cash.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/5479407/SPL-in-move-to-ease-lower-divisions-fears-over-Setanta-cash.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=SPL in move to ease lower divisions' fears over Setanta cash |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Ewing |last=Grahame |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=15 June 2013}}{{cbignore}} and a parachute payment to any relegated clubs.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/feb/21/scottish-premier-league-parachute-payments |title=Scottish Premier League offers to double parachute payments |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=15 June 2013 |first=Ewan |last=Murray}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s82 |title=FAQs |publisher=Scottish Premier League |access-date=15 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808065339/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s82 |archive-date=8 August 2011}}

Scottish football began to think about changing its structures again in the late 2000s, as Scottish clubs and national teams were struggling in international competition and revenues were being greatly outgrown by the neighbouring English Premier League. A review, led by former First Minister of Scotland Henry McLeish, was conducted by the Scottish Football Association and its report was published in December 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3215 |title=McLeish Report |publisher=Scottish Football Association |website=www.scottishfa.co.uk |access-date=16 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819181545/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk//scottish_football.cfm?page=3215 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }} McLeish recommended that Scottish football should have a single league body and that the top flight should be reduced to 10 clubs.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9291848.stm |title=Henry McLeish review backs SPL plan for 10-team leagues |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=16 December 2010 |access-date=15 December 2013}} The proposal to change the top flight numbers did not proceed because of opposition from four SPL clubs, with only two needed to block any change of that nature.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/thompson-says-opposition-will-stop-spl-reform-2176998.html |title=Thompson says opposition will stop SPL reform |first=Gordon |last=Tynan |newspaper=The Independent |date=6 January 2011 |access-date=15 December 2013}}

Talks continued about the proposed league merger.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18784044 |title=Scottish Football League clubs seek merger plan change |first=Brian |last=McLauchlin |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=10 July 2012 |access-date=15 December 2013}} A proposal for a merged league body with a 12–12–18 structure was advanced in April 2013. This plan failed when two SPL clubs (Ross County and St Mirren) voted against.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22151308 |title=SPL fails to vote through 12-12-18 reconstruction plan |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=15 April 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} The SPL clubs unanimously agreed a revised merger plan a few weeks later, which would retain the same league structure and redistribute more revenues to second tier clubs.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22438732 |title=SPL clubs agree league reform package for next season |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} The SFL submitted a counter-proposal allowing for more revenues to be given to third and fourth tier clubs, but this was rejected by the SPL, who stuck with the plan agreed by their clubs.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22601342 |title=Scottish league bodies remain divided as SPL rejects SFL plan |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} An indicative vote of SFL clubs in May suggested that the SPL plan would be formally rejected.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22638556 |title=SFL clubs to hold June vote on league restructuring |first=Jane |last=Lewis |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} Some of the First Division (second tier) clubs threatened to break away from the SFL and form an "SPL2" (SPL second division). The SPL suggested it would welcome the First Division clubs if they decided to leave the SFL.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22647194 |title=SFL Division One clubs may break away to form SPL second tier |first=Jim |last=Spence |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} A formal vote of SFL clubs was taken on 12 June. 23 clubs voted in favour, one more than was needed for the proposal to succeed.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22864944 |title=SFL clubs vote in favour of merger with SPL |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=12 June 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013}} The merger was formally agreed on 28 June and football was first played under the new structure in the 2013–14 season.

On 24 July 2013 the names of the four SPFL divisions were announced – Scottish Premiership, Scottish Championship, Scottish League One and Scottish League Two. The merger was criticised by Alex Anderson of When Saturday Comes as bringing further uncertainty to Scottish football, holding the belief that the semi-professional clubs in the lower divisions will be put into a future regional structure.{{cite news|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1163-june-2013/9919-scottish-league-merger-brings-more-uncertainty|title=Scottish League merger brings more uncertainty|date=14 June 2013|access-date=16 June 2013|first=Alex |last=Anderson|newspaper=When Saturday Comes }}

The SPFL is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 42 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with each having a vote on issues such as rule changes and contracts. The clubs elect a six-man board of directors to oversee the daily operations of the league. The board of directors in turn appoint a Chief Executive. Neil Doncaster became the SPFL's first Chief Executive in July 2013, after beating David Longmuir to the role.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23094866|title=SPFL: Neil Doncaster & David Longmuir vie for new role|date=28 June 2013|access-date=4 July 2013|publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport|first=Chris |last=McLaughlin}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23150164|title=SPFL appoints Neil Doncaster as chief executive|date=4 July 2013|access-date=4 July 2013|publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport}} The board of directors is composed of eight members, who are elected at the company's annual general meeting.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28409875 |title=SPFL elects Drysdale and Ferguson to board at AGM |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2014 |access-date=22 July 2014}}

{{main|List of Scottish Professional Football League clubs}}

Listed below are the 42 member clubs of the SPFL for the 2024–25 season.{{Cite web|url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/|title=SPFL Football Clubs | Scottish Professional Football League}}

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;Scottish Premiership

• Aberdeen
• Celtic
• Dundee
• Dundee United
• Heart of Midlothian
• Hibernian
• Kilmarnock
• Motherwell
• Rangers
• Ross County
• St Johnstone
• St Mirren

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;Scottish Championship

• Airdrieonians
• Ayr United
• Dunfermline Athletic
• Falkirk
• Greenock Morton
• Hamilton Academical
• Livingston
• Partick Thistle
• Queen's Park
• Raith Rovers

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;Scottish League One

• Alloa Athletic
• Annan Athletic
• Arbroath
• Cove Rangers
• Dumbarton
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle
• Kelty Hearts
• Montrose
• Queen of the South
• Stenhousemuir

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;Scottish League Two

• Bonnyrigg Rose
• Clyde
• Edinburgh
• East Fife
• Elgin City
• Forfar Athletic
• Peterhead
• Stirling Albion
• Stranraer
• The Spartans

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{{see also|List of Scottish football champions|List of winners of the Scottish Championship and predecessors|List of winners of the Scottish League One and predecessors|List of winners of the Scottish League Two and predecessors}}

The SPFL retained the promotion/relegation play-off format between Scottish Football League divisions introduced in 2005, whilst adding a play-off tournament to the Premiership, then later a play-off between League Two and the Highland Football League and Lowland Football League in the 2014–15 season. Clubs in bold are those who were promoted from the lower to the higher tier.

:^H Club promoted from the Highland Football League

:^L Club promoted from the Lowland Football League

One of the reasons given for the merger of the SPL and SFL was the belief that it would help to attract title sponsorship to Scottish league football; contracts between the SPL and Clydesdale Bank and the SFL and Irn-Bru expired in 2013.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23435136 |title=SPFL: New Scottish league brands unveiled |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=24 July 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22597174 |title=SPL uncertainty 'hinders league sponsor search', says SFA chief |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=20 May 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24204580 |title=Drive to attract sponsor takes time, says SFA chief Stewart Regan |first=Jane |last=Lewis |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=23 September 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 }} In October 2013, the SPFL announced a partnership with Irn-Bru, making it the league's official soft drink.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24384574 |title=SPFL agrees deal with drinks firm |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=3 October 2013 |first=Chris |last=McLaughlin}} Neil Doncaster stated that the SPFL would continue to seek sponsorship for the league and the Scottish League Cup. After two seasons without a main sponsor, a two-year agreement was reached with bookmaker Ladbrokes in May 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-32720531 |title=SPFL: Ladbrokes named Scottish Professional Football League sponsor |publisher=BBC |website=BBC News |date=13 May 2015 |access-date=13 May 2015}} This was later extended until June 2020. After a year without a title sponsor, the SPFL reached a five-year deal with used car marketplace company Cinch.{{cite web |url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/cinch-announced-as-spfl-title-sponsor |title=CINCH ANNOUNCED AS SPFL TITLE SPONSOR |website=spfl.co.uk |date=10 June 2021 |accessdate=10 June 2021}} In October 2023 Cinch exercised its right to walk away from the deal after three years.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67009739 |title=SPFL title sponsor cinch exercises right to end deal deal two years early |publisher=BBC |website=BBC News |date=4 October 2023 |access-date=June 28, 2024}} William Hill took over as sponsors from the 2024–25 season.

The SPFL inherited media rights arrangements with Sky Sports and BT Sport. It emerged in May 2014 that the SPFL had repaid part of the agreed contract due to the additional costs incurred by the broadcasters in covering Rangers matches at lower division grounds.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27516927 |title=SPFL defends Scottish football broadcasting deal |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=22 May 2014}} In September 2015, the SPFL announced that it had extended its agreements with Sky and BT to the end of the 2019–20 season on "improved terms".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34214896 |title=SPFL extend live broadcasting deal with Sky and BT |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=10 September 2015 |access-date=10 September 2015}} In 2018, it was announced that Sky Sports would take over exclusive live rights for the Premiership from the 2020–21 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46264665 |title=Scottish Premiership: Matches to be shown live on Sky only as new £160m TV deal struck |first=Chris |last=McLaughlin |date=19 November 2018 |access-date=25 February 2020 |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport}}

On 2 November 2013 the SPFL agreed a £20 million deal with sports media rights firm MP & Silva to show games internationally,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24806788 |title=Scottish football to be broadcast live in China for first time |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=4 November 2013 |access-date=5 November 2013}} but this agreement was rescinded in August 2018 when MP & Silva defaulted on its payments.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45170872 |title=SPFL tears up broadcast agreement, claiming a default in payments |publisher=BBC |website=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2018 |access-date=13 August 2018}}

In February 2022, a majority of clubs in the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) voted to accept an offer from the SPFL to run their competitions.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60391602 |title=SWPL clubs to be invited to join SPFL after majority vote to leave SWF |website=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2022 |accessdate=25 April 2022}} The SWPL had previously been operated by Scottish Women's Football.

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.spfl.co.uk Official website]
• {{Twitter|spfl}} (SPFL Official Twitter account)

{{Scottish Professional Football League}}

{{Football in Scotland}}

{{Football in the United Kingdom}}

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Category:2013 establishments in Scotland

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Category:Sports leagues established in 2013

Category:Professional sports leagues in Scotland