Motherwell to again play in 12-team Premiership next season after reconstruction plan rejected

Motherwell will again play in a 12-team Scottish Premiership next season after only 16 of the SPFL's 42 clubs voted for league reconstruction.
By Craig Goldthorp
Published 15th Jun 2020, 13:32 BST
Updated 15th Jun 2020, 13:36 BST
Hearts and Motherwell won't be squaring off in the league next season (Pic by Ian McFadyen)Hearts and Motherwell won't be squaring off in the league next season (Pic by Ian McFadyen)
Hearts and Motherwell won't be squaring off in the league next season (Pic by Ian McFadyen)

A 14-10-10-10 plan - which would have saved Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer from relegation - didn't garner enough support and the league board has now "agreed to draw a line under reconstruction talks".

Hearts are consigned to the Scottish Championship, Partick Thistle to the League One and Stranraer to League Two, with the existing 12-10-10-10 set-up being employed for season 2020-21.

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It also means that Lowland League champions Kelty Hearts and Highland League counterparts Brora Rangers will not be invited to join the SPFL.

League chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "Whilst a number of clubs were in favour of a new divisional set-up, the support for it was insufficient and we will now move forward based on the current 12-10-10-10 structure.

"Now that we have a confirmed structure for next season, the SPFL's fixturing team will begin work on the Premiership fixture list, which will start on the weekend of August 1."

Related topics:Scottish PremiershipSPFLPartick ThistleStranraerLowland LeagueKelty Hearts