BBC Sport - SFL clubs to consider 12-12-10-10 league restructure plan The Scottish Premier League has told the Scottish Football League clubs gathering at Hampden that they have no problem with a 12-12-10-10 set-up. On Monday, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said its 12 clubs were "unanimous" in their backing for a 12-12-18 plan , possibly for next season. With some SFL clubs fearing an 18-team tier would create too many meaningless matches, a new plan has emerged. It would involve expanding the number of senior clubs by two to 44. The 30 SFL clubs are discussing the options at their meeting at the national stadium in Glasgow but a formal vote is very unlikely on Thursday. SPL proposal is for a 12-12-18 structure Top two leagues to split into three leagues of eight after 22 matches then play a further seven home and seven away games Leagues will be called Premier Division, Championship and National League Top eight teams to play for title and European places; middle eight to contest promotion and relegation in and out of Premier Division; bottom eight to decide who drops into National League 11 out of 12 SPL clubs need to vote in favour of plans, while the proposal requires approval of 75% of SFL clubs (Rangers do not have a vote) One league body to replace SPL and SFL Instead, a vote by 29 of the clubs - Rangers, as an associate member, do not have a vote - will most likely take place in March, with 75% needing to agree to the proposal for it to be ratified. The SPL says it had suggested a 12-12-10-10 formation to the SFL board but that its member clubs had preferred a three-tier plan. Earlier, in mid-November, the SFL clubs had unanimously voted for a 16-10-16 structure for season 2014-15. Of course, if the 12-12-10-10 format is backed by the SFL clubs, then there will be five tiers in Scottish football once the bottom four of the top tier and the top four of the second tier form a mini-league after 22 matches in their respective divisions. There would be play-offs between the third and fourth tiers but it is not yet known what the movement of teams would be between the second and third tiers. Also, the clubs would have to decide how they will add two more clubs to the ranks of the proposed new league that will be run by one body, following a merger of the SPL and SFL. For example, will certain clubs be invited to apply, or will there be a general call for applications? Ross County and the two teams that formed to create Inverness Caledonian Thistle emerged from the Highland League when the leagues were restructured in the 1990s and that league may provide a new recruit. Similarly, the East of Scotland Football League, featuring teams such as Spartans and Edinburgh City, may have clubs interested in switching divisions. A 12-12-10-10 set-up may suit Rangers, who currently enjoy a 20-point lead in the Third Division. They were angered by the suggestion that they could win the league title but still find themselves playing the same teams next season as they have faced in the current campaign. Two weeks ago they proposed a three-tier 14-14-14 format.