Scottish clubs face new play-offs

Scottish Football League clubs have voted by 21-8 to re-introduce play-offs for promotion and relegation in an attempt to spice up next season.

Teams finishing second and third in Divisions Two and Three will face one another in a play-off semi-final.

And the fourth-placed team will face the side finishing second bottom in the league above in the other semi before a grand final, all over two legs.

Top teams in Divisions One, Two and Three will all go up automatically.

Bottom teams in Divisions One and Two will also still be relegated without the chance of a play-off.

It is unlikely we will be looking at the introduction of play-offs in the near future SPL secretary Iain Blair

And the club finishing bottom of Division Three have avoided any automatic demotion.

But, if they finish last in Division Three in successive seasons - as has happened with East Stirlingshire - that club would run the risk of being downgraded to associate member status.

And, if no improvements were made after another two years, could be voted out of the league.

The new play-off system mirrors a previous short-lived experiment.

Scottish Football League secretary Peter Donald said: "It increases the size of target of the clubs when they start off the season.

"The first target, of course, is to be the champions.

"But, if you can make it to the top four, you still have a chance of making promotion.

"Hopefully that will engender greater interest for the clubs and spectators and generate extra income as well."

But the Scottish Premier League is unlikely to follow suit in forthcoming campaigns.

SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "It is unlikely we will be looking at the introduction of play-offs in the near future.

"In England, the play-offs are only used to decide promotion issues - not for relegation.

"We have a clear relegation procedure in the SPL in place."