Scott is sweet on 16 for SPL
dundee manager wants an extended Premier League but caley thistle’s butcher is not so keen
Published:
Dundee manager Jocky Scott believes Sunday’s thrilling Challenge Cup final win against Caley Thistle is proof the SPL must be expanded, but opposite number Terry Butcher does not agree.
Scott’s Dark Blues came out on top in an entertaining five-goal match against fellow Division 1 title challengers Caley Thistle, the second time the teams have produced a flurry of goals this season.
They shared four goals at Dens Park in August and last weekend’s encounter – played out in front of more than 8,000 supporters – lived up to its billing.
Scott has long been an advocate of a 16-team top division and points to the fact newly-promoted St Johnstone are doing well as further justification for opening the SPL up to more clubs.
Dundee and Caley Thistle are SPL clubs in all but name, while Dunfermline, Queen of the South and Partick Thistle are also strong enough to make the step up.
Butcher, however, believes the current league structure should be kept in place.
Scott said: “The final was fantastic and it showed once again there should be a 16-team top division.
“Ourselves and Inverness, as well as a few others currently in Division 1, are more than capable of playing at that level.
“St Johnstone have just come up from our league and are holding their own, winning at places such as Tynecastle – that shows the gap is not big.
“Playing each team four times a season is not good for the game and what supporters want is more teams. But for it to happen the SPL clubs would have to set aside their self-interest and greed.
“They have made it clear they don’t want to share the money but for the long-term good of Scottish football it’s necessary. Maybe the best chance of it happening is if the likes of Sky or ESPN decide that’s what they want.
“If they want it then it might happen.
“After seeing our game on Sunday, which surely impressed the people watching on television, they are bound to know there is plenty of quality waiting to come in if they’d only allow it.”
Butcher said: “I see where Jocky is coming from but I would not go as far as commenting on an extended SPL. It is a bit like Celtic and Rangers going down south, it is all pie in the sky. Everybody wants to be in the SPL but the only way to do that is to win the First Division.
“There is a lot of good football played in the First Division and there are a lot of good teams which are led well and organised well and have the ability to hold their own in the SPL.
“The two games we have had with Dundee have been excellent. Any neutral watching would have been impressed. The final on Sunday could have graced the SPL.”
Readers' Comments