Jim McInally is hopeful reconstruction can still happen – but knows time is of the essence for the likes of Inverness Caley Thistle.
The SPFL board are believed to have offered clubs one last reconstruction option of 14-10-10-10 after Ann Budge’s suggested three tiers of 14 or 14-14-16 structure didn’t receive enough positive feeback from clubs.
The suggestion of Rangers and Celtic’s colt teams joining the SPFL also appears to have fallen by the wayside.
Peterhead manager McInally would like to see a rejig to 14-10-10-10 happen.
It would need to be passed soon with Premiership clubs back training in preparation for an August 1 start to next season.
Inverness and Hearts would be in a 14-team top flight and would need to make plans for a return to training and to sign players to be ready to restart.
Established stars like Jordan White, Shaun Rooney, Tom Walsh, Charlie Trafford and Carl Tremarco have already left Caley Thistle this summer.
It is hoped clubs may vote on the proposal in the next week and Scotland’s longest serving manager McInally said: “I know for the likes of Inverness John Robertson has lost a number of his squad.
“If they do get promoted then they’ll have a bigger budget and there will be players available and John will be able to get on with it.
“But it’s still reaching the critical point in terms of sorting out fixtures and if Inverness and Hearts are in the top flight, them arranging to get back training.
“It can’t drag on for them and it seems like there’s a week to sort it out so I’m hopeful the clubs can reach some consensus.”
McInally believes 14-10-10-10 should have been the first reconstruction proposal discussed in Scottish football because it doesn’t harm any side.
Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer would be saved from relegation, the top two in the Championship, League One and League Two would get promotion and Highland and Lowland League champions Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts also be promoted.
The Blue Toon boss added: “If the colts suggestion and 14-14-14 has been knocked on the head then that’s a good thing.
“In my opinion 14-10-10-10 should have been what was talked about right at the start.
“It’s a proposal which doesn’t hurt anybody. It’s incredible really how things have transpired that we find ourselves here where we should have been looking at the start in my opinion.
“I hope it’s not too little too late. It’s incredible that this wasn’t the idea being pushed when reconstruction was first mentioned.”
