Initial idea for discussion

Read this idea a year or so ago online but can't find original source - so want to get it out again as think its a far preferable idea to the current 12-12-18 / split proposal. Think I read that a Hockey League somewhere may follow this structure. Its not perfect by any means - but think it satisfies most parties wants and needs and could work.

Finance apart, I don't see anything wrong with the structure of the SFL1 league. Its arguably the most competitive league we have in Scotland. the problem is with the top (currently SPL) league.

I like the idea of a 16 team league structure as 10 or 12 teams gets boring playing each other 4 times (at least) a season. 16 teams seems to be what the majority of fans want - and players.

The difference I would like to see though is in the structure of the fixture list. I believe this structure would bring more variation, competition and interest throughout the whole league and for the duration of the whole season.

Based on the previous seasons league standings (for sake of explaining the structure) - the teams would be divided into groups of 4. The groups are soley just to determine fixtures - and do not represent any split. Its a full 16 team league with no "sections".

 Lets call them A, B, C and D (based on season 2011/12 season):

Celtic	Group A
Rangers
Motherwell
Dundee United
Heart of Midlothian	Group B
St Johnstone
Kilmarnock
St Mirren
Aberdeen	Group C
Inverness CT
Hibernian
Dunfermline Athletic
Ross County	Group D
Dundee
Falkirk
Hamilton Academical

Fixtures could be split thus:

Each group would play each other 4 times a season. With the rest of the fixtures being structred as:

Group A would play Group A 4 times a season
Group A would play Group B 3 times a season
Group A would play Group C 2 times a season
Group A would play Group D once a season

Then vice versa for the rest:

Group B would play Group B 4 times a season
Group B would play Group A 3 times a season
Group B would play Group D twice a season
Group B would play Group C once a season

Group C would play Group C 4 times a season
Group C would play Group D 3 times a season
Group C would play Group A twice a season
Group C would play Group B once a season

Group D would play Group D 4 times a season

Group D would play Group C 3 times a season

Group D would play Group B 2 times a season 

Group D would play Group A once a season

Automatic relegation for last place, with a play off for 2nd bottom vs. 2nd in second tier.

This gives a total of 36 games a season for each club each season

Pros:

- More teams gives more variety 

- Preserves top 4 playing other 4 times a season ('big' games for TV / entertainment)

- Gives 4 sections to play for all through the season - more meaningful games right up until the end with the thinking more 'lucrative games the higher you finish) 

- More competitive league throughout as teams playing more games against their "seeded" contemporaries

- Avoids more mismatched games with top v bottom

Cons: 

- Teams finishing near the bottom will not play the bigger teams as much as they may like for financial reasons. However, financial disparity will be dealt with separately (decided amongst the clubs) and the "seeding" would give them more chance to gain points to finish higher, and increase in competition and create more meaningful games that should hopefully help increase crowds.
- Home and away fixtures for teams playing each other 3 times or once could be an issue? Solution: For the '3' fixtures, the 3rd game could be decided from the result of the previous two games (like a two-legged cup game? Winner gets home match?) For the single fixture, it could be decided on what is financially better for the "smaller" team?


This is an initial draft of this idea - all constructive criticism welcome! :-)