Four Team Play-Offs To Decide Scottish Premiership Champions

I think a good way to help Scottish football, would be for the men’s SPFL Premiership to be decided by 4 team play-offs at the end of the season.

The same could happen in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

But looking at the men’s league.

A four-team play-off could happen, at the end of the regular season. With a semi-finals, and a final.

In the semi-finals;

The top-placed-side, could play the fourth placed side.

The second placed side could play the 3^rd placed side.

The higher-placed-sides, would have home advantage.

The final would decide the SPFL Premiership Champions.

The reason this would be good is, it would;

1.      Ensure that every season we would have a final day decider match.

2.      The season would not be over by March or even February due to Old Firm sides being 20 points above everyone else.

3.      The play-off final would increase TV ratings, and as a result TV revenue.

4.      Attendances and fan interest would increase.

5.      The league would move from being one of the most uncompetitive leagues on the planet, to one of the most competitive. Every SPFL Premiership team would have a realistic chance of winning the league, as every SPFL Premiership team could realistically finish 4^th or even 3^rd.

6.      Higher TV revenue would enable all Scottish sides in Europe to do better, and as a result this would improve Scottish coefficient ratings. Which would help Celtic and Rangers get further.

7.      A non-Old Firm team could realistically win the SPFL Premiership.

8.      The race for 3^rd and 4^th would get higher interest as it could result in a team having a realistic chance of winning the SPFL Premiership.

9.      To those who say that title play-offs would not be compatible with sporting history I say;

A)      The SPFL already uses play-offs to decide promotion and relegation.

B)      The EFL already uses play-offs for promotion.

C)     The Scottish used a title play-off for one season in the early 20^th Century when Celtic and Rangers finished level on points.

D)     In many rugby union and rugby league titles they have used play-offs to decide league champions.   

E)      In the USA, many major sports use play-offs and finals to decide the champions of their sports.

To sum up having title play-offs would boost TV ratings, and revenue and would increase the competitiveness of the league.