Loads of different views with lots of +s and -s,
I really cant see the perfect answer. Too many SPL teams will kill the SFL and have a detrimental affect on the SPL.
An 18 team league? Less TV money,not as many big games,less gate money and less games. Falkirk,Dundee,Dunfermiline,Partick,Qos and County join us, taking all of those out of the SFL, means the 7th team in the SFL could win promotion to the SPL the following season, which is the team that currently just about avoids the playoffs for div 2 ??
SPL 14 Teams. After 26 games the league splits into SPL 1 and SPL 2, (yes at least recognize that something has happened and name it) top 6 and bottom 8,
SPL1,The top 6 is where you want to be,high gate figures, TV coverage and no unfair home/away advantage that we currently have after the split. only 36 games you may say but if you think about it,the best 6 teams in Scottish football should be good enough to stay in the cup games longer than the rest and 2 games less for some teams may be a blessing, they also have more fans attending for the last 10 crucial games as mentioned above.
SPL2, The bottom 8, a cup is now created and will become as important at the 1st division cup is to us, with all to play for, 1 relegation and 1 play off with 2nd pl SFL.
2 extra games to compensate for smaller attendances, which will grow as the cup final nears. 14 games.
The SFL 1 only loose the best 2 teams, which means, more competition the following season to win promotion to the SPL and more excitement involved with the hope of reaching the playoffs in 2nd place. 10 teams remain to keep it competitive.
SFL 2/3 option 1
The new SFL 2 is created with 20 teams with promotion and relegation to junior league.
SFL 2/3 option 2
North & East,and South & central, leagues created to cut down on traveling costs and hopefully more derby games, winners involved in playoffs with bottom 2 in SFL 1.
League teams reassessed each year as SFL1 relegation may alter boundaries.
This should freshen things up from top to bottom.