St Johnstone Owner Adam Webb’s Bold Stance Against League Reduction
The Scottish Premiership is at a crossroads, with the SPFL’s Competitions Working Group (CWG) currently evaluating proposals to reduce the top-flight league from 12 to 10 teams. However, Baji can exclusively reveal that St Johnstone owner Adam Webb is leading the charge against these plans, calling the potential reduction “a huge mistake” that could damage Scottish football’s long-term prospects.
Webb, whose club currently sits at the bottom of the Premiership table, argues passionately for expansion rather than contraction. “We should be going to a 14-team league very soon,” Webb told Baji in an exclusive interview, “and then five years later – as long as the quality in the Championship is sufficient – projecting to go to a 16-team league.”
The Case for Expansion: Learning from England’s Success
Webb draws direct comparisons with the successful English Premier League model, stating: “I think the bar for good or bad when it comes to football, UK football and world football, is the English Premier League. They’ve got 20 clubs and while we’re not the same size as England, obviously, and we’re not going to have 20 clubs in our Premiership – what you want to do is edge closer to that.”
The St Johnstone owner emphasizes that the quality exists in Scotland’s second tier to support expansion: “From looking at the quality in the Championship this season, I can tell you we have two, three, four clubs for sure that would do just fine in the Premiership. That’s where we should be headed. We should be growing the Premiership.”
The Driving Forces Behind Reconstruction Talks
The current discussions about league restructuring stem primarily from fixture congestion issues faced by Scottish clubs competing in European competitions. As reported by Baji, the SPFL has already taken steps to address this by allowing clubs in European play-offs to request postponements of league matches.
A 10-team Premiership would reduce the number of fixtures from 38 to 36, while also creating a 10-team second tier and larger third division. However, critics like Webb argue this approach is too short-sighted and fails to consider the long-term development of Scottish football.
The Complex Road to Change
Implementing any structural changes to the Scottish league system won’t be straightforward. According to Baji sources, any motion would require:
- Backing from 11 of the 12 current Premiership clubs
- Support from 75% of Premiership and Championship teams combined
- Approval from 75% of all 42 SPFL member clubs
While discussions are ongoing, most observers believe the 2026/27 season is the earliest realistic timeframe for implementing any significant changes, with next season considered too soon for such a major overhaul.
The Future of Scottish Football Hangs in the Balance
As the debate continues, Webb remains steadfast in his belief that expansion, not reduction, is the path forward: “We absolutely need to have quality with every team in the Premiership, but that’s the direction we should be going because it’s better for Scotland, it’s better for Scottish football.”
Baji will continue to monitor this developing story closely, providing expert analysis and insider perspectives as Scottish football faces one of its most significant structural decisions in recent history. The outcome could shape the game in Scotland for generations to come.
