SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster has expressed concern that clubs like Hearts and Hibernian may soon face an unsustainable fixture burden.
With UEFA shifting its club competitions to a league phase format, the match calendar is becoming increasingly crowded. Hearts participated in the Conference League this season, and Hibs are eyeing a return to European competition next year. Doncaster believes the resulting congestion could push Scottish Premiership clubs to a breaking point unless changes are made.
The league is now revisiting the idea of restructuring, as officials explore ways to ease pressure on clubs. Speaking to Nutmeg, Doncaster said: “There’s definitely a growing interest in league reconstruction, and it’s something we’re open to discussing with clubs. The fixture congestion we’re facing is unprecedented, largely due to UEFA’s new formats that have added more European matchdays and reduced the available slots for domestic games.
“We’re nearing a situation where clubs might be forced to play four matches in a single week. Without intervention, the schedule could become unmanageable for top-flight teams.”
SPFL’s chief operating officer, Calum Beattie, highlighted the challenge: “With UEFA’s expansion, four extra days are needed in the calendar. We’ve already scrapped the winter break as a solution, but that was our last fallback. As seen with the Dundee vs. Rangers game near the split last season, it’s becoming increasingly hard to fit everything in.”
Doncaster also voiced reservations about expanding the league too much, noting that it could dilute the quality of matches. He explained: “There’s a gap between what fans say they want and what they’re willing to attend. High-stakes, competitive matches tend to draw bigger crowds, and those come more frequently in smaller leagues. Larger leagues often lead to a glut of mid-table games with little on the line, especially toward the season’s end.”
