Scottish Premier League
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Scottish Premier League logo |
The
Scottish Premier League (full name
Bank of Scotland Premierleague, or the
SPL for short) is the top division within the current structure of
Scottish football. The league is currently ranked 10th in
Europe by
UEFA.
Previously, the
Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. However, by the mid 1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure (
Premier Division,
First Division and
Second Division).
This setup continued until the mid-1990s when it was decided to split into a four divisional structure with the addition of a Third Division.
In 1998, the football clubs in the Premier Division decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to retain more of the revenue generated by the game. Originally, league sponsorship money was divided between clubs in every league; after the SPL was formed, this was no longer the case.
Originally the SPL contained 10 clubs, but it subsequently enlarged to 12 for the 2000-01 season onwards. Since then, the SPL has operated a "split league format" to prevent the need for a 44-game schedule, which has been tried in the past. Under this system, after 33 games (i.e. when every club has played every other club 3 times, either twice away and once at home, or vice-versa), the division is split into 2 halves, and clubs play a further 5 matches, against the teams in their half of the division, taking their total to 38 games. This can (and often does) result in the team placed 7th having a higher points total than the team placed 6th, because their final 5 games are considerably easier.
Providing they meet certain criteria regarding their stadium, the top club from the Scottish First Division is promoted to the SPL, with the 12th-placed SPL club relegated.
In 2003, the league's promotion criteria caused controversy as the chairmen of the member clubs voted against
Falkirk's proposed ground share with
Airdrie United and stopped the club from having the 10,000 fan stadium capacity it required, thus saving
Motherwell from relegation.
The same situation nearly materialised in 2004, but after several votes and discussion, including threats of court cases from
Partick Thistle, the team then threatened with prospect of relegation,
Inverness Caledonian Thistle were finally allowed promotion provided that they groundshared with north rivals
Aberdeen at
Pittodrie, a ground over 160 km (100 miles) away. In 2005 the stadium size criterion for entry to the SPL was reduced to 6,000 thereby allowing Inverness Caledonian Thistle to return to their home stadium partway during the season.
Livingston were relegated at the end of the 2005-2006 season. The teams currently playing in the SPL for the 2006-2007 season are:
*
Aberdeen*
Celtic*
Dundee United*
Dunfermline Athletic*
Falkirk*
Heart of Midlothian*
Hibernian*
Inverness Caledonian Thistle*
Kilmarnock*
Motherwell*
Rangers*
St MirrenThe following is a list of the current managers in the SPL. The list is arranged chronologically by appointment.
| Manager | Club!Appointed |
|---|
| Jim Jefferies | Kilmarnock | February 28, 2002 |
| John Hughes* | Falkirk | January 31, 2003 |
| Gus MacPherson* | St Mirren | December 18, 2003 |
| Tony Mowbray | Hibernian | May 24, 2004 |
| Jimmy Calderwood | Aberdeen | May 28, 2004 |
| Jim Leishman | Dunfermline Athletic | May 3, 2005 |
| Gordon Strachan | Celtic | June 1, 2005 |
| Craig Brewster | Dundee United | January 16 2006 |
| Charlie Christie | Inverness CT | January 27 2006 |
| Valdas Ivanauskas | Hearts | March 22, 2006 |
| Paul Le Guen | Rangers | May 9, 2006 |
| Maurice Malpas | Motherwell | May 17, 2006 |
*Manager was appointed when club was playing in the
Scottish Football League.
Data accurate as at 4 March 2006*
Most goals in a season: Celtic, 105 goals, 2003/04
*
Most points in one season: Celtic, 103 points, 2001/02
*
Fewest goals conceded in one season: Celtic, 18 goals, 2001/02
*
Best goal difference in a season: Celtic, 80, 2003/04
*
Fewest goals in a season: St Johnstone, 24 goals, 2001/02
*
Most goals conceded in a season: Aberdeen, 83 goals, 1999/2000
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Fewest points in a season: Livingston, 18 points, 2005/06
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Biggest win: St Johnstone 0-7 Rangers, 1998; Celtic 7-0 Aberdeen, 1999; Celtic 7-0 Aberdeen, 2002; Hibernian 7-0 Livingston, 2006; Dunfermline Athletic 1-8 Celtic, 2006
*
Top goalscorer in any one season: Henrik Larsson, 35 goals, 2000/01
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All-time SPL goalscorer Henrik Larsson, 158 goals, 1998-2004
*
Player with most hat tricks: Henrik Larsson, 12, 1998-2004
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Oldest player: Jim Leighton, for Aberdeen vs Dundee, 41 years 6 months and 28 days
*
Youngest player: Greg Cameron, for Dundee United vs Kilmarnock, 16 years 8 months and 1 day,
11 December 2004*
Youngest goalscorer: David Goodwillie, for Dundee United vs Hibernian, 16 years 11 months and 4 days,
4 March 2006*
Most consecutive clean-sheets: Robert Douglas, Celtic, 7 games,
16 December 2000 -
21 February 2001*
Most SPL appearances: Barry Smith, Dundee, 242
*
List of Scottish Football Clubs*
Scottish football seasons*
Sports league attendances*
Official site*
SCOTZINE - The Home of Scottish Football*
Scottish Premier League clubs' locations*
The S.S.F. - Support Scottish Football
