Leagues One and Two to complete 22-match season

Scottish lower-league clubs have voted in favour of a 22-match campaign.

League One and League Two clubs have backed a resolution to split each division in two after 18 games.

The Scottish Professional Football League board had suggested moving to an 18-game season ahead of the resumption of action on Saturday following a two-month suspension, which scuppered original plans for 27 matches.

However, agreement was reached between the clubs and the board that the two divisions will aim for 22 games, unless the pandemic dictates otherwise with deadlines set for the season to be cut further.

Championship clubs rejected a proposal to delay play-offs by two weeks and both lower divisions are now scheduled to finish at the same time after League Two clubs showed solidarity with the tier above them.

A joint statement from the 20 clubs read: “Both leagues are proud to have reached this point unified and determined to face what lies ahead together.

“In an ongoing spirit of co-operation, there is already planning under way for clubs to allow their facilities to be used in the event a fellow club’s own ground isn’t available or to shift a fixture to a neutral venue to minimise travel for both teams, subject to SPFL approval.

“Likewise, clubs are working to give safe access to testing facilities to players who may live locally but play for another club elsewhere in the country to minimise travel.

“Competition on the pitch will be as fierce as ever, but the aim is to get everyone over the line and draw a terrible season to a fair conclusion.

“Whilst grateful to SPFL staff for the work done recently in respect of fixturing, the achievement of the 20 clubs in getting to this point should not be underestimated.

“The suspension of football was imposed on us, with no regard or respect for almost half of the SPFL clubs in Scotland. The impact on us was disregarded.

“We may not be the clubs who bring in the bulk of the money in Scottish football but we have players, staff, fans and sponsors who have chosen us as their clubs. We matter to so many and we will not forget that going forward.”