Rangers, Celtic and Hearts in Conference League 'bloody nose' blow ahead of SFA AGM vote on controversial plan

A leading Scottish football fans group has urged clubs to give the Conference League plan a “bloody nose” and vote it out at tomorrow's SFA AGM.

The controversial proposal for the new 10-team league at tier five of the Scottish pyramid to incorporate Rangers, Celtic, Hearts B sides looks doomed to fail when it goes to a poll at Hampden despite a late appeal from SFA chief Ian Maxwell.

More than 40 clubs have publicly stated their opposition to the plan - and with a majority of the 102 clubs with a vote required to back the plan it is looking increasingly unlikely to pass. Critics have blasted the three Premiership clubs for self-interest and using the plan as a vehicle to elevate their B teams into the SPFL proper at a later stage. SFA chiefs have also been accused of failing to consult with clubs across the pyramid over the proposal which in essence will relegate over 200 teams below at tier five and below.

On Monday St Mirren, Livingston and Queen of the South became the latest clubs to voice their opposition with the fan-owned Buddies revealing 83 per cent of those supporters they surveyed were against the plan.

Now the Scottish Football Supporters Association have urged the remaining clubs to put the final nail in the coffin tomorrow - while urging SFA bosses to come up with bigger and better ideas for youth development. Chairman Andy Smith: said: “I really hope that this daft idea based on the self-interest of just three members gets the bloody nose it deserves on Tuesday.

“The main difference between the clubs coming out and saying no and the SFA is that the clubs have been talking to their fans and communities, something the SFA and SPFL never seem to do.

“Fans know that Scottish Football needs change and changes