Scottish Championship and League 1 vote through five subs rule for remainder of the season

Clubs in the Scottish Championship and League 1 will return to using the five subs rule for the remainder of the season after voting to follow the lead of the Premiership.

SPFL chiefs confirmed that second and third tier had backed proposals to increase the number of changes they can make in games from three - as well as the number of subs they can name to nine.

It falls into line with the top and bottom divisions after the Premiership sides returned to using five subs earlier this month.

The SPFL brought in the rule last season at the peak of the coronavirus crisis to help squads that were stretched by the pandemic.

The change, it is hoped, will help with the congested fixture schedule, given the possibility of postponements due to weather conditions or Covid-19, and will also improve player welfare.

Clubs in both divisions have between 14 and 16 league games remaining in the ordinary season before the play-offs in May.

An SPFL spokesman said: “Discussions have been ongoing in recent weeks with cinch Championship and cinch League 1 clubs about the potential rule change.

“As a members’ organisation, it is important that clubs in each division are able to make decisions on issues like this for themselves.”

FIFA has allowed each league to determine its own rules regarding substitutes since the Covid-19 pandemic began.