The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League have finally agreed to the creation of an SPL second division. The Scottish Football League had contested the SPL's bid to introduce a new top-flight structure of 22 clubs playing in two divisions, claiming it breached a previous agreement between the two organisations.

An independent arbitration panel, first convened in April 2007, decide the SPL had not breached any agreement, paving the way for them to move forward with their SPL2 proposal.

SPL executive chairman Lex Gold said: "We welcome this outcome.

"It has taken quite some time to arrive at this conclusion.

"But the way is now clear for us to review this outcome with our clubs, after which we will have discussions with our colleagues in the SFL.

"Our aim through all of this has been to enhance and strengthen the senior professional game in Scotland."

The SPL believe the creation of SPL2 will "enhance and strengthen" the game and could serve as a catalyst for the introduction of a pyramid system.