The SPL officials seem to take a perverse delight in periodically issuing pronouncements that reek of pomposity and give out conflicting signals. Just as Chris Robinson and Co did last year about this time, so Roger Mitchell and the rest are starting to throw in some curveballs guarenteed if not actually calculated to spread panic amongst the ranks of First Division Clubs aspiring to the lofty heights of Premier league Membership.

The Tactic seems to be one of appearing to offer verbal concessions (ie in this case in relation to ground sharing) and then issuing an edict countermanding such a suggestion. Meanwhile, the poor sods at the wrong end of this confusion dont know whats happening.

What does emerge from this debacle is a major doubt over the SPL's commitment to increasing their quota by the millenium (without which its unlikely the SPL blueprint would have been ratified in the first place).

You can't help feeling that those in charge have been casting envious glances in the direction of the Champions League - a format whose leading tenet is increasingly becoming status/resources over ability.