For most of its history, the Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season.

This setup continued until the 1994–95 season, when – in response to an attempt by the biggest clubs to form a breakaway 'Super League' in 1992[2] – a four divisional structure was introduced.

That format had been used in the Scottish Premier Division but was considered to be too high a number of matches in a league season.

After the first phase was completed, clubs could not move out of their own section in the league, even if they achieved more or fewer points than a higher or lower ranked team, respectively.

[3] In March 2008, Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was the latest to call for a league revamp, claiming the potential for four matches per season against the same opponent was too many.

[13] World football's governing body FIFA ruled out the prospect of any Old Firm move to the English set-up.

[14] The duopoly was effectively broken when Rangers entered administration in 2012 and was liquidated after it failed to reach an agreement with creditors.

[16] Green also suggested that Rangers and Celtic would not be playing in the Scottish league system in ten years time.

[16] Scotland manager Gordon Strachan said he believed the Old Firm clubs would join a future new 38-club two-division European Super League.

Managers Martin O'Neill,[17] Jim Duffy[17] and Walter Smith were among those who called for the winter break to be reinstated.

[18] Alex McLeish accused the SPL of taking Scottish football "back to the Dark Ages" after its decision to scrap the mid-season hiatus.

In 2005–06, Rangers became the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League,[22] a feat repeated by Celtic the following two seasons.

[19] Scottish Premier League clubs had almost complete freedom to sign whatever number and category of players they wish.

[27] John Collins approved of the ruling, claiming it is healthy for Scottish football and encouraged the development of young players.

[28] Due to its relatively low income from television and commercial partners, Scottish clubs were highly dependent on revenues from fans attending matches.

[34] A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in 2003 described five SPL clubs – Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Hearts, Hibernian and Livingston – as "technically insolvent".

[35] Dunfermline Athletic's financial position also looked bleak, with several players asked to take wage-cuts,[36] while Rangers chairman David Murray announced in September 2004 a plan to raise £57 million via a rights issue in an attempt to eliminate a large proportion of the club's debts.

[41] The 2007 report by PWC revealed a collective loss of £9 million for 2005–06, although six clubs – Falkirk, Hibernian, Inverness CT, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Rangers – made a profit.

[44] The club's main benefactor, Brooks Mileson, was forced to withdraw his financial support due to failing health.

[48] In 2010, Hearts was described by The Scotsman as the only true financial "basket case" in the SPL, with the club having a wages-to-turnover ratio of 126% and debt of over three times turnover.

[48] Rangers entered administration on 14 February 2012,[49] owing an approximate £9 million in unpaid taxes and with an ongoing tribunal with HMRC.

Between 1998–99 and 2001–02, exclusive television rights for live Scottish Premier League matches were held by Sky Sports.

[52] However, these plans broke down in April 2002 when the Old Firm clubs – Rangers and Celtic – utilised the 11–1 voting system to veto the proposals.

[53] This caused discontent among the remaining ten SPL clubs, which subsequently announced their intention to resign from the league.

[54] Despite a two-year television deal being agreed with BBC Scotland in July 2002 for a significant amount less than previously offered by Sky Sports,[55] the ten non-Old Firm clubs confirmed their resignation from the SPL in August 2002, citing discontent with the voting system.

[61] In 2009, Sky and ESPN agreed a five-year deal with the SPL where they would pay a total of £65 million for the rights to show 30 matches each per season.

The BBC also held the rights to show online Internet highlights to UK users for one week after each match.

BBC Alba, launched in September 2008, showed one full SPL match per week in delayed coverage.

[66] BBC Radio Scotland also provided internet webcasts to all Scottish Premier League matches, having become the first broadcaster to introduce such a service in June 2000.

[71] He broke the previous record of 158, set by Henrik Larsson, by scoring five goals for Rangers in a 7–1 win against Dundee United on 30 December 2009.