Peter Donald is critical of move

The proposed re-structuring, which would create a lower SPL division, could be up and running in two years, but Donald is highly sceptical.

Donald said: "This is about money. It is about getting more money and keeping it to themselves.

"This is not about nurturing the game in Scotland."

SPL chairman Lex Gold described the move as "seismic" and said the restructuring would be good for top-flight football in Scotland.

But Donald highlighted the lack of financial detail in the planned changes.

He said: "There is still an awful lot to be determined, but one thing I noticed missing is any reference to finance.

"To my mind, finance is what lies behind the proposal, it is key to the whole thing but the proposal is silent on that.

I believe there are months of negotiations ahead Peter Donald

"So we need some clarification. We are not certain how it would benefit the league clubs because there is talk of reserve leagues and an under-19 league which all the clubs do not have at the moment.

"And there is also talk of regionalisation and pyramid systems - things which are outside of the locus of the SPL.

"The SPL, SFA and SFL will meet soon but the next stage is to have a discussion within the SFL."

Donald cannot prevent clubs from leaving but hopes to maintain the status quo by keeping 30 sides inside the SFL.

"When the SPL was formed out of the SFL all those years ago I said I hoped losing those clubs would not diminish the SFL," he added.

"So I hope we will retain our existing membership.

"I do not know if that will happen but I believe there are months of negotiations ahead."

An SFA spokesman said: "We have not received any proposals yet so it would be premature to comment."