Henry McLeish has called into question the motives of the five clubs - including Hearts and Hibs - seeking a financial review of the SPFL.
The former First Minister says he has "serious doubts" about the Edinburgh clubs teaming up with Aberdeen, Dundee and Dundee United to demand change.
The Premiership group this week announced a six-month project, working with finance experts Deloitte to find a way to increase funds dished out among the the league's 42 member clubs to £50m.
McLeish, who orchestrated a review 11 years ago, fears the clubs - four of them, including Ron Gordon's Hibees, owned by Americans - will only do what is best for themselves.
He told the Daily Record : “I have serious doubts about what’s happening. Financial resilience is critical and should be done by the football authorities.
“I would like to be proved wrong but, at this stage, I’d say there could be self-interest involved. We’ve 42 clubs and only five are involved in this.
“I’m calling for a comprehensive, major review starting now with the involvement of ALL clubs which must include restructuring of the leagues.”
The new alliance, however, insist they will work to ensure any changes benefit all of the SPFL's member clubs.
Their statement read: "SPFL member clubs, Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian, with the endorsement of the SPFL, have commissioned independent advisers to assist in a strategic and holistic review of the SPFL.
"The primary focus is on identifying ways of unlocking significant additional revenues for the benefit of all in professional Scottish club football.
"As a group of clubs, who will spend around £600m over the next ten years (in both operations and infrastructure) we believe a clear vision and strategy with measurable goals is needed if Scottish football is to continue to grow and prosper on and off the pitch and ultimately compete with similar-sized countries and leagues across Europe."
