Scottish clubs have missed out on involvement in the latest incarnation of the Atlantic League as Dutch and Belgian clubs go it alone.
The idea of a super league from a collection of smaller nations was first mooted 18 years ago under the guidance of SPL chief executive Roger Mitchell but the plan withered on the vine.
The latest blueprint was announced in 2016 with clubs from Scotland, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland meeting to discuss a proposal from FC Copenhagen.
But the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen both Belgium and the Netherlands join Scotland in cancelling their season, has led to a new plan to launch an 18-team league in the Low Countries.
Five clubs in Belgium - Gent, Anderlecht, Club Brugge, Genk and Standard Liege and six in the Netherlands - Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV Eindhoven, AZ Alkmaar, Utrecht and Vitesse Arnhem - have funded a feasibility study by research agency Deloitte.
The BeNeLiga would feature ten Dutch and eight Belgian clubs and the study has shown that it would expect to raise around £300 million in TV and sponsorship deals, which would put it in the Big Five leagues of Europe and overtake France's Ligue 1.
The clubs stated: "After 150 years of football, it's time to reassess our future in Belgium and the Netherlands.
"Our last European silverware was 20 years ago. The fans are longing for European glory."
The teams would play 34 games and there would be promotion and relegation from the Dutch Eredivisie and the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium.
Copenhagen's plans four years ago was prompted by proposed changes in the Champions League, but the proposals failed to gather enough support.
