Lower league clubs face ending their seasons on an average points-per-game basis if they can’t fulfil 18 fixtures by May 6.
SPFL chiefs today put plans for the remainder of the League 1 and League 2 season to a vote - with an initial five-week deadline set for clubs to hit the 18-game mark.
As Record Sport reported at the weekend all 20 clubs must reach that stage by Friday, April 23, if their preferred option of a 22-game campaign is to go ahead.
If any club fails to reach that mark then their division will revert to an 18-game competition with an extra two weeks to reach the target.
Should that date again be missed then the relevant division would be decided on a points-per-game average, according to today’s resolution which has been put to clubs.
And if that resolution fails to be voted through by at least eight of the 10 clubs in both divisions then the initial fixture list for a 27-game season will come back into play.
Lower league clubs have been in cold storage since all football below the Championship was stopped on January 11 amid soaring coronavirus cases across the country.
But League 1 and 2 will restart this Saturday and face a hectic five-week schedule which will see some clubs - Clyde, Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers - forced to play 10 league games to meet the first deadline. Clyde and Cowdenbeath also face at least one Scottish Cup tie on top.
To help with the backlog, today’s resolution also includes plans for the Championship, League 1 and League 2 play-offs due to commence on May 5 to be delayed by three days.
But the maximum density of fixtures will be a Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday scenario with concerns over the affect on players' health.
It follows weeks of talks between a League 1 and 2 steering group which drew up a return to play agreement which sees all 20 clubs commit to once-weekly testing of players and staff.
All League 1 and 2 clubs had agreed to a 22-match season with a split after 18 games.
The SPFL Board preferred an 18-game season claiming that would be more practical and realistic.
But today’s resolution marks the compromise and is expected to be voted through.
SPFL Company Secretary Calum Beattie said: “Since the suspension of League 1 and 2 matches was lifted by the Scottish FA on 2 March, we have been in near-constant communication with the club representatives that make up the League 1 and 2 Steering Group.
“Those discussions have been very productive with everyone working extremely hard to develop a proposition that is agreeable to all parties.
“Although the recommendation from the SPFL Board was that an 18-match season was the most practicable option, we fully recognise and respect the desire from clubs in Leagues 1 and 2 to aim for 22 games.
“I am pleased we have now reached an agreement that I hope will be approved by the clubs in the coming days.”
