The SPL only came into being in 1998-99 season, and to date has only ever been won by the two Glasgow team Rangers and Celtic, while 18 clubs have competed in the SPL since 1998-99 season, only Celtic and Rangers have ever won the title (up to 2011). This has led to some controversy and with to date only one season (2005-06) in which both Celtic and Rangers (known as the ‘Old Firm’) haven’t held the top two positions, Hearts were the club who faced Celtic in the final, losing to Celtic.
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The Scottish Football League was reformed from the existing Scottish Football League, who had only two divisions (one and two). In the mid 1970’s it was decided to make a three division structure – Premier, First and second divisions- this new format came into force in the 1975-6 season, until in 1994-95 season a new forth division was introduced (the third division). The four divisions consist of 10 teams each.
In 1997 the Premier Division Clubs decided to split from the Scottish Football League, to form the Scottish Premier League, this was fuelled by the desire of the top clubs to keep more of the money which they generated.
Currently there are 12 clubs in the SPL; the scoring is pretty straight forward 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and no points for a loss. The ranking system is also straight forward, first total points, next goal difference and finally goals scored. At the end of each season the club with the most points is proclaimed the champion, should there be two or more clubs with the same total then goal difference, followed by goals scored are used to determine the winner.
The SPL season runs from July to May each year, with the matches being divided into two phases. Phase one consists of each club playing 3 games against every other club, either twice at home and once away or vice-versa, this makes for 33 games, at the end of this period the clubs are split into the top six and the bottom six clubs, at which point each club then plays a further 5 games against the other 5 clubs in their section. With the points from the first phases carried forward, the clubs compete only within their own groups either top six or bottom six. At the end of the season the bottom placed SPL club is relegated, swapping places with the winner of the Scottish First Division, (provided the SFD club satisfies the SPL entry criteria).
Unlike most other football leagues the SPL don’t have a ‘winter break’ this decision was taken back in the 2000-01 season, and this decision has resulted in many postponed matches due to adverse weather conditions, it also results in serious and expensive damage to pitches. Player fatigue is also a serious side effect of the loss of the ‘winter break’, some club mangers such as Jim Duffy and Alex McLeish are opposed to this decision and have voiced their opinions openly. 
Statistically more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level teams than in any other European country. The SPL has a good ranking in the UEFA rankings sitting in 17th position as of October 2011. These rankings are based on the performance of the clubs in European competitions.
Scots clubs can qualify to play in European competitions; the winners of the Scottish Cup qualify to play in the Europa League, unless they have qualified to play in either the Champions League or Europa League, which if the case, the place is handed to the runner up. The winners of the SPL qualify for inclusion in the UEFA Champions League.
Due to the lack of television revenue Scots clubs, even the big ones such as Rangers and Celtic, struggle to attract top class players, as they don’t have the same money for transfer fees and players wages. In recent years, both Rangers and Celtic have considered moving away from the SPL, to perhaps the Atlantic League or the English Premier League, although the world football governing body, FIFA has ruled against any move to the English Premier League. Feelings are divided as to whether Ranger and Celtic leaving the SPL would be good or bad for the SPL and no doubt this debate will continue for some time to come.