Scottish SuperLeague revealed — a blunt, no-nonsense overhaul of Scottish football: new 5-tier SuperLeague structure, promotion/relegation, doubled prize money, and three cups (Scottish League Cup, Buckfast Diddy Cup, Alba Super Cup). Topics: Scottish football reform, league split critique, Highland & Lowland integrations, grassroots clubs, promotion playoffs, prize money redistribution, fixture variety. Tell us what you think — any tweaks or ideas welcome.
UPDATE 1: JANUARY 27th 2026 to INCLUDE RESERVE TEAMS AND LEAGUES
UPDATE 2: FEBRUARY 3rd 2026 to LESSEN THE HARSHNESS OF YELLOW CARD BANS, AND ALSO ADDED SQUAD NUMBERS
Scottish SuperLeague 1, has 22 teams, comprising of the 12 from the current premier division, and then ten teams from the Scottish Championship. Four teams are relegated each season.
Scottish SuperLeague 2 has 20 teams, comprising the teams from the current Scottish 1st and 2nd divisions. 3 teams are automatically promoted, with 1 more promoted after an end of season playoff cup. 3 teams are relegated.
Scottish SuperLeague 3 has 20 teams. Comprising the top ten teams that used to live in the Highland and Lowland League. 2 teams get automatic promotion, while one more follows them up after a playoff. Three more teams are relegated.
Scottish SuperLeague 4 also has 20 teams. Comprising the bottom half of the current Highland and Lowland league, as they stand when I made this on December 31st 2025. Relegation and promotion is the same as the leagues above.
Finally, for Scottish Superleague 5, we have 20 teams that are drawn from the 5 leagues of West of Scotland Premier, East of Scotland Premier, the Midlands league, the Scottish Southern league, and the North Caledonian league. I have taken 4 teams from each league, the top 4 teams again as they currently stand on December 31st 2025.
Prize money for each position has basically been doubled from its current real world amounts. I figure if Celtic can get 4 and a half million quid for beating the league as it stands, then why not twice as much for beating twice as many teams? Still pennies and piss-change compared to the English Premier, but that's just how the cookie crumbles.
There are now THREE cups. The Scottish League Cup comprises of all Scottish teams down to the amateur leagues such as West of Scotland premier, and is a knock-out round format, played in the second half of the season.
There is also the Buckfast Diddy Cup, a Lower league tournament comprising only of teams from the Scottish SuperLeague 3 and below. Also a knockout style tournament.
And finally there is my pride and joy, the Alba Super Cup. Again made up of all teams right down to the amateur leagues. This Super Cup comes in two halves, the first half is played in the first half of the season and is a Group League stage. There are 16 groups, each with 9 teams. The top 2 from each group then go through into the second half of the tournament.
These final 32 teams will then play a knockout style cup until we are whittled down to the winner.
And anyway, that's it. That's the new Scottish league and cup system. Specifically designed to spread the wealth more, with smaller teams far more likely to meet the bigger teams, and grab all that cash that comes with them.
I have tested this new system all the way to 2035 with no problems, however, I am more than open to suggestions if anyone has any ideas I may implement them also. Let me know what you think.
***In order to play with this database, download the .fmf file and save to your editor folder at C:\Users\YourNameHere\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 26\editor data
When starting a new game, be sure to choose an advanced setup, and in the top-right of screen, click in and select the SCOTTISH SUPERLEAGUE database.
Then play and have fun. 🙂
Thanks,
AncientSwan
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AncientSwan
And aye, only after spending to many hours to make this thing did I then notice someone has already made something similar.
Still tho, its done now so I'd prefer to share.
Thanks,
AncientSwan
PGDons
Enjoying this hugely - my one observation is that a suspension for two yellows, and then again for every single yellow after that, is brutal, especially for the smaller teams - I started with Tayport, and have a squad of 23, mainly to cope with the suspensions which are coming thick and fast now the season's under way properly. Apart form that, very enjoyable.
AncientSwan
Hey man, thanks for the message and feedback. It is well noted, I had a similar issue myself when playing tbh. So I've uploaded a new .fmf file that you can find attached above (though you'll have to start a new save for it to work). I have changed the yellow card rules so instead of a suspension for two yellows, and then again for every single yellow after that. The initial ban now starts at three yellows, and then for every two yellows after that.
I have made it a little harder in the reds tho, it is now an automatic two match ban instead of one. And all bans now continue over into the next season.
Cheers
Brockie19
I'm enjoying it as well only thing for me is that there are no squad numbers
AncientSwan
I was a little confused by this option when in the pre-game editor, as the box for ticking squad numbers also clearly states “Used For Inactive Competitions Only”. Seemed like a weird thing to say not used for active competitions so I just left it. Im thinking now that may have been the wrong thing to do tho.
I have now ticked that wee box and uploaded the new .fmf file above, though you'll have to start a new save to take advantage. It should be ok now, fingers crossed 🙂