Scottish Premier League
history| confed = UEFA | founded = 1998 | teams = 12 | relegation = Scottish First Division | levels = 1 | domest_cup = Scottish Cup, League Cup | confed_cup = Champions League, Europa League | champions = Rangers | season = 2008β09 | most successful club = Celtic (6) | TV Partners = Sky Sports, ESPN, BBC Scotland | website = »http://www.scotprem.com/ | current = Scottish Premier League 2009β10 }}
The Scottish Premier League (SPL, currently known as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for sponsorship reasons) is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top level of the Scottish football league system, above the Scottish Football League.
Per capita, more people in Scotland watch their domestic top level league than any other nation in Europe. The Scottish Premier League is currently ranked 15th in the UEFA rankings of European leagues, which are based on the performances of member clubs in European competitions. A total of 18 clubs have competed in the SPL since its inauguration in 1998β99, but only two have won the title: Celtic (six) and Rangers (five).
Previously, the Scottish Football League had a two divisional structure (Divisions One and Two) between which clubs were promoted and relegated at the end of each season. However, by the mid 1970s, this organisation was perceived to be stagnant, and it was decided to split into a three divisional structure: Premier Division (formerly Division One), First Division (formerly Division Two) and a newly added Second Division. This system came into force for the 1975β76 season.
This setup continued until the 1994β95 season, when a four divisional structure was introduced, along with a new Third Division, with all divisions comprising ten clubs.
On 8 September 1997, the football clubs in the Premier Division decided to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League, following an earlier example in England, which came into force during the 1992β93 season. This decision was fuelled by a desire by the top clubs in Scotland to retain more of the revenue generated by the game. Originally, league sponsorship money was divided proportionally between clubs in all four divisions; after the SPL was formed, this was no longer the case.
Originally the SPL contained 10 clubs, but it subsequently enlarged to 12 for the 2000β01 season onwards. The increase from 10 clubs to 12 was part of the deal offered to obtain approval from SFL member clubs. Since then, the SPL has operated a "split league format" to prevent the need for a 44-game schedule, which was once used in the Scottish Premier Division, but is now considered to be too high a number of games in a league season. Under this system, after 33 games (i.e., when every club has played every other club three times, either twice away and once at home, or vice-versa), the division is split into two halves, and clubs play a further five matches, against the teams in their half of the division, taking their total to 38 games.
This can (and often does) result in the team placed seventh having a higher points total than the team placed sixth, because their final five games are considerably easier. In the 2005β06 season, the seventh placed club, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, gained more points than the fourth placed club Hibernian.
Providing they meet certain criteria regarding their stadium, the top club from the Scottish First Division is promoted to the SPL, with the 12th-placed SPL club relegated.
In 2003, the league's promotion criteria caused controversy as the chairmen of the member clubs voted against Falkirk's proposed ground share with Airdrie United and stopped the club from having the 10,000 fan stadium capacity it required, thus saving Motherwell from relegation.
The same situation nearly materialised in 2004, but after several votes and discussion, including threats of court cases from Partick Thistle, the team then threatened with prospect of relegation, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were finally allowed promotion provided that they groundshared with north rivals Aberdeen at Pittodrie, a ground over 100 miles (160 km) away. In 2005, the stadium size criterion for entry to the SPL was reduced to 6,000, thereby allowing Inverness Caledonian Thistle to return to their home stadium during the 2005β06 season.
The Bank of Scotland, who had sponsored the league since March 1999 (The League was unsponsored for most of the inaugural season), did not renew their sponsorship at the end of the 2006β07 season. Talks began with Clydesdale Bank, and a deal was confirmed shortly afterwards. A four-year deal for Β£8m came into effect from July 2007.
Competition format
Competition
played at Tynecastle in December 2006]]
There are currently twelve clubs in the Scottish Premier League. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner.
During the course of a season, which runs from August until May, each club plays the others at least three times, either once at home and twice away or vice-versa. After this first phase of matches, by which time all clubs will have played 33 games, the league splits into a 'top six' and a 'bottom six'. Each club then plays a further five matches against the other five teams in their own section. Points achieved during the first phase of 33 matches are carried forward to the second phase, but the teams will compete only within their own sections during the second phase. After the first phase has been completed, clubs cannot move outwith their own section in the league, even if they achieve more or fewer points than a higher or lower ranked team, respectively.
At the beginning of each season, the Scottish Premier League 'predicts' the likely positions of each club in order to produce a fixture schedule that will ensure the best possible chance of all clubs playing each other twice at home and twice away. These are known as the league seedings and are based on clubs' performance in previous years. However, should a club predicted to finish in the top six finish in the bottom six, it faces the possibility of playing more games away from home than at home or vice-versa. This, in turn, has a knock-on effect on the top-six with an imbalance of fixtures resulting; for example, one club may play one team three times at home and once away.
The bottom placed SPL club at the end of the season is relegated, and swaps places with the winner of the Scottish First Division, provided that the winner satisfies the league's entry criteria.
There has been criticism of the league's format, mostly focused on the controversial 'split'. In April 2007, Craig Levein labelled the format as "rubbish" and a "nonsense", claiming that it resulted in lost revenue for clubs and put more pressure on managers. While Rangers manager Walter Smith branded the format as "unfair" and called for an 18-team league to be considered. The SPL has defended the split format, however, and dismissed the possibility of expanding the league due to a lack of strong enough clubs within the Scottish Football League. In March 2008 Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies was the latest to call for a league revamp, claiming that the potential for four matches per season against the same opponent is too many.
Old Firm dominance
match at Celtic Park]]
One of the main criticisms of the SPL is the dominance of the two Old Firm clubs, Celtic and Rangers. No team outside the Old Firm has won the SPL since it was formed in 1998 and there has only been one season (2005β06) where both clubs failed to occupy first and second positions, with Hearts finishing second behind Celtic. Whilst this is similar to other European leagues, this problem dates back to the beginning of Scottish league football, with a few exceptional periods. The average home attendances of boths clubs are significantly higher than the other 10 clubs, resulting in the Old Firm having far greater revenues and therefore more money to spend on players. Both clubs also receive significant revenue from their regular participations in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League.
However, despite having more resources than other Scottish clubs, the Old Firm still experience difficulty in competing with big clubs from other leagues in terms of transfer fees and player wages due to the SPL's relatively low television revenue. A recurring theme in recent years has been the prospect of the two clubs leaving the Scottish football set-up to join either the English set-up, or an Atlantic League with clubs from countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Portugal. While some feel that the departure of the Old Firm from the Scottish football setup would be detrimental to Scottish football as a whole, others, such as Craig Levein, believe it would benefit Scottish football due to increased competition among the remaining clubs for the SPL title. World football's governing body FIFA, however, has ruled out the prospect of any move to the English set-up.
A further issue of controversy was the SPL's decision to scrap the 'winter break' after the 2000β01 season, thereby forcing clubs to play throughout January and often resulting in postponement of matches and significant damage to clubs' pitches due to adverse weather conditions, as well as player fatigue. Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, former Dundee manager Jim Duffy and current Rangers manager Walter Smith are among those who have called for the winter break to be reinstated. Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish accused the SPL of taking Scottish football "back to the Dark Ages" after its decision to scrap the mid-season hiatus.
European qualification
at the Camp Nou in the 2007β08 Champions League]]
The Scottish Premier League is currently thirteenth in UEFA's co-efficient ranking, meaning that for the 2010β11 season, two SPL clubs will qualify for the UEFA Champions League (the SPL champions, who enter the third qualifying round for champions (unless the defending champions have already qualified to the group stages, in which case the SPL champions will enter the group stages directly), and the runner-up, who enter the third qualifying round for non-champions) as well as two qualifying for the UEFA Europa League (the third and fourth placed clubs). The winners of the Scottish Cup also qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
If the Scottish Cup winners have qualified for the UEFA Champions League, the final UEFA Europa League place is given to the runner-up. Clubs also had the opportunity to apply for qualification to the UEFA Intertoto Cup before it was folded into the Europa League; qualification for that event was given to the highest placed applicant, although only two clubs chose to play in the tournament since the SPL's inception in 1998β99 (Dundee in 2001 and Hibernian in 2004, 2006 and 2008). Clubs may also qualify for Europe via the UEFA Fair Play ranking.
Since the SPL's inception, Scotland's UEFA co-efficient has improved significantly, having been ranked 26th in 1998β99. In 2003 Celtic became the first Scottish club since Dundee United in 1987 to reach a European final, eventually losing 3β2 to FC Porto after extra-time in the UEFA Cup final. In 2003β04, two Scottish clubs (Celtic and Rangers) qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time. In 2005β06, Rangers became the first Scottish club to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League, a feat which was repeated by Celtic the following two seasons. In the 2007β08 season, three Scottish clubs were competing in Europe after Christmas for the first time since 1970, while in the same season Rangers reached their first European final since their UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph of 1972, which they lost 2β0 to Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg in the UEFA Cup Final. During the season Scotland's European representatives collected the most co-efficient points since the 1982β83 season.
Scottish Premier League clubs have almost complete freedom to sign whatever number and category of players they wish. There is no team or individual salary cap, no squad size limit, no age restrictions other than those applied by general employment law, no restrictions on the overall number of foreign players, and few restrictions on individual foreign players β all players with EU nationality, including those able to claim an EU passport through a parent or grandparent, are eligible to play, and top players from outside the EU are able to obtain UK work permits.
The only restriction on selection is the "Under-21 rule". This rule states that each club must include three players under the age of 21 in their matchday squad. Opinions on this rule appear to be divided among SPL managers. Walter Smith, Gus MacPherson and Jim Jefferies have expressed their disapproval of the policy. John Collins, meanwhile, expressed approval of the ruling, claiming that it is healthy for Scottish football and encouraged the development of young players.
Recent decline in television revenue has resulted in relatively little spending among SPL clubs in recent seasons, with major transfer spending mostly limited to the Old Firm clubs. As a result, many clubs are now more reliant on developing their own young players and selling them on for profit. This has also resulted in a large proportion of SPL clubs' squads being made up of Scottish players (73% in 2004β05).
Since the SPL began, four of its member clubs have entered administration. Serious financial difficulties first arose in 2002 when broadcaster Sky Sports withdrew their interest in the Leagueβs television rights when the SPL rejected their offer of Β£45m, hoping that a better deal would arise from another broadcaster. A better deal failed to arise, however, adding to the clubsβ already delicate financial position. By season 2001/02, combined debt among SPL clubs was estimated to be around Β£132m, having been barely into double figures two years previously. Motherwell became the first SPL club to enter administration in April 2002, with debts of Β£11m and a wage bill totaling 97% of their annual turnover. Dundee were next to follow, when in November 2003 they sacked 25 staff after debts of Β£20m. The severity of the SPL's financial problems were revealed in September 2003 when combined losses for SPL clubs during 2001/02 was estimated to have been Β£60m.
Livingston became the third SPL club to enter administration in February 2004, with debts of Β£3.5m. Dunfermline Athletic's financial position also looked bleak, with several players asked to take wage-cuts, while Rangers Chairman David Murray announced in September 2004 a plan to raise Β£57m via a rights issue in an attempt to wipe-out a large proportion of the club's debts. A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2003 described five SPL clubs β Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Hearts, Hibernian and Livingston β as "technically insolvent".
After widespread cost-cutting measures, SPL clubs' finances began to show signs of improvement. Both Motherwell and Dundee came out of administration in April and August 2004, respectively, while Livingston ended their fifteen month spell in administration in May 2005. PricewaterhouseCoopers' 2006 report on SPL finances revealed operating profits of Β£2.8m among SPL clubs β the first collective operating profit made by Scotland's top-flight clubs in over a decade. Seven of the SPL's 12 clubs had a wage turnover ratio of less than 60%.
PricewaterhouseCoopers' 2007 report revealed a collective loss of Β£9m for 2005β06, however six clubs β Falkirk, Hibernian, Inverness CT, Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Rangers β all made a profit. The report highlighted the increasingly precarious financial position of Hearts, describing their current finances as "unsustainable" with debt rising by Β£7m to Β£28m and a wage bill which represents 97% of their turnover. The figures for 2006β07 showed a collective profit of Β£3m, with eight clubs making a profit.
Despite recent improvements in the financial position of SPL clubs, Gretna became the fourth SPL club to enter administration in March 2008 after their main benefactor Brooks Mileson was forced to withdraw his financial support due to failing health.
With the financial crises and the UK economic recession, SPL clubs are expected to be badly affected. A reduction in revenue from ticket sales for SPL games and club merchandise will impact negatively on club expenditure. Players may be expected to take wage cuts and team squads will be reduced. Indeed some clubs may reduce the number of non-playing staff.,»Rangers offer redundancy packages BBC News, 7 March 2009 During 2009 and 2010, the financial constraints at Rangers have been widely reported, with the club's debt rising to Β£30 million.
Between season 1998β99 and season 2001β02, exclusive television rights for live Scottish Premier League matches were held by Sky Sports, with a highlights package held by STV's Scotsport. After Sky Sports withdrew their interest in the SPL when their offer for Β£45m to continue ownership of the live TV rights were declined by the SPL on the grounds of not being substantial enough, discussions began in 2002 for a new pay-per-view satellite television channel, dubbed "SPL TV". Discussions broke down in April 2002, however, when the Old Firm clubs, Rangers and Celtic, utilised the 11β1 voting system to veto the proposals. This caused discontent among the remaining 10 SPL clubs who subsequently announced their intention to resign from the league.
Despite a two-year television deal being agreed with BBC Scotland in July 2002 (for a significant amount less than the money previously offered by Sky Sports), the 10 non-Old Firm clubs confirmed their resignation from the SPL in August 2002, citing discontent with the league's 11β1 voting procedure which effectively gave the Old Firm clubs a veto over attempts to change SPL rules. The ten clubs withdrew their resignations in January 2003 after an agreement was reached to change the voting procedures and to change the distribution of TV revenue.
With BBC Scotland's television contract due to expire after the 2003β04 season, the SPL agreed a new television deal with Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports in February 2004 in a four-year deal worth Β£54m. In June 2008, it was announced that a further four-year deal would commence for the 2010/11 season, with the deal worth Β£125m.
BBC Scotland's Sportscene currently own the rights to broadcast highlights of each game first on terrestrial TV. The BBC also hold the rights to show on-line internet highlights to UK users for one week after each game.
BBC Alba, launched in September 2008, show one full SPL game every Saturday evening for two seasons. The games are broadcast three hours after the game has ended. The game shown is a selected one not covered by live either by Setanta Sports or BT Vision, in Season 2008β09 or ESPNBSkyB in Season 2009β10. In Australia the Scottish Premier League is broadcast by Setanta Sports. In the USA the SPL is currently available on Setanta Sports North America.
On 23 June 2009 Setanta lost the rights to show live SPL games in the United Kingdom as they were unable to pay the Β£3 million they owed to the SPL. Setanta went into administration and ceased broadcasting in the UK.
The SPL replaced Setanta with ESPN and BSkyB in a deal thought to be around Β£13 million per season to the clubs. This is comparable to the deal which Setanta had in place although around half of the amount that Setanta would have been paying from 2010. The Old Firm collect Β£4.5 million each year, the rest is split evenly betwean the other teams.
Radio broadcasting rights are currently held by BBC Radio Scotland, who have held the rights since the SPL's inception in 1998. BBC Radio Scotland also provide internet webcasts to all Scottish Premier League matches, having became the first broadcaster to introduce such a service in June 2000. However Old Firm games are broadcast when available on BBC Radio 5 Live and also on 102.5 Clyde 1.
The following twelve clubs compete in the Scottish Premier League during the 2009β10 season:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: left"
|-
! Club
! Manager
! Position in 2008β09
! First season in top division
! First season of current spell in top division
! Last title
|-
| AberdeenFounding member of the Scottish Premier LeaguePlayed in every Scottish Premier League season
| Mark McGhee
| 4th
| 1905β06
| 1905β06
| 1984β85
|-
| Celtic
| Tony Mowbray
| 2nd
| 1890β91
| 1890β91
| 2007β08
|-
| Dundee United
| Peter Houston
| 5th
| 1925β26
| 1996β97
| 1982β83
|-
| Falkirk
| Steven Pressley
| 10th
| 1905β06
| 2005β06
| N/A
|-
| Hamilton Academical
| Billy Reid
| 9th
| 1906β07
| 2008β09
| β
|-
| Heart of Midlothian
| Jim Jefferies
| 3rd
| 1890β91
| 1983β84
| 1959β60
|-
| Hibernian
| John Hughes
| 6th
| 1895β96
| 1999β2000
| 1951β52
|-
| Kilmarnock
| Jimmy Calderwood
| 8th
| 1899β1900
| 1992β93
| 1964β65
|-
| Motherwell
| Craig Brown
| 7th
| 1903β04
| 1985β86
| 1931β32
|-
| Rangers
| Walter Smith
| 1st (Champions)
| 1890β91
| 1890β91
| 2008β09
|-
| St. Johnstone
| Derek McInnes
| 1st (First Division)
| 1924β25
| 2009β10
| N/A
|-
| St. Mirren
| Gus MacPherson
| 11th
| 1890β91
| 2006β07
| N/A
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Club
St. Mirren are the only club to have been promoted into the SPL twice. Dunfermline Athletic are the only club to have been relegated from the SPL twice.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Season
!Winner
!Runner-up
!Relegated
!Top Scorer
!Players' Player of the Year
!Writers' Player of the Year
|-
|1998β99
The All-Time SPL Table is a cumulative record of all SPL matches played since the inception of the SPL, in 1998. The table is accurate from the 1998β99 season to the end of the 2008β09 season, inclusive.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!width=40|P
P = Position; Ssn = Number of seasons; Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points; Ppg = Points per game
Rangers player Kris Boyd has scored the most goals in the SPL, with 162 goals so far. He broke the previous record of 158, set by Henrik Larsson, by scoring five goals for Rangers in a 7β1 win against Dundee United on 30 December 2009. Boyd and Larsson are the only players to have scored more than 100 goals in the SPL, which started in the inaugural 1998β99 season. There are players who have scored far more goals in the predecessor Scottish Football League competition, with Jimmy McGrory and Bob McPhail each scoring more than 300 goals in the top flight of Scottish football.»Scotland β All-Time Topscorers, RSSSF.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=45 |Rank
! Player
! Club(s)Clubs only include those where players scored goals
! width=45 |Goals
|-
| align=center|1
The following clubs have won Programme of the Year:
Former SPL members
These are previous members of the SPL in reverse order of them losing membership.
!Position
in 2008β09
!First season
in top division
!Last season in
top division
!Last title
|- style="background:#efefef"
|style="text-align:left"|Inverness CT12th, SPL 2004β05 2008β09 β
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Gretna N/AGretna F.C. went out of business following the 2007β08 season. A new club called Gretna 2008 was set up in its place and entered the East of Scotland Football League. 2007β08 2007β08 β
|- style="background:#efefef"
|style="text-align:left"|Dunfermline Athletic 3rd, First Division 1926β27 2006β07 β
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Livingston 7th, First Division 2001β02 2005β06 β
|- style="background:#efefef"
|style="text-align:left"|Dundee 4th, First Division 1893β94 2004β05 1961β62
|-
|style="text-align:left"|Partick Thistle 2nd, First Division 1897β98 2003β04 β
|-
|}
Stadia
, the SPL's biggest stadium by capacity]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width=130|Stadium
! width=65|Capacity
! width=130|Club
! Notes
|-
| Celtic Park style="text-align:center" | 60,832 Celtic The biggest club stadium in Scotland by seating capacity.»The planned venues, BBC Sport, 9 December 2002.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| Ibrox Stadium style="text-align:center" | 51,082 Rangers Ibrox holds UEFA Elite stadium status.
|-
| Pittodrie Stadium style="text-align:center" | 22,199 Aberdeen The first all-seater stadium in the United Kingdom[http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3000/29 Complex demands], When Saturday Comes, January 2002.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| Rugby Park style="text-align:center" | 18,128 Kilmarnock
|-
| Tynecastle Stadium style="text-align:center" | 17,420 Heart of Midlothian
|- style="background:#efefef"
| Easter Road style="text-align:center" | 14,326 Hibernian Reduced capacity due to demolition of East Terrace, to rise to 20,250 next season with the completion of the replacement stand.
|-
| Tannadice Park style="text-align:center" | 14,209 Dundee United
|- style="background:#efefef"
| Fir Park style="text-align:center" | 13,742 Motherwell
|-
| McDiarmid Park style="text-align:center" | 10,673 St. Johnstone First purpose built all seater stadium in the country»Saints savour 20 years at McDiarmid Park, The Scotsman, 25 July 2009.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| Falkirk Stadium style="text-align:center" | 9,706 Falkirk
|-
| St. Mirren Park style="text-align:center" | 8,016 St. Mirren St. Mirren left their previous stadium Love Street on 3 January 2009»Stirring end to a Street party, Daily Mail, 5 January 2009.
|- style="background:#efefef"
| New Douglas Park style="text-align:center" | 6,000 Hamilton Academical
|}
Rangers Celtic Dunfermline Athletic Henrik Larsson 29 (Celtic) Henrik Larsson (Celtic) Henrik Larsson (Celtic)
|-
|1999β2000 Rangers Celtic No Relegation Mark Viduka 25 (Celtic) Mark Viduka (Celtic) Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
|-
|2000β01 Celtic Rangers St. Mirren Henrik Larsson 35 (Celtic) Henrik Larsson (Celtic) Henrik Larsson (Celtic)
|-
|2001β02 Celtic Rangers St. Johnstone Henrik Larsson 29 (Celtic) Lorenzo Amoruso (Rangers) Paul Lambert (Celtic)
|-
|2002β03 Rangers Celtic No Relegation Henrik Larsson 28 (Celtic) Barry Ferguson (Rangers) Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
|-
|2003β04 Celtic Rangers Partick Thistle Henrik Larsson 30 (Celtic) Chris Sutton (Celtic) Jackie McNamara (Celtic)
|-
|2004β05 Rangers Celtic Dundee John Hartson 25 (Celtic) John Hartson (Celtic) /
Fernando Ricksen (Rangers)John Hartson (Celtic)
|-
|2005β06 Celtic Heart of Midlothian Livingston Kris Boyd 32 (15 β Kilmarnock, 17 β Rangers) Shaun Maloney (Celtic) Craig Gordon (Hearts)
|-
|2006β07 Celtic Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Kris Boyd 20 (Rangers) Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic) Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic)
|-
|2007β08 Celtic Rangers Gretna Scott McDonald 25 (Celtic) Aiden McGeady (Celtic) Carlos CuΓ©llar (Rangers)
|-
|2008β09 Rangers Celtic Inverness CT Kris Boyd 27 ( Rangers) Scott Brown (Celtic) Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
|}
!Club
!width=40|Ssn
!width=40|Pld
!width=40|W
!width=40|D
!width=40|L
!width=40|F
!width=40|A
!width=40|GD
!width=40|Pts
!width=40|PPG
!width=40|1st
!width=40|2nd
!width=40|3rd
!width=40|4th
|-
|1align=left|''' Celtic
|- style="background:#efefef"
|2 11 414 304 61 49 968 336 +632 '''973 2.35 6 5 align=left|Rangers
|-
|3 11 414 282 76 56 876 333 +553 922 2.22 5 5 1 align=left|Hearts
|- style="background:#efefef"
|4 11 414 172 103 139 560 487 +73 619 1.49 1 4 1
align=left|Aberdeen
|-
|5 11 414 147 98 169 499 587 β88 539 1.30 1 4
align=left|Kilmarnock
|- style="background:#efefef"
|6 11 414 146 100 168 507 591 β84 538 1.29 3
align=left|Hibernian
|-
|7 10 378 137 97 144 526 526 0 508 1.34 2 1
align=left|Motherwell
|- style="background:#efefef"
|8 11 414 133 94 187 500 630 β130 493 1.19 1 1
align=left|Dundee United
| 11 414 112 115 187 451 636 β185 451 1.08
|-
|9align=left|Dunfermline
|- style="background:#efefef"
|10 8 302 78 79 145 295 483 β188 313 1.04 1
align=left|Dundee
|-
|11 7 262 80 61 121 308 412 β104 301 1.14 align=left|Inverness CT
|- style="background:#efefef"
|12 5 190 60 48 82 222 253 β31 228 1.20 align=left|Livingston
|-
|13 5 190 48 46 97 205 306 β101 190 1.0 1 align=left|Falkirk
|- style="background:#efefef"
|14 4 152 45 35 72 166 220 β54 170 1.12 align=left|St. Johnstone
|-
|15 4 148 39 43 66 139 200 β61 160 1.08 1 align=left|St. Mirren
|- style="background:#efefef"
|16 4 152 35 39 78 122 229 β107 144 0.95 align=left|Partick Thistle
|-
|17 2 76 14 19 43 76 125 β49 61 0.80 align=left|Hamilton Academical
|- style="background:#efefef"
|18 1 38 12 5 21 30 53 β23 41 1.08 align=left|Gretna
|}
1 38 5 8 25 32 83 β51 13Gretna were deducted 10 points for going into administration in the 2007β08 season. 0.34 Top scorers
, the SPL's top all-time goalscorer]]
Kris BoydThe player is still an active player in a SPL squad. Kilmarnock (1999β2006)
Rangers (2006βpresent) align=center|162
|-
| align=center|2 Henrik Larsson Celtic (1998β2004) align=center|158
|-
| align=center|3 Scott McDonald Motherwell (2004β2007)
Celtic (2007β2010) align=center|93
|-
| align=center|4 John Hartson Celtic (2001β2006) align=center|88
|-
| align=center|5 Derek Riordan Hibernian (2001β2006)
Celtic (2006β2008)
Hibernian (2008βpresent) align=center|80
|-
| align=center|6 Nacho Novo Dundee (2002β2004)
Rangers (2004βpresent) align=center|72
|-
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"| 7 Stevie Crawford Hibernian (1998β2000)
Dunfermline Athletic (1999β2004)
Dundee United (2005)
Aberdeen (2005β2006)
Dunfermline Athletic (2006β2008) rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|65
|-
| Billy Dodds Aberdeen (1994β1998)
Dundee United (1998β1999)
Rangers (1999β2003)
Dundee United (2003β2006)
|-
| Chris Sutton Celtic (2000β2006)
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10 Steve Lovell Dundee (2002β2005)
Aberdeen (2005β2008)
Falkirk (2008β2009) style="text-align:center"|56
|-
|}
:Craig Gordon, from Heart of Midlothian to Sunderland, Β£9m, 8 August 2007
:Alan Hutton, from Rangers to Tottenham Hotspur, Β£9m, 30 January 2008