The SPFL has effectively ruled out altering the size of the Scottish Premiership but will continue to explore reconfiguring the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2.

The league body has been looking at possible reconstruction but said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus around a new format for the" 12-team top flight.

Since moving from a 10-team division to the current format in the 2000-01 season, the Premiership, formerly Scottish Premier League, has split after 33 rounds of fixtures - with the teams playing five more fixtures against those in their half of the table.

The second, third and fourth tiers contain 10 clubs each, playing each four times per season, and one team is automatically promoted by winning those divisions.

Teams can also move up a league via play-offs and there is an end of season pyramid play-off, offering teams from the Lowland and Highland League competitions the chance of entry to the SPFL.

The SPFL says there is "broad agreement around potential changes to the" divisions below the Premiership.

And the organisation added: "These will be worked up with a view to conducting a consultation with clubs and other stakeholders."