George Peat's plans to form a "coalition committee" to help revolutionise Scottish football gathered momentum last night when the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League endorsed the need for change.

Lex Gold, executive chairman of the SPL, revealed he has championed the cause for a pyramid system for more than two years but is against any political involvement. David Thomson, operations director of the SFL, acknowledged there is a "need for change".

There was a groundswell of support from throughout Scottish football after The Herald revealed details of Peat's plan yesterday. Craig Levein, the Dundee United manager, described the plans as "long overdue", while Fraser Wishart, chairman of PFA Scotland, stressed an all-inclusive summit on the state of the Scottish game was invaluable, provided the recommendations are implemented.

Hugh Dallas, head of refereeing development at the SFA, was also enthusiastic about providing "a voice at the table" for beleaguered match officials.

Peat's exclusive interview with The Herald provoked a positive response but Gold's statement was the most significant development, since any radical restructuring is wholly dependent on agreement between the two most influential governing bodies.

"We tabled our SPL 2 proposal back in August 2006 to secure, promote and develop full-time professional football in Scotland," said Gold. "The concept of the introduction of a pyramid structure was also advanced by us at the time, with the recognition that others would be responsible for managing that process."

Peat is keen to have the independently chaired committee in place before the New Year but the SPL insisted any dialogue would only occur after a successful conclusion to the SFA's arbitration process on the proposals to form an SPL 2. Peat's plans will also be heard at an SPL board meeting next Thursday.

"We now await the decision of the Scottish FA's arbitration on our SPL 2 proposal, which has taken almost two years," Gold added. "That decision will help shape the views of our clubs going forward. Our board will review the SFA president's comments next week. Dialogue and debate among the Scottish football authorities is healthy and we welcome any opportunity, through the proper channels, to drive improvements in the game in this country. But we do not see any role for politicians in this process."

The SFL's power base could be ruined if SPL 2 is given the go-ahead but Thomson insists his organisation will put self-interest aside to help improve the running of the game. "The Scottish Football League has always had the best interests of Scottish football at heart," he said. "We are open to looking to the future and engaging and I think there is a realisation among all parties that there is a need for change."

Levein, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the SFA, nevertheless believes the chance for all interested parties to have an input into the running of the game should have happened years ago. Only last week, Levein condemned Peat for claiming managers "only criticised referees to deflect attention from their own mistakes" but he is in agreement over plans to improve the well-being of the national game.

"It's long overdue and I can't believe George Peat and I are actually agreeing on something," he said. "Of course I would be in favour of something that makes our game better. What we need is George, chief executive Gordon Smith, the referees, the managers and the supporters to sit down and discuss what is in the best interests of Scottish football. As much as we are the most negative country in the world when it comes to self-criticism, there is a bit of pride about ourselves.

"What would happen if we finally got things right? What would happen if we qualified and made it to the latter stages of a major tournament? We would be the proudest nation in the world. We are so polarised in out opinions. Just imagine, it would be incredible."

Levein insists that with so many vested interests at play, compromise will be the key to any real progress. "We won't get it right if we continue to stab each other in the back," he said. "We have to ask what are the problems and what are we gauging these problems against? Let's not confuse facilities with results now and results in Europe this season. We have a broad spectrum of things that could be a little better but it doesn't mean everything is rotten. There is a lot of good in our game and we need to remind ourselves of that before we start lambasting people.

"There is a lot to discuss but self-interest is the biggest concern."

Wishart's predecessor at the players' union, Tony Higgins, was heavily involved in the SFA Think Tank, formed by Ernie Walker and including such respected football figures as Rinus Michels, the former Dutch national coach and pioneer of Total Football. The findings were never acted upon and Wishart believes the latest exercise will only be worthwhile if the proposals are implemented. "I am in favour of everybody coming together to establish a better way forward and I think it is a positive sign that the SFA are keen to take everyone's views on board," he said. "The only way it will really make a difference is if people's views are taken on board and actually adopted."

Dallas has spent much of the season defending the competency of grade one refereeing in the country after a spate of high-profile errors and would relish the opportunity to promote refereeing improvement. "I think it is important for us to have a voice at the table, especially after the negative publicity surrounding referees this season," said Dallas. "I can see where the president is coming from and it cannot do any harm."

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