Smith is critical of the split in the current 12-team league and would favour an even greater swelling of the SPL ranks.

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster this week declared himself open to new ideas after detecting a desire for change.

Smith said: "I heard Jim Jefferies and Craig Brown both state recently that playing each other four times is not right and they feel there should be a change.

"I would agree with that, I would like to see a change.

"I don't know whether a lot of teams quite like playing each other four times because it means they play the Old Firm twice at home and that gets them a level of revenue they would maybe lose otherwise.

"The ideal set-up is to have an 18-team league. If we could find a way of working towards that, I would be in favour of that.

"It comes into line with all the other European teams and means we don't have the embarrassment of a split with teams finishing seventh on more points than teams who finish sixth."

Most managers in the SPL have backed some form of change and Dundee United manager Peter Houston hopes discussions are held.

The Scotland assistant manager said: "I'm very open minded about it and if someone comes up with a plan which is workable then I think we should all sit down and discuss it.

"Obviously, there are a lot of considerations. From a manager's point of view it would be great to expand the league and bring more teams in.

"The likes of St Johnstone, Hamilton and St Mirren have all come up in recent years and did really well so the standard is there, no doubt about that.

"And from the playing perspective it would be refreshing to bring new teams into the set-up."

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes believes the SPL must open its doors to help big clubs in the First Division.

"Whether it's summer football or extending the league, I think what we're producing now has to improve," he said.

"Good clubs in the First Division are struggling at the minute and if they don't get that one spot, it can have major implications for that club.

"I don't think we're far away from seeing a part-time First Division."

From a player's perspective, Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds feels familiarity can breed stale football.

"It was great at the start of the season playing in Europe, coming up against guys you have never played before," the 22-year-old said.

"Especially this season I'm starting to see patterns of play and the way a player takes the ball and it does get a bit repetitive."

However, St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson believes change is unlikely.

He said: "I think most people involved in the game - players, managers and coaches - would think that would be a good thing but there are obviously financial aspects of it which, I think, would prevent it taking place.

"It's good that Neil (Doncaster) is talking about it and looking for suggestions. But will it happen? I don't think so."

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray had no great feelings either way.

"If you are going to expand it, why not got to 18 or 20?" he said. "If you go to 18, play 34 games and you could have a winter break."

And Aberdeen boss Mark McGhee is keen that any change does not affect his transfer budget.

He said: "We are struggling to compete and to sign players at the moment with the likes of the First Division in England, never mind the rest of the SPL clubs.

"If having 16 teams means we are going to have extra income, bigger gates, more TV money, more advertising and more revenue in general, then fantastic.

"If all it's going to do is dilute it further, I don't see why it would make economic sense."