After another week in which our game fell victim to the weather - and a lack of working undersoil heating at St Johnstone - there have been plenty of frustrations aired about the state of the SPL. Aberdeen supporters are not the only ones feeling frustrated at the football, or lack of, on show in our top flight league this season.

Celtic seem to be losing players more quickly than they are points and in their current situation that is quite a feat - to be nine points adrift of the worst Rangers' side in my lifetime must hurt. Apparently their entire reserve side decamped to Middlesbrough last week, while Gary Caldwell decided to form a dream defensive partnership with Titus Bramble at Wigan.

The managerial situation, or lack of, has made life difficult for Motherwell and Dundee United, while Hearts' season appears to be pinned on some guy called Michael Stewart (pen). Most SPL clubs are really pushing the definition of the phrase die-hard supporters.

However, in amongst the gloom, there could be a light at the end of the tunnel which is not an oncoming train. This week Uefa have been convening to discuss the criteria for entry to the Champions League and Europa League for season 2013/14. Granted, this development is hardly news to set the pulses racing, but the consequences of these decisions could have very exciting prospects for clubs like Aberdeen.

Michel Platini and Jean-Luc Dehaene, the former PM of Belgium, have made radical plans to protect the dignity of football, or limit the power of the elite clubs in Europe, depending on your point for view. While this may seem inconsequential, the ruling could effectively bridge the chasm that has opened between the elite clubs and every other side in Europe. In short, the decisions of Platini and Dehaene could heal the wounds caused to smaller clubs by the Bosman ruling in 1995, and give well run clubs a chance at real success.

Why so optimistic? If the system was introduced for next season, clubs which spend "outwith their means" would be banned from participating in European competition. Any club with an unmanageable debt would be excluded. There would also be restrictions on any side which is effectively bankrolled by a benefactor. At a stroke, this would exclude Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Liverpool, AC Milan and Liverpool.

Of the sides ever to have won the Champions League, only five would be allowed to enter European Competition - Ajax, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Porto and Marseille. These restrictions would also mean no European football for Rangers or Hearts, but given that the proposed rule changes will not happen until 2014, Hearts United and New Rangers are more likely to be more worried about working their way out of the Second Division by then.

Obviously, there is no way that Uefa will implement anything that excludes their prize assets, but by signalling an intention to push football from a debt laden business back towards a game which rewards investment in youth and frugal accountancy, there is the chance for some of the Scottish sides to take advantage. If you are a club which promotes your own young players, stays within a strict wage structure and doesn't rely on the money of others to succeed, you will go far. These proposed changes could well see "community clubs" such as Lille, Standard Liege and – hopefully – ourselves rewarded for trying to run a tight ship and uncover the next big thing.

Aberdeen realised around a decade ago that we would need to cut costs, and were roundly mocked for doing so. Our move back towards youth investment has started to bear fruit, and in light of these impending rules and recommendations, Stewart Milne's refusal to act as a benefactor may yet prove wise. Our financial situation may not be the best in the league, but our debt would count as manageable - especially with more chance of European football.

We would not be the only side in the SPL to benefit, as our clubs would no longer face the prospect of qualifying rounds against wealthy, privately funded Eastern European sides, as we were with Dnipro. This summer's cost cutting across the league may have hit some teams especially hard, but by being forced to live within our means ahead of schedule, we may yet find there is long term gain.

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