CLAN chiefs have criticised this year's Homecoming celebrations, claiming the scaling back of the 2014 Gathering left thousands of international visitors with a salvaged "Bannockburn Plus".

Chiefs from the two biggest international clan organisations helped compile the report on the impact of the decision to axe a central clan Gathering in the celebration year - which included the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn - like the one held in Edinburgh five years ago.

They said this year's events meant only 40 out of 120 clans that took part in 2009 were included in what was described as a "debacle".

The US-based Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA) set up a working group that included the Scotland-based Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC). The group claimed the Bannockburn commemoration event appeared to have been considered by some during planning as a "pro-independence rally".

The 2009 Gathering event went bankrupt, leaving many exhibitors out of pocket. The 2014 ­Stirling Gathering plan was abandoned two years ago when it hit cash concerns, then the Bannockburn Live celebrations were also cut back.

Poor early ticket sales led to control being shifted from the National Trust for Scotland to VisitScotland with the budget slashed from £950,000 to £650,000.

COSCA and the SCSC say the Scottish Government should support private organisers to make the most of the tourism and business boost.

A properly steered and upgraded Gathering could next be held in 2018 or 2019, the clans said.

The COSCA report said the clan dimension this year was only partially saved with the late addition of a clan village and added: "In short, the almost-didn't-happen Second Year of Homecoming 2014 Gathering was salvaged as 'Bannockburn Plus'.

"Unfortunately, by the time this Plan B - or perhaps more accurately, Plan C or Plan D - had emerged, it was well beyond the advance time needed by most of the diaspora to make international travel plans."

It added: "In general, and while the fact that some of the event's creditors were not paid was indeed unfortunate, we believe that the 2009 Gathering was a tremendous, if imperfect, success."

Sir Malcolm MacGregor of the Clan MacGregor, Convener of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, said: "The success or failure reflects on Scotland as a whole. In 2009 the Gathering was seen as a success by the diaspora - which is why some are so keen to have another one - but a failure in Scotland, because it lost money - although the economy as a whole benefitted hugely. The SCSC think that if one is to be held again and for it to be a success, it should be privately run but in close association and with the full support of the public sector."

Murdo Fraser MSP, convener of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, said there are lessons to be learned from the 2014 event. He said: "The issues surrounding The Gathering events, both in 2009 and 2014 have been well documented and this report highlights that there are some, particularly those within the clan associations, who feel that an opportunity was missed in 2014 to attract a high level of international tourists to Scotland as part of a wider clan event.

"Our committee intends to undertake further work to establish how successful the wider Homecoming Scotland programme of events and Bannockburn Live actually were."

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said: "We note with interest the comments and proposals within the report and we are happy to discuss how we can work together."