EVENTS at Hampden yesterday might have provided a long-awaited green light for a pyramid structure but it still promises to be a rather lop-sided edifice without the involvement of Scotland's junior clubs.
To say that uptake has been slow among the junior fraternity in applying to join such as Spartans, Threave Rovers, Dalbeattie Star and others in the Scottish Football Association's newly-created flagship Lowland League, is to overstate the case.
Indeed, when Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive, wrote to all central belt junior sides to canvass interest in whether the clubs were willing to take part, he received just six positive responses and only one of which – Blackburn United – feel they might actually be in a position to join in time for the start of the 2014-15 season.
The position isn't exactly clear as regards junior involvement in the Highland League pathway either, with Banks 'o' Dee the only northern junior outfit thought to be making a concerted attempt to infiltrate the ranks of the soon-to-be-created Scottish Professional Football League.
"I think most of the clubs are taking a watching brief on developments at this particular time," Tom Johnston, the secretary of the Scottish Junior FA said. "Certainly, from the correspondence which Stewart Regan has had with clubs up until this time, there has been minimal uptake. Clydebank, Girvan, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Rossvale, and St Rochs have all expressed some interest in joining the Lowland League but only one has declared an interest for this time next year and that is Blackburn United.
"There are lots of different reasons," he added. "First and foremost we have a vibrant top end at the moment, with our own East and West Superleagues. We have got a product there which is proven, marketed well, and we sell it at the right price. The Lowland League basically just a change of name – moving East of Scotland and South of Scotland teams and calling them a Lowland League. It is a lesser-quality league. These clubs don't really have a fan base. There would be more travel involved for our clubs. So why would they take part? Some might say it is an opportunity to go to the SFL but the majority of our clubs who might have that ambition require a major, major cash investment to meet entry level club licensing criteria."
As it so happens the Junior FA are currently considering their own proposal to merge six sides from the East and six from the West to create their own 'Super Super League', a move which could help facilitate a smooth promotion to the Lowland League in future but the timing is accidental. Blackburn United might not exactly be one of the heavyweights of the junior game, but a change of stadium has facilitated an opportunity in West Lothian.
"As of late May 2013 Blackburn United moved into a new ground at New Murrayfield Park in the town, a move that has allowed the club to meet many of the Entry Level criteria demanded by these licensing standards – but not all," said secretary Ian McGinty. "Accordingly, the club has merely recorded with the SFA its wish to be part of the wider restructuring of the game in Scotland should we ever be in a position to meet all required licensing standards. From our perspective there is no more to it than this.
"But speaking personally, any attempt to create a pyramid structure within our game is something I am heartened to see," he added. "Should this create the circumstances by which the artificial barriers that exist between the Juniors and sides plying their trade in the likes of the Highland League and the East of Scotland League can be removed then so much the better.
"However, there does appear to be an unseemly rush to put the SLFL in place for next season and I fear it is this very haste that will lead to those top Junior teams who would enhance the structure and give it credibility from the outset turning away from it through a simple lack of clarity over the detail and a grievous lack of time to plan and prepare for it."
How assiduously the SFA pursue the juniors once the league is up and running remains to be seen, but a pyramid may not have a leg to stand on until they are involved. There is the possibility for further developments when the Junior clubs meet for their AGM this Saturday, and Regan is due for a meeting with the Highland League and interested northern Junior sides on June 19. "Perhaps, once the structure is in, that might tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people," said Johnstone. "Maybe it will be time for the SFA to step back from it and let it flourish.
"If any of our member clubs want to go from Z to A we won't stand in their way but there has to be something in it," he added. "I said to Stewart Regan recently '--I am going to give you a new job, it is less money than you got before, less holidays, it is going to be further away from your home, would you want it'? He said 'no'. That sums up what is on offer for junior teams right now."
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