Strathspey Thistle chairman says bottom half of Highland League will be looking over their shoulder
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The chairman of Strathspey Thistle believes half of the Highland League clubs will be looking over their shoulders following the introduction of relegation.
The play-offs will be brought in for the first time next season after talks with three “tier six north” associations concluded successfully.
The historic change, now set to be officially ratified by the SFA’s pyramid working group, will open the dreaded trapdoor to Highland clubs for the first time in the league’s 128-year existence.
The plan was unveiled in April this year, but the HFL has since presided over intensive talks with the North Caledonian FA and the Scottish Junior Football Association’s north and east regions.
The green light means title-winning clubs from the North Caledonian League, the North Junior Super League and the Midlands League – covering Tayside outfits – will play off next season for the right to face the bottom HFL side.
Even if successful, only clubs able to fulfil full SFA licensing and membership requirements would be permitted to make the step up into the HFL. Currently, only Banks O’Dee and potentially Golspie Sutherland satisfy that criteria.
Jags chairman Donly McLeod said: “There is nothing we can do about it, but it is slightly concerning for us and other clubs in the bottom half of the Highland League.
“It is something we will have to be weary of. We will just have to deal with it but, hopefully will not get ourselves into such a situation. Only one or two clubs that would be able to come up which is a perhaps a saviour for some of the Highland League teams.”
Mr McLeod said it cost in the region of £100,000 to get their Seafield Park home in Grantown to meet league requirements nearly a decade ago. “What it would cost now, I dread to think,” he said.
The Jags finished 13th in the 2019/20 season with Turriff United, Clachnacuddin, Fort William and Lossiemouth all finishing below them.
Mr McLeod said: “It is up to us to deal with this and we have no qualms about it.”
HFL secretary Rod Houston confirmed the shake-up was to be introduced for the coming season. He said: “It is all sorted and ready to go.
“The three tier six groups are all on board and the pyramid working group is now due to meet in the near future and that will put the final seal on it, but it’s all done.
“This creates a natural progression from tier six to five, although it is quite a big jump in that you have to become a licensed club.”
He added: “I’m sure clubs traditionally at the lower end of the league will carry some concerns, but they have a playing opportunity to deal with it.
“There is no automatic relegation.”
