Crunch meeting over potential Strathspey Thistle and Loch Ness merger set for next Monday evening after Jags management committee discuss proposal
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Next Monday could prove to be a pivotal night for the future of Strathspey Thistle and Loch Ness as further talks will take place over a potential merger of the two clubs.
Strathspey's management committee met last night to discuss the proposals brought to them by Loch Ness founder Shane Carling, and did not dismiss them out of hand.
Instead, the Jags concluded that more information is needed from Loch Ness before deciding whether to proceed with a joint venture, and Carling will be invited to their next committee meeting at the start of next week.
With time ticking away to the end of the current season, a decision either way will need to be made quickly to allow the clubs to plan for what the 2024/25 season will look like – whether that is as a new, single club, or as separate entities.
"Obviously we discussed a few things," Strathspey Thistle chairman Donly McLeod explained.
"The next thing to do is to get the Loch Ness management back down again, because we haven't really discussed the financial side of things.
"We obviously spoke to Shane Carling last Tuesday, but that was just to break ice and listen to their proposals, because they approached us. We said we would be back in touch after a full management committee meeting, which we had last night, to discuss all the possibilities.
"We need some more information now on their side of things. We know where we are, but we need to find out where they are financially and figure out what the way forward would be if it's going to happen.
"We're in a different situation with paying players, whereas a lot of their players play for the fun of it. It's different in the Highland League, and that's the next step we have to sort out – things like expenses, wages, sponsorship that we haven't discussed.
"A lot of questions were fired at me and our accountant at our meeting. Now we need to get more information that we don't have at the moment from Loch Ness about what they can contribute to the merger, if it's going to happen.
"We'll have to get a move on, because a lot of things would have to get organised if it does happen.
"We're still a distance away from that happening at the moment – but everything will have to be sorted out next Monday night to see where we're going."
A better performance from the Jags ended in a familiar feeling last weekend in the Highland League, losing 2-1 to Keith.
McLeod praised the Strathspey players' efforts, but admitted it did not change the fact that changes will need to be made in Grantown before next season.
"I don't want to speculate, but we know there will need to be a restructure at Strathspey as well if this goes ahead," he added.
"It's a difficult time for me as the chairman of the club. I don't like this happening, but we've got to go down this road because a lot of players won't sign contracts until they find out what's happening.
"It has obviously been a really poor season. Robert (MacCormack) tried his best, and he's a nice lad but it just didn't work out for him.
"Our results speak for themselves. It's hard to take when you're going to games and losing every Saturday.
"It's hard on the confidence of players too, we've got to remember that. They don't like going and losing every Saturday, and they put in a shift last weekend – there's no doubt about that – but it's just not good enough I'm afraid.
"Something has to be done. We can't go into the Highland League next season in the same situation we're in at the moment."
