Keith president Sandy Stables claims his proposals for reconstruction are driven by a desire to end meaningless games in the Highland League.
Member clubs will meet tomorrow night to discuss the former Highland League president’s proposal to split the current 18-team league into a two-tier set-up of 20 clubs, with two new clubs joining.
The Maroons president, who has served his club for the last four decades, believes it is time to breathe new life into the competition and, with the play-offs for promotion into League 2 of the SPFL coming next year, Stables believes the time is right to start the debate.
He said: “Towards the end of the season we have so many meaningless matches.
“Last term Keith were well behind with our fixtures, due to cup replays and weather issues, and we ended up playing on Wednesday and Saturday for weeks.
“We don’t get big crowds at Kynoch Park anyway. But apart from one Wednesday night game against Formartine United, who were going for the title, people just weren’t interested as there was nothing to play for. We have to seriously look at changing something.
“When our league secretary John Grant initially pointed out to me at a Highland League meeting that next season, 2014-2015, our league programme would have to be completed by the middle of April, I said he was scare-mongering.
“Subsequently however, having been involved in various meetings at Hampden, I’ve now realised John was right after all.
“This is going to present us with a huge problem and we really have to seriously look at it.”
The Keith president knows there will be many clubs worried about a loss of income in reducing the league campaign from its 34-game structure to 18 matches, but believes the introduction of a Challenge Cup competition and the increased interest in the league games would offset any losses.
He said: “I can understand those member clubs who do particularly well from match-sponsorship may be concerned we would only have 18 league games.
“But they have to remember that if we stay with the status quo of a 34-game programme, what we would have to do is start to introduce many more midweek fixtures.
“They won’t then have that sponsorship for a midweek fixture and they are going to lose Saturday fixtures however it pans out.
“I am also suggesting we re-introduce the Challenge Cup on a sectional basis.
“It would give every club at least an additional three games at the start of season. Clubs can then go out and secure sponsorship for those ties.
“The one downside I feel about my proposal, and I have thought about this long and hard, is my suggestion we also introduce a Consolation Cup.
“That could prove very difficult as obviously we wouldn’t be able to identify those clubs left without any fixtures until the end of the season.
“The least successful teams will definitely not have enough games to play, but the very worst scenario, if they are knocked out of every cup competition at the first round stage would be 28 games.
“I’m not trying to run the Highland League.
“I have only identified a problem, have given it a bit of thought and put forward this paper for discussion by the clubs.
“I’ve been about the Highland League for a long time and I care deeply about it. I’m trying to do something to help.”