Nairn County raise objections to Scottish Conference League proposal

The Highland League side are opposed to the creation of a new fifth tier.

By Danny Law

April 28 2023, 9:35 pm

Nairn County's decision to depart from the North Caledonian League is understood by NCL president Iain Whitehead.

Nairn County have confirmed they are opposed to the creation of a new Scottish Conference League.

A new 10-team division featuring four Premiership B teams and six overall from the Highland and Lowland Leagues is expected to be voted through at the SFA’s annual general meeting in June.

The league, which would sit between League Two and the Highland and Lowland Leagues, would be in place for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Aberdeen are reportedly considering paying £100,000 each to field B teams in the new set-up, which would also include four Lowland League teams and two sides from the Highland League.

Aberdeen are understood to have not yet committed to entering a colts side in the proposed fifth-tier with the Dons still weighing up the positives and negatives of the SFA’s planned shake-up.

But Nairn County have said they are firmly against the proposals.

A club statement released on Friday evening read: “In light of recent news reports about the proposed new Conference League at Tier 5, as a club, we would like to put on record that we do not support the creation of the Conference League.

“It would be hypocritical of us to be against B teams given the fact we have had a reserve side in the North Caledonian League for the past three seasons.

An update for our supporters on the potential Conference League.https://t.co/AQKugZKdkk

— Nairn County FC (@NairnCounty) April 28, 2023

“What we are against is changing the pyramid model to cater to four clubs so they can parachute their B teams into Tier 5 on a permanent basis and essentially relegate both the Highland and Lowland Leagues and all other tiers below. At what point does four become six or eight other Premiership clubs wanting a B team parachuted in?

“There are plenty of ambitious non-league clubs who want to further themselves but are finding that an additional hurdle is forcibly being put in place to prevent clubs at our level and below from being able to progress in a fair manner.

“As part of an initial document that outlined the Scottish FA objectives, we were presented with strengths and weaknesses of the conference league, there was no reference to any perceived weaknesses to the existing non-league clubs at our tier and below. The weaknesses were too concerned about lack of promotion and relegation for the B sides.

“With no promotion or relegation for the B teams, there is every chance a ‘normal’ team finishing in 6th place in the league would still get relegated.

“There was no option to vote on keeping the status quo.

“We might ‘only’ be Nairn County, but we want to ensure that the pyramid delivers for the whole of the game and not just four clubs who already have established teams within the pyramid.”