Buckie boss says proposed structure puts Highland League at risk.  

Proposals to bring a pyramid system into Scottish football could signal the end of the Highland League as a competitive force, a club chairman has warned.

Talks have taken place at Hampden about the possibility of introducing promotion and relegation between Division 3 and two feeder leagues, including a North one which would give Highland League clubs an opportunity to play for a Scottish League place.

It could pave the way for an ambitious HFL outfit to join Elgin City in the Third Division - or even spell doom for the Borough Briggs club if they were to finish bottom.

Highland League chairman Eddie Innes went public in the Evening Express earlier this week in support of a pyramid structure.

His comments prompted Buckie Thistle chairman Mark Duncan to voice his own concerns, fearing that fans will not have any input in a decision on the future of their clubs.

"My own personal feeling is that if this goes through it will finish the Highland League as we know it," Duncan said.

Earlier this week, a copy of the SFA document entitled 'A pyramid structure for Scottish football' was leaked to the 'Northern Scot'.

It includes plans to relegate the club finishing bottom of the Third Division, a prospect which will send a chill down the spines of Elgin City followers.

The two North and South feeder leagues would be made up from clubs at various non-league levels, including the Highland League, and also give junior sides an opportunity to progress into the senior set-up just as they have in the Scottish Cup over the past two seasons.

Promotion to Division 3 could be decided by a play-off between the North and South league winners, while the Third Division team would drop into one of the feeder divisions.

There would also be promotion and relegation to and from feeder leagues, which would incorporate the clubs left behind in the Highland League and other semi-professional and junior leagues.

Jags' supremo Duncan told the 'Northern Scot' that his club has been given just nine days to discuss the new system at committee level before declaring whether they would be interested in taking part.

"Nine days is not a long time when you've been in the Highland League for 100 years," he said.  "But the league has asked us to give them an indication by next Thursday.

"There is no way our club committee could make that kind of decision without consulting our supporters first."

Duncan said Buckie has a huge fan base which enjoyed making trips to places like Fort William, Wick and Brora, and they may not be in favour of a breakaway from the current set-up.

He also opposes the idea of 10 team leagues playing each other four times a season, believing it would very quickly become stale for the fans.

"You could end up playing someone six times in a season and it would lead to boredom setting in, with the end result being a drop in crowds coming through the gate.

"We are a community club with a massive support which is growing all the time.  They would have to be part of any decision made on our future."

Highland League clubs will be asked to say whether or not they want a pyramid system at a league management committee meeting on Thursday, November 19.

It is understood that if a new structure gains favour in non league circles, all 30 current SFL clubs could be asked to vote on it shortly.

Report by Craig Christie, Northern Scot