Brora Rangers director David Dowling says Scottish FA's Conference League became more disappointing as time went on after Cattachs confirm intention to vote against proposal
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As more information came to light about the Scottish FA's Conference League proposal, it became more disappointing according to Brora Rangers director David Dowling.
The Cattachs confirmed earlier today that, off the back of a supporters' meeting last night, they intended to vote against the proposal at next Tuesday's AGM.
Dowling was the one presenting the idea to fans and taking questions, having sat on the Scottish FA's discussion forum as a Highland League representative.
However, after criticism from supporters – and several changes to the concept itself along the way – Dowling says it was an easy decision for Brora's board to make.
"The original proposition that we were given is nothing like how the final proposal looks," he explained.
"We started out with three proposals, but it quickly went down to only one. Even what we're voting for has changed quite a bit since the original, and that was certainly one of the concerns raised (by fans).
"We had already moved from probably yes to probably no, and there's no point in having a fans' meeting and not listening to what they have to say, so by the time we had our board meeting afterwards, it was quite an easy to decision to make.
"At one stage there was talk of six colts sides paying in £100,000 per annum that would be divided between the non-colt teams. If you're in a league to 10, and there's £600,000, that is maths that will attract teams.
"The only colts teams who have said they are for it are Celtic, Rangers and Hearts though, and that's obviously a factor.
"The original proposition was that all the teams in the Conference League would play in the League Cup.
"Our experience in that competition has been very good. We went down to Hibernian, even though there was no crowd because of Covid, and we've been to Dundee – everyone really enjoyed those experiences, and financially those were very lucrative, but a couple of weeks ago that was withdrawn as well.
"That would leave less money, more travelling and no League Cup, so the value of the proposition has steadily diminished since it was first rolled out.
"Another thing we were disappointed with was that there was no word of Team 42 being automatically relegated. That would have been another reason to vote for it.
"Albion Rovers lost to Spartans, but I don't think they should have even played that match – Spartans beat Brechin City fair and square, and I think the winner of that tie should go up automatically. We had hoped that in a reconstruction that might change, but it hasn't.
"I understand the objective the Scottish FA were trying to achieve. We're not against change for the sake of it, but they mentioned some of the other countries who successfully operate B Teams.
"In these other countries, if those teams win a league, they go up. If they finish bottom of a league, they go down. That wouldn't have been the case in our league, so as more information became available the proposition became more disappointing."
What happens next?
Scottish FA member clubs will sit down to vote on the Conference League next Tuesday (June 6).
Given a number of clubs have already indicated they will vote against it, and the backlash from football fans across the country, Dowling is sceptical that it will go through.
There are always rumblings of reconstruction in the Scottish football pyramid, but with the way the system is set up he also feels it is unlikely any change will happen soon.
"I believe there are 111 eligible votes, therefore it would require 56 votes for," Dowling explained.
"Not everyone will turn up, and there might be proxys, but if everyone is there it would need 56 votes in favour.
"I've been to many of these AGMs, and everyone has an equal vote. They do have a proper voting procedure, so there will be nothing untoward whether it goes through or not – it will be done honestly.
"If you believe what you've read on social media and from other clubs, they will fall well short of that.
"The difficulty in Scottish football is the voting percentages that you need.
"In the Premiership in Scotland, you need 11 votes. In the other leagues, it's either three-quarters or two-thirds – I'm not sure which it is, but it's certainly not 50/50. That is the biggest stumbling block, so personally I wouldn't be expecting any change any time soon.
"People have said that the Conference League is wrong – I think the original concept was well-intentioned.
"There was a study done, and our under-17 teams are highly regarded and getting to European Championships, but by the time that gets to under-19s it's slightly less so, and in the under-21s they don't reach those levels.
"It's beyond all doubt that there is a deterioration from under-17s through to under-19s and under-21s, so if something can be done to improve that we're behind it. This just wasn't it – at the moment anyway."
