Cricket Scotland after issuing a consultation document about the future of the SNCL and attendance at regional forums throughout the country have now proposed that there will be no changes to the existing SNCL structure for the next five years.

The SNCL has been in existence for only eight seasons and during that time has seen the structure remain as a three tier league but for the past two seasons the bottom two leagues were split on a geographical basis, with the intention next season in returning to the previous all in format.

Cricket Scotland having incurred the wrath of both clubs and districts earlier this year when they tried to allow a Borders League select direct entry into the SNCL without going through the end of season play offs, and also refusing entry to play off teams on the basis that they did not meet the criteria set down when it would appear that some existing clubs also did not meet the criteria, decided correctly that it was best to consult this time.

It would appear that after all the consultations that the favourite is for the status quo, that is three leagues be retained, and this proposal will go to a meeting to be held in Perth this Sunday with the recommendation that this set up remain for the next five years.

There are further proposals on the agenda with a recommendation that there will be no more than 30 clubs by the start of the 2008 season. (There will be thirty four clubs next year). To achieve this aim sanctions will be imposed on existing clubs who do not meet the facilities and youth development criteria, or by relegating more clubs than are promoted for the next two seasons, which could make the bottom league very competitive indeed with clubs eager to avoid the drop.

No Feeder League club will be admitted to the SNCL unless it has attained the Approved Award from the TOPclub scheme before the play offs. Current SNCL clubs will be required to meet new youth and facilities criteria which are currently being rewritten. One aspect of this is that an SNCL club must attain a TOPclub Active Award status by the end of season 2006, to retain membership and proceed to attain further awards in the ensuing years.

Further proposals allow clubs to have both a Professional and Overseas Amateur in 2006 but only one Overseas Player will be allowed from 2007. These players must have a level 2 coaching certificate as a minimum and be able to assist with the Cricket Scotland coaching programme during the summer.

Clubs will also be allowed to pay home based players for coaching duties but these payments have to be notified to Cricket Scotland and it is not the intention to allow the game to go �open�

All thirty four clubs will attend the meeting in Perth this Sunday and each proposal will be voted on with a majority of clubs in favour before the changes can be incorporated to the rules for 2006.

If the proposals are accepted the Competitions Committee will be responsible for the implementation deciding amongst other things how the thirty four teams will be split next season.

There is no doubt that Cricket Scotland with these proposals are looking to improve youth development and facilities throughout the league with fair monitoring and assistance given to clubs if necessary, and they should be commended for taking these this action.. Hopefully the clubs will endorse their initiatives.