Clubs get set for crucial season
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THERE is a mood of nervousness in the shinty heartlands ahead of the new season which starts tomorrow.
Significant changes are in the pipeline and a new league structure set to be introduced next year has set clubs on edge in both the Orion Premiership and the Marine Harvest area leagues.
In 2014 the Premiership will lose two clubs as it reverts to an eight team league. Beneath that the area league structure will be altered to form a new national Division One into which the top three finishing teams in Divisions One, North and South, will be promoted to join the two clubs relegated from the Premiership.
Camanachd Association competitions director Richard Gall is cautiously optimistic that the new structure will fulfil its primary functions of raising standards and ensuring that clubs promoted into the Premiership are well prepared for the step-up.
“There is no doubt that the new season is going to be tough but the board are convinced that the changes will be beneficial,” he said. “The current set-up needed to change — you only need to look at North Division One where we have just six teams this season.
“A lot of clubs are going to find it hard this season, particularly in the Premier League but in the long run we are convinced this will be a big improvement.”
