RUGBY - Highland head coach blasts promotion set-up a mockery
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Highland head coach Dave Carson has called for change to the promotion structure of the top tiers of the Scottish Rugby club pyramid.
As it stands, only one team can get promoted from National One to the Premiership, which is the uppermost tier of the club game.
That is in contrast to every other division, which usually has two promotion places and two relegation places.
This year is slightly different due to a restructuring of the pyramid, and while the SRU have not confirmed how that will affect the top end of National One from next season, Carson believes it is only right to establish a second chance to go up.
“It goes back to the mockery of the SRU only allowing one side to go up,” he said.
“This season we have three teams battling for one spot, when really it should be for two.
“We’re just waiting to hear what will happen. It will be interesting to see whether it changes.
“If two are going down from National One, two should go up as far as I’m concerned.
“I don’t know why they should protect the Premiership and make sure only one of them come down. It’s such a quality league we’re playing in.
“We came up to National One as runners up, just behind Biggar. It has to be right across the board – if it’s two going up from other leagues, it should be two going up to the Premiership as well.”
With Highland hoping to earn promotion to the Premiership in the near future, it would certainly make life easier for them if they were to get a second chance at going up.
“You want all the leagues being competitive right until the last day if you can,” Carson added.
“It would add to the excitement, which brings crowds down which brings money into all of these clubs.
“I just don’t understand why it is the way it is right now, but it’s obviously pressure from the Premiership who don’t want two sides dropping out.”
