Camanachd Association EGM | |
02 May 2013 The Camanachd Association will hold an EGM at the Ben Nevis Hotel, Fort William on Friday 17 May 2013. Members will be asked to vote on a motion put forward by Skye Camanachd, supported by Kingussie, Kyles Athletic and Newtonmore, calling on the Board of Directors to cease plans to implement the league reconstruction plans for 2014. The motion requires a 75% majority of voting members as, after taking legal advice from their solicitors Harper, MacLeod, the Camanachd Association considers it should be treated as a special resolution. The motion is as follows: "The noted clubs oppose the plan — approved by board members and presented to the association at a general meeting in Fort William on the 1st February — to create a national first division, and to reduce the premier league from ten to eight teams. "We would like to make a formal proposal, to go before an association EGM, that the plan - to adopt a national first division for the 2014 season be withdrawn, and the current league model - which includes a ten team premiership with its existing system of promotion and relegation — be retained. "The clubs accept that the board has the power to determine the league structure. However the clubs are aware that the consultation process was potentially flawed and did not give the board a full picture of the views of all the clubs. This was partly because local meetings which a number of clubs had been intending going to join in the consultation did not take place. The clubs are also concerned that the option that the board chose was not one that had been consulted about and had it been an option a number of clubs would have had significant comment to make about it which may have altered the board's perspective on their decision. The clubs propose that the board carries out further consultation into the perceived problems of the sport and how a new league structure can help address these and in the meantime the board postpones the implementation of its current preferred model". Ends.
On behalf of Skye Camanachd, supported by others named, the reasons for our objections are as follows: The adopted league model was not contained in any of the consultative papers previously distributed to clubs. Skye's preference had always been for a retention - by and large - of the status quo. It is a model which, generally, has served shinty pretty well in recent years, as the competition levels seem to have been of a consistently good standard throughout the leagues. We have concerns over the direction of the north first division, which has lost teams in recent years. It should be noted, however, that this trend has mostly been due to the successes of some clubs, and the evidence suggests clubs such as Kinlochshiel, Glenurquhart and Lovat have found the competition in north division one to have been of a standard which left them well equipped for life in the premier league. Previously we suggested to the association that north one should, if possible, contain at least 8 teams. We accept this can also have difficulties, so a seven team league or, even if only for a year, a six team league, is still preferable to the creation of a second tier national division. It is a move which has been tried, and abandoned, previously. We remain supportive — as we have been since the idea was first mooted in the 1990s - of a national premier league. We feel it is a goal for every club in Scotland to work towards, and it supports a high standard of shinty, which in turn brings out the full commitment of those involved. Its extension to ten teams has been a success. Unfortunately, our experience tells us that this was simply not the case for a second national tier. When tried previously Skye found themselves travelling, in quick succession, for games to Bute, Glasgow, Tighnabruaich, Dalmally and Ballachulish. The effect, unsurprisingly, was that the team struggled, morale slipped and players and coaches were lost to the game. The travelling cost, and time commitments needed to sustain a club in this competition - which was a second tier and not an elite league - was hard to justify. And in fact while the intention was to create a better standard of shinty, we felt the level was actually poorer. Invariably Skye travelled to away games with a far from full strength team, while the same was often true of those coming to play us in Portree. We would like to make a formal proposal, to go before an association's EGM, that the plan to adopt a national first division for the 2014 season be withdrawn, and the current league model - which includes a ten team premiership with its existing system of promotion and relegation — be retained. Correspondence in support of this motion has already been sent to the association from the Newtonmore, Kingussie and Kyles Athletic Clubs. We have also received backing from Lovat, Kilmallie, Kinlochshiel, Caberfeidh and Glenurquhart shinty clubs. We would welcome any notes of support from other member clubs and associations and these can be e-mailed in confidence to info@skyecamanachd.com |