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Highland League president calls for league expansion

Finlay Noble
Finlay Noble

Highland League president Finlay Noble wants an overhaul of the competition with an expansion to at least 20 teams and the creation of two divisions with promotion and relegation.

Champions Brora were denied a place in next season’s League 2 when beaten by Montrose in the first SPFL play-off final earlier this month and Fraserburgh chairman Noble, who will stand down as league president at the annual meeting tonight, believes there should be further changes to the league structure.

The last league expansion came at the beginning of the 2009-2010 season when Formartine United, Turriff United and Strathspey Thistle came into the league.

Noble believes promotion and relegation in an expanded competition would make the Highland League a more attractive and exciting proposition.

Brora lifted the Highland League title this year but narrowly missed out on promotion
Brora lifted the Highland League title this year but narrowly missed out on promotion

He said: “Splitting the league into two makes sense and would definitely create more interest.

“I don’t think we would necessarily be limited to two leagues of 10, I would envisage interest from the junior ranks and Aberdeen club Banks o’ Dee have already expressed an interest.

“That would take us up to 19, we would only need one more club which would have to be a member of the SFA.

“There might be scope for relaxing the rules slightly for the second
division. We would need to pursue that, allowing a club to come in who were working towards getting their licence, the likes of Inverness City or Golspie Sutherland, who are already members of the SFA.

“The Highland League boundaries now include anywhere north of the Tay, so the likes of Broughty Athletic, Lochee United or Montrose Roselea could be tempted.

“There is quite a large appetite for these changes today, it’s bigger than most people think.

“Whether it is enough to get a majority is open to debate but if half of the membership were to back the change then the president, whoever that is, would have the casting vote.”

During his time in office, Noble oversaw the introduction of club licensing and the advent of the SFA’s pyramid system, which has given Highland League clubs the opportunity to move up to the SPFL.

He said: “It has been an eventful three years. I’m just a Highland League supporter, simple as that, so becoming president was beyond my wildest dreams.

“Every one of our 18 member clubs, apart from Cove Rangers, hold a
licence. Cove could be in their new ground in a year and gain their licence which would be absolutely tremendous.”

This season was shortened to make time for the play-offs – where Brora first defeated Lowland League champions Edinburgh City over two legs before facing the Gable Endies – and Noble said: “Financially, it’s been difficult. Trying to squash all the games into a shorter period was a challenge and may need rethinking.

“Clubs lost revenue by having to play additional games on a Wednesday night and have missed out on sponsorship money from hospitality packages.

“But one of the highlights of my time as president was when Brora Rangers won their first title.

“To see clubs which were languishing in the lower reaches eventually gain success is brilliant.”

Clachnacuddin chairman Dennis Bridgeford, who is league vice-president, is expected to succeed Noble at tonight’s meeting in Lossiemouth.