Strathmore Cricket Union Handbook 1998

4 CHANGES INEVITABLE by Lindsay Ancell After many years of some might say stagnation, the structure of Scottish league cricket has seemed, over the last few years, to be in a constant state of change and uncertainty. A final structure does now seem to be taking shape with a three division, truly national league to sit atop four District-based feeder leagues in 1999. With no real option, the North District has fallen back on the Strathmore Union to act as its feeder league. How will this affect the current Strathmore Union? As we acted as a feeder league for the pioneering Scottish Cricket League, we have already had a taste of what is involved. However, as well as accepting teams relegated from the new Scottish National Cricket League (SNCL), we will now also have to accept any North District first team which suddenly feels ambitious and wishes to join the Union in order to try to progress up the new national structure. To do this, and to cope with the possibility of up to two teams, at a time, being relegated into the Union from the SNCL, we will have to adopt an incredibly flexible approach to our league structure. For the first time ever, relegation to the Union 2nd Division will be virtually inevitable as we have reached saturation point in the 1st Division with twelve teams. A thirteen team division would mean fixture chaos with twenty six dates required for league matches, at least six Sunday dates, two blank Saturdays for many teams and a nightmare for match secretaries trying to fit in third team matches, Scottish Cup and other competitions.