MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE STRATHMORE AND PERTHSHIRE CRICKET UNION.

CONVENED AT FORFARSHIRE CRICKET CLUB, DUNDEE.

20TH OCT 2011, 7.45pm

Present:

R. Miller Chairman, SPCU

I. Cran Sec. (acting) SPCU

Bob MacFarlane Rossie Priory. SPCU rep. FSG.

Andrew Louden Gordonians

Paul Gray Gordonians

Micheal Morris Falkland

Kevin Ancell DHSFP

Gavin Garden DHSFP

Graham Maclaren DHSFP

William Ferguson Strathmore

Martin Reid Stoneywood Dyce

Micheal Leow Stoneywood Dyce

Ivor Patterson Strathearn

Andy Garnet Strathearn

Simon Pedgriff Arbroath

Clarence Parfitt Caledonia

Ian Catto Aberdeenshire

Robert Buchan Aberdeenshire

David Christie Freuchie

Gordon Walker Forthill

Ray McLelland Forfarshire

Peter Drummond Meigle

In Attendance: Mr A.Tennant, Head of Performance, Cricket Scotland.

The Chairman outlined to the meeting that it had been called to discuss the re-structuring of the Scottish National Cricket League, and invited Mr Tenant to explain the proposals circulated by Cricket Scotland(CS)

Mr. Tennant outlined the three options prepared by CS following the preparatory work undertaken by the Future Structure Group, on which the SPCU had been represented by Bob MacFarlane(Rossie Priory)

Option 1. To retain the SNCL and reduce the number of teams from thirty two to twenty, with teams competing in two divisions of ten.

Option 2. To establish three new Regional Premier Leagues that will be integrated into the existing WDCU, ESCA and SPCU structures and operated in partnership with Cricket Scotland.

Option 3. To establish two new Regional Premier Leagues, one in the west which would be integrated into the existing WDCU structure and the other in the east which would be administered by a joint ESCA/SPCU Premier League Management Group in Partnership with Cricket Scotland and integrated into the two existing league structures below Premier League level.

Mr. Tennant explained that once the consultation exercise on the three proposals was complete they would be reduced to two and put to a vote with SNCL clubs on the 9th Oct. He went on to confirm that the CS preference was for a structure which would produce strong regional pools of players as the current CS policy was to channel chosen players via a pathway system through the regional academies into regional and national squads. The existing SNCL structure did not facilitate this nor provide enough players of sufficient quality. There were also moves afoot to establish games with regional sides outwith Scotland. For these reasons and other shortcomingsthrown up by a national league format, CS had a preference for a regional league structure.

Members were of the opinion that similar shortcomings would be manifest in any league structure. SNCL clubs still produced players of quality, players could still be selected and “pathwayed”, regionalisation would not increase their numbers, would have the adverse effect of reducing the standard of game for the top clubs in the SPCU area,top clubs would lose the opportunity of playing against other top Scottish clubs, and clubs would lose key players to play in regional matches.The Chairman summed up the general mood of members by saying that there appeared to be no advantage to the SPCU in regionalisation and that it would degrade standards in the SPCU catchment area.

In response to queries, Mr Tennant and Bob MacFarlane stated that the FSG had recognised that professionals had become institutionalised into the Scottish game and would be difficult to irradicate, despite the significant drain on a clubs resources to the detriment of mandatory requirements. These would be rigidly enforced as a requirement to play in any future restructured SNCL, and that any new structure would apply for a period of 5 years. Voting on the 9th Oct would take place on a “one vote per SNCL club” basis, and it would be for any regional league or association to consider its position thereafter.

In discussion, and after a vote, Option 1 was carried unanimously.The meeting was also of the opinion that it should be introduced for season 2012.

Option 2 was rejected as unacceptable.

Option 3- no vote taken due to member’s discomfort at implications involved.

The Chairman confirmed that the SPCU could adapt as a result of any restructuring of the SNCL, but any applications from new clubs to join the SPCU as result of any SNCL restructuring would have to be put to members at the AGM for acceptance.

The Chairman and Mr. Tennant thanked those present for their attendance.

Meeting closed at 9.23pm.