Sauchie boss Fraser Duncan backs moves to create West of Scotland league

East of Scotland and Lowland League bosses revealed last week that talks had broken down within the Pyramid Working Group, effectively ending proposals to create a new league with Junior football chiefs. 

Instead, the two organisations have now opened the door to creating their own West of Scotland league at tier six of the Senior pyramid - the same level as Sauchie Juniors - with a number of sides already expressing an interest in making the move. 

READ MORE: Sauchie join 'exodus' from junior football

It comes just two years after the Reds made the switch from the Juniors and Duncan says it has proven to be the correct decision. 

He told Advertiser Sport: “It was always the plan in the past and before I left it was being considered. 

“I had a chat with the chairman and told him that I thought it was the step the club had to make.

“I pushed them towards it and I think in the end it has proven to be the correct decision.

“If you look at the clubs and the league we left behind, we would have been up in Dundee and Perth every week.

“Would I Iike to see the West teams come in? Definitely. It is a no-brainer and the teams from the West are very good.

“You only have to look at teams like Auchinleck Talbot or even Beith to know they should all be in the pyramid system and all working towards that goal.”

Paul Hartley's Cove Rangers are just one of two teams to break into the SPFL since the introduction of a promotion play-off

However, the Sauchie boss admits his one concern is the current set-up for promotion and relegation from the Lowland and Highland leagues to the SPFL remains heavily weighted in the League Two side’s favour. 

At present, the winners from Scotland’s fifth tier enter into a play-off with the victor then facing the SPFL’s basement club in another play-off. 

Since being introduced at the start of the 2014/15 season, only Edinburgh City and Cove Rangers have secured promotion to League Two, with East Stirlingshire and Berwick Rangers going the other way. 

“The only bit I am not so sure about is that there is no way a team like Kelty Hearts or Bonnyrigg should have to go in and play a play-off after winning the Lowland League,” Duncan continued. 

“That’s just stupid and the quicker it is fixed the better. That’s a massive sticking point for me and there’s no way a team that wins the league should have to win a play-off.

“The football authorities have to realise now these clubs - the so called best ones who are at the bottom of League Two - are nowhere near some of the old Junior teams.

“I am quite convinced the likes of Kelty Hearts could go into that league and compete and perhaps even go on and win it.

“League bosses don’t really recognise that and they are making a fool of the whole game.

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson is hoping to lead Kelty Hearts to League Two

“You look at East Stirling and for years people shouted their mouth off because they kept finishing bottom of the leagues.

“Now they are out of the league, they have struggled to get back into it and they have been overtaken by a number of old Junior teams.

“If a club wins the Lowland League, they should go straight into League Two and I actually think two should get promoted.”

Meanwhile, Duncan was delighted as he watched his side make it two wins from two in the Premier Division to boost their survival hopes.

A brace from Ross Crawford and goals from David Cross and Aaron Bryson put Newtongrange Star to the sword in an impressive 4-1 win.

“This week’s game was definitely a bigger game than the Tranent one and it was vital we got the win,” Duncan said. 

READ MORE: New chairman Karl Rennie spells out vision for Sauchie

“I was very aware I didn’t want us to go and get three points against Tranent and then play Newtongrange, a team below us in the league, and not win. We had to get all three points.

“I told the lads this was the most vital three points many of them would ever have to make sure they win.

Ross Crawford continued his fine form since returning to Clacks

“The big thing for the players is that they are now getting into the momentum of winning football matches and starting to feel like they can go and win games.”