Kelty boss backs move

Kelty Hearts player/ manager Tam Courts believes joining the pyramid system could open up “limitless potential” for Scotland’s junior clubs.

A vote of Scottish Junior Football Association members has backed a proposal for clubs to move over to the senior set-up, with the Scottish FA understood to be supportive of the move.

Kelty left the juniors for the East of Scotland League last year and, topping the table with five games to go, are on course to win promotion to the Lowland League – one step away from the SPFL.

Although Courts acknowledges the switch may not suit all clubs, the 36-year-old is convinced it has been the right thing for Kelty.

He said: “We loved our time in the juniors but, for us, moving over has opened up horizons, commercially and has put the players on the best possible platform for their careers.

“It seems there is a real appetite for change amongst the junior clubs and I can understand why.

“It has given us limitless potential and a clear pathway in terms of where we want to go on the pitch and allows us to be more sustainable as a club financially and as a community club.

“If the volume of clubs coming into the seniors is to be believed then there will have to be a redesign of the pyramid system because it will be a massive change.”