McInally rages at Old Firm over latest plans

Peterhead manager Jim McInally says part-time clubs don’t exist to serve Celtic and Rangers after another proposal was brought forward to bring Old Firm colt teams into the SPFL.

The Gers suggested reconstruction for next season and moving to a 14-14-18 set-up with Old Firm teams made up of young players joining Highland League champions Brora Rangers and Lowland League winners Kelty Hearts in the bottom tier.

The Glasgow pair have pledged to pay a £125,000 joining fee that would go to League 1 clubs, with reduced payments continuing for a further three seasons as well as buying 200 tickets for each away match.

However, the plan would mean Peterhead, Clyde, Forfar and Stranraer would be demoted to the new bottom tier, while League 2 champions Cove Rangers would be denied promotion.

Plans have been tabled in the past to bring Old Firm colt teams into the Scottish leagues and Scotland’s longest serving manager McInally has been a vocal opponent.

The former Dundee United midfielder said: “I think they’re trying to take advantage of an opportunity because teams will need money, they’ve dangled a wee carrot.

“But I’ve always said that Scottish football isn’t here for the betterment of Celtic and Rangers and to develop their players – it’s up to Celtic and Rangers to develop their players.

“With 10 in a row at stake opportunities will be limited for young players at Celtic and Rangers next season – but that’s not the fault of part-time clubs in League 1 and 2.

“Why can’t they have their young players training with the first-team and playing with first-team players in reserve games? Or why can’t they put young players out on loan?

“It’s not up to Scottish football to do Rangers and Celtic’s work for them, that’s my opinion – and just because they’re offering money it doesn’t make it right.

“Why should we again be the victims in another reconstruction plan having

League 1?

“Reconstruction should still be on the table, but for me 14-10-10-10 is the fairest way, Celtic and Rangers need to step away and let everyone get on with things.”

Elgin chairman Graham Tatters is also weary of the talks.

“It really is getting tedious now,” he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound. “We have sat for five different Zoom meetings trying to put a budget together. We can’t do anything at the moment because we haven’t got a clue what’s going on.

“We put our statement into Neil Doncaster to say where we stand and the Rangers one doesn’t make any difference to us. It’s just total instability.

“We want to get somewhere so we know what’s going on so we can start planning. We just want to get back to some sort of stability which for us is status quo.”

Stenhousemuir chairman Iain McMenemy held talks with Rangers over strategic partnerships last year but he feels lower-division teams will need to be persuaded over their plans.

“In the last couple of years when colt teams have come up I have been against colt teams and I have been quite vocal in that,” he said. “In terms of this proposal, I am keeping an open mind to it. I think there is a lot in there that’s good and innovative.

“There’s a lot of faults we know exist in Scottish football in terms of progression of talent and so many things we need to tackle. There are things in there that would help do that.

“But there is also an issue in the lower leagues in that our Saturdays are just as important to us as a Saturday involving Celtic, Rangers, Hibs or Hearts.

“We all get up, go to our local team, get behind the team, we celebrate, we commiserate.

“There is a concern that we cheapen our Saturday, cheapen our league, if it becomes a league that’s all about development.

“So there is still a bit of work to be done to convince a lot of clubs in the lower leagues, ourselves included.” finished eighth in

Peterhead boss Jim McInally was furious with the newest plans.