Vote pulled to avoid conflict, but B team issue still on table

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell says the Conference League proposal was pulled to avoid a divisive vote on the matter – but admits the issue of B teams could be revisited.

SFA member clubs had been due to vote on the plan for a new fifth tier between the SPFL and the Highland and Lowland Leagues at yesterday’s Hampden AGM.

However, the proposal was dramatically withdrawn on Monday night after significant public opposition to the plan for the new tier, which would have featured Premiership B teams and sides from the Highland and Lowland Leagues.

In a survey, 22 of the 26 clubs indicated they would have voted against the Conference League.

Hampden chief Maxwell believes the concept could have developed better players for the national team if some of the country’s top young players had been pitted against experienced players at an early age.

He said: “It was withdrawn because we didn’t want to have a divisive vote on it.

“It’s worth pointing out this has been a Scottish football plan from a player development perspective.

“I know it was a Scottish FA resolution but that’s because those things need to happen through that mechanism.

“There is a process but that doesn’t mean it was the Scottish FA who were necessarily the only ones who wanted it to happen.

“Spectators want to see home-grown players develop. They love nothing better than seeing one of their own – as they call it – playing for their team.

“The SPFL had the Deloitte review which was commissioned by Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee and Dundee United.

“B teams and player development was a key strategic priority within that. There’s been a lot of engagement. We did that through the pyramid working group. We thought the resolution was the right thing to take forward.

“The feedback we got was that wasn’t the case. Rather than go for a vote that could have been divisive and lead to further problems.”

Maxwell – a former chief executive of Partick Thistle – can understand why clubs disagreed with the Conference League idea.

He added: “Every football club you ask to look at anything does so through their own lens.

“They do it through their ‘What does this mean for me?’ glasses which I get because I was at a club and it is difficult to take a more holistic approach.

“When you are at the association then it is more straightforward and easier as you don’t have the club focus.”

Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell.