Stenhousemuir chairman keeping open mind on ‘innovative’ Rangers proposals but keen on clubs ‘strategic partnerships

The Ibrox side have suggested a 14-14-18 rebranding of the SPFL structure – which would include secondary sides from both Glasgow teams, Rangers and Celtic.

They’d pay to have these teams entered at the bottom division and also guarantee ticket money to clubs as well as additional funds if matches involving them are streamed.

Among the first to see the proposals was Stenhousemuir chairman Iain McMenemy – and many of his previous suggestions for enhancing the national game have been incorporated in the plans.

He spoke to BBC Sportsound and said he was keeping an open mind. The Ochilview chief was keen on the strategic partnership ideas within it, but admitted he had been a vocal critic in the past of Colt teams being added to the league ladder.

Mr McMenemy said: “I’ve been against the colt team concept in the past but I think there’s a lot in this proposal that is innovative.

“There are many things we need to tackle in Scottish football and they’re in there to help do that.”

But he cautioned: “There’s a concern that we cheapen our league if it’s all about development.

“Our Saturdays in the lower leagues are just as important as those involving Rangers Celtic, or Hibs or Hearts. We get behind our team, we celebrate, we commiserate, it’s important to us.”

Among the ideas is a set strategic partnership between clubs which could see a loan structure increased from an allowance of four, to six players, plus the option for coaches to move between clubs to enhance a shared football philosophy and monitor youth players’ progress

“Strategic partnerships is something I’ve been pushing for some time but more recently I’ve been pushing for a change in loans from four to six. Certainly that’s necessary for this season with the coronavirus.

“It would be of benefit to lower league clubs in terms of wage bills and identifying players but it would also benefit clubs who are not running their youth sides or reserves and may be looking for first team opportunities for their players on a Saturday. Both are in the proposals.

“A lot of clubs say they are doing loans strategically but I think it’s a bit haphazard. We need to work together and I think the lower leagues can be of more benefit to the teams at the top of the tree by being able to develop talent.

“It’s not just young players, it could be coaches as well.

“At Stenhousemuir we have had a couple of higher up teams come in and do a lot of their youth games with us and played some bounce games. “We’re working together on identifying players who could come to us in a couple of years’ time. That is the building blocks of a strategic partnership. You just have a look at which clubs are compatible with your philosophy.

“There could be a tighter agreement with the lower league club working with the Premiership team there would be perhaps coach sharing and there’d be more connections than simply players coming on loan.

“It could be open and promoted too. The Premier team could promote that at their games – go and see six of our youngsters playing in the Challenge Cup this Saturday – it would make it more meaningful than it would have been in the past.”

Rangers’ proposals emerged shortly after feedback on Ann Budge’s 14-14-14 proposal was due. It’s understood clubs have been granted a further extension to mgather their thoughts which are to be submitted by close of play tomorrow (Tuesday).