Great news about Bo'Ness. Will they be alone in doing so, or will other junior clubs follow next year ?
However, we still need an integrated structure & pyramid though, so here is my proposal :
level 1 : SPFL Premier 12 clubs as now (TV contract dictating this !)
level 2 : SPFL Championship revamped with 16 clubs (playing each other twice, not four times per season)
level 3 : SPFL National Division revamped with 16 clubs (playing each other twice) formed from 4 Div 1 clubs, 10 Div 2 clubs, 1 each from HFL & SLL champions. Thereafter bottom SPFL club automatically relegated to either HFL or SLL as appropriate. For one season only the HFL would be permitted to retain its 17th club, with HFL relegation in year two
level 4 : HFL & SLL each with 16 clubs. Winning club from the HFL & SLL play-off will be automatically promoted to SPFL each season without a promotion/relegation play-off being required (as above). The bottom club in the HFL & SLL to be relegated each season, but only if 2 of the champion clubs from level 5 are licensed. If not, one or both would be reprieved. If only one or none of the four level 5 league champions are licensed, one or both bottom HFL or SLL clubs would be reprieved from relegation (a relegation playoff may be needed if only one of the four clubs qualifies for promotion)
level 5 : SFA to designate 4 leagues as feeders to the pyramid : ie from each of the 3 Junior Super Leagues & the EoSL . The champion club of each of these 4 leagues, to participate in TWO promotion play-offs (ties drawn by a lot), but they can ONLY participate if Licensed. Clubs in these leagues would be encouraged to be licensed, but it shouldn't be compulsory. The winning club from each playoff to be promoted. Any club not wanting promotion to level 4, can therefore remain at level 5. Relegation from level 5 to level 6, to be determined by each league independently, with ONE PROVISO, promotion is not compulsory, and an SFA licence is not required for promotion below level 4
level 6 : comprised of the next level of the 3 Junior leagues, plus the SoSL and the NCL, with promotion to level 5 and relegation to level 7 being determined by each league independently . Again promotion is not compulsory, nor is an SFA licence
level 7 : all remaining Junior leagues, ideally realigned as local leagues to avoid travelling costs, etc, where appropriate.
level 8 : Amateur leagues (eg Border, Central, Kingdom of Fife, Lothian & Edinburgh, Midlands, Stirling, etc) would be offered the opportunity to join the pyramid, if they wished to do so, or alternatively to remain outside the above framework. The Scottish Amateur Cup would be retained
KEY DECISIONS NEEDED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
* the Junior FA, and the other individual leagues & associations, both junior and 'senior' would be left intact, albeit as part of an integrated structure (hence minimum disruption)
* reducing the number of SPFL tiers from 4 to 3 (albeit with 2 extra clubs as above) is an incentive for progression within the pyramid. It also avoids the need to play each other 4 times per season and reduces the number of (unpopular/expensive) midweek games at levels 2 and 3
* the EoSL, SoSL and the NCL would be eligible to enter the Scottish Junior Cup, which would otherwise remain as it is currently
* SFA financial support for progressive clubs at level 5 should be revised/extended to current junior clubs, if they become SFA member clubs (joint SJFA/SFA membership would be acceptable, eg Girvan, Banks O'Dee)
* The SFA would need to consult upon the details of the above, albeit making it clear that it will enforce the 'integrated' pyramid if necessary.
Surely a "win-win" for everyone - especially the fans !! Implementation could be achieved for 2019/20 season.