Short Highland League season and plenty cup football would suit Keith manager Dean Donaldson
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KEITH manager Dean Donaldson would like to see a shortened Highland League season and more cup action when football resumes from lockdown.
The wait goes on for a date when the next north campaign gets under way, with the delay meaning a full programme of fixtures will be impossible to fulfil.
The best-case scenario for the league could be for the 17 clubs to play each other once rather than the traditional home-and-away format, with a possible league split for an extra seven or eight games if there is enough time.
Donaldson realises that Keith won’t be title contenders but the cups present a better opportunity for the Maroons and many other clubs to offer a challenge.
“I think you’re only going to get one game each this season and if we can get the cups played as well that would be better,” he said.
“It depends when we get back. A split after one game is fine if we have the time but you don’t know what winter will bring.
“You need the cups to keep your season going. There’s only going to be three or four teams challenging for the league but the cups bring a few more into it for silverware and they are often the highlight of the season for most clubs.
“If you were going to cut anything short it would definitely be the league for me.”
One cup competition that Keith may not get to play in next season is the Scottish Cup, which will also have to be shortened.
Last season’s cup has not yet been completed and the SFA have indicated that they may run the tournament for 2020-21 with just 52 clubs entered. All 42 SPFL clubs would then be given a place, with the possibility of lots being drawn to decide who gets the other 10 slots.
A total of 70 clubs including all Highland League and Lowland League teams would be hoping for the luck of the draw to seize one of those 10 remaining places, and Donaldson doesn’t like the idea of a reduced format. “For the chairmen and the people who run the clubs it’s about the money,” he said. “But for the players it’s getting the camaraderie, getting them down the road on the bus and back up, a good day out especially if you win and then you’re waiting for the next draw.
“Although I’ve not had a really good run yet, I really like the Scottish Cup. Keith has a great history in the competition and it would be a real shame to miss out.
“As long as it would be just the one season, we could maybe accept it but I don’t know when we are going to get back.
“They were saying October but with this thing happening in Aberdeen, we just don’t know. Who’s to say that lockdown won’t be extended?”
Donaldson is frustrated not to have any contact with his players. “I haven’t even spoken to them since our charity run a month-and-a-half ago.
“I know they are out doing runs and I see it on the Strava app but we need to get the players back together, training at least to get them going again.”
