George Fraser is confident that Lowland League clubs will vote in favour of Celtic Colts being included in next season’s fixture list.
Last week it emerged that Celtic and their business partners at Ibrox had turned to the Lowland League in a bid to bridge the gap between the Academy structure and first team football.
Attempts to get into League Two of the SPFL has been rejected by clubs but it seems that there is a welcome in the Lower League who have also had their difficulties with the SPFL over the pyramid system.
It seems that the offer of £50,000 directly to the league and a couple of high profile home matches has enticed clubs like BSC, Cumbernauls Colts, Bonnyrigg Rose and Gala Fairydean Rovers to the idea with a vote being taken on Monday.
The Daily Record reports:
When asked on the Official Catchup podcast if was his gut feeling that the proposals would go through, Fraser said: “Yes, I think it is. I’m probably shooting myself in the foot here but I would like to think that it has a fair chance.
“I think the deal that we’ve put together will help the league and help the clubs within it and the money will be used for innovation within the league. We’re not going to fritter it away.
“It will also help secure the league as well. It’s well known that we don’t have a sponsor, and during these tough economic times it’s very difficult. The biggest league in the country doesn’t have a sponsor at the moment.
“They are not easy to come by and not going to be easy to come by. If we are offered a commercial deal of this magnitude it would be foolish not to look at it closely.
“I know the clubs will give it a fair hearing, but whatever the clubs decide, as long as it’s a democratic decision, that’s fine by me.”
A higher profile, increased hospitality options and the opportunity to pull in a sponsor seems to have won over Lowland League to admitting two new clubs for a one-off season where they can’t be promoted.
