Shinty clubs have reacted to the proposals to restructure the league set-up in 2027, with one club president saying “the national leagues have run their course”.

Option One would see a return to fully regionalised leagues, with the winners of the north and south top flights meeting in a play-off to decide the Scottish champions.

Option Two – which was recommended by the Camanachd Association’s fixtures and competitions committee – would see a similar league set-up, but an expanded play-off format with the top four teams in the north and south qualifying for knockout quarter finals.

Option Three would retain a national Premiership, with the three tiers below it being regionalised instead.

Different schedules are also on the table for discussion, with one avenue to go down including a two-week break in fixtures in July while requiring some midweek matches; another featuring the same number of matches without a summer break and no midweek games; and a third seeing slightly fewer games and moving the season a month earlier, running from March to September.

Clubs now have November to evaluate the proposals and give their feedback to the Camanachd Association, ahead of their AGM on Friday, November 27.

For some, like Lovat club president John MacRitchie, change feels necessary however it ends up looking.

"It came to a head with Beauly's open letter, but it had been discussed in the summer time from the Camanachd, so it has been in the pipeline for a while,” he said of the prospect of reconstruction.

"It probably needs to be done. It's a huge commitment for the players – if we're down to Glasgow or Bute, it's a whole day of 14 hours, not just two or three hours.

"I think local games would be good, and I think it would improve the standard as well. Clubs would get full teams travelling to more local games, and they might get better travelling support.

“Personally, I would think the option where there are regionalised leagues, and then the top four go into the play-offs, is the one to go for.

"The national leagues were good when they started off, but in my point of view they have run their course – especially below the Premiership.

"That has always been strong, even though a couple of clubs have struggled to put out full teams, but going forward I think option two is the way to go."

Publicly, Beauly Shinty Club kicked the debate into gear with an open letter calling the status quo “unsustainable” going forward.

While stopping short of confirming a preferred option, a club spokesperson did comment: “We are pleased to see that the proposals recognise the need to reduce travel commitments for clubs and look towards a more sustainable league structure.

"However, it is imperative that meaningful change is implemented for the 2027 season.

"This issue has been overdue action for several years, and further delays risk losing players and clubs from the game. Every season that passes without addressing these challenges further weakens the playing pool and the long-term viability of shinty.

"While we recognise that implementing a new structure will require planning and co-operation, we do not believe there is a compelling reason to delay meaningful change beyond 2027.

"The challenges facing the game are already well established, and postponing action for another season or more will only prolong the difficulties clubs are experiencing.

"We recognise that finding a solution which works for everyone is not straightforward, but the time for change is now.”