Shinty clubs have been asked to consider three different proposals for a restructuring of the league set-up for the 2027 season and have their say.

Thain and Watt were also tasked with coming up with alternative solutions ahead of the Camanachd Association’s AGM at the end of November, with clubs having the opportunity to vote in a new structure for next year.

Proposals were drawn up after engagement with clubs and consideration of feedback received by the governing body, with recurring themes including geographical challenges and travel, fixture fulfilment, player retention, referee availability and the pressures placed on clubs, volunteers and players by the existing competition calendar.

As a result, Thain and Watt aimed to explore how the competition structure can best support the long-term sustainability of the game, making participation more manageable while maintaining the appeal and identity of shinty's national competitions.

Their proposals were presented to clubs last night, with three different potential structures being suggested.

The first would be a return to the sport’s traditional north and south structure.

This model would see a return to separate North and South leagues, with regional competition throughout the season.

The winners of the respective Premier Leagues would then meet in an end-of-season play-off to decide the national title.

The second suggested structure would also see the regular league season regionalised, but feature a modernised, expanded national play-off system at the end of it.

This model would see the top four teams in each of the North and South Premier Leagues progress to an end-of-season cup-style play-off competition, culminating in the National Mowi Play-Off Final.

The model also includes a play-off pathway involving the lower-placed Premier League teams and first teams from the respective Division One leagues for the Balliemore Trophy.

A third structure suggested would retain the current national Premiership, but regionalise each tier below it in the league pyramid – a change from the current set-up with two national divisions.

The Camanachd Association’s competition and fixtures committee have identified option two as its preferred league structure when considering the proposals, but clubs are being given the opportunity to consider all three options and provide their views.

Alongside a potential new league structure, the Camanachd Association’s review has also looked at fixture scheduling across the season.

These models consider different approaches to the length of the season, the number of available match days, the use of midweek fixtures and the provision of a mid-season break.

The calendar options will be considered separately from the league structure consultation. However, there are elements which are dependent on the structure ultimately selected, meaning the two areas will need to be considered together as the process develops.

The governing body’s intention is to find an approach which balances fixture requirements with player welfare, volunteer availability, officials, school holidays and the wider demands on those involved in the game.

Nothing has been decided at this stage, with the next step seeing questionnaires being sent out to clubs next week.

Clubs are being asked to take the presentation to their respective committees, discuss the proposals and submit one consolidated response per club.

All feedback will be collated and analysed before the findings are shared with clubs. The Camanachd Association Board will then consider the consultation results and determine a preferred route forward.

Any proposal taken forward for implementation will subsequently be subject to a vote by clubs registered and participating within the relevant league structures.