Lanark United boss Colin Slater has branded the West of Scotland League as a ‘shambles’ and blasted the decision to scrap promotion from the Conferences this season.
And he says it could be the ‘death knell’ of the semi-professional game.
Clubs have until Friday to withdraw from the new set-up without penalty and while Slater wouldn’t be drawn on what his thoughts were on that, he didn’t hold back on the lack of a competitive edge.
And he says he worries about the future of the game, in Lanark’s centenary year.
Slater said: “The full thing is a shambles, it has been an absolute shambles from day one.
“My view, is that I’ve been involved in junior football for 30 years as a player and a manager and I did it because I enjoyed it, and it was a good organisation, but the last few months have been an absolute shambles, and I think it’s going to be the death knell of the game.
“It’s just through poor decision-making, it’s a sad day. It’s just a shambles, the full thing is a shambles. They should have stuck with what they had in the juniors.
“I had a lot of good times, more good than bad, and I was reasonably successful as a player and a manager, met a lot of good people and enjoyed the social scene, and it was a good, good game to play in and manage, but in the last few months it’s just been a shambles.
“It’s our centenary year and it’s not a good time for this to be happening.
“I know everybody’s caught up with other stuff and there are more important things going on in the world, but football has been a big part of my life as well.
“It’s got to be competitive as well - apart from pre-season friendlies or the odd midweek bounce game, I’ve never gone into a game yet where I haven’t had a competitive mind-set and it’s not in a good place.
“I think they could have delayed it or done something better. You see what’s happening with Old Firm and international players and there is a big virus out there, so they’re maybe missing the point.
“But to get it started, it’s got to be competitive.”
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