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Highland League versus North Caledonian League at Harmsworth Park as Wick Academy's Craig Gunn powers his way past Invergordon's Daniel Christie and Joe Sutherland in a North of Scotland Cup tie last July. Picture: Mel Roger

Promotion to and relegation from the Highland League could be implemented in time for next season.

Positive talks have taken place between the Highland League, the North Caledonian Football Association (NCFA) and the Scottish Junior Football Association North Region to create a tier six division for the 2020/21 campaign.

If plans are agreed, teams from the North Caledonian League and the Scottish Junior North Football Super League could be promoted to the Highland League, replacing relegated sides.

League secretary Rod Houston is confident the plans could be in place in time for the start of next season.

"We have aimed to start the tier six league in the pyramid system for 2020,” he said.

“It has been a gradual process to bring everyone together. But we are now ready in the north for the three parties to meet to set out the operating processes for the relationship between tier five and tier six in time for next season.

"That is the ambition, and for the North Caledonian League I am confident that can happen between these divisions.

“The junior north league might need a bit more time, but this hiatus may give us time to get everything worked out.”

Houston acknowledges that how next season will look may depend on when the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control in the UK.

“We will have to get a sense of what the new season might be so we don’t create a sense of arrangements that are impractical in the context we are in," he said.

Clubs will need to meet criteria such as holding an SFA licence to be eligible to join the Highland League if they are in a position to be promoted.

Only North Caley club Golspie Sutherland and junior outfit Banks O’Dee meet the criteria to join the Highland League at present.

But Houston believes that if clubs have the ambition to enter the Highland League they will strive to meet those aims.

For a club to promoted into the Highland League or the Lowland League, they have to meet their criteria for membership.

“To be a member of the Highland League, you have to have an entry level licence and be a member of the Scottish FA," he said.

“What this arrangement does is to allow a club that wishes to develop and make progress get itself licensed and offer an opportunity of progression and sporting merit.

“Getting a licence is a big commitment, but it also tells you the structure of a club, the background, the financial structures, coaching framework and its facilities which are important."