SUPPORT for Scottish cricket’s new domestic structure may be lukewarm in some quarters but there appears to be universal agreement that last season’s weighty 16-team divisions had little future.

Instead Cricket Scotland’s Future Structures Group have persuaded clubs to accept a regional format which today sees the introduction of Eastern and Western Conferences, each featuring two eight-team divisions.

At first glance the Eastern Premier Division looks more competitive, consisting of eight teams who finished in the top ten of last season’s SNCL.

Many of these teams, too, have strengthened their squads with Carlton having signed the former Northants wicket-keeper Toby Bailey as well as luring Umair Mohammed from Forfarshire and John Hutton from Drumpellier.

Grange, captained this season by former Saltires batsman Neil McCallum, welcome back Simon Smith from Heriot’s and have signed Scotland opening batsman Ryan Flannigan from Watsonians.

McCallum said: “We’re really looking forward to the new campaign and it looks like being an extremely hard league.

“I think any team will be capable of beating any other on a given day and that is what you want.

“We know that will make it a very hard league to win but I believe we have a good chance to make a real challenge.”

Watsonians have a new captain in Stuart Chalmers and will field the Saltires overseas player Jean Symes while, completing the capital quartet, Heriot’s welcome back Kevin McLaren and Cammy Farrell from Dunfermline.

Aberdeenshire and Arbroath may lead the challenge from the north but Stoneywood-Dyce, for whom Scotland prospect Michael Leask will be a key player, and Forfarshire, skippered by Saltires wicket-keeper Craig Wallace, will be competitive.

In contrast, the Western Premier Division contains just two teams who finished in last season’s top ten and Clydesdale and Uddingston will be considered among the favourites to prevail.

However, neither looks as strong as last term, the Titwood club having opted to perform without the assistance of a professional while a shoulder problem means that former Saltires star Paul Hoffmann will no longer bowl for Uddingston.

While not a fan of the new set-up, Clydesdale chairman Colin Mitchell believes there may be long-term benefits for his club and others.

“I don’t think there is much doubt that the Eastern Premier looks stronger and our players will miss competing against the likes of Carlton and Grange,” said Mitchell.

“But although we’re not overly excited about the new leagues I think we will use this summer as a developmental season to bring through some young players.

“If others do the same there could be benefits for cricket in the west in the future.”

In addition to Uddingston, Mitchell expects a challenge from West of Scotland whose bid will be spearheaded by new player-coach John Blain, the former Scotland World Cup bowler.

Ayr, boosted by South African professional Craig Thyssen, may mount a challenge in the top half of the table while Dumfries and Stirling will relish the chance to compete at this level.

Drumpellier may lack strength in depth but the arrival of Nazer Hussain, last season’s professional at Clydesdale, should guarantee enough wins to stay up.

Greenock, having suffered a mini-exodus which has seen the departure of Willie Rowan, Chris Bellwood, Dougie Wylie and Andy Hislop, will rely heavily on their South African professional Mpho Sekhoto.

PROSPECTS
Eastern Premier Division

ABERDEENSHIRE
Captain – Tyler Buchan
Young Gun – Matthew Cross
Prediction – 3rd

ARBROATH
Captain – Fraser Burnett
Young Gun – Ross McLean
Prediction – 4th

CARLTON
Captain – Fraser Watts
Young Gun – Chayank Gosain
Prediction – 1st

FORFARSHIRE
Captain – Craig Wallace
Young Gun – Aman Bailwal
Prediction – 6th

BARCLAY’S WEALTH GRANGE
Captain – Neil McCallum
Young Gun – Henry Edwards
Prediction – 2nd

HERIOT’S
Captain – Steve Knox
Young Gun – David Ross
Prediction – 7th

STONEYWOOD-DYCE
Captain – George Ninan
Young Gun – Omar Afridi
Prediction – 8th

WATSONIANS
Captain – Stuart Chalmers
Young Gun – Pete Legget
Prediction – 5th

Eastern Premier Division – RH Corstorphine, Edinburgh Accies, Falkland, Fauldhouse Victoria, Freuchie, Penicuik, SMRH, West Lothian.

PROSPECTS
Western Premier Division

LOCAL LIFE AYR
Captain – Mark Renny
Young Gun – Scott McElnea
Prediction – 5th

PSL TEAM SPORTS CLYDESDALE
Captain – Zeeshan Bashir
Young Gun – Paddy Barbour
Prediction – 1st

DRUMPELLIER
Captain – Graeme McLaren
Young Gun – Abdul Sabri
Prediction – 7th

APD DUMFRIES
Captain – Stuart Corbett-Byers
Young Gun – Tom McBride
Prediction – 4th

GREENOCK
Captain – Ryan Begley
Young Gun – Alex Baum
Prediction – 8th

STIRLING
Captain – Gavin Anderson
Young Gun – Nick Farrar
Prediction – 7th

TUNNOCK’S UDDINGSTON
Captain – Calum MacLeod
Young Gun – Gavin Main
Prediction – 2nd

McCREA FS WEST OF SCOTLAND
Captain – Ross Brown
Young Gun – Andrew Umeed
Prediction – 3rd

Western First Division – East Kilbride, Ferguslie, Kelburne, NVT Poloc, Prestwick, Renfrew, Stenhousemuir, Weirs.