David Ferguson: How do you solve a problem like club rugby?

There are many reasons in the current Scottish economic climate for the struggles, and rugby is far from immune. But is Scottish rugby doing enough to adapt to the changing demands and preferences of 21st century Scotland?

We have witnessed the start of a turnaround with more young players turning to rugby and an increase in some areas of senior players. But as sure as the club game is the bedrock of Scottish rugby so the trials of the professional teams and Scotland this season are inherently linked to problems with the foundations, and there is a growing belief that the season structure remains a hindrance rather than a help to developing Scottish rugby.

The introduction of play-offs in 2010-11 was a move to create excitement and it was agreed for two years so will remain next season, but there are mixed opinions on its success as, with the Scottish weather weighing into the season with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball, the break-up allowed the momentum of the early part of the season to dissipate.

Scottish clubs are expected to confirm a new set-up later this month, with a split below three Premier 'national' leagues to regional leagues across the country, after much strong debate from some who would prefer four national divisions. It is a step to help the club game and the distances travelled in recent months by club and SRU officials in pursuit of consensus on a new structure is to be applauded, but it must be only the start of a more radical restructuring.

Various plans have been mooted to energise club rugby over the past decade with no real progress. Now, there is a mood for change, one that has brought the clubs and the SRU closer together, and based on many discussions with interested parties over recent months, I have put together a proposal to take the debate on to a new level.

It is modelled on next season's dates and focuses largely on the top end. It has at its heart the need to block the season into clearly defined, attractive competitions with the potential for local and national sponsorship, where momentum builds to a climax, where players can commit to some and opt out of others and which are clear for supporters to follow.

There is continuity with the championships running through the first half of the season, allowing talented age-grade internationalists to be part of the campaigns in their entirety and then depart for Scotland duties at the turn of the year.

It restores the tier of district rugby to offer ambition and a potential shop window for the best club players, and coaches, aiming to prove themselves at a higher level. It strives to create competitions throughout the season that will excite players and supporters, fill clubrooms and generate vital new revenue streams for clubs.

The SRU no longer has the financial muscle to make a significant difference to club rugby, so a new direction, new energy and attraction is vital if it is to grow in the 21st century.

This suggestion will not solve all the ills of Scottish rugby, and will have scope for further improvement - Premier One clubs may prefer to cut to eight teams for instance, and National Two to 12 - but I hope that it provides a starting point for a national, open debate.

BLOCK ONE: Premier and National League season (Sat 30 July - Sat 3 Dec, stand-by dates 10/17 Dec)

Three divisions of ten teams - Premier League, National Division One and National Division Two.

Kicks off on 30 July and runs straight for 18 weeks with home and away fixtures (midweek rounds can be scheduled in Aug/Sept to free up stand-by dates, autumn Test and/or British & Irish Cup weekends).

By finishing championships in early December, most under-20 and academy players should be able to play through entire championship season.

The British Cup, involving three Scottish clubs, can be slotted in, perhaps alongside Heineken Cup weekends in October, December and January, if those clubs play some league matches in midweek.

Pros: Makes use of better weather months, maintains momentum in championship through to end and concludes in time for a winter break - clear and easy-to-follow. Starting during school holidays could help attract interest behind the scenes and among spectators.

Cons: Starts too early for some, impinging on holiday and summer sport commitments among players, officials and fans.

BLOCK TWO: Inter-District Championship (Three games across Christmas and New Year, between 17 Dec and 14 Jan)

Caledonia, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the South (Exiles could be invited) appoint coaches in November and they pull together squads from top three leagues in December and play each other once, home or away, using facilities with underground heating in each district when weather poor, with the potential for double-headers with Edinburgh and Glasgow 1872 Cup derbies. Club international coaches could use this competition to assess players before selecting Scotland squad.

Pros: Provides attractive rugby for spectators and media through winter with just two games to organise and find playable pitches for. A step-up for talented players, while acting as a trial ground for aspiring club internationalists and coaches. Also has new potential for district clubs (as outlined in block three below) to come together and market each game, and benefit from ticket revenue, ie: keep 50% of all tickets they sell for game, while host benefits from bar takings.

Cons: More administration chores. Too much rugby for some players. Threat of postponements due to poor weather. Arguments over who hosts games.

BLOCK THREE: District Leagues: Border League, Caledonia League, Edinburgh League, Glasgow League (21 Jan - 17 March, six-eight games in nine weeks)

Clubs would fall into their own district leagues and compete for their district title. Qualification would depend annually on Premier and National League standings and could also feed a new Scottish Cup with the top two from each district league qualifying for the cup quarter-finals.

Based on 2009-10 Premiership standings (top 30 clubs) the leagues could look like this:

Caledonia - Dundee, Stirling County, Aberdeen Grammar, Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, Howe of Fife, Perthshire

Edinburgh - Currie, Heriot's, Boroughmuir, Watsonians, Edinburgh Accies, Stew/Mel, Biggar, Haddington

Glasgow - Ayr, Glasgow Hawks, West of Scotland, GHA, Hillhead/Jordanhill, Falkirk, Hamilton, Ardrossan Accies

South - Melrose, Selkirk, Hawick, Gala, Peebles, Kelso, Jed-Forest

This change would need movement from clubs depending on make-up of top 30, ie: in the above groups Falkirk and Stirling could appear in Caledonia, Edinburgh or Glasgow leagues depending on which was considered more important - travel times, geography or keeping leagues to an even number.

Pros: Many players (not involved in inter-district) would come to it fresh after seven weeks off between league and district league competitions; some enjoying rests and others using time to improve skills, and strength and conditioning. District games would ensure derby attraction for players every weekend; some games could be scheduled around Six Nations matches and help to fill clubhouses; lessen travel for players and officials; cut travelling costs for clubs; and attract good-sized crowds to new competition. Also, with age-grade and club internationalists unavailable and other players able to opt-out, it could allow young players valuable senior exposure.

Cons: Many players would spend seven weeks out of action, some might lose interest and not return. New leagues in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Caledonia might meet resistance and would require clubs to come together to organise and administrate, albeit with SRU support. Border League would not necessarily be made up of traditional sides, though new league could either be viewed as a separate Borders District League, and traditional Border League fixtures played as double-headers and on free weekends, or Border League take on new guise and accept freshening up each year as one or two teams change, and provide those who miss out with extra motivation to aspire to top 30.

BLOCK FOUR: Scottish Cup knockout rounds

There are mixed views on the future of a cup, but there are few doubts that the Murrayfield Finals Day has proven to be a great day out for those involved and with better marketing could return to the crowds of 10,000 to 20,000-plus. This plan proposes that the cup takes over in late March-April with knockout rounds, and Shield, Bowl and Plate rounds for regional league clubs is played throughout the season until 17 March, and then slot in with cup quarter-finals on 24 March, semi-finals in mid-April and finals day late April.

Pros: Cup becomes feasible so retains lure of worthwhile national silverware for players, coaches and clubs in second half of season; ensures geographical spread at quarter-final stage so drawing interest and attraction across country, and time built in for players to rest and prepare fully for semi-finals and final. Clubs not involved can turn attention to hosting and playing in sevens tournaments.

Cons: Too big a gap between quarters and semis, and semis and final; too much rugby for successful teams and players; clubs not involved and not interested in sevens finish their season in March.

BLOCK FIVE: Scottish sevens championship (Sat 31 Mar/Sun 1 April - 20/21 May, eight weeks)

Worked on similar format to district league, however, open to clubs at all senior levels. Clubs in each district propose hosting a sevens tournament and agree to designated ‘qualifiers', ie; at certain nominated tournaments points are picked up for sevens ‘league table' (similar to Borders' Kings of the Sevens). Melrose unlikely to be a qualifier, and would continue with unique format, but this could increase interest in other tournaments.

Clubs are free to play in sevens tournaments wherever they choose, but if they wish to qualify for sevens finals can only pick up points in their own district. By mid-May top two teams in each district sevens table qualify for sevens finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to be staged at Murrayfield on the same weekend as IRB World Sevens Series in late May.

Pros: Attractive to clubs due to substantial profit from one day event; attractive to players who revel in sevens and find this their great stage to shine, and those who dislike sevens and want a rest, but enjoy taking family along to club for rugby in better weather; and attractive to coaches who desire an improvement in playing skills with a focus on running, handling, pace and beating men one-on-one.

Cons: Some clubs have no interest in sevens, so their season could end in March, though some have suggested they would organise a 'Family Day/Coaching Camp/Youth Sevens' instead to attract people to their club and bring income in April. Clubs, notably in the Borders, will contest who has rights to being a 'points qualifier'. Cuts across traditions of clubs being invited from across Scotland to tournaments (this can still happen, but 'guest' sides would not acquire points).

BELOW PREMIERSHIP: Regional League season (Sat 3 Sept-3 Dec and 14 Jan-17 March, with winter break and breaks for international weekends and cup rounds)

Divisions of varying sizes in Caledonia, Midlands, East, West, North-East and North-West, but size and shape determined in each area possibly with a play-off system for promotion.

There has been much debate this season between clubs below the Premiership who favour a national league structure and those who would prefer a regionalised set-up. This debate could continue as there would be nothing to stop the creation of a fourth national league, but for the purposes of this blueprint, below the top three divisions, the plan proposes regional league rugby to encompass all clubs able and willing to be a part of it. However, the season for all would be similar to at present for these clubs.

RESERVE LEAGUES: This is an important area of the game, but how far it is extended would depend on clubs' enthusiasm. I would propose retaining the current two national reserve leagues with regional reserve leagues below.

SUMMARY: This suggested structure does not profess to be the solution to all problems in Scottish club rugby, it merely advocates change.

I believe it is a good starting point for those passionate about the future of Scottish rugby, one that could create a new way ahead for the club game and has the potential, if embraced, to invigorate players and coaches, inject new excitement into the season and restore the attraction of club rugby to spectators, officials, media, sponsors and the wider community.

I would like to hear your views, for and against, and ideas of your own to improve the Scottish club rugby season.

Email Scotsman rugby writer David Ferguson: djferguson@scotsman.com

At-a-glance sugested plan

BLOCK ONE

Premier and National League season (Sat 30 July - Sat 3 December, stand-by dates 10/17 Dec)

Three divisions of ten teams - Premier League, National Division One and National Division Two.

BLOCK TWO

Inter-District Championship (Three games across Christmas and New Year, between 17 December and 14 January)

BLOCK THREE

District Leagues: Border League, Caledonia League, Edinburgh League, Glasgow League (21 January - 17 March, six-eight games in nine weeks)

BLOCK FOUR

Scottish Cup knockout rounds

BLOCK FIVE

Scottish sevens championship (Sat 31 March/Sun 1 April - 20/21 May, eight weeks)