[berwick-the-unbeatable]

djn, on Oct 28 2007, 17:26, said:

Aye, good old "Egg"

B)

I can't belive that still no one knows who you are, there were only about 20 Berwick fans there yesterday too

[Stewie Griffin]

Classic signs of a club in trouble when the supporters start slagging each other off and we resort to the argument about what constitutes a proper fan.

[Stewie Griffin]

shaft, on Oct 28 2007, 12:34, said:

We are a 3rd Div club and dont have the funds to spend so why should we spend to get into debt when at the end of the day if we were top we would still only have 450 at a home game,
Pollok is in Shawlands.

Eh, I think you'll find we're in the second - just maybe, but we're definitely there.

It always nice to see absolutely no ambition whatsoever.

[g-force1967]

The point of clearing the debts is a long term thing. As long as the club has debt then income will have to go towards paying the interest. Better to clear it up once and for all. With only 400 turning up for home games then it doesn't take much working out how much of the gate receipts go straight to the bank as interest payments.

The harsh reality is that we would be better off financially to be at the top of the third than bottom of the second. Even if we did succeed in this division we wouldn't get bigger attendances unless we were up for the title, and thats just not going to happen. If you look at last seasons home gates it wasn't until the last 2 home games that there was a significant increase in the numbers. And we were always going to get a big crowd for the title decider anyway.

The cold, hard facts are that we are at our level. There is a ceiling in place and it's called full time football. There is no way that we or any of the other part time sides in this league can compete with the full time ones and there is no prospect of us going full time. Scottish league football needs a major overhaul. The second division, apart from Alloa, has already separated the full timers from the part timers.

I personally would like to see a return to a 3 league set up. The SPL, a 1st which would be the other full time clubs, and a second division for the part timers. This division would be split geographically to cut down on some of the ridiculous travelling required when, for example, Elgin face us or Stranraer. This is unfair on the players and the fans. The top team in each of these divisions would get promoted automatically and the second and third placed teams could play each other in a play off system to decide the third promotion place. This would mean that 3 up, 3 down would stop the staleness that afflicts the current set up. As much as I dislike the play offs, that defeat to Alloa still is hard to take, they do generate lots of interest and much needed income from extra games with bigger crowds. At the end of the season, when the suns out you get a lot more casual fans and it makes a massive difference to the finances of the clubs involved. This has to be capitalised on for the sake of all our part time clubs.

Things have to change before it's to late.

[Stewie Griffin]

g-force1967, on Oct 28 2007, 23:32, said:

The point of clearing the debts is a long term thing. As long as the club has debt then income will have to go towards paying the interest. Better to clear it up once and for all. With only 400 turning up for home games then it doesn't take much working out how much of the gate receipts go straight to the bank as interest payments.

The harsh reality is that we would be better off financially to be at the top of the third than bottom of the second. Even if we did succeed in this division we wouldn't get bigger attendances unless we were up for the title, and thats just not going to happen. If you look at last seasons home gates it wasn't until the last 2 home games that there was a significant increase in the numbers. And we were always going to get a big crowd for the title decider anyway.

The cold, hard facts are that we are at our level. There is a ceiling in place and it's called full time football. There is no way that we or any of the other part time sides in this league can compete with the full time ones and there is no prospect of us going full time. Scottish league football needs a major overhaul. The second division, apart from Alloa, has already separated the full timers from the part timers.

I personally would like to see a return to a 3 league set up. The SPL, a 1st which would be the other full time clubs, and a second division for the part timers. This division would be split geographically to cut down on some of the ridiculous travelling required when, for example, Elgin face us or Stranraer. This is unfair on the players and the fans. The top team in each of these divisions would get promoted automatically and the second and third placed teams could play each other in a play off system to decide the third promotion place. This would mean that 3 up, 3 down would stop the staleness that afflicts the current set up. As much as I dislike the play offs, that defeat to Alloa still is hard to take, they do generate lots of interest and much needed income from extra games with bigger crowds. At the end of the season, when the suns out you get a lot more casual fans and it makes a massive difference to the finances of the clubs involved. This has to be capitalised on for the sake of all our part time clubs.

Things have to change before it's to late.

The last time we were in the second we did challenge the full time teams for a fair part of the season. We shouldn't go in with the attitude that we can't.

I agree that the crowds and that we would get more at top of third for at least two games.

But I don't see how your league structure would help, three divisions means more meaningless games which means lower crowds.

It's also right that we clear the debts but it is a bit depressing when the press statement about a new manager says more about the financial situation than about him.

[BerwickMad]

Stewie Griffin, on Oct 28 2007, 23:26, said:

Classic signs of a club in trouble when the supporters start slagging each other off and we resort to the argument about what constitutes a proper fan.

He is a season ticket holder at another club, critisising people and demanding action over things when he hasnt got a scooby about a simple thing like the ground lease. Its quite easy to argue against that.

[g-force1967]

Stewie Griffin, on Oct 28 2007, 23:39, said:

The last time we were in the second we did challenge the full time teams for a fair part of the season. We shouldn't go in with the attitude that we can't.

I agree that the crowds and that we would get more at top of third for at least two games.

But I don't see how your league structure would help, three divisions means more meaningless games which means lower crowds.

It's also right that we clear the debts but it is a bit depressing when the press statement about a new manager says more about the financial situation than about him.

I don't mean for one season but over a number of seasons. It's simply not realistic anymore.

There are a hell of a lot of meaningless games now. These meaningless games used to be used to bring on the inexperienced players etc. The SPL has 3 parts within it now, title, third place and avoiding relegation. It will always be like that because of the way the attendances are for the Old Firm. I would hate to see the Spl split introduced at our level.

The financial side had to be clarified because there were rumours circulating as to where the money was going and some of them were just scandalous.

[HibeeJibee]

Brechin are part-timers, they've successfully yo-yoed from First to Second Divisions for many years IIRC.

[diamonds2002]

I actually thought we were pretty poor on Saturday in spells before we got the first goal. In the first half the "wee ginge" managed to get in behind us but just failed to keep his shot on target - we really need to tighten up at back as a better team will punish these mistakes.

That said it was by and large a comfortable afternoon due to the standard of opposition being terrible (this has certainly allayed my fears over the relegation spot as I think Berwick have this tied up).

Prunty really needs a goal to get his season up and running especially as Noble was looking really good on saturday. However, pick of the goals was Dossers 2nd lovely defense splitting pass by Prunts and Dosser muscles his way past the two centre halfs before rifling the ball past the keeper.

[duns_car_repairs]

Wilson out.duns_car _repairs in.

[thediamonddude]

diamonds2002, on Oct 29 2007, 08:48, said:

I actually thought we were pretty poor on Saturday in spells before we got the first goal. In the first half the "wee ginge" managed to get in behind us but just failed to keep his shot on target - we really need to tighten up at back as a better team will punish these mistakes.

That said it was by and large a comfortable afternoon due to the standard of opposition being terrible (this has certainly allayed my fears over the relegation spot as I think Berwick have this tied up).

Prunty really needs a goal to get his season up and running especially as Noble was looking really good on saturday. However, pick of the goals was Dossers 2nd lovely defense splitting pass by Prunts and Dosser muscles his way past the two centre halfs before rifling the ball past the keeper.

I thought Bryan looked better when he came on against Berwick than he had done against Raith the week before, as you say it was an excellent pass for the second goal and he was unlucky with the one that hit the bar.

Unfortunately I just think Noble and Russell are a much better partnership, I thought when Prunty scored against Brechin earlier in the season he would be off and running but he just hasn't done it since then. Here's hoping he starts to put away some more of the chances he gets soon though.

[diamonds2002]

thediamonddude, on Oct 29 2007, 10:46, said:

I thought Bryan looked better when he came on against Berwick than he had done against Raith the week before, as you say it was an excellent pass for the second goal and he was unlucky with the one that hit the bar.

Unfortunately I just think Noble and Russell are a much better partnership, I thought when Prunty scored against Brechin earlier in the season he would be off and running but he just hasn't done it since then. Here's hoping he starts to put away some more of the chances he gets soon though.

His reaction to the goalkeeper spilling the ball was great and he really should have had a goal there. I just think he is lacking a bit of confidence after most of last season on the sidelines. I think if he gets a goal or two and a run in the team there will be no stopping him

[Hampden Diehard]

mn07, on Oct 27 2007, 21:22, said:

I notice we were out in our numbers today . 850 at the game is plain embarrassing

As I've mentioned before, charging £15 for Second Division football, as Airdrie do, is criminal. When the team ain't playing so well, people will find something else to do with their cash.

It's a tenner at Hampden this week.

[diamonds2002]

Hampden Diehard, on Oct 29 2007, 12:19, said:

As I've mentioned before, charging £15 for Second Division football, as Airdrie do, is criminal. When the team ain't playing so well, people will find something else to do with their cash.

It's a tenner at Hampden this week.

The vast majority of Airdrie fans have been saying the same thing since the start of the season

[Allstars #9]

HibeeJibee, on Oct 29 2007, 16:42, said:

In theory, SFL clubs could wind up playing each other 8 times a season (4 league, 3 cups + 1 replay). Happened?

It's free at Airdrie Sports centre

Scottish Cup 3rd Round

Super Allstars V Woodhall Thistle 2pm

This post has been edited by Allstars #9: 29 October 2007 - 16:52

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

As shit as Berwick were, i can also say that your defence is pish, however some of your passing football and awareness is great

[Allstars #9]

Fair enough but how could you tell they were pish when they were never tested, Donnelly strolled the second half then we took the left back off and basically played with 3 and were still not troubled, so I'll take the positives from a CLEAN Sheet if you dont mind.

[berwick-the-unbeatable]

Because we had chances, thats somat we dont see a lot of