Falside Jag

With respect, your answer shows that you know absolutely nothing about the NMW, how it is enforced, by whom, where the funding comes from and what sectors will be looked at in the future. If there are clubs paying expenses that aren't reasonable and not keeping robust records of how they are arrived at then they are putting themselves in a precarious position.

Bathgate Thistle 3 v 2 Arthurlie FC - 25.03.17 Friendly match Courtesy of ThistleTV

Downfield FC 1 v 1 Bathgate Thistle - 11.03.207 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

Bathgate Thistle 3 v 1 Kennoway Star Hearts - 18.02.2017 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

From the outside looking in it appears Armadale are at a serious crossroads. I wonder whether relegation at this point wouldn't be the worst thing to happen although I sincerely hope that they manage to stay up - the derbies are brilliant. It might give you an opportunity to completely overhaul things with little pressure on the side. I think you would come back up pretty quickly as well. I feel that the poor league form and the pressure that that brings is putting a lot of pressure on a committee that are struggling to reform themselves at the moment. Armadale do a lot of things well - lottery for one thing. Maybe there a few who are a bit long in the tooth but these guys have put a lot of time and effort in over the years because they love their club so you can't ignore that. You need to strike a balance though with new blood coming in and that's not easy to do. Young people these days seem far less likely to get involved at that level at their local Junior clubs - there's not the same social aspect that went hand in hand with the Junior game from days gone by. I keep hearing there is a lot of unrest within the playing squad as well but you still have some decent players there. Anyway, I genuinely hope things turn round for Armadale soon (or at least soon after the next game at The Volley between the two Thistle's)

Tranent Juniors 2 v 2 Bathgate Thistle - 28/01/2017 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

Bathgate Thistle 5 v 1 Dundee Violet FC - 21/01/2017 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

Tayport FC 1 v 1 Bathgate Thistle - 07/01/2017 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

Bathgate Thistle 3 v 1 Dalkeith Thistle - 17.12.16 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

It's hard to understand a result like today's for Armadale. The reasons behind it will be of concern to any new manager but it's so freakish in nature that the new gaffer would be best just pretending it never happened.

Hope everything goes well for the lad today.

I can understand that if one of your players has been injured, and seriously at that, then the club would want to ensure that his welfare is looked after. That is commendable, but from the outside looking in its difficult to see what impact that would have on the process of appointing a new manager other than push things back a day or so. I think there is genuine interest from outside the Dale who is going to be appointed. From Bathgate's point of view we're intrigued because of course you are our local rivals but also some of the names being banded about suggest it will be an interesting appointment whoever gets it. Of course we could all be barking up the wrong tree and its someone that hasn't been mentioned yet but I'm sure the guys who have applied are equally eager to see who gets the job too.

It seems to have taken a long time to get the new manager in place. Perhaps after the Tranent result there didn't seem to be a rush, moreso with the lucky win against us (relax, it's only banter). Surely the announcement must be imminent now though.

St Andrews United 0 v 1 Bathgate Thistle - 10.12.16 McBookie.com East Premier League Courtesy of ThistleTV

The Callum Rarity and Craig Young partnership (if indeed true) would appear to be a strange one. I don't mean in terms of ability to do the job, I'm sure they would be capable, but given Young is having a great season for Blackburn I would be surprised that he wants to walk away from that. Is Rarity playing regularly for Dundonald?