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I’d take a broken wrist to get away from your chat as well.

As a jags fan i genuinely sympathise with your plight cos we could easily be having the same conversations (and might still) i hope you sort out your clusterf##k of a situation as your a very well supported club in the championship (not patronising) home and away, you will be missed by many fans and may be for a while, I'm looking forward to going to Arbroath and "The Tatties Neuk" pub but sadly not at the expense of your club. Good luck guys

Sorry, are the BBC genuinely going to patch any trophy presentation just so they can show their news programme on time? What a fucking riddy of a channel this is. If you are going to f**k about with kick off times then at least make a decent effort in showing the game and make it a main feature of the evening, some decent build up and reflection. Get some of The Terrace lads in to present the show given they seem to actually know a bit about the lower leagues and send Thompson and Skippy to the glue factory. And don't shoe horn the game in around the rest of your programmes. Absolutely pathetic.

Greenock Morton haven't done anything of note in around at least 80-90 years, so I'd say them.

This is the summary I received of last nights meeting; Ian Maxwell began with a 10 minute summary of the SFA’s “achievements” over the last 12 months. What that had to do with matters in hand I have no idea but that was the only time you really heard him, he hardly spoke a word for the next 2 hours. It was then the Rod Petrie show. He began with a Powerpoint presentation of how the Scottish Cup works which then moved onto Tier 6 and play-offs. Needless to say this dominated proceedings for the next hour or so and trying to pin Petrie down is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. Some of the main points I took from it, although this may differ slightly depending on people’s understanding of what was being discussed as he was all over the place at times, was; Juniors won’t be in tier 6 next season, they would run next season in line with the general SFA protocols for all competitions, ie discipline, registration etc and that this would be monitored by the SFA and assessed. The SFA would ask the LL to come up with plans on how to run the play-offs involving 2, 3 or 4 teams, and the CEO would then make the decision if they could enter! They have told the East Region that in order to take part, they need to have a single Superleague next season in line with all other leagues. Teams can choose which league to play in if winning the play-off (Lochee was used as an example), he didn’t seem to understand the points being made about HL/LL demarcation line. The North isn’t happening, NRJFA don’t want to be part of the Pyramid. The SFA will oversee discipline for tier 6 (no idea about the other tiers) and every club at that level need to abide by that in every competition. The Junior Cup was used as an example and would that competition follow SFA rules, I don’t think we ever got a clear answer on it. Delegates throughout made points, sometimes very forcefully, that what he was proposing was unworkable. Again, the main ones were; Clubs did not have an issue with the West coming in fully next season and entering the play-offs, the issue was two parallel competing leagues in the East, which also includes clubs which cannot play in the LL. The suggestion was made to allow the West in whilst further discussion was needed in East, he seemed to imply that the SJFA didn’t like that suggestion. If the ERJFA are splitting into Tayside and WL/Fife divisions then the solution and way forward is already there, Tayside form own league and WL/Fife join EoS. The EoS are the existing tier 6 league in the area. Geography has to be the main driver of how the Pyramid works, with one league system covering each area. Also questions over why an Association is being allowed to enter, there should only be one governing body involved in the pyramid, the SFA. What happens if another league eg Central Amateur or Edinburgh & Lothians Amateur wanted access to the pyramid, would they be entitled to enter at tier 6 as well? SFA setting precedent if allowing ERJFA in at same level in same area as EoS. Rules cannot be changed mid-season, LL play-off decisions need to be made now for next season, or at the end of next season for 2020-21. It is absurd to say the CEO can make such a decision at a time of his choosing. Clubs need to know. There were lots of other points being made, and Petrie appeared a little rattled at the feedback he was getting. Then we eventually moved onto Club Licencing. Petrie said the SFA were busy with other matters, and that there is nothing in the club licencing process that says how quickly the board needed to make decisions, and seemed to indicate this would drag on to SFA AGM and that SPFL clubs are entitled to a say. This was like rolling a grenade into the room, he was repeatedly asked (him and Maxwell) when clubs would be advised and he repeatedly said they couldn’t. One delegate pointed out that as the two most influential people in the game that was an embarrassing response, and that clubs must have a decision as they need to plan for next season, and it also effects the LL play-off situation which starts next week. Still no commitment. One delegate said to him that he had lied to them when he gave his spiel at the same meeting back in September about welcoming clubs on-board etc, he didn’t like this one bit! A bit of an OTT accusation to make but it gives an indication that tempers were running high. He was also questioned on the influence of SPFL clubs and again gave a typical non-answer. More delegates had their say by impressing on him the amount of money that had been spent so far, and that some had AGM’s coming up where they had no answer to give members. They also could not tell players who they wanted to sign what league they would be playing in. The meeting sort of petered out to a conclusion, with Maxwell saying his first words since the start saying he understood clubs frustrations! What happens next I have no idea. Petrie and Maxwell were left under no illusion of how clubs felt, and some delegates done very well at getting their points across and explaining why clubs disagreed with what is being proposed for Pyramid and their frustration regarding licencing.

EoSFL: "Hey guys, why don't you all come in, completely take over our league, spend a year rag-dolling some of us, dominate the competitions and bump us all down a tier? Greater good and all that. The more the merrier, we'll wait for you to make your minds up. We'll even let the stragglers in at the same tier as us next year. And would you like to enter your U20 team in our excellent set-up with the Lowland League?" SPFL: "Gerrorff our pyramid!" It's time to put the EoSFL in charge of Scottish football.

From Facebook: Glenrothes Juniors 6 t · Latest news!! Glenrothes Football Club can confirm that the club have been accepted as a member off the East of Scotland FA effective from the 2019-2020 season. We look forward to the new challenge and would like to thank the East of Scotland FA clubs for accepting Glenrothes Football Club to their association.

Aye, McInnes' transfer policy the last couple of windows has been questionable, but to say it's been an overall failure is mental. There's been a total stand out signed just about every window. Summer 13: Flood/Robson Jan 14: Rooney/Logan Summer 14: Taylor (ok maybe not a stand out but certainly was an able performer for a good while) Jan 15: McLean Summer 15: Shinnie Jan 16: Church (scored a load of goals) Summer 16: Lewis Jan 17: Christie Summer 17: STEVIE MAY (nah jk GMS though) Jan 18: Cosgrove/Devlin Summer 18: Ferguson/Lowe Jan 19: Lowe (again) It's not like all his successes have come in a burst, he's been pretty consistent across each window, signing very good players. Some of the failures can be explained (eg panic buying Maynard) and some have to go down as disasters (the Forrester and Gleeson situation this season), but I think you'd struggle to find a manager at our level who works to a dramatically higher success ratio. Levein doesn't do it at Hearts, Lennon didn't at Hibs. I honestly just think some of our fans are bored. We've been at the same "quite good" level for too long and folk have itchy feet and want change for the sake of change. Nae me though. I wouldn't trade Derek for any other manager in the top flight right now, Clarke included.

Nonce.

There's a simple explanation for that one. Hibernian Football Club, being a club founded on charitable, migrant and unrepentantly Catholic values, decided to build a very large away end in the 1990s. Second only to Rugby Park's, this can accommodate even the largest supports that world football has to offer. Visiting fans have been enjoying our friendly, Irish hospitality for decades. When you go through the turnstiles on Sunday, have a look at the inscription on the wall. It's been a while since I've been there, but I'm sure it reads: 'Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to watch Lewis Stevenson's cross fail to beat the first man.' An excellent sentiment fitting of a club with as much class as Hibs (insert HibsClassDisplay.jpeg here). Heart of Midlothian Football Club, by contrast, being a club founded on whatever principles a group of Victorian dancers had, possess a much more sheltered, inward look. Away fans are given a laughably small allocation and are then processed, much like cattle, through the four Roseburn turnstiles. This often leads to away fans missing out on the first few minutes of games. It is a very dehumanising experience, but one that I, as a proud Irish Catholic, am sadly used to in this backwards, racist shithole of a country that Hibernian have the misfortune of playing in. Ever since I can remember, there has been a golf club, members-only, nudge-nudge-wink-wink mentality to supporting Hearts. In the luxurious environment of the John Robertson Lounge, where the metropolitan elite reside, it is less what you know, but rather who you know. Or, more accurately, who you bumped into in the Lodge the other night. So, 'Mr. X' (the X no doubt short for Bridgeton Cross), I think you've made yourself look quite silly, there. Forget a clutching at straws emoticon, you could do with a egg on your face emoticon.

My hairdresser just found out recently she was pregnant, 7 months along. She had loads of negative tests and Dr thought it was possibly a wheat intolerance making her fat so it can happen. In other news. Just got a a call to go in for my stem cell transplant... on Monday

Can you set up another league in the west without first discussing it with the SFA? They would have to look at refereeing issues, discipline, there would also be the issue of governance invitations and to clubs to join (I know that these were your suggestions but find it kind of insulting the amount of clubs you ignored). Having read what was said last night it would seem the west clubs have been getting told one thing with another being told to TJ. His job is to act in the best interest of clubs and for me, having read all this, he hasn’t done that. That means me eating some humble pie. If it was put to him that the west could join for next season that is a material change and should of lead to a consultation of the west clubs. This is the counter proposal that I have been waiting to be made. This should have been presented to the clubs with a free vote taking place. This would have allowed for clubs to decide their futures! It’s beginning to seem like a WOS league is the only way forward and if i were still involved I would be wanting my club to lead from the front on this.

I've just realised we could potentially relegate Falkirk tomorrow, then send Morton into the playoff next week.

Which is absolutely fine. The issue here though is that a year ago Maxwell and Petrie attended an EoS meeting to talk about Licensing, invited everyone present to pursue licensing, espoused the benefits of it and that they were nowhere near the 200 member club limit and never raised an issue. You now have 18 EoS clubs, plus another 2 in the juniors, who have taken them at their word and they are shifting the goalposts at the 11th hour after a. taking these teams application money and b. inviting their applications on the first place and c. those clubs spending large sums of money, in many cases that they didn't need to (example given last night was replacing goalposts for socketed versions with box nets as requested by auditors). That's not right.

Soul destroying these guys are in charge of football in our country, and I’m not even part of a club or committee. Can’t imagine how these guys are feeling

I think it's worth pointing out that RP, who did all of the talking, didn't appear to be aware that an SFA rule existed marking the Lowland and Highland league boundary. For some reason he thought the people in the room were trying to decide what league's teams could play in, when in fact everyone was trying to point out that the rules had already been defined by the SFA themselves. Either he was suggesting the rules don't matter and we ignore it, or more likely in my view he doesn't know the rule exists.

Ross County are a beefed up pub team.

Kit Harrington confirmed on Graham Norton that it was filmed over 55 straight night shoots which is some record seemingly. A great big army of dead zombies going for 55..... sounds familiar tbh.....

I don't think the West Region would be lying to their clubs, I think it more likely they are getting their information second hand and that doesn't match with what the SFA are actually saying. As has been said, Ian Maxwell was in attendance with Rod Petrie last night and their collective message to the EoS and LL delegates in attendance was: "the juniors are not in Teir 6 for next season". The EoS delegates got that directly and repeatedly from the top men at the SFA. I doubt that's where the WRSJFA got their message? Either way, it's a poor outcome for Scottish non league football. Everyone wants the West involved from next season except, it would seem, the SJFA. The EoS couldn't have been more open last night in saying the West, North and Tayside would be welcomed as Teir 6 league's and the remaining South league juniors who wanted to join the pyramid would be welcomed into the EoS as the previous 25 were last year. The barriers to that happening and us having a functional pyramid for next season are entirely those of the SJFA and for West clubs in particular, that's a real shame.

How many people does this actually matter too? Absolutely no one mornes the death of the sfl(and indeed the spl). The SJFA dying off will affect virtually nobody in a negative way. Not 1 club, not 1 committee member, not 1 fan, not 1 player. We are honestly taking of 1 mans job and 1/2 a dozen with their noses in the trough. f**k em. Honestly if they lose out over this it's purely down to their own (in)ability to do their jobs. If they are good then they'll have a job inside the pyramid, if their bad they'll panic and see their comfortable positions are at threat. Does anyone have any info on compensation David longmuir got? Whoever negotiated that needs brought in asap. Ultimately there will be a financial cost to getting rid of a few folk, for the long term future a price with paying, they are taking more out the game every week that passes with their self-centred attitudes.

What a fucking servant he’s been. Cut him open and he’ll bleed red.

The last three paragraphs are the pertinent points that should lead to west clubs asking more questions of the WRJFA and TJ. Some on here tried to paint the EoS as the bad guys (Hi KB) but that simply isn't the case.

:-(. Soft hands they are. You have a woman's hands. I'll wager those daintie pinkies never weighed anchor in a storm.

Inverness have won bigger cups, have played in Europe, have played in the top tier more seasons, have won double the amount of games between the sides, better players (including far superior youth players coming through and making a decent career for themselves) over the years, more high profile managers and various other things that make them bigger than County. Having a bible-bashing weirdo throwing money at them every year and adding 1000 non-existent fans to every home gate doesn't change that. Otherwise, good post.

The recruitment process is simple. Manager gets a budget. Manager decides how it's spent. Manager often moans about it in private, but he still spends what he's given. His decisions on who to sign are based on his own opinion and advice from football people he trusts. He does not sign players based on processes set by the board. I know this from having spoken to the different coaches & club staff who've worked for our last three managers. I don't know what "correct processes other decent professional clubs" have. I'd be interested to find out though. Can you give examples? Preferably from clubs at our level? Apart from budget restrictions, I'd love to hear what processes Ian McCall has to follow that we should also be using.

Ian Maxwell played over 500 games in the SFL/SPL, it's hard to see how much more of a "football man" he could be. It's almost as though being a "football man" isn't actually important, and being competent means much more.

It's also the desire to put other folk down for not going to games, which is definitely one of the wankiest things any football supporter can do. He's an arrogant c**t.

How to explain the politics of lower league Scottish football to a 5 year old...

Erm, I'm not sure you understand how this works. Given one of the games is a head-to-head, it's still in both our hands.

Been sent this so thought id share it It is with regret that we have felt the need to put the following in writing regarding the current situation with Dundee and affairs at Dens. As a DSA affiliated club we would like the DSA to take this matter further and provide fans with a constructive response. I have copied in all other clubs as per your distribution list as I would think our club is not alone in these thoughts and would welcome any other opinions? Below has been drafted following comments / thoughts / views from our members: ‘The Ferry Branch Dundee Supporters Club, as one of the largest supporters clubs within the Dundee Supporters Association (DSA), would like to express our utmost concern regarding the current situation at Dundee Football Club. While we welcome the continued ownership and financial input from Tim Keyes, and wholeheartedly appreciate the initial stability this brought to football club, we have serious issues with the management of the Club on and off the pitch. ● John Nelms - We commend John's enthusiasm and efforts towards the new stadium plans and fully endorse the move to a new stadium, however his decision making regarding football matters is hugely flawed. His managerial appointments have been disastrous. There is clearly a role for John on the Board but his input into football decisions should be limited at best. The Club urgently requires a proper Board comprising of individuals with a far higher calibre of football knowledge. Managerial appointments should not be made based on a farcical list compiled by Mr. Nelms with no proper interview process. ● Jim McIntyre - Jim has proved to be a dreadful appointment despite being given a healthy budget to rebuild the team in January. He has lost confidence of the support, apparently the players also and now has one of the worst records of any Dundee manager, including a pathetic record breaking run of 8 defeats and counting. Even the most loyal supporters, long standing season ticket holders, are indicating they will not renew season tickets if Mr. McIntyre remains in his position. The fact Mr. Nelms has not addressed this appalling level of performance from the manager is staggering and has invoked a level of apathy and frustration within the support that is unprecedented at Dens. ● Communication - Simply non-existent. Truly appalling from Mr. Nelms, the supporters have been given barely any information despite our ever more precarious position in the SPL. A half-hearted attempt at appeasement by Mr. Nelms inviting a hand picked selection of individuals to meet with him is not acceptable. ● Season Tickets - Hard to imagine how badly this has been handled. Expecting fans to pay top end SPL prices for possible Championship football is quite incredible. Notwithstanding one less home game in the Championship fixtures. If the Club continues to take the support for granted, offering no communication and expecting fans to pay top prices for season tickets and admission prices then this will lead to further discontent and an unsustainably low level of sales. We understand the importance of season ticket sales, but cannot justify these prices based on the current product on display at Dens. ● League Position - An utter disgrace. 1 win at Dens all season is totally unacceptable. Added to this considerably grim achievement is the 3 miserable defeats by Championship sides in the Cups this season. The lack of apparent concern at Board level is both baffling and worrying. Relegation will be catastrophic for the Club and will represent a dreadful failure to capitalise on a situation where we are the only Premiership team in the City. Mr. Nelms is fully accountable for allowing this situation to spiral out of control. ● Going Forward - Dundee fans are desperate to support the Club and equally desperate to help in any way we can. This has been demonstrated on many, many occasions notwithstanding incredible support during 2 periods of administration. We are a stoic support but there is a limit to what can be tolerated. The current situation, with relegation looming and a total disconnect between fans, Board and manager, cannot and will not be tolerated. Dundee Football Club is a magnificent football club with huge historic significance and a large, fantastic support. Despite our horrendous form, over the last 3years in particular, the level of support has been remarkable. Given the generous budget provided in part by Tim Keyes, there is absolutely no way this Club should be fighting relegation every season. The reason we are is due to dreadful managerial appointments.This has to change immediately. If the Club is to survive any relegation then it will once again require our fantastic fans to rally round. At present that is unlikely unless major changes are made to the structure of the Club at Board and managerial level. ‘ Regards Carol Ferry Branch Secretary

Dykes is absolutely gubbins.

I'd start Luke McCowan instead of Robbie as he looked pretty lively on Tuesday when he came on as a sub. I'd also put Nathan Baird on the bench. We are short of central defenders and he was impressive at the Reserve Challenge Cup Final against Livingston.

Nope. For one because it doesn't exist Two, no other tier 6 league requires a license for participation.

I'd say with some confidence that guys like Paul Hartley, Neil McCann and John Hughes won't get a full time job in Scotland again.

I'm really looking forward to the customary 'last home game of the season' lap of honour. I'd like the lap to end at the gate opening out onto Halbeath Road and continue on for another few hundred miles.

can we drop all this Hartley talk, genuinely sick of seeing and reading about that c**t

Re the bit in bold, we've got Turnbull, Campbell, Scott and Maguire all down in longer-term deals. We've got Livingstone signed up for next year as well. Nobody could have predicted how Hastie would have fared into the team. Looked ok at Airdrie, done well at Alloa but that's about it. He was never billed as the "next big thing". With regards to "protecting our investment" we're in line for circa £750k for two players (Hastie & McKinstry) who've played less than 20 games for Motherwell between them. I think that's a decent return. Plus, we've got the potential for another half a million from Cadden. All came through our Academy. For every Jake Hastie leaving too soon, there'll be a Ross Forbes, Luke Watt or Dom Thomas stinking the place out for a couple of years. We can't get them all right, but I think we've shown we do better than most.

I wouldn't trust Maxwell to make the correct decision about getting out of a burning car.

I'd say the monotony of City dominating would be acceptable if it meant Liverpool still not having won an EPL. Their fans will be truly unbearable if they finally manage to equal the mighty Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City.

He did an overview of the year for the SFA, highs and lows, spoke for about 5 minutes, no one had any questions about that stuff, he said very little else other then a closing remark 2 hours later that he understood everyone's frustration (and there was plenty of that). On your point about Ian Maxwell selecting either superleague team to take part in the playoffs, that's only if the LL change the playoff rules to say that playoffs are not governed by sporting merit then licencing as they are now for EoS and SoS, but that they be based on licensing and whoever the SFA CE chooses should take part. Given that it's a bonkers idea that you let the CE choose who goes for promotion rather than it clearly be the Teir 6 licensed league winners, I'd be surprised if the relevant league's involved agreed to that rule change. Plus even if everyone did agree it was made clear you finish the season with the rules you start and that precedent had been set by the SFA themselves this season re: Whitehill so having that done for the end of the year as defined in "the new plan" would mean it took effect the season after next, not next season. In terms of licencing, I'm not going to summarise that conversation because there was a lot to it, but be assured there was plenty of challenge from the room, none of which either representative had anything approaching a reasonable answer for. Quite frankly, the attitude towards licensing had an odour about it.

Looks fine to me...

No, it doesn't unfortunately. It's pretty much as you were with the Juniors having a year to conform to the rules and regulations of the pyramid (including discipline which is to be administered by the SFA, not the SJFA) for all competitions, including the Junior Cup. Presumably at that point we have this same sorry debate again. Reference was made to the LL being asked to amend the playoff rules before 31/12/19 to make provision for the possibility of 2, 3 or 4 teams entering the LL playoff, but the feedback was that, as per Whitehill relegation and that proposed mid season rule change, you can't change the rules mid season. You finish with the rules you start with. So next season, for all intents and purposes, it's as you were if RP is to be believed it would seem. He did also confirm later that the SJFA had been told that the East Region would not be accepted at Teir 6 ever with a split league. Had to be one superleague in the East, not two. Apparently they were told that a while ago.

Got to say Dele, thought it was well written, and agree with all of it.

Thread started by some one whose team are having a good season and therefore has decided that he supports a "a big team" and now fancies laughing at some "wee teams" GTF please.

No idea at the moment mate. He was my fiancés cat to begin with, although I was there when she got him and held him the 30 minute drive home, so have been there from the start. This was a couple of years before we moved in together. Had some bad times and late nights due to the bad times and he was always by my side with it all so I'll find a way to get him the treatment if it does go above the threshold. I owe him that. This is a picture of him in better health...

Poor hound getting his dinner taken off him by Muffy:

And that............................... is why you shouldn't throw coconuts from the back of the stand

Bathroom fun times.