Voice of Reason

Thank you all for your kind words. The home baking will continue so please visit when you can. I hope the EoS experience will be more enjoyable for the players and will give them the chance to compete and enjoy their football. We will miss the many friends we have made in the SLFL. Our support for the 'B' teams was marginal but was ultimately decided because we asked our players and they told us that the chance to play against full-time professionals who may be the stars of tomorrow was important to them in their footballing journey. We understand those who hold a different opinion on a difficult matter but hope you will respect the reason for our decision. Thanks for the memories and best wishes to whoever replaces us and to the SLFL Champions in the playoffs.

Yes - there was a period when we wanted to play you every week and we appreciated your generosity, for which carrot cake was a small measure of our gratitude. Best wishes against Buckie and thank you for your kind words.

It has been a privilege to be able to compete in the Lowland League and support its development. As the SLFL has become more competitive we have realised it was more a matter of when, rather than if, we were relegated. The University could have done a lot more to give the team a chance to survive in the Lowland League using the model adopted by the University of Stirling and others but playing in the professional game was not their priority. Our 150th anniversary as members of the SFA is just round the corner and we look forward to meeting new and old friends in the EoSFL. Many thanks to Sean and the new management team for a positive approach to a difficult challenge.

Edinburgh University always has problems with player turnover. The player pool for next season will not be known until September but it is cyclical. The last two years have been tough for the Uni so perhaps we can expect better next year. Survival in the EoS should be a realistic target.

The uncertainty also adds spice. We know EK will be the SLFL representatives but the unknowns are with the SHFL and SPFL. My bet at the moment is that will be Buckie Thistle and Stranraer. Exciting!

The University may just have pressed the 'self destruct' button. Well outplayed in the first half they went in 0-3 down at half time but then made a bright start to the second half with the advantage of the wind tunnel at Broadwood. Having got a goal back and created several good chances, they conceded a penalty when the keeper was adjudged to have brought down a Colts player bearing down on goal. Opinions were divided on the merit of the award but at least the keeper avoided a red card - temporarily. As soon as the goal was scored the keeper was shown a straight red - presumably for giving the referee some advice. So, the Uni go into the vital head-to-head relegation decider with Gretna on the same points but with a slightly worse goal difference - and minus their first choice goalkeeper.

A potentially valuable point for Edinburgh University today in a game which they could so easily have won. Their cause was not helped by going down to ten men half way through the first half but they then became the dominant team and took the lead early in the second half. As so often happens, Broomhill also went down to ten men and scored the equaliser. A tense, edgy game rather than a thing of beauty but gives the Uni just a chance to finish second bottom. However, as has been stated elsewhere, that might not be enough.

You are right - applications would be invited. Logically, it would be the highest-placed licence club in Tier 6, but that is up to the SLFL members. Here is the relevant rule: Admission by Application B5: If the number of clubs for the forthcoming season is less than sixteen having taken account of promotion and relegation as described in rules B3 and B4 above, applications for membership will be invited. Applications must be advertised and received in accordance with procedures established by the Board at the time of identification that there may be a vacancy to be filled by admission. Applications will be considered by the member clubs, whose decision regarding admission is absolute and final."

No. And that was the purpose of the rule. There is always one team promoted (assuming there is an eligible Tier 6 champion) and depending on what happens at the top of the league, 0 1 or 2 teams are relegated.

The important thing is that a Tier 6 promotion place is always protected, irrespective of how many clubs are relegated.

A win for East Stirlingshire would ensure that Edinburgh University end up in one of the bottom two positions. Whether or not they are relegated will depend on the final positions (Gretna 2008 and Edinburgh University still have to play each other) and whether there are two, one or zero teams relegated.

I agree that it was a strange game. I thought the University rode their luck a fair bit in the first half but managed to frustrate Linlithgow and go in 1-0 in front at half time. Linlithgow certainly upped their game in the second half and rightly became dominant. Probably the University succumbed to their 'losing mentality' but don't take anything away from a good Linlithgow performance. Thanks, also, to the Linlithgow fans for a good atttendance on a dreich day.

Good point. Would it make a difference if any 'parachute payments' also involved the receiving league(s)?

That would be a very interesting (but separate) post.

Thank you for your opinion. There are lots of posts about the need to enhance promotion and relegation but no suggestions about how we can make this happen. My suggestion has weaknesses but at least in the case of promotion and relegation from the SPFL the "parachute payment" helped bring change. Please be assured that by inviting a discussion I was not being disrespectful. Look forward to other suggestions for positive change.

Gretna 2008 and Edinburgh University are now detached from the rest of the league. Should the SLFL invest some of the funds they have received from the 'B' teams to give a parachute payment to both clubs to resign?

Or a new Tier 5 league covering the "Midlands"?

This thread has been unusual in that it has generally been a constructive and respectful expression of differing positions. Ultimately, clubs need to justify league membership on the basis of financial fair play, commitment to club licensing and on-field performance. The clubs rather patronisingly referred to as "rubbish" will find their own level but it was their hard work and commitment that means there is a Lowland League and a pyramid system for clubs like Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh City, Kelty, Spartans and Cove to also have the opportunity to find their own (higher) level.

I presume there would be a knock-on effect of increased relegation in the EoS and that the EoS accept that. Or would the EoS Premier expand?

That's a fair point and you can have some sympathy for clubs invested and committed to the LL when others didn't on the basis that the LL would not survive. However, the aim must be more promotion. Increased relegation is one solution but brings problems to the leagues receiving relegated clubs. Expansion of the LL is an alternative and I understand that the current LL Chairman promoted this.

Two. It looks like this would be one to the East and one to the South but can you imagine if relegation is increased and three are relegated to the East of Scotland Premier? Not sure how they would cope because it could have a big impact on promotion and relegation throughout the East of Scotland.

That is a good analysis of the situation. As things stand, Edinburgh University are probably performing at around tier 6/7 level. University of Stirling and Heriot-Watt university have different funding models and I can see Stirling competing at Tier 5 and Heriot-Watt aspiring to Tier 6. I tried to get evidence from the Edinburgh University page promoting performance sports but get a message - "this page does not exist". Sad, but probably a good reflection of the current mood.

Think about kids that are promising athletes and academically talented. Universities used to be able to offer opportunities to excel in both areas. Now they have to choose between studying or being a professional sportsman. What is wrong with trying to give them the opportunity to play at a professional level within the University? I think that is something worth trying to preserve (but we need to results on the park).

They are having the experience of matching themselves against full-time professionals some of whom may progress to become international players. Of course, results are important and University teams have progressed in the professional game in other countries but it is becoming increasingly difficult to retain Lowland League status as other clubs become stronger and Edinburgh University's support for the ream remains underwhelming.

The midweek result for Gretna 2008 against Celtic midweek gave Edinburgh University some home and it was a relatively equal game overall. Having said that, the difference between professional players and students was obvious. It will have been a good learning experience for the University players but they need to start picking up points urgently if they have any hope of remaining in the Lowland League. The coaches, players and committee at the Uni are doing their best but they need the Sports Union to equal their commitment.