stanley

They'll be struggling to have more than one division at this rate.

Seven now. 93rd minute goal.

Keith 0 v 0 Brechin at half-time.

Busby gone from the Scottish Premier. Down to 22 teams (and four of them are confirmed as moving to the Caley in 2024/25). Bo'ness United Community gone from the LEAFA. The LEAFA has lost 10+ clubs since last season. Down to just 33 clubs.

What is the general stance from the EoS on accepting reserve sides? I know Stirling Uni are in it but they have been for years and were accepted when numbers were much lower. I'm sure other reserve sides have been rejected since then?

There's a couple of good threads in the amateur football section on here about it. Numbers or teams have gone from 800+ ten years ago to 400+ now. I'm not really best placed to comment on the reasons. Certainly fewer people playing in general but various other factors.

Things are, at least, pretty straightforward in the east. Plenty of spaces in the league if any club wants to join (unlike the closed shop in the west). A regionalised set of amateur leagues below for clubs to apply from (LEAFA, Kingdom of Fife, Borders, Stirlingshire) unlike the west (three Saturday afternoon leagues, Ayrshire league, Saturday morning leagues etc). The only complicated aspect is the Stirlingshire clubs being in various leagues. I would imagine that, over time, the amateur leagues will continue to shrink. Eventually, perhaps the remaining clubs will join up with the seniors. The LEAFA, in particular, has declined massively in numbers in recent years. The Stirlingshire league is clinging on and unlikely to still be around in a few years as it has lost most of its clubs to the west leagues.

Hard to see the S&D still existing in a few years based on current numbers. They even have a Fife club in the league now. So many clubs based in their area now play in the Caley. Merger with the SP seems a bit strange but I guess both leagues are desperate for new clubs.

You'd think they might know the name of the league they are joining.

19 teams left in the league. 5 in the Premier (Castlemilk, Oban Saints, Arthurlie, Harestanes and Neilston). Just seven clubs left in the league from the old Central Scottish. What was a merger with the Scottish AFL is basically turning into a merger with the Caley...

Yes. Also important that they are both guaranteed to finish in the bottom two (as between 0 and 2 will get relegated).

Why the next 2/3 months?

It'll just be the way the tables on the website are set up.

I always prefer more promotions over fewer relegations but I think they'll definitely go for the one less relegation spot option. Otherwise, you'd be looking at 4 or 5 promotion spots from a potentially 10-team league. I think what you've said about the Third Division potentially being nine clubs next season is also likely a factor in their decision. Although it's definitely a slightly unexpected outcome, I think it's a decent idea.

How will they deal with relegation/promotion between the 2nd and 3rd divisions next season? One less relegation spot next year to bring it back to 16 teams for 2025/26?