Robert James

Yes I agree !!!. You know how much I care about you experts.

The SFA has pulled the "Conference" League proposal, which is good news for the Pyramid.

ICL might attract more students to the university, if it had a senior/winter football outlet. A ground share with Athletic or Ness would provide some finance for pitch/ground maintenance.

TYPO CORRECTION : "for 23/24" NOT for 22/23

SPFL Play-off Final Result Albion Rovers 0 Spartans 1 (1-2 on aggregate) Presumably a straight club swap for 23/24, with no other impact on the Lowland League for 2022/23 ?.

Glasgow Uni for obvious reasons. Also, Clydebank.

An excellent post. And good luck to Linton Hotspur for 2023/24.

Update for the Lurker - Darvel have 55 points with 3 matches to play = max 61 points if they win them all. Talbot have 47 points with 5 matches to play = max 62 points if they win them all. .Beith already have 63 points, so can't be overtaken. Linlithgow Rose will be EoSL champions 2022/23, as they can't be now be overtaken (by Sauchie Juniors or any other EoSL club), and will be promoted to the Lowland League, as they do hold an SFA Licence. Congratulations.

Congratulations to Beith Juniors as 2022/23 champions of the WoSL currently with 63 points so far (with 3 games to play) Which club will be WoSL runners up : Darvel currently with 55 points & 2 games to play. Max points 61 ? or Talbot currently with 47 points & 5 games to play. Max points 62 ? I understand that Beith don't have an SFA licence, so aren't eligible for promotion to the Lowland League. Darvel & Talbot ARE licensed, but won't be champions, so cannot play in the Lowland playoffs.

Will Bonar Bridge continue as an NCL club next season ? I've not heard any rumours about new clubs joining the league for 2023/24, although I thought Dornoch had previously expressed some interest in returning within a few years. Very unlikely for next season IMO.

The EoSL has traditionally had a 31st March closing date for new applicants. On occasions it has published the NUMBER of new applicants, WITHOUT naming them.

Spot on mate ! Also, IF as I suspect, very few of the Highland clubs will be interested in a national Conference, with several "B" teams (eventually), and playing against more SPFL reserve teams. Furthermore, have the HFL clubs been CONSULTED about this 'concept',, which will undermine the purpose (and prestige) of the of Pyramid. I doubt if they've been formally asked for their views. .

The Scottish pyramid doesn't need an additional tier/conference, but the Celtic/Rangers issue isn't going to go away, IMO, the solution is to extend SPFL League Two, from 10 to 18 clubs, with immediate effect, by PROMOTING the top 4 Lowland & Highland league clubs, based on their position at the end of this season. By introducing a 34 match format season, where the bottom League Two club next season (ie no need to relegate club 42 this season), would be automatically replaced by the HFL / SLL play-off winners. And YES Celtic B and Rangers B, would be promoted on merit (this season). Also, League Two clubs would only play each other ONCE per season. The integrity of the pyramid would be retained, and Hearts B would not be promoted on merit, and it would be in the power of the Lowland & Highland Leagues, to decide whether or not they would accept future SPFL B teams into membership. I am however aware that the above 'solution' would be lost in the current (typical) Scottish football quagmire !!

Congratulations to Loch Ness - NCL champions for the 1st time

Syngenta won't be missed by many/most fans., including me. Record expunged.

Need an update regarding new 2023 licensed applicants. Syngenta's situation ?

The SFA's leaked proposals are a disgrace !

Very positive progress. Best wishes for your SFA licence application. Talbot are the stronger club, but with so many games still to play, they will need to keep players fit/keen playing +2 games every week. Any body like to guess what the attendances for the two Beith v Talbot games will attract ?

As far as I am aware, Beith are nowhere near obtaining an SFA licence, which is a pity, as they are arguably favourites to be crowned WoSL champions. Darvel's consistency has slipped, and Talbot have too many fixtures to fulfill. As potential champions, Beith are not licensed, so they cannot enter the Lowland promotion play-offs at the end of this season. Top 6 :- BEITH 21 -48 DARVEL 20 - 41 POLLOK 22 - 38 MEADOW 20 - 32 TALBOT 14 - 30 CLYDEBANK 17 - 30 Disappointing for the WoSL, if it is not represented in the Pyramid play-off,

Highland League Brechin City may be the first club to win back a place in SPFL Tier 4 ? Bonnyrigg Rose may be the first pyramid champions to be relegated back to Tier 5 (from the SPFL) ?.

Tranent Juniors and Tranent Colts have announced that they will be merging as Tranent FC. A very progressive development.

A fair point. However Skye could follow Lewis & Harris, and enter a representative team in one of the NCA/NCL cups. Even Shetland did this for a couple of years prior to the pandemic.

I agree. The real problem in the pyramid is the relegation/promotion between SPFL League 2 and Tier 5 (HFL/LL). There should be one AUTOMATIC promotion place for the winners of the Highland/Lowland play-off, replacing the bottom SPFL club, which would be relegated to the HFL or LL. In addition, the HFL/LL play-off losers should then have a play-off against the club which has finished bottom but one in League 2. The advantages are : (1) it would open-up the promotion chances for ambitious pyramid clubs (2) it would mirror the promotion/relegation system currently used throughout the SPFL (3) it should give relegated SPFL clubs a better chance of returning to the SPFL (4) it should encourage the top pyramid leagues to review the promotion and relegation between tiers 5 & 6. The above could be introduced in TWO stages (over 2 or 3 seasons), which might be more palatable for SPFL clubs.

Congratulations to Fort about it (re)launching a Reserve team for 2023/24 ? Orkney Fc has successfully retained its' membership of North Caledonian League, despite its' geographical location and associated difficulties. Surely the Isle of Skye could do likewise, as the west Highlands and Islands region, would benefit from a 2nd pyramid club ? It would offer an opportunity for young footballers to gain experience of pyramid football. Are there any other rumours/news about potential new clubs/teams, in this region ?