perthmo

Jeanfield were preparing to sub him after 20 minutes of his only appearance. Then their other centre half got sent off, covering for a mistake by Turner, so he stayed on. After about 50 mins they decided they would be better with no central defenders and hooked him anyway.

Clydebank was an afternoon game. I was at the Alloa game and know of others who went to both games that day.

Alloa v Cowdenbeath on Christmas Day 1976, a Division 2 fixture, kicked off at 11am.

The SPFL made a draw in 2021/2 between the 2nd placed teams in the Lowland and Highland Leagues. East Kilbride were successful. Buckie Thistle (2nd in Highland league) were invited in for 2022/3 without a draw. Assumption was that the extra place would alternate although I doubt if that was ever cast in stone.

Have a look at articles 62.1 and 62.2 (o). They could be interpreted as giving the SFA Board carte blanche to do what they like.

Going for a Desmond (White)

Certainly not in my lifetime. In fact, I suspect I might outlive Cowdenbeath FC.

If Cowden want to go into the Conference then their best chance would have been now when entry would be by application. They surely have little chance of qualifying for it on playing position next season, if it goes ahead for 2024/5. Hopefully it doesn't go ahead at all. But if it does it will probably leave Cowden 2 promotions away from getting back to the SPFL.

Aberdeen did make a move to join the Lowland League in 2020, at the same time as Rangers and Celtic, but were not given any encouragement then.

Looking forward, Rossvale (the breakway version) need to find a new name / identity for next season. It might make sense for them to merge with Broomhill, continue to play at Petershill Park, and find themselves promoted to the Lowland League. It would certainly move Broomhill back to a location nearer their "roots". Mr Fraser could even justify changing their name to RFC Broomhill.

I was at the Rosyth v St Andrews game last midweek. Chris Aikhamenze on the bench for Rosyth. Came on in second half and looked disinterested and out of his depth.

Will Camelon have enough signed players who are not cup-tied to fulfil their King Cup fixture against St Andrews on March 11? Camelon actually beat Syngenta in the last round - presumably many of the current Camelon team played for Syngenta that day. No trialists allowed in the Cups.

Also at Broadwood last night - a thoroughly dispiriting experience from a Cowden perspective. I thought Broomhill were streets ahead of Cowden. Yes, there were 3 good chances for Cowden to score but all were wasted. The last one when Slaven was clean through, had a clear shooting chance, allowed the defender to catch him, then went down looking for a penalty, was very poor. The goals conceded were too easy for Broomhill - the third especially so coming through desperately poor skill when trying to play the ball out from the back. Cowden fail at some of the basics - throw-ins, passing and tracking opposition players. Maurice Ross sat down after the second goal and never got up again. Before the game he spent more time talking to and back-slapping Broomhill players than he did with his own team. This is the third Cowden team he has had. The first, which to be fair wasn't entirely his, got relegated. The second team that started the season was flung together but according to Ross was full of hungry young players eager to progress in the game. Last night's starting line-up has just 3 players who were in the team on the opening day of this season. They are better than the July squad but not much. It just doesn't seem to be working with Ross at the helm.

Cove's a lot better now with the grandstands behind the goals.

The lengthy article on the club's finances in the programme last night makes depressing reading. Any business in Cowdenbeath's position needs to aim to reduce costs and increase income. Yet the article indicates that energy costs are rising and ground rental may also rise considerably. The club are also tied into an agreement where they pay ALL the utility costs for Central Park, not just those associated with the football club. Meanwhile income from the SPFL (parachute payment and League Cup money) will drop significantly next season and disappear completely the following year. These costs and income are basically outwith the control of the club. To compensate they presumably have to reduce their costs in terms of wages while trying to increase their income in a league where matches are unattractive both to spectators and potential sponsors. And all that in a stadium where fingers, toes and everything else are crossed in the hope that no major repairs are needed. And at a time when people are struggling for money to pay their own bills let alone help out others. As a season ticket holder I got an e-mail this week asking me to contribute £10 to enter a World Cup sweep. I thought about it but decided to spend a tenner extra in Tesco on food to donate to a foodbank. That's the sort of choice people are having to make in 2020s Scotland.. it's a worrying situation. The club cannot keep going to the same hard-core of people again and again asking them to contribute more and more. The reality is that prize money from the SPFL was essential for the club's finances. Yet with the current team and future financial projections there is no realistic prospect of ever returning to that level Yes, results have improved, but that cannot conceal that an existential crisis is looming. Or am I being overly pessimistic?