GallowayBlue

Take the Old Firm out of the League Cup.

What happened to everyone saying that teams without a bronze (?) licence couldn't be promoted to League 2 this season? I assume it was an overreaction?

Totally agree, the Lowland League will probably lead me to lose interest eventually. Feels inevitable though, we've been sleep walking to this point. Hopefully the doom merchants like myself are wrong - can't see it though.

I know, but if we're not good enough what can you do. May as well be positive.

I have been saying this for weeks or months. It is bizarre, considering there are plenty of examples of Stranraer managers punted for much less. He's here go stay now I would imagine so may as well get behind him I guess.

Have thought for a while that Stranraer would go down, but after today it would be funny if we pull it off. Unlikely though. Totally unable to cope with that wind in the second half.

I've sort of made peace with us going down after today, feels inevitable and maybe the Lowland League will be an interesting change - minus the B Team shambles - and a chance to reset. However, wouldn't it be great if the manager could galvanise the players and fans for one last push and we pull off the "great escape". Our relegation feels inevitable at some point (probably this year) so why not pull out the stops to postpone it for another year at least. Baffled by the contract extension but we are where we are, maybe there's time for one last adventure in the league. Come on Stranraer.

£40,000 year one then £20,000 year two if the document that Google pulled up is correct.

Thanks for the explainer. If we boil it down, at the moment ~50 people pay £50 per season to be a member. In the new system the club could sell 10000 shares for £10 each, as an example with each shareholder choosing how many to purchase. That would obviously bring in a good bit of cash in the first instance, then every so often the club could release more shares - diluting everyone else's holding? I just wonder who would buy these shares though? For a generous fan that currently wants to make a donation, what would incentivise them to purchase shares instead? A say in the running of the club? I think I get the idea, just trying to understand how it would work in reality for the club.

There was talk of issuing shares back in around 2008 but it didn't go anywhere. If the model changed in an attempt to secure the club's future, what would change? Would it not just be the same members buying shares @EdinburghBlue?

Stranraer fans, to be fair. I think we started fairly well which only boosted confidence, then at a certain point the wheels fell off.

A player who was backup to the backup goalie and only on the bench as a cost cutting measure due to an unexpected departure, if my reading of the situation is correct. Scrap it.

No, it's a total waste of time and probably more about PR in the community - appealing to a group that have no interest in supporting Stranraer anyway. I think they're largely self funding, but the accounts show about £3000 per year spent on the team. If it takes even 0.1% of attention away from our actual team it should be scrapped, in my opinion.

I agree. At the start of the season people were feeling positive, and I think there was even talk of a title challenge. I think the manager should stay until the end of the season, but even if we do battle to survival I think we need a new manager next season.

All hypothetical, but I have often wondered if the WoSFL would be the option the club would try to pursue. The idea of Stranraer FC playing in the SoSFL is unthinkable to me. If that scenario ever did come to pass, the people that said they would support the team if locals played would have to find a new excuse for not supporting them.

With Bonnyrigg Rose changing manager, Stranraer are now the only team in the relegation battle to stick rather than twist. I hope it pays off.

If it is to be Stranraer, it's hard to see how their current model for signing players could be maintained due to geography. Wouldn't be long until they ended up relegated again, never to return from the south, I think.

Not that history matters, but I believe Stranraer have the worst playoff record of any team since they were introduced in 2006. As in, we've appeared in the most playoffs without coming out as the winner.

You seem to be bitter about something, you're not a kit man by any chance? Anyway, I tend to agree with the sentiment. If we played better we wouldn't need to blame referees. Referees make mistakes, just as players do and I think the players and management should look at themselves and the things they can control first.

He won 35% of games, Agnew has won 31% of games. My feeling is that there's either some kind of collective goodwill towards Agnew that means his future has barely been discussed by fans, or there has been a lowering of expectations. I definitely read more comments along the lines of what do you expect with low crowds etc. as previously commented on, but that has pretty much always been the case in the SPFL era and we've never been this far down the table.

I know I'm a broken record but there's something strange about this season. Feels like we're just accepting our fate because fans and those in charge at the club like Scott Agnew (including me). Hammill was sacked for much less, as was Keith Knox, as were various others over the years. Also, I'll say it again, the contract extension for the manager was wild. Better to sleepwalk to relegation and hope for the best, or roll the dice with a new manager and hope for the best? Hard to say now, I guess we'll go with the former. Also, The Lowland League is a dreadful fate, at least for my tastes, if that's where we end up.

We're going to be staying in Cologne for the duration of the group stages and that's obviously a long time in one city. We're thinking about interrail passes to travel about Germany freely on at least a few of the days Scotland aren't playing (day trip, early morning out last train back). Anyone with any thoughts on whether that is a good/bad idea. We could hold off and book trains as we go I guess, but don't mind paying a bit more for Interrail if it's convenient. Will also be travelling to Stuttgart as the only game we have tickets for.

What was going on with the Dumbarton goalkeeper's kicking? Straight out of play under no pressure on several occasions.

Definitely fear that we've been sleepwalking into a bad position, and today confirms that. Then again, maybe we've been approaching this point with our eyes open. Worrying times.

Incidentally, it would be nice to see a club lobbying for better access to the SPFL for teams in the LL and HL. Surely much better to do it now (or at least next season if we survive) rather than to leave it until you're out of the club shouting into the void.