RabidAl Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 In a way, it'd be in the interests of Lowland League member clubs to establish a West feeder since the junior clubs coming through would make LL members more money through the increased sponsorship that a league with bigger clubs would attract and through the increased gate receipts from larger travelling supports. Also, the stronger the Lowland League becomes, the more likely the SPFL 42 are to vote for increased promotion/relegation between the LL and SPFL. Clearly there is the threat that junior/ex-junior clubs coming through would displace current LL member clubs, but this may take a couple of decades given current lack of promotion/relegation to/from the LL - and there is plenty of money to be made from a stronger league and to be invested in building their clubs in the mean time. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inanimate Carbon Rod Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 In a way, it'd be in the interests of Lowland League member clubs to establish a West feeder since the junior clubs coming through would make LL members more money through the increased sponsorship that a league with bigger clubs would attract and through the increased gate receipts from larger travelling supports. Also, the stronger the Lowland League becomes, the more likely the SPFL 42 are to vote for increased promotion/relegation between the LL and SPFL. Clearly there is the threat that junior/ex-junior clubs coming through would displace current LL member clubs, but this may take a couple of decades given current lack of promotion/relegation to/from the LL - and there is plenty of money to be made from a stronger league and to be invested in building their clubs in the mean time. One automatic relegation and two league play off into the Lowland league and out of it is no where near suitable for a 16 team league. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluenortherner Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 Population of some towns and villages make things harder for small clubs to climb the pyramid without serous investment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 36 minutes ago, Bluenortherner said: Population of some towns and villages make things harder for small clubs to climb the pyramid without serous investment. But there are small clubs from small towns at a high level - there is no incentive to invest in a Junior side as there is no prospect of the investment being recouped because of the almost total lack of prize money (without qualification for the Scottish Cup). Who knows who is out there and would be willing to put money into a side but can see zero point doing it at Junior level? Why? Because it's a complete lottery whether or not anything other than the result will make national press. People can mock Brechin, Alloa, Dumbarton etc but these are clubs with much higher profile than any Junior team, with much bigger budgets and with better long-term prospects. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShahktarYerMaw Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 But there are small clubs from small towns at a high level - there is no incentive to invest in a Junior side as there is no prospect of the investment being recouped because of the almost total lack of prize money (without qualification for the Scottish Cup). Who knows who is out there and would be willing to put money into a side but can see zero point doing it at Junior level? Why? Because it's a complete lottery whether or not anything other than the result will make national press. People can mock Brechin, Alloa, Dumbarton etc but these are clubs with much higher profile than any Junior team, with much bigger budgets and with better long-term prospects. Back of the net! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 On 22/01/2018 at 23:26, archieb said: This AND a new thread too! Someone's a bit too desperate for attention I'd say! Possibly Clydebank ? Any news on their Members ballot ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrman2011 Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Junior clubs have to wake up and smell the coffee Kelty Hearts did and they have improved as a club 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason King Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 16 minutes ago, mrman2011 said: Junior clubs have to wake up and smell the coffee Kelty Hearts did and they have improved as a club Your trolling has failed in the Colts thread, it wont be welcome here either. Jog on old bean. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 Berwick Rangers issued a press release this week on their website seeking ‘constructive comments’ on the proposal to introduce Old Firm Colts teams into SPFL2: http://www.berwickrangers.com/club-address-colt-teams-proposal/ The idea is to make it a 12 team league playing each other 3 times a season – it looks like this will happen. But why not expand it to 16 teams playing each other twice? This would be possible by introducing the top 2 LL and HL clubs into the league structure. In Tier 5 there would be a place for Kelty and LTHV (license pending) and if allowances can be made for Rangers and Celtic, it should be possible to elevate Linlithgow Rose straight into the Lowland League seeing as they are already licensed. Banks O’ Dee would have a place in the HL at the expense of Fort William who would drop to the newly formed West of Scotland League – joined by a host of clubs touted by others as possible ‘pyramiders’. There should be greater flow of promotion and relegation between the leagues, and all clubs in Tier 6 should be encouraged to achieve Entry Level SFA License. The three regions could be expanded to create additional tiers divisions depending on numbers. Please see graphic attached below: Scottish Lower League Pyramid T4-6.pdf 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCamelonfan Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 1 minute ago, Che Dail said: Berwick Rangers issued a press release this week on their website seeking ‘constructive comments’ on the proposal to introduce Old Firm Colts teams into SPFL2: http://www.berwickrangers.com/club-address-colt-teams-proposal/ The idea is to make it a 12 team league playing each other 3 times a season – it looks like this will happen. But why not expand it to 16 teams playing each other twice? This would be possible by introducing the top 2 LL and HL clubs into the league structure. In Tier 5 there would be a place for Kelty and LTHV (license pending) and if allowances can be made for Rangers and Celtic, it should be possible to elevate Linlithgow Rose straight into the Lowland League seeing as they are already licensed. Banks O’ Dee would have a place in the HL at the expense of Fort William who would drop to the newly formed West of Scotland League – joined by a host of clubs touted by others as possible ‘pyramiders’. There should be greater flow of promotion and relegation between the leagues, and all clubs in Tier 6 should be encouraged to achieve Entry Level SFA License. The three regions could be expanded to create additional tiers divisions depending on numbers. Please see graphic attached below: Scottish Lower League Pyramid T4-6.pdf Stenhousemuir have done the same aswell 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillonearth Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 7 minutes ago, Che Dail said: Berwick Rangers issued a press release this week on their website seeking ‘constructive comments’ on the proposal to introduce Old Firm Colts teams into SPFL2: http://www.berwickrangers.com/club-address-colt-teams-proposal/ The idea is to make it a 12 team league playing each other 3 times a season – it looks like this will happen. But why not expand it to 16 teams playing each other twice? This would be possible by introducing the top 2 LL and HL clubs into the league structure. In Tier 5 there would be a place for Kelty and LTHV (license pending) and if allowances can be made for Rangers and Celtic, it should be possible to elevate Linlithgow Rose straight into the Lowland League seeing as they are already licensed. Banks O’ Dee would have a place in the HL at the expense of Fort William who would drop to the newly formed West of Scotland League – joined by a host of clubs touted by others as possible ‘pyramiders’. There should be greater flow of promotion and relegation between the leagues, and all clubs in Tier 6 should be encouraged to achieve Entry Level SFA License. The three regions could be expanded to create additional tiers divisions depending on numbers. Please see graphic attached below: Scottish Lower League Pyramid T4-6.pdf Few minor points from that: Logically Fort William are destined for one of the North leagues in the event of relegation opening up from the SHFL rather than any putative West League surely? Glasgow Uni appear to have little to no interest in doing anything more than using their current grandfather rights to enter the Scottish Cup. Threave have already had their fingers burned by two or three seasons of LL and chose to go back SoS - they're unlikely to want to jump back into the frying pan of a league they singularly failed to compete in. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Hillonearth said: Few minor points from that: Logically Fort William are destined for one of the North leagues in the event of relegation opening up from the SHFL rather than any putative West League surely? Glasgow Uni appear to have little to no interest in doing anything more than using their current grandfather rights to enter the Scottish Cup. Threave have already had their fingers burned by two or three seasons of LL and chose to go back SoS - they're unlikely to want to jump back into the frying pan of a league they singularly failed to compete in. Thanks... The Fort William idea came after looking at the wee map on the league website with club locations pinned: www.highlandfootballleague.com They're well out the way of everybody else. To Glasgow is 2hrs 30 compared to Aberdeen which is 3hrs 30 and Wick 4Hrs. Inverness is closest and it's still nearly 2hrs travel time. Glasgow Uni might be interested in WoS... I wonder if the question has been asked. Threave seem to be going well this season - maybe that's more a sign of the SoS standard (although Edusport are doing ok), or perhaps they weren't prepared for LL previously. Edited January 25, 2018 by Che Dail 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goalie Hamish Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 After a wee break I see Weegieboy still hasn't started his post extolling the positives of Junior fitba remaining on it's own island 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted January 25, 2018 Share Posted January 25, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Che Dail said: Thanks... The Fort William idea came after looking at the wee map on the league website with club locations pinned: www.highlandfootballleague.com They're well out the way of everybody else. To Glasgow is 2hrs 30 compared to Aberdeen which is 3hrs 30 and Wick 4Hrs. Inverness is closest and it's still nearly 2hrs travel time. Glasgow Uni might be interested in WoS... I wonder if the question has been asked. Threave seem to be going well this season - maybe that's more a sign of the SoS standard (although Edusport are doing ok), or perhaps they weren't prepared for LL previously. It's a funny old place, the rural far west coast. One team in the pyramid (the Fort), a handful of others (Tarbert, Campbeltown Pupils, Lochgilphead Red Star, Oban Saints, South Lochaber Thistle) playing amateur in the Glasgow area and anything beyond that is the summer leagues. The SPFL's own cut-off for the Highland/Lowland split would see Fort where they are, just. I would guess the main issue they'd have playing in a West set-up would be quality player recruitment - a fair number of Inverness-based players might be deterred. Then again, they might be able to recruit more from Argyll than they presently do if the travel times were more agreeable. Some really decent players in this area. Edited January 25, 2018 by cmontheloknow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidAl Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 19 hours ago, Che Dail said: Scottish Lower League Pyramid T4-6.pdf I see your North League 1, 2 & 3 (from the pdf) being the current North Caley, junior North East and junior North West first divisions. But i'd have all 3 of them at tier 7 and feeding into the current North Superleague (at tier 6), which itself would feed into the the current Highland League. I'd have the Highland League and the North Superleague/Highland League 2 as 16-team divisions, with Fort William likely to be in the HL2 initially and, if poor enough, relegated into the equivalent of the current junior North West first division. ----- This is a bit random, but it seems it is still possible for a club to skip the SoSFL and EoSFL to be accepted directly into the Lowland League. Seemingly, if a club is promoted to the SPFL from the LL and no club is relegated to the LL from the SPFL, the LL place that becomes available is open to applicants. So, in theory, a licenced junior club such as Linlithgow could still skip tier 6 if LL members voted them in. But that doesn't appear likely this season due to the teams at the bottom of the SPFL all being lowlanders. (I was trawling through the LL constitution; it also says the LL won't go above 16 teams: http://slfl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Scottish-Lowland-Football-League-Rules-Version-8.pdf) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShahktarYerMaw Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Join the queue Linlithgow 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
santheman Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 7 hours ago, RabidAl said: I see your North League 1, 2 & 3 (from the pdf) being the current North Caley, junior North East and junior North West first divisions. But i'd have all 3 of them at tier 7 and feeding into the current North Superleague (at tier 6), which itself would feed into the the current Highland League. I'd have the Highland League and the North Superleague/Highland League 2 as 16-team divisions, with Fort William likely to be in the HL2 initially and, if poor enough, relegated into the equivalent of the current junior North West first division. ----- This is a bit random, but it seems it is still possible for a club to skip the SoSFL and EoSFL to be accepted directly into the Lowland League. Seemingly, if a club is promoted to the SPFL from the LL and no club is relegated to the LL from the SPFL, the LL place that becomes available is open to applicants. So, in theory, a licenced junior club such as Linlithgow could still skip tier 6 if LL members voted them in. But that doesn't appear likely this season due to the teams at the bottom of the SPFL all being lowlanders. (I was trawling through the LL constitution; it also says the LL won't go above 16 teams: http://slfl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Scottish-Lowland-Football-League-Rules-Version-8.pdf) Does that mean that if I take the High road and you take the Low road I'll be in the Pyramid afore ye 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goalie Hamish Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 7 hours ago, RabidAl said: I see your North League 1, 2 & 3 (from the pdf) being the current North Caley, junior North East and junior North West first divisions. But i'd have all 3 of them at tier 7 and feeding into the current North Superleague (at tier 6), which itself would feed into the the current Highland League. I'd have the Highland League and the North Superleague/Highland League 2 as 16-team divisions, with Fort William likely to be in the HL2 initially and, if poor enough, relegated into the equivalent of the current junior North West first division. ----- This is a bit random, but it seems it is still possible for a club to skip the SoSFL and EoSFL to be accepted directly into the Lowland League. Seemingly, if a club is promoted to the SPFL from the LL and no club is relegated to the LL from the SPFL, the LL place that becomes available is open to applicants. So, in theory, a licenced junior club such as Linlithgow could still skip tier 6 if LL members voted them in. But that doesn't appear likely this season due to the teams at the bottom of the SPFL all being lowlanders. (I was trawling through the LL constitution; it also says the LL won't go above 16 teams: http://slfl.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Scottish-Lowland-Football-League-Rules-Version-8.pdf) Am I right in saying the East of Scotland League will go to 18 teams? sure I read it somewhere 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Che Dail Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 45 minutes ago, Goalie Hamish said: Am I right in saying the East of Scotland League will go to 18 teams? sure I read it somewhere The Highland League is 18 so why not? More than 18 and it would most likely be 2 leagues. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goalie Hamish Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 1 hour ago, Che Dail said: The Highland League is 18 so why not? More than 18 and it would most likely be 2 leagues. Still plenty space then for Junior refugees 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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