Junior football, what is the future?

[Marten]

Loads of misinformation again. If there are conferences next season (and it looks like it), there will be no tier 7 as all clubs will be tier 6. And "years of uncertainty"? After one season of conferences, all strongest clubs will be together in the WOS Premier. Which (providing most current clubs more) will look very similar to the current West Premiership.

[Inanimate Carbon Rod]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/lanarkshire-junior-football-chiefs-fear-21665812
The usual every paragraph is a sentence from the Record. A weird mention of tier 7, apparently years of uncertainty with WOS conferences despite the fact that the WRJFA don't seem to have a plan to integrate the non-Juniors, and an absurd mention of the SPFL for a club like Bellshill.
And of course if you don't want to be one of the 18 left behind, then simply move over to the WOS...

Lanarkshire junior football chiefs fear 'years of uncertainty' ahead of SJFA and Lowland League 'tier six' crunch talks
Clubs have expressed concerns cover the new direction that the local junior game could be heading in to Lanarkshire Live Sport.
Junior football supremos in Lanarkshire fear they could be plunged into years of uncertainty as a result of the West of Scotland League proposal, a source has revealed.
The future of the non-league game is up in the air ahead of two crunch meetings this week amid talks of a new ‘tier six’.
The Lowland League last week revealed that they had received “51 expressions of interest” from “various grades of football” in their proposals.
Clubs will be told the minimum qualification standards to join the new set-up at a meeting this Thursday.
West Region chiefs will have the chance to outline their case for the future of the junior ranks with a second round of key talks tonight.
Lanarkshire Live Sport understands a tier seven is also set to be put forward and that clubs will need floodlights to earn license to have any chance of moving into the Lowland League and therefore League Two.
A senior source within the Lanarkshire junior sides claims this proposal does not require prior approval by the SFA.
They add that the SFA is understood to have called a ‘partial’ meeting of the Pyramid Working Group this Thursday.
In a statement released to Lanarkshire Live Sport , they said “the majority of clubs will be hedging their bets and considering both proposals very carefully.”
The said: “The current four division West Region structure has been arrived at after many years of competition with the pecking order of clubs well established and the Premiership division recognised as being extremely competitive.
“Depending on what arrangements are proposed by the Lowland League, their proposal could well create several years of uncertainty until a new pecking order is properly established.”
Bellshill club secretary Brian Closs says they have expressed an interest but admitted the SPFL was “a long way off” for the League One outfit.
However, the he fears teams who do not follow the new plan could be forced to go back to the old Lanarkshire Junior Football League format – which collapsed leaving many local sides folding or being merged.
He claims to have spoken to other sides across the area who share their concerns about moving into a new era.
“The danger would be that you get left behind if everyone moves,” he said.
“If there are 51 teams who expressed an interest, say 45 of them are from the current West Region juniors, that is leaving 18 teams behind.
“Do you want to be one of the 18 teams that are left behind? Is it going to be like the old Lanarkshire leagues and then your club becomes defunct after one or two years?
“I think it’s an unfair situation and it’s dragged in for far too long.
“Our old chairman told me there won’t be a junior league in a few years and that seems to be the way it’s heading.”
East Kilbride Thistle secretary Martin Sutherland confirmed that the Jags have “submitted a notice of interest in the new West of Scotland League as proposed by the Lowland League.”
However, he said this did not mean they were in any rush to leave the junior grade as they await to hear what proposals mean for the Jags: “The SJFA West Region also have plans for a new West of Scotland League and there is a meeting for all clubs at Hampden on Tuesday night prior to the Lower League meeting on Thursday.
“Only after hearing both propositions can all clubs be in a position to discuss what direction they wish to take.”
A Shotts Bon Accord spokesperson said “at this moment in time the club has not decided on where we see our future as yet” as the Championship challengers weigh up their future.
They continued: “Once we have had more information from the relevant parties we will be having a meeting with our members and our management team to see where we could be playing.”
They added: “We are already part of an organisation that has a proud history.”
Wishaw Juniors committee member Alex Young said the club had “declared an interest” in both meetings and were still leaving their options open.
He notes that the club have “put their faith” in club secretary Robert Watson to make the decision for the League One strugglers.
However, Airdrie juniors Gartcairn were keen to join the pyramid.
A spokesman for Cairn said it has always been the clubs ambition to join the SPFL pyramid “so we expressed an interest some time ago” with chairman Alex McDowall attending both meetings this week.
Cumbernauld United, Kilsyth Rangers and Blantyre Victoria will be sending a representative to both meetings before the club vote on proposals.
It is also understood that League Two outfit Newmains United have not been involved in any discussions so far.
Rutherglen Glencairn have previously declared their interest in moving into the West of Scotland League.

Its not like the daily record to put out a load of shite, shocked, utterly shocked.

[The_Judge]

"Junior football supremos in Lanarkshire..."

WHO is in overall charge of the Lanarkshire Junior Football Association?

 

[Footballfirst]

I think we can expect further articles from Junior friendly journalists to appear in the media on Wednesday and Thursday seeking to boost the WRJFA position and highlight uncertainties about the LL proposals (when it should be the other way around). 

[LongTimeLurker]

26 minutes ago, Inanimate Carbon Rod said:

Its not like the daily record to put out a load of shite, shocked, utterly shocked.

Overall though it sounds like things are looking good for a mass exodus to the LL's WoS in Lanarkshire. The snippet about the LL plan not needing SFA approval is something that runs counter to the Gordon Ronney narrative.

[GNU_Linux]

From the article the following Lanarkshire clubs aren't accounted for:

Thorniewood United
Forth Wanderers
Cambuslang Rangers
Lanark United
Larkhall Thistle
Lesmahagow
Royal Albert
Carluke Rovers

[Burnie_man]

10 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

I think we can expect further articles from Junior friendly journalists to appear in the media on Wednesday and Thursday seeking to boost the WRJFA position and highlight uncertainties about the LL proposals (when it should be the other way around). 

Get Gordon Parks on the case 

[gaz5]

Get Gordon Parks on the case [emoji23]

Said no person who wanted the actual facts in any situation ever.

[Burnie_man]

7 minutes ago, gaz5 said:

9 minutes ago, Burnie_man said:

Get Gordon Parks on the case 

Said no person who wanted the actual facts in any situation ever.

[archieb]

3 hours ago, Gordon EF said:

This in a nut shell. The junior associations held most of the cards in the past but were too stubborn and demanding to make it work. Whether that sbaotage was intentional or not, who knows. Their position has become weaker and weaker to the point where now they don't have a position of strength but some people still think they should be able to call all the shots and have things exactly how they want it.

The LL/EoSL/SoSL are still prepared to offer a fair shake for any club who wants to take part in the pyramid but that still isn't good enough for some junior folk.

The pyramid is in place, clubs see the advantages of joining. We've witnessed the not so slow death of junior football in the East of Scotland. Any junior clubs who don't think the same thing will happen in the West are kidding themselves on. Some degree of compromise is required. It's fairly clear that the creation of the WoSFL will be led by member decisions, like it has been in the East but they won't be kowtowing to the petulant demands of the so-called bigger clubs.

What "petulant demands" are you referring to exactly?

Most as far as I can see are hedging their bets and waiting to see what comes out of this week's meetings, apart from the very few who've apparently pinned their flags to the mast of the WRSJFA!

[Che Dail]

1 hour ago, Inanimate Carbon Rod said:

Its not like the daily record to put out a load of shite, shocked, utterly shocked.

Whatever next eh, a "real risks" speech and a Juniors version of  "THE VOW' maybe? 

Edited March 10, 2020 by Che Dail

[Marten]

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Ronney can't back up any of his claims that the SFA can somehow force the WRJFA in the pyramid with an AGM vote...

 

[AlanCamelonfan]

5 minutes ago, Marten said:

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Ronney can't back up any of his claims that the SFA can somehow force the WRJFA in the pyramid with an AGM vote...

 

Anyone that believes his nonsense only have themselves too blame when it goes wrong.

[Che Dail]

10 minutes ago, Marten said:

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Ronney can't back up any of his claims that the SFA can somehow force the WRJFA in the pyramid with an AGM vote...

 

But... but.... but... it's 132 year old... NOBODY IS LISTENING!!! 

[Jacksgranda]

2 hours ago, Dev said:

Guessing that the North region Juniors may come into the Pyramid as you say. It would have to be as a new Senior League though.

Do you think so?

[Cameron Wilson]

5 hours ago, AsimButtHitsASix said:

Just so we've got this right. From the very start of the pyramid discussions the SJFA were in the driving seat if they wanted to be. They could have basically shifted their entire league system over. They might have had to make a joint East/West Super Duper League at the top. They might have had to get a few Tayside clubs to move North. They'd have had to find a place in their own system for the SoS, NCL and EoS leagues or amalgamate them in but, by and large, a few (minor) concessions here and there and they would have had the run of all the non-league. They didn't bother and spent a decade ripping the pish out of the leagues that were set up.

The EoS league? Gave up all their best teams. For a while it was nothing but a glorified amateur league dangerously close to single figures. Same for the SoS. They did make sacrifices to get it up and running. The EoS (a member ran league) were also happy to not only allow junior clubs to come in en masse, making their own chances of progression slimmer, they went out of their way to let them come in as complete equals. They could have created an EoS First Division and let the better teams bottleneck and take advantage and never. The SoS, too, has been happy to let clubs come in and make the possibility for progression of their better teams drop. They're supporting a WoS league despite the fact it will see them lose clubs and, let's be honest, increases the chances of them dropping a tier in the future.

Now the EoS and SoS are helping set up a WoS league. They're, again, diluting their members own chances of progression. They're diluting their chances of Scottish Cup runs and prize money. They're bending over backwards to get something in place for teams from the West Coast to have the same opportunities they've been granted and fought for. Of course it's not entirely altruistic and I'm sure Tynecastle and Tweedmouth are enjoying bigger crowds and all the other benefits a greater pool of opposition has created but they've been able to bend and negotiate and make sacrifices and make efforts to improve the game at their level and collectively improve all clubs in their league, even the new Junior refugees, ahead of only caring about themselves.

And now, at the very last minute, some Junior blazers SUDDENLY decide it's time to act, when they've lost all their bargaining power they once had, and are being told that they can't just make demands and expect everyone to acquiesce they're claiming it's bullying?

It's like a bunch of weans deciding to have a game of fitba and one wean wanting to play rugby. That wean spends all their time slagging off everyone else for playing fitba before realising he's got no-one else to play with and demanding to join the fitba game but only on the condition he's still allowed to pick up the ball and run with it.

This this this this this this this and this.

[The1andonly]

It will be really interesting to hear what Mr Ronney has to say and how much of it will be bluster, it is my one sincere hope that the delegates who go tonight put him through the wringer and see through any smoke screen or even veiled threats that he may come up with.I for one hope that the WOSL becomes a reality as there has been no progress on or off the park, seems to many of the blazers are in it for themselves. A thought any of the teams who do move over will they drop the juniors tag and become,  eg Pollock FC, Kilbirnie FC, Auchinleck FC, etc.  

[FairWeatherFan]

1 minute ago, The1andonly said:

It will be really interesting to hear what Mr Ronney has to say and how much of it will be bluster, it is my one sincere hope that the delegates who go tonight put him through the wringer and see through any smoke screen or even veiled threats that he may come up with.I for one hope that the WOSL becomes a reality as there has been no progress on or off the park, seems to many of the blazers are in it for themselves. A thought any of the teams who do move over will they drop the juniors tag and become,  eg Pollock FC, Kilbirnie FC, Auchinleck FC, etc.  

I'm curious to know if TJ ends up in attendance despite the SJFA taking a step back leaving it to the WJFA.

[GNU_Linux]

 

 

 

It will be really interesting to hear what Mr Ronney has to say and how much of it will be bluster, it is my one sincere hope that the delegates who go tonight put him through the wringer and see through any smoke screen or even veiled threats that he may come up with.I for one hope that the WOSL becomes a reality as there has been no progress on or off the park, seems to many of the blazers are in it for themselves. A thought any of the teams who do move over will they drop the juniors tag and become,  eg Pollock FC, Kilbirnie FC, Auchinleck FC, etc.  

 

None of those clubs have juniors as part of their name. The only clubs who use junior in their name are Cumnock, Beith, Neilston, Gartcairn, Wishaw & Greenock.

 

Of the ex-juniors out east Camelon & Tranent kept it as part of their name with Glenrothes choosing to drop it.

 

 

[Guest Moomintroll]

Its not like the daily record to put out a load of shite, shocked, utterly shocked.

Parks' gonna Park.