Celtic and Hearts B Teams in Lowland League?

[BFTD]

27 minutes ago, energyzone said:

It's good that if one of them do win the league then the play off space is not lost to the best-placed legitimate team.

No word if the B teams will continue in the LFL next season though?

Of course they will. How else could these clubs survive without the blue/green (turquoise?) pound?

Very responsible of them to support the lower leagues in this manner, IMO.

Spoiler

j/k

 

[craigkillie]

In the updated Pyramid Playoff they've covered all the bases to ensure that the B teams are excluded.

Any team participating in the SHFL and/or in the SLFL, which is a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’
‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of a Club participating in the SPFL shall
not, under any circumstances, be eligible to receive the title of SHFL Champion and/or
SLFL Champion or any other title related to its position in either of said Leagues or
qualify for or be eligible for participation in the Pyramid Play-Off Competition at the
end of any such Season. In such circumstances, the next best placed club (which is not
a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’ ‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of an SPFL Club) shall
be eligible to participate in the Play-Off Tie, subject to Rules III(f), (g) and (k)

 

Will they be updating the Lowland League play-off rules accordingly to allow the best placed licensed clubs to play in it if there's an unlicensed champion?

Or does that just apply to them?

[LongTimeLurker]

That wording quoted above appears to be exactly what the LL needed. Removing the line of latitude was clearly the quid pro quo in exchange for doing that. Not sure what scenario the post immediately above is referring to given clubs inherently need to be licensed to be able to play at tier 5.

Edited December 22, 2021 by LongTimeLurker

[FairWeatherFan]

26 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

 

Will they be updating the Lowland League play-off rules accordingly to allow the best placed licensed clubs to play in it if there's an unlicensed champion?

Or does that just apply to them?

The Lower Pyramid Playoff has seen an update in the last couple of weeks. I doubt it will include that as it's no longer becoming necessary.

More important changes are hopefully on the way on that front.

Quote

Lowland Working Group
The group met recently where it was felt there was no current requirement for a SLFL 2 and that it was important to discuss with clubs possible further promotion opportunities into the SLFL. The Board noted there could also be a rebranding opportunity should the Leagues agree to work closer together and agreed to add Increased promotion/relegation between Tiers 5 and 6 onto the agenda for the next General Meeting.

 

[Pyramid Watcher]

29 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

 

Will they be updating the Lowland League play-off rules accordingly to allow the best placed licensed clubs to play in it if there's an unlicensed champion?

Or does that just apply to them?

I assume you are referring to the lower pyramid play offs (tier 6)? 

[LongTimeLurker]

I guess you could argue that Rangers B or Celtic B finishing last or second last would have implications for those playoffs as well so maybe George Fraser & co have opened up another can of worms on that front as well because the other three leagues and SFA have to sign off any changes.

Edited December 22, 2021 by LongTimeLurker

[Pyramid Watcher]

21 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:

I guess you could argue that Rangers B or Celtic B finishing last or second last would have implications for those playoffs as well so maybe George Fraser & co have opened up another can of worms on that front as well because the other three leagues and SFA have to sign off any changes.

It could be argued that is covered in the new rules - “SLFL Champion or any other title related to its position in either of said Leagues” 
 

I suppose it’s all down to how you read it right enough.

[Dev]

  Quote

Any team participating in the SHFL and/or in the SLFL, which is a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’
‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of a Club participating in the SPFL shall
not, under any circumstances, be eligible to receive the title of SHFL Champion and/or
SLFL Champion or any other title related to its position in either of said Leagues or
qualify for or be eligible for participation in the Pyramid Play-Off Competition at the
end of any such Season. In such circumstances, the next best placed club (which is not
a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’ ‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of an SPFL Club) shall
be eligible to participate in the Play-Off Tie, subject to Rules III(f), (g) and (k)

 

Does this give an open invitation to "B"/Colt/Reserve teams from SPFL clubs to apply to join the feeder leagues to the LL and the HL? Starting at the bottom of each league and working their way up but being barred from promotion to the SPFL?

It certainly gives a method for dealing with any such teams.

Edinburgh City were rumoured to have wanted to apply to the EoS for this season. Would their reserves be such a bad thing/influence? 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Dev
.

[FairWeatherFan]

10 minutes ago, Dev said:

  Quote

Any team participating in the SHFL and/or in the SLFL, which is a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’
‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of a Club participating in the SPFL shall
not, under any circumstances, be eligible to receive the title of SHFL Champion and/or
SLFL Champion or any other title related to its position in either of said Leagues or
qualify for or be eligible for participation in the Pyramid Play-Off Competition at the
end of any such Season. In such circumstances, the next best placed club (which is not
a ‘Guest’, ‘colt’, ‘B’ ‘second’, ‘reserve’ or like or equivalent team of an SPFL Club) shall
be eligible to participate in the Play-Off Tie, subject to Rules III(f), (g) and (k)

 

Does this give an open invitation to "B"/Colt/Reserve teams from SPFL clubs to apply to join the feeder leagues to the LL and the HL? Starting at the bottom of each league and working their way up but being barred from promotion to the SPFL?

It certainly gives a method for dealing with any such teams.

Edinburgh City were rumoured to have wanted to apply to the EoS for this season. Would their reserves be such a bad thing/influence? 

The Lower Pyramid Playoff bars any team before they can get to the Lowland League. As it did for Stranraer Reserves.

So no, it's not an invitation if you can't get promoted from Tier 6 and now Tier 5.

[DiegoDiego]

Edinburgh City were rumoured to have wanted to apply to the EoS for this season. Would their reserves be such a bad thing/influence?

Yes.

[Dev]

2 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said:

The Lower Pyramid Playoff bars any team before they can get to the Lowland League. As it did for Stranraer Reserves.

So no, it's not an invitation if you can't get promoted from Tier 6 and now Tier 5.

Other significant changes clearly have been made so are there more changes which haven't been spotted yet? Do you know for certain that the bar from Tier 5 to Tier 6 has not been changed? Not talking about how right/wrong or personal views.

[Dev]

1 hour ago, DiegoDiego said:

Yes.

Why would letting in sides from e.g. SPFL2 or 1 be a problem. Not trying to wind up but to get a serious considered discussion.

They would probably only be up-graded Under 20's League sides in any case. Stirling Uni or Edinburgh College don't seem to present any problems in the EoS.

[FairWeatherFan]

18 minutes ago, Dev said:

Other significant changes clearly have been made so are there more changes which haven't been spotted yet? Do you know for certain that the bar from Tier 5 to Tier 6 has not been changed? Not talking about how right/wrong or personal views.

The LL Pyramid Playoff involves the WoSFL, EoSFL, SoSFL, LL, and SFA. If there had been a significant change that meant a bunch of Colts could just pile into the SoSFL and make their way into the LL permanently i'm sure we would have heard about it.

[Bully Wee Villa]

Weren't the Colts teams in the Challenge Cup supposed to be in on a "trial" basis, or have I made that up?

[energyzone]

Weren't the Colts teams in the Challenge Cup supposed to be in on a "trial" basis, or have I made that up?

It was supposed to be for one year only. The fear is that it will continue in perpetuity and the new ruling that they can't be promoted is the trade off.

[DiegoDiego]

Why would letting in sides from e.g. SPFL2 or 1 be a problem. Not trying to wind up but to get a serious considered discussion.
They would probably only be up-graded Under 20's League sides in any case. Stirling Uni or Edinburgh College don't seem to present any problems in the EoS.

Any reserve teams ruin the integrity of a league. There are specific development leagues intended for the purpose which don't make a mockery of the senior leagues. It doesn't matter if its Celtic, Sevco, Albion Rovers or Cowdenbeath.

I'm not a fan of Nairn County or Stranraer reserves in the pyramid but will grudgingly accept them for historical reasons.

[Ranaldo Bairn]

2 hours ago, energyzone said:

2 hours ago, Bully Wee Villa said:

Weren't the Colts teams in the Challenge Cup supposed to be in on a "trial" basis, or have I made that up?

It was supposed to be for one year only. The fear is that it will continue in perpetuity and the new ruling that they can't be promoted is the trade off.

No, it was meant to be for one year only in the LL, not the CC, as BWV was asking.

[Dev]

17 hours ago, DiegoDiego said:

Any reserve teams ruin the integrity of a league. There are specific development leagues intended for the purpose which don't make a mockery of the senior leagues. It doesn't matter if its Celtic, Sevco, Albion Rovers or Cowdenbeath.

I'm not a fan of Nairn County or Stranraer reserves in the pyramid but will grudgingly accept them for historical reasons.

There are already SPFL "Reserves" Divisions and East Kilbride Reserves play there too so the Under 20's Development Leagues don't take the place of the Reserves Leagues.

With Stranraer, Stirling Uni and Nairn County creating no issues in different parts of the country what is it that affects the integrity of the Tier 6 leagues is others wished to join too? It would be really easy to prevent clubs from strengthening "Reserves" for individual matches e.g. cup ties/promotion/relegation/play-off matches. 

[FairWeatherFan]

1 minute ago, Dev said:

There are already SPFL "Reserves" Divisions and East Kilbride Reserves play there too so the Under 20's Development Leagues don't take the place of the Reserves Leagues.

With Stranraer, Stirling Uni and Nairn County creating no issues in different parts of the country what is it that affects the integrity of the Tier 6 leagues is others wished to join too? It would be really easy to prevent clubs from strengthening "Reserves" for individual matches e.g. cup ties/promotion/relegation/play-off matches. 

There's nothing to stop a club trying to enter a reserve side in any of the Non-Professional Game Board leagues, except the individual leagues rejecting applications. Ultimately even accepted they cannot be promoted beyond whatever league they enter.

Nairn County and Stranraer exist as quirks of geography and the limited access to organised reserve/youth leagues. Caledonian Braves and Stirling Uni aren't about development, they're about the business model that those clubs operate under.

If they can't enter the SPFL. Why do you want full time professional football teams playing at non-league level?

[DiegoDiego]

what is it that affects the integrity of the Tier 6 leagues is others wished to join too?

This ground has been covered on here extensively over the last few years. Have a read back through the thread.