LongTimeLurker Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) The LL is not at all likely to vote for a second automatic relegation slot as currently constituted. An LL 2 division was the pet project of their new chairman and is the only thing the turkeys are likely to vote for right now. Edited November 24, 2021 by LongTimeLurker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginaro Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 On 21/11/2021 at 16:08, Inanimate Carbon Rod said: Also you want to talk about clubs being in the Lowland League on merit? That argument is completely destroyed with the gruesome twosomes under 17’s teams being in the league after paying a bung and promising that they’ll maybe consider bringing 20 fans to away games if youre really good boys. As much as it pains me to say, consider Talbot and Pollok, they’re worth far more to the LL than Rangers walking football under 14’s or whatever they are with the away crowds and actual value they bring. The fact that the LL has sold out the pyramid in the south to everyone’s disadvantage for a few magic beans and a laughable promise that, maybe just maybe someone will want to watch Caledonia Braves french students vs Celtic’s fifteenth choice goalkeeper and a bunch of young players they bought from a Dutch 3rd division team because they are vaguely related to Clarence Seedorf on BBC Alba +1.5hrs is a disgrace and a clear indication that they aren’t fit to lead. While it's fine to not like the B teams, it is worth basing your rants in reality. The visits of Rangers and to a lesser extent Celtic have been the biggest home gates for each club (apart from Bo'ness on the groundhop and Spartans). As for the pyramid - the main thing that needs to change for next season is automatic promotion for the EOS and WOS winners (plus removal of the B teams of course). Though it would cause a complication if Gretna and Dalbeattie get relegated, the SOS needs to drop down to a more appropriate level with a play-off to get into WOS tier 6 or 7. This can all be done at the AGM if nine LL clubs want it to happen and the SOS accept the reality of their situation. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inanimate Carbon Rod Posted November 25, 2021 Author Share Posted November 25, 2021 2 hours ago, Ginaro said: While it's fine to not like the B teams, it is worth basing your rants in reality. The visits of Rangers and to a lesser extent Celtic have been the biggest home gates for each club (apart from Bo'ness on the groundhop and Spartans). As for the pyramid - the main thing that needs to change for next season is automatic promotion for the EOS and WOS winners (plus removal of the B teams of course). Though it would cause a complication if Gretna and Dalbeattie get relegated, the SOS needs to drop down to a more appropriate level with a play-off to get into WOS tier 6 or 7. This can all be done at the AGM if nine LL clubs want it to happen and the SOS accept the reality of their situation. Forgive me for being flippant with the 20 people, however Bankies/lok/Talbot and a good few others carry travelling supports in excess of 200 so theres absolutely nothing extra added to the league that real teams couldnt add. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Maybe the LL could increase the number of clubs in time for next season from 16 to 18. There could still be the promotion/relegation as currently but the league could increase by two by inviting applications for the two additional spaces. That would mean that any clubs could apply, including a club in a relegation place, but two extra clubs could be brought in by bringing the league up to the same size as the HL. Surely even the SFA wouldn't be able to kick up a fuss about that? or would they? I'd give the two places to the losing play-off finalist and to the runner-up in the WoS - assuming a SoS club didn't up-set the apple cart and make the final. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Davy Boy Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 On 25/11/2021 at 10:29, Dev said: ...the league could increase by two by inviting applications for the two additional spaces. Thats why we're where we are - the lowland league was invite and not merit 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 59 minutes ago, Big Davy Boy said: Thats why we're where we are - the lowland league was invite and not merit Well this time the clubs wouldn't be sitting on their hands and not applying. You have to take part in the game or else you cannot win or change the rules etc. Opting out again? No! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillonearth Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 54 minutes ago, Big Davy Boy said: Thats why we're where we are - the lowland league was invite and not merit It wasn't. There were a few nailed-on teams to start it due to their already being licensed - four or five from memory; Spartans and so on - but the majority of the initial teams who formed it were by application. There are a few reasons why none of the former junior big-hitters applied...first and foremost, at the time it appeared they had more to lose by jumping ship whereas a start-up team or a club languishing in the EOSL which was at a pretty low ebb at the time at the time perceived there was very little to lose by throwing their hat in the ring. Add in the fact that a lot of junior committees tend to be older, more risk-averse and suspicious of change, and the fact that there was an element of misdirection coming from the powers that were at the time who had attended the various meetings, and I reckon that covers why for the most part. I totally agree that the way it evolved was a bit of a mess and that a lot of teams ended up in the LL that almost certainly should never have been there, but you snooze, you lose, and unfortunately a lot of the bigger non-league sides didn't twig to the fact it was happening anyway whether they showed interest or not 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 17 minutes ago, Hillonearth said: It wasn't. There were a few nailed-on teams to start it due to their already being licensed - four or five from memory; Spartans and so on - but the majority of the initial teams who formed it were by application. Just the 3. Spartans, Threave Rovers, and Preston Athletic. It was an unknown scramble over who would take up the 7-13 other spots. In the end they barely scraped another 9 clubs together for that first season. 17 minutes ago, Hillonearth said: the EOSL which was at a pretty low ebb at the time at the time perceived there was very little to lose by throwing their hat in the ring. For an SFA member of the EoSFL they had the reverse problem of the Junior scene. They kind of had to apply to the Lowland League as the EoSFL was going to be gutted leaving it in an unknown position. The EoSFL went from a fairly stable two division set up of 12-14 with one reserve side to 10-10 with 4 reserve sides propping it up. They would go on to lose another couple of clubs to the LL, another couple folded, and Easthouses & Craigroyston would go Junior. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benidorm Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Be interesting to me if the "bigger" SOS teams like Dalbeattie and Gretna would rather play in an amateur league like the SOS or compete with similar resourced teams at the bottom end of the WOS. If they'll even get that chance. The WOS going to lose 10 plus teams over the next decade or two to higher levels of the pyramid anyway so they wouldn't always be competing with Talbot etc. Would like to think as the West weakens the SOS is absorbed or goes off separately as unaffiliated amateur and those who want something beyond that in that setup decide to play in the WOS. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 (edited) On 27/11/2021 at 20:18, Benidorm said: ...or goes off separately as unaffiliated amateur and those who want something beyond that in that setup decide to play in the WOS. Probably what should happen but licensed clubs like Wigtown would probably want to stay in the SoS and would be at risk of losing their Scottish Cup entry if they stepped outside the pyramid in progression terms. Think it's something we are just going to have to learn to live with. The three way playoff into the LL could easily be adjusted so that two out of three get promoted. Not ideal but at least 9 times out of 10 that would almost certainly be the EoS and WoS champion. Edited November 30, 2021 by LongTimeLurker 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy groundhopper Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 Just out of interest, when does the West restart having midweek games (trying to arrange another holiday) Hopefully everyone says February ! Does this depend on a bad winter regarding p-p games ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 6 minutes ago, Andy groundhopper said: Just out of interest, when does the West restart having midweek games (trying to arrange another holiday) Hopefully everyone says February ! Does this depend on a bad winter regarding p-p games ? Pretty sure the fixture lists have now been published. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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