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Lowland League General Discussion


FairWeatherFan

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6 hours ago, Spyro said:

When the Scottish League reject the LL playoff representative due to the fact they weren’t “champions” of their league… until then, it’s all just a waste of time tbh

Indeed, it could be interesting what happens. The SPFL could easily challenge the participation of a team in the play-offs that didn't finish top of their league. After all, when ineligible teams win a tier 6 league, the LL don't allow runners-up to be promoted and instead wouldn't relegate anyone if there would be no eligible champions, even if all 3 runners-up would be eligible.

Plus it just looks bad to have a B-team at the top of the league. These 3 teams really devaluate the league, there is no doubt about that.

Edited by Marten
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The LL made sure to contort their rules to make a non-B team their champion. The SPFL at board level have accepted things. While there might well be a challenge, I don't see it going anywhere.

All the while all the media and discussions on the matter will drown out what's actually happening, and focus on the debate of B teams in the playoff and that the team that finished top should be in the Playoff/SPFL. You know, for the benefit of Scottish football.

Of course by Feb/March we'll probably have the OF doing another presentation to the Lowland League to re-apply.

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12 hours ago, ekok said:

Hi sorry to burst your  bubble . None of the " Guest Clubs" as they are described in the SLFL Rules are permitted to be classified as Champions,  so they are not eligible to be  put forward to the Pyramid Play Offs. 

I know it's a bore and a bind to quote the rules, but there you are. 

Everyone knows this but these are LL rules.

The LL might be satisfied to nominate a 4th placed team to contest a playoff but we will see what others say. 

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2 minutes ago, invergowrie arab said:

The LL might be satisfied to nominate a 4th placed team to contest a playoff but we will see what others say. 


The point stands, but it's definitely not going to be the 4th place because Hearts' B team are more likely to finish bottom than top.

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5 minutes ago, invergowrie arab said:

Everyone knows this but these are LL rules.

The LL might be satisfied to nominate a 4th placed team to contest a playoff but we will see what others say. 

Even if it was just the LL rules. Brechin City tried to challenge the Pyramid playoff in 2021 when the league's used PPG after so few games to declare champions. We know how that worked out.

But its not just the LL rules. The pyramid playoff was amended back in 2021 taking into account the introduction at B teams. That's the SFA, SPFL and HL signing off on it at Board level.

A challenge should have been made then. Not weeks/months before a potential playoff led by a desperate club trying to save its skin.

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37 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said:

Even if it was just the LL rules. Brechin City tried to challenge the Pyramid playoff in 2021 when the league's used PPG after so few games to declare champions. We know how that worked out.

But its not just the LL rules. The pyramid playoff was amended back in 2021 taking into account the introduction at B teams. That's the SFA, SPFL and HL signing off on it at Board level.

A challenge should have been made then. Not weeks/months before a potential playoff led by a desperate club trying to save its skin.

It certainly should have.

C33 in the SPFL rules is silent on the matter. Simply saying that club 42 will play a playoff against a candidate club identified by the SFA.

This is dated April 2022

There was a draft ammendment to the playoff rules on October 2021 but no reference is made to it in those SPFL rules.

FWIW I think any challenge would have little to no chance of success but it will once again shine a light on the tinpot nature of the LL and you can bet your life the mainstream media line won't be all about why 3rd placed EK should be given their shot but why 1st placed Rangers B wouldn't be a fantastic addition to League 2.

 

 

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12 hours ago, Spyro said:

When the Scottish League reject the LL playoff representative due to the fact they weren’t “champions” of their league… until then, it’s all just a waste of time tbh

The SPFL have already signed off on the associated rule changes so this is a non-issue. Only awkward thing that might come out of this season is that if Brechin City get promoted it potentially muddies the waters to a slight extent on what the boundary is between the LL and HL in future.

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2 hours ago, DiegoDiego said:
3 hours ago, Stag Nation said:
Possibly, but ...
If the 3rd placed club beat the HL champs and Club 42, wouldn't that make the SPFL look even more tin-pot?

No. Tin-pottedness is about organisation, not quality.

Are you inferring that the SPFL is well run? 😀

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2 hours ago, DiegoDiego said:
3 hours ago, Stag Nation said:
Possibly, but ...
If the 3rd placed club beat the HL champs and Club 42, wouldn't that make the SPFL look even more tin-pot?

No. Tin-pottedness is about organisation, not quality.

Organisation?

They just got a load of cash from three SPFL clubs which is now sitting cosily in the Bank. That, of course, is due to bad organisation. Maybe it's time to think differently about the whole thing as they are taking decent funds from SPFL clubs, including the OF?

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3 minutes ago, Dev said:

Organisation?

They just got a load of cash from three SPFL clubs which is now sitting cosily in the Bank. That, of course, is due to bad organisation. Maybe it's time to think differently about the whole thing as they are taking decent funds from SPFL clubs, including the OF?

Really not sure 'taking bribes to degrade the competition' is quite the stunning organisational strategy that you think it is. 

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1 minute ago, Footballfirst said:

I was talking to a senior member of Rangers academy staff at the weekend. He understood that if there is no accommodation of the B Teams into the SPFL at tier 4, then a new SPFL league at Tier 5 would be formed for the B Teams and other invited clubs, starting next season.

This idea has been peddled many times recently, Div 2 clubs will never go for it.

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I was talking to a senior member of Rangers academy staff at the weekend. He understood that if there is no accommodation of the B Teams into the SPFL at tier 4, then a new SPFL league at Tier 5 would be formed for the B Teams and other invited clubs, starting next season.
Remember back when folk said their inclusion in the Challenge Cup would definitely not be a slippery slope.
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5 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

I was talking to a senior member of Rangers academy staff at the weekend. He understood that if there is no accommodation of the B Teams into the SPFL at tier 4, then a new SPFL league at Tier 5 would be formed for the B Teams and other invited clubs, starting next season.

I'm sure they will try. SPFL3 isn't new.

Just the problem of financial redistribution of SPFL funds, and getting enough votes for it.

 

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4 hours ago, LongTimeLurker said:

The SPFL have already signed off on the associated rule changes so this is a non-issue. Only awkward thing that might come out of this season is that if Brechin City get promoted it potentially muddies the waters to a slight extent on what the boundary is between the LL and HL in future.

It doesn’t matter that the Lowland League and the SPFL have agreed their rules. Those rules are open to challenge especially since the 42 member Clubs in the SPFL never had the opportunity to vote on the issue. Going by previous disputes such as with Hearts & Partick,  the SFA rules mean that before going to court, the Clubs must go to arbitration for decision by an SFA appointed QC. The Clubs involved also have to have a QC to put their case. An expensive business for the Lowland League “Champions” 
But expect Rangers B to have a convenient slump in form in any case.
 

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9 minutes ago, Footballfirst said:

I was talking to a senior member of Rangers academy staff at the weekend. He understood that if there is no accommodation of the B Teams into the SPFL at tier 4, then a new SPFL league at Tier 5 would be formed for the B Teams and other invited clubs, starting next season.

This has been proposed regularly, and every single time it goes out to clubs the reaction is so negative that it doesn't go to a vote.     

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