Bestsinceslicebread

Agreed 100% but everything you have stated there, even in remoteness or local teams taking players, its about the committee and chairman running the club correctly and dealing with all problems. If any club is run right, great decisions, great ideas, marketing etc.., (we have to remember its the committee and chairman who choose the Manager) then the club does well, if not, they will continue to fail. I will say lots of clubs have thrown money into a football club but just cause money has been thrown in, doesn't automatically mean they will win everything, they still have to have a good manger in place to run/organize a team to win. You look at Tranent who pumped East Kilbride this year in the Scottish cup by 7.0, the money team were pumped. Theres always got to be teams that are losers and teams that are winners, it happens but doesn't happen all the time to the same team, they all have their ups and downs, right from the Scottish premier league to the tier 10s etc...

To be honest in the WOSFL we had 7 teams relegated from the premier, many were against it but feck me, it was so exciting and the last team were relegated on the last kick of the ball in the playoff, when Tranent beat Darvel, meant that Benburb who were 7th bottom were relegated from the WOSFL premier while the team in the 5th bottom of the EOSFL premier, Lothian Thistle, were saved form relegation. Obviously every year is a bit much but it wasn't that bad. Its the teams who vote for no relegation and I get it but when they realize that every SPFL2 team who are relegated don't come back because there's no automatic promotion then they are like voting for Turkeys because whoever goes down, (and bet they voted against relegation) wont come back or be a while. Without doubt, there should be automatic relegation for the bottom club and the 2nd bottom should be in some sort of playoff to try and avoid relegation. How we do that, oufftd, so many ways I'm sure. One example - many others I can think of and trying to make it fair Champions of HL and LL playoff to see who goes up 2nd placed HL and LL playoff to see who plays 2nd bottom of SPFL2

One of the things we are really missing out of this. outwith the money being thrown at East Kilbride, If say East Kilbride win and Stranraer are relegated into the Lowland league, I am 99% certain that Stranraer will not be back into the SPFl2 for a long, long time, (unless if relegated, they somehow they throw huge amount of money into the team to try and win next year - only way back is to do an East Kilbride). Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this but if most in the same mindset that Stranraer wont be back, doesn't this not tell you about the standard of the clubs lower down in tier 5 and below.

There's a history of clubs just in the WOSFL or previously West Juniors league of teams throwing money at clubs for quick fixes and hopefully progression/winning and suppose it will continue in the future at all levels

Oh i didn't realize that one

I'm not saying its true, its more saying they are building the club, (who says they are doing it the right way or the best way?) they obviously want to grow but will eventually reach their level. The main factor is about stimulating growth. This falls on the committee and chairman. Yes money is being thrown at the club but they have a job to do to grow the club. By the way 2015/16 when East Kilbride played Celtic, the club was...5 years old so whatever the crowds were before the Celtic game, it wouldn't be shockingly low, it would just be low as its a new club of 5 years and just growing

But do they not care, do they care? You or I do not know that. There needs to be an interest that gets people involved in the team, to follow the team, to watch the team and the committee have an important part to play in this. Many I believe are volunteers but they have to have good skills in what they do and marketing and ideas is a biggy to stimulate growth. Its about stimulating the area, good marketing, promoting different avenues to get the interest. Lets put it straight, if EK do well one year in the Scottish cup and are drawn at home against Rangers or Celtic, yes the park might not be adequate but lets hypothetically say it was used, there will be a lot more than 300 people at the game and many from East Kilbride who will go having never seen EK play. When the game is over, I'm sure there will be many first times who will decide to return. What is the capacity of K Park? If for example EK say one home game will be free access, I'm sure there will be a bigger crowd coming and some may enjoy it so much they might decide to follow. You look at the SPFL2 teams who have been relegated after playoff and haven't been back, not even a sniff, East Stirlingshire, Berwick Rangers, Albion Rovers, Cowdenbeath for example, I will say except Brechin, (beaten in playoff last year, second in league this year). Why haven't they all been back?, have their crowds dwindled?. The fact is, they are not good enough at the moment to come back. This is just natural progression of the pyramid. I remember reading a year or so ago that Berwick Rangers merged with the biggest academy in Berwick area, (someone can correct me if I'm wrong on this), I thought at the time that this was a great idea to simulate growth and they should have done this years ago but I've not heard how this is going. As I said above, the committee (actually every committee), have a big important job to do in marketing and ideas and stimulating growth. if any of us go to a game and its a fantastic game of football, we might show an interest and want to know more about that team. Obviously Ek have money being thrown at the club but they have had this for many years before MK arrived but it just didn't work out previously. ffs the club have only been going 14 years and now got a chance to be in the SPFL2 on merit and if this happens, will they stay there?, will they progress? or will they drop down?. This is what the pyramid is all about, the ups and downs of every club in the pyramid.

Haven't got a clue wtf this is all about. Got nothing to do with what any of us think on here. The story is: Stranraer ended up bottom of the SPFL 2 on merit. East Kilbride are Champions of the Lowland league on merit. Its a playoff between the two to see who goes to the Lowland League and see who goes to the SPFL2. its just that simple. Personally, I had a feeling if Clyde were to finish bottom, I think they would win against EK but the playoff between Stranraer and EK I'm absolutely certain EK will win

There isn't a partnership per say. Nethercraigs is run and controlled by Pollok United Academy and Pollok first team use Nethecraigs for training which they pay for. There should be a full partnership and so beneficial but not been for a number of years

Hmmm, lets see now Bonnyrigg Rose 1 Forfar Athletic 1 East Fife 3 The Spartans 1 Elgin City 2 Clyde 1 Peterhead 0 Dumbarton 1 Stranraer 2 Stenhousemuir 1

Yeah but what about the other cups?

Hey Guys n Gals Not checked but was looking to find out what the winner of the South Regio Challenge Cup receives in regards to prize money and does the runner up receive any money. Think the Scottish Junior Cup is £18,000 for the winner? but not sure of the runner up prize money and does the winning club of the West of Scotland cup, the Strathclyde cup and any other local cup receive prize money?

Yes but if its not Clyde, it can only be Bonnyrigg Rose or Stranraer so both would be in the same position as Clyde if they finish bottom, ending up in the Lowland

Regarding relegation from the Lowland this season So Buckie play East Kilbride in the Highland/Lowland play off and the winners play Clyde to see who goes to SPFL2 or highland or Lowland leagues. Am I correct in thinking that if Buckie defeat East Kilbride and then go onto defeat Clyde this will means that both East Kilbride and Clyde will be in the Lowland League 24/25 season but as it means an extra team is joining the Lowland, this will mean that Gretna as the second bottom team will also be relegated along with Edinburgh Uni. Is this correct?

Caledonian 6 Cumbernauld 0