stanley

Thanks for posting the minutes. They back up what Burnieman was saying. Where does Perth and surrounding areas fit into this? Not mentioned as part of the EoS

What's the point in the juniors moving into the senior pyramid and still remaining "junior"? There are one or two on here saying that this would be a victory for the junior clubs but I'm not sure how it would be. They would no longer be in their own independent system from the seniors; they would be part of it although with huge divides in the east remaining and losing out on more local matches.

Any solution here has to merge the EoS and East juniors. Anything else is incredibly illogical. Time to put aside all the senior/junior divide nonsense once and for all not maintain it.

They certainly shouldn't be given five years.

Problems are: 1) Tayside clubs are not currently eligible for the Lowland League 2) The East juniors includes clubs outwith Dundee and Angus who cover the same geographical area as the EoS. How can there be two different leagues competing at the same level and covering similar areas? Where do clubs go if they are relegated from the Lowland League? Who decides which league the east clubs are in? Makes little sense to me so far.

If they make them more stringent then will they actually apply the new rules to clubs already licensed or will be the usual Scottish football rule of once you're in, you're in forever?

If Stranraer finish first and a licensed team finished second would they let the licensed team enter the playoffs or would no team enter?

Still completely unfair. Every club should be equal here and it shouldn't depend on if they have won the EoS. Considering that the clubs were told they couldn't get licensed in the juniors because they hadn't joined the pyramid, they can't then stop the clubs that moved from getting one. Has to be an equal system for all senior clubs.

Would be even more of a mockery if that was the system and the licensing embargo is still in place by the end of the season. That would actively be blocking clubs. Let's see what happens but a huge amount is riding on this embargo.

Yeah that makes sense. EoS or SoS team replace 15th LL team and then there's a vacancy for Selkirk place depending on SPFL relegation/promotion.

Am I right in thinking 15th go down automatically as long as the tier 6 teams are licensed and the 'vacancy' scenario with teams applying only occurs if the team in 14th are set to be relegated (if promotion from/to SPFL gives LL and extra club)?

True but not fair on clubs do all that work without knowing if/when the embargo will be lifted. We need more transparency here.

The normal procedure in the English non-leagues was always to reprieve clubs rather than promote extra clubs from below in situations where clubs go out of business or are demoted. May have changed recently but not sure. Under that system, Selkirk would be treated at the 16th and relegated club even if they have quit the league.

If you take away the playoff spot for HL champions then what happens to any relegated SPFL north of the Tay clubs?

Fair enough, you're right. I think Selkirk will struggle even more in the long run if they end up with a few postponed matches to catch up with and very few players. Don't suppose there are many options now if they stay in the league.

Wouldn't it make sense to just award a win to the other team if Selkirk can't field a team? Not going to help them much to keep postponing matches. I know the cup match went down as a walkover

Agreed that they shouldn't have been in the LL because of they didn't have a licence. Still think they have been unlucky with timing in getting a licence just as the juniors join. Could potentially be the difference between them being a long-term LL side and being in the EoS for the next few years. Remains to be seen how they will do in the EoS now and maybe they'll manage promotion anyway but will be a lot harder now. Had the juniors not joined this season then they would be big favourites for promotion. Would be good to see some of the old EoS clubs do well in amongst the ex-juniors so I'm hoping they can get promoted at some point.

Great news for LTHV. Feel a bit sorry for them. Clearly a level above the EoS for years and they finally get licensed just as 26 new clubs join.

You are probably right that if Selkirk fold then no team will be relegated from LL (depending on promotion/relegation situation with SPFL) but it would be a shame as the league campaign would be pretty meaningless for many of the clubs. Edit: I guess not actually as there will still be the possibility for 15th to go down so teams will be trying to avoid finishing 15th.

If they go into abeyance then they'd surely have to start in the first division. Don't see why they'd get into the premier.

Edit: doesn't matter. Hope Selkirk survive.

Sad to see. Already lost Duns and Kelso in the past few years. We are going to have a strange situation for the next few years of the bottom few clubs in the LL being weaker than a number of the EoS clubs but it's going to take a long time to balance out with only one relegation spot. Once the EoS Premier forms next year, you'll get a really good league for that level and you could have some of the relegated clubs struggling massively in the league below. In England, it's quite common for clubs to voluntary drop down the levels in non-league football. Could see that happening in the future in Scottish football. Already happened with Threave. Whatever happens, hope that Selkirk survive and hopefully things balance out in the next few years and clubs are playing at their natural level and there are fewer massive defeats.

What justification is being given for the licensing embargo? Seems crazy.

I thought they only enquired rather than applied. Amateur clubs are folding all over the place now and even leagues have been folding as well. General trend of fewer people committing to playing and clubs not having enough players available.

Is a WoS for 2019 actually confirmed yet?