stanley

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?

I wonder if AM Soccer would think about applying to the EoS. They were linked with applying to the Lowland League a while back and they're on the list above.

If the juniors move to the senior pyramid then they are no longer juniors. Simple as that. Starting from that basis will help the SJFA move forward. Either they stay junior in the SJFA or they move to the pyramid and become senior.

Would be great if they could set up a WoS and an NoS for 2019-20. Make an announcement this summer and invite applications. Open it up to the amateurs as well. Gives everyone time to prepare for the move. Then base the leagues next year on finishing positions in 2018-19. This kind of thing seemed impossible not so long ago but now it seems inevitable that it will happen at some point.

Certainly wouldn't call the NCL tier 6. Long-established as a league but not in the pyramid. As things stands, it is very clearly outwith the pyramid. It's only for historical reasons that it is even considered a senior league. I doubt the NCL would be a big obstacle in this process. It should be incorporated into the pyramid along with the north juniors. There's no way it can be considered a "long-established tier 6" league. when it isn't even part of the pyramid and clubs have never been promoted into tier 5 (some have moved over the years but, even then, not for a long time). I think the last time was Wick in 1994. Since then you've had Turriff, Formartine, Strathspey (2009) and Inverurie (2001) make the move from the juniors.

I agree that the naming stuff is nonsense. League two being the fourth tier is stupid and even worse is the SPFL copying the English names. Would be a lot easier with first division, second division etc. I think that's a separate argument however and the issue now is that the division was already called the super league and changing the name to premier (which was previously second tier) would seem like admitting that the leagues are no longer as good. Clearly they have declined in quality but I'm not surprised that the juniors want to keep the super league name.

I highly doubt that the place in the senior Scottish Cup is dependent on the name of the league. That would be crazy. Obviously, the East juniors do not want to change the name from Super league to premier as that would them admitting that the league has gone down in standing with the loss of the clubs to the EoS. I think that's perfectly understandable and I would not expect them to downgrade the name even if the league is not as "super" as last year.

I understand that people might initially be confused but it's very easy to find a simple answer as to how it works rather than go on a rant about how stupid it all is when you don't even know how it works.

What's complicated about the set-up? Three parallel divisions 2018-19 and then the top clubs from each form the premier in 2019-20 and the rest form two first division below it. It's not exactly something which requires a massive explanation.

Works better with users on ignore. Just wish people would stop quoting him.

I think it would make sense to talk, in the EoS section, about the potential for some of the remaining juniors joining the EoS in 2019 or later. Anyway, I'm done debating this.

The future of the east juniors (south of the Tay at least) is the EoS so it makes perfect sense, thanks.

Edit: never mind, not worth it.

These new badges normally turn out awful but City have done a good job with this one. The Edinburgh Rugby one, on the other hand, is absolutely terrible.

Not sure if you think you are agreeing with me or not but your post is exactly the point I was making. That type of crazy rule exists in both the juniors and the Scottish Premier (just that the details are different). Typo on my phone. Was supposed to say clubs. It's open to all clubs but was clearly set up for the sake of two.

Remaining 35 clubs in that article. Seems like the number of junior clubs leaving/junior clubs remaining changes in every article you read...can't be that hard for them to find out the truth.

On the same level as the ridiculous rule that allowed club to skip a weekend in the Premier to play a friendly early on in the season. Clearly set up for the Old Firm.

The tweet says 31 clubs participating. 39 clubs in the EoS minus the following Scottish Cup 2018/19 participants: Hawick, Preston, Burntisland, Coldstream, Linlithgow, LTHV (all licensed) Bonnyrigg (East juniors winners), Tynecastle (Cup winners from this season) Then minus Stirling Uni reserves would make it 30 clubs rather than 31 unless I've missed something?

Why are Leith Athletic barred?

Glasgow derby!