rockson

This.

That's just an argument against play-offs though. And when teams from different leagues play-off against each other who is to say which is the stronger league? You'd expect SPFL Tier 3 ought to be stronger than Tier 4 yet its teams have lost in the play-offs against Tier 4 sides. Which league is actually stronger then?

I well remember Johnny scoring a beauty against Falkirk at Boghead in 1970. He got the ball at the edge of their box and flicked it over a defender's head, whom he ran round to hit the ball on the volley into the net. Sublime. He also had the unique trick of seeming to let an opposition clearance go over his head in midfield before extending his superb left peg back behind him and without being able to see the ball using the back of that foot propel it forwards again - usually to a team mate. I've never seen anyone else do that. So sad he's gone.

I never mentioned Darvel or Tranent. But Tranent did win the triangular play-off. That's all that matters.

You are of the opinion that the standard of the SoSFL is lower than other leagues at Tier 6. That may well be true but it is of no relevance in the wider world where the only thing that matters is the result of the three-way W/E/S oSFL play-off at the end of the season. If the LL ever increases its number of relegation spots that play-off - or whatever replaces it - will still be the only thing that matters. No WoSl or EoSL team is in any way disdvantaged by the SoSL at Tier 6. To gain promotion they have to win their leagues and then the play-offs. If they can't do that then they don't deserve promotion. Similarly the NCL in the North is probably of a lower overall standard than the former Junior leagues in the north now also at Tier 6 but there is no clamour for the NCL's Tier 6 status to be taken away. As in the south licenced teams in the north winning their league have a play-off chance to gain promotion.

The argument may have been made but the conclusion from it hasn't.

The last time we dropped to this level most I suspect Sons fans thought we'd make the promotion play-offs. We ended up fifth.

As a response to, "The word 'direct' is therefore completely meaningless. If they had direct promotion into the LL as champions of the South then you'd have a point; but they don't," your "eh?" is somewhat strange. It's a simple enough point to understand surely? The SoSL does not have automatic promotion to the LL. Its champion still has to win a play-off to get promoted, hence promotion is not direct.

Arguably the tier above it is though. Or was, last season.

I'd just like to see a positive goal difference at the end of a season.

No. They were two Highland League teams.

More than twice the size.

Snap.

Championship football at Ochilview at last.

Chissy, surely?

That would be all well and good if we didn't have owners that couldn't care less about the club as a football club.

Fighting amongst ourselves? I think all Sons fans want the team to do well but the owners to be gone.

Yes.

Ah; predictive text. Always gets it bang on Oh, wait a minute.

I fear it might be sooner than you think....

I think it's in the laws of the game - ie football as a whole - that a game must be stopped if the number of players on one side falls below a limit.* Presumably then a game can begin if that limit hasn't been breached. I remember a gaem where reading of a game where Neil Warnock was manger of one side which had gone down to nine men and he was actively encouraging his players to be sent off so the game would be abandoned. *I had thought the limit was 8 but it must be 7.

Oh, I know. I've been to the Imperial War Museum North just over the road from it. And the Lowry over the Ship Canal.

The Salford?

I doubt their supporters are, though.