gaz5

We thought we were playing for this already, like we did last season and have done since the start of the season. I don't think that's a reason at all, not a valid one anyway.

[emoji853] Is this official?

I hope not.

As disappointed as we are not to have the game, have to say we appreciate Craigroyston being proactive about the situation and dealing with it in plenty of time. We had a few lads who were going to take time off work for the game and getting the early decision and communication means they can avoid that then getting a late call off. It's a difficult situation, but fair play for the way it's been handled, much appreciated from our side. As said earlier in the season, hopefully things can be sorted out for the clubs long term future. [emoji106]

Erm, no. Come on. We have 2 players remaining from their final season as a junior club. New management and an entirely new team built over two seasons. We've turned down offers from West Super Premier and first teams for our players this season already, with plenty of other teams from those league's coming to watch (yes, we know you're there [emoji846]). How many of Dunipace current squad do you think would be there at the bottom of West League 2? The answer is realistically zero. Do you really think the Dunipace team of two years ago who finished second bottom could be challenging at the top of a league or have been one of only two teams to shut out Bonnyrigg in the last 18 months, for example?

I'm not sure what sentiment you are attributing to me, but the reality is my view includes consideration for those teams and the reasoning for that was outlined in our return to the association. It's not right for them that they bend over backwards for another season to suit the intransigence of the remaining juniors who have had 2 opportunities to move already, in my opinion. The way the original teams handled things since two years ago was nothing short of exemplary. They deserve to get back to some level of normality as well after 2 seasons.

Usual ill informed shite from Parksy. If he wrote a story saying the sky was blue I'd have to go outside to double check. Not worth taking seriously. He mentions his old clubs, but clearly hasn't fact checked to see how moving to the Pyramid has been such a negative for Dunipace. A club that was nearly dead sitting second bottom of the West region, 2 seasons later challenging at the top of a league for the first time in years, managing to beat Lowland League challengers in the South Cup, increased gates, a bigger community club below the Senior team and a Development pathway that never existed before. Oh and the Pie and Bovril are the same price they always were, as is entry, you just get a far better product now. Buffoon.

That's entirely their choice. Come or don't.

With all due respect, we vote for what's best for the clubs currently in the league, not for the clubs who've declined twice and might or might not apply next year. Conferences have been great to solve a problem, but players don't like them and it's right, in my opinion, we move to a premier/first /second next year.

It was a joke post by someone mocking TJ. [emoji1787]

How are Rangers second. That's about the third time I've seen them this season and they're utter dugmeat. That said, defo a handball for Killies first and Morelos goal was no more a foul than the penalty claim 2 minutes before. Makes it more funny though.

To be fair, we were a bit of an outlier in the West. Our move to the EoS removed and anomaly, rather than created one and to be fair it was driven by our ambition to join the pyramid and there being no league in the West in which to do that. That said, like Burnie says if anyone can go anywhere in the new world and we have to choose between conferences at Tier 6 in the West with a top 6 finish to stay there or conferences at Tier 7 with a top 2 finish to get to Tier 6....... I'm obviously being a little provocative there to emphasise Burnie's point, we're more than happy in the EoS and haven't discussed anything other than our structure there for next season, which will hopefully be premier/first/second.

I agree with most of that Hibbee, other than the "know what they need to do before the season starts" bit. I've heard a few folk say that's a reason people might not want to go to prem, 1st, 2nd next year, but we all knew before a ball was kicked this season that was on the cards, same as we did a premier last year from the conference's, so outside of the top 2 race there was a top 6/8 race again as well. We all knew that a decision would have to be made on Tier 7 since before a ball was kicked and that a straight through structure was one of the potential outcomes. So the "not knowing" bit I find an odd reasoning when I've heard it used. [emoji846]

Very much this. We have an opinion and I guess that's one of the main differences we've noticed the last two years, we (along with all of our colleagues across the league) are actually canvassed and encouraged to express it rather than have the decision we're told is the right one enforced from the confines of the metaphorical smokey room (See option Z). Ultimately all clubs will express their views and all clubs views are equal so the majority will carry, like most open and forward thinking organisations. As many have said, breath of fresh air.

Hopefully not a midweek game at Dunipace. We've had quite a few already this season on account of being one of the few with lights. Would rather play out our league games on Saturdays wherever possible, given we've plenty of weeks left to do so.

There should be though, and it should commence next season. [emoji846] Here's hoping.

Don't think you need a licence for reserve games, only first team games? As was pointed out by someone else as well, no toilets inside the ground and those are defo a licence requirement. I also don't remember (though could be wrong) disabled access to the steps to the pitch? Uni are a good team, with a good manager in a good facility, would think they would have done it by now if it was a licenceable ground. Maybe something they have in their plans.

Agreed. I think the WRSJFA coming in as a full structure ship has well and truly sailed. Like the East it will be two league's with all clubs having a choice. And actually, that's probably best all round and certainly what RP wanted, no one being forced to play in a league they don't want to.

This is really simple Beenzon. Over the past 2 years every position communicated from one location has proven to be false and every position communicated from the other proven to be accurate. From done deal, to Tier 5, to option Z to not offering the West what was communicated at the EoS meeting. Only one organisation has actively threatened to send their member clubs to the wall for even talking pyramid. If you can't see with your own eyes, even just on the balance of probability over the past 2 years who is being consistently disingenuous and who is acting with integrity, then more fool you and good luck to you. But you're pissing into the wind trying to convince anyone else who's been paying attention.

Yeah, except that's not even close to what I'm saying. [emoji846] Change is good, when there's a good argument for it and it makes things better or it's a unique way to solve a problem (like the current conferences). But saying go 7 up/7down is also change. Doesn't make it a good idea or better than what we have. I'm simply saying I don't think 4, possibly 5 down from a league of 16 is a positive change and no one has made an argument for how it would be, yet. If someone makes a valid argument about the benefits and why it would be better, happy to listen. Apply 4/5 down and 4 up to the current Conference tables, with conferences notionally regionalised and see what you think. Not saying this will always be the case, but there's a big jump between 8th & 9th in the each conference and the current bottom 3 & 4 in each.

Yeah I know, but I'd point out that's exactly the situation we're in this season with conferences below the premier and that's mainly my point. There's currently two divisions/conferences feeding into the premier and 3 up/3 down is seen as plenty of movement. Not that I'm complaining, as I think 3 up/3 down from 16 is about right regardless, just pointing out the inconsistency of thinking. [emoji846]

Not that it couldn't be done, but If 3 up/down is good enough for the premier to first...... [emoji846] Change them both or change none for me.

Indeed, which would make it 4 possibly 5 from the EoS first, if they started with 4 down and as I said around 50% turnover for a league is too much in my opinion. [emoji846] 3 with a possibility for 4 depending on SPFL relegation/promotion is the right balance.

4 down from a 16 team league is too many and not the way it is this season under the Premier League either. That's near a 50% turnover in teams each year. If you want to go 4 down so that top 2 in any conferences come up I think you'd need to do a minimum 18 team first division, personally. But I also don't have an issue with 3 down/3up with the second places teams playing off for the third spot, like this year, at Tier 8.

[emoji1787][emoji1787][emoji1787] I was sat in the EoS meeting where all clubs we represented and the WRSJFA were invited for this season, without the East, in front of RP and IM and not a single dissenting voice. It was widely reported afterwards, prior to the "done deal" of all in at Tier 6 being confirmed as having never been done. Remind me, was that ever offered to the WRSJFA clubs to vote on? It was an option again for discussion this year, but it had been tweaked slightly to continue to be run by SJFA, not the West region. Yet that wasn't even presented as an option at the West meeting, where multiple people in attendance have confirmed they were told option z was the one they were taking forward and that it had LL support. I think you have your wires crossed. TJ had two opportunities to talk to clubs about the West region only and he declined both. The LL presented a fifth option, a WoS league not connected to the SJFA that any West clubs could join. He declined that as well, stating that none of his clubs were interested. 3 occasions over 2 seasons TJ has had to get his West clubs in if they wanted to be in (and it's fine if some don't). He's kiboshed all 3. For those who have been involved to some degree in all of this, his email is a fabrication. Nothing less.