Footballfirst

It took a good few years in England to open up relegation between League 2 and the Conference/National League. However, having done so, there are several sides who dropped from the EFL and have now returned, Wrexham being the latest. The mix of clubs between L2 and the National League is such that most folk would have difficulty identifying who was in which League. One of the biggest bounces has been that of Luton Town who are just 90 minutes away from the gazillions of the EPL having been in the Conference League as recently as 2014. The opportunity is there for the recently relegated L2 sides to encourage their former league partners to do the right thing and open up relegation and promotion between the current Tiers 4 and 5 (and reject the conference league).

They're in favour of B teams, but against the conference as far as I'm aware.

Stenhousemuir hasn't received the proposals according to their chairman. That's a bit odd given that their chairman attended the meeting on March 7th when the topic was supposedly first mooted.

Motherwell could be the first Premiership club to express a view.

The can't tell clubs which way to vote, but my reading of elements of the statement "protect the league moving forward at all costs" and "the views of the fans are paramount" suggests that they are against it.

Looks like the Highland League itself has concerns based on a statement issued by its secretary, John Campbell, following a meeting of its League Management Committee. “As has been publicised, members of the League Management Committee from the Breedon Scottish Highland Football League (SHFL) met in Lossiemouth last night (Thursday 18 May) to discuss the resolution on the Conference League, submitted by the Scottish Football Association in their papers for the up and coming AGM on 6 June 2023. “Throughout all discussions held in relation to the Conference League, the SHFL has maintained a stance that they wished to protect the league moving forward at all costs and also expressed disappointment that time was not made to go for wider consultation with spectators, as the views of the fans are paramount to all within the SHFL. “The vote at the Scottish Football Association AGM on 6 June 2023 will allow each club, as a full member of the SFA, the right to cast a vote. “Both the Aberdeenshire FA and the North of Scotland FA (which all SHFL clubs are affiliated to) have the right to vote, unlike the SHFL, as an affiliated league, who although are invited to attend, have no right to vote. “As with many things in life, opinions are varied and the SHFL wish to make clear that all member clubs have the freedom to express their views when voting, taking into consideration the views of the club, their supporters and the direction they wish to travel.”

The Pyramid leagues have attended least two meetings with the SFA and SPFL (first one only) in early March and again in late April where I'm sure the proposal was discussed. To date, there has been little public response from the representatives present at those meetings, barring Thomas Brown's pet podcast interview with Official Catchup. There must have been some discussion with clubs in the background, but the failure of any League to oppose the proposal is worrying. My fear now is that the SFA/SPFL will carry out their threat of imposing the new conference next season if the resolution fails to obtain a majority at the SFA AGM. Setting up an operating company is part of those preparations. If my fear becomes reality then it could mean the imposition of an extended SPFL to maybe 48 plus B teams. Invites could of course go to stalwart defenders of the SPFL like Brechin, Berwick and Cowdenbeath. The drawbridge to the pyramid would then be pulled up. Let's hope I'm wrong.

The sole shareholder is the SPFL. Its directors are Calum Beattie (COO of the SPFL) and Neil Doncaster. I fear the possibility if the licensed clubs don't vote for the resolution at the SFA AGM, then the SPFL will just go ahead with the Conference League for next season using the "newco" excuse for bypassing normal governance.

Blackburn backing them up.

I fully agree. The first half could get football stopped if repeated anywhere else. The second half was a bit more watchable, but the standard was poor, not helped by the Central Park (Whitburn's) pitch although I suspect that Lochore would be more accustomed to the bumps, bobbles and longish grass at their own Central Park. Lochore's keeper, Dale Wotherspoon, has put in some exceptional performances of late, not least in the semi final win over Bo'ness Athletic. It was Lochore's first cup win for 20 years.

Correct in travel terms. In terms of latitude, Shielfield Park in Berwick is further north than K Park in East Kilbride, John Cumming stadium Carluke and Gasworks Park Larkhall, as well as Rugby Park, Somerset Park etc.

Looking at the full proposal, there are a couple of scenarios that are just crap for teams in the Conference League. You can finish 5th, but still get promoted by beating club 42 in a play-off. You can also finish 5th and still get relegated, should you lose a play off to the loser of the HL/LL playoff. 6th place can also be automatically relegated in that scenario.

Abbey Vale confirmed as SOSFL champions after beating Stranraer this evening. Linlithgow can now be officially welcomed to the LL.

Possibly symptomatic of why Calum Elliot left too. Chairman/backers exerting too much influence about on-field matters?

No extra time in the play off. Straight to pens.

St Andrews 0-1 Dunipace. Last minute penalty. Final on May 14th

I'm sure it would have been a rubber stamp job from the SFA if they weren't being asked to provide any resources, e.g. for disciplinary activities or additional referees.

True, and they are currently 3rd behind Bo'ness Ath. and Armadale in Division 3.

Armadale is the other. Just happens to be the two clubs who will be promoted from Division 3. Is it because they play on astro, or do they have better players?

Au contraire m'lud, I'd suggest that "Conference League Limited", having secured the participation of six prominent sides from the top of the LL and HL (on the promise of £50k a year for their services) and the commitment of four top SPFL sides to finance the league for 5 years (in return for the participation of their B teams) qualifies them to be inserted at a level in the pyramid between the SPFL and HL/LL. I dearly hope that enough clubs and other fans expressed rejection of the proposal is enough to stop it in its tracks.

The formation of a new league body does come under the authority of the SFA. It is covered in Article 18 of the SFA's Articles of Association. Other leagues (e.g. SPFL, LL etc) can form their own new leagues, but subject to the overriding approval of the SFA. Interestingly, there is no mention of "pyramid" in the SFA's AoA. 18.2 would appear to give the SFA the authority to insert a league into the pyramid at any level/grade appropriate to the clubs and players participating.

It was Tiwi Daramola. I thought the yellow card was right as it wasn't head to head. However I thought that the red card for the Lochore player was a bit harsh. Yes it was a deliberate foul (taking one for the team), but more often than not it's a yellow card.

I caught the last half hour of the Haws v Penicuik game having been at the Lochore v Bo'ness Athletic game earlier. Penicuik huffed and puffed but hardly created anything in that last period with too many overhit long balls going through to the keeper.

Well done Lochore. Played out the last 20 minutes with 10 men too. Bo'ness only threatened in the first 10 minutes of each half. Other than that Lochore defended resolutely and comfortably. Man of the match was the Lochore keeper Dale Wotherspoon(sp?). He got his ample frame behind everything thrown at him and his handling, including cross balls, was excellent.

I'd suggest at least the 5 teams who voted against B Teams in the LL would be against inserting them a tier above the LL. (Bo'ness, Tranent, East Stirlingshire, Caledonian Braves and one other (Edin Uni or CSS most likely)) Also clubs who felt they were given no choice but to vote yes to B teams or face being demoted a tier for next season, e.g. Cowdenbeath. If the proposal can be aborted before its birth, then it will be easier than dealing with ever more demanding triplets, quadrulplets or more in the future.