patriot1

Conference A: BurntIsland, Craigroyston, Dunipace,Eyemouth, Haddington, Heriot Watt, Leith, Lothian Thistle, Oakley, Ormiston, Peebles, St Andrews.

Three down from sixteen was my preferred option. As were seeded not localised leagues. Less cups and more league games is fine by me.

Sauchie are listed as in the Premier.

Unfortunately I'm a bit of a technophobe so I'm not sure how to upload the file but the EOS have sent clubs the set up for next season. Highlights: Premier starts on 27th July. One of the teams listed is Bonnyrigg/Whitehill. Three down. Division one is split into two seeded conferences with 12 teams playing 34 games with home away fixtures against teams in your conference and one game against each team in the other. Runners up will play off for third promotion spot. Winners will play off for first division title. League cup will be played in the spring with a straight knock out format. There will be NO EOS qualifying cup next season. As predicted a vote on making the King Cup first division only will be held at the AGM.

Buying new dugouts as licence requires that they are together on one side. Our dugouts on either side of the pitch were fine. Replacing perfectly adequate goals with licence compliant ones. Putting screening behind the big trees to stop people peeking/sneaking in. To name a few.

St Andrews were rejected solely for lack of floodlights. Spent a five figure sum on items which were needed for the licence but don't enhance our facilities. Awaiting planning permission for floodlights and getting the finances in place to instal them.

So just to confirm which of the twelve teams will have received licences and who will have been declined?

Our lights haven't been used in at twenty years. To take our money and then change the criteria is a joke. Is anyone aware of an SFA board meeting being held since our EGM and if not who made this decision?

I should say congratulations to those clubs who have been accepted. At least it puts to bed the worry that current members were trying to stop any new applicants to protect their share of the pot.

St Andrews rejected as well due to lack of lights. We've spent over £10k on items which don't improve our facilities but were needed for a licence including dug outs and goals. Plus our application fee on top of this. Absolute nonsense. Even more so for Bonnyrigg.

My understanding was that there was to be a meeting to discuss the oldest Strollers team moving en masse to the juniors. This is partly what prompted the strollers to apply to the EOS.

Is he talking about the Strollers under 20s side moving to the Glens which I believe was likely to happen?

It's been a long week!!

Does the "manageable" 64 clubs at tier 6 include the Highland League. If so that means there is no room for the ERSJFA superleague. The EOS, SOS, WOS and HL would make the 64.

Whit!?! Not only did I say that the juniors discipline WOULD be covered by the SFA but I went further and confirmed that cup ties would be included.

Petrie said that all tier 6 leagues would have their discipline dealt with by the SFA. He was questioned specifically about cup ties involving junior sides and confirmed that all cup ties in the juniors which involved a tier 6 side would come under SFA jurisdiction. However that only happens if the juniors are in at tier 6.

Correct. Syngenta have "access issues" with Grangemouth stadium so contacted Dunipace this week to agree a groundshare. Not surprisingly that wasn't enough to bring them in to the EOS. Strollers Overstenton Park didn't meet EOS standards which surprised me. Whenever I pass it looks quite good but that's just a glimpse while driving so i'll need to stop off for a proper look.

Both.

There was lots of discussion but no answers. It appears that the SFA board did not have time to assess the applications last week and Rod Petrie could give no assurance as to when they would be assessed.

Remember the EOS playoff winner does receive entry to the Scottish Cup, plus they become League champions but it's ridiculous that clubs are going these games not knowing if they are playing for promotion or even when they'll find out.

I believe RP did make a comment about existing SFA members views being taken into consideration which fuels the "we're not dividing the pot any further" theory. However the overriding impression was that the SFA haven't had time to deal with the applications as they have more pressing matters to deal with. The problem for the 17 clubs is that the applications have not been rejected so you can't demand your money back as they may be accepted.

I believe that RP didn't go into any great detail but when questioned about the middle of the Tay border he said that we shouldn't let geography stop teams playing in the League they want to. As it appears most Tayside teams would rather play in the LL your HL relegation question may not come into play. Beside as Al points out in order to get promoted to either league you have to be licensed.

Al, I believe there were lots of pertinent and strong questions as well as strong and reasoned points put across but at the end of the day if RP says "I take all your concerns on board but can't tell you when these applications be dealt with" what can you do?

However they could still be in tier 6 if Ian Maxwell selects either Superleague winner to take part in the LL playoffs next season. I believe there were lots of straight questions fired away at RP about the licensing delay which he batted away with no real answer. It does appear that the license were not mentioned at the last SFA board meeting and RP could not commit to a date when they would be dealt with. Am I right in saying that Maxwell did very little talking last night Gaz?

For confirmation, from what I have been told: Petrie stated that he asked the Highland league and the NRJFA to have talks re a tier 6 feeder which they did and the juniors decided to stay as they are. If a Tayside team wins the LL playoff they will have the right to choose whether to enter the Highland or Lowland league. The SFA will administer discipline for all tier 6 leagues. When specifically questioned RP said that would include any game that a tier 6 side played in all competitions. Finally i believe RP has told the SJFA about the discipline and split Superleague issues.