FairWeatherFan

It might have been attributed to him, but every quote I saw and the EoS guidance only ever guaranteed a 16 team EoS Premier and a First Division set up to be decided on based on number of clubs left plus unknown of applicants.

Going by the LL pyramid playoff rules the SFA has equal standing with the SOS, EoS and LL in all parties have to agree. They can't dictate but it's the same sort of "veto" that people said the EoS had as they need to agree to any changes. The sfa are going into the new season overseeing this sjfa trial of disciplinary rules and involving the SJFA in the on going PWG meetings that will start up again. Why would they agree to a change that would only be seen as temporary.

Because the SFA have a say in the LL pyramid playoff and they basically said they'd step in if they're isn't agreement coming out of the PWG. The whole fuss about Maxwell trying to say he'd pick who's in it.

This is buck passing. The Lowland League are perfectly capable of increasing the number of relegation spots without the involvement of the PWG. Then who gets promoted? Just go to applications until the pwg formalise a process between tiers 5&6 in the Lowland.

Blame the PWG goings on, or lack of goings on. Its all tied up in the LL-EOS-SOS-SFA agreement.

They can apply to join the Highland League.

At what point did the SJFA say they did not collectively want to enter the pyramid? Far as I remember they've always said yes, just on their own terms. How is this any different?

Winning a league championship and rounds of playoffs is hardly going to be an accident.

There isn't going to be a change to the LL playoff (EoS v. SoS) until there is some agreement around the PWG proceedings.

I think it's a fair point. The reason why the whole "join a pyramid league" requirement kicked in was because Junior clubs were getting licensed outside the pyramid. The SFA are operating under the idea that the PWG impasse can be solved. Withholding any license until an entry into the pyramid seems like a good idea to break that impasse as the likes of Cumnock, Petershill and potentially others will raise concerns over their status the deeper into the season we go.

Can't really call them "cannon fodder" when its strengthening the quality of the early rounds. 2018-19 Clubs in the Preliminary Rounds 2019-20 Clubs in the Preminary Rounds

The Lowland League have updated their rules and regulations ahead of the 2019-20 season. Following last year's experience they've put some thought into the relegation scenarios that could come up going forward. The changes lead to certain situations where there maybe no relegation in a given year. Clubs will be hoping the Lowland League champion wins promotion and Elgin/Cove/Brechin are relegated from the SPFL.

I just noticed that the Lowland League have updated their Rules and Regulations. It doesn't appear to have been updated in the usual place but http://slfl.co.uk/rules/lowland-league-rules/ Haven't properly looked it over for specific changes but it looks like they've put some thought into all the variations that could take place following the Selkirk example.

The Lowland League has a specific rule for their membership that does not allow for more than one team in a league represented by the SFA's Professional Game Board (SPFL, Lowland and Highland). It's the only league that has something as specific as that. Most just say Full Membership of the SFA and other caveats. So it's murky if you class a 2nd XI as being a Full Member as far as i'm concerned.

I'll admit this is more of a Junior question, but there's enough knowledge around here that can answer it i'm sure. On the question of weighting things in favour of the Lowland League. How did the West Region handle the Central/Ayrshire divide? Looking at the last time promotion and relegation worked before going region wide in 2016-17 into 2017-18. The 3rd Tier Ayrshire League had 12 teams with 2 promoted. 3rd Tier Central First Division had 14 teams and 2 promoted. While the Central also had a 4th tier Second Division with another 12 teams.

They signed up to the pyramid knowing full well what the boundary was going to be and didn't shrink at the idea of "Wick to Montrose on a wet Wednesday night". They've put a plan in place to split into divisions if they exceed 20 members. So they are willing to create a 2nd tier, but until there's interest there isn't much they can do. You can understand why they don't want to split into two 10x divisions willingly. They engaged with the NRJFA and were told the juniors weren't interested. They've sent representatives to the last NCL AGM, so they are engaged with pyramid building. They invited Banks O'dee this year. Can you think of many leagues that do that? They listened to the ICT colts interest and the can of worms that would open. In seriously considering the ICT colts, I think it also shows the idea that you have to already have your SFA license before you apply isn't true. Any club in the catchment area can apply, then presumably use a provisional acceptance by the HFL to meet the pyramid league licensing requirement set by the SFA.

I think they will probably add the individual Conference tables at some point, but the overall table makes sense now that I think on it. The Conference approach they've used the last two years has had league position as the first tie breaker. League position between two conferences just means the same two conferences all over again. So they're going to have to go with points totals if they want to redraw the Conferences next year. Having the overall table just makes it easy for everyone to know what the current situation is.

Everything i've seen is that it's 2x Conferences of twelve teams. Play your own Conference twice, the opposite Conference once for a 34 game league season. Conference A winner vs. Conference B winner for the overall First Division Championship. Two legged play-off Conference A runner up vs. Conference B runner up for promotion spot in a two legged play-off. Both teams potentially promoted depending on the EoS Premier being at a net loss. Not entirely sure why they have an overall table if individual Conference standings play into promotion. EDIT: Guess it's possible they will use the overall standings to decide First Division - Second Division split??? That's why they want to keep track of it

Whitehill Welfare were audited at the start of the month and were told they had year to get floodlights in place or risk losing their license. Seems like the 3 years derogation idea for existing members hasn't turned out to be true. It's basically until whenever a club is due to be audited next since the rule came into place + 1 year. From the last published list of licensed clubs from April 2019 none of the clubs without floodlights were listed as having had a review this year. So WW, Coldstream, VoL, CSS, Golspie, Girvan etc have a year to get them in place.

There all competing in the West Region. You want them to give that up for something potentially worse with no guarantees. The EoSFL started in 1923 so comparing its beginnings isn't the same. The LL is a better comparison but they also had the knowledge of being the one of two feeders leagues to the SPFL after a trial season. 11/12 were members of the SFA so had their Scottish Cup entry guaranteed, SFA payments guaranteed, access to grants by being SFA members, plus membership to the EoSFA and Southern Counties FA that provided them additional cup competitions. The SFA has just spent a year plus dealing with the SJFA, EoS, LL and SoS and apparently said at the EoS meeting that if they tried to change the LL Play-off they would step in. Who's to even say the SFA would acknowlege the WoSFL as in the pyramid and eligible for licensing? How's the Lowland League Play-off going to work between the WoSFL, EoSFL and SoSFL don't know. How's the South & East of Scotland Cup-Winners Shield going to be amended to allow West of Scotland clubs entry.

How much of the list of benefits for EoSFL membership is guaranteed to apply to the West of Scotland League? • Membership of EOSFL which confirms acceptance of and commitment to the pyramid system thereby satisfying a mandatory requirement of being granted a Club Licence. SJFA - No • Automatic entry to the Scottish Cup for Champion Club irrespective of licencing status which will generate a minimum income in excess of £3,000 SJFA - YES • 3 ways of Scottish Cup Entry, EOS & SOS League Champions, Alex Jack Cup Winner, Any Licenced Club SJFA - No • £3,000 Funding towards ground improvements available to all un-licenced clubs looking to gain their SFA Licence. SJFA - No • Up to £10,000 funding as an EOS club available from Scottish Football Partnership towards ground improvements. SJFA - No • Our ambition is to have all Members licenced as soon as possible and thereby automatically in the Scottish Cup every year. SJFA - No • Very likely more promotion places will be available to enter the Lowland League from Tier 6. SJFA - No • SFA Sports First Aid courses at heavily discounted rates (or free of charge). SFA Licence compliant. SJFA - No • All clubs supplied with a defibrillator and associated training. SFA Licence compliant. SJFA - No • Bespoke personalised first aid bag. SJFA - No • Personal Accident and Liability insurance incl. player to player liability paid for by the League. SFA Licence compliant. SJFA - No (EOS supply all 3 insurances that pass Licence criteria) • Match balls and training balls supplied each season. SJFA - Yes (Matchballs only) • Coaching courses at heavily discounted rates (or free of charge) up to C Licence level. SJFA - Unsure • Prize money for those Clubs finishing in the top four in the league. SJFA - Yes • A sound organisational structure with fixtures issued on a seasonal basis. SJFA - No • In combination with the Scottish Lowland League and the South of Scotland League an U20 development league for the development of a player pathway. SJFA - No • Automatic entry for the U20 team into the Scottish Youth Cup. SJFA - No LOWLAND LEAGUE (added to above) • As it stands winner goes into a play off for promotion to SPFL. SJFA - No • Winner gets automatic entry into the Betfred Cup Group Stage, £17,000 minimum prize money, guaranteed 2 home matches in group also. SJFA - No • Top 4 qualify for Irn Bru Cup, minimum £3,000 Prize money. SJFA - No • Up to £20,000 funding as a LL club available from Scottish Football Partnership towards ground improvements. SJFA - No

The EoS had an established board experienced with running a league within sfa rules, existing cups and sponsors. A splinter WoS has none of that and what remains of the West juniors would probably be stronger and pull more attention than the upstart league.

Dunno. Guessing 10-8. Livingston United have posted the cup draws.

That's what the Newburgh fan was suggesting would happen. Quite a swing for the South from the original proposal when they would have a 9 team Super League. Now they get a nice even 10-10.

By the end of the month is what I saw on Twitter.