FairWeatherFan

They were given leeway. As we've seen the issue hasn't actually been with them getting "shafted" its that from February to May they and others were "ghosted" by the SFA. If they had found out in February that floodlights were absolutely necessary they would of been even more proactive in getting them in place before the season had ended. Instead they'll get them up during the close season. What's the deal with Rossvale moving grounds to get into the West Premiership? Would they have been ineligible for promotion if they hadn't made the move?

Correct Promotion is dependent on being licensed by the SFA. Which is what everyone knew at the start of the season. They were not licensed at the time they won the EoS Championship, so they didn't win promotion. It was also the SFA that shafted Bonnyrigg not the LL. The LL extended their licensing deadline for promotion eligibility from March 31st, until such time as the SFA made a ruling on applications waiting to be heard by the SFA board following a cancelled meeting in February.

They never won promotion, they won the EoS Championship.

They've had a vote to change the name. Haven't seen anything publicly yet. Should probably hear soon if they plan to change it for the new season as i'm guessing it's something that would have to be okayed at the LL AGM.

The SFA forced a moratorium on applications from May 2018-October 2018 that was 6 months to resolve the issue relating to an unexpected number of applicants. This included hiring an additional licensing officer and would lead to the introduction of floodlights to the licensing criteria. That 6 months was meant to take into account the new EoS members but also the expectation that the entire SJFA was due to be enter the pyramid in 2019-20. When the SFA lifted the moratorium it was meant to have resolved all the perceived issues with so many new applicants. So when 17 clubs applied, plus another 3 trying trying to apply, the SFA realised they hadn't put in a big enough road block and would sit on applications for 3 months. They've still not had the decency to tell Dunipace they can begin the application process as far as i'm aware. Trying to put any of the blame on the clubs for being over exuberant or expecting too much is a nonsense. It has been the SFA consistently failing to lead and making up their rules as they go along.

Over exuberance? They applied and were audited in 2018 and met all the 2018 licensing criteria. They were told to get floodlights and will potentially have them installed within less than 9 months and the only reason they were denied a license is because the SFA intentionally sat on all applications from February to May making sure clubs couldn't make any arrangements in time for 2019-20.

I never included them because they were applying in 2019 knowing that floodlights would be a requirement. Of the 17 as far as i'm aware the majority applied and were audited in 2018 with the floodlights sprung on them at the last minute.

Surprisingly well considering the last minute nature that floodlights were introduced as a requirement. Of the 17 clubs it in particular impacted as they were in the middle of licensing you got the following outcomes: Succesful applicants: 1. Blacburn United 2. Broxburn Athletic 3. Easthouses Lily MW 4. Hill of Beath Hawthorn 5. Penicuik Athletic 6. Tynecastle Rejected solely for not having floodlights: 7. Bonnyrigg Rose (floodlights sourced) 8. Camelon Juniors (floodlights summer 2020) 9. Dundonald Bluebell (floodlights being installed) 10. Haddington Athletic 11. St Andrews United (floodlight fundraising) 12. Tranent (floodlight fundraising) Ongoing applications yet to pass the Licensing Committee for SFA Board approval: 13. Dalkeith Thistle (have floodlights, different work still required) 14. Edinburgh United 15. Jeanfield Swifts (floodlights sourced waiting to be installed) 16. Musselburgh Athletic 17. Newtongrange Star (have floodlights)

Is it not more than that? Just within the SPFL, HL and LL you appear to have Livingston Hamilton Academical Kilmarnock* Falkirk East Stirlingshire Queen of the South Alloa Athletic BSC Glasgow East Fife Airdrie Montrose Stenhousemuir Raith Rovers Forfar Athletic Edinburgh City Spartans Clyde Cumbernauld Colts Annan Athletic Edusport Academy East Kilbride Gala Fairydean Rovers Kelty Hearts Cove Rangers

You need an extra club. Current East Region is 36 minus Glenrothes = 35 + 4 known applicants. So there's the potential to be smaller if any of the applicants get rejected. If the Breadalbane rumour had turned out to be true they could've hit 40.

Bit of a tangent and it's something that's a bit anarchronism in this day and age, as I think it's really on Fife and maybe still Stirlingshire on the go. Any chance that the Lothian clubs might form a senior Lothians FA for a cup competition? With clubs potentially being spread across the SPFL, LL and EoS in the next few years it would be a way to continue old rivalries.

It's not random they were invited and rejected the invitation. Also the Highland League isn't a closed shop, how is it that a place has only now become available? https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football-development/clubs/find-a-club/north-region/ Going by the SFA's Quality Mark scheme there's quite a few Junior clubs that seem to meet the same performance level as Banks O'Dee.

If it's live what would it hurt being on ITV at 1am and then a prime time repeat on ITV4?

It's the double standard. Clubs in the Lowland League area have been told to sign up for a pyramid league LL, SoS and EoS in order to get licensed. Whereas by a quirk of history BoD are able to publicly reject a pyramid league that literally invited them to join. All while retaining their license.

Yesterday there was confirmation they had turned down the invitation for 2019-20 and today their chairman was on the radio saying something along the lines of they have a project in place till summer 2020. So after that they may well have a look.

I've heard it said it's not them but the amateurs Dunblane Thistle.

The bigger West Lothian clubs will get the stick for it but I don't think the North Premier clubs will mind too much either. It makes little difference to them and is largely positive as it increases their chance of a title, promotion and playing the bigger Tayside teams.

You do realize it was a lot of the East Region clubs that came up with format? It wasn't forced on them.

Its not with some time to plan for it. They've already tried to apply previously and they're in a better position now than back then. If they don't apply with a year's notice they've ran out of excuses.

I agree that BoD should apply for 2020/21. But I do believe it's a bit last minute. The squad they have are junior for a reason and there is budgetary concerns with the increased travel. Did a Google maps check (basic I know). For round trip league campaigns HL = 65+ hours travel and Super League = 17 hours. That's nearly four times the travel.

This the rule you're talking about? EDIT: Which is from the SPFL rules and regulations and not the Pyramid Play-off Competition Rules.

I believe Oban fall just South of the current HL/LL boundary. If the West of Scotland ever gets something organised pyramid wise they could end up at some lower level.

When FitbaNorth dig up the threads for the 10 year anniversary I went through them since everyone was mentioning that BoD never even turned up to the presentation. Which is something that appears to be a myth as it was never mentioned at the time. When I say that BoD put the least amount of effort i'm talking about Formartine right out of the gate applying in August 2008. Turrif United quickly follow with their intention to apply. During this all the speculation from posters was that BoD would be the best candidate, but publicly the club doesn't do anything. By some point in September with 2 applicants already and supposed interest from others the HFL set an application deadline for January 2009. How I summed up BoD's efforts in deciding to apply in "The Last Expansion..." thread They would obviously go through with the application. Strathspey don't apply until the end of 2008. Once the 4 applicants were known and the vote happened this appeared to be the basic idea of how it played out:

Ahead of the 2009-10 season there were 4 clubs applying to joing the Highland League: Banks o'Dee, Formartine United, Turriff United and Strathspey Thistle. Each of the 15 existing members got to pick 3 clubs. Turriff United (15 votes), Strathspey Thistle (14 votes), Formartine United (11 votes) and Banks o'Dee (5 votes). So ten clubs never voted for Banks o'Dee. By most accounts at the time they were also the applicant that put the least effort into the process ,with the same sort of humming and hawing we're seeing now.

The meaningless fixtures argument doesn't really hold since the league has only had a Championship to play for since its existence. One of the ways to counteract that is Cup competitions. You've got the Highland League Cup for everyone, the North of Scotland Cup, the Aberdeenshire Cup and Aberdeenshire Shield. In the last ten years since the league went back to 18 clubs you've had 4 different champions and 13 clubs total have won something.