Bestsinceslicebread

I am based at the West so not involved in the east except for the end of last season when I was watching my son play for an East Region junior team. It seems to me that the manager has visons and thought it was best for Fauldhouse to join the pyramid as he sees this as potential growth of the club. He stated if the club didn't join the pyramid then he would resign. The club had a meeting and it seems like the club decided not to join and he resigned due to this. (thanks what I read into it). One fact I will say, lots of junior teams rely on youth players, as they are not buying clubs but if you have local teams roundabout you who are or have moved to the senior ranks then I guarantee most kids will want to move to the local senior team than the junior team as the junior level is weakening.

Hypothetically as no team has officially stated they are leaving from the West region, if teams do leave the west, do you think it would be a straight movement up the leagues in the order they finish this season. Say 3 teams left the top division to join the seniors then how would that go with officially the teams who are supposed to be relegated this season

its a bit late when I typed it so I admit my bad and your right Archieb, that is what I meant

Condone was actually mean to be condemn but hey my bad Just checking but I don't mind being wrong, again but isn't condone to overlook or forgive and commend to praise formally, if so then I think both are different, definitely not the same. See you MylesOffside, cause you picked up on my mistake I need to go back over my posts and posts and posts to find my mistakes as I'm sure there are tons now

Every team makes mistakes or have problems. If they grow and look to improve and try to solve the problems then good luck to them I have never been so I cannot agree or disagree with you in regards to the ground and will go by your experience and to me, any team going to the pyramid looks like they intend to better themself

I will never condone any team, no matter who they are who are trying to progress and hopefully improve to become bigger. it should be commended, whether your for the juniors or the pyramid

There's been a bit of a debate with many saying that the SOS is a lower standard even to the West region juniors thus if the WOS starts many think the SOS should be at tier 7, meaning it will be a feeder for the new WOS. I've been thinking of it and to be honest whatever how many divisions are in tier 6 there will always be a stronger league than another so I'm happy to keep it the way it is and if teams leaves its only really due to they want in the league where there might be more crowds and exposure and to reap more money, personally, nothing wrong with that as long as they are in the defined areas of the association and new association

Think that would be directed more if Bonnyton Thistle and or Caledonian Braves applied from the South of Scotland league

Yeah was just thinking that its not an official leaving, so many are in the % region, some low then a few including myself think its 99% with Clydebank and high percentage with Kilwinning

So officially we have West: Kilwinning Rangers, Clydebank, East: Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Thornton Hibs & Kennoway Star Hearts with many others from the West and East making a note of interest.

Most junior players are not full time with the club so the contract is only part time, training two nights a week and playing a game, so in realty, 2 hours training, twice a week and less than 3 hours of football, including arriving time so the contract is for say 7 hours in total. its not calculated that way as per contract but that's in reality what the contract is for. As long as all contracts cover national guidelines then there shouldn't be a problem. But remember an amateur form is strictly that for amateurs so the money they get is for travelling expense, outgoings, boots etc.. if your a really good player and the team want you and you wanna stay amateur then they might take a chance and pay out extra for you.

its different nowadays first of all in junior when I played we only had either amateur form or professional form and this was before the Bosman ruling. I wouldn't say I was volatile but if I wasn't happy with something as captain I would deal with it and get it sorted with the manager but for many players, too many times, managers would go in a huff and not play those players and even if you had a contract for a year, professional that is, you could not leave the following years as you were tied to the club until they got money for you, sometimes players were tied for years cause they had a fall out with the gaffer and didn't play a game. I always stayed on amateur forms with teams I was at Benburb, Annbank, Dalry, Hurlford, Saltcoats and Blantyre Vics and reached a level were I was aid very well but if I wasn't happy with a team then I could leave at the end of the season. Most clubs take on a lot of youth, usually for the sake of it, not on merit because they don't have enough players etc.... especially at the start of the season but all the rules have changed regarding youth players contracts but the older players rules have changed as well but still the amateur forms and professional forms exist. it really depends on the clubs views of contracts and situation what they decide is best for them and then agreement with each player.

It is tragic, but times move on and you have to adapt or die. I have no problem whatsoever in Junior teams deciding to stay junior but its the reason behind it. The comment Whitburn Vale makes is so true throughout junior football, (They are dyed in the wool junior men, who care nowt for the pyramid and have a distinct lack of knowledge of its workings!!). They do not know any better, other than junior, they think everything is rosy when it is not, they do not do their research or have others do their research on the matter and then make an objective decision. There was a chairman of a junior team pleading on twitter to another chairman of a junior teams saying don't leave, we have an 134 year history, that was the only reason he gave. I am junior through and through, played it all my days and now I either coach at youth games or watch youth games that interest of effect my team or Im at a junior match. I do not go to senior games other than games that involve lads that I have coached. After all this even I know in the current situation for many, many reason teams should start to look towards the pyramid/senior leagues.

Yeah Che Dail With you on that 100% for a professional contract. Are all Fauldhouse players on a professional contract, that's the thing but if you are on an amateur's contract, you can leave whenever you want. If the junior team do not release said player after the player has asked to leave then the player has to go outside their club and contact the association administration. You should be allowed to leave within 30 days or 40 and the reason why the club can hold onto your details for only 30 (or is it 40 days) is that you have training kit to hand back etc...

Sorry it has went through phases. It started the first time back in 99/00 and through those years until now there has been other big money people came in and the level has changed. The point is that the 99/00 was a catalyst or part of and Hurlford haven't really looked back since as more people, locals, sponsors etc.. have came into the club to invest. The same can happen to Darvel, and for me, there's nothing wrong with that

I don't really see what the problem is here except the main thing is really jealousy by supporters of others teams that they are not in the situation of Darvel. I admit, I do not bother with Darvel legend as he bites to much, treats comments about Darvel as if they are an attack when they are not, sometimes the stuff he says I just switch off and if he was in an official capacity in a team that I operate in I would want him to stop online what he is doing as there's too much negativity on show to others. This season Darvel have came out with money, brought in coaches and players of alleged higher calibre, nothing wrong with that, that's Darvel's Plan and I commend them for this. Again as I've stated in the past, exact same happened with Hurlford in the 99/00 season, the 7 season previously they had no money and usually bottom of the old second division. Then a new chairman took over with money and brought in well known players in Ayrshire at the time, not the best but little know getting to two semi/finals and a quarterfinals, putting the likes of Auchinleck and Glenafton out of cups. What I will say was that Hurlford continued with their growth due to having financial backing and other than a couple of lapses have been doing well for a long time. All I can say is good luck to Darvel and hope they continue with their growth as right now they are the team to beat as we were at Hurlford and they remit should be to get promotion at whatever cost of which I full expect them to do so and anything else along the way is a brilliant extra

lol nothing of the sort, it should have read, highland league instead of Lowland league, my bad

I like to be first in the hope people will agree with me, but I'm usually last to the party

You know I hate agreeing with you but that's 100% accurate. The breakdown in PWG, communication etc... has resulted in what we have now, an offer of a new WOS league open to anyone who fits in it, geographically etc.. Any junior, Amateur team and others are allowed to apply and see how they get on while the junior teams who do not want to leave can stay junior with their junior association. the pyramid is there for teams who want to progress and there is nothing wrong with that and the juniors can stay in their own association knowing they cant be relegated from the bottom division and the winners of the top divisions know they will stay there next year to do it all again as there is no promotion beyond their top league.

I have to admit, a bit strong winded but 100% correct. Wherever your team gets your players from should not come into this matter, no matter what region, East, North, West South. Your in a region or a set boundary so that's where you are located until boundaries are looked at for improvement.

Yeah I 100% agree with this. I have been critical out of anger due to a chairman on the show stating stuff that is not true, thus either being ignorant or ill informed and I feel this is the normal with most in the junior game. The bitchy comments towards him on here and to anyone in general don't serve a purpose only to put people against you and even people with the same view as you will be put off. Me, I admit I really get angry with people in position, chairmen, committee men who are ill informed, ignorant, blinkered, taking it personal. They have a job to do, to look after their and your clubs best interests. Stating excuses for not going or going when their excuses are utter wrong is not the reason why they are in position, They are in position to make the correct decisions for your club's future. I get it, it's hard for most to be objective, especially junior followers and I'm sure Nugent podcast will agree with this about themsefls and others who have been on the show. I am for the pyramid even though I've been junior through and through, I'm quite clear on this as I see so much potential and even the teams without vision or progression they wont need to change as they will be in the same/similar leagues as they are now and still be with the big guns if they leave. I work in youth grassroots football and have been successful being part of coaching teams winning leagues and cups but the most inspiring for myself is having an effect on a youth that has developed lads either to the junior level, senior level, part time and full time but right now its hard to keep kids motivated in football. One of the reasons our football is dwindling is that kids need motivated but I will say this. if any team has a kid living nearby their club and you say to him would you rather be part of this team in the junior ranks or the pyramid senior ranks, I can tell you most would get excited that they are in the senior ranks giving the team more of a chance to bring a youth on board. Here is something to think about for the bottom teams in the junior west region. The bottom Are Thorniewood United, Vale of Clyde, St. Anthony's, Newmains United, Saltcoats Victoria, Lugar Boswell Thistle, Ardeer Thistle. If their chairmen had any vision they would jump ship straight away and would be in the top division of the WOS if only 16 entered so meaning they would play top teams for the next few years as most would eventually come over, but if these bottom teams wait, they will eventually join and end up in the bottom league, so theres a chance of getting some big guns for a few years. Ok might be some humiliating defeats but hopefully they will learn from it while earning some money as not one of those teams will ever need to update their stadiums to stay in the pyramid. I know its out there and they wont consider it but its something of thinking outside the box while earning money

Why do my Bens always have to be the last to do anything.

ffs Inanimate Carbon Rod, why did you have to say that about beetroot, I dont know this. I'm watching two dogs Friday evening, I need to see if this beetroot thing works. Someone mentioned about Pollok taking the lead. Pollok are just going with the flow, they're not taking the lead, they are looking at every avenue and making sure they are covering bases while not falling foul of any side incase it doesn't happen etc... Even the die hard fans know that it may happen but they certainly don't want to be left behind if it does happen, that much is true.

yes totally agree, Elgin would go into the highland league so it would not happen for any West team