Bestsinceslicebread

Why is everyone saying they are going to Elgin on a Tuesday night. Do they think they are going to get win the Top WOS league or the top EOS or SOS league and then win the playoff matches and then on top of that have the correct facilities/stadium to even get into the lowland league. Then Elgin need to get relegated from Scottish division 2 in order for these teams to play Elgin in the Lowland league All this argument about Elgin is just utter crap, Joke or no Joke

Thank you and appreciated. I'm not here to lambast juniors leaving or staying. I want what I believe is best for all our football levels and I like to think my views are as objective as possible and will never try to lambast anyone's views being different if its in a reasonable context. This post and its views and the situation arriving with the pyramid yes or no, stay or leave scenarios are such an important issue with juniors leaving and staying but too many have hidden agendas on here and the right information is not getting through a lot of times. I have taken an interest as I coach at youth level and have successfully been part of coaching staff who has produced grassroots lads to either junior or senior ranks. Obviously the youth pathways with junior teams is my interest and always will be so yes, if and when you are wanting to have a show in regards to the effect of the pathways, of which I'm very much involved and have been with a few youth academies then I'll love to take up your offer but right now you have many more important people in regarding to juniors and seniors people in the know to be added to your show

I get that and not disagreeing with you so that's why I posted the teams who have stated they are leaving this year and the bigger list of 9 teams or so is correct with hinted interest.

To be honest, I think a slebbering mess and dinosaur comment is not needed but I do believe that your posted arguments above are just ,... nothing to write home about. What's it got to do with playing against a team who are new, absolutely nothing. Every team , including the team you follow, and I follow started new at one time or another so everyone should be and is given the chance to start and should not suffer. Clubs like Clydebank and Kilwinning are not leaving because they want in the Scottish cup, they are leaving because they want to progress and better themsefls, what's wrong with that. I guarantee there are clubs who do not want to leave but will consider leaving because they are fearful what will happen if certain other teams leave. You say all the clubs going to the pyramid will and I quote "and will mean you have to have floodlights, emergency services, raise your prices, etc." but that will only happen to teams who win the WOS League or EOS league or SOS league, NOT ONE SINGLE TEAM BELOW TEIR 5 needs to change anything right now and many will NEVER need to change as they will stay where they are at the level that is right for them. I made my comments about the podcast and now do I feel the podcast is objective ?, NO IT IS NOT. When the chairman stated that they would have to pay tons of money to join the pyramid, why wasn't he corrected there when most know that to be untrue . If I was for the pyramid, which I am or for the juniors I would look at both points negative and positive and try and come up with an objective view knowing that being objective, I would find the best solution for my club that either staying or joining. I will say the juniors have a lot of community teams but guess what, if those teams leave the junior ranks to join the pyramid/senior ranks or they decide to stay junior, they will still be a community team, always will be, they just might get fans from outside the community follow them which happens at junior level anyways.

I liked your post because I thought it was right but when I checked back no its not, the poster stated the following; # The future of junior football thread has been good so far, but I’ve not enough time to catch up. Can someone pop a list of any teams they know who’ve committed or hinted towards the pyramid here. Any regions: West/East/North# but that's not asking who is leaving , its just asking who has committed or hinted, which to be honest, the big list is true as most have hinted towards the pyramid. I have added the ones who we all know who have confirmed that they are leaving or intention of leaving and I've only done so form the information from the official websites.

So Officially 100% its the following; West: Kilwinning Rangers, Clydebank, East: Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Thornton hibs The rest have made enquiries about moving, I would expect there are many who have made enquiries about moving, even clubs with no intention of moving but put in a note of interest. The links t the official pages are here that state about moving https://www.kirkcaldyymfc.co.uk/ https://www.thorntonhibs.com/news/club-announcement-2513853.html https://www.clydebankfc.com/club-statement-pyramid-2/ I cant, so far find anything official that Kilwinning are going but other than officially expressed and interest, similar to Clydebank's view

Completely confirmed only but the real number for WoS is said to be 20+ at this point and there are rumours of around 8 moving in the east. West: Kilwinning Rangers, Clydebank, Maryhill, Glencairn, Rob Roy, Largs, Irvine Meadow, Darvel, Whitletts, Glenafton East: Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Thornton hibs

During the end of last season, I spoke with committee members of both Harthill and West Calder, unofficially capacity I may add and not one person to a man had no intention or thoughts on going to the pyramid/seniors but obviously since then there has been much change and its more like a snowball stating at a snowy hill and starting ot roll. So their views will may have changed but kicking and screaming I may add but they're most likley thinking it maybe time to go

100% agreement with your post. Me personally, I aint interested in swaying anyone, chairman or otherwise. Whoever he has listened to is incorrect, feeding him wrong information and as a chairman of ANY club, they have to make decisions, be part of decisions for the good of the club and on the foundation of what he has said, he is making a decision solely based on wrong information. If I was a fan of a junior football club, I would want to know what is happening with my club as at this current juncture, decisions are going to be very important on their clubs future and again, I would want my club to act on the CORRECT INFORMATION. Totally agree with official statements being put out. One the PWG meetings, being so important for the life of me, why wasn't there any minutes taken for the PWG meetings, one of the reasons why there is so much confusion and arguments with people saying one thing when others said they said something else.

For me I'm not taking a shot ant any particular club as I believe I am always objective both with pyramid views, senior views and junior views. I want what is best for Scottish football and I believe the pyramid will work. What annoys me is the information that the Blantyre chairman is stating, which it totally and utterly incorrect and out of date. The comments about less kids playing football and doesn't know why or doesn't know how to rectify this in his area especially when he is chairman of a junior club, the opportunities are endless. Also about it will cost the club tons and tons of money to update stadium to join the pyramid when this aint true. These are the things that are out there to be ridiculed especially that the information is out there to be understood. I commend any team that leaves junior football to join the pyramid seniors and I commend any junior team who decides to stay junior, either way it should be in the best interests of your club BUT to go or stay to inaccurate information is stupid, ignorant and misguided

Yeah Glensmad, the comments 'idiots' I take back as I know it is a bit strong but I stated it because its no excuse as there are tons of information out there that states you don't need any changes to stadium/facilities ONLY if you want to reach tier 5. I will probably state as ignorantly or misguided but no way can any team use that as an excuse. I'm junior through and through, played it all my career and watched it for years and years but I believe the best thing is joining the pyramid and after listening to the Nugent podcast on the Nugent post and the chairman or Blantyre stating it will cost them, I just now don't have time for anyone as blinkered or ignorant as that, and being misinformed. How many chairmen of junior clubs think the same misguided way. If someone states how it will work, the pyramid system etc.., go and do your research to make sure what they are saying is true.. Any chairman and or committee that decides to leave or stay then good luck but to use reasons which as FACTUALLY untrue and staying or leaving because of this can harm your club.

Any junior team who hesitates ONLY because they think they stadium/facilities are not up to scratch are idiots, truly idiots. No SCRATCH that, I take idiots back. they are either blinkered, ignorant or misguided. Any team that leaves junior football now, in the west for example will go into a new expected WOS in tier 6 and their stadium is fine, only if they win the league will it effect them and they wont get into tier 5. Any East region team that joins the EOS will go not the bottom of the EOS league and again through the years if they get promoted they wont be allowed to progress to teir5. SO I think we are all in agreement that teams will be leaving the West region and the East region making both those junior associations weaker in standard so it sup for the ones who are left behind to either stay or leave the following year if the standard is that bad. Sorry not been following the north section as much as I've been more focused on the West, just wanting it to start which I feel is the most important thing and will make all junior teams around the country take notice.

Well said that man

There is nothing in any mandate that this is going to happen that I heard about and all the associations have to vote on this are far as I'm aware so that's the only reason why the SOS would move down one tier or two

I'm sorry if this upsets a few people but I have to be honest on this post regarding the interview Having signed for Blantyre Vics during my playing career I was interested to listen to this and honestly, I've never heard something so blinked and no vision in all my life and that's what I fear the problem is with a lot of people running clubs, whether they remain junior or move to seniors. The chairman saying, kids are not playing football anymore, ffs if he hasn't got a clue why then there's no hope of him doing anything about it and especially in regards to bringing youth that will help his clubs future. Then the crap about saying about its costing money to go to the seniors when its not, only if a team from the juniors joins and wants to get promoted to tier 5 then they have to update their facilities but that wont happen to Blantyre for a long time. If he/the club are to remain in the junior association then that's fine but to use those reasons when he is wrong, that's does my head in. I genuinely hope they do research and make sure all options are covered. and to Glensmad comment below, yeah 100% agree but the podcast people don't help either or are they blinkered or just want a reaction to their show. I wish Blantyre all the best, I genuinely do

100% agree with what you say but We will need regionalized divisions as some teams will never get far in progression while some teams from the region will be good enough but say a team in the region ptomots to the bigger wider league and does well but after ten years, change in staff, players, committee etc.. and the standard drops they might get relegated and then able to be back to their regional and thus reorganize and grow again. We don't want any team to fold so helping others to find their level always helps. This does create problems. Say we keep the EOS and SOS at tier 6 and a new WOS starts at tier 6, so that's fine. But in a couple of years the SOS standard is still low, as many have stated, not me I may add as I don't know the standards) and a reorganization happens and the SOS drops down a tier7 and feeds into the top WOS. it means the tier 6 WOS will have a team or teams promoted who are further away but as Doon says why hurt teams because they are further away do the WOS might not be just the west but include some of the promising SOS teams. the whole west region juniors is not regionalized, they used to be and they continue so the whole west could continue the way they are except until tier 6 where the SOS could enter as a feeder. Obviously the SOS and other associations would have to agree with this but I say not right now, keep it the way it is with a new WOS, hopefully , entering in at teir 6

May as well get this off ma fecking chest as most know I've been following this post for the past few years and other medium and chatting to a lot of people, fans, and committee men chairmen of different clubs and found it all varying in views and ideas. Right now, I hope there is a WOS that starts up next year, which if does happen is fantastic for the pyramid structure and Scottish football, (I believe). This is a huge thing for our part time football and will speed the whole country up in its progression. I'm sure there will be a few East junior teams who will join the EOS and thus the east region juniors will become weaker and that in turn will make more leave in the future. The same will apply to the West region juniors. I'm not saying this out of spite as I follow the juniors and am involved with youth football. In regards to the SOS, I haven't seen many teams consistently so I cannot gauge how good the standard is but in general the view of most on here is that the standard is low compared to the west juniors. Right now if the WOS does start up then it will be in tier 6 alongside EOS top division and the SOS. A lot of chat that the SOS should be lower down etc... But right now, I'm more concerned about getting the WOS started and in the years to come all leagues including the SOS can be looked at together and positively to see what the best structure is. I believe that in the Scottish division 2 there should be a straight relegation of the bottom team, No exception. With the play off of the HL winners and LL winners will get the automatic promotion place and the runner up will play the 2nd bottom league 2 side for the playoff to get to league 2. Every other league below this should be 2 up 2 down with 3rd bottom and 3rd top play off so that teams lower down can always see the chance of progression earlier as if it was only one up one down some teams may thing is years and years before they get a chance. I was wanting all the juniors teams ot go ALL-IN but know this wouldn't happen but it has brought to light the standard of organization of the junior association and I'm glad they won’t be in charge as I can see it being a stalwart to the progression of many of the teams. One thing I will say, there's a lot of chat previously about juniors joining the seniors but that is it, if the junior grade joins the seniors then there are junior no more, the history is in the past and something to look back on and always cherish as I know I do but it’s a new dawn and a lot of work has been going on and will continue until we all, hopefully get it right. There is change coming and there will be losers and there will be winners out of this, some junior teams might fold and some junior teams might become bigger once they realize their potential. there's a lot of hearsay going on with teams going to this league and that league and what will happen, getting humped more or winning more games but all this is hypothetical, why, because if a team leaves, for example the SOS league to the new WOS they COULD be opening up more sponsorship opportunities alone which will bring in more crowds and more money. The same of every junior teams that joins the senior league. We can’t be certain how it will work for them as again, more opportunities regarding sponsorship, more players wanting to go to them because they are a senior team now and not a junior team. The possibilities are endless. Here's an idea on cups, I don't mind being shot down on this There could be a Scottish cup non league cup played amongst all the non league teams, from lowland - Highland league down, (licensed clubs can also participate in the professional Scottish cup as well) And you could have an east of Scotland cup with all teams in the east and include the highland league, (or if a new north west league started). And you could have a WOS cup including the SOS teams. I know Highland might have their own and so would SOS but it would be much more interesting as regional cups. Also each association can have the standard 3 domestic cups to play for as it per usual in all youth football. Sponsorship possibilities again. Then there is the development league, right now there are junior teams arranging this as we speak, looking into their youth growth and intend to act on it and I see this as a huge thing for many of these teams progression and their future. I'm sure this post will be dissected by a few but I worked nightshirt and started typing so not all my views are added but as most know, I can elaborate this, ffs please noooo I hear the cries.

As far as I'm lead to believe in Croatia, every coach even at grassroots football and upwards is employed by the national association to coach and that is a country smaller than ours and look at their success. Then obviously you get to a level of professional teams who then employ a coach to take charge of their team

Yeah sorry, I didn't expand my post. That's the only reason why any team would leave the SOS to join a new WOS with the potential of bigger crows home and away

I am a bit confused, and that doesn't happen a lot, honest Why would any team want to leave a tier 6 league to join another tier 6 league when allegedly the one they are in is viewed as a weaker league. meaning if they want to progress then they have a great chance at the league they are in than joining what most people expect to be a stronger league.

I think first of all a WOS should be set up and let the LL and EOS decide who is allowed in or not. I will say regarding borders, there are teams who benefit and teams who do not. Dunipace for example are a team who can join the WOS or the EOS because of their location. I haven't looked into detail about the rest but think Kello would be the same. I think there should be borders but it should be fluid meaning a team 2 miles from a border can go into the other league. One reason for example; A team could be in the boundary of EOS but the nearest team to them are 20 miles away but on the WOS there would be teams 3 miles away, like a few of them, it would only be right if they were only two miles of so outside the boundary to be allowed in the WOS. WOS and EOS were just added hypothetically. This is my viewpoint and stated this about 8 months ago on this thread in regards to a boundry

People are all going a bit 'Pete Tong' on here and on twitter I bet there isn't this type of hassle with the Scottish Cricket Pyramid structure

100% agree Glensmad Off the thread a little but on point with senior clubs future. I guarantee most youth clubs connected to a junior team who are about to or have went senior will find it easier to bring the youth to their teams/academy. These lads who are still in football at U17s,U19s,21s, either play it for recreational or for a chance/crack at going to a higher level and thus able to bring in better quality players to the youth team which obviously the first team will hope to cultivate into a first team player

Yeah that's something that can be sorted in the future or even just looked at to see what and if any changes need made for the better of Scottish football. Right now, on the agenda is the West region and potential arrival of a WOS league being part of the pyramid

I do not speak for anyone and actually most on here know this, even the ones for or against the juniors /pyramid etc.. I'm not a 50 year old guy sitting behind a computer who high fives himself when I post something thinking I've put someone down. I don't do anger online or get upset at people being nasty or condescending. Some are genuinely just blinkered or argumentative but if those people actually work for a junior committee in an online capacity, marketing etc..., then they have serious issues that need to be looked at and I genuinely feel sorry for them as I'd expect they cause more harm to their club than good. I just want to see Scottish football improve. The whole problem since day one of this pyramid carry on is that too many people are power struggling, its so obviously beyond belief. Obviously with the inept constructive meetings the West All-In looks unlikely, which I would have loved to happen so now lets the junior teams who want to progress and try to become bigger allowed to join the pyramid and the ones who are happy the level they are at then should be allowed to stay. With this I believe the youth development in the West will take off as junior teams look to bring their youth sections into the development league fold and this will hopefully be for the better, giving younger lads the view of a clear pathway to senior football and more chance of wanting to be involved in football than the terrible season we have had at youth level with teams folding. Oh and never in my wildest dreams from a young lad at 10 year old following the Bens until recently, would I even have thought there was a chance of the Bens joining the senior league. Don't think it will but suppose its there for them if they wanted it.