[Junior football, what is the future?]

11 hours ago, Khufu2 said:

Since they aren't members of the EoSFL how can their application for licensing be in the pipeline?

Eh maybe they have forwarded there payment and committed to the pyramid by stating intention to join eosl for next season. As the only 2 who have forwarded application and payment at this time they are being allowed to progress.  Nobody else is being accepted at this time until the mess we are currently in is resolved and clear way forward agreed.   Lthv have been awarded there licence which is totally separate to being allowed to progress with application. Would hope the embargo will be lifted soon and clear way forward agreed. We can but hope

[Junior football, what is the future?]

9 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said:

Anyone know who the two requests for SFA Membership are? At first I was thinking one of them would be LTHV, but presumably they're an ongoing application and this read like two new applications. It's not really fair to put in an embargo in place, even short term, for clubs that might be waiting for official acceptance to the EoSFL.

Blackburn and Dalkeith a believe 

[Junior football, what is the future?]

1 hour ago, drs said:

Attendances have been down to my naked eye at Carmuirs for the last couple of seasons but it does appear to be a league wide problem - the trip to Linlithgow earlier in the season was probably the emptiest I've seen their ground on a matchday and you are now lucky if Boness bring more than 20 fans. Bonnyrigg on Saturday was a healthy away support but teams like Carnoustie and Dundonald recently have brought virtually no one.

Absolute Nonsense, Bluebell had a bus at game and a number of cars. Not the biggest support but easily 50 on equal to canelons if not more.   Just ask tags in the social club it was busy both before and after the game and he thanked us all as it was certainly one of his busiest days. 

[Junior football, what is the future?]

47 minutes ago, Fife Journeyman said:

Forfar to Ayrshire isnt feasible for a tier 6 league game.

On current standings Forfar wouldn’t be in the league

[Junior football, what is the future?]

43 minutes ago, Burnie_man said:

A league which still treads all over the EoSFL territory, and which was roundly rejected last time it was floated.  If the SJFA are seriously pursuing that then they are wasting everyone's time (IMO)

Why does the "Grade" need saved? another example of grade syndrome.  The "Grade" ceases to exist as soon as its clubs enter the Pyramid. The "Grade" has proven for years that it's not fit for purpose as far as administration and running the game is concerned, why do people want to carry that on into what is a new era?

Point 1

any alternative that is put forward by sjfa you dismiss.  You should really try and look at what’s better for football overall.  Too much politics from everyone is clouding the overall jusdgement for me.

Personally if we’re talking about football standards and improving the product a super duper league would do just that. The clubs will decide, nothing at this point is time wasting.  Time wasting has been done constantly over the last number of years by blatant non engagement and activity.

point 2

i am not hung up about the grade to be honest however the eosl sjfa etc seem to all want there own identity within the structure.  a true amalgamation under the sfa is probably my preferred option if that means in the long run a body to replace the eosl and sjfa etc then so be it.  My original point was around the Sjfa response up until possibly now has been very poor and they have contributed heavily to the current fiasco which is killing there grade.  For me they still have time to rectify what they have failed to engage in previously but the clock is ticking 

[Junior football, what is the future?]

12 hours ago, Sergeant Wilson said:

There can't be two leagues in the east, can there?

There’s no outline from sjfa at the moment was kinda hoping we would have got that on Tuesday.

However, assuming there would be 2 east leagues at tier 6 is also possibly off the mark.

I am Led to believe that a combined east/west superleague at tier 6 is also a potential proposal with regionalised leagues below.  Now personally under a pyramid structure which allows junior clubs to obtain licence and scrap the reinstatement rule and possibly the junior brand.  The formation of that league would be a real step forward. 

However, time is still of the essence and agreement by I would predict Ayrshire based west clubs potentially a stumbling block.  But we couldn’t argue what a potentially exciting league we would have.

As said previously the sjfa should have been active a long time ago.  It’s up to them to save the grade and action is required urgently 

[Junior football, what is the future?]

2 minutes ago, Che Dail said:

Clubs weren't instructed to do anything, they were invited - it was optional. 

But from what I've been told, given the hostility shown towards the EoS and the sheer arrogance of those at the 'top table', it was probably for the best that some clubs didn't attend.

At least a commitment was made to join the pyramid - maybe not next season, or the season after that but the next one again - they'll do their best to try anyway.

And don't even think about applying for a Club Licence because it's virtually impossible.

Allegedly the SFA, Highland League and SoS are OUTRAGED at the East of Scotland league for canvassing clubs to join.

Take home summary: More scaremongering, more vows, the Juniors are Better Together. 

Blackburn: Go for it - life is short, make the most of it!

Obviously you weren’t at the meeting, I personally found it very worthwhile and lots of points for discussing.  There was an element of arrogance and scaremongering at times but that is no different to the “if the juniors don’t join the eosl now, you will join at tier 7,8 or 9” scenario when in fact no decisions have been made.

An assurance was given by the SJFA who are in dialogue with the SFA that they will work towards joining a “pyramid” for end of next season.  They also accepted when pushed from the floor that they need to  keep to this timeline.  The SFA Stewart Regan have previously stated that the juniors will join at tier 6 and assurances this is still the case are to be sought and a plan agreed at the egm.

For me Its up to the clubs now, they basically stay with the juniors for another year and trust the SJFA and SFA to amalgamate to some sort of agreed pyramid or they don’t trust this to happen and move across now under there own accord.

There was a stronger together theme throughout the evening which you can’t really argue with but as said each club needs to decide the best course of action they believe. 

What is clear to  is that failure for the SJFA to deliver on pyramid inclusion for the end of next season will for me be a final blow to the juniors and a complete incompetence which will destroy the grade.

There was also an acceptance from the top table that this should have been addressed and engaged with some time ago but we are where we are the next few months to a year will either see massive change or the demise of our junior football.

A twist or stick scenario 

 

[Junior football, what is the future?]

Have heard the east superleague team is Camelon