Dev

Maybe it would be a good idea if the organisers, the Lowland League, were able to state how many applications have been received ahead of the 31st March dead-line. Then those clubs which remain "on the fence" would have something to go on before deciding what to do. Indication of the total number of expressions of interest would also help after that dead-line. Maybe that's the plan in any case?

If the new League for 20/21 is going to be a Tier 6 division (and lower) of the Lowland League then it's that league which sorts all of this out. The Tier 6 and below to become a separate league in 21/22.

Many posters have said that the standard of the East (south) Juniors had gone down because players are choosing to go to EoS clubs. Maybe this is what finally makes up the minds for some of these Junior clubs. Player power! Best of Luck JC. Not that you'll need it.

Presumably the conferences will be seeded so that will help a little.

Right enough but if all the leading clubs outside the SPFL and in the Lowland League area were competing for it then it wouldn't be far off and significant as the Junior Cup - albeit after a while and some meaningful commercial promotion activity. After all the Northern Juniors never had any much to do with the Junior Cup - so it is a Lowland competition (apologies to the north of Tay clubs).

Indeed, and the process that's under-way now will allow all West Juniors to move over - but they have the freedom to choose to stay Junior. If they all go then they all go. Simple as that. Doesn't need any compromise in addition to this does it?

…. the same applies to Girvan. Good to see them move too.

…. and Hurlford are focussed on the Cup for now.

That may be the quickest way to get the strongest Division One but will it be the method used?

The big message that this sends out is to clubs currently outside the EoS. It means that all new clubs joining in 2021/22 will have to start at the bottom so further delay in joining will be costly.

Although I favour Conferences, once more, I am surprised that it's gone this way, if it has. There are decent arguments for both preferences. I wonder how the teams will be split up, and will there be small divisions so that inter-conference games can be brought in again. Guessing that there may be a roughly North-South split or even North/Central/South? Depends on the number of new teams. Maybe aim for a 16 team Division One in 2021/22 and north and south Second Divisions.

Is this from the Official Fauldhouse Twitter Account? Fauldhouseutd @Fauldhouseutd1 All the best to Thornton in the eos Quote Tweet Thornton Hibs JFC @ThorntonHibsJFC · 6h Club Announcement https://thorntonhibs.com/news/club-announcement-2513853.html… 3:25 pm · 19 Feb 2020·Twitter for Android 2 Retweets 3 Likes

Is this official from Fauldhouse? Fauldhouseutd @Fauldhouseutd1 All the best to Thornton in the eos Quote Tweet Thornton Hibs JFC @ThorntonHibsJFC · 6h Club Announcement https://thorntonhibs.com/news/club-announcement-2513853.html… 3:25 pm · 19 Feb 2020·Twitter for Android 2 Retweets 3 Likes

It was postponed at the last minute. Being held this week, if I recall correctly.

Maybe the EoS could go down the "Development " League route adopted by the Hellenic League in southern England, This league has separate divisions set aside for reserve/unofficial reserve sides and ambitious clubs which are gradually putting together the necessary facilities?

At the end of the day, no matter how bad the taste, the West Lothian clubs look as though they are going to be faced with no real choice. I am guessing that they won't be allowed into the new WoS league and that there won't be enough clubs of their quality in the East (south) Juniors. How bad would it be to be playing against old rivals once more? Very best of luck. Hope they go to EoS.

Some consider that the SoS isn't strong enough for Tier 6 e.g. at the end of the season it's not going to be won by a licenced club or that its' champions are licenced but are too weak to win a play-off to the Lowland League. If that is the case, say, nine times out of ten, what does it matter? They won't be stopping clubs from the EoS or the new WoS from winning promotion will they and, if they did, then there is a just case for saying that the club they beat wasn't good enough! What the SoS does is to provide opportunity for clubs, and referees, and coaches, etc etc from its' area to progress e.g. clubs to the Lowland League (if they can/if they wish to). It also provides a platform for local clubs to play at a reasonable level and gain an SFA club licence - if they wish to and if they can raise the funds. If clubs from this area are sufficiently well run so that they can achieve licenced status they can't be that bad! In any case why take this away from clubs located at the extremities of the country? There's no need.

Maybe that is why they should act now rather than wait for ……… What?

Let's hope this is a good sign.

In a recent post Born To Run stated that Reserve teams wouldn't be accepted.

Follow-ons from a notorious recent newspaper article supported by Gordon Robertson: See Twitter on NLS. Log in Sign up See new Tweets Conversation Rosyth FC @Rosyth_FC Very interesting read, but whoever is the writer on such a piece might want to look further afield to Fife perhaps, to see the dwindling in crowds, and more seriously in revenue. With most Fife teams now in the EoS set-up and teams like Oakley, crossgates and HOB all thriving. Quote Tweet David Severs @OnHandHandyman · 22h Blackburn Utd Pollok Creetown Rosyth Cumnock Stonehaven Dalbeattie Star Wishaw Juniors Haddington Ath Orkney Spartans Hurlford Utd & all the other 200+ non league clubs survive with fantastic committees, helpers, supporters & sponsors. More & better media needed though https://twitter.com/GordRobertson/status/1228989749714616320… 10:32 am · 18 Feb 2020·Twitter for iPhone

https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/view/news/article/489/Work_underway_at_Craighead_Park?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn&utm_content=The+View LESMAHAGOW Improvement works costing around £80,000 have started at Craighead Park in Lesmahagow Beginning today (Monday, 17 February), the work will replace the stand and changing pavilion roof at the stadium which has become synonymous with local football side, Lesmahagow Juniors. The old stand was demolished in 2019 due to health and safety concerns and will be replaced by a new purpose built metal covered stand which will accommodate around 200 people standing. The current terracing will undergo significant ground works to make safe and accommodate the new stand. The pavilion roof will also be replaced. Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor John Anderson, said: “We have worked closely with Lesmahagow Juniors, who have a long history and association with the village stretching back nearly 100 years. “I would ask everyone to be aware that the area will effectively be a building site from Monday, 17 February and should not be accessed by unauthorised personnel. “Staff from South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Limited and the police will be carrying out patrols in the area throughout the time of the works. "The roof works should be completed within four weeks but the exact duration of all works won't be known until the ground works commence on site.” A spokesperson for Lesmahagow Juniors said: “We would like to thank the external funders, especially the Lesmahagow Development Trust and Renewable Energy Fund for making this possible. “These works are key to our continued future at Craighead. The club would like to thank the local community and businesses for their continued support.”

St Rochs Twitter St Rochs Juniors 16 February at 08:39 · We will be having a meeting this Friday at 7pm for all fans to discuss the proposed new proposal regarding the pyramid system and the new West Of Scotland league Meeting will be held at JMP

I hope that the EoS is willing to be open about what the clubs may have decided about next season's structure as soon as practically possible, and before the deadline for applications i.e. 31st March.

so AT's great history would still be there. It cannot be deleted. However, there is the chance to make even more history, isn't there?