BANKIEBILL

Yeah I also have a concern over that. I'm not wanting to do a pile on here. It's obviously a difficult job - I don't subscribe to the anyone can do in 20 minutes theory - it's just that we do seem to be aiming for a very ( too ) early end. We shouldn't be getting midweek games at moment to allow some teams to catch up ( and that is happening to an extent ). Really pleased not to have been in Junior Cup as that does skew things for a while. Anyway - I'm not expecting to be in a play off but hoping we are. I think it's a reasonable concern

It's literally the plan.

Did they ask for the season to be planned to finish 10 weeks before a play-off ?

My concern is that the West Champion - if licenced - will possibly need to wait several weeks between last West game and a play-off. Thats how its currently scheduled for. If we finish in March it'll be the earliest we've ever finished. In 2010 we played 26 games after 16th March. Last season we played 16 games after 16th March - finishing on 13th May ( around when EOS us due to finish ). We're currently ahead of many teams and we had a game v Bens brought forward a few weeks ago when neither team requested it and it does seem there is a keenness to get games played ? You didn't really address that implied concern Kennie

So while you're here. Why is WSFL due to finish on 16th March ( with majority playing in Junior Cup ) and ESFL due to complete by 11th May ( with no EoS clubs in Junior Cup I think I'm right in saying ). Now no-one actually believes the league will finish on 16th March but that's how it's currently planned. 8 weeks of a difference. Even if we go to end of March to finish league then that's still 6 weeks. With a potential league play off towards end of May, that's potentially quite a wait for West winners. What's reason for this ??

Heard things not good and hence players sold or released. Hate to see any club like that. Sorry I've misread that. I'm hearing Bonnyton are in trouble and thats what I'm referring to.

I don't think LL is better from a competitive perspective and I think there are worse teams than in West Prem ( plus some that are likely to be pretty decent ) - however it's where you need to go to get back into National Leagues which is our ambition - unfinished business. West Premier is a superb league.

There's a lot of games to go and virtually all teams will take points off others. It's much more open league than for last couple of years. Darvel as you say have some pretty decent players still, Pollok will be there or thereabouts, Beith are going through a wee bad spell but still are top of league by winning games in hand, Benburb can beat anyone on the day, St Cadocs have a strong squad, Gartcairn are spending gawd knows whose money like water, Talbot seem to have found their mojo again, Hurlford and Largs are picking up results, Cumnock too ... Bankies will need to keep turning up with their game head on or we'll get drawn back into the fight. Will be a tight league I think

Was it a transfer ( money ) or a free agent ( nae money ) ?

Pollok seem to be getting really decent crowds and their capacity increasing will help. We're probably around the 550 - 600 average this season. Hopefully this will go up if we keep having something to play for

Aye ... Good game and a point apiece was fair I think

That I've ever SEEN at our level.

That's a feat for sure. Smashin player

Congratulations to Adam. How many games has he played ?

Beith looked v dangerous in 1st half especially and Hughes had a cpl of decent stops. Defensively we kept our shape really well and limited their danger men. 1 nil at half time probably was harsh on us but reasonable reflection and what a goal. 2nd half there was only 1 team in it tbf and again we were solid. Red card at 2 nil finished game and we should probably have punished them more - however 3 nil a great return. Another big game next week at home to Darvel. With 2nd v 3rd at same time - could be a big day. Everyone can beat each other though so anything could happen.

Needs backed up but the ideal way to respond to a poor Scottish Cup result

G .... T .... F

It is, but they've tweeted that the rain has made it unplayable

Tbf Rabs made us work hard for it. They were up against it at 1 down and Kev Green's badly mistimed tackle on Oisin but they kept their shape and kept us honest. Really good 3 points and with some still to come back incl Nicky Low.

That seems to be fair comment. Wasn't at game but those that were there say it was a toughie

Arthurlie 0 Bankies 1 - Bankies go top of the league - Beith a cpl of games in hand

Different spelling

Ht Arthurlie 0 Bankies 1 ( McMonigle )

You may well be correct with the bracketing of the clubs but in terms of actual budgets - Darvel were paying up to £20k for transfers and several hundred quid a week in wages / bonuses etc ... that doesnt point to overall spending to be in the same bracket as the others there. You do say over £110k but some of those clubs will be way over that. It's the way that those resources are used though. Darvel or Pollok fans - even Talbot since the reorganisation of the leagues - do they feel they've had a real return for money spent ?? Sure Beith fans do ... and they're not quite as poor relations as they'd have people think. In terms of budgets - Moff at Clydebank has done very well despite us not winning anything yet. On an upwards trajectory though. It will get harder and harder - as clubs come up from below with big budgets ( Drum, Johnstone Burgh etc ) - forcing clubs to try and find more to push the boat a bit or accept they cannot compete. For a club like Talbot who don't rely on a money man - going out the Scottish so early will be a bit of a blow. I do think that participation in so many cups can be a distraction - but not the Scottish.