Andy groundhopper

Think so long as any new club meets criteria re ground etc, and can compete in a catchment area for players then fair enough. My only dislike is when the sugar daddy sponsor starts talking bollocks, only to disappear in a few years. We get clubs down south who realistically know their limits, while others are totally clueless. Good luck to all the new clubs, I'm sure you're ambitious and honest with your dreams.

Nothing to stop a crap full time club finishing bottom, such when losing to a part time outfit - it happens. No reason why a well run part time club can't make it work in the spfl - where the attendance may not be such a big factor. If the big 6 or 7 non Lge clubs make it into the spfl, good luck to them - we don't want a closed shop type system.Hopefully every promoted club can last 5-10 years in the big league.

90% to call it the Junior Cup, and it's not a Scottish Cup, confusing to say the least. Always thought this cup would raise its profile with the West clubs, looks interesting from the outside, with the clubs involved. Would this be classed as the premier non league cup, maybe in the future ?

Sadly,sometimes club's on field success (ambition) is never matched by off field structure - no £ or ground as such. They then look to scratch around for a few years, sharing everywhere - then promotions eventually put borrowed grounds out of touch, slippery slope ahead Give new clubs say 2 years grace to obtain a ground of their own ?

Just catching up with the 'cup' changes, farcical that B teams are allowed - doesnt that reduce it from being a Senior Cup ? May as well make it a pre season knockout cup prior to the season ( unless that hampers non Lge friendlies) Must be close to seeing it scrapped altogether sometime soon, the continued format changes get boring.

Are Berwick confident of a promotion push this season, and will the crowds stay around last year's ? tbh I saw a bit of anger when they were first relegated, but it's been quite positive ever since, maybe finding a level for the finances at this point. Not sure how long the fans could ensure staying out of the spfl though. Always enjoyed my visits, either for football or speedway !

What would the reaction be if the HL/LL had a division totally for reserve and colts teams ? both spfl and non league clubs, possibly a benefit to the lower clubs in the short /term .

Wish I could watch games in every round, that would be great ! Really think that every league and cup (this season) has to be suited toward sustainability of all clubs. Anything to cut down costs has to be applauded this season alone. Think this cup will grow in stature with the WOSFL clubs included, maybe level up with the Junior Cup one day ? I'm not sure tbh.

Is the colts thing to improve Celtic,Rangers youngsters OR to make the national side better ? (won't be both) The OF are points ahead, whilst the colts are doing the same - how many of those will ever get a chance in the 1st team ? Usually between 0-1 eh. The benefits of going out on loan far outweigh the colts argument, but it seems as though money talks as usual.

Think there's a difference between say a youth club entering senior football, and trying to make improvements along the way, OR a club who has no interest in getting a ground of their own, happily plodding along groundsharing here there and everywhere. If clubs are lucky enough to have council pitches/3g on their doorstep, then go and make use of them, but please try to improve.

There looks some decent grounds in the HL, anything around 100 miles ain't too bad a journey is it. Go on Brechin, try and take 100 to away games to create an atmosphere,could be a brilliant season eh. Plenty more clubs scared stiff of being relegated, but they will be ! Hopefully the crowds hold up and you enjoy the games.

Good luck to all the new clubs, hopefully they can improve their grounds etc over the years ahead IF they're ready to move through the divisions. At least they seem ambitious enough to join the West in the first place. Interesting down south, the Combined Counties Div 1 has 14/20 clubs groundsharing, maybe the way forward ? All depends on what minimum criteria is required for entry.

Can't remember geography being this much fun at school Seeing as Brora come across as not wanting to be promoted,sometimes, good luck to Brechin next season. Gives you a chance to reboot and earn some glory times, and enjoy some different away days

Think if club A applied, saying they were sharing at club B, there are no arguments (usually) Plenty of groundshares work very well, are there many instances of the Bo'ness situation happening before ? and how did they end up ? Honesty would be the policy, get more respect that way.

Think it's time to move ahead and call it professionals and amateurs, the Juniors gave me my first look at Scottish non league, brilliant clubs , grounds, and fans. These clubs have decided to move upwards with ground improvements etc, and deserve our support more than ever. Maybe the remaining (junior) clubs could play in revamped Scottish Cup preliminary rounds, rather than just the licensed clubs. Only an idea.

Seems,from the outside, a club is set up with the best intentions, but somewhere along the way - it wasn't possible for youth players to move though to the 1st team etc, the lack of their own ground would probably affect most clubs looking for a 'home' especially around Glasgow.

Can fully understand that the Athletic maybe the more (in some eyes) ambitious etc with plans etc, wonder what would happen if this happened to loads of EOS clubs ? Not my knowledge, but how big is Bo'ness, population wise, catchment area for players, availability of sponsors etc ? My last visit v Luncarty last February amid the monsoon !

With various situations possibly arising, it seems plausible that the majority of EOS / WOSFL clubs should have a side that feeds into their first team - be it reserve,youth etc, but rarely another club ? Can't see many getting a share of a towns population, would anyone watch all/every Bo'ness clubs ? Are there many other places with the same problems ? Guess lookin down south, once there were two proud historical Ossett clubs - things move on I guess.

Hopefully I can get the streaming done again, think Kelty can play better against Brechin -who should be fighting for their lives/futures. Shame negative tests couldn't allow more fans into the ground, using common sense of course. Guessing the clubhouses are open now ?

Can imagine that quite a few players would be keen to join and build a club to go from NCL upwards (unless they're all after the £) Only sticking point could be the cost involved in getting any grounds meeting criteria - agree with other comments, let all clubs play in early rounds of the Scottish Cup,licensed or not. Add preliminary rounds ?

Good to see almost every club progressing with ground building, shows that the majority are ambitious to move upwards - hopefully we can return next season and back every club with our support. Excellent stuff

Always thought that another division in both HL and LL would solve/help problems regarding closed shop (Woolworths maybe Ha) think the OF issue would be forgotten IF there looked a clear pathway for relegated clubs to bounce back quickly. What next ? spfl3 full of reserves etc ?

Be interesting to see what happens in the future, more spfl clubs trying to move their reserve/youths into men's football - rather than make their own development lges etc work properly. Can't see a single benefit to the Lowland clubs at all, promises of bigger crowds and ££ in the bank probably won't materialise. Sad times.

Can't work out the following : ALL spfl clubs have youth, academy, reserve set ups etc - to develop and bring on player's towards the 1st team. Why can't the OF do their coaching against similar sides/players ? Why aren't these games good enough ? Do they want to see the colts progress through the spfl (can't have them in the same Lge/divisions anyway) I'm led to believe. Just vote NO

Back to the thread itself : I hope a fair few clubs develop their under 18/20's to see some local lads break through. Also the upgrading of many grounds has been brilliant, especially the lights. Really think that in say, 5+ years the league will be strong in the pyramid - to imagine an ex Juniors club (West) progress to the SPFL would be amazing for the game. Good luck everyone !