Burnieman

All correct until 4) It's Hearts B as runners-up, not Cowdenbeath.

"Buckie Thistle Football Club would like to issue the following addition to last night's statement on the SPFL Pyramid Play-offs: "The club is endeavouring to get to the bottom of the decision to remove us from this weekend's play-off semi final against East Kilbride FC." "Club officials attended meetings and had discussions with both the SPFL and SFA on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, but no indication was given at any point that Saturday's fixture was in doubt." "Attached is a screenshot from the Decision Note issued by the SFA, which clearly states a decision on the Bronze Licence is deferred until the 15th of May. Buckie Thistle were awarded derogations on 3 of the items mentioned, and given until 15th May to resolve the Medical items." "After further discussions with the SFA this morning, we are now looking into the possibility of taking this to Arbitration, as per Article 99 of the SFA handbook." "Further updates will be provided in due course."

"Buckie Thistle Football Club would like to issue the following addition to last night's statement on the SPFL Pyramid Play-offs: "The club is endeavouring to get to the bottom of the decision to remove us from this weekend's play-off semi final against East Kilbride FC." "Club officials attended meetings and had discussions with both the SPFL and SFA on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, but no indication was given at any point that Saturday's fixture was in doubt." "Attached is a screenshot from the Decision Note issued by the SFA, which clearly states a decision on the Bronze Licence is deferred until the 15th of May. Buckie Thistle were awarded derogations on 3 of the items mentioned, and given until 15th May to resolve the Medical items." "After further discussions with the SFA this morning, we are now looking into the possibility of taking this to Arbitration, as per Article 99 of the SFA handbook." "Further updates will be provided in due course."

Both refused, so I guess they didn't tick all the boxes.

Indeed, but it shows even that low bar was a problem for clubs.

In my experience when having to find one, it was a matter of a mate of a mate who agreed to do it, who was about 100 miles away. The local surgery wasn't interested. He wrote the letter and that was enough, it was also all he ever did. Completely pointless, but a box that had to be ticked at the time.

Dear me.....

They also removed the requirement for a club doctor from the Entry level criteria as it was so difficult to find one who was prepared to do it, even though there was no requirement to attend games. For Highland League clubs to find one to attend every game is another level of difficulty for them, given the population sparsity.

The Lowland isn't the Pyramid. There is no rule barring B/Reserve teams, as Stirling Uni Reserves and Stranraer Reserves show, Livingston B also applied for the EoS.

I don't believe I mentioned postponements at all, however the state of your pitch at a Broomhill game is the worst I have seen at any level for many, many years. I believe there are pictures on here somewhere of it.

Could be a long season for them coming up unless they recruit well, some LL clubs will be quite happy.

You just agreed that there is one rule for one, and another rule for someone else. When did Bonnyrigg go all SPFL on us?

Thank you.

One rule for one, another rule for someone else. I refer you back to the point about the SPFL not looking good.

They weren't awarded a Bronze licence today, therefore they will not have one before the play-off begins. Sound familiar?

Probably fails the licence criteria, demotion to the LL for next season please.

What about clubs with ploughed fields masquerading as a pitch?

Shouldn't they be chucked out now and Airdrie prevented from entering the Premiership play-off?

The SPFL lead them up the garden path on the face of it. Told the club to ask for derogations as recently as Tuesday, they did and these were granted with the final one to be confirmed in two weeks, the SPFL then went back and pointed to 31st March. The SPFL also implied in their statement that the club were ignoring them, clearly that wasn't true. We then have Airdrie taking part in the Premiership play-off with an Entry level licence, when they should have had a Bronze licence in place last year. So they do not meet the requirements either. There's a lot going on here that doesn't add up and doesn't paint the SPFL in a very good light.

If Buckie were granted 3 derogations/waivers with the remaining one to be completed by 15th May, and that still wasn't good enough for the SPFL, then I don't place much faith in what the SPFL claim.

"At 5pm today, Buckie Thistle FC received an email from the SPFL, stating that because the club do not comply with the SFA Bronze Licence criteria, and did not apply for a waiver or period of grace in respect of this non-compliance by the deadline of 31st March 2024, there will be no Play-Off Tie between Buckie Thistle FC and East Kilbride FC, and East Kilbride will automatically go forward to the Pyramid Play-Off Tie with Club 42. However, we can confirm that the club has been in regular contact with the SFA in regard to the Bronze Licence criteria items, and we were in fact asked by the SPFL to ask for a period of grace for four of these items on Tuesday 23rd April, which we duly did. Our Club President Garry Farquhar attended a meeting with the SFA on Wednesday 24th April, and we were granted Derogations for 3 items - Floodlights, Safety Officer and Diversity & Inclusion. One item - Medical – has been deferred until the 15th of May, but the club has committed to resolving the matter by May 10th. It goes without saying that everyone at the club is stunned and devastated by the timing of this decision. It’s particularly harsh on the players and management, who put so much hard work into winning the Highland League title, that they don’t get the opportunity to go for promotion."

So if the SPFL are telling the club to ask the SFA for derogations as recently as Tuesday, which they were granted today with one TBC by 15th May, why did the SPFL then go back and point to the 31st March deadline? did they lead Buckie up the garden path? Why also are the SPFL publicly implying the club ignored their comms on the issue. It appears they have very good grounds to go to town on this, if they wanted to.

It's been a while, so I'm making the most of it.

Never assume.......but I think I may be.

Can you address the point re Airdrie?