Burnieman

Personally I thought a pause would have been the right way to go without putting pressure on clubs to make a decision to withdraw. A pause allows all clubs to remain where they are whilst a proper assessment of the situation is made. There is plenty of room in the match calendar to allow this to happen. However, if no clubs spoke up then they must all be happy (which I know some are not!)

We know when they will be approved, when Level 1 is hit. That potentially could happen in the next couple of months, whilst some areas may not hit Level 1 this season. It's certainly a point for consideration if and when it happens.

Sounds like EoS clubs can withdraw upto 11th December and only drop one division instead of to the bottom tier, which next season is a second division. Unspecified sanctions if withdrawal is after that date.

Hasn't there been some interchange of players between both clubs? I'm sure BUJ fielded fringe BU players in a friendly game or two, or vice versa.

Will be interesting when some EoS clubs are able to admit crowds when Level 1 is hit, but other clubs cannot because they're still in a high level area. Unfair advantage?

Oh here he comes lol

Wow, enough Alan.

I didn't say cancel the season, I said suspend it whilst areas of the EoS are in Level 3 and 4. Is it wrong that committee and players from a Level 3 and 4 area are allowed to travel into a Level 2 area despite restrictions on everyone else? Neither is there any prospect of fans or Govt help. I'd love the game to continue, but it needs to be viewed objectively and responsibly.

My own personal opinion was that starting the season was absolutely the right thing to do, give it a chance and see how the Covid landscape looked 6-8 weeks down the line. Well we're at that point, from my perspective it looks fairly bleak and perhaps a suspension whilst many areas remain at Level 3 and 4 would be sensible.

There is undoubtedly a conversation to be had at the next meeting to review the season so far, and what it looks like going forward. I think most clubs were prepared to give the season a chance with the hope that dressing room access and fans would be allowed by the end of the year. If no fans, then at least some prospect of Govt support. It was the right thing to do IMO. We've made progress on the first point ie dressing room access (but still no showers), on the second point of fans it has been clarified that unless your area is Level 0 or 1 there wont be any however some areas are at Level 3 with some having moved to Level 4 for at least three weeks. On Govt monetary support, clubs have heard very little. There wont be fans this year. Will there be Govt support? it doesn't seem like it, certainly not imminently. It does seem wrong somehow that clubs at our level can travel here, there and everywhere, from Level 2 to Level 4 areas whilst people are being asked to largely stay at home and not travel in Level 3 and 4 areas. Some big decisions to be made.

Travel costs for longer distances are covered. Match official costs of upwards of £130 are not. Just another expense on top of all other expenses with no gate income, and no prospect of any this year, and probably not until Feb/Mar. Something has to give.

I see home clubs are responsible for all the match officials costs despite having zero gate income. Pretty poor in current circumstances.

You can't really compare them with Scotland. Australia for example, WA is still closed internally and externally, as is Queensland and Victoria, if you want to travel interstate you need to get permission and quarantine on arrival. That is why the AFL Final was in Queensland, first time ever outside of Melbourne. They won't be able to open up their borders until there's a vaccine otherwise Covid will sweep through a population that hasn't really been exposed to it. Same with NZ. There are still Australians stuck in Europe as they cant get home due to limits on flights/quarantine hotels. Meanwhile, we have open borders with England.

Good post. On your final point, there is a general meeting of clubs a week on Thursday, and I'm guessing the hot topics will be the season so far, fans, money, and future.

It's not really, and I say that as someone watching his team get humped every week. It's an important outlet at the moment. That said it needs to be sustainable, which is something that needs addressed soon.

Lol no, we were beaten fair and square, but it's exceptionally frustrating when paid officials cannot get the basics right.

It provides an outlet for players, coaches and committee in difficult times which is a good thing on a variety of levels. I wish it also provided an outlet for fans, we all do, but at the moment it's not allowed. Some clubs can fill the gap with live streaming etc. which helps. It might appear sterile and false for some, but for others it's still a competive game of football, and to be honest if you're invested in it you barely notice during the 90 minutes.

Didn't the survey from clubs return a 50/50 split on whether to start without dressing rooms or not? It was upto the board to make the final decision and I understand the reasons given by them for doing so. We have a huge spectrum of clubs in the EoS some clubs don't rely so much on gate income, some do, some wanted to give it a go, some didn't. There's no right or wrong answer, although personally I think it was the right decision to start and give it a chance. I understand why others disagree. The important thing now is to get every club over the line as far as dressing room access is concerned, especially with shuttling now allowed, and then some further clarity on Govt funding whilst fans aren't allowed. If there is no prospect of funding then there's a decision to be made as I can't see the central belt being in Level 1 this year, meaning no fans.

At Tynecastle last midweek, we were prevented from making a fifth sub. It was our third (and final) change window, one player went on but the second was stopped by the linesman and play continued. At the next stoppage in play the coaching team complained to the referee but he said that was it, and he couldn't come on. A complete f*ck up. Can we get a replay please?

Todays daily figure in Scotland is almost half what it was 2 weeks ago, we're back on a slow downward curve. The UK has flat lined, very slightly down in the last 2 weeks, but not by much. Hopefully crested the peak of the second wave, and heading downwards towards the end of the month.

Given the requirement for changing rooms for home, away and match officials, that could lead to a few clubs withdrawing depending on the updated guidelines being issued by the SFA this week. If they introduce a shuttle system (5/6 players in, change, out and then the next 5/6) then all well and good, otherwise you may see a few clubs just taking the money and scratching as they simply wont be able to meet the requirement. Also, will Talbot and Girvan really field scratch teams given they have guaranteed payments coming their way? I can see there being just one PR round, but great that everyone has the option of playing.

Not that we need to justify anything, a company comes in and treats the changing rooms with a specialised spray, same as used by SPFL clubs, airlines, airports etc and it protects surfaces for a month. Only basic cleaning required after every game. External surfaces around the ground have also been treated. Not something you lot need to worry about for a while yet.

Rooms are specially treated on a monthly basis, and cleaned after games as per normal.

Well one thing they have right is getting on with things at non league level. Restricted crowds allowed and players allowed to use changing rooms with sensible precautions. I'm not aware of any major issues for the 12 or so weeks this has been in operation.

Well Blackburn have 6 changing rooms so the teams are spread across them. Broxburn is similar. At Hill of Beath last week, they utilised their hospitality room and entrance corridor for themselves and we occupied home and away. That said, a better solution is needed as a lot of clubs simply can't do that. The shuttle system ie 6 in at a time is probably the only way. They do this in England.