Pyramid Watcher
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Posts posted by Pyramid Watcher
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10 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:
There's a fair to middling chance there will be no relegation this season, if for example East Kilbride beat Elgin City in the playoffs. A club being relegated to the Highland League is looking more likely at this point than it normally does, especially if Forfar Athletic are also officially confirmed (this hasn't happened publicly yet but appears to be what's happening) to be relegated to the HL if they are club 42.
There is also the possibility , however slim it may be, for the likes of Forfar to choose the LL, thanks to the SPFL insisting on freedom of choice.
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30 minutes ago, HorseyGhirl said:
A wee question for those in the know. Along with the one confirmed relegation spot can a club resign from the league and be 'dropped' to the appropriate league below them. I know Threave did this a few years back, obviously before we had a working pyramid. I'm thinking that if they resigned and applied to another league i.e. EOS if it's Ed Uni, would they have to join at Tier 9 again like Threave did when they joined the WOS. Just thinking out loud.
I think they would need to start at the bottom rung of whatever league they go to
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22 minutes ago, Disco Duck said:
There’s certainly some dragons in Tranent
Really not sure what Tranent has to do with anything, but I bow to your superior knowledge.
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8 minutes ago, Disco Duck said:
Right I’ve a free weekend and will take in a LL game. Pitch to me, who should I see?
It’s not Dragons Den mate.
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8 hours ago, O'Kelly Isley III said:
You could do worse than consider Dougie Samuel at The Spartans.
Not a chance in hell, he has a full time job with them out with the first team.
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36 minutes ago, Burnieman said:
Correct, and add to the fact that EoS clubs have no qualms about relegating three clubs (or even four) from 16 to ensure a healthy flow between tiers. If the Premier has a net loss of one club to the LL, they don't save the third bottom club, they promote an extra club from below.
Buy aye, every club only thinks of itself.
Bo’ness, Tranent and Linlithgow are now in the LL, replacing Dalbeattie and VoL. if one of them, or all 3 proposed another vote I think it would go through now.
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1 hour ago, LongTimeLurker said:
Bonnyrigg Rose did try not that long ago through one of their officeholders. Normally it's only two years before you can revisit issues again in these sorts of contexts so it will be interesting to see what unfolds later this season. No point going for it until the people tabling the motion know for sure, or at the very least are highly confident, they have the votes in place to win.
I think it would go through now, only my opinion right enough, but would have a very good chance.
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1 minute ago, LongTimeLurker said:
There's an argument for that no question, but bear in mind that we'd have the Conference from next season if the SFA board had more control. Once we are closer to a majority of former junior clubs in the LL, this will likely get sorted. Right now there's still too many clubs that know that once they leave the LL their eventual natural habitat is tier 7 or 8 rather than the EoS or WoS premier so they are clinging on to what they have in an it's ma baw and you're no playin sort of way for as long as they can.
It was 9-7 the last time, and we have lost Dalbeattie since then.
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12 hours ago, Burnieman said:
They're not in the remotest sense linked, it's being used as a blocker by the LL to protect it's founder clubs and every single person can see that.
There are only 4 founder clubs left in the league??
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4 minutes ago, Marten said:
Yep, I'm sure they'd come up with a different excuse should the SPFL finally play ball. Don't get me wrong, I do agree that there should be automatic relegation from League 2 as well, but that's just not an excuse for not increasing relegation from the Lowland League. In my opinion, the SFA should take more control of the pyramid like the FA have done down south and force through better promotion/relegation. One auto-relegation spot from League 2 and at least 2 from the LL would be a big improvement already. Also, they can start with kicking out the B-teams after this season and replacing them by 2 more tier 6 clubs. Yes, I know only 16 member clubs are currently allowed and they only get away with 18 as these B-teams are "guest clubs", but I don't see why the league can't permanently go to 18 clubs without B-teams. Sadly, I know a lot of this is wishful thinking as I can't see the SFA upping their game any time soon, hence why I believe the LL should open up themselves, that will undoubtedly quicker increase the quality in the LL and give a stronger argument in any discussions with the SPFL.
And yes, I sound very harsh in my posts above, but that is because I do passionately believe in the principles of a pyramid. For all its faults, the pyramid has definitely shown to be a positive in Scotland but it still needs to improve. As the top non-league tier in the southern half of the country, the LL has definitely become more attractive. It's starting to become a good mix of ex-juniors, ex-SPFL, old senior non-league clubs & relatively new clubs. But the league lets itself down by its conduct. Allowing these B-teams in was an absolute disgrace. These teams have never added anything & only devalued the league. Also, not increasing relegation really let the league down. As said, there is no excuse really for any of that. That's why I sound so angry with the LL clubs blocking this using poor excuses. In my opinion, they are blocking improvement of the pyramid. And because I believe so passionately in the principle of the pyramid, that annoys me greatly.
Why don’t you lobby the ex EoS teams who have been promoted to the LL (there is enough of them) to table a motion for another vote, or at least ask them why they haven’t done it yet?? I keep hearing the argument about “wait til more teams from tier 6 get in to the Ll, it will change the voting”, why has it not happened yet, or why have none of them tried.
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21 hours ago, Marten said:
It's the LL who should change, not the ones lower in the pyramid. The LL are a disgrace of an organisation.
I genuinely wouldn't mind if clubs that are against more relegation from the LL or connect it to the SPFL issue would go bust.
Like it or despise it, but don’t wish for teams to go bust, not a good look.
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57 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:
Another change that should be made is ditching the champions only angle for the playoffs. Top licensed clubs from each feeder league as long as they are top three would be my suggestion on that.
Is that because the West haven’t produced a club yet?
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38 minutes ago, 1911 said:
Maybe you are that man
Damn, you’ve sussed me out.
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4 minutes ago, 1911 said:
Definitely got that one wrong
I know
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1 hour ago, 1911 said:
Not sure how my comments imply that I am not a supporter
Don’t worry Matthew, we know what you meant.
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Things seem a little off at Tranent, and whilst it’s still very early in the season, it would seem their status as one of the 2 favourites for the league may be short lived.
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12 minutes ago, jimbaxters said:
Now there is a Commercial Manager, that will DEFINITELY be announced soon.
Hmmm
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3 hours ago, glensmad said:
Yes
Are we any closer to getting a sponsor?
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1 hour ago, Ginaro said:
Since you seem to be in the know - is that actually extra money or is it just the guarantee for each club? Because if you get a decent crowd then the sponsors won't be paying out anything.
The South Challenge Cup also shares the gate money after officials but the organisers don't take a %age despite paying travel money.
The organisers do take a percentage, this is the first year they have done it if my information is correct.
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29 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said:
Looking at the trend over 10 years here's the number clubs that began 2013-14; and numbers still going a few weeks into 2023-24 (which will be a little too high if the most recent withdrawals haven't yet been struck off websites):
Border was 31 now 25 fall of 19%
Kingdom of Fife was 43 now 32 fall of 26%
Perthshire was 29 now 21 fall of 28%
Aberdeenshire was 85 now 60 fall of 29%
Ayrshire was 57 now 36 fall of 37%
Glasgow (all) was 160 now 86 fall of 46%
Lothian & Edin was 73 now 37 fall of 49%
Midlands was 53 now 21? fall of 60%
Stirlingshire was 45 now 12 fall of 73%
Clearly the situation is much worse in and around Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee than the provincial parts of Scotland (accepting that lots of clubs quit Stirlingshire for surrounding leagues). That then begs the question... why?
Is it that council or commercial pitches have become costlier in the cities, whereas rural clubs have their own or more sympathetic local authorities? Has counter-attraction of Saturday mornings drawn off numbers in the cities, whereas option doesn't exist elsewhere? Have more players 'gone senior' in the cities? Has nature of young men's employment patterns & hours altered more in the cities over last 10yrs?
Figures certainly make the lack of wholehearted consolidation in Strathclyde even more concerning.You just need to look at the amount of teams on socials looking for pitches week in week out to give an indication of why they are going under. There are not enough facilities to go round, and the ones that are available are going up in price. It’s no wonder volunteers chuck it, it’s becoming impossible.
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5 minutes ago, Cowdenleith said:
I didn’t like the way Strollers played in the game, sure I said that back on the thread after the game, so I for that reason I’m fairly pleased that Gary Jardine didn’t end up at Central Park.
I suppose he is maybe restricted in his style of play by the type of players he can sign under their budget, which must be quite tight.
I hope we will have too much for Edinburgh Uni on Saturday, think Broomhill might be a tricky one though.
The only thing I will say about Gary is that he does well with a very limited budget, and perhaps his team set-up reflects that. I think if he was working with a bigger budget and better players he may change his style.
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19 minutes ago, Cowdenleith said:
Just watched the Strollers highlights, couldn’t bear to watch that injury time equaliser before.
Two points;
- We should have had a second penalty on the stroke of half time, Dougie Hill totally got taken out by one of their defenders.
- That save their goalie had from the deflected free kick, where he twisted back to get it was a thing of wonder.
Well, a third point, we should have f*&£ing won that game.
That is all
Strollers are never easy to beat, Gary Jardine is probably the best manager in the league. Still, you have a chance to go on a wee run, especially with your next 2 games at home, and against teams who you would normally fancy yourself against.
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3 hours ago, Omnishambles said:
Cammy Ross at right back and Higginbotham as a lone target man spring to mind.
The same Cammy Ross who has been banging the goals in? Very bizarre, although Max does have that sort of decision in his locker.
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Tranent will be up there challenging at the end, but EK will be too strong.
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Lowland League General Discussion
in Lowland League
Posted
Yes, it’s highly unlikely they would choose the LL, but the fact that the opportunity exists is ridiculous imo.