New clubs in the East of Scotland

[FairWeatherFan]

15 minutes ago, Dev said:

Very well put.

However, wasn't the purpose of the SFA to get the pyramid up and running ASAP?

Aren't the Juniors outside the pyramid?

The SFA under Stewart Regan you could perhaps make that argument.

The Interim Chief Exec Andrew McKinlay imposes a moratorium on all licencing applications in April 2018 before even hosting the first PWG meeting. McKinlay leaves with Maxwell coming in that summer. The licencing moratorium doesn't get lifted until October 2018 when you have Maxwell's email saying all in at Tier 6. The EoSFL inform their members get their applications as soon as possible as there's already talk of floodlights coming in.

Floodlights are then officially made a requirement for 2019 licencing standards in December 2018. A number of clubs have their physical inspection in December 2018. Just days after floodlights are confirmed as a new requirement in some cases, and all clubs are held to the 2019 licencing standards even though its 2018.

Spring 2019 they delay decisions on licencing applications. Summer 2019 the SFA votes on how new members outwith the Professional Game Board are to be handled. They will no longer have voting rights.

Since then they persisted with entering the SJFA intact into the pyramid. Never took up the LL/EoSFL options of creating new leagues to fill the geographical gaps in the pyramid. Then the SFA ultimately walk away from the PWG meetings ending them for everyone.

Under Maxwell every suggestion has included an intact SJFA operating within the pyramid. No other options were ever explored.

At least under Regan you can say people were willing to gut the SoSFL and EoSFL in order to establish the Lowland League without much care what was left behind.

 

[FairWeatherFan]

It was said Edinburgh South already had a manger in place. That doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[Griffin]

1 hour ago, Dev said:

Maybe the grounds of the successful aplicants couldn't be inspected due to the Covid-19 situation - so the proviso to make sure that grounds comply has been thrown in as a cover-all precaution?

Ground inspections were carried out a few weeks ago. Feedback was sent out with any issues that needed addressing and applicant clubs were given the opportunity to reply in writing to the board. Replies were then submitted to current member clubs prior to them being asked to vote on the applications at the EGM. 

The caveat regarding the time schedule to comply is the part in the acceptance that references having a timescale to compliance. If compliance is not achieved within the timescale set the membership can be reviewed. 

A very professional process from start to finish and the league should be commended on having excellent governance in place.

[junglehenry]

The pyramid that remains broken, hopefully this 14 14 14 is pushed through.

[Dev]

1 hour ago, FairWeatherFan said:

The SFA under Stewart Regan you could perhaps make that argument.

The Interim Chief Exec Andrew McKinlay imposes a moratorium on all licencing applications in April 2018 before even hosting the first PWG meeting. McKinlay leaves with Maxwell coming in that summer. The licencing moratorium doesn't get lifted until October 2018 when you have Maxwell's email saying all in at Tier 6. The EoSFL inform their members get their applications as soon as possible as there's already talk of floodlights coming in.

Floodlights are then officially made a requirement for 2019 licencing standards in December 2018. A number of clubs have their physical inspection in December 2018. Just days after floodlights are confirmed as a new requirement in some cases, and all clubs are held to the 2019 licencing standards even though its 2018.

Spring 2019 they delay decisions on licencing applications. Summer 2019 the SFA votes on how new members outwith the Professional Game Board are to be handled. They will no longer have voting rights.

Since then they persisted with entering the SJFA intact into the pyramid. Never took up the LL/EoSFL options of creating new leagues to fill the geographical gaps in the pyramid. Then the SFA ultimately walk away from the PWG meetings ending them for everyone.

Under Maxwell every suggestion has included an intact SJFA operating within the pyramid. No other options were ever explored.

At least under Regan you can say people were willing to gut the SoSFL and EoSFL in order to establish the Lowland League without much care what was left behind.

 

It's quite some track record but not one to be positive about, sadly!

I wonder what would happen if, say, an EoS club decided to return to the ERJFA and applied after that Region's deadline for applications? Does anyone know when that is/was?

Edited May 1, 2020 by Dev
.

[Dev]

10 minutes ago, Griffin said:

Ground inspections were carried out a few weeks ago. Feedback was sent out with any issues that needed addressing and applicant clubs were given the opportunity to reply in writing to the board. Replies were then submitted to current member clubs prior to them being asked to vote on the applications at the EGM. 

The caveat regarding the time schedule to comply is the part in the acceptance that references having a timescale to compliance. If compliance is not achieved within the timescale set the membership can be reviewed. 

A very professional process from start to finish and the league should be commended on having excellent governance in place.

A job done in extremely difficult times.

[Ginaro]

Basically confirming what we already knew.

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/football/nine-newcomers-east-scotland-league-are-approved-2663005

 

Quote

 

The nine applications for membership were all approved yesterday (Thursday) at a meeting of the member clubs, who had the overall say on who was admitted.

The newcomers were accepted, with signifcant voting majorities in each case, and the next issue will be to see where they fit within the East of Scotland League structure.

Joining the league are Edinburgh South, along with Fife outfits Kennoway Star Hearts, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Lochgelly Albert, Lochore Welfare, Luncarty, Newburgh, Rosyth and Thornton Hibs.

Berwickshire side Eyemouth United, who took a year out to rebuild their squad during a non-playing season, will also be returning to the East of Scotland fold in the new season.

League secretary David Baxter said all plans were on hold at the moment, with the suspension of football around the country still in force because of the COVID-19 crisis, so any provisional arrangements for receiving the clubs into the league would probably have to be reassessed.

The new teams would enter the Conference structure, which was flexible, so it may be that a new one was created, or they could be absorbed into the existing ‘A’ and ‘B’ Conferences.

Nothing could be certain until the go-ahead was given to start organising and playing football again, added Mr Baxter.

 

 

[AsimButtHitsASix]

Everyone seems a split on the continuation of conferences in the EoS but, given the COVID issues and not knowing when the league will start up, I think it's worked out quite well due to its flexibility in the end.

Still think ditching all the leagues and having everyone in conferences for a year would be a great laugh.

[newcastle broon]

8 hours ago, 8MileBU said:

Were they a Sunday amateur side who have decided to go EOS? Pardon my ignorance but I’d literally never even heard of them until about a month ago.

They had a link wi ww not that long ago. 

 

[Footballfirst]

Depending on when football can resume, 3 conferences may be the way forward to limit the number of games at tier 7.

[gaz5]

Depending on when football can resume, 3 conferences may be the way forward to limit the number of games at tier 7.

I don't think splitting into 3 conferences with only 2 promotion spots is a realistic option.

Plus 2 conferences will have less teams in them (15 each max) than the Premier (18), so the fixture issues for a late start are less likely to be felt at T7 than T6.

[Thekeeper]

5 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said:

It was said Edinburgh South already had a manger in place. That doesn't seem to be the case.

 

i have been told that they have asked sandys and tollcross to come in with there teams im not sure if any of them are best two ams teams in edinburgh 

[patriot1]

So I believe it was confirmed at last night's meeting that as some of us have said in this forum the LL/HL dividing line only applies to teams being relegated from the SPFL. 

What that means in practical terms is that any team can apply to the EOS(Orkney was used as an example last night) and it would be up to the clubs to decide if they get in. 

In other words there is nothing to stop any Tayside junior team from applying next year. 

Ps, I don't believe Livingston received any mention last night. 

 

[snoopdd]

10 hours ago, FairWeatherFan said:

It was said Edinburgh South already had a manger in place. That doesn't seem to be the case.

 

How could a team that hadn't been granted a place in league have a manager in place?

 

[snoopdd]

4 hours ago, Thekeeper said:

i have been told that they have asked sandys and tollcross to come in with there teams im not sure if any of them are best two ams teams in edinburgh 

Interesting ....did you make that up

[snoopdd]

14 hours ago, 8MileBU said:

Were they a Sunday amateur side who have decided to go EOS? Pardon my ignorance but I’d literally never even heard of them until about a month ago.

South have been the biggest community club in South east Scotland, over 800 players, have a Saturday (south and es Vic's merged)and Sunday ams team. The EoSFL team I've been told is a new team starting up and will still have both and ams teams running too.

[Cameron Wilson]

From Facebook - East of Scotland  makes it official:

 

Quote

 

LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP INCREASES BY TEN

By now a great many of you reading this are aware that at Thursday night's Extraordinary General Meeting, held virtually via Zoom, the outcome of member clubs' votes on ten new membership applications was announced. It's a pleasure to confirm here all ten were accepted into the fold, and to wish each individually the very best of fortune going forward.

This latest extremely welcome development should, all being well, ensure we start with fifty clubs participating when football resumes - when that might be remains to be seen of course, but the ideal is that a 2020/21 campaign goes ahead with a Premier Division of eighteen teams, and two conferences each sixteen strong in the First Division. At stake will be placings in a revised structure for 2021/22 and beyond, when it's anticipated there will be a sixteen team Premier Division (tier six), a First Division (tier seven) and a Second Division (tier 8).

That the ten clubs joining us add strength to our ranks is without question. It can't readily be underestimated either how significant a step has been taken in the path toward the pyramid ideal envisaged by those who can only be thrilled at what has come to pass. We look forward with great excitement at what lies ahead of us all.

Obviously many new members are well known to existing clubs, especially the majority who joined only within the past couple of years. Renewing rivalries and reacquainting with old friends will be a common feature of our next season, the enjoyment of which will surely be all the greater given the present climate.

Rather than welcome each club individually at length here, basic Wikipedia summaries are attached for anyone unfamiliar with them. If opportunity arises features could be posted in the weeks ahead. As our one brand-new-to-all-the-others newcomer Edinburgh South haven't yet entered the Wikipedia realm we've copied the link to their website here http://escfc.co.uk/ if you'd like a little insight. Credit, incidentally, to whoever's been updating Wikipedia pages in the wake of Thursday night's news!

More than delighted then to welcome for the first time Edinburgh South, our seven new Fife members - Kennoway Star Hearts, Kirkcaldy & Dysart, Lochgelly Albert, Lochore Welfare, Newburgh, Rosyth, and Thornton Hibs, and from the northern extreme of Lowland League territory in Perthshire, Luncarty. No less pleased to welcome back after a year in abeyance Eyemouth United as they edge towards their seventy fifth anniversary in 2023.

 

 

 

 

[8MileBU]

8 hours ago, snoopdd said:

South have been the biggest community club in South east Scotland, over 800 players, have a Saturday (south and es Vic's merged)and Sunday ams team. The EoSFL team I've been told is a new team starting up and will still have both and ams teams running too.

Cheers, that what I was wondering - Whether the ams we’re going to step up or if the side entering EOS were from scratch.

[FairWeatherFan]

8 hours ago, snoopdd said:

How could a team that hadn't been granted a place in league have a manager in place?

 

It was the club not the team that got accepted. Look at Syngenta last year they went out and got a manager. Then got knocked back.

Finding a manager and players can done in the time frame between league acceptance (usually April) through to the start of the season.

[Robert James]

6 hours ago, Cameron Wilson said:

From Facebook - East of Scotland  makes it official:

 

 

 

 

 

Very good news for the nine new clubs, who have been elected to the EoSL for 2020/21, plus the return of Eyemouth United.

Luncarty elected into the league, but Livingston Utd rejected as late applicants, as previously stated on this forum.

Edited May 2, 2020 by Robert James
post sent in error before completed