Jimmy Shaker Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, edinabear said: Where would Aberdeen and ict colts join in the Highland league pyramid? ICT Colts joined in the 2019/20 season and didn't get anywhere. Edited February 28, 2021 by Jimmy Shaker 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Shaker Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 The idea that Aberdeen, Ross County or whatever could punt a gang of kids into the league and be welcomed with open arms, or draw large crowds of people eager to see The Future of Football, is absolutely fantasy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScarf Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 There absolutely needs to be automatic relegation for the team finishing bottom of League 2. The fact that they get a 2 leg play off to try and save themselves after being shite all season is a nonsense. There's at least a couple of teams in that league who need flushed out of the SPFL for a considerable period of time. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsimButtHitsASix Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 3 hours ago, TheScarf said: There absolutely needs to be automatic relegation for the team finishing bottom of League 2. The fact that they get a 2 leg play off to try and save themselves after being shite all season is a nonsense. There's at least a couple of teams in that league who need flushed out of the SPFL for a considerable period of time. Sadly, as with most things in life, those currently in power have a greater say than those beneath them. Albion Rovers or Brechin or whoever it may be stinking the place out (and those above them who know they could be down there themselves soon enough) will be desperate to keep that play off spot and one promotion place. But, over time, when clubs who've fallen down realise that an easier chance at promotion after relegation is probably better for them long term than falling down the trapdoor with a much more difficult ascent, it'll happen. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockson Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 7 hours ago, AsimButtHitsASix said: . Albion Rovers or Brechin or whoever it may be stinking the place out . Both those teams have been in a higher division (in Brechin's case two higher) within the past five seasons. Hardly stinking the place out. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Shaker Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 The one side the pyramid was designed to trip up - East Stirlingshire - have been victims of its success. Since Berwick went the way of the Shire, Albion are the go-to name for people thinking of deadwood clubs, but that's mainly because of their managers whining bullshit earlier in the season about the inhumanity of having to get up at 6 in the morning to go to away games, or - and I can't believe this may be forced on him - having to feed players on the way to Brora or wherever. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsimButtHitsASix Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 17 hours ago, rockson said: Both those teams have been in a higher division (in Brechin's case two higher) within the past five seasons. Hardly stinking the place out. They're stinking it out just now. Just like other teams have in the past too. Such is life 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bestsinceslicebread Posted March 7, 2021 Share Posted March 7, 2021 On 02/03/2021 at 13:15, AsimButtHitsASix said: They're stinking it out just now. Just like other teams have in the past too. Such is life Suppose there will be teams who people will mark down as stinking it out but as the years go on some of those teams will have a good season and sometimes not. The difference is now if a team in the SPFL continue to have a bad season after season then they gonna be expected to be relegated. Once the trapdoor from SPFL 2 is eventually sorted to what everyone thinks is fare, (not sure what that is), then I'm sure you will have clubs in the LL leagues moving up regular, the same as the top of the HL and then traditional teams like Brechin, Albion Rovers, Stenhousemuirs etc... will have to make sure their shit is in order as they know strong teams are wanting their place making them be regulars to the LL and Hl leagues. So these teams, especially with their chairmen who were sprouting crap at the start of the season, last season will realize that 2 promotions spots at the very least will give then a fighting chance of bouncing back the first year if relegated 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thistle Scotland Europe Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 I would support a pyramid system for the Highland League. It would be great to have teams getting promoted to the Scottish Highland League, from different parts of the Highland League region. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Patterson Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) Seems to be some movement on this front from what others are saying. Tayside clubs are interested creating a Midland League at Tier 6 below the HL, with North Juniors and North Caley already in agreement. Might be a little bit too late for 2021-22 to get it moving, but should definitely be in place for 2022-23. Promotion/Relegation could be a 4 team playoff, each league winner* plus the bottom club from the HL. *assuming they are licensed. Having the likes of Broughty Athletic or Lochee United in the HL would make the transition slightly easier for, say, Brechin if they were relegated from L2. Edited March 21, 2021 by ArabAuslander 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Just now, ArabAuslander said: Seems to be some movement on this front from what others are saying. Tayside clubs creating a Midland League at Tier 6 below the HL, with North Juniors and North Caley already in agreement. Might be a little bit too late for 2021-22 to get it moving, but should definitely be in place for 2022-23. Promotion/Relegation could be a 4 team playoff, each league winner* plus the bottom club from the HL. *assuming they are licensed. Having the likes of Broughty Athletic or Lochee United in the HL would make the transition slightly easier for, say, Brechin if they were relegated from L2. I don't see a 4 team play-off happening. The Highland and Lowland basically finish two weeks before everyone else does to allow for the Club 42 portion of their play-off. I don't see bottom of the Highland waiting two weeks or the Tier 6 leagues looking for a mid-April finish to their league seasons. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Highland League set their maximum number of 18 and follow the model of the existing LL Play-off model of just one promotion place for a licenced champion. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongTimeLurker Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, ArabAuslander said: Seems to be some movement on this front from what others are saying. Tayside clubs are interested creating a Midland League at Tier 6 below the HL, with North Juniors and North Caley already in agreement.... HL and NCL appear to be in agreement but there has been no word so far that the north region are after many months. Tayside clubs are also said to be trying to contact the LL board as well: 20 hours ago, Junior_Arab said: Saw this in a group chat today. It’s attributed to John Reilly, but I’ve no idea where it was originally posted. I can’t see it on the ERSJFA site: Representatives of the the SJFA and ERSJFA met with members of the Highland league to discuss our Tayside Clubs (Midlands League) entering the SFA pyramid at tier 6. The meeting was constructive and extremely positive. Our next stage is to engage with all parties (Highland league, North Caledonian and NRSJFA)to discuss this further. We have also requested a meeting with the Lowland League Board to also discuss the same proposal. We await a date from them. The PWG has been reconvened by the SFA and a meeting will be arranged for either 29 March. or 2 April 2021 Once we have all the information a meeting will be arranged with Tayside Clubs to discuss all proposals. As always we will keep you updated. John Reilly ERSJFA Edited March 21, 2021 by LongTimeLurker 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) Assuming the post from John Reilly is correct, it is good news that there has been some dialogue between the ERJFA and the HFL which has been "constructive" and "extremely positive".. This would give the ERJFA the chance to retain and 'manage' an independent "Midland" senior league, which the SFA would find it almost impossible to reject, as it would breach its longer term aim of having an integrated national pyramid. As I'm sure BM (and possibly the LTL ?) will point out, this cannot be forced against the wishes of the HFL or the LL. However, it doesn't need to be 'forced', now that the West Lothian Juniors problem is about to be resolved, the NCL supporting the pyramid, and the North Juniors rumoured to be seeking to re-evaluate its' position, the pyramid tide is turning. The death of the SJFA makes this inevitable. Edited March 22, 2021 by Robert James typo error 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dev Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 www.scottishjuniorfa.com/news/posts/2021/april/sjfa-pyramid-statement/ Scottish Junior FA Pyramid Statement The Scottish Junior FA & East Region SJFA have formally submitted our commitment and agreement to the Highland League board. We accept the Highland League's invitation to create a link between the Midlands League and the Highland League. Following an application to the Scottish FA board being ratified at their AGM in June 2021, the aim and expectation would then be for the Midlands League to be established for season 2021-2022 at tier 6 of the Scottish football pyramid. The Scottish Junior FA and East Region SJFA would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Highland League board members and the Scottish FA pyramid working group for their understanding and help on this matter. We look forward to further developing our relationship. Alex McDowall Scottish Junior FA Chief Operating Officer 01 Apr 2021 SJFA News, East Region 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmontheloknow Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Are the SJFA planning to run this league? The statement is all very present and future tense. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 5 minutes ago, cmontheloknow said: Are the SJFA planning to run this league? The statement is all very present and future tense. The SFA were happy for the SJFA to continue their role within the pyramid. Mainly due to the cost of taking on the additional work required for their JPP. It was really the likes of the EoSFL that pushed for the SFA to cover everyone. Which lead to the Tier 6 leagues in the Lowland pyramid falling under the SFA and the new WoSFL having to over their divisions below that. If the Highland League haven't pursued the same issue. Which is possible since the NRSJFA have been in discussions previously with no talk of splintering off from the SJFA. It's looking possible that the SJFA will continue to have a role to play. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Just now, FairWeatherFan said: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/highland-league/3023221/relegation-play-offs-look-set-to-be-introduced-to-the-highland-league-from-next-season/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social Relegation play-offs look set to be introduced to the Highland League next season. Talks have been ongoing between the Highland League and the Scottish Junior FA to create a formal link between tiers five and six of the Scottish football pyramid for the 2021-22 season. From next season the team finishing bottom of the Highland League could find themselves in a play-off against the champions of either the North Super League, the East Super League or the North Caledonian League. Highland League secretary Rod Houston said: “Talks have been going on for some time to extend tier six across the north half of the country. “The North Caledonian FA have agreed and are ready to roll in August this year. “The North Region Junior FA are all but there and in recent weeks the East Region Junior FA were in touch with us with regard to their Tayside clubs. “The talks have been constructive and hopefully we will be able to conclude them soon. “We just have some heads of agreement to finalise.” Clubs who would be able to participate in the play-offs to win promotion to the Highland League would have to meet qualifying criteria. If the proposal is approved, qualifying clubs from tier six would play-off for the right to face the team that finished bottom of the Highland League for the chance to climb the Scottish footballing pyramid. Houston said: “This would complete an aspiration that the pyramid working group at the Scottish FA have had for a while which is to have complete coverage of the country at tier six. “There would be a play-off system but for one of the teams in tier six to play in the play-offs they would have to meet the criteria for membership of the Highland League. “They would have to have a full licence of the Scottish FA and with all that entails. “At present the only clubs who are members of the Scottish FA are Golspie Sutherland and Banks o’ Dee. “If they were to win their respective championships they would be play-off candidates. “It wouldn’t stop clubs developing themselves and their structure to become members of the Scottish FA. “The whole point is to give clubs who aspire to that the opportunity.” Scottish Junior FA chief operating officer Alex McDowall said in a statement: “The Scottish Junior FA and East Region SJFA have formally submitted our commitment and agreement to the Highland League board. “We accept the Highland League’s invitation to create a link between the Midlands League and the Highland League. “Following an application to the Scottish FA board being ratified at their AGM in June 2021, the aim and expectation would then be for the Midlands League to be established for season 2021-2022 at tier six of the Scottish football pyramid. “The Scottish Junior FA and East Region SJFA would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Highland League board members and the Scottish FA pyramid working group for their understanding and help on this matter. We look forward to further developing our relationship.” 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Will the winners of the, Brora Rangers -v- Kelty Hearts Highland/Lowland (champions play-off), be denied the opportunity to participate in the SPFL (club 42) play-off final ? According to the Scottish Daily Record, this play-off may not now take place at the end of this season ? Yet another potential Scottish football crisis ? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitburn Vale Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 6 hours ago, Robert James said: Will the winners of the, Brora Rangers -v- Kelty Hearts Highland/Lowland (champions play-off), be denied the opportunity to participate in the SPFL (club 42) play-off final ? According to the Scottish Daily Record, this play-off may not now take place at the end of this season ? Yet another potential Scottish football crisis ? Or it may be just Kelty competing in it and not Brora,due to them only playing 3 of their HL fixtures.. It would be a disgrace if the playoffs dont go ahead for another season,especially as Brechin are now stinking League 2 out completely now !! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom & Gerry Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 10 hours ago, Robert James said: Will the winners of the, Brora Rangers -v- Kelty Hearts Highland/Lowland (champions play-off), be denied the opportunity to participate in the SPFL (club 42) play-off final ? According to the Scottish Daily Record, this play-off may not now take place at the end of this season ? Yet another potential Scottish football crisis ? The vast majority of Scottish football unfortunately doesn’t care a jot what happens in SPFL 2. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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