Highland Pyramid

[Honestman1954]

6 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Not sure what to make of this:

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/sport/highland-league-are-preparing-for-life-with-brechin-city-239290/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

...“The rules state that in the event of a club north of the Tay being relegated from the SPFL, they join the Highland League, so we’re working on that basis,” he said.

“The bottom line is, the rules state that’s what happens, so we’ll deal with it accordingly.

“Now, if Brechin want to try and do something different, that’s entirely a matter for them. What we’ve got to do is have some sympathy with Brechin.

...“I’m sure they’ve woken up on Monday morning feeling terribly flat. That’s quite a harsh experience they’ve gone through, so you’ve got to give them time to lick their wounds.

“Then we’ll deal with it in as sympathetic manner as possible.”

If Brechin do indeed join the Highland League, it will see the division return to 18 teams...

“We don’t know quite what the time pattern will be,” Houston said.

“I wouldn’t want it to run too long, because we’re at the stage where a lot of the structural preparation for next season has to be put in place quite quickly. We’ll try and deal with it sympathetically, but we can’t wait forever.

“It’s not a problem for us to go back to 18 teams, there’s no difference whatsoever in terms of scheduling for 17 clubs or 18 clubs.”

Sounds like Brechin City are still up to something behind the scenes.

Interesting, I know do prefer the LL.  If they are allowed to join the LL it gives the LL problems if they then move to include the Colt Teams as that would take them to 19 teams and HL remaining at 17.  Chaos!

[LongTimeLurker]

Think there's zero chance but that doesn't mean they won't still try.

[Spyro]

Tbf, considering the lack of licensed teams below the HL and the fact that many didn’t really fancy it until recently. The playoff is ok for now.

Plus any teams who do get into a playoff with the bottom club of the HL are more than likely going to win... unless they decide to lose 2 goals in the last 10 mins out of nowhere

[Ray Patterson]

In the unlikely event that there's three licensed winners a T6 (say Golspie, BoD and newly licensed Broughty) how would that work?

Would it just be Team 18 in the HL joining them in a SF and Final format or would it be a Playoff between the T6 League Champions with the winner of that facing Team 18?

[Thom & Gerry]

I would think it would be the HL team against the winner of the other three playing off.

[LongTimeLurker]

Relevant bit that makes that crystal clear:

The play-off is set to be introduced from next season, which would mean the side which finishes bottom of the Highland League could find themselves up against either the North Super League champions, the East Super League champions or the North Caledonian League champions.

It's a minor miracle that HL clubs have signed off on something that is highly like to bump at least a third of them into tier 6 over the next decade or two. Stewart Regan had to do some serious arm-twisting to get them to agree to be the tier 5 in the first place and at that point they very much wanted to keep their existing structure intact. There's obviously been a sea change in attitudes over the last decade or so in much the same way as happened with junior clubs in the central belt.

Edited May 26, 2021 by LongTimeLurker

[Jimmy Shaker]

Was rumoured at the weekend by someone involved in the juniors that the winners of the three Tier 6 leagues would play each other in a mini-league home and away, the winner of which would then play club 18 in the SHFL. 

[craigkillie]

It's a minor miracle that HL clubs have signed off on something that is highly like to bump at least a third of them into tier 6 over the next decade or two. Stewart Regan had to do some serious arm-twisting to get them to agree to be the tier 5 in the first place and at that point they very much wanted to keep their existing structure intact. There's obviously been a sea change in attitudes over the last decade or so in much the same way as happened with junior clubs in the central belt.

The alternative would have been losing their licenses and/or having a brand new Tier 5 North created with or without them. They simply wouldn't have been allowed not to engage in the pyramid.

[FairWeatherFan]

It's pretty simple really if they didn't all sign up for the pyramid, then there would have been a split. There would have been enough clubs more than happy to sign up for the 10x team Highland Regional Division format that was originally in place if that was the only option.

Those left behind would have just been absorbed into the NCL and North Juniors.

No different than how EoS and SoS clubs jumped at the Lowland League without much care for what was left behind.

[LongTimeLurker]

If enough of the HL clubs stayed united, there were not going to be enough licensed clubs to do a licensed tier 5 in the north so they had some leverage. Eventually they were allowed to stick with their existing format in tier 5 with nothing much really changing if they didn't try too hard in the Club 42 playoffs. Nothing was arranged below tier 5 with no compulsion for either BoD or Golspie to enter. From what I remember it was only really Cove Rangers, Deveronvale and possibly Inverurie that had any interest in the pyramid concept at the time. As recently as two or three seasons ago, the HL and north region clubs were still telling the SFA that they weren't interested in a north pyramid when the SFA tried to push the PWG process in a north context.

Edited May 27, 2021 by LongTimeLurker

[RH33]

There won't be any news over the weekend, Houston has a nine hour babysitting shift on Saturday and Parkmoor Under 9's to go to with youngest grand daughter on Sunday. 

 

[Jacksgranda]

18 hours ago, Jimmy Shaker said:

Was rumoured at the weekend by someone involved in the juniors that the winners of the three Tier 6 leagues would play each other in a mini-league home and away, the winner of which would then play club 18 in the SHFL. 

That seems like the sensible option, imo. No draws, if level after 90 minutes go to penalties.

[LongTimeLurker]

Home and away might be pushing it if the games all had to be on weekends for transport reasons. They could do a three game format with each team getting one home game and one away game. Take it to penalties each time after a draw to try to make sure there's a tiebreaker.

[Sherrif John Bunnell]

Good luck to the HFL trying to schedule a mini league when Fort William have 14 games in hand every April.

[patriot1]

Remember only licensed teams would take part in the playoff.

What are the chances of next seasons three tier 6 winners all being licensed.

[Ginaro]

3 minutes ago, patriot1 said:

Remember only licensed teams would take part in the playoff.

What are the chances of next seasons three tier 6 winners all being licensed.

North Super League - only Banks o'Dee but they've won the last four titles.

North Caledonian - only Golspie Sutherland but they won the last full season and are always near the top.

Midlands League - nobody yet but of the big teams Broughty are the only ones with lights, Lochee making improvements etc so there might a be a few licensed.

I'd say it's quite likely at least one team will be in the play-off.

[FairWeatherFan]

Even if there's none you've still got to set up your fixture list at the start of the season with the intention it will take place. 

[Jimmy Shaker]

Banks O’Dee will win that league til they get out of it. 

[Thom & Gerry]

1 hour ago, Jimmy Shaker said:

Banks O’Dee will win that league til they get out of it. 

Think BOD Thistle will run them close soon. They are spending a fair bit of money.

[Marten]

9 hours ago, Ginaro said:

North Super League - only Banks o'Dee but they've won the last four titles.

North Caledonian - only Golspie Sutherland but they won the last full season and are always near the top.

Midlands League - nobody yet but of the big teams Broughty are the only ones with lights, Lochee making improvements etc so there might a be a few licensed.

I'd say it's quite likely at least one team will be in the play-off.

It's not unlikely that 2 or even 3 teams will be in the PO indeed. I don't think any team other than Golspie can get licensed soon in the NCL (if anyone in the know thinks I'm wrong, please advise), but Golspie could well win the league and there is a decent chance the ML will produce a licensed champion.

Edited May 28, 2021 by Marten