EoS Structure for 2021/22

[LongTimeLurker]

8 minutes ago, Dev said:

The Punishment line is a personal opinion. Not saying that anyone needs to agree!

They could have had all 41 clubs below the premier in the conferences this season to speed things along on having all of the clubs reach their natural level. The member clubs chose not to do that when it came to a vote and went instead with a plan that even gives Hawick Royal Albert an extra season outside the bottom tier. Personally far from heartbroken over what that does to Bo'ness Athletic but setting that aside it's another prime example along with the tier 6 promotion bottleneck of why it would probably be better if the SFA board had the power to shape the pyramid like the FA does in England.  

[Dev]

8 minutes ago, Burnieman said:

What exactly are you suggesting happens and why are you so obsessed about this?  What about Harthill Royal who are in the same position in the WoSFL, you know, your clubs league?

There's now a potential situation where clubs from outside the Lothians may hold back from applying for membership due to the lowest division being entirely made up of Lothians clubs. No local games all season except maybe some via cup competitions? (potential and may because no-one knows if there are any more clubs out there which may apply to join in future.)

It's easier to feel part of a division if there's at least one other team from your district in the division.

This is an avoidable position for the league. I think that the clubs now understand this and a motion may be put forward for consideration which will help all to move more quickly to a league with properly balanced (in the playing standard sense) league. This would be in all clubs' interests as most outside the Premier would welcome going into each week-ends' fixtures knowing that there will probably a more competitive and even match to look forward to.

[Burnieman]

5 minutes ago, Dev said:

There's now a potential situation where clubs from outside the Lothians may hold back from applying for membership due to the lowest division being entirely made up of Lothians clubs. No local games all season except maybe some via cup competitions? (potential and may because no-one knows if there are any more clubs out there which may apply to join in future.)

It's easier to feel part of a division if there's at least one other team from your district in the division.

This is an avoidable position for the league. I think that the clubs now understand this and a motion may be put forward for consideration which will help all to move more quickly to a league with properly balanced (in the playing standard sense) league. This would be in all clubs' interests as most outside the Premier would welcome going into each week-ends' fixtures knowing that there will probably a more competitive and even match to look forward to.

  You have no idea what you're talking about.

Harthill?

Edited April 16, 2022 by Burnieman

[FairWeatherFan]

30 minutes ago, Dev said:

Thanks for putting me right on some points.

However, there's an imbalance between divisions headed this way next season and dealing with that would be a sound opportunity to make adjustments which are inclusive of last season intake of clubs. Surely no-one is saying that they don't merit that? It would also help weaker, more established, clubs to find their true level and, hopefully avoid some of the larger defeats which have been endured.

The current bottom 16 from the First Division Conferences. To which some others might be added from above and 2 from Conference X would be added. No run away winners, no one rooted to the bottom with no hope of saving themselves from relegation. Plenty of East Premier teams when they left the Juniors. This isn't 2018-19 when you actually had the very best from the Juniors mixing it up with the lowest. This is a league where Tweedmouth beat Thorton Hibs 4-1.

4 minutes ago, Dev said:

There's now a potential situation where clubs from outside the Lothians may hold back from applying for membership due to the lowest division being entirely made up of Lothians clubs. No local games all season except maybe some via cup competitions? (potential and may because no-one knows if there are any more clubs out there which may apply to join in future.)

The days of numerous applications is over because there just aren't the facilities. Syngenta have moved 4 times. Edinburgh South & Edinburgh College are groundsharing. Hillfield Swifts moved to a new ground. Most of the WoS Division 4 clubs, Drumchapel United and St Cadoc's are playing muscial chairs to find proper grounds.

Entering a pyramid league is now the difference between being semi-professional club and an amateur/youth team. There's a lot more going on than simply the concern over travel.