Cowdenleith Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: Actually serious https://www.rangers.co.uk/Article/club-statement-scottish-lowland-football-league/6jLBPpT4G4BgTju0QQfL7X RANGERS can today announce the club will not be entering a B team in the Scottish Lowland Football League in season 2023/24 and beyond. This follows the Scottish FA’s decision to withdraw a vote on the proposed introduction of a ‘Conference League’ at tier five in the national football pyramid. Firstly, Rangers would like to put on record our sincere thanks to the Lowland League for hosting a Rangers B team in their league for the past two seasons, and to the clubs for their fantastic hospitality and sporting challenges during that time. Rangers wishes each and every one of them the very best for the future. Rangers has long been a strong advocate for the introduction of B Teams in the professional leagues of Scottish football, with a Conference League being an excellent step in that direction. Nations across Europe operate similar B Team systems with strong evidence of their development of players at club and national level. Indeed, all 10 teams who contributed most to the development of players for last year’s World Cup have B teams operating in national senior leagues. The desire from all at Rangers to have a B Team in the professional leagues remains as strong as ever. Our view on B Teams was also strongly supported by the Scottish FA and its CEO Ian Maxwell, who recognise the clear, beneficial impact B Teams have on top international sides. For 18–21 year-old footballers, our research and the evidence clearly shows the best path for their development is playing professional football in professional leagues. A Conference League would have been a positive move towards that. As matters now stand, there is no suitable, governing body-led development structure for players between 18-21 in Scotland. The club has, however, enjoyed positive dialogue with a number of key stakeholders in recent days, including the Scottish FA, and looks forward to continuing such discussions to map the best possible direction for the development of the country’s top young players. Alongside the club’s participation in the Lowland League in the last two seasons, a challenging ‘best v best’ games programme has provided our young players with matches against clubs from the highest levels of British and European competition. This has proved a success, with 10 recent Academy players featuring in the Rangers first-team last season. Matches with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool are among the fixtures to have featured and that programme will continue and indeed be enhanced alongside the club’s commitments in the SPFL Trust Trophy, City of Glasgow Cup and, hopefully, the UEFA Youth League, which provided an outstanding environment for our players last season. This will ensure our young players in that crucial 18-21 age group are given regular tests of a varied nature. Rangers remains committed to finding the most innovative and challenging environments for our young players, not only for the benefit of our club, but also for the benefit of other clubs and the Scotland national team. We look forward to continuing our positive engagement with the Scottish FA and other bodies in the drive for young player development. Wow, what a bunch of absolute babies that lot are. They’re not going to give up on their long game of getting a B team into the SPFL are they? Edited June 14, 2023 by Cowdenleith 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanley Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Although I'm glad there is one less B team in the Lowland League, I'm not going to celebrate the news too much. The statement isn't what I'd call positive in terms of long-term prospects and they are clearly still looking for something more than the Lowland League and have the backing of some of those running the game. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cowdenbeath Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 1 minute ago, Cowdenleith said: Wow, what a bunch of absolute babies that lot are. They’re not going to give up on their long game of getting a B team into the SPFL are they? Give them till this time next year for some new idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 1 minute ago, Cowdenleith said: Wow, what a bunch of absolute babies that lot are. They’re not going to give up on their long game of getting into the SPFL are they? They'll be back i'm sure. Craig Mulholland and Ross Wilson left. So it's not entirely the same people pushing the project. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazilianlex Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 The Rangers statement reflects badly on Maxwell as it confirms the conference was a Rangers idea and Maxwell the useful idiot to get it thru. Not a mention of developing Scottish National Team players in that statement ! 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowdenleith Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) 3-2-1 until all they fannies from the ‘good guy list’ and other shit threads are back over here. It’s been lovely and peaceful the last week or so. Edit: I was right, it took Viking twat and his mighty downvote button about 5 minutes to get over here. Edited June 14, 2023 by Cowdenleith -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparticus Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Just now, Brazilianlex said: The Rangers statement reflects badly on Maxwell as it confirms the conference was a Rangers idea and Maxwell the useful idiot to get it thru. Not a mention of developing Scottish National Team players in that statement ! Other European leagues might end up scrapping b teams in their league system.It doesnt make very much sense. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 Just now, Brazilianlex said: The Rangers statement reflects badly on Maxwell as it confirms the conference was a Rangers idea and Maxwell the useful idiot to get it thru. Not a mention of developing Scottish National Team players in that statement ! That's been obvious with all the talking points that get keep getting trotted out. It was the Rangers academy people that had been using them for years. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shanner Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 What a shit show of a division. The greedy, shitebag clubs that allowed them in in the first place are 100% responsible for the ongoing joke that this has become and should be reminded at every opportunity of their act of vandalism on Scottish non-League football. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingTON Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 4 minutes ago, stanley said: Although I'm glad there is one less B team in the Lowland League, I'm not going to celebrate the news too much. The statement isn't what I'd call positive in terms of long-term prospects and they are clearly still looking for something more than the Lowland League and have the backing of some of those running the game. The lesson of this story is that clubs run the game rather than shysters like Maxwell, that fat Tory c**t Mulraney, or the Old Firm. They have tried to get their way and been soundly defeated, multiple times. Now is the time to complete the rout by emptying the remaining two outfits. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 Better double check the Park's Motor Group sponsorship contract. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparticus Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 12 minutes ago, FairWeatherFan said: The social media response from the Lowland https://twitter.com/OfficialSLFL/status/1669066226402832384 I fully expect Celtic to follow follow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marten Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 One down, hopefully 2 more to follow. Great news! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blootoon87 Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 f**k sake, Scotland will plummet down the FIFA rankings now. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairWeatherFan Posted June 14, 2023 Author Share Posted June 14, 2023 3 minutes ago, Marten said: One down, hopefully 2 more to follow. Great news! It must be in consideration. Celtic will have the UEFA Youth League group stage and everything else that Rangers have. Lose the home game against Rangers that helps cover the costs. Hearts stuck playing Friday night football. The Reserve League is there and wouldn't be as costly for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityDave94 Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 If Rangers are gone, Celtic will be sure to follow. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdinburghBlue Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 33 minutes ago, cowdenbeath0-3 said: Statement from rangers saying no B team will be entered into the lowland league ever again but hope the LL had a watertight contract with Rangers* to ensure that they have to pay up for 23/24 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbydazzler Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 1 minute ago, EdinburghBlue said: but hope the LL had a watertight contract with Rangers* to ensure that they have to pay up for 23/24 the LL can find themselves behind the face painter 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballfirst Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Toys out the pram job, or do they have an alternative plan after discussions with the SFA and others? The statement makes it clear that the Conference League was only a stepping stone to what they wanted. I wouldn't put it past the SPFL to seek to introduce a 5th tier within the SPFL with an implicit threat to any dissenters that the top teams will break away as the SPL did in 1998. The new "SPFL" company with Doncaster and Beattie as directors was incorporated for a purpose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brazilianlex Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Lowland League have just made a statement that Cowdenbeath have been invited to introduce a B Team. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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