|
|
|
|
|||||||
| COWSHED For the discussion of politics, religion and all other non Hibs/Football issues - it's sort of moderated, board rules still apply. |
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
01-03-07, 19:48
|
#1 |
|
A True Gadgie/Gadgess
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1,539
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 3  |
Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
According to Sportsound, revelation of planned announcement at 9pm on Sportsound.
Apparently the review by Deloitte & Touche into SFL viability is due next week, but 16 SFL clubs are meeting tommorrow to break away and form as SPL2. All 10 First Division, plus 6 lower leagues. I would personally suggest: Airdrie United, Clyde, Dundee, Gretna, Hamilton Academical, Livingston, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South, Ross County, St Johnstone and my guess would then be these 4 full-time teams: Ayr United, Greenock Morton, Raith Rovers, Stranraer plus: Peterhead, Stirling Albion because I can't see anyone else being big enough in terms of stadiums and supporters. What is more noticeable is that 16 teams splitting away = 30 games a season which doesn't work financially. However, if we had two SPL divisions of 14? = 39 games a season, 1 more than currently (though means playing all opponents thrice). Could be disastrous for 14 remaining SFL sides if they get 'locked out' because of demands on stadium, reserve sides, undersoil heating. I personally would like to see: SPL1 12 clubs SPL2 12 clubs SFL National 18 clubs with pyramid below |
|
|
|
01-03-07, 21:36
|
#2 |
|
Radge Private Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Artful Dodger.
Posts: 6,525
Thanks: 1
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Rep Power: 16 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
If all the SPL clubs had the balls to drop 8 games from the fixture calender (or in some clubs cases drop two games against the auld firm) then it would be a more entertaining and less repetitive league being 16 teams with 30 games a season.
This doesnt clog up the fixture list throughtout the season and like argued on here numerous times over the years it would allow the CIS cup to be played on a Saturday. 30 games still qualifies in terms of what UEFA are looking for in a domestic league schedule. The other two leagues would consist of 16 and 10. Less leagues and less yo-yoing back and forth for some clubs (Partick Thistle for instance). Maybe even allow two for the drop and up from all leagues would make it exciting. This would never happen with the voting system and arrogance of the SPL clubs however. I will continue to dream of a stronger Scottish footballing tiered system like this though.
__________________
  Students! Feck Che Guevara, Hail King Sauzee! |
|
|
|
|
01-03-07, 22:35
|
#3 | |
|
Bounce Flag Co-Owner
  
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Sunny Leith
Age: 34
Posts: 12,515
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 28 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
Quote:
__________________
“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.” Timothy Leary |
|
|
|
|
02-03-07, 00:34
|
#4 |
|
A True Gadgie/Gadgess
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1,539
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 3 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
My reconstruction model would be:
12 12 18 18-18-18-18 18-18-18-18-18-18-18-18 with 23 amateur leagues + the amateur NCFL below Get every Highland, South of Scotland, East of Scotland, Junior club + Burntisland Shipyard + Glasgow University. Proper pyramid. Level 1: SPL1 (12) Level 2: SPL2 (12) Level 3: SFL National (18) Level 4: SFL Regional (4 regions: North, South, East, West) (18 in each) Level 5: SFL District (8 districts, 2 in each region. In North Region: Highlands & Moray, Aberdeenshire & Kincardineshire. In South Region: Ayrshire & Galloway, Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire. In East Region: Lothian & Borders, Fife & Tayside. In West Region: Forth & Perthshire, Glasgow & Strathclyde) (18 in each) Level 6: Amateur at 'County' Level (24 in total, with between 2 and 4 in each District) (6 in each, played from January to May) SPL1 2 up/2 down SPL2 2 up/2 down. Play-off 10th in SPL2 v winner KO 3rd-6th in SFL National SFL National 5 up (4 regional champions, winner KO 2nd-3rd in 4 regions)/5 down SFL Regional (North, South, East, West) 5 up (2 district champions, 2 district 2nd, winner KO 3rd-6th in both Districts)/5 down SFL District 2 face expulsion vote/2 face induction vote SAFA County CUPS Scottish (Qualifying) Cup: R128 (losers into Consolation Cup), R160 (losers into Supplementary Cup), R80, R40, R20 (10 winners into Scottish Cup) Scottish (Consolation Cup): R64 (winners into Supplementary Cup, losers continue), R32, R16, R8, SF, FINAL Scottish (Supplementary) Cup: R128, R64, R32, R16, R8, SF, FINAL Scottish Cup: R40, R32, R16, R8, SF, FINAL In the Qualifying Cup, 120 of the pyramid clubs enter with 8 amateur sides. The 96 other pyramid sides are byed to the next round. In the Consolation Cup the teams knocked out of the first round of the Qualifying Cup are joined with 16 amateur sides. In the Scottish Cup, the 10 qualifiers join the 18 SFL National and 12 SPL2 clubs. The 12 SPL1 clubs are byed to the next round. League Cup as currently, but played to conclusion before Christmas (competition straight knock-out) Challenge Cup as currently, but played over course of whole season, and 2 legged semi-finals (competition straight knock-out) Spring Cup for 64 of the SFL clubs not involved in end of season play-offs (16 groups of 4, winners progress, then straight knock-out) Junior Cup for 124 of the SFL clubs not involved in end of season play-offs (straight knock-out) SAFA SuperLeague a group-and-knockout cup for leaders of amateur leagues at Christmas, to decide entrants into following seasons Qualifying and Consolation cups (8 groups of 3, then straight knock-out) Final venues in a model year: SCOTTISH CUP Semi-Finals: Hampden Park 52,025 (both) Final: Hampden Park SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Semi-Finals: Hampden Park 52,025 & Easter Road Stadium 17,400 Final: Hampden Park 52,025 SCOTTISH CHALLENGE CUP Final: Hampden Park 52,025 SCOTTISH (CONSOLATION) CUP Semi-Finals: Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh 17,300 & Tannadice Park, Dundee 14,223 Final: Celtic Park, Glasgow 60,355 SCOTTISH (SUPPLEMENTARY) CUP Semi-Finals: Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh 13,841 & Fir Park, Motherwell 13,664 Final: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow 50,444 SCOTTISH SPRING CUP Semi-Finals: East End Park, Dunfermline 11,998 & Dens Park, Dundee 11,506 Final: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen 21,421 SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP Semi-Finals: Firhill Stadium, Glasgow 10,921 & Love Street, Paisley 10,752 Final: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock 18,128 SAFA SUPERLEAGUE Semi-Finals: Lesser Hampden Park 5,000 (both) Final: Lesser Hampden Park 5,000 All the above is achievable with a season starting on the last weekend in July, and (a) ending on the last weekend in May, if a fortnight mid-season break in December; or (b) ending on the third last weekend in May, if no break in December The only sacrifice is that, if you want to play the League Cup out before Christmas, you have to use the midweeks prior to internationals, which means clubs couldn't use players on international duty. Plus about £2M to fit floodlights to the pyramid club grounds. |
|
|
|
|
02-03-07, 02:26
|
#5 | |
|
Barbary Corsair
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Execution Dock
Age: 31
Posts: 1,416
Thanks: 4
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 5 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
Quote:
 I was with you right up to the SPL1 12 teams bit.
__________________
By the sky and the Night-Comer- What will explain to you what the Night-Comer is? The piercing star. There is a watcher over every soul. |
|
|
|
|
|
02-03-07, 18:36
|
#6 | |
|
Baby Radge
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Co Mayo, Ireland/Edinburgh
Posts: 10
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
Quote:
I think. |
|
|
|
|
|
02-03-07, 19:09
|
#7 |
|
Admin & Hibs Historian Radge
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Nitten
Posts: 6,790
My Mood:
Thanks: 6
Thanked 25 Times in 15 Posts
Rep Power: 17 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
I was told that a number of first division teams are going part time next season, and the problem with any stucture is we dinnae have enough full time teams to fill it. that points to a sixteen maybe eighteen team top league with all the part timers somewhere beneath
__________________
It's the hope I can't stand Currently researching: Nothing, for now. Currently working on: Hibees Bounce Hibs Stats |
|
|
|
|
04-03-07, 19:14
|
#8 |
|
A True Gadgie/Gadgess
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1,539
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 3 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
In reply to those with hurting heads - I have got really detailed plans, I like to spend spare time drawing up ideas like that (sad I know but might be useful some day......). Plus I think they are plans that would actually benefit all of Scottish
football. Anyway, about the full-timers: Currently: 12 SPL all full-time 9 First Division (Queen of the South are part-time) 1 Second Division (Morton) [Raith, Stranraer and Ayr have some full-timers - I am 99% sure that Stirling Albion no longer have any full-time playing staff) 0 Third Division (Elgin were, if you remember, considering doing so after Kenny Black took over. Except he's succeeded in putting them last in Scotland. Queen's Park are amateur, although East Stirling and Albion Rovers only pay token wages). But how would a larger SPL work? 14 teams = 39 fixtures if play all thrice, but that's not very fair (especially for derbies) so unlikely. Or twice = 26 games then split, but means 7 in each half, even if one sits out each week do you go to 33, or 40 (don't think 40 allowed by UEFA). 16 teams = 30 fixtures if play all twice, split and play all once? Again not really very fair and so unlikely. 18 teams = 34 fixtures. And not really any way of getting to top end of 30s. Plus would there really be interest (a) in a league that big (what to play for) and (b) if the current top six of the First Divison were in that would mean Hamilton and Clyde. Hardly quality footballing opposition. 20 teams = 38 fixtures which is fine. But know we're talking about Partick and Ross County. Nope. I think: 12 12 18 with pyramid below is the way to go. Effectively the 'second-level' SPL can cater for the other full-timers, and give the best part-timers a chance. All the SFL clubs in one division would possibly make it more competitive and more money, since play-offs and relegation together with more varied opposition. And the deadwood (Elgin, East Stirling, Albion, Montrose) could get relegated into the regions and replaced by quality sides (Spartans, Huntly, Annan, Junior FA sides). A two-tier SPL would also benefit from 2-up-2-down, or at least 1-up-1-down plus play-off I would have thought. So based on current standings: SCOTTISH PREMIERLEAGUE 1 CELTIC (CLQ3) Rangers (CLQ2) Aberdeen (UCR1) Hearts (ICSF) Hibernian (UCQ2 via Scottish Cup) Kilmarnock ---------- Inverness CT Falkirk Motherwell Dundee Utd St Mirren (Rel) Dunfermline (Rel) SCOTTISH PREMIERLEAGUE 2 Gretna (Pro) St Johnstone (Pro) Dundee Hamilton Clyde Livingston Partick Ross County Queen of South Airdrie Utd (Play-off v winner of play-offs 3rd-6th in level below) Morton (Rel) Stirling (Rel) SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE NATIONAL Brechin (Pro) Raith (Pro) Alloa (Play-off) Ayr (Play-off) Peterhead (Play-off) Cowdenbeath (Play-off) Stranraer Forfar Berwick Queens Park Arbroath East Fife Dumbarton Albion (Rel) Stenhousemuir (Rel) Montrose (Rel) East Stirling (Rel) Elgin (Rel) SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGIONAL (NORTH) 18 teams Winner promoted. 2nd & 3rd to play-offs along with 2nd & 3rd from other regions, winner promoted. Bottom 5 relegated. SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGIONAL (SOUTH) 18 teams Winner promoted. 2nd & 3rd to play-offs along with 2nd & 3rd from other regions, winner promoted. Bottom 5 relegated. SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGIONAL (EAST) 18 teams Winner promoted. 2nd & 3rd to play-offs along with 2nd & 3rd from other regions, winner promoted. Bottom 5 relegated. SCOTTISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REGIONAL (WEST) 18 teams Winner promoted. 2nd & 3rd to play-offs along with 2nd & 3rd from other regions, winner promoted. Bottom 5 relegated. Each of the regions has 2 Scottish Football League Districts below, of 18 teams each. 1st and 2nd in each district promoted. 3rd-6th in the two districts to play-offs, winner promoted. Bottom 2 face expulsion/induction vote. Each district has a varying (2-4) number of SAFA Amateur SuperLeagues below, of 6 teams each (the planned model being amateur leagues of 12, playing 22 matches before Christmas, with a physical break in two, and top six playing each other again twice = 10 games + a SuperCup, after Christmas). A varying number of the top sides in the amateur superleagues go into play-offs with other superleague qualifiers in that district (i.e. if 2 superleagues in district = top 4 in each to play-offs. If 3 superleagues = top 2 + 2 best 3rd placed. If 4 superleagues = top 2). Two play-off winners face induction/expulsion vote. Over time the amateur superleagues would be replaced by amateur divisions with direct promotion to the district above. In the first year there would be only one of these - the current North Caledonian Football League - promoting its champion into the Highlands & Moray district of the North region of the Scottish Football League. |
|
|
|
|
06-03-07, 02:00
|
#9 |
|
A True Gadgie/Gadgess
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1,539
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Rep Power: 3 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
'Scottish League is out of date'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot..._1/6418853.stm 'Chick Young's view' http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/6419705.stm 'Smith critiscises report about SFL' http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot..._1/6421573.stm an an audio interview with SFL President: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/c...nbram=1&nbwm=1 To summarise: - many SFL First Division clubs want to remain full-time but fanbase and income insufficient, debt too high - see smaller clubs as detracting from their 'big'(?) clubs - see SPL as a pot-of-gold-at-end-of-rainbow come financial-get-out-of-jail-card - report commissioned for the break-away clubs, comparing SFL with Conference, claims SFL old-fashioned, inefficient, and clumsy. Now while I agree there is no need for a President getting £100k a year, and 14 staff seems a lot compared to 4 at Conference, we must remember (a) the SFL has 2 cups to run, one of them a national cup; (b) there are far more full-time sides in the SFL; (c) the Conference is only 2 levels; (d) the FA is responsible for discipline and much of the registration procedure in the Conference; (e) the SFL has a greater income than the Conference. The entire SPL1 and SPL2 plans are a bad idea. In brief: (a) SFL First Division becomes SPL2, so nothing changes BUT (b) clubs like Airdrie, Livingston and Dundee want more money that doesn't exist. But they are going bust so they must find money from somewhere. So they claim an SPL2 would include live TV coverage. And a massive new SPL sponshorship deal. For the same matches as we have at the moment...... (c) to play in SPL2 would require a 3,000 seater stadium, no standing, and clubs would have to run a full-time reserve and full-time Under-19 team (d) the SPL would have their own cup, the SPL Cup, which would include groups and knock-out. Because Hibs being in a group with say St Mirren, Hamilton and Ross County is of course going to generate massive amounts of national interest...... (e) the remaining 20 SFL clubs would be left in the lurch, with promotion by condition into SPL2 for their champion, and a play-off place. But they would have to play the Challenge Cup and the League Cup amongst themselves. Airdrie and Livingston wish to forcibly regionalise the 'rump' SFL as 2 regions of 10 (because this would marginalise them, less media coverage, less likely to get a sponsorship deal). I am not against reconstruction. I am not against clubs trying to maximise their incomes. I am against 22 'new' SPL clubs - including Hibs - deliberately trying to kill off the other league clubs to 'steal' what little income and media attention they have. I tell you this as a matter of fact - if there are 22 league clubs in Scotland, Scottish football will wither on the vine. If you kill the grassroots, the grass will die as well in time. In the words of the great Scottish patriot Alexander Fletcher of Saltoun: "I knew a very wise man once, so much of Sir Christopher’s sentiment, that he believed if a man were permitted to make all the ballads, he need not care who should make the laws of a nation." I haven't supported my local team Berwick Rangers all my life to have some cowards in their offices at Hampden decide that my team isn't 'good' enough, that our fans aren't 'good' enough, to grace the same league as them. What of Queen's Park? What of Stirling? What of Forfar? These clubs have done more in their histories than Livingston or Airdrie United. I sincerely hope, for the future of our national game, that we should not resign ourselves to making the ballads, while others make the laws - while selfishness spells the ruin of our local teams. I hope that our club, Hibernian FC, proves to have the mettle of men and stands up for the rights of the smaller clubs WHO STAND EQUAL WITH US IN MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, THE SECOND OLDEST FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ON THIS EARTH, A PROUD INSTITUTION OF OUR NATION - SHARING A PRIDE OF EQUAL MERIT WITH THE SFL, THE SECOND OLDEST FOOTBALL LEAGUE IN THE WORLD. If instead we support these sops in their SPL2 then we are not men at all, but rather sickening cowards, and cowards who do not deserve the name history granted us. |
|
|
|
|
06-03-07, 11:42
|
#10 |
|
Radge against the dying of the light.
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Age: 29
Posts: 438
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post
Rep Power: 4 |
Re: Reconstruction Of Sfl Planned
Agree with the jist of what's being posted above - there are junior teams who are much better supported than many league times who would fly up the divisions if there were a pyramid.
The reference to non-league Annan being prime league contenders is spot on - they're better supported than fecking Gretna. I just don't think there's anyone in the SFL or the SPL with the gumption to knock heads together and make it happen. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bookmarks |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Sfl Reconstruction - Something Fishy? | HibeeJibee | COWSHED | 4 | 09-03-07 18:13 |
| Briton 'planned massive explosions' | Jamesie | COWSHED | 17 | 07-11-06 08:49 |
| What Is Your Understanding Of The Clubs Planned Training Complex? | Smurf | General HIBS Chat | 17 | 29-07-06 01:20 |
Linear Mode
