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Brora will do okay financially in SPFL 2 if they get there. (disclaimer!) I have no official sources - only my own 'findings' from various internet searches. The figures being talked about are all relatively small but looked at relatively, Brora's main problem would be simply the distances they have to travel. However, Elgin is closer than many journeys they have to make in the Highland League, so effectively they're looking at a burden of 16 away trips in the season. Currently the Highland League champions get approx. £15,000 for winning it plus £17 per-point = £17,000 in a great season. The Highland League Cup only offers £2,000 to the winners (Brora, in their entire history have never even been in the final of this!), with the North of Scotland probably being £1,000 plus gate money share. Little over £20k in income for Brora. Their local sponsors will likely stick around for the increased national exposure, especially in the first season - and the novelty factor could draw interested spectators from the Sutherland area, with a catchment area that includes Dornoch, Golspie and possibly even Helmsdale. Brora would also enter the Scottish Cup a round later, automatically be included in the Challenge Cup and obviously be in the League Cup, which I understand pays £10,000 for even first round losers. The worst they could do would be to finish bottom of League Two and enter next season's play-off! Even then. they'd get £32,000 for finishing last! Plus a 'parachute payment' of £40,000 for their first season back in the Highland League, and £20,000 the following season! Competing in SPLF 2 would also have, initially, many away fans making 'a weekend of it' by travelling up. I understand much of the extra finance will go on travelling costs, but it's an adventure they surely must embrace! For me, the 'beauty' of the Pyramid System' is, that should it be a step too-far for Brora, then they won't be left stuck at the bottom of the formerly closed system and a likely 'folding' or administration 'event' would be averted, as now, if/and when a club's not good enough, they'll simply drop down and 'find their level' again. A full pyramid system, correctly managed, should ensure clubs no longer have the face the wall of insolvency - teams would simply operate at their 'correct' level. N.B. This is all presumptuous as Brora have their work-cut-out to get past Edinburgh City!

Read today that the plan to reduce the numbers to 10 is to appease the broadcasters (sound familiar?). Presumably the ICC feel they will get more income to support the development of cricket in other nations by taking a larger sum for televising a more elite competiton. But it is not just about the money - cricket will develop elsewhere if players get the opportunity to play against better opposition. Perhaps a fairer way of formatting this would be to have more of the test playing nations required to participate in the qualifiers. In that way, not only would the emerging nations have more chance of getting to the finals, they would also have the opportunity to play against test playing nations whether they qualified or not. Secondary TV contracts would also provide a bit more exposure and money for the game. It might also spice up the matches between the test playing nations as the rankings following the ODIs between them would determine whether they were required to compete in the qualifiers or not. On a lighter note I was amused to read the tweet sent by the Japan Cricket Association to the England and Wales Cricket Board which read "Dear @ECB_cricket, this might not be a great time, but as there's room in your schedule, fancy a game in Japan on your way home?". Thankfully the ECB declined the kind invitation.

Just to let you all know updates may be late for the next 2 weeks as I am on holiday in Scotland and will be taking in the Caley v Dundee game so updates will depend on availability of internet

Hi Smee yes a bit late in the day but look to next year I have just looked at your team and noticed that you have 3 defenders from the same team in my opinion not a good idea (although of you had played them all last time you would probably have won your game) I would suggest that you have a strong midfield ie those that are good for assists and also capable of scoring a few goals . Head to Heads are funny and some weeks you can win scoring 30 pts and the next week you could lose scoring 70 so sometimes it is just a bit of luck - who you choose as Captain can also make a difference at the Moment you have Kane and that is a good choice ( I hate to think what price he will be next year) I would suggest that next year you mess about with lots of formations before deciding on your team - read the scout for some information , and also you can pick up some tips on twitter Another way to go about picking your team is take maybe 1 major player for defence , midfield, and forward then use autofill and from there mess about with the team until you are happy. It's all part of the game and my team has not done all that well this year so keep chin up next year could be oh so different

We're in the Semis, people will swim there if they have to!!!!! Can't see the Celtic fans swimming there tbh, all it would take was for somebody to chuck in a bar of soap.

What is the point of a semi final when ya can't get pished beforehand, should be an 8pm kick off