CaleyCanary

Sadly for Scottish football, there are two very true statements.

Indeed - what's the point of protecting the top tier clubs and sacrificing all the others? This proposal actually worries me more, what on earth is going through the minds of those running (ruining) our leagues?

Thanks Kingsmills, I was wondering how I was going to word a post that described my feelings about the whole debacle but you've done it for me It doesn't sit well with me that we ended up being on the same side of an argument as the Rangers, but it doesn't mean we were wrong to do so. I can sort of understand a bit how Chris feels about our club being dragged through the mud, but I don't blame our board for this. I admire their dogged, persistent stance in the face of unjust onslaughts in an effort to get the truth out there. The blame for any tarnishing of our reputation lies with others chasing their own agendas to the detriment of Scottish football as a whole.

Like both Nike and Puma strips but I'd give the nod to the Puma home strip with the black trim - and I personally feel the Puma vertical stripes on the away kit would look better over my spreading paunch than the Nike hoops

As Bad Santa said, they can't all be winners. No matter what solution we end up with, someone, somewhere will not be happy with the outcome. The trick is to strike a fair balance that minimises the hurt and helps to keep everyone afloat. As long as the restructure supports a decent pyramid with movement between the bottom tier and the Highland/Lowland leagues to keep things fresh then like gingerjaggy I don't see a big issue overall.

All about survival right enough - we need to cut our cloth accordingly and forget about splashing out for a proven prolific striker. I think Jack is quite right, we have enough competition for the main striker role and the lads we have should be given their chance to prove what they can do. If league reconstruction falls through then Hearts take on the same mantle that DU had this season, they should be a shoe-in for the title but where the Arabs knew what was needed to win this league, the Tarts don't - it will be a new experience from them fighting in the Championship and they might find themselves getting a bit of a shock (hopefully).

Can't see many clubs able to extend player contracts without the income to pay the wages - frightening unchartered territory ahead for many clubs, players and staff. For most of us it is just a loss of our favourite hobby and pastime for a while but for others it's their livelihood and I feel for them.

Possibly something along the lines of Kingsmill's suggestion... ...I can't see why Dundee acted in the way they did without some sort of under the table deal being agree that would see them benefit from changing their original vote. Whatever eventually transpires, I do like Kingsmill's restructuring vision.

Ta for the heads-up Robert

First spotted in an interview Gerry Britton gave to the BBC on 15th March... "There's a number of scenarios being spoken about," he said. "If the league stops here then okay, teams have to be rewarded. We are into the last quarter, so the teams at the top need to be rewarded. "It's hard not to be self-interested. When I look at it, the one proposal I've heard of the top two teams getting promoted with no relegation, of Kelty and Brora coming up, that works for me. "If we did have an experiment with the top tier going up to 14 teams, we might find it works." Seems to me that this is the fairest option. Nobody goes down, it rewards the teams who were runaway league winners and if it means we start afresh with a new season in August it should keep the TV deals on track.

After watching a news bulletin where they announced that O and A level grades are to be decided by teachers based on past performance, this does not seem to be an unreasonable approach. In the great scheme of things, if such important outcomes for a child's future can be decided like this, something as unimportant as the placings in a football league can surely be decided in such a way. The various FAs could get there heads together (2 metres apart please) and come up with an agreed formula to finish all the leagues - the statties would love it!

Aye Gringo it's hit us like that too. We weren't going to be able to make the trip for the final but were to be back home later for a week to take in the DU home game and Partick away on the way back down south - gutted as it was my only opportunity for a game this season.

It's not a bad thought actually - I don't know how the system operates as I've never bought a season ticket but could it be possible to offer season tickets on an interest free loan scheme? I know the clubs would rather have the cash up front before the season starts but at least it would help with a regular cash flow as the season progresses.

Perhaps they might be wanting to wait for a bit to see if there should be a wee price increase for Premiership games? You never know, could very well be on the cards...

I think you are right Kingsmills. The mindless idiots are probably in the minority, however, they have an enormous effect on the rest of us. There are a lot of prats about with no sense of social responsibility, unfortunately it's a malaise of our society. I'm hoping that this dreadful episode might bring about a cultural shift in attitudes and behaviours but that's likely just wishful thinking.

All for rationing but a bit of ridiculousness at our local Co-op today - popped in to buy 3 sandwiches for lunch to be told I can only have two, Co-op ruling only 2 items of any one product whatever it is. Explained there were three of us but they wouldn't budge, so bought two then Mrs Canary had to go in to get another. Bit of common sense required methinks.

Quite possibly the last training session of this season after the FA announcement this afternoon - reckon ymip has probably called it right.

Cheers Gringo

Looks like you might not be so far off CaleyD - here's an extract taken from an interview Partick's Gerry Britton has given to the BBC... "I genuinely fear for a lot of the smaller clubs who are on a real tipping point and a situation like this could very easily push some clubs under." Partick Thistle find themselves in a precarious situation at the bottom of the Championship if the league season was to finish early. The Glasgow club are two points adrift of second-bottom Queen of the South, but have a game in hand. However, Britton says clubs at the top of the table should be rewarded for their success so far, even if clubs like his own avoid relegation. "There's a number of scenarios being spoken about," he said. "If the league stops here then okay, teams have to be rewarded. We are into the last quarter, so the teams at the top need to be rewarded. "It's hard not to be self-interested. When I look at it, the one proposal I've heard of the top two teams getting promoted with no relegation, of Kelty and Brora coming up, that works for me. "If we did have an experiment with the top tier going up to 14 teams, we might find it works." So if that's the way it pans out we'd be going back up to the Premiership with DU.

I think just about anything is an improvement over the current setup and I really like this idea, it has an exciting fresh feel to it. Gerry Britton at Partick was giving an interview about the effects of a lengthy league shutdown and mentioned there are various scenarios being discussed. Seems like it's possible they may have a minor restructure to increase the Premiership to 14 clubs. There would be no relegation this year, promotion for the top two sides from each division, with Brora and Kelty being promoted from the Highland and Lowland leagues. So not much different from now, we do need something more radical, but it does put us back in the Premiership.

That was close - doh!

Not something I would like. It's hard enough for local youth players to get a chance as it is without them being shoved aside to make way for some rich club from the south out to improve their own stable.

HT: 0-0 FT: 2-1 ICT: Keatings QotS: Dobbie Crowd: 1314

Stirling @ 6.00 ta

HT: 0-1 FT: 1-2 ICT: Doran AA: O'Hara Crowd: 769