Satan

I'm,not sure,how much,reasoned,or not, debate ,you will,get on, this pretty divisive,matter.

F*ckin this, f*ckin that & f*ckin anything else. Vocabulary slipping a bit?

While I agree with the sentiment of the message I feel that a lot of @rseholes got involved when it became an excuse for free for all days out in the middle of covid-19 lockdown...not a good look on anyone, and a massive risk to public health.

But you said that when there was two large leagues the national team were constantly successful and more competitive... was this based on home nations or tournament qualifying?? We certainly did better in major tournaments for a prolonged period after the premier was introduced ( with 14 team 1st & 2nd divs ), and we did well in youth tournaments also, I'm just trying to see what point you're trying to illustrate here. Perhaps the big lower/semi pro leagues were a better environment for introducing young players as the pressure was less and the standard was lower. Interestingly they only played each other twice a season which on the surfaces at the time meant less fatigue related injuries. Only recently has the standard of youth football slid, previously we were always top rated - it was the next level where we failed, due to the lack of further development in first team coaching perhaps. I'm not sure the quantity of the coaching is the issue , perhaps we need look at the quality - after all the game has moved on a bit.

Its been mentioned by SG that our record of losing good players out of contract is incredible, regardless of whether we develop them or not we should be more savvy with contracts and player sales.

That's a long time ago, the premier division has been around in some form since the end of the seventies, and the national team and clubs had the most successful period on the back of that small premier division. The two divisions below that, being semi pro/amateur or whatever were bigger until 1994 when 2 clubs from the north joined and brought the 4 league system...so we can blame ourselves. Reconstruction may seem sensible but it happens every 5 to 10 years, so I doubt it's overdue really...unless your club got relegated and your looking for a way back into the top league.😋 When/If we get back then we may want to use different terms than greed and self interest.

At this rate, old Nic will have the border shut though.😂

Vouchers it is then.

...grudge match straight up.

Its all over then? Relegation completed & promotions upheld. Big legal bills to pay.

A lot depends on how the players testing goes, as and when it starts for the wee divisions. Any delays in fan reintroduction puts even more strain on those clubs in the most perilous financial state - which is why there was talk of some clubs not taking part at all this season. A crucial period coming up with the end of holidays and super spreaders going back to school. It'll be a very interesting pre-season, that's the only definite so far.

No need to worry, they should arrive before the season begins. 😉

With finances stretched I don't suppose there will be a great appetite for a lot of teams to take part in this lossmaking tournament at present.

3 years is a bit short term even for the least patient out there, and if you're looking for a return after that...😂

Don't think three years is quite long enough to come to that judgement yet...

Daniel Mackay is probably the worst example, Roddy McGregor and Cammy Harper are two that should have played more than they did, partly due to pressures on gaining promotion back to the top league and partly due to management persisting with average journeymen. The pathway is there, it's the management teams call as to if and when the youth make it all the way. If the management team had followed up on the investment of time & money at youth level, played a few of the youngsters on a weekly basis , we would probably be about the same position in the league...but possibly with more money to attract a top player who might have scored the goals to make a difference. That's how the system should work.

For whatever reason, despite years of cutting back our annual losses are still enormous...but that's another thread/story. Another team to support, however much that extra costs isn't viable.

By which measure is the system not producing? We've had numerous players come through in the past 2 or 3 seasons, in the first team squad & match day bench. Circumstances and/or the managers unwillingness to play them has restricted opportunity, but there has been players there. Another problem with our fiscal situation recently means that without the level of reserve football required , the experience they need to get them closer to first team ready is less.

This shouldn't be put onto the parents to bridge any shortfall, it was mentioned pre-covid that academy sponsorship was the preferred solution for topping up the excess costs of project brave. Although downsizing by 50% seems harsh, if funding cannot safeguard the setup as it stands then at least something will still be in place without further jeopardizing the rest of the club.

That's news to me, and considering the old SPL was a complete separate entity from the SFL , and currently runs along similar lines in the new SPFL I'd imagine it's still has it's own prize money and definitely it's own sponsorship and tv deal.

County have always had a big squad, but if it wasn't for one player - Liam Boyce, they would have got relegated before us. But still they persist with numbers.

Same money, split more ways for placings and for tv coverage.

Well, apart from receiving less money from league placing and tv deal, that's pretty close to it.

Whilst players moving from county to us generally became valued first team players who improved themselves, our club and sometimes moved onto bigger things - the players moving in the opposite direction haven't necessarily become first team regulars or stand out performers by any means. This underlines county's signing policy is part uncle Roy putting his hand in his pockets to weaken us and also a laziness of their scouting network, ie signing players who are local and roughly what they are looking for rather than working hard to find the right player...although if you are wallowing in cash it's not really that important, you just keep turning them over.

We've had some real naff away kits over the years using the clubs historic colours - and they've sold pretty well. It's a refreshing change with the kicker of a good cause benefiting from the sales. Linking to the cancer charity explains the colour - so many similar events have pink themes for this reason, I can't understand the confusion. Is there an anti pink lobby, or would brown be preferable? 😭