David Longmuir, chief executive of the SFL, told the Sunday Herald yesterday that the league was finally willing to consider a pyramid system. While the professional game in Scotland has admitted 5 new clubs in my lifetime - Inverness, Ross County, Gretna, Peterhead and Elgin - only two teams in forty years have left it; Third Lanark and Airdrieonians, both not because of poor performances, but because of bankruptcy. Airdrie, of course were resurrected when Clydebank were bought and became Airdrie United. When was the last time a club was chucked for actually being hopeless? I can't be bothered checking, because it would take ages and involve going back about 50 years. At least.
But it's a good idea, I think. If you want to find most of the good reasons, look at the Scottish Third Division. It includes a few teams who are well run (well, one - East Fife) and a few who are finding new ways of making themselves financially viable (Montrose and Stenhousemuir with their plastic pitches). But mostly it includes teams who have been stuck down there as long as I can remember (Albion Rovers, East Stirlingshire and, since they joined, Elgin City) and others who simply don't have the fans or income to sustain any sort of success in the current climate (Dumbarton, Arbroath, Forfar). In the case of the latter two, it's because Angus, while situated within driving distance of Aberdeen, Dundee United and Dundee, still tries to sustain no fewer than four teams, of which only Brechin are not in the bottom tier. Too many SFL teams are too close together - think East Stirling and Stenhousemuir (both are also next door to Falkirk). Meanwhile, there still isn't a team in the Borders.
A promotion/relegation system might be cruel, because it would potentially lead to a cull of the teams at the bottom of Div 3; however, to an unbiased observer, that would provide more competition and, by economic law at least, improve quality. Geographical imbalance could be addressed, with potential entrance from the South Of Scotland League, East Of Scotland League and the Highland League. Most importantly, though, Junior teams need to come into it; Pollok and Linlithgow Rose showed that in this year's Cup.
Basically we need a pyramid which goes just like it does in every major footballing country in Europe - as soon as you get beyond the third or fourth tier it should be regional, go any lower and it should be practically at amateur level, and most importantly, it should go all the way to rock bottom. Quite a number of current SFL teams might not be sustainable, but if that leads to mergers to keep clubs alive, resulting in teams with a bigger fanbase and more geographical pulling power, is that so bad in the long run? An "Angus United" team could potentially get close to Dundee and St. Johnstone in terms of attendances.
My mate who supports Montrose will crucify me for saying that. Mostly because he knows I'm right.
On the other hand, Mr. Longmuir, Old Firm reserves in the league? You've got to be joking. For one thing, they'd probably be too good for everyone else...
L.
1 comment:
So if you read P&B you would realise that this is a tired and over-discussed topic. So i've copied some of the arguments AGAINST Angus United below. Please enjoy:
"I would only watch them if they played in maroon in Arbroath.
I'm sure Montrose fans here would only watch them if they played in blue in Montrose.
I'm sure Forfar & Brechin fans would express similar sentiments.
When will the idiots that suggest that the 4 Angus teams merge realise that the teams & their fans don't want it.
I'm not going to travel to Brechin, Forfar, Montrose or Froickheim to watch my team play at home. If that ever happens, I'll watch Arbroath Vics at Ogilvy Park.
I'm sure fans of other Angus teams feel the same, anf would rather watch their own local juniors than travel up to 15 miles for "home" games "
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"Me too - its one of these ideas that gets floated periodically a second before everyine realises its complete tosh. There may be some possible logic to having the Dundee clubs (50 yards apart and representing one small city) merge but there is absolutely none to an Angus United.
The combined population of the four towns would be 68,000, significant by Scottish standards (bigger than Ayr, Kirkcaldy, Perth, etc) but with at least 15 miles between them, you lose any sense of common identity. Each of the towns are separate communities with their own business links so any merger would be more likely to weaken ties and prove financially disastrous
The only `area-based' club that does reasonably well is, arguably, Ross County but there's no tradition of separate clubs from the other tiny towns and villages
And what's the obsession with success at this level? Clubs down here are primarily community-based institutions rather than sporting businesses. For success, jump on the buses to Glasgow or Manchester
You can make a much better case for merging Raith and East Fife. Two town barely 8 miles apart which, together with Glenrothes would make a combined population of around 120,000 in a MUCH smaller area than Angus (a small triangle). Follow the example of your shirt sponsors, Adam Smith College which recently merged disparate bodies to represent the whole area. With that population and business clout, you could match everybody except the Old Firm."
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