East Kent Jag II

I stand corrected TL. You get in ahead of me coming back to the thread. Deal is a 1 year deal.

Charlie Reilly now signed. Loan signing from Hamilton Access. Article on official website. Is that this season's squad now complete?

Looking at a map of Saville, I believe it was Facultad de Phologa, formerly Antigua Fabrica de Tabacos. I wonder if this is the building they were thinking of? But without the palm trees!

I noticed the article this morning. At first I thought the comparison with a Spanish cigarette factory was a bit off. But I remembered just such a factory in Seville (now a university building) between the Cathedral and the Plaza de Espana, and behind the railings, yes, I can see what they are getting at. I think you do need the sunshine, though!

On thinking about it, I'm expecting last season's Challenge Cup to be gifted to Wraith Rovers. After all they got the League in giftwrap.

According to a report in the Daily Record this season's Challenge Cup is to be shelved. Thats a relief then.

But only 3 in the Championship! Does the Hearts squad frighten them. According to the Clyde website, only 3 subs in all league play off games, with a 4th allowed in any extra time. . .

Or Ayr in a g string fans...

National League clubs in England (5 tier) to receive an emergency government grant. Based on, and because of lack of gate receipts, with this league relying on that income. Expected to be £2 to 3 million per month. Talks with EFL over £250 million bailout ongoing. I believe still to be funded by PL clubs. What exactly is the SPFL & SFA doing for our clubs? Can anyone enlighten me?

Spoke too soon! Perhaps l should have added "So far". Back now.

I would also add that the coverage of the Ayr game is avast improve on the first coverage of the BSC game, although streaming will not bring in significant revenue.

As I've said before we're between a rock and a hard place. Whatever option we take will be hard. I believe that it would be extremely difficult to pay for a whole new squad after mothballing. I am surprised that League 2 clubs want to play this season, but they , on last Friday's indicative vote, do also want to play. I think that the SPFL have put a lot of pressure on clubs to go ahead, and clubs do not want to be left behind. Although slim, there is a possibility that a little funding may come from English lower league clubs getting UK government support. (Via Barnett formula.)

I don't agree at all. Championship clubs will play. Full time clubs in League 1 will want to play. Mothballing would be a disaster on many fronts. We would lose all of our players, and need to start in a competitive market next year with other clubs doing the same. Clubs who play will have their playing staff intact, and have a definite advantage. Sponsorship money and some season ticket cash would need to be refunded. No prize money, with clubs that play seeking it all. The UK government want EFL premiership clubs to fund lower league clubs. (No £1.5billion donation, unlike the arts.) If they agree to this, the quid quo pro is fans in grounds sooner rather than later. Mothballing would be the nemesis of our club, and clubs will play, if for no other reason than to prevent rivals gaining the above advantages.

Teams in all three lower divisions, Championship League 1 and to me somewhat surprisingly League 2 all initially elected to play at the Zoom meetings last Friday. They have until this Friday to confirm this. SPFL threatened to relegate a team who decide to mothball, although what happens if a number do, the mind boggles. It seems that if they mothball, no SPFL payments this season.

Another issue is that the Highland League clubs can't afford to play without fans. The way things are going, even 28 November might be optimistic for that. Macclesfield Town ejected from the National League, with £500,000 debts. Another very old club fallen.

Article in Edinburgh Evening News states the game will be "in Glasgow". But no start time. Hearts were due to play Queens Park, but this fell through. Can't find any other info on the game anywhere else!

Had a look at the Archive today. One of the games listed is from 28 Sep 1889. A friendly against Albion Rovers. It starts "Because both clubs were "overthrown" in the Scottish Cup....." I took it that overthrown meant beaten. So I went to the "Matches" section, and looked up the fixtures for September 1889. Yes there it was. On 7 Sept 1889 3rd L.R.V. 3 Thistle 2 at Cathkin Park. In the match info, wonderful photos of most of the players. I took it that "3rd L.R.V." was what I know to be Third Lanark. So a Google search confirmed that "Third Lanark A.C." was an offshoot of the "3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers", and 3rd L.R.V. was a founder member club of the SFA. I didn't know the origin of Third Lanark, and its a shame that a club with such an illustrious origin and history had to fold. I think there is still a Third Lanark club in amateur football. A lovely journey in the "Thistle Archive" all because of the term "overthrown". Its not that I don't have other things to do, but I'm glad that I made this journey into history.

We got beaten 2-0, DD. We did have some good play, by the commentary. They beat Falkirk 3-0 earlier in the week, so it was always going to be a difficult game. We have Ayr at Firhill on Wednesday at 2:00 pm, I think. Not sure if it is being live streamed. Anyone know who the trialist who came on for Banzo was?

I fully agree that our wages bill will be prohibitive in the short term. It does seem that other clubs in our league (the majority part time) want to proceed with the shortened League campaign. Will the SPFL actually relegate a team not taking part? As the League 2 teams don't want to play, it seems to me that there cannot be any relegation from League 1. We are debt free, and if our board do want to proceed, it seems to me that they will do so within a set affordable budget. You are right in that it would be folly to risk the club by being reckless. But as I said earlier to lose the season and squad , with the need to start from scratch does also present a considerable risk. We are between a rock and a hard place.

Our players are full-time. We would need to release what looks potentially to be a good squad, with not all of the players getting a new club. Those that do will be competing for clubs in a glut of relaesed players. The Championship clubs will finish their season, have prize money for doing so, and have good squads. We will need to start the 21/22season looking for a completely new squad of players. All because Doncaster shafted us on Black Friday. He might as well have put the black cap on top of his wig there and then.

It also gives till next Friday for League 1 clubs to change their minds. Thistle, Falkirk , Cove Rangers and probably East Fife will likely want to go ahead. I can see Clyde and Peterhead wanting to mothball. Peterhead have already expressed concerns about financial viability without fans.

The advantage of a balaclava at Firhill over the past three seasons is that you can wear it back to front. You would need to wrap your scarf round your eyes with one of those Thistle flat caps on

It looks like Championship and League 1 clubs want to proceed with league games. SPFL want to fine teams that subsequently pull out of their commitments. League 2 and below want to mothball. 7 days to decide. I had the concern that League clubs would not want to go ahead, but they now have another 6 days to change their minds. (Dailly Mail linked article from Today's Gossip column in BBC Scottish football section.)

As PTD correctly says, I don't get to Firhill too often . Next time I'm attending a game I'd be very happy to meet you all. I'd like to do that this year, but suspect sometime in 2021 is more likely. Hopefully we will have had lots of League 1 victories by then

Thanks AJ. I also trust that you and your good wife are well! We're all fine here, even with the local universities returning. For now! PTD obviously has a clear advantage over me on this one. Think I'll have to concede! I hope your balaclava gets a run out later this year, but maybe thats not for this thread!!