allyo Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 From BBC rumours... "Scottish football bosses are to hold talks with Uefa this week as they seek permission to implement a radical overhaul of the Challenge Cup to include teams from Northern Ireland and Wales, plus some of Britain's top youth players. Scotland's lower league clubs could be joined by two teams each from Northern Ireland and Wales, while the SPFL also hope to attract English Premiership under-20 sides." I want to know, are these the same Scottish football bosses who insisted that Scotland couldn't participate in a UK team at the olympics as it threatened our independent status in football? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 From BBC rumours... "Scottish football bosses are to hold talks with Uefa this week as they seek permission to implement a radical overhaul of the Challenge Cup to include teams from Northern Ireland and Wales, plus some of Britain's top youth players. Scotland's lower league clubs could be joined by two teams each from Northern Ireland and Wales, while the SPFL also hope to attract English Premiership under-20 sides." I want to know, are these the same Scottish football bosses who insisted that Scotland couldn't participate in a UK team at the olympics as it threatened our independent status in football? Probably not, since the Challenge Cup is an SPFL competition, and the national teams are run by the SFA. It's still an absolutely dreadful idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p12tfc Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Gap Connah's Quay v Elgin City .... Aye very good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yellow & Redneck Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Unless there is a major financial reimbursement/incentive for travel from Wales and Northern Ireland, I don't see this getting off the ground. Many semi-pro clubs simply don't have the cash to send a full squad to Scotland, and then put them up in accommodation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_mac Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 To be fair, it could make for some glorious away days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
partickthedog Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Content of this thread is a relief. When I saw the first line I thought that our supine Scottish football authorities were planning to shoehorn this season's Challenge Cup winners (could be Sevco) into the UEFA Cup next season in place of one of the usual qualifiers based on league (ie Premiership) position! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancipital Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Certainly can't imagine anything going wrong with inviting teams over here from Northern Ireland, especially as the DR report mentions Scottish Premiership teams putting u20 squads in too. Celtic u20s vs Linfield, anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Hosie Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Great idea. With a team from the Highland League already admitted to the tournament it brings closer my dream of a Barry v Keith match. :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Wragg Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Total pish.!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jukebox Rebel Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Great idea. With a team from the Highland League already admitted to the tournament it brings closer my dream of a Barry v Keith match. :-) In the interest of travel fairness, this match really needs to be played in Gordon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaila Street Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Fantastic idea. Up there with Inner City Sumo / Monkey Tennis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinhead Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 Crazy idea, as i was reading about it earlier i thought who the hell would ever want this and why are the spfl looking to set it up, then i seen it, that fateful word - MONEY! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowenBoys Posted January 20, 2016 Report Share Posted January 20, 2016 These clowns would play the game in four quarters if somebody offered them money. It's embarrassing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Dastardly Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I have a better idea for the Challenge Cup ..... Scrap it. It was always an interference with the important competitions and I don't think that any club made any money unless they got to the final (Will Rangers get another star on their badge if they win this year ?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I have a better idea for the Challenge Cup ..... Scrap it. It was always an interference with the important competitions and I don't think that any club made any money unless they got to the final (Will Rangers get another star on their badge if they win this year ?) I think it's quite a nice wee competition, and a chance for lower league clubs to win something which they simply wouldn't get otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillresigned Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 With all due respect, I think this idea is of a kind emanating from a crowded bar around five to midnight, on a school night. I've tried my hardest to see anything positive about it and have failed totally to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaggy Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 I think it's quite a nice wee competition, and a chance for lower league clubs to win something which they simply wouldn't get otherwise. How many chances have we had and never won it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaggy Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Content of this thread is a relief. When I saw the first line I thought that our supine Scottish football authorities were planning to shoehorn this season's Challenge Cup winners (could be Sevco) into the UEFA Cup next season in place of one of the usual qualifiers based on league (ie Premiership) position! Don't give them ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allyo Posted January 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Face recognition, UK challenge cup, NFL draft. You think they've had a suggestions box sitting in the office for a few years and someone's just decided to open it? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpool Jags Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 I'd like the Challenge Cup remain in its current format, for another few years at least, so that sevco can finally win it over the coming 6 or 7 seasons. I wouldn't grudge them that, regardless of how many goes they had at it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaggy Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 I'd like the Challenge Cup remain in its current format, for another few years at least, so that sevco can finally win it over the coming 6 or 7 seasons. I wouldn't grudge them that, regardless of how many goes they had at it. I admire your optimism, but sadly I think this will be there last chance to win it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_mac Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 (edited) I think we need to be careful here. We all claim to want change in Scottish Football, yet every new idea seems to get instantly dismissed out of hand without any consideration. What's so ridiculous about this idea? Chance to play teams our clubs wouldn't normally play, a bit of variation in the game, something that we have all been calling for. If a fan had came up with this idea I think the reaction would be very different. The only issue I can foresee is travel costs for the smaller clubs - but surely it's not outwith the realms of possibility that a sponsor or the governing body would be willing to subsidise this initially? I think some people have just got in to the habit of blowing their top every time the governing bodies suggest anything at all. Granted, they have been grossly incompetent in the past but let's take each suggestion on it's merits before instantly dismissing the very things we have been crying out for. Edited January 22, 2016 by ian_mac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 I think we need to be careful here. We all claim to want change in Scottish Football, yet every new idea seems to get instantly dismissed out of hand without any consideration. What's so ridiculous about this idea? Chance to play teams our clubs wouldn't normally play, a bit of variation in the game, something that we have all been calling for. If a fan had came up with this idea I think the reaction would be very different. The only issue I can foresee is travel costs for the smaller clubs - but surely it's not outwith the realms of possibility that a sponsor or the governing body would be willing to subsidise this initially? I think some people have just got in to the habit of blowing their top every time the governing bodies suggest anything at all. Granted, they have been grossly incompetent in the past but let's take each suggestion on it's merits before instantly dismissing the very things we have been crying out for. Travel costs are a big one. If they could be subsidised then great, but if not then I feel it would be ridiculous to ask small clubs to fork out to travel to Wales or Ireland for a game. The idea of having English Premiership under 21 sides playing in it which I saw mentioned is ludicrous, as they'd obviously wipe the floor with our teams. Have they, or indeed any Welsh or northern Irish FA officials, even been consulted or is it just the SFA saying it? I can't imagine Chelsea or man united being too keen to send their young players to stenhousemuir on a Tuesday night. Furthermore, if this kind of competition was to happen, then why should it replace the challenge cup? Why is there a need to get rid of the only cup lower league sides have a realistic chance at? I think there's the basis of an alright idea for some cross border competition there, but this suggestion isn't one I'd like to see implemented. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_mac Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 How do you know that it isn't the lower league clubs who have requested the change? How many of them actually bother with it just now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneteaminglasgow Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 I don't. They might have done. Whether they did or didn't, I'm not sure that it's a great idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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