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Spartans and Athletic begin to finalise SFL applications



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Published Date: 04 June 2008
By COLLEEN PATERSON and MARK BONTHRONE
TWO Lothians clubs were today finalising their bids to replace Gretna in the SFL while promising league bosses they would enhance the Third Division.
Edinburgh outfit Spartans and Preston Athletic have until June 12 to apply for league status.

Work on Spartans' new ground, Ainslie Park in the north of Edinburgh, is at full pace and the club believes the complex will be one of the finest in the SFL.

Preston first applied for promotion in 2000 and then again in 2002 but they believe a link up with East Lothian Council will be the key to a successful bid this time.

Club secretary Andrew Waddell said: "East Lothian has a population of 100,000 and no league football whatsoever. Our aim is to integrate with East Lothian Academy and community coaches."

He said the club would be known as East Lothian Athletic.

Spartans general manager Derick Rodier said: "We feel we will make as good a bid as anybody. The new academy we have covers everything as far as facilities goes."





The full article contains 180 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 June 2008 10:16 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Spartans FC
 
1

Langenburger,

04/06/2008 12:09:47
The reality is that probably all the aspirants will have better cases for senior football than many current members who take their status for granted in a nice big cosy club who accept Albion Rovers East Stirling and others like them.
Spartans have shown they have the get up and go and others like Preston and Cove can and would follow their example.
This should not be about 1 club getting lucky and Gordon Smith should set up a pyrimidical system that rewards enterprise and weeds out no hopers on an ongoing basis.
2

Bob 2,

04/06/2008 12:32:06
East Lothian Athletic.....why the change in Name

it should be like down South where the Conference Team goes up (correct me if I'm wrong).

So why not the bottom of 3rd division relegated to somewhere and then the winner of the Highland league or play off of the Highland league and a n others for a chance in the 3rd division!
3

Iain Bhern,

04/06/2008 13:11:14
Amazing, it took two journos to write that tiny wee article.
4

Johnny Jambo,

04/06/2008 13:22:53
#2 bob yes I agree the whole of Scottish football needs a major restructure, the report about Postponements prior to Scotland fixtures and the report about applications to replace Gretan, this should all be addressed in a total restructure.

Larger SPL, less divisions and regional leagues which could or perhaps should include the top Junior teams with a promotion (conference like as stated in a previous post) and really think about the whole thing.
5

East at Easter,

Edinburgh 04/06/2008 15:19:20
mon Spartans !
6

THE BPRENTICE,

04/06/2008 16:01:00
The work Spartans do with the young kids is brilliant - I really hope they get it - the work that the likes of Angelo and the other coaches do is truly impressive!!
7

John south of Soutra,

04/06/2008 16:02:26
Don't see where Preston Athletic are going to get the support from, all the other East Lothian towns have their own Junior clubs and they're not that well supported, bit pie in the sky I think, even Spartans, Edinburgh can't really support 2 teams that well never mind a third.
#2 is right, we need a pyramid system that lets ambitious into the league, but the stragglers who ahve been there for years won't vote for taht
8

Big Smoke,

04/06/2008 16:32:34
If think if Spartans do get into the 3rd division they would get supporters, we are not talking on the scale of 10,000 fans, but a sensible amount, folk how don't want to go and watch Hibs & Hearts for reasons of their own but enjoy watching football.
9

johnboyhearts,

prestonpans 04/06/2008 17:08:39
preston have a good youth setup but are not interested in any local players!therefore no support. been like this for years its them that needs re-structured!!scottish football would benefit from pyramid system!
10

Phil Lawrence,

Tallinn 05/06/2008 10:41:18
#2 The idea of promoting the Highland league champions may sound good in principle but I can say, as someone who hails from an HL community and a personal friend of that club's Chairman, there are those in that league who would regard membership of a national league as a liability and not a benefit. The increased cost structure - travel is only the tip of the iceberg - would almost certainly outweigh any bonus from membership of a national league.

The answer could be a regionalisation of the lower levels of the SFL. Consider this, Division 2 and Division 3 split into N/E and S/W regions of 10 team leagues. To initiate this all current Division 3 teams could be placed into the new regional Division 2 - a bonus promotion if you like. Then the 20 Division 3 places could be filled by a combination of merit and selection. From that basis the Highland, East of Scotland and junior teams will have the opportunity to qualify (or not if they so wish) to compete at a regionalised national level. Plus the pyramid should be formalised as a route into and out of the SFL.

This is only one idea but it maybe gives the clubs who are afraid to make the step up the confidence that they will not be financially ruined by moving up a level and also give them time to adapt to their true position.

Other countries have meritocratic league systems - not just England - and the German model is an excellent example when we consider that newly promoted Bundesliga club 1899 Hoffenheim were languishing in the 8th level of their pyramid less than 20 years ago. I currently live in Estonia and their league system goes 5 levels deep with leagues organised on a regional level from the 3rd level downwards. This set-up is completely egalitarian with even pub teams having the potential to play at a national level. OK, the standard of football and its popularity are a long way below the Scottish game but it is the fact that everyone is permitted to find his own level that appeals.

I would go fur
11

Phil Lawrence,

Tallinn 05/06/2008 10:58:24
I would go further than #1 and assert that the likes of East Stirlingshire and Albion Rovers are ambitionless clubs - they exist only to poke their snouts into the SFL trough and pray that once in a while they can draw one of the Old Firm in a cup competition. Would they complain if, as in my model, they were to be granted a bonus promotion on the condition that the SFL was expanded? Of course they would as they know that they would actually have to work out some form of business plan to be able to compete with the tyros one league below them. Vested interests dictate that this decision will never be taken by choice.

 

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