Me Bungo Pony

Here's format that includes a play off for the Championship I worked out a few years ago ('cause I'm sad like that ). (1) A split of 14-10-?? (depending on teams in SFL). (2) The "SPL" play each other twice to determine placings. Top 4 play off for the title, playing each other a further twice, starting with 6-4-2-0 bonus points depending on whether they finished 1st-2nd-3rd-4th. (3) The second tier play each other 4 times to decide the top 2. (4) a. The remaining 10 "SPL" clubs are joined by the top 2 from the second tier to form 2 seeded groups of 6, each team to play the other teams in their group once to decide relegation. b. Top seed (5th or 6th in "SPL")would have 5 home games. Bottom seed (13th or 14th in "SPL") would have no home games. The second tier teams would therefore have 1 home game against bottom seed. All gate receipts to be shared. c. Bottom seed and second tier team would start with 0pts. Others in group would start with their "regular season" points haul minus the bottom seeds "regular season" haul. This stops teams being sucked down to the bottom seed's level arbitrarily. d. All teams start with their "regular season" goal difference. This should give the second tier team another advantage over the bottom seed. e. Bottom team in each group to be relegated/fail to be promoted while the top team in each group plays for a "Trophy". (5) Rest of SFL play in a group style "Spring Cup" affair. All this could give an exciting end of season scenario such as I have outlined below: Week 30 Last game of "Regular Season" Week 31 Scot Cup: QF Week 32 Champ: Gm 1 Pr/Re: Gm 1 Week 33 Champ: Gm 2 Pr/Re: Gm 2 Week 34 Champ: Gm 3 Pr/Re: Gm 3 Week 35 Scot Cup: SF Week 36 Champ: Gm 4 Pr/Re: Gm 4 Week 37 Champ: Gm 5 Pr/Re: Gm 5 Week 38 Champ: Gm 6 Pr/Re: "Trophy" Final Week 39 Scot Cup: Final I would imagine the broadcasters would be very interested in an exciting end of season like that, especially as it still pretty well ensures 4 OF games. Fans should like it as it gives their team more of a chance of winning the title and keeping most of them in with a shout for the bulk of the season. The only people who would be howling about it are those of an OF frame of mind. Ultimately, "fairness" should always come a poor 3rd to excitement and competition ... IMO .

Football competition is not supposed to be a dry, statistical exercise. It's meant to be about excitement, surprises and the real potential to win the Championship. With the current set-up, and any other set-up which does not involve a play-off for the title, every team bar the OF are on a hiding to nothing and are merely playing for the dubious honour of being 3rd. This is killing the game in Scotland. If we want to start every season with a realistic chance of 'Well (or any other "provincial" club) fighting for the title, then play-offs are the only way forward. Otherwise, in 10 years time, we will still be sitting here, awaiting a non-OF Championship win, with even fewer fans watching the game.

It's yet another reason to go for Summer football. The savings in under soil heating, floodlights and general heating/electricity would be huge .

I don't think this really counts as being an "ex OF fan" but I remember somehow liking Rangers as a pre-schooler. This appears to have changed rapidly to Celtic as my brother and I became friendly with the kids next door who, as Catholics, supported that team. Obviously at that age I had no idea about the baggage. It was just a game I knew little about. At about 5-6 years old I became a 'Well fan. I really cannot remember why, it was so long ago. I have a small suspicion it may have been down to simply liking the unusual colours. Blues, reds and greens are commonplace. Claret and Amber showed some imagination . It wasn't down to my dad as he didn't really support anyone, concentrating on helping run Lanark Utd. My mate from next door also switched from Celtic to 'Well and continues to do so to this day. I met him for the first time in decades a few months ago in the pub he runs in Lanark which has a large 'Well crest on the back wall . Unfortunately, my brother never followed me on the road to salvation and continues to support Celtic. Though, on the plus side, being a nominal proddie at least shows it has nothing to do with the sectarian nonsense. Over 40 years of following 'Well has been a roller coaster to say the least, with far more downs than ups, but I've never regretted it. Watching the ugly Punch and Judy show that is the OF develop over time only confirmed I'd made the right decision all those years ago ... even if it was originally only down to the unusual colours .

I don't believe Jennings has done anything wrong, but ridiculous betting markets like this are ripe for ripping off. I seem to remember similar claims a few years ago concerning the likes of throw-ins direct from kick off, etc. I thought they might have learned their lessons from that. Clearly not. Bottom line is, if bookies don't like paying out on gimmicky bets where an individual can easily ensure a positive outcome, they shouldn't be stupid enough to offer them. If they continue to offer them, they should just shut up and stump up.

Utter rubbish. Sectarianism is at it's lowest ebb since John Knox and his ilk started ranting and sh*t stirring away back when. There are three institutions that have thrived on sectarianism in this country; organised religion, the Old Firm and the Labour Party. And here we have them all coming together to ostensibly "tackle the problem" but, in reality, just revitalising it. Looks like we'll all have to set our clocks back 300 years again ... and all because Celtic didn't get a penalty .