CoronaVirus and Season 2019/20

TBH I wouldn’t be against reconstruction of the league, i still dislike the current set up. The problem though is it sounds like they want to have no relegation at all & promote 2; so you would then have a top tier of 14, tiers 2 & 3 would still be 10 & the bottom tier would drop to 8 unless you promote both Highland & Lowland league winners - which ups the total to 44 clubs which then presents its own problems, because it also sounds like they want to revert to 12 team top tier the year after... so what would that look like? 4 down & 2 up to get back to a top 12 but then you have a second tier of 12 or you wiggle the relegation/promotion in the lower tiers & its the bottom tier that ends up with 12 or you reconstruct everything below the top tier into 2 divisions of 16. Which reduces the number of games for the lower divisions.

And how would the 14 team division work? Playing 3 rounds of matches takes you to 39 games before a split which is far too many. Or they play each other 3 times but that obviously means some teams getting 2 home games, which is not ideal. Of course if the season is forced to start late they could just play each other twice for a shortened season.

Assuming the new season started on time; does the 14 team division play 2 rounds (26 games) & then split? And if it splits, how does it split? Two 7’s means 2 teams idle each week which is daft. A 6/8 split makes more sense but means the top 6 play less games than the bottom 8 & that is also daft.

So, all in all, the least awkward option is to accept the proposal as it stands. So I guess we wait for Dundee to confirm how they are voting.

Think it would have to be 3 leagues of 14 teams Bertie.

2 from the Championship join the Premiership to make it 14.

6 from League One go into the Championship to make it 14.

Which leaves 4 from League One to merge with the 10 in League Two to have a 14 team League One.

That would all need to be planned out for advanced notification though, reconstruction (if it ever happens) can't just be rushed in a panic move, by clubs desperate to avoid relegation this season.

14 team divisions are worse than what we have IMO - even if it is temporary.

It also means no possibility of promotion into the league from High/Low but I suppose the proposal currently on the table is the same in respect to that anyway.

Well that's Dundee finally voted, and it's a yes for calling the season as is, with reconstruction having to be on the table. So basically not a chance in feck of that being voted through with the vote needing to be 11-1 in favour.

Dunno how long the Premiership will hold out for before following suit, and just calling the league as it stands, think they're having to wait for Uefa to concede it has no chance of being played, and give all top flight leagues the nod to just end them.

Unless a vaccine comes along this year I just don't see football getting back to normal, crowds wont be allowed for mass gatherings, and social distancing rules will still be in use. That would be fine in England where they get Billions in tv deals, not a hope for Scottish teams surviving on just tv money if closed door games have to be the only way next season can kick off, we need gate money to survive up here.

So i'm struggling to see how next season can kick off unless a vaccine is coming, rumours of one being in use by September at the earliest, even that's being optimistic though, they were talking about June next year before we'd have one, they must be cutting through all the normal restrictions to get one in place. Which makes me a bit wary about taking one, no idea what the long term effects would be if they've not done proper testing on it.

DR reporting that Livi have proposed a reconstruction similar to my idea above.
14 team top tier & 3 x 10 below with auto promotion for both Hi/Lo champions.

Having thought some more about a 14 team top tier it’s not as problematic as I suggested above. Although they don’t outline it beyond saying it would split into top 6 & bottom 8; having thought it through a bit more this actually works quite well.

IMO - Split would occur at the end of two rounds - 26 games - & there would be 2 more rounds post split giving a total of 36 games for top 6 & 40 games for bottom 8.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/livingston-outline-spfl-reconstruction-plan-21897822?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

Oh...and it’s on the OCS now too

I was all in favour of finishing off the current season irrespective of how long it takes but, in all honesty, I think we'd really struggle to compete after such a long lay-off. Richer clubs have managed to put in place expensive measures to ensure they keep players fitness and skill levels up but, with some players limited to practicing in the back garden or livingroom I believe we're going to need a good few weeks to get back up to the fitness levels we had previously.

Add to that the prospect of players being out of contract and potentially signing PCAs with other sides the whole thing is a big unknown.

Sure I read something about there being so many weeks training before the league would start again, which would be June wrote off to get the players match fit, then start back playing in July. But if restrictions don't get lifted enough for players to be able to go training together, then every month we have passing by, is another added on for training before the season can resume. Think June was the deadline for this to happen though. After that I think they'll have to just call it as it stands, even down in England.

Would imagine testing for Covid19 on all players, coaching staff, and match officials would need put in place each week, to make this even possible.

Liviforever wrote:Would imagine testing for Covid19 on all players, coaching staff, and match officials would need put in place each week, to make this even possible.

The Scottish Sun reckons that will cost the clubs about £150k each

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5541716/coronavirus-testing-kits-premiership-clubs-150000/

Durnford wrote:

Liviforever wrote:Would imagine testing for Covid19 on all players, coaching staff, and match officials would need put in place each week, to make this even possible.

The Scottish Sun reckons that will cost the clubs about £150k each

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5541716/coronavirus-testing-kits-premiership-clubs-150000/

Complete waste of money if they even could afford it, the top 2 German leagues have just seen 10 players tested positive for Covid19, football just isn't going to happen until we have a vaccine. It only takes 1 player to test positive and you've got at least 1 team having to self isolate for 14 days, and that would transfer to 2 teams if there was a game played against the infected player's team. In no time you'd have postponed games disrupting the league. It's a non starter of an idea.

Just read today that 5 SPFL Premiership teams don't have enough players to field a team now too, with contracts running out in May. About time these people stopped living in a fantasy bubble and realized the season is finished, Sevco and Hearts will just have to be told to STFU and get on with it.

Sure i heard on SSN last night noises eminating from these meetings at Hampden suggesting that football might return in September at the earliest,albeit behind closed doors.If so i reckon we would be lucky to collectively see a game together before the turn of the year.God knows how they are going to work this one out what with all the other problems we have at the moment regarding reconstruction,financail implications etc etc.I still havent renewd my season ticket as i suspect many havent.Maybe being clever or selfish,but like most i know will wait that wee bit longer to see if we hear anything constructive from the beaks at Hampden to give us the incentive to do so.I will get it,but would just be good to hear some positive news instead of going round in circles.Stay safe my freinds.

Yeah, not rushing out for mine yet either. I’m not going to seek a refund on this season’s ticket for the missed games but I’m waiting to see what is happening with next season before I decide what to do.

Totally agree Bertie.Id be surprised if any Livi supporter asks for a refund on this seasons ticket,but needs must i suppose.Like yourself i wont as for what weve had more than compensates for the loss.Seems that the Bundesliga are taking steps to finish their season albeit behind closed doors.Will be interesting to see how this pans out and i suspect other countries will be monotiring developments very closely.Im not a lover of behind closed doors games,but if it sets us on a path to getting back to games then so be it.Still a way to go but if it works im all for it.At least its something positive among all this uncertainty and hopefully the beaks are taking note.Stay safe my freind.

Dunno how they'll manage it, as I said in a prev post, there has been 10 players tested positive already, and that's before they're even getting back into playing. That would mean numerous teams would be knackered for at least 2 weeks. Really can't see any league being completed.

Scottish leagues can't afford closed door games either, isn't enough tv money in our leagues to do without gate income.

Most Scottish clubs could have games with supporters present & not break social distancing rules

In terms of players playing... sounds like there are many who want to try... at least down south & abroad.

Bertie Bassett wrote:Most Scottish clubs could have games with supporters present & not break social distancing rules

In terms of players playing... sounds like there are many who want to try... at least down south & abroad.

Even with our small support there would be some queueing to get in, staying 2m apart it would be snaking round the carpark and back up to the centre.

It'll all fall apart the minute a player gets tested positive. I've read a few scientific reports stating athletes/sportsmen are high risk to Covid19, their immune system gets supressed after intense exercise, and footballers would also be breathing heavily, as well as inhaling deeply when/after running during a football game.

Countries that aren't reliant on gate money would be able to give it a go, but at a risk to the football players and staff. Aint gonna happen in Scotland anyway, reckon we'll be lucky to see next season start let alone get this one played to a finish. We're looking at sporting events as one of the last things to be allowed to happen once lockdown restrictions get slackened/lifted.

Talk of Sept 14th being set as the date fans are going to be allowed back into stadiums in limited numbers, which will make Celtic away on the 19th the game we'll be allowed to attend. Would imagine we'd get enough space for a couple of hundred Livi fans there, but wonder what the uptake will be with folk perhaps a bit wary of the Coronavirus threat still hanging around.

Also wonder if we'll have the ppv for the rest of 2020 at least, until fans are allowed in properly, with no social distancing rules to limit numbers. I'm rather enjoying being able to watch away games on my telly, with a beer, and my feet up. Missing the home games right enough, the buzz around the stadium, feeling of both excitement and trepidation sitting waiting on the game starting, and of course the atmosphere. But as I also said, i'd be wary of going back while the Coronavirus is still a major threat, as I have an underlying medical condition, so I hope the ppv set up remains for the full season.

Its just not the same L/F.Most of us took our normal match day routine for granted before all this.And so many games spread about doesnt lift the spirits either.Tried not to mention the technical issues of the streams either but cant hold myself.Its early days for everything,but the Hibs game and Dykes departure didnt help.But at least we held our own against Sevco, so hope on the horizon. Just wish Corona would do one.Ive done my bit,wish everyone else would Too.

With Killie having 6 players testing positive for Covid-19, and being put into lockdown for a week or two, wonder if they'll be ok for our game after the Betfred cup ones. They wont have trained for thatspell either so would be good to get the game on, could give us a wee advantage.

Talking of their Betfred games being forfeited cause they're not allowed to play.

Yeh a lot to think about L/F.We seem to be doing as much as we can to keep ourselves safe from this scurge.But im not niave to think this could possibly affect us.This virus is still among us in a big way.People taking to many risks thats ultimatly affecting us all and not just in a football sense.We wont be back to the stadium for a long time which is so infuriating, but of course our safety must come first.Personally,im starting to get used this PPV as much as it is not the same,but its all weve got in these troubled times. The cup games will give fringe players the chance to impress, until we get back to the real stuff.

Cant be bothered to start a new thread so will hijack this one but have noticed a lot of activity at the club to increase revenue during the current lockdown.

Amongst the new options are virtual club mascot and personalised fans cut-out; all good stuff to generate a bit more money and hopefully make the stadium feel a little less empty.

Well done to those involved - now to get a photo of myself that doesnt crack the lens

You get it given to you afterwards too, once this fans' lockdown is finished. What are you going to do with your cardboard cut out Durnford, putting it in your livingroom sitting on one of your chairs could be fun, sitting there watching the telly, great ice breaker when you have visitors round, or throwing a party.

Liviforever wrote:You get it given to you afterwards too, once this fans' lockdown is finished. What are you going to do with your cardboard cut out Durnford, putting it in your livingroom sitting on one of your chairs could be fun, sitting there watching the telly, great ice breaker when you have visitors round, or throwing a party.

I'll introduce it as my twin brother - doesn't say a lot but hard as f###.

Actually I was thinking of submitting a photo of Steve Clarke simply so I can say he was spotted in the crowd watching Livingston vs [Place opposition name here].

Durnford wrote:

Liviforever wrote:You get it given to you afterwards too, once this fans' lockdown is finished. What are you going to do with your cardboard cut out Durnford, putting it in your livingroom sitting on one of your chairs could be fun, sitting there watching the telly, great ice breaker when you have visitors round, or throwing a party.

I'll introduce it as my twin brother - doesn't say a lot but hard as f###.

Actually I was thinking of submitting a photo of Steve Clarke simply so I can say he was spotted in the crowd watching Livingston vs [Place opposition name here].

Reasurring comments from big Marv on Sportscene just now.Saying about all the stringent precautions we are taking to keep us safe.Nievity tells me not to get complacent though.Been suggested in certain quarters this season may not come to a conclusion. Hopefully we wont be involved in any uncertainty in the division, should that happen.