JUNIOR FOOTBALL – PA FRIDAY JUNE 22

Jun 22 2012 Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE East Region agm took place on Tuesday night and Jeanfield Swifts’ proposal to change the league set-up for season 2013/14 was adopted by a substantial majority.

Swifts proposal will mean the new setup from the start of season 2013/14 will consist of four leagues of 16 teams.

They will be the Super and Premier Leagues with North and South Leagues replacing the present North, South and Central divisions.

This will certainly create a bit of additional competition in the coming season as clubs will be striving to win one of the additional places that will be created by the Super and Premier Leagues being extended from 12 to 16 teams.

The full Swifts proposal obviously highlighted the fact that the majority of clubs were in the mood for a change to the present setup.

Swifts proposals were:

* The Super League would be expanded to 16 teams with the four top clubs from the Premier League being promoted.

* There would be no relegation from the Super League in season 2012/13.

* In the Premier League the eight remaining teams would be expanded to 16 teams with the top four teams from the South League and the top two teams from the Central and North Leagues being promoted.

* There will be no relegation from the Premier League at the end of season 2012/13.

* The Central League would disbanded at the end of season 2012/13 and clubs to revert to North and South district leagues based on a dividing line through Fife.

* The North League would be made up of the previous seasons North League teams (excluding the teams promoted to the Premier League) plus Perthshire based teams along with Newburgh, Forfar West End and Scone Thistle who return after a season in abeyance.

* The South League will comprise of the previous seasons South League clubs (excluding the teams promoted to the Premier League) plus South based Fife teams.

Promotion and relegation as from the end of season 2013/14:

* Super League – bottom two in the table will automatically be relegated while the third from the bottom will playoff with the third top team from the Premier League in a two-leg playoff, to decide which of them will play in the Super League the following season.

* Premier League – top two automatically promoted to Super League with the third top side as has already been stated, playing off with the third bottom side in the Super League, the bottom four teams will be relegated.

* North League, top two promoted, South League, top two promoted to the Premier League.

Swifts secretary Eric Allen said: “We are very pleased that our proposals have been adopted.”

Another change is the decision made at the Sottish Junior AGM and applies to all regions, is that the number of subs clubs will have on the bench for games has been reduced from seven to five.

Ian Duff has stepped down as manager of Bankfoot and what has been the usual practice of the Coronation Park Club to promote within the club they have appointed Eric Fleming, who has been assistant to Ian, to take over.

The reason for Ian’s decision was due to a change in his work patterns which made life difficult for him to get to games on a Saturday before kick off and as Ian was a very hands on manager he felt his situation had made this impossible and took the decision to step down. He will however remain active with the club which is good news.

Bankies chairman Robin Wood said: “Ian has worked very hard and despite a spell without key players due to injuries and other reasons they still managed to finish fifth in the league table which is a great credit to Ian and his staff.”

Eric Fleming is a seasoned campaigner and has had stints in the managerial game in the amateurs and served as assistant with Jeanfield Swifts and Scone Thistle before joining Bankfoot. Eric said of his appointment: “I am delighted that I have been entrusted to take over from Ian and will be going all out to keep up the momentum.”

Eric has appointed coach Alan Gray as his assistant. Alan has a wealth of experience in the Junior game and along with coaches Glen Millar, Tommy Purdie and Neil Ferguson (goalkeeping) Bankies have a great backroom staff supported by a very hard working committee.

The Bankies held their awards night presentation last week and the recipients were:

Player of the year and clubman of the year – Chris Jones; Players Player – Bally Whytock; Alan Halley Award for services to the club went deservedly to Ian Duff.

Scone Thistle manager Derek Keir has appointed John Steel as his assistant manager. John is very experienced in the junior game as a player for 17 years and as a manager and coach, John has a host of trophies and medals from his involvement at both levels.

John when he managed Kelty Hearts guided them to a league championship success. He also had a spell as assistant manager to Willie Garner at Glenrothes and his coaching skills are widely acknowledged. Getting John to come on board as his assistant is a very shrewd move by Thistle boss Derek Keir.