Steve Carpenter

Probably because it's determined by the FA not the league but I'm sure Phil will be having conversations with the powers that be. I would suggest it's very unlikely but who knows. NLS Regs: Step 6 and relegation At the end of the Regular Season the Clubs in the bottom three positions of each of the seventeen Step 6 divisions will be liable to relegation. The final number of Clubs to be relegated will be confirmed once promotion candidates from Feeder Leagues and any vacancies are known. If reprieves are required the Clubs third from bottom will be ranked on a points per match basis (then goal difference, then goals scored if required) - the Club(s) with the best points per match will be reprieved. If all third from bottom Clubs are reprieved, and a further reprieve(s) is required, the same process will apply for Clubs in second from bottom (and so on). 5.3 At Steps 2-5 the Club finishing in last place in the table at the end of the Regular Season will be relegated and not reprieved. 5.4 At Steps 1 to 6, if a Club becomes eligible to take part in a Play Off Match and refuses to take part in that match or if a Club qualifies for promotion and refuses to be promoted then that Club shall be relegated from the division it last played in and shall play the following Playing Season in the division at the next Step level below. If the refusal/ineligibility applies to a Club currently operating at Step 6, the Club will be removed from the NLS and placed in the appropriate Regional NLS Feeder League, provided there is an eligible Club at Feeder League level to replace them.

Not necessarily the case. As usual there are a few possible permutations, one of which is no relegation from the top division.

St Blazey tomorrow with a 2pm KO.

Planning was granted for lights on 26th Feb.

So what exactly are you suggesting should be done? The Western League, Peninsula League and St Piran Premier Divisions all come under the Leagues Committee at the FA. Strong and repeated representations were made into that body and to those who sit above it. Representations have also been made (by St Piran) through Cornwall FA to the Regional Manager who is also very supportive and is taking it forward. I have little doubt that the conversations will continue after the season is concluded as the poor communication and lack of understanding of the difficulties encountered this season must not be repeated.

You clearly have no idea of the efforts made by Phil and I and those in positions to support us in our arguments. If you think that we and them stand idly by and just accept the dictats you are sadly mistaken. However, when the answer 'make it happen' keeps coming back on repeat to every league in the country there's little you can do to combat that approach.

The FA dictate the end date of all matches at St Piran Premier level and above, the leagues have no choice. They did move a little but only a few days. Your concerns are shared and have been fed up the FA chain by not just the leagues but also by Cornwall FA.

A quick check on Companies House will give you the average age of the board Darren but to save you the time it's around 55. The staff I would guess mid to late 30's (sorry if I'm wildly out team) not that that's a factor as they're an extremely capably bunch and that's much more important. Nobody's going to dispute the thrust of Steve's piece, its a statement of the obvious. All of what he says was recognised a number of years ago and if it wasn't for the issues encountered since then the new facility would probably have been up and running by now. Its not, but all the hard work that invariably goes on in the background on a significant project such as this, most of it unseen and unappreciated, is now finally starting to bear fruit.

Yes and no is the answer Martin. SCOR states that they should 'automatically retire from the competition' at Rule 22b although this is in italics which means it's an optional rule though it is one that has been taken. On the other hand Rule 2m states 'Only one Team from a Club shall be permitted to participate in a single division unless there is no viable alternative because of logistical issues and/or reasons linked to participation and geographical boundaries........' So, with no other league as an option to join with Cornwall FA permission, 2 teams from the same club could compete in the same division BUT they must operate as two separate entities meaning, for example, players could only be registered for one or the other and could only move between the teams by being transferred. As it happens Wendron 5ths have given provisional notice to withdraw anyway.

Grade 8 ground grading compliance is the driver Dave. All grounds in both Division One's apart from Looe and TMS and those we already have records for have been visited and feedback provided to the clubs. This season a club also has to apply but that will change next season as the grading exercise will be completed very soon. From the top Mawnan need to move their pitch to the top of the field and are negotiating that but it may not be possible for next season, Hayle aren't eligible, Praze cannot meet the grading at Nancegollan but may have a solution, St Ives would need another check of the pitch against the Grade 8 requirements, Troon passed ground grading, RNAS Culdrose have some works to do and will be compliant in time for promotion at the end of next season, West Cornwall are Grade 8 compliant. Of those clubs Mawnan, Troon and Praze have applied.

You're correct that there are no promotion candidates from the East but the East and West Premier Divisions are, for FA purposes, individual Feeder Leagues and are listed as such in the NLS Regs. Under the rules only 1 team can be promoted from each division. If the FA were to over-ride the rules and promote 2 then it's entirely possible that the West Division next season would not meet the criteria to be classed as a Feeder as it's a requirement to have 14 teams at the commencement of the fixtures. That would be a long way from ideal and bring its own complications.

To be clear, only one team can be promoted from each of the Premier Divisions. Each is an NLS Regional Feeder League in its own right.

As I have said elsewhere, this project is still very much alive and it is hoped to be in a position to make an announcement soon. Until then confidentialities have to be respected. All I would say is that it has been far from a smooth ride.

The pitch was inspected by the match referee and declared unfit.

They've moved a bit as you probably know Tommy but you only have to look at Truro's fixtures for an example of intransigence over reality. They have their play-off schedule and that drives everything. I fear that only when it becomes completely obvious that that is impossible to achieve will they blink. At some stage reality must kick into their thinking but they seem to think at the moment that simply saying 'everything must be finished by date' means it will happen without any real understanding of what they're saying.