Where does the new St Piran Step 7 League go from here?

[Dave Deacon]

Liskeard, Torpoint, Saltash and Polperro all decided to not join the new league. I really think the County FA should have put an earlier deadline date in for when the clubs needed to have made their final decision.

Where does it go from here? 

[Mike Odgers]

Bude out on a limb must be getting concerned.       Bude v Wadebrige Town Reserves  (Local derby)  ???

 

[Dave Deacon]

The new League has confirmed the following : “The League can confirm that over the weekend Torpoint Reserves, Saltash Reserves and Polperro have withdrawn their applications to join the St Piran League. 

These withdrawals present a number of concerns and as a result discussions have been taking place between the League, the CCFA and the FA.  These discussions will continue this week and once the outcomes are known they will be made public.  The only certainty is that there will be Step 7 football in Cornwall next season.  To not have it is not an option.

 No further comments will be made until decisions have been made on the way ahead.”

I’m lost to see why it has to be an option. Surely if there is not enough take up, or all the sides are primarily from one area of the county, what’s the point?

However, to spin that around - if it comes to all the remaining teams coming from more or less the same area, they get to have more funding available because they’ll be Step 7 and without the bother of the originally suggested more travelling! Could after all be a win win for the teams still keen to be in it - although possibly less games and lower standard if more sides from lower down the current pyramid come onboard.

Which then leads on to wonder whether the current Combo and Trelawny leagues will be the only ones being disrupted! It’ll be interesting to see how this all goes over the next week or so!

[baldy]

Don't the FA insist that all clubs have a pathway to the NLS Step 6? Not having a Step 7 would deny a club like Polperro the option to move up. The SWPL(W) could well then stagnate? (but it may anyway if the ambition is not there).

[Dave Deacon]

But isn’t this something the FA has a problem with that actually some clubs know their limitations and don’t want to go higher or grow bigger. I appreciate that might be difficult for some to understand, but one has to be realistic.

Yes - there is more funding available, but for some the clubs just haven’t got a big enough infrastructure to enable them to move forward. 

[theboyweeso]

I think this  just highlights the disjointed relationship between the (national) FA and amateur/semi-pro game not just here in Cornwall but all over the country.

For decades our game here has been undervalued under-supported and underfunded. Some clubs in Cornwall have barely got through their season this year and it's only down to the dedication of those behind the scenes that they still exist. Being coerced into a position where clubs are forced to add to their expenses and expectations put on the playing staff (ie travel) will inevitably mean more clubs will cease to exist on the pyramid at that level. Maybe that's what the FA want? 

From the outset it seems rather authoritarian move from the FA

 

[Dave Deacon]

12 minutes ago, theboyweeso said:

I think this  just highlights the disjointed relationship between the (national) FA and amateur/semi-pro game not just here in Cornwall but all over the country.

For decades our game here has been undervalued under-supported and underfunded. Some clubs in Cornwall have barely got through their season this year and it's only down to the dedication of those behind the scenes that they still exist. Being coerced into a position where clubs are forced to add to their expenses and expectations put on the playing staff (ie travel) will inevitably mean more clubs will cease to exist on the pyramid at that level. Maybe that's what the FA want? 

From the outset it seems rather authoritarian move from the FA

 

Let’s throw this idea into the pot, as the FA are determined there will be a Step 7 league in Cornwall by the start of next season!

The Step 7 league becomes east and West, 16 in each. They make it open to all applicants from the current ECPL, Combo, Trelawny and Duchy.

No time to waste as it has to happen this summer! 

Most clubs who withdrew over the past few weeks become keen again as they will be in a step 7 league which gives them funding possibilities and a promotion route without excess travel.

The Combo and the Trelawny get closer as one; as do the ECPL and the Duchy.

 

[theboyweeso]

1 minute ago, Dave Deacon said:

Let’s throw this idea into the pot, as the FA are determined there will be a Step 7 league in Cornwall by the start of next season!

The Step 7 league becomes east and West, 16 in each. They make it open to all applicants from the current ECPL, Combo, Trelawny and Duchy.

No time to waste as it has to happen this summer! 

Most clubs who withdrew over the past few weeks become keen as they will be in a step 7 league which gives them funding possibilities and a promotion route without excess travel.

The Combo and the Trelawny get closer as one; as do the ECPL and the Duchy.

 

This is precisely the way it should've ben done Dave in my opinion

[Dave Deacon]

3 minutes ago, theboyweeso said:

This is precisely the way it should've ben done Dave in my opinion

I understand its more favourable! Time is of the essence now of course.

[cornishteddyboy]

North Petherwin and St Dennis AFC Reserves have still got applications in haven't they?

[Titus Bramble]

Standard of this league as a supposed step 7 senior league will be shocking. Having sides like North Petherwin with their facilities and St Dennis 2’s going from 2nd bottom of Duchy Prem to a step 7 league is laughable!

[Jason Prynne]

Why couldn't the fa just of reclassified the combo/east cornwall prem as step 7 east & west with out the need to create a new league.As a club St Stephen declared an interest to join The St Pirans league but do to travel & the limitations we have on any ground improvements we pulled back  out & it's already looking as if we made the right choice as plenty of others are now following suit.

[Hands like shovels]

Glad to see the farcical re structure collapsing around their ears, no real thought process at step 6 or 7 or the knock on effect on the ECPL or combo 

also does the ECPL have to accept them back into their league ? As surely they have left 

[Mr Justice]

So it looks like Illogan, Perranporth and St Just decision to stay in the combination league was a wise choice after all. 

[MattP]

18 minutes ago, Hands like shovels said:

Glad to see the farcical re structure collapsing around their ears, no real thought process at step 6 or 7 or the knock on effect on the ECPL or combo 

also does the ECPL have to accept them back into their league ? As surely they have left 

Nope, clubs were asked to submit provisional notices of withdrawal, which can’t come into effect until an AGM so can be retracted at any point up until then. 

[hedgerow]

Clubs gave provisional notice of intent to leave the ECPL, with the door left open if they withdrawn their application. 

ECPL committee will be meeting to discuss the situation then it will be ratified at the AGM. 

[Cornish Dave]

No teams should be allowed the pull out. Football in my day if you finished high enough in the league then you get promoted and nothing would stop you progressing