...and everyone knows it.

Scotland, unlike England, doesn't have an "open" league structure. This meaning that the team finishing at the very bottom of the league system, in this case the Scottish Football League Third Division, is not relegated to face the doldrums of non-league football this season. Recently this has been somewhat amended to state that if a club finishes bottom for three consecutive years they could be voted out of the league. Could, but not likely. Until this season this created a culture of mediocrity in at least one league club, that club being East Stirlingshire.

Between 2002 and 2007 East Stirlingshire were the strongest club in all of Scotland, and by strongest I mean they managed to prop up a league featuring 41 other clubs without budging an inch. In 2008 this changed, the mighty Shire managed to finish second-bottom due more in part to a dreadful season from Forfar than any spectacular revival from themselves. East Stirling finished one point above Athletic who had posted their worst season in recent memory, well over a decade. This Houdini act spared East Sitrlingshire the potential ax.

With that said it would be criminal of me to not mention that the club is currently second in the third division, indeed they sit only four points off the summit though Cowdenbeath have a match in hand.

Indeed, it seems the threat of relegation has breathed new life into what was basically a dead club.

Yet, worryingly, the executives in Scottish football do not seem to have noticed this minor miracle right under their noses. Yes, changes have been mentioned in Scottish football, but not the correct changes. What now seems like many moons ago, the SFL made a proposal to the SFA for a new division, the SPL 2. This would do nothing to stop the bleeding in Scottish football, in reality it's almost like putting bubble gum on an earthquake-damaged dam. Yet, it seems the SPL2 will be given the green light, and could play as early as August though August 2010 seems much more likely.

As an American I may seem out of my depth to talk about my ideas to fix Scottish football, and I will concede that I know little of the idiosyncrasies that Scottish clubs face, but I'm going to list my ideas anyway.

• 1. Adopt summer football: For reason 1A see Fir Park's pitch. The Scottish winter is hell on natural surfaces, and the summer sun on the pitches would improve the game in more ways than one.

• 2. Relegate SPL clubs in administration. Embarrassingly a few seasons back tiny Partick Thistle were relegated after having a fire sale of players in order to make ends meet. Patrick managed to avoid administration but not the drop, for Motherwell and Livingston it was the other way around (though Livingston would later see themselves relegated on merit).

• 3. Open the league, somewhat. Allow the Champions of the three senior non-leagues a change to meet in a playoff with the winner gaining promotion to the SFL at the expense of the Third Division's wooden spoon winners. Though make sure the promoted club meets league requirements before entry.

I realize that changes are extreme and will never happen, but I do think they could improve the standard of football in Scotland, and with Scotland being one of the homes of football, improvement is very much needed.

Five clubs have applied to the SFL to replace fallen club Gretna next season.

A spot in the league opened up when Gretna failed to find a buyer after being initially relegated to the Third Division after they were unable to guarantee the ability to fulfill their 2008/09 fixtures.

Four clubs from the East of Scotland Premier League (Annan Athletic, Edinburgh City, Preston Athletic and Spartans), and one from the Highland League (Cove Rangers) have submitted applications.

Two further clubs; Gala Fairydean (of the EoSL First Division) and former senior club Third Lanark who play in Division 3 of the Greater Glasgow Amateur League, also expressed interest only to withdraw in the 11th hour. Thirds still play at their historic home of Cathkin Park which has been reduced to a shell of it's former self while Gala play at Netherdale, an uninspiring if functional ground which has actually hosted Rugby World Cup matches.

Spartans or Edinburgh City would become the third Edinburgh-based league side, along with SPL giants Hearts and Hibs. Spartans have plans to vacate their current City Park home for a new stadium whether or not they gain entry into the league. City currently play at the 16,500-seat Meadowbank Stadium which hosted the 1970 Commonwealth Games as well as Meadowbank Thistle (now Livingston FC).

Cove Rangers, who would be Aberdeen's second club, currently play at Allen Park which may be frowned upon by SFL chiefs. However, Cove are banking on a new community owned stadium to keep their dream of senior football alive. Rangers won the Highland League this season.

East Lothian club Preston Athletic are considered one of the longshots but are confident that their grassroots approach, in stark contrast to Gretna's shooting star style, will appeal to the SFL.

The fifth club, Annan Athletic, come from the borders region. The club are currently racing to have floodlights installed in their 4,200 capacity (500 seat) stadium.

While the lights have gone out at Gretna's Raydale Park for the final time, the club will have to be remembered for it's fighting spirit. Having beat the odds time and time again the Anvils could no longer outrun reality.