SPL confirm league will finish on 22 May

Shocked that the right decision has been made for a change.

Great news

Another defat for the forces of darkness!!

I'm shocked as well..shouldn't have even been an issue anyway but at least the right decision has been made

If Im on the podium id like to apply for an extension please as I fell earlier today and my leg is sore and some big boys stole my pocket money

What do you mean I'm not allowed ??!!

What a morning. Put right through the ringer. I suppose Walter will try to use this to install a siege mentality to lift his players.

Lex Gold is saying is tht any further changes to fixtures would have placed the integrety of the league at risk. Wonder where he got that phrase from?? Paul, would I be right in surmising that our CEO has been making a few phone calls this morning?

Paul,

Thanks again for your efforts here.

Celtic quick news -- does exactly what it says on the tim ; sorry -- tin.

tlwio

now watch as the Reverend M McCurry gets all their remaining fixtures for the season

Paul,

The season may end on the 22nd of May, but I expect it to be over before then.

Three in a row for the good guys!

Therags...

Good to hear. Never before have I seen a football team act so childish. I hope this further deflates the morale around Ibrox.

7 straight losses for them as punishment please.

Paul 67
You may recall many months ago I suggested that the season would be extended to accomodate them, i also sugeested that if this happened we should resign,thankfully despite one extension the SPL have not given in again to the pressure from their friends in high places within the football authorities and media outlets in this country

I think Lex Gold and Ian Blair deserve enormous credit. They withstood pressure from the might of the Scottish football establishment, including those they will have to work with in the future.

Hail, hail

Shocker. Maybe the football authorities feared a legal challenge or being reported to UEFA. Doesn't really matter.

Wait for the outrage in the Record tomorrow.

As I keep hearing..."these things even out over the season...."

STANDING UP..two games to go to three in a row

OK

The is no change to the league

Good once was bad enough thanks

But now what we as a club and group of supporters have to do is

GET BEHIND THE BHOYS

2 GAMES

6 POINTS

2 INTO 6 GIVES US 3 IN-A-ROW!!!

STANDING UP FOR THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS!!!

STANDING UP FOR 3-IN-A-ROW!!!

HAIL! HAIL!

At least it will be 'exclusive' outrage, inkybhoy! :)

Hail Hail!

Standing up for 3 in a Row

Well done to Lex Gold and Iain Blair. Bully boy tatics do not wash.

Paul67,

Wait for the referee decisions to go for them as well now. Wager McCurry the referee for Saturday.

Gordon J, he sure has.

TLWIO, :-) This has been an interesting 20 hour drama.

Therags, hope so.

Dessybhoy, aye. I wouldn’t have resigned, of course, but today was about posturing.

Apparently "A full statement from Rangers chairman Sir David Murray will be issued on www.rangers.co.uk shortly."

That should be funny!

After being told very smugly by my boss as soon as I arrived at work today that "ha ha, the season's being extended"
I finally thought that the SFA and SPL had shown their true (blue) colours.

Thankfully sanity has prevailed and justice has been done.

I really can't wait to see the look on Walter's face when he's REALLY under pressure.

They are really, really staring into the abyss, no confidence in themselves and even their pals in the SFA can't help them this time

Onwards to 3 in a row.....

Duffield thwarted ?

Harry's Hood,

Aye, exclusive outrage, it's pathetic. Like I said, there's a hotline, a bit like the Bat signal. have seen it in action for myself.

STANDING UP..watching the Cardigan unravel

Paul67, thanks for your updates.

I am shocked and angered at just how low Rangers and their friends in the media have been willing to stoop in an attempt to gerrymander this league. Dignity, indeed. Robert Mugabe would blush at some of their antics.

Somebody commented earlier on that they enjoy the odd Latin maxim, so Ad Majora Natus Sum, and Makum Eatus Domestos.

I am absoultely amazed !

I cant believe the SPL stood up to them. Feels like a dream.

If Celtic Board pressure helped then take a bow gentlemen.

Ta for the updates Paul - this morning has been worse than a dentists waiting room.

Is the Cardigan dropping stitches as quickly as he's dropping points these days?

The integrity of the SPL competition was compromised on April 22

ShortmemoriesRSC

The outcry from the LL, Keevins, BFDJ and especially the Daily Ranger will be of cosmic proportions!

Now, let's be honest most of us expected the SPL to cave in, the fact they have'nt is good news we must exploit.

Peter Lawwell deserves much credit for his tactics in this matter.
Well done PL - now onto victory in the SPL.

Imagine if the watties worried woblers lose the SPL, UEAFA and Scottish Cup ...... how good would our summer be?

Over to the referees now

I would also commend Lex Gold and Iain Blair for standing firm. However, they must have known that as individuals they would have had absolutely no credibility if they had acted otherwise.

What still puzzles me is why Duffield and Peat got involved well, I know the answer to that but what gave them the authority to stick their noses in.

Seige mentality. Murray in the bunker. Cue that wee German film from youtube a few weeks ago with an updated storyline.

As I said before... I'm absolutely convinced that the SPL will now look very harshly on Rangers for it's active media manipulation. Meanwhile, surely the SFA have to come into question? On what possible basis can it be good for them to undermine the importance of their own competition? A competition they already struggle to sell.... It stinks of people biased in favour of Rangers within that group. The SFA have let themselves down badly... being quite willing to join Rangers in this outrageous media scam. About time we got rid of the farce of 3 organisations for Scottish Football surely?? We are a small country with an absurdly top heavy administration all enjoying their trips to the trough.

B

Winningemmell,

Agreed, one extention was one too many.

STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS,

STAND UP FOR OUR CHAMPIONS.

STAND UP FOR OUR TEAM, CLUB AND SUPPORT.

THE STAND UP MAN.

Nope sorry but Blair and Gold would not have been put in this position if they had not offered an extension in the first place. If they had not agreed to the Gretna game and the games cancelled for the Scotland Italy game. The decision to allow Gretna promotion. The decision to allow them to ground share with Motherwell. They need to re-consider their position as far as I am concerned. Not good enough

Paul67:

I don’t mean to detract from your post of 12.13 vis-à-vis messrs Gold and Blair.
I’m glad that they appreciated the full implications and consequences of what was being asked of them. I applaud their ‘fortitude’.

However, do you think that office holders of many Scottish Football Clubs may have been their humble, but wise, counsellors in effecting their stance. Or do you think they (the SPL) just might have had their PC’s tuned in to CQN FM or other Celtic friendly broadcasters like Dial KTF or whomever?

Good God, it’s now dawned on me, my earlier threat of never eating another pie in an away ground of Scotland is now redundant.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat...

Theodore Roosevelt...

o1bhoy

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat...

Theodore Roosevelt...

o1bhoy

Fair Play and common sense all round!

Well done!

Long time lurker here - Amongst the current euphoria i can't help but feel we're forgetting Rangers have *already* got a 4 day extension to the league that they shouldn't have!

I think PL's comments after the first extension are what saved the day today.

Excellent news; back to work for me I'm afraid (and TFOD, but.... I'll enjoy myself :-))

If you take away the shock this feeling of smugness must be how they feel all the time!?!

ONWARDS TO VICTORY!!!

ONWARDS TO THREE IN A ROW!!!

AND WHEN WE WIN THE LEAGUE AGAIN REMEMBER THE OLD SCOTTISH SAYING

EXCUSES ARE LIKE @RS*HO*ES EVREYONES GOT THEM AND THEY'RE ALL FULL OF S*IT* !!!

HAIL! HAIL!

I get a real good laugh at Rangers every time I check the web these days. Never have I heard any organisation of their size behave like this apart from a few dodgy governments. It really is unbelieveable and they are quickly becoming laughing stock to anyone who cares about football. As if their style wasn't poor enough, their behaviour off the park is severely damaging their(already tarnished) reputation. What better chance for Celtic to distance themselves from them, although I hope we don't get involved in any public barney with them.

Apart from all the media spin they are getting involved in, the real issue is that they are complaining about playing on a Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday before a Wednesday. That is really what they are complaining about. What's wrong with that?

Remember, they wanted to amend a scheduling system that the rest of the world uses and has used for years. I'm baffled.

Does anybody know who coined the phrase Dignity FC? Was it one of their own?

Kitalba, I am delighted to say "keep enjoying/enduring the pies!"

Still think we need to push to get out of this sorry league, we would probably make more in financial terms by becoming an exhibition team while applying for entry to other leagues.

Anyway, on to football and a nice wee double at the bookies on the cards, them 1 - 3 Mother-swell & them 1 - 2 Dunforthem Utd

Champions - CELTIC

I find the cardigans attitude in all this quite surprising, it feels like he has given the players ready made excuses when it all goes pear shaped. Tiredness and not being given any help will be the theme of the day and players love to have excuses ready if they fail and they will feel like they are being given a reason to fail. Alex Ferguson would have never allowed himself to come out with this sort of stuff and would not have allowed his players to contemplate defeat which Smith has done, any negotiation over extensions etc should all have been done behind closed doors and away from his players. The pressure would appear to have got to them already.

The "journalists" in Scotland really have to take a long hard look at themselves over this episode, there must have been an awful lot of good red and succulent lamb eaten in Charlotte Square over the weekend. Traynor has lost any shred of integrity he was clinging to while working for that shambles of a paper and now really has become a plaything for Sir Minty Moonbeams.

It will be interesting to hear their reaction to this.

Guess who's in charge for Rankers game v DU?

Smithers Jones - The Jam

bangkokbhoy,

I believe it was Alex McLeish who talked about "132 years of unsurpassed dignity" while he was manager.

You can never get enough of this…

Hitler does Murray

Murray Hails Timmy

It's not over yet, perhaps.

Last line of the BBC report(which, of course, should be trusted. I may go to the BBC in my time of need as it is always very 'understanding')

"But despite the league's refusal to move Saturday's match, it is understood that SPL executive chairman Lex Gold and the Ibrox club are still trying to find a solution."

The thing which still stinks is that Rangers will now be portrayed as victims in all of this. I still cannot quite believe it was seriously on the agenda.

Reposted from last thread :

'By Cubist Funk on May 6, 2008 11:31 AM

We will not leave the SPL unless we have somewhere to go. If that destination already exists and we have already agreed terms & conditions then so be it – we were going anyway.

We will not refuse to complete our games as that risks punishment resulting in financial loss. We will not risk undermining the structural advantage we have worked so hard to build.

If the SPL move the last day of the League to 24th May then RFC fixtures may look something like this

Saturday, 17 May 2008
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Motherwell v Rangers, 12:30

Monday, 19 May 2008
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Rangers v Dundee Utd, 19:45

Thursday, 22 May 2008
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
St Mirren v Rangers, 19:45

Saturday, 24 May 2008
Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Aberdeen v Rangers, 15:00

Advantage to RFC

1.RFC no longer are required to play 3 away games to close out their season
2.We have no game for 14 days – DU get to play RFC a few days before they face us
3.RFC have more time to get injured players back
4.International call-ups may diminish our squad

The SPL will not budge – they can’t.

As I posted earlier RFC are doing this to try to build siege mentality and condition their supporters to lower expectations for the UEFA Cup Final (I presume they will prioritise the league). Perhaps there is some unannounced injury news from RFC that triggered this further attempt.

Once a Tim on May 6, 2008 11:15 AM – with you on this one.'

I am not sure Lex Gold and Ian Blair deserve great credit - they knew they had no choice. I am pleased that Celtic did not feel the need to posture publicly. We remain distanced from the heat of the apparent conflict.

If some followers of RFC embrace the 'siege mentality' too enthusiastically I hope RFC and their media stylists are held to account for whipping it up to hysterical levels - grossly irresponsible behaviour.

Philvisreturns, you’re welcome.

Stevie, our man was very active.

Kitalba, :-)

Welcome Clarkey.

Well done the good men who did something.

Hail! Hail!

From Last Article.

Superb site Paul, first time poster, long time lurker etc........

Well, well, well finally the SFA and Daily Ranker are pinning their colours to the Red, White and Blue mast. What has happened this season has been nothing short of disgraceful, and truly makes a mockery of a supposed 'Top Flight' league.

I grew up with my old Granda telling me about how we have always been up against it and that this is the way it will always be. However, growing up in a different era (I'm 28) I didn't really buy into it as much as he did. Nevertheless, I could always see that when the decisions were marginal, they would most probably get them. It was almost un unwritten rule.

What is happening today (this season in-fact) is nothing short of blatant cheating to unparalled proportions for even this country. The SFA, Daily Ranker and Rangers have esentially formed an alliance against the rest of Scottish Football, the media and it's customers in order to help Rankers win the league.

I agree with Paul, that if a further extension is granted then we should pull out of the last two games regardless of the outcome.

This mess only adds to the questionable situations that have manifested this season - from a journalist trying, unsuccessfully, to get Celtic done by UEFA, to the bead rattling reference, to John Collins accusations about Keith Jackson, to Gordon Smith's 'cathlolic schools are to blame for sectarianism in Scotland' comment, to the BJK campaign, to the 'Nakamura ate my dog' banner, to the famine song.................

How long does the list have to be??????????

A season of unprecedented cheating, bile, hatred and collusion and yet, as we all know, there is some papal conspiracy.

Scottish football R.I.P...................

Paulo1888.

P.S. the ailing corpse that is the SPL, has just been resuscitated by Lex Gold M.D. ( He has got a bit of the Dick Van Dykes about him).

P.P.S. Rankers are an absolute, unashamed cheating bunch of monkeys, and I'm so glad they didn't get their way.

Well done Lex Gold.

Cant wait to hear whining of WS and Bain now. Deep Joy!

I was thinking of suck for lent lamb and wondered does Jim Traynor and Keith Jackson also offer fellatio and buggery services ?

What pathetic meek men. This episode and their jointly written article written by David Murray is not going to go away for a long time. This is 100 times worse than succulent lamb.

I´d rather scrape manure from the backsides of cows than earn a living their way

Is it Darrell King, NI (12:33pm)?

Caddizy:

I have seen a fair bit in my time but what they tried to do today beggars belief.

As of today... I am a vegetarian zealot:-)

We could be champions by this time next week!

Who would've thought only six weeks ago?

I retract my previous rant from end of previous thread during Paul67's (unkowingly to me) telling the world off our victory. My congratulations do not go to Gold or the other one but to the SSM and our board who so obvioulsy know how to fight a good fight. Well done Celtic FC. It's good to have a strong leadership. Now lets get 3-in-a-row. Put up the cash for WGS for next season and bury this lot once and for all. We've had our chances in the past 7 years to do it. I now hope our board is so angry that they let go those purse strings and allow us to do this in the best way we can.

3-in-a-row-the-cowards-know.

Paul67, (in case you missed my Q from previous thread) how can I not post from home. Boo Hoo, boo hoo.

Does anyone know the last time Celtic went 6 in a row without a victory during open play? For Gord's sake, we drew our opening game 0-0 at home to Kilmarnock and people were calling for Gordon's head, so it must be time for Wattie to go after 6IAR!

And take a look at the recent form of the SPL teams over the last 6 games, then laugh out loud (especially if there is a hun within earshot!)...

All matches
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
Celt 6 5 0 1 12 6 15
Aber 6 4 0 2 13 11 12
Hear 6 3 2 1 6 4 11
St.M 6 3 1 2 6 5 10
InCT 6 3 0 3 15 11 9
Moth 6 2 1 3 6 10 7
DUtd 6 1 3 2 9 9 6
Kilm 6 1 3 2 5 6 6
Falk 6 1 3 2 3 4 6
Hibs 6 1 2 3 5 6 5
Rang 6 0 4 2 4 6 4
Gret 6 0 3 3 3 11 3

Fascist Fuehrer is in meltdown. Can't log in due volume of traffic !! lol

And to top it all the Manchester police are refusing to offer hotels help when the inevitable bad behaviour kicks in - rooms being cancelled all over the place !

If Carlsberg did Tuesdays :-)

Bangkokbhoy - don't worry about that; it is left over from the previous report by the BBC - the "editor" probably couldn't "Bear" to remove it :-)

I have to admit i was wrong here.
I thought that they would manipulate a change somehow.

A wee round up of Satan's FC

On the Park They are negative and uncultured beyond belief

In the Stands They are uncultured, racist and pee on important monuments

In the Boardroom They are underhanded and removed from reality

Rotten from top to bottom

what body will murray be making his announcement through today?

the sun? the SFA? govan masonic lodge?

paul, do you know if celtic, or indeed any other spl clubs played any part in preventing this extension?

no doubt the cheats and their fans will blame us for their little ruse not working anyway,

i hope i'm wrong , but if they lose the league, their fans will be more bitter than usual because of this episode,and innocent celtic fans will be visiting A&E wards in hospitals all over central scotland as a result of your megalomania Mr Murray

I hope i'm wrong

One of the positive things to arise from this mess is the Scottish Football Association and certain sections of the media have totally exposed themselves for what they are.

These people can no longer pretend to be impatial in any way whatsoever.

But then Celtic supporters are paranoid ... if paranoia means dealing with facts that is.

Gordon_J

Thank you.

How very ironic.

on line from project meeting brussels seems quite a fuss has been kicked up since i flew across yesterday ......you can SMELL THE FEAR EMANATING FROM IBROX HERE IN BELGIUM....the SPL sticking to their guns to preserve the integrity of the SPL has left rangers and the daily ranger with egg on their face...A win required against hibs to turn the notch once more...

If I recall correctly when rangers stole the title on goal difference in 2003 Ferguson was taking pain killing injections to play through the pain barrier.....if history is repeating itself and he is taking pain injections to be on the pitch he is in great danger of being crippled at a relatively young age...

with cuellar a possible target for newcastle utd or spurs and mcgregor to join hutton rnagers will really struggle next season

If Rangers fail to win the SPL it is hardly certian that they will survive the chammpions league qualifiers because their anti-football has marked them as the one team the rest of europe want to beat.

Keep the faith get behind the bhoys on sunday hail hail mike

Why don't Rangers ask UEFA to postpone the final until after the Scottish cup final. Surely that is the most sensible option, or is it only Scottish fixtures that can be re-arranged to suite Rangers?

Just read one of the HIbs players comments about the game on Sunday

Brilliant, but forget the headline, and read the quotes.

TIRED GERS IMPRESS MORAIS

Tuesday 06 May 2008
Hibernian striker Filipe Morais thought the goalless draw with Rangers on Sunday was a fair result.

The 22-year-old went closest to breaking the deadlock when he forced Gers keeper Neil Alexander to make a smart save, but thought the visitors did well considering their punishing recent schedule.

Morais said after the stalemate: "There was a lot of good play but not a lot of clear-cut chances.

"I thought we did well in patches but I also thought Rangers held on really well.

"I felt they were really tired so all credit to them for coming here and getting a draw, because we could have gone on and won the game. But they have got a big squad and did well to get a 0-0 draw."

Credit to the SPL for withstanding the combimed might of Scotland's Second Biggest Institution.......

But......

Am I missing something? What was the reason for latest request since the last extension? What's changed?

Was it because the Russian League cancelled some games to help Zenit?

Is this the Russian League that is not even half way thru their season, and have the bulk of the season to catch up fixtures?

The same one that does not have a Cup Final to worry about?

The Russian postponements is fair because it helps Zenit (for Uefa Final preparations), AND it does not give them any league advantage over their rivals, unlike the proposal by SSBI (see above).

Arguably, it probably even helps their rivals, giving them the opportunity to win games when Zenit aren't playing, and get some points in the bag over them.

And you just can't beat points in the bag, can you?

We're talking apples and oranges here - it is not even remotely the same comparison

Harry,s Hood

Daryll hasn't yet recovered from his very public breakdown on Radio Clyde at the weekend.

Those First Impressions - The Associates

And nice to see some journos acknowledging that lack of winning/ scoring/ interesting play from Rangers.

Both the Herald and Times mention this. Add to that Phil Gordon's note on the Samaras 'goal' and we are beginning to see some better reporting. Have Rangers upset any papers recently?

Good news, nice to see some spine from the SPL for a change.

Presuambly the SFA board are not to happy with Duffield and Peat for suggesting the SFA Cup Final {their most prestigous tournament) should be postponed to accomodate League fixtures? I know if I sat on the SFA board I wouldn't be happy and frankly Duffield should be sacked and Peat removed from the board for even suggesting it. They didn't need to show us thier true colours and yet they did.......

Kitalba 12.35.

I have seen this a couple of times before.It is very ,very funny.

Embdy going to spain

£149 for two nights that a good deal

tully57, 12:45

Totally agree!

What the Russian League are doing would be similar to, say for example, Rangers having an early to mid season game against Gretna postponed. Plenty of time to catch up, and it's nowhere near prize-giving day.

Oh, wait - the SPL did that too........

Murray statement

He seems a little upset.....

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,5~1306671,00.html

Daryl King started off his career as a reported for the Rangers News so no surprise on his allegences

A break though for common sense. The SPL had a tough one there given all the pressure they were under. Well done to them for not caving in. As has been said many times before, the delays the huns have wanted are to strengthen the league challenge and nothing to do with Europe. Don't be fooled by the smoke.

On thing that has received very little attention (especially amongst our media friends) is the view of UEFA. I'm sure they will have given a very strong line on making sure that the European Championships are not disrupted just so they have a better chance of catching us.

We have to make sure that we win this week.

For all the conspiracy theorists, watch out for a red card against Hibs on Sunday.

Hail hail

Tully57,

Zenits clear run was known about on Friday night. Yet no mention until last night. Dropping two in Edinburgh .. thats why?

What planet does the mint live on?

"The rest of the football world will be laughing at the Scottish game"

Oh yes, they most certainly will Dave

Is that the sound of dummies being spat out all across Scotland i hear? :)

I posted the following on the last thread just before it closed down.

The biggest impediment to the proposed extension is the cut off date for Euro2008. Players selected for this tournament have to be released 14 days before the first game in the tournament. This means that JVOH, Boruc and possibly Samaras have to be with their organisations on 24 May. This inturn means that the last date Celtic can play is 23 May. Any attempt to force another solution should be met with a reference to FIFA's Disputes Arbitration Committee. We could then have the interesting spectacle of George Peat, forced out of FIFA office by Sepp Blatter for calling one of his mates (Jack Warner) a crook, attempting to persuade a FIFA committtee stuffed with Blatter?Warner cronies that the SFA were acting correctly. I suspect the FIFA cabal would welcome the opportunity to further humiliate Peat, as a warning to the others if nothing else.
Apart from all this however in whose interests are the SFA acting when the devalue their premier tournament in this way and how will the broadcasters react. If further television deals are scuppered the financial meltdown for Scottish football will be severe to catastrophic.

There will now have to be an inquest into the actions of the SFA CEO and President. How can they contend they were acting in the best interests of all their members? I fear they have done irreperable harm to the image and long term prospects of Scottish football when we collectively and individually seek further sponsorship and media coverage.
Sack Duffield now as well as the preposterous George Peat.

Sounds like Murray is taking a leaf out of the Russian's book... his statement sounds like some Communist Party-era propaganda!

How ridiculous, the only thing people might laugh at is Rangers' desperation to avoid playing their fixtures. I wish someone in the media would come out and remind everyone that rangers HAVE been accomodated this season.

TinyTim:

did your mother not teach you not to mock the inflicted.

Funny? Funny? Good God man that is the Ibrox boardroom on a Friday dress down day.

Can you hear the Rankers moan.
Yeesss, Yeesss.
Can you hear the Rankers groan.
Yeesss, Yeesss.
Can you hear the Rankers Whine.
I can hear it all the ******* time.
Woooo OOOO Woooo OOOO OOOO OOOOOOOOO.

David Murray - "It has been a remarkable season despite being spoiled by bureaucracy and Scottish footballing legislators"

at least we agree on something david...

Therags...

Glad to see it appears Dundee Utd also refused to move the game.

Too late Minty! They already are!

I don't think for one minute Murray and Smith believed they could get the league extended again.
I think they requested it knowing that, when refused, the sense of injustice portrayed by the laptop loyal would improve the likelihood of getting more dodgy decisions before the season's end. This together with the recent over-reporting of favourable decisions given to Celtic will guarantee a few Brines-like interventions soon enough.

Seriously TinyTim:

Not trying to extract the P.

How are you feeling now? What do you think our chances are of taking this league and if we do, what do you think Gordon Stachan should do?

Just to let you know, there was a time a few weeks back my faith was taking a few knocks and I too wasn’t too sure how much longer I COULD STAY STANDING.

Do you think we can do it?

Murry's statement is hilarious!

Who is making Scootish football a laughing stock? Who is embarressed by all of this?

And it was all for the good of Scottish football, eh David? Not to recieve an unfair advantage in a tight tile race then?

I remember thinking at the time of the Gretna eloping, where they were the first known to ever run away from Gretna, that the postponement was silly and unnecessary, and if the world was right and true it would come back to haunt them.

Oh and as an after thought - I think Rangers and the puppets dropped a hell of a lot more than three points with their behaviour this day.

Anyone know what a "Scottish Cup Finak ti" is?

Therags...

Surprise surprise. The Rev McCurry to ref the huns v DU on Saturday.

Bhoys, The SPL have delivered the right result, but I have the feeling that there are more 0-0 games for Dignity FC coming, and all this smoke and mirrors will very soon be irrelevant.

The article above about Lenny, tells me all I need to know about our form as well.

Here comes 3 in a row

Stand up for the champions

BBC Report has now changed. That seems to be the end of the matter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/7384698.stm

"This football club will make no further comment ..... however, at the end of this season I, as Chairman of Rangers Football Club, will ask to meet with the SPL to understand their management and decision making process this season on certain matters."

I think this is a very good idea and all of us would welcome a review of management and decision making of SPL.

I suggest that this includes the following:
the imbalance of fixtures in the first months of the season; the postponement of Rank/Gretna game and the non-postponement of Aberdeen/Motherwell; the failure to reschedule StMirren/Rankers even when there were free midweeks; the freedom given to 2 people to extend the season; the interference of SFA(or more accurately, perhaps,one of its officebearers to interfere in SPL business via national newspaper) and, regardless of this season's shenanigans, the lack of hard and fast structure for post-split fixtures.

The ad hoc manner in which SPL is run needs to be sorted out.

Nicely put amca, perhaps all the clubs should meet with the SPL.

There remains a nasty bullying undertone in the Rangers statement - demanding a board meeting to complain about the way the decisions have been made. This is much the same as the recently employed media tactic of highlighting referees' decisions that go in Celtic's favour with the implication that these officials' careers are under threat.

It is good to see the correct decision being made at this juncture though frankly the meeting this morning should never have taken place.
The directors, management and supporters of dignity fc have very selective memories with regard to the help they have already been given this season.
The real important thing for us now is that we MUST win our two remaining games, anything esle would be a disaster, simple.
I also believe that congratulations are in order to the SSM who has obviously been active behind the scenes (which is where the negos should be taking place) unlike our diginified neighours who are airing all of their laundry at the public steamie.

Philvisreturns :- I'm sure you were and I hope you acheive them.
exspectata ut inflatus garrulitas clique :-)

Twice before in my time as a Celtic supporter have I felt the need for the club to be more proactive than it was in dealing with injustice. Ironically enough, neither directly involved the Scottish footballing authorities, although the degree of support we would have got from them was probably an issue.

The first time was in South America in 1967, where we should have withdrawn from the World Club Championship decider. Instead we went with the flow and tarnished our reputation across the world.

The second time was in the eighties against Rapid Vienna. Our protest about Rapid's behaviour in that match should have been on the UEFA table at 8 am the next morning (and yes, I said so in the pub or somewhere after the game). Instead, we gave them the initiative and we all know the result.

On both of these occasions our lack of proactive management resulted in us losing the moral ground and the game.

I have no doubt that today's decision has been hugely influenced by proactive management from Celtic. I look forward to hearing the detail at a less sensitive time.

We've won the moral argument, now for the game.

Has anyone any stats showing the number of r8ngers games the reverend never mc curry a murray mint has refereed?

Surely more than statistically plausable

By the way, which national newspaper did they sell their reaction to?

Ed
Did you get a Rossetta Stone Latin course as a gift recently :)

Well said, amca.

I've always thought that there should be a template for the post-split fixtures, with the numbers 1-6 in it representing the league positions at the split.

Then, for example, team 4 at the split slots into all the team 4 fixture positions etc, so that on match day 1, post-split, team 1 play team 3, team 4 play team 5, etc etc, regardless of who's in what position or whether it's a league decider or whatever.

The same template (numbers 7-12) could be used for the bottom half of the table too, and this template could be used year in year out with no need to change or manipulte the fixture list.

You know it makes sense......

On the paranoia thingy: those who promulgate this other Lie, by their deeds have outed themselves in a most spectacular and foolish way. From compliant media to indignant administrators at the very top of our football association.
I wonder what an inquisitive 3rd party would make of this seasons machinations.Someone like Gabriel Marcotti is a good Journalist( in the real sense ) with a record of highlighting the seedier underbelly of football.
The stench of corruption is airborne.
Paranoia is total awareness right enough.

Hopefully the way they have treated Queen of the South will get to their players. How big a shock would that be?

Maybe not that big. After the game against East Stirling, they have only scored 5 goals, with four of those being in replays or extra time. Queens have scored 17 in the same number of games, and only conceded in 1 of those.

No wonder they wanted the Final moved. They are not the form Scottish Cup team and obvious underdogs.

Now that the circus is leaving town, I hope we recover our focus on the important matter of Hibs on Sunday. Once we have achieved 3 points there, we should move a motion of no confidence in both Peat and Duffield.

Peat's mask has slipped, and how many times this season has Duffield pinned his colours to a lost cause. I am glad he's my enemy because he sure mucks things up for his friends.

Paranoia Is Total Awareness

I wouldn't go looking for any favours from Marcotti, he loathes us

Kitalba

I really do think that it is possible that we can win both our games.

It will not shock me if we don't.

I think that they will drop points.
My fear is that we will drop points to DU on the last day, our home form does not even allow me, to take this Sundays match as a given.

Should he stay?

No.

It's time for change.My reasons for wanting change are the same as they were 5 games ago.

Rangers will be even stronger next season.

I am praying like the rest of us,i haven't given up hope.

Don't know if this was posted elsewhere... but thought it was nice to see a former celt do some good: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7385488.stm

Harry's Hood - cheers, and thanks again for that semi-final hattrick against them in 1973 - one of my fondest memories.

"....ye can keep yer Rangers and yer Colin Stein, we've got Harry and the Celtic team "

Awe_Naw - agree 100% although I see Moonbeam is saying they first approached on Friday...easy to say now though, eh!

When the dust settles on this one, there has to be an inquest into the astonishing conduct of the SFA - and Duffield and George Peat in particular.

Offering to sacrifice their own most prestigious event in the football calender, and putting the dreams of a wee club in total disarray as regards their Cup Final preparations is unprecedented - even by their standards.

And the fact that they have gone SOoooooo public about it......Why?...... to heap even more pressure on the SPL.

Duffield - we know all about him.

Peat - I have a contact working within the SFA. Peat has Airdre affiltions, and is no lover of Celtic. He was amongst the first to gleefully shake Wattie's hand in the stand right after we lost 1-0 at Ibrox a few weeks ago.

Just like the Flag & Cadete issues, these guys have an alternative agenda from the one they appear to champion.

Harry's Hood,

It's a good idea, but the problem is that you can end up with Rangers and Celtic at home on the same day, or Hibs/Hearts, Dundee/Dundee Utd. So there come exceptions, and then judgement, then favours, then blatant rigging.

I see the "exclusive" rag has updated their site

Welcome McCLhondonBhoy, come back to me with that comment, I’ll use it for my end of season piece.

Moombeams, you should not have trouble posting from home. Email me.

maisy dribble, I know that Celtic were very active.

It's amazing how the merest mention of the honest reverend's name can remove so much feelgood factor.

All of the highlighting of corners and freekicks awarded our way (together with the admittedly marginal offside) has been about buying Rangers an Andy Davis type intervention. We may see it on Sunday. I also expect Dougall and Clark to feature prominently in the remaining games.

Westim, sold it to the r*ngers news aka the daily record.

Gordon Smith is not happy here.

Thks to Blacky KDS

MDBhoy :- I wish I had lol, I hadn't taken Latin since O grade at school and had mostly forgotten it. I think it was GreenwellsGlory (apologies if I'm wrong) who made a joke with a Latin sign off about my name and since then I've got into the habbit of swapping Latin puns with a couple of folk on here.

PAul - cant do the linky - can you delete comments. The pic link is there for the amusement of the blog.

PS Who is tomorrow's referee and who have we got on Sunday?

True, Stuart, hadn't thought of the 'both at home on the same day' scenario, but there's surely SOME way of making it a bit more 'concrete' in advance?

Both away on the A9 or Glasgow-Dundee-Aberdeen train line on the same night (last night of the league season) is almost akin to both at home on the same day anyway.

Surely it's time for the split to go? Set the league fixtures at the start of the season and then everyone knows where they stand and can get on with it. It is farcical to have the final few fixtures decided by a few people - that can only give the opportunity for bias, real or perceived.

Also, have hard and fast rules about rearranged games being played at the first available opportunity.

As others have pointed out, it was the SPL's decisions earlier in the saeson that landed them in a potential mess at the end.

Still, at least today they made the correct decision today not to give in to the cheats!

Clarkey,

I always thought Bellamy was a selfish, little, arrogant tw*t. Thanks for showing me another side to him, maybe his time in Paradise did him some good ;-)