I have watched a bit of the Championship on BBC Scotland recently. It’s seldom brilliant football but almost always entertaining. For most of the season I despaired at the prospect of Arbroath picking up the automatic promotion spot. The last thing we need is another tiny club with tiny resources lining their entire team along the 18-yard line.
This is unfair, of course. What this tiny team have achieved to get within a whisker of the topflight is remarkable. With Premiership TV money, they could emulate Ross County and previously Hamilton. They would bring little interest to the league, but seven figure payments go a long way when you carry low overheads.
The alternative is Kilmarnock, a side with vastly greater resources and a truly terrible artificial surface. Inverness and Partick will likely compete with the Premiership’s 11th club for the remaining topflight spot. Raith seem to have lost their way since the Goodwillie fiasco.
Clubs only survive in the lower leagues so long before whatever local appeal they had fades to an insignificant level. Dunfermline have a history, a decent sized local population, with an affluent business community, but the Leishman days are gone for good, never mind the Stein era. Ironically, it could be Raith, newly relevant in Kirkcaldy, who are more likely to bounce.
Former Celtic central defender, John Hughes, is currently managing Dunfermline. He led Falkirk to the topflight 19 years ago, then onto the top half of the table and a Scottish Cup Final. When he left for an ill-advised spell at Hibs, Falkirk never recovered. They have lost more than they’ve won in League One this season.
I’ll regret whoever goes down of Dundee or St Johnstone. Both are sold clubs with enough fans to do better. Despite the pitch, a Kilmarnock would be welcome. It makes for a healthier league.
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Nice one Tom. Good on ye.
18 YARD MAN 7:08
1) Your example of parity – the USA national teams – is not really a valid comparison to club football. National associations don’t employ players, they award an appearance fee and equalising that can be done at relatively low cost.
2) Regarding clubs disbanding womens’ teams being against public opinion, clubs will make decisions based on financial viability. Government, no matter which shade, cannot order clubs to provide loss-making womens’ teams
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1) I use this example only to illustrate what has happened – the process has begun – it has been copied all over the world – national teams now, clubs to come. The principle has been accepted.
2) Of course on the face of it, what you say is correct, however the word “discrimination” comes into play. The power to discontinue womens’ teams on the grounds of finance may be within the remit of clubs, but it would be a highly controversial decision.
I certainly don’t know all the answers, no one does, but I can recognise some serious questions, and I’m sure there will be many more.
Well done Tom.
Take as much as you can off them bookies.
D :)
JHB
When women and men play in the same teams they can expect pay parity.
Obviously that’s not going to happen.
GFTB
I’ve used that one myself 🙂
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 26TH MARCH 2022 7:14 PM
Nice read back. I’m going to see my Mum tomorrow. I’m lucky to have her, reasonably fit and full of mischief. Keeps me in my place, I can tell ye. 🙄
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‘Keeps me in place’ ? Obviously yir lovely ole dear doesn’t read this blog.hh
TOM MCLAUGHLIN 7:27
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Good story & strong nerve….I would have succumbed at £250.
JHB
I was tempted. 5 of the 6 were winning by 1 goal, so it could have crashed any second.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 26TH MARCH 2022 7:32 PM
JHB
When women and men play in the same teams they can expect pay parity.
Obviously that’s not going to happen.
—-
Of course that sounds logical, but it is not where the campaign and arguments are going. Equal expenditure(split revenue 50/50) on mens’ and womens’ squads is the aim – thereafter individual wages can be paid (within the respective squads), as happens now. The upshot would of course mean a drop in the money spent on the mens’ squad.
Tom 7.27pm
Good stuff … the “cash out” is just another way the bookie wins… when a bit low on provisions I succumb to the old cash oot … mainly because I think I will win the next time … a fool and his money are easily parted (that’s me) …. in this day and age of online betting if I think am too tempted I turn my phone off so “they” can’t tempt me with the “money in your account now” all kidding aside excellent return fir a wee deep sea diver :-)
Vougepunter, 😂😂
Gene 7.33pm
Aye, probably every single dad uses it… :-)
Tom 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Good evening all from the International Bar. I do enjoy a stroll around my kingdom.
One day people gather in Glasgow praying for peace the next day people gather for hatred of Catholics and those from an Irish background, people make Glasgow eh!!!
BIGRAILROADBLUES
Is that the International Bar in Edinburgh?
Tom 7.27 ..Nice pick up ..May you have many more…
That gives you about 74 free Sat bets !!!! and yer still up lol..Great stuff.
H.H
Surely there’s not another one ?
Driving home today I had Radio Shorty on.
Just before kick off they went to Inverness and the commentator read out the teams.
“and the referee today is Graham Beaton”
Tom, Aitkenroad Road. Polmadie.
JHB @ 6.36
For someone who can “see which way the wind is blowing” you don’t half reach some daft conclusions. You even try to close off alternative viewpoints by claiming that thinking differently is “not thinking it through”.
Mind you when you can include certainty and possibility in a simple declarative sentence as in “There will undoubtedly be legislation in my opinion“, it is hard to know where the room for debate is.
Maybe you’re just being tongue-in-cheek again and we’re not to believe a word you write. The idea that you “take no sides with regard to these developments” is fairly unbelievable.
Anyways- here’s the bits you left out.
There has been no court victory for equal pay in soccer in the US courts; in fact the argument was lost there. The US footballing authorities, admittedly in fear of further expensive court action, have agree to pay National team players the same, whether male or female (Transgender players were not mentioned).
This move has had no effect on the relative salaries paid to men and women Club players and the huge disparity in such pay remains the same all over the world, including in the USA.
In all other US Sports, many with a longer history of female participation, men, who attract larger crowds and funds to their sport, get paid in accordance with that fact. Women baseball players, basketball, Volleyball and American football players get paid less. Lady Golfers, Pool players and boxers get paid less and there are no pending cases or judgements to change that. Club owners are less susceptible to this threat than are publicly funded National bodies such as Football Associations. It is also easier for them to make the concession, though the US football players unions have yet to ratify the concession, as the sums involved are small. Players do not play international football for the remuneration. England players get from £1500 to £2500 per match depending on whether it is a qualifier or a tournament match. They play international football for prestige, recognition and to enhance their transfer value (a la Rafael Scheidt). They might make some more on bonuses for achievements but I would suspect the US Ladies team have earned more than the Men’s team ever had. Will they pay that back in the interests of equality?
There is only one sport where female prize money matches the Men’s and that is Tennis but that is only true of Grand Slams where the two sexes compete separately but alongside each other. Men still earn 20% more than the average female outwith Grand Slam events.
The arguments for equal pay have not meet legal requirements in the Courts; only public opinion and advocacy have moved things forward. You can argue that women play the same sport for the same length of time but it is undoubtedly a softer target. You could train an averagely athletic girl to play for an SWPL team with a couple of years training even if they have never played before they were 16; you cannot do that with male teams in the SPL, though we tried with Amido Balde.
The Ventriloquist opening Act at the Palladium might have an Act that last as long as Tony Bennet’s but they won’t be paid the same. A pub rock band may play a longer set than Elton John provides but they won’t ever get paid the same.
The arguments for attracting a paying audience in professional sport still trumps all arguments for saying we are doing the same thing for the same length of time, regardless of how well it is being done. Otherwise the 6 a side game I played this morning might get together and launch some litigation to get paid the same as Kyogo.
I’m afraid the threat is much less pressing and compelling than you portray. I would file it under the same category as the Sun claiming the EU were trying to straighten our bananas, as a means of getting sclerotic Gammons worked up about Hippies, Liberals or Health and Safety.
P.S. I am all for women getting equal access and equal encouragement to attempt to make a career in sport. I am also in favour of them being paid in direct proportion to the crowds and sponsorship they attract. It is commercial professional sport
Lusta Travelling Light (@LustraSmallFry) Tweeted:
#ALBA2022
#AlbaWomen
Call for a pause to GRA legislation plans and a citizens assembly to safeguard womens human rights which are being eroded https://t.co/GN9Oho2tVf https://twitter.com/LustraSmallFry/status/1507793828857663491?s=20&t=bil42SR0NWAIOHjbR6sqWQ
Bonnie Scotland lol
SCEPTICAL CITIZEN on 26TH MARCH 2022 8:00 PM
One day people gather in Glasgow praying for peace the next day people gather for hatred of Catholics and those from an Irish background, people make Glasgow eh!!!
Wee correction.
One day Catholics pray for peace in the Ukraine and elsewhere and the next day the fascist wing of unionism shows its irrational hatred of Catholics and of those of Irish catholic origin.Unionists made Glasgow,every sectarian right to march nodded forward by those same underhand and sleekit unionists.
Those same Catholics welcome refugees and do not tolerate racism,so it looks like mod done you a favour deleting your racist postings,say hi to WT tae 🤪
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 26TH MARCH 2022 8:00 PM
Good evening all from the International Bar. I do enjoy a stroll around my kingdom.
The pre/post final bar of choice for that Sipsini fella 🤣
Enjoy
HH
David 66
A bit more information for you on the Candy.
Down to bear bones today and after an early red we were well beaten by Petershill team
Wishaw drew and we (st Rochs) are confirmed as gainng our place in League 1 next year
A tribute to PK x
Time to decide the future of club – we will call a General meeting soon
MTC
AN TEARMANN on 26TH MARCH 2022 8:33 PM
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How many refugees have you “personally” taken in??
If you’ve taken some then good for you and practicing what you preach, well done. 👏
On the other hand, if you’ve not taken in any refugees, whilst shouting welcome refugees, for all of these years then how can your words be trusted??
18 yard Man
Nostalgic flash backs Tommy old man singing that song to the tune of Nobody’s child …
When he got home after a few a few drams on the way back from the game on a Saturday night he used to sing that one about rangers being on the slide.
Find memories. Thanks.
@Bigrailroad..Just as a matter of interest..Is there any live music these days …
In any of your favoured establishments??..it seems to have a died a death doon oor way..
H.H
Butnley78 8.42pm
Read your comment earlier today but couldn’t comment about successes at Ibrox only two Celtic games I witnessed from the Broomloan Road were 5-1 & 4-1 when Chris Morris & MacAvennie opened the scoring in those games …. If you get a ticket for next Sunday I hope you can add another Celtic victory to your memories :-)
SFTB @ 8:24
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As usual you start with insults – you move on to few selective facts, then the ridicule-filibuster kicks in with The Ventriloquist, Tony Bennett, bananas, the Sun, Elton John, Hippies & Health & Safety….and finally a PS which actually has some subject relevance and outlines “what you’re for” and “in favour of”, as if it carries any weight on the outcome of the issue.
That’s all very well, but doesn’t acknowledge the fact that the womens’ game wants equality, and it wants it soon – not in ten years time. It sees affordability as a problem for the employers, not them – much like the implementation of the minimum wage.
@B78 There was so many verses to that ditty..depending where you stayed
The one about Nevin was so cruel…Kids eh!!…
https://icdn.thecelticstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screenshot-2022-03-26-at-15.05.33-702×459.jpg
••••••••
GB cheering the Celtic women to victory. 👏 🍀
Scepticalnot trusted
The thing is brexit racism like those you supported when your fellow racists sought to hinder and impede rescue services aiding drowning refugees,would not give me an option to help and aid.(your simplistic question ignored)
the ignorance and stupidity in the racism makes people like you think you are goin without.
Having a racist ask what you have done,brainless,brexit gold,
Jeez and your on fartin bout indoctrinated thinkin.
You run along and post the latest from ibrox noise
Ah OK I have to have a room full of refugees to highlight the stupidity and ignorance of Brexit racism
🤣🤣🤣
Jimmynotpaul- Thanks for the update on the Candy.
Good luck.
I am ashamed to say I do not support my local team as often as I should.
HH
D :)
Paul Gascoine is in some nick.
Ps what constitutes a legend?
Numptyscsc
D :)
Tom McLaughlin
Well done on yir lift.
Am not sure gambler,but enjoy see the contribution to the bookie takin a hit.
HH
Tom McLaughlin on 26th March 2022 7:32 pm
JHB
When women and men play in the same teams they can expect pay parity.
Obviously that’s not going to happen.
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Tennis