It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge Aberdeen fans’ banner on Saturday in response to their chairman, Stewart Milne’s suggestion that fans are damaging our game with talking about the consequences of clubs being found to be cheating.
I know some people learned the lessons of 2012 but others appear to have acquired amnesia. Back in 2012 only one SPL club was of the view that Rangers should not be allowed to phoenix and gain entry to top flight football. After a considerable campaign by fans, all others, apart from Rangers themselves, and Kilmarnock, decided it would be better if existing rules were allowed to stand on the matter.
Milne was off his head making his comments. The only way to possibly pull a stroke like this would be to keep quiet about it, even then I doubt it would be achievable. Making his feelings known was only going to engage Aberdeen supporters, who will have the ultimate view on what the club do.
The issue remains in the long grass until the Supreme Court have concluded their business, but what we said in October remains valid: if Celtic stand alone, the matter will not be looked at again, if other clubs are on-board, it will be examined appropriately. It is for fans of Aberdeen, United, Hibs, Hearts, Motherwell and make their feelings known.
The Herald’s piece this morning on Newco being “handed a place in the Premiership next summer as a result of some hastily-arranged league reconstruction” was remarkable. It was absurd but also worthy of respect. “NOBODY at Rangers (sic.)” wants this, but as other clubs need for Newco’s promotion is so great, apparently this is not really implausible.
Promote them, not because they are in need, because other clubs need them.
The starting position on league reconstruction is notable. For years only Celtic and Rangers blocked the SPL from being expanded. The majority of top flight clubs live in fear of (and experienced) relegation. They want a less competitive middle to the league. When the SPFL was formed a temporary moratorium of league reconstruction was agreed. This moratorium is due to expire shortly, a window for change is about to open up.
Tracking underneath all of these debates are the financial fundamentals. Newco is not financially viable. They are not viable in the Championship and although Premiership football would give them a few millions more, it would not change the fundamentals.
The circa £17m it takes to run a club at Ibrox before you employ football staff leaves little money for football given their anticipated top-flight income. It would take years and many tens of millions of dead investment to change this, as well as Mike Ashley raising the white flag.
These facts have not been grasped yet as the consequences of the hoped for investment of tens of millions not appearing are not being considered. Dave King might invest £30m-£50m, so with a fair wind everything might be OK. On the other hand, I think even £50m is tight, and I don’t see anything like that money heading to Ibrox.
The consequences of what happened in 2012, even on these pages, have yet to be realised. The old business model is finished, it’s not coming back.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the Foundation Christmas Appeal bucket collection on Saturday. You see people at their very best on these occasions. If you want to know how your money will be spent have a read here.
Very last shout from CQN Bookstore for Christmas delivery, if you’re after 16:00, it’ll be after the festives’ before you get your book or DVD.
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Dont`t even think of using this excuse to the wife this Christmas.
Jeremy Vine has been reported under the BBC Equality and Diversity Code for joking that he had ‘man flu’ on radio show.
BigChipsuk
A nice variation of your normal style.
BUT WE WANT THE STATS csc
Big Chips
Well said.
HH
We hoops fans can be a contrary lot if Ronny goes on to win the treble and we look well set up for next seasons CL qualifyers but Ronny walks away to join another team because he feels he doesnt have the backing of the Celtic support. We will have many many hoops fans saying he is out of order to leave the best supporters in the world. H.H.
One Christmas, Dermot and Peter built a skating rink in the middle of a field. A shepherd leading his flock decided to take a shortcut across the rink. The sheep, however, were afraid of the ice and wouldn’t cross it. Desperate, the shepherd began tugging them to the other side.
‘Look at that, ‘remarked Peter to Dermot, ‘That guy is trying to pull the wool over our ice!’
Man flu is a fact. Child birth is almost as bad so I hear..
SOUKOS
Loada nonsense.
People need to bliddy grow up and start complaining about things that matter.
Manflu,ffs. Who in their right mind can possibly find offence in a self-denigrating comment?
Now,birdflu,that’s different. That’s a killer.
Report me for that. Buncha needalife eejits.
To podium or not to podium?
ThatIsTheQuestion csc
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Chauvinist swine [flu]….
Since Rangers died, how has the Celtic share price performed por cierto?
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Already reported you,if I don`t I might be reported for not reporting you.
Something deeply disturbed within the joyless shell, that is the lamentable meat sack that reported Jeremy Vine for saying “man flu”.
new article posted.
DAVIDOPOULOS
I reckon we have some mutual friends from Wimbledon,and might even have shared a jar together with them.
I’m not trying to piss on your chips with your ideas,nor belittle your efforts. I would though be very interested in sharing any thoughts.
If you are interested,mail me at
bmcuwp@gmail.com
If not,I think no less of your efforts. And will help any way I can.
BigChipsUK
Spot on.
Some of the posts on here since Saturday have been downright embarrassing – people searching for the “soul of Celtic”, wanting Ronny sacked, calling out respected posters, blah-blah-blah.
The reality is that Celtic were hoping that Ronny would be the next Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho – looking to get the right guy on the way up. I suspect that he is a disappointment in that respect, but probably no better or worse than 99% of the people we could attract.
It would appear that regardless of what is claimed by most here on the blog, any domestic challenge that emanates from any team other than the huns somehow just doesn’t count and can only be a product of deliberate downsizing by Celtic and/or pining after the hun duopoly.
Did you see the results in the EPL on Saturday? Crap happens – it;s fitba – it’s sport. Get a grip.
BIGCHIPSUK,
The best true appraisal of the situation I’ve read on here for a while. Thank you.
As for those signing a petition to get rid of our manager, geez peace.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
I know for sure we have at least one mutual WCSC pal – I’m still a member but recent relocation has meant I’ve not been since Malmo game.
I’ll take you up on that offer. Your comment was totally taken in the spirit it was meant. A critical eye will be key in what I am looking at.
Coolmoore Mafia
The story is still unfolding and one chapter in that story would be Scottish society’s unwillingness to look at itself in the mirror.
I’m not sure if UEFA would of itself bring that about but it would be another factor that makes it more difficult for the denial to continue.
In June 2013 Charlotte Fakeovers started to leak information that was quickly buried under the excuse of its provenance, that is was it legally obtained.
In any society but here the answer to that would be ” who gaf what is the material telling us?”
Provenance is still being used as cover and indeed was a hurdle Res12 had to leap before we could put the SFA on the spot.
More than that, extensive efforts have been made to serve up that evidence on a plate to media outlets in Scotland and England and still they remain silent.
One of the questions in the chapter has to be why? If a person is as sick as they are secret so too is a society and ours, based on what the last 15 years tell us, is extremely ill.