Belief structure of the debt lunatics

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The wisdom of Hearts owner Ann Budge’s comments to the BBC that “Borrowing money for a particular capital programme you can understand, but running up debts that are prevalent in football is beyond my understanding really” is now, in 2014, surely beyond dispute.

Clubs are at liberty to borrow for infrastructure, or in exceptional circumstances, but in the normal course of business, borrowing for football costs should limited to covering the short-term fluctuations in cash-flow.

This thinking was orthodoxy until Sir David Murray led Scottish football by the nose into a spiral of debt accumulation.  The Murray Gospel found many converts among us, those who spoke against it were hounded as heretics.  Debt accumulation was the new crusade, the promised land could be reached with just one more brave act, apparently.

Suggesting this was self-harming nonsense to adherents who had supported a debt-fuelled battle for years attacked a fundamental pillar of their belief system.  Reactions were seldom considered.

It’s in this light we should consider the real lunatics.  Those who encouraged a business model which ended in liquidation, only to come back to the table demanding a fledgling incorporation ‘act like a big club’.  There’s a fair amount of research suggesting humans are hard-wired for religiosity.  We search for something to believe in, then stick with it as best we can.  If you have grown to believe that one more outrageous act will deliver European glory, a good harvest or a rain cloud, part of you will buy into it.

Stewart Regan’s “concern for the Scottish game” at newco Rangers financial position will be genuine, although the “Armageddon” merchant from the SFL has long left the scene.  He notes, “Rangers have got a strong economic impact, not just for Glasgow, but for Scotland generally”.  Well, oldco sure had an economic impact, on the public purse and several hundred creditors.  Mr Regan’s words should be a warning.

This morning Rangers International served notice that their AGM would take place on 22 December, just days within the permitted time period.  Accounts are normally issued with this notice, but for some reason, they were not on this occasion.  They are required 21 days before the meeting (i.e. within days); I’ve no idea what to expect, but it’s sure to be a quintessential Rangers document.

Some great offers on Celtic books and DVDs at CQNBookstore, a name already telling only part of the story!

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  1. RIP Arthur Montford, a real legend, his finest commentary would have been the WC qualifier in 1973, Scotland v Czechoslovakia, at Joe Jordan’s winning goal he really went berserk.

  2. Lb,

     

     

    Mathews has played in 43,42 & 31 games in last 3 seasons.

     

     

    One of his longest layoffs was through no fault of his own.

     

     

    I hear what you are saying but I think there’s still a place for him at the club.

  3. Stephen Pearson was another lad I thought would go on to great things at Celtic. He had some engine, pace, power, and chipped in with goals…. Ended up in the English Championship, then injury plagued. Disappointing. Thought he could of been the complete midfielder.

  4. LiviBhoy

     

     

    That’s in a round about way what I was was saying: we already produce SPL quality players from the youth ranks. Should we be buying in other SPL quality players from other SPL teams?

  5. Quite a turnaround…. German football was peaked 12-18 months ago….. the whole German game is suffering a World Cup hangover… National team included.

  6. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Remember Pearson giving Reiziger a complete roasting

     

     

    Also fond memories of his contribution in the 3-2 smash and grab against Hearts on New Year’s Day

  7. Pearson was a really competent player when played in central midfield. Wasn’t he shunted out to the left a lot of the time?

  8. Sad news on Arthur Montford. Preferred his no nonsense commentary to others.

     

     

    Remember possibly the first ever wind up in Scottish football media. When Columbia couldn’t stage the 1986 World Cup ScotSport Friday night preview football programme (fronted by Arthur) ran an April 1st story that Scotland had stepped in to host the World Cup.

     

     

    I can’t remember if the final was to be at Cappielow.

     

     

    RIP.

  9. Arthur Montford’s passed has he?

     

     

    Another piece of my childhood dies with him.

     

     

    Always seemed a proper gentleman.

     

     

    RIP Sir.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  10. Been trying hard to think of a Scottish based player who would fit right into our first team, and I can’t think of any obvious candidates. There are several who would be a gamble

  11. Sorry to hear about Arthur Montford passing, he always came across as fair.

     

     

    Awe Naw, good luck tomorro…mind have a Fenian smirk on your face when you level them.

     

     

    I’m sure your young brother will be looking forward to a more regular swally with you.HH

  12. I loved that Pearson goal in the game v the diets, a 93rd minute winner after being 2 down. My Clive Dunn brother in law was mid visit and it wiped the smile off his face so fast that he hasn’t returned

  13. And the years continue to drip away…

     

     

    RIP Arthur.

     

     

    No side, no bias, no agenda…just a gent who loved football and especially golf, sports jackets and Frank Sinatra.

     

     

    Feel a loss though never met the man.

     

     

    HH

  14. Arthur monford

     

    RIP

     

    Thanks for the memories

     

    Celtic 5-0 sporting Lisbon 5-2 agg

     

    One of the greatest games I’ve been to but Arthurs commentary amazing

     

    “what a pass what a goal what a game

     

    “McAdam buries it 2-2”

     

    Thanks

  15. Awe_Naw, good news mate.

     

    Good to hear you’ll be getting to spend more time at home.

     

    Frankfurt is a great place.

  16. Rocket Man

     

    Getting back to a policy of landing good players from other SPL clubs is something we need to do.

     

    We’ve gone 2 decades where spending money on foreign players was the done thing and easy to do.

     

    But with a current limited budget, I personally think we shouldn’t ignore decent potential that’s on our doorstep.

     

    Back to the days of signing the likes of Brian Mclair, Andy Walker, Scott McDonald……. Come to think of it, Motherwell have served us well over the years…. Phil Odonnell, Pearson.

     

     

    I think we should make moves for Armstrong at Utd…. pawlett is another to keep an eye on.

     

    Christie at KIlmarnock, MCGinn at St Mirren……. But definately Armstrong

  17. Stairheed,

     

     

    My good lady pestered me to bet 3-2 for her in that game.

     

     

    I remember watching it with her Auld man and thinking, oh well they’ve got to score 2 for the bet to come in, as they went 2-0 up.

  18. stairheedrammy

     

     

    21:16 on 26 November, 2014

     

    Been trying hard to think of a Scottish based player who would fit right into our first team, and I can’t think of any obvious candidates. There are several who would be a gamble

     

     

    Stuart Armstrong. Not a gamble, would improve us and would offer more going forward than all of our current central midfielders. Sell Kayal & Biton, sign Armstrong.

  19. That’s my point here: we produce SPL quality players the only thing really lacking is competitive experience. So how about we establish a feeder network get the young players out on loan and not have to buy any SPL level players from other teams?

  20. Arthur Montford RIP

     

     

    Arthur on STV, Archie on BBC growing up they were the voices of Scottish football

  21. We do produce the Van Zantens, Paul MCgowans, Rocco Quinns etc in abundance.

     

     

    That said, we should still retain an open mind to buying the best from the rest…. The Scott McDonalds etc….. The bhoy Robertson could and should have been signed, instead of going to Hull…. We should learn from that and sign Armstrong.

  22. malorbhoy

     

     

    That’s one of his classics as well as “watch your heels , Billy” to Billy Bremner and then the most poignant of them all ” brave, brave Scotland..” 1974 v Yugoslavia. ..sorely missed.

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