Neil Lennon has been fluid with his team formations in recent weeks. As a result, three central defenders, Efe Ambrose, Kelvin Wilson and Charlie Mulgew could each be regarded as first choice picks, although Ambrose and Mulgrew have also been deployed in midfield. Ambrose has featured in all nine games since the beginning of December, while Wilson has featured in eight and Mulgrew in seven.
Add to the picture the fact that fourth-choice central defender, Thomas Rogne, has appeared in eight of those nine games, missing only the replay against Arbroath, and our central defenders look curiously stretched. Much has been made of the proximity of Efe Ambrose potential involvement in the African Cup of Nations to Celtic’s Champions League tie with Juventus, but the numbers suggest a vacancy exists beyond this tie, hence the recruitment of Rami Gershon, who will join on a six month trial, pending a work permit, with a permanent transfer agreed in principle, pending performance between now and May.
Gershon, 24, has kicked around Standard Liege for three years without making a discernible impact, but he is an experienced international who fits the profile of a non-critical recruit, competing as fourth of fifth choice central defender. His six-month objective will be to secure Thomas Rogne’s place in next season’s squad. The try-before-you-buy strategy we discussed earlier this week will ensure Neil Lennon has a player keen to impress whenever he gets an opportunity. Sound squad management.
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Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
16:34 on 8 January, 2013
‘The Rangers should be in the new bottom division, or the National League as it seems to be called, – but I think they will find a way to promote them to the Championship.’
How many clubs will miss out on the financial boost of playing sevco if that happens and will there be enough of them to swing a vote?
Happy to take your word for it Ernie. So what’s the national picture? How did the Tory vote in Scotland migrate to Labour in the 1980s, and then to the SNP 20 years later?
What do the stats say?
Earlier Longmuir had stated: “Neither proposal would ‘fast-track’ Rangers. A 16-10-16 would take Rangers the same amount of time to get to the top league as they would in the current structure. With the 12-12-18, even if it was in place next season, Rangers would not be in that top division.”
But will Sevco be in the 2nd division? That will be enough for me to stop attending professional football in Scotland.
The Battered Bunnet
16:39 on 8 January, 2013
‘Happy to take your word for it Ernie. So what’s the national picture? How did the Tory vote in Scotland migrate to Labour in the 1980s, and then to the SNP 20 years later?’
Is that what happened?
Tories switched to voting Labour?
Battered Bunnet – Just a quick word of thanks for replying on the 12-12-18 split thing. I had not even thought about the SPL criteria issue. Couldnt agree more that that makes it even more of a farce with teams not qualifying despite being in the “promotion” places etc. Surely this cannot be approved?!
Michael
16:40 on 8 January, 2013
‘Earlier Longmuir had stated: “Neither proposal would ‘fast-track’ Rangers. A 16-10-16 would take Rangers the same amount of time to get to the top league as they would in the current structure. With the 12-12-18, even if it was in place next season, Rangers would not be in that top division.”
But will Sevco be in the 2nd division? That will be enough for me to stop attending professional football in Scotland.’
Are Celtic involved in these discussions?
Are they going to ‘play a blinder’ again and say nothing until it’s all done and dusted, by which time it would not be appropriate to comment?
ASonOfDan,
I think from memory that a club has to give 2 years notice to quit the SPL. But I don’t think there is anything that stops the corporate body merging with another on at any time.
Ernie Lynch,
I guess 17 teams would miss out on the pleasure of a visit from The Rangers. Although under the current structure (assuming they win the third division), 9 of them would not play The Rangers next season anyway.
Maybe I’m just being cynical, but if the bigots from govan had not been liquidated would there have been as much effort and focus to push ahead with league reconstruction.
As I say, maybe I’m just a cynic!
Has anyone read the “left behind” series? This whole discussion from Regan (aka Carpathia), talking about one governing body, everyone in agreement and peace for all mankind sounds good but will eventually lead to death and destruction. Wonder if he’ll plan to move the SFA to New Babylon? LOL
in the new shiny SFA/SPL merger, who will lose their jobs
considering that Campell ogilvie survived a 90 grand loan
TBB
The orange/unionist vote was strong in Scotland in the 50/60,’s- working class tories of the orange persuasion where in the ascendancy. Not now .In some ways the irish scots are more pro union than the indegenous .Strange days inded
ernie lynch
When I was growing up all the stupid huns voted for the Conservative & Unionist Party as they referred to it. Even when their erse was hanging out their trousers and they did not have 2 bob.
Only 15 clubs were represented at today’s meeting, this is far from assured to go through.
8 SPL clubs, were Celtic even there?
So, regardless of the new set up starting next season or the one after, the following will still hold true.
In two seasons time a team by then in the 2nd tier can gain entry to the 1st tier by finishing 4th in their ‘League of 12’ then 4th again in their ‘League of 8’.
Under the current set up they would have had to win their ‘League of 12’.
Certainly makes things a lot easier for them.
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam),
It’s the SPL and SFL that will merge – the SFA will still be separate.
I’d Expect DeidHuns To Be In The Third Division Of The New League Set-Up…
They Will Not Progress To The SPL Any Faster Than They Would Have Done…
If They Gained Promotion By Winning Each League In Succession….
However,In New System…..
They Won’t Have To WIN Each League ..
To Gain Promotion….
So That Will Make It Easier For Them ..
To Make Their Debut In The SPL….
In The Shortest Possible Time…..
The WingsOverScotland Article Was Right On The Button….
It’s A F-I-X……………………
‘Speaking of doing better, the Old Lady was surprisingly defeated by a ten-man Sampdoria side that only recently changed their coach. One goal down and one man down by the 31 minute, you would have been forgiven for predicting a Juventus win.
However, poor choices by Antonio Conte saw him introduce many attackers but no player who could effectively tackle whilst the squad’s lethargy and arrogant approach to the game resulted in a New Year defeat. All four Juve strikers who were offered time to play at some point in the match failed to finish their chances from open play. MeanwhileSampdoria’s 19-year-old striker Mauro Icardi scored twice to exhibit his potential and unmistakable knack of exploiting the weakness in others.’
A wee form slump over the next few weeks would be nice…
Quite clever …….. Ole David Bowie has managed to sneak out a new song without any media outlets pickin’ up on it.
Interesting (not really). £720k worth of shares in RFC were sold in 2 chunks today. That’s almost certainly 1 or 2 Institutional Investors dumping them (at a nice profit). Price didn’t drop, as you might have expected, so it looks like it’s still receiving broker support.
Kilgore Trout
When the Zombies make it to New Div2 in 2014/15 Season do you really think they won’t win that Division?
I do not think the Scottish Football landscape will have changed so much.
The MiB will ensure that auto promotion takes place in any permutation so there is no ‘fix’ (other than the usual fix)
The Onlooker
weeminger
I have been mentioning this for the past few days.
Fat Sally did not release his begging letter for nothing on Sunday asking for investors to stick with them.
charles kickham
Looks like it’s time to mobilise the troops to inform their chairmen of the risks of defying the fans.
My dear,dear,dear, friend.. The Singing Detective..
Sorry,pal.. Ah hivnae hid a chance tae woid a reply tae yer last submission
aimed at me.
We hid Wan of they.. Dreaded.. Power Outages.. here, in Ma Office… as they call ’em, here in the U.S.
Noo the Juice is back oan..
Anyway..
Yes.. Former Senator.. Hagel, disnae tak tae… the Bagel.. as Ma Uncle Moises.. wiz wont tae quip.
Hagel..is well known tae be. A Goddamned Anti-Semite.
Which, maks his Proposed Appointment , by Mr. Obama..as the New Defense Sec.
a bit o’ a Mystery…
As.. Israel wullnae appreciate, such a well Known Jewish Hater..
being placed in charge of such an Important Governmental Office,
by the President.
Ah am sure the Strong and Strident , Jewish Lobby.. wullnae tak that Proposed Appointment
lying doon.
They wull fight it.. Tooth and Nail.
May nevah happen..
But, If it diz..
‘
Mr. Obama, wull hiv the fight o’ his Life… oan his Hauns..
Fur ,he has jist slapped the Israelis in the FACE.. if he gets
Hagel ..that Appointment.
Not a guid way. tae commence his.. New Four Year Term
we’ll see.
Kojo
Yer pal…who likes you aloater.
Still, Laughin’
The real problem in Scottish football is there are too many senior clubs, but clubs will never agree to amalgamate, to be honest I can understand why, but how much bigger could Forth Valley FC be compared to Falkirk, East Stirling, Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion be combined?
I know a few fans of each club, okay not East Stirling, but I doubt they would back the idea.
I can’t see any mention in the articles that this is to be rushed through for next season, if it is then it would, at least, appear to being done for one reason, money, and a wee helping hand for their friends. If not, perhaps they have more integrity than I thought.
If it is rushed through, Sevco should be in the third tier, they can’t be placed into the second, what would the supporters of all the clubs they jump over have to say. After last summer surely the authorities wouldn’t be stupid enough to try that again. Would they?
Just my initial thoughts on this.
Scottish clubs to vote on league reconstruction proposals
Scottish clubs will hold a vote on a possible new league structure before the end of January.
Scottish Premier League clubs have proposed a 12-12-18 set-up and Scottish Football League clubs will now put that idea to a ballot.
In November, the SFL came up with a 16-10-16 blueprint for reconstruction.
But Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed an agreement on the principles of restructuring, including a merger of both bodies.
No deadline has been set for the implementation of the proposed changes but it remains possible they could be in place as early as next season.
Continue reading the main story
“We have seen a willingness to make change happen and a recognition that Scottish football is crying out for a new dawn”
Stewart Regan
SFA chief executive
Representatives of seven SPL clubs and eight SFL clubs met with administrators from the governing bodies at Hampden.
And following the gathering it was announced that SFL teams will be asked to vote on the implementation of a Premier League of 12 teams, a Championship of 12 teams and a National League of 18.
The top two divisions would split after two rounds of fixtures in which teams had met home and away.
The top eight clubs would then meet a further twice home and away, while the bottom four clubs would play against the top four from the Championship.
These eight clubs would have their points re-set to zero then meet twice, home and away, with the bottom four clubs being relegated at the end of the season.
The bottom eight clubs in the lower division would also play-off against one another.
SPL clubs will also have a formal vote, having unanimously agreed to explore the advantages of the 12-12-18 set-up.
The current system has three divisions of 10 below the 12-team SPL.
The SPL needs an 11-1 majority to push through the plans, while the SFL needs a minimum 75% agreement.
Continue reading the main story
“Every club should be able to embrace this because they are all going to benefit from it”
David Longmuir
SFL chief executive
“We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland,” said Regan.
“I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football.
“That will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.
“Ultimately it will be the clubs that decide but we have seen a willingness to make change happen and a recognition that Scottish football is crying out for a new dawn and we have now got agreement to take to clubs for a single league body.
“That is a huge step for the game in Scotland and it shouldn’t be underestimated.
“The clubs will decide what can be delivered by the start of the coming season, but that’s not something we are going to get hung up on.
“We will deliver the change, as a collective, when we believe it’s the right time for the game.”
Two months after receiving unanimous backing for a 16-10-16 plan, SFL chief executive David Longmuir now hopes to convince more than 22 of his 30 member clubs to back the SPL proposal.
“The governance of the game and distribution of wealth will now affect all 42 clubs, and I think that in itself is a major breakthrough,” he said.
“Every club should be able to embrace this because they are all going to benefit from it.
“Hopefully we can get the fans and let them engage with the process as well because what we are doing in the foundations of the game – distribution, governance, play-offs, more meaningful games, a pyramid – those are the key things.”
“We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland,” said Regan.
I assume as PL is on the SFA pro game board he was in attendance
Sky will get their wish for 4 Celtic-Sevco derby games a season ASAP
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F.Y.I.
Ah hiv jist Re-Named..oor Rivals..
Brought things up tae Date,as it wur..
They shall from noo oan..
Referred to, by Me..
As..
The Humpty Dumptys.
Fur,that Appellation fits them..like a Shoe fae.. The Cable.
Right?
Course..it’s Fits.. Think aboot the Poem.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
What exactly does the league reconstruction bring to SPL clubs…..
League of 12……same as now….
Split involves less clubs……is that a good thing….Hearts , Hibs and Aberdeen would all have been in the bottom 4 in recent seasons. We would lose games against the biggest clubs in the League if this trend continues
Less money……SPL 2 will take a bigger slice of the limited TV deal
It’s not obvious at all where the benefits lay for SPL clubs, the benefit to Celtic seems completely non existent…..
Unless……
This is a realignment to make it easier to merge the SPL with the Championship in England, further down the line
Nothing else makes any sense to me
The above should, of course, say
…. win their ‘League of 10’.
Slightly easier but still considerably less challenging (inconvenient) than the proposed new set up.
anyone who doubts our club are involved in all of this is being slightly naive peter and co know exactly whats being planned and have done from the start, they new of the plan to put them in division 1 and were thwarted on this now they have decided to go for the reconstruction route,why do i say this you ask?
well you only have to look at this whole farce from old co to sevco and how they have completely avoided getting the rules applied to them barring deduction of points for admin of which they could not avoid, our club and others did not insist on this point but kept quiet, did not want to get drawn in what?
incase some have not noticed we have been severely affected by this cheating and corruption even now as have others to a lesser extent,no celtic you should have been calling for a complete disbandment of the present bodies and a new and transparent body formed and then reconstruction of the game but reconstruction under the same people is an even bigger farce in my opinion.
Barcabhoy
Looks like less cash for Celtic and a quick route back for Sevco.
Totally underwhelmed by it.
ASonOfDan – 17:02 on 8 January, 2013
I’m only looking now and again, but that’s the first time I’ve seen chunks that big being offloaded.
Some lazy journalism from the Daily Mail, no mention of HOW it will be made easier, they just naturally assume it will….
“Lifeline for Rangers? Scotland to reduce leagues making it easier for Gers to rise back to the top
Scottish football could be reduced to three professional divisions, which could speed up Rangers’ climb back to the top flight.
The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League have agreed in principle to a plan to merge and restructure the leagues.
This would lead to 12 teams playing in the Premier League, 12 teams in the second-tier Championship and 18 teams in the National League.
Clubs have still to vote on the proposals but a major breakthrough was made during a meeting of the SPL, SFL and the Scottish FA.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said: ‘We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board.
‘We had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland.
‘I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football.
‘That will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.”
Ernie
It’s all rather complex isn’t it.
Labour in Scotland lost support in the early 80s to the Liberals/SDLP, but came out the other end with a hegemony in Scottish politics.
At the same time, the Tories started to haemorrage votes, going from 22 seats in 79, to none at all in 97.
The SNP during this period were largely static, and only since the advent of Holyrood have they been competitive at the polls.
—— Lab–Con–Lib–SNP
1979 -44—22—-3—-2
1983- 41—21—-8—-2
1987 -50—10—-9—-3
1992 -49—11—-9—-3
1997 -56—-0—-10—6
Looks to me from those returns that Labour benefited in both 1987 and 1997 from Tory repatriation, although in 92 the SNP picked up a fair number of Liberal votes following the emergence of the LibDems from the old Alliance.
Seems to me that at Westminster elections, the votes swing mostly between SNP and LD on one hand, while the Tory to Labour swing is now a part of life.
20 years ago mind, memory fails.
weeminger
17:14 on 8 January, 2013
‘ASonOfDan – 17:02 on 8 January, 2013
I’m only looking now and again, but that’s the first time I’ve seen chunks that big being offloaded.’
Is there something afoot which might case the sevco stock to rise?
One down-side of the new proposal is the fixture uncertainty ( currently last 5 games of season ) which will take place when the Spl-it occurs ie last 14 games of season.
How do you plan around that?
I organise my life ( too much) around the fixtures to minimise missed home games. The post split fixtures would mean that 7 home games will now fall into the uncertainty of “TBA”
The Onlooker
Sir Kojo….
Power Outtages….
Says It All….
The Land Of The Free….
Is Fast Turning Into The Banana Republic
With Sol Alinsky,George Soros And Bill Ayres…
And The Weather Underground…
Acting As Puppetmaster….
By The Way…
Lucky You..!
Loathesome Al Gore Of The Global Warming Scam…
Has Sold His Cable TV Network,’Current’
To The Wahabis Of Qatar….
Who Own Al-Jazeera…..
So You’ll Soon Have Their Propaganda…
Invading Your Living Room….
(Unless You Subscribe To Time:Warner )
Go Get Them….Collie..