I know people are sensitive about their place in the football food chain, you and I certainly are, but when two clubs are promoted to the Scottish Premiership, only to find their managers leave before May is out, we should contemplate why?
Jack Ross finished top of the pile with St Mirren and left for a dysfunctional, but comparatively wealthy, Sunderland. We played St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on our way to the Invincibles Treble and Brendan Rodgers suggested they were the best Scottish team we faced that season. Ross might become a top manager, or he might be a cheap throw of the dice by Shredder Martin Bain the new chief exec, who is now working his magic as Sunderland chief exec.
Livingston lost David Hopkin this morning amid rumours he is set to take over at another English League One team, Shrewsbury Town. On paper, Hopkin ticks boxes, albeit based on two seasons of successive promotions.
I cannot blame either manager as both will be offered deals that St Mirren and Livingston, but there is disappointment that the Premiership will be left with two significantly weakened promoted clubs. As well as Hamilton Accies.
I hope St Mirren prosper as they have solid fundamentals and if they punch their weight will comfortably survive, but the league does not benefit from having teams smaller than St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Motherwell.
Two divisions of 10 teams sharing the bulk of SPFL commercial income, while recognising the already-semi-professional rest of the clubs as community enterprises, with play-off-only access to the second tier, would allow clubs like Falkirk and Dunfermline to share a bit more of the cake and take a longer term development view, instead of binning their youth strategies, as Falkirk just have. Middle order clubs like these two would benefit enormously from budget predictability. Community enterprises can be a great focus for an area, but not if a director is trying to play Fifa (reference for the youth demographic).
Another day, another Dave King statement. ‘But, but, but……’, I paraphrase. How to burn bridges and lose influence in one easy lesson. He is trying very hard to put pressure on the Scottish football authorities. It will be interesting to see if they are inhibited when it comes to dealing with Oldco’s 2011 Uefa registration.
258 Comments- Pages:
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Gutenberg
Was going to leave a message for you
Yes we cancelled our trip today. Mother in law still in intensive care but her condition has improved slightly. Last Monday it seemed it was the end (family called to bedside etc) but now they think she might pull through. Its very much in the lap of the gods.
Enjoy Lisbon and hopefully we will catch up again.
D17
A wee Tim who sang in Altered Images and starred in Gregory’s Girl imo.
Crackin wee Glesca lassie.
HH
JIMMYNOTPAUL on 31ST MAY 2018 8:10 PM
From Canal +tv.
Deschamps after being asked about the u21s.
” A lot of positives for sure, another goal for Dembele? It’s not a surprise, he is one of the best young talents in Europe and he just missed out on the squad, he has the potential to be an iconic figure in French football”
______________________________________________
Aye but he’s no Alfredo Morelos!
©SMSM
Maggie Reilly
Clare Grogan
Annie Lennox
Big Judith
Eddie Reader
First 5 names on the Cqn ladies team sheet
Gutenberg
Loved our Holy Trinity chat at lunch today. You, B and I.
Tiochfaidh ar la.
David 17
Clare Grogan
At one stage 90% of CQNrs under the age of 60 claimed to have “Almost Snogged ” her
Except DD who admits he never snogged her (but his mate did)
Fireworks – First Aid Kit
https://youtu.be/wp3op-DYFG4
WHATISTHESTARS 907
Never got near the famous ones. Too busy pulling the drop dead stunning ones.
True- Spandau Ballet.
Gary Kemp has said he wrote the song with Claire Grogan in my mind.
He had a crush on her which was not reciprocated.
True by Spandau Ballet is about Gary Kemp’s unsuccessful pursuit of Clare Grogan.
FactCsc
DD. 10/21ers that went on for hours.
Those were the days, fond memory’s Garry of a great upbringing.
You probably don’t know, that the reason my Dumbarton reserve stint ended was, after a game at Parkhead against the Bhoys I had an argument with Mr Davie Wilson then Dumbarton Manager, who said to me at half time to kick feck out of those Fenian bar stewards. I was gobsmacked as the Dumbarton reserve team was packed with Tims, a couple of the Coyle brothers etc.
Anyway I said to him after game he was out of order and he thought he was a wee hard man came over to me and stood in front of me with the hairdryer treatment, I stood up and was obviously quite bigger than him, and was talking back to him, which was my downfall.
D. :)
Snap
Hh
JNP
Dave King statement regarding Didier Deschamps being a pro Celtic world influencer, is coming soon.
WITS
Speaking of Eddie Reader, I’m off to see her brother Frank and her husband John, also known as the Trashcan Sinatras, next week.
For some reason, of late I have been listening to a lot of Eddie and Tracey Thorn (Everything But the Girl) …
Eddie’s cover of the Kirstie MaColl song Dear John, about the dissolution of KMcC’s marriage, is one of my current favourites…. and one of the saddest songs you will hear ….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms5RQefyJLs
Likewise DD
The first of many celebratory discussions.
JAMES1955
FAK is coming to the Barrowland on 28 October.
I have been a fan for a few years and I am looking forward to seeing them for the first time.
Dobra vecer from beautiful Croatia.
HRVATSKI JIM on 31ST MAY 2018 9:43 PM
JAMES1955
FAK is coming to the Barrowland on 28 October.
*******************************************
…..and i shall see you there and not forgetting the
16th June beforehand ?.
David66
You always were a big red head unrepentent fenian bassa and always will be. You would have destroyed that wee hun fud Wilson in a squarey.
YNWA
As if some englishman, let alone a poxy one like a member of spandau ballet, would have a chance with a goddess like Ms. Grogan … ha!
Roy.
Always good when what we post is corroborated.
Gary Kemp came up in my estamations when he spoke about Thomas Kidso Reilly and how his death affected him. Of course leading to him writing Through the barricades.
You could see, even after all this time, how much the murder of Kidso had affected him.
Hail Hail
Ah, I realise the moniker now. Yes..will see you then.
My contribution to the music tonight. This is really beautiful.
Eddi Reader, Lulu, Edwin Collins and Jack Bruce
I Rise from the Dreams of Time
https://youtu.be/w2W8mzJ8uvs
JNP
did not know that … now I feel bad about mocking him for chasing ‘my girl’
DELANEYS DUNKY on 31ST MAY 2018 9:42 PM
JNP
Dave King statement regarding Didier Deschamps being a pro Celtic world influencer, is coming soon.
I like it G.
Yes, no doubt, it will come out that Deschamps has shares in some of the same companies as the other D.D.
Hail Hail
DD very nearly did, that was the begining of the end for me there, I was only 16 anaw the wee bully hun feck.
???
D. :)
JNP
Hi pal always had a soft spot for him because of that but MIT is correct re Clare she’s just waiting on him.
HH
MIT.
Just for you, from Wiki.
A major influence on this song was the killing of Thomas Reilly, who on August 9, 1983 was fatally shot in the back by a soldier in Belfast. Reilly was a friend of the band and sold merchandise on their True tour. After the tour, he returned to his native Belfast and got caught in the violence in the area. When Reilly, a Roman Catholic, was shot by the British soldier, it inflamed tensions and led to more riots in the area.
Speaking on the BBC program The One Show, Spandau Ballet guitarist/songwriter Gary Kemp explained: “I’d been to Ireland a few times – it was quite shocking for privileged boys as we were. When we went back in 1985, his brother Jim Reilly offered to take me to Falls Road to visit the grave of Thomas. As I took that walk, I could see the barricades set up dividing the two main streets, the Protestant side and the Catholic side. It didn’t occur to me to write a song at that point, but it was a huge influence.
Gutenberg
Stevie Gee picking up the poisoned chalice tomorrow, will be cause for laughter and celebration for us Tims for years to come.
He should bail out tonight.
I know he lacks intelligence. I didnae realise how low his IQ is to take this gig on.
They would have been better wi Demba Ba. ??
Gordon Lightfoot – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
https://youtu.be/rFkyDB2InTs
MIKEINTORONTO
Thoughts? Looks like someone in your profession took their eye off the ball.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/31/justin-trudeau-kinder-morgan-pipeline-china-did-he-fear-being-sued
Surprising,since the likes of myself,St Stivs,and a few others were warning about similar around the same time.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transatlantic_Trade_and_Investment_Partnership
Lucky escape,but I’m sure we will get dragged back into it by vested interests.
It was Steven Gerrard’s birthday yesterday.
From now on he ages 5 years every 365 days.
JNP
Love SLF. Kidso bro Jim Reilly’s band. I loved that Belfast’s Stiff Little Fingers were two Catholics, two Protestants, singing about peace during the Troubles in the 70s and 80s.
We don’t need no more trouble.
All we need is love.
No more war!
Robert Nesta Marley CSC7
I heard a wee rumour that Stevie Gerard has not actually signed for Sevco yet????
Anyway if he has or has not he will be gone by Christmas IMO to leave the reigns for MCCallister, he will be there 9th or 10th manager in 6 years???
Fat Sally
McDowell
McCall
The Breadman
Murtinhio
Pedro the Caravan
Murtinhio
Jimmy the Bigot Nicholl
Stevie Geeeeeee will bail
McCalister
Incredible but sooooo funny
Let the good times roll ??????????
D. :)
BMCUWP
Not sure my profession messed up …. balame the politicians (splitting hairs, I hear you say)…
FIPA’s are actually quite common in international trade … but, as this case shows, remarkably undemocratic ….
I remember this coming to light a few years ago, and have always meant to figure out how Cabinet could pass these, but never got round to it ….
one of these days …. if I ever figure it out, I’ll send you an email.
Pure Prairie League – Memories.
https://youtu.be/6-Mq9c7U5tA
WITS, just catching up with the blog. Hope your MIL continues to improve.
WWW, best wishes for a speedy recovery.
HH
HJ
I didnae know Stevie Gee was a Geeminaye like me. My birthday in a few days.
This is gonnae be a fun car crash.
I feel sorry for stupit Stevie Gee in advance.
YNWA
Statement from Stevie but no written by Stevie….FFS, whit are they like, fuds one and all.
TOMORROW, June 1, is the day I have been waiting for and I am absolutely desperate to get started officially in my role as the manager of Rangers Football Club. Just saying that excites and motivates me so much.
Although the players won’t report back from their breaks until later this month I am looking forward to meeting them and also welcoming some new faces to this fantastic club.
Along with Mark (Allen) and my backroom team we have already been working on our plans and strategy for the new season. We know what we want to achieve and we also know what will be required to meet the challenges ahead, but we will be ready.
Indeed, over the next week or so, I will be engaged in work and activities outwith Auchenhowie which I hope will be to the benefit of the club. We will also be putting the final pieces in place for our pre-season training camp in Spain.
Having already taken the opportunity to assess our Auchenhowie base and also facilities at Ibrox, we are focusing now on being ready for our first real challenge, a Europa League qualifying tie in early July.
We need to give the players every chance to perform at their best as often as possible because that is what fans demand, and rightly so. I must say that I have already had such a warm welcome from supporters across the world and this has served to confirm my belief that it’s the fans who make this football club great.
Everything we do will be for them. It’s time now…lets go.
Steven Gerrard
31 May, 2018
MIKEINTORONTO
Certainly looks like a shocking contract. Your thoughts would best be kept to yourself,I reckon.
Not a secure site,this,as you know.