The potential scenario of a Scottish Premier League club going out of business, becoming an ex-club, has played out in several places since we discussed it last month. As a result, we have all had an opportunity to establish our views on the matter, what would and would not be an acceptable reaction by the league and SFA.
The first ‘insolvency event’ of a failing club is likely to be the appointment of an administrator to protect the company from immediate creditors. This would draw a 10 point penalty. The choice of the administrator for a football club could be a controversial subject, especially if some creditors stand to lose a considerable amount of money through any rushed deal. For example, although Rangers have a considerable potential liability to HMRC hanging over them, their creditors might feel that a period of administration stretching several years into the future would enable all debts to be paid in full, a position not all administrators would necessarily agree with.
It’s normal for directors to appoint an administrator prior to a creditor getting to court but if creditors don’t feel the appointment is likely to serve their best interests they can apply to appoint their own. These battles can get acrimonious.
In the days after an administrator is appointed the club may not be in a position to fulfil its fixtures. When Gretna’s administrator informed the Scottish Football League they could not guarantee they would be able to fulfil the following season’s fixtures the league relegated them two divisions, to the bottom rung of the league structure. This proved to be a temporary position before the administrator admitted defeat and folded the company. Precedent suggests we should look out for a double relegation if a club in administration has to tell the league they cannot fulfil fixtures.
There is no point waiting until a well-organised administrator presents a fait accompli to the league before we look for precedents and debate an appropriate response. For the integrity of the Scottish game, football fans need to be ready for this debate. Where possibly, colours should be pinned to the mast.
One outcome of the online debate in the last couple of days (thanks to untiring work of our friend Phil) is that Celtic were forced to consider this question. I sought and received assurances that they will not vote to admonish owners of an ex-football club with a paltry point penalty, allowing them to reform as though nothing happened the following season.
The question is still-hypothetical, so clubs are not in a position to comment officially yet, but we are in a healthier position for the debate and should encourage high profile supporters of other clubs to engage the debate as some from our own club have recently.
Fans Against Criminalisation are holding a pubic meeting on Saturday, 12 November, at Whitehill Secondary School, 280 Onslow Drive, Denniston, with Michael McMahon, MSP, among others, speaking. Try to make it along to support this important initiative before you are criminalised by a combination of stealth and apathy.
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AWE NAW @ 15 44 —-
That rang a bell . Is it Malcolm X or the Black Panther who moved to Tangiers ?[ name currently escapes me ]
Paddy G. Fiona texted me. I Rushed down and you’d gone. Here now. Hail hail Estadio
nothing without fans
I’ll need to go away and have a read.
MWD
South of Tunis
I think that might have been Bobby Seale.
Google to end gmail app for Blackberrys
It’s been like reading the Financial Times here this afternoon. Had to skive off and get on with work :)
Hear there’s an interesting story about to break in Scottish politics..sometime…..maybe…
Regarding a report of an assault by a football player in yesterday’s rag, an eye-witness assures me nearly every line printed in it was a lie…except the hospitalised bit. Quelle surprise. One wonders where they got their “angle” from if the suspect is posted missing abroad.
Celtic Mac——-
Thanks !
Greenjedi,
surely a few of those flags would have to be returned :o)
Glasgow City FC in last 16 of UEFA Women’s CL tonight, on BBC Alba 6pm for anyone interested. Against Turbine Potsdam, which may as well be the Woman’s Staff Team drawn from the Hadron Collider engineers for all i know.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:17
Greenjedi,
surely a few of those flags would have to be returned :o)
…………..
The clubs actually have to buy them themselves, only the trophy is supplied by the league, so not in this case :-(
Christine Graham does not like Catholics.
sad news
!!Bada Bing!! says:
10 November, 2011 at 16:12
What you mean there aint no sanity clause?…
Fortunes Favour Mibbes –
I take you do know the first leg score from Germany?
Jobo
TheGreenManalishi(WithTheTwoProngedCrown) says:
10 November, 2011 at 16:37
Despite being a high-flying globe-trotting executive myself, I’ll be wearing adidas sambas – the very height of chic.
See you there.
I have been thinking about the HMRC position. It seems to me that it they are unlikely to accept any a ‘p in the £’ offer unless you are Vodafone (they owed £6bn and got away with £400m). But they were very well connected with the head of HMRC, something I doubt CW is.
So IMO the most likely option is liquidation, because HMRC will want to make an example before the large English clubs start going the same way. And as I think we all agree a phoenix style slap on the wrist just will not wash.
tomtheleedstim says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:23
I won’t be wearing a poppy.
HH
Highland Tim says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:24
I think that’s what were all hoping santa brings this year.
Highland Tim –
I believe that story to be an urban myth.
Jobo
Jobo Baldie @ 17:23
No idea. I only found out today they were in the last 16. I’ve only really taken an interest since watching the Swedish & USA’s womens’ teams during the summer. The excitement it brought me was confusing.
Jobo Balde / Highland Tim
Vodaphone /HMRC.
I was led to believe that Vodaphone paid HMRC £ 1.25 BILLION
Fortunes Favour Mibbes –
well, if they’re to go through they’ll need to score 10 without reply and then win the penalty shoot out!
Jobo
London Tims lost a special person today….and a huge hole has been left in a very beautiful family.
Jackie Morrison – a great Scot and a massive Tim lost his battle with cancer today.
I never indulge in comments of this nature on a blog but for Jackie, I make an exception.
Miss ye big man. A privilege to have known you.
HH.
South Of Tunis says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:38
You are indeed correct £1.2bn was the amount paid. I note Vodafone had already provided for this liability in their financial statements unlike some !!!!
Livibhoy @16.41.
Sorry do not know the value of their stadium, but if I were to win the Euromillions jackpot some week, I would buy the whole lot , close down the club knock down the stadium and in its place build the biggest Bascillica, based of course on St.Peter’s in Rome that I could afford.
I can but dream,
Martin42
TheGreenManalishi(WithTheTwoProngedCrown)says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:26
tomtheleedstim says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:23
I won’t be wearing a poppy.
Xxxxxcccccxxxxxxxxxxxxcxxx
Not going over old ground but it was despicable to see England players checking out the newly delivered football boots with poppies on them.
Joe Hart waiting for Umbro to send him his new goalie gloves with a poppy on them.
In one week the poppy has become a symbol of consumerism, celebrity and political narcisism.
Jobo Baldie @ 17:40
Oh. Should be interesting then. I’m actually just watching it to see what the quality of the refereeing’s like :)
Wee Dawwell said the other day (i know) ,Vodafone owed about £8 bil but paid just over £1 bil. Telephone numbers, hat, coat. …..
bankiebhoy1
Condolences to all. It’s a vicious illness taking too many good folk.
Why has there been very little shouting from the leaders of the ragers support ,if as is stated they are looking at admin ,why are the association /trust not stepping up and asking serious questions .
Have they been taking aside and told the plan of action and told to keep it quiet .
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
DD and Pl have been saving their pennies for this, or am i paranoid???
Bankiebhoy
Condolences to all involved, I’ll keep them in my prayers.
Martin42,
What would you call the Basilica? St Walfrid’s? Beautiful thought, especially as I was born a stone’s throw from the place.
fergus slayed the bluessays:
10 November, 2011 at 18:04
I think you credit them with too much intelligence.
bankiebhoy1
My condolences, horrible disease
in August 2010, we played at Motherwell and a Daryl Murphy pen helped us cuff them 1-0, setting them back to 7th place
other day, at the same venue, we gubbed them 2-1, leaving them in 3rd
according to BBC, attendances were as follows…
2010 – 9,207
2011 – 10,440
good evening cqn
googybhoy
christine Grahame does not like catholics (alledgedly)
and the odd glas of wine (alledgedly)
bankiebhoy1
Friend of yours, is good enough for me.
RIP Jackie Morrison