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.
779 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- ...
- 21
- »
whitecrook tim says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:12
Was in the Waterhouse and Doghouse in Balloch on Tuesday night.(alledgly)
TopCorner
Saw more than one report saying after we beat Motherwell, we drew level on points.
Plus ça change
googybhoy, the Doghouse Bar in Balloch was well frequented by tims back in the 80s and 90s. Attended some great nights in there celebrating very infrequent victories over the huns and the odd Scottish Cup success!
Don’t know what it’s like now.
bournesouprecipe says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:15
TopCorner
Saw more than one report saying after we beat Motherwell, we drew level on points.
Plus ça change
========================================================
I too heard that we had went 2nd on goal difference ,can’t remember what media outlet though
The Poppy Tattoo- coming to a stupid overpaid footballer on SS News very soon.
Mr X says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:18
It used to be run by Evan Williams for a wee while. It is still very much a TIM bar. Certainly where I go when I get back home.
FSTB
Typical of the way Celtic are reported.
LiviBhoy @ 16.41pm
Ibrox-how much is it worth,who would buy it.
It only works as a sports stadium.So who would be interested/ No one. The land is almost worthless from a redevelopment viewpoint.No Tescos/M&S would be allowed to acquire it given the competing pressures around.
Glasgow is one of the biggest cities in the world NOT to have an Irish Famine Memorial and yet was a major beneficiery from that country specifically in the 19th century.
I think Glasgow authorities ought to take it over for a few pounds,demolish the place and build that long overdue memorial.
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. C’mon the hoops. says:
10 November, 2011 at 16:53
‘I was interested in this wee bit from the Neil Doncaster post someone posted earlier By Imatim.
“Top flight stadiums in Scotland have been all-seated since 1994. To enforce a change in the rules, eight of the SPL’s 12 member clubs would have to vote in favour of any plans.”
Do STV have their voting figures correct?
8 from 12 would make it one-helluva-lot easier to re-instate any Phoenix Hun club from the ashes of embarrassment.’
########################
The SPL is a limited company.
The rules setting out how a limited company is to be run are called the Articles of Association.
The SPL’s Articles of Association can be found here
http://www.scotprem.com/content/mediaassets/doc/SPL%20Articles%20as%20at%2015-Apr-10%20(CURRENT).pdf
In brief, Article 2 says that the business of the SPL falls into one of two categories:
(a) stuff that can be dealt with by the Board and
(b) stuff that has to be dealt with by a meeting of all the member clubs. This stuff is referred to as ‘Reserved Matters’.
These Reserved Matters are dealt with by being put to a vote, or resolution, of the member clubs.
Different majorities are required depending on what type of Reserved Matter is being dealt with.
Reserved Matters that require a Qualified Resolution need 90%.
Reserved Matters that require a Special Qualified Resolution need 83%.
Reserved Matters that require an Ordinary Resolution need 66%.
The different cattegories and the matters they refer to are set out in pages 5 and 6 of the Aricles.
The issue of standing presumably falls within item (k) ‘any amendment to the criteria for admission to or membership of the League or the introduction of any additional criteria for admission to or membership of the League’ as it deals with the stipulation about all seater stadia. This requires an Ordinary Resolution therefore a 66% vote.
The issue about a newco huns is dealt with in Article 14 (ii). The important bit is this
‘on receiving notice in writing from the Board following the Company in General Meeting passing a Qualified Resolution that such notice should be issued by the Board’
A Qualified Resolution requires a 90% vote. So there must be a 90% vote of the clubs before there can be any transfer by an Administrator or Liquidator to a newco huns.
!!Bada Bing!! says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:24
The Poppy Tattoo- coming to a stupid overpaid footballer on SS News very soon.
That is what the working class cannon fodder fought for. The freedom of expression for those with money. The rest of us are not allowed freedom of political expression in a football stadium.
Bada Bing
Got a txt today telling me Peter S is in hospital in a bad way after a fall.
Well. the press tried to label Rennes and Motherwell the most important games in our season. Now that we have successfully broken their hearts and come through those tough ties with two nice wee wins just wait on them telling us that it wasn’t Motherwell but Inverness that was really our most important game.
I know; what a cynic!
whitecrook tim says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:12
‘christine Grahame does not like catholics (alledgedly)
and the odd glas of wine (alledgedly)’
And the boaby (allegedly).
googybhoy
was in the station bar at alexandria station last friday.when Setanta were showing games you got a pie at half time.was in there when we beat Dundee utd on Tommy Burns thursday
Ernie
I just read through that on SPL site.
You summarised it well.
MWD
James F was out for a bit, thanks for the info.
Vinny
HH
Deko- Tony S text me this afternoon, thanks.
ernie lynch says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:31
who’s boaby?
whitecrook timsays:
Never drank much in the Station Bar. More the Tullie or the Glenroy as they were on my way home when u used to come off train.
Anyone involved in the launch of this Glasgow Celtic radio station that is being touted on Facebook?
LB
this poppy dung gets right on my tits
hodd oan an al get wan tattooed on my heid
piss off
really
Evening bhoys
Was in Sarajevo at weekend, brilliant time had and went to see Zeljeznicar v Sarajevo on Sat night. Standard of game was really poor but as it was a derby and pitch v poor didnt really read too much into it. The atmosphere however was something else. Think around 7 or 8 thousand there and away fans were meant to be banned but as it pay at gate about 1000 turned up. Zeljo won 1 0 (thankfully as my mate we were visiting is the managers brother). When the goal went in it was total bedlam, bangers and flares galore, couldnt see match for 5 minutes til smoke cleared. His bro runs a bar out there too and sorted celtic game on sunday which rounded off a good weekend.
Sarajevo is a good place, small with loads good places to eat and drink and no need to tell you about the history there.
If anyone interested some good vids if google zeljeznicar v sarajevo nov 5
Hail Hail
glasweigian 100%
Irish 100%
i feel dirti posting this
hun more laptop pish piffle
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/default.stm
LiviBhoy says:
10 November, 2011 at 18:38
I’ve got a mate that is involved, he’s approached me about helping with a couple of shows.
Before he says anything, MWD is the one with a face for radio ;-)
I’m just going out but email me at cqngolfclub@gmail.com if you need questions answered.
hh
bjmac
ontheball.csc
Embdy’s boaby !
Terry O’Neill on radio clyde.
Listen.
Just thought of something,they can’t shut doon ipox.
Where are we gonnae play the rugby sevens when Commonwealth
games begin?
Bjmac
I think it’s a great idea and wish them every success.
Celtic fans thinking outside the box as usual.
LB
Livibhoy
I know of a work colleague and 1 CQN’er who are involved.
I’ll leave the CQNer to update you Bhoys in his own time.
MWD
Terry – FINALLY someone putting the point accross perfectly! well done bhoy.
Motherwell can do what they like – but we expect the referee to govern the match! Hugh Keevins is wrong as ususal in this case, he feels the referees have nothing to do with the outcome of the match – champion idiot of an idiot filled villiage.
Why was Charlie richmond asked to ref that game?? Celtic should find out why – before the sfa refs start to dictate again – we must finish what we started.
Cheers again Terry!
Ooppsss looks like DJ BJmac has just outed himself. :o)
MWD
Terry O –
As always, points very well put and they almost agreed with you by the end (on your 2nd point, if not your 1st)!
Jobo
bankiebhoy1 says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:43
Thoughts and prayers with you, Jackie’s family and his friends.
May God Bless his Soul…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
garcia lorca
Maybe we could wear our Green & White 4 leafed clover poppies every year ;)
JD
Much has been said about the plight of unsecured creditors when the FOD enter administration. It has also been said that the White Knight himself as the only secured creditor would get all his cash back which would appear to be around 20 million. Does anyone have any idea where this money would come from given the only assets they have areIbrox, Murray Park and their playing staff.
bankiebhoy1 says:
10 November, 2011 at 17:43
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.
share
Had the privilege to meet Jackie a few times , he’s a mate of my brothers down south , sorry to hear that .
Very interesting series continues tonight.
Subject: THIS WEEK – Britain’s Biggest Heists – The Northern Bank Robbery – Thursday 10th November @ 8pm on the Crime & Investigation Network