Resolutions to be voted on at the 30 April meeting are proposals from the Scottish Premier League executive (Neil Doncaster). They have nothing to do with the Gang of 10 nor are they a Duff and Phelps/Rangers conspiracy. The resolutions are not set in tablets of stone and have no authority in their own right. The League has form in voting down executive resolutions, in particular overthrowing plans for a 10 team league last year, so, in theory, the votes could go for or against.
Neil Doncaster, being as thorough as he is, has almost certainly shared his plan with the man along the corridor at Hamden, SFA chief exec, Stewart Regan. He is also likely to have taken guidance from the Uefa executive, specifically CEO David Taylor, formerly of this parish. It would be unnecessarily lax to leave legislative loose ends before embarking on such a radical plan, so forget about any intervention by the SFA (cough) or Uefa.
Putting preconceived notions aside (if I can), the resolutions are flawed.
Asking for 8 clubs to vote for a Newco to be allowed into the league, but requiring 11 to vote for a financial penalty to be imposed for an Insolvency Transfer, is beyond ridiculous. The former provision – the gift of continuity to a defaulter – is easy to achieve. The latter – the punishment for defaulting – is unnecessarily difficult. Duff and Phelps will need the support of only one club – let’s say Dunfermline, who are brogue-to-brogue with them anyway and due to relegation will not be affected by the financial penalty, will vote with them. Why would Doncaster put such a high bar on setting financial penalties?
Arbitrary voting thresholds smack of gerrymandering. Can anyone explain this in any other way?
There will now be a period of debate between clubs; Celtic will oppose any provision for a Newco to enter the league. Duff and Phelps will be in the opposite corner. You can expect to hear wailing and gnashing from Rangers (IA) along the same ridiculous lines they have used ahead of the SFA hearings into the behaviour of the club in advance of, and after, Craig Whyte’s purchase of the club. On that occasion, Duff and Phelps argued that the actions of Rangers’ new owner, or the failure of the old board to conduct their business correctly, should not lead to a penalty on the club.
It doesn’t matter how lax or severe the proposed penalties, Duff and Phelps will oppose them. Anything lessening of the penalty is worth money to the proposed new buyers of Rangers, so let’s view everything Duff and Phelps say in pound notes.
Rangers have unpaid bills potentially running up to £134mm that’s medicine, operations, road repairs and Help for Heroes. Allowing them to ditch their history and start afresh, where owners profit by securing a floating charge over the stadium, where fans can continue to be provided with a team in the league, creates an unprecedented moral hazard. It rewards irresponsibility and would create a queue of clubs ready to do the same.
And on the point of ditching their history… I openly mock anyone who uses phrases like Hybrid Liquidation. You don’t get Hybrid Liquidation, Partial Liquidation or Liquidation Lite. You cannot buy or sell history, as Duff and Phelps tried (and failed, I think) to convince Rangers fans. Liquidation would mean Rangers Football Club, established in 1873 (or 1872 as they now claim), incorporated in 1899, is finished.
Just pay your bills and do us all a favour.
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A Green Pound Fatwa – part 1!
The following is an extract from a post I made in September 2010 (during the referee debacle). I was one of the instigators/ organisers of the 1994 Boycotts. Now a retired Rebel (as some on CQN will vouch) – I like to keep a low profile these days. I fully intend to follow Celtic and back the Board this time. The Club and Support hold the financial key to the future of Scottish football – a recent report suggested that we were part of its 85% income – make no mistake, from next season we alone will be responsible for 50-60% of this total. I intend to post Part 2 later this evening.
Boycott: The process of getting from A to B (Arranging to Boycotting) often proves to be the most difficult part of the action. The Celtic Support (for their own reasons) will have different agendas – when and if an away boycott actually comes about;
• Those that believe it’s mandatory to back the Team whatever the circumstances.
• The unthinkable – no support away .v. them.
• Those financially signed-up to the ‘away’ ticket scheme.
• Those already committed to pre-booked travel arrangements (buses, flights, overseas fans with infrequent opportunity to see the Team, etc).
• Those who do not attend way games.
• No doubt – a few more that I have failed to list.
The mere threat of a boycott; the media coverage, the potential for financial loss to the targeted away Club etc can often have greater effect than the actual boycott.
Circa 1994: the 1st successful home boycott of away end: Celtic .v. Hibs.
It came about after 2-4 months of debate and argument with various parties; Rebel Shareholders, the Bhoys travelling from Ireland, the Affiliation and the CSA.
That success meant the Supporters were now in possession of powerful tool that could be used again and again – perhaps to greater effect.
The 2nd successful home boycott: Celtic .v. Kilmarnock.
The Beginning of the End Boycott is well documented – the night of the fox (which MK included in the attendance figures) – many, many ghuys again put tremendous effort, time and organisation in to making it work. Even so many thousands didn’t back the boycott – their choice!
My use of previous successful example(s) is merely to point out the futility in this particular scenario:
(a) if not properly organised
(b) if not utilised when in a position of strength
(c) If it fails to achieve its objective – and that includes alienation to our detriment. Judging by the blogs from the supporters of other clubs in the SPL – we are not alone in our condemnation of a newco rescue!
Boycotts do work – but organising a successful one is much harder work than just staying away on the day in question.
H! H!
@PackieBonnerCSC: @paullarkin74 is it true Doncaster was at Football league at the time when Leeds “deal” was done? @STVGrant @MrMacFunn
gscbhoy (skint but NOT in administration) on 11 April, 2012 at 22:15 said:
What I said here
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 22:04 said:
Post by Ozhibby on Hibs.net
If rule 2a comes about then I’m afraid I won’t be supporting Hibs anymore. There would be no point especially after all these years of prudence we have had to endure while watching hearts spending money they have not got and finishing above us year after year. I’ll probably just encourage my two boys to support English teams and take them down to watch Spartans. Hope Rod knows what he is doing if he votes this through as I doubt I’m the only person who feels this way. An unfair league is just about bearable but I will not watch a rigged league.
————————————–
Sad that a lot of fans would feel the need to walk away from their team.
But hey, we need Rankers(IA) eh?
HH
AoW
ERNIE YOU ARE 100 PER CENT RIGHT.All of them on here for boycotts are talking a load of bull ,ist away game at ibrox they will pay top dollar for a tkt there. me im going to all the games .i like to watch my team that is celtic win, lose or draw, we are the champions this season, and wether rangers are there or not im still supporting celtic. i wish this stuff with rangers would come to an end one way or the other,getting fed up with it , lets tell our club to get the finger out and 3 or 4 quality players in next season so as we can get a decent run in the champions league. keep at this board to do that ,they will be quite happy to se all the talk about rangers going on with our fans ,dont let them away with it,
Has there ever been a case in football of a new club entering in the top division? Or any case of a club entering the top division by any means other than its league position in the previous season?
And there was me thinking Rangers were Scotland’s shame !
ernie
Ok let’s turn this on its head.
Imagine there was proposals put in place to permit newco immediate entry into the SPL:-
1. How would the other clubs in the SPL react?
2. How would their banks react?
3. How would Sky/ESPN/BBC and any other media outlets who plough money into the SPL react?
4. How would the SPL sponsors react?
5. How would UEFA react?
Sorry to bleat on about this but the passing of these proposals does mean Dunfermline or Hibs voting themselves to be relegated, now whilst the respective chairmen might be on song with newco,I can’t imagine their fans being excited about the prospect of relegation.
calabam on 11 April, 2012 at 22:00 said:
lionroars67 on 11 April, 2012 at 21:54 said:
I apologise to you? nutcase
Couple of points
I think we should threaten to not participate in any TV deal not a big loss for us but critical for the smaller clubs.
On a Newco deal in the case of RFCNewco I have the feeling that at least 2 newcos might be applying for the slot, Whyte will control assets until someone pays him his £30m, the Blue Nits will make a bid for the licence and possibly others who in the SPL will decide which Newco will be let in and will the RFC fans agree to support who the SPL should be deemed as RFCNewco.
I dont think this is as easy as the SPL think
Ronaldo scores a beauty, 2-1 Real,69 min.
Timbhoy2
timbhoy2 on 11 April, 2012 at 22:19 said:
ERNIE YOU ARE 100 PER CENT RIGHT.All of them on here for boycotts are talking a load of bull ,ist away game at ibrox they will pay top dollar for a tkt there. me im going to all the games .i like to watch my team that is celtic win, lose or draw, we are the champions this season, and wether rangers are there or not im still supporting celtic. i
Well said mate………….
Ernie – to be honest, I was hoping to illicit a more thorough response from you, as you’ve held this stance on the blog for quite some time.
So we go down to SFL 3….then what? Where’s your plan, where’s the vision?
You question Paul about the effects our “bluff” might have on the other clubs, Sky, etc. but you’ve surprised me as you clearly haven’t thought through the consequences for our club. That’s no way to play poker and certainly no way to gamble with the club that has been passed down to us over the years.
TTTT
night all, sleep tight
The biggest thing for me here is not what each of the resolutions state but the varied voting structures. As Paul points out, this can only work in Rangers IA favour. Also, bearing in mind their situation has caused these resolutions to be considered, I would have thought they would have a clear conflict of interest and would not be able to vote, so voting majority’s etc should be changed accordingly.
Do you think one of the succulent press guys will chase Doncaster on why the voting is so different or will they, in a ‘Terry O’Neill Mark Guidi’ style just wait and see if Doncaster volunteers that info rather than ask him.
Thoroughly sick of what is going on here but my love for Celtic and my annual season book purchase will not be affected – too many people want us to play the martyr here. It is not our fault, please continue to support our team and not make them suffer for the corrupt behaviour of others.
Paul67
Would it be so impossible for disaffected clubs within Scotland to form their own league?
Kayal33 on 11 April, 2012 at 22:09 said:
In what way do you suggest we should target the TV deal..?
Fholks,
Just sitting here watching the Real game and thinking……rankers / SFA / MSM etc have already totally destroyed Scottish Football …. There is no way back…..they have also rendered Scottish Football a laughing stock globally.
HELL MEND THEM …… WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE, AND LEAVE THEM TO THEIR MEDIOCRITY ….. THEY REALLY ARE PATHETIC
Are these people really this thick????
The Rangers Supporters Assembly today expressed dismay at the SPL proposals for rule changes for “Financial Fair Play”
President Andy Kerr said “I am appalled by the timing of this announcement. When the Club entered administration we fully expected to have the existing rules applied in a fair and proper manner. The proposed changes seek to move the goalposts at a critical time and seriously affect the plans of those seeking the buy the club.
Our fans are extremely angry and we all seriously question the motives and timing of the proposed changes.
We will be asking searching questions of the SPL and we will consider what other action may be appropriate before the SPL meet to consider the changes on 30 April”
hamiltontim on 11 April, 2012 at 22:21 said:
The sponsors, the broadcasters, the banks and UEFA would rather we were in the SPL than the huns (if it was a choice of one only), because in that scenario having the huns at our expense would make the whole product toxic, a source of international ridicule. They would not want to be associated with it.
Imagine how it would be reported and commented on outwith Scotland.
Scottish football would be a laughing stock. A pariah.
Paul67 – with respect, shouting “pay yer taxes” to Rangers is unlikely to have the desired effect.
The truth is they have been shouting “pay yer taxes you deluded idiots” to Celtic whilst they clock up the titles and now the game is conspiring to reward them.
Our club, on our behalf, needs to take a very strong lead on this in public and they must mean it.
Our moment of great victory and our rightful celebration is being stolen from us by those who run the game.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!..Truth and Justice will always prevail on 11 April, 2012 at 22:27 said:
The new deal for the next 5 years is yet to be signed. Celtic should contact Sky/ESPN privately and tell them that if these so called ‘financial fair play’ proposals we will withdraw our support for the new TV deal and if they go ahead with it and the others vote for it we will withdraw all co-operation with Sky/ESPN immediatelty. That will include the remainder of this season, no interviews etc at the trophy presentation or the cup final (should we get there), both of which will be covered by Sky.
IMO Sky would then remove the deal from the table. A £1-2m loss in revenue for us, which we can afford, financial meltdown for several others.
tommytwiststommyturns on 11 April, 2012 at 22:25 said:
You want a solution without consequences, without pain or sacrifice?
Old firm Celtic, that’s the solution.
Life just like now. Buy your season ticket. Turn up just like now. No problem.
Just don’t think about it too much. Pay your money, go home.
Simple.
Old Firm Celtic, the less important half of The Old Firm.
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 22:29 said:
Imagine how it would be reported and commented on outwith Scotland.
I’m not sure. If it happened in France or italy it would be all over our back pages. if it happened in Latvia we might get a few lines that would go almost unnoticed and most of those who read it would dismiss it.
In the footbally heirarchy, scotland is somewhere inbetween italy and latvia. Would anyone really care?
I believe that what gets us so absolutely raging is that we KNOW that if the boot was on the other foot we would be feeling the full force of whatever/ whoever and being run out of town on a rail.
So,what we ask for is justice,and folks,it ain’t happening.
The Ludge has had its say,and their writ is absolute. Makes you sick.
Kayal33 on 11 April, 2012 at 22:27 said:
Wonder if the rsa “searching questions” will be similar to those asked of Agent Whyte…..?
With regard to organizing boycotts, should be straight forward as we have the close season to organize. No one signs up for domestic away games on renewal, or at least indicate intention not to.
We have to be united though.
Cup Final at the soul less sfa home would be strong statement of intent…
Not sure what I’ll do with the free Sundays but it has to be no to newco
Do something now!
Pick up the phone and cancel your sky.
If not the full package, then just the sports!
Tell them why you are doing this.
Your money is helping the EPL get stronger.
I haven’t been able to keep up with the volume of posts tonight, however the comment made by NeilR around 17.53 is very close to my thinking.
We have to find out what is the thinking of other clubs’ supporters.
During the Dougie Dougie time and the Honest Mistakes era,I mentioned the silence from the other SPL clubs. Clubs who were being cheated of points and cash by Honest Mistakes.
I advocated that the CSA canvas other supports groups as to their thoughts.
Now, more than ever, these fellow Associations have to be brought into the equation and their views made public.
It would serve the Bantering Buffoon at the CSA better to channel his energies to this cause, if he has the ability to so do, or else, step aside for someone who would have some credibility.
For the moment, wait and see what Celtic are going to do,which I have said from the beginning, will be the decisive play in this charade.
hen1rik on 11 April, 2012 at 21:56 said:
@ETimsNet: Birdie telling us UEFA briefed on all events happening re RFC. Platini committed to intervening if ‘financial fair play’ rules
======================
It depends on if he means FFP on UEFA licensing or the principles of FFP meant to uphold sporting integrity. On the former a Newco would be barred from UEFA for three years so he could not do much more than that.
However on the SPL proposals his main questions would have to be addressed at what such an arrangement allowed Rangers to dodge that had it nor been for the arrangement, they would have to have faced e.g money owed to other clubs, unaudited accounbts, unpaid tax.
In short if he saw Rangers shennagins for what they are, an attempt to dodge the full consequences of the breach of FFP principles, then he could direct the SFA to refuse a club licence on the grounds Newco needed to serve a period of probation to a) teach them and others a lesson 2) give them the opportunity to get their house in order and find their true level on merit (like everyone else)
UEFA cannot afford not to exert some authority here.
miki67 on 11 April, 2012 at 22:33 said:
ABSOLUTELY ….. they are all pathetic lowlifes
I was going to come on for a while then seen all the fighting.
I commented this afternoon I did not think the proposals were a let off for Newco. Having read Paul67 and Philmac I can now see that it is a bit of a stitch up.
Bhoycott away games is our weapon now.
I still stand by my comments regarding the nuggets who immediately wanted to stop supporting Celtic all together.
HH & God Bless.
History ceased 2012. Ram it down their throats bhoys. We are the only ones who will ‘protest’
This hybrid liquidation jive seems as senseless as saying: it was almost an orange. Either its an orange or not.
sparkleghirl on 11 April, 2012 at 22:33 said:
”In the footbally heirarchy, scotland is somewhere inbetween italy and latvia. Would anyone really care?”
Celtic are still newsworthy in European footballing terms, not least because of the impact of the travelling support.
Penalty Real 3-1, 83min Ronaldo hat trick
tttt,
I answered that question some time ago;
rather than the sfl 3rd, we’d take the demotion spot to the 1st division therefore saving our new sfl partners any organisational headaches.
We negotiate a tv deal with the sfl and get chanel67 on the case.
We request the sfl rewrite the rule book to provide a fair and open structure and governance.
We then begin legal proceedings against the sfa and spl for loss of earnings.
I expect a few more genuine legal cases could be brought against them.
By the time the uefa ban on scottish teams is lifted I expcet both the sfa and spl will have been bankrupted, which will require the sfl to step in and take over the administration of scottish football.
simples really.
keevins says he’s never saw Mr Thomson on the TV. Good on you mrs K dont give him the remote!!!