St Mirren chairman, Stewart Gilmour, last week suggested the SPL’s 11-1 protected voting rule, which in the past enabled Celtic and Rangers to block changes against their interests, was a reason for him to oppose Scottish football’s league reorganisation plan.
Today, with Rangers consigned to history, Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, proposed a change in voting rules, replacing the requirement to have an 11-1 majority with a 9-3 majority, which Aberdeen chairman, Stuart Milne, called a “major concession”.
This was not linked to the league reorganisation vote, but Stewart Gilmour voted against this change, despite using this voting rule as an excuse for his reluctance to allow reorganisation. So we now know St Mirren’s objection is nothing to do with voting rules, the brought Aberdeen’s Milne to say on his way out of Hampden, “You need to ask what [St Mirren’s] agenda is”.
After the SFL’s chef exec, David Longmuir, came under pressure from First Division clubs for opposing reorganisation plans, Newco Rangers’ chief executive, Charles Green, was a guest of Gilmour’s at St Mirren’s recent game against Celtic. Green has been a vocal opponent of the league reconstruction proposals and right on cue, Newco released a statement offering support to Gilmour and Ross County, the other objectors.
For those who like their irony straight from the mouths of the stupid, Newco even suggested St Mirren and Ross County “should not be singled out for criticism. They stood up for what they and their fans believe”. Just like all those clubs who were criticised bitterly by Newco for voting as their fans wanted a year ago.
Milne added, “St Mirren FC have really got to pose themselves the question qhy are they prepared to put Scottish football in jeopardy for their own selfish interests, which they have been unable to do today.”
Some people have a belief that there will now be an invitation-only SPL II with Newco being invited. I can tell you with absolute certainty this will not happen. There will be no Newco in the second tier of Scottish football next season.
Instead what has happened is attitudes have hardened against such moves. It would not be at all surprising if 10 SPL clubs declined tickets for their visits to St Mirren Park next season – the anger is that serious. The status quo will be maintained, St Mirren have lost enormous goodwill above and below them, First Division clubs have failed to secure a significant boost in income and the SPL will get on with business.
All of which brings us back to Stuart Milne’s question, what is St Mirren’s real agenda? I know fine well what it is, but they have not damaged Celtic, they have not assisted Newco in any way and the poor St Mirren fans will inherit the collateral damage.
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new article posted.
EL MAESTRO.wee question when are you “off oot”.
true sign of a bhun THEY NEVER GIVE UP.OOOPPPPS NEARLY WROTE THEY NEVER SURRENDER.
Rangers are not to blame for all that is wrong with Scottish football.
They did introduce a higher wage bill than we could sustain and forced many competing clubs into mutually assured destruction via attempting to spend above income to stay competitive for the lesser places.
We suffered, through Fergus’s reconstruction, a series of teams, staffed on the cheap with bodies like Holt, Whittle, Andrews etc; with the occasional bling purchase (Gillespie, Slater) to try and keep us sweet with promises of jam tomorrow. Fergus made us live within our means until we had earned enough to re-build the stadium, before we got Van Hoojdonk, Thom & Cadete to try and get back at them. We gave it a good shot but Rogan and O’Neill were no match for Stevens and Butcher and we had to put up with falling just short. Still Fergus held his nerve and did not sanction stupid transfer spending. It was the modest purchase of a Swedish winger from a Dutch club which gave us the final piece of energy to get buy the tiring Murray/Souness/Smith-era Rangers.
Rangers, with their absolutely mental Div.3 spend are showing no sign of having learned their lesson. Bringing this toxic brand of over-spending back to the table will destabilise clubs who are beginning to learn that the circle cannot be squared and no matter how much they spend now they cannot compete realistically with a Giant Glasgow club or two (if rangers ever get back to being a giant).
Scottish football is unbalanced, formerly by Celtic and Rangers but, now, just by our presence. Dutch football is unbalanced by PSV/Ajax with Feyenoord/Twente and Vitesse enjoying brief competitive periods with them. Portuguese football is unbalanced by Porto and Benfica with Sporting & Braga getting a rare look in.
In leagues all over Europe, elite clubs are emerging in small groups. Even in the bigger leagues, the danger of the CL monster clubs rotating championship wins between them is reducing the uncertainty factor.
What are the odds of EPL being won by anyone outside Manchester soon? (Abramovich is running out of money to sustain Chelsea at their current inflated level and Liverpool have been so long out of the wilderness that, if they achieve a good season, they will have to sell their best players to cah in)
What are the odds of a team outside Barca/Real winning La Liga?
What are the odds of someone outwith AC/Inter and Juve winning Serie A?
What are the odds outwith Bayern/Dortmund and Schalke for Bundesliga?
The frame containing elite clubs is shortening. We are, currently, no better than a 2nd tier club, and probably 3rd tier in the eyes of most of Europe. Sevco are and will be a 5th or 6th tier club, if they survive, for the next 5 years. Their presence or absence will not do the job for us. We will, as always, have to go it alone, to remain as competitive as we can be.
Doc is Neil Lennon
12:16 on 16 April, 2013
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Nice to talk to ye again M8.
The way I see all this reconstruction stuff – it sucks! imo.
PL and all the others don’t and never will ask the fans what they want.
If PL’s nose is oot of joint because of this then – I say that’s a good thing.
The REAL experts in the game are the fans – as Mr Stein said.
The only way that the game will be sorted imo – 3-0’clock ko’s on a Saturday.
Just think for one minute – £600 for SB + £500-600 on petrol to go to the north
of Scotland – 10 times a season probably at 12-O’clock on a Sunday morn ? WTF
I think that the game should now go full cycle back to what it was before the arrival of the beast in 1986 – Cup finals and League deciders ONLY to e shown on live TV.
Hail Hail
KevJungle
Because whether you like it or not, Celtic supporters will always support Celtic * the most famous side of the all regularly played in front of 25,000 – and less at CP *.
The season ticket fanbase of every club in the world fluctuates over decades, we’ll even have some that want a season ticket next year because the cheating that exists.
52,000,42,000, 32,000 – we’ll adapt, and thrive within our means because we are solvent and an exceptionally well run club, considering we play in a proven corrupt system.
But then you knew it was corrupt didn’t you CSC.
Re. the desire to have the huns back in whatever manifestation, I find myself considering the old warning about being careful of staring into the abyss lest it stare back into you.
They are a contaminant which taints everything they touch or are associated with.
We don’t need them and are better off without them.
Let us get rid of this Old Firm stink forever.
Mort @12:20 and Kevj to be fair NL was totally outspoken after a similar tackle by Didier Drogba on Beram Kayal 4 months earlier in a friendly between Israel and the Ivory Coast.
It has been noted on here that players like Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady suffer fewer injuries and play more high quality football outside of the SPL.
NL does fight the system in Scotland but he can’t do it all by himself nor can he be expected to take up the cudgels at every turn. He already has a full time job.
dont post often but lurk
do we miss THEM.
First Celtic against THEM was Kaj joannsen winner in 1964 replay,till present day.
Do i miss the bile,from them,and their Union Jacks,the 20,000 up to their knees in fenian blood,well from me NO NO NO NO
the Best banner i saw was THE SCOTLANDS SHAME one,this country is best without them,their lying and cheating,is no great loss H H
When are we going to hear something from the S.F.A. – or U.E.F.A. for that matter – about the fiasco that is Scottish football? Have they joined the Trappists? When are they going to comment on -or more importantly do something about – the numerous breaches of their regulations by that club of the many names from south of the river? Have they paid their fines? Are their Directors ‘fit for purpose’? Is their President who was once on the Board criticised by L.N.S. still on their books? etc ——–SPEAK UP!
Just saw the maestro mcstay is coming to perth nxt week for dinner talk thing.. Delighted.
Legend
2013-03-14 (file://DAVE-PC/Users/dave/Pictures/2013-03-14)
file://DAVE-PC/users/Dave/Pictures/2013-03-14
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