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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I am going out just now but will look for any responses to this when I return.
Does the Offensive Behaviour at Football etc Bill mention the word “sectarian” anywhere in its entirety ?Thanks,
JJ
St Mirren and Ross County didn’t set up this 11-1 vote system.
Who on earth thought that one up?
Groundshare figures dont add up.
Is Gilmour after Ibrox ?
HH
If it’s a ground share wouldn’t Hampden be a better option?
Comments have been flooding on to County’s FB page from fans of other clubs praising Roy Mcg for his actions today.
Alisdair,
As a previous poster mentioned, the excuse of not knowing what you are buying into at the start of the season doesn’t stand up.
The status quo ensures the same condition.
As I posted earlier, what is different about RC’s situation that is not mirrored by virtually every club in the league?
Yet, ten clubs voted to accept the compromise, believing that they were taking the game forward.
Going by that statement you posted, RC were not prepared to compromise. They wanted all their boxes ticked.
The one saving grace, and that is moot, is that RC stated their opposition early, even though at a fairly late stage in the negos, it was believed that all twelve clubs in the SPL were in favour.
The fans voice in this situation is completely different from the revolt from last year, where it was a clear cut case of parachuting a new club into a level far beyond their entitlement….where that entitlement was to apply for entry to the lowest league.
The RC intention was not deemed to be important, until Gilmour turned Judas on his fellow chairmen.
I’m afraid on reflection, your club stands in the dock beside him.
Not a good position for a club, who had gathered a lot of goodwill in their first season to be in.
If there are any repercussions heading Northwards, then Mc.Gregor only has himself to blame, as PL tried to advise him.
Also, if / when County find themselves in Div1, it will be a pretty cold place for them.
Disappointed, I am, that clubs could be bought so cheaply, to the detriment of the majority.
/
Paul67…………..It’s your worst nightmare……………
SALLY DEMANDS TO KNOW………??????
What is the capacity of the St.Mirren ground ? I think its around 12,000 now if that is the case that wouldnt generate a great deal of income through gate receipts for sevco 5088 or any new sevco.They would need to down size there operation and would never be a threat to celtic. I think it may well be the chance to buy St.Mirren then rename them and play at Ibrokes that appeals to Green and Gilmour just my take on it.H.H.
Shocking scenes coming out of Boston tonight.
Two explosions heard near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Unconfirmed reports that as many as 50 people have been injured
Bad news , hopefully not as bad as it sounds , from the Boston marathon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22160691
Maybe not groundshare, but Gilmore does have some experience of getting a major retailer involved in buying your old ground in building you a new one.
Alasdair MacLean
20:20 on
15 April, 2013
Comments have been flooding on to County’s FB page from fans of other clubs praising Roy Mcg for his actions today.
…………………………………………….
That would be about a couple of handfulls then !!!
They did comment you had put a bit of weight on:-))
thomthethim
“Disappointed, I am, that clubs could be bought so cheaply,”
Do you mean that Ross County were bribed? Got money from someone?
Ellboy
Hampden will not be available next season due to the Commonwealth Games
2 explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Not looking good, many casualties and deaths.
Cant believe what they just aired, people have been blown apart.
Pure Evil!
Sevco ground-sharing with St Mirren is a non-starter, there’s no doubt that chuckles believes he has something over SG. Attending the Celtic game was a clear message to everyone he could have met SG in private, he could have phoned.
St Mirren’s board believe it’s in their financial interest to block reconstruction. The main beneficiary of today’s vote is Sevco, they can raise SB prices (with a premium added in order to ‘get back to the glory days’). St Mirren are expecting some financial backwash, possibly in the shape of proxy signings, possibly in the from of ‘hire’ of training facilities. Either way St Mirren, like RCO, are heavily conflicted.
Sevco cant afford to ground share in Paisley.
The drop in income would kill them.
TT
So it would appear Gilmour & Longmuir are working to the Sevco agenda.
Really don’t understand why.
Chuckles has admitted publicly he will promise anything and then renege on everything.
The Sevconian will only help himself.
These fools will learn.
the spirit of arthur lee
Ahh okay, thanks!
I love Paul’s article and I trust him totally when he states that Sevco wont benefit. Its not fair to ask him to expand on issues he alluded too. Common sense will tell you that there are limits to what you can reveal on a public forum without bringing Legal Proceedings down on you. If Paul could have revealed more he would have revealed more. As long as Sevco don’t benefit I don’t mind. However I would back a Boycott of St. Mirren, not because they voted No which is the democratic right of any Club but because they have been clearly shown to be hypocrites and have shamelessly acted in a certain way at the behest of Sevco.
I am surpised at the surprise expressed. Scottish football has been the embodiment of parochial thinking. Its why our game is in the state it is in. So with Sevco about to go tits up I cant see that changing. Today was more about loosening the masons grip on our game than anything and thats why Gilmour and McGregor voted no. Too many haunders awready ;-)
HH
ACQUISITION
TT
embramike
20:12 on 15 April, 2013
always knew you were a clever cookie :-)
At least Roy McGregor had the sense to get a hundred or so (hand picked?) supporters into a room so he could say tfst he was reflecting the views of the supporters.
Some reports saying explosions from inside Fairmont Hotel,Boston.
Weeminger
Weekly attendance ;-)
HH
I’ve been so bored by the whole reconstruction thing that I’ve barely read into it but on the basis that our chief exec was in favour of it and the chief exec of the newest club in Scottish football was against
At least 3 dead reported in Boston
Jim Spence @bbcjimspence 44s
Just spoken to one SPL chairman who says as far as he and four other clubs are concerned reconstruction debate is over.
Awe_Naw
Stewart Milne is a mason
Sadly this means that St Mirren wont get any more support from me – and sadly it also means that St Mirren and Ross County should be cut adrift now. No more big away supports at either ground.
If you dance with the devil…..
I also wanted to praise PL and Celtic for their behaviour and their willingness to compromise here. It does feel to me that Celtic were doing their utmost to help Scottish Football here.
The malevolent influence of the huns continues…..
Jeeso these pictures are awful…
At least 3 dead so far in Boston according to CNN
Oops.
I’ve been so bored by the whole reconstruction thing that I’ve barely read into it but on the basis that our chief exec was in favour of it and the chief exec of the newest club in Scottish football was against it I’m disappointed its not gone through.
SimplesCSC
So is Geoff Brown