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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Paul67 21:16 on 15 April, 2013
This plan will have the full weight of the MSM behind it.
But their last plan had the full weight of the MSM behind it – and that was a spectacular failure because football fans, and many clubs, stood up to it and would not be intimidated.
The London marathon sunday april 21st
Will be a massive security headache
Greens only objective, his only hope of success is to get Sevco back into the Spl. You can’t really blame him for that from a commercial point of view.
Given his own admission about how he lied to Whyte to get what he wanted then no one dealing with him can be surprised that he will say and do anything to get what he wants and not care who he burns in the process.
St mirren will regret ever climbing into bed with them. Green will chew them up and spit them out. He can’t help himself.
ThescorpionandthefrogCSC
CorkCelt, I hope your mate is okay.
My thoughts tonight are with the people of Boston and those who visited the City in the name of sport. Shocking images, I hope they get through it.
It hit 34 deg here today, not sure about the costa, it will be cooler, mid to high 20s I reckon, but it will be warmer than britland, or Ireland for sure.
My daughter just got her package through for the race for life run, which she is proud to do for for her grandma who was sadly lost to us with cancer.
It makes you wonder why people would attack charities.
There is low and there is the gutter.
Thanks kelvinbhoy, I’ll do my best.
Bhoycott the Buddies…….
and….
the Nobuddies………….
The Buddies will need to FEEL the absence of our support.
It will hurt them exactly where it needs to; right in their purse!!
UngratefulbluenosebassasCSC
HH
Gerry
Stand up and be counted, Celtic fans…..empty away section at st midden next season … or be prepared to be shafted permanently….
Alisdair
I have a lot of respect for RC and what they have achieved. I also don’t think the proposed 12 : 12 is ideal. What I can’t get my head round is if 10 other clubs have reckoned that this was the option to go for, for the greater good why Roy McGregor thinks that there is a better option which incidentally neither he nor Gilmour have sdo far articulated clearly.
The clincher for me that St Mirren at least have another agenda was that they were offered a 9:3 vote on reconstruction going forward which they both turned down, I mean what would have been so bad about trying this for three years. Could it really have been much worse than we have.
Incidentally my preference would be two leagues of 10 and then two regional north and south leagues with a pyramid system to enable those wishing to progress the opportunity to do so.
Tonight though my thoughts are with all involved with the Boston Marathon. Having missed the SF yesterday to support Miss C in the Edinburgh Half Marathon it reminds you what great events these are, the sense of achievement of the participants and the pride of the supporters – tragic therefore to see the horrific scenes in Boston.
Stewart Gilmour is gonna have to come up with some excuse as to why he changed
his mind on the reconstruction vote,dont think he will be able to and he will face the wrath of SPL clubs and their supporters,its time for fans to stick together and refuse tickets to their games,lets see if he can fill his ground with zombies
Just turned on the news…….terrible tragedy in Boston……3rd explosion reported at a Library… What the hell is going on
Thought & prayers with the folk of Boston at this time
“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”.
Just in and delighted to read that.
I said earlier that with all that has gone on and the input of sevco and suspicion of collusion by certain chairmen, that it would backfire on sevco.
67Heaven, I would think its pretty certain to be an Al Qaeda attack.
corkcelt
21:23 on
15 April, 2013
MurdochauldandHay, I’m off to the Costa Del Sol tomorrow as well. Torremolinos to be precise. I believe the weather is great there at the moment
.
In the high 70s corkcelt I believe :) I’L be in Fuengirola for a week might see you in Timmy’s bar Benalmadena was the only one I could find on celticbars,I’m sure there more must be
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
Heard the 3rd one was a controled explosion
corkcelt –
whilst I can understand you thinking that I think it’s wiser to wait on any official conformation.
Paul67,
Great article but can Gilmour really have believed that this would have helped Sevco in any way gain places in an amended restucturing plan? He must have expected this reaction. It still doesn’t make any sense at all.
Green gets what he wants though. Buys a bit more time if he can shift enough season tickets at increased prices until the restriction in his ability to sell shares is lifted. But even that may not be enough if recent developments are anything to go by.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again. There is no grand plan. They are flying by the seat of their pants and, it would seem, they are completely out of their depth.
St. Mirren may pay a hefty price for their chairman backing a loser.
TGSC,
Sailing On….
CorkCelt, just read back and saw your post, good news.
St Mirren have become the seventh Scottish Premier League club to object to the newco Rangers entering the top flight next season, insisting sporting integrity must outweigh the financial consequences facing the club.
The Saints chairman, Stewart Gilmour, informed the Rangers’ chief executive, Charles Green, and the manager, Ally McCoist, in person that his board could not support their application to join the SPL. Green’s consortium require an 8-4 vote in their favour at the meeting next Wednesday to remain in the top flight but have been effectively consigned to the Scottish Football League, in either the first or third division, a week in advance.
Gilmour admits that “major cutbacks” are necessary at St Mirren and the omission of Rangers from the SPL will increase the financial burden on clubs. But he said: “I met with Charles Green, Alistair McCoist and other representatives of Rangers newco last week. I made it perfectly clear that our directors’ view was that our club would not be voting for a newco entry to the SPL, directly to the officials of Rangers newco.
“This meeting was held in confidential circumstances to allow both parties to enable the other to see their respective positions. A very positive meeting was held. However, the position of St Mirren has not changed and our stance of sporting integrity was maintained against the very pressing commercial arguments.”
The chairman added: “Regrettably, the commercial, and hence financial, impact is still not clear to the club. We are very hopeful that this aspect will become clearer in the next few days.
“It has been impossible for the clubs to downsize as quickly as we would like due to the contractual obligations of the club. These are considerable and must be maintained to ensure the club does not slip into the fate of others. It is possible that major cutbacks may have to be made within the company. This may well involve people in the club losing their employment – not a good situation – so please accept that the club will be unlikely to be signing any new players until this situation is clear.”
Jist Read the Celticfc Official Statement ,regarding this latest Contro.
Frankly, An Official Statement from oor Club.. regarding thur tak oan.. well.. Anything..
is the only resource oan which Ah rely.
Therefore..
This Contro is over… as faur as Ah am Concerned.
Nothing more to see ..or talk aboot.
We must Move oan Folks..
And … let’s get oan with the Important stuff, once more.
Like.. Earning a Living.. Feedin’ the Weans..making sure the oven is aff and there is nothing left cookin’ oan the Stove.. when we
go oot Shopping.
and
Supporting Our Celtic..
Kojo
Still Laughin’
For me it seems funny as cw picked out gilmour and his club ,and now his sidekick green is involved with that club . Could craigy boy and chuck be closer than they make out , beware a sting here
Can’t see Sevco ground sharing with St. Mirren as they have agreed for Morton to share if they are promoted.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Murdoch,There was an Irish Bar a couple of hundred yards from the Sunset Beach Hotel in Benelmadena called The Halpenny Bridge which showed Celtic games last time I was out there.
Murdochauldandhay,
there is a good big irish bar at the far end of Benalmadena,away from the main centre,
plenty big screens, but not sure if it would be a Celtic pub,think its called Paddy McGintys but could be wrong
http://www.hmfckickback.co.uk/index.php?/topic/108493-st-mirren-and-craig-whyte/
corkcelt
21:41 on 15 April, 2013
What a world we live in today….poor, poor innocent victims….
Corkcelt
There is just something no quite right about this, imo.
Whoever is responsible, I hope they burn in hell.
I am trying to find a link to the BBC story on this but above attachment contains the following – They had an interview with St Mirren Chairman who said they were contacted by a consortium in January (2012) that included the Company Secretary of Rangers who is a lawyer with the firm that held the Ticketus money for Craig Whyte. They have rejected this bid.
Corkcelt,
that’s the one I meant,we stayed in the Sunset Beach a few years ago,
don’t know how I came up with McGintys ;-)))
O.k. Bhoys this is corkcelt signing off for the week. Mrs. is giving me grief to put away the laptop and finish the packing. Early departure in the morning. Keep the Faith. Hail Hail
It stinks to high hell after gilmour inviting green for a parly.
The only conclusion is there must be benefits for both.
What they are will come out in the wash eventually.
Knowing the way things have transpired of late nothing will surprise me regarding the cabal.
They rejected the bid in January 2012. Given there is Celtic supporter on the ST Mirren board could we not see Gilmour usurped?
Gilmour: Promised a feast and left with a Famine song.
sipsini
20:07 on 15 April, 2013
Tbj
Gt the useless klanky and the hun that sees round corners said they spotted you :-)
Leftclickceltc.
Did you enjoy the hospitality?
—————————-
Comfortable but wanted to be in with the troops ,
Mixed support ,suit trousers and dress shoes are no for fitba,
Got to meet NFL AM KC JL Broonie & CM for autographs for grandson afterwards.
But you made the right choice if I have a ticket for final in will be in with my own.
Third explosion at library was not controlled says Boston Police Commissioner.
“St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour tells BBC Radio Scotland that he does not want to sell to businessman Ken McGeoch and that he turned down an approach from him in January because it was made through Rangers company secretary Gary Withey