Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s statement reprised the already-discredited claim that SPFL clubs were given a deadline on Friday 10th at 5pm to vote on the board’s resolution on ending the season. They were, instead, asked to vote “if possible” by then, but had 28 days to respond. This echoes one of the misfired barbs from the ‘dossier’. If you are going to complain, get the facts right and be concise.
The statement also claims tt was apparently clear that the Reconstruction Task Force was setup to fail because it was “inordinately large”. You are asked to believe the SPFL board’s plan to ensure league reconstruction would not take place depended on having a large number of clubs involved in the project. This is a fantasy. An overwhelming majority of clubs would be required to pass a reconstruction vote, having more as authors of the proposition does not sound conniving.
They then call a leak from Premiership clubs (not the SPFL) that plans were scuppered a “disgrace”, but they linked this to a “disingenuous, incompetent shambles that began on Wednesday April 8th”, by the SPFL. I think they have their wires crossed here. Deep breath, ICT.
Not all leaks are bad, however. Inverness would have liked one ahead of the 8 April videoconference, where reasons for calling the lower leagues were first explained. Information seeping out ahead of a formal communication is therefore both good and bad. You notice some inconsistencies?
They claim they were bullied, “threats not robust conversations”, but as seems to be the way of these things, they are not for sharing the details. Maybe we have another dossier to look forward to.
Dundee director, John Nelms, is not named but as with the ‘dossier’, he is very much in the firing line. Nelms must regret acting as conciliator last month. He has already made it clear he was offered no inducements or deals, but ICT suggest he was the only one to have “negotiations” with “big hitters” before changing his vote from No to Yes.
It is not disputed that Dundee had a right to change their vote, or have negotiations. It is not claimed that offers or deals were made, or that anything came from offers or deals, but ICT insist this makes an independent investigation necessary. Without even a claim of impropriety, there is nothing to investigate.
Good news! ICT are happy for Celtic to be champions, should it be impossible to complete the Premiership. Their concern is that Hearts, Partick and Stranraer are relegated when previously an opportunity existed for them to win enough points to avoid this fate.
This gets to the nub of the matter. League reconstruction would have allowed each of those clubs to remain in their previous divisions, while allowing Inverness promotion. I totally understand this and, all other things being equal, would have been happy to see a temporary reconstruction to Hearts and Partick some breathing space.
So why did it fail? In order to expand the Premiership, 11 of the 12 members needed to agree. Why, therefore, did Hearts’ Ann Budge go on the warpath against the SPFL board by seconding tomorrow’s resolution when that board included Alan Burrows of Motherwell and Les Gray of Hamilton?
If you need the help of Burrows and Gray, as well as Hibs (Rod Petrie is on the SFA board, which is included as a conspirator in the ‘dossier’), you would surely deploy a consolatory approach?
Reconstruction talks failed, as a consequence, Inverness and several others lost out on opportunities of promotion and to avoid relegation. This will have real-world consequences for staff, players and fans of ICT. I get this – anger and disappointment is understandable.
Ann Budge was allowed to drive the process, she is experienced and had enough invested in its success to get it right. She knew that Premiership expansion would cost each of the other clubs money – a win-win was technically not possible. She knew expansion needed 11 votes; winning 10 friends was her one and only task. Does anyone think she understood this?
The SPFL board made their recommendations on concluding the season and intimated they would facilitate reconstruction, which was always in the hands of the clubs. The most vulnerable should have embarked on a diplomatic endeavour. Instead, they started open warfare, whether by WhatsApp group, dossier or rambling incoherent statement.
Maybe those who leaked the Championship WhatsApp group chat will in time reflect they were the architects of their own downfall. I hope it was not leaked by one of the clubs denied an opportunity of promotion, that would be a spectacular act of self-harm. Still, at least it’s not as bad as forgetting to order seats for your new stand!
Thankfully, Celtic have stayed well clear of this undignified mess. I hear all efforts are focused on winning the Magic 10.
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Braw …
Has Park been chinned yet ?
The latest Covid-19 advice from Bo-jaws is that you can now go to the park and meet parents, provided you stay 2m distant from them, and that they’re not your parents.
“In Sweden if you don’t have papers, you don’t exist.” RC Cardinal’s take of things in Sweden:
https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/12893/cardinal-condemns-risk-of-sweden-covid-19-measures-
All eyes on the ten. Edouard must stay.
Tbf the SPFL board knew what they were doing by appointing Budge as Chairperson of the reconstruction task force.
She duly proceeded to make a Jeremy Hunt of things.
PÓGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 11TH MAY 2020 12:27 PM
Sweden had a eugenicist policy right up to the 1970s, so their approach to the pandemic is maybe not too surprising.
Very enjoyable Pablo.
Difficult to summarise all the components of foolishness effectively – good job.
One point I’d make about ICT.
They were not guaranteed promotion.
Dundee United are as far ahead in the championship as we are in the premiership.
They will be champions.
Plus, the outcome of recent “deciders” between 11th in the premiership and whoever makes through from the championship (2nd, 3rd, 4th) have not been favourable to the lower league representative.
https://twitter.com/mcgowan_stephen/status/1259800449303093248?s=08
Policing Covid 19 has become impossible after today. My colleagues cannot Engage, Explain, Encourage or Enforce such woolly rules. This is now down to the public to Police itself. Please let’s avoid a second spike
smiley thought all bobbies did what they wanted thing
Braw
Budge is an idiot.
By the time football has emerged from the pandemic there may be barely enough clubs left to form a league.
She’d be better to shut her mouth and wait to see what happens.
But then if she did that the fans might start to question her stewardship of the club, (which is on a par with the concert party’s governance of the huns) if they haven’t already.
Wee Janette Tough oan noo
Missed the new article so didn’t stay alert
https://twitter.com/i/status/1259574132901019648
Step 1: man in hard hat watches silently as someone rides bicycle into your nan
Step 2: the children flee
smiley stay alert!!!!!! bhoys and ghirls thing
Braw
Paul67
“you would surely deploy a consolatory approach?”
I think conciliatory is the word. A consolatory approach would be telling them “Sorry for your loss (es)”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1225773676643192832
smiley this a very powerful pussy thing
Braw
i understand that celtic stay out of all this nonsense and i know the complainers cannot pull us in to this mess bu t i hope that celtic are taking notes and when this is over take all steps needed to protect against the enemies, because thats what they are , enemies of celtic. do not be too smug celtic, we are in a good place, do not be too complacent.
“Boris is our leader.We will follow his advice.We won’t be taking any advice from that Wee Nyaff,the First Minister”
The war cries of rabid Huns,and their Unionist allies.Name calling,obligatory.
Jim Jones also gave out advice to his followers.That went well.
SPFL missed a trick here.
They should be charging PPV into these meetings. They’d make a fortune.
Anyway, HWG 10IAR…
Great article today,Paul.Tomorrow,a big day.
Celtic crowned Champions,and news that one game could see us into the CL group stages,should have them gagging.
As Charles Endell once said….
See you Budgie. There’s two things I hate in this world and you’re both of them.
A titty bum bum a titty bum bumberoni.
Apologies. One bum too many in that last post.
oh almost forgot…The German Team play Frankfurt on the 16th ….they have asked fans to send them photos which will be printed out and put on Paper Mannequins …12000 of these will be placed in the stadium ….
smiley now that is cool thing
Braw
The poster who put the link to Super Score Board last night when a deluded Hun wants SEVCO to form a breakaway league, with Hearts (Mini HUNS), Linfield (Belfast HUNS) plus Partick Thistle and presumably ICT, with maybe some Welsh teams and call it the SPORTING INTEGRITY LEAGUE made me chuckle.
My mate suggests a different name:
THE HUNDESLIGA
they are playing in Frankfurt….so that must be their allocation….
it is to try and keep the fans from travelling ….
smiley if it catches on watch this space thing
Braw
Wonder if the one who leaked the whats app messages will be working with the sevco crew after tomoz
Paul67 et al
I understood that at some point in the past the SPL switched from allowing one club (Celtic FC) to veto any major decisions, tv deals etc, to insisting that at least two members would have to vote against major major changes, but now it appears one is enough. Hardly seems democratic in any real sense to enable one club to put the kaibosh on reconstruction and things of that nature. Still onwards and upwards to four matches against the Accies. Again.
just had a wee look …the Paper Mannequins are in their own stadium….
seems they will not be travelling to Frankfurt
https://li-image-gcs-live.imgix.net/2020/5/8/ba4d842b-009f-4053-92ec-c9a6251e6e24.jpeg?w=862&auto=compress&format=auto&rect=60,53,480,270
Braw
neustadt-braw
I hope that idea does not catch on over Ayebrokes way…..
Things could get ugly….
and the fans pay for them 19 euros …cost of the paper Mannequin….2,50 going directly to help pay wages in their fan clubs ..shop cafe etc ….and apparently they can be requested for away games….
smiley I have a feeling this will catch on all over thing
Braw
CelticMac ….
hahahahhaha
smiley they would certainly need a lot of air brushing thing
Braw
but the paying for it would be the biggest problem ….
This is now my 54th Day of self isolation, and should I wake up tomorrow it will be “55”….so to all lurking Huns..
GIRFUY !
HH
If the Huns are so unhappy with Scottish fitba…they should just play Lingfield 38 times a season…simples !
Boris is a maniac.
HH
NEUSTADT-BRAW
Any update on the Dynamo Dresden squad?
Paul 67
I enjoyed reading that article . If only the MSSM were fair enough to offer similar articles.
ernie lynch @1:46 pm
That does not show you in a good light.
Taken from daily…you know what…..sorries…
Dunfermline Athletic chairman Ross McArthur has launched a scathing attack on Inverness as Scottish football’s civil war rages on.
McArthur has revealed himself as the man the Highland club were referring to in their statement on Friday that alleged “bullying and threats” by an SPFL board member.
But in a statement, the Pars supremo insists the comments were made as one Championship club to another and weren’t of a threatening nature.
He also revealed the Fife club have the support of four other Championship clubs in their stance, Alloa Athletic, Greenock Morton, Queen of the South and Arbroath.
And McArthur finally blasted the Caley Jags hierarchy for airing their dirty laundry in public in such a way.
McArthur said: “I have said many times over the last couple of months, there are much more important things happening in our community and the wider world at present, than football. These matters should be our priority.
“In that context, it is not only regrettable but extremely embarrassing, that I have to provide this statement following the release of accusatory comments in a club statement made by the chairman and CEO of Inverness, I am sadly now left with no option but to put the record straight.
“The individuals have been very careful not to mention me by name, but their intended target is clearly apparent.
hoopylassghirl
Can’t see them getting a job anywhere else.
Not too familiar with WhatsApp myself, but I’d have kept that content well hidden.
NB
If sevco came up with that we’d be calling it fleecing the support.
Scottish football’s civil war is an apt description. Thank goodness the Celtic board is keeping out of this war of words.