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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Gene- if /when the Club offers refunds, I would be happy for a % to be kept to help keep staff employed during this time.
Bada
We’re talking about German football – surely they can support their staff without asking the punter. Certainly the top division.
Little Richard was 1.780 Metres ( 5ft 10 inches )
HWG TIAR
Boris as a BAM !
I hope that he proves me wrong about his view on easing restrictions in England …but I fear the worst..sadly ?
HH
as ?….IS.
STAY SAFE.
hh
Richard [Jaws] Kiel was 2.18752893572893579m tall
Maybe not so little.
Gene …BMG is a fans club…..the Paper Mannequin is from the fans for the fans ….has as far as I can see anything to do with the DFB…..BMG were also the first club here to give up all players wages until football starts …
German football is as everything else here very well run…this opening up may fall on its face ….but it is under the world spotlight now ….and for all sorts of sports ….I for one wish their fans the best…
smiley football withoot fans etc etc thing
Braw
hope your doing brawily
Boris Johnson being systematically taken apart by Keir Starmer
GENE on 11TH MAY 2020 2:19 PM
Bada
We’re talking about German football – surely they can support their staff without asking the punter. Certainly the top division.
I was posting about Celtic, not German football….
Ian Paisley Jr on now,drum in the background, prk
No wonder Johnson doesnt makes speeches or show his face, this guy thinks Britishness and common sense is going to overcome this virus, utterly out of his depth and scary he is in the position he is in.
Test
Bada
Sorry for the confusion
Dessybhoy
Unfortunately common sense isn’t so common.
Sevco test positive for statement fatigue.
Gene
No and it means something different to many people.
Aberdeen doing what sheep do best
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52619336
THE HOOPS ARE EVERYWHERE………….
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p075m7fh
The Bradford Fire disaster, hard to believe this was 35 years ago today, RIP the victims.
Just watched bojo – what is stark is the poor draughting of the plan. Too many holes and contradictions of when info is available to support the process of going back to work.
An absolute joke – if I’d produced such shoddy work in my job it would led to me getting…….
39 votes to 3 hardly constitutes a civil war, maybe SMSM like it that way giving them importance in the middle of a pandemic when normal folk know football isn’t a priority?
BSR
Went on a fire safety course about 20 years ago and as part of that they show the film of the unfolding disaster – unbelievable tragedy that should have been avoided.
test
weeman67
Great wee film there. Like the names of the players too.
Lot of Celtic fans, including some on here, seem to think the history of Scotland and Ireland began in 1887.
Michael Davitt knew different.
Baaaaa……..what are the sheep up to?
Ross McArthur calling out Scot Gardiner for what he is and laying bare the sinister null and void agenda. Things you love to see.
GENE
Awful tragedy, the speed was terrifying.
GENE on 11TH MAY 2020 4:41 PM
Aberdeen doing what sheep do best
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52619336
———————-
Gene, maybe they’re intent on financially crippling Sevco with the cost of the investigation.
CELTIC MAC on 11TH MAY 2020 5:06 PM
weeman67
Michael Davitt knew different.
____________________
Whether he consciously intended it, Davitt’s strategy was classically Marxist – merge nationalist grievances with economic grievances.
GG
If that’s the case we should support it as well 😉
From BSR`s post:
`39 votes to 3`
I have mentioned this to a few people who recite the MSSM mantra that , Coronavirus apart, there is a crisis in Scottish football. I suppose by MSSM reckoning, if their Club is unhappy, then there is a crisis.
I dislike out Media more than I dislike Sevco.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 11TH MAY 2020 4:55 PM
… maybe SMSM like it that way giving them importance in the middle of a pandemic …
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++=
That’s it.
Gene- not a problem, hope you’re enjoying your freedom down there…😁
Bada
Won’t make any difference to us – still can’t hug the grandkids. Don’t see the point in driving for an hour to go for a walk.
Staying alert 🤭
fritzsong
Well Marx did view things in part from the perspective of the role of property, and how it came about through the ages, and Davitt certainly did look at Ireland, and to a lesser extent Scotland via the importance of the land, its’ ownership, the way it was used etc. As well as the historic role of the Gael.
Or more recently John McGrath…….’The Cheviot the Stag and the Black Black Oil’
weeman67
Great video.
gene
Maybe “Staying Alive” might have been the better slogan….
Plus there’s a song in there somewhere…
Golf courses in England opening, with restrictions, on Wednesday?
Has Boris gone mad?