Scottish football is posed for the most momentous stand-off in its history. The battle lines are clear:
Money v Morals, TV money v Season ticket money, Bank of Scotland v Fans
In 12 days the SPL clubs will vote on resolutions which will enable a new club to parachute straight into the SPL following the liquidation of Rangers without having to apply for entry to the Scottish Football league and rise through the pyramid. Five clubs can block their entry – for a few days anyway. Six, a majority if one member is liquidated, would be enough to ensure Rangers Newco SPL entry is blocked.
According to the SPL Fan Survey fans would overwhelmingly like to see any Newco football club enter the Scottish Football League, a position supported by a large number of Rangers fans, but the voices of fans are more easily discarded than that of the Bank of Scotland, who a large number of clubs depend upon to keep their own clubs out of administration.
In short, unless clubs can demonstrate to the Bank of Scotland that they will lose more money from disaffected fans by voting for Newco than they will by voting to retain the custom of Rangers fans, with accompanying television and sponsor money, Newco FC will be voted into the SPL.
Celtic will vote against Newco but fans from Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Inverness, St Johnstone, Motherwell and St Mirren have to do more to make their case directly with their clubs. Irrespective of fan views, I reckon Dunfermline shareholders would rather relegate their own team than Rangers. Don’t even ask about Kilmarnock.
The Gang of 10 may speak as one. If they get rid of Rangers they will be able to out-vote Celtic and have a unique opportunity to change voting rights, allowing them to capture long-term money currently going to Celtic. This, together with overwhelming fan pressure, might be enough to persuade some, but this issue is more complex.
Despite initial opposition to changing the voting rights, Duff and Phelps may vote with the Gang of 10 on voting rights as part of a deal to allow them to sell a place in the SPL. Yes – trade votes in order to sell a place in the top league. Sporting integrity dismantled forever.
Since we first raised the alarm on this vote back in October I have been convinced Newco would be ushered into the SPL but the weight of opinion from fans from other clubs is stark. Over half of respondents to the Survey say they will not attend SPL games if Newco is voted straight into the league.
Even the Bank of Scotland would have to recognise the business sense in siding with the fans if this view is made firmly enough.
Truth is, no one knows which way this one will go, but this is a once in a century opportunity for fans to make a stand.
Bids for the original canvass painting of Neil Lennon by US based artist, Joseph Gormley, has topped £600! Keep an eye on the auction, which ends tomorrow, here.
Buy a hard copy of CQN Magazine, issue 7, by clicking on the button below. You can read online here.
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Awe Naw. I can recommend Jack Reacher books but try to ensure you read them in order the later ones stretch the imagination a wee bit but he is the kind of man lots of guys would like to think they are.H.H.
Afternoon Bhoys and Ghirls
The problem with Neil Lennon is:-
He does not say enough about the corrupt b******ds that he deals with on the field of play every week and those that manage them.
He expresses his anger in the heat of the moment and i have no problem with that.
But I want to hear Neil and the board call them out for what they are publicly and more often,
To hell with the consequences,
they think they can silence people with their bans and fines,
Celtic should be saying very loudly,
WE ARE NOT GOING TO PUT UP WITH THIS ANYMORE>
GTF
HH
Mike
Kojo
Thanks for the compliment, I am tickled pink you think along those lines.
Pixilated, I like that aloater.
The Swinging Detective is possibly over pixilated currently and will resume normal pixilation soon.
Kojak
yer pal… who thinks yer a brammer.
Neil Lennon should show more control. Neil Lennon represents Celtic and shows of petulance are not helpful as they will always be used against him and Celtic.
Indeed any reasonable thinking individual will conclude that is the case hence the numbers more than anxious to stand up and say so.
HOWEVER
I have not been subjected to assaults, bomb threats, constant abuse and vilification for 12 years nor has my professional status in football been undermined by numerous contentious refereeing decisions so I am in no position to judge how I would react.
The man needs all the support all Celtic Supporters can extend and to the sanctimonious holy Willies who think that “playing their game ” will ever work I assure you will wait till hell freezes over. I gave up surrendering my seat on the bus many many years ago.
as George Harrison put it….
My sweet lord…..
Awe Naw
Have you read ‘The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich’ by W L Shirer? Its an excellent read about how a bunch of gangsters hijacked Germany and plunged the whole world into an apocalyptic chaos. Mind you, you might get some funny looks reading it on a beach.
Anthony Stokes has been handed a one-game ban following an incident at the end of Celtic’s 2-1 William Hill Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Hearts at Hampden on Sunday, the Scottish Football Association have confirmed.
Referee Euan Norris included an ’A5’ offence by the Hoops striker in his match report, which pertains to “offensive, insulting and/or abusive language and/or gestures”.
Stokes and the Parkhead club were informed by Norris he was to be mentioned in his report at the time, which in effect was a red card.
The suspension is specific to the Scottish Cup which means the Irishman will miss Celtic’s first tie in next season’s tournament.
hamiltontim on 18 April, 2012 at 17:15 said:
I have an open mind on the subject but I was aware of murmurings some years ago, however, I’ll wait for some facts before I’d commit to any comments.
Surely if Neil faces any action from the Cup semi-final it will carry over to next years Scottish Cup.
hamiltontim,
Agree.
No substance to this other than to discredit Gerry Adams, Bik McFarlane and Danny Morrison, by some who have never disguised their hatred of these men.
Even worse is their use of this issue to settle old scores between former comrades.
It’s been going on for a while now but I think it’s awful for the families to be continually reading this.
Árd Macha
Moonbeams @16:47
That is the biggest amount of pish I have seen spouted on here
Insinuating that Stein McNeil Hay And O’Neil are somewhat to blame for the outside pressures now being visited upon Neil Lennon is an absolute disgrace
It is now patently obvious that to some Neil Lennon has become bigger than the green and white jerseys they profess to support
I support Neil Francis Lennon 100%. H.H.
Árd Macha on 18 April, 2012 at 17:30 said:
The investigation has been on going for 7 years. It struck me as strange to begin such a process 24 after the end of the hunger strike. I’ve never been convinced by the stated motives.
hamiltontim on 18 April, 2012 at 17:15 said:
murdochbhoy on 18 April, 2012 at 16:54 said:
I read about this last week with a mixture of great sadness and confusion.
I find it difficult to deal with the claim that the ‘leadership within the prison agreed the deal with the British authorities’ when Bik McFarlane who was OC of the IRA prisoners has always refuted this and has played no part in any IRSP investigation.
———————————————–
This was started by an ex prisoner with an axe to grind and a book to sell. I won’t name him. He has a book out. His name is widely known. I feel no need to give him publicity when he has done so much damage to his own community and the memory of the 10 in a bid to sell a book.
I wouldn’t spend too much time on it.
Mickeybhoy- others have vouched that you are indeed a Tim, hard though it is to believe, and I am aware that we are a large family, with all of the diversity of opinion that brings. However given your contributions to this blog I can safely say that your not the kind of Tim I’d like alongside me in the trenches.
KTF
Just read about the Stokes red card,what a fool he is,if he had only stopped to think before taking action,this would have given him time to reach out and simply grab the refs arm,he could then have released said arm,gripped it again,and,for good measure,held it tightly by refs side.There is a precedent for this behaviour,and it carries ABSOLUTELY no penalty whatsoever,in fact,he could have gotten a nice pic of himself leaving the courtroom,smiling for the cameras,hopefully,young AS will learn from this error,and conduct himself with a little more DIGNITY when next he wishes to chat with a referee.
Mickeybhoy 1888. I think one of the strengths of CQN is the diversity of opinion it would be boreing if we all had the same opinion in fact the site would be unlikely to last.So for me you should keep telling it as you see it but dont expect everyone to agree with you.H.H.
We didn’t get to hear about the Stokes red card, because they were so busy demonising Neil Lennon.
When the wind changes direction Mary Poppins sometimes appears.
P.S. Mon the Barca
How could the Hunger Strikers trust the British government after what happened at the first hunger strike. A deal would have been done if Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness trusted what was being offered if a deal ever was .They woudnt have let the men die. God bless every one of them.
After Pele, Vic Davidson of Motherwell was my favourite number ten.
Gary McAllister, 1996
@scotfitbawquotes
Paul67. Do you mean the painting of NFL the head of our family? God bless him and long may he watch over us all!! HH.
My dear,dear,dear,friend..Joe Filippis Haircut @ 17.51
Pal.. Ah couldnae agree wit you Mair!
We SHOULD..but .. aloata guys oan here..DINNAE..
Welcome, Diversity o’ Opinion.
Howevahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
Instead.. o’ Welcoming it..
A Loata Guys, Oan here..
Are ..
Bound and Determined…. tae
STAMP IT OOT!
Noo..that is Jist No a Nice Thing tae Dae…Is It?
Doncha , Agree??
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater
Still, Laughin’
Moonbeams WD. Kano \o/ Neil Celtic FC. We are the Champions. Ignore the WARTS. on 18 April, 2012 at 16:57 said:
Without attempting to blacken the names of some of our previous managers, Jock Stein, Billy McNeill, Davie Hay, Martin O’Neill etc… maybe, just maybe, if each of them had taken it upon themselves to do just a little bit more with regards the bigotry, hatred, sectarianism, cheating, SFA, referees etc… Neil Lennon might not have had to experience the outside pressures he has had to cope with this last couple of years. ( Celtic fans can all breath now, Celtic shams keep holding your breath and read another 100 times)
MWD
*******************
Damn you Moonbeams, I read that as the Celtic Shammy…….. pheeeeew …… lets breath out as wife phones ambulance :¬)
V
HH
Neil Lennon has done nothing wrong. He has a passion for his club, our club. So what if he tells a cheating hun that’s his refereeing is s****. Keep up the good work Lenny atleast you are standing up for our club. It’s time our Board said something to back him up.
1 Neil Lennon
Scottish football as a whole (SFA, MSM, LL, huns etc) have attacked Celtic and everyone connected with the club, long before Neil Lennons time with us.
They will continue to attack us long after Neil Lennon has left our club.
If it’s not Neil Lennons behaviour it would be something else.
Even if they have to fabricate a negative story just so they can feed their hatred of our club…thugs and thieves???
Alex Thomson only 2 days ago embarassed some of our ‘top’ football journalists regarding the biggest scandal ever in world football, which sits on our doorstep, but, still the big story for them in Scotland is Neil Lennon.
Not even the disgraceful preformance of the officials….again, but Neil Lennon
I feel the Mowbray season put us back years in this country which Neil and others..P McBride, Paul67, Phil etc are trying to remedy.
So at this point if you feel Neil should shut up and bow his head then be prepared for plenty more ‘honest mistakes’ in cup finals or ‘big games’ as they call them.
If you want a level playing field then back our manager and I include the board in that.
Neil Lennon speaks for me.
Paul67 when you think that you can buy an SPL club for a £1, well done the CFC support….. again.
V
Kojo on 18 April, 2012 at 18:01 said:
My dear,dear,dear,friend..Joe Filippis Haircut @ 17.51
Pal.. Ah couldnae agree wit you Mair!
—————————————————–
kojo
no more of that kind of talk please………………….:0)
i’ll get ma coat
HH
Mike
AT got his tickets for the last Orc game
alex thomson@alextomoReply
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@kev1888cfc area 441 Jock Stein Upper
There’s reports of a long term touchline ban for our manager.
Maybe Neil, Johann and Alan will have had enough, hitch up the wagon and head for the hills.
tarry plough on 18 April, 2012 at 16:24 said:
If the Singapore deal is completed is this the new Rangers song? “hello hello we are the lady boys”
Retweeted by Caoimhin Og
Tweet Hee Hee
Best laugh this week mate :}
Paul67 et al
Let me get this straight, Rangers FC are a global brand, they have millions of fans worldwide, they are, in Alex Salmond’s own words, part of the fabric of society. So how come the only two people interested in salvaging the wreckage are Tow-Truck Billy, or Singapore Bill?
Bhoys I know I am going to be in a minority here but I thought Neil’s actions at the end of the semi-final were not acceptable.
I love Neil to bits and would nevercriticise him on a phone.in or in a non Celtic environment
Kojo. You and I are in agreement we are Celtic supporters and its sad to see some Celtic supporters bullying others there is room for everyones point of view on CQN.I am sure Paul 67 would agree. H.H.
Hankrey,thats exactly what they are after.
My dear,dear,dear,friend..Hankray.. @ 18.05
Hiya, Pally?
So..
If whit ye say .. His legs.. then..
It looks the
Ma Predo 5566… Is Gonna Come tae
Well Howdya Like dem Apples?
Kojo
yer pal…who likes ye aloater.
Still, Laughin;
googybhoy ♥ Celtic and Integrity on 18 April, 2012 at 17:27 said:
Surely if Neil faces any action from the Cup semi-final it will carry over to next years Scottish Cup.
*******************
Only if we’re in it, personally I’d tell them to stick it.
Instead of the £15 ticket for the sham of a semi at hampden, we could have a tournament with teams from around the world, we could call it the “honest” tournament as a GIRFUY, I’d gladly pay £30 for a ticket compared to the £15 I paid this year, whit do ye think Googybhoy?
V