Let’s be clear about what is going to happen on Friday. Monetary inducements are being made to allow a newly created company to advance its football team two divisions up the league structure.
The overwhelming majority of money to pay for these financial inducements will be taken from Celtic, who vehemently oppose all these measures. The SPL will reduce the commercial distribution to the top club in the league and pay-off everyone else. 41 teams will benefit financially from this proposition, only Celtic will lose.
For good measure, the SPL have declined to take gate sharing off the table. Up to 30% of your season ticket money will soon be commandeered by Kilmarnock, Motherwell and the rest, who will take their slice and share some with the lower leagues.
All the while you can scarcely find a football fan of any club who is anything other than disgusted by this shoddy behaviour; Celtic fans are by no means isolated. Most fans of former-club, Rangers, don’t want to see a phoenix assisted by such blatant patronage, lest Newco is forever known as a team which needed rules to be changed and money taken from Celtic to give it life.
Believe me, if Newco exists for 100 years, every day they score a goal someone will say, “They are only there because the rules were changed to help them and money was taken from Celtic to pay for it”.
They will forever be known as the Establishment club with definitive evidence that they benefited from the Establishment’s help.
The once-proud era of Scottish league football is surely over, what we are witnessing is merely evidence of this fact. ‘Sport’ as gone from our football. Fans, clubs and the national bodies must accept this reality and start to make forward plans to breathe the oxygen of genuine competition into our game.
Where is Michel Platini when football really needs some help?
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must be terrible to be poor.i myself at one stage in my life had no food no money for a few days it was to say the least terrible,but what like it must be if you are poor all the time.watching people with nice clothes a nice car ,family a decent house etc etc,myself at times would like a bigger house a new car,but as usual my wife reminds me that im a millionare compared to some folk ,and just be grateful for what we have,
traditionalist88, 15:49
Thanks, that’s where I’ll be
Summa of Sammi…. on 9 July, 2012 at 12:16 said:
.
Where is Jacques Costeau when You really need Him..
Summa
He walked away and signed for Everton last week mate :}
if they try to get our gate money we could take them to court seeing as they dont mind that these days .
lennon’spassion/ernie lynch,
would either of you care to elaborate on what was said
at yesterdays meeting,am sure plenty of us are interested
in what was said
Awe_Naw…,
thanks for clearing up that 28 day issue, knew I read it somewhere
hail hail
gordybhoy64 on 9 July, 2012 at 15:57 said:
I wasn’t at the meeting so can’t really comment.
All improvments in living standards and life quality have been won by the struggles of ordinary people against the rich and powerful .
As my protest monicker states:
Do you feel stung yet?
The Celtic Board need to do more than vote against and be outraged quietly internally.
The time is fast approaching when the CFC Board need to enter the fray. I truely hope they are ready……………..
HH
ernie..,
any idea who was involed ad what it was about
this is the first most of us even heard about it
My dear,dear,dear,friend… Bobby Murdoch’s Turned up Winkle pickers..
Pal.
YE DON’T NEED TAE ANSWER THIS…
Ah am jist Shootin’ the Breeze!
Ah recommend.. That Everybuddy oan here.. Should..
READ THAT
BOOK…
Then.. mebbe.. Wance ye hiv read it… ye MAY..
Begin tae Fully UNDERSTAUN.. whit Ah mean.. when Ah
unashamedly Paraphrase ..
The Following… advice.
“When Awe aboot ye.. are LOSING THUR HEIDS.. and YOU..
manage tae KEEP YOUR’S..
then..
Mebbe, Pal.. in YOUR Case… The Reason why ye hiv Managed tae Maintain a Sang Froid Attitude…
It is Because…
Ye are NO COMPLETELY COGNIZANT of the GRAVITY of the SItuation, in which You and everybuddy else.. find yoursels.”
Read the Book.. and WISE UP..
Kojo
Yer pal..who likes ye aloater
Still, Laughin’…of Course.
Awe Naw,
Did Lord Hodge not decree that RFCIA stay in Admin until Gruff and Yelps delivered an account of their stewardship to him?
As has been apparent since the Honest Mistakes campaign started, there would be no depths that the Establishment, football and political, would not plunge to protect them.
This being so, it will be the least honest outcome that will be delivered.
It is not for the good of football. It is not for the economy. It is not to prevent social unrest.
It is to restore the natural order of the country – via Freemasonry.
There is no future for Celtic, whether they are saved or not.
To date, we have only been tolerated because they and football, needed US.
Ideally, to maintain income levels, we would need them, but not at the expense of any sense of integrity.
If/when they are reinstalled in the game, then it is game over for us in Scotland.
That has been my mantra for weeks. We have to get out, or we are finished too.
I keep going back to the Welsh situation, when Cardiff and Swansea were considered to powerful for Welsh football.
Their financial clout rendered them unequal to the amateur level of the other clubs.
We are in that position in Scotland.
The only way to bring us to the level of the rest is to impose levies on our income. A nonsense.
The Jones’ don’t slum with their neighbours.
It’s a sobering thought that the fate of our club and the game rests with a diverse group of lower league chairmen, due to the abdication of responsibilities from the game’s custodians.
bournesouprecipe on 9 July, 2012 at 15:22
You’re making perfect sense to me.
I’m just going to have to keep out of earshot of my platform huns from now on.
Of course that’s a lie.
I’m inexplicably drawn towards them like a moth to a firelight.
Take this morning for instance. After the season ticket deliberation they started talking over the merits of Giovanni De Steffanno making a takeover bid. Now at that point not only did I give serious consideration to missing my train just to hear more I swear I got chest pains from suppressing the laughter.
It was hilarious and mesmerizing and dumbfounding, all at the same.
Now I dont like to make sweeping generalisations but its this kind of thinking and exploration of ideas that truly makes der hun unique not only in the context of a Scottish football fan scene but in terms of setting them apart from the rest of humanity.
tomtheleedstim on 9 July, 2012 at 15:52
Hi TTLT,
first up good to see you a couple of weeks ago, it was a good night.
secondly I think I may have missed your birthday (last week ?) anyway, a belated many happy returns.
Third, manalishi Jnr has played a lot of small type theatres on her ballet travels around scotland, I have txt Mrs M for a list of these and any contacts if she has them. Be in touch soon. Have you sorted out your e-mail address yet ?
HH
STV sport,
have the no vote to newco into 1st division as 13-3 against
with one abstention,from teams that have made voting intentions
known
ttt,
the sfa’s latest refusal to grant the international registration
will drag fifa into the whole affair
is their end game to destroy scottish football, its looking more like it al the time, drowning gurgle gurgle
Anyone been to Cape Verde ? Asked the other night but I never saw any replies, Boa Vista island.
So ole SFA won’t let the Horribles leave, but would not let hoopslegend G.Cadete join?
Greenmanalishi/ Tom the Leeds Tim- can I get contact details for my trip to Test match, in case play is rained off? Would be good to meet up for a beer at some stage.
thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on 9 July, 2012 at 16:09 said:
Agree with all of that except I would swap the word via for for
Its always interesting.
HAil HAil
@alextomo: FIFA “looking into” the questions you raised for them. Do. Not. Hold. Breath.
thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer on 9 July, 2012 at 16:09 said:
Awe Naw,
”Did Lord Hodge not decree that RFCIA stay in Admin until Gruff and Yelps delivered an account of their stewardship to him?”
No. He insisted that D&P produce their report before liquidation happens. This was to ensure D&P get their finger out, not an attempt to delay liquidation.
BMCUWP
If you read my post again re Eddie, I ended it with a (Gulp) , so I was in fact kidding on that I would have tackled them.
DBBIA,
What dates are you down for the Test Match ?
HH
DBBIA –
Who is this Gerry Cadete?
Is he related to to Jorge Cadete?
I demand to know the names!!!!
My dear,dear,dear,friend.TimBhoy2
Hiya Pally?
Pleased tae Greet ye..
Yep..it is Terrible tae Be Poor..
Ah tried it. WANCE….
That wiz Enuff fur Me…!
Secret, of NO BEING POOR?
Ah wull tell ye..
“Never get COMFORABLE wi.. well.. Being ,POOR!”
fur.. wance ye get Comforable wi …Being .. well.. Bein’,
POOR..
Ye ur DOOMED!
Ye gotta No LIKE…. BEING POOR.. ye gotta.. HATE IT!!!
and soon…
If ye get tae work at ..well.. NO BEIN’ COMFORTABLE..at
Being.. POOR..
AND
Provided… ye are in Excellent Heath.. wi nae
Mental nor any Physical Disabilites…
Ye Wull
Soon be.. well… well, oan the way tae bein’
NO POOR, any mair!
Sure, Woiked Well.. Fur Me.
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater
Still, Laughing’..of Course!
ernie lynch,
i assumed that the mate you had spoken to had attended the meeting,
would there be a problem passing on what you were told?
gordybhoy64
The vote is an irrelevance.
The SFL board will make this particular decision after the vote.
The vote is only to guide the SFL board.
Jim Bannatyne is the chairman of that particular board.
“Lets not make the correct decision. Lets make the best decision” – Jim Bannatyne yesterday.
Long way to go in this story yet.
If Celtic think that they can lie low to this one then I fear for us.
I really do.
No matter what way they spin it if they lie low on this one then it will be seen by the support as a Lawwwell – Petrie – Regan initiative regardless of how true that may be.
Sevco ends up in SFL1 and Celtic do nothing.
THEN CELTIC ARE GUILTY
THEY WILL CEASE TO BE SPECIAL
Hail Hail
The longer this whole saga drags on, the more desperate the people who run our game are to shoehorn NewCo into the league, the more they open doors which have no business being open and might never be closed.
There are consequences for our game which will last forever because desperate men are making dreadful mistakes in a rush to get this done.
NewCo’s are now an accepted way for Scottish clubs to dump debt. That is already written in stone, and is an appalling indictment of our game. How long before the next one?
Now they are going to set a deadly precedent that NewCo’s don’t have to start in the bottom division. That creates a legal minefield on its own.
The views of the fans are being totally ignored. The views of the clubs themselves is being treated with contempt. The damage from this will be haunting this game for the next 50 years, and beyond … and that’s if they stop NOW and no further damage is inflicted on it.
Airdrie United have pledged to honour all the football debts of the now liquidated Airdrieonians should the new club be admitted to the Scottish Football League.
United claim that they would be able to pay nearly £500,000 owed to players and other clubs.
And they have also confirmed that they would be able to use the Excelsior Stadium at the start of the season – with Albion Rovers possibly joining them as lodgers.
United were holding a media conference five days before the SFL meets on Tuesday to decide which of seven clubs will be given the vacant place in the Third Division next season.
I believe we have a moral responsibility
Airdrie chairman Jim Ballantyne
Airdrieonians had finished second in the First Division, only to drop out of the SFL set up because of their liquidation last month.
Some clubs are concerned that, should a new Airdrie be allowed to emerge in the same ground as the old but free of the previous club’s debts, it would set a dangerous precedent.
But Glasgow accountant Jim Ballantyne, who would be chairman of Airdrie United, said: “We have no financial obligation to look at the football debt left by the previous administration, but I believe we have a moral responsibility to try to resolve that problem.
“That is why we have made a public commitment to look at the situation. We will examine every player’s case and hopefully come to an acceptable compromise with everyone.
“We have already had a very positive meeting with Scottish Professional Footballers Association secretary Tony Higgins on this issue.”
The new club being formed under Glasgow accountant Jim Ballantyne are favourites to win the race as they have a larger fan base than any of their non-league rivals.
They could give have the largest support in Scotland’s lowest league.
It opens the way for Albion Rovers to join us
Airdrie chairman Jim Ballantyne
“We have 1,600 pledges to buy season tickets and we also take a good travelling support with us, which can only be to the financial benefit of other clubs in the division,” said Ballantyne.
Barr Construction is still owed a substantial sum for the building of Airdrieonians’ stadium.
But Ballantyne disclosed that an agreement had been struck with with liquidators KPMG to play in the vacant ground.
“This is fantastic news for Airdrie United,” he said. “It also opens the way for Albion Rovers to progress their own aspirations and join us there.”
United already had the option of sharing Albion’s Cliftonhill Stadium in neighbouring Coatbridge.
jc2 on 9 July, 2012 at 16:23
Yeah I was there this year, stayed at the Rui Toureg
kojo point taken ,but must be terrible having nothing
New SFL boss Jim Ballantyne admits he fears for future of league clubs
Nov 25 2009 Hugh Keevins
New SFL president Jim Ballantyne has admitted he can’t guarantee every club will survive the recession during his time in office.
And the Airdrie United chairman included his club, who he saved from extinction, in that list of those fighting for their existence.
Ballantyne replaced Brown McMaster who stood down from the role after two years in charge.
SFL chief executive David Longmuir last night said McMaster faced “significant health challenges” over the next few months. McMaster said: “I’ve always been someone who commits fully to anything I’m involved in and my personal circumstances make it impossible for me to do so at the Scottish Football League.”
Ballantyne took over at Airdrie in 2002 when the club faced a death sentence after going into liquidation. He tried to pay off their debts and retain the name but the money owed ran to millions of pounds and the club went out of business.
Ballantyne then set up Airdrie United but was denied access to the SFA so Gretna could be allowed in. The chairman then effectively bought over the franchise belonging to the defunct Clydebank and paid £200,000 to settle their debts.
But now Ballantyne admits the club’s plight is as bad as it was then. He said: “It’s harder than ever to run a Scottish League club because of the recession. The economic climate is badly affecting our crowd and everybody else’s.
“Even Old Firm fans now have what they would classify as non-essential matches and miss them out.
“It would be a daft man who’d assume the presidency of the SFL and not admit there were fears over the future for some of our clubs, my own included.
“We’re going to hold meetings over the next four to six weeks at which we’ll be trying to address the particular issues facing our clubs. But I would have to own up to a level of concern.”
The president’s assessment was backed up by Longmuir who said: “It’s time for the clubs in the Scottish League to batten down the hatches and face up to the stiff challenges they face.
“In the business world, and the football world, at this time there is little stability on offer because of the recession.
“You can never be sure about anything in that kind of climate. We’re trying to make our community clubs more relevant to the people in the areas where they operate.
“We need to attract more people to games while facing up to our challenges in the commercial world.”
The SFL have agreed a deal for BBCALBA to show five of their games live – including the end of season promotion play-offs – and are in discussions with Irn-Bru about an extension of their existing sponsorship agreement. A plan to have the highlights of SFL matches shown online is also currently under discussion.
Longmuir said: “If you had been at McDiarmid Park on Sunday for the ALBA Challenge Cup final you’d have thought there was nothing wrong with the game outside of the SPL.
“Dundee and Inverness Caley Thistle drew over 8000 fans and provided a terrific game. But we have to continue making the progress given momentum by people like our outgoing president.
“Brown carried the office of president with distinction and skill.
“He guided me through the challenges we faced when I came on board in 2007.
“I think the organisation is stronger and more attractive to sponsors than it was before and I put a lot of that progress down to Brown’s influence.”
Ballantyne admitted he didn’t aim for high office when he joined the Scottish League’s office bearers.
He said: “I was bullied into it because the SFA needed more people with a financial stake in the game to have positions of authority.
“Sometimes it’s a great job, most of the time it’s hellish.
“I’m saddened Brown has decided to stand down but I fully understand his reasons for doing so and wish him well.
“He stepped up to the plate at a time of great anxiety in Scottish football.
“Radical change was needed and I think it’s relevant to compare the state of the SFL then and now, meaning no disrespect to previous office bearers.
“Brown did a great job in difficult economic times and I’ll do my utmost to carry on his good work.”
Awe Naw,
i am aware that the vote is of little importance,
but would a resounding no vote to SPL1 membership not
heap a load of pressure onto those who will try and form an SPL2,
where would these teams come from
SPL1 =SFL1
Who should get place in 3rd division ?
http://checkthis.com/vvnn
CelticResearch are at the conflict of interest through shares lke a dog with a bone, and finding lashings and lashings of marrow
TheGreenManalishi(WithTheTwoProngedCrown)
Hello mate – hope you are well. Thought you’d been a bit quite on here of late.
Cheers for the theatre stuff – I’ve just found out that they’ve approached the Oran Mor (or are about to do so) so any others would be brilliant.
Look forward to another few pints soon enough – first week of August I think.
HH
I think the way things are panning out may well be to our benefit.
The sfa destroy the game in scotland could just be what we are looking for.