Radical change needed to UK football

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It’s kicking off in all directions today but keep an eye on the English Football Association proposals to introduce a series of changes to lower league football.  One option on the table is for Premier and Championship sides’ “B teams” to compete in a new structure with League Two and Conference teams.

The FA are eyeing an opportunity to allow the best young English talent, often cosseted in the youth squads of top Premier League teams with little chance of first team action, to be exposed to competitive games.  The proposal includes a geographical split of northern and southern teams.

While the FA Premier League is bust by any known measure, the Football League is in an even worse financial state.  Average income in the lower leagues is remarkably high but the steep pyramid-model, which has clubs chasing huge increases in revenue in the Premier League, leads to excessive over-spend.

With these proposed changes on the table the Scottish FA could do worse than discuss their own game’s future with their English counterparts.  Well run Scottish clubs are hamstrung by their better-funded neighbours cherry-picking their best players for a relative pittance.  Scottish Premiership clubs regularly cannot compete financially for players in England’s fourth tier.

It’s surely time to federate the top Scottish league with the English league structure.

Information slipping out of Switzerland this morning that Manchester City and Paris St Germain are each facing a fine of circa £50m for breaching Financial Fair Play rules is encouraging – if Uefa are able to deliver on the deal.

When you consider financially punishing an entity which owns the oil wealth of a sovereign nation the figure needs to be a big one.  £50m just about hits the mark.

Apparently the Great Sevco Shakedown began this morning when the club’s first every goal scorer, Andy Little, was released.  The news is harsh on the player but the club needs to learn the lesson – income needs to match expenditure.

Imran Ahmed’s court hearing today against Rangers International comes exactly three years after liquidation expert, Craig Whyte, was triumphantly welcomed into Ibrox, an ominous anniversary, for some.

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756 Comments

  1. Rascar Capac

     

     

    I don’t know

     

     

    I just think that we should be wiping the floor with them – not in a derogatory sense just in terms of financial resources to scout and coach

     

    And on that note no explanation of the Gaelic football coach getting the bums rush

  2. Delaneys Dunky on

    16roads

     

     

    Magic! :))

     

    Rugby Park didnae know what had hit it that day. :))

  3. From Video Celts..

     

     

    Celtic could be heading for Scandinavia in their first Champions League qualifying tie of next season.

     

     

    While Scotland’s declining co-efficient means that the hoops face three qualifying ties to reach the group stage Neil Lennon’s side are insured to some extent by their own co-efficient which ensures that they are seeded in each round.

     

     

    Unfortunately with the results of Swedish and Norwegian clubs plummeting Celtic could face Malmo or Stromgodset in mid-July.

     

     

    This season Celtic were in the second qualifying round for the first time and were drawn against Cliftonville with the Northern Irish champions involved again in this season’s competition.

     

     

    The second qualifying round is made on a regional basis and generally sees Scandinavian teams grouped alongside those from the British Isles and western Europe while southern and eastern European teams drawn are separately.

     

     

    Going to Malmo or Stromgodest- who sold Stefan Johansen to Celtic in January- would be the worst possible draw for Lennon’s side as he attempts to steer Celtic into the group stages for the third season running.

     

     

    Seven games into the new Norwegian season Stromgodset are two points behind leaders Molde, in Sweden Malmo are in top position after seven matches.

     

     

    Celtic have beaten Swedish sides in each of the last two season’s to reach the group stages of the Champions League but in 2012 they beat Helsingborgs in the final qualifying tie and in 2013 it was in a third round qualifier against Elfsborg.

     

     

    The draw for the first two qualify rounds will take place on June 23 with the second round qualifiers being played on July 15/16 and 22/23.

     

     

    With Celtic Park out of bounds for the Commonwealth Games Celtic will play their first two qualifiers, assuming that they qualify, at Murrayfield.

     

     

    As well as Stromgodset or Malmo Celtic’s likely second round opponents will come from Cliftonville, St Pat’s, All Saints (Wales), KR Reykjavic, HB Torshavn (Faroes).

  4. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon, supporting WEE OSCAR..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    delaneys dunky

     

     

    22:38 on 6 May, 2014

     

     

    Turned my stomach, just the thought of it. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    SP

     

     

    If we canny beat what’s in the qualifiers (all beatable) we don’t deserve to be in the CL group stage.

  6. leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon on

    Ps

     

    The moment I seen the tweet that Lord Armstrong declared at the start of proceedings today that he was a friend of Donald Findlay and know him socially as well as professionally I had no doubt what the outcome would be today.

     

    paranoid for a reason:)))

  7. Rascar Capac on

    Charliemac

     

     

    We can only coach so many, and money is not really a factor with young ones.

     

     

    Referees are the same for youths or seniors.

     

     

    So the league (untelevised) is fairly equal.

     

     

    God help Hibs if they go down to join Hearts and the Huns.

  8. Som mes que un club on

    Dundee Utd hope to sign Rangers midfielder Charlie Telfer.

     

     

    The eighteen year old is out of contract in summer at Ibrox

  9. Delaneys Dunky on

    Leftclick

     

     

    I immediately thought, same ludge declaration. Hey ho! Their deed, and nae ludge can raise the dead. :)

  10. leftclicktic We are all Neil Lennon on

    Good night all

     

    Sleep well in the knowledge that they are now fighting over the last scraps of the marrow of the carcass what will be left will not be nice:))

     

    cmon the young Hoops 1 more victory.

  11. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma on

    Celtic looking at German under 21 international Kevin Vogt?

  12. Rascar Capac

     

     

    Good point about the referees

     

     

    Didn’t get it right away

     

    Too sub till !!! -:)

  13. Delaneys Dunky on

    BRTH

     

     

    Can he Vogt Yes in the Independence referendum?

     

    Shall get my coat. :)

  14. The Spirit of Arthur Lee on

    BRTH

     

     

    Is he another non scoring midfielder by any chance

     

     

    Love

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    Jude

     

     

    The lead singer of a Manchester band The Stone Roses. My 2nd fave band of all time to The Clash#1. Check out F.E.A.R. by Ian Brown for an amazing play with words.

  16. Delaneys Dunky

     

     

    I think we’ll qualify without too much stress this year, more settled team, more pace and a wee wild card up front in Griffo.I’m no worried ….not yet anyway ask me in July!!

  17. charliemac

     

    22:54 on 6 May, 2014

     

     

    Can I recommend watching some of the youth games on Celtic TV?

     

    The Academy system is nurturing teams at every level coached to play the Celtic way.

     

    Contrast the styles of play when the U17s won the Glasgow Cup.

     

    Contrast the quality when the U20s beat the undead 2-0 at Murray Park a few weeks ago.

     

    We have seen a few lads being introduced at a senior level recently and they have all fitted easily into the team structure.

     

    I cannot comment on the difference in facilities between Lennoxtown and Murray Park or whatever it is called these days. But I would hazard a guess that the facilities aren’t too different.

     

    Oh and I believe you misrepresent John Park’s role at the club.

  18. floridaghirl on

    Just popping in and out again to say that if any of you or your nearest and dearest have tickets to Wicked you will be well impressed – less so if you are a hun as the show is very very green…..

  19. 16 roads - Celtic über alles... on

    west wales celt

     

     

    23:32 on 6 May, 2014

     

     

    —————————————

     

     

    Have some great memories of your beautiful country mo chara.

     

     

    Been to the old stadium, Cardiff Arms Park.

     

     

    I’ve been got five wee cousins over there, half Welsh, half Irish.

     

     

    God bless the six Celtic nations.

     

     

    HH.

  20. GG

     

     

    I agree.

     

     

    Celtic, have a Plethora o’ Potentialities.. acomin roon the bend!

     

     

    n.. that’s jist the wans wi … Dark Hair!

     

     

    NIce of ye tae gie us the updates,pal.. Appreciated It.

     

     

    Sevco, wiz well n truly Defeated.

     

     

    Ah saw that .. Ma Number wan tip fur future Stardom.. wiz oan the Bench,fur the Under Twenties… the day.

     

     

    Even although his is Barely Seventeen.

     

     

    This Kid is the GREATEST .

     

     

    Mark Hill, is His Name..n.. Playing Fitba’… the KOJO WEY..is His Game~( He plays it like Kojo Wid..if… Kojo, hid evah Deigned .. tae ..well. Play it!)

     

     

    Mark ,Mark.. wan fur the Future!

     

     

     

    Don’t furget his Name..

     

     

    Mark Hill.

     

     

    Yep.. Mark Hill.

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still ,Laughin’

  21. WeefratheTim on

    Good very late evening.

     

     

    Really knacked after being very busy today and night. All is well at the ole ferm, so I will wish you all a very Night Night Timland. Shattered isn’t the word.

  22. 16 roads - Celtic über alles... on

    WFTT – Have you ever seen a double yoker duck egg in your time atall?

     

     

    Had one in my hand the other week, the thing was like a dinosaur egg it was.

     

     

    HH.

  23. Delaneys Dunky on

    Kojo

     

     

    Benny’s Bhoy? :))

     

    Naw seriously, I have had two different sources tell me. “Master Hill, is the real deal”

     

    Good to see you post.

  24. WeefratheTim on

    16roads

     

     

    Try a goose egg. Ye’ll think you have found an ostrich egg. Great post, but must go to ma cot now. Thanks for your observation, if you are in the vicinity, you are welcome to try a goose egg FOC. Cannie get fairer than that. :-))) KTF

     

     

    Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.

  25. ‘GG

     

    I agree wth you

     

    But feel we should have found at least one quality street kid

     

    Maybe they are under my nose but they need to be playing in the big team otherwise there’s no point

  26. Delaneys Dunky on

    16roads

     

     

    You don’t want to be a duck in Yoker.

     

    Dead duck walking! :))

  27. 16 roads - Celtic über alles... on

    WFTT, I ate an egg from a farm where the birds were running wild a few weeks ago, and the difference in taste was remarkable, compared to the supermarket ones.

     

     

    Don’t fa

     

     

    HH.