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.
Issue 20 of CQN Magazine, CQLisboN is out and enjoying great reviews. Click here to read for FREE.
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Chairbhoy – still a hard road for them; more snakes than ladders lurkin’ en route to the top of the ole pyramid.
The commentator on BBC Radio Cumbria did say however that they were managed by ‘Willie Nelson’
I shall believe that when Pancho and Lefty arrive in the ole transfer window.
The Scottish footballing authorities will never be part of any league set up with the English. And rightly so.
We are a separate (footballing) country and should stand on our own two feet as part of the UEFA federation.
Its up to UEFA to develop regional Euro leagues for bigger clubs in small countries to compete with the big league ‘franchise’ clubs.
nformation 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.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Not so much “slipping” as “broadcasting”
**** FREE U18 TICKET**** for our last league match and title celebration on Sunday.
Due to sitting his advanced higher physics exam next Monday young acgr has decided not to come to the title party on Sunday:-(
If anyone wants this for a son, daughter, nephew or niece, neighbour etc etc let me know. I’d be happy to swap seats for the day in order that you could sit together. I don’t like the seat going unused.
Contact me at acgr@hotmail.co.uk
First offer get the ticket.
HH
P.S. Enjoy your retirement Tom McG and hoopy birthday to our host ya ancient auld bass ye:-)
Paul is it 3 years since him and his ‘crew’ done the reservoir dogs walk along edmisdebt dr?lol
Hoopy Birthday Paul !!
DBBIA
Just to keep you young in your impending retirement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMPydiR4NaQ&feature=kp
Happy birthday Paul. My wee granddaughter is two today, so you are both in good company.
Hail,Hail. and many happy returns to you both !!!
moo@moo_ted·1h
Kenneth McBrearty for Ahmad currently going through statements from Wallace and Delloite regards going concerns .
https://twitter.com/moo_ted
Back when I thought being in the EPL would have been good for Celtic, I thought the winners of the SPL going into the play-offs with the Championship runners-up looked like a good idea. With EPL owners who can pour tens of millions into a club and regard a £50m fine as a risk worth taking, I’m thinking we might just be as well staying here.
There is just no, ahem … loyalty in football anymore. That is no way to treat your first ever goalscorer.
I think we should start a campaign to have Little’s shirt number retired by Sevco.
Radical change coming in the ole Shangri La Surgery divisions I hear.
Apparently The Court Of Session has been told that Graham Wallace expects income of around £2m to come into TRFC Ltd in season ticket renewals in the next two weeks or so.
Number six
I think there would be substantial
Lobbying from pro unity Politicians to EUFA and FA about SFA, Welsh FA being amalgamated … ‘ better together’ might be their request…?
BRTH- thanks for that.
EH with the Hot Band and Albert Lee on guitar.
Ungggrrr.
She was 68 in April; still the Sweetheart of the Rodeo.
Grant Russell@STVGrant · 1m
Nash statement in court that purchasing season tickets on security through trust is not possible, “matter of time before fans realise this”.
Can I also point out that the MSM were absolutely correct when the said that Craig Whyte’s wealth was off the radar.
It was so off the radar that various creditors have been looking for it for the better part of three years and no one has found it yet!
It is buried deeper than the Marianas Trench
Grant Russell@STVGrant·1m
Lord Armstrong has given permission for live tweeting from within the courtroom on Ahmad v Rangers but poor signal coverage inside.
https://twitter.com/STVGrant
arrrest 620k adjourned for lunch until 2pm
Happy Birthday Paul67.
I note you share a birthday with a couple of other guys that are/ were popular with the Media – George Clooney and Rudolph Valentino! :-)
Hmmmm!!
DBBIA
EH had grown more beautiful with the years — is there any possibility that she could be cloned?
There is a market in keeping West of Scotland gentlemen with good musical taste warm during the winters nights.
I see it as a service to humanity myself…..
Emmylou 1974 – swoon
Emmylou 2014 – swoon
Love will tear us a new one.
While iam sure most of the so called big clubs in England would welcome us into they’re set up, it’s the smaller clubs you will have to get around. One of them would have to take a fall, and I don’t see many voting for that option…!!
At the end of the day the final decision will come down to T.V revenue. If Sky and B.T think Celtic can boost they’re viewing figures, and therefore they’re profits, they will not be long in telling the English leagues to find a way to accomadiate us..!!
As for Newco?
They could become a feeder team for Hearts..?? Same support, same songs, same bank balance..!!
As
Good afternoon all.
Paul67
Many happy returns. This is still the best Celtic blog on the planet. Thanks.
GCT
Enjoy your retirement. Best job I ever had.
Right, aff oot, as one esteemed poster says.
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
DBBIA’s après retirement courgettes
Ole clever clogs David Goldblatt has written a new book on the history of football in Brazil.
Sadly it proves ole cleverclogs Oscar to be right when he wrote about killing the thing we love.
Still giving my wee lover’s tale from the other day a plug.
The Stranger, The Queen and the Glasgow Garden Festival!
http://wp.me/p1G95H-1gg
Wee Ten Thirty’s career with Celtic is as follows:
• Signed from Maryhill Harp in 1955
• Loaned to Dumbarton 1956 *
• Returned to Celtic 1957
• Sold to Birmingham 1961
• Returned to CP 1965.
*As told to me in a bar in Vegas by the wee mhan himself when he went on ‘loan” to the Super Sons he had to actually sign for them and have his registration transferred to Boghead, on his return to the Celts had did the same thing. So as BRTH said Bertie is the only player to have signed for Celtic 3 times.
Flops returning from England include jim baxter, supper salary, harry Hood (back to Clyde) and possibly Joe McBride.
Good luck GCT on your retirement, I took a package at 64 and after the euphoria wore off went into a bit of depression. In an effort to get over that I’m more active in the pineapple now and also coach “soccer”.
When retiring you have to have a plan and not a financial one at that. Furthermore as my lawyer said you also need money to retire, that is money to entertain yourself.
50 million is sofa change to the likes of Manchester City. If you really want to hit them where it hurts, they need to be banned from European competition …
Why are Celtic so coy about arrangements for today’s vital U20 game?
No location on official site. No kick off time on fixture list.
You have to read the following article to glean that it’s at Lennoxtown this afternoon.
Probably 3pm? Who knows.
Henderson: We’re looking forward to derby clash
By: Kenny McKay on 06 May, 2014 10:11
LIAM Henderson believes that nerves will not be an issue as the Celtic Under-20s prepare for the biggest game of their league season. The young Hoops face Rangers today at Lennoxtown in the knowledge that victory will take them a big step towards the SPFL U20s league title.
In a season where he has featured in Europe as part of the club’s UEFA Youth League side and made his senior debut, Henderson’s achievements were recognised at the club’s prestigious Player of the Year awards on Sunday where he picked up the Academy Player of the Year trophy.
However, with his best black suit and tie now firmly back in the wardrobe, the 18-year-old says he is solely focused on winning the domestic league title witht he Under-20s, describing it as the perfect way to round off a dream year at Paradise.
He said: “It’s a massive game, there’s no doubt about it. Hibs and Rangers have been pushing us all the way this year and now we have the chance to get the win at home. It’s a must-win game and we can’t wait for it.
“The whole squad is full of confidence just now. We know we have what it takes to win the league and we don’t want any slip-ups. I think everyone is just looking forward to it and everyone is just excited, there’s no real nerves in there.
“We got an important victory over them at Murray Park a few weeks ago. I wasn’t playing that game so watching it from the sidelines was a strange experience, but the boys were fantastic in that game.
“Paul McMullan played amazing and I think we just showed what we’re all about in that game and I’m sure we can do it again.”
The young Hoops are currently on 59 points, while Rangers are top with 64 points, having played one more game. Therefore, victory this afternoon will mean Celtic will win the league title should they overcome Dundee United this Thursday at Tannadice in their final game of the season.
Henderson added: “I’m desperate to win the league with the U20s. With the year I’ve had, it’s the only thing missing. It’s been fantastic to make my debut and get a run in the first-team. Then to win the Academy Player of the Year award was just incredible. But I don’t want any of that to go to waste, so winning league is our top priority.”
GG
Once bitten twice shy?
Maybe they could offer ole Imrad a double-or-quits if he could hit the crossbar with that medicine ball……
I gather it’s Paul’s birthday today.
Happy birthday Paul.
Having had more than my fair share, I can testify that they are over rated. As is working for a living. ;-)
BRT&H
From the last thread re Lee Trevino biog and the Donegal trip.
Apologies for the delay in replying, the grandweans arrived and everything stops for them. We’re playing Girvan on the way to the ferry, picked up at Larne, staying at the Harbour Inn Buncrana and playing North West on Saturday and Ballybofey on Sunday. Possibly squeeze in another round at North West on Monday. We’ve played Dunfanaghy, Portsalon(both stunning)and Ballyliffen(a challenge in a 40mph gale) on previous trips. I was personally hoping to play Murvagh this time rather than Ballybofey but one of our gang hails from there and so we’re happy to indulge him. The organiser has put a lot of time and effort into it and got us another great deal.I doubt even you could beat it! Many thanks for your help with the Trevino biog and your other suggestions I’m sure they’ll go down well with the winners.
Hail hail!
Kicking off in all directions yes Paul67 but the one I’m most interested in today is at Lennoxtown.
All best wishes to Celtic Under20s later.
This season the young squad have stepped up manfully to their task of filling the gaps created by many loanees and I send thanks to Joe McHugh at VideoCelts for the updates and video clips he’s provided.
Win, lose or draw the most important outcome is that our players leave the pitch with all their limbs intact.
We know Sevco is a demolition in progress; explode a few more charges tonight, bhoys.
bsr
Destroy my seats once shame on you. Destroy them twice shame on me.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
13:17 on
6 May, 2014
Ole clever clogs David Goldblatt has written a new book on the history of football in Brazil.
*just finished Pele’s bio, he said the 1966 WC in England was the most violent in history, on the park that is. He also stated that when Brazil is politically stable as a country is when the win things. So take that into consideration when picking a winner this summer. My money’s on Argentina or Uruguay, only SA teams have won the trophy in North or South America.