The great and the good (extensive poetic licence used) of the SPL and SFL will gather at Hampden tomorrow to shuffle the deckchairs of Scottish football. For reasons which no one has, or will, explain, it will be suggested that three leagues, with 12, 12 and 18 teams, will be able to resolve the problems of our game.
There will be no consultation with fans, Uefa or neighbouring associations, and no claim will be made that this reorganisation will be able to resolve a single significant issue.
For all its limited appeal, the Scottish Football League is in rude health. On the whole clubs live within their means and in places play important roles in their communities. This is as good as it gets for the likes of Alloa, Montrose or Brechin City. They could all benefit from a higher solidarity payment from above, but this would be the case no matter what level the trickle-down was set at. Their interests would be best served by ensuring that those sending payments down the pyramid are as fat as possible.
The clubs with most to gain from substantive change are those condemned to compete for second place in the SPL. Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts have been neutered in recent decades. United and Aberdeen have gone from being the two most impressive clubs in Europe at developing young talent, to clubs who cannot hold onto players long enough to put a competitive team on the field.
Scottish clubs with ample support, stadium and coaching talent have been left behind by smaller clubs in England, from Wigan to Burnley, who benefit from operating in a more lucrative commercial environment.
Hearts are trying to sell shares to raise a few million to keep themselves afloat at the moment. The club would be worth ten times as much if it was located 100 miles down the road, or structural change made it possible for it to benefit from a more valuable environment. Shares in clubs like Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibs would also be worth many multiples of their current value.
Stephen Thompson has spoken of the financial burden Dundee United place on his family, a regionalised league structure would turn this burden into a vastly more valuable legacy. It beggars belief that Hearts, United, Aberdeen and the rest have not grasped this reality and started to make inroads.
It’s time for some radical thinking.
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Dublinbhoy
I used to go quite a bit when it first started, was a member, but it was quite a hike each way from up here. Had to get up at 5am for early games and had to contend with rush hour traffic for the 3pm (Florida time) games. I had a boat at the time so preferred to go fishing, I don’t watch a lot of football now, but keep up with the news on CQN. I have been watching the Champions League games as they were on a channel that I get, else I hook a VGA cable up to my laptop.
Always suspicious when a player changes agent….. Bye bye Beram , bye bye Gary…..
Very few go onto bigger and better things after Celtic!!!!
Our TV just showed this which I’d never seen before – Messi & Kobe Bryant advertising Turkish airlines :)
http://youtu.be/sQLG37rM5hw
channelislandcelt
19:24 on
7 January, 2013
http://i48.tinypic.com/w0kwh5.png , not sure!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xg34lUIysk
Serious question, does anyone know how many people work for the SFA SPL and SFL? ( don’t say “about half of them”)
Its been on in the UK for a while sparkleghirl.
V
then again…..
paulsatim
Thanks for help with post, I’m sticking to my guns(been wrong before tho) :0)
HH.
weeman67
Yes, the early morning games are always a killer, particularly the Sunday ones :)
And I agree, CQN is is a godsend for keeping in touch with fellow Tims. I have Celtic TV so watch the games on that but its good to meet up with the CSCs guys occasionally. The offer of a lift stands (if I am not on-call) so let me know. I’m nearly always lurking here during the day.
Have you traveled over to the Tampa CSC in Dunedin? Another good bunch of lads.
Hail Hail
the battered bunnet
>>>>
I think it’s Ronaldo’s affinity for an establishment, entitlement mindset outfit like RM, his Olympic class diving, his arrogance and ego compared to Messi’s flair and humility.
Nothing personal, just empirical
NCLHE
Whatever their reasons you can bet that it’s to aid dead club /new club is some way or other
Gordon_J
you know and so do I that it will happen
Amy MacZombie?
Defo not the lass at the Spartak game.
HH
Is the lassie at the Spartak not Riordan’s burd??
starry plough
19:49 on
7 January, 2013
Is the lassie at the Spartak not Riordan’s burd??
………………………………………………………………………………
Nah!. She’s got 2 nostrils!
HH
Balloon D’Orange – sponsored by
I expect the calamero headlines to start on Thursday.
Allys gladiators battle their way through game after game of dealing with thugs with football strips on.
only to be denied promotion…it’s an injustice!!
The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie
19:27 on 7 January, 2013
Kilbowie Kvetch…. ETC…….
Here is the difference between ME & yourself or your puppet master.
You can at any time of your choosing, at any venue of your choosing, meet me & be told to your face everything that I have previously said about you, & to you, on this site.
I won’t even charge travelling expenses.
Unlike you two clowns, I actually EXIST.
BSR
….”tae be totally honest wi’ ye chick ah could dae wi’ a double supper…”
Reduced to watching cliftonville v glentoran – who to support?
Dublinbhoy
I have friends over in Spring Hill about an hour north of Tampa and when I go visit we usually go down to Dunedin if I am there on a Sunday, lots of craft and antique stores down that way and Tarpon Springs is nice to walk around.
Emdae having bother with Google Chrome ?
If anyone is interested there is a good college football game on tonight, Notre Dame (The Fightin’ Irish) V Alabama (The Crimson Tide), this game is sometimes known as The Catholics V The Baptists. It is being played in Miami so weather should be decent. No doubt South Beach is heaving right now
SPL type ref denies Cliftonville a corner
Gene – you Sussed it out yet ;-)
There’s a buzzard about the place.
Down 2-0!
Anyone think Cheltenham are going to get horsed?
!!Bada Bing!! 20:02:
Just logged on, using Google Chrome, no problems.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Would anybody think that Aiden could return to be our No. 10?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Lennybhoy -Thanks HH
weeman67
20:03 on
7 January, 2013
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Cheers for that info I think that will be more entertaining than the feckin downtown abbey box set that the wummin of my Hoose seem intent on watchin all in one go!!!
Saltires
So on one side we have team ln green and white who are winning 1-0 agains t a team in red – so tonight gene will be supporting the reds
Gene
Good man :-)
mncelt, if you have people coming from the states and your playing St Andrews it would be a shame not to play Carnoustie while in the area.
I mean, St Andrews is ok as a warm up but you want to play the real course in the North East, not just the historic pitch and putt:-)
I had a look on the links web site and it will set you back £70 per player to play the Championship course. How much is St Andrews?
Get it on your itinery, you’ll love it and so will your guests.
Someone else mentioned Kings Barns. I’ve not played it myself but Iknow lots who have and its extremely highly rated.
HH
ACGR
Mhark67
The wummin in here have watched the Christmas special three piggin times
And they say fitba is boring
Nae wonder Cheltenham are getting one ..the eejit s have Scott Brown in goal :-))
Killies stadium valued at double ibrokes and murray park .. And the 140 year history
But does rugby park include the pie stalls
Come on you reds 1-1
Level at Solitude 1-1 :-)
Weeman67
I was going to leave it till later before posting something about the Notre Dame v Alabama game, but the preview show from Florida on ESPN just now is quite good.
Alabama are 10pts favourites, but after what ND have done this season, don’t write the Irish off.
The support for ND is unbelievable. They come from all over America to support them.
We were at the game v Navy College in Dublin in Sep and there were 30,000 ND fans travelled over to see them.
Game starts at 1am, btw.
SPF