SFL, Hearts and the cash cow

With former Rangers International director, Charles Green, no longer on the scene, Scottish Football League chief executive, David Longmuir, has had a sudden change of heart. After encouraging member clubs to reject the SPL proposal to merge leagues, yesterday he congratulated clubs who voted for the merger as “reluctant heroes”.

SFL president, Jim Ballantyne, was less pragmatic, “We are joining their [SPL] company, their organisation.  They have swallowed us up. We could use nice words about it, but it is a takeover.”

On this occasion, we concur with Mr Ballantyne, who went on to say, “It will be for others to decide if this step takes us to where we want to go.”

The truth is that while this arrangement will do lots for clubs in the second tier of the game it will fundamentally change nothing, our challenges remain.

News this morning of impending financial doom at Hearts as a result of their lender and major shareholder going into liquidation presents another challenge.  Hearts over-reached what looked like a bizarre attempt to spend money like there was no tomorrow.  Memories of Zadoc the Priest blasting over the PA system at Tynecastle heralding their access to the Champions League qualifiers in 2006 will seem hollow now.

Scottish football has one perfectly solvent cash cow and nearly 40 businesses teetering on the brink.  Send the cash cow off to graze in pastures where it can be fattened in return for writing a cheque big enough to solve the game’s problems.

Willie Wallace will be at the Celtic Store, Argyle St, for late night shopping, from 5.30-7.30 pm tonight (Thursday).  Where you can buy a signed copy of his book and have a chat with the man himself.  Bring a camera.

Immediately after leaving the Celtic Store Willie and Brogan Rogan (and a pile of books) are heading to the Greenock Celtic Supporters’ Club for a CQN Question and Answer evening.  Entry costs £2 (all of which is going to our charity causes).  DON’T FORGET YOUR CAMERA!!

Raffle tickets for this fabulous signed Celtic strip cost only £1, you’ve two days left to get a ticket, so fill your boots here.

Tomorrow, while some of us are relaxing in Fife, over a hundred Celtic fans will drive north ahead of a 1254125 Ben Nevis climb and Huddle. Two of our own are then cycling from Fort William back to Glasgow on Sunday…. They need sponsors for their 1254125 campaign. Even if you can’t make it up Ben Nevis you can help out here.

And, if your stuck in Lanarkshire tomorrow there’s a trivia quiz in aid of the Walk Centre, Nakuru, Kenyan, who help children and families of the slum. Quiz takes place at St John The Baptist Church Hall, Uddingston, 7.30 – 11.30.

Order Heart of a Lion below: