SPL Commission, where are we?

897

We’ve not really discussed the enormous political and disciplinary matters hanging over Scottish football since before our Champions League campaign got underway but it moves to the fore today, as the SPL Commission, headed by Lord Nimmo Smith, sits to consider charges levelled by the league against former member, Rangers FC.  The Commission is expected to conclude by the end of this week.

Rangers are charged with improperly registering players by allowing footballers to enter into contractually binding agreements to receive money in connection with the game, directly or indirectly, without registering these agreements with the SPL or the SFA.

Playing an improperly registering footballer voids the result of a match, no matter how innocuous the registration impropriety is, as Spartans discovered 14 months ago to their cost.  They saw their Scottish Cup win over Culter overturned because a player’s registration form was dated only once, not twice as required.

As well as being awarded a 0-3 defeat, the improper registration of players will cost the offending club any prize money ‘won’ and will result in a disciplinary measure being imposed.  Spartans were fined £4000, approximately 20% of their annual income, and were suspended from the competition for 12 months.  A steep tariff for leaving a box on a form empty and fielding a player in one game of football.

Lots of speculation has centred on the so-called ‘stripping of titles’ but in the event the Commission upholds the charge the voiding of results will happen as a matter of consequence; it should not subject to speculation.  What is more interesting is the size of prize money the league would seek to reclaim, and redistribute, and any penalty imposed by the Commission.

SPL teams receive prize money based on their final league position, funded by the league’s TV deal, which for teams finishing in the top two positions is well in excess of £1m each year.  Any ‘stripping of titles’ is likely to be a headline grabber, but the repayment of prize money and disciplinary measures will be far more significant, for some.

Sir David Murray, who owned Rangers throughout the period of alleged improper registration of players, insists the club registered all contractually binding payments players received in connection with playing football.  SFA president, Campbell Ogilvie, was an executive director of Rangers for some of the period under investigation and may have been responsible for some registrations.

Charles Green rejected an offer to limit the consequences of the charge being upheld in return for his company (then called Sevco 5088 Ltd) acquiring the SFA membership vacated by Rangers.  We will soon discover if he is master of the Cunning Plan or an over-ambitious gambler.

I expect calls for SPL and SFA rules to be upheld without fear or favour to be met.
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  1. BIG-CUP-WINNERS on

    hoopsmon

     

     

    22:56 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

    Big-Cup-Winners

     

     

    I wish for much pain and shame. Have equipped said child with a scientific calculator and a portable shredder for the first visit this week. Do you think they’ll get the joke? Hehehe…

     

    No they are shameless curs, capable of any machination, to uphold their hollow facade.

     

    They have subjugated truth amongst themselves and used the old tricks of threats and bullying to cow the little opposition they experience in a largely compliant country.

  2. stephbhoy

     

    22:30 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

    AKBW1888 and Dexter

     

     

    talent without opportunity is nothing. if we do indeed have so many talented young players we should be giving them the opportunity to shine (not all at once). of the 5 or so mentioned maybe one or two will excel, that will save celtic a fortune and you tend to find the academy bhoys are willing to work towards a good wage and commit to the club.

     

     

    from the little i see and hear, i think lenny should maybe consider giving mcgeogh and george a couple of run oust. watt has lots of potential, we all see that, but he is not the best with regard link up play etc…, key to being a quality forward, more so at celtic than other clubs given the tactics used against us in just about every domestic game (everyone behind the ball), it will come in time.

     

     

    i know we have a good academy but more than anything else the youg bhoys need some opportunities to show what they can do

     

     

    hail hail

     

     

    Stephbhoy

     

     

    As mentioned before said younger players will be given a chance to shine

     

    and gel together just let the more experience players get on with the task

     

    in hand in points mathematically winning the SPL for this Season and then

     

    enter the field the young ones to show us what they can do over a few

     

    matches in which time will tell and patience is the key here to said young

     

    players being given a proper chance to develop have faith and keep the

     

    faith young man

  3. jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ on

    Maestro

     

     

    We are not the best at X balls eether. Esp with Wilson there. Bombscare!!

  4. hoopsmon

     

    22:58 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

    AKBW1888

     

    That’s another dimension altogether!! Thanks for the responses – all appreciated – and I have calmed down.

     

     

    Your welcome hoopsmon

  5. So!

     

     

    If they get stripped of the titles between 1999/2000 >present that puts us on 49 titles and deadco on 48

     

     

    Wow …. I like that

     

     

    Especially as we are this season heading for 13-in-a-row

  6. Celtic_first & dublinbhoy

     

    Thx I’ve emailed them an should hear tomorrow.

     

    Prefer to hear from users though rather than sellers as they might be bad guys as well.

  7. I would rather my kids went to school to learn maths than the bigotdome. If I want to take my kids to a football game I will take them to Celtic Park. If I took my kids out of school to take them to Celtic Park I would probably be in trouble and rightly so. I really don’t see the point of it.

  8. Big-Cup-Winners

     

     

    No they are shameless curs, capable of any machination, to uphold their hollow facade.

     

    They have subjugated truth amongst themselves and used the old tricks of threats and bullying to cow the little opposition they experience in a largely compliant country.

     

     

    Totally agree, but, like most Celtic minded people I have taught/raised my children to be bigger than the small-minded bigots that they will certainly come across, all too regularly. I have no fear of sending my wean into the belly-of-the-devil-dome, but it does feel very, very strange. On this occasion I have to practice what I preach and not mock the afflicted.

     

     

    Thanks again.

  9. Silver City 1888 on

    Hoopsman, it sounds as if it’s not entirely as bad as I first thought. I hate it when that happens.

  10. DJBEE

     

     

    What you have said is/was part of my initial reaction to hearing about it. I’ve had a few days to mull it over, hence why I posted here looking for opinion/advice/experience. If I feel the need, after some digging, I will withdraw my child and seek justification from those employed to give it. Cheers.

     

     

    HH

  11. Silver City 1888

     

     

    Me too! Conspiracy theory number two for the evening is……..hehehehe

     

     

    HH

  12. stephbhoy

     

    22:03 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

    Yeah Paul McStay was class in his young days

     

    here is a question for you, 1) what was the only trophy that Paul

     

    picked up as hoops captain?

     

    2) Which Cup Final? 3) The Year? 4) & Against which Team?

     

     

    stories are great, so here’s one, when we beat airdrie 1 – 0 in the scottish cup, think it was, 95/96 i was in hospital after undergoing significant surgery.

     

     

    i knew celtic were playing in the scottish cup finalday after my surgery so asked if i could bring in t.v to watch game, nursing staff said no need we’ll make sure you have a t.v.

     

     

    day after surgery, day of the game, nursing staff says sorry no t.v you cant leave bed or ward so you’ll need to listen on radio.

     

     

    reply: are you having a laugh, either you get me a t.v or i’ll be leaving right now

     

     

    nurse: you cant you have a morphine drip etc…

     

     

    reply: watch me

     

     

    after massive argument with nurse(s)/ hospital staff get hold of a t.v. i was afforded a black and white t.v. watch the game pissed right off until PVH scored, so f*cking happy. watch highlights in black and white later that evening

     

     

    never been so pissed off with a nurse in all my life, still think f&ck was trying to play mind games with a tim, no joke, professionalism oot the window that day

     

     

    under tommy burns paul produced some outstanding preformances, held back only by the limitations of those around him.

     

     

    Well done Stephbhoy that’s correct Paul McStay was captain when we beet

     

    Airdrie 1-0 in May 1995 Big Pierre scored that day with one of his trade mark

     

    headers with a Tosh pin point cross

     

    Peter Grant also played well that day and summed said occasion up when

     

    he said it was good to see the smiles back on the Hoops Family faces after

     

    going five years without winning a trophy Peter Grant is a Hoops Supporter

     

    that is for sure

  13. pauloantony

     

    23:07 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

     

    With the best will in the world it will never happen……

     

    As much as we all know it should happen…… it never will…..

     

     

    We live in hope…. that justice will prevail, but with thems, it never has and nevers will……

     

    Its a sh*tty little corrupt scottish place we live in…..

     

    Always has been always will be…….

     

    Maybe in 50 years time the history books will be re-written, when all their grandchildren support the tic, until such times…… dream on my friend …….

     

    HH

     

     

     

     

    HH

  14. hoopsmon

     

     

    Just all sound a bit weird, the simple question being why? Good PR for them? Making it normal for kids to go there? Oh by the way kids you can pick up applications for season tickets on the way out they’re really cheap this year. Oh, and some people say Catholic schools are breeding grounds for bigots, next to the orange lodge this place is the biggest ground for bigotry in the country, maybe bigger. Get them young and get them in the habit.

  15. Sunday was my 1300th Celtic match like many of those games the League Cup was big let down.

     

     

    My all time favourite from all these games was Paul McStay. Roy Aitken was a cut above the rest until Paul flourished into the side. I had the pleasure of seeing his full debut against Queen of the South, his scoring league debut the following week at Pittodrie against Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen and the rest of his playing career.

     

     

    Unlike some around him Paul didn’t talk about how much Celtic meant he just played his heart out every time he wore the jersey.

     

     

    In his early years playing along side great Celts like McGrain, Aitken, Burns, Bonner, he enjoyed alot of success. Unfortunately in 1989/90 Celtic lost all their experienced outfield players – Burns, McCarthy, McGhee, Aitken, Stark, McAvennie all leaving and although some of these players were past the sell by date it left a very inexperienced team behind. Although Celtic would eventully buy some decent players like Collins and Boyd to replace some of them it left a huge weight on Paul McStay’s shoulders.

     

     

    Paul carried the club throughout the ’90’s until there was nothing left to give.

     

    He also suffered a lot of grief in the League Cup (just like the rest of us). His only sending off came at Dundee, I’m sure in the same season as the Raith Rovers final.

     

     

    On his day there was nothing better than watching him.

     

     

    On the present team just like the ’90’s team I think they also lack leadership on the park which only Neil Lennon can solve in the transfer market because the bhoys are not learning from their mistakes which I am putting down to a lack of experience throughout the team.

  16. Stephbhoy

     

     

    Avoid Hospitals like the plague they are useless establishments that all

     

    have the same smell attached to them

     

    Here is another question for you in which year did the hoops beet the

     

    same opposition in the same cup final what was the score and what

     

    was that said match also known as???

  17. Kevtic

     

    23:31 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

     

    leadership on the park my friend…….. thats all we need…….

  18. “@ScottBurns75: Swedish international checks in at #Celtic See tomorrow’s Daily Express and Daily Star for full story. #cfc #hoops”

  19. Hoopsmon – my bhoy also in non-denom, P7.

     

     

    Came in today and he announced that their next project is called ‘Divided Glasgow’.

     

     

    He usually does his projects on his own but there might be some parental input for this one!:-D

     

     

    Now where to begin……

  20. DJBEE

     

     

    Just all sound a bit weird, the simple question being why? Good PR for them? Making it normal for kids to go there? Oh by the way kids you can pick up applications for season tickets on the way out they’re really cheap this year. Oh, and some people say Catholic schools are breeding grounds for bigots, next to the orange lodge this place is the biggest ground for bigotry in the country, maybe bigger. Get them young and get them in the habit

     

     

    Had all those thoughts, as you can imagine. From the little I’ve gleaned, so far, it is actually a ‘historical’ educational thing – not confined to the Belly-Of-The-Devil-Dome – pre-dates Chuckles. One of myy main, remaining, gripes is that my child attends a ‘non denominational’ school for good reason. I take my kids to CP as and when I can afford to (these days) and they are both Celtic fans – incorruptibly so. I am thankful for that. Someone from the programme talked to them, pre-visit, and asked which team they ‘liked’. Apparently he ‘liked’ Celtic. I can’t argue with that – yet!

  21. Art of War

     

     

    Perhaps I should encourage my child’s school to have that as a project – rather than the irony of being taught maths in a place where a total lack of mathematical savvy has rendered it liquidated/sold for a song.

     

     

    Good luck with the project – where to begin indeed. First para – Which School Did You Go To?

     

     

    HH

  22. Hoopsmon- has to be. ;-)

     

     

    Mrs War had a proddy-dog education so at least the bhoys project will be balanced! :-)

     

     

    Obviously no offence meant to all those who had a poorer tutoring.;-)

  23. Big Georges Fan Club on

    hoopsmon

     

     

    I know you are a bit more calm now, but I still don’t see what the point of the exercise is.

     

     

    Princess BGFC is at the new St Ambrose in Coatbridge – we had an excellent parent’s evening last week, with a first class presentation on the ethos of the school and, in particular, the aims of the Curriculum for Excellence. The aims include giving children opportunities and challenges, developing lifelong learning skills, and making them better and more responsible citizens. I just don’t see where exposure to the BigotDome could fit in with good citizenship lessons!

     

     

    If my ghirl got the chance to go to Celtic Park she would of course be thrilled, but it would not be anything to do with the maths lessons.

     

     

    I must say, like you, this would not sit well with me.

     

     

    BGFC

  24. Kevtic

     

     

    well said about Paul McStay and you are spot on he did carry the

     

    hoops during most of the nineties and played for the Club with

     

    his heart a true Celtic man and also a supporter of the Club

     

    I know the LC final @ planet numb skull was not a good day for

     

    the Club I was there that day and that trophy seams to be our

     

    bogey trophy I think they should in future just let the young hoops

     

    compete in said competition after all there is no big money or

     

    a place in European football up for grabs by winning said trophy

     

    so they should just let the young hoops enter into said competition

     

    to gain match experience after all there is no reserve league as

     

    well and it would free up more time for the hoops to try and make

     

    in-roads in European competitions and of course concentrating

     

    more on the SPL (Bread & Butter Matches)

     

    Your also right about appointing a good Club Captain

     

    A good captain leads by example a true leader and rolls up his

     

    sleeves when the going gets tough the tough get going not

     

    handing over captain’s arms bands to mouses on the field

     

    who say nothing they should always learn from their mistakes

     

    and also your right the said present team does lack experience

     

    throughout the team an important matter that needs to be

     

    addressed

  25. Trouble in Timbuktu – video of Sharia Law in action on Sky News. Barbaric. As a kid I always thought it was a make-believe land, don’t know why.

  26. I don’t recognise this criticism of the current Celtic manager being unwilling to blood young players.

     

     

    Here is the contrary evidence:-

     

     

    Our first team squad has the youngest average age it has ever had, i.e. we ARE already playing the youngsters.

     

     

    We have seen the following youngsters make first team debuts under Neil:-

     

    Fraser Forster

     

    Adam Matthews

     

    James Forrest

     

    Dylan McGeoch

     

    Filip Twardzik

     

    Victor Wanyama

     

    Tony Watt

     

    Lewis Toshney

     

    Marcus Fraser

     

    Joe Chalmers

     

    Paul George

     

     

     

    (and several others have featured in pre-season friendlies and got match time at the expense of first team squad players.)

     

     

    These were not always played in LC ties or home fixtures against SPL bottom clubs; Watt & Fraser played in CL and Europa competitions.

     

     

    Victor Wanyama at 21 has 51 appearances behind him

     

    James Forrest at 21 has 59 appearances behind him

     

    Adam Matthews at 21 has 44 appearances

     

    Dylan McGeoch at 20 has 10 appearances

     

    Tony Watt at 19 has 18 appearances

     

    Filip Twardzik at 19 has 3 appearances

     

     

    We can only play 11 to 14 players in every fixture and we have a Senior squad of around 26 players to satisfy.

     

     

    Many of the young players that Neil would like to give more game time too (Forrest, McGeoch, George) have been injured for spells which have prevented them from earning even more impressive stats. Others, like Twardzik, may have been overtaken in the queue by players who have yet too debut (Atajic??)

     

     

    If we give more time to young players, before they’ve earned it. will we give the management team any slack when the inevitable inconsistencies of youth come to the fore? The evidence of the posts since the St. Mirren game is that Neil Lennon would be signing his own P45 if he followed this advice.

     

     

    Neil is already making judicious use of youth. No manager before him, even Jock Stein, has fielded such youthful line ups.

     

     

    I suspect much of the lauding of Stokes, Watt, Twardzik etc; is just hitting out at the players who let us down recently and forgetting the occasions where our newly-discovered saviours had let us down likewise in the past.

     

     

    Let me remind you that all of our failures at Hampden had earned their place through their performances in the two previous games. nobody who had seen us outplay Heats and United could have foreseen the dip in form that the same, supposedly uninterested (I know the term disinterested was used but since these guys are being paid big bucks I think they are far from disinterested parties) players produced.

     

     

    I suspect Zaluska will not be dropped from the line up for the Killie game tomorrow because we need his experience, in Fraser’s absence. I suspect Stokes will replace Sammi or Lassad, and that will be a gamble because Antony’s flicks and tricks can be just as infuriating as Lassad’s languid loping and Sammi’s hit and miss dribbling.

     

     

    Still expect us to win but Killie will play football and test our patience as a crowd. We have 3 games before our Euro tie, including a now vital SC tie away in Kirkaldy. We could do with 3 wins and a feel good factor going into the tie.

  27. Maley’s bhoys what’s this about a new Swedish International?

     

    Where did you hear this Rumour?

  28. hoopsmon.

     

     

    Going to bed now but I will ask about it if you don’t mind in future. A few years ago when my oldest was at primary the walls outside the head office and office were covered in pictures of the blue room and believe it or not M HATEly among others. This was long after the big baboon had left mordor and I never did find out what it was all about but I thought that day there is no way the wee man is going there. Directly across from all these pictures was also a picture of the pope. It just all seemed a bit strange.

  29. kevtic

     

     

    Remember Paul McStay’s league debut at Pittodrie, 4-1 I think against a good Aberdeen team. Remember going up there and getting smashed 4-0 – hammered!

     

     

    When Paul failed to get a coaching job at Celtic I thought the club let him down. No other player in my lifetime so obviously put the club before his own career and personal wealth. Paul deserved better from Celtic, I thought. And he was world class!

  30. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    thomthethim

     

    21:02 on

     

    29 January, 2013

     

     

    Glad to see your post about Bobby Evans.I felt he was a marvellous player for Celtic and know that he was a great favourite of the Celtic fans of the day.

     

    Billy Connolly speaks very fondly of him..

     

    Wouldn`t wish to speculate about any other matters except to say that there was criticism of Celtic for allegedly not offering ,from memory.financial assistance to Bobby when he was financially strapped and suffering health problems.