Yesterday evening STV revealed the real outcome of last week’s meeting between Stewart Regan, Neil Doncaster and David Longmuir as a proverbial gun was put to the head of Scottish Football League clubs.
In short, SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, no doubt with the support of some clubs but without the prior knowledge or support of Celtic, has threatened to kick 20 SFL clubs out of the senior game unless they acquiesce to his demand to parachute Sevco into the First Division.
The proposal was presented by SFL chief executive, David Longmuir, and appears to carry his endorsement.
Five scenarios are portrayed:
‘Rangers’ remaining in the SPL is dismissed as SPL clubs have confirmed they will vote no.
‘Rangers’ going to the third division is objected to on two grounds, financial (which is laboured a bit) and – wait for it – “The sporting opportunity is quashed for other clubs”.
Ponder that one for a moment, “The sporting opportunity is quashed for other clubs”.
‘Rangers’ to the First Division is presented as being “financially possible to recover from this scenario”.
‘Rangers’ to SPL2 is dismissed as apparently this would create “a bigger divide” than moving ‘Rangers’ to the First Division but not changing the name of the league. It is also noted that a legal challenge could bring paralysis.
Finally, they discuss ‘Rangers’ terminated or suspended, which apparently would lead to “complete financial meltdown”.
Then come the inducements to co-opt ‘Rangers’ into the First Division…. cash, your cash. Lots and lots of your cash, an “immediate cash benefit for all 30 clubs!” The exclamation mark is theirs!!
We could spend all day dissecting this disgraceful document but I’d like to focus on one immediate element:
‘Rangers’ terminated or suspended – complete financial meltdown.
So how do the SFA, SFL and the SPL rogues who participated in this shambles propose to ensure the SFA Independent Judicial Panel does not suspend ‘Rangers’ for subverting our game for over a decade for fielding illegally registered players for that period?
In short, it cannot. The independent judicial process will itself need to be subverted. As I suggested a few days ago, the judges will be told they are no longer wanted, we are back with the hand-selected SFA committee men.
The three most senior executives running our game have told you that one errant club is so powerful it cannot be subject to the rules and must not face the punishments which are due.
I’m not going to dispute the validity of this view (just now), but surely we deserve some honesty? If the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Premier League has accepted the ‘game’ is over, let’s hear from them. Where is the leadership from the SFA president on the collapse of the game under his watch? What are the chief executives saying to their paying customers?
Our sport cannot be subverted below radar.
You have been cheated and the rules will be changed to ensure there are no consequences. This is no longer a sport, it is a financial accommodation where a few executives are threatening to expel 20 clubs, most of whom have over a century history in the senior game, to allow Sevco to start two divisions higher than they otherwise would.
Celtic can have nothing to do with this.
The game here is dead. The leagues are set to collapse, most likely, no matter what happens now.
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Time for a clear out at the executive level of the Scottish Football Administrative bodies.
First Scottish Footballing Clubs are cheated by a roque club.
Second, the Scottish public are cheated out of fiscal revenue.
Third, the powers at the Administrative level of Scottish Football, threaten and manipulate to make every club bend over backward (and forwards) to accommodate Die Hunnen
Celtic need to act now.
I am certain of this.
The time has come for Celtic PLC to call for an extraordinary meeting of the SFA and the SPL and call for the heads to roll.
If the press in Scotland had any desire to be even handed in their portrayals of this they would to a man slam it.
It will put many of them if not all of them out of a job and that should even be their basic motivation. We know the Laptop loyal will never back all the other clubs and will continue to describe the fan revolt against newco as a few bampots on the internet but what about the decent journalists (and there are some) who want to further their careers and enter wholeheartedly into their vocation. They want to believe in the principles of the trade unlike slugs like Jabba and jackson who are there for other reasons.
If they could find their voices or express the voices of the SFL clubs and ALL fans who don’t belong to Sevco (and even a few who do) then they would see their sales increase and the public might regain faith in them but instead we’ll get more of the same.
The internet bampots are our only hope. Blogs, Twitter, facebook – the power of new media is the only thing that will quash this plan cooked up by folk looking to secure their bonuses and flok with “cultural leanings” who cannot accept the fact that their club is dead.
The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few – Mr Spock, Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan. An interesting quotation. The many – fans of all clubs who are not newco, the majority if you will. The few? Newco, Regan, Doncaster, Charles Green and anyone connected with Dead Parrot FC directly or indirectly.
Fan power can and will kill this and the bumbling English morons and the peepel pulling their strings had better start looking at weekends away in Division 3.
To threaten to expel 20 clubs who don’t agree with you is nothing short of a disgusting act which will unite the fans more across the country.
We live in amazing times.
I feel genuinely saddened and sicked by the actions of the few and my complete sympathy is extended to the SFL fans and Chairmen who have already shown they have real integrity and not the kid on integrity some SPL chairmen got plaudits for.
The time is now right for Celtic to say something but I think they will make a statement come Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning after the formal no to newco in the SPL vote.
HH
Rogue Leader @11:09
_______________________________________________
Superb stuff Sir.
Oh, how I wish someone like YOU were in charge of the ghoodship Celtic FC.
Hail Hail
Is this all falling nicely into place for Celtic.
Give them enough rope …
Can all the teams that object to a Newco anywhere but the bottom of Div 3 resign from their current associations and form a new football association. Would UEFA recognise the new league? Who would lead the Putsch!
Come on Celtic “Carpe diem, Hunnorum ad portas” (literally at the gates) and we may be the last bulwark against them destroying Scottish football.
Shona says NO
Tony McKelvie @TonyMcKelvie
With thanks to @shonarobison, Scot Gov Sports Minister, for clarifying that support will not be withdrawn from SFL if clubs reject proposals
A lot of lies in that wee document yesterday, I doubt it would stand up to any kind of journalistic or even legal scrutiny!
Today I point-blank refuse to get angry/depressed. My emotions are not dependent on others’. I will not be co-dependent. I will not buy into the utter fiasco that the governance of Scottish football has descended to…all in order to keep a fascist bigoted gang of criminals going full steam ahead. Oh no…I will NOT get ANGRY about THAT. Too late…..I’ve tipped over the edge….
Ogilvie ! Donkey ! Raaaaaayguuuun ! Die, ya bams! Just Die!
Rangers new team bus is a 7 seater
Its a we are the people carrier
Tony McKelvie @TonyMcKelvie
With thanks to @shonarobison, Scot Gov Sports Minister, for clarifying that support will not be withdrawn from SFL if clubs reject proposals
22nd March
Celtic will fight the 10 non-Old Firm clubs’ efforts to change the Scottish Premier League voting structure.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell has described as “disrespectful” the secret meetings of the 10.
They are trying to change from 11-1 to 9-3 the structure which they see as creating a Rangers-Celtic stranglehold.
And it is believed that Lawwell has the backing of the Ibrox administrators and at least some of the potential new owners of the troubled Govan club.
Lawwell said: “They talk of a more competitive league.
“Well, the Icelandic and Welsh leagues are competitive but it is the presence of the Old Firm which makes Scottish football different.”
Celtic are adamant that the current voting structure will stay because Rangers will stand shoulder to shoulder with them, alongside Sky Television whose new contract with the SPL has not yet actually been signed off.
As things stand, the SPL’s Articles of Association state that 66% of clubs (eight) must agree for an ordinary resolution to be passed.
To pass a special qualified resolution, such as for the expansion or reduction of SPL members, 83% of clubs must agree. That represents a 10-2 split.
However, to pass a qualified resolution, 90% of clubs (11) must be in agreement, which means Rangers and Celtic voting the same way scuppers any change.
A qualified resolution is required for what is being proposed by the 10 non-Old Firm clubs: they want a simplified 9-3 voting structure for all matters.
An angry Celtic chief pledged to take no immediate action against the other clubs but is warning against “legal, commercial and practical remedies to this situation for us”.
Lawwell went on: “It is divisive and of concern to every Scottish football supporter at this very difficult time for our game. We could all do without it.
“We are not against protecting the lower clubs.
“We were part of the strategic group that committed to changing the funding for the First Division and also when asked our opinion about the size of the league we said we would be happy to accommodate a league of 14.
“We started with a 10-club idea – 36 games – because that gave us a late start and preparation time.
“But then we – Martin Bain of Rangers and I – were convinced of a 14, in a 6-8 split which also gives us 36 games and the bottom eight 40 games, which is more money for them.
“We also support the idea of play-offs and a pyramid system and parachute payments.
“And then we were persuaded to go back to a 10 for the greater good of others.
“We prefer a late start and a winter break and flexibility of dates so that you are not playing Rangers at noon on a Saturday after coming back from Kazakhstan.
“Not being invited to the meetings of the other 10 clubs is disappointing and disrespectful, given what Celtic and Rangers bring to the game, having spent nearly two years and a lot of time on developing a strategy.
“The quality of Scottish football could be further weakened to the point that we won’t have any European context at all.”
Celtic also privately feel that if they have lesser income then it is their academy which will suffer first, not what happens to the first team.
Tony McKelvie @TonyMcKelvie
Why SFL/SFA thought it a good idea to issue an implied threat of withdrawal of Govt support, simply adds another layer to the shabby story.
Duffield’s peddling the same line as everyone else on that side, that there’s a right to be in the SPL, and that right is financial. His hypothesis is that ‘people say Rangers are dead yet want to punish the newco with sanctions’. Yes, Gordon it’s simple. It’s a newco. With no rights or anything (currently no players, for example. The word ‘irony’ doesn’t even describe financial right argument.
I cancelled Sky/ESPN –
Philbhoy
Miki67
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Ach…..ah’m only kiddin’. This’ll just play out however it plays out. My voice means absolutely zero. I’m a minnow in an ocean of sharks.
And I’m okay with that.
I’m off to enjoy the remains of the day.
KTF!
: > )
RobertTressell
Do I work with you? :-)
We should have a protest march on Sunday at noon to Bummer Broon’s hoose and demand to see the rent book.
The golf’s cancelled on Sunday due to the protest march.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 29 June, 2012 at 11:32 said:
LoL.
RogueLeader on 29 June, 2012 at 11:09 said:
>>>>
I agree. Wholeheartedly.
HH!
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 29 June, 2012 at 11:28 said:
I cancelled Sky/ESPN –
Philbhoy
Miki67
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I have cancelled ESPN subscription (mid season)
Can this SPL document be sent to FIFA and UEFA?
Cheating – no other word to describe it.
Morning Paul et al.
Not been on the blog for a wee while but have caught up on an awful lot of reading recently.
What a mess, what an unholy mess!
I could understand the mess if the situation was a complicated one but it is not. One club……ONE CLUB has broken so many rules it is hard to comprehend how they got away with it for so long. Hard to comprehend that is unless you know Scottish Football as we know it; biased, bigoted and corrupt in favour of the one club who broke all these rules. My friends and colleagues who are not fans of Scottish Clubs can scarcely believe what has gone on. Imagine the look on their faces this morning when I introduced them to the latest farce that broke yesterday!
I didn’t read the “document” last night – Tyneside turned chaotic in the midst of thunderstorms from 4.00 yesterday – but I was aware of its content. Having read it this morning it is actually worse than I imagined. I too, like many I’m sure, picked up on the lines that indicate that the SFA seem openly keen to pervert their own “course of justice”.
“OK Appellate Tribunal, it’s over to you (if/whenever they fix a date) but erm, you know those possible sanctions you could impose? Well…erm…..you can’t!”
A while ago I opined on these very pages that I felt Regan had the ability to sort our game out but that there may be a lack of will. I was wrong. Any ability has been washed away by the will of him and others to do the wrong thing for the sake of the one club who should be getting hammered.
I am sick to the pit of my stomach. Sick of the whole damned thing. Most of all though, I’m sick of the fact that something that is simple and written in black and white is being ignored. Unconscious incompetence is something we are all guilty of regularly. Conscious incompetence – doing wrong and knowing you’re doing wrong – is unforgiveable.
You know it has been my long held wish that we never had to play them ever again, in any form in which they are regurgitated. It has been my long held wish that we played in any other league in the world. However, as fans of a number of SPL clubs showed such fortitude in the face of lies and damned lies pedalled by a compliant and complicit media. I was genuinely optomisitic of a potential bright new dawn for our game. Those fans along with us may still win the day. We and they HAVE to win the day.
If we don’t the game in Scotland is lost and lost and gone forever.
RogueLeader,
I couldn’t agree more. I just hope Celtic quietly let all the other chairmen know that they support sporting integrity. Then, if all else fails, bring this into the public domain and call for an EGM of the SFA and of the SPL had demand the resignations of those intent on destroying Scottish football.
Snake Plissen,
I know of at least one genuine Scottish sports journalist who would be happy be happy to tell it as it is. He has been threatened and he finds it hard to get any copy printed.
Surely the only thing Celtic needs to do to bring down this charade is make a onle line statement along the lines of “we will not increase the share of our gate money for visiting teams”.
That takes away the sweetener / carrot being offered. What’s the worst that the SPL / SFA can do? impose sanctions or threaten to suspend us??? That would be self inflicted “complete financial meltdown”
Starryhope
Parkheadcumsalford
It doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Had the White Knight Blue Knights and now ol’Bomber brings us his version. “The Brownshirts” HOW APT!!!! google.co.uk/search?tbm=isc…
POM
miki67 on 29 June, 2012 at 11:30 said:
>>>>>
hold on,hold on,hold on…….ah’m not kiddin’ about sackin’ sky/espn. i’m only kiddin’ about losin’ the plot for yet another day……aaaaargh….
HeadlessChicken CSC
Well said, Paul.
You ask: “Where is the leadership from the SFA president on the collapse of the game under his watch? What are the chief executives saying to their paying customers?”
The presidents and chief execs of not just the SFA, but also SPL and SFL are now indelibly stained by this shocking debacle. It can only be a matter of time before we have a clear out of the Augean Stables which is the upper echelons of Scottish football.
As I hinted yesterday, this primitively hand-carved shambles of a proposal would not look out of place back in the 1950s, when the game in Scotland was overseen by contemptible figures like the SFAs then chief exec/general secretary George Graham.
Happily, we’re not in the 1950s.
We live in more enlightened times, one in which internet bampots can quickly muster a decisive response to drivel like this.
Nor is the wider paying public any longer beholden to or afraid of the Masonic machinations of the Campbell Ogilvies of this world.
I remain convinced that, having lately realized their own strength, fans of all existing Scottish clubs have had enough of this farce and will continue to tell their blazer-clad club chairmen and chief execs that they can get stuffed if this the best they can come up with.
FF
Paul67
”In short, SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, no doubt with the support of some clubs but without the prior knowledge or support of Celtic”
So what is Eric Riley, as a director of the SPL, intending to do about it?
This document gives Rangers a free hand, effectively.
If a Rangers team fix matches in the future they know they will not be suspended or expelled because the SFA/SPL/SFL troika feel them being missing from the game is ‘financial meltdown’.
If a Rangers team bribe refs in the future, they know their membership will be safe no matter what.
If they play inelligible players in the future, going against any signing ban, then they know they’ll be allowed to carry-on regardless.
Sevco-soon-to-be-a-Rangers are not being punished. They are being accommodated.
A Rangers will never be treated the same way as others would, for example Airdrire or Livingston. That means the game is bent.
To set the game straight, we can’t have this level of accommodation going on.
(PS: If they do resurrect the name ‘Rangers’ they wont be The Rangers, cos they’re pan-breed. They’ll be A Rangers; just another Rangers team, not unique, not special. Unlike the one, and ONLY, Celtic…)
Patrick27 on 29 June, 2012 at 11:34 said:
Someone posted a contact address yesterday for FIFA/UEFA but i can’t remember who matey.
St Martin’s Bhoy on 29 June, 2012 at 11:34 said:
wise words
Did the SFA/SPL document from yesterday mention the creditors at all or how the football club formerly known as rangers is attempting to shaft them for millions of pounds…
Did the document also mention how they are dealing with the illegal fielding of players by said former club against the many members of the Scottish football leagues…
When they draft a document outlining what their answers are to these and the many other questions surrounding the club formerly known as rangers who died in June 2012 I look forward to congratulating them for their strong leadership they have shown.
Until then any document they realized should be looked upon with suspicion and downright disdain..
ASonOfDan, indeed.
Gerrys son, I really don’t know, Gerry. We cannot support this shambles. A line has to be drawn.
Oglach, right now we need to co-op other clubs into a plan. No idea on progress, though.
greenjedi, I didn’t suggest otherwise.
DeniaBhoy, I believe Celtic anticipated this development and are working to gather support. Public comment will come when it does not deflect from building support.
Snake Plissken, perhaps.
Parkheadcumsalford, we’ll need to wait and see about that.
hen1rik, there is plenty of fight and plenty of mileage in this yet.
KevJungle, sleep well tonight.
MWD, I hear the call for public statements but don’t confuse this with progress.
TBB, agree. What next? Is the question people need to turn their attention to now.
Teuchter, so it seems.
notthebus, yes, indeed. Another yard of rope, Mr D?
St Martin’s Bhoy, indeed.
Folly Folly, all of them indelibly stained.
ernie lynch, good question. I think this matter is important enough to Celtic for you to look him in the eye and ask him? Or maybe not?
Some naebrain reporter on the TV last night was trying to tell me that if rangers are not around then 5 SPL teams will be bust by the end of next season.
Hmmm… ( a word often used since this fiasco began)
I didnt understand how rangers being in the 1st division helps these 5 teams get more money and therefore avoid going bust
Secondly if the 5 clubs cannot stand on their own two feet with the finances afforded by their own fan base, then there is only two options, either go bust or tighten the belt. I don’t care which route the 5 teams take. That’s their own free choice, but it looks rather obvious to me.
By the way is there really a single person in Scotland (including huns) who really believe that the proposed re organisations are for the benefit of Scottish football and not solely for the benefit of the sevco?
I think we need to target the activities of the drivers behind this latest hair brained scheme
RogueLeader on 29 June, 2012 at 11:09 said:
Stirring stuff.
Can there be many dissenting voices here on CQN?
As I see it, there are a number of strands to be addressed.
Some of those being:
• how the surviving SPL and SFL clubs deal with the financial fall-out from the demise of The Foe Malign FC;
• the opportunity to re-form the SFA/SPL/SFL. (With regard to this latter, the recent McLeish Report is now seriously in need of a re-write to take account of the new situation.)
• We need the whole business of the provisioning of referees to be addressed.
To coin a phrase, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for such fundamental issues to be tackled.
Do we have the people in position to take this on: either at Celtic or in the wider Scottish footballing community.
We can only hope so …
FF
PeteTheBeat
On your post on penalties. I remember as a kid my old man saying to me to watch out for left footed penalty takers, they are more likely to miss. It’s a wee thing I have always looked out for since and he was right – the percentage of missed kicks by left-footers is significantly higher that by right-footed players. I have no idea why this is and neither do I have stats to back it up but it’s easy to see when you’re looking for it.
I cancelled Sky/ESPN –
Philbhoy
Miki67
Oglach
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The third scenario proposed “Rangers” are relegated to the 1st division. WTF are “Rangers”?