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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The comments on forsyths article in the telegraph are classic.
I got a row for posting a link a week or so back and am far too non techie to copy and paste so check em out if you aren’t bothered about incurring the wrath of……. I forget who it was
HH
SIALF
Ouch
CT. May not make meeting but if I don’t I’d prefer if you kept it between us ma pal!!! :-)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 30 June, 2012 at 08:29 said:
Hail hail .
The pub opened half an hour ago ,if you are in this country ,who do you give your roll ‘n’sausage tae .
C’mon the hoops
Over the moon FF has signed,as important as Ledley and Kayal (when fit),a top goalie who kept the dream alive during the rough times last season.
Brilliant news!
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous New hillbillies the day?
Kit – maybe gettin’ hunger ( film about B.Sands) mixed up with hunger games – daft book and films about teenage vampires eatin’ their own knees? ;/)
Good morning fellow Celts from grey London Town
just sold mymerseycelt lmfao as the big house door slams shut on 30 June, 2012 at 08:25 said:
house and ‘exchanged’ last night
heid a bit sair….with the celebratin’
I am very disappointed to see respected fellow CQN ers like
merseycelt lmfao as the big house door slams shut on 30 June, 2012 at 08:25 said:
making eferences to a religion in the context of someone’s name.
You know much better mate, (not the only one of course,) I do know you have been on here for years and always like your posts …:)
there are many Celts who belong to that faith … that is the kind of behaviour that currants get up to ….so gonnae no’ dae that ?
HH
Vmhan:
Another movie you might enjoy (which I think is still banned in the USA) is ‘One man’s hero’. (I bought it via itunes)
Formation and early engagements
Present in the Mexican army for the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were the Legión de Extranjeros (Legion of Foreigners); the men who would later make up the core of the Saint Patrick’s battalion. Popularly they were called Los Colorados (the red-heads) by the Mexicans.
The Saint Patrick’s Battalion first fought as a recognized Mexican unit in the Battle of Monterrey on 21 September 1846, as an artillery battery commanded by John Riley. This Irish-born artilleryman, a veteran Non-commissioned officer of the British Army, arrived in Canada in 1843, but went on to join the U.S. Army in Michigan in September 1845. He deserted in Matamoros in April 1846 (Hogan 1998, p. 41).
At the battle of Monterrey, the San Patricios proved their artillery skills by mowing down many American soldiers, and they are credited with defeating two separate assaults into the heart of the city. Their tenacity, however, did not prevent the defeat of the Mexican forces there.
Recruitment increases and Buena Vista
Following the engagement at Monterrey, the San Patricios grew in number, by some estimates reaching an enlistment of about 800 men. The U.S. army’s conduct at the previous battle, which had included firing on people taking refuge in Catholic churches, resulted in more desertions from the U.S. army. Santa Anna even sent out notices encouraging Catholic U.S. troops to desert the army and nation that had no respect for their religion. Not all the new recruits were deserters, but also European Catholics already residing in Mexico. Forces re-assembled at San Luis Potosí and they had their distinct Green silk flag embroidered there. They marched northwards after joining a larger force commanded by Antonio López de Santa Anna sent from Mexico City. At the Battle of Buena Vista (known as the battle of Angostura in Mexico) in Coahuila on 23 February, the Patricios became engaged with US forces. They were assigned the three biggest cannons the Mexican army possessed, which were positioned on high ground over-looking the battlefield. They suffered numerous casualties from the American forces’ unsuccessful attempts to capture the Mexican’s cannons. The San Patricios counter-attacked and captured two American cannons. Several Irishmen were awarded the Cross of Honor by the Mexican government for their conduct in that battle, and many received field promotions.
Re-organisation and final battles
Despite their excellent performance in a number of engagements as artillery, the much-reduced San Patricios were ordered to muster a larger infantry battalion in mid-1847 by personal order of Santa Anna, which was re-named the The Foreign Legion of Patricios consisting of many other European volunteers, commanded by Colonel Francisco R. Moreno, with Riley in charge of 1st company and Santiago O’Leary heading up the second.
As an infantry unit, the San Patricios continued to serve with distinction. Knowing that they were likely to face the death penalty if captured, the San Patricios are known to have threatened wavering Mexican troops with death by “friendly fire” at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, if they retreated. When the San Patricios were too heavily engaged to carry out their threat, the Mexican troops broke and ran, leaving the San Patricios as they fought U.S. troops in hand to hand combat.
The Convent at Churubusco, painted by American Carl NebelAt the Battle of Churubusco (20 August 1847), the San Patricio Companies together with Los Bravos Battalion occupied the parapets of the convento de Churubusco. Though hopelessly outnumbered, the defenders repelled the attacking US forces with heavy losses until their ammunition ran out, and a Mexican officer raised the white flag of surrender. Captain Patrick Dalton of the San Patricios tore the white flag down, prompting General Pedro Anaya to order his men to fight on with their bare hands if necessary. American Private Ballantine reported that when the Mexicans attempted to raise the white flag a further two more times, members of the San Patricios shot and killed them. General Anaya states in his written battle report that 35 San Patricios were killed, 85 taken prisoner (including a wounded John Riley) and about 85 more escaped with retreating Mexican forces. They were briefly reformed just before the Battle of Mexico City some two weeks later, but never regained their former numbers and were officially mustered out of Mexican military service in 1850.
Aftermath
Trials
The San Patricios captured by the U.S. Army suffered the punishment of traitors; they had been responsible for some of the toughest fighting (and the heaviest casualties) that the U.S. Army had faced, and 72 were immediately charged with desertion by the Army.
Two separate courts-martial were held, one at Tacubaya on 23 August, and another at San Ángel on 26 August. At neither of these trials were the men represented by lawyers nor were transcripts taken of the proceedings. This lack of formal legal advice could account for the fact that several of the men claimed that drunkenness had led them to desert (a very common defense in military trials at the time that sometimes led to lighter sentences), and others described how they were forced to join the Mexican army in some form or another. The vast majority of the San Patricios, however, either offered no defense or their defenses were not recorded.
Sentences
One soldier who claimed he was forced to fight by the Mexicans after he was captured by them, and who subsequently refused to do so was sentenced to death by firing squad instead of hanging, along with another who was found to have never officially joined the Mexican army.
The fate that awaited most of the captured San Patricios was death by hanging, thirty from the Tacubaya trial and twenty from San Ángel. The rationale for this was that they had entered Mexican military service following the declaration of war. However, this was in violation of the Articles of War for the time which clearly stipulated that the penalty for desertion and/or defecting to the enemy during a time of war was death by firing squad, regardless of the circumstances.In fact more than 9,000 U.S. soldiers deserted during the Mexican-American War, and only the San Patricios were punished in this way.
Those who had left military service before the official declaration of war on Mexico (Riley among them) on the other hand were sentenced to:
“ receive 50 lashes on their bare backs, to be branded with the letter “D” for deserter, and to wear iron yokes around their necks for the duration of the war.”
Executions
En masse hangings for treason took place on 10 September 1847 at San Ángel, and 13 September at Chapultepec. By order of General Winfield Scott, 30 San Patricios were to be executed in full view of the two armies as they fought the Battle of Chapultepec, at the precise moment that the flag of the United States replaced the flag of Mexico atop the citadel. This order was to be carried out by Colonel William Harney, an officer who had been twice disciplined for insubordination in his career, and would later go on to be court-martialed a further two more times.While overseeing the hangings, Harney ordered Francis O’Connor hanged even though he had had both legs amputated the previous day. When the army surgeon informed the colonel that the absent soldier had lost both his legs in battle, Harney replied:
“ Bring the damned son of a bitch out! My order was to hang 30 and by God I’ll do it! ”
After four and a half hours the flag finally appeared on the flagpole of the castle of Chapultepec at 9.30 am. At Harney’s signal, the carts holding the tied and noosed men pulled away (Hogan 1998, p. 287). Harney’s further violations of the Articles of War requiring prompt execution did not result in charges being brought against him. He was also subsequently promoted to Brigadier General, a post which he held while the US Army occupied Mexico City.
Legacy
Those who survived the war generally disappeared from history. A handful are on record as having made use of the land claims promised them by the Mexican government. But even today, they are honored and revered as heroes in Mexico
Rioting broke out in Toluca after the news reported that the executions had taken place. Mexicans intent on seeking revenge threatened to kill American prisoners but were prevented from doing so by the Mexican authorities. From the Mexican point of view, the San Patricios should have been treated as prisoners of war, not criminals.
Instead of hanging, Scott ordered that the 15 San Patricios spared the death penalty, be instead branded with a two inch letter “D” for desertion with hot-iron on the right cheek and receive 50 lashes. Scott also ordered that the San Patricios be imprisoned until the American army left Mexico. Upon being mustered out, Scott ordered that the men’s heads be shaved and drummed out of the Army. Although Scott intended to return the San Patricio men back to the United States at the conclusion of the war, the Mexican government prevailed in keeping them in Mexico.
The Mexican Government had called the punishments an act of barbarism, “improper in a civilized age.” Under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the San Patricio prisoners were to be left in Mexico. Mexico had insisted on this clause in the treaty during the negotiations. Maj. Gen. Butler issued General Orders 116 on June 1, 1848. In the last paragraph of that order, Butler ordered that; “The prisoners confined at the Citadel, known as the San Patricio prisoners, will be immediately discharged.” After the officer in charge of the Citadel read the orders, the 16 prisoners, including John Riley had their heads shaved, the buttons of their uniforms stripped off and marched out of the fortress while the bugler played “Rogue’s March.” John Riley, instead of being branded once, was branded twice according to some of the reports of the time. The reports indicate that the double branding may have been a result of the first “D” being applied backwards, either intentionally or under orders. The second “D” was then applied correctly.
It can be argued that the defense of your homeland is a duty all citizens must obey when an invading army threatens to destroy your country. Many heroes have emerged from the defense of their nations. No truer hero exists than those who give their lives for their adopted nation.
Part of the reason for the lack of more concrete information regarding the San Patricios and the distortion of their reasons for deserting the American army may lie in that the whole affair was an embarrassment to the United States. Continued Catholic persecution in the United States after the war may have also contributed to the distorted record. “Some newspapers in San Francisco cite that affair to prove that Catholics are disloyal,” wrote a private citizen in a letter to the Assistant Adjutant General in 1896 requesting information on the San Patricios. Because of sentiments against Catholicism and the harsh treatment by American forces of the San Patricios, the American Army seemed reluctant to discuss the affair publically. In 1915, the American War Department was finally forced to acknowledge the existence of the San Patricios and their treatment of them at the end of the war. Ordered by Congress in 1917 to turn over the records to the National Archives the army complied. The documents detailed one of the most embarrassing episodes for the American Army. For the San Patricios, their story could finally be told truthfully for all to know what was true in their hearts.
After leaving prison, the remaining San Patricios rejoined the Mexican Army and continued to function as a unit for almost a year after the Americans left Mexico. Riley was made commander of the two infantry companies with the brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel, although he was actually a Captain. One unit was tasked with sentry duty in Mexico City while the other was stationed in the suburbs of Guadalupe Hidalgo. By late 1850, 20 of the original San Patricios left Mexico and returned to Ireland under the agreement Mexico had made with them when they enlisted to help them return should they choose to do so. Riley was not among them.
John Riley died on the last days of August 1850 and was buried in Veracruz under the name “Juan Reley”, the name under which he had enrolled into the Mexican Army.
Mexicans celebrate the Irish soldiers on two days, Sept. 12 in honor of the anniversary of the first executions and on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. Numerous street names across the country honor their contribution to the Mexican cause. In front of the Convent of Santa María in Churubusco the street is named “Mártires Irlandeses”, or Irish Martyrs.
The Mexican government has officially recognized the contribution of the San Patricios through official acts of government. In 1997, President Zedillo held a ceremony in honor of the 150th anniversary of their executions along with Ireland’s ambassador. On Thursday, Oct. 28, 2002 the LVII Mexican Congress held a ceremony where the inscription “Defensores de la Patria 1846-1848 y Batallón de San Patricio” or “Defenders of the Fatherland 1846-1848 and the San Patricio Battalion” was inscribed in gold letters on the Wall of Honor in the Chambers of the Congress. Three hundred and ninety-four Mexican congressmen, along with Irish Ambassador to Mexico, Art Agnew, attended the ceremony recognizing the sacrifices made by the young Irish soldiers.
The Batallón de San Patricio is memorialized on two separate days; the first on 12 September, the generally accepted anniversary of the executions, and the other on Saint Patrick’s Day. The San Patricios are also remembered with many schools, churches and other landmarks taking their name. The street in front of the Irish School, in suburban Monterrey, is named Batallón de San Patricio (“Battalion of Saint Patrick”). Down south, the street in front of the Santa María de Churubusco convent in Mexico City was named Mártires Irlandeses (“the Irish martyrs”).
In 1997, President Ernesto Zedillo commemorated the 150th anniversary of the execution of the San Patricios at a ceremony in Mexico City’s San Jacinto Plaza, where the first twenty hangings were staged. Both the Republic of Ireland and Mexico jointly issued commemorative postage stamps to mark this anniversary.
Issued by An Post, the Mexican version of the stamp looks virtually identical apart from a few minor font differencesIn honor of John Riley, the Mexican flag flies daily in the town center of Riley’s native Clifden, County Galway[citation needed].
In 2004, at an official ceremony attended by numerous international dignitaries, including directors Lance and Jason Hool, as well as several actors from the film One Man’s Hero, a statue was donated by the Mexican government to the Irish government in perpetual thanks for the bravery, honor and sacrifice of the St. Patrick’s Battalion. The statue also stands at Clifden’s town center.
…..so, Big Peter’s still on holiday and reports reach us that Big Fraser has committed himself to the Faithful – fantastic……
(Big Peter – sharp suit, just back from the dry-cleanin’……………….)
…….joint statement released by the Club and Tommo regarding amicable settlement between two friends – neatly spiking the guns of disgruntled MSM agenda jeerleaders……………
Well done Big Peter, well done Celtic……..
Hi all,
not posted for a while.
Has Forster DEFINETELY signed?
Hope so. But cant find story with quotes.
Dmp and rainin’ in ole Shangri La, but hey- ho, Sam Cooke on wireless’ A change is gonna come’
Greatest song by the greatest voice of the last 60 years.
Good morning friends from a dry but mostly cloudy East Kilbride. Surely July wil be more summer-like?
5 weeks today we will unfurl the flag. Time’s a-movin’ on.
Dontbrattbakkinanger:
Opps! It was Pablo and RRC who sent me down the movie. I never got to buy Pablo a beer for it but hopefully I get the day where I can buy RRC two.
I was thinking about Pablo earlier today.
Good morning all from sunny Jersey.
SFA and SPL in a bit of a self destruct mode don’t you think?
Lost one of their main members from Govan and now – shaking in their boots at the very thought of their champions playing their away games further south.
Morning all from a lovely breezy North Ayrshire.
Brian Matthews on Radio 2 (my favourite programme of the week: takes me back to my pleuky youth in the 60s); Alex Thompson telling it like it is; praying that the SFL club chairmen vote No, no no to newco. For a wee while, all is right with the world.
….wattery grey sky over the Rebel county……the sun will not need its hat today………although a caghool may be required……
Ms “Lemon Tree” is sulking and planning a holiday in sunnier climes…….
Good morning bampots and keyboard clatterers.
The lates bizzarre news from leggoland is that disgruntled season ticket holders who forgot to cancel DD payments and were aghast at having money withdrawn by CG&Co, have apparently called in the fraud squad.
Storm in a teacup if you ask me.
I hope Scottish football withers and dies….
sick of the huns running and ruining our game…
Kit- yes, I still think about him, he’ d have enjoyed the current larks, that’s for sure.
I gather our goalie has signed. If so, I am delighted. He made an enormous contribution last season. Besides, he seems the right sort of person to represent the club. Just made my morning even better.
He, Matthews, big Vic, Ki, Kayal, Joe Ledley and young Rogne must have an average of about 21; if you add the likes of James Forrest and the bhoy McGeough, the future is very bright. Now, if we can add a wee Lubo or Bertie to give them the benefit of an “auld heid”, we have the makings of a very, very good team, who are only going to get better.
If Scottish football use thems’ demise to put technique and skill before blood and guts (the “get tore into them” syndrome), our collective future may be a lot brighter.
Great news about Fraser Forster; a couple of more signings like this and the pressure is on Hearts and Motherwell…
Reading the ex clubs page on Newsnow for my daily dose of karma medicine, good article from the Annan Athletic correspondant who seems quite excited about playing Sevco soon. However his anticipated two visits to Ibrokes seems a bit optimistic!
SFTB aye some dirty dealings going on, but Scottish football supporters are watching every move now, they’re finished ….. Only a matter of time.
Kitalba thanks, I have it available too watch but I’m gonnae read the books first.
Got to go, I have a builder in doing some work and the woofer needs Nae demands his walk.
HH
Good morning Champions. Welcome big Fraser. HH
I have been mulling over Alex Thompson’s contribution to thems’ demise. I feel there is one thing he is not fully clued up on: them’s, and only thems, not thems and us, are the Establishment team. Scottish football been run not for 2 teams but for 1 only. In fact, as we know, and I don’t think Alex Thompson really appreciates, we are the ones who have suffered the most from the likes of the “honest mistakes”. And I am not paranoid, no matter what the bulk of the Scottish “sports” media may claim.
O.G Rafferty, if you’re around, you seem to have a direct line to the man. Can’t you put him straight?
Now, I am pretty much a glass half full guy. And I’m also a big fan of Fraser and would be delighted if he stays. But all I’ve seen so far are on-line ‘press exclusives’ that ‘believe’ we have done a deal. Think I’ll wait on something a little more definite before getting over excited here. But really do hope it’s true.
I still cant find anything about FF on official site.
Does anyone know if he has singed?
Jun 30 2012 by Keith Jackson
Rangers rebel Kyle Lafferty last night clinched a mega-bucks deal with Swiss big spenders Sion.
Record Sport can reveal the Northern Ireland international striker travelled to Switzerland yesterday to put pen to paper on a three-year deal.
Lafferty turned down an 11th-hour bid from Italian big guns Parma to commit to Sion where he will join former Rangers star Rino Gattuso.
Gattuso had hoped to return to Ibrox but the club’s transfer ban put paid to that deal.
And Lafferty has now cashed in on the crisis in Govan by becoming the latest star to jump ship.
From one cheating club to another, he’ll feel at home there. ‘Mega bucks’ -Keith just can’t help himself using his bank of comments in a sevco related article
Kobo, I would imagine if the press reports were inaccurate , big Frasers agent would have stepped in and quashed them. HH
Sorry kobo, meant Jobo. Friggin iPad. HH
Jackson’s funny tho’ eh…….
D’ya think his ‘stuff’ is written by some kind of pre-programmed machine………………a churnalistic randomiser perhaps?
What a topper.
WeefraetheTim –
we all make spelling mistakes but Kobo was a bit too near Kojo for my liking! ;-)
Bojo
Nothing on fishul site on big Fraser, so until then, I’ll keep my celebrations on hold.
Good to see an amicable agreement reached with Thomo, meanwhile the other Hunskelper Alex Thomo didn’t exactly look to be shaking in his boots on C4 on the news that aul Blotto and Taggart are on his case.
Whoever made reference last night “Whistling (John) McMillan” made me laugh out loud, McMillan is a complete idiot of a man, his performance on the John Beattie show was one of the most cringeworthy things I have heard in years (RFC/Scottish football’s problems = all Neil Lennon’s fault)
bankiebhoy1 on 30 June, 2012 at 09:49 said:
Jackson’s funny tho’ eh…….
D’ya think his ‘stuff’ is written by some kind of pre-programmed machine………………a churnalistic randomiser perhaps?
What a topper.
share on F’book or Twitter
Aye it’s a Steesher,,,,lol
Hail hail
Jobo, what a mistake-a to make-a. :)) HH
Michaël Ciani (born 6 April 1984), often referred to as Mickaël Ciani, is a French footballer of Guadeloupean descent who currently plays for Ligue 1 club Bordeaux. Ciani plays as a central defender and has starred for several French clubs before finally settling in with Lorient in 2006, where he became nationally recognized. His play at Lorient resulted in a move to 2008–09 champions Bordeaux. Ciani was formerly a France youth international having earned caps with the under-21 team. He currently plays for the senior team having received his first cap on 3 March 2010 in a friendly match against Spain.
wiki CSC
It seems like big Fraser has agreed to sign. I hope so as I think he has shown us enough to conclude that he will become an excellent keeper. He has coped well with the expectations of such a big club and has the excellent concentration required when not in the game for a long time.
Hopefully we will see him at a press conference next week once the ink is dry.
Jobo
Could have been worse,Jobie Boldo:O)
VP
Your extracting the urine now.
Weefra. HH