HMRC’s case against St Mirren, raised because they allegedly failed to pay Kieran Doran the National Minimum Wage, has brought the professionalism of our professional game under analysis. Doran’s first contract as a 16-year-old was for £1 a week, which was apparently never paid. The player subsequently wanted to give up the game for a trade (to study medicine) but St Mirren refused to release him from his contract.
By any reasonable measure this is amateur football. There’s nothing wrong with amateur football, in fact it has great potential, but NOT paying someone £1 a week cannot be described in any other way. St Mirren will not be alone.
I made no comment last month on Newco’s reluctance to pay holiday pay as I thought this was something of an open secret. Holiday pay as been a legal right in the UK since 1871, but at the periphery of our game some clubs just don’t pay it. I’ve spoken to an SPL chairman who openly admitted to the ‘ruse’ (not Celtic, before you ask).
Newco are far from alone on this matter, indeed, I would be amazed if top flight clubs were not guilty. The keenness to contract players from July to May is substantial, I reckon lowering some clubs payroll by 8%, while leaving no time in the calendar for players to take paid holidays.
We should stop pretending there are two distinct groups of clubs in Scotland: the amateurs and semi-pros of the ‘non-leagues’, and the 42 Scottish Professional Football League clubs. St Mirren are one of the biggest and best community clubs we have, they have enormous potential to thrive as such, but I seriously doubt their credentials as an economically viable professional club.
More than 30 other Professional League clubs would also be better served trading with a Community League mentality. Developing the potential of local kids and engaging with their community, without the burden of trying to compete in a worldwide talent pool.
The majority of Scottish football clubs were founded in the 19th Century. It seems like no one has subsequently asked: what is our purpose, why are we here, what will our future look like? Without considerable change, the best future 30 clubs can hope for a decade from now will be suffocating indifference, at worst there will be lots of all-seated follies wasting away.
Reminder for tomorrow:
There are new season tickets issued, if your old ticket is still in your wallet, swap it out or you’ll not get in to see the Mighty Celtic tomorrow evening. If you don’t have your new ticket, better get along early to sort it out.
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ZicoMalteseBhoy
His name was Paul McGrath and if wad early 80s. May have stayed out there coaching. They were neighbours of my mum and her family. We used to pop in to visit when we visited my uncle. Nice guy, would have been mid 20s in early 80s.
Embramike:
Not being pedantic here. The Bulgarians lost to the Moldovans. The Kazaks lost to our last year Slovenian foes, Maribor.
cowiebhoy
21:45 on 14 July, 2015
You couldn’t make that up.
Anything to tell you…H has good taste on both names…and less of the Hugo…it’s Shug not Shugo…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Cowiebhoy, cheers, gotta go,house checking ,Daughter and family on holiday in Turkey.
Awerabest PJ
This Sterling transfer just underlines why Man City will never win the champions league. There are about 100 players you could sign for less who are better.
They would be better stock piling cash and buying Messi and Ronaldo.
Coney hoy
Thanks for reply.
I have heard of him,but not from Malta.
I played against Big Roy when he was with the Celtic BC,same era.
Lennybhoy
As BSR highlighted earlier, Stokes finished with highest number of assists last season. I know his limitations but I also know his attributes and for that reason I’d keep him.
Likewise with Mulgrew, if we sell them would we get better replacements for the money?
Coneybhoy
Sorry,HH.
Mullet and Co 2…
Ronaldo wins you the EPL..He Does..
Bgx
My own opinion is that it won’t.
burghbhoy
Me too.
I do not think he is good enough or consistent enough to be in the starting 11.
It may just be me but i feel he has an uncanny knack of not doing too much for 2 or 3 games and just when im losing patience with him and want him dropped…….he either scores a great goal or sets someone else up with a bit of quality play.
He has a lot of ability and is capable of producing a bit of quality or doing something a bit different/unexpected and i think he is a useful, talented player to have in the squad.
Bgx
As you say all bubbles burst. History tells us so.
This one will also but when and how. I must confess I don’t know and I am old enough to remember the famous Dutch tuilip bubble bursting in the 1600s
Hamiltontim..I Agree with you..Stokes and Mulgrew are imo better than Anything Else in the SPFL..they should be Kept, unless of course they Want to Leave..After all..The Spfl givesus the Oppertunity of the CL and is, therfore Our Priority…
What is the stars
Sorry for late reply.
Unfortunately I am not making it up, even Googled the words to make sure it wasn’t some dodgy senior moment of a memory. Didn’t find the ad itself but got a link to a blog in which it was referred to as the “wee dafty wean” language. So it did happen in real life. Sad and sickening to see the lengths they go to.
Another funny story is the one about the bi-lingual place names erected by the Ulster Scots agency around the Ballymena mid Antrim area, supposedly the heartland of the tribe sorry language, that kept disappearing. After investigating the thefts it was discovered the locals were ripping them down because they thought the signs were written in English and Irish and wanted none of “thon Feenyin tunge” around their area.
Art of War.
Android TV box. Magic! Thanks.
Hamiltontim.it is Hard to see it bursting Man…
.WITS…I Hope…it Does..
Owen
Brilliant stuff
I never gave it too much thought and always presumed it was just some makey uppy type of slang words. Then when I heard they were getting grants to promote the” language” I thought I was just an old fenian bigot.
But looks like I was right all along
hamiltontim
Our record on Strikers is poor to say the least. However. It has to change sometime. I’m just not a Fan of Anthony mate and it would appear Ronny ain’t either.
On the other hand our dealings for Defenders of late has been better. Mulgrew has his limitations in my opinion. A squad Player in my eyes. Who knows when Virgil goes we might just get a better Player than Charlie.
All about opinions mate. Hope Minx is keeping you busy seeing as your on holiday…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I Just Dont See How the EPL/ SKY bubble can burst…If Anyone Has an Explanation of How this can Happen, id Love to hear it..
What is the stars.
The DUP minster in charge of Culture was quite proud of the fact that his dept could report that they spent more on Ulster Scots than Irish.
Good Evening.
Here’s a bit of Clumpany excitement about the season ahead!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/pre-season-nerves
Enjoy the rest of the evening!
Don’t believe it’s all about the ability of Stokes it’s his willingness to do as he’s told.
Shooting when the option is a pass, closing down the defender then not getting back into position.
1.5m is a bit of a steal for him though but we must have identified s replacement. Don’t think that would be a striker and more like s left sided forward.
If Scepovic goes we will need another striker. If VVD goes I believe a portion of the income will go on a striker with a centre half replacement at next to no cost. I’d hate to see us going into the start of the domestic season with only Leigh Griffiths available. that could happen with a lengthy ban for shift key and Stokes and Scepovic allowed to go. As usual a new striker would be last day of the transfer window.
am awa tae wat ma whussle…………….
(seriously)
:)
hamiltontim ….
I would not be in a rush to punt stokes… but, to me, it seems like a decision has already been made that he doesn’t fit, and I suspect it is not about football, as he can play left on the three, or up front … both areas where we need depth.
as Embramike points out, Ciftci could be out for a while, so Stokes could end up playing more of a role for us if that is the case.
however, for me, mulgrew has gone backwards the last season or two … he is not a midfielder, and increasingly gets beat too easily when played at LB or even CB (which seems to be his best position) … as you say, he is a good utility player, but I would rather save wages and get a decent LB tjat can fit into the first 11.
What is the Stars
I was reading over the weekend, in the Boston Globe in fact, that Bubble Soccer is becoming popular stateside. From the waist up you play in a huge inflatable bubble which you can use to charge opponents out the way. Otherwise pretty much a football game.
Not sure when that particular er bubble is gonna burst!
Just saw these odds on William Hill. I have never seen this before. Anyone?
JJ
First Half Double Chance
1/100000 Celtic Or Draw
Second Half Double Chance
1/100000
Owen
Yes that would be the only logical reason for promoting it ( siphoning money away from the irish language)
I know it’s all part of the peace process dance but really someone should call a spade a spade and tell them to GTF with their nonsense.
Then again peace tolerance and mutual respect for cultural diversity is better than the alternative
Left back cover has been all quiet. Got a feeling it might be another EPL big team youth player.
Anthony Stokes has achieved every honor in Scottish football. Still only 26 years of age he is still coming into his peak years and he is by far the most accomplished of all the Celtic players who may be on the move. He will have no problem moving to an English club. And if so I hope Celtic get a couple of million plus.
Junglejim hot smoked..Looks Like Kerry Katona Must be in Goal For Iceland(ers)..
Final one from me on the Accent.
A few years ago they tried to emulate Riverdance and came up with an Ulster Scots the musical
Big fanfare about it was going to be a showcase of all that was good about their “Cultyir” even talk of a Broadway run. Much diners, from the taxpayer, later the great cultural spectacular tanks big time. For the avoidance of doubt “mucho dinero” is not Ulster Scots.
Bhoys
I think we are a bit harsh on Charlie Mulgrew
In 2012 he was Scotland’s Player of the year, and deserved it – outstanding for us at Centre Half
Yes lacks a bit of pace, and slow in the turn,
But well worth a place in our squad
Last season blighted by injury, but worth keeping in my view ?
As stated in previous blog
There are others players taking a wage out of Celtic who could go well before Anthony Stokes as well
Hail Hail
Lennybhoy
I wouldn’t have either Stokes or Mulgrew as starters, not currently anyway, but we need a squad capable of competing on several fronts. Both are worth keeping because I think it would cost considerably more to replace them than we could generate from their sale.
Oh aye H has me busy but I sometimes get time off for good behaviour :-)
lennon’s passion
noticed that none of the reports of the charges (at least none of the reports I have read) have named the suspect …. seems unusual, is it not?
Autocorrect ruined that by turning it into much diners. I hate you Mr Sony and you too Experia
BSR and Cowiebhoy
Good news bhoys
Thunder road, enjoy the party 90 years of age.
I will be attending a funeral tomorrow of one of my friends, I’ve known Vincent since I was 5 years old, we grew up together and grew apart as our lives moved on but we still remained firm friends.
His older brother introduced us to the Clash and the jam, we met occasionally in the pub and he went to Celtic park with mini and his son a couple of years ago. His son left st Blanes primary and starts St John Ogilvie high School after the holidays, his daughter will follow to high school in a couple of years
Vincent McBride RIP
My friend. a huge loss to many
Tomorrow will be hard and tearful but we know you are at peace.
God bless you
BGX
I `m afraid I have never heard of Kerry Katona so I don`t get the joke ( even after Googling!).
JJ
BGX
21:44 on
14 July, 2015
Question For CQN……How can The Sky/ Epl Bubble Burst…Any Answers..
_______
Sky make money from 3 sources in the UK Pubs Home customers and advertising.
The viewing figures for Sky sports is terrible. Some of the recent Test match had the same figures as a Columbo from the 70’s. Less than 500,000 watched the Championship play off final. As less people watch advertisers will demand they reduce the cost of advertising rates. More people use illegal streams which also hits not just the financial figures but viewing figures. In York quite a few pubs have dropped Sky because of the cost as there is not enough footfall to justify it.
Not saying that Sky will go bust but I would presume money will become tighter for them.