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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Mullet and co2 at 2210
Fisher/Janko?
HH
BT
Excellent news for your family. Looked great as I drove by on Sunday.
HH
i see Aer Lingus lost, then found (but in less than ideal conditions) Graham De Laet’s golf clubs …. I know you guys dont want us colonists to win the Open …. but, come on!
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/golf/airline-loses-graham-delaets-golf-clubs-retrieves-them-in-terrible-condition/ar-AAcXAF6?ocid=mailsignoutmd
BT
Thanks, and heartfelt sympathy on the clear pain you feel
Vincent McBride, May you Rest in Peace
Interesting, isn`t it, that we ( I include myself in this) mention Charlie`s `slowness` much more than we mention his versatility, cultured left foot and decent free kicks. I suppose it is the way we humans are designed.
JJ
celtic mac and wits
1st time i saw bubble football was a link posted here.
Was poorless at some of it……not for the purist obviously but some great craic between teamates :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spjx7L7Jpow
Blantyre
Sorry to hear that
May he rest in peace
You take care
hamiltontim
Glad to hear it, give her my best.
CQN:
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BSR
It must be the ‘old HC genes’ – congrats to you all.
HH
MiT
Good evening sir.
I don’t get this clamour to find a replacement for Izzy, I still think he’s one of our most valuable players. I do think we need cover for him though.
In an emergency Mulgrew could cover comfortably in domestic games in 3 positions; centre half, left back and midfield. All squads need players like that.
BT
Condolences on your loss.
Just 3 or 4 years ago Mulgrew was Players Player of the year….
Thankfully RD and his staff will decide on who is included.
Ok Big Peter will decide, just so long as it’s not thr supporters….
Jungle Jim hot smoked..No probs Mate:)
BT
May Vincent RIP and perpetual light shine upon him.
I have a feeling that many of our supporters are expecting a four or five goal drubbing of the Starmen tomorrow night. Well organised, professional football teams are very difficult to break down. Going to the game with ambitious expectations can lead to unrest among the support which transfers to uncertainty among the players.We, the support, need to be patient.
JJ
PS I predict 5-0 0:-)
BT
My bad timing. Sorry for your loss.
Yorkbhoy thanks for the Answer mate…But Like HamiltonTim..
I Hate to say it but i dont think They Going Anywhere Anytime Soon..Cheers man
blantyretim is praying for the knox family
Thoughts and prayers for your friend Vincent
HH
BT
God look after your friend Vinnie McBride…..always liked that name ,same as my wee
brother who passed away 15 years ago….how comes he got the good Tim name :O)hh
I Like Mulgrew..I Like Stokes.
Bourne, congratulations on your younger daughter’s academic achievement.
If she had her mother’s brains, I hope she has your sense of humour.
Bourne, had should have been has sorry.
BT
Vincent McBride RIP
Thoughts and prayers for his family. And for you and all his other pals.
HH jamesgang
friesdorfer
No worries mate
Cheers bhoys
Just say a wee prayer or have a wee thought for his wife and children, they need it more than us
No more from me
Take care
I rather suspect young Nadir’s ban – we can presume it’ll not be not proven! – will be so long he’ll think his name’s Mr Mandela by the time we see him again!
HH jamesgang
I blame Kafflick schools/broken TV screens myself.
Vandalism of Ulster Scots street signs a ‘misunderstanding’
Street signs in the Ulster Scots language were torn down by loyalist vandals who believed them to be Irish, a local councillor has said. Signs had been erected after a residents’ petition
The signs for Tullyard Way on the loyalist Clonduff Estate in Castlereagh had only just been erected after a survey showed at least 75% of residents were in favour of Ulster Scots signage.
Local Democratic Unionist Party Councillor Tommy Jeffers said that the vandalism occurred because of a “misunderstanding”.
Cllr Tommy Jeffers (DUP): Imprudent to put Irish signs up in Castlereagh
“The problem really is that the Ulster Scots was misunderstood by some people as Irish,” he said.
“I believe it would be very imprudent of Castlereagh Council to try and put Irish signs up anywhere in the borough.”
When the vandals realised their error, they returned the signs to the garden of Roy Adams, a Clonduff Estate resident who had petitioned for the erection of Ulster Scots signage.
Thunder Road … bubble football?! that video is one of the silliest things I have ever seen … but, it looks like a lot of fun!!
Hamiltontim …its all about opinions.
I love Izzy’s attitude, but I think we get burned way too easily and too often in that position …although, to be fair, as some have pointed out, he wasnt’ any worse than Matthews at stopping crosses from coming in ….
I know good left backs are as rare as hens teeth, so, hopefully, with some time off, this season izzy may get back to the form he showed when he first signed for us.
Mike in Toronto, just catching up with your Muppets chat from earlier.
The sax player in the Muppets band I think was based on the late Johnny Dankworth.
Miss Piggy’s character reminded me a bit of Major Margaret ‘Hotlips’ Hoolihan in the M A S H television series.
BT
condolences on the loss of your friend.
My prediction for tomorrow.
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Mulgrew Izaguirre
Forrest Brown Bitton Joe Hansen Armstrong
Griffiths.
Incidentally, I though Virgil`s first season might have been a flash in the pan. I was very wrong. He is the real deal and superb. I am now worried that Joe Hansen`s might have been a one off season. I hope I am equally wrong this time.
Good night, all.
One more sleep, as Jobo might have said.
JJ
BT, sorry to hear about your pal Vincent’s passing away.
Not a good time in Blantyre with Vincent’s funeral tomorrow and also Reammon Gormley would have been 24 this week.
May both their souls rest in peace.
Did I Also say i Like Mahairi Black…And Diamond Jackson..And Tony Stokes and Charlie Mulgrew..I dont Like Scepovic(hes a dud)..im A Bad Man..I also dont think the Epl will implode,…I Also Like Ronny…Complex CQN…
MHairi…..ha..
dallas …. I had forgotten about Zoot …. but I thought he was Gato Barbieri … but now that you point it out, he does have a more than passing resemblance to JD as well …..
always thought Cleo Laine was kind of lovely.
jungle jim hot smoked
GMS has started all three friendlies and scored in all of them, can’t see him being left out for Forrest who has only started the one game.
papers are reporting the Dundee United are interested in john mcginn …. think he would do well for them.
Goodnight all ,looking forward to tomorrows game , I’m one of the lucky ones attending Paradise ra morra night.
Cannae wait.
God bless HH
Charlie did an excellent job in central defense against us at the Aviva recently playing for Scotland being under continual pressure for most of the second half in that game. A good man to have in the squad when fit. I see Saturday’s friendly is on Setanta.