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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bournesouprecipe
Congratulations to yer lassie
Be proud sir .
———
bankiebhoy1
20:39 on 14 July, 2015
:)))))))))))
Voguepunter
So will I :-)
Nytol from me as well
Hail Hail
PS – MiT, Young McGinn would do well with us
hankray .. agree that CM has done well for Scotland of late…. but dont think he has played as well for us…. not sure why that is.
MiT
John McGinn would do well in any Scottish team (with one likely exception!) and that most certainly includes us.
Night Timdom
HH jamesgang
Cowiebhoy
If you and I get any more agreeable and lovey dovey with one another I’ll need to change my name to Doc!
HH jamesgang
BT
A hard day in prospect tomorrow.
Look after yourself
RIP Vincent
cowiebhoy … I rate young McGinn … problem is, if we sign him, would we give him enough game time?
on that note, I saw a story online (newsnow) yesterday about SB getting a toenail removed …. pictures were so offputting that I couldn’t read the article, so I dont know if it was recent and/or if it will impact on him playing tomorrow…
anyone know about this?
big – cup – winners.
You were asking if I was about the other day. ?
Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=12&v=GmCtci6cen8
Vincent McBride, Rest in Peace
And may his family be given the strength they need at this time.
Just catching up as I have family over from Canada. Currently on page 2 dealing with the meaning of surnames. Here’s a few from Ireland:
Sullivan – from Ó Súilleabháin – Descendant of the one eyed person.
Costello- from cois dealbha – nice legs
Lawlor – from leath lobhar – half a lepper
Mike in Toronto…………….but sure Charlie was out injured for most of last season came back to play a stormier for Scotland against us.
MiT
Knowing Broonie he just it for a dare!
And given how lowly you rate the Bhoy you probably wouldn’t notice any difference in his passing anyway!
Might improve his shooting I’ll grant you!
HH jamesgang
hankray …. like izzy, nothing would make me happier than if CM put last season behind him, and played brilliantly for us …. particularly as I dont see loads of teams lining up to take him off our payroll … but CM is pushing 30 now, and coming back from injuries doesn’t get easier as they hit that mark … but, as I said, I hope he proves me wrong this season.
Bognorbhoy
Twas nothing mate…..just that terrible joke you inflicted on the blog :-)
Some shock results in to-nights matches, Celtic be ready and beware.
sorry ;-))
jamesgang … you have often said that I need to see SB in person to really truly ‘get’ him as a player … as I have promised, I will give him my undivided attention in September, and, like saul on the Road to Damascus, am hoping for an epiphany!
Butsybhoy: re your foster son- MASSIVE RESPECT
mike in toronto
Was told the same today ,thought i was recent,though been wrong often
Nearly time for The Celtic
and the buzz is still the same
Let the People Sing – The Malleys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Scott Browns big bad toenail ?
MIT …. Think it’s a toenail injury of times gone by …. Not unusual for football players to regularly lose toenails …… HH
MiT
You’ll be lucky get an epiphany mhate. They sell out even quicker than the tepid pies and instant coffee!
Night!
HH jamesgang
Good night all .
Stood the wee mhan(5) at the back door today,to show him I was the boss:)))))))))
As I closed it over
he chapped the door
“Knock Knock” he said
who’s there
“Willie Maley”
willie maley who
” Willey Maley was his name he brought some”
INNNNNNNNNN says I smiling
“drink of juice Papa please” as he walked passed me smiling unwrapping me from his wee finger.
Geared 1998: Waldorf and Statler indeed! Don’t you mean Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? :) Or at least, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope!
http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33530545
LB
Mike in Toronto….
Bring her up to Ottawa. What could possibly go wrong…?….:)
Supersutton (earlier)- my pleasure mate and good to meet another CQNr.
The wee boaxes take a bit of getting used to but once they – and you- know your way about then they are pretty cool.
Roll on the fitba.
Just in fron God daughters wedding…lovely day all round. Now having first beer of day as I was driving family about.
Whilst am not the biggest fan of Stokes or Charlie, they are not the first names I would put on the ” get off the wage bill” list. Both very good SPL players, but that is their limit, so perhaps we are aiming somewhere north of that level? The dreamer in me says “yes please”: the pragmatist in me says ” cash in now please”
Wits..That link..Talking About Abramovic was superb man..Thanks…was brilliant…
BGX
You see,the end will come
Collusion
http://thebrokenelbow.com/2015/07/11/who-was-bertie-scott-the-udas-special-friend-in-the-ruc-special-branch/
Whits..So its all politics…according to the guy from the Times..Was a great insight mate…
jungle jim hot smoked
22:18 on 14 July, 2015
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
————-
Maybe get him a job as a NFL field goal kicker ???
Blantyre Tim
So sorry for the loss of your friend, Vincent. Vincent RIP.
BGX
I think he has a point,look at the amount of dodgy mega wealthy guys who have invested in it.
All bubbles burst,Its the law
By the way I like Charlie Mulgrew and would keep him,hopefully he will have an injury free season
Stokes,me, I never took to him,not a bad player,but he chose Sunderland over us,
If he stays and scores a few goals great,but if he goes he goes
Sorry to hear that Jim Spence is leaving the Beeb. One of the few objective voices gone. More time for Wilson and Young to spout their nonsense.
craigellachie10
Never listen to them but he sounds like one of the few with an ounce of integrity or sense.
Not really a surprise though as he seems to have been hung out to dry by the BBC over him calling out the death of Sevco as it was.
James Forrest covers the issue well in his latest blog.