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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There’s a wee helmeted gecko down here that takes out the mozzies for fun at night, when you switch the pool lights on.
Celtic Football Club
@celticfc
Live outside the UK & Ireland? Watch today’s game LIVE in HD on celticfc.tv (NM) pic.twitter.com/TE3siKHRaH
And there’s me being lathering my festering “athlete’s” feet with anti-fungal cream, when I should have been using it on the mosquito bites. Will it work on the sand-fly bites too?
Can’t wait to get back to my cabin at lunchtime, to get the Daktacort cream applied!
Think that I’ll try out the ammonia pen on my feet instead!
Just need a cure for the baldness now. Suppose that the old glue-stick might come in handy there! :-)
HH
What a marvellous website P67 has given us! :-)
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
10:05 on 15 July, 2015
‘I am surprised, though, that the SNP is the only party which does not allow criticism. Is that really true?’
###
They don’t allow elected representatives to criticise party policy or colleagues.
I’m not aware of any other political party that does that.
Even those groups on the far left organised on Lenninist democratic centralist lines allow a degree of internal dissent.
Would one of the Black fan club like to email her and ask her opinion on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012?
I’m sure we’d all like to know what she has to say about something that affects us directly and over which she might actually have some influence.
Shameless repost of bournesouprecipes wonderful photo of Paradise
http://abload.de/img/paradiseh6kop.jpg
dessybhoy @10.10 .
Many thanks for that info .!
I eat lots of garlic / I tend not to be bitten by bog standard mozzies but Tiger mosquitos are something else. Not native in Sicily – a relatively recent arrival..
Another recent arrival is a tiny black fly which bites and leaves a tiny red lump which itches like hell for @ 10 minutes and then disappears . Local experts claim those tiny black flies travelled here from the Horn of Africa .
bamboo
10:16 on 15 July, 2015
tonydonnelly67
I dont think there are many Catholic who are huns but having said that I did meet one . A guy from Govan who was a good wood-carver -cant remember the name. He was proud of the fact he was a Catholic as well as being a fully paid-up season ticketed hun.
Mhairi Black aint no hun.
Mhairi Black is a Catholic.
Mhairi Black future leader of Scotland.
I’m not interested in what party Black is in or what her religion is, and if as you say she’s a catholic, I don’t know, but if she is, then she’s a soup taker and a Hun midden.
1) “I mean we’re all individuals, aren’t we !?”
2) “I’m not !”
:)
ernie
Thanks for that.
JJ
PS Just saw your10:27 post. In light of their ban on policy disagreement, would there be any point in e-mailing Ms Black? 0:-)
North Cyprus Bhoy
Microwave your socks – after you’ve washed them, before they’re dry, and in all cases, while you’re NOT wearing them.
CelticQuickRemedies
If only we lived in a world where all it took was a good speech to make things less rubbish.
I thought it was a good speech, but that’s all. I don’t know Mhari Black so won’t make any judgement on her character or personal past, however she represents a party that I don’t really trust, therefore I find it difficult to trust her. She may turn out to be a brilliant MP but a good speech does not automatically confirm that.
Mind you, if she follows up what she said yesterday with actions that represent the best interests of her constituents, then fair play to her.
Two futile pursuit for today:
1) Get ernie to speak well of the SNP;
2) Get Tony D to believe Ms Black is not a Hun.
0:-))
Cheerio for now,
JJ
I just came on to say…..Celtic 4-0
Also…the political squabbles are pathetic….ernie, you should know better, any time anybody challenges your views…you are like Stalin, get a grip.
As for Mhairi Black….tell us something we don’t know ffs, however, she has the fire of youth, and fair play to her.
HH
Criticise as you see fit, but the aptness to use gender-related pejoratives, for example Tart, Slut, Midden, when referring to Mhairi Black says considerably more about the critic than the criticised.
bankiebhoy1
10:29 on 15 July, 2015
:)))))))))
Ticket- check
Scarf & top -Check
Nir to score anytime in 90mins tonight ?
things are fine here :)))))))
till later all
Bit of help guys please.
If you order a ticket from the website for tonights game, do you get to print your own ticket?
TBB
Wish I had read all of that before putting my feet in the Microwave. Doh!
Jungle Jim Hot Smoked
10:32 on 15 July, 2015
ernie
Thanks for that.
JJ
PS Just saw your10:27 post. In light of their ban on policy disagreement, would there be any point in e-mailing Ms Black? 0:-)
###
It might cause a nat or two to actually engage their critical faculties and start to wonder what it is they are supporting.
bournesouprecipe .
My resident gecko gang seem to prefer getting fat and lazy scoffing ants and moths . The dogs ignore them but chase lizards . Has to be a reason for that .?
A standard tourist holiday pic is the photo of the gecko hanging upside down on the light above the cash machine.( taken whilst the tourist gets bitten by a mosquito )
Really looking forward to returning to Celtic Park for a match tonight, walking around the stadium yesterday looking at the new banners sure whetted the appetite. I had a wee chuckle as I looked at fellow Tims staring at the banners with their memories stirring. What would we do without you Celtic?
I’ll check the shop tonight for Celtic branded glue sticks…well they sell everything else:))
HH
The Battered Bunnet
10:33 on 15 July, 2015
North Cyprus Bhoy
Microwave your socks – after you’ve washed them, before they’re dry, and in all cases, while you’re NOT wearing them.
CelticQuickRemedies
————————————————–
Don’t even start on what can be done with Vinegar and Lemon Juice.
The Battered Bunnet
10:36 on 15 July, 2015
Criticise as you see fit, but the aptness to use gender-related pejoratives, for example Tart, Slut, Midden, when referring to Mhairi Black says considerably more about the critic than the criticised.
####
Would gobshite be acceptable?
Wee Mhairi got off lightly, compared to what was said on here about Taylor Swift.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJ5rKsgWwAA0PVu.jpg
Looks a bit different now…
HH
Istanbulcelt
10:40 on 15 July, 2015
The Battered Bunnet
10:33 on 15 July, 2015
North Cyprus Bhoy
Microwave your socks – after you’ve washed them, before they’re dry, and in all cases, while you’re NOT wearing them.
CelticQuickRemedies
————————————————–
Don’t even start on what can be done with Vinegar and Lemon Juice.
================================================================
TBB
Thanks very much for that tip, but I’d get lynched if I tried to stick my socks in the microwave here.
Istanbulcelt
I demand to know immediately! What can be done with Vinegar and Lemon Juice?
Is it for Athlete’s Foot. Mossy Bites, or The Baldness? All three would be great!
HH
I listened to Mhairi Black’s speech last night after hearing the hype and was disappointed. Sure, it was a decent seven minutes, good even. But certainly not the greatest speech ever in the history of speeches as so many want to proclaim.
There is a patronising air around some of the comments on social media too – she’s only 20, you know. Actually many 20 year olds and younger are accomplished public speakers. I’ve heard better in student unions and schools before.
Anyway – bring on the Icelanders!
My friends in Celtic,
While I admire what Mhairi Black has said and what she has achieved to date. ( 1st Class Honours degree, elected MP ) I also think that actions speak louder than words.
I do not expect a 20 year old newly elected MP to speak against her dominating and controlling party machine. However maybe in time.
As for a future Scottish leader; who knows ? Maybe when she realises that Scottish nationalism is a divisive force and politically acts accordingly.
As for quoting facebook when she was a youngster. Give her a break. I’m sure we can all say ” There for the grace of God go I ”
HH.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
10:44 on
15 July, 2015
Wee Mhairi got off lightly, compared to what was said on here about Taylor Swift.
—————————————————————-
Yeah there was some real Bad Blood there…
I’ll get my coat…and my Taylor Swift poster…
just put my elasticated top socks in the microwave to dry…..
fire service now on way…
the wife will not be pleased…
some of, if not all of the above is not true….
COYBIG
The Battered Bunnet
10:36 on 15 July, 2015
Criticise as you see fit, but the aptness to use gender-related pejoratives, for example Tart, Slut, Midden, when referring to Mhairi Black says considerably more about the critic than the criticised.
===============================================================
Abolutely agree with that sentiment. Down with that sort of stuff on this site!
HH
Miss Black’s campaign against Alexander showed us exactly the type of integrity she had. Her campaign centered around her being one of the “real people” while Mr Alexander was a “career politician”. Despite the fact that she is going straight into a politics career after a politics degree at University. They will say anything to get in.
This is the thing about the ole SNP. We have been here before with “New Labour” and “Cleggmania” in the election before. A populist politician comes along and says everything people want to here. Yet it will do differently when it comes to actually govern.
One minute we were gonna get they Euro and then we were gonna keep the pound. We were gonna be a Celtic Tiger like Ireland and then we were gonna be a high tax Scandinavian like country. They really just stick their finger in the air and see which way popular opinion goes.
The SNP on the other hand will just go down there and make a lot of noise while the Tories make us all miserable. At the end of it all they can just hold up their hands and say “see, we told you Westminster is broken” while they continue their unholy unspoken alliance with the Tories.
It’s great if you are a genuine Scottish nationalists. But for the majority of normal people in England, Wales and Scotland it will just be more misery.
Divide and conquer is the way the elite stay on top. They did the exact same thing with the plantation in Ireland.
Former Republic of Ireland winger Damien Duff’s wages at Shamrock Rovers will go to charity. (Eurosport
Fantastic gesture from Damien Duff.
Good to see an Irishman giving something back to not only football (soccer) in Ireland but also donating his wages to a charity. Not many go back to play in the Irish league at all but it would be good to se otherts follow Damien’s lead and raise the profile. These players make a lot out of the game and it’s nice to see them go back to their own league and give something back. This should be applauded.
LB
When I 1st posted a couple of weeks ago I stated some of the things I liked on this site ie the compassion of Dena and the sharpwit of Jamesgang etc. please add the stubbornness of Tony Donnelly to that list I love it stick to your guns Tony D. H H
TD
You description of a 20 year old girl as a Hun midden for a comment she made as a 16 year old is crass and disgraceful.
It makes you sound like an embittered old bigot. I dont know you so is that what you are really like.
I have heard similar descriptions of Celtic fans on here. Mainly of the Green Brigade.
This came from fellow Celtic fans or were they hun middens too
the battered bunnet
10:36 on 15 July, 2015
Criticise as you see fit, but the aptness to use gender-related pejoratives, for example Tart, Slut, Midden, when referring to Mhairi Black says considerably more about the critic than the criticised.
When someone slags of my team they are getting it in the neck, that’s just me, and I cleaned up my post calling her a midden, any stronger would get me banned from here, as I’ve said she’s no better than the other midden who came second in the commonwealth games 800 meters, and I cleaned that up too.
Midgey bite x10 = mozzy bite
Mozzy bite x 10 = sand fly bite