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.
692 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 19
- »
grr wants all his money
Harry Boe
I still enjoy listening to games on the radio if I can;t watch it live. You get the atmosphere a lot better than TV half the time and although the updates on Twitter and CQN are handy there is nothing like hearing the action live.
Just a thought
LB
bognorbhoy, Cowiebhoy, BMCUW, leftclicktic, and all other fans.
I’ve decided to give up on podium-chasing, at the top of my game, and let others have a free crack at glory.
Thanks for all your support in the past!
HH
“Sheikh Mansour (allegedly) earns approximately £115,000 per minute
So if he wakes up at 7.00 he could have paid for Raheem Sterling by 14.00”
SomethingNoQuiteRight csc
An Tearmann
12:45 on
14 July, 2015
Yep.
I know what you`re saying.
Brave new (football) world.
Celtic culture is ours.It must be protected.
The football financial bubble will burst.The only question is when.
MACJAY
https://www.poundland.co.uk
Btw,I had a lot of Chelsea mates when I stayed in South London in the 90s. Good lads-otherwise they wouldn’t be mates.
Their highlight then was The Autoglass Trophy,or Johnstones Paint Trophy or whatever.
But they could still support their team. And they did.
I bet they can’t now. Shame how money has ruined the game.
Dexter
The game will not be broadcast on air, only through the Internet from Celtic TV.
If you are a domestic subscriber you could try logging in to CTV from a computer but I reckon that will only get you audio of the game.
There seems to be two checks on logging in.
1. Are you logging in from UK or overseas?
2. What kind of subscriber are you domestic or overseas.
If the latter AND you have an Overseas subscription you get video live.
If the former you should get audio only regardless of location.
I am surmising that is how it works as an overseas subscriber who when logging in from the UK only gets audio based on actual location.
LiviBhoy
12:50
Good point. I think the hotel I’m in tomorrow night has a decent wi-fi signal in the rooms so I can try and get Radio Scotland online.
I used to have a radio app on my i-phone but it was pash. Lots of stations from across the globe but couldn’t find Radio Scotland.
Well I’ve still got my old card, I called JPTaylor yesterday and this morning, and three e mails last week, and still no new card, and I won’t be going to no ticket office tomorrow either, I have my receipt from the purchase, time date merchant number terminal number reference number and auth code number, I e mailed all that last week and still nothing, I have recorded everything, if I do not get my card either today or tomorrow, someone is going to request a supply of Vaseline, trust me.
Date of renewal 11/05/15 Time 14:03:00
That’s over two months ago ffs?
Or maybe not…..
CQN it is then!
auldheid
12:55 on 14 July, 2015
Dexter
The game will not be broadcast on air, only through the Internet from Celtic TV.
If you are a domestic subscriber you could try logging in to CTV from a computer but I reckon that will only get you audio of the game.
There seems to be two checks on logging in.
1. Are you logging in from UK or overseas?
2. What kind of subscriber are you domestic or overseas.
If the latter AND you have an Overseas subscription you get video live.
If the former you should get audio only regardless of location.
I am surmising that is how it works as an overseas subscriber who when logging in from the UK only gets audio based on actual location
——
Thanks auld.
I am logging in overseas but am a domestic subscriber.
Looks like I won’t get the video then….
Mr 67 Don’t think there’s 12 teams in Scotland. The 2 Edinburgh teams,2 Dundee teams,Aberdeen,Zombies, Celtic and maybe Motherwell. Just don’t see what the rest bring to the party.
Stokes to be released if true is a shocking decision. 2 years left on his contract not the worse player ever to wear the Hoops. Must command some sort of fee. Even if it’s £500,000
Auldheid
I believe your explanation to dexter to be accurate
You will be glad to know that right enough. 8)
Kittoch 12:25 on 14 July, 2015:
Where is the Stokes to be let go coming from?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
tonydonnelly67
13:01 on
14 July, 2015
Well I’ve still got my old card, I called JPTaylor yesterday and this morning, and three e mails last week, and still no new card, and I won’t be going to no ticket office tomorrow ………
———————————————————————————————————————
No consolation I know,pal,but it won`t be his fault.
He`s been right on the ball in the dealings I have had with him.
Good luck in any case,Tony.
Auldheid may be your go – to man.
LENNYBHOY
LENNON’SPASSION
I don’t think being allowed to leave means going on a free. Simply means not in the plans,your call to stay or find a new club.
Shame cos I like the fella.
TD
That’s not a complaint is it? 8)
Blame Big Pete it’s his fault
tonydonnelly67
13:01 on
14 July, 2015
Well I’ve still got my old card, I called JPTaylor yesterday and this morning, and three e mails last week, and still no new card, and I won’t be going to no ticket office tomorrow either, I have my receipt from the purchase, time date merchant number terminal number reference number and auth code number, I e mailed all that last week and still nothing, I have recorded everything, if I do not get my card either today or tomorrow, someone is going to request a supply of Vaseline, trust me.
Date of renewal 11/05/15 Time 14:03:00
That’s over two months ago ffs?
Me too…feckin furious. They said over the phone yesterday that a new card will be waiting for me at the ticket office today. Got to go up today not a happy bunny !!!!!
Inverness showed the way ahead 12 years ago when they Amalgamated clubs to create 1 professional team for the area
Look at Falkirk – Falkirk, East Stirling and Stenhousemuir, within what 2 miles max of each other, coupled with 2 Junior clubs in the area
Amalgamate creating 1 Professional club, and several Juniors ?
Stirling Albion and Alloa, 3 miles apart, (or 8 miles from Falkirk) with a Junior team near Alloa, and several very big Amatuer teams in Stirling
Create 1 team for Stirling/Alloa area and a couple of Juniors
I could go on, and I’ve only looked at Central Region
Can Dundee sustain 2 clubs ? Ground share would save huge costs for them
Radical change required as Paul67 states
Hail Hail
The SPL are 18th in Europe wages league
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2833020
HH
Oh Lennonspassion
2 clubs for Glasgow
Celtic and Partick Thistle
Hail Hail
Just phoned the ticket office to secure another Kids season book.
No problems at all with the girl in the office very helpful indeed,
Well who is the ticket for she asks,( its for my wee foster lad who i have back in the house after a we spell away that didn’t work out.His first question to me Yesterday was did you get me a ticket)
Good do you have his details
Name: Yes
Age: Yes
DOB: No
Birth cert: No
Aah don’t worry if you come in we will sort him out,
then i remembered that we have his Passport back with us.
Brilliant she said that will do and gave me a client number.
Cant wait to see his reaction to the news, He is a season book holder.
Great customer service from the Ticket office
Made my day.
Hail Hail
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
I agree he did have a good second half that day, however think of the number of players who have not been the answer but have had good spells during a game.
He also choose another club over Celtic, before eventually signing for us.
Just my opinion and it won’t change.
I wish him all the best
Busty
Great work from you and TO
Hail Hail
Pauk,
I haven’t read back this morning. Just want to highlight that the creation of the SPFL in fact was a ’42-club solution’. It strengthened the hand of the ‘wee clubs’. In many ways it was a step back for the game in Scotland.
You are absolutely correct. Scotland has a population of 5 million people. I don’t know how many professional clubs 5 million people can support, but it isn’t 42. Or 32. Or 22.
Some of these clubs play in front of less than 300 people. They would be better served if they were development teams for professional clubs. If there are to be 2 clubs in Dundee, they should be sharing a stadium. ‘Tradition’ won’t allow that. Same for Edinburgh.
Glasgow is different, with the huge gulf in size between the 2 top clubs in the city, where unlike Dundee, Thistle can probably justify their own place.
However, someone somewhere has the need to have the votes of the men attached to the likes of Airdrie and Cowdenbeath.
Welcome to the 19th century……..
Pauk=Paul.
Sorry for the typo on your name, Paul.
£1 a week that was never paid? What is Scottish football’s obsession with the symbolic £1?
Craig Whyte
Kieran Doran
Hugh Dallas…
If I had £1 for every time £1 featured in a story about Scottish football…I’d probably never have actually received any money…
BT
Cheers
Kittoch
13:24 on
14 July, 2015
That was a big day.
However,no worries,pal.
We`ll both wish him all the best if he decides to leave.
Tomorrow night, if the Green Brigade haven’t prepared a chorus of:
“There’s a Stjarnan waiting in the sky, they’d like to come and meet us but they think they’ll blow our minds”
then they should be banned from Celtic Park. There, I said it…
Good Afternoon.
Am sorry to hear that Jim Spence is leaving the BBC. One of the good guys. Hopefully we will still hear lots from him.
Here are some thoughts on his departure.
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/the-jim-spence-appreciation-blog/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
The Immaculate Conception:
“And she who guarded her chastity, so we breathed (a spirit) into her through our angel, and we made her and her son (Jesus) a sign for the worlds.” (Quran 21:91)
Jim Spence will be followin’ the rest of the ole Arabs to Lennoxtown.
He is a big miss for Shortbread; immune to Rang#rsitis and incapable of hunguffery.
Stefan Schweinsteiger- translation – Stephen Pigfarmer
Well credit to J P Taylor, he called me and told me he would get it sorted, I will let you all know what happens, I have a belts and braces plan B, but that’s not the point………
See that P L he’s useless :)
Wee Jim Spence darn the hair did he care
weeron 13:29 on 14 July, 2015
Pauk=Paul.
Sorry for the typo on your name, Paul.
Why apologise to HIM? Look what he did to me all those years ago. Talk about split personalities!
H x 2
Clury
(aka Cyrul, Lyruc, Ulryc, Lurcy, Yurcl, Ulcyr, Ylurc, Cryul, Culyr . . . .)
Dumbest question of the day , I know, esp. given Pauls remarks but the game tomorrow night IS on the season ticket , isn’t it?
Got family over and looking to use the spare season ticket we have but not wanting to make a choob of myself. Again.
HH