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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Ivan de la Pena- translation – Ivan of the Rock (Dumbarton fan?)
Vintage ….
Like you, I think it could be a tough game tomorrow.
Objectively, on paper, we should win comfortably, but games aren’t played on paper. This team knocked out Lech Poznan last year, so they are obviously no mugs.
Just had a letter pop through the letter box from Sky,
They have offered me 33% discount for the next 5 years, on any bundle,
I must admit that I was tempted by the devil broadcaster, but came to my senses by remembering how frustrating, false, and ill informed there plastic sport presenters are,
So fek them..
Happy Celticing
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations ,
She’s giving me excitations
Good good good good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations
Good good good good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations
Vintage, Mike
Stjarnan are currently sitting 6th in the Icelandic table having taken 15 points from 11 games.
I would like to think that we will win this tie quite comfortably
HH
Vintage…Mike in Toronto
Bhoys, I would be expecting a three or four goal victory.
If we cant deal with the Icelanders….we shouldn’t really be there.
4-0 will do me.
HH
Tony Donnelly, great story and much respect for your honesty.
Pleased everything was sorted out in the end and the Vaseline is no longer required lol.
I hope you enjoy your swallay today and the game tomorrow night.
Catman …. I hope you are right …. but I tend to be more concerned about early season games against ‘minnows’ than I am even about midseason games, against much better opponents … in the last few seasons, at least to start the season, we seem to play to the level of our opponents …..
but I hope you are right, and would be over the moon with a comfortable 3 goal win to take to the away leg
Green Man …. from your lips to Gods (and/or Ronny’s) ear!
I am sad about Jim Spence leaving the BBC, however I am distraught at the rumour that I heard at lunch today, to the effect that he was going on the SNP list for next year’s Holyrood elections.
Oh Jim, if this is true, you are making the biggest miscalculation of your life. Of course he will need a year to go through the indoctrination and brainwashing, that is required by the ‘Stepford SNP’
On Stokesy, yes sorry if he goes, was looking for him to get a real boost from Ronny’s new regime – Anthony is talented, application seems his problem – maybe Neil has ‘tapped’ him, perhaps he needs a new challenge – Bon Chance!
Really enjoyed the tennis last week with two great champions.
Had to say I was disappointed when I logged on to CQN and saw a couple of comments about Serena having “a mans body” or using steroids. Just read an interesting article
———————–
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/14/serena-williams-female-athletes-femininity-police
“Tomasz Wiktorowski, the coach for the very slender Agnieszka Radwanska, explained why she was less athletically built than Williams: “It’s our decision to keep her as the smallest player in the top 10 because, first of all she’s a woman, and she wants to be a woman.”
Radwanska acknowledged how her appearance mattered to her, essentially more than her performance, because, well, “I’m a girl.” Discussing photos of her cut arms mid-serve, the 14th-ranked tennis player Andrea Petkovic admitted, “I just feel unfeminine.”
And Maria Sharapova, the top-earning female athlete of 2014, said “I can’t handle lifting more than five pounds […] for my sport, I just feel like it’s unnecessary.”
———————————–
It’s their own body so these ladies can do as they please. But I am all too happy to see Serena continue to SMASH them. She’s willing to do the hard work to get in peak shape and deal with the awful comments made about her appearance.
True sports legend and deserves all the acclaim for her achievements and sacrifices made.
Mike in Toronto, last season Stjarnan put Motherwell out of the Europa League Qualifiers. They got three penalties over the two legs, all conceded by the charming Keith Lasley.
He must have been bewildered that his style of play so easily tolerated by Scottish refs was punished by a european ref.
What’s it all about Alfie?
Was told by some friends who lived in Hamburg for 30 years that “Schweinsteiger” meant “pig mounter”
Which conjured all sorts of strange images. It also must have been a regular occurrence if it became the family name.
Mike in Toronto…..
On paper, it appears that now we have to play a 3rd qualifying tie, that there is added stress and risk.
However,
without this tie, we would still have to play the same 2nd round opponents – but only on the back of some friendlies. Our annual Icelandic venture should actually improve our preparation for round 2.
just by view….
Most of what I have seen of this team are the crazy goal celebrations, so it is not like I have seen them a lot …
but I thought Icelandic football was going through a good spell ….
even the national team is topping their group in Euro qualifiers with 15 out of 18 points in a group with Holland, Turkey and the Czech republic … so, obviously, they must have some decent players in that country.
Any of the bhoys carrying injuries for tomorrow night , or we looking at a full squad to choose from ?
Headline
A source close to Celtic confirmed to HITC Sport, that Stokes does not feature in Ronny’s plans and is free to find another Club.
I doubt if any Celtic source confirmed anything to HITC Sport, but it’s an easy assumption that Stokes has slipped off the radar and is likely to go. I think his late arrival back before a major game last year is the issue, he didn’t feature at all in the last 6 or 7 games last season.However I would still expect Celtic be be looking for a million at least before he goes anywhere.
Not one of us can be in any way confident about the CL qualifying – look forward to this kind of weather tomorrow night.
Let’s hope we can get off to a good start, and, that we get at least 40k inside CP.
GMS – first goalscorer!
corkcelt
“’m pickin’ up good vibrations
She’s giving me excitations
I’m pickin’ up good vibrations ,
She’s giving me excitations”
Aye, there’s a real buzz about the place
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/football/dundee-united/thank-you-nadir-ciftci-uses-pages-of-the-courier-to-send-message-to-dundee-united-fans-1.889523
Nice touch from the big man.
LB
” We had to work hard for 40 minutes in Iceland and we had to work hard for 30 minutes here Both games were over when we scored ..Compliments to their Manager , they were well organized , tactically disciplined and fit.”
Walter Mazzarri ( then Manager of Inter ) after Inter 6 – Stjarnan 0
mike in Toronto
Mike..id be extremely worried if we cant be the Icelanders, because we are sure to face much tougher teams in due course.
Ive changed my mind.
5-0 will do me:)
HH
Dallas …. I agree that Motherwell were really poor last season, and you would have to be absolutely minging not be able to beat them, particularly over two legs …. :)
but,seriously, they did have some decent results last season, and Icelandic football seems to be improving …
weeron …. agree, that if we make it through, it stands us in good stead for the later rounds, for sure. ..
The Williams brothers have been giants in Tennis – sorry sisters.
Easy assumptions
Aiden McGeady asked for transfer – linked with his ole club
Nadir Ciftci signs for Celtic – will get banned
Anthony Stokes playing for development team – is for sale
HITC isn’t even a Sports source it’s a website that collects made up stuff
from the internet, puts it all together and invites comment.
owen
16:01 on 14 July, 2015
Was told by some friends who lived in Hamburg for 30 years that “Schweinsteiger” meant “pig mounter”
Which conjured all sorts of strange images. It also must have been a regular occurrence if it became the family name.
——-
You suspect it shouldn’t have taken too many instances for it to have made an impact.
In related news, did you know ‘McCulloch’ is ulstr skotch for ‘goat botherer’?
And that ‘McCoist’ means ‘tenderer of daisies’ in that same ancient (since 2005) dialect?
HH jamesgang
ThompsonTwin
Repeating an old joke made by a racist russian
Nicky Butt – translation – Nicky A**e
Mike, Stjarnan also knocked out Lech Poznan in the Europa League qualifiers.
However, if out players have the right attitude , hunger and desire we should get through to the next qualifying stage.
ThompsonTwin
I see you have been charming the bhoys on CQN, with your incisive comment.
Get a grip, and just when I was thinking of not slagging you off:)
Are you an ex-cop by any chance:)
HH
Proud to see TOHG has been included on the stadium pictures
hail hail
My wife can’t stand the Beach Boys.
God only knows, but wouldn’t it be nice if she did ?
Jamesgang, if you type in McCoist in Microsoft Outlook , its not recognised. The first alternative they show is, McCourt.
That gives me a wee laugh.
Good news
Sunderland drop their interest in Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk – who has two years left on his contract.
Yep BT. Think I saw a Facebook Pic of a wee lassie posing, with her grandad’s picture in the background. Very proud moment for all the family.
Jan Venegoor of Hesselink – translation – John Smith of Hunskelper
I hope wee Bobby Lennox is hugely featured in new refurb?
Surely
HH