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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Pete, Your wife’s wouldn’t be Barbara Ann by any chance, now wouldn’t that be Fun, Fun Fun.
I noticed that Celtic TV can show the game live tomorrow to overseas viewers… but I know that most ot the CL games are shown on a delayed basis …. when do the restrictions kick in? Is it after the qualifying?
I”m just booking a few things, and need to know which games I can watch on the computer, and which days I am going to come down with the flu ….
The Green Man, the buzzbomb is featured on the legends banners.
I think Bourne posted a picture of it earlier, in page 1 or 2 of this thread.
blantyretim is praying for the Knox family
16:14 on 14 July, 2015
Proud to see TOHG has been included on the stadium pictures
hail hail
bt
And so you should be. I had a walk around the stadium today and thought of you when I saw it. All the banners are a wonderful addition.
HH
Lynsey Sharp has made her twitter private. Worried about what else people will find?
Outed bigot.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJ0XlDeWoAAHmjE.jpg
PARADISE
HH
Corkcelt
The wee lassie was mini BT. 8))
Dallas Dallas
Cheers bud….I would have been amazed otherwise
HH
I knew that BT. Brilliant for her and all the family.
I remember reading an advert in the jobs section of the Irish News back in the early noughties, three identical Irish, English and Ulster Scots, for the post of Head of Children’s Mental Health Services for one of the health boards. Anyway this job title translates into Ulster Scots as “High Heidyin fur lukin aifter wur wee dafties”. No word of a lie, that is the level to which they stoop to try and create some form of culture other than bowler hats, sashes and toy soldier costumes.
BSRs Photo of paradise
http://abload.de/img/paradiseh6kop.jpg
TD67
I recognise what happened there. I have had a few senior moments.
My worry is they gang up on me. :(
leftclick … great photo!
butsybhoy
13:23 on 14 July, 2015
Some wee posts put a broad smile on my face :))
Be proud Sir
Hope you all make a million memories at Paradise .Well done to the T.O. as well
dallas dallas where the heck is dallas
16:15 on 14 July, 2015
Funny!
HH jamesgang
leftclicktic
Great photo. I wonder how many Celtic fans will now have a new screensaver?
JJ
bournesouprecipe
16:09 on 14 July, 2015
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.
================================================================
Got to say that the middle one of the three above is a stick-on! Could even beat the Tonev ban!
HH
That photo is a belter….fits the screen lovely.
HH
It was bournesouprecipe at
12:38 on 14 July, 2015
that posted the photo, I took the same photo when at the T.O yesterday on my phone .
Disnae look as good as his Photo :))))))))))))))))))
corkcel – “Pete, Your wife’s wouldn’t be Barbara Ann by any chance, now wouldn’t that be Fun, Fun Fun.”
Only until Daddy took the T Bird away….
That’s enough of the Beach Boys puns.
I promise I won’t Do It Again.
I know it isn’t Friday, and it isn’t late yet, so not really music time … but, for the Beach Boy fans …. Jamie Cullum and Geoffry Gascoyne do a great cover of God Only Knows …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYuskZaqfmY&list=PLuDDZH3jMgUWWNZMDuzS–jBDMaXRugXc
Translation of ‘Roberto Baggio’ = ‘Stevie Fulton.’
HH!!
I’m not surprised that Celtic fans on CQN referred to ‘Lynsey Sharp’s deleted tweet’. What a shame that a healthy young Scottish athlete appears after all, to be from the trash element of this country’s society.
Celtic Football club, at the behest of the remaining living Jock Stein greater family asked Celtic never to get involved, or comment on ‘the great slur’ of the Ranger’s nemesis, or indeed to give it’s story any oxygen.
Let’s leave it that way, and remember their wishes which in fairness are by and large respected by the Scottish media.
After a wee domestic clear out I’m offering the following to a good home…
The official Celtic annual….2005, 2006 and 2011 editions
Celtic double winners 2012/13 souvenir magazine
No charge…and I’ll even cover the UK postage…as long as you agree to make a donation to a suitable Celtic-minded charity of your choice.
e-mail details available via the usual CQN source
leftclicktic
I think Celtic get so many things right, but ‘the murals of the east end’ are a masterstroke.
Lubomir Moravcik = Cheap John Spencer
Celtic with another signing Kieran McGrath was on hibs books. Young striker
lennon’s passion
Is that the young Coatbridge Bhoy?
mike in toronto.@ 16 .47.
I gave that a listen. I wish I hadn’t .
Just reading back before kip………..
butsybhoy 13:23 on 14 July, 2015………
So proud of you pal.
Bet the wee mhan is loving being back where he is happiest……..
God Bless.
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
Till later all
One more sleep
SoT … that’s unfortunate. Cant win ’em all, I guess.
I actually quite like it. I’m guessing then that you wont want to hear Jamie Cullum’s version of the Taylor Swift classic ‘Shake it Off’?
The revamped look of Celtic Park is magnificent. Certainly an improvement and will be admired by all, both fans and visitors alike.
Howeva, just a reminder to the marketing boffins:
Let us not forget that the greats of the football world that visit Paradise reminice over the fans, the atmosphere and the energy generated by the Celtic family, not bricks and mortar.
The real magic of Paradise still remains within the hearts of Tims everywhere.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/13417891.display/
leftclicktic
17:00 on 14 July, 2015
I’m not sure mate just seen it on Twitter. Forward for Hibs with a lot of goals. Good we’re getting the best of the rest though.
lewandowski apparently available… and for only $35 million (pounds, that is, not dollars) …
come on PL …. works some magic!
BT,
Congratulations on your Dad’s inclusion in the photo montage.
I could identify most but not all of those in the “rogues gallery”. Is there a list of those featured and is there any criterion for inclusion?
mike in toronto.
Indeed !.
My ears think Taylor Swift sounds like a Fisher Price toy..To quote PJ Harvey – ” training bra music ”
I thought the BBC version of God Only Knows was a crime against a great song and a great vocal but that Jamie Cullum attempt is an atrocity.(IMO ).
Grump , grump !