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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Congrats to Miss BSR on clearing another hurdle on her way to vacating her parents trough.
Saint Stivs…
I thougt pat nevin looked more like Gonzo…then again it could also be neil mc cann…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Gonzo
mike in toronto @ 18 47.
Angus McGonagle was based on Nicola Sturgeon.
St Stivs @ 18.53. Only when the bold batrachian is oscillating between green and red.
Smiley face thingy!
Yogi bear was never fictional as Hanna barbera revealed in his biography
Graffiti on the wall, a cartoonist in the calton
Lubbock Lou’s Jughuggers was based on that red haired wardrobe-shifting kind of woman that DBBIA and BSR keep posting.
Anthony Stokes finished this season with the highest number of assists at CP
Strikers csc
Cookie monster from sesame street was based on Craig Whytie#Celtic fact
Captain Beefheart ….
I have sometimes criticized AS for playing too deep, and sometimes, shaken my head at the stories of his off field activities ….but, to be fair to the guy ….
when NFL was having a sticky patch (including at the Killie game), Stokes was one of the key guys in pulling the team through (and, I believe, in keeping NFL in a job ) …..
and at the start of last season, when RD was bedding in, I thought AS was one of the guys that seemed to buy into RD’s system, and worked hard ….
I thought that he often dropped too deep, but, not very often would I have criticized him for lack of effort. And, given all of that, his scoring record for us has not been bad at all … (okay, Europe hasn’t been great)
As I have said before, I am speculating, but, given the timing of events, and his lack of game time, I think he may have blotted his copybook with RD … if so, better for him that he goes someplace where he will get a regular game because he has a fair bit to offer on the pitch …
and if he does go, he will go with my thanks for his years of service to Celtic.
Sips,
Pat sits on the stairs every night crying into his hibs scarf.
I give you gonzo is Neil McCann, literally translated in ulster scots as fenian bastar fae the port ,,
Thats their translation, ive got anothrr
Statler and Waldorf
Based on Cosy corner bhoy and Oldtim (belated breithla shona)
FACT
My two favourite ‘characters’ from Sesame Street – pre-Muppets – were Bert and Ernie.
Brilliant so they were.
HH!!
owen
16:26 on
14 July, 2015
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.
…………………………………………………………………………..
Owen,
It’s the ultimate DIY playground (playgrun?) lingo…
:)
There’s a section in the book (buik?) “Great Hatred Little Room” by Jonathan Powell where while attempting to deliver an acceptable peace process Powell’s team just wet themselves ( pish thumsuls?) about this laughable doggerel.
Sham culture ( culchir?) right enough.
HH
What’s your opinion of the Celtic View? Take our survey and let us know what you think https://t.co/OBfQIef6l1 #50Seasons (NM)
Muppets
Not Trolling btw…….
Rizzo the Rat was inspired by Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy.
The big hoose must stay open benefits cheap on crutches hallways reminded me of the giant blue Muppet
The coyote…Dave king (gasl)..
http://www.examiner.com/article/ten-all-time-favorite-cartoon-characters-wile-e-coyote
MIT
Thanks, as a great man said to me a moment ago it’s always a lovely feeling when your children taste success.
Scrolling back.
For those who are happy with the Celtic board at present,fair enough, it’s your opinion,however no matter how happy anyone is, in general, there is always room to make things better. I applaud the trust for trying to do that.
With regards youth football contracts, a real minefield in which everything is done in the club’s favour. Clubs get players to sign one year contracts but, in effect, all it means is the clubs can let the players go after one year but a bit like Hotel California (again) it is very difficult for the player to leave. I know a young goalie who was with an SPFL club (not Celtic) boy was in Scotland squad too. He fell out with goalie coach and as young boys do, decided to walk away. He found full time employment and didn’t play football for a year. He then decided to try and play football as an amateur but SPFL club wouldn’t release him as they said they still had option on him.
Butsybhoy, magic real feel good story. Hail Hail my friend, hopefully catch up with you very soon.
gearoid1998
I was going to suggest Neganon and Tom McG but thought it was being toooooo cheeky.
No offence meant guys…..i think you are a great double act and miss your sparring.
tallybhoy
Bert and Ernie.
Yes – brilliant .!
Watching the Argentina v Chile Copa America Final – Mrs S of T was moved to say – ” looks like the Chile players go to the same hairdressers as Bert and Ernie.”
Startled and Waldorf were based on doctor what for and myself in our working days. We used to heckle at Education Dept. meetings.
BSR…
You sound proud as punch of your daughter and so you should be.
Well done to miss BSR the lurking lady. HH
On a different note, I was allover Glasgow today on various errands, Celtic tops a plenty,
Glasgow fair upon us.
I went past the old Edwardian toilet block as well.
Seeing it on a clear day, without the usual bias on my part, and just taking an objective professional look, there is some amount of work required on all the plastic and metal parts of the facades, the Copland end is a mess. The cement pillars also corrosion.
I concluded that a lack of funds to repair it, and the shoddy workmanship of the catholic builders who did the job in the early 80s, well it is indeed
Fawwin doon
End My Tynecastle Hell says Jason Holt https://raillydecord.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/jason-holt-end-my-tynecastle-hell/
And I alwasy thought the rat was based on a
certain ex Dundee forward who turned us down(aye right)
to join the dark side
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thunder Road
19:12 on
14 July, 2015
Muppets
Not Trolling btw…….
Rizzo the Rat was inspired by Dustin Hoffman as Ratso Rizzo in Midnight Cowboy.
damo lennon….
I’m one of the thickos on here, probably why it takes me to the second paragraph before realising it’s a wind up, doh, then again it’s probably nearer the truth than smsm print.
Keep the links coming. HH
BSR …
if you are anything like my dad (and I get the sense you are … and, that for me, is about the highest compliment I can pay anyone ) … then your daughter’s success is also your success …
my (older) brother was the first person in my dad’s family to go to university, and I was the first professional in his family …. my dad was always supportive of our education (a bit of an understatement …. we weren’t given a choice …. he and mum came to Canada so we could get the education he never had…. and you can be damned sure we were getting one!)
but, my dad never directly told us how much it meant to him (because he didn’t want to pressure us into a particular choice )…. but, we would hear about it from his friends … how much he talked about his sons and how proud he was … and, once, when he came to visit me in law school, and he had been out (on the town) with his work colleagues …. he drunkenly told me how much it meant to him to have a professional in the family ….. it was the only time he really told me ….afterwards, he never remembered that the told me, but I never forgot!
and now that I have watched my niece (as close to me as a daughter) grow up…. and finish university in a few weeks (she has a learning disability, so some people thought she would never even make it to university) …. I am proud of her for her accomplishments, but I also take pride in them…
Like my parents helped me, and can share in my accomplishments, so I can share in my nieces …
and, as I said, if you are anything like the man my old man was (and I get the sense you are), then you, too, played a large part in your girls success. And for that you should be proud indeed.
hail hail pal
application for permission to date my daughter
Note: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your physician.
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A truck with oversize tires? ____
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If you have answered YES to #3, #4 or #5, discontinue application and leave immediately.
In fifty words or less, what does Late mean to you?
In fifty words or less, what does Don’t touch my daughter mean to you?
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Please fill in the blanks:
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Note: If answer begins with “T” or “A”, discontinue and leave premises – keeping your head low and running in a serpentine fashion is advised
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The Swedish chef was based on John Guidetti.
Question number one is missing
Explain in business terms liquidation.
DBBIA…
Surely the Swedish Chef was Henke.
Guidetti the washer upper.
Miss Bournesouplurker, many congratulations young lady.
Butsybhoy
Yer a good bhoy J, take a bow.
The Green Man
16:18 on 14 July, 2015
I hope wee Bobby Lennox is hugely featured in new refurb?
Surely
—————————————————
Bobby is a real legend and in my best 11. A flying machine in his day and still one of the quickest in his later years. Brilliant goal scorer also.
Looking forward to seeing the images tomorrow.
I’m glad that we have the home leg first and with all respect expect us to finish the tie tomorrow….3-0.
Weet weet weet. Very good I will use that in 12 years time when my baby is 18. I do believe that you have too much time on your hands.
Your right ;))
HH
Mike in Toronto,
2 goals against Rennes sums up his euro usefulness. He did well with Hooper but we then sold the Essex Muller. Stokes was a darling of our support for non footballing reasons.
Like you, I wish him well though.
Oops! Startled??????? Damn predictive text.
Shoulda been Stadtler. At dinner. Sorry for delay.