Neil Lennon will begin to get his players back at Lennoxtown tomorrow after, what for most of the first team, has been a two week international break. For many of the established players, he’ll be hoping for a clean bill of health, but with trips to Tynecastle and Milan ahead, the manager will be keen to spend time with Teemu Pukki.
Teemu played 92 minutes for Finland in Tbilisi last night so will get little time on the training fields before Celtic’s next two games. Tynecastle itself may provide the most effective training opportunity ahead of Wednesday’s game at the San Siro.
Delighted for Gordon Strachan, who has already caused an unlikely upturn in Scotland’s fortunes. He is a better coach and tactician than he ever got credit for. His Key Performance Indicators (winning leagues, knock out stages of the Champions League) were achieved in spades, but there was a soft underbelly which always seemed to undermine progress. Curiously, his Celtic team went 15 months without keeping a clean sheet away from home in all competitions, despite winning the league in both seasons this run spanned.
The one game during this period of note was the 1-0 defeat to Milan in the Champions League knock out stage; the only game Celtic completed 90 minutes without conceding. If Neil Lennon can replicate this achievement he stands an excellent chance of a second successive memorable Champions League campaign.
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IAN BLACK bet against Rangers winning a match and he should be marched down Ibrox’s marble staircase and escorted from the premises.
Simple as that, no half measures, no need for debate.
By refusing to discuss what matches Black admitted betting against his own team in the SFA, the lawyers, the PFA, the player and the club are doing those who flood through the turnstiles in a damning disservice. With some guidance, though, we all know the truth now.
Black is on a reputed £7,000-a-week at Gers and in my eyes this was a test of how chief executive Craig Mather believes players being paid inflated wages to win League One should behave.
Gers can’t expect to sweep this under the carpet, not when they rushed to kick Fran Sandaza out of the door after he was duped into speaking about his contract by a cowardly phone hoaxer.
Then it was convenient for former supremo Charles Green to jettison the Spanish striker and dump £200,000-a-year off the wage bill before the team got promoted from Division Three and the salary started rising incrementally.
Poor old Fran might have had his face rearranged in an aerial challenge against Motherwell playing for the club but that counted for nothing.
He was a flop, the door was open and new Rangers under Green had swapped class for crass. Sandaza was out.
Now the 157 charges of Black basically putting a coupon on should be thrown in the bin where they belong.
They were a nonsense in the first place and the truth is the whole of Scottish football would have been in the dock with Black if that was all he was facing.
Gers’ decision to back Black here is not just baffling, after their treatment of Sandaza it is hugely hypocritical.
This was a proving ground for Mather who has so far staved off the screams for his exit from the group led by Clyde Blowers tycoon Jim McColl and former Blue Knight and Gers director Paul Murray.
Now was the time for the man portrayed by some as Green’s puppet to show some leadership, some steel, some courage.
Come out and demand to know why Black bet against Rangers then have the bravery to bin him for breach of contract. Surely, he would have a water-tight case?
Today may see Black slapped on the wrist with a club fine but anything less than that is for me dereliction of duty.
Black has been a lucky boy so far. The fact that this is the SFA punishing a Gers player has clouded the vision of too many.
Their knee-jerk reaction is to defend him and use his case as another example of what they perceive as persecution. It is not.
This is a player who if guilty of betting against his own team , he has sneered at every fan who pays his wages and betrayed a key principle of every football dressing-room.
It’s as simple as that and if Craig Mather can’t see something as basic as that he should follow Black out the door.
Gers back Black
By ANDY DEVLIN Published: 5 hrs ago
IAN BLACK will NOT be sacked by Rangers — despite betting against them.
The Ibrox midfielder yesterday admitted placing illicit bets on 160 games over seven years.
That includes backing East Stirling to draw with Rangers last season.
Black, 28, was yesterday fined £7,500 and banned for three games over the ‘Coupongate’ scandal.
A further seven-game ban was suspended until the end of the season but he will only serve that if he breaches the SFA’s strict gambling rules again.
After pleading guilty to the charges — which included two bets on Hearts NOT to win while he was a Jambos player — Black could be hit with a club fine.
But SunSport can reveal his Gers future is NOT in doubt.
JOB SAFE … Ian Black and Ally McCoist in training
Boss Ally McCoist plans to stand by the shamed star despite calls for him to be axed.
Ironically, Black scored in a 4-2 win for Gers over East Stirling after backing the draw as part of a £5 accumulator.
And he didn’t play in the Hearts games — against Motherwell and Spurs — where he bet against them.
Black also admitted placing wagers on ten other matches involving the club he was registered with at the time.
But the SFA’s disciplinary tribunal ruled he hadn’t been involved in anything dodgy ON the park during those games.
Neither Black nor Rangers will appeal yesterday’s decision.
Black, who will now miss the games against Arbroath, Queen of the South and Forfar, refused to comment as he left Hampden with advisor Barry Hughes.
However, Players’ Union chief Fraser Wishart — who was at the three-hour Hampden hearing — confirmed: “Ian’s been given a ten-game suspension, which has had seven of those suspended, and he’s been fined £7,500.
“I don’t want to talk about Ian’s personal situation. It’s important we take stock, speak to the club, speak to the player and decide what steps next.
“I think the details of what was discussed and what was imposed will come out in the coming days.”
Black broke strict SFA regulations which ban players and officials from putting money on any match anywhere in the world.
It’s common knowledge though, that he is just one of many Scots pros who bet on football.
Wishart, below, now wants urgent talks involving clubs, players, managers, the SFA and the SPFL, in a bid to establish guidelines.
He said: “If there is any good outcome from this I think it’s raised the spectre of this regulation.
“If anyone wasn’t aware of the rules before, they are now.
“There is a balance to be struck and what we’re asking for is a proper review to see if we can come up with something that’s appropriate for our game.”
GORDON DALZIEL grew up in a dressing room where they would all have a line on.
But they also knew where to draw the line.
Former Rangers ace Dazza reckons a “big percentage” of players enjoy a flutter on the beautiful game.
It might flout strict SFA gambling rules but it’s a fair bet that it still goes on.
What isn’t so prevalent, though, is players punting on their own team NOT to win.
Dalziel reckons that’s when the stakes get really high.
And he reckons Ian Black could ultimately be the big loser.
Banned and fined at Hampden yesterday, Gers ace Black could still face an internal club probe.
He’s admitted placing a £5 accumulator which included Gers to DRAW with East Stirling last season.
In the end, his goal at Ochilview helped ruin that wager.
Now Dalziel believes the bet could have ruined his Gers career.
Indeed, he believes the Scotland cap should have played his last game for the club.
NO NONSENSE … Dalziel thinks Black should be sacked by Gers
He told SunSport: He said: “If his current employers have found that he has bet against his own team, his feet should not touch the ground.
“He should be out the door straight away.
“He shouldn’t even be betting on Rangers to win, never mind to draw.
“Is there a difference between a draw and a defeat in that context?
“I would be very disappointed if they didn’t take action.
“For me, if Rangers have evidence that Black bet on them to draw then he should be out.
“I just don’t think it’s acceptable to Rangers supporters.”
Black made a personal appearance before a three-man independent tribunal yesterday. He was censured over 147 cases when he bet on football matches against SFA rules.
The ten-game ban — seven of those matches suspended until the end of this season — and £7,500 fine related to another 13 bets on games involving his club.
Three times — twice when with Hearts and once with Gers — those bets involved his own team not to win.
Dalziel added: “I bet on football all my playing days — but I’d never have accepted betting against my own team.
“It will be interesting to see how Rangers handle it. It’s up to Rangers to decide.
“If I was a supporter and Black was betting against his team, I’d not be happy at paying good money to watch.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, he’ll have a problem in the dressing room.
“The manager used to play in a dressing room filled with strong characters like Andy Goram.
“If they found a team-mate betting against their team, they’d not exactly pat him on the back and say it was a pity his coupon had gone down.
“I have no qualms with Black picking up a coupon and having a bet, even if it is against the rules.
“My problem comes when he bets against his own team. It’s a disgrace.
“It should not be acceptable to the club.”
Dalziel has watched Fran Sandaza and Darren Cole leave Ibrox this year after disciplinary rows.
And he believes the club could take another hardline stance over the betting row which has rocked Scottish football.
He said: “Sit the case alongside those of Sandaza and Cole.
STAYING … Ally McCoist is standing by midfielder
“My big question is, ‘Is this any worse than Sandaza and the hoax phone call?’
“Cole didn’t turn up for a reserve game and is no longer at the club. If you’ve bet against Rangers and you’re paid a lot money to play for Rangers … I don’t think the fans will be happy about it.
“But some fans will feel a bit of sympathy for Black because they will believe he’s been the victim of a witch-hunt.
“They’ll say a massive percentage of players put on coupons every other week and they’ve not been charged.”
Dalziel also believes rules should be relaxed to allow players to bet on some games.
He also reckons players need to be educated more on what’s allowed within the rules and what is off limits.
Black’s team-mate David Templeton insisted prior to yesterday’s hearing that he was unclear on betting regulations governing footballers — and Dalziel insists he won’t be alone.
He said: “Players will always put a coupon on.
“If they think they’ll get caught, they’ll just start getting a pal to put it on or use someone else’s online account.
“They won’t walk into the bookies with a tracksuit with the club badge on it. But they’ll still get their bet on.
“What’s wrong with a Scottish player having a bet on Arsenal v Liverpool on a Sunday afternoon?
“In all the years I was in the game, I didn’t know you couldn’t put on a coupon.
“Maybe players knew deep down that they shouldn’t be betting on the game they were involved in.
“But I don’t think they realised that they couldn’t even bet on a Sunday game if you’d played on a Saturday.
“I spent my career sticking on a £5 coupon on a Saturday.
“It was a standing conversation when you came back into the dressing room after a game.
“You’d hear boys ask ‘How did Hull do?’, ‘What was the Arsenal score?’ or say ‘I’m waiting for Chelsea for my line?’
“I’m not saying they all did it but a big percentage of them did it.
“But I never came across any of them who’d bet on their own team not to win.”
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday the 13th from a damp and overcast East Kilbride.
By BILL LECKIE
Published: 5 hrs ago
SO, now I’m officially confused.
Is a player betting against his own team a serious offence? Or is it no worse than taking an air-swipe at an opponent’s backside?
Because after the SFA’s fudge of a judgement against Ian Black, it’s about as clear as six-yard-box mud.
When they charged the Rangers man, they announced the news with the kind of flourish that made most think they were about to make a massive example of him to make sure no one ever was as stupid again.
Last month, the English FA hit Accrington Stanley’s managing director with a 21-month suspension and a £10,000 fine for backing his team to lose.
Yet here’s Black facing a three-game ban. The same as Dundee United defender Gavin Gunning got last week for trying — and failing — to boot Virgil Van Dijk of Celtic.
Make an example of him? Some chance. All they’ve done is make mugs of themselves.
Forget the seven games Black’s had suspended as a warning against repeating his offence, because if he’s stupid enough to get caught out again he deserves life on Guantanamo Bay, never mind two months in the stand.
And don’t be fooled that the £7,500 fine is any kind of punishment. It might make a big hole in the average worker’s income, but I’ll be staggered if it takes him any more than a fortnight to earn that much.
Black’s punishment was always going to become the benchmark for any other players caught breaking gambling rules.
Which means they now have a simple equation to weigh up: “Is what I can make off a punt worth the risk of three weeks out the team and a couple without pay?” If football’s your sole income and — like 90 per-cent of full-timers these days — it takes you a couple of months to earn £7,500, maybe not.
But for two divisions of part-timers, guys with day jobs who make anything from £40 to £250 a week on the side for kicking a ball, it’s hardly a frightening thought.
We know scores of players put a coupon on as part of their matchday ritual. We’d be naive to imagine none of them have ever put a few bob on the opposition.
So… let’s just say one of them sees that opposition is 5/1 for Saturday’s game, but also knows well in advance his own team have seven out injured. Is it worth £100 with Willie Hill?
Had Black been hammered with an ACTUAL ten-game stretch — or more, because the SFA had a blank canvas here — the answer would probably be no. Instead . . . well, I’m not so sure after such a mixed message from Hampden.
Yes, they wanted the world to know they’ve felt a big name’s collar and were putting him through a show trial. But no, they weren’t willing to genuinely prove how serious a crime he was guilty of.
I’ll be up front here — if Black was a team-mate of mine and it turned out he stood to make money off us losing, he’d be up against the wall in a shot. It’s treachery, an affront to everything you work for all week. It’d be hard to ever trust him again.
Maybe that’s just me. Maybe I’m too sensitive about right and wrong. But somehow, I’m guessing there are thousands of genuine football people out there who feel just as angry at the thought of any player doing the dirty on his muckers.
And who will be feeling just as confused at this half-baked verdict.
But, sadly, not in the least bit surprised.
Jobo
Post your charity link please if you don’t mind. Thanks bud.
Morning,
Just seen via Twitter there was a big queue at 4:30 outside the ticket office this morning for CL tickets going on sale.
ArmageddonCSC
TNT –
Just for you…
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jobo
But I don’t mind if anyone else cares to have a wee look too ;-)
A lot of valid points made last night about the new club’s first visit to CP, if and when it comes around. PL MUST put his own support first, and not pander to the visiting Hun in any way, by making sure they are referred to by their official name of that time, and NOT the Rfc 1872 title.
If PL and the board are swithering over this issue, which I doubt anyway, a cup draw for the new club at Pittodrie or Tannadice, or even at the home of their wee cousins, will set the precedent for them.
I look forward to reading those program notes.
hh
Good morning CQNers,
If a picture paints a thousand words…..
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/rangers-ian-black-given-10-game-ban-and-7-5k-fine-1-3088514.
Ian Black’s choice of wardrobe for yesterday’s hearing would suggest –
1, He didn’t give a monkey’s.
2. He was confident the result had already been agreed.
3. I’m old fashioned in believing that you should dress to impress at disciplinary hearings.
You chose.
Disappointed to learn the news of Steven Mouyokolo’s injury as I’d held high expectations of his contribution this season, hopefully the injury isn’t as bad as the initial newspaper reports.
Marrakesh express – agreed, and is I’ve previously said treat them as any other club and give them no more tickets than required. None of this 7500 malarkey.
I’ll do the same. Would I normally pay for a midweek cup game against division 3 opposition? No. On that basis I won’t go and see us against them either.
Marrakesh Express
Didn’t they play at Tannadice last seaon in the cup?
The away support were advised to stay away by Chuckles, if I remember rightly.
It would be interesting to know how the ticket was labelled and what the programme was like.
Good morning fellow Celts – overcast in Renfrewshire
Sooo scottish players can openly cheat/make money by betting against their own team in a game they are taking part in…
….if they are prepared to pay the designated tariff: 3 match ban and £7k?
They are getting away with it !!
games-a-bogeyj
Jobo
Cheers..done
acgr@hotmail.co.uk – only half a million free zadok the priest ringtones left to give away – get them while stocks last.
01:36 on 13 September, 2013
Spot on mate I couldn’t agree more.
I’m sick of others saying they are waiting on the appropriate time it’s bullsh***.
This could’ve been nipped in the bud long ago but it hasn’t and I always wonder why.
twist n turns and Murdochbhoy –
– sincere thanks for your very kind donations, especially on top of all the recent worthwhile causes . Must run now, work calling…. ;-)
From Davie Hay in the ET
The scale of Peter’s decade at Parkhead is defined by a fine balance of power
This week marks the 10th anniversary of Peter Lawwell as chief executive of Celtic – and you would have to say that without a shadow of a doubt he is the most astute businessman that the club have had in that role.
Davie Hay
Football columnist
Friday 13/09/2013
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Lawwell and Lennon have a good working relationship at Celtic
Granted, the position of chief executive is a relatively modern phenomena, but I do think he has excelled in the position.
When you take a look around British clubs you would have to say that he is up there with the very best.
Where he is fortunate is that he is heading up a very strong team. Eric Reilly has complimented him off the park while on it you currently have the likes of Neil Lennon and John Park.
When you are in the kind of position that Peter is, you are always going to invite criticism from some quarters because you cannot please everyone all the time. Yet, I think there has been little for anyone to complain about.
Yes, it can be a fine line – there would have been flak going his way had Celtic not qualified for the Champions League group stage this term, but much of that also comes down to players perhaps not wanting to come to the club until they knew exactly what the situation with European involvement was.
But I think most supporters would accept he has helped to put the club on a sound financial footing.
Of course, the players and the management have done their bit too – and I go back to Gordon Strachan’s era – with the club doing so well in Europe. The financial rewards for such achievements have been huge.
It was really when Strachan took over that Celtic recognised the need not to allow things like wage structures and transfer fees to drift out of hand.
Peter has to be applauded for striking the right balance. The club have spent money, they have been able to bring in quality players – but they have also done it in a way that has never put the long-term financial security of the club at risk.
And when you look at the changes that have engulfed Scottish football in the last decade, Celtic have come out of it all pretty well.
When things were better, they had the ability to withstand some pressure to gamble more money and the philosophy of bringing in good, raw, young players who can then be sold on further down the line has been hugely successful.
This summer you have Victor Wanyama – whom few people would have heard of before he turned up at Celtic – going to England for a big profit, while Gary Hooper too enabled them to make money.
Much of the credit for that goes to Neil and Park for identifying the players in the first place and then making them better.
But certainly I do think that the club have struck a sound balance.
During my time as manager, it would have been down to me to do all the negotiating in terms of transfer fees and wages. Nowadays we have this more Continental approach whereby the chief executive conducts that business.
It is a better way to do it because as a manager it means that you are not being bogged down all the time.
I am sure Neil and Peter will have private disagreements at times over what money is available and perhaps over individual situations, but they appear to compliment one another.
You could see just a few weeks back what getting into the groups of the Champions League meant to everyone at the club.
First and foremost that is about the football, about getting the chance to play against the very best. But it is means good news for the business side of the club and the manner in which Celtic are able to keep themselves in an enviable financial position.
HH
Hi folks.
Does anyone have a couple of spare tickets that I could purchase for me and Wee BGFC for Saturday against the Jam Tarts?
HH
BGFC
Hi folks.
Does anyone have a couple of spare tickets that I could purchase for me and Wee BGFC for Saturday’s game against the Jam Tarts?
HH
BGFC
Davie Hay is a happy clapper… o ((
O))
Bmcuw.
No point texting oldtim.
Ill call him today and let acgr know later.
Morning all. Brightish again but cool way down here.
Can anyone explain the implications of the EGM not being called in Govan? I take it it can only be good news for the rest of Scottish football.
I blame the Integrated schools……..
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/principal-targeted-by-death-threats-now-hit-by-spate-of-harassing-phone-calls-29572758.html
Twitter conversation between me anther user and @lawtop20 Spprts Lawyer.
@LawTop20 Motto of the day: Try, try, try and never give up. Keep going and when you have had enough, try some more.
@hen1rik When your dealing with a corrupt governing body in favour of 1 team then it wears you down eventually Gregory.
@Acoustamatix Peter Lawwell adding his own brand of sleekit to SFA corruption now.
@hen1rik Yep I’m always sceptical when it comes to PL regarding letting that lot off with murder.
@hen1rik The amount of times I hear 1 of my own say ah but they are waiting on the right time.#bullsh**
@LawTop20 You said it all
Now I admire PL in everything he does for our club but I’m feeling rather uneasy when it comes to why he won’t speak out regarding the corruption from the blazers to help new Rangers
Parkheadcumsalford
Hard to say about the EGM thing.
Initially I was happy, thinking that the Spivs have won again.
Reading around, some say it’s a shrewd move for the McColl camp.
The AGM will now take place end of October.
There is a requirement for accounts to be produced (normally a few weeks before AGM to allow shareholders to consider them). The requisitioners are confident the accounts (or lack of them) will hang the current board.
Hope that sheds some light on the affair (I am by no means a reference).
Sixtae
Who would win in a fight between drunk CQN posters and sober CQN posters?
Whilst on holiday I re-read Ciaran MacAirt’s excellent book ‘ The McGurk’s Bar Bombing’ and lighted upon his term…
‘British Extremists’….
A term he uses to describe loyalist paramilitaries, an excellent term in it’s accurate and simplicity and one I can see myself using in the future.
Large Queue forming at the ticket office before 9.00am this morning.
DiningAtTheTopTable CSC
bournesouprecipe 09:02 on 13 September, 2013
Who would win in a fight between drunk CQN posters and sober CQN posters?
…………………….
BSR, that’s a strange question but one that could be easily answered through experimentation. Bring 50 sober CQNr’s to the Gallowgate at 7PM on the 28th Sept and stand back with your clip board and take notes.
Here’s a harder one. Who would in a fight between a bobcat and a rattlesnake?
I’ll give you 20 minutes to get the answer.
Mon the bobcat.
sixtaeseven,
I wonder what it means for the share price. One of the more financially astute CQNers, a wee while back, said that he hoped the price would stay high, because those buying would then have less to put into the coffers of the deid club.
Parkheadcumsalford
I think the Spivs are also hoping (and working at) keeping the share price as high as possible.
At least until such time as they are able to cash in their millions of ill-gotten 1p shares.
It’s a murky world out there…
acgr
That was a trick answer * there’ll not be 50 sober CQN’rs at that time on that date *
And
a trick question * still googles for answer *
Having watched Celtic for over 50 years I would have to say that the last few years have been the most enjoyable. The team that cheated us out of many games and trophies and epitomised the worse type of sectarian, freemasonic, corruption in Scottish sport were finally getting their comeuppance.
The fall of Rangers into liquidation followed by the departure of the SFA’s cheating boss and referee head man looked as if it heralded a new dawn for Scottish football.
Sadly there have been reverses in the game and the recent treatment of Celtic supporters by the police, aided by laws specially introduced to “even things up” statistically with our rampaging Rangers rivals, has brought about scenes of “kettling” a peaceful protest in Glasgow that would not have been out of place in North Korea.
Yesterday’s images of Ian Black, facing the most serious betting charges, striding into Hampden’s SFA court with Barry Hughes for a slap on the wrist, which the player said he was happy with, leave me to wonder if we have really progressed at all in the last few years.
They are getting away with it aren’t they?
They are still getting away with it.
Anyone sickened by the latest shenanigans from the SFA in favour of one team should consider supporting Canalmar’s resolution for the Celtic AGM.
The Celtic Trust has the form for downloading here:
http://www.celtictrust.net/index.php?func=d_home_article&id=433
Enough is enough.
Voyager 1 leaves solar system. Travelling at 11 miles per second, it is the fastest man made object. Only 40,000 years until it encounters another sun in Andromeda. Space is indeed vast.
bournesouprecipe
09:02 on
13 September, 2013
Who would win in a fight between drunk CQN posters and sober CQN posters?
Surely there would be no winners…. fighting is bad,
:-)
PeacenharmonyCSC
Twisty
Class for crass
The type of class that has a sectarian signing policy and cheats the country out if over £100m in tax
Very classy
A whole load of McGills workers not been paid today. Cash flow problems ?
Free tea and coffee in the queue at CP, – you don’t get that in the ole cyberspace queue.
Peter Lawell