The billions and structural change

367

This morning was one of those, ‘why bother?’ times.  The English game, already flooded with cash, is about to get a 70% pay increase.  Our game, already ravaged by the destruction of meritocracy over the last decade, will be ever-more firmly put in its place.

Good for the English.  They are notoriously rubbish at running football clubs but eventually there will be an amount of money which is so great, that they will become successful at it, if not actually ‘good’.  The Premiership’s bounty is historic, the trickle-down to the Football League will be eye-watering by any other measure.  The distribution to grass-roots football to build pitches, fund youth clubs and generally improve the technical proficiency at all levels, will be lavish, even if it is only 2%.

The economic impact at 20 Premier League locations will be significant.  These games are worth tens of millions of pounds to host cities each year, employing hundreds of people from security guards to Bentley salesmen.  On announcing the deal, Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, proclaimed that Burnley were currently economically more significant than Ajax, an astonishing fact.  Before the new deal!

Scottish football can cry in its Magners or we can play with the hand we’ve been dealt.  The first reaction has to be to clearly establish that Scottish football’s exclusion from riches available in the England and Wales’ football league structure is not the fault of the English (or Welsh).  In the last decade the FA Premier League made it clear they didn’t want Celtic and Rangers, but the English and Welsh FAs, or the Football League, have not given any opinion on extending their federation to include Scottish football.

The immediate problem in Scottish football, is those running Scottish football have failed to address creeping structural threats.  Those running our game are, to a significant degree, happy with their club blazer, tickets for Hampden occasions and of a Scot having a one-in-four chance of becoming a vice president of Fifa.

It may appear obvious to you and me that becoming part of the big game next door, allowing our better clubs (and I mean more than just Celtic) to compete for a place in the top league, for many of the rest to enjoy the enormously improved commercial deals available in the Football League, for the community clubs to plug themselves into the bountiful distributed benefits available over the border, and for our cities to benefit from the economic boom available for hosting a Premiership club, is enormously desirable.  Those running our game have not figured this out yet.

So don’t blame the English, our exclusion from the party is a consequence of Scottish football not asking to join the English and Welsh structure.  Until this question is asked, we’ll never know the answer and we will continue to face financial hardship, our towns will not benefit from the indoor facilities being built across Europe, and Bentley salespeople will have more time on their hands.

Scottish football needs a strategy for structural change.  Such a move would benefit the entire game here, and would benefit the Football League.  Every other response of comment on yesterday’s TV deal is just a distraction.

Looking forward to tonight, hope we see Gary and/or Stuart.

If you’ve not booked your CQN11 St Patrick’s Dinner, which is on Cup Final weekend, Friday 13 March, at the Kerrydale Suite, email me, celticquicknews@gmail.com

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367 Comments

  1. an tearmann .

     

     

    There are Italian Dvds re Maradona’ s time at Napoli. They were produced by La Gazzetta dello Sport. Check their online sales – GazzettaStore.it..I doubt they will be in English or have English subtitles.

  2. DeniaBhoy

     

     

    The guy’s wife has said the ‘assault’ was over a cigarette, would you believe, and had nothing to do with football. She claims the Record assumed it was football related.

     

     

    There’s a picture of a facebook post from her on twitter.

  3. Clashcity Bhoy

     

     

     

    Mulgrew,is Awe washed up.. While he has bin away..

     

     

    The World has passed him By..

     

     

    There is Nae Room fur Him..in oor Mid Field..

     

     

    Anymair.

     

     

    His place has bin taken.

     

     

    His Only chance of a Game ..will Be as a C.B. or a Fllin in .. at Left Back.

     

     

    As far as Europe is Concerned?

     

     

    Don’t Mak me Lafff..

     

     

    He n Commons..ur

     

     

    SURPLUS tae Requirements..

     

     

    No idea.. why we Kept.. Commons… fur his Joab his Bin taken,as weel.

     

     

    Mebbe,he wiz retained ..

     

     

    Jist fur..” Sentimental Reasons?”

     

     

    Think So.. That must be the Answer.

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still.. Laughin.

  4. Tim Malone Will Tell on

    Perhaps under “devo max”, having a true national Scottish broadcaster rather than being treated as a BBC region would be a step forward on a lot of fronts?

     

     

    It would certainly open the door to investing Scottish licence in Scottish sport.

     

     

    As an aside, I have long maintained that blanket BBC coverage across the UK is one of the main factors that stokes anti English sentiment in Scotland.

     

     

    If I watch the news in Norway, they don’t even mention the Swedish national team funnily enough….

  5. lennon's passion on

    clashcitybhoy

     

     

    16:54 on 11 February, 2015

     

     

    I’ve enjoyed Bitton playing instead of Charlie. Feel he slows the game down always looking for world cup 60 yard passes. Just my opinion.

     

    Really looking forward to the game tonight will be interesting to see what RD does with the new bhoys.

  6. bournesouprecipe on

    I see Celtic are allocated with 25,000 tickets for the LC final. DU average home crowd is

     

    approx 6000? – How do they work that out?

  7. Roy C

     

     

    Just completed an entire catch up of this article, tiring to say the least :-)

     

     

    I’ve seen the Twitter picture you’re referring to. Apparently Mrs Martin is claiming that at no time did she say her husband’s attackers were Celtic supporters.

     

     

    I wonder who’d have come up with that assertion then???!!!!

  8. Acgr,

     

     

    Could you forward the link to me. Cheers mate.

     

     

    deniabhoy,

     

     

    Well done re: the letter, I’ve had a wee tit for tat with huns about the records article. HH

  9. bournesouprecipe

     

     

    17:26 on 11 February, 2015

     

    I see Celtic are allocated with 25,000 tickets for the LC final. DU average home crowd is

     

    approx 6000? – How do they work that out?

     

     

    ——

     

     

    Where’s that from? Not only do the figures not add up but they don’t make sense with regards to areas allocated to Celtic supporters on the SPFL website earlier mate.

  10. Roy Croppie – someone’s changing her tune. On 2nd Feb:

     

     

    She claimed: “The guys who attacked him were Celtic supporters. My husband likes Rangers but doesn’t take it seriously like most do. He doesn’t wear strips or make kids wear strips.”

     

     

    Then on 4th Feb

     

     

    “Laurette, 38, who released photos of James in hospital, claims the “drunken thugs” responsible were Celtic fans .

     

     

    She released photos of her husband lying in hospital on Monday and urged the public to help police catch the attackers.”

     

     

    Now there’ no mention of Celtic but today’s piece still makes several mentions of it being Old Firm related – they just can’t tell the truth can they?

  11. Here is the Situ..

     

     

    We hiv brought in..

     

     

    Gary n Stu.

     

     

    n.. well.. that’s TWO Noo Guys.

     

     

     

    We hiv Four Places Available .. in the Middy…

     

     

    Mebbe.. Five..if ye wanna Be like That..

     

     

    Bitton,is Getting Settled..n..he is Settln in.. Very Well.

     

     

    Broonie,his a Life Long Excuse Note..He is Untouchable.

     

     

    Steffi..who is Oor…( In Kojo’s Opiion..of course.)

     

     

    OOR ONLY Mid Fielder

     

    ..who Plays like A he Means it..

     

     

    Well…that’s Three Places.. Taken.. Right?

     

     

    Wan tae go.. or.. Mebbe Two..

     

     

    Noo, back tae Maverick…

     

     

     

    We hiv Jist Brought in.. a New Middy..

     

     

    Stuart Armstrong..

     

     

     

    Remember?

     

     

    He Must Get a Game.. Right?

     

     

    Hmmmmmmm..

     

     

    n.. we hiv a Young Gun Named..Henderson.. who is Champin at the Bit..

     

     

    n.. Then Thur is… Jamie Lindsay..who Maist folk hiv no heard aboot.

     

     

    But this Kid.. Has Potential.. Written in Capital Letters.

     

     

    Then.. There is Gary?

     

     

    If ye insist oan a Five Man Middy.

     

     

     

    Guys..

     

     

    Mulgrew n Commons.ur Strictly.. Back Numbers Noo..

     

     

     

    Harsh.. but.. Trew..

     

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still, Laughin’

  12. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    mike in toronto

     

     

    14:57 on 11 February, 2015

     

    Bada/Philbhoy

     

     

    I agree that something needs to be done re: the false reporting, but I’m not sure that banning them is the solution; it just gives them ammunition.

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Believe me, banning the barstewards is the right answer ……… In your own life if someone pisses you off deliberately, consistently, and with a venom / enthusiasm which is nauseating, you either knock them out or remove them from your ‘social circle’ altogether … so….. get them tae……. you know you want to, Celtic Board…..get on with it, NOW…….. FGS

  13. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Sky Sports 1…….

  14. The club will obviously pursue the DR over the insinuations, in the article of lies? I hope the guy makes a full recovery.

  15. Bourne

     

     

    First post: indeedy :-)

     

     

    Second post: the SPFL website stated that Celtic were being allocated all of the North stand, all of the traditional Celtic end and half of the South stand. I reckon there will be close to 35,000 Celtic supporters at the final.

     

     

    Of course that means that many will have to source tickets out with the official Celtic allocation unfortunately.

  16. Ma Team Fur the Nicht..

     

     

     

    Gordon

     

     

    Fisher Izzy

     

     

    Jason n Virge

     

     

    Forrest, Broonie, Bitton, Armstrong,Gary

     

     

    Griffiths.

     

     

     

    Wull Ronny, agree..

     

     

    Well.. We wull see.

     

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still,Laughin

  17. fergusslayedtheblues on

    I workmate is off to Vegas a week from now ,do any bhoys know anywhere that may be screening the Celtic matches over there

     

     

    thanks in advance

     

    HH

  18. bournesouprecipe on

    setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox

     

     

    23:30 on10 February, 2015

     

     

    Piston Broke

     

     

    “Bit of an obscure question here but….. Does anyone know of a celtic bar in southern Cameroon?”

     

     

    Unlikely you will get a positive answer but…

     

     

    I do remember a wee guy that used to stroll around CP shouting “There’s your Wrigleys chewing gum and There’s yir Cameroon Bars!”

     

     

    Maybe he knows

     

     

    Inspirational CSC

  19. Roy C-disgusting but not surprising, the woman and her family have suffered enough, without these vultures making it worse for them.

  20. Bada

     

     

    I’ve no doubt the conversation quickly got round to what team her husband supported. Thereafter story secured with little in the way of the facts to spoil the DR slant.

  21. Sorry if posted earlier……… The greatest Celtic Side on SS2 at 1900, just before the game. COYBIG.

     

     

    Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.

  22. Gordon J

     

     

    I did not run away. I had to work. I am now finished my work for the day.

     

     

    In that order.

     

     

    Scotland is different and I am glad we are because I cannot stand that league.

     

     

    Scotland is treated with disdain at all levels within the union and that is nowhere better illustrated than by the way in which Scottish clubs are treated when it comes to the access they have to the UK football market and of course money they get from TV while the ordinary supporter pays for the privilege of supporting the wages of people heading for 500k a week.

     

     

    We’re not equal partners on any level and we are tolerated and given sweeties when we are useful to those who make the rules.

     

     

    Our players can join the party if they are deemed good enough or we in Scotland assimilate and support one of their clubs.

     

     

    That’s the union in a nutshell for me.

     

     

    As for the European league we have heard is coming for 20 plus years ……….. deary me.

     

     

    The European system is designed like the EPL to keep certain teams/leagues at the top and the other leagues are essentially feeder leagues.

     

     

    Financial fair play is an exercise in cosmetics and if you think these big nations are going to accept losing to Scottish, Dutch, Belgian, Slovakor Scandinavian teams on a regular basis then I think I know how that one will play out.

  23. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Why are we giving any credibility to keevins…..who gives one about his opinions….he will say ANYTHING to get a reaction, and he’s luvin’ every minute of the attention…..ignore the abnoxious little cretin ….

  24. Good evening friends. Butterflies starting already in anticipation of the Glasgow Derby and the 7* weeks of bragging rights that will go with it ; –

     

     

    Jobo

     

     

    * – complete guess

  25. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar / Neil Lennon.. Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    bournesouprecipe

     

     

    17:52 on 11 February, 2015

     

     

    Is that Cameroon Avenue or Road ?…. :)

  26. Richard Wilson ‏@timomouse 3m3 minutes ago

     

    Of that, £220m is made up solely from what Scottish households spend on their sports packages.

     

     

    Interesting