So what do you do with a “dead parrot” (© Turnbull Hutton)? Well, as anyone familiar with the Monty Python sketch (and if that doesn’t include you, go watch) will tell you, you need to admit that the parrot is, technically an ex-…
As soon as you have widespread acceptance of this fact, your problems appear far less intimidating
When I say “you”, I don’t really mean you, unless you are one of the 11 chairmen or controllers of a Scottish Premier League club. In fact, we can probably narrow it down a bit more. As far as Ross County are concerned, this is a boom time! Their Highland neighbours will cope with whatever tomorrow brings, St Mirren and Motherwell are both morphing into community-owned-and-run clubs, infused with the kind of endeavour that got the sport of the ground a century ago.
The people who need to accept that the parrot is dead are in charge of Celtic, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts, Hibs, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.
Once this conclusion is reached, and before we dive off into new league structures, we should really pause and ask the important question, what do we want from our football?
I haven’t really heard much about this question in recent months, so here’s my ideas:
The solutions to our problems has to benefit the entire game, not just Celtic and/or Newco. It has to offer a real and substantial future for Dundee United, Aberdeen, Hibs, Hearts and all the others who have been economically disenfranchised in recent decades.
SPL clubs have been good at developing young talent in recent years but most of them are swimming against the tide. Dundee United lost Paul Dixon to Huddersfield Town last week while Aberdeen have spent most of this year contorting to hold 19-year-old Fraser Fyvie when there are around 80 clubs a few hundred miles away with higher wage budgets.
If these clubs emerge from the changes as paupers, unable to develop and retain talent in the face of Huddersfield Town, we have failed.
I want to see competitive football played in front of full stadiums. Uncompetitive football in front of low crowds is another failure.
I want to see our top clubs compete in Europe, which is different than just participating in Europe. Again, any plan which cannot deliver this is not good enough and should be rejected.
There are people across Scotland willing all of us who support SPL clubs to fail. Collectively, you, me, Hearts, Hibs, Aberdeen, United and other fans need to use the unique momentum for change to ensure our clubs become unrecognisably successful.
There are others in positions of power within our game who are dis-incentivised to think grand enough to deliver what fans actually want when they buy their season tickets or pitch-up to see their team.
For the past decade or more Celtic and Rangers have tried to shoehorn themselves into the English Premier League. This would have been good enough for both of them but there was little consideration given to other Scottish clubs.
If we are to invoke structural change in our game, we need to allow everyone in the league to fulfil their potential. We need to stop clubs from the lower leagues in England plucking the best talent from teams who previously competed in European finals.
The solution is simple and achievable. Scotland is not big enough to support competitive top-flight football where its clubs can develop and retain talent, but it has a league with many well-run clubs, who are more than able to match the resources of the likes of Wigan Athletic.
Our game should be reorganised along the following lines:
We retain our national team and Association. We retain the Scottish Cup and Scottish Football League, funded by an improved solidarity payment. We admit we cannot support top-flight football and ask to fold the SPL into the bottom of the English League structure.
In time we will all find our level. Celtic will rise to the top but there is no reason for half of the SPL to achieve the same as Wigan Athletic. The smaller SPL clubs will double or treble their income, no matter what heights they scale in the English system. Scottish Football League clubs will be able to achieve meritocratic advancement through the system. We will all flourish.
This is plan is deliverable. It would benefit the entire game. Our clubs would be able to retain talent as effectively as they did in the 1980s. Football would be competitive as each club would find and compete at its level, stadiums would fill and commercial income rocket. The giants of our game would be giants of Europe.
Instead of contemplating insolvency or social unrest, let’s agree on what we want from our sport and, with the cross-club grassroots movement we have, set about getting there.
It sure beats managing decline while others say, ‘told you so’.
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Bhoylo83 on 5 July, 2012 at 18:56
Urban myth matey, never happend
Inverness chairman Kenny Cameron
believes the rejection of newco Rangers
into the SPL has re-energised his club’s
relationship with supporters.
He said: “The newco debate actually
created a re-energised relationship
between the club and our fans, so it’s
important to build on that.
“We took on board their comments,
with all the potential financial
uncertainty that was attached to that
decision, and we now need those who
were refuseniks until we voted no to
newco to come forward and do what
they promised, as season ticket income
is the lifeblood of a community club like
ours.”
Paul67
Ingenious.
I like it.
I like it a lot.
Have you run this idea past anyone at Celtic park?
If so.
What was their response?
TT
sannabhoy on 5 July, 2012 at 19:09 said:
£20m?
Not at the school I went to. Unless by over 100,000 subscribers you mean 400,000.
sannabhoy on 5 July, 2012 at 19:09 said:
Yup the guy is Ian Livinston CEO of BT and Celtic are aware of the issues.
Wanna.
Believe he is more of a whiskey man.
Paddy T
The Singing Detective Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie
Post of the day,Tony Watt could prove to be a viable competitor for a starting spot very soon,not wanting to heap too much pressure on the bhoy,but I think he’s got something about him special.
Singing Detective
I wouldn`t take too much notice of “rumour” (see lennon`s passion above) but I DO agree that Tony Watts looks as if he might be special, very special.
Out for a bike ride now; see you all later.
JJ
Stenhousemuir to vote Yes to Newco Huns in Div 1. And so it begins. They’ll win this hands down imo.
In deciding how to move forward and given the two straightforward options now available, the club does not feel any decision should be based on ‘punishing’ any other football clubs; that is neither our role nor our priority. Instead, we believe we have a duty to move forward with whichever option we believe will be in the best interests of Stenhousemuir Football Club. In this situation and having considered the consequences for the club primarily, but also that of the many other clubs who would suffer significantly, we will support Rangers Newco joining the SFL on the strict proviso that the various elements of restructuring and merging of the league are agreed to our satisfaction. For the reasons stated above, we would anticipate that the Rangers Newco would be entering at Div 1.
We have met as a board formally on two occasions to discuss this in depth and there have been numerous other communications between Directors. Be assured that the implications for the club represent an honest assessment of the scenarios and are not over dramatised or overstated.
We are a strong club with our own initiatives and identity which would be heavily impacted by any other outcome. However, the positives of this can be a stronger and more equitable league structure going forward and you have our assurance that we will apply every pressure to the authorities to achieve this outcome.
Frothing new toy,…..anybody else got a Kindle Fire
ASonOfDan on 5 July, 2012 at 19:20 said:
Poor wee Sally…
Aw, c’mon Sal, just think of punishments as being like pies. Even when you’ve had “quite a lot” you can always manage a whole lot more .
ASonOfDan on 5 July, 2012 at 19:20 said:
When you have never ever had to face the consequences of wrongdoing, when that eventually happens, whatever consequences inevitably occur, is always going to feel like a punishment.
Its a consequence Sally,like holding your hand over a candle and getting burnt. No one calls that a punishment.
As far as moving out of Scotland is concerned, I believe the only viable option is the Celtic League – Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
This would be supported by the Irish and Welsh associations, as it would represent a big boost to the game in those countries. Irish football is on the way up, and Swansea and Cardiff might well join such a league eventually as they would see it as a way into Europe.
It could also lead to the 3 nations hosting a Euro championship, which would again give a big boost to the game.
Celtic could dominate initially but there would soon be greater competition than in the SPL.
just picked this up on a site too true
If Rangers don’t get into division 1 it won’t be the end of Scottish football as every team can just do as rangers did and start as a newco keep there name history and get rid of all there dept . Surly the SFA won’t have 1 rule for rangers and 1 for everyone else.
CU says
scouts looking at Henriksen tonight
Guy on Unreal Radio (I know,I know..) said Brown was a Tommy Sheridan Tribute Act….Hurting Hun Special Souptaker McGuire,Iain King (pal of Brown btw) and Alex (Hawking) Rae.
derbyshirebhoy @19.03
Just to reinforce your point re the value to Sky of the Scottish subscrirption this is from RTC today.
Auldheid says:
05/07/2012 at 2:45 pm
Smartie1947 says:
05/07/2012 at 1:49 pm
After weeks of reading about Sky contracts on this and other forums, Sky have just notified me today that their Sports package, in conjunction with other packages, will increase by £1 per month from 1/9/12.
I believe that they must think that all these discussions on here constitutes some form of Pay Per View platform!
So using agreed consumers in Scotland as 625,000 times a further £12 per year, another £9 million pound approx into the Sky coffers.
Perfect time for a boycott of their product until they show a bit more transparency on the current contract, and more importantly, a better deal for Scottish football in those contracts still to be finalised in the future?
===================================
Absolutely. We must establish how much Sky take from their Scottish subscriber base , either direct or via Virgin, and how much Sky Sports takes from that same base. Various figures are bandied about (including a very broad brush one of mine from a few years ago) but Romanov had it right when he attacked Sky and I am surprised no msm has done further digging.
The role Sky is playing in the down fall of our game from making us uncompetitive iin players wages as well as possible damage to its integrity by the unconfirmed nature of the contracts needs to be much more transparently highlighted.
With BT Vision now much more aggressively entering the football broadcasting market they should be exposing any Sky rip off if it exists and offering Scots a package that helps heal our game not damage it.
TC-A few Clubs looking at this guy now,might have to move quick,but after our last few signings from that part of the World,I would tread carefully.HH.
jan hessilink almost wins stage of tour de france
@STVGrant doin well now on TalkSport
saying Regan, Doncaster must provide more info re the detail fot eh finances, 15.7mill, 3mill tv deal etc etc
well done, Grant
Greetings from the Snooty Fox across from the 3 Bridges Station near Gatwick. Enjoying some ice cold San Miguel. Somebody should tell Sally that the huns have, to date, received no formal punishment for anything. They were given a 10 point penalty which meant that if he wisnae such a haddie there was still a possibility of the goat fiddlers winning the league. So far no punishment has been meted out to this shower of tax-dodging, cheating scum.
Also this week the USA has apologised to Pakistan, senior banking executives have resigned from Barclays, but the huns have shown no contrition and those brass necked administrators of Scottish football are still on gainful employment. ONLY in Scotland!
Looking forward to a decent Ruby Murray tonight, something sadly lacking in der Vaterland.
Hail! Hail! The Laird
Ghuys
All the leaders are toast when the dust settles on this, Doncaster, Regan (previous slack removed), and Longmuir.
The clubs will have their say on Newco and the answer will be NO.
The common sense view is that how can a decision be taken in regards to New co when there is a potential threat of expulsion, hanging over them.
Hopefully, that lot can be consigned to the History Channel and instead of the daily crap about OF fed from the MSM, a new agenda into improving how we play, improving the pitches we play on, and applying the refereeing stds to allow ball players, should be making the headlines.
A clear out of the MSM hacks is needed to move the agenda on, perhaps a Scottish fans movement can form and get the ball rolling.
Internet age, share info and use financial clout, the fans are starting to win!
Pinthalffullcfc
!!Bada Bing!!
is he useless ?
cant say i know much about him
we need a couple decent additions
http://www.rangerstv.tv/viewfree.php?it=10386&c=News&r=236678734985
sally interview
!!Bada Bing!! on 5 July, 2012 at 19:35 said:
Definitely. Stokes could end up behind Watts in the starting order.
adi_dasler , shoonsky . cheers . wasn’t sure who .
lochgoilheadbhoy , £1 pw x 52 x 100000 = 5.2M – duh, my bad. Maths skills of a hvn . but you get the picture. ok. scale it up and you’re looking at something serious . id pay £5 per week for access to scottish football , and by that i mean spl , sfl1-3 (except Sevco unless for comedy value) – that would push us to £26M .
Auld Neil Lennon Heid . thanks for that. I’d like to think that we have the brightest of bright sparks protecting our future. Me , i’m just a 20w edison cap .
TC-I haven’t seen him mate,only read about him.Point I was making,Rasmussen,Hoiveld,Bangura have been money wasted,so I would be wary of paying £2.5 mil for a guy who hasn’t played outside his home league.
Paul67: there is the blueprint. I wanted to say greenprint but such a thing does not exist (spellcheck tells me so!).
Radical, yes, but will England go for it? Sky will but will the FA?
Pogmathonyahun aka Laird of the Smiles on 5 July, 2012 at 19:54 said:
I used to live in 3 Bridges before I moved to Spain.
Drank for years in the old Fox before they knocked it down
Had some great times there.
Celtic Underground @celticrumours
Rumours former Celt Craig Beattie is signing for Sevco.
I can confirm the above is not true in any shape or form
As regards developing a successful blueprint for Scottish football we will get nowhere until we get rid of the millstones that are dragging us below the surface, ie, RC Ogilvie, Doncaster, Regan and of late Longmuir.
Must say some excellent music being played in this boozer, just had Kirsty McColl, now Ian Dury, both taken prematurely.
Ally was on Real Bad Radio before (via rfc tv)
sayin its only fair that they go to the 3rd
i dont trust him
he is wanting Div1
like he was wanting SPL until yesterday
will say any old thing to get his wish
he has been in receipt of a very good salary
for many’s a year on the back of being up to
his knees in ….ye know the rest
not once have i heard a robust debate about this from within the rfc camp, they’ve had plenty opportunity, he n walter and all of them
the masons, the orange order, the anti-irish, kkk anti-catholic hate
these are the issues that are at the heart of the “downfall” of rfc
will anyone ask the question? the sun? the record?
reason i ask is cos the same nasty attitude will just cause the same same same problem as we have now in years to come,
if not addressed
Just watched the Beeb’s clips of interviews with Regan and Doncaster.
These peepl make my blood boil.
Why not just go the whole hog and wear red, white and blue ties and sing the sash?
The extreme partisanship and persistent repetition of the same message; NewCo Rangers are the only entity of any concern to the Scottish footballing establishment, it is only their interests that must be upheld.
41 innocent clubs… Jeez!
Get these hun f@c£ers sacked!!!!
Glad to see FIFA approving goal line technology despite the buffoon that is Platini trying his hardest to stop it becoming reality
Paul67:
Is all this hinging on clubs deciding no-confidence in the SPL/SFL?
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 5 July, 2012 at 19:20 said:
What a devious mind you have.
OOH you are awful — but I like you!
Popped down to the Co-op there. Real radio on. Fuming. 4 or 5 mins each way.
The Obese Paul LeGuen excerpts (Hasn’t raised his head for weeks since Uncle Wattie appeared on the horizon – though he quickly, with dignity, disappeared) – same old hyperbole and rhetoric. Still dangerous and entrenched. From pundits back to TOPLG – They are referred to as Rangers.
This world view will not ever change. Therefore Scottish football will not be allowed to change. The mechanisms are in place to get Rangers back in to the SPL as quickly as possible. Reporters will even now be locking away words like Fairytale and Bouncebackability and Never Say Die, to keep them safe for the glorious return.
Oh, I ain’t a doom sayer – they are dead to me. Won’t miss them. But they won’t be to Scottish Football – or more importantly the ones who sit in the seats of power within Scottish Football. They’ve been nobbled. They return from holiday with a straight faced diatribe about the turmoil caused by not having Rangers is reason enough to have Rangers.
Busted Flush. Day late. Dollar short. And criminal. But they’ll be welcomed back.
Because in the background you’ve got SKY stating they’ll cover the Rangers games in the lower leagues. Blue goalfests expected and a quick return to the SPL. The Busted Flush gets airtime – I doubt SKY will even change their graphics.
This ain’t done brothers and sisters. It’s just begun. The emotional hurdle for them was their club’s passing – but that will be diluted – refuted – comically and fervently disputed. Same as it ever was. Ian Crocker’ll be writing his droll soundbites just now – trust me.
Because although the fans have spoken – who really watches the watchmen? Who regulates them?
It would take a very convincing soul to sway me from the notion that someone hasn’t sat Mr Regan down in a semi dark room and had a conversation which starts along these lines…
‘Mr Regan, there’s a few things that maybe we should have made clear about Scottish Football. A few things about Rangers’ part in Scottish Football. Sit down and let me explain…’
U
EK Bhoy, re. the possible ban from the Appalate Tribunal.
I’ve been thinking about that as well and if you read what Regan is saying, about the disasters to befall Scottish football if Der Rankers (Renewed) are not back in the top flight asap, then I assume that the decision has already been made that they WONT be suspended when and if the Tribunal ever meet again. I mean it is illogical to the point of nonsense to urge the SFL clubs to plank Rankers (Renewed) in SFL1 then allow an ‘independent’ tribunal to feck up that cunning plan by suspending them. Or am I missing summat?