Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson gave what passes as an unusually honest and frank interview to BBC Radio Scotland before his team beat champions, Celtic, this afternoon. Thompson represents one of the four SPL clubs on the league board who, unless the entire league agrees to change their constitution, will vote on whether a Newco will inherit the void when Rangers die next week.
I’m pretty sure Thompson’s mind was made up weeks ago, he clearly planned to vote Newco into the league, despite misplaced brinksmanship, but he’s been spooked by pressure from his own fans talking about boycotting games if he votes Newco in.
Here’s the dilemma. Gang of 10 clubs have pushed a mantra for years that they have been exploited by a Glasgow duopoly (although clearly they use less accurate phraseology). They complain about “the Glasgow media” and, don’t laugh, referee favouring the “Old Firm”.
Now, if he votes for Newco, he makes a lie of all of this. The power to change one of the key concerns for fans of provincial clubs lies in the collective hands of their chairmen. Can they really pass this up?
It’s decision time. Since Celtic Quick News first raised the alarm on this issue in October last year we predicted that only Celtic would vote against Newco. We are about to find out if we have 12 independent teams in the SPL or 11 Rangers supporters – and if they change the rules to give support to Rangers, this is exactly what they are.
I had a bit of sympathy for Thompson, a first for me. He spoke about the money going into United causing issues in his family and the consequences of losing circa £1m per year in a league without Rangers. Some harsh decisions ahead, if he does the right thing, but the alternative, voting for Newco and having Dundee United fans walk out on the club at the betrayal, gives him what he called a “lose-lose” situation.
I was delighted to hear this. He claimed to be undecided, but at least he is a man who now understands there are huge consequences if he votes for Newco. There are three potential financial hits if he does: some United fans will turn away from the game, Celtic fans will boycott next season and even Rangers fans have threatened to boycott if Newco is subject to penalties associated with their terminal football team. The combined cost of this may be less than £1m but not by much.
There are two extra points for Mr Thompson to consider:
Without Newco in the SPL he and he the Gang of 10 can breeze through their future-revenue-changing plan to alter the voting structure, which should help fill any shortfall. It would be humiliating if they had the chance to deliver what they wanted long-term but couldn’t pass up a chance to help the Rangers.
Also, this is not the end of the road for the terminal football club. Any Newco inheriting Rangers SPL share will also inherit the punishment for the alleged improper Registration of football players for a decade or more. The only appropriate penalty for this would be expulsion from the league.
It’s perhaps best to man up and take the trash out now.
You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.
The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.
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they get water from the seca[open sewer] for 10 mins twice a week, flood their land and let nature take it’s course.
————————————
ET – I hear they do the same at Murray Park but as yet no end product! ;-)))))
HH
I hear that the Tennessee Towtruck expert has only £20m of personal wealth while he bids £11m for der Hun…..mmmm, Craigy White2 here we come…
And if
you tolerate this
you’re children will be next…..
THE EXILED TIM on 7 May, 2012 at 00:06 said:
I hope its the mid 30s. I’ve been freezing for a fortnight here. Out for 10 days from 14th.
Bhodran Mhan,when you home?we were @ big Paddys 60th on Friday nite,went on till 6 in the morning..some night
Gordon64
Over 55% male unemployment in our village, but they still manage to feed their familys, total respect for them.
……………………….
AoW
And they never will, their mind set is all wrong.
We need to get back to the days of the tanner ball player, then we will see waht scotland can produce.
Sort the referees, sort the problem.
just to say thks to brian, davy for helping me through a very shitty week and out tonight wi above and mr, monteblanco thks guys for support and jonny for his karakoe of oasis true legend
Auldheid
It will be around 30 where you are going, hotter here during the day, colder at night.
Have a look here
http://www.accuweather.com/en/es/malaga/306732/daily-weather-forecast/306732?day=5
If a NewCo slithers in like a thief in the night,I confidently predict that this site will go nuclear.
I fear for my tablet….
TeT
55% unemployed !
Was over in Murcia 3 year ago and was
told by a local that Spain had 3 industrious
fruit, building and tourism and the latter 2 were
in serious trouble.
Auld heid
you dont do thinking out loud, a very considered post IMO.
Yes the membership scheme please,, where do i sign up?
Yes I want to support the hoops without the other lot, 15yrs of cheating….
Great post auld heid
BABA
http://youtu.be/IG6GnPU8CRM
Apparently Jimmy Barnes is hun to his marrow. Nae mair good times for you Jim.
miki67
“I fear for my tablet”
A love tablet, don’t be feart, just eat it por cierto….
miki67
I have faith in Auldheid that no licence will be granted.
They are desperatly waiting for the end of the season, then the sanctions will fall, and the sfa will have the perfect get out, it’s the rules, it’s down to uefa….
TET
Coming out to Murcia region in four weeks can’t wait, go every year wee place down past mazzaron, small village, fishermans cottage on the beach, not going to mention its name, want to keep it a secret..por cierto.
Auld Neil Lennon – good post, again.
You made me think of the other sides to this. Existing small creditors who will have been shafted by the old -but essentially the same – regime will be asked to provide their services to this Newco at (presumably) I-brokes.
I’m talking about the taxi firms, photographers, printers, newsagents etc. without end.
If a Newco does get entry into SPL, will these small – but essential to the running of Rankers – companies be happy to take it on the nose and carry on as if nothing has happened.
Interested to hear your thoughts Auld Neil (or anyone else).
HH
long haired yins man, 00:26
But you know no more of the journos story?
Por Cierto on 7 May, 2012 at 00:36 said:
>>>>
Aye….exactly. Glasgow’s famous tablet has been the ruination of my teef!
Gordon64
Whoever told you that was indeed correct.
There is no building work here now, hasn’t been any for about 2 years, there is no tourism to speak of either, we are in the sticks here, fruit, there is mucho fruit here, but say come the middle of July, you can get fruit here for next to nothing, a box of local peaches about 10 kilos for 3 euros, the rest would be the same pro rata, it’s no easy for the locals, I’m blessed, I have a small pension, not enough to live off it in Ireland, but not a bother here.
Good night Celts……. DCFC, Legia!, FC St Pauli,
maniana amigos!
THE EXILED TIM on 7 May, 2012 at 00:37 said:
>>>
let us hope so.
accessing this blog,I generally end up totally paranoid by the end of the day.
but I just gotta know!
HH !
SANDY JARDINE…….??????
SEE
DANNY MCGRAIN
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
YOU WERE THE SILLY BOYS
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Pangur Ban -Hope your shitty week is well over and respect to your buds for their support!
HH
Por Cierto
I was in Mazzaron a few months ago, they have as yet the best Indian restaraunt I have been to in Spain, can’t remember it’s name but it’s on the main street, it’s next to a small family run garage/repair shop, superb food and good value for money
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRKxuAOXd0g
AMERICAN
IRISH
THANKS STEVE
Holy schmick schmock ! Is Windy a covert Tim? Will he administer the final coup de grace?
Will we ever reach the end of this saga?
O.G, that’s it I’m afraid..I hear that his bid will not suffice….
TeT
Good luck to you pal.
Keep up the good fight.
Health and happiness are what matters,
and fruit.
HH
Been away for a while…..
This is Celtic quack news innit?
I’m looking for somewhere to take ma burd out.
Quack quack!
auldheid
you touched on this in your reply.
We should all remember, the right thing to happen is not necessarily the right thing for Celtic…or Rangers (1872-2012)…or Kilmarnock. It should just be the right thing, in accordance with the rules, in place at the time, which we have to assume and accept are drawn up in line with justice and fairness and integrity.
I actually agree with the people, many of them huns, who say it is unfair that the SPL is meeting tmw to draft sanctions for a scenario that is unfolding; this is legislation on the hoof and as such is destined to be shat on and fail.
Legislatively, as far as I can see (largely from reading your posts) there is no place for the huns in Scottish football, at all.
Pragmatically, deals are no doubt being done – I assume we are throwing some weight around, and we should be seeking justice in the form of the huns’ expulsion / demotion whatever – the price/prize we should be offering is equal distribution of TV money; I have argued for years we should be doing this anyway. It simply cannot be the case that there is no TV deal without the huns, just a different deal – it is up to the SPL to present the hun-free league as an attractive option; perhaps what they need to be doing is offering the entirety of Scottish fitba as a TV deal – “watch the disgraced huns climb back to glory” [to the tune of Rocky, as they run up and puke all over Gullane…etc]
Which begs the Henry McLeish argument about overmanagement of football in Scotland…ditch Doncaster and Ogilvie and merge from there. We play our cards right, we get a lot of wins out of this mess.
long haired yins man, 00:52
Thanks
Where’s aw the burds?
Bhodran
Try the Duck bay marina.
Did somebody say there were 4 journalists in Scotland?
Auld NL Heid
Scenario 1 – Put them in Div 3 – their support will be defient and continue to support them. They will win countless games scoring many many goals. Overall their support will go down at first but with each Championship success their support will increase until their are on the verge of SPL return and it will be back to full strength in three years.
Scenarios 2 – Keep them in SPLhell with transfer embargo and Youth team. How many will want to buy season tickets for that? Watching rubbish for the next few seasons and their support will crumble.
Don’t reward them with three guarenteed Championship wins punishment them with years of hell as SPL alsoran.
The justified anger of the righteous is a beautiful thing to behold.
Bobby R
And 3 of them are slim Jim T.
Good one, Gordon, off to bed now, chat soon HH