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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bankiebhoy at 09:45
classic david brent
Morning all from gay Paree, NewCo Hollande is in, OldCo Sarkozy is out, bright morning (17C max).
Pretty poor display from the Bhoys yesterday, a lot of sloppy passing didn’t help the cause. I was encouraged by the performances of Watt and McGeouch, but still disappointed that Izzy has so far failed to find the spark he had all last season.
Hopefully, the team will refocus for next weekend for the final match against the minis.
Personally, I don’t think there will be any significant decisions today from the SPL – probably yet another postponement.
What really bug me however, is that their “investigation” into the dual contracts has been tacitly put on the back burner. For me that should be the priority item at the top of the agenda, instead of the preoccupation of trying to bend the rules on a completely different and – for me – lesser matter.
I have taken the following directly, word for word, from the On-Line Oxford English Dictionary:
disrepute
Pronunciation: /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/
noun
[mass noun]
• the state of being held in low esteem by the public: one of the top clubs in the country is bringing the game into disrepute
It is indeed interesting how they have chosen to illustrate appropriate use of the word.
In terms of what to do about RFCia, it is quite clear, the management, directors and let’s not forget a very important group here, the players themselves, have by their actions brought the entire game in Scotland (and to some extend beyond) into disrepute. Of that there can be no doubt. Is there anyone who follows the game in Scotland who does not consider that the game is held in anything but the lowest esteem thanks to the actions of all those associated with RFCia?
The charge of bringing the game into disrepute extends further to the SFA and depending on the actions to be taken now, quite possibly UEFA and FIFA too.
If this game in Scotland is to recover from this astonishing state of affairs, it MUST stand firmly by it’s rules and show no favouritism whatsoever. Indeed, the very fact that part of the disrepute charge here is aimed at the SFA itself through it’s members previous association with RFCia, it is even more important that the SFA be seen to act without favour.
The consequences of their actions, should they show anything other than complete impartiality will be to destroy the very foundations of the game. Any action, other than to rigourously apply the rules to ALL clubs will be to impose a charge of bringing the game into disrepute upon themselves.
No matter the financial health of the clubs and the game itself, if the foundations are washed away the entire structure will soon collapse to the ground.
MWD 0946
It improves your spellnig too!
Amazing stuff,btw.
Goldstar10
I think they’ll have got the message from the song sheet.
Its a strange setup at Tannadice were the directors area (hardly a box) is plump in the middle of the away support.
MWD
Reading sally’s comments in the Scotsman, just wondering if his club considered “the implications on other clubs” of their behaviour over the past 20 years, not to mention the behaviour of their fans….
You could not make all this up, you really could not….!!!!!!!!
BMCUWP
That’s because you have to concentrate more when…
typing upside doon.
MWD
Hello Hello They are the Billy Bobs.
SIXTAESEVEN 0949
I think the three at the back idea is a reasonable option to have,but it does Izzy and Adam Matthews no favours.
They really are NOT wide midfielders or wingers.
sixtaeseven: I thought Izzy has been looking a bit like his old self of late but not yesterday.
I can´t decide whether if our crossing is poor or we don´t have someone in the middle capable of getting on the end of them or both!
BTW not starting a song debate is best achieved by not making comment on the singing, other than to perhaps, whilst praising the gusto and decibal levels achieved, note that some of the timings on the stand-to-stand versions weren’t quite perfect…
Com on you bhoys in green, pull yer socks up!
Just saying like…
If we all typed upside down would it be right way up?
Today is not a vote for or against Newco Rangers (or whatever it might be called).It’s a vote about proposed rule changes, the Cheats’ Charter, that would change the nature of Scottish football. That would move the league away from one based on sporting principles to one where cash alone decides its membership.
The SPL is the top league, and its rules state that it shall be made up of the 12 leading teams based on position the season before. That currently means the teams that finish 1 to 11 in the SPL and the first division Champions.
There is very simply no other way to get into the SPL.
The Cheats’ Charter would create a method for a Newco to take the place of a club that has gone bust. For a Newco to start its footballing life in the top division. Unlike Ross County, ICT, Annan, and Peterhead a new club could be invited straight into the SPL without winning a single football match.
And why? Because this particular Newco, we are told, would bring money that is vital to the game.
There are arguments against that point of view. Boycotts aside, one big club out of the way means more chance for smaller clubs to finish higher up the league, to win cups, to qualify for Europe. All of which bring both direct finance and would attract more fans.
But the key argument here is that sporting integrity must prevail. This is a football league not a franchise system. Clubs mist not be able to buy a league place, they must win one on the football field.
And if sporting integrity does not prevail, those who run our game will be signing the death knell for Scottish football.
So what will today’s brain trust meeting at Hampden bring??
Given these guys can’t even decide on what size of league they want to play in, despite the customers telling them, I think its safe to say there will be no decision taken today. Another meeting arranged once the season has ended and its clearer what windy miller is doing and what FTT has decided.
MWD
I had no problem reading it. When I started school, had no knowledge of writing,and when the teacher told us to write our names down, I was flummoxed!
Momentarily……….
The five-year-old across the table from me had the same name as me-so did three other boys in the class,btw-so I just copied him.
I wasn’t stupid though,as I realised that I would have to invert what I was seeing,otherwise it would be upside-down.
I wrote back-to-front for about the first month as a result!
in order for their transfer embargo to be any fun surely they must stay in SPLhell?
The result of today’s meeting could well be..to have another meeting. No one is stepping up to lance this abscess, even though it is infecting all of Scottish football [or soccer, if Boss Hogg is lurkin’]
Kevtic on 7 May, 2012 at 10:05 said:
The (bogus) TV deal arguement will be dragged out to counter that one. Sky deal is dependant on a competitive SPL so the embargo needs to go.
Top Ten – Do the right thing today
And Justice for All – Metallica
Right Thing to Do – SBTRKT
The End – Doors
Celebration – Cool & the Gang
We are the Champions – Queen
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Don’t Stop the Party – Black Eyed Peas
Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & the Waves
Beautiful Day – U2
The Taxman – Beatles
Top Ten – Money is God
Money, Money, Money – ABBA
No Apologies – Bon Jovi
Scumbag Blues – Them Crooked Vultures
Money – Pink Floyd
Money – The Drums
Money – Barrett Strong
Money – The Beatles
Money – The Flying Lizards
For the Love of Money – The O’Jays
The Money Song – Monty Python
Choose your listening approriately depending on the result today.
Vaultbhoy
I honestly don’t know who Derek Adams is?
How the mighty have fallen. From Simply the Best, swallistair has gone to an argument which pleads with the fans of Motherwell Hearts Aberdeen Dundee United Celtic St Johnstone Kilmarnock St Mirren ICT HIbs and the pars. Reminds me of cap in hand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u3KeIsi-OI
Vaultbhoy
Obfuscation-Between the Buried and Me
May be the song for today.
Money men must stop keeping Gers fans in dark
By jim Traynor on May 7, 12 07:20 AM in
THEY try their best to come across as real people. Men with feelings, who go home at night to wives and kids.
And do they read bedtime stories to the children? If so, what kind?
A toss-up probably between Secrets of Corporate Insolvency Law or Snow White and the Five Dwarfs? Reduction in numbers. It’s what administrators do for a living.
It’s just too damn difficult to think of them as normal people.
They must have a rogue gene that makes them want to slash and cut while we all try to keep our distance.
No, insolvency practitioners aren’t normal at all and that’s why real people, who end up in all sorts of trouble by pursuing their business dreams, are afraid of them.
They’re like lawyers and bankers. And wasps. They’re necessary evils.
We need the legal profession to defend us against injustice, even if they are so expensive you end up having to pay them more than you’ll ever win in damages.
Then you have to turn to the bankers to get loans to help pay the wigs.
On the way home you’ll get stung again, by a wasp. But at least they’re crucial to the eco system, although they’d be of greater value if they’d just stick it to lawyers and bankers. And administrators.
The team from Duff and Phelps who have been striving to keep Rangers afloat for the past three months insist the club’s survival has always been a priority – but the vast majority of the supporters don’t believe that.
Neither do one or two of the would-be buyers who have taken a close look at Rangers recently.
They are highly suspicious of the time it took to name a preferred bidder and they also believe there have been times when the administrators told them one thing in private, before saying something different in public.
A few days ago, former Ibrox director Paul Murray, who led the Blue Knights in their crusade to gain control of Rangers, was so angered by what Duff and Phelps had briefed a press gathering he called into BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound programme to contradict the information that had been given out.
It was unlike Murray, who has always used a careful and studied approach but he’d had enough.
He sounded as if he’d finally run out of patience – but of course, earlier that day it had been announced Bill Miller, and not the Knights, was preferred bidder.
The American got the jump on the Knights even though he didn’t hand over the £500,000 exclusivity fee everyone had thought was a non-negotiable requirement.
Murray’s group were certainly told they’d have to pay up to gain pole position but Miller is in that position without handing over any cash.
However, he has deposited the amount he is willing to pay for Rangers’ assets – thought to be around £11million – in a lawyers’ account as a ‘statement of intent’.
Okay, fine. But he still hasn’t paid any money and if by close of play on Friday, the deadline for a deal set by the administrators, he retreats out of the purchase he can withdraw his money and go back to his tow-truck business.
He won’t be out of pocket, apart from the money he’s paid already in legal and consultancy fees.
But that’s no different to the Knights, who also paid out plenty for advice, yet were left in no doubt that had they paid an exclusivity fee when they had the chance several weeks ago they’d have forfeited that amount if they didn’t buy Rangers.
You can sort of understand where Murray is coming from and why he wanted people to know that, as far as he’s concerned, more questions should be asked of the administrators.
And he’s right.
So is former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston, who is now asking why Duff and Phelps have not handed over documents he believes could help the Crown Office and Strathclyde Police investigation that he called for only days after the club was placed in administration.
Johnston is worried the process seems to have stalled because the police are still waiting to get a look at any information that may be held by Duff and Phelps and may also be relevant to launching a full probe into Craig Whyte’s Rangers buy-out.
That’s why, acting on behalf of Johnston, legal firm Levy and McRae wrote to Duff and Phelps last Thursday asking why they haven’t yet produced the information requested.
Is it just me or does anyone else find that a bit odd?
After all, you’d think anything that might further undermine or expose Whyte would be extremely helpful to the administrators, who themselves have launched a £25m damages claim against the legal firm he used during his takeover a year ago.
The administrators are suing Whyte’s takeover vehicle, the Rangers FC Group, and legal firm Collyer Bristow for ‘consequential losses’ – but clearly Johnston believes Duff and Phelps have been slow to help his cause and he’s correct to demand answers.
Although the administrators were quick to reply to his letter – Detective Chief Inspector John Cuddihy was copied in – there was no real explanation of why they haven’t provided any of the documents Johnston believes would strengthen his move to bring Whyte to book.
Yet, it seems there is little more he, or the police can do until Duff and Phelps provide the assistance Johnston wants and needs.
This lack of urgency must be surprising to Johnston and to Rangers fans who all know early on in the insolvency process the administrators were quick to let everyone know Collyer Bristow appeared reluctant to hand over documents they needed to make sense of Whyte’s affairs.
Why haven’t the administrators helped Johnston when his action might be able to uncover something that really would render Whyte an irrelevance? Why wouldn’t they be desperate to help someone else who also wants this man held to account for his chaotic reign?
It doesn’t make any sense but it might help if someone from Duff and Phelps tries to explain why Johnston and the police are still waiting.
So are the fans, the very people the administrators have been encouraging to keep the faith. They have – but they shouldn’t now be kept in the dark. It has all the hallmarks of Peter Lawwell. His grubby fingerprints are all over this.
As for the creditors. What about them ?
jackiemac
why do we let london rule our land?
the negative pose to scotland’s question is when will scotland’s oil run out? the positive response to that argument
how much oil will england & wales have left when they lose ours?
lorbobo on 7 May, 2012 at 09:29 said:
My support of Celtic is not dependant on the morality/integrity of Rangers/SFA/SPL
I dont define myself by that club or those institutions
I will ignore all the hype and sensationalism at this time, yes there are important issues for the immediate future of the structure of the Scottish game and the morality of a Rankers Newco
Morality and integrity in modern professional sport? dont make me laugh, the Champions league is run on the basis of the rich get richer by financial doping and in the case of EPL clubs also player EBT’S, sporting integrity its a joke
Will we still have the same league structure in 10 years? it’s a justifiable question, will i regret a decision not to renew my Celtic season ticket taken in a snapshot of footballing history when viewed back by hindsight, Celtic will be 125 yrs old next year i see no justifiable reason for Celtic to be financially harmed as a result of Celtic fans, we are going to feel consequences from this ibroke implosion enough as it is
Heres to the next 125 yrs of Celtic, season ticket renewed
Lennon n Mcjallby – but you’re familiar with his Dominoes
Morning bhoys and ghirls in Green.
I never managed to see the game yesterday, did we play the weans?
Not to fussed about the score as this is Lenny’s time to watch the wannabees, I was going to say peripheral players but cant spell it, one day some genius will bring out a spellchecker thingy…… ideas in action CSC
SPL set to agree deal with Miller’s ‘newco’ Rangers
By Graham Spiers
The Scottish Premier League intends to cut a deal with Bill Miller, the American tycoon who is in the process of restructuring Rangers, in which the crucial SPL share transfer that is required for a “newco” Rangers will be rubber-stamped in return for two key guarantees.
According to the SPL sources, it is the SPL’s intention to offer Miller and Rangers continued SPL status if Miller promises to pay off all outstanding Scottish football debts, and if he also agrees to accept whatever punishment an SPL investigation into Rangers’ so-called “double-contracts” might produce. The Sunday Herald understands there would be no further sanctions on the newco Rangers.
SPL lawyers are currently investigating the club’s use of Employment Benefit Trusts (EBTs). If their findings go against Rangers, the SPL will have to consider swingeing punishments for years of unlawful player contracts.
Miller, who has vowed to plough an initial £11.2 million into Rangers, will almost certainly create a newco and thus face the hurdle, under current SPL rules, of asking the governing body’s six-man board to approve a share transfer from the soon-to-be-liquidated Rangers. (There are also suggestions that some of the board’s members will push for that decision to be made by the 11 other SPL member clubs.) Without the transfer, the new Rangers would be unable to play in the SPL next season.
The club currently owes money to Dundee United and the Scottish Football Association, with a further payment due to Hearts in July – among other football debts – and the source said the SPL plans to grant Miller the share transfer if he guarantees the clearing of these debts.
On the issue of the EBTs, the punishment for a guilty verdict is potentially harmful for Rangers, but the SPL will also insist that Miller, in return for his new share, should accept the outcome.
The SPL clubs are due to vote tomorrow on two proposed rule-changes for a newco: one referring to points deductions, plus a second new rule which will recommend financial sanctions.
If the rules are passed, they would not take effect until after the end of the current season, which means Miller and Rangers will almost certainly be applying for a newco SPL share under the current code. That is, they will ask the SPL to approve the application.
The plan to accommodate Miller will trigger fierce objections across the Scottish game, and Neil Doncaster, the SPL’s chief executive, yesterday distanced himself from the alleged strategy when contacted by the Sunday Herald.
He said: “All I can tell you is that the Rangers situation is highly complicated and sensitive.
“People always want to see things in black and white when, in fact, this situation is much more about shades of grey. There are some difficult and technical concepts in this whole scenario.
“Bill Miller is now the preferred bidder at Rangers. The process now is that we will have discussions with Bill and his team. And those discussions may result – may result – in Bill Miller applying for a transfer of the existing Rangers SPL share to a ‘newco’.
“If that happens then the SPL board, under our existing rules, will have the job of sitting down and deciding whether to say yes or no to that application.”
Asked if he and the SPL board were pre-ordained to save Rangers’ SPL skin, Doncaster denied the suggestion.
“No, we are not,” he replied. “Our job is much wider than that. It is to protect the interests of all 12 member clubs, as well as keep an eye on the best long-term interests of Scottish football. It is impossible to pre-judge the Bill Miller situation at Rangers, but what I’ve outlined to you is my long-term job.
“So far the SPL has only had very preliminary discussions with Bill Miller and his team. But I think more detailed discussions will take place over the coming weeks.”
Doncaster claimed not to know what the outcome of tomorrow’s votes would be on the proposed rule-changes. Under the new rules, a newco club would remain in the SPL but face severe points-related and financial sanctions.
“Some people have viewed these new proposals as somehow being Rangers-friendly,” he said. “The reality is, first, these rules would apply to all 12 clubs if they were passed; and second, they would make for a much harder line than is the current SPL position.
“But whether these new rules are passed on Monday remains to be seen.”
Doncaster also briefly touched on the SPL investigation into Rangers.
“We are in the middle of some detailed investigations about player payments allegedly made out-of-contract at Rangers and that investigation will continue,” he said. “There will either be a prima facie case here against Rangers and it will be a disciplinary procedure, or there will be no prima facie case. I just don’t know. The investigation is ongoing.”
Meanwhile, it emerged last night that, whether Miller secures a Company Voluntary Agreement with Rangers or not in the coming weeks, the club will almost certainly be barred from European football for three years due to “structural changes” under Uefa guidelines, starting from next season.
Lovely sunny day -way down south .
Celtic were dire yesterday .
Play like that in the Champions League and they will be out before the real thing starts..
Today —— ?
Wouldn’t be surprised if the decision is to delay making a decision.
If a decision is made it will be one which favors the whoring of the soul in exchange for the Hun Pound .
No to a SPL parachute . No to any Newco that doesn’t have to beg to be allowed to begin at the very bottom . No to The Old Firm.
Isn’t it ironic that the Chairmen of certain Clubs who did the bhuns a wee favour now and again over the years are now having to vote on the outcome of their actions ….. LOL
lionroars67 on 7 May, 2012 at 10:16 said:
“My support of Celtic is not dependant on the morality/integrity of Rangers/SFA/SPL”
If Celtic vote to allow Newco into SPL, would you still be of the same view?
(The question reads rather tersely but that is not intentional. )
You realise when you are getting old when!
My 6 year old is doing a poster on the importance of safety around water.
(I live in Sydney) The poster should have pictures and words.
After a chat we came up with “have mum and dad with you when swimming in the sea” and she went away to do a drawing to encapsulate those words.
She came back 10 minutes later and said “Daddy I hope you don’t mind but I’ve just done a drawing of mummy and me in the sea because I don’t have any grey pencils for your hair “
pggtips, scotland would do a venezuela and charge next to nowt .
btw what does ‘havering’ mean from ‘I’m going to be (500 miles)’
The Green Brigade folk could do worse than have a huge banner of the original holie goalie upside down in goals for Celtic, have ye seen that picture? belter.
Apologies in advance for talking about Celtic and naw them (smiley)
KJamBhoy on 7 May, 2012 at 09:57 said:
sixtaeseven: I thought Izzy has been looking a bit like his old self of late but not yesterday.
I can´t decide whether if our crossing is poor or we don´t have someone in the middle capable of getting on the end of them or both!
———————————————-
He didn’t seem to have the confidence to beat his man then come into the box. on the second point, all season long there has been no-one in the box able to capitalise on good crosses.
share on F’book or Twitter
jackie mac
lol
SPL clubs reluctant to vote for a future without Rangers
As the SPL clubs assemble at Hampden Park for what is arguably their most important meeting since the league was formed in 1998, they have had a couple of tasters of what the division might be like if Rangers are forced out of contention for the title next season and possibly also for three or four years.
By Roddy Forsyth11:59PM BST 06 May 2012
The unusual flat atmosphere that characterised the match between Celtic and St Johnstone on Thursday, and Rangers’ goalless draw with Motherwell in their final home game of the season on Saturday indicates what will be expected if the championship becomes a one-horse race, with the campaign effectively decided in February or even earlier and only Celtic capable of winning the main honour.
The option to ensure sporting integrity is, to a degree yet to be determined, in slight conflict with commercial realities for clubs who exist on fine margins.
Even if Rangers’ finances had been unimpeachable over the past decade or so, the imbalance in power between the Old Firm pair and the rest would still prompt accusations of unfairness from clubs without the advantage of the Glasgow pair’s huge fan bases and economic clout.
Now that Rangers through no fault of those currently at Rangers have overreached themselves, the misplaced obsession, between the desire to bring them down several pegs and the need to maintain the leagues elite as an attractive environment – for fans, sponsors and broadcasters alike – is palpable. Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, his St Johnstone counterpart Steven Brown and Motherwell vice-chairman Derek Weir were concerned about the possibility of a backlash that could lead to their clubs being boycotted by Rangers fans if the five-man SPL board – of which they are members – choose to reject a newco Ibrox club.
The trio would rather take a poll of all 12 members and make a decision that reflects the majority feeling. It is a fact that the SPL cannot attach conditions to a newco and that Rangers will effectively escape punishment by going down that route, but The Daily Telegraph can exclusively reveal that there is an alternative.
The SPL board can simply reject any attempt – or repeated applications – to admit a Rangers newco until such time as the phoenix club presents self-imposed conditions that would be acceptable to the other clubs.
For the moment, all is in the realm of conjecture. Experience of this saga cautions against making assumptions, but there appears to be an acceptance amongst other clubs that if Rangers are handicapped at all then the league as a whole will suffer.
Nevertheless, strongly held opinions are expected to be voiced at Monday’s meeting. These opinions should be heard an vented as a way of release and then we should move on In the meantime and possibly more important with regards to maintaining a public spectacle within the SPL , Rangers still have no notion how many of the existing squad will remain at Ibrox next season, although there have been declarations of intent, such as that delivered by Dorin Goian.
“It has been a difficult year for everyone connected with Rangers. Despite all those difficulties, I have enjoyed my first year here and I’m sure the next year will be better,” said the Romanian defender, who has established what would likely be – in other circumstances – a durable partnership.
“Next season, I just want to play better as an individual and also that the team does better. Hopefully, everything will be OK. I want to stay here. I have a contract here for another two years and I enjoy it.
“Life in Scotland suits me and my family and we enjoy living here. Of course, the first few months were difficult but after that it’s been great.
“The SPL is a good league. I can compare it with Romanian football and I think it’s better, it has a good rhythm and it’s attractive for the fans. The quality is good in Scotland but we know that we can improve as a team.
”Celtic won the championship by a big margin but I’m confident it will be much closer next year. I played against them for the first time this season and I can feel it on the pitch, that we’re as good as Celtic.
“If we didn’t have the problems we’ve faced this year, we could have won the championship. The manager had to explain to everyone what administration meant for the club.
“At the beginning, I didn’t know anything about it, so for those couple of weeks it was tough but we always stayed together. We made a decision on a pay cut to help everyone at the club.
“Ally McCoist is a big coach and a big man. He’s very loved here at Ibrox and I feel sorry for him that he didn’t win the title because I know how much it means to him. There are some examples of players who have been legends for their clubs then take over as coach and if they’ve won it as a player, they want to do it as a manager.
“Ally is the same – I know he wanted it so much. We couldn’t do it for him this time but we’re confident we’ll do it next season.
”I have no regrets. When my agent told me about Glasgow Rangers, I really wanted to come here and it would be a big disappointment if this team breaks up over the summer. It would be a disappointment, not just for me, but for so many people.
”A club like this doesn’t deserve to break up – because it’s more than a football club.”
It should be hoped that the SPL board will realise that losing true international stars such as Dorin Goian can only reduce the slight and waning interest that the SPL presently commands. If Rangers lose all their major international stars who is even going to buy that product for Television
The SPL needs to make the right decision today.
iki on 7 May, 2012 at 10:28 said:
Celtic will not vote for them to be allowed into the SPL, and that is fact ..!!!