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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a man goes into a pet shop and says to the salesman
‘I’d like a wasp please’
‘But we don’t sell wasps!’
‘Really? There’s two in your window!’
C.Murray
tully 57
Many thanks for that. Any idea how long it normally takes you to get clear of the stadium?
Row Z
when it happens I´ll change from Awe Naw to Flounce Nighting Gale and become a big lover of the Old firm and compartmentalise my logic to allow me to do so.
Hail Hail
Today could be a huge day for Scottish football.
No Huns or no morality?
I think I know what will win. I just hope we can all remain civil during the carnage that could occur today.
I will state my position now.
If the Huns get away with this I will never set foot in another Scottish ground in my life. If Celtic also vote for the Huns I will become an armchair fan. There is no “Old Firm” I pray to God Celtic remember this.
I will be angry if the Huns bully their way to the SPL,I’ll be heartbroken if we helped them,
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 7 May, 2012 at 11:26 said:
I’ve hardly missed a home game in 56 years, but if the bhuns are allowed straight into the SPL, we cannot take it lying down…..we need to take drastic action……bhoycotts etc….
This is not a case of blind loyalty…..this is a case of continuing the struggle at a higher level of sustained intensity…….I agree with you, we need to renew our season tickets, but we also need to ensure we don’t hand one penny to any other club if they capitulate to the bullying bhuns….
Bhodran Mhan
MWD started in the style of the GB upside down banner…………. I joined in as a conditional non-Celtic supporter aspiring for more from the Celtic Board……… but what do we know……….. clearly the heart of the club has passed overseas…. and no longer resides in Glasgow
HH
Ah, unconditional love for Celtic. If Celtic do not fight this tooth and nail and continue to play in a corrupt league, will it be the Celtic I fell in love with? I have by doubts. I could always just feck off I suppose.
macjay1
imo Celtic ahould be standing up for fairness and integrity in Scotland..
not sitting back and taking it.
I was discussing this with a few CQNers on Thursday night..
we do turn the other cheek but we should not bend over and let them …
Q: What is it with our numpty brigade that somehow place such a high value on attendance ?
A. A LACK OF GREY MATTER AND COMMON DECENCY
GIVE YOUR TINY MIND A REST I SAY
HAil HAil
The term “tainted title” is set to take on a new irony, because they’ll all be tainted from here on in.
Celtic SPL winners 2011/12 will go down in the history books as the last untainted title.
Macjay1
So your a conditional supporter based on geography then?
HH
67heaven
Many thanks for the info. I’ll be coming up Saturday staying overnight so can suss out yours and Tully 57’s suggestions then.
‘Celtic should be standing up for fairness and integrity in Scotland’- another good deed that won’t go unpunished.
derbyshirebhoy on 7 May, 2012 at 11:15 said:
I’ll send you an email tonight with details of where I park, never bar a problem, 10-15minutes walk to the ground.
Very easy access to the motorway,M74 south.
BTW before anybody of the SVDP on viagra brigade gets too upset at fellow tims exercising their free will and want to start comparing financial contributions into Celtic PLC (very Brother Walfrid of you I must say) then
BRING IT ON YOU F******* CHEAP SKATES
Hail Hail
I also said to the ole Doc thay in a civil war even brothers fall out..
try to keep it respectfull bhoys…
tully57 on 7 May, 2012 at 11:21 said:
I think my car park is bigger than your car park ……. LLOOLL…!!!!!!!
The bigots support for RFC is unconditional. Even when they cheat. I support Celtic because I had hoped most of us do have conditions.
Macjay lives in Sydney, unlikeyly the 64 bus will stop outside his door. He does subscribe to Celtic TV and he does subscribe to CQN. Which reminds me… it is almost that time of year again for the annual subs to help keep Paul67’s blog up and running. Of the top of my head I would take a guess and say it would cost about 24K a year to keep this place running smoothly (sic). Wouldn’t be fair if such a heavy burden fell on the shoulders of one man. Especailly not after all this blog has done for us and many.
Bhodran Mhan
I’ve not had mine yet……….. Peter probably knows I’m a conditional supporter and there’s no point so saved on the stamp……………
HH
BobbyMurdoch7121 on 7 May, 2012 at 11:37 said:
****************
Thank you for the post, it should be re posted on every page IMO.
The Celtic Trust…….. are on the ball.
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!..Truth and Justice will always prevail on 7 May, 2012 at 11:38 said:
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 7 May, 2012 at 11:26 said
Mate.
One hundred per cent in agreement.
Solidarity with Celtic,from the Board down.
I was advocating boycotts ,along with ” Maggie ” after the ” Dougie” affair.
One word ” UNITED .”
No factions,no splitting.
I was sitting pretty close to the Celtic tables at the POTY bash last night. Lenny didn’t seem particularly concerned at missing out on Manager of the Year. I have to say though, you should have seen the look on Mo Bangura’s coupon when he discovered that he’d missed out on Player of the Year. He was raging!
I’d like to reply to you but as yir bliddy name is upside down and I’m not reading standing on my head then ……….
thanks anyway…… ps I’m un repentant
Celtic first and Celtic last we’ll find a way through this, but we must all stay together and be strong……..
lionroars67 on 7 May, 2012 at 10:45 said:
”iki on 7 May, 2012 at 10:28 said:
Its not as simple as that for me, name me a professional sport which has impeccable credentials for sporting integrity, even Cricketers are in jail for cheating, its just not cricket chaps.”
#######
‘are in jail for cheating’
You see the difference?
You cheat, you go to jail.
That’s how you maintain integrity.
That’s not what’s happening here.
The supporting of Celtic is at stake here. Would you allow your future generations to support Celtic and endure the continued cheating? I wont i will guide them down the route of a different sport and plough my cash into that.
Kitalba
Are you saying that love manifests itself in different ways by any chance? If so, I agree with you.
conditionalnoncelticsupportingcelticthirdclasssupportermecsc
time to go
HH
Row Z
away for yet tea ? ;-)
Hail Hail
yet=yer
I’m sure Lenny wasn’t too bothered about missing out on a wee award. Winning the league was the one he wanted.
Super Sally must have been feeling overlooked though, after all of the press reports pointing out what a wonderful ob he was doing under such difficult conditions.
I have missed something? Where is the chat that our board is not going to stand for sporting integrity?
Given what they have stated publicly, it would be political suicide.
They may be very aware that they will be outnumbered and the decision will be effectively out their hands, why would they alienate so many fans at the same time?
AWE NAW 1132
Haha,very funny.
Even without altering the words,the title does it for me!
The “Gang of 10” have a big decision to make. If they keep Newco Hunz in the SPL, against all forms of precedent, then they may save some of the TV monies, and the “Blue Pound” boycott may not amount to very much. However, that is at the risk of alienating many of their own support, and the possibility that significant numbers of Hoops fans may carry out awayday boycotts of their own which could prove every bit as financially damaging.
The amount of difference is, as Paul67 suggests, not as significant as some parts of the LL would have them believe.
That difference is the difference between retaining some modicum of moral integrity in the Scottish game, and shamelessly jumping into bed with Satan’s minions. Seems to be a small price to pay, and ought to be an easy choice for them to make, but I shan’t hold my breath.
HH
Awe_Naw @ 11.20
I like to think our support for Celtic is unconditional, there is no argument other than an emotional one, or one based on sentiment.
If Celtic vote no, or abstain the outcome won’t be affected either way, you know it, and so do I.
It didn’t take Rangers (IA) and their insolvency to prove to me that the SPL is rigged, so why should we suddenly withdraw our support for Celtic, when it is officially confirmed?
Sadly Celtic do not have an escape route, if they did we would know what is was, and they are not even looking, unless they are about to pull the biggest rabbit from the biggest hat ever.
blantyretim on 7 May, 2012 at 11:39 said:
macjay1
imo Celtic ahould be standing up for fairness and integrity in Scotland..
not sitting back and taking it.
I was discussing this with a few CQNers on Thursday night..
we do turn the other cheek but we should not bend over and let them …
Absolutely agree.
My only point is……..we don`t help our cause by withdrawing financial support from Celtic.
doc is neil lennon
That would be great. Presume your Johndoc?
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!..Truth and Justice will always prevail on 7 May, 2012 at 11:43
If your car park is preferred over mine by Derbyshirebhoy, that is me finished with Celtic and Scottish football forever….
Aw Naw
Ma teas oot obviously………..thems unconditional cscs have me bang to rights as a timposter………
HH