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.
803 Comments- Pages:
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Hi lads,
I’m the head of a marketing department looking to market my company’s product, and indeed the company as a whole, through some sporting medium. We were looking at some popular team sports here in Scotland – our target demographic suggests such.
Anyway, we’d like our product to be linked, associated if you will, with a sporting endeavour renowned for it’s integrity, but above all, it’s broad appeal, more so within our target demographic.
So, any ideas as to which sporting endeavour we should be looking to be associated with?
No? Me neither (apart from possibly Edinburgh Rugby, despite not truly being part of our target demographics).
I wonder how many marketing departments involved in Scottish football are having this sort of discussion right now.
blantyretim on 6 May, 2012 at 20:12 said:
if the scumbag McCall won manager of the year we really know what countery we live in…scum..
it was the Ross County guy Adams, James Forrest won YPOR
…and if they’ve intimated such to the various club chairs happy to disregard integrity for a few cheap bucks.
I nead a kindle for spelling too..o))
pablo would have slaughtered me for my spelling..
God bless you Steve…
it was a year ago today as we beat d Utd you passed away
I will never forget you…
YPOR
ok before you start I mean YPOTY!!
McCall won manager of the year??
If true – I spew
wonkyradar
I have no problem at all with you expressing your principles, and I may agree or disagree. I think though you did yourself a dis-service in criticising your fellow Celtic fans in the extreme way you did. Surely we can have a point of view without having a go at others.
Paddy Gallagher
Derek Adams won it.
Eldiego- I think its describing what they see as an effeminate way of reading on a train- me- I’m in touch with my Kindle side
HH
.Neil Lennon couldnae win a Neil Lennon impersonator contest in this country!!
BT
Never took you for a homophobe.
You trying to be all manly for the ole brigade in the pv?
Fholks, anyone spill the beans on this ”dynamite” story that 4 Glasgow journalists are apparently sitting on?
POTY Charlie
Milan keeper does a FF there and scoops the ball off the line, all Inter atm.
No to Newco
HH
We live in a less than perfect world, every day involves making compromises, so if it has to be then it has to be.
I’ll settle for being at CP this time next year when we win the game to win the title, and the result means they get relegated.
Revenge might be a dish best eaten cold, after all.
long haired yins man on 6 May, 2012 at 20:21 said:
Fholks, anyone spill the beans on this ”dynamite” story that 4 Glasgow journalists are apparently sitting on?
—————————————————
I sincerely hope there are 4 Glasgow journos
sitting on dynamite.
Craig whyte accountant of the year.
Sit back and honestly ask yourself has any manager gone through or put up with more than NeilLennon this year?
Nope
With no disrespect to derek adams.
The baws burst.
long haired yins man on 6 May, 2012 at 20:21 said:
“Fholks, anyone spill the beans on this ”dynamite” story that 4 Glasgow journalists are apparently sitting on?”
Is it the one about Hugh Keevins being the author of Rangerstaxcase.com?
Mullet and co, absolutely superb “football equivalent of weekend at Bernie’s! ” I wish I had thought of that one. My brother had an analogy recently that they were like the really drunk, obnoxious, abusive guy in the pub and everybody wondered why they were not being chucked out. Both valid
Anyone been following the Homeland programme on Ch4? Thoroughly enjoyed it so far.
Brodie’s wife is easy on the eye:o)
Charlie – player of the year
James – young player
Derek Adams – manager of the year
Neil WOULD have been manager of the year but for 2 reasons…
1 – Derek Adams did a fine job
2 – NO WAY would we be allowed to win all three prizes – no chance !
bhoys
lenny comes from 15 points behind to win the league..
doesn’t win manager of the year… ?
EDB/stairheidrammy..
I don’t read that free paper and think it is feminine to read a kindle…
but being a Celtic fan I am all inclusive..
Dontbrattbakkinanger on 6 May, 2012 at 20:22 said:
“I’ll settle for being at CP this time next year when we win the game to win the title, and the result means they get relegated.”
That is just the point …. even then, they cannot be allowed to be relegated.
If Adams has indeed won MotY then I have no real qualms with that – as much as Neil has for us, he’s done something pretty special up there too, to be honest.
.
I Went Out with a Sheila Called Kyndle..
She was a Paramedic..
Defo Not Poofy..:O(
Summa
Thought Watty smiff was a shoo-in for moty.
El Diego Bhoy
Yes, you’re right on her and it’s been a good prog. Concludes tonight I think – still think there’s a twist with a double-agent.
There is a hardcore of supporters who will go to watch their football clubs no matter how rigged the game is? Maybe its good that they would still attend football matches under the most corrupt circumstances- who knows what these people would do otherwise. The other day on a Killie fan site- after their director made this shameless sellout remarks- it hardly caused a ripple amongst significant numbers; saying they would attend Newco or no…I’m raging at that statement and I’m not even a Killie fan!
Some people will accept anything- and don’t the powers at be know it?
VP
me being non judgemental and hope I did not come across as being homaphobic..
if i did I apologise…
EDB
Really enjoying Homeland,though that blonde
agent is giving me the yips.
Francoise Hollande’s acceptance speech
Don’t let the newco in,Vive la France!!
penalty Milan.
HH
Some rhetoric from SPL chairmen in recent days has left me bereft of enthusiasm for football in this country.
In the unlikely event that RFC Newco has serious penalties applied but is allowed to take it’s place in the SPL, there is a reasonable possibility that Newco could find itself in relagation trouble, especially if they field a team of youngsters week in, week out.
Can you imagine RFC Newco going into the last few games of the season playing, say Kilmarnock or Dundee Utd or Motherwell? Are these guys actually saying that their own survival is dependant on RFC (of any form) retaining their SPL status? What message does that give to their players as they are about to take to the field in this relegation scenario?
Utterly bereft of enthusiasm. They are utterly bereft of integrity. Never before has the term “establishment club” been laid bare for all to witness it’s real meaning until now.
Celtic must never, and I mean NEVER, indulge in any joint sponsorship arrangements with RFC Newco unless justice is done and is seen to be done.
bt
You being non judgemental ,I believe you :O)
hun ref at milan derby.. never a pen
VP
sorry mate…
Goal 1-1 Ibram….
HH
TopCorner on 6 May, 2012 at 20:24 said
No offense TC but that is bullshit, Scottish Football is rotten to the core.
Neil Lennon is my man of the year and I salute his strength and recognise the support of his family.The other two should hand back their ‘tainted’ awards in support of their manager.