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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Bloke109
Just finishing dinner. Looking forward to tonight’s episode. Not sure it will conclude tonight.
non judgemeatal
but I dislike that clown who thought he was better than Henrik…..clown..
Bt
Spot on.
Iki, according to across the waves tonight this is big! Phil Mc was on saying probably to do with the Tennessee Towtruck trillionaire.
iki- I think if they finish in the relegation positions they will go down. No one will save them then, especially if the team coming up is up to scratch, which clearly Dunfermline or Hibs would be.
The only way I can see a newco being allowed in is if they are hamstrung with penalties, which is why Div3 is beginning to look more attractive to the ole Hillbillies.
.
Who thought he was Better than Henke..?
Summa
The recent “debate” , continuing from last night, on Celtic’s response to newco, has not been amongst the finest on CQN. Positions have been far too polarised with too many showing signs of being unable to countenance alternative views.
As with hamiltontim’s bus, our convenor was taking note of attitudes with a view to informing, I assume, the CSA and Celtic of the depth of feeling amongst this section of Celtic fans. Unlike HT’s bus, however, we were far from unanimous in endorsing the “I’ll follow Celtic no matter what” line. It may have been the largest cohesive response but that’s because there was so much to choose from in the “dissatisfied customer” menu.
Those voting to return, no matter what fell into only two camps. Either they said:-
“I’ll be back because I support Celtic and we’ve done nothing wrong”
or
“I’ll be back but with a heavy heart that nothing has been done about Rangers’ cheating”
The judgementalists who want to trash those attitudes as “croppy lie down” or forelock tugging, cannot understand the calibre of Celtic supporter they are traducing. Quite honestly, though I differ from my view, I count many of them as better Celtic men with better supporting records than me.
Those respondents who failed to give an automatic guarantee of return, gave a wide range of reasons and caveats. It was a more complex and less coherent grouping of responses.
Some felt that they could not accept newco in the SPL
Some felt that newco should not have a preserved history.
Some felt they could not support a league where any team was guaranteed to be free of the spectre of relegation from either the top 6 grouping or from the top flight itself.
Some felt that Celtic might be in the process of letting them down and some felt that, though Celtic had done little wrong, they should not sign up to a gerrymandered league without strong protest.
And some felt a combination of some or all of the above objections and more.
It was a sad thought that friends, each with more than 30 years of regular attendance, found themselves on opposite ends of this decision. But I saw few signs that these people considered those with alternative views to be lesser Celtic fans.
There is no easy decision to be made here. No matter how you harden your heart and try to justify this as an intellectual argument, you cannot escape the emotion of realising that, though you will continue to have love and affection for Celtic, you may cease to be an active supporter. Or, no matter how you close down the thoughts that fight against your emotions, you will find it hard to accept that you remain supporting Celtic with a vague dissatisfaction that you will be participating in a dirty corrupt league.
There are no easy answers here and no moral high ground. My own view, for what its worth, is that I do not care where newco plays next year but, if they are newco, they should not have a preserved history and Celtic should refuse to recognise them as a continuing club by name, or printed record of achievement or by any comparison with Rangers 1872. My first preference would be that Rangers continues and pays all its debts but that ain’t gonna happen, so this is the simple moral hazard for me. Their history must die.
I am not interested in any faux penalties for newco. If we admit them back on the arguments we have been served, we should formalise it to state that, no matter how many points they collect through sporting merit, they will not be relegated and they will have a guaranteed top 6 place.
Though I have arrived at my position by examining my conscience, i do not feel arrogant enough on the matter to tell others, with differing views, that they are wrong.
I look at the current league table and I note that, if Rangers win in Perth next week, whether they are newco or not by then, the record books will show that they have outperformed us, this season, in away fixtures. I fear that with a reduced fan support, at away or home fixtures next year, Celtic’s football fortunes will be clearly affected.
we need salmond in milan now…
those RC are all arguing and fighting with other..
SNP…
“voguepunter on 6 May, 2012 at 20:23 said:
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.”
VP, that’s the funniest thing on here all day. Shoopairb.
Are the four journos sharing a bottle of the finest Thunderbird and enjoying succulent grits and black eyed peas?
long haired yins man, 2012
what’s Across the Waves?
SoS
Slatan ibrahimavic…. muppet…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en-GB&client=mv-google&v=IghzuDuqhEc
El Diego Bhoy
I thought it ony had 12 episodes – happy to be wrong as it’s really good.
If there were 4 scottish journos (ahem) sitting on a dynamite story, we can be assured of one one thing they will continue to sit on it.
Dont get your hopes up ghuys.
If there were 4 scottish journos (ahem) sitting on a dynamite story, we can be assured of one one thing they will continue to sit on it.
Dont get your hopes up ghuys.
If there were 4 scottish journos (ahem) sitting on a dynamite story, we can be assured of one one thing they will continue to sit on it.
Dont get your hopes up ghuys.
Where does all of this leave Livingston or Dundee? Dont remember the same sympathy for them. If I were the chairman / supporter of these clubs I would be saying WTF?
sftb
“There is no easy decision to be made here. No matter how you harden your heart and try to justify this as an intellectual argument, you cannot escape the emotion of realising that, though you will continue to have love and affection for Celtic, you may cease to be an active supporter. Or, no matter how you close down the thoughts that fight against your emotions, you will find it hard to accept that you remain supporting Celtic with a vague dissatisfaction that you will be participating in a dirty corrupt league.
There are no easy answers here and no moral high ground. “
Excellent contribution. I can’t take a hard line or a high one either, I can see moral, judicial and pragmatic consequences and arguments all along the spectrum; and we don’t even yet know how real the possibility is of a huns team, in any existing or new shape (either shape likely to be deformed and revolting to the cultured eye), being capable of being in place in time for the new season (because of 1) Whyte 2) SPL/SFA/UEFA licence 3) Big tax case / improper registration).
I think it is quite likely that tmw’s vote, if it happens, will sacrifice integrity for expediency, and the huns will still cease to exist, so the SPL will have publicly shamed and degraded itself for nothing. I think it is more likely that the vote won’t happen, because they’re surely not that stupid.
Great article on Vavel UK Link
A new beginning or the death warrant for Scottish football?
The truth of the matter is that Scottish football was, and continues to be, little more than an organised protection racket for the sole benefit of Rangers Football Club
John Girvan
Scottish football stands at the brink.
There is a sickness at the heart of Scottish football – the very core of which is now corrupted beyond repair. You see, a cancer was left untreated for generations and, so protected was this cancer that it was allowed to fester and grow – and all with the implicit backing of those who were tasked with protecting and upholding the sporting traditions of the beautiful game in Scotland.
The truth of the matter is that Scottish football was, and continues to be, little more than an organised protection racket for the sole benefit of Rangers Football Club (In administration).
The names of the directors and the ’empty blazers’ at the Scottish Football Association (SFA) may have changed over the years but the one overriding and unchanging constant is that the Rangers Protection Racket (RPR) must be maintained. At all costs.
The structure of the top league and the names of the directors of those clubs in the top league have also changed over the years but the good old RPR still permeates the boardrooms. You’ll find no shortage of these types falling over themselves in the rush to openly criticise anything relating to Celtic. And those who masquerade as journalists in Scotland have direct hotlines to these people and are always only too willing and able to let them have their say. After prompting and coaching them, of course.
This is in stark contrast with the reticence (think wild horses) of those same people to openly dish out the same treatment to any aspect of Rangers? Even now, when many of those same clubs regularly struggle to pay their own staff on time yet are owed significant sums of money from this pariah of a football club?
Incidentally, the RPR has been out in the open for years on the after dinner speaking circuit, and it has provided a very nice source of income for the retired refereeing fraternity.
And the cry was; ‘Penalty to Rangers!’
The latest contestants in the RPR scheme are Neil Doncaster; CEO and designated doublethink spokesperson for the Scottish Premier League (SPL), and Stewart Regan, who holds the equivalent post at the SFA – and who is currently hurtling towards the ‘I’m so far out of my depth I’ve just struck oil at the bottom of the sea’ award for his outstanding contribution to blocking people on Twitter.
Doncaster, quite shamelessly, places finance way ahead of even the merest pretence at moral decency. Sporting integrity and silly notions like a level playing field where all are treated exactly the same and, can also expect to be punished equally and without fear or favour, are so far off this mans radar that NASA and the worlds best amateur astronomers would struggle to find them using the Hubble Space Telescope.
How Doncaster – a failed and totally discredited former CEO of Norwich City – ever managed to get his current gig as CEO of the SPL is, in itself, a shocking indictment on those who appointed him and the governance of the game. Incidentally, Rod Petrie, Martin (EBT) Bain and Doncaster’s predecessor Lex Gold formed the sub-committee which ultimately rubber-stamped Doncaster’s appointment.
As for Pontius Regan, one wag mentioned to me that he should have a big sign on his desk which states:
THE BUCK STOPS – ANYWHERE BUT HERE!
Regan’s problems stem for his crass attempts to appear as all things to all people. He’s never quite grasped the concept that his main duty as CEO of the Scottish Football Association is to enforce the Articles of that particular Association. Not so much without fear or favour where Regan is concerned, but rather an instinctive leap to procrastination, deflection and an unending search for a suitable destination to which he can then pass the buck to.
Let’s be perfectly clear about this, when there are a series of secret meetings held which, paradoxically , are either leaked beforehand into the public domain or, more sinisterly , are entered into by official bodies withundisclosed parties (with equally secret agendas) but are later denied to have ever taken place – that, right there folks, is the very definition a conspiracy.
Collusion and conspiracy has contaminated Scottish football to such an extent that the putrid stench of it will never, ever leave the decomposing corpse of ‘fitba’ in this country.
one definition of corruption; moral impurity or deviation from an ideal
More about the SPL and the member clubs directors who will do their damndest to ensure that the RPR remains in place another time.
Be in absolutely no doubt about this; unless the Rangers Protection Racket is staked through the heart and completely killed off over the coming weeks and months, then the professional game in Scotland is finished.
The fans of the other SPL clubs have already made both their feelings and future intentions known should the RPR attempt to either keep the current Rangers in the SPL, or parachute any New Co into the league. The fact that Doublethink-Doncaster completely dismissed, out-of-hand, the views of the biggest financial contributors to the SPL coffers speaks volumes about his RPR agenda.
The choices are crystal clear:
Either Rangers – or whatever bastardised version of them emerges from their grave – are given full and proper punishments; effectively kicked out of Scottish football entirely and made to apply for membership to the Scottish Football League (SFL) – seeking entry to the Scottish Third Division – in exactly the same way as any other new club would have to do, or the game and the sport and the integrity of Scottish football dies.
Is Euan Norris refereeing the Milan derby?Never a penalty!There must have been two feet between them.
Juve champions…
Scottish football same as Italian football…masons rule the roost..
O.G, it’s a radio show on after each hoops game live from America. Catch it on Spreaker.com
Craig Whyte, Chairman of the year.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
cheers Andrew..
P67 doesn’t get a break on his birthday…
Did anyone see that goal?
Anybody any sense of how representative CQN is…?
What a goal from Maicon.
Can’t argue with that goal! 4 2 Inter.
Going for a quick pint – bring on L day for jeezuz sake!!!
Paddy G
Jive cheats and are now champs…
how long do we wait for the orcs to do the same?
Apologies if this has been covered before, but how much is the current SKY/ESPN deal worth each season and how is it split between the teams ?
I thought it was about £16m with Celtic and Rangers (IA) getting 25% each with the other 50% going to the remaining 10 clubs, i.e. 5% each = £800k each.
If this is correct then, without Rangers, the other 11 clubs would get 75%, i.e. almost 7% each = £1.1m each.
If SKY/ESPN decide to reduce the deal to say £10m (due to there being no Rangers (IA)), the other 11 clubs would get approx. £700k each, a decrease of £100k from the current deal.
As an act of goodwill, Celtic might reduce their % to provide a bit more for the other 11 clubs which might lead to a shortfall of say £50k/£75k compared to the current deal.
There could also be a reduced % for the promoted team which could be shared amongst the ‘gang of ten’ further, reducing the gap compared to the current deal.
Therefore, if SKY/ESPN maintain the current contract, the ‘gang of ten’ will significantly benefit and even if SKY/ESPN reduce the contract by nearly 40% to £10m, the current value of the contract to the ‘gang of ten’ should be no more than £50k/£75k less whilst maintaining sporting integrity.
I’m sure that a similar balancing of finances could be applied to the potential loss of gate receipts vs. a higher league placing (especially for the second placed team) and even the league placing prize money could be reviewed to give the ‘gang of ten’ an increased share. Celtic could even let the opposition retain their ticket sales for Celtic Park up to a certain level.
The above would also avoid the predicted backlash from supporters of all clubs, the financial consequences of which could be significant.
TVBB
I saw it. Some strike!
cheats do win then?
I do wish JV would stop shouting “WHERE’S THE CUE BALL GOING!”…….c’mon willie get him told
Cults Bhoy
I would not think that CQN was representative of mainstream Celtic support. I think it is a wee bit more middle class in orientation, in general, and probably a bit more ‘Main Stand” if you get my meaning.
I think they are all good Celtic fans but probably a smaller percentage of Buckie connoisseurs among us :-)
blantyretim on 6 May, 2012 at 21:41 said:
cheats do win then?
If they aint crushed – yes sadly they win.
summa of Sammi.
I sent you mail earlier today.