Congratulations to SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, who delivered a remarkable increase in the league’s TV deal with Sky and ESPN; £80m for five years until 2017. The one concession he had to trade, was the possibility that he had to subjugate the link between sporting meritocracy and the commercial imperative.
When news of the deal broke yesterday a Rangers fan was quick to suggest that Sky and ESPN would not have bid on such terms if they had any doubt Rangers would survive in the league, however, later details emerged to prove the exact opposite. The entire deal is dependent on a clause assuring Celtic play Rangers four times each season. If Rangers were eliminated from the league, or even if they failed to earn enough points after an administration penalty to finish in the top six after 33 games, the TV deal becomes invalid.
While this clause was crucial in Doncaster getting his deal it does nothing for the sporting integrity of the competition. It has been five years since Rangers finished outside the top two in the league but if they go into administration, or worse, a fire sale of assets and a point deduction is likely.
The league has now introduced a contractual ceiling on whatever penalty would be applied to a financially deviant club, irrespective of the offense. Doncaster will now also set off to find a sponsor to replace Clydesdale Bank, promising the TV exposure his deal with Sky and ESPN provides. By extension, not only will TV income be dependent on four Celtic-Rangers games per season, so too will league sponsorship income.
Can you imagine the goings-on if Rangers enter next season in administration, with a 10-point deduction and a skeleton squad? Beating Rangers, making it less likely for them to reach the top six, could cost each team in the league millions. Clubs have a clear incentive to ensure Rangers are in no danger of finishing outside the top six.
Neil Doncaster, who is likely to be financially incentivised to deliver TV money, is a member of the SPL board who would decide whether or not to admit a prepack company into the league in the event of an existing club failure. His partiality would be compromised by this deal, so too would other board members from clubs without the liquidity to cope without TV or sponsor income.
While TV broadcasters have a clear financial incentive to lobby for whatever it takes to keep Rangers buoyant, the financial incentives will touch everyone with their snout in the trough, and that includes non-TV media and referees.
This is a dreadful deal as it inserts a clause which compromises the sporting integrity of the competition. Can you imagine giving the team talk to a club, safe from relegation, about to face a Rangers team needing a win on game 33? What about the referee who makes a mistake in Rangers favour, late in the season, under similar circumstances? How would Sky, ESPN and others frame the debate in the event of Rangers going into administration?
I can understand why Sky and ESPN want clause, but the rest of us might as well chuck it.
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The Pantaloon Duck – Philvis – how are you coping with your recent podium failures?
I’ve gone off the rails, Charlie Sheen in Easterhouse style.
However I am dyslexic so have spent all my money on hocaine and cookers. (thumbsup)
playfusbal4dguilders – St. Ambrose, was that not the school Roland and Zammo went to? (thumbsup)
Kojo says:
22 November, 2011 at 14:23
Do we need “them” enough to let them off scot free for years of cheating?
I think working up from Division 3 would be fair enough.
Lets be honest our bitter rivals would probably be back in the SPL with in 3 to 4 years and the rivalry could be picked up then.
The board needs to make sure they are punished or it could be the end of Celtic, not them.
Margaret McGill says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:20
The existing SKY contract. If Rangers go down the toilet neither SKY nor the SPL will be able to save them (unless 1 of the two buys the club I suppose).
I state again that this contract clause (which we have not seen the wording of) can only be related to guaranteeing that SKY will show all Glasgow derbies and that the figures presented are dependent on their being 4 of those per season. The seasonal payments could not be declared completely null and void if it came to pass halfway through the season that either Celtic or Rangers was destined to finish outside the top six. At worst there would need to be an interim negotiation covering the games after the split with a pro-rata payment made for the pre-split season based in the contract at the start of the season.
If Rangers have to be relaunched as NewCo it’s going to take a whole lot more re-writing of the rules than just this tv contract.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
22 November, 2011 at 13:54
“If our identity is to be shifted from being Celtic fans believing in fairness and justice for all to that of living our lives as the perpetual pantomime victim and paying heavily through the nose for that abuse then the Scottish game for me is a bogey.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
This is spot on and our identity made us dig deep when our totem of fairness and decency, Celtic were in trouble. We found the money because it was a just cause.
The Masonic mindset that is the Rangers’ fan don’t think like this. Their ideal result is when they win by cheating with a compliant referee against a better team that deserved to win.
I wouldn’t cross the road to see Celtic if I thought they had lowered their standards to fall in line with Rangers. In fact I would want my share price back. Sold under false pretences.
Celtic are dead if they go along with this. They will end up with a following the size of Hibs.
U don’t like to talk as if the huns are staying in the rigged spl as that’s the chatter they want,acceptance,however,what happens if they are here with us and say they won the league as a newco whilst being banned in Europe,what happens then?
philvisreturns says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:27
An understandable reaction. But don’t go putting your head in any of the cookers. Leastways, not the gas ones.
On a football matter. Why are we trying to sign a right back when we already have 3 in the first team squad?
‘GG says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:23
And series 2. And 4. And 5. Not so much 3.
Don’t know if this hypothetical has been trailed but what about if Hearts go burst first?
Would they be relegated? Then Dunfermline who have closed a stand, what if they go as well? And St Mirren who can’t raise cash for a buy out?
Are all clubs simply to take a 10 point hit and told not to do it again….. till the next time.
This agreement with Sky not only ensures that Rangers stay in the Premier League but in the top six.
Judging by how much I am looking forward to going to tomorrow`s game, I am thinking there will be a decent crowd. Not only `decent` in number but in support, also, as I believe the Green Brigade will be in particularly good voice and the rest of us in showing that we are behind them, will add to the atmosphere. A win tomorrow and Saturday will be an even bigger crowd and even better atmospere. A dropping of points would, of course, have a negative impact on Saturday but if we all really get behind our team, that should not happen. I can see a dour Dunfermline holding out for quite some time before we score but I can also see us running up five or six.
Let`s keep supporting and winning until the Huns situation is known. Interesting talking about it just now but fruitless. The time to talk about what we should do is when it(Tax decision) happens. Many of us have already said that we would not renew if the treatment of Rangers is not in accordance with the Rules so there is no meaningful reason for repeating what we have said until the event happens. I am sure the Board are aware of fans` sentiments.
JJ
Kayal33 says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:32
Cos he can fill in at CH and buying a specialist CH would be far too obvious.
philvisreturns
jocky bhoy says:
22 November, 2011 at 14:03
No he should say “in all likelihood it will happen, based on past history, but we can’t guarantee that under the current league split system. THe only way we can guarantee it is to put to a vote of the members that we reduce to 10 team league, each playing every other team home and away”, if it’s passed we can definitely guarantee 4 Glasgow Deries. Otherwise we can’t guarantee it – it’s probably, but not guaranteed”.
The guarantee is that Sky/ESPN will pay the money IF there are four Glasgow derby’s, there is NO guarantee that there will be four derby’s.
MJM
KAYAL33
CHEAP/FREE…POTENTIAL SALE VALUE
all seem to be significantly important in our transfer dealings ……in fact more important than …are they needed , will they improve the first team
Big Nan says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:34
How does it ensure that? I’m being serious. How does the tv deal ensure that?
The Pantaloon Duck says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:35
given our recent record of signing ‘specialist’ centre halfs thing, our most consistent centre half is a converted left back
Kojo
Celtic raison d’etre, the koly trinity if you like.
Win the league, have a run in Europe and beat Rangers frequently.Do that and you become a god (MON),
31003’s right leg
Jungle1967,
Get Breaking bad at all costs, absolutely sensational show. If you are in any doubt James Forrest will convince you! I got it on his recommendation and I have nearly got to the end if season 4. Mindblowing tv.
Sffs
Jungle Jim, Mr Z et al, the GB will be brill tomorrow but will they be this good?
Legia Warsaw – a special support
Vinny
Because to play 4 Old Firm games in a season the two teams would have to be in the top 6. If Rangers were given a 25 point penalty they wouldn’t stay in the top 6 after the split to play us 4 times. IMHO of course.
Two Top Cat’s
notthebus says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:40
Alternatively
Win the league, have a run in Europe and beat Rangers frequently.Do that and you do not become a god (WGS),
No doubt there is some clause in the contract which allows Sky/ESPN to dip out or renegotiate the contract if one of the big two clubs fall outside the top 6 or get even get relegated. That is not the problem. The worry is that the other teams (or even referees) might see when that is about to happen and take steps (i.e. cheat) to ensure it doesn’t in order to safeguard their livelihood.
This is assuming a newco is allowed to compete in the SPL in the first place – yet another major concern.
It’s nothing that we’ve not already known that in the eyes of the outside world Scottish football is Celtic and Rangers and until the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs etc find some financial miracle worker that’s the way it’s going to be until doomsday.
The Glasgow teams have done quite well in the recent decade playing in two European finals and reaching the later stages of the Champions League. Celtic are not doing so bad in Europe this season either with some good results against top notch teams. It’s not all doom and gloom.
Okay the provincial teams will always rough us around a bit, but a lot of these games can be very exciting as indeed the match against Caley was last Saturday. Yes, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Anyone know if the Gers will be docked ten points in the near future?
Spearman at 13:29
Sorry was out.
All figures come from here:
http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weekly-top-programmes?_s=4
You can select the channel and the week in question. I manually added all the available figures from ESPN and Sky into a spreadsheet to work out the averages.
Mort
Kayal33 says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:40
… and our second best is a converted defensive midfielder. Hmm. I think we have answered your question :-)
Long time no post! New job, house move makes for lurking only! Just wondering if any guys on here are thinking about travelling up for the game against Peterhead? I will be working in that neck of the woods the week of the game and wondered if anyone fancied a pint?
Saint Stivs says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:23
The George Largs,Inverclyde sports center home of the Largs mafia…
Largs CSC
Ayrshire referees very popular in the port !
Rangers have spent the tax mans money (our money) to cheat their way to several championships.
They should be punished for this by having to suffer the opposite situation for their profligacy.
They should be impoverished and struggling to be in the Premier League at all never mind at the top. They should be repaying the tax man and living on the budget of Hibs or Killmarnock.
Administration with built in cushions such as the Sky deal allows is a guarantee to them that they will be able to remain profligate because the jobs of the referees, the SFA and the SPL depend not only on their existence but on their success.
dirtymac at 13:35
Those average viewing figures for Celtic (and Rangers) games only include games not against Rangers. The average including Rangers games would be skewed by the very large numbers of viewers.
Mort
SevenFishes
Aye JF got me interested in it too. On part 3 of third series. You just never know what is going to happen next.
Kojo, Spearman
Back from a status report meeting so I’m just catching up.
There is a big difference between what you are saying and what I am saying.
If the Huns go out of business and come back as a newco then they should go to Div 3 and take the unwashed hordes with them, whether you, I or the SPL want otherwise shouldn’t even come into it. That should be the outcome, and I’m also guessing that the unwashed hordes will follow them to DIV 3 and as they climb back up they will remain.
If we protect poor little Rangers and help them not only to remain in the SPL but also by doing so tacitly approve of their years of tax evasion and subsequent cheating then Celtic are going to lose a sizable chunk of supporters to God knows where. The game will finally be up for a lot of people as I and by the sounds of things a lot of others on here simply won’t support a club who will agree to carry on in a bent league.
It’s as simple as that, yes Kojo I agree they will hang around for ever like a colesore which won’t go away. It may be in a new form it may be at Hampden park but the hun will always be with us however they have to start at the bottom and work their way up just like Gretna, ICT etc.
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Donegal Granite..
Pal. Ah kin see that ye get the Idea..
And it is this…
Human Beans.. Need.. Uncertainty.. Afore they kin fully enjoy.. a
Victory….
Gie Ye a Fine Example..
Ma Pal.. Lou.. Wrote a Screenplay that wiz Accepted by.. Alfred Hitchcock.
Fur wan of His… Mini Plays… Years Ago..
and
The Gist of the Storyline..wiz ..As Follows:
A Two Bit.. Crook.. wiz Shot and Went Tae The Hereafter..
He finds himsel in a Well Lit and well appointed Room
He is Greeted by a Most Distinguished English Butler. Type..complete with a Neat and well cared fur.. Van Dyke…(Sabastian Cabot)
The Butler..greets him warmly and Repectfully.. and Ashshim.. the Crook that is.. What is his Wish..
“Ye Mean Ah kn hiv.. anything that Ah want?”
“EVERYTHING, that Ye wish”
“Well. How aboot. Same.. Booze..and Dames.. and .. well that wull dae
fur a Start..and By the Way.. the Dames must be the.. well..the
Accomodating Kind… If . Ye know Whit Ah Mean?”
Certainly, I know Exactly what you mean..and I can assure You. you will be pleased, when you meet the Girls”
Anyway.. to get tae the Nub of this Tale..
The Gangester fur the Next Few Nights.. has a Wonderful TIme
The Girls are. Most.. “Accomodating”… and the Liquor flows like.. well.. Liquor.. and the Gambling table is Most Generous..
Fur..
The Crook, simply..
Canny LOSE!
Every time he Throws the Dice.. He WIns.. every hand a Poker.. He wins..and the Pot is Enormous!
After a week of this…,
The Butler appears and asks the Gangster..
“Is everythintg Satisfactory?”:
And the Gangster ,surprisingly says ..sorta ruefully..
“Sure, Pal. everything is Wonderful.. but…
Ah am no as Pleased as Ah Thought Ah wid Be…
fur the Dames are . TOO ACCOMODATING.. and heck.. wid it no be a wee change if.. Ah didnae WIN EVERY Time at the Cards and the Dice?
and the Liquor wid noo and Again.. No be tae Ma taste?”
And the Butler said..
” I am afraid… what you are Asking would be quite ..
IMPOSSIBLE..Not. Here.. For…in this Place…
One ALWAYS.. Finds that the Girls are Most co operative..and at the Gambling Tables the Player always WINS..and the Liquor is always Free on Tap.”
When the Gambler hears this. he
grows Angry and Protests..
“What ‘s Going Oan..?
Ah thought that Here in Heaven.. Every Guy or Gal Wiz Happy..and
never hid a Complaint tae make?”
And that the Butler..
his whole appearance changing..
Ominously THUNDERED..
“HEAVEN?
This is NOT HEAVEN.. THIS IS HELL!
Yep.. like Ah said,pal..
YOU Have the Right Idea… aweright..
Kojo
yer pal who likes ye aloater.
Mort
re the viewing figures
the figures are quite interesting
it is clear that our games are much more popular than Hunfc …
leading to the conclusion that if we left the SPL then even if Hunfc were left in place the single largest audience will have been lost
our popularity must make up a large part of the bargaining position ………..to think they appreciate us so little too
Auldheid, I’m on 10 of season 4. Can’t wait to see last 3 episodes. Totally gripping and addictive tv. The seasons believe it or not just get better and better. What I am watching now is the best tv I have ever seen.
SFFS
Sopranos box set is £50 in Morrisons.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! says:
22 November, 2011 at 15:12
Why abandon ship when we are still afloat?
There really is no issue until/when the huns go under.
Then we’ll see!
———–
I’d suggest it is a far better option that we let our PLC know our position way before the possibility of Hun FC being afforded a Newco position straight back into the SPL. Administration is wholly different although that will also be games a bogey to an extent as neithe Hun FC the original nor us for that matter would be allowed to fall below 6th position in the league due to TV demands.
However unlikely a scenario it is hardly a fair league. Not that it’s fair at the moment but to admit this to be the case!!!
MWD