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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still it speaks
the neil lennon greenbhoy67 says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:27
A question that to me seems important
If Ragers go bust ie liquidated, I was under the impression the players registrations go to the SFA therefore why would newco get these players registrations?
Surely this cannot happen automatically and surely the players are free agents meaning anyone could sign them Arsenal for mcgoogle for example?
Also why does everyone assume that newco could assume the points of Old company minus 10 points as this to me would indicate that they are all but the same team and therefore would HMRC not be entiletled to go for the assets of Newco?
share
If they go bust, you are correct their regs. will go to the sfa.
If newco wants said players they would have to sign them, new club new deal.
The players would indeed be free agents and could sign for whom they wished and I would imagine they would get a decent signing on fee from any club wishing to buy them.
A newco can not get oldco’s points, nor can newco be deducted any points.
As for HMRC, I doubt they know what they are doing themselfs.
Kilbowie Kelt at 19:52
I would like to be the prophet but I’m not. I think you overestimate my intelligence.
I knew you were referring to Kojo because it was not the first time you used same words against him. I remember few same your posts from the past. That was the reason I made suggestion to send these comments to Paul, not to use such hard words against the poster. The custodian of this site knows the best which comments break the rules, which stick to the rules.
You said in your post: racist, fascist, lying , hypocritical, war-mongering, Zionist mouthpiece. Zionism means a lot of things. It’s not all good and not all bad. It has many connotations depending on from which position you judge. You called Kojo fascist and after that Zionist. Zionists were also good people (Jews) who in the 20th century rebuilt Israel country. Word Zionists in Russia was always pejorative and anti-Semitic description of all Jews. In 1956 the Communistic government in Poland started big campaign against all reactionaries and called that campaign “Zionists” to Zion. Many Jews who survived from war disaster left their homeland which Poland was for ages. Red regime “cleaned” the land from Zionists. Not many Jews stayed here after. Good grief. Do you still think Fascism is as same as Zionism? That’s why I asked to care about true meanings of the words.
Okay. I better go than stay in here as CQN militiant.
TSD=Kojo
BTW Well said Kilbowie.
MWD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmyyZ7Eh3IQ
TET
If that’s the case I’d sign Laffatme and make him don the Hoopy costume for all home games!!
Paul 67
I come from Celtic family of over 90 years history. I encourage the newer members of this family to read and support CQN but I am becoming disgusted with some of the obnoxious posts on this site. Can you arrange for a firewall to be introduced in order to eliminate some of the absolutely filthy language? If this was used in mixed company (and I don’t mean the followers of the team from the south side) THERE WOULD BE OUTRAGE!!
HT
I wouldn’t degrade Hoopys costume by allowing that scum bag to were it, but I take your point :>)
taggart nobody move says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:44
‘Can you arrange for a firewall to be introduced in order to eliminate some of the absolutely filthy language’
Are you referring to the title of the thread, or have I missed something?
Quite baffled here. Pretty new to posting on the site, anyone got any other names i need to avoid not agreeing with, so not to be outed as a hun?
confused………….
TET
Alternatively we could raise some additional funds by using him in a ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ competition.
HT
Now yer talkin…
angelfc67
You’ll pick them up soon enough fella.
I can see the reply in my mind
Got me a letter from my MSP
I guess this is SNPs general response to my suggestion that it was difficult to imagine what behaviour this Bill is allegedly trying to address that could not be covered already under existing legislation. Whether the police and prosecutors have applied existing legislation rigorously enough over many years etc. I pointed out that Scotland has persistent problems with bigotry, domestic violence and unsocial drunken behaviour – this Bill addresses none of those issues, instead criminalizing people on the basis of a very subjective view of ‘offence’ – dangerous, anti-democratic and a rejection of freedom of expression. Was a bit annoyed that the lost crime data would have provided actual evidence for policy measures that Scotland needs on crime – including a better understanding of the nature, extent and targeting of violent sectarian offences. That is not just a rights issue but a value for money issue. The police have been quick to trot out data on increases in domestic violence and non-verified links to derby matches, yet a genuinely valuable source of real crime data was deliberately destroyed.
Interestingly, I also asked her to ask Ministers some specific questions about the lost crime data along the lines of the CSA suggestions – like can we get the data back. She chose instead to provide a generic reply – am I wrong to be annoyed that she didn’t actually ask the questions of ministers???
‘Thank you for your email regarding the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill, which is currently making its way through Parliament. The parliament recently debated Stage 2 of the bill and this can be viewed at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/Bills/29678.aspx#stagetwo.
This bill has been brought forward not to persecute religion or stifle free speech, but to tackle the unacceptable blight of sectarianism on Scottish society. The need for the legislation has been explained by legal experts, the police and prosecution authorities. Existing breach of the peace legislation alone is not sufficient and it is important that law enforcement agencies have the necessary tools they are requesting to take action.
I must stress that the Bill will only criminalise behaviour likely to lead to public disorder which expresses or incites hatred, is threatening or is otherwise offensive to a reasonable person. As with all crimes, police and prosecutors always act on the basis of public interest.
I know that the Scottish Government will take time to consider the Justice Committee’s report in detail, paying careful attention to its suggestions regarding the Bill and listening to proposals for amendments.
You also raise the issue of criminal data being destroyed. It is Crown Office Policy that all summary complaint files regardless of charge are kept for two years while case reports for sheriff and jury cases are kept for five years – this has been in place since 2001. However, in light concerns about this the First Minister recently affirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to publish the key statistics on the level of sectarian crime. The government will undertake a one year analysis of the data held by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to Section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003. The analysis will cover the most recent data available – 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 – and will be completed and published on the Scottish Government website in November.
I like the vast majority of the population support this much tougher action on sectarianism in Scotland – 91% of Scots back stronger action. However, I will be sure to consider and reflect upon the views you have expressed in your letter, as the Bill progresses through parliament.
Many thanks for getting in contact and for letting me know your views’
Zbyszek says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:38
‘I knew you were referring to Kojo because it was not the first time you used same words You called Kojo fascist and after that Zionist.’
1. Fascism doesn’t necesarrily involve anti Semitism, or racism of any sort.
2. There is no reason why a Zionist cannot be a fascist and vice versa.
3. It’s possible to be an anti Semitic Zionist. And of course it’s possible to be a Jewish anti Zionist.
hamiltontim says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:52
Thank you, seen and read some madness in work, but that was bonkers!
Ho hum. My team for tomorrow:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Zaluska :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Matthews :::::::: Fraser :::::::::::: Majstorovic ::::::: Ledley
::::::::::::::::: Kayal ::::::::::::::: Wanyama :::::::::::::::::
::::::: Forrest ::::::::::: McCourt :::::::::::: Samaras :::::::
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Stokes ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
I will ask again while it’s quiet.
Does anybody know if Andre Blackman is in line for a call up tomorrow ?
Napoli 2 Abu Dhabi XI 1
Yet more poor goalkeeping from Hart
England’s No1 indeed
Canamalar;
It’s swings and roundabouts surely?
Where the absent hun tax pound lowers the efficacy of the British Army (if the correlation can be viewed in this way) then it may contribute to the loss of lives of British soldiers. Conversely, it could be postulated (though quite why anyone would want to!) that the decreased efficacy of the British Army may have saved the lives of their opponents and the effected civilian population. It may even be that the hun’s tax avoidance has a net effect of saving lives; truly a shocking proposition…
I also wonder why the apparent focus on the link between tax – defence spending?
Why are you not accusing the huns of undermining the NHS, social services, rubbish collections or, sin of sins, the saving of the banks?
Frankly, the focus is unjustifiably limited and the correlations somewhat primitive.
They didn’t pay their taxes. It gave them a competitive advantage but it had a negliable impact on state spending in any area.
It’s a nice wee jibe to annoy the hun but why oh why are you pursuing it so beligerently on a Celtic blog? No offense intended comrade…
angelfc67
Nae bother……ya hun :)))
Someone just said on RTC that even if Newco FC got straight into the SPL it would have to start on zero points.
If the big tax case concludes mid-January and announces the decision a few weeks after that, taking us into February, there’s no way the Newco haddies will make the top six and could even be relegated anyway.
Laugh? I’ll even buy a newspaper again.
THE EXILED TIM says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:55
Apparently he’s not played for a year so I think the chance is slim.
Hail Hail
Ernie Lynch
We are not talking semantics here! The posts (particulary Antons) is as obvious as the nose on your face. Children read avidly read this site. We DO NOT want to attract unjustified criticism so lets clean up our act and talk football.
Is Charlie fit, is Thomas fit ?
THE EXILED TIM says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:55
Neil said on the Huddle that the Bhoy hadn’t played for a year so don’t know if he will be in the squad, Mulgrew, Loovens and Bangura all returned to training but won’t be ready for tomorrow..
SP
TET
Possibly. Lenny stated that El K played on Saturday whilst suffering from a virus.
It will probably depend how many fit defenders we have and how fit the player himself is. Personally, I’d be amazed if he started.
Vinibhoy
Cheers, wasn’t sure how fit he was, heard Lenny say he was hungry so that must be a good sign, I hope Lenny manages to calm him down, cos by all accounts he has the ability, time will tell.
WWC,i assume canamalar focuses on the armed forces because the huns take great pride parading them at the bigot dome when it suits them,during their wee rule britannia days,of course i may be wrong and am sure he will answer for himself
BStarksTH Supporting the Supporters says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:54
Your MSP wouldn’t happen to be Fiona McLeod, Strathkelvin & Bearsden would it?
Looks awfully like the reply that was sent to me.
Any Australia based Tims on?
THE EXILED TIM says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:59
Don’t know about them, the lassie dealin’ the cards at the bottom of the page is though! :-)
THE EXILED TIM says:
22 November, 2011 at 21:02
As you say it sounds like he is a great player, just needs taming.
I suppose if anyone can control him it will be Lenny.
Great bit of business if it works.
Celtic_First says:
22 November, 2011 at 20:59
Laugh? I’ll even buy a newspaper again.
I’ll read the restaurant review then.
SP
Gracious, it takes for ever with limited band width so it’s much quicker asking o here.
HT
After hearing he hasn’t played in a year I would also be amazed.
Starry
I’m sure the news said that Mulgrew and Loovens would both be available for tomorrow.
BStarksTH…,
“It is Crown Office Policy that all summary complaint files regardless of charge are kept for two years while case reports for sheriff and jury cases are kept for five years”
dont see where it tells you that the files are then destroyed ???
do the same authorities consider it normal practices to destroy files, relevant to ongoing surveys and request for access ?