Since October last year, when I first predicted the SPL would vote to gift a Newco-Rangers into the league, some people ‘close to Celtic’ have cynically held to the view that our club would be the only ones to vote against the proposal.
Plenty has happened since then, most notably fan pressure has been brought to bear on our SPL colleagues, so much so that a majority of them have publicly declared their intention to vote against admitting Newco. This should be a forgone conclusion.
There remains some unforeseen dynamics, however. We now know that the SPL were preparing the ground to present a fait accompli for the Scottish Football League to admit Newco directly into the First Division as far back as the first week in April, long before clubs lined up to reject Newco’s entrance to the SPL.
In short, you were sold a story of clubs choosing sport over money when, in fact, they planned to choose money with an accommodation they believed they could sell to their fans.
There remains plenty of uncertainty. Media reports from yesterday’s SFL meeting indicated that Newco would receive support to be placed into the First Division, however, media reports have often missed the target on this issue. The chance that SFL clubs will reject Newco is real enough, so much so that as recently as yesterday some of well-informed cynics remained to be convinced that there would be more than one vote against putting Newco into the SPL, despite public pronouncements.
I don’t believe any of the clubs who have publicly stated their intentions to vote No honestly believed they were consigning Newco to the Third Division, but none are now able to vote against the wishes of their fans. You can understand why some have briefed journalists that today’s vote might not happen.
If you are looking for some grand plan behind this, don’t bother, there isn’t one. Our game looks like a shambles because it is a shambles. Scottish football’s 768-game season is, in fact, a grand indulgence, paid for by just four games.
This fact is now inescapable and will ultimately be brought to bear on whatever cobbled-together accommodation emerges in the next few weeks. Let’s acknowledge our domestic sport is no longer viable and start asking the proper question: what next?
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BBC Sportsound @bbcsportsound
At today’s General Meeting SPL clubs today voted overwhelmingly to reject the application from Rangers newco to join the SPL. More to follow
Alleluia
SSN spl clubs vote no to newco in spl…………….yee ha
The blog can’t possibly still be working!!!
“Rangers”? OUT
DONCASTER-OUT
Yeeeeeeessssssss!!!!!!!
To hell or Cowdenbeath!!!!!
So who is Club 12 then?
overwhelmingly ! ! now lets us know what way the clubs voted .
So Doncaster briefed the media INCORRECTLY again prior to the meeting.
He is gone
An overwhelming vote of rejection is ‘like a new signing’ -M.Hateley
Unless there was ever any doubt, the Scottish game is bust.
I appreciate the honesty and openness of the comments emanating from Clyde FC. However, a team that recorded an attendance of some 351 at a home match against Berwick Rangers in February this year cannot continue to play a significant role in Scottish football.
Football is the national sport followed by a minority. Let’s face facts, Celtic is the only show in town. Without Celtic, football is on a par with Irish football – bankrupt, and forever in awe of English domestic football.
What’s the solution? I’m afraid that there is not in fact one. The only option for Celtic is to extract the club from the domestic game before it strangles the life out of the club.
Go,and don’t come back.
Love this from twitter
James Doleman @jamesdoleman
Ian Black tells Daily Record that ever since he was a youngster Sevco 5088 was the only club he ever wanted to play for.
“overwhelming majority”
Good on ye Celtic!!!!
Green, Doncaster, Ballantyne, Ogilvie, Sally, Findlay, Traynor, Young, Dawell, Paisley, Goram. Bumder, King Billy.
King Billy can you hear me, can you hear me??
Your boys took a helluva beating.
brimmer
I reckon young McGinn will hurt us next season! a rough diamond!
Why did Doncaster try to put the meeting off!! He needs to go, let’s get it on Celtic…
Yes. Sanity at last.
No Sevoc in the SPL
Obonfanti,
Doncaster next, best bit is he no longer has a mandate to continue interfering in sfl business
“Decorating Ian Black will be like signwriting a new painter” Mark Hately
A competitive Rangers in the SPL was not sustainable – evidenced by their insolvency.
An SPL without Rangers is not sustainable – evidenced by the current hand-wringing at the SFA.
Therefore, the SPL was not and is not sustainable. However, we live in a first world country where football is the most popular sport and one of the most popular pastimes. Put the existing leagues (and clubs where necessary) in the bin and start again. There is still a great opportunity for a vibrant, successful professional game in Scotland. Any football official who cannot see that needs to step aside and make way for someone with vision.
There is no status quo to preserve, let’s look forward.
Well, that’s round 1 over! I think we might be at the beginning of the end.
corrib04 is Neil Lennon
Belter.
Bye Bye Rangers!
HH
In short, you were sold a story of clubs choosing sport over money when, in fact, they planned to choose money with an accommodation they believed they could sell to their fans.
Paul67 can you confirm that they does not include Celtic ?
Hail Hail
So not ‘unanimous’ then?
Can we guess who voted yes?
probably. It will come out.
brimmer
We should ask Sally who didn’t vote with the
“OVERWHELMING MAJORITY”
I’m sure he’ll be telling his followers.
Now for the SFL 1 compromise ?
medtim
The idea has merits but would have to be carefully framed. I don’t think we should go down the route of explicitly saying that we will provide financial assistance to clubs who vote No as that would be seen as us dictating how others vote.
What I would like to see is something similar to proposals but with an accompanying statement saying something along the lines of this:
1.) It is with great regret that Scottish Football finds itself in a period of uncertainty and turmoil due to the actions of 1 club;
2.) While it is sad that for the fans that a club has ceased to exist, we feel that rules are rules and that no new entity should be given a place in either the SPL or SFL.
3.) As a place now exists in the SFL, applications should be welcomed from any club who meet the criteria set out by the SFL/SFA.
4.) We understand that these decisions will have a knock-on effect on a number of clubs across the country and for a start we propose that we will do what we can to help clubs where we can by:
a) All gate receipts at Celtic Park generated from away teams will be given back to the away club;
b) Our development side will endeavour to play as many friendlies against any SPL/SFL side that wishes during the season and we would encourage our supporters to attend;
c) If Sky/ESPN TV deal is nullified, we will underwrite a new contract for TV rights accross all divisions. This might take a couple of years to get off the ground but in the meantime CelticTV will offer matches on a Pay-per-view basis with all funds going to the teams involved.
d) All proceeds we receive from domestic football (i.e. prize money from SPL/SFA) will be stored in a central pot and will be used to provide low interest loans to any SPL/SFL side.
5.) During this transition period we will work with all partners to come up with a feasible restructuring of the game in Scotland. There are too many professional leagues and it is our intention to have two professional leagues with 16 teams in each and a good pyramid system below so that clubs that wish to remain semi-professional/amateur receive the opportunity to continue to be an important element of scottish football.
6.) There are hard choices ahead and while this is all down to the inaction of one club, we feel it is our duty to give back to Scottish football by assisting in the transition of the game.
Mort
And the answer is …. NO!
Hahahahahahaha
HH
/Bishop B
Paul67 et al
Without direct and private access to the Bank of Scotland, Rangers, under any guise, would struggle to be viable at any point in the next few years. Not quite the same as the whole of Scottish football mind you. One of the problems now, is that, assuming the vote goes ahead this afternoon, Celtic will be forced to make a decision. Celtic will be forced to decide whether it wants to continue, as part of its’ corporate strategy, as part of Old Firm’r’ Us, or whether it puts the greater good to the fore. I take your article today to be in support of the former, but I will be happy to be proved wrong. Michael Kelly is most definitely in the Old Firm camp, judging from his comments on Radio 5 this morning, despite the fact that he helped bring Celtic to its’ knees despite being very much part of the Old Firm back in the early 1990s. What next? Partick Thistle and Clyde have both got it right, Scottish football needs restructuring, but I cannot see that happening before the start of the season, so Celtic versus Aberdeen it is for now.
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
YAHOO YA BEAUTY.
WHERE´S THE CHAMPERS.
I take it St Mirren and Ross County voted yes, maybe even Hibs too?
The end of integrity (period) in Scotia. Orangeism rules,it would seem.
The Chieftains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vffqnYUyFVQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
11-1
Doncaster must resign
Mark er um HATEley on Talk Spurt now.
Could be funny!
HH
/Bishop B
Can Jason Orange Kick a ball
Paul67 et al
Celtic versus Aberdeen it is then!
RL
Definitely 11-1???