We thought it would be good to show the audience we have had over the last few months, and to say thanks to all those who have helped to make this a thriving community in the short time we have been on the go.
A Happy New year to all from everyone at TSFM.
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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
About 55,000 tourists visit Liechtenstein every year. This blog was viewed about 3,500,000 times in 2012. If it were Liechtenstein, it would take about 64 years for that many people to see it. Your blog had more visits than a small country in Europe!
Ecobhoy says
I think you’re right, and I seem to remember stuff on RTC that raised the same issues.
It raises a few issues that the SFA and MSM seem to have ignored in the rush to have a rangers back into the league – when did players’ registrations move between which “companies”?, if there were technically two TUPE instances, were all rules followed? were they completed fully before games took place? ( I’ve questioned several times whether it could have been done on a friday evening in time for the first Brechin cup game), did Sevco provide assurances / evidence that they were acting in accordance with the rules during all this? Did the SFA do their compliance checks?
The SFA rushed to have the infamous 5 way agreement in place (which astonishingly involved lawyers who should have picked up on all of the points us bampots are raising), can we really believe it was all done according to company law and football articles of association?
Chuck is clearly trying to have his cake and eat it, his grab for non tupe’d players’ compensation cash will hopefully leave him logically and legally liable for LNS and / or BDO / HMRC to look closely at current developments.
Mind you, Chuck is used to having his cake and eating it…he seemed to have been representing RFC / D&P / Sevco 5088 / Sevco Scotland all at the same time, negotiating with himself to remove potential income from the RFC creditors to help fund the newco. What a guy.
Memo to BDO / HMRC / LNS tribunal…the internet bampots are also watching you too. Please ensure some scraps of justice can be put in place here.
Is this the same longmuir who held shares in rangers ( can we find out about the new club shares).
Is it the same longmuir who stated that the SFL had no desire to remove league cups from rangers.
Is it the same longmuir who believes a club can shed debt to tax authorities, ambulance services, face painters and fellow member clubs as well as re-asign charity funds into an insolvent company and simply carry on as the same club despite liquidation.
Is it the same longmuir who works in tandem with ballantyne, and has stalked the Hampden corridors of power for years as our game flatlines.
Is it the same longmuir who is the number one choice of rangersmedia to head up the amalgamated governing bodies, and is openly referred as being a member of a secret organisation with historic links to rangers.
The governing bodies have been so utterly inept in dealing with the rangers fiasco or any other issue affecting Scottish football, that they can have no complaint when we say they have completely destroyed any trust we may have had in their ability to govern fairly, honestly and in sporting principle.
Stop trying to hoodwink the fans into accepting yet another establishment brother who must show favouritism to another brother before any other consideration.
Anyone ( and that means everyone ) who feels able to work under the totally conflicted scunner campbell ( that is superb ) and does not recognise the damage the distrust of this man is doing to our game, has no place in any future decision making.
Clear out the SFA from top to bottom, then we can talk reconstruction.
Liquidation
Liquidation is nothing at all
I have only slipped away into the next league
I am I, and you are you
What ever we were in the past
That, we are no more
Call me by my old familiar name if you wish
Speak to me in the easy way you always used
Put no difference into your tone
But know that I am gone
Wear no embarrassing air of apology or sorrow
Jeer as we always jeered
At the little folks we lorded over
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be ever the big-household name it always was
Let it be spoken without effort
Without the ghost of remorse in it
Life means all that it ever meant
It is the same as it ever was
Save for broken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident?
Why should I be out of mind
Just because I am no more?
I am waiting for you
Somewhere very near
Just around the bend, infact
All is well
Nothing is past; Nothing is lost, save trinkets and dignity
A few brief seasons and all will be as it was before
How we shall laugh at the trouble we caused
When we meet again.
Canon Henry Scott Holland.
There, fixed that for him.
(Have to say I do like the phrase ‘broken continuity.’ Would that be a happy medium?)
In the interests of “fairness”, despite The Rangers benefiting from what could be best described as “rather a lot” of sendings off of players in opposing teams so far this season, I presume we have analysed each incident and concluded that it is indeed an “honest mistake” by a ref who has no business refereeing a game in Division 3, and who is only giving these honest mistakes in order to help the Rangers achieve promotion?
I mean I’m sure they all are. But it would be a shame to just assume that 10 men playing against The Rangers each week was in some way some kind of plan.
Tommy
Fair play to you for taking the time to email the Herald and getting a response, but its too late to redress the character assasination that was passed for publishment by the editor. Who knows if a member of Mr Adams family read this article, the fact is was published in the first place leaves no room for atonement.
Tommy says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 00:32
‘.. Although his e-mail is confidential, he has informed me that the newspaper intends to publish an appreciation of Mr Adam..’
—
Well done, Tommy.
Makes one wonder, though, whether guys who work for the same paper ever talk to each other!
doontheslope says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 01:07
‘..Liquidation.’
—
Clever adaptation. Enjoyed it, and off to bed with a smile.
David Longmuir the guy who will let Rangers keep the league cups if found guilty of cheating is being backed by Chick Young the man who would hide drugs and guns if the police came calling.
@THE_TBK: http://t.co/XV3VfqS
#ouch
Mr Longmuir, the man who was party to the disgraceful and notorious 5 way agreement
The man who unashamedly joined Regan and Doncaster in attempting to browbeat and blackmail his own member clubs into placing Sevco in Division 1
The man, who as has been pointed out already, does not advocate any removal of trophies if RFC(IL) are found guilty by the LNS enquiry
The man who quite happily proclaims there is no new RFC, despite all of the evidence to the contrary
God help us all, if this man is being touted as the person to lead our game forward, because he has already shown that he is as big a cheerleader for Sevco as Regan, Doncaster and the MSM
He, along with all of the others, must have no place in our game as it attempts to move forward
Tommy says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 00:32
41 2 Rate This
Re; Hugh Adam’s obituary in Saturday’s Herald.
I wrote to the Editor expressing my disgust at the ‘tribute’ it published. I have just received a reply from the assistant editor. Although his e-mail is confidential, he has informed me that the newspaper intends to publish an appreciation of Mr Adam.
I sincerely hope that this will redress the disgusting character assassination that the editor sanctioned in Saturday’s article.
———-
Bravo from me too Tommy. Whatever that piece was, it wasn’t an obituary.
Taysider says:
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 22:14
One thing that is clear is that TRFC will require two further promotions to reach the top flight if this set up is introduced next season, no different to the present situation, albeit promotion from second to first tier will be easier after this change.
==========
2 clubs from SFL2 will join SPL2 at the start of next season if this crackpot reorganisation goes ahead. At that point, TRFC will be in SFL2. The league table of SFL2 at that point will show 10 clubs with no games played, so all equal. How do you think the “authorities” will choose 2 from those 10? Do you think for a minute that they won’t find a way to ensure that TRFC gets one of those SPL2 spots? After all, that is what this reorganisation is really about. Just wait and see.
As for Longmuir, this man is on record as saying that “Rangers” will not have any trophies taken away by the SFL even if it is established that ineligible players were fielded during the course of the competitions. That alone tells me that Longmuir is unfit for the office he currently holds, never mind being promoted to some “supremo” role, as touted by the establishment club’s mouthpieces in the MSM. Longmuir has demonstrated conclusively that he is totally lacking in moral compass, and that he serves the interests of one club only. He should be booted out immediately, along with the rest of the gang who failed Scottish football in such spectacular fashion last summer.
Scottish football needs reconstruction, but the first element of that reconstruction must be the ruling bodies themselves. Get rid of the conflicted, the incompetent and the plain dishonest. Replace them with people we can trust and respect. Then, and only then, reconstruct the leagues.
wulliemiller says:
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 23:24
29 2 Rate This
i take it nobody is up for trying to take the game away from longmuir, regan, doncaster and ogilvie and actually taking the baw back before we all get shafted for the last time and our game finally dies?
danish pastry seems the only one who sees the merits in the dog (fans) wagging the tail (our game).
these guys are in it for a wage not for the love of the game, whatever happens these clowns will be fine, cant say the same for the clubs though.
———
Nice of you to say so Wullie but I’m certainly not the only one. There is the sense though that the TRFC issue is far from over, so I’m not sure reconstruction will become the main topic on this blog for the foreseeable future, except where it intersects the TRFC story. There are other blogs and fan forums dealing with it though. If the calls to Sportsound Extra, comments on P&B, and various other editorials are representative, there is huge dissatisfaction among fans, and it is going to felt by the governing bodies, especially if Longmuir raises the white flag on this issue. Even though he gets pelters on here for being ‘pro-TRFC’, he’s probably been the best of the bunch on reconstruction, up until now at least.
ordinaryfan says:
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 20:48
Probably nothing, but a company called Sevco linked to one called Rangers For Change might be worth looking into.
——
Ordinary – I think “Sevco” is generally recognised as a temporary name used by folks starting up a new company with the intention of changing its name in the short-medium term, or registering a temporary company for “business purposes”.
Hence the number (5088 in TRFC’s case) which often follows it.
Regarding Longmuir and the ‘stripping of titles’, firstly, does/did he have the authority to make such an assertion? If so, it is among the dumbest statements made by an administrator throughout this whole debacle (and that is up against some stiff competition)and places in question the credibility of Longmuir and the SFL. If my understanding is correct he unequivocally stated that regardless of the findings of any of the various inquiries, that the SFL have no intention of taking disciplinary action, inline with FIFA, UEFA, SFA and SPL and legal precedent. So what message does this send to this years, or any other years competitors? Hang the rules! Never mind about ‘irrelevant details’ like player registration, just play anyone you like and pay them any way you like, the SFL don’t care! Even if you win the SFL flagship trophy (5 times) by fielding players every other administrative body would deem ineligible, the SFL have a casual approach to such matters and the offenders may keep the baubles, after all retrospective punishment (is there another kind?) is an ugly business, lets move ‘forward’ and forget all the unpleasantness and vindictive jealousy associated with applying the rules………unless of course you are not from Govan!
http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/sfl-rule-out-stripping-rangers-of-league-cups-won-during-ebt-era.18210068?_=3e69ce004305587332a4fe77606136baec1c19da
nowoldandgrumpy says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 03:42
@THE_TBK:
http://t.co/XV3VfqS
…Administrators were called in February 2012 and various parties
– including HMRC, private equity firm Merchant Turnaround and Jerome Pension Fund trustees
– lobbied to reclaim their stakes in Rangers…
—————————————————————————————
“merchant” [seeking to be secured creditors?]
one of craigy boy’s ‘vehicles’ has the name “merchant” does it not ?
discussion related to the subject of TUPE
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/category/tupe/
and another one
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-brechin-ultimatum-did-sfa-botch-rangers-fcs-membership-are-any-rfc-players-registered/
mr cosgrove. if you are looking in today, can you ask “your friend from perth” mr longmuir, some of the questions raised by these articles.
cheers.
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/category/tupe/
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/the-brechin-ultimatum-did-sfa-botch-rangers-fcs-membership-are-any-rfc-players-registered/
If you need any more proof of this guys love for one club.
Numbers don’t add up but Longmuir has the answers
Michael Grant
Chief football writer
DAVID Longmuir has a folder of print-outs.
David Longmuir is very much a man in demand as plans for a restructured Scottish game take shape
Scottish football is all in there: league reconstruction, the alternatives, the money, the distribution, how the League Cup could be remodelled on the format used by the Champions League, plenty more besides. He has all the information but not all the answers, because nobody has those. When he gathers tomorrow with the rest of a working party on reconstruction, the chief executive of the Scottish Football League will continue to tread carefully. “If you put all 42 club chairmen in a room right now it would be like herding butterflies,” he says. “They would be all over the place.”
Gradually they are beginning to flutter towards the same point, though. Tomorrow’s meeting will be the working party’s third in a month, a dizzying level of activity given that Scottish football tends to move towards change at a pace best described as glacial. The frequency of the meetings is a clue as to how well the talks are going, according to Longmuir. If he is right, Scottish football is on course to adopt a 12-12-18 league format and other fundamental changes. And if enough of the clubs agree they could be in place before the start of next season.
Some supporters may be puzzled by all of this. How can Longmuir embrace a structure proposed by the Scottish Premier League when his own clubs in the SFL unanimously backed an entirely different one in November, namely three divisions of 16-10-16? The answer centres on Longmuir’s pragmatism.
A top flight of 16 – despite persuasive evidence of its popularity among supporters – is considered undeliverable. Top-flight chairmen will not tolerate a league campaign of only 30 games and broadcasters remain unshakably committed to a format in which the leading clubs (ie Celtic and Rangers, when the latter eventually recover) play each other four times a season. Unless the major clubs and broadcasters completely transform their attitudes to the maximisation of revenue, a league of 16 or more clubs is impossible in Scotland.
Since the working party was set up under the auspices of the SFA’s Professional Game Board, delicate negotiations have taken place and understandings reached. Longmuir has been persuaded that his clubs can be protected, even strengthened, without necessarily getting the structure for which they voted in November. If the SPL and SFL merge into a single governing league body for all 42 clubs, it would be far easier to deliver a more equitable distribution of central income. Longmuir’s folder has the potential breakdown of that and, crucially, there would be a far, far softer financial landing for any club relegated from the top flight to the second tier. With that, play-offs and a pyramid structure, Longmuir’s feeling is that his 30 clubs may be convinced to accept 12-12-18 because they will have had enough victories on the other issues they want.
“We would struggle to get a 16-team top league because of the lack of games but it could be possible to sell the other idea,” he says. “That’s the crux of the matter. The four elements of play-offs, redistribution, one league body, and better governance are far more important to me in terms of growing the game. The size of the league and the numbers game is hugely important to fans but for me it’s not the fundamental issue. You can tweak your league structure as you move through but to get these other issues resolved would be a massive win for the game. We haven’t had that for 14 years [since the SPL was formed] so don’t discount the importance of that side of things. That’s far more important than the size of the leagues.
“We had a single governing body for the leagues for 120 years until 1998 and we weren’t that bad. In fact, that was the last year Scotland qualified for anything [the France ’98 World Cup]. For the last 14 years we’ve been too busy trying to cut this cake thinly and protect the interests of the few without realising that the game needs to thrive, not just for the few. It’s not all about the small clubs wanting a bigger slice of the cake, it’s about trying to get the basics right so that you grow the cake. We have agreed on that. All we’re doing at the moment is working hard on the detail.”
The detail isn’t exactly easy to swallow, of course. The 12-12-18 comes with an ugly split in which the top two divisions of 12 mutate into three mini-leagues of eight after 22 games. The top eight would then play for the title and European places, the middle eight would play to decide whether they started the next season among the leading 12 clubs, and the bottom eight would play to avoid relegation to the following season’s third tier of 18. Frankly, it’s messy.
“The major weakness in a top league of 16 is the lack of games,” says Longmuir. “And the two 12s into three eights has a major weakness in that it is convoluted and complicated for fans to engage with. There is no perfect solution. The biggest issue will be getting fans to engage with it. A league of 16 is easy to engage with, it’s a straightforward and simple formula, 15 games at home and 15 away. We would struggle to get a 16-team top league because of the lack of games but it could be possible to sell the other idea.
“What we have at the moment is 12 SPL clubs who are all agreed for the first time in years. So is this a window of opportunity that we need to take advantage of to get all the other bits in place?”
If the working party takes that view – and more clubs are being added to it all the time in an attempt to slowly build an overall consensus – a new structure could be in place even in time for next season.
Whereas the SFA and SPL chief executives, Stewart Regan and Neil Doncaster, were bruised by their handling of Rangers’ collapse, Longmuir was perceived to have come through unscathed. Rangers have not been involved in the working party so far but their SFL status has empowered him in dealings with the other bodies. The SFL has been the main beneficiary of the Rangers scandal. Broadcasting rights to their lower-league games were sold off for £3m and their attendances have provided a windfall for the Irn-Bru Third Division.
“Towns and communities have made it an event when Rangers come,” Longmuir says. “They know that Rangers fans will travel in big numbers, and bring colour and vibrancy to the games. The other thing is that they have all been very well behaved. I am very much in close contact with the police because this is a new dynamic: big crowds coming to small communities but the police authorities have been very, very positive about the experience. There has been a swamping of towns by Rangers supporters but it has been a positive thing. The communities have benefited, hostelries have benefited, and I’ve been amazed by the amount of hospitality the small clubs have been able to sell.
“Behind the scenes the Rangers officials and board have been handling themselves with professional dignity and been very complimentary to the other clubs. They have treated them as equals, they haven’t come in with any ‘big-time Charlie’ attitude. They want to come through the league, make friends, and get to where they want to be having nothing but positive support from the clubs they’ve played against.”
Re Michael Grant’s Longmuir article kindly posted by nowoldandgrumpy, Longmuir’s fawning over the Ibrox support is lamentable, while his sugaring of the Rangers officials and board “handling themselves with professional dignity ” is rather at odds with the stuff I’ve witnessed coming out of Charlie Green’s mouth.
No matter, a more major concern to me as a fan is the argument put forward against a 16 team league, viz, only 30 games would emanate from such a structure.
That same angle would then suggest 12 teams might only produce 22 fixtures. Surely if a split of some sort is taking place for 12 teams presently, and would also take place in a more complex manner for 12 in a future structure, then a split of sorts could be organised after the 30 fixtures in a 16 team top league set up?
That is not to say I’m convinced by the 16 team advocates. But I am certain that, after a 30 plus year season ticket association with my club, watching 22 matches (11 at home) where the results are wiped out and the competition starts again from scratch around March, will mean there is little point in purchasing a season ticket for such events.
Can I offer the following people as potential administrators of the Scottish game.
Robin Cousins, Ashley Roberts, Karen Barber and Jason Gardiner.
Who? some of you may be asking.
Well they are the judging panel of ITV’s Dancing on Ice where ‘celebrities’ are partnered with professional skaters to do a turn in a weekly knock out entertainment show.
In all the hype and adverts for this years show were focussed on the celebrity big hitter from over the pond, the silicon enhanced Pamela Anderson.
No doubt the producers forked out a healthy sum to get her on board. Being Pam is Canadian they perhaps hoped she had skating in her genes and as she had managed a good few weeks in the US show Dancing with the Stars there was a chance she would have the talent to keep Dad’s and lad’s alike glued to the screens and the associated adverts for a good few weeks.
However as it turns out despite of, or perhaps due to, all the fakery and giving the impression of being something that you are not, Pam found herself by virtue of the public vote in the ‘Skate Off’ with the loveable/irritating (take your pick) Keith ‘Cheggers’ Chegwin.
Now both hardly set the ice alight a la Torvill and Dean in the Skate Off. Given the cash, the kudos and possible pressure to keep the big named star in the show as long as possible, you could have understood how Cheggers might have been given the boot and it wouldn’t have caused too much of a storm.
However, to a man, each of the four judges rightly gave Pam the boot for being the duffer and regardless of size, she was allowed to fail.
If a show with so many sequins and bum flashing costumes (and thats just the guys) can have integrity then it was well and truly upheld by the judges doing the right thing and applying the rules without fear or favour.
🙂
wottpi says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:04
I gave you a thumbs up mate, partially out of sympathy as you watch celebrity anything 😉
bawsman says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:14
It’s all down to my Daughter, honest. 🙂
wottpi
You can fool some of the people some of the time etc ,I dont believe for one minute she was in this for any longer than 1 show ,this was the attraction to get the numbers up and with a big pay check ,I wonder what the difference in kudo’s was between pay checks ,was Charlie Boy involved in this .
At which stage in the new leagues would a club be permitted to play a joker for double points?
jimlarkin says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 10:20
…Administrators were called in February 2012 and various parties
– including HMRC, private equity firm Merchant Turnaround and Jerome Pension Fund trustees
– lobbied to reclaim their stakes in Rangers…
—————————————————————————————
“merchant” [seeking to be secured creditors?]
one of craigy boy’s ‘vehicles’ has the name “merchant” does it not ?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
jimlarkin says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 10:20
2
1
Rate This
nowoldandgrumpy says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 03:42
@THE_TBK:
http://t.co/XV3VfqS
…Administrators were called in February 2012 and various parties
– including HMRC, private equity firm Merchant Turnaround and Jerome Pension Fund trustees
– lobbied to reclaim their stakes in Rangers…
—————————————————————————————
“merchant” [seeking to be secured creditors?]
one of craigy boy’s ‘vehicles’ has the name “merchant” does it not ?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Whyte was indeed Secretary of Merchant Turnaround. Here is a reminder of the web of companies.
http://scotslawthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/cw-corporate-structure.pdf
yourhavingalaugh says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:26
even if that was categorically proved to be 110% true, cheggers won that skate off out on the ice and theres no way he’s handing back his sequinned onesie.
obsessed cheggers haters pushing their anti-cheggers agenda.
cheggers will now annihilate the rest of the competitors.
but in a friendly way.
I think this post got stuck in moderation before. Would folk mind looking at my idea for league reconstruction and giving their opinion? Ta.
http://oi45.tinypic.com/10xzuxz.jpg
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scot…bombshell.html
Regarding this proposed new league set-up with the top 8 playing each other after the initial 22 games. There is no guarantee that Rangers (or Celtic for that matter) would finish within these positions, especially if Rangers are financially strapped and full of journeymen (as they will be).
Would SKY be prepared to gamble on this? Probably not, so what guarantees would they need to fulfil the desire for the 4 games that seem to be all that matter to them.
How much pressure would be on referees if, going into the 22nd game of the season, either Celtic or Rangers needed to win to get into the top 8. If, for any reason, the second Celtic v Rangers fixture was called off what match fixing would go on to prevent the fixture actually being the 22nd game?
This isn’t just a can of worms – this is a Marks & Spencer can of worms.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/leaguedivision3/4729524/Neils-dropped-a-bombshell.html sorry try this
Someone has hit a nerve.
TheBlackKnight TBK @THE_TBK
I recall a certain WhyteKnight blocking searches on certain things.. why would SEVCO want to stop people seeing the OLDCO share certificate?
Expand Reply Favorite
27m TheBlackKnight TBK @THE_TBK
anyone find it strange that if you put “the rangers fc shareholder certificate” into google images there are NONE! can you buy history? 😉
pau1mart1n says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 13:03
Cheggers then, Cheggers now, Cheggers forever!
(Right that’s enough Cheggers nonesense – Ed)
Taysider says:
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 22:14
===============================
Taysider you make a very good point that there are some pluses here we might be overlooking and the three key changes you mention are certainly ones I believe we desperately need for Scottish Football.
However on the topic of bigger leagues being undesirable due to reduced interest in TV income and increased number of meaningless games I have to admit to being completely baffled by people who present those arguements.
1. Reduced Interest in a “poorer” quality but bigger league?
Given the TV companies broadcast at most 2 games in a week and they have more or less free reign to chose from whats on offer I don’t see any merit in the argument that having 10 games every week rather than 6 games a week to chose from reduces the quality in any way for broadcast. They only need 1 or 2 games meeting their needs each week and we don’t need to compel them to show QOTS vs Morton any more than they are currently compelled to show St Mirren vs Dundee (no offence to any particular team meant!). They surely still have enough games meeting their particular requirements each season? Also given they have paid for coverage of “The Rangers” playing third division teams in some astonishingly poor standard of football it seems to me they don’t really care who the oppostion is when Celtic or Rangers are playing.
2. Increased number of “meaningless” games/
Firstly we need to understand what people mean when they describe a game as meaningless? In the current SPL you might well say that the games involving 95% of the teams are meaningless given none of them have a hope of overcoming the resources of Celtic and/or Rangers (when they existed). Or is there some rule that says teams playing in the middle of the table don’t really need to bother because its meaningless? Do fans stop following their club and wanting them to win when its a mid table game? I can’t really see any of these things happening in the EPL for example. Indeed most of the top leagues have 20 teams or thereabouts – how do they cope with so many meaningless games? My suspicion is EPL fans, clubs and broadcaster don’t really care if there are games which are meaningless to neutrals – its not important.
What is more important in Scotland right now is do we have a meaningless league? A much more fundamental question.
I’m not directing these arguments at yourself as such but at the generally held view that large leagues – meaningless games and poor quality TV viewing – I have a horrible feeling people are simply repeating an assumption rather than thinking through the truth in those assumptions.
Let me try to get people to look at this another way:
Lets say we have the current setup
Lets assume Dumbarton play Raith Rovers in Div 1
Currently as a division 1 game this is unlikely to be live on SKY.
SKY will chose to show Hearts vs Dundee Utd or Motherwell vs Celtic or whatever they deem has a good TV audience.
If we have a top table of 20 teams then this Dumbarton vs Raith Rovers fixture would still be played.
Its still unlikely to be chosen for coverage.
SKY will still chose to show Hearts vs Dundee Utd or Motherwell vs Celtic or whatever.
So whats changed?
How is the overall value of the TV contracts for Div1 and SPL reduced by effectively bringing more of the games under one umbrella.
‘Some supporters may be puzzled by all of this. How can Longmuir embrace a structure proposed by the Scottish Premier League when his own clubs in the SFL unanimously backed an entirely different one in November, namely three divisions of 16-10-16? The answer centres on Longmuir’s pragmatism.’
_________________________________________________________
How can it be that with Scottish football in such ferment the football authorities can find time to promote this rubric cube of a league. They had years of relative calm to reconstruct the leagues but they wait till now to attempt reconstruction. Of course there is only one imperative and that is to place the Hampden club in the top flight. This will nor appear obvious initially but having had their hands burnt once, this time the plans will be much more sophisticated. Remember friends when the, quickly promulgated, transfer ban was imposed. This punishment, to us innocents, seem fair, but it left a gaping hole for the legal system and allowed these jokers to tackle up the coach and horses. This by all accounts was one of their most enjoyable and easiest days in court.
Between all the bluster and mirrors there is only one reason behind this proposal. Let’s not walk into the trap a second time..
Senior says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 14:20
2 0 Rate This
=============
May be that he has been promised a certain post, if he can get the SFA and SPL preferred option through.
I hope he enjoys his seat on the Sevco board.
The wage bill at Ibrox must be on the increase or does Longmuir come cheap.
longmuir giving high praise to the proxyRangers fans who attend sevco’s away fixtures.
yet he chose not to mention the away fans at the recent game -v- queens park.
i wonder why.
i wonder how many proxyRangers away fixtures longmuir has attended.
has he not been as silly as ballantyne and been caught with his proxyRangers scarf on?
wottpi says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:04
For anyone looking in from the Scottish football authorities, can I just amplify the point that wottpi is making here – in terms of integrity, you are being compared UNFAVOURABLY to a ratings driven reality TV show!! Surely the end game is now in sight.
Re McMurdo’s rant, I hesitate to make the comparison (as I know the issues are so far apart) but isn’t the sort of language he uses – i.e. crush the opposition to show how strong we are – reminiscent of what Hitler was trying to do by hosting the 1936 Olympics? Who will be our Jesse Owens?
Craig Swan, in the Daily Record, referring to an article on Celtics’ website which describes last Aprils Celtic v Rangers match as the last ever derby writes:
“THE Ibrox club said that, as the claim on Celtic’s website hadn’t been removed after six days, it is a view which must be shared by chief executive Peter Lawwell.
A word to the wise for Craig – that view is shared by almost every football fan in the country bar the SEVCO support.
I haven’t posted on here for a while but this is just too ridiculous to let pass without comment. For those who haven’t read the article, please do so – then immediately rinse your eyes.
http://tinyurl.com/aucq6t2
Who will be our Jesse Owens?
_______________
Why, Turnbull of course.
vforvernacular says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 14:13
_____________________________
Excellent post, mirrors my constant frustration with some fans who believe games that don’t interest them are somehow meaningless.
Dundee V’s Dundee United – Last game of the season, Dundee in last place and going down, United in 6th and no chance of Europe or going down… Meaningless to either?
Hibernian V’s Hearts – Last game of the season, Hibernian have a chance of Europe and Hearts in 5 place with no chance of going up or down… Meaningless to Hearts?
Any team V’s Celtic – Any game from the start to the end of season… Meaningless to the smaller (no disrespect intended) team?
I have never played a game of football at any level where I felt it was meaningless, even now when the knees are gone, I would still play tomorrow with the same will to win as I did 30 years ago when it meant something.
Why? Because it still means something! It is a competition with something to win. If not a trophy, if not a placing, if not a financial win bonus, at the very least, pride! And if all else fails, entertaining a set of supporters fanatical about their team, win, lose or draw!
No meaningless games and no meaningless teams! If the big teams respect that, the fans buy into that, the players will believe that and we have the start of a better game without any reconstruction.
From The Sun:
——
NEIL ALEXANDER has stunned Rangers by rejecting a new one-year deal worth an incredible £10,000 A WEEK in the SFL.
…
Weekend blunder keeper Alexander — his horror OG gifted Elgin a 1-1 draw at Ibrox — is holding out for at least a two-year contract on that astonishing £10k wage.
SunSport understands the money on the table for the 34-year-old actually represents a cut of about £1,000 a week. But Alexander is holding out for longer-term security.
——
1. So much for the stupendous loyalty of the current batch of “playing for the love of the shirt” mob.
2. TRFC offering reduced wages? Thought they were sitting on untold millions?
It’s a pity that reconstruction discussions are running ahead of the needed changes in organisations. All the more need for urgency on Auldheid’s proposals, or version thereof. (And then onto the transparency and accountability of clubs and owners…)
OT: count the number of times our kids would have put this out of the park, to applause of their coach, and see what they did instead:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/video/2013/jan/07/greek-children-goal-video
Althetim says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:31
10 0 Rate This
Craig Swan, in the Daily Record, referring to an article on Celtics’ website which describes last Aprils Celtic v Rangers match as the last ever derby writes:
“THE Ibrox club said that, as the claim on Celtic’s website hadn’t been removed after six days, it is a view which must be shared by chief executive Peter Lawwell.
A word to the wise for Craig – that view is shared by almost every football fan in the country bar the SEVCO support.
I haven’t posted on here for a while but this is just too ridiculous to let pass without comment. For those who haven’t read the article, please do so – then immediately rinse your eyes.
____________________________________________________________________________
Well said Celtic as that is the truth of the matter it was the LAST old firm game.
Try if you are a club in Div 3 to welcome the first games from a NEWCO in your match programme of over a tannoy and low and behold the bile arises.
Why at present have they not disputed their last old firm game. Is it the case of a big boy knows and you better run away.
We are all big boys and we will not run away. Get used to it NEWCO SEVCO.
Althetim says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:31
Craig Swan, in the Daily Record,
referring to an article on Celtics’ website which describes last Aprils
Celtic v Rangers match – as the last ever derby writes:
“THE Ibrox club said that, as the claim on Celtic’s website hadn’t been removed after six days, it is a view which must be shared by chief executive Peter Lawwell.
A word to the wise for Craig – that view is shared by almost every football fan in the country bar the SEVCO support.
I haven’t posted on here for a while but this is just too ridiculous to let pass without comment. For those who haven’t read the article, please do so – then immediately rinse your eyes.
http://tinyurl.com/aucq6t2
———————————————————————
i will never listen to anybody saying they are the same rangers
and ranger will “get back” to the top
or “get back” into the champions league
never ever.
the rangers went bust/died.
if this proxyrangers were the original rangers, then the £millions of debt would be paid.
if the new proxyrangers agree to pay the £millions of debt, then i will change my view/stance.
not before
Althetim says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:31
I do hope that no one at Celtic feels the need to apologise for stating the truth here. We’ve been disappointed when Montrose, for example, felt the pressure and apologised for their programme notes. Celtic shouldn’t feel the same need – will RFC* push them hard enough for at Celtic to stand up to them and for someone finally to state publicly to the Press/Radio/TV what we’ve said is the truth all along? I.e. If you were the same club, you would have played in this year’s CL; if you were the same club, you wouldn’t have played in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup; if you were the same club, you wouldn’t have played in the early rounds of the League cup; if you were the same club you would have started the season with another points deduction; if you were the same club you wouldn’t have had to buy your own history; if you were the same club players wouldn’t have had to TUPE over; if you were the same club your debenture holders would still have debentures etc etc. Any more for any more?
I hope RFC* and their fans do push Celtic on this. I’ve said before it’s really important that they come to accept this truth, cos otherwise they’re right to feel aggrieved at the bad things done to them and the McMurdo-type hate will go on. If they accept they’re not the same club, but still want to treasure that history and want to support this new quasi-Rangers team that can start to build its own history, I think that’s getting close to an acceptable outcome even if it’s not perfect fairness given their leapfrog into the SFL and dumping of debt.
If anyone ever needed confirmation that Green and his cohorts are not in this for the long haul it’s the idea that Rangers would give anyone, let alone a second rate keeper, £10k per week. It’s the Craig Whyte scenario all over when he bumped up the wages of McGregor, Whittaker and others, to make it look like they were flush with cash.
Add to this the paper talk about all the signings they will be making come September 1st. Remember last January when Jim Traynor was beating his gums about Rangers spending £2.5m on some unknown defender only to later claim that they knew all along the RFC were in financial difficulties?
Same play, different cast, but this time when the curtain closes it’ll be for good.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/numbers-dont-add-up-but-longmuir-has-the-answers.19845614
“Behind the scenes the Rangers officials and board have been handling themselves with professional dignity and been very complimentary to the other clubs. They have treated them as equals, they haven’t come in with any ‘big-time Charlie’ attitude. They want to come through the league, make friends, and get to where they want to be having nothing but positive support from the clubs they’ve played against.
…………
So Longmuir thinks Sevco accusing the SFA of stealing from them, bullying Clubs into apologising almost weekly and Mcoists dog whistling and accusations that the governing bodies have an agenda against Sevco is a dignified way to behave?
And once again the comments from a man running our game, is riddled with the usual ENTITLEMENT of Sevco. Longmuir thinks it is perfectly reasonable to assume that Sevco deserve a fanfare through the Leagues, because they are just ENTITLED to walk every League. They are not part of a COMPETITION, but part of procession back to where they are ENTITLED to be, at the top.
The worst of all for me is this disgraceful mentality: “They have treated them as equals,”
Can someone please explain this to me? Are we all not equals? Why would this even be mentioned?
This is the 2nd time I’ve heard that mind boggling comment in reference to Sevco:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/elgin-city-chief-spl-must-1451841
Seriously, what is wrong with people in Scottish Football? I have never heard anything like this, being treated like an equal is deserving of praise!? Isn’t that what we all do every day no matter who we are and what we do.
Scottish Football is absolutely mental.
ordinaryfan @ 16:43
You can add, if they were the same club they could have played all of the pre-season games they had arranged
ecobhoy says:
Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 16:05
I believe the SFA Arbitration Committee has a preliminary meeting tomorrow (MON) to deal with the compensation issue re the Rangers players who walked away – I suppose they could now justify their actions by saying they never signed-up to slaughter their opponents but just to play football
However, this SFA Arbitration Committee is one of the lowest stunts pulled by the SFA in the whole Sevco affair IMHO. Just to remind: Alan McGregor, Kyle Lafferty, Rhys McCabe, Sone Aluko, Steven Davis, John Fleck, Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Jamie Ness refused to Tupe from RFC 2012 Plc (IA) to Sevco Scotland Ltd and walked away although arrangements were later made in relation to Davis, Fleck and McCabe.
Green demanded compensation for the others and Arbitration proceedings were commenced on 5 July 2012 under Article 99 of the SFA Articles of Association. However, on that date The Rangers Football Club Ltd (TRFCL) wasn’t a member of the SFA so you would think that was a No No.
But in yet another ‘blue rescue’ the SFA agreed that RFC 2012 Plc (IA) could bring the arbitration proceedings but that any compensation won would be payable to TRFCL and D&P confirmed that RFC 2012 Plc (IA) had no financial interest in the case. This begs the question as to why RFC 2012 Plc (IA) were allowed to ‘front’ arbitration proceedings if they had no financial interest.
And there is also the awkward question that if the only way compensation could be achieved was through RFC 2012 Plc (IA) then D&P IMHO should have acted on behalf of the creditors and claimed 75% of any compensation paid-out. One wonders whether BDO has cottoned-on to this move.
The Players’ Union has challenged TRFCL’s rights to participate in the process in any capacity and tomorrow’s preliminary hearing will settle the jurisdictional challenge and if RFCL is successful it will proceed to a full hearing in March/April 2013.
I am unclear now that TRFCL has SFA membership whether RFC 2012 Plc (IA) or even RFC 2012 Plc (IL) is no longer the party bringing the action but has been conveniently substituted by TRFCL at some stage. Oh what a tangled web is woven by the SFA and anything seems possible.
——————————————————————————————————-
any of you internet bampots got any news about TUPE-GATE.
are sevco 5088, sevco scotland ltd, the rangers football club lt, rangers international football club plc and rangers 2012 plc all going to be attending ?
madbhoy24941 says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:38
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Agreed madbhoy, the whole discourse surrounding meaningless games is yet another example of a parochial Glasgow media obsessed by a fixture which has gone forever. (;)) The vast majority of match attending football fans know before a ball is kicked they will not win the championship and even a cup is a long shot. Do fans of Wigan, Everton, Sunderland et al. not attend because they will not win the flag? IMO there is no such thing as a meaningless game, managers will learn something about their team or their squad with every game they witness, as will the paying customers. Who knows managers might even play more young players or experiment with tactics and formations….without dropping into the relegation places and losing their jobs!
Meaningless Fixtures and TV.
The majority of sports where there is a league system employed will have meaningless fixtures as the season progresses.
Holland, Portugal and smaller nations than the big 4 euro countries, must have meanlingless fixtures.
The EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A have meaningless fixutres.
Yet as we know they all get more TV cash than Scottish Football.
What is often missing from the Scottish game is quality and when a lack of quality it is combined with a ‘meaningless fixture’ the outcome is dire, even from the added comfort of one’s armchair with beer in hand.
That being said I didn’t see the New Year’s Edinburgh derby but by all accounts a fixture that should always have meaning was also dire. So the meaningfulness of the game made no difference to the quality of the product on the park, i.e there was a lack of quality sporting entertainment.
With a bot of quality there is no reason why a ding dong game between two evenly matched Scottish mid table sides can’t be a joy to watch.
The question is, will the neutral or fans of other teams tune in (or even go to the game if they can) to make the TV deal worth while. If the quality was a bit better then maybe more people would watch a homegrown product as opposed to choosing Fulham v Stoke or the likes. (No offense)
Anyway at the end of the day no game should be meaningless for the players involved. Towards the end of the season even if there is no prize on the go the managers should be looking for and still encouraging an improvement for the next season. Players should be trying hard to show their skills to be kept on or perhaps to get a move to a bigger club.
The World Cup campaign is a prime example of this. Either we just go to make up the numbers or we try and effectively use what games we have left to help develop the squad for the next campaign.
Blog of Wee White Bricks Man.
=========================
[Won’t post link.]
Could Traynor be writing the blog now: see today’s ‘self-satisfied’ extract below ?
===============
“…But the highlight of the afternoon came at half time, with a piece of inspired PR from the new Rangers regime.
The annual first game of the year Loving Cup ceremony, in which the visiting directors are invited to join the Rangers Board and drink a toast to the Monarch, was filmed and shown on the big screens at half time…”
===============
The standard of writing continues to be significantly better this month – if not in content – so has he got someone else doing it for him ?
The claim that Alexander is on over £10k a week surely must have someone at the SFA/SPL checking all player registration details to estimate the The Rangers annual wage bill based on what the SFA/SPL were told and compare that to The Rangers ability to continue to pay that bill over the foreseeable future.
Does the player wage spend tie in with the business plan that the SFA must have accepted instead of three years past accounts to grant The Rangers a club licence?
Indeed is anyone in football authority monitoring the reality against the promises to make sure they are being kept?
madbhoy24941 says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:38
&
vforvernacular says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 14:13
_____________________________
Excellent post, mirrors my constant frustration with some fans who believe games that don’t interest them are somehow meaningless.
Dundee V’s Dundee United – Last game of the season, Dundee in last place and going down, United in 6th and no chance of Europe or going down… Meaningless to either?
Hibernian V’s Hearts – Last game of the season, Hibernian have a chance of Europe and Hearts in 5 place with no chance of going up or down… Meaningless to Hearts?
Any team V’s Celtic – Any game from the start to the end of season… Meaningless to the smaller (no disrespect intended) team?
I have never played a game of football at any level where I felt it was meaningless, even now when the knees are gone, I would still play tomorrow with the same will to win as I did 30 years ago when it meant something.
Why? Because it still means something! It is a competition with something to win. If not a trophy, if not a placing, if not a financial win bonus, at the very least, pride! And if all else fails, entertaining a set of supporters fanatical about their team, win, lose or draw!
No meaningless games and no meaningless teams! If the big teams respect that, the fans buy into that, the players will believe that and we have the start of a better game without any reconstruction.
————————————————-
The “meaningless game” term should be shot down at every opportunity. The English Premier league, in a matrix stylee make sure “there are no meaningless games”, every game counts, cause they market it extremely well.
I agree 100% that every game counts. I also believe that the ‘meaningless’ game (it’s a ridiculous term) allows clubs and their younger players to develop and improve.
I’d love to see an 18 team top tier!
Althetim says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:31
10 0 Rate This
Craig Swan, in the Daily Record, referring to an article on Celtics’ website which describes last Aprils Celtic v Rangers match as the last ever derby writes:
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I`ve just had a look at the Celtic website and can find no such article
If you search the website using the term “old firm” you get an old advert for match day hospitality
3 Match post split Corporate package
Join us for the last 3 matches of this exciting and successful season including the final Old Firm battle!
Celtic v Rangers 29 April 2012 k/o 12.45pm
Celtic v St Johnstone 3 May 2012 k/o 19.45pm
Celtic v Hearts 13 May 2012 12.30pm
So where is this article ?
vforvernacular says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 14:13
However on the topic of bigger leagues being undesirable due to reduced interest in TV income and increased number of meaningless games I have to admit to being completely baffled by people who present those arguments.
=================================
My main thrust was, as you say, that there were positives in what Longmuir had to say (looks like a good way to destroy your credibility on this blog!) I remain convinced this is the case, although I’d like to make clear that I’m not suggesting Longmuir is the saviour in waiting of Scottish football (especially after reading his I need to butter up Rangers comments in the Herald.) Nor am I saying that the 12/12/18 proposal is fantastic (and if it does prove to be designed to accelerate the return of Newco then it will be fatal to our game IMHO). It has flaws for sure, but then given the spectrum of views amongst the fans, there is no consensus as to one outstanding candidate.
To me there are plausible commercial arguments (as opposed to contrived for some ulterior motive) as to why the current SPL clubs do not wish for a top flight larger than 14 teams. In terms of the TV money it is credible that broadcasters get higher ratings for certain matches, generally where stronger teams are playing each other. The top 8 clubs playing each other four times a season, most notably Celtic / Rangers but to a lesser extent the Edinburgh teams and others, would be more attractive. To be clear, no TV contract can be predicated on which teams were in the top 8 (the problem we had before with would Celtic and Rangers have 4 games a season). But just because Neil Doncaster said Sky would see more value in 4 Glasgow derbies a season doesn’t automatically mean that this is not true!
Re “meaningless” games, the bigger a League then unless you increase promotion / relegation play off places accordingly, potentially in terms of significance there will be more games of limited consequence. That is what I understand people mean by “meaningless.” If we had a 20 team top tier, the number of European places would stay the same obviously, say 5. Even if you have 2 relegation slots and a play off slot, contests where positions 6th – 17th only were at stake would be of limited consequence (setting aside pride and cash for finishing slots) whereas in a 12 team top tier if you had the same relegation and play off slots (I know you won’t with the new set up but for illustration) then only positions 6th – 9th have low consequence. I feel I’m stating the bloomin’ obvious here so apologies if I’m missing your point.
There are arguments that a bigger League enables young talent to be blooded with less pressure and that some fans will go regardless of whether or not a game has Promotion / Relegation / Europe / Play off significance or not, but my understanding (not personal experience) is that games of lesser consquence, whether fairly described as “meaningless” or not, did arise before we had the ten team top tier and were seen as less attractive to fans. Maybe others older (and doubtless wiser) may comment from personal experience.
One observation…some have said 12/12 didn’t work in Austria. What did they decide worked better? 10/10!
goosygoosy
It’s buried in Celtics review of 2012.
goosy
Have a look at the link below, the reference is made in the last sentence of the April summary.
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=3518
Dear Mr and Mrs Wearethepeople,
It is with deep regret that I must inform you that no free-pass will be forthcoming. In fact Sevco with have to repeat first year. Given your recent problems with your elder son and the problems you faced placing Sevco I realise this news must be distressing. However, despite being aware that we were not your first, second or indeed third choice for young Sevco, we have done our best. Although results have, on the surface, been good, there is a suspicion that Sevco received help from the adjudicators.
It is Sevco behaviour, however that has been most problematic. The same sense of entitlement, the same cavalier disregard for the truth and the same disdain for others suggest that nothing has be from his elder brother’s experiences.
Yours.
Here goosygoosy
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=3518
Althetim says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 15:31
Oh how the truth hurts them 🙂 By going to their pet newspaper(newspaper?) they have given this more publicity than they should sensibly want to. I’m sure the last thing Green wants, if he has any sense, is for this thorny question, so far mainly ignored by the MSM, raised anywhere outwith the internet bampots. If, and it’s only an if, Celtic were keen to have it debated, what a clever ploy it would have been to raise it, ever so quietly, in this way, then let Sevco go bleating to their poodle press.
As an example to Sevco on how they should handle such things they could do worse than to read this excerpt for their newspaper article:-
‘Celtic last night confirmed they were aware of the article, but refused to be drawn into a war of words and a spokesman for the Parkhead club said: “It’s quite bizarre, but not worthy of further comment.” ‘
Just a wee thought for the end of the day.
Someone please correct me but I was led to believe the T’Rangers were a debt free club valued this very evening via the markets at circa £58.91m, who have recently secured circa £22m in hard cash from a share issue and added to that they still have season ticket monies untouched in the bank. Sponsorship deals, marketing opportunites and the like will still add further to this off the radar wealth. Of this, £10m is going to a war chest for when that silly transfer embargo thing gets dumped.
Yet from the links to the red tops in other posts above I find that T’ Rangers are quibbling about paying one of the loyal veteran players who stayed with the club through thick & thin. They are tapping up a young keeper for £150k and that according to the club captain the signing targets, despite having Little, Sandaza,McKay, Niasmith and Kyle on their books along with Lee Wallace, should be two has been strikers, Miller and Boyd and an injury prone left back Stevie Smith, who will be aged 33, 30 & 28 respectively next season.
So which one is it?
Jim Traynor has started his shift and this is a double bluff to his old muckers in the MSM to mask the real big signings to come
or
They are really needing Jim to get started so that the real truth about how Mr Charles is going to splash that cash to keep up with fans and apparently the manager’s expectations.
I have said before Mr Charles was tight with the purse strings when the last window closed and I suspect today’s stories are indeed true and he will be tight again when they can sign players albeit they can easily outspend other clubs in whatever division they end up in.
So T’Rangers fans you have been warned. Please be realistic about what is being promised. You will be running a cut price operation to ensure the Spivs don’t have too much expenditure and maximise the bag of loot they are planning to sneek down the marble staircase. What is left after that – who knows?
Re operation fast track sevco
I noticed in the rag at work that the sevco will still be in the bottom tier decoy has been launched
This only increases my belief that the clowns that run and report on our game have learned nothing from last season .
We should now get a few days /weeks of sevco and their fans spitting about being kicked when they are down again .
Don’t point out that the new plans will take a year off sevco’s assisted rise to the top and ensure they only have to finish in the top four of the hand up league instead of having to win the 1st div .
Maybe they don’t have enough faith in TFPLG ,then again who could blame them .
Also looks like we now know why the OG Goalie stayed put ,couldn’t have been many teams willing to give him 11 grand a week .Is this the first contract negotiation since Chuckles got the cash he desperately needed and it’s not went well Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I left a comment on Saturday afternoon, voicing my concerns that Sevco will win out of the league reconstruction. I went on to say that the sfa/spl/sfl would not have the balls, (or even the self interest), to take on Sevco if they took legal action for winning their league and not gaining promotion. Furthermore I added that the Scottish MSM would fully back Sevco.
Well today the game is afoot. Kicked off no less by Keith “off the radar” Jackson. Today in the impartial DR we have a back page mini header, “Win the title……stay at bottom. Rather amusingly the word “exclusive” is printed below this. Er sorry Keith but this internet bampot beat you to that one. Anyhoos, the piece further adds that “McCoists side starting out at the bottom all over again” and describes the would be feeling of some clubs as “disappointed”.
Keith today, in my opinion, has started the fluttering of the butterflies wings that over the coming months will result in the Tsunami that will be outrage at the mistreatment of Sevco and the demand that this mighty institution be treated fairly and get their rightful place, that is promotion. Watch this space.
Rather interesting also is that the piece claims that Mr Longmuir is likely to land a key in any future governing body. Heaven forbid.
Taysider says: (Edit)
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 17:03
0 1 i
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vforvernacular says:
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 14:13
However on the topic of bigger leagues being undesirable due to reduced interest in TV income and increased number of meaningless games I have to admit to being completely baffled by people who present those arguments.
=================================
Re “meaningless” games, the bigger a League then unless you increase promotion / relegation play off places accordingly, potentially in terms of significance there will be more games of limited consequence. That is what I understand people mean by “meaningless.” If we had a 20 team top tier, the number of European places would stay the same obviously, say 5. Even if you have 2 relegation slots and a play off slot, contests where positions 6th – 17th only were at stake would be of limited consequence (setting aside pride and cash for finishing slots) whereas in a 12 team top tier if you had the same relegation and play off slots (I know you won’t with the new set up but for illustration) then only positions 6th – 9th have low consequence. I feel I’m stating the bloomin’ obvious here so apologies if I’m missing your point.
There are arguments that a bigger League enables young talent to be blooded with less pressure and that some fans will go regardless of whether or not a game has Promotion / Relegation / Europe / Play off significance or not, but my understanding (not personal experience) is that games of lesser consquence, whether fairly described as “meaningless” or not, did arise before we had the ten team top tier and were seen as less attractive to fans. Maybe others older (and doubtless wiser) may comment from personal experience.
One observation…some have said 12/12 didn’t work in Austria. What did they decide worked better? 10/10!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can’t claim to be one of the ‘wiser’ but do sadly fall under the ‘older’ category having started to attend league games in the mid sixties. My recollection is that at a certain stage in the season some clubs who were safe from relegation and had no chance of a euro slot did fall into something of a comfort zone and players appeared content sometimes to merely go through the motions. The laudable thoughts expressed earlier about personal pride etc did not always translate into the actions of managers & players.
A few weeks ago I heard Willie Miller ( the real one!) say he recalled this happening at the start of his career at Pittodrie.
I share this recollection not to support the new proposal but merely to fill in a gap for my younger fellow posters. I think the use of the word ‘meaningless’ is rather emotive and perhaps ‘of less consequence’ as suggested by Taysider is more accurate
jonnyod on Monday, January 7, 2013 at 17:49
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Re operation fast track sevco
I noticed in the rag at work that the sevco will still be in the bottom tier decoy has been launched
…………………………………………………….
So I am not the only bampot who smells a rat. As of my post 4 mins after your own 🙂 though we must have been typing at the same time. 😉
On DUFC official site today, club chairman Stephen Thompson states “Much has been said and written about this fixture since it was first announced. Most of this has been based on ill-informed criticism of this Club and we will not respond in kind. Instead we would much prefer that both clubs do their talking where and when it matters most – on the pitch.”
Mr Thompson’s statement contains similar elements to Celtic’s comment (“It’s quite bizarre, but not worthy of further comment.”) in relation to a recent Ibrox rant.
It’s rather unseemly that the SFA CEO hasn’t got involved to prevent the petty nonsense being emitted from Govan direction.
fara1968
Funny my paranoia seemed to TUPE over seamlessly from ragers IL to sevco 2012 to the extent that the very mention of Sevco 2012 from the SFA/SPL/SFL and MSM makes me smell a rat
Ive emailed Longshanks.
Dear sir.
Having read the article by Michael Grant in the Herald and in particular, the last two paragraphs in which you praise the mighty The Rangers attitude and behaviour as they financially dominate ( £10,000 a week for Alexander ) your long term members, i feel i must be confusing the club you describe with a very similar club who have trashed hotels, fought with police at Ibrox, and had thousands of fans singing the banned and illegal billy boys song at Hampden against amatuer club Queens Park( did you have a day off that day.
Charles Green has accused the SPL and the SFA of theft ( irony ), Mr McCoists demand for names resulted in threats to Raith Rovers stadium and Gary Allen QC and his family requiring police protection, as well as Falkirk and Montrose being bullied into apologising for making truthful comments about the new club wrongly voted into your organisation.
Add in the D Utd boycott endorsed by the club and the naming of Celtic, Hibs and D Utd on the clubs website as chief instigators in rangers demise and you can begin to understand why i am perplexed at the fawning statement by yourself. Did you perhaps buy shares in the new club to replace your liquidated shares in the old club.
You have provided more evidence that only one club is important in the eyes of the governing bodies, and its this obvious bias that has left yourself and messrs Ballantyne, Regan, Doncaster and the scunner Campbell in an untenable position with the majority of Scotlands football supporters.
We know you are aware of The Scottish Football Monitors campaign to seek help from our clubs through the individual Trusts to have the corridors of power swept free of this ruinous bias, so lets wait and see what transpires as clubs are made aware that the Scottish football supporter will not buy into this shambolic system of unfettered promotion of one clubs inherited entitlement, and we shall see if empty stands are a strong enough incentive for our clubs to pick the baton on our behalf. Maybe Trfc fans will fill everyones stadium at every game played and you can sing your songs without upsetting law abiding supporters.
I have learned not to expect a response from Hampden despite being a customer of the game, but i will still post this email on TSFM to help highlight the reasons why we are so determined to cleanse our game, so ignore us if you will but we will not go away.
Sent from Samsung Mobile
Surely if we now accept that Sevco are the “proxyrangers” then it makes sense to rename their mascot proxybear…… I know get my coat
Longmuir in the ET stating that it will be difficult for fans to buy into the new proposals. interestingly he says that with the 12-12-8 structure, Rangers would not be in that top division.
What does that mean, does it mean that they could be put into the second group of 12?
Nothing these clowns do will surprise me.