The following post comes about as a result of the research and work put in by Auldheid.
He has drafted the submission to FIFA detailed below after closely looking at their rules, and taking on board the points contained in the Glasnost “Golden Rule” blog. TSFM has attached the blog’s name to the report since the overwhelming – but not unanimous – view of our readership is that the SFA and the SPL have again gotten themselves into an almighty and embarrassingly amateur fankle over this issue.
We believe that tens of thousands of football fans will be lost to the game if the outcome of the LNS enquiry is not perceived to be commensurate with the scope and extent of the rule breaking that LNS found had taken place. In view of this, we believe that we have to do what we can to explore all possibilities for justice for those who love the game so much and yet are utterly disillusioned by recent events.
LNS is not being questioned here. He has found that RFC were guilty as charged by the SPL.
What is being questioned is the SFA’s crucial – and seemingly conflicted – role in the LNS enquiry, as is the effectiveness of LNS’s recommended sanction as either a deterrent or an upholder of sporting integrity.
It came to our notice last week that FIFA have created a web site at
https://www.bkms-system.net/bkwebanon/report/clientInfo?cin=6fifa61&language=eng
that tells us that FIFA have implemented a regulatory framework which is intended to ensure that all statutory rules, rules of conduct and internal guidelines of FIFA are respected and complied with.
In support of that regulatory framework FIFA have set up the above site as a reporting mechanism by means of which inappropriate behaviour and infringements of the pertinent regulations may be reported.
FIFA say that their jurisdiction encompasses misconduct that (1) relates to match manipulation; (2) occurs in or affects more than one confederation, so that it cannot adequately be addressed by a single confederation; or (3) would ordinarily be addressed by a confederation or association, but, under the particular facts at issue, has not been or is unlikely to be dealt with appropriately at that level.
Discussions arising from the previous blog on TSFM, “Gilt Edged Justice”, which was published after Lord Nimmo Smith (LNS) ruled on the registration of Rangers players who had contractual side letters that were not disclosed to the SFA as part of their registration, suggest that there may be possible unfortunate consequences for football arising from the evidence presented by the SFA to the LNS enquiry that informed its findings on registration and consequent eligibility. There is also a question of the propriety of the SFA providing evidence on an issue which could have had a negative impact on them had it been found that they had failed to carrying out their registration duties with due rigour over a period of ten years when the existence of EBTs was known to officials within the SFA.
On the basis that the LNS findings require that registration rules be clarified by FIFA and rewritten globally if necessary to remove any ambiguity and under clause 3 above, this appears to be an issue that the FIFA should examine and that the SFA cannot address.
The following report has therefore been submitted by TSFM on behalf of its readers to FIFA drawing on the content and debate following the “Gilt Edged Justice” blog in respect of the possible footballing consequences of the LNS enquiry.
The hope is that by speaking for so many supporters, FIFA will give the TSFM submission some weight, but individuals are free of course to make their own points in their own way. We await acknowledgement of the submission.
The report Submitted to FIFA is as follows;
This report was prepared on behalf of the 10,000-strong readership of The Scottish Football Monitor at http://scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com/
It is our belief that FIFA general rules of conduct were breached by the SFA and their employees in both creating and then advising The Lord Nimmo Smith (LNS) enquiry into the non disclosure of full payment information to the Scottish Football Association (SFA) by Rangers F.C during a period of player registration over 10 years from 2000.We believe that although the issue has been addressed by the SFA the particular facts at issue suggest that it has not been dealt with appropriately and we therefore ask FIFA to investigate. The facts at issue are that the process and advice given failed to uphold sporting integrity, and that a conflict of interest was at play.
We believe the advice provided and the enquiry set up, where SFA both advised and is the appellant body, breaches not only the integrity the registration rules were intended to uphold, but also totally undermines the integrity of the SFA in breach of General Conduct rules 1, 2 and 4. (See below.)
1. Firstly we believe that the advice supplied to LNS that an incorrectly registered player was eligible to play as long as the registration was accepted by the SFA however unwittingly, undermines the intent of the SPL/SFA rules on player registration and so undermines the integrity of football in three ways.
• It incentivises clubs to apply for a player to be registered even if they know that the conditions of registration are not satisfied, in the hope that the application will somehow ‘slip through the net’ and be granted anyway (in which case it will be valid until revoked).
• A club which discovers that it has made an error in its application is incentivized to say nothing and to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ – because it would be in a better position by not confessing its mistake.
• And most importantly, it incentivises fraud. By deliberately concealing relevant information, a club can ensure that a player who does not satisfy the registration conditions is treated as being eligible – and therefore allowed to play – for as long as a period as possible (potentially his entire spell with the club). Then, if the club is no longer around when the deception is finally discovered, imposing meaningful sanctions may be impossible.
2. Secondly we believe the process followed was inappropriate due to a Conflict of Interest. Had the LNS enquiry not ruled on the basis of advice supplied by The SFA, they and those persons advising the LNS enquiry, could have been subjected to censure and the SFA to potential compensation claims had LNS found that the players were indeed ineligible to play and results then been annulled as was SFA practice when an ineligible player played.
3. Finally we contend that a law should not be applied according to its literal meaning if to do so would lead to an absurdity or a manifest injustice or in this case loss of football integrity.
See http://glasnostandapairofstrikers.wordpress.com/2013/03/07/gilt-edged-justice/4. We therefore ask FIFA to investigate both the process used and advice given to Lord Nimmo Smith to satisfy themselves that FIFA’s intentions with regard to upholding the integrity of football under FIFA rules have not been seriously damaged by the LNS findings and also to reassure Scottish football supporters that the integrity of our game has not been sacrificed by the very authority in whose care it has been placed to promote the short term cause of commercialism to the games long term detriment.
General Rules of Conduct (These are taken from the FIFA web site itself and can be found as part of completing the submission process)
1. Persons bound by this Code are expected to be aware of the importance of their duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities.
2. Persons bound by this Code are obliged to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to them.
3. N/A
4. Persons bound by this Code may not abuse their position in any way, especially to take advantage of their position for private aims or gains.
Lord Wobbly says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 22:48
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newshedenvy says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 22:45
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Lord Wobbly says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 22:43
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Fair play for coming forward, but are you sure you only regret the bit about neglecting train sets?
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Yes
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That’s a shame.
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It’s a point of view, LW. I have apologised for a silly, throw away comment at the end. The substance of the comment is what I believe.
I have been commenting on this site since its inception, not always as newshedenvy. In a previous guise, many months ago, I made a forceful attempt to get TSFM to engage with the outside world. To challenge stories in the MSM, to publicly state truths that are written here. I was asked by TSFM to cease and engage directly with TSFM by email instead. I was told, very politely, that perhaps this wasn’t the site for me.
I am horrified by what has happened to Scottish football over the last year. I agree with a lot that is said here. However, I find TSFM very frustrating at times. I think it has become a talking shop for like-minded people. I really believe, as I said in a comment a while ago, that TSFM is in danger of being seen as an anti-Rangers site. I think that is a shame.
FIFA don’t care, they are corrupt. They will simply look to see how big a pressure group TSFM is. Given its insular nature it is no pressure group at all. The ship has sailed.
newshedenvy says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:11
I agree with your strategy of trying to get msm engaged and have myself made an effort to do so but they are for the most part not interested. The best hope is to keep pointing out the pitfalls, mistruths etc and setting out the rules so that if they are being twisted with impunity, the football supporting public know that they are. This continual presentation of the alternative view will give the site credibility that will hopefully make it the place courageous msm jounos will go for the background and research and ideas they do not have time to do themselves.
Its not ideal in terms of more immediate impact but the alternative is to do nothing and let the game down.
On anti Rangers. An inescapable fact is that what went on at Rangers and the SFA’s subsequent mishandling of it and MSM reporting of it was the catalyst that created the drive to tackle both governanace and msm. That makes it difficult not to mention Rangers in tackling the other two contributing parties to our current problems. The irony is that if we what we are tryng to acheive – honesty in governance and reporting – been in place beforehand the greatest beneficiaries would have been Rangers under liquidation and the supporters of their team in the SFL. Even now that still applies.
On FIFA you clearly have not read the blog. A report has been submitted to a web site created by FIFA to address public pressure to make FIFA less corrupt. Had it been just another letter to FIFA then I agree it would not have been worth doing. You may still be proved to be right and FIFA will not do what it says on the tin but at least read what it says on the tin before posting.
Newshedenvy says
I’d be disappointed if folk were advised not to spread the information / analysis contained in this excellent site. We are a small group considering the challenges we face, and every person / group / agency being influenced or interested by what’s on here is an asset and the more people get to know the better.
newshedenvy says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:11
It’s a point of view, LW. I have apologised for a silly, throw away comment at the end. The substance of the comment is what I believe.
I have been commenting on this site since its inception, not
always as newshedenvy. In a previous guise, many months ago, I made a forceful attempt to get TSFM to engage with the outside world. To challenge stories in the MSM, to publicly state truths that are written here. I was asked by TSFM to cease and engage directly with TSFM by email instead. I was told, very politely, that perhaps this wasn’t the site for me.
I am horrified by what has happened to Scottish football over the last year. I agree with a lot that is said here. However, I find TSFM very frustrating at times. I think it has become a talking shop for like-minded people. I really believe, as I said in a comment a while ago, that TSFM is in danger of being seen as an anti-Rangers site. I think that is a shame.
FIFA don’t care, they are corrupt. They will simply look to see how big a pressure group TSFM is. Given its insular nature it is no pressure group at all. The ship has sailed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I sympathise. I can only suggest that you question everything. If you are asked to cease and desist, then question it. If you see a pattern of like-minded posts that don’t ring true then question it.
Perhaps I over-chastised you for your earlier post (the result of one more glass than you, I’d wager 😉 )
Regular readers of RTC and TSFM will know that I have defended and even promoted those that offer an alternate viewpoint.
yourhavingalaugh says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 22:09
Financial criteria for SFL clubs to gain even a basic licence is covered by National Club Licensing. I understand the view at the SFA is they be more guidelines than prescriptive with so many areas of discretion a new club with no accounts could get the nod.
Having said that the latest set of rules contain a number of questions over the current licensing round that in the interests of brevity I’ll skip but you can read the rules here.
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/ClubLicensing/Part2:National/Part2Sect8_Legal,Admin,FinanceandCodesofPractice%20Criteria.pdf
There are differences that reflect what happened with Rangers over the summer and may help a licence be granted this round or make it harder for a club to conceal anything.
SPL clubs have to meet a much more stringent UEFA FFP licencing process o be granted a licence to play in the SPL or Europe if they qualify but again it has to be policed properly and clubs not taken at their word now that we know at least one club acted in an untrustworthy way way over registration.
hI
Captain Haddock says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:44
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Lord Wobbly says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:47
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It was the early days of TSFM, I was advocating that the site transform itself into a pressure group, become the voice of its contributors. A public voice that directly challenged dis-information in the media. I also advocated that a list of contact details of football authorities, media organisations etc. was put on the site for us all to directly respond to the lies and to ask the questions that the MSM wouldn’t ask. This subsequently appeared on the site although with minimal success.
With hindsight I can see how taking the leap from being a post-RTC forum to being a pressure group was, perhaps, too far, too soon. I was quite forceful and the suggestion that I drop it was quite gentle. I had little support from contributors so I dropped it.
Imagine if had happened though. TSFM would now be a real voice. A voice that would have to be reckoned with, not easily dismissed.
Auldheid (@Auldheid) says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:39
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newshedenvy says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:11
I agree with your strategy of trying to get msm engaged and have myself made an effort to do so but they are for the most part not interested. The best hope is to keep pointing out the pitfalls, mistruths etc and setting out the rules so that if they are being twisted with impunity, the football supporting public know that they are. This continual presentation of the alternative view will give the site credibility that will hopefully make it the place courageous msm jounos will go for the background and research and ideas they do not have time to do themselves.
Its not ideal in terms of more immediate impact but the alternative is to do nothing and let the game down.
On anti Rangers. An inescapable fact is that what went on at Rangers and the SFA’s subsequent mishandling of it and MSM reporting of it was the catalyst that created the drive to tackle both governanace and msm. That makes it difficult not to mention Rangers in tackling the other two contributing parties to our current problems. The irony is that if we what we are tryng to acheive – honesty in governance and reporting – been in place beforehand the greatest beneficiaries would have been Rangers under liquidation and the supporters of their team in the SFL. Even now that still applies.
On FIFA you clearly have not read the blog. A report has been submitted to a web site created by FIFA to address public pressure to make FIFA less corrupt. Had it been just another letter to FIFA then I agree it would not have been worth doing. You may still be proved to be right and FIFA will not do what it says on the tin but at least read what it says on the tin before posting.
Article on the front page of tomorrow’s Financial Times states- The Insolvency Practicioners Agency may have to close down due to the dwindling numbers of insolvencies in the UK.- If they are that underworked, why the incredible delay in investigating Duff and Duffer’s administration? I’m sure the learned judge in Edinburgh would be interested to know. Then again perhaps he is part of the problem and not the solution.
Auldheid (@Auldheid) says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:39
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newshedenvy says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 23:11
I agree with your strategy of trying to get msm engaged and have myself made an effort to do so but they are for the most part not interested. The best hope is to keep pointing out the pitfalls, mistruths etc and setting out the rules so that if they are being twisted with impunity, the football supporting public know that they are. This continual presentation of the alternative view will give the site credibility that will hopefully make it the place courageous msm jounos will go for the background and research and ideas they do not have time to do themselves.
Its not ideal in terms of more immediate impact but the alternative is to do nothing and let the game down.
On anti Rangers. An inescapable fact is that what went on at Rangers and the SFA’s subsequent mishandling of it and MSM reporting of it was the catalyst that created the drive to tackle both governanace and msm. That makes it difficult not to mention Rangers in tackling the other two contributing parties to our current problems. The irony is that if we what we are tryng to acheive – honesty in governance and reporting – been in place beforehand the greatest beneficiaries would have been Rangers under liquidation and the supporters of their team in the SFL. Even now that still applies.
On FIFA you clearly have not read the blog. A report has been submitted to a web site created by FIFA to address public pressure to make FIFA less corrupt. Had it been just another letter to FIFA then I agree it would not have been worth doing. You may still be proved to be right and FIFA will not do what it says on the tin but at least read what it says on the tin before posting.
___________________________________
The problem is, Auldheid, that it is a bit too late to start engaging with the MSM when we are a year into the story.
Anti-Rangers is bound to be a contentious accusation to make about a site like this. There are a lot of intelligent points raised here about this sorry situation. However there is an element of negative comment which makes it easy for others to be able to dismiss the site as being anti-Rangers.
Many years ago, in order to counteract the bad press it was receiving about the negative effects of its product, CocaCola produced a really healthy drink called Diet Coke. I have no faith in Diet FIFA.
Hi guys …….let’s go canny on this
What we need is a plan like what Media House (£500,000pa) and Jim( “The Truth) Traynor (£150.000 pa) have.
Outline plan as follows
1 forget UEFA and FIFA for the time being … it will be fobbed off as a little local difficulty out with their jurisdiction
2 create an Awaqreness Campaign”. write or e-mail the case to all the major footballing authorites in the UK ( Scottish,English, Northern Irish and Republic of Ireland) asking for their views on the LNS decision.
Specifically ………………..a………….. do you agree with the LNS findings
b…………..do you disagree with the LNS findings
c……………do you think the LNS findings should be appealed
3 ditto the above for all senior sports writers in major papers in those jurisdictions
4 write or email to all thosen European Football authorities and clubs who played and or lost money tthro Rangers’ improperly registered but eligible players.
So no one replies ……………that is a story in itself my friends , not one that Platini and his buddy Blatter would enjoy
olemungobhoy says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 00:31
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So no one replies ……………that is a story in itself my friends , not one that Platini and his buddy Blatter would enjoy
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Please read to Point 1 of your Outline Plan.
newshedenvy says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 00:23
If you read Andrew Jennings book Foul about FIFA corruption you can be in no doubt of what we are up against. However as a result of work by Jennings and the scale of corruption FIFA have been forced to respond and the WhistleBlower web site looks like part of that response.
They therefore cannot risk being seen as dismissive if the whistle is blown on a national association by many of the suppporters it is supposed to serve,
As in everything however “we’ll see”
Reblogged this on Humble Pie – Internet Bampot and commented:
If you do only one thing this week read this.
This site is not “anti Rangers”.
It is anti-favouritism and anti corruption.
The fact that the only real favouritism and corruption demonstrated over the last couple of years has been to the benefit of Rangers, both old and new, is the fault of the aurthorities and rangers themselves. not this forum, or the people who post on it.
The fact that the only club is involved in bullying, threatening and calling for people to “name names” and that the authorities repeatedly refuse to do anything about it is the fault of rangers and those authorities, not TSFM.
The fact of the matter is, if one is currently looking at favouritism, corruption, bullying, threats and harrassment in Scottish football, then one is looking directly at Rangers and the people controlling the governing bodies. That does not make this an “anti-Rangers” site, the alternatives are to ignore the issues or to walk away.
Tom English thinks Longmuir is a mouthpiece for Green and Lawwell. I tend to agree with him.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-english-longmuir-sounds-like-old-firm-talking-1-2835125
If it wasn’t for the work of fan sites, most famously RTC & CQN, but also numerous others of many persuasions, then Rangers would in all probability have been allowed to enter the SPL .
They would have done so without having gained any promotion , done so without any sporting merit, and would have been fined an amount irrelevant to the extra they would earn in the SPL against the SFL.
Charles Greens consortium wouldn’t have had to pay an extra $ and in all likelihood would have raked in £millions in transfer fees.
In other words , so far , Scottish Football fans have ensured that Rangers and Green have at least had to pay some consequence for the decades of excess, financial stupidity and rule breaking that was David Murray’s Rangers.
The authorities, in the form of the SFA have hit back ,by holing the SPL commission below the water line thanks to the outrageous evidence of Bryson. The SPL commission now seems to have given LNS terms of reference which conveniently allowed both a guilty verdict and a punishment which was completely inappropriate
All power to Auldheids initiative. There is a cynicism as to whether Fifa are genuine in their intentions. So what ! Their genuineness needs to be tested.
The apologists for Murray’s Rangers hope for fatigue from those outraged by their actions. That’s the rallying cry . Lets get back to football they say.
We all want back to football, but not at the expense of a whitewash
Seems to me that Newshed is making a lot of good points, not least his subtext concerning the atmosphere of this blog.
We all know that any slightly negative comment concerning Celtic is met with a hail of TDs and, conversely, anyone debasing the name of Rangers gets plenty TUs. Pointing this out also gets a big negative reaction.
Now, this may not be a big deal to us, but anyone following the posts will pick up on it. Also, I made a vaguely humorous comment concerning the Vatican yesterday that received more than its fair share of TDs. There was nothing offensive in it whatsoever, so that was quite surprising.
Like it or not, the outside perception of this blog is easy to imagine.
That the report has gone in to FIFA is a good thing. We can only hope that it lands on someone’s desk who will care to look into it a bit further than just picking up the phone to the SFA for a quick chat.
The problem is that the MSM are simply not willing to pick up on a lot of the good points made here – from the overarching suspicions to the minutiae of the LNS decision among others.
Nothing short of a sustained protest from a large percentage of supporters will bring the perceived problems to the fore. That the Scottish populace is better known for keeping their heads down and just getting on with it is not going to help. If the ship has not already sailed, it’s certainly straining at the ropes.
Having said that, persons like Turnbull Hutton may well possess the necessary qualities, and be in the right position, to at least apply the brakes to some of the more outlandish cunning plans.
Indeed Barcabhoy,the whitewash is in place,but the groundswell of reaction to the whitewash is deeply embedded in the psychy of right thinking fans and observers of Scottish football.
The status quo,the malaise inherent within the footballing establishment will continue to be challenged.I predict a Summer of extreme discontent.
The last twelve months have proved that those essential to the future footballing health of football,the fans,will never again tolerate such warped decision making.
This is not an anti-Rangers site.It is simply that the decision making around TRFC has fuelled justified indignation amongst a vast fan base throughout all the clubs.
The anger will not go away until there is a vision for football,based on a decent values and principled,transparent decision making.
chipsandblog says:
Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 19:50
————
Reserve teams in Spain play in the same league system as the senior team, rather than in a reserve team league. They cannot play in the same division as their main side, however, so Barcelona B is ineligible for promotion to La Liga and cannot play in the Copa del Rey.
—————————————————————————————————————————
“Stop talking nonsense” was your reply when I asked if colt teams would receive prize money dependent on league position. Since your so keen to compare to the Spanish model, does the Barcelona or Madrid B teams receive money depending on their league position?
dentarthurdent42 says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 08:56
This site is not “anti Rangers”.
It is anti-favouritism and anti corruption.
——————————————————–
Hit the nail on the head
I would add that the work of Auldheid and TSFM in framing an approach to Fifa shows that people are prepared to mount a challenge to the status quo.
If no step forward is taken,then we all stand still!
easyJambo at 9.07
I usually agree with you but not totally here and nothing is ever totally simple anyway.
Longmuir is a Rangers man and was, and is one of the signatories of the 5 way agreement that offered Sevco a presence in SPL, then SFL 1 when they had no right to either.
Bampots and Diddy Clubs and their fans stopped that.
Fast Forward.
Longmuir would still support and do everything in his power to give them an immediate return to SPL immediately even if it “damages” the revenues of his members when Rangers don’t come to visit.
He is smart enough to find wriggle room if that happens and he has already shown that he is willing to break the rules on his statute book.
He certainly doesn’t want his boyhood team to get promoted from one of “his” leagues and stay in the bottom tier.
And he thinks the 12 12 10 10 plan is best. (So do most fans if it was a choice between that and the stupid failed Austrian plan being foisted on us).
So Mr Longmuir (who is well advised) is stirring up some mud to confuse the situation and stop the immediate reconstruction which most SFL and SPL fans don’t want anyway.
And the McLeish report is a great screen for a compromised administrator to hide behind.
So I do totally agree with you that Longmuir has a shared affinity with Greene and all things Rangers.
But Lawwell’s silence just means that. – he is simply staying silent.
And in this wee goldfish bowl Tom English probably knows that too but including Lawwell in his attack makes his story less of a personal attack on Longmuir and Rangers.
We are all in play!
newshedenvy says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 00:43
______________________________________________________
I don’t think this site is any different from any other in the sense that at times a poster can run up against constraints and ‘rules’ – sometimes unwritten – that are in place and that can cause frustration to any poster. However, it is always up to a poster to choose whether to stay or start their own site and set their own rules and truly be absolute master of their domain.
I choose not to do that because I want what I say to be tested by others hoping that any flaws in my reasoning, knowledge or just attitude will be exposed so that I can rethink my position and see if it needs alteration.
I have very much taken a minority position on LNS recently and have done so previously as I truly believe that it is economic madness not to accept that Rangers should be in the top flight of Scottish Football although I totally agree that how that is brought about is all-important and must primarily concentrate on the greater good of Scottish Football rather than just that of Rangers.
I only mention that to stress that I have had no problem in arguing my position and have received much feedback which has caused me to look deeper into my reasoning although mostly I have genuinely felt that it is OK but people do have a right to their contrary view and all I ask is that they try and base that on some kind of solid base rather than just on emotion. I have only had what I regard as a personal attack from one poster and my answer to that is just to avoid them.
It’s important reason that we keep plugging away on various issues by pointing out the absurdities in the MSM position and reporting and constantly building solid initiatives that are educational and motivational for fans on other sites that might never read TSFM.
Take the dot-to-dot article the other day in the Herald and Rangers £100 million projected turnover. If I was a journo I would be ashamed to have my name on that article it is just so poor with so many unanswered questions.
But it contains a little glimmer in that Stockbridge rather than Green was the one given carte blanche to ‘use’ the Herald and that sends the sign that either the Rangers media people or possibly wiser heads at the Herald realised that Green is a debased source in terms of pronouncements. If so, that has been brought about by numerous posters here and elsewhere continually exposing the inconsistency in his stories that even the lazy and incompetent Scottish media find hard to ignore.
I am with you on building-up a database of people to contact with stories but that has to be done with some thought as there is no point in bombarding media outlets with stories that will never see the light of day for a variety of good journalistic reasons that have nothing to do with ‘favouring’ Rangers.
And everyone must remember when judging SMSM that newspapers are collapsing circulationwise and within a few years are unlikely to be anything but on-line editions staffed by inexperienced people straight out of journalism courses. This puts greater pressure on the likes of us because our articles have to be crisper, well-written and interesting – flogging a dead horse to death with huge, badly written and presented stories with the punch-line buried just won’t see the light of day.
So there are big challenges out there but I am confident that the abilities of lots of fan site posters are far superior to the mass of journos out there. And it’s always worth remembering that we write because of our passion and the journos, almost universally, do so because it’s a job and in an uncertain media market they are trying not to fall-out with people who are important to them staying in work. Very, very few are actually motivated by sectarianism but more in retaining their nice life-style and promotion prospects.
easyJambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 09:07
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Tom English thinks Longmuir is a mouthpiece for Green and Lawwell. I tend to agree with him.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-english-longmuir-sounds-like-old-firm-talking-1-2835125
_________________________________________________________
First time, for a very long time, that a sports writer in Scotland has managed to hit the nail on the head and write an article that isn’t just a regurgetation of a press release. I’ve never liked Tom English (what little I’ve read by him) and always felt he was over-rated, but this is certainly ‘brave’ by Scottish MSM standards. Perhaps, though, he’s still playing safe by dragging Celtic into a Sevco/Longmuir plan. With the anger every Celtic fan feels over the LNS whitewash I doubt Peter Lawwell would risk getting into bed with Green and Longmuir, no matter how much Celtic would benefit from their plans. Only Green has been mouthing off about moving to England and Longmuir sounds too much like him for this not to be Rangers driven. Someone as ‘stealthy’ as Lawwell would not allow such a blatant stitch-up, if he was indeed involved with this latest nonsense. As for Longmuir, well, will these idiots that run Scottish football ever stop proving they are idiots?
So T’Rangers fans are going to boycott all away games if 12-12-18 goes ahead, because they wont be “promoted” as the 24th club despite the fact they finished in 33rd place.
This is simply dealt with in one of two ways
T’Rangers are crowned SFL3 champions and are promoted to SFL2.
League reconstruction to 12-12-18 takes place one season later with clear statement that there will be no promotion or relegation just placings based on overall position in pyramid.
or
T’Rangers are crowned SFL3 champions and are promoted to SFL2.
SFL then disband as a league and new body announces league placings will be based on overall finishing positioning in SFL.
Of course league bodies might decide to make up some new rules to invite clubs with better facilities (my favourite is now undersoil heating) to join the top league.
That wouldn’t happen of course because that would be fixing the game. Not in Scotland.
Never?
I would desperately like to see a league structure based on a broad spread of competitive strength, to allow Aberdeen, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee Utd, and the others to know that they can have a crack at winning league titles, as well as cups, if they are well managed and can get the right players and manager. Years ago I drove a couple of hours to get to Dens Park one evening to see a league cup final replay between Dundee United and Aberdeen. I didn’t support either club, but I went just because it looked like being a cracking match between two fine teams, which it was.
Any ‘big’ Scottish team is going to remain a ‘wee’ team in the European scene, as long as the huge finances of Man U, Bayern, Real Madrid etc keep going. Trying to artificially boost opportunities for any Scottish team to allow them to compete regularly with the big boys is still only like offering them extra servings of porridge, then asking them to compete against teams on (financial) steroids.
If a team goes to play in a different league then that’s a different argument, but at this stage still pie in the sky. Even contemplating that as being a basis on which to reconstruct the leagues is crazy. It is surely only by spreading the power, money and influence that a small country like ours can hope to build up a solid footballing environment, potentially produce footballers of note, and maybe even drive up attendances across the board, not just for the occasional visit of a big team. I see ample evidence of the authorities’ perception that they have a ‘Rangers problem’ that they need to resolve.I’ve yet to be convinced by anything I’ve heard that the authorities are trying to make Aberdeen, Dundee or St Mirren the best they can be.
Regarding the intention of Sevco fans to boycott ALL away games if the 12-12-18 proposal goes
ahead…
What about spreading the love? making new friends along the way?…
Or is this another attempt at a world record?…
Most boycotts by one set of fans ever?
an almost monthly event since they were founded…
Oh!
Judging by the standard of football being watched by Sevco supporters at the moment I fear one
or two may well be considering boycotting the home fixtures as well!!!
dentarthurdent42 says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 08:56
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This site is not “anti Rangers”.
It is anti-favouritism and anti corruption.
The fact that the only real favouritism and corruption demonstrated over the last couple of years has been to the benefit of Rangers, both old and new, is the fault of the aurthorities and rangers themselves. not this forum, or the people who post on it.
The fact that the only club is involved in bullying, threatening and calling for people to “name names” and that the authorities repeatedly refuse to do anything about it is the fault of rangers and those authorities, not TSFM.
The fact of the matter is, if one is currently looking at favouritism, corruption, bullying, threats and harrassment in Scottish football, then one is looking directly at Rangers and the people controlling the governing bodies. That does not make this an “anti-Rangers” site, the alternatives are to ignore the issues or to walk away.
—————-
Very true dentarthur.
In reality, the most current stories concern Hearts, Dunfermline & the re-shaping of the league structure. But Green & co keep propelling themselves into the headlines. They apparently need the oxygen of publicity to maintain the business profile and share price. That they often choose to make outrageous statements only serves to focus the eye of the sceptic on what’s going on. With a broadcast such as the SSB fast becoming the nightly ‘Rangers Phone In’, and the SFL supremo now showing his true colours, thank goodness for sites like this that maintain a critical eye on events.
Why is it that the Scottish football authorities should combine, so readily, to facilitate a Rangers to enter the SFL, despite their not complying with the rules regarding entry, then a few months later the chief executive of the SFL is suggesting they will, in all probability, be leaving Scottish football. Surely, if a club is intending leaving the league within a short time of entering, they should recieve absolutely no help whatsoever from the league and certainly not have gained entry ahead of any club which intends remaining indefinitely, whether or not that club had a better claim for admittance (which a number do/did). Don’t these people realise that the game in Scotland has already lost many fans to English clubs due to the much higher standard of product, and that, should TRFC and Celtic move to the English league, even more will abandon their clubs to follow them, albeit from their armchairs? Should, in the fullness of time, it come to pass that both, or one, of these clubs moves elsewhere, the Scottish league has a duty to every other club to make it as difficult and uncomfortable as possible for them, and certainly not propose something that will not only belittle Scottish football further, but also draw the best young talent in the country away from the other, more deserving, clubs.
Another way to look at it might be: if TRFC leaves Scottish football it will take 45,000 regular attendees out of the Scottish game. If the SFA/SPL/SFL had allowed Rangers to die, then a large percentage of these fans would have found other SCOTTISH clubs to follow. Is it too much to expect someone from the MSM to ask Longmuir why he backed TRFC entering the SFL when he fully expects them to leave of their own volition sometime soon?
chipsandblog says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 11:57
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allyjambo says
Tom English thinks Longmuir is a mouthpiece for Green and Lawwell. I tend to agree with him.
——————————————————
Nonsense, Celtic are a professionally run club and would have little to do with Longmuir and nothing to do with loose cannon club owners whether they be Green or Maroon.
_______________________________________________
I didn’t say that! If you care to re-read my post @ 9.58 I said I doubted Lawwell would get involved in anything to do with Green or Longmuir. I also suggested that Tom English had dragged Celtic/Peter Lawwell into it because he wasn’t brave enough not to.
Re: the Tom English piece.
Why on earth would the FA want Rangers and Celtic? Extra revenue? Possibly – but let’s be honest, Rangers and Celtic as an ‘international brand’ is famous for one thing – bitter, religious-based rivalry. THAT is why people watch that game. The undercurrent of violence and politics IS the big draw. Be under no illusion that it is the chance to see to grand old teams produce silky football. That is why I watch Old Firm games…it has an edge.
Now, transplant that to England. What would Rangers and Celtic’s internal Modue Operandi be? No longer locked in perpetual battle, they would have other enemies to contend with but when they do meet…then what?
Do they give the viewers what they want? Like two circus lions jumping through hoops? Do they play their parts and fulfil their respective roles. Earn their keep and start brawling. Maybe generate some eye-catching figures for the English papers about blood spilled on the streets of Glasgow. do the braindead amongst the fanbases show the english what real rivalry is like? Why not? They knew what they were buying when they let is in.
Sounds nasty eh? distasteful? yes, but entirely realistic. I would not want to be the Chief Executive of the FA who wanted to play with fire and get burned.
The Old Firm, good or bad, are Scotland’s problem. No one elses. Each with great, genuinely awesome elements. But together? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
The notion that Rangers (or Celtic) will be leaving Scottish football any time soon is at best fanciful.
I have seen nothing whatsoever to support or substantiate it. It has been discussed for years and it is no closer now than it ever was.
If an argument has as it’s starting point nonsense, then the argument itself can reasonably be taken to be nonsense.
easyJambo says: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 09:07
Tom English thinks Longmuir is a mouthpiece for Green and Lawwell. I tend to agree with him.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-english-longmuir-sounds-like-old-firm-talking-1-2835125
==============
EJ, I think TE destroys his own argument. Unfortunately I can’t give the anti as briefly as you gave the pro. The two ideas of playing in bigger competition, and having colts in Scottish league are not new: Queens Park in England around 1900, big Jock with “Quality Street Kids” about 1970. I believe there are currently 42 clubs in Scotland who would jump at the chance to play in England.
Tom English attempts to show that PL, DL and CG are working together behind closed doors to achieve both of these previously failed outcomes. He has taken on board the “no quotes” criticism of MSM wonderland writing by giving loads of quotes. The trouble is they’re his own make-believe speech attributed to others, “So, lads, here’s the plan..” and so on.
He admits that the colts notion is dead in the water. He asks what Longmuir is at. In a real quote, he gives Peter Scudamore’s “No means never” prediction on when Celtic and TRFC will gain access to English league football. The conclusion is that there will be no colts in Scottish Leagues, no Scottish clubs in English Leagues The position is clear. TE thereby demolishes his own thesis. Yet he still opines that Green and Lawwell couldn’t have written it better. We know DL and CG’s grand plan. Why would PL be wasting his time?
There’s no need to ask what TE is about. He had to produce 2000 words with a deadline looming. He managed it.
chipsandblog says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 11:57
Nonsense, Celtic are a professionally run club and would have little to do with Longmuir and nothing to do with loose cannon club owners whether they be Green or Maroon.
—————————————————————————–
Tom English’s article is certainly a departure from the usual standards we are subjected to these days, but his motives puzzle me as does Longmuir’s communication to his association’s clubs.
English may be using Lawwell as a buffer re: his reference to the Longmuir/Green alliance he has recently cited. However Longmuir did state that Celtic supported his proposal to the SFL, so if I was an SPL club chairman I would be seeking clarification from Lawwell as to why he apparently supports Longmuir’s 12-12-10-10 proposal when he is on record as stating 12-12-18 was the best available option. Could Celtic be playing at both ends?
However it is more likely that English is merely dusting down the tried and trusted “old firm united” argument which the media are increasingly deploying as the case for an accelerated placement of T’Rangers in the top flight is made.
Paw Broon retiring at the end of the season, will be punted upstairs at Pittodrie. Mr C Levein being mentioned as possible replacement. Erk.
AllyJambo,
apologies
willmacufree says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:28
I agree with you entirely, and repeat that I think the only reason Tom English brought Celtic and Peter Lawwell into it was because he wasn’t brave enough not to. While there are similarities between what Longmuir says and Greens outbursts on the same subject, there is no similarity with anything Lawwell has said, so English is merely covering himself with the TRFC fans to appear ballanced and not ‘picking’ on their club. Whatever plans Peter Lawwell has regards Celtic’s future, I sense he is much too wise a man to ever get involved with fools like Longmuir, and I doubt he’d share his plans, before announcing them publicly, with any of the other idiots at Hampden either.
angus1983 says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:30
I take it you are referring to Mr.Craig Brown?
I paraphrase my abiding memory of Wee Craigy,
“If you discount the actual goals scored I think you’ll find that we had more corners than them”…
Craig Brown, member of the “Largs Mafia”, and an originator of some of the myriad problems
Scottish football is beset with…
undoubtedly a nice wee man…
but!
Boycott boycott how many more times are we to hear this term.
Their arrogance is beyond belief, they are of the opinion that Scottish football will not survive without them. Another term they also refer to is the word threat.
In fact instead of calling them The Rangers I now refer to them as Threat Rangers for reasons we are all aware of.
chipsandblog says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:32
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AllyJambo,
apologies
____________________
Accepted 🙂 . I think you might have got my post mixed up with that of Easyjambo.
I am against the idea of a “colt” team
If Celtic were to have a B team in the lower leagues – it would be good for celtic, competitive football for youngsters, charging admission to watch the reserves (i believe reserve/youth games are free to ST holders – i may be wrong) it would allow them to bring in more young players – depriving opponents of them – and let them play and retain the best, discarding the others
Other clubs may get a slightly bigger home gate – if the BIG team are away that day – but it will bring additional costs. And ultimately, the whole league will use credibility as nothing more than a training ground for Celtics kids.
IMO
What I WOULD be in favour of is a relaxation of the rules around loaning players
SPL clubs could “adopt” 2 or 3 local clubs to be used as feeders
the could loan each club at 4 4/5 players at any one time
they could provide coaching for those clubs (not just their own players)
the players could be youngsters on a long term loan to get experience or they could be older/experienced pros coming back from injury
the loans could be anything from 1 week long to 1 season long – allowing clubs to loan a player out for 3-4 weeks in the knowledge they can be recalled should they be needed for 1st team duty
These rules would only apply to those clubs offically “adopted” at the start of each season – and they could change year on year to spread the love around other clubs
Outwith those clubs, normal loan rules apply
This might give a boost to every club as some SPL fans will choose to watch a local “feeder” team who will be playing 3/4 of their big teams reserves
But it would allow the smaller clubs to retain their own identity/fanbase and integrity in their own league/cup competitions
angus1983 says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:30
My overwhelming memory of Craig Brown is sending out a team with 7 (Count ’em. Seven!!) defenders for a Euros qualification match against Belgium that we had to win – that’s win, as in having a bit of attacking intent. I almost don’t need to add that we lost, 2-0.
Although, it’s not far ahead of the friendly against Australia where he brought on 36 year old Colin Hendry as a sub. Learn anything new from that did you, Craigie?
I think Levein and Aberdeen may be a match made in heaven – he had a lot of very good ideas about restructuring Dundee United, and actually putting the emphasis on technique. Aberdeen have a fairly good production line of youngsters, albeit ones that seem to reach a bit of ceiling and don’t go any further. With a bit of encouragement from Levein, they could actaully fulfill their potential, and that would be good news for both Aberdeen and Scotland – not to mention Scottish football. It’s probably no co-incidence that the last time we were consistently doing well in Europe at club level was when we had a good spread of teams challenging for the league.
valentinesclown says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:43
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Boycott boycott how many more times are we to hear this term.
Their arrogance is beyond belief, they are of the opinion that Scottish football will not survive without them. Another term they also refer to is the word threat.
In fact instead of calling them The Rangers I now refer to them as Threat Rangers for reasons we are all aware of.
…………………………………………………
The best quote on this that I’ve seen is from a blue mouthpiece:
He told the Scottish Sun:
“The only thing that is pushing this is……. short-sighted finance.”
Oh, the irony. 🙂
Levein for the Dons-no thanks
allyjambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:40
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willmacufree says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 12:28
I agree with you entirely, and repeat that I think the only reason Tom English brought Celtic and Peter Lawwell into it was because he wasn’t brave enough not to. While there are similarities between what Longmuir says and Greens outbursts on the same subject, there is no similarity with anything Lawwell has said, so English is merely covering himself with the TRFC fans to appear ballanced and not ‘picking’ on their club. Whatever plans Peter Lawwell has regards Celtic’s future, I sense he is much too wise a man to ever get involved with fools like Longmuir, and I doubt he’d share his plans, before announcing them publicly, with any of the other idiots at Hampden either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well said allyjambo. I agree entirely with your reasoning behind including Lawwell’s name in the article. Longmuir’s use of his name imitates many comments from Green when he has brought Celtic/Lawwell’s name into his statements without foundation.
I see that the Pie & Bovril blogger (St Mirren man I think) tweeted this morning that he had heard ‘credible rumours’ that Green was in talks with Longmuir about a post at Ibrox. We don’t know if there’s any element of truth in that at all but in all honesty who would be surprised ? No rumours that Lawwell having similar discussions with the man from the SFL.
thereek says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 14:31
I suspect that English is taking advantage of Peter Lawwell’s reticence to speak out on anything to do with TRFC, to use his name in this way. Even if Lawwell is blazing mad over this use of his name, I’d expect him to stay quiet, or else every time he remains quiet in future, whatever is said will be interpreted as the truth.
With regards to Longmuir’s TRFC links, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some talks with Green along those lines, but suspect they are more likely to be in terms of a CO Mark II, with Longmuir remaining as head of the SFL until TRFC move up to the SPL when he will be a shoe in for a top job there. There really are too many ‘friends of Rangers’ at the top of Scottish football for it to be accidental. Perhaps any talks of moving to TRFC would be as a reward for helping to facilitate their move to the EPL? Just thought of that, and immediately it makes sickening sense!
thereek says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 14:31
Celtic will not respond directly as that puts focus on them. However the latest CQN blog is usually an indicator of Celtic thinking.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=11857&cpage=3#comment-1749023
Allyjambo @ 12.40.
Dead on! Our massive problem is that people have got jobs they’re not able for, because of “connections”. With a docile, compliant media at their beck and call they got away with it until now. The roots are deep.
Re Craig Levein as possible AFC manager…
Well, I’m no football manager, nor likely to be on the interview panel, but if they consider him they should get it in the contract that he promises never to send out a 4-6-0 formation. No Scottish side should ever do that,
abigboydiditandranaway says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 11:03
Regarding the intention of Sevco fans to boycott ALL away games if the 12-12-18 proposal goes
ahead…
What about spreading the love? making new friends along the way?…
Or is this another attempt at a world record?…
Most boycotts by one set of fans ever?
an almost monthly event since they were founded…
………………………………
It is very Monty Python….
‘Lets Boycott the Boycott of the Boycott…so we can get back to organising a proper Boycott that outshines all other Boycott’s’….step forward the chairman of the Boycott committee…Basil Boycott!
IMO Craig levein will not be managing any team fast, he is still being paid a large salary from the SFA, this will stop if he joins another club or the day his contract with the SFA finishes.
Captain Haddock says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 15:37
Re Craig Levein as possible AFC manager…
Well, I’m no football manager, nor likely to be on the interview panel, but if they consider him they should get it in the contract that he promises never to send out a 4-6-0 formation. No Scottish side should ever do that,
—————————————————————————————————————–
And also include 3-7-0, 2-8-0, 1-9-0, 5-5-0, 6-4-0, 7-3-0, 8-2-0, 9-1-0
I’ve no doubt that, if invited, Celtic would welcome the opportunity to field a youth, or reserve, team in SFL3, whether they remain in Scottish football or not. As would every other club, if they could afford it! I doubt, however, that they (Celtic) would connive with people who have been instrumental in the continuance (real or imaginary) of a club that they believe cheated them out of 5 league titles (Celtic may not have stated as much, but they are intelligent people and know the truth). It would also be sheer stupidity for a board that has seen the power that the Celtic supporters displayed at their darkest hour, to think they’d get away with planning anything, at least for a very long time, with any of the ‘Rangers’ saviours, regardless of any advantages it might bring Celtic.
The Hampden beaks have displayed a level of self-interest, or is it cowardice, for quite some time, that begs the question why? Why are they still acting for the benefit of one club, even if that action might benefit one other club? Why, when there are so many other things to be concerned about, are they raising the spectre of the two biggest clubs leaving Scottish football? If Celtic are conniving with TRFC to leave Scottish football, why are they not angry with both clubs and publicly berating them? Why are they again making pronouncements that belittle Scottish football? Then, of course, there’s the question what? What is in it for them, the Hampden beaks?
Mr Lunny is happy to back the away boycott ,remember him.
I support a team currently in Division 2. What would playing Sevco twice a season involve? Two games you can’t take the kids to. Town centre off limits two Saturday afternoons. Little extra income, given ours is a small ground, and the security entail massive. 180 minutes listening to how everything is somebody else’s fault. Oh, and if your centre forward scores, he’s regaled as a child abuser.
Boycott away, chaps. Boycott to your hearts’ content.
I think they should boycott home and away.
Looking forward to the announcement of Rangers’ Far Eastern pre-season trip to North Korea. Isolationists of the world, unite!
No, hang on…
Re Celtic and sevco 2012 leaving Scottish fluteball
If Celtic were looking to move would they need sevco 2012 in tow ,what purpose would they serve .In fact IMO they would be a big negative to bring to the table ,think about it what have sevco 2012 or the dead relative brought to Scottish football that is positive .
intimidation
bigotry
riots
threats
boycotts
cheating
rule breaking
bile
WATP attitude
tax evasion
debt dumping
apologies from TV companies due to poisoned chanting
HMRC liabilities
police liabilities
toxic debts
vendettas
future threats
apart from that they will be a great addition to any league .
No Celtic if there is any chance of moving from Scottish fluteball will be IMO doing it on a us only basis and if sevco 2012 can bluff their way in then so be it .In fact if Celtic found a way out why would there be any need for a sevco based rivalry ,there would be plenty of rivals to play against ,football rivals that is and that’s the only rivals I and many more fans ever wanted .
I must add that I have never been a fan of my club leaving Scottish football but after seeing what has went on this year ,I believe staying in Scottish fluteball is now not an option .
Re the boycotting of all away grounds next term if sevco 2012 don’t get what they want .
It seems to have been lost on the sevco fans that the sfl clubs have survived up till now without the blue pound ,in fact I bet there is not a single one of them who are losing £1m per month ,so they don’t NEED your money ,it’s not something they budgeted for (unlike some SPL clubs) it’s just a wee pay day that fell into their lap when a previous club could not pay their debts .
For those of you who have questioned my earlier comment re the Tom English article I’d add the following reasoning.
Prior to RFC’s demise, it was reasonable to state that Celtic represented approximately one third of Scottish football, Rangers one third, and the rest of the clubs one third combined. I think we are all agreed that one of the key things that would help Scottish football through the mess it finds itself is leadership.
For a club that should be seen to be leading from the front, Celtic have been strangely quiet over the past year. What do we actually know about how they see the future of Scottish football from their comments or actions? Very little. In fact their only apparent interest is what they see as best for Celtic Football Club rather than the wider health of the game.
What are their current views on reconstruction? Colt teams? Financial distribution?
Their public silence on the Rangers situation may well have been dignified, but what little has emerged seems more politically focussed so as not to rock the boat towards restoring TRFC back to the SPL.
A statement on integrity before voting against Sevco Scotland gaining direct access to the SPL ( decision driven by Celtic fans rather than the Board’s own view?) An expression of surprise at the outcome of the LNS commission.
Hardly earth shattering in terms of leadership.
What else do we know?
Celtic are still looking to explore options of leaving Scottish Football should the possibility exist.
Invited to join the “closed shop” Nextgen series for three years, offering development of their own youth talent, and receiving funding for their involvement, leaving other clubs without even the opportunity to participate.
What about their input to the McLeish proposals? A 10 team league?, Colt teams?
I would find it astonishing if Celtic, through Peter Lawwell, is not continuing to pull the strings of the SFA, SPL and now the SFL. Just as Green has to be outspoken in order to keep the Bears onside, I suspect that Lawwell’s public persona of not commenting is simply to avoid alienating their fan base while they progress activities aimed at restoring the former duopoly in terms of control of the domestic game.
jonnyod says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 17:48
Re Celtic and sevco 2012 leaving Scottish fluteball
================
Here’s a wee thought. What if the plan is not to get Celtic and TRFC out of Scottish Football. What if it is only Celtic that the blazers and TRFC want out of here? With a ‘Colt’ team in the lower reaches of the league that would mean a home game at the Mike Ashley Arena EVERY week. !!Kerching!!. Also, removing Celtic from the fray will give TRFC an almost free hand to go and win gazzillions of league titles to add to the erm! none that they have just now. Having said that, if Celtic leave a Colt team as a legacy they would probably be up there challenging for the top honours anyway. Would’nt they?
allyjambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 14:57
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thereek says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 14:31
I suspect that English is taking advantage of Peter Lawwell’s reticence to speak out on anything to do with TRFC, to use his name in this way. Even if Lawwell is blazing mad over this use of his name, I’d expect him to stay quiet, or else every time he remains quiet in future, whatever is said will be interpreted as the truth.
With regards to Longmuir’s TRFC links, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some talks with Green along those lines, but suspect they are more likely to be in terms of a CO Mark II, with Longmuir remaining as head of the SFL until TRFC move up to the SPL when he will be a shoe in for a top job there. There really are too many ‘friends of Rangers’ at the top of Scottish football for it to be accidental. Perhaps any talks of moving to TRFC would be as a reward for helping to facilitate their move to the EPL? Just thought of that, and immediately it makes sickening sense!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You’ve been reading too many conspiracy novels allyjambo. Either that or you’ve been following the RTC & TSFM blogs for the past two years where we’ve seen that the more outrageous the suggestion the more likely it is to be true in Scottish fitba. The thought of a CO Mark II fills me with despair. You’ll get the credit for adding that phrase to the blog’s lexicon.
http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/football/raith-rovers/rovers-rally-round-rivals-1-2837330
Turnbull Hutton “This is all about Longmuir getting into bed with Rangers”
THEY may be bitter rivals on the football field, but Raith Rovers have joined the fight to help Dunfermline Athletic survive.
Rovers welcome the cash-strapped Pars to Stark’s Park on Saturday for what could be the last ever Fife derby – unless the visitors can be pulled back from the brink of liquidation.
Dunfermline’s dire situation has prompted their Kirkcaldy neighbours to offer to donate the gate receipts from every away fan over the 2000 mark to the Dunfermline Athletic Steering Group led, by Jim Leishman.
It’s an offer that could see the visiting club net anything up to £12,000, depending on the turnout.
With the match pay at the gate, club chairman Turnbull Hutton hopes that the offer proves to be a win-win situation for both clubs.
“We had 1800 away fans at Stark’s Park for the last derby – and that was before the Pars meltdown really kicked in,” he said.
“I doubt if there would have been 1000 fans in the away end this Saturday, and given the apathy of our support after our defeat last week we were looking at a low crowd for a Fife derby.
“Hopefully this offer not only mobilises the Dunfermline fans, but gives our fans a challenge to turn out in big numbers and make themselves heard.
“We’re not doing this to be magnanimous towards mismanagement at Dunfermline, we’re trying to get a bigger crowd for our home game.
“We’ve had some fans saying we shouldn’t be donating any money towards Dunfermline, but in any other business it would be called good marketing.”
Meanwhile, league reconstruction took another twist this week when SFL chief executive David Longmuir put forward alternative proposals.
Instead of the preferred 12-12-18 on the table, he has suggested a 12-12-10-10 set-up with the two extra places created going to Rangers and Celtic colt teams,
With the SPL and SFL due to vote on league reconstruction in four weeks, Hutton slammed the timing of the new proposal, and branded the idea as “silly”.
“Who wants a league with colt teams in it?” he asked. “We’ve already got a colt team league.
“All the talk about Rangers and Celtic leaving Scottish football has been going on for the last decade and they are still here.
“This is all about Longmuir getting into bed with Rangers, and we will be rebelling against it.
“People need to get a grip and accept that the 12-12-18 proposal is the best deal that’s been around Scottish football for 20 years – sign up to it and move on.
Interesting
Graham Spiers @SpiersGraham
@TomEnglishSport Did you read the email from #TicketUs ? Appears they are Greens backers Interesting what will happen when it gets out!
Graham Spiers @SpiersGraham Fake accont 🙂
easyJambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 18:07
=============================================
Have you seen how the media treat Celtic?
Silence is the best option.
jonnyod says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 17:52
I must add that I have never been a fan of my club leaving Scottish football but after seeing what has went on this year ,I believe staying in Scottish fluteball is now not an option .
===========================
You Staggies are a fickle bunch.
easyJambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 18:07
===========================
Can you provide some details of what statements the other clubs have made in relation to this issue. I’m interested in why you are having a pop at Celtic, rather than Hearts, Hibs, Ross County etc.
Can you also let me know how Celtic’s board can really do anything other than look after the best interests of the PLC and it’s shareholders, given that doing that is actually their legal obligation.
Celtic are no special case in either of these things btw. Celtic should not attempt to take a more prominent role than any other club.
Celtic’s board should comment on issues which effect Celtic, it’s shareholders and it’s fans (often the same thing). It is not only their obligation, but history tells us they would be publicly mauled if they were to do otherwise. It would be just what the MSM were looking for to take attention away from the actual issues and make it about a Celtic v Rangers rivalry. It isn’t, it’s about Rangers’ lying cheating and stealing and about the Scottish football authorities doing everything in their power to help both the old club and the new club.
Speaking as one of those fans /shareholders I am happy about how our board have played this. I know a lot of other Celtic fan’s disagree, however I can live with that. I also think that Henrik Larsson was our greatest ever player, that is far from being universally accepted.
easyJambo says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 18:07
Appreciate your input on many matters, re Celtic influence I believe you have over-emphasised our influence.
Imagine the Red Top headlines : ” White Smoke from Parkhead – Lawell sets new Direction for Scottish Football” – our silence last year assisted in the new Rangers not being allowed in to the SPL, if we had waded in then all the traditional Scottish DNA would have kicked in and before you can say , “Nimmo, Nimmo, on the wall who is the fairest team of all” , a campaign would have been mounted to get them back at the top table.
Celtic and Rangers will be going nowhere soon, Rangers with their new set of financial problems will not want to be in the SPL as the very average squad that they could assemble will wilt under the pressure of playing in front of loyal home support. They will work their way up the leagues slowly, Celtic will win lots of league flags and our board will crack open the champagne at our bitterest rivals self inflicted purgatory at every opportunity.
Scottish football is what it is, Celtic may have the money , none of us are privy to what goes in the boardroom (champange drinking excepted) , so Celtic may be exercising influence behind the scene., However the football industry leaks like a sieve when it wants to, so my judgement is that Celtic have no more influence than Aberdeen or Dundee United, and to literally keep the public peace we need to maintain a saintly silence.
Hope the Jambos sort themselves out , enjoy the games.
I tend to agree with EJ that about Celtic’s lack of public pronouncement.
To be clear at the outset I am not comparing his personality and statesmanship with Charles Green, but their jobs are comparable, and what we have all realised over the past year is that when Green talks, he talks to the masses. I suspect Lawwell’s professional opinions are not what his followers want to hear..so best keep quiet.
What has also become crystal clear is the difference between director and fan…a fan is only interested in the sport while the director is only interested in the money. It is rare for both to be happy at the same time.
My final thought is that at the moment Scottish football is not being guided by the SFA, the clubs or the fans…it seems that the group whose actions speak loudest are the bullet-posters. This ewho shold be showing leadership are intimidated and hiding. But the bullet-posters are the only ones to have taken any action at all. We need a lawful show of solidarity from club and fans alike to clearly state the direction the fans want to take.
Do we even have that yet?
ekbhoy says:
Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 19:21
Oh ekbhoy, for heavans sake, you do know that Messers Lawell and Riley sit on the bloody SFA and SPL boards? While I don’t believe Mr Lawell would have been stupid enough to get involved in Mr Longmuir’s piece of nonsense, to think that he and Mr Riley haven’t been up to their kneck in the goings on over the last year is more than a wee bit niaf! You are right, Scottish Fitba does leak like a sieve and if either of them had ever given voice to criticism at any board meetings, we would have heard about it.
Scapaflow14
Redtop headline , “Lawell and Riley steer Scottish football on to the rocks / up to their necks in snubbing Rangers / to the promised land ‘. Take your pick
You have as much evidence to support your claims as I have in the Celtic directors quaffing champagne at each board meeting when it gets to AOB.
Who cares what the Celtic directors have been up to , they publicly can’t say or be percieved to influence events … that is why there is silence …..
Off out to eat with work colleagues, see if we can club our nightly allowance for a glass of champagne ….
Still a few more games before the flag unfurls , and looking forward to some better games when the clocks go forward.