Good Morning,
In the last week, we have seen a number of strange occurrences in Scottish Football, which if taken together might just point to a very different land than the one we were lead to believe we live in just two short years ago.
First of all there was the report from a firm of well known accountants which pronounced that a significant number of Scottish Football Clubs had, in fact, sold more season tickets for this coming season than they had in the course of the last several years.
Then we had the spectacle of the National team travelling to Wembley and playing very well AND being cheered on by a very large travelling support who appear to have been full of fun and who acquitted themselves well in the big smoke.
This morning I read that today’s match at Pittodrie is a sell out — with the old stadium being packed to the rafters for the visit of Celtic. This is the first time that Aberdeen have been able to sell out the fixture for some 6 years!
Not only that, various Celtic supporting websites have lead with articles saying that the return of a strong Aberdeen and Dundee United are to be welcomed– in fact not only welcomed but positively wished for.
In contrast, stories abound about the in fighting on the Ibrox Board. There are surreptitious share dealings and all sorts of company jockeying being deployed by the rival factions who are trying to gain control of The Rangers. Further, there is the suggestion from some well informed parties that not only will Ibrox and the Albion be sold and leased back to the club to generate much needed immediate cash, but that Murray Park has been sold off completely and will no longer be available to The Rangers for any purpose whatsoever!
Clearly, there are big troubles at the club which will not assist in the stated intention of rising to the very top in Scottish Football.
In between all of this, the debate goes on about Campbell Ogilvie, Press manipulation, the correspondence between Media House and the SFA, and between The SFA and Ibrox re the relationship between Charlie Green and Craig Whyte and so on.
Standing with my business hat on, I looked at all of this and wondered what it all meant, and pretty quickly reached the conclusion that we are now in a time of supreme opportunity for some of the clubs in Scottish Football—- particularly Aberdeen FC.
There is a view abroad, that in the absence of the “Strong Rangers” that Celtic Football Club will win the SPFL title for almost evermore — or at least until they are toppled from the top spot by the rise of a strong Rangers club somewhere towards the end of this decade or early in the next– because we are assured that they will be back– in one form or another– in a rather Arnold Schwarzenegger like fashion.
That return or initial rise if you like– its timing and its manner— is dependent on a number of things– not least the exit strategy of Charlie Green and his cohorts.
If it is true that The Rangers are going to part company with Ibrox and the Albion, that they have taken on a loan of funds which attract a rate of interest that amounts to 15% per annum, and that there are set figures for buying the old ( and decaying ) stadium back any time soon, and that they have yet again hawked the season ticket money, then the already flawed Ibrox business plan is burdened even more by interest and rent payments of an additional £3M per annum and rising!
It should also be noted that the accounts for old co from the mid naughties onwards boasted that season ticket sales, merchandising, corporate hospitality and so on had reached unprecedented levels—- but—- the club still did not make an operating profit without strange internals transactions such as the repurchase of media rights which added £15M on to the P&L’s AND the sale of Jean Alain Boomsong!
Accordingly, the current position will not make for good financial reading.
So– let’s presume that in the current climate Celtic are out of sight and will always be champions for ever and a day. What do the rest of the clubs say in the absence of the Ibrox club without whom they have been told they will perish?
Well, If I were in charge of Aberdeen FC I would look out across a city with an inherent population of some 220,000 souls sitting in a county which takes the population up by another 40,000 or so. I would note that the compact city also houses two universities and a number of colleges — all of which attract visitors to the city— and that its position as the oil capital of Europe also draws in a substantial number of itinerant workers.
Further, personal knowledge shows that many who studied at Aberdeen University or Robert Gordon’s in the 80’s left the city as Aberdeen FC fans and no matter where they have ended up in life they still make the journey back to Pittodrie when they can– especially in good times!
Alas, however, Aberdeen has not enjoyed ” Good Times” of late— in fact not really since ……….. the arrival of David Murray at Ibrox!
If you cast your mind back to the pre Murray era, Aberdeen were a force not only in Scotland but Europe as the recent nostalgia re Gothenburg has reminded us.
The city has an economic micro climate which suggests that it can ride economic hardship better than most and so all things considered this current period provides a great opportunity for the Dons.
Unlike Dundee United, Hearts, and Hibs, Aberdeen FC sits in a large one team conurbation and should be on the doorstep of a populace which can fill Pittodrie every single week …… IF that fan base can be motivated.
And there lies the rub– how do you get a notoriously fickle fan base out of the armchair and into the stadium?
The late Bob Crampsey once described Pittodrie by saying ” And there are the masses of Aberdeen fans, masquerading as rows and rows of Empty seats!” yet in their heydey an Aberdeen crowd on a visit to Glasgow were among the noisiest– and to this football fans eyes — the scariest ( in a good sense ) supports to be seen.
Well, at this juncture, Derek McInnes and team need only look at every other football club in the land ( bar Celtic ) and determine that come next May those others will be below them in the league. If Aberdeen maintain a strong league run keeping everyone behind them then there is the possibility of a huge revenue swing in favour of the Dons– such a swing that would put them in an even stronger position for the following year.
Further, Aberdeen are a European name. Perhaps a European name from yesteryear and not the recent past, but the pedigree is there and as such there will be those who remember the heady European Nights both home and away. Reviving those memories and that reputation– at least to an extent– is not beyond the club, and with no disrespect to Motherwell and St Johnstone both of whom are liable to lose key players or even a manager between seasons, Aberdeen may just be of a size to consolidate each year rather than scramble to maintain the momentum of one good season which comes along every now and then.
Financial management and football rewards can go hand in hand when combined properly, and of all the clubs in Scotland who can benefit from a level playing field in terms of proper football governance, Aberdeen FC are uniquely placed in my opinion.
That is not so say that The Arabs, or the Hibees or anyone else cannot benefit– on the contrary— but the Dons are the most obvious candidates in terms of potential structure to really motor forward and regain a by gone status.
Such a situation, and the recognition of that potential, should be borne in mind by all at Celtic Football Club, as last year they struggled for a period in the league while they concentrated on their European exploits. If Celtic want to go further and further in Europe ( and why shouldn’t they ) they will have to be wary of any club which is capable of reigniting its fortunes from a lowly position or a position of having to look back at glory and potential glory rather than looking forward.
Further, with the way things are being organised at Ibrox, there is absolutely no guarantee ( some would say likelihood ) that an eventual challenge to a perceived dominance by Celtic will come from that quarter, and life in the top flight for any returning Rangers could prove very difficult if the likes of Aberdeen get their act together and start to produce the type of home grown team of old.
For now, I sense a degree of optimism about the Dons– not just on the playing front either. They have a fan base, they have a business model and a good young manager, and any comparative business exercise must conclude that they have every chance of rising above most of their rivals in the league, in terms of revenue, in terms of brand development and business expansion.
If I were an Aberdeen fan I would like to think positive and be ambitious in this climate, whilst at the same time casting an eye back to the days when they were top of the tree.
As one Aberdeen supporting ( but now Edinburgh based ) friend put it to me:
” Ah, those were the days my friend, those were the days……………”
Good Morning,
Like many on here I would not buy the red top rags.
I do have a sneak at the Daily Liar on line.
McCoist’s alleged statement today is absolutely incredulous.
Ally do you not know that you cannot spend money you don’t have?
If you spend someone else’s money it is usually called debt.
Was debt not how Rangers first died.
I wonder which creditor is going to get stiffed in pursuit of this insane policy.
I sincerely hope that Hector’s collectors are on top of this mob. It would not go down well if they were allowed to run up a debt by non payment of VAT and PAYE like their previous club.
Maybe it’s just the gullible fans who will be parted from their cash, but then they never listened in the first place.
It is a long time since I did any conveyancing but perhaps some legal could confirm whether or not it is possible for a Title to be in someone’s possession but remain unrecorded until it suits them to present it to the Registrar. Equally is it possible that even if CW is not sitting on the Deed that he has a set of Missives (an offer and acceptance of that offer) which give him the right to Title.
Someone must know what aces CW has up his sleeve.
Great post BRTH.
If the powers that be had spent the past 2 years looking at the positives of our game rather than predicting Armageddon,all to save one club,then we’d be in a much better place.That,to me is the biggest crime of all.
Another fine post BRTH.
Aberdeen have always been my second team from when I was a boy, thanks to a summer spent diving around pretending to be Jim Leighton in my silver Scotland goalkeepers kit.
The auld firm is dead. Scotland needs a strong new firm.
Hoopy 7 says:
August 17, 2013 at 10:07 am
Fist of all I’m not a “legal” but my thoughts are:
1. I’m pretty sure you don’t have to register a deed immediately it is delivered to you, but it is certainly advisable to do so. The benefit of registering it is that you have the title guaranteed by the Land Register. Anyone searching the Land Register will know that you own it. It also allows you to record any security’s against the property. On the off chance you need to raise some cash in a hurry. As if.
I can’t think why Mr. CW would be sitting on a bona fide Disposition in his favour. Although he may be.
2. The Disposition by D&P (as Administrators) to Sevco was signed on the same day the CVA was voted against – I doubt they would have executed another Disposition prior to that – no doubt claiming that they didn’t know if the CVA would be successful or not.
3. Who would the deed be by? Sevco to a Mr. CW? Certainly possible. However unlikely.
4. I don’t know much about Missives, not being a legal.
Bravo to BRT&H – it kind of dispels the myth that “Scottish Football is on its knees” that I keep seeing being posted.
Excellent!
Aberdeen really do have a great chance to fill the gap…and everyone has to hope they do it…
But it’s not just them..there are a few smaller sleeping mini -giants ….who hopefully have been freed from under the heel of the Murray Masterton, SFA inspired Jackboot….there’s one down here..who are showing all the signs of a comeback..
Armageddon ….no..lets make the death of Rangers be a RENAISSANCE for the rest of Scottish football
Hello to all, I have been lurking for some time now, both here and RTC. I have never registerd before as quite frankly I have little to offer in comparison to many of the posters here.
I have registered this morning purely to reassure the posters that have been speculating on the impact of the blog, viewing figures etc. Keep fighting the good fight! Viewing figures may not be all that you had hoped for (yet) but I can assure you that your impact is being felt. I do my best to spread the information from this blog to everyone I can, given my often limited understanding of events. I am sure that other lurkers do likewise.
That’s all I wanted to say really, that and a big thank you for shining some light into Scottish football’s dark places. I may pop up from time to time with some comments (I feel like I earned the right after going through the tortuous registration process 😀 ), but I’ll try and keep the public head scratching to a minimum 😳
Good post BRTH !
As the brother of an Aberdeen supporting sister – she studied in Aberdeen – I welcome the renewed resurgence of the Pittodrie team. It’s early days under McInnes but the signs are positive. With all the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Doom-mongers – that the game was heading for disaster without a blue team at Ibrox to fill the coffers (how ironic) – to see Aberdeen find a new belief that they can challenge at the top of the league rather than scrap at the bottom is massively encouraging and healthy for our game.
With the recent news that a good number of clubs are hoping to turn a profit in the current season, it completely embarrasses all the journalists, Rangers fans looking for clubs to similarly go to the wall, and indeed the very people running our game saying it would not survive without a Rangers in the top leagues. In the case of Hearts, it was just a matter of time before Romanov fled the scene leaving the Jambos to pick up the pieces. I can’t believe they would follow, follow the lead of the new Rangers over another financial precipice. Who can say ?
Clubs around the country now, if they didn’t before, have a very real awareness that you can’t live outwith your means. You can’t pay inflated wages on the never never. No sly EBT scheme to keep your costs to a minimum and cheat the taxpayer, while still borrowing money you never paid back. Old Rangers, led by SDM, set the tone for a hopelessly misguided financial path.
Unbelievably, shockingly, comically and disasterously, new Rangers are following where the old one left. They are serving as a real time example of not how to run a football club, but how to line your pockets from the inside, in stocks and shares, and disappear from the scene of the crime when its time to cash in your chips. By then, whoever steps into the Duffers footsteps will have one almighty mess to unscramble, and the gullible TRFC fans, once so full of hope and optimism of climbing to the summit of Scottish football will be wallowing in the despair SDM, Green & Whyte have lavished on them.
For the rest of us, it’s time to rebuild our game – to see out the likes of Mr Ogilvie, not with a golden handshake akin to Longmuir, but with a litany of serious questions over his tenure ringing in his ears. Regan and Doncaster similarly have huge questions to answer around new Rangers licence etc.
The future is bright, the future is green, and red, and black and white and tangerine, etc… and will continue to be so, as long as clubs live within their means and see it as a chance to give youth players a chance to make the cut and strengthen the Scottish pool of players for the national game.
Even my sister is optimistic regarding her team, though I would expect that to be temporarily subdued this afternoon.
Totally agree that Scottish Fitba can re-invent itself in a positive way … But if clubs can improve attendances at home I would still like to see a return to a 16 or 18 team top tier … As most fans allegedly wish the same …. Reduce the fear factor … Increase the thunder ! ! !
Good one, BRTH.
The undoubted mood of hope that has been engendered might hopefully spur our clubs into examining the baneful results of leaving the Administration and Administrators of our game almost without supervision.
They must now be beginning to see that sweeping changes to the personnel on the Board of the SFA are long overdue, and that a far closer scrutiny of the future Board” actions and processes is very much required in the future.
Scottish Football is alive in spite of its administrators.
The clubs must see to it that its future administrators are men /women of integrity and personal honesty in their dealings both with them and with the footballing public.
Their starting point must be the ditching of the already compromised SFA board members.
.
Brilliant post BRTH! Magic!
As you said, there are many of the green persuasion that would welcome a strong challenge from AFC, or anyone. As long as it’s all above board and for the benefit of the game, why not?
I have touched on a story before of a ex work mate who was a fanatical bluenose. He wanted rfc to win
everything, absolutely everything! I mean… no others to win anything-ever!
This guy could not understand when I insisted that I did not want the same for my team, far from it in fact.
The more he badgered me on this, the more I became convinced he thought I was lying. It was so far removed from his mindset, the poor guy couldn’t cope.
Sometimes in life we just have to accept that we’re not all the same. The world would be a boring place if everyone agreed with me.
I don’t know for sure what makes me different from that guy or his ilk, but one things for sure- I am wasting my time trying to argue and change his mind for him when he doesn’t want to see the truth.
I differ because I isn’t a peepil, innit? 😈
it’s all there for Aberdeen, Dundee utd and Hibs, sure it involves a level of risk, but getting 2nd and third and getting into europe and beginning the climb will mean better quality opposition to Celtic, better ability to compete in Europe and further strength to deal with the ludicrous band of lunatics that are The Rangers should they not when they get back to the SFPL.
All good, Aberdeen are (in Scotland) a sleeping giant.
Excellent post BRTH. There is a monotonous litany emanating from Lamb Central about the loss of revenue in the SPL since the absence of Rangers. That loss is undeniable, but it is a false metric, and not the real story, since way in excess of 90% of the “lost” money goes to Rangers anyway (the same proportion as for all clubs).
The true test of the health of the game is how the money is distributed within the game and how individual clubs are performing relative to recent years.
For example 1/12 of 10% (assuming it is as much as 10%) lost to the other clubs is clearly looking like a lot less than those clubs are reclaiming through renewed interest from their own fanbases.
Leaving aside the petty (but not necessarily inaccurate) assertion that the absence of Rangers is actually encouraging families to return to the game, it must be clear to even the most myopic of “journalists” that the big loser financially due to Rangers’ absence is The Rangers, whilst the rest thrive.
My big worry is that the elephant may still be tied to the post at Aberdeen, Tannadice, and Easter Road (I absolve Hearts here because they have more important matters to address right now).
The comfort zone of the mindset that tells directors of clubs all over the country that “We need a Rangers” may have the capacity to make them hesitate as opportunity presents itself.
Things like the BDO report, and the positive approach to it that BRTH has outlined will hopefully have the effect of wakening clubs up to the notion that they are capable of growing in an interdependent environment, but without undue dependence on one club whose behaviour over the last three decades has contributed more to the decline of the industry than WWII, MTV, and games consoles combined
Good post.
Timely advice to be taken on board by SPFL and SFA. Run and grow the product you have instead if trying to remake an ersatz copy of a second rate model which has died. The clubs need to take back control of the game.
Oldbhoy99 has just done the same as me! Been lurkin for ages (RTC as well). I hope the other teams – I support Celtic – sieze the opportunity to dispel the myth of Armageddon and give Celtic a real good run for their money. I remember great atmospheres in the eighties against Aberdeen and Hearts and with mainly Scottish players. I feel that youth development is key for modern Scottish football to catch up with the rest of Europe. Along with telling people about this blog. I’ve lost count of the number of blank faces I have seen when debating with tabloid reading fans, simply by repeating info I’ve gleaned from the more knowledgable posters on here. So keep spreading the word people as ultimately it is in the fans hands where we end up.
What’s the craic…hector playing for the dons today !!!
Good post by BRTH, well done.
Also, well done to Leggo, for making references to Charlotte fakes and admitting he now has reservations regarding agents green, whyte and ahmad
http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.co.uk/
Good post.
Aberdeen are curently in a very good position to take advantage of the need for a strong challenge to Celtic. Another factor in this is the problems Hearts are having at the moment. Since Levine’s time there, they have arguably been the 3rd force in Scottish football and
Still there is a long way to go before Aberdeen can even look at a top 6 finish with confidence. There are many recent seasons where they’ve looked fantastic and have just tapered off. That said, we have a young manager with serious potential and a good blend in the squad.
There are a few hurdles to jump over. 20 years of Glasgow dominance has undoubtedly suppressed the support of every other team in Scotland, but Aberdeen’s fan base was, from a historical perspective artificially high before the SPL was created and competitiveness was destroyed. The catchment area shows potential, but in a time of Sky with wall to wall English football coverage and PR savvy teams (even excluding TRFC) making sure sympathetic headlines keep them in the public eye, attracting back a sustainable fan base will be a significant challenge. Arguably Hibs and Hearts (if they can avoid being “saved” (copyright the Sun) from administration) still have a larger catchment area with half of Edinburgh each, along with more desirable living area as an attraction for the players they buy.
Then there’s the issue of the stadium. Aberdeen look doomed to become a tenant club in the near future and this will have an impact on their finances and potentially give most other clubs a critical advantage.
There is also the motivation behind Milne. The world and his wife saw that the 11-1 voting regulations in the SPL needed to be abolished, as only the two Glasgow clubs would ever benefit from it. So why he would keep it in place brings into question his motivation and/or his judgement. It would be a be a unfair to say he’s been bad for the club, but his business model seems to be based on leeching money from a “Rangers”- Celtic TV deal. Executives at the other clubs seem to have a more appropriate mentality to aim for the top. I don’t mean by spending huge amounts of money, just the idea that if you’re not one of the big two, you’re can aim to be more than a second class club.
Ross County and ICT showed that with the right blend of hard work and judgement, teams with limited resources can challenge. It will take a few years before any club can put together a challenge to Celtic, because they have largely sat above the fall in standards in Scottish football in the last 20 years and they probably had an extra 10-12 points in them last season if they had needed them. They’ll need to grow a little complacent and forget the every point matters mentality that they needed to compete with Rangers before anyone can get close. A season or two failing to qualify for the CL will also put a perspective the need to give everything on a cold February weeknight when they’re already 15 points clear at the top. This’ll be a problem for the fans too. Celtic still don’t do too many home games away from 3pm on Saturday (now probably the biggest unfair advantage they enjoy – their home attendances are not suppressed by the temptation to watch on telly), so travelling to Perth or beyond for a dead rubber might not seem worth it, which would in turn demotivate the players.
Aberdeen have the pieces in place now, which is probably too soon to aim for anything other than 2nd by modest margin. They need to hold on to McInnes (Sevco might come calling) and he needs to do what Levine did at Hearts in order to build a fanbase capable of attracting the attention of the guys doing the TV scheduling. Still after that, 95% of the reason why Celtic could possibly lose a league title will be down to their own largesse.
Frankly this is all about as likely as Sevco (or some kind of subsequent version) making it back to the top and the duopoly being resumed at some point in the next 10 years.
Celtic will have to wear the crown alone for a while.
While I welcome the fact that clubs are doing better without a Rangers in our midst, I do fear the possibility that some club, like Aberdeen, might try a bit too hard to catch Celtic and run up unsustainable debt, just like Hearts did, in pursuit of glory. Sadly, Hearts are the perfect example of what can happen in such cases. I think there is an excellent opportunity, though, to create a league that can live within it’s means and be ahead of the game once FFP kicks in throughout Europe (if it ever truly does), or the inevitable implosion hits in leagues running on TV money and sponsorship far greater than we’ve ever seen in our wee country. I believe this is a time for consolidation and an attitude within the game where all clubs pull together to create a model financial set-up for others to copy.
Celtic will be so far ahead for many, many years that, barring the development of a whole crop of amazing young players at another club, no one can realistically challenge them. Something we must all accept is that Celtic are the best because they did it right, and no one else will be able to challenge them until they find a way to do it right too.
What we most need, of course, is proper governance, rather than reconstruction, with whatever meagre funds are available spread throughout the league, but with provisos set on what it is spent on to discourage rash spending on players. It will not be easy, and I’m not suggesting that I have the right ideas, but something has to be done to change the mind-set that exists within the game. To do this there must be wholesale changes at the top – they’ve failed miserably – with the instant dismissal of, in particular, Campbell Ogilvie and others of the same ilk, though, as there may actually be nobody better available, perhaps Doncaster and Reagan should stay to see if they can make the necessary change. We can hope that somebody has learned lessons. It will have to be realised that there is more to be gained by helping, say, Aberdeen to close the gap with Celtic than to continually be flogging the dead horse that is Rangers. An SFA and SPFL that treats ‘The Rangers’ in exactly the same way as they treat Forfar (God bless ’em) will have taken giant strides to not only saving our game, but in setting it on the road to success.
Another fine post BRTH
Being a young man in the 80’s I remember full the well visits of Aberdeen and Dundee UTD to my club would have me bricking it. The away ties even more so. Great times that were brought to an abrupt end by over spending that no other club could keep up with. How the MSM lapped it all up was utterly appalling and unforgivable.
alas, surely your post is a bit optimistic. Aren’t we in the middle of football armageddon? 😛
Good post from BRTH, how modern football (and not only in this country) has come to the point where competition is seen to be a bad thing and the concentration of trophies in the hands of the few is seen as good is beyond me.
But, to drift off topic (or is it?) taking the Dan Brown view of reading too much into things, perhaps BRTH is in cahoots with Mr Regan, their subliminal ‘armageddon’ message being
arm (supply or provide with equipment, tools, or other items in preparation or readiness for something)
aged (old)
don (aberdeen)
It all starts to click into place.
Good result for Celtic today. Aberdeen put on a good showing and should still be optimistic for the coming season.
With regard to the one horse race discussion, I feel that if trfc fail to reach the spfl in the next 3-4 years, a genuine title contender can emerge. Most of the clubs outside celtic can call on similar sized resources, but if one of them can consistently reach europe (and perform a wee bit) then they can start to put real distance between themselves and the pack. Combined with the right management/investment/increased fan support I feel confident a challenge will be forthcoming sooner or later. The question is from who? Only time will tell…
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS?
What’s all the fuss about? Apparently the headline of the day is that Pittodrie is a sellout.
Bit OTT is it not? What’s the scores on the door’s Anthea, seems more apt. A 16,000 capacity stadium sells out when CFC enter the granite city? Gee whizz,what a scoop!
Pittodrie was always packed to the rafters when RFC visited.
Don’t get the PR spin on this one, unless a poor turnout was anticipated.
Still probably better that the clash of the titan’s was at one of the smaller venues. Would the sellout expose applied had the match been at Celtic park?
jimlarkin says:
August 17, 2013 at 1:34 pm
“Also, well done to Leggo, for making references to Charlotte fakes and admitting he now has reservations regarding agents green, whyte and ahmad”
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Although D. Leggat’s embracing of new sources of information is in some ways to be welcomed, he runs the risk of being caught dangerously out of his comfort zone. According to TSFM figures it has required 1000 posters contributing their different perspectives for anything like a vivid picture of events to emerge on here. TSFM is a forgiving forum where we acknowledge that we will get it wrong at times. On this premise of trial and error, over time we can arrive at useful conclusions. Leggat working alone or with a small group of confidantes in unlikely to be able to obtain the same level of insight. It will only require him to make a few misplaced statements for his rivals to discredit his output. He would be better to be highly selective in his conclusions and fill the gaps with arms length observations.
Concerning the header post by BRTH I think the logic is well founded. Aberdeen are indeed well placed to take advantage of Ranger’s absence from the top flight. It may also be worth bearing in mind that recent good showings from Motherwell and ICT illustrate that football logic exists in its own universe. The beauty of the current situation is that half the clubs in the league might be capable of pinching that second place berth. With the prospect of European competition that accompanies this status it is a good time to be a non old firm (semantic license applied) supporter or fan.
Yakutsuki’s post earlier highlighted an interesting point for me. Hunger for competition rather than supremacy is the healthier of the two outlooks.
Whilst listening to some analysis on the current Ashes cricket series one commentator voiced his wish for the Aussies to get a test victory. The logic was that winning a tournament easily was not as satisfying as achieving pre-eminence in a close fought competition.
Conversely, the ‘Tortoise and the hare’ morality tale describes how an uneven competition resulted in an unexpected outcome. The wee team will occasionally do a ‘David and Goliath’ giant slaying because either the giant is overconfident or the nature of the encounter is unfamiliar territory.
The imbalance caused by the old firm domination of Scotland’s top league might be altered by the new reality we are currently experiencing. Celtic, as BRTH suggests, may need to be wary that complacency does not undermine their strong position. Whilst it might be impossible to envision this currently, the future has a curious way of throwing up surprises. Any novel set of circumstances are likely to result in added interest. I for one, having spent many years tuning into English Premier League commentaries, have found myself taking an added interest in the competition being played out on my doorstep.
Localism is the new supremacy.
jimlarkin says:
August 17, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Good post by BRTH, well done.
Also, well done to Leggo, for making references to Charlotte fakes and admitting he now has reservations regarding agents green, whyte and ahmad
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If you are familiar with Leggat’s previous epistles you may detect a sea change in style with this one. There’s not so much as a mention of his dear auld Presbyterian Granny. Could it be that he is happily reproducing the script drafted by certain anti-Green factions who are vying for control of Ibrox?
Sunincapricorn says:
August 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm
You should embrace the positives. You might also want to check the stadium capacity at pittodrie.
Billy Boyce says:
August 17, 2013 at 3:23 pm
jimlarkin says:
August 17, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Good post by BRTH, well done.
Also, well done to Leggo, for making references to Charlotte fakes and admitting he now has reservations regarding agents green, whyte and ahmad
—————————————————————————–
If you are familiar with Leggat’s previous epistles you may detect a sea change in style with this one. There’s not so much as a mention of his dear auld Presbyterian Granny. Could it be that he is happily reproducing the script drafted by certain anti-Green factions who are vying for control of Ibrox?
=======================================================
I mentioned on Friday that Leggo had breached the Rangers support dam re CF although he didn’t name her. It’s certainly is a sea-change and obviously has to be welcomed but having observed the ‘inky one’s’ style for some time he is not the author IMO wrt to this piece. However, no matter., it’s a step forward.
I can remember going to parkhead around 1980 or ’81 with my girlfriend for her first game. We were a bit late, and as we neared the stadium the noise reached a crescendo as the game kicked off. It was the first time outwith games v RFC that I had witnessed such a noise from outside. It was like a jet taking off!
I live in hope of witnessing this kind of rivalry again. I agree with ‘Oldbhoy 99’ that we may see genuine
contenders within the next 3 or 4 years if they are allowed to without the reckless, catch us if you can type of spending by David Murray and his flock. Here’s hoping.
Castofthousands says:
August 17, 2013 at 3:20 pm
jimlarkin says:
August 17, 2013 at 1:34 pm
“Also, well done to Leggo, for making references to Charlotte fakes and admitting he now has reservations regarding agents green, whyte and ahmad”
——————————–
Although D. Leggat’s embracing of new sources of information is in some ways to be welcomed, he runs the risk of being caught dangerously out of his comfort zone. Leggat working alone or with a small group of confidantes in unlikely to be able to obtain the same level of insight. It will only require him to make a few misplaced statements for his rivals to discredit his output. He would be better to be highly selective in his conclusions and fill the gaps with arms length observations.
==================================================
I’m afraid that you have missed the point. Leggo is deeply connected in fan group terms and also has a mentor in Smith. He is totally in with the red bricks ❗
He is a Rangers man through and through and although some of his historical or even hysterical snake-oil posts might appear to prove he is an idiot I can assure you in reality he isn’t. He isn’t a main player but he has the ear of some main players otherwise Irvine would not have used him as a mouthpiece as revealed by CF.
But IMO he works to the command of Smith and I know that as night follows day ❗ Leggo has more access to the Rangers Board and agenda in terms of the Rangers People than almost every single Celtic poster on this site has to Celtic.
oldbhoy99,OldFirmNoMore
Welcome to the party. sunincapricorn…..you’re no’ invited.
Great post BRTH
Our tribute to Wee Oscar Knox.
The outpouring of love for this wee lad is overwhelming, and inspiring, and crosses all boundaries.
It reminds us about what’s important.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/the-unconquerable/
newtz says:
August 15, 2013 at 11:55 pm
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Wow, excellent post 😎
TallBoy Poppy says:
August 17, 2013 at 4:09 pm
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ecobhoy says:
August 16, 2013 at 7:55 pm
pilgrim1888 says:
August 16, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Drew Peacock says:
August 16, 2013 at 10:20 pm
auchinstarry says:
August 16, 2013 at 10:34 pm
fergusslayedtheblues says:
August 16, 2013 at 10:37 pm
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The deal was put together by Peter Cummings. All you need to know, really.
http://www.ianfraser.org/sir-angus-jumps-the-bus/
I wonder why Grossart was on “the Iraq-Syrian border looking at Crusader castles”? 👿
Thanks for that BRTH, [but sounds like you could also be a closet Aberdeen fan… 😯 ]
Although we have been rightly focused on all the nonsense and negativity down Govan way, it is genuinely refreshing to read a blog post that is so positive.
There are indeed opportunities for Aberdeen and other clubs to grab some glory, and all clubs’ fans should be excited about this.
‘At the end of the day’ any football fan – especially any neutrals in an overseas market – just wants to see a good game of competitive football.
And at some point in the near future even the MSM will have to readjust itself – and start reporting more widely on the positives of the Scottish game.
comment by Borachon
posted May 8, 2008
I’m sick off this “Milne’s keeping us afloat” garbage. The only person who has ever said this, is… Stewart Milne. There is absolutely no evidence that the bank has ever threatened to close Aberdeen, Aberdeen’s turnover is high enough to satisfy the bank that they are not in any danger of losing their monthly payments, and besides which, how much business does the
Bank of Scotland
do in Aberdeen? Are they honestly going to risk the backlash of making such a spiteful badwilled move as shutting down the famous AFC over such a manageable debt?
The answer is no. So let’s knock this pash on the head about Milne being our saviour. It’s nonsense. Anyone who buys into it is naive.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/stewart-milne-s-salary-goes-through-roof-at-massive-pounds-3-7m-housebuilder-tops-rbs-chief-on-corporate-pay-scale-1.73092
I watched last night’s game and enjoyed it as I did today’s Aberdeen/Celtic clash which was a bit scrappy but still eventually enjoyable.
What really made me laugh though was when the Rangers owner of the pub declared that any lateral movement would result in a ban. Typical Scottish humour and long may it continue 😀
“Sunincapricorn”
“Pittodrie was always packed to the rafters when RFC visited”.
That was then. It’swhats known as the past. The days when RFC were spending beyond their means , up to their knees in debt. Stiffing the Tax man, and all the suppliers. Living a lie.
The gist of BRTH ‘s post is so refreshing compared to the Negative jealousy from some quarters.
Lang may yer lum reek BRTH.
Ally follows in Walters footsteps. Just Spend, Spend, Spend like a big club, that you once were.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/662623647?-11344:801
I was left more than slightly bemused at the gushing eulogy the Record match report printed on the Stranraer/Rangers match given the headline that it was a 3-3 draw.
I checked and was a little disappointed but for those, like myself, who might enjoy dreaming have a look at:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-match-reports/stranraer-3-rangers-3-ally-2178824
WRT BRTH I share the view that an opportunity exists but I have to say that I feel Aberdeen have failed to date to properly capitalise on a local economic situation that other cities would die for.
For whatever reason the club has IMHO been in a vicious circle of poor management (Board & team), poor performances and falling crowds and revenues.
This will have had something to do with the apparent inability to secure truly substantial oil and gas industry participation in the club but that cannot be the full story.
There is a new generation of oil and gas operators and service companies who should be enticed into serious support of the club. Maybe some are already lined up for the new stadium whenever that will be.
In the meantime Aberdeen City Council somehow manage to get GE Oil & Gas to sponsor and rename the Exhibition Centre.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/aberdeen-conference-centre-announces-new-sponsor-1-3019997
I’ve no idea of the sums involved but I suspect that they are substantial. Any questions posed to Aberdeen FC by the local MSM as to why they were not recipients of that sponsorship? Must have missed that.
Like the Board not taking proper responsibility for a succession of abysmal managerial appointments who has taken responsibility for the failure to properly exploit the wealth of the local area?
I’m an outsider fae doon the road and maybe my view is skewed but are Aberdeen fans happy with how their club has managed to exploit the presence of so much local prosperity?
Scottish football needs …..Dunfermline 2 Arbroath 3
I usually don’t – on a personal level – care a jot about TDs or TUs,
But I really feel deep compassion for the poor lonely soul who has arrived and given everyone – no matter the post – a TD. There is help out there Jack you know 😀
ecobhoy says:
August 17, 2013 at 5:30 pm
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I usually don’t – on a personal level – care a jot about TDs or TUs,
But I really feel deep compassion for the poor lonely soul who has arrived and given everyone – no matter the post – a TD. There is help out there you know
=================================
Don’t be too harsh, it’s probably the only thing that gets them through the day 😉
tomtom says:
August 17, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Don’t be too harsh, it’s probably the only thing that gets them through the day 😉
==================================
Too true ❗ But if they posted I would love to employ a TD 😆
Helpmaboab 3:47 pm
Good news in Scottish football is to be welcomed if it is accurate. Overhyped euphoria generally reflects a biased or self serving point of view.
Apologies for being a rain cloud, however there were more fans at Falkirk vs Morton in Div1 today than there were at the other SPFL games.
Wow an internet genius who knows how to refresh their cache – perhaps it isn’t Jack but Green 😆
I’m an exiled Aberdeen fan and did a 800 mile round trip for today’s game.
We’ve had many a false dawn so I wouldn’t build up your hopes for us becoming the second force.
Quite impressed with McInnes so far though
Scotland needs a strong Aberdeen (and Arbroath obviously) 😆
Sunincapricorn says:
August 17, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Helpmaboab 3:47 pm
Good news in Scottish football is to be welcomed if it is accurate. Overhyped euphoria generally reflects a biased or self serving point of view. Apologies for being a rain cloud, however there were more fans at Falkirk vs Morton in Div1 today than there were at the other SPFL games.
============================================
And why should the Falkirk v. Morton crowd figure be bad news to any Scottish football fan with an open mind ❓ This site hopefully is about all of Scottish Football and not about support for any individual team. So a BIG vote of appreciation for Falkirk and Morton and both sets of fans ❗
I would suggest you discard your teflon umbrella and soak-up the atmosphere rather than deflect the drops of wisdom from percolating.
Sam says:
August 17, 2013 at 4:28 pm
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Yea but your link doesn’t say that Easdale’s are selling McGills. I’m afraid that false or unattributed info has to be knocked on the head otherwise people start to take it as ‘fact’ and sometimes it even becomes an urban myth 😯
Is JT having a panic attack? I wonder what prompted this response. Is social media the same as internet bambots? Jack Irvine does not speak for this club, (well not any more). Seek the truth (away from your club I would suggest).
http://t.co/obgcefDsUS
valentinesclown says: August 17, 2013 at 6:49 pm
Is JT having a panic attack? I wonder what prompted this response. Is social media the same as internet bambots?
http://t.co/obgcefDsUS
===================
“…But we must also stress that we cannot waste time responding publicly to every blog or ridiculous claim against this Club…”
===================
…well that policy didn’t last very long then… 🙄
Rather emotional and pointless statement, supposedly issued by ‘PR guru’ of ibrox.
What an incoherent rant from, presumably. James Traynor.
It seems rather rushed and appears to be pre-emptive.
It’s as if they have only just become aware of something that is going to be revealed very soon. Something they would rather prevent but know they can’t.
Sunincapricorn says:
August 17, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Good news in Scottish football is to be welcomed if it is accurate.
——————————————————————————————-
I could not agree more.
And the accurate good news is that the cheats are dead and a light is being shone on the corruption which allowed them to prosper. The last year has shown that we the fans have a voice and are able to prevent corruption when we see it and that is the best news ever.
Our Champions equipped themselves well in Europe last year and Saint Johnstone came within a whisker of an incredible European feat recently.
Since the turn of the decade 6 different teams have contested the Scottish Cup Final with 3 different winners. The last League Cup Final was a stormer of a game.
Armageddon didn’t happen, it won’t happen. The good news is that the pain we all suffered during Moonbeamaggedon is over. Rejoice! Rejoice!
Scottish Football needs more BRTHs
Peter A Smith @PeterAdamSmith 3m
Statement on Rangers website: “If RFC fans want the truth they will find it only on the Club’s official platforms.” < Respectfully disagree.
Peter A Smith @PeterAdamSmith 3m
Statement on Rangers website: “If RFC fans want the truth they will find it only on the Club’s official platforms.” < Respectfully disagree.
Sunincapricorn says:
August 17, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Pittodrie was always packed to the rafters when RFC visited.
Don’t get the PR spin on this one, unless a poor turnout was anticipated.
Still probably better that the clash of the titan’s was at one of the smaller venues. Would the sellout expose applied had the match been at Celtic park?
_____________________________________________
Nothing overhyped about the crowd today at all. Your recollections are mistaken unless you want to go back more than ten years. Aberdeen are on the up financially, as is the rest of Scottish football. No amount of wishful thinking on your part can change those facts.
The trouble for you is that a “Clash of the Titans” can be at any one of twelve grounds – just not at Ibrox.
redlichtie says:
August 17, 2013 at 5:18 pm
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Acergy used to sponsor their shorts.
And I was regularly lucky in the fortnightly draw for tickets in the main stand, I once enjoyed a free midweek’s hospitality watching Dunfermline.
paulsatim says:
August 17, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Peter A Smith @PeterAdamSmith 3m
Statement on Rangers website: “If RFC fans want the truth they will find it only on the Club’s official platforms.” < Respectfully disagree. ________________________________________________________ How very dare you 😈
Kilgore Trout says:
August 17, 2013 at 7:06 pm
What an incoherent rant from, presumably. James Traynor.
===============================================
I’d just assumed that what was on the website was a direct translation from North Korean!
With Green’s painful grammar in his letter to the SFA and now this just what school did these guys go to? 😉
More seriously, this must be one of the worst press releases I’ve ever seen. I can see future students of PR poring over TRFC statements in years to come as examples of what not to do. Dignity? Ha ha ha ha….
Scottish football needs a strong Arbroath (and, obviously, Aberdeen)
valentinesclown says:
August 17, 2013 at 6:49 pm
“Is JT having a panic attack?”
———————————
Yes I think he is.
When listening to Radio Scotland earlier Chick Young was keen to quote from Ally’s post match press conference. Apparently Ally denied his ‘spend, spend, spend’ comments. However The Daily Record story and the link you provided earlier from Scotzine both carried identical quotes. Perhaps Scotzine just lifted the DR piece and reproduced it?
It did seem to be a bit of a damage limitation exercise by McCoist and subsequently Traynor. My local shop let me have a read of the DR article so it wasn’t just a web piece. Perhaps Ally’s initial comments slipped through the Traynor firewall.
Good Evening,
First time poster. Recently in my personal and professional life, I have had the opportunity to discuss @charlottefakeovers with 2 broadsheet journalists and 1 red top journalist. Their names are very well known, but being a gentleman, I shall not be revealing them 😉
Being a curious fellow, I asked each of them what they thought of CF and indeed, the $64,000 question, if they knew or suspected who she was?
All 3 indicated that they had suspicions of who she was, but also being gentlemen, they wouldn’t reveal any names. However, on other CF matters, all 3 were much more forthcoming.
They strongly indicated that they couldn’t touch any of the CF material, because they couldn’t verify its legality and from where and how it had been obtained. Additionally, they suspected that the material was part of a deliberate agenda and there was a co-ordinated plan with the release of certain material, at the most appropriate times. The 2 broadsheet journalists also scoffed at the idea of editorial control by anyone external, especially PR Consultants, although the tabloid journalist hinted that at times, this was a factor they acknowledged, when researching or digging for a story 🙄
They also doubted the veracity of some of the material, without giving specific examples and said that national newspapers operated a “double source” policy and therefore they didn’t see anything changing in terms of them publishing this material, at a later date.
For my part, I understand to a certain extent the potential legal difficulties in publishing CF material, especially as post Leveson, Alex Thompson was explicit about this. But equally, CF has shed light on the murkier elements of the SMSM, that it has opened many eyes (mine especially) to their internecine, dirty little world of cosy deals in the highest places of Scottish Football, that I was disappointed in their rather mealy mouthed response to what is a great story!!
So whomever CF is and whatever her agenda, it is clear that she will not be receiving any help from the SMSM, but let’s face it, we already knew this and in truth, it makes her revelations all the more juicy and conspiratorial as a result.
valentinesclown says:August 17, 2013 at 6:49 pm
StevieBC says:August 17, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Castofthousands says:August 17, 2013 at 7:49 pm
@TSFM ……
We are Sparticus …
Apologies for being a rain cloud, however there were more fans at Falkirk vs Morton in Div1 today than there were at the other SPFL games.
—————————————-
Eh? I have no idea what the crowd was at Falkirk but given that all four leagues come under SPFL and that there were over 20,200 at Pittodrie…
Sad to report only 995 at table topping Hamilton v Dumbarton. I wonder if Les Gray’s vote is still having an affect.
“Overhyped euphoria generally reflects a biased or self serving point of view.”
I coudn’t agree more !! Like the winning of the…eh……tax case, or the arrival of, CW, or CG, or WS, or the successful IPO ? Is that the kind of euphoria you mean?
“Club’s official platforms” ???
they sound a bit seventies, but I suppose they might sell.
That statement on trfc website regarding ownership rumours is positively reeking of ‘no smoke without fire.’
Wonder if any bears who might not have otherwise heard these rumours will be a wee bit upset now?
Good job JT.
The statement on ‘The Rangers’ ‘official platforms’ ends with the following quote:
“Finally, Jack Irvine of Media House does not speak for this Club.”
How does that square with JI’s representation of board members the Easdale family?
pau1mart1n says:
August 17, 2013 at 8:03 pm
here they are – even got a star
http://fantasyshoe.com/media/catalog/product/cache/6/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/e/men_s_two-blue_glam_70s_shoes.jpg
Superscoreboard Extra was a bit of an education. Graham Speirs, Stuart Cosgrove and some other guy (sorry some other guy for not recalling your name).
It came across as a microcosm of wider the journalistic environment.
Speirs was rather terse with the first caller (not entirely without justification), at one point employing the phrase ‘zip it’ when the caller was talking over him. Initially I thought he may just be being assertive which isn’t necessarily a negative trait. Later however he and Cosgrove got into a bit of a spat. Stuart whilst capable of making his point would rarely if ever use the terseness that Speirs employed. It sounded as if Speirs was trying to bully Cosgrove. Somehow this echoed of the behaviour of the media that we have grown to understand is endemic. Dissenting voices are not to be tolerated.
If there is one thing I think we have all learned on TSFM is that a range of opinions is more likely to uncover a factual account than a forcibly made singular point of view.
At other points Graham Speirs sounded measured and knowledgeable but it seemed that just under the surface was a spikey combativeness ready to be deployed when the occasion necessitated it. As this was a fans phone in I’d anticipate a range of comments and that a level of tolerance would be a prerequisite. However Graham, whilst possibly trying to rehabilitate his reputation, couldn’t quite shake the reflex actions that he has been tutored in over the years.
Cosgrove however seems to deal with the situation much better than say last year. He doesn’t get flustered at the put downs. Its as if he knows more than he is saying out loud!
For the Avoidance of Doubt – I do not own a pair of said platforms, mine are a fetching black & gold
Bayview Gold says: August 17, 2013 at 8:12 pm
For the Avoidance of Doubt – I do not own a pair of said platforms, mine are a fetching black & gold
=======================
BG – is this just a novel way to start talking about flares again…? (The smoky ones). 😉
oldbhoy99 says:
August 17, 2013 at 8:08 pm
“That statement on trfc website regarding ownership rumours is positively reeking of ‘no smoke without fire.’’
——————————–
I had to go back and read the article again as I didn’t see the reference you referred to despite the brevity of the article. The third line down was in the tiniest possible almost unreadable font size. The first time round I thought it was one of those accreditation lines you sometimes get in press articles underneath the photo; maybe giving the photographers or article authors details. No! It was the part of the statement I had missed. Put in such small writing that it would not even frighten a mouse.
A timely reminder to all to check the small print.
Castofthousands says:
August 17, 2013 at 8:27 pm
—————
Indeed. Check out Paul McConville’s latest for his take, including a fine dissection of the small print that I never woul have spotted.
Ecobhoy @ 6:15.
Lol. Back in the combat fatigues I see my man!
Nobody said it was a bad thing for Scottish football.
My point was that a first division match between Falkirk and Morton attracted more fans through it’s gates than any of the teams from the top league with 3pm kick off times.
I suggest you remove the poisoned tip from your big CFC umbrella and read between the lines.
However it is good to know that you can over react from time to time. It seems you have human frailties, just like the rest of us mere mortals. I make no apology for sticking my pen into the big over inflated balloon that BRTH released this morning.
Frankly any suggestion implying that CFC will be challenged at all in the next 4-5 years are incredulously self serving toward a particular football club,as well as being totally rediculous.
of The Rangers. Further, there is the suggestion from some well informed parties that not only will Ibrox and the Albion be sold and leased back to the club to generate much needed immediate cash, but that Murray Park has been sold off completely and will no longer be available to The Rangers for any purpose whatsoever!
murray park has been sold have you any proof of this
Sunincapricorn @ 8.42
Was there a delay in the kick offs at Easter road and Love Street then?
Sunincapricorn says:
August 17, 2013 at 8:42 pm
——–
Anybody would think you didn’t want there to be any challengers to Celtic on the horizon. Weird….