David Low
represents a highly significant component of the history of Celtic FC and consequently a highly significant component of how Scottish Football has panned out in the last 20 years.
As Fergus McCann’s Aide-de-Camp, Low was instrumental in helping him formulate and implement the plans which ultimately allowed control of the club to be wrested from the Kelly and White families. Low also helped McCann to rebuild and regenerate Celtic as a modern football club.
His views are unsurprisingly Celtic-centred, and this interview reveals his ambition for the club to ultimately leave Scottish Football behind. That may or may not be at odds with many of our readers, but the stark analysis of the realities facing football in this country may resonate.
He provides a window on the pragmatism of the likes of McCann, Celtic and many other clubs in respect of the demise of Rangers. He pours scorn on Dave King’s vision of a cash-rich Rangers future, and provides little comfort for those who seek succour for our failing national sport, believing that Scotland will find it impossible to emerge from the football backwater in an increasingly global industry.
Agree or not with Low’s prognosis, it is difficult to deny his compelling analysis of our place in the football world.
Campbellsmoney says:
April 22, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Surely any ring-fencing will be a clear indication (as if any were needed), and an admittance, to the fact that there are serious doubts about TRFC’s ability to complete the season, throwing up a problem for the SPFL and SFA who would have to give thought to actually doing their job. It would also, one would expect, be a bit off-putting for any potential investors/lenders.
Tailothebank says:
April 22, 2014 at 5:15 pm
..but has any football association ANYWHERE ever allowed a trophy to be won by a club falling into administration?…Surely never?..perhaps someone on here knows?
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How about Livingston (sic)? Went into administration on 3 February 2004. Won the League Cup on 14 March 2004.
Upthehoops
What is the desired outcome of Res12?
I can only speak for self, but for me it is admission of wrongdoing, an apology to Celtic and the support and a realisation that the dishonest jig is up and change is inevitable.
Not sure what Celtic are after but I would not be surprised if it was used as a means to an end – that end being a SFA that is much more professional and responsive to the needs of the professional game in Scotland.
That does not mean throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
For the record I think the SFA did well on changing the Disciplinary process and personally on the subject of women’s football I am delighted at the progress the game is making there as the proud father of a then 17 year daughter representing Scotland at Wembley.
I knew a couple or more of the existing squad as young lassies learning the game and am pleased at the progress they have made not just as footballers but as decent adults, a development in which football played a part as girls from different backgrounds came together to play the game and become friends. They could teach us guys a thing or two about rivalry with friendship.
I think that once we are clear of the debris of the Rangers crash then new ways of governing the distinctive elements of the game, taking community and other concerns more into consideration will emerge.
Personally I hope Res12 is a nudge in that direction.
Going back to the duffers presenting a case for a `going concern` at the CoS. If my memory was correct it was redefined in Court as a `minor success`. So was a business plan presented? Were financial projections presented? If they were – and the `sale` was sanctioned on that basis – and that data proved wildly incorrect – what powers have the Court for misrepresentation or recourse. If no viable business plan or any business plan or any projections – on what basis could a `minor success` be justified to a Court? Is it simply a matter of judgement or faith in admins?
The alternative was an open sale of the remnants to the benefit of creditors
– including taxpayers.
That would not have precluded a future genuine `going concern`
I must admit I see no rationale in this
Either it’s a potential `going concern` – or its not
Black and White – What`s a `minor success` for Pete’s sake
Courts allowing Spivs to run riot risking a `a going concern`
– hardly seems a basis for applied Law.
It’s plain nonsense.
If a bit of hardnosed discipline or at least guidance had been imposed from the start – this ruinous path – from supposed and highly paid legals that we are expected to trust – could have nipped this mess in the bud.
Is this too much to ask?
– or is this embedded institutional stupidity? – An unthinking bandwagon.
Joint statement on the resolutions
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=13248
Castofthousands
I knew what you were getting at and I was not expecting an answer from LNS but I was hoping it might get LNS giving it the judicial equivalent of “wtf?”. 🙂
Scapaflow
I think the SPFL will be pleased with that outcome.
Auldheid says:
April 22, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Would imagine so. I have no problem with the SPFL clubs being involved in budget setting, and policy development, Its the SPFL clubs driving budget and policy development that should give everyone pause
Auldheid, Scapaflow
Very interesting re the resolution of the discussions between the two authorities today.
Note the statement and the issues.
* The resolution proposing that the Professional Game Board be able to appoint two members to the Scottish FA Board will go forward without amendment.
Looks like a climbdown by the SFA and an eradication of the blazer control of that board.
* The resolution dealing with elections of President or Vice-President will be amended so that anyone standing for election must also have completed at least one year’s service (rather than four) in an official capacity within the Scottish FA or other recognised football body.
In other words, the field of candidates for someone wanting to stand for the position of President has automatically widened. Further, the number of people who would be eligible to be nominated would be widened and so lessens the likelihood that someone will be elected as unopposed in future.
I wonder what brought this about?
* The resolution on the issue of new members will be withdrawn. There will be a new resolution, which will deal with the appointment of new full members such that they will need to be licensed clubs.
Potentially this is the most interesting of all.
In other words to gain membership you will have to be a fully licensed member. In other words you will have to have been granted a licence, and to be granted a licence any club will have to have passed the financial stringency tests and satisfied the licensing committee that they have sufficient resources to complete the forthcoming season and so on. Further, with the composition of the SFA Board itself ( those who make up the rules so to speak ) now containing two members of the professional game board, there will be significant input from the clubs themselves when it comes to determining fairness and transparency when considering a club’s finances for football licensing purposes.
This is VERY SIGNIFICANT.
* The Professional Game Board will, in future, be involved in the budget-setting and policy-setting processes for Scottish football, with the Scottish FA Board retaining overall responsibility for the financial budget relating to performance and football development. The resolution on this issue will be withdrawn.
This looks like a compromise position, with the SFA still in charge of their own budgets ( as opposed to having that budget set by the clubs ) but with the Professional Game Board monitoring and being involved in the setting of the budgets themselves.
One wonders why it has taken until 2014 for such reasonable management structures to be put in place and we can only speculate as to why it was never done before.
broganrogantrevinoandhogan says:
April 22, 2014 at 6:58 pm
It looks a reasonable compromise and an improvement in governance on the surface, but, lets see how it works in practice, assuming the resolutions are passed.
The SPFL is not Scottish Football, its an important part to be sure, but its only one part.
Auldheid says:
April 22, 2014 at 6:18 pm
==================
Thanks for the reply. I hope the current Celtic Board keep at it like Fergus did with Jim Farry in the 90’s. A public apology from the SFA that they falsely awarded a licence allowing Rangers to play in the CL would surely be the game changer. It would be a game changer for how the game is governed. The SFA were quickly able to circle the wagons after the Farry case, fully backed by an angry media who just wanted Fergus McCann to shut up and go away. Somehow I don’t think it would be totally the same this time.
BRT&G thanks for that.
Very significant indeed, DKs plan is sunk, ‘another’ Liquidation ‘shimmey’ is out-lawed, IMO.
The two bodies on the SFA board is great, was Ogilvies pension on the line?
‘Accept this Cambp or we go to ‘the cops’ with a real list of peepil and various letters etc.’
A very significant day, get the dusty auld country club, freeloading Peats out.
Lovely for our game.
Scapaflow
A long time ago I wrote a wee story which I can’t find at the moment but when I do I will make sure I draw it to your attention.
It is all about the people who are involved in football who are never seen or are just not a part of the professional game at all.
I suspect we are on the same page re this.
BRTH
Heartening that this statement is deemed significant by respected posters on here.
Looks a wee bit like an alternative arrangement of the same donkeys to me. So much for my judgement 🙂 That the new members resolution has been withdrawn is just as puzzling as why it was there in the first place. One suspects, though.
Auldheid says:
April 22, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Normally in business you get ” charters” setting out relationships and expectations between the service provider (the SFA) and the customer ( the SPFL).
So why not put some in place along with another charter between the SPFL and the supporters that sets out what the support can expect from the SPFL to look after the supporters and the game’s interest, which should be more or less the same?
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Sometimes called a Service Level Agreement (SLA) this document would set out how the various responsibilities and interactions between the various parties would take place.
This can be at a quite high level but an SLA might also well cover things like communications – if a letter is received for instance it must be acknowledged within X days with a full response to be provided within XX days.
Just the thing for an organisation committed to transparency and ensuring supporter input is taken into account!
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
Danish Pastry says:
April 22, 2014 at 8:11 pm
…..That the new members resolution has been withdrawn is just as puzzling as why it was there in the first place. One suspects, though.
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Was this a classic negotiating ploy? We’ll push for all this and more unless you agree to our main objectives?
So what has caused this? Are we winning the battle?
Scottish Football needs to be a blazer-free zone.
redlichtie says:
April 22, 2014 at 8:16 pm
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Would it be asking too much for officials of the SFA / SPFL to declare any membership of secret societies?
broganrogantrevinoandhogan says:
April 22, 2014 at 6:58 pm
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Auldheid, Scapaflow
__________________________________________________
😀
The times they are a-changin’.
McCaig’s Tower at 530:
Thank you for your reply and intimating the example of Livingston who won a trophy whilst in administration . I rushed my post a little and really meant to say any other football authority outside Scotland..
Anyway…Deep down I suspected that the SFA with their poorly constructed insolvency rules would have a precedent lurking (albeit not a league title ? ) that they would hide behind , to somehow allow them to let Rangers seamlessly glide into the championship whilst in or post administration .
Not sure it it is addressed by resolutions contained in the latest breaking news emanating from Hampden but my personal feeling is Rangers will avoid immediate admin by using ST monies ..kick the can down the road and potentially go into administration next year when they have a big enough lead in the championship to ensure they can get into the premier league .
No way should that be allowed to happen and that is my fundamental point and why legislation has to be put in place now and be very explicit in this area
Btw this concern assumes that Mr McCoist (who with his current pronouncements is now exposing the fact he is probably having serious bowel movements at the prospect of only having a 8/10 times salary advantage Vs full timers as opposed to 20x versus part timers whose legs go in the last 15 minutes of every match ) doesn’t blow it yet again for them
Danish Pastry says:
April 22, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Would it be asking too much for officials of the SFA / SPFL to declare any membership of secret societies?
==========================================================================
DP…as always respecting your intentions, I do recall from my youth (!) this rhetorical/practical question being asked in the area of local politics….in specific reaction to the Poulson scandals of that era.
Whilst I appreciate the motive behind your question in the context of “transparency”, I can only wonder what the outcome would be, if such disclosure was backed by some statutory intention…and some efforts have already failed.
redlichtie says:
April 22, 2014 at 8:12 pm
As you pointed out with a Service Level Agreement (SLA) the devil is in the detail.
You will probably find that there is such a thing within the SFA that says they will respond but it is probably couched in these terms, “when contentious correspondence, that we don’t like, is received we will answer it the day after Campbell Ogilvie pays back his EBT loan.”
Now there is absolutely no ambiguity there it is just unfortunate that following that timescale will mean that there is never a response forthcoming.
There is a way round every rule as the SFA, and all of us, well know.
They are as twisted as …………………………………………. well a twisty turny thing!
If I was standing next to Campbell I would not be sure if it was my feet I was feeling in my shoes or his.
To these people wrong is right, up is down, and dishonesty is just another day at the office.
essexbeancounter says:
April 22, 2014 at 8:46 pm
1 0 Rate This
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Definitely in the interests of transparency. I’m pretty much of the view that people holding positions of authority in public institutions, whether it be the SFA or the police, should declare any such associations or memberships. I don’t lose sleep about masonic conspiracies, but do believe those in positions of power and authority who choose to join this type of society should make this fact public knowledge.
Tailothebank says:
April 22, 2014 at 5:15 pm
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I know this point has been made before but it really should be made very publicly now again
With regards to BTHT excellent post and the ongoing and growing SFA crime list surely The final tipping point for the clubs, supporters etc will be if Rangers go into Administration BEFORE the beginning of next season , indicating that they are officially guilty bang to rights of attempting to win the current year title whilst on financial steroids , but are allowed to proceed to the championship???
We all know the so called rules ref 15 and 25 points deductions etc ..but has any football association ANYWHERE ever allowed a trophy to be won by a club falling into administration?…Surely never?..perhaps someone on here knows?
IF and I know it is a big If they do go into administration Rangers must be forced by the SFA to forfeit this years’s title and related prize money and stay in the 3rd division ..anything else really is scandalous and hopefully what the Forfar chairman was alluding to.
The governing bodies even if they attempt to let Rangers off the hook this year absolutely MUST never let this possibility occur in the future .and must legislate accordingly ..as it could be repeated year in year out technically
_______________________________________
Is there any guarantee that if they go into admin this season they will be able to field a team at all?
When CW yanked the chain the players took pay cuts and manager worked for free, allowing the day to day running costs to be met from cash in hand and the administrators to pocket a wedge for themselves to boot.
But this time… well they started looking under sofa cushions back in February, they are wonga’d up to the nines, and CW has his foot on their windpipe, and doesn’t owe them any favours.
I don’t expect Ian Black to hang around longer than it takes his paycheque to bounce.
And the bears must have been well and truly milked by now.
I genuinely detect a difference in the long suffering TRFC fans that I know.
Most are well and truly into ‘acceptance’ on the Kubler Ross cycle and some of them have even reached bored and – importantly- cynical. This will be a harder well for the front men to tap this time I think. I expect a greater level of circumspection from TRFC fans in response to any cash call.
I have received a very courteous and informative reply to my email to Derk Robertson,director of Communications at Dundee Utd FC anent the assaulted fan who posted his account on this blog.
In summary,he tells me that he assured the fan that they took his report very seriously and with every sympathy, but had to tell him that they could not themselves undertake a criminal investigation, having neither the power nor the means to do so. This view was shared by the Security officer at the SFA ( an ex-Polis Superintendent).
He re-assured the supporter that such an incident is very, very untypical and and tells me that, hoping that the gesture will rekindle the supporter’s interest in watching Dundee United in the future, the club have offered him two free tickets for an SPL match of his choice at Tannadice early next season. He hopes the supporter takes up the offer.
A very fair and decent response, I think, in all the circumstances? I think so.
John Clark says:
April 22, 2014 at 9:25 pm
He re-assured the supporter that such an incident is very, very untypical…..
JC: Without labouring the point, I have to say that that is not my experience. I have not been subject to such random violence myself, but I have seen it perpetrated on several occasions. I suspect that it very occasionally happens with other teams, especially among the younger element. However, I can only speak of the times I have witnessed it directly, and on all those occasions, the violence was initiated by Sevco supporters.
If this is a sign of the future then things are looking good down Tynie way.
Given all their troubles, pure class IMHO but clever as well as they will sell loads of them.
http://www.footyheadlines.com/2014/04/new-adidas-hearts-14-15-home-kit.html
It’s extremely unlikely that there is an SLA between the SFA and the SPFL.
An SLA is usually a practical, point by point interpretation of the contracts between two (more) bodies that capture what has to be done for the contract to be serviced.
The relationship between the SFA and the SPFL isn’t contractual. The SFA’s commitment to the SPFL is to act as a governing body and it has great discretion in how it does that. The SPFL on the other hand has to jump when the SFA says so. Okay the SPFL generates the money, but the SFA is the gateway to European and International games.
It’s a nineteenth century arrangement in the twenty first century and it’s only the money involved that hides how arcane it is. It’s more like a member’s bar than a professional relationship and they reserve the right to refuse service for any reason.
Bottom line – it’s their ba’
wottpi says:
April 22, 2014 at 10:02 pm
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If this is a sign of the future then things are looking good down Tynie way.
Given all their troubles, pure class IMHO but clever as well as they will sell loads of them.
http://www.footyheadlines.com/2014/04/new-adidas-hearts-14-15-home-kit.html
__________________________________________
Hmmm… (rolls eyes back and gesticulates like Jilly Goulden sampling a vintage Burgundy) … I’m getting a full on belt of ‘History’ with a plummy afternote of ‘dignity’.
Very good.
Perhaps a naive question: can anybody get to see the SFA’s annual accounts? I know that, as a private company, they are not legally obliged to publish them , although they have to submit them to Companies House.
Not that Finance is my kind of scene, but I’m hopelessly in the dark with the references to the SPFL ( which is only a business grouping of some of the total SFA membership!) wanting ‘control’ of some of the money.
But what money are we talking about? What monies do the SFA get, and from where, and where does it go?
And why would one ‘vested interest’ group of members be allowed , or demand to be allowed, any kind of actual control of any part of the whole budget?
Mulraney of Alloa repeatedly said the other night ” We ARE the SFA..” I know what he meant, but he was only partly right. The 42 members are indeed members of the SFA-but the total membership is greater. Are there monies that any grouping of them could demand ‘control’ over?
I am a little bemused, and feel that there are some of marches being stolen by someone, which will neither get rid of the essential governance-credibility problem the SFA brought upon itself nor do much for the overall improvement in Scottish football as a whole.
But, literally, what do I know? 🙁 😕
abrahamtoast says:
April 22, 2014 at 2:22 pm
I would take Phil’s latest blog with more than just a pinch of salt.
————————————————————————————————————
I did the same to start with about a couple of years ago when I came across it. To begin with, I thought it a bit far fetched and Celtic biased as most non Celtic supporters do.
I followed RTC before Phil and found it to be far more accurate at the time but when I think of the last 2 years or so, I find both of them to be far more accurate than the current SMSM.
Phil maybe not accurate on his timings, but I did find the facts were true in the majority of times but somewhat “time delayed”. I purchased Downfall and found it to be a good read as it was easier to follow than it was his blogs, perhaps the book was more synched with me than my way of navigating Phils blogs.
I’m not saying Phil is 100% accurate but he can only work with the information he is deriving from his investigations, which is a damned sight more than the SMSM carry out (with a couple of exceptions)
I’m quite happy to read Phils blogs and his writings but I do question it sometimes, as we should all do of all journalists no matter what they put in print.
There are quite a few decent “journalists” and scribes on this site who write sensible articulate articles on here and I enjoy their writings immensely. JC at the courts is a prime example. Fantastic articles daily that we could understand in laymans language. The Hearts scribes who kept us informed of the developments in their staving off of administration/liquidation. The Pars fans also who kept us up to date with their developments.You all know who you are and their are far too many too mention of the sensible posters when compared to the “PR” guys who come on to deflect the bad news.
By the way, I am an Aberdeen supporter and though not a supporter of all things that Phil writes, it does give a different perspective on things of how one should look at journalists and their articles.
Question everything!
iamacant says:
April 22, 2014 at 11:13 pm
‘.Question everything!’
———
Why? 😀 😆
John Clark says:
April 22, 2014 at 11:23 pm
—————————————————-
To get the truth, you know that 😉
No questions = no answers = SMSM
Can I also let you all into a little secret if you promise not to tell anyone?
I arrived in Brazil on 13 April to do 2 week job for my company and when we arrived at Rio airport among with flights from Iberia, Air France and Lufthansa, it took over 2 hours to clear immigration. Rio main airport is clearly not designed to accept multiple flight arrivals 6 weeks before the big event kicks off. It is a hovel on an airport. The road infrastructure does not appear to be too great either as our designated security driver told us. It took us 5 hours to drive up to Macae (which is just over 100 miles, same distance from Aberdeen to Inverness) due to a 50yard tarmacadam stretch being relaid on our route.
This past weekend (which is a BIG easter celebration and religous festival in Brazil) saw travel times take as long as 7 hours to travel the 100 miles to Rio.
This weekend past, we had the Salvador police going on strike and 12 murders being comitted, this does not include robbing, muggings and burglaries. The Brazilian gangs will have a field day during the World cup (not to mention the Olympics)
I’m back in Rio this Friday and hoping to do the Maracana museum tour and also get up to the Jesus Christ statue at the top of the big “hill”
I’ll keep you posted unless my bullet proof vest is a dud 😀
Haywire says:
April 22, 2014 at 9:53 pm
‘…JC: Without labouring the point, I have to say that that is not my experience.’
————
In the RFC(IL) v Celtic context, it’s not my experience either, Haywire.
I suppose I still make the mistake of thinking that supporters of other ‘away’ clubs at Ibrox are not subjected to physical assault, and do not really expect to have to think about mindless violence being used against their persons, and of the need for eyes at the back o’ yer heid as you exited Ibrox- win, lose or draw! and of discretion in the matter of wearing your colours or looking cheerful. Whatever the age group you belonged to!
I was quite happy to accept what Derek Robertson said about an assault on a Dundee United fan being untypical!
Am I completely wrong?
It makes me think that my ‘football mind’ is still too influenced by shades of my west coast past.
Ptd1978
I disagree.. I was in the situation where it was our ba but the customer thought otherwise.
SLAs came in and neither party would go back to how it was.
It is simply a matter of time.
BRTH
Of particular significance to me is SFA/SPFL membership being conditional on meeting licensing criteria.
If that is now going to be the case I can retire.
iamacant says:
April 22, 2014 at 11:47 pm
‘Can I also let you all into a little secret if you promise not to tell anyone?’
——–
Hey, man! From a safe distance, I envy you the experience of that most extraordinary country of extraordinary contradictions.
Stay safe, though. Not enough Aberdeen supporting posters on this blog!
Iamacant can you name one good reporter on this blog who gives his name?
And or a good reporter who has broken any news stories about Oldc Newco SFA Olgilvie LNS Bryson ……..my cash says no you cant.
Phil has been a light.
Reading reports this morning of the ‘compromise’ between the SFA and SPFL. £12M is the figure quoted for the SFA’s annual budget for youth development. Does anyone know how much of that comes from the public purse? It is yet another indicator of the public funding an organisation that treats football supporters with utter contempt, and completely ignores any views or questions those supporters have.
Iamacant I’m not digging you up, on reflection it looks like I have!
Is Phil Celtic biased, of course, whats stopping Reporters of other clubs giving an honest story, job security I think?
And perhaps postal security.
Aquinas says:
April 23, 2014 at 7:14 am
whats stopping Reporters of other clubs giving an honest story, job security I think?
And perhaps postal security.
=============================
Total bias may be an issue as well of course. On Twitter last night Keith Jackson was desperately trying to create some kind of scandal about Johan Mjallby leaving Celtic. Perhaps he has failed to notice his new club is sinking into the same pool of quicksand as his old one!
Jingle Jangle is a shocker, he sees the opportunity to be ‘King Rat’ and he’s got the credentials.
I refer to the book not the animal, obviously.
My cousin kept pet rats, very inteligent by the way.
Iamacant – you have a PM.
John Clark says:
April 22, 2014 at 10:43 pm
10 0 Rate This
Perhaps a naive question: can anybody get to see the SFA’s annual accounts? I know that, as a private company, they are not legally obliged to publish them , although they have to submit them to Companies House.
=========
You can obtain a copy of any private company’s accounts from Companies House, on payment of a fee (£5 I believe).
John Clark says:
April 22, 2014 at 9:25 pm
39 3 Rate This
“I have received a very courteous and informative reply to my email to Derek Robertson,director of Communications at Dundee Utd FC anent the assaulted fan who posted his account on this blog.”
—————————
I’m pleased to read that John although not surprised. I wrote to United years back now with a suggestion relating to season tickets and received a polite and appreciative reply from Derek. The club do seem to be pretty good in terms of responding to supporter issues.
If there is a role for the club, I would expect their support of a fan in making sure that the police treat the assault as seriously as any similar crime, regardless of whether or not it happened to involved football supporters. Beyond that I’m not sure what the club could do. At the risk of stating the obvious I would also suggest that a fan travelling to any match with potentially a hostile undercurrent should check out in advance the exact arrangements for away supporters visiting the ground and not wear club colours if and when they are no longer with their fellow supporters. Ideally it shouldn’t be an issue but the reality is there is a risk.
What with the mention of F1 and Sir Jackie, I noticed that a certain Paul Tyrrel is rumoured to be the new PR consultant at Ibrox. His task is apparently selling the upcoming 120-day super review.
An anonymous twitter account (again) is posting some interesting info. Although this may be a wannabe reposting extant material, I hadn’t heard of Tyrell, well not outside F1. The account is: @apocryphal5
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 8:55 am
Mr Tyrell seems a barrell of laughs.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leaked-list-compared-liverpool-fc-4025956
Tyrell was at Man City the same time as CEO Wallace so could be correct he has been brought in at Rangers
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tyrrell-leaves-city-969531
Whether or not the twitter account has any decent information my guess is that it is correct in predicting the business review will be as dull as dishwater.
My guess is that the saga will just limp along for a good bit yet. No fireworks or explosions just dreary dreary dreary until McCoist goes or King opens his mouth again.
However if Tyrell is on board and is a creature of habit then a bit more bear on bear action could be round the corner!!
Jobs for the boys although the trough is ever diminishing.
And so many players nobody will know who to blame when it all kicks off.
John Clark says: April 22, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Perhaps a naive question: can anybody get to see the SFA’s annual accounts? I know that, as a private company, they are not legally obliged to publish them , although they have to submit them to Companies House.
____________________
They will cost you £1 – the latest available are:
GROUP OF COMPANIES’ ACCOUNTS MADE UP TO 31/12/12
their last year’s accounts are not due until September.
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ – search on company name / then click the company number on the left column – that then shows you summary information about the company. On the right “Order information on this company” – chose the company accounts – pay your £1 and a pdf is available in a few minutes.
John Clark says:
April 22, 2014 at 10:43 pm
http://companycheck.co.uk/company/SC005453/company-summary
Register with this company, it’s free, and you can access all published annual accounts for £0.
@WOTTPI
These guys must all visit the same gentleman’s clubs. We’ll see if Tyrell is announced today as predicted.
Got to love corporate fitba, though. $209m reportedly added to the MANU value yesterday! And this beauty from the WSJ:
———-
April 22, 2014, 2:19 PM ET
Crispin Odey Explains Why He’s Shorting Manchester United
ByLaurence Fletcher
To hedge fund manager Crispin Odey, it’s clear who is to blame for Manchester United’s decline this season, and it’s not David Moyes, who left his post as manager of the English soccer club on Tuesday.
Mr. Odey, one of London’s richest and most successful traders, has been running a short position in the stock, revealed in December, and sees the club’s on-the-field problems as the result of underinvestment over a number of years.
“The Glazers (the club’s American owners) have to be a little bit scared if revenues start slipping… In the arms race they’ve underinvested,” said Odey.
“They’re one product cycle behind and are being found out. It’s not Moyes’s fault.”
Manchester United did not return calls seeking comment.
Manchester United’s on-the-field decline has certainly been more severe than most commentators had expected. The Premier League’s defending champions are seventh in the league table and out of next season’s lucrative Champions’ League.
But so far this has not been translated into its share price. The stock is trading at its highest in almost a year. Today shares rose more than 6% on news of Mr. Moyes’s departure.
That’s not great news for short-sellers. But Odey believes too much optimism is priced into the stock at current levels.
“It’s quite a nice one,” he says. “If Manchester United cease to be competing in all these things, will some of its newer supporters decide that it’s not that interesting? How many changes of kit will make up for the loss of these supporters?”
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Dennistoun Amateurs are doing very well this season.
I don’t understand how commentators get away with describing money spend on player transfer fees as an investment. Surely it is an expense that is amortized to zero over the lifetime of the player’s contract?
loamfeet says:
April 23, 2014 at 10:19 am
I don’t understand how commentators get away with describing money spend on player transfer fees as an investment. Surely it is an expense that is amortized to zero over the lifetime of the player’s contract?
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I suppose that is supposed to mean that the investment in players insofaras the return in trophies and income they bring – if successful. One can invest in the stock market shares yet lose or win over time.
Good players means good crowds means good sales, means good income from fans and through qualification in tournaments…..but you are of course correct
Just catching up… I read Danish Pastry’s post from 10.23pm Monday night … tut tut DP, you can’t call him Lenin because that’s ‘dehumanising’… Remember and call him Vladimir next time. It’s cuddlier and more inclusive…
Also, on that principle, where are all the posts mentioning Alistair? 😉
This could be interesting
http://www.fansfirst.org.uk/
“My plans include giving fans’ trusts:
Right of first refusal when clubs come up for sale.
Eligibility for Scottish Government funding support.
Ability to acquire football clubs’ membership shares by extending the “right to buy” principle beyond rural and urban land.
Right to buy a proportion of shares where trusts cannot afford the club’s full value.”
Auldheid
I agree that SLAs tend to result in a huge improvement in any business relationship. The difference here is that this is not a customer, vendor relationship. The SPFL cannot walk away from the SFA, while the SFA can eject the SPFL. While there is no realistic way it could do this, it could immasculate the SPFL if it chose to do so and theoretically even replace it if the stakes were high enough. There is no consequence for the SFA for failing to meet any SLA requirements it signs up to unless it agrees to a contractual relationship. Given that as a body it doesn’t want to act like a modern business and has lots of previous history of breaking or ignoring it’s own rules, then rewriting said rules to make it okay for the SFA to ignore them, agreeing to let another body hold it accountable would only be to it’s own detriment.
rabtdog says:
April 23, 2014 at 11:48 am
1 0 Rate This
Just catching up… I read Danish Pastry’s post from 10.23pm Monday night … tut tut DP, you can’t call him Lenin because that’s ‘dehumanising’… Remember and call him Vladimir next time. It’s cuddlier and more inclusive…
Also, on that principle, where are all the posts mentioning Alistair? 😉
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Your tut tut is entirely justified. Several non-issues in that post (bogus anti-Americanism, Neil Lennon debate, etc). I never pooh pooh a tut tut.
Funny thing about using surnames is that it is quite normal in journalism. If you are referring to a person several times in the same piece it’s quite common to find other ways of referring to that individual in order to avoid repetition.
You may start with, say, Kenny Shiels, then use Shiels next, then the Morton manager, the Ton gaffer, etc. What’s not on is consistently using images of a person that portray him/her only as angry bawbag or overweight pie-eater. Downmarket rags like to work with personality caricatures. It suits their very simple and sometimes biased style. We are not always aware of the influence of the photo editor and the headline writer, though.
When I first came to Scandinavia I had to get used to people using surnames when addressing someone. It’s quite normal, and not intended as a personal slight of any kind.
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 12:24 pm
DP fair points. Although, it’s worth remembering that caricatures work, because they exaggerate what’s already there 😉
scapaflow says:
April 23, 2014 at 12:38 pm
1 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 12:24 pm
DP fair points. Although, it’s worth remembering that caricatures work, because they exaggerate what’s already there.
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Indeed.
Taysider says:
April 23, 2014 at 8:36 am
…………………………….
Reminds me of an incident many many years ago…I was passing through an area close to Hampden on a cup final day on foot and got whacked on the back of the head with a bottle….I had no team colours on.
Myself and 3 other guys where the only ones in the street with no colours and got bombarded with bottles. I guess we stuck out like a sore thum? As soon as we reached Hampden we made our way to the edge of the Police cordon and told an officer we were Celtic fans needing to get to the other side of no mans land….he said with a smile…”I am gonna count to 3…and when I get to 3…run like f***…oh and best of luck” …and so we did…whilst dodging the bricks and bottles that came flying…that 30 yard neutral zone is the fastest I had ever run…
So I guess colours or not…you do need to be aware of the surroundings and environment you are entering and decide if the risk is worth taking?
That was the day Joe Miller scored the winner…which made up for my busted and throbbing heid I ended up with…
Them were the days..
neepheid says:
April 23, 2014 at 8:24 am
South0fThe Border says:
April 23, 2014 at 9:56 am
No1 Bob says:
April 23, 2014 at 9:57 am
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Thank you, gentlefolk, all.I think I’ll go for the freebie option!
And quite irrelevantly and with a particular nod to essex beancounter, I’m sure all of us will toast the 450th birthday of Wullie Shakespeare, who, if alive, would have loved to have written a tragi/comedy based on the flawed people and systems involved in our ‘saga’. I suspect though that we haven’t a casting director who could find too many from today’s crop of actors to play the main parts with the requisite depths of ‘evil’characterisation?
Any one fancy having a go at a cast-list? Every one from,say, Mrs Crimson to the (probably) discomfited Sheriff officers, via the arch-villains and pantomime clowns and the sleekit other characters.
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 9:58 am
‘….“They’re one product cycle behind and are being found out..’
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Don’t you just love that phrase?
I didn’t get the bloody blue glasses and cans box out in time , so I shall simply say ” we are one product cycle behind, I’m afraid”, with spread palms and raised shoulders, ” nothing to do with time spent on TSFM”, to explain to the wife when she comes home from lunch with the Glasgow girls.
And see where that might get me!
rabtdog says:
April 23, 2014 at 11:48 am
9 5 Rate This
Just catching up… I read Danish Pastry’s post from 10.23pm Monday night … tut tut DP, you can’t call him Lenin because that’s ‘dehumanising’… Remember and call him Vladimir next time. It’s cuddlier and more inclusive…
___________________________________________________________________
Mr Pastry,, what have you been saying about my man?
ulyanova says:
April 23, 2014 at 2:13 pm
1 0 Rate This
Mr Pastry,, what have you been saying about my man?
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Maria, comrade, I didn’t mention IIya at all, it was your son who was named in the post 😀
The SPFL COULD, in my opinion, walk away from the SFA and create another ‘governing’ body. They would have to accept though that, for some time, they would only be able to play amongst themselves. The new body would then have to fight to be recognised by FIFA/UEFA as the replacement for the SFA but that is a fight they would eventually win, as the SFA would wither, I think.
Wee tweet from @apocryphal5. Which rights issue?
Is it the one mentioned in the sentence “A rights issue under normal circumstances wouldn’t be worth the printers fee but a quick trophy signing and Bob’s yer Mither’s Brither”
And that’s what they get for getting an Aberdonian to write the review!
Ptd1978
Customer/vendor relationships can quite easily be created in internal markets.
When I say easily that is there are recognised ways of doing so once the hard work of convincing the internal market that SLAs change culture and deliver efficiencies is done.
The SFA have gone a long way in doing the hard work with ample evidence of incompetence and indeed dishonesty which the SPFL have.
There would be no change in football law and it would lead to higher standards of licensing and financial control so UEFA are more likely to support a change than interfere in what is a domestic matter.
The only thing UEFA would fear is that they should at some point be asked to operate in a similar fashion.
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 2:48 pm
I read it as meaning there will be a proposal for a rights issue, probably to sweeten the report, and also criticism of previous board. Probably the natural step to distance themselves from the causes of the required austerity, if austerity is part of the business plan.
If, as is alluded to in the tweet, the Easdales are included in that criticism, are we in for another round of infighting within the boardroom? Big lads, those Easdales, can carrying should come easy to them!
Allyjambo says:
April 23, 2014 at 3:09 pm
1 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
April 23, 2014 at 2:48 pm
I read it as meaning there will be a proposal for a rights issue, probably to sweeten the report, and also criticism of previous board …
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Ah ha. You guys who understand sums are a way ahead of me.
I saw Phil mentioned that the chappie Kingsnorth was sightseeing in Glasgow yesterday. It’s all heating up. Don’t see how it can be anything other than austerity masel, unless it’s the dreaded L word. I suppose they can opt for a fans fund (ringfenced) to finance better or worse players. The ultimate you-get-what-you-pay-for scenario.
SCOTTC
It might be possible for a unified English League, using a whole load of brown envelopes, and unanimous action of all clubs but UEFA would be slitting their own throats to allow such a coup. Any money in the Scottish game would evaporate as the 42 teams split in two. The TV contract would go as fixtures went unfulfilled. Player contracts might be void from fixture failure or international bans and the top players would flee for clubs playing European football or at least somewhere where there is no cash crisis.
FIFA would in all likelihood use a Scottish attempt as an opportunity to kill the national team and force a unified British league with Scottish clubs starting way down the structure as retribution.
It’s definitely still the SFA’s ba’
Change is coming to Scottish football, at last. Hopefully this isn’t the end, but just the beginning.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/the-changing-of-the-guard/
A lot of you have worked hard for a moment like this. I am eager to see what comes next.
James Forrest says:
April 23, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Change is coming to Scottish football, at last. Hopefully this isn’t the end, but just the beginning.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/the-changing-of-the-guard/
A lot of you have worked hard for a moment like this. I am eager to see what comes next.
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Good article JF, and the initial signs are indeed encouraging.
However… 😉
Being pessimistic today: I simply can’t see past the fact that all the same characters are still involved in the SFA / SPFL today – and who have been involved over the last 2 years of disgraceful governance.
[IIRC, Topping & Longmuir have gone].
I am also making an assumption that the senior management behind the scenes at both the SFA & SPFL are relatively unchanged.
The impression I get is that the fans want radical change, but – IMO – that’s not going to happen at all with these same people involved.
There might be further tinkering along the way, but are we really still going to be moaning about the useless SFA in 10 years time ? [Please God no ! ]
Anyhoos – I do hope I am wrong.
StevieBC:
Baby steps mate. Little by little things are happening. Lawwell’s position is something I’ve been curious about. He knows somethings been rotten for a long time. I can’t imagine that he doesn’t want big changes made … and him being in the position to do it was always a big opportunity.
We all want justice, and we all want it yesterday rather than tomorrow, but as a long as it comes we will all be glad it did. The old structures may have hampered reform up until now. Perhaps that’s why things haven’t more quickly in the right direction. If those structures really are about to change then there’s no alibi for those at the top of our game. The corrupt structures have to come down. Those responsible for the last few years of chaos have to be held to account.
It’s a step forward. The fact Ogilvie will be feeling the heat is a very good start.
Nice, James. On Campbell Ogilvie, he won’t stand for re-election next year because he is only allowed to serve two terms, I believe. I’m sure that was mentioned prior to last years coronation.