Scottish Football and the case for a Bismarck!

Good Evening.

When considering any type of protracted negotiation or discussion that seems to be going on too long, there is a story that is always worth remembering– whether it is actually a true story or not as the case may be.

It is said, that heads of state all met at a congress in what is now modern Germany sometime after the Franco Prussian war of 1870-1871.The entire congress was being run almost singlehandedly by the then Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismark and he was keen to get all the necessary signatures on paper to seal some deal or other.

However, others at the congress were not too keen to sign up to certain elements of the proposed deal and so they hithered and dithered and in the eyes of Bismark they simply waisted time by concentrating on the minutiae- the little matters, with a view to ensuring their own interests were best served in these small areas– and did not focus on the big issue.

Having tried to talk these others round and educate them in his own beliefs and point of view on the bigger picture without any success, Bismark grew weary of the continuing delay and the posturing of his colleagues. All attempts at reason and diplomacy had failed in his eyes and so he decided to take a different tack.

Accordingly, it is said that whilst others were still inside debating endlessly on this matter or that, Bismark left the building and began simply shooting the windows in with the aid of a riffle which he just happened to have handy.

Those inside were naturally alarmed at this turn of events. They soon forgot about the minutiae under debate, they abandoned the previously expressed self interest and simply signed up so that they could get away from the mad chancellor and his house.

Job done so to speak.

Whilst I do not in anyway condone the behaviour of Otto von Bismark in this instance, and have no doubt that he was an autocrat, what I will say is that he believed that there was too much time being spent on the unimportant stuff and not enough time recognising what really needed doing– from his point of view of course.

Today– and it seems every day for months— we have endless debate about the future of Scottish Football. League reconstruction and the redistribution of footballing wealth has become a marathon– even before it has started.

Yet I believe that at the moment all parties concerned are not focusing on the radical reform that is fundamentally needed which is the creation of one, strong, properly structured and constituted body which is capable of the proper and ethical governance of Scottish Football and the business that surrounds football.

No matter what system you try, or distribution you agree, without proper sensible strong governance you are wasting your time.

Further, whatever body is set up, and whoever is chosen to be its CEO (or whatever the head honcho is going to be called), they must tackle the issue of corporate and fiscal compliance and the proper administration of any body corporate which actively takes part in Scottish Football– and that includes any such body or person who is involved in the running of a member club.

In addition, in so dealing with any corporate malfeasance or chicanery or whatever, the rules have to be applied with a rod of iron by an iron body.

As we can now clearly see, Football clubs and football in general is not, and never will be, immune from the effects of bad corporate governance and on occasion downright manipulation of facts, figures and contracts.

Whilst great play has been made of the fact that Gavin Masterton has handed over his shares in Dunfermline FC ( or its holding company ) the fact of the matter is that this in no way solves the problem faced by the football club. Whoever gains control of that club will still have to rent the ground from Mr Masterton’s company– and it is a rent that the club may just not be able to afford.

Ever!

It is only my opinion of course, but I am of the view that Mr Masterton has sealed a loan deal with his bankers which is of a type and duration which could not normally be achieved by other borrowers. The Loan has a lengthy period during which no repayments are necessary and interest can continue to accrue.

All very good you may say, but the level of debt concerned is not one that appears to be sustainable by Dunfermline FC and so whoever buys the club as a going concern ( if anyone buys it at all ) will have to pay an agreed rental to Gavin Masterton– and if the rental is not sufficient to repay Mr Masterton’s lenders, then I suspect that the end game here will be a search to find a buyer for the ground at some point over the next twenty years or so, with the hope that as part of the deal a space will be found somewhere for a new ground like New St Mirren park– the difference being that in that instance St Mirren were in charge of their future whereas Dunfermline are not.

The Governance of that club and the financial arrangements behind the club should have been looked at and examined by the SFA long before now– and the Dunfermline fans warned about the dangers of any such arrangements. Effectively those finance arrangements, should they continue, will probably mean that the club will have no option but to move from its established home!

All to suit one man!

Thankfully Dundee were spared a full takeover by Giovanni Di Stefano, however is it not a bit worrying that this man who has been jailed for over 14 years for various fraudulent acts, was allowed to roam around Scottish Football for a prolonged period?

Not so long ago Di Stefano did play a part at Dens, was in line to buy almost 30% of the shareholding, and was oft quoted in the papers and so on. The thing is that there were those who were prepared to give him a place at the Dundee table and in so doing invited him into Scottish Football.

Surely the SFA, had they been inclined to, could quite easily have pointed out that many of the claims of Mr Di Stefano were at least dubious if not completely incorrect? Yet nothing was being said at the time and silence prevailed.

Whilst not in the same calibre as Di Dtefano, Vladimir Romanov has now been at Hearts for a prolonged period. While I have no quibbles about the legality of Romanov’s takeover of Hearts, any money of a sizeable size which is transferred into Scotland from a foreign country will be subject to scrutiny by the Crown office to ensure that it is clean. Lithuania in particular is said to have a banking system which is governed loosely and sometimes does not meet the compliance standards expected in this country.

With his bank having gone bust, Romanov still retains the majority shareholding at Tynecastle, but there are questions still to be answered about what has happened at Hearts but life will be very different for the Edinburgh club going forward.

Again– could the SFA have done more to monitor the situation and could they have demanded clarity and detail from the Hearts owner as to his business dealings and the detailed arrangements with his bank?

At Ibrox, well things just go from the weird and inexplicable to downright astonishing– and all through a tremendous amount of smoke and mirrors.

It is clear that the SFA have no idea what to believe from Charles Green or for that matter Craig Whyte. On the face of it, there are clear links between Whyte and Green with the former paying over a six figure sum in return for absolutely nothing it would appear– with similar transactions going between Whyte’s colleague, Aiden Early, and Charles Green.

What is clear is that Green gave a clear undertaking to the SFA that he had nothing whatsoever to do with Whyte and would have nothing to do with Whyte going forward. Now, at the very least he is admitting that he met Whyte on several occasions, and whilst he may have made representations to Craig Whyte— these were all lies designed only to get Whyte to where Green wanted him.

This is hardly the act of someone who has been bona fides in his business dealings either with Whyte or with the SFA as the licensing body.

It is against this background that the Scottish Football Agencies need to wake up before they find the fans of the game ( at least those who want to stay interested in the game ) doing a Bismarck and panning in the windows of this whole house of cards.

Football Clubs, football fans, and indeed football itself needs protected from the financial and corporate shenanigans, and the governing body must be much more active and permanently vigilant in watching out for and if necessary anticipating the people and the transactions which have and will jeopardise clubs and the game in general going forward.

It is clearly no longer acceptable to rely on self regulation or mere declarations and undertakings from the clubs themselves. The Administrators must be much more active and employ far greater professional expertise in carrying out an almost constant analytical and reporting function in relation to club finance and corporate regulation.

All and any changes in funding, boardroom changes, investor changes and anything else major should be the subject of immediate and proper scrutiny by the SFA and there should be fair, immediate and stiff sanctions for non compliance, and any type of dilatory behaviour on the part of club officials who would seek to conceal the truth or who fail to properly disclose vital matters which should be out in the open.

Further, the funding detail– such as the never ending loan re Dunfermline should be a matter of public record in all its detail so that fans and investors can make information based value judgements when dealing with any club.

Such stiffer regulation should not develop into anything like a corporate witch hunt or any kind of draconian big brother syndrome, however the need for change given all of the current troubles is obvious to one and all.

Further, the attempted fudge surrounding Rangers league status last summer and the ongoing disquiet surrounding the position of Campbell Ogilvie does nothing to boost faith in and the reputation of Football Administration in Scotland.

Things are far from clear and there appears to be continual dithering and fudging. No one has any idea where the Nimmo Smith Report has gone nor what import it is to have— if any. Why is that?

Dithering and bumbling over detail is no longer an option. Strong clear governance is required to protect the game from being hijacked by those who have their own corporate and financial agendas.

Such people cannot be allowed to determine the way Scottish Football runs  or to conduct themselves in a fashion that leaves football and everyone involved in limbo.

It is time for Scottish Football to find its own Iron Chancellor!  There is a need for someone who will, if necessary, come along and shoot the lights out of any club or Company Director who wishes to play fast and loose with the game of football.

5,402 thoughts on “Scottish Football and the case for a Bismarck!


  1. Oh aye, the score. 1-0, apparently. Guess where I found that out? The BBC Sport website. Har har! 🙂


  2. resin_lab_dog says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 18:11
    5 0 Rate This
    ——-

    Was listening to Open All Mics @resin_lab_dog and the commentator was really praising this match as the best he’d seen in years. Great stuff.

    To your list of missing things you could add media banning orders, which was also one of the topics discussed on Sportsound during the afternoon. The Sportsound radio guys were genuiely bemused by that one.


  3. Rangers bannng of the Beeb is to all intents and puposes designed to have the same effect as Celtic’s banning of Keevins.

    To cow jurnalists and ensure a compliant press coverage.

    Discuss.


  4. Usual puff’n stuff from Kenny ‘Ted’ McIntyre & co on Sportsound Extra.

    No one challenged Speirs’ assertion that TRFC, uniquely in world football, should be promoted to the top league without having to earn that promotion.

    If anyone can give a rational answer to that question, I will happy pay attention.

    What is it that he doesn’t get? When Stuart Cosgrove, Richard Gordon and Jim Spence are marked absent, Speirs can be breathtaking.

    Rangers have been the ruination of Scottish football; that reason alone they have to work their passage. They have not done the time, the time is 3 years minimum.


  5. Is this media / commentary / punditry a closed shop or what?
    Formulae peddled is weekly wearisome recycled repetitive tired old cr*p
    There must be new life out there – surely?


  6. Phil

    He never qualified anyway. Repeating quotes parrot wise never cuts it.


  7. Re the crossbar challenge it appears we have been duped! and Bears still disaffected:

    From Rangers rumours/Banter

    04 May 2013 18:11:25
    What happened to the “Million pound crossbar challenge” at the last home game of the season? lies again and was Cringeworthy hearing Ally saying watp on TV clearly trying to score brownie points season ticket renewal approaching If Ally is so concerned about our club he needs to take at least 80-90% pay cut he makes more than Klopp at Dortmund! Ally out Butcher in look at what he’s done with Inverness

    ——————————————————————————–


  8. Govan st normally out by now. Why the delay, no good news on horizon?

    Ally WATP on SSN to aid the cause. To be followed by WATP (where are the payments)

    Simply the simple


  9. therampantbaron says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 18:43

    ======================

    There is absolutely no justification for the position Mr Spiers is taking on this.

    Does he ever comment on the team which would miss out if Rangers were to be given a “promotion” that they have neither earned nor deserve.

    Does he comment on what a farce it would make of describing Scottish senior football a sport any more.

    Rangers are going into the second division on merit, they won the league they were in. If they win the second division then they will go onto the first, on merit. Likewise if they win that they will go into the SPL.

    If that is going to take a bit longer than Mr Spiers would like, tough. As far as I am aware the rest of the fans of Scottish football want it to happen that way, the right way. It is our game, it is our money which funds it, directly or indirectly, and it is our decision to make not his or any other writers.

    It was the fans who decided that the new club would not go straight into the top league, and thank goodness for that. For many the game would definitely have been over if that had not happened.


  10. Any Journo worth their salt should get up to Parkland at the Mearns now. By midnight the whole coterie will be there along with a load of ex Rangers (and Celtic) players who are still members giving it whoopee with Ally Walter Chico (and most of the BBc news staff ((maybes difficult)) Dave King et al.
    Should be interesting.


  11. ianagain says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 19:28
    Why should it be interesting – do tell


  12. Its where they all meet. Despite all the crap the papers give you a very high percentage of them live within a few miles of the place and relax drink or don’t in Tommys case and socialise there along with a lot of journo’s Chico being one amongst many. Also a long time hang out for DK when in town. Favourite watering hole of the rich (and footballers) in the Sou side of Glasgow.


  13. ianagain says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 19:46
    Thanks Ian – and correct !!


  14. Maybe the reason Gym Trainer & Co. are seething at the Beeb is because the ‘major investor’ who proposed the way forward is in fact their new CEO?

    This Section is devastating on Super , implying that the current manager posses none of these qualities. I would agree;

    Ideally a young manager with good leadership qualities and who would demand respect. Preferably a Scottish manager who knows the challenges of the Scottish game.

    He should have had coaching experience and have a ‘big picture’ attitude. He would of course need to believe in the philosophy of ‘total football’, and have an optimistic view on taking Rangers to the top of Europe.

    He would encourage and develop his players, show clear tactical awareness, and be willing to try new methods of training and coaching.


  15. ianagain says:

    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 19:05

    Sadly it had to be cancelled Chris from the Beeb was to officiate, but when Super Ally went to find him, he was told that Comical Ali had had a hissy fit and thrown him out 😉

    Tune in next season for Chico’s charity auction…..


  16. M8Dreamer

    As a Scottish Football supporter who has been subjected to 12months of MSM fantasy reporting
    of an irrelevant new football club who have managed to win the first trophy in their history by winning the Scottish League Division 3, the banning of the BBC from Ibrox has many potential benefits.
    1. The BBC can now ban any mention of “The Rangers” in their TV and Radio coverage with
    the exception of reporting the score only.
    2. The BBC can now give relevant media exposure to all others football clubs in Scotland, as they
    will have at least 50% of their media coverage available due to the ban.
    3. The BBC can now get their Sports Journalist’s to carry out investigative journalism into the
    public scandal of RFC (Died) debts,tax evasion,etc which they should have been doing since
    beginning of this fiasco.
    4. The BBC can now get their Sport’s Journalist’s to carry out investigative journalism into the
    current operation of “The Rangers” to identify how the Spivs are pulling the wool over the eyes
    of everybody in Scottish Football, including their own supporters.
    5. The BBC can now get their Sport’s Journalist’s to report every instance of the “small” minority
    of “The Rangers” supporters who sing innapropriate and banned songs at football matches.
    6. The BBC can now get their Sport’s Journalist’s to report on the positives in Scottish Football,
    instead of how Scottish Football will not survive without “The Rangers” being fast tracked back
    to the SPL.

    Let us all hope that the BBC ban by “The Rangers” lasts for the forseeable future, which can benefit all of Scotland.


  17. m8dreamer says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:01
    ——————————-
    As a Scottish Football supporter who has been subjected to 12months of MSM fantasy reporting
    of an irrelevant new football club who have managed to win the first trophy in their history by winning the Scottish League Division 3, the banning of the BBC from Ibrox has many potential benefits.
    ————————
    As well as getting an inordinate amount of fantasy reportage in the papers and radio, this irrelevant new club seem to take up a lot of similar space on this blog.

    That’s not to say it is not deserved or warranted, merely an observation.


  18. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:14

    Your last sentence sums it all up and is a good observation. The most disgraceful episode in Scottish football history. Long may we continue.


  19. So do we have confirmation that there was no MPCC? This was still being advertised on the official website last month.

    I do hope someone alerts the authorities to this defrauding of a vulnerable section of society.


  20. It’s hardly surprising that old and new Rangers wre and are discussed here, given the sites name and “mission statement”

    ================================

    The Scottish Football Monitor

    Asking the questions the media won’t ask.

    ================================

    Maybe if the press had done their job when Mr Murray was destroying the old club with his profligacy and hubris the new one wouldn’t have been needed in the first place.

    His ethos, and that very profligacy and hubris was summed up in one sentence. “For every five pounds Celtic spend, we will spend ten,” They didn’t take him to task over nonsense like that, they lapped it up, as did the fans it has to be said.

    Between them they sat and applauded while one man personally destroyed Rangers. Craig Whyte was only brought in to actually switch the life support off, David Murray had watched and presided over the actual illness of the patient.


  21. ianagain says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 19:05

    From Rangers rumours/Banter

    04 May 2013 18:11:25
    What happened to the “Million pound crossbar challenge” at the last home game of the season?
    ——

    Entries closed on 30 April, but the terms and conditions state that:

    “10. If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable Strathan ME Limited reserves the right at its absolute discretion to substitute a similar prize of equivalent or greater value. None of the prizes may be exchanged or transferred and no cash alternative will be offered.”

    Strathan ME Ltd? Who hell they? Companies House he not know.

    Surely not anything to do with Strathan Music Limited in Ullapool, being as they’re the only “Strathan” that Companies House seem to list? A music and entertainment (ME?) promoter.


  22. chipm0nk says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:32

    Asking the questions the media won’t ask about Rangers.
    ——

    Fixed that for you.

    🙂


  23. jean7brodie says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:25

    chipm0nk says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:32
    ————————
    I wasn’t for a minute suggesting that this blog shouldn’t discuss Rangers/The Rangers – and I agree with both your points, as it happens.

    All teams should be held to account here, it is the Scottish Football Monitor after all.


  24. So now the BBC have a developing news story regarding Rangers that they are themselves at the heart of – an open goal to their sports and news sections. Can anyone give me a link to where the BBC website has blasted back their reaction? I see that C4 have had a blog up and running denouncing it for a while, can’t seem to find the BBC’s page on the story.


  25. https://twitter.com/carlukeshamrock

    says spiers admits that sevco are a – new club.

    anybody got a link?

    [i have heard him say this in the past, as does english, cosgrove etc, but they always follow follow the statement with…but as long as the fins see them as the same club, then they are the same club!!!!!!


  26. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:40

    =================================

    Why don’t you write a blog for people to discuss, I’m sure the administrators here would be interested in submissions and ideas from as many people as possible.


  27. chipm0nk says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:44
    —————————————-
    I’m not sure I would be in any way as entertaining, witty and succinct as any of the previous contributors.

    1000 words expressing my random thoughts on Rangers, Scottish Football, Junior Football and Heavy Metal, might not be what is required.

    I’ll just agitate from the very back.

    🙂


  28. When ally starts the fighting peepil talk you know it’s getting desperate AGAIN!!! looking forward to the guts being spilled this week :). With the beeb ban today it gives them kinda carte Blanche to go for the big giruy reveal……… I hope 🙂


  29. jimlarkin says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:43
    0 0 Rate This
    https://twitter.com/carlukeshamrock
    says spiers admits that sevco are a – new club.
    anybody got a link?
    [i have heard him say this in the past, as does english, cosgrove etc, but they always follow follow the statement with…but as long as the fins see them as the same club, then they are the same club!!!!!!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    He alluded to it on twitter on 21 Apr

    Graham Spiers @GrahamSpiers 21 Apr
    @Dannybhoy62 Many in the Scottish media and beyond don’t
    go along with the ‘unbroken history’. We just can’t be arsed
    banging on about it.

    “WE just can’t be arsed banging on about it.”

    Which is a pretty damning statement from a journalist. Happy to let a lie persist because he can’t be arsed!


  30. jimlarkin says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:53
    ———————-
    Thanks Jim.

    Good man.


  31. Lord Wobbly says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:57

    “WE just can’t be arsed”
    ———————————————-
    I believe those are the very words engraved on the trophy awarded each year to the ‘Scottish Sports Journalist of the Year’


  32. “WE just can’t be arsed”

    Who are ‘WE’?

    We demand to know who these people are!


  33. Its not very hard writing your exclusive from the next stool to your fellow member is it? What do I mean writing, I meant transmitting.


  34. TW (@tartanwulver) says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:05
    4 0 Rate This
    Lord Wobbly says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:57

    “WE just can’t be arsed”
    ———————————————-
    I believe those are the very words engraved on the trophy awarded each year to the ‘Scottish Sports Journalist of the Year’

    TW (@tartanwulver) says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:05
    4 0 Rate This
    Lord Wobbly says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:57

    =======================================

    did you mean =

    “WE just can’t be arsed”

    I believe those are the very words engraved on the trophy
    awarded each year to the ‘Scottish Sports “writer” of the Year’


  35. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:14
    ‘As well as getting an inordinate amount of fantasy reportage in the papers and radio, this irrelevant new club seem to take up a lot of similar space on this blog. ..’
    ———
    Allow me to ‘distinguish’, as the philosophers say.

    What is taking up a lot of similar space on this blog is not the ‘irrelevant new club’ per se , but

    the chicanery, trickery, deceit, greed and corruption that brought about the death of a once important football club,

    AND the even worse chicanery of the football authorities who not only did not take all proper disciplinary action but actively colluded and are still colluding in the perpetration of, in effect, a massive fraud on the football clubs and fans of this country by bending rules at the behest of a despicable series of charlatans,

    AND the even worse blind ineptitude , or cowardice, or partisanship of the MSM, which has so signally failed to ask critical questions and seek answers, preferring instead to lick arse in consistent propagandising support of the charlatans.

    As frequently remarked before, this blog is not -never has been- a specifically ‘anti-any team’ blog. It is against any and all corruption and malfeasance in the administration of Football, and against newspapers that would try to support and condone cheatery.
    ( Did you hear Spiers tonight?)


  36. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 20:14

    I would say this new club are the complete opposite to irrelevant.

    They are the vehicle with which a number of possibly fraudulent financial transactions may have been perpetrated. They are the focus for a large section of the West of Scotland given their derivation. They are sadly the barometer by which we can measure the complete inefficiency of the whole governance of our game by unbelievably inept individuals in the SFA and SPL. They remain a focus for expectant media as they sell papers off the back of a journey from calamity back to the top. Regardless of one’s perception of same old club or tribute club, the same old entitlement persists, and is allowed to thanks to the media network that has served it so well over the piece. This is one the reasons RTC started his/her blog and TSFM continues it today. It is because they are so relevant that they attempt to do, either behind the scenes as the money men fill their greedy little pockets or deals are done to obfuscate and divert. Today’s BBC ban is simply a soupçon of the problems raging behind the scenes. They can’t stop the juggernaut, again. They believe they are peepul. Unfortunately for them they are the people awaiting the next disasterous headline to cover their beloved club, new or old and it probably isn’t that far away going on their actions to control the media stories.

    They are completely relevant as we await the next attempt to rationalise beyond all sense of reason, fairness or any of the bloody rules as to why they would be catapulted divisions beyond their merited position. They are relevant as they continue to define everything that everyone detested about the old club – entitlement, WATP, bile-fuelled fans, dodgy dealings in the background etc. Nobody should be under any illusion that what Hateley laughably proposed in the week and has been more roundly propagated by others, would be allowed to happen and all of Scottish football becomes an irrelevance.


  37. The lack of ST activity over in Govan…could it be they are waiting to find out what division the SFA are going to promote them to?


  38. internetbampots says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:23

    Two minds with but a single thought!


  39. internetbampots says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:23
    ————————-
    It wasn’t me who said there were irrelevant.

    While The Rangers/Sevco have been immeasurably helped by the Sports governing body, I do not think that The Rangers/Sevco fans have. Hate the team they support or not, they are the same as any football fan. Some have put a lot of their hard earned cash into saving their football club. Clearly there are a number who would do better turning up at an empty bit of waste ground and singing about stuff that happened 300+ years ago, and having a rumble with other fans of other teams. I’m certainly not on their side. I’ve never once said I fell into the WATP mantra. Or “Struthian Dignity”. FFS. There is no dignity in some of the employment policies employed by the Rangers of old. I support Rangers (Sevco, sorry Jim) because of the football team, nothing else.

    So I agree with what you say.

    Not with what Hateley says.


  40. Spiers said they were a new club on Sportsound Extra tonight. Along with a load of other pish about how they should be fast tracked up the league and never mind any pesky sporting integrity. They’ve been punished enough, dontchaknow? Pillock.


  41. I double double bet you (long time since I had a wee one) that by tomorrow and after JT sponsored booze ups (sorry celebration dinners) that there is an absolute outpouring of get them back in articles. You know who you are and we are waiting. Cheers Internet bams


  42. john clarke says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:23

    internetbampots says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:23

    OMG exactly what I meant but wasn’t articulate or erudite enough to say!


  43. Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:38

    If they are a new club, and they clearly are, then what “punishment” have they had exactly and what were they being punished for.

    If they are “fast tracked” into the SPL then someone else would be left out. Why exactly would that club be being punished.


  44. paulmac2 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:33

    The lack of ST activity over in Govan…could it be they are waiting to find out what division the SFA are going to promote them to?

    ================================

    They are being promoted to SFL2, by the SFL, as winners of SFL3.

    What part of that don’t they understand.


  45. Listening to Richard Gordon reading out the BBC statement in response to Sevco announcing that the BBC is no longer welcome at Ibrox – I got the strong sense that the BBC have lost all patience with the Club.

    That in itself is a strong message.

    Do the BBC also sense that a storm is coming?

    I would imagine that some of the talk in media circles tonight is what does Alex Tomo know that we don’t know – in response to his earlier Tweet, that the lid could come off of the Sevco scams in the next few days.


  46. Regarding the continuing (and completely predictable) rallying call of the usual Sevco sycophants in the media to give their team a leg up: What really puzzles me is to what end? Who benefits and how would they benefit from such a move? They don’t seem to even try to make any case for this.

    For example Speirs shares his opinion it would be ok to put aside the principle of meritocracy in Sevco’s case but he gives no reason why the leagues, the clubs or the fans of the game might want that to do that?

    It just seems to be assumed that everyone agrees that Sevco are needed in the top league and somehow all the clubs secretly need them too.

    Personally even if I could put the sporting integrity aspect aside (which I cannot), I just cannot see any reason whatsover why it necessary to give them a leg up.

    The SPL seems to be carrying on happily enough this season without Sevco.
    There is a TV deal in place.
    They are unlikely to bring new sponsorship given their toxic nature, terrible PR and general belligerence to everyone around them.

    There would be little or more likely no benefit to most clubs IMO.


  47. Long Time Lurker says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:58
    0 0 Rate This
    Listening to Richard Gordon reading out the BBC statement in response to Sevco announcing that the BBC is no longer welcome at Ibrox – I got the strong sense that the BBC have lost all patience with the Club.

    ===================================

    Richard Gordon did seem to be sticking to the official stance and giving Sevco little further exposure (as I’d imagine they were all instructed) but Chico just couldn’t help himself try to spend most of the pre match discussion talking about Sevco and you get the impression when he was describing Sevco being awarded the 3rd Div trophy that the rest of the BBC guys in the studio were desperately trying to shut him up.

    It really is time the beeb got rid of this complete buffoon.


  48. mmmm Clever headline, but take a look at the main story

    “Kenny Farquharson ‏@KennyFarq 1m
    Scotland on Sunday sport front page: #tomorrowspaperstoday @suttonnick pic.twitter.com/IMKz96sjWK “


  49. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:36
    So I agree with what you say.
    Not with what Hateley says.

    Agreed, Hateley is an idiot and like many ex Gers/Celts continue to reap a reward well past their sell by date. I have said on this blog and on RTC that Scottish football will welcome a strong Rangers set up when they have earned their place at the top table by winning the respective divisions, the club rebuilt from scratch as a proper challenge to Celtic and would be seen to have done their time as any club liquidated and born again. Any sordid attempt to fast-track the new club back to the top would be a nail in the coffin for anyone who loves true competition by the rules and indeed the game in Scotland. Without the rules it’s nothing more than a fix, a joke, a smokescreen of sport.
    Scottish football is not in a position to cast aside 40k supporters a fortnight or their travelling support – but what we can all do without is the totally misguided sense of injustice against their club when they were were slung a lifejacket ahead of other clubs to a 3rd division spot. rangers travails are nobody else’s fault other than by their own hand, maybe admirably assisted by jackets in the SFA. As I said earlier TRFC should be building bridges in the game but at the moment they are more concerned with circling the wagons as season book time comes round again. I know irrelevant wasn’t your word, but I think our views of relevance maybe differs by some measure.


  50. john clarke says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:36
    4 0 Rate This
    internetbampots says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:23

    Two minds with but a single thought!
    _____________

    Great minds / fools seldom differ?


  51. nowoldandgrumpy says:

    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 22:20
    This man is so happy his team have won their first trophy.

    http://alturl.com/zztvi

    ===============================

    Was Campbell no’ well.


  52. Long Time Lurker says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 21:58
    ‘ I got the strong sense that the BBC have lost all patience with the Club…’
    ——-
    So did I.
    it was quite interesting .

    I heard Richard G ( an honourable man) say that there would be no coverage of the match, and was mildly surprised at the idea that the game might have been covered, before I remembered that, after all, a league championship had been won!

    I was gobsmacked when, a little later, the statement as to why there would be no coverage was read.
    And Richard had clearly been told to emphasise the BBC’s ‘standing by’ their man’s report.

    ( And poor Chic’s birthday treat was spoiled because he was told to report to the studio, rather than hang about at BBC expense to watch his team’s celebrations!)

    We have to remind ourselves that the BBC in Scotland is historically part of the unionist establishment, taking instructions from London, and that its senior managers run it as satraps, as it were, of a colonial power, whose allegiance ultimately is to people furth of the country.

    The possibility that pennies have begun to drop in Pacific Quay is intriguing.


  53. Congratulations to Peterhead -the true Champions of the SFL3
    A convincing win against my team today 0-3 on a level playing field
    We both now must battle it out in the playoffs with Berwick and Albion Rovers
    to see who takes that final place in SFL2 for next season .
    I hope that it is Peterhead who capture it for it is they who have been denied
    the automatic right to proceed by Special FC ,their £7m superstars and their
    inclusion within our league that they were not entitled to .
    Ludere Causa Ludendi


  54. 40k a fortnight travelling support! Since when this year. Its a full blown recession Celtic anyone no matter the circs these days turns up with about 30 ks worth tops. Usually abot 7.5 k Europa league Costs money to play in. It all goes to the top (and 2nd isn’t top)


  55. And to be clear I am talking pounds. The next time you see 40,000 supporters going anywhere around Scotland it will be in August on trains and buses to England.


  56. ianagain says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 22:49
    40k a fortnight travelling support! Since when this year…

    I know it’s late on Saturday Ian, but I didn’t say 40k travelling support…yer haverin’.

    Their travelling support can be down to about 75 Tannadice locals per their traumatic Dundee United cup game.


  57. Did anyone notice Mc Coist’s body language today? For a man celebrating the winning of a title he seemed under huge pressure. Cardigan looked like a man who just lost the title – metaphorically speaking that is!


  58. Senior @ 23:22

    I think they both know the ‘game’s a bogey’ but ssssshhhhhh!!! don’t tell anyone 🙂 pure dignity 🙂


  59. madbhoy24941 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 23:33
    ————————————————

    True.

    I give you the floor, which club would you like held to account and for what?
    ———————————————-
    I’m not asking for anyone to be held to account at this point in time – not sure what you’re implying?


  60. theglen2012 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 23:38

    ———————————————-
    I’m not asking for anyone to be held to account at this point in time – not sure what you’re implying?
    ——————-

    You stated that we give Rangers too much attention; we spend a lot of time talking about a club who should be irrelevant. You stated that all clubs should be held to account.

    I agreed with you.

    What I am saying now is this; if you have a better or more important subject in Scottish football at this present moment in time, please raise it so we can start the debate. If not, I think the bending, breaking and rewriting of rules to facilitate the growth of The New Rangers is still the No.1 talking point for TSFM.


  61. neepheid says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 06:09

    It looks like Ally is heading for the exit. since it’s now clear that TRFC can’t really afford a manager of his calibre. So what next for Superally? I hear that Real Madrid may be looking for a heavyweight manager shortly. This would be a good move for Ally, since Real have a world-wide fan base too, although maybe not quite the 500 million that he’s used to. The big question, of course, is- can Real afford him? Like most managers, he’ll want to bring some talent from his previous job. McCulloch and Black could probably be persuaded to move, and if the price was right, I’m sure TRFC would release them. That should clinch next year’s CL final.
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    Its the talk all over Spain tonight, they are calling it Allymania on the television, with commentators saying that Real Madrid are close to persuading the coach of the world record breakers at everything to become their new “Special one”
    They are apparently still discussing terms as Ally is not keen on taking the pay cut that goes with joining a smaller club.
    Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and several other Spanish clubs have openly spoken of Armageddon arriving amid the fear of many years of a monopoly by Madrid with the capture of SuperAlly
    Ally was later spotted in a distressed looking state running up and down the corridors and passageways of the main stand and office area mumbling in what they assumed was a form of broken Spanish ¿dónde está la tienda de la tarta?,,No puedo encontrar la tarta tienda (wheres the pie shop?, Ah canny find the pie shop !)


  62. madbhoy24941 says:
    Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 23:47
    ——————-
    My apologies madbhoy, my answer sounded far too short. It wasn’t meant to be so.

    I think the bigger point is the governing bodies – the SFL, the SPL the SFA.

    While this is about Rangers (sevco), I think it should actually be about why Scottish Football got in the state it is. How did this happen?

    Is the make up of Scottish Football so bad that they actually need Rangers to be in the top division just to make it viable for TV deals and finance? Do they have a long term plan?

    Hearts appear to be in trouble, as are Dunfermline, and there are other teams who would prefer to have better finances.

    Murray spewed forth his (in)famous £5/£10 speech, but the only thing I can see that happened after that was that everyone went along with it, and now many teams are paying the price. Rangers fans welcomed it and others chased it. And no one won.

    As much as I am a Rangers fan, I am still a fan of Scottish Football.

    My apologies, again, if I’ve not exactly answered your post – if I have any point, it is simply that the governing bodies and the media let Rangers off the hook at many times, when they should have been called to account.

    He said in a rambling kind of way.

    You can see why I haven’t been invited to make any blog posts.

Comments are closed.