SFM – The Next Steps

As we all know, this site emerged from the ashes of RTC. The wish of the original administrator of the site, one which I wholeheartedly share, was to keep together the wonderful community RTC had built, in terms of both personnel and spirit. There are still many individuals around who were also part of RTC, and regrettably many who are no longer with us. The RTC spirit however, that of a cross-party football site where issues can be discussed in a respectful and insightful manner remains. The “wisdom of the crowd” phenomenon is also with us to perhaps an even greater extent than before, and consequently SFM’s credentials as a formidable alternative to the print media have grown.

In recent times, many contributors have expressed frustration that we are pretty much a talking shop and little else; characterised as “a lot of gum bashing and no teeth”. I think that is fair comment up to a point, but then again our aim – up to now – has been to simply present an alternative view – a view that has increasingly become the fan view as opposed to the industry view (the industry being made up of club officials, players, and press).

In fact the way I see it personally, SFM has evolved to a point where it has become the watchdog (monitor if you will) of an industry which is subject to very little oversight. The Rangers situation will eventually be done with (no laughing at the back please), and like everything else will be consigned to history (albeit more than one). The same self-interest and lack of regard for sporting integrity though will still remain, and the need for oversight will remain also.

Having arrived at those conclusions,  we have two alternatives; the first is to remain as we are (which is not a bad place to be), and the second is that SFM has to expand its role.

In recent weeks, the mods have met to discuss this, and we think that we ought to give the latter option a try. As to how we want to achieve that, and we have come up with a skeleton plan as follows;

1. We need to move into the area of gathering news content as well as commenting on what appears elsewhere;

2. We should act as a cross-club portal to get good fan site content from all clubs to a wider audience;

3. We need to highlight the positives in the game as well as the negatives;

4. We should become an actively campaigning body, aligning with fan groups to lobby for the changes we think important.

 In order to achieve these objectives, more time will need to be spent on communication like podcasts, adding news content, expanding membership and building links with other fan groups. Time will also need to be spent  setting up features, attending press conferences etc. Later in the year, one of the mods will have much more time on his hands to help achieve this.

Podcasts, premium content, labour, organisation and all of the above costs money, and ultimately a subscription based model backed by sponsorship seems to be our best way of achieving that. In order to give us a head start, we will in the next few months be putting together a business-plan and a pitch for Crowd Funding investment.

This is not to say that our existing model has been a failure. We have successfully managed to keep ourselves afloat through the ad-hoc generosity of people in our community, although the inability to keep the podcasts going has been a bit frustrating. Finding income streams which are more solid will allow us to respond to events more quickly (for example mounting an ad campaign to respond to some event or other, or buying new equipment), and hopefully achieve all of our objectives – and build a bigger audience base for our message.

Of course a move of this nature will require that, in the interests of transparency, anonymity of SFM will have to be set aside. That will not affect any of our contributors, and our practice of using (sometimes) imaginative names on the blog will remain. However, for crowd funding to be successful, we will require to have a board in place, and there is no hiding place from Companies House. The make up of the board is also crucial, and in addition to consideration of blog members for that role, we will be looking to have respected people from without.

I imagine there may be a consequent subtle effect on moderation policy to take into account.

The reason I have made this post is to keep the community up to speed with events. Although we have decided to move forward to see if we can get support for our business plan, that plan is by no means finished. As I said earlier, the “wisdom of crowds” has made our community unique and given it its credibility. There’s a lot more wisdom out there we hope to tap into before we go ahead with our initiative.

We already had someone in mind for chairman of the new board, but events have conspired tragically to rob us of that – and had the effect of postponing this announcement. However we would like to hear suggestions for suitable outside candidates for board and committee places.

We also want to hear from you if you have a suggestion to be added to our wish list of SFM function above – or even if you think it is a mistake to embark on this course.

This is a very big move for SFM, so we don’t want to rush into anything. We need to listen to what you folks have to say, because if the merging SFM is not considered a better SFM by our community there is very little point in looking to fund it.

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Tom Byrne

About Trisidium

Trisidium is a Dunblane businessman with a keen interest in Scottish Football. He is a Celtic fan, although the demands of modern-day parenting have seen him less at games and more as a taxi service for his kids.

3,023 thoughts on “SFM – The Next Steps


  1. paddy malarkey says:
    Member: (23 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 12:57 pm
    Bit of a strange one on Saturday 26th September in the Championship – all fixtures kick off at 19.45 . Holiday weekend and probably some supporters having to travel into the Sunday

    Here we go, West Coast Bias™ again – no such holiday here. A local holiday in Lanarkshire & Ayrshire perhaps?


  2. If TRFC has very limited funds to acquire players, and presumably has no option now but to field some youngsters – then they do still need some more experienced pros to help them.

    There is still mutual benefit in NUFC loaning players to TRFC, for a price.
    And to help cash flow at Ibrox, maybe Ashley could charge a reduced fee, with a ‘bonus’ payable on promotion to the SPL – just like last season ?

    And if TRFC is operating a minimal squad size, then it would be prudent for TRFC to keep the loans pipeline open from NUFC – to cover injuries as the season progresses, if needed.

    And if Ashley is no longer on the NUFC Board, can he plead no ‘dual interest’ – on the face of it anyway, to the SFA ?


  3. This little snippet from the Herald must make lovely reading for Motherwell fans, regarding Stewart Robertson, the new MD at TRFC, and recently in paid employment at their club.-

    Robertson left Motherwell earlier this year in the wake of Les Hutchinson’s takeover and has insisted that his loyalty has always been with Rangers.

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/rangers-md-stewart-robertson-expects-more-new-signings-within-days.129438405

    I’m going to call this “Barry Ferguson Syndrome”, where you take a wage from one club, but in fact owe your loyalty to another. Only in Scotland? Do these people really have no shame?


  4. Mr Ashley’s influence on NUFC is dependent on his ownership rather than any board position the pipeline of players is potentially detrimental to the rest of the Championship. A solution would be for TRFC to be given a position similar to the Real Madrid and Barcelona second teams where they can compete in the league but not be promoted. Ibrox could then have some better quality home players who are at Liberty to play like Barcelona but not the fear of promotion. What could possibly go wrong?


  5. StevieBC says:
    Member: (735 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    And if TRFC is operating a minimal squad size, then it would be prudent for TRFC to keep the loans pipeline open from NUFC – to cover injuries as the season progresses, if need.

    And if Ashley is no longer on the NUFC Board, can he plead no ‘dual interest’ – on the face of it anyway, to the SFA ?

    =========================
    Does anyone seriously believe that the SFA will have any problem at all with TRFC being loaqned quality players at favourable rates from NUFC? They did nothing about it last season at a time when Ashley was in breach of their dual interest rule. A precedent has been set, and there is no way they will object to TRFC being stuffed with cheap loan players by Ashley.

    More surprisingly, there wasn’t a cheep from the other promotion contenders last season. There’s no reason to think that will change either.


  6. Gym Trainer says:
    Member: (52 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Autumn Holiday
    Last Monday in September Aberdeen, Angus except Carnoustie and Monifieth area, East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Paisley, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire

    Process of elimination and I’ll find out where you stay !


  7. @Paddy
    I think there is some gremlins in the works. I looked on the BBC website and I’m presuming this is where you saw the fixture. It does indeed have all Championship fixtures down for 19.45 on 26th. Bad news for you and fellow Jags if you want to visit Dingwall the week before because the Ross v Partick game on the 19th September is also down as 19.45.

    Look at the SPFL website though and all 11 games above are down at 15.00. But I did spot at least one Saturday game on that site with a 19.45 kick-off.

    My suspicion is not enough proof reading at either organisation in the haste to publish.


  8. “It is not in Rangers culture to have spin-doctors that feed information to the media…”

    Wasn’t Mark ” blah blah blah blah blah is as good as a new signing ” Hateley not on the payroll Dave when he was masquerading as a redtop journalist ?


  9. Christyboy says:

    June 19, 2015 at 4:34 pm

    And was RRM Jack Irvine’s not SDM’s favoured PR man before getting involved in the recent shenannigans.

    Brass neck is not the word.


  10. neepheid says:
    Member: (633 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 3:36 pm
    StevieBC says:
    Member: (735 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    And if TRFC is operating a minimal squad size, then it would be prudent for TRFC to keep the loans pipeline open from NUFC – to cover injuries as the season progresses, if need.

    And if Ashley is no longer on the NUFC Board, can he plead no ‘dual interest’ – on the face of it anyway, to the SFA ?

    =========================
    Does anyone seriously believe that the SFA will have any problem at all with TRFC being loaqned quality players at favourable rates from NUFC? They did nothing about it last season at a time when Ashley was in breach of their dual interest rule. A precedent has been set, and there is no way they will object to TRFC being stuffed with cheap loan players by Ashley.

    More surprisingly, there wasn’t a cheep from the other promotion contenders last season. There’s no reason to think that will change either.

    33 1 Rate This
    ————————
    Neepheid, that also bothered me also that no other clubs said anything about the loanees. No doubt if the title race was a little ‘closer’ Dame Ann Budge might have said something, but we will never know. I will wait and see if this happens again and I will get a few of my Morton supporting friends to write to their Chairman for his thoughts. He seems to speak his mind and not intimidated easily. I would urge others to do likewise if their team is competing in the Championship or have a ‘local’ club who is.


  11. The only obstacle to stop more NUFC loanees.Is a £2000 fine this time. that will put the Frighteners right up Ashley 🙄


  12. Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.


  13. on the NUFC loaning players to TRFC

    Wont happen the Bears would never accept it

    Mr Ashley is the devil himself in their eyes and so is anything related to him

    If NUFC loaned players to TRFC again especially after 4 of them couldn’t train let alone play the last time so effectively paying 10k per week or month for 1 player
    they would be in open revolt


  14. Big Pink says:
    Moderator: (297 comments)

    June 21, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    STICKY !!!!!

    Jim Craig has agreed to do the phone-in show next Wednesday at 7.30pm.

    We are hoping for a sponsor(s) for the show. Either businesses or personal. Anyone who wants to get a mention as a sponsor can annotate their donation “Blether ‘#2″, with the message they want us to read out.

    Any amount is gratefully accepted and will be acknowledged on the programme. Jim Craig will not express any love for anyone other than his missus for these purposes 🙂

    Tris also has some info on new developments which he will be revealing on the Funding Page tomorrow.
    ————————————————————
    Whit The Dentist?

    Question one does he mind the wee bams frae next door that were always kicking balls around the street outside and occasionally banging his windaes when he stayed in Braehead in Lochinver drive.


  15. There’s Only One Willie Miller- Give it a chance! If it’s been Celtic all the way after a dozen episodes,then you’ll have a point. Certainly the previous series of podcasts weren’t at all Celtic based, and I have a lot of confidence that these broadcasts will cover the full spectrum of Scottish football. Maybe the next guest will be Barry Ferguson.


  16. tcup, you’re completely wrong re the TRFC* fans being willing to accept gifts from Mr Ashley (aka the devil incarnate). Just have a look at their fan sites – you’d be amazed how easy they find it to compartmentalise their dislikes. They might hate Ashley and call him a b*****d for sending them 5 un-medicaled duds just to drain TRFC* of funds, but boy do they love Haris Vukcic because he could play a bit. There is no consistency. It’s as other posters have said about the loan – “that b*****d Ashley taking our badges and property. Pay it back immediately and get our assets back!” but “hang on, it’s interest free and we could use it for players, so let’s keep it”

    There’s no consistency of thought so it’s easy to hold two positions at the one time.


  17. There’s Only One Willie Miller says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.
    _______________

    I can assure you, that if you have Willie Miller on speed dial, or even carrier pidgeon, Big Pink would fall over himself to have you ask the Aberdeen great to appear on the show. In lieu of Willie Miller he asked me, or was it Campbellsmoney?, to step in to represent non-Celts! Not as big a coup as WM would have been, but in the circumstances…

    I can also assure you that BP genuinely wants this blog, and the SFM radio, to be recognisably not Celtic orientated, and definitely not anti-Rangers. It is up to people like you to help him achieve this by contributing your thoughts and opinions, and thus reducing the percentage of Celtic supporters on the blog. Encourage your mates to do likewise 😀


  18. On the subject of Jim Craig, if my memory is correct, the former TV show ‘QuizBall’ (you had to answer questions to score goals, don’t ask) featured Celtic and Everton in the final one year. My memory is of both clubs having a team of four, but every single open question being contested only by Everton’s Brian Labone and Jim Craig. I believe that the final result was a win for Craig over Labone.


  19. If there was more than one Willie Miller then BP might be able to get one of them on the show. I have followed the site since RTC days and am sure others do not see the site as Celtic centric. We are all supporters of our own clubs but if one gets home crowds of 60000 and another 1000 then there will always be more “views” from the club with greater support. The largest crowd I remember at Bayview was about 23000 versus Celtic but there were an awful number of away fans to see a 2-2 draw and Ernie McGarr save 3 times from the spot.

    The first show was very much jam tart flavoured with thanks to AJ and the team but I am sure other programmes might even cover us diddles (after all Scottish football needs a strong Arbroath and East Fife). Also just because an ex hoop appears does bit mean the discussion will be about Celtic.

    So looking forward to the coming shows with interest.


  20. Methilhill Stroller says:
    Member: (71 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 10:52 pm

    If there was more than one Willie Miller then BP might be able to get one of them on the show. I have followed the site since RTC days and am sure others do not see the site as Celtic centric. We are all supporters of our own clubs but if one gets home crowds of 60000 and another 1000 then there will always be more “views” from the club with greater support. The largest crowd I remember at Bayview was about 23000 versus Celtic but there were an awful number of away fans to see a 2-2 draw and Ernie McGarr save 3 times from the spot.

    The first show was very much jam tart flavoured with thanks to AJ and the team but I am sure other programmes might even cover us diddles (after all Scottish football needs a strong Arbroath and East Fife). Also just because an ex hoop appears does bit mean the discussion will be about Celtic.

    So looking forward to the coming shows with interest.
    =======================================================

    Ditto

    Just glad I never broke his windaes.

    Honest it was Lawrie done it.


  21. Have I got this right?
    When a Co is liquidated
    Both Ordinary and Preference shareholders get nothing if the Creditors aren`t paid in full
    And
    To be a Creditor you need to prove to the Liquidator that you were owed money on the date when the co went into liquidation
    And to prove you were owed money you need to show that the co being liquidated had contracted to pay you for the goods or services or loan that you gave them
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Now

    Murray Sports Ltd was the holding co for RFC plc just as RIFC plc is the holding co for the newco TRFC Ltd.
    And
    MSL had a rights issue in 2001. This presented Minty with a bill of £32.3m if he wanted to maintain his pro rata share holding of MSL
    DCK stepped in and bought £20m of the diluted MSL shares all of which came from Minty`s £32.3m allocation of rights shares. So DCK became a major shareholder of MSL (and indirectly a major shareholder of RFC)
    When Minty sold RFC for £1 in May 2011 it was conditional on a debt of £18m to Lloyds Bank being repaid immediately
    The Sale Agreement makes no mention of any other debt being repaid by the Purchaser
    So we have to assume that all debts owed by RFC up to the Sale Date would now become the responsibility of the new Owner
    i.e.
    Any debts owed by RFC to Murray Sports Ltd would now become the responsibility of the new owner
    Which means?
    If DCK is a Creditor of RFC then it is because MSL is a Creditor of RFC of and he owns a chunk of MSL
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    So far so good

    So as the 2011 sale of RFC for £1 approached, DCK faced losing virtually all of his £20m investment in RFC Via his MSL shares

    Except
    Murray Group Holdings are listed as being owed £279k
    But MSL are not listed as a Creditor of RFC
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    And
    Since RFC did not publish accounts in June 2011
    What this all means is this
    Either
    1. DK personally loaned money directly to RFC plc prior to the 2011 sale of RFC plc and the debt rolled over after the sale took place .If so DK must be able to prove to BDO that this loan existed despite there being no loan shown in the 2010 RFC accounts.
    OR
    2. DK loaned money to RFC after the May 2011 sale and he has the agreement of the Purchaser that this loan actually took place
    3. One thing is absolutely certain
    DK is not a Creditor by virtue of indirectly holding shares in RFC via MSL.
    Shareholders are not Creditors
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Which raises the question
    What is the most plausible option that would persuade BDO to put DK on to the Creditor List for a massive sum?
    If
    It’s Option1. above
    Then
    Minty, DK and the Purchaser deliberately agreed that the sale should go ahead with a massive £20m millstone hanging round the neck of the Purchaser in addition to the £18m LBG debt and the potential HMRC liability
    This sort of deal would only make sense if the intended end game was for DK to become the
    biggest Creditor if RFC won the BTC bu t still went into liquidation
    And
    If its Option 2 above
    It is saying that DK loaned the Purchaser £20m AFTER the sale of RFC for £1
    Which is an incredible story to swallow as it implies that the Purchaser managed to get through an additional £20m before going into Administration in Feb 2012


  22. Nawlite,

    To be fair it’s hardly surprising that fans were more taken with Vukcic than the other four who rarely, if ever, featured. And with fees attached to all five combined, that fans would be happy with one of the players but unhappy with the deal in general seems straightforward enough to me.


  23. Just been asked by management at home in which year was the East Fife 2-2 Celtic game. Will have to do research but it might be about 35-40 years ago.

    Then am asked who is Lawrie and which players missed the pens – no idea about Lawrie but will need to do some serious thinking on the pens. I think Bobby Lennox was one, maybe Harry Hood and and either Kenny Dalglish or George McCluskey but we are going back in time. One pen was saved but the ref ordered a retake because Ernie moved a muscle too early but they still changed the player taking the kick and still didn’t score. Billy McPhee scored a pen for us to show them how it was done but Dixie Deans equalised to share the spoils.


  24. John Clark says:
    Member: (902 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 2:29 am
    ———————
    John,
    We currently have a strategy of buying development players, improving them, using them and selling them on. I think we have done pretty well. However, in my view, we are encumbered by a lack of competition in the SPFL.
    We will never generate enough money in Scotland, with or without TRFC, to make a significant difference to our CL group stage qualifying prospects, which is our goal: slightly beyond us to do it routinely but a challenge and therefore realstic.
    Scottish clubs, including CFC, albeit to a lesser extent, in my view, have made this mistake for years now; we see our best chance of success in the money we generate from tv etc. This is not correct.Other nations , of which there are now too many for me to need to list, have lesser financial resources than we have but do better in Europe.
    Shall we have a sportsman’s bet to find the most “obscure” club to have humped Scotland’s representatives in Europe in recent years?
    We need better coaching, and a genuine week by week competition, not against one club every 10 weeks, but every week, as far as possible. If we have to fight a tight campaign against TRFC and Aberdeen and DUFC and HMFC and others we, or TRFC, will still win the league more often than any other single club, but we will lose a few. The point though is that every team from Scotland will be better prepared for Europe, including us. We will still have more money than our domestic competitors, although still much less than the clubs we will end up competing against.
    That is the principle, and an already long CFC(?) post would be too long if I went on about how to achieve the unattainable (and from PL’s view perhaps),undesirable prospect.
    I don’t have a Fat Yak to hand, but I could do with a Tooheys or two, or a WA Emu stubbie.
    I’ll get back to the future later perhaps.


  25. Big Pink,

    Apologies, I just recalled you asked me a question the other night that I hadn’t answered. I believe the questions was would Rangers fans swap all the titles won in the EBT years if it avoided the old club new club debate arising, so if I may paraphrase the question is essentially would Rangers fans sacrifice the titles won from 1999 onwards to avoid liquidation? I’m doing that from memory so if I’ve recalled the question wrong please correct me!

    In addition, may I begin by saying I’m doing this from memory so if there are any factual inaccuracies I apologise and am happy to be corrected.

    Firstly, I believe the premise of the question is not valid. To answer the question straight, and I can only speak for myself- it’s a no brainer, giving up a few titles to avoid liquidation would be a definite yes from me.

    However, if we go back to 1999 as EBTs and DOS’s were about to commence, Rangers were about to romp to their first title under Advocaat, had a strong squad, and there were promising signs in Europe. If at that point the brakes had been put on the spending, youth had been encouraged into the side alongside the quality already there, I don’t think it is a stretch to imagine that titles could have been won in the coming years without the outrageous spending that occurred.


  26. Tartanwulver says:
    Member: (221 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    On the subject of Jim Craig, if my memory is correct, the former TV show ‘QuizBall’ (you had to answer questions to score goals, don’t ask) featured Celtic and Everton in the final one year. My memory is of both clubs having a team of four, but every single open question being contested only by Everton’s Brian Labone and Jim Craig. I believe that the final result was a win for Craig over Labone.
    =================================
    Here’s a link to the teams and the scorers for each of the Quizball seasons

    http://www.londonscrabble.com/mp/quizballindex.html


  27. Goosy

    I must say a most eloquent welcome back and a belter of a conundrum.
    ========================================
    Which raises the question
    What is the most plausible option that would persuade BDO to put DK on to the Creditor List for a massive sum?
    If
    It’s Option1. above
    Then
    Minty, DK and the Purchaser deliberately agreed that the sale should go ahead with a massive £20m millstone hanging round the neck of the Purchaser in addition to the £18m LBG debt and the potential HMRC liability
    This sort of deal would only make sense if the intended end game was for DK to become the
    biggest Creditor if RFC won the BTC bu t still went into liquidation
    And
    If its Option 2 above
    It is saying that DK loaned the Purchaser £20m AFTER the sale of RFC for £1
    Which is an incredible story to swallow as it implies that the Purchaser managed to get through an additional £20m before going into Administration in Feb 2012
    =================================================
    May also be a well worn lie by someone as we know does lies?
    I do not expect that man to appear anytime on a list of payouts from BDO.
    If he does we should all be instructing me learned friends on behalf of the taxpayer.


  28. GoosyGoosy says: June 19, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    ===========================
    Here is some background to King’s £20M.

    King invested £20M via one of his companies, Ben Nevis, in Murray Sports Limited in 2000. MSL was Rangers parent company at the time and the investment was part of a rights issue that raised £38M (to fund Advocaat’s transfer dealings).

    In return Ben Nevis received shares in MSL (not Rangers), but King also received a non-exec directorship of the club.

    Ben Nevis was one of the main targets for SARS during their investigation of King. Somewhere between 2002 and 2003, King switched ownership of the Ben Nevis shares held in MSL to Metlika Trading. Both Ben Nevis and Metlika are registered in the British Virgin Islands. I assume that the change in ownership was most likely related to the SARS interest.

    The situation continued until February 2011, when it looks as if SDM was reorganising his portfolio of companies. Murray Holdings Ltd took ownership of the bulk of RFC shares, but Metlika for the first time took a direct holding in RFC (approx 5%) which was proportionate to its previous holding in MSL.

    Three months later SDM sold the MHL shares to Craig Whyte.

    I have no idea where the “creditor” element came from. I haven’t seen anything in any set of accounts that suggests that their was any debt attached to King’s holding in RFC (via Ben Nevis or Metlika), so I would have thought that he would end up at the back of the RFC queue along with the other shareholders.

    King did threaten to sue SDM, but I don’t think he took his claim any further, or if it was suggested to him to try a claim via BDO.

    King wasn’t listed as a creditor while the club was in administration, but appeared as a “directors'” claim in the BDO reports.

    In their last report, BDO indicated that an interim dividend would be declared by the end of July of 6p-7p in the £ (£1.2M-£1.4M). King has previously advised that any money he got back from the Oldco would be reinvested in the newco, so we can look out for that one.

    http://news.stv.tv/west-central/299994-rangers-director-plans-to-sue-former-owner-sir-david-murray-for-20m/

    “For present purposes however, I simply want to advise the fans and fellow shareholders that any benefit I receive from my claim will be fully reinvested into the restructured football club.”


  29. There’s Only One Willie Miller says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm
    ‘Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.’
    ______
    Frankly, that is an absurd observation.

    From the early RTC days, the concentration has been on the fact that one club with the complicity and/ or neglect of duty of those men whose duty it was to govern Scottish Football,stole sporting titles and honours and, indeed, monies, from every other club in the senior leagues of Scottish Football.

    The fact that that club was the now dead RFC, and the fact that the man in office as President of the governing body was financially indebted to to that dead club, and the fact that there was a deliberate and orchestrated subversion of truth and sporting integrity, caused supporters of every club to raise their voices in protest at what the late, revered, Turnbull Hutton described as ‘corruption’.

    RTC, and TSFM and , now,SFM is not ‘anti-Rangers’.

    It is, and always has been, anti-corruption of the sporting ideal by those whose very duty it was, and is, to govern our game in accordance with their own laws and rules and without any hint of corruption whether related to emotional, cultural, financial,social, political, religious ties with any particular club.
    There is ample evidence to support the view that the SFA, while not in the same ‘league’ as FIFA, needs investigation.

    Not that our SMSM hacks know the meaning of ‘investigative journalism’.


  30. RyanGosling says:
    Member: (162 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 12:06 am

    ________________________________________

    To summarise Ryan:

    You are saying that RFC did it the wrong way.

    Had they done things the right way, they would still have won in your opinion.

    Given the choice between RFC doing it the right way and losing, or doing it the wrong way and winning, you would have taken the first every time.

    But you believe your club was capable of doing it the right way and still winning.

    That is absolutely the correct answer for you to give and you should be applauded for it.

    In the sense that we will truly never know in a historical sense whether you are right about your assertion that RFC could have done things the right way and still won, its hard to say that your assertion is accurate.

    But ethically it is absolutely the most apt position for you to adopt. Provided you accept 3 things:
    1. Other fans may disagree.
    2. Its not what happened.
    3. 1 and 2 matter.

    It seems to me that you clearly do accept these, and I congratulate you on your clarity, dignity and steadfastness there. I might suggest that this is an element that distinguishes your from a number of your fellow Ibrox fans?

    Every fan of every club is by definition partisan. You are as entitled as anyone to be partisan in your assertions too. It is a good thing, not a bad thing. Noble even. Up to a point.

    For example, I can say with absolute confidence of hindsight that the 2014/15 Scottish cup had ICT’s name on it from 21 years ago, because of the magnificent way that our club has been run since its inception, and it would be hard – even churlish – to argue against this assertion now. ( I could go further and suggest that anyone who does is merely a Caley hater, but that would be ridiculous wouldn’t it! – so I won’t)

    But in doing so I know that I am being outrageously partisan and we all know – deep down – that the certainty of this outcome was far from absolute.

    Its just that for some of us when we are being partisan, that knowledge – although entirely factual- is buried a little further down and seldom troubles what happens at the surface.

    However, the elephant in the room here is that the betrayal that you suffered was solely your clubs decision to “do it the wrong way”.
    And you must concede that some of your fans were – and still are – complicit in this.
    Your erstwhile club betrayed all of us. But it betrayed you most of all.

    And the betrayal continues.


  31. nawlite says:
    Member: (151 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    “There’s no consistency of thought so it’s easy to hold two positions at the one time”
    ——————————————————-

    There is a price to pay
    In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values …


  32. GoosyGoosy says:
    Member: (418 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 11:11 pm
    _______________
    I don’t know why BDO have given credence to DK’s £20M or whatever.
    I believe though that the purchaser thought that he was getting RFC on the basis that Lloyd’s would roll over the credit and negotiate a deal to keep the business going, and that his problem was to manage the BTC, when it inevitably found against RFC, which he thought he could do.
    He was duped, I think, by Minty in this regard.
    Which does not mean to say that Minty did not have a long term strategy in place.Having had years to think about it, (CW was, I believe, first introduced to the idea in 2009),it is inconceivable that there was not a plan to keep the Crown jewels in place.


  33. easyJambo says:
    Member: (662 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 12:24 am

    I have to say, late and all as it is, and as one whose eyes glaze at sight of numbers, I find that synopsis fascinating. Well done sir, if you’ll excuse the title.

    And ditto Goosy, terrific.


  34. There’s Only One Willie Miller says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm
    ‘Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.’
    _______________________________________________________

    Obviously I agree with neither the premise nor the conclusion. However assuming that your point is a serious one, are you suggesting that we should exclude Celtic people from the blog?

    And while you’re at it, is there any other club whose representatives should be excluded lest we give the impression that we are a [insert other club here]-minded blog? For example were we Raith-minded when Turnbull Hutton was on – or St Johnstone-minded with Stuart Cosgrove, or Hibs-minded when David Low laid out his plans for Easter Road?

    I think that the thought process behind the question suggests that you are looking for reasons to criticise. That is disappointing, but I hope you will feel differently in time.

    And if you have any leverage with Willie Miller, I’d be more than happy to have him on.


  35. Big Pink says:
    Moderator: (298 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 1:35 am

    There’s Only One Willie Miller says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm
    ‘Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.’
    _______________________________________________________

    Obviously I agree with neither the premise nor the conclusion. However assuming that your point is a serious one, are you suggesting that we should exclude Celtic people from the blog?

    And while you’re at it, is there any other club whose representatives should be excluded lest we give the impression that we are a [insert other club here]-minded blog? For example were we Raith-minded when Turnbull Hutton was on – or St Johnstone-minded with Stuart Cosgrove, or Hibs-minded when David Low laid out his plans for Easter Road?

    I think that the thought process behind the question suggests that you are looking for reasons to criticise. That is disappointing, but I hope you will feel differently in time.

    And if you have any leverage with Willie Miller, I’d be more than happy to have him on.

    ___________________________________________________________

    There are about 40,000 Celtic fans turn out each week.
    There are about 3000 Caley Thistle fans.
    For every Caley legend, there are going to be 10 Celtic ones.
    I have no problem with this.
    This site may not attract a representative quotient of TRFC fans because they are better served by those that peddle a narrative that is more appealing to them.
    But those we do get are a cut above.
    that notwithstanding, I don’t see that the demographic of the site is too far away from scottish football as a whole?

    There are alot of Celtic fans. Alot of Celtic fans post here.
    That does not make the site Celtic centric.
    Because the rest of us make sure that those of a hooped persuasion who get too ‘partisan’ are called to account.

    I sense an anti OF narrative that is by definition to the detriment of CFC financial interests. Lawell gets and honest grilling hereabouts, rather than sychophantic fawning.

    He gets the same scrutiny as DCK. He just stands up better most of the time.

    (Be honest though, he’s no Kenny Cameron!)


  36. tykebhoy says:
    Member: (178 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 4:13 pm

    Hope I never caused umbrage . I looked first at our fixtures to see how early Celtic will bottle it this season (second week) and then at the Championship fixtures . I may be wrong to expect competence from either SPFL or BBC Sport Scotland , but thought the fixture list would be correct .If correct, though , I thought it was disrespectful to the supporters of the teams involved (plus you couldn’t have one on the telly). Of course there’s a west coast bias, always was, always will be but it has bugger all to do with us . All together now – “Oh Maryhill
    Is wonderful “


  37. easyJambo says:
    June 20, 2015 at 12:14 am

    Quizball
    —————————-
    Thanks eJ, a 7-5 Celtic / Everton final, eh? Of course, defences were a lot less well drilled in those days.


  38. Resin_lab_dog,

    Very little to argue with in what you said, thanks for your post. Clearly the decision to go down that fateful road was taken by us and us alone. The only thing I’d clarify from your post is that I don’t believe if we had done things the right way we “would” still have won, I believe if we had done things the right way we “could” still have won, which I think is an important distinction to make.


  39. GoosyGoosy says:
    Member: (418 comments)

    June 19, 2015 at 11:11 pm

    Have I got this right?
    Which raises the question
    What is the most plausible option that would persuade BDO to put DK on to the Creditor List for a massive sum?
    If
    It’s Option1. above
    Then
    Minty, DK and the Purchaser deliberately agreed that the sale should go ahead with a massive £20m millstone hanging round the neck of the Purchaser in addition to the £18m LBG debt and the potential HMRC liability
    This sort of deal would only make sense if the intended end game was for DK to become the
    biggest Creditor if RFC won the BTC bu t still went into liquidation
    And
    If its Option 2 above
    It is saying that DK loaned the Purchaser £20m AFTER the sale of RFC for £1
    Which is an incredible story to swallow as it implies that the Purchaser managed to get through an additional £20m before going into Administration in Feb 2012
    ==========================================================
    Goosy,
    An interesting scenario,
    WRT option 1, IIRC the WTC was almost a deal breaker when CW became aware of it. This was only for around £3m at the time, and resulted in the original purchase price being negotiated down to a pound, with CW accepting the liability. I have no knowledge of CW accepting liability for DCK’s £20m, although that is not to say he didn’t. However, if a liability of £3m was almost a deal breaker, and option 1 is correct…..Then Minty has also taken CW for a ride over the £20m, and it should be he suing Minty.
    As you say, option 2 looks a bridge to far wrt to plausibility. Wouldn’t DCK be taking CW to task over this, and not Minty?
    I think you are possibly in the correct ball-park but there are many unknowns.
    What really reeks is the hypocricy of DCK placing himself front and centre as a RRM with regards the £20m, while playing down the fact he wouldn’t have invested in the first place if he wasn’t “Duped” by Minty, and now he wants his money back. .


  40. Excellent podcast.

    But

    Soft porn and dating sites? really?


  41. scapaflow says:
    Member: (1235 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 9:17 am
    Excellent podcast.

    But

    Soft porn and dating sites? really?

    0 0 Rate This

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

    Keep in mind the individual ads are “selected” by google not by the site owners. These are googleads.

    If you go to another site using googleads you will very probably see the same adverts.

    I think they are also supposed to be targeted ads, so google will present different ads to different users. (ie we probably don’t all see the same ads).


  42. Methilhill Stroller says:
    June 19, 2015 at 11:52 pm

    Just been asked by management at home in which year was the East Fife 2-2 Celtic game. Will have to do research but it might be about 35-40 years ago.

    Then am asked who is Lawrie and which players missed the pens – no idea about Lawrie but will need to do some serious thinking on the pens. I think Bobby Lennox was one, maybe Harry Hood and and either Kenny Dalglish or George McCluskey but we are going back in time. One pen was saved but the ref ordered a retake because Ernie moved a muscle too early but they still changed the player taking the kick and still didn’t score. Billy McPhee scored a pen for us to show them how it was done but Dixie Deans equalised to share the spoils.
    —-

    Feb 17th 1973
    East Fife 2-2 Celtic (HT 0-1)
    Scorers:
    McPhee (48 pen), Borthwick (51)
    Deans (22, 87)

    Penalties missed by Murdoch, Hood and Dalglish.

    East Fife went on to finish 9th (in a league of 18).


  43. Methilhill StrollerMethilhill Stroller says:
    Member: (72 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 11:52 pm
    Just been asked by management at home in which year was the East Fife 2-2 Celtic game. Will have to do research but it might be about 35-40 years ago.
    …….
    I was at a drawn East Fife – Celtic match at Methil in 1964 (memorable because it was the year the Forth Road Bridge was opened and I was on holiday with a Celtic pal in the Kingdom at the time.). Celtic won on the return but East Fife impressed at home by using their smaller pitch to their advantage, as I recall. Oh, and I was at the return match too!


  44. There’s Only One Willie Miller says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm
    Having a former Celtic player on your phone in is exactly the sort of thing that makes fans of other clubs think that this is a Celtic minded blog.

    15 51 Rate This

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

    I think thats unfair on Tris and BP tbh. I believe they are doing everything in their power to make the blog open and welcoming for all fans.

    In fact I think this has improved over time so they deserve credit for that.

    Its inevitable some groups of fans will be represented more than others and I don’t think that should be a problem in itself.

    IMO this has caused a problem at most on one or two occasions, where the debate or discussion is smothered or stifled by a deluge of posts representing one side of the debate (particularly unhelpful if they are all stating the same thing over and over).

    But other than on those very few occasions, I can honestly say I find the forum itself to be largely without any particular club bias and I think your criticism is unwarranted.

    (and I say this as someone who has had some disagreement with Trisidium on this very subject in the past but now I realise I have to see the bigger picture)

    Jim’s thoughts will be very welcome I think, and we should appreciate he is giving his time speak to “us”.


  45. Prohibby says:
    June 20, 2015 at 9:41 am

    —–

    Ha! Now that I’ve got my reference books open, I can tell you that was a League Cup quarter-final.
    East Fife actually won the first leg 2-0 (Sept 9th 1964), but Celtic won the 2nd leg 6-0 a week later.


  46. Matty Roth says:
    Member: (181 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 9:36 am

    must have a word with No 2 son, if they are targeted, his ar jim lad peer to peer sites may be the source of the problem


  47. Radar is really outdoing himself in today’s paper trying to sell the Bears on John Eustace. First the Twitter teases then the big sell in the paper today.
    The conversation at Level5PR Towers must have been something.

    So he can be a Davie Weir style capture – CHECK
    Loads of experience – CHECK
    Great record when in team pre injury – CHECK
    Make him captain – CHECK
    Tour of Ibrox and the training complex ( wot, no Murray Park) to make him swoon – CHECK
    Throw in a new one…MW “fulcrum” of team – CHECK
    Chased by other clubs – CHECK

    Things Keith forgot to check….. His Twitter timeline virtually begging Derby for an extension.
    Caravan trips to Skegness – nothing wrong with that – but not massively extravagant. Sitting in Derby market square swallowing a four pack of Skol….great example there John.

    Dearie me, the Record stooping to even newer lows but it’s pretty funny nonetheless.


  48. To all TRFC supporters;

    In case you haven’t realised yet, you are being lied to! By King, by Murray, by the SMSM, by anyone who tells you you are not being lied to.

    In just the past few days, King has told you that your club will be signing players to win the Championship and perform well in the Premiership (suggesting good players in their prime); you believed him. Many of you bought season tickets, and many others will be planning to commit – on the strength of your new chairman’s words’ – for that was what his rhetoric was aimed to achieve. He was ably abetted by the media with their efforts to convince you Warburton was manager of the year material – on both sides of the border. The SMSM even pushed the line that Warburton’s fist signing hadn’t been turned down by Birmingham over fitness problems, but had, in fact, chosen your club over Birmingham. No evidence other than the usual ‘a source close to’. Today we learn that the next signing will be of the category that suggests TRFC are entering a team into the walking football league, a 35 year old who had a knee operation earlier this year! This is the time they should be signing, or claiming to sign, players to get the heart racing, players you want to see playing. The two so far are the kind they should be keeping quiet about while signing the Danny Wilsons and Scott Allans (instead of just getting their poodles to push out the PR that they are) or even better.

    A simple question to TRFC supporters; do you think Hibs supporters have taken a sharp intake of breath and thought, ‘that’s another season in the Championship’, or are they thinking, ‘if that’s the best they can do!’?

    I know it’s early days, though you do need a team very soon, but now is the time, not for good news, but for screaming from the roof-tops fandabbydozey news!

    Of course, I could be wrong, and this man, being cited as the new club captain, is only in the frame as a squad player!

    For those who haven’t seen it yet, the DR are claiming TRFC are about to sign John Eustace, a free transfer from Derby County. Thirty five years old midfielder who had a knee op in January!


  49. As an outsider looking in, I am a fan of an English League Two side, what I can’t understand with this is why the fans didn’t start a new team when the old team/company went under like they do in England.

    With a fan’s own club and all money spent from ticket sales on the team then in my opinion the team would be playing in top flight next season with no problems.

    The reason they are not is that too many folk have had their snout in the trough.

    Just one last question who do you all think is getting the ground rent.
    From my experience, in England, with all these Phoenix clubs the ground ownership is the key. Anybody asked Bomber Brown lately?


  50. Allyjambo says:
    Member: (1037 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 10:42 am
    …………………
    Who also took the p*sh out of TRFC fans on his twitter time line yesterday..


  51. Allyjambo on June 20, 2015 at 10:42 am
    To all TRFC supporters;
    _________________________
    What a great post!

    Assuming it turns out to be true, The Record’s story about John Eustace has the whiff of being a defining moment in this stage of the Sevco saga.

    If he is going to be the ‘fulcrum’ of the rebuilding exercise, then it doesn’t bode well for the season ahead. And it doesn’t exactly square with Mr King’s “doing whatever it takes rhetoric”.

    Of course, Mr Eustace could turn out to be a transformational presence. And his arrival could herald the dawning of a golden era at Ibrox…

    Here are some further thoughts…

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/06/20/the-great-gasp/

    Enjoy the rest of the day!


  52. Don’t forget…Loanees…free agents…trialists…rejects and youth players…that is what their budget allows for…

    It is not the fault of John Eustace that he is 36 and at the end of his career.

    It will be a culture shock to have finished last season playing in the hustle and bustle of the English Championship…to now turn out at Dumbarton on a cold Tuesday night…will be a wonderful way to see out your career.

    Good luck John…I know your are still desperate to play…but I really don’t think you realise what you have let yourself in for 😯


  53. Morning all from the lovely SW coast of Ayrshire. I thought this tweet which includes the words ‘SFL’, ‘Longmuir’ & ‘unexpected bonus’ was cute, considering its author 🙂

    @DarrylBroadfoot: An unexpected bonus: David Longmuir, former CEO of SFL, speaking on club and community alliances #SDSC15


  54. Anyone thinking this is a Celtic blog obviously didn’t listen to the excellent musings of AllyJambo and Campbells Money on the Radio show the other night. Why have these articulate, reasonable non-Celtic fans on if it is a Celtic blog? As far as having Jim Craig on, IMO he never comes across as anything other than a decent, reasonable man.


  55. TheClumpany says:
    Member: (75 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 11:09 am

    The thing is, there can be no doubt they are being lied to over these players, either by King & co, or by the SMSM/Jackson, as these players are not of the calibre/age to win the Championship then kick on for a year or more in the Premiership, as King promised. And if Eustace doesn’t sign, then the SMSM/Jackson are lying, or are complicit in the lies as mere conduits of the PR. They, the TRFC support, are getting lied to at every turn!

    I can honestly say, that if Hearts had just announced the signing/potential signing of these two players, I’d be worried about our chances of staying up, or at least of the genuine commitment to the future building of our club. I’m sure, too, that Hibs supporters would be questioning these signings if they were being pushed as an inducement to buy STs!

    Not only is there no WOW! factor in these players, there’s a genuine WTF (pardon my French).


  56. jimmci says:
    Member: (84 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 10:35 am
    ————

    The Eustace chappie ‘parody’ twitter account (11,500 followers) didn’t always have the word ‘parody’ in the profile 🙂 Some of the old tweets appear to be doing the rounds. Very funny, or not, if you’ve just signed for a certain Scottish club you’ve been lampooning. Naw, must be a parody 😮


  57. upthehoops says:
    Member: (744 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 11:48 am

    When BP mentioned Jim Craig to me in a phone conversation the other day (I know, a touch of name dropping from AJ here 😉 ), I thought, this is getting quite serious, BP is really going for it with SFM Radio! Jim Craig, to my mind, has always been worth listening to, even if I didn’t always agree with what he said on the occasions I’ve heard him. Yes, he sees things from a Celtic perspective, but I’d be suspicious of what he said if he didn’t, but he is clearly very intelligent and articulate and thinks before he speaks. My only fear about having Jim Craig as our first ‘big name’ guest would be if he took the ‘party line’ of ‘we need a Rangers’ and other well known lies, but that will be the same for all guests of the show.

    To me, JC would be an excellent ‘regular’ guest if he could be persuaded to visit the studio every so often. It is important, more important actually, to have people on with inside knowledge and the ability to speak in a way we want to listen to, than to have a balance from around all the clubs if that might mean listening to a ‘Bomber’ or a DJ – and I don’t want to smash my laptop, so no JT nor KJ, Big Pink please 😀


  58. While the points are obvious enough Allyjambo, I’d urge caution in your phrasing. You begin by saying “To all TRFC fans…you are being lied to” and within a couple of sentences say “you believed him”. I’m sure there will be some fans buying season tickets because they believe this guff, but most I’d imagine would have been buying tickets anyway, more likely in spite of the nonsense being spouted by Mr King and the press bigging up players that don’t necessarily merit it at this point.

    Not all Rangers fans actually fall for this stuff and anyone who actually reads the Daily Record and takes it as the gospel truth on any subject deserves pretty much everything they get.


  59. part time pete says:
    Member: (2 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Just one last question who do you all think is getting the ground rent.
    From my experience, in England, with all these Phoenix clubs the ground ownership is the key. Anybody asked Bomber Brown lately?

    _________________________________________________

    If I was a betting man, I’d say the original ‘ticketus’ investors via some other entity.
    It is not to be overlooked that the original ‘ticketus’ set up was a CGT scam designed to net a load of HNW (high net worth) individuals a guaranteed tax free return by exploiting the EIS (enterprise initiative scheme) intended to give tax incentives to start up businesses.

    These HNWs tend to have power and influence, whilst being somewhat publicity shy.
    It is entirely possible that they recruited and bankrolled Green with the sole intent of getting their money back for them.
    Something he may well have achieved by now, by virtue of the onerous contracts.
    The fact that this was done at the expense of the taxpayer and the bears, and those who invested in the AIM flotation will not trouble them in the slightest.


  60. Allyjambo says:
    Member: (1039 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 12:16 pm

    When BP mentioned Jim Craig to me in a phone conversation the other day (I know, a touch of name dropping from AJ here ? ), I thought, this is getting quite serious, BP is really going for it with SFM Radio! Jim Craig, to my mind, has always been worth listening to, even if I didn’t always agree with what he said on the occasions I’ve heard him. Yes, he sees things from a Celtic perspective, but I’d be suspicious of what he said if he didn’t, but he is clearly very intelligent and articulate and thinks before he speaks. My only fear about having Jim Craig as our first ‘big name’ guest would be if he took the ‘party line’ of ‘we need a Rangers’ and other well known lies, but that will be the same for all guests of the show.
    =====================================

    In my view much of the ‘we need Rangers stuff’ from former Celtic people is in response to loaded questions from the media. I suspect Lubo Moravcic the other day was the latest to be questioned in this way. I’m sure Jim Craig will not have to answer any loaded questions which in itself will be refreshing.


  61. Allyjambo says:
    Member: (1039 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 12:00 pm

    The thing is, there can be no doubt they are being lied to over these players, either by King & co, or by the SMSM/Jackson, as these players are not of the calibre/age to win the Championship then kick on for a year or more in the Premiership, as King promised.
    ===================================

    As a Celtic fan please forgive me for perhaps overly seeing the world of the media as a comparison in how they report on my club against how they report on Rangers. Fans of other clubs have views on media coverage and we have had many debates about it on here. However, this week the Celtic v Rangers media coverage has been notable in how different it has been. Rangers have received incredibly positive coverage, none of which has been kept in perspective with the actual achievements of their new manager, or the players they are reported to be signing. On the other hand John Collins spent the fixtures launch yesterday having to deal with negative questions about Celtic not being able to afford English Premiership wages, and which players will be leaving the club. I can honestly say if no-one from Celtic ever spoke to anyone from the media again, I wouldn’t care in the slightest.


  62. Yet the TRFC fans think that there is a vast coordinated conspiracy of negative coverage against them in the SMSM. This is all part of the victimhood narrative they employ. the myth has developed so far that they often claim that the Clubdid nothing wrong and were destroyed from outside malign influences because they are the biggest and best club in History.

    This evolution of small lies and wrong opinions has grown into a secular version of invincible ignorance.

    It is all beyond reason and there is no sign of either the means, inclination or the patience to do an ICT or A Ross County. Build towards sustainability see progress as the benchmark and competition wins as a bonus to be savoured.

    I sa the Daily Record quiz question yesterday asking how many times TRFC had won the Scottish Cup there was no zero option…


  63. RyanGosling says:

    June 19, 2015 at 11:12 pm

    Take your point, Ryan, that the fans would obviously be happier if Ashley had lent only Vukcic, but the reality is that he lent them 5 players. So when considering the holistic question “Am I happy that Ashley lent us 5 players”, they refuse to answer Yes (given what Vukcic did for them), because they also want to compartmentalise their abhorrence of Ashley. It’s a bit unfair.


  64. Don’t quite understand TRFC’s strategy – if reported accurately, of course.
    A 35 year old might perform like Pirlo, but the risk of injury in a long season is very high.
    He may turn out to be a good signing though.

    But, IMO, one of the retained players should be made captain, as they have been this far ‘on the journey’, and have an idea about what it’s like playing for TRFC, and the surrounding circus.

    IMO, TRFC should be promoting their young / academy players who will be expected to have runs in the first team next season. Shirley the bears would get excited at seeing young, committed players who are desperately keen to get their chance to play in the first team – rather than overpaid, aged, journeymen ?

    There is the risk that a youngster could get overwhelmed, but TRFC doesn’t seem to have many options – and the youngsters at HMFC did OK last season.

    TRFC could be promoting the cheaper option of youth, [in the main], as the future of the club, and if ‘promoted’ in the correct manner that could satisfy the bears to buy ST’s, IMO.

    [I am assuming that TRFC is not doing so already, and only relying on what I read in the MSM…I know !]


  65. Any St Jonhstone fans on who listened to Sportsound earlier? A studio debate was taking place over the merits of your team, and their forthcoming European tie. Tom English said there was some merit in the view from St Johnstone fans the media don’t given them enough credit. The rest of the panel took the view that is St Johnstone’s own fault as they are now expected to do well…no I can’t work it out either!

    Of course, if the amount of praise a team gets lessens as they become more successful, it goes some way to explaining the gushing coverage Rangers have had recently!


  66. Been thinking about the MASH debt and the japes that big Mike could get up to in pursuit of getting his debt repaid.

    He has the advertising hoardings at Ibrox matches – including the televised ones – sewn up, doesn’t he?

    Thinking what a great format that would make for submitting ‘ a final demand’ for payment.

    Or why not really go for it and serve them with a writ and / court summons via the medium of their own pitch surround during a televised match against promotion rivals: I’m sure that would get their attention. 😈

    The situation at basket-case FC is so bizarre that it taxes the imagination wondering what will come next in the saga.


  67. Big Gav
    Jings – that long ago? Well at least the memory ain’t too bad and thanks for the change in Bobby Lennox to Murdoch. Still enjoyed the day though and 2-2 was a good result as we could have been 3 or 4 down at half time and nearly held on for the win but Dixie was on form that day. I think he won the 2 pens as well.

    Those were the days! East Stirlingshire here we come.


  68. Richard Gough in todays papers.
    (i know why do i bother to read it)

    On telling the fans last season not to buy Season Tickets, and now he would love to see them snap up season tickets.

    “Thankfully it worked out well,it caused a lot of anguish between supporters and that was understandable.
    months down the line nothing had happened and i was beggining to wonder a bit,but it has worked out”.
    —————
    How does he work out that it worked out? they are in a worse position than where they were this time last season.


  69. woodstein says:
    Member: (113 comments)
    June 20, 2015 at 5:54 pm
    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/broadband/2015/06/beat-bt-sports-price-rise

    “If you pay for BT Sport now, brace yourself for a rise. If you pay the standard £13.50/month for BT Sport (HD is £4 extra) or you’ve negotiated a different deal, BT says your price “will increase shortly”, but it hasn’t revealed the exact hit on your wallet yet.
    /////////////////

    All the more reason to look at other options
    Kodi.
    Or
    Satellite subscription from abroad Nova sports
    Bein sports on line
    Tring
    For example

    These so called British broadcasters are taking your hard earned cash and putting he haw back into the Scottish game

    Just to clarify the price hike is not just for the CL but for there over the top EPL deal

    Edit

    Just noticed an advert for Android boxes at the bottom of the page lol

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