SPFL Myopia Flares into Civil War

The Covid 19 Pandemic is a truly serious game-changing situation for us all.
We are all currently staring into a future with no declared road map exit of
how we might move back to normality and the certainty of disruption now and
long into the future.

Against the background of lockdown to curb the virus spread we have all run smack bang into economic and social chaos.
We have gone from normality into unheard of times virtually overnight and with horrendous economic consequences coming every which way into the future.

Football is not important in the greater scheme of things but still has issues that need attention and urgently because it affects people’s lives.

 This Week’s SPFL Plan to Move On

The SPFL are simply the members association who run our leagues on a “for the members, by the members, for the members” kind of way in theory.

For reasons known to them they collectively took the decision to start to draw an end to season 2019 – 2020 with its Covid 19 uncertainty.
This was probably to allow them and all their members (our clubs) to at least
start to plan for the future when income streams will return.

From speaking to those involved from the club side and reading and hearing more at a truly astonishing pace since Wednesday 8th of April, just 3 day ago, the SPFL decided in their wisdom that the best solution was to conflate two particular issues. 

To back their case quite forcibly they also provided a dossier of over 100 pages of supportive material.  All good bedtime reading for our club’s boards I have been told, but i haven’t seen it.

The issues the SPFL decided to conflate were to ‘pro-rata’ all games played so far this season so they could equalise and close the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2, with the Premiership going the same way if it became clear that fixtures could not be completed.

If and only if the motion was agreed by the members then the end of season prize money would be forthcoming from the SPFL bank almost immediately.

Money desperately needed by some members. A real lifeline in troubled times.

There was also another possible wee carrot dangled.

This might have been of a sort of half-hearted agreement to look at re-organisation of Scottish Football. This because despite the dossier urging clubs to vote yes, the SPFL knew some clubs would not be happy with their proposals and would not agree.

 In the Real World of Challenged and Stressed Football Clubs

 The SPFL conflation of “do this or no money” meant things like.

The title would be handed to Celtic eventually if Premier Clubs then followed suit, despite Rangers having a mathematical, albeit statistically unlikely, chance of catching their rivals.

Hearts would be relegated despite having enough games to catch their nearest rivals and stay safe possibly by a play off (if they hadn’t already been cancelled).

Partick Thistle would be relegated because they failed to play one league game while playing another SPFL competition and also had a bunch of games left to save themselves.

Stranraer would go down despite being proven late season successful relegation fighters.

Brora (declared Highland Champions) and Kelty (current leaders in Lowland League, by a bawhair over Bonnyrigg) would have no play off with a likely game against Brechin or whoever was going to be bottom of the SPFL2 league.

And these are just the tip of what football chiefs I’ve spoken with have termed an ill-considered iceberg of matters arising from a hapless attempt to bring some certainty to the SPFL membership. 

72 Hours of Mayhem as Peter was Played Against Paul

People are interconnected today and from the moment clubs were pushed into a corner they discussed it together and in depth.
They all know who voted how why and when and have WhatsApp records too.

They all feel they could have done it better. I can’t try to sum up the sheer enormity and quantity of what has happened since Wednesday night but after I had penned a piece for SFM on Friday with suggestions that there was a civil war brewing that is just indeed what happened.

Every club effectively had a moral and economic choice and sometimes they were conflicting.

Friday was too close to call

I was in a few communication loops sitting at home on Friday afternoon as the vote unfolded.

I had been warned how close it was going to be and it was fascinating with first Inverness seen as the potentially key vote then an acceptance just before 5 that the whole thing had failed.
Then, 5.30ish, a different and quite hopeful view came out that after the vote had been seen to have failed that a 14, 14, 14, compromised was likely. Sense seemed to be prevailing. Then later and very late in the day a view that 1 vote (Dundee) had still to come and was in effect now the casting vote with all the power that casting votes carry.

Since then we have first seen Dundee castigated in the press and by unthinking media pundits as the villains for holding everything up.

(But that’s now old news).

Today (Sat 11th April), ICT Chief Executive Scott Gardiner was on BBC Sportsound alongside Richard Gordon, Michael Stewart Tom English, Kenny Miller and later on Willie Miller. It wasn’t a normal filler show in a period with no football.

It was truly amazing with some hard facts and honest insights. Uncommonly so. 
I should have been forewarned after one well know football finance insider had tweeted last night (Fri) ahead of the curve that “Dundee will have earned some concession and will now change their vote” or words to that effect.

Wow he was ahead of the tsunami that burst this afternoon. If you haven’t heard BBC Sportsound at 2 pm today then the first hour or so is unmissable.

Since then matters have gone on apace we have now heard that Douglas Park, interim Chairman of Rangers, wants the SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster and legal counsel Rod Mackenzie (Rangers links) to stand down ahead of an independent inquiry.

So less than a day after a yet to be agreed vote outcome and genuine internecine war is brewing and exploding with Mr Parks claiming he has damning information from a whistleblower.

In turn he has been asked by the current SPFL Chairman Murdoch MacLennan to substantiate his “very serious accusations”. .

So Who Scored the Own Goal and What Can We Do About It?

As of now I actually don’t care who did what and when.
Stuff has happened and in the fullness of time we can look at how it happened and what we can do to avoid it into the future.
Today we need to move forward and that needs leadership.

Here is a 5 point roadmap.

Ditch this divisive plan
It doesn’t matter how Dundee vote just consign all this crap to history.
Pay all the monies due
This week no strings and if that needs a vote then vote on that and that alone.
Agree what happens and how to end the season
Scottish Football Supporters Association say this must include no relegation and pyramid winners should be included. Don’t penalise anyone at this time.
And an interim plan would be fine of three leagues like nearly got agreed for 20 minutes on Friday.
Take time
End the season properly and fairly and plan for the future to reinvigorate our game for the greater good. The world has changed but we haven’t.
Involve all stakeholders especially the fans 
This should all be on the record and transparent. 

The Time To Stop The War is Now 

851 thoughts on “SPFL Myopia Flares into Civil War


  1. redlichtie 19th April 2020 at 17:48

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

    Because that’s not how it is done.

    If someone thought it was a better idea they should have proposed it as an alternative resolution.

    They also wanted to get as much as possible to the clubs involved, so holding some back would not have been ideal.


  2. Thanks for the quick response Homunculus. You are obviously better informed that me on this subject. Could you help me out with a couple of clarifications?

    <Because that’s not how it is done.>

    So the prize money is not distributed in tranches based on position at the time?

    <If someone thought it was a better idea they should have proposed it as an alternative resolution.>

    Were views sought on this option? Was the resolution not presented as 'take it or leave it' with a suggested early 'deadline' due to the difficult circumstances?

    <They also wanted to get as much as possible to the clubs involved, so holding some back would not have been ideal.>

    Is the outcome we now have ideal then?

    Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.


  3. If they gave out loans instead of what has happened and a club or clubs had an admin event what would happen? Would the administrators be legally entitled to get the full amount regardless of any loan given once the league is eventually called, also would the spfl be able to legally keep what was loaned.


  4. As far as I'm aware there is no SPFL article that covers when and how much is paid out to clubs as interim payments, other than the acknowledgment that the Board can make those payments. I guess that's the way things are done.


  5. easyJambo 19th April 2020 at 18:21

    And if they wanted to pay the remaining money out they had to have final positions in order to do it.

    The point was to get as much paid out as possible. I don't see how you can do that without knowing what the final position are and how do you do that without making them final.


  6. Homunculus 19th April 2020 at 18:27

    And if they wanted to pay the remaining money out they had to have final positions in order to do it.

    The point was to get as much paid out as possible. I don't see how you can do that without knowing what the final position are and how do you do that without making them final.

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

    Homunculus, you keep saying this and I keep saying why did they not pay out 75% (or similar) now based on current positions and the balance once the season is completed or called.

    Surely it is not beyond the wit of man to come up with something that did not railroad clubs into accepting a conflated resolution?

    Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.

     


  7. I remember Michael Stewart suggested paying out up to 75 or 80% of prize money before the leagues were called.  The remainder to be paid once the final positions established.

     

    There was some discussion about a week or so ago whether TRFC were calling for loans or advances.  I think they clarified it.  One thing which I read somewhere was that they used the words 'clubs would ELECT to repay the advances when the prize money was distributed'.   I found that a bit disturbing if it was true.  As previously mentioned on here, the advances should be deducted  before any final payments made.  No choice in the matter!  I can guess which club would kick repayment down the road!


  8.    I'm not too sure of my figures on this, but they will do for illustrative purposes. £9m odds seems to ring a bell wrt how much was in the kitty for the final payouts. Holding back say 25% of that, would amount to over £2m. 

          I doubt the SPFL would have been doing their jobs properly, if clubs went to the wall while they sat on over £2m cash,  to which they were entitled. 


  9. C.O.,  I think they have the discretion to make loans to clubs struggling to see out the season.  Obviously not wholesale like what would be required at the moment.

     

    They did it with Gretna and lost money I believe.


  10. In today's questioning of Les Gray, I learned that in 2010 a loan had been made to Gretna and 'another club'.

    Which was that other club, do we know?


  11. Homunculus 19th April 2020 at 18:27

    easyJambo 19th April 2020 at 18:21

    And if they wanted to pay the remaining money out they had to have final positions in order to do it.

    The point was to get as much paid out as possible. I don't see how you can do that without knowing what the final position are and how do you do that without making them final.

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

    Personally, I had no issue with them calling the season over and paying out on current positions based on PPG.

    That gave certainty to clubs about how much they would get. Some clubs might have gained some cash by securing their current position when they might have lost a place, while others may have lost out on some cash by not being able to move up a place.  That was fair as the payments to winners and losers were balanced and no-one lost out by a significant amount by the potential upward or downward placings.

    What was not fair, in my opinion, was forcing a relegation on a club that was only at risk of being relegated. That I would describe as a punishment.   

    e.g. Partick was sitting in 10th place in the championship. Had they got to 9th then they would have received £12,500 more, while Queen of the South would have lost £12,500 had they dropped to 10th.

    However, the impact of the enforced relegation on Partick might be as much as £1m.  That doesn't seem right to me. 

    The numbers for Hearts, should the Premiership adopt the same process, would be £62,500, which is bad enough, but the enforced relegation might cost them in excess of £3m. Now Hearts may well have been relegated had the season been concluded.  In that scenario they would have no excuses, having finished bottom after playing a full season. 


  12. jimbo 19th April 2020 at 19:51

           C.O., I think they have the discretion to make loans to clubs struggling to see out the season. Obviously not wholesale like what would be required at the moment. They did it with Gretna and lost money I believe.

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

         Spot on Jimbo, and they cannot lend what they do not have. By paying out on final positions, they have emptied the tank….There is nothing to lend from. 

        Despite the fact everything has been divvied out, I'm not even sure that will be enough to save some clubs. Short of writing a wee character reference for their bank manager, the SPFL have done all they can for them….Paid up expediently, and replaced an "unknown", with a known.

         How long before revenue streams open up again is anybody's guess, and it will be for the clubs to manage their available resources until then, how they see fit. 

        Some will be unsuccessful in that, and maybe that's the problem. Some probably realise already they Steven Gerrard, (cannae manage), 

    There's always a Ticketusy type company I suppose, but…….Errrrrrrr, Their first question might be, "What tickets?", followed by, "When?"

         If the local High street bank branch relationship is good, and he can be presented with some numbers that make sense going forward, things might be OK.

         Otherwise they will need "Investment". ………Maybe even a fighting fund.  


  13. The total prize money across all of the divisions of the SPFL is £25m.

    The premiership clubs receive 80% of the pot (£20m) and the remaining £5m has been split between the other three divisions.

    We are told that £1.8m has just been released. That means (if my arithmetic is correct) that the lower tier clubs had already received £3.2m – or 64% of their available funds for the season.

    If the league positions had not been finalised and the SPFL had offered loans instead, how much could it have released?

    It is suggested here that 75% of the available funds would be fair; but let's stretch it out to the 80% proposed by Michael Stewart.

    That means, instead of releasing £1.8m only £800k wound have been available.

    At 75% the figure drops to £550k.

    It is simply not realistic to compare the two potential 'solutions'. The SPFL took the only realistic option open to it.

    Just ask yourself: how many clubs would have been condemned to death if a large portion of the remaining funds had not been received this weekend?

    Ultimately, it may not save them all; but it could give some a fighting chance.


  14. HP

    ———————————-

    So the other 3 divisions were due £1.8m which has apparently been paid based on 100% of their final position entitlement. If this was made as an "interim" payment based on 80% why would this pay out not total £1.44m? Confused.


  15. SPFL could make interim payments to Premiership clubs based on where they are now – top six are guaranteed at least sixth place payment , bottom 6 guaranteed at least twelfth place payment . The rest can be held in abeyance . 


  16. Every day a school day on SFM.

    If I read HPs post right 30 clubs in the lower divisions are sharing £1.8m issued on Friday.

    That’s £60k a team on average.

    Presumably the amounts are pro-rata based on ‘final positions.

    I appreciate every penny is a prisoner in these exceptional times but we really are talking small sums. 

    Has anyone seen or worked out who got what and then figure out how much difference those sums will really make whether paid ‘urgently’ on Friday or the end of the month when everyone would have had a clearer picture ‘re FIFA, UEFA thinking downwards.


  17. Bordersdon

    Paying out £1.44m would have made the total of released funds £4.64m or 92.8% of the season's prize money.

    Given the range of possible finishing positions (leaving open the theoretical possibility that the remaining schedule could be played out) it seems very unlikely that anything like that level of prize money could be released at this stage.

     


  18. easyJambo 19th April 2020 at 21:01

    I absolutely understand what you are saying and personally hope that re-structuring takes place so that as few clubs as possible suffer. If that means spreading the money about a bit more, particularly in the top division, so be it.

    However the bottom line is that something had to be done, and in order to pay as much money out as possible the divisions had to be finished. That suited the majority and about 80% of the clubs in the league voted for it. Some might be moaning about things now, however that's always easier to do once you have voted yes, and received your payment. 

    I can't see a better way of having done it, and as I said hopefully there will be re-structuring and that minimises the pain for the clubs who are currently at a disadvantage. 


  19. paddy malarkey19th April 2020 at 22:23

     

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    SPFL could make interim payments to Premiership clubs based on where they are now – top six are guaranteed at least sixth place payment , bottom 6 guaranteed at least twelfth place payment . The rest can be held in abeyance . 

    ……….

    I think that was pretty close to the position with the last interim payment.

    Celtic, TRFC and Motherwell received a higher payment because those clubs were guaranteed to make the top six.


  20. paddy malarkey19th April 2020 at 22:23

    Yet another sensible solution that perhaps could have been included in a resolution but as yet no one can say why the board felt the one they put forward was the best they could do.

    If, as has been implied and much talked about, money is an urgent  worry for everyone at this time, why are the Premiership clubs being left in limbo?


  21. The ibrox club missed out on a visit from celtic and a full house advertising and TV and everything else that goes with it, i Don’t think their final payment from the SPFL would come near the money they missed out on this game not going ahead,(happy to be corrected) The ibrox club really needed that game and a top six split of games to keep the show on the road. A final payment from the SPFL won’t make a dent,
    So;-) what are we missing here? All this bluster from ibrox can’t just be for a bit of cash from the SPFL.
    Edit, I believe Mr Lawwell is often quoted as when the ibrox club was no more celtic missed out on £10 mill from these games, or something like that)


  22. Cluster One 19th April 2020 at 23:37

    '..when the ibrox club was no more celtic missed out on £10 mill from these games, or something like that '

    """"""""""""""""

    And bad cess to Celtic if they were in the least party to the whole feckin Res 12 lie and the 5-Way agreement for money's sake.

    If the Celtic board is composed of people of the same stamp as those who people the Ibrox board?

    What hope for honest professional football in Scotland?

     

     

     

     

     


  23. Just had a weird idea: simply idle speculation of course.

    We have seen TRFC act batsh!t crazy recently WRT the SPFL.

    (Unsubstantiated) allegations of corruption, demanding suspension of Doncaster – and dragging up allegations from 30+ years ago to imply that McLennon has it in for the Ibrox club.  Plus the issuance of several angry, rambling and even contradictory press statements.

    And at a time of real crisis in everybody's lives – nevermind the turmoil throughout the SPFL clubs – we have one rogue club kicking off with demands and wild accusations.

    There is a new Ibrox Chairman who may otherwise be preoccupied trying to save his heavily indebted main business.

    Then you have a brand new 'PR expert' at Ibrox who has a distinct lack of PR experience: it would seem unlikely his first real task is to totally undermine the entire league governance structure? (Is he even in post yet or is it unmanned currently?)

    So… enlightened

    This new Ibrox regime feels just like the old regime – under King.

    Is King still involved with Ibrox operations?

    Is it King who is behind this attack on the SPFL, pulling the strings from SA?

    Could be way off the mark here, but just a thought…


  24. The demands by Rangers fans working in the media for an independent investigation is escalating, with Matthew Lindsay today setting out his six questions that must be answered. There have been several calls so far by several media outlets. My six questions are:

    (1) Why only now, because of this one specific case, are they demanding action against the SPFL?

    (2) Why have they ignored the incredible work provided to them on a plate by the Resolution 12 people? 

    (3) Why have they ignored that the Lord Nimmo Smith investigation was predicated on Rangers tax avoidance being legal, and open to all clubs, when it has been proven by the Supreme Court to be illegal, and NOT available to all clubs.

    (4) Why is it when the SFA refused to ‘rake over old coals’ in 2017, was there not the same sustained media pressure for an independent investigation to take place?

    (5) Why is it that the SFA response in 2017 was accepted verbatim and never questioned, in particular their response to the contracts under the Wee Tax Case being left out of LNS investigation?

    (6) If Rangers were 13 points clear and Celtic were making exactly the same claims as Rangers are now, would they be backing the SPFL, or demanding an independent investigation? 

    I realise some of the above cases refer to the SFA, and not the SPFL, but the principle regarding media double standards is obvious. It seems clear that independence is the last thing the media want. It’s all down to which clubs are involved.  


  25. Very much doubt if you can get a truly independent enquiry in Scotland anyway.

     

     

     

     


  26. Bill 1903 20/04/2020 @08:25

    =======

    In my opinion the fact that the media are only pressing for an independent inquiry when Rangers are unhappy pretty much proves your point. 

     


  27.    If and when Sevco pop off from this mortal world, the 5-Way-Agreement ceases to exist….The signature of Third Rangers is not on it…….All those wee perks, and levers…Poof!!!…Gone 

        That might just be a problem for the re-emergence of a new start-up…..Nothing and coontin', doesn't quite roll off the tongue as easily as 54…. "Coronavirus stole oor titles"?….It's just not blamey enough…..It's kind of hard to put the windaes in, of something only visible through a micrscope. Boycotting Boots the chemist for not having a vaccine, will fail, when the shaving foam runs out. 

        What we have here, with these demands for an independent inquiry are obvious. Scottish fitba' needs a stirring catch-phrase. "Yooz buy the face-masks, Yooz buy the sanitiser", just won't cut it.  A protest march to a laboratory filled with wee beasties is a hard sell.. Manufacturers of orange PPE kits do not grow on trees…….

        All that marching, and snarlin' and growlin' needs to be against something within marching distance. Something bigger than 0.04 microns……Something with windows, and this time, preferably a letterbox too. 

        Step forward the SPFL…….Representatives of all the clubs that voted us deid. 

         


  28. Scottish Football needs to socially distance itself from the Sevco-2012 (SC425159) virus.

     

     

     


  29. redlichtie 20th April 2020 at 09:35 

    Scottish Football needs to socially distance itself from the Sevco-2012 (SC425159) virus.

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

        With no 5-W-A in the frame, it’s the perfect opportunity to clean up the game and restore it’s reputation Red. Bryson and Ogilvie and LNS can be outed, as there is nobody to resist it. Sevvies will not be happy, but Scottish fitba’ has proved to Scottish fitba’, they are not needed.  

         How they conducted themselves,  when they won the 5-Way blinking competition, proved there will not be another. 

         Scottish fitba’ has just made emergency payments to clubs, fearful for their very existance….None of those pounds were bloo. …..Something Sevco shareholders are about to discover, when they realise their shares are not legal tender. 

        Scottish fitba needs less negative equity pounds…… I, for one, can’t wait.  


  30. I see people think another reincarnation of Rangers will rid us of the Five-Way Agreement. Isn’t it more likely that an almost identical agreement (among four groups rather than five) will be put in place should another version of Rangers become a requirement? 


  31. upthehoops 20th April 2020 at 11:28

    I see people think another reincarnation of Rangers will rid us of the Five-Way Agreement. Isn’t it more likely that an almost identical agreement (among four groups rather than five) will be put in place should another version of Rangers become a requirement?

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

        The thought crossed my mind too UTH. Whatever the reasoning behind the original 5W, I doubt it was envisioned how it would be twisted and contorted by the unscrupulous club it gave birth to. Sevco have proven beyond all reasonable doubt, that no matter in what spirit it was drafted, they had no intention of adhering to it. It was weaponised and wielded as such.

            Anyone in Scottish fitba' in their right minds, would surely welcome the opportunity to rid our sport of the hold it gave the new club.

         There may indeed be a new agreement drafted, but this time it will probably have to be tailored to suit more than one club, (There may be a few hoping to pheonix in some shape or form), all inclusive of the same T&C's. There can be nothing unique to one club about it.   


  32. upthehoops 20th April 2020 at 11:28

    I see people think another reincarnation of Rangers will rid us of the Five-Way Agreement. Isn’t it more likely that an almost identical agreement (among four groups rather than five) will be put in place should another version of Rangers become a requirement?

    ======

    Absolutely, uth.

    I’d bet the Ibrox deeds on there being a thorough draft version already tentatively agreed, and ready to go.

    But, again, instead of trying to generate some goodwill for the Ibrox club before they ask others for favours,

    the deviant club is at its most bullying, arrogant, disruptive and tone deaf during this crisis period.

    Likewise, it would be nice to know that the other 41 clubs are aware – and have no intention of simply, weakly rolling over as they did – shamefully – in 2012.
    (The Ibrox club should have been permanently kicked out of Scottish football, IMO.)

    I won’t hold my breath though.  angel


  33. Corrupt official 20th April 2020 at 12:14

    '… Anyone in Scottish fitba' in their right minds, would surely welcome the opportunity to rid our sport of the hold it gave the new club.'

    """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

    It is the unprincipled people in Scottish Fitba' that need to be got rid of first. Then the ridiculous lie that TRFC are 'Rangers of 1872' can be withdrawn, and trust in the honesty of our governance boards might be restored.

    Mind you, and frankly, I'm finding it increasingly hard to be supportive of an industry run by people who allowed and continue to allow such a lie to become embedded at its core.


  34. redlichtie 20th April 2020 at 09:35
    Scottish Football needs to socially distance itself from the Sevco-2012 (SC425159) virus.
    ……..
    RANGERSITIS. terrible affliction there’s only one cure — and that’s a blast of the Champions League anthem.


  35. There will probably be more clubs than Rangers this time making a cover up 'for the good of the game' more likely


  36. I note that Leeann Dempster has withdrawn from the reconstruction task force to focus on “the biggest issue facing our game”.

    That leaves the task force with only Hamilton and Hearts as representatives of the Premiership, in a group that was established to look at extending the Premiership.

    We also had confirmation from Nicola Sturgeon today that it is unlikely that there will be fans at football matches any time soon.

    The SFA/SPFL Joint Working Group has also issued their latest update with several work streams set up looking at various aspects of restarting football. 

    I’m now increasingly of the view that the task force should put out a holding position to the clubs. They could propose that “As a result of the uncertainty about when next season will start and the number of games that can be fitted into the calendar, the task force will suspend its work until there is more clarity. However, we would like to seek agreement of the leagues that any solution agreed for season 2020/21 will accommodate the “promoted” clubs and that no club should be “relegated” as a result of the curtailment of season 2019/20.”


  37. It makes sense that whatever the task force come up with is put on hold until the restart of football has become clearer.

     

    I’m beginning to wonder if the extreme view might be the case. That is, that there will be no return to football as we know it until there is a vaccine.

    Without a vaccine I suspect that any loosening off of social distancing will just create another outbreak.  The lockdowns across the world have been necessary to give health care organisations a chance to get their house in order.  But without lockdowns I fear the worst until there is a vaccine.


  38. Maybe I'm being very negative because I heard an hour ago a nurse, 41 years old,  in the village next to me has succumbed to the virus.


  39. Headline from The GT tonight;

    "SPFL and SFA launch expert response teams to help Scottish football through coronavirus crisis"

    By Aidan Smith

    Sports Writer

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

    (Apparently I have reached my "free article" limit, so have been invited to pay a minimum £3 a month subscription to The GT – which is £3 too much, IMO.)

    As I can't read the full article, I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this – belated – initiative is confirmation that the Hampden blazers have now woken up – and realised that outsourcing to professionals is the way ahead.

    But, if these "expert response teams" are in-house, then we can probably guess the outcome…  indecision


  40. THE joint SPFL and SFA response group has set-up numerous sub-teams to help Scottish football through the coronavirus crisis.

    In a statement the group confirmed how new divisions had been set up to examine medicial advice, supporter welfare, club operations, broadcasting and regulation.

    The update also confirmed that football in Scotland is still postponed until at least June 10.

    The full statement read: “As previously advised, the training and conditioning of football players at clubs has been suspended until further notice and at least until June 10.

    “None the less, the Joint Response Group understands that appropriate planning for the resumption of football in Scotland is vitally important. Restarting the game in an orderly fashion will be complex and will likely be done in line with ongoing restrictions by governments and UK Chief Medical Officer advice, even after the relaxation of lockdown.

    “A proper planning framework is essential to ensure the game is ready to return at the appropriate time, with necessary systems and infrastructure in place.

    “The Joint Response Group has therefore decided to set-up a number of sub-groups – each chaired by existing members – to get the best advice and identify best practice ahead of the restart of the game in Scotland. 

    “Experts and experienced individuals from clubs and other relevant organisations are now invited to work with the Joint Response Group to consider:

    “1. Medical Advice as it relates to football in Scotland – Chair, Dr John MacLean

    “2. Supporter Welfare – travel to matches, access to stadia, facilities within stadia, emergencies, unacceptable conduct – Co-chair, Ian Maxwell/Mike Mulraney

    “3. Club Operations, welfare and training of players, re-opening stadia, health and safety, matchday operations, support from emergency services, facilities for supporters, unacceptable conduct – Co-chair, Mike Mulraney/Ian Maxwell

    “4. Broadcasting – Chair, Neil Doncaster

    “5. Regulation – rules, competition rules, player registrations, legislation and other regulations -Chair, Calum Beattie”

           7 comments

     


  41. The new realities will continue to kick in but come they will.

    The economic impact of social distancing policies post Covid 19 will dictate everything that unfolds and will not be revenue friendly to any of our clubs.

    Historical (up to season 2019 – 2020) income streams will not return and current projections will not be dependable and will be smaller and indeed current media contracts will probably be ripped up.

    We will see club casualties and not just the clubs who have overspent. Those who don't slash their current outgoings and wages will be at risk too.

    Footballers will be the most expendable asset and the easiest first move – who needs them during a time of no football?

    In a blink of an eye we have arrived a situation where expensive footballers will not be seen as assets but liabilities.

    Its a huge sea change but the reality is the players have nowhere to go and clubs will be able to pick up squads when the time comes.

    I hope the Budge and Gray Taskforce realises quickly that the interim position we should adopt for our game when it returns won't be normal.

    We can't plan for a full season.

    We have to accept that some clubs will have changed.

    We almost certainly have to accept a tentative beginning to allow clubs to get back up to speed.

    Interim leagues set ups may be the only practical and sensible way to plan and maybe regionality finally comes in at the professional grass roots end.

    It will be a very different football world maybe akin to wartime football during WW2.

     

     

     


  42. Finloch 21st April 2020 at 08:52

    The new realities will continue to kick in but come they will. ==================================  

            I've been saying so for weeks Fin, but before reconstruction plans even begin, a full audit of all Scottish clubs must be performed to determine what will be left to reconstruct with. Projections on survivability, taking into consideration the clubs contingency measures, are the single most important factor, i.e., 40 clubs by June, 35 by July, etc. The clubs themselves will have a better idea by now, of how long they can continue to tread water.        

            Some clubs may need to play under amateur conditions for a season or two, others semi-pro. Some may have access to directors inputs or fan support and overdrafts etc.   Most certainly ALL chairmen will have a date in mind when their tea is oot, best and worst case scenarios. These dates need verified , and only an SFA audit can do that. 

            Reconstructing say, 40 clubs, will be a nightmare if only 35 turn up, when fitba' eventually resumes. Several recon plans need to be formulated, adapting and accordingly dropped, as resumption dates, and club availability numbers alter.     

          I don't envy the task……. League reconstruction, and indeed the number of leagues we will be left with, and in what form, kind of puts the recent self-interest squabbles into perspective. 

         Still at it now some of them. 


  43. Paddy Malarkey

    There is no doubt that Governments were slow to ban mass gatherings like sports events not only in the week commencing 9 March which included the match you are referring to and the Cheltenham festival. The weekend before saw Six nations matches between England and Wales plus Scotland and France! Scotland visited Italy for a match on 22 February. SPFL matches took place as late as 11 March and the EPL continued until 9 March.


  44. Rumour on another blog this morning that the BBC are being given full access at Ibrox again in return for a constant push to promote Rangers call for an independent inquiry. So we will keep it to a rumour, because that's all it is, but BBC Sportsound have in no way, shape or form reported with any balance on this matter. Most notable is the complete absence of any questions at all regarding the statements from Ibrox.

    Nothing would surprise me at all. 

     


  45. As it’s quiet;

    On another blog – which regularly disparages SFM – there is a lengthy article about Scott Gardiner of ICT.  It claims he has a well dodgy background, as he has come to prominence during this latest SPFL shambles.

    But, it’s a pointless expose’. 

    We know there have always been – and continue to be – dodgy people involved in football, from Minty to King to, possibly, Saudi royalty to name but 3.

    We know that the SFA’s “Fit & Proper” test is nothing more than a joke.

    I’m quite sure there are quite a few more (alleged) Scott Gardiner types in Scottish football currently. 

    It’s nothing new, unfortunately.


  46. Everybody's cheeky chappie  smiley Ally McCoist, has obviously got his own PR people to get a story out across the MSM – that he's interested in appearing on the TV programme, 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here'.

    If McCoist had any shame whatsoever, he could have headed directly to the nearest jungle for some self-reflection – after his "Who are these people?!" outburst.


  47. UEFA statement after a video conference of its 55 member associations earlier today.

    https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=2641459.html

    UEFA today met its 55 member associations via videoconference and presented an update of the options being looked into by the two working groups that were created mid-March. 

    A variety of calendar options were presented covering both national team and club competition matches.

    The funding of National Associations through UEFA’s Hat Trick programme was also discussed with UEFA reiterating its commitment to meeting the payments to member associations as planned.

    There was a strong recommendation given to finish domestic top division and cup competitions, but some special cases will be heard once guidelines concerning participation to European competitions – in case of a cancelled league – have been developed.

    Any decisions on the above topics would be announced after the UEFA Executive Committee on Thursday.


  48. StevieBC 21st April 2020 at 13:10

    Everybody's cheeky chappie  smiley Ally McCoist, has obviously got his own PR people to get a story out across the MSM – that he's interested in appearing on the TV programme, 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here'.

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

    Stevie, is this not the time for a spin-off "I'm A Crap Manager, Get Me Out Of Here"?

    Arbroath needs a strong SPFL & SFA at this critical time. Let's not go down the wrong road again when the sh*t hits the fan in coming months.


  49. Looks like UEFA are determined to kill people all for the sake of cash corrupt to the core. It could take up to 18 month to come close to developing a silver bullet vaccine and possibly another couple of years to vaccinate everyone.Meanwhile there will be sub vaccines developed but who knows how well they will work until they are tested no prizes for guessing who will be the guinea pigs for the testing.


  50. As someone who has to date successfully avoided such banal programmes as I’m a celeb get me out of here I am minded to ask more regular viewers  with regards to Mr McCoist’s involvement how one goes about submitting a “No” vote?


  51. Smugas

    I've been reliably informed its as simple as a text message 


  52. shug 21st April 2020 at 16:57

    ''..It could take up to 18 month to come close to developing a silver bullet vaccine.

    """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

    At today's briefing ( finished a wee while ago)  it was said that vaccine trials on humans will begin this week (Thursday, I think). Oxford Uni and another institution are having millions poured into the effort to find a safe vaccine .

    Quite how long it might be before 'normal' crowd attended football can begin again is still unclear,  though, and probably will be at least a few months, even if the trials are a triumph.

     


  53. StevieBC 20th April 2020 at 20:57

     

    (Apparently I have reached my "free article" limit, so have been invited to pay a minimum £3 a month subscription to The GT – which is £3 too much, IMO.)

    As I can't read the full article, I've got my fingers and toes crossed that this – belated – initiative is confirmation that the Hampden blazers have now woken up – and realised that outsourcing to professionals is the way ahead.

    But, if these "expert response teams" are in-house, then we can probably guess the outcome…  indecision

    Clear your cookies, Stevie 


  54. John Clark 21st April 2020 at 18:00

     

    3

     

    0

     

    Rate This

     

     

    shug 21st April 2020 at 16:57

    ''..It could take up to 18 month to come close to developing a silver bullet vaccine.

    """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

    At today's briefing ( finished a wee while ago)  it was said that vaccine trials on humans will begin this week (Thursday, I think). Oxford Uni and another institution are having millions poured into the effort to find a safe vaccine .

    Quite how long it might be before 'normal' crowd attended football can begin again is still unclear,  though, and probably will be at least a few months, even if the trials are a triumph.

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

    100% correct JC the 1st of the sub vaccines let's hope the get very lucky straight away.


  55. I think we have to keep an open mind on all this stuff? Many will likely have seen this before. A lot of reading available and daily updates. As I say an open mind.

    https://lockdownsceptics.org/

     

     


  56. StevieBC 21st April 2020 at 13:10
    …………..
    He will get the call on the trainning ground.


  57. I am still being riled by the DR and the BBC efforts at sucking up to Rangers but at present it is the events in care homes around the country that make me really annoyed. Having worked in the sector and been involved with hundreds of admissions for over 30 years I am afraid what is happening was predictable and should have be being dealt with better by the authorities. 

    So many amazing people, more and more cruelly affected by dementia in recent years, but being let down by so many governments around the world! 

    The vaccine trial is good news though unlikely to be with us in the near future even if successful. Social distancing will be with us for a while yet- stay safe! 


  58. The Dutch have had any decision on restarting the season taken out their hands by their prime minister Mark Rutte.

    Dutch Football@FootballOranje_
    Confirmed: No football in the Netherlands until September with or without an audience. Meaning it is now almost certain that the Eredivisie season cannot be finished .


  59. easyJambo 21st April 2020 at 15:39

    "….UEFA statement after a video conference of its 55 member associations earlier today."

    """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

    That was a very useful reference, eJ, and thanks for it.

    It sent me, of course, straight to the UEFA HatTrick rules

    where I read:

    "Article 2   Scope of application

    1 These regulations define the financial contributions allocated under the HatTrick IV programme (hereinafter HatTrick funding), the type of projects that fall under this programme and the administrative tasks of the parties involved.

    2 These regulations cover the financial period from the 2016/17 UEFA season until the 2019/20 UEFA season inclusive.

    3 The HatTrick IV funding consists of the following maximum amounts for the whole aforementioned financial period:

    a. €3.5m per UEFA member association for development projects, aimed at developing and improving football in general Development projects);

    b. an annual contribution of a maximum of €1.9m per UEFA member association composed of the following maximum amounts:

    i. €750,000 as an annual solidarity payment to cover the current running costs of the UEFA member association and good governance projects in any of the various areas defined in the menu card in Annex D;

    ii. €1,150,000 in annual incentive payments for participating in UEFA youth, women’s and futsal competitions, for implementing and applying the UEFA club licensing system, for implementing and applying the various UEFA conventions and charters, for implementing the UEFA women’s football development programme, the UEFA elite youth player development programme and the UEFA football social responsibility programme, and for integrity activities (see Chapter III: Incentive payments). …." (the emphasis is mine, of course)

    It's pretty clear to me that there is no way UEFA could make emergency payments from the HatTrick fund to the SFA to help them keep a club (or clubs) alive in the present crisis.

    In any case, the SFA knows not what 'integrity activities' are, so they wouldn't know how to claim the handful (50,000)of euros seemingly available on that ground!

     


  60.  easyJambo 22nd April 2020 at 00:05

    '…The first club to fold?.'

    """""""""""""""""

    "That said the Town has a very proud footballing history and a very determined character and, as in 1992, I have no doubt that a very strong New Club will rise from this low.“

    These guys know what's what, what? broken heart

    Oh, for such simple honesty in Scottish Football!

    It's not astrophysics: a club goes out of business and dies; a new club might be formed but it clearly would not be anything other than a new club. It simply cannot be, could not be, the old club, even if (God save the mark)a Welsh football governance body were to sell its soul and by some secret 'agreement' create a myth!

    The more I think of the wretches in Scottish Football governance who made such liars and cheats of themselves the more I think how utterly foolish and despicable and lacking in any moral authority they are!

     


  61. Re Rhyl FC going out of business. I expect that some Scottish clubs may too. If there was never this crisis though, how many would have? I think only one was in danger due to their utterly reckless financial approach. That previous recklessness will of course be ignored by the Scottish media should the worst happen. 


  62. upthehoops 22nd April 2020 at 06:00

        I came across this twitter thread from a Celtic site UTH, but is this the kind of recklessness you refer. Funnily enough, the same known knowns the SMSM know.  Whatever the SMSM claim to be, it's clear they are nought but a pox upon our nation, led by an even scabbier cabal from above. 

        Blaming sleazy PR men is just a lazy mask…..It is editorial policy !….Propaganda to you and I.

    https://twitter.com/GordiePaterson/status/1252726059633717254


  63. This from the BBC Gossip page. I know it's usually made-up rubbish, but if this one is true, surely they're going too far in trying to prove it's the same old club! Remember "The team that drinks together, wins together" as approved by the Cardigan and Ally?

    "Scotland and Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie says he chatted with Steven Gerrard about playing for Rangers in Dubai – minutes after being sick as a result of an all-day drinking session with Ibrox goalkeeper Allan McGregor"


  64. nawlite 22nd April 2020 at 13:03

         It came straight from the horses mouth in an interview Nawlite, but it's hardly anything to be considered as "News".  There are real issues deserving of putting into the public domain……….But they don't want to go there. 

        Si Ferry interview with McBurnie.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRh3-TafVCo


  65. Whilst there has been significant focus on Scottish clubs’ financial challenges due to the lockdown, and the uncertainty around when games can resume in front of supporters…

     

    now would be the IDEAL time for the SFA, SPFL and senior clubs to review their pricing structures, especially for match day tickets, IMO.

     

    It’s one thing having restrictions lifted, and being allowed to open stadiums again to paying customers,

    it could be quite another thing though, to assume that;

    • everybody will choose to return to supporting their club
    • everybody who wants to return will be prepared – or can afford – to pay the high prices.

     

    This could be that rare instance where Scottish football MUST seriously consider the supporters’ perspective – in its planning around exiting this crisis.

    Yes, I know…  smiley


  66. Aberdeen ask clubs to delay ending season and consider completing campaign

    By Brian McLauchlin & Chris McLaughlin, BBC Scotland

    Aberdeen want to delay any decision on finalising Premiership league positions until the club undertake a feasibility study on completing 2019-20 fixtures.

    Dons chairman Dave Cormack has written to the 11 other top-flight clubs, the SPFL board and the Scottish FA.

    The Scottish government says playing matches behind closed doors is highly unlikely for now amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

    But the government has agreed to be part of a consultation on this issue.

    The SPFL has the power to curtail the Premiership, the lower leagues having already ended, and says it and the SFA are “drawing on a wide range of expertise and advice as we draw up plans for the future resumption of matches and we welcome input from all clubs”.

    In his letter, seen by BBC Scotland and verified by Aberdeen, Cormack wrote: “We urge the board to wait until the consultation can be informed by the outcome of our work.

    “In discussions with colleague clubs, there appears to be a strong desire to at least investigate how we can deliver this while protecting as far as possible the integrity of season 2020-21 commencement and the broadcasting and commercial commitments that go side by side with this.

    “There are many reasons to explore solutions for fulfilling the remaining league matches, not least maintaining the sporting integrity of the competition, the fulfilment by clubs to their supporters of season ticket value, likewise clubs’ sponsors and partners, minimising the risk to our central broadcasting and sponsorship contracts, and finally satisfying Uefa that our best endeavours have been made to complete our season and maintaining Scottish clubs’ presence in European competition.”

    Cormack adds the Dons would be grateful for any assistance the SPFL can offer and that they will distribute the results and discuss with the executive of the SPFL their findings.

    Several European associations have already started drawing up plans to play their domestic matches behind closed doors and Uefa is adamant that plans are progressing to finish the Europa and Champions League in August.

    The Dutch FA “intends not to continue” the Eredivisie season after the national government extended a ban on major events until 1 September while Germany’s Bundesliga will reportedly resume their season behind closed doors next month.

    Aberdeen’s letter: Four key areas

    • Developing a fixture programme which fulfils all remaining Premiership and Scottish Cup matches as well as a full 38-game season calendar for 2020-21 before the commencement of Euro 2021. This model assumes a regular Uefa Europa League and Uefa Champions League programme, albeit starting slightly later than previous years. The model also assumes the international fixture calendar remains unchanged.
    • The ability of playing squads to fulfil a heavier than usual match calendar while maintaining performance levels and without adversely affecting the outcome of matches.
    • A swift and safe return to training for first team squads, taking all necessary steps to maintain the safety of the players and staff and minimising the risk of coronavirus infection and spread.
    • The lessons of other countries, leagues and clubs in emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and returning to train and play (for example, in England, Germany and the USA) including radical options for where, when and how games are played and watched.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52383354

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

    Bizarre that a member club should launch such an initiative. Indicative of the level of trust in the SPFL (and SFA)? Does it duplicate what the SPFL are already doing? Will this be acceptable to other clubs? And what involvement will there be for supporters in the consultation?

    Does that also mean Premier League prize money would not be distributed until September at best? That could have serious implications.

    Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.


  67. Corrupt official 22nd April 2020 at 09:23 This Tweet is from an account that no longer exists. Learn more.
    …………
    nawlite 22nd April 2020 at 13:03
    “Scotland and Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie says he chatted with Steven Gerrard about playing for Rangers in Dubai – minutes after being sick as a result of an all-day drinking session with Ibrox goalkeeper Allan McGregor”
    ………………
    Maybe that is why their form dipped. Drinking instead of trainning.

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