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I don't think the really big clubs with financial clout will be after Kai Kennedy. That is the stuff of tabloid articles. Kennedy will be 19 in March and that is young with a lot of room for development but these days, the elite youngsters are increasingly making their mark at the top level prior to that age. I'm glad we seem to be keeping him but we've heard this so many times and never see them near the first team. If they are good enough, we need to start giving them more opportunities. If they aren't, then the recruiting/development of youngsters isn't working. When we do get a Billy Gilmour, we don't even get to see him. If we are a club where the level of demand on managers isn't conducive to 99% of 21st century young footballers getting oportunities..... and the other 1% get taken by big clubs at 16 years old, is it worth it ? I'd say Dickson or Barjonas should get an opportunity to be first cover/play if neccessary given the current situation. The talk of the steamie is to go out and bring cover in....The lad Kelly, on loan at Ross County should IMO be in the squad next season. Finance is a consideration and we also need more of our own developed players for the European squads in the future.

I'm utterly shocked by this...said no-one

The Club asked them last year and they didn’t participate.

It's telling that for many of us our first thought when hearing that Jack and Arfield might be out for a few months was 'we need to sign someone as cover' instead of wondering if one of the youngsters could step up. I was certainly guilty of it. If none of our younger players are capable of stepping in for a few weeks then you do have to wonder what the point of having them is. But I suspect, with a bit of patience, some of them are and it's people like me that are the problem. As for Kennedy I suspect we'll sell him to Shrewsbury or someone like that for quarter of a million in a couple of years.

"There is a vast amount of character in the men in whose hands the youngsters are placed", said Sir Robt Kelly. Was he a bad judge? Or was there something more sinister? Or, to be scrupulously fair, was he another Knight of the Realm, involved with football, who was "Duped" ? Jim Torbett: Celtic chief vouched for abusive coaches in 1970s Marc Horne Wednesday January 06 2021, 12.01am, The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/celtic-chief-vouched-for-abusive-coaches-in-1970s-tc797vrgn The man who authorised the creation of Celtic’s scandal-hit feeder club assured parents that their children would come to “no harm” if they joined. As chairman of Celtic FC Sir Robert Kelly vouched for the coaching staff at Celtic Boys Club, describing them as men of “vast character”. Jim Torbett, whom Kelly allowed to launch and lead the boys’ club in 1966, was later convicted of sexually abusing young players between 1967 and 1974. However, it has emerged that in 1971 Kelly, a former president of the Scottish FA, told parents that their boys were at no risk of harm if they signed up. The fact that he felt obliged to say so suggests that concerns for child welfare at the club had been circulating at the time. Kelly made the comments in his book Celtic, which was published weeks before his death, aged 68, in September 1971. He wrote: “I feel that no father or mother should have the slightest diffidence about letting a youngster come to join us at Celtic Park. “There is a vast amount of character in the men in whose hands the youngsters are placed. “We make bold to say that whatever good can come of youngsters joining up they will certainly come to no harm through their association with Celtic.” In 1966 Kelly and Jock Stein, the Celtic manager, gave permission for Torbett to start the boys’ club using Celtic’s name, crest and colours. In 1998 Torbett was jailed for molesting players including the future Scotland striker Alan Brazil. He was imprisoned for another six years in 2018 for sexually abusing boys between 1986 and 1994. The youngest was aged five. Last year it emerged that Torbett ran Celtic FC’s chain of club shops in the early 1990s and organised testimonial events for first-team players. In the past two years Jim McCafferty, a former Celtic FC kit man and boys’ club coach, has admitted 12 child sexual abuse charges and Gerald King, a one-time boys’ club chairman, was convicted of abusing four boys and a girl while working as a teacher. Last year Thompsons Solicitors, which represents 25 people who claim they were molested at the boys’ club over three decades, lodged papers on behalf of one survivor who is seeking damages from Celtic FC. The test case will be heard in the next few months. Celtic FC strongly contests the claims, insisting that the boys’ club was an entirely separate entity with which it had “historic connections”. In 2018 Celtic claimed that abuse allegations within the boy’s club “first emerged in the 1990s”. It was later revealed that in 1986 the senior club had held an investigation which exonerated Torbett and other coaches after serious concerns were raised by parents and boys. Celtic FC did not respond to a request for comment. Football

Scottish football delaying child abuse report, rape victim claims The SFA doing, appropriately enough, sfa. Of course, a number of victims are suing it, which might mean that issuing its findings would prejudice any case it is able to make in defence. But really, is anybody surprised at such tarrying from this mob? I notice that Rangers is being dragged into this, and I suspect that, over the piece, as the full horror of Separate Entity Boys' Club is made clear and public, some, perhaps even the SFA's Report, will endeavour to suggest equivalence, on the basis of a variation of the old canard : one sex crime is a tragedy, scores of sex crimes a statistic. From today's Times: Scottish football delaying child abuse report, rape victim claims Marc Horne Thursday December 24 2020, 12.01am, The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/scottish-football-delaying-child-abuse-report-rape-victim-claims-mh5p2pvjw A rape survivor who was abused by an assistant referee after being invited to the Scottish Cup final has demanded that Scottish football’s governing body release its delayed report into child sexual abuse within the sport. Pete Haynes, 54, alleges that he was abused by Hugh Stevenson, a top-flight linesman and coach, after attending the match at Hampden in 1979. Mr Haynes reported the allegations to the police in 1993 and 1996 and informed the Scottish Football Association (SFA) but Stevenson died in 2004 without facing any charges. The report of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football was due to be released in 2018 but has been held back on several occasions. Martin Henry, chairman of the review, handed over the finalised report to the SFA, which commissioned it, in August. He was assured that it would be made public in September but it remains under wraps. Mr Haynes, who gave evidence to the review claiming he was abused over a four-year period, wrote an open letter to Ian Maxwell, the SFA chief executive. In it he claimed he had been “fobbed off” by the governing body for more than 20 years. He wrote: “As you are well aware, I have been seeking answers from your organisation for many years in relation to the abuse I suffered as a young boy, at the hands of one of your former members, now deceased.” Mr Haynes said he felt a degree of optimism when Stewart Regan, Mr Maxwell’s predecessor, commissioned the independent inquiry in 2016. “For Mr Henry to compile as accurate a picture as possible, it required the bravery of many, many people,” he said. “Something to this day, you and your organisation, have failed to acknowledge. Indeed Mr Maxwell, my own experience of your handling of this subject has been humiliation and astonishment.” He added: “Your refusal to release our stories, and the constant broken promises of a release date, many of which have come and gone, reinforces my point. You have absolutely no idea of the damage this is causing to individuals and families. Either that, or you do not care. So, which is it Mr Maxwell?” Last month The Times disclosed that the SFA was facing a series of court cases over alleged historical failures to protect young players from abusers. The final report is expected to recommend that the SFA and clubs, including Celtic, Hibernian and Rangers, acknowledge failing to protect vulnerable young people. Mr Haynes, who is taking legal action against the SFA, believes this is at the heart of the protracted delays, a claim the association denies. “There is huge potential for these clubs to face litigation once the report is released,” he said. Holyrood’s cross-party group on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse has unanimously called on the SFA to publish the document in full. Mr Maxwell previously acknowledged that the delays were causing distress but added: “There is absolutely no desire to delay publication. We have commissioned a report and to not publish the outcome would render all that work useless.” The SFA said: “We cannot comment given the ongoing civil case.”

Is spending money elsewhere that could go into the club a good thing? I could go along to Ibrox and give my support. I could pay for a ticket or sneak in without paying. I'm still giving my support. Are both good things? Do you rank them equally? But why ask the question when you've been read the arguments many times before and just dismiss the view that Rangers should the ones that benefit as "pessimism and the odd cynical remark". What's so negative about cash that could have gone into the club is going elsewhere? Do you really need that explained?

Watching the Manc derby just now and the new offside thing, where the linesman don't raise their flag until several passes after someone is offside - what the fuck is that all about. The players know it's offside, so go all half-hearted. The linesman knows. The armchair fans know. The fans in the stadium would likely suspect it's offside. Where's the benefit!?

The supporters main share vehicle Club 1872 buys shares, from either source. So what is negative about that?

Some may get their chance when the current first team squad is inevitably disassembled at the end of this season but it's important to remember that a large part of the reason for having an academy is to develop sources of future income rather than just raising players for our own first team.

I think Barjonas is capable of stepping in for a couple of matches, here and there.

The present: Dickson and/or Barjonas Next season: Kelly becomes an option

Kelly would be trusted to fill in for a few weeks but we aren’t going to recall a 20 year old who is getting 90 minutes every week for a Premiership side just to fill in for a few games I don’t think. It would, ironically, make it less likely that he would make it at Rangers because the biggest step to doing that is to play every week in this league on loan.

As a fan this is working out as I'd hoped. I said to my step dad in the weeks leading up to the OF how I'd like it to pan out. I wanted them to go on a mini run and then lose to us at Ibrox because it would hurt them more. In essence, the fact they played really well for 40 odd minutes and still couldn't score, then we go on to win was an extra dagger I wasn't expecting but most welcomed. Now what I want to see is us emptying the tank. The next block of 4 is crucial. If we show we can consolidate the Ibrox win, it will burn them more. It's so much about the mental aspect during this stage. Nothing is done yet but we need to keep chipping away because it's two fold... It gets us closer to 55 and at the same time throws them further into chaos!

Haha youl summon @Rousseau shh Thanks for the understanding folks. I try do most maintenance out of hours per say, but yesterday for some reason our mysql just had a proper blow out.

The combined holding of Club1872 and King increased by what percentage as a result of this deal? Or perhaps the 25%+1 fantasy has bern consigned to history?

Reiterate Ian’s comments- thanks for whatever witchcraft you use to keep this show on the road.

Maintenance has to be done mate, we all appreciate your efforts in keeping the forum running well, also all the other admin for keeping Gersnet working, thanks. I first thought I had more problems with my laptop, again ?

Thanks. A simple punt? He obviously hasn't watched Tavernier play that ball a thousand times and Alfie roll defenders. I love the fact that so many people insist on mentioning the angle of where Morelos would advance on goal as if it's relevant to Maddens decision. It doesn't matter if it's deemed a harder task (ie. Not in front of goal).

No but you can be accused of bias for your incessant criticism of Alfie. You even managed to have a go at him recently for a performance that you hadn't even seen at that point. You always pick him (or Kent) for criticism even if he's not the worst performer.

Since it's the club's AGM today I thought I'd spend a few mins putting together our own wee message to our members this festive season. In particular, due to losing a couple of folk over the last wee while and for another couple of more positive reasons, I'm looking to expand the admin/contributor team over the next few months. For example, it's been a real shame to see the number of match previews drop off and as much as I'm really proud of our podcast output recently, I'm also very keen to retain written articles across the site/forum as much as possible. Thanks to those who have contributed same in recent times (including @Rick Roberts, @Rousseau and @DMAA) it really does help maintain a forum like this when so many people spend time on other social media nowadays. Other stuff like MotM polls, match reviews and player ratings would all be welcome too! Please, please contribute where you can...! Along with improvements to the podcast (if you haven't already, make sure you check out the superb new video format), the main site has been undergoing a redesign over the last few months which I'm hoping to launch early next year. It looks really good and will compliment the pod and forum very nicely. As such, anyone who is interested in web design, graphics or tech generally might want to get involved in that going forward and we're very lucky to have @blueflag who does a brilliant job for us in terms of tech support. We'll also hopefully have some added functionality to all formats over the next year. We already have the odd well-received competition and we'll likely be partnering up with other external organisations to help continue to fund all our activities and software via one or two promotions we think you'll find interesting. One project will benefit both this site and the club directly which you'll know more about next month. To that end, I'm pleased to say the forum software, hosting and podcast platforms have already been funded through 2021 so, whilst Gersnet continues to be a completely free and independent website , I'd politely ask all of our members to try and help that stay the case by not using ad-blockers, clicking through the odd ad and subscribing to/sharing all our platforms where you can. Finally, to the main point of this thread, if you think you have the time and skills to contribute to the site, please give me a shout by PM. Whilst I know writing articles, working on websites, starring on podcasts or producing graphics etc all takes time, any help offered is greatly appreciated and will help keep our site in place for another 20 years and more... May I also take this opportunity to wish all our members a very merry Christmas and all the very best to you and your families for 2021. Thanks to you all for your continued support of our wee site. I hope you all still enjoying using it as much as I do!

Thanks for everything you do Frankie! Thanks for continuing to give us this great wee forum. Have a great holiday season.

I'm not a racist, but I will never take the knee for BLM who are just a terrorist organisation who are racist against whites. If anybody wants to take the knee for them then just do it, carry on and leave everybody else alone.