Union City Blue

A fantastic post lifted from FF, put up by 'Deedle". The depths Celtic will stoop to are almost beyond parody - yet they really, really do exist. Barely disguised threats of public disorder due to fixture scheduling ffs? An independant and impartial media would slaughter these 'people'. Saturday April 19 2003 Hearts – Celtic (SPL) Thursday April 24 2003 Boavista – Celtic (UEFA semi) Sunday April 27 2003 Rangers – Celtic (SPL) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...em/2936559.stm Old Firm date angers Celtic Thursday, 10 April, 2003 Angry Celtic have warned of potential crowd trouble after the final Old Firm match of the season was scheduled three days after their Uefa Cup semi-final second leg against Boavista. Chief executive Ian McLeod claims that his club's fans could be fired up by feelings of bias against them following Thursday's Scottish Premier League decision. And he plans to take his protests about the Sunday 27 April date, which is likely to decide the destination of the league title, to the police and the Government. Reigning champions Celtic lie eight points behind Glasgow rivals and league leaders Rangers but with two games in hand. Celtic fear that the exertions of their Uefa Cup tie will not assist their cause at Ibrox and McLeod said: "We are appalled by this decision. "There is absolutely no requirement or justification to schedule this crucial fixture for a date only two days after Celtic return from the second leg of the Uefa Cup semi-final in Portugal." The SPL board appear to have been swayed by the fact that 27 April is the only available date when it was not mathematically possible to be a championship decider. But McLeod said: "Four alternative dates are available and are far more suitable both from a fair, sporting and public safety perspective. "Celtic made its concerns extremely clear to the SPL regarding the competitive disadvantage that would result from such deliberate scheduling. "The SPL's decision will inevitably be regarded amongst Celtic supporters as a biased one, in advance of what is expected to be the most important SPL match of this season." But McLeod also believes safety issues have been ignored by the SPL board. "A far more worrying issue is that there will now be genuine and extremely serious safety concerns surrounding this match because of the perceptions of bias and inequality," he said. "Celtic considers the fact that these concerns have effectively been disregarded by the SPL to be wholly irresponsible on the part of the league. "The process followed by the SPL in advance of this decision has been flawed, crucially in relation to the lack of comprehensive consultation with Strathclyde Police and both clubs.” The SPL stress that they consulted both clubs and put it to a vote of all 12 clubs after a date agreeable to both could not be found. But McLeod said: "The steadfast resolve of the SPL executive to sit on the fence on this issue and defer from effective advice or leadership is equally disappointing. "Neither Celtic nor any fair-minded football supporter can condone this poor decision. "We will be working hard to have it reversed by registering our concerns with the Scottish Executive, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and the SFA." The Scottish Premier League splits into two after this weekend's games and the fixtures will be announced on Monday. Crowd trouble in 1999 led to an SPL wish, along with the police, to avoid a final-day showdown between the intense city rivals. Thursday April 24 2008 Rangers – Fiorentina (UEFA semi) Sunday April 27 2008 Celtic – Rangers (SPL) Thursday May 1 2008 Fiorentina – Rangers (UEFA semi) Sunday May 4 2008 Hibs – Rangers (SPL)

It's amazing they don't get slaughtered for these attendances and the blatant lies. Their support is so fragile, they must actually be in shock. They only lost the league on the very last day not even 12 months ago but their crowds have nose-dived unbelievably since then, at the first sign of trouble. TGFITW n' aaat, no?

It's sorted now! Whey hey!!!! RFC x 53!

Newcastle is a go-er apparently... Good news on the American front, hope it goes well!

oooooo that was painful!

To my mind, the split adds a lot (overall) but it also causes what seems to be an increasing amount of problems. And it's also embarrassing. Unless you have complete balance there's always winners and losers. Still, it usually adds excitement so we shouldn't forget that either. Just IMHO - I can't even do the spilts so I'm no expert!

Again, the very best of luck to you TB - even more so after hearing that disgusting tale. M'on the wee guys!

Good for punters who like a few beers before the game!

I read it differently. Apart from a handful of posters on a couple of websites who claim to be well-informed (and the Scottish Sun), nobody seems to think Ellis' deal will complete. I'm not ruling it out myself, but that's what most folk seem to think. That being the case, I think AJ may possibly be beginning to put us 'back out there'.

Whether we get CL or not, it'll be down to negotiations with the bank - that's what AJ has said all along. Not much cause for taking anything for granted, unfortunately.

How good was the breakaway goal?! Don't like Liverpool much either, but what a fantastic goal that was.

2 out of the 5 post-split, whatever they are.

Win our home games and it's staying where it belongs. 53.

And the Christmans one for those who haven't seen it! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fB-ZOrvO_o]YouTube- Billy Dunbar and Santa's Bluenose Billy boys[/ame]

btw, well done for finding and posting a link to the GCC Executive Committe doc which states that Rangers "secured planning consent in 2005 for a major development around Ibrox Stadium, including a regional casino (and associated minor retail development), a 4/5 star hotel, conference facilities, leisure centre, and new public realm in and around the stadium and its main accesses". You're in my "pissin in the wind" team now then?

Section J Loyal - the ONLY place to be!

All of which leads to an obvious conclusion - that this "planning problems" story is pure spin, put out there by people desperately trying to save face.

Saw this yesterday, it's fantastic isn't it? The good old days right enough!

You seem to be very well informed about the process of planning and publication of applications/consent. Do you think GCC might have acted unlawfully in this case? And if that's not bad enough, equally worrying is that the council's Executive Committee was informed by its Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration that planning consent had been granted - while you're adamant that in fact it wasn't. I just don't know who to believe now.

pissin in the wind indeed! So you are insisting that Rangers didn't secure planning consent in 2005 for a major development around Ibrox Stadium, including a regional casino (and associated minor retail development), a 4/5 star hotel, conference facilities, leisure centre, and new public realm in and around the stadium and its main accesses?

Outline planning is about as far removed from "granted permission" as you can get. http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/BusinessEvents/ibroxfootballstadium.htm I beg your pardon. Planning Consent was granted.

Yes it was. In 2005.

That was done and permission was granted. The club then updated its proposals in 2008 (which would need fresh planning consent) but it never progressed so there's still lots to do.

Hello maineflyer. You didn't like what I had to say and you suggested I shut up. So I shut up and now you wonder what I have to say!

I sit in GF4 mate, great seat about 2/3 of the way up but not that elevated. On Tuesday night I took a ticket for the main stand (rear) and my eyes were really opened with respect to KT. The amount of times he's well off the play is poor. Too much running in a few minutes and he's off the pace for the next 5. He is not in top condition. I must admit to being surprised when I heard about his attitude but I can assure everyone that the source is impeccible and there was no axe being grinded. No idea exactly what's happening behind the scenes but it does seem to stack up when you look at him on the park these days