Frankie

If you have a betfair account, you can also watch the game live via their site...

Well that's debatable given the right leadership... When asked to stop the 'offensive' version, the fans did so almost overnight. As such, we shouldn't think the worse when asked to sing a new version as long as fans continue to self-police. Obviously, having the support of the club and fan organisations would aid in this.

But, obviously, that shouldn't be a reason not to bring back the song. Indeed, I suspect, it's the very reason for doing so. The line needs to be seen by all.

I rate Goram the best ever keeper anywhere... Better than Schmeichel et al...

The chance will obviously be there. But I suspect that won't happen as it's already been shown that inoffensive versions of the song are apparently acceptable. Obviously the line between offensive and inoffensive is easily shifted by certain people and that's the worry here.

There was no reference to religion in the Lennon assault (that was thrown out of court) but the papers still reported it that way at every opportunity.

I don't think support of other websites is the problem. Most Rangers sites would back it. Less will sing the actual song for fear of arrest - new lyrics or not. As such, the is the thing you have to arrange. The police may challenge one or two singers of it but they won't challenge 10, 20 or more. As such you need to organise something in that regard. Speak with the singing sections and/or organise a flyer drop for a specific game/time where the song is started and sung. Would this work and is it too convoluted? Possibly - I don't honestly know; but I think you'll struggle to find one or two people brave enough to take on Kenny Scott and the stormtroopers at Ibrox unless you have strength in numbers. That's not fear or over-analysis. Just realism.

It certainly wouldn't cause us to lose it... In fact, given I'm sure many fans would enjoy singing a new version, it may help improve the atmosphere during games and help address the overall negativity surrounding the club. That would only affect the team in a positive sense.

Of course. So what strategy do you suggest to move forward?

Not afraid at all. I did say I was reluctant to give further ground. I'm also more than happy to back any campaign to bring the song back. In fact, I tried to get the Trust board to do the same 18 months ago to no avail. There is a difference between being gung ho and examining the full picture to ensure success.

What BD said...

I've no problem with the symbolism in lines 3 and 4 but you can be sure others would which could cause immediate problems with any new version. As such, the chances of success for any new campaign may be better with a replacement for line 3. I'm unsure how popular the song would then be and also reluctant to give further ground to people who'll complain no matter the words. I'll leave the alternatives to the composers amongst us.

My job is bringing fun and joy to all Gersnet readers each and every day... Just don't tell my boss....

There will be a good article tomorrow on how we can help maximise our youth talent breakthroughs...

Agree with that Cal.... Will be interesting to see some of these young lads get their chance though. Must say, I'm actually quite enthused by it.

Aye, elfideldo sends me the odd snippet of news from his blog which we publish on the main site and weekly newsletter from time to time... A great site and well worth bookmarking. Thanks for posting mate!

That's the challenge we're talking about mate...

Guys, can I bring to your attention the ad on the main site... http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/ If you click through that you may be able to help generate some interest from WH in terms of assisting Gersnet...

Without the help of the club you may be right. Actually there is an opportunity here for the right person to again show leadership. Murray could remove some criticism by leading the way and promoting a new version. The fan groups could do the same. Unfortunately, I doubt any of them will want to risk it because of the very people desperate to punish us for the slightest thing.

No doubt about it mate. But the fact remains the lyrics above are inoffensive and no-one in their right mind would complain. Unless, of course, some people - however small - didn't utilise the 'new' words. That's the challenge and it's much more difficult than some will admit.

Umbro are equally to blame for non-UK marketing/promotion as they are responsible for that - not JJB who only deal with the UK market. Financially it was/is a good deal. Promotionally it appears awful.

According to Colin Duncan in the Daily Record today...

1. I think that it is obvious that anyone who sings a song with the word fen!an leaves themselves open to arrest. As such, rightly or wrongly, I'd certainly suggest no-one uses that word in any new version of TBB. 2. As discussed several months ago, I too have tried to find out more about the alleged banning. I've had no reply from UEFA as I feel they are the only party worth contacting here. Rangers, the SFA and the SPL will only use doublespeak and will commit to nothing. 3. As we've seen by the singing of the 'Kaka, Kaka' and 'Edu, Edu' songs, the tune is clearly not banned. Neither the SPL not the club have highlighted these inoffensive plays on TBB. Ergo, one can only assume a new version of TBB (sans fen!an) would also be acceptable. 4. The only evident problem with any new version is that some fans WILL persist in using the offensive lyrics. How we combat that inevitability is the challenge here. I don't see Rangers helping. I don't see the fan groups helping. Only a few websites would promote it. How would the message get out? How would the new words get out? Flyer drops and RSC contacts would possibly be your best bet. As would a direct public challenge at the club AGM later this year. Or some sort of protest which would maybe garner publicity.

Great review Cammy... Later this week, all Gersnet members will have the chance to win one of five copies of this fine biography!

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=740&Itemid=2 Regular Gersnet readers will remember we submitted a full report into the failings of the ââ?¬Ë?Sectarianism in Football Working Groupââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬â?? established in 2006 (a). This group - consisting of the Scottish Executive, the SFA, sportscotland, ACPOS, the SPL and the SFL - along with contributions from Rangers FC, Celtic FC and Glasgow University ââ?¬â?? reported on the effect Scottish football had on the social problem of sectarianism in Scotland. A wide range of action points were agreed by all parties involved to help address the issue. Despite their obvious relevance to the subject, no fans were invited to take part other than the main office holders of fan associations which donââ?¬â?¢t always accurately represent the views all supporters. Certainly these fan associations didnââ?¬â?¢t seem to consult their members before commenting either. In addition to this immediate constitutional failing it became obvious during the presentation of the Gersnet report (b) to these various bodies that our constructive criticism of the working group was deemed not important enough to comment on. None of the above bodies have offered to discuss the content of our report other than a generic intention to examine it and forward it to the new group: ââ?¬Ë?Promoting Citizenship through Footballââ?¬â?¢ - established in October 2008 ©. The author of the Gersnet report has asked several times to be included in the new committee (or at the very least consulted with regard to its operations) but no further information has been received. The main reason for our request to be included is because, bizarrely, the exact same bodies that made up the failed initial group are included once again in the new committee. Thatââ?¬â?¢s all well and good but given their lack of communication with ââ?¬Ë?decent citizensââ?¬â?¢ and the obvious lack of imagination to include other qualified people/organisations (such as Michael Boyd of the Irish FA and the Police Service Of Northern Ireland), the credibility of the new group is immediately open to debate. Furthermore, when one examines the new expanded financial remit of the PCTF group, this is where ââ?¬Ë?decent citizensââ?¬â?¢ may start to get worried. Ã?£2.5million from the Scottish Government's Cashback (d) scheme until 2011, Ã?£0.6million to ââ?¬Ë?tackle sectarianism and racismââ?¬â?¢, and only Ã?£0.07million to promote healthy living; suggests the group havenââ?¬â?¢t taken Sir David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s quotes about sectarianism/racism being exaggerated while ignoring much more prevalent social problems such as obesity and drugs seriously (e). This is even stranger when the aims of the new group are mainly made up of addressing the more prevalent problems SDM mentions. How do they justify their allocation of funds? And that is just one question which these government officials fail to answer. After all, considering sectarianism and racism is still happening at football (but hardly a huge problem comparatively speaking) the new quota of Ã?£125,000 to the failed (and rather dubious) anti-sectarianism ââ?¬Ë?charityââ?¬â?¢ Nil by Mouth (f) is surely worthy of challenge by Scottish tax-payers. I say dubious because this ââ?¬Ë?charityââ?¬â?¢ seems to pick and choose the issues they involve themselves with and didnââ?¬â?¢t even take the time to acknowledge or comment on the balanced report I sent them. Add in an obvious imbalance in the way they approach their remit having been shown to show different attitudes depending on the background of the people who contact them, then tax-payers are quite correct to question their work. Just what do they do with their money apart from wasting it on calling back inaccurate DVDs? Another high-profile beneficiary of this money ââ?¬Ë?Kick out Bigotryââ?¬â?¢ seem equally impotent and unresponsive to debate. So where are PCTFââ?¬â?¢s money and resources going and how are they being used? Is the continual inaccurate and sensationalist coverage of the Scottish media being challenged? Are the fans not represented by member associations being surveyed? Are the police being forced to justify their actions as ââ?¬Ë?aggravated breach of peace chargesââ?¬â?¢ seem to be rising? Just when do clubs/fans break the new SPL ââ?¬Ë?Unacceptable Conductââ?¬â?¢ Rules? Why do the other action points agreed in 2006 remain incomplete? All I see are more and more questions of the same tired people/organisations that have already shown they will fail when trusted with millions of pounds of public money. And when we ask these questions, weââ?¬â?¢re either ignored completely or patronised by governmental bureaucrats. What is to be then? Are they really wanting to ââ?¬Ë?Promote Citizenshipââ?¬â?¢ or is this just another sham to further highlight the only secret shame in Scotland is that of her 'decent citizens' and 'decent football fans' continually being ignored by those they elect? References: (a) - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/11144623/0 (b) - Please contact us if you would like a copy of our report (released in mid-2008) © - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/12/10145304 (d) - http://www.cashbackscotland.com/index.php?page=1.2 (e) - http://tinyurl.com/49xos4 (f) - http://news.scotsman.com/politics/SNP-throws-antisectarianism-charity-a.4934351.jp :box: