Jump to content

 

 

Search the Community

Showing results for tags 'doncaster'.

  • Search By Tags

    Type tags separated by commas.
  • Search By Author

Content Type


Forums

  • Main Forums
    • Rangers Chat
    • General Football Chat
    • Bluenose Lounge
    • Forum Support and Feedback

Calendars

  • Community Calendar

Find results in...

Find results that contain...


Date Created

  • Start

    End


Last Updated

  • Start

    End


Filter by number of...

Joined

  • Start

    End


Group


Location


Interests


Occupation


Favourite Rangers Player


Twitter


Facebook


Skype

  1. Over two weeks now since Neil suggested that Craig Thomson had been responsible for Celtic losing at Aberdeen. Could it be that Mr Lunny has been absent from his desk and that is why that no action has been raised against Neil. Or is is it possible that a more likely reason for this to be overlooked is that. Vincent agrees with Neil's opinion?
  2. Former Rangers chief executive Charles Green has revealed he may still be at the Ibrox helm had he not 'been driven out of the club'. Green led the consortium which bought the assets of Rangers for £5.5m from administrators Duff & Phelps on June 14, 2012, just two days after they were consigned to liquidation when HMRC rejected the offer of a CVA. The Yorkshireman insisted he was at Rangers for the long haul, claiming he would not consider leaving 'until he had heard the Champions League music over Ibrox again'. But after a turbulent period in charge of the League Two side, he stepped down in April 2013 in the wake of a backlash from supporters over a series of controversial public comments. He returned to the club on August 2 last year on a consultancy basis 'to assist with shareholder relations and advise the company on its capital structure'. However, his second coming lasted just 18 days and he agreed to stand down from the role and sell his shareholding, at the time the largest in the company, to current board member Sandy Easdale. Now, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, he has broken his silence on his departure, and on the terms of his pay-off. "When I joined Rangers, I was the only employee, the only director and the only investor," he said. "I was going to have the same salary as Ally McCoist but Malcolm Murray (former chairman) said that was wrong and halved it. For the work I did at Rangers, I should have had double. "Secondly, I didn't want the severance pay. I would have stayed at Rangers but was driven out of that club. "It's a matter of public record what I took from the club when I left. It is in the accounts. My salary was £360,000 a year, but I didn't take 12 months' notice. "I agreed I would take less money because I didn't want to penalise the club, but I would have happily carried on at Rangers. "The bonus was a bonus which was in my contract, and I was entitled to that." Watch Sky Sports News throughout Friday evening for more from Jim White's exclusive interview with the former Ibrox supremo.
  3. Dave King’s war of words with the Rangers Board could cost Scottish football millions. Rangers former director Dave King has ramped up his increasingly volatile spat with the Ibrox directors yesterday by releasing a hard-hitting statement. The South Africa-based businessman last night publicly suggested Charles Green might be the “power behind the throne” at the Ibrox club. And in an emotive response to the current directors’ criticism of him, he claimed they were asking fans to show blind faith in their actions. Promising to fly to Scotland this week for action meetings with supporters’ representatives, he pointedly said Rangers fans are loyal — but not stupid. It has now emerged the uncertainty once again enveloping Rangers could scupper the SPFL’s plans for a lucrative TV contract to cover games in the Championship next season. That is the latest twist in an extraordinary few days of turbulence that have once again brought the very future of the Light Blues into question. Angered at the news Rangers were to take on a “soft” loan with a repayment when he himself would have offered it interest-free, King made his move. He advised fans to withhold their 2014-15 season ticket money, and instead put it in a Trust. However, while that move got the overwhelming support of the official supporters groups, it angered the Board, who accused him of effectively threatening to put the club out of business. Such a move would leave the club in danger of falling into insolvency, which would be as big a blow for the League as it would be for the club. Anticipation of a highly-attractive Championship in 2014-15 has brought interest from broadcasters. With Rangers and Hearts set to involved, and possibly Dunfermline and even Dundee, the SPFL have been inundated with inquiries from a wide variety of media companies. In particular, it is understood a number of broadcasters, including the BBC, have inquired about the possibility of a one-year deal to include both live action and highlights. The League, however, has been trying to sell the rights as a three-year package worth millions over the period. They feel that is the best way to broaden the game’s appeal Now, though, they are concerned the internal strife at Rangers, possibly now just two games away from being the Championship’s biggest asset, will have would-be bidders running scared. Uncertainty is traditionally a major problem for anyone looking to invest in the game. The SPFL know that only too well, having struggled to attract a title sponsor for the new set-up. That has drawn criticism for the Board and Chief Exec Neil Doncaster. Ironically, Rangers’ woes could actually end up making the product more attractive for potential viewers. Were Ally McCoist’s side to go into administration, under the new rules they would pick up an automatic 25-point penalty. A handicap that would negate any advantage they will hold over their Championship rivals next season. As things stand, the League One champions-elect are already warm favourites with the bookies to continue their journey straight through the lower leagues. That is not too surprising, given they are set to go through an entire season in the country’s third tier without losing a single game. The manager, though, is adamant the Championship will be far more competitive and has warned lots of improvement will be required. The combative tone of King’s latest statement would appear to make clear that King has no intention of ever joining forces with the current Board. Having had one unsuccessful meeting with Sandy Easdale, he appears now intent on trying to force the directors out. And in doing so, he has opted for a twin approach. The first is an upbeat message to fans, who would follow him talking of a “watershed moment” in the club’s history. The second is an attempt to call upon the men who currently run Rangers to justify their actions. Whether he succeeds only time will tell. But without question, this latest news signals an escalation of hostilities. Meanwhile, Rangers boss Ally McCoist admits to frustration that off-field events are jeopardising the recent progress made by his team. “I am slightly concerned that, once again, other issues may detract from what so far has been a very successful campaign,” he said. “We are hopeful in the next few games we can clinch the Championship. We have got the Ramsdens Cup Final ahead, also the Scottish Cup quarter-final, with an incredible incentive to win that and get a home tie in the semi-final. “So on the football side, there are, for the first time, positives. But I am not going to get carried away.” http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/scotland/ex-rangers-director-king-could-kill-tv-deal-1.248023
  4. As the draw is to be made after the Dundee Hibs v St Midden game, I just thought I'd start a thread on it. What will be the best draw for us?, I want Albion Rovers @ Ibrox:rfcbouncy:
  5. Neil Lennon was spat at, had coins thrown at him and was the subject of verbal abuse at Tynecastle, according to the Celtic manager's agent. Lennon was watching Aberdeen's League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone and had to leave the game early, Martin Reilly told BBC Scotland. He said: "I'm absolutely raging about the treatment of Neil, about the stewarding and the fans' behaviour. "It's scandalous that Neil is treated like this." Reilly said that Lennon and Celtic coach Gary Parker had to leave their seats in the main stand after 70 minutes of the game. During the match, which Aberdeen won 4-0, play was held up briefly as two young supporters ran on to the park and got to the technical area, where Lennon was infamously attacked by a Hearts fan in 2011, before being apprehended by police and stewards. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26002727
  6. The Scottish Premiership is one of the best attended leagues in Europe 9 Feb 2014 08:47 NEIL DONCASTER claims attendance figures disprove much of the doom-mongering about the Scottish game. SPFL chief Neil Doncaster insists new attendance figures prove that Scottish football isn’t in crisis. The number of punters coming through the gates increased slightly last year to 3,786,598. And over the past three years the total tally across all four senior leagues is down just 1.4 per cent. So Doncaster claims the figures disprove much of the doom-mongering about the Scottish game. He said: “Our crowds are holding up pretty well when that is not the case for many other countries. “Per head of population our Premiership still has one of the best attendance records in Europe.” Aberdeen’s revival has played a key role with home crowds up 25 per cent to an average of 12,400. Hearts and Hibs also reported a rise last year while attendances have remained high at Ibrox despite Rangers playing in the lower leagues. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fan-figures-give-spfl-chief-3127359
  7. http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/263136-ally-mccoist-id-have-bet-on-ibrox-not-being-picked-for-league-cup-final/
  8. ..........with his sly dig at Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell HUGH believes the Rangers manager's gripes over the decision to host the League Cup final at Celtic Park were off the mark. IF Ally McCoist thinks Peter Lawwell was behind the decision to have Parkhead host the League Cup Final then he should have come right out and said it. It would be insulting your own intelligence not to believe the Rangers boss was making a veiled reference to Celtic’s chief executive when he said he’d have bet on Ibrox being snubbed and insinuated the decision was a carve up. Ally might feel battered from pillar to post as the second anniversary of the day Rangers went into administration approaches on Friday. But he’s coming across as someone who’s making noises for the benefit of the less discerning among his club’s supporters. The ones who believe the Ramsdens Cup would be part of a “Treble” if it’s won against Raith Rovers. Ally’s using diversionary tactics to deflect attention away from a team that has lately been getting stick for playing a brand of football that’s unattractive to a lot of the people who pack Ibrox. When Celtic Park was suggested as a possible venue for the Ramsdens Cup Final there were plenty of Rangers fans who objected to the idea. And their dissent was based on the fact they would have been uneasy about giving Celtic a substantial fee for the hire of their ground for the day. But they’d have thought it perfectly acceptable to make the Fife side play the final at Ibrox and surrender any semblance of equality they might have had going into the game. So in the interest of fair play Easter Road got that “Showpiece” while the SPFL then performed a balancing act forced on them by the need to maintain public order. Celtic Park gets two finals. Ibrox gets both Scottish Cup semi finals. No need for martial law to be introduced to keep protesters under control. What do we look like? Are we seriously to believe Lawwell walks into a meeting of the SPFL board and instructs the other members on how they’re to conduct their business over venue allocation? Dalmarnock’s Don Corleone tells the board their names will be on the contract to hire Celtic Park on March 16 or else their brains will. This isn’t the movies, it’s real life. I’m told the decision was taken by Neil Doncaster and SPFL secretary Ian Blair and was only communicated to Lawwell by telephone. Fergus McCann once attended a business meeting during his time at Celtic where he listened to one employee talk about the institutionalised bias against the club. The meeting was brought to an abrupt halt while Fergus instructed the paranoia sufferer in question that he didn’t ever want to hear the accusation repeated in his presence. He then admonished the guilty party by saying: “If you believe that, you’re 1-0 down in life, never mind football.” Rangers need someone with McCann’s vision, principle and integrity to lift them back to the top. There are lots of people with plenty to say about Rangers and their future but they’ve so far shown a marked reluctance to come forward and put their money where their mouths are. McCann knew it would cost him everything he had to stop Celtic being liquidated but he took on the club’s debt and saved them. There are people on the periphery where Rangers are concerned who give the impression they’re quite happy to wait and see if the club goes to the wall. At which point they’ll come in and pick up the pieces without straining themselves, financially speaking. The courage of your convictions, that’s what we’re talking about here. It could be argued Celtic needed McCann more than his money since he had a vision and a plan from which he never deviated. Rangers may wish they had someone like him as they curse the anniversary they’ll always have cause to regret. In the meantime, don’t sully your reputation with unfounded allegations, or else SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny might construe your words as being injurious to a man’s reputation. Not that Lawwell enhanced his standing with his tit for tat response about betting on the biggest and the best stadium if you want to win. Petty point scoring does neither club any favour although I’m willing to bet such behaviour will never end as far as the Old Firm are concerned. DUNDEE chief executive Scot Gardiner says it was 100 per cent John Brown’s decision to quit as manager. Call me an old cynic, but the absence of any public comment by Bomber tells me two things. The first is the existence of a confidentiality clause. The second is that estimate of 100 per cent will remain irrefutable evidence in the absence of any chance to cross examine the witness. IF Eric Djemba-Djemba plays today it’ll be the start of a journey that has him passing through St Mirren’s history. Passing through as opposed to making a tangible contribution to it, and wrongly described as the club’s biggest signing. St Mirren have won four major trophies in 137 years. I’d argue Steven Thompson, who scored in the League Cup Final win last year, has made a lasting contribution to Saints’ history. And means more to them than a mercenary. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hugh-keevins-rangers-boss-ally-3127340
  9. .....they're not even in my top five THE former Wigan boss reckons Rangers lack of strength in comparison with other teams makes them an unlikely candidate to win the Scottish Cup in May. OWEN COYLE reckons Rangers shouldn’t even be among the top FIVE teams fancied to lift the Scottish Cup in May. Ally McCoist’s side are joint second with Dundee United in the betting to win the cup with tournament sponsors William Hill. Rangers have the second biggest budget in the country but Coyle insists that doesn’t automatically mean the League One side are likely to win major silverware. Gers face Dunfermline at home on Friday night with a quarter-final place at stake and Coyle said: “I don’t think they’d be one of the first five favourites for the Scottish Cup. Of course they can win it with a bit of luck but in terms of the strength of their team against the others I would have to say it is unlikely. “Coisty is a pal of mine, as is Durranty, we did our pro licences together. But I don’t see their team as one of the cup favourites. “I did the Airdrie v Rangers game for TV a few weeks ago. “Rangers started well but never got the second goal and then made heavy weather of winning it. “If I was judging it on that then I’d say they have some very good young players coming through but I don’t think they’d be one of the first four or five favourites for the Scottish Cup.” The former Wigan, Bolton and St Johnstone boss reckons the Scottish Cup has taken on extra importance this season for the Old Firm as they romp their respective leagues. But Coyle believes that if both Glasgow sides get through this weekend then McCoist will want to avoid drawing Neil Lennon’s team in the last eight. He said: “I can’t put myself in the position of being Rangers manager just now and facing Celtic although on any given day anybody could win it. “But the odds, with Celtic being so strong, are that they would win the game. “There’s no getting away from how dominant Celtic are at the moment. They are on their own just now. “Both Celtic and Rangers have the league effectively tied up and the Cup is now a focus. “I’m sure the Celtic players will be desperate to finish the season with the double again. “But it’s also there for everyone else to go and have that big day out at the Final and win the Scottish Cup. Celtic have already lost to Morton in the League Cup so it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/owen-coyle-rangers-shouldnt-second-3112770
  10. http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/070214-Rangers-v-Dunfermline-Athletic/G0000iF_fs9HjrWQ/I0000NtRcHesIcnM/C0000Lnj26DX67t0 If you can bear to look at the Director's Box photos - does anyone know who that is sitting behind Wallace?
  11. The SPFL are closing in on a new title sponsor — thanks to a little help from Alex Salmond. That is the good news that has been handed out to clubs by the League’s Chief Executive, Neil Doncaster. In addition, he has reassured them there is no sign that the collapse of TV audience figures since Rangers exited the top flight in 2012 will lead to any loss of revenue. Scotland’s new senior set-up was formed last June, but and has yet to attract a backer to take the place of its long-running supporter, the Clydesdale Bank. But Doncaster has revealed talks are ongoing with “significant corporate players” from the business world. These, he said, were facilitated by the First Minister, Alex Salmond, and were described as “warm,” and “a work in progress.” Among the large companies canvassed, it’s believed gas and electricity providers have delivered the most positive response. Finding a sponsor would be a timely boost for Doncaster. He has drawn criticism for the failure so far on that front, especially as the League Cup is also currently open for offers. While he has been content to explain away the lack of backing as caution on the part of companies to the new set-up, it is a concern and one which will increase with the passage of time. There was positive news at the end of the last year for Scottish football with the announcement of a tie-up with Chinese partner PPLive TV. The deal, set to bring in £2-million a year to clubs, will see a total of 58 SPFL matches screened live in China. SNP leader Salmond was in China on a trade mission, and joined Doncaster in Beijing for the announcement. Closer to home, though, falling viewing figures for live action on SKY and BT Sport is a significant concern. The audience is acknowledged to have collapsed as a direct consequence of Rangers’ exit from the top flight in 2012. The big difference is that while supporters of Rangers and Celtic continue to follow their own sides, it has become apparent they no longer take an interest in the fortunes of their rival. This is because the results of the games have no direct impact on their own respective leagues. That wasn’t the case in the past, with several close title races drawing increasing audiences as they headed into the run-in. With broadcasting rights the main source of revenue, the SPFL are anxious there is no further fall off. SKY is currently in year two of a five-year deal they are tied into. The same applies to BT Sport, but in their case they would potentially be able to pull out at the end of this season. However, Doncaster has reassured clubs there is no sign that is going to happen. http://www.sundaypost.com/sport/football/new-spfl-sponsorship-deal-on-the-cards-1.187745
  12. Motherwell FC lost £180,498 in the financial year that saw a second place finish in the SPL and a debut in the Champions League. The details have been made available to shareholders ahead of the club's 108th AGM next month. The directors' report points to three factors as the main contributors to the loss. There was an agreement to alter the distribution of the SPL's commercial pot that included a substantial reduction in the prize money allocated to the runner up position but the club's bonus deal with the football staff is not mirror that change. The early cup exits proved to be costly. Although we had a share of the gate at Ibrox from the league Cup tie, the cut Aberdeen received from our home Scottish Cup clash was made on the basis that all spectators paid at the gate regardless that season tickets were valid. This benefit to season ticket holders appears to be under threat. Transfer income fell below expectation. The directors also express disappointment that no main sponsor has been found to replace the Clydesdale Bank. The effect on this season's commercial distribution is clear. Changes to the board over the year ended 31 May 2013 include the addition of Brian McCafferty and Graham Barnstaple as Well Society nominees and the departure of John Boyle(still the majority shareholder) and Andrew Lapping. Once again the club makes it clear that it operates "without any borrowing facilities or support of a benefactor" and that the success of the Society will be "critical to the long term sustainability of the football club". No doubt these issues and others will form the basis of the discussions that will take place at the AGM on Monday 17 February at Fir Park. http://www.motherwell-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/well_in_the_red_again_822693/index.shtml
  13. You know, some had to do it! Barrie McKay might be off to Morton for ONE months. Greenock Telegraph
  14. RANGERS are reportedly keen to make a move for Romanian international defender Gabriel Tamas in time for next season. The Doncaster centre-half, who has played for clubs in Spain, Russia and England, has allegedly held talks over a summer move to Ibrox. Tamas has been capped 63 times by Romania, although he was briefly banned from international duty after he and former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu were caught drinking in the lead-up to a game. (Herald)
  15. Barry Ferguson is targeting the play-offs for Blackpool, regardless of whether he is their manager or a player. The Seasiders captain held talks with chairman Karl Oyston last night about taking the vacant manager’s job on a permanent basis. He’s told the Pool chairman he would only consider taking the role if it was offered to him at least until the end of the season. Ferguson isn’t interested in a caretaker position, and if that’s the only role on offer he would continue to serve Blackpool as a player only. It is expected that Ferguson, who turns 36 in 10 days, will be named as the 11th manager of the Karl Oyston era ahead of home Saturday’s game against Doncaster. He was due to take training today and aims to bring in former Dundee United coach Malky Thomson as his assistant. There may also be roles for former Rangers duo Bob Malcolm and John McGregor. If Ferguson does take the hot seat, there would clearly be a change of thinking at Bloomfield Road. Paul Ince always insisted survival was Pool’s only aim this season but Ferguson wants the club to set its sights much higher. He told The Gazette: “I never look at the negatives – I always remain positive. “At the start of this season my aim was to get promotion and it will always be the case. “If it’s not promotion we still have to look at the play-offs. As a person and a player, I still want to make a push for the play-offs.” Pool are 14th in the Championship, eight points above the relegation zone and nine outside the top six. If Ferguson is named today it’s believed he’ll move quickly in the transfer market, with Scottish duo Kris Boyd and Alan Hutton high on his wish-list. And speaking earlier in the week, Ferguson said all his team-mates remain optimistic. He revealed: “I’m a positive person and all the lads in the dressing room are positive. We need to look at it that way. We need to get out of this mess, then creep into the play-offs.” Ferguson has been backed to be a huge success in management by former Holland manager Dick Advocaat. The 66-year-old, who managed Ferguson at Rangers and is now working with Dutch side AZ, said: “Barry is someone with very good pedigree and knowledge. I brought him into the Rangers team when he was just a young boy. “I didn’t think about him as a future coach because he was so young, but they do say midfielders make the best coaches. I’m confident he can have a good career as a coach.” One manager who has ruled himself out of the Blackpool job is Neil Warnock. The former Crystal Palace and Sheffield United boss said: “There’s no chance of me going to Blackpool. It’s a tough job because there’s hardly any money there. “I think Barry Ferguson will do a good job until the end of the season. I don’t think they’ll go rushing to appoint people.” http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/blackpool-fc/ferguson-takes-charge-and-wants-to-make-the-play-offs-1-6390967
  16. A DEAL to transfer Ukio Bankas Investment Group’s 50 per cent shareholding in Hearts to the Foundation of Hearts has been agreed, the Evening News can reveal. The agreement needs to be ratified legally in Lithuania, but would see a token £50,000 payment for the shares made to UBIG’s administrators, allowing the Edinburgh club to exit administration with the Foundation as their new owners. Hearts’ administrators BDO are proceeding with caution in the hope that the deal can go through despite UBIG’s assets being frozen. Foundation of Hearts already have a £2.5million Creditors’ Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in place to secure 29.9 per cent of the club’s shares from Ukio Bankas, who are also in administration. The CVA is conditional upon the fans’ umbrella group getting UBIG’s 50 per cent stake. BDO have been in talks with UBIG’s administrators Bankroto Administrativo Paslaugos for some time trying to negotiate the handover of shares. This is the only remaining hurdle to Hearts exiting administration after the CVA was voted through last November. There is now a verbal agreement between both parties for the transfer of shares at an agreed price.
  17. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-jackson-harsh-treatment-hearts-3015628?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=tw IS the treatment of Hearts fair? Absolutely not. Must it continue unabated and without mercy? Sadly, there can be no other way. What we are currently witnessing at Tynecastle is unedifying, bordering on inhumane. Gary Locke has been forced into a position where he has no choice but to flog the life out of his youngsters who are now dropping to their knees in the utter exhaustion of fighting what has been, from the outset, an impossible task. They are only half way through but Hearts are goners already. And the more squeamish may very well feel like looking the other way for the second half of this season as they stagger and stumble towards their own demise. This is heartbreaking cruelty in every conceivable way. But Scottish football must not be allowed to avert its gaze. Not for one single second. Rather, it should be strapped into a seat and forced to sit through every gory moment of this collapse. Scottish football has done this to Hearts and now it must watch every last consequence of its actions, no matter how harrowing it may become. Promising young players may be left broken in spirit and body. They may be cast aside and unable ever to fully recover from the traumas of this campaign. So be it. Locke too may never be the same again given what he has had to endure in this, his first ever managerial post. Already his credentials for the job are being debated and dissected. In some cases, he has been dismissed as some wet behind the ears, lame duck of a boss who has neither the know-how nor the work ethic to save Hearts from their fate. This picking on Locke is savage and unnecessary and almost wholly unfounded. After all, how can any reasonable assessment be made on Locke’s qualities or otherwise as a manager when he has been placed in a position which leaves him almost entirely unable to manage? Unlike his peers, he can neither buy new players nor even loan them, which means he must make do with what little he has on the books. And yet, so sparse is his squad that Locke is not afforded even the most basic managerial prerogative of choosing a starting XI. He has no choice but to count heads and send them out. No matter if these players are suffering from loss of form or even fitness. Locke’s only option is to run these youngsters into the ground until the time comes when either Hearts are unable to fulfill their fixtures or, in order to keep up the pretence that they are still a functioning football club, filling up maroon shirts with school children and sending them out to be humiliated by grown-up professionals. All in the name of sporting integrity. Under these circumstances it is simply not possible to judge Locke’s managerial merits one way or the other. He is not managing Hearts. He is merely enabling them to keep up this pretence until the club has taken its last breath in the top flight. Anyone who cannot acknowledge that their fate was predetermined before he had given them his first team talk must be a fool. Yes, Locke is learning on the job and will have made mistakes along the way. Of course he will. But by depriving him of so many of the fundamentals of football management, we make his human error almost redundant. The truth is, there was never any hope for Hearts. That was part of the deal. When this club limped over the line last season to stay in the top division at the expense of Dundee, they knew administration was on its way. We all did. It’s all been a charade ever since. The new rules which were drawn up to deal with insolvency events were designed not just to punish offenders but to throttle them. It had to be this way because of the appalling blood lust with which Rangers had been treated the previous year. Had level heads been applied to the financial meltdown at Ibrox then Rangers would have been helped back up from the gutter in which Craig Whyte left them. Instead, they were trampled down and kicked to the kerb. The urge to maximise the damage Whyte had done quickly became overwhelming and, in many cases, it was led by downright malevolence. Neil Doncaster, the chief executive of the then SPL, wished to apply some logic and reason to the debate for no other reason than it made business sense to protect Rangers. Perish the thought, maybe even to help them in their darkest hour. But he was shouted down by the baying crowd that had gathered around him. And now, as a result of this mob mentality, Hearts are paying the heaviest of prices for the roguish actions of their own former owner. There would be uproar among Rangers supporters in particular if it were any other way. This residual need for revenge is understandable. They believe their club was wronged and so they will demand parity across the board. Even if it reduces Scottish football to a bloodbath. In fact, so bitter have some of them become that they would wish it to be so. They make no attempt to hide their delight at the suffering of others and nor should they be expected to as Rangers is their only concern. But if Scottish football is to correct itself then it must transcend this kind of small-minded tribalism. For the greater good, it must also be prepared to accept that mistakes have been made and that, now they are being repeated, the youngsters of Hearts are being brutalised. With more than half a season gone, they have still not unshackled themselves fully from the 15-point penalty with which they set out. Twenty-two games into this mission impossible, with just 16 more to go, Hearts are marooned on minus two. Locke is unable to call for reinforcements. It’s about to become unwatchable. But watch on we must. And maybe when it is over – when Hearts have been crushed, lying there, limp and lifeless on the floor – then Scottish football will have cause to reflect and to confront itself. To ask itself how it got into such a dark and mean state of mind. To look inside itself in search of empathy and common sense. And then to find a better way for the future before more vulnerable clubs and more innocent young players are forced to suffer as Hearts have this season. Yes, there must still be stiff deterrents in order to keep the game safe from the next Whyte or the next Romanov. But there must also be a realisation that the current penalties are draconian and hurting all the wrong people. While Whyte and Romanov escape unscathed, the players and supporters they left behind continue to pay for all of their sins. And while so many old scores are being settled, Scottish football continues to hate itself to death.
  18. "Like many within Scottish football, including supporters and other observers, we are surprised by the parallel conclusion that no competitive advantage was gained from these arrangements. “ (Celtic FC Statement) You curse you're luck. The dice were kind to you and you landed fair square on Park Lane having rolled the required eight, courtesy of a double 4. However at £350 this property is more than you can afford at present. Your next throw sees you roll an eleven where you safely pass go and collect £200 from the bank. You’re opponent meantime rolls a 7 and also lands on Park Lane. You can see from his finances across the table he is unable at present to afford the much coveted property. But to your abject horror he pulls out a Community Chest Card – Glasgow City Council/Celtic FC – and acquires Park Lane for the knock-down price of £175. Furthermore as he passes Go he collects a favourable £600 as opposed to your £200, courtesy again of his “exclusive deal” with Co-op Bank. “Competitive Advantage” ? “Sporting Integrity” ? “Financial Doping” ? “State Aid” ? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2514682/Co-op-Bank-slammed-cheap-loans-Celtic-Football-Club.html I await the social, and moral outrage that Celtic FC, courtesy of their exclusive and extremely favourable banking arrangements, have robbed small firms of credit facilities and overdraft extensions. I await Graham "Selective Amnesia" Spiers tweeting that he is quite comfortable that such arrangements were a form of “cheating” All it needs is for Donald Findlay to be appointed head of the SPFL Investigation into Celtic FC and their financial and land dealings. Whats that term...”what goes around comes around” http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22037966 Of course, should any type of investigation be directed at Celtic it will cause a considerable conflict of interest for one member of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Board – Brian Quinn, former Celtic Chairman. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/former-celtic-chairman-brian-quinn-s-uefa-financial-role-1-2386596 At least there will be a plethora of advice readily available for Mr Quinn with regard to dealing with potential conflicts of interest. His old friend, and Celtic Board member Eric Riley was a director at the SPL and the SFA for 10 and 13 years respectively. Furthermore Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell currently sits on the SFA's Professional Game Board. Did someone really say “Rangers are the establishment club” ? Conservative MP Mark Garnier is not going to allow this to go away, as he smells blood. So too do a number of Tories. It has been suggested that the revelations surrounding the Co-op Bank will reach right up to the higher echelons of the Labour Party nationally. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/22/ed-balls-links-to-co-op-bank Of course its perhaps purely co-incidence that the former Lennox Castle Hospital , with its 48 acres of prime real estate, was sold for £493,000 to Celtic Football Club, thus allowing the Scottish Minister to delegate responsibility for it's sale to the CEO of Glasgow Greater Health Board, as it fell below the £500,000 benchmark. Which leaves me 2 questions. (1) Was the sale of Lennoxtown Castle offered or advertised in the public domain ? (2) Does Neil Doncaster have Lord Nimmo Smith on Speed Dial ?
  19. 1) does anyone else think Wallace, Somers and Crichton will all be gone before the end of the season ? 2) at what point will Dave King be approached to invest in and takeover Rangers? When I hear our new CEO talking about cutting costs I genuinely worry if that involves the first team squad. This team needs strengthened not weakened which these costs would ultimately achieve.If he goes ahead with this I genuinely believe we could return to what we were in the early 1980's with a sub-standard team which people won't pay to watch. I'd previously said this new board needs to be given time.Now though I'm not so sure. Some of the insinuations being made give me cause for concern.
  20. Neil Doncaster has defended the implementation of the SPFL model, describing 2013 as a "challenging year" for the Scottish game. The SPFL chief executive covered many topics in an exclusive interview with STV, including the continued lack of a league sponsor, measures taken to prevent rogue owners from buying clubs and even Celtic's dominance of the top flight. Speaking to STV he said: "It’s certainly been a challenging year with all the hard work that went into getting the merger agreed. "That was years of hard work coming together in what was a very successful outcome. "It’s been challenging but ultimately it’s been extremely satisfying that everything we wanted to achieve, and everything Henry McLeish recommended, that fans wanted for so long, we’ve delivered. I think credit for these achievements should go to the 42 clubs. "Change is difficult and it does create concern for the future but the clubs have taken that leap of faith and I hope they’ll be rewarded for it." Looking ahead to 2014 Doncaster outlines his hopes and ambitions, calling for a greater emphasis on the actual football being played in the new set-up. "My hope is that going into 2014 the focus will be less on off-the-field matters that have dominated the agenda for so long and we’ll be far more on the passion, the drama, the excitement for which Scottish football is renowned," he explained. "We’ve got some bright talents coming through and it’s right that we should be focussing on those rather than the off the field matters." Doncaster seemed unconcerned by the lack of a title sponsor for the new league set-up, adding that the new year provides companies with a unique opportunity. He said: "We have a real opportunity coming into the new year with a new league for a sponsor to be the first sponsor of the SPFL. "The league has only been in existence several months and the fact is that companies looking to spend a fairly large amount of money will not do so at the drop of a hat. "There are several ongoing conversations with several large companies, large brands who have an interest in being involved with the league. We’re certainly hopeful that those will generate positive outcomes this year. "In terms of money generally, sponsorship makes up a very small percentage of the overall income of the league. "Most of it is down to broadcasting income and we’ve been very successful with overseas deals this year, which is a relatively big deal for the SPFL." Doncaster refuted the claim that this season's Scottish Premiership is proving uncompetitive, explaining how he seels the league to prospective investors and commercial partners. He said: "Scottish football is so key to society in Scotland. "We are well renowned throughout the world and the fact is that more people attend a top flight game in Scotland per capita than any other country in Europe. "I think the game sells itself but we want to make sure we have the right partner and a good sponsor for the right money." http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/258745-neil-doncaster-looks-back-on-2013-as-a-challenging-year/
  21. ALEX SMITH believes Scotland’s football authorities are failing both Hearts and their manager, Gary Locke, by denying them a chance to rebuild. Chairman of the Managers and Coaches Association, Smith stressed Locke is in an impossible position at Tynecastle and is suffering by enduring such pressure so early in his managerial career. Hearts’ descent into administration last June triggered an immediate SPFL registration embargo and a 15-point deduction for the new league season. That left Locke effectively with hands tied and mouth gagged. Experienced players had left on freedom of contract and the manager, having only been appointed in March, found himself with a squad full of under-21 players to fight against relegation. Locke will be unable to replenish his squad during the January transfer window as Hearts will still be in administration well into next year. They are currently 14 points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. Smith feels the punishments meted out to Hearts have gone on too long and are having a detrimental effect on Locke’s early days in management. He blames previous directors and disgraced former owner Vladimir Romanov for the club’s demise. Now 73, Smith admitted that, throughout his time in football, he couldn’t recall a manager in a more harrowing position than Locke. “I’ve never known a manager to be in a more difficult situation,” he told the Evening News. “Here we have a young manager in the first few months of his career, managing a club like Hearts, but not able to bring in players. Then there’s the 15-point deduction. I just think it’s ridiculous. “It’s ridiculous that we’re making a top club like Hearts suffer like this because of the poor management of other people. They did things in a way that was running that club towards a multiple crash. “The authorities are making it worse with the sanctions and denying Hearts the right to try and get out of this trouble. They did it with Rangers, another massive club. They didn’t just take action against them, they almost slit their throat. We need these two clubs and we need them in our top league. We don’t need them in the lower leagues.” Locke has pledged to fight on in the hope that Hearts can reel in teams such as Ross County and Kilmarnock at the bottom of the table and avoid relegation. Time is not on their side. Many feel one positive from slipping into the Championship would be the breathing space accorded the Riccarton youth academy graduates to develop as footballers. Smith points out that life in the second tier is likely to be fraught with just as many problems. “Gary would be entitled to expect the chance to take Hearts back up if they did end up relegated, but football nowadays doesn’t always work like that, does it? Hearts could go down into the Championship. Rangers and Dunfermline could come up [from League One]. “Then you might have three out of the four chasing promotion this season possibly still there. It’s going to be some league. The pressure next year would be exactly the same, only the sympathy vote won’t be there. It will be expectation levels there instead. Either way, it’s going to be difficult.” Smith called Locke to offer a pep talk in the wake of Hearts’ 7-0 Scottish Cup defeat by Celtic earlier this month. He will do the same again before Hearts head to Parkhead on league business this weekend. “I feel for him. If he’s feeling like a chat he just has to phone any of the more experienced managers in the game and he’ll get any amount of their time,” explained Smith. “I’ll give him another call this week sometime. He really just has to keep going. It will only take winning a couple of games and he will see an opportunity to turn things round. He can’t lose sight of the fact Hearts are a massive club with a massive support. If there is any sign of a revival, Gary will have everybody 100 per cent behind him. “That’s not always the case when you have to please 15,000 people at your home games. One or two people will just see the jerseys on the field, regardless of who is in them, and assume that because they’re Hearts, they should automatically be winning games. “The majority of Hearts supporters know the situation. The young kids are good players, all they need is that wee glimmer of a chance. If they come onto a run and start getting points, the fans will be right behind them. A lot of people now go to games, sit down and expect to be entertained. Gary will have the siege support and he’ll realise he has to harness that. “There’s no doubt we’re getting a false impression of what he can do at the moment. He can’t bring in players. He’s just to get on working with the young players he has. They’re all very talented, but if things start going the wrong way, it affects them all as a group. You need a few stabilisers in the team to steady them. “That’s why guys like Ryan Stevenson and Jamie Hamill are so important. They’ve been lumbered with this responsibility, which even for them is massive. They have to take on the responsibility of going out and winning games of football. How do you do that? “There is a great art to winning games. The first thing is you don’t lose bad goals, so you need a strong back line and a good goalkeeper. If you do lose a goal, you keep the ball till you get an opportunity to get back into the game. “The key is not to lose a second, so your defence and goalkeeper need to keep you in the game when you’re under pressure.” http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/authorities-have-given-hearts-boss-impossible-task-1-3237607
  22. Doncaster rued his bad luck. “Why didn't Regan draw the short straw?” he asked himself. But this was no time for “what ifs?”; he had drawn the short straw and now had to deliver the poison chalice to the master. Gingerly, he long pressed the 2 on his phone keypad and watched in fear as the phone speed dial responded with the fateful name. The two words flashed on the phone screen heightening Doncaster's sense of foreboding. Peter Lawwell. “What is it Neil” a voice rasped from the other end. “I'm sorry Peter but it's happened again” “What has ?” “A game has had to be abandoned for safety reasons due to the demand to see the Rangers” Doncaster could hear the sigh of exasperation on the other end of the phone. “Get Spiers or someone to put out a story saying it was fire fears due to the recent spate of flare throwing” “I'm sorry Peter the story has gone out already” “Who authorised it without my approval ? You know everything has to come through me” “I'm, I'm sorry Peter it was out with my control” “How many times have I told you Neil – NOTHING BUT NOTHING IS OUT WITH MY CONTROL !!!!” Click. I beg to differ Peter. We are out with you're control. You cannot control either our passion or determination to follow our team. At Elgin it was an overrun of printed tickets, today at Stenhousemuir it was damage to a temporary stand built to house the travelling blue legions. How much that must hurt our top league as they struggle to fill their stadiums. As they struggle to sell tickets. As they struggle to pay bills. “So as you sow – so shall ye reap” Of course, as was reported last week, a benevolent bank may come along and agree to write off all the accumulating debts. But I expect the Kilmarnock situation to be the exception to the rule rather than the norm. I wonder if Gordon Waddell will pen a column stating how much he would like to punch them in the face till his hand hurts, or if Spiers will “happily and reasonably accurately” accuse them of cheating ? Oh and I cant wait to read the Scotzine article on this. Mr Muirhead will be frothing at the mouth over this one. Well, that is if he is to remain consistent in his thoughts on debt and cheating at football clubs. But, as the legend which is Rangers powers through the current division as a consequence of our enforced exile, perhaps those top league chairmen better hold off potential projected financial prospectus in lieu of our return, to appease increasingly demanding bank managers. For there is no guarantee our eventual return to the top flight will see any change in attitude towards filling the coffers of those who caused our club so much damage and heartache. Who collectively conspired and contrived to do us maximum harm. Forgive, forget and move on ? I don't think so. We remember how hard you kicked us whilst we were down. I wonder how long it will be before the “financial sell” statements appear from the guilty ? ie “It's good to see Rangers back where they belong” “We cant wait to renew our battles with Rangers” I can guarantee one bear who wont be buying your bullshit. And you can take that to the bank.
  23. A cloud cluckoo land thread on RM is questioning whether fans miss the old firm games. Very bizarre given it is the highlight of the season aside from occasional CL games. Watching us is absolutely terrible at the moment and I can't wait to get back in the SPL playing them again.
  24. Nice to see Celtic showing why Scottish football is so vibrant and dynamic at the moment. Trying not to be too Jim Spence-like in my praise, but it's clear that only getting gubbed 3-0 by Milan is a clear sign of how healthy the SPL is. Surely that's the case. It can't be otherwise....
  25. VoiceAndColour footballfansceneUK 1h #Aberdeen fans with banner outside #Hampden today in protest against corrupt SFA & SPFL leaders. pic.twitter.com/DlSq47Y6g3 https://twitter.com/VoiceAndColour/status/407131705959411713/photo/1/large
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.