ian1964 10,459 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 IN the end they didn't believe. The warnings of dire consequences for some of Scotland's biggest clubs if Rangers newco were not voted into the First Division of the SFL fell on deaf ears. The offspring of the club bought by Charles Green will start life in the SFL's Third Division. Maybe. There are moves afoot to overrule the wishes of the majority. Yesterday's historic decision was, I believe, the wrong one but it must stand. Any attempt now by the SPL, who, remember, didn't want Green's club, to railroad through SPL 2 because they don't like the way the vote went would be wrong. And so, too, would any attempt by that body to run with 11 clubs next season instead of 12. Dundee haven't been told they can step up to the top flight yet and if they have to remain in the First Division, there wouldn't be a vacancy in the SFL for Rangers newco. The SPL must not dare attempt to sit this out a little longer and then, at the last possible moment, declare it would be morally wrong to run the risk of losing perhaps a quarter of their members by not allowing the Ibrox newco back in. Even if Green's club were lumbered with a raft of sanctions it would still be wrong. No one said the SPL were wrong to refuse the new outfit a space in their ranks, so the SFL's decision must also be respected. But some of those chairmen who insisted they had to listen to their fans are considering ways of getting around yesterday's vote and it would be foolish to believe the SFA haven't thought about refusing Rangers a membership to play in the Third Division. They have that power but exercising it would be an abuse of office and one of the most dastardly acts in this already shameful saga. That, too, would be wrong. Absolutely wrong. They won't do that. They couldn't but they should be making it clear they've heard the SFL's call for a 42-club solution to the game's problems even if so far neither they nor the SPL have played a blinder. They haven't exactly covered themselves in glory since Rangers suffered their insolvency trauma, plunging the game into crisis. The big mistake made by the SPL clubs was to pander to allow supporters to dictate. When cold, calculating business minds were required we ended up with fans allowing hearts to rule their heads. As a consequence of that madness the clubs of the First, Second and Third divisions were asked to find a solution by accommodating Rangers newco and yesterday they welcomed the new club in. But because they refused to put a price on fair play they felt the only door they could open was the one into the bottom division. Not at all what the SPL and SFA wanted or expected. But the SPL, in their arrogance, assumed Rangers would be berthed in the First Division and had indications from their broadcast and corporate partners that current deals could remain virtually intact for a year but no longer. The pulling power of Rangers, or rather the new Rangers, is required to maintain the arrangements at today's levels but there will have to be a series of renegotiations down the way. The SFA and SPL tried hard to make chairmen aware of the consequences claiming that around £16m would be cut annually from the current deals. This, they stressed, would push three, possibly even five clubs towards administration and leave the SPL more or less down and out. Scaremongering? We'll find out soon enough but the governing bodies remain adamant their talks with all their sponsors and partners left them in no doubt about the amounts that would be lost with Rangers newco in the third. Anyone who doesn't believe Sky, ESPN and the others won't now be renegotiating their packages is deluded. But even so, the decision has been made and it must be respected, which means Regan, after he's gulped in oxygen and mustered the courage, shouldn't say he'll issue Rangers a membership to play in Scotland only if it's in the First Division. Look, the SPL charted their own course and must now live with the consequences no matter how damaging. They presented their case for Rangers newco in the First but it wasn't enough to convince the SFL to change their minds. Yesterday's decision must be respected and the message sent out that all senior clubs need to act together for change rather than plan another comfort zone for a hand-picked few should be heard and acted upon. But just in case the SPL are unwilling to accept the will of the majority vote, the SFL might want to consider their own plan. If they get Rangers in their group, and no matter the division, they'd have a terrific opportunity to become the dominant body. They'd have one half of the Old Firm and one of the biggest clubs in Britain in terms of fan numbers on side. The other half, Celtic, would of course be in the SPL but if that league's own Doomsday predictions are correct and they lose a clutch of clubs, they would be in a parlous state. They'd number, say eight while the SFL would be almost four times the size and quite possibly in a position to secure the best telly and sponsorship deals they've ever had. The SPL would be cut adrift and it would be very difficult for the SFA to stand in their way. Could the governing body ignore 30 while favouring about eight who might not have deals as lucrative as those in the SFL? But the best thing for all now would be to accept yesterday's decision and make the most of it. If the SPL clubs are smart they'll get together with the SFL and come up with a way to make changes which might minimise the damage which will be caused once the TV companies have changed their deals. The only way out of this is to work as one with the good of the game priority, although there will be casualties in the season ahead. I still believe the best solution would have been Rangers in the First Division but the overwhelming majority said no and that is that. We move on but we all need to be in step no matter our differences. Further arguments and coercion now will not help but will create wider divisions. Scottish football has to find a new way and it has to find it quickly because right now our game is in the gutter. People are laughing and yesterday, when Sky cut away from live coverage of the SFL's media conference after the vote to cover John Terry's exit from a court in London, we were put in our place. Clearly Sky believe one English player is much more important than anything that happened on one of the most historic days in Scottish football's history. We are where we are and right now that's in turmoil. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 he's changed his tune. he was the first one to suggest we go to div 3. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,459 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 The pulling power of Rangers, or rather the new Rangers, This is getting on my tits big time!,we need to keep correcting these idiots that we are not new Rangers! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Dynamo 128 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 People are laughing and yesterday, when Sky cut away from live coverage of the SFL's media conference after the vote to cover John Terry's exit from a court in London, we were put in our place. Clearly Sky believe one English player is much more important than anything that happened on one of the most historic days in Scottish football's history. This shows why Scottish Football should not be running cap in hand to SKY anymore. TV Money is slowly but surely killing our game 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,292 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Will Traynor and his lot travel with his fellow scribblers to Annan, Elgin or Berwick? I think not. But I hope that should they ever try to set a foot into Ibrox again, they will be asked to pay an entrance fee, press card or not. For we should be handing out accreditations solely to impartial and neutral people. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovanAllan 0 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 He has a point on who holds the power, we now have Scottish Football split in two both with a big hitter. Time for the SFL to us the power we have and tear the SPL apart. Take control of the game and get a proper change put in place even if that means some of its member clubs merging, we have way too many clubs in Scotland per head of population. Edit: He's still a fat fud. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim1955 12 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I agree with Traynor in that I think Rangers now have a stronger position to negotiate from. They need us more than we need them. Sure our recovery will be hastened by a quicker return to the SPL, but our recovery will happen regardless. I would like to see football become fun again and quite fancy a start from SFL3 and we should quote "Sporting Integrity" at every opportunity. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy dewhurst 0 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 it will be a day for the sfa that will live in infamy, but as the big general stated we will return bigger better and stronger 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 743 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 If they get Rangers in their group, and no matter the division, they'd have a terrific opportunity to become the dominant body. Been saying this for weeks when I compared it to PDC forming in Darts. Hamilton, Partick, Raith, Dundee, Dunfermline, Morton are pretty decently supported clubs and certainly not smaller than Ross County, Caley, St Johnstone, St Mirren etc. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,459 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Share Posted July 14, 2012 The RST should take every opportunity to state in every press release that we are not a new club 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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