ian1964 10,447 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 ARMAGEDDON. No, not the 1998 Hollywood blockbuster. Iâ??m referring to what Scottish football was promised by our gameâ??s rulers in the summer when Rangers dropped into the Third Division. Well, as one of the many thousands of people who refused to believe our game was doomed, nothing since then has proved me wrong. In fact, there is plenty to suggest the opposite has happened. At lunchtime today, Aberdeen could go top of the league if they beat Celtic at Pittodrie, replacing Hibs for at least a couple of hours. Without Rangers in there, the SPL is far more competitive, with only 10 points separating second-placed Celtic and St Mirren in 11th because teams that inevitably lost three points most weeks to the Ibrox side are now picking up victories instead. And look at how Celts have adapted to life without their greatest rivals. Thereâ??s no doubt most involved with the Parkhead club would prefer to be beating their old foes. But, when defeating the mighty Barcelona in the Champions League is the alternative, any thoughts of missing Rangers quickly disappear. Itâ??s not just on the pitch things have blossomed. Average attendances are up at almost 70 per cent of the SPL clubs â?? with only Celtic, Hearts, Motherwell and Kilmarnockâ??s gates dropping. Most are only up by a few hundred, with the exception of Dundee United, who have increased by 1,700, but the point is that the effect of the SPL without Gers is nowhere near as catastrophic as some people predicted. Even the current financial problems facing both Hearts and Dunfermline are not a direct result of the void left by Rangers â?? they are historic. In fact, they are actually down to the almost perpetual mismanagement of the clubs in our top flight â?? or the ones chasing the dream to get there â?? since it was formed back in 1998. From paying wages they couldnâ??t afford, to relying on revenue streams they were not guaranteed, the financial story of the league that was supposed to provide a land of riches has been an utter disaster. If you doubt me, just ask Rangers and their fans about that. Iâ??d go as far as to say the people who have run the SPL â?? namely the clubs themselves, along with a non-decision-making chief executive â?? have created all of the problems which are now facing so many of our clubs in the top flight. How many of them have suffered administration since that leagueâ??s formation? Contrast that to the way the SFL has evolved since they were cast onto the scrapheap back then and I know who I would rather have running the game. Donâ??t get me wrong, the clubs in the SFL are not awash with cash and there are still constant struggles on the horizon for them. But name me a company who is finding the current economic climate an easy environment to operate in? The SFL have got their house in order as best they can and continue to operate in a responsible, robust, resourceful and resilient manner. David Longmuir and his team have consistently delivered sponsors, media partners and quirky initiatives that engage their customers. And thatâ??s with a product plenty of folk outside of the SFL would have you believe is not even worth featuring in senior football. Imagine what they might be able to deliver with the top 12 clubs added to their portfolio of members. Itâ??s no longer about saying they couldnâ??t do any worse. Itâ??s now time to give them control and allow them to look after the fortunes of the group rather than a fraction of the collective strength. Allow the SFL to implement their new three-tier system and letâ??s all get behind their plans for extended play-offs and a pyramid structure. The SPL is clearly not fit for purpose and only those entrenched in their bunker choose not to admit that. Believe me, if they continue to run the game we really will face Armageddon. By then we might just need Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck to re-enact their movie roles to save the day. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/4648902/Armageddon-out-of-here.html#ixzz2CR9mWuJc 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real PapaBear 0 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 and once Celtic start to give a fuck about winning the SPL and put 4 or 5 past Hibs and Aberdeen then you can see the attendances fall like snow off a dyke 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,299 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Tell that to SKY (biggest finanincial contributor to scottish football) who have seen their viewing figures collapse in some cases for live SPL games. We'll see what they've got to say at the end of the season whether they remain or not. Also don't be fooled by SPL attendance figiures. Many clubs like St Mirren are going round giving free tickets to their SPL home games to local schools & boys clubs. Others like Hibs & Aberdeen have been giving at least one free u16 season ticket for each adult season ticket bought. Others will have done something similar no doubt So I wouldn't read too much into this. It is written by McKeowen after all. You know who he supports don't you? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,857 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Des McKeown has just lost his good job at the SFA, as an integral part of Levein's back-up team. Apparently, Des compiled all those multi-page dossiers that saw us batter Lichtenstein and err, that's it. Des fully subscribes to the Cosgroive, Spence, ............ Gordon et al consensus that Scottish football is in rude health and the downfall of Rangers is absolutely fcuking great. His latest piece in the Sun is just more flashing those well rehearsed credentials. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 He should have called his piece 'Two Fairytale's for Christmas' Emperor's new clothes. The SPL inspired short tale about two weavers who promise an Emperor a new suit of clothes that is invisible to those unfit for their positions, stupid, or incompetent. When the Emperor parades before his subjects in his new clothes, a child cries out, "But he isn't wearing anything at all!" SFL the Cinderella of Scottish Football. The heroine has a magical guardian who helps her triumph over her nasty family and receive her greatest wish by the end of the tale. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Can someone explain how we tell the difference between "competitive" and a sea of mediocrity? Add in a top team who know they are going to win at a canter as they have no real competition and so don't make the effort and you've got the SPL. Competitive or just crap? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 pS Just looked at the Premiership table - 23 points between top and bottom, must be really uncompetitive league... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 13 points between them now and celtc have a game in hand. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,299 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Were there SPL games on today ? never noticed 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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