SFA chief Stewart Regan urges SPL & SFL clubs to 'seize the moment'.........

[ian1964 10,413]

and welcome league reconstruction

 

REGAN says the new 12-12-18 proposals are for the good of the game but he needs votes from both league bodies next week to bring them into action.

 

 

 

STEWART REGAN has urged SPL and SFL clubs to â??seize the momentâ? and ride the winds of change to spark a Scottish football revolution.

 

The SFA chief is awaiting the votes from both league bodies next week which will determine whether a new 12-12-18 reform is passed.

 

At this stage itâ??s still in the balance with St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour already revealing his club will vote against the plan.

 

That leaves the SPL needing the other 11 to say yes but Ross County are also reported to be unsure while the SFL appear split down the middle ahead of their big decision.

 

Regan, though, has told the doubters change is needed at a critical time for our game.

 

He said: â??There are so many

variables and itâ??s not perfect but the plans are the best weâ??ve had for a long time and weâ??re closer than ever. We need to seize the moment. Thereâ??s a wind of change and we should try to harness it and move forward.

 

â??If we donâ??t move forward then further stagnation happens.

 

â??The SFA have chaired, through the professional game board, a number of meetings of the two bodies. From time to time weâ??ve made good progress and then, like shifting sands, it has moved again.

 

EXCITING

 

â??Where we are right now is that weâ??re providing some financial due diligence to both sets of clubs through their respective league bodies to give a clear picture on the financial health of what a combined organisation would look like.

 

â??Once clubs have that information itâ??s then up to them to come up with a way forward. The Premier League will vote first on Monday.

 

â??Like you, we are aware of the speculation that two clubs are uncomfortable about it.

 

â??If they decide to vote positively then no doubt the Scottish League will move forward with their vote on April 19.

 

â??We have said from the outset that Scottish football is in need of urgent and radical change.

 

â??Why? Because we need a

competitive product which is not only exciting for fans but also tries to restore some balance in financial terms between clubs at the top and those further down the league, particularly in the First Division.

 

â??Weâ??ve worked on the premise that there are five principles we wanted to get in place. We wanted a single league body, a redistribution of finances, the introduction of

play-offs, parachute payments and a pyramid system to help ambitious clubs rise up through the game.

 

â??They very much remain en vogue and on our radar. But we donâ??t run league football and the clubs have to decide how they are structured.

 

â??If it doesnâ??t go ahead then it will be up to the two league bodies to decide what happens next.â?

 

Regan understands the stance of some clubs and admits they have a right to make choices to their own ends. St Mirren have been accused of self-interest but the SFA chief said: â??In 30 SFL and 12 SPL boardrooms there are different issues at stake.

 

â??On one hand you have clubs who are desperately in need of new income, particularly First Division teams who want to grow but donâ??t have the money.

 

â??There are clubs near to relegation and there are others who see this is as a way to protect the future. The option to carry on as we are, though, is rapidly disappearing. There is a recognition from the leagues and all the clubs that we need to change.

 

â??We have to work on the basis that thereâ??s a momentum building up for change. There are chairmen at clubs who have put money in and there are family businesses too.

 

â??Individuals running those clubs are concerned about their own financial futures and I can see that. Pumping millions into a club and keeping it propped up without any long-term vision is not a clever place to be.

 

â??What we have to do is bring parties together and we canâ??t agree on a perfect structure, one that will satisfy all 42 clubs.

 

â??But thereâ??s a recognition that one league body, better redistribution of money, a pyramid system, etc should now come in.

 

â??The top clubs have said they need stronger teams to compete against and thatâ??s a change.

 

LANDSCAPE

 

â??They are willing to give money up to make things better.

 

â??The big question is what does the detail look like and that is what we are struggling with.

 

â??There are strong opinions on this but my own view is that, if you look at the last 100 years, no structure stays forever. It always changes with the market and the landscape but itâ??s more likely with a single league structure, one board and one set of rules.

 

â??Trying to do it from the position weâ??re in now is really challenging.

 

â??There are so many stakeholders with so many agendas.

 

â??I do understand that, though, as this is these guysâ?? businesses.

 

â??Ultimately clubs will decide on what they feel they are getting out of the proposals.

 

â??What we have said â?? and the discussions at the professional game board back this up â?? is that there is a lot of progress towards our five principles.

 

â??Making that first step to base camp could be a positive one and the restructure might deliver some fantastic benefits.

 

â??Until itâ??s given the chance, we can only speculate.â?

 

Regan knows this latest plan could fall through but is adamant forward-thinking individuals will never give up trying to improve the product if it does.

 

Speaking at the SoccerEx European Football Forum, he refuted now-or-never talk by adding: â??The last few years have proved there are individuals keen to modernise and change.

 

â??I want to modernise and improve. League reconstruction is a key item of the McLeish report and one of the big-ticket items that has not been delivered.

 

â??Itâ??s important to me and I will work to keep it on the agenda.

 

â??If it doesnâ??t happen I donâ??t think it will go away. There is still a willingness to keep moving.

 

â??The proposal is one the leagues are keen to push forward and encourage everyone to go with them.

 

â??We have to help with information, support and resources to get clubs together. Weâ??ll carry on doing that.â?

 

Record

[der Berliner 3,245]

As Walter pointed out, changing the menue for the spectator does not change the quality of football. Using a convoluted plan will be of no help either.

 

There's only one reason why the SPL is on the warpath: they and theirs have not a year left to wait for reconstruction, as opposed to 98% of the SFL clubs. It borders to the pathetic that the papers don't mention this.

[bluebear54 0]

Nice to see the neutral SFA facilitating by bringing their thumbscrews along.

[ian1964 10,413]

Vote 'bullying' is about self interest, insists East Fife chair

 

Sid Collumbine, the East Fife chairman, has criticised what he has described as the "bullying" of Roy MacGregor during Scottish football's reconstruction debate but has backed his counterpart at Ross County to stay resolute.

 

The Dingwall club hold the fate of the 12-18-18 proposal in their hands after chairman Stewart Gilmour announced that St Mirren would be voting against the scheme. In the 11-1 voting system, another 'no' vote from MacGregor, who has fundamental concerns about the proposed mid-season split's effect on season ticket sales, would be enough to veto the reconstruction plans.

 

Supporters of the scheme have been canvassing hard, with Stephen Thompson, the Dundee United chairman, stating: "I feel strongly that Monday's meeting presents all of us with an opportunity for change that is simply too good to miss."

 

Collumbine believes that MacGregor will come under even more pressure to join the 'yes' camp in the coming days as the vote nears but insists that a "flawed" reconstruction is doomed to failure. "It is bullying, there is no question about that," said Collumbine. "But [Gilmour and MacGregor] are both honourable people and strong people and I would expect them to stick to their guns and listen to their supporters.

 

"I think reconstruction will be off the table by the time the SPL meeting ends on Monday. I am all for coming together, but not for rushing something through for the start of next season when there are many questions to be answered. You can't move the goalposts at this stage, it is unfair."

 

Collumbine is steadfast in his insistence that East Fife will not vote for the proposals, even if the plan scrapes through the Scottish Premier League vote and goes to the Scottish Football League for consideration next Friday. Having seen the finer details, he is adamant clubs in the second and third division will be cut adrift and is not surprised that, at the last SFL meeting, there was a 14-14 split among the member clubs.

 

"I keep hearing people say: 'This is not about ourselves, it is about looking after Scottish football," said Collumbine. "I beg to differ. A lot of clubs in the first division were against reconstruction until they saw the zeroes on the page. Just like the SPL, the clubs are all living above their means.

 

"Reconstruction might save one or two clubs up there, but they will discard the second and third division and that is a major flaw. Make no mistake, they are looking after themselves and this is a takeover rather than a merger."

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/vote-bullying-is-about-self-interest-insists-east-fife-chair.20763137

[foggy dewhurst 0]

regan is starting to sound like a man trying to hold onto his job

 

they listend to the fans last year all in the name of sporting integrity to demote rangers and impose all kinds of penalties so in their own fan poll the vast majority want a bigger premier league but will they listen to the fans will they heck .

 

and why do they want to bring in a system that drove the fans away in another country the mind boggles .

 

thats old foggies rant for today .

[Darthter 542]

Make no mistake, they are looking after themselves and this is a takeover rather than a merger.

 

Where's a nail & head smiley when you need one???

Edited April 11, 2013 by Darthter

[aftershock 0]

More and more chairmen coming out against it. Looks like as GA said in an earlier thread; the worm has indeed turned. Its a busted flush and the times up for those SPL clubs that are clinging on for dear life.

[ian1964 10,413]

More and more chairmen coming out against it. Looks like as GA said in an earlier thread; the worm has indeed turned. Its a busted flush and the times up for those SPL clubs that are clinging on for dear life.

 

Unfortunately it will take the SPL clubs to vote against it,if that happens then the SFL clubs won't need to vote. Let's hope Ross County join St Midden!

[RANGERRAB 3,258]

Their reconstruction is all about Rangers subsidising the leeches & parasites of Scottish football via TV deals & sponsorships and our supporters visiting their grounds for our away matches. It has to be stopped. CG must do all in his power to sabotage next season's SKY deal. Enough is enough. If they wanted us out the SPL then they cannot have us financing them. They are subsidy-junkies

[SteveC 150]

I notice Regan doesn't explain why they have to accept no moaning or complaining or changing for 3 years, why they have to accept everything his way (or his Master's) NOW. this minute, in the midst of a season....

 

Bassa. Hypocritical, lying bhassa