SPL secretary to 'have a look' at whether league rules can be suspended

[barca72 440]

The last couple of posts attempted humour and therein lies the tragedy in our game. There is so much suspicion and acrimony involved at the moment that a person despairs of ever finding a solution with the present list of characters. We truly need someone of standing and character who is independent of the game but astute enough to understand the minutiae of detail required and still see the overall picture. I think, and I'm serious here, that we need someone like Henry Kissinger who is respected but detached, from the invested interests involved. Sack Doncaster and use his 200k, and we might get value for our money.

Edited April 18, 2013 by barca72
spelling

[craig 5,199]

The last couple of posts attempted humour and therein lies the tragedy in our game. There is so much suspicion and acrimony involved at the moment that a person despairs of ever finding a solution with the present list of characters. We truly need someone of standing and character who is independent of the game but astute enough to understand the minutiae of detail required and still see the overall picture. I think, and I'm serious here, that we need someone like Henry Kissinger who is respected but detached, from the invested interests involved. Sack Doncaster and use his 200k, and we might get value for our money.

 

Uh-oh..... Gribz will be on shortly to tell you of why you DONT want Kissinger....

[craig 5,199]

The statement from the SFL is 100% correct in my opinion.

 

Just WHAT would the SFA be mediating on ? Would they be trying to get the 12-12-18 pushed through by way of mediation ? Because, as things stand, that is the ONLY option on the table - so there is nothing to actually mediate as that is a flawed solution.

 

The SFL are doing the RIGHT thing, which is taking the five core principles and trying to find a solution which will, hopefully, result in an alternative which is palatable to ALL clubs but also to the fans.

[SteveC 150]

And why would Ross County and St Mirren vote to have the rules suspended?

 

Bribery, corruption, intimidation, thuggish bullying - the usual, in other words. It is way past the time when someone in real authority in the land stepped in and called a halt to what is happening to our game.

[SteveC 150]

The statement from the SFL is 100% correct in my opinion.

 

Just WHAT would the SFA be mediating on ? Would they be trying to get the 12-12-18 pushed through by way of mediation ? Because, as things stand, that is the ONLY option on the table - so there is nothing to actually mediate as that is a flawed solution.

 

The SFL are doing the RIGHT thing, which is taking the five core principles and trying to find a solution which will, hopefully, result in an alternative which is palatable to ALL clubs but also to the fans.

 

Well said, Craig. I was about to query their use of the word "mediate". It seems they don't understand it - bit like "integrity" really.

Edited April 18, 2013 by SteveC
typo

[ian1964 10,499]

League reconstruction rules could have created literally pointless games

 

 

 

The proposed league reconstruction rulebook that was blocked in Monday’s Scottish Premier League vote could have delivered scenarios where pointless games were played or teams had no motivation to win championship-deciding matches.

 

While the fallout from the Hampden meeting that saw St Mirren and Ross County has centred on the broader outlook for Scottish football, STV has studied the proposed rules and found that the new structure could have delivered a potentially embarrassing situation for the governing body of the new league.

 

After getting enough backing to progress with the restructure plan, a draft rulebook was drawn up which, if both the SPL and Scottish Football League had voted in favour, would have been the rules applied to set up next season’s new “Scottish professional Football League”.

 

STV obtained a copy of the draft rulebook and were told that the rules specific to the composition of the league would apply as written if given approval by SPL and SFL clubs.

 

The rules set out how the leagues would initially follow a 12-12-18 format before splitting into three groups of eight after 22 games. The top eight would play for the title and European places, the middle eight would contest promotion/relegation from the top flight and second tier, while the third group would decide who would be relegated to the third tier.

 

Under the proposal, points earned by teams in the middle eight in the first phase of the season would be reset to zero as they would have been earned in different leagues, starting every side on a level footing as they contested the promotion/relegation places.

 

The parties involved in drafting the plan said that the new format would deliver “more meaningful games” with most clubs having something to play for until the season end.

 

When the plans were floated, critics voiced concern that the 22-match cut-off point came at a time when games are regularly postponed in Scotland due to the weather. In this season’s SPL, the first teams to complete 22 games did so on January 2, with Ross County being the last to hit the 22-match mark on January 26, though there was a two-week break.

 

The proposed new rules sought to avert unnecessary delay with a rule specifying when the post-split matches could start.

 

Rule C14 stated: “The Play-Off Eight Competition shall take place after all of the Clubs in Divisions One and Two have each Played two fixtures, one home and one away against each of the other Clubs their respective Division (twenty two fixtures in total for each such Club) or where the Board have determined that any as yet not Played such fixtures in Division One and/or Two cannot change the Clubs which shall occupy positions 9 to 12 inclusive in Division One and positions 1 to 4 inclusive in Division Two after all of the Clubs shall have Played 22 such fixtures in any Season.”

 

Essentially, the rule states that if there is an outstanding match that won’t affect who is placed where in the top eight, or is in the middle eight, then that match can be played post-split.

 

This would avert a scenario where a fixture between two sides who could not move up or down the league based on a game in hand would hold up the fixtures for sixteen teams.

 

While addressing the problem where a postponement would delay the split, the rule creates hypothetical scenarios where sporting integrity could be called in to question and could theoretically create a “pointless” match.

 

Scenario one: One team may have no interest in a match that decides the championship title.

 

One side from the top eight and one from the bottom have an outstanding match to play. For argument’s sake, say Celtic’s match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie was postponed.

 

If Celtic are in first place in the league and Aberdeen are 12th when each has played 21 games, and all other top-flight teams have played 22, then C14 allows the split to take place. Aberdeen’s points are set to zero when they enter the middle eight in the second phase.

 

The re-arranged fixture is scheduled for midweek between post-split games. Aberdeen could have a crucial match the following Saturday against a relegation rival.

 

The game has to be played since Celtic are chasing the title. Aberdeen, however, would have nothing competitively to gain from the match as their points have already been reset to zero.

 

Aberdeen would be expected to play a full-strength side to maintain the integrity of the title race, while facing a match that could define their season just days later.

 

Scenario two: Sides in the middle eight play a game that is literally pointless.

 

Instead of Aberdeen, let’s say St Mirren and Dundee have an outstanding match to play. After 21 games Dundee can’t rise higher than 12th, St Mirren are locked into 11th place. Rule C14 says the split can take place and second phase games begin.

 

St Mirren and Dundee both have their points reset to zero and begin contesting the promotion/relegation places with six other sides.

 

The outstanding game would have to be rescheduled, presumably in midweek, possibly days before the teams face each other in their middle eight game.

 

The re-arranged game applies to the league before the split so would have no bearing on promotion/relegation and would carry no meaningful points as the points gained from the phase of the competition where it applies have already been wiped. Neither team would have a competitive reason to win the fixture.

 

The only scenario in which this game would have an impact is where the sides could not affect the league placing of others but could swap places in the first phase table, changing the prize money earned at that point. For example, the difference between 11th and 12th after 22 games is worth £86,000.

 

http://sport.stv.tv/blog/221942-league-reconstruction-rules-could-have-created-literally-pointless-games/

[Thinker 887]

Scenario one: One team may have no interest in a match that decides the championship title.

 

One side from the top eight and one from the bottom have an outstanding match to play. For argument’s sake, say Celtic’s match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie was postponed.

 

If Celtic are in first place in the league and Aberdeen are 12th when each has played 21 games, and all other top-flight teams have played 22, then C14 allows the split to take place. Aberdeen’s points are set to zero when they enter the middle eight in the second phase.

 

The re-arranged fixture is scheduled for midweek between post-split games. Aberdeen could have a crucial match the following Saturday against a relegation rival.

 

The game has to be played since Celtic are chasing the title. Aberdeen, however, would have nothing competitively to gain from the match as their points have already been reset to zero.

 

Aberdeen would be expected to play a full-strength side to maintain the integrity of the title race, while facing a match that could define their season just days later.

 

The resetting of points could have created meaningless games, but having pointless games postponed until after the split!!? That's fecking insanity! How anyone could ever have backed that is beyond me.

[craig 5,199]

Those rules are farcical. But we already knew that. Seems that only the Ross County and St Mirren Chairmen were prepared to stand up for SANITY.

 

The rest are trying to be rocket scientists for something which should be far simpler.

[Darthter 542]

After reading that.....I think its a godsend that it didn't get voted through....

 

Simply keeping track of games after the split & which league any points would apply do would be mind-boggling.

[Whosthedado 1,545]

The whole scenario was a complete and utter shambles. If they had asked the fans like they were so damn quick to do when it was the Rangers situation then the whole 12-12-18 would never have got off the ground