ian1964 10,513 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle3818959.ece 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wija 0 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Link isn't working mate... Just read it on BBC Sports page... A very reserved statement from Wattie but gets the point across crystal clear. Shows the class of the Man and the Club. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,513 Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Walter Smith yesterday lambasted both the Scottish Premier League and Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, over the rescheduling of the final league games of the season, which may force Rangers to play four games in eight days. While Smith criticised the SPL’s recent decision over the fixtures as “unfair”, he openly lampooned Lawwell for his much-quoted “sporting integrity” statement, in which the chief executive argued against extending the season in order to help Rangers to fulfil all their remaining matches. If Rangers do not reach the Uefa Cup final, the SPL has still decreed that no outstanding games should be played in the free week between May 18, when the Clydesdale Bank Premier League is due to finish, and May 24, the day of the Scottish Cup final. “Why could we not have played a game in that week? What the SPL has done, instead, is force us to play four games in a week,” Smith said yesterday. “Is it right to force a club to do that? I don’t think it is, regardless of which club it is. From Rangers’ point of view, the league have opted out of making a decision which would have helped a club which is helping to lift the profile of Scottish football [in the Uefa Cup]. Related Links SPL decisions could cost Smith his job Smith reveals his love for Italian football Smith finally daring to dream “We then have this ‘sporting integrity’ situation, which actually gave me a good laugh. Peter Lawwell seems to be the head of the sporting integrity committee — both its chairman and chief spokesman. Peter would be better coming out and saying he wants Rangers to have to play four games in a week because it suits his team and helps their quest to retain the championship — he should just be honest about it. “If it was the other way about, I would be hoping that Celtic had to play four games in a week, so fine. But Peter is as well being honest about it, instead of hiding behind what he is calling ‘sporting integrity’.” Smith appeared to hint heavily that he believed the SPL had been overly-influenced, if not simply manipulated, by Celtic in their revision of the fixture list. “What bothers me most is that the SPL have assented to every request that has been made by Celtic, especially these two [Old FIrm] games that we’ve had at the moment,” Smith added. “It is no coincidence that we are playing one of our biggest league games of the season when they had a fair idea that we would have two very important {Uefa Cup] semi-finals.” 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisabeer 409 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 quality statement about liewell! and hes spot on too! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankie 8,200 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Kick on Walter! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainstandbear 0 Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 yes well done Walter....it'l be interesting to see how liewell responds if at all and also as one of his fellow directors, eric riley is on the SPL board...doesnt that compromise 'sporting integrity'? the guy would obviously vote for whatever celtc want...and, as an aside, make sure any game where 9 of their players are booked is overlooked 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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