'Team 12' bollox in the SPL - just say Rangers and be damned

Unadulterated pish from beginning to end.

Never been any problems when they've been drawn away to a lower league side in the cup.

If the SPL directors feel the need for revenue outweighs upholding sporting integrity then many, myself included, will do walking away. It'll be the final nail in the coffin and I'll be watching a lot more Highland League football.

They should count themselves lucky that a new company can simply waltz into the Third Division. What about teams like Spartans, Huntly, Cove, the mighty Inverurie Locos or Gala who have previously applied - one of them should take the place in the League system vacated by Rangers 1872.

Get them tae ****.

There isn't another country in the world which would allow a club to stay in the top flight under these circumstances.

Rumour mill has been in overdrive about how the vote will go.

I can sadly see them getting away with it. As if our league isn't enough of a laughing stock.

If Celtic vote yes will the fans boycott the home games aswell?

http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport/football/rangers-takeover-how-spl-clubs-might-vote-on-newco-in-top-flight-1-2351524


How they might vote:



Horse-trading and hard thinking will determine whether SPL clubs will vote to accept a newco Rangers in the Scottish top flight.

If five clubs are against, they won’t. Many imponderables must be factored in, chief among these Sky’s attitude to honouring their £80m five-year deal, scheduled to begin this coming season, if Rangers are not in the SPL. Clubs could be willing to vote for the new Rangers, with sanctions attached, in return for them agreeing to change the current 11-1 voting structure on the distribution of centralised revenues. Here we look at the possible standpoints of the 11 clubs:

ABERDEEN

The Pittodrie support, through their Trust, have been among the most vociferous opponents of a Rangers newco that would betray a “**** system” in which there were clubs “too big too fail” and cause them to desert their club en masse. Their chairman, Stewart Milne, wants all this to go away. His club are £12m in debt, he is financing a £38m new stadium and would only say last month: “We will do what we believe is in the best interests of Aberdeen Football Club and Scottish football.”

How they might vote: Milne may be backed in to the ‘no’ corner by a support he cannot afford to lose.

CELTIC

They have deliberately said little beyond chief executive Peter Lawwell’s catch-all: “Our guiding principle is to do what is in the best interests of Celtic and our supporters, while upholding the interests and reputation of Scottish football.” The club that stands to lose most financially if there is no Rangers in the SPL, in any ideal world they wouldn’t want that but there would be a mass revolt among their support if they didn’t serve sporting integrity in the expected fashion.

How they might vote: A stick-on ‘no to newco’ because any other response would be commercial suicide.

DUNDEE UNITED

Owner Stephen Thompson has admitted to attitudes hardening over Rangers after they went to the civil courts. His mind seems to be being made up by a Tannadice faithful who are letting him know they will turn their back on the club if he favours a Rangers newco. “I was told that, at Motherwell at the end of last season, every turnstile had a poster above it saying ‘no to newco’. It was the same at Aberdeen. Fans are feeling very strongly about it. I have been sent hundreds of letters and emails on the subject. Some of them are from people who have been season-ticket holders for 30 years. I have made my mind up, which I won’t go public on. You have to listen to the fans as well but you have a responsibility to the club as well. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want them in. Don’t read too much in that.”

How they might vote: A probable ‘no’ but might be swayed with heavy sanctions for a newco Rangers.

HEARTS

On the line for around £600,000 in lost revenue if the TV deal takes a heavy hit with no Rangers in the SPL, money – including the £800,000 Rangers owe them for Lee Wallace – will dictate their attitude. Hence director Sergejus Fedotovas’ take: “Justice is very important but lessons learned are more valuable. Scottish football should not put all focus on the punishment.”

How they might vote: Certain to back a Rangers return.

HIBERNIAN

No-one has been more unequivocal about their rejection of a fiscal imperative to accept Rangers as a newco than Hibernian chairman Rod Petrie. “Fundamental to us at our club is to make sure the integrity of the game is not called into question and that the sporting integrity of the competition we take part in is maintained at the highest standards. It’s not a question of any sum of money in return for that integrity – integrity is beyond purchase. It’s important that all clubs can have a place within football, provided they have earned it in a sporting sense and also have abided by the rules. If we are called upon to make any decisions we will try to do the right thing and uphold the integrity of the competition that we are engaged in.”

How they might vote: A Rangers refusnik.

INVERNESS CT

Reacted angrily to Rangers’ Court of Session challenge to the SFA but won’t want any uncertainties over revenues when finances tight. Chairman Kenny Cameron said: “There is much still to discuss – but I hope this will bring certainty and closure to this issue. We just need to move on from this situation.”

How they might vote: Will want a Rangers in the SPL.

KILMARNOCK

There is no guesswork required to determine the intentions of club chairman Michael Johnston. “Members see the commercial benefits of having Rangers, even as a newco,” he said last month. “The clubs are mindful of a sporting integrity aspect, but the commercial benefits may outweigh that.”

How they might vote: Another certainty to accept any Rangers. Johnston has also cautioned against any further punishments for the club that plays out of Ibrox.

MOTHERWELL

Another club whose minds might be made up by their masses, the club’s proposed fan ownership model is dependent on listening to them. As they admitted in mealy-mouth fashion. “We do not believe we can separate the sporting integrity of our league from the sustainable future of our club – the two go hand-in-hand. Any decisions we take as a board are made in the best interests of the club with a view to achieving our stated aims for ownership and funding. [A newco proposal we would] fully discuss with representatives of our supporters’ groups, prior to making any decision.”

How they might vote: The rank and file seem to be pushing them reluctantly towards the ‘no’ camp.

ROSS COUNTY

The newest member of the 11, they are not financially dependent on the SPL, in whatever form it takes. Their chairman Roy MacGregor’s stance reflects that. “I will listen to the arguments. I will not prejudge. We are taking a calculated risk on our budget for next season and it was done before this situation. It will make no difference,” he said.

How they might vote: For their first season among the elite they could feel cheated if there was no Rangers. File under “don’t know”.

ST JOHNSTONE

Contradictory noises have come from chairman Steven Brown. Has said his club don’t need Rangers but that it would be a “disaster” if the brand was lost to the SPL. Then last week he stated: “I certainly will not let Rangers in without sanctions. The feeling from the people I’ve spoken to is they won’t let Rangers in with a ‘get out free card’.”

How they might vote: Will vote Rangers in with the right penalty tariff.

ST MIRREN

Another of the swaying brigade, chairman Stewart Gilmour has previously stated Scottish football needs “a strong Rangers and a strong Celtic” but lacerated the Ibrox club for their legal recourse beyond the game. St Mirren’s position will be determined by whether any newco vote is held before 4 July, when ownership of the club is set to transfer to a supporters’ group.

How they might vote: If the current board are still in place Rangers will be supported, if the fans group have taken over perhaps not.

HEARTS

On the line for around £600,000 in lost revenue if the TV deal takes a heavy hit with no Rangers in the SPL, money – including the £800,000 Rangers owe them for Lee Wallace – will dictate their attitude. Hence director Sergejus Fedotovas’ take: “Justice is very important but lessons learned are more valuable. Scottish football should not put all focus on the punishment.”


Money talks Jambo!

I can't imagine Vlad turning down the chance to stick it to Rangers.

Aberdeen and Hibs are definitely in the No camp - Milne knows that we'll be playing to crowds of about 25 if he votes them in. United have changed their position a few times but seem to be in the no camp now. Hopefully the wording of Motherwell's statement means a no vote as well.

Celtic is interesting - made the right "sporting integrity" noises, but if it's a secret ballot it wouldn't surprise me if they voted yes from a purely commercial standpoint.

Some have kept their powder dry on the issue - heard that Ross County might be in the yes camp though.

if they get kept in, then the benchmark has been set , no other team can be punted out of the league in future for goin into admin/liquidation. they simply have to go, long term it would be better for the smaller clubs , ALL clubs must bring through youth players , forget about the money.

Dunfermline don´t get a vote...do they get reinstated if rangers get kicked out?

Nope, it will be Dundee who come up. Dunfermline relegated fair and square and have accepted they're in Div 1 next season whatever happens.

The votes will be secret but they'll doubtless come out one way or the other.

Aberdeen fans saying the same re tickets - haven't got mine yet for the first time since '94. Troubling times

Airdrie are slightly different as the owner simply bought an existing club (Clydebank) and moved them to Airdrie.

There'd be uproar if Rangers did that this time around though

Being a rangers fan I would be happy to see them start fresh in the 3rd division. Least if we do it that way nobody can slate us for getting a free pass straight back in. Also be interesting to see how other clubs in spl handle the difference in revenues with out half the old firm

I think DBR that Rangers will earn a lot more respect that way - as long as the fans don't level some small town centres.

For the little clubs, it'd be a godsend having the cup final size crowds, and as long as the fans behave, be a good thing all round.

Yes the only losers will be the spl. Rangers clear the debt and the small clubs make a small fortune. Could actually raise the level of Scottish leagues with a bit more money down there. Plus would any tv company's broadcast some of rangers games

If they do end up in Div 3 I fully expect STV to launch 'Football Third' hosted by Jim Delahunt with Archie on commentary.

The SPL will be fine without them - no club is bigger than the game, something certain people should remember.

That's true milla but Dundee united for example said 29% of there turnover is from sky. So if sky pull that then how do they replace that. The league is not great at the moment

I ain't seen sky saying that either but football needs money so that's what will decide it in the end

When you think about it the money in football is mad. Say you had 1000 people each paying 20 quid, before ANY other costs , in some leagues that's still less than a weeks wages for 1 player. And approx what I'm losing a day in Euro 2012 :)

The league has been a joke for several years now - don't think anyone would say otherwise.

Considering how the Record and other Glasgow red-tops have reported this whole sorry mess, I don't think I'll get any reasonable balanced answers from there. If you post the whole link I'll have a look though