We haven’t mentioned the ranch for a few days, largely becaue there’s been nothing to say.
And they’re all rather subdued again today, as they savour the news that the club des not expect to be playing home games in front of supporters until season 21/22.
Thats a bit of a bombshell, and it will have serious repercussions on club finances. Although one school of thought would suggest selling a player or two to balance the books, a player can only be sold if another club has the money to buy him, and if Celtic, one of the more astutley ran clubs financially is going to struggle, then what can be said about those who perhaps are not so well off ?
Not having gate revenues is a massive issue for Scottish clubs, as the television deals and sponsorship deals have not been used to their full potential, the collapsed deal with Setanta has made negotiators a little afraid to risk losing any deal that is put on the table, but as the world changes then perhaps a little more initiative is required and all ideas from all sources need to be looked at, or we may not have a league to play in.
Still, there is a little bit of light amongst the gloom, “rangers ” have no chance of surviving this crisis under those circumstances, and their eradication can only add to the freshness of the air now that there’s hardly any cars about.
Even in a big city, it’ll feel like living in the countryside.
This news perhaps goes some way to explain the panic at ibrox, and the demand for heads to roll at the SPFL/SFA cabal, and though any investigation into that lot, as long as it covers the last decade or so would be welcome, it’s maybe time for all concerned to put their cards on the table and tell it like it is.
Any more behind closed doors deals are unacceptable, and if clubs need hep they should so why, and be completely transparent about it.
The brave new post coronavirus world needs to start afresh, not pick up where it left off.
The news also puts doubt around season book sales for next term, although with Partick now offering partial refunds for this seasons books, there is little doubt that the board of Celtic will be watched closely when they make their next announcement.
The news about no crowds for over a year means that income has to be sourced from elsewhere, and that could mean they will have to earn their stipends.
Even streaming behind closed doors games presents a massive problem, though with the news that Germany intends to play out the rest of their season in this way from May 9 offers encouragement, but there will be restrictions involved…. as it stands at the moment, 322 people will be allowed in the stadia, but the whole story seems mired more in hope than expectation, with Angela Merkel due to meet representatives from all sixteen German states to discuss the matter.
Germany is doing better than most countries in dealing with Covid 19, but if you look closely you’ll note that there are no major outbreaks in the big metropolitan areas, and with the high communicability of this disease, Merkel will be unwilling to risk such an event..
The problem with behind closed doors is that if one player tests positive prior to the match then everyone in that team is put into isolation, leaving them unable to fulfill fixtures, and thus everything ends up back where it started.
And can we really expect fans to stay away from important matches, even if they are not allowed in ?
Should, as expected, Celtic be awarded the title in the coming days, the club will ask fans not to congregate near the ground. The thing is, fans will congregate somewhere, even if they do stay two metres apart. It’s going to be difficult to police, and don’t be surprised if the SPFL announce the conclusion of the season when no one is looking.
The UEFA meeting yesterday more or less handed the initiative to the SPFL to decide how to end the season, and they will have government backing when they ask for it.
The relevant part of their statement said….
The UEFA Executive Committee met today via videoconference. It received updates on the Working Groups established in partnership with the European Club Association (ECA), European Leagues (EL) and FIFPRO Europe. Of the two scenarios being examined by the Calendar Working Group, both envisage domestic football starting before UEFA club competitions, with one seeking to run the competitions in parallel and the other to complete domestic matches before re-starting UEFA matches in August.
The Committee heard of the work of the newly-established Medical sub group, chaired by Professor Tim Meyer, examining the health issues surrounding a return to football, which is working alongside the ECA and EL to link the work already being done by leagues and clubs to produce a set of guidelines which will align with the best health protocols available. The Committee valued the unity shown across European football and the emphasis being placed on prioritising health in trying to establish a path to football’s return.
As a result of representations made by the football authorities in Belgium and Scotland, the Committee recognises the issues raised and approved the Guidelines on eligibility principles for 2020/21 UEFA club competitions. The Guidelines reflect the principle that admission to UEFA club competitions is always based on sporting merit.
Therefore, UEFA urges National Associations and Leagues to explore all possible options to play all top domestic competitions giving access to UEFA club competitions to their natural conclusion. However, UEFA stresses that the health of players, spectators and all those involved in football as well as the public at large must remain the primary concern at this time.
The ideal scenario, should the pandemic situation permit it, is to have the currently suspended domestic competitions completed enabling football clubs to qualify for UEFA club competitions on sporting merit in their original format. Should this outcome not be possible, in particular due to calendar issues, it would be preferable that suspended domestic competitions would restart with a different format in a manner which would still facilitate clubs to qualify on sporting merit.
While using best efforts to complete the domestic competitions, National Associations and/or Leagues might have legitimate reasons to prematurely terminate their domestic competitions, in particular in the following cases:
• existence of an official order prohibiting sports events so that the domestic competitions cannot be completed before a date that would make it possible to complete the current season in good time before the next season to start.
• insurmountable economic problems which make finishing the season impossible because it would put at risk the long-term financial stability of the domestic competition and/or clubs.
If a domestic competition is prematurely terminated for legitimate reasons in accordance with the above conditions, UEFA would require the National Association concerned to select clubs for the UEFA club competitions 2020/21 based on sporting merit in the 2019/20 domestic competitions:
• the procedure for selecting clubs should be based on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory principles. National Associations and Leagues, should otherwise have the ability to decide the final positions in their domestic competitions, having regard to the specific circumstances of each competition;
• the final determination of eligible places for the UEFA club competitions should be confirmed by the relevant competent bodies at domestic level.
UEFA reserves the right to refuse or evaluate the admission to any club proposed by a National Association from a prematurely terminated domestic competition in particular where:
• the domestic competitions have not been prematurely terminated based on the reasons given in these UEFA guidelines or on the basis of any other legitimate public health reasons;
• the clubs were selected pursuant to a procedure which was not objective, transparent and non-discriminatory so that the selected clubs could not be considered as having been qualified on sporting merit;
• there is a public perception of unfairness in the qualification of the club.
The last two make me think that the media driven narrative about the SPFL misgovernance were the foundtions for a complaint by plucky, cash strapped newcomers “rangers ”
A third line of attack for them may well have come from the Scottish Junior set up…..
From the BBC…
How would you feel about your team winning the title when they’re in third place, 12 points off the top and having played barely half of their league games?
That’s exactly what has happened to Scottish junior club Auchinleck Talbot, who have been crowned champions of the West Region Premiership.
Why? Well because the Scottish Junior Football Association have ended the league season early on a points-per-game basis with all football in Scotland suspended until at least 10 June because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Talbot had earned 41 points to Kilwinning Rangers’ 53, but had no fewer than nine games in hand on their Ayrshire rivals, who had played 25 of their 30 league games. Glasgow side Pollok were second on 42 points from 22 games.
But based on a formula looking at points per game average for home and away fixtures, Talbot finish as league winners.
Talbot’s reward is that they get to compete in the Scottish Cup, a competition in which they reached the last 16 in 2019 after beating Championship side Ayr United.
A statement from the West Junior FA committee said: “We believe we must recognise each club that would have likely gone on to win their respective league titles. Success needs to be recognised even if factors are part of the deciding process.”
It has proved a controversial move, especially as it is the last title of its kind, with 63 junior clubs moving to a new West of Scotland League for next season, which allows them to go for promotion towards the SPFL.
What a way to go out.
Cue the less stable of the staunch society claiming that Celtic’s thriteen point lead is irrelevant, and demands for some sort of play off between the two sides.
If that took place then all positions in the league would need to be played off for, starting with a match between the bottom two to see who gets relegated, so expect Hearts to grasp at this straw as well.
But that brings us back to the original problems concerning closed door matches, and if Germany does decide to resume it’s season, the narrative for a similar ending in Scotland will be cranked up a notch.
Of course, the Junior title has been decided on average points from games played, which doesn;t suit the narrative at all for “rangers ” to claim the Senior title, but it will fuel their arguments of unfairness in the public perception, as we will see when the laptop loyal take up the challenge, and that means the argument could rumble into if not the courts, then certainly the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who must be sick of letters from Scotland by now.
Although it is the way of those who are involved in whatever way at Ibrox, this is not a time for conflict.
If Scottish football is to move forward and recover from this curent crisis, everyone needs to work together for a common cause, and above all it needs to be transparent.
There is a chance that we can come out of this with a game to enjoy again, but not if thise involved in the Resolution 12 fiasco of 2011 are allowed a say in how things are done.
Yesterday, we showed you this for your consideration…
Caption: Pizza Express, Woking.
Persistence beats resistance
“Football without fans is nothing”- Jock Stein.
The revenue stream from the fans is the life blood of any club. They pay for players wages, directors salaries and bonus’s, they pay for those that police the game, they build the stadium’s of all clubs.
They, are the club.
Sponsors help in bringing money into the game, but they do so for a reason and that reason is, selling to the fans. So I say this: Its about time that the boardrooms of Scottish football clubs and those that erm. govern Scottish football recognise that and do more to earn their hefty salaries.
For me, the clubs directors and those that govern football should wake up to the fact that the supporters are the lifeblood of football and listen to their voices more. We are not cash cows, just individuals who have an emotional attachment to our clubs. Openness and transparency have been lost to those who have only their own interest at heart, its time to change and what better time to change than now…
Scottish Football is in a worse position than most other countries, as 43% of its income is derived from matchday income.
In the Big 5 Leagues this can be down to as little as 10% and even comparable countries to ours are significantly less.
To not have that income again until the 2021-2022 season, is likely to be intolerable for a lot of clubs, even if Behind Closed Doors (BCD) games could be made to work.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I can only see the biggest clubs in the big leagues getting stronger, as the main broadcasters put money their way and are allowed to subvert regulatory and national requirements.
Yes, thats true and it illustrates just how much the Big 5 leagues are dependant on TV. monies, remove it for whatever reason and most would go out of business very quickly.
Someone suggested that here in Scotland around six premier league clubs could go out of business. It also illustrates how much the bigot pound subsidises our top flight. But supporters have that emotional attachment that keeps them pocket dipping.
The Big 5 leagues and the TV. companies rely so much on one another, thats when greed kicks the can of honesty down the road and into the dusty bin. So, we should be better off on sporting integrity, unfortunately thats where the Huns holds us back and results in honesty here in Scotland being binned. Catch 22, them and their cheating and dishonesty and them and their dosh.
Yes, that is true. We have a catch 22, the cheating and the dishonest Huns. And Scottish football relying on the bigot pound and the bad effect that they bring to sporting integrity and to life, generally.
Its been said that 6 off the top flight clubs might go out of business.
The Big 5 clubs are embedded with TV. rights, they feed off one another, remove the TV. monies and you remove most of their income. But you read of the amount in transfer fees and in player wages and know that its never going to be sustainable without TV. money.
Caption: Why are we watering these if it’s raining?
Never mind that who let Tutanfukenkhamun in?
That’s no tutankhamun, that’s the taxi driver Toot n come oot.
Caption………
A few gallons of Dettol, yep, that’ll do the trick.
Aye. I’ve just injected myself with Dettol.
After all The POTUS has advised it and the millions who voted for him can’t be wrong can they?
Zip Bang Spillip Spaff!
I hope his supporters are currently writhing in agony.
Trump is a fucking moron & someone should ask him if he’ll take the lead & drink or inject disinfectant first.
May i suggest a gallon?
(*)
Cellic Bang!
With social distancing set to be in place for the rest of 2020 there can be no football matches played.
You cannot segragate squads of players, coaches and ground staff, and all their families to allow them to be in some kind of quarantined state from everyone else, just to allow them to play in a contact sport, that’s just the first team squad.
A first team squad needs a youth set-up, to be called on when a first team squad player is injured, contracts COVID-19 or worse.
Each club has responsibility for the well-being, health and safety of their staff and players and cannot ignore medical advice, putting all of this at risk.
If football was to resume and one player subsequently died from COVID-19 after, who’ll be responsible?
There will be no football in 2020 in Scotland.
For football to resume there needs to be a lifting of all measures being taken throughout the country. So until all of the following happen, don’t expect football:
1. The number of COVID-19 deaths sustainably fall to zero,
2. The numbers infected by COVID-19 sustainably fall to zero,
3. both 1. and 2. are confirmed by mass testing, and
4. there is a coronavirus vaccine.
Can I recommend for your listening pleasure the REM album Fables of The Reconstruction.
Any proposal to reconstruct Scottish football now is just sending the daft laddie (or lady in this case) for a long stand. Scottish football will have to reconstruct, but only when we get through this and see which teams are left standing.
The seasons over, only a matter of days before the 9 is confirmed!
Ooh Aah!
There are thoughts and plans of how BCD games can be made to work.
Ralph mentions some above and the article on the Beeb about the ‘resumption’ of the Bundesliga goes into more details.
Clearly social distancing will not be possible for players so other measures need to be put in place to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.
Although this will involve regular testing, I can only envisage that they will need to be some form of shielding, as the effort and expense of setting this up needs all the games to be completed and not called off due to infected players.
As far as I can see, only the biggest of leagues, with major broadcast/sponsor support can do this at this time.
Caption…….New Ibrox park unveiled as the Chinese investment finally arrives!
Caption; In a final, desperate attempt to stave off liquidation, rangers* have planted the magic beans which they received as part of the £7M Ryan Kent deal.
This exercise that was held in 2016 needs to be looked at in further detail.
What i’m gathering from what i’ve read ( not in Commando or Bravo two zero ) is the government were warned they were unprepared for this Pandemic, NHS,beds,PPE etc.
If that is the case then the tories have some major fucking questions to answer.
Just a wee side point while i’m talking about tories, i’d love to have met that cunt Hancock on a football field….go on just knock the ball that wee bit too much in front of you ya wee prick…
BOOM tory missile in the sky!
That guy’s like a racing snake compared to M.
Winner
Guy at Morrisons looked in my trolley this morning & asked if plants were an essential shop?
I told him i was a herbivore.
Some prick asked me the same about the stash of booze in my trolley. I pointed out that the hospitals were busy enough without arseholes admitting themselves with self-inflicted wounds.
Aye right. If bet if you went back into the shop, the guy will still be rolling on the floor pishin himself.
🙂
🙂
dont you mean
hervi-bore
It never rains but it pours.
caption jeest ooty picture donald sais a dont give a fook if its rainin disenfect anything that moves
before any wido sais trees dont move they dae when the wind blows thum he he
These times are desperate and aren’t helped by the desperadoes of the Sooside and Sheep bothering areas advocating playing games behind closed doors during the summer,defying official government guidelines regarding social distancing etc.Sturgeon and the SPFL should send these clubs a rather strongly worded e-mail telling them to dry their eyes,shut their mouths and do one.Then publish it to the Internet and msm and inform UEFA that we have severe problems in the UK,just in case they still haven’t heard.Ghod help Us……how delusional are the Huns? Even when their team were supposedly fit,they were in freefall,how bad would they be during the summer? Stay Safe Tims.
Caption: The Huns pour Holy Water from Green cans onto their magic money tree that lets them still make announcements stating they are “interested ” in buying players for millions and more millions….
Caption
Is she with you?
Caption : 1st bloke : “You’re sure he’s under there?”
2nd bloke “Yup, I’m sure”.
caption the onion bears say if sal mc moist canny get oan the jungle show weel lant wur ain fookin jungle
Like to put out a big shour for the Moray Emerald Celtic Supporter’s Club, who have raised and presented £1100 to the Moray Foodbank in Elgin!!
FANTASTIC
shout!!
YYEEEEAAAAASSS. Well done the Moray Emerald- CSC.
Well done by the bouys in Moray
Caption: “You see, this watering works. When I remove the umbrella, the tree grows from my head.”
Caption…….
In the grounds of the White House, presidential aides prepare the POTUS suppository.
Hello again Christina. Sorry my idea didn’t work – it did on my phone but maybe it’s different for tablets and laptops (I’m not very tech savvy). I’m mystified as to why you can’t get on via Google as Parsley suggests but keep trying as we need some brains over there. Meanwhile, we’ll just have to carry on our affair in front of all these ne’er do wells on etims!
caption
guy at barras sells sevco a “money tree”
park and co believe that by watering it more the money will appear faster, in time for next red letter from close bros
CAPTION.
Hirohiti performs ceremony to honour the surviving soldiers of the war who live under this bonsai tree and refuse to accept that the war is over.
Caption …
The magic money tree , needs magic water ,not the usual rainy water ,as Shirley the temple gives her blessing …
Caption:
“Jerry-can water fir tree”
“Four little Pokemon piss artists go a bit over he top.”
H H
Caption: Are you kidding me! POTUS reads on Twitter that Fairy taken up the ass is a coronavirus cure and now we’re growing Christmas trees? I used to be special forces what do I know about taking it up the ass? And who let Tutanfukinkhamun in?
I’m sure the Germans won’t have thought of that. 😉
You’ve started on the buckie n’ bleach early.
Your heid must be baking in the bacofoil in this heat.
Hi, If we do start playing games behind closed doors, Then live streaming the games is the best way. pay per game or season books could be offered as well. It would help keep people entertained and away from the grounds on match days. Smaller sized gatherings will hopefully be allowed by that time, so watching it in groups at home or pub should be good. It’s not the same, but better than nothing. As for player safety, they could be isolated as a team with their families, which would include homeschooling, etc.
caption: Hearts and Sevco get desperate and try the money tree beans GASL sold them before he left.
OK the weather is amazing but there’s harmful rays everywhere
&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stearns.org%2Ffun%2Fafdb%2Fafdb.html&tbnid=ZWAfhoC8C5bwzM&vet=1&docid=OlsI0O8TTLSQLM&w=140&h=180&itg=1&q=sunbathing%20with%20tin%20foil&hl=en-GB&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim
Watering plants in the rain… I have nutty neighbours like that
This weather, its like being on holiday, but then hearing that your beloved granny has passed away while you are on your hols. Covid 19. The silent killer. But then, Trump, the only good thing is the elections in November. Covid 19, it might kill of his chances of a second term, we can but pray.
I feel sorry for the decent Americans, but strategically they seem to be outnumbered by utter utter morons.
…… bit like here.
Been to America a couple of times, the people that I met were lovely, honest and hard working. They would be mortified about Trump. But I also witnessed more racial intolerance. There is never black and white (no pun intended) with every country. I’d rather live in a democracy and believe in the peoples right to make their choices, than anything else. Yes, try to persuade the people to your choice, but not to insult them or their choices, that is my choice. Unless of course they are Huns, they deserve our ridicule.
Remember the Yanks’reaction to the Iraqi elections way back Mike? They were apoplectic. Pretty much along the lines of “We spent billions giving these ingrates democracy and the bastards think they can just vote in whoever they like!?!?!”
Stevie, There is far too little space on here for me to put my feelings down about the poor people of Iraqi and how they were treated. That’s why I never discuss politics on here. So to reduce my B.P. I’m going to STFU.
Fair play mate
Caption,
Douglas Park to his son Graeme, “no point in watering it son we won’t get another penny out of that tree, it’s done”
Caption and song :
There stands a tree of Liberty
So plainly to be seen
All nicely decorated all over with the green
And on the top a royal top we will plant a rose to see
For theres none can wear the colours like the fenian bhoys are we.
I dont know why you orange men despise the colour Green
For I think it is the finest colour my eyes have ever seen
Fuck your loyal blue and your purple too they
will die and fade away
And the green will flourish overall,
when your beneath the clay.
They took our Holy water and they beat it on the ground
They’ll die like devils Angel’s when the day of judgement comes
They’ll ask us for a drop of it to quell their orange tongues
But the Lord will say upon that day you’ll suffer for what you’ve done.
I wish I was in Ireland a kneeling on the grass
And in my hand a prayer book around my neck a cross
I’ll kneel before the Altar my Saviour to adore
And I’ll die a Roman Catholic like Queen Mary died before.
An old school bus anthem
Would Celtic fans across the globe pay a monthly donation of say £25 per month to our club.
This would make sure our club can pay all our under valued staff behind the scenes as well as ensuring we are in a healthy position to be ready for 10.
Only a thought.
I’m up for that.
We will need the cash when football finally does commence
Stay at Home is the message. So who are the 15000 people flying in or out of the UK daily ?
No tests on anyone arriving in the UK by air.
Doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Fir it’s a grand old tree to water.
Caption: The Chinese delegation are here to see the sevco money tree , quick use the Trump disinfectant.
Caption
Whilst the publication of Sevco The Rangers* interim accounts remain long, long overdue the mysterious Far East investors turn up to save the day. By planting a money tree. The Gullabillies immediately form a queue to buy season tickets………….
Club 2012 however is tempted to ban green watering cans for being quote, a bit feniany.
CAPTION
Post Liquidation.
Douglas Parks prefers Norwegian spruce trees, as opposed to Charles Green’s planned potato field.