Sobatai

Of course, if the SPL chairman had similarly taken the pragmatic approach, rather than bowing to the voice of their supporters as they bayed for "sporting integrity, the SPL might not be in the mess it finds itself. Now they risk losing the goodwill of their supporters, while I doubt it will cost Green too much goodwill among bluenoses if he accepts, particularly if he is able to drive a hard bargain. But what a collection of morons the SPL chairmen have proved to be.

More or less debt free ... depends on whether Sevco agrees to meet the "football debts" of the OldCo (and essentially those debts were balanced out by debts owed to Rangers by other "football interests").

They're essentially fucked, whatever way you look at it. They offered their fans "sporting integrity" and now look likely to try and circumvent in one way or another said "sporting integrity". If they back down now, they lose their own fans. What the fuck were they thinking? Crass stupidity. I blame the parents.

I have no opinion one way or the other on Green, although I think he has been unfairly excoriated by some (although he has largely received good, albeit guarded, support on this forum), but I wouldn't rush to give him any credit over this. He's done nothing other than let others tie themselves hopelessly in knots (he's doing much the same when it comes to the various people vying to muscle in on his Rangers action). It isn't genius on his part, just gross incompetence and stupidity on the part of others. It's a bit like the Jacobites, really ... all Cumberland had to do was wait long enough for the Bonnie Prince to fuck it up all on his own.

There's nothing wrong with the "buzz phrase", in fact, it's an entirely laudable concept. The problem for the SPL is that it's a concept that was recognised as having merit by the SFL and - even worse - it's a concept that the Rangers fans have, by an large, bought in to. And that has left Rangers and its fans holding the moral high ground. Nothing is more nauseating for those who hate Rangers than being placed in such a position.

The problem here is that they all wanted to jump on the bandwagon, until the bandwagon was so full that there was no room for subterfuge. At the start, when just a couple of chairmen came out and said they'd vote "sporting integrity" it wasn't a problem. Say one thing, vote another. But eventually so many appeased their fans by joining in the chorus that they sort of had to vote the way they said. Would have looked very strange with eight or nine saying they were voting against when the result revealed only two or three did.

The only surprise is that it is not more.

To be genuinely successful you sometimes have to make unpopular decisions. Mike Ashley has transformed Newcastle United since he stopped doing what he thought the fans wanted ... since he said bugger that, I'm going to run the club as a business the way I want to run it, the club has gone from strength to strength. Curiously, he's now genuinely more popular, or at least more tolerated, than he was when he was chasing his tail trying to be popular. William Waddell, one of the greatest names in the illustrious history of Rangers, had no problem whatsoever with telling fans exactly what he thought of them when their conduct fell below his exacting standards and he had no problem at all pulling down the antiquated Ibrox and rebuilding it with a predominance of seats. Not altogether popular with fans at the time, but several years down the line the rebuilt Ibrox was the springboard for a Rangers resurgence. Listening to fans is often a recipe for disaster.

No.

Bizarrely, of course, it now appears that there is an organisation worthy of the name in Scottish football governance ... the Scottish Football League emerges from this with nothing but credit for its conduct and decision making.

Oh well, no tainted title next season ... they'll probably all have a ten point deduction at some stage, unless Des digs deep at the Eastern Necropolis.

Bloody hell, has he got one of Arkan's mates coming over?

The problem is that now, if they have a another vote and invite Rangers back into the SPL they are likely to face a worse fan backlash that they ever faced ahead of the initial vote. The SPL clubs are in a no win situation entirely of their own making. Any which way you look at it they are fucked. And they've left Rangers holding all the aces. Cretins.

It's the brazen cowardice that appalls. He couldn't stand up to his own supporters and vote as his club's situation would dictate. He was not alone ... the rest of the SPL did likewise, including Lawwell at the Eastern Necropolis. They then relied on threats and intimidation against the SFL to mitigate the consequences of their cowardice and when the SFL showed courage and conviction beyond their own they are horrified. Shameful, utterly shameful. Now, Mr Gilmour, you are in a no win situation of your own making. Tough shit.

So, another of the "sporting integrity is only for the SPL" brigade? Why aren't the SFL allowed a bit of the "sporting integrity" cake? Don't they realise how utterly pitiful they look when they come out with this nonsense. You wanted to sacrifice Rangers on the altar of "sporting integrity" and that's exactly what you got. Don't gamble if you can't afford to lose and don't make decisions if you can't live with the consequences.

The Rangers fanbase is energised ... if things remain as they currently are (not that I necessarily think they will, as I still think pride - and sporting integrity - will be swallowed and Rangers will be invited back into the SPL) then it's not hard to see the Rangers fans backing their team as they journey through the divisions. On the other hand, getting twatted in Europe will have serious consequences for Celtic and winning titles against zero opposition will lose its appeal for the fanbase. In addition, of course, Celtic will be at the mercy of the "didddy clubs" when it comes to what little remains of shared revenues.

This chap at the SFL (CEO) seems to have some sense about him.

I don't go for all this "tit-for-tat" tainted titles stuff. Don't buy it with regard to any of Rangers' titles, or any of the other club's. The problem for Celtic is that without Rangers they cease to be relevant. Players won't be attracted to play for the club as the SPL declines and the fans will drift away, as will television monies, meaning their ability to compete in Europe is compromised and eventually they fall into the same trap as Rangers and possibly financial ruin.

He surely has to go ... clearly he is going to struggle to get the SFL clubs on board for any nefarious attempt to circumvent yesterday's vote and its consequences. Frankly, he ought to have the decency to go of his own accord. But decency seems in short supply at the SFA. I was chatting with someone I know who supports a "diddy" team and he was furious at the incompetence. In his world view, Regan and Doncaster have managed to cede the moral high ground to Rangers. And he's right.

I think there is still a way to go on this. The SPL clubs are now in the nightmare scenario as they seem very likely to be asked to vote again on Rangers in the SPL. And if they do so, then they lose all the goodwill of the fans. Even worse, they've lost what remained of any residue of goodwill that existed from Rangers' fans. The way I see it, they're pretty well fucked whatever way they jump.

This talk of a "slow lingering death" if Rangers are placed in Division III is just nonsense ... even with Rangers in the SPL Scottish football faces a slow lingering death the way things are. The fear for Regan and Doncaster is a speedy collapse with Rangers in Division III.

No. He's sure that he's not sure. Just like the SFA is sure that its not sure.

A pseudo-journalist for Channel 4.

Or maybe even "lie well" in it?

Who was the genius?