Yorkie Bear

I now live in England and the media coverage of the Rangers case is somewhat sketchy. Only now that we have been turned down by SPL is it more newsworthy. I see that Westminster Culture, Media and Sport committee are to investigate the state of Scottish Football. What has Holyrood been up to throughout this? I know that Salmond spoke on it early on, only to get slapped down by Celtic. Has he said anything since? Has the Minister for Sport, Shona Robison said anything? Has Sturgeon commented on the effect on her Govan constituents? Have there been any questions asked at Holyrood? I'm sure that had the same thing happened to a big English Club, the EPL and FA would be called to account by Westminster.

Sorry, now realised that he thinks Div1 is the only show in town because any lower Div would lead to meltdown.

Seems the SFA are now saying Reagan was misunderstood. He said "Fans are probably not au fait with the implications of Rangers in Division Three: we have a duty to share the facts because without Rangers, there is social unrest, there is a big problem for Scottish society. There has to be an understanding of how serious this is.’ He mentions Div3 and then immidately warns of social unrest. How can it be taken from this that he meant that social unrest could follow if Rangers went out of existence (what they are saying he meant". He has said that Div1 is "the only show in town" but does not explain why.

What choice do we really have? We have applied to the SFL for membership. It will be up to the SFL to agree or not and to state the conditions. If they agree to membership and put us in Div1 with sanctions, I would not think we can say "No thanks, we will have Div3 with no sanctions." It would seem that we can only say "Yes" or "no thanks" to what is offered. "No thanks" then leaves us without any league. I can't see Green wanting this so I cant see where Reagan is coming from. I cant believe he is putting pressure on SFL to tone down sanctions on Div1, so what is he up to?

The committee members are: Member Party Constituency email John Whittingdale MP (Chair) Conservative Maldon john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk Therese Coffey MP Conservative Suffolk Coastal therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk Damian Collins MP Conservative Folkestone and Hythe damian.collins.mp@parliament.uk Philip Davies MP Conservative Shipley daviesp@parliament.uk Paul Farrelly MP Labour Newcastle-under-Lyme paul.farrelly.mp@parliament.uk Louise Mensch MP Conservative Corby louise.mensch.mp@parliament.uk Steve Rotheram MP Labour Liverpool Walton steve.rotheram.mp@parliament.uk Adrian Sanders MP Liberal Democrat Torbay sandersa@parliament.uk Jim Sheridan MP Labour Paisley and Renfrewshire North sheridanj@parliament.uk Gerry Sutcliffe MP Labour Bradford South sutcliffeg@parliament.uk Tom Watson MP Labour West Bromwich East tom.watson.mp@parliament.uk

Followed by "I resign".

That's correct. We have applied to the SPL. Only if that fails can we apply to the SFL and they then decide what division to accept us into. The SFL are being asked to vote on "Will you accept Rangers into Div1 if the SPL reject them?" The SPL either want Rangers or they dont. It seems they dont want them but with conditions. Meanwhile the SFA looks on while the outside world looks at Scottish football and shakes it's head.

Maybe this is all a ruse to talk out our application and to say finally "Sorry, it's too late so come back next tear and try again"

It may be academic if SPL vote Yes after all, or will they defer their decision until next Friday!

But is the years notice only to withdraw from the present contract? If the contract stipulates old firm games, is it not null and void? I accept that Sky have said nothing about pulling out.

Yes they may be able to negotiate a deal but the SPL are not exactly in the driving seat. Sky will be able to get the contract for peanuts.

I think that if Rangers go to Div3, Sky will react.

The Record are reporting that a source at the heart of the secret talks between Green and SPL chairmen said: “It is not just Rangers who face oblivion. The entire future of Scottish football as we know it is at stake. This is the nature of the crisis with which we are now faced.” “The stark reality we are now facing is that if Rangers are relegated and SFL clubs then force them down into the Third Division, as has been suggested, the SPL’s remaining teams will face their own financial Armageddon. "As many as FIVE teams, possibly among them Motherwell, Dundee United and Kilmarnock could go to the wall and the beginning of the end could start as soon as August 6. “That’s the date every club receives a cheque for £645,000 which is the first tranche of next season’s TV money.” Without that cash some clubs won’t be able to pay wage bills and will then face financial meltdown. “By voting Rangers out of the SPL and forcing them into the Third Division clubs will be voting for their own demise. “Not only would the SPL clubs lose their TV revenues, the smaller clubs would lose the £2m drip feed they receive from the SPL. That represents a huge proportion of their revenues. So they too would be voting for oblivion.” As it’s from the Record, it may be made up but if true, some of those fans who delighted in saying “no” may only have 5 weeks left before facing meltdown.

The Record are reporting that a source at the heart of the secret talks between Green and SPL chairmen said: “It is not just Rangers who face oblivion. The entire future of Scottish football as we know it is at stake. This is the nature of the crisis with which we are now faced.” “The stark reality we are now facing is that if Rangers are relegated and SFL clubs then force them down into the Third Division, as has been suggested, the SPL’s remaining teams will face their own financial Armageddon. “As many as FIVE teams, possibly among them Motherwell, Dundee United and Kilmarnock could go to the wall and the beginning of the end could start as soon as August 6. “That’s the date every club receives a cheque for £645,000 which is the first tranche of next season’s TV money.” Without that cash some clubs won’t be able to pay wage bills and will then face financial meltdown. “By voting Rangers out of the SPL and forcing them into the Third Division clubs will be voting for their own demise. “Not only would the SPL clubs lose their TV revenues, the smaller clubs would lose the £2m drip feed they receive from the SPL. That represents a huge proportion of their revenues. So they too would be voting for oblivion.” This may all be made up but if true, those fans who have delighted in saying "No" may only have 5 weeks left before the meltdown occurs.

Not an easy choice. Any sanctions are unfair and we would then be held as a plaything of the SPL. However financially it would be the best option and so I can understand why Charles Green may favour this. Also, the fact that we faced them down and despite all their brave words, they buckled, not to mention their fans would be apoplectic. Div1 is the preferred option of the SPL and so many of us instinctively want nothing to do with this. However with no sanctions and no transfer ban it's probably acceptable to the Club. Likely that we could keep most of our players. Div3 is the choice to stuff the SPL and make them rue their vindictiveness. However the implications for our Club and all those who depend on it are frightening. I understand the view to stuff the SPL and watch them suffer. I fear what would be left when we get back there. If I had a gun to my head, I'd go for SPL with a points penalty. If there were any other penalties, I'd go for Div1. For those who want to stuff the SPL, I'd say that the best way to get at them is for us to be there on a level footing and win championships. They'd hate that. For the record I've voted SPL with sanctions.

That makes sense. They are maybe saying this as they see that the SPL are getting cold feet over the implications of Rangers in Div3. But why not come out and say so, if UEFA have the power to dictate this. If they dont have the power, but can make life pretty hard for those who oppose them, then the sorry state of the game is even worse than i first thought.

The SPL try to dictate to the SFL, even although they have no jurisdiction over them. If they don’t want Rangers then they turn down our application and let events take their course. They want their cake and eat it. The SFL accuse the SPL or being bullies and being corrupt. Meanwhile, the SFA, who should have the interest of the game paramount, rather than being the honest broker declares that we cannot enter the SPL. When the governing body is not up to scratch, who ensures it is acting in the interests of the game? The Scottish government? UEFA? Who? Scottish football is tearing itself apart yet the SFA is incapable of holding it together. What is to be done?

I hear the SPL have stolen the keys and are starving them into submission, so it might depend on how good a breakfast they had.

With talk of SPL with draconian sanctions, to make sure we dont win a championship for at least 3 years, and how UEFA get uppity if a team challenges it own association in the courts, whatever happened to natural justice. How can UEFA sit back and let us be punished by a vindictive association. Can UEFA step in and overrule a domestic association?

First you say you want sweetcorn then you want peas. Make your mind up!

The SPL will not allow us to win any titles while the european ban is in place. This would make them look stupid. So expect sanctions, be it demotion to lower divisions and/or points penalties and/or tarnsfer ban.

Does this mean that all those Hearts fans that were queueing up to buy season tickets will get a refund?

Some level headed debate here. Differences of opinion but no abuse. Just what we expect from Rangers people. I believe that the SPL's worst fear is that Rangers are kept in and win the league. This thought has driven all else and the easy way out is to kick us out of the SPL. It is dawning on some people that this would be financially risky, to say the least, for the other SPL teams. Dictating to SPL1 teams that they accept us while the SPL reject us is being seen for what it is - SPL arrogance. If it looks like the SPL will not accept this, dont be surprised in we are kept in the SPL with punitive sanctions (to make sure we're crippled). That way, Sky are happy and the money is kept in the SPL. SPL teams will swallow it as the sanction will ensure that we cant win the league. It's still risky for the SPL because if a points deduction is the only way to stop us it makes them look ridiculous and taints titles. So as well as points, there needs to be a way to weaken us further. They tried the transfer ban and that backfired. Do they have a Plan B? The outcome of this week's meetings will be interesting.