Reconstruction to fail?.

[Blade 38]

Another fact,as far as im aware Sellik could have wrapped up the SPHELL today,so the tv companys in their wisdom have our game tomorrow at Hampden live on tv,yet nowhere near the Breezeblock for their celebrations,says it all really.......digest that one Clyde,BBC Scotland etc,viewing figures do not disguise the bigwigs of the major tv company's......

Scottish football is a rotten and deteriorating product, made worse by Rangers' absence from the SPL. I can't see the attraction of it to TV companies even if the reconstruction were to be forced through. What difference is reconstruction really going to make to the product ? Crowds in the SPL are dwindling and Tv viewing figures are down this season. How is reconstruction going to improve the attractiveness of Scottish football to match going fans or arm chair fans ?

I haven't watched a single SPL game this season in the pub or even highlights on Sportscene. I've no interest in it without Rangers. I suspect that goes for the vast majority of people on here and our support generally.

The value of the Sky contract (if it actually exists) has to be a fraction of what it was when we were in the SPL. St Mirren and Ross County probably think their cut of the TV isn't worth selling out their principles over and they aren 't as desperate as other clubs for money.

[ritchieshearercaldow 22,137]

I'm not sure if I've understood you completely! Do you mean that Dundee and Dundee united and hearts and hibs become one team? I don't know about the Dundee teams but hearts and hibs? C'mon! That's like asking us to merge with the bheasts from the east! Their rivalry is similar to ours

Hearts and Hibs ? Not as daft as you may think, Wallace Mercer wanted to do exactly that and both clubs were much healthier than they are now

[sergio 1,199]

14 14 14 with 4 relegated 4 promoted each season. Scrap the shitty split, have 1 automatic promotion relegation and 3 playing off against each other. Restructure the payments so that relegation does not force insolvency, which would in turn stop clubs overspending. Have a pyramid system where the last team in Div 3 is relegated into a new regional setup that involves junior clubs and highland leagues.

All this sounds radical, it would cost money, but it would be a far better prospect for the Scottish Game as a whole.

12 12 18 is a load of pish, not one fan wants it.

[germanger74 8]

14 14 14 with 4 relegated 4 promoted each season. Scrap the shitty split, have 1 automatic promotion relegation and 3 playing off against each other. Restructure the payments so that relegation does not force insolvency, which would in turn stop clubs overspending. Have a pyramid system where the last team in Div 3 is relegated into a new regional setup that involves junior clubs and highland leagues.

All this sounds radical, it would cost money, but it would be a far better prospect for the Scottish Game as a whole.

12 12 18 is a load of pish, not one fan wants it.

I've always wondered how the relegation into the regional league would work. Would the team being relegated go into their regional league and the top from that league be promoted or would it be a vote on which team comes up from the regionals.

I am asking because if it is not a relegation/promotion from the same regional league, there could be an unbalance of where one regional league grows and another shrinks.

Apologies for the post being a bit ambiguous but hopefully you'll get my point.

[bigblueyonder 11,156]

Prepare for SPL/SFL1 collapse as Division 1 loses out on payoff.

Maybe missed where this was explained but was this in relation to payments under the new proposal or existing payments due?

If new why would it collapse due to not getting money they never had?

If existing can the SPL meet it's contractual commitments to the SFL? seems to me like they've been telt, no Rangers no deals..

This clears the way for the SFL to negotiate it's own tv deal.. at least a 2 year one while Rangers are in the SFL...likely longer as looks increasingly like the SPL won't be around much longer.

[Big Al 55 9,252]

Caution is the word, there is plenty of time still for them to be told how to vote.

[Big Al 55 9,252]

Anyway all it means is that it is more likely there will be an SPL2, by invitation only I suspect.

[simplythebest 11,453]

Anyway all it means is that it is more likely there will be an SPL2, by invitation only I suspect.

Not next season surely?

[Albertz 78 918]

By EWING GRAHAME

Published on Monday 8 April 2013 00:43

ANNAN Athletic chairman Henry McClelland believes that the court case started by former Celtic star Harry Hood’s pub business can bring down the SPL – and he fears that they could take the rest of Scottish football with them if reconstruction goes ahead.

Six years ago the SPL used a court order to prevent Hood’s Angels bar in Uddingston from using a Polish decoder to show live matches. The SPL had previously granted rights to Polish broadcasters Polstat to transmit their games in 2006 and 2007.

However, in a similar court case involving the Red, White and Blue bar in Portsmouth and Sky TV last year, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that banning the use of foreign decoders and smart cards was a restriction of competition.

In the light of that decision, Hood’s company, Lisini Pub Management, is suing the SPL for £1,761,749. Last month Lord Woolman of the Supreme Court dismissed the SPL’s attempt to have the claim refused.

“An EC citizen living in say Germany should not be prevented from obtaining a signal from Sky, BBC, RAI, Nova or Polsat,” he said. “In my view the ECJ has held that the object of such agreements is to restrict competition.”

The judge stated there will be another hearing to establish how this case progresses – but McClelland believes that this could be the first of many claims against the SPL from other bars who were prevented from using foreign decoders. And he reckons the potential cost to the top division could persuade enough Scottish League clubs to torpedo their plans for reconstruction when members vote on the issue at Hampden on 19 April.

“It can certainly reflect the way we vote, if we believe that there is sufficient risk,” he said. “Could this open the floodgates? That would open the door for someone to act on behalf of other pubs which have gone down the same route and they could bring the same litigation forward. It could bring the SPL down.

[TMB 14,167]

14 14 14 with 4 relegated 4 promoted each season. Scrap the shitty split, have 1 automatic promotion relegation and 3 playing off against each other. Restructure the payments so that relegation does not force insolvency, which would in turn stop clubs overspending. Have a pyramid system where the last team in Div 3 is relegated into a new regional setup that involves junior clubs and highland leagues.

All this sounds radical, it would cost money, but it would be a far better prospect for the Scottish Game as a whole.

12 12 18 is a load of pish, not one fan wants it.

People want bigger Leagues so 16-16-16. Bring Spartans in and one other to make up the numbers it can be done.

[jimgers 565]

I see in today's Hootsmon the SPL have been caught out trying to to stitch up the SFL, they are so desperate for the reconstruction to go through so the all SFL clubs will be liable for the £1mil legal Harry Hood claim should the SFL clubs fall for the con of reconstruction.

[bluenosebrad 452]

People want bigger Leagues so 16-16-16. Bring Spartans in and one other to make up the numbers it can be done.

The problem is the more teams you add the less money there is to share around

[simplythebest 11,453]

St Mirren statement:

Club Statement – League Reconstruction

April 8, 2013 By admin

After a very studied consideration of the Structure, Articles of Association, Rules and Shareholders Agreement, the Board of St Mirren Football Club have decided that they will be unable to support the motion at next Monday’s Meeting of SPL Clubs regarding this proposal for League Reconstruction.

This view has been taken after careful thought regarding this proposal including engagement with fans and the views of our coaching staff.

The principles of a new league structure, single league body and all through distribution model are part of many aspects of this we fully support, however the proposal as presented does not, in our view, move the game forward.

The concept of playing 22 games prior to breaking into three leagues of eight, including the middle eight losing their points gained in the first series of games, is not a system we see as taking the game forward in the long term. You will be aware that other countries have tried this system and have since rejected such a set up.

We also feel that this system is not fair to fans who buy into their club by way of a season ticket, who are then unsure of what they are purchasing. It is also against the basic wishes of the fans for larger leagues as highlighted in all recent fan surveys.

In the proposed rules the voting structure is remaining, in all items that are of importance, an 11-1 vote. In our opinion, this is fundamentally wrong in any structure and is the principle reason why Scottish League Football has not been able to restructure prior to this time, a view St Mirren have held for some time.

The restriction on any change for three years is also very much against our view. When engaging with any new rule book there will always be oversight and anomalies that need to be revised on an annual basis.

An area St Mirren are very uncomfortable with is the lock down on various financial rules. The credibility of Scottish Football has been tarnished badly in recent times by financial mismanagement and the time has come for strong financial rules to be in place.

Another concern to us is the hard line taken by some in certain areas, like season start date, home-grown talent, under-21 rules. This is not an exhaustive list, however we do think these items require negotiation for the betterment of Scottish Football in general.

We also do not accept that this is a take it or leave it situation. We do wish to keep working towards one organisation, an all through distribution model and getting closer to our supporters’ wishes of a larger league, while being fully aware of the commercial and financial pressures of operating a football club.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of St Mirren Football Club

http://www.saintmirren.net/pages/?p=22463

[Non_Sucumbi 876]

By EWING GRAHAME

Published on Monday 8 April 2013 00:43

ANNAN Athletic chairman Henry McClelland believes that the court case started by former Celtic star Harry Hood’s pub business can bring down the SPL – and he fears that they could take the rest of Scottish football with them if reconstruction goes ahead.

“It can certainly reflect the way we vote, if we believe that there is sufficient risk,” he said. “Could this open the floodgates? That would open the door for someone to act on behalf of other pubs which have gone down the same route and they could bring the same litigation forward. It could bring the SPL down.

hARRY hARRY

yer Kevin Barry

yer Lou Macari

yer Harry Hood.......

Left out the sweary word --- if Harry is instrumental in helping crush the SPL more power to him.

[markybear 136]

Anyway all it means is that it is more likely there will be an SPL2, by invitation only I suspect.

Sfl teams require to give a 2 yrs notice period to leave the sfl. If not each team that wants to resign from the sfl can ask for a vote. The vote requires 3/4 of all other sfl teams to agree that the team can leave.

Sfl could take any rebel/walkaway teams to court, the sfa could go as far as revoking the teams playing license for bringing the game into disrepute.

Not just as easy as accepting an spl2 invite

[Non_Sucumbi 876]

Sfl teams require to give a 2 yrs notice period to leave the sfl. If not each team that wants to resign from the sfl can ask for a vote. The vote requires 3/4 of all other sfl teams to agree that the team can leave.

Sfl could take any rebel/walkaway teams to court, the sfa could go as far as revoking the teams playing license for bringing the game into disrepute.

Not just as easy as accepting an spl2 invite

Minor point but it's 66% (two thirds) of clubs not 75%. See rule 12.

If 12-12-18 fails I envisage an SFL/SPL merger then the old rules are 'oot the windae'.

[sprotson11 147]

St Mirren statement:

Great statement

[TravelingWilBEARy 4,319]

That's that then. I can imagine other clubs agreeing with them.

[Chef 436]

Still won't spell the end foe Rhegan and gi duncaster, the untouchables. Nice to see what follows this as I believe many half truths and lies have been the norm

[IbroxBurnzy 484]

Great statement

Charles Green could learn from that

[sprotson11 147]

St Mirren are a club that would likely lose a lot if the 12-12-18 reconstruction went ahead as they are likely to be in the bottom 4 and therefore go into the middle 8.

It would be nice to see a team in the top end of the table, such as Motherwell or Inverness or Ross County to come out and say they are against reconstruction and the reasons why.

[Big Al 55 9,252]

Not next season surely?

I wouldn't like to think so, but you never know. They still maintain that after 19th April vote they would have enough time to amalgamate 2 bodies into 1, agree a whole new set of articles of association or whatever they are called and complete the reconstruction for the start of next season .

A no vote to reconstruction may actually simplify things from an SPL perspective. Although you would then have the issue of the clubs leaving the SFL having to give notice as per their rules. What other rules were they going to ignore though?

[scarkev 3,540]

I'm glad st mirren are listening to their fans and listen gilmour was a cunt to us last time with some of his comments but he listened to his fans and if nothing else at least the guy is consistent and is putting their concerns forward!

[Parlaneloyal 353]

So it looks like there will be no change next season.

[scarkev 3,540]

Lol the Tims are in conspiracy mode! Green was seen at st mirren game so gilmour must be working with "sevco"! Lets boycott them!

I know we love a boycott on here but usually that is as a direct result or affect to our club....Celtic fans want to boycott because they perceive this will help us! They really are a strange bunch!