SPFL Shambles

[SteveEarle 9,774]

Tom English returns! From the BBC site just now;

And so the battleground changes, from chairmen on Zoom to QCs in court, from indicative votes and extraordinary general meetings to the competition and markets authority and the SPFL articles of association. What joy. Isn't this the type of crack that made you fall in love with football in the first place?

Skin and hair has flown between club leaders these past months but they can all step aside now and let the legal profession take it from here. The recent history of the game is littered with examples of indignant clubs threatening court over one thing or another only to back away when they got a whiff of the cost, but this time seems different. In their bid to right the wrong of relegation from the Premiership - or expulsion - Hearts would appear ready to go the distance.

One of three things will happen now. Hearts will change their mind and accept their lot after the SPFL's proposal for an expanded top flight was rejected by clubs. Two, Hearts will lose a legal action and will have no choice but to retreat. Or, Hearts will win a legal action and a new kind of football hell will break loose. Success in court could mean the end of Neil Doncaster as chief executive of the SPFL for surely no leader would survive such a defeat. What it would mean for Hearts - compensation, reinstatement - is really hard to say. The silks are running the show now.

What we had on Monday was 26 of the 42 clubs who couldn't bring themselves to back a plan that would have spared three of their own members no end of misery, a plan that every last one of them would have supported had they been the one cast into the dismal plight of enforced relegation.

Instead, they danced on the head of a pin for weeks, incapable of finding agreement on the number of clubs they wanted in each division or how many divisions or whether these divisions should be temporary or permanent. To paraphrase a line from Blackadder, in all of those discussions they made about as much progress as an asthmatic ant carrying some heavy shopping.

In Tuesday's endgame they didn't even get close to a consensus. All of them said they had sympathy for the three clubs but if they did they had a strange way of showing it. Few, if any, of them thought it was fair that the three should suffer such a blow, but only a small number acted on those beliefs. The rest just declared the problem unsolvable and pulled the ladder up.

Because Hearts are the biggest of the three clubs facing relegation, most of the attention has been on them. That suits the other clubs who have voted against reconstruction. They want the argument focusing on Hearts and not Partick Thistle or Stranraer because it's easier to kick Hearts than it is Thistle, it's more convenient to bang on about Ann Budge - a misogynistic tone to some of it - and to mock Hearts' financial wastefulness and their awful decision-making than it is to confront the steepling injustice that is Thistle's situation.

That's a lot harder to face up to if you're one of the clubs who has done them in. So nobody really wants to spend much time talking about Thistle because it's uncomfortable. Maybe there's a bit of guilt there. Better to divert and bombard Hearts instead. Safer ground, that.

But let's look at Thistle. They are now a club in limbo, possibly starting their season in League One in January, but possibly not. Nobody knows. Nobody is giving them any information because there is no information to give. In terms of the restart, Leagues One and Two remain in no-man's land.

Some are happy to be there. Others are not. And Thistle are one of the others. Because they've been relegated with nine games of a season left to play while sitting two points outside of the safety zone with a game in hand people, will be out of work.

Getting unceremoniously dumped from the Championship, which is scheduled to begin again in October, is bad enough but then to be told that the league they've been dumped into might not be starting for another six months at least is a kick too far.

If they haven't already, they'll be forced to shed jobs. That's a direct consequence of not having games and not having income. How can anybody with a fair mind acknowledge that a grave injustice has been done and then vote in a way that does absolutely nothing to address that injustice?

The argument you hear is that nothing could be done, that all clubs couldn't bend to satisfy the wishes of one or two or three others. The people who are running the game couldn't find a better solution than this? What does that tell you about the people running the game?

Many of these same people are lying low. Ross County's Roy MacGregor was one of the few who raised his head above the parapet over the weekend when saying that Hearts should "take their medicine" and desist from legal action. He presumably meant that Thistle should also take their medicine. Let him and others justify those comments to Partick Thistle, a club whose future will be in jeopardy if, and probably when, it's confirmed that they can't play league football until next year.

No club deserves this kind of treatment. Having won just two out of 13 league games before football was suspended MacGregor's own club were in freefall. Even hopeless Hearts had more points than them in that period.

Had Ross Country continued that trajectory and dropped to 12th and were then robbed of a chance to rescue themselves because of the pandemic would MacGregor be practising what he's now preaching about taking his medicine or would he be highlighting a wrong and calling for support? It doesn't matter who the afflicted clubs are, no properly functioning governing body - one that purports to act in the interests of 42 clubs - would stand over this decision.

What's also heard in places is the bogus argument to end all bogus arguments, the one that has people saying that if their club was in the same boat as Hearts or Thistle or Stranraer then they wouldn't be making such a song and dance about it. Donald Findlay, chairman of Cowdenbeath, is one of the people who have put this one forward.

All power to their magnanimity, but it's somewhat less than convincing. Selfless acceptance of a clear and obvious and hugely damaging injustice is not a trait that you would have associated with football in this county - or any other country - so these views have come as a genuine revelation.

We're asked to believe that people who scream the house down over a bad refereeing call would sigh and take their medicine when the very stability of their club was put in jeopardy. They wouldn't be happy, you understand, but they wouldn't be behaving like Budge with her legal action and her QCs and her vow to fight this to the last. They'd have more class.

They should save that stuff for the tourists. Court now beckons and with it comes the disapproving shaking of heads among clubs who have given Hearts no other option but to fight. "It's a sad day when lawyers get involved," said an official at one of those clubs who voted against reconstruction. If only his self-awareness matched his self-interest.

[The Dude 20,026]

5 minutes ago, dummiesoot said:

As you pointed out a few months ago, different competition, spl not spfl.

There were rules in place that dealt with the Falkirk situation at the time. Everyone at the start of that season knew where they stood.

There weren't rules that dealt with the Falkirk situation at the time. That was part of the problem. The rules only forbade them playing at Brockville. It didn't forbid them ground-sharing. Then suddenly it did once they'd agreed a deal to groundshare and clubs voted it down.

The SPL and SPFL are literally the same company rebranded. While their rulebooks will have been updated etc, it's much closer linked than the SPFL and the South of Scotland league.

Everyone knew when voting to end the season etc there would be relegation as a result. Hearts specifically knew that agreeing to end the season AFTER that vote had been taken would result in them being relegated.

[dummiesoot 16,008]

4 minutes ago, The Dude said:

There weren't rules that dealt with the Falkirk situation at the time. That was part of the problem. The rules only forbade them playing at Brockville. It didn't forbid them ground-sharing. Then suddenly it did once they'd agreed a deal to groundshare and clubs voted it down.

The SPL and SPFL are literally the same company rebranded. While their rulebooks will have been updated etc, it's much closer linked than the SPFL and the South of Scotland league.

Everyone knew when voting to end the season etc there would be relegation as a result. Hearts specifically knew that agreeing to end the season AFTER that vote had been taken would result in them being relegated.

The rules were clear, have a stadium that met the SPL requirements. Fuck all to do with ground sharing.

The vote to end the current season was based on half truths and incomplete facts. The fact you are defending this process is incomprehensible.

[The Dude 20,026]

4 minutes ago, dummiesoot said:

The rules were clear, have a stadium that met the SPL requirements. Fuck all to do with ground sharing.

The vote to end the current season was based on half truths and incomplete facts. The fact you are defending this process is incomprehensible.

It was all down to groundsharing. Its why club had a vote on whether to allow Falkirk into the SPL while playing at a stadium that wasnt there's.

[dummiesoot 16,008]

Falkirk knew the rules at the start of the season, have a fit for purpose stadium. They didn't and therefore their own fault. The vote beyond that to allow ground sharing was inconsequential.

[The Dude 20,026]

Just now, dummiesoot said:

Falkirk knew the rules at the start of the season, have a fit for purpose stadium. They didn't and therefore their own fault. The vote beyond that to allow ground sharing was inconsequential.

They had an agreement in place to play at one. The SPL created rules that it had to go to a vote.

[tomger 874]

Stinks of taig in this thread....

[Jimfanciesthedude 24,567]

If this does indeed go in front of a judge, watch as uefa step in with 3 options imo

1) keep the end of season call, hearts accept their fate along with others

2) finish the seasob on the park asap

3)null and void and go with last seasons finishing leagues and begin again

Should we do neither of they 3, uefa will likely kick scotland out of European football for next season, and watch as while we struggle like fuck, the tarriers have a fire sale like no other

[writingranger 1,417]

46 minutes ago, The Dude said:

It was all down to groundsharing. Its why club had a vote on whether to allow Falkirk into the SPL while playing at a stadium that wasnt there's.

Theirs. Standards are important.

[GersInCanada 7,775]

8 minutes ago, Jimbeamjunior said:

If this does indeed go in front of a judge, watch as uefa step in with 3 options imo

1) keep the end of season call, hearts accept their fate along with others

2) finish the seasob on the park asap

3)null and void and go with last seasons finishing leagues and begin again

Should we do neither of they 3, uefa will likely kick scotland out of European football for next season, and watch as while we struggle like fuck, the tarriers have a fire sale like no other

It either goes to a judge or an out of court settlement is reached. I think the case being heard in court is favourite as Budge will have heard enough bullshit from the mafia and not want to listen to them..

Belgium and France went to court and UEFA took no notice.

[DMax399 3,756]

2 hours ago, The Dude said:

Footballs not being played in Scotland yet. Only the Premiership has approval to train. Other clubs aren't allowed back in any form. 

Not relegating a team who wasn't in a relegation spot isn't something they can exploit in court. 

You’re correct.  But who is stopping the other clubs from training and beginning to play on 1st August?  The SPFL is as far as I know.  These are arguments that can be made in court.  

All I’m pointing out is that there are lots of areas to be exploited by a QC in court.
 

Partick already had a number of points identified by their QC previously and I’m sure Hearts will have it in place also 😀

[Bears r us 30,810]

1 hour ago, gmcf said:

I just want them to succeed to show up doncaster for the useless , corrupted prick he is .

Another good reason. 

[Malvern 11,329]

5 hours ago, eejay the dj said:

6 mill is pie in the sky figure for me ..I think she will settle for a few million ,If it even gets that far .

The more football gets played around the world .The more farcical the Spfl decision to end the season early appears .We all know the reason .Most likely ,even all the clubs .

Don’t think the farce is over ,yet I think the Spfl have managed to give themselves some wiggle room with all thIs reconstruction  delays  .I think most football fans have surely had their eyes opened now ,to how bent the Spfl are .

Doubt it, no cunt cares in Scottish football.

[The Dude 20,026]

20 minutes ago, DMax399 said:

You’re correct.  But who is stopping the other clubs from training and beginning to play on 1st August?  The SPFL is as far as I know.  These are arguments that can be made in court.  

All I’m pointing out is that there are lots of areas to be exploited by a QC in court.
 

Partick already had a number of points identified by their QC previously and I’m sure Hearts will have it in place also 😀

The Scottish government. 

[eskbankloyal 19,446]

[kelvd1873 7,184]

1 minute ago, eskbankloyal said:

Oooffft get the popcorn oot😂😂🎉
 

Any truth in the fekir rumour eskbankloyal??

[Malvern 11,329]

4 hours ago, eejay the dj said:

One of many examples hopefully 

Don’t tell me Dude .You want them to fail ?😄

The Dude, part time Rangers fan, full time Scottish football fan, seems fucking strange to me but there you go.

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,767]

 

[Colin Traive 22,847]

3 minutes ago, eskbankloyal said:

Excellent.

[SeparateEntityMyArse 53,767]

4 minutes ago, eskbankloyal said:

Well done Rangers 😂

[DMax399 3,756]

2 hours ago, esquire8 said:

Can't wait for Budge to come out and say she's agreed a deal with Doncaster and that she won't be taking them to court anymore.

"For the good of the game"

I hope not mate.  Quite rightly Hearts want the money they would rightly have expected to earn from being in the top division, plus any other loss of earnings.

I think we all know that the good of the game is just something they trot out when they feel like it.

Whether it goes to court or not, this  is extra money, which will not have been budgeted for by the SPFL, that Mr Doncaster has to find.  Possibly on top of their legal costs.

[chris182 6,310]

4 minutes ago, Colin Traive said:

Excellent.

Called it

[Bobby Hume 13,122]

2 hours ago, gmcf said:

I just want them to succeed to show up doncaster for the useless , corrupted prick he is .

Along with the rest of Pedro's Puppets at executive level mate ..... it's only right they all get to enjoy some of the shared corrupt responsibility ..... after all they only have the worst interests of 41 clubs to take care of ...... the other one just corruptly takes care of itself ..... 

🇬🇧

[Colin Traive 22,847]

Let’s be honest, if Stranraer had enough ginger bottles, they’d be on board too.

Should never be a choice between justice or solvency.

[Robmc1 4,741]

1 hour ago, dummiesoot said:

Falkirk knew the rules at the start of the season, have a fit for purpose stadium. They didn't and therefore their own fault. The vote beyond that to allow ground sharing was inconsequential.

They, instead of putting resources in to their stadium to make it compliant used them to strengthen the team. This is unfair to any other club wishing promotion who had spent the time money and effort ensuring their stadium was fit for purpose. As you say they knew the rules and took a calculated risk which ultimately and quite rightly imo failed...