What a Joke!!

[CanadianGer 1]

as for the stuff about extended family, I think a much better comparison would be if someone at your work was knocked down and killed during a work place accident. The firm wouldn't only give time off to the guy's closest friends, in all likelihood the office/factory/school would be closed for a day or two.

Scottish football is a very small world and many of the players know each other quite well. I'm not surprised everyone interviewed keeps saying they wanted games postpone - the ridiculous part is that the SPL didn't cancel the whole schedule.

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,684]

Ian Blair and Lex Gold should tender their resignation with immidiate effect.

This is what Ian Blair had to say on SSN earlier on,

'The games are going ahead as a mark of respect to Phil.'

'The Old Firm game is being postponed as a mark of respect to Phil.'

Those last two lines just strike of BS IMO.

according to the Scotsman, the SPL turned down Celtic's request for a postponement, which seems tasteless to me. When Rangers contacted them and said they agreed the game should be suspended, the SPL then changed their minds, which is probably even worse.

the appropriate thing would have been for all SPL games to be cancelled.

Just read the story in the Scotsman and it doesn't say they had knocked back celtic in fact what it says is first and foremost the O'Donnell family were the first concern and then the postponement of the Motherwell game next and because he was one of celtics extended family the old firm was postponed as well after consultation with Rangers, what that means is they said to Rangers is celtic are getting the game postponed do you have any objections, gun to head stuff, Rangers got to say OK as they would look the big bad bigots as usual. At no time did the SPL refuse celtics request to have the game postponed. Don't know about your work but extended family doesn't get me time off work with pay. Only nearest and dearest. Celtic refused not on your nelly go tell it to the marines !

Well here's that article from the Scotsman again.

SENSITIVITY and respect seemed to gain a gratifying victory over bureaucratic resistance yesterday when the Scottish Premier League belatedly agreed to postpone tomorrow's Old Firm match following the death of Phil O'Donnell.

The decision came 24 hours after the SPL had rebuffed Celtic's initial request – following the shelving of the Hibernian-Motherwell and Gretna-St Mirren games – to delay the fixture until later in the season. It was only after consultations with Rangers, who supported their great rivals' petition, that the authorities gave their permission.

The League secretary, Ian Blair, said in a prepared statement: "These are never easy decisions, but we recognise that, as a former player, Phil was a member of Celtic's extended football family. After consultations with Rangers, we agreed to postpone this fixture."

At a press conference at Celtic's training centre in Lennoxtown yesterday morning – arranged before the tragedy that befell the Motherwell captain – it was obvious that Gordon Strachan was unhappy with the original insistence by the governing body that the match should go ahead.

Asked if he favoured postponement, the Celtic manager said: "Well, the powers-that-be spoke of postponement, but it seems the game goes on. It's going to be a very difficult day for all of us."

Two hours later, Walter Smith suggested to media representatives at Murray Park that circumstances had changed, and confirmation of the postponement was confirmed soon after. "I don't think you can think about playing," added the Rangers manager.

Strachan was clearly uncomfortable about the prospect of talking about and preparing for a match that, to a substantial number of Celtic players and backroom staff, had been rendered insignificant by the death of the universally respected O'Donnell. The manager was fully supportive of the feelings of his players, expressed by the Celtic captain, Stephen McManus.

"Having met this morning as a group for the first time since Phil's death," said McManus, a close friend of the O'Donnell family, "the Celtic team, management and backroom staff feel very strongly that the match on Wednesday should be postponed as a mark of respect for Phil O'Donnell, a great player and a great man. A number of our squad have close connections to Phil's family and feel it would be inappropriate to proceed with this match at such a time.

"We understand sincerely the inconvenience and frustration a postponement would cause supporters of both teams. However, we feel this would be the only correct decision and we hope supporters will understand our position on this matter."

Strachan had declared his unease over discussing the match the moment he entered the room at Lennoxtown, preferring instead to emphasise the emotional devastation at the club following the news of their former player's collapse during Motherwell's match with Dundee United on Saturday.

"How can we talk about a game of football, and how important and how tense it's going to be?" asked Strachan. "Thinking of four kids wondering where their dad is after a game of football is too much for any of us who have children. I didn't know Phil well personally, but everybody I've talked to about him spoke so highly of him. And I know enough of the kind of man he was from my own son, Gavin.

"When Gavin heard the news, he called me and told me about the time he went to Sheffield Wednesday on trial. Now, when a player goes on trial like that, he isn't paid too much attention, but Gavin told me Phil had gone out of his way to welcome him and look af

ter him. Willie McStay, our coach, was on holiday with Phil and his family recently. Tommy Burns, who signed him when he was manager of Celtic, disappeared, obviously just wanted to be left alone. Tommy knew him so well. We can hardly imagine his grief.

"Mark (McGhee, the Motherwell manager] came round to our house yesterday and we had a blether. He was, as you'd expect, in a state. Phil was obviously a great Motherwell man, but it would be fair to say this was his second club. It's why we all feel so uncomfortable here."

Strachan revealed Celtic will "do something" in memory of O'Donnell and the gesture will almost certainly take the form of a testimonial match on behalf of his family. "I've already spoken to people here about that and we'll certainly be doing something for Phil and his family. We're all saying we have to get on with our jobs, but it does feel very strange."

Story I read is by Stuart Bathgate and it's not this one, who's the scribe on this ?

[CanadianGer 1]

Ian Blair and Lex Gold should tender their resignation with immidiate effect.

This is what Ian Blair had to say on SSN earlier on,

'The games are going ahead as a mark of respect to Phil.'

'The Old Firm game is being postponed as a mark of respect to Phil.'

Those last two lines just strike of BS IMO.

according to the Scotsman, the SPL turned down Celtic's request for a postponement, which seems tasteless to me. When Rangers contacted them and said they agreed the game should be suspended, the SPL then changed their minds, which is probably even worse.

the appropriate thing would have been for all SPL games to be cancelled.

Just read the story in the Scotsman and it doesn't say they had knocked back celtic in fact what it says is first and foremost the O'Donnell family were the first concern and then the postponement of the Motherwell game next and because he was one of celtics extended family the old firm was postponed as well after consultation with Rangers, what that means is they said to Rangers is celtic are getting the game postponed do you have any objections, gun to head stuff, Rangers got to say OK as they would look the big bad bigots as usual. At no time did the SPL refuse celtics request to have the game postponed. Don't know about your work but extended family doesn't get me time off work with pay. Only nearest and dearest. Celtic refused not on your nelly go tell it to the marines !

Well here's that article from the Scotsman again.

SENSITIVITY and respect seemed to gain a gratifying victory over bureaucratic resistance yesterday when the Scottish Premier League belatedly agreed to postpone tomorrow's Old Firm match following the death of Phil O'Donnell.

The decision came 24 hours after the SPL had rebuffed Celtic's initial request – following the shelving of the Hibernian-Motherwell and Gretna-St Mirren games – to delay the fixture until later in the season. It was only after consultations with Rangers, who supported their great rivals' petition, that the authorities gave their permission.

The League secretary, Ian Blair, said in a prepared statement: "These are never easy decisions, but we recognise that, as a former player, Phil was a member of Celtic's extended football family. After consultations with Rangers, we agreed to postpone this fixture."

At a press conference at Celtic's training centre in Lennoxtown yesterday morning – arranged before the tragedy that befell the Motherwell captain – it was obvious that Gordon Strachan was unhappy with the original insistence by the governing body that the match should go ahead.

Asked if he favoured postponement, the Celtic manager said: "Well, the powers-that-be spoke of postponement, but it seems the game goes on. It's going to be a very difficult day for all of us."

Two hours later, Walter Smith suggested to media representatives at Murray Park that circumstances had changed, and confirmation of the postponement was confirmed soon after. "I don't think you can think about playing," added the Rangers manager.

Strachan was clearly uncomfortable about the prospect of talking about and preparing for a match that, to a substantial number of Celtic players and backroom staff, had been rendered insignificant by the death of the universally respected O'Donnell. The manager was fully supportive of the feelings of his players, expressed by the Celtic captain, Stephen McManus.

"Having met this morning as a group for the first time since Phil's death," said McManus, a close friend of the O'Donnell family, "the Celtic team, management and backroom staff feel very strongly that the match on Wednesday should be postponed as a mark of respect for Phil O'Donnell, a great player and a great man. A number of our squad have close connections to Phil's family and feel it would be inappropriate to proceed with this match at such a time.

"We understand sincerely the inconvenience and frustration a postponement would cause supporters of both teams. However, we feel this would be the only correct decision and we hope supporters will understand our position on this matter."

Strachan had declared his unease over discussing the match the moment he entered the room at Lennoxtown, preferring instead to emphasise the emotional devastation at the club following the news of their former player's collapse during Motherwell's match with Dundee United on Saturday.

"How can we talk about a game of football, and how important and how tense it's going to be?" asked Strachan. "Thinking of four kids wondering where their dad is after a game of football is too much for any of us who have children. I didn't know Phil well personally, but everybody I've talked to about him spoke so highly of him. And I know enough of the kind of man he was from my own son, Gavin.

"When Gavin heard the news, he called me and told me about the time he went to Sheffield Wednesday on trial. Now, when a player goes on trial like that, he isn't paid too much attention, but Gavin told me Phil had gone out of his way to welcome him and look af

ter him. Willie McStay, our coach, was on holiday with Phil and his family recently. Tommy Burns, who signed him when he was manager of Celtic, disappeared, obviously just wanted to be left alone. Tommy knew him so well. We can hardly imagine his grief.

"Mark (McGhee, the Motherwell manager] came round to our house yesterday and we had a blether. He was, as you'd expect, in a state. Phil was obviously a great Motherwell man, but it would be fair to say this was his second club. It's why we all feel so uncomfortable here."

Strachan revealed Celtic will "do something" in memory of O'Donnell and the gesture will almost certainly take the form of a testimonial match on behalf of his family. "I've already spoken to people here about that and we'll certainly be doing something for Phil and his family. We're all saying we have to get on with our jobs, but it does feel very strange."

Story I read is by Stuart Bathgate and it's not this one, who's the scribe on this ?

Glenn Gibbons, the chief sports writer. Give me a minute, I'll try to find the link.

[CanadianGer 1]

here's the link, BD. http://sport.scotsman.com/motherwellfc/Old...oned.3631534.jp

IMO, the handling of this whole tragedy shows the SPL in worst light than ever. In Bathgate's report, (for anyone else, http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/football/S...y-on.3632187.jp )which I just read, its obvious that the SPL have no clear idea on when they will and will not postpone games. A non-OF fan would no doubt conclude that the SPL gives favoured treatment to the big 2.

[BLUEDIGNITY 33,684]

here's the link, BD. http://sport.scotsman.com/motherwellfc/Old...oned.3631534.jp

IMO, the handling of this whole tragedy shows the SPL in worst light than ever. In Bathgate's report, (for anyone else, http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/football/S...y-on.3632187.jp )which I just read, its obvious that the SPL have no clear idea on when they will and will not postpone games. A non-OF fan would no doubt conclude that the SPL gives favoured treatment to the big 2.

Thats what it says CG and the Scotsman are pretty good now compared with papers in the rest of Scotland. But I'm going with what I've been told from inside Ibrox and there's a lot of conflict between what I'm reading and what I've been told. They are not happy Bears at the postponment of this game !

[BarcaMurph 0]

I was shocked when i heard this on the radio today. What idiot made that decision?