JimH

Sorry to butt into your football chat , but looking for an old programme to complete a specific project. The one I'm after is from the Motherwell V Falkirk Scottish Cup tie at Fir Park in February 1991. I am prepared to pay £25 for a copy in reasonable condition. If anyone has one they wish to sell please DM me. Thanks

Sent the following email the day the SFL document/threat was published. Not even an acknowledgement! Dear Mr Reagan, Having read the statement issued today, I can only assume that as the head of the guardians of football in this country you are prepared to go down in history as the man who killed Scottish Football. It's only a month or so since the SFA panel handed out a transfer embargo on Rangers for actions that "only match fixing could have been worse" and that the Appelate Committee were completely "independent" when they heard the appeal and would sit again... at some time in the future?.. after the ruling was returned by the Court of session. However, haven't you demonstrated through this document that both Rangers and Celtic are so important to Scottish Football that there are no rules that can't be bent, or altered, to cater for the big 2. In this open threat to SFL clubs - "accept Rangers into SFL1 or there will be a SPL2 formed and the rest of you will be left outside" you have destroyed the last illusion of sporting integrity and fair play. In the document you allude to "fans being lost to the game", but of course you are only referring to Rangers fans. What about the fans of all other clubs in Scotland, and those who support the National team? You can't have failed to notice the huge number of fans throughout the country who were threatening not to renew their season tickets if their clubs voted the Newco into the SPL. Well, I am sure that the same people, plus many in the SFL,feel the exact same now with these proposals. I, and a number of others I know, had held off buying my season ticket until my club "did the right thing". I have now bought it, but if this goes through then I will seriously consider throwing it in the bin and turning my back on the game. And that doesn't just mean club football. Since 1969 I have hardly missed a Scotland home game. As a member of the SSC I received my email this morning about the "season ticket" for the next campaign. Normally I would have signed up to this but because of this document I, another 2 in my household and a further 2 in my family will not be attending another Scotland game. If those who run the game see the pursuit of money more important than sporting integrity then the game is finished .... and you personally have overseen its death.

The Press & Media manager at Motherwell posted this on Steelmen Online in response to similar questions. "I have also read suggestions that because Derek Weir is on the board of the SPL, he would have played some part in the document that was published by STV a few days ago. Well, to copy and paste a reply I added to FirParkCorner earlier: I think it's worthwhile starting by saying that neither I or the club can comment or put out a statement for every media story or bit of speculation that may turn out in a newspaper or website - certainly not with deadlines that's for sure. We would be here all day and it would take us away from the job of trying to improve the club in every area which is our main focus. I can confirm no one from Motherwell Football Club had any input into the production of the document you linked and in fact had not seen it prior it to it being distributed. Furthermore, no one from the club has taken part in any discussion with anyone from the Scottish Football League. Any discussions between the Scottish FA (SFA), Scottish Premier League (SPL) or Scottish Football League (SFL) would take place between the executives of each organisation. We, as a club, will not be a party to threatening any other club. Regardless of what league they may play in, each club is free to make their own decisions on any issue as they see fit. "

Scotland on Sunday has obtained a copy of the latest proposals by the Professional Game Board of the Scottish Football Association. The plan is to create a league company with 16 £1 A ordinary shares and 30 £1 B ordinary shares. The new SPFL would have a Premier League and three lower divisions as at present. At present the SPL has 16 shares in its company but only 12 are issued, and in the new league these SPL clubs would have the A shares. The other 30 clubs would get the B shares, with clubs exchanging B for A shares when they are promoted to the Premier League. The document states: "The A ordinary shares and B ordinary shares would have different class voting rights. As at present, proposals for Amendments to the Articles of Association and to section C of the rules (financial and commercial matters) as well as other strategic matters, which are defined as Qualified Resolutions, would require to be supported by not less than 11 clubs holding A ordinary shares." Didn't notice any mention of this on the forum yesterday (might have missed it) but I thought that the "proposal" to allow Newco FC into SFL1 came with new voting and financial distribution rules. From the above article it would seem that Reagan is not only trying to safeguard the "Oldco" he also wants to ensure they, and their partners, still have a block on any real changes.

aWouldn't be surprised if any suspension was until the completion of the first round of SPL games. This would mean each team in the SPL getting one 3-0 victory and would present financial problems for RFC. No Southampton tournament or money making pre-season friendlies, loss of sponsorship/corporate income and reduction in season ticket income (due to reduction in games). Not the outcome I would wish for though........

The problem is the no-one involved with Rangers at any level, from Duff & Phelps, ex Directors, former players to the fans, seem to realise what adminstration itself means. When Motherwell went into admin, 19 members of staff including almost all the first team, were out of the door within days. We had to fulfil our fixtures for the next 2 years with those who were left at the club, a few seasoned pros plus a lot of young boys just coming through. There was no thought of how competative we could be - only that a full team, no matter the standard, could be put out for each game. Don't you realise that Rangerts have done wrong and that they are not entitled to come out of this as they went in minus the debt!

Again this "administration" continues in the unbelievable manner we have seen since the start. In every example I have seen of a company going into administration staff have been laid off to release as much money as possible to pay to the creditors. This, I thought was supposed to be the main job of the administrator = get as big a pot as possible for those owed money. But no - not in this case. In today's Scotsman - "Although not willing to confirm figures, Clark sought to dampen disquiet over the possibility that Rangers could run out of money on Friday, when players who accepted 75 per cent wage reductions in March return to full salary terms. He claimed that Green had “easily in excess of double” the sum for the CVA pot to cover summer running expenses, which are believed to be in the region of £7m. " So they will be going to the creditors to say " we could give you 10p in the pound, but that would leave us unable to pay our top earners, so how about you accept 5p in the pound and then we can go back to pay McGregor, David, Naismith et al their grossly inflated salaries". This can't be real!

Bought 2 programmes at the game on Saturday. One for my collection, the other for to sell on ebay if all we are waiting comes to pass. Now looking like a good investment!

Almost the full first team at Motherwell were laid off within days of administration, meaning that a team of young boys had to fulfil the fixtures. If Falkirk had spent money on their ground rather than their team, or if Clyde had ended up top instead of Falkirk, then administration would have led to relegation. However, in their ongoing cheating Rangers have retained almost their full first team.

Even if the bids are increased I can't see how a CVA can be agreed in the near future. With Duff & Phelps suing Collyer Bristow for £25million, and that case not being heard until October, and with the current players having sell on clauses in their new contracts, and the word seems to be that many of them will be moving on, surely that is other sources of income that could be added to the pot. So why settle for a share of £5million (or less if the Blue Knights get their way) when the pot could be somewhere about £35million at the end of October? Although if Collyer Bristow lose I would expect them to appeal, appeal, appeal - So I would think it's either administration for at least a year or liquidation at the end of the season.

In my opinion it is definite that any newco Rangers will be "invited" into next year's SPL and therefore this means that Monday's SPL meeting will be the only chance the "rebel 10" will have of imposing suitable penalties. Any decision on whether or not a newco will be admitted will be taken by the SPL Board – Ralph Topping (SPL Chairman), Neil Doncaster (SPL Chief Executive), Eric Riley (Celtic FC), Stephen Thompson (Dundee United FC), Derek Weir (Motherwell FC) and Steven Brown (St Johnstone FC). So what is the likely outcome? I think that Ralph Topping and Neil Doncaster will be more interested in the business case for the SPL rather than any sporting integrity of the league and will therefore vote to admit. Celtic, no matter what Peter Lawwell says, are joined at the hip to Rangers ( they need each other to preserve the voting structure, they need each other to continue their unique form of rivalry, they need each other for joint sponsorship opportunities) and will therefore vote to admit. Therefore it doesn't matter how the other 3 vote. If they all vote against then the casting vote goes to the Chairman, Ralph Topping, and therefore Rangers are in.

I see from the BBC website that the "structured cuts" is purely a "month-long proposal". What's this about ? Put things off until after the 16th to see if there are any genuine buyers for the club? Allow the top earners time to get fixed up at another club? Again Duff and Phelps actinhg in a way that is totally different from any previos administration process. Whose in charge? Them? The players? Someone else?

Probably...but only because the administrators haven't done their job properly.

Another example of the way Rangers behave was demonstrated that night. Rangers were due to play Morton at Cappielow but the game was called off at the last minute due to a waterlogged park. A number of Ranger's buses headed to Fir Park where they entered the ground with their Union Flags to support Spurs against a "fellow" Scottish Club. It's not only in recent years that fans of the "smaller" clubs have had a deep rooted hatred of the Old Firm.

How can they attempt to get money out of an account that they do not have access to (i.e. it's not an account that has anything to do with Rangers FC) to get funds that are there because of a deal they say was flawed and therefore does not stand up. If the deal shouldn't have gone ahead, then the money is not theirs!

While we await further news out of Ibrox, I am becoming more worried that Rangers are going to emerge from this with no more of a penalty than the 10 points they have been deducted so far. This was reinforced at the weekend when again someone (in this case Gordon Smith) stated that the important thing was for everyone to do what is best for the club and to try to get accounts finalised by 31st March to allow them to compete in Europe. What I don't understand is the lack of obvious action by the administrators. In April 2002 Motherwell went into administration as they were losing approx £2million per year. The debt was about 11million of which something like 9 million was owed to John Boyle. In less than a week 19 players had been made redundant as well as a number of backroom and office staff. Even although John Boyle was owed more than 75% of the debt, it still took almost exactly 2 years for Motherwell to come out of administration – but Gordon Smith still thinks it can be done before the end of next month! Comparing this to Rangers case – they are losing £10million a year and owe a minimum of £15million to the tax man (before the "big tax case" is dealt with) as well as how much else to other creditors – and what has happened? Two directors have been made redundant – but not immediately – the administrator only needs to give 24 hours notice – they are employed until the end of the month (tomorrow). It is exactly 2 weeks since Rangers went into admin and what have Duff & Phelps done to reduce costs? The monthly costs at Ibrox are something like £3.75million and as far as I can see the only income they will have coming in will be the non-season ticket money from the home games against Hearts and Celtic (maybe £600,000 in total) plus what else? Surely nothing that will take them even half way to what they need. So why the lack of activity? I hope I am wrong and Rangers don't escape debt free with what is merely a slap on the wrist.

Surely the problem the Administrators will have at Ibrox is raising the funds to pay ongoing expenses. All the other clubs in Scotland who went into administration would have had a relatively low ratio of season ticket to pay at the gate fans, but with Rangers having, what is it 35000? season ticket holders, then that money has already disappeared. The funds generated through the gates on match day will be relatively small and i'm sure won't go even part of the way to meet the wage bill never mind anything else. Is this why the Administrators said that the players and staff were guaranteed their February salaries, but they couldn't guarantee any future wages?