The SPFL vote vote

[Bohemian]

Is Tom English a Celtic or Sevco fan this week? Gets confusing 

[DeeTillEhDeh]

English has just produced the standard modern "journalist" clickbait.

[craigkillie]

It's absolute tripe from English, who has clearly been led down the garden path by Budge over the last few weeks. The two smoking hot pieces of "evidence" he seems to have uncovered here are that a) the SPFL can pay advances to clubs and b) the SPFL can give loans to clubs. We already knew both of these things.

However, that doesn't mean that it was easy to give out the prize money in this way. First of all, they have only ever (as far as I know) advanced clubs the minimum amount of prize money that they could obtain from their league placing. That was something which they did with Gretna way back in the day, and also something which was done earlier this season. However, that would not have been sufficient for most clubs, since there are big differences between the minimum and maximum each division, so a club like Dundee United would still have been waiting on nearly £400k and others in the Championship on smaller but still significant amounts. Similarly in League 1, Raith Rovers would still be £50k short and in League 2 Cove would be due another £22k even after the advance.

We also know that the SPFL are entitled to give loans, and have done so on individual cases in the past. However, giving out 42 loans totalling to several million pounds at the same time is a completely different story to giving out a few grand to one or two clubs. I have always felt that this loan idea was a non-starter for exactly that reason.

I have said from the start that I did think it was possible to make a board decision to decouple prize money from finishing the season, by just paying out on the current positions without necessarily declaring it done. However, since then we have seen that it is almost definitely not going to be possible to finish the season anyway, so I don't think that would have really made any difference at this stage, and would have left the league in a limbo in terms of decision making, since most clubs wouldn't really be overly bothered or affected by the outcome.

 

[Romeo]

This is nearly as bad as the fake invoice for a 50k bribe.

The gullabillies strike again.

[bennett]

41 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

It's absolute tripe from English, who has clearly been led down the garden path by Budge over the last few weeks. The two smoking hot pieces of "evidence" he seems to have uncovered here are that a) the SPFL can pay advances to clubs and b) the SPFL can give loans to clubs. We already knew both of these things.

.

 

Conveniently  ignoring Shifty Maclennan claiming that the last loan was over 7 years, as Tom English discovered that wasn't true.

 

Conveniently ignoring Doncaster saying that the only for clubs to get their prize money was to vote in favour of the spfl's resolution. 

Conveniently ignoring a ot stuff..

[Romeo]

You talk a ot of shite

Conveniently  ignoring Shifty Maclennan claiming that the last loan was over 7 years, as Tom English discovered that wasn't true.
 
Conveniently ignoring Doncaster saying that the only for clubs to get their prize money was to vote in favour of the spfl's resolution. 
Conveniently ignoring a ot stuff..

[bennett]

33 minutes ago, Romeo said:

You talk a ot of shite

Sevco statement released over one hour ago, you're slipping. 

 

 

[Romeo]

Sevco statement released over one hour ago, you're slipping. 
 
 

I don't bother with them anymore, I just assume they are a chance for the club to blow the dog whistle and make stuff up.

[Bohemian]

JIM SPENCE: Undignified Rangers carry on threatens Scottish football

by Jim Spence

 May 

Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me, is a classic line, delivered by the immortal Kenneth Williams.

It looks like Rangers have nicked his script though, with their behaviour threatening to turn Scottish football into a Carry On comedy.

The club which, before liquidation, regarded itself as Scotland’s quintessential establishment football institution, is engaged in a war of words with the SPFL, casting aspersions but, as yet, producing no hard evidence.

Statements are being scattered around in a blitz of indignation and incandescence, as the Ibrox power-brokers play to the wild-eyed section of their gallery.

Hints and suggestions of dark deeds done to the Govan club litter the sports pages and the airwaves in a constant diatribe of complaints, which even tinfoil-hat-wearers surely now find seriously wacky.

For a club which traditionally traded on their respectability, they seem to have misplaced it in their purple-faced furore, which takes aim at just about everyone in Scottish football.

To take further artistic licence, the quote attributed to Greek playwright Euripides: “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad,” seems apt, as Rangers rage against the Scottish football world.

What the actual substance of their complaints are is difficult to discern.

What they want they don’t seem to know themselves.

What evidence they have of misdeeds, if any, remains invisible.

At best it appears to be a howl of rage that they’re no longer top dogs.

At worst it’s an unedifying collapse into morose self-pity.

For an institution whose refrain was always: “Dignity,” it’s all rather, well, undignified.

---

Dundee chief John Nelms could be Scottish football’s ragged-trousered philanthropist.

His interview with The Courier reveals that he’s gained no special favours for his club from the SPFL, and was thinking only of the betterment of the Scottish game when he changed his vote in the recent SPFL voting shambles.

Some cynical folk may feel that certain streetwise power brokers in the game may have played John like a Stradivarius.

Those of a more forgiving disposition will think that an honourable man, looking to the greater good of the game, has risen above the fray.

Whichever view is taken will be shaped by the innate prejudices of football fans, but the thing is done and Scottish football now needs to work quickly and with vision to move towards an acceptable and workable reconstruction model.

---

Mail Brannigan’s sudden departure from Tannadice will have United fans worrying.

Just this week the MD proclaimed lofty ambitions for next season with a top six spot targeted. Now suddenly he’s gone: “With immediate effect,” and a: “No further comment at this time,” statement from the club.

Conspiracy theorists have a field day in these situations.

Fans wonder why a man who’s been instrumental in reorganising the club’s marketing and general operations has so suddenly departed.

In the middle of the most serious financial challenges clubs have faced in living memory, United need to clarify the situation as soon as possible.

Until they do, many supporters who are contemplating parting with their hard-earned cash for the season books currently on sale, might think twice about it.

Since American owner, Mark Ogren, rode into town, United have been transformed on and off the pitch

Heavy investment’s been made in the squad and stadium.

Now Ogren must say whether there’s any serious issue facing the club, or if it’s simply another of football’s strange twists and turns.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/opinion/jim-spence/1304113/jim-spence-undignified-rangers-threatens-scottish-football/

[Ludo*1]

How Jim Spence continues to make a living from football is one of the world's greatest mysteries.

[craigkillie]

Jim Spence is a big Brexity police-worshipping clown.

[Bohemian]

1 minute ago, Speroni*1 said:

How Jim Spence continues to make a living from football is one of the world's greatest mysteries.

In fairness he joins a long list..

 

[Romeo]

JIM SPENCE: Undignified Rangers carry on threatens Scottish football

by Jim Spence  May 

Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me, is a classic line, delivered by the immortal Kenneth Williams.

It looks like Rangers have nicked his script though, with their behaviour threatening to turn Scottish football into a Carry On comedy.

The club which, before liquidation, regarded itself as Scotland’s quintessential establishment football institution, is engaged in a war of words with the SPFL, casting aspersions but, as yet, producing no hard evidence.

Statements are being scattered around in a blitz of indignation and incandescence, as the Ibrox power-brokers play to the wild-eyed section of their gallery.

Hints and suggestions of dark deeds done to the Govan club litter the sports pages and the airwaves in a constant diatribe of complaints, which even tinfoil-hat-wearers surely now find seriously wacky.

For a club which traditionally traded on their respectability, they seem to have misplaced it in their purple-faced furore, which takes aim at just about everyone in Scottish football.

To take further artistic licence, the quote attributed to Greek playwright Euripides: “Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad,” seems apt, as Rangers rage against the Scottish football world.

What the actual substance of their complaints are is difficult to discern.

What they want they don’t seem to know themselves.

What evidence they have of misdeeds, if any, remains invisible.

At best it appears to be a howl of rage that they’re no longer top dogs.

At worst it’s an unedifying collapse into morose self-pity.

For an institution whose refrain was always: “Dignity,” it’s all rather, well, undignified.

---

Dundee chief John Nelms could be Scottish football’s ragged-trousered philanthropist.

His interview with The Courier reveals that he’s gained no special favours for his club from the SPFL, and was thinking only of the betterment of the Scottish game when he changed his vote in the recent SPFL voting shambles.

Some cynical folk may feel that certain streetwise power brokers in the game may have played John like a Stradivarius.

Those of a more forgiving disposition will think that an honourable man, looking to the greater good of the game, has risen above the fray.

Whichever view is taken will be shaped by the innate prejudices of football fans, but the thing is done and Scottish football now needs to work quickly and with vision to move towards an acceptable and workable reconstruction model.

---

Mail Brannigan’s sudden departure from Tannadice will have United fans worrying.

Just this week the MD proclaimed lofty ambitions for next season with a top six spot targeted. Now suddenly he’s gone: “With immediate effect,” and a: “No further comment at this time,” statement from the club.

Conspiracy theorists have a field day in these situations.

Fans wonder why a man who’s been instrumental in reorganising the club’s marketing and general operations has so suddenly departed.

In the middle of the most serious financial challenges clubs have faced in living memory, United need to clarify the situation as soon as possible.

Until they do, many supporters who are contemplating parting with their hard-earned cash for the season books currently on sale, might think twice about it.

Since American owner, Mark Ogren, rode into town, United have been transformed on and off the pitch

Heavy investment’s been made in the squad and stadium.

Now Ogren must say whether there’s any serious issue facing the club, or if it’s simply another of football’s strange twists and turns.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/opinion/jim-spence/1304113/jim-spence-undignified-rangers-threatens-scottish-football/

Hard to disagree with any of that article.

[Lofarl]

God I wish Bennet and Romeo would just shag and get this tedious courtship over.

[williemillersmoustache]

First Piers Morgan now Neil Doncaster, this crisis has thrown up the most unlikely heroes.

[Ludo*1]

Quote

Regrettably, we have to correct Ann Budge’s statement in the article by Tom English on the BBC Scotland website today, where she said: “I’ve sat on the SPFL board and I’ve approved a loan for another club.”
Quite simply, she did not, (and neither did anyone else during Ann’s tenure on the SPFL board).

Her subsequent statement in the same BBC interview is far more accurate: “I genuinely can’t remember the club involved, but a club required an advance. We discussed it, it wasn’t contentious , everybody agreed and we moved on.”

As Ann herself correctly states in the latter comment – it was an advance payment of fees due to clubs – and not a loan, which is a crucial distinction.

The confusion is unfortunate, but the facts are clear:

In 2016, the SPFL agreed to pay invoices from two clubs for fees they were due to receive in the 2016/17 season. This was to help them with cash flow problems caused when Rangers’ promotion into the Premiership meant some clubs would have only two Old Firm home games pre-split rather than three, which they had had prior to 2012.

To overcome this challenge, the Board, of which Ann was a director, approved £150k advance fee payments to two clubs.

•    These advance payments were subject to VAT – Loans are not.
•    These advance payments were invoiced – Loans are not.
•    Loans, by their very definition, have to be repaid – these advance fee payments did not.  

Moving forward, we are still being asked if we could have made loans to clubs of £9m in April, but there is no practical nor realistic way to have done so.

Before directors make loans, they must carry out due diligence into whether clubs have the ability to repay the loans. 

That is a major exercise and to do so 42 times in a short timescale would have been impossible. And, being frank, given the financial crisis that the game is in, it is impossible to see how the Board could have satisfied itself that all 42 clubs would have been a good credit risk. Clubs defaulting on loan repayments would have left every other club liable for the loss - which is exactly what happened when Gretna were given a loan over a decade ago.

As to the question: could we not have made millions of pounds of further advance fee payments in April, to help clubs weather the financial storm caused by Covid-19? The answer is no. By the end of March, the SPFL had already made fee payments up to roughly the entitlement of the bottom club in the Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2.

With fee payments being entirely dependent on final League placings, the Board’s resolution remains the only realistic way to have made substantial and quick payments to lower league clubs, as well as giving them the certainty and clarity they required to make the tough decisions necessary to get them through to the point that matches can be played once again.

SPFL dishing out telts to Ann Budge & Tom English.

[Romeo]

Here our hero Doncaster explains it all and in the process eviceratesTom English.

 

 

 https://twitter.com/BenTheTim/status/1256584028632895490?s=09

 

 

I await the "aye, but...." Responses from the big and wee ****.

 

 

 

 

[Ludo*1]

 

[Romeo]

Will English triple down? Or admit he made a rip roaring c**t if it?

[Zing.]

19 minutes ago, Speroni*1 said:

SPFL dishing out telts to Ann Budge & Tom English.

That is beautiful. Tom English made to look incredibly fucking thick, mostly down to him steadfastly sticking by his best pal Ann Budge.

Neil Doncaster and the SPFL have fucked up a lot since this all started but they haven’t here. Absolutely right to get these morons telt.