You don't mess with the Thistle! https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/ne...-of-st-johnstone-fans-was-shot-at-in-glasgow/
Football Association: Parliament to have 'no confidence' debate please log in to view this image The Football Association's failure to reform is to be debated at the House of Commons next week after a motion of 'no confidence' in the governing body. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will examine whether the FA can "comply fully with its duties". Whether reform is impossible within the FA's structure will be looked at on 9 February and new laws may be proposed. In July, sports minister Tracey Crouch said the FA would lose its £30m to £40m of public funding if it did not reform. Then, in December, Crouch said that the government would bring in legislation to force through reforms if the governing body did not make changes itself. Committee chairman Damian Collins MP revealed on Friday that the FA had been given six months to meet the government guidance on best practice for sports governance but had failed to do so. That guidance called for things such as a move towards gender equality on boards, more independent oversight, more accountability and term limits for office bearers. Collins said: "We do not believe the FA will comply voluntarily: it can survive easily without the government's contribution of money to grassroots sport, and there are powerful vested interests that refuse to accept the right of all those involved in football to play a role in the governance of the sport. "We are therefore preparing a draft bill to bring the structure of the FA, especially its board and council, more into line with modern company practice and the government's guidelines for sports bodies." What do the FA say? "We are aware of the discussions next week. The government announced a code for governance for sports' governing bodies last year and we are working to their timeline for implementation later in the year. "Football, like all sports, is following due process and we remain committed to working with the government towards compliance with the code." The motion comes after five former FA executives said the governing body had failed to "self-reform". In a letter to committee chairman Collins, David Bernstein, David Davies, Greg Dyke, Alex Horne and David Triesman described it as outdated, held back by "elderly white men" and unable to counter the power of the Premier League. Among the points made by the five former FA executives are: The Premier League's financial power has a knock-on effect "right through the football pyramid". The FA is compelled to contribute tens of millions of pounds to the Premier League, rather than the grassroots of the game. The majority of those in senior positions are under-qualified to deal with the complexities of the FA structures. The FA Board is neither an independent board nor an independent regulator. Collins responded by saying the committee "shares your concern" and confirmed a draft bill to deliver the necessary reform was being prepared. And in an interview with the BBC in December, the committee chairman added that: "We feel now that time has run out. We no longer have any confidence that the FA can or will reform itself." Read more: 'Elderly white men block change at FA' Any other issues? While Collins and his select committee may draft legislation, it would still need government backing for it to be passed - and previous governments have not previously showed signs of supporting any new law to enforce reform. Furthermore, football's world governing body Fifa has rules stating football associations must be "independent and avoid any form of political interference". Fifa has taken action on government's interfering in the affairs of other football associations in the past.
I will be hoping for a Newcastle win against Derby tonight. With both Wednesday and Huddersfield winning I want to keep the 8 point gap to 7th. Plenty of time left to catch the top 2 but if we missed out on the play offs it would be a disaster.
Enjoyed watching the 20 min Pontus interview on LUTV yesterday. Provided some interesting insights. One of which was that in the dressing room you get the peg next to the guy you will be playing next to during the game. So Pontus would be getting changed next to Bartley and Taylor for most of the season. Now it's Bartley and Beradi. Tiny details like this are all adding up to the team spirit on display this season. Also he says how far the team have come since he signed and they now all believe they are capable of going to the PL. Need more of this on LUTV as it's too formulaic in general but I still watch it every week for the press conferences, after match interviews and highlights etc.
"So Pontus would be getting changed next to Bartley and Taylor for most of the season. Now it's Bartley and Beradi. Tiny details like this are all adding up to the team spirit on display this season" We should have thought about doing something like this last year. we could have had Glory's peg next to Leeds60's Shaks peg next to the bar, oh wait it is. Eires would be on his armchair still. Love to find out who took Kissas peg as not heard from him for ages, and think Bucks must be pissed in a ditch somewhere probably next to his peg
Yes just realised that match was a 3pm start, thought it was the evening KO. Need Ipswich to hang on to beat Reading. Fulham to draw and Cardiff to grab at least a point against Norwich and could be a very good day !
