Rangers v Celtic

At least you're taking it well Aldo that's the main thing

 

Have a wee read at this while supping then.

Letter from Partick Thistle FC to the SPFL (30.04.2020)

Dear Murdoch,

I wanted to write to you after the publication of your most recent open letter to all Scottish professional football league clubs.

Firstly, this is private correspondence that we will not be making public. I would hope you would ensure that this is respected by the SPFL and its PR advisers. We have no wish to add to the ongoing divisive and increasingly distasteful debate being played out in the media. It damages Scottish football and your recent letters, regrettably, have added to the perception of Scottish football being at war.

When Thistle decided to accept the decision of the majority of clubs to end the season, we did so again because we believed this was in the best interests of the game in Scotland as a whole. This was despite being in receipt of counsel’s opinion that the outcome, which has adversely affected Partick Thistle in the most unfair and disproportionate manner, was open to legitimate challenge. In exercising our right to do this, I do not believe that in any statement we made were we discourteous or disrespectful to the SPFL, either to the Board or to individual members of staff.

We also took in good faith the commitment to seriously consider a new structure that could mitigate some of the worst aspects of closing this season down prematurely. Since then, I have been encouraged by the positive approach taken in these meetings and took seriously the plea not to discuss any of this outside of the group. In short, Partick Thistle has kept its own counsel and chosen to focus on membership of the task force.

So, it is with dismay that, at a time when the country faces enormous challenges and people are dying in large numbers, the SPFL appears to have taken leave of its collective senses.

The new public communications approach taken by the SPFL isn’t just unhelpful; the language used in your last letter is divisive and accusatory. If the intention is to bring clubs together, I fear it will have the opposite effect. Regardless of what is said and done to it, the SPFL needs to maintain a professional stance, leading by example with maturity and taking its own advice to remember that the world is watching. An EGM is already agreed. There is no need for anything further to be said or for a defensive position to be adopted – just trust in the process.

I appreciate your recognition today that the announcement of the relegation of Partick Thistle and Stranraer could have been handled better. You are right. In a career spanning over 35 years, I have never seen anything so disrespectful from a so-called membership organisation to a member. It is hard to convey the stress the absence of any mention of our relegation added to the situation when the vote was announced in such a thoughtless way. Yet there was no anger reflected in the statement we released a few days later: we behaved decently and responsibly when we might have been forgiven for legitimately criticising the SPFL.

Indeed, when the whole issue of the pandemic started, on 19th March Partick Thistle shared its views with the SPFL and the Championship clubs on what the mindset and focus should be to get Scottish football through what was undoubtedly going to be a difficult time for the game. That spoke of coming out the other side with all clubs intact, no administration or liquidations and included the suggestion that the SPFL ingathered information to share with clubs around salaries, contracts, govt support along with collective lobbying of Govt for financial assistance.

We talked about a generational opportunity to refocus the game, a time to assess, be innovative and recentre the game to those we need the most – our fans. We believed – and still do – there needed to be a more collegiate approach to mirror what was happening in society. All of this before we knew the SPFL’s fate for us. We were acting in the best interests of Scottish football, not self-interest.

It was extremely disappointing, therefore, that yesterday’s statement appears to accuse Partick Thistle of having a specific agenda in criticising the SPFL in this section which I have abbreviated for clarity.

Partick Thistle spoke of this decision causing “significant damage to Thistle and others”. If reconstruction doesn’t happen, what then? Because it will inevitably lead to financial problems and job losses for relegated clubs.

This was an impossible situation not of our making and it is extremely disappointing to witness clubs with a very specific agenda criticising us for acting in the best interests of the game as a whole.

Firstly, there is no actual answer to your own question “If reconstruction doesn’t happen, what then?’ which might have given us some reassurance. But more than that, this is an outrageous and damaging allegation about an ‘agenda’ which cannot be interpreted in any other way as singling out Partick Thistle for criticism. If it isn’t, I would welcome an explanation of what was actually meant.

Our only interest has been in achieving a fair outcome in the face of a random act against us, something that no one can surely object to. The Board of Directors have a duty to look after the best interests of this club as do the directors of every club in Scotland.

You talk about how the decision was taken because to do otherwise would ‘deny the funds to clubs that were literally on their knees and watch possibly dozens of them going to the wall.’

It seems as if that consideration was not extended to Partick Thistle. We estimate that relegation will cost us (additional) hundreds of thousands of pounds which, when taken with the ongoing lack of football, will make it extremely difficult for us to overcome that situation when football resumes.

We still believe a better solution was possible and in admitting your own shortcomings today, it suggests you agree that more time could have been taken to agree the outcome. Relegating us with a game in hand and two points behind our nearest challenger is a disproportionate punishment at a time when football is on its knees – can you advise me what other team in Europe other than Stranraer has been disadvantaged in this way by the early end of their league?

That should have been history, something we have all moved beyond. We set aside our anger and confusion to be part of the SPFL solution, believing that there is a genuine willingness to right the wrongs done going forward. Our CEO and two Directors have volunteered for the groups tasked with identifying how best Scottish football can recover from this crisis, I am on the reconstruction group. Yet in this letter, you have chosen to inflict a further wound on Partick Thistle by referring to us in the way you have – to what end? Again, a thoughtless reference which draws further attention to a club whose only “fault” is to have behaved honourably in the face of the most unjust treatment.

In closing, I feel that the actions of the SPFL in the last few days have made it harder to bring Scottish football together. I also fear that there may have been damage done to the previously real opportunity for reconstruction, which is potentially dissipating with every SPFL utterance.

When Neil and I spoke, we agreed that we both wanted to see things move on and for divisions to be healed. I assured him that we would play our part fully and we are because there is no alternative to looking forward. But the SPFL’s current strategy – to fight with clubs in the public domain – seems an ill-judged and self-indulgent approach. This does not look like a show of strength, it looks like a last stand – and that can be in no-one’s interest.

Jacqui Low

Chairman


But but but it's just Sevco v the SPFL though.

 

Wonder how Dundee are feeling about all this now.

 

SPFL bullying knows no bounds it seems.

 

Did it for the good of all of Scottish football Guv!

 

All these clubs fùcked over just so Celtic could get an asterisk!

This is what happens when Taigs get in positions of power. Corruption and chaos.

 

Just supplying the facts m8. Just as I always do. What you do with those facts is entirely up to you mate.

Anyhoo think it's bevvy time.

 

The arsehole at Brechin has played a blinder, been involved in all this ****e going on but managing to ensure nothing will happen to his own club. Bottom of the league, worst team in Scotland but somehow will be one of very few teams to come out of this unaffected.

 

Brechin's share of league prize money?

£1500.

 

thats the most sensible thing you’ve said all year

 

Awe, cheers buddy.

Here's oor Sonia in her bikini for you saying such nice things about me.

 

Goddam! That girl is a fùcking stawner.

Stunner, I mean stunner.

Naw I was probably right first time.

 

Wow

 

Fighting Fund chat now, this is getting serious

 

Hertz fans want legal ackshun!

 

Took a wee gander at AFC chat. Aberdeen fans really are a rancid lot.

Sevco thread 1300 pages.

 

Btw. Take a wee stroll through Oor Sonia's Instagram page. Top notch pictures and vids. There's one of her playing keepy puppy with a tennis ball. The lassie has tekkers.

 

And we get to the crux of yer , and rangers , issue in reality ... nowt to do with integrity all about Celtic getting title early ...

nowt to do wi all member clubs , all about rangers beeling at being second prizes again .

 

Everyone has the same price this season tho. Apart from hearts I suppose

 

Come now Paul you know that's not the case. Don't think I've ever said that Rangers had any chance of finishing anywhere but second so I have little interest in depriving Celtic of their asterisk. The way in which the SPFL have went about this shìtshow is my main concern. The fact that clubs like Partick and Hearts are being shafted by the indecent haste and fùcking awful administration of our game is another.

I have also said for years in here that we need bigger leagues and the current format is pìsh. Right now would have been the ideal time to do that and also help some clubs in the process. Unfortunately, as is the norm, self interest by greedy self serving cùnts like Aberdeen FC and Hibs have put the mockers on that too.

Frankly, Scottish football is fùcked. The blind are leading the fùcking moronic.