"The third option, I was keen to stress yesterday, would inflict massive damage on the whole of the game in Scotland; and effectively punish 41 innocent clubs for the misdeeds of one." Neil Doncaster, Chairman, SPL. The third option was to place newco Rangers in Scottish League division three. Obviously the punishment would be at minimum two bumper gates for each club as Rangers work their way back up the league. Doncaster favours Rangers return to the SPL, whereas the other clubs do not - unless they are bribed sufficiently. The second option is to put Rangers in Division 1. Any other club would have been allowed to die (Gretna) or be relegated to the fourth level (Livingston), why not Rangers? It would be unfair on the rest of the league to do otherwise.
I think this will get very heated. Neil Doncaster has been accused of " of presiding over a dead parrot" by Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton. Clearly it is waiting for Sky to come in and tell them what to do.
Ãsland - better than Brazil Ãsland have improved their position in FIFA ranking. We are now in seat 129, up two. Brazil who fall 6 positions have moved from the top-10 for the first time in the ranks history. We are up, they are down, better!
Why? They're about to win three consecutive league titles, which wouldn't have happened in the SPL or SD1.
Surprised they actually had the bottle to take that decision today. I was convinced that they would try to bully the SFL into having them in division one, and then claim innocence for Rangers getting off lightly.
Brum were banned from activity in the transfer market for not producing their 2010-11 accounts. Despite the fact that they have still not seen the light of day the ban has been lifted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18706858 I suppose someone must think that they know what is going on.
Interesting that their accounts are conveniently not due to be published until the end of the transfer window. Wonder if they'll be placed into another transfer embargo on the 1st of September?
A quote from Stewart Reagan, cheif executive of the SFA. "My discussions with a number of media outlets last night centred on what may or may not happen to Rangers in the future. In the event there wasn't a Rangers, that's got dire consequences of the game and for Scottish society, generally. The economic impact and social unrest are all things that could result as an impact of having no Rangers." The wheels are starting to turn in favour of Rangers' return to the SPL, let alone entering Division 1. If Sky want it we'll frig it somehow, don't worry about justice, natural or otherwise or the various punishments Rangers have attracted.
Social unrest? Rangers fans want to be in Division Three in the belief that other clubs will suffer as a result, while they rebuild. Fans of other clubs want them to be punished as severely as possible, which in their opinion is putting them into Division Three. The only "unrest" would come from bureaucrats the fans would prefer to see the back of anyway.
Brighton want to take Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge on loan next season. The 31-year-old spent the end of last season on loan at Sunderland. Brighton, also with TK, might be a bit stronger and looking for the play-offs next season.
I see that Jon Harley has turned up at Pompey as he is a free agent. Pompey are not allowed to even take players on loan currently, so he was at training as a trialist. The local newspaper is talking about him as if he has just left Chelsea instead of working his way around lower league clubs. It still seems touch and go that they will survive as a club.
Not just murky waters - Muddy Waters. Just how prophetic was he? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w02B4HpINgo
If Rangers are accepted into the 3rd division will there be a legal challenge from Spartans because they have not been offered the opportunity to apply for the vacant place in the Scottish league? As I understand it Spartans felt that they should have gained entry when Gretna failed.
I suppose anything is possible, but I can't see such a challenge being successful. As to Spartans feeling that they should have gained entry, that doesn't make sense as, like every other club that applies for entry, their application is assessed by SFL members - there is no 'right' to gain entry. I suppose ambition is admirable, but given the state of Scottish football's economy, I really couldn't see another Edinburgh team surviving - both Hearts and Hibs have a big enough struggle.
