Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format |
Celtic Radio Community > Scotland > Scottish Football In A Sorry State |
Posted by: Iain A.D. 04-Feb-2004, 05:17 PM |
This week brought the news of a 3rd Scottish Premier League football team being forced into administration as a result of heavy debts. Livingston FC have been told by their major creditors (The Bank Of Scotland) to call in the accountants to take control of the club and try to reduce their current 10 million pounds debt.This will lead to the club losing a number of its players. They are the latest club this season,after Motherwell FC and Dundee FC to admit that they cannot continue with the current level of debt. Scottish football is in a terrible state and there are real fears that one of its major clubs could go out of business this season. Celtic have debts of about 16 million pounds (although they do have a financial policy in place to reduce this over the next few years). Rangers currently owe a whopping 68 million pounds as a result of over ambition and under achievement in European tournaments. How they turn this around,god knows ? The remainder of the Premier league are ALL in debt from a minimum of about 4 million up to 17.6 million (Hearts) and 20 million (Dundee). The problems mainly stem from clubs paying averagely talented players inflated salaries which combined with poor attendances going to watch games has led to those same salaries exceeding the level of turnover generated by the clubs. On top of this was the collapse of a highly lucrative TV deal (SKY) which fell through as a result of a mis-informed league committee, who felt they could set up their own tv channel which would generate more money than SKY were offering. When this idea went "belly-up" SKY refused to step back in and the league had to go begging to the BBC to get a tv deal which was vastly inferior to that which SKY had previously offered. My own team, Hearts, are trying to convince our fans that the only way out of our current predicament is to sell our ground (hoping to make about 15 million pounds) and rent Murrayfield Stadium from the Scottish Rugby Union. We are so desperate that this looks like it will now happen, with our "home" of 100 years, Tynecastle Stadium, being demolished and sold to a property developer / house builder. This is something the Hearts fans would reluctantly accept if we felt we had the right board of directors in place to lead us out of our predicament but sadly we have absolutely 0% faith in those people and whilst the move will happen moves are being made to get rid of the current "custodians" of our famous old club. Sad times for all who love our game........... And the irony of the Livingston situation is that they qualified for their first EVER major Cup Final the day they went into administration !! |
Posted by: Catriona 04-Feb-2004, 05:38 PM |
Iain It will be a sad day for Edinburgh if Tynecastle is sold (spit, spit, spit - I CANNOT believe I wrote that!)..... As for 'sharing' Murrayfield....? Well, I was a rugby fan before I even learned that football teams were not playing 4 men short.... Hearts should have their OWN ground, and that is Tynecastle. Sad days. |
Posted by: MDF3530 04-Feb-2004, 05:42 PM |
Isn't this why Celtic and Rangers are moving to the English Premier League? |
Posted by: Catriona 04-Feb-2004, 05:48 PM |
I think both Celtic and Rangers would like to do so - but opinion I've read is that the English premier league is not so keen to have them! After all, it would mean two teams being forced out of the English Premier to give their slots to The Bhoys and The 'Gers... Money has been spent in a ridiculous fashion in football in recent years. The management of most clubs has proved itself incapable of running a large-scale business - and this is true from Chelsea downards (Chelski as it is now known!) |
Posted by: Aon_Daonna 04-Feb-2004, 05:58 PM |
I think it's pretty bad that the SPL is so unbalanced.. it makes it a wee bit boring, especially this year since it decided itself this early.... I think with Gers & Celtic would have alot more to look for in the English Premier league than in Scotland... |
Posted by: Iain A.D. 05-Feb-2004, 02:17 AM | ||
The "bigot brothers" want to quit Scotland because they believe they have outgrown Scottish football. This is probably true,however it makes a nonsense of having a "national league" if clubs are allowed to choose which league they wish to play in! Having said that, I believe in the longer term that it would help Scottish football be more competitive. As Aon has said, it does get boring when the big 2 are so far ahead of the rest. In this respect, good riddance ! |
Posted by: Catriona 05-Feb-2004, 03:15 AM |
Well - that would leave the way clear for the Hibees, Iain |
Posted by: Iain A.D. 05-Feb-2004, 04:02 AM | ||
Such blind optimism ! Good luck tonight Mrs Hibee, think you may need it !! |
Posted by: tartangal 05-Feb-2004, 06:08 AM |
The thing that I find hard to understand is the clubs who have made large numbers of their players unemployed , yet a couple of weeks down the line they buy new players. This just seems to be a very unethical and low act. As for celtic and rangers moving to the English premiership, while it would make the league a more balanced one,the smaller clubs would lose out on the revenue that the large numbers of fans that the old firm bring to their games. The fan base of the old fim ensures a good turnout for the smaller clubs, and lets face it , more of the home fans turn out to support their team if a member of the old firm is involved. |
Posted by: Catriona 05-Feb-2004, 07:38 AM |
Jules You're right - any match with one of the Auld Firm generates a lot of revenue! Still, Glasgow's loss is Edinburgh's gain (ever the optimistic Hibee supporter!) Iain Awa ye go, luck isnae needed..... They'll dae it, nae tother abaw! |
Posted by: Catriona 05-Feb-2004, 04:49 PM |
Iain Naah na naah na naaaaaaah! Ah telt you.... nae borrer! Livi, prepare tae meet thy doom! |
Posted by: Iain A.D. 05-Feb-2004, 05:18 PM |
Livingston v Hi****ian in the League Cup Final - March 14th..... As I was saying,Scottish Football is in a SORRY state. |
Posted by: MDF3530 05-Feb-2004, 05:51 PM |
There are four soccer teams on your side of The Pond that I follow from afar via email: Celtic, Hibernian, Liverpool and Manchester United. |
Posted by: Catriona 05-Feb-2004, 05:56 PM |
Well, Mike - you should ditch the other three..... Hibs is my team....! In terms of English teams - I give a little 'gentle' support to Arsenal It was a good match tonight, Iain..... thon penalties..... nailbiting... mind you, I must be getting OLD.... those Hibs players looked as though their Mammy's shoulda bin in the stands, tae spit oan their hankies an wipe their laddies' faces.....!!! C'mon.... even a diehard Jambo must admit....... WE DUN GREAT! |
Posted by: MDF3530 05-Feb-2004, 06:01 PM | ||
A bit of belated news for my hometown soccer team the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer:
Source: Chicago Sun-Times |
Posted by: Aon_Daonna 06-Feb-2004, 01:17 PM |
did dunfermline play tonight? I was stuck in the traffic for ages.... |
Posted by: Iain A.D. 06-Feb-2004, 02:18 PM | ||
Cat I have no problem admitting Hibs played well last night and thoroughly deserved to win (I am happy to see anyone beat one half of the gruesome twosome). I just hope Livi can keep enough decent players to "do you" in the final Now where did I put that gold and black scarf ?? |
Posted by: Catriona 06-Feb-2004, 05:41 PM |
Just like a typical Jambo....! Back anyone who is playing against Hibs! |
Posted by: BDougher 09-May-2005, 11:53 AM |
I am coming over the Pond a the end of June and beginning of July. Any good football or rugby to be seen in the Glasgow area? I figure I should catch at least a game or two to enjoy the real life in Scotland. Thanks, Brian |
Posted by: BDougher 09-May-2005, 11:57 AM |
I heard the news of Chicago Fire moving to Bridgeview and I was happy. While I loved watching games at Soldier Field, it was almost impossible to get to from the South Side, especially with the new traffic patterns. I love the idea that they have their own training pitch and offices at one location. Thank goodness they also got Zach Thornton back. Now if they could just get back on that winning streak, life would be good. |
Posted by: Aragorn 10-May-2005, 08:21 AM |
Just a question for you all, Are any of the football teams in Scotland franchised as in someone owns the team or are they owned by the city, players, group of people? It would seem to me that a salary cap or if a corperation owned them there might not be a debt to resolve. Just curious. |
Posted by: BDougher 27-May-2005, 04:16 PM |
I think they should let Celtic and Rangers go over and get their rear ends kicked, so they have to beg to get back into the Scottish League. It would also allow the other Clubs to fight for more then 3rd place in the league every year. |