SPFL and Covid ( Leagues 1 and 2 to restart )

[true-jambo]

40 minutes ago, jonnothejambo said:

 

You quoted me, but I didn't say that mate.....

 

Agree though.

Sorry about that, it was my own post, don't know how I managed to get your name on it, must be an age thing

[Newton51]

 

[livi]

LAST CHANCE 

Hearts’ SPFL reconstruction proposal in FULL – based on 14-14-14 for two years with option for 14-14-16

EXCLUSIVE

HERE is the Hearts League Reconstruction proposal sent to Scotland’s clubs this afternoon.

SunSport Online can reveal the plan being put forward by Jambos owner Ann Budge.

2

Ann Budge has vowed Hearts won't go down without a fight  

Her bid to revamp the set-up of Scottish football will be discussed by the SPFL board tomorrow.

Budge wants a 14-14-14 structure in three divisions - with an option to increase to the bottom league to 16 teams.

Hearts would be saved from relegation from the Premiership with Inverness Caley Thistle promoted along with Dundee United.

But crucially only for the next TWO YEARS.

 

2

Hearts supremo Ann Budge at Tyncastle

Budge writes: “This document, at the most simple level, addresses two major issues, currently facing Scottish Football.

• The widely accepted and much debated unfairness and unjustness of relegating Clubs as a result of the early termination of Season 2019/20.

• The need to implement a more flexible League structure to cope with the huge challenges facing Clubs of all sizes, as they fight to survive the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The proposed restructure involves moving to 3 enlarged Divisions, each of which would focus on tackling the specific and different challenges facing the larger, the medium and the smaller (often part-time) Clubs within Scottish Football.

 

“With a growing awareness of what might be involved in getting back to playing football, so too is there a growing acceptance that not all Clubs may manage to play next season. The focus for many is turning to long-term survival.

“If, unfortunately, some Clubs are unable to compete, there will be a greater likelihood that League competitions will still be able to continue, if these larger groupings are put in place, albeit not necessarily in the proposed format. We might end up with 14 teams in the Premiership, with 10 or 12 in the Championship, and with even fewer in League 1. Some are suggesting that we may end up with only 2 Divisions next season. However, every Club should have the option to make a choice.

“There are broadly 3 scenarios facing Clubs for the coming season:

• Play games behind closed doors for as long as necessary to get the season underway

• Delay the start to the season until supporters are able to get back into stadiums

• Hibernate for a season until the emergency is over

“It is not for me to suggest who should and who shouldn’t play football. It is for Clubs themselves to make that decision. For that reason, the suggested format assumes all 42 Clubs, structured in such a way as to allow each Division to decide what is best for them.

“This is not about permanent reconstruction. It is about finding a path to deal with the emergency situation, which is likely to impact all member Clubs for the next 2 seasons. When we are through this emergency we can look then at how best to move forward to start to rebuild Scottish Football.”

---

The document continues:

We are, as we all know, in the midst of a global pandemic, which has already brought untold misery to millions of families all over the world. The effects of this pandemic are not going to disappear overnight. They will be with us for some considerable time.
Every business is fighting for survival. Football is no different. Determining how best to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19 has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, incredibly complex. Across Europe and indeed across the world, different approaches have been taken and everyone is trying to learn from each other.

Here in Scotland, we are following Government guidance and we are watching other countries to learn from their experiences. We are trying to plan for the quickest and most effective way of getting Scottish Football back to normal. That said, we all know that there is going to be a “new normal”.

What that “new normal” will look like and what it will mean for Clubs, for Players, for Supporters and indeed for our Governing Bodies is a question none of us can answer right now. What we do know is that it is going to be different and it is going to bring enormous challenges both in the immediate and in the medium term. It is going to demand change and flexibility. A flexible, not a rigid, approach to meeting the challenges ahead will be vital.

The challenges we face are going to be very different depending upon whether we are involved in grassroots football, amateur football or professional football. If we consider the latter category, it will also be very different depending upon whether you are a League 1 or League 2 Club, a Championship Club or a Premiership Club. In the same way as the challenges are going to be different, so too are the solutions. There is no “one-size fits all” solution here.

I initially set out to put forward a Member’s Resolution to propose an adjustment to the League structure to address one specific problem; namely, how to avoid 3 Clubs being relegated as a consequence of recent decisions, given that these decisions, will have huge financial consequences for each of these Clubs. A discussion paper was issued to Premiership Clubs on 8th May, 2020 suggesting a way forward.

This current paper adds some detail to my initial proposition, which is largely unchanged. What has changed, however, in the intervening 2 weeks, is the growing realisation of just how badly Season 2020/2021 is likely to be impacted by the effects of Covid-19. There is a growing fear that a number of Clubs will be unable to play next season. More than ever, the focus is on survival. Changes to the League structure seem almost inevitable.

In light of the increasingly uncertain times we are facing, I want to urge every Member Club to look at this proposal not as a way to save Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer from relegation, but as a better way for Scottish Football to deal with the current emergency, while at the same time righting an unintended injustice.

---

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This is not about permanent League Reconstruction, with all the angst that topic brings. Please do not assess the proposal in those terms. Rather, look at the proposal as a way to enable Clubs with hugely varying levels of resource, to group together to help as many Clubs as possible to survive through this difficult period.

Doing nothing will simply lead to us being forced to take action in the very near future. It is better to take steps now in an organised, considered and timely way rather than wait until some of our clubs hit crisis point. Doing nothing could be seen as unforgiveable by fans who wish to see Scottish football come together at an unparallelled time in the game’s history.

I have proposed that the 42 Clubs be split into 3 Divisions. While far from homogeneous groupings, these groups of Clubs have a better chance of survival if they work cooperatively together to meet the different sets of challenges they each face. We need 3 survival plans to get through this. One size most certainly does not fit all!

a) There is pressure to get our Premiership Clubs back to playing football as quickly as

possible to protect our Broadcasting contract with Sky. This contract contributes a large percentage of the income of the majority of Clubs, across all leagues. Assurances have been given by the SPFL Chief Executive, following discussions with his senior counterparts at Sky, that enlarging the Premiership to 14 teams will not be unacceptable to Sky and will not be used as a bargaining tool in any future negotiations. In fact, the proposed enlargement of the Premiership will be seen positively, bringing with it as it does, both Edinburgh and Highland derbies. It is also be noted that based on recent viewing figures published by the SPFL, Sky’s numbers would be considerably impoverished by the current plans to relegate Hearts.

Having said all of this, not being able to return to play early in Season 2020/21 is another matter entirely in terms of the new Sky deal. It looks increasingly likely that the only way to address this and get the season started will be to initially play games behind closed doors. This will bring major challenges for Premiership Clubs, not least in financial terms.

The demands on Premiership Clubs will be enormous in terms of complying with safety and protection requirements. The “return to training” and, the next stage, the “return to playing” protocols currently being outlined are hugely demanding and will be very costly to implement. We need Clubs who have the resources and the infrastructure to be able to meet these requirements, and indeed the willingness to do so, if we are to generate this much needed income stream from Broadcasting for everyone. Hearts is one of those Clubs. This is not the time to be expelling one of the League’s biggest and best resourced Clubs from the Premiership.

Everyone knows that the financial support we receive from our fans is exceptional. For over 7 years fans have contributed almost £1.5m per annum to support the Club. Since football was cancelled our supporters’ organisation, Foundation of Hearts, has amazingly had over 800 additional/increased pledges. Our benefactors too, continue to stand behind the Club. They have committed to continue to support us, not just throughout this current crisis, but for the next 5 years. Strong clubs are essential for a strong League and a strong Hearts has a big part to play in this.

With this kind of financial backing, Hearts is in a position to fund the Testing Equipment and other resources needed to enable a safe “return to training and to playing” in line with Government guidelines. We are also willing to share these

---

5

resources with other Clubs, across all Divisions in the League, as requirements become clearer. The possibility of operating through “Hubs” is currently being considered and if that route proved to be sensible, Hearts is very well placed to help. Geography would undoubtedly play a part in this, but we would be happy to offer the use of Tynecastle’s facilities, on a non-profit basis, to other Premiership, Championship or League 1 clubs, where fixture scheduling allowed. Our recent infra- structure investment has provided us with 2 sets of UEFA standard changing rooms, medical facilities, tunnels and technical areas. Hearts could make these facilities available, as well as TV and media facilities. For example, were it desirable for scheduling purposes, with duplicate sets of facilities, 2 games could even be played on one day, without the need for deep cleaning in-between.

We also have access to highly flexible training facilities. Hearts not being in the Premier League at this time would seriously limit our ability to help Scottish Football.

b) Many of our Championship Clubs are going to have to work hard to survive. Few, if

any, could afford to get involved in Behind Closed Door matches. Few, if any, have the facilities to enable social-distancing measures to be complied with, even for training. There are already discussions underway around postponing the start of next season for these teams until such times as supporters are allowed back into our stadiums.

A whole different set of solutions are going to be required for these Clubs. Once again, I would argue that this is not the time to be expelling well resourced, well run and well supported Clubs like Partick Thistle from the Championship. They will be able to meet whatever is required of them to ensure they can play next season. This proposed adjustment to the Leagues would enable them to contribute at this level.

c) Our League 1 and League 2 Clubs are similarly going to face different challenges.

They are, in the main, going to struggle to fund the measures that might need to be implemented to enable them to play football at all next season. There has already been talk about some of these Clubs choosing to “moth-ball” their operations for the season. If that is indeed the best option for survival for some Clubs, then that is indeed what should be accommodated. If not, then they have to work together to determine what alternative solutions are best for them.

The proposed changes, creating 3 bigger leagues, means that if, unfortunately, some Clubs cannot see a way to play this season, there will hopefully be sufficient Clubs in each League to allow the Season to go ahead, albeit in a modified form. Maximum flexibility is crucial.

In short, the Premiership needs Hearts more than the Championship does. The Championship needs Partick Thistle more than the lower Leagues do. Let’s focus on dealing with the problem of saving Scottish Football from a position, which plays to our strengths and minimizes our weaknesses.

This paper is not about restructuring. It is about survival. The need to protect Scotland’s national game and our professional clubs is of paramount importance, not just to our staff, our players, our supporters but to the communities we serve. The impact of a club disappearing will hit local communities hard, both from a social and an economic perspective. Given everything else that our communities are dealing with at this time, we must stand together to try to ensure they do not lose their football clubs too.

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6 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CURRENT LEAGUE STRUCTURE

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7 OVERVIEW

Background

Scottish Football was suspended by the Scottish FA on 13th March 2020. As a consequence of that suspension, the SPFL Board (via a Written Resolution on 8th April 2020) called an end to the season for the Championship, League 1 and League 2 Divisions on 15th April 2020. The Premiership was subsequently ended on 18th May 2020.

Determining how best to deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for the football world has been and continues to be incredibly complex. This is widely accepted by all. Across Europe, only one other major Professional Football League (the French League), along with the SPFL, has opted to allow teams to be relegated. In France, this case has now been referred to the Court d”Etat in what could be a protracted legal process. In Scotland, the option still remains to avoid this route, simply by adjusting the structure of the League. As things stand, the principle of Sporting Integrity has been compromised and there is widespread agreement that relegation under the current circumstances is unjust. The fact that there is a growing realisation that some form of league restructuring will be needed to help Clubs to protect their businesses and ensure their own survival, suggests the time to do this is now.

Options

a) Financial Compensation

There have been many expressions of sympathy for the Clubs, which have been relegated due to the early closure of Season 2020/21. However, sympathy is not what is needed; sympathy does not make these decisions right; sympathy does not save jobs!

Some Clubs have expressed the view that the Clubs impacted should be offered financial compensation. While this sentiment is appreciated it is difficult to argue that this would right the injustice.

In Hearts recently submitted Representation Letter to support our UEFA Financial Fair Play submission, we advised that relegation would lose Hearts, under normal circumstances, between £3-4 million in income. This figure takes no account of any further financial damage that might be caused by COVID-19 disruption continuing into Season 2020/21, which now looks inevitable.

For other Member Clubs to compensate for this level of loss in any meaningful way they would themselves lose out significantly at a time when everyone is facing their own financial challenges.

Hearts being relegated will not only cause significant financial damage to Hearts, but will result in other Premiership Clubs funding a £300k parachute payment next season. This money, plus any compensation payments agreed, could be much more effectively utilised in the fight for survival.

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8

b) League Change

I firmly believe that introducing a 3 League structure, for a 2 year period while we deal with these extraordinary circumstances, is the only sensible way to achieve the following outcomes.

• Avoid causing significant and unnecessary financial hardship to all Member Clubs.

• Facilitate Clubs of different scales to work together to focus on how each group is going to survive.

• Send out a strong message to the fans and to the football world in general, that Scottish Clubs are standing united to defeat our common enemy; namely, this pandemic, which is threatening to decimate, if not destroy, Scottish Football.

All of the above would be to the significant benefit of Scottish Football.

PROPOSED CHANGE

In a previous paper, I made the point that “emergency situations call for emergency measures”. Surely, no-one would question that we are dealing with an emergency situation.

The emergency measures being proposed involve implementing an amended structure, for two seasons, to minimise the negative outcomes created by the current emergency.

The proposal would see:

• an enlarged Premier Division of 14 teams, based on no relegation and 2 promotions (Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle) from Season 2019/20

• an enlarged Championship Division of 14 teams, based on no relegation and 6 promotions (Raith Rovers plus the teams in position 2-6 of League 1) from Season 2019/20

• the combining of the remaining League 1 Clubs with League 2 Clubs to create a new 14 team League 1. *(See below)

This proposal would see a more streamlined League structure that would facilitate improved communication and cooperation both within and across all 3 Divisions. This would also ensure no teams are further disadvantaged due to COVID-19. Most importantly, it would provide greater flexibility to deal with likely on-going problems over the next 2 seasons.

(* There is still an outstanding matter to be addressed regarding the Highland and Lowland League Play-off competition. One way of handling this would be to further increase the new League 1, to 16 teams. This would be in keeping with the underlying principle behind enlarging the Divisions and could be accommodated very easily.)

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9

COMPETITION STRUCTURE

League Set-up

Were the Divisions to be re-grouped as suggested, the details of the competition would be as outlined below, assuming a “normal” season. It is highly unlikely, however, that Season 2020/21 is going to be “normal”. Significant disruption is anticipated, in terms of starting dates and numbers of games played, across potentially all Divisions. It is also entirely possible that some part-time Clubs may choose not to play football at all, if the constraints imposed by COVID-19 are too demanding. Changes to what is outlined below, seem inevitable for next season. Hopefully, however, season 2021/22 will see a move towards greater stability, facilitating a normal competition.

a) Premiership Clubs would play each other twice (once at home and once away) providing 26 pre-split League Matches. Following this the top 6 teams would play each other twice more (once at home and once away) providing further 10 post-split League Matches and a total of 36 League Matches for the Season. The bottom 8 teams would also play each other twice more (once at home and once away) providing 14 post-split League Matches and a total of 40 Matches for the Season.

One criticism that has been levelled at the above structure is that the earlier split means there could be too many “meaningless” matches for the bottom 8 teams following the split. It has been suggested that this could be addressed by introducing a Play-off situation between teams that finish 5th, 6th and 7th to gain the new UEFA Conference League entry spot.

Concern has also been expressed that Clubs in the bottom half of the Division could lose out on a possible home game against either Celtic or Rangers, which would impact their gate receipt income. This would be offset by virtue of being guaranteed an extra home game.

On the plus side, fixture congestion would be eased slightly for the 6 Clubs at the top of the Premiership, which has been a long-stated objective, particularly for Clubs involved in European competitions.

b) Championship Clubs could follow the competition structure of the Premiership described above. Alternatively, Clubs may prefer to divide into a top 8 and bottom 6 post- split after 26 League Matches. This alternative model might provide greater jeopardy and interest amongst the bottom 6, in terms of fighting to avoid relegation or play-off. Similarly, it would extend the interest in the Season for Clubs 7 and 8 at the split by providing the opportunity to improve their position in the remaining 14 League Matches to compete for promotion or play-off positions.

c) League 1 Clubs could either follow the competition structure of the Premiership or the alternate option as described for the Championship.

The major advantage for Clubs in the Championship and League 1 is that it addresses the current problem of playing every Club 4 times a season, which is not at all popular with Clubs, with players or most importantly with supporters. It is often stated that the current format is so unpopular that it negatively impacts attendances. Anything that encourages supporters to come to live games can only be good for the game.

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Fixture Scheduling for the proposed structure

This structure would see an overall increase in the number of matches played across the full season, as follows. The figures exclude Play-off matches.

Premiership Current 12 team structure : Each team plays 38 games per season

New 14 team structure : 6 teams play 36 games per season 8 teams play 40 games per season Lower leagues

Current 10 team structure : Each team plays 36 games per season

New 14 team structure: 6 teams play 36 games per season 8 teams play 40 games per season

This would result in an overall increase of matches across the Season. Having discussed this with Iain Blair, he is confident that this can be accommodated. While fixture congestion is regularly discussed as a challenge, this occurs in the main in the Premiership as a consequence of date restrictions and is, therefore, not a major consideration.

This structure would mean that 24 Clubs would play additional matches, providing potential for additional gate receipts; 12 Clubs would see no change in the number of games; 6 Clubs (Top 6 Premiership Clubs) would play 2 fewer League fixtures, which would be seen as advantageous, as stated earlier.

The potential for greater variety of fixtures, coupled with an increase in the number of League fixtures should be seen as a benefit to most Clubs.

Promotions, Relegations and Play-Offs

Rules governing Promotions and Relegations would continue to apply as at present.

That said, should disruption caused by COVID-19 be significant in Season 2020/21, resulting in it being impossible to play a full round of fixtures, then it may be appropriate to vote by a simple majority, for no promotions or relegations for that Season only.

Play-offs competition rules would similarly continue to apply as at present.

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DISTRIBUTION MODEL

The only change to the current model would arise if Clubs in positions 13 and 14 (ie. the 2 additional Clubs promoted to the Premiership) were to see their percentage share of funds increased to bring them more in line with other Premiership Clubs. Currently, the Club in position 12 receives 4.5% in line with the Premiership Distribution Model. The Club at the top of the Championship receives 2.25% in line with the Championship Model. This proposal suggests increasing the percentage for Clubs 13 and 14 to remove this anomaly.

11

There are a number of possible options in terms of modifying the distribution table. One possible model is shown in Appendix A, which is based on the Premiership Clubs percentages being varied to accommodate Clubs 13 and 14 in the Premier Division. This model would see no change to the distribution percentages of the non-Premier Division Clubs, in recognition of the fact that many of these Clubs may well be facing serious financial challenges.

This option is suggested since, as stated earlier in this paper, if no restructure is approved and Heart of Midlothian FC remains relegated, then Premiership clubs will be faced with a reduction in funds of £300K to cover the parachute payment.

Additionally, should the 3 relegated teams be offered financial compensation, this will clearly mean less money paid to all Clubs, with any deductions in line with the current distribution table.

The financial impact on Clubs of this proposed adjustment to the League structure is not considered to be material and should certainly not be a reason for rejecting the proposed model.

 

 

[Captain Canada]

The clubs in the Championship and below that are left with only a few players are going to find it impossible to rebuild a squad in time for a pre-season aren't they? 

 

They're likely to have very little money in the bank and no regular income. If that's the case how do they go about recruiting players for when the season is ready to restart with fans? 

 

Preseason is likely to be at least six weeks after such a long lay-off. Yes, it means they're able to survive now but is it just delaying the inevitable and will we see Championship sides effectively fielding youth teams? 

[Toxteth O'Grady]

1 minute ago, Captain Canada said:

The clubs in the Championship and below that are left with only a few players are going to find it impossible to rebuild a squad in time for a pre-season aren't they? 

 

They're likely to have very little money in the bank and no regular income. If that's the case how do they go about recruiting players for when the season is ready to restart with fans? 

 

Preseason is likely to be at least six weeks after such a long lay-off. Yes, it means they're able to survive now but is it just delaying the inevitable and will we see Championship sides effectively fielding youth teams? 

There will be plenty of guy who would love to play for their local team for little or no money. The standard might be poor but plenty clubs will be in a similar position. 

[David McCaig]

9 minutes ago, Newton51 said:

 

Bravo Ann Budge 👏👏👏 that is a very well written and reasoned proposal. Hard to give any logical reason why clubs would reject.

 

Nice that someone finally got round to speaking to Sky as well!!

[Rabbie_Burns]

40 minutes ago, Seymour M Hersh said:

 

There's stuff in it that the BBC lawyers ****s would never allow them to say. Starter for ten, what do you think it is? 

 

Was firmly tongue in cheek of course and yes more than a few items therein that would ruffle feathers indeed 👍

Edited May 26, 2020 by Rabbie_Burns

[Dusk_Till_Dawn]

2 minutes ago, David McCaig said:

Bravo Ann Budge 👏👏👏 that is a very well written and reasoned proposal. Hard to give any logical reason why clubs would reject.

 

Nice that someone finally got round to speaking to Sky as well!!

I doubt they will though

[1971fozzy]

Very good statement. 
benefactors behind us for next 5 years together with FOH.

 

get it up ye ya Vermin tramps.

 

ideal model she’s described. Knock it back and looks like full steam ahead for compensation claims which will hit the rest hard if successful.  Beautiful 

[David McCaig]

2 minutes ago, 1971fozzy said:

Very good statement. 
benefactors behind us for next 5 years together with FOH.

 

get it up ye ya Vermin tramps.

 

ideal model she’s described. Knock it back and looks like full steam ahead for compensation claims which will hit the rest hard if successful.  Beautiful 

£3-4m before covid disruption... So make it £10m if there isn't a full Championship.

[Paint the town maroon]

Just skimmed through it. Surprised by a few things. I was expecting something more radical. And AB has played the sympathy card big time which will not land with everyone.

 

i can’t see the distribution appendix which is the crux of it and I thought the parachute payment was more than £300k. The handling of the argument of the meaningless games due to the split doesn’t make sense and to open ended. The addition of two more team in the bottom league is also left open ended. 
 

Other than that many of the points make sense but have been done to death.

 

i can’t see anything about what happens after 2 years - revert to 12, keep at 14 or other?

[Jambo66]

I have no doubt that others will go through the proposal in great detail. After a quick read, a few things come to mind:-

1. While there are undoubtedly flaws with the proposal, it is clear that the intention is to save as many clubs as possible.

2. It appears to be an eminently sensible proposal to allow more considered thought to be given to longer term reconstruction.

3. It is abundantly clear that this is the sort of proposal the SPFL should have proposed 6 weeks ago. If nothing else it shows that Doncaster's days are numbered.

4. Ann Budge should probably be asked to run the whole of Scottish football and we should tell them to sod off, because she's ours.

5. She has quite beautifully and robustly indicated that if rejected, Scottish football will spend the next 12 months in court.

 

Clubs that reject this simply deserve to die.

[JamboAl1965]

think that's excellent, it shows leadership that's absent from the spfl and knocks the self interest angle on the head. clubs would be mad not to accept this.

Edited May 26, 2020 by JamboAl1965

[kila]

That's a good paper Ann Budge has put together.

 

She is clearly trying to waken Scottish football up to what is ahead of us. Too many clubs think things will just go back to normal.

 

 

[Whatever]

Will be rejected out of hand and from reading it quickly, there’s enough in there that suggests we’ll be taking things further when it is.

[BelgeJambo]

Well Done Ann

 

I very much doubt any of the existing SPFL board had that level of intelligence 

[The Internet]

I'd be surprised if anyone with any power in Scottish football even bothers reading it. Too much like hard work.

[Nucky Thompson]

Regarding relegation and playoff, I would have 2 going down and 2 coming up. 3rd and 4th in the Championship would play home and away and the winner would play 3rd bottom in the Premiership in a one off game at a neutral venue. It would have less meaningless games in the bottom 8

[1971fozzy]

2 minutes ago, Whatever said:

Will be rejected out of hand and from reading it quickly, there’s enough in there that suggests we’ll be taking things further when it is.

Yep. Fully expect the junkie tramps at the methadome to reject it along with a couple of other wank clubs like StMirren and St Johnstone. 
That will open the floodgates for legal challenges. Beautiful.

stick or twist for all now. 

[DETTY29]

10 minutes ago, Paint the town maroon said:

Just skimmed through it. Surprised by a few things. I was expecting something more radical. And AB has played the sympathy card big time which will not land with everyone.

 

i can’t see the distribution appendix which is the crux of it and I thought the parachute payment was more than £300k. The handling of the argument of the meaningless games due to the split doesn’t make sense and to open ended. The addition of two more team in the bottom league is also left open ended. 
 

Other than that many of the points make sense but have been done to death.

 

i can’t see anything about what happens after 2 years - revert to 12, keep at 14 or other?

Radical means what Strachan is proposing and that will never get through just now, which he recognised.

 

By the end of this pandemic and the impacts, some of the smaller clubs will agree with Strachan that they arent really professional after all and we will get a max of 2 pro leagues and everything else localised and where it is up to the individual clubs if the really want to invest what is really needed to be considered pro.  I.e you don't have to accept promotion..... 

Edited May 26, 2020 by DETTY29

[kila]

5 minutes ago, Nucky Thompson said:

Regarding relegation and playoff, I would have 2 going down and 2 coming up. 3rd and 4th in the Championship would play home and away and the winner would play 3rd bottom in the Premiership in a one off game at a neutral venue. It would have less meaningless games in the bottom 8

 

Those teams will care more about survival in the league though.

 

I think if there was more relegations then the wee teams would be more likely to vote no.

 

This is all just for 2 seasons. I am not keen on 14 teams and a 6/8 split, but it'll do to save Scottish football.

 

 

[tynewater]

Very well thought out and presented proposal. Hard to think of a better solution to the problems facing Scottish football at the moment. As she says, it's about survival now for many clubs. Will be interesting too see what alternatives any club voting against this comes up with, or indeed what the SPFL board have to say about it.

[jr ewing]

12 minutes ago, Paint the town maroon said:

Just skimmed through it. Surprised by a few things. I was expecting something more radical. And AB has played the sympathy card big time which will not land with everyone.

 

i can’t see the distribution appendix which is the crux of it and I thought the parachute payment was more than £300k. The handling of the argument of the meaningless games due to the split doesn’t make sense and to open ended. The addition of two more team in the bottom league is also left open ended. 
 

Other than that many of the points make sense but have been done to death.

 

i can’t see anything about what happens after 2 years - revert to 12, keep at 14 or other?

300k x 12 =3.6m about right.

[Whatever]

Oh, Benefactors have got the clubs back for the next 5 years?

 

Unlucky Keef ya throbber.

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

Save the Children, Save the SPFL,  all in a days work for Queen Ann

[Zico]

I think that’s an excellent proposal. Gives them the chance to correct their injustice but is clear that if they don’t agree, we’ll take them to court. 
 

Also, puts that wee cock Jackson back in his box - we’re here to stay ya weegie prick. **** you, **** the corrupt 34 and **** the H1B5. 

[martoon]

A good proposal. 

 

It keeps us in the Premier, of course, but we are also willing to help other clubs by allowing them to play games at Tynecastle without profiting ourselves. 

 

A great gesture by a fantastic football club. 

 

What more can we do? 

[5-1Jambo]

31 minutes ago, livi said:

LAST CHANCE 

Hearts’ SPFL reconstruction proposal in FULL – based on 14-14-14 for two years with option for 14-14-16

EXCLUSIVE

HERE is the Hearts League Reconstruction proposal sent to Scotland’s clubs this afternoon.

SunSport Online can reveal the plan being put forward by Jambos owner Ann Budge.

2

Ann Budge has vowed Hearts won't go down without a fight  

Her bid to revamp the set-up of Scottish football will be discussed by the SPFL board tomorrow.

Budge wants a 14-14-14 structure in three divisions - with an option to increase to the bottom league to 16 teams.

Hearts would be saved from relegation from the Premiership with Inverness Caley Thistle promoted along with Dundee United.

But crucially only for the next TWO YEARS.

 

2

Hearts supremo Ann Budge at Tyncastle

Budge writes: “This document, at the most simple level, addresses two major issues, currently facing Scottish Football.

• The widely accepted and much debated unfairness and unjustness of relegating Clubs as a result of the early termination of Season 2019/20.

• The need to implement a more flexible League structure to cope with the huge challenges facing Clubs of all sizes, as they fight to survive the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The proposed restructure involves moving to 3 enlarged Divisions, each of which would focus on tackling the specific and different challenges facing the larger, the medium and the smaller (often part-time) Clubs within Scottish Football.

 

“With a growing awareness of what might be involved in getting back to playing football, so too is there a growing acceptance that not all Clubs may manage to play next season. The focus for many is turning to long-term survival.

“If, unfortunately, some Clubs are unable to compete, there will be a greater likelihood that League competitions will still be able to continue, if these larger groupings are put in place, albeit not necessarily in the proposed format. We might end up with 14 teams in the Premiership, with 10 or 12 in the Championship, and with even fewer in League 1. Some are suggesting that we may end up with only 2 Divisions next season. However, every Club should have the option to make a choice.

“There are broadly 3 scenarios facing Clubs for the coming season:

• Play games behind closed doors for as long as necessary to get the season underway

• Delay the start to the season until supporters are able to get back into stadiums

• Hibernate for a season until the emergency is over

“It is not for me to suggest who should and who shouldn’t play football. It is for Clubs themselves to make that decision. For that reason, the suggested format assumes all 42 Clubs, structured in such a way as to allow each Division to decide what is best for them.

“This is not about permanent reconstruction. It is about finding a path to deal with the emergency situation, which is likely to impact all member Clubs for the next 2 seasons. When we are through this emergency we can look then at how best to move forward to start to rebuild Scottish Football.”

---

The document continues:

We are, as we all know, in the midst of a global pandemic, which has already brought untold misery to millions of families all over the world. The effects of this pandemic are not going to disappear overnight. They will be with us for some considerable time.
Every business is fighting for survival. Football is no different. Determining how best to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19 has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, incredibly complex. Across Europe and indeed across the world, different approaches have been taken and everyone is trying to learn from each other.

Here in Scotland, we are following Government guidance and we are watching other countries to learn from their experiences. We are trying to plan for the quickest and most effective way of getting Scottish Football back to normal. That said, we all know that there is going to be a “new normal”.

What that “new normal” will look like and what it will mean for Clubs, for Players, for Supporters and indeed for our Governing Bodies is a question none of us can answer right now. What we do know is that it is going to be different and it is going to bring enormous challenges both in the immediate and in the medium term. It is going to demand change and flexibility. A flexible, not a rigid, approach to meeting the challenges ahead will be vital.

The challenges we face are going to be very different depending upon whether we are involved in grassroots football, amateur football or professional football. If we consider the latter category, it will also be very different depending upon whether you are a League 1 or League 2 Club, a Championship Club or a Premiership Club. In the same way as the challenges are going to be different, so too are the solutions. There is no “one-size fits all” solution here.

I initially set out to put forward a Member’s Resolution to propose an adjustment to the League structure to address one specific problem; namely, how to avoid 3 Clubs being relegated as a consequence of recent decisions, given that these decisions, will have huge financial consequences for each of these Clubs. A discussion paper was issued to Premiership Clubs on 8th May, 2020 suggesting a way forward.

This current paper adds some detail to my initial proposition, which is largely unchanged. What has changed, however, in the intervening 2 weeks, is the growing realisation of just how badly Season 2020/2021 is likely to be impacted by the effects of Covid-19. There is a growing fear that a number of Clubs will be unable to play next season. More than ever, the focus is on survival. Changes to the League structure seem almost inevitable.

In light of the increasingly uncertain times we are facing, I want to urge every Member Club to look at this proposal not as a way to save Hearts, Partick Thistle and Stranraer from relegation, but as a better way for Scottish Football to deal with the current emergency, while at the same time righting an unintended injustice.

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4

This is not about permanent League Reconstruction, with all the angst that topic brings. Please do not assess the proposal in those terms. Rather, look at the proposal as a way to enable Clubs with hugely varying levels of resource, to group together to help as many Clubs as possible to survive through this difficult period.

Doing nothing will simply lead to us being forced to take action in the very near future. It is better to take steps now in an organised, considered and timely way rather than wait until some of our clubs hit crisis point. Doing nothing could be seen as unforgiveable by fans who wish to see Scottish football come together at an unparallelled time in the game’s history.

I have proposed that the 42 Clubs be split into 3 Divisions. While far from homogeneous groupings, these groups of Clubs have a better chance of survival if they work cooperatively together to meet the different sets of challenges they each face. We need 3 survival plans to get through this. One size most certainly does not fit all!

a) There is pressure to get our Premiership Clubs back to playing football as quickly as

possible to protect our Broadcasting contract with Sky. This contract contributes a large percentage of the income of the majority of Clubs, across all leagues. Assurances have been given by the SPFL Chief Executive, following discussions with his senior counterparts at Sky, that enlarging the Premiership to 14 teams will not be unacceptable to Sky and will not be used as a bargaining tool in any future negotiations. In fact, the proposed enlargement of the Premiership will be seen positively, bringing with it as it does, both Edinburgh and Highland derbies. It is also be noted that based on recent viewing figures published by the SPFL, Sky’s numbers would be considerably impoverished by the current plans to relegate Hearts.

Having said all of this, not being able to return to play early in Season 2020/21 is another matter entirely in terms of the new Sky deal. It looks increasingly likely that the only way to address this and get the season started will be to initially play games behind closed doors. This will bring major challenges for Premiership Clubs, not least in financial terms.

The demands on Premiership Clubs will be enormous in terms of complying with safety and protection requirements. The “return to training” and, the next stage, the “return to playing” protocols currently being outlined are hugely demanding and will be very costly to implement. We need Clubs who have the resources and the infrastructure to be able to meet these requirements, and indeed the willingness to do so, if we are to generate this much needed income stream from Broadcasting for everyone. Hearts is one of those Clubs. This is not the time to be expelling one of the League’s biggest and best resourced Clubs from the Premiership.

Everyone knows that the financial support we receive from our fans is exceptional. For over 7 years fans have contributed almost £1.5m per annum to support the Club. Since football was cancelled our supporters’ organisation, Foundation of Hearts, has amazingly had over 800 additional/increased pledges. Our benefactors too, continue to stand behind the Club. They have committed to continue to support us, not just throughout this current crisis, but for the next 5 years. Strong clubs are essential for a strong League and a strong Hearts has a big part to play in this.

With this kind of financial backing, Hearts is in a position to fund the Testing Equipment and other resources needed to enable a safe “return to training and to playing” in line with Government guidelines. We are also willing to share these

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5

resources with other Clubs, across all Divisions in the League, as requirements become clearer. The possibility of operating through “Hubs” is currently being considered and if that route proved to be sensible, Hearts is very well placed to help. Geography would undoubtedly play a part in this, but we would be happy to offer the use of Tynecastle’s facilities, on a non-profit basis, to other Premiership, Championship or League 1 clubs, where fixture scheduling allowed. Our recent infra- structure investment has provided us with 2 sets of UEFA standard changing rooms, medical facilities, tunnels and technical areas. Hearts could make these facilities available, as well as TV and media facilities. For example, were it desirable for scheduling purposes, with duplicate sets of facilities, 2 games could even be played on one day, without the need for deep cleaning in-between.

We also have access to highly flexible training facilities. Hearts not being in the Premier League at this time would seriously limit our ability to help Scottish Football.

b) Many of our Championship Clubs are going to have to work hard to survive. Few, if

any, could afford to get involved in Behind Closed Door matches. Few, if any, have the facilities to enable social-distancing measures to be complied with, even for training. There are already discussions underway around postponing the start of next season for these teams until such times as supporters are allowed back into our stadiums.

A whole different set of solutions are going to be required for these Clubs. Once again, I would argue that this is not the time to be expelling well resourced, well run and well supported Clubs like Partick Thistle from the Championship. They will be able to meet whatever is required of them to ensure they can play next season. This proposed adjustment to the Leagues would enable them to contribute at this level.

c) Our League 1 and League 2 Clubs are similarly going to face different challenges.

They are, in the main, going to struggle to fund the measures that might need to be implemented to enable them to play football at all next season. There has already been talk about some of these Clubs choosing to “moth-ball” their operations for the season. If that is indeed the best option for survival for some Clubs, then that is indeed what should be accommodated. If not, then they have to work together to determine what alternative solutions are best for them.

The proposed changes, creating 3 bigger leagues, means that if, unfortunately, some Clubs cannot see a way to play this season, there will hopefully be sufficient Clubs in each League to allow the Season to go ahead, albeit in a modified form. Maximum flexibility is crucial.

In short, the Premiership needs Hearts more than the Championship does. The Championship needs Partick Thistle more than the lower Leagues do. Let’s focus on dealing with the problem of saving Scottish Football from a position, which plays to our strengths and minimizes our weaknesses.

This paper is not about restructuring. It is about survival. The need to protect Scotland’s national game and our professional clubs is of paramount importance, not just to our staff, our players, our supporters but to the communities we serve. The impact of a club disappearing will hit local communities hard, both from a social and an economic perspective. Given everything else that our communities are dealing with at this time, we must stand together to try to ensure they do not lose their football clubs too.

---

6 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CURRENT LEAGUE STRUCTURE

---

7 OVERVIEW

Background

Scottish Football was suspended by the Scottish FA on 13th March 2020. As a consequence of that suspension, the SPFL Board (via a Written Resolution on 8th April 2020) called an end to the season for the Championship, League 1 and League 2 Divisions on 15th April 2020. The Premiership was subsequently ended on 18th May 2020.

Determining how best to deal with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic for the football world has been and continues to be incredibly complex. This is widely accepted by all. Across Europe, only one other major Professional Football League (the French League), along with the SPFL, has opted to allow teams to be relegated. In France, this case has now been referred to the Court d”Etat in what could be a protracted legal process. In Scotland, the option still remains to avoid this route, simply by adjusting the structure of the League. As things stand, the principle of Sporting Integrity has been compromised and there is widespread agreement that relegation under the current circumstances is unjust. The fact that there is a growing realisation that some form of league restructuring will be needed to help Clubs to protect their businesses and ensure their own survival, suggests the time to do this is now.

Options

a) Financial Compensation

There have been many expressions of sympathy for the Clubs, which have been relegated due to the early closure of Season 2020/21. However, sympathy is not what is needed; sympathy does not make these decisions right; sympathy does not save jobs!

Some Clubs have expressed the view that the Clubs impacted should be offered financial compensation. While this sentiment is appreciated it is difficult to argue that this would right the injustice.

In Hearts recently submitted Representation Letter to support our UEFA Financial Fair Play submission, we advised that relegation would lose Hearts, under normal circumstances, between £3-4 million in income. This figure takes no account of any further financial damage that might be caused by COVID-19 disruption continuing into Season 2020/21, which now looks inevitable.

For other Member Clubs to compensate for this level of loss in any meaningful way they would themselves lose out significantly at a time when everyone is facing their own financial challenges.

Hearts being relegated will not only cause significant financial damage to Hearts, but will result in other Premiership Clubs funding a £300k parachute payment next season. This money, plus any compensation payments agreed, could be much more effectively utilised in the fight for survival.

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8

b) League Change

I firmly believe that introducing a 3 League structure, for a 2 year period while we deal with these extraordinary circumstances, is the only sensible way to achieve the following outcomes.

• Avoid causing significant and unnecessary financial hardship to all Member Clubs.

• Facilitate Clubs of different scales to work together to focus on how each group is going to survive.

• Send out a strong message to the fans and to the football world in general, that Scottish Clubs are standing united to defeat our common enemy; namely, this pandemic, which is threatening to decimate, if not destroy, Scottish Football.

All of the above would be to the significant benefit of Scottish Football.

PROPOSED CHANGE

In a previous paper, I made the point that “emergency situations call for emergency measures”. Surely, no-one would question that we are dealing with an emergency situation.

The emergency measures being proposed involve implementing an amended structure, for two seasons, to minimise the negative outcomes created by the current emergency.

The proposal would see:

• an enlarged Premier Division of 14 teams, based on no relegation and 2 promotions (Dundee United and Inverness Caledonian Thistle) from Season 2019/20

• an enlarged Championship Division of 14 teams, based on no relegation and 6 promotions (Raith Rovers plus the teams in position 2-6 of League 1) from Season 2019/20

• the combining of the remaining League 1 Clubs with League 2 Clubs to create a new 14 team League 1. *(See below)

This proposal would see a more streamlined League structure that would facilitate improved communication and cooperation both within and across all 3 Divisions. This would also ensure no teams are further disadvantaged due to COVID-19. Most importantly, it would provide greater flexibility to deal with likely on-going problems over the next 2 seasons.

(* There is still an outstanding matter to be addressed regarding the Highland and Lowland League Play-off competition. One way of handling this would be to further increase the new League 1, to 16 teams. This would be in keeping with the underlying principle behind enlarging the Divisions and could be accommodated very easily.)

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9

COMPETITION STRUCTURE

League Set-up

Were the Divisions to be re-grouped as suggested, the details of the competition would be as outlined below, assuming a “normal” season. It is highly unlikely, however, that Season 2020/21 is going to be “normal”. Significant disruption is anticipated, in terms of starting dates and numbers of games played, across potentially all Divisions. It is also entirely possible that some part-time Clubs may choose not to play football at all, if the constraints imposed by COVID-19 are too demanding. Changes to what is outlined below, seem inevitable for next season. Hopefully, however, season 2021/22 will see a move towards greater stability, facilitating a normal competition.

a) Premiership Clubs would play each other twice (once at home and once away) providing 26 pre-split League Matches. Following this the top 6 teams would play each other twice more (once at home and once away) providing further 10 post-split League Matches and a total of 36 League Matches for the Season. The bottom 8 teams would also play each other twice more (once at home and once away) providing 14 post-split League Matches and a total of 40 Matches for the Season.

One criticism that has been levelled at the above structure is that the earlier split means there could be too many “meaningless” matches for the bottom 8 teams following the split. It has been suggested that this could be addressed by introducing a Play-off situation between teams that finish 5th, 6th and 7th to gain the new UEFA Conference League entry spot.

Concern has also been expressed that Clubs in the bottom half of the Division could lose out on a possible home game against either Celtic or Rangers, which would impact their gate receipt income. This would be offset by virtue of being guaranteed an extra home game.

On the plus side, fixture congestion would be eased slightly for the 6 Clubs at the top of the Premiership, which has been a long-stated objective, particularly for Clubs involved in European competitions.

b) Championship Clubs could follow the competition structure of the Premiership described above. Alternatively, Clubs may prefer to divide into a top 8 and bottom 6 post- split after 26 League Matches. This alternative model might provide greater jeopardy and interest amongst the bottom 6, in terms of fighting to avoid relegation or play-off. Similarly, it would extend the interest in the Season for Clubs 7 and 8 at the split by providing the opportunity to improve their position in the remaining 14 League Matches to compete for promotion or play-off positions.

c) League 1 Clubs could either follow the competition structure of the Premiership or the alternate option as described for the Championship.

The major advantage for Clubs in the Championship and League 1 is that it addresses the current problem of playing every Club 4 times a season, which is not at all popular with Clubs, with players or most importantly with supporters. It is often stated that the current format is so unpopular that it negatively impacts attendances. Anything that encourages supporters to come to live games can only be good for the game.

10

Fixture Scheduling for the proposed structure

This structure would see an overall increase in the number of matches played across the full season, as follows. The figures exclude Play-off matches.

Premiership Current 12 team structure : Each team plays 38 games per season

New 14 team structure : 6 teams play 36 games per season 8 teams play 40 games per season Lower leagues

Current 10 team structure : Each team plays 36 games per season

New 14 team structure: 6 teams play 36 games per season 8 teams play 40 games per season

This would result in an overall increase of matches across the Season. Having discussed this with Iain Blair, he is confident that this can be accommodated. While fixture congestion is regularly discussed as a challenge, this occurs in the main in the Premiership as a consequence of date restrictions and is, therefore, not a major consideration.

This structure would mean that 24 Clubs would play additional matches, providing potential for additional gate receipts; 12 Clubs would see no change in the number of games; 6 Clubs (Top 6 Premiership Clubs) would play 2 fewer League fixtures, which would be seen as advantageous, as stated earlier.

The potential for greater variety of fixtures, coupled with an increase in the number of League fixtures should be seen as a benefit to most Clubs.

Promotions, Relegations and Play-Offs

Rules governing Promotions and Relegations would continue to apply as at present.

That said, should disruption caused by COVID-19 be significant in Season 2020/21, resulting in it being impossible to play a full round of fixtures, then it may be appropriate to vote by a simple majority, for no promotions or relegations for that Season only.

Play-offs competition rules would similarly continue to apply as at present.

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DISTRIBUTION MODEL

The only change to the current model would arise if Clubs in positions 13 and 14 (ie. the 2 additional Clubs promoted to the Premiership) were to see their percentage share of funds increased to bring them more in line with other Premiership Clubs. Currently, the Club in position 12 receives 4.5% in line with the Premiership Distribution Model. The Club at the top of the Championship receives 2.25% in line with the Championship Model. This proposal suggests increasing the percentage for Clubs 13 and 14 to remove this anomaly.

11

There are a number of possible options in terms of modifying the distribution table. One possible model is shown in Appendix A, which is based on the Premiership Clubs percentages being varied to accommodate Clubs 13 and 14 in the Premier Division. This model would see no change to the distribution percentages of the non-Premier Division Clubs, in recognition of the fact that many of these Clubs may well be facing serious financial challenges.

This option is suggested since, as stated earlier in this paper, if no restructure is approved and Heart of Midlothian FC remains relegated, then Premiership clubs will be faced with a reduction in funds of £300K to cover the parachute payment.

Additionally, should the 3 relegated teams be offered financial compensation, this will clearly mean less money paid to all Clubs, with any deductions in line with the current distribution table.

The financial impact on Clubs of this proposed adjustment to the League structure is not considered to be material and should certainly not be a reason for rejecting the proposed model.

Why is this being Headlined as Hearts Reconstruction Plan? Anne worked on it with other clubs. Oops just seen who printed it. Silly me. 

 

 

[milky_26]

have just quickly skimmed it, did i miss things about promotion from the highland/lowland league or was there nothing about it?

[Captain Canada]

It's a disgrace that it's fallen on Budge to put so much work into two proposals when it should  be Doncaster's job. 

 

I think it's a fair and sensible document but still expect it to be dismissed as early as tonight by self-serving clubs. 

[Flux]

If the lower league teams don't have enough players then the top teams should be limited to 25 players and the remaining players are given to the teams below but allow for free movement if you are contracted to them. In Cup games the players are Cup tied. 

[Jambo-Fox]

24 minutes ago, David McCaig said:

Bravo Ann Budge 👏👏👏 that is a very well written and reasoned proposal. Hard to give any logical reason why clubs would reject.

 

Nice that someone finally got round to speaking to Sky as well!!

I agree it’s excellent! [NB Sadly it would be logical if you hate Hearts and want to harm them to reject that!]

 

Hopefully common sense will prevail and it will be accepted and approved!

 

It still puzzles me why she is doing Neil Doncaster’s job for him! Ann for SPFL CEO! 

[The Merse]

2 minutes ago, milky_26 said:

have just quickly skimmed it, did i miss things about promotion from the highland/lowland league or was there nothing about it?

She’s suggesting 14 x3 or 14 x 2 + 16 if there was appetite to support promotions from highland and lowland leagues.

[Flux]

Ann to also get a share of Doncasters salary for at least getting Microsoft Word open... 

[Selkirkhmfc1874]

Well since Mrs Budge proposal is out I can say what I'd heard and said to saughton in pm ! Sky want us in the top league and want the Edinburgh derbies which they've made clear to Doncaster so Doncaster is in reverse now to try convince clubs to back proposal 

[Gizmo]

18 minutes ago, Paint the town maroon said:

Just skimmed through it. Surprised by a few things. I was expecting something more radical. And AB has played the sympathy card big time which will not land with everyone.

 

i can’t see the distribution appendix which is the crux of it and I thought the parachute payment was more than £300k. The handling of the argument of the meaningless games due to the split doesn’t make sense and to open ended. The addition of two more team in the bottom league is also left open ended. 
 

Other than that many of the points make sense but have been done to death.

 

i can’t see anything about what happens after 2 years - revert to 12, keep at 14 or other?

I'd like to see the option for a discussion half-way through with the clubs (and likely the broadcasters) as to how the new format has performed, over a variety of metrics. Fan input will need to form part of that.

Then it could be assessed whether their is an appetite for retaining or adjusting the new format. 

It's a comprehensive document, particularly good at discussing that the clubs will face differing challenges. 

[The Merse]

It is a complete farce that we’re the ones having to put this together.

 

Makes it all the easier for it to be perceived as purely self-interest and voted down. Oh, wait.

[milky_26]

Just now, The Merse said:

She’s suggesting 14 x3 or 14 x 2 + 16 if there was appetite to support promotions from highland and lowland leagues.

cheers, i'm glad there is thought for the pyramid structure and it has not just been ignored

[David McCaig]

1 minute ago, Selkirkhmfc1874 said:

Well since Mrs Budge proposal is out I can say what I'd heard and said to saughton in pm ! Sky want us in the top league and want the Edinburgh derbies which they've made clear to Doncaster so Doncaster is in reverse now to try convince clubs to back proposal 

As I've said in other posts what Sky want they will get. They have the SPFL over a £7m barrel here.

[Jambo66]

1 minute ago, Selkirkhmfc1874 said:

Well since Mrs Budge proposal is out I can say what I'd heard and said to saughton in pm ! Sky want us in the top league and want the Edinburgh derbies which they've made clear to Doncaster so Doncaster is in reverse now to try convince clubs to back proposal 

But, but, but, we were told that the only thing that matters to Sky is 4 bigot derbies. Are you really suggesting that Sky are a commercial business and understand their market?

 

Doncaster cannot possibly survive this.

[Sooperstar]

I've gone full circle. I think this will happen.

[Defender]

I'll admit I had my doubts any proposal but this is a well written logical proposal that might actually pass.

[south morocco]

Jumping the gun a bit I know but what happens after the two year period? 

[Gizmo]

14 minutes ago, Whatever said:

Oh, Benefactors have got the clubs back for the next 5 years?

 

Unlucky Keef ya throbber.

Yep. She was very, very clever too. Offering Hearts facilities at cost, offering to fund the testing needed. But, crucially, letting everyone know that we are bankrolled and will be able to afford to raise court proceedings.

She should have been a top level diplomat. 

Edited May 26, 2020 by Gizmo

[Beast Boy]

43 minutes ago, livi said:

Our benefactors too, continue to stand behind the Club. They have committed to continue to support us, not just throughout this current crisis, but for the next 5 years

[Guest ToqueJambo]

6 minutes ago, Jambo-Fox said:

I agree it’s excellent! [NB Sadly it would be logical if you hate Hearts and want to harm them to reject that!]

 

Hopefully common sense will prevail and it will be accepted and approved!

 

It still puzzles me why she is doing Neil Doncaster’s job for him! Ann for SPFL CEO! 

 

This in spades. It's so bizarre. 

[Defender]

When is this likely to go to a vote?

[joondalupjambo]

Celtic will call a 2 hour Board meeting, spend 5 minutes with a motion for rejection and a vote and then the members will spend the next 1 hour 55 minutes drinking coffee while their Minute Sectetary goes through the proposal looking for any spelling, grammar or punctuation mistakes.

They will find a few examples and say that the proposal was carefully looked at but rejected due to inconsistencies.

[Guest ToqueJambo]

25 minutes ago, Mauricio Pinilla said:

I'd be surprised if anyone with any power in Scottish football even bothers reading it. Too much like hard work.

 

Also this unfortunately. No-one in the media will read it that's for sure. Tom English maybe so we'll get more of these frustrating "discussions" on Sportsound where only one pundit has read up on the issues and is speaking from an informed viewpoint and the rest are going from what they gleaned from headlines in the Record and Sun.

Edited May 26, 2020 by ToqueJambo

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

2 minutes ago, Gizmo said:

Yep. She was very, very clever too. Offering Hearts facilities at cost, offering to fund the testing needed. But, crucially, letting everyone know that we are bankrolled and will afford to raise court proceedings.

She should have been a top level diplomat. 

She has not had a great couple of years, but we are most likely bankrolled due to her