Thursday 29 March 2012

Support the SPL Chairmen who want change!

The chairmen of the 10 non-Old Firm football clubs met last week to discuss how the Scottish Premier League (SPL) is run. At the moment, for any substantial change to happen, there needs to be a majority of at least 11 in favour and only one against. This, in practice, means that all the advantages that Celtic and Rangers have in terms of the distribution of money in the SPL cannot be changed unless at least one of them vote against these advantages. That is unlikely to happen despite the 10 non-Old Firm clubs repeatedly trying to have a fairer system. The Old Firm not only cling hard to their lion's share of the money but also supported a smaller SPL (until last week, when Lawwell of Celtic suggested he might agree to expanding the SPL to 14 teams). Considering the current state of Scottish football finances and poor standing of the Scottish club teams and the international team, business as usual shouldn't be an option.

The 10 chairmen envisage an expanded league with a more even distribution of money. By changing the voting system these and other changes become possible. They are asking for a 9 - 3 voting system, which is a very modest change, and perhaps should be seeking at least an 8 - 4 voting system, in my view.

The 10 chairmen need to be given encouragement to stick by their resolve to unite against the Old Firm at the next meeting of the SPL on 12th April 2012.

If you want to read more about this, then here are some newspaper articles you should read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jimspence/2012/03/as_the_debate_about_change.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17501490

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17480035

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17467025

http://www.scotsman.com/news/spl-tv-deal-gang-of-ten-could-quit-league-over-votes-reform-1-2199629

http://www.scotsman.com/news/supporters-more-important-than-the-tv-companies-insists-hibs-md-1-2201925

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17528654

"Kilmarnock's Michael Johnston has compared the campaign to change the voting rights in Scotland's top flight to Arab pro-democracy movements. The 10 non-Old Firm clubs want to change the 11-1 majority required for major Scottish Premier League changes....
"The Arab Spring has reached Scotland," Johnston told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound programme."



To make it an Arab Spring, the Chairmen need some help from the "wee people". So ....


1. Send an email or letter to the chairmen of the 10 non-Old Firm clubs telling them you support their opposition to the 11-1 voting rule.
2. At the next football match you attend, hold up a sign saying "Yes to 9-3". That will encourage more people to discuss the issue and support the 10 non-Old Firm chairmen.

This is not a vote against Celtic or Rangers, it is a vote to keep them in the SPL in a way that all teams and their fans can benefit from.

Comments are welcome from both sides of the argument, but any comments that wouldn't be acceptable in the Scotsman newspaper or BBC website, will  not be acceptable here either.


3 comments:

  1. I emailed each of the top 25 Scottish clubs (by league position at the time) excluding the OF in 2009/10 suggesting they force a change in the voting structure.
    There was no need to wait for a club to go bust, the catalyst for my email was this story;
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8353937.stm
    After this final rejection from England the OF have nowhere else to go, so the other clubs can set up a new league (if reqd) and define their own rules and voting structure, if the OF want to join they must agree to the rules (with negative outcomes for those who criticise the league while in it).

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  2. NB only Airdrie Utd replied to my well-written and courteous email, but they did consider my suggestion not viable.
    I also submitted my suggestion to the Scotsman, where it was published (print version only).
    I stand by the proposal and think it should be done regardless of Rangers current situation.

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    Replies
    1. The BBC are reporting that the 10 are still steadfast in their determination to stick together. I hope so! If Rangers do arrive at the newco stage, the 10 can just vote for the change in voting structure before considering letting the newco re-enter.

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