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Scottish football's three major competitions all being sponsored by bookies is kind of like waving a double whisky beneath the nose of an alcoholic. It has been clear for some time that betting is endemic within football and its following to the extent that it has long since developed into the problem described. So what do the governing bodies do? Have bookies as their three main competition sponsors. Clearly these bookies are sufficiently cynical to identify a series of cheap sponsorship deals which, on the other hand, carry a disproportionate market exposure for them with this kind of access. Without scruple, they exploit this to the absolute maximum and with as little regard for the wreckable lives they are getting a cheap hotline into as they have for how many shops they open in poor and vulnerable areas like the Merkinch. If you are in any doubt about what a sinister influence bookmakers are, drop into the Merkinch charity For The Right Reasons in Grant Street and speak to Richard Burkitt.

It's good to see that we've finally seemed to have made red and blue stripes our 'thing'. Don't mind the white collar but it'd be nice to have little more black in the kit. A black stripe down the side instead of the white one would've looked a bit better IMO.

Lot of imagination put into Fonners Tango suit, no wonder he's falling asleep there

Can live with those, although I would have preferred black trim on the home strip. Pleased that we have got rid of the naff 'Pride Of The Highlands' logo on the club crest, especially as there is not a great deal to be proud of right now.

Pure shyte lazy journalism, that's all.

Like Caman, I just don't see why Paul Hartley is being touted for ICT. I don't think he is a great manager, his record is not great and he is not the man I would want to replace RF.

i punched in all various results to excel for bottom 4 and we can still win all 3 and go down if motherwell beat hamilton. on the other hand we can win all 3 and still finish 9th with well, dundee and hamilton tied on 36pts.

I would happily settle for pink with yellow polka dots if we were wearing it in the Premiership next season.

So very true and I am sure that the football authorities would prefer to have other sponsors but our game has been so poorly and incompetently administered and marketed for years and years that companies are hardly falling over themselves in their rush to have their corporate identities attached to and associated with it. Accordingly, when the bookies offer their tarnished cash it is greedily grabbed with both hands.

Will that be so you don't have to wash it so often?

Red and blue stripes = good. But the white cuffs, collar and pinstripe look a bit tacky! What's with the Clach and Dundee Utd strips in the picture?

I will stay out of the ethics or morality debate and just say this ......... to be fair ... only the most rose-tinted of glasses wearers would bet on us to win this year .... !!!

I can only partly agree. Gambling can be an addiction and those afflicted deserve sympathy and support. However, nobody is addicted to wagering on their own team to lose. That is letting down your employers, your colleagues and the fans for no other motive than personal greed which is unacceptable and unforgivable.

Not many of us understand addictions so it would be inappropriate to comment.

Have to agree with all of the above re youth development. Growing up , AstroTurf was the surface sold on making first touch and passing better, yet as a country we produce fewer first class players now than we did when kids played on streets and in fields with jackets as posts. I know the game is greatly different now, but kids are over coached from an early age, instead of letting them enjoy and learn to love the game before we get into serious stuff.Do we think Patrick paying £4m for training facilities will produce more talent and better end product than currently? Can't see it myself. Better end the post as starting to sound like my Dad, and besides, they are away to lock the doors to my care home.

Hope you don't get banned...lacking a sense of humour is not a crime.

I hope so. In my view, 'Pride of the Highlands' is great for a flag or banner but not at all appropriate for our official club crest.