Kirishima

Very interesting. As you said Scotty, this is a drive to increase the income of the clubs and SPL. But TV money at its peak was just 20%-30% of total income. It's well less now. The SPL are telling chairman, here's an extra ?200k but in return you'll have to gamble on being relegated to the wilderness and you'll have to therefore spend to avoid that. Ralph Topping, Chairman of SPL, a man that only every had just one employer William Hill want the return of Tore Andre Flos, Laudrups, Suttons in the belief that Sky will be running back with cash-a-plenty. PWC said the only way out of this crisis is to cut-costs. Stop paying exorbiant wages, groundshare, merge, sell and re-build, produce assets (players) to be sold. Hamilton got three seasons worth of TV money for one player, Hearts got 18 seasons worth. We have to let youth be played, and sold. That will only happen with a bigger league. There are markets out there to sell players to, but they're only interested in buying the Huttons, Wilsons, Gordons, McCarthys, i.e. young players that are playing week in week out and doing well. They'll do well given time and not fighting relegation every game they lose, to be replaced with Dutch Diddys. I have e-mailed George Fraser, very politely and positively, to ask him to vote no. That's where the battle will be won or lost at this stage.

Thanks for the green dots!! In no way am i saying my idea is the best way, red dots are fine , but surely there are alternative ideas we should be mulling over in order to improve Scottish football. And therein lies the rub. Fans: Improve Scottish football for the benefit of all, not for the few SPL: Change Scottish football for the financial benefit of the elite clubs and the SPL. Alex, I'm not sure, but I imagine an SPL & SPL2 set-up would see SPL teams get Sky Sports money, and SPL2 get BBC Alba money (i.e. scraps). 12th man makes a much better suggestion in a paragraph than McLeish did in one year. As Charles pointed out, Colt teams and a 10 team league is another way of saying "we only need a 10 team league to have the OF play each other 4 times (min), everyone buy foreign players and we get Sky back!!" Almost all of the major clubs are tens of millions in debt.. That is going to catch up with clubs soon, and it won't be pretty The only way out of this is to do everything humanly possible to get them out of it by planning for it now. The likes of Craig Gordon ?9m, Alan Hutton ?9m, Barry Ferguson ?6.5m, Duncan Ferguson ?4m, James McCarthy ?1.2m are the answer. That's why it's imperative to stop buying foreign players (which Topping has stated he wants), revolutionise youth football, and to have a 16 team league to allow teams breathing space to develop youth on-field without worrying about being relegated for doing so. If we can work out ways to help smaller teams to do likewise, pride, passion, and identity will return. I really fear that the SPL juggernaut won't stop, so it's up to SPL fans to pressure their Chairman to vote NO to this. Time is running out to save the greedy few from destroying the sub-30 teams they care not for.

My last post was sarcastic. I'm totally against a league of 10 and everything the SPL have said. Lets look at other countries' leagues, with a similar population...how many teams? Norway: 16 Slovakia: 12 Denmark: 12 Finland: 14 Croatia: 16 The whole idea of a 10 team league is is to deprive 2 teams of TV money. They have mentioned nothing about youth football, facilities, crippling club debt, ticket prices, investment, fans wishes, or anything remotely comprehensive. They messed up last time stupidly trying to hold SKY Sports to ransom, and nearly drove every club to the wall as a result, make no mistake, they don't have the good of the game in mind and aren't competent. It's a crime they are allowed to continue running/ruining the game.

"If you look at Scottish football, a 16-team league wouldn't work economically and it would have a knock-on effect in terms of the quality of players you can attract." (SPL chairman Ralph Topping) "The cake gets much smaller and is cut into more slices," (SPL CEO Neil Doncaster re: 16/18 team league) So the two most important things are 1) buying players in from outside Scotland and 2) having less teams sharing the money. That's the ticket!!

As SPL clubs meet to discuss the future set-up and that 88% of supporters are against the proposed (farcical imo) 10 team "revamp" what really could be done? 92% of fans feel they haven't been consulted properly either. So, rather than a discussion of how bad things are, what is everyones vision for a proper set-up and critique of others ideas put forward? Regional Youth League 14 regional teams (Ayrshire, Borders, Central Scotland, Dumfries+Galloway, Dunbartonshire+Argyll+Bute, Fife, Grampian, Glasgow, Highlands+Western Isles, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Orkney+Shetland, Renfrewshire, Tayside. Players signed to SPL teams prohibited from entry Ages 12-14, 14-16, 16-18 (three leagues) Play each other once in summer (13 games, neutral venue, over one month, intensive training, 60 min matches) Top four teams 16-18, play semi-final and final. Televised. Run in conjuction with schools, councils, clubs 16-18 age group enter draft after summer league finishes, lowest ranking semi-pro ranking club in players region has first pick (think NFL) Clubs pay fee for player (means tested) Non-picks go to amateur league draft in region (free) Naturally, 16 team SPL, home/away, one division of 14 (2-up/3-down), two pro-amateur divisions of 14 under on same level (i.e East/West or North/South of 12 with winners promoted, runners up play-off) 30 Professional teams/14 semi-professional/2 x 12 pro-amateur/amateur (?) Professional teams pay tax (1% of gate, 1% of TV money, 1% of transfer fees received from outside Scotland, etc, etc to semi-professional teams and likewise for semi-pro to pro-amateur, Pro players pay 1% of wage) Professional teams with between 3000 - 6000 support can register as community clubs and get exemptions on fees etc. Clubs in debt must reduce deficit by 5% per year Wages not exceeding 45% of turnover Maximum 3 non-EU players in starting squad Minimum 5 home-grown players (trained for 2 years 16-18 or signed through regional league) in squad

I imagine this is not a new thought in DFS's mind. However, it may alert certain people/start the ball rolling. Why not be proactive? People tend to come when they feel wanted. Urs Schwarzenbach, of Ben Alder Estate, Inverness-shire has over ?800 million apparently. Also owns a polo team. Interest in owning sporting teams... Seriously though, I do think that Inverness may have an advantage over other clubs in attracting a potential backer. The club is debt free by and large, a major stumbling block for others, its location in the millionaire's playground (hunting estate territory, owners of tetra pak and above and Mr Trump) and the "free" price tag...

Had it been on ITV I could see the reasoning, but not the BBC. Even the antiques roadshow has slim pickings some weeks but the show must go on! Had the OF been playing each other in a sole game of the weekend, would they have showed it... Yes.

Pretty raging about this. Everything I heard indicated a 16-team format was what was wanted. But of course, no, a 10 team league. We had that!!! Waste of time, I thought Doncaster had some gumption. Here's hoping it's booted out.

Fukuoka, Japan and Shanghai, China where i've lived. One country was great, one was like a car crash. Wore my ICT top in Japan. Inverness have still to make a name here, many fans know Gers, Celtic, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, but struggle after that. Need to buy a Japanese player - then the media would go crazy, show ICT games, interviews, documentaries, etc etc etc. A washing line !!!!!!

Everyone was talkimg about TB and the Dons...but not about Well. I doubt it's a step-up, but former managers etc.. Motherwell should have had Brown and Knox on contracts by now. Boyle is bitter because he's looking the fool, by fsiling to do his job properly.

It is believed Pardew became close friends with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and director Derek Llambias when all three were familiar faces at an exclusive London casino where Llambias was managing director. Mike Ashley: Owner of NUFC Llambias: Managing Director Alan Pardew: Friend. Three buddies looking after themselves. It's like Gazza, Chris Evans, and Danny Baker!!! Absolute joke of a man, and board. They are parasites.

Mike Ashley is such a git. IT's more than harsh - that's an owner who is out of control. The fans should have forced him out by now - he's a joke.

England didn't get it because they aren't liked by FIFA,for a long list of reasons, some fair, some not. So the others were always in with a better chance, and two were sharing, not popular. Easy decision. Qatar is a weird one, as Australia were ignored, and I dont know why.

Keane is still there because a couple of wins and then Ipswich would be close to the playoff zone. How they beat West Brom i'll never know, Priskin was a disaster. Preston, Leicester and Watford will seal his fate either way. I would think Terry would be a candidate if Keane went, and it's not a bad team they've got - they need a man-manager, to instill confidence... However, let's all hope Keane stays!!!

Willie McStay must be deeelighted Brewster "stepped down" (Scotsman) "quits" (P&J) as to have Mr Brewster as asst. manager reminds me of a Annie Lennox song. Not bothered whether he quit or was forced out, and no personal grudge against him, but it's obvious he just doesnt have what it takes. And I cant see why he thought he should get the county job, he is a fitness coach at best.

TB is free to do whatever he wants to do or doesnt want to do, as it will not be with the Dons. He is a living God and he will certainly not be touching a leper colony like Pittodrie. Not worried at all.

Can we not get him done for slander/ wasting police time/ etc etc?

Am watching video on FIFA website....Russia and Australia for me. Gotta give it to big countries who have never had it. Only fair. Mind you, England WC would give Scotland a nice tourism boost!

On their site, IIRC, Adam was 50k, 75k after appearences etc, and had a sell-on clause. Didnt mention a buy back clause, but may well be in there. I agree with Sorted, Adam will have plenty of suitors come January, however will they be attractive propositions. For example, if Hearts, Crystal Palace or Sheff utd came in would they really excite him? I'd imagine he'll be looking at getting premiership football with a newly promoted team, so it depends on the calibre of club that comes in...hopefully Mowbray, Burley and DFerguson make bids to make him stay!!!

As it stands in the championship, there are several teams in with a shout of the playoffs. In terms of league goals scored in order of league position after 19 games: QPR (35) Cardiff (34) Swansea (24) Derby (33) Norwich (31) Coventry (27) Burnley (30) Leeds (32) Nottm Forest (21) Doncaster (30) Pure conjecture, but i'd imagine Swansea and Nottm Forest will be in the market for a striker and the only kind of club with matching ambitions. Swansea are having terrible scoring problems, a winger is their top scorer with 8 league goals in 16 games, with Stephen Dobbie behind with 4. Craig Beattie has 1. Nottm Forest have some bigger name strikers who prob wouldnt make way. So, I'd say Swansea is the only real potential destination. Hopefully, Rooney will stay, Foran, Hayes, a record breaking season, Terry, belief, the fans, playing time, Maurice, euro push...sign another year!!!

What other team has had a player that has been with only one professional club and with that club has played in every professional division of that club's football association? And what other top division team in the world has a starting player that once played for...Fort William? ICT....unique.

SPLturnover.bmp Season 2007/2008: ICT and St Mirren had similar attendances for that year. ICT had the lowest wage bill overall (1.4m )but in real wage/turnover ratio terms 62% making it 4th highest behind Hearts (124%), St Mirren (74%), Motherwell (73%). Most striking was the jump in annual wages from 2007 to 2008 by £150,000. Our bottom line was reduced by £700,000, which would have been more without the sale of Marius. A £432,000 loss before tax therefore that year. To sum up, now, i reckon we'd be 9th, well ahead of Accies, and above St Johnstone, and St Mirren (just) and near Motherwell . However, 2.3m turnover in 07/08 could be eclipsed in 10/11 if attendances stay high, (9th in SPL at 5030 avg) a good Scottish Cup run materialises, and there's a healthy league finish. Player sales could elevate that however, that's not a factor i'd want to take into consideration. Profitable year, if wages are no more than £1m, even before taking into consideration a good league finish and cup run... From PWC PDF and SPL website

It was me. My defence counsel has made this statement below: "The post used a comparison that bore no relation to the topic in question, and my client felt that any point discussed on ICT, when compared to such serious matters as death, would naturally pale in comparison, thus making it a moot point." You have 28 days to appeal. :)

The referees have a helluva time. I refereed once, in high school, biggest mistake ever. Referees dont make mistakes on purpose. Im sure they'd be the first to adopt technology, they're not allowed. How much does a ref get for a game? Not a lot i'd wager. Mr MacDonald made a panicked error - geez, a lot of people here must be very sage and wise to be calling for his head...witchunts will only drive numbers down. Solution: pay refs 2 grand a game...then we'll have a bigger, better, more competitive pool to pick from. I'm surprised they can muster up 12 as it is.

Esson!! What on earth is Bell in there for? And why only two goalkeepers? But yes, ICT at the moment arent a rich vein forthe Scotland squad, but come the next world cup, Nick Ross will be leading the line!