Sorted

Yes. They go to games and make money out of both clubs for the duration of hostilities. (They also provide the First Aid.) As I understand it, they also store the gate receipts in places that are very difficult to trace. Once found, they are even more difficult to access.

Just out of interest, as most of us on CTO are Scotland fans why are we letting something that won't concern us bother us? Our game is already pretty shambolic and the SPL Mafia seem intent in making sure we never have a system that allows clubs to bring through talent without fear.

Let's hope he had a better "advice line service" when progressing this move than when he left ICT. That and he told them where he'd left the car!

Await correction but .....................it's now 21st January and I don't think an SPL club has paid any money for a player this transfer window?

Doubt it. No one outside of Scotland really cares about Scottish football and by that I mean fans of Italian clubs etc not ICT fans living in another country. That said this article is interesting reading... http://arabtrust.co....nion-of-the-spl Saw that on TV the other night RIG. Although I take the point, I think, in reality, they have had the Spanish equivalent of the Scottish football for many years. Two teams that win almost everything, light years ahead of everyone else in financial terms. Don't believe the gulf is any less significant in Spain that it is here. The product however, is an entirely different beast!

Listened to Radio Scotland when driving home tonight becoming more and more irate at a number of issues. Firstly, the lack of pointed questioning by the alledged journalistic expert on the panel, Jim Traynor. He allowed Doncaster to get off with murder and continue to spout the party line without challenge. Despite his continuing utterances that "this is only option" at no point was he asked or forced to explain why!!!!! Any journo worth his salt would surely have sought detail on the numbers to the question CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THE LISTENERS AND SUPPORTERS WHY A 16 OR 18 TEAM LEAGUE DOES NOT WORK FINANCIALLY? He was allowed to make this statement continually without being forced to provide any evidence therefore, I, like everyone else, remain in the dark like an undervalued mushroom becoming harder to find each year. **** poor journalism! Secondly, the ridiculously poor quality of the presentation by Doncaster both in terms of substance and delivery. If this is the best calibre of individual our beloved SPL leaders can source to represent them then it is little wonder our game is in the shambles it is. Monotonous, uninspiring and melancholic are three words that come to mind. Surely Topping and company must recognise that if they wish to continue to sell such a sub standard product to the public they must, at least, engage a salesman of substance and stature not the man form the Pru on his final week before being made redundant. Thirdly, I was disappointed (unusually) by the contribution of our major shareholder. If we have, or are going to, surrender and join the Self Preservation Group just say so! There is no shame in having a position but at least do the decent thing and explain the stance, the reasons why and the aim for the future. As magnificent as he was on the show the previous week, I was left confused by his lack of concise answers this evening. Finally, thank you John Roberston. Not a big fan of the wee man but he deserves great credit for trying to take Doncaster to task. Sadly, he did not receive any support from the profession whose job it is to do so but, despite his primary expertise and training being in football, he at least laid a glove on the pompous ****. 100% agree with him (and have said so on other topics) that this is the only opportunity to save our game and must be grasped. Keep fighting Robbo! I'm off to hit the bottle with a blank sheet of paper and a pen. My task tonight is to write a paper for my son on: WHY CHANGING THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL STRUCTURE FROM 12, 10,10, 10 TO 10, 12,10,10 REPRESENTS RADICAL CHANGE? Will be here all night...........................................

Transfer window is very quiet. Lack of movement and the small sums being quoted surely shows how much trouble our game is in or, at last, clubs have finally realised you can't spend what you don't have! As for Craig Brown, I think he'll do a great job full stop and hope he does (aside form ICT games obviously!). Scottish game needs a strong Aberdeen both economically and on the field. Good manager who never got the credit he deserved.

With KB on this one. Nish has a lot to prove, like Dargo when he came here, and maybe he will. If the deal at ?200k plus Nish is true, then I think it would be a fantastic piece of business.

And he talked Rossco out of a move to Turkey! Would be interesting to know what Tokes view is now on not taking up the offer? Is he happy with the very long and successful career he continues to enjoy or does he regret missing out on the big money?

Big decisions ahead both for the club and young Mr Rooney. Do we say no to the cash and hope that retaining Adam will help us in securing as high a league finish as possible? Where, allowing for Adam's wages and the differential in place payments, would we need to finish to justify this risk? 5th instead of 7th? (Awaits Scotty or CD with an arithmetical formula ) If the club take the risk and it backfires will we hammer them? Is a bird in the hand really worth two in the bush? How big is the bush and is it well maintained? For Adam, can he really say no to a deal worth (allegedly) ?10k per week? Is compromise in lifestyle worth the extra cash? Is the Russian league the next "place to be"? Is he prepared to take the risk that his form will be continued and other opportunities will come his way in the future? Can he risk an injury without the security of the ?10k pay packet? For me, the club need to negotiate as hard as the can for as much as they can which includes squeezing Stoke's percentage down if possible and making the player wave any right to a share. I'm pretty certain he's off and would rather take the cash now than risk nothing. As for Adam, if I was in his shoes, I'd be off if the offer we hear is true. Two seasons or even six months failure and a huge pay off, he is made for life. If we are all being brutally honest how many of us would/could say no?

The choice as I see it is simple. Support the status quo in a revamped Self Preservation League of two divisions ensuring that all the existing members of the gang keep their funding streams in tact. Or, make a radical decision to make our game an inclusive league where those who show ambition and drive, on and off the field have the chance to get into an expanded top flight. The first option will ensure that we are subjected to more third rate imports and the same fixtures over and over, year after year. It will keep the gaps between the teirs of clubs in Scottish football exactly as is, especially in monetary terms. Nothing will change. The second option. Who knows? But surely it can't be any worse than this!!!

No idea about the commercial merits of this decision as I am unaware of the financial detail. All I will say is that it is not good coporate practice to do "internal" deals without ensuring that all avenues have been explored. It may well be that the rumoured deal is best for everyone but, for the avoidance of any doubt it would be best practice to test the market or at least explain how the decision has been reached. That said, can't remember the last time I was there!

CD is spot on in stating that appeal grounds are very limited. Await with interest but instinct tells me that there will be no appeal and perhaps this is just being used as a negotiating tool to try to reach out of court settlement on the forthcoming Sheriff Court action. Have been wrong before though........

Disappointed at the lack of humble pie munching going on in this thread (Scotty apart) but as usual, the opportunity to praise or apologise isn't as exciting as the chance to savage (no pun intended ) or lambast. Delighted for our club and in particular, our much maligned board. They stuck by their guns and ultimately, were proven to have told the truth. I hope our legal costs are huge and I hope the club pursues compensation to the very end. Our board get far more, way more, right than they get wrong. When you look around at the state of other clubs the length and breadth of the country we should be delighted to have what we have. Granted, like every institution, they get things wrong at times but for this poster, any mistakes made are far outweighed by successes. Do us good to remember that more often. As for Marius (nothing personal, only met the guy once) but like many involved in our game , the £ or $ or € comes first. He never had a burning desire to play for our club, couldn't wait to get away and took some bad advice. I await publication of the full judgement with interest (not on CAS site) as I'm pretty certain it will conclusively prove our board were 100% right and the player (and his advisors) 100% wrong. This will not be an "on balance" case. No doubt there will be more to come in the Scottish Courts but I have faith in our system too. Wait to see. Meantime, delighted that our cash (the money generated by punters going to football) will stay in our game and at our club , not lining the pockets of mercenary players or agents with no interest in our club. Well done George and Co!! PS. Make sure he coffs up for the parking charges at the airport!!!!

One awaits the sound of munching as the "Muppet Bashers" chew their plates of humble pie ..................

We shouldn't delude ourselves into thinking that sighing a new cintract woul be "a good thing" for Adam. Good for the club and fans yes but not for Adam as all it would do is put a financial burden on his options and allow the club to dictate what happens (unless of course he has his contract claused to death which makes it pretty pointless really). I don't expect him to sign and if it was me, I wouldn't. He will be free to discuss any opportunity that comes his way from January on and I don't envisage any situation where the club will put a deadline on any deal for him going forward. This is a golden opportunity for him as he is in the peak of his form and injury free. Why risk a dip next season or a spell out? Ever since Brew (that's right, Brew, the big guy many choose to abuse at any opportunity) took a risk he has been first class. When, not if, he goes, I wish him well.

Aside from the Jorge Cadete debacle (was it on pupose or mistake who knows?) Farry always struck me as reasonable. When you see the ***** that followed him, he was an absolute genius! Was 100% with him on the funeral, especially if it saved me from hearing that bloody awful Elton John song again. Farry was probably a wee bit ahead of his time.

Sure they do as any compensation to be paid will not come out of their pockets! Easy to be generous with other peoples money. Sacking McGhee will, IMO, not solve the problem that is Willie Miller. A joke figure in the city now who goes around asking businesses to help out the club whilst at the same time leaving a trail of his own business debt round the city with the same companies. That the alledgedly huge salary he is drawing for what? If I was a Dandy, I'd be concentrating on removing Miller, nothing else.

Craig Brewster signed Ryan Esson and Adam Rooney. For that alone, we owe him.

A bloke in the newsagents this morning told me that they were moving the Scotland game to a Wednesday now. As Roy's game is on a Tuesday we can all be absolutely certain now that there will be no clash. Mind you, on walking back home another guy told me that moving Roy's game to a Wednesday was under discussion so we could be back to square one again!

Calm down Mahonio, taking life a wee bit seriously eh? Enjoy the forum for what it is and leave if you don't like it. I for one will miss you as I will have nowhere to put my red dots !

Bad news as far as I can see if the current proposals are to be accepted. Would obviously have a differing view if we were fighting for promotion but now we are back and competing well, I see no benefit. A total revamp is what is required. 18/20 team league with team playing each other twice. A decent winter break even if it's purely for the benefit of the players and their families. Two down, with a play off for the second relegated team and at the top end, a play off involving 2nd-5th for European places. Should mean some competition throughout the season, a little less monotony and room for ambitions teams to climb up the league structure. Never happen as turkeys don't like Santa!

Always amazed me that players have the likes of Drinkell to look after their affairs. It tends to be better to take someone who can read and write into important negotiations. On the other hand, this is great for the club.

Been reading all about Rory's progress since he left TCS and been nothing but impressed. Albeit at a much lesser level, he is making a huge contribution to his side who sit at the top of the league. His goal scoring record is tremendous and week after week you read opposition managers saying that he was the difference between the teams. This has got me thinking if he has another shot in him at a higher level or is his success down purely to the level he is playing at. Is he another Andy Barrowman or a potential Bernie Slaven (for younger posters he left Albion Rovers for Middlesborough and became huge even making the ROI World Cup Squad)? I think someone will take a punt on him and I hope they do. Thoughts?

For me, it's a very difficult call for clubs our size. It's all very well to seek longer term contracts for key players but they come with risks for both the club and the player. For it to work you need two willing parties (which I hope, and think, is the case with Adam Rooney) with the player being realistic about the finances they are willing to accept and the club being prudent in what they are willing to risk. In some cases I doubt if the club could ever have matched the demands of some who have departed. The success of Don at Watford also makes things more difficult for the club as his former team mates will look on with envy at his success and perceived pay packet whilst wondering what if? I think it's harder for a lot of the Scottish clubs to offer significantly more than we can but in England, there is still plenty cash in the Championship and League One. We as fans also expect a hell of a lot from our players at times. All want loyalty and commitment no matter what from those we value and expecting those we don't to bugger off no matter what their contract says. Could any of us really blame a young guy, in the peak of his form, for wanting to sit tight and see what options he has for his future before commiting further? Would any of us put a financial restriction around our earning capacity in the knowledge that without it we may be able to quadruple our earnings still doing something we love? As for Leigh Griffiths, I expect him to go in January to the first club with a six figure offer. The administrator will make sure he does.