CaleyD

BTW, I like both Dunfermline and Dundee....if it was up to me then I'd relegate St Mirren just for the hell of it and let both of them in

Yeah...I wouldn't want to be the one to argue that case either way, but playing devils advocate...do two wrongs make a right?

Having poured over and over the rules countless times in the last few weeks and months I think the strongest cases can be made in the following order.... Dundee Falkirk Dunfermline The reason for that conclusion is that the rules pretty much say that the bottom team goes down and that can only be set aside if another team fails to finish the season or the "candidate" team coming up from the SFL cannot meet the membership criteria. In effect, I think that the SPL would have to reject both Dundee & Falkirk applications received back in March before they could consider Dunfermline. The only case I could see being argued for Dunfermline outwith the above is that the current situation does not fit any existing rules and on the basis that they lost out (as did we all) to cheats then they should be resubmitted. Given the heavy focus on "Sporting Integrity", I think it more likely that the argument for "if you finish bottom you go down" will win over.

There's a number of things that can be done to assist and some of these have already been discussed briefly by the trust board. We will meet again at the earliest opportunity and also speak to the club to ensure that the right things are put in place and that it is done correctly to ensure that funds and assistance get to where they need to go. There's no doubting that it is going to be vital to get some cash coming in, but there's also going to be other ways in which both fans and local businesses can do their bit and I think it's important that every has the opportunity to contribute, regardless of the size of their wallet. A separate thread/forum for these discussions would be good. Please also keep in mind that even the best ideas are only possible if we have people willing to assist with making them a reality. So yeah, let's get the ideas coming in and give the trust board a few days to speak with each other and the club to get the ball rolling.

Be lucky to get a squad together to compete at ANY level....if you were a player, would you want to be "tainted"!!!

As it says on the tin. 1 year deal. http://ictfc.com/news/club-news/528-jones-agrees-deal

Apologies for the lack of direct update from the Club and the Supporters Trust via website etc. The Supporters Trust were in a meeting for the bulk of the afternoon and those able to put the information on the website were also caught up in meetings or the information would have been released sooner.

Our situation would be broadly similar to that of Motherwell and others....so the thick end of £1 Million shortfall in worst case. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2012/06/15/rangers-in-crisis-how-other-spl-clubs-rely-on-ibrox-club-for-major-part-of-their-income-86908-23896069/ (I know, Daily Record, but it's not hard to work out when you know the TV deal value etc and the distribution is on SPL website).

Maybe he was just having a spring clean or something then.

Tree...I've asked the same thing on here a couple of times now and was saddened by the lack of positive responses.

Two top leagues of 16 each and a 3rd Division of 10 to reflect current 42 team setup. Whilst I agree that Scotland cannot (financially) support 42 senior teams, you can't just dump them on a whim and if you are looking to reduce numbers then it needs to be done properly. IMO, the ultimate aim should be two leagues of 18 each with regional/pyramid system below that....but it should be a 5 year plan to reach that stage. The exact nature of play-offs etc is open for discussion...so long as they exist. Whatever we do, it needs to be kept simple, honest and fair for all.

No deal has been done, and any suggestions to that effect are just more media hype/spin. Aside from anything else, those who met do not have the power to agree such a deal and if you cut all the BS from the reports and look at what are directly attributable quotes, then all that has been agreed is that they will continue to look at league restructuring....hardly "news" let alone a breaking story.

Wow....I find it extremly worrying that anyone thinks we will be ok next season. Regardless of the whole NewCo thing it's going to be tough, I'm just hoping that it doesn't turn out to be impossible!!!

Hibs now confirmed as a definite "No" vote - http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20120624/club-statement_2262950_2821039 That makes it 3 and a half.

I was speaking to a Europcar insider and he said he hadn't got a clue!!!

I suspect that just as nobody every thought Rangers or Celtic would go bust (too big to fail syndrome) nobody ever contemplated a scenario where they might get relegated and, yes, we would be facing a situation where things were being changed to keep them in the league for the exact same reasons as we are seeing it now. As I pointed out elsewhere, a situation for which the foundations were laid when the SPL were formed and which, aside from county and ourselves, 10 members of the SPL were founder members of that. Emmm....you were the one trying to put forward a supposition as a fact, so not sure what point you are trying to make. The point I've been trying to make now seems to have dawned on you though....without a commitment from Sky (and others) one way or the other, then clubs have to work on a worst case scenario. At best, they can make no more than a judgement call.

Alex, just saying it over and over doesn't make it true. Here are the two "Sky" stories.... Daily Record - 14th June - "Sources" say Sky will walk away - http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/rangers/2012/06/14/rangers-in-crisis-sky-tv-threaten-to-tear-up-tv-deal-if-ibrox-club-is-demoted-to-division-three-86908-23895647/ The Sun - 18th June - "Sources" say Sky will not walk away - http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4378835/We-wont-walk-away-but-we-want-new-deal.html No official Sky statement anywhere in that, just alleged chat with insiders and people close to Sky...and being reported by dubious press outlets at that!!!

I think the T-Shirt place in the market is gone....last time I passed it looked vacated.

The only thing for certain is that if he stays then he'll be a hero and we'll have a huge love-in and praise him as one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch...and if he goes then he'll have been "not all that anyway" and a total BA Steward who wasn't worth the hassle and a candidate for the ICT Curse. Got to love the silly season

Alex....Paper talk from "Sources close to SKY" said two weeks ago that they were offski....then last week it was "Sources close to SKY" said they won't walk away....there's nothing official from SKY one way or the other and that's one of the biggest problems. Yes, there's time left on the old deal, but that is/was a deal that included Rangers in the league....Rangers are now gone, so that deal is effectively null and void. Commercial Partners are in the same boat and Clydesdale Bank is only one of many. IMO, we will have a TV deal of some kind, but that is only an opinion and opinions don't put money in the bank. Gabby is spot on with what he says about clubs having to look at worst case. Let's face it, I don't think ANY club thought Rangers were going in to liquidation...they certainly didn't seem prepared for such a scenario and look what happened. There's a huge information void and Clubs are having to fill in that void with guesswork, just as we are. Without some kind of certainty from TV and Commercial Partners then you need to work on the basis of not having them. Maybe fans should be turning their attention to getting answers from these people, because clubs don't have the answers to give us.

Looks like some of the Killie fans on P&B have missed the slightly tongue in cheek nature of the letter

If you have information showing that TV and Sponsorship monies are in place for next season then you should share it with the SPL and SPL Clubs because they are unaware of such a commitment.

The issue is surviving until such time as you can make meaningful reduction in costs. Clubs, including ours, will have set budgets for next season on the basis of the expected TV and Commercial income. Players will have been contracted on that basis and other financial commitments will have been made. You can't just tear up a players contract and they will also have buy-out clauses etc...one way or another you have to give them money to get rid, and you can't give them something if it doesn't come in. Motherwell appear to be similar to us financially, insofar as not having debts, but also having nothing in the bank. Which means that if TV and other Commercial partners cancelled contracts for next season then they need to find the best part of £1 Million to plug the whole or go into voluntary administration because they quite simply do not have the money needed to trade. They would have to clear out every member of staff drawing a wage (players and off-field), turn off the power, stop pitch maintenance...everything that needs paid for comes to an immediate halt because they have no money. This is a very real consideration for a few clubs.

It's the principle guys...he'd still have to do a lot of trimming to get down to anything like what Killie will do in a season.

Open Letter from ICT Suppporters Trust to Kenny Shiels - http://ictsupporterstrust.co.uk/news/trust-news/241-open-letter-to-kenny-shiels