The Scottish Football thread

[METALMAN]

didn't get too steams actually - you must remember kilmarnock is a small town where everything closes at midnight! but tonight was hilarious. i've barely been in kilmarnock in the last four years since i moved away for uni so it was so funny to see so many people i'd not seen in ages. we are a good town! I took these pictures of the open top bus back in Kilmarnock.

but on the other hand, this is tragic.

[Adam]

It wouldn't surprise me if Sheils and Heffernan lost that Cup by the end of what is sure to be less than a quiet night

[Marcos]

Super Killie ! Was in tears as soon as we scored, calmed down a bit, then the final whistle went and I was in tears again!!

Very sorry to hear that Liam Kelly's dad died after the game, having just watched his son put on a cracking performance and winning a cup. No way for a 22 year old to remember his first cup final win. He would have been proud of his boy today .

[Lineker]

Tragic about Liam Kelly's dad.

[Kaney]

I know, a sad, sad story. Glad Killie won now so he could see Kelly lift the cup, it's such a shame.

[Dan]

Michael Nelson won something!

[MDK]

It would be the best thing ever if Celtic go to League One and get relegated

[Lineker]

Former Rangers director Gordon Smith says club owner Craig Whyte panicked following the team's Champions League exit in August.

An aggregate defeat by qualifying opponents Malmo meant Rangers missed out on a third successive year of group stage involvement.

And Smith indicated this had contributed to the club eventually going into administration.

"It looked like there was a dependency on being in the group stages," he said.

"I suddenly noticed when we went out the Champions League, there was a panic that came in from the owner that this was going to be a tough year because of it.

"The income this year is about £35m, the outgoings are about £43m. In the previous two seasons, Rangers won the league and qualified for the Champions League [group stages].

"The income from going automatically into the Champions League [group stages] went up from about £40m to £56m and then £52m.

"In both those seasons Rangers made a profit. That's why, at that time, the people who were in charge of Rangers were able to pay off some of the debt. The debt came down from about £23-24m to £18m.

"If you don't get that [Champions League money], the income doesn't match the outgoings."

Gordon Smith was speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's "Rangers - What Next?" Download the podcast

[Lineker]

Jim Jefferies is the new Dunfermline manager.

[METALMAN]

glad JJ is back! We always win against his teams!

[Cadj]

Rudi Skacel, 10 goals in 6 games against St. Mirren

Scottish Cup semi final appearance! Now to just overcome Celtic to get to the final...

[Lineker]

A judge has declined to rule on whether Rangers can rip up a £24.4m season-ticket deal with Ticketus.

Administrators Duff and Phelps wanted to tear up the agreement on the basis it could discourage bidders who may want to take over the club.

After a five-day hearing at the Court of Session, Lord Hodge said he did not have enough information about bids for Rangers to make a ruling.

However, he declined to give Ticketus preferential treatment as creditors.

The judge said Ticketus had no security over the assets of Rangers and was a simple creditor with the same rights as others owed money by the club.

The Ticketus deal was struck by Rangers owner Craig Whyte during his takeover in May last year.

Mr Whyte used money from the Ticketus deal to complete his purchase of the Ibrox club, taking over its £18m debt from Lloyds Banking Group.

Insolvency experts Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, from Duff & Phelps, were appointed as administrators over a month ago after HMRC lodged a petition over the non-payment of about £9m in PAYE and VAT following Mr Whyte's takeover.

The administrators claimed the Ticketus deal, which would give season ticket revenues to the firm for the next three seasons, could deter potential investors.

Season ticket sales are one of the main sources of income for Rangers, generating about £12m a year.

Their counsel, David Sellar QC had claimed at least one of the four known bidders would not carry on if the contract remained.

Ronald Clancy QC, for Ticketus, had argued that the company which runs Rangers should not be allowed to come out of administration without honouring its contracts.

He urged the judge to say the deal should stay.

A summary of Lord Hodge's decision said he "declined to give a direction" because "he considered that the court had not been given sufficient information to allow it to make such a ruling".

One of the bidders to take over Rangers is the Blue Knights consortium, led by Paul Murray, which includes Ticketus.

After the verdict, a statement from Ticketus said the Blue Knights bid could "achieve a rapid resolution for the club and provide it with a future that is free of unnecessary uncertainty".

"By incorporating Ticketus into their bid, the consortium is uniquely able to secure this outcome," it said.

The Ticketus statement said: "The court has made it clear today that the Ticketus contract cannot be breached unless there is substantial evidence that by doing so the administrators are able to significantly improve returns for creditors and improve the chance of returning the club to a going concern.

"Given the strength of the Blue Knights consortium's bid, and Ticketus's role in this, with its contract remaining valid and enforceable, we question the ability for this to happen."

Ticketus said it would "do everything necessary" to defend its position and ensure its contract was honoured.

Duff & Phelps went to the Court of Session because it was concerned the uncertainty over the rights of Ticketus to future income was likely to deter potential investors making a realistic offer.

Once the administrators have assessed the potential bids, they will give one party preferred bidder status.

That party would assemble a pot of cash, including its own bid, and would approach creditors to ask for a company voluntary agreement, seeking a pence-in-the-pound deal to repay them in part so that the club can exit administration.

If the preferred bidder cannot secure a deal with holders of 75% of the value of the debt, then there remains a possibility that the club could be liquidated.

[Lineker]

Thanks to Kilmarnock beating Motherwell today, Celtic can win the title tomorrow.

At Ibrox.

[METALMAN]

wahooo! we beat the champions league contenders!

got to see the cup again. it was lovely. "hello cup" I said.

[Lineker]

Rangers: McGregor; Bocanegra, Goian, Papac; Whittaker, Davis, Edu, McCabe, Wallace; Aluko; McCulloch

Celtic: Forster, Cha, Rogne, Mulgrew, Matthews, Brown, Ki, Ledley, Wanyama, Samaras, Stokes.

[Lineker]

Brian Kennedy's bid for Rangers has been rejected.

[Lineker]

The Scottish Football Association says it has adjourned the hearing into whether Rangers owner Craig Whyte has breached disciplinary rules until 17, 18 and 20 April.

Ross County have been granted permission to ground share with Inverness if they win promotion to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) next season. County are 14 points clear of Dundee in the first division with seven matches remaining this term, but their Victoria Park falls short of SPL standards.

[METALMAN]

guess it's not as bad as Gretna playing in Motherwell. >_>

[Lineker]

Runaway leaders Celtic and reigning champions Rangers will have their final meeting of the season on 29 April, two games after the league splits into two.

Celtic, who need one point to secure the Scottish Premier League title, will host the final Old Firm derby of the season with a 1245 BST kick-off.

It follows the publishing by the SPL of the final set of five fixtures after it splits into two sections of six teams.

Hibernian host relegation rivals Dunfermline Athletic on 7 May.

St Johnstone are the team to miss out on their fair share of home games having qualified for the top six for the first time since returning to the top flight.

Saints will have played 16 home games after Saturday's visit of Inverness and have only two more at McDiarmid Park - against Dundee United and Rangers.

That means a third visit to Fir Park this season for the Perth side, who are five points behind third-placed Motherwell.

Every other team will have 19 home and away games apart from Kilmarnock, who get an extra match at Rugby Park after slipping out of the top six this season.

SPL secretary Iain Blair said it was "simply impossible" to ensure 19 home games for all clubs.

"Various versions of the round 34-38 fixture list are produced and we then select the one that provides the best fit overall," he said.

"In line with previous seasons, all clubs will finish the season either home/away or away/home.

"We try to achieve as balanced a fixture list as possible. Also, among the things we look at is what has happened in previous years.

"For example, Kilmarnock had only 18 home games in 2006-07 but will gain a home game this season. St Johnstone are losing a home game but they have gained one in the past."

Blair revealed the Old Firm date was chosen following consultation between the clubs, the SPL and the police.

Celtic can secure the title at Kilmarnock this weekend in the final match before the league splits in two and the Glasgow side are then away to Motherwell.

The battle for European qualification places culminates with Motherwell facing Dundee United at Fir Park on 13 May, while Saints host Rangers and Hearts travel to Celtic Park.

Hibs are currently six points ahead of Dunfermline, whose final match is at home to Kilmarnock, while the Edinburgh side are at Inverness, having won there twice already this term.

St Johnstone also face a third match at Celtic Park but host Rangers and Dundee United for a third time.

The fixtures have thrown up a Thursday night fixture, with Celtic hosting St Johnstone on 3 May - 24 hours after Rangers play Dundee United at Ibrox.

"In the regular season, Celtic/Rangers and Hearts/Hibernian always play at home on alternate weekends but, given the many constraints when compiling the post-split fixtures, it is sometimes impossible to avoid a city clash," Blair added.

"With both Celtic and Rangers at home in the midweek of 2 May, it forced us to switch one game to the Thursday.

"Tuesday was ruled out due to the Old Firm game the previous Sunday."

Full Scottish Premier League fixtures

[Lineker]

Rangers' administrator received four "best and final" bids for the club by its 1700 BST Wednesday deadline.

Former Rangers director Paul Murray's Blue Knights consortium is joined by interested parties from Germany, the United States and Singapore.

Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy said he would only bid if he thought the winner would put the club into liquidation.

But Duff & Phelps now believes it is possible to come out of administration by the end of the season.

It appears that might now be possible through a company voluntary agreement rather than through liquidation and the subsequent formation of a so-called "newco".

Joint administrator David Whitehouse said: "Following our announcement on 30 March, that best and final bids for control of Rangers Football Club should be submitted by 5 April, I can confirm we have received four bids by close of business.

"The bids are structured in various ways, but I would describe them as positive and constructive.

"The administration team will now analyse these bids over the forthcoming days and hold discussions with relevant parties to gain further understanding of the details of their bids.

"It will be our intention to accept an offer next week and this will be followed by a period of due diligence and exclusivity.

"At this stage, we cannot be precise in timescale but estimate that an exit from administration before the end of the season is achievable.

"We appreciate the need to conclude this process as quickly as possible.

"It is, however, most important to secure the best possible outcome for creditors, Rangers Football Club and its supporters."

The bid from Germany is the biggest surprise, with the group or individuals involved having avoided the headlines until now.

Indeed, prominent German-based Rangers fan David McAllister, the prime minister of Lower Saxony, told BBC Scotland that he had heard nothing of a bid from his country and that he personally is not involved.

Club 9 Sports had long been regarded as the likely bidder from the United States and Kennedy, who had his own offer rejected last week, said he feared for Rangers' future should the company, which previously failed with attempts to be involved with Tranmere Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday, win control.

However, while it revealed on the eve of the deadline that it had been advising interested consortia from the US and UK, chief executive Jon Pritchett told BBC Scotland: "Club 9 Sports is not involved with the bid from the American investor."

Kennedy said he would not bid against the Blue Knights, the group led by Murray that has joined forces with Ticketus - the company that was sold millions of pounds of future season ticket sales by present owner Craig Whyte.

Whyte himself has insisted he is prepared to deal with any of the bidders.

Murray stressed: "We are determined to try to save the club in its current form.

"We strongly believe there is value to be gained from the financial and football benefits that a CVA can deliver that would be immediately lost if the club went into liquidation.

"We are confident in the strength of our bid and the consortium's unique ability to rapidly return financial stability to the club with the support of Ticketus.

"As a Rangers fan first and foremost, I want to bring a swift end to the current uncertainties that are clouding the club. Our bid can deliver this."