The Scottish Football thread

[Guest HFCLAD1]

If it's at hampden then Edinburgh will be empty on the 19th

[METALMAN]

Might go there for the day then. Edinburgh is so much nicer without the locals.

[Guest HFCLAD1]

Might go there for the day then. Edinburgh is so much nicer without the locals.

You know where else is nice?

[Guest HFCLAD1]

Might go there for the day then. Edinburgh is so much nicer without the locals.

You know where else is nice?

Easter road.

[METALMAN]

Easter Road is still the only football ground I've been to where they hand out free condoms before the start of the game.

[Guest HFCLAD1]

Easter Road is still the only football ground I've been to where they hand out free condoms before the start of the game.

I'll give you that.

[Hibs4wwe]

I feel outnumbered here.

Delighted with absolutely everything from yesterdays game, plus Lennons breakdown post-match and on Twitter.

Now to see about tickets and to see if the game gets moved to Murrayfield.

Its been confirmed for Hampden. Right decision IMO.

[Lineker]

The Scottish FA is considering setting up a National Football League to replace the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League.

The governing body may act as frustration grows over the failure to agree new league structures.

The SPL has delayed a decision on proposed voting reform until 30 April, with the 10 non Old Firm clubs seeking change.

Should no agreement be reached then a new league is a possibility.

The prospect of a new Scottish National League was confirmed to BBC Scotland by three senior football figures.

An SFA source said: "There would have to be a willingness from clubs; this would be for the good of the game.

"It would almost be a benevolent act to bring two warring factions together for the good of Scottish football."

A senior SPL club official added: "The SFA may step in and get involved. The extreme may be that they take the thing over.

"Everyone has to move this along, it's whites of the eyes time."

He said that he believed the vote to change to a 9-3 voting structure from the current 11-1 on major issues would still be taken at the 30 April meeting, but warned that the governing body might have to step in take control of the situation.

"The clubs have to start making decisions, I think the vote will go ahead," he continued. "Certain teams are desperate to move the game on. There has been too much navel gazing going on.

"We need to get to the stage where decisions are getting made."

The source warned that the 10 clubs seeking change were determined to continue their fight.

"We will still be there," he said. "The clubs won't go away without a fight. We need a debate on this on 30 April. These are very interesting times for the future of the game. Much more fairness and balance is needed."

Meanwhile, a senior SFL source confirmed that the idea had been discussed.

"This could come about if the people running the SPL and the SFL don't get their act together," he said.

"There are clubs almost dying all round the country while nothing happens."

The SFL source added that First Division clubs had been briefed that, after unacceptable SPL proposals to create an SPL 2, the option of a new league set-up could be on the table.

"An invitation could be sent to all 42 clubs," he said. "If two or three don't want to come and join the new set up then that is up them."

The Blue Knights consortium seeking to gain control of Rangers says it is "stepping back" from the process.

The group led by former club director Paul Murray had tabled one of three bids being considered by the club's administrators, Duff & Phelps.

The Blue Knights anticipated being named preferred bidder on Friday and was asked to provide a £500,000 non-refundable deposit for exclusivity.

But the group now says it cannot compete with Bill Ng's consortium.

American businessman Bill Miller has also been vying for control of the Ibrox club.

Duff & Phelps says it is disappointed by the withdrawal of the Blue Knights and insist that its bid had placed it in "a strong position".

Ticketus, the firm whose money financed Craig Whyte's takeover, with funding set against revenue from future season ticket sales at Ibrox, has been working alongside the Blue Knights but has also opened talks with Ng.

And the Blue Knights claim its Singapore-based rival had made the offer of a "substantially" better deal.

"We have been speaking to both groups," Ticketus told BBC Scotland. "Those discussions are ongoing and ultimately we are willing to work with whoever the administrator decides has made the best offer for the club and the creditors."

A statement from the Blue Knights read: "On the evening of 12 April The Blue Knights Consortium ["the consortium"] was asked by Duff & Phelps to reconfirm its "best and final" offer of 4 April. We reconfirmed our position and we believed that we would be awarded preferred bidder status on Friday morning.

"As part of the process of awarding exclusivity Duff & Phelps had requested a non-refundable deposit. During the course of Friday Ticketus informed us that they were not prepared to provide this deposit.

"During the course of the weekend individuals within the consortium offered to put up the deposit subject to a small number of conditions which were broadly agreed with Duff & Phelps.

"During the course of the weekend we were also made aware that Ticketus had been in discussions with the Singaporean consortium who, on Friday, had offered Ticketus a 'substantially' better deal to the one offered by us. We confirmed that we were not prepared to increase our offer to Ticketus which we believe to be in the club's best interests.

"The consortium believes that the whole deal process has become incredibly complex and it is critical that a preferred bidder is appointed this week.

"As a consequence, and in the best interests of the club, the consortium has decided to take a step back to enable Duff & Phelps, Ticketus and the Singaporeans to conclude a deal as quickly as possible or not.

"We stand ready to complete our offer of 4 April which included a deal in principle with Ticketus. We still believe that a partnership with Ticketus represents the best opportunity of the club exiting administration via a CVA [company voluntary arrangement].

"We firmly believe that, in the best interests of the club, the whole process has to move forward as a matter of urgency. We are stepping back to assist with this but we stand ready to re-enter the process if a deal can not be reached."

Duff & Phelps responded: "We were surprised that their [blue Knights] offer to pay an exclusivity fee was withdrawn and although discussions over the exclusivity fee continued over the weekend, no agreement was reached.

"At all stages of the process, The Blue Knights/Ticketus bid has been given the most serious consideration by us as administrators, particularly due to the fact that it was being encouraged by supporters' groups.

"We are aware that Ticketus has also been, at their own instigation, in parallel discussion with one of the other bidders over the last few weeks and it remains to be seen whether these discussions will be taken forward."

Earlier on Monday, Whyte, who owns around 85% of Rangers' shares, warned that any bidder for the club will have to "thrash out a deal" with him.

Rangers owner Craig Whyte has told the Scottish Football Association there is "not a chance" he will appear before its judiciary panel on Tuesday.

The rearranged hearing, which is set to end on Friday, follows the SFA charging the administration-hit Ibrox club and Whyte with seven breaches of its rules.

"The SFA is a farcical organisation," said Whyte.

"I will absolutely play no part in it and I will have no representation at Hampden."

The club is charged with five offences, including failing to abide by SFA regulations over the "fit and proper" person's test, and Whyte, ruled unfit by the SFA to be a club official, with two more.

The SFA adjourned the original hearing on 29 March after Whyte's lawyers asked for more time to prepare a case but the owner failed to attend a procedural hearing on 6 April which was set for him to "lodge a substantive response and for representations to be made as to state of preparation".

"I will have more to say about it all in the next couple of days," added Whyte.

The former Rangers chairman will be tried in his absence by the three-man judiciary panel if he has no representation.

Whyte, who holds an 85% stake in the club, told BBC Scotland last week that he had spoken to two of the three parties bidding to take charge of Rangers.

He claims to have had contact with the Blue Knights consortium, fronted by former club director Paul Murray, and a Singapore-based group headed by Bill Ng but has yet to hear from US businessman Bill Miller.

"I am happy to have a conversation with him or anyone who is interested but it is my understanding, through third parties, that they (Miller's consortium) want liquidation and that is no good for the club," said Whyte.

"But anyone who is named the preferred bidder will have to talk to me and thrash out a deal."

Rangers' administrators Duff and Phelps were expected to name the chosen bidder last week, but said that the publication of Scottish Premier League proposals on sanctions for clubs going into administration and liquidation had caused the interested parties to seek more information.

[Adam]

What would a new league structure mean? I personally wouldn't mind seeing these tiny divisions abolished for less, expanded divisions. Having to play the same teams four times a season would do my nut in after a short while.

[METALMAN]

Nah I don't think a bigger league would work. Remember we're a small country, there's not enough professional teams to sustain such a system.

[Matt]

Nah I don't think a bigger league would work. Remember we're a small country, there's not enough professional teams to sustain such a system.

How would a league of 20 and a league of 22 be more inconvenient than a league of 12 and three leagues of ten?

[METALMAN]

Because there aren't enough professional teams.

Because most teams don't have good enough (or big enough) stadiums for the SPL.

Because most teams are from tiny little towns that are a pain to get to, have tiny numbers of potential fans, and lack the facilities for regular football at a high level.

Because they tried a top division of 18 teams before and it was a shambles.

[Matt]

Regular football at a high level... you mean the twice a season that Rangers and Celtic come to town... For the other 17 home games I'm sure a 7-8,000 ground would suffice.

It'd be much easier if Rangers and Celtic disappeared, though.

[METALMAN]

Most teams don't have a 7,000 capacity ground.

[Matt]

Most teams don't have a 7,000 capacity ground.

Almost all the first division sides do. None of them have less than 6,000... Admittedly it's a bit poor below that.

[METALMAN]

Clearly you've never been to see any of these first division sides.

Somerset Park is on a hill! That's no place for SPL football!

[Matt]

Clearly you've never been to see any of these first division sides.

Somerset Park is on a hill! That's no place for SPL football!

Stop pretending the SPL is anything more than a glorified nPower League Two.

[Adam]

Yeah, just shunt out Celtic and Rangers and it might be more achievable

[METALMAN]

Clearly you've never been to see any of these first division sides.

Somerset Park is on a hill! That's no place for SPL football!

Stop pretending the SPL is anything more than a glorified nPower League Two.

only if you stop being a dick

[Matt]

Never.