lady-isobel-barnett

If correct, and just for clarity say "a greatly reduced attendance" rather than "500", then that's one of the reasons I ask about the true savings of going part time. A lot of overheads will remain constant. We could save on the likes of stewarding, general manpower etc but things like the floodlights and routine costs of staging a match remain constant. We'd have to anticipate advertising and sponsorship to fall away in proportion to the reduction in attendance. I'm not saying we shouldn't go part time but I do question the actual value of such a move. It appears to me that going part time is something that we'd be forced into rather than some sort of comfort zone we could drop into. As it is we're regularly told that our player budget is very low in relative terms to most other full time SPL/SFL outfits. I think it's fair to assume that some of the young lads (Burns, Campbell & Bannigan for example) plus guys like Elliot, Sinclair & O'Donnell are currently on pay that wouldn't be much in excess of a part time wage. Rowson is already part time, Dargo playing for little if anything at all and Rangers probably paying the two new loanees in full. I feel we'd be deluding ourselves if we believe that going part time would bring about necessary financial stability to the Club.

I'm not going to repeat myself yet again on that one. I suppose scrapping the youth system would be considered but I feel that would be ill advised. When we were part time in the 70s, with only Roughie and Alan Hansen as exceptions, there was near to full Monday to Friday employment. So different these days.

I thought a deal was close to take him to Dunfermline?

I'm not really criticising Hughes, or Calderwood for that matter. Point I'm making is that when they were at their most successful they were managing a club who were paying unsustainable wages or more correctly what turned out to be later proved to have been unsustainable. That's why imo McCall was the right manager at the right time for us. If you excuse his excesses at Tannadice McCall was experienced at working within a modest budget. The last thing we needed back then was to appoint a well known manager who hadn't that experience. I believe that is even more important today.

That's so very very true and can be backed up by the fact that with virtually all SPL fudged decision making they've voted en bloc. Personally I'm only interested in following PTFC (even the standard of play and our division status comes secondary) and also the welfare of the international side. Perhaps a collapse of Scottish football triggered off by Rangers demise would have a negative effect on the latter, I really have no idea, but that would only be temporary. So in my mind I can only see any re-alignment in Scottish football as a good thing. In fact believing that the status quo has no future I don't even see the risk factor involved. As the other cheek of the arse would undoubtedly suffer is a most welcome bonus.

There were folk on here reckoning that Gus McPherson should've been approached to replace McCall on the course specialist ticket. Are those same folk who by now have possibly witnessed his Q o S play 4 times this season still so keen on him? OK it's hypothetical but I'd rather watch a Jags side managed by a guy sure to make errors as he learns his trade than a Jags team managed by a course and distance specialist playing the McPherson way. Same goes for a lot of out of work names (eg Hughes & Calderwood) who by and large made their careers by putting their respective clubs in debt..

I've asked the question before but never really got an answer as I suspect no one on here really knows. once again then does anyone have an idea how much we'd save going part time? Myself, I believe that the modern day equivalent of part time football is a squad of players made up largely of products of our youth system, discarded products of other clubs' youth systems, a few younger players from the Junior ranks and senior pros phasing out their careers. I would imagine by just reducing the player budget year on year we'd arrive at above anyway. As reduced budget is inevitable unless gate receipts etc miraculously I can only presume we're well on our way to this part time equivalent. The original poster highlights Ayr Utd. I don't think it's any coincidence that the same club has a creditably youth academy and by location easy access to leading junior football clubs. Probably the way we should be heading but I don't believe there's any plunge taking and bullet biting necessary. All we need do is reduce the player budget to arrive at the same outcome.

Over the last few games I've also noticed our forwards don't attack the ball enough. It's true tho' the service they receive is not of sufficient quality but yesterday in particular they did receive a lot of balls from O'Donnell & to a lesser extent Sinclair. By sheer percentage alone some of those balls in could've been challenged more vigorously. Instead of waiting for the inch perfect cross, which is unlikely the strikers could put themselves about a more. Try a little bit of anticipation, it's worked for a lot better strikers than we've got.

I get the impression that HMRC are applying policy here rather than pure commercial judgement. I'd have thought that providing Rangers could put up some sort of security that any sort of repayment scheme would be financially preferable. If as it appears patience has snapped and HMRC want to get a message of enough is enough over then I can't think of a better example. Even so, that so many millions has been lost to the exchequer does suggest that it's not just Rangers FC that screwed up.

Linfield supporters without the ferry fare

Looks like it'll be Plan B, then. They sell Kirk Broadfoot.

I don't think Burchill was that effective when he played in the first division last time round.

I think if you've faith in McNamara bringing in young loan players just now then you should have faith in his views of our youth structure. And if you're asking the perennial question then I assume Jackie's answer is unchanged. In his opinion (generalising) our late teen youngsters were/are behind in development. Regardless of potential and ability they rely far too much on instinct and not enough on the text book stuff like positioning, timing runs, angles etc. As an aside it appears McNamara is far more into team tactics, formation etc than McCall ever was. It could of course just be a theory over practice thingy while Jackie learns the ropes and only time will tell.

In my mind though we've had some real duff loanees the worse category of signings have been the more senior players who've either come to us with a great chance to resurrect their careers or the just passing thru brigade. Don't read on if you're weak of stomach or just about to have your tea............................................. ............................................................................................................. I'm talking about the likes of Greg Sheilds, Steve Lovell, Bryn Halliwell, Chris Turner, Paul Keegan, Thingy Mooc, and two real crackers Barry Smith & Alan Russell.

I've said something similar in the past but I'm not too sure I can back it up. I'd say Santala and Billy Gibson (as a loanee) along with Hutton were successful while Conroy was reasonable. True the lad Campbell just made up the numbers but in fairness I don't think he came to us with rave notices. No arguing that Lennon was a disgrace but I can't think of any other OF loanees we've had in recent years that have been out and out let downs. In fact I can't think of any other OF loanees.

Can't think of any if you rephrase it to exclude the early stage of the Champions League. Probably quite a few have played for an Irish side in the early stages in the Champions League and also played in SFL.. Don't know if Craig Sives ever played for Hearts in the SPL.but there's the legendary Gary Twigg and Chris Turner. All three are at Shamrock Rovers and I guess would've played in this season's CL.

While Queen's do need the cash from a cup run they haven't much in their squad that suggests they could handle both that and fight their way out of relegation. On the other hand I feel our squad is more than suitable to handle more matches. Our overall quality may or may not be that great but we've more than adequate cover in most positions and more competitive matches can only help us improve. It would be perhaps too hopeful to think that Queens will have one eye on the league and not be as up for it as us but at the same time I feel it really should be easier to get our lot fired up. That said we really need to score early to get us going or it'll end up a battle of two teams lacking in confidence.

Wearing my cynical bunnet I doubt very much there'd be that much incentive to get the game on. I'm assuming they wouldn't have much in the way of hospitality (if any) to lose. We weren't able to bring a reasonable crowd due partly to transport difficulties and much of their fanbase is from outside of Dingwall and many would've faced the same transport problems. Not that it's any concern of mine but installing undersoil heating in Dingwall will be difficult to justify on financial grounds.Given the drop in attendance and loss of hospitality a midweek game brings most clubs like ourselves have no doubt saved money by having ush. I can foresee many an occasion when they can get Victoria Pk passed fit but fans can't get to the game or team buses get stuck on the A9.

Would be great to get Hutton back. I thought with Rangers not allowing us to cup tie him it would be unlikely to happen.

Nearest we'll see to a crowded Firhill will be tonight on Alba. Been told it's a sell out at circa 8500. I'm assuming the Main Stand will not be used. Also told they could have got more but because tickets were available before the game it's been limited, edited to add they did indeed use the Main Stand and lifted this from the Scotsman

That would be a big ask.

Likewise. Crackin' open a bottle of Bollinger as I type.

Think this is relevant to the thread http://sport.stv.tv/...lects-on-year/? Last para kinda sums up my view as well.

I'm sure that a Whelpdale not so long ago won best in show at Crufts.

One thing I've learned from Sportscene that no matter what teams are playing the manager of the less fancied side will always have his team well organised and in any case the players of that less fancied side well be well up for it.