Ancipital Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 MONEY talks. So, it seems, do those in the corridors of power at Hampden. After years of inactivity and dogged stalemate, change appears imminent for Scottish football, with the demise of Rangers the catalyst for a radical overhaul of our game. David Beattie knows the plans on the table will not appease everyone. As chairman of Partick Thistle, the bottom line on the balance sheet is of paramount importance, yet he must judge the mood of his fellow Jags supporters as he ponders where the Scottish game is heading. The Firhill supremo has been a long-time advocate of league reconstruction and the introduction of play-offs, giving teams in the Irn-Bru First Division a greater chance of claiming a place among our elite teams. With newco Rangers set to be forced to play in Scotland's second tier next term, a revamp of our league system appears closer than ever. The cash benefits of having Ally McCoist's side as opposition will be considerable for teams such as Thistle, Hamilton, Morton and Dumbarton, but the arrival of the Gers would all but kill off any hopes of on-field success. Beattie admits the financial boom would be hard to resist for First Division chairmen, but the Jags supremo is adamant the league should not be turned into a Light Blue title procession in the coming months and has called for the best of the rest to be given a shot at promotion glory. "I think the plans just now are a good compromise all round," he told SportTimes. "The balance between sporting integrity and commercialisation is one that has to be satisfied. "This will not be to everyone's agreement. A lot of fans would like to see Rangers in the Third Division, but commercially that would be a nightmare for Scottish football. "The key for me are the play-offs. What you don't want is Rangers coming into the First Division, winning it outright, which they probably will do, and going straight into the SPL again. "If there are play-offs, then the rest of the teams have something to play for as well. I have said for a long time that there should be play-offs anyway. I know everybody won't be happy, but I think it is a good compromise." Beattie has sanctioned four new signings at Firhill so far this summer, with boss Jackie McNamara building a squad he hopes will challenge for First Division glory. The arrival of Rangers would throw a huge spanner in the works, how-ever, with the Jags no longer fighting the likes of Dundee and Falkirk for the league flag but likely to be left behind by McCoist's men. Any on-field drawbacks would be offset by the financial gains, with the arrival of the Ibrox giants likely to generate significant funds for a cash-strapped league. Clubs could benefit to the tune of around £250k if Rangers are parachuted into the First Division next term and Beattie hopes the cash boost will be significant at Firhill. He said: "If the financial benefit was around £250k a year, I would be delighted –and so would Jackie. "The problem is we don't have a lot of time and we don't know how much will be coming in until we have plans in place and the season starts. "We are getting a restructuring of Scottish football, the move to one organisation is long overdue. "Rangers are being punished, which is justified. There is a compromise between sporting integrity and commercialisation. Hopefully there is a TV deal. If that is something that comes out of this then great. I can see very few downsides to it just now. "Friday night football is a good idea as well. Whether the Rangers fans would be happy with that, I don't know. "Geography plays a big part in Friday night football. I don't think it should be all the time but in certain circumstances I am all for it." Seeing Rangers stride out at First Division grounds may bring cheer to club chairman, but the reaction from fans has been decidedly mixed. SPL followers have vowed to boycott matches if Charles Green's newco club are granted a return to the top flight, with the ultimate sanction – a place in the Third Division –the preferred option for many fans across the country. Beattie said: "I can fully understand why some of the fans will be upset, definitely. "I can understand why First Division chairmen will be delighted because they are getting some extra finance. That is the big compromise. "I don't think putting Rangers in the Third Division would help Scottish football. Putting them in the First Division is a compromise. It is maybe not palatable for everyone, but it is a compromise that I think works. Out of adversity comes opportunity." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potty trained Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 not signed up, so can't read it... signed up, read it.... and he can go take a flying fck to himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Scruff Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 It's a pity that DB decided that that wasn't a good option, and came out with some shoit in the paper yesterday, isn't it... he's made statements in the press... he now needs to clarify if they were out of context etc... otherwise, you could see a freeze on season ticket purchases... when they are the lifeblood of our survival right now, sitting silent is not an option for Beattie. Yup, that's a very good point. Sometimes people just keep digging. The trouble is, further statements to 'clarify' will probably be just that... I can't see the value in reacting to hypotheticals, some of which appear to me to be just fantasy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Aw feck, ok Mr Beattie I've tried, but I can't defend that. SFL3 it must be, no alternatives, no deals. We'll get the benefits in a year after league reconstruction takes place as Zombie Rangers win the 3rd div just as we end up with 2 top leagues of 16 and 1 of 12. Newco in SPFL2 in season 2013/14 would be a fairer compromise between sporting integrity and commercialism and would also be fair to teams like East Stirling, Stirling Albion, Annan etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancipital Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 I really don't know where to start with that. Where's the £250k coming from for a kick off- surely any increased gates from ZRFC would be outweighed by lower gates all season when folk chuck it. Even if there are play-offs, we're still playing for only a shot at getting out of the league- and if that doesn't work then Doolan, Erskine, Fox etc will be off at the end of the season no doubt and we're back to square one. There should be no compromise between commercialisation and sporting integrity. A newco should start in SFL3 or not at all. Rangers aren't being punished. They don't exist, or they won't, shortly. What DB is suggesting is that a newco (Zombie RFC) skips the queue based on the history they want to claim without the bills (and the shame). F**k it, if he's that keen to see ZRFC at Firhill, why not just sell our league place to them and he'll get his wish that way? If this goes through and we haven't volte-faced on it, I'm out I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Heron Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 He doesn't appear to have changed his opinion overnight... http://www.eveningti...de-off.17951391 Sounds like the same comments as were reported yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fredthecheesecloth Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Beattie is between a rock and a hard place here. He can't please everyone, and I guess he is looking at it from the perspective of balancing the books. That said, I appreciate and respect people's opinions on here. I don't buy a season ticket, and I certainly wouldn't after this news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lady-isobel-barnett Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 For once I'd be interested to hear what Livingston have to say about this. Also for this to take place is it dependent on Dunfermline being re-instated in the SPL? If that's the case St Johnstone & Dundee Utd will be losing out on big gates that derbies with Dundee would bring. Falkirk, Raith & Cowden will not benefit greatly from newco as they lose out on Pars fixtures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellow Traveller Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 After so many of us demanding that SPL clubs grow a pair and stand up to the pressure re Rangers, it'll be interesting/embarrassing to see the Thistle fans' co-ordinated (ha!) response now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Scruff Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 I really don't know where to start with that. Where's the £250k coming from for a kick off- surely any increased gates from ZRFC would be outweighed by lower gates all season when folk chuck it. Even if there are play-offs, we're still playing for only a shot at getting out of the league- and if that doesn't work then Doolan, Erskine, Fox etc will be off at the end of the season no doubt and we're back to square one. There should be no compromise between commercialisation and sporting integrity. A newco should start in SFL3 or not at all. Rangers aren't being punished. They don't exist, or they won't, shortly. What DB is suggesting is that a newco (Zombie RFC) skips the queue based on the history they want to claim without the bills (and the shame). F**k it, if he's that keen to see ZRFC at Firhill, why not just sell our league place to them and he'll get his wish that way? If this goes through and we haven't volte-faced on it, I'm out I'm afraid. A lot if this could be in the reporting, even accounting for what the quotes are. The £250K figure could well have come from the interviewer "It's estimated that ZRFC will mean an increase for each club in Div 1, how would that affect your club?" What specifically is the hypothetical 'plan' referred to? ZRFC parachuting in to SFL1 in the status quo, or a root and branch restructuring similar to that on the cards several months ago? I don't mean to sound like an apologist for DB, far from it. I do know from bitter experience that casual remarks to an interviewer can easily be presented as a 'thesis', skewed to a particular angle. I just wish he'd not got involved in something so unnecessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindau Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Dear God.....if you vote for this Mr Beattie, you have lost 3 lifelong supporters....and believe me, as much as it will hurt...we will never be back till you and every member of your board are long gone from Firhill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancipital Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 A lot if this could be in the reporting, even accounting for what the quotes are. The £250K figure could well have come from the interviewer "It's estimated that ZRFC will mean an increase for each club in Div 1, how would that affect your club?" What specifically is the hypothetical 'plan' referred to? ZRFC parachuting in to SFL1 in the status quo, or a root and branch restructuring similar to that on the cards several months ago? I don't mean to sound like an apologist for DB, far from it. I do know from bitter experience that casual remarks to an interviewer can easily be presented as a 'thesis', skewed to a particular angle. I just wish he'd not got involved in something so unnecessary. It would be part of a restructure to bring the game under one umbrella, more detail is in yesterday's Record article- there would be playoffs in the 2nd tier to go up but unclear how these would function i.e. how many teams involved / is 2nd bottom from SPL involved? I agree the reconstruction is needed for Scottish football but it should be totally separate from parachuting ZRFC into the 2nd tier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindau Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 I agree the reconstruction is needed for Scottish football but it should be totally separate from parachuting ZRFC into the 2nd tier. Think we are all singing from the same sheet Ancipital......except our chairman!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fredthecheesecloth Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 While I agree that emailing DB may be a good idea, slinging mud at him in individual emails really will not carry a lot of weight. People taking to twitter and using it as a soundboard is fine as well, but what should really be happening is that a credible fans group canvassing opinion and releasing a statement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 (edited) While I agree that emailing DB may be a good idea, slinging mud at him in individual emails really will not carry a lot of weight. People taking to twitter and using it as a soundboard is fine as well, but what should really be happening is that a credible fans group canvassing opinion and releasing a statement. Something like this? http://www.wearethis...now-your-views/ Edited June 22, 2012 by Steven H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindau Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Jags Trust should be arranging an immediate meeting to let him know the fans feeling in this matter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougie247 Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Why doesnt he just bend over and sell thistle to them and they can have our place because he's killing the club if that is the way he wants to vote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven H Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Jags Trust should be arranging an immediate meeting to let him know the fans feeling in this matter! Let me be the first to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armand2 Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 While I agree that emailing DB may be a good idea, slinging mud at him in individual emails really will not carry a lot of weight. People taking to twitter and using it as a soundboard is fine as well, but what should really be happening is that a credible fans group canvassing opinion and releasing a statement. Bang on the money. The Jags Trust should just pack up, shut shop and bugger off because they are completely and utterly useless and this issue has just highlighted their incompetence even further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potty trained Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Is anyone a member of the Trust? why don't you email your Trust Secretary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryHell Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Posted this elsewhere but hey ho... The only way TCFKAR will apply to the SFL is if they are knocked back from the SPL. If they are knocked back from the SPL it will be because enough chairmen decide to put sporting integrity before commercial gain. For the SFL to then throw this out the window and say that they are happy to take the commercial gain over sporting integrity and insert them into the 1st Division is just beyond the pale. Further to that - they will be voting at a time when I don't believe that the full facts about Rangers are yet in the public domain. Today i've read (admittedly on online forums) about former refs with EBTs, investigations into D&P, Rangers ST money going into bank accounts inaccesable to the Newco, Bids for Newco withdrawn, Newco not having enough capital etc. etc. To do anything remotely possitive in relation to Rangers could make the Chairmen look very stupid. Suppose they get parachuted into the 1st - does anybody have any confidence they would be able to see out a season? It's not money that was budgetted for, so we shouldn't whore ourselves, or risk damaging our competition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagman Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 If this statement is correct in it's entirety and events unfold which result in 'Rangers' being granted a place in the 1st Division with our backing and in the current format (one up, one down) I'm afraid I won't be back next year either. The only advantage to our club would be financial. Competitiveness in our league next season and fairness in football would be lost. I think the club need to look at the bigger picture rather than the financial benefits of one season with Rangers in the league. I have been to 90% of home games over the past 15 years. This year, I decided that I'd get a season ticket both to help the club and because my finances are in a better position to allow me to do this. Starting to regret this now though! Will be asking for a refund and won't be at Firhill next year if we assist them in joining our league. As with most, it'll be difficult to walk away from the club we've supported all our lives but I can't pay into something I don't agree with. Intergrity before money please Mr Beattie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norgethistle Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Beattie is between a rock and a hard place here. He can't please everyone, and I guess he is looking at it from the perspective of balancing the books. That said, I appreciate and respect people's opinions on here. I don't buy a season ticket, and I certainly wouldn't after this news. This is short term ism at its best take £250k in 1 hand for 1 season and lose how many fans for a lifetime… that's balancing the books!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MWM Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Beattie only needed to do two things. 1. Say nothing 2. If it came to it, cast some sort of vote among fans on how the club should use their vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Third Lanark Posted June 22, 2012 Report Share Posted June 22, 2012 Beattie only needed to do two things. 1. Say nothing 2. If it came to it, cast some sort of vote among fans on how the club should use their vote. Well said, the Chairman of the likes of Hamilton Accies or Morton for example may be thinking the same as him but they have said nothing and therefore no-one has any idea what they think. SOmetimes he is just too keen to make his views known to the papers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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