Merger plans between the SPL and SFL look dead in the water after a show of hands at the AGM of the SFL indicated that the majority of Division Two and Three clubs are against the deal.

SFL clubs will formally vote on the proposals at an EGM next month but First Division sides are preparing for rejection and putting their own breakaway plans in place to join up with the SPL.

A summer of conflict lies ahead with Hamilton Accies chief Les Gray adamant that it’s time for First Division sides to make their move.

“We see that EGM vote as an irrelevance,” he explained. “It has been voted down so it is a failed vote in our eyes.

“We will now look at all the other alternatives to us and we will do what is right for our clubs now.

“It will involve getting change for next season. We will organise meetings with the SPL in the coming days.

“The whole group are very disappointed with the outcome. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to try to get it over the line.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been enough and nearly half the SFL clubs have decided it’s not for them. It is really unfortunate and we are all greatly disappointed.”

The current proposal was triggered by talk of a First Division breakaway with Gray admitting that a 42 club all-in solution isn’t likely to happen.

He added: “The 42-club solution is what we have been trying to achieve. It has not happened and it is disappointing. It is not going to happen now.

“We are all big boys. It is a democracy and some clubs have made their decision. We will move on with our lives.”

Hearts will need to wait a month before finding out if they will be dragged down by the bankruptcy of UBIG in Lithuania.

On Monday the SPL backed away from applying any sanctions to the Scottish Cup holders due to uncertainty over the way that the Lithuanian’s deal with administration

Hearts director Sergejus Fedotovas has revealed that the troubled club owes a total of £25m to UBIG and Ukio Bankas but is already targeting a top three place next season!

Sergejus Fedotovas told Hearts TV: “I think that we really need to be targeting the top three places. Obviously it will be a new team, it’s important that they grow and deliver results but it’s not the first time that a team has been reconstructed.

“We are looking at it positively, bearing in mind our results last season we’re looking to radically improve next season.

“We hope that the players we bring will deliver good quality performances and results that will excite the fans..”

Turning to the financial side of the club he admitted: “The news about UBIG was very much unexpected, something we didn’t anticipate.

“To be frank we are still trying to find out what the reality is behind it and how this will impact on Hearts.

“Pretty much we know the company has declared it’s in a position where it may not be able to meet its obligations and pay the bills. But as I understand from the Lithuanian legal background, it is something it has time to consider.

“The company has around 30 days to revoke that or take it further to the stage where it will be filing for bankruptcy or insolvency.

“It will be decided by the court whether the company will go into insolvency or not.”

Marc Wotte has a desperate wish to put a stop to the negativity that swirls around Scottish football.

The SFA performance director used his blog on May 16 to state that wish as he discussed league reconstruction- a week later he was criticising Kris Commons for retiring from international football!

Following the announcement from the Celtic midfielder Wotte tweeted: “Retiring at 29 after only 10 caps honestly puzzles me. Meaning, where does pride, desire and ambitions come in this picture?”

While it’s welcome to see a fairly high profile figure at the SFA using twitter to engage with supporters Wotte should do so more responsibly.

His thoughts may be in line with those of a lot of supporters but as an SFA employee and someone that requires a strong relationship- and co-operation- with the country’s most successful club he has to choose his comments carefully.

While he might enjoy some internet or street cred for criticising Commons it won’t make his job, or Gordon Strachan’s, any easier.

Looking back a week the Dutchman would be well advised to follow his own suggestions to help develop a more positive approach throughout Scottish football.

Wotte blogged: “The league reconstruction debate is for the respective league bodies to agree on but whatever the format next season, it is my desperate wish that we put a stop to the negativity that swirls around Scottish football.

“We must place a positive emphasis on the new generation of players who will underpin the championship and be more complimentary towards the coaches who are brave enough to introduce them to their first-teams.

“If we can begin a new campaign with a new mindset, then it is possible that all of us – coaches, players, referees, supporters – can work together to produce a league set-up and national teams of all ages to be proud of.”

While Wotte questions Commons putting his family before international football the SFA will be calling on Liam Henderson and Calum Waters for Scotland’s u-20 squad in the Den Haag tournament, Stuart Findlay, John Herron and Jamie Lindsay with the u-19 squad in Belgium while Commons team-mates Scott Brown, James Forrest and Tony Watt are in Strachan’s squad for the World Cup qualifier with Croatia.

There was one significant absentee when Cammy Bell was paraded yesterday as a signing for Rangers International- Ally McCoist.

Having complained for months about the limitations of his squad and questioning the registration ban agreed with the SFA it would have been expected that the manager would be on hand to welcome the new arrival.

McCoist however was nowhere to be seen as Bell discussed his dream move to the Third Division champions from Kilmarnock.

As criticism grew of the current Ibrox side word began to emerge about the circumstances in which players were signed suggesting that availability and timing were the key issues rather than ability- clearly an attempt to distance the manager from the process.

Now however, with time to plan his transfer moves, there was no sign of McCoist within Ibrox as Bell spoke about his transfer without mentioning the new manager he’d be working for.

“Money has never been a factor in this at all,” the goalkeeper claimed. “Other clubs were interested in me but it was the sheer size of Rangers.

“If anybody had offered me a contract with Rangers in the SPL then I would have signed that as well, but you need to take the steps back with them.

“I want to go on that journey with the club to get them back to where they should be.

“If people say I lack ambition because I have signed for Rangers then that is something I would totally disagree with.

“Rangers want to be back in the SPL and Europe and so do I. That is ambition from my point of view.”

Rangers International are also believed to be close to completing deals to sign Jon Daly from Dundee United and Queen of the South striker Nicky Clark.

Dixie Deans has been back to Hampden to relive one of the most famous Scottish Cup Final goals.

The striker scored League Cup and Scottish Cup Final hat-tricks against Hibs but is best remembered for an epic solo goal in the 6-2 win over Hibs in the 1972 Scottish Cup Final.

Single handedly he worked his way in from the edge of the penalty box, twice taking the ball round goalkeeper James Herriot before shooting into the net from a tight angle and celebrating the strike with a forward roll!

That celebration became legendary and highlighted the exceptional rapport that the player built up with the Celtic support as he helped himself to 124 goals in 184 Celtic appearances.

Modestly describing that goal against Hibs he told The Sun: “It came after the second goal of my hat-trick against Hibs in the final and I was really proud of that strike. It was one of my best.

“It was not a simple tap-in. I took the ball round the keeper twice, and a defender, before scoring and I think a few people were shocked by my skill!

“I do a lot of Q&As at Celtic supporters’ clubs and they always ask me about the goal and the celebration.

“The fans also ask about my penalty miss against Inter Milan in the 1972 European Cup Final and that was just weeks before the Scottish Cup Final.

“In fact, I was not sure if I would play against Hibs or not after that but I did and we won the Double that day. It was the perfect way to crown my first season at Celtic.

“I always had a good record against Hibs. I also scored a hat-trick against them in the 1974 League Cup Final.

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Paul Lawson has joined Motherwell- just as manager Stuart McCall prepares for talks with Sheffield United.

The midfielder spent six seasons with Ross County but was keen to return to the central belt with the bonus of Motherwell being in the qualifying rounds for the Europa League.

Speaking to Motherwell tv the 28-year-old said: ““It’s great to have my future sorted out. There is a lot of uncertainty around Scottish Football so it’s really pleasing to have things sorted early doors.

“I enjoyed my time at Ross County. I have been pleased with my performances and thankfully the manager [Stuart McCall] spotted that and came in to sign me.

“He is probably the main reason why I joined. I met him and he was keen to bring me here which was great and obviously the boys have enjoyed a fantastic season and I am keen to try and continue that next year.”

Lawson captained Celtic’s reserve side under Kenny McDowall and enjoyed loan spells with St Mirren and St Johnstone.

Whether he will get the opportunity to work with McCall remains open to debate.

After finishing second in the SPL McCall has repaired his reputation down south where he had a spell in charge of Bradford City.

McCall recently signed a new contract with Motherwell but has been given permission to speak to Sheffield United where he was assistant manager to Neil Warnock.

If McCall moves back to Yorkshire he’s likely to be followed out the door by a number of out of contract players.

Players’ Player of the Year Michael Higden and James McFadden are both out of contract and unlikely to re-sign until McCall’s position is confirmed.

Aiden McGeady has vowed to mend his ways after being hit with a six match suspension for being ordered off.

The Spartak Moscow midfielder will sit out Sunday’s final match of the season at home to Alania and will miss the first three matches of next season as a result of his sending off against Mordovia Saransk.

McGeady received a four match ban for a straight red card with a further two matches added for kicking out at a microphone and allegations of gesturing at supporters and damaging the dressing room.

Three seasons after leaving Celtic in a £10m deal the Irish internationalist has admitted that he needs to curb his temperament on and off the pitch.

“I need to deal better with smaller matters,” McGeady told the Evening Herald in Dublin. “In future, I will try to keep my emotions under control

“Even though I am passionate and have a temper, I am a thoughtful person. I sometimes get absorbed into myself, I think about the past and the future, about my family, I analyse my own actions.

“Even traffic problems can annoy me. Once in Moscow I was stopped for speeding but the policeman recognised me. He said: ‘Oh, that’s McGeady from Spartak, no problem, safe journey.’.

“I got angry and I allowed myself to get carried away. I have already apologised for my actions to my team-mates and the supporters.

“But I am still in shock at the reaction of the Russian FA disciplinary committee. I still hope that the appeals committee will listen to Spartak’s appeal on my behalf as I really want to play in the last game of the season, against Alania on Sunday. It is really hard to be under suspension like this.”

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The all-powerful PFA have been brought into Paolo di Canio’s row with his Sunderland players.

Following Sunday’s defeat at Spurs the Italian slammed his players as arrogant and ignorant on the day that Phil Bardsley was pictured in a newspaper lying on a casino floor surrounded by £50 notes.

Players union chief Gordon Taylor, who defended di Canio when he was sent off for pushing referee Paul Alcock.

Di Canio wasn’t slow to discipline players at Swindon Town but faces a backlash from Sunderland stars who haven’t bought into his hard line way.

“We know Paolo as a player and a manager, and he is a bit volatile,” players union chief Taylor admitted. “But he knows, from when he was a player with the PFA, what we are about. We represented him then, the same as we also represent the players (now).

“One point he made was about Sunderland being able to do what they want – well they can’t. There is a disciplinary procedure that is agreed.

“We obviously agree with discipline, but that has to be in line with the Football Association and the Premier League. From that point of view, there is a due process.

“It is not going to help matters blasting players in public, but that is what he has done, so we will deal with it. It is not always conducive to good player-management relations.

“He is his own man, but they do have to abide by laid-down procedures and Sunderland, being a member of the Premier League, know that as well as anybody.

“We don’t want to get into confrontation, but we have a job to do and we need the players to know that.”

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]]> http://videocelts.com/2013/05/blogs/bosses/pfa-take-di-canio-to-task/feed 10 http://videocelts.com/2013/05/blogs/latest-news/malcom-murray-hits-back-at-drunken-video-release http://videocelts.com/2013/05/blogs/latest-news/malcom-murray-hits-back-at-drunken-video-release#comments Tue, 21 May 2013 07:41:13 +0000 Joe McHugh http://videocelts.com/?p=16373 The Rangers chairman Malcolm Murray has attacked the boardroom colleagues who released a video of his drunken behaviour onto You Tube.

The dirty war at Ibrox took another spectacular turn yesterday as the video emerged on the back of various taped conversations appearing on line.

Responding to the video in the Daily Record Murray said: “This is a clear stitch-up. I was kept waiting for dinner for more than two hours and plied with lots of drink.

“I can’t do that nowadays because of a medical condition. I was in a car accident when I was a young man. It took half my head off and half my brother’s head off.

“As a legacy of that accident, I can’t drink nowadays without getting wobbly. I have a balance problem and that’s a medical fact. It’s why I restrict myself to drinks over a meal.

“It seems obvious to me that the people behind this don’t want me at the club. It’s a stitch-up and everyone knows it.”

Murray is on the right of the video wearing a light coloured suit, the video was taken in September by fellow director Brian Stockbrudge apparently concerned for the welfare of his chairman.

Responding to the video a The Rangers spokesman said: “It is deeply disappointing and irresponsible that what was a private video recording has been made public on the internet.

“The footage was taken by a concerned colleague and was presented on a confidential basis some months ago to senior management and board directors, including the chairman, for reasons well known to him and to senior figures at the club.”

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