soulfulsaint

It refers to compliant and uncruitical journalism when the writer is talking up Rangers. Explained here: http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/succulent-lamb-menu-questions/1010

For younger forum members and the Chairman. Don't believe the scare stories: Between May 1978 and May 1987, Rangers didn’t win a league title. The only time they posed a serious challenge was 1979. Aberdeen won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983, Dundee Utd reached the European Cup semi final in 1984. Celtic won leagues and cups but nevers in a one horse race. Hearts could and shoul have won the league in 1986 which went to the last day. Scotland qualified for two World Cups. All this whilst Rangers were a mid table team. The only sad fact is that St Johnstone were still recovering from their worst ever era.

I'll second that motion, chair.

<B> Neil Lennon Criticises the Doom Mongers</B> NEIL LENNON has criticised SFA chief executive Stewart Regan’s doom-laden comments on the future of Scottish football without Rangers, claiming they could hamper his attempts to recruit new players to Celtic. Following the SPL’s decision on Wednesday to refuse newco Rangers admission to the top flight, Regan issued a dire warning of the game in this country suffering a “slow, lingering death” if the Ibrox club were banished to the Third Division. He also suggested there would be “social unrest” in Scotland in the event of Rangers’ demise. Celtic manager Lennon, while describing the chain of events which have unfolded at Rangers over the past year as “disastrous”, says Regan’s observations are to the detriment of his own efforts to champion Scottish football in spite of its ongoing difficulties. “Comments like those don’t help,” said Lennon. “We’ve not had a problem with persuading players to come here so far. I think our reputation is good, we are a big club and can offer Champions League football which is a huge attraction. Obviously, the fact there is no Rangers in the SPL takes the shine off, but people come here to play for the club and not just in four games against Rangers a season. http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport/football/positive-neil-lennon-labels-regan-s-prophecy-of-doom-as-unhelpful-1-2398203#.T_fDHmHC5u0.facebook

Yes Congratulations steven your info has gone viral across all the blogs and facebook. Great to see football fans sucking succulent saintees lamb. The battle now is to fight scaremongering and provide a different perspective

An update on the next big vote this time from the peerless Turnbull Hutton of Raith Rovers - one of the most informed statements we have heard from a club chairman. He comes close to implyig that Raith Rovers may not veen attend questioning the transparency and legality of the process. <B> SFL Special General Meeting – Friday 13th July 2012 </B> The club has this evening received the notice of resolutions to be voted on next Friday and we are told to expect an information pack at some time next week. We hope that this pack will present a more balanced report to SFL member clubs than they have so far received. At last Tuesday’s meeting, financial information provided by Neil Doncaster showed an unrealistic worst case scenario. It showed the impact of potential total loss of 3 TV contracts, all of which had been inexplicably agreed on the basis that the broadcaster could walk away if either Rangers or Celtic were not in the SPL. His information did not, however, set out the potentially positive impact of negotiating replacement contracts with other broadcasters or alternatively the much mentioned possibility of launching SPL TV (which we understand could have been launched within a matter of months). Mr Doncaster warned SFL members that if these contracts were indeed lost, this would mean the annual payment to the SFL under the Settlement Agreement would either be greatly reduced or not paid at all. Raith Rovers FC believes this not to be the case, and that the SPL would remain both contractually obliged and able to pay the £1.9m – £2m annual sum, even in that worst case scenario. We call upon the SFL Board to clarify its view on this vital point urgently, before club boards finalise their positions on these important votes. We are also concerned that there has not as yet been an opportunity for clubs to receive legal advice from the SFL and/or debate the potential consequences on the smooth running of our league in the event that the Courts are asked to annull/strike down any of the corporate transactions that have led to the current position of Sevco Scotland Ltd as owners of certain assets of the Rangers oldco. Indeed, the position as regards the potential sanctions to be applied by the Scottish FA via its Appellate Tribunal has also still to be bottomed out. In summary, we remain concerned that the SPL clubs have overwhelmingly voted to pass on this potential time bomb, which may yet explode once passed to the SFL’s jurisdiction, and we are being asked to accept this new company into membership, worse still in our top division. Without all of this information, and the opportunity for clubs to further discuss these issues on a fully informed basis amongst themselves before the formal SGM, in a similar format to last Tuesday’s meeting, we are concerned that the fairness and transparency of the process itself is at risk of being compromised. Raith Rovers FC will consider its stance with regard to attendance at this meeting once we receive the information from the SFL. http://www.raithrovers.net/3998/sfl-special-general-meeting-friday-13th-july-2012.htm

A document of such poor quality and woeful design it makes you wonder if they have any reource and self-belief left. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9379754/Rangers-in-crisis-Friday-the-13th-could-be-particularly-unlucky-for-Ibrox-newco.html#

Main banks wouldn't give them debit/credit facilities receive the credit card payments, so they have moved to a new Manchester bank with no great track record. They cannot simply transfer over the standing order data to the new 'fastpay' sytem as that would be illegal (although they may have tried). New standing orders are required for every ST, but since they hate Charles Green none are being sent in. Chaotic farce

Best of luck Marcus. Maybe one of the few players that scored on international duty whilst at Saints. Others please?

What Steven's blog shows us - which many already instinctively knew - is that the SKY deal has been woefully negotaited. Rather than beg to stay in the deal, the SPL should say that due to the circumstances they are inviting register of interests and I would not be suprised if BT Vision, ESPN, SKY and BBC Scotland all showed interest. A production and distribution company like IMG might also show inetrest and pay Sky carriage costs to 'sell' the channel to subscribers. Ryan's idea of an SPL stand alone channel is another dynamic even although that may take slightly longer to organise. The idea that no one is interested in the SPL without Rangesr is scaremongering beyond belief - not interested in a 5million population market place. Sheer nonsense.

Yes and RTE and TG4 invest heavily in the main game in Ireland - GAA Football and Hurling.

C'mon John demand a play-off against Dundee for SPL place. Venue McDiarmid Park, Perth which is ideal for both sides. Saints would need to charge a premium rent at such short notice of course. Kercccching.

Here's really tough question - who do you believe? Charles Green (Sevco) “We had asked the SPL whether it would be more appropriate for us to withdraw our application but were advised against this.... we regret that our club and our supporters were given false hope by this initiative.” Neil Doncaster (SPL) did not deny that talks with Green had taken place but insisted he was unaware of any positive signals having been sent to the Yorkshire businessman. Tough one isn't it - who do you think is 'at-it'?

Disagree for the frist time Percy. Its a gerat day for Scottsih football the wee guy got up and fought back. Will change Scottish foorball forever. Intimidation is over.

Massively proud of the club I will always support - well done Saints

He's listened to the thing that produces more consitent revenue for St Johnstone than SKY - the fans. (and the broader community of Perth who have invested in the club over years)

The Scottish Football Association will block any attempt to include Charles Green’s Rangers newco in the Scottish Premier League for the 2012/13 campaign, according to Stewart Regan. The chief executive of Scottish football’s governing body made the statement as he addressed the member clubs of the Scottish Football League at a meeting on Tuesday. Sides in the SPL will vote on Wednesday over whether to approve the transfer of Rangers’ member share of the league to Green’s new company. An 8-4 majority is required to ratify such a move, but seven clubs have already stated they will vote no. http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/109165-scottish-fa-will-block-any-move-to-accept-newco-rangers-into-spl/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

ST JOHNSTONE insist they will still vote against 'newco' Rangers being admitted to the SPL amid speculation that some top-flight sides could change their stance on the issue. Rangers would need the support of eight SPL clubs to be admitted into the top division and with the Perth club standing firm, the chances of a dramatic re-election to the top flight appear to be dwindling. Saints' latest statement read: "There has been a good deal of press speculation in advance of tomorrow's meeting of the SPL clubs with regard to how each club will cast their vote in relation to the newco Rangers application to join the SPL. "For avoidance of doubt, the club's position remains as per the statement which was issued on Monday 25 June confirming that the Club will not be supporting the application." SFL clubs are meeting today to discuss their options should the 'newco' SPL bid fail and many of those teams believe starting in the Third Division is the best outcome for the beleaguered Glasgow club. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2012/07/03/rangers-in-crisis-st-johnstone-sticking-to-their-guns-over-newco-vote-86908-23903956/

Simple and true - SJFC must stay solidly no and I feel sure they will.

Stranraer Statement is well worth a read "The committee of Stranraer FC met this evening to discuss the papers recently received in advance of the SFL clubs meeting. The papers indicate a number of proposals and scenarios to deal with the potential vacancy that would occur if the expulsion of an SPL club occurs this week. The committee unanimously agreed that the proposals are produced in haste and are unconvinced about the justification for departing from the rules and standards that the SFL represent. As a club recently faced with possible extinction and fighting our way back from financial difficulties we fully understand the position that a club could find themselves placed in and as a supporters run club, fully understand the passions of the supporters of clubs affected by such an event. We are not convinced at the emotive language currently being aired to describe the potential ramifications to our game should a NewCo not be given special case treatment and consider that the benefits that could be negotiated do not counter balance the damage that would be done to the credibility of the SFL as a governing body. We hold the stance that it is our place to act in the best long term interests of Stranraer FC and for Scottish Football as a whole and see no reason to breach the integrity of the SFL by filling a vacancy at any level other than at the lowest tier. The possibility of placing a NewCo at any other level breaches the sporting competition of our organisation and compromises the very structure of our game. There should not be a special case made for any club and we believe that the proper place for a phoenix club to restart life is at the lowest level. We believe it is right and proper than any club should have the right to apply for the resulting vacancy and we would then form a view on which club we would support for election to any vacancy based on the presentation case made by the applicants. Irrespective of the size, stature, history and resources of the club filling the vacancy, the opportunity exists for that club to find their way back to their natural tier in the league structure in a fair and equitable manner while being encouraged to trade and exist successfully within the means at their disposal. Restructuring of the league set-up and governing bodies is complex and difficult with many differing views and interests across the clubs in the spectrum. The current proposal has been compiled as a reaction to the unique and unexpected circumstances we are faced with and while there are clearly a number of ingredients that have great merit, this is too great an issue to be dealt with in this seemingly indecent haste.

Hearing that Bursapor may have won their appeal. Can anyone confirm and what that does to travel plans?

Agree with this Mainstand. If they do not pursue it without the parachute element then history which show it as grubby and undemocractic compromise.

Today's Scotland on Sunday is interesting: <i> The “lucrative” package of reconstruction proposals – with a new Rangers thrown in – was cooked up by SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, vice-president Rod Petrie, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and SFL chief executive David Longmuir. The latest turn of events is particularly embarrassing for Hibernian chairman Petrie. It has been reported he met new Rangers owner Charles Green to discuss plans to ease Rangers back into the First Division, despite his claim that “sporting integrity was beyond purchase”. </i> Rod Petrie met with Charles Green in Edinburgh to discuss these matters but there is no record of their conversations. Whilst this does not absolve SJFC or any other SPL club of reponsibility it does chime with a version of events I'd heard from a friend. The Board were away in Switzerland at the Euro draw and returned to be "surprised as much as the fans were" - and are as I understand it, sceptical about the documents. My instincts tell me that these documents were prepared by the above named parties, with Rod Petrie as a delegated 'sub-committee' of the Board. It had no Board approval since the Board had not met and was not endorsed by SJFC who were out of the country and had not seen the completed documents, and in any case had no voting powers since it was an SFL decision to agree to or not. I'd be happier if we were in Aberdeen's 'for the avoidance of doubt' camp but this makes more uncomfortable reading for Hibs fans than it does for us. -John you may have a view - you have been more consitently right than me http://www.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/sport/football/rangers-newco-after-spl-fans-forced-rejection-sfl-hears-same-mesage-1-2386605

I remain confident that SJFC do not endorse this document but have nothing to base that on than faith, which I intend to keep.

I cannot confirm or deny the following tweet and so can only offer it as a 'rumour' but Celtic fans are claiming online that a document/properties analysis of the SPL 2 strategic document suggests it was drafted by the SPL lawyers and last edited by SPL CEO Neil Doncaster: <i> "Tony McKelvie @TonyMcKelvie 11m As @BillyBhoy68 shrewdly notes, the Doc properties for the ‘SPFL Structures’ indicates it was drafted by SPL’s Lawyers &edited by Doncaster" </i> If this is proven to be true then we are in deeply deceptive territory. I apologise for presuming this risible document could not be real - as it was of such poor standard. I genuinely thought that even Doncaster was better than that. But that may have been mistaken. What is now unclear is this - was he on a 'freelance mission' or did this have the full backing of SPL chairmen? Aberdeen have distanced themselves. I hope we do too.