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Championship Final Day And Spfl Shambles

ChookterDon

By ChookterDon,
in AFC and Scottish Football

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ChookterDon Newbie

ChookterDon

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So the SPFL once again have looked to make a mockery of our game by moving the Hearts v Rangers game from 2nd May to the 3rd of May and leaving every other game on the Saturday. In my opinion last games of the season should always be played on the same day. Hearts owner Ann Budge has written a statement regarding this and I whole-heartedly agree with her. One of the few owners who is not afraid to give the SPFL and the fud Doncaster a piece of her mind. It's no wonder the League can't find a sponsor, when apparently the SPFL released a statement in response which I have quoted further down below.

 

 

CLUB STATEMENT

 

 

At 10.43am today, the club received notice from the SPFL that our last home game of the season v Rangers is to be moved to Sunday 3rd May at 12.30pm. This was the first notification of any change that we received.

This has been done following selection of the game for a live TV broadcast. While we all knew that this was likely to be a strong candidate for televising and that the time might well change, we did not for one minute think that at this late stage, it would be moved to the Sunday….especially given our belief that all Championship games would require to be played at the same time.

Previously in the season we delayed the sale of tickets for the first Rangers game as long as we could as we realised that this fixture was highly attractive to broadcasters and likely for selection. In relation to this game, we attempted to do the same but in this case, it would seem to no avail.

On learning of the change, I immediately attempted to contact the SPFL and objected in strong terms to the proposed late change to this fixture on the grounds of it having a total disregard for the interests of supporters of both clubs and an apparent disregard for sporting integrity. I also spoke directly to Police Scotland who share our frustration and informed me that they had written with some strong reasons for objecting to the changed fixture, including duplication of work for them, re-allocation of resources, etc. but once again, to no avail.

Being given 17 days’ notice of this change is extremely disruptive and potentially very expensive for the fans, the sponsors and indeed the club. Overseas supporters have been in touch to advise that they will lose substantial amounts on travel; others have advised of lost earnings, holiday problems, etc.

None of this is good for any of us and on behalf of the club, I can only apologise.

When it also became apparent to us that our fixture was the only game to be moved, we were equally alarmed as rightly or wrongly, this casts a shadow over the sporting integrity of the Championship. While it may not be enshrined in the newly merged rule book of the SPFL, it is protocol the football world over for fixtures such as the last day of the Championship to be played simultaneously. To move only one, (or even 2 or 4) out of 5 fixtures would seem to be leaving our game wide open to unsavoury accusations. I wrote, raising this point, to the SPFL, copying all clubs. Correspondence received from the SPFL asking Championship clubs to state their case for a move, does little to alleviate our concerns re the perception of this matter.

I will be sending in a formal complaint to the SPFL in relation to this appallingly late decision. It is no wonder that clubs are finding it harder and harder to gain support from their fans when their interests can be so blatantly disregarded, especially at such short notice.

I am advised that this complaint will likely have no impact on the original decision but nevertheless, I want our supporters to know that we have taken all and any action that we could have and I will further comment on the situation once we have been updated by the League.

Ann Budge

 

THE SPFL STATEMENT - CCqROd-WIAAptQQ.jpg:large

 

What is your thoughts?

Surely, sometime soon the clubs of the SPFL are going to have to stand up to these idiots who control our game?

Surely each member club can call a vote of no confidence which would therefore mean Doncaster could get the punt if pressure was applied in the correct manner?

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fine-n-dandy Grand Master

fine-n-dandy

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Indeed, but would Hearts not rather see Hibs stay in the Championship, rather than der huns.

 

 

 

Anyway, Donkaster says all Hibs has to do is ask for there game to be changed the Sunday...

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32330475

Ha what a load of shite.

 

He's fkn at it & he's thick as fuck if thinks folk won't see through that.

 

He kens fine the cops would rather have them on different days (no matter what the cops are saying at the moment) & he is hoping to force the cops into being the bad guys by saying they'd want them on different days.

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DD1903 Grand Master

DD1903

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Ha what a load of shite.

 

He's fkn at it & he's thick as fuck if thinks folk won't see through that.

 

He kens fine the cops would rather have them on different days (no matter what the cops are saying at the moment) & he is hoping to force the cops into being the bad guys by saying they'd want them on different days.

Totally different areas, so it won't matter to the cops in terms of a division supplying loads. What it will do though, is probably screw up the plans they have in place to cover the game.

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fine-n-dandy Grand Master

fine-n-dandy

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Totally different areas, so it won't matter to the cops in terms of a division supplying loads. What it will do though, is probably screw up the plans they have in place to cover the game.

Falkirk being so close. You would have a fair mix of fans coming together at all times of the day. Mainly after the games.

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vanderark14 Contributor

vanderark14

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Ha what a load of shite.

 

He's fkn at it & he's thick as fuck if thinks folk won't see through that.

 

He kens fine the cops would rather have them on different days (no matter what the cops are saying at the moment) & he is hoping to force the cops into being the bad guys by saying they'd want them on different days.

Hearts owner issued a statement saying they disagreed with this. It's refreshing to see this, she's not blinded enough by the rivalry with their city rivals to see that this is a disgrace.

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E-P-K Newbie

E-P-K

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Hearts owner issued a statement saying they disagreed with this. It's refreshing to see this, she's not blinded enough by the rivalry with their city rivals to see that this is a disgrace.

 

 

Aye, she seems like a bitch to be messed with at your own peril.

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Herouali0 Newbie

Herouali0

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Posted


All five final SPFL Championship fixtures to kick-off at same time

The final round of Scottish Championship fixtures will now all kick-off simultaneously at 12:15 BST on Saturday 2 May.


Hearts v Rangers had initially been moved to Sunday 3 May by the Scottish Professional Football League.


But both Hibernian and Hearts believed this jeopardised "sporting integrity", as Rangers could know the result needed to get to secure a league placing.


Rangers' trip to Hearts will still receive live television coverage


A spokesperson for the SPFL said: "Following consultation between the SPFL, member clubs and broadcast partners regarding the final round of Championship fixtures over the weekend of 2 and 3 May 2015, Sky Sports has now suggested an alternative schedule for its televised Championship match that weekend.


"As a result, we are pleased to confirm all five Championship matches that weekend will now kick off simultaneously at 12.15pm on Saturday 2 May. The Hearts v Rangers match will be televised live on Sky Sports.


"The SPFL would like to thank Sky Sports for its flexibility and understanding and we're sure all football fans will look forward to an exciting climax to the Championship season."


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rossafc92 Newbie

rossafc92

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She's maybe what these leagues need, someone who isn't just interested in their own club and wants to see the leagues here thrive. The opposite of our owner

 

When league reconstruction talks first began around a couple of years ago, and then collapsed (with the rejection of the 12-12; 8-8-8 league format), I always found Milne's reaction to it all quite interesting.

 

He talked of dark days ahead and major financial issues because of the rejection of the new proposals. He looked like he was almost in tears as he left Hampden when the deal fell through, and I remember him saying that the consequences would be felt pretty immediately, in which I think he referred to lack of sponsorship for the leagues, as one was lined up for the new organisation that would govern the new league of 12-12; 8-8-8.

 

I thought that his reaction was more because of the effect it would have on AFC at the time rather than the league as a whole. That may well have been the case, who knew what was ahead of us in the next couple of years? Can't exactly say Milne knew we'd be in the position we're in now both on and off the pitch.

 

However with the same league format, effectively still the same people in charge and of course still no title sponsor, perhaps Mile was showing concern for the league set-up as a whole and not just AFC? Because two years down the line, he is kind of right. All that changed when the clubs "cherry-picked" from the initial reconstruction proposals was the merger of the SPL and SFL, a redistribution of cash (which, with the figures available and agreed upon is hardly anything major) and a play-off for entry/exit in/out of the SPFL.

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vanderark14 Contributor

vanderark14

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Doncaster needs his jotters.

 

The lawyers should then call Sky and BT in and tell them they want to renegotiate the contract.

Spot on and if they don't agree to it, get the games on at 3pm Saturday and fill the stadiums with a decent highlights package on a Saturday night. If they focus on this, the tv companies will follow anyway. I agree with something I read elsewhere, the Friday night games are a good idea but only if it's against a more local side. For example Killie v Motherwell, dons v ICT/Dundee/Dundee Utd.

 

Even the tims want this, they don't want 12 o'clock kick offs and neither does anyone else.

 

The fans dont want it, yet the clubs do, it's the clubs that keep fannies like Doncaster and regan in a job. I wish they would come out and explain why?

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Pudgie Newbie

Pudgie

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Spot on and if they don't agree to it, get the games on at 3pm Saturday and fill the stadiums with a decent highlights package on a Saturday night. If they focus on this, the tv companies will follow anyway. I agree with something I read elsewhere, the Friday night games are a good idea but only if it's against a more local side. For example Killie v Motherwell, dons v ICT/Dundee/Dundee Utd.

 

Even the tims want this, they don't want 12 o'clock kick offs and neither does anyone else.

 

The fans dont want it, yet the clubs do, it's the clubs that keep fannies like Doncaster and regan in a job. I wish they would come out and explain why?

i actually feel for them this season. Every game televised after the split and every game a dodgy kick off time.

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