Rangers

[FairwayDodger]

They weren't, they were bought and rebranded.

A bit like your local newsagent being bought by Spar and becoming Spar.

Legally yes, but not, I'm sure how the Clydebank fans see it.

Sheesh! Against you I'm the defender of the wee teams and against Smange I'm the big bad arrogant old firm bully.

EDIT:

 

[FairwayDodger]

I highlighted that part as that was the part that displayed the typical arrogance of Old Firm fans that so annoys supporters of "wee" teams

While ignoring the next paragraph that clarified my position.

 

[Val]

I'm not a supporter of a big team

Whoa there, you potentially support the 3rd or 4th biggest team in the country in aberdeen, it's just a pit the fans/board/players don't play or act like it.

It's the one and and only real chance of radical change in Scotland, a chance to make it miles better.

 

[Val]

Legally yes, but not, I'm sure how the Clydebank fans see it.

Sheesh! Against you I'm the defender of the wee teams and against Smange I'm the big bad arrogant old firm bully.

EDIT:

We got there eventually FD

 

[FairwayDodger]

We got there eventually FD

Sure.... of course Spar aren't planning to move my local newsagent 20 miles to the other side of Glasgow are they?

 

[chris661]

Legally yes, but not, I'm sure how the Clydebank fans see it.

Sheesh! Against you I'm the defender of the wee teams and against Smange I'm the big bad arrogant old firm bully.

EDIT:

Well coming from Clydebank and being a Clydebank supporter the Steedmans had RUINED Clydebank by selling the ground, promising to build a new one which never materialised, so it was only a matter of time before the went pop.

 

[smange]

I'm not a supporter of a big team however we have more European Trophies than any of the Old Farm. That said I also happen to think there are far too many diddy teams in Scottish Football who live from hand to mouth and prey to God that they get a bumper Scottish Cup Tie against an Old Farm team.

These teams take money out of football and offer virtually nothing in return.

Scottish football needs striped to the bone and blown apart before it can ever move forward and for me some of these "wee" teams need to go to!

My local junior side Arthurlie attract more punters than Albion Rovers for example and when they get a Pollok deby you can get between 2&3k fans which some first division sides would be jealous off!

I agree with you in part Craw.

Yes some of the junior sides have far bigger crowds and also better facilities and they do deserve a chance to prove themselves in the leagues if they prove themselves on the field.

We need relegation from the bottom league and promotion into the leagues from regional "super leagues" from the junior leagues. There are a couple of teams who finish on or near the bottom of the 3rd division year on year, playing away safely in the knowledge that their league status isnt under threat.

Look at the clubs who have came through into the leagues in recent years in England, most have came up with a healthy balance sheet and a set up that some of the long time league clubs would die for, they also bring with them an excitement with their fans and it brings a buzz to the league. most of them have proved themselves in the league set up and survived.

I feel this is one way forward for Scottish football

But every team deserves the chance to survive, albeit some of them may need to drop down to the junior ranks to find their level both on and off the field but they have as much right to play in the leagues as Rangers and Celtic do as long as they can meet the criteria both on and off the pitch.

 

[Val]

Sure.... of course Spar aren't planning to move my local newsagent 20 miles to the other side of Glasgow are they?

They could close it and open a new one though with more customers. Same thing?

 

[smange]

While ignoring the next paragraph that clarified my position.

Anyway there is only one "wee team" and they play at Starks Park, Kirkcaldy

 

[GreiginFife]

Anyway there is only one "wee team" and they play at Starks Park, Kirkcaldy

I thought it was the Central Park Mob now that they are in the same league (for now)...?

 

[smange]

I thought it was the Central Park Mob now that they are in the same league (for now)...?

Nah the Rovers are and always will be affectionately known as "the wee team" their fans love it

 

[FairwayDodger]

I agree with you in part Craw.

Yes some of the junior sides have far bigger crowds and also better facilities and they do deserve a chance to prove themselves in the leagues if they prove themselves on the field.

We need relegation from the bottom league and promotion into the leagues from regional "super leagues" from the junior leagues. There are a couple of teams who finish on or near the bottom of the 3rd division year on year, playing away safely in the knowledge that their league status isnt under threat.

Look at the clubs who have came through into the leagues in recent years in England, most have came up with a healthy balance sheet and a set up that some of the long time league clubs would die for, they also bring with them an excitement with their fans and it brings a buzz to the league. most of them have proved themselves in the league set up and survived.

I feel this is one way forward for Scottish football

But every team deserves the chance to survive, albeit some of them may need to drop down to the junior ranks to find their level both on and off the field but they have as much right to play in the leagues as Rangers and Celtic do as long as they can meet the criteria both on and off the pitch.

Agreement!!

Stop the clock!!!!! :clap:

 

[FairwayDodger]

They could close it and open a new one though with more customers. Same thing?

That's OK for them but where will I buy my Irn Bru and my daily record? :lol:

 

[FairwayDodger]

Well coming from Clydebank and being a Clydebank supporter the Steedmans had RUINED Clydebank by selling the ground, promising to build a new one which never materialised, so it was only a matter of time before the went pop.

That's right, I remember now you say it. It was Ian McColl who worked miracles managing them on a shoestring for a few years wasn't it?

I'd guess you'd rather they'd survived than shipped off to Airdrie though even if it was pretty much a mercy killing.

 

[GreiginFife]

Nah the Rovers are and always will be affectionately known as "the wee team" their fans love it

John Greer, the steward at Gullane would disagree there Smange... haha

 

[Val]

That's right, I remember now you say it. It was Ian McColl who worked miracles managing them on a shoestring for a few years wasn't it?

I'd guess you'd rather they'd survived than shipped off to Airdrie though even if it was pretty much a mercy killing.

Late 90's yes, Ian McCall almost got Airdrie promoted prior to liquidation which would have been 2002 then off to Falkirk and did well too. Wheels came off his bogey when he went to Dundee Utd and it's been downhill since for him.

 

[Dodger]

I fear I may sound like Dodger here but its entirely what they deserve. Walk away from a mountain of debt, deceit and lies. Keep all your assets and start again debt free while Aberdeen, Dundee United Kilmarnock etc are servicing debt and trying their hardest to stay within their means and compete.

I actually do want Rangers to disappear for good!

Back from a few days out of the country to find a post where I said that I hoped they died like Third Lanark has been scrubbed.....

Careful Craw,you obviously cannot get away with voicing opinions on here any more.

For the record though I'll tell you that after a few days away I am a tad disappointed that they have not gone to the grave like Third Lanark yet.

 

[FairwayDodger]

For the record though I'll tell you that after a few days away I am a tad disappointed that they have not gone to the grave like Third Lanark yet.

We've had a right old chat about Airdrie and Clydebank and Meadowbank though. It's been interesting.

Dodger, I'm too young to remember Third Lanark. What happened with them - how did they go out of business?

And..... was it Rangers fault somehow?

 

[FairwayDodger]

Dodger, I'm too young to remember Third Lanark. What happened with them - how did they go out of business?

Wow..... looking at wikipedia it seems the more things change the more they stay the same.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Lanark_A.C.#The_End

The following months brought a Board of Trade investigation, revealing constant player squabbles and bitter internal struggles for power. These events finally took their toll and, eventually a liquidator was appointed.
The club was declared bankrupt after the Board of Trade enquiry and was liquidated in 1967. It was alleged that Boardroom corruption played a role in this outcome. On 1 July 1968 four former directors of Third Lanark were found guilty of contravening the Companies Act 1948 and fined £100 each. The investigation by the Board of Trade accused club chairman, Bill Hiddleston, of blatant corruption and that "the circumstances (merited) police inquiry". Hiddleston died of a heart attack in Blackpool in November 1967.
The role of chairman Hiddleston in the club's liquidation was, and remains, the subject of debate among those close to Third Lanark. He may have wished to profit personally from the sale of Cathkin Park for property development. Cathkin Park was sold for housing during the 1967 close season, but Glasgow City Council refused planning permission. On the other hand, he built a new grandstand for the club in 1963, an unlikely thing to do if Hiddleston intended to put the club out of business. Another allegation was that Hiddleston wanted to force the club to move to either Cumbernauld or East Kilbride - the then booming New Towns within the Glasgow commuter belt, which at that time had no senior sides of their own.
The report by the Board of Trade into Third Lanark's activities in 1967 found that players were paid late and often in coins rather than notes; they had to make their own way to away matches; hot water was not available after matches; and every appointment in the club's management was made personally by Hiddleston. This may have been a disincentive for anyone who was not close to Hiddlestone to remain working for, or remaining as a shareholder of, the club.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I hope the new leagues include a promotion starting point for the Ayrshire and Edinburgh junior clubs.[ for listeners in England, Junior football clubs in Scotland are not boys clubs, don't ask, in fact they are full of 40 year old bald ex semi pros who kick six bells out of each other, assault referees and start fights with the spectators.] Some of the Junior clubs attract decent crowds, 1000 plus at some games. One Junior club nearly beat my team Hearts in the latter rounds of the SFA cup.
A league feeder system is required to enable new or improving clubs to enter the system.