This summer marks the 20th anniversary of the closure of Ravenscraig steel works. In its prime the plant employed over 13,000 people.
When the iconic towers were eventually raised to the ground those who witnessed the event said you could feel the earth move. This crumbling edifice symbolised to many the end of an era.
I now wonder if the resolve of those who work and play a couple of free kicks away from the Ravenscraig site is also crumbling.
Yesterday’s announcement that Motherwell FC’s vice-chairman Derek Weir was to stand down from that role and also resigning from his role on the Scottish Premier League board was strange, the timing even stranger.
Mr Weir blames his move is, “a result of the number of extremely difficult and complex issues currently facing the game.”
Could one of the complex issues be the former Motherwell Chairman John Boyle? In Scotland’s darkest hour has the colourful, eccentric and occasionally headstrong former owner risen from his dark lair?
When he stood down in February 2011 Boyle said:
“I will not ask for any payment to me or to my family for our shares in the club. It is time for us to hand over the baton. We have enjoyed our years as part of Motherwell’s distinguished history. Now, we look forward to following the club’s progress with new owners, new ideas and, hopefully, new success as it celebrates its 125th anniversary and moves into the future.”
My moles at Fir Park suggest Mr. Boyle may see himself as a champion of Scottish football and the man to help Charles Green. Now the telephone calls between these two would be interesting.
Surely Little John hasn’t promised the merry men in Green’s camp that Motherwell might join forces and vote for a Rangers return to the SPL?
As my Motherwell mole said: “ Most fans would rather listen to Susan Boyle than John Boyle.”
What would the fans in the Electric Bar say?
Dosser
I take it you will get the pest controllers in Phil.
Your mole needs exterminated.
July 4, 2012 at 9:49 pm
carrickmcgarvey
http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport/football/rangers-newco-stewart-regan-denies-he-told-clubs-sfa-will-block-newco-rangers-path-to-spl-1-2390470
“The SFL meeting was informed that it will require a simple majority of more than 50 per cent for Rangers to be accepted into the First Division, should it go to a vote next week. Effectively, that means 16 clubs would need to back the proposal. Several have already declared their opposition with Stirling Albion, East Fife and Stranraer yesterday going public to join Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Morton, Dunfermline, Livingston, Clyde and Peterhead in saying they would vote ‘No’”
No to Newco II
10/16 and counting
July 4, 2012 at 3:31 pm
pete grant
Today of all days Phill a Wee Word
Your Public Demand”s it
July 4, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
I wasn’t aware I had a public:0)
July 4, 2012 at 5:10 pm
gerrybhoy
Phil – Electric Bar is a Rangers affiliated Supporters pub they will be delighted if Motherwell vote yes. Ask them why they had 15 flags flying outside the pub for the Euros – and I’ll let you guess which one was missing.
July 4, 2012 at 1:57 pm
The-Elder
I’m neither a Motherwell fan, a Rangers fan nor a Celtic fan. But I can assure you that during the ongoing saga I have never read more drivel in all my life.
John Boyle has walked away from Motherwell and gifted his shares to the supporters. John Boyle was raised in a Celtic supporting background and has tried to buy into Celtic before he did with Motherwell. And finally, during his tenure as chairman of Motherwell Football Club he was always open in his disgust for the stranglehold the Bigot Brothers had over the rest of Scottish football and how they encouraged an unfair playing field!!
You are a million miles off here and these “moles” at fir park are probably some little steward that works match games that clearly has IQ far beyond your for you to buy into yet another conspiracy!
Please, in future, try and refrain from talking about, well, anything, without knowing actually background and facts!
July 4, 2012 at 1:39 pm
gerrybhoy
Phil – Electric Bar is a HUN pub they will be delighted if Motherwell vote yes. Ask them why they had 15 flags flying outside the pub for the Euros – and I’ll let you guess which one was missing.
July 4, 2012 at 9:41 am
Ben mcginlay
God bless Lord Foulkes.The man spoke a lot of sense on sky sports this morning. We need to hear more of this. How about it Celtic !!!
July 4, 2012 at 8:14 am
Mick
Ach, enough now. Game over. Newco in at the highest level. No morals, no honesty and no credibility. Fitba on planet Scotland is finished. I’m done. Anyone else for monkey tennis?
July 4, 2012 at 7:44 am
SamBrowneBelt
I grew up in the shadow of “the ‘craig” and watched the towers fall, and I can confirm the ground did literally shake – not surprising when you consider the amount of explosives used.
Nothing to compare to the ground-shaking last few months of course. I think if NewCo are allowed into SFL1 I will never pay to watch another Scottish game; we would be complicit in this treachery and corruption if we did.
As would any club. Dare Mr Lawwell or Mr Desmond tarnish our club by “standing idly by”? How could we ever look anyone in the eye and say we supported fairness and justice?
I wonder what Sir Robert Kelly would do?
July 4, 2012 at 12:01 am
captainmoonlight
Just in, 82% of m’well fans vote against newco, good on them. Hail Hail.
July 3, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Greenbear1948
As one who lives in the area I will be surprised if they vote “Yes”. Not because they have any great moral standard as a board but because 99% of all Motherwell supporters I know don’t want Sevco 5088 in the S.P.L. They are the people the club is going to have to depend on to survive so ” Turkeys and Christmas” comes to mind.
As has already said ” You couldn’t make it up”
July 3, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Ben mcginlay
Let’s just hope that if and when the sfl teams vote the Newco into the first division if they ever meet in a competition they never claim the referee gives them all the decisions favouring the so called big team. The Newco will never look back if they get away with this. This could create a bigger monster than the previous club who got preferential treatment. If it wasn’t for us there would be no Scottish football would be their first boast.I don’t think I could stomach it. I am seriously thinking of moving out of Glasgow and Scotland if this happens.
July 3, 2012 at 10:32 pm
cass
great reading, as usual, Phil.
Have u heard any rumours that celtic intend to support newco being put into division 1?
If this is true and i pray its not the case. Mr lawwell and co better think again;
If they do help bail out newco, they better be ready for the backlash.
Surely they aint that stupid? or are they?
July 3, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Use the search facility.
Last November…
July 3, 2012 at 10:58 pm
ballybough
I see that jim ballantine the chairman of airdrie and president of the S.P.L. has stated he would abstain if it went to a vote among S.P.L. clubs on whether the rangers would be admitted to division 1, giving as his reason that he doesn’t want airdrie to be given an advantage if the vote went against the rangers. I wonder if the real reason had anything to do with the fact that he was a directors box guest at the fund raising Linfield V rangers game a few weeks ago.
July 3, 2012 at 9:35 pm
Ben mcginlay
I really do think it’s goodbye Scottish football if anything other than entry level football for the Newco. I am so tired of the whole saga.Regan, Doncaster and Longmuir have and will get no respect from anyone from within and outside of the world of football. Anyone with a sense of FairPlay and justice know there are dark forces at work. Cheating, lies, law breaking, tax evasion loopholes, non payment of debt( football and business ), and wait for it, no apology up until today, funny that especially as the SPL vote tomorrow on whether the Newco can get entry to the league and if not plan B, bribing the lower leagues to try and get entry to the first division. It makes me so sad and angry that money is going to be favoured over integrity, honesty and rule breaking with no apparent punishment. There is no European ban, it is a UEFA rule for any new club that they have to play in their own leaguefor 3 years before they can qualify entry into European competitions..This fiasco should NOT have gone this far. Liquidation should mean start at the bottom, not instigate debate, claim and counterclaim and conjecture as to how much money Scottish football will lose. I can’t imagine ever trusting any footballing body if that mob get preferential treatment under the guise for the betterment of our league structures. Celtic will be the biggest losers in all this. Very very disillusioned with the whole thing, and I’m not alone.
July 3, 2012 at 8:22 pm
scottishwildcat
Er, “no to newco”.
July 3, 2012 at 7:56 pm
scottishwildcat
Given the results of the ‘Well Trust vote on the matter today — an overwhelming “new to Newco” — if there’s any truth to this then it certainly doesn’t reflect the wishes of the vast majority of Motherwell fans.
July 3, 2012 at 7:56 pm
JimBhoy
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/potential-conflicts-interest-heart-scottish-football/2137
Another very good point… SFA/SFL Fit and proper person checks anyone?
July 3, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Dhougal
Hi Phil ?i dont care how any of them vote as Newco wont make it to the start of the season .I think wee Chaz will be off soon wi the dosh from the sale o the ”stadium” , M .park and car park ?the price of metal is sky high just now and theres a few quids worth in that shell !!!
July 3, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Rab
If this is true, it’s over, goodbye Scottish football!
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/7862612/green-has-surrended-brown
July 3, 2012 at 6:05 pm
The Wallace
Parasitical, tapeworm, bloodsucking leeches are all biological relations to these chairmen who said no to newco last week, but are bottling it now. I hope they lose the lot of their fans. Secret ballots, what are they afraid of, we will find out who they are anyway. All this to save a new club whose fans wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire. If they sow the wind, I hope to the high heavens that each and everyone of them reap the whirlwind. May judgement and retribution be visited swiftly on these turncoats.
July 3, 2012 at 4:29 pm
mulsiebhoy
Let’s be honest, if you asked Celtic supporters which stadia they’d boycott above others, Rugby Park & Fir Park would surely rank high..at least at Swinecastle, there is a good (admittedly poisonous) atmosphere! I didn’t include Snake Mountain, as it’s not nice to speak if the dead HH x
July 3, 2012 at 4:04 pm
jimCB
The thing is despite fan power including the clued up sevco support the ‘vested’ interested still want to push through another solution. Not difficult to work out why I suppose most of them might lose their seats in the comfort zone if indeed sky renegotiate etc.Less money means less jobs. Heads would roll. If anything seems apparent to the football loving layman its that heads should bloody roll. Follow the rules that are in place and be damned. Let the establishment club rebuild and come back leaner,fitter, less sectarian and arrogant than before ( we can but dream ). The continuing mantra of ‘they’ve suffered enough ‘is pathetic considering they haven’t even been punished…yet! They have brought everything on themselves and poor Charlie must be thinking what the hell have I let myself in for. It’s more and more surreal Whyte, Green , Murray Murray and John Brown’s body.Joseph Heller comes to mind. CATCH 22 a paradoxical situation in which an individual cannot avoid a problem because of contradictory constraints or rules. The guys really want to do the right thing. They just can’t. Years of bending the rules have blurred the difference between right and wrong.
July 3, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Tallybhoy
Now is the time for Celtic to make a statement. Any SPL club who votes to admit Zombie FC back in, will be signing their own death warrant!
HH!!
July 3, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Paul Boyle
Fortunately I am not related to the Mr. Boyle mentioned!
But I did work with a Mr Turnbull Hutton about 40 years ago and even then he “called a spade a shovel” I see nothing has changed after his performance outside Hampden on TV today.
Bullied, Corrupt was a couple of words he used about the SPL and SFA and when asked for clarity about who he was talking about he reiterated it was the SPL and SFA!!
Nae messing with him!
At long last no more “pussy footing” about, we have MEN of character, well at least one MAN stating the obvious what websites/fans have been saying for months and months.
I wish I was a fly on the wall when he laid into the “peepul” in charge of the meeting, as he would certainly take no prisoners!
So hopefully more Club Chairmen will have the “b*lls” to speak their mind and tell the SFA and SPL to abide by the bl**dy rules!
July 3, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Smeddum07
Tbh enjoy your blog but this is just scaremongering and unresearched drivel! Still better than traynor but not by as much as you would hope!
As a well fan John Boyle has NO part of our club anymore his shares are in a trust while the fans raise the money through a trust to own the club! The trust members have voted in a democratic vote with the vote being independently look at as I type! This will in all likely hood produce a no vot and that’s what well will vote! I think weir has left since he wants a yes vote but this just in trenches my feeling that this club will vote no. Don’t have the negative view of mr boyle a lot fans do but I can’t see him spending anymore money on football! If he invests in sevco that his choice and good on him there prob is money to be made there eventually but again he has no power over well or over this circumstance!
July 3, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Alan Roddy
I see Malcolm Murray has apologised “unreservedly” for the misdeeds of a few. Not, I note, for the blatant bullying, threatening and deplorable behaviour displayed by fans, management and “journalists” alike in the clamour to bend the rules and get Newco admitted as high up the ladder as possible, DESPITE the fact that other clubs outside the league are in a more stable position to take the vacant spot.
I’ve also been reading (admittedly, with my hand over my mouth to mask my laughter, lest my colleagues think I’ve gone completely insane) two particularly deluded fansites dedicated to The Club Formerly Known As Rangers, both decrying the punishments meted out to TCFKAR AND Newco (DESPITE the fact Newco have received NO punishment WHATSOEVER, and if anything, are receiving preferential treatment) and how the need to sell Jellyfish midway through the season along with the points deduction, which came about through no fault of their own (LARF!!) “handed” Celtic what will be forever known as a “tainted” title.
To use a favourite line of the hordes – you couldn’t make it up!!
Anyway, I digress. I couldn’t care less what way Motherwell vote, just someone to boycott. Newco won’t get into the SPL, the chairmen aren’t (completely) stupid, and the fans have made their feelings quite clear.
July 3, 2012 at 2:37 pm
redversbodkin
would it surprise you all if the” WELL” did vote for newco, it won’t surprise this neutral, “the higher the monkey climbs the more he reveals” RUNRIG ? TOODOLOOTHENOO,
July 3, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Pensionerbhoy
I am not surprised, Phil. Growing up in the area, the footballing environment was like living in ‘little Ibrox’. It used to be said that Motherwell supporters were simply Rangers supporters who were too mean to pay to go to Ibrox. As for its empty stadium, it is that way a lot of the time anyway. When I went to Celtic matches at Fir Park, it was like standing on an old pit bing. I was better dressed to go to work. Just a wee story. It is the only park where I saw police arrest a dumb supporter for breech of the peace. Only Strathclyde’s finest!
H H
July 3, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Harry Hood
Any caving-in by SPL chairmen now, would surely be a slap in the face to the fans.
The fans have spoken and the message is loud and clear: No to newco!
To go back on this would really see Scottish Football standing on the brink of Oblivion. Despite Jim Traynor and his newspaper telling us the opposite: that our game is dead if we don’t vot yes to newco at the highest possible level.
“Football without the fans is nothing”
July 3, 2012 at 1:20 pm
iain
“Raised to the ground…” !
July 3, 2012 at 1:16 pm
martyn tyrrell
I know what you have written to be true. As Mr Boyle has been telling anyone in Motherwell who asks what his opinion is on the subject.
July 3, 2012 at 1:14 pm
micky burt
What are UEFA and FIFA making of this circus.
July 3, 2012 at 1:14 pm
Luke
the padlocks will be on the ibrox gates (your quote phil from beyond the waves)
July 3, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Neil
Phil,
If a wee “green” man stepped of a UFO in the middle of Argyll Street today I would be less surprised to hear John Boyle getting into bed with this New Club.
And another thing, why does Traynor keep mentioning Rangers in crisis? They are not in crisis as they dont exist anymore.
KTF
July 3, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Gerry
Birds of a feather…..
July 3, 2012 at 12:34 pm
john lacon
is there no end to this corruption Phil ? it is sickening if correct
July 3, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Rab
If Motherwell do vote yes to newco it’ll just mean another empty stadium!
July 3, 2012 at 12:31 pm