andy steel

I can't take much more of this. Ian Black? Ian BLACK?? When I signed up for the boycotts, I never realised it would include The Rangers as well. No way on earth will I give one penny that may make its way into the pocket of that Neanderthal.

That's all right by me. The more we know where people stand, the more we can judge what response to take, each and every one of us. The farce of their toytown stadium, 80% filled with Rangers fans, at the end of the season ought to provide one route we can go down.

As long as I can see the eye candy on SSN (and we ain't talking Jim White here), I can live without the other channels.

Scotland's very own Joey Barton, no thanks. I'd refuse to go to Ibrox while he was there. Times may be hard, but there's no place in football for that thug.

Isn't that exactly what we need in the short term? People who will invest a bit, then make a profit and move on? I figure that can only happen if they sign decent players which ought to lead to a modicum of success at least...I am no expert at all, but the longer term strategy seems about right.

Sky "should be called upon" to make it clear their commitment to Scottish football is "not solely based on four Old Firm games a year" (paraphrased). In these dark days, I salute the Arab Trust for giving me a laugh with that one. Naturally, Sky will show a philanthropic interest in such match ups as Dundee Utd v Inverness. Who wouldn't pay top dollar for a Clash Of The Titans like that?

Bit rich coming from someone in your line of work.

Nothing more than the usual 'set-the-agenda' routine from the haters. After a few weeks of this, with lots of finger pointing and 'proof', the SFA will be under immense pressure to find us guilty of whatever it is we're up for this time. All under the guise of journalism. But when pressure is applied on individuals by others - choose a person at random, say Ally McCoist - it's irresponsible, dangerous, inflammatory. Nothing that comes out of either the BBC or The Herald should be regarded as objective. It's all there with the intention of doing down Rangers. Nothing wrong with that in the Herald's case, as I simply don't buy or read it, but the BBC is very different, given it's funding. Anyhow, what'll happen will happen. My agenda is 3rd div and a break - we are seriously ill and need a period of recuperation if we're to pull through. So, the more they force a guilty verdict the better, for me. The opinion of other fans doesn't interest me one whit.

Certainly don't want to see diving Drogba lifting the European Cup...but my bro-in-law, who's a Chelsea fan, is coming round to watch, so I guess I'll have to pull for the Londoners.

Given the fact that it's being heavily reported on BBC Scotland, you can guarantee it's a bluenose. But an idiot, nonetheless.

If you have ESPN, you may have been enjoying their season of games from the history of the old European Cup. It's been a pleasure to sit with my youngest and watch games I saw as a kid...last night, Forest's 1-0 win over Hamburg in 1980 was on, a game I recall watching as a 9 year old in my Grandpa's house. A reminder of a time when John Robertson could keep Davie Cooper out the Scotland team (fair enough, really, he was a cracking player) and Kenny Burns could keep Gregor Stevens company in the disciplinary rooms. What a thug! But another reminder hit home much harder, the 7-3 Real Madrid-Eintracht Frankfurt final, held in Glasgow in 1960. I think Frankfurt gubbed us in the semis (it's 7 in the morning, I'm not checking) so that must have been a sore one for Bears, yet 135,000 people turned out to be royally (arf) entertained. 1960 may seem like a world away to a lot of posters, but being born in 1970 it doesn't seem that far back in time to me...but the difference between then and now is staggering. The idea of 135,000 folks at a game in Scotland today is ridiculous. Even for games where demand is high, for example Scotland's qualifier with Italy a few years ago, you wouldn't get that; and even if you optimistically claim you would, we have made it impossible by creating a national stadium with a capacity of under 50,000. It's a fine example of the mismanagement of football since those days, though I have little doubt there were misdeeds then too. But to drive demand for a sport which can attract audiences like that into a niche attraction, on a level with rugby (and that's being generous - given some of rugby's recent attendances, it can seriously claim to be the leading sport in Scotland) is really quite an achievement. You could point to outside forces affecting the game. Impact of TV, certainly. But it can't account for it all; if the product was of any value the audience would attend. I firmly believe the problems are of our own making. Insane increases in price being the prime factor: when I began attending Ibrox, around the 1984-5 season, I paid £1 to get into the west enclosure. I remember being distinctly peeved when they increased it to £1.10 when we had a good start to a season one year. But still, it was affordable for a 13 year old. I don't recall how much a return to Central cost, but it was 30p on the tube, so fling in a programme and it was under a tenner all in. Compare that to today - even allowing for inflation - and see how practical it has been for the generations which came after me to develop a habit of going to the football. A specific plan to exclude potential customers could not have been more effective. Then there's the actual product on the park. Maybe we shouldn't aspire to Real Madrid's 1960s, 5-5 tactic, but it's a dismal thought that with 50 years to practice, all the advances in sports sciences and fitness, and massive exposure to good football from around the world online and on TV, we have regressed to a point hitherto unseen in the annals of association football. Gandalf football - "You Shall Not Pass!" In the late 80s, the SFA brought out a video called 'Scotland the Brave' or somesuch, showing classic games from down the years. I kid you not, we used to play passing football in Scotland; some of the highlights of Baxter ripping Austria to bits were Barca class. It's hard to tell from newsreel footage from before the 60s what the game was like, given their bizarre camera angles and editing, but I doubt it was as bad as St Johnstone offered against us last week. Little needs to be said about the off field world of Scottish football. In the absence of an actual war in Ireland, some seem to feel the need to carry on the struggle by other means in other places (I refer to both sides here). Sordid and depressing and of no help whatsoever. A recent spate of articles citing Rhegan's brother as having an interest in Irish literature (fancy that! it's only been the leading brand of English lit of the last hundred years), thus proving his celtc affiliation, highlights this. I love my brother, but his work doesn't affect me in the slightest, and politically we're miles apart. It proves nothing but obsession. On and off the field, the product is poison. Hatred, bitterness, envy, delusion, all charged at a premium. Why would anyone want to get involved in it? Why on earth would anyone, in the future, look back on it with anything but bewilderment and disdain? So it goes. Today, I'll be getting comfy on the coach, chips, dips and Blue Becks to hand (I am no macho drinker). Me and my youngest will watch the Cup Final - here's hoping it rises to the occasion - then take in the main event, the pinnacle of football in my eyes, the European Cup Final. Drogba style diving apart, it promises to be a good one. In 32 years, my boy might be reliving the Bayern-Chelsea game with his kids as ESPN shows highlights of the old days. What they'll have to watch more locally - whether they have anything to watch at all - is far more open to question.

All these business strategies and moves leave me feeling very low. I've very little confidence left in investors and the market after the last four years. I never thought I'd find myself pining for the days of Lawrence Malborough.

What doesn't add up for me is the 2nd only to match fixing charge. Presumably match fixing would warrant expulsion; how come the penalty we get 'drops' dramatically to an embargo? By the tribunal's logic, a far higher sanction (suspension, demotion, whatever) ought to have been applied. I know I'm arguing that they've been too lenient but I mean to show up the lack of joined up thinking here.

You wouldn't even have to do that. The middle class terror of football & hard work in this country means that the police will continue to insist on vast armies of overweight, glorified stewards earning a nice bonus at the game.

I mean....come on.

Heavily edited, you might want to reread before publishing. I love the quote at the end, & think 'Rangers FC & Integrity: Truth Unvarnished' both defends our position and would hook plenty of haters who think they'd be getting another knocking piece. It's unlikely, but it might make one or two of them think.

I'm not trying to disagree with you Zappa - I agree he's a quality keeper, in fact I think about the best I've seen in my 30+ years of watching The Rangers. But the achievements you list there - important to us as they are - are like Cloughie going into the Leeds Utd dressing room. 'You can chuck all them in the bin!' They mean nada to English purchasers. Plus, adam only commanded the £9m fee coz he had played in the EPL, while Fletcher has been around and about for three or four seasons now. If he was still in Edinburgh he's be worth much, much less. As much as I agree with you, I can't see how we can enforce a fee of around £7m.

Where did this idea come from? Hopefully it's just internet piss and wind.

Give us a chance to throw in something about the integrity of Hibs getting to the Cup Final with (I think) 7 players who are on loan. Not really a Hibs team after all, if we're going to insist on sporting integrity. I do need to research that though, not being an expert on diddy teams. Griffiths I think is from Wolves. There's a load Pat Fenlon brought with him from Ireland. Anybody know any names? Edit: Actually 9 players: Phil Airey Newcastle United[75] Richie Towell Celtic[76] Leigh Griffiths Wolverhampton Wanderers[77] George Francomb Norwich City[78] James McPake Coventry City[79] Tom Soares Stoke City[79] Jorge Claros Motagua[80] Roy O'Donovan Coventry City[81] Matt Doherty Wolverhampton Wanderers[81]

Sounds like a shite aftershave! The only spirit Scottish football is familiar with is one of envy and spite. I'm happy with that, being an envious, spiteful chap. But, as Frankie pointed out, we ought to be honest about our bile filled souls. Corinthian Spirit...MD 20/20 more like.

Alas, my African based amigo, this is how football clubs the length and breadth of Scotland conduct and accept their affairs. Good show if Rhegan is setting up some concrete, enforceable standards which clubs can clearly follow (or appeal against, as the case may be) but...making it up on the hoof isn't going to (a) help us if Green is a wrong 'un and (b) convince anyone he's anything other than Parkhead's man in the SFA. At least Philby, MacLean and Burgess had the good grace to hide the fact they were working for someone else.

Can't say as I give a monkeys about them or their fans.

He wasn't injured in the St Johnstone cup final, he was assaulted. Another one in the long, long list of talented Scots players whose careers have been hampered/ended by useless cloggers.

They wouldn't have if he played in the SPL.

Integrity: c.1400, "innocence, blamelessness; chastity, purity," from O.Fr. integrité or directly from L. integritatem (nom. integritas) "soundness, wholeness, blamelessness," from integer "whole" (see integer). hypocrisy: c.1200, ipocrisie, from O.Fr. ypocrisie, from L.L. hypocrisis, from Gk. hypokrisis "acting on the stage, pretense," from hypokrinesthai "play a part, pretend," also "answer," from hypo- "under" (see sub-) + middle voice of krinein "to sift, decide" (see crisis). You'll have heard a lot about integrity over the last few weeks. No need to recap the roll call of converts to this most fashionable of concepts within Scottish football; I think we can fairly say it includes every owner, director, fan, and official of every club out with Ibrox Park which is, as we know, a den of iniquity the likes of which we haven't seen since the halcyon days of Hollywood. I admit to being a bit unconvinced by this outbreak of piety. Enjoying the spring sunshine last night, I took my old tranny (that's a radio, not a bitchy friend in drag) into the garden with me to listen to the phone ins while I spruced up the estate. Plenty of callers driving home the point about our unworthiness, and how we owed a duty to others ad nauseum. It did get me thinking about integrity, since it was every callers' every other word. Radio Clyde, to which I unwillingly listened (it was the only one I could get) features advertising heavily during its football shows. This is unsurprising. It is a commercial operation. Last night, it especially heavily featured three adverts: one by 'Peter Dean, your debt specialist'; one by 'The Payment Protection Partnership'; and one by some other firm whose name I can't recall but which offers the same service. To regain any monies you may be owed through payment protection mis-selling, you lift the phone, talk to your bank, then wait. That's it. There's no need for any third party to become involved, and even less need for you to give a portion of your monies (usually in the low hundreds, from my information, if that) to someone else. Ignorance of financial matters may lead some to say these companies are merely performing a service for a fee. Possibly so; but the very least you can say about it is that it lacks integrity. Radio Clyde also heavily advertised William Hill's sponsorship of the Scottish Cup. I am fiercely tight with my money, so have no issues with gambling, but I know many people who do and I know the misery it can (note, can - I'm not THAT Presbyterian) cause. Accepting sponsorship from such a firm may be a business necessity, for both Radio Clyde and the SFA, but the very least you can say about it is that it lacks a little moral probity. It lacks integrity. And while on the subject of Edinburgh's big day out to a proper City, there will be the faintest suggestion of a lack of integrity when the two teams emerge from the tunnel. Hibs, resplendent in their alcohol sponsored shirts (Crabbies may not be Buckfast, but then there are no grey areas in this debate - we've learnt that from the sanctimony of others) will partner Hearts, with their tawdry pseudo-loan shark Wonga.com sponsored uniform. A quick visit to said company's website reveals a 'typical APR' of 4214%. That's four thousand, two hundred and fourteen per cent. Where the integrity is in broadcasting the services of leeches and parasites like this, I fail to see. But that's probably because I am a left leaning Hun in denial, always blaming others. I prefer to believe I can smell the rank hypocrisy of others, but then I'm biased. Still, one has to say, having that as a sponsor...it lacks a little something. It's just possible it lacks integrity. Hibs, to go by their semi final line up, will field a team featuring James McPake, Leigh Griffiths, Tom Soares, Jorge Claros and Matt Docherty, while George Francome, Roy O'Donovan and Richie Towell, if fit, will likely be on the bench. You may not know much about these lads, but one fact common to them all is that they are not Hibs players, but are on loan from other clubs. Even FM has tighter restrictions than that! Hats off to Pat Fenlon for some nippy trading in the transfer window - but heading into a Cup Final with 5 out of your starting 11 not actually being your players is slightly questionable...since we're so hot on matters of sporting integrity, Mr Petrie. What about the rest of the SPL teams? Us and 'them' currently act as mobile vendors for that pishiest of rats' piss lagers, Tennents, while Motherwell, beneficiaries of our financial meltdown and lack of integrity, will briefly display to the rest of Europe the attractions of 'Cash Converters'; a fine impression of Scotland, indeed, as our Champions League representatives hawk a pawn shop around the continent. Integrity? Embarrassment. I'm not seriously complaining about this stuff. These are all businesses, and need money to survive. That's not in question. By bringing in money and players, Hibs have avoided relegation and have a shot at Cup glory. What is to be challenged is their attempt to take a moral stance on others. If you want to be taken seriously, you can only claim to be defending integrity if your own is not in question. The chairman of perpetual SPL failures Dunfermline Athletic, John Yorkston, has been loud in his view that had his professional collection of mediocrities avoided the drop, he'd have voted Rangers out of the league (in the event of a Newco) on the grounds of integrity. Mr Yorkston's own integrity melted into the spring sunshine upon receiving monies owed his club from the Rangers Fans' Fighting Fund, which he used to sack his young manager and hire a knackered one, to no perceptible effect. Prior to the payment of these monies, he had been unable to pay his players, let alone pay off Jim McIntyre and hire Jim Jeffries. Business? Yep. Integrity? None. There is, as far as I know, no legal definition of integrity. It is a hazy moral concept, an ideal to aspire to but hard to effect in daily life. If the new defining principle of Scottish football is to be all round integrity - we can hardly have sporting integrity without, for example, financial integrity, can we? - there are a lot of people outside Ibrox who might want to watch their words. The fallen Glasgow giants are an easy target, but when you're knifing someone you should be careful not to leave fingerprints on the blade. Integrity does not start and stop at the foot of the marble staircase. As the definition at the head of this ramble says, it mean 'whole', 'innocence', 'blamelessness'. Anyone who thinks the powers that be in Scots football are in any position to pass judgement on the integrity of others is either deficient intellectually, or, as is more likely, a hypocrite. But then, how else do we live? "Hypocrisy is the art of affecting qualities for the purpose of pretending to an undeserved virtue. Because individuals and institutions and societies most often live down to the suspicions about them, hypocrisy and its accompanying equivocations underpin the conduct of life. Imagine how frightful truth unvarnished would be." from Benjamin Martin's 2005 book, 'France in 1938'.