foggy dewhurst 0 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 goodbye pars goodbye hearts i hope you never come back:lol: 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 I'm struggling to find some sympathy for their plight, rather like what they felt for us. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted March 13, 2013 Author Share Posted March 13, 2013 TURNBULL HUTTON last night revealed his goodwill gesture to Fife rivals Dunfermline had gone down like a lead balloon. Raith host the financially-crippled Pars in the First Division on Saturday in what could be the last Fife derby in history unless the visitors can be pulled back from the brink of liquidation. Dunfermline’s perilous state led to Rovers chairman Hutton offering to give his cash-strapped neighbours money back for every fan they bring in over a threshold figure of 2000. However, the “thanks” he got yesterday came in the form of website complaints from his own club’s fans, groaning that Rovers should not be helping Pars whether it’s in their hour of need or not. In another twist, Pars fans have suggested they give their gate money direct to their club and boycott the game at Stark’s Park. Hutton, who last year opposed the idea of Rangers being parachuted into the First Division, is ready to battle his way through this latest controversy. The Rovers chief said: “There was never any need to portray anyone as having Mother Theresa’s charitable instincts where this gate money suggestion was concerned. “This was always intended to be a case of creative marketing which was thought up by my fellow director Eric Drysdale while we were watching our game against Livingston on Saturday. “We thought it was a win-win situation for everybody. “It could be the last derby between us if it all goes pear-shaped for Dunfermline so you’d think their fans would want to turn up in numbers and earn their club extra money towards their fighting fund. “What’s the point in sending your money direct to East End Park and not forming an away crowd of more than 2000 people which earns Dunfermline even more money? “You could be at the match and enjoying the entertainment – or maybe we just live in strange times.” Raith refused to give Pars briefs for the last meeting over fears they wouldn’t get their money back. Now they’ve persuaded police not to make this weekend’s match all- ticket in the hope of enticing a large, walk-up crowd for what could be a historic occasion. Hutton said: “Our fans have been complaining we shouldn’t be giving Dunfermline any money. “I can understand them having a healthy resentment of our closest neighbours but business is business. “It doesn’t make business sense for us to want to see Dunfermline cease to exist. When we are in the same division they are our biggest box-office draw at Stark’s Park.” 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbroxybear 0 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Nobody wanted to help Rangers they couldn't wait to kick us when we were down, Dunfermline reap what they sow. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbroxybear 0 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 In the new round of league reconstruction discussions between the Scottish Football League (SFL) and the Scottish Premier League (SPL), one of the more surprising topics to reappear from the dead of previous meetings is a Rangers and Celtic second team, or 'colts' playing in the lower leagues. - SPL clubs to vote on April 15 A few other countries, most famously Spain, have a similar system where the bigger teams have another side in the lower divisions. It gives an avenue for their young players to play competitive football, and in return allows more money to the opposition through media interest and support. But would it work here? The answer has to be yes. Many forget that Rangers and Celtic fans make up around two-thirds of the total football support in Scotland. Considering most SFL3 teams get an average of 500 people at their games, there would be no problems in equalling or exceeding that gate for the 'colt' sides weekly. And that is a very conservative estimate. If the colt sides are playing an important match or against each other, then the attendances would rise to thousands, maybe even over ten thousand. For those scoffing at such a figure, Rangers had just under 3,000 already this season for a reserve match, and in the past, Rangers versus Celtic reserve games have had more than 30,000 spectators. We live in an austere economy so reduced prices and less crowded matches are sure to attract those who can't afford a weekly match at Ibrox or Celtic Park. And as Rangers fans have discovered to their surprise, apart from the Light Blues themselves, most SFL3 teams play good passing football. During the Second World War, Rangers had a second team in the North-Eastern League as well as the first team in the Southern League. This was done to help the northern sides stay solvent and amazingly the second string sometimes got higher crowds than the first due to closer competition. Of course this won't be repeated, but there is no doubt that seeing a Rangers team battle with a Celtic team, in whatever guise, would be popular. Yet it won't happen. There is too much bad feeling in Scottish football to see another Rangers and Celtic in the league. Instead of just saying 'no' like mature adults, we have whispering campaigns against David Longmuir, the CEO of the SFL, for putting the proposal forward. The gossip is that he is helping Rangers by proposing the concept. The suspicion is that it would help Rangers while they are in the lower leagues. But surely believing the cost of setting up, administering and running a second side in a professional league would be a money-spinner in the short term is madness. Even in the long term, any profit would be minimal. This is about helping Rangers and Celtic develop players and also to give money back to the lower clubs in increased attendances. Even if 500 extra fans went per game it would double the matchday revenue for those sides. If thousands went, it would support our game tremendously. But the football demographics are forgotten and jealousy rises to the surface. Rangers and Celtic don't get more money or attention in Scottish football because they have carefully placed stooges. It's because collectively their fans are the majority of Scottish football. Instead of letting the distorting effects of the huge size of the Rangers and Celtic fanbase work to their favour, they deny it exists or move into quasi-conspiracy mode. As ever, pettiness and Scottish football go together. Unsurprisingly, when Rangers offered to play a second team in the North-Eastern League during WW2, there was the same jealousy from the southern clubs. The unnamed Rangers response*, rumoured to be Bill Struth, pointed out that it was just "a pathetic admission by certain people of their inability to field a team capable of attracting public interest". In that respect, nothing has changed. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
djbroxybear 0 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 Dunfermline have been given a winding up order from HMRC. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Moon 1,291 Posted March 13, 2013 Share Posted March 13, 2013 What a dreadful article on John Yorkston. I was feeling some sympathy for them until I was reminded of his vociferous role in the appalling judgement of us by everyone and their granny. It still hurts. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darthter 542 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Anyone got Craig Whyte's number that they can sent to the Pars???? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dummiesoot Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Apparently future season ticket sales have been mortgaged off for £350. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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