dennyc

Shocked by this. Did not know him personally but always looked forward to his balanced posts. He will be missed by all of us . Condolences to his family and friends. RIP.

I think Burton is fairly close to Stoke which is his home town. So good for the family, including his In-Laws. Also having a former top striker as Manager might have played a part. Newish Stadium sponsored by Pirelli and a club with ambitions to climb the Leagues. He could well have held out for a higher ranked club, but for rebuilding his career after injury it ticks a lot of boxes. And if he manages a season with a few goals who is to say he cannot move on. All the best to him.

According to the Club's own records his Contract Date end was extended by one month, a month in which Motherwell did not have a game. So that appears to be a fact and certainly points to the duck being a duck.

The Clubs should now vote out those plastic pitches in top Division. That result now has 11-1 playing on grass. So if they vote along those lines, job done. If Dundee get their vote delivered on time that is.

So its not the principle then? If it was Motherwell, all well and good. And I'm sure Motherwell would jump at the chance if it fell their way. But one of those two and it's wrong. Certainly answers my question though. .

The plan as it stands is for one year only. Beyond that, who knows. If an agreement is reached, fair and reasonable terms can be worked out. The Leagues below Lowland League level opted to "Nul and Void" last season and chose not to nominate a team for promotion. I think 3 sixth tier clubs usually play off for the Lowland League promotion. So neither Celtic or Rangers are denying any deserving team a move up via the pyramid system next season. In addition The Lowland League Board have emphasised that promotion and relegation will continue to be a feature of their League, whether or not the Old Firm colts are included. And there is also a guarantee that the OF Colts cannot be promoted into the level above Lowland League. If the total number of teams in that League were increased by two for future seasons it would have no effect whatsoever on the Pyramid System. I don't particularly agree with their Colts coming in at that level, but I don't blame either Club for looking after their interests in a way that also benefits those other clubs in the League. I do wonder though if your objection is because of who is involved. Would your feelings be so strong if it was Motherwell and Hibs Colts?

The proposal is that they cannot be promoted.....or relegated. And if our youngsters were able to play in such a competitive League on the same basis it would be far better than them sitting on a bench purely to make up numbers, and getting no or very limited game time. In fact it would be £25k well invested.

So another one off South as he approaches age 17? I'm guessing by "BIG" you might be hinting at Liverpool as they already have shown a keen interest in our youngsters.

For those wishing their donation to go straight to the Club, another option is simply to buy a second Season Ticket or a Junior ST if that cost suits better. I wonder if the preferred Club options are registered as Charities so any donations might not be taxed whereas MFC income will form part of overall taxable income. Whatever, it is a fantastic gesture by our Club. Great to see promises honoured.

Or he might fancy winning trophies, European football, staying close to home and trebling his wages. Wherever he ends up I wish him nothing but success.

I think the Development Fee only applies if a cross border move is involved. So it applies if he heads to Millwall, But it is sometimes better for the Clubs to agree terms independent of the Development Fee thing, so that add ons such as future transfer % can be included. If AC goes to Hibs, the Clubs either agree terms or it heads to an SFA Tribunal as happened with Ferguson to Aberdeen. And that's a one off, no add ons, no appeal fee. We did a deal with Rangers over Hastie rather than risk that Lottery. Also when a few of our youngsters moved to England, Motherwell and Clubs such as Leeds and Norwich agreed terms rather than stick to the Development Fee guidelines. . When Hibs signed John McGinn after his St Mirren contract expired they agreed a reduced Development Fee but agreed a 30% share for Saints on any transfer fee if he left Hibs. That worked out pretty well for Saint Mirren and far better than the Development Fee terms would have brought in. I guess it's a gamble but if a Club believes a player is likely to increase in value then a % of future transfers may be the best long term option. Again looking at McGinn, Hibs will rake in a 25% share if /when he gets his big move away from Villa. I don't know if Saints are due any of that, but they might be if that was agreed way back. Over to you Mr Burrows.

I don’t really think it will happen either. Just accepting that it is a possibility and it’s a good football debate. To join the elite, the OF might be happy to have that extra expense. If they wanted to be represented up here. That is not a given. And they could always pull the plug on it if needs be. Re games clashing. It is fairly straight forward to ensure that does not happen. If that was a condition of the OF agreeing to field a team up here, I believe our Administrators would fall over backwards to accommodate them. And in the example quoted, how many Celtic fans would be able to get tickets or travel to Manchester or the like week after week? Away fans in a British League could well be restricted in numbers. Back to PPV again. Friday night games anyone? Players switching teams was also an issue raised. I think EPL Clubs currently have to declare a list of 25? players who are the only ones allowed to play throughout the season. Same could well apply. And as far as Europe is concerned, no way will Scottish teams be anywhere near the top ranking Tournament the British League representatives would feature in, if allowed. We would be in with teams from Latvia, Poland and Sweden .The also rans. But if it did happen, the wee team does not enter and the place goes to next in line. There is no doubt Clubs from one Country can play in another. Swansea Cardiff Monaco. The only question is whether they can still field teams in their home base. I suspect UEFA would not care. It would be left to the home Associations.

I would love that to be the case. But the income from the “British” team would easily fund the running of a “Scottish” version. With change left over. Look at the income of the EPL teams just now compared to up here, so there is a massive financial boost right away. And that income would be greater in a British set up. Otherwise why bother? Then add in PPV worldwide which is the only reason a British League would need Rangers and Celtic. The market in the US and Australia/NZ where there are a huge number of ex pats being an example. England has Asia covered. I suspect many OF fans would jump at the chance of a ST covering home matches for both teams (or a cheaper option covering one version) with Away matches covered by Celtic/Rangers/ PPV TV as add ons. Probably work out cheaper than I pay for Sky plus BT at present. The European Super League shambles this week showed that fans in grounds are only regarded as “top up” cash where the bigger clubs are concerned. My only hope would be that the game’s Governing bodies in Europe would create a rule that a Club cannot field teams in two separate countries, but given that the likes of Barca can field two teams in the Spanish Leagues I have my doubts. At best they might dictate that players cannot switch from team to team outside transfer windows. Within a few years the game in Scotland would be where it is just now, OF dominating but likely less quality or cash on offer. In the unlikely situation that there was a pyramid system allowing promotion to a British League, you might get somebody like Aberdeen or Hearts bankrupting themselves in the hope of getting promoted. A pyramid system does beg the question as to what would happen if either OF team were relegated. Back to Scotland? But then what happens to their “Scottish” version? Of course who is to say that they would want to run two teams? I suspect it would more Scottish football that would want them than the other way round.

Can we make sure Llanelli are included.

With the support of member clubs...including ours... the buffoons that run the game up here would welcome the OF second string teams into the Scottish Premiership. No doubt quoting sponsorship and TV income as the prime reasons for their inclusion. And most of that income would end up going where it does now. I could even see games up here being arranged to ensure that games involving the OF do not clash with their British League fixtures. Cant damage PPV income after all. Given the income that Rangers and Celtic would get from a British Super League they could easily fund teams strong enough to continue to dominate up here. Effectively feeder teams where squad players could be brought up to a level for promotion to their top sides. Might take a couple of seasons but I have no doubt we would end up with the exact same situation we have now. Except that we would have two Rangers and two Celtics to wind us up. The media would love it though.

If your dancing watch out you don’t injure yourself on their artificial pitch. Has to be better than what Accies and Killie have at present though.

Maybe some of the players might be able to remember what the deal with the kit was? Gary MacAllister?

My Understanding is that Uefa compensation only applies only if a cross border transfer takes place. So if he was to go to Hibs, either the Clubs agree a deal (with possible addons including a % of possible future transfers) or it goes to a SFA Tribunal....to be held in private with Clubs not allowed to comment on the details. All as per Ferguson from Accies to Aberdeen. Accies fans had to wait until Aberdeen detailed the transfer fee in their Accounts to find out how much had been awarded. The Uefa Compensation tables are encouraging and the 400k you mention is what I also calculated for a category 2 League. But any domestic tribunal does not need to follow Uefa guidelines. And if it is a Tribunal award, it is a one off fee with no add ons. For those reasons we did well to negotiate a deal with Rangers for Hastie rather than go to the Lottery of the SFA. Just ask Accies. My reading of it anyway. Better if he heads South.

Hopefully get back to rebuilding our Youth structure when all this is over. Most teams will be in the same boat and I suspect/hope there is a core of youngsters known to us champing at the bit to get their careers moving forward. Staying in the PL can only help us secure these kids, especially financially Where would we be without the income the system has generated over the years? Not just the likes of Turnbull but many others who have moved on for decent money before really getting to first team level. I hope Stevie Hammell will still be involved and I also wonder if there is a role for Keith Lasley to play. Too much to hope for the return of Stephen Craigen as I think his results show he was excellent with the younger age groups and took them to a level Maurice Ross struggled to match. Whatever the Coaching structure is, the sooner the youngsters get back playing the better. Could the summer break be a time to get ahead of the game?

I think Compensation is due up until the end of the season in which a player turns 23. So as AC is not 23 until July (I think) we should be ok if he leaves at Season end. Might end up like a Hastie situation if he moves within Scotland. Either the clubs negotiate a fee or it goes to a Tribunal, like Ferguson from Accies to Aberdeen. If he goes cross border then prescribed Compenation should kick in. Or a deal can be agreed. The benefit of agreeing a deal means add ons can be built in. With a Tribunal it is a once and for all fee.

No probs. You can speak for me any time. And spot on with those other names. Vagabonds every one of them!

Hastie was open and up front about leaving. No pretence. He got slaughtered on here by many for wanting to better himself, and being honest about it. And booed when he took to the pitch. Perth I think. Don’t see the same abuse heading Gallagher’s way and, if true, he has been doing a lot more manoeuvring re contracts than Hastie ever did. And we got good money for Hastie. Vigurs was crucified...still is....for allegedly feigning injury to force his way out of the Club. Same accusation has been made about Gallagher, but folk refuse to believe it whereas in Vigur’s case it was taken as gospel. Double standards. Every player has the right to try and better himself, but it does seem that for some on here, if your face fits and you are a “good guy”, then you can do no wrong and can muck the Club about in ways that others get hammered for. And I’m not defending Gallagher. Far from it. Just comparing the reaction to his dealings and those of others who eventually moved on.

And who do you think placed the Gallagher story in the Media? First of all that there was a clause about to kick in and then that it had been "sorted" and that he would be available for free in the Summer. I hardly think the Press would be bothered making it up given that they don't give a toss for anybody other than Rangers and Celtic. So no motive. And I did not pick up on the Club responding that the story was fabricated, as surely they would have done if a lie was being promoted about a player. It would definitely not be in Motherwell's interest to try and encourage a January bid for their Captain and best player before any clause kicked in extending his contract and placing Motherwell in a better position. . Especially in the middle of a relegation dogfight, Nor can I see the Club advertising the fact he is available for nothing in the Summer given they will hope to encourage him to stay. So no motive there either. So that leaves Gallagher and his new Agent. Doing what they feel necessary to cash in when they can? Can't really blame them for that given a chance to substantially increase earnings of a 30 year old. And the timing of his unfortunate injury was very convenient. But I wonder what the reaction would have been on here if his name was Hastie or Vigurs rather than Gallagher?

Thanks. Hope he recovers as certainly one for the future. With us or not.

A question for those in the know. What is the up to date position regarding young Sam Campbell who was on the point of leaving us to head South, with Motherwell having agreed terms with both Leeds and Liverpool? Not seen anything since he went down for his trial at Liverpool.