dennyc

First round link went live shortly before yesterdays draw.. Head to Uefa and follow link to Conference League........the wee green trophy at the top takes you straight to the live draw page. Quotes 2pm CET which is 1pm here.. Good luck

Ta much. Motherwell WhatsApp subscribed to. Every day is a school day.

Stand to be corrected but my reading of UEFA is one of Copenhagen Helsinki Mostar Caernarfon or Tallin ( playing first round) Havnar From a group of 10 with the above 5 seeded and us one of 5 unseeded. But it’s early and I could well be wrong.

He also has history of making obscene gestures to opposition fans. Like he did in Denmark when in charge of Legia Warsaw for a European game. The guy comes across as emotionally unstable. Left one French Club after 23 days having not Managed a competitive game. Reported as 'Internal tensions'. Maybe the Scottish set up is not for him. I can already picture him having a friendly chat with John Beaton or Nick Walsh.

Lowe appears to have started his Managerial career successfully but as he moved up the ladder his performance tailed off and issues arose with players, style of play and fan relationships. No doubt he talks a good game and would come across well at interview. Sounds familiar. Not for me as I think it would be a huge step backwards from what we so much enjoyed last season. I get we may not unearth a new Askou but the least we should strive for is a progressive manager who believes in similar principles to JBA. Time for the Board to back up their earlier assurances.

Might be the boring option for some but I think he has earned the opportunity. Knows the players, has their respect and clearly bought in to the style of play. Will also be aware of the players we were looking at in the knowledge we were aware 3 or more first teamers would be moving on. For me, any appointment attaches risk but appointing MR would lessen that risk. Assuming he is comfortable as top man that is. Whatever happens I hope he is with us next season.

Brilliant. Sums the whole farce up. And highlights the misleading information being pushed out of HQ. Maxwell also stated that no way was VAR being withdrawn. Out of curiosity, is that his call or is it up to the teams in the top division? If they united (this is Scotland so unlikely) could we do a Sweden? Was reading yesterday that after discussing VAR with numerous Clubs, Rangers approached Maxwell with funding and improvement suggestions. Dismissed out of hand. Appears we have a Dictator running his own little empire.

Hibs maybe but doubt Celtic would sell to Hearts. And he enjoys his football too much to fit into the Robinson non football approach. Aberdeen fans are in for a treat.

irrespective of who we eventually turn to, what all this research shows is that there are plenty of decent, progressive options out there. No need to turn to the usual, washed out, living in the past ( resist it Grizzlyg) favourites the Scottish media come up with. Hopefully something announced soon.

Hopefully still available as a catch up. English did not hold back. Not just about the Nicholson decision. Refreshing although it will make no difference to Collum etc. Dallas was the one who got the real going over. English will be on the naughty step alongside Stewart.

Tom English on Sportsound let rip yesterday. Pointed out how frantic and desperate to have his way Dallas sounded. Essentially bullied the decision through despite the doubts expressed by his assistant and even Beaton. Worth a listen. Dallas made the decision no matter what Collum says about all 3 officials being in sync. Even the presenter on the VAR Review questioned Collum's take on decisions. Not just our game. Normally Gordon Duncan just rolls over. Never challenges the nonsense that Collum spouts.. Cue no more VAR review programmes as Collum being called to account.

I fear Connor Barron will be who Clarke goes for. Based on nothing but who he plays for. Hopefully I'm wrong because Lennon Miller should be first in line. No faith that Clarke will do the right thing.

I got the impression that Welsh enjoyed playing for Askou. Although he was clearly fully committed to Motherwell I'm not so sure he would want to return now that Askou is away. Would not surprise me if Welsh ended up in Toulouse

Having watched the var replay, Beaton clearly still doubted whether it was a hand ball. So not clear and obvious to him by any means. Again Collum making it up to fit the outcome. He contradicts himself time after time. Another joke was Collum standing by the decision to allow the Newell goal. That is as clear and obvious error as you will see. Even Newell was laughing at it standing. Oh, and apparently leaving the ground to launch a two footed tackle which catches the shin is only a yellow card. Must bear that in mind for next season. But really, did we expect anything else.

There are 2 aspects to the discussion. I highlighted examples that support your view that our Officials are useless and above sanction. I don't believe they are corrupt. There are stills of the Ibrox penalty claim that suggest minimal contact at best. Whether they were available at the time is debatable. For what it's worth, viewing 'live' I thought it was a penalty and on balance still do. For me, it was not as bad a decision as the penalty donated to Celtic. Not as clear cut. The other issue is who is currently the dominant power in the running of Scottish football? Celtic beyond doubt for which I also highlighted examples. Rangers have been in that position in the past. But not currently. MJC is spot on. To lump them together at this time only helps deflect attention from Celtic. Both would like to rule the roost but Celtic are winning that race for now.

Agree with much of that. But I would suggest that, funny as it was at the time, Rangers demise years ago effectively handed the opportunity for complete control to Celtic. And they grabbed it with both hands (assisted to a degree by Aberdeen's greed). To the extent that they are currently much the dominate power. At times in the past it has been Rangers in that power situation and your Traynor comment is so relevant. The Media will always cow to the OF. But at the present time Celtic are well and truly in control of how Scottish Football is governed. Otherwise why have they escaped punishment on so many occasions? Why is a blind eye being turned to three pitch invasions in a row, or at best excuses being made on their behalf? Why is the damage their fans cause to away Grounds ignored? They are not so lightly treated when it is UEFA calling the shots. Speaks volumes. Although even there Lawwell managed to get a UEFA Board position which I think he still holds having been proposed by the SFA. Despite him having stood down from the Celtic Board. Normally that UEFA position would have ended at the same time as he gave up his position at Celtic. You might be correct. Rangers could well have benefited from the sort of decision Celtic got had they been playing us in that League situation. But they weren't so that comparison is purely hypothetical. Admittedly Rangers probably got away with our penalty shout at Ibrox, but that was less clear cut than the Nicholson shambles. As for Officials and VAR generally. All teams suffer from their incompetence. As opposed to corruption. The Newell hand ball goal could have cost Celtic the Title. Rangers lost silverware last season because of an acknowledged refereeing/VAR error. Livi were more or less relegated right at the start of the season because of some horrendous decisions. Gave them a mountain to climb.. As a fact, fans of every team could point to incorrect decisions that cost their Clubs dearly.

What I find surprising is that Beaton is getting all or at least most of the flak. Not excusing Beaton but Andrew Dallas is the one that created the whole injustice. Even though the supposed error was not Clear and Obvious. More like Fabricated. Beaton could have stuck by his original decision of course but he was put in such a position that I don't think any referee would have overridden Dallas. Add Beaton's previous history with Celtic and the outcome was assured. Dallas must have known that. If I was Beaton...and thank God I'm not.......I would be raging at Dallas for putting me in such a situation. For his part (and more so because of the part Dallas played) Collum will refuse to acknowledge any error. Fortunately for us, other than a point lost, the penalty did not change our situation. Draw or lose we still had to win at Easter Road. Hearts were the team most hard done to, especially as they had a much more valid penalty claim denied a few days earlier. Despite all that crap about errors balancing themselves out over a season, those two decisions decided the outcome of the League. Our Officials and our Association should be ashamed not only about the way things played out at Fir Park but their rewriting of history regards the disgraceful ending at Celtic Park a few days later. Given the recent actions of many Celtic fans at Ibrox, Fir Park and Celtic Park I wonder what sanctions will be handed out? Not holding my breath though as I suspect all the ever increasing noise coming from the SFA about pitch invasions not being unlawful in Scotland is a prelude to taking no action whatsoever. If anything, Rangers and Motherwell will be warned about not taking ample precautions, we will be fined for the pyros, and the Celtic Park invasion will be viewed simply as understandable exuberance with Hearts fined for leaving early and not completing Media duties. As MJC says, that is the extent to which Celtic control things in Scotland. Media included.

Bobby Hogg (a winger)played a few games for us in 1967 before moving to Stenny then Australia, where he ended up being capped a good few times. Before us he played one game for Hibs The 1967 Testimonial against Rangers featured most of their Cup Winners Cup final side beaten by Bayern Munich. Roger Hynd (my PE teacher) being one of them. Wellnet gives Hogg summary. My first game was in 1966 but other than the name I cannot recall seeing Hogg play.

Hogg who then moved to Stenhousemuir and Australia? But if correct I'll leave it to you to suffer the SK lectures. Better not heckle him though.

This is what the SPFL and SFA want. The exact opposite is what is required. Fans, Clubs and Politicians refusing to ignore what everybody in the Country witnesses is exactly the ultimatum the Authorities need. VAR and Referee incompetence is one aspect, but the ongoing vile behaviour of those Celtic fans cannot be allowed to be swept under the carpet and lumped in with minor infractions of other Clubs' fans. Sure we will likely be held to Account for the pyro stuff. Fair enough. ...... but that is nothing compared to the Celtic fans behaviour at Celtic Park, Ibrox and Fir Park. Possibly elsewhere as well but Clubs and Media are too intimidated to speak out. Well said Hearts and McInnes for addressing the garbage that O'Neill is spouting. The narrative coming out of Celtic Park is disgusting although it does fit well with their 'Victims' approach. It's time other Clubs spoke up rather than keeping quiet in case Celtic refuse to stump up for the damage caused by their moronic fans. Motherwell included. As a minimum, the SFA should be making them play in front of some empty Stands at Celtic Park and also limiting their numbers at away grounds, with compensation being paid to those Clubs that suffer reduced away fan ticket sales. In exactly the same way we had to recompense Dundee last season. What's good for the goose etc etc etc. Strange how when UEFA threatened such action, the Green Brigade were immediately banned from European games. As soon as Celtic were pumped out the ban was lifted although in fairness Celtic did introduce another ban when Board Members and their families were threatened. That is until they needed them back to give them an edge in the biggest League Title challenge they have faced in years. Rant over. For now.

The SPFL growing a pair of balls and taking action re pitch invasions and assaults on players? Probably not. Lumping all four together will minimise the more serious incidents and enable the Authorities to class them all as celebratory rather than violent and intimidatory. "We had a look but nothing to see here." I expect Hamilton and Stenny to be fined and Celtic to be commended for the enthusiasm and good nature of their fans. I suspect the incidents attracting the interest of our politicians has spurred our masters to 'appear' to be taking matters seriously.

As seedings and matches for early rounds are preset early, a non seed beating a seed simply replaces that beaten seed in the next round. No reseeding takes place. I think up to round 3 but it may last longer than that. So we could end up being non seeded and play another non seed depending on earlier results. Whatever, it should be fun watching how it plays out.

That amount was quoted a couple of days ago. Before the Sun ran with it. I guess as with the players any employee has a price. If the £1m is accurate we have done just fine.

For those interested in our position seeding wise etc. Search "Bert Kassies Conference League" on Google and follow the 26/27 link. Great to see our name listed in the second qualifying round 88 Clubs section if you scroll down. Kassies sets this out each season for each Euro competition. Fills it in as teams qualify and games completed. He also sets out the draw groupings as soon as known. An excellent info link. Whether we are seeded or not will depend on who qualifies over the next week or so. At the moment we are 'mid table' so could go either way. Once completed we will get an early idea of who we might get.

Oh, I agree that JBA can find a better fit, less pressure and a more open, competent ruling Association. He must be sickened by what he has discovered about the way football in this Country is run. But toxic though a large element are, Celtic fans recognise outstanding football when they see it. And like a few other deluded Clubs see the provision of free flowing, entertaining, attacking football as a right. Add in that the Celtic Board are all too aware of the power they have ceded to the GB and they will see offering Askou the job as a way of easing hostility and holding on to their positions for a wee while longer. So a political approach rather than the Board's first choice. Appoint another Nancy like disaster ahead of the fans' preference and the insanity will get even further out of control. I would love the meltdown if he did turn down an approach from them in preference to staying with us (1st choice obviously) or moving to a mid table French side. Would speak volumes.