Jay

You're just a fully fledged OAP these days, take it you won't be on the 7am for Dingwall either?

So, looking like Saturday will now be the first pre-season friendly of the "summer". According to the BBC weather forecast there's not a great deal of rain down there before the weekend (unlike up here) which is great news. After everything that's went on in the last few months I don't think I've ever looked forward to a friendly as much in my life! 10am-train-fae-Central Motherwell Army!

I don't really get all the chat about what it says on the tickets. I completely understand keeping a brief as a keepsake - surely the fact it's the match ticket for a memorable game is the main point, not what it actually says on it? I'm assuming folk aren't going to be touring their 'Motherwell European Ticket Exhibition' around the country or looking to sell it for huge profits in five years - I'd have thought it would be kept for your enjoyment and nostalgic purposes in the future. The fact it was a used match ticket for the first ever home tie in the Champions League is the special factor, no? If not, just write it in pen...

Do we actually know how much money, if any, the club receives through club shop sales? Is there a particular % of income that goes to Motherwell, or do Provan Sports just pay a monthly rent on the shop? I've noticed a couple of people saying they're definitely going to buy the next kit etc now that the club needs funds so it would be good to know if that's actually what happens. Provan Sports are a business and obviously have to make a profit so if it was a choice between buying the new kit with 50p going to Motherwell, or buying into the Well Lotto for the year - I'll go with the latter.

Don't worry, the first game is only on Monday - once the football starts, there'll be the usual need to pick out one or two players for unnecessary abuse.

Even better! So much has been going on in the last couple of weeks and I got so fed up with it all, I started trying to just forget about most of it!

I know Dosser 30 has posted the link to this in the 'Rallying Call' thread (the subject of which is obviously related to this campaign), and Brazilian has posted the link in the Shoutbox above, but I thought it was worth a new thread to highlight it to those who might have missed it: STEELMEN FOREVER Feel free to get rid of this thread if the mods feel it isn't need though!

Obviously the current situation can't be overlooked and the potential for hardship has to be mentioned, but it's great to see a bit of positivity again! I've got to admit, when a 'newco in the SPL' vote was inevitable I didn't believe we would vote any other way than 'yes'. I was originally delighted with the Well Society ballot, but when the results seemed to take longer than expected, the actual announcement didn't include anything you'd really call a 'statement', and rumours were abound that clubs were about to shit it, I have to be honest and say, due to being completely scunnered by everything, I did begin to get suspicious. I have been critical at the lack of communication and I still think there could have been more but I accept the club probably had its reasons. What I can't deny is that the club has been great throughout this - from balloting the fans at a time when only Hearts & Dundee United (I believe) had backed a 'no' vote, to standing by the subsequent vote, and now to the quick steps at moving on into a positive future. I have my Well Society membership, my season ticket, my Champions League ticket, my faith in Motherwell FC restored, and all the excitement ahead of next season that had been lacking in recent weeks! Cannot fucking wait for Ayr Away.

Got to agree with that! It's always Daniels pre-match for us. Know a good few folk that drink in the Cooper and we do very occasionally stop in for a drink, but I just really dislike the venue.

Outwith being a Well Society member and season ticket holder, I'm not in a position financially to make any big contributions - so I'd be looking for the smaller ideas personally. I think all season ticket holders paying into Club 12 games is a great idea, and I'll also be looking to get more involved in things like the 'Well Lotto, like Jam 20 mentioned. Would it even be too much to ask just having buckets about Fir Park every home game? I'm not suggesting that folk throwing change into a bucket is going to prevent any serious financial difficulties, but at least it's something. I'm out pretty much every Friday night and, like a fair few folk, I always end up waking up on the Saturday morning with my pockets absolutely full of pounds coins and other change. Like a lot of people, my Saturday pre-match is also spent in the pub. Therefore, by the time I, and plenty of 'Well fans, get to the turnstyles, I have a few quids worth of change kicking about in my pocket that I'd happily dump into a bucket I knew was going to the club. As I said, it's not huge, but when you multiply it for every home game and consider plenty of 'Well fans firing in a couple of quid each time, it's something. I also agree with the post about the clubs having to now work together to ensure the future of the game. For example, I've seen a few mentions on other forums about how Rugby Park should now be boycotted due to Johnston abstaining from the vote. I can't agree with that in the slightest. Kilmarnock are not in the best way financially and I think it would wholly wrong for us as a support to punish a fellow football club and, more importantly, its supporters for the actions of one man (plus, he didn't actually vote 'yes' anyway).

Any venue that has a single file queue rather than the usual collection of bodies at the bar freaks me out.

Given there's a chance there could be 6 working days between the Champions League draw and the home tie, why wouldn't you have a ticket with TBC as opponents on it? If folk are looking for keep sakes of the game, buy a programme.

Get the club shop to start selling those Motherwell bucket hats from the '91 cup final, ahead of our Euro trip.

Good post mate. I still have issues with Scottish football as a whole (and I still maintain Rangers in the First Division is corruption personified) but I've been buoyed by today's news and I recognise that our club has done everything we've asked of it. It's now our turn.

Spot on. At the beginning, the vast majority of us wanted Motherwell to vote 'no'. They have done that. What happens now with the newco will impact on Scottish football as a whole, on our club, and might still cause anger amongst our fans, but it's now out of our club's hands. Rather than moaning about having to pay £30 for the Champions League game, it's time to get behind the club the best we can. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYK7DyPuZkg

I would have said the most likely reason was still that the future of our club is going to be very difficult and will take a huge amount of work behind the scenes; work that Derek Weir doesn't have the time for. That is the most likely reason, because it is basically the reason that has been given. Any other theories are exactly that.

The SPL & SFA are a poor man's Corporation.

@MotherwellFC: At today’s General Meeting, SPL clubs today voted overwhelmingly to reject the application from Rangers newco to join the SPL.

It's an idea that's been floating about for weeks, but it's suddenly being mentioned a few places again. Could be nothing in it of course. I'd be more agreeable to a retrospective points deduction, assuming we received the prize money for 2nd place (and also got to list 'SPL Runner-Up 2011/12' in our honours... ). Presumably the extra money would also take the edge off a bit for us. It would still be a complete cop out, but it would still see the SPL clubs standing firm against bringing a newco back into the SPL and it would also fore-go the need for any more bullying of the SFL clubs. Although the end result is the same if Rangers are to be in the First Division next year, I'd far prefer that method than actually shoe-horning in a newco. This method would also mean the only real problem left was whether Dunfermline or Dundee would play in the SPL next season, although the Pars would have the stronger argument. As I said, could be nothing in it and I don't give it much credence myself - but when you consider some of the other things that have went on recently, it's not too mental a proposal.

Indeed. If I was to walk away it would be because, all things considered, I'd reached the conclusion that spending the money I do following Motherwell was no longer worthwhile in exchange for a rigged competition. This is why if the First Division becomes a reality, the sanctions imposed with more than likely determine my decision. The wrestling comparison is a good one. The WWE sees the big fan favourites scripted to win matches in order to entertain the masses, the rest are there just to make up the numbers and fill up the card. That's some people's idea of sport and entertainment, but it isn't mine.

So the plan to give Rangers a retrospective points deduction ensuring they're relegated to the First Division now seems to have risen its head again... Surely we'd be entitled to a tidy wee 2nd placed prize sum?

My mate's a Well Society member but not a season ticket holder (holding off to see the outcome of the shambles) - he just phoned the ticket off for a bit of clarification. Season ticket seats are only reserved until Friday according to the club. Bit of a joke IMO given the extremely short notice, but manageable for me as I'm not too far away. Will probably impact on others though. Well Society members can either buy over the phone or buy in person, but someone else can't buy a ticket on their behalf due to there not being any proof etc. Season ticket holders and Well Society members can apparently buy two tickets each. Was this mentioned before as it's the first I've heard?

I think it's now looking like the First Division is the likely outcome. Therefore, the sanctions become crucial. As I've said before, my main issue with a newco in the First Division is that it paves the way for full-scale corruption. This is an outcome that has been designed to keep sponsors and Sky happy by promising them that Rangers will return to the SPL for the 2013/14 season. The problem is, no one can guarantee this. Injuries, suspensions, McCoist having a mare as manager, young players not doing the business, a team like Falkirk having an outstanding season - there are many reasons why Rangers are not absolutely guaranteed to win promotion from the First Division next year. This then means one of two things - either those behind this proposal, who have placed so much importance on only losing Rangers for one year, will be perfectly happy to let fate take its course and see if Rangers make the SPL (that would be, naturally, unlikely given the apparent potential for financial oblivion); or, Rangers' path to the SPL will be guaranteed. That's when things start getting ridiculous. If Rangers need a win at Falkirk on the last day to guarantee promotion and Lee McCulloch takes one of the most blatant dives in history inside the box in injury time, what happens next? Would a referee be under orders to ensure that Rangers win the game, and therefore promotion, by any means necessary? And even if you don't believe in the prospect of actual match fixing, if this scenario was to play out there's no doubt the officials would be under immense pressure (from all sides) given that one decision could, according to some, completely destroy Scottish football as a whole. And let's say Rangers do win promotion but are still so fucked by sanctions that they struggle in the relegation zone in the following season, along with Motherwell. Are we all happy to go through the same scenario mentioned above, where decisions by officials could, either deliberately or sub-consciously, be taken to sacrifice us in favour of the much-needed Currants? For the First Division plans to work, Rangers need to run away with the league with no arguments. That cannot be guaranteed and therefore leaves the door open for either deliberate corruption or allegations of corruption. Neither are worthwhile IMO. As soon as you open the door for full-blown corruption and potential match-fixing, the gig is up for the game as a whole.

I've chucked all attempts to work out what games I'll be at next season if any. I'm so fed up with it all that I'd rather just wait until it's all over now and I'll re-visit the idea with a clear idea of what's actually happened and who is responsible for what. I could end up carrying on as normal or boycotting particular grounds, or I could end up shunning it all completely (already something that's been discussed amongst our group that go to games). That said, if Motherwell were to now vote 'yes' following the Well Society vote, I would find it very difficult to go back to Fir Park. As I said though, I'm ruling out second guessing or making plans for next season now. I'll weigh everything up after this is sorted (if it ever happens) and decide whether continued attendance is worthwhile.

I don't care anymore. I've reached the conclusion that the supporters are probably going to be shat on in some way regardless of how this ends up. All I can say is that I have lost a huge amount of respect and confidence in a number of people. I have also, like many, lost a lot of enthusiasm for the coming season and, to be honest, Scottish football in general. I'm past wondering what matches, if any, I'll be attending next season. I'll decide that once this parade of shite bags and bottle merchants is complete, we know what's happening, and we know exactly who's been responsible for what.