Jay

I'm game for that. It's either a case of boycotting a one off game this season, or the vast majority of games in seasons to come. It's actually absolutely ridiculous the way Scottish football fans are being completely fucked here. But the majority will bend over and take it because apparently that's what being a football supporter entails these days. And, the worst part is, the clubs know it.

I don't even know why you'd think that. Scottish football is about self-preservation and avoiding the worst case scenarios. That's exactly why we have the moves to make a 10 team SPL in the first place. I genuinely cannot even begin to understand how you could think teams would have to play to win in a 10 team SPL. Surely even the most open-minded fan regarding the league restructuring (I'm yet to find someone who actually supports a 10 team SPL!) could see that in a league where relegation is more likely, teams will set out not to lose!? I don't even see how there can be any debate about it to be honest. At the moment teams try not to lose ahead of winning most of the time, taking two teams out of the league isn't going to change that for the better.

I've not read the last few pages so apologies if I'm repeating anyone. I am actually scunnered by this. I can't believe the vast, vast majority of Scottish football fans are being completely shafted like this if (and it's still an "if", although admittedly it's now closer to being a "when") this goes through. There seems to be a scale here - on one end of the scale is "More Money, Not What The Fans Want", and on the other end is "Less Money, What The Fans Want". We're not stupid (well, not all of us!) we as football supporters know that clubs need money to survive and will always be keen to make as much as possible, but am I the only one who can't fathom why the new league has to be at the complete end of the scale that fans don't want? The status quo, 12 teams with modifications and a 14 team league are all in the middle of the scale somewhere - why have these been completely overlooked? Well, I ask why but we already know the answer. Greed. Pure and utter greed. We're actually at a point where the Scottish football fan is being completely fucked over because clubs can't, or won't, look after their finances properly. Grow a set and deal with your finances instead of screwing over the paying customer in order to full your coffers. I said it before and I'll say it again, if this comes into effect I'm done. For me, being a 'Well fan isn't about blindly following like a sheep and greeting shite like this with a simple roll of the eyes and a "what can you do?" sigh. Not only will a 10 team league be completely shite, repetative and a complete waste of money, but if (and I reinforce the "if" again) Motherwell Football Club are compliant, completely ignoring the feelings and opinions of 95% of their support, then I view that as a betrayal of your ordinary 'Well fan. If Motherwell vote against the 10 team league then my faith will be restored somewhat that we do actually still matter to "our" club. If they vote for the 10 team league then they should never, ever claim to be a "community club" again, nor should they insult us by trying to claim they give two fucks about the supporters. On a side note, just when we thought these arseholes couldn't lack any more creativity when it comes to revamping Scottish football, the names banded about are the "Premiership" and the "Championship". How original. Absolutely embarrassing. Also, Neil Doncaster is a fucking tard who looks like a speccy lesbian.

Aye mate, done a few Subcrawls. Cannae beat it, and it certainly pishes all over the football! We always start at Times Square at St. Enoch, then do the Southside first to get all the scumbag venues out the way when everyone's still sober and unlikely to get themselves into bother, then finish up at Buchanan Street! Some of the pubs are proper health risks but then that's always half the fun! But aye, no contest for Saturday. Subcrawl over Fir Park every day of the week nowadays!

Spot on. We actually had to force ourselves to leave Jack Daniels and walk to Fir Park at 3.15pm today. And I wish I'd just stayed in the boozer to be perfectly honest. Long gone are the days when I wouldn't miss a home game for absolutely anything. I'm opting for a mate's birthday Subcrawl next week instead of the Hibs game and I fully expect it to be the first of many home games missed in preference of things far more enjoyable and worthwhile. Scottish football is tiresome, mind-numbing, and unfortunately just not worth the time, effort or money these days.

Aye, can't fault him at all for taking it. Getting the same wages but more job security for a start, not to mention a far greater chance of more first team football and less abuse. He'd have been insane not to take it. Good luck to him.

To be fair, not really. McCall's just said that he's away as he's been offered a "better deal". A better deal doesn't automatically mean more wages.

Good luck to him if it's true. Never a stand out but a good squad player who put a shift in when required. Unfortunately for him he was just another in a list of players given the job of doing the dirty work on the park. Fir Park's never been the kindest place to those guys (Darren Fletcher would probably get abused by the East Stand if didn't turn up and spring 40 yard passes about). He also suffered from the "Shaun Fagan Effect" - ie. scoring a memorable goal and then failing to go on from that and be utterly world class. Reckon he's got the ability to be a very good First Division regular, regardless of which mob he goes to so good luck, no doubt the best move for his career.

I posted this before I'd actually watched the video and was only going by what I'd read on here. Now I've watched it... I actually fail to see the big deal? When he was on SSN going tonto about the Paul Quinn money from Cardiff, he actually came across as a fuckin' mentalist. Today he just came across as some who feels genuinely passionate about what he's talking about. Regardless though, top bombing by wee John again. I couldn't give a rat's arse if folk are watching it laughing or thinking he's a gimp. I'd far rather have Boyle going apeshit about the Old Firm being money grabbing bastards, than sitting back silently while the club continues to get shafted.

If Murphy and Sutton keep playing like they did today, Blackman wouldn't get a look in anyway. Delighted Gow's gone. Hopefully Fitzpatrick gets handed a new deal this week.

Murphy and Jenno were fuckin' outstanding today but I'm going to plump for big Sutton. He was tremendous in the air, brought others into play, and was on hand to net two top finishes.

John Boyle's the man. Cardiff City. Rangers. Celtic. Naebody gets in the 'Well's way! On yerself JB!

Was lying in bed this morning and couldnae really be bothered with today. But just back and I'm pretty damn pleased I went to Dundee! How often do we see the 'Well struggling against the so-called underdogs in cup competitions? Today I thought we were very good. The biggest problem with Alan Gow wasn't that he was gash, it was that our whole team was shifted around to accomodate him. We get shop of him, suddenly Murphy can play up front again, and he was dynamite again. Good performance, fine result. Bring on the next round.

Good riddance, he was baws. And, given he's an ex-h*n, was probably on a decent whack.

Well until someone from the club comes out and explains what input they had in the steering group, why they were happy to go forward with proposals for the 10 team SPL as a member of said steering group, why they have yet to consult the fans, and why - at a time when every other club is coming out one way or another - are we yet steeped in utter silence?! You can't expect fans to think any differently until those questions are answered. If I was a member of a 6 person action group at work tasked with picking what software should be on our computers at work, and the 6 person action group went forward with the proposal that we should be completely banning internet access - then I'd fully expect my work colleagues to assume I supported the idea and was partly responsible for allowing it as a proposal in the first place, especially if I just sat at my desk with my mouth shut.

Surely you should have just said "the Main Stand will be better if you don't have wellies" then, instead of suggesting the atmosphere in the Main Stand is better!? Most the time I forget the Main Stand even exists!

Whit!? I'm assuming you just mixed your stands up there, rather than genuinely telling the guy that the atmosphere is better in the Main Stand!

There's got to be some junior teams hoping to fuck this abortion of a 10 team league comes into play! Up the Tyre Vics!

I was ahead of my time...

Any idea when we can expect an answer to this? The Spaniards are tempted again plus I'm trying to get a few non-'Well mates on board, but it's difficult trying to fill them in when there doesn't seem to be any details outwith the date!

Best post so far IMO.

Well no, given I've already said that some of the most exciting football matches I've seen have been in the lower leagues, juniors or even amateurs then I don't possibly how you not enjoying Motherwell in the 1st division remotely blows my argument out of the water. Oh aye, I understand that. I just meant that if it was now introduced I would perceive it to be a direct reaction to how the fans have reacted to this, rather than some sort of pre-conceived revolutionary plan. Incidentally, I don't think it would have a particularly worthwhile effect on crowds anyway. You can reduce admission costs, but Motherwell's still going to be full of gloryhunters and bigots.

Not for me. Don't get me wrong, if I end up going to Blantyre Vics games instead of 'Well matches because of this 10 team league then I'd still end up attending the odd Motherwell game (probably cup games etc). Reduced admission cost might mean I attend one or two extra of these. But ultimately it wouldn't have a great bearing on my point of view regarding this - because basically it would just be a bribe. The admission price is just one factor in the large abortion that is Scottish football.

I have been moaning about a 10 team league and I can say without any doubt that I wouldn't be moaning about "the pish being served up on the park" if clubs lost £1,000,000. Some of the most exciting football matches I've ever seen have been lower league, junior or even amateur level. Folk need to get their head around the idea that two teams having a lesser standard of player doesn't automatically mean the game is going to be less entertaining. I don't think home attendances would significantly increase in an expanded league. Like any football league, attendances change depending on form, time of year etc. However, I believe away attendances would increase a bit because "away days" would only be coming once a year. Ultimately though, I don't think anyone is arguing that attendances would increase in an expanded league (if they are, then I apologise but I've not read that). The point is though that attendances will undoubtedly decrease with this 10 team league goes ahead. Why? It can be proposed but it would be accepted. The 11 to 1 vote means that the Old Firm will never vote to share more of the money in the league. It will never change so that's a complete non-starter. I would rather stick with a 12 team league than the 10 team proposal, but what do you mean by play offs for the drop and Europe? Hearts have been outstanding this year. If they finish 3rd by some distance, would they then have to play in a playoff to get into Europe in your proposal?!

Indeed. Are we now destined for a rotation system where every ten years we switch from 12 teams to 10 teams then back again and so on and so on...!? I've got to concur with the comments about the complete lack of imagination. As I said earlier, that's what worries me the most. It's now been officially recognised that Scottish football needs change. Switching to an even more mundane and mind-numblingly shite 10 team league is just a complete and utter waste of an opportunity, and the creativity on show is absolutely laughable. Tell you what though, when me and Panda started talking about taking up following Blantyre Vics if this abortion of a league setup comes in, I thought we'd be the black sheep amongst those chucking the SPL who just go to the pub instead. But there are a lot more folk than I'd expect talking about following their junior sides instead of professional football if this comes in. The junior teams must be praying for a 10 team SPL!