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Harry Truman’s motto, ‘The Buck Stops Here’ – Statements won’t stop Celtic achieving Ten-in-a-Row

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HARRY S. TRUMAN had a motto on his White House desk “The Buck Stops Here”.

Compare and contrast – Partick Thistle say they will not take legal action against the SPFL’s resolution to end the lower-league seasons in Scotland, even after seeking legal advice and receiving confirmation of grounds to proceed to judicial review. Despite finishing relegated as a result of the SPFL proposal to end the lower leagues and being two points from safety with a game in hand, they released a statement laced with responsibility to Scottish football.

“We can’t be responsible for pushing even one club to the brink,” Partick Thistle said.

“If we were to take this action to court, there is a risk that might stop the release of much-needed monies to those clubs on Friday. That’s a step too far for us.”

“It would be hypocritical of us to have espoused ‘do no harm’ as a reason why we shouldn’t be relegated and then do exactly that.”

While Partick are already relegated Hearts have a stay of execution at present, but only the most stringent of optimists would assume that relegation can be avoided for the Tynecastle club. Theirs is a postponement of the inevitable.

The words of Ann Budge yesterday indicated a deep seated anger and frustration. Despite this Hearts solution is to work within the parameters of a reconstruction task force they and Hamilton will head up. Budge realises legal action will stop much needed funds reaching clubs on the financial critical list. As such she has taken stock and decided to right the imbalance of punishing clubs from the original proposal, by way of finding a solution. Looking forwards rather than back:

“The three clubs in relegation spots with many points still to play for, face financial consequences that no-one appears to feel are either fair or reasonable,” Ann Budge said.

“This is what must now be addressed through a temporary change to the league structure to cope with what is likely to be 2 very ‘abnormal’ seasons.

“While Hearts have not at this time been relegated, Partick Thistle and Stranraer have. This should not be happening and we will do everything in our power to find a solution with a positive outcome that works, not just for the 3 clubs in relegation spots, but for all of Scottish football.”

Both  Partick Thistle and Hearts have grounds to feel hard done by. They have genuine and costly concerns over the legitimacy of the vote. They quite rightly have worries over the governance of Neil Doncaster and the SPFL. Hearts know this is not the time or the place. You’d imagine they’ll revisit, but not now. For now there is a responsibility to Scottish football to move forward.

Yet for one club in Scottish football they simply cannot let it go. So what is it ‘the’ Rangers lost out on? Well according to the BBC a less than 2% (1.13% to be exact) chance of finishing first in the Scottish Premiership. And remember they were NOT even guaranteed second place themselves, so where are the raging statements from Motherwell about that ‘injustice’? Yet from the statement from Ibrox you’d assume they had in some way been dealt the same cards as Thistle and Hearts:

“No fair minded person can take the outcome of this vote seriously. The SPFL has conducted a process which has been misleading and deeply flawed.

“In particular, publishing the outcome prior to all clubs having voted has undermined the democratic process and demonstrated unacceptable standards of corporate governance by the SPFL Executive.

“We are extremely concerned that member clubs were not provided with enough information, or time, to allow them to make fully informed decisions.

“Also, we are aware several club directors claimed they were being bullied at a time when Scottish football should have been acting in unity to alleviate the financial hardship of many of our clubs. Addressing the latter was one of our primary objectives and the resolution we presented could and should have been progressed.

“The SPFL chose to obstruct our resolution which would have given clubs the required financial support, without the pre-condition of ending the season. The fact that this solution was not afforded sufficient consideration defies belief and further underlines the view held by many clubs that the processes and behaviours of certain individuals must now be the subject of forensic examination.

“For our part, Douglas Park has already requested an independent investigation into the conduct of the executive. The SPFL appear to have acknowledged the need for an internal investigation – but only an independent investigation will provide satisfactory, credible answers. We repeat our call for the immediate suspension of Neil Doncaster and Rod McKenzie pending the outcome of the independent investigation.

“It is imperative that constructive engagement begins immediately with members to evaluate all options for completing the 2019/20 Premiership season, including on the field of play. The SPFL must allow every opportunity to do so. There is precedent within Scottish football that a league must not be compromised by changing the rules during the course of the competition.

“The anger of our fans is understood and shared by our Board, who continue to examine all legal options available” the Rangers statement said.

This is a statement designed to abdicate responsibility. It says nothing that we don’t already know while curiously leaves out the earlier claim of them having evidence that proves SPFL wrongdoing.

There isn’t a club from either the Yes or No camp in this debate who is not aware that the SPFL made a hash of the whole thing. From announcing an exit poll while the ballot remained open, to allowing a club to withdraw a vote and reconsider. The proposal should have been withdrawn and represented in another format. It wasn’t however, and what Donald Park misses in his statement is that there is no time for any of this.

This man supplies Celtic FC with the team bus and many Celtic Supporters Clubs also use Parks of Hamilton.

Partick Thistle and Hearts have lost out on far more than hurt pride. Yet both have understood that to do anything other than accept the vote and move on could see Scottish football clubs go to the wall.

In contrast all ‘the’ Rangers have to do is watch their great rivals win a ninth successive title, something bar a modern day miracle would have been happening anyway. Is that really too much to bear, a swallowing of pride for the greater good? It seems it is. Some things never change. The old club believed they were Scottish football, the new club believes that hype.

The problem with ‘the’ Rangers board is the responsibility weighs heavy. The titles they so coveted that were passed to them on bended knee and with third knuckle presses, are now akin to carrying a tombstone of the sins of their fathers around their neck.

They still believe they are the establishment club. They believe those financially doped titles were won fairly and squarely. As such believe they must get back to the Promised Land like it is their birth right. The truth is they were never there, not without cheating the same system whose validity they now question. And the club who were awarded them and held them up a second time after their liquidation are making the same mistakes all over again.

They now pander to a support who still believe they are the people. There is only Rangers and a hatred for Celtic, there is nothing else and not even in that order. The cannon fodder should be played to be beaten, they bear them no responsibility nor do they bear Scottish football as a whole any responsibility. Celtic exist to be put in their place. Ibrox now is like a vacuum, a place time forgot. Donald Park is continuing that myth.

Yet this is a ninth successive title for Celtic. Between the old Rangers and the newco they have overseen that happen by virtue of years of their own cheating and inadequacy. This is not about this title alone, though the significance must weigh heavy in the boardroom at Ibrox.

David Murray, Craig Whyte, Charles Green, Dave King and now Donald Park all bear responsibility for that. The SPFL were once at their beck and call, yet now they turn against them – possibly for the first time – and that sneering sense of entitlement is being ignored. Yet still they flog that horse.

The SPFL lack credibility, they are an organisation that needs to be challenged. You only have to read between the lines from Partick and Hearts statements that they too think the same, but there is a realisation that for the benefit of everyone at this time we all need to play nice. For now.

There are allegations that ‘the’ Rangers weren’t above attempts at skulduggery themselves during this process. As such an Independent inquiry is something all sides may well have wanted, but to hold Scottish football to ransom in exchange for a period of bloodletting helps no-one.

Donald Park now holds the responsibility at Ibrox. It is not that long ago – before they trusted Dave King – their football club was six months from break even. Without the acceptance of this proposal and the money that will come in from it, ‘the’ Rangers would have been less that that from entering administration.

Perhaps it’s time to stop pandering to the rank and file, like stopping Celtic covers the cracks. Perhaps it is time to stop hiding the reality of the financial cliff they are balanced on, and to stop trying to deflect the eyes of the support from the annual accounts to the SPFL. No-one is buying this and it is getting tiresome.

It’s time the Rangers took their medicine and accepted responsibility for years of financial mismanagement. On the field and in the boardroom they are miles behind Celtic. Someone has to take responsibility for getting a plan for steady and sustainable growth in place. If they look forward and make tough decisions they may even get back on an even keel.

If they bin the snarling, the apportioning of blame and pining for years gone by, they could be part of a solution for the whole of Scottish football. Once that’s done they may even find they have more allies than they’d think when it comes to challenging those in office at the SPFL.

While Scottish football looks forward and works on ways to save the game, one club simply pines for the past. The landscape has changed since 2012. The establishment club is no longer relevant in their current format. The last week or so evidenced that. There was a time the SPFL would have buckled under Ibrox demands. Instead they received short shrift. Their opinion of their own relevance is not mirrored in reality. They were batted away like the irritation they are.

To even consider challenging that perception Donald Park needs Mr Truman’s motto on his desk. “The buck stops here.”

If they can’t the continuation of Celtic dominance will go on unchallenged. 9-in-a-row seems a big deal for now. The Magical Ten may well break them for good.

Niall J

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About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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