First of all we get a common sense approach from the SPFL with a proposal to save Scottish football followed by the confirmation that league football will be pushed back, with all games suspended until at least 10th June, as announced by the SFA’s Rod Petrie yesterday.
All this common sense is actually starting to get a bit unnerving. Sensible politics twice in two days. In Scottish Football…This can’t be sustained can it?
SFA president Rod Petrie stated on the Scottish FA website: “The message is very clear. The government restrictions introduced to save lives must be adhered to and there is no prospect of an early resumption of training, let alone organised football in Scotland for several weeks.
“The decision to suspend all football until at least 10 June is to help clubs ensure the safety and wellbeing of players, staff and supporters as well as take steps to mitigate their costs.
“Scottish football applauds everyone working within NHS Scotland and the care sector and should place no additional burden at a time when their resources are being tested to the limit because of Covid-19.”
You cannot of course argue with the logic at all, you’d wonder however if these two bits of news are in some way intertwined. It seems strange given the circumstances that it took to this point to announce the extension. The timing may of course be co-incidental, however it may also help to focus minds on the eve of such a landmark vote.
The SPFL will be very keen indeed to ensure today’s vote sees the required votes passed to protect the security of member clubs, yet must still be aware that some clubs will see the delay to appease UEFA as actually being evidence that this season, in the top flight at least, could be finished. This decision will put paid to any thought of that.
That delay in finishing the Scottish leagues this season is simply to placate UEFA of course, their executive meeting on the 23 April will ratify Scottish football’s decision, should the 42 member clubs show a modicum of nous and actually vote for it tomorrow of course. After which Celtic are to all intents and purposes the Champions again.
You just know however there will still be some, like the Japanese soldiers left on a small island in the Pacific fighting the Second World War, who think we can get back on the grass and fulfil the fixture list in May. Or if you are ‘the’ Rangers that you can find a way to stop Provisional Scottish Champions Celtic winning 9-in-a-row. Heads up lads that’s happening. Game’s a bogey and you know it.
This SPFL decision to delay any football until the 10 June at least, will simply assist in the focusing of minds. It’s rather good timing. It may result in our friends at Tynecastle and Ibrox having less allies than they thought they had even 24 hours ago, it may even be enough to swing the vote in Celtic’s favour.
With Scottish football having been postponed on the 13 March, a 10 June extension to the postponement of the league campaign means Scottish football will wake up to the reality that there will be no paying customers, no prize money and no £125 million Sky TV deal for in excess of three months, probably four. Unless this vote is supported and passed at 5pm tomorrow some clubs could go to the wall without the financial security this deal will bring.
There may still be some clubs weighing it up. Is Celtic winning nine titles in a row is worth sabotaging at the cost of administration or even liquidation? There’s one particular club who should pay attention yet won’t for fear of fan revolt. Some are of course just short-sighted and petty enough to join in.
The SFA’s announcement may well mean self-preservation may become more important than stopping Celtic. Three months and more is an awful long time to gamble on.
Niall J
WOULD YOU LIKE TO WRITE FOR THE CELTIC STAR?
If you would like to write for The Celtic Star, on any Celtic related subject of your choosing, then please send your contribution to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
Support Celtic Youth Development
Help raise money for Celtic Youth Development by joining the £1 weekly lottery and you could win up to £25,000 – just click on any one of the photographs below to join. Lots of our readers have already done so and they’re now doing their bit to help fund Celtic Youth Development that can deliver the stars of tomorrow and beyond. And you might even win a few bob too! And a special thank you to all The Celtic Star readers who have already signed up and are now supporting youth development to give us the Celtic Stars of the future…
Take The Celtic Star’s Photo Tour of Celtic Park and enjoy our stunning photos from inside Paradise RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
