The problem I have is not with Falkirk FC the football side, no; I have a problem with Falkirk FC the management side (not John Hughes by the way).
From the very start we have been fed, what can only be described as a ferocious pro-Falkirk stance in the media with everything being described as if were written on a Falkirk Fanzine or website message board. We had journalists reporting on the saga with apparently no degree of prior knowledge. Just take Falkirk’s side and go with it was the order of the day. Gorden Waddell of the Sunday Mail has been the worst with the rants in his column reaching new depths in journalistic rot.
We were promised that Falkirk would reach the March 31st deadline set by the SPL. Did Falkirk have a 10,000 stadium = No. On this day did they have plans for a guaranteed 10,000 stadium = No. Did they have a cast-iron document saying that NLC (the deeds holder) have indeed accepted there bid to be the first tenants at New Broomfield = No. They were given a reprieve and an extension to the date. When the date was due to arrive, Hibernian FC gave Falkirk a further reprieve by applying for a FURTHER two-week extension to the deadline. All this time, the “serial fabricator” Campbell Christie was letting all that would listen that Falkirk are meeting the SPL requirements and they are well on the way to proving it. Gorden Waddell was rushed to hospital, drowning on his on drool after taking everything Christie says as gospel.
Deadline day arrived and it was decided that, despite the fact that Falkirk did not meet the designated entry requirements (that may I say, I don’t agree with. I think the rules set up are wrong BUT rules are rules. We all live by the laws of this land, Falkirk cannot be any different), a vote was to take place amongst the SPL’s member clubs. The vote took place and Falkirk lose out with a supposed 7-5 vote. Falkirk were incensed. They cried foul play and threatened to take the SPL to every possible avenue of appeal. Waddell insisted that the SPL had committed a “mis-carriage of justice” and they will fight it. He states that allowing clubs with a vested interest a vote, directly effected Falkirk’s bid. Call me daft if you like, but if you take away MFC’s vote you are left with eleven members. That would mean that if Falkirk had wanted a positive outcome, they would have needed six votes. If Motherwell didn’t vote, the vote would have been 6-5 in favour of the status quo. How does Motherwell FC voting effect it in any way?????
There is also a question of double standards. It was Falkirk who voted against Airdrie Utd’s automatic re-entry, in the obvious attempt to further their own interest. I wonder if the thought of an empty New Broomfield or the elimination of a potential footballing rival (no-disrespect to Gretna) as a reason to not vote for the newly established club in Airdrie. Selective memory Mr. Christie eh? It’s ok to screw other clubs, but only when it suits Falkirk. Whilst I am on a Campbell Christie rant… I don’t remember him crying injustice when Falkirk’s division one status was safeguarded by the unfortunate demise of Airdieonians FC at the end of the 2001/2002 season. But when Motherwell FC were saved by a not too dissimilar twist of fate, then it’s an outrage.
Campbell Christie (as if he hasn’t caused enough trouble already) started a campaign of rants and moans about the unfair system used by the SPL. His first port of call was his buddies in the media to drum up as much sympathy as he could fit into the sports column inches. That was followed by the complaint to the SFA about the holes in the SPL vote. The meeting was set for the end of June but in a decision that could only help Falkirk, the meeting was moved forward (Beneficial to them as the issue then remains fresh in the minds of the public and the three man committee). With all the hype now surrounding the case, Christie still new that he did not have an agreement with NLC.
The meeting was set and it was decided that Falkirk had the right to appeal and a FURTHER meeting was set up for the 26/27th of June (nearly three months after the original deadline). Christie then came up with another lie when he said that Falkirk FC had reversed their intention to take the matter to court and would take the SFA’s verdict as final. ANOTHER lie!
The committee met and it was the general consensus that the SPL had acted in a fair manner and acted within the rules set up at the leagues creation (rules that were passed by the Office of Fair Trading by-the-way).
We now hear today (27/06/03) that Campbell Christie is consulting his legal team about the possibility of involving the Court of Session and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). He is now wanting a probe into the SPL and the SFA (which included a Scottish Law judge) verdict on the situation.
This whole saga is reminiscent of a Soap Opera fit for channel 4 television. Campbell Christie is a crock, pure and simple. He is a hypocritical teller of untruths and he has led the public and the Falkirk fans up the proverbial garden path. His position at Falkirk is surely untenable, and he knows it. That’s precisely why he is clutching at straws. He and Waddell should be utterly ashamed for letting the Falkirk fans down on this one. I genuinely feel sorry for the true supporters of Falkirk Football Club; they have been dealt a harsh blow. For Christie and his mixing cronies… You deserve everything you got!!!!!