GLF 55:Graham wonders how Livi can escape a ten point penalty.
IN ADMINISTRATION OR NOT ??
I've just read that Livingston have applied to their creditors for another six months in administration, meaning that they will have played all of this season in administration.
How can the SPL be fooled like this when they allowed Livingston to escape a ten point penalty as they had proved they were working to get out of administration ! Then now that they have said that they will be in administration longer they get until May this year again !!
This seems grossly unfair to me that they have been allowed to flaunt the rules like this while at least Dundee and ourselves have done what we could to get out of administration, and others taken steps to stay out of it.This means they have been given a financial and points advantage over all the other SPL teams.
The ten point deduction would have finished them off this season and at the moment they would be certs for relegation - which they should be !!
Come on SPL come up with a decision that makes sense and hit them with the ten point penalty that they deserve for their lack of respect for the rules.
On the subject of administration I heard former Thistle Manager Gerry Collins lament on Radio Scotland's Ninety Minutes that Thistle were only relegated because teams like Motherwell and Dundee cheated by going into administration.This ploy allowed these teams to pay higher wages that they couldn't afford giving them an unfair advantage.
I have two points to counter that..
1. Did Thistle not gain an advantage when they over - spent and found themselves in financial trouble and were treated as the cuddly toy of Scottish football by the media who all rallied behind the Save our Jags campaign.Fair play to them,they didn't go into administration BUT they did take all the steps that those who did,ie they cut wages and got rid of players as soon as they could !
2. Going into Administration saw us finish bottom of the table, not a great advantage worth " cheating " for !!It was the ludicrous SPL rules that prevented us being relegated that season.
Maybe Mr Collins should take off his paranoid glasses and realise that they messed up at Thistle.They did well in their first season, BUT didn't sign up their good players on longer than one year contracts, therefore it was hardly surprising when clubs like Motherwell and Dundee Utd came in and swipe them from under their nose !
Sadly they didn't learn from their mistake and did it again the following season when they lost Grady to Dundee Utd.
Therefore I would suggest it was not teams " cheating " that saw Thistle relegated but that the blame lies a little closer to home !!
Graham Barnstaple
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