Morton asked to replace Hearts in SPL

[Jack]

Well not quite yet but heard from a decent source that Morton have been told they should prepare themselves to take hearts place in the SPL.

[HH81]

What:confused:

I thought Hearts were debt free and ready to sign some international players for the title march. :greengrin

[robinp]

What:confused:

I thought Hearts were debt free and ready to sign some international players for the title march. :greengrin

"We owe it to ourselves, #allisbarry"

[Purple & Green]

Debacle.

They don't have a compliant stadium - how can you expect them to sell season tickets to their fans not knowing what league they will be in, and also where their games will be played.

As I understand it, they will share with St Mirren whilst works are carried out to Cappielowe - if they had won the first division these works would now be taking place to be ready for August.

Utterly ridiculous, and demeaning to our game that the fiasco over the road is impacting on other clubs.

[Craig_in_Prague]

Feel sorry for Dundee, being thrown into the SPL unprepared and ought to have stayed up as Hearts clearly done all they could to stumble through to the end of season.

[gorgie greens]

Does that make Hearts go straight to the 3rd division,or the fact they will be a newco,would then be too late to register with the SPFL,mean they won't be playing at all next season,well not in a professional manner,
East of Scotland league ?

[Keith_M]

I think Morton are better off where they are. They'd have to play all their home games elsewhere and not have enough time to sign SPL level players. They'd be in an even worse position than Dundee were last season.

IMHO, they'd be better off letting Dundee back into the SPL, because they could at least play at home.

[Purple & Green]

And there's 6 home fixture clashes with Hearts/St Mirren before January. Now some will be fixed with TV, but jeesus.

[gorgie greens]

Debacle.

They don't have a compliant stadium - how can you expect them to sell season tickets to their fans not knowing what league they will be in, and also where their games will be played.

As I understand it, they will share with St Mirren whilst works are carried out to Cappielowe - if they had won the first division these works would now be taking place to be ready for August.

Utterly ridiculous, and demeaning to our game that the fiasco over the road is impacting on other clubs.

Surely could get special dispensation to allow them to use Cappielowe ,with the understanding that ground works start either straight away or at the end of next season

[Purple & Green]

I think Morton are better off where they are. They'd have to play all their home games elsewhere and not have enough time to sign SPL level players. They'd be in an even worse position than Dundee were last season.

IMHO, they'd be better off letting Dundee back into the SPL, because they could at least play at home.

I tend to agree, and I think most Morton fans do now - fine if they could have prepared in May, but it's a recipe for disaster now.

I've not checked, but I guess there's as many fixture clashes with Dundee/Dundee United at home if Hearts are replaced. The SPL are hopeless.

[Purple & Green]

Surely could get special dispensation to allow them to use Cappielowe ,with the understanding that ground works start either straight away or at the end of next season

I don't know the ins and outs of it, but yes that would be a reasonable approach if it comes to pass.

[Keith_M]

Surely clubs must be able to guarantee that they can complete their fixtures for the up-coming season? I can't see how Hearts/BDO can possibly state this for certain.


IMHO, they should be brought before the SPL now and made to state that they can do so. If not, they should be replaced straight away.

[DC_Hibs]

Well not quite yet but heard from a decent source that Morton have been told they should prepare themselves to take hearts place in the SPL.

Sounds a lot of nonsense.

[Jones28]

I'd be very surprised if this was to happen (no disrespect to the OP & his source), particularly after what happened to Dundee last season.

[1two]

Surely clubs must be able to guarantee that they can complete their fixtures for the up-coming season? I can't see how Hearts/BDO can possibly state this for certain.


IMHO, they should be brought before the SPL now and made to state that they can do so. If not, they should be replaced straight away.

Yes, or at the very least make a deadline for this announcement.

[Posh Swanny]

Does that make Hearts go straight to the 3rd division,or the fact they will be a newco,would then be too late to register with the SPFL,mean they won't be playing at all next season,well not in a professional manner,
East of Scotland league ?

At least there would be a derby!

[Newcastlehibby]

Top-flight rules state any club suffering an insolvency event will be stripped of 10 points or a third of their previous season's tally, whichever is the greater. Hearts finished the last campaign in 10th place with 44 points.
Hearts avoided a points deduction and possible relegation in May after the SPL decided the club's financial problems had not breached its rules before the end of the season.
(extract from BBC Sports)

Hence hearts will stay in the SPL and start the season with a 15 points deduction.

[NRW_Hibbie]

Given the possibility of Hearts' liquidation, this seems a sensible precaution. It shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone.

[Spike Mandela]

Debacle.

They don't have a compliant stadium - how can you expect them to sell season tickets to their fans not knowing what league they will be in, and also where their games will be played.

As I understand it, they will share with St Mirren whilst works are carried out to Cappielowe - if they had won the first division these works would now be taking place to be ready for August.

Utterly ridiculous, and demeaning to our game that the fiasco over the road is impacting on other clubs.

At least they have a stadium.:wink:

[Baw187]

Top-flight rules state any club suffering an insolvency event will be stripped of 10 points or a third of their previous season's tally, whichever is the greater. Hearts finished the last campaign in 10th place with 44 points.
Hearts avoided a points deduction and possible relegation in May after the SPL decided the club's financial problems had not breached its rules before the end of the season.
(extract from BBC Sports)

Hence hearts will stay in the SPL and start the season with a 15 points deduction.

Not if they are liquidated before. That comment assumes BDO can keep them running, which going by initial comments from them seems at jeopardy.

[The_Exile]

They can't prepare to be in the SPL, say they stick their ST prices up, bring in a couple of SPL level players, then they get told "eh sorry, winnae be happening now, you're still in division 1", boom, another club f*****.

[--------]

I'd be very surprised if this was to happen (no disrespect to the OP & his source), particularly after what happened to Dundee last season.

It my be that the SPL have tentatively sounded Morton out regarding their readiness to step up in a worst (BEST!) case scenario of Hearts being liquidated before the beginning of next season.

Like, SPL: "If the worst (BEST) comes to the worst (BEST), could you take the spare place in the SPL?" Morton: "Erm, not unless you ditch the rule-book." SPL: "No problem, we do that all the time." (Or, "Rule-book? What rule-book?")

Then the rumour-mill kicks in.

[Jones28]

It my be that the SPL have tentatively sounded Morton out regarding their readiness to step up in a worst (BEST!) case scenario of Hearts being liquidated before the beginning of next season.

Like, SPL: "If the worst (BEST) comes to the worst (BEST), could you take the spare place in the SPL?" Morton: "Erm, not unless you ditch the rule-book." SPL: "No problem, we do that all the time." (Or, "Rule-book? What rule-book?")

Then the rumour-mill kicks in.

:agree: good point

[StevieC]

Well not quite yet but heard from a decent source that Morton have been told they should prepare themselves to take hearts place in the SPL.

I would be sceptical that they have actually been told to prepare, but it would make sense to "sound out" potential replacements as a back-up plan.

If the Morton directors feel that they wouldn't be in a position to accept an SPL place then the SPFL could always fall back on the UBIG insolvency issue and re-instate Dundee. If I remember correctly they left the insolvency door open after the disciplinary meeting with something like "we have insufficient evidence at present"?

[Viva_Palmeiras]

Talk about setting the cat amongst the pigeons - more like a cat with a machine gun ;)

[Viva_Palmeiras]

It's a good thing to have in the back pocket and make sure the yams and whoever are wrapped up with them don't try to prolong things to seek any potential advantage by holding the league to Ransom I got a feeling rangers played that game of brinkmanship...

[Hibby Kay-Yay]

Wouldn't it just be easier to invite Rangers instead?

:cb

[Treadstone]

Alright Sandy K ! Whats yer thinking ?:brokenyam:

[Keith_M]

Alright Sandy K ! Whats yer thinking ?:brokenyam:

Wow, he's back!


I would have thought he'd never show his face on here again after his previous boo-boo

:not worth

[Treadstone]

Wow, he's back!


I would have thought he'd never show his face on here again after his precious boo-boo :not worth

Aye noticed on his profile he was here same time yesterday. Roaster.

[Just Alf]

It my be that the SPL have tentatively sounded Morton out regarding their readiness to step up in a worst (BEST!) case scenario of Hearts being liquidated before the beginning of next season.

Like, SPL: "If the worst (BEST) comes to the worst (BEST), could you take the spare place in the SPL?" Morton: "Erm, not unless you ditch the rule-book." SPL: "No problem, we do that all the time." (Or, "Rule-book? What rule-book?")

Then the rumour-mill kicks in.

You must know same peeps I do!

I will add that there's a meeting at Hampden tomorrow and this is an agenda item for a "break out" session whatever that is.

[Vault Boy]

One long season for them full of derby defeats and humpings from the like of St Mirren, followed by relegation sounds a lot more fun to me.:thumbsup:

[PatHead]

Not fishing or at the wind up but I heard today from a reliable source that it is up for discussion within the SPL as clubs have severe doubts about Hearts completing the season. They are worried they would lose a gate with having a blank week (no home game or income for 2-3 weeks) and about some clubs gaining an unfair advantage in the event of Hearts collapsing half way through the season. Imagine us with no game on New Year's Day, loss of tickets, corporate etc when we could have a meaningful game against Morton at a time when attendances are usually good. Watch this space.

[patlowe]

Not fishing or at the wind up but I heard today from a reliable source that it is up for discussion within the SPL as clubs have severe doubts about Hearts completing the season. They are worried they would lose a gate with having a blank week (no home game or income for 2-3 weeks) and about some clubs gaining an unfair advantage in the event of Hearts collapsing half way through the season. Imagine us with no game on New Year's Day, loss of tickets, corporate etc when we could have a meaningful game against Morton at a time when attendances are usually good. Watch this space.

You'd have to say that the SPL would not be doing its job if it wasn't seriously considering Hearts' ability to honour their fixtures given the prognosis from the administrators. This is not looking good for the jambos.

Personally I'm hoping they are allowed to stay in the league.

[Gerard]

You'd have to say that the SPL would not be doing its job if it wasn't seriously considering Hearts' ability to honour their fixtures given the prognosis from the administrators. This is not looking good for the jambos.

Personally I'm hoping they are allowed to stay in the league.

Hearts are lucky they were not relegated given their administration event being now. They have financial massive problems and could still be liquidated and start in the 3rd division like old Rangers. Their fans enjoyed winning the Scottish Cup and telling us it was 5-1. They now have to eat an s sandwich. Enjoy::devil:

[Sergey]

Well not quite yet but heard from a decent source that Morton have been told they should prepare themselves to take hearts place in the SPL.

Nice 'scoop' with this story, Jack :wink:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/10136440/Greenock-Morton-could-be-promoted-to-Scottish-Premier-League-if-Hearts-go-to-the-wall.html

[LancsHibs]

A good read:thumbsup:

[Jack]

Nice 'scoop' with this story, Jack :wink:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/10136440/Greenock-Morton-could-be-promoted-to-Scottish-Premier-League-if-Hearts-go-to-the-wall.html

Indeed, its good to be first with a story!

[ManBearPig]

Cam someone explain who or what Sandy K is?

[soupy]

Cam someone explain who or what Sandy K is?

He's just a yam roaster of the highest order..... Who posted comedy on here last week....