Official Site: CLUB STATEMENT - FIXTURES - All games now Sat 2nd May 12.15 KO

[Viva_Palmeiras]

#impeachTheSPFLFools

[Hibernia&Alba]

Hear hear. We're not having it.

[emerald green]

Yet another example of the sheer damned incompetence of the clowns running the game in this country. Then some wonder why the conspiracy theories emerge.

It's just not on that The Rangers (what a surprise) might end up gaining an unfair advantage due to the timing of such an important fixture. It stinks to high heaven (again).

[stoneyburn hibs]

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Yet another example of the sheer damned incompetence of the clowns running the game in this country. Then some wonder why the conspiracy theories emerge.

It's just not on that The Rangers (what a surprise) might end up gaining an unfair advantage due to the timing of such an important fixture. It stinks to high heaven (again).

Your far too polite. It is absolutely honking, yet another move to make sure that the establishment club get back into the SPL. Cheating bar stewards.

[portyhibernian]

We are absolutely correct to question this, sadly I fear we're pissing into the wind.

[Chuck Rhoades]

Budge has also released a statement.

[grunt]

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Budge has also released a statement.

"I was going to say what LD said but I didn't get round to it." "Oh, and it wisnae us".

[s.a.m]

http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/4295

Ann Budge also v cross.

Well played to both Leeann and her. (Grudging, in the case of the latter....)

[Billy Whizz]

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Budge has also released a statement.

Seemingly the police not happy at the change either

[Bishop Hibee]

The whole thing is an utter farce. No wonder the SPFL can't find a sponsor. Any new contract with broadcasters should put the fans first or they have a big fat hole in their viewing schedule.

[Hannah_hfc]

Good to see such strongly worded statements from both clubs. I hope other clubs (QOTS, Falkirk, Raith) all follow. I'm not expecting to hear a peep from Rangers about it.

Something needs to be done about these jokers at the SPFL, ruining the game in Scotland a day at a time.

[bingo70]

I've always been pretty cynical about the suggestion of corruption in Scottish football but this decision stinks to high heaven.

There's no way they never considered the implications and possible benefit to the rangers before agreeing to the move.

Be interested to hear the response from the spfl, also found it interesting budge and dempster using similar language regarding the sporting integrity, they've obviously been speaking to each other.

[Del Boy]

Hats off to Budge on this. Important that we all stand up against this clear Rangers bias.

[gorgie greens]

Nice of that Kieth Lemming bird to raise the question of integrity as well,was going to go on about her predecessor but won't bother,anyway hers hopeing that the other CEO running the other clubs make a stance on this ,if everyone gives them the 2 fingers who knows,

[pontius pilate]

And its two women who are leading the charge for sporting integrity

[BSEJVT]

Its good to see the two clubs acting together over this.

The rivalry between us has become far too bitter over the years and whilst the deterioration in relations at board level can be massively placed at Hearts door, its a sign for the better that at least at that level relationships are becoming more conciliatory and professional.

[Pretty Boy]

Fair play to Budge. That statement is strongly worded and absolutely spot on as well.

The whole situation absolutely stinks.

[SunshineOnLeith]

Glad that Hearts are angry about this, might fire them up a bit extra for the game!

For the duration of that game I'll unashamedly be cheering on the Jambos

[ronaldo7]

Well done to Budge, that is a statement. Hopefully both women can get change in the higher echelons on the SPFL.

[Mikey09]

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Fair play to Budge. That statement is strongly worded and absolutely spot on as well.

The whole situation absolutely stinks.

Totally!! But you wait and hear the media play it down like it doesn't matter. Every trick in the book will be used to help the rangers on there way. Completely unacceptable. They will pass the buck saying it's the tv companies dictating... If so then move ALL the games.

[Sergey]

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Hats off to Budge on this. Important that we all stand up against this clear Rangers bias.

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Fair play to Budge. That statement is strongly worded and absolutely spot on as well.

The whole situation absolutely stinks.

Absolutely.

I'm certainly no fan of our beloved neighbours, but this absolutely reeks of bias towards SEVCO. It simply isn't right and the SPFL should be brought to task.

It's the sort of thing you would expect to happen in Nigeria or Zimbabwe... or some other utterly corrupt nation. Not Scotland in 2015.

In all honesty, it's the sheer brazenness of unbridled bias that I look on with contempt.

[The Tubs]

Could someone post the hearts statement up here so we don't have to visit their page.

[s.a.m]

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Could someone post the hearts statement up here so we don't have to visit their page.

At 10.43am today, the club received notice from the SPFL that our last home game of the season v Rangers is to be moved to Sunday 3rd May at 12.30pm. This was the first notification of any change that we received.

This has been done following selection of the game for a live TV broadcast. While we all knew that this was likely to be a strong candidate for televising and that the time might well change, we did not for one minute think that at this late stage, it would be moved to the Sunday….especially given our belief that all Championship games would require to be played at the same time.

Previously in the season we delayed the sale of tickets for the first Rangers game as long as we could as we realised that this fixture was highly attractive to broadcasters and likely for selection. In relation to this game, we attempted to do the same but in this case, it would seem to no avail.

On learning of the change, I immediately attempted to contact the SPFL and objected in strong terms to the proposed late change to this fixture on the grounds of it having a total disregard for the interests of supporters of both clubs and an apparent disregard for sporting integrity. I also spoke directly to Police Scotland who share our frustration and informed me that they had written with some strong reasons for objecting to the changed fixture, including duplication of work for them, re-allocation of resources, etc. but once again, to no avail.

Being given 17 days’ notice of this change is extremely disruptive and potentially very expensive for the fans, the sponsors and indeed the club. Overseas supporters have been in touch to advise that they will lose substantial amounts on travel; others have advised of lost earnings, holiday problems, etc.

None of this is good for any of us and on behalf of the club, I can only apologise.

When it also became apparent to us that our fixture was the only game to be moved, we were equally alarmed as rightly or wrongly, this casts a shadow over the sporting integrity of the Championship. While it may not be enshrined in the newly merged rule book of the SPFL, it is protocol the football world over for fixtures such as the last day of the Championship to be played simultaneously. To move only one, (or even 2 or 4) out of 5 fixtures would seem to be leaving our game wide open to unsavoury accusations. I wrote, raising this point, to the SPFL, copying all clubs. Correspondence received from the SPFL asking Championship clubs to state their case for a move, does little to alleviate our concerns re the perception of this matter.

I will be sending in a formal complaint to the SPFL in relation to this appallingly late decision. It is no wonder that clubs are finding it harder and harder to gain support from their fans when their interests can be so blatantly disregarded, especially at such short notice.

I am advised that this complaint will likely have no impact on the original decision but nevertheless, I want our supporters to know that we have taken all and any action that we could have and I will further comment on the situation once we have been updated by the League.

Ann Budge

[Kojock]

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Could someone post the hearts statement up here so we don't have to visit their page.

And that is one of the reasons why Scottish football struggles to move on. Ann Budge has made an excellent statement but some people refuse to read it because its on a Hearts web site.

[hibbytam]

What a complete farce. It seems idiotic that the last games being played together isn't in the rules. It's something that seems so basic, so obvious and so necessary to ensure that the competition is fair. It also seems idiotic that there's apparently no time limit in the TV contract. I think a month before should be the very latest a game should be moved, and certainly not this close to the game.


I'm glad to see Hibs act on it though, and act publicly. But scottish football reeks of incompetence, on this and a number of other issues, which looks like corruption.

[Real Emerald]

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What a complete farce. It seems idiotic that the last games being played together isn't in the rules. It's something that seems so basic, so obvious and so necessary to ensure that the competition is fair. It also seems idiotic that there's apparently no time limit in the TV contract. I think a month before should be the very latest a game should be moved, and certainly not this close to the game.


I'm glad to see Hibs act on it though, and act publicly. But scottish football reeks of incompetence, on this and a number of other issues, which looks like corruption.

It's about time they moved the HQ as far away from Glasgow as possible.

[Jdawg]

They will do anything to ensure the Rangers go up.

If we finish 3rd or 4th and get past QotS, the referee will take over, soft penalties for them or red cards for us. Guaranteed!

[LaMotta]

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Totally!! But you wait and hear the media play it down like it doesn't matter. Every trick in the book will be used to help the rangers on there way. Completely unacceptable. They will pass the buck saying it's the tv companies dictating... If so then move ALL the games.

To be fair on Sportsound tonight the pundits didnt hold back at, as posted on the other thread by someone, Tom English in particular with strong words saying the only conclusion anyone can draw from this decision must be that the SPFL are trying their hardest to help Rangers get promoted.

[Jonnyboy]

And the official response to the complaints is ........... the other clubs can change their fixtures to the Sunday too, if they want. FFS what's the point of moving it for TV if the other clubs can move their date to the Sunday???

Top marks to both LD and AB. It's about time folk started taking the 'authorities' to task

[Sir David Gray]

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement but I can't see anything changing.

It's absolutely disgraceful that the SPFL has announced such a change. We are being taken for mugs here.