The generic Hearts thread

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

What leadership? The SPFL is the clubs.

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It’s not the clubs that negotiate TV deals, sponsorship and promotes the game.

I know what you are getting at and I don’t have an issue with their handling of this situation, I just don’t think our game is promoted and sold as well as it could be.

I also don’t think the league being run as a membership organisation with all clubs voting in their own interest is healthy. I think it should be an independent body.

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Originally Posted by Green Blood

https://www.gofundme.com/f/only-hearts

still there I think! See Dens Kidd has some sympathy for their cause!

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I saw that too. Was considering donating £1 with my new name of "You`re down, ya roasters" but you need to donate at least £5 - not stretching that far lol

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Inverness have just directly accused clubs of bullying and have stated they told Doncaster directly. This has got a bit more to run now.

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Just decided to mention this now?

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Originally Posted by Aldo

It’s now Sunday afternoon and they decide to produce a statement along the lines of Newco’s dossier full of speculation blah blah.

Why has he left it this late to come back to the table. Surely this information could have been produced before now.

Bear in mind this is the same ICT chairman who said all teams in the championship had a what’s app group only to be **** down. The same ICT chairman who has ties to both Newco and Hearts.

Pre-planned along with their buddies


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I agree, the one club, famous for statements, closely followed by it's wee cousins bereft of bus fares, has clearly "encouraged" the Tsunami of statements we are now seeing!! Sevco are obviously very sore taking all things into account (they won nowt and CFC are now on 9IAR) and are stirring things up in the background ably assisted by Chemical Annie (runner up in the statement league).

This latest one, written by a sevco fan and former director at the Pink Palace, reeks of pain at losing out on a play off (or automatic promotion if the "extend the SPL nuts got their way") for the SPL so NO AXE TO GRIND THERE THEN.

This all seems like a **** or bust action from at least two of the players (one in the west and one in the east), is this possibly because financially they are standing on the trap door? I certainly get the feeling that HMOFC, given the whole mess that was played out with their players and wage cuts, could be in a perilous state (with impending relegation added to this).

Can see more statements before Tuesdays meeting then after meeting.

Going to be some hilarious reading.

So what's the details of the alleged bullying?

Who bullied who, and how?

OK, so the tail is beginning to way the dog - if not already doing so? - therefore, the rest of the clubs must now act and act decisively! Challenge every statement from those clubs claiming to be hard done by and working for the best of Scottish Football but who are in effect, self serving, sycophantic liars.

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Originally Posted by hibeerealist

I agree, the one club, famous for statements, closely followed by it's wee cousins bereft of bus fares, has clearly "encouraged" the Tsunami of statements we are now seeing!! Sevco are obviously very sore taking all things into account (they won nowt and CFC are now on 9IAR) and are stirring things up in the background ably assisted by Chemical Annie (runner up in the statement league).

This latest one, written by a sevco fan and former director at the Pink Palace, reeks of pain at losing out on a play off (or automatic promotion if the "extend the SPL nuts got their way") for the SPL so NO AXE TO GRIND THERE THEN.

This all seems like a **** or bust action from at least two of the players (one in the west and one in the east), is this possibly because financially they are standing on the trap door? I certainly get the feeling that HMOFC, given the whole mess that was played out with their players and wage cuts, could be in a perilous state (with impending relegation added to this).

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Doncaster admits that there were robust discussions and words said between clubs however no formal complaints.

So Mr Gardiner I would suggest you are mischief making, stirring the **** for the sake of it. Why did the representatives of these clubs not come forward all those weeks ago and make a formal complaint??? I really do wonder why.

So when the dust is settle the SPFL should be taking action against ICT for bringing the game into disrepute.


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Originally Posted by bingo70

It’s not the clubs that negotiate TV deals, sponsorship and promotes the game.

I know what you are getting at and I don’t have an issue with their handling of this situation, I just don’t think our game is promoted and sold as well as it could be.

I also don’t think the league being run as a membership organisation with all clubs voting in their own interest is healthy. I think it should be an independent body.

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So who owns the independent body? Whose interests do they run the independent body for? Is there such a thing as an independent body?

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Originally Posted by Aldo

Doncaster admits that there were robust discussions and words said between clubs however no formal complaints.

So Mr Gardiner I would suggest you are mischief making, stirring the **** for the sake of it. Why did the representatives of these clubs not come forward all those weeks ago and make a formal complaint??? I really do wonder why.

So when the dust is settle the SPFL should be taking action against ICT for bringing the game into disrepute.


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Wonder if Gardiner put his complaint in writing to Neil Doncaster as any professional organisation would ?

Or did he just send emojis on WhatsApp :take that:boo hoo::violin::blah::rules::fuming:

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Originally Posted by Aldo

If the SPFL do not take action against the teams spouting off for bringing the game into disrepute then the games a bogey imho.

It’ll be a free for all with teams saying and going what they want knowing there will be no consequences.

Let’s hope once this all settles a bit that sanctions are brought against those teams responsible.


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I think your first paragraph is exactly what sevco is wanting to happen, blow the whole thing up so they can get into a position of power and get rid of a lot of teams and change the rules to give them sweet revenge on Scottish football. After all we are all to blame for their demotion to the bottom division.

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Originally Posted by truehibernian

Wonder if Gardiner put his complaint in writing to Neil Doncaster as any professional organisation would ?

Or did he just send emojis on WhatsApp :take that:boo hoo::violin::blah::rules::fuming:

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I think we know the answer to both those questions TH...... [emoji1314][emoji777]


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Originally Posted by plhibs

I think your first paragraph is exactly what sevco is wanting to happen, blow the whole thing up so they can get into a position of power and get rid of a lot of teams and change the rules to give them sweet revenge on Scottish football. After all we are all to blame for their demotion to the bottom division.

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Could well be the case however I think you’ll find that a lot of clubs are silently peed off with certain clubs in the league (s)


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Originally Posted by hibbyfraelibby

So who owns the independent body? Whose interests do they run the independent body for? Is there such a thing as an independent body?

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How do the other leagues work it?

Pretty sure the English Premiership isn’t a democracy across all member clubs in England?

Happy to be corrected on that front btw, I just think the system we have just now doesn’t really work and seems to throw up issues like this whenever there is a difficult decision to be made.

I appreciate the Premiership down south isn’t a great comparison, how to other countries comparable with us do it? The Scandinavian countries, Croatian, Belgian even? Are they all run as democracies across member clubs?

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Originally Posted by Waxy

ICT another of the only clubs who might gain something.
This now does stink of corruption and collusion but from Hearts and Rangers side.
To come out with it this late has to be a lie.
The season needs shut down tomorrow.

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One common denominator amongst the “Three Bandito’s”
Points deduction all-round, once fitba gets back to some normality, if ever.
:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:

Poor piggies

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

In France Amiens (relegated) and Lyon (miss out on champions league) are also threatening legal action. Unsurprising self interest from teams who if they wanted to avoid bad news should have won more games. I think the main difference between France and Scotland is the Scots have more shreiky infantile language and babyish punditry.

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With a lot less cash so cannot be compared to any other country so the game is a wee bit corrupt in Scotland, now that is a surprise, been going on as long as I have followed football in Scotland and thats for more years than I care to remember.
Relegate them now, move on and forget about them i say.

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Originally Posted by bingo70

How do the other leagues work it?

Pretty sure the English Premiership isn’t a democracy across all member clubs in England?

Happy to be corrected on that front btw, I just think the system we have just now doesn’t really work and seems to throw up issues like this whenever there is a difficult decision to be made.

I appreciate the Premiership down south isn’t a great comparison, how to other countries comparable with us do it? The Scandinavian countries, Croatian, Belgian even? Are they all run as democracies across member clubs?

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In most other countries, including in England, the FA run the top league.


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Originally Posted by Keith_M

So what's the details of the alleged bullying?

Who bullied who, and how?

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They don't have any details or evidence. Just like Rangers dossier it's just waffle written in a rage.

It's like when you're fuming at work and have an email all typed up, go and do something for 10 mins and come back and decide against it and delete it. ICT didn't delete it.

For me the problem isn't the set up.

The SPL was a breakaway private company.

It was problematic & cumbersome to have one set-up for the top league and another for the rest so the SPFL was formed as a members' organisation.

The current issues aren't down to the set-up. The issues are down to a very small minority of clubs who are damaging the image of the game in Scotland due to their self serving, infantile bleating.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

For me the problem isn't the set up.

The SPL was a breakaway private company.

It was problematic & cumbersome to have one set-up for the top league and another for the rest so the SPFL was formed as a members' organisation.

The current issues aren't down to the set-up. The issues are down to a very small minority of clubs who are damaging the image of the game in Scotland due to their self serving, infantile bleating.

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Correct. These daft clubs can ram it. Starting to really annoy me

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

For me the problem isn't the set up.

The SPL was a breakaway private company.

It was problematic & cumbersome to have one set-up for the top league and another for the rest so the SPFL was formed as a members' organisation.

The current issues aren't down to the set-up. The issues are down to a very small minority of clubs who are damaging the image of the game in Scotland due to their self serving, infantile bleating.

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Originally Posted by Since452

Correct. These daft clubs can ram it. Starting to really annoy me

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The problem is that the SPFL has no ability to enforce discipline among its members. That is down to the set up and the fact it has previously turned a blind eye to cheating. Everyone is compromised by that.


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Originally Posted by Irish_Steve

I saw that too. Was considering donating £1 with my new name of "You`re down, ya roasters" but you need to donate at least £5 - not stretching that far lol

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I will transfer a pound to you. Just need 3 others 😂

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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

The problem is that the SPFL has no ability to enforce discipline among its members. That is down to the set up and the fact it has previously turned a blind eye to cheating. Everyone is compromised by that.


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The SPFL was formed in 2013

What cheating are you on about and how is it relevant to the current situation.

Measures to discipline clubs for stepping out of line can and should be introduced.

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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

The problem is that the SPFL has no ability to enforce discipline among its members. That is down to the set up and the fact it has previously turned a blind eye to cheating. Everyone is compromised by that.


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They do though Ozy - any club who raises a dispute against the SPFL (Board) can have this heard by the full Board or a Commission appointed. So ICT and the other 'squealers' would know there is a process in place to resolve the matter and seek recompense, apology or remedy :aok: That's why I'm bemused ICT have not stated whether or not this has happened (and it should have been done in writing if they are professional) and they could clarify how indeed they made this bullying accusation known (email, phone call, conference call, in writing, etc.).

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Originally Posted by bingo70

How do the other leagues work it?

Pretty sure the English Premiership isn’t a democracy across all member clubs in England?

Happy to be corrected on that front btw, I just think the system we have just now doesn’t really work and seems to throw up issues like this whenever there is a difficult decision to be made.

I appreciate the Premiership down south isn’t a great comparison, how to other countries comparable with us do it? The Scandinavian countries, Croatian, Belgian even? Are they all run as democracies across member clubs?

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The Football Association Premier League Ltd (FAPL) is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 20 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts.

Just like here, as it is everywhere, there is ni such thing as an independent organisation.

I wonder if we will have seen the last of Stendal?

In amongst the bleating over relegation and reconstruction there has been little or no chat about the Future of their manager which has quite frankly been a disastrous appointment. Few managers survive a relegation - will Stendal be one who does?

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Originally Posted by Carheenlea

I wonder if we will have seen the last of Stendal?

In amongst the bleating over relegation and reconstruction there has been little or no chat about the Future of their manager which has quite frankly been a disastrous appointment. Few managers survive a relegation - will Stendal be one who does?

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Let’s not be hasty.

Remember they’re getting expelled, not relegated 😂

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

The SPFL was formed in 2013

What cheating are you on about and how is it relevant to the current situation.

Measures to discipline clubs for stepping out of line can and should be introduced.

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The spfl was formed out of the spl. It’s the same people and clubs who are compromised. The mysterious 5 way agreement and the decision to limit the LNS investigation and withhold evidence from it and the now frozen investigation into Rangers 2011 Euro application were all carried out by the people and clubs running the game now. A decision was made to give them a pass and they now feel they can do what they like. And because they do, so do all the other clubs.
A properly functioning governing body would have acted by now to stop the clubs constantly making claims that are not in the interests of the game and not backed up by any evidence.


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Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

The spfl was formed out of the spl. It’s the same people and clubs who are compromised. The mysterious 5 way agreement and the decision to limit the LNS investigation and withhold evidence from it and the now frozen investigation into Rangers 2011 Euro application were all carried out by the people and clubs running the game now. A decision was made to give them a pass and they now feel they can do what they like. And because they do, so do all the other clubs.
A properly functioning governing body would have acted by now to stop the clubs constantly making claims that are not in the interests of the game and not backed up by any evidence.


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It's not the same organisation. (full stop)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mSu0ID_l50M&noapp=1

Ah...karma repeats itself. Had a wee chuckle remembering this one😁

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Originally Posted by Since452

Inverness are probably the worst team to visit Easter Road this season. They weren't coming up anyway

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Probably one of the dirtiest too

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

It's not the same organisation. (full stop)

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The SPFL is the name that the Scottish Premier League Ltd adopted in 2013.

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Originally Posted by greenginger

The SPFL is the name that the Scottish Premier League Ltd adopted in 2013.

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With how many additional members?

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

It's not the same organisation. (full stop)

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It is the same people who ran both though. If Doncaster is compromised then it doesn’t matter what the logo says, it’s still him.


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Originally Posted by greenginger

The SPFL is the name that the Scottish Premier League Ltd adopted in 2013.

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It is but they removed the lower league federation because the president was not keen on the Rangers getting back in. Forgotten his name (Longmuir?) but the SPFL is a combination of the SPL and SFL to create one to rule all.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotti...ootball_League

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Originally Posted by greenginger

The SPFL is the name that the Scottish Premier League Ltd adopted in 2013.

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You forget the merger between the Scottish Football League and the Scottish Premier League was not a take over. The SPFL is a new body, all be it with some of the usual suspects, not a rebranded SPL.

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Originally Posted by hibbyfraelibby

You forget the merger between the Scottish Football League and the Scottish Premier League was not a take over. The SPFL is a new body, all be it with some of the usual suspects, not a rebranded SPL.

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My point exactly. It's not the same set-up.

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Originally Posted by bingo70

Let’s not be hasty.

Remember they’re getting expelled, not relegated 😂

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If they're being expelled then they won't be playing in any league organised by the SPFL next season and there is a vacancy for Brora and Kelty to argue over.

So.. if all the players have relegation clauses, but according to all connected with hearts, it’s anything but relegation, does that mean all the players get full pay??

Juts like rangers, bad news.... old club. Good news...we are the original rangers.

Hearts to players- we’ve been relegated. 50% reduction or you’re free to leave. To the rest of the world... we’ve not been relegated, it’s a disgrace, we’ve been ejected, expelled blah blah blah.

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Originally Posted by hibbyfraelibby

You forget the merger between the Scottish Football League and the Scottish Premier League was not a take over. The SPFL is a new body, all be it with some of the usual suspects, not a rebranded SPL.

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The company itself was formed in 1997. When the merger happened, it renamed itself.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC175364

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

The company itself was formed in 1997. When the merger happened, it renamed itself.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC175364

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And instead of being a breakaway league specifically for the elite, it became the vehicle for the top 4 leagues.

It's fundamentally different from the original company.

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

And instead of being a breakaway league specifically for the elite, it became the vehicle for the top 4 leagues.

It's fundamentally different from the original company.

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...but it is the same company, which some are saying it isn't.

Fwiw, I agree that it trades in a different way now.

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

...but it is the same company, which some are saying it isn't.

Fwiw, I agree that it trades in a different way now.

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The point of the original SPL was the top league breaking away, taking power and money with them.

It's now a totally different model.

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Originally Posted by Billy Whizz

Probably one of the dirtiest too

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Mair than Hertz or Aberdeen? :shocked:

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Originally Posted by Peevemor

And instead of being a breakaway league specifically for the elite, it became the vehicle for the top 4 leagues.

It's fundamentally different from the original company.

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And Hearts aren’t being demoted from the SPFL at all, so I don’t know what they are complaining about.

They are just being placed in a more appropriate division.

Interesting wee read over on JKB on ‘why everyone hates Hearts’.

Seems they have resorted ‘en mass’ to a siege mentality with all that is happening to them and their impending relegation.

My feelings are that all fans generally have no ‘hate teams’ other than city rivals or clubs which has a murky history seeped in bigotry and is then adopted by their supporters, for example Rangers.

Which brings me to why they feel everyone hates Hearts. There seems to be little acknowledgement on JKB that they have a fairly large section of support who embrace sectarianism. One of the few successes of the Budge era was to weed out and expel supporters who sang the ‘Billy boy’ song and used sectarianism to abuse opposition players and supporters at matches.

Also, no acknowledgement whatsoever that opposition supporters resent Hearts strategy to launder money and overspend which led the their last 3 Scottish Cup wins. There is nothing on JKB stating that they won nothing for around 40 years until they garnered a massive debt before 1998 and a debt which increased hugely afterwards, up until their subsequent administration in 2014. Over on JKB some posters still regard Romanov as some kind of hero. Jesus, he alone almost destroyed them.

Maybe, I would hate Hearts a little less if they acknowledged these facts. I have a few good mates who are Hearts fans and a workmate Jambo who I get on really well with.

However, if football in Edinburgh becomes a topic of conversation these Jambos try to wind me up about our rivalry, especially our head to head record in the last 30 years. I reply back that that this was mainly due to an imbalance of playing squads for both clubs which was due to Hearts spending more money on players, then getting over £30m (probably a lot more than this) written off.

Sadly, when this is put to a Jambo, the most I get out of them is a raised eyebrow, shake of the head and most of the time no answer all.

My dad is Jambo and wiling to call Hearts out for what they are. Maybe he is being honest with me just because I am his son.

Sadly, no other Jambo I have talked to has been as honest as my dad.

I do have some sympathy for the predicament Hearts are in as it is unfair. I would have even more sympathy and respect for Hearts if the Jambos I know were more honest about what they have got away with for the last 30 years.

OMG, we're back to the same club/entity or new club/entity argument.

Please just..... don't.

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Originally Posted by Hibees1973

Interesting wee read over on JKB on ‘why everyone hates Hearts’.

Seems they have resorted ‘en mass’ to a siege mentality with all that is happening to them and their impending relegation.

My feelings are that all fans generally have no ‘hate teams’ other than city rivals or clubs which has a murky history seeped in bigotry and is then adopted by their supporters, for example Rangers.

Which brings me to why they feel everyone hates Hearts. There seems to be little acknowledgement on JKB that they have a fairly large section of support who embrace sectarianism. One of the few successes of the Budge era was to weed out and expel supporters who sang the ‘Billy boy’ song and used sectarianism to abuse opposition players and supporters at matches.

Also, no acknowledgement whatsoever that opposition supporters resent Hearts strategy to launder money and overspend which led the their last 3 Scottish Cup wins. There is nothing on JKB stating that they won nothing for around 40 years until they garnered a massive debt before 1998 and a debt which increased hugely afterwards, up until their subsequent administration in 2014. Over on JKB some posters still regard Romanov as some kind of hero. Jesus, he alone almost destroyed them.

Maybe, I would hate Hearts a little less if they acknowledged these facts. I have a few good mates who are Hearts fans and a workmate Jambo who I get on really well with.

However, if football in Edinburgh becomes a topic of conversation these Jambos try to wind me up about our rivalry, especially our head to head record in the last 30 years. I reply back that that this was mainly due to an imbalance of playing squads for both clubs which was due to Hearts spending more money on players, then getting over £30m (probably a lot more than this) written off.

Sadly, when this is put to a Jambo, the most I get out of them is a raised eyebrow, shake of the head and most of the time no answer all.

My dad is Jambo and wiling to call Hearts out for what they are. Maybe he is being honest with me just because I am his son.

Sadly, no other Jambo I have talked to has been as honest as my dad.

I do have some sympathy for the predicament Hearts are in as it is unfair. I would have even more sympathy and respect for Hearts if the Jambos I know were more honest about what they have got away with for the last 30 years.

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Totally my thoughts too. Will go on about the cup wins but silent when you mention the millions they spent they never had. It is indeed karma this is happening as they are going down while having spent £9m extra from foh, £10m overspent on an unfinished stand and millions pumped in by mr benny factor. How the **** do you get relegated with all those advantages. Only our hugely famous neighbours.

Did anyone from the current hearts set up ever apologise for past mistakes of robbing companies and charities of products and services they never intended to pay back then bumped through administration?

Surely they did as they often go on about this proud and glorious club.

If Budge did take over and humbly offered her apologies on behalf of past incumbents then I might for one second believe her when she says if it wasn’t hearts in this position she has integrity and be working hard for any club in their position.

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Originally Posted by 90+2

Did anyone from the current hearts set up ever apologise for past mistakes of robbing companies and charities of products and services they never intended to pay back then bumped through administration?

Surely they did as they often go on about this proud and glorious club.

If Budge did take over and humbling offer apologies in behalf of past incumbents then I might for one second believe her when she says if it wasn’t hearts in this position she has integrity and be working hard for any club in their position.

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When you read Budge's rant you must wonder what their fans REALLY make of it. Even the shortest of memories can't forget THAT list of creditors!

She really is a hypocrite.

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Originally Posted by EI255

When you read Budge's rant you must wonder what their fans REALLY make of it. Even the shortest of memories can't forget THAT list of creditors!

She really is a hypocrite.

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I don’t think they care - “blame Romanov, we saved our club”. The rest removed from memory and their “proud history” . it’s certainly not why they call themselves the famous.

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Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod

The company itself was formed in 1997. When the merger happened, it renamed itself.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC175364

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As happens in many mergers...you do not always start with a brand spanking new shelf company you use an existing vehicle.

In terms of a solidarity payment when don’t we take Hickey off their hands for 50k?

The S*n are this morning running a story where Ian Murray is having a pop at Dr Mrs Budge over the amount of money they’ve “wasted on reshaping the club time after time”

The infighting has startedi :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

The S*n are this morning running a story where Ian Murray is having a pop at Dr Mrs Budge over the amount of money they’ve “wasted on reshaping the club time after time”

The infighting has startedi :greengrin

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He seems to be the one Jambo that's prepared to stand up and say it's all been a disaster. Not sure anyone will listen to him though, or even try to quantify how much has been spent. Ian, if you are reading this, it's around £28m that's been spent mate. Yes, you read that correctly, £28m. Of additional cash. Over and above the normal club takings of HMFC. It's a total shambles Ian. Have fun in the Tunnocks mate.

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Originally Posted by cocteautwin

He seems to be the one Jambo that's prepared to stand up and say it's all been a disaster. Not sure anyone will listen to him though, or even try to quantify how much has been spent. Ian, if you are reading this, it's around £28m that's been spent mate. Yes, you read that correctly, £28m. Of additional cash. Over and above the normal club takings of HMFC. It's a total shambles Ian. Have fun in the Tunnocks mate.

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The funny thing is that's it's usually way more than it the reported figure

Michael Stewart in The Sun:

Hearts chief Ann Budge has been stitched up.. but she didn’t do herself any favours, says Michael Stewart

ANN BUDGE will spend much of the next few months thinking over what went wrong during this car crash of a season for Hearts.

And the wisdom of accepting a role heading the SPFL taskforce looking at reconstruction is surely something she will consider.

I can understand why Budge did it, with your fate sitting in so many other people’s hands it would have made sense to her to be inside the process rather than looking on and hoping.

And I’m sure she felt, deep down, that she could persuade people to see things her way.

After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her.

But, as the wreckage of reconstruction plans lie scattered across the floor, it’s hard not to feel she was stitched up.

It was far too easy for her to be painted as acting purely in self-interest, with comments about changing the structure in the past thrown back in her face.

Strategic errors, from making a 12-month reconstruction her aim at the outset to joining in on the battle against the SPFL, dogged her throughout.

And, with Scottish football facing financial ruin as well as being at war with itself over the botched vote and Rangers’ dossier, you always got the impression clubs would be more interested in other things right now.

That’s how it has panned out. But while everyone recognises the peril Scottish football is in, it is a shame our clubs couldn’t reach a consensus to help everyone. It’s not just Hearts, of course — Partick Thistle and Stranraer will be relegated without seeing out the season too, while the pyramid system has been abandoned for the year, leaving Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers stranded.

Self-interest and in- fighting have come to the fore again, as they always do in Scottish football, sadly.

I don’t see why we couldn’t have made a change to last two or three years, rather than insist on 12 months or it being locked in for the long term.

We could have tried it on a trial basis then let the clubs decide whether they thought it was working.

All it would have taken is a bit of forward thinking, but you get the impression that people came at it from already entrenched positions.So the vast majority of the pain from Covid-19’s fallout is being lumped on to three clubs.

Despite the sympathy I have for Hearts because of the brutal nature of the season ending early, it’s wrong to think the club are blameless in this mess.

The season has been a disaster and for a club of Hearts’ size, with that level of budget, to be sitting bottom even after 30 games is shocking.

Mismanagement happened at all levels, from Budge in the boardroom to the shambolic tenure of Craig Levein right through to current, and probably soon to be former, boss Daniel Stendel.

So many people have to share the blame. The Hearts fans will focus on the SPFL right now and the unfairness of the process.

But while they have a point, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Levein had a horror show as director of football and was even worse as manager, signing a ridiculous amount of players who were nowhere near good enough.

The revolving door of new signings, many way short of the standard needed at Hearts, sums up how the football side of the club was allowed to get out of control. Was there anyone in the boardroom overseeing and ever saying no? It never looked like it as Levein got free rein.

And, even when they finally sacked him, they walked into another mess of their own making.

The appointment of Stendel kidded some people on — and there are still fans who reckon he’d have turned it around.

But let’s be honest, he’s been a disaster too.

The German admitted he didn’t know anything about Scottish football and did little to convince he wanted the job in the first place.

It’s amazing to think anyone was convinced he was the right man at the right time. Hearts were third bottom, level on points with St Johnstone, when he came in.

Fast forward a few months and, when the league’s called, Saints will move into the top six — while Hearts are heading to the Championship.

So it’s not as though he inherited a lost cause, he had the time and backing to get it right and couldn’t.

Ultimately, Budge is the person who has presided over the whole thing.

She’s got plenty to reflect on — and it’s not just how they’ve been let down by the SPFL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cocteautwin

He seems to be the one Jambo that's prepared to stand up and say it's all been a disaster. Not sure anyone will listen to him though, or even try to quantify how much has been spent. Ian, if you are reading this, it's around £28m that's been spent mate. Yes, you read that correctly, £28m. Of additional cash. Over and above the normal club takings of HMFC. It's a total shambles Ian. Have fun in the Tunnocks mate.

---

I’m no fan of Ian Murray, but at least he’s asking questions of Budge.

They have been an absolute shambles on and off the pitch since Robbie Neilson was sacked. Something for Jambos to reflect on.

I'm getting sick of this "self interest" thing being chucked in our (and other clubs') faces.

If expanding the premiership to 14 teams or whatever doesn't suit us, for whatever reasons, we are right to vote against it.

Hearts merit relegation and can go an f*** themselves.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peevemor

I'm getting sick of this "self interest" thing being chucked in our (and other clubs') faces.

If expanding the premiership to 14 teams or whatever doesn't suit us, for whatever reasons, we are right to vote against it.

Hearts merit relagation and can go an f*** themselves.

---

The only teams making noise are the ones who’re either getting relegated or have missed the chance to get promoted through the playoffs - yet they accuse everyone else of self interest.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peevemor

I'm getting sick of this "self interest" thing being chucked in our (and other clubs') faces.

If expanding the premiership to 14 teams or whatever doesn't suit us, for whatever reasons, we are right to vote against it.

Hearts merit relagation and can go an f*** themselves.

---

The task force didn’t even present a clear proposal to be voted on!

What other outcome were they expecting?

“Hi guys, after three weeks we’ve failed to agree on a reconstruction proposal, but please vote in favour of reconstruction anyhow and we will email you the reasons why it’s a good idea after the meeting.”

Total amateur hour from Budge and co.

"After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her."

Didn't she release a statement calling them "sanctimoneous", "disrespectful", "outrageous", "shameful" etc?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Estupendo

"After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her."

Didn't she release a statement calling them "sanctimoneous", "disrespectful", "outrageous", "shameful" etc?

---

She’s got more faces than a Las Vegas poker table

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peevemor

The point of the original SPL was the top league breaking away, taking power and money with them.

It's now a totally different model.

---

Well P it’s clearly the same company and has a continuous history of operating since 1997. But I’m not sure why you are focusing on this. The key point is that Sevco suffered no punishment for their cheating. They should have been at a minimum stripped of all trophies won as a result of their illegal financial doping (my view is the all titles were won by a different now dead club) but I would have accepted that. The result of pretending they didn’t cheat is that it emboldened what was already a hate filled, arrogant and entitled monster. This weakness of will has and will continue to poison football in Scotland.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacomo

The task force didn’t even present a clear proposal to be voted on!

What other outcome were they expecting?

“Hi guys, after three weeks we’ve failed to agree on a reconstruction proposal, but please vote in favour of reconstruction anyhow and we will email you the reasons why it’s a good idea after the meeting.”

Total amateur hour from Budge and co.

---

This. The fact that a large chunk of the hearts support still back budge after her disastrous decision making this season is actually terrifying

Michael Stewart reckons it would have been better to increase the top league for 2 or 3 seasons and then decide if it works.

Fails to mention, consider, or even care about the Sky TV contract or does he reckon Budge will sweet talk them into paying the same for any botched league set-up dreamt up at the last minute.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greenginger

Michael Stewart reckons it would have been better to increase the top league for 2 or 3 seasons and then decide if it works.

Fails to mention, consider, or even care about the Sky TV contract or does he reckon Budge will sweet talk them into paying the same for any botched league set-up dreamt up at the last minute.

---

Why on earth would Hibs, Aberdeen, Motherwell or Killie vote to reduce our income for 3 years? Stewart never even acknowledges that it would cost clubs money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crazyhorse

Well P it’s clearly the same company and has a continuous history of operating since 1997. But I’m not sure why you are focusing on this. The key point is that Sevco suffered no punishment for their cheating. They should have been at a minimum stripped of all trophies won as a result of their illegal financial doping (my view is the all titles were won by a different now dead club) but I would have accepted that. The result of pretending they didn’t cheat is that it emboldened what was already a hate filled, arrogant and entitled monster. This weakness of will has and will continue to poison football in Scotland.

---

I think the lesson from the Sevco debacle is that allowing them a fast track straight back into the League set up was a mistake.

The application from the newco should have been treated the same as any other brand new football club. It might have stopped their endless and erroneous bleating about being ‘punished’.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greenginger

Michael Stewart reckons it would have been better to increase the top league for 2 or 3 seasons and then decide if it works.

Fails to mention, consider, or even care about the Sky TV contract or does he reckon Budge will sweet talk them into paying the same for any botched league set-up dreamt up at the last minute.

---

Then hearts would have been the first to decide it doesn’t work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by greenginger

Michael Stewart reckons it would have been better to increase the top league for 2 or 3 seasons and then decide if it works.

Fails to mention, consider, or even care about the Sky TV contract or does he reckon Budge will sweet talk them into paying the same for any botched league set-up dreamt up at the last minute.

---

Michael Stewart glosses over this, really - he wanted to get to his main point, which is having a pop at Levein.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcohibs

This. The fact that a large chunk of the hearts support still back budge after her disastrous decision making this season is actually terrifying

---

They have no alternative. At this stage they need her money to keep them going and still hide behind this amazing business woman jacket who has seemingly done such a wonderful job off the pitch (losing money each year if not topped up by Benny).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Why on earth would Hibs, Aberdeen, Motherwell or Killie vote to reduce our income for 3 years? Stewart never even acknowledges that it would cost clubs money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

:agree: Yeah, lets all loose money to bail out Hearts who've p!ssed theirs against a *****ty new stand whilst taken snide digs at their rivals. Where do we sign?

As others have posted after a few weeks the working party still hadn’t come up with any proposals for league reconstruction but the clubs were supposed to vote on it anyway. WTF have they been doing, I would have thought they would at least have contacted Sky to gauge their thoughts on any reconstruction given the clubs will be even more reliant than ever on the money for the tv deal. I appreciate times are unusual and it’s not all down to Budge, but it’s typical of the (mis)management we’ve seen in her time at Hearts.

Let us not kid anyone regarding this, if they had been 2nd bottom we wouldn’t have heard a peep about reconstruction from them, apart from Michael Stewart on Saturday the rest of the Sportsound team acknowledged it.

Is it unfair, aye maybe a bit, but they’ve been the worst team in the league for arguably over a year so suck it up Jambos.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ozyhibby

Why on earth would Hibs, Aberdeen, Motherwell or Killie vote to reduce our income for 3 years? Stewart never even acknowledges that it would cost clubs money.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

This is the part I don't understand. The relegated clubs are essentially saying all the other clubs should have taken an unquantified financial hit, over an unknown period, to help them out.

I do think it's unfair they were relegated in the manner they were, but there was never a realistic alternative.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peevemor

I'm getting sick of this "self interest" thing being chucked in our (and other clubs') faces.

If expanding the premiership to 14 teams or whatever doesn't suit us, for whatever reasons, we are right to vote against it.

Hearts merit relegation and can go an f*** themselves.

---

Ann Budge says she wasn’t driven purely by self-interest. If that was the case, why did she not continue pursuing reconstruction for the lower leagues after it was made clear there would be no changes to the Premiership? That she was no more longer bothered about helping the smaller clubs reeks of self-interest. Once there was nothing in it for her she left them high and dry.

As has been mentioned, she could have pushed for a 12-12-10-10 system which would have had no financial impact on the Premiership and would have satisfied all other aggrieved teams with the exception of ICT.

Ann Budge " we werent driven by self interest but others were"



Also Ann Budge "lets change the leagues for a year to save Hearts!!!"



Silly old boot.

On the hearts subject, has anyone heard the bye bye jam tarts song floating around social media? It's superb.
ohh ho ho, cheerio, championship here we go, bye bye jam tarts:not worth:flag:!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Booked4Being-Ugly

:agree: Yeah, lets all loose money to bail out Hearts who've p!ssed theirs against a *****ty new stand whilst taken snide digs at their rivals. Where do we sign?

---

Exactly. Appoint a new manager and have a bizarre and unnecessary dig at Hibs in your welcoming statement then expect clubs such as Hibs to bend over and lose money to dig you out a hole? **** off

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Future17

This is the part I don't understand. The relegated clubs are essentially saying all the other clubs should have taken an unquantified financial hit, over an unknown period, to help them out.

I do think it's unfair they were relegated in the manner they were, but there was never a realistic alternative.

---

It can't be that unfair when they've been the worst side and collected the least amount of points over a sustained period of well over a year.

Yes a few games have been missed, but they've been dreadful for a long long time now (except when playing against us....)

We really did do our best to help them but to no avail.
Shame ...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kavinho

It can't be that unfair when they've been the worst side and collected the least amount of points over a sustained period of well over a year.

Yes a few games have been missed, but they've been dreadful for a long long time now (except when playing against us....)

We really did do our best to help them but to no avail.
Shame ...

---

The team that is relegated should be the team which has the least points over the course of a full season. That hasn't happened and I think that's unfair to the relegated teams. However, as I said above, I don't think there was a realistic alternative.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

The S*n are this morning running a story where Ian Murray is having a pop at Dr Mrs Budge over the amount of money they’ve “wasted on reshaping the club time after time”

The infighting has started :greengrin

---

For once I agree with him. Only bit I didn't agree with was -
“We’re back, potentially, in the Championship"
Change potentially to almost definitely and then I'd completely agree.

Noticed Michael Stewart said on Saturday's Sportsound that he thought Stendel was a terrible appointment. He didn't expand on it and it was said in amongst a lot of other stuff.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Future17

The team that is relegated should be the team which has the least points over the course of a full season. That hasn't happened and I think that's unfair to the relegated teams. However, as I said above, I don't think there was a realistic alternative.

---

They've amassed the lowest number of points over the last season and a half


Clearly the worst side in the league and undoubtedly deserve to go down.

Rules are rules. The season's over and they're comfortably bottom of league. The rules state they get relegated. Cheerio.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcohibs

This. The fact that a large chunk of the hearts support still back budge after her disastrous decision making this season is actually terrifying

---

Not terrifying. It's pleasing (as they would say). The longer they can't see what everyone else can the better. If there's a way of fekking up on getting promoted back up quickly then Budge is just the woman to find it, and in style 😂

The moral of the COVID story is the league has a rule that says the season is finished when the Board decide, not when all the games are played, so never ever find yourself in bottom spot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Future17

The team that is relegated should be the team which has the least points over the course of a full season. That hasn't happened and I think that's unfair to the relegated teams. However, as I said above, I don't think there was a realistic alternative.

---

I know what you mean but the SPFL has the authority to determine when the season is 'complete' - and as it's extremely unlikely that the normal full season will now complete it'll be closed as complete. all written up front and perfectly logical and explainable in lieu of the current circumstances.

tough on Hearts but rules are rules and they can't not be applied just because it's Hearts that are in the crapper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bringbackbenny

I know what you mean but the SPFL has the authority to determine when the season is 'complete' - and as it's extremely unlikely that the normal full season will now complete it'll be closed as complete. all written up front and perfectly logical and explainable in lieu of the current circumstances.

tough on Hearts but rules are rules and they can't not be applied just because it's Hearts that are in the crapper.

---

Especially when it's the clubs themselves that set the rules.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JammyDoidger

On the hearts subject, has anyone heard the bye bye jam tarts song floating around social media? It's superb.
ohh ho ho, cheerio, championship here we go, bye bye jam tarts:not worth:flag:!

---

This yin?

https://mobile.twitter.com/hibbysmurf/status/1258874015298531329?s=21

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Future17

The team that is relegated should be the team which has the least points over the course of a full season. That hasn't happened and I think that's unfair to the relegated teams. However, as I said above, I don't think there was a realistic alternative.

---

Budge was given her week task force and the opportunity to come up with a new proposal.

She failed to do so. By her own admission, they didn’t have a plan to present to their fellow clubs.

So who’s fault is that?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Estupendo

"After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her."

Didn't she release a statement calling them "sanctimoneous", "disrespectful", "outrageous", "shameful" etc?

---

Yup. Seems a bit two-faced. Still any clubs feeling a bit guilty and sorry for Hearts probably got over it quickly once they read the Hearts statement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CapitalGreen

Ann Budge says she wasn’t driven purely by self-interest. If that was the case, why did she not continue pursuing reconstruction for the lower leagues after it was made clear there would be no changes to the Premiership? That she was no more longer bothered about helping the smaller clubs reeks of self-interest. Once there was nothing in it for her she left them high and dry.

As has been mentioned, she could have pushed for a 12-12-10-10 system which would have had no financial impact on the Premiership and would have satisfied all other aggrieved teams with the exception of ICT.

---

That’s hit the nail on the head right there :aok:

Obviously if we had any decent journalists left in Scotland they’d ask her that exact question, particularly given her last statement accuses other clubs of acting in their own self interests. But I think we all know that won’t happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kavinho

....

Yes a few games have been missed, but they've been dreadful for a long long time now (except when playing against us....)

We really did do our best to help them but to no avail.
Shame ...

---

That's the bit that gets me.

Hibs did their utmost to help Hearts avoid relegation by gifting them six points and they STILL mucked it up.

Not even one word of thanks for our generosity, either.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Barney McGrew

The S*n are this morning running a story where Ian Murray is having a pop at Dr Mrs Budge over the amount of money they’ve “wasted on reshaping the club time after time”

The infighting has startedi :greengrin

---

He's had one or two pops at them recently but this is definitely his hardest-hitting. I guess he's entitled to be raging after seeing the amount of work he put into helping the club back during the admin days go to waste. I recall he took plenty of flak for it, especially as Tynecastle's not even in his constituency.

The Sun and the Scotsman though present the same story very differently. The Sun (correctly) goes in hard on the way Budge has run the club into the ground by squandering millions, whereas Allisbarry buries the criticism of Budge at the bottom of his story and instead leads with how awful it is for the fans who ploughed so much cash into the club only to see them relegated again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52594690

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacomo

Michael Stewart in The Sun:

Hearts chief Ann Budge has been stitched up.. but she didn’t do herself any favours, says Michael Stewart

ANN BUDGE will spend much of the next few months thinking over what went wrong during this car crash of a season for Hearts.

And the wisdom of accepting a role heading the SPFL taskforce looking at reconstruction is surely something she will consider.

I can understand why Budge did it, with your fate sitting in so many other people’s hands it would have made sense to her to be inside the process rather than looking on and hoping.

And I’m sure she felt, deep down, that she could persuade people to see things her way.

After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her.

But, as the wreckage of reconstruction plans lie scattered across the floor, it’s hard not to feel she was stitched up.

It was far too easy for her to be painted as acting purely in self-interest, with comments about changing the structure in the past thrown back in her face.

Strategic errors, from making a 12-month reconstruction her aim at the outset to joining in on the battle against the SPFL, dogged her throughout.

And, with Scottish football facing financial ruin as well as being at war with itself over the botched vote and Rangers’ dossier, you always got the impression clubs would be more interested in other things right now.

That’s how it has panned out. But while everyone recognises the peril Scottish football is in, it is a shame our clubs couldn’t reach a consensus to help everyone. It’s not just Hearts, of course — Partick Thistle and Stranraer will be relegated without seeing out the season too, while the pyramid system has been abandoned for the year, leaving Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers stranded.

Self-interest and in- fighting have come to the fore again, as they always do in Scottish football, sadly.

I don’t see why we couldn’t have made a change to last two or three years, rather than insist on 12 months or it being locked in for the long term.

We could have tried it on a trial basis then let the clubs decide whether they thought it was working.

All it would have taken is a bit of forward thinking, but you get the impression that people came at it from already entrenched positions.So the vast majority of the pain from Covid-19’s fallout is being lumped on to three clubs.

Despite the sympathy I have for Hearts because of the brutal nature of the season ending early, it’s wrong to think the club are blameless in this mess.

The season has been a disaster and for a club of Hearts’ size, with that level of budget, to be sitting bottom even after 30 games is shocking.

Mismanagement happened at all levels, from Budge in the boardroom to the shambolic tenure of Craig Levein right through to current, and probably soon to be former, boss Daniel Stendel.

So many people have to share the blame. The Hearts fans will focus on the SPFL right now and the unfairness of the process.

But while they have a point, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Levein had a horror show as director of football and was even worse as manager, signing a ridiculous amount of players who were nowhere near good enough.

The revolving door of new signings, many way short of the standard needed at Hearts, sums up how the football side of the club was allowed to get out of control. Was there anyone in the boardroom overseeing and ever saying no? It never looked like it as Levein got free rein.

And, even when they finally sacked him, they walked into another mess of their own making.

The appointment of Stendel kidded some people on — and there are still fans who reckon he’d have turned it around.

But let’s be honest, he’s been a disaster too.

The German admitted he didn’t know anything about Scottish football and did little to convince he wanted the job in the first place.

It’s amazing to think anyone was convinced he was the right man at the right time. Hearts were third bottom, level on points with St Johnstone, when he came in.

Fast forward a few months and, when the league’s called, Saints will move into the top six — while Hearts are heading to the Championship.

So it’s not as though he inherited a lost cause, he had the time and backing to get it right and couldn’t.

Ultimately, Budge is the person who has presided over the whole thing.

She’s got plenty to reflect on — and it’s not just how they’ve been let down by the SPFL.

---

If only she didn’t listen to the hearts fans and kept Craig Levein, she would have been heading the reconstruction group trying to save St Mirren these last three weeks?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacomo

Michael Stewart in The Sun:

Hearts chief Ann Budge has been stitched up.. but she didn’t do herself any favours, says Michael Stewart

ANN BUDGE will spend much of the next few months thinking over what went wrong during this car crash of a season for Hearts.

And the wisdom of accepting a role heading the SPFL taskforce looking at reconstruction is surely something she will consider.

I can understand why Budge did it, with your fate sitting in so many other people’s hands it would have made sense to her to be inside the process rather than looking on and hoping.

And I’m sure she felt, deep down, that she could persuade people to see things her way.

After the talks collapsed, Budge emailed the 42 clubs saying she had no hard feelings. And that was very magnanimous of her.

But, as the wreckage of reconstruction plans lie scattered across the floor, it’s hard not to feel she was stitched up.

It was far too easy for her to be painted as acting purely in self-interest, with comments about changing the structure in the past thrown back in her face.

Strategic errors, from making a 12-month reconstruction her aim at the outset to joining in on the battle against the SPFL, dogged her throughout.

And, with Scottish football facing financial ruin as well as being at war with itself over the botched vote and Rangers’ dossier, you always got the impression clubs would be more interested in other things right now.

That’s how it has panned out. But while everyone recognises the peril Scottish football is in, it is a shame our clubs couldn’t reach a consensus to help everyone. It’s not just Hearts, of course — Partick Thistle and Stranraer will be relegated without seeing out the season too, while the pyramid system has been abandoned for the year, leaving Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers stranded.

Self-interest and in- fighting have come to the fore again, as they always do in Scottish football, sadly.

I don’t see why we couldn’t have made a change to last two or three years, rather than insist on 12 months or it being locked in for the long term.

We could have tried it on a trial basis then let the clubs decide whether they thought it was working.

All it would have taken is a bit of forward thinking, but you get the impression that people came at it from already entrenched positions.So the vast majority of the pain from Covid-19’s fallout is being lumped on to three clubs.

Despite the sympathy I have for Hearts because of the brutal nature of the season ending early, it’s wrong to think the club are blameless in this mess.

The season has been a disaster and for a club of Hearts’ size, with that level of budget, to be sitting bottom even after 30 games is shocking.

Mismanagement happened at all levels, from Budge in the boardroom to the shambolic tenure of Craig Levein right through to current, and probably soon to be former, boss Daniel Stendel.

So many people have to share the blame. The Hearts fans will focus on the SPFL right now and the unfairness of the process.

But while they have a point, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Levein had a horror show as director of football and was even worse as manager, signing a ridiculous amount of players who were nowhere near good enough.

The revolving door of new signings, many way short of the standard needed at Hearts, sums up how the football side of the club was allowed to get out of control. Was there anyone in the boardroom overseeing and ever saying no? It never looked like it as Levein got free rein.

And, even when they finally sacked him, they walked into another mess of their own making.

The appointment of Stendel kidded some people on — and there are still fans who reckon he’d have turned it around.

But let’s be honest, he’s been a disaster too.

The German admitted he didn’t know anything about Scottish football and did little to convince he wanted the job in the first place.

It’s amazing to think anyone was convinced he was the right man at the right time. Hearts were third bottom, level on points with St Johnstone, when he came in.

Fast forward a few months and, when the league’s called, Saints will move into the top six — while Hearts are heading to the Championship.

So it’s not as though he inherited a lost cause, he had the time and backing to get it right and couldn’t.

Ultimately, Budge is the person who has presided over the whole thing.

She’s got plenty to reflect on — and it’s not just how they’ve been let down by the SPFL.

---

The beginnings of common sense is starting to return to Michael Stewart.

Budge stating temporary reconstruction before discussions kicked off - huge mistake.

Being joint leader or the working party- big mistake. Be one of the group yes but not the joint leader. I can just imagine the patronising tone on the Zoom calls.

Backing Rangers in their crusade against the SPFL was a big mistake and probably helped reinforce the reason given by Dave Cormack as to why reconstruction talks were shelved i.e. to focus on getting football back up and running. Budge being joint leader strengthened this reasoning.

Not mentioned by MS but saying you shouldn't get the title if you haven't played all the games was also a big mistake and probably lost her the chance of support from Celtic, Dundee United, Raith and Cove.

The one bit I agree with Ann Budge on is the prime reason is probably the Sky deal and rightly so but I don't know why Dave Cormack didn't refer to that too. The Sky deal is crucial and in these uncertain times it is even more vital and must be protected, particularly if up to £10m will have to be paid back for the incomplete season (thanks Rangers for making it more likely to be closer to £10m than it would have been). All SPFL clubs will need as much money as possible so to jeopardise such a big amount of income to rescue the worst clubs in the leagues from relegation would be madness.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Paisley Hibby

Not terrifying. It's pleasing (as they would say). The longer they can't see what everyone else can the better. If there's a way of fekking up on getting promoted back up quickly then Budge is just the woman to find it, and in style 😂

---

Budge is a gift that will keep on giving to us. When the Hearts supporters finally realise that, we can then look forward to an ugly transfer of power. They will then mess it up themselves for a period. Gonna be a fun ride.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peevemor

I'm getting sick of this "self interest" thing being chucked in our (and other clubs') faces.

If expanding the premiership to 14 teams or whatever doesn't suit us, for whatever reasons, we are right to vote against it.

Hearts merit relegation and can go an f*** themselves.

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The fact that the proposal (or lack thereof) was a temporary restructure tells us that even she didn't believe it was the best possible set-up. The only conclusion to be drawn from that is that it was purely a Save Hearts In Trouble proposal.

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.

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Originally Posted by CapitalGreen

Ann Budge says she wasn’t driven purely by self-interest. If that was the case, why did she not continue pursuing reconstruction for the lower leagues after it was made clear there would be no changes to the Premiership? That she was no more longer bothered about helping the smaller clubs reeks of self-interest. Once there was nothing in it for her she left them high and dry.

As has been mentioned, she could have pushed for a 12-12-10-10 system which would have had no financial impact on the Premiership and would have satisfied all other aggrieved teams with the exception of ICT.

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100% this.