ScottishRed

The ‘excuse’ as you call it is very simple and has been explained by myself and others many,many times. When a club playing in a higher league expresses an interest in a player with the associated massive increase in salary, it becomes impossible to hold on to said player as they will want to move. Ultimately, they are professional sportsmen who wish to maximize their income and test themselves at the highest level they can. It is a simple as that. People need to remember that most of the pro players that turn out on a Saturday are not supporters of that team , they are simply doing their job.

As always, a large part of this will be the player himself. If his head has been turned by what Palace have told his agent they are prepared to pay him, he will be off.

IF, his ex is being truthful then it appears he is a complete bastard. BTW, I am not doubting her. But, anyone who has an affair with his own brothers wife is hardly going to be a paragon of virtue.

I don’t think it’s embarrasing. SL gave him a job that he had no justification in getting then threw money at him and Swiss Tony to try to get to the PL which was utterly naive and has set us back years. The real culprit is the owner not Lee BUT, Lee is a fraud who will always get work but really shouldn’t. His latest interview on the BBC Scotland Football website when he describes how, when out of work, he became a Professional Gambler - his words, made me spit out my coffee. I actually think Lee is a nice bloke, and I mean that, but is utterly deluded regarding his own abilities- which we will pay the price for for years to come. The blame however, is the nepotism of the owner.

Not much to disagree with there. The problems won’t go away if Nige walks and I suspect that he might feel he has had enough if things don’t improve. I can’t see him being fired but he may decide to go of his own volition. The question then would be who could we get in that could make a difference? I see Sean Dyche mentioned on another thread - not a chance that would happen. I hope I am wrong and I don’t want Nige to go but I suspect we would end up with another SL ‘project’!

How good is your source for that info? Seems astonishingly unlikely - particularly the part about 3 players out with broken bones! If true, that is a hugely serious reflection on the togetherness of the squad.

All the best fella. As someone who is about to start treatment, albeit for a different variant of the fuxxker, my thoughts are with you. Be strong and kick it’s arse mate.

I understand your point but we signed Palmer for a load of £ and Sammy seemed to be ignored after that that. He was also competing with Paterson too. From what I saw, which was clearly not a lot, he was a L1 player at that point, but very young and had potential. Strange signing, like so many under Swiss Tony.

Quite incredible that a club operating at that level field an ineligible player in ANY competition. Clearly that is not down to Lee but it does reflect on him. As mentioned previously a good start in the league is imperative given that they were effectively out of the cup even without the admin cock- up. I suspect this could end very quickly as their owner is not known for his patience.

Didn’t watch the interview on the BBC Football site but the headline was that he was ‘bored’ by their second half performance. Nothing changes with Lee. I think he needs to be careful in what he says to the media up there much more so than do here. It truly is a goldfish bowl and Hibs owner is not known for his patience. The much lauded Shaun Maloney, who remember, was assistant manager of Belgium before he joined Hibs, lasted 4 months!

There was real rivalries between all 4 Fife teams but as the years have passed that has disapated to a certain extent. Mainly due to East Fife’s and Cowdenbeaths demise down the leagues. Big Jim - what a man! Was treated very badly by the club in the early 80’s and left / was fired. This led to protest marches from the town to the ground on match days, led by the late great Stuart Adamson of Big Country and The Skids. Stuart was a huge Pars fan but none of the corporate stuff for him, you would see him on the terraces if he was not away working.

Agreed. My hometown team, Dunfermline Athletic, are one of Falkirks biggest, if not their biggest rivals. DAFC, were relegated last season and despite that huge disappointment, the fans are looking forward to the ‘derby’ games. I think you will find that 5k attendances are more than a little rare, but possible a few times a year. Falkirk recently had a meeting with supporters and admitted that they are losing £1m a year, which is unsustainable. It puts into context tonight’s result.

Falkirk 1 - 0 Hibernian For those who don’t follow Scottish football, Falkirk are in the third tier. Not a pre-season friendly, proper competitive game.

Hibs are about to pull in £3m for a lad going to Bologna, small change for McAllistair really.

Many many years ago Best signed for Hibs. I was still living in Scotland then and following my home town team Dunfermline Athletic. They had a league game on a Sunday, which was highly unusual, against Hibs,at home, just after he had signed - it may have been his debut, but not sure. Game was a total sell- out, simply because of George. He was overweight and never left the center circle.... Completely, ran the game,and showed what he could do even in his thirties. What a player he was.

Yeah, agreed, really sorry for the lad. He only once looked a player for us, and I mean a real player, which was against Stoke at home second half. He ran the game but Butland had a stormer for them.

Just when you think it cannot get any funnier....... To take the CEO’s PA off the Canaries must be the final straw.

Just saw your post and completely agree. IF it is the case, there are enough questionable owners of football clubs that will be taking full advantage.

IF, HMRC have not been paid in full or have accepted a plan to be paid in full, it completely opens the flood gates. I am really interested in what the detail of this is. Doubt I will get it though....

I hope this works out, as long as the creditors and, most importantly, HMRC, get paid in full. Anything else is completely unacceptable and opens the floodgates to more Mel Morris’s. On the current situation that the country is in there will be an utter outcry if the Government is seen to be helping fund a football club - and rightly so.

Bumped into him at Heathrow few years after he retired. Had time for everyone who approached him, happy for pictures and conversation.

I think that is a fair comment. Both Ronaldo and Messi could easily have retired and enjoyed their success and wealth. But they are both very driven individuals, which, is questionable with Bale.

Agreed. Scott has great potential and will have a very very good career as long as he avoids the usual pitfalls. Foden is however, different gravy and, potential pitfalls avoided ( just like Scott), will become one of the best players in the world IMHO. Which makes it strange that Pep can see this but Gareth Southgate can’t. If I was the England HC, Foden and Grealish start every game if available. (Sorry to be clear, by usual pitfalls I mean mainly injury, but also too much too young syndrome).

@Mr Popodopolous If any sweetheart deal has or will be done with HMRC there will be hell to pay in the country generally and not just amongst supporters of other clubs. IF, a deal in done I would be saying to SL for example, fill your boots and don’t bother paying the taxman you will get away with it as a precedent has been set. Also, ANY, political party that gets involved in this and tries to influence are utterly insane. For me time is up - liquidate them.

That is wrong on every level. No political party should get involved in a situation like this. They are grasping at straws.