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8.15pm
Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie admitted today that his club
will not take the SPL to court should they lose their appeal against being
denied entry to the top flight. This comes on the eve of tomorrow's SFA
hearing at Hampden, which supposedly will rule on whether the process by which
the SPL chairmen arrived at their decision was proper and valid. The
appeal panel will consist of SFA president, John McBeth, vice-president George
Peat, and Court of Session judge Lord McLean. Christie is quoted as
saying:
"I think the solution should be through the football process members of
the SFA, clubs realise that its decisions are final and binding and it would be
a very serious step for us to go beyond it. That would require a huge shift in
our position and, while we will take stock if the verdict goes against us, we
have no provision to take the matter to court. We will accept the SFA's
ruling." The SPL will be represented at tomorrow's
meeting by finance director Ian Blair, and an SPL source said today:
"This is a preliminary hearing to establish if the SFA can interfere
with the SPL's decision not to relegate Motherwell. It is a meeting to
clarify that our constitutional guidelines have been correctly observed. It
will also have to be determined whether Falkirk have the right to appeal to the
SFA if the three-man appeals board throw out their case for being promoted as
champions." The spokesman also confirmed that the SPL
fixture list would be published tomorrow:
"We have contractual commitments, along with our colleagues in England,
to publish our fixtures on June 19. However, if Falkirk win their case -
we are not suggesting that they will - then it would not pose any great
logistical problem to substitute their name for Motherwell's. It would have been
a far greater headache if a third club from Glasgow had been involved. As it
stands, we realise we need to be flexible enough to alter dates and kick-off
times to suit the needs of BBC Scotland, who will be broadcasting their usual
quota of live matches next season." If Falkirk are
successful tomorrow, a final ruling will be made by a meeting of the full
executive
committee before the end of this month. Meantime,
check back here tomorrow for details of our fixtures for 2003/04!
Still on the subject of Falkirk, apparently they are interested in signing Dirk
Lehmann.
Former loan signing Tony Vaughan is heading back to England after a move by Hibs
was rejected by his club, Nottingham Forest.
Our new goalkeeper, Gordon Marshall, spoke to the press yesterday and looked
ahead to the new season:
"I'm delighted to have everything settled so quickly and I'm looking
forward to the challenge. It will be good. I'm also looking forward to
working with Terry Butcher because he's so passionate about the game.
"There are so many young, exciting players at Motherwell that Terry is
expecting an improvement this year. Hopefully, I'm joining a team that is
growing in stature. Players such as James McFadden and Stephen Pearson are
real talents and, by all accounts, they don't think they are going to move on,
unless the price is right. James put a penalty and a few free-kicks past
me and did well against Kilmarnock, so it will be different now working with
him."
Marshall also revealed that he has shelved plans to go into coaching:
"I was looking at combining playing and coaching but now I have been
give the opportunity to carry on playing at the top level. I'm looking forward
to it."
Stevie Woods was also in the press yesterday, and says he isn't
looking for sympathy after being released by the club at the end of the season:
"This is the first time since I turned professional I haven't had a
club. It's a difficult situation and takes a fair bit of getting used to
but it's just part and parcel of the game. I'm not complaining and I'm not
looking look for people to feel sorry for me. I've some options and I'm keeping
a positive outlook on things. "I had resigned myself
to the fact I would be leaving the club at the end of the season earlier in the
campaign. But I was then told there was an offer on the table right up
until I was released. However, it's a good thing for me that I've left
Motherwell. I needed a fresh challenge, anyway." "I've
been offered the opportunity to work with kids over the holiday period and
that's something I might be able to continue if I go part-time. I'm
weighing up my options, although it must be said it's not the ideal position to
be in this summer."
I've been asked to give a quick plug to The
Future of Scottish Football website. So there you have it!
Cast your vote in our TWO new Opinion Polls:
Which area
of the team most needs strengthening over the close season?
and
Who is your Player of the Year?
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