Tony Fitzpatrick says the season is done, give Celtic the title

ItsInTheNet

Well-Known Member
THE decision may not yet have been made, but for Tony Fitzpatrick, it is only a matter of time. The St Mirren legend and CEO says that this season is already over, and it is now time to make the most of the situation.

The ramifications on calling the season with eight rounds of fixtures still to play aren’t lost on Fitzpatrick. The thorny issues of the Premiership title, relegations and promotions all have to be resolved, but he believes it is time to look at the bigger picture.

Common sense, he says, would dictate that Celtic are awarded the title given their healthy lead at the top, while at the other end of the table, there exists an opportunity to reform the Scottish leagues for the greater good of the game in this country.

If it is not now that the Scottish game’s myriad stakeholders can step away from their narrow self-interest to work towards something that will benefit the whole, then when?
“This season is done,” Fitzpatrick said. “People don’t like it, but it’s done, so why not make the decision?

“I can understand how difficult it must be for the SPFL and the SFA, so I’m not criticising anybody, but I really think we need some clarity now. I know there is going to be consequences with those decisions, but I hope within the next week or so things are clearer.

“I know that everybody is saying we will pay the games, but it’s impossible I think if you are listening properly to what is going on.
“There’s been 30 games played, so I’m not in favour of making the season null and void, that would be criminal. But I think this is maybe an opportunity to try out something different.

“I’d like to see a 16-team Premiership, but even if it was just Dundee United and Inverness who came up, we do away with relegation and give Celtic the title, that would work for me.
“Rangers have been incredible in terms of where they came from to where they are now, but I think if we’re being honest you couldn’t see them catching Celtic. It’s more difficult I think to put teams down, so why not bring the two teams up?

“I would go further and make it 16 teams. I think a real revamp of Scottish football is needed, and why not take the opportunity to have a look at it?
“When you see what the likes of Barry Hearn did with darts and snooker, we need to have that creative thinking too to come up with a product that the big TV companies are going to pay top dollar for.

“This is our chance to do something special with the game, to try things.

“This is a hopefully a once in a lifetime event, who would have thought a virus would stop football completely all around the world in our lifetime? It’s a horrible thing to happen, and there are no words to express the impact it is having on people’s lives, and how much we wish this didn’t happen.

“All we can do is try to look at the positive side coming out of it, and what opportunities are there to really revamp things.
“We have to come together and think of the greater good, not just our own self-interest. I think that is what this whole situation is teaching us in general.”

St Mirren have yet to announce any plans to potentially cut wages or place staff on furlough to help them weather the financial fallout from the football shutdown, but Fitzpatrick admits they won’t be immune to the lack of income generated during this indefinite period of inactivity.

“We’re in a healthy financial position today, but how long can that be sustained?” he said.

“Let’s be honest, this is going to on for a good while. I hate to say it, but we’re like any other club, and if there is no income then its common sense you will have to look at things.
“We’re going to do our best to keep things the way they are for as long as possible, that’s all we can do.
“Bigger clubs with massive resources have already taken such steps, but let’s look on the positive side and hope we can hang in there.

“When you see clubs like Celtic and Rangers with their resources struggling to keep things the way they are, then you know it’s a serious situation.”
What has buoyed Fitzpatrick though and made him sure that St Mirren will survive is the way that the club’s fans have rallied for the cause.

“Our supporters have been a big help, and one of the things that really helped is that they weren’t pushing for refunds of season tickets,” he said.
“It’s been incredible. The St Mirren supporters have followed the club through thick and thin, and I know only too well how hard that has been for them at times!
“They have rallied round. The overwhelming thing has been how worried they have been about the club. We are all humbled by that, because they realise how much the club means to the community and we’re the same, the community means so much to us.
“All clubs are doing this, I’m not just singling out St Mirren, but I’ve been so proud along with the chairman, the directors and the manager, about how much everyone has gathered round.

“It has been a real community response and a fantastic effort from our supporters. They are desperate to help us.
“We’re a business as well, we’ve got to remember that. We employ people, and the work they do is incredible. It’s humbling at times.”
 
THE decision may not yet have been made, but for Tony Fitzpatrick, it is only a matter of time. The St Mirren legend and CEO says that this season is already over, and it is now time to make the most of the situation.

The ramifications on calling the season with eight rounds of fixtures still to play aren’t lost on Fitzpatrick. The thorny issues of the Premiership title, relegations and promotions all have to be resolved, but he believes it is time to look at the bigger picture.

Common sense, he says, would dictate that Celtic are awarded the title given their healthy lead at the top, while at the other end of the table, there exists an opportunity to reform the Scottish leagues for the greater good of the game in this country.

If it is not now that the Scottish game’s myriad stakeholders can step away from their narrow self-interest to work towards something that will benefit the whole, then when?
“This season is done,” Fitzpatrick said. “People don’t like it, but it’s done, so why not make the decision?

“I can understand how difficult it must be for the SPFL and the SFA, so I’m not criticising anybody, but I really think we need some clarity now. I know there is going to be consequences with those decisions, but I hope within the next week or so things are clearer.

“I know that everybody is saying we will pay the games, but it’s impossible I think if you are listening properly to what is going on.
“There’s been 30 games played, so I’m not in favour of making the season null and void, that would be criminal. But I think this is maybe an opportunity to try out something different.

“I’d like to see a 16-team Premiership, but even if it was just Dundee United and Inverness who came up, we do away with relegation and give Celtic the title, that would work for me.
“Rangers have been incredible in terms of where they came from to where they are now, but I think if we’re being honest you couldn’t see them catching Celtic. It’s more difficult I think to put teams down, so why not bring the two teams up?

“I would go further and make it 16 teams. I think a real revamp of Scottish football is needed, and why not take the opportunity to have a look at it?
“When you see what the likes of Barry Hearn did with darts and snooker, we need to have that creative thinking too to come up with a product that the big TV companies are going to pay top dollar for.

“This is our chance to do something special with the game, to try things.

“This is a hopefully a once in a lifetime event, who would have thought a virus would stop football completely all around the world in our lifetime? It’s a horrible thing to happen, and there are no words to express the impact it is having on people’s lives, and how much we wish this didn’t happen.

“All we can do is try to look at the positive side coming out of it, and what opportunities are there to really revamp things.
“We have to come together and think of the greater good, not just our own self-interest. I think that is what this whole situation is teaching us in general.”

St Mirren have yet to announce any plans to potentially cut wages or place staff on furlough to help them weather the financial fallout from the football shutdown, but Fitzpatrick admits they won’t be immune to the lack of income generated during this indefinite period of inactivity.

“We’re in a healthy financial position today, but how long can that be sustained?” he said.

“Let’s be honest, this is going to on for a good while. I hate to say it, but we’re like any other club, and if there is no income then its common sense you will have to look at things.
“We’re going to do our best to keep things the way they are for as long as possible, that’s all we can do.
“Bigger clubs with massive resources have already taken such steps, but let’s look on the positive side and hope we can hang in there.

“When you see clubs like Celtic and Rangers with their resources struggling to keep things the way they are, then you know it’s a serious situation.”
What has buoyed Fitzpatrick though and made him sure that St Mirren will survive is the way that the club’s fans have rallied for the cause.

“Our supporters have been a big help, and one of the things that really helped is that they weren’t pushing for refunds of season tickets,” he said.
“It’s been incredible. The St Mirren supporters have followed the club through thick and thin, and I know only too well how hard that has been for them at times!
“They have rallied round. The overwhelming thing has been how worried they have been about the club. We are all humbled by that, because they realise how much the club means to the community and we’re the same, the community means so much to us.
“All clubs are doing this, I’m not just singling out St Mirren, but I’ve been so proud along with the chairman, the directors and the manager, about how much everyone has gathered round.

“It has been a real community response and a fantastic effort from our supporters. They are desperate to help us.
“We’re a business as well, we’ve got to remember that. We employ people, and the work they do is incredible. It’s humbling at times.”
Must have ran out of ex celtic players to wheel out
 
Well if Tony says so

But really unless Ian Andrews and Stuart Slater back this call up it has little relevance
 
Quote "the Scottish game’s myriad stakeholders can step away from their narrow self-interest to work towards something that will benefit the whole".
So your belief that awarding your poety mates the title and clearing your own team from the threat of relegation or the playoffs isn't in any way driven by "self interest"?
Just another to add to the list.
Once we hear from Joe Miller then I'll be convinced.
 
I’m not annoyed by this and the more I think on it if they “ give “ them the title it really does nullify their 10 in a row bid forever . If they void the season or deem it incomplete they could win the next two and claim 10 consecutive titles . By “ giving” them it this season it totally wrecks their 10 in a row forever as nobody could take it remotely seriously given that we still have 27 points to play for .

We can’t lose really .
 
All these mentally challenged lickspittles going on about the gap at the top. What’s the cut-off point at where it becomes acceptable or unacceptable to award a title? If they were 9 points ahead would they deserve it? 6 points? Who knows.

The same applies to number of games played. Is there a defined cut-off point where the number of games played becomes an acceptable amount to allow a league to be settled on the standings at that point?

There is a reason that the season is 38 games long. There is a reason you celebrate a league win after you have clinched it on points and not before.

At the moment all the filth are is healthy favourites to win the title. Should they just be awarded this seasons SC as well given that they are also healthy favourites to win that?

Sick of seeing one mentally challenged / mentally challenged sympathiser after another being wheeled out to spout this agenda driven pish.
 
Well... interesting wording "give" .. that is exactly what it is. Their is no 'giving' of a title, you have to win a title.

Time for the bears to wise up on who we give our blue pound too and start to think long and hard in future about away games.

You are wasting your time in regards to the blue pound.

No matter what other clubs do to us the uber , staunch out there will always feed them the blue pound.
 
Is this happening in other countries where the club leading the league is all over the press every day pushing to be given the title. And given is what it is as it’s not been won until it’s mathematically impossible - would they be saying the same if they were 1 point ahead? Of course they would. It’s a nonsense.
 
Tony has conveniently forgotten the words sporting integrity the most used phrase by them during 2008 and 2012. In simple terms if the club like no other get the title then Scottish football has been officially killed.
 
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I’m not annoyed by this and the more I think on it if they “ give “ them the title it really does nullify their 10 in a row bid forever . If they void the season or deem it incomplete they could win the next two and claim 10 consecutive titles . By “ giving” them it this season it totally wrecks their 10 in a row forever as nobody could take it remotely seriously given that we still have 27 points to play for .

We can’t lose really .

Imagine Celtic fans and players celebrating winning a league this year with what’s going on?
Then the utter embarrassment if teams like Juve Ajax Barcelona and Liverpool said they weren’t excepting it if not won.
Celtic could have took the morale high ground and said the same and came out of this with a bit of respect but there players fans and media lickspittles have been shameless.
Never forget.
 
So how can you do away with relegation but award the poets the title , fitzpatrick is a tit

Exactly - they want to uphold what happens at the top of the table but scrap what happens at the bottom? Some would say there's some self-interest at work here...
 
Part of the sickest cult ever to poison planet earth.

Don’t expect anything other than brainwadhed shite from its followers.
 
If the criteria of awarding the league under these unique circumstances are having a healthy lead I'd love to know what all these idiots have as the cut off point then. Taking into account games in hand and matches still to be played of course.

Not one of these arseholes have offered their formula for what such a cut off point would be:rolleyes:
 
So who had Tony Fitzpatrick in the “mentally challenged press campaign for handing mentally challengeds the title” bingo?

I’m waiting on Peter Grant for a line.

DailyRecord journo reads Shengus’ post on FF and thinks “F uck, I forgot all about Peter Grant.”

I’m a cert to win this.
 
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