Hearts cut Celtic's away allocation to 508 tickets
Peter Martin says the men who run Scotland's clubs have killed away support, as The Football Show panel also turns to Celtic's £66m ahead of the AGM.
By Peter Martin,
Hearts have cut Celtic's away allocation to 508 tickets, and on The Football Show Peter Martin laid the blame for the state of away support at the door of the men who run Scotland's clubs. "This group for the last 20 years killed the game," he said.
Martin was joined by Alan Rough, Gordon Parks and Tam McManus to discuss empty stands, the atmosphere at Scottish grounds and the financial position at Celtic.
Within their rights, but who pays the price
Martin did not dispute the decision itself. "Hearts are perfectly within their rights," he said. The panel's concern was with the supporters hit hardest by cuts of this kind: the fans who can only afford to follow their team away from home. They argued that shrinking allocations have killed the game as a spectacle.
The panel called for rules to protect travelling support, saying "There should be a mandate" so away fans get a fair share of tickets.
The discussion took in St Mirren's season-ticket challenge, with the panel suggesting other clubs could do what St Mirren did, and pointed to St Johnstone and Falkirk as clubs filling their stands. That was set against empty bottom tiers at Kilmarnock and Motherwell. "I feel sorry for this generation," the panel said.
The view from the pitch
McManus described running out in front of a full away end at Tynecastle, and recalled his 95th-minute winner for Hibs at Kilmarnock. The panel also went back to Derek's goal at Celtic Park, when the roar arrived two seconds late.
Pressure on the Celtic board
The show finished on Celtic, who have £66m in the bank ahead of their AGM on 1 December. Directors' pay is up 7.6% and player wages have also risen.
The panel were critical of the board's response to supporters. "They haven't listened at all," they said, before going further: "I think Desmond needs to leave Celtic."