On paper, at least, the departure of Crawford Allan from the SFA, as revealed by the press this afternoon, should be a net positive for Celtic.
His tenure has been dire. He has been like the Invisible Man at times, hiding in his office out of the way of controversies except in one high-profile case, which of course involved us and had him doing the rounds of the newsrooms trying to explain it.
What makes today’s reports interesting are that they are saying that his departure is the old “mutual” consenting. Without going too deep into that, it does suggest that a lot of people are very unhappy with his performance and that, actually, might even include some of his own officials.
There is still a lot of anger in refereeing circles about Willie Collum, who since the Celtic Park game is yet to get a league match involving the Ibrox club.
Everyone in the SFA structure knows he’s been benched. His fellow officials know he’s been benched. They know the governing body has bowed to the Ibrox mob and that, naturally, has made a lot of people within the halls of Hampden extremely nervous.
Celtic should be glad to see the back of this guy, as he’s done absolutely nothing to improve the standards.
On his watch, the Ibrox club went a record number of games without conceding a penalty in the league. VAR’s implementation has been a disaster and it is loathed across Scottish football, but particularly amongst our fans who see it as having been weaponised against us.
I wish he was going right now. I don’t like the idea that he and his officials might play a role in deciding this title race when he is already going at the end of the season, which means that he cannot possibly be held to account for anything else which happens on his watch. But I am glad to know we’re going to see the back of him nonetheless.
Celtic must be on high alert, not only for the prospect that Honest Mistakes quotient might skyrocket between now and the end of the campaign but for whoever his replacement is going to be. Knowing the SFA we’ll end up with Hugh Dallas back in the building.
An exaggeration, yes maybe, but not actually a joke.
This is where vigilance is needed more than ever.
They might not take Daddy Dallas back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they troll us by putting The Spawn of The Devil (ie.) Sonny Lawwell into the post…
Either that or That Uber Hun from Ayrshire Grieg Aitken…
His first name paints a grim picture so it does !
Shit ! – Meant Sonny DALLAS and not Sonny Lawwell in the above post…
Please edit for me if you can James… I’ve just been that used to posting about the son of the chairman that I made the error inadvertently !!!
Many a true word has been spoken in jest,so your accretion about Dallas might not be that much wide of the mark,because many feel that he hasn’t left the building.
James when i read the headline my thoughts immediately jumped to that as you said , Celtic must be careful
this guy may be willing to take one for the team and fall on his sword for sevco and the huge CL monies at the end of the season , we all know change has to come the way we are being cheated and laughed at , that it seems lawell is not even involved or instigated the defence of rodgers this thursday tells another story , they were all happy with the status quo , cheaton and co running the show for sevco , did they pull another stunt yesterday , pulled a rabbit out of the hat and saved the tired leggy sevco side and bigfoot from a potential slip up with the game called off ? i think sutton may have alluded to that too
I was thinking Andy Halliday, or maybe Barry Ferguson for the post.
I know they’re not actually referees or anything but they’re definitely ‘the right sort’….
Many a true word has been spoken in jest,so your accretion about Dallas might not be that much wide of the mark,because many feel that he hasn’t left the building.
This job seems ideal for brother Madden, and that should frighten us all.
Bobby Madden …
Be afraid be very afraid…. Crawford Allan “will” cheat even worse than he and his (team) have done up until now… and the SFA/SPFL, SMSM, will do and say nothing about it….as they watch it unfold… that’s why he’s not going immediately….VAR with nobody leading it could “NOT” be as bad as it has been with Allan at the head of it
Ok good news this buffon is going. But for me the answer is simple to the officiating problem. Get the officials to declare which club they have an affection for, easy And I Don’t understand why you guy’s “excluding the main stream press” don’t push this issue every day of the year, as you are in a position to do so.
Failing that request for foreign officials, which I believe will come in the near future.
Lets no get our hopes up and think that the SFA are going to get all modern with the new appointment. No doubt it will be a promotion from within, or a known Celtic adversary from the past. I don’t think they’d be brazen enough to bring Dallas Snr back, however there are others of a similar ilk who would jump at the chance of screwing Celtic again!
Wait until his replacement is in the building. I have a funny feeling it will be Douglas Ross
Stick a fiver on Bobby Madden! SFA reduced the salary package for Crawford, you get what you pay for.
Will be Madden back in ?
It will ‘Madden’ me and the rest of The Celtic Support if he is Helen !
Celtic should down tools take the corupt sfa and Thier refereeing buddies to court before they gift the corupt sevco the league
Do you think the upcoming case against Brendan has anything to do with this resignation? Go or dirt will be published maybe?
Bobby Madden should not even get an interview… just last week he said “VAR” has got some things wrong…. Bobby son VAR is Not a machine or technology that makes a “decision”……it is his former colleagues grade 1 referees like cheating Beaton making as Mr Madden put’s it mistakes …..I could save the SFA/SPFL a fortune.but only if the people who are using VAR have 1 rule book for everyone… and here is my idea .with my tongue firmly in my cheek. Do away with ref’s, linesmen “assistant ref’s”, fourth official….. and just have a person watching a monitor with all sorts of angles and slow motion….oh and there would be no need for an appeals system as every decision would be correct.. saving even more money…. just think how many free masons would be out of a job ….or In Douglas Ross’s case 1of his jobs
It will be the failed EFL ref .. Boaby Madhun … or as someone has already stated .. the ref who failed the fitness test so he is sat on his arse .. Shugs wee boy.