Rugbyroader

If it’s true that McShane is getting £850 us a week playing in the West of Scotland league that is insane.

Yep. If he wants to put money into Killie I’d welcome it but wouldn’t want him involved beyond that.

It’s a skill that few successful club owners have. As a Killie fan I’m glad he has never managed to get any power at the club. I’m happy for him to contribute financially as I am for any other fan that wants to help out but wouldn’t want him involved in decision making or representing the club given his antics at Darvel.

Craig. He has been a Killie fan for decades. You don’t suddenly become involved at another club unless it is an ego driven project. What has he achieved through his involvement? The facilities are better but there is no fanbase and now that the bubble has burst there won’t be going forward. It is his money to do as he sees fit but I struggle to see why given he was a Killie fan he couldn’t find a way of putting money into the club like funding youth football or whatever. Brownings got good profile from the shirt sponsorship. Much better return than he got from being involved at Darvel.

Wasn’t just Gall and Kennedy. The players, coaching staff and others involved at the club were all arrogant. The speed of the implosion has been dramatic. There has to be something going on rather than simply failing to have a cup run. You have to wonder whether Kennedy was funding the players wages in cash from Los Pollos Hermanos given that a number of them have followed him to EK.

He didn’t need to get involved and put money into Darvel though. He fell out with Johnston but he was away when he got involved with Darvel. The money he put into Darvel he could have put into Killie. Getting involved at Darvel was all about John Gall’s ego and his behaviour over recent years has been appalling hence why there will be no sympathy for Darvel’s situation.

Can’t all be down to that. Did Gall know what the players were being paid or was Kennedy making up the wages from Los Pollos Hermanos.

Andy leaves after bagging a signing on fee. Something seems badly wrong at Darvel if what you are saying is true. Why have things changed so dramatically and so quickly?

There have been rumours that Darvel were paying players a different amount to what was in their contract with cash in hand payments. The cash in hand payments should be declared to HMRC by both the club and the players otherwise they are both breaking tax laws. You have to question why if this was all above board there would be a need for the payment due not to be detailed in a players contract.

He’s not at Killie games regularly now. If he loved Killie he wouldn’t have got involved at Darvel and put his money into Killie instead. Michael Johnston was gone so there was no reason not to back Killie. His involvement with Darvel was all about his ego and nothing else. The main thing Gall loves is himself. Will be funny when it all crashes and burns after the way everyone at Darvel has gone on over the last few years and that includes everyone from Gall, Kennedy, the players and the fans.

Mate of mine who comes occasionally to Talbot games made an observation earlier this season. Tucker didn’t seem as engaged at the sideline as he has previously. McLuckie and White more involved. Did wonder if White was being groomed as successsor. White was a good player but what does he offer as a coach? Tucker seemed more involved at Troon away than he had been previously this season. Perhaps he’s lost his desire and is simply fed up with football in general. He is in his late 50’s. If he wants to continue he should be given time. He deserves that. There is quality in sone of the players he has signed. They are just a bit short of being ready but most have potential. The ones that aren’t up to it will be moved on. We do need some more experience to help the youngsters and manage games.

This is a transition season for Talbot. Signed lots of youngsters some of whom show potential and brought the average age of the squad down. Talbot aren’t being outclassed but it is fine margins. Lacking in midfield and up front. Boylan returning will make a difference and he is experienced so can help the youngsters through games. Wardrope is skilful but doesn’t have the impact on games that he should. Could be the players around him or the position Talbot are playing him in. Short in midfield and upfront. Boyd needs a goal.

Talbot aren’t far away. Maybe 3/4 players short. Fine margins in the 2 home games. 2 very good strikes from Ferguson were the difference yesterday. That’s what quality and experience brings. Need an experienced goalkeeper as the youngster is costing goals (he was at fault for not reacting for Darvel’s first), a quality midfielder to create chances and one or two strikers.

Where is Mason off to? He has potential but everything is too rushed. He needs a bit more composure.

The escalation in wages reminds me of the Scottish Premiership spending when it had lucrative TV deals and look how that ended. Teams that have money put into them by benefactors rarely if ever ends well. Can’t blame players for taking the money. It’s those running unsustainable budgets at clubs that are the issue. Let’s see how it all ends at Darvel, Johnstone Burgh or wherever. If it is unsustainable it will come home to roost eventually.

Would you be surprised if a change is made in the future to allow B teams to get promoted? The goalposts change but always to certain clubs advantage.

The Conference is coming. Rangers, Celtic, Hearts and Aberdeen don’t play in the Premiership Reserve League so they’ll be the 4 B Teams involved. Why can’t they just play in the Reserves and have a Development League below that. This is all about getting Rangers and Celtic B Teams into the league which gives them a club to play in Scotland if they decide to play in another league. The SPFL are playing to the OF tune. First there were B teams only for a year. Than more B teams. Now a conference and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Current League 2 teams will see it as an easier way to get back to League 2 if relegated than being relegated to the Lowland League. Makes a mockery of the pyramid. Not attractive for a WOSFL team to get promoted to the Lowland League and then the Conference in comparison to continuing to play in the WOSFL. What has the move to the pyramid achieved apart from an improvement in facilities at some clubs?

John Gall, Mick Kennedy and the Darvel players have acted arrogantly since Gall and Kennedy got involved. There have been statements made on here that the players aren’t there for the money. We’ll find out if that is true. It can hardly be a surprise that fans of other clubs will revel in their demise. Kennedy’s departure is interesting. The Tier 5 Conference is allegedly coming and the SFPL are going to force it through even if it means setting up a separate corporate structure to avoid a vote. There will be Lowland League teams involved. East Kilbride are likely to be one of them. Being relegated into that league makes it easier for former senior league clubs to be promoted.

It is easy to track where John Gall’s money comes from via the accounts of the companies of which he is a director. Information on the companies Michael Kennedy is a director of is also publicly available.

Where is the money coming from Kennedy to fund players wages? Have a look at the companies he is a director of on Companies House. Unless there has been a large increase in turnover since the last published accounts there isn’t a lot of profit in any of the companies.

The configuration of the terracing in conjunction with the lack of crash barriers is the issue. It’s not easy to address as any barriers installed have to be able to withstand a crush.

Talbot had a makeshift defence and that caused issues. Stafford has been playing full back rather than centre half and Taylor is lightweight for full back. The Beith penalty was soft but I think it was a penalty as Taylor pulled the player back. Talbot should have had a penalty in the last minute. Strain even said to the crowd it was a penalty. The Beith player fouls Taylor and then wins the ball. The second goal comes from a mix up between Stafford and Leishman. This is probably a result of Stafford not playing central defence frequently. Surprised that Ballantyne and Crawford didn’t get a game as they are both defenders. Talbot need a few players. They are lacking in defence, midfield and up front. They lack a bit of quality in these areas. They play the ball too frantically and the ball is in the air too much. Strange they play the ball in the air when they don’t have a target man. Boylan isn’t a target man and is played wide most of the time. Despite all of that I don’t think there was much between Beith and Talbot and a draw would have been a fair result. Talbot may not be as good as a few seasons ago but they matched Beith. I thought Talbot had a grip of the game in the last 20 mins but couldn’t get an equaliser. Beith had a spell of decent possession and passing just before this. Darvel have the best squad in terms of quality but they won’t win the league without others taking points off Beith.

And 2 at Cumnock

You do realise that’s the majority of their support.

Talbot wouldn’t be appealing to the SFA unless they thought they had a case.