Club statement- Gambling on football

[bigB]

Back when I used to do the turnstiles about 80-90% of the players, and Andy Bryan, would be in that wee room under the stand showing each other coupons for the day, and talking about bets they had placed in the early kick off.

They would do it openly in front of then managers and chief executives, I always thought bit strange that no one said anything, they must have known it wasn’t allowed.

Yes and I bet (pardon the pun) it is still rife across most clubs.

[AyrshireTon]

I once spoke to one of our players in the bookies where my wife worked (the player is no longer at the club). His coupons appeared to be English and European stuff, which would still have gotten him in bother had he been caught.

[SpoonTon]

Back when I used to do the turnstiles about 80-90% of the players, and Andy Bryan, would be in that wee room under the stand showing each other coupons for the day, and talking about bets they had placed in the early kick off.

They would do it openly in front of then managers and chief executives, I always thought bit strange that no one said anything, they must have known it wasn’t allowed.

He talked openly on Twitter about liking the odds for backing Dundee in the 13/14 season. This was one of many tweets about betting on football.

 

This would go along with what you're saying about them being a bit clueless with regards to this. Which isn't exactly surprising.

[El gofer]

I once spoke to one of our players in the bookies where my wife worked (the player is no longer at the club). His coupons appeared to be English and European stuff, which would still have gotten him in bother had he been caught.

A certain dead ball specialist from down your way per chance?

If so, gambling was one of a number of demons that meant he didn't achieve his potential, from what I was told.

[Toby]

Anyone know when gambling on football was banned for those involved in the game? I don’t remember it being considered a big issue until the last decade or so, but can’t find anything online to confirm.

 

Given that Andy’s first charge was for 2012/13, I’d be surprised if nothing could be found relating to him betting before then. Was it okay then for players to openly gamble on the game?

[vikingTON]

Why don't you apply for the job? It would be piss easy for a guy of your intellect, and with it not being taxing on the brain, it would give you plenty of time to think about your fact based analytical contributions to various messageboards, and travelling the country in a farting Charabanc to watch the team. You could also dispense your superior knowledge and wisdom to Hoopy in the dugout.

 

I think it's a no-brainer.

That’s definitely a ‘no-brainer’ post, though probably not in the way that you intended.

[SpoonTon]

"Morton have sacked kitman Andy Bryan after he was found guilty of betting against the club more than 50 times. (Scottish Daily Mail, print edition)"

 

When put this way, I don't think the club will look too bad for the way they've handled this. I agree that it's best to resolve these situations face to face, but given that he was hanging about the dugout while have bets on against us, it doesn't seem like he can have too many complaints about the outcome of this.

[EanieMeany]

"Morton have sacked kitman Andy Bryan after he was found guilty of betting against the club more than 50 times. (Scottish Daily Mail, print edition)"

 

When put this way, I don't think the club will look too bad for the way they've handled this. I agree that it's best to resolve these situations face to face, but given that he was hanging about the dugout while have bets on against us, it doesn't seem like he can have too many complaints about the outcome of this.

Yep, that's it in a nutshell really. I'll always sympathise with people with addictions but it's not a free pass to do whatever you like. If a club employee is betting on the team not winning then he (or she) should be sacked, end of story.

 

The club should, of course, handled it better but that's standard practise.

[Toby]

"Morton have sacked kitman Andy Bryan after he was found guilty of betting against the club more than 50 times. (Scottish Daily Mail, print edition)"

 

When put this way, I don't think the club will look too bad for the way they've handled this. I agree that it's best to resolve these situations face to face, but given that he was hanging about the dugout while have bets on against us, it doesn't seem like he can have too many complaints about the outcome of this.

From whose point of view, though? If someone who supports Rangers reads that Daily Mail article (as is likely) and thinks that Morton have come out of it quite well, or a St. Johnstone fan on Pie and Bovril thinks the same, that’s not necessarily a good barometer of how it has been handled.

 

Whilst you and I appear to be on different sides of the fence here, (which is fair enough), I’d say our opinions are far more relevant. The fact that the people the club should be looking for trust from are having this debate in the first place shows that they really haven’t come out of it smelling of roses.

[AyrshireTon]

A certain dead ball specialist from down your way per chance?

If so, gambling was one of a number of demons that meant he didn't achieve his potential, from what I was told.

No, but quite good at getting on the end of dead ball specialists’ crosses.

[capitanus]

That’s definitely a ‘no-brainer’ post, though probably not in the way that you intended.

Are you trying to say that you think that removing skidmarks with Ariel Ultra would be a bit of a challenge for you?

 

I'm sure you're up to it, Quickdraw.

 

 

Merry Christmas when it comes.

[HamCam]

However the club decided to handle it, I suspect some would have had an issue. It may seem cold for the dismissal to be by letter but that is not uncommon in the 'modern' world. AB has been in the game long enough and like the rest of us watched as others got caught and dealt with.

[Toby]

However the club decided to handle it, I suspect some would have had an issue. It may seem cold for the dismissal to be by letter but that is not uncommon in the 'modern' world. AB has been in the game long enough and like the rest of us watched as others got caught and dealt with.

Just because something is common, it doesn’t make it right.

[SpoonTon]

From whose point of view, though? If someone who supports Rangers reads that Daily Mail article (as is likely) and thinks that Morton have come out of it quite well, or a St. Johnstone fan on Pie and Bovril thinks the same, that’s not necessarily a good barometer of how it has been handled.

 

Whilst you and I appear to be on different sides of the fence here, (which is fair enough), I’d say our opinions are far more relevant. The fact that the people the club should be looking for trust from are having this debate in the first place shows that they really haven’t come out of it smelling of roses.

To be clear, I don't think it looks like the club handled the sacking well (I also don't think it looks like Andy Bryan has handled the situation well either). But in terms of damage limitation with regards to this, I think that betting against the club many, many times while acting like part of the management team on the touchline overshadows anything about the way out was handled. Maybe it shouldn't. Maybe we should be asking why the club allowed AB to go about taking about betting on football in our league in such a public way without taking action or making the rules clear to employees. It's just one of many issues that the club has struggled with.

 

But really, the overriding message here is quite stark - he broke the rules in a very serious manner. I think the wider spread support won't have a huge amount of sympathy for him.

[RealTonKid]

However the club decided to handle it, I suspect some would have had an issue. It may seem cold for the dismissal to be by letter but that is not uncommon in the 'modern' world. AB has been in the game long enough and like the rest of us watched as others got caught and dealt with.

 

I don’t dispute the dismissal. He’s paid the price for his foolish behaviour, and the ‘well everyone else does it’ excuse won’t wash (pun intended). Maybe I’m just a bit old-school, but I would rather have seen the club adopt a more professional stance in dealing with the issue by telling him in person that he was being dismissed, the reason(s) for the dismissal, and that a letter would be sent in due course detailing the club’s findings and any future course of action.

[SpoonTon]

Is it just me that finds the vacancy ad a bit brutal? Particularly this part:

 

"Previous experience, whilst an advantage is not necessary, but organisational commitment, a high level of integrity, and being a team player is."

 

i.e., no real skill involved, just don't bet against the club. It does come across as a bit of a dig (and not entirely professional). Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[HamCam]

Just because something is common, it doesn’t make it right.

I never said it did. In this instance though, I have no issue with the action taken by the club. 

[TRVMP]

Is it just me that finds the vacancy ad a bit brutal? Particularly this part:

 

"Previous experience, whilst an advantage is not necessary, but organisational commitment, a high level of integrity, and being a team player is."

 

i.e., no real skill involved, just don't bet against the club. It does come across as a bit of a dig (and not entirely professional). Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

I thought the same thing but didn't post it in case I was being too sensitive. Same with the salary information, which reads to me the exact same way.

[Jamie_M]

Is it just me that finds the vacancy ad a bit brutal? Particularly this part:

 

"Previous experience, whilst an advantage is not necessary, but organisational commitment, a high level of integrity, and being a team player is."

 

i.e., no real skill involved, just don't bet against the club. It does come across as a bit of a dig (and not entirely professional). Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Thought the exact same.

[Jamie_M]

I thought the same thing but didn't post it in case I was being too sensitive. Same with the salary information, which reads to me the exact same way.

Didn't think about the salary bit also reading as a dig that he was paid too much due to Dougie doubling it.