The “Lawwell Letter” is trending everywhere this week. To elucidate, it is email sent to (among others) Peter Lawwell and Eric Riley of Celtic on 26 July 2012 by SPL CEO Neil Doncaster.
The email came with an attached copy of the Five Way Agreement (hereafter “5WA”, the deal between Sevco, Rangers, the SFA, the SPL and the SFL). Now that it has been made public, it seems safe to speak openly about what it all means for us as folk who believe in sporting integrity.
I would preface my comments with a caveat though. On the face of it, the Celtic Chief Executive appears to have misled the gathering at the recent Celtic AGM. He was asked by a shareholder if Celtic were involved in the Five Way Agreement. Lawwell replied, “No”, and gave same “No” response to the follow up question, “have you seen it?”
Given that a copy of that email was in the possession of a few folk before that AGM, I have to admit to being surprised by that answer – although even more surprised at the apparent lack of due diligence implied by the lack of knowledge of its content.
We have attempted to contact Mr Lawwell to ask him if he would like to comment on the apparent discrepancy between the evidence and his answer (and I am sure we are not the only ones to have done so). To date, we have received no response. Given the complete lack of acknowledgement of the existence of this anomaly in the MSM, we should perhaps assume that none will be forthcoming.
Perhaps there is an explanation (yes I know), but Celtic should know, like Rangers old and new have come to realise, that silence on these matters breeds deep suspicion and distrust.
Assuming for the minute that Occam’s Razor applies here, there may be an uncomfortable truth emerging for Celtic fans – that Rangers (old and new) do not have a monopoly on dishonesty. There is also an uncomfortable truth that should emerge for Rangers fans too – that as we have said all along, this has never been about just Rangers, but about the governance of the game.
If the Celtic CEO did lie to the AGM a few weeks ago what are the consequences? He broke no laws as far as I can see. One insider I spoke to said simply this,
“So he lied. So what? What happens now? It’s irrelevant”
That is of course absolutely true. As long as controlling shareholders are happy that Resolution 12 is buried, and that no deep inquiry into governance is held into the workings of the game in Scotland, the lie is nonpunishable, though it would be a mistake to believe that accountability is confined only to the corporate rules governing Boards and shareholders; the corporate veil of “I was only following company policy” can be readily challenged in the court of public opinion, which has no statute of limitations.
What all this demonstrates of course is that Celtic have been saying one thing to their fans and shareholders, nodding agreement in private meetings about how appalling Rangers behaviour was, tut-tutting over how amateurish the authorities were, and wringing their hands in frustration at what a sham the LNS inquiry turned out to be.
At the same time, they have done nothing, allowed small shareholders to spend not inconsiderable suns progressing the matter, and quietly hoped that the “appetite” for justice would diminish so they could get back to whatever it is they and the rest do when subject to little or no scrutiny.
Whilst ten in a row is on the table of course, they can get away with it. To Celtic fans right now, understandably, nothing else matters. But what if TIAR is derailed? Not a stretch to imagine that the Parkhead kitchen could get uncontrollably hot in that circumstance. And when the TIAR squirrel finally ends its scurry, in either success or failure, where will the fans attention be diverted?
Perhaps the arrogance that permits making (allegedly) false statements to a general meeting, and (allegedly) misleading shareholders over Res 12 is borne of the knowledge that the parachutes are ready to be deployed when either of the above scenarios come to pass? If TIAR is achieved or goes south, are they already prepared for an emergency exit?
Celtic have two major shareholders whose combined holding is over 50% of the club’s shares. Dermot Desmond and Nick Train. Desmond is now in his eighth decade and Train is reportedly having some business difficulties. Both may well be moved to get out anyway, but fan unrest would make their decision a whole lot easier.
And Lawwell himself is – if you believe the MSM – on the wanted list of nearly as many top clubs as Alfredo Morelos.
The foregoing of course is extremely “Old Firm” centric, and as the two biggest clubs in the country they certainly have the biggest impact on the game, culturally, socially and financially. However there is no get-out clause here for others.
We KNOW there is evidence of fraud surrounding the licencing issue in 2012. We KNOW there is evidence of a cover up over that, and the EBT-related registration issues for Old Rangers. We KNOW that the Five Way Agreement was signed by football authorities in the knowledge that it would rob their own rules of judicial authority with regard to compliance by RFC prior to 2012.
We also know that NOT ONE club has taken a meaningful stand against any of it.
Clubs are saying one thing to supporters and doing their best to derail those supporters’ efforts on the other. We can also infer (not unreasonably) that the folk who run the clubs think that we as fans have no right to interfere in how they run their operations.
As I said earlier, Celtic can do what they like whilst TIAR is live, but afterwards, however it ends, the fans and shareholders involved in Res 12 will still be asking questions. Celtic in particular know how fatal it can be to alienate their own fan base – a fan base that has flexed its muscles with devastating effect for the boardroom in the past. And it is the wrath of the fans of all clubs that will eventually see the charlatans get their just desserts.
Our job as fans is to continue to hold those who care little for the honour and beauty of football to account, to continue to press them on their refusal to deal with arguably the biggest sporting scandal in Scottish history.
The bottom line (which is of course what the folk in boardrooms care about) is this. They need us far more than we need them. As fans of different clubs, the sensibility of those of us at SFM recognises that the real battle, the real war, is not between rival fans or rival clubs, but between the arrogant, self-entitled clique who run our game; who lie for fun, who cheat and belittle the sport; and the good folk who make it possible for the game to prosper.
Resolution 12 is not just about Rangers – nor is it just about Celtic. It deserves to be embraced by every true football fan in the country. The Res 12 franchise needs to widened
Sooner or later the fans will demonstrate their unhappiness with the money men. They did it in 2012, and they will inevitably do so again.
I am sure, that regardless of whatever entity created the Morelos interview, it won't have been TRFC, whether they created it or not.
By that, I mean, either some small unimportant person/production company will take the rap, or Sky will take it as they will view their relationship with TRFC as being too important to themselves and so be happy to take the very limited (for a company their size) fallout, thus cementing their relationship into something even slimier*.
*I was going to write 'stickier' to go with 'cementing' but then thought 'slimier' describes such a relationship in a more accurate way.
https://www.docdroid.net/bqIKbAa/revista-sabado-6feb2020.pdf
Dodgy deals in Portugal. Can anyone recommend a good translator?
A further statement from Celtic and a complaint to OFCOM
http://www.celticfc.net/news/17507
The statement starts:
It goes on to reproduce the letter of complaint.
Now we know why the RIFC Board was at Turnberry the other day ……… to establish a connection with Donald Trump.
Rangers Football Club@RangersFC
#RangersFC are delighted to announce luxury Scottish resort @TrumpTurnberry will join the club’s growing family of partners.
Learn More: https://rng.rs/2Sm5Ahj
easyJambo
i can see a letter from mr clark heading to turnberry
Think I'll give Turnberry a miss for week-ends away now. I'll stick with Gleneagles!
easyJambo 6th February 2020 at 13:30
'..Now we know why the RIFC Board was at Turnberry the other day'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No more long weekends at Turnberry for me, then, and Porcini is off my Christmas card list.
Seriously, I note how cautiously worded Mr Porciani's statement is
"Turnberry and Rangers boast rich sporting legacies, each playing a significant role in the history of Scottish sport. Therefore, this felt like a natural partnership and an exciting way to kick off 2020."
As a cunning businessman he has left it to the reader to assume that he believes he is partnering with Rangers of 1872 rather than the new club called TRFC, so that he can avoid any accusation of lying to or misleading the public.
Maybe we will be entertained by the sight of oor Dave toadying to oor while caddying to someone so like himself.
Picture the scene in a court room somewhere in Scotland. The following characters are entirely fictional and any resemblance to actual persons is entirely coincidental.
JUDGE: The defender is accused of blackening the name of the Pursuer via publicly announced accusations of lying, bullying, manipulation and general skulduggery. How does he plead?
LAWYER1: Not guilty your honour.
JUDGE: Then what evidence does the Defender have to offer?
LAWYER1: The Pursuer has a well-documented history of lying. Indeed, his current occupation, just like his previous one, could accurately be described as ‘Purveyor of Untruths’.
JUDGE: Please provide the court with incontrovertible evidence of such lying and deceit.
LAWYER1: You will see from Document A before you that the Pursuer once stated as fact – “They’ll slip into liquidation within the next couple of weeks with a new company emerging but 140 years of history, triumph and tears, will have ended. No matter how Charles Green attempts to dress it up, a newco equals a new club. When the CVA was thrown out Rangers as we know them died.”
A short time later, the Pursuer stated – “But why is it that so many continue to write or broadcast that this club is a new club when it is the owners who are new? Is it a lack of basic intelligence or is it something more sinister?”
I’m sure your honour will agree with me that the Pursuer was lying, as both statements can’t possibly be true.
JUDGE: Lawyer2?
LAWYER2: Your honour, the Pursuer wasn’t lying, the statement my client originally made was based on the information as it was known at that time.
LAWYER1: Indeed, so my client wasn’t lying either when he made disparaging comments about the Pursuer. He was simply reporting the information as it was known at that time and he will update that information as soon as the Pursuer proves his innocence, if that ever happens.
JUDGE: Case dismissed.
easyJambo 6th February 2020 at 13:30:
Perfect synergy, I’d say: an ideal stop-off for the supporters’ buses coming & going from the ferry at Cairnryan (‘Can we use your lavvies? WATP*!’), not to mention Turnberry’s 5 stars will match up with the 5 above TRFC’s crest.
(*WATP in this sense of course stands for ‘We Are Turnberry People!’)
Jingso.Jimsie
we are trumps poodles
Tony, I love Trump, he's a super snooker player!
A Roger Mitchell tweet is suggesting that the most recent Celtic statement and complaint to Ofcom might damage the SKY deal re Scottish football. I don’t believe SKY is the object of Celtic’s ire just a means to an end.
Ex Ludo 6th February 2020 at 16:34 A Roger Mitchell tweet is suggesting that the most recent Celtic statement and complaint to Ofcom might damage the SKY deal re Scottish football. I don’t believe SKY is the object of Celtic’s ire just a means to an end.
____________________
I wonder if Roger Mitchell is suggesting that Celtic are somehow harming Scottish football by doing the right thing. If he is, it's yet another example of the protection Rangers got, continue to get even after death, and that which TRFC have had since their inception from all areas of Scottish football – particularly from its own governance, including ex-members of its governance and the Scottish media.
'Operation baton down the hatches of the SS Ibrox' may well have started. That's 'Operation No. who knows how many?'
AllyJambo@16.56
I can’t copy the link to the tweet in question but it is subtly suggesting that Celtic are putting the TV deal at risk.
Ex Ludo
here's hoping it is,they are brutal
Ex Ludo 6th February 2020 at 16:34 A Roger Mitchell tweet is suggesting that the most recent Celtic statement and complaint to Ofcom might damage the SKY deal re Scottish football
========================
Roger Mitchell
@RPMComo
Btw, Peter does well here. He needs to throw his weight around. I’d expect that. Also because the tv is marginal for Celtic. I’m however sure the other clubs are rather uncomfortable just now. Mr Comcast will be asking “who are these people up there? Do we really need them?”
Sky TV deal at risk?
Wouldn’t that be awful?!
Once again,
Fiat justitia ruat caelum!
(see what I did there, in Latin!)
Don’t want to be a grass, but…
Just watched the goals from the The Rangers v. Hibs game last night,
and the Ibrox pitch looks dreadful!
Patchy, bobbly, with brown spots – and looking more like a well used, municipal grass pitch after a long season.
Has King got rid of the groundstaff…?
StevieBC
never looked the same since they got rid of lee wallace
Stevie BC, Do you remember the pitches at this time of the year in the 60s & 70s? Todays grass pitches are ten times better. Even at their worst I prefer them to those excuse of pitches in use by Kilmarnock, Hamilton and Livingston. Shameful pitches. Embaressing.
Grass pitches? Jimbo you were obviously spoiled!
It was always nasty, skin removing blaes pitches for me until well into amateur footy!
Still got the scars to prove it too…
TRFC are not exactly strangers to Turnberry of course. Ally McC took the players there one Friday night en route to Stranraer during the heady days of that unstoppable surge up through the divisions when money was no object
Stevie BC, LOL , but you get my point!
Scottc, I remember, and they wonder where the money went?
The superiority complex.
Blagged from the Bears Den – I assume it's properly translated .
Disciplinary Tribunal Update | Michael Beale, Team Staff, Rangers FC
Thursday 6 February 2020
Alleged Party in Breach: Michael Beale, Team Staff, Rangers FC
Match: celtic FC v Rangers FC
Date: Sunday 29 December 2019
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 203 – No member of Team Staff shall commit Misconduct at a match.
Principal hearing date: Thursday 6 February 2020
Outcome: Suspension of 5 matches applied as follows: 3 matches immediate and 2 matches suspended until the End of Season 2019/20
Disciplinary Tribunal Update | Thomas Culshaw, Team Staff, Rangers FC
Thursday 6 February 2020
Alleged Party in Breach: Thomas Culshaw, Team Staff, Rangers FC
Match: Hibernian FC v Rangers FC
Date: Friday 20 December 2019
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 203 – No member of Team Staff shall commit Misconduct at a match.
Principal hearing date: Thursday 6 February 2020
Outcome: Suspension of 2 matches applied as follows: 1 match immediate and 1 match suspended until the End of Season 2019/20
Update: Notice of Complaint | Rangers FC
Thursday 6 February 2020
Alleged Party in Breach: Rangers FC
Charge 1:
Match: Hibernian FC v Rangers FC
Date: Friday 20 December 2019
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 204 – All Clubs and recognised football bodies shall procure that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at all times during and/or after a match. In particular, Clubs and recognised football bodies are responsible for ensuring that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players refrain from any one or a combination of the following: (a) becoming involved in a confrontation (b) conduct that is likely to lead to or to exacerbate or prolong a hostile or argumentative situation with players and/or team staff from the opposing team and/or match officials (c) conduct that may otherwise incite disorder.
Charge 2:
Match: celtic FC v Rangers FC
Date: Sunday 29 December 2019
Competition: Scottish Premiership
Disciplinary Rule allegedly breached: Disciplinary Rule 204 – All Clubs and recognised football bodies shall procure that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at all times during and/or after a match. In particular, Clubs and recognised football bodies are responsible for ensuring that its officials, Team Staff, employees and players refrain from any one or a combination of the following: (a) becoming involved in a confrontation (b) conduct that is likely to lead to or to exacerbate or prolong a hostile or argumentative situation with players and/or team staff from the opposing team and/or match officials (c) conduct that may otherwise incite disorder.
Principal hearing date: Thursday 6 February 2020 – adjourned to later date
James Doleman
@jamesdoleman
One is suspiciously Orange and is best known for never being out of court due to corruption charges. The other is the President of the United States.
on the turnberry link with trfc
SKY to be honest does not really give a toss about Scottish Football imo. This Morelos interview fiasco illustrates this as how is it possible to make such an (error). I cancelled in 2012 as Div 3 games were live on SKY (ffs really). I want SKY out of our game. I am glad that Celtic have not accepted this apology as the end of the matter. Who translated this and altered the words. Racism is a serious topic and the facts have to be correct. Morelos has been wrongly misquoted imo deliberately, so why. Why does Morelos not make a statement to this effect? Why does his club not make a statement to protect and support their player? ( as we all know they love making statements) Why does our smsm not report this issue? Why was the only pundit to question the issue and timing of the statement removed from BBC at present? Why listen to BBC Sportsound, they are governed by one man to the benefit of one club. He was cheerleader for RFC (IL) and now has same role at new Ibrox club. James Traynor like SKY has no interest in Scottish Football, unless it is all about his club. Scottish Football is corrupt thanks to people like him. More people like MS need to speak out.
“Alternative headline: Celtic attacking the sole future financier of Scottish football. Just to get the mob off their back. Poor Neil.”
Copied from Roger Mitchell’s latest tweet. “Future sole financier” really?
I wonder which mob he is referring to here. SFM?
Anyone else find it really strange that Rangers, Kings of the statement world, have said absolutely nothing about the false translation of the Morelos interview? The interview took place inside their training ground, involved their star player, and the translation has been proven to be untrue. You would think Rangers would want to distance themselves or anyone working on their behalf from this. You would also think they would be angry that their player was badly misrepresented. Instead we have silence, as well as silence from the main Scottish broadcast media outlets, BBC Scotland and STV, both of whom were very eager to promote the racism against Morelos story before this all kicked off.
Whatever the ins and outs of this the fact was that at the end of 2019 Rangers were in a great place, at least on the park. I have yet to speak to a Celtic fan who did not think Rangers deserved to win on the 29th and that the challenge was very real. Yet in the immediate aftermath Rangers began lashing out in all directions, and raised the Morelos racism accusation with the help of some friendly Journalists, however the evidence from any of them has yet to be produced. Where are Rangers now, both on and off the park, and how on earth did they let it get to this? Sometimes saying nothing and basking in your glory is the best way ahead.
To conclude it is easy to think Celtic know where the blame lies in this fiasco, and are going the right way about exposing it. There are no friendly media outlets for Celtic to vent their fury and none would be the place to do so in any case. In my opinion, for what it’s worth, Celtic’s actions and Rangers silence is speaking volumes.
Addendum – today’s Herald is calling for peace between Rangers and the BBC. What on earth would the pro-Rangers bias be like if that was declared, given how bad it is in ‘wartime’? God help us all.
“I’ve always liked JT since I saw him backstage knocking 6 bells out of the BBC’s Dougie Wernham at the SPOTY awards. After quickly realising I was no longer in Kansas in my career, I adapted, and accepted it was “all knockabout stuff” and I would never take it very seriously.”
“If I instead were to write a book about bad behaviour in football I’d come across as Mary Whitehouse. The environment is not conducive to your “finest moments”. Move on everyone!”
More tweets from Roger Mitchell this morning. No need to worry it’s all knockabout stuff not to be taken seriously.
"Rangers cheated for years under David Murray. There should be a level playing field in sport and Rangers did not adhere to that by using the EBT scheme to sign players they otherwise would not have been able to bring to the club. That was unfair on the other teams."
On the SFA: "They struck me as being completely clueless. They were complete clowns. They had a lot to say about me at the time, but did they say anything about the EBT case? A club effectively cheated the game for years and no sanctions were taken against any of the individuals responsible."
From Craig Whyte's autobiography, Into the Bear Pit, published in a week's time, aptly.
I see The Herald is also joining in the wagon circling this morning as Michael Stewart’s comments from that podcast are described as a rant. It’s beginning to resemble the SMSM behaviour of 2012. The one important difference this time around is that CFC appear to be taking a stand.
Craig Whyte, the former Rangers owner, publishes his autobiography, Into the Bear Pit, a week today on the eighth anniversary of the Ibrox club being put into administration.
The book, published by Birlinn, is packed with astonishing revelations about his time in charge of the Glasgow club and is sure to shake Scottish football to its foundations.
Here are some of the most incredible quotes:
On being disqualified as a director in the United Kingdom for seven years:
"I didn't see the judgement as a big deal. Banning problem directors doesn't curb their activities.
"Anyone with half a brain can get around it and it means the authorities can't monitor them."
On moving to tax haven Costa Rica:
"My view on tax is that transactions between people should be voluntary, and that goes for the government as well.
"Tax havens are completely moral as they stop governments from stealing your money. Governments are basically shakedown operations, like the mafia, but with better manners. They are parasites with no morals whatsoever."
READ MORE: Craig Whyte attacks just about everyone in explosive new Rangers book
On the likelihood of Rangers going into administration after his takeover:
"Administration seemed almost inevitable. We looked at the possibility of of putting the club into administration pre-acquisition, or at the time of the takeover.
"But the outcome of the EBT tax case was within the first month of the takeover. If we put the club into administration and then found we'd won the case that wouldn't look great."
On the Rangers directors:
"I thought the board were a bunch of pompous buffoons and meeting them served no purpose.
"I decided they were all going to have to go sooner rather than later."
On Rangers manager Ally McCoist:
"Ally McCoist was untested as a manager, but I had no choice but to keep him as it would have cost the club £1 million to break his contract.
"My hands had been tied by the old board."
On Rangers losing to Malmo in a Champions League qualifier in 2011:
"It was probably the moment when the inexperience of our young manager was most exposed.
"Had Walter Smith still been in charge and been able to guide us into the Champions League I firmly believe I would still be the owner of Rangers today."
On the Rangers players:
"In the main footballers struck me as mercenaries. They were there for the money, not because they loved the club.
"They got in at 10.30am, had a run around the pitch, got their free breakfast, their free lunch and then they disappeared. What a life. I used to hear all sorts of things about the players.
"The club doctor told me a player had picked up a sexually transmitted disease and his performances had seemed to dip as a result."
On failing to broker a deal with HMRC over the "big tax case":
"From the moment I took over I was confident that we'd either win the case or be able to do a deal with HMRC.
"At the time of the takeover I didn’t believe there was a single problem facing the club that was insurmountable. In my experience, when it came to dealing with HMRC, there was always a deal to be done. They always wanted to get paid. It didn't make sense to me."
On the SFA, who fined him £200,000 and banned him from being involved in football for life:
"They struck me as being completely clueless. They were complete clowns. They had a lot to say about me at the time, but did they say anything about the EBT case?
"A club effectively cheated the game for years and no sanctions were taken against any of the individuals responsible."
On selling Rangers' shares in Arsenal:
"The media said I'd sold shares the club held in Arsenal and kept the proceeds – that was completely untrue."
On being frozen out after Rangers went into administration:
"I thought I was in control of the situation. I genuinely believed we could emerge a debt-free club, that I'd still be at the helm and we could move on.
"The moment I thought I was in command was precisely the time it all fell apart. Duff and Phelps (the administrators) were acting with HMRC. Suddenly I was an outcast. Duff and Phelps were in charge and they swiftly instructed everybody not to deal with me."
On receiving death threats:
"I was the subject of several death threats, mostly online, people saying they'd happily take a life sentence to do me in. Another threatened to fire bomb the castle."
On Rangers' use of EBTs:
"Rangers cheated for years under David Murray. There should be a level playing field in sport and Rangers did not adhere to that by using the EBT scheme to sign players they otherwise would not have been able to bring to the club. That was unfair on the other teams."
On his involvement with Rangers:
"I've never known a deal like it. It seemed that everyone I came into contact with tried to shaft me. Many of them succeeded."
On Rangers and their supporters:
"I don't care what happens to Rangers now – but I have a lot of sympathy for the Rangers supporters.
"Those fans have suffered more than anyone, and through no fault of their own."
“The moment I thought I was in command was precisely the time it all fell apart. Duff and Phelps (the administrators) were acting with HMRC. Suddenly I was an outcast. Duff and Phelps were in charge and they swiftly instructed everybody not to deal with me.”
I seem to remember that HMRC has their own preferred firm (BDO?) to be administrators at the time. When Duff & Phelps were appointed many people were surprised that they didn’t challenge it. Maybe we now know the reason why. It’s strange, I thought people reckoned Duff & Phelps were Craig Whyte’s choice?
So who chose D & P?
‘upthehoops 7th February 2020 at 07:00
Anyone else find it really strange that Rangers, Kings of the statement world, have said absolutely nothing about the false translation of the Morelos interview? The interview took place inside their training ground, involved their star player, and the translation has been proven to be untrue. You would think Rangers would want to distance themselves or anyone working on their behalf from this. You would also think they would be angry that their player was badly misrepresented…’
##########################
Two possible reasons immediately spring to my mind (there may be several other explanations):
Complicity. TRFC has been caught bang to rights. Silence & ride the storm out. Unlikely, but possible. Morelos’ well-being/reputation is collateral damage in this scenario. Doesn’t really matter about him: today’s Scotsman has him going to Liverpool for gazillions in the summer…
Embarrassment. TRFC has trusted someone (not necessarily an employee) within the club/players circle with regard to the interview & translation. Club has been let down badly. Internal inquiry & person to blame made persona non grata or sacked. Again, Morelos’ well-being/reputation is collateral damage. Doesn’t really matter about him: today’s Scotsman has him going to Liverpool for gazillions in the summer etc.
Jingso.Jimsie
the word on the street is that it was morelos own advisor who handled the translation,don't know if it was or he is the fall guy
Revenge is a dish best served cold à la Whyte. I might even buy his book if I can get past the protesters who are sure to picket the booksellers.
Ex Ludo
there is always the e-book
Tony@11.58
I think I’ll just rely on your summaries on here. ?
Ex Ludo
Ex Ludo 7th February 2020 at 09:07
'…The one important difference this time around is that CFC appear to be taking a stand. '
++++++++++++++++++++++++
If Celtic had taken a stand alongside Turnbull Hutton and called out the rottenness at the heart of Scottish Football ,and had simply refused to countenance the creation and fostering of the Big Lie and preserved their own integrity and the integrity of the entire sport in Scotland!
Huffing and puffing now about 'fake news' is not at all tackling the underlying problem-the rottenness and deceit that runs right through football administration like the coronavirus through China.
I would prefer that Celtic would do what the their shareholders asked: get the RES12 issue investigated, and get the 5-Way Agreement nonsense rescinded.
That would be far more beneficial than any chasing up of false translations of an 'interview' with an unlikeable footballer.
John Clark
True, we wouldn't be having translategate if they had stood up back then
What are the chances of statement o'clock today ? Somebody must be itching to respond .
https://twitter.com/tenglishsport/status/1225764552392036352?s=21
Irony overload here.
JohnClark@12.55 and Tony@14.00
I’m in no position to judge why CFC have taken the position they have re Translategate and remained silent over Res 12. I would hesitate to conflate the two issues separated as they are by such a long period of time and involving 2 separate entities employing different people. That said I feel it’s appropriate to acknowledge that Celtic, in the latter instance have acted correctly.
https://www.ftadviser.com/regulation/2020/02/07/watchdog-hits-out-at-wholly-unacceptable-fca-response-times/
It would appear you're not alone JC…???
https://twitter.com/record_sport/status/1225787194574548992?s=21
The next “Morelos”?
‘tony 7th February 2020 at 11:32
Jingso.Jimsie
the word on the street is that it was morelos own advisor who handled the translation,don’t know if it was or he is the fall guy’
####################
Yes, I saw that in the Record. I wonder what their source for that was? Nivel Cinco?
I’ve been keeping an eye open for developments in the Scottish football pyramid below the SPFL
There have been a few things that have come up in the past 10 days or so. The Pyramid Working Group (PWG) met last week and couldn’t agree on anything, so much so that Rod Petrie seems to have shut it down.
Following the PWG meeting, Tom Johnston, the SJFA secretary, then emailed the junior clubs saying that the LL and EOSFL don’t like the juniors and had vetoed recommendations of the PWG. He also said that all the junior clubs were together on their stance.
A couple of things happened thereafter. Tom Johnston’s account of the meeting was challenged by others who were represented at the PWG meeting. Firstly, because the PWG hadn’t made any recommendations. The LL and EOS were apparently not in favour of the SFFA joining the pyramid with their structure and organisation intact, but were willing to accept the West junior sides into a WOSFL equivalent to the EOSFL which would fall under the auspices of the SFA / SPFL / LL rules and regulations on fixture calendars, discipline, promotion, licensing etc, i.e. the SJFA could not remain as an autonomous entity within the pyramid.
The LL board met earlier this week and agreed to progress the introduction of a WOSFL being set up at Tier 6 (same as the EoSFL and SoSFL). A joint statement from the LL and EoSFL was issued today inviting clubs to express interest in joining the pyramid in a new WoSFL.
Three West Junior clubs have already publicly responded to the invite, Kilwinning, Clydebank and Whitletts Victoria, with several more said to be interested, but haven’t yet gone public.
I think that what we are seeing is similar to what happened with the East Juniors the season before last. What starts as a trickle will become a flood, with several clubs looking to joins a WOSFL setup. Only those die-hard juniors will stay put.
It will be a shame for the Juniors to be broken up in this way, but I don’t believe that the SJFA has any justification for attempting to stop ambitious clubs joining, or progressing up the Scottish Football pyramid.
It should be possible to get a WOSFL started in time for the new season, although the promotion/relegation/play off arrangements with the LL will have to be adjusted.
I wonder if it's ever happened before; a football club boasting about the value of a player they don't own?
Or a…
football club bigging up the value of a player they are supposedly intending to buy (if his loan period is successsful).
The stupidity of TRFC's PR efforts really do take some beating…in the laughter stakes
But not only that, they really do take great efforts to make sure their support look as stupid as they are gullible.
Celtic's half year report has been published to the market.
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/CCP/14416061.html
Financial Highlights
· Revenue increased by 6.6% to £53.3m (2018: £50.0m)
· Profit from trading was £7.1m (2018: £6.2m)
· Profit from transfer of player registrations (shown as profit on disposal of intangible assets) £23.0m (2018: £17.6m)
· Profit before taxation of £24.4m (2018: £18.8m)
· Acquisition of player registrations of £15.0m (2018: £1.9m)
· Period end net cash at bank of £32.9m (2018: £38.6m)
· Period end net cash, net of debt and debt like items, of £45.1m (2018: £37.7m)1
https://www.change.org/p/bbc-scotland-bbc-scotland-reinstate-michael-stewart?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_content=washarecopy_20197986_en-GB%3Av1&recruited_by_id=977d89b0-49d5-11ea-8819-bb9f090674fb
Petition to reinstate Michael Stewart at the BBC
jimbo 7th February 2020 at 18:55
Signed Jimbo. Welcome back and thanks for the link..
Ex Ludo 7th February 2020 at 14:37
'..I feel it’s appropriate to acknowledge that Celtic, in the latter instance have acted correctly.'
++++++++++++++=
I agree, of course, Ex Ludo: tackling any untruth is better than tackling none.
But if Celtic had really hit the 'TRFC= Rangers of 1872' nonsense on the head (and the lying deceitful mentality of those in governance responsible for it) we might have had a governance body of such unimpeachable integrity that no one involved in football would even have dreamt of pulling such a stunt as 'translatorgate'.
We might never know which evil, malicious dirty wee , or dirty fat ,tyke engineered that stunt, may the curse of Cromwell be upon him., but it's odds on that if he is ever identified, he sure as hell will not be punished to any significant degree, any more than was RFC of 1872 for SDM's cheating.
The SFA is so heavily compromised by its caving in to CG as to be, like Macbeth '"…in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er'…''…….as to be a completely busted flush.
At about 7.54 this evening, I though I heard David Currie commit career suicide: I distinctly heard him say to whoever he was talking to on Sportsound "It's a new club, isn't it… six or so years old.."
I nearly choked on my post-prandial Armignac…and for the longest brief second wondered …
Currie is by no means the worst, I have to say, but even in working for Sportsound demeans him, in my view.
And there are not many in Scottish football with the integrity of Michael Stewart and Jim Spence …
[ I still don't know which club Currie was speaking of or to whom he was speaking)]
Signed Jimbo ??
David Currie was referring to BSC Glasgow JC. I think they were formed about a year after Sevco. I bet the producer was having kittens when he said it, thinking where is he going with this!!
Just a pity, BSC didn't draw TRFC rather than Hibs this weekend. Some of the contorted gymnastics from the EBT'd pundits would have been tremendous.
normanbatesmumfc 7th February 2020 at 14:46
'..It would appear you're not alone JC…'
++++++++++++++
That's a good spot, nbmfc, and encouraging.
I might send a wee email to Rachel Mortimer.
https://www.change.org/p/bbc-scotland-bbc-scotland-reinstate-michael-stewart?recruiter=false&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_medium=whatsapp&utm_content=washarecopy_20197986_en-GB:v1&recruited_by_id=977d89b0-49d5-11ea-8819-bb9f090674fb
Petition to reinstate Michael Stewart at the BBC
Hope you don’t mind me repeating the link to the new page. Thanks to all who have signed. 1,500 so far.
If anyone deserves our support it’s Michael Stewart, he made BBC Scotland almost tolerable. A light shining in the darkness. I like Willie Miller too but he sticks to on field stuff.
Can’t believe The Evening Times on line has an article reporting on the petition for Michael Stewart. With a link to it! We are led to believe by JJ that Traynor has influence at that paper!
normanbatesmumfc 7th February 2020 at 14:46
++++++++++==
Anent my post of 20.54 tonight I'll definitely write to Rachel Mortimer!
I went into my email inbox about half an hour ago , not having accessed it since earlier this morning.
Lo and behold, what do I find?
This email :
Complaints Scheme <complaints@fca.org.uk>
To:(me)
Cc:Complaints Scheme
7 Feb at 16:35
Dear Mr ..
Thank you for your email of 3 February 2020.
We have checked our records and have liaised with the relevant departments in relation to the correspondence you told us that you have sent to the Financial Conduct Authority. Unfortunately we have no record of these. We would be grateful if you could provide us with these documents again and we will forward it to the relevant areas to review and respond to.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
FCA Complaints Team "
That is identical to a previous email about not being able to find my correspondence!
Not being able to find snail-mail letters is one thing: not being able to find emails is unheard of.
It instantly raises the suspicion that someone is deleting stuff in the hope that it might go away and they can plead ignorance or accident.
Ms Mortimer will get the whole story and copies from me as soon as I can compose myself and draft an appropriate letter.
Thanks again, nbmfc.
Allyjambo 7th February 2020 at 17:42
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I wonder if it’s ever happened before; a football club boasting about the value of a player they don’t own?
Or a…
football club bigging up the value of a player they are supposedly intending to buy (if his loan period is successsful).
The stupidity of TRFC’s PR efforts really do take some beating…in the laughter stakesmail But not only that, they really do take great efforts to make sure their support look as stupid as they are gullible.
…………………
Pure deflection by the club. The fans were promised a share issue in Jan and large investment believed to be coming from Hong kong, and many of the fans were hoping for some money to be spent on January signings to boost the squad.
Instead of the ibrox fans thinking we got nothing, they are now high on a loan player being valued at £100mill. So from thinking we got nothing too we have a player worth £100mill.
Deflection job done.
Cluster One 7th February 2020 at 22:39
There can be no doubt that it is all deflection, but their deflections are becoming ever more ludicrous, and should surely be seen by the most sentient of bears, at least, as downright insulting to all of them.
I'm sure he was first announced as a loan signing with a view to a permanent move, yet, here they are, saying the very opposite to what any sane business would say when intending to negotiate a purchase in the not too distant future. Any statement they make, if serious (we all know they're not) should qualify their bumming up of a loan player with the word 'but…' and definitely not put some fanciful price tag on him that makes it obvious they have no intention of signing him.
In true Ibroxian style, they are doing a 'reverse Morelos' with this one, just ever more ludicrous. They're even pricing him at five times the top fairy tale price they bandied about for their greatest ever player.
AllyJambo@23.09
The deflection is deployed on the same day CFC announce interim financials. Coincidence? Joincidince? (Friends reference)
I’m signing off now. I’m 3 generous measures into Auchentoshan Dark Oak.
I suppose the next 3 months or so are going to be a real test of Gerrard’s managerial abilities?
TRFC is still within touching-ish distance of a first title – and a SC win is still doable.
The transfer window has slammed shut without any incoming signings of note, (I.e. nothing to compare with Defoe and Davis last year).
But on the plus side, their star player Morelos is still at Ibrox. He didn’t get a transfer – as he allegedly expected – and to compound possible frustrations, he has VERY publicly suffered the humiliation of both Lambogate and Translationgate.
For a player who displays petulance – and cheating – on the field of play, mibbees he’s like that off the field too?
…and he could now be carefully lining up his toys – prior to violently ejecting them out of his pram?
Could be tricky for Gerrard to control?
And on top of recent, poor results, Gerrard has to lift his squad to actually win something this season.
And then there could be increasing noise off the field about the Ibrox finances, and even about Agent Whyte’s book…?
I don’t think it looks too promising for the Ibrox outfit this season – but as we all saw in the LC, if Gerrard can manage his squad effectively, then a SC win is certainly still achievable.
https://twitter.com/slimshady1961/status/1226081829549158401?s=21
Only the finest hagiography will do.
StevieBC 8th February 2020 at 07:48
And then there could be increasing noise off the field about the Ibrox finances, and even about Agent Whyte’s book…?
………..
With Whytes short stay at ibrox he knows how to play the media, get the big headline out there. Even if there is no substance it’s all about the headline. Jabba will be busy deflecting. But just now he must feel like a punch drunk fighter getting hit from all sides.
Morelos must be thinking, what the feck are they doing to me, I don’t mind a laugh and a joke but feck a pantomine.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-announce-huge-244m-profit-21453086
Just dawned on me that there are so many fires to put out at Ibrox that the reason we come up with so many different ideas for the regular deflections is just that: there really is a hell of a lot of problems for TRFC to deflect from. What's more, we have no idea of just how many problems they've had/continue to have that the deflections have successfully deflected everyone from. A bit of the old known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns.
I suspect that all football clubs, and all other businesses, have major problems from time to time, and minor ones that are ongoing, that we, the general public, never hear about. The problem for TRFC/RIFC is that there is an amazing amount of problems that we all know they've had that were resolved to their detriment while many are ongoing and almost certain to also be resolved to their detriment eventually. So many very expensive problems, so just imagine if, within all those deflections, some have been highly successful, indeed! Imagine if this current extra high level of p*sh is actually very clever PR, deflecting from something none of us have even guessed at!
All this is pure conjecture on my part, of course, but I'm pretty certain that, while in the same way that not all that's been reported about TRFC on social media has been accurate, there could/will be just as many serious problems that have gone unnoticed that we will never know about.
It's a long shot, I know, but just imagine if Traynor is actually a very gifted PR guru!!!
Craig Whyte: I edited Rangers stories before they were printed
EXCLUSIVE
Ex-Rangers owner Craig Whyte made the claims in his new book
19 comments
FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte has sensationally claimed that he used to “correct” the stories of Jim Traynor – then a journalist at the Daily Record – before they went to print.
Into The Bear Pit, Whyte’s autobiography due to be released next Friday, sees Whyte – who bought Rangers from David Murray for £1 in 2011 – also claim that he was able to get stories “pulled” from the Scottish press whenever he wanted.
READ MORE: The Kicker: Here's why Craig Whyte's book is utter mince
He also tells of his shock when the Record and Traynor – now the PR chief at Rangers – wrongly called him a “billionaire” in an infamous front-page headline.
Whyte claims: “Jim Traynor used to send me his articles through before he’d print them, and I’d correct them for him. In the pre-internet days, Murray must have had complete control. Some journalists were happy to have a good relationship with Rangers if that meant getting stories, even if as a result it became difficult to criticise the club.
“Traynor had got in touch … about a month after I went into Ibrox. We went for lunch at the Rogano restaurant and from that day he hounded me for a job. I was never that impressed with him. I would soon discover he could fly with the wind.”
Traynor hit back last night at Whyte’s claims, telling the Glasgow Times: “The truth about him is well-known. He was merely a pawn in a strategy – played out perfectly by the Record team at the time. So I can understand that he was ultimately and rightly exposed. You’d have thought the pound would have dropped by now.”
READ MORE: Petition launched for BBC to reinstate Michael Stewart
In the book, Whyte also said he could phone up newspapers to get rid of bad stories. “I had dinners with all the editors and learned very quickly that if there was a negative story I could call some of them up and have a pretty good chance of getting it stopped. With the Daily Record I had a 100% chance, and it was the same with The Sun.
“I used to call the editor of The Herald. I had a 50-50 chance of getting things stopped there. If it didn’t get stopped, you threatened them with withdrawal of access, that they wouldn’t get stories.”
READ MORE: 15 of the most incredible quotes from Craig Whyte's new Rangers book
He then describes picking up the Daily Record on the day the newspaper printed the news he was going to buy Rangers: “The front page screamed: ‘BILLIONAIRE SCOT TO BUY RANGERS FOR £30m.’ What the hell?! Billionaire?! How had they come to that?
“I soon found out. In response to the enquiries from journalists, Ian McKerron had put together a small biography of me, and had said I had a billion under management.
“Clearly the Record hadn’t understood there is a world of difference between assets under management and assets that you own. Maybe it was a reasonable mistake to make, but it wasn’t true.”
The piece, written by Traynor, claimed talks were at an advanced stage, though Whyte claims this was not the case after only meeting Murray once until that point.
Claims by Traynor that then Rangers manager Walter Smith would have a “massive sum” to spend in the following January were also wide of the mark, according to Whyte.
“The Scottish Sun went further and said: ‘RANGERS SOLD BY XMAS,” added Whyte.
The Daily Record and The Scottish Sun have declined to comment.
“…imagine if Traynor is actually a very gifted PR guru!!!…”
Right Allyjambo: you’ve finally outed yourself as Jabba!
You’re right of course.
Traynor could be doing a fantastic job for a very challenging Client, all things considered.
But my gut feeling is that Traynor is a similar character to those occupying the Blue Room: an unethical chancer, who has bullsh!ted his way throughout his working life.
The prime example?
Traynor’s seamless transition from p!sh poor footy pundit to a PR ‘expert’.
And talking of unknowns, etc. when it comes to PR management, IMO, Traynor simply doesn’t know what he doesn’t know!
StevieBC 8th February 2020 at 13:05
“But my gut feeling is that Traynor is a similar character to those occupying the Blue Room: an unethical chancer, who has bullsh!ted his way throughout his working life.”
In my opinion, Stevie, you’ve just precis’d the job description of the perfect PR man, though I have to admit, your opinion of Traynor matches mine.
Still, however good or bad a PR man Traynor is, the ludicrous stories he’s pushing now can’t just be to deflect from what we already know ie RIFC/TRFC are low on/out of cash and were in desperate need to sell Morelos plus the rest, have numerous court cases to settle, the Close loan to pay back and all the while keeping their support onside. You don’t have to be a half-decent PR man to come up with some deflection that doesn’t make your client look even more stupid than they already did, not when you’ve got the media in the palm of your hand. And after all this time of ever more obvious lying PR, the club keep paying him for this BS. He’s either doing a good job, or they just can’t fire him. I’d suspect that if Jim Traynor is not doing a good job, then he has one of those ‘onerous contracts’ we used to hear about from PMGB.
On page23 of today's 'The Scotsman' we have John McLellan under the heading 'A timely reminder of the power of the 'Press' ' using the McKay scandal as an opportunity for bit of SNP bashing (McLellan, of course, is a former editor of the Scotsman and was communications director for the Scottish Tories and media advisor to Ruth Davidson, so we know where he's coming from)'
We know the power of the Press, thank you, Mr McLellan: we have watched that power over the last decade not as a power for good, but for evil , protecting at the expense of truth
first ,a dishonest,cheating Football Club and its majority share-holder ,
second, a dishonest, deceitful, Football governance body,
third, a dishonest new football club claiming falsely the sporting achievements and honours of a defunct club and marketing itself as being that defunct club
And on the back page of the 'Weekend Sport' supplement of the same paper (a whole half a page!) we have Alan Pattullo's 'advertisement' for CW's book.
The second sentence of the 'advert reads' "On 14 February, eight years to the day after Rangers plunged into administration……….comes Craig Whyte' memoirs"
No mention, of course, that Rangers never came out of Administration, but went into Liquidation and ceased to be a shareholder in the SPL and ceased to be entitled to membership of the SFA.
That is, not all the truth is being told.
————
Trumpeting about the power of the Press? Josef Goebbels could do as much.
Trouble is, Truth is indivisible.
And using the power of the Press to support and defend a lie is to betray a Goebbels-like attitude.
If journalists are scared to report simple sporting matters truthfully, what greater evils might they also choose not to report?
StevieBC 8th February 2020 at 13:05
“an unethical chancer, who has bullsh!ted his way throughout his working life.”
Bullshat, shurely. (Ed)
The Rangers nwmtp…
I stand / sit corrected… and I duly defer to your superior bullshittery.