From the TSFM Manifesto đ
A spectre is haunting Scottish Football â the spectre of Sporting Integrity. All the powers of the old firms have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Billy and Dan, Blazer and Cassock, Record and Sun, Balance Sheet and P&L.
Where is the football fan in opposition to these that has not been decried as a “sporting integrity bampot” by his opponents in power?Two things result from this fact:
I. Sporting Integrity is already widely acknowledged to be itself a power for good.
II. It is high time that Lovers of Sport should openly, in the face of the whole world, publish their views, their aims, and meet this nursery tale of the Spectre of Sporting Integrity with a manifesto of fair play.
To this end, Lovers of Sport of various partisanship have assembled on TSFM and sketched their manifesto, to be published on tsfm.scot.
Those who love sport though are challenged not just by the taunts of the monosyllabic automatons in the MSM, but by the owners of our football clubs who have displayed an almost total disregard to our wish to have a fair competition played out in the spirit of friendly rivalry. In fact the clubs, who speak those fine words, are not nearly as outraged as we are by the damage done to the integrity of the sport in the past few years .
In fact the term Sporting Integrity has become, since the latter stages of the Rangers era, a term of abuse; a mocking soubriquet attached to those who want sport to be just that – sport.
Sporting integrity now lives in the same media pigeon-hole as words like Islam, left-wing, militant, Muslim – and a host of others; words which are threats to the established order now set up as in-jokes, in order to reduce the effectiveness of the idea.
In fact, a new terminology has evolved in the reporting of football by both club officials and The Succulent Lamb Chapel alike;
“.. Sporting Integrity but …”.
For example
“We all want sporting integrity, but finance is more important”
Says who exactly?
Stated in such a matter of fact way that the obvious question is headed off at the pass, it is sometimes difficult to re-frame the discussion – perhaps because crayon is so hard to erase?
This is the backdrop to The Scottish Football Monitor and the world in which we live. Often the levels of scrutiny employed by our contributors are far in excess of any scrutiny employed by the MSM. Indeed our ideas and theories are regularly plagiarised by those very same lazy journalists who lurk here, and cherry-pick material to suit their own agendas; regularly claiming exclusives for stories that TSFM and RTC before us had placed in the public domain weeks earlier.
This was going to lead into a discourse about the love of money versus the love of sport – of how the sacred cows of acquisitiveness, gate- retention and turnstile spinning is far more important to the heads of our football clubs (the Billys, Dans and Blazers of the intro) than maintaining the traditions of our sport.
However events of Friday 14th November have given me cause to leave that for another day. The biggest squirrel of all in this sorry saga has always been the sleight of hand employed instil a siege mentality in the Rangers fans. The press have time and again assisted people (with no love of football in general or Rangers in particular) to enrich themselves – legally or otherwise – and feed on the loyalty of Rangers fans.
A matter for Rangers fans may also be the identity of some of those who had their trust, but who also assisted the Whytes and Greens by their public statements of support.
Our contention has been that rules have been bent twisted or broken to accommodate those people, the real enemies of the Rangers fans – and fans everywhere.
Through our collective research and group-analysis of events, we have also wondered out loud about the legality of many aspects of the operating style of some of the main players in the affair. That suspicion has been shared most notably by Mark Daly and Alex Thompson, but crucially now appears to be shared by Law Enforcement.
I confess I am fed up with the self-styled “bampot” epithet. For the avoidance of doubt, the “bampots” in this affair are those who have greater resources than us, and access to the truth, but who have lacked either the will or the courage or the imagination to follow it through.
We are anything but bampots. Rather, we have demonstrated that the wisdom of the crowd is more effective by far than any remnants of wisdom in the press.
I have no doubt that the police investigation into this matter is proceeding in spite of great opposition in the MSM and the Scottish Football Authorities – all of whom conspired to expose Rangers to the custodianship of those for whom football is a foreign language.
I have no doubt that the constant exposition of wrong-doing on this blog, in particular the questions we have constantly raised, and anomalies we have pointed out, has assisted and enabled the law enforcement agencies in this process.
If we are to be consistent in this, our enabling of the authorities, we MUST show restraint at all times as this process is followed through. People who are charged with a crime deserve to be given a fair trial in the absence of rumour or innuendo. We must also, if we are to continue as the spectre which haunts the avaricious – and the real bampots – be seen to be better than they, and give them no cause to accuse us of irresponsibility.
This affair has now evolved way beyond one club gaining unfair advantage over others. For all the understandable Schadenfreude of many among us, the real enemy is not Rangers, it is about those who enabled and continue to enable the farce at Ibrox.
This is now about systematic cheating at the heart of the Scottish game (in the name of cash and in spite of lip service to sporting integrity), and how the greed of a bunch of ethically challenged officials allowed another group of ethically challenged businessmen free rein to enrich themselves at the expense of the fans.
Whether laws were broken or not, the players at Rangers have come and gone and are variables, but the malignant constant at the SFA and SPFL are still there. Last night, even after the news that four men had been arrested in connection with the takeover at Ibrox in 2011, they were gathered together at Celtic Park with their Irish counterparts, tucking into succulent lamb (perhaps) and fine wines, doing some back slapping, making jokes about the vulgarities of their fans, bragging about the ST money they have banked.
The revolution won’t be over until they are gone, and if they remain, it is Scottish Football that will be over.
So, we’re asked to believe that Regan (and by inference other hierarchies) knows by late November that TRFC are up the creek. They couldn’t have worked out, as my budgie did, that this was how it was headed at the start of the season? And taken appropriate action to protect honest clubs? For me, he’s gone public on his ineptitude. And the fact that he takes the rest of us for suckers.
His answers as the SFA CEO to the actual questions asked, especially in the context of a Northern Irish interviewer asking them on behalf of the large number of Rangers fans in that country, are perfectly acceptable
____________________________________________________________________________
To frame his answers in the context of the interviewer’s nationality is ludicrous. Same questions, same answers. Simple.
Often what marks courage is not what you don’t say but what you say – either SFA/SR are cowards or complicit – or disingenuous…..
Re the suggestion the reaction to Regan on here is extreme. Is it acceptable for any FA CE to specifically wish success for one member club?
Rangers do have an economic impact on the game (and further) throughout Scotland. You cannot castigate them for spending ÂŁ70m in 2 years and then denying that as fact.
___________________________________________________________
ÂŁ70m in 2 years in part time leagues? Yes it’s fact, and they can certainly be castigated for such obscene folly. Tell your economic benefit to the back office staff who have just been laid off.
Up the hoops @ 9.41. The answer is NO.
The CE. Of any FA. Should be stating that All clubs are equal and that All clubs should be financially sustainable and seen to be. He should not be pandering to MA or any other influential investor of any club. One set of rules for all , take it or leave it.
That should be his only statement. !!
A wee bit of movie dialogue occurred to me while watching Stuart. I’m sure you all know the scene:
Casper999 @ 9:57pm
Imagine the head of the FA were to come out and say for everyone’s sake we need Man Utd to win everything. Imagine not only the media outrage, but the outrage by many other clubs. Yet in Scotland it is perfectly acceptable for the head of the SFA to make such a statement. I have no doubt the media will spend the next few days justifying it into the bargain.
Absolutely sickening. Could you imagine the outrage if he said this about celtic .
He would be hounded out of town and would be another “rangers hater”. But it’s about the gers so ill be spun in the best possible light. No wonder decent fans are scunnerd . They just don’t get it.
Chris McLaughlin â@BBCchrismclaug
The long awaited #Rangers AGM will be held on 22nd of December. No definite venue as yet. Accounts to be signed off by end of week.
I hate Americanisnms, especially when I’m not sure how they are used, but I’ll boldly step up to the plate and come in from left field and pause for moment to consider what Regan said,and why he said it now,and the context in which he said it.
I conclude that he has spoken NOW because of Peter Lawwell’s strong assertion at the Celtic AGM that ‘Sporting Integrity’ is of paramount importance. Lawwell is on the main SFA Board and therefore a significant element in the shaping of SFA policy , which, as the paid CEO,Regan has to propound and foster.And I suspect that Lawwell made know to the SFA Board that, if asked at the AGM about ‘Integrity’, he would say what said.
I am prepared, therefore, to the draw the inference that Regan’s ‘discussions’ with Somers made it plain that the SFA Board believe that MA’s dual-club connection was a major problem in the context of existing rules about influence,and that the SFA could not grant any concession beyond the 10% shareholding already granted.And that they are not happy with the influence MA has through his two Board stooges.
And further, I infer that the discussions with Somers were to prepare him, and the 500 000 000, for the shock they will experience if TRFC?RIFC plc suffers an insolvency event mid-season: the full rigour of the ‘insolvency’ rules will be applied, without fear or favour.
I have no doubt that in the ‘discussions’, Regan will have,with whatever degree of regret,told Somers that the ball is firmly in their court:it is for them to find their own financial salvation and that salvation cannot be MA if that would mean an unacceptable level of Boardroom control, while MA is still in control of Newcastle..
I would say that Regan will have pushed Somers to try to get Ashley either to relinquish control of Newcastle, or simply continue to provide the necessary loans to ensure that RIFC plc does not suffer an insolvency event AND alter the loan agreement, withdrawing his ‘right’ to Board representation.
I think it may be possible that the SFA Board really are bracing themselves for the almost inevitable, and have decided to begin to prepare the 500 000 000 for some unpleasantness.
They might hope that true ‘Rangers’ men will come in at the last moment in a desperate bid to end all the worry,shore up the club to let Ally squeeze in ( somehow) to the top division and hope that next season they’ll find a sponsor etc etc..
But I think they may have had to accept that the ‘help’ they can give is severely curtailed, because the whole of Scottish Football is watching like hawks.
Is that too fanciful a scenario, do you think? Can a leopard change his spots? ( Sorry, Essexb, there’s old Shakespoke again!)
If the statement had been made by Doncaster as CEO of the SPFL, I could understand it – whilst not agreeing. Doncaster’s remit is supposedly to maximise commercial benefits for his member clubs.
But for the SFA CEO to say it?!
What is the purpose of the SFA then, if not to govern impartially, and to protect and develop the game for the benefit of all Scottish football stakeholders ?
[Not just for senior clubs, and not biased in favour of any particular club either.]
If both organisations are now aligned in their pursuit of money as their main objective, then why not just scrap the SFA then and enlarge the SPFL administration ?
Now that the big bushy squirrel called Regan has broken cover, doing backflips and generally distracting everyone, does anyone know the date of the RIFC AGM?
By the way, I’m most grateful to weeman for clarifying that the CEO of the SFA has different sets of answers to questions, depending on who asks the question and on whose behalf. Interesting also to learn that Northern Ireland journalists ask their questions on behalf of “Rangers” supporters. I wonder who asks questions on behalf of the other people who live in that part of the world?
All in all a highly educational post, weeman. Perhaps you can also let us know what a decent, honest and all round wonderful human being Mr Ogilvie is- we really need to hear more of that sort of stuff.
upthehoops says:
November 25, 2014 at 9:41 pm
Re the suggestion the reaction to Regan on here is extreme. Is it acceptable for any FA CE to specifically wish success for one member club?
———————–
He was specifically asked questions about one member club – I’m not sure that would have given him the opportunity to wish any other clubs success.
John Clark @10.15.
I really admire your optimism on this and would be delighted if your scenario came to fruition.
I think we are all just heartily sick of the sneakiness and double standards that surround everything that eminates from Hampden or Govan.
The Glen says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:23 pm
‘..He was specifically asked questions about one member club’
——–
I think you’re right about that, as it happens.
But such was the duplicity, double-dealing, total lack of transparency and actual support for the GREAT LIE by the SFA that we are all acutely aware that anything they say has to be examined with a fine-tooth comb.
And, really, Regan is not very good in his choice of words-he sets himself up for accusations of something less than judicial neutrality!
John Clark says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:35 pm
The Glen says:
I think youâre right about that, as it happens.
But such was the duplicity, double-dealing, total lack of transparency and actual support for the GREAT LIE by the SFA that we are all acutely aware that anything they say has to be examined with a fine-tooth comb.
—————-
I have no problem with that John, none at all.
However from reading many of the comments so far on here today, if I hadn’t watched the interview myself, I would have thought that the high heed yin at the SFA suddenly showed up on the STV news, wishing one specific team the best of luck.
In fairness, I don’t think that’s what happened.
A propos of nothing much…
Tonight,the winning Lottery Millionaire Raffle number is:
SDM 049114
How many folk with those initials, and in need of a few bob, must be ruefully ripping up their unluckily-numbered tickets?
Re: over the years it has been very easy to distrust the SFA in respect of the ongoing favouritism shown to Rangers on just about every subject you care to mention.
My understanding of the way that the SPFL were going to approach things is that once clubs sorted out their finances then there would be the introduction of FFP, with no wriggle room for the Rangers.
However, the breathtaking incompetence of the Rangers management has delayed the introduction of FFP and the SPFL will be faced with :
– administering a 25 point penalty
– directors fined for bringing the game into disrepute
– directors in charge of the finances banned sine die
If the AGM goes ahead on the 22nd Dec then someone (Ashley or King) has ponied up the cash to avoid the above , however if it is either gentleman , one cannot influence Rangers , clearly in the rules , and the other should be sine die after his previous car crash whilst at the helm.
Rangers must be worst managed football club in UK professional football.
I
The Regan STV clip has him anticipating the hopes of the Rangers fans. I don’t think his response shows undue bias to Rangers. In the context of the questions I don’t think his answers were much more than predictable.
At least he did flag up the Ashley situation.
I think you’re giving Weeman a hard time on that particular score although perhaps he gave a wee bit too much support to Regan’s potential outlook.
Regardless of audience, The SFA CEO cannot pick out one club as being one that he wants to see winning (and therefore at the expense of other member clubs). That’s a ludicrous situation and he should know that if he has any idea about governing sport, in the true sense of the word.
It would be useful to know if the current predicament is in line with any business plan accepted by the SFA in 2012. That should not need any clarification by the SFA CEO. Or did he endorse the idea of expenditure exceeding income when there was no credit line? Either way, he’s not doing his job or, at least, the job many think he should be doing.
casper999 says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:25 pm
‘..I really admire your optimism on this and would be delighted if your scenario came to fruition.’
———
I would not exactly say I’m entirely optimistic, Casper999.It’s just that I think things are building up to crisis point,and the mutterings of discontent about the lack of ANY public pronouncement by the SFA ( as the ultimate governing body) on what is by any measure a disgraceful situation of uncertainty, must finally be working their way through to the SFA board.
I offered my interpretation as really being no more than possibly justified by the timing of the statement( after the Celtic AGM), the nature of the statement( reference to discussions with Somers re MA), and the parlous state of RIFC plc finances.
The other interpretation is, at bottom, that the SFA is lining us up for an ‘accommodation’ outwith the normal rules in order to save RIFC plc ‘for the good of not only Glasgow, but all of Scotland’
I’m not a betting man, but if pushed I think my emotional response would be to bet on the second interpretation!
On the basis of once bitten, twice shy!
However, even the SFA Board must at some point engage its brain and think of consequences.
And I would be greatly cheered if the first sign of that was the resignation of Campbell Ogilvie,as part of the move by the SFA to be clean, and be seen to be clean.
MA’s in business, he hasn’t caught chick’s Rangersitis, he’s not planning on turning Ibrox into a Pharonic attempt at immortality by pouring his wealth irreversibly into putting sevco ‘back where they belong’. He’s not looking for a ticket into the Scottish establishment club in order to satisfy a life long desire to be accepted. He’s not trying to preserve a mythical construct of fifties protestant working class identity.
He’s going to make money, he’s going to earn more than he invests/loans. He will, if TRIFC continue at their present rate, acquire substantial property around Ibrox stadium.
He earns a healthy slice of income from shirt sales, he has access to stadium advertising, ounerousity is going to be the order of the day.
John Clark says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:55 pm
The other interpretation is, at bottom, that the SFA is lining us up for an âaccommodationâ outwith the normal rules in order to save RIFC plc âfor the good of not only Glasgow, but all of Scotlandâ
Iâm not a betting man, but if pushed I think my emotional response would be to bet on the second interpretation!
==============
We have heard recently from two senior employees of the SFA- Gordon Strachan and Regan. There are no mixed messages, we are simply being softened up for yet another “manipulation”- for the greater good of course, Scottish football just can’t do without those 500 million customers. It’s hard to know whether to laugh or cry at the gullibility (and that’s an extremely kind interpretation) of those charged with regulating the game.
Here we go again, and I wonder, given the events of the past 3 years, whether anyone has retained enough of their love of the game to even be bothered this time around. That is, of course, what the authorities are counting on.
EKBhoy says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:47 pm
‘Rangers must be worst managed football club in UK professional football’
——–
Let me distinguish: RFC(IL) under SDM was shockingly badly managed, running up enormous debt and crashing into Liquidation leaving its creditors stiffed, without a blush and at no personal penalty to the cheating majority shareholder,SDM (whose poor management skills also resulted in a huge black hole in a pension fund,while somehow his family’s personal wealth did rather well).
RIFC plc’s various changing Boards ( who the hell WERE all those guys?)have almost outdone SDM in financial incompetence and inefficiency, although perhaps, not in ‘sporting cheatery’, and, perhaps, deliberately engineered incompetence aimed more at lining personal pockets.
Which of the two of these quite distinct entities is/was the worst managed football club must therefore be a moot point.
Sound Familiar?
The last President that tried Regan economics ended up on
Spitting Image sitting in bed mumbling that his brain was missing
The SFA will only consider doing the right thing when they’ve exhausted every other possibility and been hopelessly backed into a corner. They’ve had chance after chance after chance to rid Scottish football of the corruption that’s riddled successive Ibrox regimes and they’ve bottled it every time because the same level of corruption is present at Hampden. Even if they now wanted to cleanse the game, they’re incapable of doing it themselves because they are a major part of the problem.
neepheid says:
November 25, 2014 at 11:17 pm
‘..We have heard recently from two senior employees of the SFA- Gordon Strachan and Regan. There are no mixed messages, we are simply being softened up for yet another âmanipulationâ-‘
————
Certainly, those on the SFA board who are sworn to protect the fortunes of TRFC/RIFC plc would have welcomed Strachan’s apparent willingness to abandon any notion of integrity, if by so doing the fortunes of a particular ailing club could be revived. ( Very strictly, as an employee speaking out of turn on a matter that is not within his remit, he should have been disciplined for that.It is not for the manager of the National team to pass any kind of public comment on matters relating to the SFA’s dealings with any club)
Regan as an employee does have a right to address such matters- but only as representing the Board’s view, not his personal view.
I don’t myself think that what Regan said was an actual endorsement of anything Strachan said, though. I think there is room to believe that some kind of line may have been drawn by the majority on the SFA Board, which enabled Lawwell to be so definite that Celtic would stand by the notion of ‘Sporting Integrity’ as against accepting any kind of ‘manipulation’ aimed at saving the fortunes of a dying club for crude commercial reasons only.
Such is the lack of transparency, such is the silence of all the other SFA member clubs, that we simply do not know the score: you may very well be right.
But I think that what Strachan said is really of no account, except as a wee sop to those angry supporters of TRFC who choose not to be part of the Tartan Army.
If, instead of
“In that regard I know the fans are desperate to see success again. They are desperate for stability”
Stewart Regan had said, or been quoted to say
“In that regard I know the The Rangers fans are desperate to see success (without again). They are desperate for stability”,
then we would possibly all have accepted that.
Instead we have this social unrest…………………..
Having watched Regan’s interview a couple if times, it became noticeable that he appeared slightly uncomfortable, his hairline & brow particularly showing signs of breaking into a sweat.
In fact, you’d think he was sweating like a Sevco shareholder.
Yerevan says:
November 26, 2014 at 12:44 am
‘Having watched Reganâs interview a couple if times, it became noticeable that he appeared slightly uncomfortable, his hairline & brow particularly showing signs of breaking into a sweat.’
————
I heard the nor’n ireland accent of the interviewer, but hadn’t known the interview was in Nor’n Ireland? What was the occasion? And, I may say, wasn’t the interviewer several light years ahead of anything that our wee Radio Scotland produces as ‘interviewers’? Beads of sweat on Regan’s forehead? Wrong answer, and there would have been …. running down his legs! đ
Martin says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:12 pm
Chris McLaughlin â@BBCchrismclaug
The long awaited Rangers AGM will be held on 22nd of December.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
And please give it up for emergency guest-speaker, Donald Rumsfeld:
“Ma Fellow Bears. There are known loans. These are things we know that we owe. There are loans unknown. That is to say, there are things that we owe we donât know. But there are also unowned unknowns. These are things we donât know we donât own.”
Re Regan’s interview. The fact that the SFA is having to deal with MASH’s lawyers suggests that Ashley is keeping himself well removed from Hampden. You can bet your boots that the SFA request to hold talks with Ashley was passed on to his lawyers. In turn they will not have answered any telephone calls from the SFA for a “showdown” but will have replied in writing thus keeping their client at arms length. The lawyers will no doubt phrase their reply in legalese and will frustrate the SFA from seeking a papal audience with the great man himself. Ashley knows he’s on a winner and he is not going to let the buffoons at the SFA derail his plans.
What sanctions will the SFA impose on TRFC if Ashley doesn’t play ball? I think the answer is ‘none’. The excuse that the talks are “on-going” can’t last forever, so expect the SFA to put out a face-saving statement shortly where Ashley gets all he wants “for the good of Scottish football”.
First ever post. Long time reader (devourer). But sorry to have to say that itâs a wee bit of a complaint.
At 7:40 on November 25, Sixtaeseven posted as follows:
âRegan:
âWe would all like to see Rangers back to their winning ways as quickly as possible and to improve their financial position in order to bring more money to the game of football in Scotland.â
Scandalous statement !!!â
This is indeed a scandalous statement. I couldnât wait to to tell a close pal about the latest example of the SFAâs blue tinged effrontery and I note that others with similar sentiments rushed to post and express their outrage on the back of this quote.
However, Iâve been unable to find it anywhere. I suspect itâs either a mistake or maybe sixtaeseven has found it in a Belfast newspaper or TV station. If so, could he possibly provide a link? Otherwise Iâm inclined to wonder if it was simply a joke that myself and others been daft enough to fall for? Or has sixtaeseven been misled?
Iâve now sat through this STV interview several times (and that advert for Dennis trucks that ye canny close) because I think itâs important to find the facts. Facts are the reason I have been reading this blog since its inception and RTC long before that.
So, to quote PMcG:âfor the avoidance of doubtâ, and to save others the absolute boredom of the Dennis truck ad, I have transcribed the relevant part of the interview â minus several âyou knowâs.
The context is that Regan is in the Europa Hotel, Belfast at a meeting of the International Football Association Board, a group set up in 1886 to adjust and amend the laws of the game.
Heâs been buttonholed about âRangersâ and its financial difficulties by an Irish reporter. STV âstringerâ or local TV? You may well ask. In the early part of the interview, Regan confirms the fact that SFA are in dialogue (whatever that is) with Mike Ashleyâs lawyers and also with David Somers. Then heâs asked this question:
âYou will be well aware of the fan base in Northern Ireland and itâs a club where through the years tens of thousands have traveled across the water but..er..are you concerned with the latest financial situation there and whatâs going on at which (sic) is undoubtedly one of Scotlandâs largest an best clubs?â
Reganâs answer:
âWell obviously it is concerning for the Scottish game. We would all like to see Rangers improve their financial position in order to actually bring money to the game of football in Scotland.
âRangers have got a strong economic impact, not just for Glasgow but for Scotland generally. In that regard I know the fans are desperate to see success again. They are desperate for stability. Theyâve had a number of years of ups and downs now and I think they are hopeful they will get some certainty and stability in future.â
Sorry. I hate to be an apologist for Stuart Regan but nowhere does he say anything about Rangers getting back to âwinning waysâ. He says, âWe would all like to see Rangers improve their financial positionâŚâ. OK, he uses a royal âweâ in speaking on behalf of the âScottish gameâ â and most of us who actually support other teams in the Scottish game would disagree – but really, the whole interview is an exercise in âblandâ. IMHO, of course. Itâs telling us nothing we donât already know.
We TSFM aficionados may well speculate whether or not SFA might be happy if erâŚâThe Rangersâ were to improve its financial position by stiffing any number of creditors, or by receiving boatloads of cash from nameless sheiks or Mafioso. But we canât state it as fact.
Adherence to facts is what makes TSFM stand alone among football blogs. The word âintegrityâ is bandied about in often in these pages. But âcredibilityâ is equally as important. TSFM needs to guard its credibility. It remains the only chance of providing a guide dug for the SMSMâs self imposed blindness.
Maybe the next time Regan sneaks out of the Hampden bunker, a hack with a sense of humour could ask him;
“How well do you think the SFA is doing in delivering on it’s ‘Strategic 5th pillar’ objective of being
Respected & Trusted to Lead? ”
:soundofcrashingpillarsinbackground:
đż
Regan and Rangers ‘economic impact’
âRangers have got a strong economic impact not just for Glasgow but for Scotland generallyâ
By my reckoning Scottish football, generally, has a fairly neutral impact on the economics of the country. The vast majority of the customers are domiciled in Scotland and were they to suddenly not have a team to support, they would proceed to spend their money elsewhere in the country; perhaps there would be an uptick in golf club membership, or their kids might get a few more toys. Maybe the family would have a few days out at local castles or at the beach. Much of the money though, would still be spent IN Scotland. Thus the total impact of this is near zero and possibly positive as rather than being spirited away out of the country that same money might actually be spent over and over IN the country.
Sponsorship money might be something that would be lost to the country but we don;t see much of that nowadays and much of it comes from within Scotland anyway, so the same applies as above.
Foreign fans travelling for Euro games. There could be a slight effect here, but no more than slight. As a country we have a set number of clubs qualifying for Europe. Foreign fans will come, regardless of who their team are playing. The only real effect therefore is how far into any competition our representatives can go. At this moment, Rangers are certainly not our best prospect for maximising that income.
The Glen says:
November 25, 2014 at 10:23 pm
â..He was specifically asked questions about one member clubâ
——————————-
Regan knows that member club is living massively outwith its means giving it a huge sporting advantage. He also knows the rest of the clubs make every attempt to live within their means. To ignore all that and simply wish the club living outwith its means was ‘back to its winning ways’ while ignoring how it behaves is a breathtaking statement.
Personally I don’t believe the CEO of of the FA in any other developed nation would get away with such a statement. The media in the country would be up in arms. I suspect the media in this country will be rushing to endorse, rather than condemn, such faouritism from the head of the SFA.
Question for the financial folks. Can TRFC still hold an AGM without the accounts being signed off by the auditor? Could they hold an AGM with accounts signed off by Directors only?
âRangers have got a strong economic impact not just for Glasgow but for Scotland generallyâ
Have a word with the people who only this week lost their jobs at the aforementioned company that generates squillions for the Scottish Economy. Ask how they feel knowing that whilst they are now unemployed the company that dumped them has the ability to make huge wads of cash for our wee country. Regan seems so far detached from the reality of the situation at Ibrox it is actually a disgrace.
Carfins Finest says:
November 26, 2014 at 7:07 am
==================================
Perhaps Regan is from the same school of thinking as Ian Black, but perhaps not. It just re-iterates the utter crassness of what he said last night. He is a lucky man the media in this country simply won’t hear any notion that there is institutional bias towards Rangers. That doesn’t mean there isn’t, or hasn’t been, it only means the media refuse to even say it’s possible, therefore Regan gets the protection by default.
Stealing Amazingless’ gag from 2.02
The Rangers has known loans. This is money that they know that they owe to people that they know.
The Rangers has unknown loans. This is money that they don’t know that they owe to people that they know.
The Rangers also has unknown unknown loans. This is money that they don’t know that they they owe to people that they don’t know.
Good Morning
So Rangers have an economic impact on Glasgow and Scotland.
Never a truer word spoken.
The effect on our police ambulance and health service together with their creditors have all felt the economic effect of Ranger.
They have all been shafted and left poorer.
The only people who benefit from the Rangers economic effect is Rangers and their spivs.
Matt Slater (BBC Journalist ?) describing Steven Naismith’s career on BBC Scotland webshite
Steven Naismith: A career in focus
Makes professional debut for Kilmarnock in 2004, wins young player of the year awards from Scottish Football Writers in 2006 and Scottish PFA in 2007
Joins Rangers in August 2007 for ÂŁ1.9m, scoring 33 goals in 140 appearances for the Glasgow giants, wins six trophies
Moves to Everton on a free transfer in July 2012, comes off bench 20 times in difficult first season
Breaks into Roberto Martinez’s first team in early 2014 and becomes key player; now has 18 goals in 85 appearances
Has 34 caps for Scotland, usually as attacking midfielder, with four international goals, all in qualifying matches
…”moves to Everton on a free transfer”
Is it not more truthful to describe Naismith as – a Free Agent
(Because the Club/employer went out of business and his contract was annulled?)
Pendolino says:
November 26, 2014 at 2:48 am
A welcome first post.
Having read some of the comments on here and as someone who has been a long term critic of the SFA’s role in the ongoing saga, I just watched the ITV interview expecting to be outraged. I wasn’t.
To be clear this is not to say that I suddenly expect the SFA to act in the open, honest, fair way we would all wish for. Not on past form! But the comment about the strong economic impact not just for Glasgow but for Scotland generally I think he means in a Scottish football context rather than the economy as a whole. It’s not unambiguous and I think the guy speaks a bit like a struggling politician.
The comment about success is as you say about the fans being desperate for success. Not Regan desperate for them to have success.
I’m well aware that the MSM sometimes do clubs a disservice by spinning innocuous comments by managers and players into explosive headlines. I’ve also been told that only 10% of a message is in the words, 40% the tone of voice and 50% visual body language.
Everyone should watch the video and come to their own view.
I’ve followed the Govan situation closely over the years on RTC and TSFM, when looking for fair and reasonably balanced comment, the SMSM clearly fail here.
The comments are usually succinct, and sometimes partisan, but the joy of this blog is generally they are fair regardless of the contributor’s starting slant.
I read the Regan comments and was fuming. Having now just listened to the interview on the STV player I think there is some over the top criticism.
Had I only listened only to the tape there’s not too much I can find fault with other than the overly-familiar use of “Mike” when discussing Mr Ashley’s intent and Regan forgetting to tell us it was weeks ago the SFA asked for clarification.
A fully objective and in-control CEO would be demanding answers with repercussions if not forthcoming rather than looking for meetings,etc.
That apart I think, for once, much of the outrage in comments thus far is misplaced using this interview alone.
That said my trust in the SFA to deal fairly, appropriately and in an even handed manner in all things Rangers, remains at zero.
Mr Regan may be in dialogue with Ashley about his influence on The Ibrox Club but what exactly will he do if Ashley is unsympathetic to Regan’s concerns?
If Regan tries to hold Ashley to the prior agreement they had that 10% and no boardroom influence was the limit to Ashley’s involvement, what if Ashley says “well, I agreed to that then, but now I’ve changed my mind”?
What exactly can Regan do if Ashley reneges on that agreement, and more to the point, what is Regan & the SFA actually prepared to do? Past performance suggests they will postpone doing anything until events overtake them.
Great post, Pendolino – so nice to see a bit of accuracy in the face of a a tendency to hear what you want to hear. There is enough to be disconcerted and even outraged by in the administration of Scottish football without making up more.
Regan is not the problem here, he thought he was head of the SFA until RFC died, then all the Rangers men in ‘his’ office have been pulling strings, Ogilvie has always been in control and remains in control, if it has SFA stamped on it, dont buy it.
@Aquinas. While I agree that Regan is not in control I would disagree that he is not the problem. His presence legitimizes the whole shebang. Had he an ounce of professional pride he would have resigned the moment his utterly compromised boss refuse to do so.
My guess re the “sign off” of the accounts is that it will be based on the following:
* Ashley will underwrite any shortfall to the end of the season, via secured loans.
* The loans may have options attached that would allow conversion to equity subject to shareholder and SFA approval.
* There will be mention of job cuts and cost cutting in all areas of the business.
* There will be something to indicate that all players are available for transfer in January (at market value), the proceeds of which will reduce the reliance on Ashley’s loans.
* It will be highlighted that at the end of the season 12 or so players will be out of contract which will afford the possibility of balancing the books.
* There will be an appeal for missing fans to return to share in the success of a financially stabilised club, by buying half season tickets for the remainder of this season and new season tickets for 2015/16.
* Deloittes will include an “Emphasis of matter – Going Concern” statement highlighting the reliance on the loans, incoming transfer fees, ST numbers and player contracts not being renewed.
* Deloittes will resign as auditors following the AGM.
* Related party transactions will mention something about agreements with Sports Direct re Retail, Intellectual Property and Advertising rights without explicitly saying what bits of the family silver or future revenue has been (no) surrendered.
Will it happen? I wouldn’t put ÂŁ1 on it. For the moment, it will kick the can down the road a bit.
Tykebhoy, I agree, Regan is doing a Coisty, taking a salary and toeing the line, a shyster.
When he leaves the SFA will remain the same, football is ‘manky’ from some teams right up to FIFA, we need to , awnaw cant believe Im going to type this, ‘starve them out!’ Ooyah.
Bankrupt the SFA.
easyJambo says:
November 26, 2014 at 9:34 am
Will it happen? I wouldnât put ÂŁ1 on it. For the moment, it will kick the can down the road a bit.
==============================================================================
I wouldn’t be so hard on yourself.
While many on here grasp on every single development as hopefully being the final nail in the admin/insolvency coffin I remain of the opinion (despite the whole thing looking like a basketcase) that there are enough people, including Ashley, still involved that see something worth holding onto. If not they would have walked by now.
I have long said the thing only has half a chance of working if T’Rangers get back to the premiership and I believe that is the main aim and someone somewhere will manage to put in the odd few million required to achieve that. Whether than involves, soft loans, assets being secured or changing hands, sale and leaseback etc who knows? But the team will be put out on the park this season until the promotion issue is settled.
Therefore your scenario seems wholly plausible to me.
How the mess gets cleaned up after this season is a different story!!!
Time does indeed fly by.
Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain ¡ 50m 50 minutes ago
Remembering my friend Paul McConville today on his first anniversary.
He is sadly missed.
RIP
easyjambo, fair enough dont disagree with that, esp the Going Concern Notice.
What I cannot see is what else can MASH secure loans on? Murraypark and Ibrox cant be on the list, I think the Sevco boys have pawned the silver, watches, old suit and new suit, I dont think there’s anythink left bar January sales of players and football strips, my guess is a February Administration.
Wottpi
Agreed. I would only add that Ashley has enough experience from NUFC to remain at arms length whereby the no doubt even more heightened sense of entitlement on reaching the premiership can be tempered. Remember that to get to the premiership the cash haemorrhaging RFC needs to, well, haemorrhage some more (player sales aside). On the basis no other mug will fund it (DK presumably holding out for a liquidation that ain’t coming and I’m not convinced Ashley would want him around the place as any kind of investor unless he was serious about that whole soft loan thing) then the team that emerges in the SPFL will be doing two things it really doesn’t like and has little experience of. Firstly it will have to stop bleeding and attain the break even stability so beloved of Mr Regan. Secondly (and if any RFC readers didn’t like the first bit then stop reading now) they have to, wait for it, pay…. Mike…. back. That’s right. A loan repayment. I know its a foreign concept to you up until now but welcome to the real world. If you were running a cash shortfall resulting in a borrowing requirement then you have to turn the ship around three times. Once to stop the leakage in the first place. Twice to replace the funds you leaked and thirdly, bearing in mind you are only now back to break even, spin around a third time to actually make some money for reinvestment.
Now there will be plenty folk who will say, ach, plenty time for that when we’re winning (again).
I suspect friendly Uncle Mike isn’t one of them and he’s got a pretty firm grasp on the tiller!
Come about I say! (and again, and then again).
jimlarkin says:
November 26, 2014 at 8:26 am
âŚâmoves to Everton on a free transferâ
Is it not more truthful to describe Naismith as â a Free Agent
(Because the Club/employer went out of business and his contract was annulled?)
=====================================================================
Wrt Naismith:
In the final analysis Naismith’s transfer paperwork would go through the FIFA system which I recently became acquainted with over a certain Polish matter.
I haven’t gone back to check this point but the answer could simply be that the system doesn’t record a player as a free agent but as it deals with the transfer between clubs would, in the Naismith case, record it as a free transfer from Rangers to Everton.
The FIFA system obviously provides a check on the eligibility of players to play for clubs and in competitions. But it’s worth remembering its very important aims which is to prevent moneylaundering and betting coups.
I am quite sure that if anyone wants to check this out that the answer will be found in the FIFA Rules wrt player transfers.
The ‘Rangers’ that Naismith played for went into administration although the player contracts were purchased by Sevco Scotland and under TUPE the player contracts would transfer on the same terms & conditions to the new company.
However any employee – including foorball players – has the right to reject the TUPE transfer and become a ‘free agent’ in a sense.
But in order to play for another club their registration requires to be transferred and without going into the detail there was toing and froing with various football authorities and clubs over Naismith and other players in his position. Although no longer Rangers employees it has to be remembered that their Registration according to the FIFA system was still held by ‘Rangers’.
Rangers was obviously looking for some kind of pay-off to allow a smooth and quick transfer to clubs interested in its TUPE-refusing players. Some clubs paid-up a small amount and others toughed it out and paid nothing.
The problem is that while the discussions continue or are dealt with by tribunals the International Transfer Ceriticate can’t be issued and the player can’t play for the new club.
It is also not unknown for the football association representing an ‘unwilling selling’ club to support its member and add to the delay hoping a better offer will be made by the ‘buying’ club.
Smugas says:
November 26, 2014 at 10:23 am
We are on the same page here.
Ashley will be wanting something long term in exchange for any monies /loans etc.
As said many times before tidy up the mess, get to the premiership for next season and redevelop the club into one that fans will turn up to watch and you have access to 35k (possibly more) worth of top dollar season tickets per year which can, if sensibly managed, get you up to the top of the premiership table, win the odd domestic cup and have a shot at Europe.
Its not CL glory or 9 in a row but it is a realistic target which T’Rangers could achieve with ease if they just screwed the heid and woke up to the financial realities.
Whether the Bears can buy into that new reality in the same way have Hearts fans seem to have done so far then only time will tell.
easyJambo says:
November 26, 2014 at 9:34 am
————————————-
Ashley will kick the can down the road a bit if it suits him financially.
It suits him commercially just now to say nothing and I very much doubt he’ll be telling the SFA what his plans are as I’m sure that Ashley knows full well that ‘walls have ears’ and there are plenty with their ears glued to the walls at Hampden.
And the reason it suits Ashley to say nothing is because he is playing very hard ball with other major shareholding groups at Ibrox. They have a straight choice to either put their own dosh into Rangers to keep it afloat or take the Ashley cash with the conditions attached.
However I’m sure ‘Uncle Mike’ as he is now known to the Ibrox faithful will sup his Hampden tea and biscuits and utter all sorts of soothing noises to the suits and promise to keep them fully informed of his intentions – Ex post facto of course đ
I would think the conditions might actually make the spivs rethink the meaning of ‘onerous’. However beggars are seldon allowed to be choosers.
ecobhoy says:
November 26, 2014 at 10:32 am
âSome clubs paid-up a small amount and others toughed it out and paid nothing.â
—
Yes, I think Southampton paid something for Davis while, clearly, Everton âtoughed it outâ.
Do you remember, though, that Charlotte offered us a recorded conversation between Green and Whyte in which the name of the Everton chairman came up?
From memory, Charles suggested to Craig that one of the sly tricks they might play to get Duff and Phelps to play ball was to ask Bill Kenwright to call them and say heâd be late with a Jelavic instalment. Craig thought this a wizard wheeze and said, as though seeking confirmation that the Everton chairman was firmly not on the side of the angels: âBillâs a good guy, yeah?â
easyJambo says:
November 26, 2014 at 9:34 am
===============================
@EJ – I meant to add that if I was Ashley I would ensure that my loans were guaranteed to be repaid by all cash received from the January sales. I would also have a sub-deal that young Lewis would be sold to my English club but allowed back on a loan deal till the end of the season at Ibrox. Obviously that would mean a serious reduction on what I had to pay.
Indeed I might even be prepared to sell him back to Ibrox when Rangers was back in the Premiership and the cash was flowing in.
But then I remember I’m not Mike Ashley so that won’t happen. Lewis will go to the highest bidder after a season’s blooding with NU in the EPL. Yip could be a good profit to be turned there and well worth a gamble IMO.
When Stewart Didnât Meet Mike
So according to Stewart Regan, Scottish football depends on The Rangers prospering, and The Rangers finances are a “concern” and Regan has not yet been granted a face-to-face with Mie Ashley.
By now, if not instantly, Mike knows he’s dealing with subservient muppets who need his help.
Will this make him more likely to persist with The Rangers by “bullying” the muppets to get what he wants – no matter how embarrassing and degrading it is for the muppets.
Or, in my view more likely, will he conclude that Scottish football is doomed to eternal mediocrity with these clowns in charge and he has more interesting / lucrative projects lined-up.
Any comparison between TRFC and NUFC as similar business propositions is beyond ridiculous – well into tin-foil hat territory. Say what you will about the EPL, but no-one can deny that it is a fine money printing operation. By comparison, I’m afraid the SFA/SPFL looks like amateur hour at my localâs comedy night.
Does Mike have time for such nonsense â No
Does he lose money or face by walking away â No
Does he give a damn about the consequences of walking away â No
Will he ever bother to speak to Regan â No
So the most memorable line from the Rom Com movie of When Stewart Diidnât Meet Mike will be: no, No, NO, NO!!!
easyJambo says:
November 26, 2014 at 9:34 am
8 0 Rate This
———-
Be interested to know where Green, Laxey, Blue Pitch, Margarita, Rizvi, et al, are positioned in the current scenario.
What is the incentive for Deloittes to sign off accounts on the basis of any info currently in the public domain?
An element of trust is essential given the doublespeak record of RIFC with Deloittes
Firstly they will no doubt be talking at best to Ashleys puppet and not to him(reminiscent of Green and his hidden backers )
Secondly they will be expected to sign off a cash flow based on loans not gifts or another funding round. Indeed Deloittes may even have been told that the loan facility withdrawn last year was made by Ashley
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Nope
My money is on Deloittes resigning without signing off the accounts. RIFC may also be taken private and delist from AIM
Pendolino and others
Yesterday evening, I stumbled across the article in the DR and was stunned to see this quote from Reagan and decided that it was worth sharing on here:
âWe would all like to see Rangers back to their winning ways as quickly as possible and to improve their financial position in order to bring more money to the game of football in Scotland.â
This morning I watched the clip on STV and the portion about “winning ways” doesn’t feature. I now notice that the DR article has been edited to read:
“We would all like to see Rangers improve their financial position in order to bring money to the game of football in Scotland.”
It would seem that I was misled (duped?) and I apologize if I have in turn misled anyone on here.
I don’t understand, though, why the DR published a “quote” from Stewart Regan then edited it later đ
One direct quote from Regan was re Ashley’s 10% ownership – “As part of that, there was a commitment there would be no management or influence at Rangers Football Club”.
How Regan uttered that with a straight face, knowing full well that Lambias & Co are now firmly ensconced at Ibrox and clearly calling the shots, is beyond me. Or perhaps he meant that Ashley himself is not allowed to “manage or influence”, but all his pals can do what they want!
Such statements just make Regan look ridiculous. It puts Sadam Hussein’s PR man Comical Ali in a very professional light.
PS Agree with MCFC’s view of Ashley and his relationship with Regan and the SFA – basically, he doesn’t give a toss what they think or say. He’ll do what suits himself and his business, without due concern to any “regulatory” body in Scotland.
sixtaeseven says:
November 26, 2014 at 11:47 am
——————————-
Like you I have been looking at the disappearing quote – As I pointed out above I regard it as instant dismissal territory.
I also happen to believe that if the Record had got it wrong there would have been a demand from the SFA not only for a full retraction but a fulsome apology in a prominent spot in the paper.
Without that then IMO there has been a plea to the Record to save face at Hampden with the promise of a few exlusives thrown in for their co-operation.
Sadly it was ever thus in Scottish Football and, indeed, Scottish Journalism IMO.
echobhoy
It seems the ‘winning ways’ quote has now turned out to be Daily Record spin or wishful thinking, and they have edited their article accordingly. Whether this was under pressure from Regan we’ll never know I guess.
ET stating Rangers agm to go ahead on December 22 and that accounts will be out in days. We’ll see.
“Former Livingston manager Allan Preston fears the club could ‘die’ like Gretna did, with the Lions suffering yet more financial problems. (Scottish Sun)”
No need to worry Allan, I believe that there is an alternative way of dealing with terminal financial problems, fully endorsed by the national governing body.
cavansam says:
November 26, 2014 at 12:15 pm
echobhoy
It seems the âwinning waysâ quote has now turned out to be Daily Record spin or wishful thinking, and they have edited their article accordingly. Whether this was under pressure from Regan weâll never know I guess.
===========================
Not how I view it and I have little time for the DR. The way the article has been changed is like the actions of a thief in the night.
IMO if the DR had got is so badly wrong then the SFA and Regan wouldn’t have been satisfied by anything less than a straight retraction and apology in a prominent position.
That would be the normal procedure and it would have been delivered in a hand-written letter from a solicitor shortly after the original fax and email arrived at the Record.
Something as serious as this if it was totally wrong wouldn’t IMO be handled with a series of nods and winks and fudging. The accusation was out there on the interenet and couldn’t be smothered.
Not like the ‘old’ pre-internet days when the story might only have run in the streets-edition or in the first edition sent to the furthest airts and pairts of Scotland to be pulled before any of the large circulation main editions.
echobhoy
Actually that’s an interesting question, I don’t/won’t buy the DR but does the quote appear in the print edition?
Anyone know?
John Clark says:
November 25, 2014 at 11:19 pm
RIFC plcâs various changing Boards (who the hell WERE all those guys?)
—————————————————————
Rangers Turnover
RIFC is just over 2 years old. In those long, long 24 months they have had:-
3 Nomads â Cenkos, Strand Hanson & Daniel Stewart
4 CEOâs â Green, Mather, Wallace & SitVac
3 Chairman â Murray, Smith & Somers
3 Finance Directors â Stockbridge, Nash & SitVac
3 Heads of Communication â Traynor, Tyrell & SitVac
16 Directors â Stockbridge, Green, Hart, Cartmell, Smith, Lumb, Easdale, Wallace, Murray, Nash, Smart, Somers, Llambias, Mather, Crighton & SitVac
Plus 1 Chief Football Operating Officer (the Nerlinger role) â Sitvac still after 8 months.
That is 33 executive players used; starters only, no subs (consultants) as that would have significantly skewed the data set.
How many football players have played in the first team in the League in the same timeframe? Anybody know?
P. S. I will reply to all the questions and address all the points raised by my post last night about the Regan Interview when time allows.
5 GOLDEN handshakes
4 fraud arrests
3 wonga loans
2 Share Issues
And a delayed AGM
… and a partridge in a pear tree đ
(Sung by CG, CW, BS and the Sevco Carollers)
weeman says:
November 26, 2014 at 12:52pm
P. S. I will reply to all the questions and address all the points raised by my post last night about the Regan Interview when time allows.
====================
Weeman, like sixtaeseven , I based my comments last night entirely on a Daily Record article which was then on line, but which has now apparently been amended. Before commenting, I should have “gone to source”, and listened to or viewed the actual interview. I apologise for my comment, and will never ever trust the Daily Record as a source of information again. I am truly sorry.