A spectre is haunting Scottish Football

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From the TSFM Manifesto 🙂

A spectre is haunting Scottish Football — 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.

 

 

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About Trisidium

Trisidium is a Dunblane businessman with a keen interest in Scottish Football. He is a Celtic fan, although the demands of modern-day parenting have seen him less at games and more as a taxi service for his kids.

4,164 thoughts on “A spectre is haunting Scottish Football”


  2. oddjob says:
    December 15, 2014 at 6:44 pm
    =================================================
    It was handed to Mr Alexander Easdale the chairman of TRFC.


  3. Oddjob,
    I noted that comment and like you I thought that the fashion of the resignation letter indicated that Phil was letting certain people know he was, yet again, on the money with this one.


  4. We have seen a masterful coordination of three things.

    1 Politics
    2 PR
    3 Friendship

    1 Someone somewhere is coordinating a move to free their club from the current situation and I’d suspect the onerous contractual obligations it has. Ally is the front man and the boy done good.
    2 The coordinated PR machine has been amazing from the first exclusive leak to today’s pro Ally stuff. Has the scent of a real pro or two all over it.
    3 The big favour from the SFA today warning the uncouth non Scottish Establishment retail chap that we look after our own.

    It’s accelerating.


  5. GoosyGoosy says: December 15, 2014 at 4:43 pm
    25 3 Rate This

    In reality it is McCoist who has the ball at his feet
    ….
    He should say nothing, stick it out and ensure he is well advised
    __________________________________________________

    I was thinking much the same after Keith Jackson said a couple of weeks ago after the Alloa defeat:

    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-jackson-ally-mccoist-wont-4750781

    ALLY McCoist may not want to accept defeat but walking away without a pay-off would mean he could tell the whole Rangers story from the inside, says KEITH.
    ……….
    Which is why McCoist should consider calling their bluff and calling time on himself. Waiving his right to a pay-off in order to ensure that his silence cannot be bought.

    Then at least he would be free. Free not just to to walk away from this toxic, mushroom cloud of a football club but free also to blow the whistle on what he has witnessed of it from the inside.

    There are few if any in this story who know more than McCoist about what really went on under Whyte, throughout administration and post liquidation after Green’s big hands had grasped control of the assets. McCoist may well be sitting on the Rangers story to end them all but even if he is not, then he has a chance here to get it all off his chest in any case and to share what he knows with these fans who have been kept so far form the truth throughout it all.

    That would be some way not just to restore his legacy but to safeguard it for the rest of time.

    And then on Friday evening (before the QotS match) Keith Jackson was interviewed on the Keys and Gray show on BeIN Sports about McCoist’s resignation and again he was suggesting that McCoist should leave without a payoff and sell his story which would be worth much more.

    I would imagine that the Daily Record and others are in contact with McCoist’s agent to negotiate the fee for an exclusive publishing contract. That would also enable to him to say that his waived payoff should be used to maintain jobs of the ordinary workers.


  7. sickofitall says:
    December 15, 2014 at 6:53 pm
    1 0 Rate This

    http://t.co/OrgQ87DivH Phils latest
    ———

    Outstanding piece among many, Phil. Concise summary of past events and possible scenarios, well, apart from Ashley’s ÂŁ20-30m war chest of redemption!


  9. Danish Pastry says:
    December 15, 2014 at 7:15 pm
    ===================================================

    Ah the War Chest!

    Remiss of me that…………


  10. yakutsuki says:
    December 15, 2014 at 6:11 pm

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    Jake Cantona says:
    December 15, 2014 at 1:35 pm

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    _____________________________________

    Excellent piece. Tx for bringing it to my attention.
    (Nice to see Chi in there speaking her piece as well, not mincing any words. They say that people get the politicians they deserve. Whilst usually this is meant as a caution at best and as an insult more than likely, in the case of Central Newcastle, in my opinion, the statement is not only true, but almost uniquely, ranks as high praise, indeed!)


  11. Philmacgiollabhain says
    December 15 2014 @ 6.55pm

    I appreciate your reply,and understand.


  14. Further to my post at 5:29PM I have already heard Richard Wilson on Sportsound, and read Tom English on Twitter, advocating the SFA will have little choice but to basically let Ashley do what he likes. The theory is that it will be the only way for the club to survive.

    I have no idea whether either of them read this forum. I suspect they might give it a glance. If they do, and they read this, can I ask them why a club should be allowed to behave the way Rangers has then be rewarded by being allowed to flaunt the rules? Is that really good for the game and does it basically mean the rules are only there for the other clubs? Do they see that as the way ahead for Scottish football? It seems so.


  15. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-jackson-ally-mccoist-wont-4750781

    ALLY McCoist may not want to accept defeat but walking away without a pay-off would mean he could tell the whole Rangers story from the inside, says KEITH.

    Which is why McCoist should consider calling their bluff and calling time on himself. Waiving his right to a pay-off in order to ensure that his silence cannot be bought.

    Then at least he would be free. Free not just to to walk away from this toxic, mushroom cloud of a football club but free also to blow the whistle on what he has witnessed of it from the inside.

    There are few if any in this story who know more than McCoist about what really went on under Whyte, throughout administration and post liquidation after Green’s big hands had grasped control of the assets. McCoist may well be sitting on the Rangers story to end them all but even if he is not, then he has a chance here to get it all off his chest in any case and to share what he knows with these fans who have been kept so far form the truth throughout it all.

    That would be some way not just to restore his legacy but to safeguard it for the rest of time.

    I reckon Keefie has developed a soft brain well softer than he usually has. So McCoist was at the centre of a brilliant story all about ripping off Bears right left and centre and destroying Rangers as a posse of spiv locusts picked Ibrox clean.

    Presumably 1 Million basically free shares and an obscene salary must have helped keep his geggie shut if you believe Jackson.

    And McCoist by now revealing the truth will – again according to Whacko Jacko – not only restore the McCoist legacy but give it immortality alongside the club that never dies.

    An interesting proposition. Of course we know from McCoist that he is to be a witness in certain upcoming criminal proceedings and I’m sure someone who loves rangers and has always lived in the Struthian mould of dignity and doing it the Rangers Way will do so from the witness box.

    I am sure Super will – without fear or favour – answer all questions about his time at Ibrox truthfully. I would expect nothing less. And neither will the Bears although if Keefie is on the ball the Bears might be wondering why they didn’t hear it earlier – much earlier.


  16. Robbyp says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Could someone clear up my confusion? McCoist originally had a contract that paid 825,000 per year. He then (allegedly) took a pay cut of 50% in October 2013. Now we’re being told he will have a wage hike up to 750,000 for the last year of his contract. Well, unless he signed a NEW contract in October 2013, clearly indicating that his salary would now be 412,500, rather than a voluntary salary reduction, ‘gesture of good will’ on his part, this 750,000 actually represents, contractually, a drop of 75,000 per year. So, did he sign a NEW CONTRACT in October 2013 with lower salary or did his original contract have a clause where his salary would drop for the final year? Is it normal for someone to take a salary cut in their final year? I hope I have explained this clearly, because as I read it, it becomes more confusing.

    His top wage was always ÂŁ750k. The ÂŁ825k was for ~13 months work. He also didn’t take a wage cut of 50%. He was asked at a news conference if his wage was to be cut by 15% (the rumoured figure at the time). His repsonse was that it was nearer 50%. So his cut was between 15 and 50%.


  17. oddjob says:
    December 15, 2014 at 7:52 pm
    0 0 Rate This

    Philmacgiollabhain says
    December 15 2014 @ 6.55pm

    I appreciate your reply,and understand.
    =========================================================
    The fact that it was handwritten suggests to me-I could be wrong-that this was a rather hasty decision by Mr McCoist.
    I think I have covered the possible reason for this on my site over the past week.
    Moreover I note with interest the lack of an appetite in the SMSM to go after possible motives.


  18. So according to phil it’s Kennedy/souness (and no doubt Paul Murray lapdogging) versus king (and no doubt Paul Murray lapdogging). I can see how king would get a contract less Ibrox via a liquidation fire sale. Don’t quite understand how the other alternative(s) could guarantee it and I can’t see the masses taking to a provincial temporary accommodation.

    There is also the matter of taking on mike, and winning. Yes they’ll have bluster but I very much doubt they’ll have the spare resources since they know fine well they’ll need it all once they’re in control of everything (well apart from the expectation obviously).


  19. oddjob says:
    December 15, 2014 at 6:44 pm

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    Any doubters of Phil`s “sources”, should consider the reference he makes in his latest blog re MrMcoist`s resignation letter. It was handwritten.

    ________________________________

    …well in the normal course of events he’s have got his Administrative assistant to type it up for him, but …er… 🙁

    (sorry… I used the expression ‘normal course of events!’ … and applied it to the Ibrox outfit???… should know better) 😳


  20. Is the SFA hearing deliberately far off into the distance to allow the men from MASH to complete their work and step back again for more emm, ‘rangers minded’ directors to take up positions on the board?


  21. Resin_lab_dog says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:20 pm
    =========================================================
    Ah Ibrox and ‘normality’.
    I see what you did there…


  22. It gets worse. I’ve just noticed Tom English on Twitter comparing Celtic appealing the Tonev case to the rules being ignored by Ashley. Poor show, and English is paid from the public purse into the bargain.


  23. Is it purely coincidental that all of this is happening after arrests have been made of some of the main players in the fiasco
    The pace seems to be getting faster


  25. Philmacgiollabhain says

    December 15. 2014 @ 8.07 pm.

    Phil, my earlier message was intended to compliment you on the accuracy of your sources now, and in the past.

    I have no wish to compromise such sources.


  26. Well f**k me, I never saw that coming from the SFA, although we have had several leaks recently that could have presaged it.

    The Regan to English FA story when first seen generated plenty of comment, but was that a sign that Regan (and the SFA) were finally going to come out of the bunker, and he had already planned his exit strategy to avoid the usual treatment from the unsavoury element of the Ibrox support?
    Even if he is unsuccessful in his application, it would make his continued tenure at the SFA very difficult, if not untenable (ok, that last bit has been the case for most of us since the 5WA), so his departure would seem inevitable anyway.

    Ally’s resignation leak, followed by the non-denial no comment on Friday. That timing was bizarre, to say the least. Had Ally been tipped off by someone at the SFA (CO, perhaps?), so he was able to get his walking away in place before the SFA announcement became public?

    The announcement to AIM regarding Ally’s potential departure and the strangely worded statement about the increased salary. If MA already knew about the impending SFA announcement when that AIM statement was published, he knew that he holds all the aces, so he could say or do anything knowing that he can pull the plug anytimee. Was MA attempting to deflect to Ally some of the blame if RIFC/TRFC followed RFC PLC into administration and liquidation?


  28. oddjob says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:50 pm
    2 0 Rate This
    ===================================================
    And I took it in that spirit-thank you.

    Obviously the protection of sources is paramount for any journalist.

    It is central to the NUJ code of conduct.


  29. A bit OT:

    Speaking of the dream of great treasure @Phil, the London Toast Theatre in Copenhagen has its annual pantomime/caberet on and this year it’s called, ‘One-eyed Willy, the Quest for the Big Chest’. Every time I’ve heard the words ‘war chest’ recently I’ve of thought of this show. A parallel or two, but lots that isn’t as it’s sort of Allo Allo with pirates.

    Perhaps there’s a Sevco caberet/panto waiting to be made, though? I’d pay to see it, oh yes I would … 😆

    http://www.londontoast.dk/press.html?file=tl_files/Billeder/PRESS/2014/CCC_2014.jpg


  32. Martin says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Mike Ashley could control Rangers and Newcastle United within weeks
    ================
    Reading the article it would be interesting to know who the “many in the higher reaches of the Scottish game” are.

    Assuming that Roddy isn’t just making this up then someone is feeding him this…note “the higher reaches” not “within the SFA”…code for the SPFL?


  33. Philmacgiollabhain says

    December 15. 2014 @ 9.04 pm.

    I agree without reservation.


  34. upthehoops says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:43 pm

    It gets worse. I’ve just noticed Tom English on Twitter comparing Celtic appealing the Tonev case to the rules being ignored by Ashley. Poor show, and English is paid from the public purse into the bargain.
    ________________________________________________________________
    @uth – is that the tomenglishsport a/c as I can’t see any mention – perhaps deleted.

    I was going to point out that afaik it’s the player that was appealing and not Celtic. So simply following the SFA rules as is Tonev’s legal right to lodge an appeal is the same as Ashley ignoring them?

    I thinks perhaps too much porter has been consumed tonight.


  35. Danish Pastry says:

    December 15, 2014 at 9:04 pm
    A bit OT:

    Speaking of the dream of great treasure @Phil, the London Toast Theatre in Copenhagen has its annual pantomime/caberet on and this year it’s called, ‘One-eyed Willy, the Quest for the Big Chest’. Every time I’ve heard the words ‘war chest’ recently I’ve of thought of this show. A parallel or two, but lots that isn’t as it’s sort of Allo Allo with pirates.

    Perhaps there’s a Sevco caberet/panto waiting to be made, though? I’d pay to see it, oh yes I would … 😆

    http://www.londontoast.dk/press.html?file=tl_files/Billeder/PRESS/2014/CCC_2014.jpg
    _________________________________________________

    Danish

    Wheres the ticketus booth for this?

    Is this xmas Panto Danish style.


  36. I just noticed that before AIM closed that 56,358 shares were sold at 18p each. That’s the lowest price ever for RIFC shares.

    If it stays this way we could be looking at the new share offer price of 10/12p or lower.


  37. That Roddy Forsyth article is pretty strong on the earlier PR stuff about European football, Ibrox return a huge attraction for sponsors, SD branding — although he seems to have it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Maybe Ashley simply isn’t the financial genius he’s cracked up to be?

    I liked this bit:

    The SFA’s position is that it could not continue to ignore what it construes as obvious breaches of its rules.

    No it couldn’t but ignored the breaches as long as possible, though 😀


  38. @ianagain

    It’s an English theatre group that’s existed for as long as I’ve been here. I believe it may have morphed from another troup called the Mermaid Theatre.

    The caberet is very much a British/English production. Very popular. Raucous and risquĂŠ.

    http://www.londontoast.dk


  39. @ecobhoy

    So McCoist was at the centre of a brilliant story all about ripping off Bears right left and centre and destroying Rangers as a posse of spiv locusts picked Ibrox clean.

    Presumably 1 Million basically free shares and an obscene salary must have helped keep his geggie shut if you believe Jackson.

    And McCoist by now revealing the truth will – again according to Whacko Jacko – not only restore the McCoist legacy but give it immortality alongside the club that never dies.

    An interesting proposition. Of course we know from McCoist that he is to be a witness in certain upcoming criminal proceedings […]

    As per McCoist’s canny “resignation” on Friday afternoon, he may well have been given advice that it is good PR, when something horrible about you is going to come out anyway, to get your version of events out there first. Then, the bad stuff is already mired amongst “old news” and can be seen as retaliation for the original A McC revelations. Liberal use of “agenda”, “move on”, “nothing new”, “it was already in the DR”, “Rangers man”, “wishing nothing but (simply) the best for the club”, “difficult job” and “lovely guy” to emphasise that there is nothing to see here and who could possibly queastion Super after all he’s been through.

    Right now, McCoist has to balance his urge to get paid with his urge to safely socialise with fans of The Ibrox Club into his appearance-fee encrusted dotage.


  40. While I have thrown in the idea of Ally possibly making a loss of salary by gaining a few quib from telling his story I am now wondering how much he would get to keep being that given all those who have passed through the blue room in the last few years a handful may not be that slow in issuing a writ here and there if anything said was too close to the bone.


  41. parttimearab says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:20 pm
    Martin says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:47 pm

    Mike Ashley could control Rangers and Newcastle United within weeks
    ================
    Reading the article it would be interesting to know who the “many in the higher reaches of the Scottish game” are.

    Assuming that Roddy isn’t just making this up then someone is feeding him this…note “the higher reaches” not “within the SFA”…code for the SPFL?
    ==============================================================
    Must check the definition of ‘Insider Knowledge’. Seems helluva precise to state Ashley plans to increase his stake at Ibrox to 29.9% giving him effective control of the club without triggering Stock Exchange takeover rules.

    I have no doubt that that info could be helpful to someone doing a bit of speculation wrt RFC shares.

    Perhaps why the info was leaked in the first place – and by saying that I point no fingers at Mr Ashley as the source may well be someone with no connection to the SportsDirect boss who is running their own scam.

    Indeed perhaps the same info was leaked to the SFA and this has forced them to act.

    Let’s imagine for one moment that they find against Ashley and banish him from the Scottish Game – I know I know – but let’s just imagine it.

    I have no doubt that Ashley might get very personal and appeal and keep appealing. I mentioned earlier the scenario where he could become obsessed with not being defeated in an Ibrox turf war.


  42. Danish

    The Pirate theme appropriate then. Bernard Miles.
    From the old theatres history.

    The 20th-century theatre was the life’s work of actor Bernard Miles with his wife, Josephine Wilson. His original Mermaid Theatre was a large barn in his house in the St. John’s Wood area of London. This seated 200 people, and during 1951-1952 it was used for concerts, plays and a celebrated opera production of Dido and Aeneas with Kirsten Flagstad, Maggie Teyte and Thomas Hemsley, conducted by Geraint Jones, which was recorded by HMV. For the third season in 1953, the Mermaid Theatre was moved to the Royal Exchange.[2]

    Miles was encouraged to build a permanent theatre and raising money from public subscriptions, he oversaw the creation of the new building on land formerly occupied by a warehouse. This site was close to the location of an abortive attempt to build a theatre (named Porter’s Hall) for the amalgamation of the Children of the Queen’s Revels and Lady Elizabeth’s Men, during the Jacobean era. This project, undertaken by Philip Rosseter with distant backing from Henslowe and Alleyn, was ended because of complaints from the neighborhood’s residents.

    The new Mermaid Theatre opened in 1959 with a successful production of Lock Up Your Daughters and it was the venue for many other very successful productions, such as Cowardy Custard (often cited as responsible for the revival of interest in NoĂŤl Coward’s works) and including an annual staging of Treasure Island, with Miles reprising his role of Long John Silver, which he also played in a television version. The Mermaid Theatre also ran the Molecule Club, educating children about science.


  43. Danish Pastry says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    That Roddy Forsyth article is pretty strong on the earlier PR stuff about European football, Ibrox return a huge attraction for sponsors, SD branding — although he seems to have it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Maybe Ashley simply isn’t the financial genius he’s cracked up to be?

    ———————-

    I got as far as “a healthy, competitive Rangers – in the Champions League with the Old Firm rivalry renewed – would attract more interest, sponsors and broadcast revenues across the board”. At that point, I realised the animal was more bovine than equine and was expressing its opinion from the opposite end of its body. The article read to me as if its source was someone in Hampden trying to justify the action they’re taking and also attempting to manage expectations of the outcome.


  44. Night Terror says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    Right now, McCoist has to balance his urge to get paid with his urge to safely socialise with fans of The Ibrox Club into his appearance-fee encrusted dotage.
    ================================================================
    Had to laugh at that as it conjured-up a vision of Ally as the Ancient Mariner doomed to wander the various traditional Bear watering holes seeking absolution by endlessly telling (selling) his tale.

    ‘The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.’


  45. Ecobhoy@ 9:26pm

    All the tweets are still there. He is having a lengthy debate with a few tweeters.


  46. So Roddy Forsyth has Rangers in the Champions League. Are all the rules just going to be changed to put them there?


  47. Was it not about this time last year that Ally’s wages were made public just before an AGM. Now his final year salary is made public


  48. PhilMacGiollaBhain says:
    December 15, 2014 at 8:07 pm
    oddjob says:
    December 15, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    I appreciate your reply,and understand.
    =========================================================
    The fact that it was handwritten suggests to me-I could be wrong-that this was a rather hasty decision by Mr McCoist.
    =================================================================

    It’s amazing the different takes that people can from the same info.

    I assumed McCoist was too wary to use a works computer and printer to create the resignation letter. Heaven Forfend the original letter was lost and replaced using the same equipment.

    After all there have been issues over allegations of forged signatures on official documents which have even been reported to the police.

    Nope Ally – you were quite right – write it by hand and it can’t be changed. What a clever boy 😉


  49. ecobhoy says:

    December 15, 2014 at 10:18 pm

    Night Terror says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    Right now, McCoist has to balance his urge to get paid with his urge to safely socialise with fans of The Ibrox Club into his appearance-fee encrusted dotage.
    ================================================================
    Had to laugh at that as it conjured-up a vision of Ally as the Ancient Mariner doomed to wander the various traditional Bear watering holes seeking absolution by endlessly telling (selling) his tale.

    ‘The man hath penance done, And penance more will do.’
    _________________________________________________

    The Rangers and Celtic management and players (not all but many) and the SMSM normally reside in Chicos little Southside club unencumbered by nasty fans. No hassle the stories write themselves there.
    Lot easier you see.


  50. @ianagain

    The Rangers and Celtic management and players (not all but many) and the SMSM normally reside in Chicos little Southside club unencumbered by nasty fans. No hassle the stories write themselves there.
    Lot easier you see.

    Nobody is paying for the anecdotes there though. There’s a good living and paid-for social life to be had for many an ex-pro telling the same old well worn anecdotes to the same old adoring public after drinks, a dinner and before a few more drinks and supper.

    If your adoring public don’t adore you any more, those fees and free drinks disappear pretty rapidly. As I’m sure Mr McCoist is being advised. It only takes one well lubricated punter with a biting question to ruin an evening at these things.


  51. Night Terror says:

    December 15, 2014 at 10:39 pm

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    @ianagain

    The Rangers and Celtic management and players (not all but many) and the SMSM normally reside in Chicos little Southside club unencumbered by nasty fans. No hassle the stories write themselves there.
    Lot easier you see.

    Nobody is paying for the anecdotes there though. There’s a good living and paid-for social life to be had for many an ex-pro telling the same old well worn anecdotes to the same old adoring public after drinks, a dinner and before a few more drinks and supper.

    If your adoring public don’t adore you any more, those fees and free drinks disappear pretty rapidly. As I’m sure Mr McCoist is being advised. It only takes one well lubricated punter with a biting question to ruin an evening at these things.
    =====================================================
    Not when your amongst friends who also have 1/2 mil in loose change in their pocket.


  52. Cluster One says:
    December 15, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    Was it not about this time last year that Ally’s wages were made public just before an AGM. Now his final year salary is made public.
    ===================================================================
    The final year salary isn’t actually a final year salary but a return to his original salary before the voluntary pay-cut he took.

    The salary was also revealed in December 2012 in the Rangers AIM Prospectus – from memory it showed circa ÂŁ175K for approx 3 months.

    So it’s never really been a secret and I posted on it back in 2012 – SMSM ignored the issue as per usual.


  53. I’m completely confused by this MA 29.9% ownership story.
    Surely dual ownership rules work both ways and the English FA would intervene if there was any possibility of NUFC being able to take advantage of RIFC PLC/TRFC Ltd to subvert any UEFA/EPL/FA regulations?
    Possibility being the operative word, rather than intention.


  54. I mean he wont have to do the usual bollocks.

    This is him out. Even so he will still get a warm welcome in EK I would think.

    He’s no longer on the after dinner circuit. I mean would you? Why?


  55. AFC AGM tonight. The previously announced debt deal carried along with a statement that there be no “spending spree”. No one expected anything else. Concentrate on new training facility then get the proposed new ground sorted. Not very exciting but, on the other hand, doesn’t feel anything like armageddon. I can see “We’ll be fine” emblazoned on our shirts as a logo. I only hope that no one bursts in and f***s it all up for the rest of us again.
    It’s not just that I’m aggrieved with the PR drive to get The Rangers in the Premiership whatever needs to be done from an integrity point of view: it’s that I’m positive that it is, in fact, bad for business.


  56. I think there has been a significant change in attitude to Saving Rangers At All Costs”

    Now that the bill for that approach is being served the fear of losing “Rangers as was” is nothing as strong as it was in 2012.

    Fear of the financial consequences and reaction of angry bears is no longer a factor.

    In fact you could argue that the actual experience of the former and it’s impact on TRFC themselves has had a sobering effect on the latter.

    The SFA are in a stronger position to bargain with Ashley than they were with CG.

    The SFA always had the power to prevent “Rangers” continuing in any form under licensing rules, but it was a bargaining chip that never saw the table for fear of the consequences.

    Now they could make a licence dependent on conditions they set that would be part of a public agreement that not only “Rangers” fans would welcome because it guarantees no more instability, but the supporters of other clubs would accept, subject to verifiable monitoring.

    This policy represents a way out of the mess our game finds itself in because there has been no transparency or accountability or courage.

    Domestic FFP rigorously policed would provide the kind of assurances that the days of pursuit of UEFA geld to keep a club alive have been well and truly consigned to history.

    This hard nosed do it our way approach would apply whether it’s Ashley or New Blues riding on to the scene.

    Time the SFA grew a set and those without gonads moved aside to let real men of integrity take over.


  57. ecobhoy says:

    December 15, 2014 at 10:47 pm
    SMSM ignored the issue as per usual.
    They always do.


  58. @Auldheid
    I think you’re right. They tried it one way. Now for that other way all those other people were on about. Especially when prospective new employers are watching.

    However, if this job application is successful, I expect the new man at the top to revert to the bodging and palliatives of Armageddon Part 1.


  59. McCoist, the smsm, Bomber on Spoortsound and even the SFA emerge…
    wtf are Ashley’s boys going to say at the AGM?


  60. I guess in order to avoid next week’s AGM degenerating into a shouting match farce – they need to have a new manager confirmed?


  61. macfurgly says:

    December 15, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    1

    0

    Rate This

    McCoist, the smsm, Bomber on Spoortsound and even the SFA emerge…
    wtf are Ashley’s boys going to say at the AGM?
    ==========================================

    Can they actually “say” anything?

    Non execs?

    Anyone?


  62. ianagain says:

    December 15, 2014 at 11:53 pm
    Can they actually “say” anything?

    Non execs?

    Anyone?
    ————-
    Good point.
    Somers next to go.
    Avoid any unpleasantness by organising an AGM where no-one on the platform is allowed to speak.
    Clever.


  63. 120 day review highlights rapid burn of cash via onerous contracts
    ÂŁ3.3M raised via share issue
    Car park & Eddie House redeemed
    Car park & Eddie House rehawked
    Nomad bails
    Arrests
    Accounts detailing Retail arrangements
    CW picked up
    Redundancies
    Ally gives 12 month notice
    CW newspaper interview
    Palmerston
    Players’ Christmas party
    Company confirms resignation of manager and return to normal pay
    Hacks repeatedly claiming MA will buy club as a European advertising masterstroke.
    ÂŁ12M needed to see out the season
    MA & club charged by SFA.

    When so many things come together it’s rarely an accident.


  65. James Doleman says:
    December 16, 2014 at 1:34 am

    For, at best ÂŁ10m, at the most optimistic estimate, of retail sales
    …
    He will walk away IMHO
    ========================
    If the idiots at Hampden are still intent on trying to ensure a Govan club is in a league at any expense…

    Then they have to confirm what Ashley’s plans are – or at least throw some charges at him so he can pop in for a chat ?

    And more importantly, IMO, the SFA has to hedge its bets in case Ashley does do walking away.

    The SFA must currently be in discreet discussions with another party to facilitate a TRFC v0.2 – just in case TRFC is liquidated.


  67. Interesting past 24 hours.

    Apparently the SFA have grown a set regarding Ashley. Then Roddy Forsyth drops a hint he has knowledge that in tandem they might let Ashley increase his stake to 29%. Are the SFA just playing games and Ashley indeed can do as he pleases as so many SMSM hacks are falling over themselves to say. The end game, Roddy informs us, is to have Rangers ‘back’ in the Champions League, and his article suggests the SFA are in on that. If that genuinely is the end game, then is there a master plan to facilitate that? If so, should football in Scotland just be disbanded? Preferably I’d just like to see either (a) Rangers suspended from the game if Ashley refuses to cease and desist the undue influence he clearly has, or (b) the SFA completely disbanded and replaced by an organisation that is willing to have a fair, transparent set of rules that apply to all clubs.


  68. James Doleman says:
    December 16, 2014 at 3:01 am
    %%%%%%%
    The penny drops, yet the notion that paying +ÂŁ750 000 pa to AMcC for managing a ‘Champions League team’goes to the heart of the problem.
    If I buy longer trousers it doesn’t make me taller.
    Ally didn’t manage a champions league team, he didn’t manage an SPL team, he managed a 3rd division team that couldn’t win the Ramsden’s.
    The SMSM has constantly trumpeted the chorus that supporters wouldn’t join ‘the journey’ if The Rangers lived within their means. When Chuck got Ally to sign his unread contract the club were debt free with money in the bank. Two years later they are mortgaged to the hilt and the income stream is a trickle. Yet players, who presumably had a quick shuftie at their contracts, are on five figure weekly wages. At the same time people who receive low five figures per year are receiving redundancy.
    A McA’s replacement will be on a vastly reduced wage but they will have an incredibly difficult task.


  69. http://sport.stv.tv/football/303661-mike-ashley-and-rangers-handed-notice-of-complaint-by-scottish-fa/

    So the date is set for January 27

    Do the SFA think they will last that long? Or hope they never have to take the meeting

    BTW what sanctions could they actually impose if it came to it that Wouldn’t push TRFC over the edge?
    A fine?
    They can’t even pay the grounds man

    A points deduction ?
    Then no chance of winning the league and little chance of making the playoff’s

    A suspension?
    Try to implement that and we are back to the So called Social Unrest scenario they tried to convince us of the last time

    IMO the SFA are just posturing for posturings sake


  70. I give with one hand……

    Congratulations to Stewart Regan in following through the process that he intimated was taking place in his Belfast interview.

    ……and take away with the other.

    As I stated on Sunday, Stewart Regan is an outsider for the FA job.
    How do you propel your application closer to the shortlist and interview?
    Taking on Mike Ashley will do it.
    Timing impeccable; applications close on the 11th Jan so the case and, more importantly outcome, will still be pending when the shortlist is drawn up. If he makes the interview stage then the panel will naturally want to discuss the Ashley case, however it turns out, where Stewart can showcase how he revamped the SFA’s Disciplinary system which is his biggest success in his present role.

    To be even handed.

    So far the SFA have correctly applied their procedure in this case and the timing has been very fortuitous for Stewart.


  71. Assuming Ashley is still involved / interested in RIFCL what are the chances he doesn’t even turn up for the SFA Disciplinary hearing on 27 January?
    Given his previous disdain for things that don’t suit him – even replying to SFA demands – I would put money on it.


  73. Auldheid says:
    December 15, 2014 at 11:13 pm
    32 0 Rate This

    I think there has been a significant change in attitude to Saving Rangers At All Costs”

    Now that the bill for that approach is being served the fear of losing “Rangers as was” is nothing as strong as it was in 2012.

    Fear of the financial consequences and reaction of angry bears is no longer a factor.

    In fact you could argue that the actual experience of the former and it’s impact on TRFC themselves has had a sobering effect on the latter.

    The SFA are in a stronger position to bargain with Ashley than they were with CG.

    The SFA always had the power to prevent “Rangers” continuing in any form under licensing rules, but it was a bargaining chip that never saw the table for fear of the consequences.

    Now they could make a licence dependent on conditions they set that would be part of a public agreement that not only “Rangers” fans would welcome because it guarantees no more instability, but the supporters of other clubs would accept, subject to verifiable monitoring.

    This policy represents a way out of the mess our game finds itself in because there has been no transparency or accountability or courage.

    Domestic FFP rigorously policed would provide the kind of assurances that the days of pursuit of UEFA geld to keep a club alive have been well and truly consigned to history.

    This hard nosed do it our way approach would apply whether it’s Ashley or New Blues riding on to the scene.

    Time the SFA grew a set and those without gonads moved aside to let real men of integrity take over.

    =====================================================

    Assuming the SFA actually want to implement FFP dometically, I’d think the biggest barrier to this for them at the moment is that their preferred champions are a million miles from meeting any sensible FFP rules that might be implemented.

    However… Seems to me that if anyone can force Rangers on to a break even financial footing then Mike Ashley and Derek Lambias are the very ones capable of doing so.

    Might the SFA be happy to allow Ashley to continue if he can look them in the eye and make it clear this is what will happen at Rangers in the next few months?

    Would they make a convenient trade off and take the opportunity to implement FFP (once Rangers are within reach of the requirements) but turn a sympathetic eye on Ashley’s involvement?

    Perhaps Mike can be persuaded to sign an agreement to state there will be no cross over of interests between NUFC and RFC – no players sales, loans or anything else.


  74. Danish Pastry says:
    December 15, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    I liked this bit:

    The SFA’s position is that it could not continue to ignore what it construes as obvious breaches of its rules.

    No it couldn’t but ignored the breaches as long as possible, though
    _________________________________

    Well, the obvious inference from that is that the SFA have been ignoring obvious breeches of it’s rules! A pretty serious charge, I’d say, for any journalist to publish. So why is Roddy Forsyth not pursuing that with all the vigour he can muster?

    There must be a great story there, ‘The SFA habitually ignore their own rules’, would take the Telegraph sales through the roof. Unless, of course, he’s just made it up because it suits his little puff piece! A puff piece, no doubt, published at the behest of whatever side he supports, to put pressure on the SFA.


  75. Martin says:
    December 16, 2014 at 8:45 am

    Rangers Int share price 18p, all time low.

    Not quite Martin: 17-Sep-14 11:00:16 17.06

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