Accountability via Transparency.

Where transparency exists accountability inevitably follows.​

This is an extract from a post on SFM from 2015. The subject was Transparency and Slow Glass

The message then was that football governance has to catch up in realising that football has to become more transparent in its dealing with supporters and so more accountable to them.
That transparency is already here via social media because of the ability to share, but the light of truth is constrained by Slow Glass.
Slow Glass from a short story by Bob Shaw slows down the light passing through it.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_of_Other_Days
In the story and others, you have Slow Glass of different thickness in terms of the time it takes for the light to emerge.
You have Glass a day thick/long to Glass ten years thick/long and more.

Resolution 12, if measured from the Celtic AGM in 2013 when it was tabled and adjourned, has taken 6 years for the light of truth to emerge, although it could have happened sooner had main stream media removed the dust of PR that slows the light, but light is inexorable and it is emerging at an archive of events since 2011 that can be read at

https://www.res12.uk/ 

It is in two parts.

Part One
relates to events in 2011/12 including a very interesting link between UEFA Licence 2011 and the commissioning of Lord Nimmo Smith to investigate use of EBTs with side letters by Rangers FC where non-disclosure benefited Rangers FC in 2011 AND 2012.


Part Two
concentrates SFA activity (or lack of it) from 2014 to date as result of the adjournment of Resolution 12 in November 2013 that provided shareholders with the authority to seek answers.
The archive has been constructed in chronological sequence to help readers understand better the detail and separate what took place in 2011/12 which is in the past, from the SFA handling of shareholders legitimate enquiries from 2014/15 to date, which remains current and is a mirror of SFA performance in respect of the national football team.
Many narratives will emerge as a result of the transparency, some Celtic related, but a system of governance, that is accountable in some way to supporters as stakeholders in the game, can only benefit the supporters of all clubs and they are encouraged to read through the archive.

As Phil Mac Giolla Bhain has written here in respect of Celtic and the SFA

Resolution 12 information on new website

accountability has to be the outcome of transparency to wipe the face and soul of Scottish football clean.

How that is achieved will be up to Scottish football supporters everywhere to take forward via their Associations and Trusts, in collaboration with the clubs they support, but it does seem to me, and I know others with more legal experience, that the SFA would find it difficult to resist a challenge to their refusal to engage with people (in this case minority shareholders of member clubs) who are affected by decisions that they make.

This entry was posted in Blogs, Featured by Trisidium. Bookmark the permalink.
Tom Byrne

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.

1,204 thoughts on “Accountability via Transparency.


  1. Ex Ludo 22nd April 2019 at 00:35

    HirsutePursuit 22nd April 2019 at 00:47

    easyJambo 22nd April 2019 at 00:54

    *****

    And it all comes back to me. Thank you, gentlemen all.


  2. I’ve just read the Ecojon blog and it highlights yet again, as if it was needed, that nothing in this entire saga has ever been straightforward. TRFC, born in confusion and riddled with mysteries ever since.


  3. I think the SFA blazers may have heard the fans' complaints regarding the McLeish appointment.

     

    I fully expect an announcement in due course;

    The SFA's very own 'Dream Team' of

     

    Malky Mackay as manager.

    Scott Gemmill as assistant.

     

    Both available.  Both cost nothing.

     

    Mibbees an interim arrangement, but if they actually beat Cyprus… well who knows…

     

    If the diddies at Hampden want to complete their ruination of the national set up, then another dreadful appointment should do the trick.

     


  4. Re the Tale of Two Sevcos.

     

    Was there not something about the SFA making enquiries (i know, i know its almost inconceivable) about the ownership of 5088 and suspecting it was Whyte?

    If it was Whyte then as personal non grata Sevco could not have been admitted to the SPL or SL because he was not a fit and proper person.

    Therefore, Sevco Scotland was required to take the place of 5088 apparently without Whyte.

    Green gets paid off through the AIM proceeds and as the Switcheroo becomes public (through the CF material) he manufactures an excuse (racist comments about Ahmed) and resigns pretty quickly.

    Whytes pay off is the court case settlememt the nuisance value 5088 causes and because he was only ever interested in the asset value of old Rangers. That is his "business"

    Notwithstanding the novation it doesn't take away the basic fact that the SFA were Party to an agreement they suspected an unfit person was involved in.

     

     


  5. Bogs Dollox 22nd April 2019 at 12:45
    Green gets paid off through the AIM proceeds and as the Switcheroo becomes public (through the CF material) he manufactures an excuse (racist comments about Ahmed) and resigns pretty quickly.
    ……………………..
    I often found it strange after charles left the building and was fined ny the SFA for that.(racist comments about Ahmed) He came back as a consultant during an ibrox power grab.
    https://mobile.twitter.com/ClusterOne2/status/1120311811792936960?p=v


  6. Bogs Dollox 22nd April 2019 at 12:45 Green gets paid off through the AIM proceeds and as the Switcheroo becomes public (through the CF material) he manufactures an excuse (racist comments about Ahmed) and resigns pretty quickly. …………………….. I often found it strange after charles left the building and was fined ny the SFA for that.(racist comments about Ahmed) He came back as a consultant during an ibrox power grab.
    Ghttps://mobile.twitter.com/ClusterOne2/status/1120311811792936960?p=v
    SORRY FOR DOUBLE POST


  7. Belated Easter Greetings everyone

    There appears to be a growing consensus on Twitter that the way ahead for Auldheid and his Res 12 pals is to leave the Celtic-sphere behind and concentrate on raising support on a wider basis amongst fans of other clubs. Perhaps try to crowd-fund legal representation for a challenge to the SFAs refusal to engage with shareholders of any club.

    My feeling is that the clubs would do almost anything to avoid a challenge in court to that rather dubious tenet of their own supremacy – perhaps even tell the truth to avoid it?


  8. Big Pink 22nd April 2019 at 15:56
    Happy easter.
    …………………
    My feeling is that the clubs would do almost anything to avoid a challenge in court to that rather dubious tenet of their own supremacy – perhaps even tell the truth to avoid it?
    ………………….
    I believe it is now time for a challenge in court.
    Let’s see who blinks first.


  9. Big Pink 22nd April 2019 at 15:56

    '..My feeling is that the clubs would do almost anything to avoid a challenge in court to that rather dubious tenet of their own supremacy – perhaps even tell the truth to avoid it?'

    *************

    And Easter greetings to you, BP -and everyone else, too.

    Whatever Professor Jarvie would have foreign students believe),the Res 12 issue and the 5-Way Agreement are matters that affect Scottish Football as  whole, in that they suggest that there may have been malfeasance on the part of the very Governance body itself.

    No rational and sensible football supporter of any club can shrug his/her shoulders and simply accept the possibility that the sport may be rotten to the core. For the good of the game, and the good of any club and team participating in the sport, Governance has to be the very essence of Integrity and trust.

    Our Governance body MUST be made to accept that they are accountable , and that the days of secrecy masquerading as 'commercial confidentiality' or some such cant are well and truly over.

    They must govern. Of course they must. But they must govern openly and honestly and be prepared to answer legitimate questions raised about decisions made which prima facie  raise serious doubts about their Integrity.

    So I'm all in favour of  working towards getting the Courts involved if possible. 

    Civil actions are expensive, though. My preference would be ( if it has not already been done) to get a criminal lawyer's opinion as to whether what we have on the Res 12 issue could be taken to the Polis with a request for investigation into whether a crime has been committed.

    If that is a no-goer, or if it is tried and the Polis refuse to investigate, or if, having done so ,their (or the PF's) conclusion is that a criminal prosecution cannot/will not be brought, then an approach through the civil Courts could be tried ( finances permitting).

     

     

     

     


  10. I think the major problem with the governance of Scottish football is that there are an awfy lot of skeletons rattling around in an awfy lot of cupboards , and there is a fear that an outsider will defenestrate all the committee men , past and present by going public . (Dave likes big words ). A lot of reputations will need to be defended .


  11. paddy malarkey 22nd April 2019 at 21:49

    '….there is a fear that an outsider will defenestrate all the committee men ,.'

    *****************

    What a lovely picture that conjures up:defenestration from the 6th Floor of Hampden!

    That's quite a long way ,physically ,to fall.broken heart but nowhere near as long as the moral fall from Integrity, Truth ,Honour and the Sporting Ideal.

     


  12. The simple fact that Petrie – of all people – is set to become SFA President is transparent validation that the SFA doesn't understand or desire accountability at Hampden.

     

    Petrie's promotion is a crude, two fingered salute to all us numpties who have poured so much money, time and emotion into a corrupt Scottish game.

     

    But, it is OUR game and always will be our game.

     

    And it will be the fans – as in 2012 – who will ultimately have to impose their will on the SFA – and the clubs as well.

     

    It could be via crowdfunded activity and/or boycotts of national games, Hampden, Scottish Cup ties, merchandise, etc.

     

    The SFA only understands money.

     


  13. Big Pink 22nd April 2019 at 15:56

    ———–

    Makes sense at this stage. I don't Twitter so I don't know how the momentum is gathering, but the only success so far has been through the mobilisation of fans' views on the issue of where Sevco (Club 12?) would be admitted to the leagues and thereby play Brechin.

    Auldheid and friends would need to recruit influential and respected members of other clubs' communities to make the case to the fans' forums though, there is a lot of ignorance out there and a lot of misinformation through the smsm that this is a Celtic / "Old Firm" / West of Scotland thing.

    I would guess that there would be a will among fans to support Res. 12, even if only through disaffection, but the case would have to be made simply and in such a way that fans can clearly see how their own club has been disadvantaged.


  14. macfurgly 22nd April 2019 at 23:07

    '..there is a lot of ignorance out there and a lot of misinformation through the smsm that this is a Celtic / "Old Firm" / West of Scotland thing.'

    ************

    Yes.

    There is a doctoral thesis for some graduate ( perhaps not for an Edinburgh University graduate!) in examining how the entire Press corps in Scotland operated as de facto propagandists on behalf of a corrupt sports club and a corrupt sports governance body. If not in actual words, by their silence!

    From the day that Mark Daly (praise to him and his BBC producers at the time) exposed the EBT stuff there has been nothing like a serious investigation into the dirty work, and nothing like any kind of journalistic insistence that the SFA should bloody well answer the hard questions about possible complicity in the dirty work that Rangers FC of 1872 was involved in  and the even dirtier mess of SevcoScotland and the 5-Way Agreement.

    There has not been one journalist who has openly acknowledged that Rangers FC of 1872 was liquidated in the same way as Gretna, and like Gretna, ceased to exist as a participating football club in Scottish professional football.

    They have all bought into the fiction that 'Rangers' merely changed hands. The facts are so to the contrary that that makes them actually liars. They know the truth, but lie to themselves and to us.

    Routinely.

     

     

     

     


  15. macfurgly 22nd April 2019 at 23:13

    '..New retail arrangement signed with the UK’s largest sports retailer, Sports Direct '

    **************

    A belly laugh indeed!angry

     


  16. John Clark 22nd April 2019 at 23:57

    Rate This

    —–

    "Following the rejection of a Company Voluntary Arrangement by creditors, the Rangers Football Club plc was put into liquidation and subsequently Rangers International Football Club plc was created, incorporating The Rangers Football Club Ltd into the Group".

    Que?

    I can only hear that in the voice of Groucho Marx, as in, "The Party of the First Part… " 

    There is no Sanity Clause.

    .


  17. John Clark 22nd April 2019 at 23:57

    Rate This

    ———–

    "We were delighted to have listed on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange in December 2012; it represents a key milestone in our plans for bringing Rangers back to its glory days".

    Indeed.


  18. John Clark 22nd April 2019 at 23:57

    Rate This

    "It is essential, however, that the Club does not over-extend itself in future as such an approach is unsustainable, regardless of the playing environment".

    Wise.

    …and so on.

     


  19. macfurgly 23rd April 2019 at 00:30

    '..the Rangers Football Club plc was put into liquidation and subsequently Rangers International Football Club plc was created, incorporating The Rangers Football Club Ltd into the Group".

    ******

    What an absolute distortion of the truth that was! No mention of  the SevcoScotland application to join the SFA as a new club. 

    I just wish I had the money to get right into that , to my mind, wholly false IPO  prospectus . 

    In my opinion, pure unadulterated lies were foisted upon the stock market and potential investors by those who marketed SevcoScotland/TRFC ltd as being continuity Rangers of 1872.

    And were too readily believed. And unquestioned.


  20. John Clark 22nd April 2019 at 23:48

     

    There has not been one journalist who has openly acknowledged that Rangers FC of 1872 was liquidated in the same way as Gretna, and like Gretna, ceased to exist as a participating football club in Scottish professional football.

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

    Graham Spiers has, on a couple of occasions. However, like the rest he continues to let himself down with the constant pushing of this 'Od Frm stuff, and his tendency to regard the new club with the same sense of supremacy as the old. I guess that's just the way the media in Scotland is and it is not going to change anytime soon. 


  21. Reading the BBC website following the sad news about Billy McNeil and had a look at their newspaper front pages section.

    The P & J front pages is all about one of the Aberdeen University FC teams in the local Aberdeen Amateur leagues walking off the pitch after one of their players was racially abused and the ref chose to ignore it.

    The story hasn't had much traction yet outside Aberdeen but I think we'll hear more about it.

     

    This is the club statement.

     

    Aberdeen University Men's Football Club

    16 hours ago

    AUFC would like to inform our fans that on Saturday, 20th of April, our 2nd team walked off the pitch and, subsequently, abandoned their league game against Kincorth A.F.C due to the use of an extremely offensive racial slur towards one of the University players. The AUFC committee was surprised to hear that despite almost every university player on the pitch hearing the abuse, the referee did not, therefore no actions were taken during the game. The club stands by the actions of the 2nd team, and we are taking necessary actions to assist the AAFA during the investigation. The club has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination in any form. We are deeply saddened by the events that took place on Saturday – racism has no place in society, let alone in a football match.


  22. Billy McNeill, God rest him, goes to his grave much loved and universally respected and honoured by the world of football for the splendid example he gave of sporting truth ,sporting endeavour and true sportsmanship.

    It is a sobering thought that there are men in Scottish Football and football governance in Scotland who, when it is their turn to die, will die disrespected and unhonoured for their 'contribution' to Scottish Football.


  23. Another sad day as a Giant of Scottish and Celtic football passes. RIP Cesar

    Condolences to the family 


  24. RIP Billy McNeil . Unfortunately , the parasites who run our game will be basking in his reflected gloryand pretending to be like him .


  25. Paddy Malarkey
    They’re at it already. Closer to home than you might think.


  26. Finloch
    Chapeau to those Aberdeen Uni players. Hope it catches on.


  27. No-one criticises the media more than me so it's only fair to say a big thank you to STV News and Bernard Ponsonby for a very moving tribute to Billy McNeill tonight. It was hugely fitting for a man who held such iconic status and certainly brought tears to my eyes. 


  28. What makes Ian Maxwell suitable to lead the SFA's quest for a new national team manager? What's his experience in this field? Has he even been involved in the selection/appointment of a manager before?

     

    His CV states that he was 'General Manager' at Partick Thistle when when Alan Archibald was promoted internally from player to manager. I've no idea how involved he was in that process, but that seems to have been his only experience of managerial change (up to now) as a non-player.

     

    That bodes well…


  29. Jingojimsie@10.16

    I wonder if Rod Petrie and Alan Macrae will be “hands off “from this appointment considering how well the last one went. 


  30. Jingso.Jimsie 24th April 2019 at 10:16

    What makes Ian Maxwell suitable to lead the SFA's quest for a new national team manager?…

    =======

    Exactly JJ.

    Other than being an ex-player, Maxwell brings very little to the table as CEO of the SFA.

     

    IMO, Maxwell is a useful patsy.

    Like Smith before him.

     

    It looks like Petrie will be the de facto 'Executive President & CEO'.

    After his significant involvement with the 5WA and all the shenanigans around RFC / TRFC, why would anyone think he will take a 'hands off' by simply being elevated to President?

     

    IMO, it's now the 'Petrie Show' for the next 4 years: regardless of which bum is on the CEO chair.

    angel


  31. As I suggested last week, the SFA appear to be taking a course in negotiations for changes to the non SPFL league structure that will create conflict with the Lowland League and the East of Scotland League. It seems that the SFA is intent on using the issuance, or otherwise, of new licences as a form of blackmail for clubs to accept the SFA's proposals. The 15 x LL clubs and 39 EoS clubs have previously rejected the proposals unanimously. 

    Maxwell and Petrie are attending tomorrow's EoS General Meeting.

    I believe that 17 clubs have applied for licences in good faith. They have all paid the £2,000 application fee, carried out various ground improvements including installation of floodlights, new toilet and disabled facilities at considerable expense. It would be galling if these licences are not awarded.

    Screenshot_20190423-182157_Chrome.jpg


  32. To the individual on here giving thumbs down to genuine respectful tributes to Mr McNeil please seek therapy for your behaviour before it eats you up completely. 


  33. Anderlecht and Belgian FA raided by police investigating money laundering

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48042234

    Belgian giants Anderlecht and the country's football association have been raided by police in connection with a money-laundering investigation involving agents and player transfers.

    A spokesman for the federal prosecutor said it was not linked to the 2018 probe into match-fixing and fraud.

    The Belgian FA told Reuters that police had taken away documents relating to transfers from its headquarters.

    Anderlecht said they were cooperating with the investigation.

    The prosecutor's spokesman added: "We had some questions for the agents who took care of the transfers. It is a question of money laundering."

    Anderlecht are Belgium's most successful football club, having won 34 league titles, the Uefa Cup and two Cup Winners' Cups. However, they have recently endured a difficult period having been fined and docked points when crowd trouble forced a match at arch-rivals Standard Liege to be abandoned.

    They are fifth in the Belgian top flight, and could miss out on qualifying for European competition next season for the first time in 55 years.


  34. sannoffymesssoitizz 24th April 2019 at 19:47
    2 0 Rate This

    Anderlecht and Belgian FA raided by police investigating money laundering
    ……………………….
    Rangers chairman Dave King has told a court he suspects some shareholders in the club have links to organised crime.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46403987
    November 30, 2018
    Wonder if Mr king ever got to the bottom of it. Or did the SFA maybe look into it


  35. Read the puff piece paul Murray in today's papers.

    Murray insists the club won't spend recklessly in a bid to halt Celtic's quest  for ten in a row.

    April 24, 2019

    ………………………………………..

     

    STEVEN GERRARD insists he needs more financial backing to close the gap on Celtic.
    Rangers supremo Dave King and the Ibrox board have backed Gerrard to the tune of £12million this season with the Gers boss signing 18 new players.
    But Gerrard feels they will need to dig even deeper this summer if they are to mount a serious title challenge to their Old Firm rivals.
    31st March 2019
    ………………….
    Rangers are within tangible reach of becoming the dominant force in Scottish football again.
    “The team requires a further upgrade and the Board will continue to back Mark and Steven, who fully understand that Rangers must win titles and cups and plans are already in place for recruitment in the summer window.”
    April 15, 2019.
    ……………………..
    I wonder why the narrative has changed from Dominant force,financial backing to close the gap, to won’t spend recklessly in a bid to halt Celtic. Has something happened these last few weeks?


  36. I had to go to Glasgow today for an appointment so I decided to nip out to Celtic Park afterwards to see the tributes to Billy McNeill. Obviously there was an overwhelming number of Celtic related tributes, but I did note some memorabilia related to Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibs. 

    Big Billy transcended divides in football and he will not be the last to do so, but it is hard to imagine the same cross club respect in 40-50 years time. I do hope I'm wrong though.


  37. It was a strange puff piece by Paul Murray today, knowing to the fact we have not heard a word from him since he resigned or why he resigned.
    ……………………….
    Businessmen Paul Murray and Barry Scott have resigned as Rangers directors.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43974234


  38. My recollection of Paul Murray's resignation is his part in the retail deal with Ashley . A spectacular own goal which is still chewing the leg off the club* at the present time . His recent appearance could be a token gesture to try and make amends , no doubts at the behest of the holding company chairman. 

    "there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns — the ones we don't know we don't know.”

    The known knowns are that expenditure once again exceeds income , the known unknowns are how much did they borrow from Close , what is the rate of interest and when is it due to be repaid along with how much will the court award SDI and when will they be awarded it. The unknown unknowns could be anything from Sevco 5088 having a claim on the assets to who really eat all the pies . One thing we know for sure is this soap opera isn't over just yet.


  39. Re Paul Murray:

     

    He's re-appeared to assist in publicising a book called 'Rangers – The Ulster Connection'. He was pictured holding a copy in several newspapers.

     

    Jimmy Nicholl was carrying out similar duties last week. 

     

    Lunch money included, no doubt!

     


  40. The article by Roger Mitchell in Albachiara.net is worth a read. Money, tech and sport. A heady mix. Can’t do the link thing though.


  41. Yesterday I asked, 'What makes Ian Maxwell suitable to lead the SFA's quest for a new national team manager? What's his experience in this field? Has he even been involved in the selection/appointment of a manager before?'

     

    Today, the SMSM is reporting that Sven-Goran Eriksson is on Maxwell's shortlist. This is getting surreal.


  42. JJ @ 15.38 25 April

    Re : Eriksson for Scotland job

     

    Key question is can Maxwell meet Svennis' salary demands (netto) – as you state JJ this is getting surreal & funnier everyday – you have to wonder why the member clubs put up with this pathetic administration maybe because most of them want a quiet life & have no higher expectations – it would appear Turnbull Hutton was (as we know) an exception & someone who challenged the staus quo – no one seems to have taken that mantle on it appears in the game . What we (the Scottish game) needs is a major disruptor now more than ever .


  43. PS : to above comment , should have added that Dick Campbell is my nomination for the Scotland job , now that man is a disruptor ! 

    Hope this nomination doesn't upset Red Lichtie too much .

     


  44. Jingso.Jimsie 25th April 2019 at 10:22
    16 0 Rate This

    Re Paul Murray:

    He’s re-appeared to assist in publicising a book called ‘Rangers – The Ulster Connection’. He was pictured holding a copy in several newspapers.
    ……………………..
    He has kept his distance and silence for over a year, but now he assist in publicising a book but spoke more of not overspending at ibrox.


  45. Ex Ludo 25th April 2019 at 13:33

    '..The article by Roger Mitchell in Albachiara…….'

    '..sannoffymesssoitizz 25th April 2019 at 14:34

    '..Hoping this is the correct link to the article by Roger Mitchell in Albachiara…net..'

    **************

    Gentlemen both, I have now read Mitchell's article to which you refer.

    I read it with about as much understanding  , possibly even less ,as I have of astrophysics, though!

    (I should maybe mention that the acronym 'NAB'  instantly calls to my mind  the old National Assistance Board of 1948,abolished by the Supplementary Benefits Act 1966 which set up the Supplementary Benefits Commission-of which body I became a servant in 1968. (And for all the good the change of name and Regulations did, it was still the hated 'means test'!)

    So to make some kind of sense of where Mitchell was coming from , I had to Google to find that for him 'NAB' is the National Broadcasters Association!

    The article ,then ,is about how 'football clubs' and 'broadcasting' now relate, the key relationship , of course, lying in how money is to be made by clubs and broadcasters by focusing only on market leaders, the billy-big-baws clubs of European and World football (which , of course, hunners of billions in China and India and Africa and Europe are ready to pay to watch on whatever sodding platform that technology can deliver); 

    and the business and tech models that can be developed to maximise profits from those hunners of billions.

    Now, we know that football is the beautiful game. We appreciate the Messi's and Ronald Os of the sport as we appreciate a fine wine (perhaps even as much as a Castlemilk boy in South Africa does) or  Arbroath smokies, or a pie and a pint on the way to the game, but a Champions Cup match between an Italian club and a French club, or a world cup game between any two countries of which Scotland is not one, is not something that speaks to us on any kind of emotional level ( well , ok, maybe if England's getting gubbed!)

    No.

    Pure 'aesthetics' is one thing, good in itself, but is as nothing compared to the gut-felt , really, really deep tangles of emotion we feel in supporting not so much the 'beautiful game' as our own team, be it a billy-big-baws club, or a six-year-old club, or a club struggling in the bottom division. 

    Mitchell seems to suggest that UEFA are perhaps on the side of the angels in trying to resist the notion of transnational leagues designed to meet the interests of the billy-big-baws clubs and the media people. 

    I hope that that is the case.

    But I fear that, based on the SFA's readiness to abandon 'sporting integrity' for the sake of 'money', and the reported charges of corruption levelled at UEFA and FIFA , I may be disappointed.

     

     

     

     

     

     


  46. Scottish Football summed up perfectly this morning.

    1st tranche of Hearts Cup final tickets went on sale at 9:00 for season ticket holders and those with the necessary loyalty points.

    Online ticketing, powered by Ticketmaster, only offering over 65 and under 16 tickets.

    Needless to say folks on Jambos Kickback saying they are securing tickets regardless,  to make sure they have a decent seat.

    So how does that work?

    1) Turn up on the day and chance it and get in – money lost to club and SFA (oldest /youngest crowd ever)

    2) Turn up and risk getting refused entry by a jobsworth- lots of empty seats for the showcase match.

    3) Own up and somehow hope there is a way to upgrade to the full price and pay someone the difference. 

    From the semi final tickets the full price was on the tear off strip and the concession price was on the main body of the ticket, so if the same format is used I think this is going to be a nightmare as I don't see how the 'authorities'  will be able to distinguish full price from concessions unless they question every single ticket holder!!!

     

     

     

     

     


  47. Don't know whose fault it was but problem sorted and Hearts now offering to upgrade any concession tickets to the full price for those who felt panicked to buy early doors. 

    Still a bit of a shame as some folk have clearly held off and when going to buy tickets later find they are left with less options.

    You'd think the whole thing would run smoothly these days being cup finals and large stadium events are hardly a new innovation.!!

     

     

     


  48. Read the puff piece paul Murray in today’s papers.

    Murray insists the club won’t spend recklessly in a bid to halt Celtic’s quest for ten in a row.

    April 24, 2019

    ………………………………………..

    STEVEN GERRARD insists he needs more financial backing to close the gap on Celtic.
    Rangers supremo Dave King and the Ibrox board have backed Gerrard to the tune of £12million this season with the Gers boss signing 18 new players.
    But Gerrard feels they will need to dig even deeper this summer if they are to mount a serious title challenge to their Old Firm rivals.
    31st March 2019
    ………………….
    Rangers are within tangible reach of becoming the dominant force in Scottish football again.
    “The team requires a further upgrade and the Board will continue to back Mark and Steven, who fully understand that Rangers must win titles and cups and plans are already in place for recruitment in the summer window.”
    April 15, 2019.
    ……………………..
    I wonder why the narrative has changed from Dominant force,financial backing to close the gap, to won’t spend recklessly in a bid to halt Celtic. Has something happened these last few weeks?
    ……………………….
    Rangers boss Steven Gerrard targets moves for ‘free contracts’
    https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/rangers-boss-steven-gerrard-targets-moves-for-free-contracts-1-4915531
    …………………….
    I wonder why the narrative has changed from Dominant force,financial backing to close the gap, to won’t spend recklessly in a bid to halt Celtic. Has something happened these last few weeks?


  49. New Book re Rangers FC

    I noticed a new book "Tangled in Blue – the Rise & Fall of Rangers FC" by Stephen O'Donnell is to be published & available from 19 Aug – can be pre-ordered on Amazon where I think Alex Thomson has written a review . I wonder if he will be subject to the same level of grief that Phil got for "Downfall" .


  50. naegreetin 26th April 2019 at 18:03
    …………………
    That reminds me, what ever happened to the craig whyte book True blue treachery?


  51. He is a summary of Maxwell and Petrie's meeting with the EoS clubs last night, from a poster on Pie & Bovril. I think it demonstrates all to clearly how far the SFA is out of touch with anything outside the SPFL.

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

    "Ian Maxwell began with a 10 minute summary of the SFA’s “achievements” over the last 12 months. What that had to do with matters in hand I have no idea but that was the only time you really heard him, he hardly spoke a word for the next 2 hours.

    It was then the Rod Petrie show. He began with a Powerpoint presentation of how the Scottish Cup works which then moved onto Tier 6 and play-offs.  Needless to say this dominated proceedings for the next hour or so and trying to pin Petrie down is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. Some of the main points I took from it, although this may differ slightly depending on people’s understanding of what was being discussed as he was all over the place at times, was;

    Juniors won’t be in tier 6 next season, they would run next season in line with the general SFA protocols for all competitions, ie discipline, registration etc and that this would be monitored by the SFA and assessed.  The SFA would ask the LL to come up with plans on how to run the play-offs involving 2, 3 or 4 teams, and the CEO would then make the decision if they could enter!

    They have told the East Region that in order to take part, they need to have a single Superleague next season in line with all other leagues.

    Teams can choose which league to play in if winning the play-off (Lochee was used as an example), he didn’t seem to understand the points being made about HL/LL demarcation line. The North isn’t happening, NRJFA don’t want to be part of the Pyramid.

    The SFA will oversee discipline for tier 6 (no idea about the other tiers) and every club at that level need to abide by that in every competition.  The Junior Cup was used as an example and would that competition follow SFA rules, I don’t think we ever got a clear answer on it.

    Delegates throughout made points, sometimes very forcefully, that what he was proposing was unworkable. Again, the main ones were;

    Clubs did not have an issue with the West coming in fully next season and entering the play-offs, the issue was two parallel competing leagues in the East, which also includes clubs which cannot play in the LL. The suggestion was made to allow the West in whilst further discussion was needed in East, he seemed to imply that the SJFA didn’t like that suggestion.

    If the ERJFA are splitting into Tayside and WL/Fife divisions then the solution and way forward is already there, Tayside form own league and WL/Fife join EoS.  The EoS are the existing tier 6 league in the area.

    Geography has to be the main driver of how the Pyramid works, with one league system covering each area. Also questions over why an Association is being allowed to enter, there should only be one governing body involved in the pyramid, the SFA.

    What happens if another league eg Central Amateur or Edinburgh & Lothians Amateur wanted access to the pyramid, would they be entitled to enter at tier 6 as well? SFA setting precedent if allowing ERJFA in at same level in same area as EoS.

    Rules cannot be changed mid-season, LL play-off decisions need to be made now for next season, or at the end of next season for 2020-21.  It is absurd to say the CEO can make such a decision at a time of his choosing.  Clubs need to know.

    There were lots of other points being made, and Petrie appeared a little rattled at the feedback he was getting.  Then we eventually moved onto Club Licencing.

    Petrie said the SFA were busy with other matters, and that there is nothing in the club licencing process that says how quickly the board needed to make decisions, and seemed to indicate this would drag on to SFA AGM and that SPFL clubs are entitled to a say.

    This was like rolling a grenade into the room, he was repeatedly asked (him and Maxwell) when clubs would be advised and he repeatedly said they couldn’t. One delegate pointed out that as the two most influential people in the game that was an embarrassing response, and that clubs must have a decision as they need to plan for next season, and it also effects the LL play-off situation which starts next week.  Still no commitment.

    One delegate said to him that he had lied to them when he gave his spiel at the same meeting back in September about welcoming clubs on-board etc, he didn’t like this one bit!  A bit of an OTT accusation to make but it gives an indication that tempers were running high.  He was also questioned on the influence of SPFL clubs and again gave a typical non-answer.

    More delegates had their say by impressing on him the amount of money that had been spent so far, and that some had AGM’s coming up where they had no answer to give members. They also could not tell players who they wanted to sign what league they would be playing in. 

    The meeting sort of petered out to a conclusion, with Maxwell saying his first words since the start saying he understood clubs frustrations!

    What happens next I have no idea.  Petrie and Maxwell were left under no illusion of how clubs felt, and some delegates done very well at getting their points across and explaining why clubs disagreed with what is being proposed for Pyramid and their frustration regarding licencing."


  52. easyJambo 26th April 2019 at 19:38

     

    Apart from the obvious take from that report – that Petrie and Maxwell are idiots – it would appear that the delegates from those lower leagues are less inclined to kowtow to the SFA turds than their counterparts in the SPFL are.


  53. Allyjambo 26th April 2019 at 22:09

    '..the delegates from those lower leagues are less inclined to kowtow to the SFA turds than their counterparts in the SPFL are.'

    **************

    I read eJ's previous post with great interest, and his post today ( with his acknowledgement of sources) with even greater interest.

    At the most polite level of expression, there seems to be a huge inability on the part of SFA senior officers and Board members to explain and justify  their policies/administrative decisions to those affected by them!

    That inability, that contemptuous disregard for engagement, discussion, the seeking of consensus, would be bad enough if the Board were otherwise highly respected, perceived to be morally ethical in the discharge of their duties and generally honest and trustworthy.

    It is utterly and completely unacceptable in a Board that is heavily compromised in the ethical stakes and suspected of being party to all kinds of untruth and guilty of the fabrication of the  monstrous nonsense of the Big Lie.

    Your description of some people as 'turds' is colourful, but too kind!

     

     

     

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