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. sannoffymesssoitizz 27th April 2019 at 00:22

    '..Bolton Wanderers v Brentford called off by EFL ..'

    **********

    Completely OT, I know, and forgive me.

    On a training course in Blackpool in 1975, one of my fellow course members and I were having a late night drink in a hotel.

    By happy coincidence a friend of hers happened to be in the bar. This ,much older , chap was really  a friend of her dad, and was a fairly senior police officer. He joined us, giving me the once-over that was a hint that he was looking after his friend's daughter and that I had better not have designs on her! (or did I just imagine that?)

    We had a few beers together , and then, at closing time, he got on to his walkie-talkie. Result:? A lift home in a police car, her to her b&b , and me to mine.

    He was a Bolton Wanderers supporter! 

    And I have a wee sneaking fondness for that club because of that trivial little occasion.

    Carry on.


  2. Someone is clearly working Stevie Gerrard from the back (I wonder who?!!!!)

    To come away with this age old nonsense about Aberdeen trying harder against them than they do against Celtic was embarrassing in the extreme from a man with such a glittering playing career at a high level. Firstly the inference of his statement is that Rangers are at least the equal of Celtic, therefore it is fair to make such a comparison. In reality perhaps Aberdeen enjoy more success against Rangers because Rangers are easier to beat. Also, the inference that a team lies down to another looks rather stupid given the number of hammerings Celtic have dished out to Rangers these past three years. 

    I am afraid Gerrard has indulged in primary school playground stuff which he should be above. Well done to Derek McInness for saying Rangers shouldn't flatter themselves so much, and for once well done to the media for refusing to doff their cap to any type of nonsense emanating from Ibrox. 


  3. I just have to say that that goal, by No5 Simunovic, could not have been more fitting on today, of all days. If I believed in heaven, then I'd be certain Billy McNeill was looking down, smiling at a goal like so many he scored.

     


  4. Allyjambo 27th April 2019 at 14:01
    20 2 Rate This

    I just have to say that that goal, by No5 Simunovic, could not have been more fitting on today, of all days. If I believed in heaven, then I’d be certain Billy McNeill was looking down, smiling at a goal like so many he scored.
    ………………..
    I HEAR IT WAS SCORED ON THE 67 MINUTE.


  5. Gaslamp 27th April 2019 at 16:18
    2 0 Rate This

    Neil Doncaster went to Dingwall last night to present Ross County with the Championship and the players’ medals!

    https://twitter.com/SeanKelly_93/status/1121908269449084928

    How much does he get paid?
    ………………..
    He presented an ibrox club with 54 titles for entering the third division, why are you surprised at his latest?


  6. Cue an Ibrox-based club's fans and/or its simpleton PR operator THREATENING, DEMANDING, etc. the purchase of Bolton FC and a move to Engerlund?

     

    I certainly wouldn't stand in their way.

     

    Only problem is that the Ibrox would need a chunk of money…which they simply don't have.

    Mibbees an SFM sponsored crowd funding exercise could facilitate such a move…and remove this stain from the Scottish game for good? 

     


  7. BBC Scotland as predicted ended coverage before the presentation of the Championship Trophy last night in Dingwall. It did mean that the nation did not hear Neil Doncaster being roundly booed by the County fans for agreeing to a contract which allowed the BBC to dictate the change to Friday night, a deal which cost County lots of money through lost hospitality packages already sold for a Saturday kick-off. I'll bet Ladbrokes weren't too happy either. He is a popular man! 


  8. Cluster One 27th April 2019 at 21:45

    '…That time…'

    ***********

    And what a ridiculous time it was!

    Groupings of charlatans all over the place, some of them without any kind of wealth of their own, fighting and biting each other viciously over the dying club ,like jackals over a dying zebra in the Masai Mara!

     In among those groupings there were liars, convicted criminals, asset strippers, possibly very dodgy solicitors, trying to jump on a bandwagon!

    And in the background, a governance body without principle ,ready to accommodate , to the point of manufacturing the biggest sporting lie in all of history, whichever grouping 'won'.

    And, of course, a Press Corps so stuffed full with succulent lamb at the table of  arch-cheat SDM that nothing like objective, unbiased reporting could be expected, or was provided.

    (But, in that connection, although I have been critical of Chick Young and can justify my criticism, I have to remember that he had the courage to refer to the famous 'nod' that Alastair Johnston gave in answer to the question 'Could Rangers go bust?' and to resist the bullying by JT live on radio)

    Seems an age ago now: but as a fellow-guest in the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry said to me on Wednesday evening last, 'sat sri akal'—- 'truth is eternal'. 

    We know the truth, and, of course, the liars know that they lie.

     

     

     

     

     


  9. John Clark 28th April 2019 at 00:48

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

    That will be the same Alastair Johnston who ignored the fact Craig Whyte was found not guilty in a criminal court and went on TV the next day to say Whyte was 'guilty' of 'murdering' Rangers. That will be the same Alastair Johnston who was on the old Rangers board when they indulged in illegal tax evasion. Scottish football is as well rid of that charlatan as it is of anyone involved in the old Rangers mess. 


  10. Cluster One 27th April 2019 at 19:05

     

    42

     

    3

     

    Rate This

     

     

    Allyjambo 27th April 2019 at 14:01
    20 2 Rate This

    I just have to say that that goal, by No5 Simunovic, could not have been more fitting on today, of all days. If I believed in heaven, then I’d be certain Billy McNeill was looking down, smiling at a goal like so many he scored.
    ………………..
    I HEAR IT WAS SCORED ON THE 67 MINUTE.

    ………………………………………………………………………….

    To be pedantic, it was in the 68th minute, but in a rare BBC moment of accuracy, immediately post-match they called it with 67 minutes on the clock. Just shows they can get the minor detail right when they want??? 


  11. normanbatesmumfc  said @ 11:29: 'To be pedantic, it was in the 68th minute …'

    I suppose that would also mean that Celtic won the European Cup in the 1,968th year of Our Lord … ?

    crying


  12. There appear to be grounds for believing that the medieval  Dionysius Exiguus  made some arithmetical mistakes, and that it is more likely than not that Our Lord was born  between 7 BC and 1 BC.

    Thus, Celtic may have won the European Cup between 1968 and 1975!

    The main thing I suppose is not the precision of dates, but the facts that occurred.

    thttps://www.catholiceducation.org/en/controversy/common-misconceptions/in-what-year-was-christ-actually-born.html


  13. JC@13.08

    Careful now JC, you don’t want to start a Julian vs Gregorian dispute over calendars. 


  14. I don’t know if any else is paying attention to what’s happening with Bolton Wanderers but it looks to me like a movie we’ve seen before. There’s a lot of consternation in the fans forums regarding the club’s financial security and the cast of the “movie” includes a few stock “baddies” as well the usual suspects like HMRC and a whole raft of debtors. Developing story as they say.


  15. Would somebody be good enough to remind me what the current state of play is in the court case held/being held, in London I Think, about the replica kit contract? Sorry I may have missed it. Are we just waiting for a decision?


  16. bordersdon 29th April 2019 at 15:51

    '…Would somebody be good enough to remind me what the current state of play is in the court case held/being held, in London I Think, about the replica kit contract..'

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

    I've been accessing the High Court of Chancery 'daily lists'  site regularly, and nothing has appeared since just before Good Friday, when there was still , I think another day's hearing scheduled, which I thought might have been heard on the Tuesday of Easter week. 

    But I've seen nothing where I thought it ought to be!

    Since there has been nothing public, I assume either that the Hearing has been completed and the Judge is still to make the award of damages, or that the Hearing isn't finished.

     


  17. John Clark @17.56

    ——————————————–

    Thanks John. Pretty much what I thought. We we have to wait and see then!!


  18. bordersdon 29th April 2019 at 20:52
    4 1 Rate This

    John Clark @17.56

    ——————————————–

    Thanks John. Pretty much what I thought. We we have to wait and see then!!
    ……………….
    I have noticed that the new replica kit from ibrox has been shown on the internet these last few days, but no details of who will be selling them or how much the ibrox club will make from each shirt or if Ashley still has them by the short and curly’s.


  19. Re: Aberdeen playing in their away strip at Ibrox.

     

    The SMSM reported that Aberdeen could not play in their normal strip at Ibrox because – "at Rangers'[sic] insistence" – it clashed with MacGregor's all orange keeper's outfit.

     

    As I don't believe anything in the SMSM unless it is a direct quote from a named source… does anyone know if this could be true?  

     

    Can't say I've heard of this scenario before, and would reasonably expect that the one home player would have to change his outfit instead – rather than the whole away team.

     

    I had also assumed that mibbees there was a contractual obligation for Aberdeen to wear their away strip at least x times in the season?

    Otherwise, for such a significant game why would you choose to wear an insipid, uninspiring colour rather than the traditional, bold red?

    It also reminded me of that hideous, grey ManU away strip years ago – which Fergus had his players change at half time!

     

    [Disclaimer: this not a pop at the Dons.  ALL clubs have hideous away strips from time to time.]


  20. John Clark 29th April 2019 at 17:26

    bordersdon 29th April 2019 at 20:52

    ————————————————-

    Not sure if the judgements drop elsewhere quicker but they are usually uploaded here eventually:

    https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2019/

    The previous judgements are up there in Feb/March.

    Purely going by the general trend between hearing and judgement being handed down it looks to be 3-4 weeks, so might be a few weeks yet before anything is heard.

     


  21. 'StevieBC 30th April 2019 at 09:06

     

    Re: Aberdeen playing in their away strip at Ibrox…'

    ##########################################

     

    I've no idea why AFC wore their change strip, except that, according to the SFA Handbook,  broadcasters may have some say in the matter, presumably for technical reasons…

     

    …which reminds me of the snooker commentator, the late Ted Lowe, & his famous quote, "Steve is going for the pink ball – and for those of you who are watching in black and white, the pink is next to the green."


  22. Bolton Wanderers: Laurence Bassini to meet EFL, Brentford game will not be played this week

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48103967
     

    Bolton have said Laurence Bassini's takeover will be off if the English Football League is not satisfied with his funding proposal on Tuesday.

    Bassini is set to meet EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey as he waits for them to approve his deal for Wanderers.

    A club statement said "negotiations will cease" if the EFL is "not satisfied with the proposed funding structure presented by Bassini".

    The EFL confirmed Bolton's game with Brentford will not go ahead this week.

    That fixture was postponed on Saturday after Bolton's players went on strike over unpaid wages for March and April.

    Former Watford owner Bassini's intended purchase was originally announced on 17 April, but Anderson released a statement on Saturday saying if Bassini did not provide proof of funds by Monday, he would explore other options.

    However, that deadline has been extended to allow for Bassini's meeting with Harvey.

    The club statement added: "All parties are working for the best outcome for the football club and its supporters and everyone's efforts are focused on a successful conclusion."

    Bolton-Brentford will not be played this week – EFL

    A new date has yet to be set for Bolton's postponed fixture against Brentford.

    The regular Championship season is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, when Bolton are set to visit Nottingham Forest.

    EFL regulations do allow for regular-season matches to be played up to four days after that date.

    BBC Sport understands Bassini is confident he can complete the deal and is determined the Brentford fixture will be fulfilled, even if they have to field a team made up of the club's younger players.

    An EFL statement said: "The EFL Board will now determine on Thursday, 2 May as to what arrangements are to be put in place in regards to the fixture and Bolton Wanderers will be instructed accordingly.

    "The EFL reserves its position in relation to the club not making the arrangements to play the game at the earliest opportunity and this matter will be brought to the attention of the Independent Disciplinary Commission the club has been referred to at the appropriate time."

    In addition to outstanding wage payments to players and coaching staff, BBC Radio Manchester has also learned matchday and club staff have yet to be paid their April wages, which were due on Tuesday.

    The club's most senior executive, consultant Paul Aldridge, has cleared his personal belongings out of the offices he has been using, although he is still employed by them.

    Bolton are due in the High Court on 8 May to answer a £1.2m winding-up petition against them by HM Revenue and Customs. The case has been adjourned twice.


  23. surprise Surely the SFA Compliance Officer must also rescind Andrew Considine's red card and cite Katic's ""successful deception of a match official"?

    Patrick Bamford: Leeds United striker charged by Football Association for simulation
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48106530

    Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has been charged with "successful deception of a match official" by the Football Association during Sunday's Championship draw with Aston Villa.

    Bamford went down holding his face after an altercation with Anwar El Ghazi following the home side's controversial opening goal.

    El Ghazi was sent off but has now had the red card rescinded.

    Bamford has until 18:00 BST on Wednesday to respond to the charge.

    An FA statement said: "It is alleged the Leeds United player's behaviour in the 72nd minute of the fixture, which involved committing a clear act of simulation that led to Anwar El Ghazi being dismissed, amounts to improper conduct."

    If found guilty or he decides to accept the charge, the former England Under-21 striker will face a two-match suspension, which would see him miss the final game of the regular season at Ipswich on Sunday and the first leg of Leeds' play-off semi-final tie.

    In addition, both clubs have been charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion in the aftermath of Leeds' goal.

    They have until 18:00 on Friday to respond to their respective charges.

    The melee was sparked after Mateusz Klich scored for Leeds with Aston Villa players appealing for the ball to be played out after striker Jonathan Kodjia had gone down injured in the centre circle.

    After clashes between the players and an exchange between the two benches, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa ordered his team to allow Aston Villa to walk in an equaliser from kick-off, which was scored by Villa winger Albert Adomah.

    The point for Leeds meant that Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United were promoted to the Premier League and will feature alongside Villa in the play-offs.

    Villa boss Dean Smith told BBC WM after the game: “Full respect to Marcelo for doing that. I think sportsmanship has prevailed in the end.”

     


  24. TRFCG (Wavetower) has posted its latest set of accounts (unaudited) with Companies House.  I was hoping to get some information on the status of the Henderson & Jones case against the Oldco/BDO (re the floating charge), but sadly there is nothing there.

    It is acknowledged that the company is insolvent and that the accounts have been prepared on a break-up basis. However the company shows a debtor balance of £16m, which I suspect is the value of the claim against the Oldco.


  25. easyJambo 30th April 2019 at 18:07

    ',…However the company shows a debtor balance of £16m, which I suspect is the value of the claim against the Oldco.'

    The last we heard, eJ, was, I think, that BDO had intimated that they might engage in discussions about in out-of-Court settlement with H&J.

    I'm not sure I understand how any monies paid by RFC 2012(IL) (in such a settlement) would help The Rangers FC Group Ltd- it's H&J that would be getting the payment, not the Group, since it was H&J which bought the rights to the claim?


  26. Sanoffy@14.56

    A couple of quotes from the “Trotters” forum which reflects the views of the fans.

    “I watched that interview and the only thing missing from Bassini was the clown nose, makeup and big shoes. How has this fella ever become a millionaire? He can't even hold a decent conversation, in which case I do believe that he was laying.”

    “I've been following with great interest the recent takeover talk, but feel rather gloomy after reading of Bassini's recent shenanigans and his failure to come up with the cash as promised to pay wages. Anderson is now saying he's basically not got a clue as to what Bassini's intentions are or, if he's actually got the funds which now appears remote.”


  27. Ex Ludo @ 22:10

    As they say dann sarf "A well dodgy geezer"!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Bassini

    Laurence Bassini (born Laurence Bazini[1]) is a Stanmore-based English businessman. He was the chairman of Watford Football Club from May 2011 to June 2012.[2]

    Bassini took over Watford Football Club in a £440,000 takeover on 31 May 2011 when the club's previous parent company Watford Leisure PLC was de-listed from the London Stock Exchange and became Watford Leisure Limited.

    Prior to taking over at Watford Bassini had been made bankrupt in 2007 following the failure of his business The Fox at Ibstone near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, which he blamed on his father.[1] Bassini was bankrupt for about a year and it was during this time that he changed his name to Bassini to have a "fresh start".[1]

    Whilst chairman of Watford, Bassini had been due to meet with fans at the annual Fans Forum on 8 November 2011 but cancelled at the last minute citing ill health.[3] He then cancelled a subsequent local radio phone-in on 22 November 2011, again at the last minute and again due to 'ill health'.[4]

    Bassini's tenure at Watford was marked by allegations of financial impropriety[5] culminating in the 'Safegate' scandal when just prior to the sale of the club in June 2012 Bassini called the police after an employee refused to hand him the keys to the club safe.[6] He wore a red builder's helmet giving interviews to the local paper.[2]

    In June 2012, 13 months after he bought the club, Bassini sold Watford Football Club to Gino Pozzo, son of Giampaolo Pozzo and owner of Udinese and Granada.[7]

    In November 2012 it was announced the £1.5 million Bassini owed to Watford Football Club for 'cash advances' was unlikely to be repaid.[8]

    In March 2013 an independent disciplinary commission found Bassini guilty of misconduct and dishonesty over financial dealings on behalf of Watford and banned him from being involved in a position of authority with any Football League club for three years. The commission found he had been "dishonest in his dealings with the league and with his fellow directors" and "practised secrecy and deception" when he told neither the league nor the other members of the Watford board about his secret forward financing arrangements.[9]

    Following Watford's defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2013 Football League Championship play-off Final, Bassini sent a series of gloating texts to local newspaper Watford Observer, reveling in his joy at their loss.[10][11]

    In July 2013 Bassini added to his list of business failures when the High Court ordered his company Watford Leisure Limited be placed in liquidation.[12]

    In March 2014, Bassini lost a High Court battle against the Russo brothers.[13] The former Watford F.C. directors claimed that they were owed more than £3.5 million by Bassini. He was ordered to pay the sums of £3.5 million and £135,000 (plus an additional £568,000 in interest and £150k in costs); a total of £4,353,000. He has been told that he cannot appeal.

    During the trial, in which he was described as 'evasive' and a maker of 'empty threats', the court heard Bassini had made numerous accusations of conspiracies against him without providing any evidence. Among these were that the Russos still secretly owned half Watford F.C. with the Pozzo family and were orchestrating a campaign against him. Bassini, who had been in court for the whole trial, left before the end after complaining of 'feeling dizzy' following 'a slip' on the High Court steps.[14]

    In June 2014 Bassini was made bankrupt for the second time. The bankruptcy order was made after Bassini failed to pay the sum of £37,500. During the hearing Bassini claimed not to own any property despite receiving over £1.5 million in cash advances from Watford during his tenure.[15]

    On 17 April 2019, it was announced that Bassini had agreed to take over financially troubled EFL Championship club Bolton Wanderers.[16]


  28. Sannoffy@03.20

    And we thought all the dodgy geezers (sorry, legitimate businessmen) were working in Scotland. There does seem to be a blind spot for the fans of many clubs when it comes to making judgements about new owners. Mr Bassini, Mr Whyte and Mr Green have an awful lot in common. It would also appear that the FA in England are as effective in controlling the game as the SFA are in Scotland. 


  29. As the Bampots have discussed previously, there should be a "Fit & Proper" test for senior office holders at the SFA and the SPFL.

     

    Not just to ensure there is e.g. no dodgy business background, no 'intolerant' behaviours, etc…

     

    But, to also minimise cronyism: to also confirm that due process has been followed prior to appointment confirmation…

    and that the individual selected does in fact have the requisite qualifications and experience for the post.

     

    Yes, talking about you Maxwell…  angel


  30. sannoffymesssoitizz 1st May 2019 at 03:20

    '…During the hearing Bassini claimed not to own any property despite receiving over £1.5 million in cash advances from Watford during his tenure.[15]'

    ____________

    I wonder was the word 'impecuniosity' used in the course of his defence? 

    Perhaps he did not have the benefit of having a peer of the realm as his Counsel.broken heart


  31. I thought I heard a BBC report round about midday today to the effect that Maxwell has said the SFA have a 4-man short leet for the national team job, the final selection decision to be made next week, but I can't find anything online. 

    Could I have imagined it?


  32. JC@16.53

    Nope. Bruce Arena, Derek McInnes, Steve Clarke and Davie Moyes all get included on the BBC online. Yes I know, Bruce Arena.

    Soccer ball here we come


  33. Ex Ludo 1st May 2019 at 18:05
    ……………….
    I think it will be Davie Moyes.
    You don’t get the camera to pan in on him at a recent SPFL game for nothing.


  34. Ex Ludo 1st May 2019 at 18:05

    '..

    JC@16.53

    Nope. Bruce Arena,…..'

    ***********

    I have to confess I had to look him up on wiki, and look up where the surname originated.

    And had a wee laugh at 

    The Arena Genealogy and Family Tree Page

    https://www.genealogytoday.com/surname/finder.mv

    where it says that the Arena surname is the 6666th thousandth most common name in the States.

    and of Southern Italian origins.

    Mind you, if the SFA can be regarded as the moral equivalent of the father of Lies, ….having a 6666 might feel comfortable!broken heart


  35. Bolton Wanderers: Relegated side's last game of season at Nottingham Forest to go ahead

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48127869

    Bolton's final Championship game of the season at Nottingham Forest will go ahead on Sunday after the club said its players would be available.

    The game was in doubt after last week's match against Brentford was postponed, with Bolton's players going on strike over unpaid wages for March and April.

    BBC Sport understands the PFA has agreed to loan the club money to cover some of the unpaid wages.

    Wanderers have already been relegated to League One.

    The club's long-term future remains uncertain after prospective new owner Laurence Bassini committed to providing the English Football League with proof he has the funds to take over the club within 48 hours on Tuesday.

    Bassini told BBC Radio Manchester he remains "hopeful" the deal will happen and his "priority is to save the club".

    Former Watford owner Bassini's intended purchase of the Championship club was originally announced on 17 April, but Bolton owner Ken Anderson released a statement on Saturday saying if Bassini did not provide proof of funds by Monday, he would explore other options.

    However, that deadline was extended to allow for Bassini's meeting with EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey.

    Meanwhile, the EFL Board will meet on Thursday to decide "what arrangements are to be put in place" for the postponed game against Brentford, with EFL regulations allowing for regular-season matches to be played up to four days after the end of the season.


  36. sannoffymesssoitizz 1st May 2019 at 21:10

    '…Bassini told BBC Radio Manchester he remains "hopeful" the deal will happen and his "priority is to save the club".

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

    In your opinion, somsii, would you say that Bassini is more a CG than a CW?  Or is there a CW act-alike in the background somewhere?

    It would be hard to  believe that there are no equivalents sniffing around examining the possibilities of a quick asset-purchase following (potential at the moment) Administration.

    It would be interesting to lob in a phone call to see if any provider of advance bulk-payment for discounted season-books for the next couple of seasons has been approached? 

    Or have they all been avid readers of the Scottish 'saga' and how that turned out? 

    And as far as I have read so far, the EFL has not covered itself in glory in dealing with a club that has just been a bloody nuisance hovering for ever on the cusp of Administration.

    And from what I have read of the reports by the BBC England and the Lancashire MSM, their reporters are as ignorant and/or unquestioning as any in the SMSM.

     


  37. From The Sun;

     

    "…However, they took to the Ibrox turf on Saturday in their grey second kit due to Allan McGregor's orange goalkeeping top.

    McInnes says he has never known a situation like it as he hit out at the decision.

    He said:

    "We were told we had to wear grey.  Rangers clearly don't like us in red and they insisted their goalkeeper wear orange.

    That is the reason.  I have never known it in all my years.

    But the SPFL backed Rangers and allowed them to wear the orange kit…"

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

    That just doesn't seem right, IMO.

     

    Sounds like simple 'gamesmanship' on TRFC's part.

    But, is it possibly yet another stoopid precedent being set: the home goalkeeper can dictate which strip the visiting team plays in?

     

    I'm sure this will come back to bite the SPFL / TRFC on the bum at a later date.


  38. To add to the Aberdeen away strip story…

     

    I wonder if other SPFL teams next season will adopt another, optional goalkeeping outfit…with a lot of blue in it…?

    broken heart


  39. StevieBC 2nd May 2019 at 09:18

     

    I'm sure this will come back to bite the SPFL / TRFC on the bum at a later date.

    Nah! It wullnae.

    ——————————————————————–

    StevieBC 2nd May 2019 at 09:36

     

    I wonder if other SPFL teams next season will adopt another, optional goalkeeping outfit…with a lot of blue in it…?

    Nah! They'll no bother.

    —————————————————–

    Apologies for my rather flippant remarks, pure exasperation on my part but… we all know that other clubs won't try similar tactics. They are fully aware that such snide moves only work for clubs operating out of Ibrox.


  40. AS we await the result of TRFC's latest joust with SDI , I was thinking that , should things go badly against them , that they could have an insolvency event and be deducted 15 points this season (and 5 next) and still end up in a EL qualifying position . But , then again , they normally win these things , or so we're told .


  41. Patrick Bamford: Leeds striker banned for two games for deceiving referee
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48140118

    Leeds striker Patrick Bamford has been banned for two matches by the Football Association after being found guilty of "successful deception of a match official" in the draw with Aston Villa.

    Bamford went down as though he had been hit in the face by Anwar El Ghazi after Leeds' controversial opening goal.

    Replays showed Villa's Dutch winger had made no contact with the head of the 25-year-old.

    El Ghazi was sent off but had the red card rescinded on Tuesday.

    Bamford will miss Sunday's Championship trip to Ipswich and the first leg of Leeds' play-off semi-final tie.

    Leeds said in a statement that although Bamford did not deny the charge they had requested a hearing to "contest the penalty imposed on the player".

    They added: "The club felt that given the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the extraordinary act of sportsmanship which saw our head coach Marcelo Bielsa demand our team to allow Aston Villa to score an uncontested equaliser, we could have a sensible discussion around the sanction.

    "We acknowledge that the FA panel did not feel that to be reasonable and the club therefore joins Patrick in accepting the two-match ban."

    The melee, in which the Bamford incident occurred, was sparked after Mateusz Klich scored for Leeds with Villa players appealing for the ball to be played out after Jonathan Kodjia had gone down injured in the centre circle.

    After clashes between the players and an exchange between the two benches, Leeds boss Bielsa ordered his team to allow Villa to walk in an equaliser from kick-off, which was scored by winger Albert Adomah. Sunday's game finished 1-1.

    On Tuesday both clubs were charged with failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion in the aftermath of Leeds' goal. They have until 18:00 BST on Friday to respond to their respective charges.

    Leeds' failure to win saw Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United promoted to the Premier League and they will now feature alongside Villa in the play-offs.

    ————————————————————————-

    Any rumours of retrospective action on Katic and or Defoe?


  42. Celtic and Rangers fined £7,500 each for Old Firm derby brawl

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48140842

    Celtic and Rangers have each been fined £7,500 for a mass confrontation at the end of their Old Firm derby in March.

    Rangers pair Alfredo Morelos and Andy Halliday were shown red cards during their side's 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park.

    Trouble started on the pitch after the game as the reigning champions extended their Scottish Premiership lead.

    The Scottish FA last week decided no action would be taken against Celtic captain Scott Brown for an on-field gesture made following his side's win.

    But striker Morelos was given an automatic four-match suspension after he was sent off – for a fifth time this season – for elbowing Brown.

    • Celtic captain not punished for Old Firm celebration

    Full-back Halliday received a second yellow card for confronting Brown after the final whistle.

    Celtic defender Mikael Lustig and Rangers' substitute goalkeeper, Wes Foderingham, were booked for their part in the melee.

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard accepted a one-match touchline suspension, with reports suggesting it relates to comments made towards referee Bobby Madden.

    Meanwhile, Rangers' Ryan Kent failed in an attempt to overturn a two-game ban handed to the on-loan Liverpool winger after video footage showed him lashing out at Brown after James Forrest's winner.


  43. Derek McInnes: Aberdeen boss banned for Celtic fans gesture

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48133223

    Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has been banned for one match for gesturing to Celtic fans who were singing a sectarian song at him.

    McInnes has also been given a further one-game ban – suspended until the end of next term – for reacting during his side's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat.

    The Pittodrie boss had said he hoped a Scottish FA misconduct hearing on Thursday would take into account "mitigating circumstances".

    But the charge against him was upheld.

    He will be banned from the touchline for Saturday's visit of Celtic.

    The hearing was been brought forward a day because McInnes wants to attend the funeral of former Celtic captain and manager Billy McNeill on Friday.

    "I wish I hadn't responded but I also feel there were a lot of real mitigating circumstances," he said at his media conference earlier on Thursday.

    "Hopefully, that gets looked at. I'm just keen to get it resolved."


  44. ‘How would favouring one team help referees’ careers?’ – Bobby Madden on bias claims, abuse, Celtic v Rangers and social media

    https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/how-would-favouring-one-team-help-referees-careers-bobby-madden-on-bias-claims-abuse-celtic-v-rangers-and-social-media-1-4919711
     

    Leading Scots referee Bobby Madden has given an insight into the pressures he faces as a top-flight whistler, in a wide-ranging radio interview

    The 40-year-old official has been the man in the middle of a number of big games – including two UEFA Champions League games, four World Cup qualifiers, 24 Europa League games and 161 Scottish Premiership matches in just under nine years.

    Madden has also taken charge of several Old Firm clashes – including March’s powder-keg clash at Parkhead that saw Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos receive his fifth red card of the season, Gers winger Ryan Kent punch Scott Brown and Light Blues utility man Andy Halliday dismissed after the final whistle following a post-match brawl involving players and staff from both teams.

    Madden has, like many of his colleagues, been subjected to horrific abuse on social media, and accusations of favouring certain teams.

    Speaking exclusively to Clyde 1’s Superscoreboard programme, Madden addressed a number of issues, including the Morelos red card, abuse suffered by referees, social media and the Scottish FA’s Judicial Panel.

    He said: “TV footage shows I had absolutely no view of the [Morelos] incident. Alan [Mulvanny, assistant referee] was in line with the second last defender – that’s his responsibility.

    “So I was following the ball up the field of play and I heard a roar so, naturally, I looked round and saw a player on the ground.

    “Immediately the communication from Alan was ‘red card, red card, red card’ and that’s why it was dealt with so quickly.

    “I think in that environment and under that pressure for Alan to pick up the incident then communicate it so clearly was a real positive.”

    Following the Old Firm clash in December, which Rangers won 1-0 at Ibrox, referee John Beaton was subjected to abusive messages on social media and hasn’t refereed a match involving Celtic since.

    Madden, who was on fourth-official duties at the match, continued: “I thought John had a very good game. That was the feeling at the side of the pitch.

    “Then you get these incidents that have happened with individuals and it’s difficult to think what is going through these people’s minds.

    “But it is good to see the police have taken the strongest action and one person has already appeared in court on the back of those allegations.”

     
    Like most referees, Madden has been accused of bias and favouring certain teams, which he admitted was “frustrating”.

    “When one player who played for a club plays against them for another, does it affect his performance? We’ve seen players move between [Celtic and Rangers], does it affect their performance?

    “What would [revealing what team you support] give? I think the majority of match officials are from the Central Belt. Would there be a benefit? I think it would just increase the scrutiny.

    “There is a ridiculous level [of scrutiny] on match officials as it is. We are there to officiate a match, that’s all we’re there to do.

    “If someone has supported a team, does that change? No. We’re judged on every performance by the SFA and by independent observers. We all want to recive the next big match, the cup final.

    “We apply ourselves to try and get as much out of the game as we can, so why would we show any benefit to one team? Would it make them win one match? Get a point or three points? What is that going to do for our careers?

    “Nobody is going to go down that road. In this area, the majority of people support two teams and you are going to get people who cast aspersions over what team you supported, what school you went to. You can’t control that.

    “What is frustrating is people who know me know that I worked in a warehouse in Bellshill for twelve years. Everyone in that warehouse knows I ran and then I played football, three matches each weekend.

    “I didn’t have time to be a season ticket holder at any particular club, whatever allegations may suggest. And what’s frustrating is when these people make a comment on social media to try and support these ridiculous allegations.

    Madden isn’t on Twitter, and believes none of his refereeing colleagues have active social media accounts either – because, he says, it would just give people an opportunity to contact him.

    “The scrutiny on match officials is more intense in the current era given there are more cameras at matches, more platforms, more channels, more people talking.

    “So it comes with the territory of being a match official. I don’t know of any referee who will actively monitor conversations on social media. I don’t think any of us have active accounts.

    “I don’t think it would be a great idea for me to have a Twitter account or a Facebook or anything of that ilk. It would just give people an opportunity to contact me.”

    Madden’s last remarks concerned the Judicial Panel, as he rubbished the belief that referees spend hours poring over match reports in a bid to highlight incidents for the attention of Compliance Officer Clare Whyte.

    However, the reality is very different.

    “People always think we submit a match report where we are sitting for hours at night going over every incident. Quite simply, we don’t,” Madden insisted.

    “We record what sanctions we administer in a drop-down box with the offence, and if anything arises on the back of that the Compliance Officer will write to us asking if we saw the incident.

    “Then we will describe what we saw and it’s up to the Compliance Officer at that stage to decide whether to take that forward.”     


  45. Sanoffymess,

    Yi beat me to it, ya rascal, ……I would say promotion, …..


  46. sannoffymesssoitizz 2nd May 2019 at 20:13

    '…Madden addressed a number of issues, including the Morelos red card, abuse suffered by referees, social media and the Scottish FA’s Judicial Panel.'

    **********

    Am I right in thinking that that's the first time a serving referee has spoken to the Media about his reason for a decision in a game? 

    I don't think I remember any such thing before?


  47. Just where would Scottish football be without…

     

    • dodgy refs who are openly derided by the fans

     

    • corrupt governance provided by the SFA & SPFL

     

    • a corrupt club, pretending to be a dead, corrupt club

     

    • a pathetic SMSM producing daily doses of misinformation?

     

    Scottish football deserves better.

    The paying supporters deserve much, much better.


  48. paddy malarkey 2nd May 2019 at 19:25

    '…they could have an insolvency event and be deducted 15 points this season (and 5 next) and still end up in a EL qualifying position . '

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

    Will they stump up the £7,500 fine immediately-or will they be given time to pay?broken heart

    Seriously, though, if they are hit with a really substantial damages payment round about now, without a Court-agreed payment-by-instalment plan, they might very well have an 'insolvency' event!

    They would probably have to rely on their generous directors to shove in a few million more quid of 'loans' to keep the show on the road.

     


  49.  

    My post of 21.30 refers.

    I wrote "Am I right in thinking that that's the first time a serving referee has spoken to the Media about his reason for a decision in a game? "

    for 'his reason' substitute 'the reason'.  

    Madden was the fourth official, of course, so it wasn't his decision.

    But I think my question is still valid: has any officiating referee, whether linesman, fourth official, or fifth or sixth goal line official , ever spoken to the press about decisions made in any game of which he was one of  the officials?

     


  50. “If a Company Voluntary Arrangement is not possible for any particular reason, any buyer of the Club and its assets would complete that purchase through a sale by the Administrators allowing the Football Club to continue to operate with the old company then being placed into liquidation prior to dissolution. 

    https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/administrators-statement-on-europe/

    That's where, in my opinion, D&P crossed the line, implying that even if the club was not bought out of Administration by a new owner (and therefore went into Liquidation), it would survive if somebody merely bought the assets but not the debts!

    I am not surprised that Lord Hodge questioned Whitehouse and Clark.

    I am, frankly, disappointed that they got away with that fiction. How they did so has yet to be explained.

     

     


  51. “What would [revealing what team you support] give? I think the majority of match officials are from the Central Belt. Would there be a benefit? I think it would just increase the scrutiny."

    "In this area, the majority of people support two teams and you are going to get people who cast aspersions over what team you supported, what school you went to. You can’t control that."

    And thus Madden sums up the tomfoolery of Scottish football.

    Can anyone please tell me where in the central belt where this 'supporting two teams' starts. 

    I am sure I have heard Sandy Clark mention similar once when talking about being brought up in Airdrie (IIRC).

    Personally I've never met anyone from east of Bathgate who gave any inclination of supporting 'two teams'.  

    I know plenty folk who, for various reasons, definitely turned their back on the their local teams in favour of one of Celtic and Rangers/T'Rangers, but that's a different matter.

    Is there some kind of border for this phenomenon? Perhaps it is linked to the one where 'salt n sauce' on your fish supper becomes 'salt n vinegar'?


  52. Well, I've 'thrown the bones' this morning & they tell me that the Bobby Madden interview is part of preparing him for promotion & the Head of Referees at the SFA may or may not find his blazer is on a shoogly peg in the near future, leading to his retirement with the usual panegyrics. (Usual psychic disclaimers apply, of course!)

     

     

    Why is the song ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ rattling through my head? It can’t be for the ‘Meet the new boss, same as the old boss’ lyric, surely?


  53. McInnes's touchline ban for reacting to sectarian abuse.

    Who is the winner in this situation? The reputation or integrity of the game? What exactly was McInnes punished for?

    Remarkable that Celtic don't seem to be too bothered about the behaviour of a bigoted section of their fans that exclusively led to a victim of abuse being punished.


  54. wottpi 3rd May 2019 at 10:11

     

    “What would [revealing what team you support] give? I think the majority of match officials are from the Central Belt. Would there be a benefit? I think it would just increase the scrutiny."

    "In this area, the majority of people support two teams and you are going to get people who cast aspersions over what team you supported, what school you went to. You can’t control that."

    ____________________

     

    What an incredibly self-defeating (of the point he was making) 'argument' he makes in these two paragraphs. The obvious response to what he says being, 'why then don't you ensure that the majority of referees come from an area not blighted by this phenomenon?' But, of course, a PR piece like this doesn't include awkward questions of the type that really need asked.

    There is also another, even more obvious, question that needs to be asked. 'Why is it that these referees, from an area where the majority support one of two teams, the vast majority of our referees support only one of those two teams?' Again, only in a PR exercise would such questions not be asked.


  55. Angus1983 3rd May 2019 at 12:02
    Remarkable that Celtic don’t seem to be too bothered about the behaviour of a bigoted section of their fans that exclusively led to a victim of abuse being punished.
    ……………………..
    But Scottish Football Assocation Compliance Officer Clare Whyte is not expected to take action against Celtic over the incident, according to the Evening Times – because the Hoops can prove they took “all reasonably practicable steps” to prevent misconduct from their fans at the high-profile cup tie.

    Celtic chiefs are understood to have met with representatives from the club’s ultras in the lead-up to the last four clash to discuss a range of topics including their conduct at matches and use of pyrotechnic devices. Smoke bombs and flares have been used at many Celtic games this term, including at Sunday’s semi-final.

    The SFA will likely accept that Celtic’s meeting with the Green Brigade, along with other preventative measures, shows that the Parkhead side are “committed to ensuring a safe and family-friendly environment for spectators”.

    Celtic also issued a statement earlier this week condemning the chanting, but questioning the behaviour of Aberdeen fans during the match.

    “Chanting of this nature should have no place in football and we condemn this wholeheartedly. 
“We hope the authorities also take the same interest in offensive chanting directed at Celtic Football Club and our supporters at yesterday’s match and other games”, a spokesperson for the club said.
    Celtic have previously taken action against their ultras, closing their safe-standing section for two matches in 2017 following flashpoints during games against Hearts and Linfield
    And earlier this month, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was forced to issue a statement after St Mirren goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky needed treatment after a firework thrown by visiting fans landed near him during a Scottish Premiership match in Paisley.

    Lawwell said: “There have a been a number of incidents across many clubs this season, with a range of items, including pyrotechnics, being thrown on to pitches.

    “We need to do all we can to remove this from our game. 
“The club does not want it, our players do not want it, our manager does not want it and our supporters do not want it.”
    https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/in-full/celtic-set-to-escape-sfa-action-over-sectarian-chants-at-aberdeen-cup-semi-final-1-4908883
    ……………………
    Remarkable that Celtic do seem to be bothered about the behaviour of a section of their fans


  56. Any truth in the rumour, [started by myself], that the new range of TRFC kits for next season…

     

    includes a green goalkeeper's outfit?

     

    broken heart


  57. Angus1983 3rd May 2019 at 12:02

    The message the SFA are giving McInnes is basically the same one you're getting on SFM: "Suck it up and haud yer wheest".

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