.. and they wonder why nobody buys papers

As most of you will be aware, the Guardian recently agreed to and accepted payment from CQN for an advertisement which was intended to raise awareness of the Resolution 12 issue, an issue pursued determinedly by Celtic shareholders for the last three years. Subsequently, and citing the thinnest of excuses, they decided not to run the ad. This developed hard on the heels of the Herald actually soliciting the business from the advertisers for their own paper, and then without even seeing the copy, refusing to move forward. (See CQN story here)

guardianGateA troubling aspect of GuardianGate is that CQN were lied to. They were initially advised that the ad was to be removed after editorial scrutiny. Subsequently they were advised that the decision came from an intervention by senior officials.

 

We are now focused on a media conspiracy to impose censorship in favour of a multi-million pound industry –  to the detriment of its small investors and paying customers.

So which was true – and which was the lie?

Here’s a thing about the truth; it is seldom complicated, which is why the failure by the Guardian and the Herald to deliver a straightforward answer implies that there may be more to this nonsense than any of us first imagined.

At this point, it is worth noting that the Guardian is currently running an ad campaign by Toyota, a company who have admitted lying to environmental regulatory bodies for years about emissions from their cars (the Guardian professes to be a major campaigner on environmental issues), but won’t accept a paying ad that asks some polite and important questions about the conduct of a multi-million pound industry.

The denial  of the Res 12 guys’ right to ask questions (no accusations – just bloody questions) via the once assumed to be pluralist and free press, should be ringing alarm bells all over the country, and the substantive issue has become largely irrelevant as a consequence. We are now focused on a media conspiracy to impose censorship in favour of a multi-million pound industry –  to the detriment of its small investors and paying customers.

Two so-called quality newspapers, have mysteriously, after touting for advertising business, refused that very same business, and have given no good reason for doing so. If  the Guardian refuse to accept an ad, I don’t believe that is censorship in itself, but when the dwindling number of newspaper proprietors in this country conspire to arrange an effective blackout of ideas, that is quite clearly censorship.

And for something so relatively inconsequential as football, I can only assume that we have all stumbled on to something far more serious.

Given the recent media rhetoric about Russia Today and their forthright coverage of Chilcot and Tory Election Fraud, it seems that like so many of the players in this saga, the irony circuit in the collective press brain is now as devolved as a human tail.

There are dark forces at work in our country, and they are running riot with basic freedoms.  However it is important to put the football issue into the proper perspective; if the media can go to these corrupt lengths for a game of football, what will they do to protect the capital interests of arms manufacturers, food producers and media dictatorships?

They may have lost the war, but through fix after fix at the SFA and the SPL, in the press and in the media, the authorities are winning the peace – basically by denying that any peace is possible until we all accept the notion that black is white, right is left, and wrong is right

Support for the SFA © Scotsman

Migrant fruit-pickers
© Scotsman

Back in soccer La-La-Land’s Mount Florida Fruit Factory, the football authorities most definitely lost the recent war. RFC went out of business and failed the fundamental task of any football club – to sustain itself. In allowing that to happen on their watch, the authorities failed in their most fundamental role – to keep RFC alive.

However through fix after fix, at the SFA and the SPL, in the press and in the media, they are winning the peace – basically by denying that any peace is possible until we all accept the notion that black is white, right is left, and wrong is right.

And still, even in this atmosphere, the major shareholders at all of our clubs sit and do nothing. Are they part of the problem, an integral part of the conspiracy? Or are they scared witless of the forces that may line up against them if they dare to grow a pair, like the Resolution 12 guys?

Sporting integrity has taken a back seat recently. Season ticket sales are up all over the place; Celtic provided a marquee manager; the red tops are ablaze about the ‘return’ of the Rangers; Hearts and Aberdeen are newly emerged from financial difficulty, and now enjoy the realistic prospect of new eras of success; and another competitive and exciting year beckons in the Championship.

 

In normal circumstances this would be fantastic news. But all of it is based on a Lie – the Lie that the game is run according to the rules, and for the benefit of all clubs. When the euphoria at Parkhead dies down; when TRFC are reinstalled (actually it will need to be with a shoehorn, but it will be done) as part of the old duopoly that sees the vital contribution made by the likes of Hearts and Aberdeen and others as insignificant; when the next major ‘bending’ of the regulations becomes necessary; all we will be left with is that Big Lie.

The clubs will eventually have to deal with that – and the complicit roles they played in ramming it down each and every one of our throats.

I hope we make them pay.

 

Another thing about the truth though is this;

Everyone with skin in this game, with the exception of the mentally deficient, know exactly what the truth is;

  • RFC cheated;
  • RFC evaded, avoided, and deliberately withheld payment of tax;
  • RFC failed to register players properly over (at least) a decade;
  • RFC lied to the SFA, the SPL and LNS;
  • Whilst all the above was happening, RFC won over a dozen on-field prizes;
  • The SFA rewrote the terms of LNS to better tailor their preferred outcome;
  • RFC were punished by way of a £250k fine. No other penalties were suffered by RFC;
  • RFC entered liquidation and a new club, which co-existed with RFC, began playing in competition BEFORE RFC’s SFA/SPL membership lapsed;
  • That club (TRFC for differentiation purposes) just achieved promotion to the Premiership;

As long as we keep reminding everyone of those truths, as long as we continue to give them a voice, they won’t go away.

And what if, next time, it is Hearts or Aberdeen or Celtic, who make a desperate attempt to get an edge over their rivals (an emergent TRFC perhaps)?

The irony (and I exclude the TRFC fans who frequent this site) is that TRFC, despite having the weight of the football and press establishments behind them, are being done no favours at all.

The increasing pariah status of their club is a sad but inevitable consequence of the wrong-doing by the old club, because the fans (understandably to be fair) seek to side with their own partisan interests in the face of outside hostility.

But think of this. If the initial-ism ‘RFC’ above was replaced by the name of any other club in the country, wouldn’t TRFC fans be complaining as loudly as the rest of us?

And what if, next time, it is Hearts or Aberdeen or Celtic, who make a desperate attempt to get an edge over their rivals (an emergent TRFC perhaps)?

What if they run roughshod over the same rules that were broken before but remain unfixed? What if, as a consequence, a compliant TRFC are denied an opportunity to play in Europe, or compete in a final, or win a league?

Will we then still be ‘Rangers haters’ if we protest about that or merely Hearts or Dons or Celtic haters?

This is not about revenge – it never has been – and no amount of wishful thinking will make it so. For most of us on SFM, there is no RFC to have our revenge on anyway, so the accusation makes no sense.

What we are about, what we are all about, is weeding out the clucken wort in Scotland’s football garden on level six at Hampden.

And it appears that some extraordinarily powerful individual or group, with enough muscle to bend the fourth estate to their will, wants to keep us all away from that garden..

 

This entry was posted in General 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.

1,359 thoughts on “.. and they wonder why nobody buys papers


  1. HOMUNCULUSJULY 9, 2016 at 21:03 
    Forgive me but why would Eric Riley sign the five way agreement.
    It was between the SFA, the SPL, the SFL, Rangers PLC and Sevco Ltd.
    Who was Eric Riley signing for.
    I’m not saying he didn’t, he may well have, but I’m not sure why. 
    =======================

    I’m guessing the link being made is through Eric Riley being a SPFL Board Member. So much about the Celtic Board is said so often on the Internet it becomes an accepted fact. For example, it has become an accepted fact to many that Peter Lawwell picked the players the club signed and interfered in other team matters. No-one has ever been able to offer a shred of proof about this but to many it is an accepted fact. It all gets rather tiresome.


  2. Let me get this right, no-one actually knows if Eric Riley actually signed the 5 way agreement. Even if he did he would have been acting on behalf of the entire league and would have been reflecting the wishes of the board. 

    On that basis he is being compared to the likes of Green, Whyte, King and ” …other less than desirable people”.

    Sorry but that is just not right. Eric Riley is a chartered accountant who has served as a Celtic director for over 20 years and has recently retired due to ill health. He agreed to stay on at the club till the end of the financial year to assist in the handover to his successor.

    If someone has some kind of evidence that he is anything other than an honourable honest man fair enough. However I haven’t seen it.


  3. I see that the new club/company thing still goes round and round. Is it not the case that a solution to the problem might be to take an empty jar, put a sticker on it saying Rangers and then put it on ebay claiming that Rangers were inside the jar. Sevco Scotland/Rangers would no doubt insist that Rangers were not inside the jar, leaving them open to identifying exactly where Rangers reside in this Universe of ours.

    On the subject of the cashflow at Ibrox here’s some personal experience. My job takes me into Ibrox, I chat with the staff member who takes me round, tells me details of being summarily sacked on a Friday by Mr Green(20 years service at the time) personal hardship that caused them etc, rehired by Kingco after the takeover, all in the garden’s rosy, thing is at a time when Joey Barton turns up on big bucks 20 years service has been bumped again. Can’t imagine this staff member was earning more than 18k per annum. Very bitter about their treatment. Says something about the thought processes inside Ibrox that the staff member was again called back only this time on half their previous hours. They do quite a high profile job within the club as well.


  4. HOMUNCULUSJULY 10, 2016 at 12:40 
    Let me get this right, no-one actually knows if Eric Riley actually signed the 5 way agreement. Even if he did he would have been acting on behalf of the entire league and would have been reflecting the wishes of the board. 
    On that basis he is being compared to the likes of Green, Whyte, King and ” …other less than desirable people”.
    Sorry but that is just not right. Eric Riley is a chartered accountant who has served as a Celtic director for over 20 years and has recently retired due to ill health. He agreed to stay on at the club till the end of the financial year to assist in the handover to his successor.
    If someone has some kind of evidence that he is anything other than an honourable honest man fair enough. However I haven’t seen it.
    =======================

    Well said. IMO the criticism of the Celtic board is way over the top at times, and much of it comes from within the Celtic support. I really think some people should be careful what they wish for. 


  5. HomunculusJuly 10, 2016 at 12:40 
    Sorry but that is just not right. Eric Riley is a chartered accountant who has served as a Celtic director for over 20 years and has recently retired due to ill health. He agreed to stay on at the club till the end of the financial year to assist in the handover to his successor.
    If someone has some kind of evidence that he is anything other than an honourable honest man fair enough. However I haven’t seen it.
    ==========================
    I agree entirely. The 5WA was signed by someone on behalf of the SPL. The decision to sign was not that individual’s personal decision- agreement to the contents of the 5WA was certainly a corporate decision by the SPL. I have no idea how they arrived at the decision- presumably my a majority vote of the Board members? I would be more interested in how Riley cast his vote, rather than whether he was the signatory. And you can be absolutely sure that he cast his vote in accordance with the wishes of CFC. He could do no other, as a loyal servant of the club.


  6. JC, go to UEFA.com homepage. Click on the Log in button top right. This brings up the Register screen where you provide some personal info – email, name but not address. Once registered and logged in, use the search button at the top to search for Rangers which will bring up the page and tabs that shows the history. Near the bottom of the history page, click on ‘Please help us improve this page’ which brings up a text box where you can say what needs corrected.
    Last night the Rangers page showed 3 tabs – Profile, History and Domestic as with all featured clubs. Interestingly, today it only shows the Profile tab. This might mean some correction work is already being done on their history and domestic tabs. Not sure, though, but certainly other clubs still show the 3 tabs today. 


  7. JJ’s latest is devastating! Say what you like about him but he doesn’t hold back!


  8. nawliteJuly 10, 2016 at 14:16
    ‘..JC, go to UEFA.com homepage. Click on the Log in button top right.’
    _______
    Thank you, nawlite, I’m obliged to you for such clear instructions.


  9. The Ungrateful DeadJuly 10, 2016 at 14:19 
    JJ’s latest is devastating! Say what you like about him but he doesn’t hold back!
    _________________

    Devastating, and one might think, easy to disprove. He gives the name and address of the contracted structural engineers, Woolgar Hunter, of West Nile Street, who will almost certainly have a bear amongst their ranks, who will, if what JJ says is untrue, be able to put the word out to that effect. It is also likely that the company won’t be at all pleased if someone is telling lies about them and their business dealings! I expect a few annoying phone calls will be heading their way tomorrow that will undoubtedly alert them to what JJ has written, and might prompt them to issue a denial, or issue words of comfort as the extent of the problem…or maybe not!


  10. On JJ’s blog today he is also making further claims of illegal activity by both Dave King and Paul Murray in relation to their purchasing of the Charlotte Fakes material. Now, what public figures ever let public claims of illegal/criminal activity go unchallenged? How insane would someone have to be to make such claims if he wasn’t confident he could back them up?

    What kind of businessmen allow such slanderous, if untrue, words to be published about them without some response?


  11. HomunculusJuly 10, 2016 at 12:40
    upthehoopsJuly 10, 2016 at 13:47
    __________
    Many of us have a serious problem with the 5-way agreement,a problem that has been well-rehearsed on this blog since the existence of it became known.
    We think it to have been a disgraceful, deceitful act by a Football Governance body, taken on the basis of no principle whatsoever except the perceived need to satisfy the ‘requirements’ of the charlatan Green and fans of the club which died as a direct result of the cheating perpetrated by master cheat Murray.
    The signatories to that Agreement stand condemned in every way as much as Murray, and, indeed, even more so, since they were supposed to represent the body responsible for upholding Fair Play and Sporting Integrity.
    You are both entitled to make the point that we have no conclusive, documentary  proof that Eric Riley put his signature to that agreement. At least, I haven’t a piece of paper to wave.  I am morally certain that he did sign it.
    But the point is, in one way or another he was party to the deed, in virtue of being in office as a member of the then SPL board. That he did not resign when, if he had spoken against the Agreement but was outvoted, is, in my view, not at all acceptable.It was such an act as no Sporting authority ought to have countenanced, destroying as it did the whole meaning of ‘sporting competition and sporting merit, and devaluing the sporting achievements of generations of footballers and football clubs. It also departed quite unconscionably from established precedent, and made a nonsense of any ‘judicial’ function that the ‘Football Authorities’ might try to exercise against future failing clubs.
    When I say, as I have repeatedly said, that this is not a Celtic/Rangers matter, I mean it. If someone connected with the ‘Celtic interest’ is prepared to play fast and loose with notions of Integrity and truth, I will criticise him as much I criticise any other person who has brought about, or contributed to the creation of the Big Lie, and anyone who assists in the propagation of that Lie and its continuance, whether directly, or indirectly by their silence.
    Granted, there are degrees of culpability. Eric Riley may be a beacon of rectitude compared with the likes of the Murrays and the rest. He may not have signed the Agreement, but he was on the SPL board. He ought to have resigned from that Board rather appear to accept such an unprincipled act.
    It would be extremely two-faced of me to excuse him because he is a Celtic man: that would make me worse than any of the ‘baddies’.


  12. The stuff on JJ’s site is certainly very detailed. The company appear to have done work for Rangers in the past. Well done work for the past Rangers.

    http://woolgarhunter.com/project_details.php?id=33&sector=17
     
    Whether that means his claims are true or have been spun a bit I don’t know but I would imagine there is at least some truth in it. If it is true that the roofs near replaced and the company have told Rangers about it I would imagine they would be professionally obliged to refer the matter to the relevant authorities. Particularly as there are likely to be tens of thousands of members of the public there regularly. 


  13. nawliteJuly 10, 2016 at 14:16

    I’ve been registered with UEFA.com for a few years, mainly to access tickets (success rate 0 !). I suggested to them last week that, alphabetically, TRFC were wrongly position in the table, RFC being in liquidation .


  14. Why do so many people on this board take an aloof position regarding johnjames?  He exposes so much about our common concerns on a daily basis.  Give the guy a break for Gods sake!


  15. JIMBO
    JULY 10, 2016 at 17:12
    ================================

    Everything is written as if it was some form of proclamation, even when he gets things totally wrong.

    His style is very self-indulgent and often comes across as if written by a total fantasist.

    When he ventures into politics the views he expresses can be questionable.

    If he disagrees with someone he mocks them and often doesn’t give right of reply.

    He is basically an attention seeker who does appear to have access to some information, however he needs the attention so much I think that is sometimes more important to him than getting the message across.

    I do not believe he has readers in every hamlet on Earth, even if he thinks it himself. It more likely people who are anonymising rather than provide their IP address.


  16. Damn, you guys don’t half miss the point!
    Res12 may well be drifting to an end but I still haven’t heard  the fat lady yodel.
    Under the circumstances much has been achieved against great odds. The TOG articles and Guardian’s faux pas have spread the info wider than it has already been despite the MSM blockade. If anything that has been more important than the UEFA communication which only corrects one piece of misinformation on the status of the Ibrox club. This is not damning for the SFA/SPFL and, at worst for them, will be swept aside as a misunderstanding. The reactions here are much like what we have been guarding against, a victory for Celtic fans against TRFC supporters. That has never been the aim.
    We have known all along that Res12 confronts ONLY the UEFA licensing issues but that is just one of a number of questions that we need answered. We have the 5WA, breaches of article 20, fit and proper status abuse and the inequitable enforcement of club punishments including the non-imposition of the LNS fine. We need to press hard right NOW because the SFA will be breathing more easily with the latest news from UEFA. We can’t allow them that comfort.
    We are still awaiting reaction to MSP questions on the subject and the Sports Integrity Iniative are still planning publicity for us so don’t believe we are done. We are NOT! But we still face the same old problem, getting the word out. 
    I am currently in red neck country in the colonies but intend to pick up again on my return, but in the meantime I would like to ask the Res12 guys, now that their original actions are nearing completion, if they would like to lend their exprtise to my efforts. Assuming that is, that they do not feel that they have had enough.


  17. Reiver,

    So glad to see you back on!  Were you on holidays?04

    I’ve been watching that borefest tonight.  Thinking about supper and bed!


  18. But however, and I hope I don’t jump in here in front of Auldheid, there is much more to come.  Maybe not as much as you or I would like, but something. Take hope my friend.


  19. REIVER
    JULY 10, 2016 at 19:48 

    The reactions here are much like what we have been guarding against, a victory for Celtic fans against TRFC supporters. That has never been the aim.

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

    I have to disagree, I haven’t been getting that impression from here at all. 


  20. You have to feel sorry for that French guy there, about half an in inch out.  Poor soul. 


  21. At this point it looks like one of the worst teams in the tournament are going to lift it. Imagine winning it after only managing 1 win in the 90 minutes what a poor tournament.


  22. Mind you I have been saying on here for MANY MOTNTHS wee would have to look for long and weary months against that guy Eder.  If ever we get to the Euros  050520


  23. I noticed that nice wee man Alan McRae managed to escape the Hampden bunker to have some jollies at the Euro final .I was starting to worry about his prolonged absence . Might even hear him speaking soon.


  24. paddy malarkeyJuly 10, 2016 at 23:25
    ‘.I noticed that nice wee man Alan McRae managed to escape the Hampden bunker to have some jollies at the Euro final .I was starting to worry about his prolonged absence . Might even hear him speaking soon.’
    __________
    He is extraordinarily low-profile, for sure.
    That’s not necessarily a bad thing, of course, where the office of ‘President’ is more honorific than ‘executive: the SFA seems to have a history of strong ‘Secretaries’ who actually called the shots and made policy, rather than merely carry out the wishes of the elected Board.
    And, of course, maybe the President of an Association which hasn’t managed  to produce a national team that can qualify even for the ‘easiest-ever-to-qualify-for’  UEFA Euro competition does well to keep schtum.
    But he has been remarkably uncommunicative. Has he been anywhere reported as saying anything publicly as President?


  25. jimboJuly 10, 2016 at 23:41
    ‘.. but I a convivnced the auld guy is JC or Auldheid.’
    ________
    I say in all seriousness, Jimbo, that that was an absolutely unacceptable post.
    This is not, absolutely not, any kind of triumphalist Celtic blog. Nor am I (Auldheid can speak for himself) at all flying any partisan colours on this blog.
    Scottish ” Football governance” , or rather, misgovernance , is what I am about.
    I have said ad nauseam that the despicable behaviour of SDM is as nothing compared to the despicable behaviour of our Football Authorities.
    By way of analogy, the actions of some murdering bast.rd, evil and wicked as they may be, are not as wicked as the actions of a corrupt Judge would be.
    We are talking serious business here, not fan ‘banter’ or wind-up triumphalism.
    And the serious business is that our Football governance people appear to have spat in the faces of the fans of every club (other than the fans of the now dead RFC) , and turned Scottish Football into the very opposite of genuine, honest sport.
    I am really quite annoyed that you should have posted that clip, because it gives comfort to the SFA and others in their belief that they can dismiss what this blog says as being what a Celtic blog might say.
    I have no authority over the blog, and the moderators are temporarily absent. But I will resist and oppose and argue against any, perhaps well-meaning, post that could be seen as pushing partisan interests.
    The SFA must be the target,not crowing over other clubs.
    In my opinion.


  26. jimboJuly 10, 2016 at 23:41

    I remember enjoying that game in a Costa Del Sol bar so it couldnae have been me and I’m more handsome anyway.

    The new club/company information was volunteered by UEFA and recipients were aware it could be portrayed as the aim of Res12 because to many fans the same club narrative  is an affront and important.
    We were aware of the focus on that information so we were in no rush to make it public whilst we considered the more relevant parts of the UEFA reply.  That delay attracted criticism for remaining silent, it also allowed the media (STV) to use that silence to say Res12 was over (whilst no mention was made of the new club/company information).
    Not sure where the information STV used came from but if from the SFA who had a copy of UEFA letter then it is part of an ongoing attempt by them (Regan v John Clark as evidence) to portray the issue as a West of Scotland one, That very much suits the SFA as it takes the eye off the ball on which they are sitting and Res12 is trying to kick.
    That is why the Update on CQN emphasises Res12 is about the SFA who have had the opportunity since August 2014 to address questions put to them and so put Res12 to bed but failed, just adding to the delay in getting to UEFA.


  27. SHUGJULY 10, 2016 at 22:27 
    At this point it looks like one of the worst teams in the tournament are going to lift it. Imagine winning it after only managing 1 win in the 90 minutes what a poor tournament.
    ========================

    Personally I had no issue with Portugal winning. In my view it was not a similar travesty to that which saw France progress in the semi.

    As for the tournament generally, I find it difficult to see how having more teams enhanced the product. Teams progressing from third spot is nonsense. Then you had England coming second but being drawn against Iceland. Despite how it turned out that was on paper an incredibly fortunate draw for England.  Then all the heavyweights of France, Germany, Italy and Spain ended up in the same side of the draw. All in all it was better with 16 teams in my view, and certainly fairer. Of course, it has recently come to light one of the main pushers for change was the SFA when Gordon Smith was Chief Executive.  Quelle surprise!


  28. SHUGJULY 10, 2016 at 22:27 At this point it looks like one of the worst teams in the tournament are going to lift it. Imagine winning it after only managing 1 win in the 90 minutes what a poor tournament.========================
    UPTHEHOOPSJULY 11, 2016 at 07:01Personally I had no issue with Portugal winning. In my view it was not a similar travesty to that which saw France progress in the semi.

    ========================
    Portugal won, more power to them. Were they the best team there? Yes, cos they won. Were they the most skilful – no, the most entertaining – no, did they deserve it – well no, probably not. But win it they did. As a competition it wasn’t the best, many pretty dull games. But, what it proved over and over again is that having the “best” most skilful players on the pitch, players that Lineker et al drool over as being something special, does not guarantee excitement.

    The “best” players do not guarantee great games, or even good games. This is what UEFA especially continually fail to grasp with respect to the Champions League and the Europa League, both increasingly rendered stale to many a football supporter. To get excitement you need hero’s unlikely hero’s the Robson-Kanu’s, the Kari Arnesons, hell even the Niall McGinns playing out of their skins for the clubs/countries. But more importantly you need teams, and thats not the same as 11 players. Iceland – as far removed from tiki-taka as you want were infinitely more entertaining to watch than Spain have been for years. The unpredictability, the desire, the camaraderie. Compare and contrast with those golden boys from England.

    Give smaller teams something to play for and you will get something greater than the sum of their parts. Get the Champions League etc away to hell from the dreadful league formats that are strangling the life out of the game. Get back to 2-header matches, home and away, drop seeding and watch a competition blossom as every club suddenly has a chance of glory. That glory may not be realistically winning, but maybe getting to play a big boy, getting to pit yourself against the best in a full stadium. But UEFA can’t see that, to them its all about money, protecting those big powerful clubs, glory and competition mean nothing to them. Money, money, money. And we all know where that all consuming obsession often ultimately leads to.


  29. paddy malarkeyJuly 11, 2016 at 01:08
    ‘..Not sure about the company he keeps .’
    _______
    Ha,ha! I don’t think I’d seen that report. But fair do’s to the man ( or maybe Darryl?) for the wee plug for Scotland, double-edged though it may be!02


  30. John Clark,  I apologise that I have hurt your sensitivities.  It was meant as a joke.  I respect you very much as I have stated on here many times.  No triumphalism was intended.  Auldheid saw it for what it was DG.  If only you could read the very many balanced comments I have made over the years on this site and others maybe you would not be so critical of me.


  31. I’ve been told by my daughter that ,as there was a transfer fee involved, it was not a goer .


  32. paddy malarkeyJuly 11, 2016 at 10:31 
    I’ve been told by my daughter that ,as there was a transfer fee involved, it was not a goer .
    ______________________

    It was, after all, a bit steep for a keeper, was it not? I seem to remember, a few years ago, that a whole football club was sold for that princely sum21


  33. Who guards the guards?
    A thoughtful article from E Tims.
    http://etims.net/?p=9359 
    In a way Res12 is pioneering making SFA acountable,  building the capacity to do so as it rolls along.
    But it’s a slow shoogly train and when it has reached its station something more efficient that will remove the distrust in football governance is need.


  34. AULDHEID

    JULY 11, 2016 at 11:48
    —————————

    REDETIN

    JULY 11, 2016 at 16:04
    —————————

    I’m not as au fait with Res. 12 as many on here, but I interpreted the extracts I read from UEFA’s letter as being broadly critical of the SFA & their governance.

    I hope that someone in Nyon is considering putting the auditors in. 


  35. Looks like King has slipped up with his Q&A PR efforts with the bears.
    Extracted from today’s DR article, [with my highlighting];

    “…
    King told the club’s website:

    “First, all of Rangers trademarks and brands are owned by The Rangers Football Club Limited (TRFC)…”
    ==========================

    10


  36. JingoJimsie 
    I would describe the stance of both SFA and UEFA as “wherever mud sticks, it will not be on me.
    The issue they would rather not address is who indeed is muddy and by how much?


  37. jimboJuly 11, 2016 at 09:39
    ‘……John Clark, I apologise that I have hurt your sensitivities.’
    ________
    An apology was not at all necessary, Jimbo, but thank you for the thought. And I in turn apologise to you for being a bit direct.

    It was not so much my personal sensitivities that I was bothered about, but I am constantly aware that there is nothing the ‘Authorities’, the SMSM , and Dave King and the rest, like better than finding reason to dismiss this blog as just another partisan Celtic blog.

    I think that  posting  a clip( a lengthy clip!) showing Celtic supporters in celebration mode could give them that kind of opportunity.

    Additionally, although they are all  too polite to mention it, I’m sure it might be an irritation to the readers of this blog whose football allegiances lie with the other, honourable, clubs,which have been adversely affected by the deceit of SDM and the Football Authorities, and the continuance of the biggest Sporting untruth in Scottish football history.

    I acknowledge, of course, that it is not for me to act as any kind of moderator; and I certainly wouldn’t wish to ‘play the man’ rather than the ball.


  38. Well, I was again in Court 12 at 10.00 a.m. for  the final day’s hearing of HMA v Craig Whyte ( re the Restraint order) which  finished today at about 3.30 pm.
    As  far as I could make out, judgment is expected to be pronounced in open court on 24th August, although I surmise that the parties will be informed some little time before then.
    _______
    The reporting restrictions mean that I may not say anything about anything touching on the case, other than that there were no more witnesses, just each Counsel in turn making their formal submissions to the Court.
    I was again free to make notes, and perhaps, when all relevant matters are resolved, I will be able to give a flavour of how things went- if I can still read my scrawl.
    _________________
    There has so far been no  indication in the Rolls of Court to suggest that the date of the continuing Preliminary Hearing in the HMA v CW criminal case has been changed, but remains as 29th July.I hope to be able to get through to Glasgow to attend that.
    Speaking always as a layman, but one who has sat in Court several times, I have to wonder how many more feckin ‘preliminary’ hearings there might possibly be need for? I think this one coming up will see a date of actual trial being talked about as likely to be a date in August -everybody’s holiday schedule permitting.


  39. AllyjamboJuly 11, 2016 at 10:40
    ‘..It was, after all, a bit steep for a keeper, ‘
    ___
    I have PMd you, Allyjambo,on that observation.


  40. jimboJuly 12, 2016 at 00:43
    ‘…you have the patience of a saint!’
    ______
    Would that I had! Would that Mrs C had no grounds for calling me  ( I hope affectionately) a crabbet [or is it crabbit?] auld bugg.r!02


  41. Just a quick update on SII. I know this must seem like one of these promises that are never kept but it WILL happen. Their set up is such that it is the lawyers that dictate the pace and, being lawyers, they are nothing if not cautious. Currently their attention is on an issue that is more international than our’s so we have to wait. They are predicting another week or so assuming they do not have problems with what they read. It is not ideal for us but, short of writing our own reports, we must show some patience.
    Hopefully, when I return from the States, things will be falling into place, with action from my MSP, the CEO at Easter Road prepared to discuss the matter and the SII report hitting our PCs. In the meantime I have my daughters wedding to prepare for so I am going to let myself be distracted for a while, probably staring into a wine glass.


  42. Completely OT, forgive me, but will  Danish Pastry ( and I had one as dessert tonight, or last night.. how time bloody well flies) please indicate that he still reads us, and if he does, will he PM me? There is a matter utterly not related to what the blog is about that he may help me with.


  43. ReiverJuly 12, 2016 at 01:19
    ‘……In the meantime I have my daughters wedding to prepare for so I am going to let myself be distracted for a while, ‘
    _______
    There isn’t a father among us who is not instantly with you,Reiver!
    God bless your daughter and her husband to be, and I wish you and them every joy and happiness.


  44. @Reiver.   
    My wee princess is only 10. I cannot begin to contemplate the pain and pride I’m sure you are feeling, in equal measure. I hope it goes as well as it ever can. I hope your princess has her perfect day,  I hope the best man has a filter which allows just the right amount of groom embarrassment, with lashings of affection and real humour. I hope Mrs Reiver, will/would be proud and also, not upstaged by the grooms mum, and most, of all, I hope you give her away with the good grace we have been accustomed to on this forum, from your good self. Tears? I’m sure. Joy? that also. Sadness? Well we do need balance. Then, hurry back for the road is long. 

    Best wishes from Oz ( and I will comment on footie at some point instead of just lurking)


  45. John ClarkJuly 12, 2016 at 01:46 
    ReiverJuly 12, 2016 at 01:19‘……In the meantime I have my daughters wedding to prepare for so I am going to let myself be distracted for a while, ‘_______There isn’t a father among us who is not instantly with you,Reiver! God bless your daughter and her husband to be, and I wish you and them every joy and happiness.
    ________________

    May I join JC in wishing your daughter and her soon to be husband a long and happy life together. Get that speech right, and the day for you will just flow from then on04 


  46. John ClarkJuly 12, 2016 at 00:44 
    AllyjamboJuly 11, 2016 at 10:40‘..It was, after all, a bit steep for a keeper, ‘___I have PMd you, Allyjambo,on that observation.
    _______________________

    Carrier pigeon on it’s way, JC 02, with news from the trenches! Or should that be ‘raven’ on it’s way from ‘the Wall’, in light of the popularity of Game of Thrones?


  47. Here’s an apt little quote
    The function of the press is very high. It is almost Holy.It ought to serve as a forum for the people, through whichthe people may know freely what is going on. To misstate orsuppress the news is a breach of trust.”…. Louis D. Brandeis


  48. Looks like Warburton is about to sign a new contract. He’s saying that his 12 day holiday prevented him signing earlier and was what led to  ‘all the speculation’. I may be wrong, but wasn’t he incommunicado for a bit longer than 12 days?

    Of course, just because he’s now signed (and it wouldn’t have anything to do with there being no other club interested in him14), it doesn’t mean there were no problems, and we still await an explanation of how going on a 12 day holiday has prevented him from congratulating Hibs, and Alan Stubbs, on their well earned cup victory!

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36770547


  49. Slow/no news day, so…

    Not seen it discussed here, but I’ve read the latest epistle from King David that is supposedly an answer to a question or questions. I’d like to run a wee competition to see if anyone can guess what question, or questions, were asked that this might actually answer!

    First prize will be – you get to open King’s warchest! Second prize – you get to announce to the bears just how much the winner found there21

    I’ll make my suggestion:

    ‘Could you please take the opportunity to tell us something you would like to tell us about the Rangers Retail deal to make it sound like you’re actually doing something for the club, and maybe throw in an insult or two to Mike Ashley?’

    Or, maybe:

    ‘What’s it like to talk to a genuine billionaire like Mike Ashley?’

    So here is the ‘answer’ Dave King gave:

    ‘RANGERS Chairman Dave King recently invited supporters to send in questions and below you can read the 14th part in the series as he addresses the topics raised by fans:
    Replica Kit and other retail activities
    As previously mentioned, there were a significant amount of questions devoted to the present status and the likely way forward for the Club’s retail operations – and in particular the replica kit.
    It is beneficial for supporters to get an update on the current position in advance of the coming season and to dispel some of the incorrect assumptions and statements that have been voiced. First, all of Rangers trademarks and brands are owned by The Rangers Football Club Limited (TRFC). TRFC licenced the use of the trademarks and brands to Rangers Retail Limited (RRL) which is the joint venture company between TRFC and Sportsdirect.com Retail Limited that was specially formed to manage the Club’s retail activities. The various agreements related to this were put in place by the previous board.
    Secondly, as a director and chairman of RRL, I owe duties to RRL that are independent of my duties and obligations as Chairman of the Club’s holding company. Since my appointment as a director of RRL, I have sought to understand the circumstances that led to it being formed, the way in which it carries out its business and the manner in which it is governed, both internally and in its dealings with the outside world. It is my duty as a director to understand such matters. There are a number of issues that, as my understanding increases, have caused me concern but they must necessarily be dealt with away from the public arena. What I can give assurances on is that I am using my best endeavours to resolve these issues.
    It was certainly a unique experience for me to share a boardroom table with a man called before a Parliamentary Committee to explain his company’s business practices and how that company treats those who work in its business. It was not a long acquaintance as Mr Ashley suddenly resigned rather than work with me and the others on the Board to resolve the issues facing RRL. No explanation has been given for Mr Ashley’s resignation.
    Paul Murray is with me on the Board of RRL and we will not abandon our duties to that company. These are now more challenging than ever as RRL has been advised by TRFC that TRFC has terminated the Agreement that permits RRL to distribute, market and supply Rangers products. As a director of RRL, I and my colleagues on the Board need to carefully analyse and review the circumstances that have led to TRFC terminating the retail arrangements. We also need to consider how RRL should respond to the termination. As you might imagine, most of this has to take place in confidence because of our duties to the Company and out of respect to our business partners and those who supply Rangers products.
    This process is ongoing and hopefully TRFC will soon be in a position to communicate further with Rangers supporters on these issues. I am sorry that I am restricted from saying more at this time.’


  50. I rather enjoyed this Dave King quote in the Daily Record today. I wonder what sort of experience it was for Ashley:

     
    King also commented on what it was like to work with Sports Direct boss Ashley in the boardroom.
    He said: “It was certainly a unique experience for me to share a boardroom table with a man called before a Parliamentary Committee to explain his company’s business practices and how that company treats those who work in its business.

    “It was not a long acquaintance as Mr Ashley suddenly resigned rather than work with me and the others on the Board to resolve the issues facing RRL.

    No explanation has been given for Mr Ashley’s resignation.”

     
     


  51. ALLYJAMBOJULY 12, 2016 at 09:50
    Wasn’t there a week completing the Eufa-Pro licence to add to that?  Still a fair few days to explain between the Cup Final and resumption of pre season training though.


  52. John Clark

    Danish Pastry has indeed been absent of late. I will drop him a note to inform him of your plea.

    Back from holiday last night. Spotted the jerseys of no less than eight Scottish football teams in Las Vegas last week, and only one from the EPL. Go figure as the ‘murricans might say – but pleasing nonetheless.


  53. JINGSO.JIMSIEJULY 12, 2016 at 11:15 
    I rather enjoyed this Dave King quote in the Daily Record today. I wonder what sort of experience it was for Ashley: 
         ==============================================================
       I think it more likely, Uncle Mick may have been more concerned about the professional reputational damage he may suffer from being on the same board as King, A man who, in the sleazy world of finance, has every Nomad in the country phoning for taxis, and washing their hair of an evening.


  54. ALLYJAMBOJULY 12, 2016 at 11:13

    As Fiorello put it in A Night at the Opera, “… You can’t fool me! There ain’t no Sanity Clause!”


  55. ALLYJAMBOJULY 12, 2016 at 11:13
    Slow/no news day, so…
    Not seen it discussed here, but I’ve read the latest epistle from King David that is supposedly an answer to a question or questions. I’d like to run a wee competition to see if anyone can guess what question, or questions, were asked that this might actually answer!  
         ======================================================================
        “Mr King, Can you give us an example of how good you are at talking sh*te?”


  56. ALLYJAMBO – JULY 12, 2016 at 09:50  
    Looks like Warburton is about to sign a new contract.
    ——————————————————
    The BBC story is the same as Skysports and stating “a 1 year extension”
    I’m a bit cynical and I may/probably be wrong but no mention of new contract or improved terms?
    I think sevco have taken up the right to an extension to cover the compensation if Real Madrid come calling.


  57. gerrybhoy67July 12, 2016 at 11:50 
    ALLYJAMBO – JULY 12, 2016 at 09:50   Looks like Warburton is about to sign a new contract.——————————————————The BBC story is the same as Skysports and stating “a 1 year extension”I’m a bit cynical and I may/probably be wrong but no mention of new contract or improved terms? I think sevco have taken up the right to an extension to cover the compensation if Real Madrid come calling.
    ________________________

    And they usually like to trumpet everything that might point towards them being a ‘big club’. My own thoughts on it are that TRFC need a positive story to counter the negatives and may, as you suggest, have triggered a one year option to give the impression Warburton is happy, while Warburton, himself, has had an eye-opener as to his own saleability!

    Warburton’s reticence in congratulating Hibs and his counterpart, Stubbs, might well be because he was gutted that that last minute goal ended any prospect of a move south. Beaten by a manager with only a fraction of his player budget is not what great CVs are made of. The SMSM, and even their counterparts south of the border, mostly Sky and Jim Whyte, might be happy to speak of him as some footballing genius, but the people who run football clubs are, obviously, not so ready to believe the hype and prefer to wait until they see how he fares in the top league before committing themselves to a contract costing a few million pounds.

    It may, of course, just be that they didn’t rate him before he came to TRFC, and they still don’t.


  58. Don’t worry Davieboy, if Mike Ashley was asked the same question, unique would probably be his answer too, what with all the convictions an’ all down  in the southern hemisphere. What were they for again ??????  And you find it “unique” to sit with someone who has been questioned by Parliament???? Red face and bonfire spring to mind!!!!!!


  59. ALLYJAMBO
    JULY 12, 2016 at 09:50 
    Looks like Warburton is about to sign a new contract. 

    Of course, just because he’s now signed (and it wouldn’t have anything to do with there being no other club interested in him )

    ================
    It seemed like Warburton had all the negotiating power, and going quiet for a number of days after the Scottish Cup would have concerned those in the Blue Room.
    And his agent didn’t find a better gig then, IMO. 
    But there is/was no downside for Warburton anyway.
    He signs a new – improved ? – contract or extension, but with his specified requirements – including an automatic waiver to allow him to talk with any interested EPL [ 09 ] or Championship clubs ?

    And they say that timing is everything.
    Quite a few managers get punted disgracefully quickly after a poor start to a new season – so Warburton’s agent could keep his man on various Championship clubs’ radars, just in case.

    If he is an ex-City chap, then he will be hedging his position – with TRFC’s perilous financial position continuing.
    IMO, he will be off at the first decent offer – if he receives one of course.


  60. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that the Dubyas are on some variation of the ‘rolling contract’, which simply extends by an agreed amount if both employer & employee are happy. Their three year contracts are still just that, but from 2016. 

    Perhaps they’ve managed, due to their relatively low starting salaries, to ensure 36 months’ compensation if sacked?


  61. Probably a lot of those red and black shirts worn this weekend .


  62. How poor is Scottish football when the champions and runners up get beaten in Europe by teams from Gibraltar and Luxembourg ffs
    Aberdeen were diabolical in last weeks second leg and Celtic were worse than terrible tonight.
    Depressing stuff indeed


  63. BILL1903 JULY 12, 2016 at 22:16 How poor is Scottish football when the champions and runners up get beaten in Europe by teams from Gibraltar and Luxembourg ffs Aberdeen were diabolical in last weeks second leg and Celtic were worse than terrible tonight.Depressing stuff indeed

    Never fear – our intrepid football authorities are on the case. So far, they’ve resurrected a dead, cheating club and restored a pseudo-religious hate-fest along with a century-long duopoly. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?


  64. Aberdeen were bad last week and Celtic arguably worse last night.

    The nonsense is the UEFA imposed games in early July way ahead of our seasons.
    It seems to be affecting our teams every year and driving our coefficient ever in the wrong way.
    This is an issue that is doing Scotland no favours and is the kind of thing our well paid administrators should be doing something about.


  65. It should be a good league season in Scotland, at least there will be none of that European football nonsense to distract our top teams….!  I can’t recall a worse start to a season, I mean the season doesn’t even start for another 3 weeks and already its embarrassing. On the plus side, all or teams are still in despite the multiple embarrassments…

    It has to be said, starting the Euro campaign in June in Aberdeen and Hearts case, is just wrong. The European Championship have only just finished and yet clubs all round Europe have already played the first round, some of whose players were on duty at said Championships.  European football is becoming damaging to our clubs and our footballers. That said, everyone knew the start date, everyone was in a position to alter their domestic timetables accordingly. But nah. Maybe this time round when Celtic are facing the bad headlines, and not just the “diddies”, our illustrious administrators might take an interest. 

    Personally, I think its time the smaller nations told UEFA to get lost and set up their own competition. We countries no longer have any importance within the UEFA cups, masses of knockout matches to get rid of the chaff before allowing them anywhere near a big club. Lets have a competition we all have an interest in, a competition we can feel a part of rather than just being tolerated.


  66. BIG PINKJULY 12, 2016 at 11:21 24 3 Rate This
    John Clark
    Danish Pastry has indeed been absent of late. I will drop him a note to inform him of your plea…
    ———-
    Godmorgen allesammen. 
    I’ve been absent without leave. Mostly following events via twitter (where I tweet far too much about issues not relevant or welcome here 13 ). Hopefully, there’ll be a theme park one day, based around these sagas, with various ‘rides’ (not all free, obviously, tee-hee).
    Onwards and upwards.
    PM sent to JC.
    Danish aka @ArthurStramash


  67. Danish PastryJuly 13, 2016 at 08:51 
    BIG PINKJULY 12, 2016 at 11:21 24 3 Rate This John Clark Danish Pastry has indeed been absent of late. I will drop him a note to inform him of your plea… ———-Godmorgen allesammen.  I’ve been absent without leave. Mostly following events via twitter (where I tweet far too much about issues not relevant or welcome here  ). Hopefully, there’ll be a theme park one day, based around these sagas, with various ‘rides’ (not all free, obviously, tee-hee). Onwards and upwards. PM sent to JC. Danish aka @ArthurStramash
    _____________________________

    Great to see you back, DP, and well done to JC for waking you from your slumbers 21

    Now, get some of those pastries out for the lads, and bigger ones for the lasses 02


  68. Danish PastryJuly 13, 2016 at 08:51
    ‘…..PM sent to JC..
    _________
    Not being a tweeter, DP, I was wondering whether you had fallen off the edge of the world. Our anonymity makes it extremely unlikely that we would ever have the kind of situation where someone joins the pub discussion and says something like’ Did you hear about auld harry? Died last week.Getting buried the morra.’ ‘Whit? Auld Harry that comes in here? I saw him just like week in the Horseshoe! Geez!
    It’s a thought, that any of us could cash in our chips and no one on the blog would know.
    I have to dash out now with a couple of American visitors , whose next stop is Denmark: I’ll PM you a little later.
    Thanks for getting back to me.


  69. John ClarkJuly 13, 2016 at 10:30 
    Danish PastryJuly 13, 2016 at 08:51‘…..PM sent to JC.. _________ Not being a tweeter, DP, I was wondering whether you had fallen off the edge of the world. Our anonymity makes it extremely unlikely that we would ever have the kind of situation where someone joins the pub discussion and says something like’ Did you hear about auld harry? Died last week.Getting buried the morra.’ ‘Whit? Auld Harry that comes in here? I saw him just like week in the Horseshoe! Geez! It’s a thought, that any of us could cash in our chips and no one on the blog would know. I have to dash out now with a couple of American visitors , whose next stop is Denmark: I’ll PM you a little later. Thanks for getting back to me.
    ____________________________

    So, I’m not the only one who’s thought about that scenario! Glad to say, I don’t feel so daft now that you’ve written about it. Glad, too, that I’m not the one who was in the Horseshoe last week, though04


  70. If you ever need to prove to someone that the media, and Sky in particular, are agenda driven and will report anything that supports their agenda, here’s the proof. (Sorry not smart enough to post the video from Sky Sports, but I’m sure you will be able to find it, or someone smarter than me can put it up)

    Yesterday, on twitter, a joker put up that the Imps couldn’t train on a Tuesday because the local metal detector society used the pitch! No need for me to explain how ridiculous that is.

    Well, believe it or not, some dummy presenter on Sky Sports News has just asked Andy Walker if that makes last night’s defeat Celtic’s worst ever! They’ve picked up a joke tweet and made idiots of themselves in their efforts to make Celtic look like idiots!

    I hope somebody can show the video here for those not on twitter.

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