Charles Green has declared war on the Scottish football authorities. His statement and that of Duff and Phelps today deserve detailed analysis, which is ongoing at McConville Towers as we speak, and will be concluded as soon as Stewart Regan, Neil Doncaster and Peter Lawwell tell me what to write.
For now, I wanted to speculate if Mr Green had managed to forget the terms of the SFA Rules, under which Rangers FC was censured for his comments some time ago. Mr Green could well have forgotten, as the censure took place as long as eleven days ago.
The relevant rules are as follows:
Rule 1: All member clubs shall:
(a) observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in accordance with the rules of fair play;
(b) be subject to and comply with the Articles and any statutes, regulations, directives, codes, decisions and International Match Calendar promulgated by the Board, the Professional Game Board, the Non-Professional Game Board, the Judicial Panel Protocol, a Committee or sub-committee, FIFA, UEFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport;
(c) recognise and submit to the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport as specified in the relevant provisions of the FIFA Statutes and the UEFA Statutes;
(d) respect of the Laws of the Game;
(e) refrain from engaging in any activity, practice or conduct which would constitute an offence under sections 1, 2 or 6 of the Bribery Act 2010; and
(f) behave towards the Scottish FA and other members with the utmost good faith.
Rule 2: Each member shall procure that its officials, its Team Officials and its players act in accordance with Rule 1.
Rule 66: No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, referee, or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bring the game into disrepute.
Rule 71: A recognised football body, club, official, Team Official, other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall, at all times, act in the best interests of Association Football and shall not act in any manner which is improper.
Now let’s see where Mr Green might, through inadvertence, have sinned against those rules, accidentally of course. The following are extracted from his statement on the official Rangers FC website.
“Our lawyers have made that point repeatedly to the SPL in correspondence and yet our requests for an explanation from the SPL have been completely ignored. The SPL’s silence on these issues is deafening. The outcome of the SPL’s process will have no legal effect.
…
“Although the SPL goes to great lengths to emphasise the independence of its Commission, the Commission is not independent of the SPL. It has been appointed by the SPL. It follows SPL rules and its process is managed by SPL staff. I don’t question the impartiality of the individual panel members but whatever decision they reach is a decision of the SPL.
…
“Did the SPL launch an investigation? Did they appoint a Commission? Did they ask to see EBT correspondence? Did they ask any questions at all? No. They did absolutely nothing.
“What compounds the breathtaking hypocrisy of the SPL in this whole saga, is that the SFA, the SPL and us – as the new owners – took part in numerous discussions regarding the new company’s league status during which it was made clear that a deal was there to be done where ‘the EBT issue’ would be dealt with as part of a package of sanctions which would be implemented in return for membership of the SFA and a place in either the SPL or Division One.
“We do not accept that people who are willing to come to an agreement on such matters then have a right to instigate a full blown inquisition when matters do not unfold as they thought they would.
“In our view, it beggars belief that an authority which can be heavily involved in these discussions to the point that the Chief Executive Neil Doncaster repeatedly stated he was not interested in stripping titles from Rangers can lurch from that position to setting up its own Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Nimmo Smith.
“I must make it clear that we are not questioning for a moment the integrity of Lord Nimmo Smith and his colleagues but we believe the SPL have been hypocritical in their approach to this matter.
…
“Why is the SPL rushing to judgement now when it has been sitting on the matter for two years? Their haste is particularly difficult to understand when the tax tribunal judgement is imminent.
“The factual issues in both cases are identical. We have to ask why is the SPL so anxious to issue a judgement in this matter before the tax tribunal’s findings are made public.
…
“Nothing has changed as the judgement still has not been made public. Why is the SPL rushing ahead when in April the SFA felt it unwise to do so?
“Rangers was not the only club in Scotland to use EBTs yet nothing was done and little has been heard about it. Also, Rangers stands accused of achieving sporting advantage unfairly – yet there is little debate over the fact in all the years EBTs were in existence at Ibrox, the Club often failed to win either the league title, or the main cup competitions.
…
“The decision we have taken has not been taken lightly. There are powerful representatives from Clubs within the SPL – not all of them by any means – who appear hell bent on inflicting as much damage on Rangers as possible.
“It is lamentable that the Board and executive of the organisation have not been able to deal with this appropriately. We do not hold every SPL club in the same regard. Several clubs were placed in an invidious position and we believe their interests were not best served by those in more powerful positions.
“Furthermore, as a Club we are not satisfied that the issue of conflict of interest relating to advisers to the SPL has been satisfactorily dealt with.
“Once again I would thank our supporters for their patience and tolerance. They have been asked to take it on the chin time and again and we stand united in saying: No more.”
——————————————————
Have a read through these edited highlights once again…
The SPL’s silence on these issues is deafening … the Commission is not independent of the SPL … They (the SPL) did absolutely nothing … the breathtaking hypocrisy of the SPL in this whole saga … a full blown inquisition … it beggars belief that an authority which can be heavily involved in these discussions to the point that the Chief Executive Neil Doncaster repeatedly stated he was not interested in stripping titles from Rangers can lurch from that position … we believe the SPL have been hypocritical … There are powerful representatives from Clubs within the SPL – not all of them by any means – who appear hell bent on inflicting as much damage on Rangers as possible … It is lamentable that the Board and executive of the organisation have not been able to deal with this appropriately. We do not hold every SPL club in the same regard. Several clubs were placed in an invidious position and we believe their interests were not best served by those in more powerful positions … Once again I would thank our supporters for their patience and tolerance. They have been asked to take it on the chin time and again and we stand united in saying: No more.
——————————————————
Mr Green has issued a lengthy statement, as can be seen from the fact that what is shown above is only an extract from it. It is on the official Rangers website, and is stated to be by “Rangers Football Club”.
If this is not a declaration of war on the SPL and by extension the footballing authorities in Scotland, I don’t know what is.
I spoke to a friend who compared some of Mr Green’s recent statements to what has become known as “dog whistle politics”. There is little of the dog-whistle about this – instead it is a clear rallying cry to the loyal support of Rangers, which will, I am sure ensure that the turnstiles keep clicking at Ibrox for some time yet.
As of a few minutes ago the respective posts regarding the statement on two of the main Rangers FC fan sites showed a total of 867 posts and over 26,000 views. Not bad for a statement issued two hours ago!
I also suspect that the reaction there will be 100% positive.
Deciding that they are refusing to play and denouncing the process before the first hearing takes place is an interesting tactic. Now, if the Commission proceeds, in the absence of both oldco Rangers and newco Rangers and delivers a damning judgement, it will be ignored, it appears, by Mr Green and his company. And, if action is taken, then they propose to invoke the aid of the courts to stop disciplinary action happening.
What strikes me is that, once again, Mr Green is playing a masterful hand. He is a king of diversion. When the transfer of the SFA membership took place Mr Green said:-
“There remains, however, an outstanding issue with the SPL regarding EBTs. As we have proved in the last couple of months we will stand up to any challenges that face Rangers and will continue to fight for the Club’s best interests.”
What he has managed to do is to build the impression that the one penalty, above all others, which newco will not accept, being the most horrendous possible, is the stripping of titles. Not being barred for all time from, membership of the SPL; not being suspended for a longer period than the next three years; not the imposition of further financial penalties…
No, the one penalty to be fought against, above all others, is one which will cost newco not a penny, and will in fact generate more support from the fans.
As I said, it is brilliant!
He has challenged the football authorities to take action, as indeed he promised he would. So much gratitude for the three ruling bodies pledging to “facilitate” Rangers entry to SFL3!
And as far as his attack on some, but not all, SPL teams, one wonders why he felt constrained from telling us who they were. After all, Ibrox is the home of clarity, transparency and free speech!
However the extracts above indicate numerous ways in which the rules quoted at the top of this piece are broken. Will the SFA have the courage of its convictions to take action? Will the SFL take any steps itself?
Or has Mr Green stared them down, and, as long as the share flotation comes along in the near future, enraptured the fans into subscribing in their thousands?
As has been the case ever since RTC started, this piece could end with the line:- we have no idea what will happen next; we will have to wait and see!
Posted by Paul McConville
StevieBC says:
September 11, 2012 at 03:18
Reading Stunney’s links (ta) and a few others – all the papers have so far only quoted Charlie’s statement – and that of Duff & Duffer.
No comment. No opinion. No challenge to any of the content.
MSM continue to be cowards – and continue to advertise their obsolescence.
====================================================
Rule of thumb in impartiality should be to use the quotes/ statements from all sides.
As the SFA/SPL have failed to comment not a lot to report.
At the moment we have two bodies from the world famous “Five way agreement” commenting while the governing bodies continue to non administer.
I expect the only quote to come from either the SFA or the SPL will be that they do not wish to influence the panel in any way at this time.
I would suggest an immediate request should made to Charles Green to explain his comments.
I would suggest an immediate request for all other issues of the “Five way agreement” to be resolved, i.e. can you pay off your footballing debts please!
I would suggest that a) Craig Whyte is taken to court for non payment of his outstanding fine, I imagine 90 days must have passed and b) RFC2012 are asked when they will be paying their o/s fine of 120K.
People appear to be thinking that Chuckie is still trying to sell season tickets, who to??
The time has come and gone for any further season ticket sales, any future sales will be half season at Christmas, by which time the league will be won.
This statement has nothing to do with season tickets.
Anyone want a bet that the FTT judgement was delivered yesterday?
Seven days from now it will be published for all to see.
D & D have carried out their last role before BDO take over.
The Mighty Quinn says:
September 10, 2012 at 23:27
The die have been cast …
——-
First off, OT pedantry corner. “Dice”. The dice have been cast. Although I believe Mr Caesar, in the original comment, referred to having cast only a single die before traversing the Rubicon. Which, incidentally, is a thing I did only a few weeks ago. Even though it’s the Fiumicino now. 🙂
Phew.
Meanwhile, Mr Charles on Radio Scotland this morning … “I have a huge job here trying to rebuild Rangers and get back to former glories. I don’t have time for this Mickey Mouse event.”
He really is building an exit route, isn’t he? He can’t possibly be as mental as he seems on the surface.
Angus says: at 09:17 [edit]
He really is building an exit route, isn’t he? He can’t possibly be as mental as he seems on the surface.
_____
Not sure Mr A – CG statement has really impressed white bricks this morning – well there you go
As an aside, perhaps TRFC could change their name to Football Rangers Club. That would match the name on those blue gates at Ibrox – that’s the way I always read it anyway.
Then they could abbreviate it to FRC.
Then they could adopt the Screaming Jets’ song of that abbreviated title (look it up). The lyrics of that seem apposite to the money-grubbing which surrounds their recent history.
I think I’ve had too much coffee already this morning. Sorry.
Also heard CG on the radio this morning and was laughing when he “stated”
“I will NOT be attending their Mickey Mouse meeting”
oh dear…more trouble for Mr Green
Just a thought.
Unless you can assure your investors you have your regulators and fellow businesses/competitors by the short and curlies, who is going to invest in a company that appears to be hell bent on destroying any form of future and mutually beneficial working relationship.
There is a time for bluster and there is a time to bend over and take what is coming to you.
Excellent analysis, as usual, from Paul McC. If only the powers that be in Scottish football possessed similar skills……….and a pair of gonads………this whole farce would have been concluded as soon as HMRC rejected that utterly absurd CVA proposal.
Rangers Football Club PLC are no more. Charlie Green could equally state that he’s not attending an enquiry into the failure of Woolworths. His comments are irrelevant to all but the Rangers supporters who have TUPE’d to T’Rangers.
But anyway, that’s besides the point. Charlie is playing his hand brilliantly. I really admire this guys tactic. He has the Rangers fans rallying around T’Rangers in their droves, happily emptying their wallets to swell the coffers of Sevco….sorry…The Rangers Football Club Ltd. He has no fear of reprisals about comments he makes – I’m sure he welcomes them. Fantastic publicity. The SPL instigated EBT investigation has presented a marvellous opportunity for CG to bang the drum and toot the flute. He has not missed the chance. This is a money making excercise and the man knows his customers. Gaun yersel’, Charlie boy. Fleece the willing sheep before they wise up and see the wolf.
Someone has posted a very interesting photograph of headed paper from deadclub circa 1980 on an Aberdeen forum. When did they become ‘Rangers Football Club’ pray tell?
Apologies, i haven’t discovered how to post images on TSFM!
Goosy says:
September 11, 2012 at 00:52
Guilty as charged, not a leg to stand on!
If Greeny’s ready to take the football authorities through the courts, does that imply that he has a pirate chest of loot laying about? Either that or he’s found a No Win No Fee firm to take on his case.
Reading Green’s statement again, it simply reads like a ‘Best of’ compilation of all the twisted logic arguments that RM/FF/VB and other members of the Laptop Loyal have been putting forward since 14 Feb.
Yet he actually confirms what most sane people thought – Mr Green bought the history and titles from oldco and transferred these to his newco. They’re not ‘his’ titles, they were someone elses, and he paid £1 for them. If the awarder of those titles decides to rescind them, there’s not a thing he can do, and he knows this. He’s grandstanding, playing to the Gallerry.
The fact that Duff & Phelps then, not so much shoot themselves in the foot, as blew it clean off, with a statement that their primary objective was to ‘rescue the business’ only adds to the sense of chaos and unsustainable logic.
Everyone with any interest in this must remain vigilant, we’re heading for interesting times. Both parties are trying to influence the outcome of the Tribunal, yet both have, in my view, exposed serious weaknesses in the whole charade.
From CQN,
We dealt with the purchasing of history on here some months ago. Once we realised it was possible, I snapped up ancient Egyptian history, the period from the pharaohs until Mark Antony. I AM responsible for the Pyramids of Giza but any slavery which may or may not have been used in their construction is NOTHING to do with me.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=10337
Can anyone remind me what was the Rangers tax case email address was ?
While I appreciate the SPL is not the SFA I do believe we have a recent precedent in the Scottish game in terms of what happens to club owners/directors who don’t turn up to hearings, issue threats of legal challenges and tell the authorities ‘good luck in collecting the money’. (in this case substitute ‘collecting your titles’).
I trust that this time the rules will be applied without fear or favour.
Looks like CG rabble rousing has had the desired effect with the sevconians on RM.One poster declared “this is our boyne” while another is ready for battle by declaring”its time to batter people in the street”.Oh Charlie you’ve opened a can mate and its all gonna end in tears.
Well we at least know now, the fans who continue to flock to Ibrox will react to the stripping of titles in the same way they reacted to liquidation.
Denial.
We will have months of them saying it never happened because they were a 3rd Division club and the SPL have no jurisdiction.
chancer67 says:
September 11, 2012 at 10:11
Looks like CG rabble rousing has had the desired effect with the sevconians on RM.One poster declared “this is our boyne” while another is ready for battle by declaring”its time to batter people in the street”.Oh Charlie you’ve opened a can mate and its all gonna end in tears
****************
That is one thing that always had me hating the rabble rousers – they were never the ones that ended up with a bloody nose or stanley knife scar due to their rubbish.
Of course they will say the same thing Swally did when someone dared to ask him if he regreted that fact that someone had now threatened the life of the Raith official after his ‘who are these people” call to the troops…..
“Well I cannot be held responsible for the actions of any lunatics on the internet..”
No – but you can be held responsible for the injuries and damage done to any innocent parties that get cornered by these lunatics you managed to get wound up……….
Same with Charlie – his grey suit will be stain free (apart from dribbles from his succulent lunch) while folks who have no interest in football will be cleaning up afterwards….
HirsutePursuit says:
September 11, 2012 at 00:51
‘..For the sake of my sanity, will someone show me where the SPL have the power to appoint a judicial commission, separate from the SFA’s judicial tribunal?..’
—–
Thank you,HP, for saving my sanity!
I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. So, the SFA’s judicial panel is a quite different beast from the commission set up by the SPL, ( although the SPL is tapping into the SFA’s ‘taxi -rank’ of volunteer panelists for its commission members).
The main thing is that, one way or another, CG is legitimately caught under the Articles both of the SPL and the SFA..
stmiley says:
September 11, 2012 at 10:39
‘…Denial…’
———-
The Chambers’ on-line dictionary now recognises that we can call them ‘denialists’. 🙂
StevieBC says:
September 11, 2012 at 03:18
Reading Stunney’s links (ta) and a few others – all the papers have so far only quoted Charlie’s statement – and that of Duff & Duffer.
No comment. No opinion. No challenge to any of the content.
——————————————————————————-
To be fair they allow comments sometimes and if you read through some of the comments do challenge what’s said. Suppose it saves the Journos having to work. Reading the comments is interesting as I believe not all (if any) of the challenging posts come from the likes of posters here.
Summary of the day so far……
Andy Murray is a living, breathing example of everything that is good in sport and should be hailed as an inspiration to budding young sports people everywhere. I admire his skill, determination, refusal to give up, and especially his humility in defeat and victory. He is a man and I celebrate his wonderful achievements.
Charles Green and his footballing circus are none of those things and should be treated with the disdain they deserve.
“Its time to batter people on the street.”
And on door steps, according to Alex McLeish.
Its in the genes obviously.
**************************
On Charles Green’s latest goading of, well, everyone, and Duff and Duffers admission that they didn’t give a hoot about the creditors all along:
Is it possible that the strategy – now that their original plans went t!ts up – is now to bail out and make sure that the BDO reverse the sale of assets? Would such a reversal be the best option now for Green? (Just trying to make sense of his ludicrous statement. It obviously isn’t to sell more ST’s.)
Mr Green,assisted by Duff & Phelps has just had another press release published by all the major outlets in Scotland, and some of the minor ones. No reporting per se, simply publishing what he wanted out there.
This press release is nothing more than a call to buy shares. It plays to the crowd, it makes him one of them, it circles the wagons and feeds the seige mentality.
He really would have been more honest if he had signed off with WATP.
The end result will be already rich people profiting from football fans buying into a lie. They will hand over money which a lot of them can’t afford. To buy useless and worthless shares in a 4th division football club. It will make them feel good about themselves for a short while, make them feel part of something bigger.
I’m afraid their attitude in all of this takes away any natural sympathy i would normally have for people being fooled in such a transparent way. They will get what they are asking for, it won’t be what they thought they were buying.
You would have thought CG would have shown up at the enquiry, with Gio di stefano the devils own lawyer in tow. The two would seem to be a perfect match, all mouth and bravado with no hard fact. I often wonder how men like this always seem to find prominence in Scotland. Lazy reporting seems to me to be the main reason a headline is all important and the subject matter not so important. Giving men like this the platform to spout their garbage, of course they will use it and peddle whatever message their minds, have concocted to divert the masses from the true stories. So yesterday I read nothing into Mr Greens rant, he knows what is coming and he needs his new clubs fans behind him to stand any chance of survival. You and I, will just have to sit back enjoy the ride of claim and counterclaim, until BDO say no,no,no here’s the facts refute those, at which point the endgame is here. Hopefully some of the bloggers that were superb on RTC etc can explain it come the time in a simpler format, as I suspect BDO’s report will be rather forensic and time consuming given the period and nature of the crimes.
The commission has been set up to investigate rule breaking. The rule that was aledgedy broken was the use of undeclared dual contracts by RFC Plc. Rules relating to declared payments are not only SPL rules, not only SFA rules, not only UEFA rules but are FIFA rules and as such must be adhered to worldwide.
The legality or otherwise of properly or improperly administered EBT’s is not an issue that can be ruled upon by the commission as that is a matter for the FTT(T).
The punishments available to the commission should RFC Plc be found guilty of systematic rule breaking by failing to provide details on a vast number of players remuneration through the use of dual contracts are all pretty severe and are rules, I must add, that all clubs – including RFC Plc – agreed to abide by as condition of membership.
If a punishment is met out by the commission then RFC Plc would have recourse of appeal to the SFA. Should said appeal fail RFC Plc would have further recourse to take the matter before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Should that appeal fail then any punishment for these rule breaches would be fixed. Any further appeal to a sovereign court of Scotland would be met with further punishment from FIFA which could ultimately lead to expulsion from football.
If RFC Plc did break the rules for a period of time then of course there should be a punishment. There can be no logical argument against punishing the guilty.
What I would argue though is that any punishment must only be met by the guilty party. RFC Plc are ‘in the dock’ for these ‘crimes’ not Mr. Green’s company.
The possible legal recourse I can see for Mr. Green’s company should there be a stripping of titles from RFC Plc (which is by no means the worst or only punishment available to the commission) would be to pursue the administrators of RFC Plc for selling him ‘faulty goods’ or even ‘assets obtained through illegal means’.
Furthermore he may even wish to take issue that he was sold these ‘assets’ or titles at all. For it is clear to all that titles can not be bought and sold.
To any fan of Rangers football, under whatever guise, I would ask a simple question. Why would the owner of your club need to purchase the titles as assets if the club is indeed the incorporeal entity that needs no specific company to run its affairs as you have all recently claimed. That is to say: if this ‘Rangers Club’ is separate to ‘RFC Plc’ or to ‘Sevco’ then why would titles need to be bought and sold?
Finally, for clarity’s sake, let’s not beat around the bush…
If Rangers cheated by paying players without abiding by the rules then those players were not properly registered and were not eligible to play football games. The forfeit for fielding ineligible players is a 3-0 loss in said games.
To finalise this comment I would like to make it clear that this situation is all of Rangers own doing. No one forced Rangers into the drastic action. No one forced that club to break to rules. If it is difficult to come to terms with the possibility that a football club supported by thousands of people was acting against the rules for such a long period then I will understand their denial before the judgement. I will understand their need to believe in and proclaim the club’s innocence; as the embarrassment of having years of celebration turned into a tragic laughingstock will be harder to take than I can imagine. But I will feel no sympathy.
meanwhile why are Duff n Phelps still in place? why is administration still continuing? did Lord Hodge ever resolve or decide anything? (sorry just catching up on this story after 10 days away)
If Corsica is about,
Could you have alook at the RFC website for the Charity Foundation.
There now appears to be only 2 trustees, 1 being John Greig the other Jacquie Gourlay.
Is this legal???
briggsbhoy says:
September 11, 2012 at 10:02
Can anyone remind me what was the Rangers tax case email address was ?
…………………………………………………..
rangerstaxcase@yahoo.com
Mark Daly @markdaly2
Charles Green says “more than two” clubs used EBTs. Celtic and who else? All other SPL clubs denied it to BBC in May
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18169502
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Anyone like to comment on why there are no tickets prices available for the Rangers V Motherwell league cup game on either site, nor are tickets for sale?
Has no agreement on prices been reached by the two clubs yet?
Should Motherwell maybe let the SFA know there is an issue here, or have they already done so but no comment has been made from the SFA???
The issue of stripping titles from RFCIASTBL did not really bother me for a while – my logic being that, after liquidation, this could never be added to, and that my team Celtic would eventually surpass their League and league totals.
Then I slowly realised, through being educated by those blogs, that my attitude was all wrong – that RTC/TSFM was all about ALL of SCOTTISH football .
So needless to say, my narrow-minded view has changed. Other clubs, supporters, and football in general were cheated of trophies, money and opportunities to participate in Europe.
So … to all of them – sincere apologies!
Andypandymonium says:
September 11, 2012 at 10:52
4 0 Rate This
Summary of the day so far……
Andy Murray is a living, breathing example of everything that is good in sport and should be hailed as an inspiration … Charles Green and his footballing circus are none of those things …
———-
An example of the thesis and antithesis of true Scottish sporting greatness on the same day?
Tennis has been my main sport for a quarter of a century now, and last night translated into a Lisbon & Wembley ’67-Aberdeen-vs-Real Madrid-Archie-Gemmill moment (didn’t see Barcelona ’72). What an absolute inspiration after observing the cesspit that that the SFA have allowed Scottish football to become.
Should read League and League Cup totals!
Mark Daly @markdaly2
Charles Green says “more than two” clubs used EBTs. Celtic and who else? All other SPL clubs denied it to BBC in May
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-18169502
Expan Reply Retweet Favorite
_______________________________________________________________________________
I’ll take a guess and say Hearts are favourites to be the other team. Just a guess mind you!
Some excellent summaries on here today, keep up the good work lads and lasses!
I was thinking about linking the events of the last week, particularly the savage and hysterical criticism of the national team and their management. Scotland last qualified for a major tourney in 1998, the period when SDM lost his grip on the SPL title and began cooking the books. Another period of exponential wage inflation down Glasgow way left every club operating in a skewed market attempting to keep pace with the rapidly changing market demands, with serious consequences…..and ultimately crippling debts. Now each club is responsible for their own actions, but shirley if the biggest beast in the jungle is augmenting his advantage by deploying 10 of millions of illegal assets they cannot actually afford, then it is fair to say the well was poisoned (if I can mix metaphors) and the market place tainted by malpractice.
To suggest that the malpractice has had a debilitating effect on Scottish football would be something of an understatement, yet after spending the weekend lamenting and lambasting the state of Scottish football we have Jim Traynor urging us to forget the EBT’s and move on! Am I alone in thinking there may be a connection with the state of our game and the conduct on one of its major stake-holders? Or do I exist in a parallel universe where action and reaction do not effect any teams from Govan?
smallteaser says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:14
0 0 i Rate This
If Corsica is about,
Could you have alook at the RFC website for the Charity Foundation.
There now appears to be only 2 trustees, 1 being John Greig the other Jacquie Gourlay.
Is this legal???
……………………………………………………………………………..
I’m not Corsica, obviously, but it could be, depending on what’s in their Articles.
..
I don’t know the timescales involved or if he’s bluffing or not but if Rangers / Charles Green resorts to the Civil Courts again then of course he threatens the participation of Celtic in the Champions League and Scotland National teams at all levels and depending how long it drags on perhaps into next season as well plus the prospect that Rangers own membership could be revoked, terminated or suspended indefinitely, regardless of whether they are massively in the wrong or not IF Rangers follow through with these threats they will bring a shitstorm down on Scottish Football as they nearly did over the transfer embargo.
Surely they are bluffing and wouldn’t go down that route again?
Charlie Brown says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:06
‘did Lord Hodge ever resolve or decide anything? (sorry just catching up on this story after 10 days away)’
—
No, Lord Hodge has not advanced one parasang in the matter of the D&P ‘conflict of interest’ report.
smallteaser says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:14
If Corsica is about,
Could you have alook at the RFC website for the Charity Foundation.
There now appears to be only 2 trustees, 1 being John Greig the other Jacquie Gourlay.
Is this legal???
…………………………………………………….
I should have added, they’re not obliged to publish the articles or constitution but they must give you a copy if you request it.
…
In relation to these recent Ibrox utterances we can see a a clear and risible descent into anarchy.It would seem that Green & Co would do anything for the sale of tickets. Unacceptable and all that is wrong with our game.
The good thing is that it is all posturing,storm and bluff.The bad news at Ibrox is very much about to kick in,BDO, SPL dual contracts, Police Enquiry, FTT……
The game in Scotland will recover from this,but the Establishment will now have to take a very firm grip and act on the information soon to reach the public domain.
Arabest says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:34
Re Jim Traynor’s call to ‘move on’ last night on Radio Scotland. It strikes me that the man is just pure dead lazy. He has no interest in getting at the truth and just wants to move on to his next meal ticket.
Why, when his paper seems to be happy to dig up old news of a story we should have moved on from six years ago
(http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-failed-bid-to-prosecute-farepak-1129948)
does he want to turn the biggest story to hit Scottish Football in to chip wrappers?
Arabest says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:34
‘Am I alone in thinking there may be a connection with the state of our game and the conduct on one of its major stake-holders? ‘
——–
I think you have made the connection very well. The whole competitiveness of the SPL certainly, and of the other leagues probably, was badly eroded by the skewing of the transfer market and consequent catch-as-catch can mentality of the pernicious SDM, in so far at least as many promising players were snatched from their development and side-lined at Ibrox to thwart competition.
Tell them what they want to hear and they will listen, right now they are hanging on every word that CG says. In the not so distant future when their pockets are empty and Mr G has moved on, who will they blame? Of course it will be the fault of all those bad folk, who aren’t the people.
The Scottish football authorities should go ahead and apply their rules without fear or favour, it is obvious that this odious little yorkshireman is only here to line the pockets of himself and whoever his backers are.
Traynor might be genuinely bored by the saga however he also knows that the worst is yet to come out publicly or finally be confirmed that Rangers not only cheated the tax-payers, they also cheated the SPL and the rest of Scottish football and also their might be some prosecutions and reputations savaged by what is eventually revealed……………………but lets move on they’ve already been punished enough.
Forget the SPL, Forget the SFA, Forget the SFL
Forget the FTT
Forget the Independent Commission ,
Forget the Tainted Titles
,,,,,,,,,,,,
There is only one purpose behind Greens statement
It is to goad CFC into making a some kind of public comment even a non committal one
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
And heres why
Green won`t be here by Xmas
He has already declared he is in it for the short term.
He has one goal only and that is to extract the most short term money he can get from gullible ex RFC fans
He knows its an uphill task in the middle of a recession
Green has figured that if Murray can`t get RFC fans to buy shares when he was at the height of
his popularity then he wont get get ex RFC fans to buy shares either
So he has adopted a very dangerous route despite being aware of the consequences for widespread hooliganism
He wants to launch his share issue in the midst of a media war against CFC
All he needs is for CFC to give him the excuse to set the fire going
I wonder several things.
1.Does Regan now see what a disaster for Scottish football it was to let Sevco have old Rangers SFA membership? Any regrets? No, I thought not.
2.Was the 5 party agreement ever written down in a proper legal format, signed by all parties? I’m guessing not. Some scribbles on the back of an envelope, maybe.
3.What mechanism do the SFA have for handling any appeal against the decision of the Independent Tribunal? I’m guessing none, so another 3 months at least before any appeal is decided.
4. What is Green actually trying to achieve by his latest statement? Personal safety? Or is this the precursor to a bail-out?
5. Has Green’s outburst been prompted by sight of the FTT decision?
I am guessing that the answer to the last question is yes, and the decision is in terms that leave no room for argument that there were dual contracts. And that will mean that the Independent Tribunal verdict is a foregone conclusion, since the evidence will be the same.
So is Green just trying to influence the sentencing part of the process? I fail to see what punishment could be handed out to the old RFC other than stripping of titles. They have no money, and their membership now belongs to Sevco. In addition I suppose life bans for all the individuals involved would be the norm. Step forward Mr Ogilvie. I can’t see how you could ban anyone else without banning him. Will he be banned? I very much doubt it. Will he resign? What any man of honour and integrity would do? Now I’m joking. The blazers don’t do resignation, not under any circumstances.
Oh, and meanwhile, Lord Hodge blocks the liquidation of RFC, while he reads some report by D&D regarding their own misdeeds. What’s that all about? D&D aren’t going to file a report admitting a conflict of interest. So how long to read a report when you knew in advance what it was going to say? In fact why commission such a report at all? Has anyone heard of such a procedure in ANY other case That is the aspect of this whole affair that I really find bizarre. Was the liquidation blocked just to allow time for the transfer of membership? Surely not, but I know what I think. All very convenient.
WOTTPI says:
You’re right of course, but we must never relent in our pursuit of the hacks who failed (and continue to fail) to function in the manner in which they ought.
If one condition of the hastily arranged SFA membership for The Rangers FC was that they must be bound by the findings of the SPL enquiry into the use of EBT’s and potential ramifications relating to improper registration of players, then the SFA can simply revoke that membership for non-compliance.
It should be simple for the SFA to see only one consequence in light of CG’s recent statement.
Presumably I should not hold my breath?
Old Rangers and now the incarnation Sevco are continuing to drag scottish football through the mire.
Neil Doncaster needs to speak about the alleged statements made by CG yesterday.
Didn`t the SPL do a deal to buy the TV rights for the SFL Games?
Zombie Denialist
A new oxford dictionary word(s)
Noun :An Undead being , being in denial that said person is now no more
How long before Charles Green changes his name to Charles Blue by deed poll?
Have always believed that the reason for ALL the hold ups ie Lord Hodge, Big Tax Case, etc. etc relates to the fact that the Authorities (Police and Fraud Squad et al) are putting their “ducks” in order to raise charges against former directors and employees of Old Rangers (maybe some of the current ones too). That is why Walter, Bomber and the rest have gone quiet – not long now before arrests are made ?
Have received information that Waterstones are selling THAT book. You know the book the “SUN” refused to serialise.
My friend out East phoned both the Falkirk and Stirling Branches, and was told, Stirling branch answer, ” Yes we have the book in question, but are currently not displaying it”. Falkirk answer was ” Why do you want to know if we are selling THAT book”? He gave the distinct impression of Fear at admitting the book was available for purchase. What a situation. Is this Salman Rushdie and the Satanic verses being played out in Scottish book shops afraid to display material of a topic which will be of interest to many people.?
Just a few observations on The Charles Green statement, what he basically says is, “Debt, we are Newco, Titles Oldco, Punishment Newco, History Oldco, EBTs Newco, SFA Licence Oldco,” . Are we getting the gist yet? Now SEVCO tell us they are Boycotting the SPL Tribunal ! EH Pardon me Mr Green but yer No In The SPL………..
Eastern Ex-pat says:
September 11, 2012 at 12:17
If one condition of the hastily arranged SFA membership for The Rangers FC was that they must be bound by the findings of the SPL enquiry into the use of EBT’s and potential ramifications relating to improper registration of players, then the SFA can simply revoke that membership for non-compliance.
===========
That is at the heart of all this. Do you know the conditions imposed on Sevco as part of the transfer? Have they been published? I understood from the statements of the various parties at the time that Sevco refused to be bound in advance by the findings of the Dual Contract enquiry. Yet membership was transferred anyway. Make of that what you will- I thought at the time “this stinks”. I haven’t changed my mind.
Now Regan and Doncaster are finding that kicking that particular can down the road really wasn’t a great idea. They were sat at the table holding four aces, Sevco held a pair of two’s, yet they let Sevco bluff and bully them into transferring membership when clearly they shouldn’t have, and now we all suffer the consequences. Not very clever work, from two highly paid executives, I have to say.
[IMG]http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab8/onlyjim/DF.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab8/onlyjim/1981-1982.jpg[/IMG]
(http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab8/onlyjim/1981-1982.jpg)
(http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab8/onlyjim/DF.jpg)
They have the right in the tribunal to remove Rangers as a club from the SFA – sine die – I think they will use this. Where that leaves Charlie boy – who knows – they can argue – plausibly because it’s true that they are not Rangers and should not be banned – at that point surely the SFA even under the odious CO will have to concede that SEVCO are a new club – if only to save that guise of Rangers – and at that point all punishments against SEVCO should cease. they are in the SFL under a flawed and illegal process – that implied they were a different entity – All of this is impossible and against the rules of association so can and will be struck down when anyone chooses to challenge it. We will then be left with an old Rangers stripped of titles and dead and new rangers free of shackles but with no history. How the rules are finagled to achieve this is of course anybody’s guess. the idea that title stripping will be the punishment is false. Title stripping merely follows on from the playing of unregistered players – again a cause and effect and not a punishment. the punishment must be some kind of suspension or expulsion of Rangers from the SFA. That decision will throw the actual status of CG’s club into a sharp and defined focus – if you are Rangers then you are banned, so to play you must be something new.
The season tickets have been sold , the season has started and this club are now playing. They are gambling at that point on the SEVCONIANS accepting the reality that the club is a new one – as the only alternative to extinction.
Even then though, there is still the problem of SEVCO’s financial model being unsustainable and no obvious financial backers to sustan them
Most likely scenario is a reluctant admission that this club is no’ really Rangers to escape the extinction event that the panel will pronounce on the club and then the liquidation of the new club.
Green is adesperate and defeated man, with a club that cannot survive in any guise despite all efforts and cheating on its behalf by those running the game and the country.
All of those involved have been exposed as the liars fraudsters and cheats that they are and all of it will prove to be to no avail.
I would expect a gfenuine New Rangers to emerge possibly chastened, certainly diminished in the years to come.
If I were a beeting man – a few quid on Rangers not fulfilling their fixtures this season might be worth a punt.
Andy Murray is, of course, our greatest ever sportsman and worth the entire Scotland football squad as a sporting figure on his own. Did bring a tear to my eye! Was a great moment!
Some posters suggesting that Yorkie feels powerful enough to slag Regan & Doncaster because if they do anything he’ll expose their corrupt efforts to get TRFC into Div 3. Surely that gives him no power, as there’s nothing to expose – we all know about it, the MSM know (but don’t report) so what is there to be exposed?!?!
“More than two clubs have used EBTs…..”
Now, if the Tetley voice-over man’s new club has inherited the accounting practices of the old Rangers club – is it safe to assume that means only one club used EBTs???
When the great Andy Murray leaves U.S air space, does that mean he is no longer U.S Open champion.
Will he refuse to hand back the title once he is back home in Scotland.
Whyte was funny but Green is a loose cannon. Get this mob banned before blood is shed in his name.
The Iceman says:
September 11, 2012 at 13:15
They have the right in the tribunal to remove Rangers as a club from the SFA – sine die – I think they will use this. Where that leaves Charlie boy …………
——————————-
Good post Iceman. What is the view of TSFM posters on your scenario that old Rangers be removed sine die and “New Rangers to emerge possibly chastened, certainly diminished in the years to come.” Vote: TU or TD?
The Iceman says:
September 11, 2012 at 13:15
They have the right in the tribunal to remove Rangers as a club from the SFA – sine die – I think they will use this.
——
Something I’ve been wondering about this. If RFC(IA) receive a suspension or expulsion from the SFA, then how does that affect Sevco?
Being that RFC(IA) have already transferred their SFA membership, and if that membership is rescinded, can it still exist for the Newco (which is a phoenix of the old)?
Is this why they were so sharp in getting membership transferred? So that it couldn’t be withdrawn before they did?
Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
On another point, I believe Mr Charles stated that his willingness to accept responsibility for EBTs as a condition for membership transfer relied on Sevco being in the SPL or Div 1 this season. That’s what he appears to be hanging his bunnet on – they didn’t get in, so he’s not taking the responsibility.
MikeC says:
September 11, 2012 at 12:38
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Have always believed that the reason for ALL the hold ups ie Lord Hodge, Big Tax Case, etc. etc relates to the fact that the Authorities (Police and Fraud Squad et al) are putting their “ducks” in order to raise charges against former directors and employees of Old Rangers (maybe some of the current ones too). That is why Walter, Bomber and the rest have gone quiet – not long now before arrests are made ?
************************************************************************************************************************
Don’t know if I buy this theory. I mean you can’t keep stuff like this quiet for long as there’s too many people involved.
No something else or someone else is behind the silence.
I think it’s a State thing.
If Salmond is indeed involved in this then he is finished.
TRFC, assuming they survive that long, may refuse to take their place in the SPL if/when eventually promoted from Division One …
“Rangers, who were relaunched by Green’s consortium after the former incarnation could not be saved from liquidation, were placed in the Scottish Third Division after Green’s bid to take over the SPL share previously owned by the club was rejected.
And Green has suggested the Ibrox side may not seek re-entry to the top flight, should they be successful in progressing to and winning the First Division.
“Unless the SPL welcome us with open arms why would we go back there,” he added.
“Ten clubs voted Rangers out of that league, what makes you think they would want Rangers back in.
“It begs the question will the league still be there in three years’ time.”
Silghtly interesting description of TRFC in the first para there – “relaunched”, “could not be saved from liquidation”. Perhaps the BBC are finally taking note of all the emails they must have received with regard to their reporting of newco/oldco, and replied to with a standard response for the last several months.
The Mighty Quinn says:
September 11, 2012 at 10:57
“What I would argue though is that any punishment must only be met by the guilty party. RFC Plc are ‘in the dock’ for these ‘crimes’ not Mr. Green’s company. ”
_____________________________________________________
Mr Green was also appointed* by D&P to RFC plc (in admin); we don’t know if this appointment was terminated. Green may still be exerting influence within the old company.
*4.21 From 6 June 2012, Charles Green will be appointed to assist in the day-to-day management of the business of the Company (at no cost to the Company or the Joint Administrators), in order to manage the ongoing trading costs of the Company and allow for a smooth transition in ownership.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19557934
Football: Uefa hands out first financial fair play penalties
A certain ex-club club missing from the list.
Parson St. Bhoy says:
September 11, 2012 at 02:16
So how many geese are to be cooked Goosy?
………..
Surprisingly few I reckon if we assume repaying tax avoided isn`t a penalty
Everybody knows that there is no honour among spivs
But nobody knows it better than the spivs. Because they live with it every day the successful spivs have developed simple principles to protect themselves from double cross by so called colleagues and best friends.
The MO of these guys is to create and fold companies scamming all and sundry by skirting the edge of the law. They are so familiar with company law many of them use it to avoid having to trust each other
Meaning
The evidence of their antics is up front and legal and out there in the open for everybody to see…..Some of it at Companies House
The real damage will probably be to those with reputations to lose
john clarke says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:40
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Charlie Brown says:
September 11, 2012 at 11:06
‘did Lord Hodge ever resolve or decide anything? (sorry just catching up on this story after 10 days away)’
—
No, Lord Hodge has not advanced one parasang in the matter of the D&P ‘conflict of interest’ report.
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JC – do you have any real inclination for the continued silence ?
I posted 2 nights ago on ‘Where now for the Judicial Panel Protocol’, it was posing the question of Greens ability to use the siege mentality to his advantage. I questioned whether he would be able to sell a ‘newclub’ with ‘no history’ as the only way to survive, IF the panel hit them with sanctions that would cripple the new company.
Yesterdays statement goes a long way to answering that question, he is obviously trying to distance himself from the procedure and it’s inevitable sanctions, but knows the importance of the titles, not just with the resale value of his company, but more importantly with the customers he continues to play like an old flute. Although, I believe the investigation to be indefensible, there will be those who follow the blue that will never forgive Green for not trying or allowing a fan group to try.
Charles is scrambling
He is about to be exposed as a fraud in the eyes of the peepil
His “Always, now and forever Rangers speech” is about to bite him
He knows that he has to choose between accepting the punishment for the old co or admitting to the peepil that he meant to say “Only now and for the foreseeable future T;Rangers”…..
He is now caught between 2 places – a chance to make more money with a share option or cutting his losses running off with the season ticket money now
Only way he can make the share option is to deflect from the impending old co/new co confirmation by picking a fight with Celtic or SPL or SFA or all of them. To have as was said on RM a Boyne moment.
There is no money for him to make now other than a share option – ST moeny is in the bag.
Shall he stay in for one more hand…..
Or fold………….
i thought ND said the enquiry was on hold till there was clarity as to who would accept the outcome??
Anyone remember the name of the Hearts FC player who was discussed on RTC blog re EBTs and not being able to secure a morgage cause his P60 stated he was on minimum wage or something similar?
Hi guys,
Just catching up after a week in Tenerife. Reading Mr Charles full statement, it is now clearly apparent what a complete tool of a man he is. He obviously sees what’s coming and is trying to noise up the gullible section of orcs. How any of them fall for this shit is beyond me.
Won’t be long till someone gets a brick through their window or worse, due to the continuous dog whistles emanating from Govan.
Newco are possibly even more of a disgusting FC than oldco.