Charles Green – What Will Football’s Authorities Do?

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

1,814 thoughts on “Charles Green – What Will Football’s Authorities Do?


  1. I honestly think if this shower of crooks get away with this and lets face it they might I think it will be the final nail in the coffin of football in this country. The only team left with a fan base will be Sevco/Rangers/The Rangers whatever as the decent supporters of all the other clubs will have had enough.


  2. The Invisible Line says:
    September 11, 2012 at 18:56
    0 0 Rate This
    And the spending continues….
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19564270
    Rangers hand teenage trio long-term deals
    Rangers have given contract extensions to three teenagers who
    have broken into the first team now that the Ibrox club are
    playing in Division Three.
    Barrie McKay, Lewis Macleod and Robbie Crawford have penned
    new five-year contracts at Ibrox.
    McKay, the 17-year-old forward who arrived from Kilmarnock in
    2011, had been linked with Everton this summer.
    The 18-year-old Macleod and 19-year-old fellow midfielder
    Crawford have come through the Ibrox youth system.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Nothing wrong with that. It’s what they should be doing.

    It’s what all clubs should be doing


  3. Johnston, like Green, McCoist, Jardine, King, Ogilvie, etc… can stand up and talk the utmost garbage, dog-whistle, bring the game into disrepute, finger-point, lie and indulge in whataboutery, sure in the certain knowledge that there will not be a single word of criticism about anything they say, in Scotland’s newspapers, radio stations or TV channels, the following day.

    A book revealing the truth of what these people did, is ditched by The Sun – and cant be put on public display in our bookshops.

    A tannoy announcer at a football stadium refers to them as Sevco and he is sacked.

    No one will say a word of criticism against them for fear of violent reprisals.

    The “fabric of Scottish society”, Alex? Good luck with that independence thingy. Vomit worthy!


  4. easy jambo

    From Alistair Johnstone statement

    ” The SFA is complicit in all of this because they have not at least up until now had the courage to publicly acknowledge that they either ignored or did not really understand the well-publicized structure surrounding the relationship that Rangers FC had with certain of its players.”

    So the SFA polis did not tell Rangers they were breaking the law the SFA polis were supposed to uphold so that means no laws were broken or the polis cannot later enforce the law?

    ” The reality of the situation is that Sir David Murray, who was intimately involved in the architecture of these efforts to organize the business in a way to mitigate taxation which is totally legitimate and acceptable under all tenets of the law, would have signed and paid for these very same players whether or not EBT schemes were in effect or not.”

    So had the tax payer not paid for those players directly they would have paid for them indirectly through bank rescue? Was it not the Rangers Board responsibility to caution SDM that the business was being run on an unsustainable manner only with bank permission and that could not be relied upon. Surely the Board’s role was to do this. Instead they ignored the predictions of Hugh Adam and allowed SDM free reign.

    Finally did they provide the SFA will all contracted payments as part of the registration details or not? If not AS PART of THE REGISTRATION then why not?

    Is he honestly saying Rangers were unaware of the on field advantage ebts gave Rangers over their main competitor in wage terms? Really? Celtic were aware of EBTS but eschewed their use because they had doubts about their legality, Rangers took a punt when common sense prevailed elsewhere. Surely the responsibility of Rangers was to act with the same sense of propriety and having decided not to the price must be paid not least because of what that decision cost those acting with propriety.

    Litmus test is if the position were reversed would Rangers think it was all ok not to feel cheated?


  5. Let’s not lose sight (unlike the MSM) that the “stripping of titles” will NOT be a punishment.

    It will be a consequence.

    Aside: there was a thing on Radio Scotland earlier where you had to phone in with a question you’d like to ask someone in 19 years time (no idea why).

    I considered phoning in with “Who were Rangers?”, but then it was the BBC so I’d not have got past the phone answerer. 🙂


  6. Johnston would be well advised to shut his mouth
    As a director of the failed company, his role in its demise will be looked at closely


  7. Lord Wobbly says:

    September 11, 2012 at 19:17

    For any normal club – I agree 110%

    But for T’Rangers suddenly trying to find the money to survive the season why give young players new contracts with a raise – why not wait until next May……

    Just seems to be a bit needless – the moeny from the STs needs ot last the season – and they ahve massive costs now for pilosing the 40K crowds now – seems a bit silly to give players a rise when there is no need to at thsi stage of a season 1 month in

    Unless they were signed for Rangers NIL and are now only signing over to T’Rangers 🙂


  8. And like magic Walter Myth appears on SKY at Hampden for the Scotland game. Cue his latest feeble attempt to pretend that he knew, heard or saw nothing!


  9. The Invisible Line says:
    September 11, 2012 at 18:17

    Spot on to you and everyone else who saw through AJ’s lies and drivel in minutes.
    Stunning how 18 months reading here and RTC can split the shit from the shite in minutes and, he is the sensible one.


  10. Would Ian Black be covered by this when playing against Brechin??

    Article 11 Unregistered players
    Any player not registered at an association who appears for a club in
    any offi cial match shall be considered to have played illegitimately.
    Without prejudice to any measure required to rectify the sporting
    consequences of such an appearance, sanctions may also be imposed
    on the player and/or the club. The right to impose such sanctions lies
    in principle with the association or the organiser of the competition
    concerned.

    http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf


  11. Apologies for the last post, someone clearly ‘at it’.


  12. What Alistair Johnston alludes to is that Murray could have paid the tax had he so chosen. The cosy relationship with BOS was such that the extra funds would have been made available.

    We are talking here about £60-70M additional costs in PAYE and employers’ national insurance over the years.

    Even without incurring that additional cost, Murray has so overspent that (a) he had to get rid of RFC(IA) for £1, (b) Murray Capital had to be spun out of the MIH group and (c) the bank has taken more than half of what’s left, with a warrant to increase that if results don’t improve.

    Had Murray spent that additional £70M, there is not the slightest down in my mind that MIH would have gone into administration and he would have lost everything.

    So the bottom line is Murray simply could not have afforded the tax bill; and let’s not forget, he operated the same scheme for himself, taking out millions for his own personal use, landing MIH itself with a potential tax bill of nearly £20M if it too loses the tax case.

    This was not just an alternative way of funding RFC(IA), this was the only way of funding it.

    Be sure your sins will find you out. The final humiliation and ritual disembowelling of RFC(IA) will not be long delayed.


  13. As Barrie McKay is only 17 does he, Rangers and the PFA know that his contract is not worth the paper its written on. He cannot sign on for more than 3 years. Whe accepted the registration??? What is the point in any of the rules if they all get ignored?

    http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=maximum length of scottish football contracts&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CDoQFjAE&url=http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/06/30/78/statusinhalt_en_122007.pdf&ei=HIdPULvfB5LB0gWM_oDgAg&usg=AFQjCNHzYjip9TJgH3p3n7VjZ-Ouv4AfnQ

    18 Special provisions relating to contracts
    between professionals and clubs
    1. If an agent is involved in the negotiation of a contract, he shall be
    named in that contract.
    2. The minimum length of a contract shall be from its effective date until
    the end of the season, while the maximum length of a contract shall
    be five years. Contracts of any other length shall only be permitted
    if consistent with national laws. Players under the age of 18 may not
    sign a professional contract for a term longer than three years. Any
    clause referring to a longer period shall not be recognised.


  14. Compare what AJ says with what the SFA Note of Reasons actually says.
    http://www.scribd.com/doc/93212354/SFA-Rangers-Note-of-Reasons

    From the AJ statement:-

    ” if Rangers was indeed guilty of structuring EBT schemes that transgressed the law or the rules of the relevant federations, then this was “close to match fixing.” This is the headline that in my opinion prompted the determination to slay Rangers with capital punishment, which in the case of our club would retrospectively alter the records of our historical achievements of which we are all so proud. “Match fixing” has connotations that correctly relate to bribery and corruption involving players and referees, fielding players that did not meet the criteria and qualifications of the governing bodies, e.g. they were over the age limit, or they were registered to another club, or they were playing while they had been banned for previous misdemeanours, etc., etc. Rangers has never been accused of or been remotely involved in any activity that would justify the terminology that whatever transgressions they might be found guilty of perpetrating was close to “match fixing.” ”

    From the SFA Rangers Note of Reasons

    “The Tribunalattempted in its exercise of fixing these matters on the scale of offences to identify a more serious offence than those on the complaints, and concluded that only match fixing in its various forms might be a more serious breach. It had no hesitation in concluding that the breaches struck at the heart of good corporate governance and social and financial probity and responsibility. They brought the game into serious disrepute. As such, they required to be regarded as at the top of the scale of seriousness.”

    The Tribunal used “match fixing” as an indication of the SCALE of seriousness, nothing to do with being CLOSE TO. What must make AJ seriously sweaty around the neck is that the Rangers breaches “struck at the heart of good corporate governance, etc”. AJ’s obfuscation is obvious when you read the real version of the findings.


  15. Redetin – but they were 2 different things – nothing to do with EBTs or dual contracts – but to do with not paying taxes for a year and using the ill gotten gains to remain alive in the SPL.


  16. Smallteaser – so not only are they doing something they may not have budgeted for but alos something not alowed (more than 3 years contract to a 17 year old).

    How come these muppets in the MSM cannot do what us mere mortlas can do?

    Question, analysis and research – its not too difficult!


  17. smallteaser says: September 11, 2012 at 19:58

    As Barrie McKay is only 17 does he, Rangers and the PFA know that his contract is not worth the paper its written on. He cannot sign on for more than 3 years. Whe accepted the registration??? What is the point in any of the rules if they all get ignored?…
    =============

    Great spot smallteaser.

    Seems like Sevco are not even bothering now to try and cover up their rule breaking !

    And can the SFA be bothered to comment?

    Regan’s last ‘CEO Statement’ on the SFA website is still dated 24th April.

    Anyone would think that not much has happened since that date… 🙄


  18. IMO it’s still too early to tell 2012 fc fans the truth about who they are supporting .
    To be fair if any other team had went into liquidation and everyone kept telling you that triggers broom was the same ,we would all cling to it also .
    If you look at at the people who can’t be corrupted and have to abide by law then you will be in no doubt as to the situation ,if however you want to keep the pretence up then fair enough (if you are a fan).
    IMO though if you rely on the fundamentalist £ and some time down the line you are found out for telling porkies ,then you may have built your house on sand and if the fundamentalist £ is the only £ to keep the farce going ,then the game is up .
    IMO any new ragers will be a religion not a football club and that will be to the detritment to the whole of Scottish football


  19. AJ statement is replete with complex sentence structure and ornate vocabulary ……. does it still mean ‘Surrender’ and ‘No’ ?


  20. So the next time the young fella takes the field for Sevco, it’s an automatic 0-3 defeat?
    Or it would be in the real world.


  21. smallteaser on September 11, 2012 at 19:58
    ——-
    Sorry the TD was a mistake by me.

    Does that rule cover the SFL as nothing else seems to, like the rules on previous Sevco registered players being allowed to play as trialists.


  22. Alistair Johnston quote.

    ‘I just can’t sit by on the side-lines and watch a miscarriage of justice be activated by a kangaroo court. It is not my personal objective to denigrate the football institutions of Scotland’

    Ex director can say this and get away with it. What a bunch of cowardly misfits the SFA/SPL are.


  23. Speculating…
    if Rangers are found in breach of the ‘dual contracts’ issue, and the records are amended to reflect the correct entitled winners (lets say it Celtic, for instance), how far back would this amendment need to go for Neil Lennon to have just won ten in a row?


  24. Ordinary Fan says:

    September 11, 2012 at 18:29

    Seems like Alistair Johnston is going down the same route as Charlie Green. Their stance is that the SFA and SPL knew what was going on regarding the EBT tax dodging and dual contracts, and did nothing. The SFA and SPL are being told that if they want to dredge up the dodgy dealing between them all, then RFC and the Tribute Act will be dredging up the role of the footballing authorities in the whole corrupt saga.
    With these new revelations by Green and Johnston that the SFA and SPL were part of the crooked deals and turned a blind eye to probable tax evasion and dual contracts, surely now is the time for UEFA to step forward?
    Regan and Doncaster have been double crossed by their partners in crime, they won’t last long now.
    =======================================================================

    of course the [do]sfa knew….campbell ogilvie !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  25. Extract from rule 127 of the SFL rules (section dealing with players)

    “Agreements between clubs and players who are under 18 years of age shall
    be for a period not exceeding three years.”

    Excellent find smallteaser, I take it back about you resembling Chris McLaughlin


  26. Maybe someone should ask Mr Johnson:
    If Mr Murray could simply have paid the tax if he had to, why didn’t he pay the tax WHEN he had to?

    One thing to notice, as each of these statements comes out, the utter desperation is increasingly evident. Johnson actually mentions Celtic by name twice in his little fairy tale. It’s a subtle reinforcement of something that has happened sporadically and obliquely in all the statements to date. I reckon it won’t be long before the reference to “SPL clubs with their own agendas” is replaced by a familiar name – simply because they are refusing to bite.
    Sevco are desperate for Celtic to be dragged into this, and firmly believe that Celtic’s fans, in response to lack of media and authority condemnation, will demand that Celtic speak up. In fact, they are reliant on it, it’s part of their plan. It is a source of frustration to them that it has not happened so far – so increasingly they will try to force this agenda, until finally they will say something to make it happen undeniably.
    And because it is part of their plan – that is the prime reason I think it should NOT happen.


  27. The best thing out of the Alistair Johnston statement is describing the Craig Whyte non-payment of tax last season as ‘financial doping’. That is one hell of an admission -that means all of last season’s games should be 0-3 (and sadly that means less money for the Creditors but more for other Scottish football clubs who all finish 1 place higher and get more prize money).

    In addition, if the ‘financial doping’ term sticks to that period – it will surely stick to the previous 11years. A major error by Mr Johnston?

    Maybe now that the Scottish Parliament is back in session the Finance, Audit & Sports Committee’s will start to investigate the biggest sporting scandal in our history……….. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha


  28. I believe the McKay contract will probably not be for 5 years. I should think it’s a slice of propaganda to express “loyalty”, and he’ll have signed up to a maximum of 3 years in reality.

    In which case,either the TRFC press department will be exposed as liars – or he will, indeed, be ineligible to play if his contract is accepted by the authorities as it is. Wikipedia says his birthday was 30/12/1994.


  29. e-mail just sent to the SFL and SFA. I’ll let you know what response I get but based on prior experience it will be a resounding dinghy from all concerned

    Dear Sirs,

    It has today been reported that The Rangers have signed a 17 year old on a 5 year contract extension.

    As rule 127 of the SFL Rules states “…Agreements between clubs and players who are under 18 years of age shall be for a period not exceeding three years” then this contract is in breach of your rules.

    Can I ask what will be done by yourselves to remedy this. Does this affect the players eligibility for forthcoming league games?


  30. smallteaser says:

    September 11, 2012 at 19:58

    As Barrie McKay is only 17 does he, Rangers and the PFA know that his contract is not worth the paper its written on. He cannot sign on for more than 3 years. Whe accepted the registration??? What is the point in any of the rules if they all get ignored?

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    It will be 3 years on a salary, 2 years on an EBT.
    The SFA and SFL will only see the 3-year portion…….

    (until they submit accounts of course……..)


  31. It seems to me that for all the words and bluster by current encumbents of TRFC and ex-directors of RFC(NIL), no-one, as far as I can see, has ever admitted that the players in question were properly registered. Surely it is a simple statement for one of the above mentioned to say all the players contracts were registered properly with the sfa. Instead they carp on with the same talk about the ebt payments being in the yearly club accounts, that to me is not registering contracts!!


  32. The Sweet FA . They do sweet FA they employ useless negative managers who cost and know sweet FA. They do sweet FA when ever THE rangers rant at them and they do sweet FA when players are signed on contracts that break rules they do sweet FA. When rules are ignored they do Sweet FA, EBTs sweet FA, the muddying of old co and newco encouraged by sweet FA.

    The SFA sweet FA. Regan has never been so silent as has doncaster. Two people not fit to hold office in Scotland.


  33. Senior

    In Johnston’s statement he complains about the “emotional” language used against Rangers. He actually speaks at some length about the use of words, the particular choice of words, and the effect certain words can have on the population. He seemed very knowledgeable.

    So I looked at his choice of words.

    – “A miscarriage of justice be activated by a kangaroo court.”

    – “If the capital punishment decision is left to the SPL.”

    – “Those whose objective is to crucify Rangers.”

    – “Other members of the SPL who are now attempting to act as judge, jury and executioner.”

    But way more interesting is his particular use of references to the level, the architect and such a strange choice of words at the end:

    “Finally, I would hope that the panel which has been charged with investigating Rangers’ activities will draw a large circle around a universe of reference points that should be considered in assessing the magnitude of the allegations made against the Club.”

    A very strange choice of words indeed!


  34. Doon the slope says:
    September 11, 2012 at 22:27
    “Finally, I would hope that the panel which has been charged with investigating Rangers’ activities will draw a large circle around a universe of reference points that should be considered in assessing the magnitude of the allegations made against the Club.”

    A very strange choice of words indeed!
    ===========
    A crafty choice of words, perhaps? It’s a shame he can’t shake hands with the members of the panel, that would make his message to them even clearer.


  35. don’t bother giving me a thumbs up – put your own opinion down.

    what is this nonsense about surprise way macedonia played, they out muscled england a few years ago for a draw.

    Scotland will never ever ever qualify for anything until we actually try to win games – if you think different, you are a dimwit.


  36. his code is one complete eeejit to another, don’t insult them by suggesting any intelligence.


  37. longtimelurker

    Sounds to me like he is threatening the court.


  38. Scotland failed to capitalise on the great work of Berti Vogts by not promoting Bonhof. Levein is the latest in a long line of Feartie McFearts fae Feartiestoun.


  39. longtimelurker

    Their own fault. They wouldn’t give us jobs so we went off and got educated at Law School lol.


  40. Lets suppose Lord Hodge decided lasr week that D&P are guilty of conflict of interest in taking on the Administration of RFC
    Lets suppose Paul Clark is now wetting himself because the Sept 2011 deal to sell MCR to D&P New York had a clause in it that said something like
    “You Paul Clark (owner of MCR) can keep all the profit from this potentially dodgy RFC Administration ( if it ever happens) on one condition

    “The RFC Administration does not result in the reputation of the global brand called “Duff and Phelps” being tarnished in any way whatsoever”
    And
    Just to ram that point home
    “Duff and Phelps will also apply punitive sanctions These sanctions include firing Paul Clark and his fellow rascals for bringing the noble worlwide brand of Duff & Phelps into disrepute”
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Lets also suppose Paul Clark has been told point blank that Charles Green will dump them overboard by revealing the most intimate confidential conversations if they don`t agree with everything he says about the dual contracts mess
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

    Would this explain why D&P supported Green`s statement on the Judicial Panel ?
    Do they need Green to lie to Lord Hodge on their behalf?

    ………………………….
    Lord Hodge said on 22 June

    “There is considerable public interest in this jurisdiction in relation to the administration.

    I do not want the administration to come to an end without having received that report.”
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,

    It is now 11 Sept and the Administration has still not come to an end

    Is this nonsense?


  41. Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston said last May:

    He said: “The tax enquiry is an ongoing investigation and an ongoing mission from the Inland Revenue which has been around for several years.

    “It’s a standard situation where an assessment is presented, SOME WITH HOPE FAITH AND CHARITY involved by the Revenue, and we then either accept, or reject, or appeal it.”

    http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/chairman-alastair-johnston-maps-out-his-plan-for-rangers-1.1030769


  42. The last post of mine was lifted from the RTC blog that I posted a link to earlier.

    Poster was Ray Charles.


  43. Who makes the speech tomorrow regarding Rangers, Smith ( Gordon or Walter), McCoist, Whyte (or White), Bain, Murray (David or Paul), TicketUS, Brown?
    I’ll bet someone makes another statement.
    It appears that the FTT is out there, why else would they all appear at this time? What has AJ got to gain by his statement? What is he trying to cover up by his statement, he was gone, almost forgotten, what is he back for??


  44. I think the tone and the words used by the SPL today sum them up completely, incompetent and not fit to govern.


  45. smallteaser says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:11
    0 0 Rate This
    Who makes the speech tomorrow regarding Rangers, Smith ( Gordon or Walter), McCoist, Whyte (or White), Bain, Murray (David or Paul), TicketUS, Brown?
    ———-
    Ogilvie?


  46. smallteaser says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:11

    Who makes the speech tomorrow regarding Rangers…
    ============================================

    Well if (S)DM pops his head up tomorrow, then we’ll all know it’s almost popcorn time! 🙂


  47. I dont think the tax case is out yet.

    The statements coming out now are deflecting from the spl enquiry.

    Trying to railroad it before it starts. Claiming the fttt hasnt found them guilty so the spl enquiry is invalid or a witch huunt from people with agendas.

    Deflect the sevconians from the real mission – get them to buy into a share issue

    They are hoping to launch the floatation before the fttt returns its findings.


  48. Doon the slope says:
    September 11, 2012 at 22:27

    “Finally, I would hope that the panel which has been charged with investigating Rangers’ activities will draw a large circle around a universe of reference points that should be considered in assessing the magnitude of the allegations made against the Club.”

    A very strange choice of words indeed!
    —————————————————————————————–
    AJ basically saying “PROVE IT”!!

    Gödel proved that there are ALWAYS more things that are true than you can prove. Any system of logic or numbers that mathematicians ever came up with will always rest on at least a few unprovable assumptions.

    http://www.perrymarshall.com/articles/religion/godels-incompleteness-theorem/


  49. I also feel that the FTT decision may be known. Green said when complaining about the dual contracts hearing, that the EBT ruling had not been made public, not that they have not made a ruling. Or i am reading too much into that?


  50. so who will the next scotland manager be??
    who ever it will be better play more than one up front at home……


  51. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:31

    No chance of a launch before November, FTT result will be returned in September (various sources)
    As this is the 11th and the club will get 7 days notice the latest will be in the next 12 days.


  52. All of this is all to do with MONEY!!!

    Green is looking towards raising money via a share issue

    SFA and SPL, and Donc is simply acting on the behalf of his SPL paymasters, all wish for a viable Ragers and I sadly include Celtic in that.

    As for the printed press, many say they should grow a set, but really, is that practical??

    I don’t see the printed press as ” fans with typewriters”, I see them as under pressure journo’s with mortgages to pay and given that their biggest customer has an affiliation towards der Ragers, would you wish to potentially see a boycott against your paper???

    Through all of this though is the fly in the ointment and that was the RTC blog. Without it, I truly believe we’d see Sevco plying their trade in the SPL this season and because of this, anyone who isn’t a fan of Sevco should never buy a tabloid ever again.


  53. The Invisible Line says:

    September 11, 2012 at 18:17

    AJ is as nuts as CG
    ,,,,,,,,,
    TIL
    Sorry to disagree as I have a lot of time for your views
    But
    AJ is a long way from being nuts.He has a reputation to defend.He knew he was handing over the reins to a crook.He knew fine well Minty didn’t have the will or the cash to keep it going.He knew RFC were insolvent in 2011.He is due to retire and will want to come home and be a favoured Sevco ST holder in the near future.He has done a lot behind the scenes to undermine CW and the Spivs. His heart is in the right place from a decent persons standpoint
    In due course his integrity in this saga will emerge.He needs to be cut some slack


  54. Goosy says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:40
    He knew RFC were insolvent in 2011.
    ———–
    Was this while he was Chairman?


  55. Goosy says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:40

    In due course his integrity in this saga will emerge.He needs to be cut some slack.
    ————————————————————————————————————
    Whats integrity?? You think AJ fits into Number 2??

    integrity   [in-teg-ri-tee]
    noun
    1.
    adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
    2.
    the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished: to preserve the integrity of the empire.
    3.
    a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition: the integrity of a ship’s hull.


  56. Good Evening,

    I would advise everyone to simply file away tonights statement from Alastair Johnston. File it away and keep it for another day, so that you can eventually compare it to findings, statements and arguments that will come from elsewhere.

    To give AJ his due, he is at least extremely consistent in his business ideas.

    I was amazed about a year ago when he announced one night that he had had an alternative plan to selling Rangers PLC to Craig Whyte, and that the sale to Whyte was simply not necessary. That master plan was to simply go to Lloyds Bank and persuade them to transfer the entire Rangers Bank debt to the balance sheet of MIH– and so in one fell swoop Rangers PLC would have no bank debt whatsoever.

    After all, argued AJ, MIH owed the bank £850M– so what difference would another £30M or so make. He said all of this live on air with BBC Radio Scotland via a phone link from his home in the US.

    You will note that absolutely nowehere in this masterplan revealed to the BBC- or in the statement that he made tonight regarding EBT’s and taxes that are due- does Alastair Johnston- former chairman of Rangers PLC- a stock exchange listed company with all the attendant rules and regulations that come with that listing– nowhere does he suggest that the company that he chaired should pay its own bank debts or indeed its taxes.

    Nowhere does he suggest any fiscal governance or that Rangers should live within their means.

    Nowhere does he suggest that Rangers’ spending on players or anything else would be governed by the available income of the club, or by prudent fiscal management.

    No– if it all went wrong with the bank or the taxman or act of god or whatever— The Board of Rangers PLC always knew that they would be bailed out by Sir David Murray and his multimillions….. oh and not to mention Murray’s “special” relationship with the Bank of Scotland.

    In other words– beyond David Murray— not a single Director of Rangers PLC had a solitary notion of how to trim a deficit, turn around a loss, manage a budget, prepare a sustainable business plan… or effectively conduct any of the duties,responsibilities,skills and business sense expected of a PLC Director.

    Not that this amazing failure is the main message from Mr Johnston this September evening.

    Oh No.

    You see, he wheels out the extraordinary tale of how he examined his notes from 2011– I wonder why he did not go back any further— and then recants the tale of how the SFA ( in the knowledge that there was a tax investigation under way ) called for documentation, apparently received some if not all documentation ( he is rather vague on what was sent ) and then without further ado simply issued the licence that was seemingly the purpose for for the enquiry in the first place——– and then berates the SFA for doing nothing whatsoever– or so it seems.

    This too is extraordinary from a PLC chairman– especially one who so obviously did nothing himself in the face of an oncoming tax storm.

    Remember that the FTT is the culmination of a long process. There has to have been intimation of a tax investigation long before we even get the assessment that was appealed against to the FTT. That tax investigation should put anyone on alert that there may be a problem with a fiscal liability at the tail. Yet despite the storm clouds gathering, AJ and Rangers PLC make no provision for the rainy day— presumably because the view is taken that if the sh1t hits the fan uncle David and his friendly bank manager will write a cheque to solve the problem.

    Once again no fiscal planning, no prudent management, no contingency allowance in any business plan—— nothing.

    I agree with AJ that there should be a stewards enquiry into what the SFA were doing, but he glosses over the most salient facts by highlighting the inactivity of the SFA Auditor etc.

    Why was it that the Remuneration Trust was not declared each and every year? Because it clearly wasn’t! Was that just a mistake and an error on the part of say Paul Dickson?

    How come the SFA apparently did not understand the fiscal complexities of players contracts?

    Were the SFA officials that stupid that they got the wrong end of the stick altogether as a result of the documentation and discussions with Rangers over the years? if so– just how did that happen?

    That is a very dangerous route to go down– but we will leave that for another day.

    What of AJ’s stout defence of David Murray– and his legitimate attempts to mitigate tax legally– and his condemnation of Craig Whyte for wholly misapplying Rangers funds?

    Well, at the very best, Murray and his cohorts totally mismanaged a legitimate tax saving scheme to such an extent that that same scheme became a completely illegal one– presuming that the FTT so finds.

    If it does so find then the best that can be said of the Rangers PLC board is that in this regard they were wholly incompetent,

    The worst that can be said was that they knowingly and deliberately mislead both the SFA and the tax authorities as to the true earnings of certain employees at Ibrox– all with a view to evading tax which would otherwise be due. Needless to say, AJ paints the picture of the innocent abroad merely trying to operate within the law with the scheme unfortunately falling foul of the regulations— all of which was just bad luck sort of thing.

    Except, does that stand any scrutiny whatsoever?

    Remember– Rangers had a number of CA’s and professional types on their board- as did MIH.

    Paul Dickson, Douglas Odam, Johnston himself and even Murray– surely they can just all have got it accidentally wrong?

    Remember too, the public statements of Billy Dodds who stated that he was told personally by David Murray that he would receive the money that was due to him by way of the EBT…. and that the tax had been paid on the sum concerned?

    That does not sit well with the picture that Johnston paints. Nor does the notion that some players were told that they were to be paid this way and no other way– take it or leave it!

    Remember too the pleadings of Martin Bain when he went to the court over a year ago. Bain effectively plead that Rangers were insolvent because of the FTT tax case– not because of Craig Whyte’s malfeasance as suggested by Johnston.

    If that is the view of the former long term CEO within weeks of walking away from Ibrox– just when did he reach the conclusion that the company was a busted flush and how did he bring that to the attention of his board members?

    Don’t forget also that this is the same CEO who for some reason suggested that his contract of employment be shredded?

    The fact of the matter remains that Rangers PLC deliberately did not disclose all of its financial arrangements with players and other key employees to the SFA and the SPL as per the rules— and a breach of those rules requires and demands certain punishment and sanction.

    Those are the rules.

    Lastly, does AJ do David Murray any favours in this statement. He focuses on the fact that he always believed that David Murray was always available to write a cheque for Rangers wrongs— with the support of the bank if necessary.

    Except that the bank concerned crashed in 2008. It was bailed out by the public in the same year and was forced into the deal with Lloyds who effectively took it over. The lloyds guys immediately stopped Murray’s ability to spend and effectively took control of his company from him.

    Why?

    Well possibly because he employed Directors whose only idea of a business plan was to ask the bank for more money and who at no time conducted a review of the business and its potential liabilities with the intention of adjusting trading and fiscal compliance accordingly.

    Apparently because they could not make the paperwork, surveys accounts and other documentation submitted by MIH stack up against the sums borrowed– apparently it all just didn’t stand scrutiny.

    Maybe the good folks at Lloyds were just confused and didn’t understand the complexity and the value of Sir David’s business dealings– just like the SFA— just like Martin Bain who thought that one of his businesses was de facto inslovent– just like AJ who thought that Murray would always be able to write a cheque for any sum under the sun— just like Billy Dodds who thought the tax had been paid on his severance payments and so on.

    File AJ’s statement away and bring it out another day and compare what he says to the findings and the testimony of others

    It seems that everyone around AJ and Sir David get confused or mistaken or…….. something else entirely…..


  57. @James Larkin: Campbell has been fulfilling a certain role for a very long time, years in fact, and it certainly isn’t the role we are paying him to do. The thing that Johnston and Green are doing is admitting it to an extent.
    They are simply warning Regan and Doncaster that in Green they have an outlet, Green can expose certain things. Of course he can’t expose it all because he can’t out any of his co-conspirators like Campbell.
    Regan and Doncaster have been hung out to dry. Green told them what they wanted to hear and they fell for the most feeble of cons. They were so easily manipulated it is unreal.


  58. CMC says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:35

    All of this is all to do with MONEY!!!
    Green is looking towards raising money via a share issue…
    ===============================================

    The more I think about it the more I feel that a share issue is just not feasible for Charlie’s final payday because;

    – there’s not enough time to launch an issue before more/FTT (?) problems/issues become public

    – professional service providers for an issue might choose not to risk being tainted with the toxic ‘The Rangers’ brand, and all that entails

    – possibly the biggest hurdle is that Charlie would have to produce a Share Prospectus for potential investors, and whose content would have be both ‘reasonable’ – and TRUTHFUL.
    But as we know, Sevco fans can’t handle the truth ! 🙄

    Charlie, [& Chairman Murray too], I am guessing would not open himself up to potential, personal liability because he had to include some ‘whoppers’ in a Prospectus to shift a few more shares.
    [Unless he stepped down as CEO prior to the Prospectus being produced ?]

    Just can’t see a share issue in the medium term, IMO.

    However, I would be delighted to be proved wrong of course…


  59. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
    September 12, 2012 at 00:02

    Bliss. I will sleep easy tonight.
    PS: that was not a comment. It was at worst a post in its own right, at best a masterpiece to be framed and learnt by heart.


  60. Doon the slope says:
    September 11, 2012 at 22:27

    Johnston has past form for this kind of thing.

    In May 2010 he said: “The tax enquiry is an ongoing investigation and an ongoing mission from the Inland Revenue which has been around for several years.

    “It’s a standard situation where an assessment is presented, SOME WITH HOPE FAITH AND CHARITY involved by the Revenue, and we then either accept, or reject, or appeal it.”

    http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/chairman-alastair-johnston-maps-out-his-plan-for-rangers-1.1030769

    His earlier plea didn’t work with the Revenue and I hope his latest message also has no effect on the SPL probe.


  61. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:

    September 12, 2012 at 00:02
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    BRTH
    First time ever have I disagreed with part of any of your posts
    But
    Having lived in the real world of mega plcs and their so called subsidiary cos one thing stands out as a consistent behaviour pattern
    There are 2 classes of Directors
    1 Those who really run the business and make all the decisions that really matter
    And
    2 Those who play politics simply to survive

    On this model the idea that RFC were masters of their own destiny is simply laughable

    Every big RFC decision that mattered was taken by MIM meaning SDM and later SDM/LBG
    Sure AJ could take the moral high ground and declare he woud resign rather than have his board make decisions forced on them by MIM/LBG

    But we need to live in the real world
    And in the real world this rarely happens
    The RFC Board comprised Mickey Mouse Directors just as happens all across industry


  62. Mr Green is a dangerous man, his bold rhetoric might well rally the fans of the rangers (the word “the” has never before brought such joy, and I’m a Clyde fan) but it attempts to undermine the rules of the game. Why is the club so adverse to the EBT investigation? Might it be they already know the truth, and when it outs they want to have there defence in place? I just hope that this mad man sells up and makes his money (and fair play to him for it) and The Rangers can begin to forge a new history, one that can unite there fan base in way that only disaster can. The whole thing has Made life in the SFL3 as its suddenly become known as, a lot more interesting. #wearealljimduffy.


  63. Goosy says:
    September 12, 2012 at 00:35


    The RFC Board comprised Mickey Mouse Directors…
    ==========================================

    Goosy, I think that mega public corporation – The Walt Disney Company – will be onto you in the morning for the above libel ! 😉


  64. longtimelurker says:
    September 11, 2012 at 23:02

    Sorry. Made the rookie error of not reading all the posts after the one I was commenting on.

    Didn’t think anyone else would recall his previous effort.


  65. As in all that has happened over the last year or so, there is nothing to give us confidence that we can expect any proper outcome. I doubt if we need to WAIT to SEE.


  66. To those who mentioned “masonic references” give it a rest please. Stick to what you are good at. I am not saying that you know nothing about said references, I am only trying to point out that is a discussion for another time. We are all saying that Charles Green’s defence is ludicrous. Get real. The “Internet bampots” would lose all credibility.


  67. Thereek says:
    September 11, 2012 at 13:58
    ‘..JC – do you have any real inclination for the continued silence ?’
    —-
    Thereek, sorry,just accesssing at this late hour, small refreshment taken.

    I am inclined to think that the courts are busy, busy, and that the diaries of judges are full for weeks, possibly months,ahead.

    We have to remember that, although the Rangers saga is a burning issue with football supporters, essentially , as far as the law is concerned, it’s only another case of a rotten company trying to avoid its debts by going into administration.

    There is no question of there being any ‘conspiracy’ to help the rotten club.

    Lord Hodge will get there in due course, and D&P will be skelped good and hard.


  68. Goosy says:

    September 11, 2012 at 23:40

    The Invisible Line says:

    September 11, 2012 at 18:17

    AJ is as nuts as CG
    ,,,,,,,,,
    TIL
    Sorry to disagree as I have a lot of time for your views
    But
    AJ is a long way from being nuts.He has a reputation to defend.He knew he was handing over the reins to a crook.He knew fine well Minty didn’t have the will or the cash to keep it going.He knew RFC were insolvent in 2011.He is due to retire and will want to come home and be a favoured Sevco ST holder in the near future.He has done a lot behind the scenes to undermine CW and the Spivs. His heart is in the right place from a decent persons standpoint
    In due course his integrity in this saga will emerge.He needs to be cut some slack

    ********

    Goosy and BRTH – I must admit to be very surprised that AJ got involved – my “nuts” was more at him mixing up the cases (CW not paying taxes to pay the clubs way and the AT saying that was “akin to match fixing” – not as AJ says the EBT findings) and was more of a throw away line.

    I agree that of all the shakers/movers in the RFC world, he was at times as you both state the straighter of them all (the infamous nod when asked if there was a mere possibility of Rangers going under, the revelation that SDM knew full well that CW was a spiv and was not duped etc) that I was taken aback that he got involved last night at all.

    I did not expect him to be the next in line for the statement to back up CG and D&P – I thought he was smarter than that – what his reasons for doing so will become apparent sooner or later – but I would have thought he has enough to worry about with EBTs and FTT without worrying about titles being stripped – unless he thinks by setting the ground that this is all a conspiracy and don’t really pay much attention speech that he can squirm away from the EBT/FTT backlash that is coming.

    I would have thought he woudl have been better to stay stum and let his boss explain it all – or maybe he has word he is going to be the fall guy.

    I think it is starting to implode – let’s see.

    However I retract the “nuts” comment – and replace it with “confused”. 🙂


  69. An admission of guilt from Alastair Johnson?

    When is a loan not a loan?

    From bbc website:

    Johnston said Rangers had acceded to SFA requests for information about the scheme.
    “The SFA compliance officers must have known, both from the description and context of the reports, that such expenditures had some connection to player compensation,” he said.

    Pretty sure compensation is not a loan


  70. There’s a manipulation and calculation in all of Greens pronouncements that is breathtaking. He is not only handling the football establishment, but he has skilfully moved step by step to a situation where it is almost psychologically impossible for Rangers fans to turn away; the consequences are complete disintegration of the club. Rangers fans have no where else to go and Green actions appear to have deliberately engineered an almost universal distaste for the club.

    Maybe the solution is to recognise this and start looking for solutions to help Rangers fans sort it out themselves. However, IMO they will have to accept the reality of their situation and the tarnished history, and recover appropriately.

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