It gets dafter and dafter. It is just over a year since the ridiculous and embarrassing – but failed – attempts by those in charge of Scottish Football to blackmail the SFL clubs and force them to parachute the shiny new Rangers into the SFL First Division.
A year where the new era of “transparency” heralded by a huge drum roll, gave way to secret agreements (which were never adhered to); panic-stricken measures to rush through change in the structure of the game without ANY delay or meaningful consultation – despite a hitherto intransigent approach to any kind of change; non-denial denials of the charge that Rangers were given a football licence without due process.
By the way, the SFA sent an official to an SPL Tribunal with a new convoluted interpretation of a rule which had been used to penalise clubs in the past, and ignored compelling evidence that one club had been economical with the truth on matters regarding banned directors when submitting their application for membership.
I could go on of course, but the incredulity bar is lowered with each ridiculous, contorted and corrupt episode, so that by the time we get to the claims made by several sources that Charles Green was in league with Craig Whyte when he bought some of the old club’s assets, we hardly blink an eye that the SFA appear content to accept the outcome of an internal inquiry ordered by the organisation most likely to be disadvantaged if the claims were true.
Whatever RTC was about, and it was about avarice, corporate malfeasance, theft of public money and the destruction of the integrity of competition in the game, we have moved on from there.
Even if the powers in charge of our game are forced to dispense proper justice in the case of both old Rangers and the new club, there appears to be little prospect that they will have done so because of a Damascene conversion in the ways of sporting integrity, fairness and Corinthianism. They will still be corrupt – just corrupt and bad at it. I am convinced that people have left the game in some numbers this season because of their disgust at the handling of the Rangers fiasco. I see no evidence at all that those people who voted with their feet last year will see a reason to change their tune this time around.
Whatever Rangers were guilty of, there is a general understanding of why they did what they did. They wanted to win – to be the best, and they pushed the envelope as far as they could before tearing the thing up altogether. What they did was 100% in their own self interest. It stinks, but at least it is logical.
What the authorities have done on the other hand is far more gobsmackingly illogical and unintuitive. They have acted in the interest of one club to the continued disadvantage of eleven others (in the case of the SPL, UEFA licences and player registration). They acted against the interests of new aspirants to senior football, and in concert with the interest of just one when they shoehorned Sevco (that’s what they were called then) into the SFL Third Division. I am sure they did that in the belief that a full season of no football at Ibrox would probably kill forever the cash cow that Green and his cohorts were fattening up for slaughter.
Despite the punishment that was accepted by Sevco (the transfer embargo), the SFA have stood by whilst the spirit of that sanction (although admittedly not the letter) was ripped up in their (still silent and impassive) faces as the MSM spun a market day frenzy of transfer activity by a club who were ostensibly proscribed from participating in that market.
Of course there are those who do not want to believe that their club, one of the forty-one good guys, is complicit in this nonsense – and yet ALL of our clubs ARE the SFA or the SPFL. Despite this catalogue of shameful inaction, sabotage and double-dealing, not one voice of dissent emanating from any of our clubs has been heard in print or broadcast media. Instead, huge pay increases and votes of thanks to the bureaucrats who acted out the farce authored by their masters, the clubs.
Is this because they (the clubs) are in agreement with what has transpired? I find it impossible to come to any other conclusion.
There are those who argue compellingly that if clubs, especially those who have a history of rivalry with Rangers tinged with some rancour, were to speak out, the press would have a field day; that allegations of bigotry and Rangers-hating would ensue from the MSM which would wind up the otherwise reasonable chaps who support Rangers.
In my view, if the situation is thus, then we are saying that we all have to keep our thoughts to ourselves, know our place and just take what scraps we get. If fear of violent retribution is the trump card here, then the trick for success in Scottish Football is not to have the most feared football team, but the group of fans which fills others with most dread. That is the death of the game – period.
What crystallises itself for me here is this fear factor. Anonymity has been carefully protected by most of us on this blog for exactly the reasons outlined above. Our desire to remain anonymous has been strengthened by the failure of authority, jointly AND severally, to itself stand up for the sport. The key from day one has been fear. Fear and corruption, which is merely a microcosm of the life in our country.
Whether it’s the media ignoring the wrongdoings of a football club, or a corrupt political system where for £40m donation you can get yourself £400m in tax breaks, we see those with resources pissing all over us from a very prodigious height. And when we do find out about it, we are cautioned to be very afraid of taking any action. Afraid of terrorism, afraid of unemployment, afraid of the mob.
I find myself resigned to the realisation that no matter WHAT evidence is uncovered, it will make absolutely no difference to anyone unless Joe Public keeps his hands in his pockets. People in boardrooms all over the country are betting that football fans are too emotionally invested in their clubs to do so.
The cheats, the spivs and the blazers will in the short and medium term get their own way, many of them aware of the fact that they are not quite as equal as others – and yet happy to go along with that.
We all have to decide whether or not we are as content as they are.
Suspecting as I do that most of us will find that unacceptable, I think there is still a war to be won, even if the battles seem to be going against us time and again. As long as we continue to feel that sense of outrage, that sense of betrayal by the custodians of our sport, we will still be shouting from these pages.
Thanks to the generosity and commitment of our readers, the shouting is about to get louder. We have reached our funding target and we hope to start organising our Podcasts within the next few weeks. The fight goes on, but hopefully it will also have greater reach.
TSFM
ecobhoy says:
July 16, 2013 at 1:59 pm
I know from a lifetime of trade union and political activism that there are many times I’ve wondered if I’m off my head carrying-on with what seems like unending and unwinnable struggles.
—————————————
Man, I know about that. We have a saying down here in East Ayrshire-Peery heided!
I agree with you too about peoples decisions but at some point we’ve got to stop talking shop and decide on tactics.
The investigative work yourself and other posters have done up to now has been sterling and I urge you all to continue.
I don’t think the site has (and this isn’t a cheap shot) done enough in trying to bind supporters. When we look back at the spontaneity of the Say No To Newco campaign we should’ve learned the lesson quicker. In hindsight we should’ve went after Ogilvie until he was removed. Supporters of nearly every club in the land would’ve got behind that campaign imo and then we could’ve moved onto the next target.
I’ve got used to failure over the years too but if I’m going into a fight with bad guys then I want to know my back up is all on the same page.
AJ
– I stated that I simply don´t know who made the threats.
– As far as Green is concerned, equally interested parties may believe when it suits their slant.
– I believe that over a period of time prior to 2011, the main remit of MH was to help develop ‘a shield’ wherby the ownership would limit any meaningful dissent or even awareness by the general fanbase. It encouraged the perception that loyalty should be towards the owner, who in turn was guardian of the club.
Without this drummed into the support by SDM, then SDM & MH (when it got more difficult) CW wouldn´t have received such a generally unquestioning welcome etc. If the support had been more vigilant then things may have played out a little differently, even if most of the major damage had been done.
bighairyandy says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:27 pm
0 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry @ 5.22am:
“Possibly a bit harsh to tar all 42 with the same brush? A number of the lower-division clubs seem to have been railroaded into the SPFL.”
From the most recent Clyde FC Owners’ Communication:
“This summer was dominated by league reconstruction, a lengthy, vastly time consuming, and wholly unsatisfactory process that went right to the wire, culminated in two directors sharing a 16 hour shift at Hampden to see the proposals signed off. No matter the pain of the process and the financial uncertainty that follows, there is nothing to do but work towards making the SPFL a success in whatever way we can.
The new league structure, albeit identical in appearance, offers greater reward for success and supports those teams who are on the margins of attempting to sustain full time football. The price is paid in the bottom half of the structure where clubs will have significantly lower income from central distributions and will face the prospect of dropping into a yet untested regional pyramid structure.”
It’s clear to me that the Clyde board are pretty deeply frustrated with the entire situation – remember their website statements during the Summer of Discontent – but feel that there’s simply no alternative.
I’m particularly interested in the assertion that the price for buying off the old First Division clubs has been paid not by the SPL, but by the old Second and Third Division clubs. Does anybody have figures for that?
—————————————————————————————–
The SPL paid £1m for the SFL TV rights in season 2012/13. This money was split equally between clubs in all three divisions.
The extra money for the second tier of the new body (Is it to be called the SPFL Championship???) can only be paid because the £1m which would have paid for the SFL’s broadcasting rights in the coming season is no longer required.
So essentially yes, the (former) SFL1 clubs are being paid entirely from the pot that would have been shared with SFL2 & SFL3 clubs – had the merger not gone ahead.
Finloch says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:34 pm
If money has changed hands it will have to be accounted for. Either that or no one has learned anything.
If I may, another point I’d raise from your interesting post is the familiar argument about trying desperately to keep in Scottish football as much of the cash Rangers fans pay out as possible. The point is also familiar. It’s this: there has to be a point at which you say, ‘It would be good to have a bigger amount of money in our game, but if this is the price we have to pay, it’s not worth it.’
Clearly people would draw the line in the sand in different places. My personal opinion is that Rangers crossed it long ago and that no amount of money from their support could compensate for the mess they have made of the game in Scotland.
john clarke says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm
______________________________________________
John,
You seem to be saying two things here – and please correct me if I am putting words in your mouth;
1. Celtic are the only club blameless in this situation.
2. Celtic cannot possibly make their true feelings clear for fear that this will be sectarianised.
On #1, I just can’t believe that is a serious suggestion. The logic of this is that it is open to ALL clubs to speak of their own high morals whilst pointing the finger at the rest for their treachery in the manner of Landowner MPs after the passing of the Enclosures Act
On #2, this is exactly the point I made in the OP. If we (any of us – not just Celtic) don’t act for fear of being accused of Rangers-hating, then the Jack Irvines of the world have won – because we are saying that that this is a fight we can’t be involved in. White flag. Surrender? Yes! 😈
My friends in the US often (incorrectly) call me a communist (a very bad word in the US you will agree) because I passionately believe in our NHS. They can call me whatever the hell they like – it won’t shut me up on my defence of free health care.
I do agree with you that no individual should become the personification of good, bad or indifference – especially when it is inaction that is being discussed. That is the reason I left individuals and club names out of the OP. PL gets a hiding every now and then on here from mainly Celtic fans who take out their own frustrations on him (unjustly) as the public face of their own club.
There may be one or two smaller clubs, who publicly criticised the reorganisation stitch-up and who lack the resources to do anything about it, but in my view, ALL of the SPL clubs are in this up to their elbows.
I am also bit disappointed that you have attempted to characterise those with views opposed to yours as having thrown in the towel. That was certainly not the implication I wished to convey – anything but in fact.
Having taken ourselves and the contents of our wallets out of the weekly grind of Scottish Football does not disqualify us from participation in debate – and it won’t.
Markybhoy says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:46 pm decide on tactics.
In hindsight we should’ve went after Ogilvie until he was removed. Supporters of nearly every club in the land would’ve got behind that campaign imo and then we could’ve moved onto the next target.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
😥 I wanted us to do that too but we are locked in a little corner of the Interweb unable to get our message and facts out to a wider audience.
Does anyone have any ideas how we reach a broader base of fans?
When this usually reliable site went down last night, being a cynic my first thought was that it could be a DoS attack, as now confirmed by TSFM. Others have already mentioned that this should be seen as a compliment and I agree, but the timing of the attack is very interesting. It came very soon after Newtz, Eco, CoT, Sam etc had – for the first time really – started to join some dots (with CF’s important help) that might, just might, bring SDM into the line of fire.
I was one of those who thought the spiv fight between CG, CW et al was enough to be going on with and didn’t really buy into the ‘SDM still involved’ theory, as I thought it simpler that he just wanted rid due to the LBG pressure and the threat of the BTC.
Do any of the superb investigators we have on here see the timing of the attack as interesting/important? If so, is that for the reasons I suggest or other reasons?
greenockjack on July 16, 2013 at 12:51 pm
0 18 Rate This
DP
Wrt all of the perceived threats related to this issue can you give an example of a tangible action resulting from them ?
———–
Greenock,
I am very much aware of the weariness, pent-up anger and frustration felt by genuine football-supporting Gers fans. The jelly & icecream & gravedancing was unnecessary, and hard to compute as coming from the moral high ground – in sporting terms, at least. Your question above puzzles me, though. By that logic a threat is only a threat if it is carried out. So because the police foiled potential plots this means the plots were just a harmless joke? Or a complete fiction? These threats were spoken about on television by the officials on the receiving end. Why would they make it up? I don’t get it.
john clarke says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm
On Ogilvie’s ‘election’:
I’ve asked before: how reasonable is it to expect that, in the absence of any other ‘candidate’, Peter L should have jumped to his feet and declared his opposition?
He would have been instantly, and properly, ruled out of order, and then slated in the MSM for deliberately sectarianising the matter.
+++++++++++++++++++
I am not a fifth columnist, (a bit unfair that, by the way) and I do not ask others to do as I do. But Scottish football desperately needs money. Without it they are nothing. To get MY money, they need to show me some minimal respect. The election of Ogilvie was, in my view, grossly disrespectful to the supporters of 41 clubs. That won’t bother many, but it certainly bothered me.
I wasn’t picking on CFC or Lawell, by the way. Every single club had the chance to nominate someone for the job of president. There was a vacancy, known for months in advance. Not one single club out of 41 nominated anyone. That is why not one of those clubs will see a penny from me. Actions (or inactions) produce consequences. That is a lesson these clubs need to learn. All 41 of them. If there are no consequences, they will never learn. The only lesson I can teach them is to withhold my money. What other course of action is open to me? If I just keep on paying, they will assume all is well and carry on as before. Others will of course do as they feel best. I may, as usual, be totally wrong. However I would be interested to know exactly how you suggest we get the message over to the clubs we support, short of withholding our money?
john clarke says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm
It seems to me that Markybhoy and Neepheid ,having thrown in (as, of course, they are entitled to do) their own personal towels, still want to remain in the fight.
[Removed for abuse of another poster. Please markybhoy – some respect]
TSFM, great article and good to have you back!! May I suggest something that CQN do when their site goes down, namely putting out a tweet to confirm site down and/or, at least, tweet when up and running again. Not a complaint, just a wee suggestion if the attacks continue.
Esteban says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:54 pm
========================================
I know I sound like a broken record on this – and really don’t want to start another circular debate on this topic….
Start on the basis that the club playing out of Ibrox is a new club. Whatever sins you think the old Rangers were guilty of, the SFL admitted Sevco Scotland (as they were then) as a new associate member. The old club (The Rangers Football Club plc) is in the process of being liquidated. Whatever ill feelings you had in relation to that club should be laid to rest.
The SFL were presented with the “opportunity” of admitting this new club with the expectation of 35k+ supporters or starting the process to fill the gap with an existing club that might – on a good day – be able to gather crowds of several hundred. As I would hope and expect a new club using the Hearts brand – should it come to that – would be admitted to the lowest available professional league, I can accept as reasonable, the decision to admit Sevco to SFL3.
Whether you are neutral, a supporter of the Rangers brand or feel animosity towards it, it is much, much easier to rationalise what happened last summer once you have accepted that the club currently using the name is different from the club that once played in the SPL.
TSFM says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:57 pm
‘—
Wise words as ever, TSFM, while mine were not as well expressed as I would have wished.
On the first point you highlight, I agree that Celtic are as much ‘in blame’ as , but no more ‘in blame’ than, the other clubs.
All appear to be going with the flow.
On the second point, I think the MSM and the general run of RFC(IL) and RIFC supporters, would love to have the whole business turned into a sectarian battle.
That would make for good copy and serve as a great means of deflecting people from pursuing the baddies, and it would really polarise things.
If Celtic were seen to be in any way the ‘lead’ behind challenges to the existing set-up, and all the nefarious dealings that that set-up has been involved in, even the Hugh Keevins’ of the journalistic world could write a paragraph or two.
I think for this reason that PL has pursued a wise course in taking no higher a profile than any other club.
And I say again that it is no more incumbent upon him to take a lead than it is on any other member.
The reference to my well- respected fellow posters was prompted not by anything you said, but by how I read their own words as indicating a hopelessness in the cause of right . (Or rather, as expressive of a depth of disappointment in the non-action of their own club that truly dispirits them.)
I understand that, while thinking that they are misdirecting themselves in having that view.
And of course, fully recognise their right to continue to express their view!
But,as I say, we need to stay focused on the failings of the SFA Board as a whole.
And, in spite of being anonymous posters, we need to try to find a more direct way of mobilising ourselves as a real body, strong enough to give the general run of SFA members ( that is, the club chairmen) another powerful push to get them to take the necessary action to get rid of all that is rotten- on pain of losing their principal source of income , their paying customers.
neepheid says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:28 pm
john clarke says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:29 pm
However I would be interested to know exactly how you suggest we get the message over to the clubs we support, short of withholding our money?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Individual consumer boycotts don’t work and never have done. The step now required is to bring together fans from all clubs (a conference if you like)and use that to agree a plan of action designed to gain traction with the wider support within their respective clubs.
I know it involves us surrendering our anonymity but I sense a lot of the frustration expressed on here by one or two posters arises from a feeling of impotency and the need to break out of the discussion circle we have created on this blog – not criticising the blog BTW it is a vital tool for using our collective wisdom to analyse events etc.
Following one of Sam’s posts I nipped over to the SFO site and the case history of the Izodia/Orb Fraud – they made an interesting point about how to conduct an investigation by focusing on the main players and ignoring peripheral stuff (even if it was criminal) as it deflected and spread limited resources too far.
There has been some top class investigation stuff going on here recently and I can’t help thinking it would be more productive if it was all contained on a separate thread and a chain established. Of course there would be other threads dealing with governance issues etc.
Sam says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:35 pm
Brian Stockbridge of Corporate Synergy………;
[newtz, map this pls]
Corporate Synergy plc
12 Nicholas Lane
London
EC4N 7BN
England
12 October 2004
Dear Sirs,
RE: CIRCLE OIL PLC
We report on the financial information of Circle Oil Plc (the “Company”) as set out below. This financial
information has been prepared for inclusion in the AIM Admission Document dated 12 October 2004 (“AIM Admission Document”) relating to the Company’s proposed admission to the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
Board member with a beneficial interest in Circle Oil PLC?
Mr Rafat Ali Rizvi. 🙂
Great article TSFM
2 paragraphs stick out to me
1.In my view, if the situation is thus, then we are saying that we all have to keep our thoughts to ourselves, know our place and just take what scraps we get. If fear of violent retribution is the trump card here, then the trick for success in Scottish Football is not to have the most feared football team, but the group of fans which fills others with most dread. That is the death of the game – period.
2. I find myself resigned to the realisation that no matter WHAT evidence is uncovered; it will make absolutely no difference to anyone unless Joe Public keeps his hands in his pockets. People in boardrooms all over the country are betting that football fans are too emotionally invested in their clubs to do so.
Social Unrest quoted from the top of the SFA in relation to dealing with one club is unbelievable to comprehend (and why it was not challenged). Without fear or favour quoted along the way (and then not adhered to). We know what the undercurrent is within this one club’s supporters abiding in Govan. We are talking about fear in a simple GAME of football. Fans have been murdered in the past as they have worn colours of a team in this GAME of football.
I am in support of Auldheid, if all fans boycotted just one weekend of football this would be one step in the right direction. Money talks and the old saying football without fans is nothing is the same as football without money. No fans at any SPL game in Scotland WOULD have to attract attention out with our wee country with its own wee cowardly sports MSM. Just add banners in the empty seats with the words “ask the SFA why we are not here”
My worry would be how to orchestrate such a movement or action. The TSFM is superb as so are some other blogs but could they muster and push such a boycott? I have boycotted all games at Hampden (since last year) as my own stance in this fiasco and would boycott again without fear or favour.
These DOS incidents highlight the lengths people or organisations will go to keep bad press or honest opinions on Sevco being made public.
There must also be decent Rangers fans who want the truth to this fiasco. They cannot all be morons who want a similar team back, with the same MSM and SFA (and all other corrupt bodies in our society) helping them in any way they can to stay at the top of Scottish football
Football clubs have got to speak out as one, not one club on it’s own. Football belongs to every club and should not be ruled by a deceased entity.
Give us our simple GAME back with sporting integrity at the heart of it before it is to late.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 8m
@JackIrvine Official Media House policy? taking client cash but work against them. Point 4 #SadVindictiveLittleMan
http://www.scribd.com/doc/154113465/Media-House …
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Scribd
Media House
Is this standard procedure for Media House, take the clients cash, but work against them? Point 4 – Sad vindictive little man.
Im Web anzeigen
Drew Peacock says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:03 pm
“Does anyone have any ideas how we reach a broader base of fans?”
—————————-
I’m not sure this forum is really a foundation for a concerted campaign. The discussions here range far and wide and tend to veer away from being dogmatic. TSFM is more like a testing ground for ideas and theories. Banging a big drum might blot out the more subtle thought processes. If campaign minded folk want to keep an eye on which way the wind is blowing then TSFM can act as a weather vane; informing them of how to navigate their particular course.
Perhaps the TSFM podcast might be the platform for a campaign or two. I envisage two possible elements. Firstly a summary of recent discussions and interesting topics. Secondly, an even bigger overview that revisits persistent themes that emerge from continuing dialogue. A further element might be a regular review of what the SMSM are publishing; contrasting it with what might be a more rounded opinion.
I suspect this media review might be a trigger for a more popular campaign. By poking fun at the SMSM and the figures they appear to support, football fans might pick up a few snappy quips that might be the material for chants and jibes. Ridicule the blighters; its about all they’re good for.
Stuart Cosgrove and Tam Cowan do something similar on the radio but they need to be a wee bit circumspect about what they say.
nawlite says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:03 pm
————————————————————————————————————————
thought the exact same thing. DOS attacks are generally deliberately targetted and timed by the initiator.
we’re obviously doing something right. keep up the good work everyone.
greenockjack says:
July 16, 2013 at 2:50 pm
“- I stated that I simply don´t know who made the threats.”
___
– GJ, I think you stated this to deflect away from McCoist’s part in this, by suggesting it ‘might’ not have been a Rangers fan(s) doing the threatening. Whether or not it was done by Rangers men, it was done as a result of McCoist’s call to arms. His call; his fault.
“- As far as Green is concerned, equally interested parties may believe when it suits their slant.”
______
– As I said previously, even habitual liars will tell the truth when it suits their purpose, and regardless of what might be accepted as truth on here, there has been a great deal of untruth coming out of Ibrox to benefit Rangers, as well as the board, for a great many years. Much of the lies have been facilitated by the likes of Ally McCoist and Walter Smith, who have both taken the spiv coin and were very complicit in allowing the spivs to take control. McCoist has also been complicit in the rabble rousing tactics of Green, but has his ‘legend’ status to protect him from the ire of the support – meantime.
___
“- I believe that over a period of time prior to 2011, the main remit of MH was to help develop ‘a shield’ wherby the ownership would limit any meaningful dissent or even awareness by the general fanbase. It encouraged the perception that loyalty should be towards the owner, who in turn was guardian of the club.
Without this drummed into the support by SDM, then SDM & MH (when it got more difficult) CW wouldn´t have received such a generally unquestioning welcome etc. If the support had been more vigilant then things may have played out a little differently, even if most of the major damage had been done.”
___
– I agree with you entirely on this, but regret you still seem unable to grasp the detrimental effect this has had on Scottish football as it was aimed (un)fairly and squarely there too. MH worked for the benefit of Rangers and their board, they did nothing to help any other football club, or board, in Scotland. Like it or not, they are a part of your club’s (old and new) history.
Note: Greenockjack, Sorry about delay in replying 🙂 I was about to post this earlier, but site went down again, then I notice another tweet about Jack Irvine from Charlotte. Coincidence? Or am I being a bit too suspicious?
neepheid says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:28 pm
‘..I am not a fifth columnist, (a bit unfair that, by the way)…’
—–
I know that, and apologise.
I see that we essentially agree that no one club can be particularly targeted. And that they all need to reminded forcefully that we keep them going and that they had better listen to us.
But you and I, say, withholding our money individually is not going to achieve that result.
As I’ve said before, this is the down-side of ‘anonymity’.
Perhaps better minds than mine can find a way of convincing the clubs that TSFM can seriously influence their ticket sales unless the Augean stables are cleaned out sooner rather than later.
It is so much more difficult to mobilise on-line in a way that any consensus on the blog as to a course of action could be shown to be authentically democratic and representative of club supporters’ feelings and intentions across all clubs.
16.08 , 16/07/13 ( couldn’t get in sooner because of ‘error ….something or other..)
nawlite says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:03 pm
“Do any of the superb investigators we have on here see the timing of the attack as interesting/important?”
————————-
I blush to have my cognomen ranged alongside those referred to but need swallow my pride to respond.
My immediate gut reaction was that Media House’ nerves had been jangled by Charlotte’s latest. Dropping the site out at that very moment will have reduced the possible effect of the exposure of intimidation of public officials. Who would wish to employ a PR company whose devious tactics are so publically exposed.
I tried to make a particularly sarcastic post while the site was in limbo such was my angst at the perceived corruption of public opinion.
Here’s Charlotte’s tweet link for anyone not already aquainted.
https://twitter.com/CharlotteFakes
Allyjambo says:
July 16, 2013 at 4:27 pm
MH worked for the benefit of Rangers and their board, they did nothing to help any other football club, or board, in Scotland. Like it or not, they are a part of your club’s (old and new) history.
========================================================================
Indeed CF’s latest tweet shows that they actively worked against other Scottish clubs:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/154113465/Media-House
Rangers, Craig Whyte AND Media House PR proposals
4. McKerron Hay
retained on a reduced basis to carry out “media intelligence” and to place stories which we might not want as official Rangers policy. Also it becomes important for negative stories to be placed about opposing teams and we would want some distance from Rangers FC.
And I don’t think you’re that wide of the mark on Denial of Service attacks either.
Markybhoy says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:36 pm
‘——–
I think if I were Peter Lawwell I’d get somebody better than me to speak in ‘defence’ of him!
Seriously, though, in so far as Peter Lawwell is on the SFA Board,and in so far as he knew of the five way deal before it was signed up to ( remember, Regan and Ogilvie would not have been averse to taking ‘executive action’ ( under their President/ CEO powers) in doing the deal on their own authority, presenting the other Board members with a ‘fait accompli !) he can be said to be at least an accessory after the fact.
If that is so, so are the other members of the board who knew, or who were similarly kept in the dark.
My point stands: it was/is no more incumbent on PL to blow the whistle than on any of the others.
I think he was/is wise not to.
And singling out him and his ‘high and mighty and silent mob’ doesn’t get us very far in relation to getting at the whole SFA Board’s failings.
Neepheid 1.59
To clarify.
I was not making that an excuse I was saying that having favourable personal knowledge of the individual, had I been tempted to excuse him that is the only ground on which I could.
However not even I, a committed goodfinder, would try and argue he did not know what he was about – hence my huge disappointment at him leaving decency behind.
HirsutePursuit says:
July 16, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Thanks for your answer.
Had there been the clean break you describe, I imagine it would be easier for a lot of football fans to come round to that point of view. The flaw as I see it is that to attract the 35k-plus crowds, the new entity had to tell the Rangers support that it was Rangers. I don’t think anyone really believes that to be true, but the new owners, the old supporters and the MSM have all played the game.
Not only that, the new owners used this to turn their new entity into a business with a market cap of, currently, more than £33 million. And when they make statements to the market, they deliberately associate themselves with the club that is, as you say, currently being liquidated. And the market lets them. And the advertising standards authority lets them and the football authorities let them and the charade goes on.
valentinesclown says:
July 16, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Give us our simple GAME back before it is too late
==================================================
I’m not that sure that it was ever that SIMPLE. What we had were fans kept totally in the dark and fed bullsh*t by the SMSM.
The internet has seen not only the breaching of the information dam but has also created the power to actually organise against the corruption of the football authorities. They can no longer hide behind their media shield and indeed the first casualty in carrying the can has been newspaper circulation.
I honestly believe the message is getting across to a lot of fans but any boycott must be a success or else you will actually just turn people off the game through despair that nothing can be done to hack out its corrupt and rotten core.
So I don’t think we have reached a boycott stage yet but the individual, self-imposed boycott on buying newspapers is slowly but surely growing and causing enormous damage. Meanwhile the SMSM hides and refuses to mention CF as they are all terrified of the secrets that might come tumbling out.
And these aren’t ordinary journalists I am talking about but senior management – they are the ones that have done the deals with the PR spin doctors. They are the ones who are most worried because they have the most to lose in personal terms.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1h
@JackIrvine Official Media House policy? taking client cash but work against them. Point 4 #SadVindictiveLittleMan
http://www.scribd.com/doc/154113465/Media-House …
The Exiled Tim
So putting out negative stories about other clubs is suggested as part of, or actually is, Rangers policy?
A nice bunch altogether
Murray fears Jack? What a preposterous, narcissistic view of the world our Jack has!
So DM forks out £10k pm for PR but prefers NOT to have the No1 Batsman opening for him?
Maybe he thought his off-drives just weren’t what they used to be 😈
Even Lindsay Herron :slamb: isn’t so self-possessed 🙂
Attacks on the site are continuing. Please be patient if you get an error. I would also copy any contributions in case the db falls over as you post.
Thanks for your patience.
Auldheid says:
July 16, 2013 at 5:56 pm
The Exiled Tim
So putting out negative stories about other clubs is suggested as part of, or actually is, Rangers policy?
A nice bunch altogether
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This question will seem very naive – but why does a football club need an off field policy to plant negative stories about other clubs when the battle takes place on the pitch. It’s meglomania gone mad.
Thanks Charlotte!
.
jackmedia – what to say?
Quite dreadful
Really is
Auldheid says:
July 16, 2013 at 5:56 pm
========================
They are the masters of ‘whataboutery’. Worse still they once had someone in the employ of the publicly funded BBC who was prepared to peddle the whataboutery for them. That person of course was Gordon Smith, whose first comment on BBC Radio Scotland when UEFA first went after Rangers for sectarian chanting amounted to ‘what about Celtic?’ It was a pathetic and absolutely shocking response to a serious issue but only reflected the way the Scottish media had worked for over 100 years. The fact UEFA were willing to go after one without the other was too much for most of them to take, but was a watershed moment for those of us who had grown wearily used to ‘one is as bad as the other’ being cast in tablets of stone by the Scottish media.
So someone, (MH?), is attacking our site. What do they hope to achieve? Do they think Charlotte is posting things our top sleuths will be able to turn into something very incriminating to them or their club? Do they fear the excellent forensic investigations by some very clever chappies on here? Or is it just an effort to make us all fed up with constantly losing the site and having to re-log in? Could it be that, as money orientated people, they are aware of the efforts by TSFM to raise cash to expand the site, and just wish to waste it all by forcing the mods to move site? Whatever it is, we’ll still be here, or there, or anywhere like minded people can seek justice and integrity in our sport. But then, they won’t be able to understand that!
AJ
If about Irvine why not go after Charlotte directly ?
More likely to do with Stockbridge and that general direction given the money in play and that the situation is fluid and on-going.
Incentive to develop the Stockbridge investigation even further ?
If this site needs a higher profile why not tweet the entire sports-journalist community about the DoS attacks? How normal is it that a football blog suffers this type of thing? There’s a story here. Stuart C. are you still following? A wee aside fur Aff the Ba methinks: ‘What does DoS mean to you? In the week that a football blog was taken down, have you ever been denied a service?” (Possibly, wan fur a Tam presentation 🙂 )
TSFM says:
July 16, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Murray fears Jack? What a preposterous, narcissistic view of the world our Jack has!
——————————————————————————————————————-
In general, innocent men have nothing to fear. However, Irvine knows where most of (-S)DM’s skeletons are buried. Given what we know of jack’s modus operandi, and in light of his haste to ingratiate himself with Whyte at the expense of Murray, it would be interesting if Jack had to dish some dirt to clear himself at some point. Since Irvine has boasted on record as having bribed coppers and other public officials I’m in no doubt that Irvine sees himself as immune. Perhaps it’s the protection of his personal and professional relationship with establishment gatekeeper Peter Watson that affords him this arrogance.
Sorry GJ you’ll be feeling a bit pressurised I’m sure, but I can’t let this one go
—————————–
greenockjack says:
July 16, 2013 at 12:51 pm
DP
text deleted for brevity – see post for full text
Let´s look at context, the main “achievement” of the RTC blog in terms of propaganda proved to be the push start of the “sporting integrity” bandwagon. The focus of the blog switched towards this in January 2012 as the tax tribunal came to an end.
It pushed the right buttons and set off a chain reaction within a leaderless Scottish football. This vacum of leadership (despite conspiracies suspected) allowed the momentum built up on the bandwagon to push home and make reallity much of it´s agenda/aims.
Set that against what was happening at Ibrox and the emotions that were brought into play. Can you really expect understanding from football supporters that are punchdrunk from many months of negative headlines, their club is under threat and at the sametime watching certain forces contributing greatly to maximise damage ?
further text deleted for brevity.
_____
I fundamentally disagree with you on your paragraphs 1 & 2 as above. Your 3rd paragraph is 95% of the reason why I am here – and that’s not in support of what you say, just to be absolutely clear.
(((For those interested the other 5% is annoyance at my own personal, not insignificant investment in the game over 30 years turning out to be merely ‘contributory’ in nature)))
How’s about we all initiate a “Demand for Service” attack and bombard the smsm with a demand to have this reported tomorrow morning?
Does Charlottes latest offering suggest that RFC PLC (IL) used to plant negative stories about other clubs in the media?
And that CW took up the offer to continue doing so with McKerrnon and Hay and MediaHouse?
How does that sit with charges of bringing the game into disrepute?
How much more pandering are the authorities going to do to this “institution” and it’s tribute act as it seeks to destroy the game for it’s own ends?
greenockjack says:
July 16, 2013 at 6:51 pm
6 2 Rate This
AJ
If about Irvine why not go after Charlotte directly ?
++++++++++++
I’m no expert, but I think it might be difficult for an outsider to take down a twitter account, whereas a blog like this is an easier target.
Whatever and whoever, this forum has certainly rattled the cage of some self-important piece of garbage out there. Excellent work, folk. Just keep digging, because they are clearly hurting really bad.
greenockjack says:
July 16, 2013 at 6:51 pm
You could be correct GJ, but regardless, it is heartening to know that somebody out there sees us as a problem 🙂
Auldheid @5.56pm.
Re- ChaF’s latest. –
I’m no brain of Britain but my take on Cha’s latest revelation is that SDM and MIH were pre-empting all media output,while gradually eroding the input from within the club. – Martin Bain C.E.O., or anyone else..
Is SDM entirely irrelevant to the noble cause of accountability? Or is he deemed untouchable?
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
July 16, 2013 at 8:08 pm
Does Charlottes latest offering suggest that RFC PLC (IL) used to plant negative stories about other clubs in the media?
And that CW took up the offer to continue doing so with McKerrnon and Hay and MediaHouse?
How does that sit with charges of bringing the game into disrepute?
=============================================
I’m sure if it could be proven it would fit the bill for a disrepute charge. Who is going to pursue it though? Certainly not the SFA.
I feel we should record a vote of our appreciation for TSFM and his helpers, who are keeping this forum alive in the face of a series of determined attacks by unprincipled scum, whose sole aim in life is to shut everybody else up. Thank you TSFM, I am sure that the last 24 hours cannot have been easy for you. If I can help in any way, I gladly offer my services.
Anyone else experiencing log in problems? My email address wasnt recognised, never mind the user name. Had to register with new details. Maybe the attacks have caused database problems too.
Anyhoo, to my intended point.
Finloch’s post earlier mentioned the possibility that the SFA have paid Hearts and Celtic some compensation under the counter for their loss of income due to RFC’s flawed licence.
Unless the SFA have access to dodgy hidden accounts & funds, any such payments (and they couldnt be too small to hide) should be discoverable sometime. (Unless it was via an EBT?) The receiving clubs’ accounts might also prove a weak link.
Can we rule out this even if it does seem far fetched?
Maybe the Lithuanian liquidators are far enough removed from the best wee corrupt country’s financial and legal infrastructure / cliques to cause a stir?
How good is the Google translator for Lithuanian?
neepheid says:
July 16, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Good shout, neepheid 🙂 Well done TSFM, for keeping the lights 💡 💡 on here
Thanks for the messages of support today folks – and for the offers of assistance. The database stuff has turned out to be a bigger problem than the DoS attack earlier. Ramping up the firewall is one thing, but exploiting database vulnerability is a bit trickier to diagnose and then fix.
I am hopeful that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel now.
In order to tighten up security, we have made it mandatory for commenters to be either registered with the site (the LOGIN button) or to login with a verified Twitter or WordPress.com account (a different thing from a TSFM account)!
Thanks again for the forbearance and the support.
I think we’ve upset someone.
Thanks again to TSFM.It can’t be easy for you.
bad capt madman says:
July 16, 2013 at 9:41 pm
3 0 Rate This
Anyhoo, to my intended point.
Finloch’s post earlier mentioned the possibility that the SFA have paid Hearts and Celtic some compensation under the counter for their loss of income due to RFC’s flawed licence.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If that is true, then I would expect a clear statement from both receiving clubs, setting out the facts, for example how much they received and from whom, and in what circumstances. Or if is false, a clear denial from both clubs that such a thing has ever happened. That’s called transparency. I expect absolutely nothing of the sort from the SFA.
I wholeheartedly agree with this blog, nailed you dd sir.
I WOULD STILL SUGGEST THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO SUPPORT YOUR HOME TEAM BUT DO NOT TRAVEL. AT ALL, TO ANY AWAY GROUND. THAT WOULD BE STEP ONE. WATCH THE FALL OUT AND GO FROM THERE….
TSFM …….. Thks for great blog (Daft and Dafter)
@Sam …. sorted (and see below)
@Eco ….. On jack …. needed sorting …. have a seperate line of counter going …. could not leave unanswered.
——————————————————————-
I need to pass on some advice regarding the recent DoS attacks and the associated trojan script targetting the TSFM database …. I myself recieved advice …. thks
The attack is coordinated and deliberate , It will persist and tactics might change.
There is information on this blog that some would like to be removed …. by whatever means !
By doing so they disrupt and seriously prevent detailed and informed debate. There is a lot at stake for some.and they may succeed in their attempts.
If those that are making use of the info have not done so already, I suggest that you copy/paste – screengrab … whatever your fancy say into a Word Doc etc.
i keep such docs open for different topics … and constantly grab info ,,,, links …. screenshots into them for later dissemination and collation.
You might be further advised to store copies in somewhere like DropBox, GoogleDrive or EverNote.
EverNote is one of my fav’s and has a Web Clipper (In Chrome) so that if you like …. just grab.
It will Sync to your local directory of choice so that saving docs there will be uploaded on next Sync.
😎
#Mark July 16, 2013 at 10:30 pm
Unfortunately for me that time has passed. The silence from Celtic is almost as deafening as the silence from the Scottish Football Association. If Celtic are not complicit in this corruption then they are more or less telling me that they will stand back and be dictated to by one club, forevermore, no matter what, even when they go bust.
I will not accept that and will not pay one more penny to the “sport” of Scottish football again until this is fixed.
I expect Rangers and then The Rangers to do what they do.
I expect the SFA to do what they do.
I don’t expect Celtic to stand back and allow this corruption to take place all in the name of getting back their main business partners “Rangers” so we can all hate each other in the same stadium 4 times a year so the clubs make a fortune out of it.
20 years as a season ticket holder, like many other people I helped to answer the call when our club came close to going bust and bought shares to raise money for Celtic.
I refuse to stand by and watch lies become truth all in the name of resurrecting a club that DID go bust.
Any club with any self respect would not accept what the SFA has done, is doing and what they will continue to do.
You are either against corruption or you are for corruption. That includes Celtic and every other club who lived within their means.
As has been proven, the ONLY way for action to be taken is to withdraw financial support. No amount of protests, petitions, meetings or anything else will even make the club directors up and down the country even blink.
The pound sign is the only language they know.
Because in a few years time when The Rangers are in the top league and all wrongdoing is swept under the carpet and liquidation is nothing more than a mere blip in the accounts – we will be accused of “kicking the club out” or “relegating them” or “voting them out”. All lies of course but nevertheless will that matter to the club playing out of Ibrox?
And then our own directors will issue a cry for help – “Support your team!!!”.
Sorry, but those people running the club I love, by their complicity, cowardice or inaction (or all 3) have totally sickened me from ever returning to anything to do with Scottish Football.
Liquidation, 5 years of not declaring accounts, European licence when owing a tax authority to be turned round into a circus where the club didn’t go bust, they never cheated and the European licence question was never explained – whilst this resulted in not even a whimper from us means we will accept anything and everything, time, time and time again.
But I won’t and never will and will contribute no more money to the scam that is Scottish Football.
Peter says:
July 16, 2013 at 11:18 pm
and I COMPLETELY understand how you feel, and I find it hard to disagree.
Newtz
You’ve got mail. Can you reply asap as I don’t think you’ve been getting your PMs
From CQN,
‘crushed nuts?’ ‘Naw, Layringitis!’
23:01 on
16 July, 2013
hen1rik
22:28 on 16 July, 2013
&&&&&&
TSFM posters have been linking SDM, CW, CG, and a rather tasty bunch of financiers, speculators, spivs, crooks, chancers, footpads, losers, hsa-beens, reprobates, shilpits, hoomagandies, no-users, wasters and media PR people. Hence the attacks.
The attacks also mean they’re getting closer to the truth about Sevco5088, Sevco Scotland, TRIFC, TRFC, MIH, MH, Wavetower, Zeus, Allenby, Orlit, Liberty, the British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, Ticketus, Duff & Phelps, Allenby, Collery Bristow and media PR people.
canamalar1
23:04 on
16 July, 2013
& BDO & lord hodge & & &
BadCaptains Madman
The club disadvantaged was Kilmarnock not Hearts who got into Europa anyway as 3rd team. Only the top club got a go at the CL.
Apart from getting that fact wrong there is the accounting angle.
The SFA and Rangers worked in unison to grant that 2011 licence, there is no doubt about that if you follow the CF trail.
If clubs were “done” and could prove it I think compensation would not be in monetary form.
TSFM says:
July 16, 2013 at 11:29 pm
———————————-
recieved double PM … have replied
newtz says:
July 16, 2013 at 11:15 pm
“If those that are making use of the info have not done so already, I suggest that you copy/paste – screengrab … whatever your fancy say into a Word Doc etc.”
—————————
I have noticed that documents have been removed from Charlotte’s twitter account. They all appear to pertain to Media House activities. If anyone has copies of these could they post them up please.
08 June 2013
Then again Jack, you aren’t so private yourself. Bribes and blackmail seem to be a running feature.
http://i.imgur.com/I3vS2OO.jpg
09 June 2013
Mind boggling
http://i.imgur.com/L39Tl9F.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MAwsebG.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/N3ChL8H.jpg
i.imgur.com/b16PXFZ.jpg
Gross intimidation 1
http://i.imgur.com/SjSgKqH.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/RvlCZkl.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/brSGrkY.jpg
Deplorable. National paper about to publish a ‘hatchet’ job on Craig. Look at the tactics and note the date
http://i.imgur.com/nmzFekK.jpg
Fit and Proper – Deflection tactics. FARE will follow next.
http://i.imgur.com/mqXzSVp.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/CgWpSiA.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/1YO969y.jpg
10 June 2013
Tweet no longer apparent
http://i.imgur.com/DjbJpb8.jpg
Oh my. Ddos attacks aplenty? Well well well indeed…there are various types of such attack and initiating such isn’t really so difficult – unfortunately – and the route source can be nigh on imposible to ascertain in most cases, although hackers orgs do generally boast succesful attacks, I don’t think anyone will be shouting about this too loudly however…so it’s a guessing game for us at the mo…however thats not to say the hosting org cannot investigate and others cannot do a bit of research into who would do such an attack (think dingy hackers forums) or ‘outsource’ such instead, which is very likely in this circumstance.
Anyhoos…what is abundantly certain is that someones cage is being rattled, and quite violenetly too because a Ddos attack is illegal and will have the perpetrator chucked in jail in the UK, complicity in such a crime – i.e.- touting for geeks to carry out such an attack – will also land you in the nick. So with that said, someone is taking sommething of a risk…there are many ways to skin a cat and there are many more ways to catch a creep…someone is in one helluva panic if they are resorting to this sort of malarky and I think in due time, we will know who they are and why they are in such a panic…
What you say, Jack?
🙄
‘National Theatre of Scotland’s Enquirer is hot off the pressess’
Billy Riddoch as former Scottish Sun editor Jack Irvine admits payment of police, soldiers, social workers and ambulance drivers was rife across the industry when he was in post.
And that he later destroyed the black book in which he kept details of payments.
The industry’s inability to keep up with change is also apparent.
Citizen journalism, online editions, rival websites are acknowledged, but largely on the sidelines.
As one journalist points out, her own online blog has more readers than the Independent.
Yet the piece is full of nostalgia for the old ways – the spiked copy, the typewriters, pounding the streets for a story.
Perhaps more a longing for better times in journalism, than the outdated technology it used.
Enquirer comes full circle too, as the papers are put to bed.
Quite literally, as the actors lie down in piles of shredded paper.
—————————————————–
Operation Elveden is an investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police.[3] It is being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.[4]
The investigation is led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers of the Metropolitan Police Service,[2] who is also leading Operation Weeting and Operation Tuleta. The service’s Directorate of Professional Standards is also involved in the investigation.[2] The Elveden suspects are given numbers to identify them.[2]
On 6 February 2012, DAC Akers appeared at the Leveson Inquiry and said that there were 40 police officers and staff working on Operation Elveden, but that this number would be increased to 61 officers as a result of the investigation into The Sun.[5]
———————————————————–
Note to editors;
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17892495
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Elveden
Media House International enlisted to fight VAT in Turks and Caicos Islands
Matt Cartmell, prweek.com, Friday, 29 June 2012, 10:00am,
Media House International has been appointed to help a pair of West Indies islands fight back against the proposed introduction of VAT.
VAT fight: The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory
The British Government has proposed to implement VAT on the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies – the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands.
The islands are known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.
Media House International has been brought in following the formation of The Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council by a broad group of individuals from all sectors of the economy and business community throughout the islands.
The body has been formed to fight Her Majesty’s Government and islands governor Ric Todd over plans to impose VAT on the islands against the wishes of the entire population.
Media House International executive chairman Jack Irvine is leading the account.
House of Lords
Tax havens boost their lobbying efforts
April 19th, 2012 | by Melanie Newman | Published in All Stories, House of Lords
Bellingham with PM Bermuda FCO
FCO Minister Henry Bellingham meets Ewart Brown, former Premier of Bermuda
Britain’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies have been boosting their lobbying strength in the UK and Brussels in recent years amidst growing criticism of tax havens.
NGOs such as Christian Aid have argued that the Territories’ image as tax havens puts them at ‘serious reputational risk’ and if they continue with their current policies ‘then their international profile as facilitators of corruptions and tax evasion will increase’.
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man have also come under fire, most recently from Labour leader Ed Miliband, who said the Dependencies must reveal the identities of tax evaders with money hidden on the islands.
‘I wouldn’t describe Bermuda as a tax haven. I’d describe Bermuda as being a very well run country that is able to have low taxes because it’s got a very strong economy.’ Henry Bellingham, Conservative Minister for Overseas Territories
In an attempt to counter such attacks, these offshore jurisdictions have been ramping up their PR and lobbying endeavours. They have also been lobbying in Brussels on European financial regulation.
Cayman Islands
One recent example of this stepping up of ‘reputation management’, as revealed by the Bureau this week, was the hire of Lord Blencathra by the Cayman Islands as its UK representative. Appointed in November 2011, his remit was to lobby in Westminster and Brussels and to fight off attacks on ‘tax neutral jurisdictions’. He told a press conference the financial services industry had to ‘justify its existence’ and that European financial regulation posed a threat to the Islands.
The Islands’ financial services industry lobbyist, Cayman Finance, has been represented separately by PR firm Media House International since April 2009. Chairman Jack Irvine is regularly quoted in the island press attacking critics of tax havens such as the Tax Justice Network and Labour MP John Cryer.
Media House has also employed Lord Blencathra as a public affairs consultant since 2008, though the peer told the Bureau his work for the firm did not involve the Caymans.
SFA Shame:
`However, it emerged last night that the SFA have decided that there is no case for Green and Ahmad to answer. On the basis of the evidence they have seen from the Pinsent Mason findings, they have ruled that there is no requirement for the issue to be referred to compliance officer Vincent Lunny.`
.
Time now for the entire SFA Board and Executive to resign.
twopanda says:
July 17, 2013 at 6:50 am
……………………………….
Corrupt is how Charles Green described them and that is exactly what they have shown themselves to be time after time after time…
Resign?….you will wait a long time for that…they have more front than Blackpool!
The DoS attack confirms what we have been saying for some time…this site provides an important stream of information and purpose that fans of all clubs can contribute to..
TSFM is important to the truth being revealed..
Keep up the good work to one and all.
Quick word on Jack Irvine.
I think he maybe a lot more careful what he types into his e-mails these days.
His casual references to things such as meeting with a bent politican, have made him look like a careless, arrogant and not very clever PR man.
What is it they say about a PR man when he becomes part of the narrative ?
Would Private Eye not enjoy this type of material ?
The SFA. Afraid to ask the questions because they already know the answers. We know what they are. More importantly they know we know what they are.
Am I missing something here? Finloch meets a guy in a bar who says Celtic and Hearts have had under the counter payments from the SFA. On the strength of that Neepheid demands a statement from Celtic.
Have we forgotten the SMSM storm last year when a couple of players passed honest if unguarded and unwise opinions, as players do? I can’t believe we want Celtic to be the focus of SMSM attention. Have we learned nothing?
What can I say, other than that we have further proof that the rottenness in Scottish Football stems absolutely from that deep, dark connection between a dead club and the SFA?
The decision by the SFA not to further investigate is appallingly bad.
I doubt whether, allowing for differences in scale and subject matter, any concerted act of corruption and deceit practiced by Nazi Germany with its equivalents of ‘Jill Troon’ in the media world , could be less insultingly blatant than this most recent offering from our SFA Board.
The curse of Cromwell is on them already: they know in their hearts that they are liars , or worse, the craven handmaidens to bigger liars.
They are as a festering ball of screwworm- fly maggots in the ear of Scottish Football.
Unlike those maggots, they will be conscious of their rottenness as they eventually, in the fullness of time, pass from this life.
Unrespected, nay, despised by many thousands of their fellow-Scots as the liars and cheats they are.
willmacufree says:
July 17, 2013 at 9:10 am
4 1 Rate This
Am I missing something here? Finloch meets a guy in a bar who says Celtic and Hearts have had under the counter payments from the SFA. On the strength of that Neepheid demands a statement from Celtic.
++++++++++++++++
In fact I suggested that BOTH clubs should confirm or deny. It’s not, in fact, a story about the clubs, it’s a story about the SFA. If payments have been made to clubs to compensate them for the failure of the SFA to run its own licencing process, then that surely must finish off Regan and Ogilvie permanently.
However I have to agree that a chat with “a man in a pub” is maybe not the strongest evidence to rely on. I think this hot weather is finally getting to me 😥
In ancient Rome the authorities put on fighting displays and gladiatorial contests to satisfy the blood lust of the “Mob” (i.e. the hundreds of thousands strong body of “plebs”, or rank and file citizens). The idea was that if the Mob was entertained and allowed to vent its collective frustrations/fury on a regular basis at some unfortunate sacrificial lambs (prisoners, slaves, gladiators) there would be less likelihood of civil disturbance among the populace at large, and less likelihood of the overthrow of those in charge. The outcome of the contests/events was pre-determined to a certain extent but of course there had to be the occasional surprise to keep up some element of suspense. Fast forward two thousand years and it is clear that we have is a watered down version of this system of governance in operation in modern day Scotland (“the best small country in the world”?!). For the Roman Colosseum we have Ibrox; For the Roman authorities we have, well, the authorities; For the sacrificial lambs we have the other teams (and supporters of those teams) in Scotland, with Celtic, the arch enemies of the Mob, fulfilling the purpose of providing the occasional element of surprise by proving decent competition; For the Roman Mob we have “the peepil”.
The overarching principle is that the authorities (and this it would appear extends to the Government of the country) realise the importance of appeasing the Mob and have no intention of doing anything which will take away the means by which the Mob can vent their frustrations/fury on a regular basis, namely attending football matches played by a team called Rangers at Ibrox. This is of course a simplification and there are various other strands (namely the possibility of exploitation for financial gain of the apparent immunity of the activities of those involved in running Rangers from investigation and the application of the laws of the land) which are currently being examined by the posters on this blog.
As an aside I would echo the sentiments of other posters who have suggested that if anyone is interested in having an archive of posts etc from TSFM they should perhaps consider saving these to word and/or printing them out onto paper.
theoldshed says:
July 17, 2013 at 9:44 am
‘…..In ancient Rome……”
——-
I like it. Well bethought.
And I do hope that RTC and TSFM and Charlotte have safely archived everything since day one.