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
neepheid says:
July 19, 2013 at 2:57 pm
====================================================
If the Board of a Plc stop performing they are usually ousted by either a dominant shareholder or coalition of such. So if the Celtic Board get it wrong then there could well be a change of policy. At the moment I think there is more threat to the financial security of Celtic from the continuing recession and a move away to other sports and interests by talented youngsters. Football has become a bit of a dinosaur IMO and I fear it will go the same way.
However I have my thoughts on what best I can do for the good of the game and I will continue to bring my firepower to bear on where I believe the problem lies. No doubt you will also continue with what you believe to be best and, who knows, perhaps together we make a difference.
greenockjack says:
July 19, 2013 at 1:45 pm
——————————–
Sam has provided a lot of links to go through and a lot of trawling required
r quest rake my observations anyway you wish to Eco that is your privilege to do so.
To reiterate for the purpose of clarity.
You appear to be “Locked on” to a non moving and already grounded target while there are other aircraft still flying high. This would give anyone with a sense of objectivity and reasonableness the impression that you are not being entirely universal with the remit of your stated quest.
There is a need for full transparency. There is an ever increasing demand for integrity. There are allegations of dubietous complicity. You also cite the the work started by and the part played by RTC as filling a gap in the market between MSM and the public domain. Fair play but this has to be done in an entirety across the full spectrum of Scottish football and it’s interests as a whole,and most certainly not by being selective with or disproportionate to your beliefs,whims,or emotions.
john clarke says:
July 19, 2013 at 3:08 pm
(I haven’t asked before, but as a matter of interest, do our moderators and TSFM-the-person know each others identities? Is there the nucleus of a committee, which could be more or less formally constituted as our representatives, to put across to other agencies the considered views of the majority of us posters?)
=========================================================================
I haven’t a clue about the structure and you might want to PM TSFM and ask. Tbh – I wasn’t really thinking in terms of the views of the majority of posters as more of a fact-based report. Where there’s gaps in the knowledge we make it clear they exist and I think it would be in order that some ‘sensible’ supposition could be allowed as long as shown as such.
But I would really tread warily with any suggestion that TSFM knew what was best for posters and fans in other clubs – in many ways I would hope to learn as much from them as they might from us.
And we might get important info back to help fill gaps in our knowledge. I certainly have the feeling that in a sense we are devouring our own here rather than progressing outwards and onwards. Information is the key and it helps inform debate for those who want to listen and consider different viewpoints and the wider the audience we reach the better for Scottish Football I reckon.
Newtz
Thank´s for the reply.
looks like CG has found a way out of his lock-in 😥
Probably why he dumped Cenko 👿 they wouldn’t play ball 😈
looks like he has 1.5 million less shears than he had the other day 😐
And also why are the easdales on the board with only a 0.55% holding ❓
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 4:53 pm
And also why are the easdales on the board with only a 0.55% holding
———————————————————————————————————-
Everyone knows they have 6%, the MSM are never wrong 😉
To me, the question is, how do we get Regan,Ogilvie,Doncaster et al,to answer our,the fans, questions! Meanwhile how do we get the facts out into the ‘real world’,and spread the word. Silly idea number 1, how much does it cost for a billboard near Hampden? With a simple question,or statement on it,and a picture of the person that it’s aimed at.
Tin hat on!!
iamacant says:
July 19, 2013 at 5:21 pm
2 0 Rate This
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 4:53 pm
And also why are the easdales on the board with only a 0.55% holding
———————————————————————————————————-
Everyone knows they have 6%, the MSM are never wrong 😉
———————————————————————————————————
the SMSM propaganda machine has hit a few speed bumps of late 😀
Maybe they should check their investment now and again
http://www.lse.co.uk/share-regulatory-news.asp?shareprice=RFC&ArticleCode=gac7wsad&ArticleHeadline=Director_Shareholding
Latest Tommo blog. Taxman not going away.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/657133211?-11344:801
http://www.lse.co.uk/share-regulatory-news.asp?shareprice=RFC&ArticleCode=sz4vatgw&ArticleHeadline=Director_Declaration
Old news i know But how can the SFA say they are not investigating links between CG & CW ?????
Do they really think we are all completely stupid ?
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 4:53 pm
looks like CG has found a way out of his lock-in 😥
Probably why he dumped Cenko 👿 they wouldn’t play ball 😈
looks like he has 1.5 million less shears than he had the other day 😐
And also why are the easdales on the board with only a 0.55% holding
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Doesn’t CG have an agreement, struck before the flotation, to sell a large chunk of his shares to the Easdales?
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:37 pm
No that agreement was with Laxyex or whatever they are called ( cant remember off hand 😳 )
the 1 with the Easdales was apparently only struck a month or 2 ago
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:47 pm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Who owns Laxyex? At what point did the Easdales enter into the mix?
Sunincapricorn says:
July 19, 2013 at 3:40 pm
“RTC as filling a gap in the market between MSM and the public domain. Fair play but this has to be done in an entirety across the full spectrum of Scottish football and it’s interests as a whole,and most certainly not by being selective with or disproportionate to your beliefs,whims,or emotions.”
——————————–
Individual posters will have their own points of view and ‘specialist subjects’. We can all lapse into dogma to some extent but that is the nature of opinion. Collapsing at the first encounter of a contrary point of view should not be expected; it is only over time that attitudes modify.
Stick in Sunincapricorn. You may attract a lot of flack if you don’t display the majority outlook but other posters do likewise and live to tell the tale. We need alternative perspectives as it provides for a more rounded picture. You may get a lot of thumbs downs but if your speaking from your heart you will probably modify our opinions in parallel with finding your own outlook altering.
Try to avoid fist fights. Use the jab then retreat behind your guard. Your contest will not be won in the first round but if you show some staying power you may get a foothold in the encounter. I hope he doesn’t mind me saying so but ecobhoy can be quite combatative. He openly acknowledges this. If you’re going to get your point across you need to work around the ring and avoid getting stuck in a corner. Don’t take it too personally. You may be blamed for all of Rangers woes but that is the way we human beings tend to operate. Just step back and avoid the haymakers and then step in with your jab again.
The Rangers story dominates the blog but it will not be the only topic discussed. It has become the staple diet on which we have cut our teeth and we have learned to gain nourishment from its dissection. Indeed it is a rich vein of material and may offer up further titbits yet. If you can drag us back to reality on occasions then you will be doing both your team and the blog a significant service.
the Easdales have been floating about for quite some time
More put in the limelight by the SMSM than green and co 😉
kept getting photoed at games etc last season . Think they thought it was good for their image LOL
Then weaseled their way in with Green or could have been the other way around 😉
As for layex or what ever they are called A few other posters dug up some stuff on them
I’m sure they will post up if they think it is relevant
Castofthousands says:
July 19, 2013 at 7:42 pm
___________________________________________
Excellent advice. Stick with it Sunincapricorn. Your views are every bit as good as the next persons.
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 7:54 pm
As for layex or what ever they are called A few other posters dug up some stuff on them
I’m sure they will post up if they think it is relevant
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laxey Partners Ltd are an IOM based hedge fund. They invest other people’s money, so it doesn’t really matter who owns Laxey. I don’t know why they’ve agreed to buy Green’s shares (well some of them, anyway). It makes no sense to me, but what’s interesting is that the deal was struck last October, well before the IPO.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/scottishnews/4956646/Green-to-transfer-shares-to-Laxey-Partners-Limited.html
Green kind of forget to mention all this in the in the IPO prospectus, or to tell AIM until June, after he had done some walking away. Very curious. Something to hide, Charles?
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail.html?announcementId=11604587
neepheid says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:13 pm
tcup 2012 says:
July 19, 2013 at 7:54 pm
As for layex or what ever they are called A few other posters dug up some stuff on them
I’m sure they will post up if they think it is relevant
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Laxey Partners Ltd are an IOM based hedge fund. They invest other people’s money, so it doesn’t really matter who owns Laxey
____________________________________________________
Why not?
Castofthousands says:
July 19, 2013 at 7:42 pm
‘….The Rangers story dominates the blog but it will not be the only topic discussed…’
—-
Correct.
We’re all currently watching the HMFC story as well from the perspective of how the SFA and SPFL will justify any or all actions or attitudes they take or adopt in terms of ‘the Rules’!
And this blog will continue, on the basis of how wide all our eyes have been opened, to check and question all significant administrative or policy changes that these bodies propose or implement that impinge unfairly on us as the mainstay of the Sport.
As said ‘ad nauseam’, although the blog came into being because of the misdeeds of a particular club, its objectives are the restoration of integrity in our Football Administration and the distancing of sportswriters from cosy relationships with particular clubs which may compromise their ability to report truthfully and objectively.
And to keep repulsive creatures such as Jill Irvine under heavy scrutiny as best as we can if he is connected with any club’s media affairs.
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm
0 0 Rate This
neepheid says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:13 pm
Laxey Partners Ltd are an IOM based hedge fund. They invest other people’s money, so it doesn’t really matter who owns Laxey
____________________________________________________
Why not?
++++++
Yes, it was a pretty stupid thing to say. It may not matter if they’ve just agreed to buy Green’s shares as part of a general hedge fund investment. However it could matter a lot if they’ve bought on their own account, or I suppose they could be acting as a front for some mystery investor. The transaction does seem strange though. RIFC PLC wasn’t even incorporated at the time the deal was struck. Can that be a legal agreement?
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:37 pm
‘…looks like he has 1.5 million less shears …’
——
Could be less demand for shorn , succulent lamb these days, perhaps 😀 ?
Who is Jill Irvine? I meant Jill Troon, Charlotte’s mate!
neepheid says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:43 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It wasn’t stupid pal. We need to keep asking questions that’s all I’m saying. I was hoping that the overloaded Newtz and Sam would look into this one further.
As we know IOM, Jersey and Cayman Isles are offshore washing stations for dirty money and the preservation of anonymity as well as the right place to set up hedge funds/investment vehicles with names like Liberty Capital and Expensive Omnibuses Ltd.
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:56 pm
As we know IOM, Jersey and Cayman Isles are offshore washing stations for dirty money and the preservation of anonymity as well as the right place to set up hedge funds/investment vehicles with names like Liberty Capital and Expensive Omnibuses Ltd.
+++++++++++++++++
The problem is finding out who really owns these entities, buried behind layers of nominees, blind trusts, and all the rest of it. The fact that so much of this goes on in places which are British Crown Territories is what has always amazed me. The UK Government pretends impotence, but in reality they could put a stop to all this nonsense by midday tomorrow- if they really wanted to.
john clarke says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:44 pm
3 1 Rate This
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:37 pm
‘…looks like he has 1.5 million less shears …’
———————————————
he has probably just passed them on to his grandkids early…..before they are totally worthless!
John clarke says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:37 pm
‘…looks like he has 1.5 million less shears …’
——
Could be less demand for shorn , succulent lamb these days, perhaps 😀 ?
________________________________________________________________
Go back to my post. I never said this. Please explain.
Drew,
shears, lamb – maybe it was an aberdonian?
neepheid says:
July 19, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:56 pm
As we know IOM, Jersey and Cayman Isles are offshore washing stations for dirty money and the preservation of anonymity as well as the right place to set up hedge funds/investment vehicles with names like Liberty Capital and Expensive Omnibuses Ltd.
+++++++++++++++++
The problem is finding out who really owns these entities, buried behind layers of nominees, blind trusts, and all the rest of it. The fact that so much of this goes on in places which are British Crown Territories is what has always amazed me. The UK Government pretends impotence, but in reality they could put a stop to all this nonsense by midday tomorrow- if they really wanted to.
_______________________________________________________________________
Correct. But the Plutocrats run the country. How much does Blair earn these days? Hard to pin that number down because he uses trusts and elaborate company/LLP/Partnership structures. They’re all at it. What we do know is that he is/was always on the side of J P Morgan and the Hedge Funds and other
What this blog has done is to uncover the dubious business practices of the banks, “business men” like SDM, and lower down the chain to fraudsters(patsy) like CW and then to the gangsters.
ohn clarke says:
July 19, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 6:37 pm
‘…looks like he has 1.5 million less shears …’
——
Could be less demand for shorn , succulent lamb these days, perhaps 😀 ?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I never said this? What are you trying to do here?
ecobhoy says:
July 19, 2013 at 3:43 pm
‘…. I wasn’t really thinking in terms of the views of the majority of posters as more of a fact-based report. ..’
—–
I appreciate what you say, ecobhoy, and I’m conscious that I did not manage to say quite what I was getting at..
The blog is a wonderful forum in terms of general level of discussion and debate. I’ve no idea how many posters , one-off or regular, there are or have been. But there’s a fair number.
If there was some internet way that that number could be inscribed, enrolled as members of a body which had a constitution of sorts, and elected/appointed office-bearers, then wouldn’t it be possible as a body to debate and discuss as we presently do, but in addition have formal ‘meetings’ at which our ‘committee’ could, after debate and vote on a proposal be asked , for example, to write to the SFA seeking information, say, or to query some action of theirs, or to ask some of the questions we accuse the MSM of not asking?
Just as if we had gathered in a hall at an actual meeting?
The idea would be that TSFM- The- Blog’s ‘executive’ would act on the instruction of us ( ‘registered member’) posters. Not that TSFM- the- present- person ( unless with the mandate of the membership, of course) would personally be expected to discern the mind and mood of the membership on any given topic.
Do you see what I’m getting at?
If it were not for the personal safety need to be anonymous, I’m sure we long ago would have come together in a meeting place and drawn up a constitution and so on.
Or am I talking the stuff that the good burghers of Edinburgh used to throw out their windows with the cry ‘ gardyloo!’ ?
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 9:16 pm
—-
A thousand pardons, DP.
It was, of course, tcup who had the misprint ‘shears’ for ‘shares’.
I copied his line in your post but then carelessly copied your name as if it had been you who had been the originator of that line instead of merely including it as a reference to tcup’s earlier post to which you were replying.
CF is awake and dropping reminders
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 37m
Still no response from SPL/TV
1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/154807098/Project-William …
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/151580990/Phone-Calls …
3. http://www.scribd.com/doc/154806644/Draft-Restructuring-Workstreams-Matrix …
4. http://i.imgur.com/pznUeGe.jpg
Curious statement from Lord Cardigan below – and why now ?
Is he getting his excuses in early ? i.e. “I know nothing” ?
And a plc chairman – supposedly – appointed on the basis of his personality ? Eh ? 🙄
His “focus of attention is…not who does what in the boardroom” ?!
Incredible stuff, [assuming the quotes are correct].
===========================================
“Walter Smith ‘not long-term Rangers chairman’
Former Rangers manager Walter Smith has admitted that he is a stop-gap appointment as Rangers chairman, and that he is in the role for his personality rather than for his financial knowledge.
Smith said: “I’m not conversant with business or legal matters and that’s why I cannot [sic] be a long-term appointment as chairman.
“My focus of attention is getting this club back to the days when the talk was about the team on the park and not who does what in the boardroom. That’s my goal.” (Record)”
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/rumour-mill-walter-smith-celtic-hearts-1-3007253
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1m
Jack using McKerron Hay – removed from scribd c/o Levy & McRae
1, http://i.imgur.com/YnEUvNf.jpg
2. http://i.imgur.com/poDUlA4.jpg
Big Stuart 1888 @white_italy 5h
This is incredible…….. The deal between Sports Direct and RIFC/Sevco. The Rangers Retail deal. (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1rleum9
Test. 😳
paulsatim says:
July 19, 2013 at 10:42 pm
…
=====
From your linked document, linked to lse – the comment below is interesting.
Share price on Monday morning will be falling off a cliff… ? 🙄
“keeneye
Today 16:07
Anyone, even a die hard rangers fan still not believing that Charlie Green was up to his old tricks from the outset???
These 2 million or so share traded today (with shocking disregard to the lock-in period, hello are you watching LSE?) can only be his, or institutional investors.
More likely his as this is exactly what he has done with every major investment he’s been involved in.
I repeat:
Over values, inflates share price, engineer’s an exit, sells by prior arrangement, company left floundering. just ask them in Dubai
Wait till you see what price Rifc opens at on Monday! You’ll probably need a snorkel and mask to get down to it! ”
=============
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareChat.asp?ShareTicker=RFC&share=rangers_int
StevieBC says:
July 19, 2013 at 11:03 pm
paulsatim says:
July 19, 2013 at 10:42 pm
…
=====
From your linked document, linked to lse – the comment below is interesting.
Share price on Monday morning will be falling off a cliff… ? 🙄
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hasn’t ecobhoy already said that the large shear transactions are more likely due to the institutional shearholders being released from their lock in? Or is he wrong?
Charlie pre sold his shares to an IOM front company BEFORE the floation.
Fom the postings on LSE tonight, http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareChat.asp?page=1&ShareTicker=RFC it seems clear that Charles Green is the big seller of RIFC shares over the last 2 days, having recently engineered the appointment of a new Nomad prepared to overlook his lock-in.
I wonder what the bears who have invested their own money make of this? Will CG lose his Godlike status? Total indifference is my guess. Or maybe just another timmy conspiracy?
Excerpt from ‘Comments’ on LSE Share Chat
******************************
Mankind2013xx
Posts: 1
Off Topic
Opinion: Strong Sell
Price: 42.00
View Thread (2)RE: Now there’s a surprise…..Today 11:32shocker huh? So Easdale on the board owning 0.55% when the newspapers said he owned 6% looks like the scottish media just read out the emails sent to them by sevco as usual rather than asking questions, Walter Smith brought in to sell shares and season tickets doubt he has done much at all behind the scenes, it’s all out of his hands
***********************************
Also a comment from Torrejohnbhoy (is that oor Torre?) which sums up, in a more articulate and erudite manner than I could manage, my total disgust at the machinations of this ‘passel of rogues’ and asks if AIM will move to protect investors. Like Oor Toore, I think they are too late and, as widely predicted, Charlie has done what he set out to do.
As previously stated, my sympathies lie, to a certain extent, with supporters who discovered that their ’emotional’ investment is in shares of a company who own a football club. Not one thin dime of their investment will go towards saving their club or putting a team on the park, which would have been the prime motivator in parting with hard earned.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/154806644/Draft-Restructuring-Workstreams-Matrix
Well we get a bit more detail from CF and it’s obvious that October 5 2011 was a big day in the planning for a debt-free new Rangers to emerge from an administration ‘restructure’ and retain its place in the SPL.
Project Charlotte aka Project William was sent in draft form to various MCR employees including David Grier, Paul Clark. Michael Bills and Oliver Rimmer and also sent to Craig Whyte (CW) and Gary Withey (GW) at Collyer Bristow. The draft document marked ‘Strictly Private & Confidential’ is split into sections headed: Legal; Football; Insolvency Options & Process; Financial; and PR Strategy.
Each Section lists various applicable issues and points to be considered with the responsibility for each split between CW; GW; Rangers Club staff; and MCR.
On the same day the draft document was delivered to CW and GW the Collyer Bristow lawyer discussed the Rangers financial position with SPL lawyer Rod McKenzie and later sent him an email thanking him for his time and stating: ‘As discussed there are no firm plans for the club but the directors have a duty to explore all avenues. Once they come to a conclusion I will of course be in conduct’ (contact?).
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work-out what was being discussed between the two men, especially with that day’s distribution of the draft reconstruction document. Next morning the lawyer emailed GW to confirm he had briefed the SPL chief exec on the previous day’s discussions and said the chief exec indicated that if Rangers had: ‘An appetite to pursue this route that an outline paper is prepared setting out the process that is being proposed to achieve the discussed end’.
This stuff was so dangerous that they had to talk in code because this was the start of the plan which could have seen Rangers remain in the SPL after shedding the vast majority of its debts and exiting administration.
McKenzie, the SPL Lawyer, added that the outline paper would detail the structure ‘of the proposed transactions’ and how ‘compliance’ with SPL Membership Criteria, ground registration and player registration with the SFA and SPL ‘would be addressed’. Very tellingly the lawyer admitted that these points had formed the basis of the previous day’s discussion between the two men.
Within 30 minutes of the email being sent from Rod McKenzie to GW the Collyer Bristow lawyer had emailed CW to say: ‘It seems as though there is a willingness to assist.’
We know of course that skullduggery lay ahead at the SPL General Meeting of 31 October 2011 when it appears that the involvement of the SPL lawyer and chief executive in Rangers plans weren’t conveyed to all clubs in the League although some may have been aware of the situation through their position on the SPL Board. Hopefully that is something which may come out in the wash.
paulsatim says:
July 19, 2013 at 10:42 pm
Big Stuart 1888 @white_italy 5h
This is incredible…….. The deal between Sports Direct and RIFC/Sevco. The Rangers Retail deal. (cont) http://tl.gd/n_1rleum9
===================================================
I actually did the post four days ago and it’s undernoted. I have seen it pop-up on a lot of sites without any link-back to here which is quite amusing actually especially watching posters accepting praise for their investigative skills. At least the poster you have linked to didn’t do the full cut and paste job like most of the others 😆
ecobhoy says:
July 16, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Very interesting development yesterday regarding Rangers Retail Ltd the joint company formed between TRFCL and SportsDirect. Also interesting that Charles Green remains a director of Rangers Retail Ltd along with Stockbridge and two SportsDirect employees.
Companies House has just published the split in shareholding between the two companies and those with a good memory will remember that great play was made by Rangers and Green when entering into the deal that Rangers would be the majority shareholder.
Indeed the Rangers AIM Prospectus stated: 12.1.3 On 31 July 2012 RFCL entered into a joint venture shareholders’ agreement (the “Rangers Retail SHA”) with SDI Retail Services Limited (“SDI”) relating to terms under which the joint venture vehicle Rangers Retail Limited (“Rangers Retail”) would operate with RFCL holding 51% of Rangers Retail. Through Rangers Retail the parties agree to run jointly the production, supply and sale of branded products and carry out retail activity at the Club’s superstore at Ibrox and on the Club’s online webstore.’
The statement of capital published by Companies House on 15/07/13 shows TRFCL has 51 ‘B’ shares and SDI has 49 ‘A’ shares – so that OK then and Rangers is the majority shareholder then? Well YES and NO!
On a show of hands the ‘A’ and ‘B’ shares each count for 1 vote and on a poll they also count for 1 vote so TRFCL will always be able to outvote SDI? Well NO! Howzatt? Well on a vote on ‘financial matters’ then each ‘A’ share counts as 2 votes. So when finance is involved SDI have 98 votes and TRFCL only have 51. Whoops!
The agreement with SDI and TRFCL as shown in the AIM Prospectus also has some very very interesting clauses viz: Sportsdirect.com Retail Limited (an affiliate of SDI) agrees to provide a facility of £1.5 million to Rangers Retail available for drawdown for a period of 5 years at an interest rate of Barclays Bank’s pass through rate from time-to-time and interest is to be capitalised.
Any sums drawn down under the facility would be secured by a debenture to be given by Rangers Retail over all its freehold and leasehold property. This hadn’t been drawn-down when the Prospectus was released but might have been since.
And also: The Rangers Retail SHA contains restrictions on share transfers, reserved matters and other provisions common to joint venture agreements. The agreement contains deadlock provisions which require deadlock matters to be referred to senior management of the shareholders and then to mediation. If the deadlock matter has not been resolved then SDI has the right to acquire RFCL’s shareholding at a set price (50 per cent. of the profits of Rangers Retail in the previous twelve months).
If this buyout takes place, SDI agrees to procure that a royalty according to a formula is paid by Rangers Retail to RFCL in consideration for rights under an intellectual property licence agreement relating to the grant of an exclusive worldwide licence of certain intellectual property rights of RFCL to Rangers Retail in return for Rangers Retail producing kit and branded products (at cost price plus 10 per cent.)
Drew Peacock says:
July 19, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Hasn’t ecobhoy already said that the large shear transactions are more likely due to the institutional shearholders being released from their lock in? Or is he wrong?
==============================================================
No ecobhoy didn’t say that because I don’t know who is selling or buying – I think you may have become confused over something HP stated with regard to Institutional Investors in response to my earlier post detailing which shares are locked-in and which aren’t. It seems there is a lot of confusion today between shares and shears although I have no doubt some will suffer a sever clipping before the finish :slamb:
Ecobhoy 12.20am
Meh! 🙂
ianjs
PM
Interesting email from CF especially with regard to timing http://i.imgur.com/arr02r3.jpg
The email is from Jim Park to CW dated 24 June 2012 and the Subject is: Business going forward.
In it Park mentions bringing Mike Ashley on board the original investors consortium and states: ‘I truly believe we can get substantial monies upfront, if we negotiate this properly’.
But Park wants to talk the brokering percentage through with CW prior to meeting Ashley two days later before ‘Motormouth Charles runs away with himself!!!’
Still we know from the PM report that CW had no involvement with newco Rangers LMAO.
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 12:11 am
“I actually did the post four days ago and it’s undernoted. I have seen it pop-up on a lot of sites without any link-back to here which is quite amusing actually especially watching posters accepting praise for their investigative skills.”
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This kind of answers the conundrum that you and John Clarke were having earlier about getting information into a wider sphere. The editorialising will be done by posters and lurkers who will disseminate juicy bits of information to other sites. It is to be regretted to some extent that copyright is not being acknowledged but ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.
You know who you are even if the credit is not always lodged.
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 12:52 am
“The email is from Jim Park to CW dated 24 June 2012 and the Subject is: Business going forward.”
———————-
Good spot.
With regard to Pinsent Masons internal report for TRFCL, ‘daft and dafter’ doesn’t quite do it justice.
A wee reminder of Doncasters stance in January 2012 by which time he knew of the fate awaiting Rangers and tried to present a case that only the SPL Board would vote on Rangers fate. The letter from a CQN poster is under the spoiler as is Doncaster’s reply.
http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/8658278/1/
Subsequently SPL confirmed all clubs would vote but this is an indication of early attempts by Doncaster to provide a parachute. The question is whose backing did he have at this point and who was instrumental in making it an all club vote?
thepinkpanther says:
July 19, 2013 at 5:27 pm
‘.. how much does it cost for a billboard near Hampden?..’
——-
I am intrigued by this idea.
A huge billboard poster with the guilty men of the 5-way agreement on it, being asked by a TSFM figure to show the agreement, while a contemptuous CG waves his SFA share ( shear?) with one hand and gives two fingers to Scottish Football with the other, and a big huddle of diminutive MSM :slamb: -eaters cowers in the corner.
A David Low cartoon-style poster.
Brilliant.
I googled ‘billboard advertising in Glasgow’ and , it seems, to display one single billboard for a month would cost between £500 and £1500 ( and , of course, you’d have to pay your creative artist etc)
I have not checked my Friday lottery ticket yet, but if………
Jeezus! What are these people doing to Rangers? I’m staring at these doc’s from Cha..F’s and can’t believe what I’m seeing. This guy Green has bawz of steel and a neck to match. Half of me is thinking who is Cha? and is this for real or an attempt at smearing CG in some form of twisted retribution. It’s not that I think Chico’s incapabable,it’s more a question
how this can possibly benefit CW…Long term wise. Why drip feed this information? And why drop this bombshell now? The new season is nearly upon us,the new kit deals have just been announced and are due to hit the shops in a couple of weeks.
Is Minty still pulling the strings and the whole debacle has been a sting from the outset between the lot of them?
Jesus..I know it’s been a rollercoaster ride but if someone turns this into a movie one day they’re gonna need a bigger cast of extras than fkn Braveheart!…They’ll all be wanting paid as well.
C.O.T. and Drew…Ta much.
castoffthousands
PM
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 12:11 am
9 0 Rate This
… I actually did the post four days ago and it’s undernoted. I have seen it pop-up on a lot of sites without any link-back to here which is quite amusing actually especially watching posters accepting praise for their investigative skills. At least the poster you have linked to didn’t do the full cut and paste job like most of the others.
—————
I sympathise with that ecobhoy. And the wholesale cut & paste of entire articles from the print media could get some folks (or blogs) into a wee bit of hot water, if the copyright holder decided to get stropy. Should probably be very circumspect here. A short quote with an acknowledgement of source and link to the main article is the usual. Anyway, what I did want to say was that, like the chairman of a certain club, I have very little understanding of financial matters. So I was wondering what the paragraphs after ‘Whoops’ in your original post meant, explained in layman’s terms?
PS Did anyone actually see what was in those latest CF docs that were removed from scribd?
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 10m
Just in and note that my Scribd account has been terminated. Jack Irvine and Levy & McRae strike again. I will deal in the morning.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1m
My account has been closed and as a result, all submissions deleted. Truth should be acknowledged, never denied. Jack Irvine is a coward.
Re-the Lawwell/Celtic bashing and alleged complicity in dastardly deeds involving Sevco. I will make my one and only contribution to the debate below, for what it’s worth.
In recent seasons Lawwell/Celtic took a pounding from many quarters for continually being outspent by their biggest rivals. History tells us Celtic were running the club in an honest, transparent manner, while Rangers indulged in very high risk practices at best, and some downright dishonest practices at worst. For those currently savaging Lawwell/Celtic, please remember all is not what it seems at times. Facts are a thousand times more valuable than views based on emotion, wild speculation, and ‘I heard’ stories.
As I said, only my view, for what it’s worth.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
July 20, 2013 at 8:55 am
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1m
My account has been closed and as a result, all submissions deleted. Truth should be acknowledged, never denied. Jack Irvine is a coward.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bullies are usually cowards, so no surprises there, then.
Charlotte needs to rethink her strategy, in my opinion. Her best bet might be to publish the stuff on a dedicated website based in a jurisdiction where Levy McCrae can’t get it taken down.
The only cheering aspect is that this exercise must be costing MH a fortune in legal fees.
upthehoops says:
July 20, 2013 at 9:21 am
Celtic’s stated policy to the CST on this issue was to do what is in the best interests of Celtic. The problem is the interdependent nature of the football business which means that what is best for Celtic is also best for the other clubs (including the Rangers) so they have to take the total impact of anything they do into account.
However they also face the problem of being a club with an ethos that strives to do the right thing ethically and to not do the right thing damages all that they stand for.
Hobsons choice.
Castofthousands says:
July 20, 2013 at 1:00 am
This kind of answers the conundrum that you and John Clarke were having earlier about getting information into a wider sphere. The editorialising will be done by posters and lurkers who will disseminate juicy bits of information to other sites. It is to be regretted to some extent that copyright is not being acknowledged but ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.
You know who you are even if the credit is not always lodged.
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I have no interest in or need for any kind of flattery.
No what actually annoys me is that with no link-back to here that TSFM loses out on the chance to attract new readers especially those with an enquiring mind. I have no problem and never have had with anyone copying and pasting anything I have done but it is only common courtesy to link-back to the original source.
And you’re right it’s another aspect of the problem in spreading the word and efforts of many posters on here. I am thinking on John’s post and will hopefully manage a response today as it’s an important issue.
Dear Charlotte,
Problem solved: http://wikileaks.org/About.html
Love,
Nick xxx
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:00 am
This is what I do. I have a Twitter account and if I post anything or see anything here I want to reach a wider audience I right click on the date of the post and copy the shortcut.
I then go to my Twitter page and paste the shortcut with a comment to attract attention.
If it is worth comment on Twitter I get feedback but also the Tweet itself gets retweeded and depending on who it goes to it can reach many.
When joining Twitter follow those with a big folowing like Phil Mac Giolla Bhain but also Tom English, Speirs etc.
The story is what matters not the authors
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:00 am
In looking to gain a wider audience may I suggest to TSFM that sending regular press releases, to the MSM, other blogs as well as journo twitter accounts in Scotland and the rest of the UK, that actually asks the questions they wont should be considered. This would further the stated aim of TSFM.
The UTTT is underway and should it find against Rangers the SPL has already said it doesn’t matter. A quite incredulous position and one that should be challenged.
We all know the MSM love a press release.
Eh Jack?
Auldheid says:
July 20, 2013 at 10:37 am
upthehoops says:
July 20, 2013 at 9:21 am
Celtic’s stated policy to the CST on this issue was to do what is in the best interests of Celtic. The problem is the interdependent nature of the football business which means that what is best for Celtic is also best for the other clubs (including the Rangers) so they have to take the total impact of anything they do into account.
However they also face the problem of being a club with an ethos that strives to do the right thing ethically and to not do the right thing damages all that they stand for. Hobsons choice.
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Different club’s have different histories and often historical ‘quirks’ for want of a better word that might have defined or shaped a real or perceived ethos for the club.
I take the personal line that in broad terms the issue of ‘ethos’ is between the individual clubs and their support and by extension if individual supporters feel they think the ethos has been unacceptably changed or even ignored then they have the right to raise the issue with their club. If they feel the change is irretrievable and it means enough to them then they may walk away because the issue is that important to them. As I often state that is a decision for each individual to make.
Obviously, whatever the club ethos, there sits an overarching system of rules and regulations governed by the League authority and the SFA which should apply equally to all clubs no matter what individual ethos may exist at any of them.
That is why I try to concentrate my attentions on the fair application of the rules and the need for transparency and explanation whenever they are departed from. Situations can arise not covered by the rulebooks and the Leagues and SFA all have the power within their rulebooks to take decisions which might even necessitate a new rule or fresh interpretation of an existing one.
When that happens it should be acknowledged and explained although we run into a problem where there might be financial sensitivity involved where full release of details could seriously damage or destroy a club. So sometimes a lot of factors have to be weighed in the balance and to me the vital ingredient is TRUST.
Sadly I would say a helluva lot of football fans have little or no trust in our Football Administrators and we will be unable to have any until decisions are explained and past mistakes accepted by them and apologies given to the paying public.
But we are nowhere near that point as the suits, assisted by the SMSM, are sitting it out in the bunker waiting for the storm to pass. Meanwhile the spivs who are the real beneficiaries are allowed free-rein. We still have a long fight in front of us and hopefully CF will be up and running shortly and able to continue. There is no doubt she was getting very close to the jugular – will we read anything in the SMSM about her posts being taken down? I won’t hold my breath.
Sugar Daddy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:15 am
The UTTT is underway and should it find against Rangers the SPL has already said it doesn’t matter. A quite incredulous position and one that should be challenged.
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Can you point me to where the SPL have made a statement? The Dundee Utd chairman did but not the SPL Board. You may be right but I’m not so sure the SPL have taken the position you state precisely because it is incredulous.
I know that one bit of advice in the aftermath of LNS was to say nothing until the UTT. Whether that was heeded I have no idea but it was suggested and I have not seen an official SPL statement.
Charlotte might also consider packing information into a torrent. Makes it widely available, but almost impossible to hide from public gaze.
I don’t think this development exposes Irvine as a coward. If Charlotte’s info is authentic and true, what else would you expect him to do? But Media House must be aware that they are enhancing Charlotte’s reputation with the more cautious amongst us. They are also not stupid, and must have factored that into their strategy. I infer then that they are really, really afraid of the truth coming out; and if it does I believe it will impact on a MUCH bigger and wider field than the corner shop of Rangers Football Club (of whatever variety).
There are stories written but unpublished about this saga, Editors are getting cold feet everywhere – despite the very real public interest involved. The real battle here has little to do with Rangers per se , but on the ability (or inclination) of the press to expose powerful vested interests.
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:25 am
It sure is about trust but that is a two way thing and reasons to trust would help.
maybe i’m just paranoid, but generally when a new story appears about a business having a huge fire, then the report states who that business is
if reports are true, then the major bus firm fire last night included in its casualties the super duper new sevco bus
No mention of that or even the owners in STV and Scotsman reports that I’ve seen
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
July 20, 2013 at 8:55 am
36 0 Rate This
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 1m
My account has been closed and as a result, all submissions deleted. Truth should be acknowledged, never denied. Jack Irvine is a coward.
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She should re-register on Twitter as The Charlotte Fakeovers.
We were thinking of that old adage; if you can’t beat them join them when we thought up the idea of starting up a brand new football team.
It was late and we were tanning a bottle of Jamesons and romanticisizing about Celtic back in the Jungle years. Just myself and an old friend from Govanhill, where I was brought up as a child and he still resides. Soon enough we got back to the present day but instead of moaning about the Board and greeting about not being able to watch the ‘tic anymore we diverted the discussion to doing something about it. And so, the idea at least, Govanhill Celtic was born. Was it possible we asked each other to have another wee hoops? We could use the surrounding public football pitches to get started. We could get sponsorship from local businesses, maybe even get a fundraising committee of other disaffected Celtic supporters that we knew that lived locally. But what about a team I asked. My mate was on it in a flash. We could use local boys and have a proper immigrants team made up of Pakistani, Slovaks, Romanians, Irish lads. Have trials and decide from there. I’m still unsure as to how you would describe such thinking. Was it out of the box or out of our box. But what it did start within me was what kind of football do I want to watch or do I want to watch it all? After all, nostalgia can be a comfy old whore.
Do I want to watch the Corporate drenched Oligarch/Sheik plaything or maybe something else?
Or am I content with the century old boys club version right here in Scotland? It pulled another short story out of me which, again, I thought I’d share.
The price of knowing
If the saying is blah blah keep your enemies closer then surely that’s what we’ve achieved.
I drove less than a mile and passed three serial asaulters. At the bus stop stood a rapist, who again waved at me. Once more! I swear. And before the mile was up I saw a murderer pushing a pram. An unconvicted murderer.
Of course there is nothing new in any of this. It’s the way it’s always been.
TSFM says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:33 am
There are stories written but unpublished about this saga, Editors are getting cold feet everywhere – despite the very real public interest involved. The real battle here has little to do with Rangers per se , but on the ability (or inclination) of the press to expose powerful vested interests.
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I think you are on the ball and CF’s quote from a Media House email about knowing ‘all the dirty little secrets’ of SMSM editors immediately jumps to mind.
This story goes all the way to the heart of how the Scottish establishment operates and controls Scotland and more seriously what its citizens are allowed to know and therefore how they should think. I agree with you that is some ways Rangers is merely a side-show but one which inadvertantly opened a window into the world of where the real power lies.
This was all going to be ‘managed’ with Rangers continuing in the SPL but without crippling debts. Everyone was on board and in agreement and the poodles of the SMSM were rolling over to have their tummies tickled and delicious lamb treats proffered. But the wheels came off the wagon when the peasants revolted.
One of the things that has puzzled me from the start and still does is why that Establishment utterly
failed to recognise that the Rangers business model was unworkable and that any ‘rescue’ would only be for a short period.
Was Government money going to be pumped into the game to keep Rangers afloat? Whatever – I really don’t understand that bit of the jigsaw.
Perhaps the way to tackle this is with the Trade Press – starting with PR and Media publications, blogs and websites. The closing down of CF gives us an impetus that might get publicity going. I think even making sure that as many Scottish football fan sites and forums as possible should be made aware of that and I wonder if anyone already has a list prepared.
The more I think about this we really need to break the SMSM log-jam on info. When the dam breaks there will be stories galore and we were getting close to that point that is why MH has gambled and gone for what could rebound badly on them. Although we can never be sure whether they are acting in their own interest or for one or a number of their clients. We are in a shadowy world here and none of us should ever forget that.
Auldheid says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:28 am
Sugar Daddy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:15 am
The UTTT is underway and should it find against Rangers the SPL has already said it doesn’t matter. A quite incredulous position and one that should be challenged.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Can you point me to where the SPL have made a statement? The Dundee Utd chairman did but not the SPL Board. You may be right but I’m not so sure the SPL have taken the position you state precisely because it is incredulous.
I know that one bit of advice in the aftermath of LNS was to say nothing until the UTT. Whether that was heeded I have no idea but it was suggested and I have not seen an official SPL statement.
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I was going to respond to the Sugar Daddy post as well to find out whether it referred to the statement made by Rod McKenzie to LNS about whether the SPL accepted the decision of the FTTT for the purposes of the LNS Enquiry. McKenzie confirmed that the SPL did accept it and it follows that a subsequent UTT decision reversing the FTTT decision was immaterial to the LNS deliberations.
There are obviously pros and cons no matter what decision was taken by the SPL but in my view the Bryson interpretation changed if not the rules then certainly the ‘normal’ interpretation of them and I think most of us now accept that the LNS chapter is closed whether we agree or not with the decisions and the machinations which were probably taking place in the background.
But will the rule books be changed to confirm that the Bryson interpretation was right or wrong – something made-up on the spur of the moment or a carefully planned and placed get out of jail card free. Another blind-eye turned by the SMSM because who knows what awkward truths might have been exposed by a simple question?
Auldheid says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:14 am
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 11:00 am
This is what I do. I have a Twitter account and if I post anything or see anything here I want to reach a wider audience I right click on the date of the post and copy the shortcut. I then go to my Twitter page and paste the shortcut with a comment to attract attention.
If it is worth comment on Twitter I get feedback but also the Tweet itself gets retweeted and depending on who it goes to it can reach many. When joining Twitter follow those with a big following like Phil Mac Giolla Bhain but also Tom English, Speirs etc. The story is what matters not the authors.
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I hear what you say and it makes sense and I agree with you. But I have taken a vow of abstinence vis a vis twitter and facebook and the like — I already spend too much time online 😆
I totally agree the story is more important than the glorification of the author but my gripe is that I always try and credit an original source as I think it’s the right thing to do. And if I ever see anything being mis-credited to me I will post a response to identify the actual source if I know it.
At the end of the day if the source isn’t credited then the original site isn’t identified and that’s what is important IMO as it helps grow the community involved and their potential to tackle more puzzles and to dig deeper into them.
ecobhoy says:
July 20, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Surely it was the SPL Board who should be making a statement unless McKenzie was specifically authorised to speak on the SPL behalf? That is what I want to see something that specificly comes from the SPL Borad itself saying that as a Board having read LNS findings they accept the LNS decision.
That of course presents the rules problem you highlight for how could they accept it with seeking clarification from the SFA on Brysons interpretation and when are SFA rules going to reflect the Bryson interpretation? I think its unfinished business.
In any case was it not the case LNS proceeded on the basis that the payments were regular but had not been registred properly? If they are deemed irregular then the question is not one of proper registration which I understand was the LNS brief but use of a system of payment that no other clubs could use because of their irregularity?
It may all be academic if HMRC do not win the appeal but I cannot see the LNS decision being treated as if it was a yellow card and the refs decision is final if HMRC get the nod (which is football thinking)
There will be consequences and questions to answer for everyone if that happens.
Ecobhoy
It looks like Celtic have the same questions as you re impact on rules.
“We note yesterday´s decision that Rangers FC has been found guilty of contravening the SPL rules on disclosure of payments over 11 years between 2000-2011.
“The scale of this amounts to a deliberate non-disclosure of £47 million in payments to players and staff. We also note the penalty of £250,000 which has been imposed.
“Like many within Scottish football, including supporters and other observers, we are surprised by the parallel conclusion that no competitive advantage was gained from these arrangements.
“However, the implications of this verdict are for the Scottish football authorities to address since the rules breached were specifically intended to defend “sporting integrity”.
The problem is it has been left to the SFA to wriggle out of but I cannot see the SPL voting to accept LNS without having the same reservatiosn as Celtic stated unless Celtic were outvoted at an SPL Board meeting. That is the evidence I would like to see for that is the one that matters.