For those following the games, rooting for their favourite teams and feverishly discussing their matches between two glasses of ale, football is a mix of entertainment and something to be excited about. These fans are, in turn, a massive customer base for those behind football as a business: their dedication and following is the driving force behind broadcast rights, merchandise, and ticket sales, all of which turn a wonderful sport into a cash cow for those pulling the strings. As long as the game is fair, both in the field and behind the scenes, it’s a win-win for all parties: the players get their salaries, the fans get their quality football, and the business entities behind them, ranging from football betting operators to the teams’ owners, advertisers, sponsors, and such, all get their money. Like in every business, though, there are parties in football that don’t exactly operate according to the rules. Of business, that is.
What many people don’t realize, though, is that football goes beyond being simply a game. As MEP Stelios Kouloglou pointed out in an op-ed published on Euractive this April, football can often flow into different areas like politics and racial bias, pointing out that the emergence of Pelé, one of the best football players ever, was instrumental to significantly reducing racism in Brazil. Yet the democratic nature of football is degraded today thanks to all the money flowing into it. And the best example of this, Kouloglou writes, is the UEFA Champions League.
As he points out, the only clubs that can reach the Champions League semi-finals are from the “big 5” countries – Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Great Britain. And this happens not because there aren’t any talented teams in other countries but because of all the money flowing into the clubs nowadays. After all, not all clubs can afford to pay almost £200 million for a single player, no matter how talented and marketable the player might be. These big clubs with big money behind them syphon all the most talented players from all over the world, offering amazing transfer fees and strengthening their ranks – investing in their future success with the goal of keeping their fans’ attention pointed on them, and making even more money in the process.
And where there’s money, there must be scandals related to money. Corruption and tax avoidance run rampant across football, from the top of organizations like FIFA and UEFA down to local clubs and players, working with financial advisors like Kingsbridge that allegedly help them invest in ways that will grant them tax relief, schemes that “don’t work”, according to HM Revenue and Customs.
A few years ago, an unpopular opinion emerged in the press stating that the influx of big money into football will ruin it forever by attracting the “wrong kind of owners” that see clubs as their “cash cow”, among others. MP Damian Collins went as far as saying that “Running a big football club now is like running a Hollywood studio – it’s a content business. The money goes to the stars”. And this is one of the biggest issues today’s football faces that can ruin it forever.
To add to that referee's piece.
About 10 years ago I worked with a chap who held a senior finance position at a large financial services company in Edinburgh.
A thoroughly decent, personable and highly capable guy.
Anyways, somehow amongst doing his job, having a young family, etc. he managed to be a Grade 1 ref in Scotland.
[I think it's now called Category 1]
On top of that he had to train hard to maintain his fitness, and midweek he sometimes had European fixtures to attend.
I don't think he slept!
But, I always remember asking him one day,
"So when will you get on the FIFA list?".
IIRC at that time it was the top list giving access to e.g World Cup Finals fixtures (?).
And I remember vividly his immediate response, word for word;
"No, my face doesn't fit, [at the Referees' Association]."
He said it in a matter of fact manner. No anger or frustration. Quite blase in fact.
I also remember being a bit shocked that this highly driven individual would seemingly just shrug his shoulders at the acceptance that his refereeing career progression – which he must have worked on for 15+ years – was effectively curtailed.
Of course I didn't know then what I know now about the whole, rancid, Scottish Referees set up.
But a high performing ref and honest man was barred, [in his opinion], from a top appointment. I didn't want to ask any follow up questions – like why did his face not fit – as I didn't want to pry.
I wonder how many such instances have occurred at Hampden over the years…?
That interview:
"Rangers fans can demand respect", says a man for whom, whether as journalist or human being, I have less respect than I have for a dried-up dug toley!( how is that word spelled?)
The fans of the dead club can have no respect for themselves if they respect that cheating club, whose death was headlined by Traynor himself (who clearly has no respect for himself as a journalist).
And fans of TRFC of 2012 foundation can have no respect for themselves for allowing themselves to believe a myth, and childishly claim credit for sporting achievements which were actually won by another club.
And, of course, our football Governance body, having helped create and sustain the Big Lie, has put itself in such thrall to the new creation that I doubt if it has the moral courage to revert to Sporting truth and do the right thing: which is to let the official records of Scottish football show that Rangers of 1872 died in 2012, and that its capacity to add to its sporting honours (the legitimate ones) ended then: and that TRFC has a handful of league titles since its admittance into Scottish Football and nothing more.
Then , and only then, will Scottish Football be 'clean' and sporting competition genuine and meaningful.
The article referenced by Jingojimsie @11.49 is well worth a read. A wee glimpse into the closed shop that is the Scottish refereeing fraternity. It’s hard to believe that professional football clubs are content to put up with such arrangements. It looks to all the world like a self perpetuating oligarchy answerable to no one. Anyone care to bet that Dallas jnr will follow in his father’s footsteps?
Ex Ludo 24th February 2019 at 14:54
The article referenced by Jingojimsie @11.49 is well worth a read. A wee glimpse into the closed shop that is the Scottish refereeing fraternity. It’s hard to believe that professional football clubs are content to put up with such arrangements. It looks to all the world like a self perpetuating oligarchy answerable to no one. Anyone care to bet that Dallas jnr will follow in his father’s footsteps?
==============================
"He's a bitter man. Didn't get promoted…….spat the dummy out! Was on with him a few times. He wasn't great to say the least." …….. just the view of another official.
I have just had the pleasure of seeing a third smallish skein of geese making its way due north over south east Edinburgh, not too far away and not too high up against a large patch of clear blue, sunny sky. I saw the first one at 14.17 ,the second about an hour later.
It fairly gives one a lift in spirits, after stomaching the likes of Traynor's (not terribly articulate or fluent ) garbage.
fair play??? …… motherwell, … a crowd o’ chanty wraslers!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1099709916078657537
It may be unsporting but there really is no rule to say they have to give it back. I'm sure sevco did this in the last couple of matches against Killie as well.
Jist noticed there, my post two above, should read "chanty wrastlers"
I've been trying to find out what precisely is the status and authority of the 'referees' associations'.
When and how were they set up? Who funds them? What's the 'chain of command'? Are referees 'employees' of the SFA, or casual workers hired as and when? Are they a sort of trade union? Who appoints their leaders?
How can I have lived so long and not know these basics?
Well, because I always assumed that Scottish Football was about sport, and sporting integrity and general fairness and fair play, and that Sporting Integrity ruled, despite the odd Farry and Dallas.
And felt no need to ask.
SDM blew the idea of 'Sporting Integrity' idea to smithereens, and was allegedly aided in that by a complicit Governance body- which resisted and continues to resist any attempt to investigate the allegations openly.
Now, we cannot believe anything that comes from the 6th Floor.
It gars me greet, and even the beautiful sight of geese flying northwards ,heralding Spring, does not entirely soothe the troubled breast.
It's not often I post on here (or indeed, other sites) but it's probably the most lucid of them all. there are sterling contributions from JC and the Hearts boys, Red Lichtie, Auldheid and many more, I have a suspicion that I may be the oldest aficionado-but it's always a pleasure. Thank you gentlemen.
Oh!—I also think we may be in the end game vis a vis the referees.
One can but hope.
https://twitter.com/clydessb/status/1099983398569984002?s=21
Too far?
“Ethics are for people in other walks of life.”
The above quote is rather spookily linked to the subject of the new blog. It is from an online piece by Hugh Keevins in relation to the incident at the Celtic v. Motherwell game yesterday. The new blog makes reference to the wrong sort of owners. It would appear again that Scotland does not have the right sort of journalists.
From Stelios Kouloglou's piece of last April "Tackling corruption in football is actually a fight for democracy":
"…In the PANA Committee, the European Parliament’s Inquiry Committee for the Panama Papers revelations, representatives of FIFA and UEFA were invited to testify.I persistently asked them how they are going to tackle the tax avoidance schemes and if they are concerned about the complete lack of transparency. They gave no credible answers."
Never mind FIFA and UEFA: I think I would more immediately ask whether the SFA have said what measures they have taken to prevent another SDM-type club owner using tax-cheating or other dodgy monies to fund 'success'. Whose job is it now to examine and check the veracity of club documents relating to wages and salaries of players? And who checks the checkers?
Watch from about 1min 30 secs to see how a team behaves after scoring when trying to give the ball back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T-xhg3PNlM
or how about this for fair play, and then getting shot by your manager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKgen3bch8U
Don't think it's money which is ruining footy, but rather unsuitable people. People filled with greed, dishonesty and/or ulterior motives.
From dodgy owners and agents, to grasping clubs, and even to corrupt football governance.
But, IMO, nothing's new: any sport with a lot of money swirling around it attracts the worst elements, e.g. from boxing to even cycling or F1.
In footy it just seems to be getting more extreme. Amounts of money involved are getting crazy, and the gap between the top Euro clubs and everyone else is widening at an exponential rate.
Mibbees a 'correction' will happen only if/when there is a drop in TV monies.
And money aside with blatant corruption;
– at the local FA level, [yes, that's you dinosaurs at Hampden],
– at UEFA level
– at FIFA level
then the game will always be ruined… in one way or another.
"£5.2M profit for Rangers."
Aye, right.
Unaudited interims of course.
Off the top of my head…
Which will transform at full year end into a loss of c.£10M?
Mibbees the 'sincere' King has decided to record all expenses in the second half of the year…?
Ballyargus 25th February 2019 at 13:28
Clearly the internet has yet to reach Motherwell.
StevieBC 24th February 2019 at 12:14
About 10 years ago I worked with a chap who held a senior finance position at a large financial services company in Edinburgh. He managed to be a Grade 1 ref in Scotland. But, I always remember asking him one day, "So when will you get on the FIFA list?". And I remember vividly his immediate response, word for word; "No, my face doesn't fit, [at the Referees' Association]."
————————————————-
In 2012 when the newly formed TRFC was about to embark on its ‘journey’ Charles Green demanded that their lower league games were refereed by Grade 1 officials. This must have been music to the ears of John Fleming and his inner sanctum. The ‘cream’ of the referees would get the TRFC gigs and the nice little earners that would go along with them. In addition, the selected officials would get exposure to the cameras due to the number of TRFC games that were televised.
I wonder what Stevie BC’s friend and all the other passed-over referees must have thought about this exclusive arrangement within the Lanarkshire referees club at Hampden? Or did they, too, just simply shrug their shoulders and accept the fact their faces didn’t fit?
In March 2011 when John Fleming was appointed the new head of referees development at the SFA, Phil wrote that the higher echelons of the SFA regarded him as a safe pair of hands. Phil’s sources had reported that Fleming, despite being a grade 1 referee for 10 years, had never officiated at an Old Firm match and in that sense he carried no baggage. Phil, like many of us, wished Fleming well in taking over from the corrupt Dallas, but I wonder if we would have been so eager for this appointment knowing what we know 8 years down the line?
I am told that TRFC has played its last four games without the referee so much as producing a yellow card to any TRFC player. If true, is it a case of the referees going overboard with John Fleming’s directions to take it easy on the Ibrox club? ‘Sportscene’ last night showed Worrall plant a kung-fu kick on the Accies player’s head. As it was in the TRFC penalty area that would have warranted a red card and penalty. The referee waved on play.
Billyboyce@16.23
According to the SPFL website t’Rangers are top of the Red Card table but sit joint 10th in the Yellow Card table. I suppose it’s statistically possible but seems a bit out of kilter to me.
StevieBC 25th February 2019 at 14:07
"£5.2M profit for Rangers."
Aye, right.
Unaudited interims of course.
Off the top of my head…
Which will transform at full year end into a loss of c.£10M?
Mibbees the 'sincere' King has decided to record all expenses in the second half of the year…?
================================
The half year profit is not unexpected, at least by me. They had six full houses in the Europa League plus the prize money that went with it, which probably earned then something in excess £12m from that source alone. Had they gone out in a qualifying round, the picture would have looked pretty bleak.
Their costs however have rocketed along with their increased revenue. I would still anticipate a full year loss come the end of June, as there is little opportunity to match the revenue of the first half.
The club has forecast being close to break even on an EBITDA basis at year end.
Even if they achieve that, then amortisation in particular will see them report a substantial loss at year end. The amortisation figure from the last full year was £7.4m, so could be indicative of the quantum of the final loss.
Since you are all exhibiting "petition signing" withdrawal symptoms –
https://www.change.org/p/everyone-remove-james-dornan-from-all-influence-involving-the-national-anti-sectarianism-group-2034d722-f8e7-45f8-a87a-ba1b0ba6a5d7
Another manager culled
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47357362
Something being ramped up in a co-ordinated way ? Hope they remembered to give at least 28 days prior notice .
" …the Club forecasting to be close to break-even for EBITDA for the year."
To suggest that you are going to "break even" for EBITDA is smoke and fecking mirrors.
We are going to break even if we ignore Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation.
So, basically, we are going to run at a loss but we don't want to make it too obvious to the hard of thinking just now.
Amortisation is a huge issue for football clubs, it is the way the purchase of a players registration is reduced to zero over the terms of his contract. So basically every player on their books (unless they were a free or came through the ranks) will have an amortisation figure for the year.
As EJ said it was c£7.4m last year.
So there will almost certainly be a trading loss in the second half of the year. Less money coming in and more money going out, allied to amortisation.
The fans are loving it of course, because intuitively it looks good. However I don't think the picture is anywhere near as rosy as Mr King is suggesting.
Following another discussion on strict liability on Sportsound tonight, I thought that I would look at he English FA's rules on the topic. They appear to cover what is required in Scotland, sooner rather than later.
Homunculus Re EBITDA
This can actually be a good indicator of the financial state of a company.
Since depreciation and amortisation are not cash payments and we know that they won't be paying any tax 🙂 it can show the cash generated from revenue. The statement that they might hit break even on EBITDA (probably won't) shows a company living from hand to mouth.
The figures they have published are amateurish at best and tell us nothing.
Have the legal fees been accrued for?
What about the future payments for players bought by Gerrard?
Outstanding other debts and when they have to be paid?
I would really like to know the Accounts Payable days. Is it a 3 figure number 🙂
How much cash is available now for the next 6 months operation?
The cost of De Foe and Davis will also be a big chunk of cash whatever number you believe in the press.
However, it will be season book renewal time again soon and those wads of cash will keep them going till Xmas.
finnmccool 25th February 2019 at 22:48
Homunculus Re EBITDA
==============================================
I'm not suggesting that the methodology is not useful as a comparative measure for a certain type of business.
Just that in this instance it is being used to paint a picture which I do not believe to be true.
If the "profit" at end December is £5m fair enough, however the second half of the year will be a trading "loss" in my opinion. To then ignore amortisation with a view of misleading the support is just outright disingenuous.
However as I'm not a bean counter I'm more than happy to be told I'm wrong. It will likely be December before we know anyway.
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2019/02/25/rugger-giy-and-the-sevco-interims/
PMGB’s Rugger Guy not impressed by t’Rangers interims.
Homunculus
I was not disagreeing with you. The figures released are junk.
They are not audited so are probably not produced according to UK GAAP.
Who knows what has been included/excluded from them.
There's not a lot of income for football teams at this time of the year. Less so if you maxed out your season tickets last year.
With costs running at £5 million or so a month, I suspect that they are having a difficult job of paying the bills. How sad.
finnmccool 25th February 2019 at 22:48
The figures they have published are amateurish at best and tell us nothing.
Have the legal fees been accrued for?
What about the future payments for players bought by Gerrard?
Outstanding other debts and when they have to be paid?
………………
And that big bad Mike Ashley has not gone away…. April 12 i believe.
paddy malarkey 25th February 2019 at 19:12
The original poster and tweet from the Venereal Bears was calling out the Beeb for its 'Biased and IMPARTIAL reporting' They obviously changed if after getting a real roasting
Rodgers 'gone' or 'going'?
ET & DR claiming he's actually gone.
Nothing on CFC site or CQN.
Definitely gone. Ali McConnell reporting it (and Chris Sutton). They’ve both been tipped a wink – probs from Celtic
As per your excellent blog money does indeed ruin football,Celtic have lost there manager to day to an english prem side and not a top side at that but the money on offer would turn anyones head,is a body blow for us Celtic fans we will march on as its not as if our great club have been placed into administration or liquidated.
Every team loses a manager at some point and from what I have heard half the Celtic support wanted him gone anyway. The other half want Lawwell gone so only some will be weeping however I'm not sure Neil going back even on a temp basis is the correct decision for him.
I wonder if Alfredo will reach/better Brendan's reported transfer fee .
A bit jarring, today of all days, to read that Great Britain is one of the 5 countries that supply Champions League semi-finalists.
(no criticism is intended of Tom Jones as he is simply quoting the Greek MEP)
Unless Leicester win a League Cup then Valencia was Rodgers last match in Europe for a very long time.
Strange!!!
A lot of unhappy Celtic fans on various forums and who can blame them really.
Meanwhile the joy on Rangers media etc is like they'd won their first title!
Money talks in football sadly and even Celtics relative wealth is nothing to the absurd riches of the EPL clubs.
Likewise i'd imagine local hero Graham Shinnie will announce his departure to Wigan/Preston or the like for quadruple his current salary. Annoying but not a lot you can do unless you're a club who can survive on directors loans
If you accept that Brendan Rogers wants as a professional to compete at the highest end in the Premiership then you are only talking about 4 or 5 clubs that he wants to manage, none of which are based in the East Midlands.
So why move there and why now?
The fact is he would just not be quoted for a job at either the Manchester clubs or the three big London clubs even if he won 10 in a row and 5 treble trebles.
He also knows Celtic will have an occasional good year in Europe but most years will be out-resourced by clubs with more money to spend so he won't earn a top job at the big 5 by winning a European trophy.
Being a winner at Leicester will be more impressive on his cv and make him more of a target.
Add that to a big hike in his salary and no longer working with Mr Lawwell and maybe his decision was an easy one.
Good luck Brendan, you've been good for Scottish football and I'm sorry for our game that you are departing.
I normally try and avoid comments on Celtic per se but everybody moves on in one way or another. There is no indispensable man or woman. Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Kenny Dalglish, Henrik Larson, Tommy Burns and many others. The SMSM will be in a lather for a few days and everyone will adjust. Thought BR might have seen this season out though.
So will t'rangers 2012 win their first league and cup double, Celtic could now easily fall apart in the final run in could be a cracking finish.
A blow for Celtic if it happens but they are robust enough structurally and financially to deal with it IMO. Continuing the blog title theme you can always argue whether money ruins football but you can't argue that it runs football. Players and managers alike are not fans; even if they may end up working for the team they supported as a boy (as the cliche goes) they are not "fans", they are employees.
Won't believe 'he has gone' until it's confirmed on CFC website.
No problem with him leaving at all: he is ambitious.
But for the sake of what – 10 weeks? – why give up possibly 2 more trophies from his CV ?
Hoping he is playing a clever, (sneaky ?), long game.
All the best managers – generally – want to try the EPL, as its certainly the richest… not so sure if it's the self-proclaimed 'bestest league in the world' though.
ernie 26th February 2019 at 15:21
'..Players and managers alike are not fans; even if they may end up working for the team they supported as a boy (as the cliche goes) they are not "fans", they are employees.'
***************
More accurately , ernie, they are mercenaries, who seek the highest rewards that their trade will provide.
This is not necessarily a criticism-who among us is not averse to an increase in income in return for our skills and labour?
Notions that we should honour any contract that we have signed died the death long ago.
To expect Rodgers to turn down a significant increase in 'filthy lucre' would be an expression of unrealistic idealism, that the world of modern sport has no time for.
The sooner we accept that we have no right to expect that football managers and players should work for love rather than geld any more than you or I would , the sooner we bring ourselves into the real world of 'professional' football.
A world where Sporting Integrity was long ago lost through the unpunished cheating of SDM's/CW's Rangers of 1872, and the creation of the lie of the century that TRFC of 2012 is RFC of 1872- clear evidence that money has indeed ruined professional football as a sport.
Ex Ludo 26th February 2019 at 14:46
I normally try and avoid comments on Celtic per se but everybody moves on in one way or another. There is no indispensable man or woman. Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Kenny Dalglish, Henrik Larson, Tommy Burns and many others. The SMSM will be in a lather for a few days and everyone will adjust. Thought BR might have seen this season out though.
Sensible words Ex Ludo and a realistic, sanguine stance that I would recommend most Celtic fans adopt. However, some seems to be taking it a bit harder than others.
TheCelticBlog @CelticBlog2018 27m27 minutes ago
For Leicester fans gloating about their little coup today, here's something they should ponder; this ends in one of two ways. With you and your board telling Rodgers to GTF or with a day like this. Because if this is how he treats Celtic, he won't hesitate to fuck you as well.
Like some of the loudest cheerleaders for those on the other side of Glasgow, it is days like this when you find some people don't do irony.
All teams lose their managers at some point by one way or another. If you are daft enough to think that, in football, someone you have put on a pedestal as a saint and you've swallowed their guff won't do you over at some point then, as your granny said, hell mend you.
A bit of a hard one for Celtic but with one trophy in the bag and 8 point lead and still in the Scottish Cup its not the end of the world, as surely there will be plenty of suitors.
Celtic seemingly thinking of letting John kennedy take the next couple of games looks a wee bit strange or maybe something more sinister lose the next 2 games and t'rangers win the league strange goings on here IMO.
Tierney and McGregor to Leicester in the summer anyone?
I take it celtic will receive more in compensation than the RIFC posted as a profit
I am not overly disappointed Rogers has left, I expected it this summer anyway. I believe there are more tactically astute managers around and as I have said on here before, I expected Steve Clarke to come in this summer, after last year's summer transfer fiasco.
After, the abuse from the Govan klan, I am now not sure if he will want to remain in Scotland much longer let alone become the main focus of the Gullibillie's wrath as Celtic manager. Unless of course, he really fancies sticking it right up them by delivering 10 in a row???
No losing Rogers is not the worry. When faced with a high press in the defeats against Hibs and Sevco, he appeared unable or unwilling to adjust his tactics to deal with it. For me the worry is, as Shug says, Rogers will look to Celtic's promising youngsters to pad out his squad on the cheap.
Tierney, McGregor, Forrest, Bain etc not only a loss to Celtic, but also to Scotland as they rot in the reserves of the EPL strugglers. Hands off Brendan!
He can take Sinclair though…..
So lenny in place until the end of the season that must be a bit of relief for the Celtic support.
Get over it guys! Sh*t happens. Shirly youse can still stop TRFC winning the league? Their first one that is! Ernie is 100% correct that money runs football but whether it ruins it is a matter of opinion I guess. 24 or 25 years since any team not called Celtic or Rangers have won the top league in Scotland is not healthy in my humble opinion. how do we change that? Guess money has a lot to do with that?
34 years since last non Glasgow team won the league by the way
Aberdeen in 84-85
Is most of this Celtic board related to the Kellys, i.e. suicide?
For all those remarking on Steve Clarke for the next (next) Celtic manager, he has said on a number of occasions that Killie will be the only Scottish team he manages – nuff said!
Ok, Brendan has left the building.
My wife and I have enjoyed being able to attend all but one home games since October – but she is more upset / annoyed / confused than me that Brendan has done walking away.
Yes, if you want loyalty get a cocker spaniel.
Yet Rodgers seemed to reflect the fans' belief in the club, its history and its corporate / community social responsibility.
Guessing that a lot has been going on behind the scenes at Parkhead (?) which would explain his move, and the poor timing.
In other news Willie Collum has not refereed a Rangers game since they publicly savaged him earlier this season. I don't know about other clubs but I do know that since then Celtic have had him twice and are to get him again against Hibs in the Scottish Cup. It's a poor show when one club appears able to dictate who the Referee is.
bordersdon 26th February 2019 at 21:32
"…Get over it guys! Sh*t happens. Shirly youse can still stop TRFC winning the league?.."
********************
The point that would have to be made if TRFC were to win the league this season is, of course, that it would be TRFC of 2012 which won it for the first time in its existence, and that poor old Rangers of 1872(IL)could claim no credit for it, they having ceased to participate in Scottish Football in 2012.
It would be an unconscionable lie and total sporting farce if the record books were to be so written as to perpetuate the vile and disgusting lie that a TRFC Premier League title-win somehow added to such of those titles and honours which were legitimately (i.e. in pre-EBT days )by the club in Liquidation.
JohnClark@08.16
If that scenario should ever come to pass then I think we all know what would happen vis a vis the media and the new club. The media could do no other than celebrate such a feat as another title for the old club because they are now trapped in a lie which they have fostered and have ceaselessly foisted on the rest of us. What a mess that would be.
Bill 1903 @ 22.18
———————————————————————-
Absolutely Bill, Obviously I knew that
. Jist nae affa guid at countin!
John Clark @ 08.16
The point that would have to be made if TRFC were to win the league this season is, of course, that it would be TRFC of 2012 which won it for the first time in its existence,
——————————————————————————
Exactly John. TRFC. But as Ex Ludo rightly says ALL but ALL of the media will scream from the rooftops that Rangers have won 55 championships (actually I believe the old team only won 53 and a half as the first one was shared with Dumbarton, but I may be mistaken)
StevieBC 26th February 2019 at 23:53
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Ok, Brendan has left the building.
My wife and I have enjoyed being able to attend all but one home games since October – but she is more upset / annoyed / confused than me that Brendan has done walking away.
Yes, if you want loyalty get a cocker spaniel.
========================================
Or a Labrador stevieBC.
Bordersdon@09.12
Fifty three and a half you say? With chat like that you’re going to get yourself on one of those lists. I’m away now to research Dumbarton #deadlyBoghead
bordersdon 27th February 2019 at 09:12
'….But as Ex Ludo rightly says ALL but ALL of the media will scream from the rooftops that Rangers have won 55 championships '
***************
Well, of course they will.
However, the fact that several millions of Nazis believed what the pre-war German equivalent of the SMSM had to say did not make their lies somehow true! That generation of evil, lying 'newsmen' have passed on and are mouldering in their rotten graves.
Their present day equivalents in the SMSM will in their turn go discredited to their graves, most of them without even the excuse of being sadistic psychopaths , but as men who ducked and dived and told untruths knowingly , and for the basest of petty, personal reasons.
From britticania.com
“Between 1899 and 1954 the club was managed by just two men, William Wilton and Bill Struth. Under Struth, who led the team for 34 seasons, Rangers won 18 league championships as well as 10 Scottish Cups. Rangers’ 54 total Scottish league championships—including one shared with Dumbarton FC in 1891—“
Yes or no’ …… For me. …. H.H. N.F.L.
https://youtu.be/A1OGbPaPovs
I worked out the NFL, presumably F is a middle name, but who is HH? Asking for a fan who has the self awareness to know that the minutiae of their club is not relevant to the wider audience of this forum.
Ernie. are you drunk. very clever to work out Neil Francis Lennon
and you struggle with H.H. ….. a wee hint, ….HAIL HAIL.
Portbhoy 27th February 2019 at 12:48 Ernie. are you drunk. very clever to work out Neil Francis Lennon and you struggle with H.H. ….. a wee hint, ….HAIL HAIL.
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I think Ernie was just politely pointing out that this is not meant to be a Celtic blog and that many of us would not 'Hail' Celtic even if it was the only taxi in town.
This is not a Celtic site and I have been doing my talking about recent events on such sites. I will however suggest you have a look at this one link, it sums the whole situation up for me in very few words. It is also suitably serious.
https://www.facebook.com/TheSoccerGuy1/?__tn__=%2CdkCH-R-R&eid=ARCNyw_RuRoCsb7P_YZxCeLHlTtyYE5uUi5ORdeg4jKk1DepBMFQ0BXaP4MJoXtMRE08LXA4BYNXneDn&hc_ref=ARTt3Y3UILNV43g_m2SgLyOQPRjkk-VtzWHLU7e4a0E_sHpEbqf901wgK_UJLnIAcDE&fref=nf&hc_location=group
Apologies if the link does not work.
That is all.
Sorry Ernie, I thought you were taking the P.
Homunculus@13.03
Not sure if the link quite worked out but I did like the reference to Liechester City Night Dogs. The JJ site also has an article on Brendan Rogers if anyone’s interested.
Ex Ludo 27th February 2019 at 15:25
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Is he standing by this
"Other than being pushed I cannot conceive any circumstances which would compel Rodgers to leave Celtic for Leicester City."
He is usually forthright about anything in his blogs.