Given the recent heightened focus on the refereeing standards in Scotland, I was asked to update a previous blog from 2010 that included suggestions for changing the way refereeing is managed in Scotland .
Having had a look at original my thoughts are “ here we are again”, for the very same reasons the blog was penned in 2010.
Why?
Because the refereeing issue is in my view connected to a lack of proper financial controls that create moral hazard, where one party can act with reckless abandon (see Rangers latest accounts), but other parties, as happened in 2012 are left to face the consequences.
So I’ll just repeat the suggestions made then but with an added comment on the proposed use of VAR, and how that and proper financial controls can save Scottish football from itself. First the Referee Service
Note the word “service” for this is the way that much of what the SFA do should be viewed. The SFA provide a number of services to the clubs who play in Scotland. They should not be seen as their masters but their servants. Or in modern terms the clubs in their professional leagues are the customers and the SFA the service providers. This change of attitude would allow competition to provide such services to enter the scene and so improve them.
This would be a huge cultural change but it has to start somewhere and here we are again under starters orders IF supporters act to bring the change about by calling their clubs to account for allowing the past to repeat itself today as a result of the notorious sporting integrity breaking Five Way Agreement, that UEFA never clapped eyes on where our game became a franchise and clubs where stores that changed from Mr Noodles to Nachos but were still the same because they sold food.
Anyway!
The Referee Service
This would be split with the SFA doing the recruitment, training and match appointments (having taken the nature of the game to be officiated into account). However the monitoring and evaluation would be the province of the customer, using referees or ex refs from anywhere to mark to a standard set by the customer. This spilt of responsibilities would prevent any one person being in a position to exert his own influence on referees as a result of being part of the appointment and evaluation process. It would safeguard the SFA from the kind of suspicion that led to the referees’ strike and lead to a higher standard of referee because the customer would be setting the standard not the supplier (as happens everywhere in business but football) If it did not, it would free the SPL/SL to hire their own referees from wherever they could get them. A bit of competition never did anybody any harm and that includes our referees who, if they reached higher standards, would be in more demand outside Scotland.
Here is the addition brought on by the introduction of VAR which is just another service. Use this “here we go again” opportunity to put the VAR service AND the refereeing it watches over out to tender. The VAR supplier is also the referee monitor service to the leagues and the SFA become trainers and developers at lower levels of professional referees and work with the VAR service under a contract that rewards both parties.
The Licensing Service
This needs to be calibrated to meet the financial position of Scottish clubs. The principles in UEFA FFP that stipulate what is to be treated as allowable income and allowable debt continue, but regulating controls to prevent clubs going bust or acting in a reckless financial manner need introduced. Points deduction is no deterrent if such recklessness creates huge points gap at end of season when the CL money is at stake. Nor is the threat of losing all won by that recklessness a deterrent, when the nature of how it was won is downplayed then ignored and airbrushed from football history.
If survival depends on access to CL geld then referees , as matters continue to stand will come under the kind of scrutiny that unless addressed, leads to an ever growing suspicion, because here we bloody well are again, that our game is bent .
Worse it leads to thinking that the clubs like it that way but ignore that their supporters do not and will continue to ignore until supporters vote with their feet.
In short the Licensing Service that is supposed to protect the financial well being of Scottish clubs has failed. It perpetuates a moral hazard almost by design that caused Rangers demise in 2012 and that failure and how it was dealt with under the 5 Way Agreement has undermined the integrity of our game, causing increased scrutiny of referee decisions and if not dealt with this time will eventually kill football in Scotland as a sport.
VAR however if introduced as a professional service on lines suggested should encourage more prudent financial behaviour in future by making reckless behaviour so risky it will stop and with it the moral hazard it creates.
Timtim 20th October 2021 At 19:56
‘..Mr Gerrard’s odds on securing the Newcastle job have drifted out to an avg 16/1 , no doubt the scuttlebutt about him waiting on the Anfield position instead has had an effect, or maybe reality is just setting in.’
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Or maybe, perhaps, Mr Gerrard read ( as I did today on the train to Glasgow on a picked up copy of ‘The Herald) what the very highly principled ( but EBT recipient ) Mr Graham Souness had to offer as advice to said Mr Gerrard: do not think of taking the job at NUFC because of the human rights issue.
Graham, man of high moral principle as he is, says he himself would never work for the new owners of NUFC.
Quite heart-warming to hear men of such integrity speak out!
I don’t think.
Ah, yes, the same principled Mr Souness who (from my fading memory) was paid via EBT by Rangers while managing another club, (Blackburn?). Couldn’t have anything to do with the transfer of players from Rangers to Blackburn though, that would be too shoddy a practice.
Is it because the game of football is riddled with vermin from top to bottom, that when someone smells a rat, it barely causes a stir, or little outcry and certainly no detailed independent investigation. Probably afraid that any detailed investigation of any wrongdoings might eventually lead back to them.
Dom McKay’s “personal reasons” have obviously cleared up quickly enough for him to take up a new position.
Will the truth ever emerge?
…………………………………………………..
https://www.epcrugby.com/2021/10/21/epcr-appoints-dominic-mckay-as-interim-chairman/
Some random musings (offered in the light of getting my 10IAR prediction spectacularly wrong!) …
‘Gerro’ has not a snowball’s chance in hell of getting the Newcastle ‘gig’. He would take it in a heartbeat – especially as he looks over his shoulder towards the East End at what I believe is the start of a Celtic recovery. (If I’m wrong, I will, of course, eat humble pie on here)
I also sense some rumblings of discontent in Govania e.g Kent (have they paid for him yet?), Morelos (though offset by 20 million+ bid on the way), Goldson (contract dispute?), Arfield (cannae get a game) McGregor and Davis (ageing?). All of a sudden the squad looks a bit ‘thin on the ground’ to me. Could take its toll as the season wears on.
Furthermore, in broader financial terms, although TRFC deservedly won the league, I believe they, in desperation, really ‘hawked’ themselves to lenders. As a result there already precarious financial state is even more ‘parlous’. This explains their mediocre summer transfer activity. Oh … and Big Mike is still waiting in the wings!
Furthermore, they may well not progress beyond the Group stages in this season’s Europa League – and they absolutely have to win The SPFL this season.
Stealing (by the previous identity of the club playing out of Ibrox), begging and perennial borrowing will come to an inevitable end – especially if they don’t win the league. Then what – admin or liquidation as per their predecessors? In short, they are skint and ‘somethin’s jist no right there’!
n.b: all of the above is downplayed/ignored by the ‘Sound of Silence’ SMSM which seems to spend a lot of its time denigrating Postecoglou and his approach by (embarrasingly for themselves) asking idiotic questions and querying his attacking approach.
Now, I’m not saying that my team will win the league, but it is surely possible, as the green shoots of recovery, from the disaster that was last season, are clearly there:-
In particular, I feel that Kyogo, Jota, Giakoumakis (who looks a powerful player), and Forrest will play key roles in shifting the balance of power back to Celtic. Julien and Juranovic will bolster the defence significantly and midfield looks good. It’s all about fitness admittedly, in an otherwise very strong squad with undoubted quality.
There endeth, for now, my rambles!
Best67 –Oct 21/2021/16:43
Enjoyed the musings posted above. If the Newcastle job is still available come January and Stevie finds out there is no money to spend in the transfer market it could make for some interesting talks. I think doing a half decent job with Newcastle would add more to the resume than falling short in the overall competitions in Scotland ( cups included). Also agree with your assessment of problems with players looking far afield. I think the attitude is we did the job required, stopping the 10, now get me the hell out of here and into a more stable position. And, finally what will Nathan Patterson be worth next week, if he gets any game time his value could probably double.
Albertz11 21st October 2021 At 16:26
‘..Will the truth ever emerge?..’
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The ballsing up of a CEO appointment by a Board is really neither here nor there, I would suggest.
McKay perhaps made a farce of himself by applying for the Celtic CEO post and the Board made an even bigger farce of its useless self in making the appointment.
But there has been no question of law-breaking, or breach of Rules or suspected complicity in untruth for financial gain or of propagation of sporting lies by the very governance body of a Sport.
Scottish Football has more to worry about than mere incompetence!
And more of us should be pressing to have the truth exposed.
“will the truth ever emerge”? (A11/RC 21st October @ 16.26)
What a belter, and a truly breathtaking, ironic and petty question from someone who follow follows a team from the Land of Denial, Entitlement – and Non-continuity! Maybe, in fairness, the poster is not a denier (that Rangers were liquidated in 2012, and were subsequently reformed as Sevco then TRFC) so, in the meantime, it would help me understand his point if he clarified this with regard to his ‘dig’ at Celtic..
In short, I wonder how (especially in the context of Rangers 1872 – 2012) he understands/defines truth.
Dom McKay (and CFC) have closed the chapter and moved on – without, I am confident in stating, stealing, lying, cheating, ‘shafting’ creditors etc etc.
Re Dominic McKay:
I suspect that he was simply unprepared for the magnitude of the job (and the commitment required) at CFC.
Perhaps Mr. Lawwell, with his years of experience, made it look easy-peasy when McKay was shadowing him & the reality is/was somewhat different?
I had occasion this afternoon to refer to this case
“61992A0046
Judgment of the Court of First Instance (First Chamber) of 9 November 1994.
Scottish Football Association v Commission of the European Communities.”
The case was about the SFA having ” appeared to be intending to prevent The European Sports Network (TESN) from broadcasting Argentinian football matches in Scotland, and arose from a complaint made by TESN.
The SFA won on one point only, but failed to win overall and had to pay costs, but that’s not why I mention it.
I give a few phrases used by the SFA in their reply to the letter from the Commission of the European Communities, asking for information on a number of points to help with their investigation of the complaint:
“We have received your enquiry with some surprise… this Association is not embarrassed to state that it has a policy, and will continue that policy, of trying to ensure a balance of control over the broadcasting in Scotland of televised football games. ..Speaking frankly, we do not understand why Mr Barron is so jumpy about this matter, nor why the Commission should have intervened in such a peremptory fashion.”
What does the ‘tone’ of the language remind you of? Is there a hint of an underlying attitude of affronted aggression at being questioned, vaguely reminiscent of the tone of recent statements from football persons in recent years/
Or is it just me that imagines that?
A little light reading
https://cdn.celticfc.com/assets/downloads/Notice_of_Meeting_2021.pdf
paddy malarkey 22nd October 2021 At 19:54
‘.A little light reading.
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Hmmn.
I have no email intimating the date of the Celtic plc AGM!
So, thank you , pm, for that news.
I note that Bankier and the others are standing for re-election to the Board.
After the farce of last season, and the crass errors in the long drawn out appointment of a CEO who chucks the job six weeks later, who do they think they are that they should be trusted with even a kid’s piggy bank to manage, let alone be re-appointed to the Board?
But the killer for me is this:
“The Board considers, however, that since first raising these matters with the Scottish FA in 2011, it has taken appropriate steps in the circumstances to protect and promote the interests of the Company. ”
I read that as reflecting that saving ‘Rangers’ at the expense of truth and sporting integrity for filthy lucre’s sake : to save their own ‘old firm’ revenue stream was all that they were interested in.
Truth and Integrity came a poor second.
And made absolutely hypocritical the boast of being ‘one club since 1888’.
In my view, the Celtic PLC board which refused to pursue the at least POSSIBILITY that they had been bilked of several millions of pounds by a possibly cheating, lying GOVERNANCE body which itself may possibly have connived in the possible cheating of a club that DEFINITELY cheated the taxman and ‘misinformed’ that very governance body, are unworthy of the positions they held;
and rather than seek re-appointment, they should apologise, resign en bloc and gtf out in SHAME, shame, shame that they let mere finance take precedence over principle.
In short, I imagine the view was ‘ without a Rangers we lose money’
Hell mend them!
John Clark 22nd October 2021 At 23:20
“saving ‘Rangers’ at the expense of truth and sporting integrity for filthy lucre’s sake : to save their own ‘old firm’ revenue stream was all that they were interested in.”
“In short, I imagine the view was ‘ without a Rangers we lose money’.”
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There’s not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that you’re right John, but of course the doctrine laid down by the Scottish football authorities back in 2012 that Rangers must be saved extended way beyond just Celtic falling for it.
Every club bowed down to the supposedly magical powers of the blue pound, assured as they were that Scottish football would decline to the levels of the Irish or Welsh leagues without the financial pull of a club playing out of Ibrox.
I’m ashamed to say that my club, Hearts, in common with the rest, not only played their part in the fix, the scam, the sham, that Rangers survived, but actively pleaded with the football authorities to get a deal done, a deal that would ultimately become the five-way agreement. Only the late Turnbull Hutton deserves any credit in the matter of the stitch-up that ensued.
Early drafts of that five-way agreement saw title stripping on the agenda, but the final watered-down version proved that Charles Green had been persuasive in dictating the terms. It was either his way or no way.
So Green dictated that there were to be no suitable, meaningful punishments for the newco, yet the newco was otherwise to be treated as if it was the same club as the old one.
The alternative was stark. No form of Rangers.
Or at least, the only official alternative was stark, since there was one other option that mysteriously gained no traction and was jettisoned, ie having a new club linked by name to Rangers playing out of Ibrox starting off with no titles or trophies to its name.
That of course was the direction that the guardians of our game should have taken Scottish football. Instead, they opted for lies and deceit, sleight of hand and verbal gymnastics.
To be fair to them, they couldn’t have done it without their member clubs; every single one of them in cahoots.
Finally, while Rangers* fans, no doubt bristling with indignation mixed with an overactive if entirely unwarranted superiority complex, might bask in the perceived elevated financial importance to our game of whichever club is currently playing out of Ibrox, none of the foregoing alters the fact that your original club, following a decade of industrial-scale cheating, died the self-inflicted death of liquidation. That is an undeniable fact.
Also undeniable is the post-2012 rewriting of history, airbrushing of inconvenient facts and attempts to reapportion blame for Rangers’ demise, despite the fact that we all witnessed what happened with our own two eyes.
Highlander 23rd October 2021 At 09:34
“ the newco was otherwise to be treated as if it was the same club as the old one.”
I have no problem treating the new club “as if it were” the old club .
But when they tell us it actually is the same club – they are just insulting our intelligence.
@Highlander – couldn’t agree more and to be honest I just don’t “get it”. Think what the story could have been:
“Our club was betrayed and set on a path of self-destruction by an egomaniac with friends in high places. We vowed never again in establishing our successor club in the spirit of the “4 lads” (which would also allow for a lot of the sectarian poison that was added later to be jettisoned). Starting again with fans attracted to our principles we rose through the divisions becoming national champions within 10 seasons of our founding. Onwards and never again…”
That could have been a narrative to be proud of – but no they choose lies and deceit which are so transparent that it is a simple fact that respect from fans from across the country will never be forthcoming.
wokingcelt 23rd October 2021 At 22:24
‘..Starting again ..’
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I know what you mean, wokingcelt, but if I may I suggest that the word ‘again’ might suggest that it is the same club that is starting ‘again’!
As you and I, and the whole footballing world know ,TRFC is a brand new club, starting from SCRATCH in the bottommost league [ and perhaps lucky to be there, even!] and not some historic club that went through a bad patch and has been regenerated!
TRFC are legally not RFC of 1872.
Emotionally, for even those RFC of 1872 fans who were ripped off because of the liquidation, people might fervently wish that TRFC was the 149-ish year old RFC of the lads on Glasgow Green.
Harsh reality is that emotions cannot change the facts: RFC of 1872 is legally as dead as a football club as Gretna and Third Lanark.
And all the weeping and sighing and longing and lying cannot change that absolute fact.
And that a GOVERNANCE body should have been prepared to manufacture the Big Lie to try to get round that fact is entirely unacceptable.
By all means let people wallow in emotion! Let them kid THEMSELVES on, by all means!
But let the actual facts be recorded in the record books: RFC of 1872 ceased to be a football club in 2012.
Good luck by all means to TRFC as a newish football club. But do not let them claim honours and sporting achievements that they did not earn!
As that irritating bloody wee beastie [whatever it is] says in the TV ads: ‘simples’!
Now that the Newcastle position has been apparently filled, by someone who actually interviewed for the job, will the Scottish media ask SG if he had an opportunity to interview. As the media dug out former teammates and associates to discuss that option, no one seemed to directly ask SG about any talks with Newcastle. Surely the $6 million salary would have been an enticement. Still confused on Barry Ferguson and where his loyalities lie. Expressing concern about another team’s player contract or lack thereof seems to be in conflict with his current job. Is the constant commenting on Rangers a subtle approach to applying for the job down the road.
Interesting news kicking about today.
Sunday Mail reporting that Doncaster’s salary was reset back to his pre vivid amount. Tho use obsessed as a £50k pay rise!
Also in Mail the Competition and Market Authority are continuing with their probe into the selling of Rangers shirts by Hummel and Greaves is to continue.
Finally the Sun reporting that the Crown Office spent £1.4M on additional legal support with the defence of the “Rangers crime probe fiasco”
Impressive!
Though for sheer mind boggling stupidity the crown goes to Falkirk FC
https://youtu.be/Eb093q9U4L0
OMG!
dom16 24th October 2021 At 17:08
“…the Competition and Market Authority are continuing with their probe into the selling of Rangers shirts by Hummel and Greaves is to continue.”
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That was an interesting post,dom16, and thank you for it.
I had no idea that the ‘Office of Fair Trading’ had been done away with and that the Competition and Markets Authority[CMA] had replaced it under the Competition Act 1998.
I had a wee look at the that Authority’s .gov page
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases?market_sector%5B%5D=clothing-footwear-and-fashion
“On 15 December 2020, the CMA launched an investigation under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 (‘CA98’) and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU’) into SUSPECTED [ my capitals] breaches of competition law by the following entities and their affiliates: THE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB LTD [again, my capitals], Hummel A/S, LBJ Sports Apparel Limited (trading as Elite), Greaves Sports Limited and JD Sports Fashion Plc. The investigation concerns suspected infringements of Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU in relation to the price at which Rangers-branded replica football kit was sold in the United Kingdom. Following the end of the EU Exit Transition Period, EU law (including Article 101 TFEU) no longer applies in the UK. The CMA’s investigation in this case continues on the basis of Chapter I CA98 only”
These regulatory bodies seem to need a helluva lot of time to complete their investigations, eh, what?
I note that Section 36, subsection 7A, of the Competition Act 1998 reads:
“(8)No penalty fixed by the [CMA] under this section may exceed 10% of the turnover of the undertaking (determined in accordance with such provisions as may be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State).”
I’m not sure whether ‘turnover’ refers only to turnover in respect of the goods involved in any price-fixing cartel arrangement, or to total turnover of any undertaking(s) found to have been in breach.
But it’s potentially not chicken feed in either case.
Mind you, perhaps the CMA is soft-hearted and inclined to favour a mere slapping of wrists rather than getting tore into twisted businessmen who are found to have cheated in the market place?
“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
Most of you will recognise the above quote from Orwells masterpiece 1984. Day by day it seems to move from a work of fiction to a work of art that Nostradamus would have been proud of. Whether it’s the spin doctoring of the realities of Brexit or the continuation of the Liebrox history there seems to be no shortages of lipstick for these particular pigs . I used to think those who were promoted to the highest positions in society were those with the most integrity . As the years roll on I have found that it is those who are the most efficient (or shameless) liars that seem to end up on top. Men (and women) of integrity are a rare commodity in a World where the people are increasingly aware of the cost of everything and the value of nowt. When men like Turnbull Hutton stand up , it’s important that they are given recognition for doing so . To quote Orwell once again “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” In the next few days another man who dared to stand up and tell the truth will be in court , Julian Assange is worthy of support. First they came for the journalists and I said nothing as I wasn’t a journalist….. after that nobody knows what happened.
Timtim 24th October 2021 At 23:49
‘…First they came for the journalists and I said nothing as I wasn’t a journalist…’
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Oh that ‘they’ would come for the ‘pretendy journalists’ of the SMSM who debase their profession by propagating the ridiculous untruth that a not quite 9-year-old football club has earned umpteen football honours and trophies over the past 149 years.
Who would trust any of them to report accurately and truthfully in any really serious matter?
John Clark 24th October 2021 @ 21:47hrs –
I wonder who reported TRFC, Hummel A/S, LBJ Sports Apparel Limited (trading as Elite), Greaves Sports Limited and JD Sports Fashion Plc to the CMA?
Answer on a postcard to your nearest SportsDirect Superstore, please! Winner will be drawn on Halloween & receive a 6 pack of Lonsdale sports socks!
Jingso.Jimsie 25th October 2021 At 11:20
“..I wonder who reported TRFC, Hummel A/S, LBJ Sports Apparel Limited ..”
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I don’t know which other retailer would have been priced out IF there had been any cartel/price fixing agreement.
I’ve only the haziest notion of how the connection between rights owner and manufacturer(s) , wholesalers and retailers works!
But clearly some retailer or other , with the right to buy the merchandise must have felt himself priced out by a (to him) suspicious alignment of prices that he couldn’t undercut without loss.
Maybe someone on the blog who works in retail could fill us in on the question in general terms?
John Clark 25th October 2021 @ 14:01hrs –
From memory, a certain retailer had exclusivity on the distribution of TRFC replica kits when those replicas were made by (or, perhaps, bore the logo of) another sportswear company.
That retailer obviously thought that deal should have ‘rolled over’ when TRFC changed from Puma to Hummel. For whatever commercial reasons (& it must have been commercial, it wouldn’t, couldn’t possibly be personal, could it?), TRFC decided to use a different distribution method, (& in doing so, rather snubbing its usual partner) from previously & it’s this that’s under examination by the CMA.
From Raman Bhardwaj (STV)
The SFA has opened an investigation into a number of ”inappropriate’ Rangers related tweets made by St Mirren chairman John Needham. More on STV Sport shortly.
Rangers have written to St Mirren, the SFA and the SPFL about the comments.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I believe this relates to several tweets over a decade or so with many coming in the past year.
Jingso.Jimsie 25th October 2021 At 15:35
“..From memory, a certain retailer had exclusivity…”
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“No names, no pack drill..”
Very wise.
I suppose I can manage to possess my soul in patience until March 2022 when the CMA will give an update.
In the passing, I see this on the CMA website
” Press release Published 20 October 2021
CMA fines Facebook over enforcement order breach
Facebook has been fined £50.5 million for breaching an order imposed by the CMA during its investigation into Facebook’s purchase of Giphy.”[no idea what that was about!]
Maybe there’s a toughness there after all!
From the Rolls of Court of Session;
“LORD TYRE – S Alexander, Clerk
Wednesday 27th October
By Order
between 9.00am and 9.30am
P115/17 Pet: Note RFC 2012 Plc for orders under paragraph 75 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 ”
To save you looking it up, here is the text of Para 75
‘Misfeasance
75(1)The court may examine the conduct of a person who—
(a)is or purports to be the administrator of a company, or
(b)has been or has purported to be the administrator of a company.
(2)An examination under this paragraph may be held only on the application of—
(a)the official receiver,
(b)the administrator of the company,
(c)the liquidator of the company,
(d)a creditor of the company, or
(e)a contributory of the company.
(3)An application under sub-paragraph (2) must allege that the administrator—
(a)has misapplied or retained money or other property of the company,
(b)has become accountable for money or other property of the company,
(c)has breached a fiduciary or other duty in relation to the company, or
(d)has been guilty of misfeasance.
(4)On an examination under this paragraph into a person’s conduct the court may order him—
(a)to repay, restore or account for money or property;
(b)to pay interest;
(c)to contribute a sum to the company’s property by way of compensation for breach of duty or misfeasance.
(5)In sub-paragraph (3) “administrator” includes a person who purports or has purported to be a company’s administrator.
(6)An application under sub-paragraph (2) may be made in respect of an administrator who has been discharged under paragraph 98 only with the permission of the court.”
Presumably BDO think that the Administrators may have been guilty of something more than incompetence?
I don’t suppose anything much will happen on Wednesday, but if I can I’ll try to tune in to hear what’s what.
Best wishes to Wim Jansen following his dementia diagnosis.
A very good player & manager, who we could never dislike, despite breaking our hearts in 1998.
Thought are with him and his family.
‘John Clark – the CMA can impose a fine of up to 10% of the entity’s total turnover. I’ve never known this to happen but the CMA does have pretty sharp teeth although maybe shy to use them…
Do you think Charles Green will be anxious about the “Switcheroo” ? Craig White was oblivious to it , but could it have been done without the tacit acceptance of others ?
Albertz11 25th October 2021 At 16:17
From Raman Bhardwaj (STV)
The SFA has opened an investigation into a number of ”inappropriate’ Rangers related tweets made by St Mirren chairman John Needham. More on STV Sport shortly.
Rangers have written to St Mirren, the SFA and the SPFL about the comments.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..
I believe this relates to several tweets over a decade or so with many coming in the past year.
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To me at least, the SFA opening an investigation into Needham’s tweets is illustrative of the two-tier system that our pathetic football authorities have always operated, whereby the big clubs can pretty much do and say what they want with impunity, while the diddies are held to account for every minor indiscretion.
Taken to its extreme, this dual approach saw one club expelled from a cup competition for the heinous crime of missing a signature and date from a registration form – ie a genuine administrative error that resulted in no advantage gained – while no action was taken whatsoever against another club following a decade of systemic cheating (as confirmed by the Supreme Court, no less) because apparently there was no appetite for raking over old coals!
I appreciate that Needham has felt pressured into apologising, but I for one wouldn’t be apologising for what amounts to no more than banter. Fans of other clubs referring to your current club as Sevco isn’t just banter, but accurate banter to boot.
Posters on the Bears Den have ridiculed their fellow supporters for the faux outrage at the use of the word h*n.
Needham’s tweet about the squinty bridge tipping over and creating pollution was quite clearly a joke and is the kind of thing I would say to my bluenose mate, or he would say to me in jest, but neither of us would wish for it to become a reality. Again the faux offence by the serially offended is palpable, all the moreso when you consider that the Ibrox hordes are and always have been the most poisonous, sectarian and intolerent group of fans in the country.
“This has to be said about Rangers, as a Scottish Football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist.” So said journalist Ian Archer, but I don’t think he seriously intended that the fans should be eradicated, just as Needham’s comment was also hyperbole.
Who remembers the comedy years during which Dave ‘Litigation’ King had a season ticket for the courtroom, a revolving door of court cases, 99% of them on the losing side, that brought shame and embarrassment to Scottish football virtually on a weekly basis?
How many times did King and/or his new club appear before the SFA on charges of bringing the game into disrepute? One rule for whichever club is playing out of Ibrox and different rules for the rest of us mere mortals (see what I did there?).
To my mind the SFA’s investigation is just another case of the tail wagging the dog, or more accurately, the tail wagging the rattlesnake.
Disclaimer: I’ve only read four or five tame tweets that appeared on Jambos Kickback. If there are other, more offensive tweets then I reserve the right to change my opinion.
Highlander 26th October 2021 At 10:37
” – while no action was taken whatsoever against another club following a decade of systemic cheating (as confirmed by the Supreme Court, no less) because apparently there was no appetite for raking over old coals!”
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In all the circumstances , Highlander, ‘no appetite for raking over old coals’ can be translated, in my opinion, as ‘dread fear of the consequences of what an independent investigation might find!’
And that Celtic plc failed to insist on such an investigation is disgraceful.
Highlander – 26th October 2021 – 10.37
“I appreciate that Needham has felt pressured into apologising, but I for one wouldn’t be apologising for what amounts to no more than banter. Fans of other clubs referring to your current club as Sevco isn’t just banter, but accurate banter to boot.”
I agree with you Highlander.
Albertz11 25th October 2021 @ 16:17hrs & Highlander 26th October 2021 @ 10:37hrs –
In the 21st century, everyone has a past. The concept of ‘Caesar’s wife’ is outdated & unworkable.
That people express faux-outrage at the use of an abbreviation of the term ‘Service Company’ is frankly crackers. The fact that many of the same people are upset by the ‘H**’ word is similarly amazing.
(incidentally, there’s a brand called H** Wine. One of its backers appears to be David Coulthard. Shouldn’t someone tell him?)
JC – 25th October
“From the Rolls of Court of Session;
“LORD TYRE – S Alexander, Clerk
Wednesday 27th October
By Order
between 9.00am and 9.30am
P115/17 Pet: Note RFC 2012 Plc for orders under paragraph 75 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 ”
To save you looking it up, here is the text of Para 75
‘Misfeasance…………………..”
JC – It will be interesting to see how the case pans out. Like all things related to the demise of the original Rangers, and appearance of the new club, it is almost always true that it is only during legal proceedings that further details are disclosed. So thank you for your continued efforts to ensure those details emerge.
Sad to hear this morning of Walter Smith’s death at the relatively young age of 73.
paddy malarkey
18th October 2021 At 20:21
Yes club 72 don’t have the money, and even if they did i don’t think the board want anyone from club 72 on the board. Club 72 have been trying to gain enough shares since its inception but the board keep diluting the shares??
RIP Walter Smith
A relatively youngish age to pass away. My condolences to his family and friends.
No one can fail to applaud his desire to win and he had great success as a manager. He was also able to follow through on bringing the divide with his carrying of Tommy Burns coffin.
I’m hearing that Jimmy Millar has also passed on . Sore day for Rangers fans .
Cluster One 26th October 2021 At 12:54
My speculation was more to do with the TRFC board rather than the (holding company) RIFC one . They wouldn’t be diluting shareholdings in RIFC , just selling some of their 100% holding in TRFC . Club 1872 would be putting their monies directly into the club rather than the holding company . As someone pointed out (sorry , too lazy to look ! ) the main board may not want to loosen control over their only asset .
paddy malarkey 26th October 2021 At 14:47
“…My speculation was more to do with the TRFC board rather than the (holding company) RIFC one …”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%
As I understand things, paddy m, the ONLY shareholder in TRFC, is RIFC plc!
Only by vote of the majority of shareholders in the PLC could shares in TRFC be sold to anyone.
Individual PLC shareholders can of course sell only their own shares in the PLC, but that only gives the buyer shares in the PLC, not direct ownership of shares in TRFC.
Very sad news about Walter Smith.
A look across social media today shows the respect he was held in by fans across all clubs, and so he should be. Respect and basic human decency transcends football rivalry at times like this as we have seen so often in the past.
He had a wonderful career as a Manager and his legendary status in the game is assured. Let us never ever forget too that when football legends pass away that to others they are simply a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, and of course a friend, and the loss those people feel is something we can all identify with.
May he rest in peace.
Through family, I have strong (historical)connections with Carmyle; and while I did not ever meet the late Walter Smith personally, those of the wider family who are native to Carmyle would agree broadly and generally with my view that he was a decent man.
And they , no more than I, would ever hold him responsible for all that went bad with the Rangers that died the death of Liquidation, the Rangers killed by the hubristic greed and vain boastfulness ( at no great expense to his personal pocket) of a knight of the realm.
The guilty men in respect of the EBT disgraces were, are, not men like Walter Smith – who plied his trade as a football club manager with honest dedication, skill, and great success.[If part of that success was enabled by the EBT stuff, that was not the fault of Walter Smith, but of his ‘board’ to which he was accountable and would not have been in a position to defy]
In the ordinary way of things I myself must be, within a few years of death myself, being some years older than 73! Anticipating that, I very much empathise with Walter Smith’s immediate family and friends and the general run of honest supporters and the rest of the football world who mourn his loss.
May he rest in peace.
Well said UTH and JC – the tributes from across football say it all in the context of a good, honest football man. Our game is the poorer.
I have to say it did seem a little odd to me that Graeme Souness and David Murray issued a joint statement.
John Clark @15.15
It was explained to me that it would make the RIFC shares even more worthless. (is that English ?)
UTH & Paddy. 26th Oct.
Thank you for those kind words uth.
Glad to say that Jimmy is alive and well Paddy.
My post of 25th October 2021 At 21:24 refers:
This morning’s scheduled hearing of ‘P115/17 Pet: Note RFC 2012 Plc for orders under paragraph 75 of Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986 ”’ was cancelled, I’m afraid. No new date given.
I too, was sorry to hear of the passing of Walter Smith and condolences to his family/friends. I believe he was a decent man and good football manager, who would have little interest in the disgraceful side of the Govan clubs.
However, I was astounded by the tribute in the Daily Ranger;
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/walter-smith-instilled-rangers-standards-25305603
From none other than tax-cheat and scheming bankrupt Barry Ferguson. The irony of his first line, “All I look for in a person is honesty and fairness. After that, anything else is a bonus.”. Honestly, some people wouldn’t get a red face at a bonfire!
And, I’m afraid the headline “Walter Smith instilled Rangers standards in me at 15 I still carry today” is in my opinion, not a compliment to the deceased but rather a slur on his name. While I’m sure BF was well-intention’ed in writing his tribute, surely it is not beyond the editor of this rag to point out to him the irony of these words and adjust his piece accordingly. Some people will do anything for money…
Albertz11 26th October 2021 At 21:064
Glad to see that . The posts announcing his demise have been removed too .
normanbatesmumfc 27th October 2021 At 11:46
‘…bankrupt Barry Ferguson..’
%%%%%%%%%%
I think ‘discharged bankrupt’ now, nbmfc, to be fair.
What an enlightened society we live in these days!
I came across this little gem:( from page 6 ‘House of Commons BRIEFING PAPER
Number 3043, 1 May 2019)
Discharge from bankruptcy
“Under section 278 (a) of the IA 1986, most bankrupts are automatically
discharged from bankruptcy 12 months after the making of the
bankruptcy order, even if no payments have yet been made to
creditors.
The automatic discharge period was reduced from 3 years to 1 year by
the EA 2002. The aim being to:
• remove the stigma of bankruptcy;
• give bankrupts the opportunity of prompt rehabilitation in relation
to their financial affairs; and
• encourage entrepreneurs to try again..”
Boy, the world of business certainly has its friends in the world of politics and law-making.
‘Remove stigma’ forsooth!
‘Encourage entrepreneurs to try again’
Enlightened? A charter for all kinds of chancer , methinks, in whatever kind of business
Brother Beaton to the rescue and another goal from Tavernier Pen
Does anyone sense a drying sensation starting to form in the throats of Rangers as their march to the title has apparently been stalled and a threat has emerged from the east end of Glasgow. Time to start looking over your shoulder, start to question the manager, hope the referees continue to be generous in their assessments of body contact. Does anyone have a stat on the number of times when Rangers trailing at home with time running out have been awarded a penalty. The overall performances of late are hardly stellar, perhaps the media could do a little digging to see what form of malaise has afflicted the team. Is their a question of finance and perhaps concerns over pay cheques, is it the fact we stopped the 10 and need not do more. Is it that the manager’s shelf life is coming to an end and even though there have numerous players in and out during his tenure, after a while the message wears thin. Are they jealous of the speculation surrounding SG, even though it was along shot, and Newcastle while they await suitors to pound on the Ibrox doors looking to purchase those that have been hyped as desired by major clubs.
vernallen 27th October 2021 At 22:45
‘… perhaps the media could do a little digging ..’
%%%%%%%%%
Vernallen, I know you must have tongue in cheek, asking so many questions!
The SMSM did NO digging into the nonsense of the 5-Way Agreement and the scandalous abandonment of any kind of integrity-personal or ‘sporting’- by the very Governance bodies of Scottish Football in their dirty, DIRTY creation of the myth that RFC of 1872 somehow did not die, and that a club newly created by them themselves in 2012 is that very club of 1872 that ceased, on entering liquidation ,to be a football club.
We are singularly ill-served by the SMSM when it comes to truthful reporting and analysis of any matter relating to any ‘Rangers’ operating out of Ibrox stadium.
I charge them all with being either biased or cowardly or both.
And I level that charge at Scottish Football clubs as a whole.
They have a fledgling illegitimate cuckoo in their midst which they allow to crow over them as if it were a mighty and powerful eagle deserving of the thieved honours and titles it brazenly boasts about!
The whole thing is a nonsense.
The dam will burst sooner or later when the Truth emerges as people die off and bits of paper become available, or when men about to die try to ease their consciences a little.
Beaton cheats!….It’s as simple as that.
He has no honesty, integrity, or morals.
It is match-fixing.
Re the latest helping hand for TRFC from a ‘m**** in black’ …
This stuff (nothwithstanding the occasional insincere empty rhetoric dogwhistling from an otherwise compliant SMSM) is brazenly played out ‘in plain sight’. Why? Because nothing will ever be done to address it.
A while back, a delusional A11 expected us to believe that the following harmless ‘ditty’ was sung (in the 70’s?) by the genteel followers of the then Rangers:-
‘A goal, a goal, we are ready to acclaim
A goal, a goal to win another game
We follow Glasgow Rangers, our hearts are strong and true
We are the people who support the boys in blue’
Ironically adding to his post by the way – No sectarianism – No racism. Aye right!
In the light of the continuing unashamed and openly corrupt behaviour by referees, I offer this clumsy variation -which might be sung a referees gatherings (especially in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire:-
‘A goal, a goal is needed for a result
A goal, a goal to help the WATP cult
We’ll rescue Newco Rangers, our hearts are strong and true
We are the people who’ll rescue the boys in blue’
Might as well hiv a laff aboot it, eh?
Folk say ‘Roll on VAR’, but if any football nation can find a way round the (supposed) integrity and fairness if VAR, it’s Scotland for what – I believe are obvious reasons!.
“Beaton cheats!”
and add to that list messrs, Walsh, Robertson and Madden to name but 3.
Be interesting to see how often the trusted brothers are given The Rangers and Celtic fixtures from here.
Brother Beaton gets a day off cheating at St Mirren v Dundee this weekend but Brothers Walsh and Madden have been assigned The Rangers and Celtic games respectively.
They’re not even trying to hide it now. Champions League or bust!!!!
‘bect67 28th October 2021 At 12:03
…Folk say ‘Roll on VAR’, but if any football nation can find a way round the (supposed) integrity and fairness if VAR, it’s Scotland for what – I believe are obvious reasons!.’
::
::
[Climbs into flameproof suit. Apologies for any typos – it’s the gloves!]
I don’t think VAR would have had any influence over that decision last night, unless images showed Sakala as being offside when the ball was played through.
The referee was in a good position & ‘saw’ Bates impede Sakala as the latter moves past the defender. The TV pictures I’ve seen (the SPFL highlights on YouTube, from 3.56 on – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTzFbeLZG_g) shows Bates initiates the contact, with both his arms. If VAR had been in operation, did the pictures show that there was a clear & obvious mistake from the official (e.g. there’s no contact & it’s simulation) for the ‘bods in the box’ to suggest he should rescind or review his decision? I don’t think so.
Soft penalty? Undoubtedly. Stupid defending? Again, undoubtedly.
What would happen if another club complained about Beaton? I would imagine they would be fined for questioning the integrity of the referee and Beaton would be given numerous games involving Celtic and Rangers* to show their support for him however when Gerrard complained about Wullie Collum that ref wasn’t seen inside Ibrox for …… has he ever been back ? When cheating is seen as an acceptable part of the game then the entire game is at risk whether that is cheating by players , by clubs evading taxes and spending recklessly or by referees. The first port of call is to bring in FFP
J.J
You make your points well re last night’s incident, but I was primarily thinking of the ‘bigger picture’ of honest mistakes – ‘going forward’ as they say!
I was visiting family in Scotland last night and watched the Hibs v Celtic match live on Hibs TV. Being used to watching matches in England these days I hesitated to celebrate any of the goals whilst waiting for the VAR check- it’s funny how quickly you become accustomed to new things.
If VAR was in play last night:
1. Kyogo’s goal – very tight but I think ok based on him looking to be in line with Jota.
2. Morelos goal – looked offside but would need an inline camera to be sure. Tight enough for an honest mistake.
3. Sakala penalty – I’ve never known someone to fall forward whilst getting shirt pulled from behind, so not clear what the penalty was given for. Last week the referee in the Athletic-Liverpool match overturned his decision when advised to go to VAR and have a look. That required two things: the VAR officials telling him to have another look and the referee being strong enough to change his mind.
I also (for my sins) picked up a copy of the Daily Record. According to this paper, Aberdeen committed 2 fouls yet managed to get 4 players booked. Quite extraordinary!
wokingcelt 28th October 2021 At 22:26
According to this paper, Aberdeen committed 2 fouls yet managed to get 4 players booked.
That will be the two foulers, and the two goal scorers WC.
From the ‘Daily Record’ today(unless it’s a spoof item!)
“He believes the importance of the club to his life will win the day at a hearing to decide if being a Rangers fan constitutes a “philosophical belief” worthy of special protection.”
Where the heck has the guy been since 2012?
Hasn’t there been ample evidence of the special protection afforded to things ‘Rangers-y’?
Why, the very football governance authorities deny that Rangers of 1872 ceased to exist and created and propagate the lie that TRFC founded in 2012 is the very same Rangers of 1872 that is still in Liquidation!l
You don’t get much more ‘protection’ than that, ‘philosophical belief’ or not.
Honest to God!
John Clark 29th October 2021 At 10:50
From the ‘Daily Record’ today(unless it’s a spoof item!)
“He believes the importance of the club to his life will win the day at a hearing to decide if being a Rangers fan constitutes a “philosophical belief” worthy of special protection.”
Jeezo John what a dangerous proposition. I am making no comparisons, but merely by way of example, imagine if the KKK or Nazi party constituted a philosophical belief, and granted the "rights" that go with it......I hope it is a spoof !
Corrupt official 28th October 2021 At 23:42
‘..That will be the two foulers, and the two goal scorers WC.’
%%%%%%
I enjoyed that one, CO!
John Clark
29th October 2021 At 10:50
3 0 Rate This
From the ‘Daily Record’ today(unless it’s a spoof item!)
“He believes the importance of the club to his life will win the day at a hearing to decide if being a Rangers fan constitutes a “philosophical belief” worthy of special protection.”
…………..
It would be interesting to see, set out, the belief system that allows a person to claim validity for such a philosophical concept.
I mean no disrespect to anyone, but is the claim here that the Rangers brand is an eternally existing diety? And the followers of that brand are a community of religious worshippers?
Wow!
John Clark 29th October 2021 At 10:50
The most hilarious thing about that article is the notion that the Company mentioned would be a hostile environment for a Rangers fan. Believe me, that is an utterly side splitting suggestion…one of the most ridiculous, absurd suggestions I’ve ever seen. I could say much, much more but I would not want the Admins to remove my post.
@CO – that brought a smile as to who was booked. If the DR report is accurate (I know, but let me finish…after all a first time for everything) then the first foul awarded which led to the first TRFC goal and the second foul must have been the penalty awarded, both of which were disputed by the AFC manager. An incredibly disciplined performance from the Dons on the night – I can’t recall any other instance of a team committing so few fouls in a match.
According to BBC Football
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Home Team Rangers Away Team Aberdeen
Possession
Home62% Away38%
Shots
Home18 Away6
Shots on Target
Home4 Away3
Corners
Home14 Away2
Fouls
Home12 Away14
According to the BBC stats, AFC had 4 players booked ( Lewis, Ojo, Bates & Ferguson) & committed 14 fouls. TRFC had one played booked (Morelos) & committed 12 fouls.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58976505
@PM and JJ – in my defence I did question the veracity of the DR editorial quality…?. Separately I applaud Graham Alexander’s comment on bbc sport re introduction of VAR: “..and help the game be fair…” . I would be happy to contribute to the fund to pay his fine when the beaks come calling for bringing the game into disrepute…
And JJ – based on those 4 names some folk won’t be pleased that the ref missed a chance to book Brown on the night…
It’s just struck me, curiously enough, that I have no idea what the technological mechanics of VAR are.
I assume, because of the expense, that they include much more sophisticated camera work than ‘simple’ goal-line’ technology?
Anyone describe?
I see VAR being discussed on here again. I read an article earlier which quoted Hugh Dallas as saying what VAR would NOT be used for in Scotland. Apart from wondering what it actually WILL be used for, I am perplexed at the notion that a man who is nothing at all to do with the SFA any more appears to already be deciding how the SFA will implement VAR! He does work for UEFA of course, but is he allowed to dictate to every other member nation how they use VAR? The answer of course is he is not allowed, with the way England operates VAR as evidence. Was Dallas ever really relieved of his SFA duties? In my opinion he wasn’t, and his statements about how VAR will operate in Scotland is evidence of that.
Why are Scottish clubs so prepared to accept this? It is utterly bizarre. We must be one of the most backward football nations in the developed world.
John Clark 30th October 2021 @ 23:01hrs –
Start here:
https://www.theifab.com/laws/latest/video-assistant-referee-var-protocol/#reviewable-match-changing-decisions-incidents
Next up is:
http://quality.fifa.com/en/media-tiles/var-iaap-technology/
That leads to a PDF:
http://quality.fifa.com/media/171902/var-iaap-technology-tests.pdf
Plenty more to spend a rainy Sunday chasing down…
Another quandary has arisen at Ibrox. How soon will it be before the media are trumpeting clubs interested in Fashion Sakala with reports of multi million pound offers surfacing. This after a performance against the Steelmen ( or should that be the Papermen) of Motherwell. If they can manage to sell a few of their multi talented stars for the rumored values there would be no need to worry about CL money. The incomings from sell offs could fund a new team with a financial base to match. Is it not about time the latest financials should be available. Rumors on anther site have the losses estimated in the 25 million range.
Jingso.Jimsie 31st October 2021 At 11:01
‘..Start here:..’
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Just this minute sat down to the blog Jingo.Jimsie. Thank you for the VAR reading list, which I’ll read with interest.