A guest blog by former Celtic & Scotland defender, Jim Craig
“What time is this to come back?”
Dolores McCann (her Mother had been a great fan of foreign films) stood in that classic pose of the wounded woman – up to her full height and chin forward – as she glared at her husband who had just come in the front door. Before he could say a word, she gave him another volley;
“you left the house at half-past-two for a three o’clock kick-off, it only takes you 20 minutes to get to the ground, a match lasts only one-and-a-half hours plus ten minutes for the break and you’ve just walked back in the door at half-past-seven! So where the hell were you?”.
Wayne McCann (his father liked Westerns) tried to calm her down.
“Dolores, you don’t know what it’s like at football matches nowadays ; it has changed out of all recognition; a match goes on for much longer”.
“In what way?” Dolores asked.
“Well, for a start, the players and even the managers can complain about any decision that is given against them. If that happens, the referee then goes and has a word with firstly, the two assistant referees, then the fourth official and gets their comments before he reflects on the situation. If he is still in any doubt that he made the wrong decision then he can ask the guy upstairs sitting in front of a television screen what he thinks. And, of course, all through this, the managers and players of both teams can chip in with their comments. That all adds a fair bit of time to the match”.
“Aye…but turning up at half-past-seven is still a bit over the top…is it no’?”
“Well, no’ really……you see, nowadays you are not allowed to have a drawn game, so if the match is level at the full-time whistle, there is extra time, which takes a minimum of half-an-hour”.
“The time is still no’ matching up!”
“Aye, mibbe so, if that was the end of the match. But if the match is still level at the end of extra-time, then it goes to a penalty shoot-out. I told you…you are not allowed a drawn game”.
“ A penalty shoot-out disnae take long”.
“That might have been the case at one time but because so many keepers were being accused of moving before the ball was kicked, nowadays they are strapped in to a harness which anchors them in the middle of the goal. They can only move when the foot of the guy who is taking the penalty actually touches the ball. So, after each kick, the keeper has to be put back into the harness and it all starts again. And, of course, you get the complaints from the managers and players that the harness wasnae working properly or that the officials who put the harness on didnae put it on right. That all adds up to the time factor”.
“Did you go to the pub?”
“As God is my judge, Dolores, after the match finished, I came straight here”.
“Who won anyway?”
“That’s a difficult question… there was so much noise and kerfuffle both on the pitch and in the stands, nobody was quite sure what the final score was. And the guy who usually does the announcing had gone home. Somebody said that he had a date. Anyway, if you let me turn on the radio, I’ll hear the score there. And Dolores?”
“Yes”
Wayne walked over to the drinks cabinet and took out a couple of glasses. “I don’t suppose you would fancy a wee drink”
We will leave the smooth-talking Wayne to his attempts to mollify Dolores and reflect on the situation. What you have just read is probably the ultimate scenario for those who wish to tamper with the current rules of football. Do I think that the game needs radical changes like that? No but I do think that some change is necessary and in one specific circumstance.
Now, I was a professional footballer for 9 years and in all that time, I can put my hand on my heart and state with complete conviction that I never pulled any other player’s jersey. Did I try to half him in two with a tackle, yes! But no jersey-pulling. And, of course, I was penalised for the challenge.
Today, though, I feel that there is a lot of body-checking and jersey-pulling going on in every match. Very often the referee lets it go and then you get the ridiculous scenario at a corner kick when all those waiting for the ball to come in are pulling and pushing, with the referee watching it and ignoring it. It is a foul, ref!
When the referee decides that an offence has been committed, then the player will be spoken to first. If he does it again, he will be given a yellow-card. The problem is, though, that the offence might possibly have affected the play in the match, whereas the yellow card does not affect the player’s participation.
If the player is daft enough to do it again, then of course he gets another yellow and will be off. Most, however, are sensible and keep the head, so they go unpunished as far as the current match is concerned. What we have to find is a punishment that affects the match in which the transgression occurred. Which means that we have to consider the sin bin.
This works very well in rugby and gives the referee a means to punish an offence a little more harshly – yet more efficiently – than a yellow card but without having to go for the ultimate, drastic – and for many unpalatable – option of the red card. I hope it comes in soon.
JOCKYBHOYAPRIL 8, 2018 at 08:40
In this context EVERY professional investor should be asked why they thought the new Ibrox entity was a good investment for their clients’ money
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This where some credit must go the way of Charles Green. He managed to convince English based Corporate investors that the phoenix from a football club gone bust for tax evasion was such a massive worldwide brand that they couldn’t fail to make money. All this talk of 500 million fans across the globe and the Dallas Cowboys asking them for a partnership was for a reason, as was the nonsense that several large European leagues would accept Rangers if only that pesky UEFA would allow it. He also managed to get the authorities to blink first and sign onto the nonsense he bought the history of a bankrupt club. To keep the bears on board he convinced them they were hated with a passion by every other Scottish club and their supporters, leading to over 40,000 season book sales in the bottom league.
Clearly Charles Green was a very astute man, despite appearing to be an obnoxious rabble rouser at face value.
jimboApril 8, 2018 at 02:44
AJ, EJ, My Jambo pal Andy hasn’t been well recently. Some prayers if you can. Cheers. You too Jean.
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I’m afraid I’m a non-believer, Jimbo, but my thoughts are with your friend, and yourself also. I do hope, though, that you both get comfort from your prayers and your friend comes through and makes a full recovery.
Here’s a wee song for you, mate. The words might not fit how your feeling just now, but the titles for you.
https://youtu.be/VcjzHMhBtf0
I hope the link works, as it’s the first time I’ve tried to post a video, but in case it doesn’t, it’s Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop believing’. (I think the bears must play this every time they get a promise from Dave King, perhaps they have it on a loop inside their heads
)
upthehoopsApril 8, 2018 at 09:23
JOCKYBHOYAPRIL 8, 2018 at 08:40In this context EVERY professional investor should be asked why they thought the new Ibrox entity was a good investment for their clients’ money =============This where some credit must go the way of Charles Green. He managed to convince English based Corporate investors that the phoenix from a football club gone bust for tax evasion was such a massive worldwide brand that they couldn’t fail to make money. All this talk of 500 million fans across the globe and the Dallas Cowboys asking them for a partnership was for a reason, as was the nonsense that several large European leagues would accept Rangers if only that pesky UEFA would allow it. He also managed to get the authorities to blink first and sign onto the nonsense he bought the history of a bankrupt club. To keep the bears on board he convinced them they were hated with a passion by every other Scottish club and their supporters, leading to over 40,000 season book sales in the bottom league. Clearly Charles Green was a very astute man, despite appearing to be an obnoxious rabble rouser at face value.
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I agree with the thrust of your post, but would never give anyone ‘credit’ for carrying out a con of this nature. The man has no conscience or scruple, he lies for a living, and cares not for the damage he does to others. But I know you didn’t mean credit as in admiration.
UPTHEHOOPSAPRIL 8, 2018 at 09:23
Clearly Charles Green was a very astute man, despite appearing to be an obnoxious rabble rouser at face value.
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The Phantom Commercial Partnership between Rangers and Dallas CowboysRangers chief Charles Green set to announce strip deal with giants adidasCentral Coast Mariners: We will not entertain academy idea with RangersRangers could sign new players before exiting administration
http://www.scotzine.com/2013/02/charles-green-makes-some-outlandish-claims-to-expat-rangers-fans/
a Rangers ‘communications platform’ would ‘blow their minds’ and along with other revenue opportunities – which include new kit sponsors and stadium naming rights – could push Rangers turnover towards the £100 million mark before TV revenue, second only to Manchester United and Arsenal when the Ibrox side hit the top-tier.
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a Rangers ‘communications platform’ would ‘blow their minds’That blows my mind in wondering how they all fell for it.
But then again anyone who makes a good cup of tea has my attention.
the Ibrox side have hit the top-tier and i can’t see an ibrox club turnover towards the £100 million mark
Qh! just remembered.
stuff they can buy and put in their wardropes was a classic,i will have to look that one out
UPTHEHOOPS
APRIL 8, 2018 at 09:23
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Did he not set it up as either an EIS or a VCT as well, providing the corporate investors with handy tax breaks.
Getting the authorities onside was easy, he just told them what they wanted to think anyway. A compliant media went along with it, after the initial blip where most of them told the truth.
The support are even easier, you just go to NI and put on an orange top.
jockybhoyApril 8, 2018 at 08:40
‘….John Clark, my quote was from AllyJambo’s post APRIL 6, 2018 at 10:09’
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Thank you, jockybhoy. Context is everything!
JOCKYBHOY
APRIL 8, 2018 at 06:22
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Sorry but you found that drivel you posted, then copied and pasted it here without even looking at it. How did that work. With regard your latest, can you show me how it illustrates that Dermot Desmond underwrote a share issue. As I said this isn’t really my area so I would appreciate it if you could show me the specific part.
JOCKYBHOY
APRIL 8, 2018 at 08:40
I was only trying to point out NO “professional investor” should be looking at Scottish football to put their clients money into… even Celtic
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The Celtic share price has gone from £1 in July 2017 to £1.31 in September. Why would NO “professional investor” be interested in that.
ALLYJAMBOAPRIL 8, 2018 at 09:48
I agree with the thrust of your post, but would never give anyone ‘credit’ for carrying out a con of this nature. The man has no conscience or scruple, he lies for a living, and cares not for the damage he does to others. But I know you didn’t mean credit as in admiration.
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Sorry but are you referring to Craig Whyte, Charles Green, Dave King, Imran Ahmad, Brian Stockbridge or any one of a very long list.
Vaporised the ibrox club’s vaping partner.
(vaping partner? what the feck is that all about?)
Anyway vaporised the ibrox club’s vaping partner is being sued for trademark violation by rival vapouriz.
And the battle could see gers prevented from using their financial backers logo on players shirts.
————
When this partnership was first mooted there was no mention of a logo on shirts.Is it to be the main logo? or a small logo on the back?
————
The case is going through the courts which is expensive.
Did no one at ibrox do any background checks.(feck i forgot they don’t spend any money on background checks)
If vaporised do lose this court case? how would that look if vaporised were the ibrox club’s main shirt sponsors?
As with everything down ibrox way they continue to be a laughing stock and it rubs of badly on the SPFL and scottish football.
Ps. sorry for some of the bad language in some of my recent post’s.It’s been one of those weeks.I will keep it in check.
HomunculusApril 8, 2018 at 11:29
ALLYJAMBOAPRIL 8, 2018 at 09:48I agree with the thrust of your post, but would never give anyone ‘credit’ for carrying out a con of this nature. The man has no conscience or scruple, he lies for a living, and cares not for the damage he does to others. But I know you didn’t mean credit as in admiration.====================================Sorry but are you referring to Craig Whyte, Charles Green, Dave King, Imran Ahmad, Brian Stockbridge or any one of a very long list.
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I’ll give you credit
, Homunculus, for that list. Unfortunately, as you point out, it is not exhaustive, for the world is full of such money grabbing lowlifes, even in governments (and governing bodies) throughout the world – and closer to home.
Cluster OneApril 8, 2018 at 11:54
Vaporised the ibrox club’s vaping partner.(vaping partner? what the feck is that all about?)Anyway vaporised the ibrox club’s vaping partner is being sued for trademark violation by rival vapouriz.And the battle could see gers prevented from using their financial backers logo on players shirts.————When this partnership was first mooted there was no mention of a logo on shirts.Is it to be the main logo? or a small logo on the back?————The case is going through the courts which is expensive.Did no one at ibrox do any background checks.(feck i forgot they don’t spend any money on background checks)If vaporised do lose this court case? how would that look if vaporised were the ibrox club’s main shirt sponsors?As with everything down ibrox way they continue to be a laughing stock and it rubs of badly on the SPFL and scottish football.Ps. sorry for some of the bad language in some of my recent post’s.It’s been one of those weeks.I will keep it in check.
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Who would have believed it, a court case involving a company with links to Ibrox! What is the world coming to?
Trademark violation, well they’ll be in good company – with one that not only uses trademarks that belong to a dead company, they even use that dead company’s name and claim to be it!
What do these have in common?
Vaporized
Vapouriz
Rangers
Running on fumes ?
ALLYJAMBOAPRIL 8, 2018 at 09:48
I agree with the thrust of your post, but would never give anyone ‘credit’ for carrying out a con of this nature. The man has no conscience or scruple, he lies for a living, and cares not for the damage he does to others. But I know you didn’t mean credit as in admiration.
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I certainly didn’t A.J. I would have been quite happy if Green had never been near Scottish football.
ALLYJAMBO
APRIL 8, 2018 at 14:02
I’ll give you credit , Homunculus, for that list. Unfortunately, as you point out, it is not exhaustive, for the world is full of such money grabbing lowlifes, even in governments (and governing bodies) throughout the world – and closer to home.
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Here’s more of a challenge, a list of names of people who has sat on the board of RIFC PLC which you would actually trust.
There are 31 to choose from apparently.
Was it not just a case of a Vape shop opening in some concourse at Ibrox? That is certainly all I read about, nothing about the shirt.
Perhaps they were introduced to Mr King whilst each awaited their individual cases
26 unique individuals and I have to say, I do not remember some of them at all. The 31 includes the initial setup agency and a couple of duplicates
SCOTTC
APRIL 8, 2018 at 16:23
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It was sort of tongue in cheek.
Sort of.
I know but it was such a high number I had to look them up and, honestly, I cannot remember quite a few of them. Other names brought smiles to my face as I remembered the stories
SCOTTCAPRIL 8, 2018 at 16:12
Was it not just a case of a Vape shop opening in some concourse at Ibrox? That is certainly all I read about, nothing about the shirt.
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Friday, 30 March 2018, 14:00by Rangers Football Club
RANGERS Football Club has announced a partnership with Scottish e-cigarette retailer Vaporized for the coming season.
Rangers Managing Director Stewart Robertson said “We are delighted to welcome Vaporized to our portfolio of partners and sponsors.”
Vaporized will become the official vaping partner of Rangers with a Vaporized store planned for the Club Deck in the main concourse next season. An official Rangers range of e-liquids will also be launched then.
Vaporized Manufacturing and Compliance Director, Doug Mutter commented, “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Rangers, allowing vaping in the stadium concourses to help fans stay on their path to freedom.”
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And the battle could see gers prevented from using their financial backers logo on players shirts.
Nothing about shirt sponsors being mentioned in the above unless it’s hidden as in the devil in the detail.As in
retailer Vaporized for the coming season…..Mmmm.
delighted to welcome Vaporized to our portfolio of partners and sponsors.”…sponsors….Mmmm.
If vaporized are to be the new shirt sponsors.they will have to change the colour.
Wait a minute, that is just to funny to even think about,players running around ibrox with vaporized on their shirts.
Friday, 30 March 2018, 14:00by Rangers Football Club Vaporized will become the official vaping partner of Rangers with a Vaporized store planned for the Club Deck in the main concourse next season. An official Rangers range of e-liquids will also be launched then.
Click on attachment for full range
1. Blueberry flavour
2. William of Orange flavour
3. Easter Lilly spring flavour
4. Simply the best range
5. Billy Boys mixed fruits
6. Bears Aroma flavour
7. 55 range flavour
8. Titanic navy cut flavour
9. 1690 battle flavour
10 1872 classic
I’m afraid I must disagree with Mr Murty and say that Morelos deserved at least a booking for his challenge, if not for the dive then for the total disregard of his opponent,’s safety and wellbeing .
Our partnership with Rangers is coming to an end. We have decided not to continue it, so that we can focus on our MBNA-branded cards. @mbna 4 Apr 2018.
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Not much in that.
But now from phil Metro bank want a meeting.
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2018/04/08/metro-bank-want-a-meeting-with-sevco/
There may be more in that.
Homunc: 11:05 8 April
” you found that drivel you posted, then copied and pasted it here without even looking at it. How did that work“
How did it work?? Just like you wrote it mate. I was abroad – just buried an uncle and his wife, my mum’s sister, who’d been ill for years, died the very next day; the day I posted.
I was on a iPhone and didn’t triple check as I was half involved in conversations about my aunt’s arrangements at the time. I wanted to post something in response to EasyJ quizzing me on those convertible shares and I half remembered Swiss Ramble’s stuff but my google search yielded the wrong thing, though it seems what I was after at first glance.
I admitted my error in posting, have not asked for history to be rewritten i’ve taken my lumps. No need to get your unmentionables in a bunch.
Homunc: also 11:05!8th April.
as regards your question on my ”workings” to prove that Desmond offered to underwrite a Celtic share issue – I posted a document from Celtic that says “Dermot Desmond has agreed to underwrite up to £10 million of the Share Offers.” I also posted a BBC article corroborating this. I’m not sure what else you need from me.
Underwriting in this context is just ensuring the full allocation of shares is bought, something Celtic was clearly worried about at that time.
And the final part of the response to your post Homunc from 11:05 on 8th April:
Why would professional investors not invest in Celtic? institutional investors prefer to invest in liquid instruments which they can get in and get out of. They also like scale – the low number of available shares for Celtic means that the price is very volatile based on small amounts shares any move to invest in Celtic will quickly push up the share price.
This is evidenced by the two recent major hikes in the share price which pushed the price up to the level you mention, having been in the doldrums for 15 years, with a low of 22p (having shed over 90% of its post IPO high of 360-odd high back in ‘99).
Hope that’s squared us off for now. I replied in three posts because I’m open further feedback/criticism… tomorrow though as for now, I’m off to bed. Tough weekend.
Cluster OneApril 8, 2018 at 11:54
‘…Anyway vaporised the ibrox club’s vaping partner is being sued for trademark violation by rival vapouriz….’
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I am just now reading the judgment in this case:
“OUTER HOUSE, COURT OF SESSION[2017] CSOH 100XA135/16
OPINION OF LADY WOLFFE
In the appeal under section 76 of the Trade Marks Act 1994
of
CCHG LIMITED t/a VaporizedAppellant and Registered Proprietor
against
VAPOURIZ LIMITED Respondent and Applicant
12 July 2017”
___
Essentially, “Vapouriz Ltd” registered their trademark (no. 2605137) on 30 March 2012
CCHG Ltd trading as “Vapourized” registered their trademark (no. 3085823) on 13 March 2015
“Vapouriz Ltd ” applied on 30 June 2015 to the Registrar of Trade Marks to have the trade mark of CCHG Ltd (t/a ” Vapourized”) declared invalid.
On 1 November 2016 The Registrar decided that it was indeed invalid.
CCHG Ltd t/a “Vapourized” appealed to the Court of Session,and Lady Wolffe heard the Appeal and delivered her judgment on 12 July 2017, which was to uphold the Registrar’s decision.
Is there news that that an appeal to the Inner House against Lady Wolffe’s decision has been made?
I haven’t myself , apart from your post, C1,seen or heard of any, so perhaps that litigation is over and done with and CCHG has put up, shut up and changed their trade mark.
But perhaps they have appealed and are brazening out their use of the ‘invalid’ trade mark pending hearing of that appeal.
[There is one wee oddity. The party in the judgment is referred to as CCHG Ltd.
The spokesman, Doug Mutter, for the company which has the arrangement with TRFC Ltd is a director of a company shown in the Companies House records as CCHM Ltd. Possibly a transcription error on the part of Companies House]
The link to Lady Wolff’s judgment is
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=286a38a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
Cluster OneApril 8, 2018 at 21:28
‘..But now from phil Metro bank want a meeting.’
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Has the word gone out from the ToP that King is to be ‘cold-shouldered’?
I’ve no idea whether it’s only very specific financial institutions that would be have to be careful to ‘obey’ an injunction to ‘cold shoulder’.
Perhaps an ordinary bank issuing credit cards would not be required to refuse to deal with the likes of King.
But one would think that if the ToP has a dim view of any business director’s market-place trustworthiness and general probity, anybody, even his windae-cleaner or local newsagent, let alone a respectable bank, would wish not to be seen to be so feckin stoopid as to do business with him!
And perhaps Metro has sussed that it does not do in business either to be too obviously dodgy yourself OR to be thought by others to be stoopid!
Yes, will be interesting to see if there is anything significant in Phil’s MBNA story.
But suppose we can all guess the SMSM approach this week in the run up to the Glasgow Derby, semi;
– Murty’s chance to secure the manager’s job
– opportunity for TRFC players to step up and emulate 9IAR ‘heros’ / aka EBT cheats
– some other unnamed investor desperate to buy into RIFC
– some big names linked as ‘potential’ TRFC targets this summer
&
– CFC ‘rumoured to be in trouble’ with SFA / UEFA / police / Glasgow Council / or any other public body.
– Dermot Desmond ‘rumoured to have dodgy dealngs’…with Russian oligarchs / Putin / Trump / any other public figures getting negative MSM coverage currently
– ‘former Celtic player linked to the Russian spy poisoning plot’, because McGeady played for Spartak Moscow…
Whatever nonsense the SMSM prints, it will not be worth buying.
But good for a laugh, to be fair.
My immediately previous post refers:
I should have done some more research
The Rolls of Court for early January 2018 ( when I had just come back from Scranton, PA.,) have this:
COURT OF SESSION CALLING LIST Wednesday 10th January 2018
1…..
2…….
…….
…..
……
8. Vapouriz Limited, Unite 5 Park Court, Pyrford Road, West Byfleet AG CCHG Limited t/a Vaporized, Unit 3 & 4 Newbridge Industrial Estate, Cliftonhall Road, Newbridge, Midlothian.
So, there was/is current action on the trademark front! An appeal against lady Wolffe’s decision?
Need to investigate tomorrow!
John Clark April 9, 2018 at 00:36
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The Vapouriz case number is A434/17. There was an unopposed motion granted as recently as 29 March.
Trying to get David Low to voice his very interesting thoughts on the King circus. Either a written piece or a conversation on a podcast.
An interesting article on how the TOAP view those who are less than truthful.
https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/business-law-blog/blog/2017/01/takeover-code-given-cold-shoulder
Does this remind anyone of a certain Chairman?
JOCKYBHOY
Sorry maybe I worded the original question poorly, or misunderstood your post.
I was more interested in whether or not you thought the share issue had been under-subscribed and that as under-writer Dermot Desmond had been forced to buy the unsold shares himself. I was always under the impression that Celtic share issue had been fully subscribed, if that is incorrect I would rather know what the actual position was.
This is your original post and my question.
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JOCKYBHOY
APRIL 7, 2018 at 20:37
Celtic hasn’t paid a dividend (I think) in the modern (post-McCann) era and the last time there was a share issue I think Desmond underwrote it and ended up owning more that 30% of the shares.
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Homunculus
April 7, 2018 at 21:18
I’m not questioning your post, I have no knowledge on the subject, so forgive me for asking the question.
What makes you think Dermot Desmond had to buy shares having under-written a share issue.
I understand the SPFL are liable to contrive the upcoming post-split fixture list to ensure Celtic don’t win the tltle against Rangers, allegedly on police advice. Whatever next? Home cup ties to be guaranteed at Ibrox to mitigate potential trouble by ra peepul at away matches?
My advice would be to ban the away support at Celtic Park for this fixture if the police can’t guarantee safety at the match, because to do anything else is to pander to the trouble-makers. The current club playing out of Ibrox has caused more than enough trouble and embarrassment to Scottish football during the past six years of its existence without it dictating the fixtures!
Dermot Desmond did indeed underwrite a Celtic share issue. He also avoided breaching the 30% shareholding limit, wherein he would be forced to offer to purchase all shares, by the purchase of a significant number of non-voting preference shares, giving a return of close to 5% on these shares, which gives him an annual dividend on these shares of just short of a million pounds a year. These are the only shares issued by Celtic upon which a dividend has been forthcoming.
If I remember correctly, Desmond’s total investment in Celtic is around 40 million, of which around half is in the preference shares. He is getting a return on this, and would possibly be able to sell at a profit, but his rate of return and profit are certainly far less than his other investments being in.
Investors can gain kudos, leverage, and goodwill from Football investments in Scotland. Murray certainly did so. and Milne at Aberdeen may well have seen an ability to gain influence, for other parts of his property business by investing in Aberdeen. Generally though, from a purely financial perspective, investing in Scottish Football teams makes little sense.
I suspect most investors who do so, either are fans, or see it as a way of giving something back to communities in which they live or do business.
JOHN CLARKAPRIL 9, 2018 at 00:36
Surely matters could have been sorted by the Ibrox partners changing their name to ‘The’ Vapourised.
Iceman,
I thought DD purchased the preference shares in the initial IPO – not to avoid going over the ToP threshold.
I do remember that he got a dispensation from the ToP not to be compelled to make an offer if his underwriting of the subsequent share issue (post-McCann’s departure) took him over the 29.9%.
In fact he did go over the limit and was not compelled to make the offer.
Not that it makes any difference to your point
I see Dave King is banging on about war-chests today. Is it ST renewal time by any chance?
It would appear Dave King is making proclamations on behalf of the PLC’s subsidiary again.
“However, on the managerial front I emphasise that the Board fully recognises the need for sustained stability in this area of the Club. Whoever is appointed must be able to meet the unique challenges of managing Rangers and ensuring immediate success.
“It is a priority that we commence next season with the best appointment we can make and that we move forward rapidly. Rangers is synonymous with winning and I want to repeat my commitment that neither I, nor any of the other directors, will consider our work complete until Rangers has been restored to the top of our game.
Nothing arrogant in ” … meet the unique challenges of managing Rangers and ensuring immediate success.” or “Rangers is synonymous with winning”
I am forced to wonder how one ensures immediate success.
Big Pink
April 9, 2018 at 12:04
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So he was forced to buy shares having under-written the offer. I had always thought that they were fully subscribed and the under-writer never had to cover any shortfall.
Every day is as they say a school day.
Quite a lot of comment on Twitter about the SPFL trying to avoid Celtic tying up the title in a match against TRFC, as though the title is all that remains to be decided in the last five games.
Now I’m not sure it isn’t always ‘fixed’ (my own club requested their last 3 games to be away from home last season, so there must be an element of fixing possible) but with both Europa spots still very much up for grabs between three teams, and Killie still in the mix, it must surely be a priority to ensure no side is guaranteed a game against the champions (and so the hardest of the 5 remaining fixtures for all in Euro contention) after the title is won, a situation that often leads to a loss of motivation once the pressure is off.
A first match defeat from Celtic for Hibs, and certainly Kilmarnock, would be a big blow to their hopes of qualifying, while it would take pressure off both Aberdeen and TRFC. Similarly a defeat for TRFC (or Aberdeen) would have them looking over their shoulders, with a win for Hibs drawing them level with the third placed side.
In what should be the focal point for the remainder of the season (European qualification) one club (the usual one club) appears to be getting a boost, purely because of the potential for their own supporters to go on the rampage (a potential that exists regardless of when the game is played), in their very mych needed quest for European cash.
Obviously there’s no question that Celtic v TRFC must be the first post split fixture, just that it should have as much chance of happening as it has for any other club to be the ‘lamb to the slaughter’ in Celtic’s title celebrations.
Of course, there’s also the worry for TRFC (and so the game’s governors) that defeat to Celtic would have a detrimental effect on the gate in the remaining, no doubt three, Ibrox fixtures.
With regards the Old Firm game not being a decider, I find it unfair to blame that solely at Rangers door. The SPFL have tried to avoid this scenario for over 20 years and I have no reason to believe it would be any different were the tables turned. Since that dark day in 1999 this scenario has always been avoided and at that time it was Rangers who won the league at the time. To ban the Rangers fans from the stadium would be both hyporitical and unfair in my opinion.
Homunculus,
My recollection is that is how it panned out, but it is only from a memory of something that wasn’t very important to me at the time so perhaps not to be trusted 100%.
Who knew we would all be conversing in such a manner ten years or so down the line? Funny old game.
The main impact for me was the exposure to the pref share debt and the certainty that after 16 years, the holders of said shares would have their money back whilst still holding the share capital.
I remember asking if the prefs stopped paying out after a while, but I got a blurb of financial speak obfuscation from the director I spoke to at the time, and alas I was no further forward
I think AJ makes a good point.
Clearly there is the possibility that once the league is won the winners may be less inclined to play to their maximum. They may for example play what would be considered a weakened side. They may rest players, particularly if the same team has made it to the cup final. The players may play in such a way as to avoid bookings, or injury.
That being the case it seems wrong that it could be manufactured that one club was less likely to play that team when they were still trying to win the league than others. That would appear to be giving a deliberate advantage to the favoured team. Granting them a, higher prize money and b, a better starting point in the Europa league.
There is still an awful lot to play for here, one team cannot be given an advantage over others competing for the same prizes.
DARKBEFOREDAWN
My personal view is that banning opposing fans from the New Glasgow Derby (see what I did there?) would be a great boost to the local A&Es and police service.
It is not a spectacle in anything but the most absurd sense, and regularly makes us a laughing stock of the tea-in-china-cups brigade down south as we indulge in a bit of provincial drunken-thuggish stereotyping.
Absolutely the way forward. I disagree with Brendan Rodgers 100% on the atmosphere thing – it’s poison: although I don’t see how the title-deciding status would make things any worse than they already are.
Unless of course we would move further up the deeper end of the blood-pool?
Waists anyone? Shooders?
Just some old bits and pieces re how Dermott Desmond may have ended up with all these different types of shares and possible dividends.
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/desmond-holds-more-than-20-5-of-celtic-after-share-purchase-1.1056861
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/dermot-desmond-for-celtic-multimillion-dividend-payout-26223744.html
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12485510.Desmond_unlikely_to_join_Celtic_dividend_scheme_More_shares_would_force_full_takeover_bid_for_Parkhead_club/
While I am in no way saying Desmond is anything like King, he is clearly still a business man who is looking to get value from his investment along with some payback where possible.
If a rule is there to be used or challenged then these guys will do all they can to use them to their advantage.
Imagine the pelters T’Rangers / King would take on here if it was found a special class of shares were issued to those and such as those to avoid the 30% rule. All above board I’m sure but I can hear the outcry.
Similarly the article 2004 reminds us Celtic were posting a £11m loss and carrying a debt of £23m ‘despite the club’s remarkable run in Europe’.
Celtic are to be applauded for continuing to reduce their debt and then begin to turn profits but just as well FFP wasn’t around then?
Anyway it is all ancient history as it appears the non-voting shares were to be changed to full shares at a later date.
Presumably some other regulatory jiggery pokery then took place at the next round to keep the 30% rule at bay etc etc etc.
https://stv.tv/sport/football/1412042-king-priority-to-appoint-boss-for-immediate-success/
This RIFC/TRFC puff piece on the STV website must be one of their weakest efforts to boost ST sales in the club’s history, with the following extract not exactly a promise of vast wealth being pumped in.
“It remains your board’s intention to provide the funding necessary to ensure the level and consistency required for a serious and sustained challenge.”
It is all so muted, without the usual bombast. So, to me, it’s sounds like the long needed austerity is on the cards for next season.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions…as they say. ‘Intention’ leaves so much wrighle room if/when the funding doesn’t appear!
DARKBEFOREDAWNAPRIL 9, 2018 at 12:46
With regards the Old Firm game not being a decider, I find it unfair to blame that solely at Rangers door. The SPFL have tried to avoid this scenario for over 20 years and I have no reason to believe it would be any different were the tables turned. Since that dark day in 1999 this scenario has always been avoided and at that time it was Rangers who won the league at the time. To ban the Rangers fans from the stadium would be both hyporitical and unfair in my opinion.
______________
Your old club’s cheating, and the game’s governors’ lack of keenness to discourage it, has naturally led to a closer, and more critical, view of their intentions when interfering in the natural course of fairness. I take it from your ‘that’s the way it’s always been’ type response that you have no counter argument to the assertion that it is unfair on TRFC’s rival’s for that Euro spot!
Big PinkApril 9, 2018 at 12:59
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Has to be ‘waists’ BP, one syllable
From Celtic’s 1995 accounts re share issues.
(Note that QFS was Dermot Desmond’s purchase vehicle)
On 9 January 1995 the company placed with Q.F.S. Financial Services Limited 16,393 ordinary shares of £1 each at £64 per share and 49,179 preference shares of £60 each at par. In addition, the company offered ordinary shares of £1 each and preference shares of £60 each for sale to the public on two occasions during the year via share prospectuses issued on 20 December 1994 and 24 February 1995 respectively. Shares were offered to the public in units of 10 shares at a price of £620 per unit, each unit comprising 5 ordinary shares of £1 each and 5 preference shares of £60 each. Under the first offer members of the Celtic Executive Club were offered the right to convert their interest free loans to the company into shares of the company. 850 ordinary shares of £1 each and 4,760 preference shares of £60 each were issued pursuant to the Executive Club conversion. To facilitate the second offer certain shareholders agreed to sell into that offer 8,000 ordinary shares of £1 each at £64 per share and to subscribe the sale proceeds, under a further preference share issue, for 8,536 preference shares of £60 each at par. In addition, one of the directors of the company, F J McCann, sold 8,500 preference shares of £60 each at par into the second offer. As a result of this placing, these offers, the Executive Club conversion and the further preference share issue, 90,818 ordinary shares of £1 each at £64 per share and 135,573 preference shares of £60 each at par were issued. The premium arising on the shares issued less the costs of the issues has been credited to the share premium account The purpose of these issues was to raise capital to support the rebuilding of the first team and the re-development of Celtic Park.
DD’s investment, at that point, amounted to £1.05m in Ordinary shares and £2.95m in Preference shares
AJ, I think the whole split is a rediculous idea and leads the SPFL open to these criticisms of bias. It leaves them in a very difficult place of where to place the last Old Firm game. Do they have it the game after Celtic win, where the flag is unfurled? Do they have it the last game of the season? That said, I think whenever it is arranged, there will not be a change of Celtic not being fired up for the game for the very fact its a derby and the old saying ‘no such thing as a meaningless old firm game’. If for example Hearts were depending on Celtic beating us in the very last game of the season, I think you would far more relaxed than if they had to beat Kilmarnock.
Darkbeforedawn
April 9, 2018 at 14:52
‘no such thing as an old firm game’
============================================
I’ve fixed that for you.
Rangers chief Dave King says Graeme Murty can be ‘proud’ of his Ibrox work as he vows to get “next boss appointment right.”
Daily Record
STV News
BBC Sport
The Herald
The Sun
D.K. admits poor judgement. ? or no money?
DarkbeforedawnApril 9, 2018 at 14:52
AJ, I think the whole split is a rediculous idea and leads the SPFL open to these criticisms of bias. It leaves them in a very difficult place of where to place the last Old Firm game. Do they have it the game after Celtic win, where the flag is unfurled? Do they have it the last game of the season? That said, I think whenever it is arranged, there will not be a change of Celtic not being fired up for the game for the very fact its a derby and the old saying ‘no such thing as a meaningless old firm game’. If for example Hearts were depending on Celtic beating us in the very last game of the season, I think you would far more relaxed than if they had to beat Kilmarnock.
______________________
There is a strange phenomenon that seems to hit clubs who win the league early, it was very noticeable, for me, when Hearts won the Championship with weeks to spare how they seemed to have difficulty getting up for games – even against Hibs.
As I say, though, the team who plays Celtic first, is the club most likely to get them when they are in the mood, while those who come after just might benefit from a lacklustre performance. It is, therefor, unfair that any one club should not face the possibility of facing them on that day.
If TRFC supporters can’t live with the thought of watching Celtic win the league, then they can just stay away. They do seem to like their boycotts.
As for the split, it is what it is, and should be administered as fairly as possible, for all the teams. Just imagine a league where the clubs only play each other twice, would the games be rearranged to avoid the possibility of either club winning against their New Glasgow Derby rivals?
AllyjamboApril 9, 2018 at 16:27
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It seems to me there are three scenarios for the Glasgow league derby. One in which Celtic will have the chance to seal the title; the second in which the champions Celtic will have to be applauded and saluted on to the field by their opponents, and the third being the final home game league celebration by Celtic.
None are particularly palatable for Rangers fans, but of the three, surely the first would be preferable where a victory for the Ibrox side would at least delay the celebrations and give Celtic a bloody nose. The other two will be Celtic celebrations regardless.
WOODSTEINAPRIL 9, 2018 at 15:56
Rangers chief Dave King says Graeme Murty can be ‘proud’ of his Ibrox work as he vows to get “next boss appointment right.
—————–
If they don’t get it right? they have had 7 months to find someone.Does this ibrox board have the same clock/calander as the compliance officer?
How long does it take to do your job nowdays?
ps. not a swear word in sight
Not Scottish football , but football .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43701400
West Brom have had their proposal to introduce safe-standing rejected by the Government , who base their decision on the Taylor report into the Hillsborough disaster . Since then , we have had the inquest jury decide that police errors in planning, defects at the stadium and delays in the emergency response all contributed to the disaster. The behaviour of fans was not to blame . Match commander Ch Supt David Duckenfield was found to be in breach of his duty of care to fans in the stadium that day , and that this amounted to gross negligence and that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed.
West Brom’s safety officials have apparently tried a number of initiatives to resolve the problem of persistent standing in certain areas of their ground. Having seen it working successfully across Europe , as well as at Celtic Park , youda thunk that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport would have at least tried a pilot scheme given the amount of lies which contributed to Taylor’s report.
Sportsound blethering on about when the next Celtic v T’ Rangers league game should be played in relation to a possible Celtic title win.
Why is no-one mentioning that there is a possibility of the two clubs meeting in the League Cup Final, the Scottish Cup Final, The Europa Club final or (maybe one day) the Champions League final.
Is anyone suggesting that these pre-planned and scheduled finals would need to be tampered with just because of the participants?
Michael Stewart giving the Beebs ‘go to’ policing expert (ex-copper Les Gray) a very hard time re how do we move forward to actually promote the game, as per Rodgers presser.
Darryl rabbiting on about our Scottish football “values”.
He must think that the SFA has some ‘values’ and is honest and decent and full of probity.
Clearly, he has no concerns that there may be evidence that the SFA behaved deceitfully in the matter of awarding a UEFA competitions licence to the old RFC (IL) , and that a horrendously deceitful ‘5-way Agreement’ was cobbled up to permit a new club to claim to be continuity RFC and be allowed to assert entitlement to titles and honours that it was not in existence even to compete for!
Nothing of ‘value’ can come from the SFA, which so sullied itself in its fear of dealing honestly and truthfully and in accordance with the requirements of Sporting Integrity.
We can expect deceit from politicians.
We should not expect a sports governance body to virtually destroy the sport which it is supposed to govern in integrity and justice.
Unfortunately, the SFA has blown all trust.
Regarding the new Glasgow derby , why not play their four fixtures at the start of the league campaign while others are playing early League Cup games , and remove the risk of upsetting folk later on ?
Not waists for the blood surely it would be to put it genteelly Charles Dickens one syllable nom de plume ending with Z and acronymic with Body Odour…
WOTTPIAPRIL 9, 2018 at 19:02
Michael Stewart giving the Beebs ‘go to’ policing expert (ex-copper Les Gray) a very hard time re how do we move forward to actually promote the game, as per Rodgers presser.
=========================
Listening to Les Gray made me think he would impose an 8PM curfew for football fans seven nights a week if he was allowed to get away with it.
It is near the end of the season and the cup runs are nearing there completion and the big horse race is almost upon us.
But the question on everyone’s lips is.
Who will finnish first.
1.Will the SFA appoint a new chief executive first?
2. Will TRFC appoint a new manager?
3.Will the compliance officer issue his report on the granting of a european licence to rangers in 2011 and pip the other two at the post?
Having a little clean of computer and found this if it is of any interest for the one’s discussing the celtic shares
UPTHEHOOPSAPRIL 9, 2018 at 19:47
Have to give Daryl Broadfoot kudos as he did finally ask about cup finals after I posted.
Les Gray however responded but ah yes they are fixed but the split allows choices to be made so the ‘issues’ should be taken into account.
Can’t see why he wasn’t then calling for a straight undivided season like the days of old!
However I agree it was a case of how easy can we make lives for the police and sod everyone else.
I have no doubt the cops have it hard when such games are played and individual officers may have had to deal with things and see things many of would rather not.
However Michael Stewart was great in hounding him for some type of way forward as opposed to his ‘string em high’ approach.
Stewart had him on the ropes re shutting the pubs and having more concern for the landlords takings than law abiding fans.
Frankly still an embarrassment in this day and age that we have to discuss this and that folks like Gray get to spout off.
However maybe like the article below he needs to keep the ball rolling to get quoted.
Here is one from 2011, could he be using his media profile to top up his generous Polis pension.
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/8891913.Police_chief_criticises_customers_of_pub_during_live_football_match/
Whats all this nonsense about avoiding a Celtic v TRFC league DECIDER. That’s just impossible unless both sides are neck and neck and a result either way would mean a title win. That is most certainly not the case here but it means that the SMSM can use the words ‘Rangers’ and ‘Title Decider’ in the same sentence. Media made up nonsense.
Stuart McCall is in Scotland to “take in next Sunday’s cup semi final” according to the media. My goodness, he’s punctual. Apparently he was attending an event run by “proud Scottish Cup sponsors, William Hill.” Next Sunday’s match is to be promoted, apparently, but a match where Celtic could win the league against Sevco is be downplayed and avoided.
I guess if Celtic win the league against Sevco, there might be a chance of the toilets being wrecked at one end of the stadium ?
The SFA have already loaded the dice for the semi final – appointing a referee whose bias against Celtic is already known, and a linesman who had to resign from his day job at Police Scotland for violence and dishonesty, but is considered fit and proper to help officiate at Hampden.
Has there been any progress since the football authorities were caught ‘red handed’ asking the Ibrox management if their statement was okay for release to the media?
It would appear not.
HelpumootApril 10, 2018 at 08:45
“…..Has there been any progress since the football authorities were caught ‘red handed’ asking the Ibrox management if their statement was okay for release to the media?”
__________________________
Of all the extraordinary bits of stuff that surfaced, that was a killer for any belief that the SFA was an honest broker.
To go cap in hand to a rogue club to seek their clearance of a draft letter to make sure that their deceit could be concealed was the work of deeply complicit administrators who knew that there had been wrongdoing, and were not prepared to tackle it.
As a Rangers fan i feel the events of 1999 have ensured there will never be a possibility of a title winning game between Rangers & Celtic.
I find it strange no-one on the site is recalling the events of that May evening when ONE set of fans and ONE only were responsible for the mayhem. ONE set of fans who who entered the field of play intent on attacking the referee, struck the referee on the head with a coin drawing blood, threw coins onto the park when a Rangers player was attempting to take a free kick, threw coins at the Rangers players as they left the field of play.
Why is that?. Genuine question.
I’m rather enjoying (in a schadenfreude-y kind of way) the SPFL/Police Scotland tying themselves in knots over the post-split schedule.
It seems that the authorities don’t want CFC v. TRFC to be the the first match of the five.
Make it the second & hope it’s a dead rubber? What happens if CFC lose their first match & TRFC win?
Make it the third & hope it’s a dead rubber? What happens if CFC lose their first two matches & TRFC win theirs?
Make it the fourth & hope it’s a dead rubber? What happens if CFC lose their first three matches & TRFC win theirs?
Make it the fifth & hope it’s a dead rubber? What happens if CFC lose their first four matches & TRFC win theirs?
Frankly, it appears that the spineless SPFL would prefer for the game not to be played at all (or played behind closed doors at midnight on a Monday). What a state to get into!
See the polis? See governing bodies?
I made the same point on Twitter a few days ago, stretching it a bit to suggest Celtic should go out of their way to make this happen. I was just being mischievous though
With respect, as a Hearts fan, I feel your post is nothing less than whataboutery, as in “what about those bad Celtic fans almost two decades ago?”
The fact is that, right at this very moment, our football authorities are threatening to take action which will guarantee that Celtic won’t win the title by beating Rangers, all because Rangers fans can’t cope with that, poor little mites. What if the other four clubs protested at having to be the ones playing Celtic when they clinch the title? Do you think the SPFL would help them out?
Or maybe I’ve misunderstood you and you think it’s Celtic fans who are going to be causing trouble as they celebrate seven in a row?
Your fellow bluenoses are absolutely right when they claim it’s all about the Rangers – only not in a good way!
slimjimApril 10, 2018 at 10:53
“As a Rangers fan i feel the events of 1999 have ensured there will never be a possibility of a title winning game between Rangers & Celtic. I find it strange no-one on the site is recalling the events of that May evening when ONE set of fans and ONE only were responsible for the mayhem. ONE set of fans who who entered the field of play intent on attacking the referee, struck the referee on the head with a coin drawing blood, threw coins onto the park when a Rangers player was attempting to take a free kick, threw coins at the Rangers players as they left the field of play. Why is that?. Genuine question.”
Slim whilst this happened can you tell why this constitutes never again a team going for the leauge against its so called rivals will happen again.
Are we just to ban fans from these games, ordinary leauge games at Ibrox has recently seen Scott brown attacked, golf balls thrown at Armstrong Monkey chants at Sinclair and batteries at Lee griffiths, so what is the difference you are stating above? Heres a point for you to consider what if there was no post split, all teams just play to the end all teams 4 times. Celtic for examples next fixture is the derby, do we rearrange that and jockey all teams to accomadate.
What a lot of people are avoiding is what we are witnessing is the manipulaion of sport in fixing games to aviod social issues they have never addressed.
1. is it fair on the other teams who may have to play Celtic first may lose ground in the race for second, what if Celtic get say Aberdeen or Hibs, Celtic will be at the top of their game if they want to clinch the title and will then be able to rest players for Europe and maybe a Scottish cup final. So it is advantage the teams who never played Celtic first, there is more to this than you think behind the scenes, my hope is if it Hibs at Easter Road, a draw, if the SFA wish to have a say then why don’t Celtic have a say, after all Calderwood had a say and Sutton knows this to be true.