Is Stewart Regan, Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Football Association a DIDDY?
Disingenuous: Incompetent: Dishonest: Duped? You decide.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Scottish Football Monitor sorority/fraternity jury, who want an honest game, honestly governed, are invited to pass judgement on Stewart Regan, the CEO of the SFA.
The main stream media are finally asking questions of Regan’s performance in that role, but based on a rather shallow (by comparison to what he has presided over) single issue of the recruitment of a national team coach, and not his character.
Maybe we can help the three monkeys media men (you know who they are) push for change at the SFA. How? By highlighting for them the appropriate response to Regan’s performance on the basis of what follows if he really is a DIDDY.
Disingenuous is defined as:
not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does.
Evidence of such can be found in the written exchanges with the SFA that Celtic initiated on 27th July, and continued on 18 August, 21 August, 4th September and 7th September 2017; and published on the Celtic web site with SFA agreement at http://cdn.celticfc.net/assets/downloads/SFA_Correspondence.pdf
This from the SFA letter of 18th August 2017:
Comment: the statements are not alleged, they are a matter of court record and if untrue represent perjury.
…. And then this from subsequent SFA letter of 4th September 2017
Both paras give the impression that the SFA were unaware that Rangers had accepted the liability without question before 31st March 2011. Yet the SFA’s attention was drawn to this fact in July 2015 by lawyers acting on behalf of Celtic shareholders as follows:
- Our information in respect of this £2.8M in unpaid tax is that Rangers PLC had been alerted in November 2010 by HMRC that they would be pursuing payment of this exact sum.
- From that date onwards, the Directors of Rangers PLC should have known there was a potential liability to HMRC for back taxes specifically relating to payments made to Tore Andre Flo and Ronald De Boer. These sums became an accepted liability in March 2011.
- Matters had been brought to a head on 23 February 2011 when HMRC presented Rangers with a written case for payment of back tax owed in respect of Flo and De Boer. As your department may well be aware, that case for payment involved hitherto undisclosed side letters which were found to be an adjunct to their declared and disclosed contracts of employment.
- Those contracts of employment were, of course, disclosed to the Scottish Football authorities (including the SFA) as part of the necessary compliance procedures followed by all clubs and demanded by both the SFA and UEFA.
- Additionally when replying to the initial enquiries by HMRC in 2005 regarding these alleged side letters and ancillary agreements, the then Group Tax Manager of Murray International Holdings (MIH) acting for Rangers PLC on tax matters, apparently advised HMRC that no such agreements or side letters existed.
- It ultimately proved that these representations to HMRC were completely untrue and without foundation. The tax Inspectors concerned in turn saw these false misrepresentations as being an attempt to simply hide the true financial position and an attempt to avoid paying the taxes which were lawfully due on the contracts of the players concerned.
- As mentioned earlier, Rangers PLC accepted liability on 21st March 2011 for unpaid tax having taken legal advice on the matter.
- In turn, HMRC then chose to formally pursue payment of the back taxes and penalties in relation to these two players, all in terms of HMRC’s debt recovery procedures under what is known as regulation 80.
- Prior to 31st March 2011, there was clear knowledge within Rangers Football Club of the liability to make payment for these back taxes and, as can be seen from the attached documentation, by 20th May 2011 HMRC had served formal assessments and demands on Rangers PLC for the sums concerned.
The impression given by Regan’s reply to Celtic is that the first time the SFA were aware there might be an issue on granting was in June 2017 as result of testimony at the Craig Whyte trial. This is clearly not the case and the only explanation that would clear Regan of being disingenuous is a that he was incompetent as in not knowing what the SFA already had in their possession, however a bit more on being disingenuous before looking at incompetency.
The above extract of the exchange of 4th September where Regan mentions Celtic being satisfied on the UEFA Licence 2011 issue was challenged by Celtic on 7th September 2017 as follows:
“on the matter of the Licensing Decision in 2011 it is not accurate to describe Celtic as having been “satisfied” at any stage. Like everyone else we were in a position of responding on the basis of information available to us. In correspondence, Celtic raised continuing concerns as did a number of Celtic shareholders.”
In dealing with the Celtic shareholders the SFA and Regan appeared keen to welcome from the early days of correspondence that only the process after granting i.e. the monitoring phase of June and September was being questioned and not the granting itself. That was the case initially but as new information emerged in respect of what UEFA judged to be an overdue payable, upheld by the Court of Arbitration on Sport in 2013, focus swung back in 2016 to the significance of what the SFA had been told by the Res 12 lawyer in July 2015. However the emphasis the SFA put on shareholders accepting the grant was in order was puzzling at the time. The suspicion since is that the SFA did not want the circumstances around the granting investigated and the SFA and Regan were being disingenuous in their attempts to keep that aspect under wraps. especially when their defence of not acting as required in 2011 was based around when the SFA responsibilities on granting ended and UEFA’s on monitoring began. (for more on that read the Incompetence charge)
In response to a separate point in Regan’s letter of 18th August about the QC advice on there not being a rule in place at the time to use to sanction Rangers or the limited sanctions available to a Judicial Panel, Peter Lawwell responded on 21st August to Regan’s disingenuousness as follows:
” In your letter you refer to advice from Senior Counsel that;
‘there was very little chance of the Scottish FA succeeding in relation to any compliant regarding this matter and that, even if successful, any sanctions available to a Judicial Panel would be very limited in their scope.’
As I said in my last letter Celtic considers that this misses the point. The fact that disciplinary sanctions may not be secured is in our view not a reason for Scottish football to ignore the opportunity to review and possibly learn lessons from the events in question.”
Although they didn’t refer to it in that reply of 21st August, Celtic could have pointed out the following catch all rule in existence in 2011 (and presumably earlier) under Article 5 in SFA handbook.
5. Obligations and duties of Members (where all members shall)
5.1 Observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in accordance with the rules of fair play.
This Article could have been used to demonstrate sporting dishonesty by Rangers FC. However by recognising this Regan would be on a collision course with an issue that he wanted to avoid at all costs;
whom to sanction? Rangers FC? The Rangers FC? Those currently at The Rangers FC who were officials or on the Board of Rangers FC in 2011?
Consequently, the SFA chose to hide behind QC advice – but to protect whom? Not the integrity of the game. Here is a suggestion to restore it:
That the Rangers FC admit that the trophies won in the EBT years were won as a result of clear wrongdoing (the wrongdoing Regan was so desperate to say never occurred – see later), and that The Rangers give them up. Surrendering them is not being defeated, it is simply the right thing to do for the game AND for Rangers to restore some integrity to themselves.
If they want to lay claim to their history, lay claim to all of it, just be honourable and act with dignity and we can all move on.
In summary then, Regan is being disingenuous by pretending to know a lot less than he does – and on that note the case of disingenuousness ends.
Incompetence: is defined as;
lack of ability to do something successfully or as it should be done:
Whilst a CEO would not be expected to know the minutiae of any process, he would be expected to seek such information before going public to defend the SFA’s position.
On 23 October 2013, Stewart Regan had an interview with Richard Gordon on BBC Sportsound. Excerpts from it can be heard at http://www.bbc.com/sport/scotland/24685973 . Interestingly or strangely, the following excerpt regarding the lines of responsibility between the SFA and UEFA fell on the BBC cutting room floor.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6uWzxhblAt9YktGc0kwWjJCY1E/view?usp=sharing
In it Regan is saying that the 31st March is a key date and AFTER that date, the SFA having granted the licence on evidence provided to the SFA (now under Compliance Officer investigation) have no more responsibility in the matter. Richard Gordon asks Regan to confirm that after 31st March there is no other course of action the SFA could have taken. To which Regan answers “Correct”.
This understanding however does not stand up when compared to the information supplied to the Res 12 Lawyer on 8th June 2016 by Andrea Traverso, Head of UEFA Club Licensing and so ultimate authority on the matter.
That letter (more famous for its new club/company designation of the current incumbents at Ibrox), confirmed that the UEFA Licence was not granted until the 19th April 2011, so Regan was wrong on his dates, but even more significantly UEFA stated that the list of clubs granted a licence was not submitted to them until 26th May 2011.
This raises the obvious question (though not so obviously to Regan);
” how can UEFA start monitoring until they know who to monitor?”
More significantly, and one for the SFA Compliance chap to consider, should the licence have been granted, irrespective of what “evidence” the SFA Licensing Committee acted on in March 2011 , when it was obvious from a HMRC Letter of 20th May 2011 to Rangers, that HMRC were pursuing payment of a tax liability which could no longer by dint of being pursued, be described as “potential” which was the justification for granting at 31st March/19th April?
Here ends the case of incompetence.
Dishonesty;
lack of honesty or integrity: defined as disposition to defraud or deceive.
The line between incompetence and dishonesty is a thin one and so difficult to judge, however some discernment is possible from observation over time.
On 29 March 2012 Stewart Regan was interviewed by Alex Thomson of Channel Four news, a transcript of which with comments can be found on a previous SFM blog of 8th March 2015 at
https://www.sfm.scot/did-stewart-regan-ken-then-wit-we-ken-noo/
It is a long article, but two points emerge from it.
Stewart Regan bases his defence of SFA inaction on the fact that at the time of the interview no wrongdoing had occurred . Regan emphasises this rather a lot. Had he been an honest man, he would have confessed that this defence fell when the Supreme Court ruled that wrong doing in respect of Rangers’ use of EBTs had occurred.
This extract from Regan’s letter of 4th September 2017 beggars belief in light of his position on wrongdoing during interview with Alex Thomson.
” The reality is that the final decision in “The Big Tax Case” signalled closure for many involved in the game. It is hard to believe that a “wide review” no matter how well intentioned and how wide ranging could ever bring closure in the minds of every Scottish football fan and stakeholder.”
How on earth did the Supreme Court decision signal closure to Regan given his emphasis on no wrong doing?
Had Regan (in response to Celtic in August and September 2017) acknowledged that wrongdoing had taken place, then that at least would have been honest, but the defence of not acting was on the grounds that admitting dishonesty would be raking over old coals. An honest man would have accepted that the situation had changed, and some form of enquiry was necessary, but instead Regan fell back on unpublished advice from a QC.
The second point is a new one. Regan was asked by Alex Thomson in March 2012
AT: But did anybody at any stage at the SFA say to you I have a concern that we need an independent body, that the SPL can’t and shouldn’t handle this?
SR: Well under the governance of football the SPL run the competition
AT: I’m not asking, I’m saying did anybody come to you at any stage and say that to you. Anybody?
SR: No they didn’t as far as the SPL’s processes is concerned. The SPL ,
AT: Never?
At time of interview in March 2012 this was true but 2 months later on 25th May 2012 the issue of a Judicial review WAS raised by Celtic
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/scotland/celtic-still-pressing-sfa-for-inquiry-8p25q8wbb
for the same reasons that Regan had ignored in 2011 as the LNS Commissioning proceeded apace and Regan continued to ignore in the 2017 correspondence. An honest man would have recognised that his truth to Thomson in March was no longer true in May 2012 and acted. He didn’t.
These do not appear to be acts of an honest man, rather they appear to represent the behaviour of a man who is being dishonest with himself; although perhaps Regan was simply duped?
Duped is defined as;
“ If a person dupes you, they trick you into doing something or into believing something which is not true.”
In his e mail of 7th December to Ali Russell, then Rangers CEO , after a discussion on the 6th December 2011 with Andrew Dickson, Rangers Football Administrator and SFA License Committee member in 2011, Regan set out the basis on which the SFA granted a UEFA License in 2011.
This was a letter from Ranger’s auditors Grant Thornton describing the wee tax liability of £2.8m as a potential one with the implication that it was subject to dispute, an implication carried into the Interim Accounts of 1st April 2011 signed by Rangers FC Chairman Alistair Johnson.
The true status of the liability and the veracity of statements made that justified the UEFA License being granted are under investigation by the SFA Compliance Officer.
However Regan’s belief that the liability was disputed and therefore hadn’t crystalized, is supported more or less by his Tweets at
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6uWzxhblAt9NG5CNXcwLW9RZjQ/view?usp=sharing
The case that Regan was duped is a plausible one, at least up to 2015, but I would contend that the SFA responses to Res 12 lawyers after July 2015 suggest that whilst the SFA may have been duped initially, they subsequently appeared more concerned with keeping events beyond public scrutiny (like the effect on the licence issue of HMRC sending in Sheriff’s Officers to collect a £2.8m tax liability in August 2011).
At this point, based on the foregoing –
You the SFM jury are asked to decide: Is Stewart Regan a DIDDY?
Copy paste this link for GUILTY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejizOV-IQEM
And this for NOT GUILTY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwXGdgFZmNk
The Sin of Omission by Margaret Sangster ends:
And it’s not the things you do, dear,
It’s the things you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
All that has happened is that an employee has resigned in the face of an enquiry by his employers . The buck stops there . They can now get on with their masonic-like machinations because they know how to run Scottish football in line with the Establishment controlling Scottish society . Will we ever grow up ?
Cluster OneFebruary 1, 2018 at 21:00
‘…Attachment …’
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Well done, that man! I wouldn’t have known where to find that piece!
Hard to believe that was nearly two years ago!
Stewart Regan’s SFA reign ends after failure to land Michael O’Neill for Scotland By Roddy Forsyth at 8:38pm on 1 February 2018
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/02/01/stewart-regans-sfa-reign-ends-failure-land-michael-oneill-scotland/
Was there ever such a tale of woe, as that of the SFA and its CEO?
Apologies to William Shakespeare for such borrowing, but even the Bard of Avon would have had difficulty condensing the catalogue of incident that awaited Stewart Regan – who quit his post yesterday – when he left Yorkshire Cricket Club to take charge of Scottish football’s governing body on July 28, 2010.
Within four months, Regan had been forced to sack his head of referee development, Hugh Dallas – along with another four employees – because of a furore generated by their circulation of a satirical email linking the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the child abuse scandal within the Roman Catholic church. The episode attracted condemnation by that unlikely participant in football controversy, the arch-atheist, Richard Dawkins.
That eruption overlapped with another refereeing row when Dougie McDonald awarded Celtic a penalty kick in a league match against Dundee United at Tannadice, then reversed his decision, later claiming to have done so on the advice of his linesman, who promptly denounced this version of the incident as a lie.
The contribution of inflammatory remarks by John Reid, the Celtic chairman and former Home Secretary, prompted Scotland’s only referees’ strike, with officials being imported from Luxembourg, Malta and Israel to allow fixtures to proceed.
Scarcely had this episode died down than an altercation between Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, and his Rangers counterpart, Ally McCoist – during an Old Firm derby at Parkhead in March 2011 – triggered the ire of politicians and contributed to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act, subsequently passed by the Scottish Parliament in January 2012.
That particular piece of legislation is in the process of being scrapped, although it has support from organisations formed to fight sectarianism and racism.
If Regan hoped that he might draw breath during the summer of 2012, he could not have been further off the mark. The ramshackle regime of Craig Whyte – who had bought Rangers for £1 from Sir David Murray the previous year – collapsed into liquidation, prompting the biggest crisis ever to engulf the Scottish game, as several contending parties argued about how and where the Ibrox club should be permitted to proceed, if at all.
When the Scottish Premier League voted to refuse Rangers permission to rejoin their organisation, Regan spoke out in apocalyptic tones. “Without Rangers there is social unrest – there is a big problem for Scottish society,” he said.
“I think if you look at the huge fan base Rangers have in this country, to contemplate a situation where those fans don’t have a team to support, where those fans are effectively left without a game to follow – I just think that could lead to all sorts of issues and all sorts of problems for the game.
“Tribalism in football is really important, a part of the game. You can’t contemplate a situation without that and, if Rangers weren’t to exist, I think that could have real dire consequences.”
Regan was promptly derided by several Scottish Football League chairmen who alleged that he had effectively threatened them to agree to admit Rangers to their First Division. In the event, Rangers began in the SFL’s third division in 2012-13.
Having presided over chaotic situations, not of his making, in respect of referees and clubs, Regan was also obliged to confront Scotland’s long exile from the later stages of major tournaments. When he first arrived at Hampden Park, Regan inherited a national manager in the form of Craig Levein and, for the qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup, the SFA successfully secured Scotland’s first two games at home to Serbia and Macedonia in September 2012.
Both matches, however, ended in draws and when the Scots then lost away to Wales and Belgium the campaign was effectively over. Regan identified Gordon Strachan as the man to take Scotland to Euro 2016 but, after a promising start, Scotland stumbled to a 1-0 defeat by Georgia in Tbilisi and finished fourth in their section behind Germany, Poland and the Republic of Ireland.
Strachan was allowed to remain for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and, but for Harry Kane’s injury time equaliser for England at Hampden Park last June, the Scots would probably have made the play-offs and might now be contemplating their first tournament finals since 1998.
Instead, yet another failure prompted Regan to pursue Michael O’Neill as the best qualified candidate to succeed Strachan, but the passage of three months before the Northern Ireland manager’s refusal allowed the chief executive’s critics to gather momentum. He was further undermined by the acceptance of two post-season friendlies in Peru and Mexico, designed to earn the SFA much-needed revenue, but which were denounced by the Celtic manager, Brendan Rodgers, whose players make up half the current Scotland team.
Some will miss Regan. This correspondent found the departing CEO to be consistently helpful, but it is a truism about football administrators that they cannot satisfy all of their constituents all of the time. Sooner or later the critical mass makes itself heard, as in this case.
So, if anybody is inclined to take over a national association without a national team manager, whose players have not tasted qualification success for 20 years, whose main sponsorship deal comes to an end this summer and who do not know if they will play future games at Hampden Park, the home of Scottish football or at Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby – then this is the job for you.
And, by way of breaking news – Telegraph Sport can confirm that the SFA will not wait for the appointment of a chief executive before renewing their search for a team manager. The probability is that Scotland’s players will have a new boss before the governors of Scottish football appoint their man.
JOHN CLARKFEBRUARY 1, 2018 at 22:14
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Cluster OneFebruary 1, 2018 at 21:00‘…Attachment …’______________________Well done, that man! I wouldn’t have known where to find that piece!Hard to believe that was nearly two years ago!
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I have a large library now
I know lots of folk on here are thinking (hoping?) that this is over resolution 12 and the CO investigation, but do folk really think the rest of the SFA pushed him out over that? I think four successive failures to qualify for a major tournament, the shambles of the friendlies and then his last hope of O’Neill being his saviour backfiring would be enough to get anyone in his position to quit.
I stand to be corrected in time but I honestly dont believe this is anything further than one farce too far. There are too many other folk in power who have been involved throughout the resolution 12 scenario, not to mention other club chairman coming out to state there was nothing further to investigate.
Do people genuinely believe that someone is going to come in and the first thing they will do is dig up old ground that happened 6 years ago and most of the people in power in the organisation and clubs want to move on from? It would be seen straight away as a ‘Celtic minded’ leader of the SPFL and would open a can of worms.
Again I stand to be corrected in time, but I think anyone new coming in may look and rightly or wrongly say “yes that was badly handled, however the guy in charge before is now away and we would like to draw a line under it and move on for the good of the Scottish game”. I can’t see anyone in power or at clubs (including Celtic who recently have been building bridges it would seem with the stadiums/colts proposals) really wanting to stir a hornets nest. Yes they may lose some season ticket sales from a minority of fans who take to forums such as this to rant, but there are also new fans coming into the game every day and – even with the events of the last 6 years – Scottish football in terms of attendences has never been in greater health.
I know it’s not a popular point of view and I expect it to be voted down, however I have made it my point to not comment one way or the other on what my views are or what I think SHOULD happen. Purely my views on what I think WILL happen
Add into my previous comment on Regans other failures outwith anything to do with Rangers: Malky McKay, extending Strachans contract when the fans wanted him gone. Firing him when they wanted him to stay. Lack of sponsorship. The colts fiasco. The Hamden fiasco.
Stewart Regan: Timeline of SFA chief executive’s tenurehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42911721
Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan stepped down on Thursday after seven-and-a-half years in the role.
Regan’s reign as head of the governing body was marked by referee disputes, performance directors coming and going, failed qualifying campaigns, and a public failure to appoint a successor to Gordon Strachan as national coach, as well as continued uncertainty over whether Scotland will remain at Hampden.
BBC Scotland documents the highs and lows of his tenure.
28 July 2010 – Appointed SFA chief executive.Oct 2010 – Launches inquiry into how referees are disciplined, after controversy over Dougie McDonald reversing a penalty award to Celtic.Nov 2010 – Head of referee development Hugh Dallas sacked by SFA after being accused of sending a tasteless e-mail.Nov 2010 – Scotland’s top-flight referees go on strike after backlash from managers and fans over decisions. Regan oversees introduction of foreign referees to officiate in their place.Early 2011 – Regan launches Respect campaign for referees.June 2011 – Mark Wotte appointed SFA performance director to implement changes recommended by McLeish Report in 2010.Feb 2012 – Rangers go into liquidation. (Erm No! Administration was on 14 February 2012, CVA failed on 14 June 2012 and Liquidation on 31 October 2012) SFA faces criticism over ease with which Craig Whyte was able to take control over Rangers with minimal scrutiny, a saga which led to the controversial ‘five-way agreement’ for Rangers to play in the third division.Nov 2012 – Craig Levein sacked as Scotland manager due to “disappointing results”, with team bottom of World Cup qualifying group. Regan says it was a ‘unanimous decision’. Billy Stark appointed interim coach.Jan 2013 – Gordon Strachan appointed new Scotland manager.Oct 2014 – Mark Wotte resigns as performance director after clashing with clubs.Feb 2015 – Brian McClair appointed as Wotte’s replacement as performance director.Oct 2015 – Scotland fail to reach Euro 2016. Manager Gordon Strachan awarded new two-year contract.July 2016 – Brian McClair steps down as performance director, 15 months after taking the job, saying he is ‘disappointed not to have made a significant difference’.Dec 2016 – Malky McKay controversially appointed as SFA’s third performance director in five years. Mackay was sacked as Cardiff boss following alleged racist and homophobic texts. Regan says Mackay was ‘outstanding candidate’ and had undergone diversity training.Oct 2017 – Scotland fail to qualify for World Cup 2018.12 Oct 2017 – Gordon Strachan does not have his contract renewed as Scotland manager.22 Jan 2018 – Michael O’Neill, the SFA’s preferred candidate, turns down chance to be Scotland’s best-paid manager after talks with Regan. SFA accused of being ‘naive’ and an ’embarrassment’.25 Jan 2018 – SFA criticised for arranging end-of-season friendlies in Peru and Mexico without consulting leading clubs.30 Jan 2018 – SFA announces it will choose between Hampden and Murrayfield as home of Scottish football in summer.1 Feb 2018 – Regan resigns as chief executive after SFA board meeting.
Apologies for the poor formatting of my last comment.
I ran out of time trying to complete my Edit!
Risky Edit!
If you find it too difficult to follow, just click on the hyperlink at the top of my comment.
Darkbeforedawn.
A well argued rebuttal of the majority opinion on here. But I disagree with you.
One thing which it took me a while to latch on to was Auldheid’s motivation. It’s not about revenge. But we have to rake over the coals to show up the misdeeds of the past in order to move on. We have to make sure these things can never happen again.
In a way, yes we are in a minority in terms of numbers. But in this small vociferous pack we can be heard. I feel no appetite to move on.
As you say time will tell. I live in hope that the truth will out. And people learn.
Stewart Regan Q&A:
Was SFA chief forced out? What went wrong? Who might be next?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42911736
Stewart Regan said he had faced “challenging head winds” after stepping down as Scottish Football Association chief executive.
His failure to secure Michael O’Neill as national coach, the controversy over Scotland’s end-of-season friendlies in South America, the uncertainty over Hampden’s future and the lack of a sponsor to replace Vauxhall have all been cited as reasons for his departure.
◾Regan steps down as SFA chief executive
◾Timeline: Regan’s time in charge
Former Scotland internationals Michael Stewart (MS) and Steven Thompson (ST), former Scotland assistant coach Peter Houston (PH) and BBC Scotland chief football reporter Chris McLaughlin (CM) analysed his departure on BBC Sportsound.
Q: Was it the right time to go?
MS: “There’s an element of surprise with the timing but when you add up all the recent incidents and everything else that’s gone on during the eight years of his tenure, then I think he’s recognised that it’s time for a bit of freshness, revitalisation of the organisation. It’s lacking leadership desperately at senior level and I think now, perhaps even before, is a time for change.”
Q: So did he jump or was he pushed?
CM: “Make absolutely no mistake, Stewart Regan was forced out by his board. It was a scheduled board meeting but he knew he was going to be facing criticism, and knew this could be it.
“The meeting started at 9.30a.m. and there was instantly a frank exchange of views. It became very clear, very quickly, that Regan didn’t have the backing of his board. The meeting lasted well into the afternoon but Regan was only there for a short time. The statement says it is a resignation but he knows he had no choice. The recent problems gave those on the board the chance to force him out, because he was forced out in the end.”
Q: Was failing to secure Michael O’Neill the key factor?
ST: “It was the final nail in the coffin. It should have been done in a different way. If you are a big organisation like the SFA, you sound out people and have an idea about what is going to happen before it becomes public. Regan should have sounded out his agent and tried to get an answer before having any meeting with O’Neill.
“After O’Neill had turned it down, Regan needed to show strong leadership and come out and say, ‘I have got a list of other possible candidates, good candidates, and I will make an appointment within a week’. But he didn’t have a plan, he didn’t have a next move. He basically ran out of ideas.”
MS: Stewart was the big driver in going for Michael O’Neill and Michael O’Neill alone, and I think that was proven to be a poor tactic. Whether you think he was the right appointment or not, the tactic to solely focus on one person was a poor negotiating position to take, and I think that proved to be a big factor.”
Q: Anything else he got wrong?
PH: “One thing that sticks with me is seeing him on the pitch at Pittodrie having a word with [SFA performance director] Malky Mackay, telling him he wasn’t being considered [for the Scotland job on a permanent basis, after taking charge of last November’s friendly against Netherlands].
“It was very awkward. There is a way of going about things and a time to tell someone. The media caught hold of that, and once you become really unpopular with the media, there is only one outcome.
“Announcing the trip to Peru and Mexico – that was an absolute shambles, without consultation with the most important people – the biggest clubs.”
Q: Were there any positives to his reign?
MS: “There were positives – the pyramid system is a positive for the teams at the lower end and the junior leagues to give them access to the professional leagues. And the creation of an independent judicial panel, to get away from the idea that the SFA were sweeping things under carpet.
“But on the big decisions, the fans feel they haven’t been handled right or dealt with properly. There won’t be many people thinking Stewart should be staying in his position.”
Q: Will his exit affect the appointment of a new manager?
MS: “You’d expect they will want to get [a new chief executive] in place before they appoint a manager, and a manager himself would want them in place too as they would work closely together.
“To me it suggests we won’t have a manager in place for the friendlies [against Costa Rica and Hungary] in March, and even looking at these controversial summer friendlies in South America, there’s a good chance they might not have a manager in place for them. It’s going to take time to get the right chief executive in place and then look for the right manager.”
Q: So who might replace him as chief executive?
CM: Hibs chief executive Leeann Dempster is someone who is very well respected in the game. She is no nonsense and very good, and has been around Scottish football long enough to know how it operates. I suspect she will be a leading candidate, but whether she wants the job, I don’t know.
“Neil Doncaster [chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League] has been around a long time. Might he jump down the corridor? It is all about the money. Neil Doncaster has been bringing the money into Scottish football – just ask the clubs. He might be an unpopular appointment with the fans, but for the clubs, it is all about the cash.”
ST: “I would be surprised if anyone wanted to take the job.”
NCLBHOYFEBRUARY 1, 2018 at 21:38
While my analysis of the fouls to yellow cards ratio was a bit tongue in cheek, the more I think about the more it makes sense.
Teams do not commit many fouls when in possession, therefore the tally of offenses per time not in possession is perhaps more revealing about how a team plays, as opposed to just simple totals of fouls and cards.
I’m probably the one poster on this site who doesn’t belong in any forum. I’m a Rangers fan who still thinks of us as the same club we have always been. I still believe that titles should remain (although I’m not averse to the idea of an asterisk applied next to it with an explanation of the EBT’s) and I dont believe that referees benefit Rangers more than anyone else. From that I would seem a typical poster from a Rangers fan forum.
However, why I come onto this site and why I have never joined a Rangers forum is I hate the one sided, completely blind views. I’m a huge huge Scotland fan and member of the tartan army. I HATE the anti Scotland traits within my club. I also believe that David Murray and David King are/have been worse for Rangers than Craig’s Whyte ever was. And finally I despise the acceptance amongst my support for the songs at Ibrox steeped in history so old that no-one even knows the background (does anyone that attends Ibrox anymore even know who Bobby Sands was??)
Thats why I like coming on here. Whilst there is a definite majority of Celtic fans, a lot are not as extreme as sites such as The Celtic Blog. There are also lots of very welcoming fans such as Jimbo etc.
I guess the point I wanted to make here is no matter our background and views for clubs, I think at the end of the day all of us on here are after the same end goal – what is best for Scottish football. And for once we are ALL in agreement on something – the departure of Stewart Regan. Sure it might be for different reasons: a lot for his OC/NC views and Res12, me for the heartbreaking failures of our national team, and his lack of governance to let FOUR complete charlatans through the door of my club on his watch with out so much as raising a concern. It’s probably the only thing we will all collectively agree on. Farewell Stewart, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out
Darkbeforedawn, You belong here. You know that.
HighlanderFebruary 1, 2018 at 21:54
” Just sent the following complaint to the BBC, following tonight’s Reporting Scotland. I don’t expect to get a satisfactory reply, but at least it felt good getting it off my chest.”
_________________________
Well done, Highlander.
I will follow suit.
There is no question but that the BBC in Scotland is in thrall to the serpent when it comes to protecting and defending the myth of ‘continuity Rangers’.
And I think the rest of us should be seriously concerned that wherever lies the executive, programme-controlling power at Pacific Quay, there we will find a much more dangerous enemy of truth than a mere sports governing body could be!
If the BBC can lie about sport, what else might it be prepared to lie about? ( rhetorical question)
And it’s no use saying that ,ach, it’s just football, different opinions, different viewpoints.
No.
There are facts. Unchallengeable facts. Even incontrovertible facts. [Hear me, Mr Regan, as you wander into exile on account of not facing up to facts?]
One of these is that Rangers football Club, founded in 1872, went into liquidation.
Another is that SevcoScotland ( sorry, Craig, I think you lost!) , renamed The Rangers football Club Ltd, was created as a new football club and had to apply for membership, new membership, of Scottish professional football.
These truths are so obvious that anyone trying to deny them must of necessity be of such limited capacities as never to be able to get a job in the BBC, or, more likely, is a lying bast.rd!
Not able to contribute as much as I would like these days; however, just want to make a small point.
Firstly, I have to say that I have no specific information about how the compliance officer is progressing with his investigation into Rangers’ application for a Euro Club Licence in season 2011/12. One would have thought that some evidence will have been gathered and from that specific lines of enquiry will have been established. It is also likely that, given the seriousness of the potential outcome, that his line manager (the CEO, Mr Regan) will have been getting regular updates.
I think these are reasonable assumptions.
The interesting outcome would be if Mr McGlennan has good reason to believe that the licence was issued fraudulently and that more than one person was involved.
Such a fraud is likely to be caught by
If the investigation is leading him to that conclusion, it is not a matter for him, Mr Regan or any other part of the SFA to decide what should happen next.
This would be an issue that would be referred to the police and ultimately (potentially) for a jury to decide.
Mr McGlennan “is a solicitor advocate who has conducted criminal litigation at all levels of the court structure, including the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.”
https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scottish-fa-appoint-new-compliance-officer/
He will know a serious crime if he sees one.
The Criminal Justice & Licensing (Scotland) Bill has penalties including prosecution and a prison sentence of up to 14 years for failure to report serious crime.
Imagine an alternative universe.
David Murray never arrived at Ibrox. Then everything that happened afterwards.
Would we ever have had the enjoyable meetings on line with hundreds of posters and campaigners?
Imagine meeting John Clark on line talking about Coronation Street. Or Auldheid giving his opinions on Antique Roadshow?
Doesn’t bear thinking about!
sannoffymesssoitizzFebruary 1, 2018 at 23:13
‘….”“After O’Neill had turned it down,..”
__________________________
What caught my particular attention on the ‘Sportsound’ prog tonight was the gombeen man’s statement that O’Neill had told him that he had been within a whisker of accepting the job!
If English speaks truth, what would have made O’Neill NOT finally accept the job?
But I can say with absolute certainty that he will be bloody glad that he didn’t!
Who, in his right mind, would take that job?
‘His?
Step up the distaff side, perhaps?
jimboFebruary 2, 2018 at 00:00
‘…Imagine meeting John Clark on line talking about Coronation Street..’
______________
Hey, you, jimbo.!
If you say a word about me and Ena Sharples that time she took pity on me when I got a flat tyre…..Swear to God, all I got was a cup of real tea-none o’ yer teabag nonsense!
And that is an incontrovertible fact! You say anything different, Pacific Quay would offer you job!
Mind you, Elsie and I got on rather well!
HirsutePursuitFebruary 1, 2018 at 23:54
‘…..He will know a serious crime if he sees one.The Criminal Justice & Licensing (Scotland) Bill has penalties including prosecution and a prison sentence of up to 14 years for failure to report serious crime.’
____________________
Indeed.
But the question arises, I think, of what powers he has, and of to whom he is paid to answer .
He is not in any sense exercising a formal, Crown prosecutorial or investigative function on behalf of the State
He has been asked by those who pay him , to report to them, in a private capacity.
That is, he is not in any sense an agent of the law.
He is obliged only to report his findings to the folk who commissioned him. It is not for him to decide that a crime has been committed, only whether any kind of ‘football’ rule has been breached.
If he has found evidence that Rangers told absolute porkies to the SFA that would simply be that-that Rangers told porkies!
If he has found evidence that the SFA told porkies to UEFA?
And if he was ever likely to find evidence that there was a conspiracy between the SFA and ‘Rangers’ to lie to UEFA , his services would have been dispensed with!
JOHN CLARK
A rude joke is running around my head
tonyFebruary 2, 2018 at 00:54
‘..A rude joke is running around my head.’
________
if it is related to Elsie Tanner and me……. I’d be glad to hear it!
Seriously, though, at approximately the time of the first episode of ‘Coronation Street’, I was in Italy, taking my dad by train down to Cassino.
With ‘S’ Company Scots Guards in 1944 he spent the very week in Cassino town at the end of which the Germans retreated from the Monastery, and the Poles took it.
A few weeks later on Monte Piccolo, he lost a leg, and was badly wounded on the other leg, and had a bullet wound in a shoulder.
As an 18year old , this was ancient history to me!
To him, I realise now, it was as fresh in memory as the year 2001/2002 is to us.
I weep for my young man’s insensitivity.
‘Stewart Regan’s time at Scotland wasn’t a success’ – Adam
5 live’s Football Daily
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05wvglx#play
Scotland and Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam says it was the right decision for Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan to step down. Adam and the BBC’s Roddy Forsyth join Steve Crossman to discuss Regan’s time in charge and debate what next for Scottish football.
JOHN CLARKFEBRUARY 2, 2018 at 00:53
5
0 Rate This
HirsutePursuitFebruary 1, 2018 at 23:54‘…..He will know a serious crime if he sees one.The Criminal Justice & Licensing (Scotland) Bill has penalties including prosecution and a prison sentence of up to 14 years for failure to report serious crime.’____________________Indeed. But the question arises, I think, of what powers he has, and of to whom he is paid to answer .
——————————————————
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/13/section/31
Another potential problem about to hit the SFA?
I know Auldheid has an interest in the status of Referees, but this claim plus the recent Uber rulings could be the last straw for the SFA.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/2174864/sfa-referees-prepare-war-over-pay-conditions/
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/15914846.SFA_facing_potential_multi_million_pound_payout_to_referees_after_landmark_EU_legal_ruling__union_claims/
DARKBEFOREDAWNFEBRUARY 1, 2018 at 23:29
22
15 Rate This
I’m probably the one poster on this site who doesn’t belong in any forum.
—————
SFM. a blog open to all
Jimbo and Cluster One, thank you
always nice to feel wanted 
Herald touting Leanne Dempster of Hibs to replace Regan.
What do Hibees and others think?
DARKBEFOREDAWNFEBRUARY 1, 2018 at 23:292215 Rate ThisI’m probably the one poster on this site who doesn’t belong in any forum.
I personally don’t agree with much of what you say however you have the right to your views just like the rest of us. I can say that I honestly have never skipped over any of your posts you are welcome on this forum and I hope that you will continue to share your views.
” AuldheidFebruary 2, 2018 at 08:43
Herald touting Leanne Dempster of Hibs to replace Regan. What do Hibees and others think? ”
I think her season ticket admission the other day wasn’t so much a confession, more a cv.
Joking apart, whether deliberately or not, it now smacks of an element of closet cleansing unfortunately.
HirsutePursuitFebruary 1, 2018 at 23:54
He will know a serious crime if he sees one.
The Criminal Justice & Licensing (Scotland) Bill has penalties including prosecution and a prison sentence of up to 14 years for failure to report serious crime.
================================
Section 31 of that Act only relates to offences under section 28 – 30 of the same Act as I understand it. So it would have to be considered “serious organised crime” before Section 31 applied.
“serious organised crime” means crime involving two or more persons acting together for the principal purpose of committing or conspiring to commit a serious offence or a series of serious offences,
“serious offence” means an indictable offence—
(a) committed with the intention of obtaining a material benefit for any person, or
(b)which is an act of violence committed or a threat made with the intention of obtaining such a benefit in the future, and “material benefit” means a right or interest of any description in any property, whether heritable or moveable and whether corporeal or incorporeal.
I think the penalty on indictment is 5 years, not 14. It is 10 (being involved) or 14 (directing) years for the main offences.
That’s just my understanding I am happy to be corrected.
I think Leanne Dempster would be a breath of fresh air as the CE. I don’t know what Hibs think of her but she has always came across well any time I have seen her interviewed. She would bring a refreshing change from the stuffy men in blazers, and the fact she has no links to either of the Old Firm would help the balance.
HP @ 6.05
Whilst I accept it is a serious crime regardless*, it is only actionable if a victim prosecutes, no? Who is the victim? The SFA aren’t going to prosecute themselves. The small clubs have shown via the JP farce that they wouldn’t formally have anything to do with it and the biggest club, whilst one imagines them holding the evidence to pursue it (which I’ll simplistically bunch together as Res12), one would query their appetite to follow it through, particularly when they might question the level of support behind them. Would it, in fact, be self defeating to them? Integrity is vital for sure, that is a founding principal of this site. But it could also be a very expensive commodity and to what end? Off the top of my head, what if UEFA said they’d ban all Scottish clubs for a year if allegations were proven?
* Just to be clear I mean the principle of Macglennan uncovering a “serious crime.” There is still a very very good chance that Macglennan will uncover “an administrative error that requires procedures to be updated to avoid an unfortunate repeat and Stewart says he’s very very sorry etc etc”
Hirsute Pursute
I would wager that one of the issues exercising the SFA will be how to present what took place without a charge of fraud being the outcome.
It’s a coal still with heat in it.
That is only one issue. The other is the knock on effect of an investigation on the LNS Decision.
Until these are addressed in full no amount of rearranging the Titanic deck chairs or switching captains will restore integrity to our game.
Smugas
The only parties with a locus are Celtic shareholders.
Celtic probably are constrained by football rules from taking action and establishing if they have derived rights would be costly, so I wouldn’t bet on that route being followed although there are supporters out there with cash that might want to.
The best bet would be to provide the facts to establish a wrongdoing ( that Regan was so keen to deny) had indeed occured and put forward a set of proposals that provide assurances to supporters of all clubs that they are watching an honest game honestly governed.
Full transparency and accountability.
Smug as
If UEFA tried to ban all Scottish clubs because of the act of one and a compliant association, they would have to be sure they were squeaky clean themselves and face litigation by the club’s who did no wrong.
Exactly.
Were they at it? Yes but it was Stewart (Nuremberg anyone)
Did a club benefit? Immaterial and we’re specifically not going there because you’re going to ask us what a club is.
Did other clubs suffer? See above
Are you asking us to accept that something went on, that someone has now left on full pension and we are left with a set of proposals to ensure nothing like this ever happens again. A bit like Farry. And Ogilvie. And now Regan. Yes.
Ps we’d all like to welcome our new CEO Andrew Dickson
Darkbeforedawn
February 2, 2018 at 09:42
… and the fact she has no links to either of the Old Firm would help the balance.
===================================
Did Graham Spiers not recently say that she held a Rangers season ticket for 20 years.
AuldheidFebruary 2, 2018 at 08:43
———-
Ex TRFC season book holder being touted by Chris McLoughlin at the BBC and the Herald? Sounds like the SFA’s ideal candidate, but not for me. I’d like to hear the Hibee view though.
Petrie’s shield at Easter Road to boot.
It will be interesting to hear whether there is some sort of pay-off for SR. I suspect there will be, yet when someone resigns that would normally be precluded. I think he has essentially been sacked (hence the immediate effect) but they have dressed it up as a resignation to spare his blushes
PS. Thanks for the music. Excellent pianist.
HomunculusFebruary 2, 2018 at 10:20
Did Graham Spiers not recently say that she held a Rangers season ticket for 20 years.
——————————————————-
His tweet
My interview with @HibsOfficial CEO Leeann Dempster, once a Rangers season ticket holder for 20 years. @TimesSport
Maybe not long enough to get the job though!
Not raking over the coals was supported by Hibs.
Some Hibs fan not happy and wanted to take up the issue with Leanne.
Do not know the outcome but unless she is prepared to take on the job and recognise that a do nothing policy is unacceptable it’s a no from me.
The very fact she has been a ST holder of RFC as reported by Speirs will make her appointment one perceived by Celtic supporters for sure, as letting the vixen loose in the hen house.
Put it this way Darkbefordawn. If the shoe was on the other foot and Celtic were in the dock, would you be happy with a 20 year ST holder at Celtic getting such a key post?
Giving her the job is more likely to be seen as a GIRUY appointment in favour of the status quo (cue You Tubers) rather than a trust restoring measure.
We need modern business thinking untainted by the football insanity that governs Scottish football so we need a culture changer in charge.
That means admitting current culture is unhealthy and looking outside it to bring in healthy thinking.
I wasn’t aware she was a season ticket holder at Ibrox. In that case it’s a no from me as it has to be someone with no aligencies to either club
Smugas
So far from what the evidence says that only in La La Land would such a scenario unfold.
That doesn’t mean you are wrong. It just would mean we live in La La Land.
DarkbeforedawnFebruary 2, 2018 at 11:04
I wasn’t aware she was a season ticket holder at Ibrox. In that case it’s a no from me as it has to be someone with no aligencies to either club
———————————————————-
I would assume (maybe wrongly) the Regan had no allegiance to ANY Scottish club (well before he took the job)? Made no difference to how the issue of the demise of a certain club was handled though.
That’s the disappointment of Regan’s failure. When he was appointed I thought, good, someone from outside Scotland not tainted by Scottish football mis governance. Or allegiances.
How quickly he was sucked in.
Same with Doncaster.
I wasn’t aware that Regan left Yorkshire cricket under a cloud. I have only read passing mentions of it in recent days. Don’t know what the story is there.
Who is going to make the appointment of Regan’s successor?
A short leet drawn up by Andrew McKinley and someone from the Board, McRae perhaps? Then what happens, interviews with a sub-committee of other Board members, or the full Board? Choose from this list.
DARKBEFOREDAWNFEBRUARY 2, 2018 at 09:42
I think Leanne Dempster would be a breath of fresh air as the CE. I don’t know what Hibs think of her but she has always came across well any time I have seen her interviewed. She would bring a refreshing change from the stuffy men in blazers, and the fact she has no links to either of the Old Firm would help the balance.
============
Leanne left Motherwell in a right old state when she left to join Hibs. There’s a lot of hype going on as my opinion is she is not all she is cracked up to be.
To be honest, I don’t care about Leeann Dempster’s season ticket history. If you get any figure to run the game, they will have an allegiance to a team of some sort.
All I care about is whether she’d be a competent choice, and more importantly, IMPLEMENT THE RULES WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR.
I think somewhere along the line that has been lost sight of. I read Tom English’s piece on the BBC website, and you’d think Regan had parachuted in to take over from Sisyphus – it’s really not that much of a hapless job. Situation arises, you look at the rule book, you rule on what it says according to that. End of story. It’s when you start trying to subvert the rule book that problems arise. As Sir Walter Scott said ‘What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.’
If Ms Dempster can be relied upon not to start weaving, then I’d be perfectly happy with that.
My only other stipulation would be that any figure would have to be clear of taking an EBT.
The problem I see for whoever takes the role is they cannot keep everyone happy. If, as I stated in my previous post is likely, he/she puts everything down to badly handled by Regan and that they have since updated the rules to stop it happening in future, but no retrospective sanctions, stripping of titles or confirmation of new club, no matter who gets that position will be slated. It could be an ex Celtic player and would still be accused of being corrupt.
bordersdonFebruary 2, 2018 at 11:21
‘…I would assume (maybe wrongly) the Regan had no allegiance to ANY Scottish club (well before he took the job)? Made no difference to how the issue of the demise of a certain club was handled though.’
_____________
Regan’s fault was that ,like many in the SMSM, he was unprincipled enough to put the saving of a ‘Rangers’ above truth and Sporting Integrity.
He was undoubtedly aided and encouraged in this by certain influential men in Scottish Football who are similarly unprincipled, and against whom Turnbull Hutton (God rest him) raged.
Those men are still there in the very guts of Scottish football as they were when SDM was doing his cheating, a scale of cheating that I find it hard to believe was not known to people in the SFA administration.
They are immune from attack by the SMSM, which, in respect of the ‘saga’ has been disgracefully unprincipled in their support for and continuing propagation of, the Big Lie.
Even this very day, in “The Scotsman”,we have Messrs Bean and (Andrew) Smith trotting out phrases like this:
“……if the newco Ibrox outfit was not allowed to join the old First Division following their 2012 re-birth.[my italics] (Bean)
” ..However, there were only a few of us in this domain who stated natural justice had to be served by the Ibrox club reforming [my italics]in the lowest senior tier…” (Smith)
The blanket refusal by otherwise intelligent men to state the actual, full truth that Rangers FC of 1872 ceased to exist as a football club entitled to participate in Scottish professional football, and that TRFC Ltd are NOT and could not possibly be the same club as Rangers 2012/RFC 1872, is indicative either of an intention to mislead, or of a less-than-professional concern about accuracy in reporting.
DARKBEFOREDAWNFEBRUARY 2, 2018 at 12:47
And that’s the problem. Aiming to keep everyone happy.
The Scottish game needs a good kick up the backside.
I put being ambitious, innovative, fair, truthful and transparent before keeping folk happy.
My choice for new SFA CEO would be Auldheid who has already written a visionary manifesto outlining the changes needed to restore integrity to the governance of Scottish football.
Certainly, neither Henry McLeish, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42915443 nor Tom English http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42915442 offer any comparable analysis, policy or strategy to achieve the change required.
Time to drain the swamp!
I’ve observed the wee spat between Brendan Rodgers and Craig Levein regarding their respective midfielders, Brown and Cochrane, with interest.
Not because I think one or the other has a stronger case, but simply as the Celtic manager has questioned the wisdom of a 16 year old playing against his team.
Now, I’m left wondering how young Colt sides would cope with the proposal to play an entire season against hardened part timers in the fourth tier?
Now that Regan has left the building…
1) New Scotland manager.
Shirley, the new CEO should be involved in the appointment of the new Scotland manager ?
If only to rubber stamp the chosen one, or to interview the final, short-listed applicants?
The Scotland manager job is – arguably – the most important position in Scottish football.
Prestige and income is derived from a successful national team, which is able to qualify for Finals of tournaments.
…20 years and still waiting.
We have waited several months already for a new manager, so IMO the SFA should hold off a bit longer.
What’s the point if a committee appoints a new SFA CEO – but who then doesn’t ‘fancy’ the new manager, so to speak. And if/when the new manager is failing…the new CEO can complain loudly that it was not his choice of team manager.
Likewise, the manager should know who he will be working with at the SFA.
Current circumstances should dictate a delay in the appointment of a new Scotland manager, IMO.
…so I fully expect the blazers to brief the SMSM over the weekend that they have already identified the next Scotland manager…
2) New SFA CEO.
Again, if we are looking to qualify for a Finals, we need the best manager – and the best CEO – if possible…you would think ?
A manager who has already taken a national team to a Finals?
A CEO who has already managed an FA which has qualified for a Finals?
No guarantees, but at least they would both instill some added confidence at Hampden, as they have the experience and know what’s involved.
IMO, it’s fair to say that the SFA set-up – the CEO, the senior management, the manager and team – has failed miserably in a number of ways, and not just financial.
The next CEO should not be an executive without relevant football experience.
And, I would suggest, nobody who has been involved with the SFA before should be recruited.
In an ideal world, mibbees someone to come in on a specific 2 or 3 years engagement to basically shake up and restructure the SFA, and then move on. [I know.]
Someone like that Scottish chap Adam Crozier ?
He shook up the English FA, with his many critics, and then swiftly moved on.
The SFA probably couldn’t afford him anyway – but mibbees someone of that ilk?
…so I also fully expect the blazers to brief the SMSM over the weekend that ‘one of their own’ has already been identified as the next CEO…
StevieBC February 2, 2018 at 15:16https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0hK1wyrrAU
Speirs in a twitterspat this p.m with angry bear
Bear – “Rangers TV are only media we need”
Speirs – “Have your news sugar-coated . Stick with Pravda , it tells it best ”
Or , BBC Radio Sportsound he should have added .
HirsutePursuitFebruary 1, 2018 at 23:54
“Mr McGlennan “is a solicitor advocate who has conducted criminal litigation at all levels of the court structure, including the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.”https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/scottish-fa-appoint-new-compliance-officer/
He will know a serious crime if he sees one.”
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Aye…but….does the lower half of his trooser leg look a bit creased?
There have been many qualified, Lawyer. QC, Judge types involved in and around this saga, who despite incontrovertible facts, have ignored, circumvented, or dismissed these facts in order to arrive at the opinion/judgement required.
Re. Res12, The bottom line is a licence was given to one club, which on the back of sworn evidence, should not have received it. This was and remains to the detriment of other clubs in the same league. No amount of obfuscation, under-carpet sweeping and instruction to move on will remove the need for this to be addressed properly.
I find it sad that Celtic appear to be the only club in Scotland prepared to guardedly challenge the game’s ruling bodies on the potentially industrial levels of lying, corruption and cheating. I only hope they are prepared to take it all the way. If the Compliance Officer comes up with yet another whitewash, then Celtic must take this to the CAS. Otherwise, their shareholders need to pursue this via the courts.
Hopefully, one day our game can be properly cleansed and the case for moving on and building a better future will be valid. Regan is only the first of those who must be expelled from the game. Let’s hope Mr McGlennan is the lance to pierce the boil which continues to fester and swell in the murky darkness of Scottish Football Governance.
Recently, I read an interesting article about a chap who was shaking up the USA train system, after having done so previously in Canada.
He was also quoted making the following observation – although not intended to be entirely literal – which immediately made me think of our very own SFA;
“Cultures change one funeral at a time.”
jimboFebruary 2, 2018 at 11:57
“..I wasn’t aware that Regan left Yorkshire cricket under a cloud..”
_________________
This is quite interesting, jimbo
“— 28 July 2010It is with great regret that we announce the resignation of Chief Executive, Stewart Regan from The Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Stewart has accepted an offer from The Scottish F.A”
https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/438/stewart-regan-to-leave-yorkshire-ccc
“By Nick Hoult 9:23PM BST 19 Jul 2010
Only around 4,000 tickets have been sold for the first day on Wednesday, and sales for other days are equally slow. This is despite an intensive marketing campaign by Yorkshire designed to enthuse the large Pakistani communities in cities such as Bradford and Huddersfield. Tickets for children have been priced at only £8 and attempts have been made to make Headingley a welcoming venue with provision for prayer rooms, halal food and Urdu-speaking stewards. A cricket mela, a festival of food, culture and cricket, has been ongoing in the region for the past two weeks and the club have used former Pakistani players to appeal to the local community to support the match. “We put a bid in to stage the match for the right reasons but unfortunately we have not sold the tickets we would have liked,” said Stewart Regan, the Yorkshire chief executive. “We are where we are and we have to try and get through it positively. “We have never hosted a neutral Test match before, which means there is no historical data to work off. We are not sure how the Pakistan community will respond on the day. The feedback we get is that it depends on the weather and the way the team has been performing.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/7899170/Job-fears-as-Pakistan-v-Australia-ticket-sales-slump-at-Headingley.html
Doesn’t sound bad to me JC. Admirable if anything that they were trying hard to be all inclusive!
BORUSSIABEEFBURG
FEBRUARY 2, 2018 at 14:27
===================================
It really depends on what one means when referring to “colts”. It’s either the U19 or U20 team I think. I am happy for someone to correct that.
There’s a World of difference between a 16 year old and a 19/20 year old. Particularly where physical strength, build etc are concerned. Even more particularly when that person is part of a football academy and is being trained / coached on a regular basis.
Chris McCart made the following two comments
“We really want our 18 and 19-year-olds to be playing men every week.””
“We’re going to have a Pro Licence coach in the dugout, an A Licence Coach, a fully qualified physio, doc, sports scientist.”
So I don’t think you are comparing like with like.
sannoffymesssoitizzFebruary 2, 2018 at 13:36
My choice for new SFA CEO would be Auldheid who has already written a visionary manifesto outlining the changes needed to restore integrity to the governance of Scottish football.
Certainly, neither Henry McLeish, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42915443 nor Tom English http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42915442 offer any comparable analysis, policy or strategy to achieve the change required.
Time to drain the swamp!
==========
That made me smile, particularly as Mcleish referred to me at the SFSA Survey event at Holyrood last autumn as “that blogger chap”.
Well I think that is what he said.
One for JC next Wednesday (BDO v D&P)
LORD DOHERTY – E Hunter, Clerk
Wednesday 7th February between 10.00am and 11.30am
Starred Motion
P115/17 Note: RFC2012 Plc for orders under para75 – Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP – Wright Johnston & Mackenzie LLP
jimboFebruary 2, 2018 at 17:33
‘…Doesn’t sound bad to me JC.’
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It wasn’t a new, ‘inclusivity’ initiative, jimbo. Yorkshire opted to stage this match instead of the second Test between England and Bangladesh!
Regan got it wrong for some never quite fully explained reason in thinking that Pakistan v Australia would be a crowd-puller, and lost a lot of much needed revenue.
DBD 09:42 on 2/2
May I add my welcome to you – enjoying your posts – it is very good for us to see the other side of the coin, but I still strongly dislike your references to the Old Firm – that ship has gone !!!
I have at least 2 problems with Leanne Dempster:
(1) If she is being pushed by the Glasgow (Rangers)( Herald then we definitely do not want her.
(2) Her association with Ibrox – 20 years a season ticket holder apparently – MUST immediately disqualify her.
(3) Commercial experience and nous is required – has she any evidence of that?
I see! That makes it clearer (Sorry, I didn’t read the links).
So his judgement problems were evident back then?
Regardless of whether he left his previous job under a cloud one thing is for certain, he is leaving Scotland under a massive cloud of Biblical proportions!
easyJamboFebruary 2, 2018 at 18:12
‘….One for JC next Wednesday (BDO v D&P)….’
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Thanks,eJ.
That’s something to look forward to.
JIMMY BONESFEBRUARY 2, 2018 at 18:40
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DBD 09:42 on 2/2May I add my welcome to you – enjoying your posts – it is very good for us to see the other side of the coin, but I still strongly dislike your references to the Old Firm – that ship has gone !!!
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And that got me thinking
Whoever is brought in to replace Mr Regan, any time he is giving an early interview in his reign if he put’s the ibrox club and celtic together as the old firm.
1. He/she has not been paying attention to scottish football.
2.Has lost all credibility from the start.
3.See’s an old firm as best for scottish football as a whole and again Has lost all credibility from the start.
So much will be learned from the first one or two interviews when a new head of scottish football is appointed
Auldheid, February 2, 2018 at 17:57
I’m glad that my post made you smile – as opposed to running out of the room screaming NAWWWW!
The fact that you were dismissed so petulantly and condescendingly by Henry McLeish proves to me just how suitable you are for the job of SFA CEO.
I heard him expand on his published comments on Radio Shortbread this evening and agree that the SFA MUST assert itself over the SPFL and their member clubs.
If by that, he means that the SFA should no longer be a member club association but become an independent regulator then he is already supporting the governance model in your manifesto.
No need to be modest, your nation calls -git rrright intae thum!
<
So after the bbc reporters retraction we are now to believe that the chinese bidding war was a real event .
sevco 2012 with their cash shortfall admitted in their annual accounts ,could have, in one simple deal balanced the books this season and into the next ,yet they chose not to .
From whatever way you look at that, it just makes NO sense at all and for that reason I believe it is a complete and utter fabrication .
If anyone has a minute and has not yet read james forrest’s take on it all over in the celtic blog ,then I think it will be worth your while to have a look .
what about a wee game of pros and cons here ,who can come up with one pro and one con regards this story ,in either football or financial terms
I will start it off with
Pro bringing in cash to negate the need for further loans and helping to keep within the euro FFP regs
con losing an 11 goals in 22 app striker
My post above is light hearted but if ,as I believe the chinese interest is made up nonsense then that is a lot more sinister .
As if a BBC reporter has been made to apologize without irrefutable proof then there is something really wrong with this saga .
Nae worries Auldheid, there is no current vacancy for a CEO at the SFA!
https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish-fa/organisation/working-at-the-scottish-fa/vacancies/