John Clark Meets “The SFA”

Regular posters and contributors to the SFM may remember that in October last year I wrote to Mr McRae, President of the SFA.

I posted the text of my letter on 28th October http://www.sfmonitor.org/whose-assets-are-they-anyway/?cid=20786

I had not received a reply or acknowledgement by 12th December, so I sent a reminder. I received a reply to that reminder, dated 16 December 2015, in which Mr McRae apologised for not having responded to my previous letter, and invited me to come and see him. We arranged that I should visit him at Hampden on 19 January 2016 at 2.00 p.m.

Following the meeting, I wrote a summary of the conversation. I emailed that summary to Mr Darryl Broadfoot, Head of Communications, asking him to check whether my recollections were accurate, because I was my intention to post the summary on SFM.

I have not had a reply and I think I have waited a fair enough time, so, here is the summary of an approximately 45 minute conversation.

I should first make it clear that Mr McRae said that he had no recollection of airing any of the views recorded in my letter as attributed to him. I should also say that I made it clear that while I contribute to SFM, I was not there as ‘officially representing’ SFM, although what I would say broadly reflected the view of many.


 

“Note of informal meeting between me, and Alan McRae, President of the SFA, with Darryl Broadfoot, Press Officer, at Hampden park, 2.00 pm Tuesday, 19th January.

Background: I had written to Mr McRae in October 2015, to ask whether Mr McRae had really (as had been reported to me) aired the following opinions:

  1. that Rangers FC were not Liquidated
  2. that Rangers FC were put down to the third Division
  3. that Rangers FC were bought by Charles Green and that the team currently playing out of Ibrox Stadium and calling itself The Rangers Football Club Ltd is one and the same as the club known as Rangers Football Club, which is currently in Liquidation.

Mr McRae, through Mr Broadfoot, went through the points one by one.

On point one, there was no difficulty in agreeing that RFC had been Liquidated. That was accepted as a matter of fact.

On point two, I argued that;

  • Mr Green’s new club had had to apply for league and SFA membership, and were therefore admitted as a new club to Scottish Football and allowed into SFL Third Division.
  • They had as an emergency measure been granted conditional membership, and had had to seek the Administrators’ and Football Authorities’ agreement to the use of certain RFC (IL) players who had decided to sign on with the new club in order to play their first game as a new club.
  • They were ‘put in ‘the Third Division as a new club, not as an existing club being relegated.

Mr McRae, through Mr Broadfoot, argued that ‘put in’ and ‘admitted to’ are pretty much the same thing, and that the legal advice obtained was that Mr Green’s new club was not a new club, and the Authorities were stuck with that.

I referred to the 5-way Agreement, and made the point that two entities other than league or SFA representatives were signatories to that agreement: RFC (IL) and Mr Green’s new club. The two could not be one.

Mr Broadfoot said that was a matter of opinion.

I said that it was rather a matter of fact.

Likewise, on the third point, there was disagreement.

Mr Broadfoot, for Mr McRae, argued that Charles Green bought the club (and Mr McRae personally added ‘and the “goodwill”’).

I pointed out that Mr Green had NOT bought the club out of Administration, as had happened with other clubs, but merely had bought the assets of a former club that was NOT able to bought out of administration and was consequently Liquidated.

Mr Broadfoot said that Celtic and Rangers supporters might continue to disagree but that could only be expected.

I pointed out that this was not at all a Celtic-Rangers supporters’ issue, and that the Scottish Football Monitor, for instance, represented the views of supporters of many clubs. I further made the point that many sports administrative bodies had come under the spotlight in current times and people were naturally concerned that the governance of football should be above suspicion: and that substantial numbers feel that the Football Authorities have been at fault, in permitting a new club to claim to be an old club and pretend to the honours and titles etc etc.

Reference was made in the passing to some allegations that had been made that certain evidence relating to the Discounted Option Scheme had been withheld from the LNS commission, which occasioned Lord Nimmo Smith to be misled; and to the apparent negligent performance of the SFA administration under the previous President, who, both on account of his personal knowledge of the use of the DOS by Sir David Murray, and as a subsequent recipient of an EBT, might reasonably have been expected to ensure a thorough and diligent examination of the information provided by clubs about payments to players.

Mr Broadfoot ruled out discussion of the first of these matters because ‘there was no evidence’, and the second matter was also ruled out because, he asserted, the previous president is a man of the highest integrity.

I replied that work was in hand to provide evidence, and that the question of negligent performance of duties was not a question of ‘personal integrity’.

Mr Broadfoot opined that the future would show whether Scottish Football supporters were really concerned about the old club/new club debate, if huge numbers turned their backs on the game.

I replied that a sport based on a false proposition, on what could be seen as a lie, no matter on what pragmatic reasons, would certainly wither if and when people thought the sport could be rigged.

As the meeting drew to a close, I was asked if, coming from Edinburgh, I was a Hibs or Hearts supporter, or perhaps a Celtic supporter? And whether I was going to tonight’s (Celtic were playing that evening at home) game?

I replied that as my name suggests, I was of Irish extraction and perhaps conclusions could be drawn from that. Also that I would not be going to tonight’s game, and that my interest in the present matter was rather more academic and objective than partisan.

The meeting ended cordially at about 2.45.pm “


 

I think I can say that Mr Broadfoot, opening the meeting, explained that

“for the purposes of this meeting, I am the SFA.”

Mr McRae’s personal contribution to the conversation was therefore very little more than mentioned above, Mr Broadfoot doing most of the talking.

I will say further that I spoke to BP, and consulted one or two other posters before I went to the meeting, in order to make sure that my general understanding both of the principal events of the ‘saga’ and of the thrust of most of SFM’s contributors, who are drawn from supporters of many clubs, was sufficiently sound.

I give it as my opinion that I may have been invited to a personal meeting only because it might have been thought in some quarters that I was in possession of an electronic recording of what I told Mr McRae that he was reported as having said.

And, finally, I declare here that my note of the meeting was written within two hours of the meeting, and reflects the substance of the conversation. It is exactly the note I sent by email to Broadfoot, except that I corrected a typo in the spelling of Darryll (I had ‘Caryll’), have omitted my own surname, and changed references to myself from the third person to the first person.

 

 

1,392 thoughts on “John Clark Meets “The SFA”


  1. Only £90 still to raise to keep this site going for another wee while – target £1,200.  04


  2. Glad to report The Clumpany is back up and running (whoosh)  I would have missed that blog greatly.  I was misinformed. 0304

    The wee soul – has no comments so he doesn’t get to hear how much he is appreciated.  It does however shield him from abuse.  He never asks for a penny.  Thumbs up Clumpy, your a star.


  3. Interesting Tweet from “The Clumpany” on Twitter about TRFC and possible Admin event


  4. apologies for my last post just been told its not the real Clumpany 🙁 


  5. West Ham Fan 11th February 2016 at 12:18 pm # apologies for my last post just been told its not the real Clumpany  
    ————————-

    It would appear Clumps is on holiday, an eight hour flight away10, lucky fella, sipping cocktails by some pool 11, even luckier fella. He’s put up a couple of blogs but seems to be expanding his holiday to time off twitter. I doubt he’ll be in a position (upright) to garner any news on goings on at Ibrox other than from what he picks up online, until he’s home.

    Of course, I’ve no doubt he will be keeping abreast of all the breaking news the SMSM put up/invent. 


  6. I see Mr Warburton is complaining about Alloa using the rules to their ‘advantage’ by narrowing the pitch for Saturday’s game.

    It does seem a silly rule that pitch sizes can be changed to suit game by game , if desired, but hey rules is rules.

    It would appear the SFA/SPFL are still to ‘catch up’ with other footballing authority laws and rules, such as the EPL, who state that a pitch must remain the same size throughout a season unless given prior consent by the board.

    Clearly the wearer of the magic hat  must have been denied a view of the history books bought by Charles Green that record Graeme Souness doing a similar width reducing trick at Ibrox  v Dynamo Kiev 1987/88 after getting taken apart on the wings away from home in the first leg.

    “The pitch didn’t have to be a fixed width as long as it was above a certain minimum, so I thought: ‘Right, I’ll make it the absolute minimum,’” Souness said. “On the Tuesday afternoon the Kiev players trained on the pitch when it was the normal size. On Wednesday night they came out for the match and must have been shocked to discover that, after 15 paces, they were on the touchline … it wasn’t purist stuff, but it was within the rules.” Having lost the first leg 1-0 in Kiev, Rangers turned the tie around, and triumphed 2-1 on aggregate.


  7. wottpi 11th February 2016 at 2:38 pm #I see Mr Warburton is complaining about Alloa using the rules to their ‘advantage’ by narrowing the pitch for Saturday’s game.

    EDIT.

    ****
    …….and so a precedent was set. I remember it well.


  8. wottpi 11th February 2016 at 2:38 pm 

    I see Mr Warburton is complaining about Alloa using the rules to their ‘advantage’ by narrowing the pitch for Saturday’s game.
    ==================

    I’ve just been looking for references of a memory I had about Don Revie moving the half way line so that one ‘half’ was shorter than the other at Elland Rd. for a whole season.

    I couldn’t find any, so it’s probably a false memory, but I did find this article:

    http://sabotagetimes.com/football/leeds-united-don-revie-and-a-40-year-old-slur

    I was fair tickled by the reference in the article to former Wolves player Danny Hegen who was, in 1982, “scraping a living as a Butlin’s Redcoat in Coatbridge.” 

    That would indeed be a tough gig 212122220303

    Apologies, as ever, for the off-topic diversion.


  9. Interesting case at the CoS next week.

    JUDGE R A DUNLOP QC – R Broome, Clerk
    Wednesday 17th February
    Hearing on Note and Answers
    1 – P1140/15 Note: HMA for order re failure to comply by Craig Whyte
    Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service – Gildeas
    ==================
    I wonder what Craigy boy hasn’t been doing or been absent from? 

    Also Roddy Dunlop QC acting as Judge.
    His recent case record is varied to say the least. He defended RFC at the CoS EBT hearing and also Alastair Carmichael in the recent election court action.


  10. easyJambo 11th February 2016 at 4:47 pm
    ————————————————-

    Laptop/mobile phone passcodes?


  11. Wottpi, interestingly while reading your post I thought that was a bit out of order by Alloa, then when I read the next bit I thought it was very clever by Souness. Partisan blinkers really do exist!


  12. I’ve picked up on an interesting debate today as Rangers First issued their list of 23 candidates for the Board of what appears to be the unified Fans organisation.
     
    http://www.rangersfirst.org/candidates/
     
    Discussions have mainly focussed on whether or not it is right for a fans group to remain independent of the club they support.  Among the candidates are James Blair (already on the RIFC Board) and Richard Gough (a club ambassador), who could hardly be described as being independent.
     
    A couple of others have also set up a new company “The Rangers Independent Fans Consortium” (RIFC Ltd)07 which looks as if it will be used to attract independent thinking fans if Rangers First ends up in the pocket of the RIFC Board
     
    Personally, I believe that in order to be able to act as effective pressure group the major Fans organisation has to be independent in order to be able to hold a Board accountable for its actions.  The example of Liverpool’s fans campaign against increased ticket prices is a good example of independent Fans groups acting in unison and achieving a result that would probably not have happened had the groups been closer to the Club.
     
    I see this as an exercise by the Club’s Board to acquire the unquestioned influence over the voting power of the Fans group, but more importantly financial influence over how the Fans’ cash is invested/loaned etc.
     
    I accept that it is a difficult choice in the absence of actual Fans ownership, but I believe that a number of Fans groups have allowed themselves to effectively be neutered by their links to the Board. I include in that group, Foundation of Hearts, Hibernian Supporters Limited and the Well Society.  


  13. RyanGosling 11th February 2016 at 7:11 pm

    Indeed. 02

    Right up Souness’ street – pushing things to the limit.
    Hey he got away with it because the loophole in the rules. A decent bit of management when you consider all the other shenanigans that go on these days.
    Wonder why the Scottish game didn’t tidy that one up all those years ago?


  14. easyJambo 11th February 2016 at 7:19 pm 

    I’ve picked up on an interesting debate today as Rangers First issued their list of 23 candidates for the Board of what appears to be the unified Fans organisation. http://www.rangersfirst.org/candidates/
    ==========================

    Candidate no.2 uses the word ‘liquidation’. I think we can safely discount him.

    Candidate no.9 is Brian Donohoe. I think we can safely discount him as well, simply for being who he is.


  15. Jingso.Jimsie 11th February 2016 at 7:50 pm #
    =======================
    I should correct my first paragraph to read “…..  the Board of what appears to be destined for the unified Fans organisation.”
    i.e. it is still the RF Board being elected/re-elected at their first AGM, but the likelihood is that the office bearers will be destined to participate in a unified Fans Board. 


  16. easyJambo 11th February 2016 at 7:19 pm #A couple of others have also set up a new company “The Rangers Independent Fans Consortium” (RIFC Ltd) which looks as if it will be used to attract independent thinking fans if Rangers First ends up in the pocket of the RIFC Board
    ==============================================
    EJ…thank you for your usual informative post.
    On the John James site, there appears to be a plethora of organisations, denoted largely by obscure acronyms, confirming that there is no “unified” or concerted support for TRFC…thereby allowing the resident CCK (a most appropriate and accurate acronym, and copyright acknowledged to JJ 21 ), to divide, rule and conquer the sadly gullible fans, and effectively relieve them of their “hard earned”…
    Haw maw…call the polis…somethin’s no right here…05


  17. Thankfully it was only a rumour that The Clumpany had ceased yesterday but one which is very true is the guy – Wullie Brown – who ran Celtic Network gave up yesterday.  It was very sad reading his final post.  He has given up hope on anything changing in Scottish football.   He had the same complaints as most of us on here.  The SFA, SPFL, the media, and his own boards (Celtic) inaction to confront these issues.

    In my worst days I sympathise with him.  Despite the best efforts of people like Auldhied & Res. 12, John Clark meeting the SFA,  A newspaper advertisement placed by Celtic fans we don’t seem to be making much headway.

    On my better days, I believe Auldhied reckons Rec. 12 is very much still to play out.  And who knows what the court cases could bring forth.

    I suppose we have to live in hope.


  18. easyJambo 11th February 2016 at 4:47 pm #Interesting case at the CoS next week.
    JUDGE R A DUNLOP QC – R Broome, ClerkWednesday 17th FebruaryHearing on Note and Answers1 – P1140/15 Note: HMA for order re failure to comply by Craig WhyteCrown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service – Gildeas==================I wonder what Craigy boy hasn’t been doing or been absent from?
      ——————————————————————————————————–
       Could he be impeding BDO in some way? I haven’t heard any updates on BDO’s challenge to Law Financials Ltd requesting mitigating factors in their Lloyds debenture claim delay from Sept 2015. 
       BDO were looking to have the claim dismissed asap.

    http://www.bdo.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1354092/RFC-2012-Plc-update-to-creditors-02-09-15.pdf


  19. jimbo 11th February 2016 at 11:56 pm
    ‘… He has given up hope on anything changing in Scottish football. He had the same complaints as most of us on here. The SFA, SPFL, the media, and his own boards (Celtic) inaction to confront these issues…’
    _______
    Not to compare apples with pears, or to rank the evil of the N..i government with the  wrongdoing of Scottish Football, but there is a 94-year-old N..i currently on trial for his alleged participation in the mass murders at Au….itz.
    My point being that the mere passage of time does not obliterate the wrongdoing of men.
    Liars are liars,and  know  themselves and each other to be such.
    They may gloat and smile complacently and conspiratorially and  may stick two fingers up to the rest of us, but they are already beyond the pale as far being decent human beings goes.and they know that that empty gesture does nothing to take their guilt away.
    We know the truth.
    We will continue to insist on that truth. It may be that people will be long dead and buried before that truth emerges in all its clarity.
    But, emerge it will!
    In the meantime, we watch the hollow men with cynicism and the utmost disbelief in their good faith.


  20. I just about manage to keep up to date on here although I rarely post,thanks again to you all for keeping me informed.Can I just mention the ongoing  petition.I have put my name to it.
    I am a little confused as to why there is a degree of reluctance on here.I was under the impression the point of this site was to out the truth and bring to account those who have not conducted themselves in accordance with their duties of office.This petition will go some way to assisting in this but only if it is heavily subscribed.
    I have noted it being said that there is a reluctance to reveal one’s identity,in case of reprisals(?)Firstly,the site of the petition gives you the option not to have your details revealed,and even if that were not the case,is it not about time we really did stand up and were counted.We are all(me included) very good at attacking the shortcomings of the SMSM and specific journalists who do not have the benefit of anonymity and spout forth knowing they will get pelters whatever thay say.I’m honestly not defending them,but the real prospect of reprisals is there for them.
    Bottom line;it’s time via this petition to put up or shut up.I apologise for being so blunt,but an honestly and properly constructed petition is a far more powerful weapon than ,to be fair,a site of anonymous bloggers.
    I would therefore urge you all out there to put your name to the petition,and spread it around. 


  21. I note ‘Warbs’ is now on about plastic pitches.

    Looking back in time at T’Rangers short history one may get the impression that the fear of plastic is a case of getting the excuses in early for having a compact squad that could feel the effects of injuries (received on any surface including your new and much lauded artificial training pitches) in the latter part of the season.

    2012
    http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/363428/Rangers-boss-Ally-McCoist-reckons-plastic-is-drastic
    2013
    http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13123897.Surface_tension__McCoist_wary_of_injury_as_Rangers_pitch_up_at_Forfar/
    2014
    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/plenty-surface-issues-rangers-ally-4306733#AYc8s1FwXegALXqZ.97
    2015
    http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/mark-warburton-no-place-in-top-flight-for-plastic-pitches-1-4028303

    Comment of the day in the Scotsman posts re Warburton views of plastic in the top flight.

    IveWaitedHereForYou3:21 AM on 12/02/2016

    Mark Warburton has a lot to say about top-flight football, considering he’s never managed a team playing in it.


  22. Thanks NTDeal, the more people that will spread the word, and not just sign, the better.

    The events at Liverpool this week while being a great success for fan power has probably set the petition cause back a bit.
    For a number of years dissatisfied fans have been on forums saying “we should do this” or “we should do that” but throughout those years nobody DID “this” or “that”, instead nothing was done. I speak from experience on this as I was one of  those bitchin’. My own preference was a boycott of a first half at every game in Scotland on a single weekend. We know why our favourite solution never happened. It’s because someone has to organise it and make themselves visible doing it. Scottish football is not the safest place to do this as we all know. The Liverpool fans were in a safer place to do this and their target, the board, was non-hostile so it would probably be an easy protest for the fan groups to organise. AND they succeeded.
    What I am trying to say is, you have been landed with a petition as a means of fighting because to start with it offered anonymity. Sure there are more effective actions but no-one has stepped up to front them. This is our only option!.
    That is not to say that it is a poor option. Sure, if the petition were got together and we just sent it to the SFA/SPFL then nothing would happen. But that is not my intention. With enough signatures the intention is to go to the secretary for sport Shona Robinson, UEFA, Ladbrokes, the Minister for Sport at Westminster Tracey Crouch and the non-MSM press. We would list the misdemeanours that we have proof of and point out to these agencies that we are not a couple of disgruntled fans pursuing this. But to do that we would need FAR more signatures than we have at present and not after waiting two or three years to get them, Action is required NOW!.
    Stop looking at this as the worst way of going forward unless you are prepared to step up immediately and front the better way.
    This is all that is available to you. If you care step up now and get friends and associates to step up also. Use your Facebook and Twitter accounts to spread the word.
    SIGN the PETITION
    https://www.change.org/p/scottish-football-association-return-integrity-to-football-administration-in-scotland-94421b40-2d6b-4d4b-9cff-912c9849478f


  23. I see today’s papers once again taking Warburton’s criticisms of Scottish football and printing them without the merest hint of critical comment. There were no “rants” from MW – seems that’s a Celtic exclusive – but rather helpful comments about generating TV interest, player welfare on plastic,and yet again more comparisons to his only previous football mgmt experience at Brentford. ( they forgot to remind us he was a former City trader.) Ah, the wisdom not whinges of Warbs ; got to get a wee pet name name-check in !! You’ve got to love it.
    Seems to me that in the past few weeks MW’s much vaunted “respect” for everything and everyone has gone out the window. Makes you wonder if he’s a happy chappie deep down.
    I really look forward to the day Ronny Deila, Alan Stubbs, Robbie Neilson or anyone else make such barbed, critical comments. Imagine the derision coming their way! And woe betide Jack Ross should Alloa have the nerve to give Rangers a close game. Btw, who’d have believed this is the THIRD game Alloa have played using this layout. Seems Falkirk and Morton just don’t count! Only in Scotland MSM land could we see such nonsense.


  24. Reiver,
    Good luck with the petition, signed it the other day. 
    Anything asking for the charlatans running our game to be held to account is worth contributing to as far as I’m concerned.


  25. jimmci 12th February 2016 at 10:51 am

    Seems to me that in the past few weeks MW’s much vaunted “respect” for everything and everyone has gone out the window. Makes you wonder if he’s a happy chappie deep down.
    ——————————-

    From my experience, you can always tell when an employee is unhappy with his performance review and/or next year’s budget. 


  26. Corrupt official 12th February 2016 at 1:50 am #
    Could he be impeding BDO in some way? I haven’t heard any updates on BDO’s challenge to Law Financials Ltd requesting mitigating factors in their Lloyds debenture claim delay from Sept 2015. BDO were looking to have the claim dismissed asap.
    ==============================
    There was a hearing at the CoS on 29 Jan, which may have been a decision on the claim.
     P1127/15 Note: The Rangers FC Group Ltd re adjudication of claim ADLP Solicitors

    TRFCG Ltd was formerly Wavetower, Whyte’s purchase vehicle.
    ==============================
    I don’t know anything about the latest Whyte indiscretion, but given that it is Her Majesty’s Advocate who is seeking action, it could be related to the Fraudco trial.


  27. JJ said the other day that he thinks Craig Whytes new trouble with the HMA is for not handing over the passwords to his Laptop and Mobile 


  28. I’m sorry Homunculus,but I’m not exactly sure where in my post I called anybody anything.How my post can be construed as an attack on the Gentleman you mention is beyond me,I am an avid,regular reader of his Blog.I did not mention Phil or any other individual for that matter.
    If my post came across as akin to lecturing,then I sincerely apologise it was not intentional.
    It is only,in my opinion I hasten to add ,possible to bring change through a concerted effort on a large scale,this petition offers this,potentially.
    Reiver,as you can probably guess,I share your frstrations,as I said previously I have already signed the petition,good luck with it all.
    I will now permanently return to lurking only 


  29. NTDEAL,

    I was very surprised with Homunculus’ post, I had to scroll back to see if I had missed something. re. PMCG.  I’m baffled, it’s out of character I think for Homunculus.

    I took your comment about us posters being anonymous (therefore protected to some degree) as a fair point and that to sign the petition meant surrendering (in a very soft way) a bit of anonymity a price worth paying, that’s why I had no hesitation in signing up.

    I hope you reconsider your decision to back to lurking.  it was a passionate post that’s all.


  30. jimmci 12th February 2016 at 10:51 am

    Have a comment, somehow in moderation, pointing out that McCoist in season 12/13, 13/14 & 14/15 and now Warburton in 15/16 have all been given column inches to moan about plastic pitches.

    This despite the new club announcing, with a fanfare, the laying of a new plastic outdoor pitch in 2013 and an indoor one last year at Murray Park.

    Of course these were paid mostly by grants from the Scottish Football Partnership and fan funding so who are they to look a gift horse in the mouth!!


  31. With the recent falls in worldwide stock exchanges, I’ve been keeping an eye on King’s company Micromega Holdings’ share price on the JSE. Today, the price has dropped to 9.50 ZAR down by more than 50% from its recent peak of 19.70 ZAR on 30 Sep 2015.

    The upshot is that King’s known “wealth” is falling directly proportionately to the share price. King’s holding of 63% of Micromega is held under the guise of his family trust, Friedshelf 1382 Pty. The value of that holding is down to £29.8M at the current exchange rate of 23 ZAR to the GBP.

    He may find it extremely difficult to make a £30M investment from assets of £29.8M which are tied up in a listed South African company.    


  32. I’ve just listened to the BBC Sportsound podcast from last night and found it, even by their own very low standard, quite, quite amazing.At 28:50′ in we had the most amazing discussion on Deila as Kenny MacIntyre is wont to call Ronny Deila.Conversation with Tom English centred on Tom Boyd’s defence of the aforementioned RD’s position at Celtic.MacIntyre read out the dictionary meaning of ambassador highlighting it to be a paid messenger. Honest!English said all Boyd was doing was spreading PR lines and it was “daft” of the media to give him one or two page spreads to issue what was not analysis but PR. Pure and simple guff.
    I almost fell off the seat. What the hell have Sportsound and the collective print media been giving us for years about Rangers other than PR guff dressed as fact by their pundits?
    I honestly wish this had been in TV so I could either see how red English’s face was or if he had a collar made of brass around his neck. As for MacIntyre…well that’s what he does.
    An unbelievable piece of BBC Scotland drivel. Honestly, I advise you to have a listen. It was so surreal it almost put Clyde SSB to shame.


  33. Easyjambo,

    John James has asked me to pass on the following information to you: j

    AllyJambo, could you please inform Easyjambo, on The Scottish Football Monitor, that Craig Whyte’s appearance at court next Wednesday may be in relation to his refusal to reveal the passwords to the electronic devices that were seized by Police Scotland


  34. THE PETITION
    Having read this site from it’s birth I fully expected everyone on it to sign the Petition, I have been active on Change .Org for a number of years as it is one of the best sites to get things changed, I have got no idea what people are worried about.
    GET IT SIGNED 


  35. West Ham Fan 12th February 2016 at 12:10 pm 

    JJ said the other day that he thinks Craig Whytes new trouble with the HMA is for not handing over the passwords to his Laptop and Mobile 
    ………………………………………….

    Allyjambo 12th February 2016 at 3:23 pm Easyjambo,
    John James has asked me to pass on the following information to you: j
    AllyJambo, could you please inform Easyjambo, on The Scottish Football Monitor, that Craig Whyte’s appearance at court next Wednesday may be in relation to his refusal to reveal the passwords to the electronic devices that were seized by Police Scotland
    ================================

    …which is what I posted here yesterday at 1700 in reply to Easyjambo.


  36. “The Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers are to cease print editions in March, leaving only an online-edition, the owner has said…”
    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35561145uk-35561145
    ==============
    The irony: how long before the SMSMSMSM print ‘journalists’ scramble to try and become ‘prominent internet bampots’?!

    They are several years too late. 19


  37. ” WITH RESPECT ”
    I was fortunate , or unfortunate to have toiled along side so called city traders on the Isle of Jersey for more than 4 decades , I got to know a large number of them very well , and I can honestly say none of them new anything about football / coaching , so it does not surprise me that one of type spouts off a bit. 


  38. Homunculus 12th February 2016 at 3:36 pm #

    I think you make a fair point as to Reiver’s choice of words,chosen possibly due to the reasons you suggested.
    However, taking all that into consideration, would you be prepared to sign the petition, for the worth of the petition itself and not for any grievance against it’s author?
    Not quite ends justifying the means, more like removing an ad hominem.


  39. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35557830
    Wonders never cease.
    I’ve been on holiday for a few days (not with the Clumpany, before you ask 02) and I came back to find that I actually agree with Neil Doncaster about something. I agreed with almost all of the above article, although one sentence was a bit odd, perticularly when talking about maintaining the sporting integity of football competition.
    His quoted sentence “I think this is a very sinister development. The likes of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Ajax, Porto, these are huge brand names, huge clubs with great histories and great global fan bases” includes one name that may be the result of a memory lapse when talking about contemporary European competitions, although slipping into pseud-speak with “brand names” betrays his business upbringing in the world of gobbledygook. At least he managed to avoid adding FC Twente to the list.


  40. Jingso.Jimsie 12th February 2016 at 4:05 pm #
    West Ham Fan 12th February 2016 at 12:10 pm 
    Allyjambo 12th February 2016 at 3:23 pm
    ————————————————–
    JJ may well be correct, but given that there was, at least originally, a criminal charge against Whyte specifically with regard to his failure to comply with that request, I am surprised that it would end up with a hearing at the Court of Session.  Also, if he failed to comply with a request from  the Judge at the criminal trial, then you would normally expect the same Judge to deal with it as a contempt of court. We will find out on Wednesday anyway.


  41. Celtic have just published their half year results to 31 Dec 2015. They show a healthy profit of £11.7M, but this is almost entirely due to the sale of Van Dijk to Southampton.  The Operating profit is actually down from £3.22M to £1.56M.

    The figures look consistent with a prudent approach to spending and seeking to make their profits from player trading when there is no Champions League windfall.

    http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/CCP/12697787.html


  42. The Cat NR1 12th February 2016 at 4:35 pm
    ‘        “I think this is a very sinister development,” Doncaster told Radio 5 Live
    ___________
    What is ‘sinister’, Mr Doncaster, is the deliberate, secret abandonment of Sporting Integrity by a body with responsibility for ensuring the integrity  of a sport.
    Go and dry your hypocritical eyes, or clean up your own act, before you use words like ‘sinister’ about an up front, open proposition.
    ( And, in the passing, put an end to the nonsense of a non-existent club being ‘recognised’ as an ‘associate member’ of ECA on the strength of the merits of a now dead club.)


  43. Neil Doncaster, not for the first time, is guilty of rank hypocrisy with his statement about the proposals to allow automatic entry to the money-spinning Champions League for certain elite clubs from selected elite countries. He is of course right that such a revamp would lead to the rich getting richer, whilst the poor (eg Scottish clubs) wouldn’t even get an invite to the party.
     
    However, he conveniently forgets the fact that, less than four years ago, he and his colleagues tried every way possible to ensure that a new club playing out of Ibrox was parachuted into an elite position at the summit of our league setup, not based on sporting merit, but on financial expediency and the perceived importance of reinstating the ‘Old Firm’.
     
    Doncaster’s lack of self-awareness is simply breathtaking. Despite the current wintry weather, somewhere in Scotland, the inhabitants of a village are out searching for its missing idiot.


  44. hello reiver. just to say i signed the petition as soon as i set eyes on it. like you am quite disappointed with the apathy shown, fingers crossed the courts cases will stir up a large swell of support and also address/expose the SFA and sevco as the charlatans that they are.standfree from corruption.


  45. Re Doncaster’s ‘sinister’ whinge…..

    “Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who heads up the European Clubs’ Association, has proposed “a tournament consisting of 20 teams from Italy, England, Spain, Germany and France”.”

    Wouldn’t it be hugely ironic if there was secret 20-way agreement on all of this?  07

    Scottish Football needs the transparency Doncaster seems to want from UEFA.


  46. This morning when reading that Doncaster was not happy with a potential European Franchise I felt happy for a millisecond (sp).   Then I remembered what he and his Brother tried to enforce on un us, with the compliance of the most  feart, sychophantic rubbish members of the authorities, apart from their supporters and Turnbull Hutton God Bless him, Shoehorn the Blue Pound back into Scottish Football at the top level.   Disgusting hypocrite.

    What they want is a franchise nothing more, nothing less. 


  47. I was wondering how Uefa would determine who would be in their top twenty Super League, the big money spinner.  So I had a look at the Uefa club coefficients. 

    Man Utd. squeeze in at No. 20 03

    However there are some juicy clubs with big supports who would be left out in the cold.
    22. Spurs
    24 AC Milan
    29 Ajax
    30 Inter Milan
    32 Fiorentina
    33 Eindhoven
    46 Liverpool
    47 AS Roma
    51 Celtic
    259 Rangers 2121 (sorry couldn’t help myself there)

    And many more besides.

    So how will they fix all this?  Call Daryl Broadfoot & Campbell Money, sorry Ogilvie.  Ably assisted by the ‘neutral’ Regan & Dunkcaster.  They only need to look to Scottish Football on how to set up a franchise.


  48. Now bearing in mind my post above (‘Rangers’) coefficient – 259 – read this:

    “Others have enjoyed four years of guaranteed income from European football while our Club has been deprived of this exposure and revenue stream. We urgently need to bridge the gap, bring excitement back to our country’s footballing competitions and ensure Rangers are restored to the top of Scottish and European Football and have the resources and management to compete on a level playing field when they get there. “

    A wake up call is required at Ibrox.  This is part of a call to TRFC fans to support financially their current board. If any are reading this I would urge them to desist until Dave King is gone, and start afresh. In all ways.


  49. At the risk of boring everyone I’m going for three in a row.  I would like to dissect this statement above.  (I’m not sure who issued it I copied from jj site It sounds like an issue from the Ibrox board).

    “Others have enjoyed four years of guaranteed income from European football while our Club has been deprived of this exposure and revenue stream. ”

    ‘Others’ have enjoyed – well that is Celtic, why not say it?  And they earned it not gifted.   ‘our club has been deprived’ – who deprived your club?  Your club deprived itself.

    ” bring excitement back to our country’s footballing competitions”
    You think Hearts being back at the top half of the league after promotion, Aberdeen on our tails, Celtic, sad to say, able to be beaten by any club on occasion is not exciting?  Ask all the clubs who have got to cup finals and won silverware in the past 4 years if it is not exciting.  Idiot.

    ” ensure Rangers are restored to the top of Scottish and European Football”

    Restored?  You are barely 3 years old.  And was your original club  always there?  I think not.

    This one I think is funny:
     “have the resources and management to compete on a level playing field when they get there. “

    ‘A level playing field’.   If there is one club who cannot lecture on level playing fields it is the one from Ibrox.  A decade of cheating the tax man, a compliant corrupt Bank of Scotland giving money hand over fist, a football authority who turned a blind eye on so many occasions it would make you sick.  I won’t even begin to mention the lamb munchers.

    ‘A level playing field’ ?   Dear God.


  50. There’s a bit of a debate just now about the merits of artificial pitches and whether their use is leading to more injuries.  I’ve seen no debate on the most appropriate footwear for these surfaces.  On grass, do players wear the same sponsored boots in Scotland’s winter mud as they do on Spanish sun-baked pitches?
    In cricket, footwear for artificial wickets differs from that used on grass.  I was wondering how many injuries may be aggravated by ‘this is what I always wear’?


  51. EKloon 13th February 2016 at 7:41 am #
    There’s a bit of a debate just now about the merits of artificial pitches and whether their use is leading to more injuries.  I’ve seen no debate on the most appropriate footwear for these surfaces.  On grass, do players wear the same sponsored boots in Scotland’s winter mud as they do on Spanish sun-baked pitches?
    In cricket, footwear for artificial wickets differs from that used on grass.  I was wondering how many injuries may be aggravated by ‘this is what I always wear’?

    Wholeheartedly agree EKloon. The clubs who are playing every week on these pitches don’t seem to be suffering from all these terrible injuries, dare I say, because they use them properly. Footwear included.
    Also, Murrayfield is a hybrid artificial pitch and it doesn’t seem to effect the rugby players at all. Certainly haven’t heard of them any greetin’ about it. 


  52. EKloon,

    Are you a supporter of East Kilbride?  Are you on here to noise me up?03030304

    If so, your team did well, esp. the goalie.

    Ronny D. is very familiar with plastic pitches in Norway. It’s the norm. Footballers, unless they are daft 21 know to adjust their football boots.  But an important point is watering the pitch before playing.  In Scotland some clubs to deny their opponents keep the pitch dry.


  53. Let’s just imagine the mythical rangers man of the real variety had turned up four years ago today, thus rangers as was continued on a similar plain to that of their city rivals.  Thus they’d both be sitting probably mid thirties in the rankings (Celtic having been forced to invest to compete so doing better RFC now generously turning the RRM’s big fortune into a little one).  I’d be interested to see Mr Doncaster’s comments in those circumstances.  Guessing “no fair, boo hoo, massive brands could be – would be- should be top 20, good of the game, some MBA p!sh about dribble downs and ripples etc etc.  I wonder at what point his other 40 clubs, never mind the domestic competitions he’s paid to promote would even enter his thoughts.  It would undoubtedly not have been yesterday’s statement, that’s for sure!


  54. The debate about the relative merits of artificial pitches and grass pitches has been going on for some time. There have been a increasing number of reports, especially from the US, suggesting that such surfaces are inherently unsafe with goalkeepers being more at risk than outfield players to developing cancer from the dust particles that are produced as the material breaks down. I have not seen any “official” comment from clubs/companies or our much vaunted authorities. 


  55. I think the term “artificial pitch” speaks for itself. It’s not natural.
    We are already witnessing the advent of driverless cars. What’s next in football? Playerless boots?


  56. @Ex Ludo 13th February 2016 at 9:35 am #

    I’ve read about the studies relating to increased risk of cancer and, as I understand things, the focus is very much on the original artificial surfaces (stands to reason, I guess, as there will be plenty of data) which were based on rubber pellet bases or some such. It’s important that these things should be taken into consideration when assessing surfaces, but it is equally important to look at the current state of the artificial and hybrid turf industry. The new surfaces are exceptional in some cases.


  57. jimbo 13th February 2016 at 7:36 am ‘
    ‘We urgently need to bridge the gap, bring excitement back to our country’s footballing competitions’
    This bit of nonsense as well. They have been in every tournament that Celtic FC have been in for the last 4 years except the league. They have also competed in tournaments that Celtic FC have NOT participated in (Petrofac Cup) and won the square root of ef all and are suddenly going to bring back excitement to the competitions that they have always been in. Their delusion knows no bounds.


  58. John, 
    He’s the ‘Entertainment’ hack at the DR plus CFC fan. 
    Not all that entertaining as I heard him say that Keef was a top guy and the print media’s future was bright despite the Indie’s plight. 
    Perhaps he’s been dazzled by one too many ‘super troopers’ at all those freebie gigs he gets to for the DR. 


  59. Re artificial pitches.  This squirrel is dominating today’s Sportsound,as alloa host the TFKAR. Derek ‘believe me’ Ferguson having his say.
    Earlier this week Stuart Lovell, as a PFA Scotland spokesman, was discussing merits/ injuries etc on Sportsound. He is a very articulate, and professional, Stuart that is, believe me0321. As a commentator on Setanta/ Sky I always thought him very informing, unbiased, even as an ex Hibby! Perhaps due to his Australian upbringing, and not having the traditional baggage. I don’t know too much about the man but he seems a decent sort. So much so, and I hate to suggest this but so many of the pundits who come from one or tother side of the ‘Franchise’ don’t always represent all of Scottish football. 
    I have some suggestions for guests at upcoming meet. I attended the first one, it was great to meet some of my idols  from SFM and Jim Craig, who was great company, and was a joy to listen to. A bona fide European Cup winner, and how good does he look, reckon  he could still push for a position in the current Celtic squad! Working in England will make attending the gig unlikely. 
    As well as Stuart Lovell, Willie Miller, Alan Preston seem pretty upright also.  Billy Dodds would have been great to listen to, I believe he is honest, but tainted by his EBT. He deserved much for being a great player at many Scottish clubs. His return to coaching, has got him out of the firing line. There are many good guys out there, who do care about Scottish fitba. I’d suggest a panel/ discussion with some ex-players of their hue would be a good idea for the April SFM get together. Jim Spence too, a totally professional football man, who has been collateral damage in the last 4 years, along with Spiers and Heggarty.Was Dodds too moved on? As an ex player Jums love for the game is self-evident. That he has suffered at the hand of the mob for being articulate and honest is a travesty, the lack of genuine action/ support from his colleagues and employers was a disgrace.
    Perhaps if he’d been part of the franchise he’d still be at BBC.
    Stuart Cosgrove, being local, is an obvious choice but he seems to have had his wings clipped, and I gather was not receptive to appearing at the first meet. He and Tam Cowan walk a fine line with off the ball. Petty and uniformed, perhaps, but with a tag line of ’don’t mock the afflicted or conflicted’.  With the current and upcoming court cases I imagine they are hamstrung and have to keep schtum.  I hope the ‘silence’ is for all the right reasons, although I do have my doubts.
     
    Last Sunday I went to one of my locals to watch the Hearts v Hibs Scottish cup tie, to be fair I was told at start they be switching over to Bournemouth v Arsenal at half time as it was advertised on board outside. Anyway as you can understand I created quite an atmosphere in the first half! Half time came and they switched over. As I finished my pint, I looked around, nobody and I mean nobody was interested in the English match ( this being in Cumbria). I headed to another hostelry, where landlord kindly agreed to put the Hearts game on for me, boy did I wish I’d stayed and watched Bournemouth, as it was the locals who created a great atmosphere, but it was fun. I won’t be watching Champions League as it no longer interests me one iota. Unfortunately will have to make do with wireless for SC replay.
     
    P.S. Thanks Nawlite for the lift to last meet it was much appreciated.
    & explanation re Derek Ferguson, a really fine player, and a fair pundit, didn’t say anything to upset me,other than ‘believe me’- repeatedly, which puts me on lie watch, as much as ‘i’ll be perfectly honest’. 190621


  60. Sorry for OT,  but I came across this and looked for its’ “pedigree”.
    Seems to have appeared in YouGov article  (Peter Kellner)  and  in  the BBC’s drama series, The Village.!
     
     
    “A reporter encounters two men returning from the fields. He asks them what they had been doing. The first man says they have been to the meadow to cut the grass; it was now immaculate. The second man says they have done no such thing; not a blade of grass has been touched.

    A bad reporter quotes just one of the men;
    A mediocre reporter quotes both.
    A good reporter goes and looks at the sodding meadow.”


  61. Woodstein 
    Now you are not preparing us for 2 different reports about to appear in Sunday’s excuse for newspapers,one harping on about the itch shortening and he other about an underfire Celtic Managers,surely both are straightforward nothing to report here apart from with one the past has came back to haunt the,surely this is one to run with,or Warns should have been warned of this being tried before 


  62. yourhavingalaugh 13th February 2016 at 5:38 pm

    “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment” 21


  63. mungoboy 13th February 2016 at 2:36 pm
    ‘..He’s the ‘Entertainment’ hack at the DR plus CFC fan. Not all that entertaining as I heard him say that Keef was a top guy ..’
    _____________
    Thank you, mungoboy.
    I hadn’t heard of Paul English, and, now, of course, I don’t want to hear about him.Anyone who ‘endorses’ Keef as any kind of newsman or whatever is clearly not to be listened to, as lacking  in judgement,  tainted by association with ‘Big Lie’ deniers, and  unprincipled enough to lend aid and comfort ( however indirectly) to the parcel of rogues who made it easy for SDM to practice his football cheatery, and who continue to propagate and foster the ‘Big Lie’.


  64. John,
    re our ‘entertaining’ friend, Mr English, heard earlier on Off The Ball, I should stress I have no personal knowledge of the gentleman. I was listening in online and heard him introduced as such. 
    Living as I do well outside the DR catchment area, I couldn’t tell you who covers what there other than the usual Fitba suspects. 
    Incidentally, I later caught Mr Spiers on the evening edition where he told a caller off for using the word ‘Sevco’ and opined that Scottish Football doesn’t recognise Liquidation.
    And to think of all the sympathy we gave him over his recent travails!


  65. mungoboy 13th February 2016 at 7:50 pm
    ‘…Incidentally, I later caught Mr Spiers on the evening edition where he told a caller off for using the word ‘Sevco’ and opined that Scottish Football doesn’t recognise Liquidation.’
    __________
    So the man who’s brave enough to challenge his Editor-in-Chief over a false apology attributed to him, is prepared to defend the biggest untruth that we have ever been faced with in  Scottish Football!
    Has he been specifically roped in as an ‘unofficial’ spokesman for ‘Scottish Football’ , to declare grandly that ‘Scottish Football doesn’t recognise Liquidation’?
    If so, our ‘sympathy’ for him was seriously misplaced and unwarranted.
    Scottish Football has set its face against accepting the plain actual facts.And the plain application of the law to those facts.
    Facts which even the SFA’s own Counsel with all his advocacy skills cannot explain away, except by sounding like a demented Humpty Dumpty trying to make words mean what he says they mean!To the great amusement of the lieges!
    Good God Almighty! Was there ever such a piece of absolute nonsense propagated and defended whether by  poltroons, or by dyed-in-the-wool deliberately deceitful men?
    In the earthy, ‘non-etherea’l opinion of my ‘incarnations’ and ‘manifestations’ ( oh, look at the ectoplasm!) as John Clark.
    ‘Strewth!


  66. “on a level playing field”

    surely that should be “the” rather than “a” ??


  67. mungoboy 13th February 2016 at 7:50 pm #John,Incidentally, I later caught Mr Spiers on the evening edition where he told a caller off for using the word ‘Sevco’ and opined that Scottish Football doesn’t recognise Liquidation.

     I have been led to believe that GS stated that “everything that I said was true” or words to that effect on OTB tonight…..and SG also immediately distanced the BBC from this remark.
    Can anyone confirm? 


  68. John Clark,   After all the support we have given to Graham Spiers it’s disappointing. But he always tried to tread a fine line.
    I think we are left with one or two honest reporters.

    Alex Thomson.  For one, a hero in my eye.

    There is another one, not so well known.  Kevin McKenna.  I got lampooned on here some months ago for supporting him, I don’t care.  He is honest it’s just a shame he is now based in London working for The Guardian.  I wish he would turn his eye back to us and give the rotters who run Scottish Football a good going over.

    Kevin, if you read this, love from your old mate. 04  Do us a favour.

    Don’t wait up Jimbo. He told me a few weeks back that he’d never heard of us – right after he told me he really liked the record 🙂
    BP


  69. I’m very angry.  But it will wait.  Kevin. 06See you tomorrow night. friend.


  70. It’s all (relatively) quiet on the Govan front.
    …court cases and pitch sizes / surfaces aside…

    A distinct lack of rambling, nonsensical statements issued from TRFC.

    Something’s not right !  😉

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