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. jimbo 13th February 2016 at 11:22 pm #
    ========================

    I do not personally know Kevin McKenna but an article I read where he stoutly defended the media love in with David Murray was a real bad one for me. It is no secret that he is a Celtic fan yet he is willing to defend what in my opinion was a real low point in media behaviour. Allied to the fantasy constantly written about Rangers / Murray, Celtic / McCann were treated quite disgracefully at times.  Subsequently I have little interest in anything to has to say. You can’t defend the indefensible – he did.  


  2. To be fair to Spiers (and I didn’t hear the show) he appears to be saying what has actually happened (see meadow cutting example), as opposed to what we would wish to have happened, or that the blue side would wish either.  Looked at in that way I absolutely agree that Scottish Football does not actually appear to have recognised a ‘Liquidation.’

    Now, three issues.  Firstly, do not have the brute ignorance to tell me that it didn’t happen (and Spiers, to be clear, doesn’t, he says its been ignored).  It happened and, collectively, like it or fec’n hate it, our clubs actively chose to  ignore it.

    Secondly, would that same rule have applied to anyone other than RFC? (I’ll ignore the obvious comparison with CFC since I’m of the view they simply wouldn’t be facing a comparable liquidation situation).  But would it have applied to the other 40 clubs?  Where’s the cut off line?  Premiership, championship…?  There’s a test case with a HUGE precedent now just waiting to happen. 

    Thirdly, the obvious question given the above to Speirs shouldn’t be
    “.. are you sure, show your working, No Graham, that’s just plain wrong.”  Remember he didn’t say, unlike some, that it didn’t happen, he said it was ignored.

    In my opinion it should be a more considered
    “…OK Graham, IF we accept your view is correct what implications do you think it might have for the game, a game that is on its ass anyway*, going forwards?  How should a banker look at a request for funds for instance?  How should a selling club consider a player sale with deferred payments?  How should a club coming a solid second consider the leading club purchasing a ‘luxury’ player on those deferred payments mentioned?  What if said luxury player is your own key player?  What if said player “guarantees” (copyright JJ) CL football, or avoids relegation or wins a play off…?  These questions could and should go on and on.

    * Re the ‘ass’ comment the game is clearly refreshed in my view.  But its still not getting the support it requires.  The role of ignoring the liquidation is not clear in that.  I personally could and should have walked away.  I didn’t for the kids sake and now three go where only one (me) went before.  That has been made easier by one cheating club not participating and fuelling an unsustainable arms race.  So in my extensive survey of one household, their exclusion has increased our contribution, not diminished it.  But it still sits uncomfortably with me that my contribution for over ten years was frankly unnecessary as was my club’s participation other than just to provide an opposition.  Armageddon, as we all know, was nothing more than a judgement that if RFC were correctly sanctioned their fans would take the huff and go and support Man City or whoever.  Are you telling me a club with Rangers in the title, perfectly recognisable within phoenixing laws and commonly referred to as Rangers anyway sitting where they are now, and probably better off as they wold have had a fitter leaner unburdened ‘new’ model to work off wouldn’t have received the support it currently does?  Not a chance.  


  3. Awoke this morning to Radio 5 Sunday Breakfast, the female host was interviewing Ian Marshall an ex legend of the Parish of Leicester on todays meeting with Arsenal. A twee boys own story piece on everybodys favourite second team, until she announces  ‘of all the top leagues in Europe only Bayern Munich, PSV, and Rangers* have better or similar loss records! ‘ 10 She did appear to struggle to read the last team out, as did I to keep my mouthful of cornflakes. But it appears Championship comes before Premier, not just alphabetically. A positive association the morning after a draw against tother wasps01


  4. Sorry on reading back my rant of 9.39 I realised I’d missed a point re armageddon which was simply that the model employed by ‘the clubs’ throughout this seems to have always been to return matters to where they were and then to have a discussion as to whether it works or not.  This is completely the wrong way around in my opinion.  Topically, this morning, I remember voicing a concern in 2012 that the view seemed to prevail that another Eurpoean bus was coming and it was imperative that at least two clubs were on it – but again no attempt to justify that approach other than a dewy eyed ‘aye been. 


  5. tamjartmarquez 14th February 2016 at 9:39 am # Awoke this morning to Radio 5 Sunday Breakfast, the female host was interviewing Ian Marshall an ex legend of the Parish of Leicester on todays meeting with Arsenal. A twee boys own story piece on everybodys favourite second team, until she announces  ‘of all the top leagues in Europe only Bayern Munich, PSV, and Rangers* have better or similar loss records! ‘  She did appear to struggle to read the last team out, as did I to keep my mouthful of cornflakes. But it appears Championship comes before Premier, not just alphabetically. A positive association the morning after a draw against tother wasps
    ___________________________________—

    I would imagine this has to do with some BBC Sport database, where TRFC have been flagged as ‘important/significant’, or something similar, all in accordance with the BBC Scotland policy of whitewashing the truth, and dutifully accepted by the rest of the BBC. Key in ‘football stats’ or some such, and they (TRFC, as ‘Rangers’) will always be included.

    It works! This stealth re-writing of an unwritten history.

    Yesterday morning I visited a local car saleroom, here in Derbyshire, and the fact I was a Hearts supporter came up in conversation. The young salesman, to my pleasure, had a relatively good knowledge of how well Hearts had been doing and that they sat in 3rd place in the Premiership. He then mentioned how well ‘Rangers’ were doing this season, too. Not sure why he felt the need to mention them, but I suppose, if a particular club are having their name mentioned by the media more often than others, and their level of ‘success’ is hyped, while their true, rather lowly, position is glossed over, then the local populace will assume that that club is newsworthy on a sporting level, while their real newsworthiness remains lost ever since the low key announcement of their administration.  

    However, when I mentioned that they were a new club, and that the original Rangers had died, his eyes kind of went blank and he looked rather bemused, as though I was talking gobbledygook, With rather important financial matters to discuss, and limited time available, the conversation ended, but it was perhaps an indication of how successful stealth misinformation can be! Understate the financial misdeeds and mismanagement, allowing it to disappear in the mists of time, while overstating the level of ‘success’ to keep their apparent relevance uppermost in the uninformed minds of the public!


  6. upthehoops,

    I have only occasionally read Kevins stuff in newspapers.  Mainly because I rarely buy a newspaper.   But unless he has changed drastically, he is a good man.  If you cut him his blood would be green.  If I meet  him again he will be severely taken to task on the issues you mention.  Then we will go for a drink and all will be well. 0304


  7. jimbo 14th February 2016 at 10:46 am #upthehoops,
    I have only occasionally read Kevins stuff in newspapers.  Mainly because I rarely buy a newspaper.   But unless he has changed drastically, he is a good man.  If you cut him his blood would be green.  If I meet  him again he will be severely taken to task on the issues you mention.  Then we will go for a drink and all will be well.
    =============================

    As I said Jimbo I don’t know the man. The article in question I believe was posted on here some months ago. Kevin was defending his stance as Graham Spiers Editor at the time he sent him to the infamous succulent lamb dinner in Jersey. I just can’t see any defence of that whatsoever given what we now know. A media apology to the rest of Scottish football would have been more appropriate in my view. 


  8. Smugas 14th February 2016 at 9:39 am

    Smugas 14th February 2016 at 10:11 am
    ———————————————–

    I see what you’re saying, but:

    The failure of the CVA & the inevitable liquidation was acknowledged. It was in the papers & on the TV & everything. I’m sure you saw the headlines?

    Crikey, the SFA/SPL/SFL also took action. How else did Dundee gain access to the SPL?

    What’s happened is that the continuity myth, as espoused by C. Green et alia, was allowed credence. This is yet another failing by the governing bodies, who were so sh*t scared of the everyday real life occurrence of a business/member club failing that they couldn’t even make a clear (transparent) statement that it had closed down & there was a new kid in town.

    It’s what’s happened since, the virtual airbrushing of history across media, that is sinister.


  9. Slightly off topic.  I love music.  For all we are critical of BBC R Scotland from a footballing perspective, their music output is brilliant.  Just listened to Ella Fitzgerald there and she loves Celtic.  So you see it was only slightly off topic.  (So does Rod Stewart, Bono, and the late Pavarotti God rest his wee cotton socks.)  


  10. There are opinions, and there are facts.
    McKenna and his sort are entitled to have their ‘opinions’.
    They are no more  entitled to use such ‘public influence’ that they may have to propagate an untruth than they are to use such flatulence as they may suffer from to poison folk in public areas.
    The Liquidation of RFC is a fact.To deny it is to deny a truth.
    The Football Authorities and others  deceitfully attempt to deny that fact , 
    They falsify the written records of Scottish Football achievement.
    They have trodden upon the principle of Integrity in Sport  by striking a secret deal with a charlatan of a ‘business man’, under which they allowed themselves to be bullied, threatened and browbeaten into abandoning their personal and official integrity in order to accommodate the foisting of a huge Lie that strikes at the heart of Football as a sport.
    The running-scared, running-dog lackeys who betray both journalism and sport by aiding those truth deniers are deserving of nothing but scorn and contempt , NOT because they air an ‘opinion’ but  because they are they are denying facts.


  11. Good day Jimbo, OT  fine musicians all of them. however i doubt if more than 25-50% of those mentioned loved Celtic. i.e. regularly followed their results, any more than the Hoff loves the jags. 
     I like the music of the proclaimers and amy mcdonald, the teams they love matter not to me.
    Julian Cope loves stone circles, and he does not feature regularly on BBC R Scotland roster, bless his cotton socks.


  12. tamjart ,  I make it up as I go along.  For  instance, it is well known that HM the Queen has  a Celtic top which she wears at Balmoral when out fishing.03


  13. Jimbo
    Now would that be a home ,away or third strip,it’s important the facts get out there,no misreporting.


  14. More on Graham Spiers. See his tweet below:

    Graham Spiers ‏@GrahamSpiers Feb 12@Chessie_91 The club/company distinction was a panic manoeuvre once liquidation – previously thought unlikely – kicked in. It is forgivable.

    I don’t know whether Spiers reads this blog or not, but he is clearly part of the problem. What a horrible place Scottish football has become simply because the rules couldn’t be applied properly to one club, and one club only. 41 clubs exist only for Rangers to get to the top and stay there more often than not. I simply dread that club being in the top league next season. God only knows what the media coverage will be like. 


  15. if GS was right why did/do other clubs not feel confident enough of the same outcome to do it ?
    hmmmm, let me guess………….


  16. Jimbo
    fair enough her realm does include 3 celtic countries, she is a well known fan of nana mouskouri 
    catch anything lately?0403


  17. pau1mart1n 14th February 2016 at 1:40 pm #if GS was right why did/do other clubs not feel confident enough of the same outcome to do it ?hmmmm, let me guess………….
    ==========================

    This is the real worry for me. If the authorities feel ‘Rangers’ are so special they had to break the rules to accommodate them, where does the assistance end? I really think that is a fair question to ask. 


  18.     Fearless and intrepid reporter Graham Spiers may be onto something. All he has to do now to stand up his claim that the SFA do not recognise liquidation, is approach the SFA, and ask them why they treated Sevco as a new club. Scottish cup entry, Europe exclusion, prize monies etc.
       Both sides of the story should be aired, and he should approach Sevco, and ask them why they haven’t sued the SFA for treating them as a new club.
       As things stand, it looks like he has just opened his mouth and let his belly rumble, but when he makes the approaches, prints their replies, then all credibility must be returned to Mr Spiers for backing up his claims with some admirable journalistic research, and investigative reporting. 
       I kind of get where Mr Spiers is coming from, but until he backs it up with fact, it is just piffle.
       Go on Graham! Prove that lamb is off the menu…….At least for you !….. Prove you are a journalist, and not a sipper of fine red wine like the others you loftliy decry. 
         


  19. upthehoops 14th February 2016 at 1:34 pm # More on Graham Spiers. See his tweet below:
    Graham Spiers ‏@GrahamSpiers Feb 12@Chessie_91 The club/company distinction was a panic manoeuvre once liquidation – previously thought unlikely – kicked in. It is forgivable.
    I don’t know whether Spiers reads this blog or not, but he is clearly part of the problem. What a horrible place Scottish football has become simply because the rules couldn’t be applied properly to one club, and one club only. 41 clubs exist only for Rangers to get to the top and stay there more often than not. I simply dread that club being in the top league next season. God only knows what the media coverage will be like. 
    ________________________________________

    I asked him the following, as yet unanswered:

    Graham Spiers ‏@GrahamSpiers Feb 12 @Chessie_91 The club/company distinction was a panic manoeuvre once liquidation – previously thought unlikely – kicked in. It is forgivable.   Allyjambo ‏@Allyjambo 54m54 minutes ago @GrahamSpiers @TheClumpany @Chessie_91 Is that panic manoeuvre forgivable when used in an IPO prospectus to raise millions? 1/2  Allyjambo ‏@Allyjambo 51m51 minutes ago @GrahamSpiers @TheClumpany @Chessie_91 2/2 Where a brand new plc is given the history/gravitas of a 140 year old club/business? Edit your profile Allyjambo‏@Allyjambo 49m49 minutes ago @GrahamSpiers @TheClumpany @Chessie_91 Forgivable, perhaps, when used as a sop for fan base, but surely not when used as sales gimmick!

    Spiers seems to view the OC/NC position through supporters eyes only. He forgets that there are wider financial implications involved, too. A brand new football club must obviously be considered a greater risk to potential investors, and creditors, than one with a 140 year history and record number of titles, plus a huge support. There is no knowing how the support would have reacted to an announcement from the SFA that TRFC were undoubtedly a new club, but clearly everyone involved with the new club recognised that there was much to be gained, financially, by sticking to the ‘same club’ mantra.

    This, itself, might not have been such a financial biggy if the only people being misled were the supporters (who wanted to believe), and no non-supporters invested their own, or anyone else’s, money in the club/company – but this is not the case. Many people invested in the club, directly, or indirectly, on the basis of a prospectus that made no distinction between Rangers and TRFC, creating the impression of a well established business, with no historic debt! We know how it’s worked out for the under-informed/misled investors.

    I think it’s true to say, that if the SFA/SPL/SFL had made it clear to Green that there was no way they were going to aid him in his same club claim, that Green would have disappeared, never to darken Scottish football’s door again. The SFA wouldn’t be embroiled in a couple of court cases, only Whyte and perhaps D&P might be up on criminal charges, and Scottish football would be a much healthier place than it is now. 

    A ‘Rangers’ would have emerged, perhaps smaller than the one we see now, but much cleaner and, quite possibly, sitting at the top of the Championship today!

    How can any untruth, that has helped create the legal mess that Scottish football finds itself in today, and has resulted in the loss of a number of misled investors’ money, be ‘forgivable’ in any way?

    For goodness sake, it was a major part of the whole scam!

    One wee nasty thought for the SFA! I wonder if they would face litigation and claims for damages for facilitating the scamming of investors in RIFC, if it is found that the IPO was fraudulent, and the courts make it clear that there is no distinction between club and company! Anyone any thoughts on that? Mr Regan…?


  20. Corrupt official 14th February 2016 at 2:15 pm #     Fearless and intrepid reporter Graham Spiers may be onto something. All he has to do now to stand up his claim that the SFA do not recognise liquidation, is approach the SFA, and ask them why they treated Sevco as a new club. Scottish cup entry, Europe exclusion, prize monies etc.    Both sides of the story should be aired, and he should approach Sevco, and ask them why they haven’t sued the SFA for treating them as a new club.    As things stand, it looks like he has just opened his mouth and let his belly rumble, but when he makes the approaches, prints their replies, then all credibility must be returned to Mr Spiers for backing up his claims with some admirable journalistic research, and investigative reporting.     I kind of get where Mr Spiers is coming from, but until he backs it up with fact, it is just piffle.    Go on Graham! Prove that lamb is off the menu…….At least for you !….. Prove you are a journalist, and not a sipper of fine red wine like the others you loftliy decry. 
    _________________________________

    I think this is where Graham Spiers is so frustrating; he is a good journalist, intelligent and literate, but he seems unable to go the full hog with anything controversial, or maybe he only has a problem when it’s his favourite (replacement) club that might be damaged by going the full hog! It’s as if he wants us all to know he’s better than all the rest, but doesn’t want the grief that would come with printing the ‘whole truth’. Grief, that is, not only from the multitude of angry bears, but an internal grief caused by any damage he’s perceived to have caused to his club!


  21. Allyjambo 14th February 2016 at 2:37 pm
       “I think this is where Graham Spiers is so frustrating; he is a good journalist, intelligent and literate, but he seems unable to go the full hog with anything controversial, or maybe he only has a problem when it’s his favourite (replacement) club that might be damaged by going the full hog! It’s as if he wants us all to know he’s better than all the rest, but doesn’t want the grief that would come with printing the ‘whole truth’. Grief, that is, not only from the multitude of angry bears, but an internal grief caused by any damage he’s perceived to have caused to his club!”
      ——————————————————————————————————————
       That’s it in a nut-shell Ally. Don’t get me wrong, I also think he only goes half-way in his reportage, and it is probably wearying for him, but no more wearying than it is for us. The point of my post though was to point out that you can’t be “Just a wee bit succulent”.  There is a fence, but it is too spikey to sit on. 
      He has a wherewithal denied to us, in as much as he can expect responses, and has the power to say they refused to comment if none are forth-coming. He also knows the questions, and how to frame them. Not being given a story to write, is a story in itself. 
       He received massive support when he was back-stabbed. Not because of what he exposed, but for his right to expose it. In a way, it could be construed that he has had a sarcastic dig at the SFA, and I will support that   All he has to do now is follow it up, and that too will be supported, because at the end of the day, he is on solid legal ground if challenged. If the SFA think they can refuse to recognise the law of the land, he is on a winner, with court backing, and even that of the founding father and a major shareholder. 
       Go get them Graham is basically what I am saying. There is a chance for him to elevate his status, within the profession, near that achieved by the honest journos he admires. The double edge of separating from the succulent ones is an added bonus. He should ask the questions why the SFA do not recognise liquidation now, when they clearly did at the time. 
       Scottish fitba need journalists who take along a packed lunch when invited to dinner. 


  22. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/michael-gannon-celtic-scottish-football-7366255#ICID=sharebar_twitter#Pym61Ffj3BDrDbRg.97

    From Michael Gannon in the Record-

    VALENTINE’S weekend and Peter Lawwell is standing outside the door in the rain clutching a bunch of drooping flowers with a box of Milk Tray under his arm.
    Unfortunately, the Champions League isn’t interested. She’ll just grab the bouquet and the choccies and slam the door in his face.
    Celtic have got the lovey-dovey eyes for Europe’s elite competition but it’s looking increasingly clear that it’s out of their league.
    It’s the same for all the diddy nations. Once proud clubs like Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb and Anderlecht, the old aristocracy is being left looking like a drunk uncle at a wedding after the wife’s left him.

    The Record talking up Scottish football, as per usual. Let’s switch the current league positions of the teams, and replace the word “Celtic” with “Rangers” in this article. Would it, could it, ever be published in the Record? In my humble opinion, not in a million years. Others might care to speculate why that is so.


  23. neepheid 14th February 2016 at 5:05 pm #

    The Record talking up Scottish football, as per usual…
    ======================
    This is where the SMSM is wilfully ignorant, IMO.
    Their seemingly constant, invidious reporting of Scottish football is harmful not just to the game…but ultimately to the SMSM ‘journalists’ themselves!
    Just think how positive, refreshing – and uplifting – Scottish football reporting could be, if there was no Govan club to bow down to…  🙁


  24. I see Saturday’s Herald had a front-page story about how Rangers’ pawned trademarks had been returned to them by Sports Direct. It hardly seems like 3 weeks since I was posting exactly the same information here. How time flies.


  25. Guys,
    can I just say that the snippet I heard on OTB by GS last night was him referring to ‘Scottish Football’ and not specifically the SFA who didn’t recognise Liquidation.
    Mind you, having clarified that, is there a difference??


  26. neepheid 14th February 2016 at 5:05 pm #
    ==========================

    At the height of the period when David Murray’s Rangers were effectively the Bank of Scotland Works XI the Daily Record often told us an elite European League was imminent, that Rangers would be part of it, Celtic would not be part of it, and the rest of Scottish football would be left behind forever. How ironic that Rangers have since completely crashed and burned, and not one other senior club from that period has. There was never going to be a European League that Rangers were going to be part of, but it was all part of the decades long fantasy that the entire Scottish establishment bought into, part of which was to put Celtic and the rest of Scottish football down with equal fervour.  

    I stop short of hoping newspapers go out of business. A lot of good people depend on them for a living, but the days of me contributing to their cause are long gone. 


  27. Allyjambo 14th February 2016 at 2:20 pm
    ‘……One wee nasty thought for the SFA! I wonder if they would face litigation and claims for damages for facilitating the scamming of investors in RIFC, if it is found that the IPO was fraudulent, and the courts make it clear that there is no distinction between club and company! Anyone any thoughts on that? Mr Regan…?’
    _____________
    Might be a wee nasty thought for the SFA, but the mere contemplation of it makes me extremely happy!
    As an application of the law of  unforeseen consequences, that would be a brilliant outcome-sued for every rotten penny they thought they might get by selling their souls and maintaining a fiction. A consummation devoutly to be wished, as a ‘fit and proper’ punishment.
    I wonder whether Mr Ashley might consider himself to have been duped by a Prospectus based on ‘false assurances of continuity’ given to  new club by  Scottish  Football’s  ‘legislators and guarantors of sporting integrity’?
    Having seen the kinds of things we have seen thus far in the saga, nothing would surprise me! Oh, what fun just thinking about possibilities!


  28. Gannon’s article is almost the antithesis of Mr King ‘s (remember him?)  Blueprint for his club’s future.
    Overall, the piece is reprehensible, and no self respecting Scottish football fan should buy it.


  29. Here’s a link to the full Sunday Post article re Whyte’s residence in Belgravia.

    https://www.sundaypost.com/news/scottish-news/bankrupt-in-belgravia-ex-rangers-owner-craig-whyte-staying-in-5-million-london-flat-while-getting-legal-aid/

    The identification of Whyte’s latest girlfriend as Charlotte Foley makes the Machiavellian in me wonder if there was any connection between this Charlotte F. with the other Charlotte F. we have come to know and love.

    In reality, the dates re Charlotte don’t fit, but it was a nice thought anyway. 


  30. easyJambo 14th February 2016 at 8:01 pm # Here’s a link to the full Sunday Post article re Whyte’s residence in Belgravia.
    https://www.sundaypost.com/news/scottish-news/bankrupt-in-belgravia-ex-rangers-owner-craig-whyte-staying-in-5-million-london-flat-while-getting-legal-aid/
    The identification of Whyte’s latest girlfriend as Charlotte Foley makes the Machiavellian in me wonder if there was any connection between this Charlotte F. with the other Charlotte F. we have come to know and love.
    In reality, the dates re Charlotte don’t fit, but it was a nice thought anyway. 
     _________________________

    On the other hand, EJ, ‘Charlotte Fakes’ might be a reference to Craigy Boy’s performance in bed!!


  31. neepheid
    neepheid 14th February 2016 at 5:05 pm #
    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/michael-gannon-celtic-scottish-football-7366255#ICID=sharebar_twitter#Pym61Ffj3BDrDbRg.97
    From Michael Gannon in the Record-
    VALENTINE’S weekend and Peter Lawwell is standing outside the door in the rain clutching a bunch of drooping flowers with a box of Milk Tray under his arm. Unfortunately, the Champions League isn’t interested. She’ll just grab the bouquet and the choccies and slam the door in his face. Celtic have got the lovey-dovey eyes for Europe’s elite competition but it’s looking increasingly clear that it’s out of their league. It’s the same for all the diddy nations. Once proud clubs like Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb and Anderlecht, the old aristocracy is being left looking like a drunk uncle at a wedding after the wife’s left him.
    The Record talking up Scottish football, as per usual. Let’s switch the current league positions of the teams, and replace the word “Celtic” with “Rangers” in this article. Would it, could it, ever be published in the Record? In my humble opinion, not in a million years. Others might care to speculate why that is so.
    ————————————————————————————————————
    Aye I think it would by the way (wee weegie intonation!).


  32. John Clark 14th February 2016 at 7:27 pm 

     …I wonder whether Mr Ashley might consider himself to have been duped by a Prospectus based on ‘false assurances of continuity’ given to  new club by  Scottish  Football’s  ‘legislators and guarantors of sporting integrity’?Having seen the kinds of things we have seen thus far in the saga, nothing would surprise me! Oh, what fun just thinking about possibilities! 
    ____________________

    Might explain some of the insipid efforts of his counsel. Perhaps his aim has been to have certain facts discussed in court, rather than a genuine effort to win each individual case, to build a case in which he recoups all his lost share value, while maintaining his shares in RIFC, and all the deals he’s managed to secure via RR. Perhaps, even, just to re-affirm that, ‘no one messes with Big Mike!’ 

    Or just plain old revenge!       


  33. STICKY

    The next meeting of SFM is at the same venue as last time – the Centenary Suite at MacDiarmid Park, Perth on Monday 4th April.

    Tickets are now available for sale on the site SHOP;

    and we reckon we need about thirty sales to break even.

    The last event was a great success where bonds were strengthened amidst a lot of laughter (and a fair amount of dismay).

    Again, if numbers from Greater Glasgow and/or Greater Reekie are enough, we will consider arranging minibus transport.

    I think we can definitely arrange some kind of car pooling anyway, but we can play it by ear.

    Also, the appeal ends on Monday at teatime – and we are nearly there 🙂


  34. I notice a few posts on Twitter tonight stating that the recent £6.5m loan was secured against season tickets for 2016/17 season. Whilst this is only rumour at this stage I would speculate that if this is indeed true then the Club/Company are in far more perilous financial state than I believed. It makes sense to me as there were no available assets to secure this sort of loan against and nobody in their right mind hands over £6.5m without some sort of collateral.


  35. But, CF, isn’t that one of the things the fans (and the SFA and the SMSM) hate Craig Whyte for? How will they like it this time around?


  36. easyJambo recently highlighted on here the variety of clubs who had won cup competitions in Scotland since Armageddon supposedly decimated our game following the death of Rangers FC* in 2012. The list made good reading and provided a much needed boost to our game, yet the feelgood factor gained by the spreading around of those trophies remains largely unreported by our mainstream media, simply because it doesn’t tie in with the false narrative that we are all suffering as a result of Rangers* demise. Similarly, Rangers* supporters, and those in the media who print puff pieces to appease them, tell us that Celtic’s subsequent title wins are somehow bogus/tainted because of the absence of genuine competition in the form of Rangers*.
     
    Before Celtic’s win against Ross County yesterday, Aberdeen were level on points with Celtic and they may well draw level again after Monday night’s game, suggesting there is a genuine title challenge underway in the Scottish Premiership, just one pointer towards a degree of relative rude health.
     
    At the same point in time, Bayern Munich are 8 points clear of second placed Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, while PSG are a massive 24 points clear of Monaco in Ligue 1 in France. Although the Swiss and Greek leagues may not quite be considered the elite of European competition, Basel are 15 points ahead of Grasshoppers Zurich in the Swiss Super League and Olympiakos are 16 points ahead of AEK Athens in the Greek Super League. Perhaps I’ve just missed the media rush to report the failings of these four leagues and the lack of competition provided to the top dogs, but you could be forgiven for thinking that the Scottish media has an agenda driven mission to report negatively about anything which doesn’t involve the club playing out of Ibrox, allied to an overinflated and positive promotion given to every aspect of that second tier club, most often in a vomit-inducing, fawning style.
     
    (* = in liquidation, ie deceased)


  37. Carfins Finest 14th February 2016 at 8:54 pm # I notice a few posts on Twitter tonight stating that the recent £6.5m loan was secured against season tickets for 2016/17 season. Whilst this is only rumour at this stage I would speculate that if this is indeed true then the Club/Company are in far more perilous financial state than I believed. It makes sense to me as there were no available assets to secure this sort of loan against and nobody in their right mind hands over £6.5m without some sort of collateral.
    _______________________

    It makes a certain amount of sense, as the board have stated that the loan is unsecured, and as we saw with the Ticketus claim, they were unsecured under Scots Law! It still seems incredible that anyone would lend to RIFC/TRFC unsecured, so, as I say, this latest rumour does make a certain amount of sense.

    If it is true, I doubt King will be ‘jetting in’ all that often, if ever again! And that’s before we ask the question, how do they survive next season with reduced revenue from STs? Oh, and what chance a loan from the supporters organisations should they find this to be true?

    Maybe one of our award winning journalists will stroll along to Ibrox and ask the question 07


  38. nawlite 14th February 2016 at 9:08 pm #
    But, CF, isn’t that one of the things the fans (and the SFA and the SMSM) hate Craig Whyte for? How will they like it this time around?
    ==============
    Oh its alright this time round because its Real Ranjurs Men that have saddled their beloved club with this debt. If true obviously.


  39. I’ve tried for the past hour or so to think up something interesting to post about football.  But I cant.  All that is in the front of my mind is that tragedy of Viola Beach, a young up and coming group.  Football & music are close to my heart.  RIP guys. 05


  40. Don’t worry Jimbo I’ve thought of an interesting football related post.

    What views do we have on the standard of football we are paying good money to watch these days? Even Celtic don’t play the open attacking football one would expect.

    My own view is that it is very poor fare and I’m not convinced Scottish football is on the right track to bring our youth through.


  41. KILLIE STATEMENT

    ________________________

    Date: Monday 15th February 2016

    Time: 10am – following player interview with Greg Kiltie at 9.45am

    Location: The Park Suite, Rugby Park Stadium 

     

    Kilmarnock Football Club is pleased to announce that, after careful consideration of a large number of excellent candidates, the Board of Directors has appointed the club’s new manager and will introduce him at 10am on Monday 15th February 2015, following the scheduled press conference for Tuesday evening’s Scottish Cup replay against Rangers at 9.45am. 

     

    Interim Manager Lee McCulloch will accompany the Club’s new Manager tomorrow and made the following comments on being told the identity of the successful applicant: 

    “I believe the Board has made a fantastic appointment having taken time to interview a number of strong candidates and I look forward to introducing him to the media tomorrow. With everyone pulling together, I’m confident that the new manager will lead the team to success. On a personal note, I have thoroughly enjoyed being Interim Manager and thank the Board, staff, players and fans for their support and encouragement. As Assistant Manager, I will now have an excellent opportunity to gain invaluable knowledge and experience.” 

     

    Lee McCulloch will be appointed as Assistant Manager, following his brief but highly successful spell as Interim Manager. Lee is a UEFA Pro Licence holder – the highest level of coaching qualification. Peter Leven will continue as First Team Coach. Peter is currently undertaking the UEFA “A” Licence course. 

     

    The Club will welcome the attendance of all press / media to meet our new Manager in a press conference that will last approximately 30 minutes. There will be an opportunity for questions and photographs afterwards, but there will be no individual newspaper interviews granted on this occasion. TV interviews may take place afterwards and each interview should be set up pitch side and last no longer than 5 minutes. Please make contact  with Priti/Gregg/ Christine  should to wish to arrange an interview. 

    We look forward to seeing you all at Rugby Park on Monday morning.


  42. Bogs Dollox, I’ll reply to you tomorrow mate, feeling a bit under the weather. 04


  43. Quite a while back (well over 1 year ago, perhaps even 2) I asked Kevin McKenna if he would be willing to do a blog/podcast (I can’t remember which) for TSFM.
    I explained to him that I had no authority with TSFM and was merely a fan of the site & who thought he (McKenna) would be able to offer an interesting perspective from a SMSM point of view. He was receptive to the idea and I explained that I would contact TSFM with a view to putting both parties in touch thereby allowing some form of agreement to take place.
    The mod(s) at that time politely declined my offer, and if my memory serves me correctly, cited an imminent David Low blog/podcast as being more relevant.
    Sadly, it was, in my opinion an opportunity missed.

    Yerevan,
    Kevin McKenna had previously agreed (at his request IIRC) to do a blog for us but afterwards became difficult to contact. We inferred a change of mind from that. It was disappointing, but not an opportunity we passed on.


  44. Re these rumours (and I accept they are only rumours) about the latest Ibrox loans being secured against future season ticket sales. People who have made millions tend not to do it by throwing good money after bad. Giving Rangers money with no guarantees definitely comes into that category. If the media wanted to find out the terms under which this money was loaned I have no doubt at all they could. After Whyte put Rangers into Administration they had no problem finding out all sorts of things. Before Administration they couldn’t care,  because they were happy to go with the party line that everything was well funded by mega rich people who were doing it only for the love of Rangers. Sounds familiar doesn’t it!


  45. If one were given to sophistry one might see a large difference between unsecured and without security. A loan which is not secured against a heritable property could be said to be unsecured. That does not mean it is without security it might be secured against future income.  There is often a certain degree of lubriciousness in certain institutions. Don King and Dave King have the same initials and probably much more in common.


  46. Good to see Killie being efficient and cutting and pasting RFC’s recent manager change PR statement.

    All they had to do was go to the second last paragraph and remove the word “certain” from before “questions” and change the following “au” to a “pho”.

    Job done. 07


  47. And equally cynically, but regrettably more accurate at the same time; IF IF IF the twitter rumours were true then the much expected statement,

    OK, we’re now in the Premiership but we can’t compete against THEM so please give generously……

    actually means

    ….to give us the funds to pay back the debt that we blew (and blew again) to get us here…

    which will be quickly follow followed by

    …which means we’re skint and we can’t compete against THEM so please give generously….

    and repeat, until you’re nauseous.  Or skint. 


  48. The rumour that December’s £6.5m loan is really just an advance against 2016/17 season ticket sales is clearly just that- a rumour. The basis of it seems to be that only a lunatic would loan so much without security, no security has been taken against the properties, and so it follows that the loan must be secured against future ticket sales. The rumour is not based on any evidence.
    That doesn’t mean that it isn’t true, of course, and I certainly can’t fault the logic. I fully expected that Ashley’s securities would have appeared in other hands by now, but they haven’t. Of course any registered security over property would reveal the identity of the lender(s). Maybe the lender doesn’t want to be identified, maybe the lender isn’t happy with the legal status of the properties, or maybe the lender just considers the season ticket income to be a far more certain route to getting the loan repaid.
    All speculation, of course, which the SMSM could easily put to rest by simply asking for the identity of the lender(s) and the precise terms of the loan. What is their problem with that, exactly? Just ask the question, and let us know the answer, or if no answer, let us know that. So easy, and with any other club in any other country, the press would be jostling to be first to ask.


  49. On the rumoured Ticketus style deal with the most recent lenders to TRFC, regardless of the truth of the matter, I’d suggest to all members of the supporters organisations targeted as a source of funds by Kingco, that, in addition to security for any loans, they also insist on full details of any loans already made to the club with particular emphasis on how the loans are to be repaid. The members should all insist that the full details are made available to them all, and not just the organisations’ leaders. If these loans are to be funded by ST sales, or if any other form of security has been given, then the supporters should run a mile and take their money with them.

    They should take this as an oportunity, at the very least, to take ownership, by way of a floating charge, of any heritable assets the club still has into the only safe hands the club would appear to have – their own! After first, of course, getting rid of the blazer hunters at the head of the organisations at the moment.

    Regardless of supporters loans, unless the board give those details of how these new loans are structured, now might be a good time to organise another season ticket boycott, before they discover, that, in a rather perverse way, the proceeds from the STs they gleefully buy as this season draws to a close, have already been used to repay Big Mike.


  50. Allyjambo
    “if it is found that the IPO was fraudulent”
     – – – – – – – – –
    The following is a statement copied directly from the RIFC Prospectus (Section 2.1)
    In June 2012, a consortium of the Company’s current owners acquired the trade and assets of RFC 2012 plc,  which was subsequently awarded a licence to play in SPL Division 3.
    Was RFC2012, in liquidation, ever awarded such a licence?
    I believe it was Sevco Scotland Limited that was placed in Division 3.


  51. Allyjambo 15th February 2016 at 1:18 pm

    When King arrived there was much talk about openness and transparency given all the previous behind closed door deals with the likes of Ashley and the mysterious Blue Pitch and Margherita Holdings etc.
    (Funny how the SMSM were always keen to try and ‘out’ those deals and the people hiding in the shadows)

    Of course since coming on board DCK has managed to drop the listing that would require the headline financial matters, such as loans and their arrangements being reported to the market via the RNS in the way we all knew about the Laxey and Letham facilities. Therefore there is no openness or transparency.

    Whether the recent £6.5m has come from the RRM pockets, Hong Kong or elsewhere and what it is been secured against matters not a jot. The business is still a basket case and the model they are running is neither one thing or the other i.e they are not going all out the challenge domestically and in Europe or looking at major scaling back of operations to achieve sustainability.

    In such circumstances no one should be surprised when rumours and gossip come flying around. So as AJ says the folks in charge of the fan’s piggy banks need to be very careful and seek more than just assurances from DCK and the likes of his pal Gough when they start their raid on the available funds. Otherwise they will be screwed once again.


  52. Neepheid,

    We aren’t actually banned from fielding these players per se, it’s down to the infamous discretion of the authorities whether we can or not. We’ve already played a couple of them, but given that we’re mince at the moment anyway, reversing the results wouldn’t really make much difference to us!
    The fact is, we’re not far along the road from paying off the debts that we accrued under our own mini, Rangers-esque,bet-it-all-on-the-promised-land episode.  With that in mind, and the amount of good will that we had to rely on as part of that recovery, it takes the p!ss for this to have happened.  Not happy at all.


  53. And wee Barry a RRM as well… If you owed the taxman 3,000 the SFA has a problem if you owe 70 plus million the SFA has no problem this is as expected but that  does not excuse it.


  54. Thanks PaddyM for the link to the OF documentary, a fascinating watch, warts and all. Big Jock predicting an Armageddon of sorts,’a backwater’ for Scottish fitba should either/ both leave.
    WWaddell’s assertion that Celtic and Rangers are big because they think big, really didn’t end well for both. Rangers demise we are aware of, but the advent of champions league, and and introduction of coefficients really has hamstrung Celtic as well as champions from the smaller leagues around Europe. Football doesn’t do itself any favours, fairer distribution of cash, but it aint gonna happen. The big leagues in Europe wont allow it, and the OF didn’t allow it. I remember watching all the Scottish teams in Europe, Celtic/ Rangers,  70s, United/ Aberdeen in the 80s. Hearts had decent runs in 1977 and in 1989. I cheered on all our representatives. It was more exciting then, home and away, away goals, winner progressed to a non seeded draw. Now seeded leagues, with less excitement, how do they manage to sell this crap. who buys into this it is an incredibly bad product IMO. I  don’t need it, its a sham. As much as the great lie its a sham. 
    but this sham has a sinister 07 consequence, Hibs Hearts not televised live, a true on the night winner takes all,  not a product, but a game id pay to watch, but it cant be sold because UEFA say so? complete and utter nonsense0611 


  55. Willie Collum.  One of the best ref’s in Scotland ?  If that is the case then the rest should just give up as he is a joke.  Can anyone else remember when Scottish refs went on strike.  Can we bring that back please as that was the last time there was any decent refereeing in Scotland.


  56. berrty 15th February 2016 at 9:34 pm #
    ——————–
    I’m guessing a Dons fan has already updated Willie’s Wiki entry.

    http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160215/40eb90b1d9b0dc371a0ba0a6bb02c364.jpg

    Richard Gordon immediately after the game “That’s all from the Willie Collum show for tonight, but there will be another programme on soon” (or words to that effect).
    ——————–
    Jim Spence ‏@JimSpenceSport · 37m37 minutes ago
    Willie Collum certainly unites the nation ?


  57. I am told honest mistakes even themselves out over the course of the season so everything will be fine.


  58. If we do not want to perpetuate the same club myth then we have to tell the truth in match programmes and pre-match press conferences.
    The visiting club calling themself Rangers has won DIV 3 and DIV 2. 
    Should they gain promotion to the Premiership using borrowed money then the record has to be amended to also show a win of the Championship or a playoff victory. 
    They should be described as plucky newcomers. First time in the Premiership. 
    Or we acquiesce with the MSM in the perpetuation of a myth! They will use the term OF and refer to the glories of the liquidated club. We have to correct them and simply state the facts. We have to do this over and over. We cannot let it pass. Or will we…..


  59. Homunculus 15th February 2016 at 10:28 pm #I am told honest mistakes even themselves out over the course of the season so everything will be fine.
    =====================

    I think they evened out tonight dodgy pen last time dodgy pen this time karma.


  60. Re the Clyde story regarding late tax payments. Clyde would be within their rights to call a media conference to express their disgust why the SFA sat on their hands for months in late 2011/early 2012 in the knowledge Rangers were not paying tax. 


  61. berrty  15th February 2016 at 9:34 pm #Willie Collum.  One of the best ref’s in Scotland ?  If that is the case then the rest should just give up as he is a joke.  Can anyone else remember when Scottish refs went on strike.  Can we bring that back please as that was the last time there was any decent refereeing in Scotland.
    Homunculus  15th February 2016 at 10:28 pm #I am told honest mistakes even themselves out over the course of the season so everything will be fine.
    ——————————————————————————————————————-

    Willie Collum. I watched the game last night aghast. First off Aberdeen were pants, ICT deserved their win. Willie Collum though…. I am horrified at the thought that this guy is representing this country at the upcoming Euros. The guy is a joke, literally, even Radio Scotland were guffawing about how bad he is. 

    Result aside, he totally lost control of that match to the extent that rugby tackles were being made, one got a deserved booking (although given the perpetrator had just been fouled himself and I could sense his frustration from 100 miles away), the second was just waved away. Two players go in with high feet, no contact made -penalty! Two players go in with high feet, one kicks the other – play on! The list of incredible decisions, or lack of decisions was staggering. 

    It could have blown up, tackles were ramping up, players were unable to get the ball down and play because generally they ended up on their arse within 10 seconds, we were one nasty incident away from complete bedlam. Thankfully, and only due to the players themselves they managed to keep a lid on it (although given the apathy demonstrated by one or two of the Aberdeen players it was hard to tell if they were restraining themselves or just trying to see out the game without getting their shirts dirty).

    ICT played the conditions, not the pitch this time but the referee, and fully deserved it.  To many in black and white decided to sulk rather than get stuck in. Hey ho…. on to the nxt “must win” match.

    P.S. Chris Sutton is an awful commentator. Can someone please inform him that the slagging of a childs hat on national TV is not a clever thing to do. I’m sure the parents had a hard enough job getting the lad to wear it in the first place apart from the potential abuse he will now get from school chums if spotted. 


  62. Collum is a disgrace. The only surprise is he never showed a red card, I’m sure his wee ego was just dying to do just that.
     I’ve always been suspicious of him since he gave the old RFC a penalty at Celtic park when he was looking in
    the other direction! I’m even more suspicious of the incompetents who continually promote him as a top drawer ref!

     By the way, the result suited me as a Tim, but if we need dodginess to win titles, I’d rather pass. I think we
    will get our own share of Collumisms this season though. Jim Spence is correct – Mr Collum unites the whole nation!

      What goes on in that wee heid of his is deeply mysterious!


  63. tayred 16th February 2016 at 8:45 am
    ——————————————- 
    Willie Collum’s name is splashed all over the back pages this morning for his utterly appalling performance in last night’s ICT v Aberdeen clash.  Even the mild, measured Richard Gordon had an out-of-character rant at him on BBC Sportsound.
     
    (Now for an opporchancity of some whataboutery.) In the latter days of RFC, Collum was the man in the middle at an Old Firm game at Celtic Park.  He awarded the visitors a penalty despite having his back to the action in question.  The Celtic team and fans thought this was an absolute diabolical and unjust decision.  The only comment appearing in the rags next day was of the usual Celtic paranoia.  Contrast that with the current furore over the Inverness penalty award.  We are talking about the same sports hacks who saw both incidents and how they/their editors have chosen to report/ignore the two events.  However, as Homunculus reminds us, the “honest mistakes” even themselves out over the course of each season.  Now I can rest contented!


  64. tamjartmarquez 15th February 2016 at 8:56 pm
     
    Sadly I think it’s inevitable the CL will be revamped in order to benefit the usual suspects from the big 5 leagues. These clubs are already the biggest and wealthiest yet they still want more money. All of it, preferably.
     
    I think this is in response to the massive new TV deal in England, £8b once overseas rights are included, and the other clubs in Europe are trying to find ways of competing with this. Some Dutch and Portuguese clubs, maybe Celtic, might get tossed a bone but every other team not part of this cabal will not be invited.
     
    What will definitely speed up the process is if England loses a CL spot, which is possible if the Italian clubs perform well in the near future.
     
    Agents get richer, advertisers get more exposure, clubs make more money and players get wealthier. The fans? We get to pay extortionate ticket prices, never mind the cost of refreshments, programmes, travel or strips. If we don’t want to do any of that we’re then pushed in the direction of subscription TV and the whole thing starts again.    


  65. easyJambo 15th February 2016 at 10:17 pm
    ‘…Richard Gordon immediately after the game “That’s all from the Willie Collum show for tonight, but there will be another programme on soon” (or words to that effect).’
    ______
    Yes. But what was his other remark about the Tannoy announcer saying something like ‘Andy Cameron is to be asked to referee the next Celtic v? match?’
    I hope I misheard: I wouldn’t want another match announcer being sacked. And the esteemed Richard might need to rein back on the facetious remarks, and stay balanced and objective.


  66. Atlantic League time again, folks! (or Radar has some space to fill in the Record)

    THE Dutchman who tried to launch the Atlantic League 16 years ago has revealed secret talks are at an advanced stage to bring the proposal back to life.
    Former PSV Eindhoven chairman Harry van Raaij – the mastermind behind the aborted plan to set up a cross border league including Celtic and Rangers – has confirmed a consortium of businessmen based in England have approached him as they bid to resurrect the idea which was booted into touch by UEFA in the summer of 2000.
    Sources in Holland claim these closed door discussions have been on going for months and that they are being financially backed by potential sponsors and even a broadcast partner.
    The entire project is based upon the blue print which Van Raaij drew up all those years ago along with former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray – a radical cross border shake-up which was backed at the time by Celtic and Anderlecht.
    Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/atlantic-league-back-table-dutch-7377289#gKDq88ez5pJ8AysP.99


  67. Ah, the Atlantic League. I’m not surprised this could be back on the agenda. If it ever was. I’m uncomfortable with the idea of clubs leaving their domestic leagues to form a European ‘super’ league and have a sinking feeling something is about to be broken beyond repair in the pursuit of imagined millions. 


  68. tayred 16th February 2016 at 8:45 am #
     P.S. Chris Sutton is an awful commentator.
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Comment of the month  

Comments are closed.