LNS is currently back in the headlines. It might therefore be a good time to try to set out a timeline describing correspondence we had with the representatives of the authorities over discrepancies and anomalies that appeared to have arisen. None of this is necessarily predicated upon the recent findings of the CoS in the Big Tax Case, but stands on its own.
Back in February 2014 The Scottish Football Monitor wrote to Harper MacLeod, the law firm that the SPL had engaged to gather evidence for the Lord Nimmo Smith (LNS) Commission investigating the full and proper registration of players paid by Rangers Football Club under Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) arrangements.
The initial set-up of the LNS Commission on 5th March 2012 by the SPL (View File) charged LNS with a look at EBTs from 1st July 1998 (when the SPL came into being).
In practice though, the Commission only looked at EBTs from 23 November 2000 onwards.
This change of date was based on the earliest side letter supplied by Duff and Phelps, although Harper MacLeod had requested ALL documentation from 1998 to March 2012 relating to ALL EBTs.
This prompted a series of letters to Harper MacLeod from The Scottish Football Monitor, although Harper MacLeod’s replies failed to address the issues raised.
The passage of time blurs memories but this archive is designed to remind readers of those blogs and correspondence, and the key points contained in them.
It also highlights the apparent inability or unwillingness on the part of the SPL and SFA to engage with us in any meaningful way.
NB: The SFA were informed of our correspondence by Harper MacLeod in October 2014.
It is extremely difficult to be concise in this situation. There are various strands of argument and details seemingly small, but vitally important – however the following is an attempt to make the material accessible and provides links to the relevant files in chronological order (links are in green).
- Item 1: The first SFM letter of 19th February 2014 to Harper MacLeod
- Item 2: The Annexes containing the documents apparently not supplied to Harper Macleod in the spring of 2012 along with other pertinent information about the testimony given to LNS during the Commission.
- Item 3: The SFM response of 29 March 2014 to Harper MacLeod’s reply to the first letter.
- Item 3.1: An SFM analysis of Harper MacLeod’s initial reply attached to response at 3.
- Item 4: An SFM blog of 5th September pointing out how the documents not supplied had a direct impact on the advice given to the SPL Board to accept The Decision of The LNS Commission.
- Item 5: The last letter of 4th October 2014 to Harper MacLeod answering points raised by them (see next) and thanking them for passing our correspondence to the SFA Compliance Officer who has so far deigned not to reply.
- Item 5.1: Harper MacLeod’s actual response to SFM 5th September letter.
- Item 6: An SFM Blog (Inc. a transcript of an interview between Alex Thomson and Stewart Regan).
- Item 6.1: Truncated version of above blog.
- Item 7: A clearer extract of key document from Item 2 Annexes
Having no locus to demand answers from the SPL or the SFA, all we can do is provide information – information that we believe presents a prima facie case that LNS was deeply flawed even before the latest developments in the Tax Case came to light. The challenge for us is this: what can we do about it?
It is clear from the meagre response we have received that the authorities are unwilling to engage with us, so it is fair to assume that further correspondence will be met with the same lack of response.
Are we merely a bunch of obsessed nut-jobs with our own take on the Flat Earth conspiracy? If that is the case, surely a few words of explanation to dispel our doubts would have had traction with the rest of the football public. Indeed the lack of any reply undoubtedly serves as confirmation of our belief that something may be seriously wrong.
The questions have been posed. The SFA appears to think that not answering them is a wise course of action. Given that anecdotal evidence presents a compelling case that the general football public are widely in agreement with us, are there any journalists out there who will take the time to look at what we have observed and what we seek clarification on?
There are undoubtedly inferences to be drawn from the evidence we have, and from the silence of the authorities.
The statement by Celtic on Friday 13th November is certainly a start in the process we wish to begin, but it only mentions the elephant in the room. It gives no clue about how it could be transported to another place.
In the first instance we at SFM seek only explanations, and despite the inferences mentioned earlier, we are still eager to be satisfied that rules were followed and justice done.
Is there really nobody in the MSM who has the courage to seek the answers we seek? I suspect not. What we do in the absence of that courage is important. We are at a crossroads. Either we give up on the game altogether and spend our Saturdays and Sundays doing other things – or we find a way to get these questions out of blog pages and into the mainstream.
We need an alliance of fans of all clubs to do that, and we will be looking to build that alliance. I would urge fans of all clubs to give this material to fan sites of their own clubs.
These are not just words. There can be no movement on this issue unless our reach is extended. SFM alone does not have the clout required to bring the clubs to the table or the MSM to fair and balanced reporting. We need that alliance of fans desperately. We don’t seek leadership of that alliance – but we are happy to provide it if required.
This is not a campaign to have Rangers punished. I understand that Rangers fans (since their club is in the middle of this mess) are reluctant to see us as anything other than a bunch of Rangers haters.
That is unequivocally not the case from the perspective of the moderators of this blog. SFM is committed to justice, and to the integrity of the sport we all love.
Justice is ON THE SIDE of Rangers and their fans – it does not conspire against them. A growing number of Rangers fans are coming round to our way of thinking and our tone must reflect that. This is not a Celtic or Hearts or Aberdeen or anybody else v Rangers issue. This is a fans v corrupt authorities issue.
We all deserve answers, and hopefully our alliance will compel each individual club to act in the interests of the fans .
I couldn’t believe the arrogance of the SFA argument that the court had no ‘jurisdiction’ or ‘justification’ to review the case. It’s like they think they are above the law! Lady Wolffe obviously thought otherwise. Bravo.
Then I thought you know what the law is like, full of legal terms which on the face of it to a lay person might mean one thing but in a court could mean something different. So maybe they weren’t being aloof.
But the confirmation came when they said (I paraphrase) we don’t need to explain our decisions to the likes of Mike Ashley. 9% shareholding in one of our biggest clubs? How very dare he!
What chance has an ordinary fan got dealing with this lot?
An aside on the relevance of the media, especially the print media.
I used to have the Daily Record as a client. At that time their circulation was around 750,000. It was not the dawn of time, it was back around 2000/2001.
The top 6 selling daily newspapers in Scotland combined now have an audited circulation of 750,977. I know we are all exercised by their bias and incompetence, but really they are all just circling the drain.
All of the mug and calendar orders have now been shipped and should be with you by the end of the week. If next Monday comes and goes without your SFM trinket, please let us know asap.
As I said, I am a bit unhappy about the calendars. if anyone has any issues with them, please let us know.
The mugs on the other hand are brilliant. If we could afford it, we’d send one to every Scottish Sports Editor.
You never know, some of them might actually BUY one?
On the day after they pay to get into a football match 🙂
There was a guy at the Perth Gathering who was involved in insolvency law. I don’t want to use his name for the sake of his privacy, but I can’t remember who brought him along.
Whoever it was, can you PM me please?
Cygnus X2 25th November 2015 at 10:50 am;
Cyg,
I agree with your assessment. It also affords opportunity to the likes of us which we can’t afford to squander. We (social media in general) have to be able to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the print media.
Part of that demise is due, in my opinion, to the mistaken belief on the part of the MSM that anyone who complains about content or editorial policy is in some way delusional or half-witted or elitist or agenda-laden.
That may be true some of time, but certainly not all of the time. We can’t fail in that manner when we are taken to task. We need to treat criticism as being delivered in good faith and respond accordingly.
There may be an argument that social media can work as a complement to MSM, and not as its replacement or successor, but in either event, we have to guard against viewing the rise of social media as a widening of democracy by default. It is not.
It certainly increases plurality, but in order for it to be an effective tool for strengthening democracy, a degree of responsibility has to be applied – quite a considerable degree actually – and there is evidence to suggest that not everyone takes on the responsibility that comes with the luxury of easier access to the public.
I think the real problem inherent in the demise of the printed word is that resources erstwhile employed in investigative journalism will disappear, and with it, the fine traditions of investigative journalism we have seen in the past.
Social media outlets do not have those resources either. Perhaps we will become crowd-resourced (pretty much as SFM is) with readers, authors and contributors lending their expertise.
The future is certainly interesting for everyone, but bleak for the print guys – and for me personally, that is a shame.
Make of it what you will (via The Clumpany’s twitter feed). Seems pretty comprehensive thus adding to the possibility of it being authentic.
Sir Walter of Cardigan gets his first mention of being on an EBT list for season 02/03.
Left Everton on March 02 so if he did have an EBT for circa £69k was he perhaps acting in a consultant type role between jobs??
http://trichotomoustriptychities.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/take-ebt-money-and-run.html
The latest John James blog is interesting- it claims to quote from an STV article which was taken down shortly after it appeared last night, presumably on legal advice.
https://johnjamessite.wordpress.com/2015/11/25/kings-greenmail/
I won’t quote the article in case it leads to legal problems, but the gist of it is that King borrowed all the money to buy “his” shares, and make the £1.5m loan.
Hardly earth shattering, since there has been speculation on that front from day one, although if STV know who the lender is, that really would be interesting.
Anyway, more indications that so far as any further “investment” is concerned, King will not be the source, as if we hadn’t guessed that much already..
In fact, John James’ theory is that King was never interested in the long haul, but hoped to pick up his shares cheap, and then approach Ashley with an offer to sell to Ashley at an inflated price, so that Ashley gets rid of King and all his nuisance value, and King turns a fast million or two..That ties in with a PMG piece earlier this year claiming that King had approached Ashley on that basis, and had been shown where the Shirebrook exit facility was located.
That kind of makes sense to me. In my opinion, King is about as much a “Real Rangers Man” as I am. I think the SMSM will shortly turn on King- the first signs of an imminent U-turn are starting to appear. Just as well our Sports “journalists come pre-fitted with a brass neck, isn’t it?
Sons of Struth appear to have had time to digest and comment on yesterdays Audit Scotland report re Lennoxtown but still have made no comment on T’Rangers Accounts.
Funny that!
Big Pink 25th November 2015 at 11:25 am
I think the reason that sections of the MSM can be dismissive of social media is because they’ve been unable to control it or successfully monetize it. Yet. The other day I posted about the influence of social media but it’s worth remembering that it can used by people who are just as agenda driven, reactionary and untruthful as the worst of the MSM.
I agree with your notion that it does not widen democracy by defaut. On occasion we’re better served by social rather that traditonal media but the power and influence still reside with them. We may be better informed but still lack access to that power and any meaningful change remains difficult.
I’m loving some of the tortuous semantics they are drawing out of the Lennoxtown report given their somewhat lax approach to detail in other matters.
Just on JJ’s review of King, you would have to be amazed if anyone of note was stupid enough to use him as a proxy given his issues with reliability and consistency. I would guess the bigger issue would be the possibly damaging concert party angle.
And finally for the cardigan one, although I’ll add his smiley lackey too, did anyone really buy that whilst all around them weren’t paying tax they accepted less salary and a requirement to keep here majesty furnished. Really?
If that JJ article is referring to discussions in court yesterday surely it would have been picked up by James Doleman or STV Grant?
The story on the JJ blog is second-hand from a commenter on one of the earlier blog entries. Large bucket of salt needed with that, I think. All will be revealed in the F&P judicial review anyway, you’d imagine.
Regarding the JR, my limited understanding of these matters is that the court will not have the power to overturn the decision itself, but will examine the process by which that decision was made. Given that, it seems to me that Ashley simply wants to see the various protagonists publicly humiliated.
Jungle Jim 25th November 2015 at 12:53 pm #
If that JJ article is referring to discussions in court yesterday surely it would have been picked up by James Doleman or STV Grant?
—————————————————————————————–
I was sure I read that in James’s report yesterday, and to paraphrase, something like “King caused Sevco to take out a third party loan”. ….I took it as referring to the T3B’s loan when arrangements were already in place for the 2nd drawdown from the £10m facility.
Maybe I am wrong as it doesn’t appear there now. Perhaps JJ is correct and there was legal issues so JD has removed it, but my interpretation differs from JJ’s
https://lefthooked.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/mike-ashley-v-the-scottish-football-association/
I see that list of Ebts is 11m less than the BBC estimated.
Is it perchance what the individual recipients are about to get billed?
jimbo 25th November 2015 at 10:43 am
“But the confirmation came when they said (I paraphrase) we don’t need to explain our decisions to the likes of Mike Ashley. 9% shareholding in one of our biggest clubs? How very dare he! ”
It turned out 9% was more than enough to merit a response. Some info from Barcbhoy
https://twitter.com/Barcabhoy1/status/669207099616825348
y4rmy 25th November 2015 at 1:10 pm # Regarding the JR, my limited understanding of these matters is that the court will not have the power to overturn the decision itself, but will examine the process by which that decision was made. Given that, it seems to me that Ashley simply wants to see the various protagonists publicly
==================
Your understanding is 100% correct. Having been on the wrong end of Judicial Review during my time in public service, I can confirm that the court looks only at the decision making process, not at the actual decision itself.
Should Ashley win the case, the SFA will be ordered by the court to go through the whole Fit and Proper process from scratch, but taking account of the deficiencies which the court identified in the original process.
My own view is that the SFA are vulnerable because they shifted the process away from the Professional Game Board to the SFA Board itself. Now, the SFA rules may say they have the power to do that, but the court will want to know why they did it, who made the decision, what factors were involved, are there any precedents for such action, etc, etc.
Given that some members of the Professional Game Board are rumoured to be unhappy about being excluded from the decision on King, an able Barrister has a rather large target to aim at. And I’m sure that Asley will be employing an able barrister.
This is all now personal, in my opinion. King has rattled Ashley’s cage, completely unnecessarily, and for reasons that escape me. Ashley now wants to humiliate King. If King has something on Ashley, then fine. However in truth, I think that Ashley has plenty on King, and intends to hang King and his dirty washing out on the line for all to see.
Rumours on Twitter today that King is at Hampden. If true, I wonder what they’re talking about? The price of white flags?
neepheid 25th November 2015 at 1:45 pm
Neeps, you will recall that the SFA stated they received documentation and legal advice, from both Scotland and South Africa before reaching their decision. I imagine that will have to be produced and tested…………I don’t imagine they ever thought they would possibly face having to produce such information in a court of law, but am sure the SFA would not mislead Joe Bloggs as to the existence of such documentation.
That’s very interesting corrupt official, chimes in nicely with what a poster suggested above about crowd funding. Get the Nimmo Smith commission reviewed. But’s a wee bit worrying what y4rmy mentions above that a JR cannot overturn a decision so no ‘setting aside’ of LNS
.
Regarding DCK’s Fit & Proper outcome by the SFA, I read earlier today that it is not a forgone conclusion that MA will win on this one. As usual the inevitable get out clause for SFA ‘rules’ (They are really only rough guidelines to be honest).
…The Board must be satisfied that any such person is fit and proper to hold such position within Association football. The Board hereby reserves its discretion as to whether or not such a person is fit and proper, as aforesaid, after due consideration of all relevant facts which the Board has in its possession and knowledge, including the undernoted list which is acknowledged to be illustrative and not exhaustive:-
One thing is for sure the SFA are not going to come out of this smelling of roses. I can’t wait to see them humiliated.
To be fair, I’ve just had a look around the Sports section of the STV website and I can’t find an article on yesterday’s court proceedings. There is an article from a couple of weeks ago reporting that the petitions were going to take place:
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-championship/1332353-sfa-and-mike-ashley-in-court-fight-over-kings-rangers-appointment/
So:
jimbo 25th November 2015 at 2:10 pm #
That’s very interesting corrupt official, chimes in nicely with what a poster suggested above about crowd funding. Get the Nimmo Smith commission reviewed. But’s a wee bit worrying what y4rmy mentions above that a JR cannot overturn a decision so no ‘setting aside’ of LNS
———————————————————————————————-
Setting aside possibly, but over-ruled in the light of dos-honesty ? I don’t see a court of law condoning dis-honesty.
That is exactly the problem for the SFA. They have acted throughout on the basis that they are a private entity, immune from public scrutiny. Unfortunately for them, it is now clear that they have no such immunity, and that any of their past actions might be challenged in a public arena.
That is a very uncomfortable thought for those in the bunker. Their processes and rules, and all those “discretions” of which they are so fond, can potentially be challenged, maybe even by the poor suckers who actually pay their wages!
I mentioned the possibility of crowdfunding a Judicial Review of LNS. Of course the decision (guily, let’s not forget) would not be overturned by the court, but they would have a good look at the whole process, and that, in my opinion, would open up a whole can of worms for the SFA. However it would clearly be best to let the BTC decision become final before considering going down that road.
The main thing is that we now at least have some prospect of mounting a court challenge and obtaining a public airing of all these grubby back room shennanigans which have so shamed our game. I don’t think many of our “administrators” over the last 15/20 years could withstand such scrutiny.
Something that has puzzled me for 3 years now. Did it not used to be the case that it was strictly against UEFA rules for clubs and players to go to civil courts for matters related to football? I thought there was a process of appealing to Uefa and then possibly the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
I always remember thinking in 2012 when Duff & Duffer and then C Green (I think) went to the COS, that Rangers or Sevco would be in trouble for taking that path. Seems to be a weekly occurrence now.
jimbo 25th November 2015 at 2:40 pm #
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9297771/Rangers-transfer-embargo-ruled-unlawful.html
Rangers transfer embargo ruled unlawful
“Rangers have won their court battle against a Scottish Football Association transfer embargo after a judge ruled the disciplinary panel members acted outside of their powers.”
FIFA broke their silence on the matter after the verdict when they pointed out national associations should take “direct action” to prevent clubs using the law courts to determine disputes.
A statement from FIFA read:
“At the time of writing we have not received any communication from the Scottish FA.
“In such a case, FIFA will ask the member association to take action so that the club withdraws its request from the ordinary courts.
“FIFA will closely monitor the situation so that the issue is resolved as fast as possible.”
There used to be a saying to the effect that ” it takes one to know one”.
Today’s ‘Scotsman” carries a four column , 3-pictures spread about a visit by a gentleman associated with the cheating club owned and operated by SDM, and which is now slowly mouldering in Liquidation, as envoy to the country that gave our hack journalists the model of journalism they they practice-known as “Pravda”.
Yes, Mr John Brown is to attend a gala dinner to celebrate the victory of the Moscow Dynamo tour of 1945.
Only the past masters in the art of really sophisticated lying would accept that CG’s new creation can possibly claim to be celebrating the 70th anniversary rather than the 66th! Like reporting the 8 millionth locomotive produced in a year by People’s Factory No. 1!
And the man sent ‘ to lie abroad ‘ for Russia, Consul-General Pritsepov, will make a special presentation to ‘Rangers’ahead of Saturday’s Petrofac Cup semi v St Mirren.
Well, if there’s any country that might feel solidarity with cheats……..
woodstein, thanks for that. So the SFA did nothing and FIFA did nothing. Why does that not surprise me?
Actually after I posted I wondered if Europe had stepped in at some point to rule that it was against some convention or other that UEFA & FIFA were over stepping the mark barring clubs, players etc. going to court.
Ah Pravda, or “The Truth” and it’s counterpart Izvestia “The News”
I am reminded of the Russian saying В Правда нет Известиы, в Известияха нет Правды or “In the Truth there is no news, and in the News there is no truth”
neepheid 25th November 2015 at 1:45 pm #…Rumours on Twitter today that King is at Hampden. If true, I wonder what they’re talking about? The price of white flags?
======================
I suppose the SFA should really be speaking to King as a matter of urgency.
White flags, bending over, kissing Big Mike’s feet / bahookie, begging for mercy…
Any and all options must be considered: the court appearances / costs / transparency must be avoided… well for the SFA’s & King’s sake.
A wee trip down south to SD’s HQ – with a very long wait in Reception – by Regan & King together must also be on the cards ?
Just hope Ashley sticks to his guns and has his fun in court.
Evening Times
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14093325.SFA_chief_executive_Stewart_Regan_FINED_for_going_through_red_light_in_Glasgow/
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan FINED for going through red light in Glasgow
Friday 20 November 2015
“Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has been given three points and a fine for going through a red light.
The 51-year-old from Leeds, pled guilty to committing the offence on Aikenhead Road in Glasgow on November 7, 2013.
At Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace Court, Regan – who was represented by defence lawyer Billy Lavelle – was given three points on his licence and a £180 fine.
Regan is the current chief executive of the SFA after being appointment in July 2010″”
May it have been this news that caused the transgression ?
https://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/well-done-rangers-they-now-have-a-properly-qualified-chairman-acting/
Perhaps he heard it on the radio and blinked?
But (isn’t there always one?) how did it take 2 years ?
Whilst on the subject of journalism, anyone care to guess whose words these are:
The boy is back in town (note no “h” in “boy”)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34921891
Rangers chairman Dave King pays visit to SPFL
Rangers chairman Dave King has been at Hampden today for a private meeting with the SPFL. He insists it was brief and simply a “courtesy call”.
“It was just really a private meeting just for me to introduce myself to them,” he told BBC Scotland. “I hadn’t met them before. It was very much casual… It was just coming in and saying hi and talking to them.”
King refused to comment on other issues surrounding Rangers.
y4rmy 25th November 2015 at 2:13 pm #To be fair, I’ve just had a look around the Sports section of the STV website and I can’t find an article on yesterday’s court proceedings. There is an article from a couple of weeks ago reporting that the petitions were going to take place:
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-championship/1332353-sfa-and-mike-ashley-in-court-fight-over-kings-rangers-appointment/
So:
No article was written on yesterday’s outcome, or…An article was written, but not posted up or was pulled, or…There is an article and I can’t find it
……………………………….
First rule of the MSM Deflection Policy
When trying not to report something negative about TRFC
Swamp the page with something positive about CFC
Like
a 24 paragraph essay on the BBC website about a maybe Celtic v Dundee match maybe taking place maybe somewhere in the USA
zerotolerance1903 25th November 2015 at 3:37 pm #Whilst on the subject of journalism, anyone care to guess whose words these are:…
==================
Keef ?
zerotolerance1903 25th November 2015 at 3:37 pm #
Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf
easyJambo 25th November 2015 at 3:41 pm #
…[King] insists it was brief and simply a “courtesy call”.
“It was just really a private meeting just for me to introduce myself to them,” he told BBC Scotland. “I hadn’t met them before. It was very much casual… It was just coming in and saying hi and talking to them.”…
========================
Bloody hell, with all his previous experience… he’s mince at telling fibs !!!
Correct.
Unlike much of his writing this bit is tremendously well observed. His recommendations on how to manipulate that power is worthy of rereading and quite scary when you consider the state of our media in the modern day.
John Clark, Is it just possible that J. Brown is going over to Moscow in search of the deeds? If I remember correctly Andrei Kanchelskis received a nice wee EBT. Maybe a deal was done! Who knows! I can just see him coming off the plane waving the deeds above his head.
easyJambo 25th November 2015 at 3:41 pm # The boy is back in town (note no “h” in “boy”)
. Perhaps he flew economy class this time, which only counts as ‘flying in’ or ‘arriving’, after much online discussion, even amongst TRFC supporters, of his expenses that are met by the club.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34921891
Rangers chairman Dave King pays visit to SPFL Rangers chairman Dave King has been at Hampden today for a private meeting with the SPFL. He insists it was brief and simply a “courtesy call”.“It was just really a private meeting just for me to introduce myself to them,” he told BBC Scotland. “I hadn’t met them before. It was very much casual… It was just coming in and saying hi and talking to them.”King refused to comment on other issues surrounding Rangers.
_______________________
His popularity with the media must be waning, no mention of him ‘jetting in’
Certainly didn’t appear on that clip like a man who’d just had a friendly wee chat! Perhaps by ‘courtesy call’ he meant no one had been so discourteous as to tell him to ‘p**s off out of Scottish football ya ***king liar
‘
JC,
Is a “Bomber Heading for Moscow” headline cause for concern for the Russian air defences?
He who controls the lies sets the truth because if it is believed to be so it is so. Or I believe it so it must be true
There’s been much comment on what the SFA truncated their approval as F&P from their full board of 11 members to a the executive board comprising seven.There is also speculation that the vote in favour of DCK was 5-2.
Now that Ashley has succeeded via Lady Wollfe in having a judicial review of the process and decision taken I imagine there may be two men on the executive board breathing rather more freely than five of their colleagues. Two, indeed, who could arguably not be at all unhappy at this latest turn of events.
A couple of insipid questions about title stripping and MA’s legal challenges in that bit of Hampden ‘doorstepping’. Not ground-breaking, but a step in the right direction; or is it just an indication that the media are beginning to view King as ‘yesterday’s man’?
To be honest, I will be sorry to see him go (from TRFC). He’s been great entertainment and set them back a few years, his leaving might let Ashley back in, and that, I suspect, has always been their best result. That might well spell Armageddon for Scottish football, though.
So, the day after the combined legal forces of SFA and King failed abjectly to get Ashley’s application for Judicial Review kicked out, King just wanders into the Hampden bunker for a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit.
Well, that’s a bit of a coincidence, isn’t it now!
I’m sure that all present were in a light hearted frame of mind, nothing serious to discuss, just a wee social call.
I’m really beginning to have some hope that a bit of exposure to the harsh light of day will see this whole corrupt mess blown apart, with the protagonists named, shamed and booted out of Scottish fitba’ for ever.
And to think that just a couple of months ago, I had almost given up hope altogether.
Just a wee suggestion. Maybe it would be better if the 5* voting thing was situated at the bottom of the opening articles, I think it’s ‘hidden’ at the top and in a place before the article is read. I realise the mods are not too bothered about the whole TUs & TDs but I think they are a wee encouragement, especially to new and irregular posters. I think it’s a bit sad that Tri’s articles has only got 26 votes. It’s worth way more than that.
jimbo 25th November 2015 at 4:34 pm #
28 now
Star log Kingy, 25th Nov
Met the peculiar alien race “The Authorities.” Lovely folk albeit why they feel the need to bow every time I walked through a door was getting a bit embarrassing. Actually made their reverence look a bit suspect, a bit over the top in fact. Like they didn’t want to turn their backs on me or something. Terrible waitress too. Every time I ordered coffee that wee shilly Regan or whatever her name was brought tea. When I complained I’m sure she muttered something about track record. They do have a bizarre habit of always looking at me expectantly though, as if I’m supposed to just magic something up out of thin air all of the time. Very lumpy carpets too.
Oh well AGM next. Now where’s my book – AGM’s for Dummies by C Green. Ah yes, chapter 3, Fleecing fan groups and diddy shareholders….heh wait a minute,…what the…some bam’s gone and ripped oot chapter 3. Who had this oot last? a D Murray? For 30 years. And he’s left an invoice for the library fee anaw!
29
Good Men! (That’s the mods giving us the TDs
)
zerotolerance1903 25th November 2015 at 3:51 pm #
I know what you mean.
Mein Kampf also shows that he realised that it was not just writing, but also the spoken word which brought about changes, because people would not always persevere and read things that they disagreed with , but would stay longer to hear a speaker.
———————————————————————————–
I will read anything, and have done since I discovered libraries (thank you Mr Carnegie). Hence the reason I have only been to 6 football matches in 66 years.
A misspent yoof ?, certainly. Saturday afternoons in the reference library!
Now, thanks to Alan Turing and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, and retirement, I can spend my time with The Scottish Football Monitor and others, and no longer need to haunt local libraries.
Lengthy rebuttal statement issued by MASH Holdings, [it’s on the DR site].
I’m more interested in the emotional, rambling, nonsense retort from TRFC – statement due imminently…?
With the AGM on Friday, I wonder what sort of coverage/reporting we will get from smsm
valentinesclown 25th November 2015 at 5:36 pm # With the AGM on Friday, I wonder what sort of coverage/reporting we will get from smsm
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The usual sycophantic ‘bum up the positive, downplay the negative’, and don’t mention the lack of meaningful questions from the floor type of coverage/reporting.
That is, unless they really do see King as ‘yesterday’s man’! Even then, there will be no hard hitting critique of the board’s performance.
Interesting extract from the MASH statement-
Strangely, the Rangers statement omitted to mention that minor detail. Which is a bit remiss of them, given that their shareholders should be fully informed prior to voting on resolution 10.
StevieBC 25th November 2015 at 5:34 pm #
Lengthy rebuttal statement issued by MASH Holdings, [it’s on the DR site].
I’m more interested in the emotional, rambling, nonsense
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If anyone wants to read the rebuttal without accessing The DR it is here.
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/response-of-mash-holdings-limited-to-a-notice-to-shareholders-made-on-behalf-of-rangers-international-football-club-plc-the-company-on-monday-23rd-november-2015-at-1500-relating-to-the-annual-general-meeting-agm-of-the-c-553762691.html
PS neepheid 25th November 2015 at 5:57 pm #
Interesting extract from the MASH statement-
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Very
neepheid 25th November 2015 at 5:57 pm
So far from the earlier impression it was 2-1 to T’Rangers it was actually 1-2 to Ashley.
One has to wonder what info/pressure was available to sneak in the 21 days caveat!!
Maybe something to do with being owed £5m and the possibility of the allocation going to other (less deserving and Johnny come lately) lenders before Big Mike??
Re; King popping into Hampden for a cuppa today.
Was he simply hoping that Mr Doncaster might have been in residence, and free from other more pressing engagements? No, King’s meeting with the SPFL would have been arranged well in advance, as there was serious business to discuss. I have no doubt that Mr Regan would also have been alerted so that he could wander along the corridor and join them
King would have needed to have his meeting just ahead of the RIFC AGM. I wonder if it was agreed prior to the Court of Session decision and the subsequent furore afterwards i.e. the demand to revisit the LNS enquiry and yesterday’s proceedings in court. Perhaps in the light of recent fast-moving events the high-heid yins at Hampden could not give him the assurances he was probably seeking?
Re the MASH statement….
“WATP” are clearly playing with the big boys now.
An’ this particular ‘big boy’ is no’ gonna run awa’.
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
Billy Boyce
whoever and whatever was involved in the G&SL company today I am sure they would have made sure every utterance was witnessed and or recorded ,hell mend them if they didn’t ,come to think of it,he fooled them once.
I have to admit that I had to read the Mash Holdings rebuttal slowly and re-read it time and again. Took about 20 mins. But I get the gist of it. On the assumption that this was prepared by the Mash legal eagles, the clumpany are in for a hard time of it. The statements from Ibrox had that grandiose sound about them, even confident! But once Mash folk had a good close look at what they were saying, rebutted they were.
(Apologies to The Clumpany Blog).
I understand that the RIFC/TRFC surrebuttal to the MASH rebuttal is at the editorial stage.
Level Sinko want “WATP. GIRBUY.”, whereas the Board wishes “GIRBUY. WATP.”
A decision is expected by close of work Thursday to meet the deadlines for Friday’s blatts.
Cynical as always I would assume today’s little sojourn now allows him to answer standard Agm padding questions about everything from league reconstruction to oarange taps with “we are now in advanced discussions with the SPFL on these matters and hope to advise you shortly.”
Before I retire for the night I would just like to thank all you posters who have given my client Trisidium further votes on his article which now stands at a healthy 45. I am quite sure once the night shift come on we will pass the half century. Level 5 PFT!! who needs them.
neepheid 25th November 2015 at 12:20 pm #
Someone might have already addressed the STV thing, but I thought this might be worth mention, in an “avoidance of doubt” kinds way. Somebody grabbed the offending material before STV deleted it from their web site–I could be wrong, and indeed the material may have been misattributed; but it looked to me as though it was a comment posted on the site, not something that an STV hack might have written. I know they’re not exactly the paragons of journalistic virtue, and standards at professional web sites in general continue to fall, but this piece of writing was almost certainly from a “civilian.” I wish I could remember the specific information that were conveyed–and if I find them I’ll definitely post them–but at this point it’s pretty safe to say that they have entered the general discourse about Sevco, Ashley and the Scottish footballing authorities (sic).
Someone might have already addressed the STV thing, but I thought this might be worth mention, in an “avoidance of doubt” kinds way. Somebody copied the offending material before STV deleted it from their web site, and put it up on a Celtic forum earlier–I could be wrong, and indeed the material may have been misattributed; but it looked to me as though it was a comment posted on the site as opposed to something that an STV hack might have written. I know they’re not exactly the paragons of journalistic virtue, and standards at professional web sites in general continue to fall, but this piece of writing was almost certainly from a “civilian.” I wish I could remember the specific information that were conveyed–and if I find them I’ll definitely post them–but at this point it’s pretty safe to say that they have entered the general discourse about Sevco, Ashley and the Scottish footballing authorities (sic).
OT but just had to say that I received my mug today and I’m very impressed with it! Thank you guys for organising
Given Mr King tends to nuance his information, somewhat, I thought I’d interpret the above to clarify things for myself. Just my interpretation, of course.
Mr King has been at Hampden today for another formal meeting with various parties including the SPFL. The meeting was lengthy and heated.
y4rmy 24th November 2015 at 10:17 pm #Well I’m not sure the RIFC AGM can match the drama of this evening’s Norwich AGM where one shareholder asked the board why he was unable to purchase a sausage roll at the catering areas under the Jarrold Stand. (I am not making this up)
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I can vouch for that.
To be fair to the board, they did actually promise to look into the catering provision in that particular stand, as the sausage roll comment did lead to a more general discussion about length of queues etc.
Veering back on topic, if only the SFA would listen to their customers and act on their concerns.
jimbo 25th November 2015 at 7:15 pm
‘…..The statements from Ibrox had that grandiose sound about them, even confident! But once Mash folk had a good close look at what they were saying, rebutted they were.’
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Right from off, the people who set up the new club, the people in Scottish Football administration who accommodated them, and the string of Boards, chairmen, and directors who have successively ( NOT ‘successfully’!) ‘run’ the new club have been severely handicapped in their PR and public statements by two factors :
a) they have no plain, unvarnished Truth to tell that will speak for itself. Everything they say has to has somehow to be in defence of a wholly false position, since their very existence is predicated on a lie
and b) they have no one with any real skill with words.Their statements are very, very poorly constructed and written.
I was going to say there was a third factor-the poor quality of the legal advice they pay for. The Mash rebuttal is the product of a very experienced and seasoned legal mind allied to great , matter-of- fact language and verbal presentational skill.
But I suspect that RIFC’s legals , constantly fire-fighting, are being dragged down to the level of their clients, and are forced to bluster and froth, their big worry being how to NOT to say anything that might cause them to run into difficulties with the Courts of the Faculty of Advocates!
The wonder is that any respectable legal firm is prepared to accept the RIFC brief!
John Clark 25th November 2015 at 9:38 pm #<CUT> The wonder is that any respectable legal firm is prepared to accept the RIFC brief!
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One wonders whether there is an equivalent of the signing of the Official Secrets Act, whereby anyone acting on behalf of TRFC has to sign a Liquidation Survival Myth declaration.
Elsie Garcia 25th November 2015 at 8:43 pm
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‘..OT but just had to say that I received my mug today and I’m very impressed with it! ..’
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One of my mugs arrived yesterday.
Mrs C and I left home to travel to a funeral in, as native Edinburghers say, “the West”, very early this morning.
We got back home at about two o’clock.The little card that the PO parcels delivery folk leave when you’re not in was stuck in the letter-box. My second mug I assumed, and stuffed the card into my jacket pocket.
I more or less immediately drove over to the collection place, walked in waving the card, which the chap took from me and read and handed back to me, with a kind of amused, apologetic laugh. The delivery girl had written ‘ parcel in garden seat’.
I hadn’t even read the thing, because every other time that kind of card has come through the door, the parcel IS at the collection place!
Anyway, one mug will be making its way to Brisbane, and one to Pennsylvania, as wee Christmas stocking fillers for my boys!
To avoid being too far OT, I join you, Elsie Garcia, in thanking our company director and majority shareholder on the efficiency of his commercial ordering and distribution department!
[In connection , broadly, are we to expect an opportunity to become any kind of shareholders?
Verbal presentational skills? I hope the lack of keyboard skills evident in my earlier post ( and no Fat Yaks or any other alcoholic refreshment so far consumed, but possibly about to be!) does not go against me. Apologies for the missing or repetitive words!
JC
OT,same happened with R/Mail today,wife orders a lot on line etc throughout the year,all bar R/Mail wil leave in coloured bins/greenhouse etc,today an item was left with a neighbor ,I guess they don’t want any returns at this busy time of year at the sorting office.
Back on again.
The telly was rotten. Masterchef (The wee Scottish guy got chucked off) and then Dream Homes (I think) just got me jealous – I live in an ex council hoose.
So then I listened to my favourite BBC Radio Station – Radio 4 extra. Had heard it before.
Since I am on a winning flow regarding suggestions, Tris is now up to 65 votes
, my next suggestion is an all night live radio podcast hosted by John Clark, Auldheid a couple of Jambos and a phone in. (Is there such a thing as a live podcast?) I’m certain this would work but I’m not sure.
Club anthems would of course be allowed but not if they fall foul of our governing body. (Tris & BP).
If there is a dispute we will go to the Court of Session for a review.!!!
I think the ‘diddy’ club supporters should be given two votes at our agm as opposed to the top league supporters one. In the event of a dispute everyone meets in a junior club’s ground to sort it out. I suggest Bo’ness or Linlithgow.
Anyway It’s just an idea.
valentinesclown 24th November 2015 at 9:01 pm #On the AGM this Friday if the shareholders could have 1 question answered honestly what would/should it be?
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Given the surreal nature of all things Ibrox, I would guess it would be something along the lines of “How big will the transfer warchest be ahead of the Champions League campaign in 2017-18?”.
With regard to Dave King’s visit to Hampden today, what was the real reason?
I’m sure he has been brought up to speed with regard the strength of feeling of the other clubs after the COS verdict. They may have tried to re-assure Dave that they could still finesse the issue and make it go away. Or they may have told him that there could very well be more bad news piling up for ‘The Rangers’ and their desperate attempt to be the same club.
Who knows they may actually have shown him a copy of the five way agreement and pointed out the many clauses that ‘The Rangers’ are now in breach of.
They may have pointed out that the insistence of ‘being the same club’ has ultimately led to this pass.
They may have given him a warning that the £250K fine from LNS will be demanded shortly.
They may have asked who is covering his costs for the Judicial Review into his FPP.
They may have raised concerns over the shortfall in this year’s business plan.
They may have come absolutely clean and said “It’s NOT going to us that takes the fall here Dave!”
Then again perhaps Dave did have something to say to them.
Perhaps he said that he has copies of all Craig’s tapes!!
Perhaps he said he will take Ogilviel, Regan, and Doncaster down with him.
Perhaps he laid it on the line that he has been in on this from the start!!
Perhaps he laid it on the line to them, similar to Craig Whyte, that there is about to be an insolvency event and ask what the authorities can do for ‘The Rangers’?
No Dave was probably right; it was just a getting to know you session!!!!!
JC, I was amused by your delivery story and have to ask – are you actually Count Arthur Strong?
I also liked the phrase “more or less immediately”. Sounds like the timescale for Mr King’s over investment?
Its a quiet night.