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 .
John Clark, No offence but if I remember right you like myself are no spring chicken. so my suggestion is that you join the Open University, get a law degree, and then in 6 years time report back to us about all the arguments you shouted from the gallery and embarrassed the SFA lawyers. Without getting lifted of course. Polite bawling if you like.
PLEASE!
John Gilligan back working for Tennent Caledonian a few days a week,is he still claiming the full salary at TRIFC,we should be told
See in an other universe far far away, or at some time in the future here on my planet ‘Earth’ there will be a website with adverts that you can choose from.
A few weeks ago I requested the Celtic on line shop. It’s not possible. However after to speaking to my eejit sister she said the lady folk were coming up with a Secret Santa idea to save us all money. It fell through. (Don’t ask me why). So now I need the Celtic advert again.
In the meantime, I bought something through here from VYPE the Ecigs company and they are squeezing Celtic online out. Time is running out. On line life is difficult.
jimbo 13th December 2015 at 8:35 pm
‘… No offence but if I remember right you like myself are no spring chicken. so my suggestion is that you join the Open University, get a law degree, and then in 6 years time…’
_______
Ha,Ha! I should live so long!
Meant to add, you know one of my most favoured ads apparently? CUNARD. A day trip from Gourock to Dunoon would be more like!
The Cat NR1 13th December 2015 at 6:10 pm
Is Roger Mitchell now employed by Level 5?
————
You’d almost think so, but to be fair to him he was interviewed by Jonny McFarlane last week on The Fitba Hacks podcast. A wee bit longwinded at the start, but it became very interesting when Roger started his description of his time in Scottish football. He describes his first meeting with the press and their ‘huddle’. Quite a lot to say about good/bad journos, and especially about Jim Traynor. A few sparks fly there.
He ended with some eulogies to David Murray and Gavin Masterton, which I found a bit odd, considering everything that’s happened. Worth a listen though, for his observations on the press, if nothing else.
Danish Pastry 13th December 2015 at 9:17 pm #The Cat NR1 13th December 2015 at 6:10 pm Is Roger Mitchell now employed by Level 5? ———— You’d almost think so, but to be fair to him he was interviewed by Jonny McFarlane last week on The Fitba Hacks podcast. A wee bit longwinded at the start, but it became very interesting when Roger started his description of his time in Scottish football. He describes his first meeting with the press and their ‘huddle’. Quite a lot to say about good/bad journos, and especially about Jim Traynor. A few sparks fly there.
He ended with some eulogies to David Murray and Gavin Masterton, which I found a bit odd, considering everything that’s happened. Worth a listen though, for his observations on the press, if nothing else.
========================
Anyone that eulogises both Masterson and (S) DM should be treated with the utmost suspicion.
I commented last week (lost in moderation due to a link) about the major impasse between Football Federation Australia (FFA) and supporters (and indeed club management and players). This resulted from denigration by the Australian media where among other things the fans were referred to as “terrorists”. One paper published a leaked list of ~ 200 fans (how did they get that list?)who had been banned for life by FFA over the last several years – some legitimately but many with no evidence nor right of the individual to reply. One subsequently lost his job for an alleged swearing in a song at a match when he was 16 years old. Football (soccer) has long been kept well down the pecking order in Australian media vis a vis the other codes (Rugby League, Rugby and AFL)but it has come a long way thanks to a lot of hard work by the SBS channel and Australia’s success in the last few World Cups.
The fans of several major clubs (Sydney FC & Western Wanderers FC) protested strongly about the lack of support from the FFA to rebut the accusations of the media -first of all by a coordinated walk -out at a given time during matches in Round 8 then the following week by a boycott of their respective games. Without fans the game is nothing. The atmosphere in these grounds was non -existent and left everyone in no doubt where the sport and the careers of FFA management would end up. Things have moved on – As a result there have been meetings held between all concerned to apologise, admit things were being handled badly and resolve the problems. See attachment .
Fan power and the threat/possibility of loss of revenue can and does have an effect on the balance of power!
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/12/09/club-chairmen-hope-fruitful-ffa-talks
As a long time reader of the SFM and RTC but first time blogger I must congratulate all concerned for the wisdom, knowledge, fairness and tenacity over the last 4 years . The comparison with the SFA position and their dumbfounding of all concerned in the Ibrox businesses is in quite stark contrast to what has been achieved (hopefully) at FFA over the last month or so.
Been trying to make sense of the Ibrox related activities.
The court case is just baffling. SD demanding confidentiality yet leaking to Phil and possibly JJ themselves seems bizarre. As does the failure to put DCK on the stand. The judge himself seems somewhat mercurial. A la Mercutio himself plaguing both their houses.
I think the case is a Mike Ashley plaything to dangle DCK on a string and nothing more, as I suspect does the judge. Though given his comments on King, he may understand why Ashley is so annoyed with him.
For me the most significant events are now around the juxtaposition of King’s visit to Hampden, the loss of Resolution 10 at the Rangers AGM and the sudden urgency and volte face on the loan repayment.
My purely throretical logical take is this.
King knew that he had lost resolution 10, and thus knew that the debt for equity had gone. With it went the last prospect of saving SEVCO, making insolvency inevitable. With the impending insolvency, it became crucial to gain control of the assets from Ashley, hence the forcing of the three bears hands into coughing up the readies. He then had to gain the necessary reassurrances from Hamoden that any required fixes to maintain continuity and to guarantee a “return” to the top flight were still available, presumably as a condition required by the Three Bears to pay off the Ashley loan. 14 team league anyone?
This desperate gambit appears to be in the process of failing. Phil’s latest suggests that the nature of the loan, and its conditions are such that repayment will be both more costly than King thought, and will still not give King control of the IP which he will need to launch Rangers 3.
Of course this could all be total tosh, but it does seem to fit with what we kind of know from the vatrious pronouncements, leaks, agm’s and court cases.
I’ve been trying to find how to use the English ‘Rolls of Court’ to see if the King case is being continued today, as was once thought. I haven’t a clue and the sites relating to the Royal Courts of Justice are not as easy to follow as the Court of Session site.
Anyone around at this time of morning who knows?
iceman63 14th December 2015 at 6:23 am
Been trying to make sense of the Ibrox related activities.
____________________
The obvious answer is that there is no sense in the Ibrox related activities, but what we do know is:
Six months ago, at their EGM, the spin was they weren’t worried about the SD loan because money was available and they didn’t view it as a loan, so took a vote, and it was agreed not to repay it.
Then their report and accounts show they have no money, and need £2.5m from somewhere to see out the season.
Then at their AGM, more spin when they announce they have the money and are repaying the loan.
Then they somehow contrive to announce in court that they have repaid the loan (spin or mistake?).
Then they haven’t and are £0.5m short (perhaps spin in so far as they only need £0.5m).
Regardless of what has transpired between SD/Ashley and RIFC/TRFC to bring them to where they are, the only sense to make from the latest twists in the saga is that TRFC must repay the loan as soon as possible (for some pressing reason) and they don’t have the money, being at least half a million short, and they still have to find the £2.5m shortfall they had without trying to repay the loan.
So, at best, they need to find £3m very soon, having raised, at best, £4.5m from the most likely of sources, by the end of last week, thus, one must presume, draining their available ‘happy to lose’ funds.
JC
It’s listed before Peter Smith
Court 21
not before 10.30am
updated at 17.07 on Friday 11th
Citibhoy 14th December 2015 at 7:35 am
‘…JCIt’s listed before Peter Smith Court 21not before 10.30amupdated at 17.07 on Friday 11.
_______
Extremely grateful,citibhoy. Have you a link, so that I can learn how to access in future?
I was hoping you didn’t ask that John 🙂
ill have an attempt….
https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/court-lists/list-chancery-judges
citibhoy: I discovered I was looking in the wrong place, wrong Division!
I found this by chance a minute ago
http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/court-lists/list-chancery-judges
I’ve bookmarked the page.
Sorry, citibhoy-I hadn’t refreshed!! Thanks.
@Yourhavingalaugh
Haven’t the RIFC board stated non of them are taking a salary? Admittedly that’s probably from DCK and should be taken with as much salt as required. JJ/SoF certainly seems to believe DCK is making up for it in expenses (flights/accommodation) and legal bills. PMGB also hints that Murray(minor) is living the high life on exs.
David Low(@heavidor) regularly comments that the board lacks executive officers (CEO,CFO,….)
@Jimbo
Do a few internet searches for things you might find in the Celtic shop. Then visit the site itself without a purchase and then come to SFM. That should see one of the first ads served up being what you are after. Obviously supporters of other teams can do the same but exchange your club’s name in the above.
John Clark…..
citibhoy………
James Doleman was on Twitter yesterday saying that the case in today’s court rolls are there in error , there is no hearing today apparently .
Eddiegoldtop 14th December 2015 at 9:20 am #John Clark….. citibhoy………
James Doleman was on Twitter yesterday saying that the case in today’s court rolls are there in error , there is no hearing today apparently .
————————————————————————
So when do we get the formal/complete verdict from last week?
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
Red
Jan18th next hearing.
Thanks Ian.
Iceman63
I think you crystalise the present position quite well.
Either the loan was to be repaid because the SFA told them to with a view to avoiding the court actions in April (Interesting given the seriousness of the remedial action if that was the case since it clearly shows someone really REALLY doesn’t fancy taking the stand) OR it was an attempt to re-attain the IP prior to some form of event, insolvency, war-chest or otherwise.
Of the two I still fancy the latter although I don’t believe they were aware they’d lost Res10 at the AGM, I think they thought they’d scraped it hence the hubristic attitude of all concerned.
Interesting that JJ in his comments states (and to be clear I paraphrase but hopefully the meaning is retained) that Rangers* simply cannot countenance another season with inferior opposition. I like to think that isn’t a DR style cheap pathetic jibe at the diddies, it is instead a statement of fact (in his opinion anyway), that they are now genuinely struggling to finance a Bentley in a cart race. Fair play to him for stating the position so clearly, a fact that whilst not escaping the bampots seems to have been blocked by filters in the Ibrox wifi.
It is intriguing though that throughout the OC/NC debate amongst all the fog, Ashley cut straight through it all and knew exactly the bits he was after. They could be doing with that sort of experience, single mindedness and ability on the board you would have thought?
Not sure why but court rolls updated 10:14 today and SD v RIFC still listed.
Puzzled. James D yesterday saying its an error. Why then not deleted?
ianagain 14th December 2015 at 11:42 am # Not sure why but court rolls updated 10:14 today and SD v RIFC still listed. Puzzled. James D yesterday saying its an error. Why then not deleted?
_______________________________
Perhaps their ‘Wee Stevie from IT’ is too busy to update the court internet site
He’s maybe away scouting for John Greig to ask him to introduce the judges to the art of funny handshakes
A real howler in the Glasgow Evening Times today…… “Ireland and ex Celtic manager, MICHAEL O`Neil to tap Gordon Strachans know ho about Euro opponents ,Poland”.
This was accompanied with a photo of Martin O`Neil.
Not much wrong with that,except, wrong O`Neil, wrong country,wrong group!
Journalism ?
First time post so please be gentile.
I felt I had to reply to “Deldon 13th December 2015 at 6:21 pm”
My thoughts on this are from the purely financial. Ashley is owed £5,000,000 GBP, as we know this is secured on a range of assets, the long term value of these is much higher that the 5m I would suggest.
The return to SD is an extra 26% of the rangers retail profit or an extra 26% of £1,172,893 (from rangers retail accounts feb 14) I make that £304.952 extra profit to SD or a 6% return on his 5m.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I wish I could get a 6% return on my money particularly if its secured.
Add into the mix that from next season he also has exclusive ownership of the shirt sponsorship, which will make conservatively 1 to 1.5 million per annum in the top division.
So his return on his money would be up to 36%. I think this is why he hasn’t called in the loan , why would he??
On top of this if Phil is correct there are financial penalties on top of this.
Ashley doesn’t want his money back, he is just using it as a stick to beat King with. well thsta mu thoughs
back to lurking
“A real howler in the Glasgow Evening Times today…… “Ireland and ex Celtic manager, MICHAEL O`Neil to tap Gordon Strachans know ho about Euro opponents ,Poland”.This was accompanied with a photo of Martin O`Neil. Not much wrong with that,except, wrong O`Neil, wrong country,wrong group! Journalism ?”
That’s brilliant. There’s so much wrong there it’s incredible. Even the merest hint of research would have thrown up that perhaps the Ireland of former Celtic manager Martin O’Neil might already be familiar with Poland over the last year or so….
I see Supporters Direct Scotland are having a Supporters Summit at Hampden on the 10 Jan 2016,among the speakers will be the Minister for Sport in Scotland Jamie Hepburn,about the only “local”seemingly to speak that day,various other names such as Phil Sumbler,chair at Swansea City and a few others,no mention of anyone popping in from the bunker itself,interesting .
ianagain 14th December 2015 at 11:42 am
‘…Not sure why but court rolls updated 10:14 today and SD v RIFC still listed.’
_________
I’ve just phoned the clerk to Lord Justice Smith. In that bored, utterly indifferent London bureaucratic voice she said that the case was ‘finished’ on Friday. No business today. I expressed my very real annoyance at the administrative inefficiency of the Royal Courts of Justice, at leaving duff info on their calling lists.Just not good enough.And in that same bored indifferent bureaucratic tone and manner, she said that was nothing to do with her.
See these absolutely customer unfriendly Civil servants…….
presumably they’re referring to the Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, as they have been drawn with Poland.
of course, he never managed Celtic, but at least it’s fewer errors
I see the evening Times has now changed Michael to Martin, but haven’t corrected the other errors.
You couldn’t make it up. They’ve corrected it worse
The article only makes sense if they are actually referring to the NI boss MICHAEL O’Neill. What they needed to do was change the picture and remove the reference to him being the ex-Celtic boss.
I mean this is just gibberish!
Whit? Martin O’Neill will seek help from his RoI counterpart? Who is actually himself!
No, it was Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland have been drawn in that group
Does anyone actually proof this crap?
The headline should have been a simple ” Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill will………”,with no reference to Celtic or Martin O`Neil.
yourhavingalaugh 14th December 2015 at 1:11 pm
‘….a Supporters Summit at Hampden on the 10 Jan 2016,among the speakers will be the Minister for Sport in Scotland Jamie Hepburn,about the only “local”seemingly to speak that day’
________
I would like to think that supporters of football would have a question to ask the Minister for Sport along these lines:
“What are you going to do to restore integrity to the entire Sport?
You cannot, as Minister for Sport, be unaware that many, many supporters of the game believe that our Football Governance authorities acted dishonestly and completely without regard to their duty to uphold the principle of Sporting Integrity in, first, their dealings with the sports cheating of Sir David Murray’s Rangers FC, and then in their endorsement of the ridiculous claim by a new club, founded in 2012, to be the same identical club as Rangers FC-even though thqt cheating club is still in existence, albeit in the limbo of Liquidation.
Being thus aware, it is surely inconceivable that you, as Minister for ‘Sport’, could address a gathering of football supporters as if nothing at all had happened to call the very nature of our game as a clean sport seriously into question.
We have seen to what depths FIFA and UEFA have allegedly sunk.
We have marked reservations about the integrity of the game in our own wee country. If the Football Authorities are themselves capable of ‘rigging’ things to accommodate a new club , how can we at all sure that there are no other fixes in place to accommodate other parties?,
These reservations cannot be shrugged aside, least of all by the Minister for Sport, whose Government actually gives our taxpayers’ money to the SFA, however indirectly.
When are you going to call our Football Authorities to account? ”
BP, Tris, does SFM have any contact with/contacts within Supporters Direct so that we could have them put the types of question JC asks above to the Minister for Sport?
Nawlite
Tickets are available for this to all fans on a donation basis,ask any question you like,it would be good to ask if they invited any one in the bunker,oh err we are all busy that day ,in court maybe.
Third time lucky ! ET headline now reads “Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill”……!
I wonder if they follow SFM !
That ET headline about Martin/Michael ONeill is SO SO bad !! The fact that it took another 2 attempts to put it right is actually cringingly ( Is that even a word ?) embarrassing .” Pathetic” does nt even do them justice
14th December 2015 at 3:08 pm #BP, Tris, does SFM have any contact with/contacts within Supporters Direct so that we could have them put the types of question JC asks above to the Minister for Sport?
****
Bearing in mind how financially stricken Supporters Direct are and their pretty much complete reliance upon SFA-approved funding from the Scottish Government, they are as hopelessly conflicted and inept as anyone in this farce. I would not expect anything but mealy-mouthed words and platitudes. Their funding was only renewed in 2012 on basis they would keep quiet; I doubt that particular T&C has changed.
Not just us, then .
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35094494
PMG reports that DCK is now on a charm offensive with SPFL clubs.
Things really MUST be bad.
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
To be fair if a team walks off the pitch, justified or not, the result does have to be awarded 3-0 to the opposition, no?
Does anyone know when we can expect a decision re BDO’s ” leave to appeal” the CoS verdict on EBTs?
My gast is well and truly flabbered!
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/charming-and-not-in-the-least-offensive/
If accurate Regan must go.
This will be the same Dave King who said only on 12 November 2015 :
” It must be especially frustrating for the Club’s supporters who again find individuals within the structures of Scottish football unfairly targeting the Club.”
“Finally, it is extraordinary that representatives of other Scottish clubs – who admit the damage done to Scottish football by Rangers’ removal from the Premier League – should even wish to re-engage with this issue. It is time those individuals, who represent other clubs, recognise their legal and fiduciary responsibilities to their own clubs and shareholders rather than submit to the uninformed ramblings of a few outspoken fans to whom attacking Rangers is more important than the wellbeing of their own clubs.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, however, I wish to make one point clear. If the history of our Club comes under attack we will deal with it in the strongest manner possible and will hold to account those persons who have acted against their fiduciary responsibilities to their own clubs and to Scottish football.”
Charmingly offensive indeed.
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
I would have thought that it was “Potless” Paul Murray’s job to deputise for King in such matters, when the great man is in South Africa? Would “Stewart” perform this role for any other club?
My gob is completely smacked. Astonishing.
Or did I jump to a conclusion and he meant Stewart Robertson?
Zero Tolerance, I don’t think the issue is with the potential disciplinary proceedings resulting in a 3-0 loss; more to do with why the team walked off in the first place.
That Bulgarian team who walked off were sacrificing more than meets the eye. Had they won they would have moved second in the league only 2 points behind the leaders. Must have been very bad refereeing indeed.
Please Santa if I could just ask one thing. If I could please please please be a temp for a day, a morning, an hour even that I could be employed by a club and be tasked with typing a response to that blumin letter.
and it wouldn’t take me an hour, not even with my mono digit technique
As I read the DCK letter, Stewart refers to Stewart Robertson, the Rangers MD. DCK mentions a visit to the SPFL. Stewart Regan is SFA CEO.
It is interesting that DCK is engaging in this ‘charm offensive ‘.The question is why does he feel the need?
What can the SPFL clubs do for him? How does this fit in with a potentially impending insolvency event?
I understand that, but having walked off the sanction is correct.
Theres many a time I’d wished that the Dons had walked off against Rangers and Celtic, but you can’t ever really justify it or your game descends into anarchy.
Does King really mean Stewart as in Regan ??? in his charm offensive…………………my jaw hit the floor when I read that ! If that is true its time for the other clubs to FINALLY get together and tell him and his pantomime to piss off …oh and Regan to walk the plank too
Can someone please tell me what exactly Supporters Direct actually do? Maybe we could get a spokesperson on to do a podcast then we could find out.
zerotolerance1903 14th December 2015 at 7:41 pm #My gast is well and truly flabbered!
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/charming-and-not-in-the-least-offensive/
If accurate Regan must go.
=========================
I thought Regan was already being lined up against the wall following his involvement in the 5 Way Agreement and the candlelit dinner with the MBB?
Perhaps he will ask for other offences to be taken into consideration come the bampot revolution.
helpmaboab 14th December 2015 at 8:43 pm #Can someone please tell me what exactly Supporters Direct actually do? Maybe we could get a spokesperson on to do a podcast then we could find out.
================================
I’ll have first guess.
Are they an online ladies’ underwear retailer?
yourhavingalaugh 14th December 2015 at 1:11 pm #I see Supporters Direct Scotland are having a Supporters Summit at Hampden on the 10 Jan 2016,among the speakers will be the Minister for Sport in Scotland Jamie Hepburn,about the only “local”seemingly to speak that day,various other names such as Phil Sumbler,chair at Swansea City and a few others,no mention of anyone popping in from the bunker itself,interesting .
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Will Barry Hearn be making an appearance, so he can see first hand how the governing bodies have embraced his constructive criticism of their customer relations and brand marketing?
Not having the grammar n’that is “reparing” Phil’s error, Dave’s or actually an accurate reference to necessary reparations?
My My what a choice the glib and shameless one has put before the many respectable directors of SPL Clubs?
Come and join me in my crusade,come and let your family,friends and business aquaintances see you in my company or be outed when the demands of “who are these people?” are heard when they see the poor turnout for the wake?
December 2015 at 8:43 pm #Can someone please tell me what exactly Supporters Direct actually do? Maybe we could get a spokesperson on to do a podcast then we could find out.
0 0 Rate This
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Ostensibly they promote, encourage and facilitate fan ownership of football clubs. In Scotland, they also ran Scottish Fans which was set up with SFA-approved government funds to act as the official voice of Scottish football fans in discussions with SFA, SPL, government, etc. In 2012, they had 3,000 names signed up (against an annual target of 10,000) however ever-so-slightly controversially those 3,000 names included a lot of people who were registered as shareholders in fan trusts and who had never actually signed up to Scottish Fans, eg Celtic Trust members (Celtic Trust at the time was not a member of Supporters Direct). In 2012, it was led by Paul Goodwin who very publicly declined to condemn sectarian comments by you-know-who and who has since created a separate forum – Scottish Football Supporters Association – which claims to have over 45,000 members including me even though I have never signed up to it. The new director – Andrew Jenkins – is cut from the same cloth.
I had limited dealings with a couple Supporters Direct trustees back in the day (Corsica had extensive links through the Labour Party) and even they bemoaned the performance, governance, transparency and accountability of SD Scotland. One even resigned because of it and there was a bit of an organisational meltdown in 2011-12 which I won’t go into here (too long a story).
They (both organisations) would have to go a long, long way to rebuild any goodwill for me.
The Ungrateful Dead 14th December 2015 at 7:38 pm #Does anyone know when we can expect a decision re BDO’s ” leave to appeal” the CoS verdict on EBTs?
——————
I may be wrong, so someone please correct.
28 days to seek leave to appeal.then 28 days for reply
redlichtie 14th December 2015 at 7:36 pm #PMG reports that DCK is now on a charm offensive with SPFL clubs.
Things really MUST be bad.
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
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Trying to resist the temptation to just automatically react negatively to anything King says/writes…
I suppose in an ideal world, the leaders of organisations in any association should try to be on good terms, and should cultivate working relationships via regular interactions.
But, it’s just that when it’s King who is asking to take you to ‘lunch/dinner’ you can’t help thinking;
– is he offering to pay for said lunch/dinner ?
– what does he want ?
If King/TRFC does want something specific, then shirley Doncaster should be the conduit for contacting and speaking to SPFL clubs’ chairmen/CEO’s ?
And by mentioning the Hampden visit in his letter is he trying to be cute, implying that this ‘reaching out’ exercise has been sanctioned / encouraged by Doncaster ?
[Why did he even have to mention his ‘courtesy visit’ to Hampden for a cup of tea ?]
If you were an SPFL Chairman / CEO, would you spend some of your valuable and limited time with King ?
As a reasonable, law-abiding citizen, I am also careful about who I associate with – and someone with 42 [?] criminal convictions would most definitely not be in my social circle. Absolutely !
So, King has written.
But only to ‘the chairmen of several leading SPFL clubs’. Very selective in his desire to repair and improve relationships with Scottish Football!
If any of the ‘several’ do anything but throw his letter contemptuously into the nearest waste-bucket they will be compounding the view that many already have of their gutless readiness to let the ‘ cuckoo’ in the nest rule their minds, hearts and consciences.
It would be very useful if Phil could establish precisely which clubs have been so imperiously and insultingly written to, so that we know to particularly watch them as we watch him and the SFA, like a hawk.
It is likely that King has written to those whom he knows are inclined to be sympathetic. We would want these clubs ‘outed’ as possibly being particularly ready to sell their souls and abandon integrity.
King is , in my opinion, an arrant knave, suffering from something akin to detachment from reality married to a delusion of self-importance.
Our Chairmen and CEOs should not any further sully themselves by having any dealings with him whatsoever, and should be working to get his ‘fit and proper’ status cancelled.
For their own ultimate sakes as businessmen.
I seem to have duplicated a comment:I had to remove a couple of words from my first ‘moderation’version, and just asssumed it would still be there ‘awaiting modertion’. But one of the mods must be on the ball tonight!
No, correction: my first version is still in moderarion, It’s identical to the one that thqt is on screen, except for two historically referenced adjectival phrases.
A wee tip to the SMSM ‘journalists’. Get in touch with any, or all, of the non-TRFC chairs, or their fellow directors, that you have a rapport with (if you have any outside of Govan) and ask a simple question; ‘did you receive a letter from TRFC’s chairman, Dave King?’ Regardless of the answer there’s a story there, a story you should be revealing to every football supporter in Scotland, for they have a right to know how their club board views such a letter and how they intend to respond.
Of course, if every response is to say that they received no letter, you would be doing the TRFC supporters a favour in their campaign to silence PMGB. You’d also be doing Dave King and his board a favour, too.
Perhaps Mr King may wish to speak to some of the supporters of his new club before he speaks to the selected Chairmen of other clubs.
Never forgive and never forget is hardly a basis for repairing or improving on relationships.
What they think they have to “forgive” beats me but that’s a different discussion.
One can only assume Mr King sees the new club going up a certain creek and realises that he may need to borrow a paddle in the not too distant future. All speaking figuratively of course.
‘The struggling Championship club have not paid their players since October and could lose them all if they fail to pay them at the end of this month’
_
Doubly sadly, this relates to Bolton! (7 hours ago).
( I once got a lift with a colleague back to our cheap (‘subsistence rates’) hotel from a visit to a pub in Blackpool after a hard day’s training course graft, from an off-duty police superintendent friend of hers, who, at closing time, simply radioed for a police car to come and pick him (and us) up.He was a fanatical Bolton fan and a great guy altogether. I learned a lot about Bolton Wanderers as was, in the mid 1970s! Wee kindnesses like that can have a great influence)
The only issue binding the SFA and DCK together at the minute is the upcoming FPP court case
So
IMO
The King invitation to “leading SPFL Club Chairmen” is easily translated
He considers Celtic to be the only SPFL Club that matters to TRFC
Hence
This meeting/lunch/dinner/invitation is an attempt to enlist the SFA and other Clubs to persuade Celtic to deal with TRFC
In order to
Enable the SFA to claim in court that as far as CFC is concerned, the SFA fit and proper approval of DCK is endorsed by Celtic
Despite the CFC Chairman not supporting the FPP vote when a meeting of the 8 member SFA Board bypassed the 11 member Professional Board and approved King as a FPP
……….
Fortunately
The self-same court case provides Celtic with an excuse to delay responding to this invitation until the case is over
Although
This would provide Level 5 and the SMS with yet another stick to beat Celtic in the media
But So What?
Celtic FC have been beaten with SMS sticks more or less since they were founded 128 unbroken years ago
Another stick won`t make any difference
Homunculus 14th December 2015 at 10:01 pm #Perhaps Mr King may wish to speak to some of the supporters of his new club before he speaks to the selected Chairmen of other clubs.
Never forgive and never forget is hardly a basis for repairing or improving on relationships.
What they think they have to “forgive” beats me but that’s a different discussion.
One can only assume Mr King sees the new club going up a certain creek and realises that he may need to borrow a paddle in the not too distant future. All speaking figuratively of course.
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If DK borrowed a paddle, would it ever be returned?
I can’t imagine that there are a large number of paddle owners that would be inclined to risk never seeing their paddle again.
That is an astonishing communique from Dave king. On the one hand it seems to infer that no one in the SPFL is talking to them and that he feels very needy.
On the other hand, and I can hardly believe how magisterial the second part sounds. If YOU want dialogue with ME phone my PA and I will try to fit you in to my ‘busy schedule’ (courts etc.) I’m sure we can find a window of opportunity when I jet in.
You know it’s for your own good and all of Scottish Football. Let’s talk!
goosygoosy 14th December 2015 at 10:56 pm
‘..Despite the CFC Chairman not supporting the FPP vote when a meeting of the 8 member SFA Board bypassed the 11 member Professional Board and approved King as a FPP’
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While I can accept that King would love to be able to claim that the whole of Scottish football, including CFC, believe him to be a man of utmost integrity and propriety, I think that the Court would not consider that the outrageous decision of the SFA would be any less outrageous simply because it was not an unanimous vote by the whole of the relevant Board or of the general SFA membership.
Ashley’s argument( immeasurably strengthened by the blatant lie in Court in an entirely different matter) must essentially be that no Board, no matter whether by majority vote or by unanimous vote, could , in all the circumstances, and in face of evidence of past criminal behaviour, reasonably come to the conclusion that King was or is in any way a fit and proper person who should be allowed any directorial control of a football club.
The man is an acknowledged liar in the judgement of the South Africa courts, and has just been shown to have put up an untruth in an English court.
No, King’s ludicrous ‘charm offensive’ is aimed at ensuring the general goodwill of the SPFL so that, when TRFC bites the Insolvency dust, they will smile beneficently on the new creation that will be cobbled up, and allow the new creation admission straight into their ranks ,at the top level.
Believe me, you have to have a long spoon to deal with the devil, who, we are told, is the father of lies!
With regard to King’s alleged letter to other clubs. Is it a sign he thinks the BDO appeal has very little chance of succeeding and a proper adult debate on sporting advantage gained is going to be had sooner rather than later?