Since I have lost my voice this week to the Armageddon virus, we decided to do a mini, written version of TWM for your pleasure….
In Armageddon Lala Land (© S. Regan), it’s all falling apart in a major borefest.
The explosive first thirteen minutes of the match involving the two top teams in the country were just a dream from which we all sadly awoke – although in my experience one usually gets roused from a dream just as the good bit begins!
Meanwhile nobody in Airdrie, Alloa, Annan, Brechin, Cowdenbeath, Dundee, Forfar, Greenock, Kirkcaldy, Montrose, Peterhead, or East Kilbride noticed anything exciting about the playoffs – and to make matters worse, folk in Cowdenbeath & EK, Forfar & Peterhead, Brechin & Alloa and Dundee & Falkirk have more of this trouser-removal process to endure later this week.
The facts, despite the SFA, SPFL and MSM trying to undersell our game here in Scotland, tell a different story. The playoff system – after close finishes in all the leagues, top and bottom, is pure drama.
There will be tears and laughter in unequal measure of course. Already, Raith Rovers, the great love of our old friend the late Turnbull Hutton have joined Ayr United and Stenhousemuir in relegation. The same fate may yet befall two from Inverness, Motherwell and Hamilton in the top league. The Blue Brazil themselves, Cowdenbeath could face banishment from the SPFL altogether if they cannot beat the upwardly East Kilbride next week.
The truth is, that keeping expectations in a realistic check, the game in Scotland is in better shape than it has been for decades. The delusional, acquisitional David Murray-led charge to financial oblivion has ended. Clubs, well most of them anyway, are living within their means. Thankfully the banks, enablers of the financial doping of the last thirty years, are now playing the role of limiting the excesses of overspending that clubs previously enjoyed.
Doubts over the distribution of the available income streams aside, there is level playing field on which Scottish clubs play, and over the last few years, a host of clubs, including Inverness, Ross County, St Mirren, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone have achieved historic successes. Aberdeen have re-emerged as the second most consistent side in the country after several years of consistency that only Champions Celtic have bettered.
In fact the quality of attacking play – if not defending- on show at Pittodrie on Friday evening would have graced any top flight game in England. It is now to Celtic and Aberdeen as well as our other clubs in European competition, Rangers and St Johnstone, to demonstrate that Scottish football may well be the poor relations in the UK, but is no backwater hangout for hillbillies and banjo players
Celtic’s dominance of course is the elephant in the room. It’s a big cuddly green and white elephant of course if you are a Celtic fan, but phase two of post Armageddon Scotland will hopefully involve a meaningful challenge at the very top over the next few years.
Craig Whyte
Whisky Baron?
The Craig Whyte trial continued in Glasgow last week. The former Rangers chairman faces charges including one of ‘pretending’ to have funds to facilitate the ‘purchase’ of ‘Rangers’.
Things the court has heard from testimony up to now include;
- the claim that Ex-Rangers chief executive Martin Bain got a £360k bonus for the sale of the club,
- that Gary Withey, Craig Whyte’s lawyer through the acquisition of Rangers, thought that Whyte was a member of the Whyte & McKay Whisky company!
- that Ally McCoist had a contract with a substantial payoff clause if he was not chosen to succeed Walter Smith.
- Rangers already owed £6m to Ticketus at the time Whyte took over
- that David Murray had a deal with Lloyds: If he sold Rangers by a certain date, he would be able to regain ownership of MIM
Gary Withey, told the court that he thought Murray was desperate to get the deal over the line, that Murray’s team didn’t care where Whyte’s money had come from, and that in his opinion they knew that the deal was financed via Ticketus – this after the court had heard from other witnesses that Lloyd’s bank had threatened to withdraw Rangers’ credit and finance facilities if the board blocked the sale.
Significantly for matters outwith the confines of the case – and this has been incredibly under-reported by the main stream media – David Murray also told the court earlier that he had used EBT’s in order to get better players for Rangers than they could otherwise afford, re-igniting social media exchanges over the validity of William Nimmo-Smith’s report into Rangers use of EBT’s.
You may remember that Nimmo-Smith himself considered that Rangers had gained no sporting advantage by their use of the scheme – a conclusion diametrically at variance with Murray’s – the man who operated the scheme to achieve exactly that end.
Nimmo-Smith – Doubts?
If Murray is telling the truth, then it puts Nimmo-Smith’s conclusions in doubt. And even if you leave aside for the moment the amended and extremely creative terms of reference set by Neil Doncaster which effectively excluded the already known to be unlawful DoS EBTs from Nimmo-Smith’s team, the SPL has been shown up as a bit a joke.
Who knew?
Another sensational piece of info the court heard, which again has gone almost completely unreported, was that in an email from Mike McGill of Murray Group, dated 17 March 2011, he says “the (wee tax) case only recently went from a potential liability and had not “crystallised” until recently” – this long before a Euro licence was awarded to Rangers on the basis, according to Stewart Regan, that the bill had “not crystallised” when the licence was awarded.
It may be that that the laws of unintended consequences will prove to be more significant to football than the matter of Craig Whyte’s guilt or innocence.
All of the information on the case is what was said in court. None of it is to be taken as fact. That will be for the courts to decide. What is being reported is what witnesses have said in court. Also, there is a lot of hysteria, a lot of speculation going on in social media and the mainstream media over court proceedings.
Speculating on the innocence or guilt of a defendant, or the honesty of a witness is most definitely contempt of court territory. For obvious legal reasons, SFM wishes to stay on the right side of the law and avoid unnecessary problems with the courts.
But we also want to ensure that we are not party to contaminating people with speculation that may lead a defendant to be being mistakenly convicted or acquitted.
The purpose of a trial is establishing the facts of a case, not to merely validate so-called information or inferences that have been drawn before any legal process has begun. So we are asking everyone at SFM therefore to refrain from posting anything that implies guilt or innocence, truthfulness or untruthfulness, or anything which repeats unsubstantiated rumour.
We may think we know a lot, but it may well be the case as the trial progresses that we discover we knew less than we thought – so please keep that in mind when you post.
The news that it seems likely Clint Hill will not be offered a new contract at Rangers saddens me a little. Hill has been a consistent performer this year, playing with an energy, honesty and assuredness that was way in excess of many of his teammates and opponents alike. Hill is clearly not ready to retire, and I hope that he gets another year of football.
It will be interesting to see how many of the players who have been in the headlines this year will be leaving Scottish football. Hill looks to be gone, as does Emerson Hyndman. Will the likes of Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney, Scott Sinclair, Barrie McKay, Niall McGinn. A fair chance that some of them will. The challenge for our game is to keep a flow of that kind of talent ongoing. The more successful we are at that, the less resigned we will have to be about losing them.
As the season draws to a close, we still have promotion and relegation playoff battles to enjoy. There is the unresolved matter of ‘Invincible’ status for Celtic in their as yet unbeaten league campaign. We also have a proper showpiece finale to the season in two weeks as Aberdeen and Celtic go head to head in pursuit of the Scottish Cup.
In a few weeks, the transfer window will pique our interest as the off-field wars will be waged – with the added fun of the phantom journos in the MSM bringing us phantom stories of phantom Messis and Ronaldos headed for a hover-pitch near you – and the new season will immediately bring European drama to the door.
Who knows? Maybe the close season will see some proper football administrators brought in to replace the architects of Armageddon, tartan style. Sadly that sounds awfully like a Moonbeam.
I see that Rangers have sought and received permission from the SPFL and SFA not to field a development side in the domestic league next season.
https://rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/academy-launches-games-programme/
While the stated intention is to play higher calibre opposition, I’m left wondering if the same opportunity is being afforded to other Premiership sides.
It seems quite a leap to take on their own without the agreement of the other clubs, particularly when there is currently a SPFL requirement for Premiership sides to field a team in the Development League, or don’t the other clubs have a say when it comes to the Rangers.
“….(the phrase I had used was taken from a description of Falstaff in ‘Henry IV’ ( apologies, Essex, for a the reference to Shakespoke. Nice to have you back, btw!)…”
Good morning JC(e)…I was wondering when you would resurrect my old “bete-noire” Shakingspeare…
Delighted to see that you are all the others are still banging away at the shame that masquerades as governance in Scottish football…
easyJamboMay 14, 2017 at 01:59
‘…While the stated intention is to play higher calibre opposition, I’m left wondering if the same opportunity is being afforded to other Premiership sides.’
____________
What caught my eye in the TRFC statement was this:
“The fact that 2017/18 is the last year of the SPFL Development League makes it the ideal time to undertake such a pilot and the evidence we gather after the pilot year,’
I didn’t know that the Development league had a built-in end date!
To be scrupulously fair-minded, to give permission to allow one club to try something different from which the other clubs might benefit is quite a good idea.
The fact that the permission was given to a financially strapped club is maybe not such a good idea, though. It might be understood merely to be the removal of a burden that others still carry, while the there may be no actual obligation to carry out the grandiose proposals!
As an aside, on the frequent references in the statement to producing future Scotland players, is it the case that all the players in the Development League must be eligible to play for the national team?
Not sure what to make of rangers’ withdrawal from the development league.
It could be a desperate cost cutting measure or it could be as they have said in their club statement.
I suppose the proof will come in the next 6-12 months if the rangers youth team is flying off to Munich, Madrid, Amsterdam etc…. every other week or if they are simply playing games at Auchenhowie vs UK clubs & the occasional foreign visitor.
For what its worth I don’t think the development league has really been a success and I know that Celtic (for example) have loaned out most of their better young players to various clubs in Scotland/England in order to give them some game time against seasoned professionals.
I think the problem with youth competitions for the 16-19 age group is that it doesn’t really prepare you for life in professional football. There are no win bonuses at stake, no promotion/relegation battles etc…. Also (at the bigger clubs anyway) you have excellent facilities, excellent coaching and access to all the best nutritional & sports science advice. Whilst all of that is good, it does tend to paint a false picture for these lads.
A lot of these kids get a major shock when they are released at the age of 20-21 (having had very little first team experience) and have to go straight in to a relegation battle with Rotherham or whoever.
So if these are the motivating factors behind rangers decision then fair enough I say but I cant help but think it’s just a money saving exercise. Like I said though, time will tell.
JOHN CLARK
When it comes to all things Rangers or Sevco, Wikipedia is the last place to go to for information. The guy who ‘looks after’ Scottish football on the site is a well known blue nose and doesn’t entertain anyone who disagrees with the continuation myth.
I know a few folk who have attempted to put him right by supplying facts but he ignores them all and deletes anything that doesn’t fit with his blue tinted view of the world.
He has no interest in the truth when it comes to his beloved ‘Rangers’.
I have read that if Feyenoord win the Eredivisie that will help Aberdeen, as they will then enter the Europa at a later stage.
I don’t know if it’s true but with Feyenoord winning 2-0 let’s hope it is.
Armageddon was an SFA created myth to attempt to force clubs and fans into accepting that a new Rangers MUST be given direct entry to the top league. The fans held firm and the rest is history. The media can try and dress it up all they like, but the pathetic forecasts of five or six clubs folding due to the absence of Rangers were also nothing other than propaganda to help their favourite club. Even today we have Journalists lauding the Rangers decision to withdraw from next season’s development league. They tell us that league is poor, but omit to say just how poor Rangers were in it. In my view Rangers are simply skint and that is the real reason for this, although it is so much easier when you have so many journalists who would be willing to accept Rangers telling them the world is flat.
On the Feyenoord issue
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aberdeen-set-europa-league-boost-10407028
“Aberdeen will clinch a bye into the Europa League second qualifying round tomorrow…if Feyenoord secure the Dutch title.”
Last I heard Feyenoord were up 3-0 (Kuyt Hat Trick)
https://twitter.com/ODDSbible?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
EASYJAMBO. I see that Rangers have sought and received permission from the SPFL and SFA not to field a development side in the domestic league next season.
.
What I wonder about this is, who at these organisations has the authority to grant permissions? Is there a committee that has met unknown to everyone, is it an individual or have all member clubs been consulted and agreed to allow this? I think we should be told
Ballyargus May 14, 2017 at 16:10
EASYJAMBO. I see that Rangers have sought and received permission from the SPFL and SFA not to field a development side in the domestic league next season. What I wonder about this is, who at these organisations has the authority to grant permissions? Is there a committee that has met unknown to everyone, is it an individual or have all member clubs been consulted and agreed to allow this? I think we should be told .
==========================
I’ve already asked the question of our DoF and had it confirmed that Rangers proposal has been discussed and agreed with the clubs.
It is being viewed as a bit of an experiment and is linked in with the Project Brave initiative. Hearts, at least, would have liked to have followed suit, had free funds been available, but with a new stand being built and a raft of new players required it was a non starter at this time. That said, I don’t know where Rangers intend to find the cash (I’d hope that it is not being subsidised by the SFA to he detriment of other clubs).
I would however expect that they will still receive the £10,000 which is available to clubs in the Development League who play their games in their home stadium or at other SPFL grounds.
SCOTTCMAY 14, 2017 at 13:02
Thanks for the link, …excellent stuff!
easyJamboMay 14, 2017 at 17:37
I would however expect that they will still receive the £10,000 which is available to clubs in the Development League who play their games in their home stadium or at other SPFL grounds.
_______________________________________________________________________
Is this allowed? Is it ethical?
I’m a numpty so don’t fully understand this
This may be of interest to the “Resolution 12” folk.
Birkarkara of Malta have been refused a UEFA licence by their own home association.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/sports/football/77011/birkarkara_fc_denied_uefa_license_valletta_fc_to_play_europa_league#.WRixO1J7HVo
jean7brodie May 14, 2017 at 19:27 Is this allowed? Is it ethical? I’m a numpty so don’t fully understand this
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The SFA provides clubs with various grants over the year, primarily focussed at youth development. There are criteria relating to Academy facilities, coaches, medical support, sports science etc. The top rated academies are unsurprisingly at Lennoxtown and Auchenhowie, so Celtic and Rangers receive most in the way of grants for that.
As an encouragement for clubs to host Development League games at their own stadiums, the SFA provides grants of up to £10,000 per season depending on the number of games played at registered grounds. See the extract from the SPFL rules for the Development League below
Given that this youth development initiative has been approved by the SPFL and the SFA then I would imagine that they will have agreed that Rangers would be eligible for the equivalent funding to assist with their hosting of games and their travel costs. No team is being disadvantaged should Rangers receive this cash.
The only reason that Hearts aren’t exploring the same option is one of cost. I would guess that will be the same for all Premiership clubs other than Celtic.
Celtic already have the prospect of playing against top clubs in the youth equivalent of the Champions League. The also have the playing resources to compete in both competitions, without unduly impacting on results. I know that they already play a range of friendlies and tournaments against some of the top English academies at various age groups.
View Comment
HomunculusMay 14, 2017 at 15:23
On the Feyenoord issuehttp://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aberdeen-set-europa-league-boost-10407028“Aberdeen will clinch a bye into the Europa League second qualifying round tomorrow…if Feyenoord secure the Dutch title.”Last I heard Feyenoord were up 3-0 (Kuyt Hat Trick)
Aye they won
easyJamboMay 14, 2017 at 20:52
Many thanks for that EJ. I still don’t understand how they will get £10,000. Are they still going to play Development League Matches? Sorry for my ignorance.
UPTHEHOOPS
MAY 14, 2017 at 14:55
Armageddon was an SFA created myth to attempt to force clubs and fans into accepting that a new Rangers MUST be given direct entry to the top league. The fans held firm and the rest is history. The media can try and dress it up all they like, but the pathetic forecasts of five or six clubs folding due to the absence of Rangers were also nothing other than propaganda to help their favourite club. Even today we have Journalists lauding the Rangers decision to withdraw from next season’s development league. They tell us that league is poor, but omit to say just how poor Rangers were in it. In my view Rangers are simply skint and that is the real reason for this, although it is so much easier when you have so many journalists who would be willing to accept Rangers telling them the world is flat.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Spot On UTH
There is only one priority at Ibrox and has been for the past month or so
That is to sell the maximum number of STs before DK is fired and the bills come in from upcoming court cases.
IMO
This latest nonsense is a contrived attempt to boost STs ,
And
Pay off some of the development squad in the close season
And
Provide some “top drawer compensation” for failure to reach the EL group stages
So
In the next few weeks we can expect a PR campaign of lies about an unspecified but huge number of moonbeam games against unnamed leading Premier League and continental clubs with whom TRFC “are in active discussion ”
We can expect hefty discounts for ST holders attending development squad matches at Ibrox
And ST holder discounts for EL Group matches all the way to the final
All mince of course
Am I kidding?
Watch this space
jean7brodie May 14, 2017 at 21:47
easyJamboMay 14, 2017 at 20:52 Many thanks for that EJ. I still don’t understand how they will get £10,000. Are they still going to play Development League Matches? Sorry for my ignorance.
======================
They won’t be participating in the Development League.
I don’t know if they will definitely receive it. I just think that they will be given a grant towards their costs, up to what they would have received for participation in the Development League, simply because the SFA and SPFL have approved what they are doing in youth development terms.
HOMUNCULUSMAY 14, 2017 at 15:23 4 Votes
On the Feyenoord issue
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aberdeen-set-europa-league-boost-10407028
“Aberdeen will clinch a bye into the Europa League second qualifying round tomorrow…if Feyenoord secure the Dutch title.”
Last I heard Feyenoord were up 3-0 (Kuyt Hat Trick)
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And TRFC celebrated finishing third against Partick thistle, Bit of a downer for gers fans who didn’t think 3rd would be any different to finishing second
I’m still confused re TRFC eligibility for Europa League, – not around the financial fair play issues, but around whether the accounts submitted are complete & have been audited. I’m assuming the interims submitted need to show a full range of P&L, statement of balances etc, and to have been audited, not just prepared by the club themselves.
What we’ve seen from TRFC as interims aren’t to that standard are they?
easyJamboMay 14, 2017 at 22:15
‘….They won’t be participating in the Development League.
I don’t know if they will definitely receive it. I just think that they will be given a grant towards their costs…..’
________________
As far as I know , we only know of this ‘permission’ from the statement made by TRFC. The SPFL/SFA sites appear not to have said anything about it.
If that is the case, it’s another example of ‘dog wagging the tail’ as far as information to the general body of Scottish football fans is concerned.
I’m sure I’m not the only one to wonder at the crass inability of our present SFA/SPFL boards to communicate meaningfully with football supporters.
It should not be the case that we all learn , from a club statement, of decisions made by our Football governance bodies,about matters of significance to all clubs and supporters of all clubs?
It’s this kind of thing that demonstrates the need for us all to insist, via the truly independent Scottish Football Supporters Association ( http://scottishfsa.org/) that our governance people and our clubs tell us, and explain to us, what they are about,as openly and transparently as possible, over all the major aspects of football that affect us as the paying customers.
(Particularly when their track record over the last few years has provided grounds for believing that they have been prepared to lie to us)
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC040033
TONYMAY 15, 2017 at 10:06
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/SC040033
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Tony, any idea why under “Nature of business” it says, Gambling and betting activities?
I understand (at least at the time of me writing this) that the TRFC ‘wonderkids’ European adventure is still in the ‘blue-sky thinking phase’ as they have no agreed fixtures for season 2017-18.
There’s a possibility that there’ll be lots of five-a-sides with next goal the winner for the U20s.
As an aside, thanks to the mods for clearing up a posting issue that I had.
CO
The Youth Development is the new name for the former Rangers Development Pools – thus the gambling description.
BIG PINKMAY 15, 2017 at 11:43
CO
The Youth Development is the new name for the former Rangers Development Pools – thus the gambling description.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Cheers BP……..
You spoiled a wee image in my head there, of these fit young boys scrambling up sand-dunes, and broaching fast flowing rivers, wearing false moustaches and big noses, in their attempts to put the seniors lines on.
Howdy,
I would have thought that you would pay your development clubs the money so as they could all develop together, learn from each other, networking with other teams and promoting fair play and responsibility. So, is the suggestion that the SFA will continue to give Rangers* the money but that they play around Europe the teams they decide to play ? So no transfer/sharing with homegrown teams then? Thanks but no thanks? Or am I reading too much into this?
Testing testing
Shock! Horror! Gasp!
Withey says Murray Group told him: “Why not use Ticketus, we use them all the time, they’re really good.”
Pardon the interruption, … A telling quote from a very learned Q.C. this morning, …
“Most football clubs are limited companies, larger ones are public limited companies”.
BAD CAPT MADMAN
MAY 14, 2017 at 23:01
I’m still confused re TRFC eligibility for Europa League, – not around the financial fair play issues, but around whether the accounts submitted are complete & have been audited…
======================================
Yep, BCM, and I’m also confused….as to why the ‘same club Rangers’ has STILL not paid the wee tax bill !
With added interest / penalties that must be a fair amount by now…
Suppose it doesn’t matter though if it’s RFC or TRFC.
Either club is the rotten apple which blighted / blights Scottish football, IMO.
And I don’t think TRFC will be ready for the vitriol coming its way – from its own fans – if it fails to win through to the Europa league format.
[And I am of course assuming that the SFA has absolutely no reservations about TRFC playing in Europe, if it grants an ‘imperfectly’ obtained Euro licence ?]
I see that Craig Houston has resigned from Club1872
http://club1872.co.uk/news/board-directors-resignation/
Board Director’s Resignation
Club 1872 announces the resignation of Craig Houston from the Board with immediate effect.
The resignation is for personal reasons. We would like to thank Craig for his efforts whilst on the Board and thank him for his offer to continue and support Club 1872.
On behalf of Club 1872 we wish him well for the future.
It’s surely not connected to this?
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1388301-craig-whyte-trial-social-media-post-probed-by-police/
A social media post made by a member of the public during the trial of former Rangers owner Craig Whyte is being investigated by police.
The probe has been launched after an online comment was made during proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow last week.
Whyte is on trial accused of one charge of fraud and one of breaching the Companies Act in connection with his May 2011 takeover at Ibrox. He denies the allegations.
Police said they were looking into the social media post.
A spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that Police Scotland are investigating the circumstances to establish any criminality.”
I wonder if any of our resident Hearts contributors can advise.
I saw it alleged on another forum today that Anne Budge has taken legal advice over the award of a European licence to Rangers and is set to challenge the SFA. Any idea if there is any substance to this?
upthehoops May 15, 2017 at 18:29
I wonder if any of our resident Hearts contributors can advise.
========================
I share your wonderment. I’ve tried to get a view on Hearts stance from two of the club’s directors and the closest I’ve come to an answer is “no comment”.
EASYJAMBOMAY 15, 2017 at 17:41 3 Votes
I see that Craig Houston has resigned from Club1872
Did they ever replace the other three directors who walked away? Or would 1872 have had to have an EGM to replace the other directors.
I have not heard anything, if that is now four who have left, who is still there? how does the situation stand just now with any decision making by club 1872.
So many questions
EASYJAMBOMAY 15, 2017 at 18:52 I share your wonderment. I’ve tried to get a view on Hearts stance from two of the club’s directors and the closest I’ve come to an answer is “no comment”.
===========================
Thanks EJ. I knew from previous posts you know Directors of Hearts. There is so much you could read into “no comment”.
Cluster One May 15, 2017 at 18:55
EASYJAMBOMAY 15, 2017 at 17:41 3 Votes I see that Craig Houston has resigned from Club1872 Did they ever replace the other three directors who walked away? Or would 1872 have had to have an EGM to replace the other directors. I have not heard anything, if that is now four who have left, who is still there? how does the situation stand just now with any decision making by club 1872. So many questions
==========================
To the best of my knowledge none of the directors who resigned a couple of months ago have been replaced.
I have no idea how their governance works, so I don’t know how its day to day operations will be impacted. I believe that, a couple of months ago, they held around £1.2m in cash from the former RST and RF membership donations, so it’s not an insignificant responsibility.
I would imagine that its income generation has been impacted significantly by the infighting in recent months, and it could be that the latest resignation either makes or breaks the organisation.
I’ve seen it suggested that he has obtained a role with the club as a community development officer, but I don’t know if that claim has any substance.
CLUSTER ONE
MAY 14, 2017 at 22:23And TRFC celebrated finishing third against Partick thistle, Bit of a downer for gers fans who didn’t think 3rd would be any different to finishing second
==========================================
Excellent point, that hadn’t even occurred.
Though to be fair with two games left Rangers are only 6 points behind.
So if they can win both games, with Aberdeen losing both, and they turn round a goal difference of about 20 there’s no reason why Rangers still can’t get second.
Now it’s worth it obviously.
EASYJAMBOMAY 15, 2017 at 19:12
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HOMUNCULUSMAY 15, 2017 at 19:17
————
Thanks for replies
Cluster OneMay 15, 2017 at 18:55
‘………. if that is now four who have left, who is still there? ‘
_______
Companies House records have not yet (7.30 pm today) been updated to show resignation of Houston.
By my reckoning, there are now only three directors left- William Cowie , Alex Wilson. and James Blair (who is the sole shareholder ( presumably in the name of TRFC) .
The quorum for directors:
“‘ ..The quorum for directors’ meetings may be fixed from time to time by a decision of the directors, but it must never be less than two.”
(Schedule 1 to “The Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008”- (which are the Articles that Club 1872 adopted on formation.
So the three can carry on running Club 1872, and appoint other directors if they wish, until at least the next AGM, or successful requisition of an EGM.
Any news on the constructive dismissal claims from MARK WARBURTON, David Weir and Frank McParland ?
They left ibrox for the last time in Febuary? Anyone know how long a case like this takes to get settled?
JOHN CLARKMAY 15, 2017 at 19:56
Thanks for reply
STEVIEBC
MAY 15, 2017 at 15:05
Yep, BCM, and I’m also confused….as to why the ‘same club Rangers’ has STILL not paid the wee tax bill !
=======================================
The former club was placed into administration. HMRC’s claim, which led to the administration and failure of the CVA includes the “wee tax case”. It is therefore part of their claim against the liquidation pot.
Sorry but another question.or questions
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14 April 2014 Online casino company 32Red have announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Glasgow Rangers Football Club.
Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace commented: “We look forward to working closely with 32Red over the next three seasons in a partnership that we believe will be hugely beneficial to both parties.”
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Has this deal now run it’s course? And is there any news of a new sponsor? And who would make an offer of new shirt sponsors with the retail boycott?
EASYJAMBO
MAY 15, 2017 at 17:41
============================
It appears Craig Houston has been offered a roll within the club, I have no idea what.
It is on that basis that he has resigned from the board of Club 1872 apparently, as it would be inappropriate for him to do both.
One wonders why James Blair does not feel the same way.
HOMUNCULUSMAY 15, 2017 at 20:36
Craig Houston has been offered a roll within the club
———-
Left midfield…….ok i’ll get my coat
CLUSTER ONEMAY 15, 2017 at 20:55
HOMUNCULUSMAY 15, 2017 at 20:36Craig Houston has been offered a roll within the club———-Left midfield…….ok i’ll get my coat
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He’s keeping the crows off the grass………..While he’s injured and not so mobile.
TWM Episode 16
Another good listen, but now i’m humming the tune and i can’t get it out of my head
The Development League may not be the best but I cannot see how the model outlined will be better for Sevco and it for sure will not help the rest of Scottish Football.
The plan is to bring in youth teams from Benfica, Barcelona, Bayern etc and play Division one and two teams. A season requires 30 plus games how will they arrange to have that many games; other teams have League commitments you know.
Barca, Bayern etc will not be short of offers from high class opposition near home, will they travel to Glasgow at their own expense to play self admitted lower level opposition. Most likely they will send second string teams more in line with the opposition, defeating the purpose.
It will be expensive to send a team and support staff plus equipment to Europe on a regular basis and also tiring for the young players.
It looks like an ad hoc approach, fitting in games depending on the availability of opposition and most will be treated as training games or friendlies so they will not give a real competitive experience.
I cannot see why the SPFL and SFA should stand by and let a member pioneer this initiative which, if rolled out to the wider body would sweep away the current structure in favour of a free for all. I would expect the governing bodies to let us know in the interest of transparency if Sevco will benefit from Development money, otherwise how can a cash strapped club take on this expensive experiment.
CLUSTER ONE
MAY 15, 2017 at 20:55
HOMUNCULUSMAY 15, 2017 at 20:36 Craig Houston has been offered a roll within the club ———-
I bet its a roll on hard cheese This business hasn`t got a sausage
Re Questions Concering TRFC Cluster One @ 20.46 15 May 2017
I’ll add another one – it is over 30 days since the TAP served notice on King via the COS – any news ?
JOHN CLARK
MAY 15, 2017 at 19:56
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As I understand it Club 1872 are now going to ballot it’s members on whether or not the two directors who resigned are going to be allowed to return.
It’s almost as if they think they are operating a supporters club out of the local bowling club.
As opposed to a Ltd Company (a CIC as I understand it) which owns ~6% of a PLC, has something like 9,500 members paying in around £10,000 / month with a bank balance exceeding £1m, if the stories are to be believed.
Guys I know funds are tight but advertising the Sun? Disappointed.
Under oath, various parties have stated a £6m debt was owed to Ticketus, by the Minty regime. Servicing this debt via season tickets, must seriously impact the remainder of the season’s gate income to the club, which in turn would impact the club’s ability to keep the lights on.
A cursory glance over the accounts would tell Minty whether he could honour the agreement he had entered into with Ticketus, (i.e. fulfill the future fixtures he sold them)….or not.
Once the season tickets were sold it would be of no interest to Ticketus whether the fixtures took place.
They would have their money.
The fan would buy the ticket (thinking it was from the club) as usual. The club would pass the money on to Ticketus (minus their commission) as they were only acting as an agent.
You could argue that as Ticketus had sold the ticket then if the fixtures were not fulfilled then Ticketus owed a refund to the supporter who bought the ticket. However and I’m only guessing here, you would imagine that would be covered in the agreement. That it was the obligation of the club to complete the season and if they didn’t the supporter would be their creditor and not Ticketus’.
Bearing in mind that merely using Ticketus would mean the club had cash flow issues and would not exactly be in a strong negotiating position.
HomunculusMay 16, 2017 at 12:20
Once the season tickets were sold it would be of no interest to Ticketus whether the fixtures took place.
They would have their money.
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I suppose Ticketus only get the money as it comes in, having paid the club in advance for the right to receive the income. Since many season tickets are sold on an instalment plan, then Ticketus would be receiving income throughout the season.If the club goes bust mid-season, then Ticketus lose out on all the instalments due after the football stops. That is the risk they take, for which they charge handsomely.
The question of whether Ticketus would have be liable to make refunds to those season ticket holders who had paid in advance for games that would never happen is an interesting one. I suppose it depends on whether the season ticket contract is with Ticketus or the club. I’m sure it will all have been cleverly structured so that the fans get stiffed as usual.
If, as has been testified, Lloyds were indeed about to pull the plug should the sale not proceed, then on the surface, it would appear Ticketus in some shape or form would be taking a hit.
Hypothetically of course, it may have made sense to Ticketus at the time, to further “invest” to have Lloyds out of the frame.
From DR with my highlighting;
“Celtic v Aberdeen Scottish Cup Final referee confirmed as Bobby Madden
Madden made a return to action in the new year and took charge of his first Old Firm encounter in March, a match which finished 1-1. He angered Celtic fans by waving away last gasp penalty appeal after Leigh Griffiths fell under a challenge from Clint Hill…
======================
Ok, don’t want to talk about refs.
But I do remember that challenge, when Griffiths was about to pull the trigger – inside the box – with just the keeper to beat.
He certainly didn’t ‘fall’.
I doubt that many strikers in the history of the SPFL/SPL have ‘fallen’ when in such a prime scoring position ?
Last chance to try and sour the season for a very successful club ?
The main point being: the SFA has simply given up any pretense of impartiality, and they knew this appointment would create negative publicity.
Before the Bobby Madden paranoia goes into full swing lets just say us Aberdeen fans are not exactly delighted by the appointment.
Not because he’s biased but because he’s hopeless.
Upthehoops.
Don’t know why Anne Budge needed to pay for legal advice. A wee browse over SFM would have saved her a few bob.
BILL1903
MAY 16, 2017 at 16:52
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Why would the Aberdeen fans be “paranoid” about Bobby Madden being appointed to referee a game.
Has the club some history with him.
I’m thinking of changing my name to Auldcynic.
I used to be such a trusting chap too until I looked under the lid of Scottish football. Mea culpa.
That for the Prods is “my own fault” in Latin. 🙂
Joke lads although it is a concept worth exploring.
Anyhoo I think TRFC will get a licence knock back but it will be in June after list of clubs granted a licence by the SFA is sent to Nyon or its twin village YernoOn.
Reasons for pretending otherwise?
1. It gets The SFA off the hook. UEFA did it and ran away.
2. ST sales get a boost from possibility of playing in Europe. The longer that possibility is taken as fact the more STs sold.
Ah wish ah wiz an innocent again.
Just in case Hearts don’t challenge the TRFC* licence via SFA or UEFA, I’ve contacted UEFA and explained a little about why I believe they don’t meet the requirements (losses and loans), why I don’t trust the SFA (their commercial fears over no Rangers*) and just imploring them to take a closer look at TRFC’s* recent financials when submitted. I did that just because I was worried that UEFA might still just take it as read that the SFA have ‘done their bit’ for integrity.
I did it through the ‘Contact us’ on UEFA.com and asked that my message be passed to those responsible for club licensing. I have no idea if anyone, let alone the right people, will see it and decide it’s worth having a look but I wanted to try at least.
The more the merrier, guys.
Well done nawliteMay 16, 2017 at 17:43
AuldheidMay 16, 2017 at 17:29 You will be Beatified
And I will go to the big, bad fire for my angry thoughts
AULDHEID
MAY 16, 2017 at 17:29
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I will be pleasantly surprised if anyone rejects their licence. I fully expect them to be granted a licence to play in the Europa Cup in the 2017 / 2018 season.
AULDHEID
MAY 16, 2017 at 17:29
…Anyhoo I think TRFC will get a licence knock back but it will be in June…
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Hmm, that sounds plausible Auldheid / Auldcynic.
And you do expect, of course, that a Euro licence refusal will be YOUR fault, and the fault of those other pesky Res.12 people!
And all discreetly orchestrated by none other than Lawwell himself, who now runs Scottish football single-handedly!
Nothing at all to do with TRFC’s behaviour…
NAWLITEMAY 16, 2017 at 17:43
I did it through the ‘Contact us’ on UEFA.com and asked that my message be passed to those responsible for club licensing. I have no idea if anyone, let alone the right people, will see it and decide it’s worth having a look but I wanted to try at least.
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There is now a record of your e-mail and date. UEFA.com and those responsible for club licensing.now have an e-mail asking questions at a pacific time.
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Pesky e-mail letters have a way of cropping up unexpected when someone least expects them
Bill1903May 16, 2017 at 16:52
Before the Bobby Madden paranoia goes into full swing lets just say us Aberdeen fans are not exactly delighted by the appointment.Not because he’s biased but because he’s hopeless.
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Agree Bill but we should not be delighted with whoever it is. That would really set the other team’s paranoia in to overdrive!
Just hope he has a good game. Just hope we have a good game and no 3 goals of a start nonsense!!!
Bordersdon,
at least you have retained a sense of humour. A one goal margin will do me.
AULDHEIDMAY 16, 2017 at 17:29 Anyhoo I think TRFC will get a licence knock back but it will be in June
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I’m not so sure. I get the distinct impression UEFA rely on member associations to be vigilant and are happy to accept who they put forward. Looking back to 2011 makes me think that even more.
NAWLITEMAY 16, 2017 at 17:43′..I did it through the ‘Contact us’ on UEFA.com’
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Good on you, Nawlite.
When we use that contact email address, should we expect at least some kind of automated response to our own email inboxes acknowledging receipt?
I’ve had no response to my email re the European Clubs Association!
BORDERSDONMAY 16, 2017 at 20:00
Just hope he has a good game. Just hope we have a good game and no 3 goals of a start nonsense!!!
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And there i was, happy to give Aberdeen 3 goals of a start
ok i’ll get my coat
Is Regan going to be dragged out of the Hampden bunker on Cup Final day, to show his face at the ‘SFA’s showpiece event’ ?!
Will he do the decent thing, and resign the night before the game ?
Or will Regan simply brass-neck it, as per, and mibbees wave in a glaiket fashion to all the fans shouting for his head ?
And will the Scottish Cup sponsors – William Hill – quote the odds…?