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.
Cluster One, you giving my post a slight edit there?
(probably an improvement!)
Still going to an interesting Championship next Season. DD Utd.,Falkirk, Dunfermline, Inverness CT, St. M., Morton, Q.O.T.S., Dumbarton, Livi., Brechin.
Quite a few juicy ties in there.
Sitting in the pub watching the charity game at Celtic park and one companion suggested it would have been really funny if Henrik Larsson and Lubomir Moravcik had all the players lined up on the park and proceeded to make their team selection a la playground rules
..wonder who would be last pick ? Anyway a great way for Celtic to round off a memorable season with several good causes benefitting from the days efforts.
CLUSTER ONE
MAY 28, 2017 at 17:03
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Down Ibrox way the contract with Red32 sponsoring the shirt has run out.
Given that the support aren’t buying replica strips I would imagine they would not be keen on renewing it. If they do I would imagine they would be looking at reduced terms. Though there might be some sort of incentives for a run in Europe. As I understand it the Celtic deal with NB is worth around £30m over a 5 year period, but there are good incentives for a decent CL run. I imagine that Dafabet and Magners will also have incentives for European success.
GUNNERBMAY 28, 2017 at 17:30
It was a great day out and a great way to round of the season. Celtic Park was sold out and at £12 a pop, plus what they would have got for it being televised it must have raised a wheen of money for the Charity.
They had a badge day last week and sold out in jig time, raised £25k.
GUNNERBMAY 28, 2017 at 17:30 3 Votes
Sitting in the pub watching the charity game at Celtic park and one companion suggested it would have been really funny if Henrik Larsson and Lubomir Moravcik had all the players lined up on the park and proceeded to make their team selection a la playground rules.
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Should have had BR deliver the match ball like they did in the Portuguese Cup Final.
if anyone has not seen it, Incredible stuff. But just how long to we see a ref refereeing a game like that
HOMUNCULUSMAY 28, 2017 at 17:46 1 Vote
CLUSTER ONEMAY 28, 2017 at 17:03===============================
Down Ibrox way the contract with Red32 sponsoring the shirt has run out.
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Phil did a blog on it. looks like negotiations not going well
Humunculus,
Looking at your avatar can I say you seem to have aged quite dramatically in the last few weeks, … you’re a not a rangers fan per chance …. are you ?? 😉
New sponser maybe.
Was directed to this quote after Dundee United failed to come up to SPL, this is from bearsden site, guys are on cloud cuckoo land
“crazy bob swollenbawsStar PlayerFirst Team 487 2,295 postsGender:MaleLocation:falkirk
Posted 4 hours agoShitey jealous club – check
Further year out of top flight-check
Already untenable business model -check
Heres hoping for financial fair play for u arabs arseholes and liquidation. Unlike us, u wont survive.
Maybe speak to uncle peter. Am sure he will help u.”
I see that Hamilton’s win over Dundee United has been particularly well received on Rangers* facing websites. Many ‘follow followers’ are gleefully reporting the imminent administration and subsequent death of a club, Dundee United, they profess to hate, for reasons best known to themselves.
There’s nothing particularly surprising about this turn of events, except that the average bear hasn’t really thought things through.
Surely it’s a proven fact, in Scottish football governance terms, that a football club is indestructible, invincible and immortal. Surely it’s common knowledge, backed by those aforementioned football authorities, that only be a meaningless company ceases to exist when a football club goes into liquidation? Surely this interpretation of the rules doesn’t apply solely to one club and no-one else?
Over to you, messrs Regan & Doncaster, to explain the ****ing mess you’ve made of Scottish football!
HighlanderMay 28, 2017 at 22:29
‘..Surely it’s a proven fact, in Scottish football governance terms, that a football club is indestructible, invincible and immortal…’
_________
Indeed, Highlander, I have heard with my own ears,one of Her Majesty’s Counsel,learned in the Law, waxing eloquent about that ‘fact’
It is no surprise to me, therefore, that ‘the average bear hasn’t really thought things through’: after all, if supposedly top class brains can come out with crap, what can be expected of lesser intellects?
Given that our Football ‘Governance’ folk have most destructively put ‘money’ ( and, perhaps, given some of the personnel involved, other considerations) before any kind of sporting principle, I would certainly argue,if I were a Parliamentary candidate in one of the Dundee constituencies, that there should be an immediate league reconstruction, given the economic and social importance of Dundee United , and of the Dundee derby matches, to the local communities.
I would go even further, and demand that the First Minister should make representations to the Football Authorities about the necessity of ensuring that a club, which is not in debt to the taxpayer, and has not systematically cheated the whole of Scottish Football over many years, is put in the way of financial help by such a restructuring.
It strikes me that the 6th Floor can have no idea of the enormity of their crime in creating ‘continuity Rangers’, and thereby destroying any belief that our game is related in any way to ‘sporting integrity’.
Chickens do come home to roost.
BIGBOAB1916MAY 28, 2017 at 21:46 16 Votes
Was directed to this quote after Dundee United failed to come up to SPL, this is from bearsden site, guys are on cloud cuckoo land“crazy bob swollenbawsStar PlayerFirst Team 487 2,295 postsGender:MaleLocation:falkirkPosted 4 hours agoShitey jealous club – checkFurther year out of top flight-checkAlready untenable business model -checkHeres hoping for financial fair play for u arabs arseholes and liquidation. Unlike us, u wont survive. Maybe speak to uncle peter. Am sure he will help u.”
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Heard from a Taxi driver that if DU don’t survive, A friend of a friend who knows Dave king told the taxi driver that Dave king will put a bid in for their history.
could all just be hearsay mind you
I was reading this morning about KT, in his eagerness to return to the stadium, had to run through the exiting Aberdeen fans (In full kit) after plod had refused his car entry. It must have been a Del-Boy Batman and Robin moment, for the bemused Dons fans in the vicinity, and a reversal of last years final, where on this occasion a player invaded the crowd.
.
All credit must go to the shell-shocked Dons fans for permitting him safe passage. Respect
Grant Thornton,Rangers auditors during the EBT years.
The facts are staggering. Over two years Grant Thornton were found to have committed no fewer than TWELVE cases of professional misconduct which meant the accounts presented to the public were mainly fictitious. Robert Napper was found to have ELEVEN cases of professional misconduct.
https://davidhencke.com/2017/05/27/fined-3-5m-for-professional-misconduct-grant-thornton-approved-dishonest-accounts-for-london-and-lincolnshires-privatised-fire-engines/
CORRUPT OFFICIALMAY 29, 2017 at 11:41
All credit must go to the shell-shocked Dons fans for permitting him safe passage. Respect
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It’s a wonder KJ has not got an article, 1 player was attacked,he could have a picture of proof of the facial injuries to back up his claim
CORRUPT OFFICIALMAY 29, 2017 at 11:41 5 Votes
I was reading this morning about KT, in his eagerness to return to the stadium, had to run through the exiting Aberdeen fans (In full kit)
Have a watch https://twitter.com/sneckietim?lang=en
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hope it’s ok by the mods
Puts travelling to Dingwall into perspective.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40078220
tangoedMay 29, 2017 at 12:20
‘..Grant Thornton,Rangers auditors during the EBT years. The facts are staggering. Over two years Grant Thornton were found to have committed no fewer than TWELVE cases of professional misconduct….’
_____________
This is from the Report of th Financial Reporting Council [ https://www.frc.org.uk/News-and-Events/FRC-Press/Press/2017/April/Grant-Thornton-UK-LLP-and-Robert-Napper-sanctioned.aspx%5D
” The Respondents have further accepted that the root cause of many of the defects in their audit work was a significant failing in the application of professional scepticism [ my italics]which should be at the core of the work of statutory auditors.”
Would you say that the root cause of many of the defects in the work of our professional football governance bodies lay in a similar failing in the application of professional scepticism, for which those bodies should be held to account?
Or did it lie in a perversity of mind that knew damn well what the score was, but deliberately chose not only NOT to take full and proper action under their own rules, but interfered with ‘evidence’ and helped bring about a corruption of our game that has had no parallel by misleading UEFA?
It has went very quiet today on football blogs. I think most people have reached ‘burn out’ in terms of Scottish football. Everything about the season’s end, the Scottish Cup Final, the playoffs, the Lisbon Lions has been reported on from every angle! I think I read about half of them all!
Too much time on my hands. It got to a point where one of my main sources of reading material ‘news now’ just seemed so repetitive, the news feed sites are all saying the same thing and just reporting on what has already been reported in the media. Once I read the first report I tend to skip the repeats.
Thank goodness the trial resumes tomorrow and I can follow James Doleman’s tweets and commentary on here.
jimboMay 29, 2017 at 21:21
‘…..Thank goodness the trial resumes tomorrow …’
___________________
Your mention of the CW trial, Jimbo, prompted me to check that the other matter I mentioned yesterday is still on in the Court of Session tomorrow.
It is, but what is the ‘6 hours’ ( which wasn’t there the other day) a reference to? Duration of the business?
LORD BANNATYNE
STARRED MOTIONS
6 hours P231/17 Note: RFC 2012 Plc for directions under Insolvency Act 1986 Brodies LLP
A
full day allowed for the business? Seems a bit excessive!
I think I’ll toddle along and see what’s what, rather than travel in to Glasgow. There might not be any reporting restrictions on the everyday matter of Liquidation.
[And, of course, we have all learned that to the ‘business community’ , Administrations and Liquidations are an everyday occurrence, with creditors getting stiffed by all kinds of low-life chancers as well as by unforeseen calamitous circumstances]
Interestingly enough, to me, anyway, is the fact that , listening on the radio today to a Westminster Parliamentary candidate for a Scottish seat, I was moved to have a dekko at the Companies House register to see if that candidate held any directorships.
And there it is: that candidate is active as a director of 3 companies that were put into the hands of the Receiver a number of years ago, and are still showing as being in ‘receiver action’ (whatever that means).
If I were in that candidate’s constituency, I think I would ask openly about that situation, now that I know that there are very bad persons out there for real who are prepared to stiff their creditors deliberately, or are so ineffective in business that receivers have to be called in.
James Doleman 25 mins
Donald Findlay says he has no comment on the ammendments, judge allows them
Defence case begins, Findlay says he has legal matters to raise
Lady Stacey tells the jury they are discharged for the rest of the day
Proceedings are continuing at Glasgow High Court, but as jury not present they cannot be reported until the trial is over.
It seems the prosecution case against Craig Whyte has been completed and they are having some legal discussion before the defence starts. The Jury have been stood down for the day.
I have to say, and this is obviously working very much in the dark as I have only read tweets and reports, I am not terribly impressed by the case against him.
Of the two charges I think the fraud charge is the weaker. Deception is a crucial part of any fraud charge, there is no fraud without it. It is not entirely clear who he is supposed to have deceived. From what I have read all of the people involved in the deal seem to have known what was going on.
The Companies Act charge seems more likely to succeed, I’m guessing that Crown Office would take that right now as it would vindicate their actions. If i recall the maximum sentence for that is 2 years, so if he got 1 he would actually serve 6 months. In an open prison.
Pure guesswork here, on the legal discussion. Is the defence asking if there is a case to answer with regards the fraud.
HOMUNCULUS May 30, 2017 @10:46
Guesswork can be cut down by reference to Section 97 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.
What with the end of the season now past us, we are hoping to do a wee 2 minute piece on as many teams as possible for the podcast.
If you want to take part (over the phone) on the podcast on behalf of your team giving your assessment of your team’s season, please let us know so we can contact you. Interviews to take place by phone at the weekend.
Also, the final part of the Jim Craig interview is now available as part of TWM 18. The insight offered from Craig’s perspective is very interesting, and I hope entertaining.
Proceedings in Court 11 in Parliament House finished at about noon.
Sadly, Lord Bannatyne , albeit with some hesitancy, decided to impose reporting restrictions, just in case the dry as dust legal bumph strayed into references to matters which relate to the criminal trial.
So, I can’t say anything, I’m afraid.
HOMUNCULUS; You comment on JJ when he writes something you do not like, but no mention that he told everyone that there would be no more witnesses for the prosecution on tuesday (today)It was indeed an exclusive from him. Give him credit where it is due.
I like to think we treat people fairly.
May 29, 2017 at 12:20
Grant Thornton,Rangers auditors during the EBT years. The facts are staggering. Over two years Grant Thornton were found to have committed no fewer than TWELVE cases of professional misconduct which meant the accounts presented to the public were mainly fictitious. Robert Napper was found to have ELEVEN cases of professional misconduct. https://davidhencke.com/2017/05/27/fined-3-5m-for-professional-misconduct-grant-thornton-approved-dishonest-accounts-for-london-and-lincolnshires-privatised-fire-engines/
=========================
The following in bold/italic is copied from a draft that Stewart Regan sent to Rangers in December 2011 where Regan sets out the justification for granting the licence to Rangers. Many will have read the full e mail that caused consternation at Rangers and the draft never saw the light of day.
However we now know from testimony that an actual liability existed before 31st March and there was no dispute that it did. Any discussions that later took place were about a payment plan not appealing, that came later as part of tactics to evade payment following CL exit.
The point is that if what is in quotes below is indeed what Grant Thornton told the SFA Licensing Committee then it was misleading at best and they have played a part in the ongoing deception of football supporters AND club shareholders who might now be looking for someone with money to sue?
It is noted from the report submitted to the Licensing Committee by Rangers FC’s advisors Grant Thornton UK LLP, dated 30th March 2011, that:
“All the recorded payroll taxes at 31 December 2010 have, according to the accounting records of the Club since that date been paid in full by 31 March 2011, with the exception of the continuing discussion between the Club and HM Revenue and Customs in relation to a potential liability of £2.8m associated with contributions between 1999 and 2003 into a discounted option scheme. These amounts have been provided for in full within the interim financial statements.”
Since the potential liability was under discussion by Rangers FC and HM Revenue & Customs as at 31st March 2011, it could not be considered an overdue payable as defined by Article 50. We are satisfied that the evidence from all parties complied with Article 50 and, on that basis, a licence was awarded for season 2011-12.
Footnote: Since the above justification for granting the licence in March 2011 has been shown by testimony to be unfounded, don’t be surprised if another justification squirrel does not drop out of the SFA tree.
Auldheid
May 30, 2017 at 15:02
The amount of lies, deceit and, perhaps, law-breaking, that surrounds RFC and TRFC, and the people involved directly and indirectly with these football clubs, is quite astounding, of world record proportions, even. What’s more, the quantum continues to grow. Rotten to the core, tainting everything, and everyone, involved with them.
WATCHER
MAY 30, 2017
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He also exclusively revealed that Donald Muir was appearing as a witness. I take it he just claims credit for the ones he get’s right and ignores the ones he gets wrong.
In fact he has exclusively revealed several things, if I recall Dundee Utd were going into administration a wee while back. Oh and that prior to the Rangers AGM they had agreed a 75/25 deal with Ashley where they got the “lion’s share”
I’m afraid his exclusives are too often either not exclusive, entirely predictable or wrong.
That’s not really my problem with him though. It’s more the homophobia, racism, sectarianism, plagiarism, lying … I’m afraid he’s a rather unsavoury character and if anyone is actually sending money to him then more fool them.
LUGOSI
MAY 30, 2017 at 11:14
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Thanks for the link, I knew they could do it but didn’t know the actual procedure. I’m guessing that it might be what Findlay is doing. On the scant details I have it wouldn’t surprise me, particularly for the fraud part.
There could be other matter he wants cleared up or agreed prior to calling witness.
AllyjamboMay 30, 2017 at 16:45
Auldheid May 30, 2017 at 15:02
The amount of lies, deceit and, perhaps, law-breaking, that surrounds RFC and TRFC, and the people involved directly and indirectly with these football clubs, is quite astounding, of world record proportions, even. What’s more, the quantum continues to grow. Rotten to the core, tainting everything, and everyone, involved with them.
===============
RFC/TRFC/SFA/SPFL/HMRC/UEFA all had different motivations to keep the lid on.
AULDHEID
MAY 30, 2017 at 17:37
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Other than taxpayer’s confidentiality what in your opinion motivated HMRC to “keep the lid on it”.
I can understand why you might believe the others were so motivated but I’m struggling with theirs.
I can only think that HMRC would ‘keep the lid’ on something like this as they had other similar active investigations running concurrently.
Offered as nothing but an observation I note the odious toad that purports to run our game (read leeches from it) is quoted in today’s herald listing the games achievements this year. Obviously someone’s European return is listed amongst them!
boy just can’t help himself!
HomunculusMay 30, 2017 at 18:33 2 Votes
AULDHEID MAY 30, 2017 at 17:37 ====================================
Other than taxpayer’s confidentiality what in your opinion motivated HMRC to “keep the lid on it”.
I can understand why you might believe the others were so motivated but I’m struggling with theirs.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
HMRC has a statutory duty of confidentiality. That duty of confidentiality was seen as fundamental to the work of the Department, and taken extremely seriously by everyone I worked with in that fine organisation.
NEEPHEID
MAY 30, 2017 at 19:58
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That was my understanding, it’s a statutory requirement.
So a legal obligation rather than a motivation, which just sound more sinister to me. Particularly given the context and the others they were lumped in with.
Maybe HMRC want to keep a lid on it after being accused of leaking information by some, some years ago.
https://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2100662/hmrc-accused-leaking-rangers-fc
————–
Remember the Petition
https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/42143
Auldheid
May 30, 2017 at 17:37
AllyjamboMay 30, 2017 at 16:45
Auldheid May 30, 2017 at 15:02
The amount of lies, deceit and, perhaps, law-breaking, that surrounds RFC and TRFC, and the people involved directly and indirectly with these football clubs, is quite astounding, of world record proportions, even. What’s more, the quantum continues to grow. Rotten to the core, tainting everything, and everyone, involved with them.
===============
RFC/TRFC/SFA/SPFL/HMRC/UEFA all had different motivations to keep the lid on.
_________________________________
With, from a football perspective, the ‘keeping the lid on’ aspect, and all that goes with it, the greater crime!
The motivation of Rangers/TRFC and those that surround(ed) them, is easy to understand, as is that of the common criminal, however disgusted we might be by their actions, but when those charged with the governance of our sport choose to take a dishonest path to protect the wrongdoer, or hide their own failings, rather than to ensure honesty and sportsmanship, they become as bad as a bent copper or police force, and like him or them, damage the sport as sure as the bent copper or force damages society!
Perhaps the majority, possibly the vast majority, of readers of this blog have never seen David Lean’s 1948 film of ‘Oliver Twist’ , and Francis L Sullivan’s wonderful characterisation of Mr Bumble, the beadle.
But nearly everyone is familiar with ( and quite possibly endorses!) what Mr Bumble says in this quote:
“If the law supposes that,” said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, “the law is a ass — a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a …”
I’ve spent a wee while tonight idly reading through the Insolvency Act 1986.
And I was, and am, amazed at what Section 103 says:
“103 Cesser of directors’ powers.
On the appointment of a liquidator, all the powers of the directors cease, except so far as the liquidation committee (or, if there is no such committee, the creditors) sanction their continuance”
If that means what it seems to me to mean, namely, that the likes of the directors of RFC(IL) or any other ‘Company(IL)’, can ask the ‘liquidation committee’ to let them exercise the functions of directors of the very company that they ran into liquidation!
That seems totally crazy to me: if I were a creditor, I would want to hang the sw.ne!
Why would a liquidation committee ( or the creditors) want to allow the very directors who stiffed them to be able still to act as ‘directors’?What could they do that might help the creditors get their money?
Beats the hell out of me.
Well, as James Doleman tweeted yesterday that there would be no reporting of yesterday’s proceedings ‘until the trial is over’, and, presumably, that means he was allowed to remain in court while the deliberations went on, I’d imagine his silence on what transpired is an indication that, as of yesterday/right now, the case is still live! That may well change soon after 10.00am today, but…we live in hope
John ClarkMay 30, 2017 at 13:44
Proceedings in Court 11 in Parliament House finished at about noon.Sadly, Lord Bannatyne , albeit with some hesitancy, decided to impose reporting restrictions, just in case the dry as dust legal bumph strayed into references to matters which relate to the criminal trial.So, I can’t say anything, I’m afraid.
________________________
I will certainly refrain from asking you about the trial itself, John, but, in your assessment, did you waste your time going along?
HomunculusMay 30, 2017 at 18:33
AULDHEID MAY 30, 2017 at 17:37 ====================================
Other than taxpayer’s confidentiality what in your opinion motivated HMRC to “keep the lid on it”.
I can understand why you might believe the others were so motivated but I’m struggling with theirs.
==================
Rangers accepted liability and quantum on 21st March (having accepted liability earlier) but cannot pay. The Bank will not allow the amount they are owed to rise by £2.8M, so it is in HMRC’s interests to let matters drift until the new owner arrives….
What happened next might be revealed in coming days so no more for now. But getting paid was the motivation, not fair play.
Well, James Doleman has turned up for the trial today, so I am still hopeful that there was no capitulation by the prosecution yesterday
, though James does say ‘defence expected to begin today’, so maybe he’s not too sure 
JD tweet:
At Glasgow High Court for continuation of HMA v Craig Whyte. Crown ended their case yesterday, defence expected to begin today.
James Doleman has tweeted that the court has adjourned and, with the jury still not in attendance, cannot report on proceedings.
JJ has posted an “exclusive” about what is apparently happening. If reporting restrictions mean that nothing can be reported from court while the jury isn’t present, then someone who has been in court has told him, or he has been in court himself.
Wooooft as Archie would say, i never saw that coming!!
JD’s tweet a few mins ago about closing speeches timetable.
I am glad that case hasn’t been abandoned!
Not sure if it has been mentioned on here, but now that Manchester Utd have won the Europa League means that Aberdeen now have a bye in the first qualifying round of this year’s Europa League competition.
St Johnstone and Rangers are seeded in first qualifying round
https://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/seedel2017.html
You couldn’t make it up.
The seedings for the league cup have been announced.
A north/south split will occur.
Wait for it……
Hearts and Hibs are in the North but Edinburgh City (500m from Easter Rd) are in the South.
And even weirder…..Falkirk are in the North group but Stenhousemuir (3miles further north on the map than Falkirk) are in the South?!!?
AllyjamboMay 31, 2017 at 09:16
‘….. did you waste your time going along?’
________
i’ll PM you later this afternoon, Aj-I have to take the missus to the garden centre!
Well, that’s it, defence producing no witnesses, court adjourned to give both sides time to prepare closing speeches. Crown Thursday, defence Wednesday, judge to sum up on Monday. A joint minute of fact, accepted by both sides, from Rolland Phillips of the takeover panel accepted as true (no details of what it said).
It seems fitting that as I wrote the above, the grandkids were watching Bugs Bunny, which ended with the usual theme tune (you all know it) and the legend ‘Well that’s all folks’ on the screen
John ClarkMay 31, 2017 at 12:42
AllyjamboMay 31, 2017 at 09:16‘….. did you waste your time going along?’________i’ll PM you later this afternoon, Aj-I have to take the missus to the garden centre!
_________________
Ah, the joys of retirement, John. I’ll look forward to receiving your PM.
PS, my own personal joy (of semi-retirement) today is baby-sitting duties, the wee
ALLYJAMBOMAY 31, 2017 at 12:45
“It seems fitting that as I wrote the above, the grandkids were watching Bugs Bunny, which ended with the usual theme tune (you all know it) and the legend ‘Well that’s all folks’ on the screen”
——————————————————————————————————————————
I’m not so sure Ally. Free from the restraints of legal niceties, there are still wrongs to be righted, full colour pull-out exclusives to be sold, books to be written, and perchance a movie. (A feature length cartoon seems appropriate)
There is still some wonga to be gleaned from the bones of the old lady yet. ……Unfortunately, the old lady will see none of it, but may experience an element of “grave rotation”
Whatever the verdict, there will be fall-out.
I have a recollection of JD saying that after the verdict, everything becomes a matter of public record, and as such, available to Joe Bloggs on application, in glorious, authenticated, not to be argued with, unhacked, unstolen, bona fide tachnicolour.
I imagine the SFA will be making the first application. They have the most to fear.
AULDHEIDMAY 31, 2017 at 09:39
HomunculusMay 30, 2017 at 18:33 AULDHEID MAY 30, 2017 at 17:37 ====================================Other than taxpayer’s confidentiality what in your opinion motivated HMRC to “keep the lid on it”. I can understand why you might believe the others were so motivated but I’m struggling with theirs. ==================Rangers accepted liability and quantum on 21st March (having accepted liability earlier) but cannot pay. The Bank will not allow the amount they are owed to rise by £2.8M, so it is in HMRC’s interests to let matters drift until the new owner arrives…. What happened next might be revealed in coming days so no more for now. But getting paid was the motivation, not fair play.
=====================================
Why would HMRC be interested in “fair play”.
They established a tax debt and went about collecting it. If they allowed a new owner a “time to pay” facility that is an entirely normal practice as I understand it.
I don’t see how that involves them “keeping the lid” on anything. Other than as I said normal confidentiality.
EASYJAMBO
MAY 31, 2017 at 10:49
====================================
So, another wrong “exclusive”.
He really is good at this stuff.
I love the brass neck though, get it wrong then put in an “addendum” having a pop at someone else.
Just a thought.
After the case has concluded,
and the SFA takes no action on damning evidence given under oath,
and if the clubs still refuse to take any action either…
Would it be a possibility for crowd-funding to pay for taking the SFA / Regan to Court ?
Based on the premise that he / the SFA ‘defrauded’ Scottish football customers, wrt Euro licence issuance ?
[Not sure if that would be a goer at all ?]
Mibbees even the threat of a highly embarrassing court action would force Regan / the SFA / the Clubs to actually
listen to the fans ?
I know, just a wild idea.
HomunculusMay 31, 2017 at 14:35 i 3 Votes
AULDHEIDMAY 31, 2017 at 09:39 HomunculusMay 30, 2017 at 18:33 AULDHEID MAY 30, 2017 at 17:37 ====================================Other than taxpayer’s confidentiality what in your opinion motivated HMRC to “keep the lid on it”. I can understand why you might believe the others were so motivated but I’m struggling with theirs. ==================Rangers accepted liability and quantum on 21st March (having accepted liability earlier) but cannot pay. The Bank will not allow the amount they are owed to rise by £2.8M, so it is in HMRC’s interests to let matters drift until the new owner arrives…. What happened next might be revealed in coming days so no more for now. But getting paid was the motivation, not fair play.
=====================================
Why would HMRC be interested in “fair play”.
They established a tax debt and went about collecting it. If they allowed a new owner a “time to pay” facility that is an entirely normal practice as I understand it.
I don’t see how that involves them “keeping the lid” on anything. Other than as I said normal confidentiality.
=======================
By letting matters drift after 21st March until 5th May, HMRC helped keep the lid on the fact an overdue payable existed at 31st March.
They let matters drift to improve their chances of payment and there is nothing wrong with that. Just a different motivation from RFC and SFA.
Allowing time to pay is normal practice but to comply with FFP it has to be in writing signed by HMRC dated 31st March or earlier.
If such a document showing written agreement dated 31st March or earlier signed by HMRC can be produced then there was no overdue payable. However requests for that document have been fruitless and that reason was never used by SFA from 2011 until 2016 when a journalist was told the SFA held such a document and he accepted it as a fact.
Had any reference been made to it after eyebrows first raised in August 2011, then Res12 would have never had a platform to leave the station. Instead enquirers were told by SFA : bill was in dispute, it had not crystallised , it wasn’t SFA’s responsibility after 31st March, it was potential at 31st March etc etc .
It is normal practice for HMRC to allow time to pay, so why keep it a big secret? Its hardly breaching confidentiality and if such a document does exist there is an argument HMRC (and SFA) has helped keep the lid on matters by not revealing it.
After Takeover and in pursuit of payment, HMRC knew how dependent that was on CL qualification, again nothing wrong in that, but it points to a flaw in the rules if overdue social tax is by passed by the tax authority with a different agenda from UEFA and where the SFA are at best lax in ensuring compliance.
AULDHEID
MAY 31, 2017 at 16:47
===================================
Clearly your view on taxpayers confidentiality and mine are different. As is our understanding of what HMRC’s duties are.
Rather than this getting boring for everyone else and going over old ground I’ll just leave it there if you don’t mind. I don’t get your point with regards HMRC and I doubt I am going to. If further information comes out I can read that.
Thanks for the answers though.
I can’t help but think today’s signing of Bruno Alves for Rangers is part of an all out gamble to reach the group stages of the Europa League with zero thought of the consequences if they don’t. It will be interesting to see who else joins and you really have to wonder whether they might run out of cash even earlier this season.
AllyjamboMay 31, 2017 at 12:51
——-
Apologies, Aj: I’m having difficulty trying to send a PM. It’s been a while since I sent one, and I’ve forgotten how to get the directory which I think you need to do toget something other than Allyjambo into the address box? Can you advise on the steps I should take after entering the text of the message?
Apologies for butting in JC and AJ
Just start typing the recipient name in the box and it will provide you with a “list” and home in on the name you want.
AULDHEID
MAY 31, 2017 at 16:47
By letting matters drift after 21st March until 5th May, HMRC helped keep the lid on the fact an overdue payable existed at 31st March.
—————————–
I can’t understand your thinking that HMRC had a (statutory or otherwise) requirement to tell the SFA.
That was up to RFC to do.
They were the member of the SFA & bound by the rules of that Association & Uefa.
RFC chose to mislead the SFA.
HomunculusMay 31, 2017 at 17:04
Aye best leave until a fuller narrative emerges to see the context of my point.
Jingso.JimsieMay 31, 2017 at 19:17
AULDHEID
MAY 31, 2017 at 16:47
By letting matters drift after 21st March until 5th May, HMRC helped keep the lid on the fact an overdue payable existed at 31st March.—————————–
I can’t understand your thinking that HMRC had a (statutory or otherwise) requirement to tell the SFA.
That was up to RFC to do.
They were the member of the SFA & bound by the rules of that Association & Uefa.
RFC chose to mislead the SFA.
——————
I didn’t mean they had a statutory requirement to tell the SFA. I was thinking more of any HMRC action between March and May leaking and becoming public via social media like RTC.
It just so happened that it was in HMRC and taxpayers interest not to pursue collection more quickly.
That’s not a condemnation or judgement of HMRC, I’d have done the same myself as an ex civil servant.
It certainly was up to RFC to notify the SFA of their tax position and how that was done or not done is a loooong tale. There is no doubt RFC misled the SFA, what is not so certain is how willing the SFA were to be misled.
My original point was that all parties, RFC, SFA, HMRC and UEFA had different motivations in 2011 for their approach, which enabled the situation that developed to develop. That is why its been so hard to get answers.
John ClarkMay 31, 2017 at 18:55
John, your test PM worked ok
woodsteinMay 31, 2017 at 19:16
‘..Apologies for butting in JC and AJ.’
___________
Not at all, woodstein. I appreciate the help.
I did what you said, and Aj received the test message.
However, when I followed the same procedure to send the substantive message, it seemed not to work.
He got the test message. He seems not to have received the actual message- either that, or he’s drowning in multiple copies,because I kept pressing the ‘send’ button!
( The message related to my attendance in Court 11 in Parliament House, to see what BDO was seekng ‘directions’ for in the matter of trying to progress to conclusion the Liquidation, and I was saying that , from my perspective, it was not at all a waste of my time)
John ClarkJune 1, 2017 at 00:15
Have PM’d you.
AllyjamboJune 1, 2017 at 06:49
‘..Have PM’d you.’
__________________
And I have tried to reply, using the ‘reply’ box.
I haven’t got my 7 year old grand-daughter to help me!!
The Advocate Depute seems to be getting his case over in a much clearer manner than previously. Very easy to understand and to see the direction of the prosecution.
Although Donald Findlay QC has a huge reputation for his summarising skills. Should be interesting tomorrow.
John ClarkJune 1, 2017 at 12:32
Don’t worry, John, I’ll just wait until you are free to report whatever there is to report to us all. Thanks for trying, though
AllyjamboJune 1, 2017 at 14:20
‘…I’ll just wait until you are free to report ‘
_______
yippee, I’ve just this minute succeeded in sending you a message, Aj.
John Clark June 1, 2017 at 14:55
AllyjamboJune 1, 2017 at 14:20 ‘…I’ll just wait until you are free to report ‘ _______ yippee, I’ve just this minute succeeded in sending you a message, Aj.
=====================================
Bugger that! I’ve just PM’d him too.
I’ll be in touch with you at the weekend re Monday if you are interested in hearing Lady S’s summing up and directions.
John ClarkJune 1, 2017 at 14:55
Will check it now
Just some stuff i can’t get my head around.
AD says Murray would not have sold Rangers to Whyte if they had known his source of funds “That is the fraud”
————-
Would Mr Murray have got the sale of the ibrox club in the first place if the seller knew he got a loan to buy the club.
were is the fraud?
————
I took the wife out for a slap up meal.she thought it was savings that paid for it.It was a winning horse
Later said. if she knew the great meal was from bookies winnings she would not have gone out for the meal
were is the fraud? never told her were the money came from, but she knew from my history for a flutter it may have not all that she was expecting but went along for the meal.Ate the lot
Am i missing something. ps the above is not true.if it was I would have got food poisoning and the wife would have said hell mend you