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.
Yes I do agree Homunculus. What it boils down to is the difference between The Law and Justice. In the whole of the saga Justice has been consistently in second place but maybe, just maybe Karma will have the last laugh.
They never learn
The appointment of yet another overseas Director to RIFC. one who was complicit in events leading to the destruction of value in RFC plc. by spending beyond its means is yet more evidence that nothing has changed down Ibrox way
The unfortunate Bears can now look forward to the departure of Chairman DCK and his zillions. No doubt he will be replaced as Chairman by Alistair Johnston of Surrender No fame. Methinks he will quickly discover that his honourable business background in the wider world makes him ill equipped to deal with the charlatans prepared to source the OPM needed to keep TRFC afloat
Frankly
I can see this panto going on until Celtic are well beyond 10 inarow
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I have seen some comments (or was it a banner?) that said
“Your Grandchildren will be Celtic fans”
If TRFC don`t sort themselves out in the next 10 yrs or so
This is a real possibilty
WOTTPI
JUNE 6, 2017 at 22:07
As has been said elsewhere with three previous incompetents on board and T’Rangers throwing cash about as if we’re going out of fashion there is plenty to keep us all going for a bit longer yet.
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What cash are Rangers throwing about.
Three signings, total fee something like £500,000 as I understand it, I could be wrong. One of those signings a loan.
Various players off the books already as their contracts have run out, their wages freed up to pay new players’ wages. Every chance other players will go, bringing in money and freeing more wages.
I haven’t seen any cash being thrown about. I’m happy to be corrected though.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 6, 2017 at 22:42
“What cash are Rangers throwing about.
Three signings, total fee something like £500,000 as I understand it, I could be wrong. One of those signings a loan.”
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It’s hardly evidence Homunculus, and I can’t vouch for the figures quoted, (or even understand Spanish) but this appears to back up their spending…………Anybody translate?
https://twitter.com/PressPortmx/status/872175145439440898
Corrupt official June 6, 2017 at 23:25
====================
It depends whether or not the $ symbol refers to US Dollars or Mexican Pesos. Both countries use the same symbol.
If Pena was $3.5m USD, then it is the equivalent of £2.7m
If however it was $3.5m MXN it is the equivalent of £148k
Sold for a pound and a promise . Must’ve been a shortage of beans that day .
EASYJAMBO
JUNE 7, 2017 at 01:02
“It depends whether or not the $ symbol refers to US Dollars or Mexican Pesos. Both countries use the same symbol.If Pena was $3.5m USD, then it is the equivalent of £2.7mIf however it was $3.5m MXN it is the equivalent of £148k”
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If it was MXN that would put Hererra at under half that of Pena, around £63k…….Hardly worth the expenditure of a flight and medical…….Sold as seen then.
Wonder what dollar the SMSM will use?
Curious little piece in the DR.
No quotes included.
No name, but ‘By Record Sport Online’.
Nothing unusual there.
But…
[my highlighting]
“SFA to pursue former Rangers owner Craig Whyte over unpaid fine
Whyte was fined by the governing body for bringing the game into disrepute but the sum was never paid.
The SFA is to consider pursuing former Rangers owner Craig Whyte for a fine of £200,000.
Whyte was fined by the governing body for bringing the game into disrepute but the sum was never paid.
He was initially fined £50,000 by the governing body, with three penalties added, after failing to notify the SFA that he had been disqualified as a director for seven years in 2000.
It comes after Whyte, 46, was today cleared in court of any wrongdoing in relation to the takeover of the Ibrox club in 2011.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan confirmed advice will be taken about how to recover the money.”
=======================
Curious that the SFA would even mention Why he,
so soon after the verdict,
and whilst the SFA has been shown up as corrupt WRT the euro licence.
So who benefits from this feeble distraction?
Doesn’t really help the SFA.
Mibbees TRFC want to continue portraying Whyte as the villain?
A wild guess: Level42 issued this copy/paste job – and without Regan’s knowledge!
The chairman of Rangers Football Club, Dave King paid a “hacker” for confidential copies of emails a court has been told.
During a legal argument at the Craig Whyte trial, defence advocate Donald Findlay QC objected to the Crown bringing into evidence an email because: “An individual hacked into Whyte’s computer for purposes of potential blackmail,” adding: “The material was recovered after a payment from Dave King.”Byline understands £25k was paid by King for the “hacked” information, some of which was later leaked to the press and posted on social media.Findlay objected to the material being presented in court as it was: “Tainted by dishonesty.” The presiding judge, Lady Stacey upheld the objection and the email was never shown to the jury. The Crown Office have told Byline that the alleged hacking is a “live investigation’ so they would be making no further comment
Oh Dear.
Looking through the Metro today I noticed under the legal notices Murray Group Holdings ( SC139469 ) along with Premier Group (SC139902) Holdings seeking and obtaining the removal of the Liquidator and replacing him with another. I know some of the guys like to keep themselves abreast of these cases and not really sure what this one is pertaining but know someone on here will. I didn’t know they put legal notices in a free paper dished out on the bus.
I was under the impression that so far Rangers had signed Alves and Jack, with Dalcio in on loan for a season.
Apologies if they have brought in others at reasonably substantial cost.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 6, 2017 at 22:42
and others.
Any fees and wages for Alves (£500k) and Jack take care of the Hill and Seneros costs.
2 loan players can cancel out Hyndman and Toral, they have one in with Dalcio.
However—
Reports of new players being currently brought in with fees being paid (currency to be clarified) and additions to the wage bill.
Talk of Garner being punted to Ipswich for £500k, so no return made on that deal.
No signs of others leaving. Rossiter still the invisible man, Kranjcar still on the wage bill.
No Scottish clubs showing early interest in any of the likely contenders for leaving such as O’Halloran, Holt, Halliday, Keirnan
Agree we are still waiting for the English window to open up on 1 July (to 1 September) but knowing there is a fire sale at Ibrox English clubs and others can bide their time and get their target on the cheap. Meanwhile players remaining but hoping to go are still getting paid presumably from day one when they have returned to Pedro’s early start training camps. (Was that not reported as being 1 June?)
The fact remains we have three people on the Plc board who are great at spending other people’s money and appear (especially when backed up by Findlay’s recent performance at court) to have little competence in running a football club and a tight ship. These leopards do not change their spots. They will splash cash as a gamble in the hope that there is something around the corner.
Time will tell, once again, if this type of gamble will pay off. A la Whyte and McCoist, a Malmo type European experience could easily sink the ship.
I still see the Ibrox operation living from hand to mouth from the substantial season ticket income but come the end of the calendar year it will be back to the point of seeking additional finance as it has been in every year of the new club’s existence.
As I keep saying the operating costs for T’Rangers operations high, fairly constant and take a decent bite out of the main income stream. The more you spend of the playing squad the less wriggle room you have. With all the ongoing disputes and lack of clarity over other income streams, outwith the paying punters cash, they are still walking a tightrope.
JC – another couple of court references for you to keep an eye on.
A293/16 Paul Clark v The Chief Constable of Police Scotland &c – Scottish Government
A295/16 David Whitehouse v Liam Murphy &c – Scottish Government
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In their last actions at the Court of Session, both cases had unopposed motions granted on 31 May 2017.
I’m pretty sure that these two cases are D&P taking action against the the police for their evidence gathering practices in the Fraudco case.
A quick search on Liam Murphy found someone of that name with a senior role within the COPFS
http://www.crownoffice.gov.uk/in-your-community/copfs-functions#specialist
“This Function is managed nationally by Liam Murphy, Procurator Fiscal Specialist Casework, but delivered from various locations throughout Scotland”.
Specialist Casework includes:
* Criminal Allegations against the Police
WOTTPIJUNE 7, 2017 at 10:46
I was just wondering are some guys over in Ibrox not getting paid at all in the close season? I vaguely remember discussions on here that over recent years contracts were for 48 weeks (?) and players were not paid inbetween seasons.
CHRISTYBOYJUNE 7, 2017 at 11:05
Well indeed, that was my understanding of earlier discussions/assumptions.
However if you are asked to return early for pre-season training (and in the case of Wallance and Garner – cancel you wedding plans) then surely wages, insurances etc all have to kick in.
I doubt any agent worth their salt would have their clients working for free.
CLUSTER ONEJUNE 7, 2017 at 07:10
It’s not looking good for the big liar. I wouldn’t like to pre-empt the outcome of a live investigation, but this would be a very serious charge, both personally, and for Sevco. There are so many cracks in the dam now catastrophic failure looks inevitable.
As JD points out, this info was hacked from CW’s computer. There can be zero doubt as to their authenticity. I would suggest that it may also pose heap big trouble for the forked tongues of the SFA. Keep bamming Bampots..We’re nearly there !
Isn’t it ironic that the RRM who tried to crash Sevco, and lauded as their RRM saviours, were actually, possibly, doing the opposite.
Speaking with my blue-nosed brother this morning, who is just a no baggage fitba’ fella, I will use his words not mine…”I feel like a right t*t”.
It would also be fair to say that it was the first he had heard of it. He thought I was at the madam until I sent him JD’s link. (I’m sure I mentioned it to him before)
Well done the SMSM. You serve the corrupt well…….But not the nation. Clear your desks and don’t come back.
Homunculus
June 6, 2017 at 22:42
11 Votes
WOTTPI JUNE 6, 2017 at 22:07
As has been said elsewhere with three previous incompetents on board and T’Rangers throwing cash about as if we’re going out of fashion there is plenty to keep us all going for a bit longer yet.
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What cash are Rangers throwing about.
Three signings, total fee something like £500,000 as I understand it, I could be wrong. One of those signings a loan.
Various players off the books already as their contracts have run out, their wages freed up to pay new players’ wages. Every chance other players will go, bringing in money and freeing more wages.
I haven’t seen any cash being thrown about. I’m happy to be corrected though.
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In my opinion, should a club like, say, Aberdeen, have spent in the region of £500,000 on players prior to releasing a fair number of their higher earners, I’d agree that £500,000 is not ‘splashing the cash’, but, so far, TRFC haven’t removed all that many high earners from their pay-roll, or, at least, still have too many still under contract, and, unlike Aberdeen, have made a loss in each of their five years of existence with a resulting ever growing level of debt.
Any business with that dire performance record is undoubtedly ‘splashing the cash’ if anything is spent before some new income stream is available, a fairly large income stream in this case, I’d say.
This is the first year of their existence that no one has promised a huge ‘investment’ in the club – other than to say all the ST money would be used to fund the playing staff – so, unless there is a complete turnaround in the business plan to one of ‘promise nothing but deliver plenty’, then the old business model of ‘splash the cash we don’t have (or, maybe have now, but won’t have in a few months’ time)’ continues.
Unless there is a large donation on it’s way that hasn’t been trumpeted during this annual trumpeting (or should that be fluting?) period, then TRFC/RIFC should surely be offloading as many of their high earners as they can, to replace them with whatever they can safely afford.
It seems to me that next season’s strategy is based entirely on the Whyte model, with less chance of qualifying for a poorer (in the financial sense) European competition, with a poorer squad of players than McCoist failed with, while ignoring how the club that finished comfortably ahead of them in the league and both cup competitions (Aberdeen) fared in Europe less than 12 months ago!
Thing that I’ve noticed about the new signings at Ibrox are their almost complete lack of resale value (Jack aside). We were told the strategy was to develop players and sell them on for exorbitant fees (i.e. basically copy Celtic). A 36 year old centre back draining the coffers with big weekly wage and signing on fees isn’t exactly commensurate with that plan, as is bringing players in on loan.
It wasn’t that long ago we were talking about dogs returning to their vomit and up pops A.J.
With it now stated in open court that the WTC had crystalized before March 31, the very least the SFA/Regan should do is issue a statement condemning the then club for lying to them and denying other clubs their rightful place in the next season’s European competitions. That should be a given. Either the SFA was in cahoots, or Rangers lied to them, and regardless of whether or not they view RFC as dead, if their own excuse for the ridiculous lack of oversight is that they trusted all member clubs to self assess, then they have to take retrospective action whenever it is discovered that a club has deliberately lied in it’s application for a European license! Obviously there is no action that can be taken, directly, against Rangers, but there is against those who fraudulently lied on the application.
Quite simply, no one who was a party to this dishonest application should be allowed to take part in Scottish football, and that is doubly so for the man who was chairman at the time. It was not Craig Whyte who told the first lie, and it’s even possible he was unaware that he continued with a lie, at least until he discovered that there was no possibility of even making an appeal, at which point he became a party to a lie that he had little choice (if he wanted the club to continue) other than to continue with the lie.
Why might it be that the SFA haven’t turned to Alasdair Johnston and told him he is no longer welcome in Scottish football and that the same goes for every other member of that lying board? Why might the head of any association, so compromised by a member, not want to penalise, if not the member club, then the people who carried out what some might class as fraud against that association and it’s honest members?
Quite simply, there is no good reason for no action, at all, being taken!
ALLYJAMBOJUNE 7, 2017 at 14:31
Ah AJ you forget the three stooges, King Johnson and mini Murray, are now all members of the Plc as opposed to the ‘football club’. Does the SFA have authority over these guys? (All of whom could be run out of town for a variety of reasons).
IMHO one guy they should be asking questions of is the one person I see as being a constant in this whole affair with fingers in many pies – Andrew Dickson. He held the position of Head of Football Administration in both old and newco so probably knows where the skeleton’s are buried for all the regimes over the last couple of decades. However, despite being on the current football board for some reason appears to operate well below anyone’s radar and his name never seems to be raised in relation to any awkward questions about his role in footballing administrative issues such as dodgy player contracts and registrations, Uefa licence applications etc etc.
Maybe I am being unfair to someone who just gets on with his job but I get a picture of Dickson as being like Blackadder (the 2nd & 3rd), keeping himself onside with the powers that be at both Ibrox and Hampden but trying to avoid getting dragged into any nonsense that will harm him.
wottpiJune 7, 2017 at 15:18
I forgot about that piece of chicanery, WOTTPI, allowing King (and so others) to be a part of the holding company board, and so, unlike Mr Romanov, unaccountable to the SFA!
Regardless, though, they could, and should, make public their displeasure at Johnson’s return to Scottish football at the same time as declaring Rangers(IL) guilty of further cheating.
If withholding social taxes is ranked ‘just below match fixing’, where does fixing your place in a European competition rank? Surely the club, and those involved in it at the time of the fraudulent Euro licence application, should be called out, and, at the very least, shown to be persona non-grata in Scottish football, even if their positions are considered free from sanction!
ALLYJAMBOJUNE 7, 2017 at 16:02
Can’t see any of what you say above happening.
You could have the King of Saudi, Kim Jong-un and Robert Mugabe on the board but no questions would be asked as long as the brown brogues were well polished.
A Jambo P.S. see we got £400k and a 15% sell on clause for Paterson going to Cardiff. Not too shabby for someone at the end of their contract (plus injury) and wanting to make a move.
WOTTPIJUNE 7, 2017 at 15:18
Ah AJ you forget the three stooges, King Johnson and mini Murray, are now all members of the Plc as opposed to the ‘football club’. Does the SFA have authority over these guys? (All of whom could be run out of town for a variety of reasons).
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As an aside to the fact the above three are in many ways disgraced, I often wonder why any right minded Rangers fan would want any of them anywhere near Ibrox in terms of taking the club forward. Their modus operandi seems to surround creating a siege mentality against Rangers ‘haters’, while being completely unable to attract people of genuine quality and wealth onto the board.
Clearly a misplaced sense of entitlement also makes people blind to the truth.
wottpiJune 7, 2017 at 16:46
ALLYJAMBOJUNE 7, 2017 at 16:02Can’t see any of what you say above happening.
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Totally agree, but it is what should happen, or something similar. Certainly, the SFA should, at least, make a statement on the licence application, whatever their story might be, for not to do so can only be an indication of their complicity in the matter and their desire to keep it under that lumpy carpet!
As for Paterson’s transfer, not wanting to be club specific, but it is nice to see that, according to one report, Paterson requested a sell-on clause be included and Cardiff were happy to agree with it. Seems some players and clubs can be quite honourable from time to time and recognise the part played by the developing club.
From the archives of the late great PMcC
“What if Mr Whyte does not pay?
Mr Whyte’s public statement makes it clear that he has no intention of acknowledging this so-called “kangaroo” court.
However the SFA can still get the money, even if Mr Whyte refuses to pay. Article 97.2 states that if a person does not pay a fine, then the funds can be deducted at source from the money due to the club by the SFA.
Therefore, if Mr Whyte is bloody minded, he might find that the angst from Rangers fans towards him gets even worse!
To Conclude
Mr Whyte fined the maximum fine of £200,000 (£50,000 x 4).
Mr Whyte expelled from the sport for life.
Mr Whyte’s unpaid fine (if not appealed) will be deducted from footballing prize money due to Rangers from SFA.”
This is why Regan has to go he has nowhere to turn he cannot get the money from CW, he cannot get it from Rangers they were liquidated. Did he deduct the money from source at the time as he knew CW was not paying this, of course he did not or his statement made after trial verdict the other day makes him out to be a fool? He wiped the debt off thinking they had seen the last of CW. This guy has to go as does King and co for bringing the game into disrepute, fall on the rules they used against CW
Incredible article from 2002. Always well worth a read every now and then
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/adam-shakes-ibrox-pillars-with-warning-of-bankruptcy-1-595808
THERE are licensed premises in Glasgow where the regular patrons will consider the recent deeds and utterances of the former Rangers director, Hugh Adam, to be nothing less than acts of treason. This should be regarded as a natural, almost understandable, reaction from immovably devoted supporters of the Ibrox club to the decision by Adam to unload his 59,000 shares in Rangers on the basis that they were heading towards worthlessness, thanks to the unsatisfactory business methods of the chairman, David Murray. Almost certainly viewed as an even more heinous offence would be Adam’s claim that Celtic are run much more competently and that investment in the Parkhead club would be a much sounder proposition for anyone wishing to purchase shares in a football institution. It would be tempting for many to dismiss Adam’s action as merely a gratuitous attack on Murray by a disillusioned, 76-year-old ex-employee carrying a grudge. But Adam has been a candid critic of the way Rangers have operated for years, ever willing to voice his unease – indeed, his incomprehension – at losses he has always insisted were unsustainable. He also has impressive credentials, having been chairman and managing director of Rangers Development and Rangers Pools since 1971, raising the millions which built the modern Ibrox. Adam’s efforts brought the club around 18million, about 60million at today’s values. To say that his final severance with Ibrox, after three separate terms as a director amounting to about 15 years of service, was done in a fury would be inaccurate, but in conversation this week it became evident that his decision is underpinned by unmistakable disgust. Not given to sensationalism, this essentially conservative disciple of prudent forward planning and low-risk business principles did, however, cause something of a shock by observing almost matter-of-factly that, if Rangers continue on their present track, their ultimate destination will be bankruptcy. “That’s the logical conclusion to a strategy that incurs serious loss year on year,” said Adam. “In the past five years – and it’s all there in the last annual report – Rangers have lost 80million. “Now, the banks are well known for being a bit more tolerant of companies whose core business is a popular pursuit like football. But there is a limit to how far backwards they can bend to accommodate you. “David Murray has always had an amazing persuasiveness when it comes to getting people to put money into his businesses, but the signs are that those sources have dried up. “The 40million worth of shares that ENIC (English National Investment Company) bought a few years ago are now worth about 15million, with no evidence to suggest that they will recover. The money itself, that which was actually invested, was lost some time ago. “Now the latest investor, Dave King from South Africa, will know that his 20million shareholding is worth around half, or even less, of what it was when he bought. No proper businessman will want to buy into that kind of loss.” ADAM sold 12,000 of his 59,000 shares last year and the balance of 47,000 just recently. For the latter, he got 1.15 each; three years ago, they were valued at 3.45. He is convinced Rangers cannot trade their way out of trouble, unless they gain access to a league that will attract higher-bracket income from TV. He was in favour of the proposed Atlantic League, involving the Old Firm and clubs from Holland, Portugal and other countries, but is extremely sceptical of their chances of joining the English Premiership. He is adamant that Rangers do not have the customer base to improve their financial standing through merchandising. “Rangers’ so-called global appeal is a myth,” he said. “When I was there, we did an exercise which involved asking 50,000 fans on the database to recommend a friend or a relative abroad. “A big response was expected – some were even talking about getting 100,000 names – because everybody in Scotland seems to know somebody abroad. “We got back 2,800 names and three-quarters of them didn’t know they had been nominated. It’s no surprise that Celtic are officially the best-supported football club in North America, with more official clubs than anybody else. The difference is the Irish connection. “Many Irish people may support Manchester United, Liverpool or whoever, but they all – every one of them – have an affection for Celtic. And, of course, Celtic also have a great Scottish following. “The difference is that, while the Irish all have an allegiance to Parkhead, there are millions of Scots who not only don’t support Rangers, but actively dislike them. “Despite the claims of international appeal, Rangers are, essentially, a West of Scotland club. They talk of supporters’ buses leaving from all parts of Scotland, but if you look closely, you’ll see there aren’t many from each area and they are not all full. “This doesn’t mean that even Celtic will earn fortunes from emigrant supporters. There may be more of them than Rangers fans, but it doesn’t mount to the kind of income necessary to fund their ambitions. But Celtic have been, since Fergus McCann’s arrival, much the better-run club. “Fergus was the most unjustly maligned man in the history of the game, when you consider that he took the club from bankruptcy into the mainstream and built that stadium along the way. ‘NOW, the Celtic board have more financial heavyweights than Rangers, with people like Brian Quinn, Dermot Desmond and Sir Patrick Sheehy. “It’s only in the last couple of years that Celtic have sustained losses, but over the five-year period they break even. But Brian Quinn and his board are taking steps to warn people that they are not in the business of heading towards bankruptcy. “For their pains – for doing their job properly – they get crucified in the media, accused of penny-pinching. I don’t understand it. “They are determined to keep Celtic properly managed, while Rangers, with Murray, is a one-party state and the man in power has an allergy to any form of personal criticism. But he’s not a businessman in the long-term sense of planning and prudence, he’s more of an impresario. “But what has been happening is unfair on shareholders, and they’re being short-changed. “It’s a nonsense, too, to say that Rangers’ shareholders are all supporters who aren’t interested in dividends or profits. “That’s okay for the man with 50 shares, framed and hung on his wall. The number of shareholders in that category would amount to a minuscule percentage of the equity. “But I’m 76 and haven’t had a dividend in years, so what’s the point of me keeping shares until they dwindle to nothing? And I’m certain the people at ENIC won’t be too pleased with their investment.”
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/adam-shakes-ibrox-pillars-with-warning-of-bankruptcy-1-595808
As I understand things, the floating charge over rangers assets was found by the administrators to fall on two counts:
1. The transactions that led to Wavetower holding the charge included the alleged criminal act of financial assistance.
2. The bank debt taken on by Wavetower was cancelled out by the loan from Rangers to Wavetower. The net debt was £0.
Now that the financial assistance allegation has been confounded, it would seem to me that the floating charge has become live once more.
Of course, the net debt is still £0 at the moment, but what if…
…Ticketus buys Wavetower from Craig Whyte furra pound.
Ticketus would then be sitting on the floating charge and would scoop up all of the funds currently held by BDO.
Unless I’m missing something obvious?
The court was told Mr Whyte used a £24m loan from leasing firm Ticketus, secured against three years of future season ticket sales, to pay off the bank.
The money was in Rangers account to be moved to wavetower that we know. But if the deal is done with Rangers before White is in charge, Ticketus made a deal for 3 years season books from Murray and passed this on to White, Murray is a liar then and sold the jersys. Ticketus could not do a deal with someone for season books who does not own the company/club. Sevco fans need to wake up,White only agreed once Murray put the deal and funding in place, Murray was paying nothing his eyes we know was on his MIM, he had flogged Rangers to death and was moving on, Legend my arse, the creditors should go for him, the quid he used to get back MIM he obtained from the sale of Rangers thats the real deal.
HirsutePursuit June 7, 2017 at 20:55
=====================
The floating charge claim has had a bit of a dubious history, but you can be assured that it is still there “floating” in the background.
I’m sure you will recall the Sevco 5088 “Letter before Claim” that was sent to the Newco a few years ago, then we heard that Sevco 5088 had become a subsidiary of a Whyte company called Law Financial, who then owned the claim. Whyte apparently sold on Law Financial to Worthington Group for a reported £1m. Worthington subsequently raised a claim against the Oldco, the value of which was reduced over time down to £3m. That claim in itself was sufficient to stop the distribution of an interim dividend to the Oldco’s creditors. (I don’t think any dividend has been paid even now).
BDO sought instructions from the CoS at various points, trying to set time limits for Worthington to formalise their claim. To the best of my knowledge that was not forthcoming and Worthington themselves ran into financial difficulties leading to their liquidation a few months ago.
However, in a final act, Worthington themselves sold on the claim to another company specialising in such things. The claim therefore remains very much alive and reached the CoS in recent weeks. I can’t say any more because of reporting restrictions related to the Whyte case, although I’d expect them to be lifted at the next hearing. I’m sure our legal beagles will be sniffing around that one when it comes back to court.
Meanwhile in the world of hacking a business associates computer and attempting to use such information for one’s owns gain and diss your opposition – people get jail time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-40189942
AllyjamboJune 7, 2017 at 16:02
wottpiJune 7, 2017 at 15:18
I forgot about that piece of chicanery, WOTTPI, allowing King (and so others) to be a part of the holding company board, and so, unlike Mr Romanov, unaccountable to the SFA!
Regardless, though, they could, and should, make public their displeasure at Johnson’s return to Scottish football at the same time as declaring Rangers(IL) guilty of further cheating.
If withholding social taxes is ranked ‘just below match fixing’, where does fixing your place in a European competition rank? Surely the club, and those involved in it at the time of the fraudulent Euro licence application, should be called out, and, at the very least, shown to be persona non-grata in Scottish football, even if their positions are considered free from sanction!
===============
If you scroll down the latest E Tims diary you will see the role the latest TRFC Director recruited played.
http://etims.net/?p=11546
The process might have been followed properly according to Regan but falls on its face on the first pork pie it trips over.
Are we being told no overdue payable in fact existed and the process worked or an overdue payable did exist and so the process failed.
If so why, and how and who, and has any correction been made?
upthehoopsJune 7, 2017 at 20:05
‘…Incredible article from 2002. Always well worth a read every now and then
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/adam-shakes-ibrox-pillars-with-warning-of-bankruptcy-1-595808.’
____________________
That was a great reminder,uth, of why we are so justified in scorning the ‘journalists’ who ,from the start of the ‘saga’, failed to question, to investigate, to wonder at the absurdities that were coming from SDM, and the nonsense attached to the ‘off-the-radar’ wealth of the ‘MBMB’, and all the subsequent nonsense from the SFA and the then SPL and SFL in their dirty dealings with CG and his creation of a new club dressed as the old club, and blessed as such by a cowed and fearful Sports governance body.
We can expect there to be in this world, dirty, deceitful , dishonest businessmen and all kinds of shysters trying to make buck at other people’s expense.
We do not expect that journalists worthy of the name should be of the same stamp. May they choke on stringy lamb or drown when a glass of SDM goes down the wrong way!
As for the governing bodies of a Sport, what do we expect? Some individual personal integrity? Some insistence on sporting integrity? Of course, as a minimum.
In respect of the governing body of Scottish Football what have we had instead? Little but lies and an abandonment of sporting integrity.
The SFA has been nailed on the UEFA licence issue. And , as a matter of legal, commercial and sporting reality, has from day one of the 5-way agreement been supporting an absurd untruth.
The acquittal of Craig Whyte and the absence of any charges against any of the other distasteful types involved in the sale of the old,now in Liquidation club, leaves my withers unwrung.
My focus has been ,and is, on the wrongdoing and abuse of office of our Football governance folk.
Let’s get them called to account, and explain to us why Turnbull Hutton used the word ‘corrupt’ about their doings.
Corrupt Official June 6 at 23.25
Here is the translation of the conversation in the video of (32 seconds) , it was quite difficult to catch what the reporters where asking as they where all shouting over each other , but interestingly the tall guy in the video doing most of the talking didnt respond much to the reporters questions he was more or less talking to the small guy on his right who I think is part of the Mexican club , the tall guy may be the manager/Agent does anyone know ?
Tall Guy: What happens is that we keep on top a percentage
Small Guy: How Much ?
Reporters: What percentage ?
Tall Guy: one and a half
Reporters: A Black ? ( This means Brown Envelope Money )
Reporters: Please can you go down to the Parking ? ( Not sure of this comment as very faint )
Tall guy: Whatever is necessary from there we take off the percentage of 25 percent
Small Guy: In this case 25 and the one and a half
Voice from nowhere: Dont Mention the 25 and the one and a half
Tall Guy:( Changing his tune rather quickly ) No ! one and a half minus 25
Small Guy : Thats Ok
Reporters: You confirm ?
Reporters: Jose Luis , you with !!!!!!!( Coudnt catch the rest as all reporters questioning at the same as with most of the video )
Reporters: How much did you sell him for ?
Reporters: you confirm ?
Small guy: yes we did say it
Reporters: Bicho ! ( Now the word Bicho in Spanish is a very rude word but has many meanings , but what i have worked out in this context it means ” nasty piece of work ” or ” What a cheek ”
Reporter: How Much ?
Reporter: One hundred and five ?
Small Guy: No Not me. not me
Reporters : Nine point five ?
Reporters : Three point five , and you can keep a percentage cant you Jose Luis ?
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With Pleasure from the :
International Interpreting Internet Bampots Inc.
Always worth reminding that Regan knew way back in 2011 they were cheating with unregistered earnings of players through the DOS scheme. The SFA really should just tell some of its to go, they make you sick. In fact i could not give a shit this week about Scotland whilst they are pulling the strings.
Plenty to chew over in this post by BRTH on CQN.
1. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan on 7th June 2017 7:08 am
For those interested in what the latest court ruling means for Res 12 and the wider debate about the running of Scottish Football and the competency of its own rules, procedures and personnel I invite you to take the time to participate in a little exercise.
It will be time-consuming but illuminating.
First, print off and read the detailed analysis of the evidence provided at the first tier tribunal of the Big Tax Case by Dr Heidi Poon. Forget her summation of the law, merely look at her recording of the evidence.
Secondly, read the report of Lord Nimmo Smith in detail and in particular focus on that part where he refers to the FTT decision and considers how he relies on that decision and hi assessment of that evidence.
Thirdly, print off and read James Doleman’s twitter feed reporting on the evidence from the Craig Whyte trial.
Fourth, stop and consider the previous statements issued by Stewart Regan re the granting and maintaining of the UEFA licence granted to Rangers in March 2011 (to be precise it was granted to Rangers on 18th April but based on circumstances pertaining as at 31st March and it was intimated to UEFA on 28th May 2011) and then the letter addressed to shareholders solicitors by Mr Traverso of UEFA.
Finally read the full decision and arguments presented to the Court of Arbitration for sport in the case of UEFA v FC Giannina.
There are many other documents I could refer you to but these will do for now.
Briefly, what can be taken from all of the above is as follows:
1. The details of football, tax and other rules are important and they are designed to bring about a system which makes the admnistration of football and tax affairs are uniform and fair.
2. Where those rules are not applied or conformed with (whether deliberately or by accident) then the rules fail, chaos follows, and prejudice and illegality results.
3. In the FTT it was clearly established that Rangers PLC and MIH deliberately witheld side letters from HMRC and that Mike McGill and Sir David Murray in particular lied to the appropriate tax authorities as to the existence of side letters which would have clearly scuppered the admitted tax avoidance scheme.
4. It has been repeatedly admitted that the same tax avoidance scheme was entered into for the purposes of securing the services of players which the club could not have otherwise afforded.
5, No other Scottish football club has ever participated this unlawful type of tax scheme nor stood accused of having their directors or officials lie to HMRC or any other official body.
6. It is now a matter of admission that an earlier tax avoidance scheme was wholly illegal and was instigated by the former Rangers employee and past SFA President Campbell Ogilvie.
7. It is a matter of admission that officials of Rangers PLC (a considerable number of whom are still involved in the current Rangers club) deliberately witheld side letters and other material information from the SFA and the then SPL for fear that disclosure of that information would result in (a) Rangers being found to have broken footballing rules and so sanctioned by the SFA and (b) Rangers being found to have breached tax laws and so found liable for past taxes.
It should be noted that despite their fear of sanction and the deliberate decision not to disclose for fear of sanction, Rangers continued to use the practices in question.
8. In the course of her FTT assessment of the evidence, Dr Poon is scathing in her assessment of the accuracy, reliability and veracity of the evidence provided by various Rangers personnel.
There’s more….
9. In the course of his cross examination in the Whyte trial, Donald Findlay was scathing in his assessment of the accuracy, reliability and veracity of the people in charge of Rangers at the time of the sale of the club to Whyte (late 2010 early 2011) and went so far as to question their business competence describing them as hopeless .
10. In the course of his summation to the jury (and later emphasised by Lady Stacey) Donald Findlay relied on internal memos from within MIH and Rangers PLC which showed that David Murray was hell bent on selling the club and was prepared to do whatever was needed to get the deal over the line.
This included failing to disclose the true finances of Rangers PLC in or around February/ March 2011 and a complete failure to disclose the existence of The Wee Tax Case and the accepted liability arising out of an accepted unlawful tax scheme as at February 2011.
Thus far, we have a clear practice of deliberately failing to disclose to HMRC, The SFA, The SPFL and Craig Whyte.
11. In the course of the trial it became apparent that David Murray was promised that if he sold Rangers and had the Rangers debt to the bank cleared in the process, he personally stood to gain from the repurchase of part of his metal business at a knock down price.
However, in a letter to Rangers Board Members David Murray not only failed to disclose any of this but specifically warranted that there was no such benefit accruing to him or MIH. Accordingly you can now add the directors of Rangers PLC to the list of people who have had material information witheld from them.
12. As part of the sworn testimony in court, it was accepted that the liability to HMRC was accepted by the club as being due as early as February 2011. That acceptance was binding on the club and it is clear that HMRC were treating the liability as overdue and were claiming tax and interest going back to 2001.
13. That liability was neither questioned or appealed by the seller or his advisers, but the interest charged was supposedly appealed by Craig Whyte and his advisers several months later. HMRC never treated the appeal as valid or timeous.
14. At various times, Stewart Regan has stated that at the material times, the wee tax case liability was either (a) not overdue or (b) was the subject of an extension of time agreed between RFC and HMRC and so did not breach UEFA licensing regulations.
HMRC have never accepted either of these propositions and it has -reviously been stated that when it comes to matters of disclosure, accuracy and truthfulness in relation to disclosure Rangers personnel have openly admitted they witheld the truth and failed to disclose the truth.
At no time have the SFA or the SPFL ever investigated the truth or accuracy of the submissions provided by Rangers PLC regarding the wee tax case and both decided to deliberately remove all reference to these matters from the LNS enquiry.
15. In a letter to shareholders of Celtic PLC, the head of licensing at UEFA has stated that as at 28th May 2011 there was no reason for UEFA to suspect that there was any cause for concern in relation to the licence granted by the SFA to Rangers PLC.
16. It is unclear if UEFA have ever been informed that the board of Rangers PLC, and the owners of the club through MIH and its officers, have been repeatedly condemned and found guilty of repeated failure to disclose material items when making submissions or in answer to enquiries.
17. It is unclear whether or not UEFA were made aware of the fact that officials of Rangers PLC accepted there was a tax liability outstanding in February 2011 and which remained outstanding as at 31st March 2011, nor is it clear if they were made aware of the fact that this liability was not openly disclosed to the eventual buyer of the club and was witheld from him at the material time.
18. Stewart Regan of the SFA is on record as stating that having awarded a UEFA licence to Rangers in or around March/April 2011, all subsequent procedures regarding UEFA compliance had nothing to do with the SFA and were for UEFA to deal with.
19. In his letter to Celtic shareholders, Mr Traverso contradicts 18 above quite clearly.
and more…
20. When writing to the Chief Executive of Celtic Football Club, Stewart Regan states clearly that the procedures and processes adopted by the SFA in relation to the grant and award of UEFA licences during the course of 2011 was subject to UEFA audit with the result that UEFA stated they were more than satisfied with the SFA processes.
Official UEFA reports state that the SFA was not audited at all during season 2010/2011 or season 2011/2012 in relation to licensing processes.
21. While Stewart Regan has maintained that the SFA played no part in monitoring compliance with UEFA licences, Mr Traverso of UEFA has stated in writing that not only were the SFA monitoring compliance in 2011 but were contemporaneously monitoring events for season 2012/2013. Both statements cannot be correct.
22. Mr Traverso from UEFA has stated that during the course of season 2011/2012, UEFA were advised by the SFA (at some unspecified point and for reasons which have never been disclosed) that Rangers PLC no longer complied with UEFA licensing provisions.
23. The facts stated at 22 above were not disclosed to the chief executive of Celtic PLC in any coorespondence between Celtic and the SFA, and the chief executive of the SFA would appear not to have disclosed that they informed UEFA that Rangers PLC no longer complied with licensing provisions nor why the SFA reached that conclusion.
24. It is plain from the testimony at the High Court and elsewhere that it was essential in 2011/2012 for Rangers to gain financially from European competition failing which administration (which had been discussed by the board in 2010) was inevitable.
25. From February 2011 onwards the HMRC position that the wee tax case was overdue remained consistent and it never changed. No money was ever paid to this liability and it was clearly accepted as being due in the share sale and purchase agreement signed between Murray and Whyte dated 6th May some three weeks before the award of the licence was submitted to UEFA with a condition being added that Whyte would undertake to make payment of the sum due.
26. No payments of the sums referred to in the Share sale and purchase agreement were made as at 30th June or 30th September both of which are key dates in the UEFA monitoring processes.
27. Despite all of the above, Rangers PLC draft and provisional accounts continued to refer to the Wee Tax Case Liability as a “potential” liability and former Rangers PLC Chairman Alistair Johnson repeated the mantra that the liability was potential despite fellow board members agreeing with HMRC that the sums were actually due.
28. In the case of UEFA v FC Giannina the court determined that when a company board accpeted that a tax liability was due in writing then it was immediately due and or overdue irrespective of the technicalities of national legislation or any other documents. This would then mean that the wee tax case liability was automatically accpeted as at February 2011 and was overdue.
29. In the case of Uefa v FC Giannina — the stated UEFA position is that when any club fails to disclose material information in any application for a licence or in support of an application for a licence or in any set of financial accounts required to support an application for a licence, then the failure to disclose and the submission of inaccurate accounts and information will immediately make that application or the accounts concerned null and void and as if no application had ever been received at all with there being no need for UEFA to investigate each and every circumstance or potantially serious breach of the rules.
In other words if you seek to cover up any dishonesty or any failure to comply then the application is automatically rejected for that year and for every year that a club failed to disclose.
30. FC Giannina failed to disclose that they had side letters and contracts with their players, failed to disclose their full wages to the Greek FA, failed to pay all their taxes on the sums due to the players as a result of payments made to those players, failed to properly disclose the true nature of sums outstanding to the tax authorities in Greece, attempted to deceive the Greek FA by not disclosing the whole truth re the position with the Greek Tax authorities and had the UEFA licence initially awarded to them by the Greek FA in season 2011/12 withdrawn within a matter of months. They were then banned from European competition for a period of time.
31. At no time have the SFA ever commented on the impact of the case against FC Giannina in relation to the wee tax case or the big tax case, nor the findings of the SPFL enquiry which ruled that Rangers PLC had deliberately failed to disclose certain material matters and that the registration of players was technically correct but incomplete in material terms (Giannna would suggest that this is the wromg approach) nor a previous finding during which the panel described the actions of the then Rangers board as being ” as close to match fixing as you can possibly get” or words to that effect.
Finally, I would add that Stewart Regan’s pronouncement yesterday that the SFA would take legal advice about chasing a man who has previously been made bankrupt for an unpaid £200k liability ranks as one of the most obvious squirrells in the history of PR.
Regrettably, the MSM in Scotland failed to ask him how a bankupt could ever be forced to pay a debt having been declared bankrupt in the interim and so appear to have swallowed the squirrel hook line and tail!
No one has botherd to ask them if they will be reviewing their own procedures and the submissions made to the SFA by what Jack Irvine described as aRangers board which was a “snake pit of rumour, innuendo, lies, intimidation, fraud, corruption and these are just the good points”.
The full quote from Irvine, describing the outgoing board headed by Alistair Johnston which made the application for the UEFA licence in Mrach 2011 reads as follows:
“The events of the last couple of days will by now have convinced you that the business side of [the] Glasgow-based football club is a snake pit of rumour, innuendo, lies, intimidation, fraud, corruption and these are just the good points.”
When read in conjunction with the observations of Dr Poon it is an assessment which is hard to disagree with.
At the time concerned the business side of Rangers was run by inter alia Dave King, Alistair Johnson, Paul Murray, Andrew Dickson and others.
It should be rememberd that when the chief executive of Celtic Football Club wrote to the SFA Chief Executive about SFA practices and procedures, the SFA Chief Executive drafted a reply and sent his draft to Ibrox for comment before releasing a final response to Celtic.
The SFA Chief Executive’s draft reply was rejected by the then powers that be at Ibrox on the grounds that the reply could raise questions which would be “Embarassing for both of us!”.
Auldheid. Thank you so much for your detailed analysis. You sir i respect very much.
Going back to my post at June 8 at 00.15 I forgot to put in the last part of the conversation as I never checked my 2nd page of translation , it finishes as such:
Small Guy: we said it already
Reporter: ok ok
Small Guy: No, Yes we did finish a commercial sell ( deal ) Im pleased to say….
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With pleasure from the
International Interpreting Internet Bampots Inc.
Graham Spiers showing us why Scottish ‘journalism’ is viewed with such contempt, in one tweet!
‘Replying to @CQNPaul the old Rangers FC was done-in by this. It skewered itself on this debacle. ‘Murdered’ as Alastair Johnston put it. So why persist?’
They may have been ‘skewered’ – because they overspent, using the bank’s, and other people’s, money – but RFC escaped natural justice for all the other wrongs they perpetrated, and one in particular that has only just been shown, beyond any concievable doubt, to have happened! Surely, any serious journalist would see it as his duty to flag this, at least, as evidence of wrongdoing of major proportions that has to be investigated, not to penalise a deceased club, but to ensure that the proper proceedures are put in place to prevent it ever happening again (ha). Instead he seems to think we should all forgive and forget so he can get on with reporting on the things he wants to report, instead of doing his journalistic duty and demanding that justice be served!
He also ignores the fact that the Resolution12 issue has just become very pertinent to the new ‘Rangers’ as we now have no less than three members of the board who aided in that ‘skewering’ (over and above the R12 issue) effectively running the new club.
Of course, absolutely true to form, the intrepid journalist doesn’t even attempt to justify his question ‘Why persist?’ Or, more to the point, tell us why we shouldn’t persist! He just does running away when the awkward questions are posed.
I attended the High Court on a number of occasions during the trial of Mr Whyte. I heard in a court of Law that the wtc crystallized as early in Feb 2011 from more than one witness from the prosecution. Fact. So the license to play in Europe was illegal. Who is to blame? Certainly members of the Ibrox club as they knew of it but where quite happy to leave it unpaid and leave it to Mr (not guilty ) Whyte. SFA’s role should be looked at. I also heard in court about the Charlotte tapes and that they were hacked illegally and Mr King paid for them. I was a witness to the testimony of Mr Gary Withey who was stunned and shocked at how little data the club provided in the data room (apparently about 5 folders of a4 size) and any information had to be asked for and lots of information was missing that Mr Whyte was unaware of. I also heard from Mr Findlay (and it was not disputed) that the board of Rangers FC including Mr Johnston, Mr King and Mr Murray ran up more debt and were incompetent and seemed clueless on how to run a football club. It became very clear in the trial during Mr ( the cry was no remember) Murray’s evidence that Mr Whyte was being set up and Mr Murray’s closest advisors were well aware before Mr Whyte came through the door of the role of ticketus in the proposed future purchase of the club. Now members of the smsm were in attendance at this trial as I noticed some of them. So here are we on this blog again writing about the trial and asking questions again. So there is now IMO no excuse for the smsm to not ask questions as the trial has ended and there are a multitude of very interesting issues to be looked at.
I heard on STV news last night of MR King and his purchase of the tapes so fair play there. Hopefully this may be the start of more questions on this saga from smsm but history tells me there approach to things concerning any Ibrox club. The fact that in a court of law things were spoke about and accepted as evidence is enough for any journalist to chase up to find the truth concerning the for instance a starting point could be the issue of the illegal European license and also to try and get supporters trust back in the game is an incentive. Or again do we not matter as long as there is some form of Ibrox club playing football in Govan.
VALENTINESCLOWNJUNE 8, 2017 at 12:29
Although the STV article is noteworthy for having the nerve to highlight King’s involvement with hacked emails, there isn’t much said of his involvement, but, totally out of context with the hacking evidence, the article goes on to say that King warned the board against Whyte in an email given as evidence in the trial, thus bestowing hero status on King amongst the bears.
This is something I’ve noticed throughout the saga, that in every article that dares to be critical of an Ibrox figure who is flavour of the month there, there follows something positive, often overpowering the main point of the article, and, more often than not, totally unrelated and out of context.
That STV article managed to tell us – King did something naughty (actually illegal); King did something good; Whyte was on trial for doing something wicked (to Rangers). The impact and seriousness of what King has done, as given as evidence in court, will be completely lost on those who really need to know it’s implications.
Just goes to show how wise it was to reject the attempt to use this place to publish the Charlotte Fakeovers stuff. I remember there being a bit of a heated discussion at the time, the moderators taking some flack at the time for saying that they weren’t sure about the credibility of the profile, but it looks like the plan was to use this place to push Dave King’s agenda, adding yet more distance between himself and the info.
The Daily Record are promoting Alves as they lead with watch as Alves takes out Costa. So there we have it a hammer thrower is arriving to Scotland.
Would like to add when Costa gets up Alves shits himself from Costa and Terry.
TIMABHOUYJUNE 8, 2017 at 11:54
Thanks very much for that. Your time is appreciated. So in summary a cash deal with a sell on clause of 25%, or 23.5% as clarified later. According to transfer markt US dollars are closer to their valuation than MXN values.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/carlos-pena/profil/spieler/147266
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/eduardo-herrera/profil/spieler/70835
I don’t think that any source has disclosed when King bought the hacked material, but I think that it is important when trying to understand what went on.
CF was at his most prolific between May and June 2013. I believe that it was quite a while later before King got involved. I think his main motive was the selective release of information to undermine the RIFC Board during 2014. That information may have gone beyond just the CF stuff. I’d question whether or not he was successful, as the main protagonists in the CF material had already left the scene of the crime.
However, handing over the material to the Police would definitely help implicate Whyte and Green with regard to the Fraud case.
EASYJAMBOJUNE 8, 2017 at 16:09
I don’t think that any source has disclosed when King bought the hacked material, but I think that it is important when trying to understand what went on.
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When he became involved may be important EJ, but I would suggest that HOW he became aware of who to be involved with,,,,, may be more important. CF was not an easy identity to pin-point.
I doubt he has better resources than plod, but somebody must have provided him with the details, or the original CF may have been specifically recruited for the task in hand. Who knows?
Corrupt official June 8, 2017 at 16:26
EASYJAMBOJUNE 8, 2017 at 16:09 I don’t think that any source has disclosed when King bought the hacked material, but I think that it is important when trying to understand what went on. ——————————————————————————————————————————-
When he became involved may be important EJ, but I would suggest that HOW he became aware of who to be involved with,,,,, may be more important. CF was not an easy identity to pin-point. I doubt he has better resources than plod, but somebody must have provided him with the details, or the original CF may have been specifically recruited for the task in hand. Who knows?
=========================
I can’t really imagine that he spent cash simply for the purpose of handing the material over to the police. There had to be some other purpose, perhaps simply to see what info there was on him and to remove any references that could have implicated him in anything untoward.
It is supposedly still under investigation be the Crown office, which might discourage anyone from from speculating on the purpose, but until anyone is charged there is actually nothing to stop anyone asking questions. Will the MSM ask King about out on his next visit to Blighty?
Not sure about the position with stolen data, but I am sure that it must come close, at the very least, to reset, the crime of knowingly purchasing stolen property. It would then matter not a jot what purpose it was put to! Even if King didn’t use the data to any great effect, I am sure that he didn’t spend c£20,000 on any stolen property with good intent, and it is possible that he was, in fact, disappointed to discover it held very little that advanced his plans, but any criminal act would not be lessened.
On the remote possibility that King might claim not to have realised the data was stolen, well it’s not like the guy in the pub who offers to sell you his old, but nearly new, mobile phone, unless the guy has been so stupid as not to wipe it clean. On the other hand there can be no doubt that computer data is stolen if it clearly belongs to someone not present at the point of sale!
EASYJAMBOJUNE 8, 2017 at 16:39
” Will the MSM ask King about out on his next visit to Blighty?”
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I think its fairly safe to say he never procured them to just hand to plod…..That would have marked the end of any releases. …….And he would be looking or his money back, and a medal,
. With regards the SMSM posing questions…
“Mr King, who previously served as a director of Rangers Football Club PLC, was approached for comment.”
Curiously the article doesn’t elaborate further regarding any response.???……Neither does it explain where or when he was approached. If it was on a prior visit, it suggests that STV had knowledge prior to the court reveal, but sat on it.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1390627-rangers-chairman-dave-king-bought-hacked-whyte-emails/
School gates. 4 o’clock…Fight fight fight ! …Honestly.
Collective noun…..A cluster of snides.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1390717-ex-rangers-chairman-bypassed-law-with-martin-bain-deal/
easyJambo
June 8, 2017 at 16:39
—————————————————–
CF
For the purpose of a timeline. The “releases” on here*
Scottish Football and the case for a Bismarck!
*took place between Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 20:23, and May 14, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Disclosed here Manufacturing Consent, johnjamessite 01/07/2016
And finally here
STV News 07/06/2017
“What happened at a point in time was an individual known to the Crown hacked into the computer of Craig Whyte and stole material,” Mr Findlay explained to Lady Stacey.
“It was then used, putting it broadly, for purposes of potential blackmail
ALLYJAMBOJUNE 8, 2017 at 12:22
Graham Spiers showing us why Scottish ‘journalism’ is viewed with such contempt, in one tweet!
‘Replying to @CQNPaul the old Rangers FC was done-in by this. It skewered itself on this debacle. ‘Murdered’ as Alastair Johnston put it. So why persist?’
===================================
Also, should the Supreme Court dismiss the BDO appeal I have no doubt Mr Spiers will also repeat his mantra that no titles should be stripped. Quite why he thinks it is fair to win titles in this way he has never explained, but he has said all along they should not be stripped. Normally he says it while pocketing a nice sum from the BBC licence fee. So a prominent Journalist thinks it’s okay for a football club to withhold money from HMRC and use it to fund better players instead. Then when they get caught he himself takes public money to say it was actually okay for them to do that! If he thinks it was okay, the least the licence fee payer should expect is his reasoning. He makes a great play on Twitter about his social conscience, yet is quite happy for a football club to s*it on the taxpayer, then stick two fingers up at everyone into the bargain.
woodstein June 8, 2017 at 18:29
====================
I know about the timeline of the CF tweets, because I kept a copy of some of them. Unfortunately all the documents that were attached (e.g. on Scribd) have since been deleted.
I was aware of Dave King’s “purchase” from a preliminary hearing in the Fraudco case from February 2016, some months before JJ claimed his exclusive. I wasn’t at that particular hearing but I got the info from one of our journalist sources at another case two or three weeks later.
I posted an oblique reference to what I believe to be DCK’s position with the COPFS/Police Scotland at the end of April on this very board.
Anyway, here’s a track from the band Supergrass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9xwduPKgnc
After the craig whyte trial and the information that is now known.
UP POPS Mr Regan, and Mr Doncaster and the SMSM with a narrative of let’s move on approach,not a in light of new information etc,etc
wonder why?
A day after the craig whyte trial Mr Regan has an article in the papers.Weeks after the celtic v the rangers game . fan had invaded pitch battery thrown sectarian chants racial abuse. any article or statement from Mr Regan? did i miss it?
Mintys Lamb @mintys_lamb I’d write a piece or contribute to a podcast if the likes of @TheSFMonitor would do it.. The likes of Andrew Dickson still in SFA boards! twitter.com/Auldheid/statu… ——————
would be a good listen. That reminds me 17 and 18 to catch up on
CLUSTER ONEJUNE 8, 2017 at 20:14
After the craig whyte trial and the information that is now known.UP POPS Mr Regan, and Mr Doncaster and the SMSM with a narrative of let’s move on approach,not a in light of new information etc,etcwonder why?
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I don’t really see what the problem is C1……All they have to do is disprove what the High Court proved. Should be a cinch.
CORRUPT OFFICIALJUNE 8, 2017 at 21:13
I don’t really see what the problem is C1……All they have to do is disprove what the High Court proved. Should be a cinch.
I believe this is the expression they pull
If the narrative part way down The ETIMS Diary yesterday is accurate, then how can the SFA not comment on TRFC bringing back on Board an individual who in pursuit of his broken business model, was prepared to mislead the SFA Licensing Committee into granting access to the CL money we now know was essential to Rangers survival.
http://etims.net/?p=11546
AULDHEIDJUNE 8, 2017 at 23:02
If the narrative part way down The ETIMS Diary yesterday is accurate, then how can the SFA not comment on TRFC bringing back on Board an individual who in pursuit of his broken business model, was prepared to mislead the SFA Licensing Committee into granting access to the CL money we now know was essential to Rangers survival.
==================================
Auldheid, much as it pains me to say it, the media still hold all the aces here. If they decide not to go after the SFA on Rangers issues then the SFA are safe. Why won’t they do it? Loss of readership a real possibility, but in my view a fear of conceding even a single piece of SFA bias could lead to a lot more issues being looked into. So they circle the wagons instead and portray Regan as some kind of honourable statesman.
UPTHEHOOPSJUNE 9, 2017 at 09:32
It goes much deeper than that I’m afraid UTH. Sworn testimony and documents have confirmed that Rangers(I.L.) were awarded a Euro license contrary to the rules. These testimonies and documents were produced at the High court. …….
The High Court………………I’ll just let that sink in.
As C1 pointed out this would have been a perfect opportunity for a wholly innocent governing body to issue a “In light of recent revelations” type statement. For no other reason than because that is what a wholly innocent governing body should and would do.
They do not have to hang themselves, but announce that “In the best interests of Scottish football”, a thorough review of procedures and processes will be undertaken into events to evaluate if any errors or dishonestry occurred. If any shortfalls are discovered, vetting procedures will be tightened to prevent any future occurence.
That is what a wholly innocent governing body would do.
The difficulty a less than innocent governing body would face are in multiples. Chief amongst those being a real knowledge of the situation by far more erudite and articulate personalities than your average Joe Bloggs.
The Res 12-ers (all credit to them) have set bear-traps, snares, and big spikey pits along every avenue of escape that they haven’t built a port-cullis on.
In short the evidence which came to light at the high court is the tin-opener to a can of worms. Nasty infected pox ridden worms.
I will repeat that bit again…..Evidence produced at the High Court. ………..
Are you not f***ing outraged that the SFA are not only ignoring that, but have come out all guns blazing with shields set to deflect mode? …….I am !!!!!
Who the feck do they think they are?…..Well we know who they are !
Ladies and gentlemen……Don’t be sitting there reading. It may enlighten you, but it changes nothing.
Write to your clubs, phone, email, pester tweet and harrangue them until you get a definitive answer into WTF they intend to do about it. Above all, accuse them ! Put it right in their faces. They are either with us or against us. We either have clubs worthy of our support, or we don’t.
Their response is where true enlightenment lies.
Errrrrrr…….Ladies and gentlemen of ALL clubs……What you waiting for?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbddqXib814
Corrupt official
June 8, 2017 at 17:51
School gates. 4 o’clock…Fight fight fight ! …Honestly. 08 Collective noun…..A cluster of snides.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1390717-ex-rangers-chairman-bypassed-law-with-martin-bain-deal/
________________
What a pity Mr Johnston wasn’t called to give evidence in the Whyte trial, his memory certainly appears to be much better than those who did. Or, could it just be that when it comes to defending himself in the media, rather than under oath, he is more inclined to have a photographic memory of what transpired than otherwise might be the case. He certainly seemed in no doubt about exactly what was said, and at some length, from a time when just about everyone else at Ibrox has developed amnesia!
But who could doubt the word of the chairman of RFC at the time they lied about the true situation of the WTC in their Euro licence application?
upthehoops
June 8, 2017 at 18:57
ALLYJAMBOJUNE 8, 2017 at 12:22 Graham Spiers showing us why Scottish ‘journalism’ is viewed with such contempt, in one tweet! ‘Replying to @CQNPaul the old Rangers FC was done-in by this. It skewered itself on this debacle. ‘Murdered’ as Alastair Johnston put it. So why persist?’
===================================
Also, should the Supreme Court dismiss the BDO appeal I have no doubt Mr Spiers will also repeat his mantra that no titles should be stripped. Quite why he thinks it is fair to win titles in this way he has never explained, but he has said all along they should not be stripped. Normally he says it while pocketing a nice sum from the BBC licence fee. So a prominent Journalist thinks it’s okay for a football club to withhold money from HMRC and use it to fund better players instead. Then when they get caught he himself takes public money to say it was actually okay for them to do that! If he thinks it was okay, the least the licence fee payer should expect is his reasoning. He makes a great play on Twitter about his social conscience, yet is quite happy for a football club to s*it on the taxpayer, then stick two fingers up at everyone into the bargain.
_______________________________________
Very well put, UTH. This is something that has annoyed me, and I’m sure many others, this contemptuous way the media dismiss the demands for proper governance and justice without, ever, giving us the reasoning behind this stance.
I don’t know what’s worse, the hacks who completely deny any wrongdoing or the death of Rangers, or those like Speirs, who admit the wrongdoing, and the death, but tell us we are wrong to pursue justice and the admittance of the true situation by the game’s authorities!
The following was posted om JJ’s site in the interests of clarity around what CF made available on social media and when. It helps separate possible motivations.
It is memory dependent but I’m sure of its accuracy.
From memory CF (Billy Stevenson) from May to June 2013 at least a year before DK purchased material from the same source offered it to SFM and Channel 4 at no price.
SFM were uncertain about how the material gained, the story that CW had let his Domain lapse and Mr S bought it not aligning with SFM’s technical knowledge of how that stuff works, so SFM declined. BP can elaborate if he wishes.
CH4 had an employee who posted on CQN and he started hinting of damaging information that Alex Thomson had been given. Everyone on CQN waited in great expectation of that information being broadcast but after legal advice from on high the decision was taken not to use.
This was at the time of Levenson so legals were a nervous bunch.
That advice basically stopped the material going mainstream in 2013 and acted as a reason/excuse for others in media not to make it public.
What happened with the DK transactions is not discernible from any public info just set out but it is wrong to suggest blackmail was the motive of Mr S based on 2013 activity but not necessarily wrong that Mr K bought the same material for blackmail purposes.
At some point the full story of CF leaks will come out but the 2013 material freely available allowed the questioning of the UEFA licence in 2011 to gain traction.
upthehoopsJune 9, 2017 at 09:32
AULDHEIDJUNE 8, 2017 at 23:02 If the narrative part way down The ETIMS Diary yesterday is accurate, then how can the SFA not comment on TRFC bringing back on Board an individual who in pursuit of his broken business model, was prepared to mislead the SFA Licensing Committee into granting access to the CL money we now know was essential to Rangers survival.
==================================
Auldheid, much as it pains me to say it, the media still hold all the aces here. If they decide not to go after the SFA on Rangers issues then the SFA are safe. Why won’t they do it? Loss of readership a real possibility, but in my view a fear of conceding even a single piece of SFA bias could lead to a lot more issues being looked into. So they circle the wagons instead and portray Regan as some kind of honourable statesman.
======================
Fortunately obtaining answers is not media dependent, although it would certainly help if they latched on to what is really going on with Res 12, which is making SFA (and clubs) realise they are accountable.
Res12 is only a vehicle to that end given that what would have come out had it been passed and UEFA had investigated has emerged more clearly in the last three weeks. What has come out demands answers that satisfy shareholders in Celtic that due process was properly followed and as a shareholder I and other shareholders expect Celtic to get that confirmation and assurance.
It matters less whether due process was followed or not in accountability terms, the message is the SFA are accountable to member clubs and they in turn are accountable to share holders regardless of the size of a shareholding. What counts there is not the number of shares held but the value of the argument presented and although the largest shareholders for other reasons may not want the value of that argument to be explored and can vote it away they need to explain why, which is also accountability.
It is clear that the media in Scotland are not interested even when the story is presented on a plate (and remember SFM did exactly that in 2014 when 13 journalists were sent hard copy of the documents by SFM contributors that were kept from Harper MacLeod, the contents of some which were mentioned in court iro the wee tax case.)
However to increase the pressure for answers and assurances supporters of all clubs need to do what Corrupt official asks at 10:47 and write to their clubs to demand an explanation.
Celtic shareholders and supporters in particular need to put their concerns to Celtic for answers at or before the next AGM so that Celtic call the SFA to account because shareholders are calling Celtic to account.
The media become irrelevant if this is done but reputations will suffer.
AULDHEIDJUNE 9, 2017 at 12:33 It is clear that the media in Scotland are not interested even when the story is presented on a plate (and remember SFM did exactly that in 2014 when 13 journalists were sent hard copy of the documents by SFM contributors that were kept from Harper MacLeod, the contents of some which were mentioned in court iro the wee tax case.)
However to increase the pressure for answers and assurances supporters of all clubs need to do what Corrupt official asks at 10:47 and write to their clubs to demand an explanation.
Celtic shareholders and supporters in particular need to put their concerns to Celtic for answers at or before the next AGM so that Celtic call the SFA to account because shareholders are calling Celtic to account.The media become irrelevant if this is done but reputations will suffer.
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This is not an MSM sports hack or even editorial job because they have nothing to gain. (Self Interest Prevails)
The clubs will do nothing individually for the same reason (Self Interest Prevails)
Football fans are mostly interested in who their next game is against and who is in the starting line up. (Self Interest Prevails)
So the starting point has to address the fact that Self Interest Prevails.
Our collective challenge is how do we make it in any one club’s Self Interest to break ranks?
It won’t happen on its own.
It may just happen if there is the threat of legal led internal civil war where some conscientious share holders of a big and leading club, – supporters who are au fait with corporate law and who will not go away, make it so difficult because of bona fide, legal, directors fiduciary and any other relevant company reasons.
Supporters/ shareholders whose mandate is so difficult that their club has to act, albeit perhaps reluctantly but on behalf of its shareholders.
Then and only then other clubs and supporters of other clubs might join in.
To paraphrase our missing pal…
Scottish Football needs a strong club to break ranks.
Maybe the club who missed out the most when the fix was signed off?
Scottish Football needs strong, clever and patient Celtic Requisitioners.
FinlochJune 9, 2017 at 13:42
Thanks for that analysis but a lot more voices are needed to make anything happen.
Agreed Auldheid but to break through the Self Interest Prevails defences will take one influential man.
Peter or Dermot could just be the one to start a landslide.
It will have to be a major player or the inherent self interest defenses will never be breached.
Apologies for creating a diversion from the current deserving topic, but on a quiet night, I couldn’t let the following BBC article pass without comment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-40198696
I have no great respect for Saudi Arabia and I agree that every respect should be shown at home for those who lost their lives in the recent Manchester and London atrocities, and my thoughts go out to their families.
However I don’t expect any mark of respect to be shown by Saudi Arabian football players towards victims of UK atrocities until and unless every UK sporting event comes to a standstill to pay respects to the thousands of innocents who are killed and maimed on a daily basis across the world, including for example in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, amongst many others.
How arrogant are we in this part of the world to think that a life lost here to terrorism is more important than a life lost elsewhere?
Ally jambo
Not sure about the position with stolen data, but I am sure that it must come close, at the very least, to reset, the crime of knowingly purchasing stolen property. It would then matter not a jot what purpose it was put to! Even if King didn’t use the data to any great effect, I am sure that he didn’t spend c£20,000 on any stolen property with good intent, and it is possible that he was, in fact, disappointed to discover it held very little that advanced his plans, but any criminal act would not be lessened.
On the remote possibility that King might claim not to have realised the data was stolen, well it’s not like the guy in the pub who offers to sell you his old, but nearly new, mobile phone, unless the guy has been so stupid as not to wipe it clean. On the other hand there can be no doubt that computer data is stolen if it clearly belongs to someone not present at the point of sale!
Should the authorities take it upon themselves to pursue King he can be done for knowingly breaching the data protection act, he released confidential information knowing the information bought and released would be identifiable to all who heard the message and would understand the reason behind it and its intent to damage. The theft of data is significant as the IT guy, if it was an IT qualified person, has breached his confidentiality clause and is open to prosecution. King cannot deny he did not know who was on the recordings and the fact he paid for them and used them is enough to involve him in a company conspiracy.
FinlochJune 9, 2017 at 13:42
“This is not an MSM sports hack or even editorial job because they have nothing to gain. (Self Interest Prevails)”
_________________________
“My motivation to write is born out of the willful ignorance of the Scottish media on this story. While they reprint unbelievable PR fiction related to Rangers as news, Scotland’s Fourth Estate has gone to great efforts to ignore the tax story. It is true that no one at Rangers is likely to be faxing this story to their pet journalists, so investigating this story would require more work than normal, but the story is there for the taking.”
On a wee nostalgia trip this evening ( trying to relate my first awareness of the RTC blog to our first visit to Australia shortly after the birth of our first grandchild), I called up RTC’s blog/post of 27/03/11.
https://rangerstaxcase.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/hello-world/
And the para cited above was what got me hooked into the saga.
We have been atrociously served by our traditional media.
RTC’s suggestion that the succulent lamb brigade were merely lazy might be part of the reason. After all, it’s an easy life getting £x quid per column inch when you merely reproduce a wordy PR statement after a free meal and drink.
But it goes deeper than the mere laziness of individual journalists,because there were, are, honourable individuals who tried to get to grips with the reality.
But these were shut down by their editors.
The failure of the greater part of the SMSM to investigate, and report the results of their investigations, is one thing, bad enough in itself.
What is infinitely worse ,however, is the fact that the SMSM colluded in the propagandising of the Big Lie manufactured by our Football Authorities , the lie that equates the club created by Charles ( excuse me, while I hawk and spit)Green with the club that was formed when my maternal grandfather was 21 years old.
It is a very bad day when freedom of the press is extended to the point where positive support for lies is accepted.
There is an enormous story to be told: a cheating knight of the realm, a lying football club, a lying Sport governance body, political interference(karma,what?), the granting to a new club the ‘right’ to claim to be a dead club as far as claiming the honours and titles legitimately won ( some were not) by that now effectively dead club, but not as far as accepting liability for the debts owed to the creditors of the dead club.
[As part of that story there is , as a kind of side-show, ( geez, I nearly wrote ‘side-letter’) the farce of the ‘Trial’.
When I think on the ‘Trial’ I am reminded of Dusty Springfield’s ‘Windmills of your mind’, and, God forgive me, Emma Thomson’s dad’s ‘magic .. circle? was it?…. no,no, ‘ roundabout’]
The buggering about about who killed RFC and whether any or all parties involved are just lousy wretches of liars and cheats and self-serving, cut-each-others-throats, thugs is neither here nor there in the scale of things.
What is very much here is the established fact that scottish football, you, me, every SPL club, was actually and as a matter of proven fact, lied to by those responsible for ‘the integrity of the game’
And if that is not a story, it’s hard to say what would be a story for any kind of decent journalist.
JOHN CLARKJUNE 10, 2017 at 01:26
What is very much here is the established fact that Scottish football, you, me, every SPL club, was actually and as a matter of proven fact, lied to by those responsible for ‘the integrity of the game’
And if that is not a story, it’s hard to say what would be a story for any kind of decent journalist.
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I agree John but the confusion is that our clubs representatives on and in the very committees and groups that manage and managed “the integrity of the game” are complicit in what has happened and don’t seem to have any appetite (self interest) in raking over the still smouldering embers.
I say that because the clubs all seem to genuinely want to move on and live in the new reality that sees Sevco as Rangers.
This is despite the blatant legal contradictions and the current revisionism and acceptance of the big and wee lies of which you speak.
The current conventional wisdom is still painting Craigie as the villain because SDM is a knight and a RRM and he still has friends and influence.
Everyone now seems happy (or at the very least happier) with our reality that sees Scottish Football once again led by and dominated by a two club oligopoly where one club in particular requires a certain song book and frame of mind to maintain the fact that it is punching above its weight in the fan recruitment stakes.
And in a wee symbiotic world where the MSM need and feed off the stuff generated by the game itself there are easier ways to fill their pre-allocated daily old firm pages and airtime.
I genuinely think Resolution 12 is the only game in town.