David Low
represents a highly significant component of the history of Celtic FC and consequently a highly significant component of how Scottish Football has panned out in the last 20 years.
As Fergus McCann’s Aide-de-Camp, Low was instrumental in helping him formulate and implement the plans which ultimately allowed control of the club to be wrested from the Kelly and White families. Low also helped McCann to rebuild and regenerate Celtic as a modern football club.
His views are unsurprisingly Celtic-centred, and this interview reveals his ambition for the club to ultimately leave Scottish Football behind. That may or may not be at odds with many of our readers, but the stark analysis of the realities facing football in this country may resonate.
He provides a window on the pragmatism of the likes of McCann, Celtic and many other clubs in respect of the demise of Rangers. He pours scorn on Dave King’s vision of a cash-rich Rangers future, and provides little comfort for those who seek succour for our failing national sport, believing that Scotland will find it impossible to emerge from the football backwater in an increasingly global industry.
Agree or not with Low’s prognosis, it is difficult to deny his compelling analysis of our place in the football world.
Allyjambo says:
April 16, 2014 at 10:50 am
21 0 Rate This
I won’t be satisfied until every last signature, on every document, is dry but the club is living on with hope that we have a future.
________________________________
Great news Ally.
It is not an unreasonable view, given the form of Hearts over the last few weeks, that they could win the championship next season.
Haste ye back…
Fully expected Hearts to start next season -15 or so points to make a game of it, well done fellow jampots, you have been a credit to this blog.
Reconstruction next season it will just have to be then. 🙄
joburgt1m says:
April 16, 2014 at 2:11 pm
…………………………
About £235k then….
And that is only to those of 18 years and above of GOOD standing?
Someone needs to let the SMSM know…so they can stop punting the p*sh about £20-£30 million…
Congatulations to all involved with Hearts, brilliant stuff.
Allyjambo says:
April 16, 2014 at 2:05 pm
Bawsman says:
April 16, 2014 at 1:41 pm
From something I read yesterday, not only will he find taking money out of SA very difficult, he has, in fact, agreed to transfer his overseas wealth back to SA as part of his ‘stay out of jail’ agreement. He might have that £30m lying in some offshore bank where few questions are asked, but should he ‘buy’ TRFC, I’d imagine SARS would soon be knocking on his door with a few questions of their own.
===========================================
And that highlights another great advantage about having access to a free internet.
If the whole Rangers debacle had happened maybe 20 years, we know that the SFA/SPL/MSM would probably have managed it to their satisfaction in secret – and the fans would know minimal detail.
But not now that we have the Internet Bampots on the case !
Likewise, maybe 20 years ago King might have been able to channel funds via a labyrinth of offshore companies/trusts to buy TRFC, [if he really wanted to – and had the cash].
But today, that might not be an option to consider for King because – apart from SARS itself – the amateur sleuths here would be all over the acquiring vehicle like a rash – and our resident scribe John Clark would be firing missives to SARS on an unrelenting basis !
The Scottish MSM must really hate the Bampots… 😉
Paulmac2 says:
April 16, 2014 at 3:18 pm
1 0 Rate This
But remember it is not his money, but his childrens inheritance. Must have stored it away somewhere for their future. 🙄
JimBhoy says:
The optimal Administration period is one week
Starting Monday 28 April and ending with a CVA on Friday 2May
That way the sporting penalty points deduction is applied to season 2013 – 2014
If Administration is not exited before the old season ends on Sat 3 May the penalty points deduction will apply to season 2014 –2015
April 16, 2014 at 9:20 am
If this were to be the case and I do not know the required longevity of a quickie admin/cva event but shurley then fans auto-renewing on the first Monday could possibly lose their SB money to the old company rangers#2 and may become a creditor getting very little back in return thru the CVA.. Now that would be an all time low, even by spiv standards.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Spivs have only one standard
“Is it legal”?
If “Yes” then keeping the Bears ST money meets the standard
Athough
Some thought will be given to
“Am I liable to be seriously assaulted or worse”?
If “ Yes” or “Maybe”
Then the anger may be redirected to an offshore co
For example
All RIFC rights over TRFC could be sold to an offshore co out of reach of the Loonies
RIFC then get liquidated
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Personally I think all the Spivs are in cahoots
If so
A scenario is being contrived whereby a certain Big Spiv claiming impeccable credentials very quickly moves to centre stage and becomes the unelected Representative of all those who gave ST money to TRFC(in Administration) He will also claim authority over any misguided souls prepared to invest in his “Trust Fund” This nonsense idea will not get off the ground. It will have served its purpose in keeping the limelight on the only Spiv in this saga who has mentioned the” Integrity” word
A wee reminder to everyone on TSFM; Hearts aren’t out of the woods yet, there’s a fair way to go, but 90% of the way there is still great news. Bryan Jackson (of BDO) is, I’d say, cautiously optimistic in his interview on STV but is making it clear there is much to do before the administration is over. The 28th April is the really big date as that is the end of the UBIG creditors’ cooling off period, so, if there’s no objections by that date, the CVA goes ahead. After that it’s all about getting the technicalities sorted out. Even then Hearts remain in administration until BDO are satisfied everything is dealt with properly and this could stretch to the end of July.
Still a day of great relief for Hearts fans everywhere, and all the good wishes on here, for Hearts and we Hearts supporters, is very greatly appreciated.
Off out to the park with my granddaughter (one of them) now so a different set of swings and roundabouts for me, for now at least 🙂
Danish Pastry says:
April 16, 2014 at 2:17 pm
9 0 Rate This
Richard Gordon has just congratulated Hearts on twitter. You don’t know whether laugh or cry at some of the feedback he’s getting.
@RichardGordon48
///://////////////////////////////////////////////
Someone on here the other day said that they were breaking their self imposed exile and going to listen to SSB. Don’t do it and let this be a lesson. It will be full of pitchfork owning individuals who will tonight demand to know why HMFC aren’t bring relegated to the 3rd division.
All the best to HMFC and their fans and I wish them a very speedy return to the premiership.
fara1968 says:
April 16, 2014 at 4:24 pm
3 0 i
Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
April 16, 2014 at 2:17 pm
9 0 Rate This
Richard Gordon has just congratulated Hearts on twitter. You don’t know whether laugh or cry at some of the feedback he’s getting.
@RichardGordon48
///://////////////////////////////////////////////
Someone on here the other day said that they were breaking their self imposed exile and going to listen to SSB. Don’t do it and let this be a lesson. It will be full of pitchfork owning individuals who will tonight demand to know why HMFC aren’t bring relegated to the 3rd division.
—————————————–
And no doubt pundits who for some reason will find themselves unable to explain the reasons accurately or rationally for averting their gaze from the elephant in the studio.
Just a quick thank you to the guys who responded to my question about Dave King’s ability to move money from SA. He’s definately not an option for them is he? Whit about his maw, apparently she’s flush?
How difficult IS this gig for MSM types? 🙄
From Angela Haggerty on The Drum:
SPFL brings in former Southampton marketing head Scott Steedman to lead new strategy in drawn-out sponsor hunt
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Struggle: The SPFL has not yet found a sponsor for the Premiership
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has brought in former Southampton FC head of marketing Scott Steedman to lead a change of strategy after the governing football body failed to find a sponsor for the Scottish Premiership.
The move comes after a merger between the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League last year to form the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and a year-long search for a sponsor for the main title that has, so far, proved fruitless.
Now, with Celtic wrapping up the Premiership in March with over two months of the season to go, the SPFL has brought in Steedman as commercial director to try and turn the league’s fortunes around.
Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, told The Drum: “Rather than selling an inventory based sponsorship we are presenting brands with an integrated inventory and marketing led proposition that can fit their objectives. [OP edit: WTF?]
“Leading this process is our recently appointed commercial director Scott Steedman, who has both international and domestic commercial and brand experience.”
Steedman joined Southampton FC in 2010 as head of sales and marketing and stayed at the club for a year. Also in 2010, he was appointed to the board of Merchant Soul, a Glasgow-based agency specialising in sponsorships consultancy.
In 2011, he became external venue operations and broadcasts manager at UEFA and in 2012 became a director of Progress Sponsorship & Communications, another Glasgow-based agency specialising in sponsorship and sport.
Despite the lack of commercial interest in Scottish football’s top league, Doncaster added that the game in Scotland had “in general” turned a corner and said the SPFL would still meet the financial guarantees made to clubs at the beginning of the season.
“Looking ahead, with the first full season of having all 42 member clubs under the single banner of the SPFL almost complete, we believe that clubs and Scottish football in general has turned a corner,” he said.
“The reality for season 2013/14 is that financially we set an expectation with the clubs that we’d be distributing £18m to them and we expect to achieve that, even in the absence of a title sponsor.”
Scottish football has undergone a turbulent phase following the financial collapse of one of its two largest teams, Rangers, in 2012, which was followed by the entry of a ‘newco’ to the fourth tier of the game last year following the liquidation of the former company to work its way through the leagues.
The Drum contacted one Scottish club sponsor, who has published the content of a letter sent to Scottish football’s governing body online, on the verge of ending a 20-year-long commitment to the game in Scotland because of the turmoil. The sponsor, who has invested a six figure sum in that time, submitted the letter to Scottish Football Assocation (SFA) chief executive Stewart Regan in March asking for answers on the recent crisis in the game and seeking assurances of transparency.
Among the issues raised in the letter were the mysterious ‘Charlotte Fakes’ Twitter account, which became the subject of a police investigation last year when an avalanche of internal emails and even audio recordings between senior figures involved in the collapse of Rangers were leaked to the public.
The material was recently ruled admissible as evidence by a London court in an ongoing case connected to former Rangers owner Craig Whyte.
The sponsor also questioned the SFA’s handling of the financial collapse of Rangers and the entry of the new company – which bought the assets of Rangers and changed its name – into the bottom tier of Scottish football at the beginning of the 2013 season.
Further questions were raised about the SFA’s own president, Campbell Ogilvie, who admitted in 2012 that he had received £95,000 through Rangers’ controversial EBT tax scheme during his time at Rangers. Ogilvie spent 27 years in total at the club and served as general secretary and director. He left in 2005 and became SFA president in 2011 after a four-year stint as vice-president.
Within the sponsor’s letter, he said: “As a businessman I fully understand the commercial imperatives that will have influenced the way the SFA approached dealing with the consequences of RFC’s [Rangers] demise.
“However I fear that the past and ongoing damage being done to the integrity of the sport, as a result of perceived or actual rule bending or breaking, to accommodate RFC/TRFC, will cause commercial damage that will manifest itself over the longer term. Indeed my reservations about further investment, that fellow sponsors may share, will manifest itself as a commercial cost if the SFA do not act quickly to address the concerns articulated by the questions I have asked.”
When approached by The Drum, the SFA refused to comment on the letter and it is understood that the sponsor has not yet received a response.
I think a personal investment from DK would be a no-no (http://www.cashkows.com/personal-allowances.asp) but I’m sure he could go via some sort of holding company, or get his wife, maw and bairns to each pledge their own personal allowances. 🙂
Seriously?
Inside The SPFL @AgentScotland 36m
Kris Boyd has agreed in principal to join The Rangers, 2 year deal on £7k p/w which would double if club is promoted to the SPFL Premiership
Mainly through reading posts from Ally and Easy, I feel I must modify my long held view of HMFC.
Like most things in life, the evil that some do gains more prominence than the good of many.
No club is immune to nutters and neds.
As a Celtic supporter, there have been incidents recently that reflect badly on Hearts, i.e, the attack on Neil Lennon and the subsequent actions of the ” Edinburgh Jury”.
However, the actions of the core of their support showed the decency and integrity of the people who care for their club.
No looking for favours, just an acceptance of their situation and the will to rectify it.
So well done, Jambos and well done RTC/ TSFM for providing the platform for decent open debate on the rights and wrongs in the Game.
Scott Steedman will be socialising our proposition as we brainstorm new commercial ventures in an attempt to instigate a coalescing of the many threads that make up the potential revenue streams for the newly invigorated league that the SPFL Premiership will become in 2016 with the return of the mighty Rangers. Sponsors will be queuing up to get in on the deal next year to be established in time for that magnificent occassion.
Too much?
SouthernExile says:
April 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
From Angela Haggerty on The Drum:
SPFL brings in former Southampton marketing head Scott Steedman to lead new strategy in drawn-out sponsor hunt…
When approached by The Drum, the SFA refused to comment on the letter and it is understood that the sponsor has not yet received a response.
===============================
Well the SFA has sunk to a new low: ignoring the game’s commercial partners – whilst the league is looking for a sponsor.
And there is an easy one – on a plate – for the MSM churnalists to follow up at Hampden.
Re CVA timescale:
http://www.companyrescue.co.uk/cva-company-voluntary-arrangement/processes-and-procedures-in-detail
So at least 3 to 4 weeks from entering administration, it seems.
Im happy to be wrong, well done HMFC, never asking for rule bending, no whingeing, threats, secret agreements, I could go on, fan power! And Alex Salmond now owns you all, moohaha moohahaha!
Dignity guys, love it. 😉
Salmond getting abuse on the bears den, I wont post the link as some of the comments are vile.. However Mr Salmond making claim to influencing the Hearts Deal when the bears THINK he did not lift a finger to influence their predicament may not have been the best move for his soon to come independence vote..
I’m pleased for jambos who’ve taken responsibility for the mess they’ve been in, not wasted energy or lost all goodwill by lashing out at others to blame, and dug into their own pockets. That is worthy of respect, and i commend that example especially in contrast to the continuing mess unravelling elsewhere.
But (there’s always a but..)
We still have a club who won trophies, won prize money, on the basis of living beyond their means. Taking from creditors that which they could not pay back and – ultimately – wont now pay back.
The fiscally prudent clubs, whom may have enjoyed some of the awards and riches hearts did unsustainably, might not be so enthusiastic in their congratulations and i dont blame them.
SouthernExile says:
April 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Steedman is not a common name.
Is the bold Scott related to either Jack or Charlie the former owners of Clydebank FC?
I note that the Jambos, who must be really fighting the urge to jump up and down punching the air, are still urging caution at this stage. And probably rightly so.
So it is probably too early for me to offer my congratulations.
In its stead, I will offer my deepest respect for the way you have gone about your business, and tackled the daunting prospect you faced, with such quiet determination and fortitude.
Hail Hail the Jambos
We have been here before, Rangers are still there apparently running on fumes, director loans etc. With the offer of an update on the business plan for the 25th April , you would have to assume that the April payroll will be met and the announcement will likely to be a stalling tactic pleading for season ticket renewals.
The eventual announcement will require a level of spin management unseen before, with the following components required:
– Implement a more coherent football strategy and take the club forward , in this regard a change in football mgt is planned and the focus will be more on youth and development.
– Implement cost cutting , with indications that contracts previously agreed by Charles Green are preposterous and are under legal review.
With the above red herrings out of the way then on to the main course:
– Future investment needs to be focused on football excellence and in that regard there is an immediate requirement for funds , to prevent Celtic winning 10 in a row. Consequently, the RIFC board are proposing to secure the future of Ibrox and Murray Park for the supporters by providing funds to TRFC immediately based on a long term commitment to provide remain and improve Ibrox.
– A football investment fund will be established and supporters will be entitled to “Loyalty” shares which the board will match up to the first £5m.
Off the back of this review , there will be a new Chief Executive and Chairman appointed to ensure that there can be a passing of the burning torch.
How to sell the ground from under the ‘club’ is the trick that needs to be spun, so some serious red herrings and deflections required , Ally and Charles fit the bill.
Any administration will need to be really soon, to allow the SFA to rule that the points deduct this year.
hi upthehoops (0649hrs),
the days of succulent lamb are not coming back because:
1. the print media is in catastrophic decline
2. social media has really taken off in the last few years
3. sites like RTC showed that information of professional-level provenance can be sourced outside the traditional channels
4. there is a plurality now that simply didn’t exist as recently as the credit crunch (the event which called time on Sir David & HBOS)
The biggest Scottish newspapers (Sun, Record) are still influential but this is waning. It’s why people like Traynor, Keevins et al are washed up.
MoreCelticParanoia says:
April 16, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Someone on here the other day said that they were breaking their self imposed exile and going to listen to SSB. Don’t do it and let this be a lesson. It will be full of pitchfork owning individuals who will tonight demand to know why HMFC aren’t bring relegated to the 3rd division.
—————————————–
And no doubt pundits who for some reason will find themselves unable to explain the reasons accurately or rationally for averting their gaze from the elephant in the studio.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I know BFDJ is getting a bit rotund but is that not taking it a bit far 🙂
@MoreCelticParanoia
I have never listened to it but I am tempted to tonight.
— Rangers were relegated to the bottom tier when they were in administration but hearts only get relegated down one division and the Scottish first minister promises favours to his Lithu pals. Hearts should have their silverware stripped at least and hit with the heavy sanctions the Gers got… Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
upthehoops says:
April 16, 2014 at 6:49 am
_______________________________________________________________________________________
But we were not discussing only the present day media. Even a cursory glance at our posts is proof of this. It’s quite clear my points were mainly about the tiresome desire by Celtic people, Stokes this time, to see Rangers in the SPFL and the myth that this contest is to the benefit Scottish football.
You say they want to return to those days (1986-2011) and about how Rangers size and financial power was exaggerated. I was born in 1978 so I know all about this period but here’s the thing; those days you talk about were happening for over a century before 1986 because Celtic and Rangers have won the majority of trophies in Scotland regardless of the noises the media make or the nonsense they write. It’s really just a question of degrees.
So Celtic bemoan a lack of competition without Rangers and whilst they have won the league easily enough they have been defeated by Morton, St Mirren and Aberdeen in recent cup competitions. Sounds pretty competitive to me. To suggest otherwise as many Celtic people have recently, is arrogant and patronising They’ve been the dominant teams is Scottish football and Celtic are desperate to be playing against Rangers again because the clubs define each other. That may be uncomfortable for some but I think it’s true.
SFA and Mr Looney, sorry Lunney please take note.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27054281#TWEET1102758
Irish FA bans ‘Billy Boys’ song for Linfield fans
Linfield will face “severe punitive sanctions” if its fans sing the song known as ‘the Billy Boys’ at matches.
The Irish FA has warned the Windsor Park club that the singing of all variations of the song could lead to games being played behind closed doors.
Linfield said punishment for fans singing the song includes being referred to the PSNI for prosecution.
The club added that this applied to “any other song or chant that is undeniably sectarian or offensive”.
The move comes after Linfield and Cliftonville successfully appealed punishments dealt out out by the Irish FA over sectarian chanting at the County Antrim Shield semi-final at Windsor Park last October.
Continue reading the main story
“
Sectarianism and bigotry are societal problems in Northern Ireland that go way beyond the limited confines of local football
”
Linfield Football Club
The appeals were successful because the IFA’s Disciplinary Committee had breached its own procedures.
The IFA Appeals Committee also ruled that the evidence against Cliftonville had not been strong enough.
In Linfield’s case, the Board reported that there was sufficient evidence that supporters had involved themselves in breaches of the Disciplinary Code and that ‘only procedural deficiencies had resulted in the Appeals Board’s findings in favour of Linfield in this case’.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Linfield gave advice to supporters.
“All variations of the song popularly known as ‘the Billy Boys’ and sung to the tune of ‘Marching Through Georgia’ are now deemed unacceptable and, if aired at Linfield matches, will lead to severe punitive sanctions against the club,” they said.
“Any supporter found to be singing this song in any of its forms will be subject to serious sanction including ejection from the ground, a lifetime ban from Linfield matches; and being referred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for prosecution.
“This will include other songs sung to the same tune, any use of the tune itself, and will also include those versions using words that may not be seen to be inherently sectarian in their nature.”
Linfield have described the IFA disciplinary process as “not fit for purpose in what we are constantly being told is a “post-conflict society”.
“Sectarianism and bigotry are societal problems in Northern Ireland that go way beyond the limited confines of local football,” they added
“Local football requires political and state guidance that provides us with the legal support framework to remove this problem from our game.
So is the trust in Dave and Richard operation just another play on the gullible £ ?.
Ring fencing startup money for after the planned admin? and/or using non renewal as the reason for admin.
And if money is so tight, I don’t believe there is not another load of non spiv creditors, so Dave’s trust may stiff them till cva is done.
More info on the SFA’s response or lack of regarding the the Drum article would be nice.
The SFA have sins to answer for and must not be allowed to fade these into the past and swept under the carpet.
SouthernExile says:
April 16, 2014 at 4:57 pm
20 0 Rate This
From Angela Haggerty on The Drum:
The Drum contacted one Scottish club sponsor, who has published the content of a letter sent to Scottish football’s governing body online, on the verge of ending a 20-year-long commitment to the game in Scotland because of the turmoil. The sponsor, who has invested a six figure sum in that time, submitted the letter to Scottish Football Assocation (SFA) chief executive Stewart Regan in March asking for answers on the recent crisis in the game and seeking assurances of transparency.
*******************************************************************************************************
I assume this is oor ain Eddiegoldtop. That he has not had a response to his letter is an absolute scandal. Not much more I can say to that.
No wonder they cannot scare up a league sponsor when the top man is coming away with this absolute gibberish –
‘Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, told The Drum: “Rather than selling an inventory based sponsorship we are presenting brands with an integrated inventory and marketing led proposition that can fit their objectives.’
Where to start!
“Where to start” is for The Drum journo to say, politely, “We are a trade paper Neil and we don’t underestimate the professionalism of our readers but we also pride ourselves on our accessibility to a general, non-industry readership. Consequently could you expand on that last statement in layperson’s terms? Thanks. I’d really appreciate it.”
PS: the ego-stroking coda to that would be, “Unlike yourself Neil I don’t have an MBA and I could try to interpret what you just said but I’d hate to put words in your mouth…”
/eye contact, lean forward, smile
‘Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, told The Drum: “Rather than selling an inventory based sponsorship we are presenting brands with an integrated inventory and marketing led proposition that can fit their objectives.’
Read this a dozen times now, anyone care to translate for me? I just read that as they are looking for one big sponsor, isn’t that always the case..?
well they are good at being “inventory” with the rules.
Scott Steedman will be socialising our proposition as we brainstorm new commercial ventures in an attempt to instigate a coalescing of the many threads that make up the potential revenue streams for the newly invigorated league that the SPFL Premiership will become in 2016 with the return of the mighty Rangers. Sponsors will be queuing up to get in on the deal next year to be established in time for that magnificent occassion.
How about “a new marketing paradigm for the 21st century utilising the new media to maximise income streams and avoiding getting stuck in a silo”.
OT, great news for the Jambos, however, i’m not counting our chickens yet, wait until everything is signed, sealed and delivered, then i’ll celebrate. But another step towards our goal.
Whilst the original lyrics would not pass muster in our modern world of political correctness, the original song seemed to be quite a positive thing. (Sherman and the ending of the US civil war etc). It’s funny how some things can become so corrupted by misuse.
I was not aware of the original song (to be honest I was not really interested) but that’s what I love about TSFM; little nuggets of information are peppered liberally throughout it’s pages. 🙂
I think, Jimbhoy, what he is trying to say is that instead of selling the proposition of certain matches being guaranteed to happen x times per annum (we all know how that worked out), instead they want to sell a set of grouped individual products (that would be teams to you and me) which would each have a unique set of itemised products (matches to us) to excite would-be sponsors. No? Yes? Possible? Gibberish?
“Rather than selling an inventory based sponsorship we are presenting brands with an integrated inventory and marketing led proposition that can fit their objectives.”
That’s just phish. Utter, utter phish.
scottc says:
April 16, 2014 at 7:25 pm
[re. Marching through Georgia]
I was not aware of the original song (to be honest I was not really interested) but that’s what I love about TSFM; little nuggets of information are peppered liberally throughout it’s pages. 🙂
——————————————————————
I became aware of the song at school, where a very unworldly music teacher set it for the class to sing one day, and a near riot ensued. The Rangers supporters went for it at full blast, the Celtic supporters were apoplectic and started complaining, while the rest of us got on with it and just sang the words on the sheet in front of us. I can still see the look of utter bafflement on the teacher’s face.
Re Steedman…
He doesn’t seem to stay/last long at any of his recent posts. A possible area of concern?
Maybe he could buy Clydebank’s history?
Doncaster’s nonsense statement on sponsorship betrays a deep insecurity and a need therefore to convey his perceived superior knowledge and expertise in marketing. Anyone gonna send this to Private Eye’s “Pseuds Corner”?
Scottish football needs stalwarts like Frank Kopel.
Re Neil Doncaster
The guy is basicly saying to any sponsor ,just give us your dough and dont ask any questions as you will not get any answers,well you will but you wont be able to understand and we need your cash,so just hand it over,our product is on the up after a slight set back but buy in now and reap the benefits,you know you want to.
nowoldandgrumpy says:
April 16, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Paulmac2 says:
April 16, 2014 at 3:18 pm
But remember it is not his money, but his childrens inheritance. Must have stored it away somewhere for their future. 🙄
——————————————————————
I have always assumed that the ‘inheritance’ reference applies to the King Family Trust Fund and again have always assumed that is based in South Africa.
Now my assumptions might well be wrong but either way I still think SARS will be interested in any King Money that is ‘invested’ in Rangers and where it’s sourced from.
1.Mr Jackson of BDO was indeed fairly confident, if still cautiously so,on Sportsound tonight. And I am really, really pleased.
And I reflect on the fact that whatever may be said about the chancer who caused HMFC’s difficulties, it takes an SDM to really kill a club!
2.And wasn’t Spence playing with fire when, asking a question of that wonderfully knowledgeable and wholly objective Richard Wilson, he used the phrase ” we know there’s a club still playing out of Ibrox, what do you think would have happened if Hearts had gone into liquidation..”
Whatever else Wilson is, he was smart enough to answer a completely different question.
I see several people still referring to the top division as the SPFL (even the petty and ill-informed Mr Cosgrove). It’s the Premiership. I don’t like it either but that’s what it is. I have some sympathy with a certain James Bond fan.
http://youtu.be/0TnLe2-a7Nc
What’s this gobbledygook about the inventory? Yesterday it was the Air Force. I’m confused so will return to my navel-gazing.
Cautionary note to anyone who says Doncaster was “talking pish”.
As a journo do you:
1. quote what he actually said although it only makes vague sense to people who understand this particular dialect of MBA bizspeak
2. tell him he’s “talking pish”, get thrown
out and kiss goodbye to any further interviews with someone who plays a key role in Scottish football
3. use all your interpersonal skills to find out *what he actually means*
Hint: number one is lazy but convenient (especially on a trade journal), number two is a major professional lapse, number three is actually quite hard at times.
rabtdog says:
April 16, 2014 at 9:16 pm
You missed out one
4. Quote the “pish” in full, thereby demonstrating what a complete erse your interviewee is
Flocculent Apoidea says:
April 16, 2014 at 8:18 pm
What’s this gobbledygook about the inventory?
——————————————————————
It’s Doncaster doing an impression of the late Stanley Unwin but Stanley Unwin was more articulate.
jean7brodie says:
April 16, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Thanks for that, jean. Was trying to think who it was the Doncaster drivel reminded me of, and it was Stanley Unwin. At least Unwin was actually trying to talk gibberish!
Just when we were thinking that Neil Doncaster was a total buffoon, along he comes and proves it!
Why couldn’t he have just said, ‘We’ve realised that talking down our league is not the best way to gain sponsors and have decided to try a new tactic.’
Kris Boyd to Sevco?
I am hearing that someone has been on a naughty wee solo run.
The RIFC money men incandescent with rage over this… From phil what does it mean anyone
From contact tonight – King has told fan groups he won’t be investing major funds. Makes the entire season ticket charade beyond mental.
8:08pm – 16 Apr 14
Doncaster is talking gibberish, I have no idea why he isnt shown the door and somone more suitable appointed, only our clubs can act on that and only they can inform their fans WTF they reappointed him.
Doncaster is just an embarrassment, however its the SFA that remain the issue with our game, Sandy Bryson and who briefed him, Ogilvie!! Still in place, that’s an affront, and tells me that our SFA is heavily compromised.
The Drum article, is this a hint of an opportunity to force the SFA to clean up and clean out? If the TSFM or us as individual fans letter all current SFA’s Sponsors: adidas, Bank of Scotland, Carling, G4S, IMG, Mars, McDonalds, Purely Scottish, Specsavers, Tesco Bank, Thomson (Holidays) Sport, Vauxhall & William Hill and ask them to approach Regan for answers to the supporters concerns? If no satisfaction is provided we could consider: Puma, The Bank of England, Securigroup, KP Crisps, Burger King, LiDL,Paddy Power etc. Unless the SFA provide certain documents etc.What d’ye think?
No1 Bob says:
April 16, 2014 at 7:45 pm
“That’s just phish. Utter, utter phish.”
———————————————
I did think that ScottC @ 5.07 PM had arrived at an insightful dissemblance of the narrative but in retrospect I think your assessment provides added succinctness.
This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion. How did they enter administration, how did they exit it, what were the successes, what were the failures. What drove Hearts into administration, who was responsible, how can we avoid it again. This is The Scottish Football Monitor. Revel in the good times, let’s be glad that a senior club has survived events brought on by a dodgy owner. The story of the day is Hearts. Let’s talk about that.
I have my own views on comparisons between Hearts and Rangers, but I can’t yet out them into words here. But I think all fans will be happy that a senior club has survived a terrible event, and I am glad to see that and wish them the best.
I think this site should be focused on the SFA, on a full time basis.
RyanGosling says:
April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Evening Ryan. Nice sentiments from you re the Hearts situation. As football fans we are all pleased that the club is likely to have secured it’s future.
This isn’t just a story for tonight, indeed it has been analysed and discussed here on many occassions, with the help of our Jambo contributers on here.
The cause and effect is in the public domain, today is all about a collective sigh of relief in my opinion.
Your post however does prompt a pertinent question, which is, (unless I’ve completely missed the SFA comms) why the silence from Hampden in the face of major spanners in the works of the game they profess to oversee?
RyanGosling says:
April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
‘.This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion….’
———
Well, they entered it because of a megalomaniac Lithuanian spendthrift
they will exit it with honour
their fans were dismayed by the actions of the megalomaniac, blamed no one else, threatened no one else with civic disorder, bullied no one else into secret deals ,
their fans did not form splinter groups or warring factions, but
formed themselves into a highly credible, unified , organisation and ( especially Mrs Budge)put their money where their mouths are, unlike straw men from S.A.
About the only common denominator between RFC and HMFC is that the megalomaniacs involved managed for years to behave recklessly without any kind of action being taken by the Football Authorities to counsel caution and/or check what the true financial standing of the clubs was.
The worrying thing is that there is no guarantee that the present debilitated SFA Board in particular will exercise its functions any better in the future-and other cases may arise.
‘Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the SPFL, told The Drum:
“Rather than selling an inventory based sponsorship we are presenting brands with an integrated inventory and marketing led proposition that can fit their objectives.’
……………………….
We have had an ex Bletchley Park chap analyse the above…and after numerous hours of Enigma style deciphering…has concluded the above to mean the following;
“We are in a right f***in mess…we are going to try and get out of this monster of a mess by using a string of fancy words together that mean the square root of f*** all”
Well done Neil…you have now provided all main sports channels with their laughing stock of the week moment…it is right up there with Eric Cantona and David Ike…
The SMSM refer to us as “bampots” … can I claim copyright on calling them “lambpots” ?
RyanGosling says:
April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
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This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion. How did they enter administration, how did they exit it, what were the successes, what were the failures. What drove Hearts into administration, who was responsible, how can we avoid it again. This is The Scottish Football Monitor. Revel in the good times, let’s be glad that a senior club has survived events brought on by a dodgy owner. The story of the day is Hearts. Let’s talk about that.
I have my own views on comparisons between Hearts and Rangers, but I can’t yet out them into words here. But I think all fans will be happy that a senior club has survived a terrible event, and I am glad to see that and wish them the best.
___________________________________________
If I was to try and summarise the difference between Hearts and Rangers, I would describe it thus.
Hearts were given fine words and a shot at glory the big time by persons who promised them the earth. They were seduced by this. It seemed to good to be true, but who could resist? Well it turns out it was.
Sheepishly they admit their folly, accept responsibility and fix things the best they can.
Everyone else in Scots footballs attitude: ‘There but for the grace of God go I?
Rangers on the other hand?
Wandered about brashly like a bull in a china shop – they stil do – shouting ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ smashing all before them and paying for none of the damage they inflict. They storm and huff and puff with a sense of entitlement born out of a perceived superiority which does not in fact exist. And our authorities just let them???
Everyone else is scottish footballs attitude: ‘ How the mighty are fallen… Guffaw!’
And that TRFC is your problem in a nutshell.
A saying I have heard often is: ‘Your attitude is your altitude.’ i.e. to be successful you must set your mind to it.
But it is the attitude you adopt to those around you that really governs the state in which you will end up.
We are all fed up of Ibrox arrogance that was expressed as you cheated and cajoled your way to a position that you considered unassailable, vanquishing all before you as you pontificated from the giddy heights of the bubble you rode on the running of everything from whether Albion Rovers should be liquidated to whether Celtics spending policies would allow it mount a challenge to Rangers dominance, or whether Falkirks stadium was big enough to contain your travelling support.
It is a diet we have endured for far too long. And it has proved futile terminally destructive to your club..
And when you all started blaming others for your clubs undoing… well that really does take the piss-soaked biscuit!
In conversation with a board member of ICT recently he told me how he had never met David Murray. He was Ibrox in an official capacity. Rangers had lost. He headed back for the post match hospitality and enquired about minty to be told that ‘He doesn’t stay behind after losing games’. That says it all really.
The irony here Ryan is that you – on this blog – are the antithesis of that arrogance. Deserved success on a level playing field is the only success worth owning. And I hope you get to experience it one day.
John Clark says:
April 17, 2014 at 12:15 am
RyanGosling says:
April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
The parallels are of course that long before Craig Whyte and Mad Vlad came along both Rangers and Hearts got themselves into debt to HBOS.
One can say Hearts were daft to try and keep up with the ‘SDM Jones’s’ but they weren’t the only ones to follow that path.
Whyte managed to pay off the banks with the Ticketus deal while Vlad just transferred the debt around his banking interests which he no doubt thought could handle it, until like SDM the whole thing collapsed around his big head.
Over the last ten years both clubs failed miserably to scale back, sort out the debt and plan for the future.
Rangers stiffed a load of people here and of course our tax man.
Hearts stiffed some people here along with our taxman. Given that by far the biggest part of the financial problem was the debt to Vlad’s banks I am not sure if the Lithuanian taxpayers have got stiffed.
Either way neither clubs and supporters have anything to shout about. Hibs fans will tell you that the 5-1 cup win was bought with ‘borrowed and tainted’ cash just the same as any Rangers title or cup win.
However the main difference seems to be how each clubs ‘community’ and supporters have reacted and taken action when faced with the harsh financial realities.
Hearts fans in the main have kept their mouths shut, rallied and raised funds. People came up with a plan and one Hearts minded lady has come forward with money and appears to be the real deal as opposed to the windbags and chancers seen around Govan.
The path ahead for the Tynecastle club will be bumpy but I have a feeling the fans will suffer it in silence as they show no appetite for repeating the errors of the past and all going well with today’s news they recognize that they dodged a bullet.
From my point of view I honestly hope that CEO Wallace has the support of the board and shareholders to take Rangers by the scruff of the neck and reform it into a club fit for the 21st century. With a loyal support and a half decent manager and scouting system they can still be a force within Scottish football. Unfortunately there still seems to be too many Bears infected with Minty Moonbeams who have neither the sense or the patience to ride out the few years of austerity that will be required to get them back on a solid footing.
wottpi says:
April 17, 2014 at 12:59 am
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Agreed. I think Wallace is TRFCs best shot of getting on a firm financial footing. Sustainable organic growth. And DK reflects the destructive influence of the past. Transient success obtained through extreme profligacy, and the avoidance of paying dues. OPM
jean7brodie says:
April 16, 2014 at 9:21 pm
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Flocculent Apoidea says:
April 16, 2014 at 8:18 pm
What’s this gobbledygook about the inventory?
——————————————————————
It’s Doncaster doing an impression of the late Stanley Unwin but Stanley Unwin was more articulate.
_________________________________________
I was thinking ‘Gus Hedges’ from Drop the Dead Donkey?
as in:
‘Yes, well, publicity-wise this is a rather regrettable gonads-in-the-guillotine situation.’
RyanGosling says: April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion. How did they enter administration, how did they exit it, what were the successes, what were the failures. What drove Hearts into administration, who was responsible, how can we avoid it again. This is The Scottish Football Monitor. Revel in the good times, let’s be glad that a senior club has survived events brought on by a dodgy owner. The story of the day is Hearts. Let’s talk about that.
I have my own views on comparisons between Hearts and Rangers, but I can’t yet out them into words here. But I think all fans will be happy that a senior club has survived a terrible event, and I am glad to see that and wish them the best.
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I’m happy to describe what I believe happened to Hearts, but you have to go back to 96/97 for the start of Hearts problems under Chris Robinson. Its probably best looking at it as a time line.
1996/97 Hearts debt started to ramp up when Hearts decided that they needed to spend more (aided and abetted by BoS) to compete with Rangers and Celtic.
1997/98 They recruited a number of foreign players who helped them win the cup in 1998 (the first in 42 years)
The debt continued to rise year on year until it was becoming unmanageable.
2004 Hearts debt was around £20M. Chris Robinson looked for a solution that meant selling Tynecastle to Cala Homes and renting Murrayfield.
It was at this point that Vlad came on the scene with his promises of paying off the debt, redeveloping Tynecastle and bringing CL football to Edinburgh. I truly believe that Vlad sincerely thought he could make it happen. He would have his fame in Edinburgh and that there would be opportunity to extend his Banking interests in a major financial centre.
2005 Vlad took control of the club in Feb 2005, paying off the BoS debt and transferring it to Ukio.
2006 Success on the field. A cup win and entry to the final qualifying round of the CL. More players and managers recruited than we know what to do with.
2007-2011 Vlad continued to spend money on Hearts, but with the financial crisis there was to be no Ukio Bankas in Edinburgh. Hearts debt peaked around £40M, but good old Vlad wrote off £40M in debt for equity swaps and debt forgiveness during his tenure.
2011/12 Things started to go sour for Vlad’s empire (Ukio and UBIG) as the Lithuanian authorities started to look at Ukio in particular.
2012 (Jan) Ubig stops funding Hearts and the cost cutting starts, but the club still goes on to win the cup again in May.
2012 (Oct) The cashflow situation becomes critical at Hearts. A share issue is organised and raises over £1M. Wages intermittently go unpaid. Signing bans enforced as a result.
2013 (Feb) Ukio loses its banking licence and goes into administration, quickly followed by liquidation processes. It becomes apparent that Vlad has used the bank to fund his other business interests, including UBIG and Hearts.
2013 (Jun) Hearts go into administration as the money has run out from both the share issue and the season tickets sales for 2013/14. Out of contract players are released others are made redundant.
2013 (Jul/Aug) BDO agree to honour STs but ask for more sales. A further 50% more are sold.
2013 (Sep) FoH start collecting pledges from fans to support a takeover
2013 (Nov) CVA conditionally approved
2013 (Apr) CVA all but signed off.
Bottom line – Hearts spent more than they could afford for the best part of 15 years. However, Vlad was responsible for the club ultimately going into administration. During his tenure the club spent way more than they were earning (£40M), mainly on wages. The issues affecting Ukio Bank with the Lithuanian authorities meant that the plug was pulled on the additional financial support and despite the share issue, the club could not longer pay its bills in June 2013.
There are a lot of similarities between Vlad and SDM as both spent other peoples money as if there was no limit to what they could spend. Both were ultimately caught in the end, although I suspect only one will ultimately be convicted for doing so.
The main difference with Rangers was that the largest part of Hearts debt was due to its owner, rather than HMRC, hence a CVA was achievable. The other major difference is the acceptance of their situation by Hearts fans, without seeking to blame anyone else for their failings and a willingness to work together to put the club back on an even keel.
Dunfermline, and to a lesser extent Kilmarnock and Dundee Utd have all gone through similar spending splurges and come out of it relatively unscathed with the help of, benevolent lenders, fans and owners whose ultimate interests were the clubs and not themselves.
Hibs and Aberdeen remain in a difficult financial state but both have benefactors in Farmer and Milne who have been willing to funds their indebtedness, and as long as they continue to do so they should be ok.
The lesson that the football authorities need to take is to exercise a tighter control on all member clubs spending to ensure that there is no repeat, but I fear that, at least in Rangers case, the lessons have not yet been learned and that there will be further pain to go through.
For Rangers fans, they need a reality check on where they are, to balance their income and expenditure before they start to look at things like CL qualification. However I don’t believe that that consensus exists at the moment across the wider fan base.
John Clark says:
April 17, 2014 at 12:15 am
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RyanGosling says:
April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
‘.This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion….’
———
Well, they entered it because of a megalomaniac Lithuanian spendthrift
they will exit it with honour
About the only common denominator between RFC and HMFC is that the megalomaniacs involved managed for years to behave recklessly without any kind of action being taken by the Football Authorities to counsel caution and/or check what the true financial standing of the clubs was.
##########################
There was another common denominator – Campbell Ogilvie. And after his involvement with both clubs he’s now of course at the top shop in Hampden. They say things come in threes so stand by for a CVA from Mt Florida sometime soon.
I think the manner in which Hearts fans accepted and are responding to their situation is why they are rightly receiving praise and well wishes. As a Celtic fan I don’t personally feel HMFC’s spending policies directly affected my club’s success or otherwise but I do wonder how fans of clubs who do feel more obviously impacted react. In particular the Hibs supporters who will have to live with the 5-1 cup final score for evermore. It is I think recognised this trophy was won with players HMFC couldn’t afford so I pose the question should the record books be noted to record this ? Similar to the way that some RFC league titles & cup wins have been called to be removed from the records (and not necessarily reallocated) ? Of course this action would have to be taken on a consistent basis and not solely in regards to HMFC.
Genuine question and I’d like to offer my congrats to the Hearts folk for their response to date and wish them well in their recovery. Starting with a league success next season !
sickofitall says:
April 16, 2014 at 10:00 pm
Kris Boyd to Sevco?
I am hearing that someone has been on a naughty wee solo run.
The RIFC money men incandescent with rage over this… From phil what does it mean anyone?
=======================
Purely speculating of course, but perhaps someone in a non-board position at Ibrox has been offering deals without board approval. This could be due to a number of things.
a) The person fails to grasp when you already have no money you simply can’t offer yet another player £7K a week.
b) The person is well aware the club has no money, but experience says it will just appear – it always does – it always has! That’s what banks and taxpayers are for is it not!
c) The person already thinks they are working for someone else who is going to fund the deal, and feels in a strong position knowing the media will offer 100% support.
d) The person is not in any way as clever and astute as they believe and has just made an almighty balls up.
Just a thought…
As all the spivs are in cahoots….is the DK spat/pretence with the club just a front to get fans to commit their cash to a seperate bank account…just a mechanism to keep it outside of the impending administration?…for the spivs to then have available cash when they exit Admin…slashed costs…etc..
This I would see as DK’s role…which the other spivs in return provide him with first dibs on the assets as and when they side exit left…for a fee of course…which means Dave then owns the assets…not the club or any new shareholders…
easyJambo says:
April 17, 2014 at 1:50 am
31 0 Rate This
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Nice summary @easy.
Heard Brian Jackson say on Sportsound that the club had managed this season on only 3,500 season tickets sold, but there must have been other sources of finance, surely?
Whatever, a return to common sense finance should see Hearts do very well. Locke has also done some job with the makeshift squad. I won’t dwell the obvious contrast again, suffice to say, I hope he is kept on as manager.
RyanGosling says: April 16, 2014 at 11:32 pm
This site should be focused on hearts tonight, in my opinion. How did they enter administration, how did they exit it, what were the successes, what were the failures. What drove Hearts into administration, who was responsible, how can we avoid it again. This is The Scottish Football Monitor. Revel in the good times, let’s be glad that a senior club has survived events brought on by a dodgy owner. The story of the day is Hearts. Let’s talk about that.
I have my own views on comparisons between Hearts and Rangers, but I can’t yet out them into words here. But I think all fans will be happy that a senior club has survived a terrible event, and I am glad to see that and wish them the best.
————————————————-
I think the situation of both clubs are very similar, both spending money they did not have and it ended when the banks/circumstances dictated. They were not alone and almost every other club in the land have done the same but on different scales.
As a non-Hearts fan, I cannot talk with any degree of authority on the matter but I remember at the time of Vlad taking over that there was a Group opposed to him buying the Club.
I had a colleague at the time who was a mad Jam Tarts fan from the Livingston area and he talked about the situation almost daily, first about the stadium move, reducing the debts and then the takeover.
He was firmly in the “Opposed” camp and appeared quite educated on the matter, he and the others were asking the right questions about the future of the club at that time, unfortunately the other side (Pro Vlad) won the day.
He was also part of the group that was opposed to the stadium change and at the time I assumed the whole Hearts support were pretty much united on that front (at least going by his positive slant on the subject).
He could talk about the pros and cons of Mercer, Robinson, Foulkes and Vlad. But was always surprised that every little negative detail from the life’s and business of these guys ended up in the Glasgow Mafia (his words for SMSM) but nothing negative was ever heard about Celtic and Rangers, I corrected him on many occasions showing him a lot of material I have on “The Biscuit Tin” families and Fergus.
So if I have to look at the main differences between the two situations and clubs it would be this:
Hearts fans united as a group to:
1. Oppose stadium change when proposed
2. Question the dealings of main players in the Club at the key times
3. Collectively pull the club back from the brink and finance where possible
4. Accept their position and agree to the severe cuts required
5. Acknowledge that the club going into liquidation meant the end of Hearts as they knew it.
6. Move on and show humility in respect to financial position.
Rangers fans united as a group to:
1. Cheer David Murray in every statement he made
2. Carry Craig White on shoulders as he entered the fray
3. Back Charles Green as he played his many cards
4. Refuse to accept current position and instead blame others
5. Refuse to accept that the original club no longer exists and liquidation means nothing
6. Bully, threaten and force others to bend, break and create rules to suit
The other big difference is how the media portrayed the main characters involved in both clubs; I need not expand further on that one.
Resin_lab_dog says:
April 17, 2014 at 1:14 am
wottpi says:
April 17, 2014 at 12:59 am
_____________________________
Agreed. I think Wallace is TRFCs best shot of getting on a firm financial footing. Sustainable organic growth. And DK reflects the destructive influence of the past.
=============================================
I think it is far too simplistic to regard Wallace as ‘good’ and King as ‘evil’.
So far the only thing I have actually seen Wallace attempt at Ibrox is to get a cut in players’ wages and that ended-up as a pantomine and certainly IMO left serious doubts about his abilities.
I can make no fuller judgement on him until at least seeing: 1) the full 120 Day review proposals and not simply a PR ‘update’ to quieten the Bears. 2) Actually see if there is any move to start implementing any of the proposals’ 3) Some kind of indication from the actual puppet-masters controlling Wallace as to what their actual goal is wrt the future of Rangers in a footballing sense and the disposal/retention of its assets.
I believe those conditions have to be met before any sensible conclusion can be reached as to whether Wallace is ‘good’ and whether what is actually planned for Rangers is ‘good’ in the sense that it’s acceptable to the majority of the ST purchasers and regular walk-up punters.
As to King – well again it’s hard to know what he’s about without knowing the answers to the points I have raised above. IMO King has money but won’t invest it personally in Rangers. I am then left with either seeing him as a genuine supporter scrabbling around trying to ‘save’ his club although it’s currently impossible IMO to discern whether that is purely for personal gain – either monetary or reputational – or for the wider support.
It’s also not beyond the realms of possibility that King is in cahoots with Wallace or at least those who tell Wallace what to do and should that be the case can Wallace really be regarded as ‘good’ if a conscious decision has been made to mislead Bears in order to maximise what can be picked from the bones of Rangers and shared by the circling sharks.
Many of the Darkside sites are infested by supporters of both camps daily waging civil war based on nothing but emotions, historical inaccuracies and half-truths at best and it seems to me that these are organised campaigns so beloved of PR spinners weaving their webs in the background.
I hope on here we can see beyond a simple labelling of the camps as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and try to work-out what lies in store for Rangers and what impact that has for Scottish Football in the widest sense.
However – as I keep saying – the bottom line is that it’s up to Rangers supporters to decide what kind of club they want and end-up with and I have no intention of telling them what their decision should be although I do have the right to comment on the abilities or otherwise of the likes of Wallace and King based on some sort of evidence and not as a cheerleader for mystery offshore investors and their fixers.
easyJambo says:
April 17, 2014 at 1:50 am
I’m happy to describe what I believe happened to Hearts, but you have to go back to 96/97 for the start of Hearts problems under Chris Robinson. Its probably best looking at it as a time line.
1996/97 Hearts debt started to ramp up when Hearts decided that they needed to spend more (aided and abetted by BoS) to compete with Rangers and Celtic.
==========================================
EJ found your post interesting and provided a very clear time-line.
I was particularly interested in your BoS reference which as a Weegie I don’t think I actually grasped the possible significance of at the time.
I can’t help but wonder whether the BoS strategy wasn’t to actually finance Hearts to compete with Rangers and Celtic but to fund a pincer-movement where Hearts were capable of causing footballing problems for Celtic which would consequently benefit Rangers.
I’m not for a minute saying that Hearts were in any way party to this possible scenario but they wouldn’t need to have been.
And the news for HMFC really is great and shows what fan power can achieve. What a positive step it would have been a couple of years ago if Rangers had gone down the same route – Scottish Football and Rangers would have been in a much better place.
Danish Pastry says:
April 17, 2014 at 8:52 am
Danish, didn’t hear Bryan Jackson say they survived on the sale of 3500 STs, though I do know that those tickets sold before administration were honoured (cash gone) but there was a successful sales push which maybe resulted in the 3500 figure, so maybe he meant that they’ve managed despite only having effectively sold 3500. Obviously not enough to see the club through the season, but good crowds, despite our uninspiring results, a League Cup run, fund raising by fans and some celebrities, and, most importantly of all, proper administration, with staff costs cut, players and staff prepared to take wage cuts, the use of youth players and volunteer coaching staff (Billy Brown working as full-time assistant manager for free, John Robertson and others giving their time for free) has seen us to this point. This has been helped by the overwhelming response of fans contributing to the FoH giving all involved the knowledge that their efforts and sacrifices were worthwhile (though no money handed to the club as yet). And Hearts supporters must never forget the clubs who shared the away support gate money during our darkest, most uncertain days.
Maybe if the administration had been carried out at Ibrox in a similarly correct manner, the true realisation of their situation would have led to a more ordered and sustained effort to set up a club with a sustainable future. Thankfully, there are very few Hearts’ men working in the MSM, so no one was glossing over the reality and so preventing us from seeing that reality, no one was making excuses, no one was telling us someone would come along with a magic wand. Of course, with no sense of entitlement, once that reality hit home, we all knew that the greetin’ had to stop and it was roll-the-sleeves-up time! The same was seen at Dunfermline, Kilmarnock also, you get yourself into the sh*t, it’s up to you to get yourself out of it! Oh, and make friends, not war! It works wonders 🙂
Danish Pastry says: April 17, 2014 at 8:52 am
Nice summary @easy.
Heard Brian Jackson say on Sportsound that the club had managed this season on only 3,500 season tickets sold, but there must have been other sources of finance, surely?
Whatever, a return to common sense finance should see Hearts do very well. Locke has also done some job with the makeshift squad. I won’t dwell the obvious contrast again, suffice to say, I hope he is kept on as manager.
=============================
Hearts sold 10,500 STs for this season, but the money from the first 7,000 had gone by the time the club went into administration. The loss of income was probably around 20%-25% of the club’s normal turnover.
However other income streams remained in place, SPFL TV money, SFA grants for the academy, Sponsorship, Hospitality, Transfer income etc., but the biggest boost has been how the match day and walk-up ticket sales have held up. Attendances are up by around 10% on last season despite being rooted at the bottom of the table, which I think is testimony to the fans determination to see this through.
Wages have been limited by the registration ban and the fact that most of the high earners had actually gone at the end of last season. I remember Bryan Jackson saying that much of his work to reduce costs had actually been done before Administration as contracts had been allowed to run down. That said, 17 employees and 5 players were still made redundant while other players accepted wage cuts.
Hearts only have 13 “senior” payers ( 6 x U21 and 7 older), with another 18 x U20s, of whom ten were 16/17 year olds who were only given their first professional contracts in the summer.
The inexperience of the squad has obviously been the major factor in the clubs relegation, but we do have a group of talented youngsters that should serve us well over the next few years, if we can hang onto them.
I have a neutral position on Gary Locke. He’s a really nice guy and Hearts through and through. It is unreasonable to say that he has been a failure given the hand he has been dealt. On the other hand, would another manager have got more out of the current squad? I just don’t know. Personally I would be ok with him remaining as manager next season and to see if he can keep us in contention in the Championship and to take it from there.
Ecobhoy,
So an individual, or individuals, unnamed in a senior position (positions) at Bank of Scotland conspired with a high-profile football club owner in order to destroy another football club by not offering credit facilities – then the other club went off and banked with someone else. Pretty rubbish conspiracy that.
Around a decade later, after Bank of Scotland had merged with Halifax – and with all the turnover in senior corporate staff that implies – then the same (or different) individual (or individuals) hatches (hatch) a plan to once again discomfit ‘the other football club’ by doing something to advantage a third football club thereby creating a ‘pincer movement’ to achieve something undefined.
Senior staff who used to work with the Halifax, now with HBOS, think the whole exercise is a tremendous hoot and either join in or nod, wink and turn a blind eye.
This conjecture somewhat glosses over the pathologically awful risk management practiced by HBOS in the noughties which was applied, without fear or favour, to persons of many nationalities and many cultural backgrounds who shored up looking for eye-poppingly large credit facilities.
If you seriously think bug-eyed bigots in a bank conspired to destroy Celtic at least twice in the last 20 years, why not make some calls, do some interviews, find some actual evidence – or not – and write a book?