“Anyone read Michael Grant’s article in The Times? Only saw a pull-quote but the headline is about not everyone cheering for Celtic to European success since the financial windfall will put them too far ahead of the other clubs. It’s that old UEFA distribution thingy. Auldheid had a sensible alternative a while back.”
Thanks Danish Pastry for giving Big Pink the opportunity to nudge me (over a coffee I paid for – so how’s that for redistribution of income? 🙂 ) to blog again on the issue of redistribution of UEFA money whilst he was advocating gate sharing as an alternative.
I recall the redistribution debate being discussed on the first TSFM podcast Episode 1-01 of 9th Feb 2014 which can be found here:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/scottish-football-monitor/id817766886?mt=2
Listening to it again (I used “View in I Tunes”) I heard many of the recent comments on the previous blog being made in that podcast at or around:
9.58: The interdependent nature of the business of football. Why it is different from normal business.
10.50: Celtic/Rangers leaving the Scottish League making it immediately more competitive.
11.30: Clubs as a community resource (like museums or libraries not run for profit, providing a community service and staying solvent).
12.48: People have to let go of the notions that they have held about the nature of football and recognise it is a totally interdependent business.
13.55: Changing the Champions League format to European and Regional Leagues and raising the standard of all, not dropping standards of one to bring about competiveness.
25.50: A rethink at the top level with NEW thinking about redistribution of income using Champions League money.
27.50: The human dilemma.
So rather than repeat what was said originally and very well developed in the comments on the Michael Grant article on the previous blog, I thought I would look at what I think is the greatest barrier to change which was the last item above – the human dilemma. *
Modern football reminds me of a description of a scene from hell where a visitor looks into one room and sees an emaciated group around a table on which is set a large pot full of stew. They cannot eat because their arms have been set straight at the elbow and elongated so that they cannot get a spoon in their mouths. It is a miserable place. Then the visitor goes upstairs and enters a similar room with occupants similarly handicapped, but where everyone is well fed and contented. “How can this be?” he asks his guide. “Well downstairs all their energies are spent in the nigh impossible task of feeding their insatiable hunger, whilst up here they simply feed each other.”
The analogy is bent a little but not broken in the sense that there are fat and emaciated folk in the football version of the lower room but it is not a healthy place as the fat can themselves become emaciated over time (see Liverpool and even Man Utd) but, generally speaking, self-interest or rather what is perceived as self-interest, holds sway.
Human nature that causes the human dilemma is well reflected in normal business where dog eats dog, then eats the food of the dog it ate if it comes out top dog. Football however cannot exist on a dog eat dog basis because it is interdependent as a business. Dog eating dog is bad for business because over a period of time even the top dog will die of starvation.
Now without abusing the dog metaphor any further and risk attracting dog’s abuse, why is it that something which should be as self-evident as looking after each other is good for business, be such a hard sell?
I said in the podcast around 12.48 that folk need to let go of the notions they have clung on to about football, but why is that so difficult?
Perhaps the resistance to that change can be found, at least in the case of Celtic, who at present are asked in the current debate to make a sacrifice for others, either in the form of gate sharing or giving up some Champion Leagues winnings (if/when they qualify) can be found in the genesis of the club and the memory of that genesis passed from generation to generation.
Everyone knows that the original purpose that Brother Walfrid had for Celtic was to feed the poor in the East End of Glasgow and many of that poor had come from Ireland to be strangers in a strange land.
As a Calton man born in the Gallowgate, as was my grandfather (my dad was found under a cabbage in Well St) I’ve never really identified much with the Irish context of Celtic’s history, although I do recognise its importance to many supporters with Irish family ties, but that dimension adds a further layer to the human dilemma.
Think of it, you form a football club to raise money to feed yourself because you live in an environment where welcome mats are in short supply. That money raised is YOUR money. Your life depends on it as does your family’s as well as your close neighbour (usually in the same close). How prepared are you to share what income you have had to raise yourself with others who you believe have been less than charitable towards you?
Add that folk memory to the human selfish trait of wanting what you spend on football spent on meeting your own desire, which is to make you happy watching an entertaining and successful team on the park and you get an idea of where the resistance to a more equitable sharing comes from and how deep it goes.
I use Celtic here because they are my club and part of my life experience and I have no idea if other clubs experience that added layer of resistance to sharing, if indeed they are in position to share. But if we are ever to be able to introduce gate sharing or what I see as the easier alternative of redistribution of UEFA geld because in not coming direct from supporters pockets it has less of the Celtic folk memory layer to overcome, then those who will be asked to make a sacrifice have to be given the confidence that the aim is not to impoverish them (and the Celtic community memory of poverty and fighting it is as strong today in the form of The Celtic Foundation, The Kano Foundation and the numerous charity events organised by supporters and prominent blogs) but to enrich their neighbours, but doing so in such a way that they enrich themselves. That is the challenge.
In the upper room in the earlier hellish description, the occupiers present the ultimate example of charity in that in feeding each other they feed themselves.
- PS the podcast covers other issues that some 18 months later might still be of interest.
RayCharlez says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 1:41 am
It is hard to keep up at moment.
————–
You’re not kidding. Early retirement would be a fine thing in order to keep up 😆
So IA & BS are off the radar?
Llambias to Glasgow?
Worthington claim!
Anyone seen the Crown Office twitter warning? Saw a Herald headline but can’t access the article.
PS Just clicked a few ads. They’re all Danish as you can imagine. Nice one from DFDS for a business cruise to Oslo on the ferry (from Copenhagen). And one for a 12-issue subscription to the ‘Donald Duck’ kids mag. which is big over here. No lonely Russian women popping up, so I’m guessing they’ve all got their private life sorted oot 🙂
Does the fact that BDO wrote to creditors about the Law Financial claim but are silent on anything else imply their acceptance of the King £20m ‘debt’?
Should the MSM not be questioning the grounds for the King claim?
Should they also not be questioning the alleged £6m EBT enjoyed by SDM at a time when his companies are being liquidated and MIH pensioners left with a major hole in their fund?
Should they also not be investigating how SDM has managed to cherry-pick the carcass of MIH? Were these assets made available to other potential buyers?
Scottish Football needs a MSM prepared to do more than print press releases.
redlichtie on September 4, 2015 at 7:43 am
————
The refererence to King seemed a bit :slamb: :slamb: just as the non-references to SDM seem :slamb: :slamb: x 10
Carlyle says:
London central venue for those who won’t make the Perth Symposium ?
How the Rob Roy pub up Marylebone way? Or if yo uwant a bigger venue the Sports Cafe down Piccadilly (Haymarket)
I am not a legal eagle or a administrator er gator, and I sorely miss Paul McConville’s wonderfully understated insights, but to my untrained eye it always seemed strange that the assets were sold off so cheaply – RFC IA weren’t a going concern, they were IL after all so legally these were literally just inanimate things to sell for the best price (some more inanimate than others!). In that respect allowing someone to cherry pick assets, get them at a steal, and ride off into the blue to resume trading under the same name, whilst creditors were left grasping at dust devils, looked mighty strange.
I am literally on the edge of my seat looking forward to the court reporting on that one.
In the Rangers/Raith/Scotland under19 issue it was interesting to note Davie Weir was given specific mention as being behind the early call back. If I recall correctly, he was another dummy spitter when it came to refusing his country’s call until conditions suited him.
“Rangers fraud case: US Cops hunt ex-Ibrox chiefs Brian Stockbridge and Imran Ahmed”
From today’s Record- apparently both are currently in the USA and wanted in Scotland for questioning in connection with the Charles Green acquisition.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/rangers-fraud-case-cops-hunt-6378901
And in usual MSM ironic fashion – the sevco club storys have had comments blocked all week to save it imploding into the usual he said, but she said, but youz etc etc….cr@p but the article today highlighting the CPS twitter message to desist from commenting – comments open, fill your boots!
Responsible stuff so far, but the he said, she said merchants have obviously just woken up!
It would appear RIFC/TRFC have a new auditor, Campbell Dallas LLP http://t.co/sKucqtMYHM
Another important milestone, apparently. I’m sure all other football clubs view the appointment of an auditor in a similar way 🙄
IIRC no right to use Albion Car Park means breach of the Planning Permission granted for the Club Deck. 7300 seats become liable to enforcement of that breach by the Local Authority. If I had been a debenture holder lost that then bought a season ticket for my old seat and then lost that I would be less than happy. The loss of that potential income might be the straw that breaks the Camel’s back. The car
Park could be leased back to allow use of the Club Deck but that might only facilitate the high crowd dividend which is claime to go to the Sevco triangle.
It all starts to sound like a particularly entertaining exam question or something from a high range IQ test.
bfbpuzzled says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 10:23 am
IIRC no right to use Albion Car Park means breach of the Planning Permission granted for the Club Deck. 7300 seats become liable to enforcement of that breach by the Local Authority. If I had been a debenture holder lost that then bought a season ticket for my old seat and then lost that I would be less than happy. The loss of that potential income might be the straw that breaks the Camel’s back. The car
Park could be leased back to allow use of the Club Deck but that might only facilitate the high crowd dividend which is claime to go to the Sevco triangle.
It all starts to sound like a particularly entertaining exam question or something from a high range IQ test.
———————————————————-
I was pondering
…if I was running a company which was strapped for cash, but before I pay anything, I needed to pay people known as “The Triangle”, and I found out that this “Triangle”, were under investigation by the boys in Panda cars
I reckon I would cease paying this money to the “Triangle” pronto
and I reckon they would/could do nothing about my stopping paying them, due to the Police looking into their affairs??
Allyjambo says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 10:12 am
So not a firm associated with Baker Tilly then
It would appear that Phil called this one right
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/rifc-auditor-search-continues/
bfbpuzzled says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 10:23 am
That is the position as I understand it. It seems that whatever way Ashley does or doesn’t jump, he will retain considerable leverage over RIFC.
The difference between a professional and a bunch of rank (in all senses of the word) amateurs has never been starker
Campbell Dallas eh? They are part of UHY Hacker Young the #15 Accountancy firm in the UK, which is not actually one firm but a collective of smaller firms under one banner.
For perspective this collective has revenue (a good indicator of size for a professional services firm) of 1.8% of the #1 firm PwC and 2% of previous auditor Deloitte. I would be surprised if Campbell Dallas represented even 1/4 of the UHY Hacker Young total.
Apropos of nothing Hacker Young were administrators of Portsmouth FC.
Homunculus says:
September 3, 2015 at 4:48 pm
“DM Hall’s Roy Hudghton, who carried out the valuation, stressed: ”An asset valuation based on depreciated replacement cost should not be confused with the price you would get for selling something. A lot of companies have seen their asset values rise over the last few years due to rising estimates of how much it would cost to replace them.”
___________________________________________
How utterly bizarre!
Does that mean I can sell my old rusted battered husk of a 1980s Jag for £50K (or whatever they sell for), because it would cost that to replace???
What possible use is that method, other than to potential fraudsters?
(Disclaimer – I don’t have a 1980s Jag rusted or otherwise)
MoreCelticParanoia says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 11:56 am
I sailed with a partner of DM Hall back in the day. he would roll up to the yacht club in his company motor, a very chic Roller
RyanGosling says:
Member:
September 3, 2015 at 11:36 pm
Working on the basis of “you can’t give what you don’t own” (nemo dat quod non habet in Latin terms), if the purchase by Mr Whyte was fraudulent, rendering all other transactions irrelevant as they were built on a foundation of fraud, what odds Sir David Murray eventually holding the reigns to a club cleansed of the tax bills he landed it with? Wouldn’t that work out nicely for him…
________________________________________
I expect DM has had his fill of RFC.
A great vehicle for self promotion and acquiring backing from The Bank of Scotland in the boom years, but as a genuine businessman in the cold light of economic reality and the dwindling pool of money available to Scottish clubs he has been exposed as a busted flush – a guy good at talking other people into funding his ventures but no business man. The fortunes of MIH bear (pun not intended) this out also.
Jockybhoy,
How the Rob Roy pub up Marylebone way? Or if yo uwant a bigger venue the Sports Cafe down Piccadilly (Haymarket)
Rob Roy in Marylebone sounds good for me. Bear in mind, as BP has pointed out above, that the date of the 22nd October clashes with the Europa League.
What’s the best way of seeing who, among the southern-based members, is up for it ? Mini-sticky ?
Rangers statement re the U19 Raith Rovers issue includes the following line
“Rangers, as many other clubs have done in the past, acted within the rules and the very thought that David Weir, who served his country with great distinction winning 69 caps, might have been trying to undermine an international side is preposterous.”
As discussed earlier (while I have no problem with the effort he did put in when on the pitch) the man, as an experienced player and a on field leader, turned his back on his country – the revisionism continues.
The point is that Rangers and Weir are putting the needs of the club before that of the country. It can be argued that the early release of a player is no big issue but surely it is a case of a team that’s sticks together wins together. No doubt the type of message Warburton and Weir will be giving in the Ibrox dressing room.
It was just the other month they were gearing up to postpone the Raith game ala last season. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13620859.Rangers_may_ask_for_postponement_due_to_international_call_ups/?ref=mr&lp=14
To quote a certain Mr Levein “Its all about Rangers”.
Re Phil’s auditor post, and the senior client of Baker Tilly who objected to the firm taking on RIFC/TRFC, won’t Ally be asking,
“Who is this senior client ?!”
“Besmirched” is not a word that I have come across before in football parlance.
http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/10031-club-statement
RANGERS FC insists there are no grounds for Raith Rovers’ allegation that a rule breach may have been committed by the Club. Rangers also consider that Raith Rovers’ spurious claim could have besmirched the honour of assistant manager David Weir by making specific reference to him.
—————————
….. and I don’t think it should have any place either.
Will we be having statements about defamatory adjectives used to describe current and former chairmen and chief execs next?
zerotolerance1903 says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 11:50 am
Campbell Dallas eh? They are part of UHY Hacker Young the #15 Accountancy firm in the UK, which is not actually one firm but a collective of smaller firms under one banner.
For perspective this collective has revenue (a good indicator of size for a professional services firm) of 1.8% of the #1 firm PwC and 2% of previous auditor Deloitte. I would be surprised if Campbell Dallas represented even 1/4 of the UHY Hacker Young total.
Apropos of nothing Hacker Young were administrators of Portsmouth FC.
_____________________
From number 2, to number 15. Does that count as relegation, demotion, or accepted into the 15th tier?
I see what they mean by an ‘important milestone’ – it must relate to their journey!
StevieBC on September,2015 at 9.26pm referred to the World Famous Edmiston House.
Yesterday serendipity took me past said much discussed and obviously much cherished asset. Its value is evidenced by the high level of maintenance as seen from the signage:
” ON
O SE ”
A bit of creative rearranging would allow a more accurate sign:
“NOOSE”
SFM.
I’ve had a lot of trouble accessing the blog over the last few days. My suspicion is that the slider adds have hijacked the helm. I think perhaps you should have a users look at the set up each time you make an alteration. Might just be me but I notice a lack of commentary traffic at the moment.
Must remember to send a bag of marbles to Campbell Dallas. They must have lost theirs.
Scottish Football needs a strong bunch of auditors.
Maybe it’s just me being dense, but which part in the carefully worded statement released by Raith Rovers was David Weir in any way besmirched?
LUGOSI says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 12:26 pm
StevieBC on September,2015 at 9.26pm referred to the World Famous Edmiston House.
Yesterday serendipity took me past said much discussed and obviously much cherished asset. Its value is evidenced by the high level of maintenance as seen from the signage:
” ON
O SE ”
A bit of creative rearranging would allow a more accurate sign:
“NOOSE”
=================================
Nothing more than badness 😈 on a slow friday, but I do remember a wit on here suggesting that the next incarnation should be “Football Rangers Club Ltd” to save them ordering a new set of gates!
Regarding Rangers’ new auditors…
Campbell Dallas named Scottish Accountancy Firm of the Year
06:42, 19 JUNE 2015 UPDATED 07:44, 19 JUNE 2015
BY SCOTT MCCULLOCH
Campbell Dallas took the top title of Accountancy Firm of the Year at this year’s Business Insider and Aldermore Scottish Accountancy & Finance Awards on Thursday evening
The judges said the firm was a clear winner due to its vision, goals and values.
I note that last Saturdays’ red card for Hearts’ Callum Paterson has been reduced on appeal to a yellow, which got me wondering if anyone has a league table of refs over the last few seasons who have had ‘observed on the day decisions’ downgraded or upgraded to give an idea of who is viewed as getting it wrong the most and who, by virtue of having appeals dismissed, have had their decisions vindicated.
Ianagain and others,
Keen to join any London get together.
burghGer says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Regarding Rangers’ new auditors…
Campbell Dallas named Scottish Accountancy Firm of the Year
06:42, 19 JUNE 2015 UPDATED 07:44, 19 JUNE 2015
BY SCOTT MCCULLOCH
Campbell Dallas took the top title of Accountancy Firm of the Year at this year’s Business Insider and Aldermore Scottish Accountancy & Finance Awards on Thursday evening
The judges said the firm was a clear winner due to its vision, goals and values.
___________________
And I’m sure they are as intrepid seekers of the truth as that other award winner who hangs around Ibrox, Keith ‘Radar’ Jackson 🙄
Just what would make a firm of accountants award winners? Unrivalled in the field of ‘tax efficiency’, perhaps! Or the ability to polish a turd whenever required!
Hopefully our very own, Essexbeancounter, will be able to give us the lowdown on what makes an award winning accountant!
A response from Stockbridge, regarding this morning’s press reports-
http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1328064-brian-stockbridge-says-police-are-not-pursuing-him-over-rangers-case/
Stockbridge’s rapid response shows that questions concerning this charade can be answered quickly.
Has the SFA made any comment on these matters?? If they have then I’m sorry I missed it. The office bearers at the SFA are either not fit for purpose or the organisation itself is no longer fit for purpose.
Also, Campbell & Dallas as their auditors?????
This is surely a joke!!
Whyte, then Green, Ireland……now Campbell & Dallas. The Gods are having us on.
jockybhoy says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 9:08 am
Carlyle says:
London central venue for those who won’t make the Perth Symposium ?…
=================================
And if there are any Bampots willing to meet up here for a ‘NYC Symposium’, it would be great to put some faces to names.
Would prefer to avoid being ‘Johnny No Mates’ sitting in a bar here talking to myself about all things SFA/TRFC/Sports Direct etc.. 😉
Allyjambo says:
September 4, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Within my industry my experience is that many of these awards involve a lot of form filling and submitting evidence backing up why you are so good.
I always tend to question how supposedly top notch organisations have enough time and resource to indulge in such nonsense and swan off to the resulting ‘blowing smoke up your arse type’ bashes instead of getting on with work in hand.
Folks getting on with providing a good client service automatically eliminate themselves from being the best because they ignore such fanciful ideas of being the best just get on with business and don’t feel the need to justify themselves to the wider world.
In my time I have come across many an award winning organisation (and dare I mention world record holding ones) that I wouldn’t trust going across the road for a pint of milk.
Campbell Dallas may be as sound as a pound but I for one take such awards with a pinch of salt being that this year’s award winner can be next year’s busted flush.
Rant Over
StevieBC: “And if there are any Bampots willing to meet up here for a ‘NYC Symposium’, it would be great to put some faces to names.
Would prefer to avoid being ‘Johnny No Mates’ sitting in a bar here talking to myself about all things SFA/TRFC/Sports Direct etc.. ?”
Might do your one too – recently changed jobs and will be in NYC in mid Oct and early Dec… 😀
Allyjambo says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 2:48 pm
…
Just what would make a firm of accountants award winners? Unrivalled in the field of ‘tax efficiency’, perhaps! Or the ability to polish a turd whenever required!
Hopefully our very own, Essexbeancounter, will be able to give us the lowdown on what makes an award winning accountant!
====================================
Actually, where is ebc these days ? Hope he is OK.
Although I chose never to train or work in a practice, [couldn’t bear working with a load of accountants !], I can make a couple of observations.
First: awards and accountants just don’t go together. As reserved, low key characters, [typically], ‘winning an award’ for doing your job as an accountant would be embarrassing, and IMO, a bit crass.
Second: I can categorically deny that I have never polished a turd in my career, [so far anyway], but there is of course always scope to make a turd’s odour slightly less off-putting – metaphorically speaking of course. 🙄
wottpi says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Pretty much my thoughts on such things too. I dare say, though, that awards for self-defence would be of much more use if they find they have to include unfavourable qualifications to the accounts.
StevieBC says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 4:37 pm
‘…First: awards and accountants just don’t go together. As reserved, low key characters, [typically], ‘winning an award’ for doing your job as an accountant would be embarrassing, and IMO, a bit crass…’
And it’s in that description, of a generally ‘low profile’ profession, that makes RIFC’s assertion that appointing auditors is a ‘milestone’ such a ridiculous, or is it desperate, thing to say. They needed to appoint auditors, it had to be announced, but to make it out to be something noteworthy (for the fans to be pleased about), just serves to highlight how touch and go things have been in their efforts find a firm prepared to take them on!
redlichtie says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Must remember to send a bag of marbles to Campbell Dallas. They must have lost theirs.
——————————————————————-
Or maybe something as simple as a quick phone call from an old buddy.
Mr Ian Henderson Hart Mr Robert Munro Dallas
http://companycheck.co.uk/company/SC147149/GALEWAY-LIMITED/directors-secretaries
Mr Robert Munro Dallas
http://companycheck.co.uk/director/906155453
Strachan out! What an unimaginative and uninspiring team…Hutton, Fletcher sigh…. Does he attend any games North of the border these days?
Now I’ve said it of course, they will no doubt prove me wrong! Here’s hoping anyway!
I know people have mentioned it before, but we are at a stage where we need to look at a legal structure for SFM.
Tris, for all sorts of reasons, does not wish to be a director of a company. It basically falls to me to fulfil that role if we decide to go down the Limited liability route.
Are there any accountants, legal or bizzy type folk out there who would be willing to give us some free advice.
bigpink@sfm.scot, or PM me.
Cheers
neepheid says:
Member:
September 3, 2015 at 3:45 pm
————————————-
So this element of the legal action by Worthington/Law/Whyte/… concerns a link with Oldco.
The Letter Before Claim (Action) submitted by Whyte to Green and Ahmed allegedly concerned the opportunity to acquire the assets of Newco.
I always considered Whyte’s connection to Newco asssets to be the logic behind the Worthington/Law interest but perhaps they consider Oldco to be a more reliable revenue source.
Allyjambo says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 4:57 pm
AJ, I think that we, the “city” or even football in general are not the target audience for announcements from the bunker. The target audience is the fans, the people that RIFC hope will dig deep into the grand kids Christmas present funds, to Keep The Show On The Road.
What this announcement with its milestone nonsense, is trying to say is:
“Look we have an auditor, we are not the financial basket case that those haters say we are. Your investment will be spent wisely, trust us. (and please ignore the fact that it took us two or three goes to find a company willing to put their reputation at risk by entering into an alliance with us)”
Just thinking, would one of the charges against Green be Deception & deceit in that he convinced thousands that the liquidated company he bought and had the poor mugs invest in was the same company and it came with history and all sorts. Liquidation never happened 😆
scapaflow says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 8:02 pm
…
The target audience is the fans…
What this announcement with its milestone nonsense, is trying to say is:
“Look we have an auditor…”
================================
Absolutely !
And, IMO, it could also be negatively interpreted as ;
– poor judgement on the part of auditors Campbell Dallas, [why did they accept when others said “no thanks” ?]
and/or
– an audit firm desperate for new business, even from ‘high risk’ clients ?
Time will tell I suppose.
scapaflow says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Pretty much sums it up. They seem to turn everything into a PR exercise, though the produce of their chosen PR company leaves something to be desired. Clearly Traynor’s experience is in writing for football fans, the vast majority of whom only want to read good news about their team, he has no experience in writing for people interested in business and investment. RIFC/TRFC really need a company who can deal with both areas of interest. I’d suggest a PR company with expertise in the art of disguising reality would be a better bet for announcements that should be directed at men of business with money to invest.
Obviously any possible investor is unlikely to be someone unaware of the club’s problems, though you never know what fools might be out there with money, but surely it would be more professional to avoid making the mundane, though very necessary appointment of an auditor, appear to be something of an achievement! It was almost possible to picture the high fiving in the boardroom when word arrived that they’d got an auditor!
On a week where there seems to have been suggestions of criminality and deception in Scottish football it is most apt that it ended with discovering WGS and his men have committed an act of fraud over the last few matches in having folks believe we may have had a half decent team with a chance of qualifying.
No doubt we will beat the World Champions on Monday but by then it will mostly likely all be too late.
Poor poor showing.
New announcement on the RIFC/TRFC website tonight :
“RANGERS International Football Club PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Govan Stores as our new supplier of newspapers.
Govan Stores is a family-owned business who are clearly unaware of the oldco default or our current parlous financial position. We now have a line of credit!
This alliance should be regarded as yet another important millstone as the RIFC Board continues to regenerate the Club. In recognition of this new partnership Govan Stores are to rebrand as WATP (“We Are The Papers”).
Your Board is now looking to secure the services of a similarly oblivious face-painter and maker of commemorative gifts.”
Allegedly…
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
Allyjambo says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 8:38 pm
What they need, I would suggest, is a PR company well versed in the arts of reputational and crisis management. To give the Devil his due, Jack Irvine would probably be a better bet, but, hey ho, that ship sailed some time ago.
Level 5 may not be cheap, but I suspect they are a heck of a lot cheaper than more established, more experienced firms would be.
The general lack of resources, has the board hamstrung.
Having just refreshed my memory, the original letter before claim was sent early 2012. I recall seeing a piece of alleged correspondence from 2013 whereby Merchant Legal provided advice to Earley/Worthington on a series of claims that concerned both Oldco and Newco. Most of the focus of discussions at the time were on the Sevco 5088/Newco claim and the Oldco claim went largely unnoticed. That is until now when BDO made it manifest that Worthington/Law were in fact pressing a claim concerning Oldco.
I just had wee trawl back through our own and RTC archives and in reality. Nothing absolutely nothing that’s unfolded in recent weeks is unfortold in the blogs/ comments.
I will say it because the bloggers/commentators were precise, factual and undeniably so.
Ill sleep soundly on anything I scribbled here.
Sorry to say that trawl was prompted by Alipratzu reminding me of Corsicas death.
But worth it.
Glad it exists.
Maybes
Its time to remind ourselves of where this all started in the RTC founding statement:
About rangerstaxcase
I have information on Rangers’ tax case, and I will use this blog to provide the details of what Rangers FC have done, why it was illegal, and what the implications are for one of the largest football clubs in Britain.
ianagain says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 11:13 pm
‘…I just had wee trawl back through our own and RTC archives ..’
ianagain says:
Member:
September 4, 2015 at 11:54 pm
‘..Its time to remind ourselves of where this all started in the RTC founding statement:
About rangerstaxcase
I have information on Rangers’ tax case..’
________
Snap!
Just before our Skype session with the grandweans ( at 11.00 pm our time, 8 am on Saturday morning in Brisbane) I was similarly refreshing my knowledge of all that has happened.
And reviewing my own letters and emails to various people in the Football Authorities, and the media,including BBC Scotland, and to Chairmen of clubs, and to AIM, and Worthington, and Duff and Phelps (New York) and other such ,I am happy to say that I feel no embarrassment whatsoever at having asked questions and made severely critical comments.
It may be that none of us has the complete picture of what happened, and how it happened.
But I think the blog got it substantially right.
One club cheated.. year upon year.
The Football Authorities, we believe, knew, or OUGHT to have known, via the President of the SFA, about the cheating. And, in the end, not only did nothing about it, but, when push came to shove, sabotaged their own ‘Judicial Panel’ by failing to present all the evidence that was available, and by the Alice-in-Wonderland Bryson argument
And most heinously foisted on Scottish Football the Big Lie that is eating away at the very heart of Scottish Football.
To the point, almost, of making the dismal performance of our national team against Georgia a metaphor for dysfunctionality, if such a word exists.
I would not take back one word of the criticisms I made on this blog, or in the letters I wrote.
Whether any folk involved in the financial affairs of a dead football club, or of very new football club, are guilty of any crimes with which they have been charged is not the main point, as far as I am concerned.
The real baddies are the men in post in our various Football Authorities who, in effect, signaled clearly that our sport was rigged, is still rigged, and will continue to be rigged in favour of one segment .
Unless , of course, we nail them, and catch them in their own lies.
Which, perhaps, we might now do as people begin to self-preserve.
The Charlotte tapes were of very great interest in what they had to say about certain mealtime discussions.
Imran’s car, put up for sale ‘earlier this year’, but wheel-spun (or weel spun?) into ‘amid fraud claims’ :irony:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/former-rangers-director-imran-ahmad-6383661#rlabs=2%20sitewide
That Germany v Poland game looked a tasty affair. Scotland light years from them both 🙄 A struggle for 3rd place & a play-off?
Danish Pastry says:
Blog Writer:
September 5, 2015 at 7:34 am
I wonder how much effort the DR put into their research of Imran Ahmad that they’ve turned up a story that is no more than a side-show (selling his car). Ahmad is an enemy of the bears – so dig up the dirt, it won’t make any difference, but they will like it. But when the biggest story, ever, involving British football breaks, or each time a charlatan/spiv takes over at Ibrox – stick to publishing the PR puff pieces and don’t do any research!
Now that there is a disconnect with Whyte, Green et al, it’s open season on them (and should be), but the same, indeed more, effort should have been put into digging the dirt when all the main characters were in place. Instead they were given free-rein to do untold damage to a football club; a business; an employer; that impacted on all of our national sport!
I doubt any of them (the hacks) could tell us if Dave King, a convicted felon, has sold, or put up for sale, a luxury car recently – or if they’d publish if they knew he had!
Imagine, a journalist doing research before a story breaks…now that would be journalism.
How ironic it would be, the bears reaction to the media dishing the dirt on their current boardroom, while calling them out for not dishing the dirt on the previous board when it might actually have made a difference!
The smsm are not and have never been neutral and unbiased. Having grown up in the era when it was regarded as being not only acceptable but laudable for a certain club to be entirely sectarian; I’m not surprised that they are now being protected and in fact promoted in our media . The smsm spin whatever the people who think they are want to hear. It is a sense of entitlement that has surrounded them for many years that has led them to where they are today. Like many others in this small country, I hope that they finally get their comeuppance but it will be a long time before our society is rid of them.
Re last nights game, watching it dont know if others felt same, watching game in pub in Englandshire, only my son and I really remotely interested.Had to ask landlady to switch game on.
Have felt a little conflicted with the recent success, relatively speaking, of Strachan’s side, due to it being SFA flagship and all. As a paying spectator I cant remember my last Scotland match, Maradona or Brazil.The whole tartan army thing does for me like short-bread and kilts, a bit twee. But at least its self-mockery and better than being dressed as a crusading Richard the Lionheart.
So for me I was more disappointed that hearts lost last Saturday, than seeing Scotland, not so majestically, fail again.
I remember Joe Jordan scoring v Czechoslovakia, home internationals versus England, Dalglish v Wales, France 98, etc. But something is long lost for me with the beautiful game.
Tayred, earlier you displayed great foresight. Hutton and Fletcher (S), English premiership players who are probably the best we’ve got. Although again, reputation only, as EPL bores me to tears, and I no longer watch.
Looked relatively comfortable but when we lost the goals, Scott Brown deficient for both. We felt compelled to bring on Griffiths, Hanley & Forrest to gain a needed win. Deary me. Griffiths, like at Celtic unlucky not to start. Forrest, though what is that about hes 24, Callum Paterson at 20 will pass him in number of appearances, very soon, and has already passed him for number of goals, most of them as a fullback. A raw and ever improving exceptional talent. Scott Brown has had many big games in his career, but comes up short, for me. Has lost his energy, it happens, but is not a creative force in midfield.
Did we have the players to beat Georgia? yes possibly. Was it a must win game? to Strachan as was the game in Dublin.
But thats football and where we currently are, but the recent events, that you guys do great job of elaborating on, have had a positive outcome. More and more young talent is making it through to first team level, and before long we may again have young Scots deemed good enough to play for the top teams in the top leagues of Europe.
Tamjartmarquez,
“When we lost the goals, Scott Brown deficient for both” ?
Final score Georgia 1 Scotland 0 !
I agree with you on Hutton,Fletcher and Forrest. Also on the EPL
More beer than i thought! 😳
tamjartmarquez says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 10:05 am
Tayred, earlier you displayed great foresight. Hutton and Fletcher (S), English premiership players who are probably the best we’ve got. Although again, reputation only, as EPL bores me to tears, and I no longer watch.
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Why thank you, but I wish they had proved me wrong. I fear Strachan isn’t the man for the job, and no I have no idea who to replace him with.
Scotland doesn’t have a Bale or a Ramsay to base a team around. We at best have a team full of average players, at worst we have a team filled with players who when at there best are average. Hence my comments about Hutton and Fletcher, I would add to that Maloney – I guess we should be thankful Whittaker wasn’t included this time! (I’m not convinced that Mulgrew is fully fit and he certainly isn’t a player I’d throw in as a centre half for a crucial qualifier, Brown wasn’t fit).
We need 11 players who are playing at the top of their form, and fully fit. What we don’t need is a manager who is obsessed with taking players apparently just because they are squad players for EPL teams and/or English championship players. There are many players in the SPL who could be combined to form an effective team, but Strachan won’t give them a look in. We all have our idea as to what players, but this returning to tired/unfit and players living on past reputation is getting us nowhere.
It also can’t be helping the squad when players such as Fletcher are plonked up front despite their frankly dreadful scoring record, when the SPFL top scorer is sitting on the bench and gets thrown on with just 15 minutes left. I’m certainly not Griffiths greatest fan, but he’s always going to be far more effective alone up front than Fletcher!!
I was also slightly dismayed that the Sportsound folks were all claiming that this was our strongest team. Sorry, it isn’t. It may be the team carrying the largest individual reputations (past or present??). But strong team that does not make!
Stewart Robertson & Campbell Dallas have had very close relations over the years and no doubt he has asked for a very big favour or called one in,be interesting who will be allocated the gig at C.D. will know this shortly.
Allyjambo says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 8:08 am
I wonder how much effort the DR put into their research of Imran Ahmad…
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Research 😀
Same pattern right now as throughout whole saga. Only bloggers, bampots & other ‘haters’ questioning DK and current Ibrox financial situation while media along with SoS and their ilk defending the anointed RRM.
tamjartmarquez : To be fair to you, Brown was definitely still at fault in the action replay!
Where to start about last night? Slightly disappointed more comment hasn’t appeared on here. Maybe there are times the Sevco obsession, which I am guilty of myself, should be put to one side. We are the Scottish Football Monitor after all and it seems that we will face another few years in the international wilderness. Surely worthy of more discussion?
Not Strachan’s biggest fan but I will not turn on him completely after one bad showing. Having said that, I felt he picked the wrong side in Dublin. Maybe I’m biased but I feel there is a glaring omission from that squad. Hamilton’s Ali Crawford. We are not blessed with many players who can score brilliant goals with both feet from midfield or thread defence splitting passes through the eye of a needle. Ali will go down to the English Championship in January and after a handful of games will be picked by Strachan (if he’s still in the job). He doesn’t have the balls to call up a player from Hamilton Accies, unlike the managers of Northern Ireland and Latvia.
I would agree too about Callum Paterson, such a versatile player and you only have to see his goal against Accies last week to see what he is capable of.
Aside from those two, I would give Jordan Rhodes and Johnny Russell a game. I’ve heard rumours that GS doesn’t like either player, perhaps on a personal level. But I despair of our U21 set up when a player like Stuart Findlay is selected purely because he is signed to Celtic. I saw him put in a shambolic display for Morton when Accies beat them 10-2, he even scored one himself. The whole Morton team was poor but he stood out yet he has been preferred by successive U21 bosses ahead of Accies players Ziggy Gordon and Mikey Devlin. ZG is too old now and Devlin may be too but is out long term injured anyway. Point is, Findlay seems to have already been found out on loan at Killie and is still selected. Why is James Forrest selected? Is Brown really the man who should captain Scotland? Other SPFL clubs should get a look in; Celtic are the best we have but their players should not be automatic picks.
yourhavingalaugh says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Stewart Robertson & Campbell Dallas have had very close relations over the years and no doubt he has asked for a very big favour or called one in,be interesting who will be allocated the gig at C.D. will know this shortly.
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It would interesting to know the exact reason no other auditors would touch the Rangers job, not that we ever will. Also, Rangers don’t just need auditors they need one that will sign off their accounts stating they are a going concern. I await with interest. `
Big Pink, I PM’d you on Thursday but have not had reply from you regarding a new poster friend who had his first post removed. He said it was there, then disappeared.
Can you get back to me please and let me know the story, if you can? Thanks.
upthehoops says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 2:33 pm
It will be interesting to see how a business with expenses higher than it’s income, no line of credit, no readily sellable assets and outstanding debts of around £8m is going to convince an auditor that it can see out the financial year. Particularly if that auditor is in the process of checking a set of accounts showing the third successive loss-making year. In a three year history
Particularly when it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be able to have a successful rights or share issue to make up the difference.
It’s not going to be easy.
Whilst I accept there is an obsession on here re the Sevco saga that is largely because a degree of mystery remains. Regrettably re last nights Scotland woes there is no mystery, we know exactly why we got gubbed. Never in a million years good enough. Now whether another combination with fresh faces, can do better, well the world champions in three days time isn’t the time to find out. 11 centre half performances required. And for gawd’s sake don’t go upsetting them by scoring early!
Homunculus says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 3:00 pm
It will be interesting to see how a business with expenses higher than it’s income, no line of credit, no readily sellable assets and outstanding debts of around £8m is going to convince an auditor that it can see out the financial year. Particularly if that auditor is in the process of checking a set of accounts showing the third successive loss-making year. In a three year history
Particularly when it seems increasingly unlikely that it will be able to have a successful rights or share issue to make up the difference.
It’s not going to be easy.
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Someone is going to have to pony up with some money it would seem, although there must be a fair amount of match day income at the moment. I wonder if that could be used as a basis to sign off as a going concern, especially as they look like they will get promotion this time. Accounts are not my game – will they have to put a contingency liability in regarding assets, while the court case is ongoing?
What are the chances of this being introduced here , then ?http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34162999
Did TRFC get their young player returned from Scottish National duty to play today against Raith Rovers? Did they not pull the same stunt last season with one of their superkids?
It appears so. I believe he come on in 70th minute by which time it was all over. So, I suppose TRFC either received permission from the compliance officer or, assumed that the default answer would apply in their case or, they just went ahead anyway assuming that a Brysonesque formula would be applied in the event of further objections.
No doubt all will be made clear in tomorrows’ press reports.
It’s a quiet day.
I’ll get mah coat.
And whilst it is quiet I’ve been looking through some old stuff from a while back. I’m weary, it seems like the distant past to me.
Worth a wee resume on a night such as this.
http://scottishlaw.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/questions-over-nimmo-smith-inquiry-as.html?m=1
Regarding the Scotland performance last night… well hard to know where to start but the team completely lacked the zip and energy that has been the trademark of Strachan’s Scotland teams.
GS is very loyal to his players but a hell of a lot of them let him down on friday and he now has some tough decisions to make.
I think the comments earlier that one or two are there on reputation alone are spot on if I’m honest. Players at the OF Clubs or in the English Championship get pulled into the squad and keep their spot very easily while other excellent players in the SPFL like Shinnie, Armstrong and Ali Crawford (good shout from the poster here earlier) are left out in the cold.
The 11 on the night however are the tried and tested players GS is loyal too and I’m afraid his loyalty clouded his judgement because several were out of form or unfit.
Personally I prefer to see Morrison in the more advanced position he was playing in the earlier period of Strachans tenure. Shinnie or Mulgrew would be better in the holding role.
Brown seems out of form altogether.
In the bigger scheme of things this is a timely reminder that Scotland still do not produce good enough players, and have had no world class players in decades. Why is that? And what are the SFA doing about it?
You might think previous results under GS were really punching above our weight and too many of the guys we produce are “journeymen” types at international level – not one of them really approaches that special level of a Robbie Keane, Bale, Ramsey and so on.
And before someone reminds me we are a small country that’s really not an excuse as many many small countries have been proving over the last 3 decades.
Lets be honest, you only need 11 players.
Or in fact if we look at teams like Wales, 9 good players and 2 v special ones.
Its the v special ones we consistently lack.
smallchange says:
Member:
September 5, 2015 at 8:03 pm
It appears so. I believe he come on in 70th minute by which time it was all over. So, I suppose TRFC either received permission from the compliance officer or, assumed that the default answer would apply in their case or, they just went ahead anyway assuming that a Brysonesque formula would be applied in the event of further objections.
No doubt all will be made clear in tomorrows’ press reports.
It’s a quiet day.
I’ll get mah coat.
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I think the decision to play the lad rather then quietly leave him out speaks volumes for the arrogance that still pervades TRFC.
As does the rather silly PR lamb munchy box issued to all the press that “Rangers are upset” and it “bismirches Davie Weir’s good name”.
I’m not sure why Davie Weir has such a good name he is above question while all other managers and coaches can be called out happily in the press.
Or are we already at the stage where Warburton and Weir are not allowed to be confused with mere mortals?