A recent autumn storm caused the destruction of the metal goal fame in our garden. The small goal with the weather-beaten net had fallen into disuse. But I liked it seeing it there on the grass. I suppose I half-expected, half-hoped, it would be used again. Once, it was a father and son thing and had been constructed carefully from a nice set of plans. At the time, it impressed both son and daughter no end. But that was then, this was now.
One of our trees, blown over by the recent high winds, caused the goal frame’s final demise. As I unscrewed the twisted metal I thought of the hours of innocent fun it had given us. It had been the scene of many goals and not a few great saves. My son, who is soon off to uni, smiled thoughtfully as I mentioned that this was the end of the ‘goalposts of childhood’. Perhaps he knew what I meant.
My own childhood goalposts had been ‘doon the back’. Drawn with chalk on the red brick of the ‘sausage wall’ at one end, and on part of the ‘wash hoose’ at the other. Many a league, Cup and international match was played out between those goals on the Dennistoun dirt. We once put on a parallel version of a historic England v Scotland match while the real match was being played at Wembley. Jim Mone sitting on one of the dykes had a transister radio to his ear. As we played our match he chalked up live score updates on the wall — our Twitter and FaceBook anno 1967. What a day.
We did use a pile of jackets up on the old Dennistoun cricket pitch, but only rarely. Mostly, we played on the red gravel surface at the Finlay Drive entrance. That pitch was fitted with real goalposts — like the ones they had at Hampden. Or so we imagined.
These sentimental memories of receding years accompanied my removal of the ruined metal goal frame. But, as you can imagine, it seemed an almost symbolic act. For fans of Scottish football the ‘goalposts’ that once defined the game of our football childhoods — have not only been moved, they’ve been been twisted and mis-shapen out of all recognition.
The past decades have seen a fundamental change in the way our game is run and governed, at home and abroad. Money is now king and sporting consideration is a luxury we sometimes have to put to one side — or at least, so we’re told.
At the risk of stating the obvious, sport, if it is to mean anything at all, has to be based on clearly defined rules and principles. These rules must be applied equally to all the participants, they are certainly not optional extras. However, to misquote and paraphrase George Orwell, ‘all teams are equal, but some teams are more equal than others’ — at least, when it comes to Scottish football.
The efforts by the SFA to re-interpret rules to fit the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the demise of Rangers FC in 2012 have left most of us scratching our heads. Much of the Scottish media has backed up the SFA’s efforts, something which has added to the general confusion and chaos. In fact, it’s become clear that the death of Rangers, as we knew them, has been such a traumatic event that it must be denied. The authorities and media seem to have been so besotted with one club that its loss is out of the question. And so, it’s been gifted a bizarre kind of immunity from liquidation and death that implies its on-going existence, long after it drew it’s final breath.
This situation has opened the door to a legion of businessmen on the make. They have been allowed to perpetuate the myth, with SFA blessing, that they ‘saved’ Rangers. And their unwavering message is, that they can only succeed if fans keep giving them their hard-earned cash. To those outside the blue bubble it looks like a huge con trick. If the only source of real money in football is the fans, then the Ibrox faithful have been royally fleeced.
How different it could have been if the former club had been allowed a dignified end. A year out of the game would probably have allowed fans to restart a newco of their own. They could have applied for entry into the professional leagues along with the other clubs waiting in line. Chances are they would have been given special dispensation, and walked straight into the bottom tier. Of course, they would have claimed to be the continuation of the spirit of the previous entity — but would anyone have argued against that? How different it could have been if the rules governing the game had been respected. The SFA may even have kept their dignity intact and the press not felt obliged to print half-truths, falsehoods and lies.
You’ve got to wonder why Dunfermline and Hearts fought so desperately to avoid liquidation. After all, the Scottish football authorities now seem intent on convincing us that liquidation has little or no effect on a football club. Even past sins, such as wrongly-registered players are as naught — if, at the time, they were thought to have been registered correctly. By this logic, we have to ask: if a ‘company’ running a ‘club’ bribes a referee, will retrospective action will be taken against the ‘club’. The players and the club, after all, will have done nothing wrong. And since the referee was not known to have been bribed, and not struck off, he was qualified to referee the match in question, at the time. Using the SFA thought process, the result would probably be allowed to stand. Personally, I’m not sure I follow SFA logic. They’ve ‘moved the goalposts’, and (you saw it coming) bent them into an unrecognisable shape.
Which brings me back to our garden. The old metal goal frame is waiting to be driven down to the local re-cycling centre. The twisted metal and worn-out net are useless. Ruined by forces beyond our control. There is no interest in a replacement at present. Perhaps, if we have grandchildren, they will show an interest in football. If they do, I’ll build a new set of goalposts. They’ll be straight and true, the way the goalposts of childhood should be. The way goalposts should always be.
PhilMacGiollaBhain says: (236)
January 5, 2014 at 10:46 pm
Unless he’s rattled by the Easdale emails “charlotte” tweeted recently. What did you make of them? Do you know much about the tweeter, @CelticAreANewco ?
Well according to the back of my fag packet, paying this month’s VAT and PAYE could present big problems at Ibrox. Of course I have no inside knowledge whatsoever, and simply work out the cash position from published sources. There may be a source of funds which I haven’t factored in, possibly the £2.5m facility mentioned in the audited accounts, if it’s still available, of course.
There are so many big squirrels hopping around right now that it’s hard to see what’s really going on. However it is as certain as can be that Ibrox outgoings continue to considerably exceed Ibrox incomings- that simply can’t go on for much longer.
Do you know what their VAT periods are.
If there is a period ended November 2013 then the return is due in and paid by this week coming.
paulsatim says: (687)
January 5, 2014 at 10:56 pm
The Easdale emails?
I question their provenance….
Allyjambo,
Count me in.
There is a growing element amongst the Celtic support who consider criticism of a fellow supporter to be forbidden.
They act as if the wearing of Celtic colours is a Badge of Immunity, for any actions carried out by those delinquents,
I hope the Law seeks out and punishes those who not only deem it worthy to post threats and filth about anyone, male or female, but also who try and drag descents fans’ reputation into the gutter that they inhabit.
Not in my name, nor in Celtic’s name.
Thanks Phil, I know they are deemed to be dodgy(the emails!!), but the language seemed to make out that the Easdales not happy and may have been “duped”
Electronic Tims @ETimsNet 9m
He’s given a wee hint. It’s to do with Celtic legend Craig Whyte. Tabloid lawyers across story before they are publishing. Sounds great!
These rumours sound like jam tomorrow, again.
This twitter exchange maybe puts the “rumour” in perspective!!
Celtic Underground @celticrumours 53m
@huddleboard I’m sure those and such as those will have the inside track on this & will be able to point back to a blog from June or summat
The Huddleboard @huddleboard 33m
@celticrumours The Celtic news equivalent of ‘medium’ at the local community hall. “I’m getting the colour green, does that mean anything?”
Celtic Underground @celticrumours 31m
@huddleboard “does anyone in the audience know a Declan? I’m getting a Declan coming through…”
The Huddleboard @huddleboard 30m
@celticrumours “I’m hearing from a Billy….and he’s really worried……anyone?”
Gerry Braiden @GerryBraiden 14m
@huddleboard @celticrumours that’s one of the funniest things I’ve seen on near three years on twitter
ThomTheThim says: (6)
January 5, 2014 at 11:07 pm
Bravo
ThomTheThim says: (6)
January 5, 2014 at 11:07 pm
____________________________________________
Refreshing and hopeful point of view TTT. No amount of anti Celtic conspiracy or whatabouttery can explain away the actions of fans at Motherwell last month, nor the shameful scenes in Amsterdam.
As a Celtic fan myself, my first reaction is to verify (tabloids can be OTT at times) and condemn when necessary. I don’t want to be tarred with the thug brush.
If people attempt to justify or deflect or understate they often do so through a misplaced club loyalty. In that event the only winners are the thugs and tossers, and before you know it the noise floor (or nedfloor) is raised to the point where it was in the 70s and 80s.
Both Celtic and Rangers have bigger potential problems than other clubs simply because of the numbers who follow them. That puts a bigger responsibility on those clubs to deal with it.
I’m a cynic when it comes to the Celtic board, but I am heartened by their recent response and refusal to defect from these issues. I hope that will continue.
neepheid says: (973)
January 5, 2014 at 3:47 pm
http://t.co/OxKacgPRGi
Latest blog from Alex Thompson.
========================================================================
Thompson is a good journalist (of sorts) but the reason why Police Scotland are not investigating all this football criminality is because, as the Sunday Mail points out, they are far too busy investigating the corruption and criminality within their own ranks. All these years the SM have been trying to unveil the Glasgow Gangs and it turns out the biggest one roams the streets in numbers dressed in blue. Thompson should have been able to work that one out.
Has Ally taken on a new franchise?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25276255
The Round Baw says: (13)
January 6, 2014 at 12:34 am
Harsh….
😆
cobhoy says: (2177)
January 5, 2014 at 7:01 pm
23 5 Rate This
Bauhaus says: (3)
January 5, 2014 at 5:48 pm
The Huddleboard has always been of that persuasion, but now it seems that there is a shift to this harder atmosphere across the Celtic areas of social media?
=================================================================
I am amazed that a self-confessed lurker on KDS and who has only 3 posts here is au fait with the type of posting to be found on the Huddleboard. Did you actually sign-up to register given the stipulations as I am at one with Tif Finn and neither of us tend to be lurkers but very vocal in our opinions – which often differ .
If you did joing Huddleboard I am surprised. Personally I am opposed to Roll of Honour being sung at Celtic Games for a variety of reasons and fully understand the historical context of the refererence to England which I will not explore as it would contravene moderation here.
But on most Celtic sites such as KDS different opinions are expressed by various fan groups and I am surprised that you were banned for expressing you opinion. I would like to know the thread and date all this happened on as it seems a bit extreme and not like KDS.
————————-
Well, that is quite an attack on my character and trustworthiness. But since you wrote it, TSFM has said we have to drop the subject so I am not able to answer it on here.
Your insinuations upset me though, so I politely ask that you request deletion of your post since I am not allowed to respond to it.
Would you mind that, please, as a courtesy?
PhilMacGiollaBhain says: (239)
January 5, 2014 at 10:46 pm
Keep a weather eye on Murray Park.
A huge drain on resources.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I may have asked this before but I will again. What was the scenario at MP with Investors that Murray (as in the Park) got to “invest” dough in to the MP youth wastage unit and reap the rewards from the talent they would identify, develop and sell on for billions. Did they get rinsed in the Liquidation or were they in a separate company a la the man who would be Dave.
Re Charlottes latest – them Easdales ain’t looking so clever now.
The Round Baw says: (13)
January 6, 2014 at 12:34 am
Brilliant!! You should send that to Soccer AM for their “third eye” feature. 😆
Whilst agreeing that AT’s blog is overblown to the point of Roger Cormanesque, I think it is worth responding to Celtic fans who say “where is he getting this violent support thing from?”
From his non-Scottish point of view, five Celtic fans were convicted of violence before Christmas by a Dutch court. That means that Celtic have a very recent history of football related violence.
Now, I was in Dam Square, I hope and believe that all those boys will get off on appeal. But that is because I am a Celtic supporter.
Alex Thomson isn’t. As far as he is concerned we were found guilty of thuggery in Amsterdam.
That is one element of his (largely inaccurate) blog
When Ally complains publically about having 3 away games what he means is that is 3 weeks without any income. The next fixture is at home and if 20,000 people stump up with cash at the turnstiles then the January VAT and PAYE might be able to be paid. The season ticket money is all gone already and The Rangers rely on the cash income at home games to keep going and pay the bills. This implies that they are running on fumes as the bills exceed income. This is worsened in weeks when there is no home game. This is a warning sign that insolvency is imminent. There will be a cash injection on Jan 11th and 25th 1st Feb and 50% on 7th Feb (Scottish Cup) . It’s looking like another Valentines Day administration yet again.
Bill1903 says: (43)
January 5, 2014 at 10:47 pm
===========================
I said the media don’t go after similar incidents with the same vigour, not that they didn’t mention them. An inside page story with no sensationalist front or back page headline does not quite attract the same attention, or possibly lead the casual observer to paint a picture which may not be quite accurate. There can be absolutely no doubt the media give far more prominence to incidents among the Celtic support, and I stand by my view that the Scottish media retain an inherent bias against the club and its fans, for reasons which it will still take a few decades to eliminate. That is not to minimise or excuse of course, but if their aim is portray to a wider audience that the Celtic support in general is to be avoided, then Alex Thomson’s absurd quote about Celtic fans being the most violent in the U.K shows it may be working.
On a wider note we also have to ask why the Scottish media still choose what to be offended by. it seems in the absence of UEFA interest the Rangers support can pile into their songbook unabated, as can most visiting teams fans at Celtic Park who use child abuse to point score.
Maybe there should be a footballing equivalent of Godwin’s Law, which says that the first person to make a comparison with Milwall loses the argument?
paulsatim at 11.22pm
The Twitter exchange.Brilliant. The church hall medium image was priceless!
helpmaboab says: (256)
January 6, 2014 at 8:39 am
1 0 Rate This
The Twitter exchange.Brilliant. The church hall medium image was priceless!
———–
A few people are having a laugh by stirring it up on the back of rumours. One of them mentioned among his recent tweets that it was an easy way to get hundreds of new followers by posting basically nothing, while sitting in the pub with your mates 🙂
fergussingstheblues at 10.01 pm
Having been abused for my religion and nationality in just about every football ground in Scotland — Tynecastle, Fir Park, Dens Park and Brockville having been particular highlights — might I suggest you extend your call for such things to be exposed far beyond the now defunct Old Firm to include supporters of the so-called”diddy teams”?
i may be mistaken but I was under the impression that year 2 recruits to Sevco were on a considerable bonus, directly related to appearances. Could this mean, with the title, in the bag, the 9 players signed in the summer may now mysteriously drop to the bench at best? Look out of Ally ‘giving youth a chance’ and Jon Daly, Nicky Law et al. taking a reduction in their exorbitant salaries….who knows maybe Ally will finally take the pay cut…..fat chance!
Where do you start with jingle jangle jackass’s latest facts?
=============================================
4 Comments
By
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson: Why Celtic and Rangers’ chief executives have to get it right in the January transfer window
KEITH looks forward to a January transfer window that will again show the stark contrast in fortunes between Celtic and Rangers and explains why it’s time for the clubs’ chief executives to step up to the plate.
6 Jan 2014 08:00
Graham Wallace, left, and Peter Lawwell could face wrath of fans
SNS
ONE of them has £6million burning a hole in his trouser pocket. The other has a fuse burning on a £6m wage bill that might be about to explode in his face unless he handles it with the greatest of care.
The problems confronting Peter Lawwell and Graham Wallace this January may be polar opposites but the men in charge of the tills at Celtic Park and Ibrox find themselves in similar situations nonetheless.
In fact, one wrong move from either of these high-powered chief executives in the next few days or weeks could have disastrous consequences for their respective relationships with their own supporters.
Let’s start with Lawwell, who on the face of it at least faces the less stressful of the two tasks and yet who still finds himself in a hugely unenviable position.
Lawwell can’t pick up the paper these days without reading another carefully-worded warning from his manager about the need for Celtic to spend and spend big before the transfer market shuts up shop in little more than three weeks’ time.
Boss Neil Lennon even let slip yesterday the club’s sugar daddy Dermot Desmond has given his own personal blessing to the idea of some sort of multi-million pound super signing being added to the squad – an endorsement that will only add to the pressure on Lawwell’s shoulders to deliver this marquee deal.
Trouble is Lawwell tried hard to spend some of Celtic’s successive Champions League jackpots in the summer but for a whole range of reasons found it damn near impossible to part with serious sums of cash.
The more expensive the target the less likely he is to dream about away days in Dingwall and Dundee. The more he needs to be remunerated for his trouble. The deeper Lawwell’s dilemma becomes.
As a result he was accused of being unnecessarily miserly with the club’s vast riches and this tight-fisted mantle is one he would do well to shed before it seriously damages his status with the fans.
The truth is having successfully adopted a policy of speculating to accumulate in the transfer market ?– multiplying many millions by buying low and selling high – Lawwell has no great wish to stockpile money in Celtic’s account.
In fact hoarding it is counter productive to the Celtic model.
Lawwell believes the club will get a far better return on its cash by spending it on securing the next Gary Hooper or Victor Wanyama than by leaving it to gather dust and low interest in some cobwebbed bank vault.
The huge profits turned on these two players in the summer prove this is a formula that when it works, works spectacularly well.
However, for every Hooper there’s been a Morten Rasmussen, a Lassad Nouioui or even a Mo Bangura. In fact, where strikers in particular are concerned, there have been many more misses that hits.
When Lawwell got the chequebook out at the start of this campaign he came back with “a two for the price of one deal” in Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde.
So far Lennon has consistently told Balde to BOGOF while just about persevering with Pukki although his patience snapped again in Paisley yesterday where the Finn was left to watch the routing of St Mirren from the bench.
All of which suggests Lawwell’s signing policy needs to be revisited when shopping for goalscorers.
A higher risk approach will be needed this month with bigger fees and wages on offer as a lure. Lawwell can hardly afford to get this one wrong which means he can’t afford to buy cheap again in the hope of landing another long shot.
Lennon – and more importantly Desmond – is demanding Lawwell comes up with a genuine finished article rather than just another work in progress.
Whether it’s £5million for Alfred Finnbogason or £6million for Steven Fletcher, Lawwell will have to come up with something big enough to get Lennon’s approval and re-engage a support that, without Rangers around, is becoming bored and blase about domestic dominance.
These fans want their money’s worth too and it’s Lawwell who will bear the brunt of their dissatisfaction should they feel short-changed again this winter.
And to think he’s the guy in the relatively good position. Now on the other hand we come to Wallace ?who might already be wondering what on earth possessed him to take on that job at the top of the old marble staircase, manning the barricades outside the Rangers boardroom.
Because if an old campaigner such as Lawwell had a credibility problem with his own club’s fans, then Wallace may already be on a hiding to nothing on the other side of this divided city.
And that’s even before he attempts to convince his manager Ally McCoist of the need to slash the first-team wage bill.
Wallace is right about one thing, the scatter-cash culture inside Ibrox cannot be sustained. Of course we can’t forget this club has somehow managed to blow last December’s £22m IPO pretty much in its entirety.
And now McCoist is bracing himself for bad news from Wallace whose job, primarily, is not to win popularity contests but to keep the club from tipping into insolvency for a second time in two years.
Yet, even though they operate at the opposite ends of the financial spectrum, Wallace and Lawwell face precisely the same problem.
Because if Wallace forces McCoist to lessen quality he too might end up driving away his own customers. Rangers fans are angry enough at those leading their club right now to roll over and accept the sales of their best players.
Will they really be prepared to blindly stump up for 40,000 season tickets at vastly-inflated prices to watch an even inferior Rangers side from the one they are only just beginning to get their heads around?
McCoist too will react badly if he is asked to take on the Championship next season with a squad that might not be capable of winning it and returning to the top flight at the first attempt.
In fact if Wallace pushes too hard he might run the risk of making McCoist rethink his old mantra about not doing walking away.
And if McCoist was to go then where next for Wallace or for this Rangers board that is kidding itself if it believes the heat is off now it has survived its first agm?
There is no doubt the appointment of Wallace helped the current regime stave off a shareholders coup.
But now the new CEO must be judged by his actions. So far his refusal to demand the head of finance director Brian Stockbridge remains something of a mystery.
The longer Stockbridge remains the more Wallace’s judgment will be questioned by the masses.
Should he compound that by putting the squeeze on McCoist then Wallace might soon be wishing he was as a popular as his counterpart at Parkhead.
=======================================
Why should there be a need to keep control of debt – what exactly is the consequences of not controlling debt?
Jingle jangle claims “the Club” spent £22million in the last year.
What did the company spend, keith ?
By
Keith Jackson
Keith Jackson: Why Celtic and Rangers’ chief executives have to get it right in the January transfer window
KEITH looks forward to a January transfer window that will again show the stark contrast in fortunes between Celtic and Rangers and explains why it’s time for the clubs’ chief executives to step up to the plate.
=========================================================================
I don’t mind cr&p journalism as not every writer can be a star. But I do object to a blatantly agenda-driven article whose motive is to get Rangers into the top flight as quickly as possible and which childishly seems to believe that getting rid of Stockbridge will return some sort of credibility and power to this cardboard cut-out cartoon RIFC Board.
What Jackson is too frightened to ask is who exactly owns Rangers – these are the people who will decide when, and if, Stockbridge should be replaced and not Somers who is Malcolm Murray Mk II.
As to posing the threat of McCoist walking away Keith then pull the other one as it too has bells on it. I have never seen the Bears as ready to ditch McCoist because the really clever ones realise he has helped bleed the club dry in its hour of need while they have dug deep to keep it alive.
The vast bulk of the rest have woken-up to the fact that he is a useless football manager and know ‘The Journey’ will hit the buffers at full speed if he isn’t replaced. You’re right Keith, McCoist will walk! But he’ll do so on his financial terms with his pockets stuffed with the pay-off. More like a limp-away than a walk.
The basic premise of the article in comparing the transfer-window choices of Lawell and Wallace is childish in the extreme both in terms of the finances and the calibre of both men.
And the ‘hint’ that DD and Lennie are cooking-up a plot to subvert Lawwell – well I’m beginning to wonder what you (Keith) or your paper’s editor is actually on or is it simply that collapsing circulation is increasing the daily pressure on jobs as the paper is filled with even more laughable dross.
A piece of advice Keith is for you to go and actually investigate the stories the fans – from all sides – are demanding the answer to. Obviously you’ll need to do it without succulent PR ‘whispers’ or keeping the Hampden suits happy and in a job.
So never mind whether Lawwell and Wallace are up to doing their job in a professional manner. The real question is whether you are Keith as I already know those at the top of the Daily Record aren’t and yet you slavishly follow their instructions.
I have had many things to say about Traynor professionally which are extremely uncomplimentary but one thing about him Keith is he had B&lls and would often actually tell it as it was and you show no sign of that in any department.
ecobhoy says: (2178)
January 6, 2014 at 10:29 am
or is it simply that collapsing circulation is increasing the daily pressure on jobs as the paper is filled with even more laughable dross.
===========================================================================
@eco – with circulation dropping at around 10% per year the Record’s business model has many similarities with that of it’s favoured football clumpany. Living with a mindset from a different era producing a product by the same name but of an entirely inferior nature. Which will hit the buffered first ?
http://www.theguardian.com/media/table/2013/apr/12/abcs-national-newspapers
Not sure if it went unnoticed due to the holiday period but I note that there was Regulatory News on Christmas Eve that Laxeys increased their stake in the company by obtaining 714, 285 shares on 20 December to increase their holding from 11.64% to 12.74% (approx 8.3m).
Looks like these are the guys to watch.
Apologies if posted already.
I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this yet .. maybe because it’s only indirectly of interest?
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/bank-writes-off-multi-million-loan-to-former-managing-director.23098016
As one of the main players in the messing up of Scottish Football it would be nice to think he gets his comeuppance but on a £250K per year pension he probably doesn’t give a fig.
I have been gutted by the behaviour of some of the CFC fans over the last few months, there is no excuse .
Since a certain outfits demise and uncovering of the corruption that led to it, and continues today. The main excuse for not dealing with the problem, and instead building a much bigger one has been in the name of saving us from civil unrest. I repeat, civil unrest. Now call me a whatabouter, but when the threat of civil unrest is looming over the nation, it’s no surprise that there would be an increasing number of rsoles attaching themselves to the sport. After all, decent folk are distancing themselves from this deepening political, cultural driven farce, masquerading as football at the moment. Time to take a wee break again, before I end up on the naughty step. Let me know when the riot police have been mobilised, or when CFC are not actively addressing the problems they have.
wottpi says: (1374)
January 6, 2014 at 11:24 am
‘…..Laxeys………….Looks like these are the guys to watch..’
————
And their business is real asset stripping.
Just to remind ourselves: whatever other issues there may be in the world of Scottish Football, this blog is about the enormous wickedness of lying , compromised, partisan officers and officials of the Football Authorities, who have practiced a monstrous deceit on us all, and about the deceitful pusillanimity and partisanship of frightened , sectarian and/or racist hacks in reporting that deceit and in trying to maintain the BIG LIE , using every device known to the father of lies to make us believe that all is as before, as though SDM etc etc had never begun to cheat.
Let’s not forget that, or the liars will win.
I find myself “heavily conflicted” over TheRangers and next season. Every sinew of logic tells me they won’t make it to next season as the same clumpany with a recognizable squad – but at the same time I have a growing need to see Mr McCoist face down the critics who say his shrewdly crafted squad can’t complete in the Championship with the strictures of a generous Premiership budget. I predict that the one adjective we will not be using much this year is “dull”.
“heavily conflicted” ? – http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/rangers-administration-ogilvie-out-of-ibrox-probe-1-2152924
john clarke says: (1495)
January 6, 2014 at 11:52 am
Firstly happy New Year to one and all.
Secondly, point well made John, but, a distressingly large minority of Celtic fans seems to want to reprise Animal Farm. One unhealthy hegemony has ended, these idiots must not be allowed to install another, apart from anything else, their appalling behaviour plays into the hands of the media and the footballing authorities.
Just as we were all Jim Spence, we should all be Angela Haggerty and Alex Thomson….
scapaflow says: (1259)
January 6, 2014 at 12:04 pm
‘..Just as we were all Jim Spence, we should all be Angela Haggerty and Alex Thomson…’
——-
I agree, of course ( having had to listen to some disgusting morons when I took our young American female guests to Celtic Park: I was ready to lamp them, so enraged and embarrassed was I!)
But institutional lying by the Football Authorities, wholescale cheating by an old instituition, and the covering of that cheating by the ‘Press’ is of a wholly different order from the vile mouthings of the most base types who follow a football team.
Tackling the latter is relatively easy. Tackling the ‘authorities’ is, as we have seen, a much more difficult thing to do.
But we’ll get there, I have no doubt.
There will simply have to be sweeping changes once the new club bites the dust.
john clarke says: (1496)
January 6, 2014 at 12:20 pm
John, whatever happens to Rangers Mark II, there will be absolutely no change, until the clubs decide that the status quo is no longer in their interests. Regan, Ogilvy and Doncaster, are very useful distractions, but they are servants of the Ancien Regime not its masters
Just to confirm, my letter , based on the KDS email with very slight stylistic amendments ,, has been posted to the ASA- another agency apparently ready to take the line of least resistance to blustering statements from PR people, rather than do some decent research of its own.
scapaflow says: (1260)
January 6, 2014 at 12:50 pm
‘..there will be absolutely no change, until the clubs decide that the status quo is no longer in their interests.’
———–
Perhaps an opportunity will arise when the new club goes belly-up and puts the Authorities in an impossible position.
It’s pretty certain that the majority of honourable club owners carry within themselves a degree of shame that they are participating in what is, in effect, a rigged sport, and are deeply resentful at having been put in that position.
The expected collapse into Administration of the new club, will present them with an opportunity to unite in condemnation of the existing SFA board, and demand changes.
And there are honourable men in Scottish Football.
john clarke says: (1498)
January 6, 2014 at 1:24 pm
I am sure there are honourable people in Scottish Football. It is, however, apparent, that all too often they are willing to check their honour and integrity at Reception along with their coats, when they enter the offices at Hampden. Until that culture changes, we are all whistling in the wind.
PhilMacGiollaBhain says: (239)
January 5, 2014 at 9:19 pm
29 7 Rate This
Reilly1926 says: (222)
January 5, 2014 at 9:10 pm
This is the piece I am referring to and the response to it-from some CFC chaps-towards Angela was-well-colourful.
http://angelahaggerty.com/get-your-wits-out-for-the-ghirls/
—————————–
Thanks for posting the link, Phil.
That is an excellent, provocative piece of writing I hadn’t seen before…
scapaflow says: (1261)
January 6, 2014 at 12:50 pm
I’d disagree slightly Scapa.
Regan it would seem, is an employee with minimal imagination (he is a lawyer after all 😀 ). His armageddon comments were basically to say that he simply could not imagine a Scottish Footballing landscape without the big two.
Doncaster appears a slightly different animal. More capable and aware – see his pre LNS blog for details – he instead sees the £ signs in a continuation of the same. Thus if he can be allowed to bodyswerve reality and return the situation to the staus quo, which he can then glibly run around China selling as the same old product then so be it.
I do not necessarily agree that they are being pointed in a particular direction by an “ancient” establishment. Rather that the establishment are not necessarily disappointed with what they are coming up with of their own accord.
wottpi says: (1374)
January 6, 2014 at 11:24 am
Not sure if it went unnoticed due to the holiday period but I note that there was Regulatory News on Christmas Eve that Laxeys increased their stake in the company by obtaining 714, 285 shares on 20 December to increase their holding from 11.64% to 12.74% (approx 8.3m).
Looks like these are the guys to watch.
====================================================
Without actually checking I am sure that these are the shares transferred from Green’s own shareholding – announced over a year ago – but not to taken effect until this December after Green’s lock-in expired.
Basically the shares were to make up the difference in the £1 a share Laxey paid compared to the actual 70p flotation price. Why the difference was paid from Green’s personal shareholding and not the company has always puzzled me makes you wonder if the original £1 a share actually went to Green rather than TRFCL I think it was from memory rather than RIFC Plc. Just another little mystery in the Rangers journey 😆
Bauhaus says: (6)
January 6, 2014 at 1:53 pm
PhilMacGiollaBhain says: (239)
January 5, 2014 at 9:19 pm
Reilly1926 says: (222)
January 5, 2014 at 9:10 pm
This is the piece I am referring to and the response to it-from some CFC chaps-towards Angela was-well-colourful.
http://angelahaggerty.com/get-your-wits-out-for-the-ghirls/
—————————–
Thanks for posting the link, Phil.
That is an excellent, provocative piece of writing I hadn’t seen before…
========================================================
I think in situations like this we all have a duty to be careful with the words we use. I don’t see Angela’s piece as provocative in the slightest to most normal people.
It is a well-written hard-hitting expose of the unacceptable face of certain knuckledraggers who happen to support Celtic. Tbh I have often found that neanderthals like that can be found anywhere and not just in football supports.
And even more strangely the majority of them would be terrified to express similar sentiments to their own wives or mothers. But as part of a mob the cowards are empowered. In the last 2/3 years I have actually started watching women’s football on TV and enjoyed it. It’s another way of increasing finance and interest in football.
So football clubs, even if not motivated to stamp the behaviour out on the grounds of basic decency, should look to their bottom line or they will lose women and children as supporters just to allow idiots to feel like big men and superior to women by heaping abuse on them as part of a baying crowd driven by god knows what kind of sexual hang-ups.
[]
Ecobhoy,
It shouldn’t trouble you why Laxey got their shares from Green and not the company directly. It would certainly be illegal for the company to favour one investor (Laxey) over others in a public offering by giving them free shares so to speak.
What likely happened is that Charles managed to get Laxeys to invest at some point before the IPO at £1 a share when suffering from rangeritis he was most bullish on future prospects. Laxeys rightfully covered their downside by making Chuck give them a personal guarantee that covered any loss from a lower IPO price by giving them extra shares for free. He probably never considered that the guarantee would be called upon. It would be impossible for the company to make such guarantee. And the preferential treatment given to one investor over others in the public offering would make a whole mockery of the process.
Just managed to find the full ruling on Craig Whyte’s appeal against an earlier judgment that he should pay Ticketus £17million for lying to them about his business past.
His Defence case seems to have been, at best, half-hearted, with no request for documents and an unspecific mention of other “dodgy” characters that he alleged Ticketus (or Octopus Investments) had done business with in the past.
There seems to have been a bit of “going through the motions” about the whole case, which now won’t go to a full trial. Something that will suit a lot of people.
But how can Whyte hope to pay back that sum? Why are Octopus Investments not panicking?
Weird.
Here’s the judgment:
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2013/4069.html
But how can Whyte hope to pay back that sum? Why are Octopus Investments not panicking?
Weird.
———————————————————-
The reason is that Octopus do not really expect the money back. In fact it suits them because it allows them to present to HMRC a case where a VCT has failed and is not a sham special investment vehicle that allows high net worth “avoid” income taxes by investing in them which is the case 99% of the time.
Octopus themselves will have received their 6% management fee of the £20m or so invested in RFC. Their HNW investors would have been spread across the £1bn or so in total that they have in the various Ticketus VCT companies and so a £20m loss would account for 2% on avaerage. These losses have been more than covered by the 30% in income tax relief gained from the exchequer. As usual it is you and me, Mr & Mrs Taxpayer, who has forked the bill for Rangers’ debts. You may recall that Octopus early on engaged a PR company (Pendragon?) early on in the process. For them it is vital that they appear to be chasing debts in order to allay the fears of investors and appease Hector. In realisty Craig Whyte is correct about “dodgy characters” as these companies tend to be brilliant sources of funds for the more spiv-like chancers of the business world. They make their money back in various kick backs and high management fees. After all the tab is picked up by the taxpayer.
ecobhoy says: (2180)
January 6, 2014 at 2:09 pm
seminal says: (13)
January 6, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Eco – Indeed, the Laxey share deal, as outlined by seminal, with Charles had gone to the back of my grey matter.
The next questions then are…..
If Charles had to wait until the 20th to transfer his shares does that mean he still has hold of the rest of the 5,071,629 that he held? (After transfer that would still leave him with a holding of 6.7%)
OR
Did he somehow manage to dispose of them earlier.
STV seemed to say the deal with Easdale to buy Green’s shares wasn’t going to happen until May 2014.
Therefore is Charles still a ‘major’ shareholder in the business?
If he holds the shares just now will he dupe the Easdales in the same manner he did Whyte when it comes to the crunch?
We know that despite all the talk of £10m war chests first time round, the second coming of Green hinted at cost cutting.
Low and behold here comes Graham Wallace to do that bidding!!
Paulmac2 says: (833)
January 6, 2014 at 3:39 pm
One thing I am absolutely certain MCFC is that whatever club is playing out of Ibrox next season…THEY WILL make it to the top division…of that you can be sure!
================================================================================
Paulmac2 – I don’t share your fatalism. I think the establishment (SFA, SPL, SFL, MSM) did everything they could to get Sevco back into the SPL and failed and then into SFL Div 1 and failed. Those were extraordinary times and unimagined circumstances called for unimagined interpretations of rules – and new rules when interpretation was not enough. But they failed.
As you say, the Establishment may want TheRangers back at the top more than anything else on this earth – but they have limited power to achieve that without the cover of “the good of Scottish football”.
Arrmegeddon did not happen, the big lie was blown, TheRangers’ finances are a shambles, the owners are unknown or known asset strippers, the manager is a liability and the bampots are eagle-eyed. The refs may be prone to honest mistakes – but beyond that I’m not sure what the Establishment can actually do to help their sinking friend – oh apart from fees for semi finals,
ecobhoy says: (2180)
January 6, 2014 at 2:33 pm
12 1 Rate This
I think in situations like this we all have a duty to be careful with the words we use. I don’t see Angela’s piece as provocative in the slightest to most normal people.
==========================================
Sorry, I meant ‘provocative’ in its other sense: I had in mind Angela raising the issue of the lack of female representation on the Boards of clubs.
I really hadn’t considered it before and Angela has now provoked me into doing so. And now she mentions it, it truly is amazing that this is the situation in 2014. It’s as crazy as it is depressing.
Bauhaus says: (7)
January 6, 2014 at 4:12 pm
A huge part of the problem is that the SFA, SPFL and, SPL/SFL before it, are run as wee boys clubs. The whole edifice is riddled with incestuous relationships, a culture of back scratching and favours has become entrenched.
It needs a complete clear out, everyone who has sat on a board of either the SFA, SPL, or SFL quite simply has to go. No exceptions, no excuses.
We need new blood, new perspectives, and definitely more women. Women watch football in huge numbers, but are marginalised both as supporters and as execs.
Bryce Curdy says: (24)
January 6, 2014 at 3:32 pm
1 0 Rate This
Apologies in case this is a daft question, but why is Angela Haggerty greeting abuse on the Huddleboard website?
Edit – if I understand correctly the abuse followed her tweet about the treatment of the female physio.
_______
the female physio tweet was 4 months ago this is the one that started the abuse
Lord Haggerty
@AngelaHaggerty
Has anyone ever considered that the rising number of Celtic fans being total prats at games might be knocking attendances? #pyroseatbreakers
Just got my reply from ASA……..no further action.
I have also sent the info to Wikipedia so that they can print the Full facts.
Pathetic I know but I will not give in to the same club nonsense.
Just received this reply from the ASA.
——————————————–
Thank you for your email.
I have raised your concerns with our Chief Executive, Guy Parker. He has asked me to respond on his behalf.
We appreciate that you disagree with the ASA ruling involving Rangers Football Club. However, the decision is final. The original adjudication was subject to Independent Review – following a request by the complainants in the case – and ASA Council will not be changing its decision.
When the Independent Reviewer presented the case back to Council they carefully considered all the relevant points under the Advertising Code and amended their wording but not their decision.
Our published ruling puts on the public record our findings in this case. This explains clearly the nature and scope of our investigation including our enquiries to SFA and UEFA.
We will not be entering into further correspondence in this matter.
Kind regards
Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson
Press Officer
Direct line 020 7492 2122
Advertising Standards Authority
Mid City Place, 71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6QT
Telephone 020 7492 2222
——————————————-
Surprise,surprise 🙄
scapaflow says: (1265)
January 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm
1 0 Rate This
A huge part of the problem is that the SFA, SPFL and, SPL/SFL before it, are run as wee boys clubs. The whole edifice is riddled with incestuous relationships, a culture of back scratching and favours has become entrenched.
It needs a complete clear out, everyone who has sat on a board of either the SFA, SPL, or SFL quite simply has to go. No exceptions, no excuses.
We need new blood, new perspectives, and definitely more women. Women watch football in huge numbers, but are marginalised both as supporters and as execs.
====================================
The main problem is that football the world over is effectively run as a “wee boys club”.
The FA’s around the globe, including the regional ones, are run by the same vested interests that we see in Scotland and, having had direct experience in running a Scottish football club and very close exposure to an English football association via a family member, it is all about who you know and getting elected.
If we are to see fresh blood then it is the rank and file who must inject it, however, I see no appetite for that because when push comes to shove, the most thankless and confrontational time I ever had in my professional life is when I was on a Club’s board as a fans representative.
Until and unless Clubs and associations improve their relationship with fans and the fans themselves take more responsibility for what goes on and how, other than paying their entrance money and greeting at the board, nothing will change and we will continue with lies, obfuscation and the slow, gradual death of football as one of Scotland’s major sports…
seminal says: (14)
January 6, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Ecobhoy,
It shouldn’t trouble you why Laxey got their shares from Green and not the company directly. It would certainly be illegal for the company to favour one investor (Laxey) over others in a public offering by giving them free shares so to speak.
What likely happened is that Charles managed to get Laxeys to invest at some point before the IPO at £1 a share when suffering from rangeritis he was most bullish on future prospects. Laxeys rightfully covered their downside by making Chuck give them a personal guarantee that covered any loss from a lower IPO price by giving them extra shares for free. He probably never considered that the guarantee would be called upon. It would be impossible for the company to make such guarantee. And the preferential treatment given to one investor over others in the public offering would make a whole mockery of the process.
============================================================
There have been a number of posts on here suggesting that other investors – in the same position as Laxey – did get the difference paid to them but in cash and I’m sure some CF docs refer to this but a quick look by me hasn’t turned up the posts although perhaps someone better organised will be able to do so.
Obviously the kind of action I mention would be legally dodgy if operated.
Yes, Re the ASA, No further action.
Just seen the email, and 60p wasted on a stamp. 🙁
Para Handy says: (29)
January 6, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Can’t disagree with this.
@andy says: (278) January 6, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Good lord, Celtic fans taking umbrage at being called “prats”? Or was it the #pyroseatbreakers that was the issue?
I think if anything the 30-odd to 2ish posts praising Angela’s stand on her own site contradict Thommo’s comments. A mate of mine suggested I join Huddleboard – tried registering they said I had registered before and quite frank;ly couldn’t be bothered pursuing it. Especially as he implied it could be a “gloves off” kind of place. I used to be regularish on CQN but couldn’t be bothered being labelled a “happy clapper” because I had the temerity to back the board, the manager, the captain etc etc…
Whilst agreeing with Angela on the level of sexism from the stands I have to take a issue with the equating of OldGers sectarian signing policy with a lack of female representation at board level at Celtic. Phil Mac has previously pointed out that Rangers was the only UK club not to have had Republic of Ireland international or u21 players on their books in the 15 year period he examined – putting them in a minority of 1 (http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/rangers-no-irish-need-apply/). I don’t think the same could be said for comparative female board representation at all UK clubs*, let alone say Italian or Spanish clubs, so I think that comparison’s a step too far.
* Dishonourable exception might be Karen Brady though am not sure promoting her as a champion of equality sits well with her previous employ at the Sport & Sunday Sport newspapers or that Sullivan later said he agreed to letting her run Birmingham City after buying it from its adminstrators because “such a young, female director would attract publicity to the club, and also because Brady was a “sacker”. Interesting to note that whilst she has been on the board of two football clubs, they were both owned by Sullivan at the time.
BTW I’ve had mates ask why I don’t “tweet” – I refuse to get involved with Twitter because I would spend all day answering the neanderthals and numpties that populate it. This whole issue seems to validate my stance.
m.c.f.c. says: (98)
January 6, 2014 at 4:01 pm
………………………………
I hope…and I really do that your summary is exactly that.
But knowing the cabal of bodies we are dealing with I am only to aware that there is no level they will not stoop to…there is no effort they will not give…there is no restrictions on the volume of scaremongering or bullying that will be expressed in their efforts to get a team playing out of Ibrox in the top division..
No matter how vocal we have been in the past…they have continued to push it aside in the hope we get bored and lose interest.
How and ever. onwards and upwards!
Palacio67 says: (245)
January 6, 2014 at 5:00 pm
‘…..Yes, Re the ASA, No further action.
Just seen the email, and 60p wasted on a stamp. :sad:…’
———–
Not a waste of a stamp at all..
The forceful expression of dissent with what these people conclude keeps them aware that they have to be careful in the exercise of their ‘powers’.
They may all be honest men/women.
Does not prevent them from being blinkered, stupid, and essentially no different from those in business whose attitude is ‘sell, sell, sell…’ at all and any cost.
They are not an arm of government any more than the Press Complaints people, so they are not answerable to us in any meaningful, statutory way.
I’m trying not to sound bitter, but I was pleased that the Hearts signing embargo remained in place today. Last week’s comments by Hearts asst manager “that they have been punished enough” really made my blood boil.
£2M owed to HMRC
£ owed to ambulance service
£ owed to Lothian Police
£ owed to Poppy Fund
Here’s the full list of people who should be paid back before Hearts can consider themselves ‘punished enough’
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/hearts-list-of-creditors-in-full-1-3024802
Paulmac2 says: (834)
January 6, 2014 at 5:38 pm
I hope…and I really do that your summary is exactly that.
=====================================================================================
Paulmac2 – Unless the establishment can bung TheRangers £10,000,000 per year AND at the same time teach them fiscal probity AND at the same time teach Fat Salary to distinguish his managerial arse from his spiv elbow then the game is up. All that remains is the detail of whether they will finally disintegrate with a bang or a whimper.
btw where’s Dave, don’t call me convict, King these days – and how many of the 120 days are left ? 🙂
andy says: (280)
January 6, 2014 at 6:12 pm
when the new tax year begins and those top division ‘elite’ clubs have to look closely at their accounts.
====================================================================================
I reckon Wallace needs 120 days for his financial review because he can only manage one or two lines of Stockbridge’s spreadsheet each day – before he needs a stiff drink and a lie down in a quiet, dark room.
I wouldn’t be surprised, if after reaching the top division, and struggling to be competitive, the SPFL introduce a handicapping system, exclusively for the benefit of Sevco, or whatever they may be called by then
Fanciful, perhaps, but no more fanciful than what has happened over the last 2 years
john clarke says: (1498)
January 6, 2014 at 11:52 am
131
3
.. Let’s not forget that, or the liars will win. (my edit)
============================================================================
I notice that there are no less than 3 (three) TDs to JC’s most poignant post….please do not tell me these are from Ogilvie, Reagan and Doncaster…?….nah thought not!
m.c.f.c. says: (102)
January 6, 2014 at 6:17 pm
No point in mentioning 120 days.
I know it is usually Brenda’s job but it is now 103 days and counting 🙂
Wallace reveals secret of Alchemy
Can you imaging if Wallace was able to turn TheRangers around and send them on their way to the Champions League. He would have hundreds of club chairmen from around the globe queuing at his door for the rest of his natural, willing to pay him with their right arms, virgin daughters and left testicles.
But do TheRangers bear any resemblance to prima materia – I think not
Paul McConville update:
As you will know, I had contacted Paul’s family with a view to testing the water on a donation from TSFM to a charity of their choosing, and for their consent to mark his contribution to TSFM with a periodic award for a post which lifts the mist on legal matters for us lay types (as Paul himself did do well).
I have received this reply on behalf of Paul’s wife;
W are now happy to solicit donations via the TSFM donations page which we will send on Paul’s behalf, to the BHF.
If you choose to do so, please make it clear in your Paypal message that the donation is with regard to Paul.
We will be announcing a wee award for the most popular legal type post soon.
nickmcguinness says: (158)
January 6, 2014 at 2:52 pm
24 0 Rate This
Just managed to find the full ruling on Craig Whyte’s appeal against an earlier judgment that he should pay Ticketus £17million for lying to them about his business past.
His Defence case seems to have been, at best, half-hearted, with no request for documents and an unspecific mention of other “dodgy” characters that he alleged Ticketus (or Octopus Investments) had done business with in the past.
There seems to have been a bit of “going through the motions” about the whole case, which now won’t go to a full trial. Something that will suit a lot of people.
But how can Whyte hope to pay back that sum? Why are Octopus Investments not panicking?
Weird.
Here’s the judgment:
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2013/4069.html
=======
It’s more smoke n mirrors, ticketus will have known all about Whyte as all the players in this farce are in on it, how much have they spent taking a guy to court that they know they will not get a penny from.
What’s the other angle, there is method in this madness
Smoke n Mirrors
Was there not meant to be an announcement on cuts for sevco today
TheSPORTBible @TSBible 35m
‘Theo Walcott out with injury for 6 months and will miss the World Cup’ https://vine.co/v/hivx09p5xIu
sickofitall says: (206)
January 6, 2014 at 7:11 pm
I haven’t seen that.
However I do know that there are several meetings scheduled for this week with budget cuts on the agenda.
Ideally GW would want the payroll bill-at the end of this month-to be smaller.
Not easy-but doable
sickofitall on January 6, 2014 at 7:11 pm
4 0 Rate This
Was there not meant to be an announcement on cuts for sevco today
————
There were silly rumours started last night by people (a) trying (successfully) to boost their twitter followers (b) hoping that talking about something will make it happen (c) like ‘@Celtic Are A Newco’ who brought us the Islam CSC story, and who might be an agent provocateur bampot in disguise and/or (d) people who wanted to unite the bickering bampot masses.
As we’ve seen here a few times the ‘gentleman bampot’ is not always appreciated. Maybe it’s a generational thing? In one sense chucking out false rumours to see the reaction is not unlike lighting a flare. A bit juvenile and potenially dangerous.
I suppose in the great scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter what the bears believe: the dwindling TRFC cash reserves will ultimately dictate what happens on the footballing front.
And there are 2 scenarios which – IMO – are safe bets to transpire;
1) The TRFC fans who believe all the propaganda are in for one hell of a shock, in due course.
&
2) The calibre of player in the TRFC squad will drop, to be replaced by cheaper, older pros, and / or cheaper youngsters.
Either way, the quality of football is ‘probably’ going to dip at TRFC.
For the first time in a long time I watched TRFC in the Stenhousemuir game online, and was surprised at how close the teams where in ability – and even more surprised that the part-time team finished the game strong [albeit with TRFC down to 10 men, and getting a late, second goal].
So, with a relatively ‘impoverished’ TRFC squad next season – and up against a higher standard of full-time opposition – the TRFC ‘journey’ could come to a shuddering halt.
And what will the SFA / SPFL / MSM do then ?