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.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
January 13, 2014 at 1:45 pm
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NTHM ,my thoughts entirely. You would think it was Death Race 2000 Jackson was discussing here, not a game of football,
Of course Hearts have had some heavy defeats, but they’ve also had some decent results – a win at Pittodrie for example – and yes they are languishing at the bottom of the league but remove the 15 point penalty and they are nearer the other relegation teams than has been the case with other bottom clubs in recent years.
Every week all across Scotland teams are getting hammered because they are not good enough, or the opposition is exceptional, or it’s a mismatch etc.
But I’ll warrant most of those players don’t want our sympathy, they just want the chance to get back out on the pitch and do better next time.
The article was facile and pointless until of course Jackson came to his raison d’ecrire….the merciless punishment after punishment handed out to poor wee defenceless Rangers (IL) and the tribute act that followed.
The gist seems to be we’re going to have to watch these poor Jambo babes suffer heartless cruelty because the only alternative would be to admit we were all wrong about Rangers and welcome them straight back into the SPL with their current points total in League 1 being transferred in with them.
I am afraid it is going to have to take a second and even third insolvency event before the message gets home. Some last week were posturing that Celtic needed Rangers to give them a challenge – that’s half right, they need a challenge but it can come from anyone, a revitalised Aberdeen, a United able to hold on to its young stars and develop them further etc. It does not “have” to be Rangers and given the current financial plight of the current Rangers, it can’t be.
As the RFC lawyer put it in his submission to LNS, “the (Rangers) club ceased to exist on 14 June 2012.”
Once everyone accepts that, we can all move on.
Does anyone know when Jackson officially takes up his new post as head of PR at Sevco?
I wonder how much the bluster from McCoist, denying that he’s been told by Wallace that players have to go, thus reducing the percieved potential success of cost cutting measures, has to do with the continued nosedive of RIFC’s shares. Perhaps it’s nothing to do with this and is just part of the supreme plan. One thing’s for sure, though, the cheeky chappy’s PR won’t have helped matters, one little bit! Well, perhaps it is helping someone, or group.
It does seem strange, to me however, that whereas the announcement of extremely poor annual results didn’t cause an immediate collapse of the share price, there has been a continued fall since the announcement that austerity measures would follow. Could this suggest that the price was being controlled, in some way, until safely through the AGM, or movement of shares was complete, and is now being allowed to find it’s true level; or is it, perhaps, being deliberately manipulated to some nefarious end?
Smugas – 😀 Also counting all the comps issued to non fans, presumably stewards are counted (he did say everybody!), photographers, visiting directors, family of players (comps again). Our crowds are woeful for a town of 50,000 and a team sitting second in the league but there is growing apathy and disillusionment among some fans not helped by the chairman’s vote last summer. We do a great job in bringing through youth and the after school training for all kids age groups has recently started up again but the club’s poor PR, terrible club shop and merchandising in general, and lack of thought for the fans has led to may picking and choosing or just not turning up at all. We can’t even get our games filmed for the SPFL youtube channel while giants like Stranraer and the Shire have their lengthy highlights available on their website on Sunday evenings.
Carntyne you made an excellent point about the age of the Hearts squad and the complaints by some, (not I am pleased to see our esteemed Hearts supporters on this board such as Allyjambo and Finloch) that this is cruel and unusual punishment for them.
“As for the limp and lifeless, broken in spirit and body youngsters, what unremitting balderdash, look at the average age of the Dundee Utd squad, it’s younger!! ”
There is in fact nothing remarkable about the age of the current Hearts team. Many of their competitor teams over the years have VOLUNTARILY fielded and continue to field teams who’s average age is equivalent or less than than the current Hearts team.
The current Dundee United squad is a case in point. The Hibs squad under Tony Mowbray. I’m sure the statisticians amongs us can provide further examples
Hearts it seems still need to be protected from themselves. They are in Administration! Their cry to be allowed to sign new players completely ignores how they got there. It was by signing and paying players that they COULD NOT AFFORD! They STILL can’t afford it!
This embargo is there for a reason and whether they like or not it is for their own good.
If a pity exemption was to be made for the “sake of a strong Hearts” this completely neglects that this “strength” comes at the detriment of their rival clubs who live within their means!
It’s Sevco all over again if that happens. I do agree that the farcical Sevco “embargo” which allowed them to sign lots of overpaid players at will is different from Hearts, where the rules actually seem to be getting applied. So I can understand Hearts supporters frustration about that. However they should bear in mind that the non-applied Sevco embargo has contributed to the forthcoming sevco admin event. Ironically, if the rules had REALLY been applied to Sevco, it may have saved them from themselves or the Spivs as they would not have been able to sign all those players.
That Hearts survive, is more important than being allowed to bring in a bunch of out of work 32 year old journeymen. In my opinion, the Hearts players should sieze the opportunity to show what they are made of, rather than complaining about unfairness.
Jackson and The Record: Absolute disgrace.
A pathetic attempt to ‘big up’ the sevco mob on the back of the Hearts problems.This man’s utterings are out of control.Clearly his editor doesn’t check the mince Jackson writes. ‘Malevolence, baying crowd,revenge,bloodbath,mob mentality’. This stuff is bordering on incitement.
And another thing.Any sane football supporters still buying this ‘newspaper’ should desist immediately.
No1 Bob says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:07 am
…
One of the venues being used for the Commonwealth Games is Ibrox Park which will host the rugby sevens so I was concerned to see pictures on twitter at the weekend of parts of the Ibrox roof coming loose and sections of the crowd being moved to safer areas…
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From a risk / insurance perspective you would reasonably expect that that section of the stadium will remain closed until the roof problem is fixed.
You would also reasonably expect that all the stadium rooves at Ibrox would be checked out as an immediate priority.
No idea if this is a minor or major cost issue – but it will be interesting to see if all sections are open at Ibrox at the next TRFC home game.
bobferris says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:15 pm
. Our crowds are woeful for a town of 50,000 and a team sitting second in the league but there is growing apathy and disillusionment among some fans not helped by the chairman’s vote last summer.
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I didn’t realise Hamilton was such as size 😯
Their crowds are truly woeful then.
St Johnstone have been getting abuse for their lack of support yet Perth is a smaller town.
What is it about multi trophy winning Celtic/Rangers(RIP) that makes the people of Hamilton support them? :sighs:
helpmaboab says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:25 pm
Any sane PERSON still buying this ‘newspaper’ should desist immediately
—> fixed it for you helpmaboab! 🙂
bobferris says:
January 13, 2014 at 3:55 pm
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I suppose one reason behind this is that even if they lose out a little they might (provided the game’s not bad) attract a few folk to come again at the full price. And the publicity would be good for them too.
Same idea as behind, for instance, PTFC’s kids go free scheme – the dad or mum has to pay to get in and then there are the food/drink items to be bought for the kids. And hopefully a few score of the hundreds of kids coming in will be potential masochists who’ll develop into Thistle fans. 👿
StevieBC says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:28 pm
It would also be interesting to know if any contractors are prepared to take on the work without being paid upfront. I wonder, too, if the Commonwealth Games Committee might be prepared to advance some (all?) of the stadium rental to meet the cost of repairs.
Why didn’t Jackson not just call his article ‘For the love of God and all that’s merciful..Leave them alone, haven’t they been punished enough ?’
You can hear his wailing and gnashing cry out from his keyboard – Scottish football is ‘hating itself to death’. We’re all to blame – everyone else, that’s right, not the clubs operating a notion that it’s someone else’s money, we’ll reap the rewards just now and sod the rest. Well guess what, this is what comes of reckless spending, greed, chasing European moonbeams, pathetic delusions of entitlement. Rangers went the way of the Norwegian Blue out of greed chasing a European dream on the back of miscreant lending practices, and perverse tax avoidance, while Hearts to their credit are doing everything within their means to retain their entity, only too well aware of what liquidation means, now that Mad Vlad has done a bunk taking his arrogance and self-importance with him. What is happening to Hearts is the equilibrium returning to Scottish football – for Hearts it is a very painful lesson but not one which will be their downfall, in a way it could be the making of the club. Live within your means, develop your young Scottish players, sell on for profit. The quality of some of the young Scottish players right now is a joy to behold. There are myriad excellent players throughout the Scottish league who are being given a chance to flourish. Even the youngsters at Hearts are possibly getting a chance that would never have come their way, as a seemingly never ending conveyor belt of players from Lithuania always seemed to get first dibs. It is tough for these boys, but as many have pointed out, they’re playing football – not working down a mine or cleaning lavvies – its what they want to do.
So Jackson, spare us all the wringing of hands, and the woe is us shit. There’s got to be better journalists that can talk about the good things in our game than plead for clemency on those who don’t deserve it. All the rest of the clubs can live within their means or are having to do it, while taking their chances of success on the park, not twisting the rules because there has been a spineless football authority looking the other way.
As for The Rangers, we could talk for the rest of the next decade about who, when or what they are, but whatever your personal take, they are both a disgrace, bringing relentless disrepute on the Scottish game. It is in one sense ironic that they also show our authorities up for the total sham they are, for their inability to deal with the first club’s liquidation and their ongoing failure to bring its shambolic but equally toxic impersonator to task.The SFA and its cohort in their broad and wide ranging lack of vision has only created one almighty rod for its otherwise spineless back. Spineless, now there’s a word, Keith – you could look it up while you’re looking up the definition of liquidation.
Bougherra would play for rangers for nowt apparently. Wasn’t there a financial reason he left in the first place? Still would be a good bit of business for Coisty. Similar may apply to Novo, Miller, Boydy, Robbie Savage, Bazza, Hutton, Burkey, Lovenkrands, Broadfoot…. 🙂
Blindsummit63 says: January 13, 2014 at 4:23 pm
“As for the limp and lifeless, broken in spirit and body youngsters, what unremitting balderdash, look at the average age of the Dundee Utd squad, it’s younger!! ”
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The article by Jim McEwan is fair enough in terms of arguing against any lessening of the punishment against Hearts. Indeed I would agree with much of it, although I do believe that there is a debate to be had as to what the appropriate punishment(s) should be for a club going into administration, as I don’t think that it is in the best interests of the creditors.
However I do have a problem with the statement about the age of the respective squads. The average age of the Dundee Utd squad on Sunday was 24.59 and for Hearts on Saturday was 22.53.
easyJambo says:
January 13, 2014 at 5:42 pm
“As for the limp and lifeless, broken in spirit and body youngsters, what unremitting balderdash, look at the average age of the Dundee Utd squad, it’s younger!! ”
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The article by Jim McEwan is fair enough in terms of arguing against any lessening of the punishment against Hearts. Indeed I would agree with much of it, although I do believe that there is a debate to be had as to what the appropriate punishment(s) should be for a club going into administration, as I don’t think that it is in the best interests of the creditors.
However I do have a problem with the statement about the age of the respective squads. The average age of the Dundee Utd squad on Sunday was 24.59 and for Hearts on Saturday was 22.53.
________________________________________________________________________________
Fair enough EasyJambo. I repeated what Carntyne had said about the squad ages, so my apologies for the error.
I also agree with you about debate around ther whole punishment/sanctions/impacts for going into Administration etc.
The bit I always find ironic is that presumably, all the clubs sign up to the rules, but as soon as any of them suffer at the hands of them, they immediately complain. That’s life I suppose!
Of course Rangers/Sevco didn’t just complain, They either ignored the rules or had them changed to suit them! I don’t think other clubs have that luxury.
Blindsummit63 says: January 13, 2014 at 6:03 pm
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I should have stated that the average age was for the starting lineups, not the squads, although Hearts subs were also younger.
I guess that you become more attuned to the arguments when your own club is subject to an insolvency event. Observations from my 20/20 hindsight of Hearts experience would be as follows:
No action ever seems to be taken against the directors of clubs going into administration, despite them being in charge of the purse strings.
.
The Administrator’s primary purpose is to get the best deal for the creditors. However, because of the impact of a registration embargo, the value of the club to a prospective buyer may be diminished if poor results or indeed relegation follows an extended period of administration, even if funds were available to improve the squad .
An extended administration period means a harsher footballing punishment, even if the cause is down to complexities of the business rather than being the result of an extended period of footballing profligacy.
A harsher, but more final punishment for going into administration, may be more appropriate. e.g. relegation, rather than a points penalty. e.g. had Hearts been relegated, then the Administrator would currently be rebuilding the club, appropriate to its current income. Assuming Hearts are relegated this season, the start of that business recovery will be delayed until 2014/15. That is not in the best interests of the creditors.
The registration embargo is supposed to protect a club in administration from spending excessive or unnecessary money on players, yet they can spend what they like on coaching staff or any other purpose. Would it not be sensible for such financial constraints to be placed on overall spending based on income. e.g. Duff and Duffer would have been prevented from running RFC at a loss as they did between February and June 2012.
I’ve made a number of these arguments previously, and before Hearts under the guise of BDO and Billy Brown made their requests for relaxation of the embargoes.
Just catching up on that shocking piece from Keith Jackson in today’s Daily Record, which was posted here earlier. Incredibly he is on Sportsound tonight. What an insult to football fans who pay their licence fee and believe in fair play and advancement only by honest on field achievement. The BBC have, in my view, gone down a very dangerous road by using public money to employ pundits as biased and (from his article) as bitter as Jackson. The Daily Record can do what it likes – it is a gutter rag and we don’t have to buy it. We have to pay for the BBC though, and it’s time they stopped insulting us with such a poor level of pundit and realised they are here for everyone.
It’s not easy to place a value on owning a stake in the football club you support.
For Rangers fans who bought into Charles Greens barnstorming sales pitch for the IPO there has been a catastrophic loss on their investment.
Looking at the trades that have taken place recently it’s significant that the volume of shares involved have in the main been very small.
Individual fans getting out while some money is recoverable.
In some cases the trade volume is so small one can only wonder what is left after the cost of the transaction is met.
Today someone sold 101 shares for a little over £27, I have no way of knowing how much the individual actually realised or how much they needed the money but whatever the circumstances they are not alone.
The trades recently seem to have only one thing in common; they represent a very small percentage of the shares in circulation.
Small scale trading looks to my untutored eye to be driving the price. Even when a few hundred thousand shares change hands as has happened, set against the 65 mil shares in circulation it does not represent a significant movement.
Those who hold a significant stake are either not selling or can’t find a buyer.
It would be interesting to see what happens to the share price if one of the big players breaks cover and puts their stake on the market.
Naturally this would not happen if there was not an agreement in place with a buyer for the entire stake, unless the shares are simply to be dumped at whatever value can be realised in a fit of panic.
Until there is some movement by the significant shareholders I’m not sure I can read too much into the current Rangers share price.
I’m sure there are posters on this site who know more about this stuff than I do. Actually I’d be surprised if any know less.
It looks to me that there is not much of a market in selling small quantities of shares.
upthehoops says:
January 13, 2014 at 6:48 pm
8 0 Rate This
Just catching up on that shocking piece from Keith Jackson in today’s Daily Record, which was posted here earlier …
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Me too, and what a bizarre piece. One thing I do miss is Paper Talk. It was presented by JT, but it was at least an attempt to analyze the Scottish football and sports press. If they brought back the basic format and put it in the hands of a Stuart Cosgrove it could be a very worthwhile programme. Otherwise this nonsense from KJ, that only feeds a certain paranoia, goes un-critiqued. The great dumbing-down continues in print.
Long live the blogosphere!
john millsCFC @johnmills50 31m
Unbelivable!! Who would have thought that the Sevco share price graph appeared on a Celtic top 20 years ago? pic.twitter.com/lIiNpEstSV
paulsatim says:
January 13, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Hahahaha!!!!! 😆
StevieBC says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:28 pm
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A while back I wondered if Ibrox would get upgrade money from the Commonwealth games committee (or whatever it’s called) but it seems to be getting close to show time with no mention yet. Is there still time for a million or so to be put their way for upgrading the stadium?
EDIT@ Allyjambo, apologies, didn’t see your post.
A bit of fun on a quiet day. A wee table showing the impact on the market of recent events at Ibrox
Time/Date Code Headline Source Impact
12:47 24-Dec-2013 RFC Holding(s) in Company RNS -0.30% Down
10:52 23-Dec-2013 RFC Director’s Dealing in shares RNS -1.18% Down
15:21 19-Dec-2013 RFC Result of AGM RNS -2.90% Down
10:45 19-Dec-2013 RFC Annual General Meeting statement RNS -2.90% Down
07:00 17-Dec-2013 RFC Annual General Meeting RNS -5.35% Down
07:00 11-Dec-2013 RFC Board Committees RNS -9.61% Down
07:00 10-Dec-2013 RFC Holdings in Company RNS -9.21% Down
13:32 06-Dec-2013 RFC Statement by The Chairman RNS -7.52% Down
07:00 28-Nov-2013 RFC Holding(s) in Company RNS -6.29% Down
07:00 26-Nov-2013 RFC Notice of AGM RNS -3.29% Down
18:00 22-Nov-2013 RFC Holding(s) in Company RNS -1.17% Down
12:30 22-Nov-2013 RFC Appointment of Chairman RNS -1.17% Down
12:34 21-Nov-2013 RFC Holding(s) in Company RNS -0.46% Down
07:00 20-Nov-2013 RFC Appointment of CEO RNS -2.62% Down
07:00 14-Nov-2013 RFC Appointment of Director RNS -5.27% Down
17:45 13-Nov-2013 RFC AIM Rule 17 Update RNS -4.15% Down
15:51 12-Nov-2013 RFC Comment on Press Speculation RNS -3.04% Down
12:26 12-Nov-2013 RFC AIM Rule 26 Update RNS -3.04% Down
07:01 07-Nov-2013 RFC Appointment of Director RNS -3.81% Down
07:00 07-Nov-2013 RFC Annual General Meeting RNS -3.81% Down
Not much evidence there for any of the board’s actions “calming” the market!
Scottish Press Awards: Sports News Journalist of the Year, [2012 & 2013]
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Yes, that Keith Jackson… 🙄
The BBC – you would think – should be hyper-sensitive about improving its credibility and reputation in every area.
IMO, we should never forget the one simple reason why anybody who controls a BBC budget should NOT let Jackson anywhere near the publicly funded BBC:
“Craig Whyte profile: The Scots billionaire on the brink of taking over the club he loves
By Keith Jackson”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/craig-whyte-profile-the-scots-billionaire-1076110
[Edit: if I was a journalist who had lost out to Jackson in the last 2 years, I would have given up on journalism by now. 🙂
And it does rather unfairly tarnish the Scottish Press Awards won by any other ‘proper’ journalists.]
Bill1903 says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:29 pm
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I think the thing is simply they are too near Glasgow. The old firm (I know but it’s a handy phrase) have always taken a big support from the Lanarkshire towns outwith Glasgow. A lot of the Glasgow culture is shared too. There’s much easier travel than from places like Perth too.
In old days some of them might have watched the local team when their ‘big team’ was away to a place like, well Perth, but live TV has helped kill that off. The general things that affect modern footie, like home entertainment and computer games have an effect too but this effect is worse where already falling crowds have started a decline of sorts. Mind you it’s not so long since Hamilton were in the top league so it just shows what can be done with a small club if the people running it know what they’re doing.
coineanachantaighe says:
January 13, 2014 at 7:35 pm
I think the CGC might pay for new goal posts and the re-lining of the pitch 🙄 but in the same way we are (probably) all (well, all tax payers) still paying for the London Olympic Games, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Scottish Government see fit to subsidise the upgrading of spectator safety at all games venues. For Celtic Park and Hampden that might mean ensuring there are sufficient plastic lids to go with the plastic cups for coffee in the catering outlets, for Ibrox… either fitting a new roof, or providing all spectators with umbrellas without pointy bits 😳
This is all anyone needs to know about Jackson and his agenda.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/craig-whyte-profile-the-scots-billionaire-1076110
By the age of 26, Whyte was already Scotland’s youngest self-made millionaire. Now, 13 years on, and in charge of a vast business empire, his wealth is off the radar.
Whyte is a venture capitalist who has made his millions from playing the markets – a skill he secretly began honing in his third year at Glasgow’s Kelvinside Academy. In one of his few interviews he revealed how he immediately regretted going to the private school – because he despised playing rugby.
He said: “I hated the discipline of it. It was a rugby-only school, which I didn’t play as I was interested in football.” Whyte worked weekends for his dad’s plant hire firm. And he saved up his wages to fund his habit of gambling on Stock Exchange.
It is said that, by the time he left school, he had more cash in his bank than many of his teachers.
At 19, he was in charge of his own hire plant.
Now he owns his own castle – one of the most historic buildings in Scotland.
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Keith, the claim is that he was working at the weekend, earning money and using that to gamble on the stock exchange. Third year at School Keith. 13 or 14 years old, earning money at the weekends and making fortunes on the stock exchange, really.
That’s as believable as his vast business empire and his wealth being off the radar.
You are really up there with the people who have misled the Rangers support dreadfully and paved the way for the likes of Whyte. You complain about what Whyte did to Rangers (which is laughable anyway, Whyte was Rangers). Other than Whyte himself you are one of the people most responsible for what happened, with nonsense and propaganda like the stuff above.
Did you check any of it, anything at all, or did you just print unsubstantiated rubbish, that the Rangers support wanted to hear.
You are a disgrace.
Galling fiver says:
January 13, 2014 at 7:29 pm
2 0 Rate This
______________________________________
Sorry Galling , I wasn’t having a dig . I’m just genuinely surprised at the general reaction to the piece . Very rarely does good journalism and that rag , go hand in hand . Jackson writes to get a reaction , he has no concerns about truth or integrity . His boss knows this , his boss also has no concerns about truth or integrity . His boss needs readers/website hits and will probably have no qualms about printing the tripe Jackson writes .
If we ignore him and his employers , he’ll disappear .
Allyjambo says:
January 13, 2014 at 7:49 pm
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As far as I know Celtic Park, Hampden, and Ibrox will all have the pitches relaid as part of the deal for their use for the CG. If assistance is given for repairs to Ibrox just to make the fabric of the building safe though, surely that would constitute state aid? Rangers fans have made that issue topical recently, and having repairs carried out they should be paying for themselves would surely constitute an advantage over others. Would this info be available under a FOI request if we suddenly see work being carried out?
For the avoidance of doubt, Keith Jackson could give a shiny Craig Whyte about Hearts and the current situation. He cares not a jot for any players not able to cope with the pressures of life there and certainly not whether Gary Locke’s managerial career will suffer (although in a similar situation, Paul Lambert has done quite well for himself after Livingston!).
Main point of the article was to show that Hearts are suffering due to the unfair punishments enforced on TRFC because we (the sporting integrity eejits) cannot allow Hearts to go unpunished and in our thirst for vengeance against the poor TRFC, the poor Hearts have been collateral damage in the war raging against TRFC,
That is his message. That everything circles around TRFC.
It might have been better if he had mentioned the poor youngsters of Dunfermline who had to endure relegation and then take on players not only twice their age, but also 5 times their salaries in the latest so called match at East End Park recently. I saw so called because it is hardly an even match!
It may also be ready to defuse any issues next year when Hearts play TRFC – a repetition of Charles Greens comments that he could tell by the eyes of the Motherwell chairman he did not really want to vote against Spivco gaining entry to SPL – sorry getting relegated! By the time all this is done there will be 3 clubs deemed to be the haters – Milne, Lawwell and Thompson. Of course Jackson forgets Vlad’s comments last year pulled no punches and say what you want about him, Vlad knew about the corruption within our game and was not afraid to highlight it!
His other point was to show that Hearts and RFC-NIL were both ruined by 1 person. He may be somewhat correct – however not in the way he states, Hearts before Vlad had many issues – and of course newsflash – CW took on a club for a pound that was supposedly worth according to SDM 90 million, CG 6 million and current shareprice 27 million, So instead of blaming Vlad, CW and internet bampots, no mention of Wallace Mercer or George Foulke or heaven forbid – gasp- Sir David Murray!
Back to the ruined by 1 person……..
There is another unmentioned connection in Jackson’s article between Hearts and RFC-NIL – a certain Campbell Ogilvie. Any journalist wanting to ask the great administrator (is that really a compliment? and who gave him it?) his opinions on what went wrong with the 2 clubs he gave great service to. All fans would love to hear his inside stories and be able to learn from his experience………………………. 😈
Thinking about it, there really is only one conclusion to be drawn from the recent propaganda from the SMSM.
They have worked out that there is no way out for Rangers. That oblivion is now pretty much guaranteed. They are paving the way for even more special treatment when that happens, for the good of the game obviously.
Read these articles and listen to the comments on the radio with that in mind and it all makes much more sense. They are trying to create a context where Rangers being looked after and given preferential treatment, again, is the only sensible approach for everyone else.
upthehoops says:
January 13, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Totally agree with you, it would also be too much of an injustice if money was taken from the public purse to fund repairs to a stadium which housed the perpetrators of the greatest non-payment of taxes, to the public purse, ever known in sport in this country. Probably a world record, in fact. Still, stranger things have happened in this saga.
The re-laying of pitches is perfectly understandable, and correct, though I doubt that will solve any of TRFC’s problems, nor will it make Celtic, or Scotland, any better a football team.
Exiled Celt says:
January 13, 2014 at 8:44 pm
Well said. My eyes are bleeding after reading that ‘Craig Whyte’.
I am perturbed that he gets away with it, insofar as it is out there for all to see.
I am embarrassed for him though he won’t recognise this.
Is this the true root of all Rangers’ financial problems.
The people who started the chain of events which eventually led to liquidation and the loss of a football club.
I think so and have done for some time. Yes there were others, but these have to be the main culprits, the real beginning of the end.
http://videocelts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/campbell-ogilvie.jpg
Spot the similarity
http://s29.postimg.org/rkatgvitz/Ogilvie_Hearts.jpg
Sorry if this has already been discussed, (hard at work in the real world, hahaha);
I was under the impression that in case of the rejected CVA and the employees of the old regime when the Yorkshire pud bought the assets, not the going concern, then tupe laws did not apply. The new employees of the new company were under no legal obligation to receive the same conditions of work as with the old regime. The new employer was under no obligation to offer the same conditions. The employees contract would have died with the old company.
However if you need those players of a high sale on value then PR spin becomes a monster and in the case of a new managers’ wages then you are caught between a rock and a hard place and here we are 2 years later?
Bill – Hamilton, as you know well, is a far less surprising source than the towns and villages around the North East, from which you still see TRFC supporter busses leaving of a Saturday morning. Not so many CFC ones nowadays, right enough. The number of gold-signet-ringed fat slobbering fish salesmen going around Fraserburgh with “RFC” personal number plates gies me a sair heid.
As for why … I can’t seem to get the names Mrs Merton and Debbie McGee out of my mind.
upthehoops says:
January 13, 2014 at 8:37 pm
‘…….If assistance is given for repairs to Ibrox just to make the fabric of the building safe though, surely that would constitute state aid? ..’
——–
I can’t locate the source among such notes as I have periodically made ( I’d never get a job on the DR!), but I’m fairly sure that something appeared on this blog (possibly from Charlotte?) about the deal between the Commomwealth Games organisers and the stadia that are to be used.
As I recall, it was quite clear that it was rent ( but only if the stadia were up to scratch by Comm. Games standards- and they could pull out if they weren’t satisfied) + restoration after the games..
I’m reasonably sure there is no question of the organisers paying for pre-games upgrades/repairs to Ibrox.
T
Someone might be able to trace that source?
Angus1983 says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:24 pm
1 0 Rate This
Bill – Hamilton, as you know well, is a far less surprising source than the towns and villages around the North East, from which you still see TRFC supporter busses leaving of a Saturday morning. Not so many CFC ones nowadays, right enough. The number of gold-signet-ringed fat slobbering fish salesmen going around Fraserburgh with “RFC” personal number plates gies me a sair heid.
As for why … I can’t seem to get the names Mrs Merton and Debbie McGee out of my mind.
——————————————————
Aye these hunters of glory fair get on my pip!
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
January 13, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Why are so many paid up members of teh Celtic support not turning up every week? Clearly it’s not down to finances – as they have already paid.
=============================================================
I know a helluva lot of people who are suffering very badly in financial terms and obviously Xmas, New Year. then all the bills coming in mean they are very tight for cash. And the lead-in to the festive season is expensive as well.
So even if supporters have factored-in the cost of a ST in their personal finances then they still have to consider match-day expenses which can be heavy dependent on different personal factors. Therefore I think in general people are deciding what games they really want to see based on a weather-eye on their wallet and I don’t think any club is immune to that pressure on attendance. And some of the weather has been atrocious as well so if a game’s on the box then it can easily hit crowds especially if you’re in a pub with some mates.
The problem is that if wage pressures don’t lift then the next step, once the habit of attending is broken, is to decide not to buy a ST and just pay on the day for a game you want to see. Back in the day I wouldn’t have been too concerned about that but in this day and age with all the TV football coverage and all sorts of other sports and distractions then a club can lose a significant percentrage of its support quite quickly.
And the scary thing is that how a team is playing or its results might not be enough to stem the flow. But football attendances can be very cyclical based on a number of factors and although overall attendances have been declining for a helluva long time the income generated by a successful club – especially with CL games – is rising and to get significantly higher with new TV deals from next season I think or the one after which should help the trickle-down effect.
John
If someone is renting a football stadium (or any other venue) at an agreed price then I would assume that it is on the basis that the venue is fit for purpose and that it would pass any safety checks. Presumably Ibrox Stadium already has safety certificates in place or it would not be hosting football matches with tens of thousands attending.
If it is not then I think it is reasonable to assume that paying for getting it up to the required standard is a matter for the person renting it out, not the person who wants to use it and is paying the agreed amount for it.
I cannot imagine that the contract is on the basis that if it is not up to the necessary standard the people running the Commonwealth Games will pay for any remedial work to be done. That would just be mad.
Football Stadium safety is a serious matter. All buildings owners weigh up maintenance costs but football grounds are particularly vulnerable due to surprisingly high maintenance cash burn. A money pit in other words. Don`t know what happened under last years of the SDM thing or what if anything under the CW episode – or unlikely the duffers would have given it any attention – but the sense is that a pile of maintenance costs have built up. This isn’t a few thousand quid for a lick of paint – its millions for any large stadium – and Ibrox is a large stadium. This is one of the reasons that any large stadiums owners are entrusted – for the public good and safety – to be securely responsible. Sorry, but spivs, mystery spivs [with no accountability] and hedge funds have other cash priorities – and as such this another good reason for the bears to be rid of them – no matter what the short term cost. There’s bound to be sensible engineer bears and skilled maintenance guys willing to advise and best sort out any potential medium / long term risks for all home and away supporters. But they spend hundreds of thousands on PR Slugs feeding bellicose trash to the MSM Judas Goats. Sorry to labour a point – but Ibrox should be a working venue with a duty of care to thousands of [all] citizens safety – not a feeding ground for assorted parasites – who care about themselves without giving two hoots for the paying public – except to “monetise” them for a fast buck. [14m+ fast bucks at last count]. This nonsense will not end without a proper clear-out and that includes the useless SFA and MSM PR fed bad apples. I predict things will only get worse – a safe bet – given previous of the recidivist gullibles who hold sway.
twopanda,
That post was so good it was well worth the second reading 😉
TSFM – HELP! – Pl delete second repeated post – must have pressed something twice – old person thing – cant do this techo jabble thing properly – nice touch from allyjambo tho 😉
Tif Finn says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:39 pm
—
Exactly.
martin c says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:21 pm
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Sorry if this has already been discussed, (hard at work in the real world, hahaha);
I was under the impression that in case of the rejected CVA and the employees of the old regime when the Yorkshire pud bought the assets, not the going concern, then tupe laws did not apply. The new employees of the new company were under no legal obligation to receive the same conditions of work as with the old regime. The new employer was under no obligation to offer the same conditions. The employees contract would have died with the old company.
However if you need those players of a high sale on value then PR spin becomes a monster and in the case of a new managers’ wages then you are caught between a rock and a hard place and here we are 2 years later?
==========================================================
Green bought the business and assets of Rangers from D&P and that included the contracts of employees so they were entitled to the protection of Tupe in that if they transferred to the new company and retained their terms and conditions. And if the employee decided not to transfer then they could again, under Tupe, walk away.
Tupe in the Rangers situation was a blanket protection – Green couldn’t decide to pick and choose so that it would only apply to those who he wished to keep like high-value stars he could immediately sell. At the end of the day Green just didn’t seem to be able to get his head round what Tupe meant and I have never ever understood how his lawyers didn’t make that crystal clear to him.
It wasn’t like the Ticketus situation where there was a fundamental difference in Scots and English Law – Tupe is a UK-wide law and applied the same on both sides of the Border.
So I’m afraid you have the wrong end of the stick – the players contracts didn’t die with the old company but transferred to the new one more or less automatically unless the player decided he didn’t want to transfer and the old terms and conditions applied.
john clarke says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:31 pm
=============================
There is a strong thread on another forum suggesting the games organisers have serious concerns over the use of Ibrox due to promised upgrade work not taking place. This could be nonsense of course but the originator assures his/her source is very good. It is also claimed the Ibrox Board are engaging in brinkmanship in the hope the repairs will be externally funded. Again, this could be nonsense. What does seem clear though is that a number of people were moved within the stadium on Saturday for safety reasons. Equally clear is the media for some reason refused to go near the story, meaning any strong stories they may currently have re Ibrox and the CG are unlikely to be made public any time soon.
ecobhoy says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:36 pm
‘….And the lead-in to the festive season is expensive as well…’
——–
I am reminded of the brilliant old gag about the guy buying his xmas booze by the crateful, who, when the shop assistant remarks that Christmas can be an expensive time, replies ‘ Aye, if it wisnae for the weans, Ah widnae bother’
On a slightly offbeat note.
Ibrox has admitted that the money is running out. Some sort of cash injection is needed. Surely this is a new opportunity for some of the original ‘investors’ to make a new killing on a short term loan.
I was sure Green said that someone who put in £2m was paid back £4m in under a year. Or am I imagining that? An injection now of £3m from a three-month short term loan could see a tidy profit for the lender once the ST cash comes rolling in. In the short term, the board would be hailed as heroes. Severe cuts would compensate somewhat for the loan repayment and also allow the then depleted ST cash to last a bit longer into next season. Struggle on to the next cash crisis, which could then be financed by a new apppeal to the fans to ‘invest in the club’. Cue those guys who give £2.5m financial advice to make a new wedge of cash. Sounds almost like pots of gold at the end of rainbows.
I better go to bed 🙂
ecobhoy says:
January 13, 2014 at 9:58 pm
I had a reply from ‘scottc’, on this subject, which included a link to a Unison pdf explaining TUPE.
I have seen TUPE in action a few times but only between viable companies, not through a liquidation. This is the part which bothered me regarding Sevco Scotland. According to Unison, as far as I can make out, it was Sevco’s own choice to use TUPE, but it became a white elephant for them.
‘Scottish Football is hating itself to death’
Throughout Jackson’s excruciating verbiage it is obvious he considers The Govan club and Scottish football to be one and the same entity…….ergo a league structure with the Govan club in the lower divisions must be a total clusterf*ck and should be subject to a relentless discourse of derision until it sees sense! As others have pointed out, the deep divisions that plague our national sport may never be healed….and the media must take a substantial share of the blame for failing to report simple facts and events with a degree of honesty. Further, this situation may well get worse with severe consequences for many, and Jackson and his ilk are culpable for pandering to a mob who have already shown they will bully and intimidate a young woman who dares to earn a living as a journalist and writer.
Both Jackson and his erstwhile master JT, have I imagine, genuinely been shocked by the reaction to events at Ibrox, such is the hubris of these people they really thought deep down everybody (except the immigrants) has a wee soft spot for the Gers, and there would be a consensus, that so great is their presence, they could lord it over us for two decades using everyone else’s cash, dump the debt, and be warmly welcomed back to the top division debt free and cash rich. Jackson’s line throughout this grubby affair has demonstrated an utter contempt for Scottish football and all who contribute week in, week out to give us a 4 tier professional league. Mercifully, his organ is going the way of RFC (IL) and few will shed tears for another anachronistic Scottish institution when it’s moribund carcass falls into the grave.
upthehoops says:
January 13, 2014 at 10:11 pm
‘..There is a strong thread on another forum suggesting the games organisers have serious concerns over the use of Ibrox due to promised upgrade work not taking place..’
————-
I can feel a letter coming on, seeking re-assurance that the stadium will be a safe place for rugby enthusiast friends of mine who intend to see the Rugby 7s.
The structural engineers ( or whoever) who sign it off as safe will surely not be negligent: if anything were to happen that ought to have been foreseen, they would be crucified.
Who is in charge, does anyone know? I had a look at the official website, but couldn’t see any address, email or postal, or named contact point.
On your observation on ‘brinkmanship’, it has no doubt entered the minds of the spivs that they could bounce the Organisers into upfront structural repairs. If they thought they would get away with it, they are such low-life that they wouldn’t hesitate to try it on.
arabest1 says:
January 13, 2014 at 10:30 pm
..few will shed tears for another anachronistic Scottish institution when it’s moribund carcass falls into the grave.
————————————————————-
Yesssss!!!!
Blindsummit63 says:
January 13, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Carntyne you made an excellent point about the age of the Hearts squad and the complaints by some, (not I am pleased to see our esteemed Hearts supporters on this board such as Allyjambo and Finloch) that this is cruel and unusual punishment for them.
———————————————————————
For the sake of clarity mate, I did not write that post.
It was written by one Jim McEwan in the comments section at the end of Jackson’s article.
I felt it deserved a wider audience.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-jackson-harsh-treatment-hearts-3015628
bobferris says:
January 13, 2014 at 3:55 pm
——————————
By law all clubs have to record the total attendance I believe and report it to the police match commander. This is why it is possible to get actual attendance numbers via FOI.
Angus1983 says:
January 13, 2014 at 12:56 pm
I hear ya ! let me assure you that I always look with interest for pre season scores of Scots team playing abroad or in England as I always hope they put up a good show. It frustrates me when you pick up an English paper and there is no mention of Scottish results so maybe I can empathise with you more and should have had no reason to highlight that which I did.
john clarke says:
January 13, 2014 at 10:47 pm
This link may put you in the right direction for your letter
http://www.glasgow2014.com/press-releases/first-cocom-visit-glasgow-games-are-course
From Twitter tonight(courtesy of the guys on KDS):
Best read from bottom to top.
from twitter
Tom Hennessy @TomGoalie33 1h
@JimFitz67 @Heavidor an ex colleague now working as an asset turn around specialist in the city of London
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Tom Hennessy @TomGoalie33 1h
@Heavidor 2/2 realities were put before them, so Super Sally’s assertions in last weekends press using Manuel’s” I know nothing” line..crap!
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Tom Hennessy @TomGoalie33 1h
@Heavidor by all a/c’s he nearly shat himself when a con call involving major shareholders, the board & Sally Friday last, stark 1/2
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Tom Hennessy @TomGoalie33 1h
@Heavidor 2/2 is in trouble due to poor structural survey a major stumbling block to any sale & leaseback deal….
View conversation Reply Retweet Favorite More
Tom Hennessy @TomGoalie33 1h
@Heavidor Laxey have presented through the CEO a comprehensive list of cuts, this is across the board & non negotiable, sale & leaseback 1/2
Did I catch that news story on the radio tonight correctly?
Keith Jackson has won the Balloon D’or?
Scottish Football needs the MSM to wake up and smell the coffee. Gold Blend probably in Jackson’s case…
redlichtie says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:41 pm
The freedom of Arbroath
briggsbhoy says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:09 pm
‘…This link may put you in the right direction for your letter.’
———–
Thank you, briggsbhoy!
I’ve been thinking this last wee while ( while I watched part 2 of the ‘Bletchley Circle'( recorded earlier) to keep Mrs C company and get a heat-my computer suite is a freezing box-room!), that I may go straight into the political arena; my MSP, copied to First Minister’s office, and copied to MP, and City of Glasgow Lord Provost, with a wee copy to the PM.
As well as to the Organisers.
Public safety is of the highest importance, and our elected representatives need to be made aware of any concerns we may have.
Schneeb @mcd_steve 9m
Rangers Then, Rangers Now, Rangers Forever ……. or Oldgers, Newgers, Lodgers
RE: Ibrox and the Commonwealth Games
My understanding is that the Commonwealth Games Commitee will only take over at Celtic Park and Ibrox in April after the last league match has been played at both stadia.
Any equipment replacements that can wait till then will be left for the organisers to pick up the bill.
However, the 2014 team won’t be paying for essential repairs before then.
Do Rangers REALLY want to lose their safety licence with so many league matches still to be played?
And bear in mind that if they drag their feet or issue ultimatums, there is always the possibility that the Rugby 7s matches (and associated payments) could be transferred easily at short notice to a more modern, bigger and better stadium elsewhere in the city.
briggsbhoy says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:09 pm
‘… It frustrates me when you pick up an English paper and there is no mention of Scottish results..’
————–
It was a double whammy for me, way back in the 70s, when I went to work in Dublin.
I drove over on a Saturday, via Larne, got into Dublin and checked into my hotel at about four thirty. Cleaned up, went down to the bar for a drink and to get the results. ( For younger folk, nae mobile phones or any o’ that kind o’ stuff in them days).
Nothing but feckin English newspapers, BBC 1 and Coleman, Man U feckin supporters roon aboot me,and had to phone home (public telephone box!) to get the Scottish results.
Never really took to Dublin, I have to say! 😀
Who said garrison city? 😈
redlichtie says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:41 pm
3 1 Rate This
Did I catch that news story on the radio tonight correctly?
Keith Jackson has won the Balloon D’or?
______________________________________
I don’t know what you heard tonight Red Lichtie , but I can confirm that Mr Jackson , is indeed , worthy of an award that shows a balloon the door (avec le p45 , of course) 😀
Exiled Celt says:
January 13, 2014 at 8:44 pm
‘..Campbell Ogilvie. …….. Any journalist wanting to ask the great administrator (is that really a compliment? and who gave him it?) ‘
———-
I struggle to remember who originated that sobriquet. I think it has been carried over from RTC days, and was lifted from some puff piece in the press about the wretch’s ‘abilities’.
We all know now in what area his abilities lie-no pun intended.
As a wee aside.
Interesting to observe the Jackson related posts – and TU’s for some unflattering comments.
Seems he is viewed here as one of the most reviled characters in the RFC/TRFC saga.
…and how does a ‘proper’ journalist manage to position himself like that?
And an award winning journalist at that….
I get the impression also that if Jackson lives until he is a 100 – he will always be remembered / ridiculed for his pitiful ‘journalism’ – and t’internet will forever be his witness.
You reap what you sow Jackson.
Well something is in the air…………
Even our old friend Bryce09 has admitted the newco/oldco position is not what he argued at length about on here!
Can we delete the Bonkers OCNC thread now? 🙂
There definitely is a sudden circling of the wagons going on……….
Billy Austin @Bryce9A 14h
@DanielOConnel18 The same Membership doesnt mean RFC are the same, it only means the sfa recognise RFC as the same in practice
Billy Austin @Bryce9A 14h
@DanielOConnel18 Extent to which RFC are existentially the same is irrelevant2 them, same mbrship so in practice they are treated the same.
Billy Austin @Bryce9A 12h
@FrPaulStone Ive always said our official status & what we are in reality are two distinct questions. @Auldheid @DanielOConnel18
redlichtie says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:41 pm
Keith Jackson has won the Balloon D’or?
—————————–
That is…well…gold, if you’ll excuse the obvious. Deadly accurate, and very funny.
nickmcguinness says:
January 14, 2014 at 12:18 am
=======================================
So let me take this to a rather extreme scenario. Ibrox limps along and makes it to the point the CG Committee takes over. An initial inspection reveals work estimated at £2-3M is required just to bring it up to the required safety standard. Are you saying there is an agreement that might be met from the public purse, if the stadium has been deemed safe until that point? The chances of any adverse publicity in safety terms being reported is zero, given that the media were handed a story on a plate last Saturday and ran away from it as far as they could. What chance Salmond getting involved if the venue is at risk? Trouble is we would never know, given the fact that FOI requests on Salmond’s attempts to help Rangers are refused. There is no denial he tried to help them, for some strange reason they just don’t want us to know what he tried to do.
Ibrox & Commonwealth Games:
A bit of a delemma here becuase Glasgow2014 have likely sold a pile of tickets for the rugby 7’s. If the Stadium is unsafe in certain areas and they wanted to move where would you move it to ? Would Firhill have the capcity, I doubt it.
The ever changing Rangers Boards have known there is an issue and maybe the train of thought is;
1) Hopefully nobody will notice or care and so carry on and we get our dosh
2) If things get so bad Glasgow2014 will be left having to foot the repairs as they are in catch 22 near to the dates.
I have no objection for Glasgow2014 paying for any alterations they require for the games and that they put it right when finished. I would object if the public purse had to pay for necessary repairs which are the resposibility of stadium owners.
Remember also that 2 semi finals are to be played there and what checks have the SFA carried on the stadium ! What questions are the SMSM asking about the state of the stadium. The stadium in the main I suspect will be OK but not one single penny of public money should be used in the cost of inspection or even minor repair.
If I remember correctly the previous freedom of information requests related to how he tried to influence HMRC and the Westminster Government in relation to how they dealt with the Rangers tax situation. The requests were rejected on the basis that to release the information might prejudice the relationship between the two administrations. Basically the national interest took precedence over the right for the information to be made public.
If a request was made in relation to correspondence etc regarding the safety of a stadium, used to hold events hosting tens of thousands of people it is difficult to see how that would be rejected. It would certainly be open to an appeal to the commissioner if it was not answered.
It is clearly a matter of interets to the public and I cannot think of any reason why it would not be answered.
Mr Salmold could spent money repairing the stadium but it still would not guarantee him votes in any election from a section of Sevco fans
Is there a contractor out there who would be willing to take on work on any repair at Ibrox on a credit basis ? Even if you were a diehard Rangers fan would you take it on without dosh up front. We must be talking at least 5 figure sums. If you were a distributor or manufacturer and were asked by a contractor to deliver to Ibrox would alarm bells be ringing.
I always recall the rumours and the stuff I had to listen to mainly from Rangers fns when Fergus was rebuilding Celtic park. Barr will only take cash on concrete deliveries etc.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/soldiers-not-charged-over-sectarian-songs.23162098
NO formal criminal charges or Army disciplinary action have been progressed more than three months after complaints were made that soldiers sang sectarian songs at a match between Rangers and Stenhousemuir.
A police and army probe was launched over “concerns” raised as 400 personnel from all three forces were invited to Ibrox for a game in September.
Despite evidence that four soldiers had posed with a scarf with a sectarian slogan on it, no formal disciplinary or criminal action is being processed.
There was outrage when a video emerged from the game, which appeared to show military personnel dancing and applauding in front of singing fans before Rangers went on to win 8-0. Senior personnel from the Armed Forces looked on from the directors’ box.
Police received complaints that soldiers, who had been invited to Ibrox to mark Armed Forces Day, appeared to sing sectarian songs.
A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service source said there had been no prosecution report in respect of any individuals.
An Army source said the Royal Military Police, which assisted with a police investigation, had not brought any formal disciplinary charges.
The source said “administrative action” had been taken against four soldiers pictured holding a scarf with a sectarian slogan.
Administrative action is akin to having a warning.
briggsbhoy says:
January 13, 2014 at 11:09 pm
I hear ya ! let me assure you that I always look with interest for pre season scores of Scots team playing abroad or in England as I always hope they put up a good show.
——
Aye, me too. I remember tootling along an Alpine road a couple of summers ago and passing a tiny village which had a huge big banner at the side of the road saying “xx welcomes Heart of Midlothian FC training camp!” or similar. It was something of a surprise, but I’d no time to investigate further.