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.
Esteban says: (68)
January 2, 2014 at 10:18 am
=========================
Presumably the calls to bring back Rangers would not end should they be fast tracked. The next mission would be for Rangers to assume the position of top dog. Why is no-one suggesting the league be changed to suit other clubs? Why is no-one suggesting that e.g Aberdeen could be doing with the Champions League cash?
I don’t believe those who scream for Rangers are interested in a competitive environment at all, as long as Rangers are at the top.
I also agree the question of whether Celtic’s crowds are down because many fans are so sick of the cheating that happened should be asked, but who will ask it? As a Celtic season ticket holder since 1996 I had made up my mind not to renew in the event the authorities were able to push through the newco to the top league. Thanks only to the sterling efforts of fans of my own and most other clubs, I was able to renew, but Scottish football at authority level, and the media who so loyally support them, absolutely stinks of corruption to the core.
A happy new year to all.
Looking forward to the fans reaction to the period of austerity we’re told is about to hit TRFC.If the fans don’t buy in(literally) then an insolvency event would seem the only way out for the club.
With total losses of over £18m last year I still don’t see a future for TRFC.A 50% increase in ST cash would bring in around £3-3.5m net of VAT.That would still leave a shortfall,stripping out one off costs,of around £11m using last years figures.I don’t see how you can cut that amount without totally decimating the team,including back room staff.
A planned administration,allowing Ally and all the big earners to be removed at no cost would seem to be the sensible option.Selling a couple of players(if you can get them to leave) will have little effect on the accruing losses.
I,m still perplexed that no one has explained where the £10m turnover came from for the second half of the year,if it didn’t include this seasons ST cash.I accept it shouldn’t but CG said it would.The reason I ask is if,as I believe,the ST cash has been included,then last years losses could be say &4-5m higher than reported.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
I,m still perplexed that no one has explained where the £10m turnover came from for the second half of the year,if it didn’t include this seasons ST cash.I accept it shouldn’t but CG said it would.
===============================
Season ticket income is allocated to the accounting period to which it relates, not the period it is received in. If you are referring to the accounts year to 30 June 2013, any season ticket money for 2013/14 received before 30 June 2013 will not have been included as income for the year to 30 June 2013, but will appear as income in the accounts to 30 June 2014. That is because the money relates to games played after 30 June 2013.
As regards the 6 months to 30 June 2013, that period would show as income around half the season ticket money received in summer 2012. Plus of course any matchday income received for games played in those 6 months, plus the share of merchandising and TV income relating to that period.
What the accountants do is match all income to the period in which the goods or services are supplied. Cash flow is, of course, a totally different issue. I really wouldn’t bother about Green’s pronouncements regarding accountancy matters. You can be sure that Deloittes have correctly allocated the turnover and the losses to the correct periods.
As we head in to 2014 glad that we’ve survived Armageddon and continued to be entertained by Sevconia and everything related, I can’t help but be disappointed in what I think has been an inability of the majority of chairmen (and women) to maximise reform and generate and distribute finance.
There seems to have been a pretty significant resting on laurels. There are people involved in the game capable of generating innovative ways of remodelling the game financially yet we seem do have done next to hee haw. And why we still have Regan & Doncaster et al in place beggars belief.
The voting structures remain in place, there are no league sponsors, our national TV Deal is dire. Away fans are treated like crap, we have no inter club ticketing initiatives.
My fear for the future is that if tribute act survive they will waltz back unopposed to where their mythical monster once abided.
Sorry for the new year negativity, but our administrators inactivity is beginning to get on my thrupenny bits
Should we not be expecting some kind of comment from Regan and co going into the New Year on how they see Scottish Football’s position financialy and otherwise ,these are the people that forecast doom 18 months ago ,as the paying customer of their salaries ,surely we are entitiled to feedback on the condition of the product they are charged with overseeing,after all we get bank statements at least once a year whether we like what we read of them ,at least you get them,surely Regan has a duty to inform the fans of where Scottish Football is at and where they see it going in the next 12 months.
And before any of you think it ,I have not had a drink.
neepheid on January 2, 2014 at 11:15 am
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torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
I,m still perplexed that no one has explained where the £10m turnover came from for the second half of the year,if it didn’t include this seasons ST cash.I accept it shouldn’t but CG said it would.
===============================
Season ticket income is allocated to the accounting period to which it relates, not the period it is received in. If you are referring to the accounts year to 30 June 2013, any season ticket money for 2013/14 received before 30 June 2013 will not have been included as income for the year to 30 June 2013, but will appear as income in the accounts to 30 June 2014. That is because the money relates to games played after 30 June 2013.
As regards the 6 months to 30 June 2013, that period would show as income around half the season ticket money received in summer 2012. Plus of course any matchday income received for games played in those 6 months, plus the share of merchandising and TV income relating to that period.
What the accountants do is match all income to the period in which the goods or services are supplied. Cash flow is, of course, a totally different issue. I really wouldn’t bother about Green’s pronouncements regarding accountancy matters. You can be sure that Deloittes have correctly allocated the turnover and the losses to the correct periods.
—————————-
I agree with what you say.It still doesn’t explain the £10m turnover figure though.
ST income was given as around £6.3m net for the first 6 months.If that’s only for half a season then total ST income would be around£12.6m.At an average of £213 that would mean sales of circa 60k,which is 10k more than capacity.actual figure was more like 37k.
I don’t doubt you.I just don’t see how it adds up.
Happy New Year to one and all.
For share watchers I see there have been two buys at 50k and one at 25k today.
Small trades but still some activity.
Price still flat at the 33-34p mark but will be interesting to see if the ‘drip drip’ in trades continues or if a big ‘buy in’ or ‘get out’ happens as the austerity commences.
upthehoops says: (770)
January 2, 2014 at 10:30 am
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Esteban says: (68)
January 2, 2014 at 10:18 am
=========================
Presumably the calls to bring back Rangers would not end should they be fast tracked. The next mission would be for Rangers to assume the position of top dog. Why is no-one suggesting the league be changed to suit other clubs? Why is no-one suggesting that e.g Aberdeen could be doing with the Champions League cash?
I don’t believe those who scream for Rangers are interested in a competitive environment at all, as long as Rangers are at the top.
I also agree the question of whether Celtic’s crowds are down because many fans are so sick of the cheating that happened should be asked, but who will ask it? As a Celtic season ticket holder since 1996 I had made up my mind not to renew in the event the authorities were able to push through the newco to the top league. Thanks only to the sterling efforts of fans of my own and most other clubs, I was able to renew, but Scottish football at authority level, and the media who so loyally support them, absolutely stinks of corruption to the core.
=========================================================
Before i put my tuppence worth in
. . . Can i wish all posters and readers of TSFM – the very best wishes for 2014
[which obviously would mean for the smsm lurkers, to grow some and start printing the truth ]
Anyway, back to the man’s point.
Esteban…you’ve hit the nail…i’ve said time and time again – that’s why i won’t be back to Paradise in a very long time.
Corruption and Celtic’s part in it.
Why would a ”club” the size of Celtic, watch on, as TWO ”clubs” (Rangers1872 and Sevco) sitting down with
”The SFA”,SPL SFL and come up with – a ”secret 5 way agreement”
. . .And not say anything about the validity of such action and on top of that, Sevco get a membership that is not even in the rules, yet never questioned anything at all ?? !!
Just to cheer everyone up I wonder if the cut backs will result in some of the sponsors free Blackthorn cider being used in this year’s Loving Cup ceremony.
Can’t wait to see the footage 🙂
Matty Roth says: (58)
January 2, 2014 at 12:04 am
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As ianagain says there’s not likely to be much money made in Europe for our 2nd and 3rd place qualifiers.
Aberdeen managed to get into the Europe league a number of seasons ago and made something like £2 million (from memory).
I can’t think of many other diddy teams achieving this and suspect most will make only very modest additional income or indeed a loss.
__________________________________________
I agree with the general point that for fans of the diddy teams (non Celtic, non Rangers ?) there is little or no glamour and certainly little or no money to be made. As a Hearts fan who has endured two trips to Bosnia it is definitely lacking the assumed glamour showered upon it by churnalists in Glasgow.
However at a risk of being a pedant , I believe HMFC were the first BRITISH club to qualify for the new format Euro league (or whatever it is called). I appreciate this was about 8-9 years ago and has now faded into the history books. But it is a straw to cling to in these hard times at Tynecastle.
I’d just like to wish all posters, lurkers and long time contributors all the best for 2104.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
For what its worth like you I think that there needs to be the “cover” of administration to enable RIFC to get high earners off the books at no immediate cost.
If I remember correctly Motherwell used administration to that effect and although dumped .players eventually got something it took a while and probably a lot less than due under the contract.
My recollection is that SB money for this season (or the part actually paid for) was included in their latest accounts which means they will have to do the same accounting trick in the next set of accounts but that the accounts will not reflect their current cash flow position and they will be using the safety net of the “credit” promised when latest accounts were announced.
If you were to take the break even principles that UEFA have introduced (but face difficulty implementing with some clubs) with FFP and were to make Scottish club licensing apply with the same rigour and with the same consequences then the fact is Rangers in their latest form would not be allowed to play football.
Sooner or later Scottish football is going to apply the FFP principles domestically because it is the only way to make sure EVERY club gets a fair crack at the whip according to their income earning potential.
As this is the SCOTTISH Football Monitor I would just like to ask if the site owner if he could start a new forum to look into the crimes of other clubs in this country and ask the tough questions the MSM just don’t want to ask?
Like Celtic plc and the illegal state funding.
http://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/state-aid-assembling-the-case-for-the-eu/
Or the illegal Juninho EBT Celtic used.
Celtic confirmed that it established one EBT scheme in April 2005, which BBC Scotland understands was for the benefit of the Brazilian midfielder Juninho Paulista. The scheme was worth £765,000 but the club did not declare the trust payment to the Scottish Football Association or the Scottish Premier League.
Or Celtc’s
Or the cheap loans Celtic got from the Co-op?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2514682/Co-op-Bank-slammed-cheap-loans-Celtic-Football-Club.html
sporting integrity must be seen to be done and NO attempt should be made to cover these things up, the MSM must act or our game is finished.
Jimbo78 says: (1)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Happy New Year everyone
Looks like Jack’s latest Troll has arrived, spouting more nonsense, and lecturing us on integrity and fairness
What a joke
Do not feed
jimlarkin says: (735)
January 2, 2014 at 11:53 am
I think we have to be clear what 5 way agreement we are talking about in terms of Celtic’s involvement. The only one that was signed up to consigned RIFC to the bottom tier of senior professional football in Scotland.
Celtic were not signatories to it. The SPL were, and even if Celtic had protested and on what grounds that could be substantiated at the time I am not sure they could, the 5 way that allowed RIFC into the SFL would still have happened.
I cannot recall seeing a 5 way agreement that allowed top tier entry, perhaps there was and someone can point to it, but Celtic did NOT want that solution but again they would have been outvoted had the other SPL clubs given the OK.
I never expected that Rangers would disappear off the footballing landscape and am appalled at the steps taken to cover up just how much duplicity between them and the SFA took place, but I think that your seriously overestimate Celtic’s power in terms of the politics of Scottish football and possibly the wider political scene that involved the First Minister getting involved with HMRC.
campsiejoe says: (620)
January 2, 2014 at 12:40 pm
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Jimbo78 says: (1)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Happy New Year everyone
Looks like Jack’s latest Troll has arrived, spouting more nonsense, and lecturing us on integrity and fairness
What a joke
Do not feed
+++++++++++++++++
Aye its stuff and nonsense. Not one claim that stands up although it is tempting to educate, then again what is the point?
Jimbo78 says: (1)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Nice try, son. I’m not a Celtic fan, and even I can tell that what you’re spouting is nonsense – but then, you knew that anyway. As the guy on your blog says, if there’s anything to investigate, then it doesnt need a journalist to do it, it can be an individual complaint that can blow the whistle, so fill your boots. The guy even helpfully provided the link for registering your complaint.
[Edit] BTW, You forgot to mention Celtic’s 30 million pound debt and how this has to be considered financial doping.
Seriously, the standard of Trolls must really have dropped in the last few months if we end up having to do their job for them.
Jimbo78 says: (1)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
As they say, God loves a trier.
No real argument to be put up because we all know that the real value of all land and asssets belonging to world record holding footballing clubs that are a massive global brand is no more than say……………………………………………£5.5m??
@campsiejoe
Does this site not claim to be about fairness and integrity in Scottish Football?
Celtic fc being sold millions of pounds of land by GCC for the ridiculous amount of 1p seems to me like cheating of tax payers, Schools and other public services.
The MSM must not cover this up like they have done with other crimes at Celtic in the past.
Jimbo78 – I’m 1 of your 2 TUs. I’m convinced you must be trying to be ironic, but if I’m wrong please let me know in order that I can reverse my decision. I’m guessing you gave yourself the other TU.
Auldheid – any thoughts on my potential 2014 AGM resolution from earlier this morning?
@Shooperb
It’s good to know you are not a fan of old Celtic and football athletic club who died In 1994 or the new club The Celtic football club public limited company but do you think that cheating went on outside of Celtic?
Aberdeen relegated twice , never went down
Motherwell relegated , never went down
Hearts £30,000,000 in debt for equity and another £30m in debt.
Jimbo78 says: (3)
January 2, 2014 at 1:09 pm
‘MSM where are you?’
I think we all know the answer to that one. Out eating succulent lamb for lunch 😉
Happy Easter Jimbo !
Oh its so good to know Jack and co. are alive and kicking!!! Some of todays comments are similar to being lectured on Financial matters by Fred Goodwin!!
The Scottish Football Monitor needs at least one Whataboutery Lunatic!!
Jimbo78 says: (2)
January 2, 2014 at 1:00 pm
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@campsiejoe
Does this site not claim to be about fairness and integrity in Scottish Football?
Celtic fc being sold millions of pounds of land by GCC for the ridiculous amount of 1p seems to me like cheating of tax payers, Schools and other public services.
The MSM must not cover this up like they have done with other crimes at Celtic in the past.
————————————-
Since your Council point does not involve other Scottish clubs or the SFA I suggest you take the issue up somewhere more relevant where you will get links to the big picture. Here is the very dab.
http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/topic/511544/1/
The folks over on KDS will be more than happy to enlighten you. In fact I bet they even have a topic on Juninho, but since according to LNS ebts are not irregular and Celtic were open about their use for Juninho l fail to see what there is to examine, but I think KDS is yer place for debate on the matters you raise.
Good luck over there. 😉
I think if someone has a blog subject they want then it should at the very least be considered.
Can I suggest that if Jimbob78 has something which they believe suitable then they should write that blog and submit it for consideration.
I think it would have to be something a bit less nebulous than things he/she thinks may paint Celtic in a bad light. However I believe the overall principle has to be consistent. If the person wants to write something for other people to read and possibly comment on then they should write that blog and ask TSFM to think about putting it on line.
Alternatively they might want to consider starting their own blog and doing it that way.
Jimbo78 says: (4)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
As this is the SCOTTISH Football Monitor I would just like to ask if the site owner if he could start a new forum to look into the crimes of other clubs in this country and ask the tough questions the MSM just don’t want to ask?
============================================================================
Jimbo you are a genius, I see your work has been picked up by McMurdo which will give the klan plenty of scope to froth at the mouth, meanwhile the spivs continue to asset strip their way towards the endgame.
The ‘Unseen Fenian Hand’ truly works in mysterious ways!
Hang on, even they wouldn’t be that dumb would they?
Jimbo78,
IQ is it? If so you should be on Sevco’s board
wonderfully inept
regards and happy new year
@Bryce Curdy
No irony from me just pointing out the hypocrisy shown on this site on subjects like Tax and double contracts.
Jimbo78 says: (4)
January 2, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Ok, I’ll indulge you one more time.
The reasons for Aberdeen and Motherwell not being relegated were covered in the rules, when the SFA/SPL (or whatever incarnation of the SPL was around at the time) inexplicably decided to actually follow their own rules on those occasions. I know it seems like crazy talk now, but there was a time when the footballing bodies in this country used to do that.
As for Hearts, again the rules allowed for this. They serviced their debts until they couldn’t, resulting in administration, and since then they’ve managed to reach a CVA with their largest creditor. They still aren’t out the woods yet, and could still end up disappearing. Due to administration, they, some would say inexplicably, had to get rid of all their high earning players, and their footballing fortunes have suffered accordingly. Notably, they don’t actually blame anyone else but themselves for this, and their fans have mobilised to try and pull them out of the fire with their own campaign, inexplicably again, not dependent on some figurehead promising a land of milk and honey.
Much like my own team (Clyde) in fact. We were flying high in the mid 2000’s, before it turned out our chairman had been running us on fumes, and we ended up releasing everyone in our squad and having open trials at Broadwood where anyone who thought they were a footballer could turn up and attempt to win a £10 a week contract with us. We still haven’t recovered, and are still paying off debts to this day, but we’re fan owned, and actually work within our means.
BTW Just so you don’t look quite so much of a fool, whilst the name of Celtic’s company may have changed to reflect their change in status, they still retained the same reference number at Companies House, so effectively are the same entity they’ve always been……. but you knew that anyway.
Auldheid says: (1118)
January 2, 2014 at 12:24 pm
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torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
For what its worth like you I think that there needs to be the “cover” of administration to enable RIFC to get high earners off the books at no immediate cost.
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No I am afraid that the exact same interpretatation of the law that stated that Sevco Scotland HAD to honour TUPE arrangements although the players had the CHOICE not to participate will apply. No easy fix on players contracts for a new purchaser…even in a pre pack. Its not going to be easy this one with lots of disadvantageous contracts agreements etc. Also trying to cut back staff etc or players will have more one off reconstruction costs which I doubt they can fund. All the original investors have been paid out and their remaining shareholding is all bonus………but not Laxey…the rest of the institutions might be prepared to take a bath but not these guys. Wallace is going to have to earn his money here!
The problem with fans who quote the 1994 thing with regard Celtic is that it really does demonstrate a totally fundamental lack of understanding of what actually happened. It’s a dead giveaway for someone who hasn’t actually done any basic research but just read nonsense somewhere and is regurgitating it.
Celtic organising preferential loans, based on a sound business model and a long standing relationship is no different than me having a mortgage of 0.9% above base rate, as a lifetime tracker, with no tie in period. Not everyone gets the same rates, for a variety of reasons.
The bit about the so called “state aid” including the link, was on follow follow the other day, I believe that thread quoted a poster on rangers media (if memory serves) so I assume it has been lifted from one or the other.
The thing is, the sort of whataboutery involved is only distracting chaps like him/her from what they would be better served doing. Considering how their own club can survive and what they can do to help. Which may mean making some difficult decisions re supporting the current regime.
Question on administration.
How do administrators decimate the playing squad. If they cannot simply let the player go, to get the wages of the books, and must pay some sort of compensation then how is that cost effective.
Happy new year to all 🙂
Whether TRFC cut costs through a controlled admin or selling off playing staff the team will be weakened. Personally I wouldn’t have a great deal of faith in Ally getting them promoted from the championship with a reduced quality in the current team.
I would have more confidence in a tried and tested manager who has been hardened in the promotion/relegation struggles of a team with financial restrictions. There are even a good few of these types with a touch of rangersness about them and some of them aren’t even in employment at present.
If others in positions within Ibrox are thinking the same what would be the cheapest way of getting rid of Ally?
Would it be a 15 or 25 point deduction 🙂 would they have the cheek to demand 15 if it had an impact on next season.
Bryce Curdy says: (18)
January 2, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Its a possibility and a timing thing. Check your PMs
I am a bit puzzled by some of the comments regarding “austerity” at Ibrox. I genuinely do not understand how that can work, outside of an insolvency event. There are loads of people on fat, long term, contracts (not just players). How can these people have their contracts rewritten (or cancelled) without their consent?
McCoist is the most obvious example. Duff & Phelps could have shown him the door on statutory redundancy terms (maximum £13500)- because they were administrators. But they didn’t. We can ask “why not” for ever, but he was kept on. So now, he still has a huge contract (£650k?). How do you get rid of him, short of paying him a year’s salary as compensation?
There has been talk of Media House naming and shaming him, which is apparently going to make him walk away from a huge pay-off. Really? Why should he? The idea that Jack Irvine can turn the fans against McCoist is in any case laughable. McCoist could turn the fans against Irvine, any time he feels like it. Surely we all know that. Ally is a leg-end, Irvine has said some not nice things about John Greig. Game over, no contest.
So, can they cut costs significantly, without an administration? I don’t think so. Nobody, but nobody, is going to walk away from a juicy contract. Apart from salaries, most of the costs involve keeping Ibrox and Moses Park running. We have statements all round, signed in blood (more or less), that the properties will be retained, no matter what. So no savings possible there.
I’m starting to see why this cost-cutting review will take 4 months to come to a conclusion. Because it’s mission impossible without administration.
100BJD says: (117)
January 2, 2014 at 1:34 pm
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Auldheid says: (1118)
January 2, 2014 at 12:24 pm
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torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 10:50 am
For what its worth like you I think that there needs to be the “cover” of administration to enable RIFC to get high earners off the books at no immediate cost.
————————————————————————————————————————————–
No I am afraid that the exact same interpretatation of the law that stated that Sevco Scotland HAD to honour TUPE arrangements although the players had the CHOICE not to participate will apply. No easy fix on players contracts for a new purchaser…even in a pre pack. Its not going to be easy this one with lots of disadvantageous contracts agreements etc. Also trying to cut back staff etc or players will have more one off reconstruction costs which I doubt they can fund. All the original investors have been paid out and their remaining shareholding is all bonus………but not Laxey…the rest of the institutions might be prepared to take a bath but not these guys. Wallace is going to have to earn his money here!
====================================
I cited Motherwell as a precedent and was going from memory but they laid off players and stopped bleeding. I think they had to make some payments after they were on the mend but it was the entry into administration that gave them the excuse.
Perhaps that procrastinating escape route has changed in the meantime but I agree ending contracts has a cost and cash to pay is required.
I had a wee look at the so called “footballtaxhavens” blog. It seems the recent posts all relate to one “target”
http://s29.postimg.org/hwpmh6quf/fth1.jpg
So I thought I would have a look at the archive, it’s all pretty much of a muchness. Trying to make Celtic look bad, trying to make the Celtic directors look bad, a bit of a go at identifying the RTC blogger,
Well there is an “article” in November 2012, which is about a different subject. It is entitled
HMRC’s oppression of Rangers FC.
So maybe Jimbob78 could write a “guest” piece for that particular blog. It is clearly the type of place his work would be more appreciated.
Auldheid says: (1120)
January 2, 2014 at 12:44 pm
As you say what’s the point
They are the greatest selective memory merchants, and fact twisters, that the Lord God ever put on this planet, more’s the pity
35. Auldheid says: (1120)
January 2, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Auldheid, admittedly, my memory of it is a bit fuzzy, but were the players contracts not regarded as part of the CVA? I think they ended getting 10p in the pound (or whatever the settlement figure was) for the outstanding amounts on their contracts several months down the line, once it had all been finalised.
We don’t really need to ask why McCoist was kept on, it was nothing to do with his ability as a football manager, he had clearly shown a dearth of that.
1, Getting the fans onside behind the regime.
2, Selling season tickets for them
3, Selling shares to the supporters
4, Rabble rousing on an ad hoc basis.
There is a good argument to suggest that purely from a financial point of view (for Green et al) he was a tremendous success.
Shooperb says: (342)
January 2, 2014 at 1:56 pm
35. Auldheid says: (1120)
January 2, 2014 at 1:52 pm
Auldheid, admittedly, my memory of it is a bit fuzzy, but were the players contracts not regarded as part of the CVA? I think they ended getting 10p in the pound (or whatever the settlement figure was) for the outstanding amounts on their contracts several months down the line, once it had all been finalised.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I seem to recall it was the McFadden transfer money that allowed the former players to be paid something.
Administrators decide a course of action that gives the club the best chance of continuing. Its usually a cull of high earners, which would be a number of players (i dont know what posessed D&P during the RFC 2012 administration in the run up to liquidation). The business becomes effectively run by administrators – no longer run by the board – who can then legally take the steps necessary.
That it is a football business doesnt affect this, high earning footballers’ contracts or otherwise. Other clubs that were in admin were not under compulsion to retain players, as far as I understand things.
So basically they could just release the player, in effect breach their contract.
Would there be some form of compensation involved.
Jimbo78 says: (5)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
As this is the SCOTTISH Football Monitor I would just like to ask if the site owner if he could start a new forum to look into the crimes of other clubs in this country and ask the tough questions the MSM just don’t want to ask?
Like Celtic plc and the illegal state funding.
Or the illegal Juninho EBT Celtic used.
Or the cheap loans Celtic got from the Co-op?
sporting integrity must be seen to be done and NO attempt should be made to cover these things up, the MSM must act or our game is finished.
=============================================
I see that you appear only to have 5 posts and obviously you can’t be a lurker as there have been previous discussions on Juninho’s EBT which Celtic paid the required tax on unlike a now liquidated club which did everything while still breathing to escape its financial legal obligations.
As to cheap loans well that has also been discussed as has the relationship with other clubs – including Rangers (the one that went bust) – to a fairytale existance wrt the BoS.
On the question of illegal State Aid I read the article and couldn’t stop laughing at the obvious sectarian bias behind it. That is the only fact in it btw 😆
Jimbo78 says: (5)
January 2, 2014 at 12:32 pm
4 67 Rate This
As this is the SCOTTISH Football Monitor I would just like to ask if the site owner if he could start a new forum to look into the crimes of other clubs in this country and ask the tough questions the MSM just don’t want to ask?
Like Celtic plc and the illegal state funding.
http://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/state-aid-assembling-the-case-for-the-eu/
Or the illegal Juninho EBT Celtic used.
Celtic confirmed that it established one EBT scheme in April 2005, which BBC Scotland understands was for the benefit of the Brazilian midfielder Juninho Paulista. The scheme was worth £765,000 but the club did not declare the trust payment to the Scottish Football Association or the Scottish Premier League.
Or Celtc’s
Or the cheap loans Celtic got from the Co-op?
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2514682/Co-op-Bank-slammed-cheap-loans-Celtic-Football-Club.html
sporting integrity must be seen to be done and NO attempt should be made to cover these things up, the MSM must act or our game is finished.
——————-
Jimbo78
On the Co-op loans , they became cheap due to the banking crash were the loans were previously agreed at 1% above base rate, so due to the reckless behaviour of the banks and property speculators , CFC indirectly benefited and now are being accused of a “crime”.
If I have time then I will get back to you on other other crimes ….. Is this a comprehensive list of the CFC crimes or are you alluding to any others?
Glad to help.
Ps do not believe ONE word printed in the financial press, they have column inches to cover and agendas to promote
Carl31 says: (114)
January 2, 2014 at 2:05 pm
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Administrators decide a course of action that gives the club the best chance of continuing. Its usually a cull of high earners, which would be a number of players (i dont know what posessed D&P during the RFC 2012 administration in the run up to liquidation). The business becomes effectively run by administrators – no longer run by the board – who can then legally take the steps necessary.
That it is a football business doesnt affect this, high earning footballers’ contracts or otherwise. Other clubs that were in admin were not under compulsion to retain players, as far as I understand things.
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Carl,
Even when you buy a business from an administrator as an asset purchase you still, if you are continuing the same business have to honour TUPE…if you use a pre pack administration to effectively cancel contracts and then continue in the same business get ready for lots of Phoenix TUPE cases. This is a minefield which tripped Chico up. The Duffers could have done this in their time because they took so long, however, Rangers have not got the time or the cash so a quick obvious prepack is dangerous.
Hi Jimbob
Most loans are negotiated,if you have a good business plan,if not its take the rate you are offered or Wonga it,Celtic FC where able to negotiate this as mentioned before ,if you default ,you pay the price,if you know of any CHEAP loans there are some folk over Govan way that would be very interested in these [I would imagine] these guys display their contact number on any press release the make out of Ibrox ,they will be glad of your call,best of luck for 2014.
cheap loans ??
are they as cheap as those ones that never get paid back ??
like daves.
I see that the Bears have been presented with a massive New Year squirrel by the claim that Celtic has been illegally granted massive’State Aid’ allegedly in contravention of Euro Legislation.
I would have thought that any Rangers supporter in this financially dangerous time might be more interested in what is tearing their own club apart and finding out who actually owns it rather than worry about non-existant State Aid to Celtic given that Rangers has had a helluva lot of ‘State Aid’ through failure to pay taxes at local and national level.
However I am always hopeful when any blogger claims to have conducted a forensic analysis and exposed wrongdoing so I was interested by the statement from footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com that: ”The Scottish Government in 2006, allowed the transfer of a £30+ Million 19.53 hectare property near Glasgow, at Lennoxtown, for the heavily discounted (1/60th of the valuation) price of £497,000 to be transferred to Celtic FC for their training facility via the signature of one person, the CEO of Greater Glasgow Health Board.”
Sounds a shocker but there isn’t a shred of evidence and that the total fabrication can be demolished through publicly available sources.
I have no intention of even addressing the tawdry allegations made against the CEO who has been pilloried apparently because he shares the same surname as former celtic players and officials – Personally I have a simple line with allegations of criminality – You report it to the police. If not talk’s cheap and dangerous if done through a sectarian motive. So let’s look at this piece of muck-raking.
Lennox Castle Hospital was finally closed in 2002, after a long process whereby mental health care was transferred to ‘The Community’ from decaying large-scale institutions – such as Lennox Castle – which had ended-up as a unit of Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust – itself a division of Greater Glasgow NHS Board.
Footballtaxhavens claim that instead of paying £493k for their almost 20 hectares training Ground and Football Academy in the grounds of the former Lennox Castle Hospital that they should have paid £32.5 million based on the averaged cost, according to annually published Government figures, of the value of housebuilding land in Scotland in 2006.
With apologies to my friends in Lennoxtown who know me well let me observe that the lovely village with even lovelier people is no Bearsden or Mingavie in terms of residential property prices/values. However more importantly the annual Government valuation figures per hectare of residential housebuilding land is predicated on the land in question having: ‘A planning permission typical for the location, is ripe for development and has services to the edge of the site’.
The situation with the Celtic ground at Lennoxtown is quite simple. There is not, never has been and is never likely to be any residential housing development on it because of Greenbelt restrictions and planning constraints. Therefore the site cannot be valued on the basis that it is for housebuilding because if it was Celtic wouldn’t have been able to afford or want it for training facilities. Perhaps Rangers had different intentions when they bought Murray Park and we may learn more on this shortly but it is not The Celtic Way to needlessly throw money away.
But let’s go back a bit and deal with the spurious allegation that this land sale was basically engineered by one person who is accused of possibly being a Celtic supporter; possibly being a Parkhead ST holder; and possibly being a Celtic shareholder but who definitely has a ‘suspicious’ name.
In 1998 the Secretary of State for Scotland approved the closure of Lennox Castle and because of the economic impact on Lennoxtown a taskforce was created by East Dunbartonshire Council, Scottish Enterprise (Dunbartonshire) and Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust.
Because the Lennoxtown regeneration was seen as a long-term process the taskforce and local community members set-up the Lennoxtown Initiative whose running costs and objectives were to be met through receipts from land sales on Governmernt-owned land. Tbf this is State Aid to an economically disadvantaged area in operation and allowed under Euro Rules and legislation.
However because of planning constraints and subsequent lack of interest in the land involved things didn’t look hopeful until a joint planning initiative between housebuilder McTaggart & Mickel and Lennoxtown Initiative which saw the builder relinquish planning rights on its nearby land at Hole Farm. This gave East Dunbartonshire Council the wiggle-room to allow planning permission for houses on the Lennox Castle lower site in-line with the Draft Local Plan.
However before it could agree to anything Greater Glasgow Primary Care NHS Trust had to seek permission from Greater Glasgow NHS Board which was given on 22 October 2002 – the minutes of the meeting and the draft document outlining the issue in great detail is a matter of public record lon.g before Celtic became involved
The 2002 GG NHS Board meeting also noted wrt to Lennox Castle upper site – now the home of Celtic’s training facilities and Football Academy: ‘The Trust has worked with East Dunbartonshire Council and Lennoxtown Initiative to reach agreement on the disposal of the upper part of the site on the basis that this will be developed for Greenbelt Compatible Leisure use. This disposal is embraced by the Tripartite Agreement.’
The Board Meeting also noted: ‘Forecast receipts from the disposal of the upper site are minimal on the basis of the Greenbelt Compatible Leisure planning use designation for this part of the site. Any receipts generated from this use will accrue to Lennoxtown Initiative. In the unlikely event that the upper site is developed for a use other than Greenbelt Compatible Leisure use, then the receipts will be shared on the basis of a formula contained within the Agreement.
‘The Agreement provides for East Dunbartonshire Council to have a 17 year option on the upper site which it can only exercise on behalf of Lennoxtown Initiative.’
As well as the agreement of GG NHS Trust Board the Scottish Government Ministers also had to agree to the money raised from the land sales going to the Lennoxtown regeneration under the control of Lennoxtown Initiative. The guy with the ‘dodgy’ Celtic-associated name was the GG NHS Board CEO who was the authorised signatory for his employer and didn’t even have a vote in the decision to see the land sold. Still with a name like that he must be guilty of something – maybe it was doing his job impartially and professionally.
Jimbo78
Re the state aid crime, I suggest that you contact your Member of Parliament as your are asserting that the tax-payer has been defrauded by upwards of £40m.
I would caution that you ought to check the correct deployment of the residential valuations table to the asset types under discussion and if your satisfied that the is sound basis to proceed then go for it. You may receive some legal correspondence from the public bodies involved , if you continue to stir the pot, but just ignore it and plough on.
Interestingly Celtic has yet to make any provision in their accounts for re-paying the public purse , which may just be a case of arrogance on their part, and I would not use that fact to divert you.
Reading between the lines , I suspect that you may believe these activities ought to be subject to criminal law , therefore to cover the bases , send all your documentation to Police Scotland.
Good luck.
neepheid says: (967)
January 2, 2014 at 1:51 pm
Hear what you say but Austerity can be undertaken without Administration
Cost cutting needs to be made across all business centres.
Green and Stockbriodge supposedly brought a lot of operations back in house to control costs!!
However wages are usually a high percentage of operating costs.
People both on the playing side and non playing side would have to be convinced that for the business to survive they will need to alter their contracts.
A company I worked for took this approach during the recession, as did many others. While not ideal folks were happy to stay in a job even if it meant reduced wages and conditions. For those that survived then original contracts were put back into operation once the company was out of the grubber. While I did eventually leave the company those who stayed got a nice wee bonus and decent wages rises this year, so it can work out in the long run.
Remember players took pay cuts etc to get the oldco through to the end of the 2012 season.
The question is how many folks across the business will be willing to help out the newco.
I can’t see many willing to ‘walk away’ for nowt, so it has to be an agreed reduction in wages or being made redundant.
I am sure the CEO will be using his 120 days (and counting) to try and get a balance between, wage cuts, who he can afford to make redundant in line with their contract and who may be willing to go for some form of financial compensation less than they are entitled to.
Like what happened in the public services when folks are offered early retirement packages, even if it means a payout to the pension fund, the key thing is getting people off the wage bill so the accounts balance up.
The issues for Sevco is of course cash flow and time. They clearly need to walk a tightrope by cutting here and there as required while at the same time trying to survive until they can get cash in through the door. During that process then the outside agencies will need their taxes and bills paid and if that doesn’t happen that could trigger an enforced administration.
However the trick of controlling your own administration worked for Spiv Whyte so who is to say that if needs must the current Spivs won’t pull the same trick again.
ecobhoy says: (2141)
January 2, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Very thorough but come on – how much more Timmy sounding can a name get? There has to be something suspicious about any dealings involving anybody called Divers. 🙂
Oh Happy New Year everybody.
Tif Finn says: (1150)
January 2, 2014 at 1:36 pm
=========================
Our new troll does not deserve a lot of attention other than to remind him/her that if he/she is going to explicitly make accusations against/about Celtic then some facts will be required to back them up. If he/she wants a reminder of what constitutes a fact here are some reminders.
1. In 1994 Celtic did not suffer any form of insolvency event – that is a FACT. The registration number at Companies house remains the same today as it was pre-1994 – that is a FACT.
2. In 2012 Rangers as we knew them at the time were liquidated and ceased to exist owing tens of millions to creditors including HMRC – that is a FACT. There was no separate football club and holding company – that is a FACT.
3. In 2012 a new Rangers were formed which has a different registration number at Companies house than the Rangers who were liquidated – that is a FACT.
All very simple, but how long before someone in the MSM hints at something our quite absurd new troll has been making accusations about. Mud sticks, especially when it is being thrown around by such desperate people.
Auldheid says: (1121)
January 2, 2014 at 3:33 pm
Very thorough but come on – how much more Timmy sounding can a name get?
==============================
Many moons ago I worked with a man who was utterly convinced people were Timmy looking!
This is mostly about Celtic, so maybe a little off topic for this forum, however it’s also an admission that others in Scotland are showing the way forward. It’s to their credit and it doesn’t get enough recognition , and sadly is relegated in importance because of the continuing shambles at Rangers.
Its also a comment on the staggering interview by Peter Adam Smith of Neil Doncaster. If you haven’t seen it, i suggest you have a look, as it is proves succulent lamb is still on the menu , with absolutely nothing having been learned by some of our journalistic community
I have been concerned for some time about the criteria Celtic use when assessing potential signings. The Club have implemented a successful and highly responsible plan over the last 3 years . I believe Willo Flood window was such a scarring experience for all in charge at Celtic, that this became a sea change with regards to recruitment.
The overall unders and overs since then are firmly in credit. However the system isn’t perfect, no system is. I can accept that we will get some wrong. It would be ridiculous to expect every transfer to bring Ki and Wanyama type profits . My concern relates to the type of player we sign, and as a result , the type of player who finds their way into our first team, which in turn impacts directly on the type of football we produce.
In business, as well as in sport, its possible to over analyse. Statistics and data can confuse as well as inform. I believe that we are far too focused on what will bring limited success in European terms, to the detriment of long term development and potentially ultimately greater success.
Specifically , we seem to place size, height in particular , as an absolutely key criteria. Look at recent signings. We are signing 6’5 midfielders. Virtually nobody under 6’0
Thats to the detriment of playing style in my view. Yesterday Partick Thistle matched us and played attractive passing football with a much smaller team made up of technically competent inexpensive players. Dundee Utd have been proving all season long that this type of player, well coached and technically skilled, will produce a product well worth watching which has brought a significant increase to their attendances.
The worry for me is that most of our flair players are defenders. Emilio and Adam Matthews both have more flair than any of our central midfielders. The only attacking player who consistently produces flair , technical excellence and vision from an attacking role is Kris Commons. Excellent signing that he has been, he is no Lubo.
Therein lies the problem for me. We have always had players who get you out of your seat. Who produce a level of expectation every time they get the ball. The last one we had was Paddy and he was rarely used.
Where are the Lubo’s , the Henriks, the McStays, tne Jinky’s. Even poor Celtic teams had players who had flair and brought excitement ( except maybe Macari’s) .
We have adopted an excellent strategy, we have invested wisely in scouting, we work financially and our business model is the benchmark for how football clubs should be run. However we have turned into Tony Pulis’ Stoke City.
Its not my Celtic, its not what we stand for in football . I won’t abandon the club because of this, I will still spend and support. However its not what i believe we stand for. I don’t know whether Neil is driving the scouting and signing of these type of players, or whether it’s being driven by John Park. What i do know is that it is not the Celtic way. Thats not some kind of misty eyed romantic notion. It should be as enshrined in our DNA every bit as much as support for charitable causes.
Provide entertainers and flair players, and the crowds will return.
Briefly on another current topic. The only thing that would cause me give up completely on Scottish football , and by extension to give up on Celtic, is if Rangers were fast tracked anywhere other than where there own sporting merit takes them.
I don’t believe for a second that Celtic would approve , endorse or even stay silent should such an attempt be made. The current efforts of journalists and broadcasters to lobby for Rangers to be fast tracked into the SPL smacks of desperation. The interview by Peter Adam Smith of Neil Doncaster was as brazen partisanship as i have witnessed for many a year. The desperation to get Doncaster to buy into Rangers in the SPL as a cure all for perceived ills, was breathtaking in it’s audacity.
Coming from a journalist who is clearly a talented interviewer, it was particularly disappointing .
There seems to be no appreciation that should Rangers be given further unique and beneficial treatment by the footballing authorities, then many fans would be so disgusted they would turn stadiums into twilight zones. Far from being a cure it would be a suicide pill
Jimbob
Question for you ,where did you buy your xmas crackers ,you realy shouldnt take too seriously what the wee bit of paper in them says,or was it the wee fishing rods in them ,do tell.
tearsofjoy says: (36)
January 2, 2014 at 12:21 pm
16 1 Rate This
====================
No need to apologise for pedantry tearsofjoy, a much underrated quality at times.
Forgive me, I tried to make my point using the only example i could think of at the time but it wasn’t intended to be a sweeping statement about diddy teams success or otherwise in europa league – just to emphasize that it is very very challenging for these clubs to turn european qualification into real cash.
I know some people would like to think European football for say Motherwell or Dundee Utd is a means to greater competition at home but that’s just wishful thinking IMO.
I think Auldheid’s point about the need for real FFP in professsional Scottish Football is really critical if our game can drag itself forward. We need to get some meaningful rules and test put in place and expect all the clubs to operate within break even or a tolerance level close to break even. That for me is the first meaningful step to take things forward.
Looks like the ‘Say No to Sevco’ campaign will have to be rebooted… 🙄
There is simply too much risk to expect McCoist – or anyone else – to get TRFC into the SPL at the first attempt, IMO.
Can anybody recall a single reference anywhere in the MSM to ‘the Bryson interpretation’ which was absolutely key to allowing LNS to reach his bizarre decision?
I can’t. Says it all really. I suspect the usual combination of laziness, stupidly and suiting personal and other agendas.
Barcabhoy. Where can I read the PAS ND interview?
Edit – there’s a link to the STV interview on his twitter account. Any written version?
The Interview is here, text and video.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/258745-neil-doncaster-looks-back-on-2013-as-a-challenging-year/
@Barca Howdy mate…… Could not agree more on all your points made.
I have read a few posts from Celtic fans on various sites recently based on Celtic’s performances (apart from a couple of high scoring attacking games this season) and it seems like you, me and many more we have a team that is happy (on average) to take one or two chances from the three or four real chances they make in domestic games. You know I am not a fan of the manager who seems happy with this play as long as we grind out a result, but that’s not what Celtic are all about.
We need back to the attacking style of play we have been fortunate to see through the years and the players who can regularly produce that style in games. Van Diyk apart I am not convinced any of Lennies current crop of new players are any better than what he could have picked up for a few hundred K in Scotland. As always just my thoughts.
Braca Could you post the Doncaster interview URL.
Happy New Year all, hope 2014 brings you and yours health and happinness.
Meet the new troll, not as smart as the old troll.
Juininho, Pacific Shelf, the Lennoxtown affair et al have been done to death on loads of sites.
A simple matter of checking these will give the big picture.
However, no-one knows where the deeds to Ibrox and the rest of the old Rangers property portfolio reside.
I for one would love to know. Perhaps a phone call to Der Bomber might provide a clue.
On a different matter, I see Dallas the Younger has been making his mark. Look at the penalty given against Stranraer. I thought for a moment I’d been watching David Blaine. But then I thought Dave wouldn’t have the cheek to pull something like that.
Anyhow—have a Good New Year to all on the best blog out there. Even you, Jimbob.
I just don’t see any facility for “fast tracking” any team. The rules are there and have been agreed by the teams who now form the league. Now one league with four divisions. One set of rules.
Surely not even the Scottish football authorities would see Rangers not win promotion but still promote them. What would happen to the team which had actually won it.
This is genuinely something which doesn’t really concern me that much. They can talk about it, pump out as much propaganda as they want, mock as many people as they want. However the mechanism simply isn’t there. Any attempt at a re-structuring to facilitate it would surely just be laughed at.
Good to see one of Jacky boy’s ilk try to bad mouth Celtic, why? Because it often shows the ignorance of the hurting whataboutery trollsters and gives more learned posters a chance to post factual reminders to all on here, all new readers, casual readers et al how desperate some of the rangers men really are.
If you cannot find answers to what ails your own club, next best thing, try to defelct and dig dirt on what was once your nearest rivals or those who they think got a better run of things under similar circumstances to what burned the old rangers… Apples to Oranges, pardon the pun..!!
Just some MSM fun
================
The ‘”2014 Award for Stating the Bleedin’ Obvious”, has already been won – by a G. Spiers – for one of his predictions for this year… 🙄
“…
4. More Rangers boardroom uproar.
I know we’ve had our fill of this – the moaning, the wailing, the casting around for blame – but I predict yet more Ibrox boardroom upheaval in 2014. The current situation looks too delicate to prevail, with CEO Graham Wallace facing a Henry Kissinger task ahead. More rammies, more banners, more heads to roll…”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/opinion/spiers-on-sport-my-hot-tips-for-scottish-football-in-2014.1388680507
Happy New Year to one and all.
This Jimbo78 is a card, isn’t he? Coming to the table bearing a fistful of points which were debated and discarded months and years ago. Must try harder. Best to ignore him till he works his way through the old nonsense and gets himself up to date.
Only An Excuse on Hogmanay – excellent stuff all round (could have lived without the political bits though). I hope CFC fans are open enough to have giggled a little at the two Timmys watching the Rangers game on the telly. 🙂
Is the guy in black actually a referee??? Letting an awful lot go however let’s hope if he does get round to booking anyone that the booking actually counts 😆 come on the diamonds
Bryce Curdy says: (20)
January 2, 2014 at 4:41 pm
Can anybody recall a single reference anywhere in the MSM to ‘the Bryson interpretation’ which was absolutely key to allowing LNS to reach his bizarre decision? I can’t. Says it all really. I suspect the usual combination of laziness, stupidly and suiting personal and other agendas.
=============================================================
I vaguely seem to remember some coverage of the Definition given by Bryson but certainly no analysis of its effect on Scottish Football. Whether that would actually understood by the SMSM is a moot point. It also has to be remembered that the SMSM followed the PR line that this was a victory for Rangers and conveniently ignored the bits that didn’t suit that scenario.
I would also caution against treating it as the ‘Bryson Interpretation’ as he gave evidence as an expert witness and in view of his job position with the SFA he should have been stating his employer’s position. Of course the SPL Counsel, who should have established the actual status of the ‘Definition’ failed to do so which leaves the SFA able to ignore the Bryson Definition in future if the need arises..
Wrt to the ‘bizarre decision’ of LNS, as you term it, any study of the Decision and the legal arguments and decisions explained within it makes it quite clear that LNS was left with no alternative because there was no meaningful dissent to or probing of the ‘Definition’.
It’s also helpful to remember that LNS was a 3-member tribunal and the Decision reached was unanimous and not that solely of Nimmo Smith.
Tif Finn says: (1152)
January 2, 2014 at 4:55 pm
8 0 Rate This
I just don’t see any facility for “fast tracking” any team. The rules are there and have been agreed by the teams who now form the league. Now one league with four divisions. One set of rules.
**
Two words: league reconstruction.
A very happy and prosperous New Year to everyone on TSFM from the mods.
In 2013 we recorded over 4,000,000 unique visits to the site, and over 8,000,000 page views. Like the newest club in the SPFL, we have no year on year figures to compare that with, but the numbers certainly suggest that our message of accountability, fair play and sporting integrity has some resonance.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to these pages, making the blog a compelling read. Perhaps especially so to the Rangers fans in our number for their fortitude and sticking with us. A special mention too for the Hearts and DAFC contingent who have come through periods of anguish last year with humility and dignity intact.
Thanks to the mods who have given up their time to assist in the smooth running of the blog, keeping it pretty much true to its original spirit of mutual respect and decency.
And a special thanks to those who have backed us with their donations. The popularity of the site has added to the overhead in terms of both moderation time and money. You generosity has allowed us to keep up with that increasing popularity and has ensured we can carry on – and go from strength to strength.
Here’s to a year of success, sporting integrity, good governance – and more Armageddon 🙂
Has it struck anyone that Regan, Doncaster, Ogilvie and their cohorts are treating us fans in exactly the same way that the Spivs are treating the Gullible?
Like I said, surely even these cheats wouldn’t go for another league reconstruction this soon, it would make them even more of a laughing stock.
Retaliation! should have been a red ❓ but then again at least it seems to be getting counted, let’s wait for the ref’s report though 😆
Remember Ian Black gets Schrödinger cards.
You don’t really know if they exist until someone reads the referees report.
Tif Finn says: (1154)
January 2, 2014 at 7:39 pm (Edit)
5 0 Rate This
Remember Ian Black gets Schrödinger cards.
You don’t really know if they exist until someone reads the referees report.
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I’m waiting for the match from Edinburgh but a player has — ‘unbelievably’ (McCoist) — received a second yellow after the match in Airdrie, probably for a dive, though possibly something other. The player was Moshni (sp?).
I saw the second half and Airdrie were hugely impressive for the bottom team in Div 3 (old money).
Wonder who Jim Traynor was cheering on?