Imagine you are one of those people who have a nice big mahogany desk, with a gloss finish set in a big corner suite office which comes complete with a picture window, a break out area, a couch to lie down on in moments of stress, a quietly playing stereo sound system, fridge, plush carpet and loads of wee executive toy like things of your choosing.
Imagine, just for a moment, that outside your office you have the executive German car that is almost compulsory when you work in such an office. Added to that, you also have the benefit of a large six figure salary, a pension scheme, substantial holidays, a bonus scheme which nicely enhances your already excellent salary, fantastic perks and trips abroad as part of your job, and that you fill a position which leads to invitations to the most fantastic events, do’s, and sporting occasions imaginable.
Imagine the respect you must command from your peers, your family and friends.
Imagine the awe that you must be held in at dinner parties and social events when you are introduced to strangers for the first time– strangers who will have heard your name, and know of your position in society.
Imagine the personal and professional respect you must command from others in your field — or any other field for that matter — when you go to conferences and meetings in foreign cities and with foreign counterparts.
Imagine the envy that many others sometimes feel for someone who has succeeded in business and society to this extent.
Then imagine that the big office described above is at Hampden?
What a bummer!!
Now, I mention all of this because if you were one of the big cheeses at at Hampden, I wonder just what you do with yourself when the large rosewood door of your office closes behind you when you get in there each morning?
Maybe you make a coffee? Read the papers? Check the mail? Go to a meeting about the latest in 3G or is it 4G pitches being installed in a ground or two in the Shetlands?
However, no matter what you do and who you speak to THAT file is always there— always at the corner of your desk, neatly up there at the top left hand corner just beyond the desk top golf set and above the Newton’s cradle with the balls that spell your name or whatever.
That file– the one that relates to the finances, compliance, directors details and ownership of Rangers Football Club.
At least that is what the top of the file says. Though to be fair it is a continuation file… continuing from the one that was opened two months ago and is fit to burst already with reports, memo’s and letters- which in turn was a continuation of the one before that and the one before that and the one before that and on and on.
Maybe that is not the correct name for the club?
Maybe that is something that can be clarified at the next meeting with the Directors and CEO of the club— whoever they might be at that time?
No matter where you go in the room, you can see that file from every position. There is just no getting away from it.
Who owns The Rangers?
There are all sorts of reports, share prospectuses, memos, deeds, documents, contracts, letters, e-mails all asking the same thing. And there you are— none the wiser.
Please clarify this, please clarify that, are there any signed but unrecorded documents, or contracts?
Are the Companies House records accurate? is the Land register accurate?
At the end of the day you just lie on the couch, place a cold cloth over your head and hope it will all go away.
Then the accounts come out. Oh the figures are shocking and they confirm that most of the people you negotiated with to get their team playing football somewhere after the collapse and liquidation of RFC PLC have exited stage left with huge severance cheques.
They now live in France, or Singapore or the Cayman Islands and you can bet they will never darken a door in Mount Florida on a wet February morning ever again.
But that is not the worst of it — the bleeding internet is full of leaks— documents, letters, e-mails, contracts, company forms and all sorts.
You wouldn’t mind if the documents leaked were ones that you had seen before, but in the main they are things that you have never seen and never had disclosed.Every day someone calls and asks ” Have you seen the latest?” and of course you haven’t so you stand there feeling like a complete chookie!!!
Every day you call the compliance and monitoring guys:
” Eh have you seen this? Have you been notified that he is a director?”
” No boss – never seen that? Never knew it existed?”
” So who owns the company if that is correct?”
” Eh Dunno boss — not sure of anything over there any more!”
“Ok have you checked the titles with the lawyers?”
” yes but the title as registered looks ok, but there is no guarantee that it hasn’t been sold to someone else and they have not registered their title for the moment!”
” Have you spoken to the lawyers? Have you asked for clarification?”
” yes Boss — the Lawyers don’t really answer our questions– well at least not fully!”
” What about these accounts – there are 57 pages there – what do they tell us?”
” Well they tell us that the figures are not good, boss, but not immediately critical.”
” Are they paying their taxes?”
” Appear to be boss– but we can’t be sure.can we? We were told they were paying their taxes before and … well you know the rest.”
” Ok, but Pinsent masons rule out the Whyte guy being involved?”
” Ah well not really – they don’t go into the company he says he owns – they sort of ignore that part!”
” But they carried out an independent investigation, surely?”
” True boss, but the independent investigation was only into what the non independent guys wanted investigating Boss, and they appear to have finished their report without speaking to all the witnesses.”
” Ok but the accounts – what do the accounts say about Whyte being the real owner — I mean they are from Deloittes for God sake – they must make the position clear?”
” Well we have had a look at them boss and in that regard the accounts are King Kenny!”
” King Kenny?”
” Aye King Kenny Boss – with regard to Whyte’s claim they say ” maybes aye– maybes naw” and they leave it at that”
” Jesus, well have you written to the Directors?”
” Aye – half the letters have come back marked “Gone away”.Boss”
” Do you know who the shareholders are?”
” Naw Boss”
“Do they have a bank account and a bank reference ?”
” Naw Boss”
” Who’s coming to the next meeting from their side?”
” Dunno Boss”
” Is there anything you can tell me that lets me close this file and get it off my desk for good?”
” Naw boss”
” Well who did we grant membership to last year?”
” The first time or the second time Boss?”
” What do you mean – first time or second time?”
” We started out granting membership to one company and then changed it to another”
” Two companies – owned by the same people?”
” Dunno Boss– but they sounded the same.”
” And which one got a licence?”
” Dunno boss”
” What?”
“Was the licence not granted by Mr Longmuir boss? And then ratified by us as a formality?”
” Why are you asking me, you are the compliance guys?”
” Aye but we were told it would all be ok by … well by someone ….. and by Mr Longmuir”
” When did he tell you that?”
” Told us one day at Ibrox Boss – I think it was at half time?”
” Half Time?”
” Aye – though it might have been full time boss ….. free bevvy and sandwiches so can’t quite remember”.
” Well who has the paperwork?”
” Lost boss”
” Lost?”
” Yes Boss – it was meant to come up from the SFL but never appeared. Turns out that the SFL was run as an unincorporated body and none of its records etc, are intact or have ever been audited …… Boss. Mr Ballantyne might have them in his garage Boss! ……… Boss? ….. are you still there? Boss?”
The man in the corner suite leaves the phone dangling, goes to his fridge for a cold drink and switches on the executive plasma hanging on the wall by way of the remote control on his desk.
The screen beams into life and an advert for the brand of soft drink that he is holding fills the wall. The very same brand of soft drink that has just been announced as the official soft drink to partner Scottish Football.
The executive, looks at his drinks can, looks at the file on the corner of the desk, looks at the abandoned phone and finally looks at the screen just as the speakers spell out clearly ………….. the benefits of coming from a long line of Fannies.
This is Scottish Football Administration in the 21st Century.
A couple of posters today have again mentioned the fact that the dead club were re admitted to the SFL by the votes of the clubs outwith the SPL. While we all agree this was against the rules, can I ask if anyone really thought that a club who have an average home support of over 40000 was going to be refused entry into the league?
What would have been gained by not allowing them in?
Rules, moral integrity etc just don’t come into play here, I’m sorry but to have stuck to the rules would have cost those clubs in the lower leagues much needed income.
The passage of newco through the leagues is giving a valuable shot in the financial arm to all those smaller clubs that they play.
Would we seriously deny that income to these clubs?
For me the thing that stinks is the fact that the SFA/SPL/SFL didn’t have the balls to just come out and say we are going to do whatever it takes to keep this reincarnation in Scottish football.
Many mistakes have been made over the last 2 years but admitting newco into the 3 tier of Scottish football wasn’t one of them.
Can I also ask if anyone has been to Spartans? I have and I must say that of all the smaller clubs I have visited on my travels round Scottish football grounds, my visit to this club was probably the most underwhelming. Although they play in a working class part of Edinburgh there was not any sign that they attracted ANY fans from the local area. Usually at junour and lower league games you can buy a pie and hot drink for under £2. Not at the shiney new Spartans stadium, no pies for their affluent fans. £4 for a burger and nearly £3 for a cup of coffee.
EKBhoy says: (124)
October 18, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Smugas,
I believe in a few months, you will see pictures of the Easdales in the MSM stating “We were duped!”
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I think the Easdales are there for the long haul EKB. The quiet easing (no pun intended) of Sandy into the TRFC football board has set the scene I think. When this all calms down and the Easdales, the Murrays and McColl (or similar) are in charge, RIFC will remove itself from AIM and TRFC will become the club and company 🙂
The only barrier to directorships then would the uber-fastidious SFA. 😈
Some folks have no shame………..Alex Rae being one of them……
Alex Rae @alexrae1969 17 Oct
Rangers owe me money, says Imran Ahmad – The Scotsman: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/rangers-owe-me-money-says-imran-ahmad-1-3145406#.Ul-NmZ94asc.twitter …
Send this chancer back to the rock he crawled out of !!
TIgerTim @asmallteaser 17 Oct
@alexrae1969 @ChrisGraham76 so says the guy with an EBT for £569,000 who played 34 times, takes one to know one.
Alex Rae @alexrae1969 17 Oct
@asmallteaser @ChrisGraham76 Slight difference my friend wee were adding titles to the most famous club on the planet !
Sevco engravers.
Memorial and commemorative plaques. 😉
Personalised with your club logo and colours. 🙂
Est 1967.
http://www.sevco.com/
they’ll be handy for tattooing brass necks.
Eddie Rice
What would have been gained by not allowing them in?
Rules, moral integrity etc just don’t come into play here, I’m sorry but to have stuck to the rules would have cost those clubs in the lower leagues much needed income.
Big Pink
As Greenock Jack rightly infers, the financial aspects trump sporting integrity in the Celtic (as well as other top clubs) boardroom,
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Good to see some practical realism being adopted opposed to the B&W interpretations that generally prevailed until the recent debate about the Celtic boardroom.
eddie rice says: (37)
October 18, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Eddie, the genesis of Spartans was very different from say Newtongrange Star. The Spartans were originally an offshoot from Edinburgh University, and I don’t think they have ever really lost that middle class vibe. however, are we really saying that only working class folk can play wendy roundball, while all the middle class types should be ruggar buggars?
(having said that, ask John Beattie how taking his family to an Ibrox home game worked out, and he was in the club deck if I recall correctly, poor chap was mortified at the stuff his kids were hearing….)
For those rewriting history that the SFL ones were greedy and to blame for putting TRFC in SFL, please reread the articles where they were furious about being blackmailed!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18680165
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/clyde/109292-in-full-clyde-fcs-statement-after-sfl-meeting-over-newco-rangers/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18759795
Exiled Celt says: (726)
October 18, 2013 at 2:09 pm
Exactly!
Big Pink, see how far you have fallen from grace? jack is agreeing with you 😳
Greenock Jack says: (65)
October 18, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Good to see some practical realism being adopted opposed to the B&W interpretations that generally prevailed until the recent debate about the Celtic boardroom.
________________________________________________________________________________
The debate – for my part at least – is not just about the Celtic boardroom. It’s about the collective responsibility of the clubs for allowing sporting integrity to be trampled on. Celtic could neither have enabled or prevented this on their own – they all needed each other (and TRFC needed everyone) to break the rules and grant them their membership and licence.
scapaflow says: (1028)
October 18, 2013 at 2:12 pm
____________________________________________________
Didn’t have too far to fall anyway 🙂
Big Pink
Frankly amazed that you believe Scottish football was ever run by a proper set of rules and all of a sudden the Rangers liquidation has revealed some sort of eye-watering fracture in the game’s governance.
You view is well argued , however a trifle over-intellectual and misses the point that officialdom has always been rubbish with justice partially applied, to let that shower of intellectual pigmies and bigots at Hampden put you off watching professional football is plain wrong.
Looking forward to a good game tomorrow , Hibs were very feisty at the Christmas fixture last year , so set-up nicely for a challenging 90 minutes …..
To quote Tony Roper’s view of the late Mr. Sanderson …. ” I, I, I don’t over-intellectualise about football ….”
Helps to maintain perspective I find.
Exiled Celt says:
=========================
Who is “re-writing history”
They voted Rangers into the SFL, is that not a fact.
They may have been furious at the proposal that Rangers should go straight into the SFL1, where most of them would have missed out on the “blue pound”. However they were perfectly willing to vote them into SFL3 where they would all benefit from it.
They refused to let them into the SFL1, quite rightly, they could just as easily refused them entry into the league at all. They chose not to do that, and it was their call, they were perfectly entitled to vote the way they did.
eddie rice says: (37)
October 18, 2013 at 1:48 pm
‘..can I ask if anyone really thought that a club who have an average home support of over 40000 was going to be refused entry into the league?’
——–
What is your point, exactly, caller? That cheating is all right when it is’justified’ by financial necessity?
May I come and take your wallet, please, next time I’m a bit strapped for cash?
Very few of us were surprised at the corrupt decision to ‘accommodate ‘ a failed, disreputable club.
However,most of us think it was an utterly unforgiveable act of abuse of power by frightened men of no principle, who belong in the gutter reserved for the CGs and Rizvis of this world.
You personally may be happy to condone abuse of official power.
Most of us are not.
Big Pink
The debate – for my part at least – is not just about the Celtic boardroom. It’s about the collective responsibility of the clubs for allowing sporting integrity to be trampled on. Celtic could neither have enabled or prevented this on their own – they all needed each other (and TRFC needed everyone) to break the rules and grant them their membership and licence.
———————————————————————
Regretably if posters look beyond boardrooms or football itself, they will see that integrity and accountability are not in fashion and haven’t been for many years. Society has suffered as a result and we will leave our children somewhere ‘poorer’ than we once knew.
The management and control of information have played a large part in this decline, it is no surprise to see Mediahouse still at the centre of the Rangers saga.
I really believe that if you want real change, then you have to start at the very top.
Sometimes football blinds you to the bigger picture.
Meanwhile on RM (well, it’s a slow news day so far) … rather than questioning current Ibrox affairs, the bears entertain themselves by wondering whether their memories of goals scored by the “traitors” are tainted (no, because the Club scored those goals, not the traitors), why other Scottish fitba fans hate them (jealousy, of course), and, er, “What’s your favourite Loyalist song”?
🙄
Angus1983 says: (1173)
October 18, 2013 at 2:33 pm
they could have taught Nero a thing or two, as he strummed his Lyre
Comedy Gold … Chico v Jabba
“incompetent” “20 years as ibrox cheerleader”
http://m.youtube.cvom/watch?v=w8eCT9wTOuU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dw8eCT9wTOuU
iamacant says: (347)
October 18, 2013 at 9:16 am
54 0 Rate This
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Yes, that was exactly my thought too on reading the words of ‘EBT Barry’.
Long time lurker first time poster…………..
Whether the rules were broken/bent misused (delete as appropriate), Doncaster had to get what he thought was best in terms of business for the SPL. Hence the armageddon scenario when he didn’t get his way.
Wanting the blue pound enhances the SPL’ s coffers so punting them into SFL1, missing the blue pound for one season, in Doncaster’s doomsday scenario was the only compromise in town – sporting integrity has nothing to do with the rules of business!!
I would have been grateful if the powers that be just told me/everyone that no matter what a team wearing blue will be playing at Ibrox outwith what happened and is still happening, because it makes perfect business sense.
The fact that armageddon has not happened, and there appears to be a cleaner air circulating around the grounds in the SPL/Premiership, placates the decision that ordinary footie fans made last year.
As we all know in our own daily working lives, rules are in place to conform to a set of other rules such as ISO creditation. How may companies follow these rules blindly??
IMHO if we did, work would grind to a halt – well it would in my industry (telecomms).
As some other posters have said previously; The tribute act had an opportunity to start afresh but their supposed sense of entitlement has continued were it has left off.
If you remember the Addams Family and Gomez’s obsession with model trains – I cannot wait for this train crash!! 🙂
scapaflow says: (1029)
October 18, 2013 at 2:35 pm
‘… as he strummed his Lyre..’
——
They’re too mesmerised by their own Glib Liar to realise they’re being f..ked right royally!
eddie rice says: (37)
October 18, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Can I also ask if anyone has been to Spartans? I have and I must say that of all the smaller clubs I have visited on my travels round Scottish football grounds, my visit to this club was probably the most underwhelming. Although they play in a working class part of Edinburgh there was not any sign that they attracted ANY fans from the local area. Usually at junour and lower league games you can buy a pie and hot drink for under £2. Not at the shiney new Spartans stadium, no pies for their affluent fans. £4 for a burger and nearly £3 for a cup of coffee.
……………………………………………………
I’m answering you at face value.
I’ve been to Spartans a few times on different occasions.
I’ve been on a Friday afternoon when the place is always heaving because they have football and then feed the kids from the community (Foot-tea). Kids that probably wouldn’t get fed otherwise.
I’ve been there when they nearly beat Hearts in a friendly earlier this year.
I’ve seen them play Whitehill and Hearts under 20s too.
And I’ve picked up my son when he was playing there for an amateur side on their second pitch.
We always use their facilities and are always made to feel very welcomed in their cafe area.
We rate their pies too.
From conversations I am pretty sure their cafe and ground are run by their Kids football charity and all proceeds go to the work they do with kids.
And ask any local teacher about the good work done by the Spartans Community Coaches in her school.
I’d say Spartans are a real community club and are unsung heroes.
Tif Finn – think if you said that to Turnbull Hutton, there may be steam coming out his ears. Not sure they were given much of a choice. At one point there were only 2 options given to them – SFL1 or nothing – if I remember correctly. Also think that since the clubs also have to pay extra for police and security etc, the money made although welcomed is hardly in the same region as getting a cup tie at an SPL ground and getting 1/2 the gate.
(edit) Adding a link to the SLF3
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/rangers-newco-stenhousemuir-do-not-expect-third-division-vote-1-2396944
A day or two ago a poster ( apologies to him/her for not noting the name) made a reference to the possibility of petitioning Parliament.
This is the email reply I received today when I asked the question:
” Thank you for giving me some more detail of your concern. I am afraid that is not an issue that would be admissible in terms of bringing a petition to the Scottish Parliament. It is not something for which the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliament has any responsibility whatsoever.
Thank you for your interest
Anne Peat
Clerk to the Committee “
john clarke says: (1256)
October 18, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Bloody Peat’s get everywhere
Finloch says: (199)
October 18, 2013 at 2:44 pm
“….I’d say Spartans are a real community club and are unsung heroes.)
—–
I would agree entirely.
Admittedly, I have a soft spot for them since my son had an association with them some years ago ( which, of course, involved me in ferrying to and fro. Happy days!)
EKBhoy says: (125)
October 18, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Big Pink
Frankly amazed that you believe Scottish football was ever run by a proper set of rules and all of a sudden the Rangers liquidation has revealed some sort of eye-watering fracture in the game’s governance.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Can’t pretend that I haven’t been naïve EKB, but I do think there is a world of difference between day to day cutting of corners that goes on everywhere, and the major road works that have taken place since the demise of RFC.
Perhaps then my disappointment is not one of principal but of degree. Whatever, it still forces me to make a choice. I like sport. If the repositioning of the authorities with regard to rules is so radical that to me it doesn’t look, sound or smell like sport, then I have to pass on it – naiveté or not.
Never been accused of being an intellectual before either 🙂
john clarke says: (1257)
October 18, 2013 at 2:50 pm
having been involved in one a few years back (about local authorities selling/building on school playing fields), the petitions office can be a pain in the derrière. however, if you can work in an angle around Scot Gov funding you should be ok. In this case, the SFA gets oodles of public cash, much of which they do good things with, but, there is that whole accountability/governance thing
scapaflow says: (1030)
October 18, 2013 at 3:05 pm
‘..the SFA gets oodles of public cash,’
—–
Thanks, Scapa.
In my first email to the Petitions Office, I had mentioned the fact that the SFA is in receipt of public monies, asking whether that fact alone would make them in some way subject to parliamentary scrutiny.
The reply asked me to be more specific about the nature of any proposed petition.
I gave the barest summary of the grounds on which I would base a petition viz..,the abuse by the SFA of the Articles of Association in respect of their failure to apply their own rules to a particular situation.
The reply I posted above is the reply I got to that further info.
I don’t want to appear paranoid, but I think I’ll refer to my MSP: if public money is given to a body, I would have thought that we all have an interest in how that body conducts its business!
There’s nothing whatsoever to worry about. Brian says it’s all tickety-boo and hunky-dory.
Source: Scotsman Rumours
John Clark
That currupt decision you talk would be the same decision every other association in world football would have made.
I don’t condone cheating, I just happen to live in the real world.
john clarke says: (1258)
October 18, 2013 at 3:20 pm
********************
Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability, and I want you to know that we are with you, until victory etc etc 😛
I’m about running out of energy, or is it enthusiasm?
If it’s energy, that’s a good thing for the inept football authorities.
If it’s enthusiasm, that’s a bad thing for the inept football authorities, but they probably don’t realise or care.
borussiabeefburg says: (195)
October 18, 2013 at 3:43 pm
john clarke says: (1258)
October 18, 2013 at 3:20 pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I concur with both of youse.
Now how are we getting on working out what connections the Easdales have and their motivation?
Catching up Men! – can only offer as aide memoirs;
BDO appointed 31 October – a 6/12 month report should be in the offing
But believe LH now moved on – so who/whom looking after the insolvency aftermath[s]?
But still;
Unlike the several `independent investigations` – some Statutory Reporting required
[aka facts]
– Not disingenuous – PR BS / MSM tab tales / Independent `see no squirrels` claptrap]
Plus wasn`t the procrastinating GW due in front of the beaks `late 2013`? [+ 25m CB lark]
.
Could at last be days of reckoning for the manipulative snoughts in trough spivcreants
A link from Twitter account DaveKingGuity (maybe the latest CF incarnation??)-
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=401431&sn=Detail&pid=71616
Big Pink
There is a reasoned argument for stating in decades gone-by, that the SFA would have waived Rangers straight back into the top division , held a victory parade , paid some of their bills! Walked up and down a road – you get the picture.
The SFA has no idea, inclination, finance or skills to deal with any major wrongdoing by clubs , their rules as such are h1ndreds of years old and assume everyone is not cheating. Once you accept that , then you can get on enjoying the football, marvelleous game.
Apologies for the intellectual comment, I don’t know what came over me!
eddie rice says: (38)
October 18, 2013 at 3:40 pm
‘..I don’t condone cheating, I just happen to live in the real world.’
——
There are people on here who slate other clubs on the grounds that their ‘inaction’ equates to ‘condonation’!
This blog is doing its best to fly the flag of integrity by at least refusing to accept the lies of the MSM and the SFA for what they are, the very antithesis of Sporting and journalistic ideals.
We do not do rolling over in the face of such!
paulsatim says: (569)
October 18, 2013 at 2:56 pm
‘..Bloody Peat’s get everywhere’
—–
Ha, ha. There couldn’t be a connection, could there? That would be just too priceless!
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/alex-salmond-offers-to-help-hearts-survive-1-3145617
Shocking !!!
What was agreed with BDO and Rangers*
Big Pink says: (114)
October 18, 2013 at 12:53 pm
My last post.
I concur BP. And I completely understand where Jim Larkin’s coming from with his earlier rant. From April, when I handed my book back, till recently I felt a real sense of anger. Raging at the fact that I felt I had to make a stand while my Club was happy to play the three wise monkeys. I was angry because the tic were just starting to assemble the best squad I’ve ever seen at the Club and they were playing some exciting, effective football (like Burn’s teams but wae a defence). Furious because it was clear that them in Govan are allowed to do as they like, when they like and now it’s official not suspected.
But over the last month the anger has left me. I was at Parkheid the night we beat Barca. That celebration is a part of me like many other nights in my life. The Jam’s farewell at the Apollo. A certain summer night in Ibiza. Spitting in Malcolm Rifkind’s face. To be treasured. And so it is. I feel better about it now. Time for me to do other things. It’s been a blast. Adios amigos!
Marky
Markybhoy says: (26)
October 18, 2013 at 4:40 pm
……The Jam’s farewell at the Apollo…….
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Somewhat OT but……wow….seems like yesterday……a truly memorable night for me too….
Markybhoy says: (26)
October 18, 2013 at 4:40 pm
But over the last month the anger has left me.
+++++++++++++++++
That’s sad news, Markybhoy. Because that’s exactly what the suits are counting on. We all just get over it and drift away, one by one. You have been a great contributor to this forum, and I can fully understand anyone wanting to do something more positive than headbut a concrete wall (well, that’s how it feels, at times!). For myself, I’ll never go back until the midden is cleaned out. That might be something I’ll never see, but I will never return to a corrupt game (as I see it), and I will keep on trying as best I can to highlight the corruption that keeps me away from the game I love.
A thought occurred to me today regards something P Murray said on radio the other night .
He said that he was acting on behalf of concerned institutional investors ,was it not CG and IA who claimed to have brought these II in ,why did these II not throw there lot in with P Murray and J Mc and get the club before CG.
Surely when witnessing the CW era P Murray and J Mc would have been acting to pick up the pieces .
The fact they just seemed to sit back and allow CG to be handed the assets from Duff n Duffer without so much as a whimper is strange to say the least .
Unless they were in the know regards why CG was there ?
Markybhoy
Celtic are not playing the three wise monkeys. There are constraints that come from operating in a hostile environment that make the three wise monkeys policy, well wise, for want of a better word.
Change will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
john clarke says:
A day or two ago a poster ( apologies to him/her for not noting the name) made a reference to the possibility of petitioning Parliament.
This is the email reply I received today when I asked the question:
” Thank you for giving me some more detail of your concern. I am afraid that is not an issue that would be admissible in terms of bringing a petition to the Scottish Parliament. It is not something for which the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliament has any responsibility whatsoever.
Thank you for your interest
Anne Peat
Clerk to the Committee “
_________________________________________________________________________________
That poster was me JC.
Anyway, muchos grassyarse for the follow-up. So, basically, no chance of a petition about a public inquiry into the goings on at the SFA -something which might have had support from a broader spectrum of fans. Looks like Resolution 12 is the only hope of at least raising a formal complaint about the, erm (for want of a better word), licentious handling of the licensing issue. But, as I said previously, I fear that if Celtic fans are forced to go it alone on this, without the broad support of fans of other clubs, then I fear that it will be unfairly portrayed by the blue proboscis hordes and their minions in the MSM ,as evidence of bias & bitterness, rather than an attempt to force the truth into the open. Shame.
Eddie Rice
My kids play for Spartans they run about 20 teams from 5 upwards, my cup of tea on a Sunday costs 1.25
How many fans come from the local area that support hearts,hibs, rangers, Celtic etc so I’m not sure what your point was on the amount of local fans attend the senior team games.
The shiney new stadium came as a result of the old ground being shiney new flats now. I realise on this forum Spartans get mentioned a lot as losing out on a potential league place but there are a few more clubs who could easily have taken a slot. Gala, forres etc
I do agree that Scottish football isn’t big or strong enough to lose 40000 fans so allowing rangers to start In div 3 was a sensible decision it was the way the SFA handled the whole sordid affair that sticks in most peoples craw.
TBH I fell out of love with footie a long time ago, but I do love a conspiracy which keeps me reading this forum
Auldheid says:
Celtic are not playing the three wise monkeys. There are constraints that come from operating in a hostile environment that make the three wise monkeys policy, well wise, for want of a better word.
Change will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
______________________________________________________________________________
To paraphase soul/jazz poet & musician Gil Scott Heron (junior) who’s Jamaican dad played for Celtic …
“The (r)evolution will not be televised”
jimlarkin says:
===========================
Absolutely nothing I would have thought.
Duff and Phelps were the administrators, picked by rangers themselves.
BDO did not become involved until after it was already too late. The CVA had been rejected and the club was being liquidated. BDO were then put in place to deal with that liquidation.
Auldheid says: (972)
October 18, 2013 at 5:52 pm
Would love to believe that your faith was not misplaced, Dave King Fit n proper, will provide the proof either way I guess.
Super scoreboard on now with Keevins and dimwit Johnstone.
Unbelievable stuff from this pair of clowns.
Just need Chic Young to phone in and the radio gets chucked out the window.
(My wife has just asked why I listen to this stuff if all I do is shout f*** off at the radio!)
Bill1903 says: (5)
October 18, 2013 at 7:18 pm
tell her It’s therapy, saves a fortune in pshrink bills…….
Don’t really see what shocks you. He has not done anything; merely offered his assistance if the thing gets bogged down in inter-nation politics. He offered (and may have tried) to intevene on RFCs behalf with HMRC; had that administration had an international element, I am sure the same offer would have been made.
Listening to SSB
Callers saying that PL should not be on the SFA board deciding if DK gets on to the Sevco board .
Their reason being that he may be biased to give Celtic an advantage and vote no to hold Sevco back .
Where do you start with that ?.
What if he voted as to the rules ,I know in the SFA this would be an alien concept but every great journey begins with one small step .
I am baffled at Jack and Big Pink today.
Trying to resurrect the essential Rangers argument. This “Armageddon” scenario has been disproved. The desire to get Rangers – any Rangers – back to the top has been shown to be misguided and indeed counterproductive to the financial interests of all of the other clubs.
The figures from Stevensanph last year and the season past have revealed that financially the 40,000+ Rangers supporters offer no significant financial advantage to any club other than Rangers. Indeed the contribution from all of these Rangers fans has proved insufficient – by about ten million a season- over the past twenty five years even to cover the expenses of Rangers itself.
It appears that nobody can run Rangers profitably – and that no-one can provide a sustainable model to allow such survival without external pumping of significant sums of cash on an ongoing basis. Such a financial basketcase cannot provide any boost to Scottish football nor is such a club necessary for Scottish football’s survival.
Given its history: the threats , the sectarianism, the hostility, the aggression, the bloody mindedness, the greed, the sense of entitlement, the societal divisions it exposes and the sheer unsavoury nature of all of the participants in the boardrooms of all of past and present Rangerses and of all possible saviours of the club, there seems to be not only no financial benefit in manufacturing a Rangers to pollute Scottish football when this one dies – as it must- but absolutely no societal benefit either.
Bawsman says: (205)
October 18, 2013 at 9:58 am
114 11 Rate This
jimlarkin says: (553)
October 18, 2013 at 9:17 am
————————————————————-
This Celtic “muppet” bought an extra season book because Rangers were liquidated and allowed to reform as a new club in the bottom league.
I personally don’t think a new club should have been allowed in but am not naive enough to understand the politics.
If they had shown a modicum of guilt re their shafting of creditors, a generation of financial doping plus their miriad of obnoxious behaviours I’d say, fair enough, but no, they revert to disgusting type +…….I hope 2nd Rangers also get liquidated.
This Celtic “muppet” also gave his shares to Canalamar and Auldheid to put the question to the CFCB about the SFA’s behaviour.
In the words of JFK I ask YOU what YOU have done for your country before you castigate me (and my fellow Celtic fans) as “muppets”?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don’t take it so personal.
I too proxies my voting rights from my Celtic shares – to the CST !
The point is – we have all been the ‘marks’ in this big con.
Why else are you on here? Deep down you know it and fair enough, you justify your position, in that you accept that they ‘started’ in the 4th tier of scottish football.
I don’t think that is good enough!
Spartans or other were cheated out of that place.
Spartans were thrown out of a competition over a ‘signiature’.
Rangers were found guilty of an offence second only to match fixing
. . . did they get a comparable reprimand to Spartans ?
As someone else said – Rangers/Sevco have only actually been ‘punished’ – maybe twice
. . . All the rest is consequences of their own actions/cheating.
The SFA left it up to LNS – Celtic and the rest – left it to the SFA – who runs the SFA ?
Who was involved with the ‘secret’ 5 way agreement. Why did it need to be secret.
Why were Sevco allowed to start against Brechin without the position of who the players were playing for being explained? Sevco5088/sevco scotland/ The rangers FC Ltd / Rangers international…
Why after all these years would the SFA /Bryson interpret the rules in completely the opposite way everybody else ‘understood’ the rules to mean!?
Does that not contradict the ‘bosman’ understanding of the contracts?
You have your views and I have mine.
All I’m saying is – a team needed to be seen to be saved for the blue masses and fleece them of t he blue pound.
The green pounds are Also much needed and Celtic have been in on the big con
. . . See no evil, hear no evil speak no evil and keep the money coming in.
Danish Pastry says: (1583)
October 18, 2013 at 3:36 pm
18
1
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Rangers: ‘Don’t panic’, says Stockbridge
RANGERS’ financial director Brian Stockbridge has called for the club’s fans to remain calm amid ongoing turmoil at Ibrox.
In a statement, Stockbridge said: “Plans have been put in place to ensure the daily operations of Rangers continue as normal.
—
Q1. Rangers??? Is that RFC(IL), Sevco 5088, Sevco Scotland, TRFC or RIFC Brian? 😛
Q2. So, would you now describe the Daily operations at RIFC & subsidiarys over the past 18 months (e.g. losing £1m pcm, burning cash at a rate of £2.5m pcm, paying premier league wages in lower leagues, paying managers and execs 6 figure salaries and bonuses for running a club that plays against part time opposition?) as ‘normal?’ 😛 and, if so, would you mind explaining how the heck you would get from there to ‘Don’t panic’? 😆
—-
“Rangers are financially secure and there is no prospect of the club ‘running out of money’”. (Sun)
__
Q3. see Q1. 😈
Q4. please define ‘financially secure’ . 😈
Q5. Is that the ‘club’ or the company that has no prospect of running out of money Brian? And did the ‘club’ run out of money in 2012, or was that the company? 😎 (silly me … that was a different club wasn’t it 😳 … forget I asked! )
Q6. Would ‘no prospect of running our of money’ be the same as ‘no prospect of disposing of its fixed assets (Stadium/MP etc.) to generate desperately needed operating cash’… or not? 😈
—-
“Plans have been put in place to ensure the daily operations of Rangers continue as normal.
Q6. see Q1.
Q7. see Q2. 😯 Does this mean you actually seriously put together plans to continue losing £1m pcm??? 😳
Q8. Would any of these these plans happen to involve the sale and leaseback of fixed assets in order to raise operating cash by any chance? 🙂
Q9. And finally, just who was your ‘Don’t Panic’ message intended to reassure? (a) Fans of the club that plays out of Ibrox, or (b) just about everybody else interested in Scottish football, instead!? 😉 (Keep up the good work!)
Source: Scotsman Rumours
fergusslayedtheblues
Listening to SSB
Callers saying that PL should not be on the SFA board deciding if DK gets on to the Sevco board .
Their reason being that he may be biased to give Celtic an advantage and vote no to hold Sevco back .
Where do you start with that ?.
What if he voted as to the rules ,I know in the SFA this would be an alien concept but every great journey begins with one small step .
————————————
If the hypothesis is accurate, then the caller makes a legitimate point.
I would argue that there should be guidelines in place. Facts are gathered, followed by a judgement. Any grey areas that arise should be interpreted by a lawyer.
Greenock Jack says: (67)
October 18, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Och Jack give over. So if someone whose parent club was Hibs was on the board, they would have to recuse themselves if a decision involving Hearts came up and vice versa? Same for Dundee/Dundee UTD/Aberdeen?
(I’m not going to list all the alleged Ranger’s supporters who work for the SFA in one capacity or another, because, frankly, I don’t have that kind of time)
Rangers, like the UK in the UN, need to stop pretending they have a significance they no longer possess.
Greenock Jack says: (67)
October 18, 2013 at 8:01 pm
Actually your suggestion does have some merit, but here is how it would go the first time the lawyer made a determination unfavourable to Rangers. Mr McCoist would start banging his big drum to the tune of “Who are these people”, the mob would join in the chorus of threats and intimidation.
Greenock Jack
I wonder if that caller found anything wrong with the HEAD of the SFA being in place whilst indebted to ONE member club to the tune of £95,000 (or a good night out ).
I am sure he also thinks J Farry was a fine upstanding man whilst he was in his post ,or maybe he thinks S Bryson’s vision for player registration regulations is ahead of it’s time .
More likely he is an avid DR reader who read HK pash about PL maybe having to cast the deciding vote on the matter .
5 man panel and one has a Celtic interest ,he is not in the job 5 mins and they are bricking it .
I don’t read the DR so I assume I missed all HKs stories of COs influence on the 6th floor over many years
Scapa
Let’s take the party politics out of it and think of governance.
Such a decision as the one mentioned should IMO be covered by clear SFA guidelines on what was not acceptable, with lawyers called in to interpret any grey areas that may arise.
IMO, it shouldn’t be one where the clubs are involved in voting.
There are other things that the SFA board or committees would of course vote on, eg. issues with more direct relation to football.
In this case, I thought the SFA were going to let the NOMAD and the club take the responsibility anyway.
Greenock Jack says: (68)
October 18, 2013 at 8:22 pm
jack, I bet they are praying like hell that AIM, the Nomad, somebody, anybody makes the decision for them.
Greenock Jack says: (68)
October 18, 2013 at 8:22 pm
Scapa
Let’s take the party politics out of it and think of governance.
+++++++++++
Governance is a good place to start. So in terms of governance, do you consider it acceptable that the serving president of the SFA, Mr Ogilvie, has received a substantial loan at the behest of an association member, which so far as I’m aware, remains outstanding? Or do rules of governance not apply to those of a certain persuasion?
fergusslayedtheblues at 8:19
A problem on here is that many have their heads full of their on-going ‘political’ perceptions on events, often extreme or with varying degrees of balance applied. This alongside the natural party politics will often create a rushed and unbalanced interpretation, eg. see Scapa at 8:18pm for ‘rush to judgement’.
It’s better to look at each issue on it’s own merits.
Even BT sport are at it now.
Advert at HT in the Roma game. A big montage showing the November games on the channel.
All in large capitals
Everton v Liverpool
Dortmund v Bayern
Newcastle v Chelsea
Juventus v Napoli (-all capitals but u get my drift)
Etc etc
Then the Scottish games
It looked like this, both games side by side for effect
Ross county. Arbroath
V. . . . . . . . V
CELTIC. RANGERS
At first glance it really did look like we were back in February 2012
We like sums 😉 – Todays arithmetic;
.
If BS [don`t panic] `said they`d be down to a million at end of season – then;
Subtract the CM sums
Subtract – new CEO salary [ aka incl + 6-month payoff]
Subtract the BS replacement salary [ + aka 12 month payoff(s)]
Subtract other new directors `remuneration` [wot no remuneration committee 😳 ]
Subtract `remunerations` for a new `remunerations committee`
Subtract the `advisors` fees to the `remunerations`
Subtract the hidden spivs percentages on the remunerations of remunerations
Subtract the `mansions tax`
Subtract legal fees to keep them out of the tin [so far]
Subtract PR remunerations to feed nonsense to the bears [and everyone else]
=
spivtastic con
[teachers educational note – 14+ mill `loss` = circa 40 gold bullion bars trousered
[gosh – weren`t they worth it]
Blimey!
Neepheid
IMO the SFA are a busted flush.
I think all those in the main positions of responsibility should have been held accountable for the absolute leaderless shambles that has been allowed to develop over the last 30 months. It is typical of our times that the same people are in place.
Greenock Jack says: (69)
October 18, 2013 at 8:22 pm
OK Jack serious answer. this is how I think it will go. Either the City will say not on your Nellie Sunshine, we are not having a recently convicted tax felon on a PLC board thank you very much. At this point the sighs of relief from Hampden will be loud enough to be heard in Capetown.
Or
The City greenlights him, at which point one of two things happen:
1. The SFA say if its good enough for the City it has to be good enough for us
or
2. They hide behind the Holding Company/Club distinction and say he can be on the RIFC board if he likes, but not on the TRFC ltd board. (IIRC Malcolm Murray was Chairman of RIFC, but was never on the TRFC Ltd board,so there is even a handy precedent)
Greenock Jack says: (70)
October 18, 2013 at 8:43 pm
jack, not a rush to judgement, just applied experience from the independent panel fiasco last summer
Greenock Jack says: (70)
October 18, 2013 at 8:49 pm
This statement i agree with you on though
TheLunaticFringe says: (16)
October 18, 2013 at 6:22 pm
‘..That poster was me JC. .
——-
Good man yourself.
We’ll get there in the end, one way or another.
Greenock Jack says: (70)
October 18, 2013 at 8:49 pm
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Neepheid
IMO the SFA are a busted flush.
I think all those in the main positions of responsibility should have been held accountable for the absolute leaderless shambles that has been allowed to develop over the last 30 months. It is typical of our times that the same people are in place.
++++++++++++++
That’s a pretty indirect answer to a direct question, but never mind.
Lawell is a new face on the SFA board, he wasn’t there last year, just what you want, it seems. So what’s your objection to him?
scottc says: (322)
October 18, 2013 at 7:35 pm
‘..He offered (and may have tried) to intevene on RFCs behalf with HMRC;’
——
We are still waiting for a bit of transparency as regards the nature of Alex’s phone call(s) to HMRC -tax being a matter reserved for the UK government.
That kind of unnecesssary secrecy just makes one wonder what card he might have been trying to play.
neepheid says: (847)
October 18, 2013 at 9:04 pm
True as far as it goes, but Mr Lawell was on the SPL board. For the most part, all that has changed is the seating arrangements. We need a root and branch clear out, followed by root and branch reform. Unfortunately, i still haven’t found my Robespierre, and BP tells me my first choice candidate would have gone along with it all 🙁
TheLunaticFringe says: (16)
October 18, 2013 at 6:31 pm
‘…To paraphase soul/jazz poet & musician Gil Scott Heron (junior)’
———
Just this very minute heard your man’s name on RTE Radio 1, at the end of a recording played at someone’s request!
There is coincidence and pure fluke, but that is remarkable!
And I remember seeing his dad play at Celtic Park.