A Guest Blog by Auldheid for TSFM
Honesty requires both transparency and accountability. In pursuit of honest, transparent and accountable governance of Scottish football, and only that objective, the following letter, with attachments, has been sent to SPFL lawyers, CEO and SPFL Board Members.
An honest game free from deception is what football supporters of all clubs want. It is the action the letter and attachments prompt that will tell us if there is any intention of providing it.
It is a response on behalf of readers here on TSFM, but the sentiment which underpins it is almost universally held amongst fans of all clubs. Importantly it is a response directly to all clubs, especially those with a SPFL Board member, that will make the clubs and the football authorities aware just how seriously supporters take the restoration of trust in an honest game, honestly governed.
The annexes to the letter contain information which may be published at a later date. We thought it appropriate to first await any response from any of the recipients.
Please also draw this to the attention of friends who are not internet using supporters and love their football and their club.
Auldheid
__________________________________________________________________
Harper MacLeod
The Ca’d’oro
45 Gordon Street
Glasgow
G1 3PE
19 Feb 2014
Copy sent to SPFL CEO and Board Members *
Dear Mr McKenzie
We the contributors to The Scottish Football Monitoring web site write to you in your capacity as the legal adviser employed by Harper MacLeod to assist the Scottish Premier League (now the Scottish Professional Football League) to gather evidence and investigate the matter of incorrect player registrations involving concealed side letters and employee benefit trusts as defined in the eventual Lord Nimmo Smith Commission.
We note from the then SPL announcement that set up an enquiry that the initial date range to be covered was from the inception of the SPL in July 1998, but that was changed to 23 November 2000 because, according to our understanding, that is the date of the first side letter supplied by Rangers Administrators Duff and Phelps. It is also our understanding that the SPL asked for all documentation relating to side letters as well as the letters themselves.
It is a matter of public record that Rangers Administrators failed to supply the SPL all relevant documentation. Indeed the seriousness of not complying with SPL requests was the subject of an admonition of Rangers/Duff and Phelps from Lord Nimmo Smith under Issue 4 of his Commission.
Quite how serious that failure to comply or concealment was in terms of misleading the Commission and so Lord Nimmo Smith can now be assessed from the information contained at Annexes 1 to 10 attached.
We think that as legal advisers to the SPL (now the SPFL) you have a responsibility to make them aware that their Commission was misled by the concealment of documents starting on 3 September 1999, and signed by current SFA President Campbell Ogilvie, whose silence on the ebt matters referred to in the attached annexes* is questionable at the very least.
This letter but not attachments is being posted on The Scottish Football Monitor web site as this is matter for all of Scottish football and support for the issue being pursued to establish the truth can be gauged by responses from supporters from all Scottish clubs once the letter has been published there.
A copy of this letter with Annexes has also been sent to the SPFL CEO and members of the SPFL Board.
Acknowledgement of receipt and reply can be sent by e mail to:
(Address supplied)
Yours in sport
On behalf of The Scottish Football Monitor contributors and readers. http://www.tsfm.org.uk/
Addressees copied in
Neil Doncaster CEO
The Scottish Professional Football League
Hampden Park
Glasgow G42 9DE
Eric Riley (Celtic),
The Celtic Football Club
Celtic Park
Glasgow G40 3RE
Stephen Thompson (Dundee United),
Tannadice Park,
Tannadice Street,
Dundee, DD3 7JW
Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen);
Aberdeen Football Club plc
Pittodrie Stadium
Pittodrie Street
Aberdeen AB24 5QH
Les Gray (Hamilton),
Hamilton Academical FC
New Douglas Park
Hamilton
ML3 0FT
Mike Mulraney (Alloa)
Alloa Athletic FC
Clackmannan Road
Recreation Park
Alloa FK10 1RY
Bill Darroch (Stenhousemuir).
Stenhousemuir F.C.
Ochilview Park
Gladstone Road
Stenhousemuir
Falkirk
FK5 4QL
100bjd says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:12
Ally you will have to keep looking!!
___________________________
I am, I am, believe me! If I don’t find them soon I’m going to turn into a right bampot, or is that a tea-pot?
Yesterday was also the “statutory filing date” deadline for TRFC Ltd to submit their fully completed Corporation tax return, and itemised Accounts etc to HMRC. So any failure to do so will incur another £100 of expenditure that could have been avoided by Mr Wallace and the TRFC Ltd and RIFC plc Boards.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ct/getting-started/deadlines.htm#4
Deadlines for filing your Company Tax Return
You must normally file your company or organisation’s Company Tax Return – which includes a Company Tax Return form and other supporting documentation – within 12 months of the end of your company or organisation’s Corporation Tax accounting period. Your Company Tax Return filing deadline is known as your ‘statutory filing date’.
If you file your return late your company or organisation will be charged an automatic penalty, even if it does not owe any Corporation Tax.
Virtually all companies and organisations must submit their Company Tax Returns online. Additionally your tax computations and, with very few exceptions, the accounts that form part of your Company Tax Return, must be submitted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL) format.
More about preparing to file your Company Tax Return
Find out more about HMRC Corporation Tax accounting periods
Corporation Tax penalties
What counts as a reasonable excuse for filing your online return late
slimshady61 says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:15
the Spivs will make it clear to the King supporters (a) that he has not so far put up 1 penny in financial support and (b) if the fans follow his advice and withhold season book monies, the club will in addition face a 15 point deduction at the start of next season for still being in administration.
So if they want the club in the Premiership in 15/16, the fans need to pony up now, in full” will be the message, loud & clear.
================================================
Clever thinking – I hadn’t tought about the continuing admin situation and further points penalty. Och I’m sure a new rulle can be rustled up if need be. I mean haven’t they suffered enough so it seems fair if they are still in admin at the start of next season that they should be awarded 15 bonus points.
Even if they get the little ‘helping hand’ they might not win promotion of course 🙂
slimshady61 12:15 am – unfortunately I think you are spot on. The idea of a club who enter administration being promoted makes my skin crawl. I know there are many on this site who are disgusted that Sevco were fast tracked to the 4th tier, and in many ways I am too but at the same time I think I’m realistic enough to recognise that starting up in an even lower league was just never going to happen. The calculated points deduction for me will trump everything that has gone before, and our utterly cretinous MSM will not even question the ethics.
PS – I think the 120 days thing is to finesse whether to take the lower or higher points deduction, with the former obviously being an admission of new club but posing no realistic risk to promotion.
slimshady61 says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:15
redlichtie says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 01:00
——————————————–
Read my lips from 4 weeks ago, no TRFC accounts is THE story, not the Spivs, not the securitised Wonga loans, not the King over the watter – no accounts is the story. Accounts are the key to the licence to play football and, in time, the key to European football of any sort.
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Completely agree with this… the accounts will never be seen…..thank god or The Bears will have some new targets!
I may be wrong, but I’m not convinced that the lack of separate accounts for TRFC is an issue, at least in footballing terms. I’m not in a position to look up the regulations just now, but I think I’ve read something in relation to group companies that accounts could be consolidated for an appropriate group structure i.e. RIFC does little else than run TRFC, therefore the consolidated RIFC accounts may be sufficient for SFA/SPFL purposes.
100bjd says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:53
slimshady61 says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:15
redlichtie says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 01:00
——————————————–
Read my lips from 4 weeks ago, no TRFC accounts is THE story, not the Spivs, not the securitised Wonga loans, not the King over the watter – no accounts is the story. Accounts are the key to the licence to play football and, in time, the key to European football of any sort.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Completely agree with this… the accounts will never be seen…..thank god or The Bears will have some new targets
====================================
So in the event of another admin and no audited accounts being filed does that set the clock back to 3 years audited accounts being required before european eligibility gained – putting aside for the moment the pesky little problem of qualifying of course 🙂
easyJambo says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 13:24
I suspect you are right, though there is probably nothing in the appropriate rules that covers this scenario, just that it is left to the governing body’s discretion.
On the other hand:
ecobhoy says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 13:29
Ecobhoy’s point might have more chance of having the effect of accountability, as it is out of the hands of TRFC’s supporters at Hampden; and should they try to circumvent the awkward truth, some other club would be losing out of a place in Europe, and I doubt we’re going to let them forget it!
easyJambo says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 13:24
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Group or not the accounts to last June of RIFC will not be sufficient if the SFA stick to the rules (I know I know). A wholly owned subsidiary of a publically listed company must prepare full audited accounts (TRFC’s were due yesterday) but even if the SFA accept RIFC accounts it would have to be audited interims. There is at least one former accountant that believes both companies are going concerns but I don’t know if he is an auditor. You will know him as Old Gold/ExpatBhoy/Steerpike and any other names the Troll may have used. Hello Niall I know you read this because you keep quoting it on Continung Random Thoughts http://continuingrandomthoughts.wordpress.com/
Now back home hopefully DOS-free and with a brand new domain name – http://www.tsfm.net.
The site looks a bit different, although not as different as it would have been had we not been forced into this situation.
The PM messages have all been reset – although I will try to get those back.
The archive is curtailed somewhat as well, but one of the ongoing tasks we have undertaken is to make sensible arrangements for the archive and that will be a work in progress, but not on the back burner 🙂
The usual membership rules apply when logging into the new site, but you may find that although everyone’s usernames are preserved, some passwords no longer work. This is due to the encryption keys moving from one installation to the next have changed. A simple password reset will fix that.
There will probably be some problems in the first few days which we will try to sort out as we go along. Please bear with us in the meantime.
Any unforeseen problems, I will notify here asap.
Test
Chust sublime tae be hame, TSFM. Many thanks.
Home sweet home indeed…………… 😆
Not posted for ages…..Thanks everyone for your expert analysis.
Test 😉
slimshady61 says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:15
Bang on in my opinion !
And it’s a warm welcome to Question of Sport meets Soccer Saturday with your Quizmaster, Jeff Stelling
And now for the What happened next round.
It’s 90 mins gone at Rangers are 0-0 away at East Fife
What happened next?
Penalty shouts Charlie Nicholas
Correct said Jeff
———————————————
This story is partly/mostly fiction, the bit about Charlie Nic isn’t, He knows !!!!!!
(When Jeff said there has been a goal at east fife, Charlie said Penalty 🙂
allyjambo says:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 12:04
Brilliant when sung to the tune of ‘The wheels on the bus…’
Am I right in taking it that no accounts mean no licence to play football?
How can they reach the Premiership if they can’t play football?
Yes, I’m a bit thick when it comes to the finer details.
and tuped across.
I tried to post the other day but it seems not to have taken, anyway I’m in now.
Auldheid I thought it was a great letter but I’m erring towards the opinion of Slim’s that it will be filed but hopefully not.
Like the new format
Back again.
So if no accounts as I said some other place, what now?
Please tell me its not “at the SPFL/SFA discretion”, as Im minded of Doncasters meeting with the new incumbents just recently and worry very much he was being informed of the latest dodge.
Aaaaand we’re back in the room, and an arithmetic test as well…….
CHRISTYBOY
Luckily my phone has a calculator.
test almost failed the arithmetic test 🙄
Gee, I was thrown for a moment. Having to think on a Saturday after a nite on the toon ……..
Jean
I was thinking that last night, re the lack of accounts, no licence thing but as usual there will be a loophole for them!!!!
I have to say, the wee maths challenge on login flies right in the face of the sites stated efforts to encourage more Ibrox fans to participate here.
I mean…
…How you would possibly square what has been allowed to happen over there with anything other than ‘mass discalculia’ on an enormous scale, is completely beyond me.
Good to be back, as I never discovered how to log in on the other site. 🙁
Belated congratulations both to Auldheid for his meticulous work and to our intrepid Court Reporter John Clarke.
Now, something that has come up here from time to time is Dave King’s eligibility to be a director of any company called ‘Rangers’, in the light of Sect 216 of the Insolvency Act (1986).
The last time this was discussed, Campbellsmoney said:
But the other day Phil Mac said this on his blog (http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/dave-king-makes-his-move/#more-4414):
So who is right?
Can anyone tell me, who the 1.5million was loaned to RIFC or TRFC?
The properties the loans are secured against were bought with the IPO money raised by RIFC which I would assume means that these properties are already owned by RIFC.
Does this mean that TRFC will in turn be loaned these extra funds from RIFC for running costs?
Test
Good to be back.
I was getting severe withdrawal symptoms as I cannot figure out how to post on the old site.
BigGav says:
March 1, 2014 at 4:36 pm
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So who is right?
___________________________________________________
Could be both.
” Mr King cannot be a director of a company in the United Kingdom which has the words “Rangers” and “Football” in its name.”
True – because of the danger of misleading punters that new company was representing itself as the old company.
Phil says that Court approval would be needed to allow King to get around this.
He adds that if King was able to establish that such confusion (between old and bew company) could not arise, the purpose and intent of the ban would be moot and the court would probably grant approval.
Therefore :
1. King cannot simply walk into a Director position (or shadow director position) at TRFC/RIFC without breaking his ban.
2. If he sought permission of the court to do so, however, they would probably not with hold it.
So both are correct.
There’s still life in the diddy teams yet.
From Fir park 4914 attendance / 879 Hearts.
Thanks to all the Hearts who came through and all the best..
BigGav says:
March 1, 2014 at 4:36 pm
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______________________________
Should add… w.r.t. the 7 days of insolvency, I am guessing that this is the time frame required to prevent the ban from taking effect at all.
King did not do this so the ban is in effect.
However, with Court approval the ban that is in effect could subsequently be overturned.
You don’t stay logged in long now, do you?
Any how re this mince:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26399289
I think he’s forgotten who is who in the good old Wild West of Scotland.
Maybe remembers his younger days.
Definitely don’t see him back at the bus garage any time soon unless he’s being instructed what he has to do.
Testing testing 1,2,3 days to go
I’ve dug out the references to Group companies from UEFA and National Club Licensing criteria
From UEFA Licensing
Reporting entity/entities
A registered member and/or football company or group of entities or some other combination of entities which must provide the licensor with information for both club licensing and club monitoring purposes.
FINANCIAL CRITERIA
Article 46bis – Reporting entity and reporting perimeter
1 The licence applicant determines the reporting perimeter, i.e. the entity or combination of entities in respect of which financial information (e.g. single entity, consolidated or combined financial statements) has to be provided in accordance with Annex VII B.
From the SFA’s Club Licensing criteria
In submitting this information, the club must give consideration to a relevant reporting perimeter i.e. the entity or combination of entities in respect of which financial information has to be provided. In particular the financial information must include all remuneration paid to any employees including players and any costs/proceeds of acquiring or selling a player.
The reporting perimeter shall also include any entities included in the legal group structure which generate revenues or perform services for the club in respect of ticketing; sponsorship and advertising; broadcasting; merchandising and hospitality; club operations; financing; use of stadium and youth operations.
In practical terms group accounts are not required. However financial information in respect of all individual entities within the above reporting perimeter must be provided.
Exceptional dispensation may be granted by the Licensing Committee in certain cases where a club is unable to provide historical financial information . Clubs will be required to submit written reasons for such an exceptional request. Not wishing to disclose the information will not be considered a valid application for an exceptional request however.
Dave King’s latest statement in full as published in The Herald.
Saturday 1 March 2014
The latest statement made by former director Dave King.
I am enthused by the statement issued by the fans following my own comments earlier this week.
It is inspiring to see how the Rangers community continues to unite and put the club first in times of need. This will guarantee a positive outcome at this watershed moment in our club’s history.
I will now make it a priority to travel to Scotland to meet with fan representatives to ensure that appropriate legal structures are discussed and implemented for both season-ticket payments and the creation of a substantial fund to secure an influential equity stake in the club for fans.
Unfortunately, I can only express bemusement at the board’s response to myself and the fans. In what is really a non-response, the board states the following;
1. That our statements are an attempt to undermine the club.
That is an insult to fans who have nothing other than the club’s interest at heart.
2. That the current problems can be attributed to previous management (presumably Charles Green etc). That does not explain the ongoing lack of transparency on shareholding and finances by the existing board. It is quite possible that Charles Green is still de facto controlling the club.
Certainly the existing directors have a minuscule equity stake and yet won’t disclose the true “power behind the throne”.
3. They ask for trust but don’t recognise that trust is a mutual relationship and requires transparency.
What the board is really asking of fans is to have blind faith- not trust.
This board has not earned that right and has, in fact, repeatedly demonstrated the opposite.
4. The board correctly argues that season-ticket monies are normally part of sound working capital management.
Again, it is what is not said that is key.
These are not normal times.
Normally there would be sufficient facilities in place to support the club once the season-ticket money is used up.
Despite multiple requests, the board is either unwilling or unable to provide such confirmation.
This is particularly important given that this board falsely assured fans that there were sufficient funds to meet the club’s commitments to the end of the season.
5. The board states that it does not take the fans for granted but does the opposite by failing to deal with the issues that the fans have raised.
6. The board states that it believes in professionalism, integrity and honour but conspicuously excludes any belief in transparency. It is time that the board adopted transparency as a value.
7. The board correctly states inaccurate information benefits no one but fails to commit to ending its propaganda initiatives.
The board continues to treat the fans with disdain by offering mere platitudes. A more considered and constructive response was appropriate.
It is insightful of the board’s mindset that it is willing to borrow money from a preferred shareholder at a rate of interest that reflects a high risk to the investor.
In doing so the board has finally confirmed its true view on the parlous state of the club’s finances.
What is incomprehensible however is that it then eliminated the risk to this investor (and separately to Sandy Easdale) by providing club assets as security while still paying the high-risk rate.
That highlights that this transaction makes no commercial sense and was not conducted on an arms-length basis.
Paradoxically, the board wants long suffering fans to lend money at no interest and with no security. Rangers fans are loyal but not stupid.
Fundamentally the only distinguishing feature between king and Wallace (the present board) is that one has made the right noises about costs and one hasn’t.
Still can’t shake the notion that admin2 is the real deal with Walter and co sitting ready. Still, will need to do it without a stadium. Hadn’t planned that bit had you Mr Ogilvie.
No1 Bob says:
March 1, 2014 at 5:31 pm
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And he was doing so well until, just like a Sinatra song, he added 3 words at the end 😕
According to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain the incumbents at the top of the marble stairs are already in pre-administration mode which will make Mr King’s moves change somewhat. However, if this is the case, and with the lack of accounts for TRFC surely HMRC will apply to the Court for a Winding Up Petition in order to try to take control of the appointment of the IP. They surely can’t want Duff & Duffer again.
I’m now very tired of Spiers.
Funnily enough I think he knows his self that he has absolutely nothing new or interesting to say on any subject at all.
Have a break Grahame
I mean touting McInnes for Rangers at this point in time is just lazy b===l=ks
Giovanni says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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According to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain the incumbents at the top of the marble stairs are already in pre-administration mode which will make Mr King’s moves change somewhat. However, if this is the case, and with the lack of accounts for TRFC surely HMRC will apply to the Court for a Winding Up Petition in order to try to take control of the appointment of the IP. They surely can’t want Duff & Duffer again.
________________________________________
HMRC aren’t involved at this stage.
As far as we are aware RIFC and TRFC don’t owe HMRC any money at this point.
The creditors will be RIFC, and suppliers and employees who will see contracts unfulfilled.
Ally MicCoist for example has a lucrative contract and would need to be paid a years salary in cash if TRFC wanted to dispense with his services as things stand.
But in administration, he could simply be fired immediately without incurring any immediate costs whatsoever – as could the entire playing squad if this was deemed desirable. They would have to lodge a claim with the administrator to try and recover any losses they could justify, on whatever percentage basis was able to be recovered for creditors.
This is what happened to Gordon Smith in the admin at RFC(IL).
@ecobhoy
I know you are a modest man,but you are being hailed as a hero on twitter because of your unstinting work and diligence in regard to the land deals.The dam is about to burst and engulf pzj,footballtaxhavens and mcmurdo.
McMurdo is supposedly a clever guy ,but has picked the wrong horse twice,what with the land deals and backing the brothers grim in the boardroom battle couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
easyJambo says:
March 1, 2014 at 5:29 pm
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Is Campbell on the licensing committee? If so expect the special dispensation to be granted on a written request containing two words “Please Sir?”
606 Phone in on BBC Radio 5 Live on now. Will be discussing Rangers and their problems – as soon as they finish talking about Pardew headbutting the opposition.
It should be much easier for callers to put across their thoughts without the risk of being cut-off if you say anything like the truth.
Easyjambo, I take that to mean that the football club company, The Rangers Football Club Limited, is what must file accounts. I have always taken it to be the trading company because, for a start, the likes of Murray and Gavin Masterton wouldn’t have wanted their holding company accounts to be under scrutiny unnecessarily.
So TRFC is now in breach of the Companies Act and by the end of this month will be in breach of the SFA licensing regulations. We must await to see what action will be taken.
Not all bad news tonight though – the end of Sportsound Extra by the sound of it. Wonder what the BBC are going to replace it with? It was pretty thin fare tonight anyway, with just KennyMac & Speirs on representing the Rangers instead of the usual “back 4”.
Giovanni says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:01 pm
5 0 Rate This
According to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain the incumbents at the top of the marble stairs are already in pre-administration mode which will make Mr King’s moves change somewhat. However, if this is the case, and with the lack of accounts for TRFC surely HMRC will apply to the Court for a Winding Up Petition in order to try to take control of the appointment of the IP. They surely can’t want Duff & Duffer again.
=======
The failure to file accounts by TRFC is of no interest to HMRC. Their only interest is in getting the PAYE and VAT in on time. So long as there are no arrears of tax, then HMRC will not, and in fact, could not, put them into administration.
My own feeling is that those really in charge at Ibrox are keen to control the timing of any insolvency event, and to keep the appointment of Insolvency Practitioners in their own hands. To that end, they are paying all the bills and building their own position as the overwhelming creditor of TRFC.
The audited accounts of TRFC were clearly prepared at the same time as the RIFC accounts, published last October. There ican be very little in the accounts of TRIFC that is not already published in the accounts of RIFC. I don’t see how the auditors of RIFC could prepare accounts of that company without first having completed the accounts of TRFC.
So why haven’t the accounts of TRFC been filed at Companies House yet? I simply don’t know. Sheer incompetence? Possible. Are Deloittes brassed off about being misled over the ultimately non-existent £2.5m facility and refusing to sign? Maybe. But then why not just submit the accounts of TRFC last October, before this became clear to Deloittes? Pass.
Like so many things in this long running saga/pantomime, it isn’t clear to me. Perhaps one day the stage curtain will be raised, and the machinery behind it revealed. Until then, we’re all just guessing on the basis of what we can see.
chancer67 says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:33 pm
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@ecobhoy
I know you are a modest man,but you are being hailed as a hero on twitter because of your unstinting work and diligence in regard to the land deals.The dam is about to burst and engulf pzj,footballtaxhavens and mcmurdo.
McMurdo is supposedly a clever guy ,but has picked the wrong horse twice,what with the land deals and backing the brothers grim in the boardroom battle couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.
=================================================================
I am always mindful of my granny – god rest her soul – and her constant warning that: ‘Pride comes before a fall’.
So I’ll wait until I hear the EC State Aid result before I allow myself a little smile of satisfaction.
Don’t knoiw who told you McMurdo was a clever boy – his dad was but I’ve seen little sign of the genes being carried on.
At the end of the day the ulterior motive for the State Aid case is always what has fascinated me. I just can’t get my head round the sheer effort being put into such a deluded campaign to attack Celtic when their own club is going down for the pan yet again.
Resin_lab_dog says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:28 pm
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Giovanni says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:01 pm
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According to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain the incumbents at the top of the marble stairs are already in pre-administration mode which will make Mr King’s moves change somewhat. However, if this is the case, and with the lack of accounts for TRFC surely HMRC will apply to the Court for a Winding Up Petition in order to try to take control of the appointment of the IP. They surely can’t want Duff & Duffer again.
________________________________________
HMRC aren’t involved at this stage.
As far as we are aware RIFC and TRFC don’t owe HMRC any money at this point.
The creditors will be RIFC, and suppliers and employees who will see contracts unfulfilled.
Ally MicCoist for example has a lucrative contract and would need to be paid a years salary in cash if TRFC wanted to dispense with his services as things stand.
But in administration, he could simply be fired immediately without incurring any immediate costs whatsoever – as could the entire playing squad if this was deemed desirable. They would have to lodge a claim with the administrator to try and recover any losses they could justify, on whatever percentage basis was able to be recovered for creditors.
This is what happened to Gordon Smith in the admin at RFC(IL).
__________________________________________
And I should have added season ticket holders to the list of creditors of course.
In theory, an administrator could simply not honour season tickets for the remainder of the season, and demand that ALL bears wanting to see match must pay again on a walk up basis. Or they might not even be able to afford to put on the games (e.g. if security costs can’t be met!).
Normally that would be commercial suicide for a club – but we have to ask ourselves – do this lot really care???
And I’m, wondering if a strategy in admin might be to tear up all existing season tickets (making fans creditors) but give a free season ticket for the remainder of the 2013/14 seaon to any TRFC fans that buy 2014/15 season tickets now.
Its a high risk strategy, but could be a way to outmanoeuvre the lying King.
Should split the bears off nicely!
Testing testing
I like the new look 😎
If Stuart is looking in my real name is Mr Jarse but you can call me Hugh.
Injury time penalty eh
Who would’ve thought it was possible 😀
slimshady61 says:
March 1, 2014 at 6:51 pm
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Kenny McIntyre billed this evening’s Sportsound Extra main topic saying, “Tonight we will be hearing from Rangers fans about Dave King’s intervention. We will be asking them if they will be renewing their season tickets”
Only one Bluenose was allowed on the programme. That was Craig something-or-other, the organiser of Sons of Struth. After Spiers and Michael Stewart had spoken to him, McIntyre moved swiftly on to other matters such as the relegation battle.
You cannot tell me that there wasn’t a queue of concerned Rangers callers waiting by their phones to speak to the panel and let the nation know what they thought of the current board or the Lying king. Someone at Radio Scotland must have suddenly decided that the views of the Ibrox faithful should not be heard after all, despite the presenter informing us otherwise.
slimshady61 says: March 1, 2014 at 6:51 pm
Easyjambo, I take that to mean that the football club company, The Rangers Football Club Limited, is what must file accounts. I have always taken it to be the trading company because, for a start, the likes of Murray and Gavin Masterton wouldn’t have wanted their holding company accounts to be under scrutiny unnecessarily.
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My view is quite the reverse. My reading of the rules suggests that the RIFC group will be an acceptable reporting entity to the SFA, since it appears to be the club that determines the “relevant reporting perimeter”
RIFC accounts do provide all the specific information that the SFA requires for the club in terms of Audited Accounts, No Adverse Opinion, Turnover, Wages (Total Payroll Costs), Wages to Turnover Ratio, Profit or Loss for Period, Net Assets at Period End, Net Debt at Period End
Sorry the above was a tweet from Alex Thomson.
slimshady61 says:
March 1, 2014 at 12:18 pm
Sorry, Auldheid, meant to say very good post and very best of luck with it.
But many fans on here will be totally in the dark as to what you are getting at since, to paraphrase Jock Stein, “football enquiries, without attachments, mean nothing.”
I strongly suspect your letter will simply go into administrative filing and never be heard of again. It’s the Scottish football way….
======================
briggsbhoy says:
March 1, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I tried to post the other day but it seems not to have taken, anyway I’m in now.
Auldheid I thought it was a great letter but I’m erring towards the opinion of Slim’s that it will be filed but hopefully not.
===========================
I understand lads but it begs the question what are YOU going to do to make sure it has the desired effect?
The attachments will have been read by the recipients and the consequences will probably cause them to ignore, so what is everyone else going to do to try and prevent that?
The attachments will obviously galvanise action from posters once seen, but even without them why not just write to any of the addressees and ask them if they got the letter and attachments and do they contain an issue of substance that needs addressing?
When the attachments do appear, and now that PM is back anyone who wants to get involved can get them, it is essential that further action is taken, but it requires everyone to do their bit to prevent the concerns expressed becoming true.
.
From Kings recent statement.
“Rangers fans are loyal but not stupid.”
Anyone want to fix that for him?
Oh dear….. 5 live reporter straight away mentions The Rangers as a “new club”…. one more for the haters list.
Auldheid.
Would you imagine Motherwell have seen our letter ?
If so I’m in a current correspondence with the finance people there at the moment ( fan ownership stuff) and will follow up, hopefully with Lianne
I don’t know about anyone else, but I was (as far as a mild-mannered person can be) incensed when I heard Peter Lawwell tack on to his praise of Fergus McCann some nonsense about having to find a ‘solution to the lack of competition’.
I will post this letter tomorrow:
“Mr Peter Lawwell,
CEO,
The Celtic Football Club,
Celtic Park,
Glasgow, G40 3 RE
Dear Mr Lawwell,
You rather spoiled my enjoyment of the marking of the 20th anniversary of the saving of Celtic FC by that man of untainted Integrity and Honour, Mr Fergus McCann.
Making your remarks today, you were speaking not merely as CEO of Celtic, but also as a Board member of the SFA, even if not officially speaking on behalf of the SFA.
Your fulsome praise of Mr McCann (as broadcast on BBC ‘Sportsound’ and news bulletins) was instantly nullified by your subsequent remarks about the challenges facing Scottish Football and about the need to find a solution to the ‘problem caused by the lack of competition’.
You cannot but be aware of the depth of suspicion and distrust with which the Scottish Football Association has been viewed since their attempt to bounce a constitutionally brand new football club, first of all, into the SPL, and when that attempt failed, to bounce it into the SFL first division, and then when that attempt also failed, to deceitfully cobble together the infamous secret “5-way agreement” to allow that club into the lowest tier of the professional game, when it ought not to have been so allowed, and further to allow it to claim falsely to have won such sporting trophies and honours as the cheating ,dead club may have honestly won in its lifetime.
Many of us interpret those words as indicative of a sharing by you, wearing both your hats, of the perverse view that a club now in only its second season is somehow required and entitled to be in the top division.
Given our past experience of the duplicity and lack of integrity of the SFA Board, we hear your words as evidencing a readiness on the part of the SFA to look for ‘a solution’ in some kind of illicit mechanism to ensure that even if, as is very likely, the new club will fail to EARN promotion at the end of next season, it will nevertheless be accommodated at whatever cost to any kind of integrity,’Sporting’ or otherwise.
The damage already done by the football authorities, and by the SFA in particular in its contempt for its own rules, UEFA rules, and plain decency and honesty, is incalculable.
Your words today, I fear, have added to that damage.
Yours sincerely
(real name and address supplied)
Ianagain
PM me.
Primarily just a test, but I would like to commend Inverness Cally for their positive approach to the game today. It was one of the most open games I have ever witnessed at Celtic park with flowing end to end football which I thoroughly enjoyed. Cally were unlucky not a grab a few goals. I wish them the best for the rest of the season.
john clarke says:
March 1, 2014 at 8:41 pm
…………………………………
Finding a solution?
Maybe the SFA which Peter is an active member of…could start by governing Scottish Football honestly and transparently…that would be a start…here is an idea…Dave King doesn’t meet the schedule as laid down under article 10 of the SFA’s articles of association…make a statement regards this.
john clarke says:
March 1, 2014 at 8:41 pm
I am incandescent with rage over this and I am informing others about it.
Is there a link to his comments in full?
Thanks for posting your letter.
Auldheid says:
March 1, 2014 at 8:59 pm
_______________
Auldheid, you have mail!
Paulmac2 says:
March 1, 2014 at 9:10 pm
‘…….Dave King doesn’t meet the schedule as laid down under article 10 of the SFA’s articles of association…make a statement regards this.’
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I think that a statement of that kind can’t really be made unless and until King actually seeks appointment. He might not do so.But the SFA should, of course, be ready to refuse him if he does.
Auldheid says:
March 1, 2014 at 8:59 pm
Ianagain
PM me.
==========
You have mail
Great letter JC
I agree with what you say.
I heard the interview and took his ‘lack of competition’ to mean getting the new team to the top as soon as possible.
jean7brodie says:
March 1, 2014 at 9:19 pm
‘….. Is there a link to his comments in full?’
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Aw, jean7, gie an auld man a brek ! i don’t know how to record a radio interview and put it on here. It was during Jim Spence’s interview live with Lawwell at Celtic Park during today’s Sportsound. And the early evening news bulletins made sure they mentioned that sentiment about ‘lack of competition’. Maybe someone else will have recorded it, but I’m sure the usual suspects will make much of it in the press tomorrow.
PS. I’m about to PM you.
Lack of competition’- Has the man not been around Parkhead the last week or so?
I really thought he was a balanced kind of guy.
Now not so sure.
Was trawling back a bit.
Genuine question.
Where is BRTH?
Isn’t it strange that it was only Three Years ago that Craig Whyte was the greatest and everyone was wrong.
Then in February 2012 Craig Whyte was bad, very bad, but Duff and Phelps were good.
Then Duff and Phelps were bad, but still not as bad as Craig Whyte, but Charles Green was great.
With the bold Charles came Brian Stockbridge and Imran Ahmed along with Margarita and Blue Pitch. As this group purchased the assets I don’t remember anyone, except us bampots, saying that they were not to be trusted and that it would end in tears. Tears of ‘The Rangers’ fans and tears of laughter for most onlookers who were derided for telling it as it was.
Still, roll on a year and Imran has to go because he is bad, Charles has to go as he was an embarrassment and bad but still not as bad as Craig Whyte who seems to remain the devil incarnate. Lately Brian has also gone because he was very bad joining a rather large gang of bad men who had been linked the purchase of the assets.
In the meanwhile Laxey’s and the Easdales have joined the throng. The Easdales were originally the new ‘good guys’ but now the jury seems to be out on them as well.
How unfortunate would you have to be to have that collection ruining, sorry running, your club(s).
You jump from one saviour and when they are outed, you immediately leach and latch to the next saviour.
Now Dave King is the next saviour!!!
How desperate would you have to be to put your money into the hands of someone convicted of tax fraud.
Yes the fans of the club(s) that avoided paying tax are now going to give next seasons season ticket money to a convicted tax fraudster. Beyond bizarre.