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
I will say one thing for the RST article – it shows that people (even if you have to be a lifelong fan and multiple ST holder to count) are now looking at things properly. Imagine how differently things might have turned out if that level of analysis had gone into looking at what was going on under previous regimes.
I suspect however that when the current nonsense subsides, whoever is then in charge will once again be left in peace and it will be back to blind loyalty, faith and forelock-tugging deference to the Board.
JimBhoy says:
March 3, 2014 at 3:56 pm
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@Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 2:49 pm
It’s my understanding that TRFC own nothing but debts and player contracts…
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That wouldn’t be my understanding. Why do you think that?
John Brown not withstanding, I have seen no evidence that the properties are held anywhere other than TRFC. Now, how much longer that will continue, and in what format any transfer may occur, are damn good questions! #letsseehowitpansout
@Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 2:49 pm
It’s my understanding that TRFC own nothing but debts and player contracts…
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
That wouldn’t be my understanding. Why do you think that?
— Please put me straight on who owns what… Thanks..
It’s a worry, right enough 😯
Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 2:49 pm
It’s my understanding that TRFC own nothing but debts and player contracts…
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That wouldn’t be my understanding. Why do you think that?
– Please put me straight on who owns what… Thanks..
— I really should keep up… 😆
JimBhoy says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:36 pm
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JimBhoy – I wouldn’t worry about it. The lack of transparency, the use of one word to mean simultaneously (a) two companies; (b) a football team; and (c) a business, the use of consolidated accounts and a general miasma of a tissue of lies and a farrago of misleading statements multiplied by a refusal to give answers one part and ask questions on teh other part means none of us really knows where anything is with any certainty.
I would probably use a starting position that everything you think of as an asset is in the subsidiary (except obviously the shares in the subsidiary (which are of course in the parent)). That is unless anyone proves anything to the contrary – that is where they are (most likely). The other big “asset” that the parent will have is a debt due to it by the subsidiary (not much of an asset really).
Probably.
highfibre says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:49 pm
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A question for our resident insolvency expert…
Although it may be unusual or even unprecedented, could they be arranging a prepack with an exit via CVA rather than a sale of the assets?
Could the Laxey/Easdale loans be a ploy to give them control of any CVA vote? They would then present the administrators with an automatically acceptable CVA proposal which could be agreed immediately. This proposal would presumably involve getting rid of unwanted and expensive contracts, and doing some kind of debt/equity jiggery pokery to leave any shareholders who have not made large loans to the clumpany with much diluted or even worthless holdings. In this scenario it makes sense for the whole RIFC group to be placed in administration rather than just TRFC, as there are few creditors external to the clumpany.
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Secured lenders don’t get a vote in a CVA.
highfibre says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:49 pm
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A question for our resident insolvency expert…
Although it may be unusual or even unprecedented, could they be arranging a prepack with an exit via CVA rather than a sale of the assets?
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That doesn’t make sense as a question – a “prepack” is a sale of the assets.
Pardon if this is a dumb question but has Jack Irvine quit Twitter? Especially since there’s a Rangers-minded petition calling for the termination of the MH contract…
CM
OK, so assuming RIFC shift the properties to themselves writing off some debt in the process leaving sufficient debt to retain a CVA vote along with the pie makers, paper shops, face painters etc, and Laxey/Easdales hive off the other assets per their physical securities that just leaves TRFC as a sporting entity with horrific accounts (if indeed accounts at all) which can be sold cheap to a preferred bidder who may or may not be a glib and shameless liar, no?
Assuming two things of course. 1/ that clear title is guaranteed to the spivs with no pesky letter before claim kicking around and 2/ that King would actually buy TRFC sans assets rather than hold out and try and starve the spivs out with a ST boycott? Cue delayed admin exit, points deduction going into the championship and basically the scorched earth scenario mentioned previously?
He who blinks first at least avoids the sandstorm no? Meanwhile, incredibly, the CEO seems to be the last to know!
Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:23 pm
I will say one thing for the RST article – it shows that people (even if you have to be a lifelong fan and multiple ST holder to count) are now looking at things properly. Imagine how differently things might have turned out if that level of analysis had gone into looking at what was going on under previous regimes.
I suspect however that when the current nonsense subsides, whoever is then in charge will once again be left in peace and it will be back to blind loyalty, faith and forelock-tugging deference to the Board.
=========================================================
Thats the one thing that gets me. There are clearly Rangers men out there who are not daft and have a bob or two.
Paul Murray and Brian Kennedy gave a clear warning that Duff & Duffer needed to think twice about handing the reigns over to Green.
Anyone with half a brain cell could see what was going to happen yet wealthy people apparently wise in the ways of business said and did nowt.
I do take my hat of to paul Murray for at least trying to do something about it but others have been led like lambs to the slaughter. It is either that or they knew the whole thing was clusterfeck and money pit regardless of who was going to be running the show and preferred to remain silent.
Some football authorities can act and send out clear and unambiguous statements within hours/minutes of decisions needing to be made regarding their members……..
http://www.football-league.co.uk/latestnews/20140303/football-league-statement-on-birmingham-city_2293301_3695983
Others sadly wait on the clubs PR to tell them what to say or if they can get permission to hide in the corner and say nothing…………
Smugas says:
March 3, 2014 at 5:08 pm
Cm/Smugas
This is the part of the scenario I really struggle with. Who in their right mind would buy a footballing business, with pretensions to greatness, whose only assets were the playing staff?
Smugas says:
March 3, 2014 at 5:08 pm
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CM
OK, so assuming RIFC shift the properties to themselves writing off some debt in the process
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But that would be an unfair preference and so challengeable.
Smugas says:
March 3, 2014 at 5:08 pm
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…………..and Laxey/Easdales hive off the other assets per their physical securities ……………………………………………….
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But having standard securities does not give you the right to walk away with the assets that are secured. It gives you the right either to call up the security and sell it – NOT TAKE IT – (if there is a default) or to receive your money back in an insolvency if the administrator/liquidator sells the asset.
Campbellsmoney
Re Ibrox, even if at or above market value? They’ve the best part of 26m to play with remember.
Re secured assets, yes but it keeps them out of, or at least ring fenced from the club for a quid deal I described earlier.
It’s all about lines in the sand just now and I get the feeling king doesn’t like where they are at present hence upping the ante.
Iceman63.
It seems to me that the main body assets are encumbered by CW’s letter of claim over them, and before any ceasing of trading their “ownership” or the TRFC claim to such would be shifted from TRFC to RIFC
=======================
Don’t forget the meeting in Switzerland.Now would be the perfect time for the MBB to settle the LBC with TCBMM giving him control of the assets at an already agreed price, or………
Could that happen ?
Been away for a few days so glad to see you back and even happier I managed to get logged in!
Keep up the good work
Allyjambo says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:09 pm
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Danish Pastry says:
March 3, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I didn’t read much of that story, got kind of put off when I saw the writer thought showing how much of a Rangers man the would be lender was, was more important than, well anything else. While much of what the guy McClure said was undoubtedly valid, re why was something in a business plan suddenly urgent? It smacks of just another group of well off, but not rich, supporters doing another ‘Blue Knights’ and offering to put together money, that never materialises. As has been said so often, where were they before now? I don’t think trotting out any number of people who ‘were prepared to help/lend money’ is going to solve anything now, it just seems to be making the cracks between the factions wider.
———-
Yes, the current scepticism is to be applauded, but some of those quoted must have bought into Charles Green’s IPO, so how City smart are they? Did M. Murray get them onside after a bit of coaching?
And as you, JimBhoy and Campbellsmoney ask, where were all these people when RFC was struggling to avoid liquidation? Too right.
The Union of Fans people (same spokesman as Struth’s) are getting people onside — 5,000 is a sizable number. I read (well, struggled through) the latest piece by the McMurdo chap who seems to have the Union people as sworn enemies. Could there be a new list of ‘haters’ being drawn up? And will this split lead to a breakaway club, claiming to be the real custodians of the heritage? Anything seems possible in the current chaos. Just amazed the company is trading and that the lights are on.
Danish Pastry says:
March 3, 2014 at 6:01 pm
The Union of Fans people (same spokesman as Struth’s) are getting people onside — 5,000 is a sizable number.
**************
Don’t tell them, but in amongst those 5000 are quite a few folks like myself just wanting to get the email updates………………
The cynic in me would ask why the SFA have the national team training at Rangers’ place rather than Dumbarton where they have been for quite some time
Well there goes ECA as one of the few folks who allegedly see TRFC as a continuation of RFC-NIL (copyright CG and Bryce)…..
http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=5523
Peter Lawwell joins European Club Association Executive Board
By: Newsroom Staff on 03 Mar, 2014 18:11
CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce that Chief Executive Peter Lawwell has been elected to serve on the main Executive Board of the European Club Association.
Peter will join other existing Board members including Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of Bayern Munich, AC Milan’s Umberto Gandini, Edwin van der Sar of Ajax and Arsenal’s representative Ivan Gazidis.
The European Club Association is the sole, independent body directly representing football clubs at European level. It is the authoritative, independent voice of European club football, the lifeblood of the European game.
ECA exists to protect and promote European club football. Its aim is to create a new, more democratic governance model that truly reflects the key role of the clubs.
ECA will act to strengthen each of the clubs for the benefit of all and to ensure that club football is recognised by decision-makers as the most direct link to the fans and their communities. The ECA currently represents 214 clubs from 53 nations.
Peter Lawwell said: “This is a tremendous honour and a role which I very much look forward to undertaking.
“European football is an ever-changing landscape and from the perspective of Celtic, it is vital that we ensure we are at the heart of the action and at the centre of discussions regarding the development of the game.
“As we look to the future, I look forward to representing Celtic, Scottish clubs and the other clubs in Europe to ensure that the voice of these clubs and their supporters is heard
Surely the plan is to go into CVA, to reduce cost base and transfer assets to RIFC, break expensive contracts to reduce cost base (normal admin for most football clubs). And then rent out ibrox etc to TRFC.
Dave King knows this and the season ticket scheme is an attempt to reduce the cost price of TRFC and to reduce the rental cost and buy back price of ibrox. I assume there will be a 10 – 20 year plan to return the assets to TRFC. say £2m rent £1m buyback??
Anyone think this could happen?
Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Cheers mate as I was typing my qn I think I was getting there but thanks for the clarification..
BFDJ not a happy bunny with the glib and shameless one 😉
Smugas says:
March 3, 2014 at 5:40 pm
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Campbellsmoney
Re Ibrox, even if at or above market value? They’ve the best part of 26m to play with remember.
Re secured assets, yes but it keeps them out of, or at least ring fenced from the club for a quid deal I described earlier.
It’s all about lines in the sand just now and I get the feeling king doesn’t like where they are at present hence upping the ante.
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Yes – even if it is transferred at above market value. Let’s say Ibrox has a market value of £10m. Let’s say the debt due to RIFC is £20m. Let’s say the transfer is for a write off of £20m (and so is above market value). Its still a preference.
Remember unfair preference is a quite separate issue from gratuitous alienation (which does deal with the value/consideration side of things).
The reason the law doesn’t like such things and strikes at them is because –
Imagine a situation where TRFC has only one asset (Ibrox – value £10m) and has two creditors – HMRC (owed £3m) and RIFC (owed £20m).
On the insolvency HMRC should get 3/23 x £10m. RIFC should get 20/23 x £10m. If the asset transfer and write off happens, HMRC get £0. So its a “con” on HMRC even though the write off happens at in excess of market value and. RIFC on the other hand get £10m.
Someone mentioned McMurdo earlier… I had a quick peak today and wondered what he meant by ‘sectarian schools’. As I recall he has challenged the use of the phrase sectarian, as I would WRT schools in Scotland. I know of none and can only assume he means regards the main christian religions. Where I come from there is NO exclusivity of a christian religion in schools, maybe he is living in the past…
Anyways sorry for the side track what I do love as a footie coach is boys coming from all over with any background and just getting on and enjoying their football and training, just how it should be without any mention of what school they attend… In fact school is the last thing they want to consider whilst running about with their mates.. 😆
ringostar says:
March 3, 2014 at 6:45 pm
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… I assume there will be a 10 – 20 year plan to return the assets to TRFC. say £2m rent £1m buyback??
———–
Don’t know enough about the financial side of things to comment on the first bit, but the sentence above is what you could call ‘fees’ -ible.
Cracking alias Ringo, but only one ‘r’?
Brenda says:
March 3, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Ah Brenda I forgot to listen in you will need to give me a summary of the wise ones words… 😛
Someone is having a laugh with this headline on newsnow:
Rangers closing in on title
Scottish Premier League – Official Site 15:00
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Scottish+League+One/Rangers
Danish Pastry says:
March 3, 2014 at 7:09 pm
ringostar says:
March 3, 2014 at 6:45 pm
2 1 Rate This
… I assume there will be a 10 – 20 year plan to return the assets to TRFC. say £2m rent £1m buyback??
———–
Don’t know enough about the financial side of things to comment on the first bit, but the sentence above is what you could call ‘fees’ -ible.
Cracking alias Ringo, but only one ‘r’
======================
He’s protecting his anonymity.
JimBhoy
BFDJ says administration will not happen!!!! So we can all stop discussing it
#prayforowencoyle
Poor Owen has just unleashed the hounds of hell. He’s only gone and floated the ‘living within your means’ idea with regards to TRFCs financial woes on BT Sports Hub.
I liked Owen too. Poor Owen
Even if the Rangers Standard piece perhaps shows that some fans are waking up, it is interesting that they still don’t reach (or at least they don’t/won’t specifically state) the obvious conclusion that the Laxey and Easdale loans are simply the latest way of making sure that the chosen few get to drain yet more money out of RFC*. Why should the owners give someone else a piece of the action even if it might be cheaper to do so?
Brenda says:
March 3, 2014 at 7:39 pm
I will sleep sound tonight Brenda.. Thanks for the update..
Campbellsmoney,
yes, but what if there isn’t any significant debt? Just the players and can you see them suing anyone? King? Not owed any money.
nawlite says:
March 3, 2014 at 8:06 pm
Even if the Rangers Standard piece perhaps shows that some fans are waking up……
The rangers fans need a better alarm clock mate.. One that works in the 21st Century maybe..
Anyhoo my rangers pals are scunnered wi the fitba coming from the Ibrox side.. I feel that if they survive anything but a new interested party coming in, the present board will keep Ally to get the SB money in and Kingy is in bed wi Ally also so the fitba side aint gonna improve…
Craig Whyte bought SDM’s club for £1. I’ve read on this site that the club deck was only operational with the Albion car park. CG purchased the assets of rangers via sevco 5088. He then purchased the Albion and edminston from SDM/lloyds for £2.4m. These assets are now security for a £1.5m loan (or £750k apiece).
Did sevco by the Albion/edminston or did chuck?
Some new features include;
and of course there are
RFC Press Office: (their caps) “AS THE CEO HAS SAID MANY TIMES THIS BUSINESS IS NOT GOING INTO ADMINISTRATION”
8:47pm – 3 Mar 14
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has been elected to serve on the main executive board of the European Club Association.
Are Aberdeen close to selling 40,000 tickets for the League Cup final? I’m hearing the North Stand and Jock Stein lower are completely sold out, which is about 33,000 in total. Tickets are now selling for the Jock Stein upper. Can any of our resident Dons shed any light if my information is correct?
i was just about to post that UTH as it’s off topic but Armageddon related.
more than 30 thousand sold before they go on general sale.
From James Forrest-
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/hammer-to-fall/
Bill1903 says:
Excellent news Bill. Hopefully ICT can shift around 10K. Should be a really good atmosphere.
I view the Blog nearly every day. However, I used to post very seldom on RTC, mainly because I have no expertise in finance, insolvency, churnalism, low animal cunning, etc. Despite several attempts, I have never been able to log on to TSFM. However, having got the bit between my teeth, through TSFM him/herself, I am now in orbit.
I intend to pay a visit to the UTTT tomorrow. However, since I live somewhat furth of Scotland, I am dependent on Messrs. East Coast Trains for a punctual (I know!) arrival in Edinburgh.
I seem to recall another poster saying that it was possible to enter the Tribunal Room after battle had commenced as long this was done quietly. Is that the case?
Smugas – sorry – I don’t understand your question.
Biggest travelling support from the north east ever I would say.
Even in the ‘Glory days’ I doubt if we took more than 28k.
Can’t wait for Parkred
Where is StephenSaint in asia when you need him.
Im sure he had this down to the week (1.5m not withstanding)
I cannot believe it! I’ve just this minute completed quite a lengthy court report on the new Court page-but I’ve lost it. I hadn’t thought to copy, and pressed ( as i thought) the ‘post comment ‘ button. But it’s not there! Sorry about that. I’ll do it again later.
In the meantime – Mt T finished his submissions, and the other Mr T ( Thornhill) began his at 12.05 pm. Expecting to finish at 1.00 pm on Friday.
I’ll be in again tomorrow, but not Wednesday.
Campbellsmoney says:
Probably.
==============================================================
Campbellsmoney…that is probably, (see what I did there?), the most succinct retort/reply to anything emanating from this TRFC nonsense…my overriding question being…”what level of probability can we, as mere onlookers, expect and ultimately accept…?”
john clarke says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:24 pm
______________________________________________
If you are lucky you might be able to recover some of it from your cache.
If like me you use Firefox:
type
about:cache
in the address bar and get hunting.
If you are using MSE ther may be something in your temp files.
Haywire says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:11 pm
‘ saying that it was possible to enter the Tribunal Room after battle had commenced as long this was done quietly. Is that the case?
———
Yes, indeed. When you go in to the room you’re just at Counsel’s desk, with the clerk’s desk close to your left, and the bench a bit further to the clerk’s left. (the door’s in the middle of the wall, rather than at one end.)
maybe see you there.
Campbellsmoney says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:54 pm
highfibre says:
March 3, 2014 at 4:49 pm
A question for our resident insolvency expert…
Although it may be unusual or even unprecedented, could they be arranging a prepack with an exit via CVA rather than a sale of the assets?
Could the Laxey/Easdale loans be a ploy to give them control of any CVA vote? They would then present the administrators with an automatically acceptable CVA proposal which could be agreed immediately. This proposal would presumably involve getting rid of unwanted and expensive contracts, and doing some kind of debt/equity jiggery pokery to leave any shareholders who have not made large loans to the clumpany with much diluted or even worthless holdings. In this scenario it makes sense for the whole RIFC group to be placed in administration rather than just TRFC, as there are few creditors external to the clumpany.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Secured lenders don’t get a vote in a CVA.
================================================================
Just back from an insolvency seminar in deepest Essex…concentrating on the pros and cons of the CVA process.
Having absorbed, as far as my ageing brain cells permit, the basic principles of said processes, it still astounds me how the RFC(IL) CVA could even have been contemplated.
Campbellsmoney, thank you for your “dry as dust” posts which are always on the button.
PS where were you at the time of the RFC(IL) CVA shenanigans…? This site was crying out for your specific input, notwithstanding some very valued posts from top notch posters.
Bloody H John
Do you do Pitmans still?
Some going.
Thanks millions.
Name your hostelry and there’s a drink there for you.
Still no sign of TRFC Annual Accounts at Companies House. I’m getting worried. Should we send out a search party? Have they got lost whilst out making new friends in the less well known parts of Scotland?
Can the MSM help? Maybe they could put out a description or even ask if anyone has seen them down Govan way?
Scottish Football needs a strong SFA and SPFL (don’t laugh) to step into this farce that is day by day bringing Scottish Football into disrepute.
John C
Great summary on the UTT thread on today’s proceedings. Our gratitude and admiration as ever.
Brown envelopes, lies, cover-ups, FTTT making decisions and findings that “no reasonable tribunal could have made”…
I wonder why the MSM are giving this a body swerve? :slamb:
Resin_lab_dog says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Thanks, resin. But ( and I know that this is hard for younger folk to understand,) although the words you use are English , and the words I see when do what you say are English, and English is what I speak and read, I simply cannot understand what they say! I have the same problem with IKEA drawings showing how to assemble flat-packs!
I’ll wait till Mrs C finishes her marathon phone call and see if she can help. I live in hope.
Thanks again.
Haywire says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:11
I view the Blog nearly every day. However, I used to post very seldom on RTC, mainly because I have no expertise in finance, insolvency, churnalism, low animal cunning, etc. Despite several attempts, I have never been able to log on to TSFM. However, having got the bit between my teeth, through TSFM him/herself, I am now in orbit.
I intend to pay a visit to the UTTT tomorrow. However, since I live somewhat furth of Scotland, I am dependent on Messrs. East Coast Trains for a punctual (I know!) arrival in Edinburgh.
I seem to recall another poster saying that it was possible to enter the Tribunal Room after battle had commenced as long this was done quietly. Is that the case?
================================================
Haywire as JC says its OK I arrived 1 hour in. The clues on the door Enter quietly.
For gods sake turn your mobile off. (One of the juniors in London had hers go off and Newey looked as if he could kill from 200 metres away)
Remember also its YOUR court also you paid for it and you have every right to be there.
>ianagain says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Where is StephenSaint in asia when you need him.
Im sure he had this down to the week (1.5m not withstanding)
———————-
Not seen him on any Saints sites for a while, was formerly contactable on twitter as stevensanph.
John C
Read my earlier comment – it’s all there 🙂
TSFM says:
March 3, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Read my earlier comment – it’s all there
———
Well, I’m damned. And very glad as well!
Different class JC.
John
Is it just me or does the judge seem reluctant to rule, preferring to refer back to FTTT?
Bloody hell JC I don’t know how you do it!!! Magnificent.
ianagainsays:
March 3, 2014 at 9:44 pm
‘…..Do you do Pitmans still?’
——-
I wish! But the fact is that Counsel make their submissions in relatively slow time, because the judge writes down what they say, and they wait for him to catch up!
The advantage he has, of course, is that they’re facing him and nearer to him, so he can hear without difficulty. And, of course, he knows the case, has read counsels’ ‘skeletons’, and has read all the transcript and has all the case law to hand, so he knows precisely how what Counsel says fits into context, and where there argument may be going.
I have my print-out of the FTTT decision and what I remember of the transcript that appeared on screen ( Charlotte?) of a bit of SDM’s examination ( in which I thought I detected a macho male rudeness and hubristic affront at being questioned by Dr Poon).
I wonder has anyone got that captured?
Ah Pitman’s. That thought will now haunt me for a few months. Desperate days of at the LSJ in the 80s!
We got TESTS in it ffs!
Never mastered it. Didn’t even tame it a little. Then – my Dictaphone killed it dead 🙂
Thank you JC, I appreciate the time and effort you and others put into this. Keep up the good work
Sic 🙂 .. and presumably a Mortal Sine?
Danish Pastry says:
March 3, 2014 at 7:09 pm
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ringostar says:
March 3, 2014 at 6:45 pm
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… I assume there will be a 10 – 20 year plan to return the assets to TRFC. say £2m rent £1m buyback??
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Don’t know enough about the financial side of things to comment on the first bit, but the sentence above is what you could call ‘fees’ -ible.
Cracking alias Ringo, but only one ‘r’?
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Two r’s maybe a bit too obvious!
ps. well done JC, stupendous effort.
JC, pity you didn’t write this up yesterday as you would have cleaned up at the Oscars for your UTT piece, absolutely amazing, clear and concise. Brilliant insight to the proceedings.
Ive only this John Damned if I can locate that,
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKFTT/TC/2012/TC02372.html
DJ was put in his place more than once tonight. One caller made a mockery of DJ’s opinion that Ally needed more new players to win the championship. The called stated that Ally had second highest player wage bill in Scotland and as such should be able to win the league. DJ sputtered a couple of times but still said Ally would need 1 or 2 new faces. Really farcical.
General Tilly says:
March 3, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Just wondering if anyone else here at TSFM is aware of a chap called Paul Larkin and his ‘Asterisk Years’ documentary project ?
I’ve only just become aware of it. It appears to be a ‘crowd-funded’ documentary which he intends to make, and in which he intends to make very specific allegations about the governance of Scottish football – particularly with regards to old Rangers EBT use, Ogilvy’s role therein, Regan’s knowledge of Ogilvy’s role, and Murray’s dealings with Whyte.
You can get a flavour – more than a flavour – of these allegations which he is adamant that he can prove, from the following podcast interview:
http://www.spreaker.com/user/homebhoys/asterisk-years-interview-6_1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HailHailMedia+%28Hail+Hail+Media%29
The first 20 mins of this are concerned with the mechanics/logistics of documentary film making. However, from 20 mins in he describes in detail what he will be alleging – and he says proving – in the ‘programme’.
IF what he says can be substantiated by solid evidence then I would say that this has the potential to be pretty seismic.
I’m just wondering if anyone else here is aware of this and/or the chap concerned and his ‘bona fides’ ?
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I listened to that Podcast.
Paul Larkin is talking about the same document linking Ogilvie to the first ebt as that in the evidence sent to the SPFL and H&M.
I am not sure he is precise on CO’s role after setting the scheme up in that CO’s name is only on 2 documents in Sept 1999. He signed the letter to the offshore trust that started the ball rolling and he is named on the remuneration policy meeting minutes as Secretary.
I think it possible/likely CO was well aware of how ebts were being used thereafter and he would have been well briefed about how it should operate and if De Boer insisted on a side letter CO would have been asked by the guy signing it for Rangers (Odham?) if it transgressed the scheme.
However there is no documentation unless Paul Larkin has some, that links CO to anything other than the first ebt re Moore.
However CO has other questions to answer re his public statements in 2012.
With regard to what Regan knew I would be amazed if the policy meeting document had not been seen by him, but that was all the more reason to take Ogilvie and SFA out the investigatory loop and make the place of appeal the SFA. (then get the SFA to provide bizarre testimony that sealed the case)
It is also another reason not to provide H&M with that very documents that create the linkage to the first ebt and Ogilvie and it was these factors that led me to conclude LNS was contrived to keep Ogilvie in the clear as much as avoid the consequences of Rangers being found guilty of cheating, which is what the withheld evidence more than suggests.