Good Evening.
When considering any type of protracted negotiation or discussion that seems to be going on too long, there is a story that is always worth remembering– whether it is actually a true story or not as the case may be.
It is said, that heads of state all met at a congress in what is now modern Germany sometime after the Franco Prussian war of 1870-1871.The entire congress was being run almost singlehandedly by the then Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismark and he was keen to get all the necessary signatures on paper to seal some deal or other.
However, others at the congress were not too keen to sign up to certain elements of the proposed deal and so they hithered and dithered and in the eyes of Bismark they simply waisted time by concentrating on the minutiae- the little matters, with a view to ensuring their own interests were best served in these small areas– and did not focus on the big issue.
Having tried to talk these others round and educate them in his own beliefs and point of view on the bigger picture without any success, Bismark grew weary of the continuing delay and the posturing of his colleagues. All attempts at reason and diplomacy had failed in his eyes and so he decided to take a different tack.
Accordingly, it is said that whilst others were still inside debating endlessly on this matter or that, Bismark left the building and began simply shooting the windows in with the aid of a riffle which he just happened to have handy.
Those inside were naturally alarmed at this turn of events. They soon forgot about the minutiae under debate, they abandoned the previously expressed self interest and simply signed up so that they could get away from the mad chancellor and his house.
Job done so to speak.
Whilst I do not in anyway condone the behaviour of Otto von Bismark in this instance, and have no doubt that he was an autocrat, what I will say is that he believed that there was too much time being spent on the unimportant stuff and not enough time recognising what really needed doing– from his point of view of course.
Today– and it seems every day for months— we have endless debate about the future of Scottish Football. League reconstruction and the redistribution of footballing wealth has become a marathon– even before it has started.
Yet I believe that at the moment all parties concerned are not focusing on the radical reform that is fundamentally needed which is the creation of one, strong, properly structured and constituted body which is capable of the proper and ethical governance of Scottish Football and the business that surrounds football.
No matter what system you try, or distribution you agree, without proper sensible strong governance you are wasting your time.
Further, whatever body is set up, and whoever is chosen to be its CEO (or whatever the head honcho is going to be called), they must tackle the issue of corporate and fiscal compliance and the proper administration of any body corporate which actively takes part in Scottish Football– and that includes any such body or person who is involved in the running of a member club.
In addition, in so dealing with any corporate malfeasance or chicanery or whatever, the rules have to be applied with a rod of iron by an iron body.
As we can now clearly see, Football clubs and football in general is not, and never will be, immune from the effects of bad corporate governance and on occasion downright manipulation of facts, figures and contracts.
Whilst great play has been made of the fact that Gavin Masterton has handed over his shares in Dunfermline FC ( or its holding company ) the fact of the matter is that this in no way solves the problem faced by the football club. Whoever gains control of that club will still have to rent the ground from Mr Masterton’s company– and it is a rent that the club may just not be able to afford.
Ever!
It is only my opinion of course, but I am of the view that Mr Masterton has sealed a loan deal with his bankers which is of a type and duration which could not normally be achieved by other borrowers. The Loan has a lengthy period during which no repayments are necessary and interest can continue to accrue.
All very good you may say, but the level of debt concerned is not one that appears to be sustainable by Dunfermline FC and so whoever buys the club as a going concern ( if anyone buys it at all ) will have to pay an agreed rental to Gavin Masterton– and if the rental is not sufficient to repay Mr Masterton’s lenders, then I suspect that the end game here will be a search to find a buyer for the ground at some point over the next twenty years or so, with the hope that as part of the deal a space will be found somewhere for a new ground like New St Mirren park– the difference being that in that instance St Mirren were in charge of their future whereas Dunfermline are not.
The Governance of that club and the financial arrangements behind the club should have been looked at and examined by the SFA long before now– and the Dunfermline fans warned about the dangers of any such arrangements. Effectively those finance arrangements, should they continue, will probably mean that the club will have no option but to move from its established home!
All to suit one man!
Thankfully Dundee were spared a full takeover by Giovanni Di Stefano, however is it not a bit worrying that this man who has been jailed for over 14 years for various fraudulent acts, was allowed to roam around Scottish Football for a prolonged period?
Not so long ago Di Stefano did play a part at Dens, was in line to buy almost 30% of the shareholding, and was oft quoted in the papers and so on. The thing is that there were those who were prepared to give him a place at the Dundee table and in so doing invited him into Scottish Football.
Surely the SFA, had they been inclined to, could quite easily have pointed out that many of the claims of Mr Di Stefano were at least dubious if not completely incorrect? Yet nothing was being said at the time and silence prevailed.
Whilst not in the same calibre as Di Dtefano, Vladimir Romanov has now been at Hearts for a prolonged period. While I have no quibbles about the legality of Romanov’s takeover of Hearts, any money of a sizeable size which is transferred into Scotland from a foreign country will be subject to scrutiny by the Crown office to ensure that it is clean. Lithuania in particular is said to have a banking system which is governed loosely and sometimes does not meet the compliance standards expected in this country.
With his bank having gone bust, Romanov still retains the majority shareholding at Tynecastle, but there are questions still to be answered about what has happened at Hearts but life will be very different for the Edinburgh club going forward.
Again– could the SFA have done more to monitor the situation and could they have demanded clarity and detail from the Hearts owner as to his business dealings and the detailed arrangements with his bank?
At Ibrox, well things just go from the weird and inexplicable to downright astonishing– and all through a tremendous amount of smoke and mirrors.
It is clear that the SFA have no idea what to believe from Charles Green or for that matter Craig Whyte. On the face of it, there are clear links between Whyte and Green with the former paying over a six figure sum in return for absolutely nothing it would appear– with similar transactions going between Whyte’s colleague, Aiden Early, and Charles Green.
What is clear is that Green gave a clear undertaking to the SFA that he had nothing whatsoever to do with Whyte and would have nothing to do with Whyte going forward. Now, at the very least he is admitting that he met Whyte on several occasions, and whilst he may have made representations to Craig Whyte— these were all lies designed only to get Whyte to where Green wanted him.
This is hardly the act of someone who has been bona fides in his business dealings either with Whyte or with the SFA as the licensing body.
It is against this background that the Scottish Football Agencies need to wake up before they find the fans of the game ( at least those who want to stay interested in the game ) doing a Bismarck and panning in the windows of this whole house of cards.
Football Clubs, football fans, and indeed football itself needs protected from the financial and corporate shenanigans, and the governing body must be much more active and permanently vigilant in watching out for and if necessary anticipating the people and the transactions which have and will jeopardise clubs and the game in general going forward.
It is clearly no longer acceptable to rely on self regulation or mere declarations and undertakings from the clubs themselves. The Administrators must be much more active and employ far greater professional expertise in carrying out an almost constant analytical and reporting function in relation to club finance and corporate regulation.
All and any changes in funding, boardroom changes, investor changes and anything else major should be the subject of immediate and proper scrutiny by the SFA and there should be fair, immediate and stiff sanctions for non compliance, and any type of dilatory behaviour on the part of club officials who would seek to conceal the truth or who fail to properly disclose vital matters which should be out in the open.
Further, the funding detail– such as the never ending loan re Dunfermline should be a matter of public record in all its detail so that fans and investors can make information based value judgements when dealing with any club.
Such stiffer regulation should not develop into anything like a corporate witch hunt or any kind of draconian big brother syndrome, however the need for change given all of the current troubles is obvious to one and all.
Further, the attempted fudge surrounding Rangers league status last summer and the ongoing disquiet surrounding the position of Campbell Ogilvie does nothing to boost faith in and the reputation of Football Administration in Scotland.
Things are far from clear and there appears to be continual dithering and fudging. No one has any idea where the Nimmo Smith Report has gone nor what import it is to have— if any. Why is that?
Dithering and bumbling over detail is no longer an option. Strong clear governance is required to protect the game from being hijacked by those who have their own corporate and financial agendas.
Such people cannot be allowed to determine the way Scottish Football runs or to conduct themselves in a fashion that leaves football and everyone involved in limbo.
It is time for Scottish Football to find its own Iron Chancellor! There is a need for someone who will, if necessary, come along and shoot the lights out of any club or Company Director who wishes to play fast and loose with the game of football.
StevieBC says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 02:15
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bogsdollox says: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 01:48
StevieBC says: Monday, May 6, 2013 at 01:34
paulmac2 says: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 23:54
Graham Spiers @GrahamSpiers 3 May @Seaside_Ranger Not as a fan, but yes, I did own Rangers shares – until last year!…
==============================
I actually find that Tweet to be astonishing on a couple of levels…
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Two things –
One – He’s not cerebral at all (unless compared to Gym,Chick or Schuck)…
(Yes – that’s what I implied.)
================================
I think we are agreed. It doesn’t matter because of what I said after that.
Two – …I see no difficulty in him holding shares in the club he supports…
(No – with all due respect, I fundamentally disagree with that statement. Not dissimilar – IMO – to Ogilvie or his wife holding RFC(IL) shares.)
The old Scottish sports journalists need replacing – about 10 years ago.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CO is is an office holder(i.e. employee) of the governing body and so it DOES matter if he holds shares in clubs but even when he was at Hearts teaching them stuff about tax and admin he held shares in another club who were direct competitors.
Spiers is a journalist so there is no comparison.
I agree the sports journalists need replacing but with what ? Do you read any other bits of the arsewipe newspapers they work for?
BD – Ok, we agree to disagree wrt Spiers holding shares.
I do have a healthy disregard for both tabloid and ‘quality’ print media journalists generally – but I am trying to be positive in my outlook that the current old guard of Scottish sports journalists can be replaced with better, younger journalists.
Wee arra… peepil!
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpURuCT1_cs/UCgam_WW9TI/AAAAAAAAAlw/FwskHxvVZ7s/s1600/Archers+of+Ashwood+2.JPG
On the back of Phil’s article last night
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/could-the-monday-blues-lead-to-traumatic-tuesday/#more-3698
The banning of the BBC en mass by Sevco appears to be a very clever move in the short term by those in charge of the Club.
It is unlikely that any of he sports reporters, Chris Mclaughlin et al or Douglas Fraser from the business desk will venture to Ibrox today to report if the Board meeting is has taken place and to comment on what was discussed, it it went ahead.
Indeed, was the paper “Rangers the way forward” leaked to Chris Mclaughin as the opening gambit to secure the basis for Jim Traynor handing out the corporation wide ban?
If the Club want to keep the BBC out of the way and the ban is a coordinated effort to keep the lid on a Board meeting today, then that, along with Phil’s article and the hints from Alex Tomo that another ‘Rangers’ story is about to air would suggest that there is serious trouble afoot.
Phil good morning if you are looking in – the photographs of the Sheriff Officers turning up at Ibrox to serve papers was one of the top scoops of the Rangers saga. Are you planning to hire more photographers?
Long time lurker – that will be the test of the BBC. Will they make sure they do get the info they need and publish any newsworthy story going (they must have a contact or two after all), or will they just ignore it? I would have assumed the second if they hadn’t been quite so silent about being kicked out of Ibrox at the weekend. Here’s hoping they do have a spine though
StevieBC says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 01:34
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paulmac2 says: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 23:54
Graham Spiers @GrahamSpiers 3 May @Seaside_Ranger Not as a fan, but yes, I did own Rangers shares – until last year!…
==============================
I actually find that Tweet to be astonishing on a couple of levels.
I – perhaps naively – always considered Spiers as a cerebral journalist – at least in comparison to his peers including Traynor and Jackson et al.
——————————————
I followed GS in the twittersphere for a while last year, very hard to work out what his position was on the topics of the day. I thought he tended to blow this way and that, and not in a way that suggested any underlying grasp of the big picture.
I concluded that the best approach was the one taken by Gary Cooper in the film ‘The Fountainhead’ – the journalist asks him ‘What do you think of me?’, and Cooper replies ‘I don’t’. So I just unfollowed him on twitter and tend to just pass over his thoughts, and I’d recommend that approach
LTL,I think we sometimes give the people at Ibroke too much credit. I don’t think that they plan too far ahead,they are reacting to an ever changing scenario and lash out at the nearest perceived enemy.They have no master plan,there are too many different agenda’s at play here.
Personally I think they are all swimming in treacle,and the people lining the riverbank are throwing concrete lifebelts.
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=252197
The bears’ reaction to Archie’s piece yesterday is quite entertaining. If you do venture onto the site, hold your breath it stinks to high heaven.
Bomber has asked the question ‘how many cheats are there in the game?’ I don’t know 🙂 you tell us 🙂 totally priceless!
Re Scottish journalists I think a lot of good ones go down south to get away from what is expected of them in Scotland. I’m thinking Norcroft in the times and Paddy Barclay among others.
I finally found the BBC’s recognition on their website that they are at the centre of a news story about having been banned from Ibrox – the downside is that it is entitled ‘Elsewhere on the web’ and is a link to an article about it in the Scotsman.
I don’t blame Chris McLaughlin, he’s the one who actually got them a story, and the fact that they have ignored it for the last few days when other papers and news sites (73 others according to a google search) have published it must mean that at a higher level they have decided just not to run it.
National news organisation? Gutless.
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/guess-which-major-player-in-the-rangers-saga-has-been-sold-for-over-400-million/
‘But there is a lingering resentment towards the SPL among Light Blues fans as a result of their treatment last summer.’
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangers-fans-well-do-it-on-our-own-123385n.20994854
I can perfectly understand that Light Blues fans might feel resentment. Losing your first love can do that to you.
But what I don’t understand is why that resentment is towards the SPL. Why is their ire not directed at the custodians of one or both of the Ibrox clubs?
Lord Wobbly says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 09:43
It comes back to identity, if you give total unquestioning loyalty to someone or something and they screw you over, then some of the responsibility is yours for being so stupid. Much better for the self esteem to blame someone, anyone else, than it is to look in the mirror
StevieBC et al re Spiers and shares in RFC
I recall him explaining that he held shares in old RFC for two reasons, one as a fan. The other was because in his role as a journalist it gave him access to shareholder meetings. Pity he did’t ask the questions of the right people back in SDM era!
I see the SPL player of the year was arrested in the early hours due to an incident at a Glasgow nightclub and is being charged with assualt
BBC News
6 May 2013 Last updated at 10:12
Michael Higdon arrested after winning of the year arrested
Breaking news
Motherwell striker Michael Higdon has been arrested over an alleged assault hours after being crowned Scotland’s Player of the Year.
The 29-year-old footballer was held in connection with an incident at a Glasgow nightclub in the early hours.
He was named Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Scotland Player of the Year at a ceremony on Sunday night.
Higdon scored 27 goals as Motherwell, who are currently second in the Scottish Premier League (SPL).
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “A 29-year-old man is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal in connection with an alleged assault at a nightclub in Ingram Street in Glasgow at 1.25am today.”
Very Interesting
“Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 1m
Two SFL1 clubs have confirmed to me that Stewart Regan contacted them to seek assurances that Sevco would not receive an invite to “SPL2″.”
Lord Wobbly says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 09:43
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‘But there is a lingering resentment towards the SPL among Light Blues fans as a result of their treatment last summer.’
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangers-fans-well-do-it-on-our-own-123385n.20994854
I can perfectly understand that Light Blues fans might feel resentment. Losing your first love can do that to you.
But what I don’t understand is why that resentment is towards the SPL. Why is their ire not directed at the custodians of one or both of the Ibrox clubs?
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But the way (most) TRFC fans see things is very different, that has been proved time after time on here. But, it is more interesting when you look at the phases they have gone through;
First, they demonised CW, it was all down to him. ( never SDM, Sir man- made-fibre, Sally, Sandy) AND, in any event, it was a conspiracy spawned at Celtic Park and supported by the Celtic controlled media and enacted by the Celtic controlled governing bodies.
Second, they demonised CW, it was all down to him. They are the peepil. They don’t do walkin’ away.it really is a conspiracy spawned at Celtic Park by R****** obsessed Peter Liewell and supported by the Celtic controlled media and enacted by the Celtic controlled governing bodies.
Then, they demonised CW, it was all down to him. They will take all of the punishments served upon them, they will start again where-ever they have to, they will enjoy the journey.
Enter CG with those big hands.
Then, they demonised CW, it was all down to him. But there are 500 million of them, and they are the peepil, and MANU want them in the EPL and the Dallas Cowboys want to play them at basketball or some other American game, and they have world records falling out of their pockets, and the SPL is bankrupt and nobody is going to those games anyway and they are all sorry they punished us so much.
Then, they demonised CW, it was all down to him.
It goes on, at no time ever have they stopped and stood outside Ibrox and said what had to be said. They have turned what has happened into an assault on them, not a consequence of their actions. There is a thread on RM earlier today saying that the draft of the independent commission report is with the board and that they are in the clear – that is one thing, but then, they want CG back!
Without a doubt they are lunatics. They support a lunatic club. They are kept warm by a lunatic sports media. We really do deserve what is coming. I believe that the SFA/SFL/SPL were working towards this week all along. Give them a trophy after their years and years of hard punishment – they have been punished enough and we need their 75,000 fans per week. So, time to shake up the pieces and have them back at the top.
That is all that will happen this week.
scapaflow14 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:21
Very Interesting
“Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 1m
Two SFL1 clubs have confirmed to me that Stewart Regan contacted them to seek assurances that Sevco would not receive an invite to “SPL2″.”
======================================
Hmmmm
would stewart regan be looking to “invite” sevco into SPL 1 ???
scapaflow14 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:21
Very Interesting
“Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 1m
Two SFL1 clubs have confirmed to me that Stewart Regan contacted them to seek assurances that Sevco would not receive an invite to “SPL2″.”
================================================
That’s because Regan wants to invite them into SPL1.
Jeesus that’s spooky Jim Larkin
tomtomaswell says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 10:41
Tomtom and Jim, while those at the top of the game are undoubtedly a bunch of damn fools, there are limits even to their idiocy, inviting Rangers into the SPL is byond the pale, even for them
john clarke says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 01:06
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manandboy says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 00:44
‘…This was a rally…’
‘..A quasi-political demonstration.’
—–
Leni Riefenstahl was good on rallies.
And the WATP attitudes, we have seen, are ,sadly,shared by senior people in Scottish politics
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WATP is so arrogant a statement that capitulates the mindset of a vast number of people related to the govan club with connections throughout Scottish football from the very top CO to the dregs of the MSM. No suprise Mr Spiers had shares which will effect his views on reporting (although he has in the past spoke out against Moonbeams) but still advocates we need them at the top table.
WATP statement is although they cannot see it is an admission of We Are The Problem. They cannot see it and more importantly cannot be told any form of truth in any way (banning of BBC is an example )
This is the problem and over the next few weeks they have somehow got to install their own men (King, Smith etc..) to sell st and maintain the ideological so called status that WATP promotes.
I am proud not to be one of their people and I do not need to sing about it
Keith Jackson in the Daily Record online:
Yes, Rangers packed more than 50,000 into Ibrox on Saturday to
celebrate the handing over of a trophy which had previously meant about as much to them as an empty can of lager.
But there are more stormy waters dead ahead for this club before it can be cleansed of its own crisis. Soon they may be in desperate trouble once more.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keith-jackson-games-pieces-being-1871749
It appears as if the chatter from the internetbampots is now percolating through to the MSM.
Not a chance of an invite to SPL1/SPL2 for T’Rangers.
It would be tantamount to suicide by the clubs involved and they know it
Well done Big Michael “stereotype” or what. That’s the excuse SMC needed to sell you sorted. I guess that was the one way to make sure you didn’t “score” – get arrested .Eejit.
Post #5728 [Tweet]
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Group:Members BaroldHatchback 5088 @Sir_Barold_QC 41m
@Pmacgiollabhain Now that’s a helluva turnaround from Mr Regan…
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Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 37m
@Sir_Barold_QC It is. PerhapsBEn Transparency now knows just how toxic Sevco actually are and that will become public very soon.
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BaroldHatchback 5088 @Sir_Barold_QC 33m
@Pmacgiollabhain That was my immediate thought. #toxic
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Nick Littlewood @NickPLittlewood 17m
@Sir_Barold_QC @Pmacgiollabhain I now recall the words of Professor Britney Spears “I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re #toxic?”
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dominic @dominick1888 13m
@NickPLittlewood @Sir_Barold_QC @Pmacgiollabhain Phil could a downfall 2 be in the offing ?
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Phil MacGiollaBhain @Pmacgiollabhain 11m
@dominick1888 @NickPLittlewood @Sir_Barold_QC #Sevco are finished. It’s only a matter of time.
Next year will be the time to tell that story
Retweeted by BaroldHatchback 5088
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:pray:
liveinhop says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 11:14
Nick Littlewood @NickPLittlewood 17m
@Sir_Barold_QC @Pmacgiollabhain I now recall the words of Professor Britney Spears “I’m addicted to you, don’t you know that you’re #toxic?”
That’s got be the best tweet I have seen in a while – sheer quality. Thanks for sharing
Neil Lennon’s men dropped another two points and the nation shrugged its shoulders and said: “So what?” Just as it has every time Celtic have failed to win in the SPL this season. Which, by the way, is now 13 times in 36 games.
——–
Ally McCoist squeezed out a 3 point win over Berwick Rangers at home by a single goal and the fabric of our nation hoisted him aloft as he declared “we are the people” even when Rangers* have failed to win in the SFL3 this season. Which by the way is 11 times in 36 games
————-
For all of this blatant profligacy, Lennon’s side are still 13 points clear at the top of the table. So what does that say about the rest of them? Or about the top flight in general?
—————
Bayern Munich are 20 pts clear at the top of the Bundesliga
So what does that say about the rest of them? Or about their top flight in general?
————-
The Champions League needs a strong Rfc* perhaps
Above quotes taken from keith Jackson of the Daily Record
what does that say about Scottish Journalism ?
1 thing jumped out of the Steven Naismith interview:
“I take pride in the fact I was one of the first players to agree to give up 75 per cent of my wages to try and save the original Rangers.
The “Original” Rangers, if it’s the same club then there should not be a need to distinguish.
LTL @11.09
Keith Jackson’s piece this morning appears to me to be no more than a snide swipe at Neil Lennon and Celtic, and a veiled ‘we need a strong Rangers to move forward’ pitch.
Just read Jacksons latest effort…..it’s hard to know where to start with it, but it misses the big picture considerably!
League reconstruction lies in tatters….yet only 12 months ago, there was NO DEBATE on league reconstruction. 12 months ago, no one was pushing for it or felt any merit in it. The reason it lies in tatters is because of Jackson and his ilk pushing for a way to give Sevco a foot up the leagues back towards teh top flight. An agenda so perverse and wrapped up in self interest that most decent football fans and administrators baulk at the brazenness of it all. Hence why it could not be supported.
Sponsors walking away from the game….i didn’t hear too many making noises about this a few years ago when we relied on the scottish government to start sponsoring the national competitions. Of course WHY are sponsors walking away? it’s not because Rangers are out of the league…well, not on it’s own, but because the whole set up in Scotland has been shown to be toxic, corrupt or incompetent. You have Campbell Ogilvie still in power despite the compromised position he has, then you have umpteen other club chairmen/directors and governing body officials who had vested interests in the success of RFC (of old) and now making noises to shoehorn Sevco into their place – base don nothing (certainly not merit or rules) but “tradition”
Hearts…..well, that has been a financial basket case since Vlad arrived, running with eye watering wage levels, but no condemnation over that for years – or, for that matter, any other club running with huge wage to turnover ratios
Dunfermline – another club undone by overspending, though maybe a wee bit of sympathy for them, as if the games governors had not been so interested in saving Rangers and performed their duties, DUFC might have still been in the SPL and not in the current state. Also, RFc owed DUFC money (as they did with a few other scottish clubs – Hearts, Celtic, Dundee Utd)
Then they move onto Aberdeen closing part of the stadium…..i haven’t done the research, but based on posts here and elsewhere is it not the case that for MOST spl clubs, the average attendance is up this year? Anyone confirm Aberdeen figures? the biggest drop in SPL crowds comes from Celtic, but pretty sure the rest of the SPL are up or even on last year.
trouble at an u17’s game – yet we had the same trouble last year in the same fixture – and guess what, there has been trouble at loads of fixtures at all levels where Celtic and Rangers (or their tribute act) have met. So, whilst not welcome, it’s not new to the game.
What keith misses in his article is the corruption, the rule bending, the cheating, the lack of punishment and governance.
This is what the journos are missing. it is not “no Rangers” that is killing the game, but no leadership, no governance
and what are they doing to expose and correct it?
timtim says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 11:27
Quantcast
Neil Lennon’s men dropped another two points and the nation shrugged its shoulders and said: “So what?” Just as it has every time Celtic have failed to win in the SPL this season. Which, by the way, is now 13 times in 36 games.
——–
Ally McCoist squeezed out a 3 point win over Berwick Rangers at home by a single goal and the fabric of our nation hoisted him aloft as he declared “we are the people” even when Rangers* have failed to win in the SFL3 this season. Which by the way is 11 times in 36 games
————-
For all of this blatant profligacy, Lennon’s side are still 13 points clear at the top of the table. So what does that say about the rest of them? Or about the top flight in general?
—————
Bayern Munich are 20 pts clear at the top of the Bundesliga
So what does that say about the rest of them? Or about their top flight in general?
————-
The Champions League needs a strong Rfc* perhaps
——————————————————————————
Precisely. Remember Jackson’s upbringing!
Calm before the storm?
Lots of ‘we need a strong rangers’ the past couple of days
Due to the rumours now circulating, is it an over statement of a simple plea –
“We need Rangers”
selfassessor says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 08:47
…………………………………..
It really is a waste of time reading the comments on that site….they just don’t seem to get it…the document was produced by someone within SEVCO…and GIVEN to the BBC…knowing it would be published…WHY?
Yet the BBC are the enemy? Go figure!
Clearly there are still to many slow thinkers in their support…
It reminds me of a Maths teacher I had in secondary school…her philosphy to teaching had the following belief which I have carried through my professional career….
‘I teach 30 kids in a class…my methods might not be suitable to all 30 kids…that doesn’t mean some kids are stupid…they just need a different method to learn…so we will send those kids to a second teacher with differnet methods…and if they still don’t get it…we will send them to a third…and if that still fails…then the common denominator is the kid and he just doesn’t get it…Maths is not for him/Her’
This seems to fit with those who follow SEVCO…we have told you once…you didn’t believe…we told you twice…and you wouldn’t listen…now we are telling you a third time…and everyone else is the enemy…the common denominator is you and you just don’t get it…saving your club is not for you…
They are unteachable!
good rant NTHM
Jackson cannot see he is not the solution but part of the problem
Did he not also support the fairy tale of getting Rfc* out of Scotland and moving to England.
Come to think of it has the media in general not been supportive of this idea?
They treat Scottish football with contempt ,if they cannot be at the top squealing about
their world record 54 titles and what a magnificent record that is then they rubbish that very record by telling us how woeful our league actually is .
And Jacko’s comment re Joe Ledley jumping at the chance to go to the likes of Stoke appears to be at odds with what has been reported previously in the Record and elsewhere…
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/skys-limit-celtic-stick-together-1846642
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/ledley-in-no-rush-to-give-up-the-good-life-at-celtic.20980863?
All this stuff about Scottish football needing “a strong Rangers” is laughable.
“A strong Rangers” doesn’t actually exist.
Rangers in the SPL this season, can you imagine that, they couldn’t even compete in the Ramsden’s cup.
There are too many people living in a total fantasy World where Rangers are concerned. They have a poor side and a loss making business model.
SR at the SFA, enter the quiet man of the last 12 months. He must have a brammer of an agenda in mind by now, he’s had long enough to dream something up.
And with CO still in office, I bet he has no interest in what is good for anymore than one.
Brace yoursel for some shameless shenanigans down at HQ Hampden.
My guess, a spinning of the best myths, FTTT not guilty, LNS (whatever the f-ck he concluded) and therefore they have been punished enough. So let them back in among yer money wid ye, promise they won’t rob you again.
They requested the death penalty, it was granted. It was all their own doing, and cost us all. The authorities banged on and on about lessons to be learned, and wanted some slack as this had never happened anywhere else, well it has now, and then some. If you want to do it all again, do it right this time, leave no governing body, and we can seek pastures new, we can all find our own level. Away from the present form of TRFC will do for me.
And Ally got that wrong on Saturday it’s ” We are the sequel “
chipm0nk says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 11:54
For one we are in complete agreement lol
Latest from Alex Tomo:
alex thomson @alextomo 5m
I have reason to wonder why, who and how those assurances were given and that licence was ever granted by SFA.
alex thomson @alextomo 6m
RFC Board Mtg this week. Key item on agenda will be assurances given to SFA for licence last year based on Craig Whyte’s non-involvement…
Will we see Peterhead crowned 3 Division Champions?
Long Time Lurker says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:02
Will we see Peterhead crowned 3 Division Champions?
=========================
No the season is over, can’t/won’t change that now, it was all about getting the 36 games finished. Then and only then will they front up the truth about who/what owns the assets.
Forres Dee (@ForresDee) says:
Stripping of titles not the SFA’s forty!
Utter disgrace yesterday btw m8,……… disgraceful call!
Could be shampoo – taken from a posting on the LSE website:
http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=RFC
Today 09:46CantBuyHistoryBank Holiday Monday Board Meeting56.50No Opinion
Just drove past Ibrox Stadium and noticed Walter approaching the entrance, Brown Brogues and all, looking very dignified I must say. The Crisis meeting must be in session as we speak. As i looked in my rear view mirror I’m sure I seen the clouds in the shape of Agent Whyte looking down on the Main Stand, his Main Stand I might add. they need to get this situation sorted asap, and get the investment rolling in, after all, we need to keep Ally, Ian and Kenny in a job…….. ha ha.
timtim says:
Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 09:39
TT’s post lists 11 games where ‘Rangers’ dropped points this year. Haven’t seen any song and dance about this though. As I don’t digest MSM, it may have passed me by. Surely ‘Rangers’ record is worse than Celtic’s in this respect.
I don’t mind that Celtic never hammered their opposition this year. If I have any predictive capacity when it comes to football then it is contained in the logic ‘who needs to win most’? As ManU against Chelsea illustrated fully yesterday, if you need to win more than the other side then you have an edge from the start. That’s why Dundee stuck in so admirably.
It may be that without ‘Rangers’ in the top division there is a dimunition in ‘quality’. However let us consider how this quality manifested itself. It arose because neither of the two clubs could afford to drop points against their opposition for fear that the other would take advantage. As a result both Celtic and ‘Rangers’ bludgeoned their way through the season, bullying and cajoling opposition teams and match officials alike. Yes, this did breed ‘quality’ but at the expense of sportsmanship.
Now perhaps Scottish Football will become a bit poorer. Budgets may have to be trimmed (just a little) to take account of a slight loss in overall revenue. Celtic may be drawn closer to the pack. Like the ‘tortoise and the hare’ story, if you think you’ve got it sewn up before you start then there is a danger you relax too much and get caught out.
The end result may be a league where the eventual winner is not so certain.
A diligent gardener cuts back his foliage every spring because he knows the plant will become envigorated and produce fresh growth. Wishful thinking perhaps but more palatable than the sterile status quo that is being lauded as the panacea of all ills. Perhaps we have had our winter of discontent and a ‘son of York’ has inadvertantly made good the way to a glorious summer.
Remember where this strangulation started. In 1967. At a time when Scottish football teams regularly made it to the latter stages of European competitions. When Celtic reached that pinnacle, it became a talisman that they could subliminally hold over their city rivals. When SDM arrived his avowed agenda was to level the score. He resorted to extraordinary means to try to achieve this. He was not successful and the aftermath is the chaos we see now. In the meantime ‘Rangers’ sucked Scottish football dry to gain the funds that might allow them to secure the fabled crown.
Celtic went along with it. I can see why they would. They are not guiltless but in the heady days of the 80’s, anything was possible it seemed and if you didn’t go with it (house ownership, start your own business etc) you were left behind. ‘Rangers’ needed to win the CL more than Celtic cos Celtic already had their name on ‘Big Ears’ more than once (listed as losing finalists against Feyernoord). How could a feeling of superiority (we all thrive on confidence) be maintained if the place where such legends are listed finds your heroes noticeably absent.
The future starts now. The past is dead though not forgotten. It may be that Scottish football will never again find its teams in the upper echelons of European and World sport. However I am unable to be that cynical, no matter how much realism hammers at my door. The tortoise won remember. Hard to beleive but you can appreciate the psychology. The tortoise needed it more.
If in ten or twenty years time, by some twist of fate, ‘Rangers’ were to eventually achieve that long held dream, I would have divided feelings. I would feel that the team I am a fan of (not a supporter), no longer had that emblematic edge over its deadliest rival. I would also I suspect have graet pride that a team from a wee diddy country, from my city, stood for a short time at the top of the European pile.
Bring it on. Seize the day. Hope springs eternal. Fortune favours the brave.
Long Time Lurker says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:31
I think the last emergency board meeting was held at Murray Park.
arabest1 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:24
Forres Dee (@ForresDee) says:
Stripping of titles not the SFA’s forty!
Utter disgrace yesterday btw m8,……… disgraceful call!
===============================================
Aye.
Not holding my breath or the SFA (Lunny) to do anything about it though.
Scottish football’s biggest issue isn’t the decades of deceit from glasgow, it’s really quality of our refs!!
Not only do they not have their name on the biggest cup in european football
they dont (and never will have) their name on the oldest cup in world football
http://www.londonhearts.com/aamain/19namesoncup.htm
we do tho – 10 times 🙂
On the dropping of points.
Rangers won the Scottish Football League by scoring 83 points. That sound OK, however they played 36 games to get that, so their maximum potential number of points was 108.
Putting that another way, Rangers dropped 25 points, in the bottom tier of Scottish senior football.
They lost 3 games and drew 8. (They lost 2 and drew 3 at Ibrox)
For a team with the second highest salary budget in Scotland, playing against chaps who have full time jobs and train 2 or 3 hours a week that is pretty staggering.
I await your comment Mr Jackson.
Please find attached a source of this information if you feel the need to double check.
http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/football/third/table/
Just one more thing, they didn’t exactly have a lot else to distract them, what with Mr McCoists aversion to cup competitions.
Rangers 2012-13 – compare with SFL 3 winners over the past ten years. Does this season’s achievement represent a fair return on investment?
Season Winner Points Ahead of 2nd Goal Diff.
12/13 Rangers 83 24 58
11/12 Alloa 77 14 31
10/11 Arbroath 66 5 19
9/10 Livingston 78 15 38
8/9 Dumbarton 67 4 29
7/8 East Fife 88 23 53
6/7 Berwick 75 5 22
5/6 Cowdenbeath 76 0 47
4/5 Gretna 98 20 101
3/4 Stranraer 79 2 57
Interesting story, reported only in the Record, that a 54 year old man will appear in court tomorrow, following the death of a woman who was knocked down and tragically died, in the vicinity of McGregor Road, Ibrox, about 3.35pm on Saturday.
There was a report on the BBC website on Saturday evening about the accident that I now can find no trace of.
Whilst there has been an almost total lack of news, it may be interesting in the coming days to contrast the way this case is being handled with the early and selective release by police in other cases, for example most recently Yorkshire police of the arrest Nigel Evans MP.
Think u will find that was Lancashire Police not Yorkshire..
Courtesy pf peter Adam Smith, here is one of Mr Traynor’s finest, to brighten up a slow news day
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/scots-billionaire-craig-whyte-set-1076102
mullach says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:31
Unfortunately for Rangers, they have become the embodiment of Eugene O’Neill’s maxim
“There is no present, or future, only the past happening over and over again – now”
Philip Spicer (@BrooksBaba) says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 13:39
————————————–
I stand corrected – apologies to any Lancastrians or Yorshiremen/women (other than Charles Green) who may have taken offence.
Looks asif Alex Tomo has hard proof on the licence issue that he has been tweeting about.
alex thomson@alextomo2h
I have reason to wonder why, who and how those assurances were given and that licence was ever granted by SFA.
G M McLean@GMMcLean2h
@alextomo It’s like Whyte’s ‘proof of funds’ letter to Murray: you have, in the first place, to WANT to believe it’s acceptable.
alex thomson@alextomo1h
@GMMcLean oh no – way stronger
very funny twitter account.. and sadly true in a lot of cases RagingHun @TheRagingHun 4m
Ive just put maws heed thru the f**kin telly after seeing that ESPN are showing this filth. F**king feenyin basturts pic.twitter.com/0oeouchL8w
Forres Dee (@ForresDee) says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:06
Long Time Lurker says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 12:02
Will we see Peterhead crowned 3 Division Champions?
=========================
No the season is over, can’t/won’t change that now, it was all about getting the 36 games finished. Then and only then will they front up the truth about who/what owns the assets.
………………………………………….
So in short….Rangers were liquidated…after years of deceit..cheating…and financial doping on an industrial scale….The SFA chose to ignore and allowed a reincarnation of the old club called SEVCO to play football in Scotland even though they did not meet or fulfill the required criteria…
SEVCO….the reincarnation…having completed 1 season now appear to have completed that season on a bed of lies and deceit…and continued financial mismanagement…
Fool me once shame on you….fool me twice shame on me….fool me thrice..and our corrupt partnership is now undeniable!
Three weeks and counting?
Andy Gray@andydlgray2h
@Pmacgiollabhain “#sevco are finished” wow that is quite a prediction Phil. Have obv followed all this but not seen such a statement before
Phil MacGiollaBhain@Pmacgiollabhain2h
@andydlgray Only the timescale is moot.
Big Stuart 1888@white_italy1h
@Pmacgiollabhain Phil, do you make it a couple of weeks or a couple of months? Guestimation know!
Can’t stop laughing@corsica196857m
@white_italy @Pmacgiollabhain My City sources say they’ll be lucky to see out May. #itsallinthename
What do you think they’re talking about in yon meetin?
jean7brodie says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:18
What do you think they’re talking about in yon meetin?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Apparently it has all kicked off. Walter is demanding to know why there are no Empire biscuits, Chocolate Hobnobs and Blue Ribands, which appear to have been replaced with Malted Milks.
In the confusion Ally is filling his blazer pockets with the malted milks as he senses that the next meeting may not have any biscuits at all.
jean7brodie says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:18
What do you think they’re talking about in yon meetin?
……………………………….
It reminds me of the old Margaret Rutherford film..’murder at the Gallops’…where the family all attend a hearing of the will…
I would imagine there will be a list of who gets what…
Lawyer:…’Alistair Murdoch McCoist…the seats in the dugout’…
There appears to be a sizeable appetite over on RM for the return of Mr Charles Green.
The general feeling (with a minority of dissenting voices) is that he’s the best thing to have happened to Rangers in many years, and they need him to return soon – with carte blanche to fire whoever he wants as soon as he walks in the door.
(They actually sound very much like the followers of an ancient apocalyptic prophet who also turned out to be a bit of a fraud.)
angus1983 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:48
……………………………..
‘He’s not the messiah…he’s a very naughty boy…now go away’
angus1983 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:48
I think you’ve just given Phil Mac the title of his next book
“From Moonbeams to Moonies:”
angus1983 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:48
There appears to be a sizeable appetite over on RM for the return of Mr Charles Green.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
hehe – how many alaii do you think Imran and Charlie have between them? I’m going to guess about 20 each.
angus1983 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:48
2 0 Rate This
There appears to be a sizeable appetite over on RM for the return of Mr Charles Green.
The general feeling (with a minority of dissenting voices) is that he’s the best thing to have happened to Rangers in many years, and they need him to return soon – with carte blanche to fire whoever he wants as soon as he walks in the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That is a desperately desperate level of desperation. I guess they’ve run out of straws.
jean7brodie says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:18
4
1
Rate This
What do you think they’re talking about in yon meetin?
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I wonder if its just coincidence that the stock market is closed on the day they chose to have the meeting, maybe shares suspended tomorrow before the market opens?
Maybe nothing but imo, everything in this fiasco has had a pre determined reason
bogsdollox says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:27
……………..
Blue Ribands…themwhere the days…
Reminds me a my father who used to get really upset when the club biscuits (a luxury in our hoose in the 70’s) would tell my maw to buy club biscuits with the raisins in….cos he knew me and my sister hated anything with dead flies in it?
Lord Wobbly says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 15:00
angus1983 says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:48
There appears to be a sizeable appetite over on RM for the return of Mr Charles Green.
The general feeling (with a minority of dissenting voices) is that he’s the best thing to have happened to Rangers in many years, and they need him to return soon – with carte blanche to fire whoever he wants as soon as he walks in the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That is a desperately desperate level of desperation. I guess they’ve run out of straws.
………………………………………….
Won’t be long before the gold fish memory takes effect and Craig Whyte is being hailed for a return…cos…’it was awe they anti Rangers/SEVCO haters lying about the secret billionaire’
Lord Wobbly says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 15
That is a desperately desperate level of desperation.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
That one sentence just about sums up the football authorities response and actions this last year or so.
DESPERATION,,
Desperation is the emotional state of despair in which a person feels a situation to be hopeless and without satisfactory options.
Decisions made in desperation may be more rash, impulsive, and inappropriate than those made in a rational frame of mind.
bogsdollox says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:59
A good question, especially since this latest thread on RM, was started by someone claiming to be “In the Know” as it were, that the report was in the hands of the execs and cleared Mr Green et al!
spanishcelt says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 15:01
2 0 Rate This
jean7brodie says:
Monday, May 6, 2013 at 14:18
What do you think they’re talking about in yon meetin?
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I wonder if its just coincidence that the stock market is closed on the day they chose to have the meeting, maybe shares suspended tomorrow before the market opens?
Maybe nothing but imo, everything in this fiasco has had a pre determined reason.
………………………………………………
You can visualise today’s board meeting…
‘right…first up on the agenda today…concidences…how many do we have planned for tomorrow…Mr. Traynor?…Mr. Traynor?….where is bawheid?…anybody seen that clueless today?’