As we all know, this site emerged from the ashes of RTC. The wish of the original administrator of the site, one which I wholeheartedly share, was to keep together the wonderful community RTC had built, in terms of both personnel and spirit. There are still many individuals around who were also part of RTC, and regrettably many who are no longer with us. The RTC spirit however, that of a cross-party football site where issues can be discussed in a respectful and insightful manner remains. The “wisdom of the crowd” phenomenon is also with us to perhaps an even greater extent than before, and consequently SFM’s credentials as a formidable alternative to the print media have grown.
In recent times, many contributors have expressed frustration that we are pretty much a talking shop and little else; characterised as “a lot of gum bashing and no teeth”. I think that is fair comment up to a point, but then again our aim – up to now – has been to simply present an alternative view – a view that has increasingly become the fan view as opposed to the industry view (the industry being made up of club officials, players, and press).
In fact the way I see it personally, SFM has evolved to a point where it has become the watchdog (monitor if you will) of an industry which is subject to very little oversight. The Rangers situation will eventually be done with (no laughing at the back please), and like everything else will be consigned to history (albeit more than one). The same self-interest and lack of regard for sporting integrity though will still remain, and the need for oversight will remain also.
Having arrived at those conclusions, we have two alternatives; the first is to remain as we are (which is not a bad place to be), and the second is that SFM has to expand its role.
In recent weeks, the mods have met to discuss this, and we think that we ought to give the latter option a try. As to how we want to achieve that, and we have come up with a skeleton plan as follows;
1. We need to move into the area of gathering news content as well as commenting on what appears elsewhere;
2. We should act as a cross-club portal to get good fan site content from all clubs to a wider audience;
3. We need to highlight the positives in the game as well as the negatives;
4. We should become an actively campaigning body, aligning with fan groups to lobby for the changes we think important.
In order to achieve these objectives, more time will need to be spent on communication like podcasts, adding news content, expanding membership and building links with other fan groups. Time will also need to be spent setting up features, attending press conferences etc. Later in the year, one of the mods will have much more time on his hands to help achieve this.
Podcasts, premium content, labour, organisation and all of the above costs money, and ultimately a subscription based model backed by sponsorship seems to be our best way of achieving that. In order to give us a head start, we will in the next few months be putting together a business-plan and a pitch for Crowd Funding investment.
This is not to say that our existing model has been a failure. We have successfully managed to keep ourselves afloat through the ad-hoc generosity of people in our community, although the inability to keep the podcasts going has been a bit frustrating. Finding income streams which are more solid will allow us to respond to events more quickly (for example mounting an ad campaign to respond to some event or other, or buying new equipment), and hopefully achieve all of our objectives – and build a bigger audience base for our message.
Of course a move of this nature will require that, in the interests of transparency, anonymity of SFM will have to be set aside. That will not affect any of our contributors, and our practice of using (sometimes) imaginative names on the blog will remain. However, for crowd funding to be successful, we will require to have a board in place, and there is no hiding place from Companies House. The make up of the board is also crucial, and in addition to consideration of blog members for that role, we will be looking to have respected people from without.
I imagine there may be a consequent subtle effect on moderation policy to take into account.
The reason I have made this post is to keep the community up to speed with events. Although we have decided to move forward to see if we can get support for our business plan, that plan is by no means finished. As I said earlier, the “wisdom of crowds” has made our community unique and given it its credibility. There’s a lot more wisdom out there we hope to tap into before we go ahead with our initiative.
We already had someone in mind for chairman of the new board, but events have conspired tragically to rob us of that – and had the effect of postponing this announcement. However we would like to hear suggestions for suitable outside candidates for board and committee places.
We also want to hear from you if you have a suggestion to be added to our wish list of SFM function above – or even if you think it is a mistake to embark on this course.
This is a very big move for SFM, so we don’t want to rush into anything. We need to listen to what you folks have to say, because if the merging SFM is not considered a better SFM by our community there is very little point in looking to fund it.
Dear boy, it’s the same persons that usually pay any tax related to this debacle – you, me & the rest of the tax-payers in the country.
Auldheid says:
Blog Writer: (420 comments)
May 14, 2015 at 8:10 pm
Ally Jambo
I have no trust in either Regan or Doncaster.
I’ve read how Regan operates on half truths.I don’t mean read about I mean Ive read what he has said in letters.
I’m not talking token FFP I’m talking domestic version of UEFA FFP with a Club Financial Control Board in charge as UEFA have.
It’s not rocket science and it is in the interest of every club to introduce it to protect themselves from financial fools like DK and SDM.
According to my questions to Celtic it is on its way, but the very fact it has not been introduced already tells me that it’s introduction would make the appointment of DK impossible given his views on what basis TRFC need to operate.
========================================================
Auldheid, I’m not clear as to why the introduction of FFP would hinder the appointment of DK.
My understanding of FFP is that it would limit borrowing to a proportion of turnover (over a defined period).
Taking DK and T3B at their word ( 😛 😛 😛 ) their intending to use a mix of equity funding and DK’s kids inheritance to return them to their ‘rightful place’.
And I doubt very much that anyone will be rushing to advance any loans to RIFC as there’s plenty of evidence that even relatively small amounts of loan capital are unavailable to them, except with Wonga type interest attached.
There are of course other clubs burdened with debt (mine included) and many more struggling to break even year on year. It may well be that resistance to FFP is coming from multiple sources?
barca @ 11.19…… brilliant…… would add ogilvie to that equally brilliant moody blues 1965 track of GO NOW……
DCK or his spittlelicker must read this site to give that a TD………
On the subject of DK Keith Jackson’s latest ‘exclusive’ has hit the newsstands.
The SARS document features again along with the following…
“Rangers had hoped to have an answer by now but King’s lawyers have been asked to provide the SFA with documents and mitigation, explaining why their client stayed on Craig Whyte’s board as the club was plunging towards administration and liquidation.”
I know that the administrators of Scottish Football are a pretty incompetent bunch but are we really expected to believe that they’ve only just got round to asking DK to explain his presence on the Craig Whyte board?
And you’d think that they’d have asked about mitigation in regard of his tax…difficulties…from word go.
This article would make you wonder if they’d actually asked him anything at all.
They’re useless but not, I think, that useless…
Sorry Keith, must try harder, E minus.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-dave-king-verge-discovering-5700422?
Busy morning, news wise.
You’d think, in the current political climate and with the corporation needing all the friends it can get (given the antipathy displayed by many in the government) that the BBC would at least pretend some sympathy to demands for a fairer deal for Scottish Football, TV rights wise….
You’d be wrong…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3082609/Scottish-football-doesn-t-deserve-cash-insists-BBC-supremo-Barbara-Slater.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
StevieBC at 4:47pm
…. (coughs… 3rd party payments…..) I wonder if Dave Kings mum shelled out for the lovely Georgian boy…….
parttimearab says:
Member: (328 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 8:56 am
King and his mates have known for a long time that he was going to have to face a Fit and Proper Person investigation if he wanted to take his place in the Blue Room. He is, reportedly (and I don’t doubt it), a very wealthy man, so should have had no problem financing the gathering of such evidence long before lodging his application with the SFA.
Of course, he has previous for this kind of short-sightedness! He knew long before his success at the EGM that big money was needed immediately, and that he was the one making the big noise about it all being available, though he was, and still is, unclear about where that money was coming from. TRFC still await this money, in a similar way that the SFA, allegedly, await this ‘evidence’.
All along, King has assured everyone that there would be no problem in passing any FPP test; well that certainly appears to have been an exaggeration, at best! Unless, of course, the ‘problem’, for him, would come about if he passed!
If this ‘delayed’ evidence is awaited from SARS, why would anyone convicted of huge tax evasion, who caused the authorities years of lengthy and expensive investigation and trials, expect a more timeous response to his request for ‘evidence’ than he afforded them?
Dave King seems to buy into ‘Rangersness’ more than most. I think he also sees himself as ‘important’ in both Scotland and SA. I think he fully expected to be able to bluster his way through any SFA investigation and so hasn’t bothered to make an early start to his evidence gathering, so confident was he that his RRM status would suffice. He probably believed that he would only be required to give his word (I know, incredible) and wouldn’t be expected to provide any documentary evidence, you know, the kind the SA judge said he shouldn’t be believed without!
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if, initially at least, King produced a statement of his own version of ‘facts’ expecting the SFA to mull it over then rubber stamp his application. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this awaited evidence doesn’t actually exist, something that often causes long delays!
Doesn’t, of course, mean King won’t be passed as FPP by the SFA, just makes justifying it more difficult!
We must remember, too, that King has previous – with SARS and the SA courts – of prevarication and delays…and non-production of documentary evidence.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (903 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 10:38 am
We must remember, too, that King has previous – with SARS and the SA courts – of prevarication and delays…and non-production of documentary evidence.
======================================================
AJ, Maybe they delay is because some water from a leaky cludgie has gotten into his printer. 😆
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/sars-responds-to-dave-king
Corrupt official says:
Member: (43 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 10:56 am
AJ, Maybe they delay is because some water from a leaky cludgie has gotten into his printer. ?
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/sars-responds-to-dave-king
_________________________
Thanks for that link, CO, quite eye-opening.
The following made me go WOW! and should be compulsory reading for all members of the SFA and any bears who aren’t convinced Dave King shouldn’t be trusted!
“• In July this year, King, through his counsel, told the Pretoria High Court, that he had reached a settlement agreement with SARS. He refused to provide such proof to the court or to SARS. The document which was eventually presented to SARS is a false document. Investigations revealed that it was produced by fraudulent means. King admitted to signing the “fraudulent document”. SARS proceeded to lay criminal charges with SAPS. SARS reiterates that there has never been a settlement agreement with King.”
For anyone who thinks Dave King deserves a quick response from SARS (if he is indeed hoping for one), this is from a statement by SARS issued in 2008! Another 5 years or so before King’s delaying tactics allowed a verdict and sentence! He clearly got off lightly!
It’s a mistake to underestimate King. His inaction and partial truths may make easy humour but people don’t become multi, multi millionaires without some strong traits of intelligence, strategy, insight, determination etc. That isn’t to say they don’t sometimes overreach their abilities and resources. Still, King is no mug.
King is as much a Messiah to the SFA as he is to the Govan fans. They think (hope beyond hope) he can make this whole horrid mess go away and restore the old order. There is sufficient latitude in the SFA rules that they could have approved King F&P on the afternoon of his convictions (x 41). What we are seeing is choreography – timing, positioning, manoeuvring, drawing the eye to where it needs to be. The delay now is that somehow they (King & SFA) must factor Ashley into their very clever, cunning plan. The Shirebrook talks seem to have killed any idea that King and Ashley will be allies – hardly surprising. Ashley doesn’t need them and Ashley probebly neither respects them nor likes them. The desired narrative of King being approved to invest (sic) after rigorous investigation (think LNS & Pinsent Masons) just as The Rangers are promoted just as STs go on sale will be somewhat spoiled as the big bloke charges in from stage left threatening to put the whole lot into admin – rendering STs worthless – unless King immediately slaps north of £10mil on the table. Something King shows no inclination to do. The show isn’t over until the fat bloke dances. And this show is far, far, far from over.
I read this courtesy of Lee J Hooker on twitter. I don’t know whether the site can be trusted, is it a spoof? But if it’s a genuine TRFC supporters’ site, I can’t understand why any Rangers/TRFC supporter would produce this if he isn’t convinced it’s true.
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/explosive-email-may-reveal-hidden-motives-for-recent-coup/
If what’s said is true, the delay in pushing through DK’s fit and proper lie might well be down to this. Who would want to be a part of a board facing any possible charges over this?
“In addition to Ashley’s no-nonsense letter, the RSL has seen an email communication from a prominent RIFC shareholder sent to the Financial Conduct Authority complaining of Market Abuse and Market Manipulation carried out by requisitioners prior to the EGM in March.
The email contains detailed information highlighting activities driving down the share price. The writer also alleges that he was approached to be part of what he calls the “cabal” which in his opinion has been severely injurious to Rangers as a business and a football club – an offer he firmly declined.”
That site has been posted up here before, I think McMurdo jnr has something to do with it.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (905 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:28 am
I read this courtesy of Lee J Hooker on twitter. I don’t know whether the site can be trusted, is it a spoof?
====================================================
Essentially it’s McMurdo and some like minded bears.
I wouldn’t want to dismiss it out of hand but there’s a definite agenda and a strong suspicion that the agenda is driven by Jack.
Treat with caution and see if anything comes of it IMO.
Parttimearab
Everything the BBC says in the article is completely valid. Why would broadcasters shell out more for Scottish Football.
The viewing numbers for Scottish Football is a fraction of the EPL. So what will Scottish Football do to make the game attractive to broadcasters?
More importantly, in not so many years Broadcast deals will be irrelevant because Sporting bodies will sell games directly to their customers, Netflix style.
Scottish football needs to get this right very quickly.
mcfc says:
Member: (1201 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:22 am
Dave King is undoubtedly an intelligent man, he is also a dishonest man. For anyone to make a fortune based solely on their intelligence, they must, indeed, be very intelligent. The level of intelligence required is reduced, though, when someone is prepared to utilise their ability to lie, and have a talent to sell ‘investment opportunities’ to the gullible.
I’m not suggesting that King has broken any laws in his business life, but I do find it hard to believe he built his fortune solely through being intelligent, for anyone prepared to lie in court to the level King has, and to use fraudulent documents to mislead the court, will inevitably do the same when dealing with those less able to see through him.
Honesty aside, though, I gather King is an ‘expert’ in the field of investment, and encouraging people to invest in his projects. He is not such an expert, though, in running a business where there’s more to sell than investment opportunities. Mike Ashley, on the other hand, has built his fortune building an empire. An empire made up of retail businesses, and, as far as we’re aware, though thoroughly unscrupulous, he’s done it honestly and above board.
Mike Ashley, though, is aware of his limitations. He knows there are things he doesn’t know. That is why he surrounds himself with people who do know the answers to whatever problems he might encounter. The intelligence of MASH is a collective intelligence.
Dave King, on the other hand, appears to be a bit of a lone wolf. He no doubt uses lawyers and advisers for much of his work, but even his tax evasion seemed a bit off the wall, as though he, himself, is prone to underestimate the intelligence of others, in this case SARS. His use of lawyers – other peoples intelligence – seems to be in response to problems rather than to avoid the problems in the first place. He trusts his own judgement, which is fine when operating in his own environment, but running a football club is a whole new environment for him. Even Mike Ashley, with his massive retail expertise, discovered that when he bought Newcastle, and he wasn’t looking to turn them into world beaters!
If King genuinely believes he can take TRFC to the level he boastfully suggests he can, then his ‘intelligence’ must be called into question.
I think intelligence can be confused with knowledge. Knowledge can often be more useful than intelligence, especially when it comes to making money. The problem with knowledge, though, is that it is usually limited to an area of expertise, and doesn’t cross into other areas.
Gabby says:
Member: (30 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:48 am
Parttimearab
Everything the BBC says in the article is completely valid. Why would broadcasters shell out more for Scottish Football.
===========
I’m sanguine regarding the fact that EPL is worth more rights wise.
I do think however that they might see their way clear to paying more for Scottish football than they pay for Gary Lineker’s services.
Public service broadcaster?
Gabby says:
Member: (30 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:48 am
=======================================
Absolutely right. Donk and Co have now had the position/value of Scottish football explained to them objectively and without malice by the head of successful global sports business (Hearn) and by the head of a global sports broadcaster (Slater).
Don’t Donk and Co get it. Someone you want to negotiate with is explaining your industry to you in public as if you are Tim Nice But Dim. And she is saying reasonable things most people have worked out for themselves – that you haven’t.
Here’s something else most people of have worked out for themselves that you haven’t. Time to go Donk!
Allyjambo says:
Member: (906 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 12:32 pm
=========================================
I think we see the man in a very similar light. It’s King’s poor inter-personal skills that put him at such a disadvantage to Ashley. If you can trust your advvisors (lawyers, accountants etc) who know more than you and consult them frequently, and they are willing to tell you things you don’t want to hear – without fear of recrimination – you can push the boundaries without breaking rules/laws to maximise growth and profit
Single minded, self belief is not always a good thing. How much time and effort has King wasted with SARS? How many lawyers has he got through? What did he win? What was there to win? What else could he have been doing with his time and effort?
Net result, Ashley has far more money and a far more powerful organization behind him than King. This is not a balanced contest.
Parttimearab,
Clearly, unfortunately, they feel they get more value from Lineker than Scottish football. This says more about the state of Scottish Football than Lineker.
parttimearab says:
Member: (330 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:36 am
Allyjambo says:
Member: (905 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:28 am
I read this courtesy of Lee J Hooker on twitter. I don’t know whether the site can be trusted, is it a spoof?
====================================================
Essentially it’s McMurdo and some like minded bears.
I wouldn’t want to dismiss it out of hand but there’s a definite agenda and a strong suspicion that the agenda is driven by Jack.
Treat with caution and see if anything comes of it IMO.
_______________________
Cheers pta.
I do find it strange that any Rangers/TRFC supporters should be prepared to publish these, and other, destabilising claims, though, if they aren’t true. I could understand a Celtic supporter, or even Hearts supporter 😉 , doing it as a wind up, or even to destabilise TRFC, but I fail to see how something, so easily denied, could help anyone with genuine feelings for the club, even if they do want rid of King and co.
The story, itself, might well be genuine, that some shareholder has sent the email, but it could already have been rejected by the authorities; but either way, complete nonsense or rejected complaint, why don’t the board just completely debunk it, making their ‘enemies within’ less potent and believable?
This infighting, it’s just incredible. You would imagine they are all aiming for the same result, the saving of the club and a successful future. I can understand why there is differing opinions of who should lead them to safety and success, but why be prepared to create what could be lasting, even fatal, problems for the current board, as, should McMurdo’s side lose the battle, their actions could then lead to the end of TRFC?
I can’t help feeling there’s more boycotts and destabilisation ploys and protests to come, regardless of how the FPP enquiry goes!
I can only think, that for this ‘revelation’ to have a viable purpose, it’s to:
a) Make the SFA aware that there’s more trouble involving King on it’s way, so maybe put a hold on deciding he is FPP, or
b) Make it easier for a rejection of the FPP to be accepted by the core TRFC support, or
c) Let King know that there’s good reason to stay off the board, just in case those now stuck on the board haven’t advised him (in case it frightens him away), and to encourage him to continue with his MO of not following through with his promises.
mcfc says:
Member: (1203 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 12:58 pm
The thing is, and I doubt many bears have given it thought, King could still lose, and Ashley could walk away! And will have to should Newcastle be relegated!
It’s that sort of possible end result that makes the vehemence of the infighting so…well, enjoyable 😉
Allyjambo says:
Member: (908 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 12:32 pm
mcfc says:
Member: (1201 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:22 am
Dave King is undoubtedly an intelligent man, he is also a dishonest man. For anyone to make a fortune based solely on their intelligence, they must, indeed, be very intelligent. The level of intelligence required is reduced, though, when someone is prepared to utilise their ability to lie, and have a talent to sell ‘investment opportunities’ to the gullible.
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It’s very difficult to find details on the internet anymore for ‘some reason’ but I seem to remember that he made his first fortune in one of these instances where the share price of a company increases a hundredfold in a matter of weeks due to ‘leaked’ information, then he quickly dumped all his shares and watched the rest of the investors crash and burn.
All legal but not something the average person would want to live with I’d say, or even want to do in the first place.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (908 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 1:31 pm
The thing is, and I doubt many bears have given it thought, King could still lose, and Ashley could walk away! And will have to should Newcastle be relegated!
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King’s chances of ultimate success seem very slim to me – especially now Ashley is agaisnt him. King’s failure as Messiah over the next few months would destroy his RRM credentials for ever.
But Ashley could ride the total collapse of RIFC; financially, emotionally, reputationally. He’d just put the assets he owns into cold storage until eventually an RRM consortium asks politely to rent them.
Advantage Ashley.
gogs @1:44pm
It was Specialist Outsourcing. Follow the link for further info.
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/archive/dave-king-and-i/
I think that there is a misconception amongst many bears that they have a choice to make, King or Ashley, moonbeams or austerity!
Their big problem isn’t what choice to make, but rather that they have no choice, no say in the matter. King either has the money, in which case he will ‘win’ (if that’s what he wants), or, if he doesn’t, Ashley might, just might, step in and steady the ship.
There is more than one other possible outcome…not all as joyful as austerity!
Allyjambo says:
Member: (909 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 2:37 pm
I think that there is a misconception amongst many bears that they have a choice to make, King or Ashley, moonbeams or austerity!
=================================================================
Some of the fan comments about “just pay Ashley his £5mil and get rid of him for good” suggest a laughable lack of understanding about what is going on here. Almost any outcome will be a shocking surprise for anyone thinking that is all King needs to do 🙂
I particularly love the way fans don’t seem to think that “millions” are real money. £5mil is five crisp twenty pound notes on each and every seat of Ibrox.
mcfc says:
Member: (1205 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 2:51 pm
£5mil is five crisp twenty pound notes on each and every seat of Ibrox.
________________________________________________________________________
Aaaahhhh! But are they covered in asbestos dust ❓ 😯
Corrupt official says:
Member: (43 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 10:56 am
Allyjambo says:
Member: (903 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 10:38 am
We must remember, too, that King has previous – with SARS and the SA courts – of prevarication and delays…and non-production of documentary evidence.
======================================================
AJ, Maybe they delay is because some water from a leaky cludgie has gotten into his printer. ?
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/sars-responds-to-dave-king
===%%%======
Funnily enough making fraudulent statements and keeping documents hidden from authority is not confined to DK and SAR’S.
It is very evident and I mean evident behaviour at RFC during DK’S time as a Director.
Apart from the well known concealment of side letters in the BTC, there is the concealment of documents from HMRC in 2005 and apparently from SFA in 2011 (as weĺl as a fraudulent statement being made about the status of the wtc bill)and from SPL lawyers in 2012.
If I were opposing DK’S appointment on ethical grounds I would be using this evidence to make the point DK is the last man who should be allowed a place in Scottish football.
The SFA, SPFL and smsm are of course not very keen to look at the evidence or ask questions based on it.
DK might not necessarily have been the instrument of concealment, whoever kept the paperwork would know who that was, but he was a member of the RFC Board for whom a policy of concealment from authority is now a matter of record.
I am at a loss to understand why anyone with the good of TRFC at heart as well as our game could even contemplate allowing DK any role. However football is very shortsighted and many in it or who report on it are disdainful of ethics.
Afternoon all.
Seems Ralph Topping has decided to hit out:
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/aberdeen/1320604-spfl-chairman-days-of-bbc-selling-scottish-football-short-are-over/
On another note,TRFC fans unhappy that someone has changed the name of their training ground on Google Maps to “Ashley Park”.
mcfc says:
May 15, 2015 at 2:51 pm
I particularly love the way fans don’t seem to think that “millions” are real money.
£5mil is five crisp twenty pound notes on each and every seat of Ibrox.
===========================
For most Ibrox fans, millions aren’t real money. For those few Ibrox fans for whom millions are real money, well they didn’t get there by chucking it away. Which is really the root of the problem. To Ashley, £5m may be small change, but he didn’t get where he is today by being taken for a mug for that sort of money. Which is why he has “Rangers” tied up like a kipper.
Whether £5m is currently small change to the King across the water is another matter altogether. But let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that currently he has plenty of spare and usable cash.
I look at it very simply. If it was me, and I was a billionaire, and I loved my boyhood club so dearly, I would pay Ashley off, take over his ample securities, and go on from there. The securities held by Ashley are well in excess of the £5m loan. So, as a Real Rangers Man, what do I have to lose?
And so I must come to this conclusion- it really just can’t be that simple. There is much, much more to this than meets the eye, or Ashley would have been paid off weeks ago. In my opinion.
SPFL calling out the BBC?
https://twitter.com/ScotMailSport/status/599190571358560257
And not before time.
Fit and Proper?
King has lied to the press, to the courts and to the judiciary. He has fabricated evidence. He has submitted fraudulent documents. He has avoided paying taxes over many years. He paid a large amount of money to avoid substantial jail time.
His comments to the Scottish press confirm that he viewed the above as no big deal. He organised a boycott of the club he purports to love to starve it of funds. He paid for shares at a price much reduced in part because of said boycott. He claimed he would invest tens of millions in the club. He claimed he did not need to be a shareholder to do so.
Rangers are ejected from the stock exchange because nominated advisors do not want to deal with him. He has given no money to the club he claims needs his funds.
The SFA are awaiting evidence. I sincerely hope it is a batch of court papers detailing the lies and evasion of King. He is duplicitous, shameless, brazen, insincere and a liar. We cannot believe a word he says. We cannot trust any documentary evidence produced.
He will be passed Fit and Proper.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
Member: (139 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Why couldn’t Ms Slater just tell the truth, that the BBC doesn’t give a toss about Scottish football, Scotland or the Scots people?
One question I’d like to hear asked of, and answered by, Ms Slater is; why, if the Premiership itself is such a big draw for a television audience, does the BBC have to pay so much for it’s highlights presenter? Surely the highlights alone would command the audience the program apparently has! I personally lose interest between the matches shown, which aren’t all particularly rivetting either, so, on me, at least, whatever is spent on Messrs Lineker and co is completely wasted.
blu says:
Member: (164 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 2:13 pm
gogs @1:44pm
It was Specialist Outsourcing. Follow the link for further info.
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/archive/dave-king-and-i/
================================================================
Some interesting info there but also a bit of whitewashing of the old pal going on: for instance no reference to lying and refusing to hand over documents or fact that he was actually found guilty on 41 accounts.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
Member: (139 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Afternoon all.
Seems Ralph Topping has decided to hit out:
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/aberdeen/1320604-spfl-chairman-days-of-bbc-selling-scottish-football-short-are-over/
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I don’t quite get this…
The other day we had the SPFL CEO talking up [!] the Scottish game, and confirming to everybody that he and his team were doing a good job for the clubs.
Today we have the SPFL Chairman basically saying “we signed up to a dreadfully poor contract with the BBC, and even ‘big ears’ himself gets paid twice as much” !
That doesn’t sound like a vote of confidence for Doncaster and his team.
What you could deduce is that Lineker, [or his agent more probably], knows how to negotiate.
…and the SPFL doesn’t have a scooby.
Topping should fall on his sword for overseeing this publicly admitted incompetence – or Doncaster.
It’s not the BBC’s fault it got the SPFL TV rights ‘cheap’. 🙄
From Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport-
“The truth is, the Premier League is a global brand. It is loved by audiences and we think it’s incredibly important that Match of the Day, as the highlights broadcaster of Premier League football, is an incredibly important programme for us to invest in.”
As a contributor to the BBC’s coffers, I truly resent paying this person a mega salary (no doubt) to use the already vastly overused and misused word “incredibly” twice in the same sentence. A quality broadcaster? Employing functional illiterates? Really?
Grumpy old man, off topic, I know, I know.
Auldheid says:
Blog Writer: (422 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:28 pm
SPFL calling out the BBC?
https://twitter.com/ScotMailSport/status/599190571358560257
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Thing is the BBC is not a commercial organisation: all their arguments re the shortfall for Scottish Football fall short (eh?) on that point. If STV was involved you could really have no argument. There’s no doubt that even with a fair share Scottish Football will be miles behind English football but they should still get that fair share.
vansen says:
Member: (15 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:32 pm
I wonder if the ‘evidence’ the SFA is waiting for is a statement from SARS that King can move money from SA and/or other countries without breaching his get out of jail free arrangement! There was, I am sure, something to the contrary stating he must move all his finances in the opposite direction!
As the only thing he offers TRFC (and some might claim Scottish football) is his supposed millions, it could be a pointless exercise passing a known criminal as fit and proper if his money can’t, legitimately, come flooding in!
So nobody here will be surprised if/when King is officially declared F&P by the SFA.
But to put this into perspective: with his 41 criminal convictions for tax evasion, he would be unable to secure an entry level position at a bank, or probably any financial institution in the UK.
He probably would also be unable to secure any other position which involved handling cash or making financial decisions.
But despite that, in its wisdom the SFA will decide that he is fit & proper to be a director of their perceived ‘most important’ football club in Scotland.
I still think the SFA will try to weasel its way out of the expectant barrage of criticism by adding a worthless caveat, e.g. that King will be on a ‘probationary period’ or has been passed ‘temporarily’ to make sure he is a good boy.
So the sun reported that rangers,presumably sevco rangers not rfc2012, were successful in their appeal to the spfl re the award made to Neil alexander and his unpaid contractual payments.
What the report omits is any report on how the spfl came to their decision, what was sevcos defence … We don’t owe him the money as his contract was with another club?
StevieBC says:
Member: (661 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:50 pm
King will be fine at T’Rangers then, as the cash flies out the door quicker than it comes in. He won’t even get a sniff at it 🙂
Hot Cakes or Smelly Socks
Which are you selling? That’s how I was introduced to marketing by a wise old guy many years ago who could make string theory sound like common sense and fun at the same time.
Hot Cakes = something everybody wants to buy and is happy to pay for time and time again – no questions
Smelly Socks – there is a market – but it is small, steady and somewhat specialized.
An example, during the Iraq war a family member in the Royal Navy was posted to the 100 yards of Iraqi coast to train the Iraqi Navy. But they weren’t interested – all they wanted to do was talk about football: Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Middlesborough. MIDDLESBOROUGH !!!
Yes, Middleborough because they were in the EPL and they were in Europe, briefly. The Iraqis could name every player, the manager, discuss results, tactics, and chances in coming games. Yes Middleborough, they were on TV around the world. In the Iraqi Navy’s mind, Middleborough were right up there with Madrid and Milan. Hot cakes.
Now ask any BBC viewer outside Scotland to name three clubs in the SPFL Premiership – except Celtic (and Rangers) and you will see how much interest there is in Scottish football from over 90% of the UK population. In global terms Scottish football attracts a small, steady and somewhat specialized audience.
That is not a criticism. It is simply a fact. A fact that should be the foundation of the SFA/SPFL’s determination to make Iraqi sailors think Motherwell are up there with Madrid and Milan. Hearn explained it to them in detail but they didn’t understand.
neepheid says:
Member: (572 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:43 pm
From Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport-
“The truth is, the Premier League is a global brand. It is loved by audiences and we think it’s incredibly important that Match of the Day, as the highlights broadcaster of Premier League football, is an incredibly important programme for us to invest in.”
As a contributor to the BBC’s coffers, I truly resent paying this person a mega salary (no doubt) to use the already vastly overused and misused word “incredibly” twice in the same sentence. A quality broadcaster? Employing functional illiterates? Really?
Grumpy old man, off topic, I know, I know.
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I must confess to growing very weary of the BBC & it’s overall coverage of sport, which I find irredeemably smug, complacent & anglocentric. Clearly, the EPL is a behemoth that the SPFL cannot and should not attempt to compete with, but equally the Scottish game is very undervalued in my opinion, per head of licence fee payer.
I’m not going to get all political(thank God for that cry SFM readers) but unless we start creatively marketing & advertising ourselves & our game, then nothing will ever change and we’ll continue to be treated as second class citizens.
Cygnus X-1 says:
Member: (48 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 4:25 pm
I really don’t think it is an England/Scotland political issue. It’s an issue of a potentially great product, promoted (and undermined) by people so incompetent they could not get on The Apprentice to save their lives – let alone win it.
Good Afternoon
I must admit that for all I share Ralph Topping’s apparent frustration at the lack of money flowing into Scottish Football, I thought his foot-stamping comments this afternoon were ill-judged. Why oh why did the authorities sign up to contracts with the BBC if the offer was so poor and motivated by a ‘discriminatory’ outlook?
The SPFL might want to look a bit closer to home before taking such a public pop at the BBC. Here are a few thoughts to irritate you. Warning: includes The Incredible Hulk!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/05/15/dream-topping/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
My tuppence worth on the BBC. While there may well be a huge demand for EPL football there is no justifiable reason to pay MOTD presenters the money they do. People would still watch it without the current lot. If anyone can tell me a single positive contribution Mark Lawrenson makes I’d like to hear it.
Allyjambo says:
May 15, 2015 at 3:36 pm
One question I’d like to hear asked of, and answered by, Ms Slater is; why, if the Premiership itself is such a big draw for a television audience, does the BBC have to pay so much for it’s highlights presenter?…whatever is spent on Messrs Lineker and co is completely wasted
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For the last couple of years I’ve taken to taping Match of the Day, then watching it on the morning after it was transmitted. The ability to fast forward through the opening credits, the dimwitted puns and pseudo-analysis, adverts for other BBC programmes, and puffs for how wonderfully the FA are engaging with communities up and down England makes it a very worthwhile exercise in censorship. However much they pay Lineker, Shearer, Savage (for crying out loud) and the rest, the show is immeasurably improved by not hearing from them and cutting it down to a show about mere football highlights.
I could criticise the BBC News coverage and bias all night but I haven’t got the time.
upthehoops says:
Member: (691 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 5:21 pm
If anyone can tell me a single positive contribution Mark Lawrenson makes I’d like to hear it.
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Mark Lawrenson makes me feel knowledgable, interesing, enthusiastic, well dressed, healthy, optimistic, witty and vibrant. But I didn’t know they paid him!
mcfc says:
Member: (1207 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Barry Hearn might also have explained that snooker only became so very popular once it was exposed, by the BBC, to a large TV audience. A long time ago it became obvious to all who gave it thought that due to the superior presentation and commentary, English football was made to look much better, in comparison to Scottish football, even at a time when Celtic were winning the European Cup, and later when Rangers, Aberdeen and Dundee United were also winning regularly in Europe. That wasn’t down to the quality of those trying to promote Scottish football, it was down to the money the BBC were spending on the quality of THEIR product.
If the TV companies decided to spend a fraction of the money they spend on English football in the Scottish game, not only paying more for the games, but also on their own production quality, the game would look better to the TV audience and that audience would increase.
As an example of what I mean, Hearts, Hibs and TRFC matches have all looked better on TV this season when they have been at home, where the cameras are placed more effectively due to the clubs’ loftier positions in years gone by. There is still, though, a distinct lack of professionalism in the presentation, and the need to mention one, or both, Celtic and TRFC (Rangers) constantly, lowers the perceived standing of the other clubs, reinforcing the world view that Scottish football is just about those two clubs. To be fair, though, the rest of the media, and the governors of our game, do their bit to maintain that perception, too.
Basically, the dumbing down of Scottish football is not just down to the mugs that run our game, the TV and British media have a lot to do with it. The BBC must shoulder a lot more of the blame, though, for it is an important part of their remit to help develop all of British sport, not just to make money from that which is already successful!
Allyjambo says:
Member: (912 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 5:41 pm
mcfc says:
Member: (1207 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 4:22 pm
“Barry Hearn might also have explained that snooker only became so very popular once it was exposed, by the BBC, to a large TV audience.”
Sorry, should have added, ‘in a very slickly produced, constantly updated and improved, no expence spared, package’.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (912 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 5:41 pm
The BBC must shoulder a lot more of the blame, though, for it is an important part of their remit to help develop all of British sport, not just to make money from that which is already successful!
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I don’t believe the BBC has any responsibility to support badly run. for-profit commercial organisations like the SFA/SPFL that already receive government funding via other routes. The BBC has meagre funds and extensive restrictions to present a reasonable mix of sports to a diverse audience against commercial channels with advertising. loss-leader economics and no public service remit. If sports bodies want good TV deals they need to make a compelling offer to broadcasters in competition with other sports and create a bidding environment to maximise the price. IMHO the SFA/SPFL are negligent in doing this, in getting the clubs together to work as one for the betterment of the whole product. Petty, parochial, myopic, self-satisfied, incompetent, lazy would be my assessment before firing the lot of them.
“Mark Lawrenson, an ordinary man convinced by a witch’s curse that he is a bit of a joker,…”
http://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/28-TV-watch/1457-high-definition-punditry
I had a chuckle this morning at former Labour MP Brian Donohoe having a swipe at his former constituents, telling them to “F**k Off”. He was secretary of the Westminster Rangers Supporters Club, so that may explain his grammar. It brought to mind the long time serving US congressman who on losing his seat in Congress, made the famous statement= “The people have spoken, The bastards”
I’ve just read Topping’s comments and am genuinely astounded at the attitude. What a buffoon. Were you forced into the contract at gun point Mr Topping? Do you think Ms Slater will be persuaded by your irresistible charm Mr Topping? That the chairman of the SPFL is spouting the nonsensical equivalence guff encapsulates so much of what is wrong with Scottish football. Look no further for your problems than this moronic dinosaur and those who choose him to lead the sport you love. After that little outburst I’m sure Ms Slater is thinking she’ll have more to spend on more enthusiastic minority sports after next year.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/aberdeen/1320604-spfl-chairman-days-of-bbc-selling-scottish-football-short-are-over/
I am probably wrong here but is it beyond the realms of possibility that dave and the 3B’s didn’t know ibrox was a goner and the 2 direct debits were being paid – before they purchased shares they would have no official way of asking about the finances and now that they know the story the game is a bogey?
The SMSM are always getting it in the neck. (some from me)So a bit of credit from me to Gareth Law in todays sun newspaper.
Much of his(Neil Alexander) five year spell at ibrox was spent as back-up to regular No1 Allan McGregor. but he stayed on after the club was reformed after Liquidation and helped them to win the league two title in 2013.
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but he stayed on …..Ok he could have wrote TUPED OVER. But one step at a time….after the club was reformed after Liquidation
mcfc says:
Member: (1209 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Allyjambo says:
Member: (912 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 5:41 pm
The BBC must shoulder a lot more of the blame, though, for it is an important part of their remit to help develop all of British sport, not just to make money from that which is already successful!
================================
I don’t believe the BBC has any responsibility to support badly run. for-profit commercial organisations like the SFA/SPFL that already receive government funding via other routes. The BBC has meagre funds and extensive restrictions to present a reasonable mix of sports to a diverse audience against commercial channels with advertising. loss-leader economics and no public service remit. If sports bodies want good TV deals they need to make a compelling offer to broadcasters in competition with other sports and create a bidding environment to maximise the price. IMHO the SFA/SPFL are negligent in doing this, in getting the clubs together to work as one for the betterment of the whole product. Petty, parochial, myopic, self-satisfied, incompetent, lazy would be my assessment before firing the lot of them.
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I would probably agree with you if it wasn’t for the fact that we were discussing the deal made with the most lucrative football league in the world in comparison with one of the poorest. There is more to consider than whether or not a sport is professional and, supposedly, money making when the BBC is involved, there is the community aspect to be considered, as well as those who are paying their TV licence money. The Scottish League might well be run by the most incompetent individuals it is possible to imagine, but the English League can only afford those more competent governors due, in part, to the money, and exposure, the BBC has given it for many, many years.
Due to your very welcome involvement here you may well have become interested enough to watch Scottish matches on TV, but prior to that, how many highlights programs of Scottish games did you see on English TV? I’d hazard a guess at none. Exactly the same as I’ve seen on English television since coming here 8 years ago. I have to tune into Scottish terrestrial TV to watch all but those relatively few matches covered by Sky and BT.
What’s more, BBC are pumping huge amounts of money into the mega-rich EPL at the same time as it receives saturation coverage from the big commercial companies who pay even more ludicrous amounts of money for the priveledge.
The fact that Scottish football has to rely on these incompetent negotiators is no excuse for the BBC’s England centric approach to their coverage of all sport, and, as it is funded by the public from all parts of the UK, a token effort, at least, should be made to give an equitable share of it’s meagre resources, so meagre they can give ludicrous salaries to a bunch of pundits that surely aren’t needed (even if they were worth listening to) when the game they are showing is so irresistable!
ekt1m says:
May 15, 2015 at 6:29 pm
I had a chuckle this morning at former Labour MP Brian Donohoe having a swipe at his former constituents, telling them to “F**k Off”. He was secretary of the Westminster Rangers Supporters Club, so that may explain his grammar. It brought to mind the long time serving US congressman who on losing his seat in Congress, made the famous statement= “The people have spoken, The bastards”
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Actually, if Brian thought about it for a minute, it was his ex-constituents that told HIM to ‘foxtrot Oscar’ on 9th May.
View Comment
mcfc mcfc says:
Member: (1210 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Hot Cakes or Smelly Socks
Which are you selling? That’s how I was introduced to marketing by a wise old guy many years ago who could make string theory sound like common sense and fun at the same time.
Hot Cakes = something everybody wants to buy and is happy to pay for time and time again – no questions
Smelly Socks – there is a market – but it is small, steady and somewhat specialized.
An example, during the Iraq war a family member in the Royal Navy was posted to the 100 yards of Iraqi coast to train the Iraqi Navy. But they weren’t interested – all they wanted to do was talk about football: Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Middlesborough. MIDDLESBOROUGH !!!
Yes, Middleborough because they were in the EPL and they were in Europe, briefly. The Iraqis could name every player, the manager, discuss results, tactics, and chances in coming games. Yes Middleborough, they were on TV around the world. In the Iraqi Navy’s mind, Middleborough were right up there with Madrid and Milan. Hot cakes.
Now ask any BBC viewer outside Scotland to name three clubs in the SPFL Premiership – except Celtic (and Rangers) and you will see how much interest there is in Scottish football from over 90% of the UK population. In global terms Scottish football attracts a small, steady and somewhat specialized audience.
That is not a criticism. It is simply a fact. A fact that should be the foundation of the SFA/SPFL’s determination to make Iraqi sailors think Motherwell are up there with Madrid and Milan. Hearn explained it to them in detail but they didn’t understand.
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I thought the Iraqis very much interested in antiquities etc and should at least have known that Motherwell are the only team to have played the Brazil national team and emerged with a draw. (unfortunately a la today getting gubbed in the next one)From offishul history of the ‘well
oh and they beat Madrid too:
“During this successful season, plans were put in place to take part in a tour of Spain, and in the summer of 1927 Manager John ‘Sailor’ Hunter and 16 players set off on a trip that would see Motherwell rake in guaranteed earnings of £1,700. Under the supervision of director James Taggart, the squad played eight games, winning six, drawing one and losing one. Notable results from this trip included a 3-1 win over Real Madrid, a 2-2 draw with Barcelona, a 4-0 win against Celta Vigo and a 5-0 thrashing of Red Star Olympique on a scheduled stop-over in France on the way home.”
“At the end of the 1927/28 season and following the success of the previous tour of Spain, it was decided by the board that the team would go on a summer tour of South America. This trip saw games against 11 Argentinean and Brazilian teams, including the Brazilian national side (with whom they drew 1-1.) Only losing four games on the tour, the tour almost ended in disaster. With the final game against a Brazilian League Select (in which Motherwell suffered a 5-0 drubbing in front of 40,000 fans) overrunning, the players had to be taxied straight from the stadium in their football kit so they didn’t miss the boat home. Fortunately, they all made it!”
Scots rubbish at fitba.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
Member: (139 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 3:17 pm
On another note,TRFC fans unhappy that someone has changed the name of their training ground on Google Maps to “Ashley Park”.
screen Grab click on picture
Allyjambo says:
Member: (914 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 7:08 pm
I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. The BBC is not responsible for subsidizing SFA/SPFL incompetence. That Scottish football is on the BBC is probably proof of the public service remit. Leagues sell their rights to the highest bidder – so by definition Sky & BT Sport bid less than the BBC for the package. BBC execs would be fired and crucified for incompetence/corruption if they paid more than necessary.
The EPL and SPFL are products at the opposite ends of a spectrum. Any argument based on their equivalence is deeply flawed from the start – usually feeble whining from those who have failed the sport for so long.
As for the “we pay 10% of the licence fee” argument – that does Scotland no credit at all. Do the English get a rebate when The Open is in Scotland? Do the English get a rebate for the coverage of Murray at Wimbledon. What about the Six Nations, Scotland get the same coverage as England but we pay 90% of the licence fees? Where does it end?
The EPL is rich because it had and has professional administrators that have built a global brand – not the other way around.
The SPFL is poor because the clubs lack imagination and keep choosing the same moronic dinosaurs to represent them.
Pay Barry Hearn a million a year for consultancy, do exactly what he says and it will be the best investment you’ve ever made.
ianagain says:
Member: (461 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 8:15 pm
fantastic !!!
mcfc says:
Member: (1212 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 8:35 pm
ianagain says:
Member: (461 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 8:15 pm
fantastic !!!
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But unfortunately as I said Antiquarian.
But then again why should that kind of pioneering spirit not prevail? Even now.
Oh and I forgot they also scudded Santos on tour n the 50s/60s.
ianagainianagain says:
Member: (462 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 9:02 pm
But then again why should that kind of pioneering spirit not prevail? Even now.
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That’s a wonderful ambition – that’s what Topping and his mates should be saying – but we’ll wait a long time
mcfc says:
Member: (1212 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 8:32 pm
You are right, we will just have to agree to disagree, though the further examples you give are just nonsense. The Open is also shown when it is played at English courses, and, of course, payment for the event isn’t just made to Scottish golfers. Wimbledon, too, just happens to be in England, where, regardless of Anday Murray’s participation, TV money goes to the All England Club!
At no time did I argue that the SPFL is not responsible for it’s own failures, or that the BBC have a duty to compensate Scottish clubs due to their bad choice in governors, but those failures cannot be used to justify the BBC’s own profligacy when dealing with the EPL.
If they don’t have a duty towards the Scottish League, then they don’t have a duty to the EPL either, and yet they spend a huge proportion of their meager funds on it!
Sadly, very little of that £68m will remain within the UK.
A couple of things for you to consider.
You are happy to agree with us that the favouritism shown towards Rangers and TRFC, by the Scottish media, including the BBC, is wrong. They would undoubtedly justify it by citing the club’s wide appeal and audience drawing power and potential profit from sales abroad (or would have in the past). The Rangers supporters of the past, particularly during the Murray years, would have belittled the other clubs, saying as you do, that it is their own fault for having duds at the helm instead of David Murray. Just ask Celtic supporters of how their board was ridiculed back then. The Murray years are infamous for the way he used his power to suck money away from the other clubs.
Then, imagine if you will, the BBC decide that, as Manchester United are the biggest football club in the world, they should get a bigger cut of the pot as they, the BBC, make more money from sales of their games than all the rest put together. Regardless of the amount involved, the hubris of the United fans would, I imagine, be unbearable for everyone else, particularly City fans.
I’m sure you can remember how difficult it was to live in the shadow of your bigger (they certainly were on the world stage, if not within the City of Manchester) neighbour, and how difficult it was to get the right people to lead you from that shadow! As United got richer, they got stronger, and as they got stronger, you got weaker. Fortunately (and I do mean that as my family here are all City fans) you got a lucky break when the Arabs arrived. There are no such saviours on the horizon for Scottish football, we can only hope for a fair crack of the whip, at least from those with a duty to be impartial.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (915 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 10:20 pm
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Ally – on ipad and have sausage fingers so can’t address all your poiints. Open & Wimbledon are no more ridiculous that EPL / SPFL equivalence. motD gets 7 million viewrs over a weekend over all platforms – pretty good non-prime time value for money How many of those are in Scotland and how many watch SPFL coverage. Any match costs about the same to televise – to be spread over the audience – so low viewer matches are disproportionately expensive per viewer and so less valuable to the broadcaster. That reflects in the price they will pay – and they calculate it down to the penny. The 10% argument ignores these simple factors – it is emotional – not practical. Not understanding your customer in this way is really amateur. Slagging off your main customer in official statements is business suicide.
Excuse me going back a few hours.
Regarding the excellent observations by AJ and mcfc above on DK, the thread is hubris is it not?
DK appears to have spent most of his adult life making money from share dealings for which SARS eventually got him to court on a plea bargain that excluded fraud, bank fraud and racketeering amongst other charges. He glibly presented his testimony. Glibness is a characteristic of hubris and to be glib in a court facing 41 charges of tax evasion etc and a huge jail sentence is very glib indeed.
Fraud of all sorts comes easy to the hubristic, whose confidence easily impresses the gullible.
When he was on the board with SDM there must have been some tension between two hubristic individuals, with the stronger winning. Tail between legs and exit.
Hubris works until it meets steel or greater hubris. They puncture the balloon.
SDM, SARS and now Ashley?
Intelligence? Hubris is effective, but intelligence is not a characteristic; the individual is far too self centred to be able to exercise intelligence.
Fit and proper? Almost certainly, although the explanation is well worth waiting for.
For TRFC? Disaster. Another SDM without the scandalous financial support to inflate the balloon.
Hubristic individuals “ultimately” despise lesser mortals, which is everyone, especially those who worship them – and they don’t spend their own money on their behalf.
In relation to Ladbrokes sponsorship of the league. (I still cannot get over the irony of a betting company having the work “Broke” in their name)
Anyhoo. Below is a link to the National Rugby League in Oz outlining their A$30 million commercial deal with the Bookies. The reasoning here has always been that the bookies will always bet on games, the authorities may as well get a commercial gain from it.
On the up side, as part of the agreement, Bookies are required to inform the authorities if players are betting on matches.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-set-to-land-30-million-windfall-from-new-turnover-deal-with-betting-agencies-20150515-gh2naz.html
The_Pie_Man says:
Member: (35 comments)
May 13, 2015 at 11:59 am
I see from the latest offering from the BBC that Charles Green was involved in a Takeover of “Rangers” and not just buying the Assets of the Bankrupt Former Club.. Is this the New Lie to be peddled by the Media ?
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32753337
Buried in some irrelevant pish about S McC is the following:
“The Ibrox outfit were taken over by a consortium led by shareholder Dave King shortly before that.”
So it would appear to be the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeover seems to offer a slightly different interpretation of “takeover” than the licence fee funded state broadcaster.
mcfc says:
Member: (1214 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:01 pm
And there was me thinking BBC wasn’t about making profit 😉 , something akin to a public service broadcaster.
I have found that trying to find an Englishman with a knowledge of Scottish football is akin to looking for an American with a knowledge of where Scotland is, and this is down to the total lack of any television coverage of the Scottish game on terrestrial television here since football coverage first began. Not even when Scottish football was providing Britain with it’s first ever winner of the European Cup was Scottish League football featured south of the border. With over 50 million potential viewers blocked off is it any surprise that Scottish football doesn’t command a bigger audience?
Football is not the only sport the BBC has failed to give impartial coverage to. I well remember how, when becoming the first Briton to ever win a World Boxing title outside the UK, and then defend it successfully abroad twice, Kenny Buchanan got no more than a passing mention on the 9 o’clock news and no program was produced to display his amazing talent. I have not met one Englishman since moving here, even amongst those older than myself, who has even heard of him, or at least could remember hearing of him! Such is the power of television…to cause apathy amongst the population when major sporting events are not deemed worthy of the expense.
You have observed, yourself, how a lack of impartial media coverage can distort facts, and I wonder just how many of your friends and acquaintances are prepared to listen to you should you try to tell them about the ‘Rangers’ saga that has so obviously grabbed your interest? Do you think that level of disinterest would exist, though, if it had been covered on television here in England? I’ve long since given up trying, as I could seldom get past the bit where I have to explain it’s not just Celtic supporters stirring up trouble for Rangers.
You see, the problem for Scottish football is not just that the BBC are selling them short in what they are prepared to pay, it is the lack of quality coverage that has caused a great deal of harm for decades. Showcased in a well produced highlights program, with good quality camerawork and commentating, Scottish football would have a much greater audience than it does now. It is now too late to showcase Scottish football to a wider audience, as the decline has been too great, and no one is demanding the BBC pay the SPFL in proportion to the licence fee gathered from Scotland, just a fair payment for something they acknowledge their Scots licence payers want to watch. For the record, I never mentioned this 10% you keep referring to.
PS I have alot of sympathy with your difficulties typing on your ipad. Due to a sh*t form (is there any other) of arthritis my fingers all point in different directions and typing on this tablet thingy aint fun. 😥
Gabby says:
Member: (32 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:53 pm
In relation to Ladbrokes sponsorship of the league. (I still cannot get over the irony of a betting company having the work “Broke” in their name)
Anyhoo. Below is a link to the National Rugby League in Oz outlining their A$30 million commercial deal with the Bookies. The reasoning here has always been that the bookies will always bet on games, the authorities may as well get a commercial gain from it.
On the up side, as part of the agreement, Bookies are required to inform the authorities if players are betting on matches.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-set-to-land-30-million-windfall-from-new-turnover-deal-with-betting-agencies-20150515-gh2naz.html
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Why bother?
Alistair McCoist, gardener extraordinaire, has a huge list of miscreants that no doubt he would be able to pass on to the appropriate authorities if they were remotely interested in such things.
One would have thought that Mr Topping would have been the one to have taken delivery of the legnedary list given his employment CV, but alas no.
macfurgly says:
Member: (36 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:42 pm
A good description of hubris, and it’s effect on those who indulge in it in matters weightier than football banter. The way the MSM build him up won’t help King to keep a grip on his over-blown self belief either, and might well lead him into decisions he might be better off not making.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (917 comments)
May 16, 2015 at 12:58 am
macfurgly says:
Member: (36 comments)
May 15, 2015 at 11:42 pm
A good description of hubris, and it’s effect on those who indulge in it in matters weightier than football banter. The way the MSM build him up won’t help King to keep a grip on his over-blown self belief either, and might well lead him into decisions he might be better off not making.
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The “Rangers” entitlement mentality and associated hubris has allowed the likes of Ashley and Green to walk in and take the family silver in a manner that even Thatcher would have thought too brazen. Yet they seek to blame all and sundry elsewhere rather than look in the mirror.
It appears that you can fool all of “The People” all of the time.
How Sky and BT spend their money is their business.
How the BBC spends its money is our business.
If I don’t like how Sky and BT spend their money , I have a choice. I can stop contributing to their revenue.
If I don’t like how the BBC spends it’s money , I don’t have a choice. I am legally obliged to contribute to their revenue. The BBC , of whom I am generally a huge fan, have public accountability in a way that Sky and BT do not. That is why we have a right to question the BBC and in particular the condescending and frankly arrogant statements that came from Slater this week.
There are a number of things wrong with the BBC’s coverage of football in the UK.
Firstly , Slater makes the (false) assumption that Scottish licence payers are so desperate for EPL highlights that they are prepared to see their local product diminished and marganilised .
Secondly , If the BBC handled other subjects in a similar manner there would be an outcry. For Example if they allocated 59 hours a week to covering the national news and 1 hour a week to Local news does anyone really think that would be acceptable ?
Thirdly, Why does the decision of non UK countries to pay heavily for the EPL impact on the BBC. What relevance is it whether Qatar or Singapore or Norway want EPL highlights . Slater’s comments in this regard are quite frankly weak and illogical.
Fourthly, The BBC charter states the following
General duties
In exercising all its functions, the Trust must act in the public interest and, in particular, it must—
(a) represent the interests of licence fee payers;
(b) secure that the independence of the BBC is maintained;
(c) carefully and appropriately assess the views of licence fee payers;
(d) exercise rigorous stewardship of public money;
(e) have regard to the competitive impact of the BBC’s activities on the wider market; and
(f) ensure that the BBC observes high standards of openness and transparency
Now I would suggest that the BBC are certainly failing to adhere to their own charter with regards to (e) and are ignoring (c) with regards to public opinion in Scotland.
I’d like to see how they respond , hopefully in a less arrogant and condescending way than Ms Slater has done this week