Good Afternoon.
Announcing outstanding financial successes for Rangers PLC the then Chairman of the club opened his Chairman’s report in the annual financial statements with the following words:
“Last summer I explained that the Club, after many years of significant investment in our playing squad
and more recently in our state of the art facility at Murray Park, had embarked on a three year business
plan to stabilise and improve the Club’s finances. The plan also recognised the need to react to the
challenging economic conditions facing football clubs around the world.
Following a trend over a number of years of increasing year on year losses, I am pleased to report that
in the first year of this plan we have made important progress by reversing this trend. Our trading loss
for last year of £11.2m reflects a £7.9m improvement versus the £19.1m loss for the previous year and
although it will take more time to completely reach our goals, this is a key milestone. We also intend to
make significant further progress by the end of the current financial year. This improvement is the
consequence of having a solid strategy and the commitment and energy to implement the changes it requires”
Later on in the same statement the chairman would add:
“Another key part of our plan is associated with the Rangers brand and our Retail Division goes from strength to strength. Our financial results this year have been significantly enhanced by an outstanding performance in merchandising Rangers products, in particular replica kit, which makes our Retail Division one of the most successful in Europe.”
In the same set of financial reports, the CEO would report:
“To further strengthen Rangers hospitality portfolio, a new dedicated sponsor’s lounge was unveiled this season. The Carling Lounge is a first for the Club and was developed in conjunction with our new sponsor, Carling. ”
and
“Our innovative events programme continues to grow and this year saw a record number of official events including the highly successful annual Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, Player of the Year and 50 Championships Gala Dinner, all of which catered for up to 1000 guests.
At Rangers, we continually develop our portfolio of products and as a key area of income for the Club, we evaluate the market for new revenue opportunities on an ongoing basis in order to exceed our existing and potential customer expectations and needs.
Demand for season tickets reached an all time high last season with a record 42,508 season ticket holders in comparison with the previous season`s figure of 40,320. Over 36,000 of these season ticket holders renewed for this season – a record number.
For the new season, we are delighted to welcome brewing giant, Carling on board as our Official Club sponsor. Carling is one of the UK’s leading consumer brands with a proven track record in football sponsorship.
The Club also continues to work with a number of multinational blue chip brands such as National Car Rental, Sony Playstation 2, Bank of Scotland and Coca-Cola. This year, we will also experience the evolution of the Honda deal via Hyndland Honda and welcome the mobile communications giant T-Mobile to our ranks.”.
The year was 2003 and in the previous 24 months Rangers Football Club, owned and operated as a private fiefdom by Sir David Murray, had made operational losses of some £30 million.
Yes – 30 MILLION POUNDS.
Of course the chairman’s report for 2003 was written by John F Mclelland CBE and the CEO was one Martin Bain Esq.
As Mr Mclelland clearly stated, by 2003 the club already had a trend of increasing year on year losses covering a number of years and was losing annual sums which stretched into millions, if not tens of millions, of pounds.
However, the acquisition of Rangers Football Club was absolutely vital to David Murray’s personal business growth, and his complete control of the club as his own private business key was more important than any other business decision he had made before buying Rangers or since.
When he persuaded Gavin Masterton to finance 100% of the purchase price of the club, Murray had his finest business moment.
By getting control of Rangers, Murray was able to offer entertainment, hospitality, seeming privilege and bestow favour on others in a way that was hitherto undreamed of, and he bestowed that largesse on any number of “existing and potential clients” and contacts – be they the clients and contacts related to Rangers Football Club or the existing and potential clients of David Murray, his businesses, his banks, or anyone in any field that he chose to court for the purposes of potential business.
His business.
It wasn’t only journalists who benefited from the succulent lamb treatment.
Accountants,lawyers, surveyors, broadcasters, football officials, people in industry and construction, utilities, financiers and other areas of business were all invited inside the sacred House of Murray and given access to the great man of business “and owner of Rangers” while attending the “record number of official (hospitality) events”.
Twelve months on from when John McLelland made those statements in the 2003 accounts, David Murray was back in the chair at Ibrox and he presented the 2004 financials.
In the intervening 12 months Rangers had gained an additional £10 million from Champions League income and had received £8.6 million in transfer fees from the sale of Messrs Ferguson, Amoruso and McCann. Not only that, the Rangers board had managed to reduce the club’s wage bill by £5 million. Taking all three figures together comes to some £23.6 million in extra income or savings.
Yet, the accounts for 2004 showed that the club made an operational loss of almost £6 million and overall debt had risen by an additional £7 million to £97.4 million.
However, the 2004 accounts were also interesting for another reason.
Rangers PLC had introduced payments “to employees trusts” into their accounts for the first time in 2001 and in that year they had paid £1million into those trusts. Just three years later, the trust payments recorded in the accounts had risen to £7.3 million per annum — or to put it another way to 25% of the annual wage bill though no one in Scottish Football asked any questions about that!
By the following year, the chairman announced that the 2004 operational loss had in fact been £10.4million but that the good news was that the 2005 operational loss was only £7.8 million. However Rangers were able to post a profit before taxation if they included the money obtained from transfers (£8.4 million) and the inclusion of an extraordinary profit of £14,999,999 made on buying back the shares of a subsidiary company for £1 which they had previously sold for £15 million.
All of which added up to a whopping great profit of ……… £12.4 million!
I will leave you to do the maths on 2005.
Oh and of course these accounts included the detail that 3000 Rangers fans had joined David Murray in participating in the November ’94 share issue where the club managed to raise £51,430,995 in fresh capital most of which was provided by Mr Murray… sorry I mean MIH ….. sorry that should read Bank of Scotland …… or their shareholders……. or should that be the public purse?
The notable items in the 2006 accounts included the announcement of a ten year deal with JJB Sports to take over the merchandising operation of the club and increased revenue from an extended run in the Champion’s League. However, the profit before tax was declared at only£0.1 million in comparison to the £12.4 million of the year before but then again that £12.4 million had included player sales of £8.4 million and the £15 million sweety bonus from the repurchase of ones own former subsidiary shares for £1.
Jumping to 2008 Rangers saw a record year in terms of turnover which had risen to £64.5 million which enabled the company to record a profit on ordinary activities before taxation of £6.57 million although it should be pointed out that wages and bonuses were up at 77% of turnover and that a big factor in the Rangers income stream was corporate hospitality and the top line of income was shown as “gate receipts and hospitality”.
However, 2009 saw a calamitous set of figures. Whilst Alastair Johnston tried to put a brave chairman’s face on it, the year saw an operating loss of £17.325 million which was softened only by player disposals leading to a loss before taxation of a mere £14.085 million.
Fortunately Sir David did not have to report these figures as he chose to stand down as chairman in August and so Johnston stepped in and announced that he was deeply honoured to do so.
In 2010, the income stream jumped from £39.7 million to over £56 million with the result that the club showed a profit before taxation of £4.209 million.
However, by that time the corporate hospitality ticket that was Rangers Football Club was done for as a result of matters that had nothing to do with events on the football field in the main.
First, the emergence of the Fergus McCann run Celtic had brought a real business and sporting challenge. This was something that Murray had not previously faced in the football business.
Second,the Bank of Scotland had gone bust and Lloyds could not and would not allow Murray to continually borrow vast sums of money on the basis of revalued assets and outrageous hospitality.
Third, the UEFA fair play rules came into being and demanded that clubs at least act on a semblance of proper corporate governance and fiscal propriety.
Lastly,Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs tightened up the law on the use of EBT’s which meant that Rangers could no longer afford to buy in the players that brought almost guaranteed success against domestic opposition.
On average, since 2002 Rangers PLC had lost between £7 million – £8 million per year – or roughly £650,000 per month if you like – yet for the better part of a decade David Murray had been able to persuade the Bank of Scotland that this was a business that was worthy of ever greater financial support or that he himself and his MIH business was of such value that the Banks should support him in supporting the Ibrox club whilst operating in this fashion.
Of course, had Murray’s Rangers paid tax on all player remunerations then the losses would have been far larger.
Meanwhile, all the other clubs in Scottish football who banked with the Bank of Scotland faced funding cuts and demands for repayment with the bank publicly proclaiming that it was overexposed to the football market in Scotland.
But no one asked any questions about why the bank should act one way with Murray’s club but another way with all others. No one in football, no one in the media and no one from the world of business.
Looking back,it is hard to imagine a business which has been run on such a consistent loss making basis being allowed to continue by either its owners or by its bankers. However, a successful and funded Rangers was so important to the Murray group that David Murray was clearly willing to lose millions year after year to keep the Gala dinners and corporate hospitality going.
Rangers were Murray’s big PR vehicle and the club was essentially used by him to open the doors which would allow him to make more money elsewhere on a personal basis and if it meant Rangers cutting every corner and accumulating massive losses, unsustainable losses, then so be it.
Today, the new regime at Ibrox run the current business in a way which clocks up the same colossal annual losses whilst the club competes outwith Scotland’s top division. Each day we hear that the wage bill is unsustainable, that the playing staff are overpaid, that the stadium needs massive investment and that the fans are opposed to the stadium itself being mortgaged and the club being in hawk to lenders.
Yet, in the Murray era the Stadium was revalued time and time again and its revaluation was used as the justification for ever greater borrowing on the Rangers accounts. The playing staff were massively overpaid and financially assisted by the EBT’s and most years the Chairman’s annual statement announced huge losses despite regular claims of record season ticket sales, record hospitality income, European income, shirt sponsorship and the outsourcing of all merchandising to JJB sports instead of Sports Direct.
The comparison between the old business and the current one is clear for all to see.
It should be noted, that since the days of Murray, no major banking institution has agreed to provide the Ibrox business with any banking facilities. Not under Whyte, not under Green, not under anyone.
Yet few ask why that should be.
The destruction of the old Rangers business led those in charge of Scottish football to announce that Armageddon was on the horizon if it had not actually arrived, yet today virtually all Scottish clubs are in a better financial and business state than back in the bad old days of the Bank of Scotland financed SPL. Some have succumbed to insolvency, and others have simply cut their cloth, changed their structure, sought, and in some cases attracted, new owners and moved on in terms of business.
In general, Scottish Football has cleaned house at club level.
Now, David Murray has “cleaned house” in that MIH has bitten the dust and walked down insolvency road.
What is interesting is that the Murray brand still has that capacity to get out a good PR message when it needs to. Despite the MIH pension fund being short of money for some inexplicable reason, last week it was announced that the family controlled Murray Estates had approached those in charge of MIH and had agreed to buy some key MIH assets for something in the region of £13.9 million.
The assets concerned are land banks which at some point will be zoned for planning and which will undoubtedly bring the Murray family considerable profit in the future, with some of those assets already looking as if they will produce a return sooner rather than later.
However, what is not commented upon in the mainstream press is the fact that Murray Estates had the ability to pay £13.9 Million for anything at all and that having that amount of money to spend the Murray camp has chosen not to buy any football club down Govan way.
Perhaps, it has been realised that a football club which loses millions of pounds each year is not such a shrewd investment and that the Murray family money would be better spent elsewhere?
Perhaps, it has been realised that the culture of wining, dining, partying and entertaining to the most lavish and extravagant extent will not result in the banks opening their vaults any more?
Perhaps, it has been realised that the Rangers brand has been so badly damaged over the years that it is no longer the key to the golden door in terms of business, finance and banking and that running a football club in 2015 involves a discipline and a set of skills that David Murray and his team do not have experience of?
What is clear, is that the Murray years at Ibrox were not good for the average Rangers fan in the long term and that when you have a football club – any football club – being run for the private benefit of one rich individual, or group of individuals, then the feelings and passions of the ordinary fan will as often as not be forgotten when that individual or his group choose to move on once they have decided that they no longer wish to play with their toy football club.
David Murray did not make money directly out of Rangers Football Club. He used it as a key to open other doors for him and to get him a seat at other tables and into a different type of “club” altogether. He did not run the club in a day to day fashion that was designed to bring stability and prolonged financial, or playing, success to the club. its investors and its fans. He did not preside over Ibrox during a period of sustained financial gain.
Mike Ashley will not subsidise 2015 version of Rangers to anything like the same extent that the Bank of Scotland did in the 90’s and naughties.
However, Ashley, like Murray, will use his control of the Rangers brand to open doors for him elsewhere in the sports retail market, and he will use the Rangers contract with Sports Direct to make a handsome profit. He will also control all the advertising revenue just as he does at Newcastle. In short, Mr Ashley is only interested in The Rangers with a view to using it as a stepping stone to achieve other things elsewhere.
However, don’t take my word for any of this, take the opinion of someone who knows.
Mr Dave King is quoted today as saying the following about the current board of Directors who are in charge of the current Ibrox holding company.
“History will judge this board as one of the worst the club has ever had. There is not one individual who puts the club above personal interest.”
That is an interesting observation from a man who became a non executive director of the old Rangers holding company in 2000 and who had a front row pew for every set of accounts and all the financial statements referred to above.
Whether or not Mr King is a glib and shameless liar is a matter of South African judicial opinion. Whether or not he can spot someone who puts their own self interest ahead of the interests of Rangers Football Club and the supporters of the club is a matter that should be discussed over some fine wine, some succulent lamb and whatever postprandial entertainment you care to imagine.
I wonder if he has ever read the accounts of Rangers PLC and compared them to the corresponding accounts of MIH for the same period?
Auldheid/Allyjambo
Agree that the general passivity towards the loan signings is symptomatic of the relentless media and official insistence that the rules and codes do not apply to any team/club/company operating under the Rangers banner.
“That’s just the way it is, always was” seems to be the predominant view.
For me such cowering is unacceptable and unnecessary. Only once have fans mobilised efficiently and that prevented Rangers II from being slipped back into the first or second tiers.
The point is that co-ordinated action with simple goals does work. I wish we could create a cross-club platform that ensured fans’ fact-based concerns were respected by clubs and the ‘regulator’.
jambocol1874 says:
February 5, 2015 at 9:59 am
1 0 Rate This
http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/rangers/309203-rangers-boss-told-all-five-newcastle-players-must-start-every-game/
No influence indeed.
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So according to McDowall
They are good players because they play for NUFC
I thought they were that good that NUFC have loaned them out
Yes I know development etc But at least 2 maybe 3 of these players are into their 20s so they have been loaned out because NUFC don’t think they are good enough for there team. Maybe development is the reason for the rest but I think the injuries they are carrying and being treated for may play a part in the decision to loan them out
Maybe MA is hoping that if he taunts them enough the SFA will act in some way giving him a reason to liquidate. He can then avoid potential boycott/ loss of business / personal hassles as despite his street smarts he’ll know there are some real crazies out there.
He will also probably have enough dirt on the SFA to argue that they led him on about his dual interest levels to muddy the waters enough to put the blame squarely on the SFA (-no architectural pun intended).
Just a thought.
I do wonder how long Regan and Doncaster will stay, can’t be nicest feeling going into work these days, wondering what latest potential disaster is heading their way! Hell mend them.
AyeRightNaw says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:11 am
7 0 Rate This
Well done Kenny McDowall. Straight talking, no spin, no macho bs just saying exactly how it is.
I fear that one so honest has little future in our game. Good luck to him.
———-
Wonderfully candid.
There was once a German media headline along the lines of, ‘In a just world, Berti Vogts would be Franz Beckenbauer’, the sentiment being that the kinder and nicer human being deserved the success the other got.
Be nice if McDowall, who comes across as a decent sort, got the media protection and eulogizing that ‘Coisty’ got.
Quite a wheeze with STV quoting an SPFL rule at the end. As though rules have anything to do with anything, anymore 😆
AyeRightNaw says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:11 am
7 0 Rate This
Well done Kenny McDowall. Straight talking, no spin, no macho bs just saying exactly how it is.
I fear that one so honest has little future in our game. Good luck to him.
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Danish Pastry says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:41 am
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STV and whoever else all skip the big question. Why does he have to play the five players on loan from Newcastle? What’s the reason?
That’s much more significant than whether the rest of the squad know or care about the situation or whether Kenny McD had advance warning.
Do they have to play because only their participation in matches triggers certain financial arrangements? I don’t know, I’m just speculating, but it’s the most obvious question of all to ask and no one had the, er, gumption to ask it. The SMSM keep avoiding questions that somebody on their first day in the job would think to ask. They must be afraid to hear the answers.
AyeRightNaw says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:28 am
8 1 Rate This
…I wish we could create a cross-club platform that ensured fans’ fact-based concerns were respected by clubs and the ‘regulator’.
———
Perhaps time for TSFM to create 4 sub-section blogs — one for each of the top 4 divisions? And perhaps add that alternative title (that was voted down) to the sub-head of the blog? Ending corruption in Scottish football seems about right for 2015.
Danish Pastry
Spot on. Just sneaked a peek on RM to see how they were taking this morning’s news. Suffice to say ‘not well’ doesn’t really cover it. More than 90 comments already and while one or two are pleased that at least someone is telling them what’s going on the overwhelming majority appear to desire intimate relations with KM – though it’s fair to say I’m paraphrasing somewhat.
Most are missing the Ashley influence point but those who get it say it doesn’t matter because he will be gone in a month. Apparently.
Esteban
You are right that ‘why?’ Is the obvious follow-up question. However it may have been asked and not answered or perhaps the reporter will have been advised that this is a question for the Board. It’s not for KM to muse over the Board’s motivations but we’d all like to think the question has actually been asked of them.
Auldheid says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:05 am
Again, I can sympathise with your point of view, but all the favouritism shown towards Rangers didn’t stop Celtic gaining an almighty haul of domestic trophies, quite a consolation, I’d have thought, but, of course, that doesn’t excuse the bias towards the Govan club.
You see, the little clubs have their targets too, and though any cheating in favour of RFC might have gained them 3 points, or maybe just one, it actually, on that day, cost Celtic nothing. It will, however, have cost the Rangers’ opponents points, and perhaps a place in Europe, or merely finishing above their local rivals in the league, or something you have never experienced, relegation. Small beer, I know, but very wearing, and something that costs the smaller clubs financially as many are put off from returning. I know this to be true having decided, there and then, to give up my season ticket during the ‘Davisgate’ fiasco. It was not renewed (though I have since moved to England and probably would have bought one by now).
There will also have been many times that while Rangers’ opposition fans were heading home cursing the ‘honest mistakes’ of their match referee, the fans of Celtic’s opponents will have been doing similar. I do, though, acknowledge that this might be a case of ‘big team’ syndrome, while there is little doubt in my mind that Rangers’ ‘honest mistakes’ were also due to institutionalised bias.
I still can’t understand why none of the promotion contenders are kicking up a stink, though. There is much more than a trophy to lose out on, even for Hearts, who I don’t think are certainties for either winning the Championship or promotion, and much less now. TRFC have gone from looking like a club who could be caught for second place, possibly even miss out on the play-offs due to their falling form and self-belief, to one that might win all their remaining games (we just don’t know what effect these 5 players might have) and maybe catch Hearts, but will definitely be favourites to win the play-offs.
All because the SFA have been weak in dealing with Ashley and have put the welfare of their favoured club ahead of all others. And we’ve still to add in the ‘honest mistakes’!
Just thinking, total conspiracy theory, I know, but the ‘undersoilheatinggate’ fiasco. It’s given this reinforced TRFC two games against Hearts instead of one. No, nobody at Ibrox could have foreseen that, how could they? (tongue stuck firmly in cheek here, honestly, because such dastardly deeds don’t happen in Scottish football 🙄 )
Danish Pastry says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:02 am
While I agree with your sentiments I’m not sure that it’s fair to expect TSFM to do any more. The band of volunteers, or however it’s operated already do us all a great service by creating a space within which we can safely exhange information and opinions or simply bump our gums.
Their endeavours are greatly appreciated.
There is however a gap for a proper independent fans representative body. I’d happily become involved but am not entirely convinced there’s much appetite for it and would want it to be more than the echo chamber that many grassroots campaign projects turn into.
Danish Pastry says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:41 am
There was once a German media headline along the lines of, ‘In a just world, Berti Vogts would be Franz Beckenbauer’, the sentiment being that the kinder and nicer human being deserved the success the other got.
===========================================================
If there’s any justice in the world,
I would be your man,
You would be my gers,
If i’d bought you first you know its true,
He would be alone,
I would be with you,
Lemar, If There’s Any Justice
Esteban says:
February 5, 2015 at 10:58 am
2 0 Rate This
…The SMSM keep avoiding questions that somebody on their first day in the job would think to ask. They must be afraid to hear the answers.
———
Quite. Much easier to quote Paul Murray (or was that yet another DR mock-up vow?) about how he and the Celts will ‘save the game’. Do the Celts know about this? He must want to save it from this new era of fair play, healthy finances, and mostly even competition :irony:
Allyjambo says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:15 am
You see, the little clubs have their targets too, and though any cheating in favour of RFC might have gained them 3 points, or maybe just one,
it actually, on that day, cost Celtic nothing.
It will, however, have cost the Rangers’ opponents points, and perhaps a place in Europe, or merely finishing above their local rivals in the league, or something you have never experienced, relegation.
Small beer, I know, but very wearing, and something that costs the smaller clubs financially as many are put off from returning.
I know this to be true having decided, there and then, to give up my season ticket during the ‘Davisgate’ fiasco. It was not renewed (though I have since moved to England and probably would have bought one by now).
_________________________________________
‘Davisgate’ allowed Rangers to gain 2 points they were not entitled to.
Rangers won the SPL that season by 1 point from Celtic.
Very wearing indeed. Almost vexing in fact. I know this to be true.
So no, it’s not about thinking everything revolves around the “OF”
Danish Pastry says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:30 am
—
Agreed. What the point of Paul Murray is has never been clear to me.
If TSFM could amalgamate in some form with all supporters clubs, that would be a good starting point to coordinate a change in the regimes that are ruining Scottish football.
Been reading through quite a few comments over the last couple of days And the consensus seems to be
TRFC have got 5 loan players from NUFC ( not exactly fair I know but no rules have been broken either) So TRFC are going to have an advantage to get to the play-offst
Has anyone seen these young men play? Are they world beaters in the making ?
Plenty of so called good to Will be great players have came and gone from all teams
Raffiel Shidt springs to mind played for Brazil (what a world beater he was 😳 ) So what team they played for before means HEE-HAW
So it truly is a case of wait and see. If these young gents turn out to be less than great
Is that an advantage to every other team considering they HAVE to be played in every game (when fit)
AyeRightNaw says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:24 am
3 0 Rate This
While I agree with your sentiments I’m not sure that it’s fair to expect TSFM to do any more…
——
Absolutely. But I do read, from time to time, posts expressing the hope that TSFM can become more than a one-issue forum. I know it isn’t, but following on from the story started by RTC there’s still mostly discussion of the on-going story. A few more blog sections might help broaden participation. Every league is affected.
Danish Pastry and MaBaw
I think most of us trust the TSFM ethos and would welcome further developments. However it would be unfair to heap expectations on the site organisers.
For the sake of clarity it would be interesting to know TSFM’s thoughts on this and to know if extending the reach has been ruled out.
I thought that the discussion following Spiers’ article in yesterday’s Herald was excellent. Many well presented opinions respectfully made, on King v Ashley, Fit & Proper, EGM, Funding, and other topics of interest to the TSFM readership. In fact, I would not be at all surprised to discover that the contributors to the discussion in the Herald were also contributors here.
I commend it to the House.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/opinion/spiers-on-sport-dave-king-poised-for-power-with-an-sfa-wink.1423064995
p.s. Go straight to the comments section – the article’s pap!
tcup 2012 says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:44 am
I see your point but regardless of whether they are any good or not the loans simply should not be allowed to proceed.
The Fear of God
If you are unhappy with the SFA’s non-governance of Scottish football, simply vote with your money. YOU have disproportional power – read on to understand why. When you get your ST renewal form, no matter who you support, just return it boldly inscribed with:
• The SFA is corrupt.
• You and your peers appoint the SFA board
• You are supporting corruption
• I cannot support you
Post the form to your club Chairman by name, in a plain envelope, hand addressed and marked “private and confidential”. Signed / recorded delivery is better but not essential.
Calm, principled, direct action puts the fear of God into complacent organisations. Remember, a well-run profitable business typically has a profit margin of 5% – 10%. So YOU, personally, are the profit margin from 10 to 20 other ST holders – usually many more for “try-to-break-even” football clubs. YOU have disproportional power, which can be multiplied further by enlisting just a few like-minded friends. When an organization sees its profit margin walking away in an organised protest – using the same simple reason – they freeze with fear, then then panic, then they realise they need to recover the situation. They will usually want to “talk” once they’ve renewed and they have your money – but you’re smarter than that – way ahead of them 😉
AyeRightNaw says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:01 pm
1 0 Rate This
I agree in principal
Not exactly FFP. But within the rules
Now its up to SFA/SPFL to plug this loophole
So it can never be used again
There is no financial fair play when it comes to this one club.
There is no fair play when it comes to this one club.
This club should not be allowed to play anymore as they are embarrassing and our SFA is also an embarrassment all because of this one club.
All other clubs do not operate like this club and IMO would NOT be allowed to.
mcfc says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:08 pm
=========================================
That’s probably the most important comment I’ve read on TSFM (apart from all of mine of course)
Tammy off to you mcfc
So the governing bodies rules have been breached and this information is now freely available in the public domain. Will the leaders of Scottish Football now grow a set ?If not then they are sadly not fit for purpose and should all resign.
SPFL rule 65 states: “Other than as expressly provided for in the Rules and these Regulation, it shall not be permitted to stipulate when or against whom, a player temporarily transferred may or may not play and any such stipulation in any agreement shall be void and of no effect.”
jambocol1874 says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:28 pm
Compare that to say a Richard Wilson who has the intelligence but tends to put out what he wants to happen.
Can never forget the Newsnight special when Wilson said the SPL clubs will vote Rangers into SPL because of commercial reasons.
________________________________
Surely that should be “vote not to relegate Rangers from the SPL” ? 😉
MoreCelticParanoia says:
February 5, 2015 at 11:36 am
‘Davisgate’ allowed Rangers to gain 2 points they were not entitled to.
Rangers won the SPL that season by 1 point from Celtic.
Very wearing indeed. Almost vexing in fact. I know this to be true.
So no, it’s not about thinking everything revolves around the “OF”
____________________________
You probably won’t get it, and I’m not criticising you for it, but I’m sure the supporters of all non-OF clubs will: you have more or less made my point, by posting in the same manner the MSM did. You’ve completely forgotten about the effect that ludicrous decision had on Hearts! Not worth a mention. Lost a point, had a player sent off as a direct result, set our new owner off on his first anger-fest on his way to becoming the SFA’s most hated, lost at least one season ticket holder…
The next day the press were only concerned with how it affected the title race. Individual matches don’t count, it seems, when the OF title race is tight. Davis cheated, he cheated Hearts. He would have done the same if it had been Aberdeen instead of Celtic in the title race. It would still have been Hearts who had been cheated.
The press turned it into an Old Firm matter, not a Scottish football matter. The last thing they wanted to do was to galvanise the whole of Scottish football into looking at what was happening (not just by reporting this incident properly, but by reporting on the affect of all such ‘honest mistakes’), by keeping that ‘OF is what really matters’ view instilled in all our psyches. As we’ve seen, Celtic are quite happy to go along with it, maintaining the £10m extra they get from having a ‘Rangers’, even when RFC’s cheating has cost them a lot more than one title!
And now, nothing has changed. TRFC can field a team they cannot afford until it takes continuous, ever increasing, emergency loans to keep them alive. Then, because they’ve been allowed to break the rules on dual ownership (by delay), sign even higher valued players they cannot afford, and all the MSM, and many Celtic supporters, it would appear, care about is recreating the ‘Old Firm’ matches! Well they’ve returned, isn’t it grand? A ‘Rangers’ can cheat it’s way back to the glory that was the Old Firm, until that cheating affects the other half of the equation! That’s what happens when the little people (clubs) don’t count.
celtic fc incorporated 1897 says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:50 pm
SPFL rule 65 states: “Other than as expressly provided for in the Rules and these Regulation, it shall not be permitted to stipulate when or against whom, a player temporarily transferred may or may not play and any such stipulation in any agreement shall be void and of no effect.”
Hope the good fans of Raith are copying that one down if the result goes the wrong way on Sunday, or those of Hearts, Hibs, Queen of the South, Falkirk, Alloa….. As soon as any of the 5 sets foot on a pitch then surely the result of that match is voided – 3-0 to the opposition then?? Kenny Mc has confirmed that that can be the only outcome! No…?
Eureka!
I have it! I now know! I’ve seen the light!
The reason the SFA & the compliance officer etc dont appear to be able to act when TRFC are involved is obviously that the poor souls are so upset that RFC aren’t there any more that they cant bear to watch / read about / hear about / think about TRFC because as much as the pretence has to be maintained, they know it’s really not the RFC they knew and it’s all just too painful for them, they cant bring themselves to see the second version being brought so low,- best just to ignore it all.
It seems so obvious now.
Can anyone provide any evidence against this reasoning?
If a player signs for NUFC can he only get win bonuses if he plays for NUFC?
Or can he “renegotiate” his win bonus with any club he is out on loan to?
And if so
Is it legal for that win bonus to exceed the bonus paid to his new team mates?
tayred says:
February 5, 2015 at 1:08 pm
As soon as the first of the 5 sets foot on a pitch then surely the result of that match is voided – 3-0 to the opposition then?? Kenny Mc has confirmed that that can be the only outcome! No…?
======================================================================
No, no, no – you see Kenny’s gone off half-cocked – he misunderstood what was said – we know the rules and so does he – so it should have been obvious to him that is not what we meant. Maybe the stress is getting to him – we’ll provide him any counselling he needs – maybe a little bit of herbaceous therapy.
So let me get this right Kenny McDowell has been instructed to play the 5 loan players in every game….which in effect ois announcing half his team for the rest of the season….is that correct?
If I was Kenny I would play one of the big lads in goal…
Hing on a wee minty. The Newcastle reserves •must• play? Every game? Board orders? So half the outfield players in the first team have just been binned and McDowall shrugs and says, ‘Well, I’m working my notice…’ No cause for friction or disaffection there then.
It seems that yesterday’s announcement of the £5M loan being drawn down and clarification of the Llambias appointment has disappeared without trace from the Rangers website.
The statement wasn’t echoed as an AIM announcement either.
I haven’t a clue what’s going on, but I suspect I’m not alone given recent musings from Ibrox.
celtic fc incorporated 1897 says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:50 pm
SPFL rule 65 states: “Other than as expressly provided for in the Rules and these Regulation, it shall not be permitted to stipulate when or against whom, a player temporarily transferred may or may not play and any such stipulation in any agreement shall be void and of no effect.”
___________________________
While I’d love for this rule to blow TRFC right out of the water, I read it as meaning the lending club can’t stipulate who the players can, or can’t, play against. I doubt very much that there are any such stipulations written into the loan agreement and that they have been passed, verbally, to Kenny McDowall from the board. There will be fresh air evidence that the instruction didn’t come from a Mr Ashley, too!
The SFA and the SPFL should, by now, have Llambias into Hampden to explain exactly what’s going on. They won’t have.
celtic fc incorporated 1897 says:
February 5, 2015 at 12:50 pm
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So the governing bodies rules have been breached and this information is now freely available in the public domain. Will the leaders of Scottish Football now grow a set ?If not then they are sadly not fit for purpose and should all resign.
SPFL rule 65 states: “Other than as expressly provided for in the Rules and these Regulation, it shall not be permitted to stipulate when or against whom, a player temporarily transferred may or may not play and any such stipulation in any agreement shall be void and of no effect.”
*******************
The way I read that is the loaning club shall not impose conditions ?
But given McDowell says he was instructed by those within the hallowed chambers of Ibrox then this may not be a problem.
However, I do hope your interpretation is correct.
BTW – The Newcastle-Five Must Play story has blasted Dave Dastardly and Mini Me Murray out of the MSM. Ashley may be silent personally, but don’t think for a moment he doesn’t understand the power of guerrilla PR tactics. The Must Play story is fully deniable – demonstrably so on Saturday – just a misunderstanding – but today and tomorrow – it’s frustrating the hell out of the man who would be king.
I wonder who will be asked to tell Elbows he’s drapped fur the rest of the season 😯
No wonder KM is scunnered. When all five loanees are fit he has just five spaces left, three really if you consider that Elbows and Wallace are probably undroppable. So he has to keep a big squad interested and motivated as between them they battle for three places.
There goes any possibility of occasionally promoting youth – no wonder Telfer and MacLeod got out when they could.
This paves the way for the early release of a significant number of players who’ll be told their contracts will be ripped up if they can find another club. Substantial cost savings all round.
If this comes to pass then I think we can safely say the recent paper talk re bids of actual money for a couple of players in the transfer window was just more PR nonsense designed to con the fans.
Interesting article reference King, fit and proper and future of club if he gets control from a ranger’s fan point of view
https://t.co/AqcOGChfTX
Also latest from Phil regarding AIM
http://t.co/2F2hvSG3LM
The Newcastle Five are Innocent
They may be innocent now but they must have been very naughty, naughty boys in a previous life to be condemned to half a season of bonded servitude in G51.
Free the Newcastle Five
valentinesclown says:
February 5, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Also latest from Phil regarding AIM
http://t.co/2F2hvSG3LM
======================================================
Acting in concern inquiry = rejected Sect 303 notice = no EGM = no change of directors = check Ashley, if not check-mate
Couple of blogs from Phil
http://t.co/ofNkOD1MW4
http://t.co/2F2hvSG3LM
Allyjambo says:
February 5, 2015 at 1:33 pm
While I’d love for this rule to blow TRFC right out of the water, I read it as meaning the lending club can’t stipulate who the players can, or can’t, play against.
Ach, aye you are right, or at least if that isn’t what the rule was mean’t to mean it sure as hell well be adapted such that it is exactly what it means from now on (or until an alternative interpretation is required).
Didnae notice that the game on Sunday was on BBC again. Unbelieveable…. still at least that will take another few thousand off the attendance. World record low attendance this weekend perhaps? How is the arrival and associated shenanigans of the the Famous Five going down with TRFC supporters? Excited, bewildered, disgusted, resigned?
Allyjambo…
http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk
I never even knew they existed !
The Newcastle 5 must play thingy will rip through the dressing room and training ground causing serious rifts and general unhappiness in the squad.
Not all the Rangers Players are being paid stupid money, a large percentage of the younger guys and even the likes of Daly, Foster will rely on appearance and win bonuses to top up their wages, was there not talk that Miller and Boyd had both signed on for 2k per week plus bonuses which would include appearance and win bonuses.
If this is true there will be a very unhappy dressing room at Ibrox over the next few weeks.
http://www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk/the-code/download-code
Oh,my he irony
… Maybe help explain why Craig Whyte did not need to bother with their advice
. . . Rangers were not taken over when Craig Whyte crashed the train . . . The wreckage (ibrokes and MP, was sold as scrap, by Duff n Duffer to Chuckles – Chuckles didn’t “take over” Rangers either.
I can’t recall exactly how frustrated I’ve been at various times since finding RTC in its early-ish days, but I think right now I’m feeling more frustrated than ever.
That’s because a lot of the things that frustrated me in the past were pretty complex and/or deliberately well hidden, so I could see to an extent (in my kinder moments at least) why some of the people who mattered weren’t getting it; weren’t asking the key questions; weren’t coming out and saying the things that needed to be said. I’m talking about the football authorities and regulators (SFA/SPFL); the club owners affected by these ongoing issues; past and present football people who keep on being willing to say the wrong thing; the ‘journalists’ and pundits.
I’m going to re-state my reason for coming here as I did back in the day on RTC. I no longer care that much about football as the changes brought about by the importance of money/business have changed so much the sport I grew up loving and playing. Because of playing so much (only at amateur level) I never really supported a team, though in my group of 6 really close friends (35 years now), I was seen as one of the three Celtic ones (as I went to a RC school) while the other 3 were Rangers fans. Throughout my working life, what I really cared about was fairness, so when RTC focussed on fairness within football I was hooked.
So, up until now in my mind the big issues have been unfair but fairly complex, so I could sort of understand why some of those key people listed above could fail to understand them fully or misinterpret them, though I know that for many the decisions made, articles written etc were driven mainly by fear of the alternative.
This latest piece of unfairness regarding the 5 loanees, though, is simply too simple for anyone to misunderstand or misinterpret, so why is it only us on here who are talking about it? Although it’s a small issue compared to some of the other stuff, it is making me so fed up coming on here every day seeing everyone talk shop about the latest unfairness.
Fact – The SFA has refused Mike Ashley any influence over ‘Rangers’.
Fact – football regulations and panels are based on the balance of probabilities rather than absolute proof as in legal cases.
Bottom line questions:-
– If Mike Ashley wasn’t having influence at Rangers, would Rangers have approached NUFC for these 5 loan players?
– If Mike Ashley wasn’t having influence at Rangers, would NUFC have offered these 5 loan players to Rangers?
It is clear to everyone – to the extent of it effectively being a fact – that the answer to both questions is NO, so why are the SFA happy to accept this? Why are other club owners happy to accept this? Why are football people (Macnamara snr excepted)happy to accept this? Why are ‘journalists’ and pundits happy to accept this? Why are fans generally happy to accept this?
I’m sorry for the long post, and sorry that this comparatively minor issue has made me so frustrated, but it’s the refusal to deal with such a flagrant breach that annoys me. You’d think that if the SFA were gutless, the owners (their employers, effectively?) would force the issue. If the SFA and owners were ignoring it, you’d think some affected players would raise the issue etc etc, but no – instead we’re on here saying how ridiculous it is and are in no position to force an answer or action from anyone.
Some posters already this morning are talking again about TSFM spreading its wings, but how do we get to a place where we can force answers. I’m again 3 emails in with no reply to the SPFL – they are happily ignoring us and we’re letting them. Phil, James Doleman – is there nothing you can do to try to force them to talk to you?
Apols again, I’m getting fed up but don’t want to get worn down (which is what they want).
jimlarkin says:
February 5, 2015 at 2:16 pm
The Takeover Panel is sometimes mentioned on news programs when adjudicating on multi-million pound takeover shenanigans. I think they are about to be mentioned a few times on news programs in connection with a multi-player loan deal takeover, Geordie Shore, The Only Way Is Govan shenanigan!
Scottish football needs a strong Takeover Panel!
nawlite says:
February 5, 2015 at 2:26 pm
I think you speak quite eloquently for most of us here, nawlite. I can only think the lack of any response from the clubs most affected is the apathy that comes with years of accepting ‘that’s the way it is, and always will be’, similarly, the fans see it that way too.
While it’s great having TSFM to sound off on, and pick up so much valued knowledge, it is so frustrating to watch the same wrongs repeated without question by those who have it within their power to do something to prevent these wrongs being repeated.
Right…. I have to say I am pig sick of hearing all this nonsense about the supposed global appeal of the “old firm derby”….in fact the hyperbola spouted on this subject is beyond absurd…. Ok let me explain where I am coming from…
I consider myself to be very privileged in that I have had the opportunity to spend most of my adult life living, working and travelling all over the world. I currently live on the other side of the world from Scotland and I have lived far away for a long time now. Unfortunately what most people who reside back home in Scotland never seem to realise is that the whole world does not actually revolve around Scotland…in fact once you leave Europe most people have never even really heard or understand much about Scotland so the notion that the world is keenly tuning in to watch the “Old Firm” is quite simply ridiculous.
Over the last few days since the stramash in Glasgow I have had the chance to have conversations with quite a few friends and colleagues so I thought it would be interesting to conduct my own little straw poll if you will…..
Now I have had cause to speak with probably several dozen people from various locations since the event on Sunday but to make this more illustrative I will stick to only those who I know to be serious football fans. Some of these are even those who actually regularly turn up at games in their own country (or others) and pay to get in… so here we go…
Germany – This guy is probably the biggest single football fanatic I know. A real serious fan…long time season ticket holder at Bayern Munich for many years and always wants to talk football rather than business. I had a chat with him on Tuesday and asked if he had saw the game in question…his answer … “no…what was the score?” He went on to say he had saw some small article on a German Sports TV station in the run up to the game but generally he said there was no real awareness of this going on.
England….knew it was on…never watched it…had a vague idea that Celtic had won but didn’t know the score
Finland – relatively serous football fan…well as serious as they get for Finland…didn’t even know the game was on never mind the result by mid-week.
Sweden – pretty much the same as Finland (they would both kill me for saying that!)
Further afield…
China – this guy is a huge fan of EPL…and to be honest not really a follower of Chinese football…but is EPL nuts all the same…had no idea the game was even happening…never even heard of “The Rangers”…had a vague idea about Celtic mostly from me and previous CL involvement….
Thailand – Serious long term (20+ years) Man Utd fan and serious Bangkok business gentleman and football nut…..had a vague idea the game was happening but no idea when it took place or what the score was again by mid-week…zero interest…
Thailand again…this time an ex-pat Scottish guy again in Bangkok and dyed in the wool fan of both of the Rangers…..of course knew the game was on….spent Sunday evening trawling the webs for links to watch the game and pestering me over What’s Up for updates…which of course I was delighted to advise……
Japan – apart from my German friend this guy is probably the biggest single football nut I know…serious fan and knowledgeable about Japanese, general Asian football and Europe. And, here’s the thing…a serious Celtic fan since the days of Nakamura, he has been to at least 10 or 12 games at Celtic Park in the last few years – including some of the big CL nights…..anyway…he knew the game was on….he found the score on the internet….but as for watching it….he said it was not shown on any TV channel that he was aware off…but “maybe was one some obscure pay TV sports channel”…. Never watched it….
And finally Korea……nope…couldn’t find it on any of the (at least) 200 TV channels … never found one single person that even knew this phenomenon existed never mind actually knew it was happening on Sunday…even amongst football fans…..
So there you have it…admittedly a small sample and anecdotal…but you know what…it just chimes with my experience of over more than 20 years….this myth about the whole world being interested in “the Old Firm” is just that. In fact more than a myth…absurd nonsense…and yet this notion is just accepted and repeated ad nauseam without question …time these hacks were called out on this nonsense…
nawlite
No need for apologies as your post speaks for me too (and I hope many others).
I’ve mostly lurked since the very early RTC days – only posting infrequently. But the last couple of days I’ve been more prolific with my nonsense primarily because of the flagrancy of the loan deals.
For me it’s the back-snapping straw and I intend joining the band of email pests looking for answers.
I watched the Kenny McDowall interview on the BBC Scotland lunchtime news. Why did he allow himself to go on the platform only to be publicly humiliated to such a degree? I wonder if he will seek his revenge with some naughty dressing room mischief? Kenny still has the ear of Ally and Walter. Perhaps they could quietly encourage him to Level (5) the score with Ashley’s puppets.
EJ, my guess is that it should never have been placed on the club website, the RIFC investor centre part of the TRFC site, or even the AIM RNS, at all and has consequently been removed. It was pointless. Llambias may not to be at the top end of Ashley’s team but I’d still expect better than that from a CEO.
peterjung says:
February 5, 2015 at 2:50 pm
========================
Thanks for the view from a distance. What you say is blindingly obvious, yet still needs saying. I blame Doncaster myself, for failing to win that mega-bucks TV contract.
peterjung says:
February 5, 2015 at 2:50 pm
Similar experience to mine here in Derbyshire. Was at a wedding in Liverpool last Saturday, a few asked how Hearts had got on, I asked how their teams, Man Utd and Liverpool, had got on. I half expected someone to ask if I was going to watch the Cetic/’Rangers’ match on TV the next day, but not one did, even the next day when I spoke to the groom over breakfast in the hotel. He’s football mad, Liverpool ST holder, and always happy to talk about Scottish football to me, I didn’t mention the game, and neither did he. Not seen many football people since the weekend, though have spoken with one West Brom fan who is a bit of a football geek, reads lots of sports pages and always ready to talk about Scottish football, but not one mention of the ‘OF’ game. It’s the way it is down here, and always has been in my experience.
There is one Rangers/TRFC supporter I often talk to in our local, not seen him, but will be surprised if he raises the game when next we meet. I think we’ve an unmentioned agreement not to mention Scottish football, other than internationals. He knows I have no truck with his club, and I have no desire to make him feel worse about it (he’s a really nice guy and quite embarrassed about much of what’s gone on) 😐
Auldheid 8:04 am, allyjambo 9:27 am
You’re both right. When Andy Davis intervened at Tynecastle in 2005 after the Greek dive he cost Hearts a point and awarded Rangers two more points than they deserved.
Many people believe Celtic capitulating in the last few minutes at Fir Park cost them the league that year, but the truth is that without Davis cheating they had earned themselves the luxury of being able to afford a capitulation. I apologise that I cannot recall what, if any, the consequences to Hearts were of their robbed point.
Allyjambo says:
February 5, 2015 at 1:06 pm
___________________________
I made my post because you said “Celtic lost nothing at all” or something to that effect when “honest mistakes” go for Rangers against other teams. The example I gave demonstrates that this is very clearly not the case in many circumstances. It was not that I am unaware of the repercussions for Hearts or whatever club are involved. In the 80s it was Aberdeen and Dunde Utd we were hoping would drop points. In 1986 we won a league with a big slice of help from another team (ouch, sorry)
In the aftermath of Davisgate I recall the Scottish media flew into defend one of their own mode to such an absurd degree that they made Davis and Rangers the victims of all of this – the DR ran one of their all-time classic back-page puffs “REFS COULD COST US THE TITLE” with Alex McLeish expressing concern that referees would be “too fair” from then on due to the publicity and poor Rangers wouldn’t get a fair crack at the honest mistakes for the rest of the season. You could only make it up in some Orwellian/Monty Python universe.
Publicity, incidentally,, which was chiefly aimed at demanding one of the Hearts players be banned for multiple games for “man-handling” the linesman (fast forward to 2011 and see Bougherra, Majdid), and that thier “crackpot” owner should be hunted out of Scotland. Chick Young pretended to be a Hearts fan to do so.
I get all that and the general thrust of your point re the media obsession which is a valid point,
I just though you wereoff the mark with that one line in my opinion. And I don’t see how the media primism benefits Celtic in any way at all. It’s purely there to benefit one team and one team only. Any “honest mistakes” that come our way are eagerly dissected in the media – Nakamura free-kick etc – absent of staunch defence of Scottish officials from all corners. On the contrary they called a summit at Hampden to address deficincies on Scottish refereeing after that one. Same with singing (Pat Nevin “I will highlight sectarian singing every time I hear it”, Rob McLean etc – silence after Sunday’s chorus)
To echo various posters above, my experience of the appeal of the “OF” is that hardly anyone cares outside Scotland. I’ve lived in London since I left university in the early 80s. The common assumption was that, as a football supporter, I’d follow one of the OF. But beyond that, no one I knew (or know) gave/gives a damn about Scottish football. They assume the OF win everything, and the league is a joke. This has always been the case – there was never a time when the exploits of the OF made people I know sit up and take note – apart from the assumption that Glasgow was like Stalingrad after one of these games. Talk of halcyon days when the two of them fought battles to win the league are meaningless outside Scotland. I’ve long become inured to the ignorance shown down here toward the game in Scotland. Even when Dundee United were a force in Europe, interest was zilch. So again, like others, I’m mystified about all Doncaster and Regan’s talk about the marketing juggernaut which is the OF. Not from here it ain’t.
Watched K McD’s excruciatingly embarrassing press conference and two things went through my mind.
1) why did Kenny allow himself to be so embarrassed?
2) the media were very aggressive in their questioning unlike the glory days of the cardigan and McCoist.
Not sure which aspect shocked me more……
According to Phil, RIFC is picking up the full tab for the loan signings, that new £5million, is not going to last long at this rate.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/free-the-magpie-five/#more-5846
PMG’s on prolific form today – it apppears the on-loan NUFC lawyers have no yet silenced him with a “away man, cease and desist rambling, man” order.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/free-the-magpie-five/#more-5846
jimmci says:
February 5, 2015 at 3:36 pm
1 0 Rate This
Watched K McD’s excruciatingly embarrassing press conference and two things went through my mind.
1) why did Kenny allow himself to be so embarrassed?
2) the media were very aggressive in their questioning unlike the glory days of the cardigan and McCoist.
Not sure which aspect shocked me more……
—–
KD’s facial expressions tell quite a story in themselves! Looks like the 3 who’ve arrived are going to be facing Raith — a nice welcome to Scotland.
Perhaps most reporters who turn up to these things are ‘Coisty’ fans and merely accepted his barking and ‘intimidation’ due to him having some higher position in the invisible pecking order? No such status for Kenny?
Auldheid, Allyjambo and all others.
Apologies for my post at 3:22 pm. I made the fatal error while catching up with the blog of replying to an interesting debate before reading what had been posted since. The points I were trying to make have already been made by others and my post added nothing to the debate.
To Allyjambo in particular, and for the avoidance of any doubt, the reason I cannot recollect the consequences to Hearts of ‘Davisgate’ are not because I think Hearts are a ‘diddy team’ but rather because firstly I am not a Hearts fan and secondly it was almost ten years ago. I am sure I could have told you the consequences in the summer of 2005.
The disproportionate media interest in ‘the old firm’ often works against Celtic. For the same reasons I gave above I cannot recall the precise consequences of McCurrygate to Dundee United, but I do distinctly recall some walloper from Radio a Clyde interviewing Craig Levein asking him if he was sick of the old firm getting the benefit of these sorts of decisions, or words to that affect. Levein to his credit, demanded to know who was talking about the old firm as he was only talking about Rangers. Sadly, rather like in the aftermath of Davisgate, Levein was portrayed by the SMSM as the villain rather than the victim.
andygraham.66 says:
February 5, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Llambias on SSN with a statement that he has not told Macdowall to pick Jossie’s Giants…
=============================
Mmm…why did Llambias make any comment at all ?
It just makes McDowall look even more impotent in a role he doesn’t want anyway.
And if the CEO doesn’t see eye to eye with the manager, and there is now a clique of 5 ‘outsiders’ dropped into the first team…it has all the makings of dressing room unrest – and the football probably won’t improve.
And that’s aside from all the off-field distractions from Smiler King and co… 🙄
Bryce Curdy says:
February 5, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Bryce, There is no requirement, for you or anyone else, to remember things from years ago, or even from yesterday. we are all here as amateurs just trying to fill the gaps left by an incompetent media. While it is often important to have the facts correct in our posts it’s not so important when we are trying to get the feelings of we supporters across to make our point. What, I think, we have all managed is to get across how infuriating (not a strong enough word) this unfettered cheating is to us all. At least in this, and the past two seasons, Celtic know there is no one receiving the gift of refs blocking their way to another title.
I can only imagine that in the course of his time with Sevco, Mc.Dowell had opportunities to disclose some of the back room shenanigans at Ibrox.
He, like Ally, chose not to. Instead, any comments were in support of the regime.
Therefore, I suspect that his revelation re selection of the Toon lads, was a deliberated shot at the Ashley clique, all in the service of the RRM in waiting.
Qui bono?
Just taking time off holiday to say allyjambo @ 1.06
Absolutely outstanding sir!
The Equality Standard for Sport
The Scottish FA is fully committed to promoting equity. Fairness, justice, respect for each other, inclusion, addressing inequalities and removing barriers are just some of the principles of equity that influence the Scottish FA’s development, delivery and decision making.
. . . .
Stewart Regan
Chief Executive
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3219
mcfc says:
February 5, 2015 at 5:08 pm
The Equality Standard for Sport
…are just some of the principles of equity that INFLUENCE the Scottish FA’s development, delivery and decision making…
. . . .
Stewart Regan
Chief Executive
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football.cfm?page=3219
==============================================================
Ah, but mcfc, this was probably drafted by the ‘world’s greatest football administrator’, as – along with the SFA rulebook – there is always a get-out.
Influence?
Yes, as regards Mr. King’s suitability as a football club director, the SFA was influenced by fairness, justice, respect for others etc, but after much deliberation has decided unanimously to approve Mr. King – in the best interests of Rangers and for Scottish football in general.
Job done. 🙄
Hmmmm…these are our principles if you dont like them we have others!!….
finchleyflyer says:
February 5, 2015 at 3:34 pm
13 0 Rate This
….I’m mystified about all Doncaster and Regan’s talk about the marketing juggernaut which is the OF. Not from here it ain’t.
————
Just about what their limited competence can manage, I imagine. They lack vision, originality, and seem to have little real understanding. Doncaster particularly just goes with the flow. Then again, he’d say he’s only trying to follow the wishes of SPFL clubs. But who’s whispering in Regan’s ear? Can he really be so weak-willed?
When it comes to diddies SR & ND are in a league of their own, two of the most puzzling appointments ever. Probably due another pay rise soon annaw :irony:
Clear out, Greek-style, needed.
Oh My God!, They Killed Kenny!
Well at least his dignity and reputation – just watched the video and it is astounding. Even the MSM seems to find it difficult to accept
“so what you’re saying is … ”
“let me get this straight … ”
“how can that be … ”
Shame no-one asked if Ashley was behind this – I’m sure Kenny would have spilled the beans.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/309203-rangers-boss-told-all-five-newcastle-players-must-start-every-game/
Kenny not sure if he can drop them for playing badly – or even SUBSTITUTE them ! ! ! !
Have you seen that QPR documentary where the chairman phones his man on the touch line to instruct the manager to make subs (The Three Year Plan) – it looked crazy then – it is crazy now!
London, Thailand, Korea? Pffft. I was in Inverurie on Sunday, the Hopeville Club to be exact. On my way out I popped my head into the bar about 30mins into the Sunday SF to check the score as one does. There was about 5 or 6 guys there, to be honest they looked a bit sad; sevco fans possibly or maybe just Sunday bored. In any event, anyone who has experienced small town Scotland can tell you, this is a vast difference from a few years ago when the place would have been teeming with glory hunters giving it laldy. This is why I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel, or hope in the Hopeville. Certainly up here in the diddy NE I think the game’s up as far the two club model goes.
Resin_lab_dog says:
February 5, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Which way is T’Rangers loanee to Raith Barrie McKay playing 😛