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?
The Daily Record exists to make money for Trinity Mirror plc. The Scottish edition of the Sun exists to make money for News UK which is owned by News Corp (exec chair Rupert Murdoch, co-chair Lachlan Murdoch). Objective journalism and advertising sales/enhancing shareholder value don’t always go hand in hand. That’s been obvious in the Rangers/TheRangers saga for a very long time.
Darryl advises that McCulloch must be sited for his asault on Griffiths by 3.00 today:
Good morning Darryl,
I wonder if you could help?
There are a number of people who have been attempting to get in touch with the SFA’s compliance officer by e-mail to no avail (getting no response).
McCulloch of the Rangers has been televised assaulting players from both Celtic and Raith Rovers in the last week yet has gone unpunished.
Could you provide me with a contact e-mail for the compliance officer I could forward please?
Regards
Darryl:
Hi John, the Compliance Officer is not public-facing so would have no remit to engage or respond. The same would apply to a High Court judge or sheriff.
We have a process which is well known around deadlines by which either a CO Notice of Complaint or a Player Reference is confirmed.
Me:
OK, can you advise if McCulloch has been subject to a notice of complaint and/or when is the deadline for such, and who has the remit to do so please?
Darryl:
Deadline for CO Reference is 3pm today
scapaflow says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:59 pm
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Its a hard one. having thought about it, if King can get back in, within the rules, and regulations as they currently stand, both in terms of footballing and business law, then good luck to him.
=====================================================================
If the laws and rules were applied as any twelve men and women good and true then King would have been told to sling his hook long ago. The fact the he might asscent those hallowed stairs is testament to the depressingly low moral standards of all involved.
If integrity is doing the right thing when no-one is looking – then you’d need the Large Hadron Collider to detect any trace of integrity down Hampden way.
ecobhoy says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Eco, the point I was meaning to make wasn’t to suggest that Ashley should go down the route of using his influence to get better publicity, or that it would be acceptable to do so, just that men in his position can do things outside what is acceptable for the rest of us if it will lead to them getting what they want. Also, if it was in Ashley’s interest to court the media, I’m sure he would, he probably owns farms to provide the most succulent of lamb 😉
The fact he doesn’t suggests the way they (the media) are covering him and TRFC suits his agenda, whatever it might be.
blu says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:03 pm
ecobhoy says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:41 pm
ecobhoy, all very logical and sensible and a proper football person would pay respect to the customers who ultimately pay for everything. However, Ashley and his acolytes most probably aren’t behaving in this way for a laugh – as noted by others, he plays to win (and probably isn’t averse to the odd Jason Talbot style tackle). There’s a simple reason for making life difficult for shareholders, it gains advantage for Ashley. He may eventually find NUFC or Rangers to be his Afghanistan but there’s no evidence so far that either set of fans can be bloody minded and attritional enough over a very long period to deliver a retreat by the forces of MASH.
======================================================================
Don’t disagree with any othe above. However it seems to me that there is a difference between NUFC and Rangers fans.
Continuing with the military analogy: In an earlier post today I pointed out that an SD directed Rangers will require a copious supply of expendable First Lieutenants to man the ramparts against the hostile natives wearing blue woe.
Indeed Ibrox may well become the hated northern outpost where players and management trainees are sent from the safety of Newcastle Behind the Wall to be toughened-up.
However, to be serious all-conquering armies ultimately are invariably defeated and so it is with many successful businessmen especially with retail empires.
The Ashley model has worked well to date but it isn’t immune to a Ratner Moment or decline.
Indeed if I was looking at SD as an investment then as part of my DYOR I would be wondering whether this national news fracas that Ashley has featured in with an inconsequential, virtually twice-bankrupted club – in Scotland of all places – is a sign of a dangerous obsession.
As to Rangers fans being able to stay the course: I think thery are probably capable of doing so. But that is, of course, not the only option. They can continue to walk away and that will destroy Rangers as a viable business.
And that’s what I was referring to wrt the difference between Rangers and NUFC – their fans appear to have stoicly accepted the fare on offer and I will be amazed if Rangers fans do.
So, as so often in internecine warfare there are no spoils and no victors. It’s a fascinating saga unfolding which may be more than a historical footnote as there’s a real opportunity for positive changes in Scottish Society.
Alas nothing comes without a price and any advances for inclusiveness may have to be paid in footballing integrity if the SFA doesn’t get its act in gear and deal with the major new issues being exposed and their past legacy.
Thanks,ayerightnaw.@ 1.01.
To be scrupulously fair and objective, the Ashley threat to Scottish professional football is at least as real as the threat posed by the acceptance of King by the SFA would be .
SDM’s cheating and the failure of our football governance has had a double effect: it has shown us that our Football Authorities were prepared to spit in the eye of Sporting Integrity.
And by doing so have let slip the dogs of commercial war.
So, not only have they destroyed any possibility of their ever again being trusted as fair and just administrators and governors of our sport as sport, but they have left themselves without a principled commercial or legal leg to stand on in trying to combat the problems that Ashley and/or other ‘ double-ownership-of- clubs tycoons can create.
Fowler is right to be concerned.
If only all clubs had been as concerned at the crassness of the deceit of the 5WA at the time and had kicked its proposers and architects squarely inthe arse, we would not have these problems now.
In,as ever, my opinion.
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:11 pm
MFC, if you’re looking for integrity among any of the actors in this mess, you are going to be disappointed.
I suppose my point would be that, King’s ascension with in the rules & laws, would demonstrate, once again, that Business Law & Football “Law” actually encourages & rewards un-ethical behaviours, which is the opposite outcome, from the one most reasonable people would expect.
ecobhoy says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Eco – the use of the word “apparently” is good given the article states that Dave King said he was cleared. I do not know if the BBC did ask SARS but, being suspicious of comments made to date, if Dave King wanted to he could simply get the name from the SARS website [where Adrian Lackey is the SARS Media Spokesman and Marika Muller the deputy] and claim the BBC asked. Of course we also have to understand the context of the statement and whether it is 100% accurate – in other words did the words “in South Africa” get missed out when referring to King’s ability to be a Director of a company??
John Clark says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:32 pm
If only all clubs had been as concerned at the crassness of the deceit of the 5WA at the time and had kicked its proposers and architects squarely inthe arse, we would not have these problems now.
=============
The problem for me is precisely that. The 5WA was signed off at the end of July 2012. Come the SFA AGM in June 2013, Ogilvie is handed another 2 years in office by all of the clubs. Regan and Doncaster, signatories to the 5WA, both get juicy pay rises, together with tasty bonuses, again from the clubs, presumably for being perceived as serving the interests of the clubs very well. What am I supposed to make of that?
Regan, Doncaster and Ogilvie are servants of the clubs. Their actions have pleased their masters. It is the clubs who must be sorted out. They are the puppeteers. Attacking the puppets is utterly pointless. And there are plenty more where they came from.
I have to recommend an article from a gersnet Bear which shows humour can survive no matter the circumstances and he makes some interesting points wrt Rangers PR strategy.
He ends with:
My last hope has to be the EGM, currently stumbling around London like a 1970’s Scotland fan, looking for a dosshouse to be put up in. Yet another PR disaster – or is it? Good news, or bad news? I’ll be happy if it just goes ahead. Like Anastasia Steele in the film, it can’t come soon enough.
http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/311-50-shades-of-blue
3 pm UK is 1.00 feckin am Brisbane time. It’s now 11.57. pm (Tuesday),
Do I stay up to find out if thug McCulloch has been cited?
If ever there were a rhetorical question, that must surely be it.
But it is a kind of excuse to have another cold FatYak (4.7% alc/vol) pale ale.Or maybe two. Been a long,very hot grandfatherly day! ach, make that three, wi a couple o wee goldies to see them down as I wait to be surprised.
Methilhill Stroller says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:47 pm
ecobhoy says:
February 10, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Eco – the use of the word “apparently” is good given the article states that Dave King said he was cleared.
———————————————
Easily seen that my standards are a tad highr than a SMSM journo 🙄
Beware of Greeks Paying Taxes
King has a manifesto that even the Greek electorate would scoff at as unrealistic: anti austerity, investing in the squad, re-entering Europe within four years. WATP loud and proud, all on OPM.
Maybe what The Rangers need is a Derbyshire-based troika to put them straight and tell them the hard truths. It won’t be easy, you’ll need to pay your taxes (not just to HMRC) but stability is possible. Instead The People, encouraged by King, believe in easy answers and beleive they deserve reparations for injustice suffered at the hands of all and sundry.
The thing is that if Greece becomes a failed state it will really affect us all economically, whereas if The Rangers fail again (sic) the only ones affected will be those immuned to economic realities anyway.
My money is on Greece regaining its former glory (and marbles) before The People.
Methilhill Stroller says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Of course we also have to understand the context of the statement and whether it is 100% accurate – in other words did the words “in South Africa” get missed out when referring to King’s ability to be a Director of a company??
======================
It is completely obvious (to anyone other than Scottish journalists) that SARS can only speak regarding matters within their own jurisdiction, which is the RSA. No revenue service can issue “clearances” to other jurisdictions in the way that the Scottish press are suggesting. Company law is different in every country, and every country will deal with questions of the fitness of directors within their own legal framework. Whether SARS consider King to be fit to be a director has absolutely no relevance to King’s position in the UK. SARS quite simply cannot determine any matters to do with UK company law.
scapa @ 12.59
If you can ignore the minor indiscretions vis a vis those pesky south african tax and fraud laws then indeed it is the rules that are lax and that in itself, is not King’s fault or problem.
Its the next bit that is Kings problem and the bit very shortly after that is all of our problem.
Firstly, for King to win he has to come with money, serious money to firstly repay Ashley (and I suspect buy him out too) and secondly to fund the ongoing farce. It doesn’t matter if King is actually the scrooge fairy himself, no austerity measures he comes up with will yield benefit within the first 6 months else they would have been done already.
Secondly, I suspect Kings ego will go into overdrive and austerity will be the last thing on his mind. Fine. Great. It all needs cash and if he’s got it, either his own or OPM then good on him. Means nothing will change for a short while and only a sense of general fairness in me hopes that they remain in the championship for another year to ‘develop’ their strategy.
I suspect though, that they have no cash. They will have no real way of getting real cash. If they combine this with a loss making hubris fuelled cash pit of a club that they are hell bent on maintaining then that becomes everyone’s problem. King, more than any other of the ‘owners’ before him strikes me as the type who would call the SFA/SPFL’s bluff to get to September and then offload the problem/responsibility onto all of us to see them through “for the good of the game.”
That’s where I have the problem!
And its all so easily avoided.
Bawsman says:
February 10, 2015 at 9:59 am
MA’s MO
There were two games on at the weekend on SKY TV, Newcastle stadium bedecked in Sports Direct livery.
Ibrox stadium similarly liveried.
The advertising was more stark in the Ibrox scenario as there was no crowd or football to distract from the message.
________________________________________________________
Unfair on Raith.
They tried to play entertaining stuff.
But you can only beat the team that’s put in front of you, after all. :irony:
I think you should apologise to Paul Watson.
Good to see the good old DR and Keefie maintaining the moral high ground and refusing to be silenced by the Ibrox powers that be.
They’ve promised us all that they will, despite their ban, continue to tell the truth and ask the questions about what’s going on down Govan way.
I see they’ve even provided a picture gallery on their website which outlines ‘four years of turmoil as told through our front and back pages’.
I checked and checked again but could find no trace of the pictorial image of the front and back page dated Wednesday, June 13th 2012 (done the math and it is within the last 4 years).
You know the one……. the front page is mainly in black and has a photo of the Legends Scottish Cup team from 1877 above 4″ high block print saying ‘R.I.P. RFC’.
The banner at the top simply says ‘Taxman passes death sentence on 140 years of Rangers history’.
The back page has ‘Rangers FC: 1872-2012’ above huge print stating ‘WE’LL STILL MAKE YOU PAY’ in reference to ‘no free pass to SPL for newco Gers.
Just as well I still have my souvenir edition in my drawer to remind me!
Now, I wonder why they forgot to include these images in their gallery of how they fearlessly and truthfully reported it all?
Hypocritical toe rags who need their erches kicked, as John Clark would say.
Oh, and if you’re still up down under, JC, not too much Fat Yak.
Leave some for me when I get there in a few weeks!
Lovely stuff, innit?
scapaflow says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:36 pm
I suppose my point would be that, King’s ascension with in the rules & laws, would demonstrate, once again, that Business Law & Football “Law” actually encourages & rewards un-ethical behaviours, which is the opposite outcome, from the one most reasonable people would expect.
====================================================================
The killers are the deceit and greed. If they promulgated what you describe, no reasonable person would participate and part with their hard-earned. When integrity gets in the way of the “regulators” money and ambition it is trampled underfoot and at the same time lauded it as their reason d’etre. Honest, decent punters need to re-direct their money to more edifying activities and deny the low-lives their only goals in life.
Smugas says:
February 10, 2015 at 2:08 pm
I wouldn’t bet against you
Though again, such an outcome would surely be symptomatic of a weak regulatory system, in turn managed by a weak set of regulators.
I have no brief for any of the bums, stiffs & wasters at Hampden, but, they do what they do, and behave the way they behave, because that is how the clubs want it.
We are not going to see real change unless, some outside agency, (probably parliament), steps in, right now I can’t see that happening, unless BDO turns up criminal activity, that Hampden were aware of, and did nothing about.
MFC
See Deutche Bank, HBOS, RBS, HSBC all convicted & fined on multiple counts, all conducting their business as usual
scapaflow says:
February 10, 2015 at 2:39 pm
MFC
See Deutche Bank, HBOS, RBS, HSBC all convicted & fined on multiple counts, all conducting their business as usual
=====================
yes, depresing and diisguusting – Margaret Hodge for life president !
Two game ban accepted by @LiviFCOfficial’s Jason Talbot
In other news, EPL to announce who won what for TV coverage 2016-19 at 5pm. Expected to be average £8m per game
Good to know that a convicted tax evader and proven (,,) has used a supposed e-mail from SARS as proof of his status. Glad that’s sorted.
Delighted to see The Scotsman sink into the same cesspit of distortion (hard to believe that under Andrew Jaspin this was the greatest newspaper in Scotland, and, imho im the UK, by a long way when you see the pitiful rag that it has descended into) as the DR, with DK’s “tax settlement” lie getting another unchallenged outing.
The SMSM are so far from being in anyway journalists that they are now a source of genuine National embarrassment, not known since the days of Alan Rough’s alarming goalkeeping couture!
How to make money in football
Buy a football club ltd in England in or near the top league with potentially break even core support
Strip out every penny of costs and revenues needed to break even leaving the business entirely dependent on its core support
Buy a football club ltd in Scotland in or near the top league with potentially break even core support
Strip out every penny of costs and revenues needed to break even leaving the business entirely dependent on core support
Appoint a Coach for each team with no say in player loans or transfers
Prioritise Coaches to developing young talent and avoiding relegation
Appoint a senior talent spotter for the English club to advise the board on players with sell on potential
Manage all back office tasks centrally for both clubs to eliminate duplication
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Thereafter?
Use both clubs to develop talent capable of holding down a first team place in the English club
Sell on any players who can yield a decent profit on their purchase price.
Loan or transfer development failures and long term injured to the Scottish club ( with their costs)
Ignore the media and treat the fans like peasants
………..
Any Geordies out there who would disagree?
I see from the official SFA website that Jason Talbot of Livingston FC has been offered, and has accepted a two-march suspension for commiting an act of “Serious Foul Play”.
It appears, however, that no such offer has been made to Lee McCulloch of The Rangers FC.
I now reflect on the continued appropriateness of the title of this blog:
“Spot the Difference”.
I’m obviously not condoning the Talbot tackle, but wasn’t there a rule that if the match referee saw the incident and penalised the player with a yellow card, that incident could not subsequently be dealt with under retrospective disciplinary procedures?
I have to stop using the word “hapless” to describe Mark Walker, of The Times. Actually, the guy writes remarkably well, if his job description is to express the pain felt by a passionate Sevco fan.Yesterday’s angst-fest featured “how the mighty have fallen”, a potted history of The Rangers’ worst seven games. The 2-1 defeat by Annan in March 2013 includes the following deathless prose:
“Rangers lose their unbeaten home record in the old Third Division to a new team in Scottish football, from a town with a population of 8,000.”
A pedant might point out that:
1. Annan Athletic were founded in 1942, and
2. They were admitted to the SFL in 2008.
Today, while informing us that “if Rangers cannot cling on to second place, they face the nightmare scenario of playing six games to try to earn promotion”, he confides that Lewis MacLeod was “gifted to Brentford for a reported fee of £850,000.” Some gift. He also repeatedly falls into the trap of referring to Dave King as “former director”, without telling us what of. But that’s commonplace, I guess.
Therangersnil?who missed the penalty?.3.20 pm.
———–
you’ve sent me to bed,unsurprised!
nawlite says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:28 pm
I’m obviously not condoning the Talbot tackle, but wasn’t there a rule that if the match referee saw the incident and penalised the player with a yellow card, that incident could not subsequently be dealt with under retrospective disciplinary procedures?
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
A rule????
Mibees Aye, Mibees Naw
Are the sfa waiting on one of mr mcculloch’s attacks ending a player’s career before they punish him???? The longer he get’s away with it, the more blatant his attacks become 🙁 absolutely disgusting!!!!!
John Clark says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Therangersnil?who missed the penalty?.3.20 pm.
———–
you’ve sent me to bed,unsurprised!
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
At least you had the FatYak and the Goldies as consolation.
It’s pre-drinking time for me.
Maybe Stewart Regan can explain why the promotion of the game is so bad that the compliance officer couldn’t be #rsed watching two live games on BBC and didn’t bother watching highlights programme either.
Now that Radar Jackson is a renegade, anti-establishment investigative journalist, here are a few exclusives we can expect:
• The Five Way Agreement – So Good They Signed it Twice?
• Revealed: Beneficial Owners of Blue Pitch and Margarita Holdings
• Revealed: Dave King’s South African Criminal Record Document
• Campaign – Strip David Murray of his Knighthood For Killing Rangers
• Secret Recording of Illegal Songs at Ibrox Sent to UEFA
• Revealed: How Much Did New “Old Firm” Cost Public Purse
• We tell UEFA All About “Conflicted” Ogilvie
• We tell UEFA All About “Convicted” King
• Scottish Refs – So Conflicted They Should Be Convicted
• Exclusive: All About Succulent Lamb – How the Ibrox Press Machine Works
• Campaign – Resign Regan – You’re Out of Your Depth
• Jack The Knife: Secret Recordings of a Manipulator
• EBTs – We Ask Every Recipent for a Copy of Their Side Letter to Sent to HMRC
mcfc says:
February 5, 2015 at 6:40 pm
Sorry, QPR: The FOUR Year Plan
If you haven’t seen it – you will love it – Ecclestone, Briatore, Warnock – two hours of football insanity and genius
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzmeEipmHkM
====================================================
Not totally OT, but I eventually got round to viewing the above documentary – and would highly recommend it to other Bampots who have not seen it yet.
IMO, there seemed to be some similarities to TRFC, especially at the start of the QPR documentary: confusion, chaos, and Flavio Briatore came across like an Italian ‘big hands’ character.
If you liked the behind the scenes access on the recent ‘Being Liverpool’ documentary, you will love it, just love it ! 😉
Some jaw dropping moments, with lots of very indiscreet, personal comments made about the manager(s) and player(s).
And, IMO, the English FA ‘bottles it’ wrt imposing a possibly deserved points deduction…
Thanks for originally posting that mcfc.
[And it’s actually a very quick 90 minutes in length.]
nawlite says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:28 pm
I’m obviously not condoning the Talbot tackle, but wasn’t there a rule that if the match referee saw the incident and penalised the player with a yellow card, that incident could not subsequently be dealt with under retrospective disciplinary procedures?
=================
This is what it says in the Judicial Panel Protocol:
It looks like Livingston and the player have accepted the findings (or weren’t prepared to pay the costs associated with an appeal).
StevieBC says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:52 pm
Not totally OT, but I eventually got round to viewing the above documentary – and would highly recommend it to other Bampots who have not seen it yet.
=========================================================================
Glad you enjoyed it – what would you pay to see the Ibrox equivalent – it would be longer than one of those Scandi Taggarts – but worth at least a kidney or two 😉
btw – I read 1:28 as 128 – so only 88mins
John Clark says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Therangersnil?who missed the penalty?.3.20 pm.
———–
you’ve sent me to bed,unsurprised!
————————————-
Sadly not an uncommon bedtime sensation, though not one normally brought about by the behaviour of Lee McCulloch.
Hat. Got.
blu says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Interesting that the Judicial Panel Protocol repeats: “brought to the attention of the Compliance Officer by whatever means”.
Am I missing something or does that mean anyone, including you and me, can lodge a complaint with the SFA and request it be passed to the Compliance Officer?
Shurely not and any complaint must arise from a fit and proper person…
AyeRightNaw says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:09 pm
blu says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:53 pm
Interesting that the Judicial Panel Protocol repeats: “brought to the attention of the Compliance Officer by whatever means”.
Am I missing something or does that mean anyone, including you and me, can lodge a complaint with the SFA and request it be passed to the Compliance Officer?
A new job in Scottish football for DCK?
blu says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Quite.
His production of his ‘sentence completed/served certificate’ from SARS is as laughable as it is desperate. I’d imagine almost all criminals could obtain something similar on completion of their penalty.
bit late for Aussie based TSFM’s, but………..
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/309781-lee-mcculloch-offered-two-match-ban-over-stamp-on-dale-carrick/
GoosyGoosy says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Would it not be simpler, and cheaper, for Mr Ashley just to have one pool of players. They could play on a Saturday in England and mid-week in Scotland.
Surely not too difficult for the world’s greatest administrator to organise.
andygraham.66 says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:38 pm
bit late for Aussie based TSFM’s, but………..
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/309781-lee-mcculloch-offered-two-match-ban-over-stamp-on-dale-carrick/
I take it all back. Even handedness and parity. Who’da thunk it?
I wonder if he/the club/ the company will follow Jason Talbot’s and Livingston’s example and accept the punishment, and if their respective fans’ responses will be similar.
The DR has the following Yes/No survey online today:
‘Will this ban stop The Record getting the big Rangers stories?’
The correct answer, is, of course:
No. It’s your incompetence that stops you getting the big ‘Rangers’ stories. That’s all.
The ban will only stop you getting instant access to TRFC’s PR blurbs. You will then just copy and paste from other PR outlets’ coverage. You really are that clever 😆
I see another not proven verdict ahead.
If they had gone for the forearm smashes on Griffiths and Carrick instead then he’d be bang to rights.
Is there absolutely nothing that the SFA can get right?
Just a one match ban, then.
McCulloch won’t be playing in the Scottish Cup again.
andygraham.66 says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:38 pm
With any luck Hibs will be able to cancel the order for extra neck-braces for Friday night 😉
AyeRightNaw says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Have you considered that you might be mistaking incompetence, for deliberate & successful policy?
Allyjambo says:
February 10, 2015 at 4:51 pm
The DR has the following Yes/No survey online today:
‘Will this ban stop The Record getting the big Rangers stories?’
=================================
When I glanced at that story this morning, both choices were “No”.
As with KJ’s article, the DR seems to have discovered irony (which is ironic in itself).
scapaflow says:
February 10, 2015 at 5:03 pm
Such wilful incompetence did cross my mind. However, that would only serve to undermine my ‘natural unavoidable incompetence’ theory.
Re The Daily Record, the Ibrox ban, and the laughable moral high ground the Record are taking. They are actively promoting that a convicted tax evader is allowed to take control of a Scottish club. Their right to any moral high ground disappears in that case.
I note the Compliance Officer is free to review matters that are brought to his attention by any means
However presumably not by email being that Bawsmans conversation with Daryl gave us the following in relation to trying to bring things to the CO’s attention via e-mail:-
“the Compliance Officer is not public-facing so would have no remit to engage or respond.”
Where would Scottish fitba be withoot Neil Doncaster? Isn’t he due a bonus?
Mibbes we’re being too harsh on poor Keefy, now that the DR is banned from Ibrox.
What’s he going to copy/paste under his name ?!
But now – apparently – that the DR wants to publish only the truth, could there be an opportunity here ?
Maybe Keefy could copy/paste from TSFM more often if he wants the truth – and the Bampots would probably prefer not to get any accreditation in his rag either.
Win/Win ! 😉
£5 billion is a lot of money from Sky when TV is likely to be supplied via the internet rather than satellite in a few years time. Sky is going to have to invest a lot in its infrastructure as well.
Bawsman says:
February 10, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Interesting to find out that the Compliance Officer is NOT public facing. Well let’s face it no one in the SFA is public facing…………………. even with their two faces!!
I seem to remember that he was public facing enough when THREE complaints were made, by traumatised individuals, when microphones picked up a manager swearing at an opposition player.
So three complaints managed to miraculously make it through the SFA sifting mechanism to get a manager a touchline ban and yet he is NOT public facing. Does this not beg the question “How did these complaints manage to get to a non public facing individual?”
Personally I find it inconceivable that there has not been more than three complaints with regard to either of these incidents. So what is the criteria?
How has the criteria altered with the changing of the individual in post?
As always with the SFA the more they try to be clever the more incompetent and biased they appear. It is almost, like Mike, they no longer care who they hack off.
just shatered
Absolutely bang on ………
It’s A Cracker
” – and King can be extremely charming – ”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/opinion/spiers-on-sport-the-last-days-of-a-doomed-rangers-regime.1423589391
Drop The Dead Donkey
Forget to actual figures – look at the increases and competition for the packages. Doncaster couldn’t pimp a hooker to Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Premier League TV rights
£5.136bn
Cost of rights 2016-19
71%
Increase on 2014-16
£10.19m per game
168 games to be shown live
126 will be shown by Sky
42 will be shown by BT
Source: Premier League
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-31379128
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 6:10 pm
I wonder how many well practiced liars aren’t extremely charming? Spiers certainly seems to fall for the charm of any RRM he comes across, as does Jackson and all the rest.
Once the charm disappears, of course, their memory of what they wrote goes blank!
There used to be journalists who could see through the charm in an instant, but then there used to be journalists!
Interesting that the talk on SSB is of the wisdom of another year in the second tier for Ibrox. Now, had this entity not been rushed into existence, a one year break would quite possibly have left them in the exact same position. The difference, of course, would have been the one season hiatus that could have seen some non-spiv like people create a newco that might have been welcomed and respected.
Secret 5WA surely needs to be revealed. Why should Scottish football be run by what looks like a secret masonic mystery association?
At the time of Neil Lennon being charged with the swearing offence he intimated to a weekly press conference he believed that a senior SFA figure was behind the charge. Most other people in the game, especially managers, thought the charge was ridiculous. I happened to speak to a prominent journalist around that time who told me the name of the SFA person. I won’t name the journalist or the SFA person on here of course. Suffice to say though it convinced me the disciplinary process is arbitrary.
iceman63 says:
February 10, 2015 at 11:00 am
…………………………………..
The Record don’t have a NUJ chapter, iceman – it’s called a chapel, with the leader being FOC (father of the chapel or MOC if it’s a woman) Not pointing it out to be a smart-alex, but for the Irony.
Remember folks, Kieth Jackson always has been Jack’s boy and Murray’s telepathic pal Grossart was on theTrinity Mirror board for most of the ebt years.
There was never any chance of ‘balanced’ Rangers coverage in the Record.
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 6:10 pm
===========================================================
mods – respect 🙂
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Drop The Dead Donkey….
———
Aye, and hee-haw north of the border. That EPL is a bubble waiting to burst. Fans are priced out. Do young people now paying uni fees and living in austerity Britain have the cash to fill those terraces? They say the crowds will be made up of older and older fans, and when they go, then what?
It’s hardly even a TV spectacle. My eyes now glaze over watching financially-steroid inspired Chelsea, Man U, City and the rest. Almost every EPL match that is live is available abroad, but it’s becoming un-watchable. I will have a squint at Aston Villa tonight because of the Scottish connection and the fact that the club is playing with purse strings tied — but that’ll be my only match of the week from that league.
tamjartmarquez says:
February 8, 2015 at 7:49 am
Re Talbot tackle—Beyond belief, now if that had been on a Sevco player today, the culprit would walk, be in no doubt whatsoever.
—–
The Rangers nil? Who missed the penalty? says:
February 10, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Spot the Difference
I posted on Sunday, and received a few TDs, no doubt due to the posts inverse whataboutery nature. I asserted that if the Talbot challenge had been on a The Rangers player it would have been a red card. When I made this assertion I was in no doubt.
I know TSFM does not encourage refereeing performance debate, and this is not a criticism of the referee in question, but of the ambient condition these guys are operating in.
Following every contentious decision it’s often quoted, ‘over the season, these things even themselves out.’
I’m not buying it.
Why?
Bet not all are aware, Hearts again, finished this match with 10 men.
Robbie Neilson has been, rightly, praised for his approach to coaching and for getting the best from his young charges.
His young team have scored 61 league goals, have scored 4 or more goals in 9 league games. All good? No
Hearts have received 5 red cards and 49 yellow cards, shared between no fewer than 20 players.
Either, they are the dirtiest team ever? or as DavisGate and Leveins Dundee United outburst after some ‘honest mistakes’, showed, with the benefit of hindsight, it was more important and that Rangers ‘had to win’.
Hearts have on the face of it a horrendous Scottish Championship disciplinary record.
Championship leaders with +45 GD and a lead of 19 points over the closest rivals. (+23 goals better than Sevco)
Lets compare
Pre season favourites, and ‘making friends on their return to their rightful place, costing Celtic £10million per year according to their CEO. 😈
Disciplinary record 1 Red Card, ironically against Hearts when two others, Boyd and Miller should have been sent off! And 28 Yellow cards.
This just does not add up.
The five Hearts Red cards
Brad McKay – on Saturday, foul, denying goal scoring opportunity? My erchie, © acknowledged
Osman Sow –elbow on Nelson v Hibs – compare with Elbows McCulloch every week!
Callum Patterson lunge v Hibs, deserved red- compare with Black v Rovers on Sunday, and no doubt every week!
Prince Buaben, 2 footed lunge, barbaric when compared to both Miller and Boyd challenges v Hearts at Tynecastle? My erchie © acknowledged
Gomis v Celtic in League Cup- never a red, not even a foul. (Don’t TD just for this !! 😎 )
Now regards things balancing out over a season there is plainly something not quite right here.
I don’t watch many of the The Rangers games, however I saw McCulloch receive a yellow for 2 red card challenges in the same assault on Carrick, and followed up with a second half challenge that warranted another yellow.
McCulloch has had 4, yes that was only his 4th yellow card of the season, did the Compliance Officer not watch the match on Sunday?
Gomis and Ozturk 8 each! Patterson, Wilson and Bauben 4 each, McHattie and Brad McKay 3 each!!! Do any of these players commit as many fouls as McCulloch? I don’t know the answer but I’d guess No.
McCulloch has a new career in the UN, once his career in football is over, if it isn’t already. He deserves a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for making friends as on the march back to their rightful place.However Hearts have receive 5 red cards and 48 yellows this season, this seems incredible for a team playing a good passing game, scoring 5 goals in a match on many occassions .
Hearts have on the face of it a horrendous Scottish Championship disciplinary record.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Pre season favourites, and ‘making friends on their return to their rightful place, costing Celtic £10million per year according to their Chairman. 1 Red Card, ironically against Hearts when two others, Boyd and Miller should have been sent off! And 28 Yellow cards.
The five Hearts Red cards
Brad McKay – on Saturday, denying goal scoring opportunity? My Erchie, © acknowledged
Osman Sow –elbow on Nelson v Hibs – compare with Elbows McCulloch every week!
Callum Patterson lunge v Hibs, deserved red- compare with Black v Rovers on Sunday, and no doubt every week!
Prince Buaben, 2 footed lunge v Falkirk- harsh when compared to both Miller and Boyd challenges v Hearts at Tynecastle.
Gomis v Celtic in League Cup- never a red, not even a foul. (Don’t TD just for this !! 😀 )
Now regards things balancing out over a season there is plainly something not quite right here.
I don’t watch many of the The Rangers games, however I saw McCulloch receive a single yellow for 2 red card challenges in the same assault on Carrick, and followed up with a second half challenge that warranted another yellow.
McCulloch has had 4, yes that was only his 4th yellow card of the season, notice Compliance Officer has awoken from his slumber and offered a punishment for his stamp!!!!! I agree that the smirk afterwards was contemptuous, and lacked dignity!
Back to the Hearts bookings: Gomis and Ozturk 8 each! Patterson, Wilson and Bauben 4 each, McHattie and Brad McKay 3 each!!!
Question to the congregation, are Hearts a dirty team? How do the red/ yellow cards of other teams compare?
Do any of these players commit as many fouls as McCulloch? I don’t know the answer but I’d guess No.
Surely McCulloch has a new career in the UN, once his career in football is over, if it isn’t already. He deserves a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for making friends as on the march back to their rightful place, he is surely a saint.
Rant Over!
P.S. http://www.teamtalk.com Source of disciplinary stats
apologies bit of a double post after discovering Compliance Officer is awake 😕
Danish Pastry says:
February 10, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Aye, and hee-haw north of the border. That EPL is a bubble waiting to burst.
=====================================================================
The EPL is just the embodiment of capitalist ambition – within FIFA’s weak rules – like our glorious banking system under the iron fist of the FSA. The same dynamics are blighting Spain and Italy – all could learn from the self-restraint and long term outlook of Germany. Meanwhile, in Scotland the sport is run by cowardly, platitudinal no-bodies who are criticised by the millionaire promoter of a pub game ffs – and don’t have a creditable rebuttal between them. A sad state of affairs indeed! In the words of Joe Jackson; “It’s something that someone really ought to do something about.” But who is “someone” other than the individual paying punter – because no-one in authority at any level has stood forward yet.
Whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, that’s my excuse anyway, I turned on SSB.
A caller was discussing the McCulloch incidents over the last couple of weeks and one of the pundits stated that, at the League Cup semi final, he was seventy yards away and could not clearly see the incident.
Now that is fair comment as Hampden is an appalling stadium, where you get a clearer view of a lunar landing site than the football match taking place in front of you, however what he said next I found strange “I have not watched the game back”.
Given that a few challenges in this match have been discussed by everyone for almost ten days now he has not even bothered to watch even this aspect of the game before going on a phone in where he will undoubtedly be asked to give an opinion!
I find it astonishing that this individual is so completely unprepared for the task he is being paid for!
A pundit is supposed to be an expert, authority, analyst, or specialist. You may as well have dragged in a Gibbon, or worse still an SFA Office bearer, to give their interpretation of the incidents in question.
Obviously no offence meant to any Gibbons looking in.
On the evening of the Celtic v TRFC semi final there was a dreadful incident in my village where a young father was badly beaten by unknown thugs. The young man in question was along with friends in the afternoon watching the football. He is a TRFC fan. A well respected guy around the village. In their haste to portray this as ‘Old Firm’ related the disgraceful Daily Record ran a story telling all and sundry how the disgusting attack was the work of Celtic Fans. Couldn’t wait to get the news out there. Not a thought about the victim or his young family. News today that 2 people have been charged with attempted murder coupled with a slow,steady recovery for the innocent victim is gratefully received good news. Not that it matters a jot in the big scheme of things but maybe the original reporter from the record would like to do a follow up and maybe print the facts. Thought not.
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Danish Pastry says:
February 10, 2015 at 6:56 pm
Aye, and hee-haw north of the border. That EPL is a bubble waiting to burst.
=====================================================================
The EPL is just the embodiment of capitalist ambition…
========================================================
Referring back to the excellent European TV license deals analysis by stevensanph, it appeared that Scottish league football had a poor TV deal. No surprise there then.
Good or bad, the EPL is raking in the big bucks, for now anyway.
And IIRC, Sky was not allowed to monopolise the EPL games, hence the requirement to ‘divi up’ and sell game packages.
So, why doesn’t the SPL outsource the selling of their TV rights to the EPL ?
It could give the EPL more packages/permutations to sell – for a higher gross total.
And the EPL could charge the SPL a decent commission.
Either way, the SPL ‘should’ get a heck of a lot more dosh from leveraging the experience of the EPL negotiators and the global popularity of the EPL ?
In an ideal world of course…
justshatered says:
February 10, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, that’s my excuse anyway, I turned on SSB
===================================================================
A touch of the Arsene Wenger’s there – “I did not see . . . ” is his laughable answer to any question about obvious indiscretions by his players – and the press now just seem to defer to him instead of asking why he’s always looking at his shoes during every match.
StevieBC says:
February 10, 2015 at 7:33 pm
Either way, the SPL ‘should’ get a heck of a lot more dosh from leveraging the experience of the EPL negotiators and the global popularity of the EPL ?
====================================================================
Good idea, but like any successful franchise the EPL would want things done exactly their way. Would the EPL provide the refs and disciplinary board too. Would they require good pitches for big events and control of the thermastats. Would they want to review the song books ? Would they insist on neutral grounds for semis ? Would they inspect the integrity of stadia ?
You may have heard a wee bit concerning HSBC.
Heres the full deal.
A bit off topic. But nevertheless:
You may have heard a wee bit concerning HSBC.
Heres the full deal.
No trace of current figures but certainly some fitba types get a mention.
http://www.icij.org/project/swiss-leaks/banking-giant-hsbc-sheltered-murky-cash-linked-dictators-and-arms-dealers?utm_campaign=swiss_leaks&utm_source=appeal&utm_medium=button_middle&goal=0_ffd1d0160d-b4353af741-100079865&mc_cid=b4353af741&mc_eid=507410596f
mcfc says:
February 10, 2015 at 7:12 pm
The EPL is just the embodiment of capitalist ambition – within FIFA’s weak rules – like our glorious banking system under the iron fist of the FSA. The same dynamics are blighting Spain and …
———–
Apropos Spain, a great interview with David Moyes on 5Live Football Daily yesterday (Monday Night Club). A really good bit with Tony Pulis as well, some wise words from him. Pulis interview about 41min into the podcast, Moyes follows.