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?
EDIT – Danish I must have been looking while you were typing 🙂
Just been trawling a few old youtube videos
Have a look at the crowd celebrations of the 1975 league victory at Easter Road (go to 27:30 to 30:00) The French Tricolour is more the flag of choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaUP6kfv_wk
then compare with start of the 2002 Rangers Celtic Cub final (first 10 seconds).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfRwwY3kWkA
Count the Union Jacks.
Similarly a crowd scene from 1967 shows very few flags at all in the Celtic crowd (go to 4:20 – 4:30)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL2YQxQhMRo
In the 1963 Cup final there is one Irish Tricolour but that’s about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwTrVuipwBo
Not a scientific study by any means but I would suggest far from being ‘traditional’ the ‘flag waving’ by Rangers and Celtic fans and possibly the more frequent singing of certain songs is more a recent development.
DP,
I started going around 1961 and they were a feature of those games, hence the Stringent Measures warnings.
neepheid says:
February 23, 2015 at 9:45 am
ecobhoy says:
February 22, 2015 at 10:05 pm
IMO you have totally missed the point. T3B didn’t break any confidence or agreement afaik. The minute that was published is indisputedly a smear on three Scottish businessmen which might well be actionable.
==============================
I’m not clear what point I’m supposed to have missed. And where did I say or even suggest that T3B broke confidentiality? I didn’t say anything like that.
————————————————–
If you re-read my original article I think it clearly lays-out the point I think you have missed. If you still have any questions then please PM me and I will answer any specific points you raise.
Btw I didn’t state you said T3B had broken confidentiality and I simply don’t understand why you have come to that conclusion.
Might I again suggest that you PM me and identify where I made that statement and I will, of course, respond.
If I have got it wrong then I will publicly apologise on the main forum for my error.
I look forward to hearing from you in order to amicably resolve any issues.
wottpi says:
February 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm
There was a very good reason for the shortage of flags back then – they didn’t exist in a form the fans could get hold of or afford. No banners either.
Recent sectarian/racist singing at Starks Park again was heard by a wide audience. No apologies as yet from the broadcaster BT Spots or from the club of the fans involved.
This club had a anti catholic signing policy for about 100 years (just think about that 100 years) It was not hidden and SFA and politicians were all aware of this policy. As such it attracted IMO fans of a certain religion and because this issue was not addressed properly they had free reign to sing certain songs that could be deemed offensive to certain people. The signing policy has been changed (under severe protest from the fans) but the songs continue. Generations of fans have followed the old tradition and as such for some reason these songs remain. EUFA has punished this club for indiscriminate chanting. These songs are a regular occurrence in Scotland and I do not recall any punishment. Hopefully the Stan Collymore chanting incident which was appalling may be a real turning point on how to start to really address this problem and not just give it lip service. I am sad to say but IMO this has got to be addressed by someone outside Scotland, as there seems to be either a fear of dealing with or a willingness for this to continue.
Allyjambo says:
February 23, 2015 at 12:32 pm
The cost and availability did cross my mind, especially in the 60s but if you look at the Scotland /England 1976 (one years after Rangers league win at Easter Road plenty flags to be seen)
See 3:00 – 3:10 and 6:00-6:06 after the Scotland goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtDJu_Ge8Sw
Also in Celtics 67 EC victory plenty flags seen including home made ones but not necessarily Irish tricolours.
Not a scientific study by any means but I would suggest far from being ‘traditional’ the ‘flag waving’ by Rangers and Celtic fans and possibly the more frequent singing of certain songs is more a recent development
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As a child of the 60s & 70s , I can recall flag beings available for sale widely outside most football grounds. Fans usually didn’t buy them as the offending flag pole would be removed by the police.
Which reminds me of an incident at Tannadice back in the day when HMFC was fighting relegation , probably more than 15 years ago. My 10 YO son had a flag draped across his shoulders – this was a football flag in every sense , it was bought from the official club shop and in no way could be interpreted to be sectarian (and if it was , I can assure you I would not have bought it). One of Tayside’s finest insisted my son take it off and open it up for inspection. I assured him there wasn’t any contraband hodden in it. He said he was looking to see what slogan may be printed on it (or words to that effect. At which point I asked him whether Tayside police was in the habit of inspecting all fans flags, particularly when the Old Firm (as was) came to town. He said they did – I suggested he was being disingenuous. But regardless, it would seem that the Scottish police are much less interested in sectarianism than they were.
Allyjambo
******************
From Jackson’s article – it look like he still has some way to go before becoming even proficient at his job.
“They are on the verge of a historic victory and the brink of securing fan ownership for a club that has been horribly abused and mistreated by all manner of charlatans and interlopers. Good for them”.
Are they ? Really ? By fan ownership does he mean DK etc ?
wottpi says:
February 23, 2015 at 1:58 pm
I was mainly refering to the 60s and suspect the flags appearing in the mid 70s was down to improvements in manufacturing/textiles making flags more available and cheap. I suspect they were spiv generated too, by street sellers on the way to the matches, rather than a sudden desire by fans to wave flags. I have no way of knowing but I reckon that many of the flags at the 67 European Cup final were bought in Portugal, as I think the continentals had more of a tradition of flag waving (not just in football) and their street salesmen would have been out in force. Of course such an event itself would have created a desire for something more visible than scarves and many would have made their own before leaving home.
Looks like the Telegraph can expect some permarage in their general direction given this look at the week ahead’s televised games (no mention of ours though!)…
Friday February 27
Falkirk v Rangers (19.45), Scottish Championship, BT Sport 1 VM 547 / 549 HD, 19.30
Our weekly chance to check on what chaotic nonsense has befallen Rangers and what havoc Mike Ashley has managed to wreak north of the border in the last seven days carries us to a Friday night in Falkirk. Inevitably all the coverage, and most of the crowd, will be interested in the UK’s most farcical club (settle down fans of Leeds and QPR, you’ve got nothing on these guys) but spare a thought for Falkirk who used to yo-yo up and down out of this league quite a bit before they suddenly found Hearts, Hibs and Billy Smart’s Travelling Circus joining them at the second tier.
Currently fifth, Falkirk have a great chance to claim a famous win here given how abysmally Rangers are playing football, conducting their business, treating their wives, tending to their gardens, behaving on the way home from the pub and everything else besides.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/11354357/live-football-tv-this-week.html
Allyjambo says:
February 23, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Agreed that may well be the case.
However while the flag waving may have come along later I am still seeking an answer to whether or not the songs were less, equal or more prevalent in the past.
No one can argue about the traditions of the two big Glasgow clubs and in particular the signing policy of one of them, however was the division rammed down peoples throats at matches in the same way as seems to be the want of some over the last few decades.
I am just working on the theory that like the SDM generation who believe Rangers have always been successful there are generations who may be mistaken in believing that it was a ‘tradition’ to go to matches and belt out the party tunes when it may actually just be a recent, in relative terms, development.
Wottpi says
February 23 2015 @3,10 pm.
As a teenager in the mid to late fifties, I remember the singing at Celtic Park.
Celtic fans used to sing a parody of a church hymn, “hail glorious St Patrick”. The words were changed to praise Jimmy McGrory, then the Celtic manager, and all time leading goalscorer. Other songs included Sean South of Garry Owen, the Merry Ploughboy, and after Gerry and the Pacemakers chart hit, You’ll never all alone.
Rangers for their part had the Billy boys song and Derrys walls.
With regard to flags and banners, these, in my memory became popular on the road to Lisbon. Cars and mini buses bedecked with all sorts of paraphernalia streamed across Europe.
Before that, I cannot recall anyone wearing a football jersey to a match. People tended to wear a collar and tie on a Saturday.
Hope this helps.
oddjob says:
February 23, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Many thanks.
Maybe as Phil alludes to, perhaps the SMSM is blindly backing King, without awkward questions being asked of him, simply in the hope that they can return to the succulent lamb days at Ibrox, with King providing easy access and the stories to copy/paste.
It looks like Ashley is not too welcoming of the media at NUFC, and the banning of the DR already is perhaps an early indication to all the SMSM that they are going to have to work much harder to produce ‘stories’ in future under an Ashley regime.
There might not be a downside supporting King now, as kissing Ashley’s behind probably won’t secure the SMSM any more access anyway.
:slamb: :slamb: :slamb:
wottpi says:
February 23, 2015 at 3:10 pm
From memory (I was bissfully unaware of what the songs were about and just assumed they were about football related hatreds), I am certain they were sung with as much gusto as they are now. The re-emergence of the ‘troubles’ plus Celtic’s dominance added fuel to the simmering hatred and brought it to where it is now. There is little doubt in my mind that the jealousy that the 9 in a row brought, plus the European Cup win, increased the WATP mentality, but I may be wrong with that.
I had never heard of Billy Fullerton and had presumed Billy was King Billy, and suspect that the majority of non-Glasgow people were/are similarly ignorant, and possibly a lot of Glaswegians too. I think I preferred my ignorant state on that particular part of my country’s history.
tearsofjoy says:
February 23, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Totally agree he’s still got a long way to go, but he got more right in that article than he normally does. I think, too, that we’d be expecting a bit much for any journalist to change their default position overnight. I actually got the impression, particularly with the upbeat attitude towards Deila and Celtic that he was trying to sound more neutral and reasonable. Whether through a genuine enlightenment, orders from above or just plain self-preservation I don’t know, but overall it did seem balanced and almost accurate.
As I said, interesting that it should be happening after the Ibrox ban. Not because he’s in the huff with his club, though, but because he has no stenography to carry out on their behalf!
Re: standing areas & selling booze in the stadium.
Why can’t the SFA/SPFL/clubs/SMSM simply be open and honest about this ?
It’s just a way of squeezing more cash out of the punters. That is the main driver, IMO.
Removing seats means you can squeeze in more fans who have to stand for 2 hours+.
Providing widespread access to booze is to take the business away from surrounding pubs.
Pay a premium to buy booze in the stadium for convenience.
And then, you’re probably more likely to buy the overpriced/sub-standard food on offer.
But this is all to help the club finances…
And as an example.
At the recent LC semi between TRFC and Celtic: if booze had been available throughout the stadium, would there have been more trouble during/after the game ? I don’t know, but I don’t think it would have helped matters.
Is Stan Collymore writing for the Torygraph now?
Like others I have had enough of the offensive singing and the lack of any action from those who should have some gonads. I remember Stamford Bridge in its prime and the shed and its inhabitants were infamous but the Stadium has changed and I am sure many clubs now hate it when you get a case of the few tarring the many – and how they and the Met/French Police have dealt with the Paris incident is great. If only…..
But on another tact it is amazing how the landscape of the game has changed.
My first game in Scotland was Raith (including Slim Jim) vs East Fife and apart from a 2-2 scoreline all I remember were scarves being on sale. On holidays down south managed to see Arsenal vs Wolves (in 63 scarves and rattles were the in thing – makes a change from a vuvuzela) and then two increadible Wembley games being the draw in 65 (Caldow’s broken leg and all) and 67 (when we became “world champs”) and again scarves, rattles and flags; also appreciate the “elder” Scottish fans picking me up from row 11 and passing me over their heads and putting me at the front so I could see – and right where Slim Jim sat on the ball!!!. And before I went to work down South East Fife were 7th in the first division – those were the days!
As for a balanced view in the media, in the early 90’s I remember an article in World Football which covered the two horse race for Scottish Football, Celtic’s triumph in Lisbon and to cut a long article short some thoughts on Rangers’ inability to win the Champions League with one [tongue in cheek]theory being that they get the 99% of the decisions at home but do not in Europe because many of the linesmen in Europe are not of the same religion! The article then went on to mention that after the 60’s and 80’s (in particular Dundee, Hearts, Killie, Aberdeen, Dundee Utd) everyone now laughed at Scottish Football because it was a boring two team league. However the writer warned that with the money of the Champions League those supporters in other countries who were laughing at Scotland should watch out because what was on offer in Scotland might soon mean other leagues would also have the same top 3 or 4 teams and a few “Aberdeens and Dundee United’s” occasionally getting close – and what do we have today in the BPL and the rest of Europe? Am not sure we are the worst though because in Portugal I think only 5 teams (Porto, Benfica. Sporting, Boavista and Belenenses) have ever won their league!
But a shout for the diddy teams before I go off across the continent on another contract (but will try and keep posting). In the 90’s the fanzine, When Saturday Comes, did a survey of the best food in football grounds in UK – my copy of the magazine has long been lost in travels across the continent but I remember Forfar and their Bridie were first and East Fife’s Deas Pie (with tatties and beans on top) was second. Not bad for diddy teams!!!!!
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath and East Fife. To be honest all of our teams need a mention now and again! TSFM provides a welcome platform at least!
oddjob says:
February 23, 2015 at 3:31 pm
Before that, I cannot recall anyone wearing a football jersey to a match. People tended to wear a collar and tie on a Saturday. 🙂
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Aye indeed, and a suit to the Saturday night jig. 🙂
wottpi says:
February 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm
EDIT – Danish I must have been looking while you were typing
———
That ’67 one is how I remember seeing things. Especially the invalid cars! I only really got to go to Glasgow Cup ties, pre-season friendlies and the odd Euro tie and league game. So it was sitting up late for Arthur to get match film edited. I was about 10 and since my dad frequented Shawfield and Ayr (not for the fitba) it was my brother who took me along. I think he stopped when I was getting too big for a lift at the turnstile. Mind you he wasn’t a regular either. I simply don’t remember ever seeing a union jack, though. But funnily enough the OO King Billy banner in the enclosure made an impression.
Must say I did like the non-sponsor shirts and Celtic’s number on the shorts in that ’67 video 🙂
Danish Pastry says:
February 23, 2015 at 5:24 pm
When your a wee boy who doesn’t like a picture of a sword wielding soldier on a big prancing horse 🙂
Danish,
Slightly OT but your mention of invalid cars and the OO brought back memories of matches in the 60s when they wee cars (Invacars to be correct) streamed into grounds around the cinder track and reversed up facing the pitch to watch the match.
Integral part of Scottish Fitba at the time.
My spinster aunt lived in Moir St and had one.
She wasn’t allowed to carry passengers in the the one seater but frequently sneaked me or one of my brothers in there to give us a lift up home to Easterhouse.
It was my turn one Saturday and I got in, sat on the floor and ducked down to avoid detection.
She set off along the Gallowgate turned up at the General Wolfe towards Duke St where the wee two stroke engine struggled up the hill with the extra weight inside.
We just started across Duke St towards Cumbernauld Rd when the overworked engine conked out!
I peered out to my left and saw we were in the middle of the road with a full scale Orange Walk heading towards us.
Flutes, drums, and colourful plus inebriated marchers passed around us towards their unknown destination.
Riddies aw roon!
Sad post script was the wee car was destroyed when the National Restaurant in the Gallowgate went up in flames and its fibreglass body melted in the heat where she usually parked it in the Spoutmouth. Only the wee engine block remained.
Happy Days!
Wottpi,
I remember that game in 1967. What price Jimmy Johnstone these days ? No rolling about when brought down. Back on his feet with a wee smile, and a nice scene at the end when he and big Dave Provan gave each other a big hug. What a player !!
It’s not only in Scottish fitba’ that spending lots of other people’s money and running up unmanageable debt in plain sight of those governing bodies that are supposed to regulate it!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/23/parma-downfall-pains-city-people-paolo-bandini
Allyjambo says:
February 23, 2015 at 11:22 am
Danish Pastry says:
February 23, 2015 at 10:25 am
Phil is highlighting here something that always makes me question the outpourings of publicity seekers like King. They never give details. They are like opposition MPs, always promising to improve services, without detailing where the finance will come from. So far, the only thing King has claimed that holds water is that he is a Real Rangers Man, while the power behind the board isn’t.
I can’t think of a good reason, or even imagine there is a tactical reason, for not announcing exactly where the finance, clearly needed immediately, is going to come from. He is probably favourite to win the vote but could just about make it a certainty if he did reveal money is available in some form, other than by a repeated share issue with all it’s uncertainties and recent failures.
If King does have the money, himself, but is unable to reveal it due to his problems with SARS (or goodness knows what else), then they aren’t going to disappear just because he wins the vote, and TRFC doesn’t exactly have time on it’s side. We can be pretty sure Ashley isn’t going to go quietly into the night, and will want his money back damned quick, so instant mega bucks are required and working capital till the play-offs are over before STs can be sold.
Ashley represents boring continuation, for years to come. King represents…well what does he represent, other than more WATP and ongoing (but maybe not all that ‘ongoing’) uncertainty?
Personally, I’d trust Mike Ashley – to keep the club alive as a cash cow. I would never trust a man like King, even if he hadn’t been convicted of any crimes, as despite his PR and numerous public appearances and statements, he’s never said anything of substance regarding his plans and how he is going to fulfill them, which is probably as close to honesty as he has ever come to in his business dealings.
___________________________________________
Shall we place bets on DK funding strategy?
1. TU: early sale of next years season tickets? (c’mon Bears, stump up!)
2. TD: Ticketus 😯
oddjob says:
February 23, 2015 at 6:53 pm
Wottpi,
I remember that game in 1967. What price Jimmy Johnstone these days ? No rolling about when brought down. Back on his feet with a wee smile, and a nice scene at the end when he and big Dave Provan gave each other a big hug. What a player !!
======================================
What price Jimmy Johnstone these days?
I’m sure it was Willie Henderson that was asked the very same question a good few years back. He looked at the interviewer and said ” Oil wells! Ye’re
talkin oil wells noo!” Magic!
OT but good to see a fellow Fifer on here 🙂
There was a post recently about there not being a Scottish Manager in the BPL for the first time this past weekend. Football 365 have picked up on this and worked out that it is the first time in over 20 years there is no Scottish Manager in the top flight of English football – but to save our souls there is an interesting twist at the end:
“So often used as the stick with which to beat English football’s perceived dearth of top-class coaching, for the first time since December 1984 an English top-flight league weekend began without a Scottish manager in charge.
There are now nine English managers in charge in the Premier League, but don’t get too carried away. They make up nine of the bottom 13 teams in the table, and five of the bottom six.”
With that [lack of] success MA can send any English manager he wants to Rangers. Part of the remit also being to stay well clear of any European adventures. 😆
on the topic of songs and sectarianism – I feel we do conflate songs of hatred with songs celebrating heritage, re TSS I see no reason that this is unwholesome in and of itself anymore than a team founded by French expats would sing La Marseillaise or one of welsh origin singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, where this breaks down a little is that it does tend to be sung more at OF games and falls into a GIRUY intent rather than a celebration. The other aspect of both big glasgow teams is the respective names of their “ultra” fan groups, both of which have names with explicit links to common terms from the troubles. i.e Blue Order & Green Brigade, I think a move away from those terms would also help ‘demilitarise’ the issue.
Yakutsuki says.
February 23. 2015 @ 7.32 pm
And Wee Willie Henderson was a player and a half himself!!
Bayview Gold says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Likewise – even if this weekend’s result (and late equaliser) was not the best.
Agree OT but after reading so much about the songs etc I thought a small change might be worthwhile. At least it has brought back memories for some of Willie Hendeson and Jimmy Johnstone; both great wingers but will always remember Wembley and also wee Jimmy taking Leeds apart in the first real Battle of Britain. When will we see their likes (and Billy McPhee, Davie Gorman etc) again?
sannoffymesssoitizz says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Shall we place bets on DK funding strategy?
1. TU: early sale of next years season tickets? (c’mon Bears, stump up!)
2. TD: Ticketus 😯
=======================
Cannot sell ST’s till after the play offs. This may be too late.
Methilhill Stroller says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:50 pm
re McPhee/ Gorman – great days, early 70s Pat Quinn era was my intro to EFFC and what a team. (sorry this is turning into a fife fan forum 🙂 )
Carfins Finest says:February 23, 2015 at 7:52 pm
You “Shoud’ve gone tae Specsavers!”
It wisnae me!!!!!!
It wis Resin_lab_dog says: February 23, 2015 at 7:18 pm that posted
___________________________________________
Shall we place bets on DK funding strategy?
1. TU: early sale of next years season tickets? (c’mon Bears, stump up!)
2. TD: Ticketus 😯
Great memories above linking wee Jinky and Willie Henderson.
They had much in common; both small but outstanding wingers we, as a nation, should be proud of but much, much more than that, they were/are also both terrific and wonderfully courageous men in their different ways.
I’ve had the pleasure – perhaps honour- to meet both and came away feeling these were people I would love to spend more time with.
“RECORD Sport understands the match delegate’s report will not include the accusation supporters sang “black F***** b******” at Stark’s Park…”
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-answer-charges-fans-sectarian-5217576
==============================================================
Interesting.
So, could the TRFC ‘defence’ be: well we’ve never been pulled up before about the singing, [even at Berwick], so the club is confused at the inconsistency applied by the SFL/SPFL ? Has TRFC not been punished enough etc…
[New club, first offence ? 😕 ]
Just a bit of fun on a quiet night, but here is the latest betting on the TRFC manager for the opening match of 2015/2016. Felix Magath 5/4! Oh dearie, dearie me. And just to clarify, I would not recommend a bet on any of them, unless you know something I don’t.
http://www.skybet.com/football/manager-specials/event/17352427
Fife contingent
http://wp.me/a4ow4T-EX
sannoffymesssoitizz says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:09 pm
It’s not only in Scottish fitba’ that spending lots of other people’s money and running up unmanageable debt in plain sight of those governing bodies that are supposed to regulate it!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/23/parma-downfall-pains-city-people-paolo-bandini…
======================================================================================
Sannoffy…thank you for the posting the link to the Grauniad article…the most comparable line to the RFC(IL) outfit may be summed up in “Parma finished sixth, enough for a Europa League spot – only to be denied a Uefa licence over an unpaid tax bill.”
Where is that Auldheid when you want him…?
Methilhill Stroller says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:40 pm
There was a post recently about there not being a Scottish Manager in the BPL for the first time this past weekend. Football 365 have picked up on this and worked out that it is the first time in over 20 years there is no Scottish Manager in the top flight of English football – but to save our souls there is an interesting twist at the end:
“So often used as the stick with which to beat English football’s perceived dearth of top-class coaching, for the first time since December 1984 an English top-flight league weekend began without a Scottish manager in charge.
There are now nine English managers in charge in the Premier League, but don’t get too carried away. They make up nine of the bottom 13 teams in the table, and five of the bottom six.”
With that [lack of] success MA can send any English manager he wants to Rangers. Part of the remit also being to stay well clear of any European adventures. 😆
=============================================
Hopefully, Alex Neil will be managing NCFC in the EPL next season,
so there may well be at least one Scottish manager after a brief hiatus.
STV Grant updating his Sevco Astrological charts again. Resquistioners appear to be in conjunction with Uranus, while Ashley appears strong in the Full Moon. Let’s hope no one gets caught with their trousers down.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/305651-who-owns-rangers-our-detailed-breakdown-of-the-shareholders-at-ibrox/
Bayview Gold says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:35 pm
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath and East Fife. To be honest all of our teams need a mention now and again! TSFM provides a welcome platform at least!
OT but good to see a fellow Fifer on here 🙂
===================================================
Those Arbroath – East Fife games from way, way back!
That bl**dy Dave Clarke!!! I can see him at Gayfield in my mind’s eye…
Like talk tonight about Jinky and Willie Henderson, teams had real characters in those days.
Scottish Football needs a strong East Fife!
Bayview Gold says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:45 pm
The other aspect of both big glasgow teams is the respective names of their “ultra” fan groups, both of which have names with explicit links to common terms from the troubles. i.e Blue Order & Green Brigade, I think a move away from those terms would also help ‘demilitarise’ the issue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I guess that is similar to the point I was getting at. Here we have these young (and maybe not so young) guns, like the Green Brigade trying to make some point with regard to their Irish roots and support for the Republican/Nationalist cause that IMHO probably goes way beyond the ‘traditions’ of the club, yet the flag waving, singing and other antics draws in people (maybe youngsters who otherwise would just have gone along to watch the football) because they may feel it is the right ‘tradition’ to get involved with.
And yes we could do without terms like the Brigade, Vanguard Bears etc etc. But then we have the Tartan Army which i socially acceptable, so how do you get round it.
Danish Pastry says:
February 23, 2015 at 9:24 pm
STV Grant updating his Sevco Astrological charts again. Resquistioners appear to be in conjunction with Uranus, while Ashley appears strong in the Full Moon. Let’s hope no one gets caught with their trousers down.
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/305651-who-owns-rangers-our-detailed-breakdown-of-the-shareholders-at-ibrox/
======================================================
Wow.
That pie chart should have a public health warning attached.
Straight off the set of an Austin Powers film.
Strangely appropriate too, given the number of International Men of Mystery that hold shares in RIFC and that the bears are always on the lookout for a Goldmember to finance their journey. Was
The Spiv who Sha**ed Them? 🙂
Has 1st April come early? We’re partnering with Qatar? Qatar?
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/sfa-forge-partnership-with-world-cup-hosts-qatar-1-3698491
Is this real?
And is this really what our football authorities should be doing?
What have they been discussing? Have they each found their footballing soulmates?
You couldn’t make this up. Qatar?
Scottish Football needs its’ authorities to seriously look at what are the real priorities for our game.
neepheid says:
February 23, 2015 at 8:27 pm
Just a bit of fun on a quiet night, but here is the latest betting on the TRFC manager for the opening match of 2015/2016. Felix Magath 5/4! Oh dearie, dearie me. And just to clarify, I would not recommend a bet on any of them, unless you know something I don’t.
http://www.skybet.com/football/manager-specials/event/17352427
===========================================
Harry Redknapp at 33s FFS.
On the same page, I can’t believe that Alistair McCoist is not on the Newcastle list, although strangely Our ‘Arry is 33s for that one too.
Maybe Sky sources have told Skybet that Super’s salary demands will be too high for skinflint My Cashley? 😀
essexbeancounter says:
February 23, 2015 at 8:39 pm
sannoffymesssoitizz says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:09 pm
It’s not only in Scottish fitba’ that spending lots of other people’s money and running up unmanageable debt in plain sight of those governing bodies that are supposed to regulate it!
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/feb/23/parma-downfall-pains-city-people-paolo-bandini…
======================================================================================
Sannoffy…thank you for the posting the link to the Grauniad article…the most comparable line to the RFC(IL) outfit may be summed up in “Parma finished sixth, enough for a Europa League spot – only to be denied a Uefa licence over an unpaid tax bill.”
Where is that Auldheid when you want him…?
==========================
Since you ask 🙂
In 2012 Malaga had their Article 66 submission to UEFA re tax overdue questioned by UEFA because Malaga reported tax due to Spanish tax authorities but said they were in talks with them.
UEFA did not accept this as meaning there was no tax due under their rules and they sanctioned Malaga for the following season. Malaga appealed on the grounds they had no tax overdue because of the talks. That appeal was thrown out by the CAS who ruled that UEFA FFP had to be applied across the European tax gathering spectrum and this intent was reflected in UEFA FFP rules and UEFA were correct to apply them as they did.
The situation at RFC in July 2011 is so similar to that of Malaga that the only conclusion in the absence of an explanation from the SFA (which is being pursued) is that either
a) RFC told UEFA porkies and said they had no overdue tax, which is fraud if they had but did not say so in the self declaration form.
b) RFC told UEFA in 2011 the same story as Malaga did a year later, but UEFA did not question the submission. This totally undermines the enhanced rules UEFA had just introduced in 2011 so is unlikely.
Quite what role the SFA played in 2011 is also a matter being pursued.
However given the SFA’s determined efforts to resurrect TRFC as RFC following liquidation in 2012, it is reasonable to think that the SFA would have been just as determined to keep RFC alive in 2011 by keeping the door to CL money open. In which case the SFA were either
a) complicit
or
b) negligent.
There is a narrative based on a Timeline that itself draws on material from Charlotte Fakes that does nothing to dispel the notion that the rules were being circumvented, but given the Bryson interpretation on eligibility you never can be sure until questions are answered.
That Timeline, without the supporting documents, went to BDO on 1st Feb by e mail and hard copy on the basis that given the arrests, it is likely BDO would want to know all about Craig Whyte’s dealings with HMRC from takeover and they should already have the actual documents. No reply or acknowledgement so far.
The intent of the small shareholders representatives was to make the Timeline public at an appropriate time but the arrests of the takeover parties prevent this for now.
There should be more to report in the next ten days or so.
Strange no mention in legal spheres of the case today. Must have been a 4 hour mumble fest but I doubt it.
A wee transcript would be nice. Absolutely no idea how to go about it.
Tried. nearest I got was Weybridge.
Re the earlier link to the SFA and the FA of Qatar.
Shameful.
Nice wee trip to the sun for the 3 nyaffs.
Raging – as a Hibs fan – that Petrie was there. Actually wish now he’d stayed there.
I genuinely cannot think of 2 FAs more corrupt.
Quite a good fit the 2 of them.
Time we got shot of this SFA because they do not represent Scottish Football any more.
Although you get the FA you deserve I suppose.
Auldheid says:
February 23, 2015 at 11:35 pm
=====================================
How close or otherwise are we to hearing a formal public challenge to the SFA over this matter? I commend the obvious hard work you and others are putting in and my question arises simply from frustration that the SFA clearly believe maintaining a singular stance long enough will eventually see them through this, no matter the evidence put in front of them. We have already witnessed the pathetic and demeaning stance of the media over the matter so we can dismiss any notion of interest on their part.
As the matter has been raised by Celtic shareholders towards the Celtic board, will Celtic not eventually be compelled to respond publicly given their public company listing?
Yours in frustration and keep up the good work!
The last 7 minutes of The Guardian Football Weekly from yesterday was a fascinating resumé by James Richardson of the Parma story with asides on Fiorentina and Napoli. ‘Rangers’ even got a mention, although James R. felt restricted in what he could say for legal reasons! Starts at about 46’10 into the pod.
Auldheid says:
February 23, 2015 at 11:35 pm
essexbeancounter says:
February 23, 2015 at 8:39 pm
sannoffymesssoitizz says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Where is that Auldheid when you want him…?
==========================
Since you ask 🙂
There should be more to report in the next ten days or so.
60 0 Rate This
==========================================================================
Auldheid…thank you for the “update”…like the proverbial dog with a bone you are…and rightly so. :lol
10 days and counting.
It has all gone very quiet.
I suppose the only question is have the 3Bs already gotten into bed with King and posted their votes or is Ashley and his men working on them?
So it appears there will be no punishment handed down for the racial chanting at the game at Raith-Rangers game last Friday; chanting heard by all who watched the broadcast on BT Sport and widely reported even in the SMSM.
Wonder how the SFA square their inaction here with the seven game ban handed down to Alexander Tonev for an incident nobody, other than the alleged victim, Shay Logan, saw or heard?
jimmci says feb 24th @ 9.23 a.m
“..wonder how the SFA square their inaction here with ….. ( Tonev action).
…………………
In precisely the way that they they squared awzy their many years of inaction against SDM’s cheating, and reached an accommodation with CG
They are petrified at the the thought of taking action against any version of a “Rangers”.
Their dishonesty and perversity in sustaining the Big Lie has left them desperately weak as any kind of governing body.
to be able to condemn a man on the basis of ‘ balance of probabilty’ while ignoring , for sectarian reasons of their own, cast iron,recorded,hard evidence of a kind that would secure a guilty verdict in a murder trial shows them up as a thoroughly rotten body of men.
In my opinion.
It’s incredible: why would they want to associate themselves with that pit of corruption and amoral officialdom?
And I’d ask the same question of the SFA.
Bayview Gold says:
February 23, 2015 at 7:45 pm
on the topic of songs and sectarianism – I feel we do conflate songs of hatred with songs celebrating heritage, re TSS I see no reason that this is unwholesome in and of itself anymore than a team founded by French expats would sing La Marseillaise…
—————————————
“Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!
Marchons, marchons
Qu’un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons”
They’re all at it – the last two lines are about letting ‘impure blood water our fields’. The French national anthem is particularly bloodthirsty. Then again, cracking tune. Allez!
With reference to the SFA’s relationship with Quatar, here is an interesting article on that State.
http://42.ie/1DOoVuw
Morning;
Any background on the King of Castlemilk as to where he earned his wealth……I read that he worked with Weirs of Cathcart.
Also read (don’t ask me where) that he was a CA…..makes you wonder what his training was that he was posted to SA.
Paddy T
Always nice to see a picture of Doncaster in the Record 🙄 🙄 – read his words of wisdom on Friday’s choir practice at Kirkcaldy: anger management class recommended for after.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-could-no-case-answer-5219867
According to today’s STV Sport:
Match delegate Tom Purdie will include the chanting by Gers fans in his report on the game, meaning Rangers could now face an investigation from the SPFL.
But the league’s chief executive Neil Doncaster says it is unlikely the club will face sanctions under current rules.
“We hope to have sight of the match delegate report from Friday night’s Raith Rovers v Rangers SPFL Championship match within the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.
———————————
So, it now looks as if TRFC will escape punishment for last Friday’s mass choir. Why even consider the match delegate’s report now that the chief executive has spoken?
The Scottish government are hiding behind a reluctant police enforcement policy and the club chairmen are just hiding. If BT Sports switch off the microphones at Falkirk this coming Friday then the problem will miraculously disappear.
Billy Boyce says:
February 24, 2015 at 11:55 am
. If BT Sports switch off the microphones at Falkirk this coming Friday then the problem will miraculously disappear.
**************************************************************
I have made a formal complaint to BT about this. My point being that it insults my RC family members to have to listen to this. I’ve also pointed out that this stuff is going out on a sports event before the 9.00 watershed so don’t BT have some responsibility here ? I also pointed out that given the years of inaction by the governing bodies of Scottish football to rid us of this nothing has changed – can BT take their own appropriate action please.
How does Mr Doncaster know TRFC have tried everything to stop this behaviour of their fans???? The ‘owner’ and the board will not enter into any discussion with them……….. No-one has any respect for the scottish football authorities ….. They are a farcical joke of an organisation time for a complete overhaul 😕
Upthehoops
I hope more can be added on where we are in the coming 10 days. It’s just logistics holding things up.
On what Celtic will do it depends on the answers to shareholders get to questions being put to SFA.
Either they are answered in a way that demonstrates the rules were followed.
Or
They are answered from a Bryson perspective ie an interpretation only the SFA can put forward which like the LNS Decision has us shaking our head in incredulity but unable to challenge
Or
There is an admission rules were not followed.
In the first 2 cases I doubt Celtic can or will do anything.
In the third case the SFA need to be brought to account which is the core aim but as matters stand what form that will take depends on just how the rules were not applied.
However given it is shareholders and not Celtic driving this then the SFA cannot hide behind rules governing the relationship between clubs and the SFA.
Auldheid says:
February 24, 2015 at 12:26 pm
====================================
I’m resigned to them using every trick in the book (and some not in the book) to continue the cover up. You and the troops have done a stunning job to this point. I feel it’s time we (on here), got our collective fingers out and crowd funded some questions being placed in the newspapers as well as direct questions to our respective club chairmen.
My over-riding wish now however, is for King to be fan-fared into post with the full endorsement of the SMSM and the SFA/SPFL.
They will all be in one big hand-cart…..and destined for Hell.
A couple of weeks ago Mr Regan, in his discussion with Euan Murray, posed the question `how do you arrest thousands of chanting fans?`. He later shifted the onus of control of the match to the SPFL,since it was a league cup tie.
Today Mr Doncaster refers once more to a `mindless minority`, an old chestnut if ever there was one. Ok the crowd at Starks park was smaller than that at Hampden , so the numbers of people chanting would be less, but perhaps the proportion would be similar.
There was trouble at a Motherwell v Celtic match a couple of months ago. Celtic took immediate action and banned over 100 supporters.
TRFC know to whom they sold tickets for the Raith match, they could take similar action.
In any event, we should at least expect the Hampden suits to get their act together. Is it “thousands” or a “minority” who are causing the problem?
The match delegate`s report has been prejudiced before it has even been submitted. The official concerned should resign in protest.
Garrion Securities have just published their accounts for the year to 30/06/14.
They reported a gross profit of £88K turnover of £508K. However that was before administrative expenses of £191K resulting in a ultimate loss for the year of £104K.
David Somers report explains the loss as follows “The loss after tax has been driven by bought in consultancy fees to operate the company”
The company now owes £275K to the parent company (TRFC), but have a written assurance from RIFC that the amount due will not be called in. However, the auditors have echoed the “Emphasis of Matter – Going Concern” warning about the ultimate parent, RIFC.
———————–
The high consultancy fees appear similar in nature to those reported in the recently published Rangers Retail accounts where £1.18M was itemised as “administrative expenses”, although there was no indication of what these fees related to.
My reading of the accounts, is that the administrative expenses or consultancy fees for both companies seem excessively high and may well be the manifestation of onerous contracts.
Doncaster’s latest comments are not only embarrassing….but wrong!
If the Club (and by extension, its support) cannot be sanctioned under the rules, then the rules are of no use.
http://spfl.co.uk/docs/067_324__therulesofthescottishprofessionalfootballleagueasat19january2015_1422995033.pdf
“Unacceptable Conduct
H25 A person present at or in a stadium where an Official Match is being played engages in Unacceptable Conduct where their conduct is violent and/or disorderly.
H26 Conduct is violent where there is (i) actual, attempted or threatened physical violence against a person or persons; or (ii) intentional damage to property.
H27 Disorderly conduct includes
H27.1 conduct which stirs up or sustains or is likely or designed to stir up or sustain, hatred or ill will against or towards a group of persons based on their membership or presumed membership of a group defined by reference to a category mentioned in Rule H29 or against an individual who is or is presumed to be a member of such group;
H27.2 using threatening, abusive or insulting words or conduct;
H27.3 displaying any writing or other thing which is threatening, abusive or
insulting; and
H27.4 using words or conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation or group proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000.
H28 Presumed in the context of Rule H27.1 means presumed by the person or persons 69
engaged in the conduct.
H29 The categories referred to in Rule H27 are:-
H29.1 female or male gender;
H29.2 colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origin;
H29.3 membership of a religious group or of a social or cultural group with a perceived religious affiliation;
H29.4 sexual orientation;
H29.5 transgender identity; and
H29.6 disability.
H30 In Rule H29.3 religious group means a group of persons defined by reference to their religious belief or lack of religious belief, membership of or adherence to a church or religious organisation, support for the culture and traditions of a church or religious organisation and/or participation in activities associated with such a culture or such traditions. .”
Scotland has no governance or leadership it seems. Contracts that with the action taken by UEFA. Time they stepped in on this!
So, Doncaster once again shirks responsibility about sectarianism when he has the chance to make a stand.
Apart from places like this, the silence is deafening.
Once again I am in despair about my
country and what is tolerated here.
It seems any other minority group gets
solidarity big time, but if it’s just the Catholics… change the subject – quick!
As a practicing RC, I worry about
the society my children are going to inherit.
We may have moved on since the dark old days of your school’s name jeopardising work prospects, etc. I think it’s more covert/subtle these days.
Sorry to bang on about this, but it’s
very frustrating, and so, so wrong!
For evil to prevail, all it needs is good men to do nothing. If only it was that simple in Scotland.
Doncaster, you have the power to do something – stop passing the buck. Enough is enough!!!
Is there an avenue by which the average person can contact UEFA to complain about the the racist / sectarian chanting and singing, and the subsequent inaction of the local authorities?
Dear Mr Doncaster
Can you quantify the impact of sectarian and racist sings on the value of SPFL TV rights and SPFL sponsorship ?
yours
mcfc
One supporter runs on the park = fined for not controlling the crowd.
A few folk hold up a banner = fine for not controlling the supporters.
Thousands sign sectarian songs = You’ve done all you can.
Y4rmy. 9.54
It’s incredible! why would they want to associate themselves with that pit of corruption and amoral officialdom.
I would also ask that question of the FA of Qatar
Fixed that for you
League Cup Semi Final (add many many other games in the lower leagues prior to the first meeting of these clubs since *Rangers Liquidation)
“Famine Song”…. “Billy Boys”… “No Nuns & No Priests” …” F*ck the Pope”… Fenian B*astards”…..
Not only was ‘The singing’ by tens of thousands (as confirmed in @stewartmregan twitter spat with @mrewanmurray of The Guardian / Observer) illegal, but it is a clear breach of these rules……The result? NO ACTION!
As with Fridays game, we have all of the above AND some alleged racist chants directed to a former footballer (outside of the normal anti-irish chants and songs). Neil Doncaster’s approach…? NO ACTION.
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL IS A SHAM! AND SCOTLAND’S SHAME!