It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.
Albert Einstein
The recent flurries of activity regarding the mis-governance of the Scottish Football authorities gave us some hope that perhaps the dam was about to be breached. Sadly, this has not proved to be the case. The independent TOG report, which highlighted the deeply flawed nature of the LNS inquiry and drew attention to the anomalous activities of the SFA in awarding Rangers FC a European competition licence in 2011, moved the discussion beyond the shores of Scotland. Subsequently, a letter from UEFA to lawyers representing Celtic shareholders reportedly confirmed that the licence had been awarded in contravention of the rules and protocols of the competition.
The TOG report concluded that there was a prima facie case suggesting that LNS had been misled, or misinformed. It suggested that Nimmo Smith may have been misled by SFA President Campbell Ogilvie when he gave evidence about the EBTs in operation at Ibrox, and that the SFA were unable or unwilling to ensure fair play in the game in Scotland. With respect to sanctions, LNS concluded that all EBTs were lawful and open to other clubs. This was of course factually incorrect, since despite the suspicious and comical FUBAR of the last-minute change to the terms of reference designed to exclude DOS EBTs, LNS still had sight of them.
The facts are pretty damning for the authorities. Rules were dispensed with over the licence issue, during which there appeared to be a curious request (to Rangers!) by the Chief Executive of the SFA for ‘permission’ to explain the SFA decision. On the SPFL side, terms of reference mentioned above were altered at the onset of the LNS inquiry to allow LNS to exclude the DOS EBTs, a strong indication that LNS was not only misled, but that he was deliberately led to the conclusion that the authorities desired.
The facts are there. So too is a very strong suspicion that evidence was falsified, and that erroneous conclusions were arrived at. The SFA/SPFL/MSM response? Silence. The same people who hold up their hands in horror at the IOC’s decision not to impose a blanket ban on Russia for alleged state-sponsored doping COMPLETELY ignore the cover up by our own authorities in the matter of systematic cheating and financial doping on our own doorstep.
The SFA, SPFL, the clubs, and their little helpers in the press are happy to sit by and enable cheating. Why? Because they see it as in their own interests?
If so. it must be personal self interest. What began as an understandable fear that tens of thousands of paying customers would be lost to the game has evolved into a trousers-at-the-ankles, Rixian farce of a cover-up.
There has been not one sentence of coherent rebuttal received from any of the above constituencies. Neither the SFA, the SPFL, the media, nor the clubs have even attempted to give us any justification for what went on.
The SFA are so rudderless and devoid of purpose that the Chief Executive feels justified in telling a group of people that he wouldn’t be motivated to do anything in response to systematic cheating, and an unremarkable former journalist turned PR operative can exclaim in a perfect study of un-self awareness, “I AM THE SFA!!” – whilst the President of that body smiles in senile obeisance, or childlike ignorance.
Yet those who present facts and ask serious questions about their behaviour are portrayed as bampots? If you weren’t a witness to this stuff as it happens, you would scarcely believe it.
There has been not one sentence of coherent rebuttal received from any of the above constituencies. Neither the SFA, the SPFL, the media, nor the clubs have even attempted to give us any justification for what went on.
Celtic have been (somewhat unfairly on occasion) on the wrong end of criticism from those of us who see the honesty of the game as paramount. They are only one club in a host of clubs whose interests have been crapped on by the failure of governance in the game in Scotland – and yet have done nothing to demonstrate their distaste for the rulebreaking.
David Murray may well have started this, but he fled the scene and lost his influence at Hampden long before the finish. Consequently, the clubs have failed the fans – wilfully so.
The Celtic issue though is more complicated. Unfortunately for them, they have a larger, and commensurately more powerful support than most – and that power was exercised by a group of their own shareholders who sought their own path to truth and justice. The fact that those shareholders gathered compelling evidence of wrongdoing at the SFA, took the trouble to set up official communications with the club, and that they then passed on their concerns along with that compelling evidence – certainly compelling enough to UEFA it seems – speaks volumes for their determination.
Our clubs are just not as invested in sporting integrity as the rest of us
That put Celtic in an uncomfortable place, but the fact that not one word of substance has emanated from them in support of those shareholders – despite the words of encouragement they may or may not have issued privately to the guys who took up the cause on the club’s behalf – is a plain enough message that they like their fellow clubs are just not as invested in sporting integrity as the rest of us.
My wholehearted and comprehensive contempt though is not reserved just for Celtic, despite the moral deficiency which has seen them ignore the excellent efforts of their shareholders to compel them to do the right thing.
My contempt is applied equally and liberally among all the clubs, for they are most deserving of it. We needn’t feel betrayed by the lackeys who run the SFA and SPFL. They do the bidding of the clubs – and the clubs alone.
Nor should we see the media as chief villains. The same media routinely print untruths and misinformation on a daily basis to deliberately mislead us on far more important issues than football. Hardly a betrayal from them – just western democracy.
The clubs tell us that ‘we are all in this together’, but in reality their real attitude is ‘us and them’
Hampden Towers
©Reganco
But that is the game they are playing. Playing for time. Time that they hope will cloud the issue, to make it recede as a morning mist, and disappear completely in time for a free business lunch – business as usual.
Like Einstein says, being ready to spend a little more time on a problem pays dividends. Those with the wind of truth behind them don’t have to be particularly clever. They do have to be willing to spend as much time as necessary on the problem, and let the wind take them to where they need to be.
And they will get there, because those vested interests that deny the truth have (as we have shown) NOTHING to say. It is only a matter of time and patience – and staying on the problem.
It needn’t get nasty, it needn’t become abusive, it needn’t become complicated – but it might well get loud.
Re Senderos: currently, Swiss nationals (even those with only 57 international caps) have the right to live & work in EU countries.
Switzerland
Under the EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of persons, Swiss nationals are free to live and work in the EU, with some restrictions for working in Croatia.
From: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=470
On the Bear’s Den, TRFC* fans have had a thread linking Senderos since 4/8. It had been closed as it was seen to be dead, though a new one has opened after the BBC announcement he’s training. None of the fans seem to want him due to his lack of recent playing time and the general feeling that he is now a dud, having been ‘okay but a bombscare’ some years back.
His possible signing does at least seem to be opening the eyes of some to the fact that they really must have no money.
John ClarkAugust 15, 2016 at 16:39
If he needs a permit, he would have to have played in 75% of his country’s A team matches over the last two years . I make their tally 23 matches in that time, and he missed 7 of the last 10 of those . . He may ,of course, have dual nationality with a EU country .Or not require a permit .
.
PADDY MALARKEYAUGUST 15, 2016 at 18:30
John ClarkAugust 15, 2016 at 16:39
If he needs a permit, he would have to have played in 75% of his country’s A team matches over the last two years . I make their tally 23 matches in that time, and he missed 7 of the last 10 of those . . He may ,of course, have dual nationality with a EU country .Or not require a permit .
====================================
If he does not meet the established criteria a panel can decide whether to override that based on his past record and if he will add to the Scottish game. There is zero chance of him being refused if Rangers want to sign him. Can you honestly imagine any panel even thinking about refusing? The hassle just wouldn’t be worth it.
And now Lennon is on Sportsound, trotting out the agreed mantra ” ‘Rangers’ are back, the ‘Old Firm’ is back”- Celtic have to spend…”
It’s amazing how one can go off people!
Let him stick to talking about the club he is presently managing rather than be as Barry Ferguson was when using ‘his’ press column not to talk up Clyde, but TRFC.
I wonder if my post at 1722hrs today is invisible?
Big Mike pretending to be Santa
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sports-direct-minimum-wage-back-payments_uk_57b1bcb9e4b0f475601c65c4?utm_hp_ref=uk
JIMBO the bar stewards on here are winding you up ?
Regards the thumbs up,down JIMBO
Jingso.JimsieAugust 15, 2016 at 19:10
‘…I wonder if my post at 1722hrs today is invisible?’
______
Ha ha, Jingso.Jimsie. No, it’s not invisible-I saw it and appreciated it.
Subsequent posters may not ( as I have sometimes done) have ‘refreshed ‘ before they posted, and were therefore still as unaware as I was of the special position of Swiss nationals that your post informed us of.
And, mentioning Switzerland, I was reminded earlier today of Harry Lime’s ( Orson Wells, in ‘The Third Man’) comment about Switzerland’s contribution to the world!
theredpillAugust 15, 2016 at 19:16
‘Big Mike pretending to be Santa .’
______
What I find truly astonishing is Ashley’s apparent lack of the kind of deceitful cunning in the use of the media to spin for him, rather than against, that certain convicted criminals seem to have.
Any half-way proficient PR hack could have had Ashley appear as noble hero, who had now seen for himself how his underlings had let him down, and was taking personal charge of righting the wrongs his much valued workers had suffered.
Maybe, underneath his business cleverness Ashley is true to himself and not interested in lying hypocrisy. That would make him a better man than many in Scottish football governance, for sure.
Media outlets reporting that TRFC have bid £1.8M for a striker from Preston North End. The PNE Manager confirms a bid has been made, but does not say how much, although he said it has not been accepted or rejected.
So given a summer of free signings, and signings where cross border rules mean minimal compensation, suddenly what would be a substantial fee in Scottish terms seems to be on the table. Surely Rangers are not just going to spend money that should be kept for something else? As others have pointed out, there is still going to be a shortfall this season even taking the most optimistic view. Either that or they know a player is going to be sold.
@ upthehoops
Maybe they have persuaded the SFA to be guarantors
I was quite surprised to read the stats on Rangers consecutive home ties and the allegations of bias, especially considering as a few people have pointed out that so many Celtic/Hearts/Aberdeen/Hibs players, managers and legends have been involved in the draws over the years, its really difficult to imagine them being complicit in any cheating.
However to the stats and a number of comments regarding Rangers having a home tie in the last 8 draws. It appears its not that strange. Hibs managed to get 10 home draws in a row between 2007 and 2010 in the Scottish and League Cup.
26th September 2007 – Hibs 2 v Motherwell 4
12th January 2008 – Hibs 3 v Inverness 0
3rd February 2008 – Hibs 0 v Rangers 0
26th August 2008 – Hibs 3 v Morton 4
11th January 2009 – Hibs 0 v Hearts 2
26th August 2009 – Hibs 3 v Brechin 0
22nd September 2009 – Hibs 1 v St Johnstone 3
9th January 2010 – Hibs 3 v Irvine Meadow 0
6th February 2010 – Hibs 5 v Montrose 1
13th March 2010 – Hibs 2 v Ross County 2
Also, and for those interested in more stats around home draws in the top 2 cups in Scotland, according to Soccerbase, which seems to be very up to date and independent, over the last 10 seasons since 2006/07 season, Ross County lead the way with 71% of all Cup Ties played at home (not including any replays) Hibs are second with 70% drawn out of the hat at home. Rangers (and if you leave the same club argument to 1 side for now) are at 56% with Celtic on the opposite side at 44%.
None of the above come anywhere near Edinburgh Citys bias in the draw though. 16 of their 18 ties over the last 10 seasons have been drawn at their home ground. A massive 89%.
So, do the SFA, SPFL and all the past players have a bias towards Edinburgh City, or Ross County, or Hibs, or is the argument that its just teams that play out of Ibrox ?
Or perhaps, it really is just the luck of the draw ?
upthehoopsAugust 15, 2016 at 19:50
According to STV sport it’s in 2 instalments one this year and another next.
John ClarkAugust 15, 2016 at 19:39
Maybe, underneath his business cleverness Ashley is true to himself and not interested in lying hypocrisy. That would make him a better man than many in Scottish football governance, for sure.
Don’t know about that John I would imagine it’s more about pressure from the West Minster Select committee,but I get your point about PR.
Jingso.JimsieAugust 15, 2016 at 17:22
Cheers, Jimsie , saw your post after I’d posted my second .
I note that the Mighty Jags are getting some grief for not doing cartwheels for having our game against CFC postponed(once again). Lots of people point to the fact that we (and the other clubs) will be boosted financially in the dole out of European funds .
So it is all about the money .
PTFC – going for #56
THEREDPILLAUGUST 15, 2016 at 20:19 According to STV sport it’s in 2 instalments one this year and another next.
=======================================
I’m still struggling to see how they can afford it, but then again maybe they can’t.
This is an offer for your striker valued at a large sum which a,outs to to £1,800,000 comprising £ 500,000 in the form of the rights for naming Ibrox for the nex two years and £800,000 paid in the form of TRFC replica kits in various size and for several past seasons. As add on a large sum in the form of Airmiles to be used on flights between Glasgow And South Africa subject to the visicitudes of a holding company chairman’s travelling plans and bias scoring a hat trick in the knockout stages of the Champions League
signed
Man of Interesting Track Record
UPTHEHOOPS:20:46
Your guess is as good as mine. This is something that baffles me ,we keep hearing they are in financial trouble and the end is in site , all I can say it must be one hell of Credit Card .
THEREDPILL
AUGUST 15, 2016 at 20:19
UPTHEHOOPS
AUGUST 15, 2016 at 19:50
Media outlets reporting that TRFC have bid £1.8M for a striker from Preston North End. The PNE Manager confirms a bid has been made, but does not say how much, although he said it has not been accepted or rejected.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
According to STV sport it’s in 2 instalments one this year and another next
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
That`ll be £50k this year and the rest out of next years CL semis money
i.e
A puff piece to offset the CL qualifier on Wed
THEREDPILLAUGUST 15, 2016 at 21:43
Your guess is as good as mine. This is something that baffles me ,we keep hearing they are in financial trouble and the end is in site , all I can say it must be one hell of Credit Card .
============================
Then again you get people who spend money in the full knowledge they will be left short with a week or two still to go until payday. Often it leads to others having false impressions of the individual’s wealth status. They borrow more to make up the shortfall and the spiral of debt becomes never ending. Then essential bills start to go unpaid as the much dreamed of windfall never arrives. It’s a good job nothing like that has ever happened at Ibrox before.
This morning’s Daily Record has an article about Stewart Regan, talking about his integrity and his job being on the line. While to many of us that type of article is 4 years too late, it will come as no surprise the tone of the article is that Rangers have been wronged.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-sfa-stewart-regan-under-8639005
UPTHEHOOPSAUGUST 16, 2016 at 07:12
Ahh, so the record CAN do timelines and stuff. They must have got some new computer programme cos one of them would have been helpful around 2012. I see they’ve also worked out how to use a phone !!!!!!!!! In five years time they’ll be using Facebook and everyfrin by the way………
JOHN CLARK
AUGUST 15, 2016 at 19:04
And now Lennon is on Sportsound, trotting out the agreed mantra ” ‘Rangers’ are back, the ‘Old Firm’ is back”- Celtic have to spend…”It’s amazing how one can go off people!Let him stick to talking about the club he is presently managing rather than be as Barry Ferguson was when using ‘his’ press column not to talk up Clyde, but TRFC.
——————————————————————————————————————————
Last week I cited Neil Lennon as an example of a ‘Celtic Man’ who may be too busy to take the BBC Scotland Sportsound shilling as opposed to all the ‘Rangers Men’ filling the punditry panels that UTH continually moans about.
So I was surprised as anyone to hear a wee bit of Lennon on the show when driving about last night.
You would have thought some folks would be happy that UTH’s complaints had maybe been heard by the BBC and parity had been restored. Surely there can be no bigger Celtic Man than Lennon?
However pundit Lennon’s loves ‘Rangers’ being back. From what I recall Packie Bonnar most likely says the same. Pundits such as Mark Burchill and Andy Walker have recently defended strikers going down in the box in the Walkergate scandal.
As with Res 12 I think Celtic fans are just going to have realize that their club, its officials and ex-players have a different view of the game from the fans, on a whole range of issues.
Everyone ‘within the game’ is happy to have ‘Rangers back’ and the position isn’t going to change regardless of how many ‘Rangers / Celtic men’ balance up the BBC punditry panels.
Let’s get this straight rangers are not back they died the new club sevco /The rangers are not the old club however much the paid for stooges try to say it is.
upthehoopsAugust 16, 2016 at 07:12
‘..This morning’s Daily Record has an article about Stewart Regan, talking about his integrity and his job being on the line. ‘
_______
Stewart Regan is an absolute model of integrity compared to the editors and sports hacks of the Daily Record,who ,as we all know, have been cheerleaders for the evils perpetrated on Scottish Football by SDM’s RFC, and are active propagators of the untruth that TRFC is RFC(IL).
This attack on Regan shows that these Goebbels-minded ‘journalists’ are motivated only by a poisonous desire to attack anyone who in any way is deemed by them to be harming the new club.
The ‘Record’ is as a piece of toilet paper, and its ‘journalists’ the stuff that is on it after its appropriate use.
Very, very bad cess to them.
May the ‘Record’ die the same death by Liquidation as RFC(IL).
And when Regan is finally nailed, let it be on the proper grounds.
The arrogance of Sevco knows no bounds. We have them once again playing the victim card disputing the findings of a sheriff,and insisting (as always) they are in the right. Of course it’s for the good of Scottish football you understand. If this was any other club they would be given short shrift and told to get in line.
Just who do they think they are…Oh haud oan.
If anyone has a twitter account can they just send a message to Regan along the lines of this is what happens when you bend over to assist the club from Govan.
When it suits them, they and their cohorts will shaft you into eternity.
UPTHEHOOPS
AUGUST 16, 2016 at 07:12
This morning’s Daily Record has an article about Stewart Regan, talking about his integrity and his job being on the line…
——————————————————————————————————————————————–
Gary Ralston, the Record’s restaurant reviewer has swallowed the squirrel offered by TRFC in one gulp.
This looks like there is bad news re the Cup Final for TRFC (Hibs too, I’d expect) & the Ibrox mitigation has started.
Incidentally, re Sheriff Bowen’s report: why did TRFC have a representative in the Hampden Police Control Room & Hibs did not (Sec. 8.3.2)?
And as if by magic here is some if it:-
Daily Record exclusive Gary Ralston 16th August 2016.
A RUN of the mill media enquiry has left Stewart Regan fighting for credibility and maybe even his job as chief executive of the SFA.
Regan misled Record Sport on the scheduling of a meeting he agreed to host with Rangers managing director Stewart Robertson on the aftermath of the Scottish Cup Final.
Rangers were angered by many of the findings of the independent report by Sheriff Edward Bowen into the chaos at the end of the Hampden showpiece in May.
They issued a statement 11 days ago demanding talks with key figures to address “contradictions and inaccuracies”.
The Ibrox club requested a meeting with Bowen QC, SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan and Regan amid concerns findings submitted by them had been overlooked or ignored in the 52-page report.
Robertson made contact with Regan last week and was told in no uncertain terms a meeting with Bowen and McGlennan, who has still to issue his findings from the perspective of football justice, was out of the question.
But he told Robertson he was happy to meet “early next week” for “informal” discussions in the presence of SFA chief operating officer Andrew McKinlay.
Astonishingly however, Regan briefed to. the contrary when contacted by Record Sport last Wednesday to ask if Rangers as they had promised had contacted the SFA for a meeting and if any date had been arranged for talks.
He confirmed a meeting with McGlennan and Bowen could never happen, then added he was happy to have informal talks with Robertson at the “appropriate” time, ideally when the judicial process was complete.
That response surprised Rangers who insisted Robertson
– on holiday in England last week but dealing with emails and calls
– had already brokered his deal to meet early this week, which they took to mean Monday or Tuesday.
Regan stuck to his guns in a phone call to Record Sport on Thursday night, in which he again offered a version of events that was at odds with Robertson’s.
The SFA chief said: “I said I’d spoken to Robertson on the phone and we’d get together at some point when he gets back from his holiday.
“There was no meeting,there was nothing finalised,nothing arranged. It was literally left that we weren’t going to get involved because of the independent process.
And there’s more, front page, back page, page 50 and page 51.
Anyone else get the impression that if the deal does go ahead the figures are being inflated (to ‘Level 5’) to give the impression the club from Govan are spending big on the back of the Sinclair signing at Celtic.
(I noted with interest last night on the radio that that the figure of £1.5 to 2.5m worth of income may be heading towards Celtic Park from participation in the International Champions Cup, so that pays someones wages for a bit without any problems).
After a stream of Bears praising the new found sustainability the other week, surely paying this amount of money for a lower league player, who really only performed well in League One in recent years, is over the top and serious questions will now be asked by these financially astute fans?
WOTTPIAUGUST 16, 2016 at 10:37
(I noted with interest last night on the radio that that the figure of £1.5 to 2.5m worth of income may be heading towards Celtic Park from participation in the International Champions Cup, so that pays someones wages for a bit without any problems).
—————————————
Does that income go purely to Celtic or is there a percentage paid as a “solidarity” payment to the league?
As for Preston – 50% now? I’d want it 100% in the bank before even letting the guy go home to pack his bags. Was it Dundee Utd that were left chasing money after RFC went bust?
It actually says in one of the Record articles that ‘Gary’s (that’s Ralston, I presume) relationship with ‘Rangers’ (that’s sic) has been damaged’ due to his investigations; so he writes several hundred (thousand?) words of pro-TRFC/anti-SFA/anti-Regan diatribe to get back in their good books.
Job done & lamb for lunch…
TAYREDAUGUST 16, 2016 at 10:46
Note sure where the money goes.
I suspect it will all go to Celtic as I believe it was an invitational competition as opposed to being some form of official representation on behalf of the SPFL.
In relation to this daily beano story, if the new Rangers done irony!!!
WOTTPIAUGUST 16, 2016 at 11:22 TAYREDAUGUST 16, 2016 at 10:46
Note sure where the money goes. I suspect it will all go to Celtic as I believe it was an invitational competition as opposed to being some form of official representation on behalf of the SPFL.
—————————————-
I’d imagine so. I wonder how the SMSM would have handled this story if they were due to play TRFC that day…. Still, thankfully it was “only” Partick eh!
SHUGAUGUST 16, 2016 at 09:52 20 1 Rate This
If they can do it, well so can I !!!!!!!! I’m going back to Jamaica this year. The fact that I’ve never been before is neither here nor there. One can, according to De Selby, remain static and surround yourself with pictures and postcards of where you are going and the route taken and that you will actually believe you have been there. I think this is what has happened to The Rangers and that Ibrox is just one big De Selby Apparatus allowing people to travel to places they’ve never actually been but giving the impression that they have. I can’t think of any other way this would be possible……. Dearie Me !!!!!!!!
wottpi,
Doncaster’s claims today that the ‘Joker’ system benefits Scottish clubs financially.
It is not altogether clear whether me means ALL clubs or just the clubs who can arrange lucrative friendlies.
Alan Archibald’s position is understandable in terms of revenue for Thistle. He will be disappointed at not being able to face Celtic for financial and football reasons.
There is always a big away support at a Glasgow derby. I wonder if there is any compensation available to them due to the game being rearranged in the less financially attractive midweek – and perhaps at a less exciting time in the season.
Celtic’s position on the other hand is equally understandable. They too want to maximise their income, and the club’s profile gets them invited to things like that. However the Scottish season has over the last decade or so started earlier than other European leagues. The competition Celtic participated in is a pre-season warm up for most clubs, but straddles the beginning of the season in Scotland.
One wee ironic observation is Peter Lawwell’s much-publicised remarks about ‘the integrity of the competition’ when Rangers wanted to tinker with the the league season timetable when they reached the UEFA Cup final.
Compounding matters is the identified need for Scottish football to start even sooner to better prepare our clubs playing in European competitions.
The particular issue is one of money – although there are wider issues for the game in general.
Apologies if posted before.
Signed off results for Rangers Retail:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08142409/filing-history
BIG PINKAUGUST 16, 2016 at 12:52
Joker system, surely that should be joke system!
Anyway, just a point to make, the postponed game was due to be play at Celtic Park, so I cant see that Thistle have lost out financially. They have however lost out for football reasons – stop start beginning to season, 2 weeks between games, having to play in a midweek at sometime in the future possibly between 2 hard games and possibly missing players through injury or suspension that would otherwise have been available.
Once again its a rule brought in for the benefit of the “big” club(s).
BP,
You claim “Celtic’s position on the other hand is equally understandable. They too want to maximise their income, and the club’s profile gets them invited to things like that.”
I can tell from yesterday you don’t see the problem with CFC behaviour of late. Many outside the CFC fans base most certainly do. Celtic already had a game scheduled for that day, a league game. They were not free to partake, that they would lose money is neither here nor there, they had obligations. My earlier comment about it being “only” Partick was not tongue in cheek – what do you think would have happened if the game scheduled was TRFC? If they had postponed (yeah right!) that game for a friendly WW3 would have broken loose, claims of showing no respect yada yada would have been filling page after page in the SMSM. Its just another demonstration, as Wottpi said earlier, that despite most/all Celtic fans wishing their club to be as far removed from RFC/TFC and the accusations of any form of “big twoism” or entitlement, it is very much alive and kicking in the Scottish game.
Its something that has been largely and gloriously missing for the past few years, but its back, my god is it back. TRFC might not be “back”, but the same old atmosphere we were all used most certainly is. Sportscene drops Championship games, former Old Firm players lining up to tell us how wonderful the world is again, Doncaster spouting all sorts of utter rubbish, SMSM back to their pandering worst, hell even the official SPL photograph has the Captains of CFC and TRFC front and foremost beside the trophy with everyone else pushed to the back/side.
We missed the chance, our chairmen missed the chance, our clubs missed the chance. The only winners are CFC and TRFC, they are the two clubs that stand to make money out of re-inventing the hate game, nobody else.
Its only Partick, lets forget them and go gain some money playing a game that nobody cares about (including CFC it appears who only field a B-team). It stinks.
I agree Tayred. But there was never any chance that Celtic would have been playing the new team on Saturday past. It would have been known that Celtic were going to be playing a “friendly” that Saturday a long time ago and the SPFL fixture list would have been “managed” accordingly. In my opinion.
I agree with Bordersdon – no surprise there
No chance would that game have been scheduled.
Ask yourself, would Celtic have postponed that game if it was versus TRFC. If you think not – then there is clearly a massive problem with our game. If you think yes they would, then…. well I’d be amazed!
This is from 2011:
“..
New SPL rules allow clubs to postpone one fixture in the early stages to allow for friendlies, meaning that on the second weekend, Celtic will not be in action due to their participation in the Dublin Super Cup. The parkhead side had been scheduled to play Dunfermline at home.
The following weekend, Rangers and Hibs are opting out, with friendlies scheduled for August 6. They were pencilled in to have home matches against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone respectively. New dates will be announced in due course.”
It may be that the reconstructed SPFL changed those rules, and that on this occasion Celtic were in breach.
I haven’t the time at the moment to check the Articles of Ass. and the Rules of the SPFL, but if some one could, it might save a lot of grief if we knew for sure that the ‘other’ teams in postponed matches were happy with the postponements? And what, if anything, was in it for them!
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958)August 16, 2016 at 13:07
Apologies if posted before. Signed off results for Rangers Retail:
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08142409/filing-history
=================================
Note that the figures are for the year ended 26 Apr 2015. The 2016 figures are still outstanding.
Notable points from the report is that the pre tax profit was £2.73M which isn’t a bad return on a Turnover of £4.26M. £1.94M of that profit comes from the IP Licensing.
Dividends paid out during the year were £2.74M. Much of that will have been on the original 51%/49% split as the shareholding change didn’t take place until Jan 2015 (the last 3 months of the financial year). Rangers’ share of the dividends was diminished by the £620K paid to close the unprofitable stores (from the RIFC accounts). The balance of the onerous contract (unsold stock) was sitting at £130K at year end.
TRFC are suing for £1M for breaches of the IP agreement. RRL will defend the charge.
It’s difficult to make any fair judgements on the accounts or the current situation without seeing the 2016 accounts.
Just to add – no complaints that this situation is against the SPFL rules. But the SPFL rules are, well… pants!
The Gary Ralston DR article seems to boil down to one relatively trivial point: Regan – allegedly – fibbed to the DR !
And that bastion of honest, investigative journalism has apparently reacted to this misinformation – and with some briefing provided from the Blue Room and/or Level42.
Don’t think there is a story here – just a fluffy squirrel as mentioned above.
But…
If Regan appeases TRFC then – again – it will send out all the wrong signals to Scottish football fans.
And, to cap off the whole ridiculous RFC/TRFC saga would it not be fitting if Regan actually left because the Ibrox club wanted him out…i.e. Regan won’t be leaving because of any systematic cheating / mismanagement at the SFA over the last 4+ years though !
“Rangers boss Mark Warburton has been found out – his team is predictable and flawed: Kenny Shiels launches new attack”
Unsure if mentioned already, but this is a surprising headline and article from the DR yesterday.
I thought only articles validating Warburton’s managerial prowess – despite minimal experience – and his opinions on how to improve Scottish football overall, were to be published by the SMSM ?!
How did this article slip through the net then ?
What was/is it’s purpose ?
Or am I just being paranoid…?
Who said that ?
[Going for a hat-trick / my own bold highlights.]
“Joao Havelange: Former Fifa president and IOC member dies aged 100
…The Brazilian was predecessor to Sepp Blatter at world football’s governing body, serving from 1974 to 1998.
He resigned as Fifa’s honorary president in April 2013 following an investigation into bribery allegations…
He was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill health…
In 2010, a BBC Panorama programme accused Havelange and son-in-law Ricardo Teixeira of taking millions of dollars in bribes from Swiss marketing agency International Sport and Leisure (ISL) to retain the company as Fifa’s sole official marketer…
His resignation from the IOC five years ago avoided an investigation into the ISL allegations…”
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A 95 year old ‘dodgy geezer’ on the IOC ?!
No wonder cheating seems to be the real ‘sport’ at the Olympics !
My brother (Watford fan) passed this on when he heard that Rangers were proposing to spend 1.5 million on Joe Garner (Kudos goes to the BHAPPY Watford fan blog and their 2012 end of season player review).
“25- Joe Garner
My Dad is convinced that Joe is about to embark on a goalscoring spree. He’ll argue this until he’s blue in the face. He’s been convinced of this all season. It hasn’t happened yet. Signed by Forest from Carlisle for a decent fee, Garner never quite established himself at the City Ground and it’s not difficult to see why; he’s not quite anything really, he doesn’t perform any job well enough. Clearly not a goalscorer, despite the feeling in Dad’s water, and despite his scoring record at Forest not being quite as non-existent as at Vicarage Road. Kind of creative, occasionally has a game where he’ll look like a reasonable foil but isn’t clever enough and doesn’t do it often enough. Has games where he runs himself into the ground but again, has games where he disappears so he’s not a workhorse. Most of all he’s just not very likeable, and his willingness to take a tumble over tackles has become an in-joke. Would be funnier, or easier to tolerate, if like previous Watford players with such a proclivity, there was a positive contribution to go with it.
Next Season: Garner has remained involved in matchday squads despite his inconsistent impact, but it’s inconceviable that he’ll remain as involved without contributing rather more.”
(Update: Garner was freed in January 2013 after 1 goal in 24 games)
He did re-establish himself at PNE over two seasons in division 1 but following Prestons promotion to the Championship he again showed that the better the opposition the worse he plays. In Div 1 he’s played 167 games and scored 69 goals (not bad) in the Championship it’s 131 games 22 goals (not good). Can’t see how they are going to get bang for their buck out of that deal.
John ClarkAugust 16, 2016 at 14:19
This is from 2011:“..New SPL rules allow clubs to postpone one fixture in the early stages to allow for friendlies, meaning that on the second weekend, Celtic will not be in action due to their participation in the Dublin Super Cup. The parkhead side had been scheduled to play Dunfermline at home.
The following weekend, Rangers and Hibs are opting out, with friendlies scheduled for August 6. They were pencilled in to have home matches against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone respectively. New dates will be announced in due course.”
It may be that the reconstructed SPFL changed those rules, and that on this occasion Celtic were in breach. I haven’t the time at the moment to check the Articles of Ass. and the Rules of the SPFL, but if some one could, it might save a lot of grief if we knew for sure that the ‘other’ teams in postponed matches were happy with the postponements? And what, if anything, was in it for them!
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No suggestion made that Celtic were in breach John. As I said a few days ago Aberdeen used this last season to rest players because of EL fixtures pile up and distance travelled. I also said 2 wrongs don’t make a right (although I might contend that this was a better reason than playing a friendly). Also I would be prepared to place a small wager on the Celtic v TRFC never being scheduled at this time of the season.
Tayred,
I assure you that you are not reading the signs correctly if you think that I don’t recognise poor behaviour on the part of Celtic – especially if you read these pages. However I don’t recognise any bad behaviour in any of the clubs who have availed themselves of the Joker facility, however laughable the thing is.
Whilst the facility is quite farcical in the way the end-of-season split is; it’s not something I am particularly fussed about. It’s also not new, so the clubs don’t appear to want to go to the wall over it either, and I don’t mean just the clubs who have made use of it like Celtic, Aberdeen and Hibs.
I should add that I think the effect the Joker has on other clubs undoubtedly affects the integrity of our competition. But, it is an administrative failure and less of a concern in the grand scheme of things than the corruption that has gone on over the past few years.
Also, I strongly disagree that a TRFC-Celtic match would not be postponed to accommodate a big money friendly. The rearranged match would still be a sell-out and the only people who would suffer would be far-travelled ST holders. The only caveat I have with that is that the broadcasters may have something to say about it – but then again, maybe not.
Are Celtic systematically receiving special treatment by the authorities? My own opinion is that they don’t. Celtic fans will queue up to tell you of situations where they thought the opposite was the case (the Hampden Year and the Cadette registration being the most obvious ones), but I don’t subscribe to that school of thought either.
As with everything else in this setup, money drives it all. We keep saying it, but if we try to be colour-blind and follow the money, we won’t be far wrong at the end of the process.
If my, or Tris’s status as Celtic fans implies to anyone that the blog has become Celtic-centric, then there is clearly no basis for trust in us as moderators, or respect for the efforts we have made to build a coalition of fans of all Scottish teams. I thought we were long past that, but if that situation makes us unqualified to speak about Celtic, then we should just fold the tents.
Fundamentally, I agree with you. Wrong is wrong and right is right. The trouble is there is so much that is wrong we need to prioritise.
At SFM, we are looking for things which unite us as fans. We’d have no trouble at all finding things where we disagree – that’s too easy – and that is what club specific fans forums do best.
Hopefully, SFM is pish at that.
tayredAugust 16, 2016 at 14:59
‘…But the SPFL rules are, well… pants!’
bordersdonAugust 16, 2016 at 16:04
‘..No suggestion made that Celtic were in breach John. ‘
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I think what we are up against is very largely, if not completely, the disregard that our clubs and governing bodies have for us, a disregard bordering on contemptuous dismissal of anything we, as consumers, might have to say about ‘the product’ provided and the generally dire service we get-even leaving aside aside allegations of cheating and sports corruption in the governance.
The Scottish Football Supporters Association is working steadily to bring about the type of change required to put supporters at the very heart of the structure of the football industry, rather than as mere till fodder for very privileged groupings of small to medium enterprises.
It would seem only right that the supporters of clubs which might be planning ‘friendly’ games ( or expecting invitations to more or less bogus ‘international championship’ games) and the clubs whose fixtures would be affected,should at least have to consult not only the ‘Authorities’, but their own supporters about the possible effects on their supporters of postponing already agreed fixtures.
WOTTPIAUGUST 16, 2016 at 09:39 Last week I cited Neil Lennon as an example of a ‘Celtic Man’ who may be too busy to take the BBC Scotland Sportsound shilling as opposed to all the ‘Rangers Men’ filling the punditry panels that UTH continually moans about.
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One man’s moans are another man’s valid points – I’m sure you’ll agree with that.
Personally I was delighted Celtic were asked to participate in such a prestigious pre-season tournament, and I hope they are invited again next year. I do not believe there is a single club in Scotland who would not have accepted the same invite, and subsequently postponed a game.
In the case of Neil Lennon I’d be willing to cut him a bit of slack given what he and his family went through around 2010/11. death threats, bombs sent to your house, visits from the secret service to advise you on your security etc…
I can totally understand him going along with the “rangers are back” narrative for the sake of a quiet life.
Maybe he isn’t just going along with it and genuinely thinks rangers are back.
I’m not a mind reader so who knows. The point is that I think if anyone has an excuse for playing it safe then its Neil Lennon.
Jackass agrees with Spiers that tomorrow’s game v Hapoel will not be ‘defining’ for Rodgers.
And why not?
Why else, other than the fact that “rangers” are ‘back’, to give him some competition.
God Almighty!
To rank TRFC anywhere near as important as any team in the CL is just arrant nonsense.
There seems to be a big upstart about celtic playing friendlies after the season has started and that a game was postponed.
If the other team that has to play celtic on that day can’t arrange a friendly for themselves,as is there choice, that is down to bad behind the scenes managment.
And if ever TRFC were to ever get an invite to such a tournament, you can bet your life it would be portrayed as the best thing for scottish football and the club that was supposed to play TRFC on that day.
Rant over.
Bordersdon and Tayred 1330 – 1500
The points that you make encapsulate the reason I no longer contribute on a regular basis. I know that it is difficult for fans to see their own team’s actions with an independent eye but to keep a site like this on course it is an imperative quality. Should contributors feel that there is a bias or leaning that conflicts with the aims of the site that appeals to so many then the moderators, should they fail to agree, should take advice. The intent of this site is so intrinsic to the solving of the problems of Scottish football that to fail to see that there is a tone to the site that deters supporters of clubs other than Celtic is to remove the independence of the site and to weaken its strength.
BP, Tris. You have reacted to my earlier comments by censoring me but my comments were made with the hope that we could backtrack on the increasing Celtic orientated comment on here. This is the perfect example.
For Celtic, the highest earning club in our leagues, to reject the fixture list to fill their coffers more is not an issue that can be answered by whitabootery. It matters not whether other clubs would jump at the chance to play glamour friendlies for cash, the point is, does it sit well with a properly run league set up? Should we be condoning this for ANY club.
The response to this issue is clearly divided between the Celtic supporters who jump to the defence of their club and all other supporters who see it as an affront to the integrity of our leagues. To support the Celtic fans’ view on here is adding to the belief that the site is not independent.
This is not a criticism or condemnation of SFM but rather an appeal to get it back on track. We need an independent platform to confront the risk to our game so please do not censor this post. If you feel that my view is unfair then why not open up another thread that allows discussion on SFM’s (im)partiality. I think you will find that opinion divides into two camps, Celtic supporters and all other supporters. If you are not willing then to step back from the drift towards a CFC site then fair enough, you condemn the site to being just another Celtic outlet.
PS
On the glamour invite games. My view is that if it is so attractive to ANY club then let them play it but concede the game they were scheduled to play as a 3-0 loss.
i don’t agree with teams playing friendlies once the season has started. However not many clubs would be able to turn down the big pay day though if offered.
I’m noticing a bit of a change of attitude among Celtic fans on here and on JJ’s site. Seems to me you are devolving a bit of arrogance similar to fans of the former and new Rangers. I dont visit as often because of it
(Edit I wrote this before reading reivers post above)
REIVERAUGUST 16, 2016 at 19:08
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I can understand your frustration Reiver, but I think you are ignoring what other posters have already pointed out. God is mammon.Personally I would prefer to see the member club who adopts any rights under rules agreed by all the clubs to offer 20% rebate of all income received back to the sponsoring league to be dispensed equitably. This should happen but its like sharing of gate money and tv revenue, Celtic had an opportunity to really change the landscape of domestic football for the good of all and failed to do so through a combination of fear and PLC shareholder nonsense. I once thought I supported a club with a social conscience and charitable ethos but it has lost its way as the champions league lassie flashed an ankle.
I’ve just discovered that Celtic will have earned €9M from their three games in the ICC. Nice work if you can get it.
http://en.as.com/en/2016/07/25/football/1469477831_579008.html?omnil=resrelart
A bit off topic, but after todays spat that has been reported on Regan, Ralston and Robertson.
My question’s are these.
1. IS THIS BRINGING THE GAME IN TO DISREPUTE?
2. AND DOES REGAN NOW WISH HE HAD COLLECTED THE LNS FINE BY NOW
EASYJAMBO
AUGUST 16, 2016 at 20:18
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At today’s rates and assuming the figures are accurate it’s around £7.5m, with all expenses being covered by the organisers. So it represents pre-tax profits. Celtic almost certainly still don’t pay corporation tax because of carrying historic losses (someone can maybe confirm or deny that).
This tournament is not about how good the team is, it’s about how big a draw the club’s name is.
If Celtic do not qualify for the CL group stages this will be the most lucrative “competition” they compete in this year. That’s based on prize money obviously, not things like ticket sales.
Bill,
JJs site has nothing to do with SFM, but I am sorry about your perception of attitudes on here.
However, deliberately insulting folk is beneath you, and I am sad and disappointed that you have decided to make that kind of generalised attack that we have tried to weed out when talking about fans of ANY club.
I see no arrogance at all from Celtic fans on here. I do see Celtic fans (often too quickly) jump to the defence of their club, but I don’t see any arrogance.
Also the accusation has appeared again that there is too much Celtic content on here. And again, I have to repeat Tris’s earlier assertion that again, the Celtic content has been instantiated in the main by non-Celtic fans.
It is disappointing to have to defend the blog and the moderators against this kind of charge. I am almost tempted to start up a “Is this a Celtic blog?” thread, so anyone who feels that it is worthy of discussion can have at it. However, it is clearly appropriate to the Moderation thread, and from here on in, that is where it should go – as long as insults are left out.
GUNNERB
AUGUST 16, 2016 at 20:09
Celtic had an opportunity to really change the landscape of domestic football for the good of all and failed to do so through a combination of fear and PLC shareholder nonsense.
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Can you maybe explain “PLC shareholder nonsense”.
Celtic are a PLC, they have shareholders and a board who are legally obliged to act in the best interests of those shareholders.
There is no difference between them and the board of any other PLC as far as that responsibility is concerned.
Perhaps you mean a different “nonsense”, I would be interested to know what that is.
Tayred
Get in there mate ?
BP
apologies maybe arrogance was the wrong word.
Thou shalt no be critical of Celtic is the motto of a few on here.
Grateful and appreciative of the work the likes of JC do though
Could the person(s) currently looking at SPFL roles on “joker” games check if it is only the home team who can postpone ? Ta .
PTFC going for #78
£49 to watch Celtic take on the rangers thank heavens i’m a Hibee.
New blog – strangely, about Celtic, by a Hearts fan 🙂