Apologies for the lack of activity this past few days. I had been expecting a guest blog, but it has failed to materialise thus far. I will endeavour to get that together over the next few days. In the meantine, the moderators would like to thank everyone for their cooperation in keeping some sanity in the face of the recent trolling activity. The self-policing aspect has been admirable over the last few days – as has the level of scrutiny applied to the information which has been coming in.
There have been, understandably, some comments on the blog and elsewhere about a perceived obsesssion here with Rangers and their offspring. Whilst I agree that the focus of this community should have a wider perspective, I don’t think it is obsessional to engage with the big story of the day – in fact it is neccessary that we do so.
Ultimately though TSFM’s longevity will depend on our ability to look at the wider issues, and that is at the top of our minds. We have recently been approached by some people about the possibility of our creating and publicising our own Scottish Football Financial Secrecy League in line with that created a while back for Christian Aid. That may give us some credibility as a watchdog, and utilise the expertise that many contributors have offered so freely in the past.
Right now though the new Rangers show is still headlining, and it is of interest, in the light of the impending share issue, whether the economics of running the new Rangers is really as precariously balanced as has been claimed by some of our number.
If our supsicions of Charles Green’s motives are correct, then we are bound to demonstrate why we think the share issue could be a device to either pay off Ticketus, or Green’s investors to the detriment of the fans.
If the new club’s finances are as precarious as has been stated, then it would point to the share issue being used as a cut and run exercise; but I am not at all convinced of that precariousness.
For example, I don’t accept that The Rangers are paying players an average weekly wage of even as much as £2500. I suspect that the actual figure is considerably less than that, and I hear that basic salaries for the higher quality new players is nearer the £1500 a week mark, with considerably less being offered to the younger guys. Of course performance bonuses would be added to that, but if my figure is correct, Green has a considerable amount of headroom to pay those bonuses.
On the other hand, Green will not have the sponsorship bucks, the media cash, or the prize money that old Rangers would have taken for granted, so there is a defecit there. It may also be of interest to see whether the reported figures for ST sales can be verified. I don’t think it would be churlish for Rangers fans to demand proof of that success before stumping up for a share or two, but one would have to say that reported high figures may well influence an investment decision – and in spite of those impressive numbers (35,000 STs sold) private investors still remain in hiding. It is at times like these that Adam would be an invaluable asset, bringing as he did an alternative and forensic accounting perspective to the somewhat wishful thinking of our non-Rangers tendency 🙂
If the success of Charles Green’s project is determined solely by how much money he makes, then it is in the interest of Rangers fans that any plans to line his own pockets via a share issue (if that is really his intention) are exposed. If Green’s accusers are correct (and let’s not forget that Rangers diehards like John Brown are among their number), then we would have to assume that his biggest success yet has been to get the bears onside, buying imprssively high numbers of STs, after the initial hostility he faced.
Rangers fans who have involved themsleves in critical thinking over the matter will know that some serious damage to the new club will be the result if Green is allowed to pull off any such scam, but they will also know that if he is genuinely invested in the well-being of the club, he is probably their best hope.
That is the dilemma they face.
All talk of stripping titles and history is a red-herring. The real problem for new Rangers is not lost titles or trophy notches on an Ibrox crossbar. It is, as it has been all summer long for old Rangers, survival.
First moderated post haha… Moronic me!
Cortes says:
September 9, 2012 at 22:46
‘..Ian Cathro left SFA post late May 2012’
—
So there’s more wrong with our Blazers than rules irregularities-total lack of imagination and ability to get rid of hide-bound thinking!
Castofthousands says:
September 9, 2012 at 18:47
Rangers fans and staff are currently suffering a bereavement.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Absolutely spot on and explains much of what has happened since it became clear RFC were dying
At first I thought their odd behavior was something to do with a deep rooted WATP arrogance surfacing in response to losing the respect of the rest of us
But your analogy is much more sensible. It explains why otherwise intelligent people are not only willing to believe nonsense but are backing it with their money. Perhaps they get comfort by uniting around a dead thing and trooping round the symbols and places associated with it. However to persist in believing a death hasn`t happened is surely storing up trouble for the future. One can`t help wondering how ex RFC fans will respond to an unsubsidised Sevco in the fututre. By remaining in the denial phase they are holding back the anger phase. One can only hope it is directed at the Spivs currently lining them up for a fund raising.
Perhaps the fundraising itself will bring them into the real world. It`s one thing to buy a 3rd div season ticket when the cost is low. However digging deep for a couple of grand is quite another matter. I suspect Green will say whatever ex RFC fans want to hear. He might even tell them the money is a Sevco war chest for Europe
However
Buying a 3rd div season ticket is largely a personal decision. Spending upwards of £2k usually needs discussion with others That’s when economic realities come into play.
I sincerely hope these fans don`t throw away their hard earned money simply to enable Spivs to walk away. But if they do they will deserve to lose their investment
There is none so blind as those who won`t see
Cortes, welcome to the ‘Moderati’. And thanks for the info on Ian Cathro. Must follow him up.
With the 3 ‘Honourable men’ meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to look over the EBT issue, will there be any news for us to digest this week or do we expect another delay.
jammy dodger says:
September 9, 2012 at 18:13
StevieBC says:
September 9, 2012 at 16:20
…
Perhaps we should support the preference of FIFA to have only one UK FA?
That’s one sure way to get the blazers turfed out!…
=========
…
The answer to a corrupt SFA is NOT a merger with the English FA. The answer to a corrupt SFA, …can be sorted out by the clubs at any time…The answer to painful Scotland performances is to improve the standard of Scottish football…
=================================================
Thanks JD – it’s not my preferred choice, but could be an option nonetheless.
I don’t see anything which encourages me that there will be a clearout in the SFA.
I have not seen any evidence in the last 20+ years that Scottish football is improving.
And subsequently linked to;
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 9, 2012 at 18:38
The sfa/spl/sfl will continue to do nothing until the clubs force action…
We are being ignored. Without action this is a talking shop…
===============================================
We are vocal about the shortcomings of the SFA, but currently I can’t see any positives.
A few posters have suggested a polite, positive email campaign but there seems to be a lack of appetite on this site, ‘TSFM’ included.
So what do we do to get the message across that the SFA is not serving the Scottish fans ?
campsiejoe says:
September 9, 2012 at 22:07
They may have had a nominal formation, but it was totally fluid, because players were taught to think, and didn’t stick rigidly to formations as we do today
I guess we just see things differently, and we will probably never agree on this
========================================================
CJ, no issues, no rights no wrongs, just a different viewpoint.
As for Johny Russell like most other in Scotland he would never have been encouraged to use his other foot.
It has been noticeable over the last season or so that Charlie Mulgrew now believes he can hit with his right foot, I can only guess that he has worked hard at this, unlike a lot of other professionals who make the first team and think they know everything. Maybe leaving Celtic did him the world of good and taught him to continue working on his skills .
timtim @ 1201.
Brilliant post. It reminded me of how things were in the early days of RTC and other blogs and websites which were beginning to expose the disgraceful state of a member club and it’s relationship with the governing body.
I cannot recall the contributor’s name, but one person who fought long and hard on behalf of the former club was very confident that Rangers would come out of it with little harm done.
He/she was confident that the then board would engage in a “fire fighting” mode and deal with each problem as it arose. He/she seemed quite well connected and informed of their position.
It seems to me that the entire Fire Service has been brought to bear to try and control the conflagration.
The most disturbing situation to arise from the demise of a football club has been the threat to freedom of speech and an irrational fear of the followers of that club.
The fact that a bookshop in Glasgow is afraid to display a book because of threats and a tabloid withdraws a serialisation of that book is shocking.
Just read the “Herald” interview with Ian Cathro, He nailed it when he said you can’t give up playing one day and then walk into the coaches office the next, Just because you have a licence does’nt make you suitable for coaching kids of 9/11 yrs or 12/14 yrs.The system has failed us in the past and is still failing us today.
StevieBC says:
September 9, 2012 at 23:15
————————————
Agree with the email suggestion. We need to let the blazers in the corrupt corridors of Hampden know that we are watching them. The mail could also be sent to the various supporter groups who could then forward it on to their clubs to make them aware of TSFM site.
I would love to see Spence or Cosgrove write a piece on here, but could you imagine the reaction they would receive from the newco followers.
How about a brief polite mail to Hampden explaining who we are etc a site set up to monitor the correct running of Scottish Football to make sure there is transparancy and correct application of the rules without fear of favour. We could end the mail by saying…..
“Could you possibly provide us with the details of the 5 way agreement regarding the newco. Thanks your friends in the TSFM”
Whats that nurse? Bedtime already……
The Waddell piece in the Record on Green is poor. Waddell talks about Greens pathetic, victim, rambles as if they are some kind of clever marketing act.
You would have to be a complete moron not to know what he is doing, and just how easy it is to stir a reaction from a reactionary fan base. He simply repeated something that has been spouted from Ibrox for a very long time.
Craig Whyte used near enough the exact same phrases and got the same reaction just as easily. Anyone with a braincell knew Green would go down this route, just as Walters Consortium would have, as would Bill Ng, Miller.
Waddell and others should be reporting on this for what it is, a disgusting manipulation of a reactionary group of people for profit. Just like Mcoists “who are these people” rant, these men are putting peoples safety at risk by behaving like this.
Nowoldandgrumpy says:
September 9, 2012 at 19:59
From celticfcblog on KDS
There is something decidedly dodgy [sic] about this new Rangers contest offering their fans the chance to win £1million if they hit the crossbar from the halfway line….
The website page suggests that the contest is being organised by Matador Sports.
There is no such company…
But the contact address for Customer Services is given as: Call Centre Sales Scotland Ltd., First Floor, 1 Dukes Road, Troon KA10 6QR.
Again, there is no such company as Call Centre Sales Scotland Ltd…
All in all, I’m sure there’s nothing for Rangers fans to worry about.
====================================================
Why are the Sevco fans not all over this, demanding to know who are these people and ‘companies’ ?
Why is it – still – being left to supposedly ‘Cetic fans obsessed with Sevco’ to ask the pertinent questions ?
Good spot NOAG.
Are the Rangers’ players’ wages really that low? I’ve been following the story from a distance, and given the quality of players that have transferred over, I assumed they must have been paid close to the previous wages, so I find that a little hard to believe.
Still, I’ve been following the overall Rangers story closely enough to know that the mainstream Scottish Media’s reporting has been shocking, so I’m fully behind the principle of this blog.
Don’t shoot the messenger: from VB site, but could be interesting/or disinformation… (?)
“…VB Admin have been reliably informed that senior employees of bookmaker William Hill were astounded to hear that S.P.L Chairman Ralph Topping, HAS IN FACT BEEN RE-ELECTED TO THE BOARD.
One wonders if this is a direct snub to the SFL as last year for the first time in the history of the game no representative was on the board…
a member of VB Admin was informed that the S.F.A were out to show who runs Scottish football and that the people who opposed them would be kept out of office. At this point our man was told that Campbell Ogilvie was reminded of his support by the rest of the board over his involvement in the Rangers EBT case and did in fact give his casting vote against the Football League official…
· Are the S.F.A really so corrupt as to keep S.F.L members off the board as they and their member clubs had the audacity to go against your plans for Rangers in the first division?
Would it not make sense to have the thirty other clubs represented on the S.F.A?
Or is it the case as was reported to us that a boastful, power hungry and ambitious adjutant in the corridors of power stated that the S.F.L WILL BE DEAD BY THE END OF THE SEASON AND THE RECONSTRUCTION WILL GO AHEAD?…”
Webster says:
September 9, 2012 at 15:13
We only need to look back in recent history to note that there is an element with society who should you dare speak up against their club would happily scrape the paintwork on your car, put a brick through your window, threaten you and your family, send you threating mail and even assault you. So in a way we have to have some sympathy for players, managers and those within the MSM who feel it’s better to sit on the fence or stay stum for the sake of a more relaxed and peaceful existence.
Would anyone be brave enough to post a You Tube video on the recent shenanigans without dressing like a Mexican Policeman at a press conference!! There’s an option to get the message over to the masses regarding the SFA and the Rangers a TSFM video and it should not be a take this piss video of which there are so many, purely the facts laid bare. I’d be happy to provide the balaclavas. lol
Reposted: for ‘h*ngry’, d’oh!
=======================
Don’t shoot the messenger: from VB site, but could be interesting/or disinformation… (?)
“…VB Admin have been reliably informed that senior employees of bookmaker William Hill were astounded to hear that S.P.L Chairman Ralph Topping, HAS IN FACT BEEN RE-ELECTED TO THE BOARD.
One wonders if this is a direct snub to the SFL as last year for the first time in the history of the game no representative was on the board…
a member of VB Admin was informed that the S.F.A were out to show who runs Scottish football and that the people who opposed them would be kept out of office. At this point our man was told that Campbell Ogilvie was reminded of his support by the rest of the board over his involvement in the Rangers EBT case and did in fact give his casting vote against the Football League official…
· Are the S.F.A really so corrupt as to keep S.F.L members off the board as they and their member clubs had the audacity to go against your plans for Rangers in the first division?
Would it not make sense to have the thirty other clubs represented on the S.F.A?
Or is it the case as was reported to us that a boastful, power hungry and ambitious adjutant in the corridors of power stated that the S.F.L WILL BE DEAD BY THE END OF THE SEASON AND THE RECONSTRUCTION WILL GO AHEAD?…”
tevieBC says:
September 9, 2012 at 23:48
2 0 Rate This
Nowoldandgrumpy says:
September 9, 2012 at 19:59
From celticfcblog on KDS
There is something decidedly dodgy [sic] about this new Rangers contest offering their fans the chance to win £1million if they hit the crossbar from the halfway line….
The website page suggests that the contest is being organised by Matador Sports.
There is no such company…
But the contact address for Customer Services is given as: Call Centre Sales Scotland Ltd., First Floor, 1 Dukes Road, Troon KA10 6QR.
Again, there is no such company as Call Centre Sales Scotland Ltd…
All in all, I’m sure there’s nothing for Rangers fans to worry about.
Hang on, isn’t this what this blog is about?
I’m onto this, who else?
Teeth in.
I remember listening to a BBC interview with one of he Celtic youth coaches who was asked if it was true if he told one of his players that if the team got a penalty he was to take it with his weaker foot. He replied that that was correct as it was about the players development not about winning the game.
I just googled that post code and it would appear to be a building called Avid House and Avid would appear to be a recruitment company or head hunters
bangordub says:
September 10, 2012 at 00:13
Rate This
tevieBC says:
September 9, 2012 at 23:48
2 0 Rate This
Nowoldandgrumpy says:
September 9, 2012 at 19:59
It would appear that there is a call centre company located at the address mentioned.
Call Centre Sales Ltd
1b Dukes Road
Troon, South Ayrshire
KA10 6QR
General enquiries: 01292 553080
Main Email: info@callcentresales.co.uk
Well I think wherever this information that Call Centre Sales Ltd did not exist is talking nonesense
http://www.ayrshirepost.net/ayrshire-news/local-news-ayrshire/ayr-news/2011/08/19/call-centre-creating-40-new-jobs-in-prestwick-and-troon-102545-29251371/
Callcentresales (Scotland) Ltd seems to be the company referred to on the Crossbar Challenge website.
This claims the company organising it is Strathan Limited – a Dissolved company previously run by the Gallagher construction clan in Sollihull, Midlands.
But it seems the real people behind it are Matador Sports (not a registered company), which is linked to a bunch of liquidated website firms.
Jacqueline Doherty, previously of Matador Creative and Matador Digital, both of which are dissolved, has been boasting about it on Twitter.
Get dialling and texting now. Only £1.50 a time if you know the answer to this question:
Where do Rangers play: Tynecastle, Ibrox or Hampden?
Closing date in April 30, 2013 (honest, all this is true!).
At which time the true answer will be revealed: Nowhere; because they don’t exist any more.
They must think Rangers fans are stupid.
I reckon they’ll make a fortune.
Maybe it’s a trick question … Ground sharing wi QP … Or amalgamated wi HMFC after Vlad does a copycat version to wipe out their eh .. debt to himself ?. ( beneficial ? Who can possibly say ) … Or playing at Ibrox …. In the Car Park ? … Ayes / Naws ? ….. Yeeha ! … Ah hear a bulldoze coming …. Ah rollin round the bend …… Ooops am gettin carried away noo … Aff fir a week like eh !
From the Callcentresales website:
“The organisation sells gas, electricity and BT services through its highly trained sales team.
It is employed by other businesses to tele-market and sell their products.”
Paid spruikers; not behind anything.
Just watched Alex M’s goals on Sunday interview, I am assuming his EBT was legal in the eyes of the SFA/SPL due to the fact that he wasn’t a player. Is that correct?
Johnboy says:
September 10, 2012 at 01:04
9 1 Rate This
Callcentresales (Scotland) Ltd seems to be the company referred to on the Crossbar Challenge website.
This claims the company organising it is Strathan Limited – a
Dissolved company previously run by the Gallagher construction clan in Sollihull, Midlands.
But it seems the real people behind it are Matador Sports (not a registered company), which is linked to a bunch of liquidated
website firms.
Jacqueline Doherty, previously of Matador Creative and Matador
Digital, both of which are dissolved, has been boasting about it on Twitter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can see a possible flaw in the plan. Judging by some earlier tweets, Jacqueline would appear to be a Celtic fan…
Jacqueline Doherty @jaqmdor 21 Aug
@kevinbridges86 cmon da hoops x
Jacqueline Doherty @jaqmdor 07 Apr
Well done Celtic brillant
A roofing firm…..stately home….not paid….resolved after the Daily Record took up the case.
Surprise surprise, it wasn’t One Stop Roofing.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/record-wins-southwest-roofing-services-1315771
Noonebutabloghead
http://scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/still-a-battle-for-survival/comment-page-5/#comment-9647
Like you I think the idea that the best of the rest of the SPL players who have joined Sevco have done so for for £1,500 per week, the chance to play at Ibrox and be part of a big adventure, risible. A few Rangers fans have tried to suggest the same to me, without any convincing argument as to why they’d want to play in Div 4, other than for money.
Footballers are coin operated largely, the idea that these players, some joining from Italy an even Brazil aren’t on decent money, doesn’t make any sense.
Sally himself it wasn’t his job to worry about the finance side of Sevco, which suggests Green has ‘splashed out’ on the Bears Credit Card, again.
The guys on KDS have been checking the rules of “The Crossbar Challenge:
“I don’t know if you’ve looked at the T&Cs, Celticfcblog, but that comes up with another couple of gems”.
It seems that this is being run by “Strathan Limited” and the only company of that name that I can find is dissolved.
Then it states “The first entry drawn at random from all eligible entries who have answered the question correctly will win the prize.” THE prize. So out of all the phone and text fees, only one person will have (presumably) ONE chance to hit the crossbar for £1m.
And in the unlikely event that this happens, Green and Co will have laid off this tiny risk for a small fee with a risk counterparty.
It also says “Email – Please send in your answer either A, B or C followed by your name. There is no charge for email entries”. But this little fact isn’t mentioned anywhere else that I can see. I wonder if email entries will be included in the draw at the end of the season?
But seriously, how can Strathan Limited (dissolved) be the final arbiters in this competition?
Quote:
8. All decisions of Strathan Limited will be final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into.
So the plan is,hopefully thousands phone in at £1.50 a time but only one will be picked.
This will be repeated at every home game,especially the last where one lucky winner could net £1m.
Hope this works.Matador Sports page.It also carries Celtic,motherwell end Newcastle logos on their Crossbar Challenge ad.
I assume these clubs know about this.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A0hNcurCcAAxI7q.jpg:large
smallteaser says:
September 9, 2012 at 23:19
So, if you’re right about Mulgrew (why wouldn’t you be??!?) then it’s proof that you can coach for skills.
MATADOR PARTNERS LLP
Registration Number: SO303140
Registered Office:
11 CHARLOTTE SQUARE, EDINBURGH, EH2 4DR
Date of Incorporation: 15 Dec 2010
Latest Annual Return: 15 Dec 2011 Accounts Reference Date: 31 Dec
Date Accounts Lodged: 06 Sep 2012 Issued Capital:
Latest Filed Accounts Date: 31 Dec 2011 [New accounts have been filed.] Next Accounts Due Date: 30 Sep 2013
Directors:
Sir David Murray
Keith Andrew Murray
David Douglas Murray
————————————————-
Not suggesting anything, probably just a coincidence namewise
Night Terror says:
September 10, 2012 at 08:35
So, if you’re right about Mulgrew (why wouldn’t you be??!?) then it’s proof that you can coach for skills.
==========================================================
I think the old golf adage ” the more I practise, the luckier I get” argument comes in here. I suspect CM practised with his right foot rather than was coached how to use it.
smallteaser says:
September 10, 2012 at 09:18
The two aren’t mutually exclusive, you know.
Don’t you think having a coach who has studied a wide range of technique and training methods would make a player’s practice more effective?
I thought dave king did,nt want to be minty’s friend anymore?
MURRAY SPORTS LIMITED
Appointment Date: 21/01/1999
Position: Director
Occupation: Metal Trader
Company Status: Active
Address:
10 CHARLOTTE SQUARE
EDINBURGH
EH2 4DR
GB
Directors and Secretaries
Mr David Cunningham King
Sir David Edward Murray
Mr Michael Scott McGill
Mr David William Murray Horne
Company Accounts:
To view financial summary login
———————————————
I may have missed it but was it announced in public that DK resigned from RFC(IA)?
RFC 2012 P.L.C. In Administration (Director Resigned 01/06/2012)
O/T
Coaching is one thing, but philosophy is the key. What way do we wish our game to be played.
If some youth team attempted to play the ‘Barca way’, or the ‘Ajax way’ on a Sat morning they would, without any protection from the officials, be kicked off the park and called nancy boys. We play the game, at the very top, the Scottish way. We pass the ball maybe three times and then attempt a dodgy or crazy pass with the obvious result. The fans don’t really want the Barca way they want the up and at them mentality. The other factor that’s seldom mentioned is the climate. It would be suicide to play the ‘Barca way’ in the conditions we experience in Scotland in winter,
and even summer!!
Just some thoughts – head down.
Senior says:
September 10, 2012 at 10:15
Been to Holland at different times of the year. Weather was never great. Similar to here.
Spain is hot and sticky but the Barca players seem to be able to run and run and run.
Climate is no excuse.
People keep saying it is simply about pass and move but that is our problem. The ball is like a hot potato at times, the pass is often poor and the runs or movement not up to scratch.
Many of our players do not look comfortable on the ball therefore when pressured the pass is poor or it is humph it up the park.
As someone said earlier the difference is the continential players quickness of thought. They can pass accurately but when pressured they don’t panic as much and appear to have quickerfeet to get out of trouble. Often the continual movement of others gives them multiple options and they adapt quickly.
Roland Brown @ 10:14am
LOL he’ll slap into them! Deserve all that’s coming to them 🙂
Senior says:
September 10, 2012 at 10:15
Writing this bit at the very moment.
The problems are simple – the range of coaching provided isn’t wide enough, the money going into youth development isn’t high enough and the standard of play young players breaking through play around isn’t high enough. The solutions are the harder thing.
If you look at St Mirren, who are a good little club, you go on their website and their coaching staff consist of 4 men, one of whom is a goalkeeping coach, and there are two others not listed on the site so six people looking after 28 first team players and a youth development squad. None of the coaches aren’t British and only one of them (Tommy Craig) has ever played league football to a decent standard outside of Scotland.
Our young players are being taught by people who have no experience of coaching or playing outside of a wholly UK outlook, It’s no surprise players look uncomfortable on the ball when the culture of football they have been taught (and the men teaching them have been taught) is agricultural at best.
The words of Orange Juice are the most relevant on this, as they seem to be always this year – rip it up and start again.
Senior says:
September 10, 2012 at 10:15
Writing this bit at the very moment.
The problems are simple – the range of coaching provided isn’t wide enough, the money going into youth development isn’t high enough and the standard of play young players breaking through play around isn’t high enough. The solutions are the harder thing.
If you look at St Mirren, who are a good little club, you go on their website and their coaching staff consist of 4 men, one of whom is a goalkeeping coach, and there are two others not listed on the site so six people looking after 28 first team players and a youth development squad. None of the coaches aren’t British and only one of them (Tommy Craig) has ever played league football to a decent standard outside of Scotland.
Our young players are being taught by people who have no experience of coaching or playing outside of a wholly UK outlook, It’s no surprise players look uncomfortable on the ball when the culture of football they have been taught (and the men teaching them have been taught) is agricultural at best.
Night Terror says:
September 10, 2012 at 08:35
So, if you’re right about Mulgrew (why wouldn’t you be??!?) then it’s proof that you can coach for skills.
————————————————————–
I’ve always thought you can, indeed must. In ye olden times kids learned skills in the street, in the park, in the playground, often playground where trying to dribble past 100 other kids enhanced your skills. This isn’t maybe the best way to learn but when you had millions of kids doing it you still developed a lot of talent.
But note: you must be aware of the old story about Jimmy Johnstone – as a kid – as well as the usual games – he used to practice by himself, bouncing a ball off a wall and controllinig it from all different angles and stuff like that.
Nowadays kids need coaching – but also playing because they need to learn how to use the skill properly – and the problem is there isn’t enough of either of adequate quality (because of few good coaches and too many mad parents and bad coaches demanding “commitment” and effort instead of letting the skills develop.
What is innate is of course physical and mental attributes. A kid isn’t born with football skills but speed, reactions, natural balance and innate confidence are the things which give one kid a better chance of being a top footballer than another kid. You can’t teach these although you can improve them if they’re there already.
Another insipid,pathetic display from the national team I was not expecting anything better.
Oh how scottish football is in great hands from the corrupt shameless sfa to a totally negative manager.
I have more chance of playing in the Ryder Cup,than Scotland have got of reaching the final stage of the World Cup
Question/query
Has anyone got an exact timeline of
Sevco Scotland Ltd – applying for SFA and SFL membership, “conditional” membership being granted and associate membership being granted
Did they apply as Sevco Scotland ltd or THE Rangers FC Ltd?
When did Sevco change it’s name to THE Rangers FC (before or after the brechin game)
What are the SFA/SFL rules on clubs changing their names? Notifications required, can it be done mid season?
Can anyone confirm that the players of Rangers FC (IA)PLC who DID Tupe over were then registered with Sevco Scotland
I would imagine that a name change of a solvent company (sevco to The rangers) doesn’t require all of the players to be re-registered, so long as the name change is registered and the players were registered before the name change.
so, couple of questions
1. Have any players walked away from Sevco/The Rangers since playing Brechin? Why no transfer? Were they registered at all?
Is there any way possible that the SFA would confirm that the Sevco players were ALL registered as being Sevco players before the brechin game?
2. Are clubs allowed to change their name mid season?
A battle for objectivity is underway on Amazon – its amazing how many biased reviews about Downfall are being posted, to the extent that it appears as if there is a concerted campaign to discourage people from buying the book and making their own mind up about events on the financial collapse of RFC.
I’m surprised at the number of 1 star votes being handed out – I thought fans of RFC(IA)/Sevco were fans of 5 stars, or perhaps they are getting used to working with less than 5 😉
Can you pass the parcel with the history of a club?
Like
RFC(IA) “selling” their history to Sevco 88 Ltd
Then
Sevco 88 Ltd “selling ” their history to Sevco Scotland Ltd
Just wondering like
Wouldn’t it be something if Craig Whyte won the crossbar challenge?
I am a (recently retired) kids fitba coach of..10years.
Within my region more & more team/clubs are being allowed to hold trials..why is this being permitted..?where the “coaches”cherrypick the “biggest” players available with height being prefered.There are particular clubs where these types of shenanigans are obvious,local boys-local team..no chance !!
Tallest & most physical players being prefered,with team lines often showing only 1 or 2 local addresses ?
Richard Wilson (@timomouse) says:
September 10, 2012 at 11:17
2 1 Rate This
If you look at St Mirren, who are a good little club, you go on their website and their coaching staff consist of 4 men, one of whom is a goalkeeping coach, and there are two others not listed on the site so six people looking after 28 first team players and a youth development squad. None of the coaches aren’t British and only one of them (Tommy Craig) has ever played league football to a decent standard outside of Scotland.
Our young players are being taught by people who have no experience of coaching or playing outside of a wholly UK outlook, It’s no surprise players look uncomfortable on the ball when the culture of football they have been taught (and the men teaching them have been taught) is agricultural at best.
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Oh Dear!!
You really really should do your research before speculating
Have you seen the football St.Mirren are trying to play under Lennon?
Have you seen the youngsters St.Mirren are bringing throu since they got their own training ground/facilities?
Was sir Alex Ferguson a great player before becoming a great coach/manager?
Do your research beforehand…..saves a red face
BartinMain says:
September 10, 2012 at 12:43
Wouldn’t it be something if Craig Whyte won the crossbar challenge?
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I’m sure if he had a go, and the ball was going well off the mark, Ogilvie, Regan & Doncaster would be happy to move the goal posts………..and if necessary, the bar…………..
It’s what they do…………..
I’m a Youth coach at U14, with a team playing second division football. I don’t coach my own son, so this is for the love of the game.
Until such time as we avoid playing competitive 11 a side football until 15, then we’ll get nowhere. We should be playing 9 aside, on 3 quarter pitches, until that time, with no competitive League, though I’d accept one or even two Cups per year, a Winter Cup and a Spring Cup say, either side of a Winter Break. There’s no Winter Break in my Region, just plenty of Sunday’s with either water-logged or frozen pitches.
Competitive football is mostly designed to allow Coaches and (some) Parents to live vicariously.
It does very, very little to develop young players into young footballers. The biggest and strongest players are ‘poached’ by the biggest and strongest Clubs, lured by the thought of winning trophies and medals. The biggest Clubs are never content, even at U13, to grow their own, to develop boys; they want the very best, as early as possible, even if that kid has been at another Club for years.
The SFA player pathway would suggest that Development is done up to the age of 11 (U12) playing 7 asides. However Clubs like Tynecastle, even avoid this and I know for a fact that their 2001 squad is already playing 11 aside games now so that they are ‘competitive’ at U13.
The SFA talk, disengenously, about keeping kids in the game, about late developers, but they do everything to encourage the opposite, teams and leagues administered by willing volunteers all geared up for ‘competition’. And yet when I watched (some of) the game on Saturday I thought it was dire; as a Nation we have the Coach our game and Administration deserve.
I hear that the ball to be used in the crossbar challenge is a medicine ball 😀
I live in a country where the football team does ‘punch above its weight.’ The sporting facilities are excellent all year long. Throughout the summer, I’ve watched kids playing in public parks complete with first class pitches, goal-posts (and bars) – and nets.
I noticed the last time I was back in Scotland that the first thing many local councils do when the schools break for the summer, is remove the goal posts and nets from public parks!
That speaks volumes.
Doon the slope says:
September 10, 2012 at 13:57
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Whereabouts in England are you dts?
SpecialsWon
Lol! That’s just not cricket!
Disappointing news from St Mirren that the fans bid to buy control of the club has been rejected
easyJambo says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:15
The Consortium have always stressed and continue to stress that they will do their utmost to make sure that it is the right people who buy their shares in SMFC.
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I am sure I have read this somewhere before, concerning another team, wonder how that went!!
The Crossbar challenge
can I just say – I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA!
Why not combine it with the usual “half time” draw?
Every home game, a fan buys a ticket, if they win, they get the half time draw prize, plus they get to take the crossbar challenge.
They could take it themselves and have the chance of winning £1m (or what ever silly number) or they could nominate one of the youth team players to take it for them – and the prize is split 50/50 with raffle winner and youth team development funds.
Would make for a lot more “entertainment” than the usual tombola and wee cheque handed over.
And isn’t football all about entertainment?
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:36
The Crossbar challenge
can I just say – I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IDEA!
Why not combine it with the usual “half time” draw?
Every home game, a fan buys a ticket, if they win, they get the half time draw prize, plus they get to take the crossbar challenge.
They could take it themselves and have the chance of winning £1m (or what ever silly number) or they could nominate one of the youth team players to take it for them – and the prize is split 50/50 with raffle winner and youth team development funds.
Would make for a lot more “entertainment” than the usual tombola and wee cheque handed over.
And isn’t football all about entertainment?
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So everyone who buys a ticket has to bring their boots with them if they want to have a go? 😀
tomtom says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:43
0 0 Rate This
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:36
The Crossbar challenge
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So everyone who buys a ticket has to bring their boots with them if they want to have a go?
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well, just those that are serious about giving it a go and winning! 🙂
but pretty sure most clubs have a few pairs of boots kicking around that could be used in an emergency.
Doon the slope says:
September 10, 2012 at 13:57
Undoubtedly, an awful lot of the blame for the demise of Scottish football can be laid at the door of Messers (no typo), Murray & Souness, and their minders in the SFA, but, at about the same time, our civic fathers pushed motorways through football pitches without replacing them, and at the same time, the Scottish (Labour) secretary of state scunnered the teachers with their draconian changes of conditions of service, hours in school, and workload. As a result, many teachers, who gave their free time to run school football teams, with only travelling expenses grudgingly awarded, (if you were lucky), decided there was something to be said for a lie-in on a cold saturday winter’s morning – especially if you had a ton of homework to correct that weekend.
Geez! Where did that face come from – I don’t look like that!
If this is old ground then my apoligies,
RFC INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED
http://companycheck.co.uk/company/SC132472
According to the accounts of this company,they sold it’s entire equity shareholding in the rangers football club plc to it’s parent company,murray sports limited in consideration for murray sports limited waiving the inter-company loan due by the company,this happened on 31st january 2011,which begs the questions,
Where RFC(IA) sold to MSL before they were moved on to craig whyte?
Does anyone know of this TRFC PLC?,i can’t seem to find anything on it.
I have the accounts but don’t know how to get them online(suggestions welcome).This company is still active and DM is still a director,which given he’s meant to have sold up,i thought was a littie weird.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:49
tomtom says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:43
0 0 Rate This
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:36
The Crossbar challenge
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So everyone who buys a ticket has to bring their boots with them if they want to have a go?
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well, just those that are serious about giving it a go and winning! 🙂
but pretty sure most clubs have a few pairs of boots kicking around that could be used in an emergency.
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Sure you’ll be able to pick up a pair at “Rangers Retail”,a subsidiary of The Rangers Football Club(according to CG) and all funds will be going there,even though it’s a wholly owned subsidiary of sportsdirect.com 😆
I assume the SFA/SFL/SPL are all private ltd companies – i.e. it is not possible for anyone to buy a share in them and attend the agm to ask the awkward questions that they can easily ignore from emails and won’t be asked by a lazy media?
I was at a wedding on Saturday where i was speaking to a contemporary of Mr. Clarke of Duff + Phelps fame. Apparently Clarke is preparing himself for being shat on from above. Questions regarding conflict of interest were not answered truthfully.
Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
September 10, 2012 at 15:11
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:49
tomtom says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:43
0 0 Rate This
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 14:36
The Crossbar challenge
———————————————————-
So everyone who buys a ticket has to bring their boots with them if they want to have a go?
———————————————————-
well, just those that are serious about giving it a go and winning! 🙂
but pretty sure most clubs have a few pairs of boots kicking around that could be used in an emergency.
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Sure you’ll be able to pick up a pair at “Rangers Retail”,a subsidiary of The Rangers Football Club(according to CG) and all funds will be going there,even though it’s a wholly owned subsidiary of sportsdirect.com
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£1.50 for a ticket and £20 for the hire of boots. Bet you they only have the Stanley Mathews Goliath’s available (soak for two days before wearing, and then hammer in the studs) 😀
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 15:19
I assume the SFA/SFL/SPL are all private ltd companies – i.e. it is not possible for anyone to buy a share in them and attend the agm to ask the awkward questions that they can easily ignore from emails and won’t be asked by a lazy media?
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You are correct- these are private companies, the shares are held by the clubs. Which is why there is absolutely no point wringing our hands about Regan, Doncaster and Longmuir, and saying what bad things they have done, how incompetent they are, etc, etc.
Everything that has been done by them over the summer has been done with the agreement of (and more likely at the instigation of) a majority of the clubs. The clubs could kick these people out any time they feel like it. They are all still in position (as is Oglilvie). So what can we conclude from that?
The club you support has a share in 2 of these organisations- ask the club what’s going on. And if by any miracle you find out, please let us all know. Because I, for one, am completely in the dark.
jammy dodger says:
September 10, 2012 at 15:41
3 0 Rate This
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 10, 2012 at 15:19
I assume the SFA/SFL/SPL are all private ltd companies – i.e. it is not possible for anyone to buy a share in them and attend the agm to ask the awkward questions that they can easily ignore from emails and won’t be asked by a lazy media?
=========
You are correct- these are private companies, the shares are held by the clubs. Which is why there is absolutely no point wringing our hands about Regan, Doncaster and Longmuir, and saying what bad things they have done, how incompetent they are, etc, etc.
Everything that has been done by them over the summer has been done with the agreement of (and more likely at the instigation of) a majority of the clubs. The clubs could kick these people out any time they feel like it. They are all still in position (as is Oglilvie). So what can we conclude from that?
The club you support has a share in 2 of these organisations- ask the club what’s going on. And if by any miracle you find out, please let us all know. Because I, for one, am completely in the dark.
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thanks Jammy, that is what I thought
I posted a couple of days ago that there was no point in us targetting the SFA/SFL/SPL directly – they don’t give a flying feck about what we, the paying customer, has to say
We MUST target our own clubs
threaten the revenue streams of our own clubs – organised protest days/boycotts to show the potential of what COULD happen next season if they don’t take action
Contact the clubs main sponsors
boycott the national team game and SFA sponsors – but remember to contact them and tell them WHY you are doing it
We must raise our voices directly and through supporters organisations, we must demand that answers are provided about the rule bending that has happened and that could well be ongoing should it ever be needed
They need to know the supporters goodwill (and wallets) are not bottomless wells of cash that will be forthcoming no matter how they abuse their own rules and neglect fair play.
It’s pretty clear it’s a self preservation society and they view doing nothing as the best way to keep us all on side.
We must make them act – otherwise, what is the point in watching the game? writing on this blog? encouraging our kids to play/watch a bent game?
Like others I think the Crossbar Challenge is a fine idea.
Other sports have been doing things like that for years.
Not seen prize money like that mentioned before in this country but hats off for giving it a try.
The key of course is to hope that no-one hits the bar and that an insurance policy has been taken out especially for the end of season £1m
Even if Ibrox is full then only so many people are going to be physically able and in with a shout.
Therefore no young kids. A good number of oldies with dodgy knees and hips will be out. Sorry to be sexist but some girlies cannae kick for toffee. Therefore that leaves a hardcore of young lads and middle aged hasbeens or wannabeas with the beer belly hinging out from under the replica top.
So from a crowd of 45k how many can you discount as not being interested. Maybe 15k? Then you have to see how much it actually costs to enter. Lets say they keep you on for a couple of minutes to get £3.00.
First time it will raise cash because of the novelty.
Then when people see some guys fail miserably over a couple of weeks they will be less inclined to call.
The entry rate will drop pretty quickly,especially if the cost is more that £3;00.
Then you have to pay the company running the telephones etc.
All that being said if they get circa 10k fans calling at £3:00 a pop every home game it is not to be sniffed at when cash is tight.
WOTTPI,
You enter by text and if your lucky you get selected to take part. They’ll be lucky to get 500 mugs entering. As for winning, if you’ve ever seen the crossbar challenge on Soccer AM you’ll know how difficult it is for pro’s let alone some wannabee’s. Most amateur players struggle to take a corner let alone hit a ball 50 odd yards. First time out might be a success, but after that it’ll dwindle.
Still, as you say, it is a good idea if it gets some revenue in (no matter who the team is).
WOTTPI says:
September 10, 2012 at 16:12
The entry rate will drop pretty quickly,especially if the cost is more that £3;00.
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Match entry cost £12, chance to enter a draw to take a chance at hitting a crossbar £3 + no chance 10,000 would enter. Remember more than half the stadium is empty until 10 minutes before kickoff. Someone also said more than half the 30,000 seasontickets sold are for under 16’s, are they able to enter? This will be paid for by insurance only and the take up will be low.
Better selling pontoons tickets at the coffee shop, bigger return, less overheads.
smallteaser says:
September 10, 2012 at 16:25
Do they still do pontoon tickets? Ah that takes me back and probably explains many a gambling habit amongst men who played boys club footy in the 70’s
I can assure everyone now..there will be only “Bar” that will be rattled that day, unfortunately that’l be the one in the louden tavern….
Time gentlemen…puuleeeeez..ahh
WOTTPI
of course, doesn’t need to be the crossbar challenge every week, could be 1:1 with the keeper, running in from half way line, Beat the ex-pro at keepie ups, penalty shoot out etc
you could have a more “do’able” challenge that lets 1 fan onto the park in front of a full house to kick a ball – how many would pay £1.50 a text to go 1:1 against the likes of Alan Rough, Packie Bonnar, Jim Leighton, Andy goram, Ian Andrews (hahahahahaha) or even for the chance to beat Danny McGrain at Keepy ups
OK, you don’t make the prize £1M for that kinda challenge, but it’ll be on every week – and it will be free to enter for whoever wins the half time draw. I bet you’d get more people buying raffle tickets for the draw if there was the chance of a wee kick about with a club “hero”
then an end of season “£1M Golden ball” you could have entries running all season, with a winner picked monthly (ensuring everyone enters again the following months) then on last home game of the season, you have 9 monthly winners on the pitch to kick for £1M (money split if more than one actually does it on the day)
see me, see marketing ideas – they should give me a job!!!
Charles Green, Chief Executive of Rangers, issued the following statement today.
“The Rangers Football Club Limited will not attend tomorrow’s hearing (Tuesday, September 11) of the SPL-appointed Commission investigating the circumstances surrounding the use of Employee Benefit Trusts by previous owners of the Club. The Club cannot continue to participate in an SPL process that we believe is fundamentally misconceived.
“Neither the SPL, nor its Commission, has any legal power or authority over the Club because it is not in the SPL. For that reason it has no legal basis on which to appoint its Commission. The Club ceased to be subject to the SPL’s rules when it was ejected from its league. Our lawyers have made that point repeatedly to the SPL in correspondence and yet our requests for an explanation from the SPL have been completely ignored. The SPL’s silence on these issues is deafening. The outcome of the SPL’s process will have no legal effect.
“First and foremost, I would like to explain this decision to our supporters across the world whose loyalty and commitment to the Club in very difficult times has been unwavering and heart-warming for all those involved at the Club.
“Since the decision was taken by HMRC on June 14 to reject administrators’ proposals for a Company Voluntary Arrangement, the fate of Rangers FC lay firmly and clearly in the ability of the consortium I led to form a new company and corporate entity that would ensure that Rangers had a future as a football club.
“At all times we were fully transparent in our dealings with the football authorities, be they the SFA, SPL or the SFL. There was no ambiguity whatsoever regarding the status of the company when it made an application to join the SPL. As we all know, 10 SPL clubs decided against the admission of the new company to the league and The Rangers Football Club Limited subsequently applied to the SFL for membership and we are grateful for their acceptance.
“In short, what was decided by the SPL membership is that Rangers was finished as a member of the SPL. Despite this, the SPL now see the new owners of the company, and the new company itself, which owns all the assets of Rangers FC – including SPL championship titles – as fair game for punishment for matters that have nothing to do with us at all. And let’s be very clear about what this Commission is. Although the SPL goes to great lengths to emphasise the independence of its Commission, the Commission is not independent of the SPL. It has been appointed by the SPL. It follows SPL rules and its process is managed by SPL staff. I don’t question the impartiality of the individual panel members but whatever decision they reach is a decision of the SPL.
“To make it crystal clear, the new owners purchased all the business and assets of Rangers, including titles and trophies. Any attempt to undermine or diminish the value of those assets will be met with the stiffest resistance, including legal recourse.
“Furthermore, we ask the question genuinely. Why did the football authorities do nothing to address an issue that was public knowledge for at least two years, and was reported in the Club’s accounts for several years, before the Club went into administration and was subsequently taken over by new owners? HMRC contacted the SPL regarding EBT matters in October 2010, they met to discuss what documentation the Club had lodged with the SPL. Did the SPL launch an investigation? Did they appoint a Commission? Did they ask to see EBT correspondence? Did they ask any questions at all? No. They did absolutely nothing.
“What compounds the breathtaking hypocrisy of the SPL in this whole saga, is that the SFA, the SPL and us – as the new owners – took part in numerous discussions regarding the new company’s league status during which it was made clear that a deal was there to be done where ‘the EBT issue’ would be dealt with as part of a package of sanctions which would be implemented in return for membership of the SFA and a place in the either the SPL or Division One. We do not accept that people who are willing to come to an agreement on such matters then have a right to instigate a full blown inquisition when matters do not unfold as they thought they would.
“In our view, it beggars belief that an authority which can be heavily involved in these discussions to the point that the Chief Executive Neil Doncaster repeatedly stated he was not interested in stripping titles from Rangers can lurch from that position to setting up its own Commission under the chairmanship of Lord Nimmo Smith. I must make clear that we are not questioning for a moment the integrity of Lord Nimmo Smith and his colleagues but we believe the SPL have been hypocritical in their approach to this matter. Quite apart from their negotiations with our consortium, I know the SPL were well advanced in their discussions with Mr Bill Miller and his representatives where EBT issues were raised and there was again an understanding that the EBT issue could be dealt with informally if new owners were to take over at Ibrox.
“Why is the SPL rushing to judgement now when it has been sitting on the matter for 2 years? Their haste is particularly difficult to understand when the tax tribunal judgement is imminent. The factual issues in both cases are identical. We have to ask why is the SPL so anxious to issue a judgement in this matter before the tax tribunal’s findings are made public. The position is even harder to understand when one of the reasons the SFA did not pursue any form of disciplinary charge on EBT matters following Lord Nimmo Smith’s April report was because it was felt unwise for the SFA to pursue the matter when the tax tribunal judgement had not been made public. Nothing has changed as the judgment still has not been made public. Why is the SPL rushing ahead when in April the SFA felt it unwise to do so?
“Rangers was not the only Club in Scotland to use EBTs yet nothing was done and little has been heard about it. Also, Rangers stands accused of achieving sporting advantage unfairly – yet there is little debate over the fact in all the years EBTs were in existence at Ibrox, the Club often failed to win either the league title, or the main cup competitions. Furthermore, the period concerned saw a significant downsizing of the playing squad both in money spent on transfers and players wages.
“The decision we have taken has not been taken lightly. There are powerful representatives from Clubs within the SPL – not all of them by any means – who appear hell bent on inflicting as much damage on Rangers as possible. It is lamentable that the Board and executive of the organisation have not been able to deal with this appropriately. We do not hold every SPL club in the same regard. Several clubs were placed in an invidious position and we believe their interests were not best served by those in more powerful positions.
“Furthermore, as a Club we are not satisfied that the issue of conflict of interest relating to advisers to the SPL has been satisfactorily dealt with.
“Once again I would thank our supporters for their patience and tolerance. They have been asked to take it on the chin time and again and we stand united in saying: No more. As far as I am concerned, Rangers Football Club has won a world record 54 league titles, and, whatever the decision of the SPL Commission, these titles cannot and will not be taken away from us.”