Tell me all your sweet, sweet little lies
All about the dark places you hide
Tell me all your problems, make them mine
Tell me all your sweet, sweet little lies
The stridency of Scottish journalist/pundits, particularly coming from those on the BBC Sportsound platform from where they cry out for an investigation into what took place behind the scenes before and after the SPFL put forward a resolution to SPFL clubs, subsequently accepted by the majority, that allowed SPFL to pay out needed prize money to sides below the Premier level is, to quote an old saying, “the talk of the steamie”.
Whilst those cries are ostensibly in support of a demand led by The Rangers FC for a need to change the governance at the SPFL, it is not clear if they mean the way the SPFL conduct business or the way individuals inside the SPFL go about the conduct of that business.
During on-air interviews, questions are being put to clubs about the degree of confidence they have in individuals rather than the processes, systems and structures. This suggests it is individuals who are being placed under scrutiny, and not the dysfunctional processes and structures themselves. A pity, since there is little doubt the governance is dysfunctional.
SFM has long been asking questions about the system and processes of governance and in fact tried to elicit the help of a number of journalists (in 2014) after information which had not been made available to the then SPFL lawyers Harper MacLeod during or after the LNS inquiry had surfaced.
Information that had it been made available would have changed the charges of Old Rangers’ mis-registration of players contracts, and to the more recent and unresolved matter of their failing to act in good faith to fellow club members (which the SFA Compliance Officer made in June 2018 in respect of non-compliance with UEFA FFP regulations relating to tax overdue in 2011).
Following the last Celtic AGM a detailed independent investigation by an accountant was provided to Celtic who passed it to the SFA where the matter has been overtaken by world events but not forgotten. That report can be read here.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1NeNzADsUAXkcFQ6QtehK5QqNsFa6he8V
It only adds to the mountain of evidence on https://www.res12.uk that suggests the need for reform of both governance bodies, their structures, systems and process.
Instead the media have given us a narrow head hunt to remove individuals for reasons that can only be guessed. This from individuals in the media whose motivations are as questionable now as they were in 2014, when they and their organisations ignored stronger evidence of greater wrong doing than has so far been presented by those currently advocating change.
The current media clamour for heads on a plate carries with it more than a whiff of hypocrisy.
During week commencing 22 September 2014, some volunteer SFM readers posted a bundle of documents that had surfaced to a number of journalists. SFM had previously sent these documents to Harper MacLeod, the then SPL lawyers. These were important documents pertinent to Lord Nimmo Smith’s inquiry into Rangers use of EBTs, documents which had not been made available to Harper MacLeod by Rangers Administrators Duff and Phelps despite being requested in March 2012 as part of the commissioning of LNS.
Earlier SFM blogs provide the details of communications with Harper MacLeod and can be read from the same link(s) provided to 12 Scottish media journalists in the draft below.
Some of the addresses may have received more than one copy but apart from one for whom only an e mail address was known, they should have received at least one hard copy of what Harper MacLeod/SPFL had been provided with which the latter passed to the SFA Compliance Officer in September 2014 according to their last reply to SFM. It is unlikely none were received by the organisations they were addressed to.
The draft to the journalist which the volunteers were at liberty to amend said:
I am a reader of The Scottish Football Monitor web site and attach for your information a set of documents that Duff and Phelps, acting as Rangers Administrators in April 2012, failed to provide to the then Scottish Premier League solicitors Harper MacLeod, who were charged with gathering evidence to investigate the matter of incorrect player registrations from July 1998 involving concealed side letters and employee benefit trusts by Rangers FC as defined in the eventual Lord Nimmo Smith Commission.
The failure to supply the requested information in the form of the attached documents as clearly instructed resulted in incorrect terms of reference being drawn up by Harper Macleod and a consequent serious error of judgement by Lords Nimmo Smith in his Decision as regards sporting advantage.
The information in the attached was provided to Harper MacLeod and the SPL Board in Feb 2014 and it was pointed out in subsequent correspondence that SFA President Campbell Ogilvie had failed to make a distinction in his testimony to Lord Nimmo Smith between the already confirmed as irregular Discount Option Scheme EBTs paid to Craig Moore, Tor Andre Flo and Ronald De Boer from 1999 to 2002/03 under Rangers Employee Benefit Trust (REBT) and the later loan EBTsfrom 2002/03 onwards under the Murray Group Management Remuneration Trust (MGMRT), having initiated the first DOS EBT to Craig Moore (as shown in the attached) and being a beneficiary of a MGMRT EBT as widely reported in national press in March 2012 at the time investigations commenced.
The complete narrative was set out in a series of blogs on The Scottish Football Monitor Web Site that are accessible from
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6uWzxhblAt9dnVHSl9OU3RoWm8/view?usp=sharing
(Edit: The links to the original SFM blogs were listed but some have been lost but original sources have been uploaded to Google Drive accessible from the above link)
However in spite of the correspondence sent to Harper MacLeod, there has been no response from them or the SPFL, save their answer to the original letter. (Edit: There was subsequent correspondence with Harper Macleod after the package and this letter was sent to the journalists which can be read from the above index to the original blogs.)
These points suggests that the SPFL, Harper MacLeod and Lord Nimmo Smith were misled by Duff and Phelps failure to supply the attached documents as instructed as well as Campbell Ogilvie’s failure to correct Lord Nimmo Smiths decision to treat all EBTs as “regular” when the DOS EBTs are not, as the attached evidence clearly demonstrates.
You are one of a number of journalists to whom this letter and attachments is addressed either electronically or hard copy. We are hoping that some journalists will prove themselves worthy of the challenge and investigate the story, even if only to refute it and stop suspicion of a cover up.
A copy of this letter and responses from addressees (or failures) will be published on The Scottish Football Monitor web site for the Scottish football supporting public to note. The e mail address for your reply is press@sfm.scot and we hope that you will investigate what appears to have been the corruption of the very process set up to establish the truth or you will explain why you cannot.
Yours in Sport
Note: The letter above was drafted and distributed with the documentation before a reply from Harper MacLeod was received, but as the reply did not address the issue of the nature of the irregular DOS EBTs, the request to journalists to investigate was even more valid.
The following were the journalists to whom documentation was posted/delivered.
Mr Richard Gordon
Mr Richard Wilson
Mr Tom English all at the BBC.
Mr Grant Russell
Mr Peter A Smith. At STV
Mr Andrew Rennie Daily Record Sports Editor
Mr Paul Hutcheon
Mr Graham Speirs
Mr Gerry Braiden at The Herald
Mr Mathew Lindsay Evening Times (belatedly)
Mr Gerry McCulloch Radio Clyde
Ms Jane Hamilton Freelance ex-Sun Sunday Mail (by e mail)
Only three individuals showed an interest but it is inconceivable to think that the media outlets they worked for were ignorant of the information provided or that the Scottish media sports departments are unaware of the narrative and its implications which were subsequently picked up by The Offshore Game but drew no refuting comments with the exception of Tom English.
He opined that the TOG report was ‘flawed’ although he did not specify how he came to that conclusion.
Darren Cooney of the Daily Record did take an interest in November 2015 when he met an SFM representative, who explained the case then sent him a summary to give to his editor but The Daily Record did not publish the story nor give any reason why they didn’t.
Grant Russell was with STV at the time and a meeting with him was arranged with a fellow SFM contributor but he failed to show up.
He subsequently did show an interest when The Court of Session ruled the Big Tax Case unlawful in July 2017, when he was provided with the a note of the consequences for the LNS Commission. However Grant moved jobs to join Motherwell in late October 2017.
Why bring all this his up now?
Because currently, the existence of texts and e-mails and unsubstantiated claims of skullduggery appear to have energised a media (and BBC Sports Department in particular) that had ‘no appetite’ to investigate actual evidence presented to them in 2014. There seems to be little doubt that an agenda is being followed, but as the preceeding paragraphs demonstrate, it casts doubt that their motivation is reform of the governance of Scottish football, and raises a suspicion that replacement of individuals (whose steerage of the good ship Scottish Football into the RFC iceberg was deemed adequate a decade ago) is what is important. A meaningless powerplay. No more no less.
One may jump to the conclusion that the foregoing is a defence of the individuals at the centre of this controversy, and that it defends the SPFL position in respect of the requisitioners review of governance. That would be the wrong conclusion. The point is that a wide-ranging review of the SFA/SPFL governance is way overdue.
The time window covered by any review should the very least cover the tenure of those accused of malfeasance and mis-governance. The media, and the requisitioners are cherry-picking their poor governance. That is poor governance in itself.
Relevant article but not sure about the opening paragraph?
https://www.begbies-traynorgroup.com/news/business-health-statistics/scottish-football-clubs-pushed-to-brink-of-insolvency-by-coronavirus-crisis-despite-good-management-and-prior-health
Featured in The Herald sport today.
It's a tough time for everybody just now, and it's going to be tough for all senior clubs for some time to come – even after all the restrictions have been lifted.
In that vein: whilst I was perusing the SFA website today, it became apparent that the blazered buffoons are totally detached from reality.
The SFA website is advertising 'Scotland Supporters Club Memberships'. Apart from a couple of freebies and discounts, the main purpose of joining is to get priority access to buy tickets for games.
To join, it's £50 for adults. That's £50 to buy the privilege of being allowed to buy overpriced match tickets.
And that's for a perennially underachieving team, which plays its home fixtures at an outdated Athletics stadium.
Out of curiosity I followed the SFA website link to the merchandising. An adult Scotland top is £65!
A kids top is £50!
And that is before any personalisation with printed name/number on the back of the top.
Even if we had a decent Scotland team of the 70's / 80's, those are still outrageous prices, IMO.
Hell mend the SFA.
Highlander 14th May 2020 at 12:16
Now that the dust has settled on Tuesday’s EGM, which saw Neil Doncaster’s unlikely transformation from devil incarnate to evil-slaying deity …
=======================================
He really didn't, well not anywhere I have seen, and I certainly don't think so.
Begbies Traynor report here :
https://www.begbies-traynorgroup.com/assets/uploads/pdfs/5559_SCOTLAND%20Football%20Report%20final.pdf
amjartmarquez 14th May 2020 at 13:19
tumbled into administration and into the Third Divison.
……..
Tumbled.
Takes note and adds to
Demoted
Relegated.
Dropped down.
Highlander
"As I alluded to in a previous post, what happens if either of these two clubs finish in the bottom half of the league post-split, have a poor season and are relegated, or maybe just lose their <cough> operating company to liquidation? Would the SPFL have to reimburse the broadcaster? Has Doncaster given broadcasters assurances that none of these scenarios will happen? How could he, without 'fixing' the game?"
======================
I agree and I think such a contract places a moral hazard on Scottish football. Picture the scenario, it is the last game before the split, Celtic (or "Rangers") require a draw or win to get a place in the top six. No matter the opposition or worse if against each other, if one or three points are not won then no fourth game between Celtic and "Rangers".
What are the chances of either failing to get the needed result and how unfair if against a team in the same position of needing a point or 3 to get their top six place?
Yet no one questions it. The contract cannot be written in such a way that 4 games are guaranteed and I wonder if it is.
Auldheid 14th May 2020 at 19:32
'..The contract cannot be written in such a way that 4 games are guaranteed and I wonder if it is."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
If the contract is indeed written in such a way that it could , however remote the possibility, require the League to ensure that a match-fixing arrangement had to be resorted to (as in the scenario you paint, Auldheid) then the contract must be in itself illegal and therefore unenforceable.
No one can be bound in law to break the law!
I imagine that the contract merely insists that 4 games be scheduled but not absolutely guaranteed to take place where the rules of football supervene.
But it would be nice to know for sure, knowing as we do that there are people in football who would not hesitate to fix a match for the sake of filthy lucre or tell downright lies for cash.
Are the real reasons for TRFC'S unhappiness with Doncaster and the SFA now becoming apparent.
I list them below for easy reference:
The SFA, having been bitten once before, have asked for properly audited interim accounts to support the UEFA application and not the work of complete fiction they normally label interims.
Doncaster refused to contemplate the null and void visionary approach to deny Celtic 9IAR.
Doncaster refused to advance TRFC a loan in the absence of any evidence to demonstrate an ability to repay it.
Doncaster refused to advance any of the expected prize money until the League was concluded.
Doncaster was not receptive to their financial plight and proposed restructuring and may have been arguing that the existence of the 5 Way agreement means a 25 point deduction for an insolvency event.
Doncaster was not able to be bullied by TRFC and post the insolvency event a CEO with a bad attitude like that is unacceptable.
I haven't seen anything confirming the DR story about no top tier club having a problem with CFC being named champions , nor have I seen it reported elsewhere . Are the meeting minutes available anywhere ?
Bogs Dollox 14th May 2020 at 21:21
Doncaster was not receptive to their financial plight and proposed restructuring and may have been arguing that the existence of the 5 Way agreement means a 25 point deduction for an insolvency event.
……………
I can’t remember, but i believed they changed the rules on the points deduction for administration. but if they did not i think it would not be 25 points as 5 years have past.
“Because of that it was decided to persevere with the current system, which sees clubs handed a 15-point penalty for entering administration and 25 points if it happens again within a five-year period.
11 Feb 2014
…………
Just a reminder.
bordersdon 14th May 2020 at 15:57
Relevant article but not sure about the opening paragraph?
https://www.begbies-traynorgroup.com/news/business-health-statistics/scottish-football-clubs-pushed-to-brink-of-insolvency-by-coronavirus-crisis-despite-good-management-and-prior-health
Featured in The Herald sport today.
————————
Me neither unless someone made a grant of £10M that is in the books.
Hub stadiums?
https://spfl.co.uk/news/coronavirus-joint-response-group-update-46672
Aye it maybe reduce stewarding costs, but does anyone know how long that wee virus can loiter on plastic seats and other surfaces?. Then there is the public transport to consider.
Begbies beggar belief. Not sure I’d want them as an advisor for any company I was involved with.
Having said that their website sets them out as giving “Confidential Business Rescue Advice” with expertise as “Licensed Insolvency Practitioners – the UK’s No.1 for Business Recovery”. Perhaps they are facilitating future business?
So persistent loss-making, Going Concern warnings, huge debt, cold-shouldering, lack of regular banking facilities and a stated need for £10m just to carry on business in normal circumstances are not red flags. Unsure then just what would be enough to given them pause for thought.
Scottish Football needs strong FFP regulations.
Cluster One 14th May 2020 at 21:53
'.. which sees clubs handed a 15-point penalty for entering administration and 25 points if it happens again within a five-year period.'
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Of course, in the interests of intellectual consistency and moral Truth, it has to be clearly stated that TRFC has not ever been in Administration., so when it does suffer an insolvency event it will be for the first time so the 5-year period is neither here nor there.
I
From the DR online
by Mark McDougall& Jonathan McFarlane
"….The Hoops are set to be awarded the trophy with Record Sport exclusively revealing this morning that a video conference is to be set for this afternoon…"
On the 4th of May the DR reported that ” The Ibrox side have promised to reveal the partnership imminently” in regards to the leaked kit deal with Castore. As noted before the term imminent can be an inordinate length of time when emanating from Ibrox eg, the NOMAD , the floating pitch, the share issue, the far east investment …… we are still to hear an official announcement that this deal is done , a convenient squirrel at the time or trouble at mill ?
Timtim
Follow the nuts
tony 15th May 2020 at 11:02
I though marching season was cancelled T.
I see Sevco are still having "Glitches" with their ST collections. I was reading this morning that the company involved (Sporting Pay Ltd), was a new start-up one-man band operation. Hardly the kind of firm one would expect the world's most successful club to be using.
FYI
The reply to my email about the Eye’s trivial fix on Shifty McGifty – to the neglect of what we may see as more pertinent FFP concerns – simply plays a very straight bat…
“While of course self-interest is a huge factor in every opinion expressed by Rangers and all other Scottish clubs at the moment, the article in Eye 1521 was specifically about the current Covid-related crisis at the SPFL, in which MacLennan has played a prominent part; Rangers were not the focus of the article. Not that we have ignored Rangers over the years: our own Slicker documented in copious detail the unravelling of Rangers under Craig Whyte.
As for the idea that the fact MacLennan disliked the club in the 1990s might be irrelevant now as this is a new, phoenix club, it seems highly unlikely that anyone who felt that way then would feel any different now just because the company has a different trading name. While the club’s rebirth was a significant legal/business event, in football terms the new club still plays at the same stadium, in the same colours, with the same fans as before.”
Corrupt official 15th May 2020 at 12:17
'.the company involved (Sporting Pay Ltd), was a new start-up one-man band operation.'
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Company number 11551586 , incorporated 04/09/2018, Statement of Capital £1.00. Shares allotted 1, fully paid up, One shareholder.
Accounts made up to 30/09/20019:
Total assets less current liabilities £ 1,301
——–
No harm to the small businessman [something I've had neither the talent nor the gumption to try]
but for a 'football giant ' to have to penny-pinch in the important area of pulling in revenue?
fishnish 15th May 2020 at 13:13
‘…The reply to my email about the Eye’s trivial fix on Shifty McGifty’
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
That reply, fishnish, shows that the Eye guys are of the same stamp as our SMSM: get themselves tied in linguistic knots trying to avoid the truth:
‘new, phoenix club,’ in one breath followed by ‘just because the company has a different trading name’, followed by ‘ club’s rebirth was a significant legal/business’ followed by ‘new club still plays at the same stadium,(as if it could have played there before it existed!)
There is almost a satonic level of support for the Big Lie!
fishnish 15th May 2020 at 13:13
Signed by Maisie ? Identical to the response I received and probably just the name used in replies regardless which reporter/other responds . ! I've asked how they surmised Mr MacLennan felt the same way about the new club as he allegedly did about the old one ie have they asked him . I'll let you know if I get a response .
I actually noted those “wee linguistic knots” in my response to their reply, JC. Ta. 🙂
Wish I’d coined ‘satonic’, though…. that would have got the Eye gal, who’d written the response, wondering…
ps Just saw your post, Paddy.
Aye – Maisie.
Over the last few weeks some clubs have been playing political games for reasons as yet unspecified.
Some have been equally busy in other ways but you won't read about it in the MSM.
I was sent this today and felt that it shows that football can still be a power for good in any community.
Well done guys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_4GJ9HxR8A&feature=youtu.be
Phil
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2020/05/15/difficult-questions-from-ireland/
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2020/05/15/more-questions-from-ireland/
One of Phil's pieces is about Rangers accounts and a Euro licence.
I could be wrong, but amidst all the flak flying around these past few weeks I am positive at some point Doncaster stated that in the event of the top league being called, the SFA have already told the SPFL who the Euro places go to, and Rangers were one of them.
Sorry I have long since taken Phil's predictions from "impeccable sources" and "rugger guy" (are they more intelligent than fitba guys?) as so much click bait! Don't take them seriously at all these days. Very quiet on here today? Where are the jambos? I miss them! Surely this site will not morph in to just a Celtic site? Yes JC the Big Lie needs to be exposed but there are other issues? I have been berated for suggesting such before but I fear that the site is doomed to be just that.
bordersdon 15th May 2020 at 21:03
'..,'Yes JC the Big Lie needs to be exposed but there are other issues? I have been berated for suggesting such before but I fear that the site is doomed to be just that.'
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
There are of course other issues, bordersdon, many of them getting an airing on SFM by people with good points to make and interesting ways and reasoned ways of making them .
The underlying truth, however, is that unless the Big Lie of the 5-Way Agreement is rescinded , and the Res 12 issue properly investigated, there is no honesty in the game.
Covid-19 might help get rid of the rotten fruit, and force our Sport to reform and adapt itself for the betterment of all.
Otherwise, who will seriously give a tuppenny toss, -or a fistful of fivers to attend a match in a sport which is living on a lie?
tony 15th May 2020 at 11:02
Timtim
Follow the nuts
———–
I did just that Tony but they all bolted
JC @ 21.25
Otherwise, who will seriously give a tuppenny toss, -or a fistful of fivers to attend a match in a sport which is living on a lie?
—————————————————————-
50K season book holders at Celtic park for a start John! Your principles are admirable and I admire your indefatigability (tm G Galloway) but as in most things sadly money will win.
bordersdon 15th May 2020 at 21:03
Very quiet on here today? Where are the jambos? I miss them!
………..
They have only been away a couple of days. If i was in their shoes i also would have a few days of quiet reflection. If you have a look around a few sites they are all quite when there is no football.
….
Big Lie needs to be exposed but there are other issues?
…
The stage is yours.
………………
Surely this site will not morph in to just a Celtic site?
……….
There has only been 4 mentions of celtic on this page, 2 in the same line as rangers and 2 mentioned in your own posts and one CFC mention by someone. hardly a celtic site.
Can I say that there have been zero refereeing controversies recently ? I can't mind if we're meant to be supporting them against unfair criticism , or castigating them for a catalogue of bloomers . How do you blow a whistle through a mask ? Will the refs be fit ? Fit for purpose ?
paddy malarkey 15th May 2020 at 22:37
The last whitle-blower went for a pea Paddy, and splashed not only his own brogues, but also an Inverness Caber Tosser standing beside him. Seems his whistle was full of holes…Clearly his flute lessons were a waste of money.
Don't want to be/sound controversial BUT just a thought about a lot of the clubs/fans who are complaining about governance etc etc. Surely they have nothing to complain about, the reason I say this is that over the years didn't they have the chance to change the voting structure but each time they failed to take it (can't blame the 2 cheeks as other teams fans often describe them) it was the boards of the various teams that failed their fans. As for the predicament that Hearts find themselves in is really down to Anne Budge this season for some reason keeping faith in a manager/director of football(surely you can't do both at the same time) when everyone could see he was struggling as the manager so really it is the boards of your clubs that you should be asking questions off. I also think while the CFC board have handled the last few weeks really well they have dirty hands as well ref resolution 12 etc and obviously the SPFL board have looked very amateurish as they have done for a long time, so I think it is correct for the fans to ask questions but please ask the boards of the clubs who are threatning legal action etc first. SORRY FOR THE RANT HOPE I DIDN'T OFFEND TO MANY PEOPLE
Finloch 15th May 2020 at 16:47
==============================
Fan-tastic.
Clearly Spartans is an organisations which would be a positive in the SPFL.
It's a pity they didn't get the SFL place when they were entitled to it.
J.C.
DM'ed you.
Kentes 15th May 2020 at 23:34
Offended me with those loud words at the end .
Bundesliga resumes today, 4 matches behind closed doors. On BT Sport from 1400.
bordesperson @ 21.03
I, for one, certainly do not apologise for venting my feelings about ridiculous propaganda being promoted principally affecting CFC – this site gives me the freedom to do this in a (hopefully responsible) manner!
So, regarding the fatuous and 'mythical' asterisk – which has grown 'arms and legs', driven by Sevco and its apologists…
Who, other than the embittered 8 year old club and its retinue/apologists (SMSM, legends like Alex Rae , Gavin Rae – around 70 appearances between them) is going to endorse and/or accept this wholly embarrassing fantasy? SPFL? UEFA? Impartial observers and reporters? Celtic?
We're not talking about an injustice here ffs!!!!
It's an added irony that there will be no talk on these shores of these notations for Liverpool ( could you imagine the stooshie that would cause?) and winners of premier trophies in other countries. Oh, and well done Dundee United!
In the real, wider footballing community i.e outside the narrow, pathetic confines of Govan where no contrition for 'inherited' past misdemeanours, humility, acceptance, acting in the honourable manner exist, there will surely be no asterisks.
Finally, I can honestly say that, having been brought up on a different value base from that as practised by those of the WATP mentality, I would have accepted the situation had the 'boot been on the other foot'.
I would not have 'given myself a riddy' by behaving in any other way, debasing myself and abandoning my principles.
I have a sense that there will be statements regarding the 'asterisk' saga (SG anyone?) but for now I would say to anyone trying to detract from Celtic's achievement ..
The milk has been spilt – deal with it!
bect67 16th May 2020 at 11:56
================================
The asterisk is nonsense, what is it supposed to denote.
The league can be finalised (3 of the 4 parts of it already have been). It's already in the rules.
A4
Season means the period of the year commencing on the date of the first League Match in a Season and ending on the date of the last League Match in the same Season or otherwise as determined by the Board and which excludes the Close Season;
So as far as I am aware there is nothing stopping the SFPL board saying, it will be impossible to play the last games of the season. With a majority of the clubs' agreement we have decided to finish the season as per the leagues own rules, which allows us to pay out the "prize" money each team is owed.
Most people now believe this will happen in the top division as well, which makes perfect sense.
If it is done, then it's not a case of awarding the title to anyone, it just happens as a matter of course.
C38
The Club occupying position one in the League at the end of a Season shall be declared the Champion Club of the League and shall hold the "The Scottish Professional Football League Championship Trophy" until the next Season's League Competition is concluded.
Given that the league (in it's entirety) would be closed then the team at the top of the league would be champions, that is Celtic. It's as simple as that.
So the league would be finished, Celtic would be the champions, no need for any asterisk.
As a famous cricketer once said, when his opponent complained "That was never out". "Have a look in the papers tomorrow, I think you'll find it was". Paraphrasing obviously.
Homunculus 16th May 2020 at 13:38
The asterisk is nonsense, what is it supposed to denote.
=================
I think we all know that it is designed to somehow demean Celtic. It is quite incredible that many of the people promoting it were part of a period in time when Rangers were illegally using taxpayers money to fund success on the pitch, and benefited from that illegal tax evasion on a personal basis.
On another note it seems reconstruction is back on the table after Friday's meeting. If something can be done to help clubs who were going to have relegation forced upon them then I for one will be happy.
The rest we can leave Rangers to address through the courts if need be
I watched the first half of Dortmund (2) v Schalke (0) and was underwhelmed . It's like a pre-season friendly .
Totally baffled at the statement below from the BBC website on the resumption of reconstruction talks
It follows a top-flight club meeting yesterday where key members, including Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen
What possible reason could there be not to write Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers in natural alphabetic order? No doubt many will see that view as petty, but it shows just where we are regarding many in the media. Why must Rangers be mentioned first more often than not?
Is the Ibrox club going to stage another very public tantrum – this time against the SFA, if it dares to refuse a Euro license because TRFC is, erm, fu… I mean skint!
Still unsure about this though as Petrie – of the 5WA in 2012 – seems to be the main decision maker at the SFA today.
But then again, Doncaster bent over for the Ibrox club as well in 2012, yet he has now been ungratefully targeted by the Blue Room.
Would be quite helpful if RIFC/TRFC went bust before we get into planning for next season.
It’s the least they could do…
There is apparently a big reveal by RIFC/TRFC at 09.00 tomorrow . Interim accounts ? New strip supplier ? Refunds for unplayed games ? Signing Hagi ? Congratulating CFC on their record-equalling achievement ? Scott Gardiner appointed media supremo ? January's investment cash finally arriving ? Share issue ? Any other suggestions ?
paddy malarkey 16th May 2020 at 20:34
Any other suggestions ?
=================================
The largest squirrel in ever released into the wild.
Der schottische Fußball braucht einen starken Arbroath ??
al62 16th May 2020 at 21:02
Der schottische Fußball braucht einen starken Arbroath ??
====================================
Ja!
paddy malarkey 16th May 2020 at 20:34
There is apparently a big reveal by RIFC/TRFC at 09.00 tomorrow…
===========
At 9AM on a Sunday morning – during a lockdown???
Who’s going to be awake?
Unless it’s to satisfy a different time zone audience?
Oh, I know, I know!
Morelos is finally off to China for £40M / £50M / £60M …?
paddy malarkey @ 20.34
In a squirrel’s nutshell! …
“We’ve seen the error of our ways, and will now send ourselves onto the naughty step”
From The Guardian .
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/08/covid-19-impact-on-football-10-years-get-back-where-we-were-managers-players-scout
paddy malarkey 16th May 2020 at 20:34
…….
Another statement about nothing
paddy malarkey 16th May 2020 at 20:34
'.There is apparently a big reveal by RIFC/TRFC at 09.00 tomorrow .'
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""
I don't doubt it, pm, but can you give your source, please?
Some of us auld guys are not quite into twitter or the blogs of other clubs or other electronic sources.
Sorry , JC , my daughter told me , and she saw it on either Rangers Media or Follow Follow . I trust my sources !
The old memory is perhaps not as absorbent as it once was, but on reading back a page or two I was struck by the name of a poster and could not for the life of me remember having seen the name before.
'Kentes 15th May 2020 at 23:34'.
I can't quite see what he may be driving at.
He makes the points that over the years
'..it was the boards of the various teams that failed their fans ' when it came to 'changing the voting structure''
and that
'.the predicament that Hearts find themselves in is really down to Anne Budge this season for some reason keeping faith in a manager/director of football
and that
'..while the CFC board have handled the last few weeks really well they have dirty hands as well ref resolution 12 etc '
I'm not sure what he meant by
'.. I think it is correct for the fans to ask questions but please ask the boards of the clubs who are threatning legal action etc first.'
It would be helpful if he would expand on what he meant by that?
paddy malarkey 17th May 2020 at 00:04
'… my daughter told me , and she saw it on either Rangers Media or Follow Follow . I trust my sources !'
""""""""""""""""""
And in no way, pm, will I, daughterless as I am, challenge any man's daughter.
But it is legitimate to quote secondary /tertiary sources, just as you have now done.
And well done to your daughter in her interest in keeping her dad up to the minute in matters football!
Paddy Malarkey.
Your sources are correct and the statement will be released at given time.
It is a lengthy document that outlines the feelings if the Board and also their next steps.
A leaked summary is as follows.
Since the disgraceful and democratic and legal demolition of our dignafied (sic) resolution by a large majority, our board has met to consider our dignafied response. It runs to 632 dignafied and indignant pages.
The board will deliver the statement to the SPFL tomorrow; by brick.
In essence.
"We will scream and scream until we make ourselves sick".
No change there.
So the big Rangers announcement was a kit deal everyone already knew about with an unheard of Company. According to Rangers, this unheard of Company 'deliberately chose Rangers as the world's most successful club'.
As a Celtic shareholder I will today be writing to the PLC Board to ask why our club is stuck with the massively inferior Adidas brand as our new supplier.
Well at least they do now have a kit deal so congratulations. Not sure how it would look seeing the World's most successful club* running out at the Bernabeu in their vest and pants .
Rangers seal huge Castore kit deal as details of new partnership confirmed
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-announce-huge-castore-kit-22040424
How do they know it's a huge deal.
From the details supplied by Castore
"In a clean break from how things have been done in the past, Rangers Football Club will benefit directly from every product we sell. The more we sell, the more money flows straight back into the club."
That reads to me like the income will be based on a percentage of sales, rather than a fixed sum with bonuses for exceeding target sales. I'm not sure how that can be described as "huge" before it even. It may well be, who knows, that's the point.
The article did note that there was no image of the new kit.
Like all things Ibrox it is huge, until it ends in tears.
Why put out an announcement on Sunday morning, most of which was known, and not even have an image of the product.
Did Sports Direct pass on their opportunity to match the deal or will they hold fire and then demolish it in court.
On the bright side, it will be ready for the 150th anniversary, in 2162.
Re Castore deal:-
“The more we sell, the more money flows (!) into the club”. Aye right!
What dae ye think o’ that Mike?
Off the radar sales to fund war chest screams DR?
Hi JC 16th May 00.21
Sorry if my post was unclear it looked fine to me when writing it and even as I checked it, maybe I should have had my Lagavulin after I wrote it?.
What I was trying to say was, the fans should be asking questions about Scottish football governance but if they think back to at least 2012, then they should realise that their respective clubs boards have failed them. While the boards always talked the talk about changes they ultimately always backed down if they had followed up their talk then things today covid 19 apart Scottish football could and should have been in a better place.
In regards to the CFC board I think they have handled things well in the recent weeks but that is not to say their hands are spotlessly clean in regards to the now infamous 5 way agreement and of course thanks to Auldheid and others we know about the delaying tactics with resolution 12 answers to these to problems need to be given not only to CFC fans but to all fans.
About Hearts being a manager at a big club is difficult but to be the DoF aswell seems a strange choice especially when a blind man and his dog could see he was struggling as the manager so it made it difficult to sack him because would you have to sack him as th DoF aswell. In regards to the threat of legal action it was Homonculus I think who showed the rule about the SPFLboard having the right to call the league so how can anyone state it would be unfair to relegate a team who is bottom when the league is called, I think it is maybe a bit of a smokescreen to cover for her mistake in keeping levein as the manager when struggling if that is wrong then I apologise but that is what it seemed like to me.
Hope this is clearer this time no Lagavulin was involved this time
Den 17th May 2020 at 08:14
The board will deliver the statement to the SPFL tomorrow; by brick.
In essence.
"We will scream and scream until we make ourselves sick".
============================================
Den, was that quote from Just William of Orange?
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
I wonder if Dodgy Dave knows who Castore's new investors are?.
So Morelos is staying at Ibrox for now then.
And could CFC be named SPL Champions tomorrow?
Otherwise, why all the good news, TRFC stories today across the SMSM?
The 'huge' kit deal – but with negligible detail shared.
TRFC being 'linked' with 2 new transfer targets!
A £250K refurbishment of the Megastore.
And the best one: when Minty 'missed out' on signing that great player back in the day: Gianlucca Vialli!
It's all going great down Govan way…
Sorry about the politics (and lack of competence to import the image !)
So Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are to satay at home ?
Sounds more like the World Cup finals .
https://twitter.com/partickthistle/status/1262016220330627074?s=21
The above tweet is in relation to the back page of the Sunday Mail. I know times are tough in the newspaper industry but what the Mail have done today is unbelievable.
Ex Ludo 17th May 2020 at 15:23
I think they have just committed suicide . No apology will remove the stain .
Ex Ludo 15:23 totally out of order , they should be hammered for that but they wont be. Gutter Press does'nt come close to describing that . Thank god I stopped buying that "newspaper " years ago .
Perhaps, the Sunday Mail is copying TRFC tactics ?
Create a commotion out of nothing to gain attention, to still feel relevant – and maybe even generate a much needed, financial boost?
A last throw of the dice before this pitiful rag disappears?
Hopefully.
Yes StevieBC so many similarities when comparing the 2 of them, they deserve each other
Kentes 17th May 2020 at 12:12
‘..JC 16th May 00.21………………………..
..Sorry if my post was unclear ..’
“””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Thank you, Kentes, and apologies.
I was reading it through the bottom of my wee glass of cheap hooch!
My fault entirely for not grasping the point.
Hi John Clark 17th May 19.32.
Not a problem it is a reason that I don't post so often as I find it easier to say what I think rather than writing it down. When I look at some of the posts I think geez I feel as though I couldn't hold a candle to some of you guys with most things being written so concisely.
Anyway glad I wrote it out again I was just getting a bit frustrated seeing a fair few posts popping up complaining about governance etc and again some I felt were trying to make it into the usual 2 cheeks of the a**e drivel.
Right hopefully that's cleared it up now I can enjoy my wee malt
Cheers