The Continuing Voyage of Scottish Football – and the Wrath of Khan

Guest Post by Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan

Good Evening,

Last night, I found myself sitting at home when an e-mail arrived from the administrator of these pages suggesting that I write a guest article for all to consider. At that precise moment my television was full of the efforts of James T Kirk attempting to escape the Wrath of Khan, who blames old James T for all his ills and troubles including what he sees as his ridiculous and malicious banishment to a distant star in the middle of nowhere— amongst other things. He seeks vengeance, causes mayhem, and refuses to recognise the rule of law.

It may seem strange, but there is much to be learned from The Wrath of Khan. For example, in the midst of the action Admiral James T acknowledges that when he first faces what is at the time an unknown adversary, in most unusual and unknown circumstances, he ignores rules and regulation and as a result “gets caught with his pants down.”

That is the consequence of ignoring rules and regulation more often than not—even for the good guys.

This is also the movie where we are introduced to the Kobayashi Maru—the supposedly impossible test in which members of star fleet are asked to rescue a stricken ship and its crew without sacrificing themselves, their starship and all members of their crew. The test is meant to be impossible to solve as it cannot be achieved—unless you change the rules of the game!

Captain’s log:  Star date 2012; This is the voyage of the Starship Scottish Fitba—and we’re lost!

How can it come to be, that as we approach September 2012 the world of Scottish Football is in such a state of flux and disarray with an unbelievable amount of uncertainty and doubt about fundamental matters and principles, after months when we have seen the spiralling demise of one of our country’s biggest football clubs and the threatened disintegration of the entire system of football administration in Scotland as a result?

Surely after all that has happened in these past months the administrators would have learned to not only play by the rules, but be seen to be playing by the rules, insisting on the rules, and reinforcing the principles and platforms that those rules are based on?

Rangers PLC has ceased to be a part of Scottish football and the failure to deal with that simple fact, even more than the demise of what was regarded as an institution, is baffling in the extreme. The simple fact of the matter is this: There are rules and laws —regulations if you like —which were pre written to deal with such an event.  Apply the rules and everyone knows where they stand— ignore the rules and, as James T Kirk points out, you get caught with your pants down!

So far, the rules have been half implemented half ignored. Rangers were automatically deducted points for going into Administration and properly so. They were convicted, by a properly convened independent panel, of various rule breaches, and duly sentenced as a result—again properly so. Thereafter, the company was consigned to Liquidation because it could not pay its debts- with the result that it loses its SPL share and the right to participate in football altogether— and with the further result that it left a trail of unpaid debts to creditors, including football clubs, which ran to millions of pounds.

Further, let’s be clear, The SPL and the SFL only exist with the consent of the SFA. The SFA are the ultimate governing body in Scottish Football, with the two league associations merely management tools to achieve what is supposed to be the efficient management of the game in compliance with the pre agreed rules, procedures and principles that are meant to govern football and football administration. If you wish to play under this system, then you have to accept the very same rules procedures and principles, and there should be no contracting in or out of either membership, or the laws of the game.

Yet when Rangers went into Administration, and stared liquidation in the face, The Administrators, and subsequently everyone from Bill Miller through to Charles Green stated publicly that they, together with the SFA and all of Scottish Football, were facing the Kobayashi Maru whereby maintaining the rules and the principles of the game whilst at the same time saving Rangers FC could not be achieved!

The rules had to be ignored for the sake of expediency cried some press members. Whilst principles are all well and good, you can’t apply them if it means the death of Rangers—Rangers are too big  — cried others. If you apply the principles and the rules you will kill Rangers—and yourselves—said some.

It would appear that when it came to Rangers and their wellbeing, some took the view that principles were not quite so important and that, no matter what, Rangers FC had to be saved—- and there it was—the impossible task— The Kobayashi Maru!

I wonder if those who spouted that argument looked at The SFA website in any detail? Because there it states specifically that the SFA wants its coaches to educate all its young players, trainee managers and future coaches to “ Honour the game-respect your opponent- play to the rules–value sportsmanship–redefine winning- not just focusing on match results and league positions- and to help produce positive, respectful, and confident people with useful life skills“.  Presumably those life skills include playing by the rules, valuing integrity, behaving with honour and respecting the position of others and so on.

Yes—It is hard to believe—but all of those phrases are direct quotes from the Scottish Football Association webpages—they are the words of the SFA themselves. How could they be seen to abandon such principles—especially when they so publicly proclaim them?

What a choice then for the SFA—abandon your principles—or lose an institution—The Kobayashi Moru!  You just can’t win!

Except, Green & Co—and I include sections of the media in that phrase—clean forgot who was sitting the Kobayashi Moru test. The SFA were never faced with the test—if anything it was their rules that posed the test for whoever wanted to try and save Rangers. In the end, nobody was willing to attempt that task under the existing rules. No one was prepared to come along and pay the debts and so save the club—and at that stage it was Rangers and Rangers alone who faced the Kobayashi Moru.

Green, by way of his Servco company, then sought admission into the footballing world at a time and under circumstances which the rules dictated must result in failure. He had no accounts, no history in the game, effectively no players and nothing that would suggest that he could meet the criteria of the pre agreed rules for entry into the SFA.

It was at this juncture that the footballing executives made the error of ignoring the rules and principles that govern our game—the ones that the SFA espouse on their own website. They tried to shoe in Green against all the rules, with the result that supporters, fans, and club chairman voted them down and left them with their pants firmly glued to their ankles in Kirk speak.

The SFA, at the instigation of the member clubs from all leagues,  then played the Kirk role in attempting to solve The Ibrox Kobayashi Moru by changing those rules with the agreement of the majority,  so that Mr Green and his cohorts could gain membership, by effectively agreeing to allow Green’s Servco to obtain membership of the SFA on a conditional basis— with one of those conditions being that Mr Green’s company will pay ALL outstanding football debts—and make no mistake Captain Green accepted that he would play by those rules as otherwise he faced oblivion.

Here is what Green said as published on the SFA website following the signing of the 5 man agreement:

“The agreement signed today allows Rangers to be granted membership by the SFA and finally enables the Club to move forward.

“The Board, the Manager and senior executives have been working tirelessly over the last few weeks to secure the future of the Club and today is the start of that process.

“The Board has had to take some very difficult decisions to gain SFA membership, including accepting the delayed transfer ban and paying outstanding financial penalties. But we are now able to get back to playing football and plan for the new season, starting this Sunday with our match against Brechin.”

The website also reported that Servco had been granted conditional membership with one of the conditions being – “Sevco Scotland Ltd has agreed to settle all outstanding football debts to other members of the Scottish FA plus clubs under the jurisdiction of other Football Associations.”

You will note that nowhere does it state that the SFA or the SPL will pay any of the footballing debts out of any money supposedly due to the second place team in season 2011/2012 as Charles Green appears to claim – and besides it is obvious to everyone that Servco did not participate in the league during that season and so cannot be entitled to any such payment as they were not Registered with the league nor had membership of the SFA or SPL.

Rangers PLC were so registered, but if they were due any money that money would go to their Administrators. However, given that Rangers PLC were the Registered body and were convicted of offences which were described as only second to match fixing, then it follows that they should not be allowed to profit by so much as a penny in that season as a result of their rule breaking activity. Had they been expelled from the league they would have been entitled to nothing at all, and it should be remembered that it was the same Mr Green who took that situation to the Court of Session with the result that the court sent the case back to the panel with the clear instruction that such a penalty may well be appropriate and that in the circumstances the tribunal may have little alternative but to impose such a sanction.

Clearly, this is a scenario that Charles Green had to avoid. In this instance he ignored the footballing rules of not going to courts of law, and found himself with his pants down and facing the Wrath of The Court and the Kobayashi Moru whereby any technical success at the court was likely to result in certain extinction by way of expulsion from the league.

Now Captain Green seems intent on steering his starship into yet another dead end with fatal consequences. He claims that the Scottish Football debts are paid. If we ignore for the minute that he has never attempted to pay any footballing debts outwith Scotland – thus jeopradising his conditional acceptance into the SFA— his claim that it was agreed that these debts would be paid by the SPL or the SFA out of 2011/2012 prize money is derisory.

No fundamental principle of fair play, respect for opponents and attempt at honouring the game could allow for such a situation. Besides the SFA were quite clear in their statement and he has at no time demurred. From the date of the 5 man agreement onwards Captain Green undertook to pay all of the footballing debts— and if he doesn’t, then again he risks the withdrawal of his conditional membership. There is no other solution to the issue. Those are the rules he signed up to, and if you ignore the rules………….

However, this entire affair still has far to go. Where is the transparency and clarity championed by Henry Mcleish and oft promised by Stewart Regan and others? Why are the details of Green’s investors and his business plan, timescales for meeting obligations and everything else about his operation kept so secret? Given the history of those who have been in charge of Ibrox over the last twenty years, the complete failure of their administration and what is now known about their tenure there and in football generally,— and  given Green’s latest public statements—, does it not occur to the SFA that the rest of Scottish football has a right to know the details of what they have been told and what Green has promised?

He has promised to clear the footballing debts and appears to be making little attempt to do that whilst his manager hails as triumphs the signing of what he sees as the best players from other teams at relatively huge expense—whilst the debts remain, and the obligations are unfulfilled.

Again that cannot be right and goes against all principles of respecting opponents and honouring the game. It is a circumstance that amounts to the antithesis of the principles espoused by the SFA and appears to be completely contrary to the mandate given to Regan and the powers that be by the clubs and fans of all divisions. Further, the current position gives the impression that Mr Green believes that he can run his company and participate in football as and how he wants,  as and when he wants and under his terms and conditions.

This smacks of previous regimes that hovered around Ibrox for far too long with ultimately disastrous results particularly for Rangers fans, investors and creditors.

History cannot be allowed to repeat itself under these circumstances and the SFA must bring pressure on Green to pay the obligations that he undertook to meet within a publicly known timescale. Not only does he need to do that for the benefit of the clubs owed money—he needs to do it for the sake of the integrity of the whole of Scottish football, and he should not be allowed to build at team or field a team if he breaches the agreement. That should be the rule.

He should not be allowed to sacrifice publicly proclaimed and nationally accepted principles for the sake of his own financial expediency “for the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few—- or the one!”

Oh—and lest anyone think that it is mere trivia to link the current plight of Scottish Football with Star Trek and the Wrath of Khan, and that any such comparison is childish and of little consequence, that last quote was specifically relied upon, referred to and quoted in the Supreme Court of Texas in a decision issued on 22nd October 2010 in the case of Barbara Robinson, Individually and as Representative of the Estate of John Robinson, Deceased, Petitioner against Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc., Individually and as Successor to Mundet Cork Corporation, Respondent— thus bringing the undoubted logic and wisdom of Mr Spock well and truly into the Law of the United States of America!

Few would argue that Spock’s logic is not a sound legal principle!

It also seems to me that perhaps Spock had some solid business advice for those who choose to ignore the rules with a view to seeking short term gain or advantage—whether that be by way of trophies, money, position or what have you—but peril their entire existence by engaging in unlawful or illegal activity. It is advice which was ignored apparently by Sir David Murray and his board and by Craig Whyte and his entire cabal. We wait to see if Charles Green will have learned the lesson that they so clearly didn’t, or whether he believes in the potential rewards of the quick fix at any cost?

Live long…….. And prosper!

1,316 thoughts on “The Continuing Voyage of Scottish Football – and the Wrath of Khan


  1. Stunney
    Goian goes out on a ‘Loan’ deal for a year ,Sally says he is looking to sign a few more players before the window close’s ,surely a question or two for the msm to ask there.


  2. Perhaps Gretna should apply for the transfer of their old SFA membership and they can drop the 2008 bit from their name?

    Same with Airdrie United, they should apply for Airdrieonians membership to re-become the same old club.

    I wonder how Regan and Ogilvie would respond to such applications?

    Afterall if it’s good enough for The Rangers? then why not these other teams equally as vital to Scottish football and their local communities?

    We don’t have one set of rules for one but a different for the others do we? Ogilvie? Regan? anybody at the SFA reading this wish to comment?


  3. Does a loan player count as a member of the club that holds his registration,or the club that he goes to ?.Because if it’s the reg club then could they get away with having over 22 players by saying he’s not here,and does the transfer embargo mean that they can’t recall players from loan.If they can recall players because of injuries then it’s a very clever move to loan players out.


  4. The Ibrox side completed the signing of French defender Sebastien Faure………………………….

    I see the more things change the more things stay the same.
    Clearly no Scottish defenders in SFL Divisions 1, 2 or 3 or even the SPL good enough or available to play for The Rangers?

    Nobody Scottish born good enough to play in the Scottish fourth division?

    Fasten your seatbelts folks it looks like we are going to be treated to another 25 years of this shite just like the last quarter century of Moonbeams.


  5. I wonder if anyone from the MSM has contacted Bomber Zoomer Brown to ask a few questions. Surely one of them must have thought his performance from a few weeks back was worth a follow up? They wouldn’t be too scared to upset the Charlie Green Love In would they? It would be pretty sad just how easily the MSM are willing to go from Succulent Lamb to a cup of Yorkshire Tea.


  6. Charlie Brown says: August 22, 2012 at 09:58
    ===============================
    You may well be correct re competition with the Olympics coverage, but I think that there may well be a bit more than that. Here are the figures from the early SPL games last season. If the viewing figures drop, not only will the TV companies and TV advertisers get twitchy, but there is a risk of reduced income from pitch side advertising that would normally go straight into the clubs coffers.

    Hibernian v Celtic 160k ESPN Sun 24/07/2011
    Dunfermline v St Mirren 113k SS1 Mon 25/07/2011
    St Johnstone v Rangers 110k ESPN Sat 30/07/2011
    Aberdeen v Celtic 365k SS1 Sun 07/08/2011
    Kilmarnock v Hibs 44k ESPN Sun 14/08/2011
    Motherwell v Rangers 182k ESPN Sun 21/08/2011
    St Mirren v Celtic 167k SS4 Sun 28/08/2011
    Hearts v Hibernian 87k ESPN Sun 28/08/2011


  7. Bungs!

    They come in many forms, cash in brown envelopes, holidays abroard, a new car, expensive jewellery and are common in many walks of life and usually the more money involved the bigger they become. Football and sport in general is no stranger to this sort of thing, close to home Dundee Utd lost out on a place in a European final on the back of a bung. Corruption has been shown to exist within the ranks of FIFA in regards to World Cup bids, the list is endless. One piece of advice my late father gave me as I started my career was “never be beholding to anyone” he was as honest as the day was long. I have no doubt that if he hadn’t had such a strong resolve my brothers and I would all have been privately educated and we’d have lived in a bigger house than we did. He refused to join clubs or organisations and he used to keep records of all the dodgey dealings that went on within the organisations that he worked for, I still have his holdall in my loft full of all sorts of stuff Hector would have loved, useless now as all the people involved are long gone deid and buried. I am no saint myself but I have been a witness at fraud trial, been offered the use of a holiday homes in the likes of Florida on a contract bid. I never went to Florida and he never got the contract. I was once taken out to Parkhead by a very good client for a European match, wined and dined, met all the players in the lounge afterwards as well as some business partners and cronies of my customer. It wasn’t long into the evening when I wished I’d never accepted the invitation as the “what kind of things could you do for us mate” questions came out. At the end of the evening I announced to the party “thanks for the lovely evening gents, I have no idea what it is you want from me but unless it’s above board and legal I’m not your man”. I never got any further business from that client after that night, did I care! nope.

    Football Agents, Chairmen, Managers have been known (allegedly) to fling about the odd bung here and there. I know of one ex Premiership manager who’s line when dealing on players transfers with an Agent would often be (allegedly) ” Is there a cup of tea in it for me?” I have no doubt that allegations of this type of dealing will never sieze and will be ever present in football and sport in general. Where there is money, fame and the likes at stake, corruption is never far away and this is where we need MSM, stong principled people, governing bodies and groups such as this to help expose it.

    To conclude and on a totally different tack altogether you understand, do you think there are any fans of Yorkshire tea in Scotland!!!


  8. Ordinary Fan @ 10.14. Just had a look at Bomber’s twitter page, nothing on since 15th july,has he been warned off by the big boys ?.


  9. To put an end to blind alleys and red herrings, can we not just accept that the SFA has allowed Sevco Scotland Ltd to transfer over the membership of Rangers FC?
    That includes its history (and five stars).
    And the players, therefore, are registered to Rangers FC.
    That’s the very simple answer to something that seems to be getting a few people’s knickers in a twist.
    Sure, we can (and will) argue long and loud about whether this should have happened. But it did.
    So let the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux deal with genuine consumer complaints.
    Meanwhile . . . what will happen if Sevco Scotland Ltd hits the buffers?


  10. Tic 6709 says:
    August 22, 2012 at 09:30
    ===================================================
    Tic, I’m not sure that the CAB is the best route to pursue your complaint, I think that HMRC and the BDO are more likely to do something about the Phoenix Rangers than CAB. I’m not keen to have public servants bombarded by angry football fans but I wonder if this is more in line with what you’re looking for:

    “If a bargain looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Goods offered cheaply by street traders or at car boot sales may well be counterfeit. If in doubt, don’t buy.
    If you have information on counterfeiting then help us to help the local economy.
    Any information passed to us will be treated in strictest confidence.”

    Please contact Trading Standards (TS):
    Phone: 0141 287 6681
    E-mail: ts.enquiries@eps.glasgow.gov.uk


  11. This is my last word on the subject of Trading Standards, I DID NOT COMPLAIN TO THE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, i complained to Trading Standards,I had to go through Consumer Advice,I had no choice in the matter.Of course I might not have complained,but that’s another matter.
    blu, I have tried to call that number you gave,they were very polite and told me that could only deal with me if I was a business.
    They also tried to give me the same number that i had already called about my complaint.
    I had no intention to annoy anyone at an organization I have the utmost respect for,namely CAB.
    Now I hope that’s cleared up some of the confusion.


  12. The only stars of any significance are those of European Cup and Champions League winners. Perhaps the 5 stars of RFC(?) indicate Made in China! I know, it’s silly


  13. I agree Johnboy.

    Based on recent events I’ve resigned myself to the present and future of investigations/FTTT and continual examples of bringing the game into disrepute will be swept under the carpet just as the non-registration, rule-bending and breaking participattion in the first cup game was.

    Triggers Broom FC will make their way up the ladder, picking up more fans on the way as the uninitiated view them as an underdog that fought their way back against the oppressive regime. Over time, the uninitiated will be the bile-fueled, reptilian-brained initiated and things will return to “normal”.

    HMRC’s and Companies House apparent approval of the change of name sickens me but has not surprised me.

    Sadly, I expect BDO to do nothing to undo the mess and the vast majority of onlookers to still believe that the “club” has been “punished” enough. I’ll be surprised if the SPL investigation results in any stripping of titles.

    So few people seem to care about the law, regulations and basic morals flounted over the course of this drama. I don’t see where that will change when the MSM continue their barrage of newsspeak.

    I look forward to being very, very wrong but I don’t see it happening.


  14. Charlie Brown says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:14

    The Ibrox side completed the signing of French defender Sebastien Faure………………………….

    I see the more things change the more things stay the same.
    Clearly no Scottish defenders in SFL Divisions 1, 2 or 3 or even the SPL good enough or available to play for The Rangers?

    Nobody Scottish born good enough to play in the Scottish fourth division?

    Fasten your seatbelts folks it looks like we are going to be treated to another 25 years of this shite just like the last quarter century of Moonbeams.
    ——————————————————————————————————————————
    Same old business model as before.Why bring youth through when you buy “experience”.Hang the money.
    No coincidence that as CFC took a giant step towards CL group stages,someone announces that JJB Sports(20% owned by Mike Ashley I believe) have torn up their agreement with RFC.Would have been voided with liquidation anyway but this sounds better.The same Mike Ashley can now agree a deal with Sevco to handle merchandising.I’d bet it’s not for £18m up front and £3m a year though.It’ll be dressed up as the deal of the century,though.A new world record for club merchandising,etc.

    I noticed that Kyle Hutton wasn’t even on the bench last night.He was one of the 1st to TUPE over to Sevco.Rumours online that he’s been informed that he’s surplus to requirement.That’s how you reward loyalty at Sevco.


  15. midcalderan says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:57

    The only stars of any significance are those of European Cup and Champions League winners. Perhaps the 5 stars of RFC(?) indicate Made in China! I know, it’s silly.
    ====================================================================
    Not silly at all.
    I bought a pair of trainers made in that part of the world.When i walked into the pub my mate asked me why I only laced the left shoe and the right was hanging loose.I informed him I was following the instuctions on the box.
    “What instructions” said he.
    “TAIWAN” 🙂

    I’ll get my coat!


  16. Johnboy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:26

    To put an end to blind alleys and red herrings, can we not just accept that the SFA has allowed Sevco Scotland Ltd to transfer over the membership of Rangers FC?
    That includes its history (and five stars).
    And the players, therefore, are registered to Rangers FC.
    ——–

    That’s grand, and makes it much easier to understand that all other commitments of the old company will have transferred across to the new company too. 🙂

    I was thinking – maybe the 5 stars means “in existence for 5 weeks”?


  17. From the BBCA

    22 August 2012

    Milne says Aberdeen FC’s future ‘at risk’ if sports complex plan is rejected

    The future of Aberdeen FC could be put at risk if councillors reject plans for a community sports complex which would double as training facilities, the club’s chairman has warned.

    Stewart Milne has written to every city councillor ahead of discussions about Calder Park, which is close to the site of the Dons’ proposed new stadium.

    Mr Milne said plans for the football club’s new 21,000-seater stadium would be killed off if the Calder Park project was halted.

    The club hopes to move into the new stadium, at Loirston Loch on the southern outskirts of the city, for the start of the 2014/15 season.


  18. F.M. says:
    My apologies if this question has already been answered .
    Two people have now said to me that in the SFL the gate money is split. Is this true ?
    Thanks in advance.
    ————————————————————————
    No, not true. They must be thinking about the SFL cup competitions (League C and Ramsden C).


  19. Tic 6709 says:

    Well done for your efforts, the more people complain we may get heard. Wish a few people in high places or from a legal background would do the same.
    “Is there Lawyer in the house?”

    eddiemurphy@tradingplaces


  20. Ordinary Fan @ 10.14. Just had a look at Bomber’s twitter page, nothing on since 15th july,has he been warned off by the big boys ?.

    My guess is he has been paid hush money to STFU ……


  21. Ordinary Fan says:

    August 22, 2012 at 10:14

    It amazes me (or, rather, it should) that there is so little ‘following up’ done by the MSM over so many aspects of this whole fiasco. They seem content just to print the Ibrox press releases and ask no questions. As a Hearts supporter I am particularly interested in knowing if they have received any of the money owed to them by oldco, but apart from Green’s statements I’ve read nothing, either on the Hearts’ website, or written by a so called journalist who’s had the natural instincts of a real journalist to go along and ask Hearts themselves. Even if they were just to write that Hearts ‘refused to comment’ would at least show willing on their part. It’s the same with Celtic – there seems to have been no approach to them by a journalist to ask if they’ve received their money, and Dundee United had to announce to the press themselves that they had received nowt. It’s as though the journos are afraid to open the cupboard, in case they find it’s bare(faced lies) inside!

    For the record, I don’t read any newspapers so maybe there has been something printed confirming Hearts and Celtic have received their money, though I’d expect to have read it on here if they had. Also, I can offer no explanation for Hearts’, and Celtic’s, non-confirmation/rebutal of Green’s claims to have paid, other than they have been warned off by the SFA or just don’t want to be seen as rocking the boat (if money not paid). The wall of silence continues!


  22. There was an excellent analysis of Sevco’s spending ablity on the southeast asia blog. I have taken those figures and added later SB sales figures to revise the “breakeven through affordable wages calculator” that I have linked to before. Affordable wages is the key.

    The new version is at

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq2m3ggkEX2RdER0WURDZEhOdmxVWGo5aFZEUVdMS1E#gid=0

    Points to note are Sevco can pay good enough wages to climb out of the lower tiers but I believe there is a price to “saving” the club that will either be a repay to Greene or (as I suspect) a larger repay to Ticketus. )

    The repay start has been delayed and the clawback level set to recover the £8.5M price at 7% (but I appreciate it might be £5.5m reducing the payback time). If Ticketus are still on the scene the percentage of ticket sale clawback rises to 22%. The impact of this will turn the bottom line red and the wages shown will need to be reduced to break even (turning the Bottom Line black) giving Celtic a big wage advantage (and no ebts to offset this time).

    This is why a share issue is vital to Rangers future because the original debt (remember the £18M that CW “paid” never really has been and the guys who loaned that money will want it back. Rangers supporters should be told exactly where the money from any shares they buy into is going. The club have to start operating as an organisation that pays its debts. As can be seen from the figures the tra la la days of big wage spending are over even with a share issue so player development (like Celtic who are years ahead) has to be the way forward.

    It is of course possible a share issue would be used to buy and pay the wages of players that the projected income in the calculator does not cover. Rangers supporters should be wary if this is the aim of a share issue for what happens three years down the line if a “share steroid” fails to produce CL money? Another share issue? Other clubs, particularly Celtic need to be wary too as we know what happened when Rangers had to win titles to get CL money to stay alive.

    All the foregoing is redundant if there is no clawback but such is the impact on affordable wages it really has to be clarified particularly if Rangers supporters are to be sold shares.

    Other stuff.
    I have assumed there will be an attempt to place Sevco in a higher division under reconstruction and so have reduced the time away from SPL by one season. The arguments about the rights and wrongs on this will flow endlessly but if it happens the SFA will need to be completley open about everything, no scare stories just plain honesty AND with a committment to make club licensing as transparent as possible by publishing the figures in the round on which they grant each club a licence every year.

    The assumptions ot sources of figures are in the comments covering the cells and I have checked I have the references right but in making a change later I may have missed the reference changed. This will not effect the calculations only where you can read the figure actually used.

    It is a “living document” in that it can be amended (this is the third version) as new information comes out and assumtions fall away and I would be grateful if a permanent link could be held somewhere on TSFM for later reference. The link to the saintinasia blog is in the spreadsheet and together both items provide a reasonable guess at Sevco’s business case to help all supporters but particularly Rangers fans to keep an eye on Mr Greene and his backers.


  23. Long Time Lurker says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:38

    11
    Rate This

    Looks as if more material will become available at the end of August:

    http://www.amazon.couk/Downfall-How-Rangers-Self-Destructed/dp/1904684262/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345628135&sr=1-1

    Phil Mac Giolla Bhain (Author) and Alison Rae (Editor) book Downfall: How Rangers FC Self Destructed will be published on 31 August.

    I find it ironic that someone so concerned By Rangers(IA) tax cheating posts a link to Amazon whose industrial scale tax cheating(they pay zero UK coorporation tax) makes Rangers(IA) almost look like paragons of virtue.


  24. WRT illegal registrations and therefore eligibility to play,I’ve put together a wee snapshot of 20 players to play for RFC since 2000.They may not all have been regular internationalists but played for their country at one time or another.They may not have had a dual contract also.It’s just to show the possible scale of wrongdoingand to ask if UEFA/FIFA can possibly ignore cheating on the scale suggested.
    This list,as you can see is nowhere near complete and also,no Scottish players are included.I assume that if say,stepan Klos played against Dado Prso in an international,then both countries would be fielding,unknown to them,ineligible players.This also applies to European club competitions.

    Jörg Albertz Germany
    Tony Vidmar Australia
    Lorenzo Amoruso Italy
    Giovanni van Bronckhorst Netherlands
    Andrei Kanchelskis Russia
    Arthur Numan Netherlands
    Stefan Klos Germany
    Michael Mols Netherlands
    Bert Konterman Netherlands
    Ronald de Boer Netherlands
    Peter Løvenkrands Denmark
    Fernando Ricksen Netherlands
    Shota Arveladze Georgia
    Dado Pršo Croatia
    Brahim Hemdani Algeria
    Saša Papac Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Steven Davis Northern Ireland
    Kyle Lafferty Northern Ireland
    Madjid Bougherra Algeria
    Maurice Edu United States

    If the 20 players mentioned averaged 10 internationals each whilst at RFC(probably more) then that’s 200 games played which should be declared void,including world cup and european championship games all over the globe.
    I’m sure many more names could be added and a bit more research would show exactly how many players played and where.I wouldn’t be surprised if the total of international or club games,excluding domestic fixtures exceeded 1000 games over 15-16 years.
    That’s why I think UEFA/FIFA would have to act if /when the illegal registrations are proven.


  25. Ignatius says:

    August 22, 2012 at 12:05

    My objective with the Amazon link was to highlight the book – it is not my intention to promote a purchase from Amazon. Amazon is an accessible source, that’s why I used it.

    In addition to issues of tax – many of us here are also concerned about the role of the MSM – that does not stop myself and many here from posting up links or articles from the MSM.


  26. Auldheid says:
    August 22, 2012 at 12:01

    Many thanks.

    A useful document that surely most MSM journos can understand.


  27. Johnboy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:26
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As soon as you ask for a lie to be acceptable then you have nothing to discuss. Close the show and go home…and don’t be surprised if those telling the lies are encouraged to tell bigger and bolder lies….because we have announced that lies are acceptable….

    Where does it stop…and why should we care?

    A lie is a lie is a lie….accept 1….then accept them all!

    Charles green met with UEFA in Switzerland….he got the nod from Hector that the CVA was ok…met Peter Lawwell…has 20 investors…the SFA and SPL have a bigoted agenda….he owns Ibrox….We are the same Rangers as the old Rangers….they all just blend in as soon as you accept one!


  28. Johnboy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:26
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As soon as you ask for a lie to be acceptable then you have nothing to discuss. Close the show and go home…and don’t be surprised if those telling the lies are encouraged to tell bigger and bolder lies….because we have announced that lies are acceptable….

    Where does it stop…and why should we care?

    A lie is a lie is a lie….accept 1….then accept them all!

    Charles green met with UEFA in Switzerland….he got the nod from Hector that the CVA was ok…met Peter Lawwell…has 20 investors….he owns Ibrox….We are the same Rangers as the old Rangers….they all just blend in as soon as you accept one!


  29. Jimbo Milligan @ 11:51

    That may or may not be the case but I recall the infamous #bomberfest which pretty much cooked Brown’s goose. When you’re insisting as Brown supposedly did you back the team and manager at every turn yet support a boycott of STs the fact that Chris Graham is calling your busted flush (in between updating his own boycott list- Vespbar CSC) is the least of your concerns.


  30. A question for our legal reps:
    If a player left RFC to sign for a club in England and he or his agent asked for a signing-on payment,to be paid into his RFC EBT,free of tax,would the players new club now be complicit wrt tax evasion/avoidance,and if so,would said player now have a “dual contract” with his new club and depending on the FAs rules,have been,therefore illegally registered and ineligible to play.
    Only asking as if this was possible,then some teams in England may be looking over their shoulder.


  31. Just spoke to a very friendly and polite gentleman at East Fife FC,he told me that he could not divulge whether or not they have been paid their share of the Cup game,but he kindly suggested that i ask Rangers (his word.) for that information. Make of that what you will.
    Being suspicious by nature (aren’t we all by now) could it be possible that the payment is a wee bit late.Or it could well have been paid and Yorkie has forgotten to shout it from the rooftops .


  32. I noticed a post on KDS- can’t remember who it was by- at the time of Craig Mather’s appointment, more or less stating that in return for his £1m ‘investment’, he’d (Mather) get to punt unknown footballers into the Sevco squad via his agency (Simply Sport Management).

    The poster said the idea was that if these players were a ‘success’, they’d get moved on, with Green getting a small cut for his trouble.

    I dare say these plans were spoilt somewhat by Sevco having to start again in Div 3, but the type of guys who have signed- Emilson, Faure- and the others on trial- like the unheard of Australian striker and Bayern Munich’s second string’s second choice goalie suggests there is something to this.

    Anyone else heard anything, care to follow up?


  33. A while ago on RTC it was being discussed about something ‘nuclear’ that was due to be revealed!! Some posters knew or claimed to know what it was but didn’t do the big reveal because it wasn’t their story to tell? The silence from all directions makes me think there is something ‘big’ on the way but ……….. 🙁 nothing!?!? Can anyone give us any hope of any justice in this sorry, twisted state of affairs.


  34. Auldheid,
    Thanks for the spreadsheet,interesting stuff.
    The first thing that jumps out to me is your cost figures taken from D&P.
    This is given as approx £6.8m.
    Income from STs after VAT was estimated at around £6.6m
    Maybe I’m simplifying things but if these figures are correct then ST money is swallowed up by running costs and not one players wage is covered.neither are the salaries of the 150 other employees.If this is so then Sevco are going to run out of money very quickly.
    They could always withhold PAYE/NIC/VAT of course.


  35. WOTTPI says:
    August 22, 2012 at 12:28

    Auldheid says:
    August 22, 2012 at 12:01

    Many thanks.

    A useful document that surely most MSM journos can understand.
    ============================================================
    Wanna bet?.


  36. Yes, Rab- the poor thing could quite literally have ended up a shell of its former self.


  37. Brenda, I remember Barcabhoy coming out with the nuclear stuff a while back and RTC backing it up. However, some time later RTC seemed to play it down.

    My guess is that there is some big news in relation to ex- Rangers managers and perhaps others in relation to the payments partly uncovered by Mark Daly.

    However I also guess that for whatever reason, this information is not ready to be released or simply cannot be released.

    I’ve heard rumours about injunctions and so forth, but that’s just based on internet chitter chatter on the forums I visit, and there is nothing out there as far as I can tell to substantiate that theory.

    But remembering Barca’s post, it was quite forthright and confident sounding that there was BIG info out there waiting to be detonated.


  38. Brenda.

    As far as i am aware the nuclear stuff is related to Smith and Souness and maybe some other ex rangers managers receiving ebt payments while not employed by rangers but actually employed by other clubs or international teams. These teams where involved in some would say inflated transfers between rangers and these clubs, or said managers quitting their posts to be employed by rangers. It is possible that other football figures are involved ( refs and sfa members ) but so far no evidence is available to substantiate that accusation. The silence on this issue is possibly down to external investigations not being compromised and the rumour of court action to keep it from being public knowledge.

    I believe that the originators of the story are sitting on the information and it will be released when it is free to do so, or the time has come to expose those who have suppressed it to allow a fix to be engineered. I dont think this info will be kept buried forever, and maybe a little patience and trust in those who have released a multitude of nuclear information so far should be shown.

    They have never failed us yet.

    Hope this helps.


  39. Wise words Rab.

    Patience is a virtue.

    I’m sure there’ll be plenty of other stuff in the meantime so that we can still get our jollies.

    After all, Celtic are heading for the Champions League whilst Sevco are in Division 3 and await the SPL hearing.

    Should be enough to keep us going for a bit, and I dare say the gradual drip drip of who Green’s backers really are will keep us fed and watered.

    Did I mention Craig Whyte?


  40. Ignatius says:
    August 22, 2012 at 12:05
    6 8 i
    Rate This

    Long Time Lurker says:
    August 22, 2012 at 10:38

    11
    Rate This

    Looks as if more material will become available at the end of August:

    http://www.amazon.couk/Downfall-How-Rangers-Self-Destructed/dp/1904684262/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345628135&sr=1-1

    Phil Mac Giolla Bhain (Author) and Alison Rae (Editor) book Downfall: How Rangers FC Self Destructed will be published on 31 August.

    I find it ironic that someone so concerned By Rangers(IA) tax cheating posts a link to Amazon whose industrial scale tax cheating(they pay zero UK coorporation tax) makes Rangers(IA) almost look like paragons of virtue.

    ====================================================================

    Ignatius…thank you for your post and comments…as soon as I saw the “amazon” mentioned, I had exactly the same feeling as you.

    I had made a few comments along these lines on RTC (head bowed in deference!) that the whole RFC(IA) omnishambles could never have occured had it not been for the murky depths of the offshore finance/secrecy jurisdictions.

    To crown the irony, the CEO of Amazon, UK at least, is a chap called Brian McBride, apparently an avid supporter of CFC.

    PS this I do not regard as completely OT since the SFA and the MSM have allowed the club at the centre of this “omnishambles” to have operated on these lines for so long without questioning their activities…now just look where we are!


  41. Thank you Rab and Bartin Main just to know it’s still there and there’s a chance it will come out eventually is enough………. This silence is just a wee bit annoying 🙁 I’m female I’m impatient!!!


  42. Is Phil’s book only available via amazon?

    Does it come with a free t-shirt?


  43. rab says:
    August 22, 2012 at 13:16
    ——————————————————————————————————————————-
    Think it was Barcabhoy who mentioned the “Nuclear Option”.
    I’m sure all will be revealed in time.
    Is it possible that the Scottish Parliaments refusal to release info under FOI regarding RFC,Edinburgh and Westminster is not part of any supposed stitch – up and could be because the info is being withheld because release could predudice any proceedings in the future.It’s not just our local polis who are investigating RFC(IA).


  44. BartinMain says:
    August 22, 2012 at 13:28
    0 0 i Rate This

    Is Phil’s book only available via amazon?

    Does it come with a free t-shirt?

    ===================================================================

    BM…I have just placed my order with my local bookshop…run by a lovely lass from Fort William…and for the same price as Amazon would want!


  45. Highlandjaggie says:
    August 21, 2012

    Do we have a timescale for when duff and duffer sign of on the administration and the liquidators take over, then things will start to take off again.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
    ahhem..Highland…
    A subtle copywrite warning on the unlicensed use of “Duff & Duffer” …it could become expensive for you, my legal eagles are watchin…
    …I have TUPE’D all rights & brand ownership over from RTC.

    forefinger gently tapping side of the nose 🙂


  46. emailing from Crete so a little off the pace.
    Apologies if this has been addressed already.

    Received a reply from Falkirk – you won’t believe this, the reason the announcer was suspended for one game! was for his own protection, due to threats and intimidation. I replied “was there no other way to protect him other than suspending him”
    I fear the worst for the game if there in no one or group to face down this cancer. There is only one way our game can go.


  47. rab says:
    August 22, 2012 at 13:16
    As far as i am aware the nuclear stuff is related to Smith and Souness and maybe some other ex rangers managers receiving ebt payments while not employed by rangers but actually employed by other clubs or international teams. These teams where involved in some would say inflated transfers between rangers and these clubs, or said managers quitting their posts to be employed by rangers. It is possible that other football figures are involved ( refs and sfa members ) but so far no evidence is available to substantiate that accusation.
    ———————————————————————————

    No evidence?

    Mark Daly appeared to have evidence that Souness had an EBT. Enough to include this claim in his second BBC doc.


  48. Senior says:

    August 22, 2012 at 13:37

    His photo has has been posted on RM along with 4 or 5 pages of vile comments….not going to put the link on here to this public slander………….


  49. goians on 900k a year at sevco according to the romanian media , can we really see a seria b club paying the majority of those wages ?


  50. Meanwhile, CG continues with his mishaps gathering other foks money…from RM.

    ricksen_da_best

    Posted Today, 12:43 PM

    Sconned my account for £281 when I asked for the 4 payments, been trying to get through to them since Monday and get told everytime, all of our lines are busy.


  51. All lines are busy due to 33,000 all calling about their payments no doubt


  52. The Invisible Line @13:55

    Well we did try to warn them…………. Hell slap it into them 🙂 that’s where arrogance and ‘the peepil’ mentality gets them.


  53. FIFA says:

    August 22, 2012 at 14:12

    Sorry how many lines does the porta cabin have

    +++++++++++++

    None – only the cashier Britneys mobile – and she is on it most of the day yakking to her mum about how busy she is………..


  54. TIL

    Wasn’t there a very clear warning posted here last week about the continuous credit card payment scheme?

    There is no way of course that Green would take all the season ticket money now and then disappear… after all… the SFA have passed him as a ‘fit and proper’ person haven’t they?

    Here is another question for the legals. If Green did do that, and left a load of Rangers fans out of pocket, would they have a legitimate claim against the SFA for the money, using contract law of principal and agent? In this case could you argue that Green was the agent, selling something under the umbrella of the SFA, who, through their negligence, failed to stop him? Rather like the private parking tickets scam and the landlords?


  55. Brenda says:

    August 22, 2012 at 14:18

    So we have payments requested but the whole lot taken, seats double sold, St cards not functioning….

    Notice no mishaps happening that are not in CG’s favour…

    As my mum would say, it will all end in tears…….

    And as my dad told me when I wrecked my car racing another bloke nearly killing myself – well that will teach you.

    And as George Bush tried to say but couldn;t remember “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on you…”

    What is fool me thrice?


  56. The Invisible Line says:

    August 22, 2012 at 14:26
    “What is fool me thrice?”
    …………………………………….

    A game played by the SFA.


  57. Senior says:

    August 22, 2012 at 13:37

    emailing from Crete so a little off the pace.
    Apologies if this has been addressed already.

    Received a reply from Falkirk – you won’t believe this, the reason the announcer was suspended for one game! was for his own protection, due to threats and intimidation. I replied “was there no other way to protect him other than suspending him”
    I fear the worst for the game if there in no one or group to face down this cancer. There is only one way our game can go.
    __________________________________________________________________________-

    Now that is something all of the MSM should be shouting from the rooftops!

    Good work, Senior, and another example of the value of this blog. We might write 100s of posts with little or no substance, but every now and again someone comes on with genuine information that the MSM have failed to uncover, or more likely, have chosen to ignore.

    Scottish football: dying (as opposed to living) in fear!


  58. Senior says:

    August 22, 2012 at 13:37

    Truly mind blowing. And yet it was Falkirk who apologised. The bar has been set for all future behaviour from this crowd. This is a police matter never mind an SFA one. If the club are unwilling or unable to control their fanbase and call off their attack dogs they deserve to be expelled from the game. This is no longer sport. This is the behaviour of dictators and juntas across the world, all in the name of a football team.

    Breathtaking.


  59. Still being ‘careless’ with other people’s (presumably mostly taxpayers’) money, does that make them the ‘real Rangers’?


  60. And there is more….

    Complaints about the amount they have been charged for using the phone no to apply for a ST and being kept on hold for ages ………….

    CG is asking CW how much the apt next door to him in Monaco costs no doubt………..

    If they were not so arrogant I woudl feel sorry for them…….


  61. I take it there was no offensive singing at the Pawnshop challenge Trophy game at Falkirk last evening ,the winners have been drawn at home to Q.O.South on Sunday 9th Sept,must be another game in Glasgow on the Saturday .Roll up roll up and get your tickets before they are sold out ..


  62. shouting from a distance says:

    August 22, 2012 at 14:43

    Senior says

    August 22, 2012 at 13:37

    Truly mind blowing. And yet it was Falkirk who apologised. The bar has been set for all future behaviour from this crowd. This is a police matter never mind an SFA one. If the club are unwilling or unable to control their fanbase and call off their attack dogs they deserve to be expelled from the game. This is no longer sport. This is the behaviour of dictators and juntas across the world, all in the name of a football team.

    Breathtaking.
    =======================================

    Falkirk probably said sorry because they were playing them in a couple of days and wanted to make sure they still had a stadium left after the game.
    It is getting beyond a joke now,the children of the damned are now trying to intimidate Anybody they dont like. They are nearly out of control,how does this behaviour sit with the SFL/SFA.This is how they show their gratitude for being allowed into any league.
    “An appeaser is someone who feeds the crocodile hoping that it will eat him last”
    Winston Churchill.


  63. call 0871 702 1972 or visit Rangers Ticket Centre to get your season ticket now.

    Season ticket terms and conditions.

    Calls cost 10ppm from BT landline, mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Terms, conditions and booking fees apply.

    ***********

    All the Bears using their mobile got a shock because the 10p per minute is only on a land line……….


  64. shouting from a distance says:
    August 22, 2012 at 14:43
     1 0 Rate This
    Senior says:

    August 22, 2012 at 13:37

    Truly mind blowing. And yet it was Falkirk who apologised. The bar has been set for all future behaviour from this crowd. This is a police matter never mind an SFA one. If the club are unwilling or unable to control their fanbase and call off their attack dogs they deserve to be expelled from the game. This is no longer sport. This is the behaviour of dictators and juntas across the world, all in the name of a football team.

    Breathtaking.

    ———————

    100% agree. When racists are now being charged for threatening behaviour having posted disgusting anti black / anti Jew tweets and Facebook comments, the announcer should sue all on FF/RM who are threatening him and Falkirk should hang their head in shame for caving in and appeasing these thugs


  65. Senior – any chance the email could be passed to TSFM so it can be made into a post showing the real story, instead of the one peddled by the MSM?

    This is exactly what this blog was created for. To tell the truth and nothing but the truth, and expose the MSM for the liars they are.

    Great work – now lets get this to a wider audience.


  66. The Invisible Line says:

    August 22, 2012 at 14:58

    call 0871 702 1972 or visit Rangers Ticket Centre to get your season ticket now.

    Season ticket terms and conditions.

    Calls cost 10ppm from BT landline, mobile and other providers’ charges may vary. Terms, conditions and booking fees apply.

    ***********

    All the Bears using their mobile got a shock because the 10p per minute is only on a land line……….
    ___________________________________________________________________

    I wonder how many phoned to buy their STs? Would have been a fair few thousand, I’d imagine. Now, of course, when they call regarding all of these ‘mistakes’ they will be on hold even longer and Sevco’s phoneline profits will be going up. I wonder in who’s name the phonelines are actually held? Anyone care to make an educated guess? 😉

    ‘Honest Charlie, selling shares near you sometime soon!’


  67. Allyjambo Taxpayer says:

    August 22, 2012 at 15:09

    The complaints are also that the online webpage for the online sales always has the error message stating its busy and has too much traffic – I had a wee bash and its true – so you have 3 choices

    (1) Click all day on the website hoping to get in a slot – and pay booking fee
    (2) Call on your phone and get charged a huge amount being on hold
    (3) Wait all day in line outside the portaloo with a queue with a dog in it (see pics from TRFC website) – and pay fee for personal touch

    Either way the word fee is involved – and its in the small print…..

    I think the pensioner that got fleeced by Der Bomber for 125 quid may be one of the lucky ones…..


  68. stevensanph says:
    August 22, 2012 at 14:24

    Wasn’t there a very clear warning posted here last week about the continuous credit card payment scheme?

    There is no way of course that Green would take all the season ticket money now and then disappear… after all… the SFA have passed him as a ‘fit and proper’ person haven’t they?

    —————————————————————————————————–

    Actually I think the onus was on D&D to vouch for Mr Green being ‘fit and proper’ to the SFA.

    You couldn’t get more trustworthy people could you? 🙂

    / Red Lichtie


  69. The perpetrator will ALWAYS play the victim card.

    The perpetrator will always claim harm being done to them when of course it’s them that’s doing the harm

    The perpetrator will use the same criticisms being used RIGHTLY against them, to smear their detractors.

    The perpetrator will allow their hate to subsume any ideology they previously adhered to in their desperate belief that somehow morals are irrelevant and can be dispensed with ie the ends justify the means

    Everything the perpetrator previously believed is secondary to their hatred. Hate trumps right….

    Ah, but the one thing the perpetrator can NEVER change, is TRUTH, and truth trumps hate everyday!

    Cognitive dissonance :The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them… To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just as long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies – all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth.

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