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. From the work done on here today, it would appear that Charlie is a very quick learner
    On the surface it seems that he is already embarking on a scam very similar to Minty’s JJB deal
    It does not bode well for the future


  2. campsiejoe says:

    August 22, 2012 at 21:00

    From the work done on here today, it would appear that Charlie is a very quick learner
    On the surface it seems that he is already embarking on a scam very similar to Minty’s JJB deal
    It does not bode well for the future
    ————————————

    By the look of all the directorships that Yorkie has it seems as if every revenue stream flows back to him,one way or the other.


  3. Webster says:
    August 22, 2012 at 19:38
    6 0 Rate This
    Re an upcoming share issue in “Rangers”.
    The current aggressive argument – which is increasingly gaining ground – is that it was not the club, Rangers, which went into liquidation. It was the “holding company”.
    When liquidation began, those Rangers fans who had bought shares relating to that club lost everything. That, we are now told, is because they had not bought shares in the “football club” (though I’d bet a fair few of them thought that is exactly what they HAD done).
    No: they had bought shares in the “holding company”.
    The inescapable conclusion is that you cannot buy shares in a “football club” at all! Only in a “holding company”.
    The question, then, that any Rangers fan who respects their own basic intelligence must ask themselves when another share issue comes up that APPEARS to relate to Rangers football club is this: since I will not actually be buying shares in my football club but, rather, in a “holding company” run by a man called Charles Green – why on earth would I take my money out of my pocket?
    ====================================
    I posted on this several days ago; but it’s worth saying again.

    A football club can come in many forms – unincorporated, private limited company, public limited company.

    What defines a “club” is not the legal form it takes, it is much more simple that that. A “club” (of any description) is a body of people (its members) who come together for a common purpose.

    The members of an unincorporated football club would usually be the club committee – though there may also be a wider category of membership. The liability for debts of an unincorporated club are held jointly and severally with the members. This liability is unlimited.

    The members of an incorporated football club are its shareholders. The reason most football clubs incorporated as legal entities was to limit the liability of its members. The liability of members (shareholders) of an incorporated club is limited the value of issued shares held.

    The Rangers Football Club PLC (founded in 1873 and incorporated in 1899) is a football club whose playing name was Rangers or Rangers FC and who played its final season in the SPL in 2011/12. That club is currently in administration; but is soon to be liquidated. When liquidated. its members will have lost the value of their shares; but will not be held liable for the outstanding debts of the club.

    The Rangers Football Club Ltd (founded and incorporated in 2012 as Sevco Scotland) is a football club whose playing name is now Rangers or Rangers FC. This club bought the assets of The Rangers Football Club PLC and was accepted as a new club by the SFL to play in the 3rd Division in season 2012/13.

    Unless/until the liquidators of The Rangers Football Club PLC object, The Rangers Football Club Ltd (Sevco Scotland) can lawfully use the trading name Rangers or Rangers FC as these were part of the package of assets sold to the newly formed football club.

    Supporters of The Rangers Football Club Ltd (Sevco Scotland) are not supporting a club. They are supporting a trademark.

    The nearest analogy I can think of is the kit-cars manufactured in China and assembled at Longbridge. These cars are badged as MG’s. SAIC bought the trademarks from the MG Rover Group administrators in 2005. SAIC did not buy the company. MG Rover Group was liquidated soon after.

    These SAIC cars may have an MG badge; but they are not built by MG. Other than the purchased trademark, these cars have no history or heritage in common with MG’s built in England prior to 2005.


  4. monster_mind says:
    August 22, 2012 at 20:50

    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:

    August 22, 2012 at 20:06

    Rangers Retail.
    Do these 2 statements contradict each other:

    From Pauls blog.
    It started life on 13 July 2012 as SDI Newco No.1 Ltd when it was registered as an English company at Companies House in Cardiff.

    On the 14 August 2012 it changed its name to Rangers Retail Ltd.

    The company has a shareholding of 100 x £1 fully paid-up shares and all were allotted with the sole company Subscriber named as: Sportdirect.com Retail Ltd.

    David Forsey, 46, is a director with a Shirebrook, Derbyshire address, which is the HQ of Sports Direct. The company secretary, at the same address, is Rebecca Tylee-Birdsall. Another director is Barry Leach, 46, with a Wigan address. All three were appointed on 13 July 2012.

    From RM.
    Rangers Retail, a subsidiary company of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, has been formed with SportsDirect.com which enables the Club to utilise the huge buying power and resources of SportsDirect.com while maintaining the majority stake-holding in the JV.

    Now I’ve been known to before but to me Pauls info seems to say that RR are a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Direct but RM state that RR is a subsidiary of TRFC LTD.
    Have I read this right.If so,someone is being economical with the truth.Wonder who?.

    ==========
    The two statements don’t make sense to me either. I can’t buy the “joint venture”, “subsidiary of Rangers” spiel coming from RM

    The 3rd named person behind Rangers Retail is Barry Leach, who is the head of IBML.

    IBML is the licensing subsidiary of SportsDirect.

    IBML is behind much of SportsDirect’s profits and market valuation. They buy licensing rights to loads of sports and fashion clothing brands (Dunlop, Everlast, Lonsdale, Firetrap, Full Circle etc.) Mr Leach is often named as a director of companies linked with the licensing agreements (Hot Tuna, Firetrap, Smith and Brooks etc.)

    Sounds to me very much like Oldco’s JJB deal, and Sevco have “sold the jerseys”, cashing in on one of their biggest potential revenue streams for jam today and cashflow problems tomorrow.
    ————————————————————————————————————————
    How does this fit with this post:

    Insomniac says:

    August 22, 2012 at 20:36

    nowoldandgrumpy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 18:06
    ——————————————-

    NDF was speculating on the nature of the retail company(saying Rangers Megastore looked like a stand-alone company). Turns out he was wrong, but see Torrevieja Johnbhoy ‘s post above at 20.06. There are still questions to be asked.

    Was NDF wrong.Is it possible that the Megastore is a stand alone company and will be selling RFC merchandise under licence from IBML(Sports Direct)?.
    Is Mike Ashley buying 10% of Sevco the price being paid to control RFCs merchandising?.


  5. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:08
    —————————————————————————————————————————
    He still thinks he’s wrong, but your theory does work.
    These two quotes do it for me:
    “All JJB staff contracted as part of the Rangers retail operation will TUPE across to Rangers Retail”
    “Club products will be available in the coming months with all funds going to Rangers Retail.”

    Whatever the set-up, I see NO funds reaching Ibrox anytime soon.


  6. OOOOPs dont know where heading is mentioned in link sorry all.
    I live & learn 🙁


  7. Never in the history of Scottish football, have so many, been fooled by so few, so completely, for so long
    Given the way that things are shaping up, this seems appropriate
    (Courtesy of my good lady)


  8. Insomniac says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:24
    ——————————————————————————————————————————
    “Club products will be available in the coming months with all funds going to Rangers Retail.”

    Looks like maybe Ashley will pay a couple of million when the share issue takes place.In return,
    “All Funds” will go to Rangers Retail,a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Direct.
    So Green sells all of RFCs future merchandising(I don’t see a contract length here) for a quick fix.Not the actions of someone planning for the long term.


  9. We appear to have sailed through the doldrums and are now in receipt of much needed wind (literally).


  10. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:41
    0 0 Rate This
    Insomniac says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:24
    ——————————————————————————————————————————
    “Club products will be available in the coming months with all funds going to Rangers Retail.”

    Looks like maybe Ashley will pay a couple of million when the share issue takes place.In return,
    “All Funds” will go to Rangers Retail,a wholly owned subsidiary of Sports Direct.
    So Green sells all of RFCs future merchandising(I don’t see a contract length here) for a quick fix.Not the actions of someone planning for the long term.

    ======

    Looks very much a man who is trying to get to the end of the season – wonder why?


  11. Brian McNally ‏@McNallyMirror

    Claims Mike Ashley won’t invest in The Rangers after SD sign kit deal. SD will only say they are “Two completely different matters.”


  12. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:41
    —————————————————————————————————————————

    I’m more inclined to believe the plan is to get to the end of the original Ticketus contract.


  13. Fifer says:
    August 22, 2012 at 18:22
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    As a Celtic fan I welcome your honesty and explicit opinions in your summary of the situation…

    There are indeed still many questions unanswered…

    The problem you have Fifer as I see it…is you have no real forum of fans who followed RFC to challenge the Charlie Green machine that is in motion right now…

    I fully understand why you need your club to still exist…any fan of any club would be the same.

    If we follow the mantra of the fans that the old Rangers and the Company were seperate entities then it must follow the mechanics to raise shares will have to be in the holding Company not the football club as we are told they are seperate entities?….Would you buy shares in that?

    Why is Charlie being given an easy ride?

    Why don’t we know who owns Ibrox?

    So many questions!


  14. Brian McNally ‏@McNallyMirror

    Sports Direct certainly coy on talking about Mike Ashley buying a stake in #Rangers newco. But the statement did not rule it out or in.


  15. monster_mind says:
    August 22, 2012 at 20:12

    paulmac says:
    August 22, 2012 at 16:45

    Roland Brown says:
    August 22, 2012 at 16:15
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    One thing caught my eye in your screen shot….Rangers Youth development Limited….that is an existing company registered with the OLD Company….a quick check shows the accounts are over due….
    ==========================================================
    Rangers Youth development, a money making scheme and a mechanism to remove money from the club. How many youths were the new Durranty, new Davie Cooper, one game and a fee changes hands.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/3643791.stm


  16. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 22, 2012 at 21:08
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    The Rangers Football Club Limited…appear to have a credit limit of £1000 pounds…the trading power of Sports Direct appears to be what they are trying to utilise..with credit facilities..


  17. monster_mind says:
    August 22, 2012 at 19:52

    Wonder what ASDFGHJKL LIMITED stands for..?
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
    Either…
    CG & co are flying a kite,just to see how quickly the internet truth sleuths can detect his
    pawn shonce for creating corporate distractions….

    or is it simply an eye test.. 🙂


  18. Company Name ASDFGHJKL LIMITED Company Number SC426693
    Company Status Active – Newly Incorporated Function Director
    Appointment Date 21/06/12 Company Incorporation Date 21/06/12
    Turnover – Net Worth –
    CCJ Volume 0 CCJ Value –
    Credit Rating 38 Credit Limit £500

    Date of change Previous Name
    31/07/2012 RFC 2012 LIMITED
    22/06/2012 RFC 0712 LIMITED

    This company was formerly named RFC 2012 LTD.Was this not the company formed at the EGM when D&P changed the name of RFC(IA) to allow CG to change Sevcos name?.
    Wonder what ASDFGHJKL LIMITED stands for or is it meant to be deliberately obscure?.
    ==================================================================
    Why would Green be a director of a company which used to be Rangers (IA)??
    The address of this is a holding company.
    The credit rating and credit limit is the second highest of all 10 companies Green has become a director of recently.
    Where are Duff & Phelps in all this??
    Are there no shareholders to vote on the name change to ASDFGHJKL Limited from RFC 2012 limited???
    Why has Rangers PLC changed name twice on the same day???
    See Paul Mac below.

    http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/rangers-football-club-plc-to-become-rfc-2012-plc-sevco-scotland-ltd-will-be-rangers-football-club-ltd/

    Something smells.


  19. smallteaser @ 22:56

    The one renamed at the EGM is RFC 2012 plc, the other is RFC 2012 Ltd
    Subtle difference, but once again two companies whose names are so close it really makes no difference, and perpetuates the continuity myth
    As you say something smells


  20. Carl31 says:
    August 22, 2012 at 17:09

    Congratulations to The Rangers on achieving the attendance record for SFL3/4th tier of Scottish Football, but no surprise.
    Apparently its claimed as a world attendance record for a 4th tier game.
    ——————————————–

    Good post Carl 31. When people around the world see the boasts and acclamations that this is a world record attendance for a new club playing its first game at home, they’re going to be really intrigued and wonder how such a phenomenal event could have occurred.

    They’ll carry out some basic research and soon find out that this “world record” was achieved by means of cheating. They will conclude that the fans who turned up to create this record were neither embarrassed nor even concerned that for the past ten years – conservative estimate – this “world record breaking” fan base was harvested not only by cheating the taxpayers of the United Kingdom but also all the other honest competitors not only in their domestic league but across Europe.

    Does SFA or UEFA care?


  21. If I buy rangers do i then own the history, can you sell parts of it to other clubs ?

    have newco rangers got a new catering contract ?

    any more news on ticketus, a company that spent 24 million on rangers , could have bought the club for 5.5 million to recoup some of the 24 million, yet we are to believe they have written it off, lol, pull the other one.


  22. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:

    Can someone help.I may have this wrong.These are details of one of CGs companies:

    Name & Registered Office:
    ASDFGHJKL LIMITED
    ——————————————————-
    Do we need to resurrect Alan Turing to break this one?


  23. midcalderan says:
    August 22, 2012 at 23:05
    1 0 Rate This
    Carl31 says:
    August 22, 2012 at 17:09

    Congratulations to The Rangers on achieving the attendance record for SFL3/4th tier of Scottish Football, but no surprise.
    Apparently its claimed as a world attendance record for a 4th tier game.
    ——————————————–

    Good post Carl 31. When people around the world see the boasts and acclamations that this is a world record attendance for a new club playing its first game at home, they’re going to be really intrigued and wonder how such a phenomenal event could have occurred.

    They’ll carry out some basic research and soon find out that this “world record” was achieved by means of cheating. They will conclude that the fans who turned up to create this record were neither embarrassed nor even concerned that for the past ten years – conservative estimate – this “world record breaking” fan base was harvested not only by cheating the taxpayers of the United Kingdom but also all the other honest competitors not only in their domestic league but across Europe.

    Does SFA or UEFA care?

    =======

    http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/index.html

    compare what is listed under R to what is listed under C on the UEFA website


  24. Looks like the stitch up is underway a complete disgrace.

    @davidstoker_lfc: Some disingenuous comments from Stewart Regan in this piece in the Daily Mail – http://t.co/ddKIbEWu


  25. My son was playing tonight against a team calling themselves Rangers. I have no idea whether they are officially associated in some form or another to Oldco or Newco but they had strips with 5 stars and jackets with the RFC logo and 5 stars on breast pocket . I could only but shake my head at it all and I ask myself where did all this star nonsense come from and start. I honestly cannot recall stars on shirts when I was a boy, so I googled and I found this

    •At club level, stars have different meanings, depending of the country.
    •In France and Italy, 1 star means 10 league titles.
    •In Germany, 1 star means 3 titles, 2 stars mean 5 titles, 3 stars mean at least 10 titles. Bayern Munich have 3 stars for its 20 Bundesliga wins.
    •In the US, 1 star means 1 MLS Cup.
    •In some countries, the federation has no say whatsoever in the meaning of stars. Thus, the clubs can wear them for whatever reason they like. In Brazil, for example, some clubs would display stars for Second Division titles or state championship titles.
    •Finally, winners of the UEFA Champions League do not wear stars above their badge: They wear, on the sleeve, a blue badge with the UCL trophy and the number of UCL titles won. However, they’re only authorized to display it when they play a UCL game

    So who started it all in Scotland, was it the Oldco ? did the SFA set the criterea or did Oldco to get the maximum number of badges on their tops like some tin pot dictator or general. My advice to Celtic would be to remove that star from their shirt because Oldco or Newco have cheapened the significance of any stars in my opinion. Let Newco have their star spangled shirts and badges, have as many as they wish, in fact the more the better so we can all laugh at them.

    More like 5 star plonkers and cheats


  26. Regarding the ASDAPRICE Ltd carry-on:
    I think Green registered RFC 0712, then changed its name to RFC 2012, which he announced would be the new name for RFC PLC, allowing Sevco to carry out the old switcheroo.
    The purpose of setting up a separate company may simply have been to protect the company name ahead of the pre-announced (but non-existent) RFC PLC EGM.
    I’d imagine Green then changed RFC 2012 to ASDAPRICE, minutes before RFC PLC took on the RFC 2012 name, allowing Sevco to become The Rangers.
    ASDAPRICE Ltd will now be allowed to wither away to non-trading dissolution
    It all makes sense to me. But I’m half-mad.


  27. monster_mind says:
    August 22, 2012 at 20:12

    August 22, 2012 at 16:45
    Roland Brown says:
    August 22, 2012 at 16:15
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    One thing caught my eye in your screen shot….Rangers Youth development Limited….that is an existing company registered with the OLD Company….a quick check shows the accounts are over due….
    Are we certain Mr. Green is a listed director of this Company? RANGERS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
    ——————————————————————————
    Is this not the company that may have been heavily sponsored by Ian Hart which I recall could have had a lot of money sloshing around in it which could not be accounted for?

    Hart did a bit of the hokey cokey – can I say this here – when it was suggested that he was part of the Green bid and then denied it to say he was in the Walter bid (why was Walter’s and his wealthy backers’ bid so weak).

    Don’t click on this link if you’re against adding to the profits or reducing the losses of the DR:

    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/rangers-in-crisis-ian-hart-rejects-1129324


  28. As we come to the final minute of the day, let me congratulate the quality of the posts on the blog today.

    First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
    Mahatma Gandhi

    More of the same tomorrow please


  29. Where’s The Tax Man ?

    Is he just watching on from the sideline ? Maybe He’s just waiting for the “Gotcha !” (Older readers would appreciate this, but just exactly who would Noel Edmunds (aka Taxman) hand “The Gotcha” to whom ?).

    As I’ve said before, we need a Judicial Enquiry into this saga.

    There are too many links between the “Main Protaganists”.

    I just have this feeling that Charles has been becoming too confident over the last week or so.

    Something’s in the air, and it doesn’t smell too good !

    I’m no Accountant nor Lawyer, but why would One Guy have so many Companies registered under “Rangers” ?

    Or another question. Where does the Money Trail lead ?

    It all kind of stinks of something rotten !

    I think that some Sharks are at it here, under the very noses of Strathclyde’s Finest, The Scottish Parliament, HMRC, The SFA, The SPL, The SFL, etc.

    What I can’t understand is how it is being allowed to happen ?

    Or maybe I can ! The greatest cover up in Scottish Football !

    In normal circumstances The Rules would be applied. i.e. Old Co would have gone the same way as Clydebank, Airdrie, Gretna,etc.

    As this is Scotland, unfortunately you can’t just turf out Rangers or Celtic. Too many people rely on them for a living. Armaggedon, etc !

    The saddest thing of all is the constant bending of rules by The Governing Associations every time they have an opportunity to apply “Their Rules”.

    Since Feb 14th, it’s been pathetic ! Excuse after Excuse !

    Just remember, £130,000,000 (or a good few Schools and Hospitals !) is at stake here.

    Just remember, Charles isn’t interested in that. He is only interested in his Bank Balance. He want’s to fleece as much as he can.

    When he’s fled the nest in the not too distant future, he’ll be just another Wanted Man on a Poster, along with his cronies Whyte, Murray, Ticketus (and too many more to mention) !

    In the mean time, “The Donkeys” who are leading Strathclyde’s Finest, The Scottish Parliament, HMRC, The SFA, The SPL, The SFL, etc. are all keeping their fingers crossed that next year will see the return of The Old Firm after a quick League Re-Construction, all designed of course to benefit the whole of Scottish Football !!!

    A serious question here (from one not too familiar with Law & Accountancy !).

    Why is it so easy to create so many Companies, transfer assets, dissolve Companies a few days later, causing misery for employees, start brand new companies a few days later, go into liquidation, etc, and still walk away with a profit ?

    Or another question, How do they get away with it ?

    I wouldn’t mind a Public Enquiry on this one, although I don’t think there would be too much enthusiasm from “The Powers To Be !”

    At the end of it all, Football will be the loser. I’m already losing the enthusiasm for the game.

    Good luck to Sevco, I hope you get what you deserve in the end. Charles will no doubt end up with a pretty profit, but he won’t care in a few years when he’s sipping his Champagne down South.

    Enquiry please !


  30. uefa know its now sevco

    CLUB
    Rangers FC
    Scotland
    ProfileDomesticUEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Europa League
    » Last match
    13/05/2012 (Scottish Premier League)
    v St Johnstone (A) 0-4


  31. From CelticFCblog on KDS:

    Just the other day I suggested that all the drama about investors from Lebanon, Monaco, Pakistan, Dubai and Malaysia could be deflecting from the key facts in the Sevco story. The core of the story, I concluded, could lay closer to home. Namely with Ticketus and Whyte.
    Closer to home? Like Bearsden perhaps?

    Let me introduce you to Mr Brian Stockbridge, Financial Director of The Rangers Football Club Ltd, formerly known as Sevco Scotland Limited.
    The quiet man of a takeover saga that began in late February of this year when Duff & Phelps announced they were accepting takeover bids for the soon-to-be-liquidated RFC PLC.
    Weeks earlier Mr Stockbridge had transferred from Allenby Capital — where he had been involved in some deals for Ticketus owners Octopus Investments — to join Zeus Capital, who are backed by Octopus.
    There is nothing online to suggest that Mr Stockbridge had previously lived or worked in the Glasgow area.
    Indeed, late last year he was working in London with Allenby as nominated adviser to Tembusu Investments — a firm owned by convicted bank fraudster Rafat Rizvi which then changed its name to Nova Resources and hired Charles Green as Chairman.

    On February 29 Ticketus met with Duff and Phelps and told them they intended to “protect their investment” at Rangers by being willing to “hold talks with any potential new owners”.
    On March 5 Brian Stockbridge registered a Change of Name for his own firm, Stockbridge Capital Investments Limited, which had been incorporated on February 20.
    The address given was a residential property in – you guessed it – Bearsden.
    A house that had been put on the market only weeks earlier by a gentleman of Asian descent who had previously registered a now-dissolved beauty business to the same address.
    And it is that Bearsden address that also now appears on Mr Stockbridge’s registration with the Financial Services Authority.

    One possible explanation for this (and I do accept there is a fair bit of supposition involved here) is that Mr Stockbridge’s new bosses had sent him up to Jocko-land to pursue a special project. And had even arranged for him to settle down in a new house. So it wasn’t going to be a quick fix.
    March 5, I hasten to add, was before even the first deadline had expired for the first bids for the carcass of RFC PLC RIP.
    We had Bill Ng, Bill Miller, the Blue Knights and that choob Kennedy, Uncle Walter and so on still to appear, then disappear. Many of them complaining of the unstatisfactory nature of their consultations with “representatives” from Ticketus.
    Did any of them, I wonder, have talks with a certain Mr Stockbridge at around that time?
    Then along came Sevco 5088 Limited, which was incorporated on March 29.
    Charles Green was not made a director until May 4, and news of a bid by his Sevco consortium was not made public until May 11.

    So what do I conclude?
    Revelling once again in conspiratorial mania, I suggest that the plan to send Brian Stockbridge north to mastermind a takeover bid was hatched by Zeus Capital — and whoever they were working on behalf of — within DAYS of Duff & Phelps beginning the RFC PLC RIP administration process.
    Stockbridge was in Glasgow throughout the whole of the takeover pantomime.
    Now he’s working quietly behind the scenes on behalf of his paymasters while Chuckie Green creates a noisy distraction.
    And if I had to put odds on who was giving Stockbridge his orders, I’d have very short odds on Ticketus.


  32. CW

    “You cant just turf out Rangers or Celtic….”
    ——————————————————–

    I agree whole-heartedly with the rest of your post.
    However, had it been Celtic in this position, the Establishment would have flushed them down the toilet and never given it a second thought, in my opinion.

    As has been pointed out on here before, this is not just about money. That’s why Charles Green will make money.


  33. monster_mind says:
    August 22, 2012 at 19:52
    20 0 Rate This
    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:

    August 22, 2012 at 18:33

    …..This company was formerly named RFC 2012 LTD.Was this not the company formed at the EGM when D&P changed the name of RFC(IA) to allow CG to change Sevcos name?.
    Wonder what ASDFGHJKL LIMITED stands for or is it meant to be deliberately obscure?.

    ========

    I expect whoever was filling out the form just ran their finger across the middle row of their keyboard.

    >>>>>>>>>>>

    That’s all we need… another bloody middle man !


  34. CW says:
    August 23, 2012 at 00:01

    Where’s The Tax Man ?
    ——————————————-
    The taxman will only take on an investigation with a view to a monetary settlement if he thinks he can win it – some may say if he thinks it is easy – and if there is a sizeable statistical credit in it for the team carrying out the investigation. On the other hand, if there is clear evidence of fraud, an investigation may be pursued in the public interest with a view to prosecution.


  35. When I put up the pic of Charles Alexander Greens Directorships it was more to point out that he WASN’T a/the director of Rangers Retail Limited … and that it was SportsDirect!

    However I had already looked into the ASD company! For a while I’ve just thought ” ya wierdo” ….or even “ya wino” had a drink and registered a company! Even tried to find “A Sports Direct” connection…. mug! ;

    But someone has just hit the nail on the head there!

    asdfghjkl …here it is in caps! ASDFGHJKL

    go on … try it! Middle row. How to register a company in one easy swipe of a Querty keyboard!

    Class! 😉


  36. Stanblack says:
    August 23, 2012 at 00:06
    10 1 Rate This
    uefa know its now sevco….

    >>>>>>>>>>

    yes indeed; I’ve copied this wee tweet which is a re-affirmation of same.

    @Pmacgiollabhain: To various:
    FIFA/UEFA are unequivocal on liquidation.
    Club and legal entity are one in the same.
    They are indivisible.Sevco are not Rangers

    +++++++++++

    So, Sevco Scotland Limited they are now, with a history starting on 29/05/12….. and a dubious renaming – it will interesting to see how Uefa refer to Sevco in later years… happy to wait around for that one… 3 years till Uefa competition, and as Uefa only show clubs in the top tier on a regular basis, not so sure how long it will be before they are registered on any list.

    But the Scottish MSM will continue as ever… more fool them


  37. Doon the slope says:
    August 23, 2012 at 00:15
    7 1 i
    Rate This
    CW

    “You cant just turf out Rangers or Celtic….”
    ——————————————————–

    I agree whole-heartedly with the rest of your post.
    However, had it been Celtic in this position, the Establishment would have flushed them down the toilet and never given it a second thought, in my opinion.

    ____________________________________________________________

    or Dundee Utd, Hearts, Aberdeen, Motherwell…………….or any spl or sfl club!!!!!!!!!!


  38. I think the Falkiri announcer should use the UEFA websites as proof that what he has been fired for is prepostorous – and he should also be complaining about the FF and RM websites publishing his photo and the obscene remarks. Obviously his safety going about his normal life now that his name, address and photo has been published is at risk.

    Or is this just banter?


  39. Just reading KDS but I’m not registered so I couldn’t ask there.
    Ticketus are clearly calling the shots. A few independent people have found and shown several links back to Zeus and Ticketus. What are the consequences if a legal investigation found proof that Ticketus are behind Green and Whyte?


  40. Someone at RM beginning to ask questions……….

    …….Am I about to start a Charles Green fan club? No, I still have many, many questions. For example, I want to know what the relationship is (if any) between Zeus Capital and Octopus Investment. I also want to know if there is a relationship between Green and Keith Carby the executive of Metro Bank, the institution being used by Rangers at the moment. Because there is a substantiated relationship between Carby and Guy Myles the MD of Octopus Investments, the parent company of Ticket Us. Both Carby and Myles are directors of Omnis Investments Limited. It might be something. It might be nothing. I just want Mr. Green to clear it up. In fairness, I think that if the proposed IPO goes through then there will be a lot more clarity on who owns what and what the commercial plans are for the club.

    http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=876:football-debts-charles-green&catid=103:board&Itemid=531


  41. Insomniac says:

    August 23, 2012 at 02:54

    I have a bet for you on this

    he will get called a Timposter or something rhyming with General Haig – and be ignored


  42. RayCharles says:

    August 23, 2012 at 02:20

    http://thedemiseofrangersinpictures.blogspot.co.uk/

    Sorry if this person’s latest blog has already been posted but I have just been alerted to it.

    It appears that Gregory Vignal received £173,000 via an EBT when he wasn’t an Employee of Rangers.

    ***********************

    For those of higher legal sound minds – so an Employee Benefit Trust can be legally given to people who are not employees? For instance the two players Vignal and Nieto as well as Souness, Cardigan (and perhaps even Swally himself hopefully).

    Who determines who is eligible for an EBT? What are the rules? Could I have applied for a “loan”?


  43. The Invisible Line says:
    August 23, 2012 at 03:01
    —————————————————————————————————————————-

    It’s part of a leader written by James McNair – who appears to be a major contributer, so you might lose that bet.

    If I remember correctly part of RTCblog’s original brief was to highlight the MSM’s complicity in the scam – by ignoring and denying it.

    Plus ça change (plus c’est la même chose).


  44. Insomniac says:

    August 23, 2012 at 03:47

    The Invisible Line says:
    August 23, 2012 at 03:01
    —————————————————————————————————————————-

    It’s part of a leader written by James McNair – who appears to be a major contributer, so you might lose that bet.

    If I remember correctly part of RTCblog’s original brief was to highlight the MSM’s complicity in the scam – by ignoring and denying it.

    Plus ça change (plus c’est la même chose).

    ***********

    Then hopefully they all listen to him – it is a bet I want to lose if it is going to stir some healthy debate over there – maybe I should lose the pessimism – but from my experience over there, the comparisons to Penn State and Celtic, the belittling of anyone not towing the party line and deleting of posts makes me wary of it becoming any other than a Nuremburg rallying point.

    But there is always hope – we all knwo there are many good Bears out there – I have a family full of dcent bears – bar 1 idiot who likes to wear bowler hats and gloves and who is dismissive of me due to my Celtic leanings – but we need these guys to have a platform. Somewhere!!!

    A coalition of the willing so to speak.

    We all see the corruption in Scottish football – we all need to take back our game.


  45. From the same blog demiseofrangersinpictures:

    So today Sevco Scotland have changed their name to The Rangers Football Club Limited.

    An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders took place at Ibrox to vote on the new name, well it’s not a new name, well it is and it isn’t a new name.

    I’ve said that a few times over the summer!

    So Charles Green never hid the fact that the company that was basically running The Rangers was called Sevco 5088.

    But who are really behind Sevco 5088.

    In my blog;  http://thedemiseofrangersinpictures.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/pictures-from-around-ibrox-stadium.html I explained how the money was being siphoned back to Ticketus through a network of different companies all associated with one and other and that the intricacy of the web would confuse some people.

    Well i tried my best to describe it in lay mans terms and I’ll try do the same with this.

    How the money is being drip fed into Ibrox to keep it alive.

    Sevco 5088 Limited are registered at,

    35 Vine Street
    London
    EC3N 2AA

    This is the address of Law firm, Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW).

    Now it is known that Charles Green instructed FFW to conduct the CVA negotiations which ultimately failed to be approved.

    Sevco 5088 are still registered at the above address.
    http://companycheck.co.uk/company/08011390

    Now if we take a closer look at FFW. They are Legal advisers to a company called Access Intelligence.

    Access Intelligence major shareholder is Octopus, the company that own Ticketus.

    http://www.accessintelligence.com/aimrule26.php

    http://tools.morningstar.co.uk/uk/stockprofile/default.aspx?LanguageId=en-GB&SecurityToken=0P00007YM0%5D3%5D0%5DE0EXG$XLON&Id=0P00007YM0&ClientFund=0&BaseCurrencyId=GBP&InvestmentType=E0

    People have been asking “where are they getting the money from?” Quite simply, Octopus. (Ticketus)

    Remembering that Octopus own a very large part of Access Intelligence who’s advisers are Field Fisher Waterhouse who Charles Green employed to negotiate the CVA this would highly suggest that this is the money ‘in’ route.

    Also remembering that Octopus are major shareholder in Zeus who have two guys (Brian Stockbridge and Imran Ahmed) on the board, it reiterates that Octopus have more legs under the table than a lot of people think.


  46. Nowoldandgrumpy says:

    August 23, 2012 at 04:04

    Good post – I feel that this blog is right on track again and may be heating up….

    Now if only we could find out the players registrations or get a small opening as to when Elbows was actually registered at various points over the summer, we can ascertain if everyone has indeed TUPE’d over and were all registered for the Brechin game in particular according to the SFA rulebook………..or was it glossed over again?


  47. 1. Ordinary Fan says:
    August 23, 2012 at 02:10
    Just reading KDS but I’m not registered so I couldn’t ask there.
    Ticketus are clearly calling the shots. A few independent people have found and shown several links back to Zeus and Ticketus. What are the consequences if a legal investigation found proof that Ticketus are behind Green and Whyte?
    *****
    My feeling is that the delays we are seeing are deliberate – the MO from the get go of this saga from Feb onwards (and before) is to deflect and delay.
    The delays are needed so that by the time BDO see all the goings on, it will either be too late to rollback to the beginning or that the charlatans have stuffed enough away by that time that it will have no effect on their prime objective – to strip the carcass down to bones.
    Someone with experience with Hector/BDO can say if they will rollback or more likely take CG and the Octopus consortium to court to get money back – since Hector did say (strangely I felt) that they wanted to reject the CVA but still allow the club to continue, I don’t think they would roll back.
    My hvnch is as Goosy posted the other night, Sevco will go into admin once the heat is on and the creditors (season ticket holders etc – be warned) be on the wrong side of the queue once again.
    The end game we know – to get Octopus/Ticketus their money back and make them all a nice little earner along the way. Only hope we have of anyone stopping this is the Bears themselves realizing what is going on or BDO/Hector.
    I have given up on SFA/SFL/SPL/UEFA/FIFA doing anything other than look the other way.
    What we will be left with is “Armageddon Take 2″ once T’Rangers start taking on water for a 2nd year in a row – minus any life boats this time. That will be ND and SR’s legacies for us…………


  48. Apologies for the many posts during the night – but its day time over here in SE Asia 🙂

    Between a few of us we are maintaining a 24 x 7 coverage

    Many thanks Stunny as always for the midday papers 🙂


  49. If my pubs name is still the same for over a 100 years and has went bust, plenty different owners and hey, still the same name over the door, it’s not called a Newco !
    _____________________________________________________________________

    Nice one, you’ve just shown why Ibrox (as long as it remains standing) will always be known as Ibrox. Oldco, just as the owners of your fictional pub may well have done, have gone bust, and the new owners of Ibrox, just like the new owners your fictional pub, are new too. Hope that helps you understand the difference between an owner and a building!

    **************

    But the licence name will be different to indicate the new owner – and if you keep tryign to order by calling the new owner by the original owner’s name Bill when his name is actually Charles you may not get served…………..

    ______________________________

    The Speedwell Bar in Dundee is almost universally referred to as “Mennies”. This is despite the Mennie family not being the licensees for twenty years.

    Just shows the public will call things whatever they want regardless of the sign on the door or the name on the title deeds.


  50. M8 Dreamer says:
    As a supporter of one of Scotland’s “Diddy” teams, I have no feelings for Sevco/The Rangers/Whatever they are called other than utter contempt, due to the various reasons that have previously been mentioned by so many.
    It would appear that the football authorities in Scotland are doing everything in their power and beyond, with the “rules” of each organisation just being ignored to ensure that Sevco/The Rangers are allowed to continue in Scottish Football with the minimum of punishments being issued to date.
    This situation has proved beyond doubt that the football authorities in Scotland are not fit or purpose and are incapable of simply applying their “rules” when it involves Sevco/The Rangers who must be preserved at all costs.
    No other football club in Scotland would be treated in this manner, if similar circumstances had occurred.
    The full extent of the corruption within Scottish Football may never be known, but it is imperative that all efforts are made to ensure that everyone who has been involved in this “cover up” is punished accordingly.
    Is it too much to ask that the “rules” of each organisation within Scottish Football are adhered to for all clubs without exception, to ensure that the sport that we all love can continue “with integrity”. for the future.


  51. Good to see the blog becoming more like rtc lots of detail, great posts and great discussion, what’s not great is my feeling its all going to happen again and we are about to be sh@ on again from a great height.


  52. we would not be surprised if

    Ticketus are pulling the strings or at least one of their tenticle companies

    SPL and SFA bulldoze league reconstruction at the end of this season to get newco into div 1 at worst. That will suit newco because of the european requirements for a new club.

    somehow aly fails to win div 3.


  53. Far Away Arab says:
    August 23, 2012 at 04:28
    2 0 Rate This
    If my pubs name is still the same for over a 100 years and has went bust, plenty different owners and hey, still the same name over the door, it’s not called a Newco !
    _____________________________________________________________________

    Nice one, you’ve just shown why Ibrox (as long as it remains standing) will always be known as Ibrox. Oldco, just as the owners of your fictional pub may well have done, have gone bust, and the new owners of Ibrox, just like the new owners your fictional pub, are new too. Hope that helps you understand the difference between an owner and a building!

    **************

    But the licence name will be different to indicate the new owner – and if you keep tryign to order by calling the new owner by the original owner’s name Bill when his name is actually Charles you may not get served…………..

    ______________________________

    The Speedwell Bar in Dundee is almost universally referred to as “Mennies”. This is despite the Mennie family not being the licensees for twenty years.

    Just shows the public will call things whatever they want regardless of the sign on the door or the name on the title deeds.
    —————————————————

    The problem is not how the club is referred to. I still call a 10p coin a two bob bit but that doesn’t change the fact that it is a decimal coin. It just demonstrates that I’m a stubborn old fart. The problem is that a new entity is claiming the old clubs heritage which it has no entitlement to do.


  54. If Corsica is watching, any further update on the investigation into the charity match?


  55. @The Invisible Line: Thanks for the response, a long way to go still.


  56. So, assuming they want 2 leagues with 16 teams, and a bottom league of 10 teams…

    That would mean 4 teams would be promoted from the first division with no relegation, or 5 teams, plus one going down.
    The remaining SFL1 teams would then join up with the SFL2 teams in an ‘SPL2’
    The only way for the SevcoFranchise to get into ‘SPL2’ would be as champions, replacing last place in the SFL2.

    However, last time there was league reconstruction, wasn’t there no relegation? Why would that be different this time around? Is there anything in the SFA rulebook which dictates what should happen?

    Once again, to many ifs buts and maybes…


  57. Yes, interesting posts in the past day (less so the previous). Fascinating that two recent posts refer to articles posted on green and blue sites. They were insightful in each their own way.
    Good reading for us students of the case. Bravo.


  58. So we now find ourselves in the situation whereby the only way that any proposal for (much needed) league reconstruction can be seen to be credible is by excluding the main governing body from the process.

    Shame on you, SFA.


  59. stevensanph says:
    August 23, 2012 at 08:51

    Is there anything in the SFA rulebook?

    ———————————————–

    Fixed that for you 😀


  60. miki67 says:
    August 23, 2012 at 00:53

    The tax man cometh? I wonder. There was a mad statistic bandied about on Newsnight (if my memory is right..) that stated the amount of backlogged cases for HMRC to deal with would take, with present staff levels, 30 years to clear.
    ———————————————–

    Miki67: The backlog won’t affect HMRC investigations. The tax tribunal system was introduced in 2009 and as you rightly say, it is well and truly clogged up. The number of cases awaiting a tribunal hearing increased by a third between 2010 and 2011, from 16,700 in 2010 to 22,100 at the end of last year. These cases however relate to disputes between HMRC and taxpayers and not investigations which are pending or underway.

    The numbers awaiting hearing are large but many of them are piggy-backed with other cases and HMRC are also launching a mediation service to hopefully settle appeals with recourse to the FTT(T).


  61. If Stockbridge was speaking to prospective buyers whilst up in Bearsden, representing Ticketus then would he not be known to TBKs ?

    TBKs were in negotiations with Ticketus at one stage.
    If Stockbridge was directly involved then would his subsequent involvment as director of Rangers not have alerted many people with an interest to make this known ?


  62. My comment above at 9.26 was directed to Johnboy at 00:09 last night.


  63. Kilgore Trout says:
    August 23, 2012 at 08:58
    2 0 Rate This
    So we now find ourselves in the situation whereby the only way that any proposal for (much needed) league reconstruction can be seen to be credible is by excluding the main governing body from the process.

    Shame on you, SFA.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Agreed, shame on them

    However, you wouldn’t want to include a body that put a motion of no confidence in you at the same meeting where the Grand Corruption was rejected; the motion was deemed “inappropriate” by Jim Ballantyne.

    Not heard any further SFL meetings being planned, and wondering just when it will be deemed appropriate to put that motion forward again; or is this yet another issue to be kicked into the long grass ?


  64. Brian Stockbridge of Zeus Capital………….same Brian Stockbridge that used to work for Grant Thornton? They had something to do with RFC (IA) did they not???


  65. On the fence at 09.27:

    Has anyone asked Paul Murray, Bill Ng or Bill Miller?
    The fact is that Stockbridge was so settled in Bearsden by March 5 that he registered his own company to that address and changed his FSA registration.
    Is there another explanation?


  66. I think league reconstruction is more likely to propose 3 leagues of 14 teams as that fits nicely into 42 clubs although it requires a much-criticized top & bottom split in each division. A 16 team SPL would leave 26 clubs below which could then form another 16 + 10 split or a 14 + 12 but of course 16 teams division means a big reduction in fixture numbers from 38 currently to only 30 unless you introduce some kind of end of season play-off to boost fixture numbers?

    It will e interesting to see what is proposed and also how future voting and financial distribution is to be structured.

    To be honest i don’t expect anything more than a botch job to patch up the current failings within the system. I don’t expect radical change like equal voting, democratic majorities ie no veto-blocks, more equal financial distribution or an investigation or study into the benefits/pitfalls of some kind of revenue sharing to redress the massive financial imbalances that have been created over the last 25 years. I also would like to see but don’t expect very stringent financial rules that prevent clubs from getting into financial trouble not ones that simply threaten to punish or react after the event ie once it’s already too late.

Comments are closed.