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!
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/booing-of-ian-black-condemned-while-scan-raises-allan-mcgregor-injury-worry-1-2472241
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/ally-mccoist-keen-to-add-more-fresh-faces-at-rangers-1-2473290
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/rapid-vienna-say-they-have-still-not-been-paid-by-rangers-for-nikica-jelavic-1-2470207
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/reasons-for-discord-strike-a-hollow-note.18611703
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/crowd-was-fifth-worst-since-1902-x.18610773
Just to clarify Chuckie’s position: Monies owed to Dundee Utd is eveything to to with oldco Monies owed from Everton is due to newco Hypocritic,and they should never have been allowed the word ‘rangers’ anywhere near their name,as this was what the cabal planned New ‘rangers’ if everton or anyone else owes them , Old RANGERS if they owe anyone from football clubs to people with shops or small business. Our SFA is a national embarrasment and a disgrace for allowing this to continue.
CE – what is to stop me opening up a shop called Woolworths and asking anyone who owed money to Woolworths to pay me – and anyone who was owed money from Woolworths to sod off because it is not me?
Would this not be legal? Then why is T’Rangers allowed to continue this charade?
Might be interesting if FIFA hammer the SFA for transferring Corpse FC’s SFA membership while it still owed a seven-figure sum to Rapid Vienna.
I still have an uneasy feeling on who these players are registered to.
Something is not right.
Given that the SFA could not have registered the players in time for Brechin – Sevco were conditional for a week, I still think that there were some shenanigans going on for the player registrations for that match.
Given that Sevco don’t have a bank account (all cash) are they paying Elbows 15K a week in cash in a wee brown envelope(minuse NI/PAYE of course!!)?
Given that Helsingsborg said the following
HIF sporting director Jesper Jansson said: “We saw an opportunity in that Rangers have gone bankrupt, so are therefore able to sign Alejandro on a short-term contract
…if he had TUPE’d over why was Rangers NIL presenting them with an opportunity to get him for nothing on a short term contract?
Given that Swally says the following in the mornign papers (thanks Stunny!)
McCoist, whose team host East Stirlingshire in their first Irn-Bru Third Division home game at Ibrox tomorrow, added: “We don’t want anyone to leave but I have asked them if they are going to, to let me know as soon as possible. That would be a better situation.”
how can players leave when they feel like it if they are contracted……
Something does not seem right here!!!!
Can someone please ask the following and get an answer:
(1) Who is Lee McCulloch registered at SFA to play for?
(2) If T’Rangers, then on what date was he resigistered?
(3) Based on answers above, has he been eligible to play in all of T’Rangers games this year?
(4) If Bocanegra moves to another club, if he has been registered for Rangers NIL and T’Rangers this season, can he be registered to a 3rd club in the same season?
The trousers down scenario will also come to pass when other clubs demand similar treatment for similar rule breaking.
I am assuming that BDO when appointed will follow the money so to speak.
Will they also assess the conditions under which the assets of RFC (IA) were sold? Could this include an assessment over any guarantees provided to CG / Sevco from the SFA that could come into conflict with the laws of liquidation e.g. we will recognise the name Rangers, history etc. so that a fan base and following can be maintained.
To what extent can BDO look into the relationship between the SFA and Sevco?
BRTH, Brilliant,as usual,I’m sure I read an article by Gregory Ioannidis that stated that Sevco did not have to accept Any punishment at all. They could tell the SFA anything they wanted to hear,but could then renage.The law as it stands says that Sevco can not be held to account for any punishment due to Rangers (IA),no matter what was agreed to gain admission to the SFL.
As we all know Yorkie has no problem going to the courts( against the Fifa rules).
Just wondering if the SFA have now found out they have painted themselves into a corner. That could be one of the reasons that they seem incapable of controlling the situation.
I also think that if Regan gets a chance he will bury Sevco, Yorkie and Campbell Ogilvie,with extreme pleasure.
From a quick scan of the papers it looks like the baton picked up by TSFM in its latest article has been dropped like a hot potato. Maybe they are waiting till the weekend editions?
ExiledCelt says:
August 17, 2012 at 05:36
IMO the fans forcing their clubs to refuse 2012 fc into SPL/DIV1 ,presented the SFA/2012 fc with a problem they did not foresee .
If the SFA had got their way 2012 fc would not have had to play a game before the name change ruse and being caught off guard the made came up with some pathetic plan to allow 2012 fc play under some temporary name (another sorry episode in this farce IMO ).
Another thing if TRFC did not begin life till after the Brechin tie how can they play in the next round ,they did not win the Brechin tie as the did not exist at that time .
IMO when you lie about something ,you have too keep lying to cover the lie up
When you cheat you have to keep cheating to cover that cheating .
Jonny – agree with you 100%. The largest indictment on the folks running this scam was their inability to plan thoroughly and be reactive rather than proactive – especially when Plan A was scuppered. Plan B’s were hurriedly ushered in with little planning.
So when ND and CG were under the illusion they could stay in SPL until the name change occurred, all would be well. Cue us bambots. Then get into SFL1 – cue SFL chairman and the bambot army. Every little plan they had went awry with no Plan B.
Now they (ND/SR) keep quiet because they know any utterance will be quickly picked up on – so like a little kid caught stealing biscuits, they are sitting with a petted lip. CG meanwhile is a man possessed – he was promised to get some sweeties from the leaders of the gang and got a sour apple instead. He is now ranting and raving at his former conspir@tors
Only thing that really is pathetic is the contempt they held us (their customers) in. Did they really think we would have this charade rammed down our throats? Did we endure 20 years of triumphalism only to find out that the cheating was not only systematic, but probably condoned at a high level (to be determined how high) – and yet accept it as one of those things and move on….? Surely they thought better of us than that……….
And yet – they did not!
As well as the issues directly relating to Dundee United’s £30,000, analysed in detail in the linked piece, the statements emanating from the Rangers FC regarding the matter contain some interesting comments, perhaps indicating that Mr Green is not entirely sure of his ground.
First of all, if Mr Green believed that the Rangers FC no longer owe any Scottish clubs a penny, as he stated, then he needs to be educated as to what “debt” actually is. It would be strange for a businessman to have attained the heights and successes he has if not aware of that!
In addition, one of the arguments for the continuity of Rangers is that, whilst the companies which from time to time own the club might change, then club itself goes on forever. Therefore the administration and liquidation of the former owner has no bearing on the continuity of the club. By that analysis therefore, it was not “Rangers” which went into administration, but simply the corporate owner.
Would it surprise fans of the Ibrox team to see Mr Green now admitting that it was the club, and not the company, which went into administration?
Finally turning to the SPL prize money issue, there are lots of interesting legalities regarding waivers, title and gratuitous alienation which I will look at in detail in a soon to arrive post re what BDO might and can do as liquidators. For now there is the possibility that (a) ambiguous legal drafting has caused this mess (b) that newco might have acted, with authority from Duff and Phelps, to the prejudice of oldco’s creditors or (c) some other possibility has resulted in this mess. (I suspect Douglas Adams’ Infinite Improbability Drive is generating the continuing events in this story!)
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/the-rangers-fc-v-the-spl-and-dundee-utd-the-plot-thickens/
Notice that Sir Coisty. without a word of apology to Dundee United or anyone else owed money by Terminally Ill FC, is eagerly seeking new player signings.
But he wants the ‘punishment’ to stop?
It’s uninventable, so it is.
A wee true story…. A few days ago my sister was in Helensburgh railway station, in front of her was Sir Wattie of Cardigan, he was all jovial as all the Chick Young impersonators fawned over him, “how’s the family Walter” “good to see you” etc..all very pleasant, he was a charming, smiling man with his “people”. Then one wee guy cheekily asked “Wattie, have you paid back your EBT?” Suddenly the “smiling face” changed to an angry scowl as he walked away, leaving “his peepil” to round on the wee guy with profanities.
My Point? This is how they deal with “awkward” questions, act all hurt and circle the wagons, ignoring everything.
By the way my sister always had a good word to say about Walter, “as he seemed so pleasant” but even she was surprised to see how quickly his face changed when asked a silly, cheeky question.
stunney @07.38,
stunney,where can i buy a copy of your dictionary,i like it a lot more than the one i use.
Auldheid says:
August 17, 2012 at 00:26
35 0 Rate This
BRTH
There are really serious mistakes being made by the SFA
When Speirs says that in any other FA Regan would have been sacked and yet there is no demand from the clubs for his removal it tells you they all buy into the core belief that without Rangers Scottish football is doomed.
……….
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Auldheid, on that specific point; at least the SFL clubs wanted a vote of no confidence in Regan, in the meeting to vote on Sevco, and it was Jim Ballantyne who stepped in, advising he thought it was not appropriate at that time (or words to that effect).
I wonder what will happen at the next SFL meeting ? Not sure when that is planned for, but would be interested if the Regan no confidence vote is brought up then. On the SFL website, I can’t see any schedule for further meetings, and the only press release following that meeting is the infamous “5-way” agreement.
Wondering if the no confidence vote will follow the path of so many other issues with Sevco, and be kicked into the long grass.
Question for those with more knowledge – if the 5 way agreement (as yet unpublished) contains the agreement to pay all Scottish debts by T’Rangers and has been broken by said party, then the agreement as such is broken.
Given that T’Rangers has SFA membership transferred which perhaps now cannot be undone without a fight (hence CG’s brazen GIRUP) – can the SFA not have the guts to then say, fine, unless you keep to the agreement and pay off the debts as agreed, then the transfer embargo is not being enforced as agreed and we will then go to the AT for membership suspension as the desired punishment……..
If the agreement is broken, it is broken…………….
A week ago we had stories of Sports Direct and money coming in of 10 million quid….
Has it happened yet? Scanning the MSM stories not much mention of it…………
Scanning also for the following stories
(1) Ibrox renaming – Aer Lingus Park perhaps?
(2) Murray Park renaming results – Moses or Davie Cooper – anyone buying a ST can vote!
(3) Share issue details
(4) Latest player targets
(5) Season tickets over the 50,000 mark
(6) Having beam back games
(7) John Brown finding the deid deeds
(8) T’Rangers winning the quadruplethis year
(9) Hover pitches and casinos
(10) Living within your means
Apologies that last one is never in any MSM paper as no one is ever interested in such a bizarre story – sorry – how stupid am I!
Excellent post BRTH, cheered me up no end as I sit in my car in the pi££ing rain of the late summer Macsoon season.
Gene Rodenberry, creator or Star Trek, I’m sure would agree with your metaphor drawn between Kahn and the TRFC ltd saga, essentially: Rodenberry’s view that in the future mankind will divest itself of fixed and divisive belief systems that generate conflict and unrest and that the needs of the collective outweigh the needs of the few or the one!
In our local drama, the needs of the collective have prevailed: the rules have been applied (despite attempts to subvert and avoid) with pressure from the many, armageddon has been avoided and football goes on – lets see if the lessons about playing by the rules and respect for the collective interest has been learned.
BRTH : I have been, and always will be, your friend….
I was glad to read one of the headlines supplied by Stunney that the crowd at Easter Road was embarrassingly low, indeed the 5th lowest for over 110 years.
I decided with a couple of others not to buy a ticket after the way the SFA had acted (we would certainly have been there otherwise). It would be wrong to suggest that the low crowd was entirely down to people taking a stance for these reasons as there could have been less Sevco fans attending than usual due to their strange notion that the SFA is out to get them and also people could be scunnered by Levien’s negative approach.
I hope the likes of John Yorkston, Turnbull Hutton and the others still are planning some kind of action about the position of the SFA, it would be a sad day if this was allowed to pass without another attempt at revolution after the first one was slapped down by Ballantyne.
2 things – hopefully discussion now moves on and this BRTH effort would make an excellent op-ed in any decent newspaper – any takers, any decent newspapers?
ExiledCelt says:
August 17, 2012 at 08:21
===================
The basis for any agreement/contract is Consensus Ad Idem. There is clearly no meeting of minds in this agreement.
Green has one opinion of what the terms of the agreement are and the SFA/SPL another.
Can this agreement be rendered invalid because of this or would other failures to meet the agreed terms be required?
Brilliant post as I already said BRTH and like all your work incredibly witty, but why is everything going so slowly? And while all things ‘legal’ are dragging their feet sevco fc are riding roughshod over every rule available and no-one seems to know what do! Have East Fife been paid? Have green and Sally answered their charges? Could the SFA take the licence back? Who is actually in charge of player registrations at the SFA? So many questions 🙁
Oh wait do I hear rumblings from Hampden.
No it was just the sound of a brush sweeping a carpet being lifted and the toilet flushing
Brenda – is it not ironic that we mere simpletons have so many questions that we would like to ask if given half a chance – yet so few are being asked by the journos who do have the chance? Even when a tough question is asked, there is no follow up to ensure there is a proper answer.
A beautifully constructed counterblast to those who seek to dispence with the rules, the obligations and integrity. Scottish football is better than this in what Rangers and the SFA now wish to seek.
The Invisible Line @ 09:40am
Exactly no doubt some decent journos are asking questions but are being met by silence from the powers that be! I think they are scared to answer any questions at all because there are so many lies and cover-ups that one careless word and BOOM it will all be revealed and they will have nowhere to hide ……… On the down side I don’t expect that to be any time soon….unfortunately, meanwhile we have to listen to the drivel the msm spout everyday and the severe untruths charlie boy dreams up on a regular basis 🙂
BRTH
I doubt very much if Charles Green will learn the lessons of SDM , as he strikes me as a thick skinned ‘let’s do a deal’ type of guy, with a trail of failed directorships behind him. The trick for these guys is to do their deals with other people’s money, and never look back.
A future article for TSFM …. A profile of the aforementioned CG would be an interesting read.
The lack of communication and clarity provided by the SFA on all matters Servco has been truly alarming and just demonstrates their contempt for the paying customer …… Their is a leadership void at the top of the game, with Regan receiving death threats , Ogilvy permanently conflicted, Doncaster well just being Doncaster ……… Green’s public utterances are filling this void , albeit they are designed to engender a seize mentality and sell some season tickets.
The SFA and SPL need to step up to the plate, the big decision has to yet to come in terms what is the suitable punishment for dual contracts …. The SFA appear to have already made their position clear in that R&ngers must stay with all their previous baggage , against that mood music the Independent panel will be slapping wrists only ……… what can the ordinary punter do?
Do not buy tickets for Ipox and boycott Scotland games , it is the only power we have.
More uber menschen propoganda from the Red Tops……………
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-set-to-shatter-fourth-tier-1265251
RANGERS are set to smash the world attendance record for a fourth-tier league match when they host East Stirling tomorrow.
The Ibrox side are confident of pulling in more than 40,000 punters for their first home Third Division fixture – which would shatter the previous highest for a fourth-tier game set by Crystal Palace in 1961.
A crowd of 37,774 watched their English Fourth Division clash with London rivals Millwall but that is expected to be dwarfed by Gers fans heading to Govan for the historic occasion.
A crowd that could be in the mid-to-high 40,000s is already being anticipated by Rangers.
And the final figure could present an embarrassment for the SPL whose combined attendance for last weekend’s five-game fixture card was 40,383.
The Ibrox club are bracing themselves for a bumper crowd and a spokesman said: “We will comfortably get past the 40,000 mark and the attendance could be in the mid-to-high 40,000s.”
Ally McCoist’s side have already smashed the 30,000 season-ticket barrier and are also threatening to better the world record attendance for a third-tier match.
That feat was achieved in 1979 as 49,655 fans turned up to watch a derby game between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.
Punters have been queueing at the Ibrox ticket office all week and an afternoon of history against the Shire is on the cards both on and off the park.
SFL chief David Longmuir believes the prospect of Rangers breaking the world record underlines the power of football in Scotland.
He said: “It shows the appetite for the game remains strong and it would be a remarkable achievement. We’re also delighted to see East Stirling share the occasion and play their own part at Ibrox on Saturday
The SFA will never change unless the clubs force them to.
john clarke says:
August 17, 2012 at 00:20
The first and most powerful reason is rooted in the deeper fear of a particular ( happily ever-decreasing) constituency of anti-c..holic, anti- Irish ( i.e. ‘southern’ Irish) Scots/ Scotch- Irish: the fear that their much-vaunted ‘asc..dancy’ is coming to an end.
An ‘asc..dancy’ of which Glasgow Rangers was the icon, before which men and women of all classes in that constituency bowed in visceral homage, and without which their lives are bereft of meaning and purpose.
The possibility of the destruction of that icon could not be, cannot be, entertained by such men and women.
And so, at the instance of extreme b**ots who are long practiced in behind-the-scenes deceit and the use of ‘influence’, the SFA was made to suborn itself, prostitute its integrity for fear of losing the whoremonger’s shilling, and pretend at the last to be an honest woman trying to do the right thing while still being shafted by the whoremonger.
Of course, when I speak of ‘the SFA’, I do not include that whole body of super people who actually bust a gut to keep Scottish Football alive on the ground, but only some of those few who are charged with senior executive duties and policy-making.
John, a serious and challenging post that has elicited little response – I wonder if people are backing off dangerous territory? You aren’t the first one to speak from this position (previously on RTC) and like others I just don’t get it (it’s a fact – my life experience hasn’t exposed me to the kind of events that have informed your beliefs, life-view and opinions ). I’ve no doubt that there is an element, a sizeable vocal minority, of those who’ve followed Rangers and transferred allegiance to the new club who espouse the views and attitudes you describe. However, it’s my belief that the recent WATP culture is much more aligned with David Murray’s Gordon Gecko persona and the arrogant triumphalism/righteous expectation of success that comes from being able to outspend all his local competitors. The behaviours of the Scottish Media and football officials have surely been influenced by Murray and his inti-midatory bullying style but I think he was about winning , not just beating or fixing the game to the detriment of a club in the East End which counts followers with Irish heritage among its support.
Next up – how the SFA, CG & Traynor plan is actually to assimilate everyone into the Scottish Fitba Sub-Division of the Borg.
Resistance Is Futile.
🙂
Excellent post BRTH, it seems that Hughie and his entourage were prepared to say/do almost anything to gain entry to the SFA, now it has been rubber stamped, it appears all bets are off or at least in dispute. I was under the impression that the SFA had a plethora of legal types at the talks and it would be reasonable to assume that such an eventuality would have been anticipated and legislated against
I enjoyed your blog BRTH and it is clear that if Scottish football is to have its perestroika, it must be preceded by glasnost to achieve its aim.
Blu @ 10.20 am. If you really want to know what John meant why dont you spend the day on Rangers media, Follow follow,The bears den. That’s the legacy from Struth not Murray,he did not give a toss about it.He was and is all about manipulation.He just carried on spreading the Message for MONEY,and his Ego.His legacy has brought Scottish Football almost to it’s knees,but it will not die as long as there are blogs like this one,and posters like BRTH,who is Not alone, who CARE about the future of our game.Make no mistake, it is OUR GAME,not Sevco’s and we will not stand idly bye and watch Chancers and Feckin’Snake Oil Salesmen destroy it.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/opinion/spiers-on-sport-charles-greens-challenge.2012084671
“All paranoia aside, and speaking personally, I can’t help but like and admire Charles Green.”
G. Speirs 17/8/12
So Mr Speirs, are you honestly saying that Mr Green is a likeable chap even though, in your own words, he “has made a couple of preposterous claims”.
You call his strategy “populism”.
I call it an irresponsible play on the old sectarian divides that have been nothing but a blight on Scottish society for over a century.
There is nothing to like or admire about Mr Green’s antics re. bogitry.
How long will it take before someone gets hurt due to the ‘seige mentality’ that Mr Speirs thinks is such a clever strategy?
Mr Speirs has in the past been up front in condemning such behaviour. So why is he now applauding someone who is stoking up the fires in order to turn a bit of profit?
This is a shameful article that will forever be a disgrace to him.
Timalloy August 17, 2012 at 08:04 –
I think it may have been posted on RTC in the past, but Walter’s scowl and ire is clear to see on this YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG27qGTMXa4
It’s even more entertaining because it’s Chick Young on the receiving end.
Although to be fair to Chick, in this instance anyway, he was actually asking a half-decent, probing question.
Maybe this set the terms for Chick’s banal, sycophantic questions thereafter – don’t bite the hand that feeds you, or else you’re out of here.
The only way that change will occur is if you hurt them in the pocket.
Dont buy the DR don’t click on their website
Dont buy the herald don’t click on their website
Don’t buy the sunday herald don’t click on their website
DonT buy the SOS don’t click on their website
Don’t buy the Sunday mail or post don’t click on their websites
Don’t go to Scotland fixtures- much as it grieves- or buy the replica tops.
Don’t support the sponsors
Don’t pay your BBC license fee
Follow the above and change will occur PDQ
Tic 6709 says:
August 17, 2012 at 10:33
====================================================
Tic – thanks for responding. I’m well aware of the poison that is spouted on the sites you reference. I replied to John’s post because I respect his opinions and believed that the weighty matters raised by him merited a response. It isn’t that I don’t believe him, of course I do, it is that without having lived it, I can’t really ever ‘get it’. It’s a subject I’m interested in but maybe better discussed elsewhere, so I apologise for raising and re-raising it.
I believe that the focus of the article from BRTH is where energies should be applied and why I previously suggested it would be an excellent op-ed if any newspaper editor were brave enough to take it on.
Auldheid says:
August 17, 2012 at 01:32
Thomas
I have a lot of time for Regan, he revamped the corrupt disciplinary process to make it harder to manipulate. It is no concidence that last season Rangers were found guilty of on field misdemeanours than any season previous. The system stopped it being manipulated.
=====================================================================
Auldheid, the disciplinary system has not changed, Vincent Lunny now decides if and when their is a case to answer.
As for Regan this is someone who, by their own admission via email, set out to do “the best for Scottish football”, no matter the consequences and the rule breaking required.
Stewart Regan is, along with Neil Doncaster, the reason I have no Season Ticket this year.
Let me however not admonish the members of both the SPL & SFA boards in the destruction of Scottish football, it could not have been done without their knowledge.
Paul McConville’s blog / role of CG in RFC(IL)
Paul’s recent blog (again very informative and thought provoking) raised the potential role of CG as acting on behalf of RFC(IL) in the five way agreement.
The very idea of him acting in any way on behalf of RFC(IL) has always been ridiculous, as it would inevitably lead to a conflict of interest. In the case of the five way agreement on the rights to player income, SFA / SPL income and the responsibilities for football debts, CG couldn’t possibly act for both in good faith. Did the SFA allow this? If so, on what grounds? Didn’t they foresee any such problems? We need to see the agreement.
Looking to the longer term, why did any other Sevco investors allow him to take on this role? Surely it risks them / him being classed as shadow directors by the liquidators. Did D&P have the legal authority to allow CG to act on their behalf? What if they didn’t agree with anything he did/said? What recourse would they have? Did anyone at the SFA/SPL or msm not think to ask any of this?
Assuming there is no underlying deception involved,( who am I to cast such aspertions), the only benefit of CG having these conflicting but joint roles is to facilitate the lack of differentiation between oldco and newco. However it was always going to be the case that at some time, for some reasons, it is in newco’s interests to be separate from oldco, as they are now claiming (sometimes).
Another fine mess.
At least we have somekthing to look forward to today….the responses from the Gruesome Twosome……as a reminder….
The Scottish FA has served a notice of complaint on Rangers manager Ally McCoist and chief executive Charles Green.
McCoist had called for the three-man Scottish FA judiciary panel who punished the club to be named.
And Green claimed bigotry was among the motives for punishing the club for the misdemeanours of the old company.
McCoist & Green have until 17 August to respond, with a hearing set for 13 days later.
At least we have somekthing to look forward to today….the responses from the Gruesome Twosome……as a reminder….
The Scottish FA has served a notice of complaint on Rangers manager Ally McCoist and chief executive Charles Green.
McCoist had called for the three-man Scottish FA judiciary panel who punished the club to be named.
And Green claimed big@try was among the motives for punishing the club for the misdemeanours of the old company.
McCoist & Green have until 17 August to respond, with a hearing set for 13 days later
Another way to deal with the pseudojournalists such as those who write for The Herald (but please, not the DR!) would be to invite one of them to write an indepth piece outlining their reasons for their believes, BRTH style. They could not hide then behind the fact that their newspaper articles are limited by available space, nor could they claim that this blog is only interested in the anti ‘Rangers’ opinions. There is too much agreement on this site! We need ‘The Others’ to react against. Too much agreement soon becomes as boring as obsessive rumination on trivia, pedantry and inconstant rule books! Such a contribution would then be open to scrutiny and I hope intelligent reply (but not simply abuse as sometimes happens, I am sad to say). Failure of the invited pseudojournalist to take up the invitation could be widely exposed.
I feel dirty , I have been on FF again and was daft enough to click on Bill McMurdos blog.
I’ll just quote the ending
When 300,000 Rangers supporters travelled south for a game of football in 2008, I am sure it sent chills of fear down the backs of those opposed to Rangers’ Unionist ethos. If such vast numbers can be mobilised for one game of football, what else can they be mobilised for?
If haters of Rangers keep pushing the club and its fans, they will find out.
Naked threats ,dog whistle politics and incitement to riot should they be treated in accordance with the rule book . This is their base line ,bullying ,but behind every bully is a coward and its time these cowards are brought to book for their words . McMurdo is a coward hiding behind 300 000 sheep threatening to bring mayhem to our society and he is not alone . McCoist Jardine Green and countless others are using the threat of violence and disorder to get their own way . The bending of the rules by Blazer and Blazers has empowered these thugs into believing they are once again back in control ,and you know,they’re right .
It was the cowardly non action of our authorities to deal with this situation appropriately that has made the thugs grow in stature and belief in their own supremacy .
Its time to get tough or roll over and die ,fence sitting doesnt work with these people
the answer is very simple -just apply the rules without fear or favour or resign
the choice is yours Mr Regan
Have emailed East Fife asking if they can give any information on when/if the gate receipts from the recent game have been paid.
Have received an acknowledgement to my email, will post any response but don’t hold your breath.
BBC have dropped the ‘the’ on the league table. They have now completed the transformation back to being ‘Rangers’
blu @ 11.27 am. I’ll try again,the last post vanished like Yorkie’s integrity. No problem blu,we are not on here to agree with a single viewpoint,disagreement is necessary for finding the way forward. Good luck.
Zilch at 10:57
Graham Spiers has stated a lot of things that can’t help but irritate.
Memorable Spiers type sentiments have included, I paraphrase
‘ Do you know I think this CVA option could really work’
‘He is a guy I like very much,a good guy’ in ref. to McCoist
The point I make is that perhaps Mr Spiers has spent too much time attempting to peddle his journalistic wares around the U.S where this sort of psycophancy is encouraged.I can just see people of a W.A.S.P ish persuasion saying during the U.S masters.’Well you know Woods may be from the wrong side of the tracks,if you get my drift, but ,hey,he’s a heck of a golfer and I really like him!’
As Mr Cosgrove suggested on Off the Ball ,Mr Spiers is a bit of a media whore.
He is not John Rafferty that is for sure!
timtim @ 12.02pm. tim, Is that the football agent ?.
Tic 6709 says:
August 17, 2012 at 12:18
========================================
Again, thanks. TimTim’s tale of the creep McMurdo’s got me wondering at my stance though. There’s no doubt that his bogitry well pre-dates Murray. I haven’t heard anything from or about him in a while and sort of hoped that he’d ‘retired’.
from Torquemada on KDS
“I’m not a great one for rumours but there is one floating around that evidence is about to emerge about Mr Charles Green having been employed and funded by TicketUs to run the **** and recoup their lunatic investment.”
Tic6709.
Its mcmurdos son who writes the blog.
rab , Thanks rab,how are the names coming along?
Why on earth would East Fife reply to some random email asking if they’ve been paid? I wonder what goes on in people’s minds at times.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/video/2012/aug/14/carl-bernstein-video-full-version
An interesting interview re state of MSM with Carl Bernstein. In it he states:
“the most dangerous factor is a citizenry that’s become inured to truth, that’s become so polarised that it is unwilling of desiring truth but rather believes it already knows the truth, and doesn’t look for the information available.”
The most obvious way for us to change this wilful blindness is with keyboard and contacts.
BRTHs outstanding analysis expaining what’s happened and where we are, should be emailed by everyone to everyone connected to football/politics in Scotland. Volume itself may encourage reading by some.
TSFM.
Is there the possibility that the contact information for all clubs can be posted on the about page, also all the governing bodies, and all major newspapers and media outlets and tv news departments. Once we have all the contacts in one place i would suggest that everyone on this blog, individual club blogs and supporters trusts could have an agreement in place to bombard all the aforementioned groups on a set day and at a set time with emails, letters and phone calls, rather than a dribs and drabs scenario. If everyone forwarded BRTH’s excellent post tomorrow at 12:30 ( or an agreed timescale ) then it would receive the recognition it deserved, promote the blog, raise awareness of the true situation and may just be picked up by uefa/fifa or a news agency.
Is it worth a shot.
TU if you would support such an initiative.
@HenryClarson: Scottish Football Association: The Rangers Football Club Already Making Trouble | Bleacher Report http://t.co/Vfp2Q1I0 via @bleacherreport
Smallteaser
I think that if were to compare the old system with no set timeframes with no one named for identifying incidents missed by a referee with the new you will find it has changed.
I think you will also find that the club who have complained most about the changes are the same club who had McGregor, Naismith and Aluko charged under the changed process,something they were not used to under the old.
The Compliance Officer has a role to fulfill,the competences and experience for that role were advertised.
If you are suggesting the incumbent is biased in any way the facts do not bear this out.
That McCoist should have been tried before now is due to interference from above,probably Regan who has totally misjudged the situation and will eventually be brought to account but my point stands, the system WAS changed (for the better imo backed by the squeals from Ibrox) and Regan was responsible for making it happen.
JW Hardin.
Snap.
Tic6709.
As you can see, i am now trying to bring everyone together for a concerted effort to bring the rangers argyle scandal to a wider audience, and hopefully this will highlight the differences in the Portsmouth and rangers city administrations. 😀
Not had a chance to read all comments but has anyone suggested we “Set papers to Stun(ney)”
I’ll get my coat
Further on the subject of Spiers,it should also be pointed out that the best pieces of journalism paint a picture which is based on factual analysis, background detail, why,who ,what,where ,and when and some possible conjecture or viewpoint.
It is of no real relevance whether the writer likes the subject.Personally I have no interest whatsoever as to whether Graham Spiers likes anyone.He is a journalist with a little local reputation.who they wheel out on the telly because he can speak in words of more than one syllable.His writing does not send me off quoting his words to others.
The acid test of a good journalist is whether people remember the quality of their writing.You may not like them but you remember the words and themes.
Hugh McIllvanney on the subject of Dennis Law,Jock Stein,Dalglish and so on.
Graham Spiers on ??? I cannot recall any of his writing.I can recall his self proclamations with some disdain.
The Invisible Line says:
August 17, 2012 at 10:01
albeit not a league fixture, League 2 (4th tier EL) League 1 (3rd tier EL)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/6686951.stm
The current record for a fourth tier team is 49,655 fans. Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United derby in 1979
Seems the DR are shamelessly doing *The RFC Sevco’s bidding to increase ticket sales.
Ibrox has a capacity of 51,082 (all seated) Oh! Is the Club Deck still closed?
rantinrobin says:
August 17, 2012 at 12:20
‘psycophancy’ – I love it.
I vote we have a new word to describe the relationship between MSM and Ibrokes
Psychophancy
First time I have come across it – apologies if it has been used previously – credit to RantinRobin.
Nowoldandgrumpy says: August 17, 2012 at 13:10
a brilliant read…..
*for those who cannot access http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1300528-scottish-football-association-the-rangers-football-club-already-making-trouble
Scottish Football Association: The Rangers Football Club Already Making Trouble
“Less than a month into the new Scottish soccer season and the SFA’s newest member club is causing trouble.
Before I go on, you may consider the repeated use of “Rangers Football Club” and “The Rangers Football Club” unnecessary.
This is actually a necessary distinction to make as “Rangers Football Club” is the club formed in 1872, which is no longer a member of the SFA and will soon be liquidated.
“The Rangers FC” is the new name of Sevco Scotland, a consortium fronted by former Sheffield United FC Chief Executive Charles Green, which purchased the assets of Rangers Football Club in June this year.
They are two separate, unrelated legal entities, one of which has purchased the real estate of the other.
A fiction has emerged amongst Rangers supporters that somehow the “club” and the “company” are separate and that The Rangers Football Club Ltd has purchased Rangers Football Club from Rangers plc.
This is emphatically not the case.
There is no legal distinction or difference between the club and the company. They are one and the same.
In 1872, Rangers Football Club was a club. That is, a group of individuals who have come together to form an association with members and are run by a committee.
A club’s members pay an annual subscription, and its members are personally liable for any debts incurred by the club.
Around the turn of the 20th century, most soccer clubs in the UK incorporated, partly to raise funds and partly to protect members from having to pay debts from their own pockets.
Incorporation means that the club sells shares in itself, and the new directors are not personally liable for any debts incurred.
So it was that in 1899 Rangers Football Club incorporated.
Investors bought shares in the club, which changed its legal status from a club to a private company limited by shares.
The new investors owned shares in Rangers Football Club, which was now called Rangers Football Club Ltd, the wording which to this day adorns the gates of Ibrox Stadium.
There was, and is, no separate company and club.
In the early 1980’s, Rangers Football Club Ltd was floated on the stock market.
This involved another change in legal status, from a private limited company to a public limited company.
In the UK, the names of public companies are not allowed to end in “Ltd,” or “Limited,” so Rangers Football Club Ltd became Rangers plc.
As a public company, a controlling interest in Rangers plc could be purchased by anyone with the cash to buy the necessary number of shares and a willing seller.
So it was that in 1988 a controlling interest in Rangers plc was purchased by David Murray and Rangers plc became part of Murray International Holdings.
Then in 2011, Murray’s shares in Rangers plc were purchased by Wavetower, owned by Craig Whyte.
After completing the purchase, Wavetower adopted the name, “The Rangers FC Group Limited.”
Neither of these takeovers required a transfer of Rangers’ membership of the SFA to the new company who had bought Rangers plc.
Charles Green’s Sevco Scotland (now The Rangers Football Club Ltd) consortium did not buy Rangers plc, the legal entity formed in 1872.
They purchased Ibrox Stadium, the Murray Park training complex and a car park.
That is why Rangers’ SFA membership had to be transferred from Rangers Football Club to The Rangers Football Club.
You cannot “transfer” something from yourself to yourself!
The Rangers FC did not qualify for SFA membership as they do not have the three years’ worth of audited accounts required, so in a quirky deal, the SFA agreed to transfer the membership of the now defunct Rangers FC to the company who purchased the assets and business of the old club.
As a condition of transferring the membership, The Rangers FC had to agree to pay all debts owed to Scottish soccer clubs by the now defunct Rangers FC.
This week, following rumblings of discontent over The Rangers FC signing several players beyond the price range of most SPL clubs, Green announced that The Rangers FC has paid all debts owed by the now defunct Rangers FC.
That it seemed, was that.
Until yesterday, when Dundee United FC released a statement that, contrary to Green’s announcement, they have still not received their full share of the gate money for the Scottish Cup tie played at Ibrox in February.
This statement has sparked a great deal of confusion, with Green claiming that the SPL had earlier agreed to pay the money to Dundee United, which the SPL deny.
The dispute hinges on a letter written by the SPL to Rangers FC on May 18, informing Rangers that their prize money from finishing in second place in season 2011-12 would be withheld and distributed to those clubs owed money by the now defunct club.
Green stated:
“A letter from the SPL to the club—dated May 18, 2012—stated: ‘The board decided to accede to the application of Dundee United and accordingly, the sum will be withheld from the next sum payable by the SPL Limited to Rangers and the sum will be paid by the SPL Limited to Dundee United.’ Why the SPL have not paid Dundee United the outstanding sum as previously agreed is a question that they need to answer. We wrote to Dundee Utd on Monday explaining the SPL had previously confirmed they would pay it.”
Not strictly true. On May 18, The Rangers Football Club did not exist.
It was formed on May 29 (as Sevco Scotland) and did not buy the business and assets of Rangers Football Club until June 14.
So the SPL wrote to Rangers Football Club at a time when it was still a member of the SPL and clinging on to life by its fingertips.
Working on the assumption that Rangers Football Club would still be a member of the SPL this season, the SPL agreed that they would withhold prize money from Rangers Football Club and distribute it to its Scottish soccer creditors.
The SPL’s agreement, then, was with Rangers Football Club.
No such agreement was made with The Rangers Football Club, which is a different club, and has no right to the prize money won by Rangers FC last season.
Following protracted negotiations, The Rangers Football Club was granted Rangers FC’s membership of the SPL with several conditions, one of which was that The Rangers Football Club would pay any money owed by Rangers Football Club to other Scottish clubs.
Charles Green and The Rangers Football Club agreed to that condition but are now claiming that they should not have to pay money owed to Dundee United.
The Rangers Football Club appears to be in clear breach of the agreement by which they were granted membership of the SFA.
The SFA must now either act to ensure The Rangers Football Club keeps its agreement to pay Rangers FC’s Scottish soccer debt, or lose control of the situation altogether.
Whether there exists the will within the SFA to do so remains to be seen.
Breaking its own rules to admit The Rangers Football Club is turning out to be a major mistake by the Scottish Football Association. “
exfallhoose says:
August 17, 2012 at 11:48
12 1 i
Rate This
Another way to deal with the pseudojournalists such as those who write for The Herald (but please, not the DR!) would be to invite one of them to write an indepth piece outlining their reasons for their believes, BRTH style.
…
We need ‘The Others’ to react against.
———
Do you think any pseudojournalists would take up this offer, given the assumption that everyone would just throw rotten tomatoes at them?
It has to be said that there is a certain level of closed-mindedness on this – and previous – blogs. It’s hard to keep an open mind when you concentrate on one side of a debate. Some of the ongoing situations surrounding RFC(IA+pretendy) may not be so convolutedly heinous as they’re made out on here.
To get a view from the “other side” would be educational and informative – and it may just give a better insight into the reality of the situation.
However, assuming that such opinion would be reacted against is not a healthy place from which to start.
blu says:
August 17, 2012 at 10:20
‘…John, a serious and challenging post that has elicited little response – I wonder if people are backing off dangerous territory? You aren’t the first one to speak from this position (previously on RTC) and like others I just don’t get it (it’s a fact – my life experience hasn’t exposed me to the kind of events that have informed your beliefs, life-view and opinions )…..’
—-
Thank you, blu, for your polite and considered observations.
I agree with you that the subject of racial/religious discrimination is fraught with difficulties, the chief among them being that all kinds of deep emotion fly to the surface long before rational discussion can begin.
And most of us are uncomfortable at the prospect of causing mindless ill-feeling and strife in our day-to-day relationships, whether family, sporting or other.
And, truth to tell, most of are pretty ignorant of, or ill-taught about, the main thrusts of history, and would find it dificult to re-appraise our understanding of what we may have picked up as ‘historical fact’.
This blog is not the place to explore the course of history, nor am I particularly well-equipped to do so.
I accept, of course, that perhaps the majority of the people of Scotland are long past the stage of being concerned about ‘religion’, and have not any personal experience of it being of serious relevance to their lives or work, for good or ill.
The fact, however, is that many people believe that certain men of great influence in Scottish Football share the visceral hatred of Catholicism/ Irish Catholic stock, and have not been averse to misusing their influence in office to bolster the icon of that hatred by foul means.
And, it seems to me,the failure to date of the SFA properly and openly to abide by their own Articles and Rules in dealing with Rangers lends credence to that belief, given that for many years there was a steady cross-over of personnel between the club and the SFA.
Who can now believe anything that the SFA says?
The Invisible Line says:
August 17, 2012 at 11:44
8 1 i
Rate This (Edit)
At least we have somekthing to look forward to today….the responses from the Gruesome Twosome……as a reminder….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
STV reporting that McCoist has announced he’s going to contest the complaint levied against him on the subject of the naming of panel members. That is the ones which he already knew.
“It wasn’t us it was a big bad boy what did it and ran away”. Is this now the excuse being trundled out by Lord Charles of Sevconia.
Pay up or get out of town would be my message to Sevco/The Rangers if I were the SFA.
The SFA were well warned, but chose to ignore the clamour. It was widely forecast that if the Son of Satan were allowed to rise from the ashes that the supremacist “we are the peepil” attitude would come back stronger and even more vile.
The SFA blazers in my opinion will live to regret their decision.
How long will it be before the Sevconians decide to go to Court to establish that they are a new company with no baggage and should therefore not be punished for the since of Rangers FC (IA)?
Ogilvie is the puppet master and it’s time the strings were cut.
That should be sins of and not since. apologies
Thanks BRTH,
Your posts, both here and on RTC, were among those I looked forward to. I enjoy your grasp of matters, clarity of writing and, indeed, your analogies – I’ll use my own (simpler, sorry) later. I’m not surprised then when your first guest post continues in similar vein.
For me, though, your post shows both the strength and the weakness of this blog (endemic in RTC too, BTW, but it managed to break out). The strength is the ability of contributors to see through the mist of lies for the nuggets that need focussing on; our collective memory and willingness to research; and the constant capturing of the right questions based on putting those first two strengths together.
The weakness remains IMO that we do not have a direct method to publicly ask and have answered those ‘right questions’. I know many of us are looking for the best way to gain this access e.g. Rab above looking for a list of contacts for co-ordinated pressure; someone in the past talking about paying for an onside journalist etc.
Your post reminded me that to obtain the ‘conditional’ (!) license, CG had “agreed to settle all outstanding football debts to other members of the Scottish FA plus clubs under the jurisdiction of other Football Associations” yet the debts to Rapid Vienna et al have not been paid. This is exactly the sort of question we need to have answered by the SFA and it comes in 2 parts –
1) Given that The Rangers hasn’t kept their end of the bargain, will you remove the licence as a result?
2) Why did you allow them the licence to play without making sure that they first met the condition? After all, if I offer my 12-year old £5 to clean his bedroom, he gets it only once the bedroom is tidied to my satisfaction. If I give him it beforehand, he’ll either delay or not do it at all (sound familiar?). If I were that stupid, the fiver would be gone and I couldn’t get it back, but right now, surely the SFA can take back their ‘fiver’ – it would be messy, but…..
I know individually we can e-mail the SFA or the MSM, but experience to date shows that there will be no response, so how do we get the right questions asked? I guess RTC managed to do it by being accurate, factual and consistent so that the Dalys, Thomsons, Cosgroves etc could easily find the things that mattered. TSFM needs to do the same so no more concentration on Ian Black stuff, no more worrying about who might sign next… They’re annoying, but lets really concentrate on what matters.
As a very irregular poster (though avid reader), I’m ready to be shot down (smiley thing)