A Blog by James Forrest for TSFM
I am a socialist, and as a socialist I believe in the fundamental goodness of people. Some people find that hard to believe when they read the stuff I write.
I published my first novel recently, on politics and the corrupting nature of it, and it is a deeply cynical book, a book where no-one has clean hands come the end. What has surprised some of those who’ve read it is that I didn’t focus on the lies and smears of the right, but the hypocrisy and deceit of those who claim to be of the left.
Corruption, you see, doesn’t respect political boundaries or points of view. It’s like rainwater. It finds every crack, and gets in there.
My political beliefs revolve around two apparently paradoxical elements; the belief in the inherent decency of people and the need for a strong, and powerful, state. I believe the second underpins the first, and this brings me into conflict with a lot of people, some on the left and some on the right. Too many people see the state as inherently evil, as something that interferes too much in the lives of ordinary people. As something suffocating.
Yet the state exists to protect us. It exists to provide a safety net. It exists to regulate and to oversee. If the state is made up of bad people, if the gears of society are captured by those with malicious or selfish intent, the results are obvious; war, corruption, chaos.
The vast majority of our problems in the modern age can be neatly summed up in two lines from Yeats’ poem “The Second Coming”, which I used to open my novel. “The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.”
We live in a time when those who are protecting their own interests have assumed such power that they’ve cowed the rest of us. They have become a law unto themselves. They have changed the nature of the game, because they have sapped our will to the extent some barely put up a fight anymore. The weak get weaker, and the strong use their strength to crush the rest even more. It is a vicious struggle, a downward spiral.
Society is held together not only by the endeavour and common interests of its citizens but by a collection of laws. We elect the people who make those laws. They do so in our name, and we can remove that right every four years. That is a powerful thing, and we do not appreciate it enough. The present corruption exists because we allow it to exist.
The people around me continue to puzzle over my uncommon interest in the affairs of a football club on the west of Glasgow. My own club plays in the east end. I tell those who ask that my primary interest in the goings-on at the club calling itself Rangers is no longer about football; how could it be, after all? With promotion this year they are still a full two divisions below us, emasculated, skint, weak and unstable. If we were fortunate enough to draw them in cup competition the match would be over, as a tie, by the halfway point … in the first half.
In footballing terms they are an utter irrelevance.
Rangers is more than a football club to me. They are a symbol. Their unfolding calamity is an on-going outrage. What is happening there, what is being allowed to happen, is an offense to decency. It is a stain on the face of our country.
In short, it is a scandal. It is a scandal without parallel in sport.
Yet it’s not just a sports story either. If it was, I might not be so focussed on it. What is happening at Rangers is a colossal failure of governance. It is a damning indictment against the very people who are supposed to oversee our game. It is a disgraceful abrogation of responsibility from those at the top, those who claim to be “running things.”
If this is not a failure of governance it is a result of corruption at the heart of our national sport. It says they are bought and paid for, and I will say no such thing here.
So let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. We’ll say instead that what they are is weak, indecisive, inept and disconnected from reality.
It reminds me of our political class, which has become insular and ignorant about what the public wants, and what it needs. It’s not a wonder parties like UKIP can achieve national vote shares of 25% at local elections. Nigel Farage strikes me as a dog-whistle politician, the kind who knows how to appeal to a select group of voters. He is little different to Charles Green, the man who beguiled Rangers fans into handing over large amounts of money, because he was “standing up for the club.” It is easy to do what he did, easy to do what Farage is doing.
Real leadership requires toughness. Say what you like about the Tories, but they have that in spades. Yeats was right about the worst being full of passionate intensity. Green was. Farage is. Cameron and Osborne personify it in their political outlook.
It is easy to be cowed by blunt force politics, and by “tough talking Yorkshire men” and venomous speeches about “strivers and skivers.” The politics of divide and conquer is the oldest form of politics there is, and it’s no surprise to see it practiced by some of the vested interests in the game here in Scotland. Yet, lest we forget … something significant happened last year. The maligned and the ignored, the weak and the voiceless found something they never realised they had. They discovered that, in a very real sense, the power was in their hands.
Last year, the fans rose up when the governing bodies and the media went all-out to save Rangers from the self-inflicted wounds caused by a decade of cheating, malpractice and ineptitude. I have no problem calling that what it was.
What happened at Rangers seemed incredible, but it was all too predictable, and some of us had been talking about it for years before it hit. The Association seemed caught in the headlights but it would amaze me if they really were as insular and ignorant as they appeared. They must have known how bad the outlook was for Rangers. They just chose to ignore it.
They were aided and abetted by a thoroughly disreputable media, a collection of cowards and compromisers, charlatans and frauds, masquerading as journalists, but who long ago laid aside any claim to be bold investigators and settled for commenting on events as they unfolded. More often than not, with their ill-informed opinions, sometimes due to weaknesses in intellect and others wilfully ignorant, they failed even in that.
Entire newspapers became PR machines for crooks and swindlers. They aided in the scam because they didn’t do their jobs, some because they were lazy, some because they were incompetent and others because they wanted a seat at the table and were willing to sacrifice whatever integrity they once had in exchange for one.
That all of this was embraced by the Rangers fans is amazing to me. They trusted when they should have been asking questions. They closed their eyes, covered their ears and sang their battle tunes at the top of their voices so they wouldn’t have to hear anything they didn’t like. As incredible as I found it then, and still find it now – and now, even more so, when they have already seen the results of it once – I find it pathetic too, and I do feel pity for some of them.
A lot of these people are genuine football fans, and nothing more. They have no interest in the phony narrow nationalism, or the over-blown religion, or the notion of supremacy which manifested itself in a ludicrous statement from McCoist when interviewed recently on Sky.
Some of the Rangers fans look at their team of duds, kids and journeymen, they look at a boardroom of cowards and crooks, they look at a failing manager in his first (and last) job in the game and at a dark future and are not in the least bit impressed by, or interested in, the chest-out arrogance espoused in those ridiculous words “we are the people.” They know full well that their present crisis was made by men like McCoist, and they understand that pretentious posturing is not an act born of strength, but a scrambling around in the gutter, and a symptom of weakness.
They understand their position, and they hate it. And because they care about Rangers, because they value the club, because they cherish those things that made it a great Scottish institution, they want that back. They understand that before the Union Jack waving, Sash singing, poppy wearing, Nazi saluting, Orange element became the public face of their support Rangers meant something else, and that, above all things, is what pains them the most.
People do not hate Rangers. When the country appeared to turn its back last year, they were turning the back on favouritism and the bending of rules. Yet it would be a lie to say that there is not an element of dislike in the gleeful mockery of many rival fans.
But they don’t hate Rangers either. They hate the version of it around which a certain section of the support continues to dance. They hate the version which hates, and so too do many, many, many Rangers supporters, and they definitely deserve better.
David Murray chose not to openly challenge that version. Indeed, he encouraged certain strands of it to flourish and grow, with his “Britishness Days” and his effort to turn the club into the “team that supports the troops.” Other clubs have done as much, if not more, for the British Army than the one that plays out of Ibrox. Other clubs have given more money. Other clubs have lent their support to those on the front lines. They just chose to do it with respect, and with class, and with dignity. They chose to do it in private, understanding that there eventually comes a tipping point between looking after the ends of the soldiers and using them to promote your own.
The army has not battened on to Rangers. Rangers has battened on to them, and although it is unclear when an altruistic motive became darker, what started out as a gesture of solidarity is now used to entrench division and promote a notion of superiority.
Craig Whyte took over from Murray and immediately understood the lure of the “dog whistle.” He knew too that the media would accept whatever he told them, without question, and as he spoke up for “Rangers traditions” he made sure the lunatic fringe was well onside. He met face to face with the hard-core extremists in the support first and made them his praetorian guard. They spoke up for him until the day the club entered administration.
So, whereas Murray pandered to them and Whyte used them to further his own ends, it was only a matter of time before someone suggested to Charles Green that he could use the same tactics to win over the support. He went even further and blatantly promoted and encouraged this mind-set, and stoked the hate and nonsense to frightening new heights. The same people who cheered Whyte to the rafters jumped on board the Big Blue Bus and the results are clear.
Through all of it, the ordinary Rangers fan has seen his club buffered against the rocks, battered, broken, smashed to smithereens and sunk. Now there’s a big hole in the side of the lifeboat, and they are terrified that further tragedies await.
They are right to be concerned. Much of the media is still not telling them what they need to know. The people in charge of their club – the owners who have lied, the former hack who covered up the truth about Whyte and now acts as a mouthpiece for Green, the “club legends” who are content to sup with the devil and take his greasy coin when they should be standing toe-to-toe with the fans – are trying to silence those members of the press who do have facts to present.
How many times now have media outlets been banned from Ibrox for daring to report the truth? The manager who demanded the names of a committee last year defends those inside the walls who are desperate to keep secret the things that are going on. He is either an unprincipled coward, or he is, himself, bought and paid for. The fans suffer for it.
The “inconvenient truth” is still being kept from them, and this denies them any chance to play an active role in their club. Indeed, it is all too possible that they’ve passed a point of no return, and that their club is heading for a new liquidation event and it can no longer be stopped.
In either case, their power has been eroded to the point at which they must feel they have nothing left to do but stand back and watch what happens next.
They are wrong. I am a socialist. I believe in the inherent good of people. I think the ordinary decent Rangers fans are the only people left who can save their club … and the means by which they will do it is as simple as it could be.
They must stand up for “big government.” They must embrace the need for a “strong state.” They must lobby the SFA, and they must trust the SFA and they must get the SFA to follow its own rules and thereby save them from any further harm.
There is a tendency amongst some Celtic fans to see our governing bodies as pro-Rangers. If it is true then those running our game are ruining Scottish football without benefiting the thing they love more. The incalculable harm that has been done to Rangers in the last 20 some months is a direct result of the subservient media and the willingness of the football authorities to be “deaf, dumb and blind.” Those who believe this has actually helped the Ibrox club have not been paying attention in class. It has irrevocably scarred them, and it may yet have played a hand in destroying them once and for all, as a force if not as a club entirely.
For years, the SFA sat and did nothing as a club in their association operated a sectarian signing policy. They did nothing whilst the fans sang sectarian songs. In their failure to act they strengthened those elements of the Rangers support, instead of isolating, alienating and eventually helping to eliminate those who saw that club as a totem pole of division and hate. Their failure over EBT’s, and their lack of scrutiny, led to one of the greatest scandals in the history of sport, and I say that with no equivocation at all. The testimony of their registrations officer in the Lord Nimmo Smith investigation was a disgrace and in years to come it will rank as one of the most disreputable and damaging moments in the association’s history.
The most egregious failures of all were the failures in the so-called “fit and proper person” tests, which allowed first Whyte and then Charles Green to assume controlling positions at Ibrox. They will pass the buck and say the responsibility lies with the club itself, in much the same way as they are content to let the club investigate itself at the present time, but any neutral who looks at this stance knows it is unprincipled and spineless. It’s like letting the defence set the terms at a trial. It is foxes investigating the chicken coop.
It is a blueprint for corruption, and a recipe for disaster.
It is now too late for the SFA to declare Green “unfit”, as it was too late when they finally slapped that title on Craig Whyte. He and his allies own Rangers, and they control its destiny. They can push the club to the wall if they choose, in the final extremity, if that gets them what they want. The time for changing that is past. The damage has already been done. The barbarians are not at the gates. They are inside the walls, and sacking the city.
The SFA will be forced to punish Rangers for the sins of the owners, for the second time in as many years, and whilst it is right that the club face up to that, all the better to send a message to other clubs and other owners, the SFA cannot be allowed to slither off the hook here as though this was none of their doing. Green will skip off into the sunset. Craig Whyte has yet to pay his fine. These people never cared about Scottish football and they don’t care now.
The SFA are supposed to. Our governing body is supposed to govern, for the good of the whole game, and not as a support system for a single club. What they have allowed to happen on their watch is absolutely shameful and if the people responsible were men at all, with any sense of accountability, they would resign en masse.
They can pretend ignorance, but only the truly ignorant would accept that. Craig Whyte was not inside Ibrox a week before RTC and other sites were dismantling his entire business history, with some of the people here doing the work the SFA would not. Whyte himself claims to have made the governing bodies aware of the scale of what was facing the club, and they did nothing at all. Heads should have rolled a year ago.
In October of last year, on this very site, I posted an article in which I wrote:
“Which isn’t to say the due diligence matter isn’t worrying, because, of course, it is. Again, no-one is going to convince me that the SFA has conducted proper due diligence on Charles Green and his backers. No-one will convince me they are satisfied that this club is in safe hands, and that the game in this country will not be rocked by a further implosion at Ibrox. They failed to properly investigate Craig Whyte, because of lax regulations requiring disclosure from the club itself, regulations which are just a joke, but they can be forgiven for that as the press was talking sheer nonsense about him having billions at his disposal, and a lot of people (but not everyone!) were either convinced or wanted to be convinced by him.
To have witnessed what Whyte did, to have witnessed the Duff & Phelps “process” of finding a buyer, and having Green essentially emerge from nowhere, with a hundred unanswered questions as to his background and financing, for the SFA to have given this guy the go ahead, only for it to blow up in their faces later, would annihilate the credibility of the governing body and necessitate resignations at every level. There would be no hiding place.”
There are times when it is fun to be right, but this is not one of them. It is dispiriting and disquieting to have been so on the nose. It scares the Hell out of me, as someone who loves football in this country, to have seen this matter clearly when the people running our game apparently either did not or chose to ignore very real, very obvious, concerns. The Internet Bampots had no special insight or access to information that was denied those at the SFA. We just weren’t prepared to ignore it and pretend that it wasn’t there. There was too much at stake.
I have become convinced that things will never change until the Rangers supporters join us in demanding the full and unabridged truth here. They need to come out from under the bed, and confront their fears. They need to be willing to take the consequences, so that their club can emerge clean from this, and start again, with all this behind them.
And it can all happen with one simple thing. The application of the rules.
The existence of laws comes down to a simple principle; they protect society from those elements within it who are interested only in their own selfish ends. We may cry out at those rules and regulations we see as “restrictive”, but the law was not made to restrict our freedoms but to protect them. Had the SFA years ago acted against Rangers sectarian signing policy, and the songs from the stands, the club would not have mutated to the point where there was no help on hand when they needed it the most. Let’s not kid ourselves about this; Whyte and Green were only able to grab control because the club itself has a dreadful image which put off respectable and responsible buyers. The SFA could have helped change that perception years ago and did nothing.
The SFA could have conducted its own investigation into who Craig Whyte was. They could have asked David Murray for full disclosure when he was running up £80 million of debt, a sum of money that is beyond belief for a single club in a small provincial backwater league. Had they had the guts to do that the club would never have spent itself into oblivion and forced the hand of Lloyds, which led indirectly to their ignominious end.
The SFA could have fully investigated Charles Green and the means by which he took control, instead of rushing through a license. His emergence at the last minute was transparently suspicious and designed to force them into a quick decision, but they did not have to bow to that pressure by making one, without being in possession of the facts, as it is now 100% clear they were not.
Had they asked for every document, had they insisted on legal affidavits and personal securities from investors (and this would have been perfectly legitimate and is common place in other licensing areas) none of this would have come to pass. After Craig Whyte they had a moral responsibility to the rest of the game to get this one right and their failure is without parallel in the history of Scottish football.
As the club hurtles towards a new abyss, names are cropping up which should send a shudder down the spines of every honest, genuine supporter of not only Rangers but every team in the land. The SFA claims that a strong Rangers is essential for the sake of Scottish football, but they have been extraordinarily lax in protecting that club, and therefore the game, from destructive elements. Craig Whyte and Charles Green had dubious personal histories, and the acquisition of the club itself was mired in controversy and scandal. Yet it was allowed.
Neither Green nor Whyte were known to have operated outside the law, yet neither was worthy of trust or stood up to scrutiny. Neither man should ever have been granted the status as fit and proper persons to assume a role in our national sport, and if it is true of them what can we say about the three men who are, presently, being touted as the Great White Hopes for a bright, new Rangers future; Dave King and the Easdale brothers?
King recently cut a deal with the South African government over an on-going dispute over taxes. In other words, he pled guilty and accepted the central plank of their argument; that for years he was engaged in wilfully with-holding vast revenues from their Treasury. The media does not like to put it like that, and the SFA seems willing to ignore it utterly, and this would be scandalous enough. But it does not stop there. HRMC rules – as well as the SFA’s own governance documents – actually bar him from serving on the board of the new club.
Last but not least, aside from being an admitted tax cheat, King is also awaiting trial in South Africa, having been indicted for corruption, forgery and fraud – 300 charges in total. Yet as recently as last week, we were told that the Association was willing to look at him and consider representations from his lawyers. This is almost beyond belief.
If Dave King’s position is untenable, and he is yet to be convicted of a crime, what can we say about the position of the Easdale’s? One of the two brothers, Sandy, has already served jail time. He is a convicted criminal, a fraudster nonetheless, who’s “victim” was the same Treasury who are appealing one case involving the old club and liquidated it entirely over another. This is precisely the kind of “businessman” the fit and proper person test was supposed to weed out, and if the SFA holds its nose here the reek will stink out the halls at Hampden for decades. If King or the Easdale’s are judged fit and proper, then who exactly is the test for? What exactly do you have to do to fail it? How do we explain the existence of laws, when these are not applied?
Pascal says “Law without force is impotent.” The SFA’s weakness has allowed one version of Rangers to destroy itself, and has allowed an existential risk to another. If the next power at Rangers resides in South Africa or Greenock I can say with some certainty that the Association is engaged in an even more dangerous roll of the dice, because the surfacing of fresh scandal will be an ever present risk, and will be of the sort no-one will survive.
The damage to Scottish football will take years to heal. The Scottish game has been through enough trauma. It does not need more. It barely survived the last calamity to hit Rangers. The rest of us should not be forced to pay the price of the next one.
The greater damage will be done to Rangers itself. If the Green crisis ends in another collapse – as it well might; another administration event is a certainty, and another liquidation is a much more likely prospect than it was before 14 February 2012 – the club will once again have to start from the bottom, and this time the reputational damage will be impossible to repair. The club faces internal strife, sporting sanctions, and criminal investigations. The last takeover might be declared a fraud. the Whyte takeover will almost certainly be. The share issue might be invalid, as well as criminal, and the people involved may well end up in jail. Lawsuits could follow from investors, there could be as yet unknown consequences from the Upper Tier Tax Tribunal (thank you Brogan Rogan for pointing out what those might be) and a host of other issues.
Rangers fans must be the loudest voices here. How do you want the world to view your club in years to come? Do you want one to be proud of, or one forever associated with the shame and disgrace of these days gone by? The one which bailed out on its tax obligations. The one with supporters who disgrace your very name. The one which allowed Whyte and Green to take you to the cleaners and send you to the wall. The one which handed over control to one convicted criminal and another awaiting trial. Do you want to be reborn clean, or mired in the muck?
David Murray destroyed your financial stability. He made it so no bank would issue you a line of credit and no investor of note wanted to buy. Craig Whyte liquidated you. Charles Green has cast the future of the Newco into doubt and acted in a manner which has annihilated your credibility with the financial markets for decades to come.
Between these three men, they have taken everything from you, and the press and the people who run the game here, as well as some of your own blindly ignorant fans, have allowed them to do all this and more. Now they conspire to hand the keys to Ibrox to other men of questionable character, who will wreck further havoc on the reputation of the club.
The Scottish Football Association has damaged the game it was supposed to protect, but above all else their greatest failure of governance was a failure to protect one of its biggest clubs from its own excesses and those of its owners.
Rangers fans, the SFA have betrayed your trust, more than the trust of any other club. What you must insist on now is full disclosure and transparency from the powers that be in Hampden. The SFA has to end the charade of allowing your club to handle this in-house. They must hand everything over to an outside agency – whether a legal one, or a footballing body like UEFA – and they must demand co-operation and answers, and threaten to withhold the license if they don’t get them.
You must not be afraid of that. You must embrace it. The men with their hands on the gears at Ibrox are motivated by money, and nothing more. If the license is withdrawn their “investments” are worthless. They cannot risk that.
You must demand that the rules on fit and proper persons are applied, and where necessary even made stronger, to prevent your club falling into unclean hands. You must demand that they protect your reputation from further damage, by getting this all out there and acting accordingly, even if that means your club does not play football for at least a year.
You must be willing to suck it all up, knowing that what will emerge is a Rangers which has been cleansed and moves forward with honour, and dignity, led by custodians who treasure it rather than those who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing.
The Rangers Standard has recently emerged as a genuine voice for those in your support who are sick and tired of what Rangers has become, and want it restored to something that is worthy of the love and respect in which you hold it. On that website, there are discussions about the kind of club you seek to be and about whether the institution of Rangers is about more than just football.
If that’s how you feel about it then you know it is about more than how many titles the club can claim, about more than just results on the park, about more than just the game. Rangers, like Celtic, is an idea. It has to be something you are proud of.
I am a socialist, but one with a fevered imagination and a tendency to write very dark things. This piece won’t have been good reading for some of you (perhaps all of you haha!) but I think there’s more hope in here than in other things I’ve written.
In spite of everything that’s come to pass, I still believe. I believe in Scottish football. I believe in our system of football governance, even if those who are working in it are failing on some level.
In society, as much as we strain against them, laws exist for our protection. To fail to enforce them is to leave us at the mercy of those elements who would do us harm. The rules of football ensure the protection of all clubs, not just a few.
The failure to enforce the rules has never had graver consequences than here in Scotland. The irony is that bending and breaking them has hurt the one club those violations were designed to help. It cannot be allowed to happen again.
The rules must be applied without fear or favour.
The best must find their conviction, and their passionate intensity once more.
James is a co-editor of the On Fields of Green Blog http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 21:56
How can they not give it to him if he wants it.
Oh that’s right, because he is a racist, fantasist liar.
M8Dreamer
Armageddon – ballocks
Celtic win SPL
Celtic get to last 16 of Champions League
Celtic beat Barcelona in Champions League
Motherwell finish 2nd in SPL
St.Johnstone qualify for Europe League
ICT finish in their highest ever SPL position
Ross County finish in their highest ever SPL position
St. Mirren win the Scottish League Cup
Hibs get to the Scottish Cup Final for the 2nd consecutive season
Partick Thistle get promoted to SPL
Queen of the South have probably the best year in their history
TRFC win SFL3 with their multi-million pound playing squad
We forget – even while we continually refer to them as such – that RFC were, TRFC are and for the foreseeable future will be the Establishment club.
TRFC are simply not going to be found guilty of any major wrongdoing.
RFC may lose the UTT hearing. That is irrelevant apart from the odd bragging right. RFC no longer exist except in the context of corpse-rogering. Allegiances have been transferred.
So why the outrage and surprise when they slip the net?
They will. Every time. The Establishment will ensure it. We know this.
We know it’s a stitch-up, they know it’s a stitch-up. The history books will show otherwise.
No amount of documentation is going to change that, unless the Establishment allows it.
I despair, because I sometimes let myself believe that we live in a reasonably honest and open country. Most people believe that all of the time. The Establishment needs them to.
The Establishment will always win, even when it appears they don’t.
“Attention all planets of the Solar Federation … We have assumed control.”
Well there is a surprise…
McCoist didn’t have the brass neck to make himself available to personally collect the SFL3 Manager of the year award.
But he certainly still had the brass neck to accept the award – against his part-time rivals.
…maybe he can exploit this ‘validation of his managerial prowess’ as leverage for a pay rise at iBrox ?! 🙄
The more that they practice to deceive, the less deserving of respect they are,
The more that they bend the rules, the less deserving of respect they are,
The more that they lay out their corruption, for all to see, the less deserving of respect they are,
The more that they lie, in the face of indisputable facts, the less deserving of respect they are.
Until, at last, there is no respect left for them at all.
angus – I was taken to task 1 week ago for such talk! Its sad, but I agree.
Forres Dee (@ForresDee) says:
The only organisation able to temporarily bring down RFC is RFC itself.
————————
Rfc are Glaswegian blued
I’ll tell you what that is ,thats deid,thats what that is
I know a dead club when I see one and Im looking at one right now
Its passed on! This club is no more! It has ceased to be! ‘Its expired and gone to meet his maker! Its a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If they hadn’t seperated it from the company it’d be pushing up the daisies! ‘Its metabolic processes are now ‘history! ‘ ‘Its kicked the bucket, ‘Its shuffled off ‘is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisibile!!Its f*ckin’ snuffed it!….. THIS IS AN EX-CLUB!!
Rfc*(however*) are alive (just)
I’ll tell you what that is ,thats newly born,thats what that is
I know a new club when I see one and Im looking at one right now
Its struggling for life ,in and out the incubator ,wired up to a sinking generator
Its paternity in doubt , the bast*rd offspring of a knight of the realm being fought over
by 2 conmen desperate to claim the child benefit book .
THIS IS A NEW CLUB !!
May they both rust in pieces
Some rumour now that CF is the Wulstan one??
paulmac2 says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 18:43
2
Really? Surely not…. Green “cleared”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22658309
Charlotte, if you are for real, your move
………………………………………………..
‘cleared’….translated…we can’t find anything in the places we looked…Oh look a squirrel!
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Are we not at the point where the cry should be “Release the Mongoose!!”
y4rmy says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 20:48
9 4 Rate This
A small observation perhaps, but the use of ‘has went’ (instead of ‘has gone’) in a tweet clearly identifies Charlotte as a Scot.
=====
I am Scottish and using ‘went’ instead of ‘gone’ has been anathema to me since when I hiv bin a wee wean.
Some well-educated Irish people, of my acquaintance, have been prone to use ‘went’, however.
Whilst I have no great faith that they will actually do anything, its a wee bit premature to condemn the SFA over the P-M report, since they have not yet responded.
Who knows, the may just surprise us, unlikely though that may seem!
QC – what evidence is there of connection between Charles and Craig?
MM – eh there’s the recordings.
QC – ok there’s some recordings, but apart from that – what evidence is there of connection between Charles and Craig ?
MM – and there’s the cheques.
QC – ok there’s some recordings AND cheques, but apart from that – what evidence is there of connection between Charles and Craig ?
MM – eh there’s emails.
QC – ok there’s some recordings, there’s cheques AND there’s emails, but apart from that – I ask you – what evidence is there of connection between Charles and Craig ?
ianagain says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 20:18
I have of course as a ‘well fan advised Nicky Law to get a very very good lawyer as an adjunct to his contract not sure he understood. Anyway best of luck son. You’ll need it.
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Good luck??? Hell mend him.
Actually I’ll be totally honest with you all.I may contribute the odd small thought but…..
I am absolutely sick about this whole thing.
Sick of the bassas being cleared of everything, sick of listening to the lies perpertuated, sick of the time taken for the tuth to come out, sick of the collusion of the SFA etc, sick of the ineptitude and incompetence of the MSM and just utterly f**king sick of this whole charade. What the f*** do we need to do to achieve justice?
angus1983 says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 22:12
Losing the UTT will not be irrelevant if individuals are chased for return of the money. Well it won’t be irrelevant to them.
newtz says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 20:29
—————————————-
I think the Pinsent Mason inquiry must be seen as similar to LNS in that they could only find on the evidence presented
———————————-
Weren’t Deloitte also playing a role in this “enquiry”.?
Lawyers representing Dr. Harold Shipman have declared him innocent.
Jean @ 22:51
My sentiments exactly 🙁 pissed right off by the whole farce that is Scottish football
I suppose the P-M report had to be expected to “clear” any wrongdoing. Hardly likely they would get paid if it did anything other deliver what TRFC’s board needed.
Chances the SFA will do anything? Very very slim IMO. If they do anything I think it would be more of the same – “we’ll investigate”, then 2 weeks later “its ok, everything is above board”. Job done.
Much as you’d like to think this sham club and the spivs running it will get what they deserve you have to say they are proving to be as slippery as hagfish.
Andy says: Friday, May 24, 2013 at 19:04
i offered ?????
_________________________________
Yes, I offered my services/evidence to Pinsent Masons.
If they wanted to ensure a thorough report then they can get back to me. Indeed I chased them up on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
As for the Dingwall incident. I cut and paste all emails, ensuring header info (re IP details/routing/etc) are all removed. There’s been enough intimidation and direct/indirect threats from those who wish to see truth curtailed.
There was no intention from me to remove the ‘Dear Whoever’ element, nor do I think it has any relevance on the context of the email or it’s unsolicited intentions. My uploads to date have already been dismissed by the majority of those who fall into the disbelievers category. Their views are an irrelevance. The lesson learned for me here was to ensure that there’s no further direct dialogue with a faction who are not for listening. It’s not worth the aggrevation and frankly talking to brick walls isn’t my idea of fun.
What should have been more concerning to those was the fact that Mark Dingwall was able to verify the authenticity of the Aidan Earley email to Imran Ahmad, sent October 2012. Perhaps this does add weight to the fact that key persons have been leaking selective information to others. Regardless, there should have been an immediate disclosure prior to the IPO.
Finally for now, those intent on mapping companies linked to Aidan Earley and the question of the Banstead 250k. Just draw as many lines as you need between them all, throw in a few secret tunnels, cloud the issue with a few offshore companies and as many ‘bent’ share offerings, pumps and dumps, as you want.
As for the 250k transaction. A sum for that amount left Collyer Bristow on 24/8/2011 and was credited to Regenisis. Strangely enough, within 24 hours, a sum for the exact same amount left the account of Regenesis and landed back to Worthington. Let’s just call it a loan note repayment and everything else is a coincidence.
I am not CW, I am not an Earley and indeed I have absolutely no links to any concerned individual/organisation linked to the story, regardless of how remote a link could ever be established. Those who think that are clearly not reading the detail.
Truth will prevail, sadly some knuckleheads down RFIC way seem intent on ensuring a cover up at all costs.
Oh and Kevin Sykes makes a return – I’ll keep that for twitter though.
Bogsdollox says
In my opinion Barca’s credit is quite low – No nuclear event, venomous campaign against St Mirren on the 1st strong armed reorg that made no sense at all, the latest attempt to close the debate on F&PP test which to my mind was being well argued but he decreed it be closed.
Quite often when he gets isolated on the agenda he is driving others chip in to back him up. Like Slimshady – who on RTC was a top poster but who on here is one of the cheerleaders and to be quite honest about it is quite a bitter poster.
There is a “clique” who drive this blog and it’s not open enough for me to trust it these days.
————————————
Let me get this correct. You are criticising long term credible posters, who on certain issues , agree with me. This is “evidence ” of a clique” ??
The irony of you doing that whilst endorsing posters who have attacked me must have passed you by.
so, how long ago was it the SFA asked for Sevco Currents to comment on the Green/Whyte links?
Is that now the accepted timeframe for responding to ANY SFA query from ANY club?
angus1983 says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 22:12
1
I despair, because I sometimes let myself believe that we live in a reasonably honest and open country. Most people believe that all of the time. The Establishment needs them to.
The Establishment will always win, even when it appears they don’t.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Liverpool fans finally defeated the establishment on the Hillsborough cover up. It took 24 years. Maybe this one won’t take so long as that but let’s keep them on the hook for as long as it takes.
Green cleared?
Wonderful
Totally untrue of course
but who cares
..the average Bear doesn`t seem to mind
And for us Bampots
….. the pantomime continues
Onwards and downwards
Brenda says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 22:59
Rate This
Jean @ 22:51
My sentiments exactly 🙁 pissed right off by the whole farce that is Scottish football
Thanks Brenda. Good to know you understand the frustration and anger.
Charlotte
There was no intention to remove the “Dear Whoever” but you did and it just happened to help you point a finger at Mark Dingwall with a smear in mind.
Sorry that doesn´t stand-up and instead of fudging you should apoligize.
If the establishment always wins.
1, Why were Rangers placed into administration
2, Why was the CVA rejected (By HMRC, you couldn’t get more establishment than that)
3, Why were Rangers placed into liquidation
4, Why are New Rangers not currently playing in the SPL.
People want you to believe that the establishment always wins, because they want you to stop fighting that establishment.
For evil to prevail … etc.
bogsdollox says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 23:28
barcabhoy says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 23:02
1
Bogsdollox says
========================
Disagreements are good for the blog, running feud’s are not.
Apparently it was Napoleon Bonaparte who said :
“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake”.
This tactic requires patience. So to wile away the time I’ll set down a few words that might make the waiting a bit more bearable.
RTC/TSFM has illustrated that it is capable of assimilating a range of information and from it, deduce how events may unfold. This is a remarkable faculty. It is a powerful capability.
In the beginning was the word and the word was god. In six days god created the earth and all the things upon it and he saw that it was good. On the seventh day he rested.
Words are powerful things. They have changed the course of history. They have urged men to battle and succoured them in defeat.
Words are the expression of our ideas. You cannot kill an idea unless you erase everyone that holds it. Even then, the concept will remain in the conscience of the assassins. There is no escape from an idea whose time has come.
So we must wait and be conscious of our combined strength rather than our individual weakness.
We are the repository of an idea whose time has come.
So let us rest awhile. For the things we have done are good.
Once we have rested we will take up our artifacts and move on afresh.
For we have seen the future and it is not the same as the past. Our future is bright and lustrous and alluring. We will move ever closer to that future. Step by step. Word by word.
For now, let us rest. There is much work to do and we have seen glimpses of how it is to be done.
Do not fear that we will be overwhelmed. That prospect is for others to ponder.
We shall be on the move again soon enough.
I know people ie:Jean and Brenda are angered by what they see as institutional bias
but its a beautiful thing ,that which was glossed over for so long ,denied , and those who suggested its existence ridiculed, are now able to show the whole world the naked truth
of the corruption that exists . Their shame knows no bounds and the rest of Scottish football and those further afield are witnessing it in the raw.
There is no timmy paranoia accusations that can stick anymore .
They are being exposed on a daily basis for what they truly are
Rotten to the Core
Sorry for addressing you as if I’m a player CF, but are you going to drop any game changers or nuclear stuff? I know I don’t speak for everyone, but this is all a bit cryptic and toothless for myself. Call me selfish, but if you have anything undeniably incriminating on the bawbags at Hampden can you cut and paste it. Again, apologies, but some of us would quite like our game back when you have all you’ve had you’re fill of bear fleecing.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22660109
So still the same plan.
Remove “Rangers men” and fill the blue room with Green’s men.
That will work out really well.
Do people really still think that Charles Green being “cleared” by the independent investigation was in the best interests of Rangers and the Rangers support.
I don’t, I think it was in the best interests of Charles Green, Imran Ahmad, and their “investors”. I do not include the Ranger’s fans in that. I think it’s yet another example of the Rangers fans thinking they have achieved a victory, when in fact quite the reverse is true. They have been lied to and shafted again.
Their triumphalism is once again unfounded.
Someone asked the other day, and I paraphrase, have you no pity for them. Short answer, no. Slightly longer answer, there are none so blind as those who will not see.
chipm0nk says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 23:15
________________________________________________________
I am not a Celtic fan. Nor a hater of anyone. I have 2 left feet.
I was brought up in England of Scot’s parents.
Newcastle fan.
When I lived in London, I occasionally went to the Hammers and I harbour a wee soft spot for them. But the Toon triumphs over the Boleyn shower.
I support Caley, because I love my adopted city, and appreciate what the team does for it. And I think you should follow your local team because its as much, if not more, about the people you stand with – your neighbours (not their colour, creed, or political stance) than the colour of your shirt.
I don’t hate anyone.
I pay my taxes.
I am a socialist too. And I see football as entertainment, competition, and a way of building and reinforcing society and the social structures we rely on… when the old guy you sit next to doesn’t show up for a game, you might enquire of his health. The priceless bond that I am forming with my own son through his awkward teenage years by sitting in manly silence in the North stand, through a dismal defeat by Kilmarnock, by just of us both being somewhere we want to be, or at leat chose to be, together, without having to have some awful Oprah Winfrey knee stroking hugfest or gutspill… if I could bottle it and sell it I could solve the financial problems of Scottish football in an afternoon.
I look at the RFC situation, frankly with deepening despair.
EBTs were immoral. Google are being crucified for transfer pricing relatonships that weren’t a fraction as devious.
Lance Armstrong was banned for cheating where there was much less categoric evidence of ‘advantage’ (We know he took the stuff… we can’t ‘prove’ it helped him. Whereas £49m of someone elses money blown on talent? No sporting advantage? In what parallel universe exactly?)
LNS?
Whyte not involved in Green’s takeover? D&P acted properly?
QUESTION:
What do you take me for????????????????????
Own up. Say Sorry. Fix yourselves and move on Rangers! Instead of raising the stakes every time with a new lot of bigger crooks to outplay the last lot of crooks in the hope that we will all one day fold!
I don’t get to vote for the SFA. I can’t fund my club without funding the SFA.
The SFA are quite clearly suffering an advanced state of regulatory capture by RFC. They are Crooks. The copper is bent, so there is no point in blowing the whistle.
This is why I despair. Because it isn’t full time yet… but I feel like walking away.
SHENANIGANS!
Over in Twitter land, Chris Graham and Dingwall’s followers are referring to CF as the Doctor (he “doctored” the email by taking of to Whomever – very clever!) and are almost in celebratory mood.
CF to their minds has nothing to offer them – CG and IA are as pure as the driven snow (assume their resignations are now undone?) – and they will be riding back to Ibrokes to lead the charge with a quota of over 21 players that is now more than is allowed in SFL.
As stated above, the only folks who can stop this carcass being stripped to the bone by the Spivmeisters are the TRFC support. They show no appetite for even asking why there is a carcass.
CF makes a great point – the one that stood out at me – how did Dingwall know the email from IA was genuine? Is he party of the goings on in the Blue Room? I know he and Chris are slavering over the prospects of getting a tie and blazer to go with some brown brogues – but how far will they lead their fellow bears up the garden path for them to achieve their ambitions?
On Barcabhoy – he was the very first that I know of on KSDS to outlay the EBT scandal back in 2006 and predates RTC involvement – yes, he also took abuse for that nuclear option thing – which is still out there – RTC confirmed what he had was true and also agreed it was nuclear, Barcabhoy though said it was in someone else’s hands to detonate. I for one think this would be a worse place without his involvement so not so sure why there is a need to go after him.
Today Scottish football is a sadder place – the spivs over at TRFC have managed to cling on for now – if this monster had no effect on the rest of us I would say get on with it – hell mend ye – and all that. Unfortunately we do have to deal with it as it has the possibility of bringing us all down with it. The last year has had 3 victories – CVA denied, SPL denied and SFL1 denied – those last 2 are due to the good guys in Scottish Football. There are some good guys – they need our support!
Quota of over 21 players – meant quota of over 21 years old players
Sorry!
chipm0nk says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 00:55
Their triumphalism is once again unfounded.
Someone asked the other day, and I paraphrase, have you no pity for them. Short answer, no. Slightly longer answer, there are none so blind as those who will not see.
************
I agree – I tend to go up and down with this one too – one day I feel sorry for the average bear who forked out money at Xmas that he could not afford – however, I look within my own family (I have mostly RFC/TRFC fans in my family!) – some of whom were season ticket holders for RFC, all of whom went to Manchester and some of whom went to the first few games of TRFC just as a show of support. They all then waned. None of them go now, most are not interested and all of them never invested a penny in STs or shares – all of them had sense thankfully.
Many bears out there are like them – realizing that CG is indeed playing them along (seems in part to Dingwall/Graham’s education of what their folks all want) – so the ones that did lose out financially are the gullible ones who followed followed like sheep.
For now, I think we should all concentrate on a few things on this blog
(1) Ensuring the truth is out there
(2) Ensuring no more magic promotions to benefit the Spivs to make more money than they already will – at our expense
(3) Ensure the impact of the coming implosion will not affect our clubs as much as it could
(4) Ensure the magicians (see no 2) at the head of our SFA/SPL/SFL/clubs are held to account for the current pantomime season that has no end in sight for now
(5) Ensure the sport is handed over to the next generation free from the shackles it has had for more years than it should have endured.
The CE says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 00:26
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22660109
________________________________________________________
See that Dave King’s name come up again. Thought this man could not be on the board?
In spite of Chris McL’s BBC report, P-M have not yet actually released their report. In the letter Charlotte released the Earley’s lawyer suggested they should delay release, as the LBC would be presented next week (It was not quite ready to be presented on 24th). If it is delivered early next week, would P-M not look completely foolish to subsequently release a report exonerating CG? Any such release will be caged in very careful words as has been suggested. If the LBC appears, I suggest the P-M report will not.
This morning as I look out of my window , the sun is out ,birds are singing and my coffee is just fine. Its hard to believe on such a day as today(and hopefully tomorrow for the cup final) that the beautiful game in this country is being suffocated by spivs a uncaring msm,corrupt administrators and a cheque book manager unintentionally intent in burying another incarnation of a rotten “scottish institution”, but on this day in our beautiful country on this most glorius of mornings,beware those mentioned above the truth will come out and the stench of corruption and your self interest will be banished from our game and country.
“They may say Im a dreamer but Im not the only one”…………..hopefully.
Missed these from Charlotte:
@CharlotteFakes
A reminder that Pinsent Masons already have a significant interest in ‘Rangers’ issues as they represent the Jerome Pension Fund. #NoExcuses
12:33am – 25 May 13
@CharlotteFakes
@Gri64 @Seasider06 Whoosh, right over your head. The point being that if MM instructed the review, then Pinsent should be able to deliver.
1:19am – 25 May 13
Is this another conflict of interest that will be deemed not to be? Or is my tiny Winnie-the-Pooh brain mssing the point! Is Owl around?
🙂
Exiled Celt,
Being attacked is all part of the game. Rangers supporters are perfectly entitled to have a go, after all their club is a laughing stock due to the actions of the last 3 ownership groups.
The Internet Bampots didn’t cause this, but they they did shine a light where main stream media refused to. That increased the understanding amongst fans of all clubs, and ratcheted up the humiliation factor for Rangers and their supporters.
They won’t forget that, and they take every opportunity, however spurious or without foundation , to attack those who exposed their club. These attacks include fabrications and deliberate misrepresentation. I think the vast majority of people who read this blog, and other similar blogs, can see these attacks for what they are and judge them accordingly.
The overreaction and vindictiveness isn’t restricted to Rangers supporters. To give an example , on twitter I will only block someone if they use racist or sectarian language, or foul language , especially the C word. It doesn’t have to be in direct conversation with me , but if it appears on my timeline then I block the user.
It doesn’t matter to me , under those conditions, which club someone supports. All comment of that type is equally bad. However their are also the obsessive , who go ballistic at any criticism of their club. The profile of these people is usually pretty similar. They follow a limited number of posters , normally those of long standing in the online community, and plague the life out them with inane and immature drivel.
One poster on here, who very aggressively attacked me and others, recently set up a twitter account, and the first 3 people he followed were TSFM, RTC and myself. As of now, he has attracted no followers of his own, not a single one, and has only posted 4 tweets, 2 of which were jibes at me. The question I ask myself is why did he bother ? This particular poster supports the same club as a previous obsessed individual , who posted on here and who disappeared just as our new friend came on the scene. That may be completely co-incidental, but it does make me wonder what they put in the water in some places.
Anyway , as they no doubt know by now, they are wasting their time. Online communities are part of the Scottish Football landscape , and those of us committed to contributing wont be silenced by twitter obsessives or hissy fit merchants .
Morning all.
Can someone help me out here?.
Yesterday,as far as we know,an “Emergency” board meeting was held at Ibrox,supposedly to finalise the removal of MM as chairman.i thought this had to be done at an EGM that all shareholders must be invited to.
Were any shareholders in attendance yesterday or just the board?.
If this was not the EGM and it doesn’t look like it to me,then why call an “emergency” board meeting,especially at 4 o’clock on a friday afternoon of a holiday weekend.
To announce the result of the P-M report?.
That was always a foregone conclusion.TRFC,controlled by Green & co,asked for an “independent Enquiry” into the management of TRFC(nothing about the takeover,just the management IIRC) by Green & Co.Work it out for yourselves.this could just have been announced,no need for a meeting.so why hold a meeting?.
So what could have been discussed?.
Here’s something that should be discussed.
TRFC lost £7m plus during the first 7 months of the season when income included £6.5 net of VAT for STs.
With walk up inome on matchdays the biggest source of income for the last 5 months then TRFC will probably be lucky to make £2.5m in the last 5 months,ending 31st May,only 5 days away.
Costs,however,are running at circa £2.4m per month,pointing at a loss of around £10m for the last 5 months and around £17m for the year.
Speculative I know but with no close season income(have any STs been sold yet)then TRFC are down to having enough cash to pay Junes costs and a we bit of Julys.That’s if the IPO actually raised £21m in cash.If it didn’t then unless more funding can be found,TRFC could run out of cash anytime.
ST cash will come in in dribs & drabs,payableover a few months,like most clubs.
even if last years sales are matched then income,net will be around £6.5m,enough for a further 3 months or so.that takes us to October.
it doesn’t allow though,for the signing spree taking place at the moment,which will surely have an adverse effect on cash flow unless some high earners are moved on.Alexander going will free up the wages to pay a couple of these signings but by and large there is no sign of costs being cut.
How to balance the books.That’s what the board should have been discussing yesterday.
There can be Commissions,Enquiries,BDO,Nimmo-smith,Pincent Masons etc,it all won’t matter a jot if they run out of money.Again!
I believe I read somewhere that the SFL teams had until the end of June to submit their accounts wrt the awarding of a Licence(I know,I know) for next season.That’s 5 weeks away.If I was on the TRFC board,I’m not and i’m also not CtH,then that’s what i’d be discussing right now.
Calm down folks – let’s see what’s officially stated. It’s only PR out there and the MSM v untrustworthy!
manandboy says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 08:40
4 0 Rate This
I can hardly believe that Roy Martin QC has allowed his name to be tainted by this charade.
=======
Perhaps, you should have a template:
I can hardly believe that (insert name of highly esteemed legal / judicial / political character) has allowed his name to be tainted by this charade.
With a number of new players arriving and more being lined up at the Third Division champions, are they in danger of exceeding the quota allowed by the SFL?
Is it maybe that they are still expecting to come under the jurisdiction of the SPL, that is influencing their signing policy?
Just asking.
twopanda says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 08:53
Exactly, much more likely to be a conclusion of “nobody really cooperated, so don’t know what the feck went on, but on info available have to say no evidence etc etc”
Media House certainly earning their fee for news management this week, shame to see so many falling for it!
Rangers
“We have instructed the law firm Pinsent Masons, supported by forensic investigators from Deloitte, to investigate the connections between Craig Whyte and former and current personnel of Rangers and its subsidiaries.”
CF
‘I can provide evidence to assist your investigation’ (paraphrased)
Pinsent Masons
‘Ah look, a squirrel !’
Deluded Rangers fans
‘Yaaay’
To all the Bhoys and Ghirls out there, Happy Anniversary.
A new similie for everyday use – ‘As narrow as a Rangers investigator’s remit’
These big legal guys aren’t given much to original thought, or follow-up questions, are they?
resin_lab_dog says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 02:23
Superbly put.
wrt the spending spree currently taking place at Ibrox:
With Green and Ahmad gone,Murray on his way and Ally in the USA raising money for,wait for it,The Rangers Charity Foundation,an honest and trustworthy body I’m sure,just who is conducting all these negotiations?.
manandboy says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 08:40
I can hardly believe that Roy Martin QC has allowed his name to be tainted by this charade.
===========================
That depends really, on what they were asked to consider.
if I remember correctly the initial announcement was that they were carrying out an “examination”, the word investigation came later.
So were they just looking at what was put before them, rather than actually investigating for themselves. If so, who decided what evidence they were to consider.
Bearing in mind it seems the main protagonists weren’t even willing to talk to them, or so we are told.
I don’t know why so many people are so exercised by the information leaked re the outcome of the PM inquiry.
As far as TRFC is concerned, at the moment, Whyte has no involvement. That has been stated openly by Green (he shafted Whyte) and Whyte (he is claiming that he was excluded illegally and wants a share of the action).
What happened prior to 14th Jun 2012 when the assets passed to Sevco Scotland is of no longer of interest to the SFA. RFC 2012 will be liquidated. All the negotiations on membership and licences were carried out on behalf of Sevco Scotland (TRFC) with no involvement from Whyte even as a backer for Sevco Scotland. That will be the substance of PM’s findings.
That will also satisfy the SFA insofar as Whyte having no involvement in the ownership or operation of TRFC. Their view of the issues prior to 14th June 2012 will be that it is a external dispute between two companies or other individuals. It will only become an issue for the SFA if Whyte is successful in his claims against TRFC.
I’ve stated before, you don’t commission an internal inquiry (it shouldn’t be called independent), without briefing the chairman of the desired or acceptable outcomes. That is exactly what has happened here. PM will gladly take their fee and produce a report that meets the requirements of TRFC while covering their own backsides.
resin-lab_dog..
Sorry but I just had to give U a TD for calling my Beloved Hammers a Shower.. We gave U Alan
Pardew as a Manager and yet U Abuse us.. oh oops my Bad.. 🙂
Danish Pastry says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 07:49
@CharlotteFakes
Whoosh, right over your head. The point being that if MM instructed the review, then Pinsent should be able to deliver.
————-
Is this the horns of the dilema foreshadowed by
————-
scottc says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 07:28
“If the LBC appears, I suggest the P-M report will not”
—————–
If Pinsent-Masons release their report then the next day the Letter Before Claim materialises officially, people may enquire on what basis they were paid a seven figure sum.
On this mornings Radio Scotland news bulletin I felt that the allusion to Pinsent-Masons “No case to answer”, conclusion was very much down played. Hard to be triumphalist when your fellow news reporter has received documentation, albeit of unauthenticated provenance, that infers that such a conclusion is at worst, very stupid.
I don’t think there is any need for us to overly concerned about the leaked findings of Pinsent and Masons investigation. Other than another attempt at subterfuge this really is a non-event. The outcome was and is a virtual certainty. We should not conflate the acquisition of a fine legal mind with the acquisition of a moral code, integrity and honesty. It is about getting the job done. In this particular case the job was defined in the terms of reference set by RIFC. They asked the questions and the report answered them. Therefore as you would need to be a spectacular brand of fool to ask a question which was going to result in catastrophic consequences for your company, did we really expect any other outcome.
No matter how it is spun this was not an independent investigation. RIFC are a bunch of spivs, fully paid up members of the self preservation society. They are totally predictable, perhaps not in the detail of the operation but in the direction of travel and their overall objective. They will do anything to harvest as much cash as they can for their select group of spivs and spivettes.
This brings us to the crux of the matter. What do the SFA do now? This is the stage for scandal. These are the governors who believe they can act with impunity, ignore and ride roughshod over the common fan. I noticed Regan’s salary increase, now I don’t object to people being rewarded for doing a good job, but what has Regan successfully done in the last twelve months. To my eyes his only success has been to ensure a liquidated club is kept functioning and thoroughly conflicted chap continues to occupy the pre-eminent position in Scottish football.
The revelation of P&M findings are nothing more than an attempt to draw our fire. Without doubt the bastion of corruption in this land is not RIFC, they are what they are and we all know what. No, the heart of corruption beats within the plush offices of Hampden Park. Now I don’t know the best way to remove this pernicious influence from our game, but dictators, governments and empires have all fallen when people can take no more. Have we had enough yet, are we ready to see Hampden empty for internationals and finals, to refuse to financially support the sponsors of the SFA, and to demand the cessation of public financial support which fails to meet it’s duty.
Now i don’t want to see a scapegoat such as Regan or Doncaster fired. it has gone beyond this, every last one of them at Hampden has to go, that should be our non-negotiable position. This has been a long process and their strategy is to wait it out, exhaust the body and spirit of their opponents and fight fires when they have to. Whatever energy we have, has to be directed toward the SFA. While they are in power RIFC will continue to be afforded every privilege and like any self respecting spiv will milk it to the last.
Those who think that this disgusting litany of appalling corporate behaviour, coupled with a complete lack of integrity by the regulatory bodies, could only happen in wee corrupt, masonic Scotland, please ponder this, because it is fecking unbelievable and all too believable at one and the same time:
HSBC has just appointed KPMG to be its Auditor, with a chap called Guy Bainbridge acting as lead partner. Mr Bainbridge was lead Audit partner on KPMG’s HBOS account from 2001 to 2008. The audit failures that Mr Bainbridge presided over make Rangers look like a paragon of corporate virtue. The Financial Regulatory Commission have refused to investigate, which is hardly surprising, since their conflicts of interest in this regard make Mr Ogilvy’s pale into insignificance.
I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, these issues are not a purely Scottish problem, though there are aspects peculiar to Scotland, but they are symptomatic of a deeper and virulently malignant malaise which infects UKPLC. If that malaise is not cut out, then ending up back in this mess is a matter of when, not if.
What happens IF any SFL club exceeds the quota of over 21yr old players?
I doubt there is a procedure in the rules, since rulemakers would assume that clubs would stick to them.
So what is the procedure if an club signs and tries to register more than the quota?
Is it the case that the new one(s) that take the club over the limit cant be registered?, or do the SFL then say…oops you’ve got too many, you’ll have to release some of your existing ones?
I know what I think…
Most SFL clubs would be told, ooops, you’ve too many, these new ones cant be registered, too bad you’ve wasted your money on signing them, they cant play. Oh, and here’s a fine for attempted breach of the rules…
Any suggestions as to what might be the case if its TRFC that are involved? What Brysonian scenario could be found?
@Scapa… Not just UKPLC either. The incestuous nature of the Dublin financial village meant that we also built a house of cards here.
Phil MacGiollaBhain (@Pmacgiollabhain) says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:21
Too bloody true, worked in Dublin on a couple of “out sourced” projects, fecking wild west. Sorry, absolutely furious, on a lovely summer morning as well! lol
Charlotte Fakeovers (@CharlotteFakes) says:
Friday, May 24, 2013 at 23:00
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“I offered” – yes that’s also how I read it …. strange nobody (I saw) suggested that …. !
Mapping – Charlotte the purpose is to help myself and others keep track of the associations and aids further research, digging etc …. so the mapping continues ….
I accept what you say on secret tunnels ….. already have lots of possible further links …. just not the documented or reported link ….
Now on Kevin Sykes …. already on the map …. shown on earlier posting ….
Have been waiting for the hard link to the £2,925K investment to Worthington via Jerome pension fund by CB.
Kevin Sykes was convicted for £3m pension fraud as the fake auditor for Mullet & Co linking direct to Re-Tex Plastic. CW was a director (while banned) and being investigated for this.
So look forward to your KS stuff ….. suggestion is then that it is same money.
What about the LM logistics £3m deficit ….. where did that go … ?
here’s a snapshot ….
http://flic.kr/p/eqNNFt
note of caution for timtim who said: ‘There is no timmy paranoia accusations that can stick anymore .’
1. Rangers/SFA collusion has disadvantaged clubs across Scotland, not just Celtic.
2. ‘Tim paranoia’ suggests that it’s all about Celtic. It’s not.
3. Glasgow is not the centre of the universe. It’s not even ‘mostly harmless’.
4. The shell company shenanigans and financial irresponsibility central to the Rangers saga has a wider context of UK company law and banks running out of control. See the special report in Private Eye 1340 for example.
5. Rangers and the relatively small amounts of money concerned, albeit tens of millions, are part of a big picture. This hasn’t been all cobbled together to ‘stop Celtic’. Believing that really would be paranoid.
6. That said, the football authorities in Scotland do appear corrupt and the continued tenure of Ogilvie at the SFA is only one aspect of this.
Does Platini know something we don’t?.
‘Financial fair play is to protect the club, it is to protect the club from the bankrupt,’ he says, ‘from the problems that they will see in the future. It’s not a matter to be more competitive. Financial fair play is to put regulation. If you want to buy a Ferrari, if you have the money, you buy a Ferrari; if you don’t have the money, you can’t buy the Ferrari. In football if you do not have the money, you can buy the Ferrari, the player and you pay him and everything, and you win – cheating.
‘That is not correct. My job is to regulate this situation. It’s not to have a better competition, it’s to protect the club.
‘Glasgow Rangers, Portsmouth and many others, they are in big bankrupt and they will disappear.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2330554/Michel-Platini-talks-Martin-Samuel-Qatar-World-Cup-Financial-Fair-Play-goal-line-technology.html#ixzz2UIasPIMf
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2330554/Michel-Platini-talks-Martin-Samuel-Qatar-World-Cup-Financial-Fair-Play-goal-line-technology.html#ixzz2UHvC4pq3
@Scapa Ireland was badly infected with Lehman’s disease…(my coinage).
Although there were no real coins ,just a digital chimera of real wealth
I see Platini is keen to get on Chris Graham’s list.
groutdoc says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:07
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The starting point for the SFA and apparently all other governing bodies, including the Scottish Government, is that the type of sanction that may be applied to other organisations can’t be applied as they may put the very existence of the Ibrox club at risk. It does not matter what crime, rule breaking, or procedural non compliance takes place at Ibrox, the club is completely ring fenced from fit and proper sanctions.
All fans of all other clubs face a stark choice. We can accept that one club can act with impunity, and wonder where else a helping hand will be given but continue to support our clubs regardless. Our other choice is we stop investing our money in a product that is clearly aligned to ensuring one club thrives at the expense of all others, no matter how it behaves. What a choice it is. I’ve chosen to continue to invest in supporting my club but I would in no way try and influence what anyone else should do.
@rabtdog Very well put. Can’t disagree with any of that…
Phil MacGiollaBhain (@Pmacgiollabhain) says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:30
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Ireland – a captured nation ………… You read it ?
http://www.secrecyjurisdictions.com/PDF/Ireland.pdf
Also
Dermot Desmond’s contribution to the GFC
http://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/dermot-desmonds-contribution-to-the-gfc/
newtz says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 12:00
Yes on both, spot on! lol
philip spicer (@Baba_Brooks) says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 10:36
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“Julian Dicks is popping up everywhere today. It’s like West Ham have got 11 Dicks on the field today.” — (Radio Commentary on West Ham match.)
… but when it comes to Alan Partridge, least said, soonest mended!
@Newtz Thanks I’ll read them with interest
The `Cleansing` `Examination` has bought time [literally buy] time for the spivs
Buts what`s next?
Spivs need more time and the bank of piggy might be light
Perhaps the SFA will have an `independent investigation examination`
Fair`s fair – it’s the SFAs turn to shell out preserving spivco
And Hey! – They can all be cleared too!
.
`Independent` Investigations` are two for two this week
😉
Hi all,
The chap who sits next to me at work still hasn’t had his TRFC season book renewal. Is this the case for all ST holders at Ibrox? Has a release date been issued by the club?
My work colleague didn’t seem to fussed by the situation but then again he wants CG back now he has been “cleansed”.
upthehoops says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:35
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groutdoc says:
Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 11:07
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At the very least, I won’t watch the team in blue. Home or away. Or on telly. The pitch is tilted massively in their favour, the regulatory authorities bend over backwards to secure they can cheat with impunity, so its only right to let them play in front of a fully partisan crowd as well.
Its not a football boycott either. Its just that they are clearly playing by different rules to everyone else, so I don’t see it as the same game when they are involved. I choose to watch association football, not WWF soccer-12s