The Immortality Project – or – Death and Denial – Guest Post by Humble Pie
Death has a tendency to put everything else into perspective.
My family recently suffered a bereavement. It wasn’t a sudden death but it was still far too quick and far too soon for any of us to get our heads around. As our loved one’s illness progressed, each of us, in our own way, began to prepare for the inevitable. In the end, whilst it was not unexpected, it was nevertheless very traumatic, for everyone concerned.
Grief is a strange and often debilitating set of emotions. Even now, a few months on, when the intense sadness and tears have given way (mostly) to disbelief, we still find it hard to fully comprehend what has happened. We might never completely ‘come to terms’ with that fact, however, we do accept that it DID happen, much as we all wish that it hadn’t.
Many of you will be familiar with the Kubler-Ross model of the five stages of grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Well, I am aware of having experienced each of these stages over the last year, as well as a couple of others which I wasn’t prepared for (a lot of personal reflection, a little guilt and a not insignificant amount of pain).
It seems to me that the Rangers supporters have been purposefully ensnared in an interminable cycle of the first two stages of KR; alternating between the denial of the death of Rangers and anger at what they feel has been done to their beloved club then back again to denial. This, as any first year psychology student will tell you, is a very unhealthy state of mind which, if not addressed, can quickly lead to physiological and behavioural problems.
At its lowest level, for example, people throughout the ages have continued to set places at the dinner table for their long-dead loved ones. They know in their hearts that the person has died but are comforted by the familiarity of doing the same things that they have always done. However, in extreme cases people have even kept and maintained the actual cadavers of the deceased, dressed them, talked to them and watched TV with them, in a state of absolute denial.
In archaeology, accepting and recognising the inevitability of death through conducting ceremonial burial services is considered to be one of the very first signs of a civilised people. You see, grief is a uniquely human and cathartic process i.e. it can produce ‘a feeling of being cleansed emotionally, spiritually, or psychologically as a result of an intense emotional experience’.
In short, grief is ultimately a good thing which leads you through a series of natural psychological steps towards acknowledgement of an unalterable situation, allowing you to take stock, re-evaluate and start to move on with your own life in a positive way.
That is what should have happened with the fans of the old Rangers.
Instead, this ‘never-ending cycle of the undead’ was positively encouraged by those many unscrupulous individuals who saw a way of making a fast buck from maintaining the ‘Then, Now and Forever’ illusion. Worse still, this resurrection fantasy is being facilitated by the very people whom we have entrusted to stop this kind of thing from happening in the first place. If only the SFA or the MSM had told them the truth, they might have had a chance to actually face up to the situation.
Unfortunately, these two bodies were so complicit in Rangers demise, so right up to their necks in the brown smelly stuff, that they were too afraid to face the inevitable anger which would have rightly come their way. So, they made up grim fairy tales to feed to the bereaved souls about non-existent ‘holding companies’, the ethereal ‘club’ which transcends death and by suggesting that it is ‘all a matter of opinion’.
Ernest Becker, in his 1973 Pulitzer Prize winning book ‘The Denial of Death’, posits that “human civilization is no more than an elaborate, symbolic defence mechanism against the knowledge of our own mortality”. This fear of death acts as an emotional and intellectual response to our basic survival instincts.
‘By embarking on what Becker refers to as an ‘immortality project’, in which a person creates or becomes part of something which they feel will last forever, the person feels they too have become part of something eternal; something that will never die, compared to their physical body that will die one day’. When this ‘immortality project’ is threatened it leads inevitably to fear, depression, loss of identity and sense of purpose.
In that case, the initial reaction of the fans to the imminent demise of Rangers was entirely predictable and understandable. “No way, this can’t happen to us, we are the people”. However, as soon as the full realisation of their club’s inexorable slide into liquidation began to sink in, came the expected anger. But towards whom should their righteous wrath be directed?
“Who did this to us, who are these people?” they cried. “Not I”, said Sir Murray of the Mint, “for I was duped”, “Nor I”, said President Ogilvie, “for it was never my role”. “Nor I”, said Mr Smith, “for I never knew nothing or nothing”. “Not us”, squealed the media monkeys in unison, “for that’s what we were told”, “Nor us”, said the SPL “it was nothing to do with us”.
“Who then?, we demand to know who these people are”, howled the horrified hordes. “T’was the Whyte knight”, they all concurred, “he alone caused this calamity”. “And the bampots”, sneered the slimy slug. “And the taxman”, puffed the pundits. “And the unseen hand of Mr Lawwell”, whispered the bilious bears from the safety of their den.
There were even those who tried to warn them, not least Hugh Adam, Phil Mac and RTC but they didn’t want to know. Even when their very own Messrs Green and Traynor spelt out, in no uncertain terms, that liquidation meant the death of their club, still they chose wilful ignorance. The MSM, with access to the same information, encouraged them to keep their heads firmly ensconced, ostrich stylee, on the banks of that ironically blue and white river in Egypt. Which just goes to show ‘you can lead a lamb to knowledge but you can’t make it think’
The point though is that the Rangers fans have heard the truth and once you have heard something you cannot unhear it. Even if you reject it, even if you deny it, it gnaws away at the back of your mind, infecting your subconscious.
Almost a year ago, I posted the following on TSFM. http://theinternetbampot.wordpress.com/2012/09/ in which I postulated that the SFA were too frightened to say anything which might imply that The Rangers were a new club.
Looking back at that post, I am amazed at how little the landscape has changed.
A year on and it has become apparent that the corporate cancer that destroyed Rangers has continued to metastasize in its new host. Charlotte’s revelations may have shown us that the rabbit hole goes much deeper than we first suspected. However, in my humble opinion, the information provided has only succeeded in ‘poisoning the well’ and deflecting attention from the main culprits in this disaster. Layer upon layer of complexity has been added to an already opaque story and the majority of her utterances appear designed to engage the more enquiring minds on this forum and consume their excess mental energy.
I know that some people are bored with this ‘debate’ but, to my mind, the single most important step for the redemption of Scottish football is the fan’s acceptance that The Rangers, who currently ply their trade in the SPFL First Division, are a new club. Once they have accepted that then everything else that they perceive has happened to them will begin to make sense. They will see that rather than everyone having a fly kick at them when they were down, most were actually trying to help them. It will also dawn on them that the very people who have been telling them that there is an anti-Rangers conspiracy against them are actually the same ones who are screwing them over.
Rangers were not relegated to div 3, The Rangers applied as a new club and were granted entry into the bottom tier of Scottish football. They are not banned from European competition, merely ineligible as a new club without the requisite financial ‘history’. Any reference to ‘rulings’ from ECA, ASA, the BBC Trust and any internal or so-called ‘independent’ enquiries are completely irrelevant, as none of these bodies are the final arbiter in this case. Scots Law is clear that there is no distinction between club and company after incorporation, when the company dies the club dies with it. That is not a matter of opinion, it is a matter of fact.
Sooner or later The Rangers fans are going to realise this fact and when they do, there will be hell to pay. Until they do, their new club can never become truly cleansed. Only then can they move on and only then can they join together with fans of other clubs to root out the real cancer at the heart of Scottish football. That’s why the MSM and the SFA are still petrified to say anything. In the meantime the real creators of this disaster are sneakily positioning themselves further and further away from the scene of the crime.
I am sure the majority of us would happily accept a new Rangers, cleansed of its financial, emotional and supremacist baggage. A club that all decent Rangers fans could support without feeling any guilt about Rangers downfall or that they were being taken for mugs. The prospect of a new dawn in Scottish football, where sporting integrity took primacy and clubs lived within their means was very real. However, as usual the SFA couldn’t miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
The truth is that Scottish football is in the state it is in, not because Rangers died but because those with the power and mandate to effect the prognosis sat back and did nothing. I am sure that they believe that ‘time heals all wounds’ and that the longer this injustice is allowed to stand the more likely it will be accepted by the man in the street. No doubt the authorities feel it is in the national interest to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’. However I cannot accept this. I believe that it is vital that we are able to face up to reality so we can move on for the benefit of all football supporters.
Scottish football is at a crossroads right now, I think we all feel it. Rampant corruption has become so mainstream that many of our fellow supporters have began to accept this as the norm. However, it just doesn’t sit right with me and I suspect that many regular contributors and readers of this blog feel likewise.
We have quite lost our way and we live in a society which spends vast amounts of money paying people like Jack Irvine to ensure that we stay lost. The mainstream media treat us like little imbeciles and demand that we conform to their assumed ‘professional superiority’. The PR machine plays up to our stereotypes and feeds our fantasies while the poorest people pay to swallow their poisonous propaganda and relentless trivia.
So what can we do ? Clearly, battering out a few blog posts and strongly worded letters to the various authorities involved has been rewarded by the square root of FA.
How can we make this an opportunity for growth rather than contributing to the destruction of Scottish football ? It is not good enough to tear down a system unless we have a better system to replace it. However, I believe that it is not the system itself which is broken. It is that those charged with administering the system are hopelessly corrupted, hugely conflicted and unable to apply their rules without fear or favour.
By their incapacity and inaction (wilful or otherwise) the SFA have facilitated a motley crew of various spivs, chancers and con-artists to glean the last few meagre pickings from the bones of the emaciated loyal supporters of this new club purporting to be the once mighty Rangers. They have permitted these ne’er-do-wells to collectively appropriate many tens of millions of pounds from the Rangers fans, the creditors and the public purse. They have already allowed this corporate malignancy to spread to a new host, ‘The Rangers’, and the absence of ‘moral hazard’ makes it more likely that the disease will continue to spread.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “‘Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
Someone else once said, “The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it’s just sort of a tired feeling.”
I sense that we are all beginning to get tired of this. It is time to stand together, all football fans, face the facts and direct our anger against the officers of the SFA who have allowed this sham to develop into a catastrophe.
I have no doubt that my humble opinions expressed here will raise the ire of many deluded souls. However, I am comfortable in the knowledge that the only people who get mad at you for speaking the truth are those that are living a lie.
RIP Big Man.
The old/new debate may be very topical soon enough if admin2 is on the horizon. Can someone recap what the points deduction should be, stab at what it will be or what loophole/excuse is likely to be so they benefit from it.
Thanks in advance.
Galling fiver says:
September 11, 2013 at 10:03 pm
New club 15 pts or 1/3 of last seasons total.
Same club 25 pts, same as Dundee, especially if they have not paid PAYE and NI again (“Treating HMRC as a credit card”)
Actual punishment – “Haven’t they been punished enough?”
Sorry for the link – but this appears to be a breakdown of Sevco FOOTBALL staff costs >£11M pa – oh dear
Certainly a lot more than we expected
http://forum.followfollow.com/showpost.php?p=20401759&postcount=140
ecobhoy says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:39 pm
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Sadly many of the on-line Bears seem to be far too busy blaming their “enemies” for all that is happening at their club.
Rather than turning their forensic detective skills inward, it seems that the major issues are (1) a BBC Reporter speaking his mind (and not even in any way “offensive”) (2) the CEO of another Glasgow club getting a job.
The fact that it looks like their club is about to run out of cash before the years end – even on optimistic figures (and with possible “sugar daddy” Mr. King warning about the same) – doesn’t seem to come into their thinking.
I’m sure that will all be someone else’s fault as well when it happens.
A question: If Stockbridge has claimed that the club will not run out of money in the next 12 months, as per the AIM rules ( I think), what possible punishment will the Directors face if they do? And will they care?
upthehoops says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:07 pm
Dougie Donnelly spends a quite incredible amount of time in the Ibrox Director’s Box for a Clyde fan.
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I’m with UTH on this one. There are a long line of sports journo’s in Scotland purporting to support a small club when it would seem quite clear to anyone reading, listening or watching them that their affections and loyalties lie elsewhere.
But then during all the shenanigans last year I actually started to get the feeling that there are some clubs in our system that seem little more than vessels for “Rangerness” themselves.
So what can we really expect when that goes on.
Apologies to fans of these clubs as its not their fault if their boards of directors are passionate about another club more than about their own. Sad but seems to exist.
Ok…so they go into administration….do they have the required creditors onside to pass a CVA vote?…
upthehoops says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:16 pm
I was 25 years old when David Murray took his seat in the Ibrox Boardroom. From then until the Internet became freely available I read and heard nothing other than words amounting to the following;
1. Murray was a business genius
2. Rangers were the biggest and richest club in Britain
3. Celtic would never challenge Rangers again
4. Celtic were a poorly organised and managed club compared to Rangers
As a Celtic fan it was utter torture to live through what we now know were utter lies. It was not just 4 or 5 people who wreaked this carnage on us. 90% of the Scottish Sporting media were guilty.
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5. Constant attempts to unsettle the best players of Rangers weekend rivals every week (guys like Eoin Jess laughably linked with Rangers time after time and always the day before or of a big match)
6. Repeated attempts to print stories denigrating all other Scottish team (toastergate etc etc)
7. Encouragement to violence with dragging up all sorts of ancient history and nasty backstories (Simpson tackle on Durrant, Aberdeen fans are morons who will inevitably kill someone)
(Fans of many many other clubs will have their own examples here, mine are simply odd things I remember off the cuff and concerning my own club and they are not in anyway indicative of a presumption my club was worse treated than anyone else’s)
As a Scottish football fan it was utter torture to live through what we now know were utter lies. It was not just 4 or 5 people who wreaked this carnage on all of Scottish football. 90% of the Scottish Sporting media were guilty.
UTH Hope you don’t mind a few minor improvements 🙂
With these additions I’m right next to you fella.
Paulmac2 says: September 11, 2013 at 11:08 pm 0 0 Rate This
Ok…so they go into administration….do they have the required creditors onside to pass a CVA vote?
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If they don’t get a CVA then they could lose a whole year of history !
Flocculent Apoidea says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:58 pm
5 0 Rate This
My complaint to the BBC was not about the radio show. It was about the BBC’s reaction to complaints made about that show. As a result, my complaint was in the General category.
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Wooly Bee, I did the same.
Anyone worried about categorising their complaint or put of by the categories shouldn’t worry about it too much – there are options to make a general complaint and I am sure that within the Beeb it will be recognised what all the complaints are about.
And its not too late to complain either – after all nothing has actually happened to change the situation other than a suggestion from a third party that the BBC will support Spence. No evidence of this at all yet.
Sorry All,
I know I’m supposed to be on the Golf Course now, but I just have to speak up for Jim Spence.
Jim is one of a very few rough diamonds out there in MSM land willing to put his head above the parapet. Apart from being a life long DUFC supporter, Jim’s actually pretty neutral when it comes to reporting, even when criticising his beloved DUFC.
Unforunately, unlike his other sycophantic peers, Jim appears to have strayed by not “towing the party line!”.
Jim is right in one thing:
Rangers ARE deid!
They’re now a NEW club playing in what is commonly known as The Scottish 3rd Division (I Know they’ve changed the league names, but it’s still the 3rd Div!).
I honestly don’t know what their official company name is now, nor who owns the “Deeds”, but I do know it is NOT the same “Club” that won all of those famous titles in the past.
That Club did actually die last year!
As far as I can make out, it is actually official. The current Club operating out of Ibrox now is a new Club. That’s a fact – Were they not liquidated? This Parrot is dead, etc!
So Jim is quite correct in saying they’re deid!
I hope the BBC look at this again. I’m just going off now to write my complaint to them.
Stand firm Jim, there’s lots of people out there called Sparticus!
Galling fiver says:
September 11, 2013 at 10:03 pm
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According to my reading of the rules, E1 states 15 points for a first offence.
E5 states 25 points for a second offence within 5 years in terms of these rules
Any Rangers insolvency would be a first offence under the new SPFL rules and would therefore incur a 15 point penalty, in my opinion.
Matty, upthehoops: you’re right. Clearly.
I don’t know how I could have questioned the original assertion. Sheer madness on my part.
Obviously Donnelly couldn’t possibly be telling the truth about supporting Clyde. How could anyone do that?
Thanks for putting me right.
You’re either a Sellick man or Sevco…….. Obviously….
Sometimes I despair.
upthehoops says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:16 pm
As a Celtic fan it was utter torture to live through what we now know were utter lies. It was not just 4 or 5 people who wreaked this carnage on us. 90% of the Scottish Sporting media were guilty.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As well as the press regularly sticking the boot in, don’t forget the bank tried to kill Celtic for a relative pittance of an overdraft. We were badly managed, but that should have meant years in the doldrums not a death sentence.
What was torture for Celtic was missed opportunities for other clubs throughout the country.
How many great victories over Rangers did other clubs miss out on?
How many cups and titles did Aberdeen miss out on?
The fans of every club in Scotland suffered during the years of Murray’s Moonbeamery.
He did it with our money, and the authorities looked the other way (at best).
How many club’s spent more than they could afford on foreigners trying to keep up with the Rangers Revolution?
How many young Scottish footballers missed out on a career in the game?
When’s the last time the National team qualified for anything?
That’s the real story of this sporting scandal and it’ll be a cold day in hell before any of the gutless hacks in this nation print it.
Barcabhoy
Re The SFA and LNS, this is my recent post from KDS.
What may or may not been known is that the “wee tax case” was the result of an EBT type scheme that an FTT ruled as improper, a decision that a later UTT upheld.
The scheme was called the Discount Option Scheme (DOS) and it was used to pay Craig Moore, Ronald De Boer and Tore Andre Flo from 1999 to 2003. It used shares rather than loans as the premise for payment that was not taxable and differed from the EBTs used from 2003 (in fact all Rangers did was switch from one scheme that had gone past dodgy avoidance to illegal tax evasion when HMRC pulled the rug from under the DOS). Another feature of the payments was it included side letters that were hidden from HMRC and presumably the SFA (but I’ll need to check if LNS was commissioned to look at DOS payments separately from loan EBT ones but his findings made no distinction, so I suspect not.
It is however more than likely that the side letters to the three named players were not reported to the SFA but what is a fact is that when HMRC asked Rangers if any existed, MIH acting as Rangers lead on tax issues said that none could be found in the personal files but were uncovered later.
It was on this basis (that Rangers had lied to HMRC) that Rangers QC Andrew Thornhill, whom I think did the defending on the loan EBTs advised, Rangers in late Feb 2011 to settle the £2.8m HMRC had calculated was owed. Rangers reached agreement in principle before the end of March 2011 to pay but as we all know that bill was never paid. The fully story coming to a CQN magazine (I believe) out soon.
Since penning the CQN article it turns out that the person at Rangers who set up the DOS scheme that I believe LNS never looked at separately, i.e. Rangers first venture into creative ‘tax efficiencies’, was Campbell Ogilvie. He may have told the truth that he was not responsible for player contracts under the EBTs from 2003 but his fingerprints are all over the first DOS arrangement and I suspect may have played a part in the way LNS was commissioned with the SFA taking the role of possible body of appeal rather than commissioner. They could hardly have commissioned LNS and not mentioned the DOS items now could they?
Ogilvie’s involvement in the DOS is undisputable (unless the document is a fake) and the fact is Rangers used an irregular method to pay 3 players from 1999 to 2003 and it has been hidden from public view.
In fact the SFA conflated the wee tax case and the big tax case to justify granting of a UEFA licence when the two types of payments were different. DOS ones were/are improper/illegal EBT Loans await the UTT.
In a years time this will be common knowledge but I thought I’d give folks a taster, although how it will be viewed by then is anyone’s guess..
September 11, 2013 at 9:16 pm
75 1 Rate This
Barcabhoy says:
September 11, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Agree with that, there were a number around 4 or 5 , who embarassed themselves and their profession over Murray
I dont know enough about the motivations of others to include them in this group
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I was 25 years old when David Murray took his seat in the Ibrox Boardroom. From then until the Internet became freely available I read and heard nothing other than words amounting to the following;
1. Murray was a business genius
2. Rangers were the biggest and richest club in Britain
3. Celtic would never challenge Rangers again
4. Celtic were a poorly organised and managed club compared to Rangers
As a Celtic fan it was utter torture to live through what we now know were utter lies. It was not just 4 or 5 people who wreaked this carnage on us. 90% of the Scottish Sporting media were guilty.
=================
I share your disgust about the treatment afforded to Murray. Anyone who has followed me on here, RTC , CQN and KDS will know of the disdain I hold for Murray. A contemptible individual , who has damaged football in Scotland more than any other person .
If you look at my original post on this matter, I made it clear that I had no sympathy for Editors. They instructed in many cases, and allowed in others, naked PR for Murray on a personal basis. For no other reason than it suited them commercially .A journalist told by his Editor to write a “Sir David is a genius” puff piece, isn’t in a position to refuse. I don’t doubt there were very few who felt an inclination to look under the hood of MIH either.
My irritation with journalists on Murray is mainly aimed at the financial journalists at The Scotsman and Herald who basically regurgitated a PR piece handed to them a week or so before the accounts at MIH and Rangers were published. This allowed a glowing piece to be written on the basis of highly selective information provided. When the accounts showed something completely different, the journalists didn’t / couldn’t write another conflicting story from the one already in the public domain.
When eventually the financial journalists woke up, MIH was controlled by the Bank and Murray was yesterdays man. Job Done as far as Murray was concerned.
Does Murray deserve a knighthood for services to Industry ? Of course not, he’s been a disaster . He has lost the public purse £millions, and lloyds £100’s of millions
Should he receive a life ban from football ? Yes. He should have been first in the queue, well ahead of Whyte
Should he be subject to further investigation from the authorities ? Absolutely. A lot points directly at him. Duped ? It must have taken the brassest of Jack Irvine’s brass necks to say he believed that.
Having said all of that , I still believe the fawning and backscratching was limited to a few. The Inner Lamb circle. They were the ones who wrote the big articles and commanded big column inches. There were other sycophants, but in general they were lightweights.
I can’t get overly wound up now about journalists and the EBT case. I had no expectation that sports journalists, with a couple of exceptions, had the intellect and background to understand the issue. Of course at the time , and i first mentioned EBT’s on KDS in regards to Rangers in 2006, there was a frustration that what was obvious to me , wasn’t obvious to others.At least not others in the MSM
I guess thats why you go looking for like minded souls, on CQN RTC and here. It’s only fair to point out , that lots of Celtic supporters of my acquaint didn’t get the issues either. The difference was they had a basic mistrust and dislike of Murray and were prepared to learn and listen
Finally
The reason why journalists in the MSM, again with honourable exceptions, look so poor on complex subjects, is that there has been groundbreaking work done on CQN and RTC and now on here. CQN was the first to approach subjects that were more than just A is better than B, and C should get dropped and the board should spend more money
RTC worked brilliantly because facts were just never presented, as bald facts. Information never just dumped. There was always an excellent narrative to every new story. Analyis was provided and an outline of the significance delivered. This enabled much more constructive debate.
CF has delivered some amazing content. The narrative though was mostly absent . That left the reader wondering whether CF was bright or otherwise. The few snippets of narrative suggested someone very bright, although we were almost always left to draw our own conclusions, and that often clogged the debate as many interpreted in different ways. But hey, the world would have been a much duller place without CF these last few months.
The criticism of the MSM is a reflection of the frustration that the majority of fans still haven’t been given the facts. That will change.
Look at other industries. Fashion bloggers sit beside Vogue journalists at Catwalk shows. Travel bloggers get invited to Hotel launches. Entertainment blogs now have their own TV shows . The Huffington Post , an online newspaper got sold for $200 million. The Bleacher Report, a decidely average blog, got sold for $175 million
in contrast The Boston Globe was sold recently for $70 million. The Globe has a larger circulation than the Daily Record.
Where’s the future ? It’s on here.
let me give you a little comparative. There’s a particularly sycophantic journalist on the Evening Times. He has the full weight of The Herald Group behind him to build a twitter following, with all their marketing and profile . He has direct access to Rangers as their go to puff piece guy. Yet he only has 4200 followers. RTC had 22,700 , CF from memory 15,000, CQN has 14,400 . None of them have or had the resource of a plc or a multi media group behind them. Outside of Scotland the exceptional Swiss Ramble now has 53,000 twitter followers
Who do you think was delivering the more meaningful content ? Content not based on propaganda, but on information analysis and on subjects needing more than a gloss and polish.
MSM is becoming easier. I don’t now generally listen to Radio Clyde especially if Keevins is on. He is an embarrassment to good manners and educated thought. The tabloids are easy. Avoid the Sun, scan the Record headlines online, and only read Tom English , Graham Spiers and Glenn Gibbons in the broadsheets. The guys at the mail and express may be ok, but I don’t usually bother
meanwhile if I want informed or want to debate about the issues surrounding Rangers toxic and continuing effect on Scottish Football I come here. CQN still provides top class mostly Celtic focused articles . Radio is replaced by Podcasts. Celtic Underground excellent for Celtic. Beyond the Pitch top class for wider topics, and all easily available and all FREE
That just leaves the BBC. I’m a fan. They do have irritants like Chic, and they do make the occasional howler. However we need them, and they normally deliver.
ecobhoy says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:39 pm
Abbracadabra and Bibity Bobbity Excel. Here is the one I prepared earlier.
https://drive.google.com/?tab=wo&authuser=0#my-drive
Compensatory differences in different areas but predicting £6m shortfall so at £2m a month well runs dry mid Jan.
Simple question for the legals / accountants among us;
If the company currently trading as rangers are aware that there isn’t enough money left, are they trading illegally as an insolvent company?
Barcabhoy says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:02 am
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Excellent reply Barca, and much to think about. The examples of how bloggers are received in other industries is very telling. I suppose another issue we have here in Scotland is that there is still a large part of the population of a certain vintage who are happy to go only with what they read in the papers, and if said papers don’t print what we know about the club from Ibrox then to those people it simply isn’t happening.
A couple of helpful points from the BBC complaints page:
Do the numbers of complaints make a difference?
No. We are always concerned about high numbers, but what matters is whether the complaint is justified and the BBC acted wrongly. If so we will apologise. If we do not believe we breached our public service obligations or Editorial Guidelines we will explain why. We sometimes come under pressure from organised lobbies or the press but defend our editorial independence and standards as necessary.
How does the BBC define a complaint?
It isn’t possible to define the difference between a comment and complaint. If you say it is a complaint we count it as one. We generally consider a complaint to be a criticism which expects a reply and would ideally like things changed, even if we are unable to respond as the complainant might wish.
Paulmac2 says:
September 11, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Ok…so they go into administration….do they have the required creditors onside to pass a CVA vote?…
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Since they have no external line of credit,all monies owed will be due to RIFC.
If,as speculated,RIFC take the property assets in respect of a debt then there won’t be much left for creditors but if RIFC vote for a CVA then it’ll probably be accepted.
If,however,PAYE/NIC/VAT are outstanding then it’s a different ballgame altogether.
Ian Black up before the SFA panel today, 2 or 3 game ban ? what the betting 😀
Briggsbhoys says
Mmmm, I think it will be a suspended admonishment!
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
September 12, 2013 at 8:22 am
Paulmac2 says:
September 11, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Ok…so they go into administration….do they have the required creditors onside to pass a CVA vote?…
=========================================================================
Since they have no external line of credit, all monies owed will be due to RIFC. If,as speculated, RIFC take the property assets in respect of a debt then there won’t be much left for creditors but if RIFC vote for a CVA then it’ll probably be accepted. If,however,PAYE/NIC/VAT are outstanding then it’s a different ballgame altogether.
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Don’t forget they owe Sports Direct £1.5 million through the Rangers Retail Ltd joint partnership and that debt is secured on TRFCL heritable and leased property. I was surprised when the money suddenly arrived in a lump sum because my understanding of the deal was that it was to be an insurance-type drip-feed over 5 years.
Perhaps now we see the real reason with Ashley at the core of things.
ADD EDIT
And don’t forget Sports Direct control the Rangers Media shareholding vote as their shares count as double on ‘financial’ votes. And of course Charles Green is still a director of Rangers Retail.
He is also a director of Garrion Security Services – could they also be owed money?
Stockbridge is also a director in both companies.
briggsbhoy / bad capt madman
I would imagine that it will be lenient at best…………..just in case the leg end that is (pie)super Ally hands his list to the SFA, remember he’s goat hunners of names, but before he hands it over he would probably have to take his off the list.
Complaint submitted to BBC!!
Thank you MacFurgjy/Spurtle for help.
I used another contributor’s complaint with a little editing.
One last thing when you go to input your details so as to receive a reply to your complaint they ask the question “are you over13” Is this a sublime message?
Still sat at 50p, I don’t expect anything to be done about Rangers through AIM!
http://www.lse.co.uk/SharePrice.asp?shareprice=RFC
JLeeHooker says:
September 12, 2013 at 9:45 am
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary.html?fourWayKey=GB00B90T9Z75GBGBXASQ1
Results in: Page error. The page you requested could not be found.
==========================================================
Other sites who get their feeds from LSE are reporting a couple of trades this morning with the last at 9.24am. So could be just an LSE tech prob. If not we will know fairly quickly.
Rangers LSE – just a link prob it seems.
I got in from main LS|E site a bit circuitously via: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary.html?fourWayKey=GB00B90T9Z75GBGBXASQ1
The page is working fine now. It was most likely a technical blip and not something more sinister are I originally suspected.
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary.html?fourWayKey=GB00B90T9Z75GBGBXASQ1
Piece of small amusement; just listening to a Small Faces CD and a track called ‘Green Circles’ came on. Never noticed it much before but thought it appropriate. Well, it amused me, anyway 😀
15 points then. Unless duff and fud are doing the admin again then the top earners will be axed (I know). And another embargo likely(again i know).No wonder the cardigan wants the government to fund youth development (I know, he really made me chuckle with that one, more state funding, haven’t they been funded enough). Anyway, that would probably be enough to halt the return for a year, so that will need changed, where’s that rule book Campbell.
Not my intention to have hopes built up about admin2, but if Dark Mingwall is speculating that’s enough for me.
wee questions
has anyone figured out exactly what legal standing the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund has yet?
Appears the web page has disappeared
are they paying their taxes? doing accounts? are they a year old now? must be something regards that sum of money.
What about the red and black scarves – have wee seen VAT and tax paid for the sale of those? Have they registered as a charity at all for exemption? or maybe even a religion?
hmmmmm – all gone quiet, but not gone away.
Sizeable lumps of Rangers shares being sold yesterday and today, the share price has dropped below 50p again.
They MUST announce a date for the EGM tomorrow, I wouldn’t have thought signed off accounts are a requirement until the AGM but surely disclosure of what is left in the pot will be revealed to the world?
Even Dingwall is predicting Admin soon, surely the SFA/SPFL should be all over this before the buffers are hit?
,
Now that we have a “pyramid system” for entry into the senior SPFL set up (lowland league)
What are the rules/requirements for a “new club” entering the SPFL – is there a direct route, or is the only route via the pyramid now?
Info on every senior football team in Britain with one exception. Why? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23723537
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:10 am
What are the rules/requirements for a “new club” entering the SPFL – is there a direct route, or is the only route via the pyramid now?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s be absolutely clear –
For Sevco, there is only a guide line – ‘At the Board’s discretion’.
For anyone else, there’s the rules.
Carfins Finest says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:27 am
2 0 Rate This
Info on every senior football team in Britain with one exception. Why? bbc.in/183clUn
_________________________________________________________________________
CF
Lincoln City and Rangers FC are omitted from the study and calculator because they did not provide data to the BBC. (text is underneath the picture in bbc.in/183clUn)
manandboy says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:28 am
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:10 am
What are the rules/requirements for a “new club” entering the SPFL – is there a direct route, or is the only route via the pyramid now?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s be absolutely clear –
For Sevco, there is only a guide line – ‘At the Board’s discretion’.
For anyone else, there’s the rules.
===========================================
Agreed.
Sevco,however seem to want to start at the top and head for the bottom!
manandboy says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:35 am
Carfins Finest says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:27 am
2 0 Rate This
Info on every senior football team in Britain with one exception. Why? bbc.in/183clUn
_________________________________________________________________________
CF
Lincoln City and Rangers FC are omitted from the study and calculator because they did not provide data to the BBC. (text is underneath the picture in bbc.in/183clUn)
———————–
Yes, but is it solely because of their hatred of the BBC that they refused to take part?
upthehoops says:
September 11, 2013 at 9:16 pm
so sad how how true your comment are.
Without the social media we have access to now the SMSM would have still had free reign (still do to an extent, but numbers are falling thankfully). We all know that they have the same access to websites that we have, but more importantly they know we know. They must have no integrity left and soon as time moves on they will move out of their positions and other outlets will come to fruition and factual reporting and debating can take place.
I recall casino’s hoover pitches, hotels guff
I recall thieves and robbers.
I recall a few days before any old firm game a negative story concerning Celtic would appear in the press without fail.
I recall hearse outside Celtic Park
Biscuit tin mentality throughout time.
DOS is such an embarrassment to CO and the (he is a nice man SFA) which is great as it is not likely to go away. I can wait for the UTT decision to come and if HMRC win their appeal (which is likely as I recall RTC stating that if HMRC lost the FTT they would appeal and appeal as the evidence was overwhelming. Add to this Dr Poon’s summary which was pretty damning against Rangers) and the future for Scottish football is as far as I am concerned is bright. If HMRC wins how will LNS decision then look.
CO must feel a little discomfort with all this information about him in the public domain concerning the licence and DOS scheme and particularity now with the club that lost out most (due to EUFA granting a dodgy licence) having a representative now in the SFA. Times are changing and most fans will welcome this change. Certain fans cannot change and cheats should never win and no one cheats death.(not even clubs).
valentinesclown says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:55 am
FYI, I posted this in another place yesterday.
I don’t know if you are aware but HMRC’s appeal against the UTTT won’t be heard until next year (2014).
They (HMRC) are very confident that the evidence of Dr. Heidi Poon, will win the day for them.
The forensic examination and subsequent exposure as to the extent of the tax dodging, EBT issueing and side letter hiding from all regulatory bodies in her evidence has made her a bit of a pin up girl in the Tax cheat investigation world.
I’m sure ALL the taxpaying people in the country will be cheering for HMRC. There certainly seems to be a groundswell of opinion against tax dodging company’s and off shore accounting.
Good things come to those who wait according to my (HMRC) contacts.
upthehoops says:
September 12, 2013 at 6:07 am
=================================
Excellent reply Barca, and much to think about. The examples of how bloggers are received in other industries is very telling. I suppose another issue we have here in Scotland is that there is still a large part of the population of a certain vintage who are happy to go only with what they read in the papers, and if said papers don’t print what we know about the club from Ibrox then to those people it simply isn’t happening.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When it comes to believing what you read in the papers I’m not convinced the issue is one of age. Many people are educated to be stupid and unquestioning and then there are the ones who are just stupid.
Bawsman says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Thanks all sounds good to me and I need a new pin up and Heidi may fit the bill.
Carfins Finest says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:54 am
Yes, but is it solely because of their hatred of the BBC that they refused to take part?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Sevco is certainly in a huff with the BBC, nothing unusual with that.
Perhaps it’s because Sevco’s ticketing is ‘unconventional’ ?
Or, maybe, there might be perceived risks for Sevco in giving out all the information requested by the BBC ?
Perhaps the Sevco Board members are so aware of all their skullduggery that they might be insecure about divulging anything ?
Pedant alert.
==============
Bawsman says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm
I don’t know if you are aware but HMRC’s appeal against the UTTT won’t be heard until next year (2014).
=========================
So when did HMRC lose the UTTT, should that not read FTTT?
This website is all about the detail!
CW kept the ship afloat by withholding PAYE/NIC/VAT – indeed, this is what ultimately crashed the ship into the iceberg as the FTT hadn’t yet ruled
Is it possible/likely that the Spivs have pulled the same trick – or that they will as they approach the end game
if employee total wage bill is £10M – that could be 400k in PAYE/NI per month – 3 months would put £1.2M into the coffers
I’m just wondering if there will be more than just SPIVS lining up for payment when it all goes wrong.
the news that CW was withholding PAYE/NI came to us late in the day on RTC – so I don’t think we can be sure this isn’t happening again
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
With the same individuals in the same positions at the club, other than the board, it is highly probable. Because, as far as they are concerned, it is the same club with the same sense of entitlement and protection from the rule books.
Nobody was punished, fined or censured for withholding PAYE/NIC, as far as I’m aware.
This is a request.
Would anyone who has recently seen SR or CO, or who knows of their whereabouts, please drop the blog a line.
The current SFA have arguably reached the point where the well known description of RFC by Ian Archer, also applies to them.
” . . . .they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace.
This country would be a better place if (they) did not exist”.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
CW kept the ship afloat by withholding PAYE/NIC/VAT – indeed, this is what ultimately crashed the ship into the iceberg as the FTT hadn’t yet ruled. Is it possible/likely that the Spivs have pulled the same trick – or that they will as they approach the end game.
====================================================================
I would think HMRC are keeping a close eye on the payment side and if not heads should roll there if it happens again.
ecobhoy says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:09 pm
————————————————–
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
CW kept the ship afloat by withholding PAYE/NIC/VAT – indeed, this is what ultimately crashed the ship into the iceberg as the FTT hadn’t yet ruled. Is it possible/likely that the Spivs have pulled the same trick – or that they will as they approach the end game.
====================================================================
I would think HMRC are keeping a close eye on the payment side and if not heads should roll there if it happens again.
====================================================================
i agree, but that doesn’t give me much comfort that HMRC are watching and that it won’t happen again.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:15 pm
ecobhoy says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:09 pm
————————————————–
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
CW kept the ship afloat by withholding PAYE/NIC/VAT – indeed, this is what ultimately crashed the ship into the iceberg as the FTT hadn’t yet ruled. Is it possible/likely that the Spivs have pulled the same trick – or that they will as they approach the end game.
====================================================================
I would think HMRC are keeping a close eye on the payment side and if not heads should roll there if it happens again.
================================
i agree, but that doesn’t give me much comfort that HMRC are watching and that it won’t happen again.
——————————————-
Ha !!- but they have a new tool at their disposal and as far as I can see neither RIFC or TRFC are exempt from this legislation
“What’s changed – PAYE in real time
From 6 April 2013 you must report PAYE information in real time. You may see this referred to as Real Time Information – or RTI.
Unless HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has already notified them otherwise, all employers report PAYE in real time. Each time you pay an employee you must submit details about employees’ pay and deductions to HMRC using payroll software. “
Bit of a slip by the evening times
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/a-ton-weight-has-been-on-shoulders-of-ally-in-journey-to-hell-and-back-136097n.22129639
“The Glasgow institution went into administration in his first season in charge, players had to take massive reductions in their salaries and then, after the club went into liquidation, most left. “
Drew Peacock says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:20 pm
1 0 Rate This
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:15 pm
ecobhoy says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:09 pm
————————————————–
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:35 pm
CW kept the ship afloat by withholding PAYE/NIC/VAT – indeed, this is what ultimately crashed the ship into the iceberg as the FTT hadn’t yet ruled. Is it possible/likely that the Spivs have pulled the same trick – or that they will as they approach the end game.
====================================================================
I would think HMRC are keeping a close eye on the payment side and if not heads should roll there if it happens again.
================================
i agree, but that doesn’t give me much comfort that HMRC are watching and that it won’t happen again.
——————————————-
Ha !!- but they have a new tool at their disposal and as far as I can see neither RIFC or TRFC are exempt from this legislation
“What’s changed – PAYE in real time
From 6 April 2013 you must report PAYE information in real time. You may see this referred to as Real Time Information – or RTI.
Unless HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has already notified them otherwise, all employers report PAYE in real time. Each time you pay an employee you must submit details about employees’ pay and deductions to HMRC using payroll software. “
============================
Drew, I believe there was no issue with the REPORTING of PAYE/NI deductions – it was the handing them over that was the issue – does the new legislation cover that?
manandboy says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:58 pm
‘..Would anyone who has recently seen SR..
—–
Regan surfaced today as chairman of the board which decided that the new Scottish centre for sport is to be at Heriot Watt campus in Edinburgh.
The feckin man ,as well as damaging Scottish Football so badly, has now stuck his nose into another (in my view) atrocious decision-making deed.
Who thought it was a good idea to have him on that board?
How many friends does he have?
Panic over guys just lay off the bbc.its clear to me they’re awaiting admin2 in sevco land.once this happens they will look to the bbc trust for advice.
Heidi Poon – pin-up?
Sounds more like a party game at a two-years-old birthday gathering to me.
I would have hoped that the ‘both cheeks’ myth might have perished in light of the revelations regarding Scottish football that have come to light since the dawning of the age of the bampot.
Tif Finn says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:22 pm
Bit of a slip by the evening times
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/a-ton-weight-has-been-on-shoulders-of-ally-in-journey-to-hell-and-back-136097n.22129639
“The Glasgow institution went into administration in his first season in charge, players had to take massive reductions in their salaries and then, after the club went into liquidation, most left. “
+++++++++++
A good article that: this line:-
“But those capable of rational thought realise McCoist has not had the opportunities his predecessors have had.” is a cracker!
Of course, his predecessors had ‘opportunites’ like undisclosed player payments which clearly didn’t give the Ibrox club any sporting advantage. Poor Ally (with that ton weight too).
Or maybe, as one of those “website warriors who support other clubs and snidely deride his efforts as Rangers manager while hiding behind assumed identities online”, I am incapable of rational thought. 🙁 😀
manandboy says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:58 pm
27 0 Rate This
This is a request.
Would anyone who has recently seen SR or CO, or who knows of their whereabouts, please drop the blog a line.
———————————————————————
Check Mr Ogilvie’s back pocket.
@Guys and Gals
I see two of the original investors in Sevco 5088 Ltd are ATP Investments Ltd (originally Margarita Trust) and Putney Holdings Ltd. Has anyone come across them or know anything about them?
Carfins Finest says:
———————–
Yes, but is it solely because of their hatred of the BBC that they refused to take part?
My take on it is that, yeah a boycott is a boycott, but equally if NewGers fans see they are paying well over the odds for their fitba’, they might “walk away”…
1st,and probably last,post.Followed RTC and this from inception.Been away for a couple of days and now catching up.I followed the link to FF site(sorry can’t give you the link)on Not The Huddle Malcontent’s post at 10.19pm last night.I was disgusted to note a shocking notice about the late Jock Stein on the top left hand corner.I have gone through the subsequent posts and can’t see a mention of it anywhere(apologies if it has been mentioned)
I only hope none of Mr Stein’s family read it;it really is a disgrace.I know nothing of these blogs/sites;who owns or runs them;if any of you do know you may wish to contact them directly for an explanation and apology,otherwise pass it to the Police.
Thank you and continue.
Charles Green departed Ibrox not to the triumphal strains of Zadoc the Priest but to the more mournful tolling of the plague bell. Now the doors of the dead are about to be opened in a bid to cleanse and expose the shocking but hitherto hidden and mouldering secrets lurking in an empty warchest.
A key to unlocking many puzzling mysteries and ‘Bringing out the Deid’ into the cold light of day could be publication of the Annual Returns for both Sevco 5088 and Sevco Scotland both of which are well overdue and Companies House are duty bound to employ their sanitation hit squad asap.
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/09/09/mystery-directors-and-the-rangers-sevco-5088-switcheroo-by-ecojon/
I have dealt in detail with various issues concerning these companies as above but I feel it is worth going back to basics to try and understand the conflicting information distorted by smoke and mirrors. Hopefully others with statutory investigative powers will cut through the fog and set the record straight. In this piece, as previously, I will try to use official documents and recorded sources and keep speculation to a minimum although I have no doubt others will fill in the blanks.
Some Rangers posters appear to think that my last article on the companies didn’t fully explain the Rangers’ position so let me attempt to rectify that by going to the departed but not forgotten Dear Leader Green’s words and, in particular, his thoughts as broadcast on 13 April 2013 by STV at: http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/221242-extended-video-of-rangers-ceo-charles-greens-interview-with-stv/
Green clearly states that he was the first and only director and shareholder in Sevco 5088, an off-the-shelf company formed by Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) for the purpose of acquiring Rangers, and denied that Craig Whyte and Aidan Earley had any role in the company.
Green then explained that ‘as the model unfolded’ and the process changed Sevco Scotland acquired Rangers and not Sevco 5088 and stated: ‘The company that was originally formed wasn’t required and was handed back to Craig Whyte’ and added: ‘That company was never used for anything and it became a dormant company and was subsequently struck-off’.
Lets have a closer look at Green’s statements and see how they accord with the public record and might affect the contents of the overdue Annual Returns. Let’s get a small point out of the way to begin with: FFW didn’t ‘form’ Sevco 5088 although they may well have instructed the actual Cardiff-based formation company 7Side Ltd to do so.
Green wasn’t the first director and shareholder of Sevco 5088 Ltd who are listed respectively by Companies House as the formation agent Samuel lloyd and 7Side Secretarial Ltd. Indeed Green has never been listed as a Sevco 5088 shareholder at Companies House which still lists the sole shareholder as 7Side Secretarial Ltd.
The Rangers AIM flotation document for the December 2012 IPO states Green was the sole Sevco 5088 shareholder but failed to state his directorship in the company nor that it was a subsidiary of RIFC Plc.
Following intense media speculation the official Rangers website on 5 April 2013 quoted Green: “… I had signed a resignation letter and a stock transfer form because it was decided that a Scottish company should buy a Scottish institution. Sevco 5088 wasn’t required.’
On 12 April 2013 the official website stated: “Mr Green was the sole director of Sevco 5088 until he resigned and became the founder director of Sevco Scotland.’
These two statements confirm the Rangers AIM Prospectus information that Mr Green wasn’t a Sevco 5088 director in December 2012 and ceased to be so sometime between 29 May 2012 when Sevco Scotland was incorporated and 14 June 2012 when the same company bought the assets and business of Rangers from D&P.
However Green didn’t advise Companies House of his resignation from Sevco 5088 at the time and still hasn’t done so even though he wrote a resignation letter and signed a stock transfer form transferring ‘stock’ presumably from Sevco 5088 to Sevco Scotland. But what ‘stock’ was switched and was Green legally allowed to transfer it? According to Companies House there is only a £1 share in Sevco 5088 – not held by Green. So was the ‘stock’ transferred the millions of share options held by the ‘original placees’ who had invested the money to secure and purchase the Rangers assets from D&P through Sevco 5088? The closest we get to an answer is the vague ramble of Green that the ‘model unfolded’ and the process changed whatever that might mean.
A rather curious episode then took place on 27 December 2012 when Green signed a request for the voluntary striking-off of Sevco 5088 which was sent to Companies House by FFW and arrived on 7 January 2013 with the requisite notice posted in the London Gazette a week later. Curiously, Green stated on the form he was the sole director and yet he has stated and the official Rangers website has confirmed that he had ceased to be a director of Sevco 5088 at least 6 months earlier. There is another issue in that a striking-off application must be signed by more than one director unless he is the sole company director.
Things were quiet until a media bombshell dropped on 12 April 2013 that Companies House had received notification that Craig Whyte and Aidan Earley were appointed directors of Sevco 5088 on 9 May 2012 and their appointment forms had apparently been countersigned by Green.
The revelation that Green had apparently been secretly involved with Whyte in the company that had the exclusive right to acquire the assets and business of Rangers blew the already somewhat dodgy roofs off Ibrox Stadium as the Bears quite rightly erupted. In a desperate bid to regain the initiative Green appeared on STV in which became his Ratner moment as he attempted to prevent his gold turning into hoss-sh*t. He should never have taken the PR advice as he hung himself and possibly RIFC Plc out to dry condemned by his own words. However it is up to each individual to view the facts and reach their own conclusions.
Within days director termination forms, countersigned by Green, were submitted to Companies House by FFW in respect of Whyte & Earley which again seems curious if they weren’t directors as claimed by Green. Why not just report the director submissions as fraudulent to the relevant authorities and even stranger why did Green date the director termination forms for the duo from 9 May 2012 the date they were shown as being appointed on the forms previously submitted and countersigned in his name.
The big problem for Green about 9 May 2012 IMO is that it is prior to the earliest date he could have resigned as a director of Sevco 5088 according to his words and the official statements of Rangers Football Club which means that if Whyte and Earley were actually directors on that date and Green had signed their directorship forms then he was in grave difficulty. The Ibrox masses lapped-up ‘clever’ Charlie when he spun tales about how he conned Whyte and strung him along assisted by Imran Ahmad to rescue their beloved Rangers. However it is one thing to make verbal promises with no intention of keeping them and quite another to be a co-director with Whyte in a company exclusively purchasing Rangers.
Green walked away from Ibrox on 19 April 2013 and three days later RIFC announced on AIM that Sevco 5088 was a subsidiary of RIFC on 7 December 2012 when the company’s AIM admission document was presented. It was also announced that their departed CEO had failed to disclose his directorship of Sevco 5088 to AIM. However it again left the question unanswered as to if and when Green had resigned from Sevco 5088.
However, two days later on 24 April 2013 as media speculation continued unabated, RIFC Plc again issued an AIM statement describing Sevco 5088 as an inactive subsidiary which was and is defunct and non-trading. The statement avoided dealing with the thorny problem that their ex-CEO said he had handed Sevco 5088 back to Craig Whyte and resigned as adirector of the company prior to 14 June 2012.
Events moved on and Whyte and Earley contested their removal from office and following an investigation were reinstated as directors of Sevco 5088 and the director termination forms, signed by Green, were ordered to be removed from the Public Register of Companies House. so as far as Companies House is concerned Whyte & Earley are directors of Sevco 5088 and have been since 9 May 2012.
Returning to his 13 April 2013 STV appearance Green made the curious statement on camera that as Sevco 5088 was no longer required it was ‘handed back to Craig Whyte’. But if Green was the sole shareholder and director of Sevco 5088 as he claimed and Whyte had no role in that company why would he hand the company back to Whyte who had nothing to do with it according to Green. I can only draw one conclusion but I will leave readers to draw their own.
Green’s claim during the STV interview that Sevco 5088 had been struck-off is incorrect and Companies House records the true position that the striking-off application, signed by Green on 27 December 2012, had been received on 7 January 2013 but it had not been struck-off. One might consider why Green had any involvement in the striking-off application when he said he had handed the company back to Whyte in May-June 2012.
And it’s worth pondering his statement that Sevco 5088 ‘was never used for anything’. The minutes of the TRFCL Board meeting on 31 October 2012 states that Sevco 5088 paid a £200k exclusivity fee to D&P to be the sole acquiring party for the assets and business of Rangers. We also know that the company had received substantial investment funds and share placing letters concerning ‘original placee’ investors were issued predicated on Sevco 5088 being the acquiring company of Rangers. And we also know that Sevco 5088’s written permission was required to allow the switcheroo that allowed Sevco Scotland to subsequently become the acquiring party. Many claim that millions of pounds raised by original Sevco 5088 investors were also paid to D&P prior to Sevco Scotland becoming the acquiring party. I don’t inhabit Green’s world of high finance wheeler-dealing so perhaps Sevco 5088 was just a Cinderella who got nothing – it might be worth remembering how that story ended of course.
The TRFCL minute continually refers to ‘directors’ of Sevco 5088 in the plural which sits uneasily with the claims that Green was the only director and is of particular importance when considering that there is apparently no written authorisation for switching Sevco 5088 share placement letters to Sevco Scotland as the authority given by the ‘original placees’ is described as oral given to un-named Sevco 5088 ‘directors’ who remain a mystery.
RIFC Plc has stated to AIM that the directorship applications of Whyte and Earley were ‘falsely’ filed with Companies House. But if Whyte & Earley were directors of Sevco 5088 and were fully aware of the switcheroo why would they agree to it or was it the ‘mystery’ directors who did it and have since faded even further into anonymity. To echo a favourite son of Ibrox: ‘We demand the names’ and others may well be making the same request a little more forcefully quite soon.
So I believe I understand why RIFC Plc might have difficulty in providing Companies House with the Annual Return for Sevco 5088 – perhaps like the rest of us they have been left with a puzzle and unsure where the truth lies. There is a fine line between what is legally acceptable between taking someone for a pre-IPO ride like Whyte and a public company making official statements to AIM and Companies House. Still I’m sure Green will assist them in their predicament.
As to the overdue Annual Return of Sevco Scotland I was going to deal with that here but even as I type further information is emerging and I will deal with that separately although there are obvious links with the Sevco 5088 situation. I will also attempt to deal with the Worthington aspect of Sevco 5088 in a separate post as well as the offshore shareholders who also don’t appear on Companies House records.
This is what happens in the real world. Sandy Bryson take note:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2172738/index.html
Just heard this “waiver” at end of news bulletin on English speaking radio station in Spain, “news taken from headlines in various papers we do not check veracity of these stories”. Surely something that should be adopted my SMSM re PR releases they give us?
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 1:28 pm
Drew, I believe there was no issue with the REPORTING of PAYE/NI deductions – it was the handing them over that was the issue – does the new legislation cover that?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Enforcement of tax debt is dealt with under existing legislation but as we know Rangers have previously only loosely signed up to this. On the bright side at least HMRC will be able to see how much they’re not getting way earlier than before!
NB – Another pedant warning:
Bawsman says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm
valentinesclown says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:55 am
FYI, I posted this in another place yesterday.
I don’t know if you are aware but HMRC’s appeal against the UTTT won’t be heard until next year (2014).
They (HMRC) are very confident that the evidence of Dr. Heidi Poon, will win the day for them.
The forensic examination and subsequent exposure as to the extent of the tax dodging, EBT issueing and side letter hiding from all regulatory bodies in her evidence has made her a bit of a pin up girl in the Tax cheat investigation world.
I’m sure ALL the taxpaying people in the country will be cheering for HMRC. There certainly seems to be a groundswell of opinion against tax dodging company’s and off shore accounting.
Good things come to those who wait according to my (HMRC) contacts.
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Dr Poon was a tribunal member, she didn’t give evidence at the FTT. She won’t be a member of the UTT but, as you suggest, her findings may be important. More information on the UTT here: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKUT/TCC/2013/B6.pdf
blu says:
September 12, 2013 at 2:49 pm
NB – Another pedant warning:
Bawsman says:
September 12, 2013 at 12:03 pm
valentinesclown says:
September 12, 2013 at 11:55 am..
They (HMRC) are very confident that the evidence of Dr. Heidi Poon, will win the day for them.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
On the basis that she was the only one paying attention to the actual evidence and legislation whilst the other two watched open mouthed as a cunning member of the Sciuridae QC family lead them astray then I say they will win.
A follow up re. UTT
Page 2, Reason 4 (for direction by the Judge that UTT should proceed i.e. HMRC allowed to appeal) is interesting for new/old club addicts.
4. One of the Murray Group companies was Rangers Football Club plc (“RFC”),
whose financial stability was known to be threatened by (among other things) tax debts,
or at least claimed tax debts. As is well known, RFC collapsed into administration in
March 2012, followed by liquidation in October 2012. It has been re-named RFC 2012
plc. The greater part of its business, and with it most of its assets, were purchased from
the administrators in June 2012 by Sevco Scotland Ltd, which has since been re-named
The Rangers Football Club Ltd. Although the professional football team known as
Rangers had played in the Scottish Premier League until 2012, the collapse led to the
ejection of the team from that league, and a team known as Rangers now plays in the
Scottish Third Division.
D-Day for Rangers midfielder Ian Black as he faces SFA judicial panel over betting charges
12 Sep 2013 07:28
BLACK’S team mate David Templeton has backed the former Hearts and Inverness player who is accused of gambling on 160 games.
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Wonder what odds he got ?
Drew Peacock says:
September 12, 2013 at 2:54 pm
On the basis that she was the only one paying attention to the actual evidence and legislation whilst the other two watched a cunning member of the Sciuridae QC family lead them astray then I say they will win.
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Drew, we’ve been here so many times before – we can’t assume what the decision will be. Lawyers are paid lots of money to win cases – they’ll present what’s favourable to their case and rubbish wealknesses in the other side’s case. You can call that squirreling if you like but it’s what we’ve got. You and I may have found Dr Poon’s findings to be clear and compelling but, as Judge Bishopp observes, the FTT decision was substantially in favour of the Murray Group. The same kind of people will sit on the UTT to hear HMRC’s appeal. The legal representatives for the appellant and respondents will be as for the FTT, I think.
Blu/Drew,
My reading FWIW of the original FTT result was that it got bogged down in the narrow standpoint, “was a loan technically taxable?” Result (in grossly simplistic terms) – no it wasn’t. Poon, in her lengthy submission (is that the right word?) went to great lengths to step back from that technicality and say that without a flow of funds into the trust said loans could never have existed. How they subsequently went on to operate and be treated for tax purposes was therefore a moot point, in her eyes. She then concentrated on the seemingly large number of co-incidences between activities ‘on the park’ and said flow of funds into the trust. I also understand that HMRC individually citing RFC* as opposed to the Murray group in entirety further sharpens the focus on this particular key aspect.
But yes, the result could still very much go either way!
On another note, is it just me but did the UTT admin bods go to great lengths to specifically avoid using the words ‘new’ and ‘club’ in too close proximity. I also liked the “club threatened by tax liability , as well as other things” part. So it is all Lawell’s fault then!
Scotsman
@TheScotsman
.@RFC_Official midfielder Ian Black given 10 game ban for breaching betting rules. 7 suspended. Also receives £7.5k fine.
Effectively a 3 match ban for betting on games Black played in. Can anyone give some perspective to this by saying any other player / managers who have been given 3 match bans and what their offences were?
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
September 12, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Scotsman
@TheScotsman
.@RFC_Official midfielder Ian Black given 10 game ban for breaching betting rules. 7 suspended. Also receives £7.5k fine.
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Will be interesting to see how McCoist reacts to this punishment.
Will he accept his player’s punishment with quiet dignity ?
Or, will he be outraged that Black has been ‘made a scapegoat’, and it’s just because he plays for TRFC ?
If McCoist can’t keep his pie-hole closed 🙂 then he should be required to deliver his sheets of paper containing the ‘other football players who bet’ to the SFA immediately to help with any further investigation.
Will he get any awkward questions from the MSM…? [I know, I know]