The Immortality Project

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.

 

3,959 thoughts on “The Immortality Project


  1. torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
    September 23, 2013 at 9:35 pm
    ——————————————————–

    You are correct, there could be a hidden diamond when Sevco (whatever) publish their accounts. You should never count your chickens, he is one shrewd cookie (MISTER Green of course)……..as he never tired of telling us………..I presume he still owns them?


  2. I see Charles Green is still clinging on to Rangers – I wonder why?

    Still listed as a director of Rangers Retail Ltd and Garrion Security Services Ltd – both subsidiaries of RIFC Plc.

    Strange that a guy who couldn’t cut it as a £1k a month consultant is still a director in two important money-generating Rangers companies.

    Must be some reason but for the life of me I don’t understand it.

    And of course there’s Sevco 5088 Ltd where he’s a director along with Whyte and Earley. Strange bedfellows indeed just like the old days when Sevco 5088 bought the exclusive rights to buy Rangers’ assets from D&P.


  3. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 23, 2013 at 9:29 pm
    0 0 Rate This

    Do Sevco have to announce their AGM by this time next week if they plan to have it on Oct 31st?

    +++++++++++++
    RIFC PLC must have an AGM by 31/12/2013, 6 months after their accounts reference date. I don’t know where this 31 October date came from, possibly the gob of Ally McCoist? The accounts must be published 21 days before the AGM, so by 10 December. As regards TRFC, this company has until 28 February to submit its accounts (it is a private, not a public company). However since it is (allegedly) a 100% subsidiary of RIFC PLC, all its figures will be consolidated within the RIFC accounts. It should be easy enough to extract TRFC’s figures from the RIFC accounts, since RIFC has to publish both its own figures and consolidated figures including TRFC.

    All this assumes that accounts are published and an AGM held in due course. I wouldn’t bet on it, personally.


  4. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 23, 2013 at 9:29 pm
    ============================
    My understanding is that the figs,etc don’t have to be released until the end of December.
    However,the board have backed themselves into a corner by agreeing with the”Requisitioners” that the AGM will be held no later than 31st October.The audited accounts,therefore must be published around 4 weeks,I believe before the AGM to allow the shareholders to study them and maybe comment at the AGM.
    On this basis,if the AGM is going ahead on the 31st October(there’s a lot of opinion that it won’t)then the results will need to be published within the next few days.I don’t know the exact date but I’d say that if the figs are not released by next friday,4th October,then the AGM is almost certainly not going ahead by the date agreed with the consortium demanding change but don’t actually want to put any money in.


  5. jimlarkin says:
    September 23, 2013 at 6:56 pm
    ‘..Regan – the. SFA stand by betting rules !!
    What a brass neck he’s got !!!!!!!’
    ——
    And , listening to Sportsound when his interview was played, I heard him talk about football associations appointing ‘integrity officers’ !

    Integrity and the SFA?!

    ‘ RIFC Board and Truth’ could not be more of an oxymoron!


  6. auchinstarry says:
    September 23, 2013 at 9:25 pm
    6 0 Rate This

    Reilly 1926 @8-42pm

    Re Battlefield Bear.

    This person sums up the mentality which previous and current custodians (temporary) of the deceased club play on.
    They can basically get away with anything. Punters like this one will Follow Follow regardless.
    I have come to realise that all the talk , debate, proof of wrongdoing, proof of financial irregularity, proof of cheating, non payment of taxes,collusion, gambling, etc etc , will do nothing to put off people like this.
    That is one of the reasons the club is where it is today.
    The blind loyalty mixed with the WATP mentality, has literally Enabled the crooks in the embezzlement of cash from this club. It is similar in the process of enabling an addict. And these people in charge of the club are addicts, addicted to money.. Continuing to be sponsored and enabled by their own supporters.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    . . .continuing. . .enabled. . .by their own supporters. . .

    I’m guessing you mean the churnalists like guidi, young, Keevins, spiers, English…
    Who believe (wrongly), that Sevco and Rangers (in Liquidation), are the same entity.


  7. Sky Sports News- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says Luis Suarez is “champing at the bit to help the team”!!!


  8. i don’t believe there will be a Sevco/RIFC plc AGm on October 31st

    I wonder how that will go down in sevcoville if it doesn’t happen

    guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it pans out.


  9. Have they stipulated a year for the AGM – they agreed Oct 31st – did they also say 2013?

    Just saying…..


  10. Jim Larkin @9-56pm

    I’m guessing you mean the churnalists etc………

    Aye them as well…………………


  11. Surely sevco must have loadsamoney ??? They’re on the hunt for new players?? So surely they have the money to pay them!!! No 😥 well all will be revealed when the audited accounts are published 😀 no fear they’re due any day now 😳 honest!!!


  12. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 23, 2013 at 3:12 pm
    —-
    Celtic accounts:
    I’m showing my financial illiteracy again, but there’s a wee query, NTHM
    What am I missing?
    The summary says
    ‘ Profit BEFORE [my capitals] tax £9.74m (2012: £7.37m loss)’

    The Chairman’s statement a little bit further down (at line 4) says
    ‘…produced an operating profit of £13.10m and retained profits AFTER [my capitals] tax of £9.74m, ..’

    Which is it?


  13. The most interesting things about the Ranger’s statement were:

    1. It was given in a fora that precludes direct questioning

    2. Moreover, it’s a fora that is free from the “Pains and Penalties” that might apply in other more credible arenas


  14. neepheid says:
    September 23, 2013 at 1:56 pm
    ‘..In that case, believe me, the game’s a bogey, the cat’s in the lobby, eating a chocolate biscuit (if anyone else is old enough to remember that one). ‘
    —–
    Just to go OT for a minute.
    How interesting!
    In my part of late 40s early 50s Parkheid, Glasgow the chant went ‘ the game’s a bogey, there’s a man in the lobby ( pronounced ‘loaby’, of course).

    As I recall, the chant went up when it was discovered that some rule of the game had , whether deliberately or not, been so infringed as to nullify the result. There was a need to begin afresh.

    Oh, happy days! when innocent children could recognise that rules are there to protect the integrity of the game and save us from cheats, and that when they are foully breached, the only proper thing to do is to start all over again so that there is no gain for any cheat.

    Sadly, It would appear that our Football Administrators could not ever have been innocent children!

    ( And, btw, I don’t think we ever so much as saw a chocolate biscuit until our various older sisters got jobs in Macfarlane Lang’s in Clydeford Drive!)


  15. campsiejoe says:
    September 23, 2013 at 8:41 pm
    20 1 Rate This
    ———–

    Yes, they have a list too, I don’t doubt it 🙂
    I listened to the SSB podcast and it was a different Celtic fan, though very pro-Ibrox, almost to a fault. But fair enough, he may have been genuine. Keevins and Guidi were at their insolent, disrespectful worst — the Basil Fawlty’s of radio hosts. Their contempt for callers reached new levels tonight. Nevertheless, a few decent voices got through.


  16. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24209960

    Scottish FA chief executive Stewart Regan has no intention of relaxing strict anti-gambling rules he claims are the envy of other associations.

    “At the moment, there are no plans to change our processes and, indeed, we are sharing our definitions with other associations,” said Regan.

    “In many ways, a number of associations are looking at what the Scottish FA have in place right now.

    “Why open yourselves up to further dangers by relaxing the rules we have in place?”

    While there were never any suggestions that Black was involved in match-fixing,
    Regan said: “It is the thin end of the wedge.”

    Regan said: “If you look at the Scottish FA’s rules, they can’t be any more clearer . . . . .

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    I’m speechless !


  17. john clarke says:
    September 23, 2013 at 10:48 pm
    1 0 Rate This

    … As I recall, the chant went up when it was discovered that some rule of the game had , whether deliberately or not, been so infringed as to nullify the result. There was a need to begin afresh.
    ———
    That’s the one I know and the interpretation was as you say. Great point and right on topic John.

    The bit about the cat and the chocolate biscuit I’ve never heard though.


  18. manandboy says:
    September 23, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    The rules on this, and much else, are perfectly fine as stated. It’s the application of the rules, where things have a tendency to go pear shaped….


  19. justshatered says:
    September 23, 2013 at 9:01 pm
    ”..As an aside I wonder how Lord Hodge (I think that was his name) conflict of interest of D&P is coming along?..’
    —–
    I suppose he must be waiting for whatever BDO digs up from such paperwork relating to the ‘administration’ as handled by D&P as has not been shredded!

    Always assuming that his elevation to the UK Supreme Court allows him still to deal with the matter.

    Any ‘ legal’ able to say?

    If not LH, to whom will BDO report , as officers of the Court?


  20. Delbhoy says:
    September 23, 2013 at 7:57 pm
    85 5 Rate This

    A caller to Superscoreboard : ” I’m a Celtic fan and I can’t wait to see Rangers back where they belong: competetive and winning the league”.
    Hugh Keevins : ” I couldn’t agree more “.
    Mark Guidi : ” Rangers never died ; they continued seamlessly “.
    Give me strength. I listen so you don’t have to. But this has been too much. Way too much.
    %%%%%
    The example of why normally rational people give good money to ‘psychics’


  21. Did a radio station bin it’s phone-in show because lots of plants(production staff, relatives and friends) were caught in the act?


  22. I, along with many others here, have been complaining about the hermit-like qualities of Regan and Ogilvie – and their lack of communication with the fans, aka paying customers.

    But I was wrong.

    After reading Regan’s latest quotes wrt betting and the SFA’s ‘role in educating other FA’s’…

    Get the guys in the white coats to escort the SFA Chief Executive back to the Hampden bunker immediately – and lock the door this time… 🙄


  23. Danish Pastry says:
    September 23, 2013 at 7:35 pm
    ‘… I don’t judge a programme’s quality by how much direct Sevco critique it contains, there are other issues to monitor, and there are also subtle ways for intimidated journos to critque any self-important club that has ideas above its station.’
    ——–
    That is quite an important observation.

    If ( or as many expect, when) Easdale Holdings end up owning Ibrox and Murray Park and ditch any notion of trying to make money by running a football club, resulting in the unavailabilty of those premises for football purposes, TSFM the blog will still have a role in monitoring Scottish football, which clearly is reasonably healthy as the entertainment of many , many people, and not at all dependent on any one club or footballing entity!

    But seriously, though, what’s with Easdale Holdings?
    Can the brothers pull it off- take the new football club from its present holding company into their holding company? And kill it? ……… And live?

    I suddenly see the dinner-suited Al ( Robert de Niro) Capone walking behind his seated, dinner-suited fellow diners, giving an inspiring ‘team-work’ speech using a baseball analogy, while hefting a baseball bat.!
    Great scene.

    Perhaps I wax lyrical, small eve- of- wedding- anniversary refreshment quietly imbibed.

    But there are serious people looking for serious money.

    Nothing can be ruled out.

    There are, in this world of ours, quite a lot of evil bastards.


  24. Scrolled through RR site there for a look at what the Bears were up to. More and more are coming round to the inevitible view that administration is now a certainty. “George” is saying that only £4.2mil. is left in the kitty. they are even coming to terms with the possible sale of Ibrox and Murray Pk. It sticks out like a sore thumb that they are unable to get all the factions to unite and take on the spivs. IMO it was always going to end in tears. Roll on their AGM.(If it happens)


  25. Why did SR break his silence today on the betting thing which is all but done, testing his mic? Is it his turn again to deflect attention from current matters.

    SSB Mr Guidi, he refers to sevco as a seamless continuation of oldclub, which has been recognised as such by SFA and UEFA he said. He was challenged to pen that in his rag, which he shat out of, but insisted he has no problem with others referring to sevco as sevco but advised bears not to rise to the baiting by evil bill payers.
    His unwillingness to take up the challenge of confirming in print his claim that the SFA and UEFA agree with him, and with reports that TE is set to ask the SFA the same question directly, leads me to believe that a tipping point is fast approaching. The manner in which Guidi responded to the title stripping, and the way he almost looses it over the word sevco, or was it international? anyway the same club argument is hurting them more than anyone, they’ll soon be demanding confirmation of sorts from UEFA, or rattling up another commission, or regurgitating the corgi registered guy Charlie met at the party he crashed. Sevco, sevco, sevco.


  26. Looked on RR financial page. A bear posted that a tax bill of £3.2mil was due in November, If true and the kitty only has £4.2/£6.5mil. depending on who you believe, are HMRC up to date with PAYE & VAT? It is getting really interesting down Govan way.


  27. Galling fiver says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:30 am
    ‘…Why did SR break his silence today on the betting thing which is all but done,..’
    ——-
    Boy, haven’t we all learned a great deal on this blog about the necessity of asking questions!

    You’re right, Gf, to ask that particular question.

    Sportsound yesterday evening spent a lot of time on the betting thing. And included the interview with Regan.

    Should we ask why?

    Can there really be that degree of collusion between Radio Scotland and the SFA in the matter of trying to protect the benighted RIFC by trying to draw attention away from what is happening as the rats-in-the-sack tear at each other?

    Should we ask?

    Given the track record of BBC Radio Scotland and the SFA, damned right we should.


  28. john clarke says:
    September 23, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 23, 2013 at 3:12 pm
    —-
    Celtic accounts:
    I’m showing my financial illiteracy again, but there’s a wee query, NTHM
    What am I missing?
    The summary says
    ‘ Profit BEFORE [my capitals] tax £9.74m (2012: £7.37m loss)’

    The Chairman’s statement a little bit further down (at line 4) says
    ‘…produced an operating profit of £13.10m and retained profits AFTER [my capitals] tax of £9.74m, ..’

    Which is it?
    ==========
    JC, had a very quick look at accounts and ‘Note 5′, and – on face value – it appears that CFC is utilising previous years’ losses to offset against the current year’s taxable profits of £9.74M.
    No corporation tax payable, so Pre/Post tax figure is unchanged.

    Looking at the B/S there is a further £20M remaining of ‘Accumulated Losses’ which could be offset against future, taxable profits.

    [It’s been a wee while since I looked at Corporation Tax, so pleased if anyone wants to add anything.]


  29. ekt1m says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:46 am
    7 0 Rate This

    Looked on RR financial page. A bear posted that a tax bill of £3.2mil was due in November, If true and the kitty only has £4.2/£6.5mil. depending on who you believe, are HMRC up to date with PAYE & VAT? It is getting really interesting down Govan way.
    +++++++++++++++
    The only taxes payable by TRFC currently will be PAYE/NIC on that enormous monthly wage bill. However the wage bill is not enormous enough to generate a monthly tax bill of £3.2m.

    So if the story is true, then they must currently be in arrears with PAYE/NIC, and have agreed time to pay until November. Agreeing time to pay would be a very foolish thing for HMRC to have done in this case, since I would rate their chances of actually collecting £3.2m in November at close to zero. However I really hope and believe that HMRC aren’t that stupid, so I personally doubt if the story is correct.


  30. I was just reading the Scotsman report online which states Peter Lawwell was yesterday asked if the ‘crisis’ at the Co-operative Bank would have any affect on Celtic. Lawwell as quoted answered well, but it’s yet again another example of the media freely asking questions of Celtic they would not dare to ask of anyone at Ibrox. Let’s face it, the Co-op Bank question to Lawwell was as loaded as they come, on the back of the total nonsense that was fed to some sections of the media recently. For anyone who cares, and I realise everyone doesn’t, I think any negativity about Celtic’s finances over the next few weeks that appears in the media should be treated with the contempt those behind it deserve.


  31. IIRC the tax bill due is the VAT, paid quarterly? I think due this month


  32. upthehoops says:
    September 24, 2013 at 7:05 am
    &&&&&&&&
    Mr Irvine is just trying to earn a crust!!!! 😛 Why would PL have anything to say about Co-Op Bank? More interestingly why would a scribbler from the normally financially ignorant Scottish Press Corp even ask such a question? The sticky, slimy, cold, clammy hand of JI has gripped the Sandy Galls of a former accomplice and squeezed out a favour.


  33. Mr Regan, it would seem, has ended his self-imposed media silence.

    The self same executive who nearly wore out the word “transparency” when he first burst on the scene, with his powerful rhetoric, – before he went into hiding, is now back in what looks to me like a coordinated programme demonstrating just how effective an executive he is.

    – He held the media floor for the Sports Academy at Riccarton in his capacity as chairman a week or so back.
    – He patronised us yesterday about our wonderful anti betting statutes being the envy of other associations and also how relaxed he was about no sponsor or sponsorship money for the SPFL.
    – And he is genius enough to see the folly of a summer world cup in Qatar and what else might happen to our fans and players in the Qatar heat.

    Maybe today he will start giving honest and forthright answers to the questions we’ve been asking him for the last couple of years.

    Or – maybe not.


  34. @corsica1968 has some interesting tweets in his recent timeline, not unrelated to CF’s last one 😉


  35. Danish Pastry says:
    September 24, 2013 at 6:21 am

    In case anyone was in doubt about why a severe slap on the wrist was dished out to IB:
    https://mobile.twitter.com/Daily_Record/media/grid?idx=0&tid=382278600298221568
    =====================================================================
    What always made me laugh at SMSM stories on Black was that he was just a daft wee laddie who had a wee bet in concert with hundreds of other officials and players.

    Not one single story that I saw mentioned why the absolute no-betting ban was in place and it wasn’t to protect bored football players from themselves. If that were to be the case then there would be an absolute ban on booze and driving fast cars.

    The ban is there because of the seriousness of potential match fixing – I really despair at our media and they actually seem to be getting worse.

    Where was the media questioning of SDM’s banking partner back in the day and the reckless lending that eventually brought about the fall of Rangers and indeed the worldwide banking system crash?


  36. VAT is payable on ticket and season ticket sales (as well as other merchandising, match day sales etc). In the normal course of events it is payable quarterly so it is entirely possible that there is a substantial sum due to HMRC. This does not mean Rangers have not been paying it, simply that it is not due until one month after the end of the quarter in question.

    The current VAT ate is 20% so to calculate how much is due (on sales) you take 1/6th of the amount.

    Fag packet calculation, if season tickets were sold at an average of £250 and around 37,000 were sold that would come to £9.25m. The VAT element of that would be just over £1.5m. That would not include any match day tickets and sales, income from sale of strips etc.

    This does not allow for VAT on purchases but I don’t imagine that would be a huge figure where no significant trading in players’ registrations has taken place.


  37. ecobhoy says:
    September 24, 2013 at 8:10 am
    10 0 Rate This
    ————–

    @eco
    At the present rate it looks as though many traditional rags will die off. Personally, I’d hate see something like The Herald or The Scotsman disappear. It is strange though, that so few editors can see that there’s actually an appetite for accurate, unbiased reporting. Looks like it will be up to the online ezines to take journalism forward in the coming years.


  38. Danish Pastry says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:18 am
    0 0 Rate This

    ecobhoy says:
    September 24, 2013 at 8:10 am
    10 0 Rate This
    ————–

    @eco
    At the present rate it looks as though many traditional rags will die off. Personally, I’d hate see something like The Herald or The Scotsman disappear. It is strange though, that so few editors can see that there’s actually an appetite for accurate, unbiased reporting. Looks like it will be up to the online ezines to take journalism forward in the coming years.

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

    danish

    is it not the case though, that newspapers are generally owned by rich people who use the editorial output of the paper to suit their own personal/political/financial objectives?

    there is no neutral paper as the people funding it, don’t want the truth – they want influence.


  39. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:23 am
    1 0 Rate This

    … there is no neutral paper as the people funding it, don’t want the truth – they want influence.
    ———-

    @NTHM
    I wouldn’t want to write off every newspaper or publication. Certainly in the past the great newspapers were run by men and women who wanted their world view expressed. And that may be even more the case today with huge media empires cosying up to governments and corporations. Naive as I am though, I still believe there are those who want influence for the common good. I know from personal experience that it is possible to maintain a strict editorial line and retain a substantial readership, in fact, perhaps because of the strict editorial line that people know and can rely on.


  40. I would be surprised if any bill to HMRC wasn’t paid to be honest – at least in part. Any outfit operating out of Ibrox must have used up all their privileges with the revenue, especially as they are already sailing close to the wind by using the Rangers name (brand) to market their club and company.
    That said the board’s plan must be to run up some kind of debt, otherwise there would have been massive cost-cutting in areas where they don’t have their fingers in the till (player’s wages).

    Question 1
    IIRC either Coventry or Southampton were found to have gone through an insolvency event because they packaged up their debt in a holding company and tried to shed it while the football club (company) continued unaffected. It would be an interesting spin on this for a holding company to put it’s own football club/company into admin and be the main creditor. Is this possible??

    Question 2
    It seems to me that they will get a lot more if they control the process, which means they will need to be the main debtors. If there is a mountain of paper debt either to RIFC or to other companies connected to various current and former Sevco directors, can they control the administration and any CVA?


  41. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:23 am
    Danish Pastry says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:18 am
    ecobhoy says:
    September 24, 2013 at 8:10 am
    ————–
    @eco At the present rate it looks as though many traditional rags will die off. Personally, I’d hate see something like The Herald or The Scotsman disappear. It is strange though, that so few editors can see that there’s actually an appetite for accurate, unbiased reporting. Looks like it will be up to the online ezines to take journalism forward in the coming years.
    =====================================
    danish

    is it not the case though, that newspapers are generally owned by rich people who use the editorial output of the paper to suit their own personal/political/financial objectives? there is no neutral paper as the people funding it, don’t want the truth – they want influence.
    ===================================================================
    In the past newspapers were very much the must-have plaything of the rich and usually meglomaniac owner/publisher. It’s now mega yachts and for the really rich and flamboyant a football club.

    Some of these old Press Barons were happy to have the paper and use the fear and influence of it like a steel fist in a soft leather glove but by and large they left editors to get on with things. Others dabbled and meddled and quite literally were round the twist but at least they were personalities.

    Those days have largely gone and the ownership of some newspaper groups can be as opaque as the sketchy Annual Returns some companies file.

    The big failure in financial terms for the current print media is the abysmal failure to adapt to the on-line realities and a totally different audience with demands and requirements light years away from the product on offer.

    As to the Herald and Scotsman I reckon at least one of them will go quite soon and I’m not even sure the other will survive much longer. I couldn’t believe the other day when I saw the Herald was filling I think four pages with photos of our betters punters on up-market nights out. How sad that Scotland’s once respected ‘paper of record’ has fallen so low. It’s the same marketing ploy as local papers filling page after page with school class photos as every relative would buy their copy. Nowadays these pics are swapped on facebook and the like and even most grannies and grandads are switched-on 😀

    But both the Scotsman and Herald in their attempt to crack the internet audience have allowed some of the lowest of the low to spout vile abuse on their online editions especially wrt football and political stories. If I had kids at an impressionable age I would block the sites and others like them as they are pure poison.

    It seems to me that all that matters is to try and garner a few pennies in ad clicks and that will never pay for real journalistic input.

    The big move is already happening throughout the world where some bloggers and groups are producing alternative online ‘newspapers’ and many are financially flourishing. They do so because they know their market and provide that market with what it requires which is informed, up-to-the-minute news and comment and the means to inter-react.

    The likes of the Herald and Scotsman are still stuck in the quagmire of trying to put their print edition online. It ain’t working and it never will so they will go. Some others might survive but it won’t be primarily down to news content IMO however that’s another subject.


  42. Echo your sentiments Eco and Danish.Some excellent input on the site on the future of Scottish media and the manner in which they project opinion. I share the view that online media has its downsides vis a vis some of the mindless posts.There is a lot of it about -mindlessness.
    A word of warning for the twitterati danger lurks out there as people disguise themselves in dark and sinister forms,fake accounts and the like.

    Be careful


  43. Was having another read at the strange Offishal Rangers statement launching a damp squib or should that be ‘squid’ at BBC Scotland.

    The Press release states: ‘Many Rangers fans believe there are those within the BBC determined to damage this Club and inaccurate, shoddy reporting which ignores their own Trust’s guidelines does nothing to dispel the notion that some journalists are unwilling to accept this Club is on the road to full recovery.’

    Seems to me that a vicious civil war is currently underway between Rangers fans and many many Bears are vehemently expressing their opinion that the only road their club is on leads straight to financial ruin.

    I wonder if these questioning Bears who refuse to be deflected by smokescreens, mirrors and imported grey squirrels by the barrel-load will also have their right to expression and free speech denied ❓

    The one thing that the Offishal Press release doesn’t seem to address is whether Rangers – in whatever one of its many forms – is denying that the previous shareholding information for Sevco Scotland Ltd and TRFCL is actually required for a complete Annual Return submission.

    That is what everyone including, I suspect, savvy Bears want to know. It’s a simple question so just let us know the answer. I will make it even more simple: Does the TRFCL Annual Return include all the statutorily required shareholder and shareholding info ❓


  44. davythelotion says:
    September 24, 2013 at 7:23 am
    ‘….. The sticky, slimy, cold, clammy hand of JI has gripped the Sandy Galls of a former accomplice and squeezed out a favour..’
    ——
    A very nice turn of phrase, bordering on the poetic. 10 out of 10,dtl!


  45. StevieBC says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:39 am
    ‘…JC, had a very quick look at accounts and ‘Note 5′,..’
    —-
    Thanks for that, StevieBC. But it’s kind of beyond my capabilities to really understand accountancy concepts and mechanisms. I just noted what seemed to be two contradictory statements, and was thinking ‘misprint’ and/or poor proof-reading!
    The important thing is that one major club in Scottish football is financially sound.


  46. john clarke says:
    September 24, 2013 at 11:31 am

    Thanks guys for the help with the diet, lunch plans have just been cancelled….


  47. ecobhoy says:
    September 24, 2013 at 10:29 am
    8 0 Rate This

    Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:23 am
    Danish Pastry says:
    September 24, 2013 at 9:18 am
    ecobhoy says:
    September 24, 2013 at 8:10 am
    ————–
    @eco At the present rate it looks as though many traditional rags will die off.
    —————————————————————————————————————–
    Good. If they can produce balanced articles throughout most of the paper why when it comes to the Sports section they cannot. They should print what they know and what most of internet users know. Let us be honest the sevco fans think they are biased anyway (like everyone is who says it as it is) so just put it out there Rangers FC were liquidated and there is a new club playing in Govan. Why when you mention Rangers demise you print nothing but lies.
    Newspapers used to wrap chips, wonder how that panned out.


  48. With apologies to supporters of other clubs and with the awareness there are basic assumptions that might smack of hubris ( but I’m trying to be practical) I’ve copied this over from CQN where it was posted on the latest blog on Celtic’s accounts to test reaction.

    What Celtic appear to have for the forseeable future is a two stage CL qualifying process.Stage one is winning the SPFL title. Given the number of games and the attrition rate between our competitors and our resources the risk of not getting through this stage is very low over the next few years.That gets us into the knock out qualifying stages (a bit like the play offs) where the risk of failure is a lot higher because
    a) The standard of opposition is unknown but they are also title winners.
    b) this stage comes at a bad time after a 4 week break and players may not be as match fit as opponents.
    c) It is also the major transfer window where we risk losing our best players and not being able to replace them in time for the qualifying matches.

    If I were Celtic I would suggest to the SPFL that we change our football season so that the long break is mid winter from mid Dec to end Feb. Titles are won by Christmas and players traded for start of new season to avoid problems at b and c.

    As an incentive I’d offer a percentage of CL winnings as a further solidarity payment to the SPFL.
    Would other clubs bite our hand off and join in or bite out of spite?


  49. Auldheid says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    No disrespect to Aberdeen etc but….. the Rangers fans who are worried about Celtic doing 10 in a row, are being optimistic, at this rate it could be 15 or 20


  50. “As an incentive I’d offer a percentage of CL winnings as a further solidarity payment to the SPFL.
    Would other clubs bite our hand off and join in or bite out of spite? ”

    Whoa, whoa, whoa – ‘out of spite’? So other clubs would ‘either be for us or against us’? Not like you, auldheid. You’re sounding like one of the peepil! 😉

    Couldn’t it just be the case that clubs just wouldn’t want it for other reasons? Off the top of my head, a good percentage of their fans would be away during the summer holidays for several weeks at a time. Would fans buy a season ticket if they knew up front that there was a distinct possibility that they couldn’t make a large number of games?


  51. Auldheid says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:48 pm
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Wasn’t there once another team who moved heaven and earth to skew Scottish football to their advantage to the detriment of all of the other 40 clubs. I believe they no longer exist but I recall they had a partner in crime to assist them and that accomplice is now on the straight and narrow these days. Let’s all hope they don’t stray and try to advantage themselves any further from their already over privileged position.


  52. http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/8066-bbc-trust-denies-reports-it-is-to-pursue-jim-spence-rangers-complaint.

    The following is taken from the above link…

    “When liquidated in June of last year, Rangers FC owed tens of millions to 276 creditors. Charles Green’s Sevco Scotland Limited acquired the assets of the club and the company was renamed as The Rangers Football Club Ltd. The new entity entered Scottish football in the lowest tier Third Division.”

    Not sure whether we should warn News net Scotland about the impending protests…boycotts and raft of complaints…that must surely be heading their way with that piece of factual delivery?


  53. Paulmac2 says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Given newsnet’s proclivities, abuse from the Unionist hordes is somethig they will be well inured to. A case of Bring It On as someone once said….


  54. As sure as night follows day, one of the nations intrepid hacks, administrators, officials, Scotland’s finest or everyday moron may have taken those CFC accounts as a call to do his bit on behalf of the righteous, and I doubt they’ll be in the mood for a picnic in the woods.

    We all know how it works by now, don’t get caught out and stay safe.


  55. 15. Paulmac2 says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Now that the dust has settled a little bit, does anybody know how many complaints the BBC received over the treatment of Jim Spence? We were quick enough to be told that 400 complaints had been received about Jim Spence’s original comments. I’m just curious that the follow up figure doesn’t seem to have appeared anywhere….


  56. Shooperb says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:01 pm
    ————————————————————

    Not sure that question was raised by Auldheid, sounds more like it came from the original article.

    In saying that, I agree with you that Celtic could offer more and I am sure the other clubs would accept this and other proposals even if they were to mainly suit Celtic as they might also suit themselves. The other Scottish clubs involved in Europe at the start of the season also suffered from lack of games so this is not exclusive to Celtic, a lot of fans want to see summer football so why not?

    I also believe that Celtic could offer some of the Champions League monies with the only motivation being an improvement to the overall game in Scotland; I would like to see more of that. It should be a club choice though as they have to invest a lot just to get into that league. Unfortunately some fans only ever look at the “money earned”; they don’t consider the cost of maintaining a team good enough to get into that league.


  57. Danish Pastry says:
    September 24, 2013 at 10:45 am
    Edit: Apropos ezines forgot this link that I saw PhilM link to on twitter:
    http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/8066-bbc-trust-denies-reports-it-is-to-pursue-jim-spence-rangers-complaint

    Following on from this, I read an article on that link by Derek Bateman “Please…somebody stop me…”
    Where it is mentioned that some newspapers have different pages for Scotland and England.
    Very true this is unbelievable:-
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1051578/Revealed-The-health-concerns-cervical-cancer-jab.html
    Against (UK edition)
    ———————————————
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/ireland/article-1095022/Join-Irish-Daily-Mails-cervical-cancer-vaccination-campaign-today.html
    For (Irish Edition)
    The god, Janus, doesn’t get a “look” in!


  58. Drew Peacock

    So no one but Celtic would benefit from the suggested changes?

    Shooperb. That is your interpretation of the question. I just asked it to see how the suggestion would be received.

    What if the proposal came from all the other clubs? Would that make it a good idea?


  59. Auldheid says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:48 pm
    …………………………..

    As ideas go…it’s a fair shout…

    However…I can’t see the other clubs pandering to that…even though it may help all Scottish clubs in the long term!


  60. “”If I were Celtic I would suggest to the SPFL that we change our football season so that the long break is mid winter from mid Dec to end Feb.””
    I would support a summer season and the CL situation is one of the reasons why :even though there is no chance of my team being involved there is still decent money to be made in the Europa thing. However, it’s all just moving the deck chairs around. A blind man running for a bus could see that a radical restructuring of the set up in Scottish football, in particular the money, is required IF we want to be a force in football as opposed to just being poor appendage to the EPL. If all we want is a “successful” Celtic and/or Sevco, which is a perfectly valid choice, then we should keep doing what we do now and get the same outcomes. I may be cynical, or maybe I’m just getting old and therefore know what happens next, but I suspect no-one is really caring much about the wider Scottish fitba community.


  61. Paulmac2 says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:29 pm

    http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-news/8066-bbc-trust-denies-reports-it-is-to-pursue-jim-spence-rangers-complaint.
    ————————————————————————————-
    What I find to be most enlightening about the piece is the disgraceful reporting of The Herald although I have noticed some real bloomers from Williams previously and have never been able to figure out whether he is just incompetent or has a balance problem – perhaps Stockbridge might have a video that could help us out.

    And what about a retraction of the story is that going to happen ❓ It seems unbelievable that when a reporter is informed of a serious error in a story he has written that his immediate reaction isn’t to get it corrected but to ignore it. If Mr Williams doesn’t know the differenece between the BBC and the BBC Trust I really think he should be thinking about another career he might be more suited to.


    On 16 September, a report in the Herald by senior reporter Martin Williams stated that “BBC Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee” was investigating hundreds of complaints made after BBC pundit Jim Spence made reference to “old club” Rangers during a broadcast.

    However, Newsnet Scotland has learned that no such investigation is underway by the Trust and that the Herald was made aware of the inaccuracy but has failed to correct the article.

    A spokeswoman for the BBC Trust said: “None of the complaints regarding Sportsound have reached Stage 3 of the complaints procedure and it is therefore not possible for the Editorial Standards Committee to investigate these complaints.

    “I don’t know why the article has not been corrected but the Herald has certainly been made aware of it.”

    The BBC Trust’s rebuttal of the story came on 17 September, the day after the Herald article was published, but the article has still not been updated.

    Mr Williams, the story’s author, admitted to Newsnet Scotland that he had received an email from the Trust informing him the story was incorrect but “did not realise they wanted a clarification”.

    “The BBC is investigating, just not the body I intimated,” he said.


  62. Madbhoy

    Cheers but it was my question. I thought about leaving off the last part but was interested to see if it got a response.
    Glad it got what it did.

    Tells us what we value.


  63. I honestly think summer football has many good arguments for the benefit of the Scottish game

    1st off – winter football is awful, cold, miserable, hazardous to get to – treacherous underfoot conditions/road hazards, pitches in poor condition leading to a more direct brand of football (which isn’t always helped by the wind) resulting in a worst of both worlds type scenario. Not to mention games being postponed at short notice.

    We then have the fact that the game is expensive and christmas is not an easy time for families to be spending cash on football

    Of course, the scottish winter can stretch from September to May – so you can’t simply say take January and Feb off – but if you did take those 2 months off, it may reduce some of the inconvenience/misery that winter football brings.

    but the positives are that we could look to take advantage of filling the TV schedule of BT/SKY – who lose a lot of football in the summer. They might pay more than the pittance we currently get – and even the BBC could make their pathetic coverage nationwide and worthy of some investment. This, in turn would increase the exposure and should help attract some more sponsorship. Now, i’m not pretending for a minute that we’ll get even 10% of the deal the EPL gets, but even if we got 2.5% of that deal we’d dwarf the current tv income

    Also, clubs used to operate very well when there was no transfer window – they could buy and sell players mid season without too many issues. So I don’t see why starting the season a month after the january window has closed and then playing through the summer window will affect things too much. indeed, there may well be an opportunity to loan players through the summer who’s domestic league is finished but the players need games

    In the long summer evenings, it would be more conducive to have midweek games – the warmer evenings would make it more enjoyable, the increased light would reduce travel risks too. So it would be possible to have 2 games per week in May/June (before school holidays) and then even have a couple of free weekends in July/early august) to postpone games/play glamour pre-season games with foreign neighbours – but allowing families to plan a holiday without missing a competitive game of football – then return to 2 games a week from late august/september before the nights draw in.

    Its also possible that inproved tv deals/technology we could see a PPV type tv channel allowing folk unable to attend teh game to pay and watch it online – generating income for the home club.

    Then there are the benefits of clubs entering european competition – they would be match sharp and should be able to hit the ground running.this might be a small benefit which only helps the few clubs playing in europe – but a better revenue distribution model for UEFA cash could see the whole league benefit, and with more teams reaching the group stages in both comeptitions, the trickle down could be significant.

    All in all, given the dwindling standards/finances of the scottish game in the past 20+ years, I honestly think we need to think outside the circle if we are to improve our game.


  64. Ernie

    It has been my long held belief that the pursuit of CL gold is the underlying reason why Scottish football is in the mess it finds itself. I think it applies to other smaller football nations.
    You cannot have a winner takes all approach in football as it kills the very competition the game depends on.
    A more equitable sharing of CL money should be in place and UEFA should be taking the lead to make it so.


  65. So Celtic post audited accounts showing record performance. Fans reaction? Fantastic! But are you sure? Let’s examine the details… We are, after all, ‘paranoid’. 😉

    Well it ain’t the worst character trait it would seem.

    Fans of other clubs across the country will be doing likewise with their own club accounts. No-one wants to find themselves in the situation that Gers, Hearts and Pars fans have found themselves recently (to name but the most recent examples).

    It is right to applaud success when it is properly earned, but it must come with a weather eye on the horizon and a plan for dealing with leaner times that could happen in the future. Hats off to the staff, the manager, the team and the fans for their shared success.

    As for the question put to PL about the Co-op bank, which many will suspect was loaded, a la JI – I am pretty sure it wouldn’t have bothered PL in the slightest. If anything it only served to further highlight the enormous gulf that has opened up between Celtic and the team that in a former life used to be their main rivals.

    I followed the earlier link to RR and caught up with the efforts of the ‘redoubtable George’ who is fighting a lonely crusade to get his fellow fans to wake up to the dangers and unite to try and stop the next stage of the asset stripping. I have to say I felt sorry for the guy. Here is a guy that can see the next car crash about to happen and he cannot get his fellow passengers to react. It is the stuff of nightmares.

    If the analysis we have discussed here is correct, then the future for Ibrox is looking like one of either: loss of major assets and lease back with major long term detriment to finances, liquidation followed by sale of assets with no football team, or an SFO / Crown Office investigation resulting in arrests and who knows what implications for the continued operation of a football operation at Ibrox? There may be others, but none that look too attractive if you are a Gers fan.

    It has been said before, but it might be worth repeating in the run up to a second financial disaster at Ibrox: maybe the best opportunity for George and other like-minded fans to salvage a team they can rally round would be to do an AFC Wimbledon?

    Either way, it is totally obvious :

    Scottish Football doesn’t need Rangers, Rangers need Scottish Football.


  66. Drew Peacock says:

    September 24, 2013 at 1:24 pm

    12

    1

    Rate This

    Quantcast

    Auldheid says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:48 pm
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Wasn’t there once another team who moved heaven and earth to skew Scottish football to their advantage to the detriment of all of the other 40 clubs. I believe they no longer exist but I recall they had a partner in crime to assist them and that accomplice is now on the straight and narrow these days. Let’s all hope they don’t stray and try to advantage themselves any further from their already over privileged position.
    ………………………………………………………………………………..

    No Drew…it’s simply an idea…that in the here and now it would benefit all Scottish clubs who compete in Europe…I’m sure St. Johnstone would have benefited from an earlier start as would have Hibs and Motherwell…however to suggest that it may only benefit one club merely because of our self interest is wrong…

    Yes we can see that at the sharp end of the CL qualifiers it could have a positive impact…which happens to be Celtic at this junction….

    If we stick with what we have then the co-eff suffers…for all Scottish clubs which will make the qualifying job near on impossible…whether it is the CL or the Europa…

    An idea is just that…an idea…if you prejudge the idea based on who provides it…we will never get anywhere…

    Debate it…pull it apart…and if it’s no good….kick it out…but at least give an airing to determine its merits or otherwise.


  67. Auldheid says:
    September 24, 2013 at 1:55 pm
    1 0 Rate This

    Ernie

    It has been my long held belief that the pursuit of CL gold is the underlying reason why Scottish football is in the mess it finds itself. I think it applies to other smaller football nations.
    You cannot have a winner takes all approach in football as it kills the very competition the game depends on.
    A more equitable sharing of CL money should be in place and UEFA should be taking the lead to make it so.

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

    AARRGGHHHH KLAXON SOUNDS!!!!!!!!

    you are one step away from suggesting a return to gate sharing!!!!

    chaos will follow!!! 😀

    I do agree that the rewards are skewed, the league needs to distribute finances more evenly, to make the league more balanced and competitive and in the long run, more attractive.


  68. Summer football would require a cultural change in Scotland. Not sure which way I would end up voting!

    My nephew (aged 7) attends football training and my brother and I regularly discuss the merits of the various training regimes imposed by the coaches. One thing that was made clear to parents was that there are a whole host of positive, ball control type exercises that should be the main focus of training but the coaches often have to insist on running drills just to keep the kids warm!

    So perhaps Summer football isn’t the answer, but better, indoor facilities are. I understand Scandinavian countries have both.

    No major point here, just my tuppenceworth.


  69. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    September 24, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    I was only being a little tongue in cheek with the 15 or 20 in a row crack. The ever widening financial chasm between Celtic and the rest is actually bad for everyone. For Celtic to be truly competitive at the CL level, they need a competitive league.

    We need radical out of the box thinking, sadly, events of the last year or so, have demonstrated that we have people who can only manage decline, running Scottish Football.

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