The Offline Game

The scandal in which Scottish football has become embroiled is neither equivocal nor complicated. It happened. It is easily seen to have happened. It is certainly not a degree course in nuclear physics. Why then, are simple facts ignored day after day, week after week, by not just the so called purveyors of truth in the media, but the body of the SFA itself, the clubs?

Five years or so ago, systematic cheating by a club involved in Scottish football was uncovered as a consequence of the club slipping into liquidation. This is easily established as fact.

It soon became clear that the authorities had been aware of the situation for as long as it had been going on, but instead of applying their own rules, which would have saved that club from it’s ultimate demise, they chose to enable it and cover it up. Also, backed up by documentary evidence.

As a consequence of the slide towards liquidation, the authorities went into cover-up overdrive to protect their own position. Inquiries based on rhetorical “you’ll have had your tea!” questions were set up to arrive at predetermined conclusions. The post-truth era in Scottish football had begun in earnest.

The claims of corruption which subsequently emerged were dismissed out of hand by the authorities and the press; first by accusations that it was only Paranoid Celtic fans looking to put the boot into Rangers who were behind the claims, then, when it became clear that it was not only Celtic fans who were angered by the way the integrity of the sport had been shattered, the “mad Celtic fans” epithet was amended to “mad online conspiracy theorists”.

The tactic was clear. NEVER address the issue. Attack the messengers. Ridicule them, mock them, demonise them. Despite that, the message of SFM and others was gaining traction and dangerously for the authorities, becoming difficult to ignore.

Last Autumn SFM was approached in confidence by senior figures in two print media outlets. The request was for us to provide them with the facts we had in bullet points – to make it easier for them to reach their audience, an audience they claimed was not sophisticated enough to absorb the detail and minutiae of the story.

The role of journalists is to do exactly that of course. They had access to the same documentary evidence we had (we know this because we gave it to them), but they wanted us to do their job for them? Leaving aside the scant regard I have for football journalists in this country, I don’t believe they are incapable of carrying out that simple task – but we humoured them anyway and provided them with the “SFA Corruption for Dummies” guide that they asked for.

But what were they really up to?

Remembering the RTC thread where he pointed out that genuine whistle-blowers in this saga were reluctant to come forward because of trust issues – they feared any contact with the MSM would result in their details being provided to those they were exposing – we proceeded with some caution. Amusingly, the same three questions was asked at each meeting; “You must know who Rangers Tax Case is?”, “any idea who John James is?” and, “what team do you support?”. (FYI, my answers were, “No”, “No”, and “Celtic” respectively).

Interestingly, for people who needed clarification by bullet-point, they were well enough versed in the minutiae to attempt to argue the flat-earth case and try to sell us the “it has been established legally that <insert something that hasn’t been established legally here>”

Our only conjecture was that they were trying to convince us we were wrong,  or ascertain how firm a grasp we actually had on the facts to better see who and what they were dealing with, or (most probably) they were reacting aimlessly to online pressure and not really following any plan at all. Perhaps they were seeking to reassure themselves that it was just Celtic fans who were angry – although I fail to see how Celtic or their fans have less credibility when asking legitimate questions about the running of the game just because Rangers were involved.

Subsequently, despite the platitudes of “print and social media should work together” and the like, and despite being furnished with the aforementioned bullet points, no further contact was made with SFM other than a couple of childish comments about SFM on Twitter.

Facts might be facts to us all, but in the case of the print media, they can be ignored on the basis that mad internet bampots are not a credible source, although metaphysical hypotheses are clearly thought to be a far more sensible line of inquiry!

However, facts ARE indeed facts, and in the hands of real journalists like Alec Thomson and those in The Offshore Game (TOG), they are given the credence they merit. Since TOG published the report on the SFA (see below), the facts have emerged from not just the so-called internet bampots. Those facts have survived the scrutiny of several reputable journalists involved in TOG – and their legal advisers.

Accusations more blunt and unequivocal than we have ever made have been published. The genie is most definitely out of the bottle, but the prodigious MSM Twitterati, so meticulous in their investigations into the occupation of Craig Whyte’s female companions, appear to have run out of batteries on their keyboards. “No answer” is the loud reply, since TOG cannot be ridiculed quite so easily without exposing themselves to the same scrutiny they have failed to apply to the SFA.

If I can be as unequivocal about this as possible. Senior journalists in at least two MSM print outlets KNOW there has been a cover up, and that systematic cheating took place. They knew that before the TOG report, long before it, but still they did nothing. Even now they do nothing. They are now playing a reactionary role – as counterpoint to the accessible online truth –  involved in actively concealing that truth from the offline public. An Offline Game if you like.

Of course we are not surprised by that, and as the falling-off-a-cliff circulation figures show, fewer and fewer people are playing their game. Even those who still purchase newspapers believe little of what they read.

The clubs are a different matter. Fans of every single club in this country – and that includes TRFC – will benefit from an inquiry into the handling of this matter. In the light of the TOG report, there is no excuse for the clubs to ignore calls for an inquiry to be set up. In fact by doing so, they are actively embracing corruption.

As we have said time and time again, this is no longer about Rangers. It is about institutionalised mal-governance at Hampden. By assisting the cover-up, the clubs are ensuring that the same corrupt practices are in place, ready to go again when necessary. Those practices which saw journalists and SFA officials cede editorial control (both statements backed up by documentary evidence) of their output to one club, and allow damaging conflicts of interest to circumvent rules.

The Offshore Game has thrown a media spotlight onto a cover-up. The MSM have attempted to bury it in the offline domain, but corruption, however well established,is not unbeatable. We can beat it if we work together – and here is how.

Season ticket renewals are dropping through letterboxes as I write this. If we do nothing other than protest, the clubs will do – just like Stewart Regan says he will – NOTHING!

There is only one way to establish the Independent Inquiry that is demanded in the wake of TOG report. Ask your club if they will vote for an Independent Inquiry to be set up.

If they agree, there is no problem. They are doing the right thing and will be deserving of our support.

Otherwise, send their renewal forms back to them unsigned.

It really is that simple.

 

 

http://www.theoffshoregame.net/475-2/

 

 

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John Cole

About Big Pink

Big Pink is John Cole; a former schoolteacher based in the West of Scotland, He is also a print and broadcast journalist who is engaged in the running of SFM . Former gigs include Newstalk 106, the Celtic View, and Channel67. A Celtic fan, he is also the voice of our podcast initiative.

1,833 thoughts on “The Offline Game


  1. Now I know the weekend is traditionally a time for imbibing the old demon alcohol but tomorrow night I hope we see more than usual number of bears with sore heads, even the sober ones.
    If the result goes the other way though may I respectfully suggest that all regulars on here avoid the site as I may not be in the best of moods.
    114 feckin’ years. What was our sin o Lord?


  2. Mind you if we win I’d still avoid the site as I will be unbearable, if you’ll excuse the pun.


  3. ReiverMay 20, 2016 at 10:36 23 1 i Rate This
    Oh and on the Edinburgh buses there is a tray for the Metro, take one and return it when you get off with flyers tucked inside.
    —————————-
    Already with you on that one,nothing beats a free flyer in a free paper.Take more than one04
    ps thanks for computer information


  4.    The CFC board get it tight at times, and admittedly sometimes with good cause. It’s only fair they get credit where its due also.  A big Well done on an ambitious and purposeful appointment in Brendan Rodgers. 
       Reiver, Good Luck mate. You deserve a little……But in the interest of balance..Sevco can have the bad luck. 21  
    p.s. Printed off your fliers, and will be distributing them in service stations and truck-stops on a drive up through. Engerlundshire in a few weeks. Maybe meet a friendly Eddie Stobart driver keen for a bundle  19


  5. CORRUPT OFFICIALMAY 20, 2016 at 19:44 5 1  Rate This 
       The CFC board get it tight at times, and admittedly sometimes with good cause. It’s only fair they get credit where its due also.  A big Well done on an ambitious and purposeful appointment in Brendan Rodgers. 
    _____________________________________________________________________________________
    A great bit of business and I hope Brendan sorts things out at Celtic.

    Still not buying a season ticket mind.


  6. GUNNERBMAY 20, 2016 at 20:01  
    CORRUPT OFFICIALMAY 20, 2016 at 19:44 5 1  Rate This    The CFC board get it tight at times, and admittedly sometimes with good cause. It’s only fair they get credit where its due also.  A big Well done on an ambitious and purposeful appointment in Brendan Rodgers. _____________________________________________________________________________________A great bit of business and I hope Brendan sorts things out at Celtic.
    Still not buying a season ticket mind.
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Me neither ..permanently

    Celtic  patronised their fans for 4yrs  …. on and off the field
    I would have given the Board the benefit of the doubt if PL had been fired today
    He wasn`t and they don`t for that reason
    BR is a panic signing to mitigate the ST boycott
    They could have recruited him last season while he was twiddling his thumbs
    Why didn`t they? 
    Was it because Sevco got thrashed by Motherwell?
    I wish BR well
    He will have his work cut out to get into the Europa league never mind the CL


  7. Goosygoosy
    At the beginning of last season Brendan Rodgers was employed by Liverpool.
    How could Celtic have hired him.
    He wasn’t dismissed till October 2015.
    Give the Celtic Board credit for an excellent signing.
    On all the Celtic minded boards I have read tonight I haven’t seen one dissenting voice.
    I ignore all MSM and Sky polls, all have their own agenda.


  8. ReiverMay 20, 2016 at 18:40
    ‘…114 feckin’ years. What was our sin o Lord?’
    ________
    Perhaps Hibs  never really forgave Celtic for the great wrong they were perceived to have done to them  away back when.
    Any more than I forgive the men whose rottenness brought about the farcical situation where a new club based on a Big Lie is playing in a cup final under a false identity.
    Let me remain completely neutral, though. Just take 5 off them, one for each bogus ‘star’.19


  9. BILLYJ1
    MAY 20, 2016 at 20:39
    Goosygoosy At the beginning of last season Brendan Rodgers was employed by Liverpool. How could Celtic have hired him. He wasn’t dismissed till October 2015. Give the Celtic Board credit for an excellent signing. On all the Celtic minded boards I have read tonight I haven’t seen one dissenting voice. I ignore all MSM and Sky polls, all have their own agenda.
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Point taken BJ
    IMO
    The Board could have hired DR in Jan 2016 if they were so minded
    By then RD had been humiliated in Europe
    I am not a dissenting voice on recruiting DR
    I am a dissenting voice on being treated like a mug by PL for 4 yrs
    Which is why Celtic will be down my 3 STs next season


  10. On the eve of the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hibernian I wish both teams well.
    As a sometimes reader of SFM I really struggle with your stated intention of being a collective for all Scottish Football fans.
    How will you deliver these numbers when there is an inherent bias and ambivalence directed against one club? The name Scottish Football Monitor gives the impression that it does what it says  on the tin, examine all issues pertaining to Scottish Football and the member clubs.
    Lets face it I have yet failed to see an in depth look at the downfall of Dundee United, the performance of their owner, and the state of their finances.
    Will you be dissecting the fate of Kilmarnock Football Club, a club where the support and fans are at loggerheads, and if relegated could mean the end of their club?
    Will we see an in depth look at Motherwell Football club who are at the very brink and are about to slash wages of their first team squad?
    Can you really claim you are monitoring Scottish Football?
    I would suggest until you are seen to do this, I mean really monitor the whole of Scottish Football, you will always struggle for supporter recognition.


  11. Anyway tomorrow could be a big day. If the hibees win not a problem, 104 years an aw that. BUT if sevco win (hoping not Reiver) will it be no 1 or whatever in the SFA records or in the papers? I’m guessing the latter. Shame on all of our clubs (sorry hobby horse is still running)!


  12. BORDERSDON

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

    Agreed, and I say this as a Celtic supporter, are discussions with regard the new Celtic manager really appropriate to SFM.

    I am currently discussing that elsewhere, amongst Celtic supporters.

    As far as I am aware SFM eschews such discussions, whether it be Celtic or any other club..


  13. A bit of latitude about the Celtic thing folks. Not appropriate for detailed debate but there’s no harm in talking about it in a general kind of way.

    I’m off back to my eschewing 🙂

    Also welcome back to rhapsodyinblue – I think 🙂


  14. rhapsodyinblue
    May 20, 2016 at 21:28
    On the eve of the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hibernian I wish both teams well. As a sometimes reader of SFM I really struggle with your stated intention of being a collective for all Scottish Football fans. How will you deliver these numbers when there is an inherent bias and ambivalence directed against one club? The name Scottish Football Monitor gives the impression that it does what it says on the tin, examine all issues pertaining to Scottish Football and the member clubs. Lets face it I have yet failed to see an in depth look at the downfall of Dundee United, the performance of their owner, and the state of their finances. Will you be dissecting the fate of Kilmarnock Football Club, a club where the support and fans are at loggerheads, and if relegated could mean the end of their club? Will we see an in depth look at Motherwell Football club who are at the very brink and are about to slash wages of their first team squad? Can you really claim you are monitoring Scottish Football? I would suggest until you are seen to do this, I mean really monitor the whole of Scottish Football, you will always struggle for supporter recognition.
    —————————————————————————————-
    Almost see what you are saying RIB. BUT no other club has had a “leg up” like Sevco. Press/Sfa etc etc. I would like to think that this site would be equally forensic about wrong things everywhere (notwithstanding my earlier comment about this site being a tad Celtic biased). Anyway been at the pub tonight and maybe not at my most articulate!
    Goodnight.


  15. rhapsodyinblueMay 20, 2016 at 21:25
    ‘…Can you really claim you are monitoring Scottish Football?’
    ________
    I think we can say that we have been calling out, and are continuing to call out, our cheating, lying Football Governance people for their failure to monitor what was happening over many years with one disgustingly cheating, lying club, and for their complicity in creating the myth  that TRFC is somehow entitled to be known by, and to falsely trade on, the name of an old club that is now in Liquidation caused by SDM and his despicable cheating.
    And we are making progress in calling out the deceit of both RFC(IL) and the Football Governance people vis-a-vis the dirty work done to ensure RFC(IL) got its UEFA licence.
    And, apart from anything else, there is now a substantial number of the Scottish Football fan base who are much more aware of how their individual clubs are run, and how Scottish football stands .
    Any perceived ‘inherent bias’ is due simply to the fact that at the moment there are  only two  delinquent clubs about which we are entirely justified to be suspicious  because of their track records of deceit :RFC(IL) and TRFC, both of which were been dishonestly favoured  by a cynically dishonest ‘sporting governance’ body.
    Root out the baddies, and then our energies can be concentrated on making sure that no other baddies get to make a mockery of sport and mugs and patsies of us all.


  16. RHAPSODYINBLUEMAY 20, 2016 at 21:25 
    On the eve of the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hibernian I wish both teams well.As a sometimes reader of SFM I really struggle with your stated intention of being a collective for all Scottish Football fans.How will you deliver these numbers when there is an inherent bias and ambivalence directed against one club? The name Scottish Football Monitor gives the impression that it does what it says  on the tin, examine all issues pertaining to Scottish Football and the member clubs.Lets face it I have yet failed to see an in depth look at the downfall of Dundee United, the performance of their owner, and the state of their finances.Will you be dissecting the fate of Kilmarnock Football Club, a club where the support and fans are at loggerheads, and if relegated could mean the end of their club?Will we see an in depth look at Motherwell Football club who are at the very brink and are about to slash wages of their first team squad?Can you really claim you are monitoring Scottish Football?I would suggest until you are seen to do this, I mean really monitor the whole of Scottish Football, you will always struggle for supporter recognition.
    __________

    You are, of course, correct in what you say, the travails of one club seem to dominate this blog. But we supporters of the clubs outside the Glasgow bubble are, I suspect, kind of glad that the spotlight is not on our club, for it means that our own travails are, generally, as the result of good old fashioned incompetence in the face of overwhelming financial dominance of the two largest clubs – historically, that is.

    And the vast hugeness of Rangers/TRFC domination of this blog is mainly due to the fact that their part of the financial dominance was funded by illegal tax schemes – both covered by deliberate mis-registration of players. The disgusting way Rangers were run was, and still is, only matched by the complicity in the cover-up by the governors of our game. There is so much more that I could add about the wrongs surrounding that club, and the wrongs that continue surrounding the club that Chuck built, but you, and everyone else here know what they are, so no point in stretching this post any further. Enough to say that, unless these other clubs in difficulty are found to have cheated, or are receiving assistance from the game’s governors that is less than honest and open, then I’d suggest it bodes well for the supporters of those clubs to find their coverage on here to be minimal, for their failings would appear to be no more than incompetence. Incompetence perhaps exacerbated by the unlevel playing field they’ve had to endure since longer than most can remember.

    One day, though, we might find that the major ills surrounding our game have been made good, and then we can turn our attention to asking the questions of what can be done to prevent our clubs falling into such serious disrepair in the future. Honest governance, and Financial Fair Play are a couple of things that are bound to help, but they will only come about if the matters we discuss here, at such great length, are sorted first.

    It is well worth noting that none of the regular posters on SFM, who support the clubs in trouble that you mention, are finding cause to complain about SFM’s coverage, or lack of, in the way you have.

    Feel free to introduce anything about those clubs that you think we may find interesting and worthy of research (by those that do it so well) so that we can expand the blogs reach, and perhaps uncover some wrongdoings that may have similar, far reaching, consequences for Scottish football that the cheating of Rangers brought to us.


  17. Reiver,

    If it all goes wrong for you tomorrow and you can’t face being on here don’t worry, I’ll PM you so you’re not left out. If however you win, please leave me alone; I can only dish it out, I can’t take it. 

    On the other topic, I have yet to speak to a single person who doesn’t think Celtic have made a fantastic appointment. I myself am very impressed and look forward to seeing if he can have as strong an immediate impact as Mr Warburton had at Rangers. 


  18. RYANGOSLINGMAY 20, 2016 at 23:14 
    Reiver,
    If it all goes wrong for you tomorrow and you can’t face being on here don’t worry, I’ll PM you so you’re not left out. If however you win, please leave me alone; I can only dish it out, I can’t take it. 
    On the other topic, I have yet to speak to a single person who doesn’t think Celtic have made a fantastic appointment. I myself am very impressed and look forward to seeing if he can have as strong an immediate impact as Mr Warburton had at Rangers. 
    _________

    Nicely put, Ryan, though I do think for Mr Rodgers to have a similar immediate impact as Mr Warburton, Mr Deila would have had to have been as bad as Mr McCoist 19


  19. Allyjambo,

    That actually gets interesting. Some would say he was! But then Rangers didn’t have the squad Celtic have now, so Mr Rogers (is there a D on there?!) will really have to do some job to get to Mr Warburton’s level!

    In all seriousness, I’m sure he’ll bring a great brand of football to Celtic Park, and we Rangers fans have been treated to a fantastic brand of football over the last year, albeit more of a cutting edge is required at times. If Scotland’s two biggest clubs have men at the helm devoted to proper football, I think it can only be good for the game in this country. 


  20. RHAPSODYINBLUE
    Motherwell are not on “the brink” of anything thanks. We are meeting our obligations to meet our budget which happens to involve offering reduced terms to our veteran players like Lasley who will be unlikely to play full seasons in all reality. 
    A touch of reality is all.
    Might be a recipe worth copying down for use by yon SA “millionaire” when his next loan fails to turn up from Hong Kong 


  21. BIG PINK 
    A bit of latitude about the Celtic thing folks. Not appropriate for detailed debate but there’s no harm in talking about it in a general kind of way.
     
    I’m off back to my eschewing
    ====================================

    So long as you are not masticating I think that’s fine John. 


  22. HOMUNCULUS
    MAY 20, 2016 at 23:55 (

    BIG PINK 
    A bit of latitude about the Celtic thing folks. Not appropriate for detailed debate but there’s no harm in talking about it in a general kind of way.
     
    I’m off back to my eschewing
    ====================================

    So long as you are not masticating I think that’s fine John. 

    If you had my culinary skills the former would be a consequence of the latter 🙂


  23. Ryan,

    I think you are suffering from the Lawman fallout on the TUs 🙂

    Too soon maybe 13

    BTW, saw you on Graham Norton tonight. Great hair 🙂


  24. RyanGoslingMay 20, 2016 at 23:33 

    In all seriousness, I’m sure he’ll bring a great brand of football to Celtic Park, and we Rangers fans have been treated to a fantastic brand of football over the last year, albeit more of a cutting edge is required at times. If Scotland’s two biggest clubs have men at the helm devoted to proper football, I think it can only be good for the game in this country. 

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Aye that’s definately the truth. The two GIANTS need to show us the way with their bloated squads that will see them through a league season.

    But nae cheatin’ this time noo that youse are back in the big time and no playin’ the Posties XI.


  25. “Let me remain completely neutral, though. Just take 5 off them, one for each bogus ‘star’ ”  (jc)
    As a fellow neutral,  I concur. 10


  26. I was in the Clyde Valley this afternoon, what a lovely place.  Visited 3 garden centres, all mobbed by OAPs, I’m 62 and I felt like a young un!  The cars in the car parks told a story, very affluent.  At one point I spotted a Peugot 206 which was very handsome and I realised that is the name of my car!  But this one was much sexier than mine.  My brother in in law explained that this particular car is ten years younger than mine and top of the range.  Oh well.  When I win the lottery that is one of the cars I am going to buy even if it is only going to the Co-op for my messages.

    Anyhow, I digress.

    We were in the popinjay Hotel.  A vodka & ginger beer, a white wine, a white coffee?  £13 pounds something!  Really Barry?  The staff were lovely though.

    I tried to explain Barry’s EBTs to my sister but I got an odd look of disinterest so we got back to talking about plants.  I was only looking for weed killer but never mind, it was a lovely afternoon.


  27. Cup Final Day

    As a boy it was always a special occasion. As it was one of the few live games shown back in the day, my fondest memories are of crowding round the TV with family and neighbours (some now sadly departed) a wee weak shandy out of the adult’s Export can, never ending  bowls of crisps and Hampden always being sunny on those Saturdays.

    Regardless of who is playing the cup final still has a wee bit of magic.

    As a Jambo with no particular liking of T’Rangers the victors today will end up being one of two evils 🙂

    Today I will be thinking back to those good old days, leave the politics behind for 90/120 mins and hoping that  both teams put on a cracking game.


  28. To all the technophobes. I’m a dinosaur when it comes to computers. Megabytes,blockers,op systems. I haven’t a clue what you folk are on about. And btw, I thought Flash was something you cleaned the lavvy wi’.


  29. The best thing about the Cup Final is that it’s on Council Telly, just like the old days  19


  30. “EXCLUSIVE: Dave King says four of Celtic’s titles don’t count as Rangers weren’t in league”

    This is a headline from the Sun. I won’t go near it to find out if it actually refers, in any way, to the actual content of the puff piece, nor will I post a link as I will leave it to those who wish to read it to find it for themselves. But…

    Is this another part of King’s ‘charm’ offensive, saying the words that the bears want to hear? Confident that his club are going to win their first ever piece of meaningful (for such an arrogant shower) silverware, is he in Scotland (or London) ramping up the feel-good factor in the only way he knows how? Lies and exaggerated nonsense!

    Now I don’t know whether or not King’s attempt to end the SD/RR contract is based on anything more than bluster, but if it is no more than pie-in-the-sky, then it suggests to me that something, not too much to the bears liking, is in the offing, and King is in the process of boosting ST sales income to make sure whatever he plans for his own benefit is workable.

    EDIT: I had written a piece here explaining how I think things might pan out in the event the SD/RR contract claim proves to be a nonsense. On reading it back I decided it was, perhaps, something only a career criminal might utilise, and so best left unsaid!


  31. I think I owe BP and Tris an apology. I let cup fever take over and dragged the blog away from its stated purpose of dealing with governance of the game in Scotland to the lesser subject of talking football. Sorry guys.

    But, having said that.

    Ryan

    Cheers mate. After 114 years(not me personally) of waiting most of us that follow Hibs have learned just to hope for a good game of football and not to get pummeled. While I hope Ryan that your team doesn’t get lucky I do hope that neither side gets bad luck.
    Please don’t PM me though. Matron says I can have a small shandy while watching the match so I might respond to you with alcohol induced rage.
    I also have to hope that old bitch Mrs Cholmsley doesn’t exercise her right to switch the TV over to watch Columbo. I think I’ll slip some of my sleeping pills into her soup at lunch. The last time we did that she was out for a full 24 hours so it would mean I could catch the English final as well.


  32. I have to admit that the current team playing out of Ibrox, the manager, are not the worst.  Certainly not a hateful bunch.

    But as a neutral, I want Hibs to win today.  How such a big club can have gone without silverware for so long and maintained a fan base is amazing.

    Go on Hibs!


  33. Rhapsody

    You bring back memories of my childhood when I would hear my old man belting out your username on the old Joanna while I played with my toys. Some buttons in a tin if I remember right. We were poor but raised correctly, to support Hibs.05

    To your post though. This is a site for dealing with the governance of the game and is made up of supporters of most clubs but, like every issue in Scottish football, there will be more representatives of the big clubs than the rest. This is just a statistical fact. What makes it appear that Celtic fans outnumber all the rest is that, unfortunately, Rangers fans don’t see supporting the aim of the site as being in their club’s interest and therefore few contribute. That is a pity because, had the site been running prior to 2011 and had had any success, the odds are that the biggest benefactor would have been Rangers. There slide into lquidation would probably have been prevented. Proper governance of the game should have prevented Craig Whyte’s fatal reign at Ibrox. The deliberate withholding of tax and the purchase of Lee Wallace instead of paying a long overdue tax bill may not have happened. HMRC may then have viewed the situation with more understanding.
    Your point re Dundee United doesn’t come under the remit of this site because the SFA/SPFL had no part in it but we have covered another part of their season. Questions have been raised on here as to why the punishment for them has been more severe when fielding an ineligible player in a meaningless match compared to that which resulted from players being played when their payment details and side letters covering this are deliberately kept from the SFA. The same issue was raised over Spartans and Dunfermline who were ejected from the Scottish cup for minor infringements. These example probable best display the context within which SFM aims to work and it could well be something that benefits TRFC in the near future.
    The current board are doing things that could easily put on a par with the Craig Whyte era. They are building up large amounts of debt, they have failed to get the club listed on any stock exchange, they are picking fights with people who could well be able to help them, soft loans are being accepted from sources that should at the very least prompt questions and promises are being made and broken time after time. Now I can see where Rangers fans are coming from when they react angrily to these suggestions but surely it would be to their advantage to have the administrators of the game checking these facts as and when they occur so that the fans can feel confident that a recurrence of 2012 does not happen. That is all that this site seeks, that our administrators earn the big salaries that the earn and run the game with a purpose that ensures that as much as possible all clubs have a degree of protection from mismanagement that may lead to their demise. Just think whether the the troubles that hit Hearts, Dunfermline and Gretna could have been avoided had the SFA sought to reign in Romanov, Masterton and Mileson. So it is not just about Rangers.
    Serious contribution by Rangers fans on this site is not just welcomed but, in my view, essential if we are to be successful in protecting our game from cheats, money launderers and organised crime. We need first to deal with the historical issues before moving on.


  34. Jimbo @ 1034

    “How such a big club can have gone without silverware”

    Easy on pal. You are forgetting the League Cup.

    Damn! It’s not as if we are not feeling bad enough already.


  35. Reiver, I have moved on.

    We were punished, it is now in my view made us look at Scottish Football anew, we are enjoying the challenge, that is why the fans are turning up. That and the way the team are playing. We are almost rid of the people who basically ransacked the big hoose, of whom, there have been little criticsm on here.

    Enjoy the game , it is far from a foregone conclusion.

    A bit of me, and to all my Hibs friends, if you end your 114 hoodoo, I will say well done.


  36. Some cause for hope for Reiver; my gut feeling is that, not only is TRFC going to win today, but they are going to win by a big score. So what might cause you to feel some hope in that, my fellow bampot? Well, in each meeting of the two clubs this season, I’ve been certain that one or the other would win quite comfortably, Hibs sometimes, TRFC some other times. Not once have I got it right!

    In my opinion, there’s a number of ways TRFC could win the cup today, while for Hibs to win it, they must find the form that saw them beat Aberdeen and Hearts (11). Sadly, though, this season, in the matches that counted, TRFC have been able to perform at their very best, while taking advantage of their opponents own lacklustre performances.

    Lets hope for a game today that does Scottish football proud (at least in terms of the football) with no controversial decisions that influence the result!

    Trying really, really hard not to view the match through maroon tinted specs, I can only say that the best result for Scottish football would be for H…Hi….Hibs to win!!!! God, that hurt 09 I’m going for a lie down.


  37. Reiver,  It’s OK you will be feeling a lot better about 5pm.  I have a feeling (my guardian angel told me)  that Hibs will stroll this today. 

    So how do I now get this post on to the blogs stated aims?

    Oh yes,  that chairman of yours, can’t remember his name, acted as a go between with the SFA and Rangers 1111071101


  38. Rhapsody
    If that is how you feel then that is for your conscience. Many fans throughout the country do not share your belief you have been punished at all. The only punishment meted out is the fine following the LNS report and, despite the agreement by the board of the latest incarnation of the club, that remains unpaid. But it is not the lack of punishment that concerns us per se but the inequality with which the SFA and SPFL views the misdeeds of different clubs. If you view these differences as acceptable then, sure, there is no place for you in debating on this site because what you follow is not a sport.
    As to your belief that you have got rid of most of those that caused the damage that I must also question. You have taken on board two who were there at your worst point and did nothing. I would, as a result, urge caution in your acceptance of them. They have in their second incumbency at the big hoos already seen the clubs removal from, and future admissibility, to any stock exchange ensuring that the main recognised access to investment is closed. They have overseen your club’s decline into debt to a value of circa £30M with soft loans received from sources that, at best, could be described as requiring investigation. They have produced accounts that no-one is prepared to audit and sign off and therefore should have serious question marks hanging over them. Your team, like many of the rest of us, is being run on a shoestring but still the books cannot be balanced. All the time through this fights are being picked where, while being won because of semantics rather than legality, there is still further cost to your club.
    It is all very well enjoying the football on display but if the future of that is being put at risk by people who are not on the pitch then you should be wary.
    Now it is time for me put the debating aside and go and kick Mrs Colmsley out of her seat in the TV room and concentrate on what goes on in the park. Let’s hope for a sporting spectacle for both sets of supporters to enjoy and that I don’t stave a toe in removing the old bitch.


  39. REIVER, as a complete aside, what is the large old sandstone building next to Easter Road used for?


  40. If it’s next to the church then think it’s the ticket office (don’t quote me though)


  41. rhapsodyinblueMay 21, 2016 at 10:52

    I have a lot of sympathy for Rangers fans – their club was killed by corruption. I wish both teams well this afternoon but hope Hibs are the victors .


  42. rhapsodyinblueMay 21, 2016 at 10:52  
    Reiver, I have moved on.
    We were punished, it is now in my view made us look at Scottish Football anew, we are enjoying the challenge, that is why the fans are turning up. That and the way the team are playing. We are almost rid of the people who basically ransacked the big hoose, of whom, there have been little criticsm on here.
    ======================
    “We were punished”. How did that work then? A £250k unpaid fine for over 10 years of playing improperly registered players in every single game? Compare and contrast with the sanctions dished out to other clubs over the same period. I’m sorry, but you haven’t been punished at all- your club has been the recipient of super special favourable treatment, which no other club would have received.
    As for the ransacking of the big hoose, are you joking? Is this a rewrite of history exercise? Green was being called out as a shyster on here from day one, in the strongest terms. Which made us “haters” on all the Rangers forums. You should aim your fire at those who welcomed Green and all his bluster with open arms- that would happen to be 99.9% of your own support.Which includes the SMSM of course.
    A few highlights of the Rangers-minded reactions to Green’s glib garbage-
    500 million worldwide support? What a hero, telling it like it is.
    Apple iBrox- Super douper businessman, getting us great deals
    Orange taps? Where do we buy them?
    Dallas Cowboys link up? We’re world famous us, so we are! In with the big boys!

    All of this was highlighted as garbage on this forum. Did the Rangers fans listen? No, just “haters” bringing a good man down.
    Rangers fans really have some neck criticising this forum for not calling out Green & Co. There is an archive on this site. Do a bit of reading over the period July 2012 to December 2014. Then repeat the exercise on the various Rangers forums over the same period. Come back and report the results of your research.
    Honestly, though, what is about Rangers fans? The BBC report the facts on Whyte- march on BBC HQ. All who criticise Green- “haters”. All who criticise King- “haters”. Bill Miller? Yanks go home.
    Truly pathetic, but it still goes on. Take responsibility? No way. And everything, but absolutely everything is somebody else’s fault. And there must never any “punishment” for breaches of rules- that would be a “fly kick” when we’re down. What a mentality.


  43. I’ve been thinking of today’s final and whether or not the seldom seen Dave King appears at Hampden so he can bask in what he hopes will be a glorious afternoon, but what the neutral will hope will be a victory at last for a club that plays by the rules.

    Anyway, that aside, and Hearts fans will probably confirm, in the lead up to their administration, Vladimir was seldom seen at Tynecastle. However when they last appeared in a final, also against Hibs, in rolled Romanov decked out in the full kilt, to bask in the spotlight and the occasion.

    We all know what followed for Vlad and Hearts. Will the same transpire for Dave and his version of Rangers?!!


  44. Congratulations, Reiver, and all the Hibs supporters on SFM. I do hope Mrs Cholmsley allowed you to watch the game 22

    Mr Warburton’s CV gets better by the minute. He can now add to it he’s managed the first team to lose a Scottish Cup final to Hibs in 114 years. Why, that’s almost as long as Rangers FC lasted!

    Well done, Hibs, you were the better team today, no doubt about that.


  45. I apologise for all my ranting earlier in the week guys what a great day.


  46. Great win for Hibs, deserved winners of the game.  Interesting stat that Stokes had more attempts on goal than the entire Rangers team.  Says it all.

    The match day was spoiled by two things – Hibs fans invading the pitch, promptly followed by the expected rendition of Billy Boys from the Rangers fans.  You can almost excuse the Hibs fans, so much disappointment then finally triumph.  The moment obviously got the better of them.  What can you say about Rangers fans?


  47. To Hibs and the Hibs supporters, congratulations, a deserved win.

    Enjoy your celebrations, good luck with the challenge in Europe.


  48. I am SO happy that Hibs have now got that monkey off their back.
    Well done to manager Stubbs and everyone involved, from the tea lady all the way up!!!
    Can’t ne easy being a Hibee, but they will be back in the top division next time round.

    Watched the game on French TV.They were enthusing about the open football and the desire of both teams to play attack attack attack !!!
    A good advert for the game in Scotland.. they cut away at the end of the 90min, so we did not see the after-match scenes…Big game tonight (apart from the Warriors…), here in France: OM V PSG.
    Zlatan’s last game before he arrives at Lennowtown on Monday … in my dreams !!!
     


  49. OK. I have to let my emotions out.

    Hibs players – I am disgusted with you!

    Everyone of you shook the hands of the SFA representative.

    HOW COULD YOU!


  50. Now to the football (Sorry BP and Tris)

    My admiration for my own team goes without saying but to the players and the management team of Rangers(old or new) I would say well done. You turned the final into a great game, a game that other football associations would look on with envy.

    My posts over the last few months have never been aimed at players or coaches but always the businessmen who will do anything for a fast buck and the authorities who back them.


  51. Congratulations you deserved it, big hearts won!
    No excuses, your hoodoo is over?


  52. Looks like Gershwin has upset Neepheid, but the lack of a Gerswin has Reiver Procaiming Sunshine on Leith.

    10
     


  53. And so to where it leaves my team.

    Am I disappointed as to where they will play their football next season? Well no.

    As today’s game showed the game at the lower level is devoid of sports equivalent of political correctness, it is combat between two opponents that do not have to worry about offending the sensibilities of the no contact brigade.  Good, honest combatitive team on team competition. It’s what we all want to see, surely. I could never see the attraction of the Barcelonaesque tip-tap type of play, where moves that never lead to an attempt on goal generate generous applause.

    Call me old fashioned(actually don’t unless you want a fat lip) bit competition is what excites the spectators so let them have it.


  54. Beatipacificiscotia,

    Hibs fans run on the pitch and attack Rangers players and staff and it is excusable, yet Rangers fans are the bad boys for singing a song? Don’t get me wrong, me and my mates were pretty horrified to see the reaction of the Rangers fans, but get a grip of yourself, you can’t just say Hibs fans were fine but Rangers were the baddies. Attacking the players and staff is not on, and according to the media reports I’ve read thus far Rangers fans only responded when the Hibs fans ran to the Rangers end. 

    On the football side, it was a great game and a horrid result! I thought we were coasting at 2-1 but as soon as Hibs got the corner before the equaliser I had a very bad feeling. Enjoy your day Reiver and others. 


  55. I too will add my congratulations to Hibs, 999,936 hours after the last one.

    I said in a post just after the semi-final, that is Hibs keep on reaching finals, then eventually they would win one. So it has proved.  I remember how good it felt as a Hearts fan in 1998, winning the cup after a 42 year gap. My local pub took record takings that night, a figure that stood for many years.  I’m sure that the celebrations down Easter Road way will be much the same.

    I should add that I decided to avoid watching the game by going to a Junior game instead, so I haven’t seen any of the action yet, either during the game or its aftermath.


  56. Well done to Rangers & Hibs for a great game & congrats to all the Hibees on the SFM


  57. Aw come oan EJ

    999,936 hours? You haven’t spent your afternoon working that one out when there was a gem o fitba tae watch


  58. Christyboy

    “Reiver, congratulations mate. A long time coming…”

    Whose been divulging details of my sex life. I demand to know ! Who are these people!

    Oops! deja vu moment there.


  59. Reiver  May 21, 2016 at 18:04 
    Aw come oan EJ
    999,936 hours? You haven’t spent your afternoon working that one out when there was a gem o fitba tae watch
    =====================
    No. The million hour countdown has been running on Hearts message boards for months.

    But what do Hibs go and do?  They go and Hertz’d up the timer. 21


  60. CO @ 1805

    Just now it is so live with it.

    I will take all the punishment that BP an Tris dish out later.

    Tonight these old Hibbies rule the world.


  61. I did give you guys plenty of warning. Tonight I will be unbearable.

    Those that attended Hampden may have invaded the pitch but tonight the SFM site is mine!


  62. Could I add my hearty congratulations to those plucky opponents today the wonderful Hiberninians not least for the tricky euro questions this has saved me answering.

    yours most very sincerely

    Neil D.


  63. The expected official response by Rangers.
    http://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/rangers-statement-2/

    RANGERS Football Club is shocked at the disgraceful behaviour of Hibs fans at full time.
    Rangers players and staff were assaulted by these fans who invaded the pitch and in the interests of their safety could not return to the pitch for the medal presentation.
    There can be no place for the violent behaviour witnessed at the end of the Final and Rangers fully expect the Scottish Football Association and Police Scotland to launch an investigation to find out where security measures failed.
    The Club would like to commend Rangers fans for the restraint they showed under severe provocation.


  64. Breaking all SFM rules on discussing football.

    Was it Stokesy’s final or did he delay the inevitable?

    For me the latter. Stokes is a great player but a team needs to be built around him. His loan to Hibs broke up the team structure and contributed to their poor display in the second half of the season. It worked out in the end today at Hampden but I am left wondering how the game would have turned out had he stayed at Parkhead, and how the season as whole would have ended for Hibs without him.

    Please forgive me BP.


  65. And more seriously, whilst I am the first to criticise those who took the inevitable pitch invasion too far, particularly those that took it out on TRFC officials and players these are the sort of passions that the SFA have been riding roughshod over for four years now.  Pandering to the side they thought most likely to cause the problems should never ever have been done, at the expense of the vast majority.  

    No excuses Hibs, but a degree of wider understanding for sure.


  66. ….. And the SFA statement

    http://scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=16319

    Scottish FA Chief Executive Stewart Regan has condemned the behaviour of supporters which marred this afternoon’s William Hill Scottish Cup Final.
    “Scottish FA is appalled by the scenes of disorder on the field immediately after full time and at the contemptible behaviour that ensued. What should have been an historic, memorable Scottish Cup final will now, sadly, be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
    “Police Scotland and the stadium management initiated a Crisis Liaison Group as soon as the disorder began and we thank them for containing the situation as quickly as possible.
    “The Scottish FA, along with Police Scotland and the stadium management have initiated a full investigation into the scenes that unfolded to understand how such a volume of supporters were able to enter the field.”

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