The Rangers saga as it happened…

The last 12 months has seen a lot of water pass under the bridge.  For a newcomer it is very hard to see past what the MSM are currently printing – I hope this article will go someway to rectifying that, and allow those who didn’t follow this story from the start to get a basic understanding of the views that have been formed on Rangerstaxcase.com and on TSFM.  Further, I hope it refreshes the memories of those of us who have followed the saga since the early days and focuses our attention on asking key questions that remain unasked or unanswered.

I have provided links where possible throughout the time line.  I have also highlighted in red where the story seems to end, a question remains unasked, or no answer has been forthcoming.  I may also have missed some critical points – feel free to mention these and we can add as we go.

The Rangers Saga as it happened…

June 2001: Christian Nerlinger joins Rangers.  Little be known to the rest of Scottish football he will be the first player paid by an EBT (an Employee Benefit Trust) which will later be declared illegal (as administered by Rangers) by HMRC.

Summer 2004: Jean Alain Boumsong rejects English Premier League sides to sign for Rangers on a free transfer.  Six months later he is sold (January of 2005) to Newcastle in an 8million deal .  This deal is later investigated by the City of London police who raided Newcastle and Rangers in June 2007.

A later report from Lord Steven remarked:

“There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness – a former manager of the club – and Freddy Shepherd – apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official – as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.”

April 2010: HMRC hit Rangers with a tax bill of 24m before penalties for non payment of taxes  on monies remitted to players and staff via the EBT scheme.

27th March 2011: A new blog appears on wordpress named ‘Rangerstaxcase.com’.  Little did we know the impact it will have on Scottish Football.

6th of May 2011: Craig Whyte buys Rangers FC PLC for 1gbp from David Murray, with his holding company Wavetower taking over 85% of the Football club.

Mid-May 2011:  Craig Whyte renames Wavetower to the ‘Rangers Football Group Ltd’, the holding company for Rangers FC PLC.  He immediately claims he has cleared the Rangers debt to Lloyds Bank and is ready to invest in the team.  He quickly removes Alastair Johnston and Paul Murray from the Board and suspends  Martin Bain and Donald McIntyre.

5th June 2011: RTC uncovers a MG05 document filed at Companies House showing that Rangers have assigned 4 years of season ticket sales to another company.  This is later denied by Craig Whyte, but later on turns out to be the mechanism by which Whyte funded the takeover.

19th June 2011: Craig Whyte is asked about the RTC blog, remarking:

“I’m aware of a website that has dedicated itself to talking about our tax case, I’ve looked at it. What they’re saying is 99 per cent crap”

August 2011: Rangers are knocked out of Europe by Maribor.  A seemingly irrelevant event, but one that leaves a £15m hole in Craig Whytes budget.  One that he meets by not paying the tax man.  RTC questions in October where this money was coming from…

10th September 2011: Court papers from Martin Bain, related to his employment case against Rangers explode across the internet (papers in full here).  Within them there is a plea from Bain’s lawyers to freeze the claimed compensation as they feel there is a question mark over the clubs solvency.  Further it exposes the assignment of ticket sales to a 3rd party and shows that the debt owed to Lloyds Bank has not been discharged completely.  RTC analysis’ of these ‘Bain papers’ is concluded with the following:

While Rangers’ supporters might not be in any mood to thank anyone for helping shed light on this situation, it is good for their club (if not its current and previous owners) that this information is in the public domain. It is especially good for our national game as a whole that we discuss the problems of the last decade openly. Rangers supporters need to ask themselves why they have meekly stood by while the future of their club has been imperiled and whether their “friends” in the media have done them an injustice by becoming complicit in the cover-up of this story.

Unfortunately, despite the information being exposed to all, the Rangers fans failed to listen…

October 2011:  In the first mainstream feature on the case, the BBC air a documentary proving that Craig Whyte had been banned from holding a director position in UK companies for 7 years for ‘putting assets out of the reach of creditors’.  BBC are banned from Ibrox and Whyte claims he will sue the BBC for presenting false evidence – but later admits that he was disqualified.  Rather amusingly he admits this the same day he reveals Rangers have reduced their debt to 14m…. (they hadn’t)

The SFA stay silent on the matter and the writ received by the BBC in February 2012 has since vanished.

30th November 2011:  Rangers PLC release un-audited accounts for the year 2010/2011 revealing profits of 2 million pounds and NET Assets of 76m.  The accounts are NOT signed by an auditor leading to rumors all is not well in Ibrox.

January 2012: RTC explains in detail Succulent Lamb Journalism…  the phrase becomes a defining point of the story, along with ‘internet bampots’, coined by Hugh Keevins.

18th January 2012:  The ‘Big tax case’ concludes.  We still await the findings…

13th February: Rangers file papers at the Court of Session giving notice of their intention to enter administration within 7 days…

14th February:  HMRC petition the CoS to allow them to appoint administrators.  After a short hearing, HMRC withdraw the motion and Rangers PLC promptly appoints the now infamous Duff & Phelps as administrators.  On Valentines eve, Craig Whyte stands on the steps of Ibrox and announces to the angry mob the unthinkable… Rangers FC PLC is now in administration.

That evening it is confirmed that HMRC had pushed for administration over £9 million in unpaid VAT, PAYE and NI since the Whyte takeover.  This later rises to 18m.

99% what Craig?

15th February 2012: The SPL immediately deduct Rangers (IA) 10 points for entering administration, as per league rules.  Possibly the last time they follow their own rules throughout this saga.

Bizarrely, Rangers (IA) push ahead with the proposed signing of Daniel Cousin on wages of 7500GBP/week.  The SFA make no comment, despite this being against the rules for a club in administration.

David Murray, in typical fashion, professes surprise at events which RTC warned about 12 months earlier while Murray was still in charge.  Murray also says:

“Firstly, there has been no decision, and there is no present indication as to the timing of a decision, from the first-tier tax tribunal concerning the potential claim from HMRC of £36.5m excluding interest and penalties.

“Secondly, legal opinion on the strength of the club’s case remains favorable.”

21st February: Daily Mail confirm what RTC told us last year, by confirming that Ticketus bought 100,000 season tickets at Ibrox over the next 4 years.  It was this money that Whyte used to buy the club.  Rangers fans are up in arms.  Even though they ignored the warnings a year earlier.

The SFA announce that Lord Nimmo Smith will chair an inquiry into the circumstances leading to administration.

25th February 2012: The Sun on Sunday launches by printing what they claim is a ‘side letter’ given to Rangers players. A financial expert tells them:

“Number one, you are going to get £122,000 and number two you get £1,200 for a first-team game.

“It equates to salary as far as I am concerned. I would say this sort of letter will be a central thread in the big tax case.

RTC will later confirm they are correct.

27th February 2012:  The SFA confirm they will start an investigation into these ‘side letters’

3rd March 2012: D&P admit Rangers have no chance of making Europe next season, as they admit audited accounts by the 31st of March would be almost impossible.

However, in a baffling move, one month later D&P reveal they are ‘appealing’ the decision to ban Rangers from Europe.  UEFA respond by saying

“Licence applicants must demonstrate that as at March 31, 2012, they have no payables overdue towards their employees or social/tax authorities as a result of contractual/legal obligations to their employees that arose prior to December 31, 2011.”

8th March 2012:  Lord Nimmo Smith forwards his report to the SFA Judicial Panel.  The report contains prima facie evidence that Craig Whyte was not a ‘fit and proper person’.  A hearing is set for the 29th of March.  This is later postponed at the request of Whyte.  The full Nimmo Smith report has still not been released by the SFA.

9th March 2012: With no redundancies in sight, Rangers players agree to pay cuts, ranging from 75 – 25%.  It is later revealed that these are not ‘pay cuts’, but pay deferments which must be repaid in the summer, otherwise Rangers will be in breach of contract.  No info is forthcoming in the summer on whether this was paid or not.

5th April 2012: D&P reveal in their first creditors report that Rangers debts could top 134m, with HMRC claiming 93m of the total.

The report also details debts to football creditors of around 2.3m.  It also details debts of hundreds of creditors, such as that for Susie Thomson – a face-painter from Glasgow owed 40quid.  These were the real human losers in this story.

Interestingly, assets are valued at 116m, as per the 2011 accounts.

23rd April 2012: The SFA’s independent panel finds Rangers (IA) guilty of 5 different breaches of SFA rules relating to disrupte charges and are handed a 160,000GBP fine, the maximum available and a 12 month transfer embargo.  The judicial panel state that the offenses committed by Rangers were only one step “lower than match fixing”, and reveal that they considered the punishment of suspension of license or expulsion from the SFA.  They determine a fine would not be enough given the seriousness of the charges and thus impose a transfer embargo.

In the judgement, the panel make reference to evidence given by the Rangers Financial Controller who said invoices to Ticketus were such that they ” appeared as though Clip Art computer processes had been involved in their creation.” The FC tells the  panel he had never seen them.

24th April 2012:  The uproar from Ibrox is loud, with the Bears taking their anger out on the SFA.  McCoist makes a rallying call, demanding to know “who these people are”  He makes an ‘apology’ the next day for putting their lives in danger, but stops short of apologising for forcing names to be released, despite his club previously voting in a motion to keep names confidential.

As a result, a poor director at Raith Rovers takes his family into protective police custody, and Raith are forced to hire round the clock security after arson threats to their ground.  Finally, in August 2012, McCoist is charged by the SFA for his remarks.  He has decided to challenge the charge and the case is ongoing.

Rangers blame the SFA for not stopping Whyte earlier, despite warnings before he took over from RTC.

“Why did the SFA not investigate when they said they had suspicions before Christmas rather than wait until the club went into administration?

9th May 2012:  American tycoon Bill Miller walks away from a proposed offer for Rangers (IA) after being subjected to threats from the Ibrox crowd and discovering a “30 million black hole” in the Rangers accounts.

11th May 2012: Rangers reveal they will appeal the transfer embargo and fine imposed.  The SFA inexplicably name the 3 man panel that will oversee the decision, going against SFA rules agreed by ALL clubs, including Rangers (IA).

13th May 2012:  Reports suggest Charles Green, backed by a global consortium (still unknown!) has bought shares from Craig Whyte for 2quid.  He is given an exclusivity period to propose a CVA worth 8.5m.

17th May 2012: SFA uphold the transfer embargo against Rangers (IA) .  The SFA state that it was “proportionate to the breach, dissuasive to others and effective in the context of serious misconduct, bringing the game into disrepute.”

The Rangers Fighting Fund along with D&P announces they are paying a lawyer to challenge the SFA in the Court of Session.  SFA say nothing.

22nd May 2012:  It is now May, 3 months since the SFA/SPL announced an investigation into side letters and unauthorized payments to players from Rangers FC.  RTC once again provides evidence of a ‘prima facie’ case by revealing details of Christian Nerlinger’s EBT letters.

23rd May 2012: BBC air a damning documentary revealing details of EBT payments and side letters to Rangers players since 2001.  They also uncover emails showing that D&P’s David Grier seemed to have prior knowledge of the Ticketus deal.  D&P and Craig Whyte threaten legal action, but none is forthcoming.  The BBC also hint at payments made to managers not employed by Rangers at the time, including Graeme Souness.

29th of May 2012:  D&P reveal their ‘CVA’ proposal.  One that was doomed to fail, offering creditors little or nothing.  It also revealed if it was rejected then the ‘assets’ would automatically be sold to Charles Green and Sevco 5088 for just 5.5m (the ‘new’ value of the assets.  No evidence has yet been presented on how these ‘assets’ were valued.)

On the same day (seeing the pattern of bad news being overshadowed by good news yet?) Rangers ‘win’ at the Court of Session, with the court ruling that the SFA had no powers to give a transfer ban.  They decide to refer the decision back to the SFA judicial panel to decide on a new punishment.

Lawyer Gregory Ioannidis remarks:

“If the Scottish Football Association decides to not take action against Rangers, in relation to Rangers submitting the application to the Court of Session, then Fifa can actually penalise the SFA, and the individual club, and the national team of Scotland, and impose an international ban on all of them.”

No action is ever taken by the SFA or FIFA.

12th June 2012:  HMRC release a statement saying that they will reject the CVA.  Given that they have over 25% of the debt, it makes the creditors meeting scheduled for the 14th irrelevant.

“A CVA would restrict the scope of such action. Moreover, the liquidation route does not prejudice the proposed sale of the club. This sale can take place either through a CVA or a liquidation, so the sale is not being undermined, it simply takes a different route.

“Liquidation will enable a sale of the football assets to be made to a new company, thereby ensuring that football will continue at Ibrox. It also means that the new company will be free from claims or litigation in a way which would not be achievable with a CVA.

“Rangers can make a fresh start.”

14th June 2012: The CVA is formally rejected.  D&P immediately sell the assets to Sevco 5088 Ltd and Rangers FC PLC (IA) cease to operate as a football club.   The assets are later assigned to Sevco Scotland Ltd.  SPL rules state that a club that ceases to function as a football club should immediately relinquish its share and membership.  This does not happen.

15th June 2012:  Ian Hart denies being part of the Green consortium buying the Rangers assets.  Green had earlier named him when pushed to name his backers

So starts the misinformation campaign from Sevco.

17th June 2012: Rangers FC are excluded from the fixture list for the forthcoming SPL season, replaced instead by ‘Club 12’.  It is widely reported, that if Sevco Scotland are refused a place in the SPL, then Club 12 will be Dundee.  The SPL give no reasons why.

17th – 27th June 2012: Walter Smith, Allan Stewart and Stephen McKenna, and then John Brown all turn up in the papers making ‘bids’ for the assets which Green has already bought.

22nd June 2012 – Lord Hodge seeks report from D & P re: a potential “conflict of interest”, after information given to him by the BBC.

25th June 2012: The BBC reveal that Sevco Scotland will not be granted admission to the SPL, after 6 clubs publicly declare their opposition, after season ticket sales fail to materialize as fans make their views known.

27th June 2012:  John Brown stands on the steps of Ibrox and pleads with Rangers fans not to buy season tickets until Green reveals who are his backers and who owns Ibrox.  This question remains unanswered.  Brown is now silent.

4th July 2012:  Despite weeks of pressure from the SFA, SPL and MSM, the SPL clubs reject the application from Sevco Scotland to join the SPL.

Stewart Regan warns of Armageddon for Scottish Football if Sevco are not admitted to SFL1 instead.  We are still waiting.

5th July 2012Stenhousemuir reveal details of a talk given to them by Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan, where SFL clubs are threatened with bankruptcy if they don’t vote Sevco Scotland into Division 1.  Figures presented are ridiculed by the internet bampots.

Clyde and Raith Rovers emerge as the cheerleaders for sporting integrity in the lower leagues, with both clubs openly speaking out against what they describe as “irresponsible”.  Raith Chairman Turnbull Hutton suggests the SFL clubs send their mascots to vote on the proposal for Sevco to enter SFL1.

9th July 2012: the SFA refuse international clearance for players who decided to leave Rangers (IA) when the assets were sold, as were their rights under the TUPE laws.  This decision has yet to be explained, and is contrary to legal advice.

Meanwhile, Sevco director Imran Ahmad, when asked what he felt was the exit price to sell Rangers/Sevco was, replied:

“On a bad day the club is worth £50m.”

Of course, they had just bought the club for just 5.5m, and still had no league place for the forthcoming season.

13th July 2012:  Expiry of deadline for submission of report on D&P conflict of interest.  News suggests that Lord Hodge is on holiday.  No news has been heard since and the administration continues…

13th July 2012: Sevco Scotland are allowed to start life in the 3rd division, subject to gaining an SFA licence, after SFL clubs vote to reject the proposal to allow Sevco Scotland into the 1st division.   There is no sign of Armageddon.

15th July 2012FIFA write to the SFA asking for reasons why former Rangers IA players are having their registration transfer blocked.  The players claim their free agents and have rejected the TUPE arrangements with Green’s new club.  As of August Allan McGregor’s move to Turkey is still onhold as they wait on international clearance.  We await an answer, as we suspect FIFA do to.

24th July 2012: Ian Black signs a 3 year deal with Sevco Scotland.  It is unclear how he is registered or who he is contracted to.

9pm, 27th July 2012:  Just 48 hours before the first scheduled match for Sevco Scotland the SFA grant an unheard of ‘conditional’ membership to Sevco Scotland.  It is reported that Sevco Scotland have agreed to a 12 month transfer embargo, starting on the 1st of September 2012.  They also agree to pay all football debts of Rangers (IA).

Sevco, playing in strips of Rangers (IA) defeat Brechin City in extra time to record their first ever victory.  Ian Black plays as a trialist, despite signing a contract with Sevco Scotland earlier in the week.  It is further unclear whether players are registered to Rangers IA or Sevco Scotland, and if the former, how?

31st July 2012: At an EGM of Rangers FC PLC (IA) the directors change the company name to Rangers 2012 (IA).  At the same time Sevco Scotland pass a resolution to change their name to ‘The Rangers FC Ltd’.  Companies house data shows that Charles Green owns more than 10% of The Rangers FC Ltd, despite his claims that no one person would own more than this.  No one from the MSM thinks to ask this question.

3rd August 2012:  The Rangers FC Ltd are granted full SFA membership, after having the membership of Rangers 2012 (IA) transferred to them.  Under what rules this was possible is not clear.

ESPN follow SKY in agreeing a new deal with the SPL for TV rights.  No sign of Armageddon yet.

15th August 2012: Dundee Utd in a short statement reveal that they have not been paid by Sevco/TRFC for the unpaid debt relating to last season’s Scottish Cup with Rangers (IA).  Despite an agreement with the SFA to pay these debts, Charles Green blames the SPL for going back on a agreement made in May to pay this out of money owed to Rangers (IA).  Dundee Utd, and other European clubs remain unpaid, as does the poor face painter from Glasgow.

It is unclear how the ‘conditional’ membership works if the ‘conditions’ have not been met.  

STV further report that SPL clubs still do not know how much TV cash they are going to get from the new SPL SKY deal.  The SPL make no comment.

17th August 2012: Lord Nimmo Smith is appointed to chair an independent commission into Rangers (IA) making undeclared payments to players from 2001 onwards.  They are unlikely to sit before October.

22nd August 2012: ‘The Rangers’ announce they have signed a joint venture with Sports Direct for the merchandising rights.  Companies House shows that the new company, ‘Rangers Retail’, is owned 100% by SportsDirect.com

23rd August 2012: There is still no word on who are the investors in Sevco Scotland.  The SFA have not released any details to explain how Green passed the fit and proper person test.  No details of proof that Sevco Scotland have the finances to last the season.  The question of where are Ticketus is silent. Lord Hodge has still not returned his findings on a conflict of interest in the appointment of D&P.  The FTT result is still awaited, just like BDO await the liquidation of Rangers 2012 PLC.  Meanwhile, Stewart Regan resurfaces to announce details of league reorganization in time for next season, reducing Scotland to 3 leagues from 4.

Oh… and there is still no signs of Armageddon.

28th August 2012: Campbell Ogilvie finally breaks cover to talk about how league reconstruction was on the agenda long before Rangers ran into problems.  He managed however to proclaim;

To be fair, nobody really saw the situation coming

Yes Campbell… just like you didn’t see the side letters.

—-

StevensanPH is an exiled St.Johnstone fan living in the Philippines – he runs the SaintinAsia blog writing about all aspects of Scottish Football.  Thankfully the MSM don’t sell papers in the Philippines…”

1,011 thoughts on “The Rangers saga as it happened…


  1. smallteaser says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:00

    Why is there a big discusion concerning a blogger on another site who doesn’t, as far as I am aware. post on this site?

    —————————————-

    If a personal attack is made towards a valuable contributor to this affair then I think it is right that we should dicuss it. Not everyone may be aware of Chris Graham and his point of view. Chris Graham may or may not contribute here but he certainly looks in. For what I’ve seen of him so far he brings nothing constructive to the debate and his outbursts show him up.

    ==============================
    Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:53

    I think the discussions on here and RTC previously with the more sensible supporters of RFC were laudable. However, you can’t deny that the largest voice being heard from down Govan way is that of the neanderthals.


  2. There are a miniscule,tiny,microscopic,barely viewable,rarely heard amount of t’rangers fans out there. Don’t snipe at me if I have the temerity,nay,downright cheek,the insufferable audacity, to criticise the madmen intent on using t’rangers as a cover for their lunacy.
    There is too much of this bristling attitude when t’rangers are faced down over their actions and attitude.
    So,get a grip of your own club,and don’t blame me if I say what I see and hear from the terraces when SevcoScotland are in town; when a steady stream of ‘fans’ are hauled into courts,here there and everywhere, on truly serious charges.
    That’s reality. Not my fevered imagination,lack of sympathy,or poor mediating skills.


  3. night terror you are barking mad ,
    i have yet to find a sevcovian who admits to all the cheating the old RFCia done in their name ,not only that when you try to have an adult conversation with them about side contracts ebt`s, all they can say is we`ve been punished enough lol, they just dont get it ,being made to restart at the bottom is not a punishment all you get from them is we got relegated from the SPL, wrong they got a get out of jail free card to start all over again withoutfulfillingg the criteria for a newclub,more rule bending to help them get in


  4. Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:03
    0 2 i
    Rate This
    smallteaser says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:00

    Why is there a big discusion concerning a blogger on another site who doesn’t, as far as I am aware. post on this site?

    Only things posted here are open for discussion?
    =============================================================
    NT, open for any discusion however this discusion is concerning articles written by Chris Grahm.
    I have read some of his articles and wouldn’t bring them to this site, not even with a link. There is very little fact based on his blogs and he appears to be a younger Leggo.
    I do think the blog is being distracted by discussing the writes and wrongs of his views when they are not published on this site. No one is discussing anything he said only hi write to say it.
    If he wishes to post here and take any plaudits or critisism them that would be good, maybe he good do the next guest blog??.


  5. waco says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:29

    night terror you are barking mad ,
    i have yet to find a sevcovian who admits to all the cheating the old RFCia done in their name ,not only that when you try to have an adult conversation with them about side contracts ebt`s, all they can say is we`ve been punished enough lol, they just dont get it ,being made to restart at the bottom is not a punishment all you get from them is we got relegated from the SPL, wrong they got a get out of jail free card to start all over again withoutfulfillingg the criteria for a newclub,more rule bending to help them get in

    And that makes me barking mad?

    I think you’re barking up the wrong tree.


  6. smallteaser says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:33

    If he wishes to post here and take any plaudits or critisism them that would be good, maybe he good do the next guest blog??

    —————————————

    That would be a seriously good contribution if it could be arranged. Whilst I personally think he is the wrong man to be the voice of Rangers I would never deny him the right to post his views, especially on a balanced platform.

    It would be interesting to say the least.


  7. smallteaser says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:33

    NT, open for any discusion however this discusion is concerning articles written by Chris Grahm.
    I have read some of his articles and wouldn’t bring them to this site, not even with a link. There is very little fact based on his blogs and he appears to be a younger Leggo.
    I do think the blog is being distracted by discussing the writes and wrongs of his views when they are not published on this site. No one is discussing anything he said only hi write to say it.
    If he wishes to post here and take any plaudits or critisism them that would be good, maybe he good do the next guest blog??.

    I haven’t really noticed any discussion on the detail of what he writes, even though I posted one of his deleted works when someone else mentioned it. I certainly haven’t got into the rights and wrongs of what he writes. Not here, anyway.

    My point is that if someone from the The Rangers side is prepared to engage with non-TRFC people, refusing to do so because you disagree with what they say is not constructive in any way.

    Right now, he & associates seem the only ones prepared to do so. Refusing to engage with them makes me query the motivations of those doing so. If all you really want to do is batter anything resembling Rangers then it probably is best you avoid engaging with the supporters of said clubs.


  8. tomtom says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:42

    smallteaser says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:33

    If he wishes to post here and take any plaudits or critisism them that would be good, maybe he good do the next guest blog??

    —————————————

    That would be a seriously good contribution if it could be arranged. Whilst I personally think he is the wrong man to be the voice of Rangers I would never deny him the right to post his views, especially on a balanced platform.

    It would be interesting to say the least.

    Seconded.


  9. tomtom says:
    August 28, 2012 at 11:18

    I think the discussions on here and RTC previously with the more sensible supporters of RFC were laudable. However, you can’t deny that the largest voice being heard from down Govan way is that of the neanderthals.

    Can’t disagree with that at all. I wish it wasn’t the case.

    They few reasonable ones who have stepped forward beyond the “we will have our revenge for all those sly kicks when we were down” rhetoric don’t seem to have any traction with the Ibrox support. That is a real shame and I wish it weren’t so.

    There are lots of Rangers fans who are not idiots and know exactly what has gone on – yet they seem mostly to have better things to do with their time than try representing and even influencing fan opinion.


  10. stevensanph says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:43
     3 0 Rate This
    Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:19

    I have a memory of hearing him say something along these lines but a quick search didnt turn up anything. I will check again tomorrow. I’m sure it came out in the appeal that he had been involved in the process at the first hearing too…
    ———–

    Wasn’t the point that the club at the time (old Rangers) had been told the names, but that Ally was somehow out of the loop? Granted the poor communication internally at the time it’s not unthinkable that he didn’t know, at least until after his press conference when someone perhaps cleared their throat and said: ‘Actually Ally, truth is …’


  11. Danish Pastry
    August 28, 2012 at 11:57

    stevensanph says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:43
    3 0 Rate This
    Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:19

    I have a memory of hearing him say something along these lines but a quick search didnt turn up anything. I will check again tomorrow. I’m sure it came out in the appeal that he had been involved in the process at the first hearing too…
    ———–

    Wasn’t the point that the club at the time (old Rangers) had been told the names, but that Ally was somehow out of the loop? Granted the poor communication internally at the time it’s not unthinkable that he didn’t know, at least until after his press conference when someone perhaps cleared their throat and said: ‘Actually Ally, truth is
    __________________________________________________________________________

    It is irrelevant whether he knew the names or not. His intention was clear – fire up the Bears and suggest underhand secret goings on by people who have it in for Rangers


  12. Oh, I’ve engaged alright….with rfc ‘fans’ whom I’d previously thought of as decent,if misguided.
    No longer….the level of abuse I got took me aback. Literally. I had to back off very quickly. Needless to say…..so, I won’t.
    They are inured to reason in the extreme. ‘Denial’ doesn’t even start to describe it.


  13. tomtom @ 11:42

    Also seconded. Let’s see if he or anyone else for that matter can get the ‘we’ve been punished enough’ dictat that he was so fond of repeating on TV off to a flier here.


  14. J Maclure says:
    August 28, 2012 at 07:15

    ‘john clarke says:
    August 27, 2012 at 17:37
    ‘Pardon me, but I think I said that.’

    ————
    I don’t doubt it ( and sorry I missed your initial-I hadn’t noticed that the cursor hadn’t gone over it),
    It’s just that I have a thing about that expression ‘ moving on’ and others of the same kind.
    They remind me of the sleekitest, most weaselly, unprincipled, boss I ever had in my civil service career who always, always tried to head off arguments about his biased decision-making by ‘moving on’, ‘drawing lines’ ‘ let’s all pull together going forward’ crap.


  15. TSFM,

    The ball’s in your court here. Give Chris Graham his platform in a venue that he can’t control and see what happens.


  16. At the minute, I’ve slowed my blogging to a standstill to write a book. Provisionally entitled “The Death of Scottish Football”, it’s not actually going to mention Rangers that much and is, instead, about the malaise in Scottish football in general.

    To further this, I’ve contacted some of the leading youth coaching systems in the world, ex-pros and many others to help provide the best bit of research I can.

    On which note, I’ve made a quick questionnaire and, as the majority on here are more educated than most football fans, I’m posting the link on here for posters to do:

    http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GBGSGZ6

    I look forward to hearing your views!


  17. Richard Wilson (@timomouse) says:
    August 28, 2012 at 12:45
    At the minute, I’ve slowed my blogging to a standstill to write a book. Provisionally entitled “The Death of Scottish Football”
    ————————-

    Good title.


  18. Richard Wilson

    I’d recommend speaking to Mark Wotte and especially Ian Cathro at the SFA if you can.

    Cathro could tell you about trying to implement the right sort of ideas in the face of parental resistance when he was at Dundee United.


  19. Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 12:57
    0 0 i
    Rate This
    Richard Wilson

    I’d recommend speaking to Mark Wotte and especially Ian Cathro at the SFA if you can.
    ====================================================================
    I’d recommend you ignore anyone ever associated with the SFA.
    How many schools of excellence were they building?
    How many are built?
    How do they help grass roots football, out price the teams looking for a park at Hampden, or kick them off in the winter so SPL teams can use the facility.


  20. Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 12:57

    Already trying Mark Wotte, but will have to go at Ian Cathro as I didn’t realise he’d gone to Portugal. Focus at the minute is on trying to get responses from non-Scottish systems, before I get onto the Scottish system itself. So far, I’ve had responses from as far afield as Argentina and Chile. Just trying to compose the right questions to be asking people in between writing the bits I can write without needing all that much exposition from others.


  21. Finally got around to reading the D and P report. If any court accepts this and authorises their fees – they may well – then it is clear that administration as a process is simply legalised theft – and if BDO act as they do in the Farepak thing then we are all simply getting stolen from – yet again at each stage by charlatan accountants.

    Maybe we should make the whole process of administration illegal again if .like most well meaning solutions, it is hijacked by self motivated greed merchants. It would surely have been far better for the creditors if this administration had never taken place – and the receivers had moved in last February and disposed of the assets for the maximum possible price.

    What we are seeing here is disgusting, but from comments I have seen on here, it appears to be not too far from how most administrations work. The whole concept appears to me to be a racket to allow debtors not to pay their debts and for thieving accountants to milk even more from dying companies.


  22. Telegram for cambo.

    Dear sir.

    I find myself writing another letter to your organisation after yet more lies are printed in todays media. For Campbell Ogilvie to state that no-one envisaged the rfc liquidation is preposterous. The Rangers Tax Case blog started in March 2011, and very quickly established that the EBT scheme would result in liquidation for the club, while highlighting the fact that the first assessment arrived at ibrox many months before the blog started. As you yourself where a director and secretary at rfc during this scheme and have been proven to have benefitted from the tax avoiding culture that existed at rfc, and being the countries best administrator you must have known the rules regarding payments included in footballing contracts, it is outrageous that you are still in office and feel the time is right for you to show one of your faces in public and talk about how restructuring the leagues will not be done to move Trfc up the leagues but only state that places will be gained on merit. Who decides the criteria, why not simply state the highest teams will fill the highest available positions. We know you will try and fix this in the same manner that all rules where broken to accomodate this new club that you are all desperate be accepted as rfc. Well, they are not the same club and scottish football fans will no more accept the laughable favouritism your organisation has shown them. We want you out campbell, you have destroyed rangers football club in your time there, and are well on the way to destroying the entire game. Fortunately RTC and latterly TSFM ( where i will copy this comment, and any reply that is forthcoming, despite you continually ignoring every correspondance so far. ) are way ahead of your propaganda machine and we are prepared to fight to clean up our game.

    Resign now.


  23. Nowoldandgrumpy says:
    August 28, 2012 at 00:39

    I thought it was interesting that Ogilvie thought it was okay for him to surface. Is this a sign that the SFA have now drawn a line under this whole affair, as previously stated by Regan.
    I take it that the dual contracts issue is part of this line drawing also.
    That is it then, time to close the blog.

    Aye right Ogilvie.

    ———————————

    They’re taking it in turns. If any one of the crooks stays too long in the light, they get burned.
    It was Oglivie’s turn to take some heat. Regan did it last week. I assume Doinkey’s turn will be next. Fat sally has confined himself to criticising his players. CG has been quiet. Murray had a long-range potshot weeks back. Duff & Duffer are missing in (in)action, and one of our Bombers is missing………..


  24. Danish Pastry
    August 28, 2012 at 11:57

    stevensanph says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:43
    3 0 Rate This
    Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:19
    ——–
    Ally knew he admitted as much, he said he was only asking on behalf of the club and it’s supporters. This would assume that he was asked to keep the panel members names secret.


  25. I attempted to engage Chris Graham on his blog a number of weeks ago, but as others have pointed out he has no real interest in debate, he did however allow through some Celtic fans who, lets say, had their sleeves rolled up and were spoiling for a fight, he then calmly dismissed their contributions as evidence of a bilious anti Rangers agenda, the line he pedals relentlessly. Each of my posts were held in mod, despite nothing remotely offensive. (I think?)

    I would love to see his guest article on this blog…..genuinely, it would be worth reading, but I fear he would never expose his own position(s) to such scrutiny. His blog on Alex Thompson is quite typical, heavy on opinion, or opinions of others(unnamed) but utterly devoid of factual analysis. The closing section of the article is largely an attack on Phil Mac, who I have to say leaves himself wide open to such attacks using language and expression that merely panders to boneheaded elements of the Celtic support, amid his often impressive contributions. (There are a few on here who are guilty of the same grandstanding to the gallery, it really helps no-one) Are there people in Scottish football who ‘hate’ Rangers? Unquestionably! and this is an area worthy of further discussion and of interest to all concerned, but my argument would always be that the crisis that has engulfed Scottish football is about the application of the rules, nothing else, any perceived ‘agenda’ or ‘hatred’ is utterly irrelevant. The crisis has been amplified again and again by the failure to apply the rules, if the SFA and SPL will not apply the rules why should Green or McCoist? These two are now chair-leading the largest display of petulant peacockery every witnessed in Scottish football and beyond, marching around the country with middle digits extended. In many ways I can see their point if no-one is prepared to enforce the rules they are untouchable.

    I still believe there will be major derailment in the near future……………


  26. A Expert says:
    August 28, 2012 at 12:19
     8 0 Rate This
    Danish Pastry
    August 28, 2012 at 11:57

    stevensanph says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:43
    3 0 Rate This
    Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 10:19

    I have a memory of hearing him say something along these lines but a quick search didnt turn up anything. I will check again tomorrow. I’m sure it came out in the appeal that he had been involved in the process at the first hearing too…
    ———–

    Wasn’t the point that the club at the time (old Rangers) had been told the names, but that Ally was somehow out of the loop? Granted the poor communication internally at the time it’s not unthinkable that he didn’t know, at least until after his press conference when someone perhaps cleared their throat and said: ‘Actually Ally, truth is
    __________________________________________________________________________

    It is irrelevant whether he knew the names or not. His intention was clear – fire up the Bears and suggest underhand secret goings on by people who have it in for Rangers
    —————

    It’s not irrelevant with regards to the accuracy of the timeline. Steven was answering a query about the timeline. It’s important we get facts straight, anything less and TSFM becomes part of the MSM – if you don’t know just make it up.

    But I agree with regards to the effect and outcome. He had no right to demand names at all, and certainly not in an angry manner. His accusative tone did indeed stir up the hordes and caused grief to those three and their families. In the situation it was incitement. Yet another reason why some fans of defunct Rangers turned their back on the old and refuse to recognise the ugly mirror image that Sevco attempting to be.


  27. In which I look at how little in the management philosophy of Ally McCoist seems to have changed over the last twelve months, even after all the upheaval there has been.

    We travel by way of Napoleon’s soldiers failing to spike Wellington’s guns, Whittaker’s ball throwing and Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s prescience, from defeat in Malmo in August 2011 to a draw in Berwick in August 2012.

    We also consider Mr McCoist’s attempts to build the biggest first team squad in Scottish football, and whether he is still trying to be an SPL manager in the rather different terrain of the SFL3.

    http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/ally-mccoists-managerial-foibles-the-hinge-factor-and-rangers-downfall/


  28. Danish Pastry says:
    August 28, 2012 at 13:29

    It is irrelevant whether he knew the names or not. His intention was clear – fire up the Bears and suggest underhand secret goings on by people who have it in for Rangers
    —————

    It’s not irrelevant with regards to the accuracy of the timeline. Steven was answering a query about the timeline. It’s important we get facts straight, anything less and TSFM becomes part of the MSM – if you don’t know just make it up.

    Well said sir – although it is quite a nice test to see who are just out to sock it to Rangers in whatever form they take and those that are genuinely keen for the truth to be aired.

    Can’t complain that the MSM or Rangers fans ignore facts to suit their agenda (has ever a word been more over used?) when their critics will do the same to suit theirs.

    Facts are facts, even if they are inconvenient to some. Doesn’t matter what their ferking agenda is.


  29. “Who are these people”, was the moment of clarity for me. One of the most shameful actions of the entire saga.

    Is there a date confirmed for Sally’s long overdue appearance in front of the disciplinary panel?


  30. CE @13:46am

    As far as I know thurs 30 August was the date set but then again everything to do with sevco is subject to change 🙂


  31. I see that Mr Graham and his admirably manifestoed Rangers Standard has been mentioned. I sent the linked piece below through to it for consideration for publication but after the automated acknowldgement, I did not even qualify for the proverbial rejection slip.

    http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/the-strong-leader-in-football-what-matters-most-the-role-or-the-achievements/

    Perhaps as Mr Graham is now being quoted in articles in the New York Times, he is too good for the small pond of Scottish football. In which case I can proudly boast that I was ridiculed and insulted by him before he became famous!


  32. Night Terror says:
    August 28, 2012 at 13:45
     0 0 Rate This
    Danish Pastry says:
    August 28, 2012 at 13:29
    ————–

    Can’t complain that the MSM or Rangers fans ignore facts to suit their agenda (has ever a word been more over used?) when their critics will do the same to suit theirs.
    ——————-

    Dealing in factual inaccuracies won’t do here. That’s why our Saint in Asia is trying to verify McCoist’s day-after admission. I can’t find it either. What I did find was a verbatim quote from The Mail Online of May 11, 2012:

    “‘I did not know the identity of the three people when I made the statement,’ insisted McCoist.

    ‘I am categoric about that. Other people in the club might have known but I did not.'”

    But in one sense it’s neither here nor there if we believe him or not because it pales into insignificance compared to this quote from BBC Scotland on the 27th of April:

    “Asked whether he had any regrets over his original comments, McCoist said: “Not at all. I think a lot of people have misinterpreted my statement as some form of apology. [his statement about how he was disgusted by the subsequent threats to panel members]

    “It’s anything but an apology. I stand by everything I’ve said.”

    So no regrets from Ally about making his original comments that caused what he said were disgusting threats of physical violence to innocent men and women. Simply indefensible. Right there and then he should have stepped down.


  33. Danish and Night terror… I agree with you guys fully. We all know what McCoist meant, but If I have written that he said something that I can’t prove he did, then i will edit it to reflect true events. I still think I read it somewhere and that I didn’t imagine it… although there is a possibility I read it in the RTC comments and took it as fact, which would have been an MSM mistake so I hope thats not the case 🙂

    Will consult my friend google tomorrow and try and iron this one out!


  34. Regan stated categorically that Scottish Football was “UNSUSTAINABLE” should RFC Tribute Act be promoted to the 3rd Division instead of the 1st Division. This was at the same time he stated Scottish Football would face a “slow lingering death”. How can he now stay in his position when he himself does not believe he can do the job he is being paid to do. Why are the Clubs in Scotland not demanding he be SACKED, never mind giving him the opportunity to resign.


  35. Ra Bommur’s been in Alaska,fishin’…….apparently. Maybe him and Sarah Palin exchanged notes on Moon Nazis…..well, as Chucky G. himself would say, “Owt’s possible in this game.”
    And if the verbose one can drag himself to the steps of Ibrox once more,can someone pease enquire what he’s done wi’ the money stuffed into his paw by deluded and over emotional Sevcovians?
    Cheers! 🙂


  36. As I said, it revealed the true Alistair McCoist, a nasty, snide, limited human being as well as football manager.

    We should never forget, this man deserves nothing but contempt for the rest of his days.


  37. “It’s anything but an apology. I stand by everything I’ve said.”

    So no regrets from Ally about making his original comments that caused what he said were disgusting threats of physical violence to innocent men and women. Simply indefensible. Right there and then he should have stepped down.
    *****
    Right there and then he should have been stepped on….by the police.


  38. Don’t really get what’s going on with Rangers in a footballing sense at the moment, Kirk Broadfoot has just left and some 30 year old German defender Michael Fink is on trial from a Turkish club.

    Broadfoot is a solid if somewhat clumsy and unspectacular player but certainly good enough for the SPL nevermind the 4th tier of Scottish football so why the need to bring in an endless stream of Brazilians, Greeks, Argintinians, French & Germans etc to go play at places like Peterhead, Berwick & Forres etc?

    Also rumoured that some of their younger players might also leave on loan or permanently.

    Even their Lord Protector SFA President Campbell Ogilvie has admitted there is no way they can fast-track to the SPL next season.

    So what’s going on – can Super Ally not win the Scottish 4th Division with a team of young Scots?

    maybe they should give Paul Hartley a phone call instead?


  39. If the decision from the FTT is coming soon, we need to try to set expectations about the level of the bill and penalty. RTC said that it would be about 18-20m + the same again in interest with penalties to be decided later.

    Given the way that even Whyte hyped the potential amount as being over 90m and the D&P taking the worst possible case numbers, there is a chance that that a judgement of 20m will be hailed as a victory for the oldco Rangers by some in the media.

    We need to set the expectation level so that an outcome of 18-20m is seen in its rightful place. It will be justification of everything that everyone on this fantastic blog has worked so hard to see come to light.

    With interest, a judgement of 36-40m would show that Rangers were cheating. They used an illegal scheme to get an illegal advantage.


  40. Has any one contacted the SFL regarding their website? Shows “rangers Football Club” 1873 and all of Dead Cubs honors. This is one of the reasons Sevco fans still think its still the same club.

    Apologies if this has been discussed before.


  41. From the Panel’s text.

    “The Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal Hearing took place over six days: 29 March, 6 April (Procedural Hearings) and a Principal Hearing on 17, 18, 20 and 23 April 2012 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. The Tribunal heard the conjoined hearings of the complaints against The Rangers Football Club plc (“Rangers FC”) and Mr Craig Whyte.

    The Compliance Officer Mr Vincent Lunny presented the Complaints on behalf of the Scottish Football Association. (“the Scottish FA”)

    The Rangers Football Club plc (in Administration) was represented by Mr Andrew Dickson, its Head of Football Administration; Mr Simon Shipperlee, of Messrs Duff and Phelps, the Administrators, and Mr Michael McLaughlin, Solicitor, of Biggart Baillie LLP.

    Mr Craig Whyte was not in attendance, nor was he represented.”

    I am assuming that if McCoist had been present at any time he would have been named.

    Therefore the question is did Sally know, via the Rangers representatives, who the panel was?

    Given that it was rats deserting a sinking ship you would have thought that the Football Manager would have at some point spoken to the Head of Football Administration between 29 March and 23 April 2012 and beyond being who else would he have to talk to about footballing matters at the club.

    The question of whether or not they would have discussed the make up of the panel is therefore speculation at present.


  42. New signings for Whitstheirname should be wary when Ally says that they are on a fast track to SPL because the comment below suggests that he is not so good when doing the ‘What Happens Next’ round:

    McCoist April 26/27
    “In an ideal world, whatever the punishment should be, that should be it. But Scottish football is not an ideal world. These fans [wanting Rangers in the third division] thankfully won’t get their wish.”

    Sometimes wishes do come true, it seems.


  43. yeah – I checked that earlier and your right. I’m leaning towards not having anything other than fan speculation that he knew, and therefore, I will edit if I can’t find the quotes I think I saw. It is imperative that anything on this site is factual and can be backed up with facts. Otherwise we are no better than the MSM.


  44. MCCoist 27 April
    “In response to questions about the club being represented at the panel, the manager said: “Why should we know and not the general public? Everybody should know. There should be clarity. There should be total transparency.”
    Not cast iron but this was his chance to say that he did not know and he uses the term ‘we’.


  45. miki67 says:

    Is Ally (sneakin’ down wine alley) McC the Tyrion Lannister of football? Or does he simply not measure up
    __________________________________
    Nope, he’s much more like Joffrey.


  46. stevensanph says:
    August 28, 2012 at 14:28
     2 0 Rate This
    Danish and Night terror… I agree with you guys fully. We all know what McCoist meant, but If I have written that he said something that I can’t prove he did, then i will edit it to reflect true events. I still think I read it somewhere and that I didn’t imagine it… although there is a possibility I read it in the RTC comments and took it as fact, which would have been an MSM mistake so I hope thats not the case
    ————–

    I think you’re right about it being discussed on RTC Steven – and it being inferred that McCoist must have known because it was said that the club had knowledge of the panel members.

    But that he denied on May 11 that he actually knew when he made his infamous statements probably means that was his original line. Anyway, just trying to help with the timeline facts 😉

    I wonder if this report was true though:

    “There is no chance we would want Ally to leave the club. I want him to be here for the next 25 years. We would never let his contract finish. We’re talking with him and his advisers about doing something,” Green told the Daily Record.

    A 25-year contract was probably not signed, in fact, he might not last 25 weeks with the company that’s changed its name to pretend that it’s still Glasgow Rangers!


  47. So Campbell declares there will be no fast tracking…..

    Goian declares when he returns from a season long loan he expects SEVCO to be in the SPL?

    How do we square that circle?

    What has Goian been told?….Is Campbell playing the old…what we say now and what we do in 6 months time are 2 tootally different things….will he be at the SFA in 6 months time?

    Who knows….but 1 thing is certain…IT STINKS TO HIGH HEAVENS!


  48. iki says:
    August 28, 2012 at 15:19

    MCCoist 27 April
    “In response to questions about the club being represented at the panel, the manager said: “Why should we know and not the general public? Everybody should know. There should be clarity. There should be total transparency.”
    Not cast iron but this was his chance to say that he did not know and he uses the term ‘we’.

    That was the best/worst quote I could find, too.


  49. The moves are afoot for C.O. to slink off with golden parachute into uefa with a golden handshake. This is the way of the corrupt and terminally greedy. Waffle,obfuscate,dissemble with their polished legalese and slither past every obstacle while pocketing our money to pay for their bloated egos.
    A McC’s trying to learn these moves,but being a complete ned,he can’t quite pull it off.
    A few degrees short of a moral compass, this lot. Ruining Scottish football,at our expense,in order to enrich themselves.
    Do they care? Not a jot. We are simply mug punters to be lied to by people who know full well that we see them for what they are,but there they go,smirking and preening their way to imagined glory. The corrupt. The bent. The criminal.


  50. iki says:
    August 28, 2012 at 15:19
     1 0 Rate This
    MCCoist 27 April

    Not cast iron but this was his chance to say that he did not know and he uses the term ‘we’.
    ————

    As a general blog rule I’d say if it’s not cast iron we must be careful of stating it as fact – based on inference alone – and not just on this issue but on any issue. Bias can affect the judgement of even the most objective soul on occasion.

    The events of late April have cast their shadow and we know who’s to blame. The blog is slightly handicapped by the fact that we have difficulty doing our own reporting since perhaps only a few, if any, actually have a press card.

    Now if some enterprising soul created the TSFM Podcast, then we could make calls, do interviews and get what facts we can from the mouth of the various horses, so to speak.


  51. I was outraged by the Berwick goal being disallowed too but please spare us the bleating from Celtic fans about honest mistakes. Celtic have had plenty of favourable decisions over the years, as fans of all the other clubs will tell you. Why highlightThe Sporting Life? Other papers made it clear it was a very poor decision. I also noted Gary Ralston in the Record brought up the “Rangers” fans sectarian chanting. Quite refreshing.


  52. Sepia says:
    August 28, 2012 at 15:51
    ___________________________________________________________________________

    An audit of Scottish football, Spreadsheets you say. There can only be one organisation capable of administering such a process. One with a proven track record. It must be Duff & Duffer.

    Seriously though you make a very valid point and in conjunction with making the official match assesors reports public we would be well on the way to Transparency City, Tennessee.


  53. I have a few questions:

    1. How do Supporters Trust, or indeed any such fan/supporters organisation, arrange their affairs when they first set up (I assume its by some form of legal document or something like a constitution)?

    2. How do they legally define which ‘club’ they are the supporters trust of … or is it left as undefined in law?

    3. Since the insolvency event, has the Rangers Supporters Trust had to change any of their constitution (or such document), and in what way?

    Can anyone help with answers for these?


  54. Q1. Are expectations that September will be the month when “Liquidation” is implemented?

    Q2. Will the “liquidation” then activate the “Crystallisation” of the “Floating Charge”?

    Q3. What specifically are Clauses S216 & 217 of the Insolvency Act 1986 in relevance to?

    September looks like necing a bright month.

    Paddy T


  55. On the Berwick Rangers ‘goal’ that never was…
    Its clear to hear the ref’s whistle blow for a foul before the Berwick Rangers player makes contact to pop it in the net. It was for some shoving or foul on the goalie or something.

    It did, however, remind me of a similar situation (corner kick) with Yogi Hughes as second commentator on an SPL match a few seasons ago – where he correctly predicted that the ref would blow for a soft foul.
    He stated before the kick was taken that the ref knew he had given the corner the wrong way due to the player protestations at the decision (no attacking player was fussed/almost every defending player protests).
    Yogi, again before the kick was taken, said that sometimes refs in such a situation, try to undo the error by blowing for a nondescript infringement by the attacking team and pointing to a spot in the 6yd box. This would have the effect of undoing his error since something akin to a goal kick is then taken by the other team.
    Resulting scenario … kick taken … ref blows for a foul that no-one else spots in the 6yd box!!

    Yogi was in his element after getting that one right (and to be fair he had every right to be!).

    I dont know if this was a similar thing since I never saw the game, or watched the highlights, and I’m not saying its right in any way – I’m just saying thats what it reminded me of.


  56. accies80(Harri159) says:
    August 28, 2012 at 16:07

    Night terror – the ref’s whistle had no baring on the goal, he whistled just as Townsley made contract with the ball, Alexander would not have saved it.

    Not arguing with that, accies80 – just with the assertion that the goal was canceled. There never was a goal – the ref prevented any possibility of a goal by blowing as the ball entered the 6 yard box.


  57. Joining in the Berwick goal debate and refereeing standards. (If you will permit a newbie to force his way into the discussion).

    Rangers, old and new, got the lion’s share of beneficial decisions in Scottish decisions. Referees were not party to some grand conspiracy, but were influenced by the institutional bias that prevades Scottish football. With large crowds, journalists’ pay almost directly linkied to how how many Rangers fans their articles would attract (simply a matter of numbers), and the Scottish football hierarchy loaded with those who wished Rangers well, a mistake in Rangers favour would be excused or forgotten quickly.

    However, Celtic are also the beneficiaries of institutional bias in their favour. Not to the same extent as Rangers, but all of the same influences that tilt decisions in Rangers’ faviour also apply to Celtic. Large crowds, journalists needing readers, and people of influence in key positions, Celtic have had their share of “honest mistakes”.

    The key point is that in the two horse race that was Scottish football, the decisions that Celtic would get against Motherwell or St. Mirren early in the season did not determine the outcome of the SPL. In seasons where Rangers and Celtic ran a neck and neck race, the additional bias in favour of Rangers was often decisive. THAT is the issue that is driving the paranoia.

    Unfortunately, many Celtic fans cannot bring themselves to see the world through the eyes of other fans. There would be more sympathy for their views and a greater chance of a unified front to remake the SFA and refereeing if more Celtic fans could see these issues a bit more objectively.


  58. I certainly think we need some clarity on the referee situation. Why are SPL refs refereeing SFL 3 matches with SEVCO? Was Sunday’s mysterious blowing up for a non existent foul a genuine error?

    A documenting of all such palpably nonsensical decisions would be useful. It may well exonerate refs the errors may well be more widespread than it seems and the results more even-handed. Perhaps had the same goal been disallowed for SEVCO we would not have been discussing it as we are – especially if it were in a game where there was an eventual comfortable victory. Perhaps these decisions occur fairly randomly and we only notice whent they prove pivotal and when they seem to feed our pre-existing suspicions – or perhaps the officials are all engaged in subtle cheating at key moments to assist SEVCO – or perhaps to assist the larger supported club, or perhaps to hamper particular rivals.

    A detailed accounting would allow a more evidential approach.


  59. Sepia says:
    August 28, 2012 at 16:56

    I hadn’t noticed that the referee blew before the goal was scored. Neither had the Berwick players, who clearly thought a goal had been scored. The Sevco defence did its utmost to prevent the ball entering the net, as they thought, to prevent a goal. The “Sporting Life” reporter hadn’t heard the whistle either, given his story. The point I was making, which you have missed entirely, was the misreport by a limb of the MSM.

    But you’re correct to raise subtle misrepresentation as you see it and inaccuracy when it arises Will you be raising inaccurate reporting with the “Sporting Life” and others in MSM?

    Apology and retraction accepted.


  60. I have another (humorous and mischevious) question…

    lets just say suppose I were to win enough money in the Euromillions lottery, and did the following…
    – bought the remaining assets of RFC(IA), then cleared all their debts,
    – signed up all the players who had left and arranged to have the team managed by WSmith assisted by John Brown,
    – started playing on a ground share basis with a team that had a good size stadium that played in Glasgow, say, The Rangers,
    – played our way into a re-organised SFA set up that allowed for 2 more teams and split into 2 divisions of 22 each, whilst also developing a youth set up
    – worked our way up the divisions into the SPL alongside The Rangers and established ourselves there.

    Q: …how keen would Celtic be to get the chance of humping Rangers eight times a season instead of just four?


  61. Carl31,

    Interesting…
    Assuming you did all that, wouldn’t the question really be which club were the REAL rangers?

    The answer i think, would be yours, and thats the nub of this whole charade. If your club existed, no one would be supporting Sevco, and nothing would have been done to assist sevco become the new rangers.

    Rangers fans would then have no truck with anyone calling sevco the real rangers, they would rebel against sevco claiming the history even if CG showed them or even bomber brown the receipt from D&P showing that the history cost £1. Probably not even the msm would be lifting a finger, one only of course, to help sevco.

    But isnt there an argument to say that your club doesnt have to exist to follow the implications through?

    Logically then, Sevco isnt rangers at all regardless of whether your club did or did not exist. Simples, as even meerkats know.

    Thanks Carl31


  62. The Iceman says:
    August 28, 2012 at 17:03
    ————

    Nice one Iceman. Add to that after-match press questions and signing up to a club loyalty statement and we might yet make it into the 21st century on this front too.

    But as long as players try to cheat and coaches encourage professional fouls, and the like, then even the most honest and impartial refs are going to make mistakes. We as fans should name and shame players who cheat, even on our own teams. In 2012 you would hope that the Olympian spirit could seep down into our football?


  63. has it actually been stated publicly that only grade 1 refs will do sevco div 3 games ?
    if that is the case, are the managers/chairmen of the rest of the league happy to accept this?
    why would you accept a “lower” standard of official in your games?
    if they still get a spl size fee, who is paying the difference in cost?


  64. Apparently the goalie in the post above put his story in his biography


  65. Carl31,

    Interesting…
    Assuming you did all that, wouldn’t the question really be which club were the REAL rangers?

    The answer i think, would be yours, and thats the nub of this whole charade. If your club existed, no one would be supporting Sevco, and nothing would have been done to assist sevco become the new rangers.

    Rangers fans would then have no truck with anyone calling sevco the real rangers, they would rebel against sevco claiming the history even if CG showed them or even bomber brown the receipt from D&P showing that the history cost £1. Probably not even the msm would be lifting a finger, one only of course, to help sevco.

    But isnt there an argument to say that your club doesnt have to exist to follow the implications through?

    Logically then, Sevco isnt rangers at all regardless of whether your club did or did not exist. Simples, as even meerkats know.


  66. miki67 says:
    August 28, 2012 at 14:33

    So no regrets from Ally about making his original comments that caused what he said were disgusting threats of physical violence to innocent men and women.
    _________________________________________________________________________

    Ah, but not any old ‘men and women’. This was a summons to the Larkhall and Kilwinning Brigades to check out any names for a ‘Feenyanny’ ring to them. Thereby raising the ‘they are out get us’ Hvn permarage factor to level 9.

    Mr Alistair is quite a bright wee brick and I am of the opinion that he was unaware that the relevant names were already in the possession of DeidCo. His personal experience of being convicted of a criminal offence in the presence of same indicates that he has more than a reasonable understanding of what motivates the fighting wing of the neantherdals.

    As CE says… one of quite the most disgusting episodes of this whole saga… and there have been more than a few.


  67. “neantherdals” s/be neanderthals…. been a long day. 🙂


  68. Sepia says:
    August 28, 2012 at 15:51
    24 4 Rate This
    I’m sorry this is so long. I’m also sorry to take issue with such as Stevensanph, LW etc. One last mention of the honest mistakes issue, then I defer to the wishes of the blog.
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
    How about, instead of endless discussion/ squabbles on here, we set up a ‘bad decisions’ log, but entry onto it is made only by our refereeing tribunal – three ‘volunteer’ appointees whom we all agree are objective and clear-headed and knowledgeable. If three, or two of three agree, on it goes- an official SFM dodgy decision.

    The hardest part would be agreeing the tribunal members but I’m sure we could find way if we want to.


  69. 6. A Expert says:
    August 28, 2012 at 16:11
    Rate This
    Sepia says:
    August 28, 2012 at 15:51
    _______________________________________________________________________
    Seriously though you make a very valid point and in conjunction with making the official match assesors reports public we would be well on the way to Transparency City, Tennessee. ________________________________________________________________________
    Agree with you. Everything in the open. Why can’t we have the rugby situation, officials linked to each other and the P.A. system. Assessors reports as you say, and the officials open to questioning, as I believe happens in England. The MSM could not be trusted to ask the questions


  70. liviaburlando says:
    August 28, 2012 at 18:05
    The hardest part would be agreeing the tribunal members but I’m sure we could find way if we want to.
    ============
    I insist that they be named, of course.


  71. So Campbell Ogilvie was totally amazed that the rfc liquidation materialized out of thin air and took everyone by surprise, and he definately wasn’t thinking along those lines when he states that discussions first took place regarding league reconstruction a year ago.

    Well campbell, the FTT had its first sitting in Nov. 2010, and in march 2011 just after a leftfield tax bomb landed in the rfc accounts, Alistair Johnston nodded his head in agreement when asked if the club could go bust, it caused a bit of a stooshie if you remember between a couple of uninterested smaller clubs fans on the radio, it was pretty hilarious stuff actually. I think i remember e-mailing you in May as well, after Auldheid ( dont kid on you dont know who he is ) pointed out the significance of the Euro licensce being granted to allow rfc the chance to participate in the Champions league ( and its life saving revenue, oops, that’s right, you didn’t know they needed it ) at the expense of Celtic, who should have taken rfc’s place by virtue of n having no outstanding tax debts.

    Still saying you started league reconstruction talks with no knowledge of any of the above.

    Then why are you still in office if you didn’t know one of the countrys biggest teams was in real danger.

    Your either incompetent or a liar. Maybe both.


  72. Just listened to SSB two minutes ago, Jim Delahvnt and someone called Roger. A caller asked a question about Ian mcCall’s statement yesterday on SSB about teams all over the country using EBT’S, The two pundit’s spent the next three minutes talking nonsense and then cut him off denying him the right to reply.This seem’s to me to be the way they are going to treat callers who raise points they don’t want to answer.

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