The Stella Dallas of Europe

Leaving aside for the moment the Shadenfreude-laden giggling as first Celtic, and then Rangers departed the Champions League this season, it is worthwhile taking time to think on the reality of Scotland’s latter-day bit-part status in the game.

There are Celtic fans who try to rationalise it by pointing out that for them, the Stein years were a wonderful exception and not the norm. That however does not explain the European status of Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs, Dundee, Dundee United, Kilmarnock and Dunfermline in a period of roughly a quarter of a century from the beginning of European competition.

From the fifties to the eighties, Scottish clubs were feared and respected in Europe. Since then, only Martin O’Neil’s Celtic and Walter Smith’s Rangers have made an impression on the European scene.

So what has happened? Many blame the distraction of new technology, taking potential Johnstones and Baxters away from pursuing the soccer dream. I’m not convinced of that myself. They have game consoles and PCs in England and Italy and Germany as well. They also have them in Scandinavian countries where daylight hours and suitable weather are in even less abundance than in Scotland – and of course clubs from Scandinavian countries were both responsible for Celtic and Rangers fates this season.

Failure then breeds failure. Losing out one year means more (and earlier) qualifiers down the line. In this regard, you have to wonder at the claims of how “brilliantly” Celtic have been run over the last decade, when the club went into Euro qualifiers again and again unprepared in terms of personnel, even to the extent of using makeshift central defenders in several campaigns. Our clubs know its all coming, but year on year, we get caught on the hop by the timing of those early ties. Planning? Don’t make me laugh.

We are also faced with the reality that fans of clubs who are not in contention for a ECL group place, are usually fervently hoping that the quest ends in failure. Not because there is a deep hatred of either or both Celtic and Rangers, but because a Champions League place for a Scottish team gives the successful side an immeasurable financial advantage over the rest. Of course that attitude is understandable when you look at the reality for our clubs if one of their number makes it to the group stages.

Scottish football clubs rely heavily on gate income for survival because their media deals struck with broadcasters are so much poorer than in countries of similar size. ECL money – even if the successful side fails to score a goal or get a point on the board – is like all your Christmasses have come at once.

It is well known that the income gap between Celtic & Rangers and the rest is huge. The income gap between a Scottish Champions League team and the rest is even more massive. Yet if a Dutch, or Portuguese or Danish or Swedish side get a place in the group stages, the impact is not so great. Why? Because they have football administrators who can sell the game effectively, getting value for their product from the media.

This is the one area where our administrators have failed consistently and miserably.

The current football model where home teams keep their own gate money, and in some cases even have their own media contracts, is designed to (with the notable exception of England) create a few bigger fishes in a number of smaller ponds. It ultimately ends with the pantomime (which has not yet gone away) of the European Super League.

I wish I could say I had a solution to all this, but my instinct is to say that in the absence of a solution we should forget about Europe and its riches. Instead, lets return to a sport driven model of the game where there is a more equitable share of revenues. Forget the tuppence ha’penny TV contracts and give football back to the fans, live on a Saturday (Covid permitting). In time, the level of competition would increase, as would the quality of the product. The talk to the TV folk when they want to pay the going rate.

It might help if there was some kind of levy (listening indy supporters?) imposed on subscription service providers like Sky. £25m versus £1.5 billion is a much smaller fraction than that of Scottish subscribers to the Sky platform for example.

There is little we in Scotland can do to prevent the globalisation and Mafia-isation of the game internationally, but those things we CAN control, like turning inward to improve our game instead of, like Stella Dallas in the eponymous classic movie, standing in the rain looking through the window at the banquet elsewhere.

Of course it won’t happen.

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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.

527 thoughts on “The Stella Dallas of Europe


  1. Following on from my previous post of 23.57.

    Oct 6, 2018
    Add bookmark
    #95
    This was the first Rangers song I can remember singing with my papa when I was a wee boy.Clear as day.He used to sing this with me.Now Ive got my eight year old and four year old singing it.They both punch the air at the chorus.
    We are the people who sing of victory.
    We pull our football glories from Kilmarnock to Dundee.
    We follow Glasgow Rangers our hearts are strong and true.
    We are the people who cheer the boys in blue.
    A goal!A goal!We’re ready to acclaim.
    A goal!A goal! To win another game.
    We follow Glasgow Rangers our hearts are strong and true.
    We are the people who cheer the boys in blue.

    In the interests of being fair and honest there are others posters who say they haven’t heard the above version and have only ever known the BB being sung. As previously stated i remember the inoffensive version being sung during my early years whilst attending games at Ibrox and by relatives at family gatherings.


  2. Albertz11 18th August 2021 At 00:25
    The stanzas that you post are redolent of Georgian speech patterns and mores , so I would suggest that they haven’t been heard at Ibrox (which didn’t have 50,00 seats until 1997) since that era . Can’t you accept that the song is banned in it’s entirety , having been banned by Uefa having been judged by them to be racist ? It’s the modern usage that is the problem , not what was sung in the last century .


  3. paddy et al

    oor friend (albertz11 aka reasonablechap or RC) is trying to wind everyone else up with his claptrap!

    The Larkhall Loyal would be horrified if such a gentle ditty had ever been composed – never mind sung – and immediately disown it!

    What – no bitterness, arrogance, hatred, entitlement (to name but a few of the WATP traits)? That’s jist no us!


  4. Whilst the club lobbies and lies, searching for loopholes in every contract it signs, I s’pose it’s understandable that it’s fans will endeavour likewise to find a loophole pathway to singing abhorrent songs.
    Sevconian legalese differs considerably from the modern world in what constitutes a loophole. Shouting it loud and often counts, and it’s well kent that muttering WATP under ones breath when putting pen to paper nullifies that signature………Unless it’s wee Craigy’s nom de plume, which will stand alone eternally as a Craig Whyte enduring act.


  5. We cheer for the boys in blue. With the perilous state of their finances would it not be more current to sing we cheer for the boys in red, with apologies to Aberdeen. Big night for Celtic, squeaky bum time on the other side of the city.


  6. I see the ibrox club have started a lottery to help build the museum. The plan was to use some of the last share issue to future proof the club and help build the museum for some kind of celebrations in about ten months time. Can anyone build a museum in ten months?


  7. Just by the by, I’ve been reading an email that came in to my inbox on 4th August, from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) relating to the murder of a journalist in Malta.
    I lift this from it:
    “Caruana Galizia was an outspoken investigative journalist and commentator who wrote extensively on corruption in Maltese politics, as well as exposing dodgy business deals and organized crime connections in the small island nation.
    She was killed in October 2017 just outside her home when her car was blown up by a remotely-detonated bomb. She had been working on stories that built on revelations contained in the Panama Papers, among others. In her final post on her website, published shortly before her death, Caruana Galizia wrote: “There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.”

    The assassination provoked outrage from journalists..”

    Caruana, God rest her soul, risked her life in being a proper journalist exposing really, really dirty muck by powerful figures in government.

    What we have here in wee Scotland are ‘journalists’ who sell their souls for the sake of a lie in a matter of Sport!
    How any of them can look at themselves in the mirror without dying of shame is something of a mystery!
    What would they not be prepared to do in a matter that was life-threatening?

    Now, I have been criticised before now for referring to things Germanic.

    But it is hard for me not to look at the refusal of our journalists to tell the truth about the death of RFC of 1872 as an indication that they share the journalistic cowardice of the German Press ( in general) that clicked its heels, shouted ‘Sieg heil’ and swallowed the really, really Big Lie of Nazism, and would be prepared to propagate any lie to save their skins.
    Rangers Football Club of 1872 foundation is in Liquidation, does not exist except as a entity that is in Liquidation.
    TRFC is a new creation , as even old Big Hands happily acknowledged!
    What’s in it for ‘journalists’ to deny that simple truth?


  8. Cluster One 18th August 2021 At 23:09
    I see the ibrox club have started a lottery to help build the museum. The plan was to use some of the last share issue to future proof the club and help build the museum for some kind of celebrations in about ten months time. Can anyone build a museum in ten months?

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    I think you’ve misread, Cluster One. It’s a mausoleum, not a museum. ⚰️⚱️??


  9. With regards to the singing of the BB ditty and the versions sung by fans of other clubs, such as Kilmarnock and Dundee; personally I think all songs going on about being up to your knees in someone’s blood are disgusting.
    What kind of person is it that dreams these things up in the first place?


  10. With the The Rangers malmo’ed out of the champions league and the associated financial implications, coupled with a revitalised Celtic, I think we are about to witness a season like no other in respect of honest mistakes.

    We know selling the “prized assets” will be unpopular with the peepul, hence unless a ridiculously generous offer comes in, it looks like we might be in for another sh1t or bust season from Mark 2 Rangers. One last push from the “soft” investors under the assurance the Masons in Black will see to the Champions League riches next year.

    Brothers Beaton, Madden et all…..do your duty!!!


  11. normanbatesmumfc 19th August 16.13

    The “revitalised Celtic” you mention have been knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by a scandinavian team and have won the home leg of a Europa League qualifier, have won one and lost one in the Premier League and progressed to the 1/4 finals of the League Cup where they have a home draw.
    Meanwhile Rangers have …………………………………………………..
    All about expectations really.
    The comments regarding officials aren’t backed up by the facts but then again are another sign that we are back to some kind of normality in Scottish football.


  12. Albertz11 19th August 2021 At 22:14

    normanbatesmumfc 19th August 16.13

    The “revitalised Celtic” you mention……………………..

    Celtic had an abysmal season last year by recent historical standards. Disharmony was rife both internally within the club and externally between the club and fanbase. Results were poor, as was the standard of fare on show. The club captain, manager and CEO all departed within a short time-frame, as did several first team players.
    A new CEO and manager have been recruited. A new club captain was promoted from within after rising through the ranks from boys club. Several new signings have been made and are settling in nicely. Younger players are emerging through the ranks from the junior teams, and early indications are that they have taken on board the new manager's intention of playing dynamic attacking football.
    Again, early indications and favourable results have seen the disconnect gap between the fanbase and club closing. The new manager appears to have the full support of the board with regard to current recruitment, with apparently further additions being actively sought.

    Any fears surrounding the choice of the new captain have been dispelled by his recent performances and leadership qualities coming to fruition.
    On-field positions of weakness have been strengthened with the signing of an experienced goal-keeper, and again, early indications are that the new striker may turn out to be somewhat of a sensation in attack. Players it were assumed had their best days behind them are revitalised, and players assumed to have no future ahead of them are out performing expectations.
    This can be in no short part down to the motivational, development, and communication skill-sets of the new manager. The terraces are buzzing with excitement.
    I think “revitalised” can be considered a fairly apt adjective, and the vocality and new found confidence felt by the fans will testify to that.
    No doubt there will be hiccoughs, as progression is made, but the improvements to date are highly visible and pleasing to the eye….In fact it is difficult to think of a more apt description.
    As for your insider factual knowledge regarding the honesty and capabilities of Scottish referees, you have me there.
    All I know factually, is that none were considered capable enough to whistle at the Euros. It is a fact they get a lot wrong or that wouldn’t be the case.

    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/7004012/no-scottish-referees-euro-2020-uefa-full-list/


  13. The champions league millions referenced by Normanbatesmumfc is what really riles me. It should be pretty obvious to all that the sums on offer distort the dynamics in domestic leagues – especially so the smaller leagues in Europe. And we all know that money has the potential to corrupt.
    I find it somewhat farcical that football authorities (SFA, UEFA, FIFA) have a pretty much zero tolerance approach to players and officials putting on a fixed odds coupon but then tempt the same people to fix things to secure huge cash prizes within the game.
    Farcical, yes – but I am too old in the tooth to be surprised.


  14. Albertz11 19th August 2021 At 22:14
    Any comment on the choice of chants at Ibrox last night ? First half it was like being at a sash bash , building gallows and Bobby Sands eulogies . The Pope got a mention or two as well . Not a good advert for Everyone Anyone , and broadcast globally .


  15. I see a The Rangers player was sent off at Ibrox last night. I wager anyone the referee was not from Lanarkshire!!!

    Normal service will be resumed at the weekend though…


  16. paddy malarkey 20th August 12.12

    I was out for a meal with friends so didn’t see the game last night and arrived home just after full time. No idea what was being sung. A quick perusal on SM hasn’t shown up anything as far as i can see.


  17. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/19524147.ex-lord-advocate-contests-25m-claim-duff-phelps-malicious-rangers-fraud-case/?ref=twtrec

    ………………….
    A FORMER Lord Advocate has questioned the right of a global finance company responsible for running Rangers when it financially imploded to claim misconduct in public office while pursuing a £25m claim over damage to its business over the malicious club fraud case scandal.

    Lawyers for the former head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service James Wolffe are taking issue with the action by US-based Duff and Phelps which comes after it was admitted their employees David Whitehouse and Paul Clark were maliciously prosecuted in their action taken against prosecutors and the police.
    ………………..
    This will be the case JC pointed to the other day in the court Rolls perhaps.


  18. Anybody know why Ryan Kent was wearing a different top from all the other players last night? Couldn’t be that thay hadn’t made one for him as they thought he’d be sold prior to ko ?


  19. Albertz11 20th August 2021 At 14:11
    You don’t have to take my word for it , here are some comments from fellow fans on Follow Follow .

    Yesterday at 11:12 PM
    #10
    daven37 said:
    Lots of good backing. Usual crowd of moaners.

    Could do without the songs referencing the ira or Bobby sands for half the game.

    Wish we’d bin the loyalist songbook, first half singing was a dirge.
    Second half was tremendous with Rangers songs, a huge difference on RTV…definitely spurred the team on
    Like Reactions:WeeJockMcPingPong, Davie2021, CampsieStar and 9 others


  20. Another one bites the dust .
    THE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED

    Company number SC425159
    THE RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED

    Company number SC425159

    19 Aug 2021 Satisfaction of charge SC4251590015 in full
    View PDF Satisfaction of charge SC4251590015 in full – link opens in a new window – 1 page(1 page)


  21. Cluster One 20th August 2021 At 15:52
    ‘..This will be the case JC pointed to the other day in the court Rolls perhaps.’
    %%%%%%%%%%%%
    Yes, it probably was.
    I got the access number about 8.30 am , dialled in at 9.02 , got a recorded message that either the number I used was incorrect or the ‘meeting’ hadn’t begun. I held on for a few minutes until the line went dead.

    I tried again, having checked the number on the email from the Clerk’s office, got the same response, tried again a few minutes later, and got the same result.

    I was bloody annoyed that there was no message saying either that the hearing had been postponed, or dropped, or that the decision to let it be ‘open’ to the public had been reversed or whatever!

    From the newspaper account it sounds as if it might have been interesting.

    We’ll have to wait and see what comes up in November.


  22. paddy malarkey 20th August 2021 At 20:35
    “..19 Aug 2021 Satisfaction of charge SC4251590015 in full
    View PDF Satisfaction of charge SC4251590015 in full.’
    %%%%%%%%%
    The interesting thing here, i think, PM, is that on 05 August 2021 ” all of the property or undertaking has been released from charge number SC4251590015 .
    The charge was still shown on that date as being ‘outstanding’
    The note on the Form MR05(ef) said this ” Statement that part or the whole of the property charged a) has been released from he charge b) no longer forms part of the Company’s property.
    On August 19 whatever other monies due to Close Bros in respect of Edmiston House and the car park must have been paid, before the full charge could be finally ‘satisfied’, so that the Company that now owns the property/ properties doesn’t owe anything to Close Bros in respect of those properties.
    But, it would seem, neither does TRFC.
    Perhaps some poster with more understanding of these things might throw some light on this? Does Close Bros itself now have a stake in the company that owns the properties, or are they out of it all completely?
    Is the developer of the site a major shareholder of the company that owns the site? Does TRFC have a stake in that company?

    On 19 August


  23. Albertz11 20th August 2021 At 22:27
    As competent as ever.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58283351
    How can cinch be on the title winning flags for 20/21 when they didn’t sponsor the leagues until the current season?
    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    As I see it, there are only two possible alternatives.

    Either cinch had been given prior permission by the football authorities to advertise itself on the flags at the dawning of the new season in which the flags were to be unfurled, or;

    The football clubs that are Heart of Midlothian FC and Partick Thistle FC (but not their operating companies) are ethereal, metaphysical entities, capable of travelling backwards and forwards in the space-time continuum, hoovering up lucrative advertising contracts in the process.

    The second option may seem a tad more unlikely, or even impossible, to most of us who inhabit the real world, but apparently there are some amongst us who believe that a football club formed in 2012 has already amassed 55 league titles and will celebrate its 150th birthday next year.

    To them, believing in fairy-tales is a cinch.


  24. Highlander 21st August 09.04.

    Not going to bite.

    Third option of course is possible. The SPFL, having fecked up a sponsorship deal by not informing cinch that the Champion club has a prior deal in place that would prevent them fulfilling many of their rights due to a pre-existing contractual obligation.

    That of course would require the SPFL to be totally incompetent.


  25. I find it mildly amusing how Rangers* supporters can incessantly lambast the Scottish football authorities for their incompetence, often justifiably, yet cite those same football authorities as faultless paragons of virtue whose word must be taken as gospel on the solitary matter of ‘same club.’ There’s nowt as strange as folk.

    The Scottish football authorities, who’ve treated Rangers* abysmally in the eyes of rapeepil, have in reality treated the new Rangers* exceptionally well in the circumstances, treating a newly formed club as if it was its cheating defunct predecessor and informing UEFA, FIFA, the ECA, the ASA, the BBC and probably the AA, RAC and YMCA of that favourable treatment into the bargain.

    I make no apologies for posting this informative article from 2016 once more on SFM, an article which summarises the lengths the media went to in order to airbrush inconvenient facts out of the picture and rewrite history surrounding the death of Rangers FC.

    https://twohundredpercent.net/scotlands-football-press-history/


  26. Anybody remember that RIFC had offered 27m shares at 25p to raise £6.75m?

    In the current Private Eye ‘In The City’ column there’s the following:

    “On 16th July, the share offer from RIFC closed. Managed by adviser Tifosy, it aimed to raise £6.75m by selling 27m shares at 25p each. Since when, silence.

    Companies House does not recordthe allotment of any new shares. Questions to the club* have gone unanswered.

    The indications are that the required £6.75m was not raised. If so, a disappointment to match the Scottish champions’ poor start to the season.”

    I’ve just checked & there’s no ‘Statement of capital following an allotment of shares’ since the 4th of June. Oh dear, how sad, too bad.

    *As an aside, why ask the club when it’s the holding company that’s issuing the shares? Could & should do better PE!
    ::
    ::
    [Incidentally, I attempted to post that last evening, but was unable to do so because of some security issues with access…]


  27. Jingo.jimsie 21st August 10.55.

    I believe the total raised was just over £5 million, which is not an inconsiderable amount given that Season tickets sold out, MyGers subscriptions topped 30,000, Merchandise sold in record amounts, all this whilst we are going through a global pandemic with all the subsequent that brings.
    I personally thought the minimum buy in of £500 was too high all things considered.


  28. Did we ever find out the identities of the TRFC players/employees who tested positive for covid and their contacts, as revealed by Jon Lundstram ? Could these be some of the issues being managed by TRFC that are not in the public domain (M Beale ) ?


  29. paddy malarkey 21st August 2021 At 19:22
    ”…Could these be some of the issues being managed by TRFC that are not in the public domain ..?”

    %%%%%%%
    One issue that is in the public domain raises some question about the abilities of those at lbrox to run even a menage!

    On 4 August 2021 a ‘retrospective’ planning application was made by TRFC Ltd for work that had ALREADY been begun or completed by 3 August [ nothing terribly exciting, just to “build a structure to house the boiler plant remotely from the pitch, that will connect to the boiler plant pipework to heat the pitch”]

    I love the idea of ‘retrospective’ planning application, otherwise known as ‘do the job and then apply for ‘planning permission” in the knowledge that Glasgow City Council will without question retrospectively grant permission , rather than tell you to demolish any such structure! … If, that is, you are a football club claiming falsely ( as any such claim must inevitably be) to be RFC of 1872….


  30. Albertz11 21st August 2021 At 12:21
    ‘..I personally thought the minimum buy in of £500 was too high all things considered.’
    %%%%%%%%%

    The question surely has to be: on what basis of research was that minimum buy-in decided?

    Given the points you make, Albertz11, about the monies expended already by the general run of ordinary fans the targeted ‘investors’ could not have been those ‘ordinary’ fans who can manage a season ticket, some kit and other merchandise, and perhaps an ’emotional’ shareholding of perhaps 500 shares or so?

    On the contrary, I think the RIFC plc board completely misjudged the appeal of its shares in the circles of those who invest as investors in, rather than as supporters of, a football club.

    As, I think, did SDM even when his was the real Rangers, and not [ as James Traynor and the rest of the world of football knows] the deeply troubled, ersatz, false version with no record of sporting achievement prior to 2012, which masquerades thanks to a disgraceful abandonment of Integrity by a ‘Governance’ body, as the good old Rangers of 1872 and is presently struggling again to keep the lights on by trying to issue shares to get some capital to meet running costs.

    The market is wise to the situation: unless investing in a football club ( anywhere, never mind in Scotland) is handy for reasons unconnected with a club’s footballing success, it’s a very brave/very stupid investor who would invest seriously in hopes and dreams.

    There are to be no tens of millions of CL money this season ( for any Scottish team!)

    Those clubs which did not presume to budget on the basis that there would be can be relaxed, and treat any lesser amounts of UEFA competitions money as a wee bonus.

    And those clubs which do not rely on ‘directors’ loans’ or ‘share issues’ to pay everyday running costs can be quite relaxed.
    Their credit is good.
    As are their names in the world of sport.

    In which connection, let me add my congratulations to Hearts for the tremendous and successful effort to preserve their integrity and history by avoiding Liquidation, and for becoming ( shortly) a fan-owned club.

    I can’t help asking, though: why didn’t they just shed their debt by going into Liquidation, and bouncing back, history unaffected, debt-free? As the Rangers of my grandfather’s time did?
    Surely, surely, the SPL/SFL/ SFA and their ‘Administrators’ and some guy who had bought some of the assets could have cobbled up a ‘5-way agreement’?

    Honest to God! There is no way that that would have happened: if Hearts had not exited Administration but had gone into Liquidation, they would have been treated as a Gretna, or Third Lanark and their ‘history’ would have ended.


  31. Jingso.Jimsie 21st August 2021 At 10:55
    “….As an aside, why ask the club when it’s the holding company that’s issuing the shares? Could & should do better PE!”
    %%%%%%%%%
    Good one, Jingo.Jimsie!

    If they are going to write about a ‘Rangers’ they should at least know the whole truth about the club they think they are writing about!
    The ‘5-Way Agreement’ is just the kind of potential scam that Private Eye used to love digging into!
    It’s interesting that someone mentioned to Private Eye that the shares issue failed. I wonder who and why?
    And why did Private Eye run with the story (albeit half-arsedly and ignorantly)?

    Why not fire off a letter to Ian Hislop?


  32. John Clark 21st August 23.28

    Leaving aside your opinion on the OC/NC topic (i’m sure the transcript of the court case between BDO & D&P will be very interesting) i am still of the opinion that the total raised is more than acceptable.
    A couple of questions John.
    You infer that Rangers budgeted for CL football and the financial rewards it brings. How do you know this?.
    You also infer that the Rangers name is not good “in the world of sport”, Once again i would ask how you know this?
    If i am mistaken in your inferences i apologise


  33. ‘Albertz11 21st August 2021 At 12:21

    I believe the total raised was just over £5 million…’
    ::
    ::
    Thank you.

    May I ask by what means you come to believe that the sum raised was £5m?

    I haven’t seen anything in the SMSM about the (relative) success of the share issue.

    I’ve looked at Companies House &, five weeks after the closing date of the offer, there appears to be no shares allocated to purchasers.

    I’ve looked at the RIFC ‘Investor Information’ page & it appears not to mention this share offer at all. It refers to JP Jenkins as the trading platform (I appreciate that’s different from the new share offering) & doesn’t mention Tifosy at all.

    The RIFC page at JP Jenkins isn’t up to date. (There’s no mention of ’55’, for goodness sake!)

    The Tifosy Capital & Advisory website has a nice wee picture of a TRFC badge & states that it has worked with the club. If there’s any further information, it’s behind a sign-in.

    So, please, where does your information come from?


  34. Jingo.jimsie.

    May I ask by what means you come to believe that the sum raised was £5m?

    Comes directly from a well known person in Rangers circles is all i will say.


  35. https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/19529592.sfa-defer-legal-expert-amid-rangers-spfl-row/
    ……………
    he row between Rangers and the Scottish Professional

    Football League over the Premiership champions’ refusal to comply with the league’s new sponsors will be settled by the

    decision of one high-profile legal expert after both parties agreed to abide by his decision.

    Rangers have refused to provide track-side hoardings, man-of-the-match awards or wear branding on their tops for online used car company cinch, claiming that the SPFL’s Rule 17 allows them not to comply with the new five-year £8m deal because they had a pre-existing contract with Ibrox chairman

    Douglas Park’s second-hand car dealerships.

    With the two parties at loggerheads – and cash-strapped clubs fearing that cinch may walk away from the deal – the matter was handed to the Scottish Football Association as appellant body and they have persuaded them to use the Arbitration Act Scotland to rule on the matter.

    The SPFL and Rangers have each been instructed to appoint a legal representative (almost certainly a QC) and, between them, they will agree on the person – a Law Lord or another distinguished figure from the legal profession – to be the chair. They will hear the case put by both sides and, because this is a proper legal process, they will deliver a verdict which is both legal and binding.

    It’s understood that the chair has yet to be chosen but there is no time limit as to how long the case can last once he or she is appointed, although the SPFL will be hoping for a swift conclusion in case cinch decide to terminate the agreement. In the meantime, under the conditions of the Arbitration Act, neither side is able to speak publicly about the issues involved.

    On their official website, Rangers list their 17 commercial partners, from kit suppliers Castore to official logistics partner SEKO. Douglas Park’s companies are not listed and nor are any other car dealers.

    Meanwhile, a report in England claims that the most recent Rangers share issue for supporters, which closed on July 16, has failed to reach its £6.75m target.
    ……..
    Cinch will not be happy to miss out on a Glasgow derby next week.


  36. Jingo.jimsie 22nd August 11.23

    “there appears to be no shares allocated to purchasers.”

    I can assure you that shares have been allocated.


  37. https://statbunker.com/competitions/ClubBookings?comp_id=664

    Shocking display of favouritism by our officials.

    Your stats link highlights my point. No red cards against the The Rangers, although 3 (I think) were awarded retrospectively when of course they would have no bearing on the result of the respective games. The Lanarkshire Loyal did their bit.

    Their incredible ability to dodge Covid infections, or be in the vicinity of someone positive was also staggering!

    And now we learn “Cinchgate” is to be decided by a legal expert and both sides have agreed to abide by the decision. I wonder who this legal expert is and more importantly, what age is his grannie??


  38. John Clark 22nd August 2021 At 00:06

    Jingso.Jimsie 21st August 2021 At 10:55
    “….As an aside, why ask the club when it’s the holding company that’s issuing the shares? Could & should do better PE!”
    %%%%%%%%%
    Good one, Jingo.Jimsie!

    If they are going to write about a ‘Rangers’ they should at least know the whole truth about the club they think they are writing about!
    The ‘5-Way Agreement’ is just the kind of potential scam that Private Eye used to love digging into!
    It’s interesting that someone mentioned to Private Eye that the shares issue failed. I wonder who and why?
    And why did Private Eye run with the story (albeit half-arsedly and ignorantly)?

    Why not fire off a letter to Ian Hislop?
    ………………………………………………………………..

    Hello again Boys and (possibly) Girls,

    I haven’t posted for at least a year or two, but I do take in the blog on a relatively frequent basis, especially if there has been something nefarious going on in Scottish Football (i.e. most of the time).

    However, I have returned to the keyboard for a particular reason. I note the comments above regarding the item in the last edition of Private Eye outlining the Sevco Begging Bowl fishing expedition, risibly known as the latest Share Offer. I share everybody’s views on the Blog with respect to that item. However, I’m somewhat surprised that nobody has raised an eyebrow at, never mind mentioned, the other article about the Cry for Cash which was in an earlier edition of the Eye.
    I would have flagged this up much earlier, but other matters intruded and I have had considerable difficulty in logging on (now sorted by our excellent blog dwellers!)

    The article I refer to was in No. 1552 edition of 23rd July. It is in the same column, “In The City” on page 42 (not 94). It is headed, “PLANET FOOTBALL: RA—ERS”.
    The first two paras deal with the Share Issue, but the third gives the ‘background’. It reads,

    “Rangers International was delisted from the AIM market in 2015 after it failed to appoint a new nominated adviser after a boardroom coup. Twice-disqualified director Craig Whyte sold control of Rangers in 2012, after the original club collapsed into administration.”

    And that’s all there is, with no mention of liquidation, sale of assets, new club, tribute(!?) act, etc. I am really surprised at how limited in detail this piece is when you consider some of the more excoriating exposes we have seen in the Eye over many years. I may have to threaten to cancel my subscription. On the other hand, perhaps John Clark may wish to crack heads with ‘Slicker’ or Ian Hislop.

    Regards to all


  39. ‘Albertz11 22nd August 2021 At 12:00

    Comes directly from a well known person in Rangers circles is all i will say.’
    ::
    ::
    That’s a very carefully-worded answer. ‘A well known person in Rangers circles’ could mean anything: a blogger, Alex Rae, even Andy Cameron – someone like that.

    What it doesn’t infer is that it’s an official RIFC/TRFC source, because then you’d have written ‘a source within Ibrox’.

    As an aside, I read today on the web that the take-up was less than half your source’s £5m figure. Who should I believe?
    ::
    ::
    ‘Albertz11 22nd August 2021 At 14:05

    Jingo.jimsie 22nd August 11.23

    “there appears to be no shares allocated to purchasers.”

    I can assure you that shares have been allocated.’
    ::
    ::
    At time of writing (and I’ve just checked again), there are no new shares recorded as being allocated on RIFC’s page on the Companies House website. The last information re allotment of shares is dated the 4th of June. If there were shares allotted & paperwork submitted since the share offer closed in the middle of July the record would indicate the take-up & there would be no need to dance around the amount bought/sold.


  40. jingo.jimsie22nd August 19.50

    You are correct that it is not a “source within Ibrox” but it is someone who i would trust 100%

    It’s up to you who to trust as i have no idea who has said the take up is £2.5 million but time will tell who’s right i guess. I know who my money would be on.

    A friend bought shares and received notification at the beginning of the month that his application was successful and that he was now a Rangers shareholder. Certificate now framed and on his wall.


  41. Albertz11 22nd August 2021 At 08:11
    “…You infer that Rangers budgeted for CL football and the financial rewards it brings. How do you know this?.
    You also infer that the Rangers name is not good “in the world of sport”, Once again i would ask how you know this?”
    %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

    ” Budgeted” was perhaps too specific a word to use, I grant you, and apologise accordingly: no more than your good self(?) do I have access to the actual budgeting processes of TRFC or its parent company- or of how well-managed and overseen the processes are.

    I should perhaps have used words like ‘ had high hopes’ [ possibly with some reason, given TRFC’s good season], and, as I was suggesting, miscalculated ,on the basis of that hope, that well-heeled ‘investors’ might come forward in numbers in the belief that a decently extended run in the CL was a possibility, with the prize money that that would bring in.

    As for the ‘good name’, well, the whole of world football knows of :the failure to exit Administration, the death of RFC of 1872 by Liquidation, the creation of a new footballing entity by CG which had to apply to join a league and seek membership -for the first time- of the SFA, and that TRFC is not at all the solid Rangers FC of 1872 foundation.

    It is aware of the ‘contempt of Court’ action brought by the FCA against DK, and it also knows of the hand-to-mouth living on Directors’ loans, the numerous [rash?] Court cases lost, and the observations made by one Judge about the veracity of statements made by a legal adviser of ‘Rangers’ to the Court(!) in the course of one of those actions.

    By any reckoning, there is quite a lot there that would suggest that RIFC plc/ TRFC are names that are somewhat tarnished.
    And the failure to attract enough investors to a very small ( in relative terms) share issue is perhaps a sign of that?


  42. Haywire 22nd August 2021 At 17:16
    “….John Clark may wish to crack heads with ‘Slicker’ or Ian Hislop”
    %%%%%%%%
    Welcome back, Haywire.
    I don’t subscribe to ‘Private Eye’, but I buy the occasional copy.

    I think that that little piece ‘“Rangers International was delisted from the AIM market in 2015 after it failed to appoint a new nominated adviser after a boardroom coup. Twice-disqualified director Craig Whyte sold control of Rangers in 2012, after the original club collapsed into administration.” was actually deadly!

    Okay, it doesn’t give the fully comprehensive account [ Hislop is, I think, the kind of Englishman who equates ‘Britain’ with ‘England’ and would as readily talk about the ‘Jocks’ as others might talk about ‘Paddies’: that is, he shares the view that anything north of Watford is only of occasional relevance]

    It doesn’t have to be comprehensive: its message is loud and clear: ‘was delisted’….’ twice-disqualified director’ ‘original club collapsed into administration’ : phrases such as these are apt to put potential investors on their guard!
    The point being that, ‘market-perception-wise’, ‘Truth’ in the abstract doesn’t matter a damn to potential investors !

    What they want to know is whether they themselves may be screwed by the particular people they are being asked to invest in!

    And mentions of ‘original club collapsed into administration’ , disqualified directors being associated with the club, Administration…would make any potential investor ask himself some questions.
    In my opinion.


  43. Where does one start with some of today’s articles.
    Ranger fans allegedly abusing new Celtic Japanese star. Was it not so long ago they were up in arms about one of their players being abused. We are assured Rangers will be looking into this incident and maybe Police Scotland. How much is enough in situations like this. Hopefully it will amount to more than a slap on the wrist.
    SG to Liverpool down the road according to Souness. One title and no cups in his time at Rangers to date. I’m sure the Liverpool fans are salivating at the possibility of a favorite son following in the steps of some high profile and successful mangers of the club.
    Neil McCann says the upcoming game is a “tester” for Celtic. Based on recent results I would think the opposite would be the case. A rebuilt and rejuvenated Celtic team has apparently found their feet while the boys from Ibrox seem to have a hangover from last year’s title and feel all they have to do is show up. Did the referee in today’s game go off script and award a penalty to Ross County.
    $5 million for Patterson. The board and SG must be at odds over this. $5 million is a nice piece of change for someone still finding his place in the game, while no offers appear imminent for the stars. Interesting conversations at the highest level I’m sure. That money can go along way in the next little while, especially with the CL money down the tubes. What happens if the EL money does a disappearing act this week as well. Do they end in the next level of EL competitions.


  44. vernallen 22nd August 2021 At 23:18
    ‘..and maybe Police Scotland.’
    %%%%%%%
    Oh! maybe that might compromise any findings!!
    Honest to God.
    What an absolute bast.rd the whole ‘saga’ has been- destroying faith in Scottish Football governance, in Police investigation, in the Crown Office/PFS!
    SDM has a lot to answer for!
    Not that he has been been held to be in any way accountable!
    Adjectives deleted!


  45. Vernallen 22nd August 23.18

    Ranger fans allegedly abusing new Celtic Japanese star. Was it not so long ago they were up in arms about one of their players being abused. We are assured Rangers will be looking into this incident

    All those concerned should receive a lifetime ban from attending games at Ibrox or anywhere for that matter.
    The supporters club in question should lose all rights to apply for tickets for the foreseeable future.
    Police Scotland should be knocking on doors tomorrow morning.
    Message must be hammered home that any Racist or Sectarian behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.


  46. Albertz11 22nd August 2021 At 23:56
    I know it’s not your job to firefight and you’re brave enough to show face after another fans’ faux pas, but can you also condemn the sectarian and other add ons lustily sung by TRFC fans throughout the first half of the game? Again, you don’t have to take my word for it if you didn’t hear it yourself – there are loads of posts on social media of the idiots glorying in creating bad news for the club. They seem to think it’s OK to do it away from Ibrox . The police will probably have to stop and search supporters buses of all clubs as they are also openly boasting about the drink and drugs culture on the coaches .


  47. Paddy malarkey 23rd August 01.00

    I wouldn’t call it brave Paddy but appreciate your comment. Only seen the second half yesterday but have no qualms regarding condemning ANY sectarian or racist singing.
    I have already made my feelings clear on a couple of Rangers platforms regarding not only the singing but the general behaviour at some away games, although European nights at Ibrox also seem to attract a similar type of person.


  48. Albertz,

    You’ve been taking too much deludamol. Maybe you should take advice from Rabbie Burns

    “O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!”

    Another weekend and more racist shame on the The Rangers.

    Good to see the Masons in black are still up to speed though as The Rangers defender Balougan delivers a clearing punch from a corner, any top class goalkeeper would have been proud of. Maybe the ref got mixed up by the strip colour and thought he was the goalie!!!

    I wonder which brother will get Sunday’s gig???


  49. normanbatesmumfc 23rd August 09.54

    Your penalty claim may have had a bit more merit had the referee not already blown for a free kick to Rangers.

    The references to MIB are both tiresome & childish.

    Celtic fans believe referees favour Rangers
    Rangers fans believe referees favour Celtic
    All other fans believe referees favour Rangers & Celtic.


  50. normanbatesmumfc 22nd August 14.30

    Your stats link highlights my point. No red cards against the The Rangers, although 3 (I think) were awarded retrospectively when of course they would have no bearing on the result of the respective games. The Lanarkshire Loyal did their bit.
    ……………………………………………..
    Can i take it that when Rangers players are red carded and subsequently have them rescinded the same logic applies?


  51. “Can i take it that when Rangers players are red carded and subsequently have them rescinded the same logic applies?”

    For that to happen they have to be red-carded in the first instance!!!! Not happening….


  52. ==========
    Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 10:41
    0 0 Rate This

    Your penalty claim may have had a bit more merit had the referee not already blown for a free kick to Rangers.

    In the 7th minute of the match and yet

    Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 06:31
    0 0 Rate This

    Only seen the second half yesterday


  53. tykeboy 23rd August 11.42

    In the 7th minute of the match and yet

    Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 06:31
    0 0 Rate This

    Only seen the second half yesterday
    …………………………………………………………….

    Watched the Sportscene highlights (22/08) this morning in which the incident in question was shown.
    ………………………………

    normanbatesmumfc 23rd August 11.23

    Tell that to both Ryan Jack & Alfredo Morelos.


  54. Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 10:41
    Celtic fans believe referees favour Rangers
    Rangers fans believe referees favour Celtic
    All other fans believe referees favour Rangers & Celtic.

    I’m not so sure. Do any other fan groups have supporters buses named after whistlers? Ironically the same bus being investigated in the Kyogo incident.

    https://external-preview.redd.it/I7iHNrp9l0agudraALBinkq6gavtAtfz-KeaQhhYHLA.jpg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=dce96db1f87afcef5a1f0044651c6308552781b2


  55. Corrupt Official 23rd August 13.14.

    You do realise that it’s a bit of a p-take similar to the fans who used to have Dallas99 on the back of their shirts or more recently Duffy55.
    Mr Beaton does indeed frequent, or used to, the Crown Bar in Bellshill but has also has been known to attend Franklyns Bar, also in Bellshill, which is favoured by Celtic supporters.
    Having a relative who lived a couple of miles away i have been in the Crown when JB was in relaxing and found him good company.
    Doesn’t excuse him for the worst, without doubt, refereeing performance i’ve ever seen, at Ibrox in August 2017 v Hibernian.
    Just to be perfectly clear on the subject, i refer you to my post of 22/08 at 23.56.


  56. Paddy Malarkey.

    Anything you can add?

    A MAN has been charged after an alleged hate crime at the Championship match between Arbroath and Partick Thistle on Saturday.

    Cops have launched an investigation into the alleged incident following a report filed to them involving a 21-year-old during the match at Gayfield Park.

    The game finished 3-1 to the home side, with Dick Campbell’s men coming back from a one goal deficit to put the early league pace-setters to the sword.

    But the game has been overshadowed by the reported incident in which it is alleged a hate crime took place at the stadium.

    A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We can confirm that officers received a report of an alleged hate crime which took place at Gayfield Park on the afternoon of Saturday, 21 August.

    “As a result, a 21-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

    “He is expected to appear in court at a later date.”

    Neither club will be commenting on the matter while the case is live.


  57. Alberta11 — 23rd August 2021–16:12

    Rangers have to be commended for the action taken against the offenders. Now as you have stated earlier maybe the broom that swept this lot out can be put into action again, and, have a rea clear out of this type of fan. No club in any sport needs or desires to be fighting this unnecessary and totally uncalled for behavior. Hopefully Police Scotland will take a similar stance and deliver more than a slap on the wrist to the offending parties.


  58. Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 14:14
    This
    Some well known troublemakers in away end were escorted from the ground during the game (not for the first time). I’m not sure what exactly they were accused of doing or if it had anything to do with this incident.

    EDIT: Have just looked on match thread on P&B and it would appear that this is the incident in question.

    Well known troublemakers????

    I know the guy involved and he definitely isn’t that, or racist as is being alleged. And hearing from many who were at the game, the guy in question has (again) been racially profiled to pick him out for attention .
    And this
    We will just need to agree to disagree but I have personally witnessed the same individual behaving in the past on other trips to away matches in a manner that I would consider totally unacceptable.

    I have no idea exactly what happened yesterday and it may well be that on this occasion he is completely innocent and did nothing wrong.

    Haven’t a clue myself – was unaware until you brought it to my attention . We never win at Arbroath so I never go !


  59. paddy malarkey 23rd August 2021 At 19:31

    All very strange this. Parks must have produced evidence to the court confirming a binding sponsorship arrangement with TRFC and if so why not just present that documentation to the bungling SPFL.


  60. Vernallen 23rd August 18.56.

    For once, so don’t get used to it, i agree with everything you say.

    paddymalarkey 23rd August 19.54.

    Thank You. If it’s the same person that’s defending himself online then he does seem to divide opinion among the Thistle support.

    gunnerb 23rd August 20.00

    TODAY’S court ruling once again underlines ongoing concerns regarding the corporate governance and leadership of the SPFL.

    These concerns are shared by many of the SPFL’s member clubs. We have complied with the SPFL’s own rules but today’s court hearing was one that could easily have been avoided if those responsible had adopted a more consensual and less confrontational approach.

    The Executive of the SPFL required to carry out effective due diligence before entering into its contract with the new league sponsor. Instead, an inadequate and antagonistic approach appears to have been adopted; one that it is hard to imagine is in the best interests of the SPFL’s member clubs.


  61. @Gunnerb – a strange business indeed especially when there are no obvious conflicting official sponsors of TRFC. I would imagine club boardrooms up and down the SPL will be less than happy.
    Would anyone know whether there is a requirement to register sponsors as part of wider UEFA regulations? I recall that Man City were challenged a couple of years back on value attributed to a sponsorship deal on (I think) naming rights for their stadium with assertion that it was over-inflated to get round FFP.
    No danger of course of the SCottish football authorities getting an over-inflated deal – over-inflated egos maybe…


  62. Albertz11 23rd August 2021 At 20:28

    “TODAY’S court ruling once again underlines ongoing concerns regarding the corporate governance and leadership of the SPFL..” EDIT

    Just to be clear ALbertz11. Is this a quote from the aggrieved party Parks, who won an interim interdict or is it from TRFC?


  63. This sums it up perfectly.

    Presumably all of Scotland’s football journalists are currently seeking answers from both the SFA and SPFL, as to why their legal representatives argued against their own rules in the Court of Session, and lost.

    gunnerb 23rd August 21.00

    Just to be clear ALbertz11. Is this a quote from the aggrieved party Parks, who won an interim interdict or is it from TRFC?
    …………………………………………

    Club statement.


  64. Gunnerb 23rd August 21.00

    POH Statement.

    A spokesperson for Park’s of Hamilton said: “We can confirm that Park’s of Hamilton Holdings Ltd has today been successfully granted an interim interdict at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, to prevent the SFA from proceeding with its arbitration process in relation to the sponsorship of the SPFL.

    “For the purposes of Park’s interim interdict application, the Court considered that the failure to include Park’s went against the SFA’s own rules. This ruling now prevents the SFA from proceeding with an arbitration process without Park’s of Hamilton being involved.

    “We were surprised that both the SFA and SPFL vehemently argued against this petition, despite the fact that their rules clearly state that any arbitration process should feature all interested parties.

    “Park’s is proud of its association with the SFA and Scottish football, which dates back over 50 years, so it is with regret that we were forced to take this action.

    “This is a decision we did not take lightly but felt it had to be made as a matter of principle, to protect the rights of club sponsors throughout all levels of the game.”


  65. @Albertz11 – thx for the PoH statement. It begs the question as to why SFA and SPFL did not consider PoH an interested party (no contract shared?). And what evidence was put forward to secure the petition.
    Of course the case itself has not been arbitrated yet so more money can be pi££ed up the wall on lawyers fees by both sides.


  66. Kenny McIntyre is a hopeless ‘chair’ of the Sportsound programmes.
    Tonight he repeatedly interrupted, and repeatedly allowed English to interrupt, Broadfoot as the latter was trying to explain that the SFA is not a PARTY to the dispute between the SPFL and TRFC and that no ‘victory’ in the actual issue in dispute was won by TRFC.

    The Court granted interim interdict because the SFA , in merely arranging an Arbitration Tribunal, did not consider Parks of Hamilton as being an ‘associated person’ and therefore that they had no place in the scheme of things.
    An ‘associated person is “any body or person who is involved in Association Football in
    Scotland under the auspices of or pursuant to a contract with a member..”
    The Court, one assumes, must clearly have been shown evidence that there is a contract between Parks of Hamilton /Parks Group [or whatever] as a legal entity and TRFC Ltd.

    But why the reluctance on the part of TRFC to comply earlier with the request to provide the SFA/SPFL with that evidence of pre-existing contract?
    Is there some wee peculiarity about the contract that made TRFC unwilling to produce it when asked?
    Will the SFA now arrange to have Parks included as a party to dispute? Or will it appeal against the interim interdict ?
    If the SPFL simply abandons the attempt to get TRFC to honour the cinch contract, will cinch pull the plug?
    Ohhhh , the excitement of a legal case where one regards all the parties as baddies and therefore doesn’t give a tuppenny toss who loses the case!
    Hell mend the lot of them


  67. One side in this regrettable scenario has plenty of experience in running up legal fees. If only one side or the other had been a little quicker off the mark it may have/could have been settled in a gentlemanly manner. Who reviews these documents and who was involved in the negotiations. If Rangers felt they were in position of strength why not bring the issue forward, why it seems delay firing the opening round, and causing more hard feelings directed their way. Or do they just enjoy everybody against us.


  68. Vernallen 23rd August 22.59

    If Rangers felt they were in position of strength why not bring the issue forward, why it seems delay firing the opening round, and causing more hard feelings directed their way. Or do they just enjoy everybody against us.
    ……………………………………………………………..

    I would refer you to Stewart Robertson’s statement of 04/08.

    Robertson has written: “We have been in private dialogue with the SPFL Executive since 8 June on this topic but, given that they have sought to make the issue public, it is appropriate for you to be aware of the circumstances involved.

    “When the SPFL Executive put forward the written resolution with regards to the new sponsorship contract, Rangers immediately notified Neil Doncaster that, in line with Rule I7, we would be unable to provide the new sponsor with many of their rights due to a pre-existing contractual obligation.

    Given that the issue was raised by Rangers (when there is no need under the rules for Rangers to do so) immediately after the written resolution was raised, why did the SPFL Executive proceed to sign the contract when they knew there was an issue and without further checking with Rangers as to its extent?

    Did the SPFL Executive inform cinch prior to the contract being signed that it could not provide all of the rights it was contracting to provide due to SPFL Rule I7?
    …………………………………………………………………………

    It would appear that Rangers informed the SPFL IMMEDIATELY that they were” unable to provide cinch with many of their rights due to a pre-existing contract”.
    Despite being in receipt of this the SPFL proceeded with the deal knowing there was an issue. Were cinch informed of this at the time?
    So rather than revert to type and attempt to attach blame to Rangers, why not ask questions as to the competency of the SPFL & SFA in this matter.
    As i said in a previous post we had both bodies “vehemently” arguing in the Court Of Session against their own rules and losing.
    In the words of the late Donald Rumsfeld “The whole thing is a total clusterf***”.


  69. John Clark
    23rd August 2021 At 22:58
    0 0 Rate This
    ……..
    Does Parks of Hamilton really fall under the definition of an “associated person”?

    “Associated Person means any body or person who is involved in Association Football in Scotland under the auspices of or pursuant to a contract with a member”

    Of course, we are told, Parks of Hamilton have a contract with a member (TRFC); however, I think the nub of the matter will resolve around the meaning of “involved in Association Football”.

    Remember it is Parks of Hamilton that is claiming the association – not Douglas Park personally.

    Does a sponsorship deal mean that if a company buys advertising in the Daily Record it would be accurate to say that it is involved in journalism? (Assuming of course the Daily Record is itself involved in journalistic endeavour)

    If a bus company transports kids to school each day, can it be said to be involved in education?

    In my opinion, it is highly unlikely a court would consider an ancillary service provider to be “involved” in the core business of its customers.

    I suppose, since the nature of the relationship is arguable, the court has taken the view that there is a prima facie case. But, the decision to grant or deny an interim interdict is not taken on the balance of probability, but on the balance of convenience. The course of action will (or should) be whatever causes least harm to both parties until the case is heard in full.

    Having been granted its interim interdict, Parks has won only the right to state its case at a full hearing. Nothing more.

    Personally, I’d be surprised if the interdict stands for very long. Either this is another case that the authorities are trying to lose against an Ibrox club or a competently argued appeal will result in a recall of the interdict in short order.

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