Good Afternoon.
As virtually anyone on the internet who follows Scottish Football has come to realise, there is a reasoned and determined attempt at ignoring the content of the Charlotte Fakeovers files on the part of the mainstream print media— and indeed by the broadcast journo’s to an extent.
There is widespread speculation that the accessing of the information provided by Charlotte the Harlot was not all above board and the reluctance of the journalists to mention or comment on the documents, so far published on the internet, is often explained away by the lawyers allegedly advising that the content is tainted and so on.
That indeed might or might not be the case, and only the editors, lawyers, journalists and so on will truly know what their stance is on the revelations. Some will want the whole thing suppressed and others will be desperate to get into print, but thus far are frustrated in any attempt to do so.
However, as the documents do appear on the net only to be quickly followed by file disappearances and so on, there is an ever burning question which must be asked and thrown open to debate and argument.
The issue is not just how independent are the Sports Press in Scotland, but whether or not the relationship between certain sections of the press and Rangers or The Rangers is in fact lawful and deserving of football sanctions.
There is no doubt that many big businesses, local authorities and Governments use the services of PR firms and the likes to get information out to the public and to put their slant on any given situation. That is fair enough.
However, in recent days we have seen the release of documentation which, if accurate and true, shows that a leading Scottish PR company were specifically employed to place stories with the press which were designed to damage the reputation of, to embarrass or cause problems for certain other teams and personnel involved in Scottish Football.
Again I stress that all of this is subject to the caveat that what Charlotte is publishing may or may not be real and accurate. However, if what has been produced is in fact the genuine correspondence between the club and its professional advisers then that correspondence needs to be looked at.
The SFA and indeed the SPFL are the bodies that lay down rules which govern the conduct of clubs and their officers and employees.
So looking at these regulations let me just repeat some of them here:
Fisrt the rules of what was the SPL and which I presume are the rules of the SPFL:
A3.1 In all matters and transactions relating to the League and Company each Club shall behave towards each other Club and the Company with the utmost good faith.
A3.2 No Club, either by itself or its Club Officials, shall by any means whatsoever unfairly criticise, disparage, belittle or discredit any other Club, the Company or the League or in either case any such other Cub or the Company’s directors, officers, employees or agents (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, exclude supporters).
The SFA handbook at article 5 places obligations on members to observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship in accordance with the rules of fair play, and to refrain from engaging in any activity which would constitute a breach of sections 1, 2 and 6 the Bribery Act 2010.
The details of the Bribery act can be found here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/23/section/2
Basically, I think these rules mean that you cannot criticise belittle or try to damage the reputation of a club outwith the rules of the games and must at all times behave with integrity, in a sporting manner and with THE UTMOST GOOD FAITH!
The details,as released by Charlotte, show that there is at best a conflict of interests at times with various parties being both employed by the club and paid by radio stations or newspapers to comment on matters relating to all aspects of Scottish Football. As a member of the PR staff at Ibrox presumably such employees are paid to tow a certain party line when commenting in the media and so throw a spin on any given set of facts and circumstances that suits whoever is in control of Ibrox.
Further, it has been suggested that certain individuals acting in this way can also represent the views of for example Walter Smith — and so act as their mouthpiece if necessary.
Such practices may be unpleasant and undesirable but not necessarily against the laws of the game. It would just mean that the newspapers and broadcasters concerned cannot be regarded as independent or objective in their comments or views — they are merely towing an employers line. In short they are HMV— His Masters Voice!
Equally, we have seen supposedly independent journalists and editors referred to in such a way that it is clear they are being asked to spin news a certain way for whatever reason — including the suggestion that if they do not comply then some kind of action will be taken which the parties concerned would rather avoid — such as private matters becoming public.
However, of far greater interest is the suggestion that where necessary the newspapers or whoever will be used to spread negative stories about another club, its employees, directors or whoever.
Such a position may well amount to a breach of articles 3.1 and 3,2 of the SPL ( now SPFL rules) and against the principals set out in the SFA handbook.
Both the SFA and the SPL ( SPFL) has a press office and legal officers.
Both grant rights to broadcasters and journalists, and allow members of the press access to their officers and officials.
Both bodies are free to set out what is acceptable conduct on the part of clubs in this area…… and what is not!
Without even alluding to the detail of the Charlotte revelations, or needing to enquire into the details of the Charlotte documents, I would have thought that the governing bodies would be capable of issuing a formal reminder, to all clubs currently playing at any level in Scottish football, of the content of these rules and that any breach of the rules will not be tolerated.
Of course the matter becomes more convoluted if any officers of the SFA or SPL were involved in the employment of any PR companies or agencies on behalf of a member club and engaged in briefing any such agency about what to say when it comes to the affairs of other clubs. Surely you cannot have an executive officer of a governing body who is in any way linked to the employment of an agency which breaks rules on behalf of a member club?
However, few of these people ever appear on the airwaves to answer questions on a personal basis, and very few expose themselves to questions from the public.
However, many of the commentators and journalists named in the Charlotte documents are regulars on the airwaves and could, in theory, be asked whether or not they are no more than “Their master’s voice” as would appear to be the case if the Charlotte documents are in fact genuine.
If the Scottish Footballing Public are to be entrusted with the truth — and why shouldn’t they in this era of open and transparent football governance– then I think they are entitled to enquire direct whether or not the journalists, players, ex players,managers directors, broadcasters and governing body officials believe in articles 3.1 and 3.2 of the SPFL rules and article 5 of the SFA handbook?
Oh– and maybe the same people could provide some practical examples of what they would consider to be breaches of these rules and what the appropriate sanctions might be?
Specifically– do the actions mentioned in the Charlotte documents ( if true ) fall within the football rules or not?
Or do the SFA and SPFL just ignore placed press releases and comments?
It would be interesting to know.
Paulmac2 says:
July 30, 2013 at 4:17 pm
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I had the misfortune to catch an interview on talksport today….
it involved that pillar of Scottish Journalism Peter Martin…
He was asked about the current state of play with Dunfermline and Hearts…
He stated Dunfermline had successfully achieved a CVA and all things looking good for them..
On Hearts however….not so bright…and…he feared “they may have to go down the same route as Rangers”???
The interviewer (a fellow journalist called Mr. Lewis) then asked him…”I suppose Scottish football will be grateful when Rangers eventually make their way back to the top”….Peter gave a resounding “BIG TIME”…in fact he went onto to state how top flight Scottish football has suffered by Rangers absence so much they will welcome them back with open arms…..
Peter Martin take a bow…your manipulation of the facts…your avoidance of the truth bordering on a bare faced lie will see you mentioned in the Govan dispatches….Money well spent by SDM I say!
-===================================================================-
This is just the problem, there are too many people suffering the emperors new clothes syndrome and they are given airspace, column space and whatever else without anyone questioning these blatant lies. We don’t have a platform big enough to challenge the huge steaming pile of bullsh*t thats churned out daily by these folks.
Perhaps we need to start to attack some of the channels push out the agenda, talksport might be a good example. Is it time we spoke as “TSFM” and started to pick and chose some of these outlets to question them? (ignoring the ones we know are a complete waste of time).
Castofthousands says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:11 pm
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The tabloids are incapable of writing about anything other than the Football Governance angle. Within the SMSM there are very few journalists who i would think capable of writing on the other topics you list. Tom English has the ability, Spiers certainly hasn’t .
Many of the issues uncovered by Charlotte are just “too dry” for mainstream publishing,although fascinating to us.
The key issues however are very publishable. The issues uncovered around how and why Rangers were dealt with the way they were are mainstream. The proven connection , through the audio files , between Whyte and Green, and why that breaches SFA governance, and finally the behavior of Media House and the instruction by Rangers to damage the reputation of other Scottish Clubs .
There’s the mainstream storyline
Barcabhoy says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:25 pm
The tabloids are incapable of writing about anything other than the Football Governance angle. Within the SMSM there are very few journalists who i would think capable of writing on the other topics you list. Tom English has the ability, Spiers certainly hasn’t .
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Barca,the story outline you suggest is the way forward.However I do not think a sports journalist will be the one to write such a piece.The evidence thus far suggests otherwise.It is far more likely to be Alex Thomson.Mark Daly might revisit,and of course Stuart Cosgrove will monitor this too.
When this story fully breaks ,and it will, we may have a new set of contributors lining up from the media.
*attack was perhaps a poor chose of word in this situation.
“challenge” would be better.
If we could even get 2 or 3 broadcasters, news outlets or whatever to come round to an open acceptance of the facts then cracks might well appear elsewhere in this wall of lies.
Castofthousands says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Football governance, Tax avoidance and evasion, Business impropriety, Political intrusion, Media manipulation by PR firms, Potential legal impropriety!!!
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What a headline for an article or ten.
rantinrobin says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:31 pm
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When this story fully breaks ,and it will, we may have a new set of contributors lining up from the media.
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I’m starting to doubt the story will break. After everything that has happened and everything that has been revealed by RTC, CF and others we still see a state of complete denial from almost all involved.
Can’t see how the damn will be burst unless we can somehow bring this about ourselves.
The game in Scotland is on the verge of collapse, staggering from one crisis to another because of a lack of leadership within both SFA and SPFL .
Now I hope Hearts get their CVA even if it involves a deal to leave Tynecastle to their creditors, but play elsewhere and so satisfy the SFA and SPFL that they will fulfill their fixtures. But time is short and the SPFL cannot operate with a fingers crossed policy.
If the worse comes to the worst and Hearts cannot get a CVA and are liquidated then we should know what the SPFL/SFA position is. Does the team below Partick Thistle (Morton?) get promoted and is there then a vacancy in the bottom tier of the SPFL?
If so can Hearts apply to join muscling aside Spartans or is the future of both clubs Hearts and Spartans more likely to be secured by an amalgamation?
Folk in Edinburgh as a whole are I hope looking at their options and coming up with one that separates Hearts future from Tynecastlke and pdq. The season starts this weekend.
The SFA/SPFL should be in a huddle with Hearts/Hibs and Spartans now. (I include Hibs as a possible ground sharing option and Spartans as amalgamation being a means of achieving their ambition of becoming a senior club. (Spartans of Mid Lothian maybe?)
My point is these are desperate times and out of the box thinking whilst upholding sporting integrity principles is now essential and I hope Mr Doncaster as lead man for the SPFL is doing more than waiting to see.
“Moving on.”, why can’t we move on?”
We have all heard supplications that Scottish football moves on and I think we all would want that but significant barriers have been created by the SFA in the way they handled first the demise of Rangers and then their attempts at resurrection that have turned some of the undermining principles in football on their heads and added significantly to an already culture of truculence (nobody likes us we don’t care) amongst part of the Rangers support.
That got ne thinking what is required to allow Scottish football to move on and I came up with this.
Before the game can move on the regulation loophole arising from Bryson’s law needs to be closed. It will be difficult to do so for the very good reason that it will be difficult if not impossible to find a form of words that FIFA would be happy with that conform with FIFA guidance on player registration and impact on eligibility.
In effect Bryson’s law says “these are the registration requirements, but if you decide to ignore them the worst penalty will be a fine if anyone even finds out that you have ignored them.”
Thus whilst FIFA lay down the law, the Bryson interpretation subverts the purpose of that law by making the consequences and risks of not following it so inconsequential in fair play and financial terms that clubs would be prepared to take the risk.
On top of that Rangers only got away with not revealing side letters because the governing body trusted what they were being told (at best) and ignored what they really knew was going on at worst. There has been no admission of either of these two conditions created by the lack of proper governance by the SFA nor any resolve to stop a repeat and until there is the game cannot move on. So here are two moving on statements for examination by “Rangers” and the SFA.
The Rangers Sttaement.
We recognise that those responsible for running Rangers currently undergoing liquidation did so in an unfair fashion be that DOS, EBT or unsustainable debt. We therefore give up all claim to trophies won under that regime since 2000 when the DOS scheme was started and in return look for clemency on the question of compensation for the financial losses other clubs suffered as a result.
The SFA Statement.
We recognise that we failed Scottish football by not only failing to apply due rigor when accepting what we were told during annual club licensing, but in our mistaken attempts to keep a failed club, working to a failed business model, alive contributing to significant loss to the UK tax payer..
The parties in position of authority in situe at the SFA and still employed there (names) take responsibility for the impact our misgovernanace has had on Scottish football and have therefore resigned and the SFA have called in (business consultants) to examine the processes that failed and asked them to come up with recommendations that will not only prevent a repeat, but will help restore trust in the way in which Scottish Football will be run in the future.
There that should do the trick.
Paulmac2 says:
July 30, 2013 at 4:17 pm
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I had the misfortune to catch an interview on talksport today….
it involved that pillar of Scottish Journalism Peter Martin…
He was asked about the current state of play with Dunfermline and Hearts…
He stated Dunfermline had successfully achieved a CVA and all things looking good for them..
On Hearts however….not so bright…and…he feared “they may have to go down the same route as Rangers”???
The interviewer (a fellow journalist called Mr. Lewis) then asked him…”I suppose Scottish football will be grateful when Rangers eventually make their way back to the top”….Peter gave a resounding “BIG TIME”…in fact he went onto to state how top flight Scottish football has suffered by Rangers absence so much they will welcome them back with open arms…..
Peter Martin take a bow…your manipulation of the facts…your avoidance of the truth bordering on a bare faced lie will see you mentioned in the Govan dispatches….Money well spent by SDM I say!
==============
This is so,so sad. I know this guy,went to school with him. Never had him pegged as a Sevco appologist. Maybe the SMSM brainwashing tactics are stronger than we thought or maybe he has worked with Big DJ too long.
Re : Auldheid @ 5.50 pm
Whilst I understand that the rules were deliberately broken to contrive a situation where the new club was given a place in the SFL ahead of long established clubs like Spartans, I have always been of the opinion that it would have been a bit churlish to deny them a place in the professional leagues given the tens of thousands of fans who would automatically TUPE over to follow them. The authorities needed to make it very clear that this was officially a ” new club” and distance themselves from any nonsensical arguments about purchased histories, liquidation survival etc.
If Hearts are to be liquidated also then another new club would certainly be founded and I’m sure the existing Hearts fans would TUPE over to follow them. I believe they should also be given a place in the lowest tier, but again it should be made clear this is a new entity.
The rules did not foresee or consider the consequences of the liquidation of two of Scotland’s largest professional clubs. The SFA shouldn’t be denying tens of thousands of fans a professional team to support, but neither should they be giving those same fans a reason to feel hard done by, which is exactly what they have achieved by being not being clear on the status of the new club.
Spartan’s opportunity will come when a very small club goes bust, or a pyramid system for promotion is introduced. I don’t believe their fans or those of Hearts (IA) would want to follow a merged entity.
Chat above on how to generate more national interest in our story reminded me of an e-mail I sent to Alex Thomson last year as follows:-
Thanks again Alex for an excellent piece, but can you not enlist a bit of help? When RTC, truly an inspiration in his efforts to expose the fiscal and moral corruption in Scottish football, can win an Orwell Prize for his efforts, why can’t a few heavyweight national sports writers show even a smidgeon of interest. Where are Syed,Samuels,Dickinson,McIlvanney et al, when we in Scotland are crying out for real journalists.Must our position as a regional backwater mean that we have to suffer the cronyism and bias for what passes as sports reporting up here for another 20 years.
Alex’s response was that he had tried to involve others in the story, but the common response was that there was insufficient interest south of the border.
With all due respect Auldheid, I don’t see that it is necessary for Spartans to merge with a Hearts related entity, or to have their place in the senior leagues once again forfeited to save a bankrupt “bigger” team.
I’m sure Spartans fans care as deeply about their club as Hearts or any other fans and would wish it to continue on it’s own path.
Matty Roth says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:43 pm
…………………………………………
The SMSM could teach the North Korean press a thing or two…
Paulmac2 says:
July 30, 2013 at 4:17 pm
It is also worth noting how, with the great news for Dunfermline, and the serious situation at Hearts, the topic was turned exclusively to talking up TRFC. Why is that? Why do they need to keep spouting this on going PR message for TRFC? In a year’s time, will they continually be making such positive references about Dunfermline, and I hope, Hearts, or will they remain as PR mouthpieces for the club that most needs PR to convince us all (and failing spectacularly) that Rangers were saved? In any company PR is most utilised when they have a problem, or problems. The greater the effort to get their message across, the less substance their message must hold. They will still be pushing this message next year, then the year after that, then the year… Assuming there is actually any Rangers left that is.
Silent Partner – do you have a sliding scale for the level of rule-bending allied to the size of fan base? Your suggestion kind of makes a mockery of an Association of clubs and it’s rules. 🙄
Auldheid says:
July 30, 2013 at 5:50 pm
I am basing my hopes on the possibility that a sale of Hearts can at least be made without Tynecastle, and feel this is distinctly achievable. There is no more likelihood of anyone finding the money to buy the club, with the ground, in liquidation than there would in administration, and once liquidated, the club, itself, will be almost worthless financially as it will be out of the league with no assets, and no promise of a future. So, if we consider the stadium to fetch the same price in liquidation as it would during administration, then to sell the ‘club’ for, say, £1m+ would net the creditors £1m+ more than liquidation. I’m sure all three sets of administrators will see this too. so all that’s necessary is for someone, in the event a price for the full package can’t be agreed, to offer to buy the club at an acceptable price. I expect only the FOH (supporters’ consortium) would be interested in this and I hope they have this in mind with a contingency plan in place. There could be the added incentive of a rent for Tynecastle until a buyer can be found, increasing the income for the creditors’ pot. The new owners of Hearts could then bid for Tynecastle if they find themselves in a position to do so.
On the subject of how the SPFL handle the situation. While there is the spectre of disruption to the season should Hearts fall into liquidation, that might pale into insignificance should they be demoted in any way, then achieve a CVA. The new owners might take the SPFL to the Court of Arbitration in Sport, or even to the Court of Session (no point in worrying about the rules with regard to that now), to recover lost revenue plus damages. Worse still, if a CVA wasn’t then achieved the SPFL would leave itself wide open to the charge of being complicit in preventing it. I’d expect one or both of the potential purchasers would be straight to the CoS along with the administrators of at least one of the parties involved. As all administrations hold the real danger of liquidation the same action would have to be taken in all future cases and could be catastrophic for Scottish football as more and more clubs struggle.
Flocculent Apoidea @7.43 pm
I’m certainly not suggesting that the rule-bending (breaking) was in any way acceptable. It is just that I believe that if Hearts are indeed liquidated then we will have lost two of our larger professional clubs in a year. The new clubs replacing them would, more than likely, be followed by a substantial number of the tens of thousands of fans who followed the liquidated ones. In making it clear that these clubs were indeed new, I don’t believe their fans could hold any real sense of injustice over their fate. Whilst a strict adherence to the rules would indeed see these new clubs spend many years outside of the professional setup until they qualified, I personally don’t believe it makes sense to treat them in the same way as say a new club I might set up with my mates. And, yes, that’s because of the size of the fan base.
Let’s be clear. Rangers (IL) behaved despicably during Murray’s (and Whyte’s) reign. They deserved to die as they did. They should have their tainted trophies removed and redistributed. Some of those involved should be in jail. These things may yet happen. 😀
But die they did. The biggest mistake the SFA made was not to clarify the new club’s status.
If Hearts follow suit, I’d see a restart as a new club in the professional leagues (bottom tier) as acceptable. That said, I fully understand your position.
It always amuses me when followers of Celtic or TRFC suggest mergers when they would never tolerate it for their own clubs. No fan of any club wants their club to merge with a local rival. They would prefer dropping into minor football or even complete death of the club, as that is what a merger effectively is anyway.
I thought I heard Doncaster say on R Clyde that if Hearts went tinto liquidation the SPFL board would take a decision on what happened next should Hearts apply to rejoin a lower tier.
I thought “hang on you said that last year and it was the clubs not the SPL Board who decided.
Later I heard someone say that in the new SPFL the rule was it was the Board who would take such a decision.
So I’m thinking “So you no longer trust the clubs to reach the desired result and fear them reaching the just result.
If I have this right these guys have learned nothing or rather these guys have learned how to retain control.
Ominous for integrity.
With the inevitable comparisons expected between the treatment of Hearts and TRFC, any variation could be ‘excused’ by Doncaster because TRFC was dealt with by the SPL and then the SFL.
Hearts will be dealt with by the SPFL: a new body, [despite the same faces, except Longmuir].
As before, the SPFL is focused on maximising revenue for its member clubs above any other consideration: fair enough.
But the constant of course, is the SFA – and Ogilvie and Regan.
The protectors of the game, whose mission, amongst other things, is supposedly;
“The SFA leads the national game with integrity…to breed a culture of…trust” 🙄
At some point the SFA may take a decision which could be seen as unfair to Hearts – when compared to how the SFA bent over backwards for TRFC last year.
You know it’s coming…so what feeble excuse will the SFA come up with – or will they just ignore everyone as per usual ?
Auldheid says:
July 30, 2013 at 8:38 pm
I thought I heard Doncaster say on R Clyde that if Hearts went tinto liquidation the SPFL board would take a decision on what happened next should Hearts apply to rejoin a lower tier.
I thought “hang on you said that last year and it was the clubs not the SPL Board who decided.
Later I heard someone say that in the new SPFL the rule was it was the Board who would take such a decision.
So I’m thinking “So you no longer trust the clubs to reach the desired result and fear them reaching the just result.
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Isn’t it the case Auldheid that the old SPL rule was that the board could decide but they chickened out and put the onus on the clubs? I think the SFL decision re admission was always via a vote of members (albeit the vote to admit at the highest level was unprecedented)
Whilst on a level, being happy for Pars everywhere, I must stop short of the celebratory hi 5s being shared around the place this evening. IMO admin is a legal scam, which shafts creditors, having put them in a terrible situation. Factor in Masterton’s reckless behaviour over the last decades I see little cause for celebration all told this is another chapter with few winners.
RE the Guardian article last week, whilst it may not immediately change anything, I suspect journalists, editors and many of the national press pack may have enjoyed seeing JI named in this grubby affair and enjoyed further the ’embarrassment’ JI is experiencing (cited so clearly and deliberately) in the article. I speculate an individual such as JI has trodden on a toe or 2 over the years, and there may be no shortage of hacks now taking an interest/advantage in lifting the lid a little more, like rats peering into a sewer…..here’s hoping! 😉
Blindsummit63 says:
July 30, 2013 at 6:57 pm
With all due respect Auldheid, I don’t see that it is necessary for Spartans to merge with a Hearts related entity, or to have their place in the senior leagues once again forfeited to save a bankrupt “bigger” team.
I’m sure Spartans fans care as deeply about their club as Hearts or any other fans and would wish it to continue on it’s own path.
__________________________
In an unthinkable situation sometimes the unthinkable needs to be explored.
I fully accept and understand the emotional case and if it were my club it is almost the last thing I would want. The last thing I would want is disappearing altogether and that puts Spartans in an excellent bargaining position but it would mean a cut in the emotional attachment.
I’m a bit of a nuts and bolts guy and favour a “whatever it takes solution” as long as its legal and fair to all parties.
AllyJambo
I really do hope it does not come to liquidation but I’m thinking as the Lithuanian adminstrator. The club is worth a penny but the ground with planning permission might get a return, so Hearts keep “the club” and the administrator takes the development potential that is not open to Hearts.
As regards the SPFL working on a liquidation basis rather than a CVA, they have a duty to the other clubs and what is to stop them making no comeback if a CVA is agreed a condition of ongoing SPFL membership.
None of this is nice thinking, in fact it is nasty, but the bottom line is keeping Hearts going in one form or another, not keeping Hearts in the top tier. Lets hope a not too painful solution can be found.
I suppose the hope is that the article in the Guardian would encourage people to seek this stuff out for themselves. The article doesn’t need to quote from it, merely acknowledge it’s existence.
BTW How difficult is it to log into this site now?!? I was ‘Areyouaccusingmeofmendacity’ before I tupe’d over….
scottc says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:35 pm
If I remember correctly the old rules were not clear and in fact there is a topic on KDS where Doncaster was asked to clarify and failed to do so. I posted a link to it on TSFM, maybe in previous blog.
It showed Doncaster in a very poor light which was why I was surprised he was going the same route again.
bobferris says:
July 30, 2013 at 8:33 pm
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It always amuses me when followers of Celtic or TRFC suggest mergers when they would never tolerate it for their own clubs. No fan of any club wants their club to merge with a local rival. They would prefer dropping into minor football or even complete death of the club, as that is what a merger effectively is anyway.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Indeed some would but a straw poll of ICT fans might show how many disagree. I take your point but too much love can kill you.
She’s back!!
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 7m
Further examples of Jack Irvine and his methods, including attempts at getting the Police to leak info.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/157070270/Jack-and-his-working-ways …
no 5 is an oxymoron for starters
bobferris says:
July 30, 2013 at 8:33 pm
21 3 Rate This
It always amuses me when followers of Celtic or TRFC suggest
mergers when they would never tolerate it for their own
clubs. No fan of any club wants their club to merge with a local
rival. They would prefer dropping into minor football or even
complete death of the club, as that is what a merger effectively
is anyway.
~~~~~~~~~~
If only TRFC * could have merged with RFC, they wouldn’t have needed to apply for (and fail to acquire) RFC’s SPL share.
* for the avoidance of doubt, that is not Tranmere Rovers
Whew:
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 10m
Further examples of Jack Irvine and his methods, including attempts at getting the Police to leak info.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/157070270/Jack-and-his-working-ways …
arabest1 says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:37 pm
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On the contrary, I think most hacks are in total fear of Irvine and would not want to be seen “rejoicing” for fear that this would get back to him via his extensive network of leakers.
That is the real scandal, that journalists are afraid to pursue the truth. As soon as that happens, the game’s a bogey. And guess what, in Scotland the game is a bogey
Only when they start seeking the truth again can we be set free.
I can’t find too much objectionable in CtH’s latest leak than point 6 of Irvine’s email; Clearly he wants to photographs of members of HMRC published in a downmarket tabloid. In the pond that is the west of Scotland, such an action if carried through would equate to an action likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Of course the PR business is pretty much unregulated which means that it has more than its fair share of well dressed yobs; the recent revelations of CtH have done little to disprove that notion.
paulsatim says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:58 pm
She’s back!!
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 7m
…
======
“…
6. Remember Stephen organised pictures of the four HMRC men who visited Ibrox a few weeks ago. Should we give them to a trusted editor ?…”
==================================
This Jack Irvine is a thoroughly disgusting creature.
arabest1 says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:37 pm
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Totally agree, while saving the club is worth celebrating, doing it by shafting people is not.
Did someone mention Jack
http://taxjustice.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/cayman-responds-to-our-fsi-with-fury-at.html
#OnlyStarting
Aye Jack
http://treasureislands.org/anthony-travers-my-part-in-his-downfall-or-not/
#CaptainUnderpants
Any info on KEYDATA Jack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10273314
#WheresTheMoney
What about your piece on that Socialist site Jack ….. too disgusting to even post the link …. and your comment even more so !
Here’s a name for you to check out Jack …… Keith Vaz
Paulsatim@9:58pm
J I What a low life.BTW I thought trying to get serving Police officers to obtain information was against the law.Presumably they would have to access data bases etc.
StevieBC says:
July 30, 2013 at 10:24 pm
8 0 Rate This
paulsatim says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:58 pm
She’s back!!
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 7m
… for
======
“…
6. Remember Stephen organised pictures of the four HMRC men who visited Ibrox a few weeks ago. Should we give them to a trusted editor ?…”
————————————————————————————————————–
Dilemma for low life Irvine pick a trusted editor, so many to chose from.
Sense of humour tho, sensible Sevco fan (that got me).
Fear from SMSM or just a natural leaning towards Govan club? What if someone outside Scotland exposes the truth with CF revelations (At for example). Will we be able to apply for a public holiday and name it Scotland’s Embarrassment day? Or simply call it Jackass day?
valentinesclown says:
July 30, 2013 at 11:10 pm
…
=======
Yes, Jackass Irvine has a certain ring to it !
…but then again we weren’t allowed ‘Scunner’ Campbell… 🙁
Am I allowed to feel sorry for Jack Irvine? 😯
Whit a kicking he’s taking………………Braw 😎
Bawsman says:
July 30, 2013 at 11:18 pm
Think Jack’s minnions just logged onto blog tonite!!
smartie1947 says:
July 30, 2013 at 6:52 pm
“When RTC, truly an inspiration in his efforts to expose the fiscal and moral corruption in Scottish football, can win an Orwell Prize for his efforts, why can’t a few heavyweight national sports writers show even a smidgeon of interest.”
—————————
Maybe we need to do it ourselves just like RTC. Perhaps we could have some posters doing weekly summaries that act like a Sunday paper. A magazine of the topics discussed. I’ve got a chance to spend a bit of time on the blog and I know the likes of ecobhoy takes a keen interest and is an adept chronicler. There will be others also. HirsuitPursute keeps a low profile but writes very well and shows a knowledge of blog discussions when they do. John Clarke. Danish, Long Time Lurker. Any of us could do a weekly digest. I’ll see If I can get the ball rolling. I’ll do a big post on sunday rounding up the weeks discussion. A digest of the blog activities. Perhaps I’ll nominate the task for the following week to another poster?
Shooperb says:
July 30, 2013 at 9:42 pm
11 0 Rate This
I suppose the hope is that the article in the Guardian would encourage people to seek this stuff out for themselves. The article doesn’t need to quote from it, merely acknowledge it’s existence.
BTW How difficult is it to log into this site now?!? I was ‘Areyouaccusingmeofmendacity’ before I tupe’d over….
**************************************
Thought I recognised you!!
The people who would want to seek out the CF information for themselves have, I suspect, already done so. In that I include all of us here and the MSM, both with different agendas. We hope it becomes ‘mainstream’, while they are dreading it!!
Professor Greenslade acknowledging that the CF information is out there, albeit not discussing the content and/or ramifications of the content, is, I think, a crack in the dam. We must continue to beaver away to get this scandal out in the open.
For the past 3 months I have, under my own name and contact details, been in touch with SFA, SPL, SPFL, HMRC, UEFA, FIFA, Daily Record, Scottish Sun, The Herald, The Times, OSCR and Uncle Tom Cobley (a hard man to pin down), all to no avail. Not one reply but undaunted.
newtz says:
July 30, 2013 at 11:01 pm
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Some of the press clippings I’ve seen lift their info from this:
http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=SN05394
Merchant Capital got the KeyData book.
Bawsman says:
July 30, 2013 at 11:18 pm
12
3
Rate This
Am I allowed to feel sorry for Jack Irvine?
Whit a kicking he’s taking………………Braw
____________________
Had he suggested taking photos of nurses or doctors or soldiers it would be all over the English MSM, But tax men? Fair game even though all are paid from the public purse.
Auldheid says:
July 30, 2013 at 8:38 pm
48 1 Rate This
I thought I heard Doncaster say on R Clyde that if Hearts went tinto liquidation the SPFL board would take a decision on what happened next should Hearts apply to rejoin a lower tier.
I thought “hang on you said that last year and it was the clubs not the SPL Board who decided.
Later I heard someone say that in the new SPFL the rule was it was the Board who would take such a decision …
——
Auldheid,
I re-listened to the bit just before the break and he said it used to be with the board, but was then given to the 12 SPL clubs (I take it he meant last year at crisis time), and now, with the SPFL, decision making on an individual club’s fate has returned to the board. His ability to dodge the question – about what will happen if Hearts have to liquidate after season start – was impressive. But although he is a master obfuscater, the rules have been defined.
So, those were the rules last year, until they weren’t, and then they were again. Why can’t he just say that they faced a unique situation and that the board members did not want to take such momentous decisions without all 12 being part of the process? Quite ok for him to state the truth because the next caller wanted to know (in that intimidatory and accusing tone), the names of the individual SPL board members ‘who attacked my club last year’. Sheesh!
Btw, interesting point he made about it once being common for clubs to liquidate to shed their debt but that some associations brought in rules – because the practice was seen as giving some clubs ‘an unfair sporting advantage’.
From the British Journalism Awards December 2012
“Sunday Times chief sports writer David Walsh claimed a double win, picking up both the Sports Journalist of the Year and Journalist of the Year prizes.
Judges praised Walsh for his 13-year investigation into Lance Armstrong, which exposed the cyclist as a drugs cheat and led to him being stripped of his seven Tour De France victories.”
Now here’s a real journalist. He could get his teeth into a few stories of corruption,lies and cheating here in this neck of the woods.
Notice that many are happy to see the likes of Jack Irvine taking a bit of a pasting.
However being a pessimist today – I doubt much will happen.
While we should keep trying to get people to listen, unfortunately the likes of Jack, Sir David, Craig Whyte and Charles Green keep getting away with nonsense year after year because people with the power to do something about it are either
a) all playing the same game and are equally ruthless and sociopathic
or
b) sitting with a digit in their anus due to a combination of fear, incompetence and a lack of testicualr fortitude.
Charlotte Fakes is Craig White.
Discuss 🙂
Sorry for being off topic but this latest tweet from BRTH is worth a read:
Brogan Rogan Trevino @BroganRoganTrev 46m
The Little Stradivarius — McKenzie Furniss! http://wp.me/p1G95H-Xe please help save a life — please read and retweet– & give if you can.
Danish Pastry says:
July 31, 2013 at 7:28 am
‘……..Doncaster …….interesting point he made about it once being common for clubs to liquidate to shed their debt but that some associations brought in rules – because the practice was seen as giving some clubs ‘an unfair sporting advantage’.’
—–
I hadn’t remembered that, DP.
Very useful to have it recalled, as it re-inforces all that has been said about how duplicitous Doncaster was/is.
Sorry for being off topic people but please read my story on McKenzie Furniss who is a wee girl from Alloa who needs our help.
I suspect that she is a Tartan Army Member ( I don’t personally know the family ) and I would hope all football fans would be willing to do something about this.
It is not just an appeal for money, but also a call to action by contacting your MP and MSP as this situation is a national scandal.
Here is not the place to discuss such a situation in detail but equally this is not a forum which should ignore the plight of a football fan.
Thanks and sorry for the rather abrupt interruption.
Please read.
http://wp.me/p1G95H-Xe
Thanks
BRTH
I notice that it is being widely reported that Season Ticket sales have increased for most teams in the new SFPL. This is great news for the clubs so how about this.
Most games will still have reams of empty seats. Would it be possible to allocate these seats to people who are unfortunate enough to be out of work and cannot afford to get to the match. Easily policed in these days of electronic wizardy. The offshoot may be more merchandise,programmes food sales etc and also maybe higher ST sales in future years. Would clubs not start to feel more involved within their respective communities for implementing such a plan? I think they would. Look at the feelgood factor around Firhill last season with the free kids tickets and I am sure they will reap the benefit for this initiative this season and for future seasons. Just a thought.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-23510657
Liverpool Football Club staff have been issued with a guide to unacceptable language so they can help eradicate verbal abuse from fans.
The club said they wanted to stamp out slurs against race, religion, sexual orientation, gender and disability.
Liverpool’s players receive their own guidance as part of a separate Premier League programme.
“This programme includes interactive workshops and a handbook which is designed to provide information on the latest equality legislation including what terminology is deemed acceptable and unacceptable.”
He added it would help staff “take the necessary steps to ensure Anfield is free from all forms of discrimination”.
Lord Herman Ouseley, chair of anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, said the guide was a positive step.
He said Liverpool FC had taken “great strides” to tackle discrimination.
“Match day stewards must be trained on dealing with incidents of discrimination and unacceptable behaviour in order to eradicate it from our stadiums.”
Sevco & Liverpool. Compare and contrast.
Ps. Heard sung at the Rovers game on Sunday – ” If you hate Alex Salmond, clap your hands . . ”
Still making new friends wherever they go.
More hate – their stock in trade.
manandboy says:
July 31, 2013 at 10:42 am
I clapped 😀
TallBoy Poppy says:
July 31, 2013 at 12:31 am
———————————-
Brilliant find ……. had some tenuous links but that nails it …… mapped !
slimshady61 says:
July 30, 2013 at 10:21 pm
No doubt JI wields considerable influence across a number areas, I was merely speculating that moving in such shark infested waters carries with it many dangers…..no matter who you are! I recall the heart warming news that Rebecca Brooks was arrested at her home early one morning, as she selected her hat for Royal Ascot! 😆 . This is a woman who just a few years previous could host a dinner party and compel the top brass from Downing Street, the heir to the throne and other establishment worthies to attend………………….. suddenly she is being grilled by Special Branch in an interview room in Paddington Green, instead of posing around with the ponserati at Ascot, and boy did she hate it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SSpn30dySs
Sorry I was not able to keep up yesterday, but fantastic news about Dunfermline FC.
However, I have a question.
I hear that Mr Masterton has written off £7.5M of debt.
Am I correct and presuming he has transferred full ownership of the stadium to the fans consortium or has he retained any type of ownership and simply leased the stadium back to the club?
If he has transferred ownership in full — what happens to his “Never Never” loan with the bank?
BRTH, perhaps OT regarding the wee lassie suffering from neuroblastoma, but in my humble opinion there’s no need to say sorry.
You’re trying to help save a life. We’re only trying to save Scottish football in it’s present form.
I know what Bill Shankly once said re life and death. I saw the humour in it, but I know what’s more important to me.
Thanks for posting.
PS. Whoever gave you the TD for it, have a wee word with yourself please.
The stories that say GM has written off 7.5M of debt are misleading to say the least.
GM wrote off about £2.5M to his Charlstown Holdings. £8M odd was written off by KPMG (administrators for EEP Ltd) acting on behalf of the bank. I presume the loan was already in the toxic debt part of lloyds bank and had effectively written off anyway. There is no way they were ever getting it back.
Pars United (of which I am a small ‘investor’) have managed to re-unite the Football Club and the Stadium.
The vast majority of Pars fans are shamed by what happened and gutted about the damage done to local business but are absolutely delighted about what we have done as a group. The effort some people have put in is absolutely unbelivable. Instead of sitting watch our football club die, blaming everybody else and slinging mud we have put our energy into saving our team.
The statement by Bob Gammory sums it up for me.
@havesomefaithinmagic
Well done. Amazing achievement.
Up the Pars!
Carfins Finest. says:
July 31, 2013 at 10:14 am
14 1 Rate This
I notice that it is being widely reported that Season Ticket sales have increased for most teams in the new SFPL. This is great news for the clubs so how about this.
Most games will still have reams of empty seats. Would it be possible to allocate these seats to people who are unfortunate enough to be out of work and cannot afford to get to the match. Easily policed in these days of electronic wizardy. The offshoot may be more merchandise,programmes food sales etc and also maybe higher ST sales in future years. Would clubs not start to feel more involved within their respective communities for implementing such a plan? I think they would. Look at the feelgood factor around Firhill last season with the free kids tickets and I am sure they will reap the benefit for this initiative this season and for future seasons. Just a thought.
===================================================
I think it is a good idea, but i don’t think you could give them to the same people each week. (system may become abused, and paying punters might get hacked off sitting next to someone with a free ticket every week!)
I’d work with the local schools/charities/employers and issue a set number of free tickets to them – changing who gets them each week so it is spread around a little
I would also include minority ethnic groups. I know Celtic used to allocate a certain number of seats to groups such as these on a one off basis.An opportunity for a wee bit of social inclusion work and of course future fan recruitment.
newtz says:
July 31, 2013 at 11:13 am
———————————————————————————————————————————————
No problem, newtz. KdS did some work on the links between Stewart Ford, Giles Hargreave and Scot Gardiner. Easy enough to plot in Duedil but anything specific give me a shout – it might already have been covered.
TallBoy Poppy says: July 31, 2013 at 12:31 am
————
From a merchant House Group document intended for high net worth individuals ……
http://www.equitydevelopment.co.uk/doc/924.pdf
Merchant Capital Ltd is a small corporate-finance-oriented stockbroker first
authorised by the FSA in the first half of 2003, which was, until the group
acquired some of the business and assets of Clarkson Hill and injected them into
MHFS, the dominant part of the group.
The market for small stockbrokers handling AIM and PLUS market clients has
been quite horrible for the last few years, leading to a major cull in recent months
of smaller niche brokers set up by assorted handfuls of individuals who felt
uncomfortable in “megabrokers” after “Big Bang” or after the consolidation that
followed the crash that followed the dotcom bubble.
However, following James Holmes‟ appointment as Chairman of Merchant Capital
it concentrated on recovery situations, which remained a less crowded niche.
In the last three years the group has jointly established three companies,
associates of MHG, to invest in such companies, Merchant Corporate Recovery,
Merchant Strategic Renewal and Merchant Turnaround. More recently it has
attracted several teams from other brokers, including a cross-border corporate
finance team, trading as Pensum Partners, which had previously worked for
Landsbanki, and built up a structured products team around John Gracey from
Arc and Tony King. The group has merged the remnants of its corporate finance
team with Pensum Partners to form Merchant Pensum; the team was involved in
the takeovers of West Ham United and, recently, Glasgow Rangers.
————————–
Merchant Capital entered the structured products market in 2009 by taking over
the book of a firm called Arc which went into administration;
Subsequently in 2010 they acquired another book from Keydata from the administrators,
PricewaterhouseCoopers:
————————————-
Also, note Clarkson Hill
Former Collyer Bristow lawyer Gary Withey was also a former company secretary of Clarkson Hill, and according to the last report from Rangers’ administrators, Withey is still secretary of Rangers Group plc, which is pending liquidation.
————————————
Carfins Finest. says:
July 31, 2013 at 10:14 am
————————————
Admit it, CF, you pinched the idea from Sevco who last year were handing out thousand upon thousands of free tickets to fill their dilapidating stadium
54 (freebies for every paying customer)
I am pleased for Dunfermline fans, that they will still have a club to support moving forward. I am also delighted that their fans recognise the damage done to suppliers and are suitably chastened by it.
Dunfermline lived outwith their means, and gained a measure of sporting advantage because of that, so whilst we should all be pleased they have survived, we should also recognise they were part of the problem caused by fools like Murray, Masterton and the Marr Brothers.
I hope Hearts achieve a similar outcome, and learn from the experience.
Whilst Hearts and Dunfermline have been guilty of financial stupidity , it would be extremely unfair to bracket them with Rangers, who not only were financially reckless, they were unrepentant cheats in their abuse of rules and tax laws.
Scottish Football needs to introduce its own form of FFP, and given recent events it is negligent in the extreme that this hasnt happened yet. For a good analysis of what has been introduced in England, below the Premiership, the link below is well worth a read
http://fourfourtwo.com/blogs/upthefootballleaguewego/archive/2013/06/17/feeling-the-pinch-football-league-braced-for-cuts-as-ffp-arrives-with-teeth.aspx
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
July 31, 2013 at 12:34 pm
8
0
Rate This
Carfins Finest. says:
July 31, 2013 at 10:14 am
14 1 Rate This
I notice that it is being widely reported that Season Ticket sales have increased for most teams in the new SFPL. This is great news for the clubs so how about this.
Most games will still have reams of empty seats. Would it be possible to allocate these seats to people who are unfortunate enough to be out of work and cannot afford to get to the match. Easily policed in these days of electronic wizardy. The offshoot may be more merchandise,programmes food sales etc and also maybe higher ST sales in future years. Would clubs not start to feel more involved within their respective communities for implementing such a plan? I think they would. Look at the feelgood factor around Firhill last season with the free kids tickets and I am sure they will reap the benefit for this initiative this season and for future seasons. Just a thought.
===================================================
I think it is a good idea, but i don’t think you could give them to the same people each week. (system may become abused, and paying punters might get hacked off sitting next to someone with a free ticket every week!)
I’d work with the local schools/charities/employers and issue a set number of free tickets to them – changing who gets them each week so it is spread around a little
==============================
NTHM. Thats what I meant by stating that it would be easily policed. Have a register for any group that qualifies. Select reciepients on a weekly basis. Shuffle the seats around to avoid stigma associated with marginalised groups.
Had a quick look at RM. This one from “Bawburst” made me chuckle. So far none of his Berr chums have put him right.
———-
Posted Today, 10:26 AM
Have heard a few things about us dumping debt via oldco which are in a word bollox, it is about time the present executive made it quite clear that nothing was dumped, the guilty party are hmrc who forced liquidation for a claimed debt they were not owed.
Is BDO or anyone else going to sue hmrc over this after they hmrc lose their appeal.
A club is faced with administration/liquidation. It’s supporters form an action group, organise collections, raise local awareness as to the importance of the club to the community. An agreement is reached between the supporters group, creditors and banks. The club apologise to the people who are losing money and promise to operate within their means in future.
No threats
No attempt to sign players whilst in administration
No five-way agreement
No court challenges
No manipulation of the press
No financial jiggery-pokery
Call it dig-ni-teee!!!
A decent article about the Hearts situation (for a change) in today’s DR (not sure if it only appears online, for obvious reasons). Though written by a Hearts supporter, and any financial qualification he has is not given, it at least points out the sensationalist nature of our MSM. I believe the Scotsman also has an article downplaying the doomsday scenario painted by some of the MSM. I can understand their (SMSM) desperation to always sensationalise, in a positive way, the puff pieces emanating from TRFC, but why must they always counter-balance that with sensationalised negative stories about every other club? I also noticed the BBC online had an article about the upturn in season ticket sales in the top tier. I was glad to see they did not find it necessary to mention Rangers/TRFC, for a change, then realised there should have been some reference rubbishing the claims of Armageddon from last year. They did, however, manage to report this good news in a rather low-key way; nothing sensational about a rise in season ticket sales then! Oops, just re-read it and they have managed to mention Rangers (who they?) and to put a negative spin on the good news by linking their absence from the top tier to a reduction in the overall average attendance. Oh well, business as usual then.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hearts-mouths-over-nothing-2108352
Happy Haggerty @AngelaHaggerty 1m
Creditors report reveals Heart of Midlothian debts totalling £28.5m http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/hearts/234601-hearts-debts-total-285m-administraor-report-reveals/ … Not looking good for Hearts.
Reilly1926 says:
July 31, 2013 at 2:07 pm
Had a quick look at RM. This one from “Bawburst” made me chuckle. So far none of his Berr chums have put him right.
———-
Posted Today, 10:26 AM
Have heard a few things about us dumping debt via oldco which are in a word bollox, it is about time the present executive made it quite clear that nothing was dumped, the guilty party are hmrc who forced liquidation for a claimed debt they were not owed.
Is BDO or anyone else going to sue hmrc over this after they hmrc lose their appeal.
_________________________________
Compare that with what is emanating from the Dunfermline camp. In fact, there is no comparison. Dignity v WATP, dignity wins hands down, every time.
Barcabhoy
I’ve been moaning since 2011 about the need for much tighter financial controls and here we are up to our knees in a mess and still no mention of the need from the SFA – lessons learned bla bla. Their smsm mouthpieces have never written on it either a requirement being the 2 times table.
But do you know why it does not get mentioned anywhere but blogland?
Because even it were implemented now without strengthening some clubs would simply not get a licence.I say some, probably most.
An indicator of whether I am right will be the SFA web site on which certain financial data – turnover, wages, ratio of wages to turnover’ etc supplied to the SFA by clubs before the end of April to meet licensing requirements , will be published.
This was a change introduced since last year designed to do two things.
Inform the footballing public of their clubs financial health.
Cover the SFA’asses in case clubs lie to them. Imagine that happenibg eh?
Publishing the financial details of Rangers will be a litmus test of the SFA’s resolve to do what they promised about applying rules without fear or favour.
The start of the season would be a good date. In fact before STs were sold would have been better but I await with interest.
Scottish football looks forward to welcoming back a strong and dignified Dunfermline……and fingers crossed for Hearts too…..
In the interests of fairness, to be clear I would welcome back a suitably chastened, humbled, honest, realistic and sustainable sevco. Its just that I don’t think that will be for a while, and bizarrely the powers that be seem to think I’ll settle for plain-old-rangers(IFLBDNTOK) instead. Oops.
#Infinancialliquidationbutdefinitelynottheotherkindnosiree