In the aftermath of the recent election and whilst those of us who voted one way are still hoping that our way continues to count, the horse trading has begun. No matter your politics, the fact that a party wholly representing one part of the United Kingdom is suddenly having such a massive influence, coupled with a lack of detail in the public domain over their negotiations, causes people some nervousness; because of the nature of the DUP, for some they claim it terrifies them.
Can we imagine if football was run that way? Can we imagine if it wasn’t?
Having people who have one focus deliberating and influencing your life has always been an issue at the core of the United Kingdom. Proud Scots do not like the power of the English, some English have begun to resent the growing independence of the Scots, the Welsh have turned out to have their own independence and as for the Irish; the Trouble has always never been far behind.
The recognised method of dealing with these issues has now become to allow, where possible, organisations within the domain of the domicile to grow on their own. For some it sows the seeds of an increasing independence as the locals realise they can do it for themselves. It also does, though ensure the organisation is close to its own people and is truly representative of them.
In Scotland, and throughout the last election, the big two – Conservative and Labour parties – have suffered under the accusations of being a “branch office” of their London centric big sister. It has led to people making choices based on the assumption that, at times, neither of the leaders up here have autonomy. When there are policies that will be unpopular in Scotland, they say, the high heid yins in Edinburgh have no choice but to toe the party line.
We do not like that thought.
Nor should we.
I suggested that football has a similar issue. And so. It does…
The views and opinions of the Scottish fans who last Saturday threw up their hands in joy and held their heads in despair all within 90 seconds or so suffer from that lack of representation. As deals are done in secret and “announcements” made over innovations and changes they are collectively silent through the funded organisation established to represent them; at best that organ is muted.
Never has it been more important for the Scottish football fan to feel the importance of their view being heard. Never has it been more important as Project Brave is being undertaken, chairmen are being fined £3,000 for having a bet, we look as though we are going to miss out on another World Cup, expansion of our cup competitions is growing apace, play offs and promotions have delivered their verdicts and handed their budgets to managers who bemoaned last year it was hard, that one of our two giant clubs seems unable to keep itself out of the court room whilst supplying the accused, the defence lawyer, the pantomime villain and a circus or at least two premiership clubs appear to be on the verge of administration.
Supporters Direct – Undemocratic?
The time has come to ensure that the voice of the footballing nation does not come from around the Isles but around the corner. Whilst the work of Supporters Direct has brought a great deal of support and aid to a number of clubs and supporters groups, the fans need something that is much more than a branch office of a bigger organisation.
In the recent past, SD have seemingly been forced to be more visible but let us not be fooled, if you are an ordinary fan, SD have no place for you. You cannot join, you cannot vote, and you cannot influence; so there is not much point. Building a democratic and fair vocal chord for Scottish football fans needs commitment from the bottom up to engage, enlist and enrich the chorus and chanting of disapproval or support for Scottish football.
That’s why I am in the SFSA – isn’t it time for the Scottish Government to take the bull, grasp the thistle and make the clear choice of removing money going all the way to London and giving it to a fans based organisation that represents them here in Scotland?
We think so… don’t you?
Join the SFSA today! It’s free
It seems JJ has a different take on recent developments than the media appear to favour. He has Mike Ashley taking control of Rangers.
This announcement of more directors’ loans; I take it they have been made because they are, well, required, as in absolutely necessary to stay solvent, and not just for the sake of these RRM’s love of TRFC.
Now, we recently saw the club, or was it the holding company, issue a set of unaudited accounts that were anything but healthy, unless you consider ‘not as bad as they might have been’ to be healthy. And of course, ‘unaudited’ means no one knows (outside of the Blue Room) how accurate and honest those accounts were/are – and it was not in TRFC/RIFC’s interest to make them look worse than audited accounts might have otherwise shown.
These accounts showed that, at the very least, TRFC/RIFC had made yet another loss at a level greater than that allowed within UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, and many people were surprised, indeed disgusted, that TRFC were granted a European Licence, with the never ending directors’ loans a very distinct ‘no no’ as far as passing FFP regulations are concerned.
So, how can it be that this latest round of loans doesn’t further breach FFP? Could even Regan and his TRFC facing cohorts have passed TRFC as FFP compliant knowing that even more loans were required within a month of the season finishing? They must be even more complicit, than even we give them (dis)credit for, if they did. I do wonder if word of the SD deal was what it took to convince the SFA to grant the licence, and stave off complaints from other clubs, most notably, Hearts. But did they, the SFA, and the other clubs know that more loans were required, and that they were required so soon?
Much has been made of Hearts (though I’d include every other club that might care about the future of our game) not raising merry hell over the granting of the licence, but I suspect the SFA/Regan produced some story that put the others in their place (the SD deal?), but I wonder how they all feel now, now that they’re watching, with the rest of us, a club with massive debt rebuilding a team (again) at a cost way outside the reaches of all but Celtic, by spending money they do not have!
“He made a very poor impression as a witness.”
“He is a mendacious witness whose evidence should not be accepted on any issue unless it is supported by objective evidence.”
“It is remarkable that (he) showed no sign of embarrassment or any emotion when he conceded that he had lied to the commissioner in a number of his income tax returns. In our assessment, he is a glib and shameless liar.”
“As his evidence progressed, it became clear that he has no respect for the truth and does not hesitate to lie, or at least misrepresent the facts, if he thinks it will be to his advantage.”
“There can be little doubt that on most occasions Mr King lied, as he knew the correct facts and obviously decided to misrepresent these facts. He is extremely arrogant and obviously thinks that whatever he says is so.”
The above quotes from High Court Judge, Brian Smallwood, ought to be remembered when dissecting Dave King’s Sports Direct statement of yesterday.
Surely even the most gullible supporters in the land aren’t going to be duped yet again?
Even as someone with only a passing interest in the goings on at Ibrox, I knew King was lying throughout his televised statement. How? His lips were moving.
I’m wondering if there is an issue with the flash type adverts causing the page to jump to the ad as it starts playing. I’m seeing that on win10 machine using edge browser. Confirmed this by using two other machines, which did exactly the same.
Update from the offshore game.
http://www.theoffshoregame.net/corrupt-or-incompetent-sfa/
Something often raised on SFM is, why do the SMSM never report having asked the big questions of the SFA and or TRFC/RFC when their questions go unanswered? As can be seen in this Offshore Game piece, it’s actually quite easy – and enlightening! In fact, it’s pretty good journalism, as evidenced here with this short excerpt:
‘Is the SFA interested in running a fair competition for all clubs in Scotland? Is it capable?
We asked the SFA whether the evidence in the Whyte trial had compelled them to rethink their position, they did not answer our request for comment.’
A couple of historical CoS decisions relating to Charles Green’s claim for legal costs to be met by the club have just been published today.
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=74af36a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=6eaf36a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
One CoS action due to be held tomorrow:
LORD SUMMERS
PETITION DEPARTMENT
UNSTARRED MOTIONS
P565/17 Note: HMA to vary rest order re Craig Whyte COPFS
I assume that this is just the formal tidy up to remove any remaining restrictions on Whyte following his trial. There is no requirement for Counsel to be in attendance.
Despite going over old ground it is probably worth having a look at paragraphs 23 and 24 of the appeal judges decision in the Green legal costs case (the second link above).
It’s a discussion about the what is the “club”. The appeal judges appeared to disagree with Lord Doherty (Lord Ordinary) to some extent, and made reference to the LNS view, but closed the discussion with “Accepting for present purposes that it exists in some amorphous and limited way, it nevertheless has no legal entity apart from that of its owners from time to time.” ……. “In our view the arguments of the respondents (RIFC) in this case would rob the wording of the clause in relation to the Rangers Football Club of any meaning, and it cannot have been the intention of parties to do so.”
missed a deadline that has not arrived yet
Phil going with what we said yesterday.
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2017/06/22/how-to-market-a-favourable-settlement/
His 44 magnum invoice was for unsold stock and the attendant costs from warehousing and handling etc.
The sevco high command couldn’t pay it,but now The people will take care of that.
How much had that potential invoice grown to?
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CLUSTER ONEJUNE 21, 2017 at 18:12 16 Votes
Was it a case of we can’t pay for unsold stock.So let’s do a deal that let’s the fans buy last years strip at this years price. that will give SD the money they would have received for unsold stock.or am i way off course?and does this bring to an end the court case with king and SD?
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Hope Phil is ok that i used part of his blog.
ACLYDEFANJUNE 22, 2017 at 11:58 7 Votes
I’m wondering if there is an issue with the flash type adverts causing the page to jump to the ad as it starts playing. I’m seeing that on win10 machine using edge browser. Confirmed this by using two other machines, which did exactly the same.
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I’m getting a big AD at the start over the last couple of day’s
Au contraire EJ @ 18.03.
i think you’ll find
“arguments of the respondents (RIFC) in this case would rob the wording of the clause in relation to the Rangers Football Club of any meaning”
was precisely the effect they were looking for. And not just them either!
I’ve been reading that the ‘new’ Rangers strip deal will net them £5m. If they release audited accounts then it shouldn’t be too difficult to establish the facts.
CLUSTER ONEJUNE 22, 2017 at 19:08
missed a deadline that has not arrived yet
==============================
Them pesky facts again.
Yes, Phil suggesting that TRFC has ‘dodged 2 bullets’ from Ashley.
Seems like TRFC reps were not in any position to negotiate either.
So, if Big Mike held all the cards…you would think his conditions would also include the departure of a certain, well dodgy, unsmiling chancer from South Africa ?
Use him to make the public announcement, get the bears spending their cash again on the merchandise…and then the glib one is unceremoniously advised – at the most opportune time – to please p!ss off ?
From the Mirror;
“FA terminate £4m Ladbrokes commercial deal after agreeing to end sponsorship with all betting companies
The move follows the decision made in May that the FA would end all sponsorships with betting companies
…
The rationale for the move, which will see the FA give up a reported £4million a year in lost revenue, is that the governing body cannot enforce the strict anti-gambling rules for those involved in the game while earning money to help promote gambling…”
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Fair play to the FA.
…and I wonder what the SFA has to say…?
UPTHEHOOPS
JUNE 22, 2017 at 19:45
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I posted about that the other day UTH.
It makes no sense.
Forget this year, where they are selling them for £20, the old stock of last years shirts. Let’s consider future years, where they will need a new manufacturer and retailing partner before they can really do anything.
If they were to make £10 on each shirt, after VAT and corporation tax (though historic losses will cover that), they would need to sell 500,000 of them.
Do you think they will sell half a million shirts and make £12 profit on each of them.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 22, 2017 at 20:48
I posted about that the other day UTH.
It makes no sense.
Forget this year, where they are selling them for £20, the old stock of last years shirts. Let’s consider future years, where they will need a new manufacturer and retailing partner before they can really do anything.
If they were to make £10 on each shirt, after VAT and corporation tax (though historic losses will cover that), they would need to sell 500,000 of them.
Do you think they will sell half a million shirts and make £12 profit on each of them.
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I don’t think they will, although they do have a very strong support in Scotland. The media seem willing to do the bidding for them on this one. I’ve read it was an invited group of compliant hacks at the Press Conference yesterday although I don’t know if that’s true. It’s all about creating a feelgood factor, and it is very reminiscent of last summer. How did that all work out again?
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 22, 2017 at 20:48
Is the 500,000 number a lucky number down ibrox way?
The Rangers Fans Fighting Fund will not pass on their £500,000 kitty to the Ibrox board.
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The Rangers Supporters Trust secures more than £500,000 for legal fight.
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500,000 reasons for Rangers to be cheerful. Rangers’ fans have backed their heroes. RANGERS will smash through the half-million barrier in home league attendances.
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Rangers First and the Dave King £500k row:
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In the latest Rangers transfer news, Chelsea have secured the signing of Gers U16 midfielder Billy Gilmour for a reported fee of £500,000.
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Rangers will do all they can to avoid paying £500,000 surcharge for Newcastle loanees.
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Rangers board in crisis talks after emergency £500,000 loan.
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Newcastle United due £500,000 windfall if Rangers win promotion to the SPL
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In the latest Rangers transfer news, Championship side Norwich have asked the Gers to add another £500,000 to their inital £1million Graham Dorrans bid.
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Rangers fans reckon this is the biggest hint yet that Jamie Walker could be on … Rangers’ £500,000 Jamie Walker bid is rejected by Hearts as Jambos hold out for …
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Rangers should act as Ross County’s Liam Boyce’s £500,000 release clause comes to light
UPTHEHOOPSJUNE 22, 2017 at 21:13 Rate This
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 22, 2017 at 20:48 I posted about that the other day UTH.It makes no sense.Forget this year, where they are selling them for £20, the old stock of last years shirts. Let’s consider future years, where they will need a new manufacturer and retailing partner before they can really do anything. If they were to make £10 on each shirt, after VAT and corporation tax (though historic losses will cover that), they would need to sell 500,000 of them. Do you think they will sell half a million shirts and make £12 profit on each of them.
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“Rangers’ so-called global appeal is a myth,” Hugh Adam.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/adam-shakes-ibrox-pillars-with-warning-of-bankruptcy-1-595808
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new manufacture,charles green won that tall tail.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-chief-charles-green-set-1335458
Sorry to be pedantic but TRFC will not have a retail partner in the next season. They will be THE retailer alone in their ‘megastore and on-line’ In SD stores they will have a 50-50 share in the profits. In all cases SD will be the wholesaler.
An update on Res12 in podcast form taking information from Craig Whyte trial into consideration :
https://audioboom.com/posts/6040604-the-celtic-underground-res-12-a-full-thorough-update
Cluster OneJune 22, 2017 at 21:23
‘..Is the 500,000 number a lucky number down ibrox way?’
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As said before,the travails of TRFC are only of secondary interest to me: I just want them to be recognised as NOT being entitled to claim even the honestly won trophies and titles of the ‘awaiting dissolution ‘of the 1872 RFC, and, more importantly, I want the SFA liars and cheats to be hounded out of office for maintaining the absurd nonsense that TRFC are their old Rangers.
But I enjoyed your post, and I am impressed at both your powers of recollection and your recording and filing system
.
I’ve been trying to find, in my own inadedequate records of the CF material, the little request from TRFC to the Administrators for permission to field ,for their first ( club 12!)game, players whose registrations were still with the club in administration.
I’ve got it somewhere, but I’m damned if I can find it. And me an auld civil servant what ought to know how to keep records!
easyJambo’s links to past judgments that have only now been made public, particularly Lord Doherty’s, together with my re-reading of the Advertising Standards Authority’s ‘assessment’ of the 82 complaints made about the untruthfulness of the claim made by TRFC to be the Rangers of old, seem to me to prove that both the Courts and the ASA were sold a bunch of mince. Or allowed themselves to be misled.
The ASA in particular seem to have simply accepted the ‘evidence’ provided by TRFC and the SFA, neither of which bodies, as we know, are in the least George Washington-like.(ach, silly me! I meant only in respect of the wee story about George cutting down the whatever tree and not lying about his deed. I imagine that in some other respects the George was very SFA-like)
The ASA is currently running its own ad on Classic FM , with its line that ‘if it’s not truthful, honest and decent it mustn’t run’. I heard it a few times in recent days, and my blood boils each time I hear it
I want to have another go at them, on the grounds that they themselves are less than than truthful, honest and decent in that they failed to properly investigate the facts of the ‘myth’ for themselves but relied simply on what interested and self-protective parties told them.
And read eJ’s link to Lord Doherty’s summary of the background to CG’s claim to have his legal costs paid. The implicit acceptance of ‘change of ownership’ of a continuing club.
And read the ASA’s ‘assessment’ of the ‘complaint’, an assessment based on what Ibrox told them.
God Almighty, I almost despair!
But if you have that wee CF thingy that, to me, points up the fact that CG’s team was a quite different legal beast from the ‘in Administration’ beast, I’d be ( not surprised!) but grateful.
John ClarkJune 23, 2017 at 00:24
“The ASA is currently running its own ad on Classic FM , with its line that ‘if it’s not truthful, honest and decent it mustn’t run’. I heard it a few times in recent days, and my blood boils each time I hear it”
John ask ASA, when you write, if Mr Kinloch has a case with which to appeal as the ASA team have stated the club to be the same.
There is no relegation for Administration and there would not have been enough points deducted to see a second position team relegated.
Why would they find themselves in the lower leaugues and playing Brechin in a cup round under the name of Sevco.
Administration will only result in relegation if they faced Hearts scenario below.
But, if the SPL board decides there has been a rule breach regarding an insolvency event prior to the season’s end, any subsequent action will apply to this campaign.
That could mean that Hearts are deducted a third of the 52 points they earned in season 2011/12.
Hearts can run perfectly well on their own and surely they can’t put them down, they are too big a clubBilly BrownFormer Hearts assistant managerRounded up, the loss of 18 points would mean they finish bottom of the table, behind Dundee.
JOHN CLARKJUNE 23, 2017 at 00:24
.I’ve been trying to find, in my own inadedequate records of the CF material, the little request from TRFC to the Administrators for permission to field ,for their first ( club 12!)game, players whose registrations were still with the club in administration.
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is this what you are looking for?
AULDHEIDJUNE 23, 2017 at 00:23
An update on Res12 in podcast form taking information from Craig Whyte trial into consideration :https://audioboom.com/posts/6040604-the-celtic-underground-res-12-a-full-thorough-upda
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I thought this was excellent Auldheid, as you already know!
I’ve just read on another Forum that if another liquidation event happened at Ibrox that there is now a rule in place for ‘Rangers’ to remain in the top league, no matter what anyone else thinks. Does anyone know if this is true? If it is true then why doesn’t every club in the top league with debt simply stop paying bills, taxes etc, liquidate then start with a clean financial state?
Cluster OneJune 23, 2017 at 07:06
‘…is this what you are looking for?’
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That’s the very dab! Thank you, C1
uth, there surely isn’t a rule for every incarnation of ‘Rangers’ to stay in the Premiership forever. Is there a source for that claim – is there something in the the SPFL Articles of Association or updated rules of the SPFL?
There was an announcement by the SPFL in September 2016 on FFP, which may appeal to Rangers and other clubs:
Jambos, came across this from your club website, it’s a time lapse video of the construction of the new main stand. I’ts going to be very impressive!
http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/5969
Now if only those pesky moaners in Aberdeen would let the Dons get on with their new stadium. Can’t understand it, an outstanding stadium the city could be proud of, increased capacity to help the finances of the club and facilities included for the local community.
While I’m on it, I wish the two Dundee clubs would get together and build a new stadium on a ground share basis, the savings in operational costs would be considerable I would imagine. Between them they own plenty of land for training facilities. I would install a new hybrid pitch such as Celtic are currently laying to withstand the extra matches played. Would require a hefty bit of finance but pay it back over twenty years or something like that. Simples
Further historical High Court judgements published yesterday, with links to the Fraud trial.
HMA v Withey and Grier appeal re privileged evidence
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=7aaf36a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
Whitehouse and Clark v HMA re the extension of the 12 month limit on starting proceedings
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=80af36a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
Whyte v HMA re the definition of a Fraud
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=86af36a7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7
I’m sure this is just a co-incidence from the newly released fixtures for next season, although it’s a strange imbalance and anything can happen post-split. Are Rangers almost certain already to host a top five club three times at Ibrox? Let’s say the top five next season are the same as last season. Rangers will not be made to play 4 out of 5 post split games away from home.
Rangers 8 H & 4 A games pre-split against top 5 clubs
Aberdeen 5H & 7A
Celtic 6H & 6A
Easy Jambo 12.42
So on the basis of:
Lord Hunter in the same case, also at page 61, stated that:-
“A fraud may be committed, although in the result the person defrauded may not have suffered any pecuniary loss. The essence of the offence consists in inducing the person who is defrauded either to take some article he would not otherwise have taken, or to do some act he would not otherwise have done, or to become the medium of some unlawful act.”
This in turn led to the very familiar passage in McDonald’s Criminal Law, 5th edition p52, that:
“Fraud involves a false pretence made dishonestly in order to bring about some definite practical result. It is not necessary that the result should be actual gain to the offender or actual loss to some victim. Where the practical result is achieved, the fraud is complete.”
Now that we know wtc side letters were deliberately concealed from HMRC in 2005 when other side letters for btc were also held, Lord Nimmo Smith’s view that there was no question of dishonesty on the part of the same person or persons keeping the same documentation from the SFA is no longer credible, we are talking fraud on Scottish football from the first use of ebts with side letters.
Similarly in 2011 when the same wtc ebts caused a liability that RFC had to accept because of the foregoing dishonesty, but recorded it in their accounts as potential when it no longer was, which allowed entry into the CL, Celtic and the club below them that would have been given a Europa League place were also victims of fraud.
This appears to be of no concern to the club’s supporters and some concern to some shareholders but the attempts by the SFA and SPL/SPFL to portray what took place as anything other than the fraud that it was is as disgraceful as the smsm echoing the same sentiment instead of the truth.
However if supporters are happy to be deceived and pay for the privilege why should clubs care?
Guessing by Keef’s latest effort, where revisionism is in full flow, together with a shameless smattering of butt kissing of ‘royal proportions’…
…he is frantically working on a reprieve from his Ibrox ban?
Sky Sports ScotlandVerified account @ScotlandSky 7m7 minutes ago BREAKING NEWS Mike Ashley has sold his entire shareholding of Rangers to Club 1872 & Hong Kong based investor Julian Wolhardt. #SSNHQ
From Club1872
That amounts to half of Mash’s holding going to each party.
With regards the Appeal Courts ruling re Whyte, it is worth bearing in mind that they are discussing common law fraud and not statutory fraud.
For example a VAT fraud does have to involve a loss and a gain. The person involved either doesn’t pay money they should have, or receives a repayment they shouldn’t.
For tax fraud it would be a statutory fraud for PAYE and self assessment, but common law fraud for corporation tax as their is no statutory provision as far as I am aware.
Does anyone have the following information to hand.
1 – How much did Ashley pay per share when he first bought them?
2 – How much has he sold them for per share?
3 – What price per share was Dave King ordered to pay by the takeover panel?
I think the answers to these questions could tell us a lot as to what is going on here and who’s in control so to speak.
Charlie_Kelly June 23, 2017 at 16:04
Does anyone have the following information to hand. 1 – How much did Ashley pay per share when he first bought them? 2 – How much has he sold them for per share? 3 – What price per share was Dave King ordered to pay by the takeover panel? I think the answers to these questions could tell us a lot as to what is going on here and who’s in control so to speak.
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In Oct 2012 he spent £1.5m on 3m shares (half at 99p and half at 1p), so at an average 50p
In Sep 2014 he spent £850K on buying 4.265m shares, at an approximate 20p a share.
Average price per share 32.35p
Total investment £2.35m. Total return £2m @ 27.5p a share.
King was asked to pay 20p a share.
Ok so he’s cutting his loses but he’s still getting more than he would have got had King gone through with his offer of 20p per share.
A sensible decision from Celtic should they have to go to Belfast to face Linfield in the CL qualifiers.
“No tickets will be available for Celtic supporters for the match. The safety and security of all Celtic supporters travelling and attending matches is of paramount importance to the club.”
I understand that Rangers have already sold out their allocation for the game.
EASYJAMBOJUNE 23, 2017 at 16:29
A sensible decision from Celtic should they have to go to Belfast to face Linfield in the CL qualifiers.
“No tickets will be available for Celtic supporters for the match. The safety and security of all Celtic supporters travelling and attending matches is of paramount importance to the club.”
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I agree it is a sensible decision EJ, although a lot of Celtic fans are not happy at all about it. It does concern me though that if safety can’t be guaranteed, then why is this game being allowed to go ahead in Belfast? UEFA have moved games before for safety reasons. I can’t help thinking the Scottish media will be more disappointed than anyone though, given the number of times they’ve used the word ‘powderkeg’ these past few days. I do however have a genuine worry for the safety of the Celtic players and management. Opposition players have been attacked on the field of play at Windsor Park in the past. This game should definitely have been moved away from Belfast IMO.
UPTHEHOOPSJUNE 23, 2017 at 16:56
It does concern me though that if safety can’t be guaranteed, then why is this game being allowed to go ahead in Belfast?
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And why is a club that can’t guarantee the safety of travelling fans, allowed to take part in a european competition?
A little point that may have been lost in all the retail news and share buying was a footnote at the end of some articles…….Kind said that the Mark warburton’s legal threat over his sacking by rangers in February has failed to materialise.He said i haven’t heard from mark warburton i regard that threat of litigation as nothing more than frivolous.It has disappeared and it has gone.
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Now i have no doubt that Mr king has not heard from mark warburton as his case was taken up by the England’s League Managers association,who are dealing with the case.
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Legal experts from England’s League Managers have taken up Warburton’s case after he was unexpectedly forced out of Ibrox.
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Would the England’s League Managers association if asked. confirm or deny that the case has ended or not.?
I wish I lived in a parallel universe where Linfield played Celtic on the twelfth, the South of Ireland played The North on the 11th. Without the need for police time off being cancelled. Just a feast of football with no side issues.
Maybe one day?
(Celtic to win of course!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40386013
I note with amusement the following lines in the story
“Rangers chairman Dave King has announced further investment of £1m by 44-year-old Julian Wolhardt.”
“The fans’ group did not state the value of its investment in RIFC but King, on the Rangers website, said that Wolhardt and Club 1872 had “each made a £1m investment in shares”.”
Silly me I thought that for it to be an investment then the club would receive the proceeds from the share sale. Unless of course its an investment in MASH holdings. Words are very important.
Newsflash
Shares in PLC sold.
PLC makes absolutely no money from these transactions.
Wholly owned subsidiary of PLC makes absolutely no money from these transactions.
Only the person selling the shares receives any money. The price paid for the shares.
Two or three days ago, JJ revealed in an exclusive article provided by his ‘source’ that Mike Ashley was finalising arrangements to sell Newcastle United before taking full control at Ibrox.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, that article has disappeared from JJ’s site in the light of recent events.
Perhaps JJ’s ‘source’ involved the reading of tea leaves or the toss of a coin, although my personal ‘source’ reveals exclusively that he mistakenly used HP Source, as in Hardly Plausible.
Finally, we note that the Supreme Court judgment over Rangers’ appeal of the much bigger tax avoidance scheme (the imaginatively named ‘big tax case’) is due any time now.
http://www.theoffshoregame.net/corrupt-or-incompetent-sfa/
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At first i believe it was said it may be Oct 2017 for any news on the Supreme Court judgment over Rangers’ appeal of the much bigger tax avoidance scheme. And not i read somewhere it could be july 2017.
Has anyone better information on the date?
Can someone enlighten me.
It appears Dave King is now talking about fighting the Takeover Panel decision.
It is my understanding that someone complained to them and they ruled that he had led a concert party. He appealed that decision, and lost that appeal. They ruled that he had to offer every other shareholder 20p for their shares. He didn’t do that and they have petitioned the Court of Session to enforce their ruling.
Surely it is just a matter for the CoS to decide how to enforce the decision. It’s not a matter of them now deciding whether it was correct or not.
Have I picked some of that up incorrectly.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 24, 2017 at 09:31
I think that sums it up nicely.
However the whole saga has had many twists and turns so who knows what will happen given the wheels of justice appear to turn very slowly.
Not sure if ,with Ashley out of the picture and the potential to push through a new share/debt for equity swap issue by gaining the required 75% plus votes, the offer of 20p per share becomes immaterial and more of a paper exercise to show the right thing has been done by the regulators but having little or no real effect in terms of the ongoing management of the company.
Could an EGM to deal with that issue be on the cards before the courts get round to dealing with King?
As I have pointed out previously the cold shoulder has been issued to others and it didn’t seem to have that great an effect on those who have a brass neck.
People believe what King says. His reference to investment in the company by those who bought the MASH shares is technically correct but what he hopes (indeed knows) his audience believes is something different.
That the above is true is a dispiriting lesson in how hucksterism works. There must be some who believe despite knowing the truth, I do not know if that is worse than the run of the mill believing through invincible ignorance.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 24, 2017 at 09:31
Can someone enlighten me.
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Your understanding matches mine. King has already had his appeal and lost. However I’m surprised at the apparent lack of any substantive action following King’s defiance of the TOP.
I suppose the TOP is a public body, so King may be able to seek a judicial review of its decision. Perhaps that is what he means by an “appeal”.
On the Ashley stuff, just something that makes me curious. The club statement on the Ibrox website indicates that it is a joint statement with Sports Direct- “THE Rangers Football Club Limited (TRFC) and Sports Direct (SD) are pleased to announce—–“.
However I can find nothing on the SD website, or the Stock Exchange, regarding this matter. As a publicly listed company, aren’t SD obliged to inform their shareholders of important matters? Is it just not important enough? Or are SD possibly not totally on board with the club statement?
WOTTPI
JUNE 24, 2017 at 10:58
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Would the PLC be allowed to have a share issue with this matter outstanding.
I know they are not listed but that does not mean they can do anything they want.
How could they possibly be allowed to sell new shares before King makes the offer to buy around 65% of the existing shares.
HOMUNCULUSJUNE 24, 2017 at 11:29
You would have thought so but who knows in this omni-shambles!!??
Cluster OneJune 24, 2017 at 09:25
‘….for any news on the Supreme Court judgment over Rangers’ appeal of the much bigger tax avoidance scheme…’
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People may know this already : The Supreme Court gives some days notice in advance of judgments about to be released, on this link
https://www.supremecourt.uk/news/future-judgments.html
so a wee daily dip in should be the order of the day!
JOHN CLARKJUNE 24, 2017 at 13:46
Spoke to a girl I know this afternoon who works for a job agency. She might be able to help me get back to work. Keep all your fingers crossed guys.
jimboJune 24, 2017 at 16:46
Keep all your fingers crossed guys.
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And girls Jimbo!!! Will say a prayer for you!! Good luck.
Jean, you are on so seldom, sadly, I forgot about you! I apologise. But thanks for your prayers. I’m doing a novena to the divine Mercy. DG.
According to this link, if you scroll down far enough,
http://www.teamtalk.com/news/mike-ashley-offloads-shares-in-rangers
your man julian Wolhardt( fine Teutonic name!) was married in Scotland.
I’ve had a look at Scotlandspeople website, input Julian Wolhardt , and drew a blank.
If the guy was married here , it is not recorded in the registrars records.
What do we conclude? Well, either that the statement is a lot of PR bolloks along the lines of the bolloks uttered by players of limited reading capacity who swear on their mother’s grave that they have had a lifelong burning desire to sign for [ to be fair, any club that they have just signed for], or that Scotlandspeople have got it wrong.
I know which of those alternatives I find most likely to reflect the truth.
I see Dave King (in conjunction with the SMSM) has basically written Brendan Rodgers pre-season team talk for him.
A common question from non “old firm” fans last season towards Celtic fans was “Aren’t you bored with winning” or some variation of that question.
Dave King’s comments are the reason why 99% of Celtic fans will never ever tire of beating old rangers, new rangers or any other version of rangers they care to dream up.
CHARLIE_KELLY
JUNE 25, 2017 at 13:14
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Speaking as a Celtic supporter, but just expressing my own opinion.
Dave King is a convicted fraudster and a proven liar. What he says is of little or no interest to me. Given his background he shouldn’t even be involved in Scottish football, even as tangentially as he is.
Brendan Rodgers’ team talks will hopefully not rely on anything the current chairman of the PLC which holds the shares in Rangers has to say. They will be based on his own plans for the season.
I’m going to assume that fans of every other club will feel similarly. They are more interested in their own manager and board, and their plans.
HomunculusJune 25, 2017 at 14:00
‘..Dave King is a convicted fraudster and a proven liar. .’
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He increasingly sounds as if the balance of his mind is disturbed, to boot!
Perhaps the prospect of being ‘cold-shouldered’ when the CoS orders him to comply with the TOP’s ruling has unhinged him a little.
Or was he always detached from all reality as much as he was detached from truth?
JOHN CLARK
JUNE 25, 2017 at 14:51
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He is starting to sound as if he has lost it.
He has said Celtic are on two in a row. The logic being Celtic won the league in the year Rangers died, Rangers weren’t in the league for the next four years so those seasons don’t count. Rangers got back into the top division last season so that one does count. So it’s two in a row.
Basically he has insulted every other club in Scotland, as they don’t count as a challenge, and his logic is that Celtic have won the league in six consecutive seasons but it just counts as two.
If someone was talking like that in the pub you would tell them to go home and sleep it off.
JOHN CLARK
JUNE 25, 2017 at 14:51 Perhaps the prospect of being ‘cold-shouldered’ when the CoS orders him to comply with the TOP’s ruling has unhinged him a little.
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I think the prospect of being banned as a director in the UK, or going to jail for contempt if he doesn’t follow the instructions of the CoS and make the offer will be causing him more concern than cold shouldering.
If any other chairman was talking like that the SFA would be all over them for bringing the game into disrepute.
My take on it he has been reading the charles Green book of rabble rousing. Page 1
he must be looking for an exit.
I read Andrew Smith’s ‘interview’ with DCK in today’s online version of the Scotsman.
Some of the content is truly laughable (Smith favourably compares King to McCann, for example), but the most striking thing about it is that it isn’t an interview at all. It’s a hagiography.
During the interview it appears that Smith, perhaps stunned by DCK’s wisdom & acumen, fails to ask any follow-up questions to clarify some/any of King’s more outlandish statements. (Or perhaps he wasn’t able to follow up because he wasn’t physically present, or was simply handed a sheet/drive with his name & the content he was expected to put forward for publication?)
Shame on Smith & shame on whoever at the Scotsman passed it for public consumption.
They have won guys! Rangers are BACK. Nobody apart from here questions it! DK is allowed to spout p**h. Christopher (union) Jack! Usual exclusive about them signing Hearts or Aberdeen players! How has this been allowed to happen? Your club, my club are all complicit. Much as we criticise Regan et al he is the servant of the clubs? Tell the lie often enough and it will be the truth eventually.
.
I do not have an issue with a new club with 40K season books and they will be a force in the future (back to the duopoly an a that) if that is reality in Scottish fitba! But they are a NEW club.
Our team has been ripped apart! Money Grrrrrrrrrr rant!!!!! What do you need Jonny for? But most of all about the lie the effing lie! Sorry a bit p***ed
The truth is fluid, obviously.
bordersdonJune 25, 2017 at 21:20
‘…They have won guys! Rangers are BACK. Nobody apart from here questions it!…’
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No, no,bordersdon, think back to the day of liquidation!
Headlines such as ‘140 years of history gone”; and prior to that,think of the ridiculous ‘club 12′; of the SevcoScotland 11 v Brechin , with players borrowed from RFC(IA) courtesy of D&P; of the absurdity of the 5-way agreement; of the nonsense that RFC plc was a’holding company’ (which owned another company which was a football club ) that somehow managed to sell that football club to new owners before entering Liquidation……and so on and on.
None of the people trotting out the ‘Big Lie’ rubbish have ‘won’ anything, other than a disgraceful place in the annals of football, whether they be politicians, club directors, football authorities , insolvency experts,or (the absolute pits)-dishonest journalists/editors/radio producers
The reasonably intelligent and otherwise ‘decent’ chaps among them know themselves to be corrupt in heart and hand. They cannot NOT know that they have prostituted themselves and their place in their professions and offices of authority.
They have to live with that for the rest of their lives.
The other, less intelligent,amoral and unethical ‘winners’ are scarcely raised above brute animal levels of understanding. They can be forgiven : they are punished enough.
Your “They” have not won!
But, at present , Scottish Football has lost its way.
It needs to find the way back.
And the first step it needs to take is to acknowledge the truth: TRFC Ltd is not RFC of 1872.
And, to coin an expression, ‘move on’ from there!
Dave King’s Sunday rant added even more white noise to the short-on-detail press release on Thursday regarding the SD/Ashley situation, making it even more difficult to take auspices.
I honestly can’t see this (on the face of it anyway) as a big win for TRFC, although neither can I see how it is a big loss either.
On balance with what we know, I would say it is better news for TRFC, although not necessarily so for their fans.
Trying to get proper corroborated information is difficult since the ‘deal’ is very vague and non-specific, so we are as usual left with conjecture.
With that in mind, I am trying to get David Low to give us his views, and hopefully I will be able to record something this evening. With some luck, we might be able to – through David – get an idea of whether this is the beginning of the end – or a bright new future – for the institutions and individuals concerned with our favourite soap/pantomime.
Sometime after 9pm tonight I hope
According to King’s logic,TRFC were third in a two team league last season- which division does that relegate them to?
Would the RIFC directors’ loans in June be used to cover the wages ,etc of the players who wouldn’t contractually be paid through June and July ?(and registered with the SFA ?). Possibly repaid from the income from Thursday night and shirt sales ?
TRFC signings are reminiscent of a similar experiment conducted by Airdire when Steve Archibald was what they called preferred bidder. This involved packing the side it’s a lot of Spanish signings in the hope of selling them on at a large profit generating many fees for certain football agents one of whom might even have played for both Clyde and Barcelona. The successes were Nacho Nova and David Fernandez who went to other lower league clubs before their big moves. Unless I am mistaken the rest returned to Spain having discovers that Broadwood in November was rather cold and wet even for the locals.
BFBPUZZLEDJUNE 26, 2017 at 14:05
Tried to post a long winded effort on the weekend that seems to get lost in the ether.
Anyway your post is the jist of what I was saying about the on field prospects of T’Rangers and the gamble being played out.
Hearts and Kilmarnock both had difficult a difficult season from trying (having) to remodel a team and bring a large number of in relatively unknown players.
I am sure others can think of other revamps that have gone wrong.
Pedro has gone down the same route and only time will tell if this pays off.
A spine of Fotheringham, Alves , Jack and Miller looks pretty solid. Wallace can add a bit of quality when on his game. It is clear the rest of last years squad is being viewed as not up to par and they have been regarded by the Bears on the terraces as being a bit lightweight and/or blowing hot and cold.
The skill level of the replacements are an unknown quantity and how they will perform in the Scottish leagues and indeed in European qualifiers is also unknown.
Kranjcar and Rossiter could add something if they remain fit but as for the rest just because you have played in a league elsewhere and got an international cap or two means nothing on those cold and wet November nights you refer to.
There is nothing on show yet that makes me think others have anything to fear at present and I would suggest Pedro’s tactics and approach to games has been less than convincing, regardless of who he had at his disposal.