Some of us are old enough to remember the days when we played football in the streets with lamp posts for goals. The “baw” in my day was a plastic “Hampden Frido” (with wee studs that left yer forehead looking like a golf ball when heading it – see picture) and a “Wembley Mettoy”.
Cue memories of MouldMasters and days of pain and glory
But I digress.
The plastic ball was prone to bursting and on a good day or evening a replacement was secured by the original version of crowd funding.; However, the Calton then was a poor neighbourhood and sometimes the “baw” depended on the generosity of a single provider.
This came with risks because generous folk can still be bad losers and if the provider’s team of rags, taigs and bluenoses (remember when that didn’t matter) was getting a drubbing or a high shot was deemed a goal but he protested because he was only 4 feet 6 tall and ,with no crossbar ,height is but a subjective perspective, hence argumentative, or perhaps the goal that created a 10 goal gap occasionally saw the baw ,metaphorical if not physically, land on the slates, at which point the provider and now owner, out of his sense of entitlement as owner, grab the baw and threatened to storm off in the huff.
As long as the game was everything and in the Calton then EVERYTHING was fitbaw, the bawless plebs were only too willing to reduce the imaginary cross bar height or take their foot off the gas, hence the derogatory saying of those who capitulate too easily “they hivnae any baws”.
Memories! Wit are they like and what is the connection to modern day Scottish professional football?
I’m indebted to this article by The Battered Bunnet first posted on CQN on 30 June 2012 at https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/abject-failure-of-leadership/comment-page-2/#comment-1479329 since reproduced on other blogs including SFM but worth reproducing here:
“Senior Hampden source tells ch4news cannot see how RFC were allowed to play lastseason at all. Doesn’t believe they met finance criteria…”
Alex Thomson – Twitter
Alex Thomson’s tweets yesterday re ‘senior Hampden source’ casting doubt on Rangers’ eligibility to obtain a Club Licence last year were rather intriguing.
We have by now a clearer picture of the failure of governance at Rangers through the David Murray/ John McClelland/ Alastair Johnston/ Craig Whyte years, albeit we await further definitive details from the judgement of the Tax Tribunal. Essentially, over a period spanning 2 decades, the means that Rangers used to sustain its football operation utterly disregarded the requirements of both corporate governance and football regulation. While the scandal related solely to payments and procedures within Rangers, we could hope that it was contained internally.
However, the revelation that Rangers paid former manager Souness via EBT while he was manager at Blackburn Rovers confirmed for the first time that the scandal had become external. I understand that RangersTaxCase and Alex Thomson have further information on the extent of payments to Souness and also to Walter Smith, and look forward to the details being revealed, but it is now clear that the Rangers ‘toxin’ had leached out of the club by 2001.
The compelling question now is: How far did the toxin spread?
Was it contained within the ‘outer circle’ of former Rangers employees, however inexplicable such payments may appear? Or did it extend beyond that outer circle, and contaminate senior figures in the Game in Scotland. The contamination does not relate solely to payments from Rangers’offshore trust, but more subtly perhaps, the behaviour of individuals in positions of influence.
We know that Rangers’ Executive Chairman JohnMcClelland was an SPL Board member during the startling ramp up of EBT use from 2003 to 2005, and was himself a beneficiary of the scheme.
We know that Rangers’ Chief Executive Martin Bain was an SPL Board member 2008 to 2011, coinciding with the receipt by Rangers of the HMRC assessments on the EBT scheme, of which he was himself a beneficiary.
We know that current SFA President Campbell Ogilvie was simultaneously an SFA Director and Executive Director and Company Secretary of Rangers, and was a beneficiary of the scheme.
These parallel functions of course present a profound conflict of interest for each man, at once implementing a scam on the Game to disguise a fraud on the Revenue, while owing specific legal duties of care to the Game being scammed.
So far, so shabby.
Thomson’s tweets yesterday indicate a doubt on the part of a ‘senior Hampden source’ that Rangers were eligible to hold a Club Licence last season, thus disqualifying them from participating in European competition, and perhaps Scottish Football too. Is this doubt grounded in a retrospective review of the licence qualifying criteria given what has emerged recently? Or was there a ‘blind eye’ turned by the SFA’s Licensing Committee to information in the public domain at the time of the Licence application? In this respect the ‘Wee Tax Case’ represented a fundamental failure against at least one Licence criterion.
The proposals to the SFL clubs this week make it plain that should the SFA conclude the outstanding Disciplinary issues against Rangers with either suspension or expulsion of Rangers from the SFA(perhaps the only sanctions remaining available to the SFA following Lord Glennie’s Judicial Review) that the Game will face ‘financial meltdown’.
Concurrently, the SPL has adjudged Rangers to have a prima facie case to answer in respect of SPL rule breaches on player registration, the outcome of which will confirm that the club fielded ineligible players in upwards of 400 SPL matches. The only possible disciplinary outcome given such a sustained breach of SPL rules, corrupting the completion as it did from its inception in 1999 to 2011, is expulsion from theSPL.
As a consequence, the SFA, as the authority responsible for implementing FIFA’s Rules on the Registration of Players, will be required to act on these breaches of FIFA rules. Again, expulsion for what amounts to Championship fixing is inevitable.
Curiously, the SFL, this week asking its members to vote to admit the Sevco Rangers club into their top tier, has the same issue given that its League Cup competition featured dozens of ineligible Rangers players through the years, and further claims by Hugh Adam that its‘Premier Division’ competition during the 1990s was similarly bent through the use of ‘off the books’ payments to players by Rangers.
The scale of it all is breath-taking and were the rules of the Game to be applied, Rangers FC would be expelled from each Governing body in turn, before we even consider the extraordinary breaches of faith and duties by co-serving Directors.
But according to the SFL/SFA/SPL circular to clubs, “Rangers Terminated or Suspended’ will cause “Financial Meltdown”.
To avoid this meltdown, it is proposed by the Executives of the combined SFL/SFA/SPL that the rules of the Game are not applied to Rangers, and that the clubs effectively rewrite the rule book to permit what remains of the club to compete at the top of the SFL.
In effect, according to the Governing Bodies,the Rules of the Game CANNOT be applied to Rangers or the Game’s finances will‘meltdown’.
The corollary question this raises is: For how long have the Governing bodies been so unable to apply the Rules of the Game to Rangers? Is this a new epiphany, or a longer standing recognition?
When Rangers submitted their allegedly ineligible application for a Club Licence in 2011, did the SFA recognise that Rangers failing to participate in Europe would cause the club to fail, as it subsequently did? Were the Rules ignored to avoid ‘financial meltdown’ then?
How far did the toxin spread?
Did this recognition extend back to the period following the disintegration of Murray International, hitherto Rangers’ source of continuing funding? Was the season of ‘Honest Mistakes’ some absurd, dutiful reaction to the recognition that should Rangers fail, Scottish Football would melt down?
Was the ineligible status of so many of Rangers’ first team players noticed prior to the SPL’s Inquiry commencing on 5th March? Was it noticed in an Audit as part of the SFA’s Club Licensing process some years ago? Was it noticed by the recent SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith, who as an Agent had represented players on Rangers’ books through his Directorship of Prostar Management and other Agencies?
Beyond the duplicity of Ogilvie, McClelland and Bain, were Rangers’ irregular practices known to others at the SFA and SPL,others who chose not to address the matter, thus further contaminated the Governing Bodies with the Rangers toxin?
It is heartening that the Liquidators of Rangers plc will be instructed to examine all of the circumstances surrounding the failure of Rangers as a corporate entity. Equally, perhaps the detail contained in the Tax Tribunal judgement will reveal further connections,hitherto unknown.
What is likely to remain hidden from view though, is the full extent to which key influencers at the Governing Bodies were aware of Rangers’ conduct and circumstances, and how this affected their behaviour and their decision making in applying the rules of the Game to that club.
What we can say with certainty now though is that the people holding office at the Governing Bodies are unable or unwilling to apply the Rules of the Game to Rangers, despite the breaches being fundamentally and profoundly corrupt. The SFA and SPL, despite having outstanding disciplinary cases against Rangers that will, in all other circumstances see the club expelled from the Game, are intent to delete the cases provided the SFL clubs accept the Sevco Rangers into the SFL’s top division.
The Rules of the Game cannot be applied to Rangers.
When the rules cannot be applied, the Game itself is broken, and we can say now with some certainty that the Rangers toxin has spread beyond the club, its former employees and Directors of the Governing Bodies, and contaminated the very Game itself. The Office Bearers of the SFA,whose FIFA mandate requires them to “protect and foster the Game” in Scotland,and “protect it from abuses”, have contrived to do the contrary, to the point where the Game is stricken.
It is for this reason that a thorough clear out of the Office Bearers in the Governing Bodies is now a prerequisite to the Game recovering from the poison inflicted upon it by Rangers. The dissolution of the Governing Bodies is perhaps appropriate.
Clear your desk Gentlemen, the bus to ignominy departs shortly.
The position that the SFA and then SPL found themselves in is perfectly clear from the foregoing. Desperately keen for commercial reasons to hold onto the “baw” they changed the rules, but never took ownership of the baw from the owner and so are still beholden to him.
Hence the blog title “We Are Going To Need Another Baw “ because the one currently in play is burst, stuffed with £14M worth of share vouchers.
What was done in 2012 was understandably commercially necessary, but the price to be paid was twofold:
- Not just to the integrity of our game then but the ongoing price now, where all energies are directed at continuing to pretend that the rules are followed without fear of favour.
- The idea that the Scottish game cannot survive without a “ Rangers” is one that most folk would accept but the danger arising, which is unacceptable, is that because of it “Rangers” think they can do as they please as a result which requires rules to be reinforced. And seen to be reinforced.
They clearly aren’t under the SFA’s own rule enforcing process called the Judicial Panel Protocol https://www.sfm.scot/jpp-perverting-justice/ not to mention Club Licensing processes that have so far manged to avoid the scrutiny that, had Resolution 12 been acted upon in 2013, would have resulted in changes that would protect the game from all those who think it is still their baw.
The general perception of supporters is that lessons have not been learned from past behaviour.
Until there is evidence that they have, for example: the Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal investigating at snail’s pace the process followed in 2011 that allowed a UEFA licence to be granted to Rangers FC without question, coming to conclusion or providing reasons why it cannot by the spring, the perception will continue to be “Its all about Rangers” followed by what is the point?.
Is it not about time now that the fear that drove thinking in 2012 was faced and recognised by all clubs as unfounded and a new integrity filled baw was used?
What is there to fear now from restoring integrity to its rightful place, unless of course you were party to the thinking that kicked the integrity of our game to death in 2012 and are still in a position of influence?
Cluster One 26th January 2019 at 20:55
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I think the plan is that money into Club 1872 and share issues are the same thing.
Club 1872 gets money from the fans, it is payments not loans. However Club 1872 is really controlled by the club.
Club 1872 buys shares to either increase or maintain its stake in the club. Thus putting new money into the club.
The fans are happy, but those really in control lose none of that control.
Just to be perfectly clear, if that is what people want to do with their money they are entitled to do so, its their money.
Stories abound that the players at easter road are such little lambs that they go into hysterics at a raised voice this appears to be the reason for the Lennon situation. A team who could and should have finished 2nd last season now sit in 8th with 7 wins 7 losses and 8 draws and it's the manager to blame these little lambs seem to have downed tools and if that's the case then they are a complete disgrace.
shug 26th January 2019 at 23:49
Stories abound that the players at easter road are such little lambs that they go into hysterics at a raised voice this appears to be the reason for the Lennon situation. A team who could and should have finished 2nd last season now sit in 8th with 7 wins 7 losses and 8 draws and it's the manager to blame these little lambs seem to have downed tools and if that's the case then they are a complete disgrace.
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My experience tells me that when there is a fallout between a manager and a player, then one of them has to go. If the player has a value greater than that of the manager, then it is the manager who will depart (e.g. Pogba / Mourinho). Who in the Hibs squad has a greater value than the manager? I can’t think of anyone at the moment.
From the Herald
easyJambo 27th January 2019 at 01:43
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shug 26th January 2019 at 23:49
Stories abound that the players at easter road are such little lambs that they go into hysterics at a raised voice this appears to be the reason for the Lennon situation. A team who could and should have finished 2nd last season now sit in 8th with 7 wins 7 losses and 8 draws and it's the manager to blame these little lambs seem to have downed tools and if that's the case then they are a complete disgrace.
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My experience tells me that when there is a fallout between a manager and a player, then one of them has to go. If the player has a value greater than that of the manager, then it is the manager who will depart (e.g. Pogba / Mourinho). Who in the Hibs squad has a greater value than the manager? I can’t think of anyone at the moment.
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EJ you are 100% correct in that assessment off the top of my head I can think of only one or two players at hibs who have seemed to be putting in a true shift.So it would seem easier to get shot of the manager and his team rather than 90% of the squad however those players who are taking wages under false pretences should hang their heads in shame.
If it was only kamberi I would have got rid last season he looked the part this season he has just in my opinion been a wage thief but I believe it to be a number of the squad who are unable to take criticism which if they had been putting in the graft would be fine but they have only been turning up nothing more.
Re Rangers throwing the kitchen sink at the league this season. Firstly it would be wise to wait and see how everything pans out, but should they fail the one thing they can't risk is a fall in season ticket monies. For the past six years the one sure way to maintain that has been to attack all and sundry and pretend everything that happened in 2012 was not actually Rangers fault, but the fault of the rest of Scottish football. I am at an absolute loss as to how Rangers operating an unlawful tax evasion scheme for over a decade, and illegally withholding PAYE and N.I contributions in season 2011/2012 can be anyone else's fault. If they don't win the league this season I expect a new low in terms of attacks on other clubs, the authorities, and possibly on individuals as well. It seems to be the only thing that maintains them now, and sadly the media seem firmly aligned with them.
easyJambo 27th January 2019 at 01:43 My experience tells me that when there is a fallout between a manager and a player, then one of them has to go. If the player has a value greater than that of the manager, then it is the manager who will depart (e.g. Pogba / Mourinho). Who in the Hibs squad has a greater value than the manager? I can’t think of anyone at the moment.
_____________
I think, in most cases, it's the manager who has to go because that is generally the easiest, and perhaps cheapest, option. A manager can be paid off, and replaced, at any time during the season while players can only be transferred during the transfer windows. If Hibs were to release players who are causing disharmony they would have to pay them off and source replacements at much cost while, perhaps, increasing the ill feeling between the rest of the squad and the management team. The manager would then only have a few days to find replacements, probably on 6 month contacts and no better, perhaps worse, than those who leave. Basically it's less disruptive to get rid of the manager than players.
With no knowledge other than what's appearing in the media, I get the impression that the matter is more to do with Lennon's relationship with the board than anything to do with the players, and his suspension has more to do with what was said (he said?) at his meeting with Leeanne Dempster, though perhaps all three parties, the board, the players, the manager, are getting what they wanted.
My impression is that Lennon wants away, the board wants him away, and the falling out with the players is just an inevitable part of the managerial merry-go-round in football.
For purely footballing reasons, I sense that it would do Hibs no harm to suffer a crushing defeat later today.
indeed, I feel sure that a crushing defeat would have a cleansing, restorative impact on the club and its personalities. A base on which it can rebuild.
So…. all power to their opponents feet, heads but not their elbows, cos that would be a foul.
Look's like the SMSM are catching up.
With articles like this today they know it is a win or bust season over at ibrox.
………
He wouldn't be the only one at ibrox, upstairs the ibrox money men twigged this might be their only chance to stop ten in a row.
Put it this way rangers haven't added Defo and Davis to the wage bill to finnish second.
But it is hard to see how rangers can sustain a challenge beyond this season.
Having already pushed the boat out for this campaign where do gers find the cash next time around? The ibrox balance sheet already resembles a train wreck.
I wonder why there is an element of ill will towards Hibs on here this weekend? Neil Lennon is not the first manager to be sacked when they lose the dressing room or when they fall out spectacularily with the board. Doing both on the same day is practically a resignation.
ernie 27th January 2019 at 12:04
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I wonder why there is an element of ill will towards Hibs on here this weekend? Neil Lennon is not the first manager to be sacked when they lose the dressing room or when they fall out spectacularily with the board. Doing both on the same day is practically a resignation.
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What ill will are you speaking off for myself as a hibs fan I will always want what is best for my team but as I have said imo there are a lot of wage thieves at easter road this season. If those same players suddenly find form today I will still think they should be playing their football as far away from my club as possible.
Obviously don't know the full story about Lennon…
but Kamberi in the starting line up for Hibs speaks volumes.
ClusterOne@11.34
“Put it this way rangers haven't added Defoe and Davis to the wage bill to finnish second.”
Interestingly the two gentlemen mantioned in a quote from your post are not in the starting lineup at Livingston.
Shug, yes, I get the fact that there are problems with the players and some may well be stealing the wage (tell me about it, I'm a Dons fan) but come on, the manager signs them and then he manages them. However, Neil Lennon clearly believes a good public bollocking and an team slagging session will do the trick, that's up to him. Personally I think that's a flawed strategy but to then fall out with the board as well? Anyway, lawyers are called upon apparently and I hope Hibs get their act together and Mr Lennon gets another fitba job.
I would say today goes some way to proving how unprofessional some football players really are the quicker they go the better and they can take leeann dempster and rod petrie as well.
Ex Ludo 27th January 2019 at 15:33
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ClusterOne@11.34
“Put it this way rangers haven’t added Defoe and Davis to the wage bill to finnish second.”
Interestingly the two gentlemen mantioned in a quote from your post are not in the starting lineup at Livingston.
……………………
Interestingly the article fails to mention kilmarnock.
The article should have read.
“Put it this way rangers haven’t added Defoe and Davis to the wage bill to finnish Third.”….Again.
Did sevco win the league again today saw another pitch invasion I will assume they must have been chelsea fans and Livingston will getting a fine.
The death of Hugh McIlvanney is a loss to the reporting of 'sport' generally, and of football in Scotland in particular, in the period before the liquidation of the Rangers of 1872.
Can anyone tell me what Hugh 's views were on the Big Lie that still lies (no pun intended) at the heart of Scottish Football? Was he, like Tom English, an acceptor of and propagandiser for that lie?
Just to say not one mention of fans on the pitch while it was happening not one I wonder if it was any other team if that would be the case.Looks like slippy g let slip that there has been no bids for more or less gym trainer will be livid.
JC at 1800
As you say, John, the passing of Hugh McIlvanney is indeed a sad loss.
I’ve no idea of his views on the Big Lie
but since 2012 I’ve been waiting on the Doyen of Sports Journalism to pronounce with his usual eloquence on everything to do with the whole sorry saga. There would have been no one better to report on it.
However, sadly there has been nothing other than silence from Hughie.
I’ve often wondered why that should be.
Any ideas??
mungoboy 27th January 2019 at 18:41
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However, sadly there has been nothing other than silence from Hughie.
I’ve often wondered why that should be.
Any ideas??
Ayrshire omerta.
shug 27th January 2019 at 17:56
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Did sevco win the league again today saw another pitch invasion I will assume they must have been chelsea fans and Livingston will getting a fine.
…………………
Lost count of the pitch invasions by an ibrox club’s fans but as you say it will be Livingston who will be getting a fine.
The simple solution if Livingston do get a fine? the next time an ibrox fan base come calling increase the ticket price. This will pay for said fine and then if the ibrox fan base complain about the ticket price, just point to the pitch invasion and their own fan base of cause of increased ticket price
I note almost every sports writer on Twitter lamenting the loss of Hugh McIlvanney. Clearly the man was held in universal high respect and rightly so. What puzzles me then is why those same sports writers do not try to emulate the great man, instead of the nasty, sneering, spiteful, partisan rubbish that has seen so many of us turn our back on newspapers.
The transfer window 'slams shut' on Thursday night. The Chinese transfer window will still be open though. Just saying…
Mungoboy @ 18.41 27 Jan 2019
It transpires Souness & Hugh were friends according to what Souness wrote in to-day's ST – never one to hide his light under a bushel , Souness claims Hugh regarded him (GS) as Scotland's best ever midfielder
HM was a fantastic writer esp with regard to the era of Stein , Busby , Shankly & latterly Ferguson but he seems to have limited his concentration to the goings on in English football with a Scottish slant which is understandable I suppose as he lived in London for the bulk of his journalistic career – he seems not to have written about the Souness/Murray era in Scotland from what I can see (I may be wrong) .
Completely unrelated to posts by John Clark and others I bought a copy of today’s Observer mainly because there was a reprint of Hugh McIlvanney’s interview with Muhammad Ali after he had beaten George Foreman in Zimbabwe in 1974. Despite being 45 years old the writing has stood the test of time and I can’t think of anyone in sports journalism since then who could write the way Hugh McIlvanney could.
One sentence stands out for me.
”The scene, despite the occasional hilarity, was an oasis of seriousness, the still eye of his verbal storm”
Surely this is not allowed, how can it keep happening so often.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1089577153954484225
I'm sure it is allowed for sevco as they would only have entered onto the field of play to make sure more or less was safe. Also it didn't seem to faze the commentators as they never mentioned it so perhaps sevco have permission from the sfa for these wee jaunts onto the pitch.
Homunculus 27th January 2019 at 20:49
This is the ibrox club, anything is allowed. There are no rules
The forays onto the field of play isn’t something new at away grounds for one particular club. The policing and stewarding plans at today’s match have clearly not factored in the potential for such incursions as the video in the link provided by Homunculus shows a single hapless steward failing miserably to sort it out. The match report from the referee will surely include the behaviour of the away fans and I look forward to a full investigation by the SFA, questions in the Scottish Parliament and a summit to be convened at the earliest opportunity.
Re the Rangers fans pitch invasion today. I am seriously struggling to see the point in it. I will never assume any game is won but there is a reasonable chance Celtic will be six points ahead by Wednesday night with a superior goal difference, so there was nothing earth moving about their win today. Added to that they were 2-0 ahead at the time. I can only conclude Rangers fans now do this routinely simply because they can. I am absolutely certain the media would be demanding action if it was any other group of fans. Perhaps it takes the media all their time to stop themselves from joining in.
upthehoops 27th January 2019 at 22:24
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Given things which have happened recently if no action is taken by the SPFL, or indeed the Police then we are as well assuming they can now do what they want with impunity.
That will only get worse.
On Sportscene just now the BBC commentator in the Livingston game only described the pitch invasion as Morelos being mobbed by fans. In the studio discussion nothing was said at all about the away fans behaviour although mention was made of the continuing interest in Morelos by other teams.
They are now talking about whether Celtic can afford to pay a "marquee" signing's wages.
Short answer, probably not.
Can any other club in Scotland though.
Short answer, no.
Sportscene now finding time to comment on a banner displayed at Celtic Park which was exhorting the Board to back Brendan Rogers. Please excuse my paranoia but why is that worthy of comment and a pitch invasion is ignored? Double standards but very subtly done.
https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/club-statement-67/
A wee reminder from Minty’s Lamb.
https://twitter.com/queensparkfc/status/1089489363862462465
I really couldn't stop myself posting highlights from Queen's Park's 7-1 demolition of Berwick at Hampden yesterday. Proof positive that there is so much worth watching and participating in outside of Ibrox and Celtic Park. Some of my most memorable moments in football have come as a spectator at Hampden (or Lesser Hampden on occasions) alongside a few hundred hardy souls who just want to watch a competitive game without the vitriol . I've never been so badly affected that I couldn't face work on Monday . Even with some fantastic goals I'm delighted to say nobody felt the need to encroach onto the field of play in celebration. A great day from "The World's most successful amateur football club"
After TRFC fans entered the field of play to celebrate a league win – yet again – it raises two observations;
1) TRFC fans have betrayed their own frustrations and disillusionment with their own club. It was a 'routine' win at a club at the bottom end of the table.
&
2) The SFA will be sending out invites for tea, biccies and a wee chat again…I mean they'll be scheduling a 'summit' to discuss fans' behaviour.
Or, as it's only one club's fans causing repeated field incursions, the SFA will probably just look the other way.
And the pathetic SMSM will do likewise.
Again.
Re the pitch invasions by the ibrox fans. No doubt these clubs who have been invaded have had to pay fines on top of that they may have had to hire extra security and ask for additional policing when the ibrox fan base come calling.
Fines and additional costs to have an ibrox fan base in your grounds.
Are you happy now?
A thing from ibrox calling itself rangers. Back in 2012 it was all about the money, you were part of a group who signed a 5 way agreement, you wanted something from ibrox to be like a rangers.
Fines and additional costs to have an ibrox fan base in your grounds.
Are you happy now?
By my count that’s 4 “invasions” so far this season. Only 51 to go.
At what point does the SFA publicly acknowledge it is an 'unfit for purpose' organisation?
Answers on a postcard to Hampden…
Homunculus 27th January 2019 at 22:32
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upthehoops 27th January 2019 at 22:24
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Given things which have happened recently if no action is taken by the SPFL, or indeed the Police then we are as well assuming they can now do what they want with impunity.
That will only get worse.
********
Both the club and their fans know that they can act with impunity.
It has been proven time and time again.
Scottish football is in a Post Apocalypse era, since 2012, where an uncontrolled organisation and their marauding followers create havoc within the corridors of power and in the country at large; spreading fear of retribution on anyone who stands in their way.
The problem I see with a blind eye being turned to the weekend's pitch invasion is the potential for the "casual" groups at other clubs to follow suit as they see it being tolerated . Sauce for the goose ,etc .
Cluster One 28th January 2019 at 07:17
Not sure of the SFA's rules, then who is, but, as I understand it, UEFA hold the home club responsible for any fan issues, citing inadequate stewarding measures.
Interesting, if you can call it that, insight in the makeup of the soft loans provided to TRFC Ltd I noticed in the offer document that it appears to be a 50/50 protocol between Glib and the others. My guess is Glib gave an undertaking to match any aggregate investment by the others.
Looking at the makeup of shares/loans I reckon the top 3 in terms of exposure financially are:
1. Glib: £4.2m shares / £7m loans
2. Park: £1.7m shares / £4m loans
3. Taylor: £2.6m shares / £825k loans
That's based on shares at £0.20/ea.
It looks like the latest TOP v King hearing has been delayed 24 hours until Wednesday.
LADY WOLFFE – E Hunter, Clerk
Wednesday 30th January
By Order at 10.30am
P341/17 Pet: The Panel on Takeovers & Mergers for orders sec 955 – Dentons UK – Lindsays
It should be a rubber stamp job re his compliance, but I suppose that there could be a motion about the latest expenses (King lost his previous appeal about expenses at an earlier hearing).
David Low has agreed to do an update for us next week on mic.
ThomTheThim 28th January 2019 at 13:22
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Cluster One 28th January 2019 at 07:17
Not sure of the SFA’s rules, then who is, but, as I understand it, UEFA hold the home club responsible for any fan issues, citing inadequate stewarding measures.
……………….
Now the question would be.
1 Do club’s that have had their pitch invaded by an ibrox fan base now bring in extra stewarding for the next time an ibrox fan base visits?
2. If they do, do they bring in extra stewarding just for the ibrox fan base visits, as this fan base has previous for pitch invasions.
3. Does an ibrox fan base bring in the most expense paid out for the home club than any other club’s visit?
4,And if it does? Reap what you have sown.
5. They wanted an ibrox thing. So hell mend them if it is now costing them more than they thought.
This from Twitter..Paul Reidy
Looks like time has finally run out for 2nd division side Reus after a legal hearing deems: – The club to be disqualified from professional competition for 3 yrs. – Fined 250.000€ for failing to uphold player’s contracts. The club have 15 days to appeal the decision.
……………………
Fined 250.000€ for failing to uphold player’s contracts.
250,000 is always a round number for a fine involving player contracts.
It seems that Stevie G has adopted the Rangers way of using the court system, in this case to sue his "wealth manager"
https://citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/news/steven-gerrard-sues-hsbcs-private-bank-over-tax-scheme/a1195603?re=61764&ea=1095035&
easyJambo 28th January 2019 at 20:42
last year wealth manager revealed close brothers asset management and heartwood were also being sued by investors who were placed in an ingenious scheme.
………………
That is not the Close Brothers we know of, is it?
Cluster One 28th January 2019 at 21:40
easyJambo 28th January 2019 at 20:42
last year wealth manager revealed close brothers asset management and heartwood were also being sued by investors who were placed in an ingenious scheme.
………………
That is not the Close Brothers we know of, is it?
==================================
Close Leasing Limited (lender to TRFC) and Close Asset Finance Limited (named above) are both wholly owned subsidiaries of Close Brothers Group Plc
easyJambo 28th January 2019 at 17:37
It looks like the latest TOP v King hearing has been delayed 24 hours until Wednesday…
P341/17 Pet: The Panel on Takeovers & Mergers for orders sec 955 – Dentons UK – Lindsays
It should be a rubber stamp job re his compliance,…
++++++++++++++
I for one would be very disappointed if the Court disregards the act of defiance and the lies told by King in his devious efforts to avoid the consequences of an action that he deliberately took in full knowledge of its likely consequences.
He needs to be thoroughly belted for his contempt. In my view King should tried properly for full criminal contempt of court, and, if found guilty, should be put away for a substantial term-as a warning to others like him in business and finance.
Otherwise, there is a risk that the rest of us will cease to have any regard whatsoever for those entrusted to uphold the majesty of the Law.
It's now nearly 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday 29th January, while most of you are lying in your scratchers in the middle of the morning!
I m typing this , sitting here with a dislocated shoulder. Aye, there's nae fool like an auld fool!
Public Holiday weekend ('Australia Day'). We all went up to Noosa Beach, had four hours there in the surf, a nice lunch in Noosa Heads Surf Club Bar https://www.noosasurfclub.com.au/bar/ , followed by a stroll up the walkway to Dolphins Point, scanning the treetops on the way up in the hope of koala spotting. We didn't see any koalas, and at the Point, we didn't see any dolphins, either.
On the way back down, auld idiot features starts believing he is ten years old again. I took a right tumble when I missed my step when larking about, and did my left shoulder in, and grazed both knees on the concrete path. Result? 40-minute drive to the Sunshine Coast Hospital A&E room.
I was there for 5 hours:triage, then look-over by a doctor, temporary pain relief (fentanyl) x-ray , eventually sedated ( with the same stuff used for mums in labour: could hear everything and follow instructions about NOT stopping if I felt pain but to keep breathing deeply into the mouthpiece), could feel them working to get the ball into the socket, felt absolutely no pain whatsoever.! And that actual operation only took about 3 minutes
Had there not been a number of road traffic accident victims being brought in at various times, with doctors and nurses being called away variously ,leaving me, rightly, unattended for long gaps in between the various steps I would have been in-and-out in about half an hour or so.
But the doctors, nurses, radiographer, porters were brilliant, and slickly efficient.
Left the hospital at about 10.00 pm ( wife and son sharing time sitting with me , and daughter-in-law and kids having gone to eat and watch Nadal getting cuffed ) and got home at about midnight.
Apart from feeling guilty about spoiling a great day with anxiety and inconvenience, and being a further nuisance because I can't drive until this sling comes off in four weeks at least ( I'll be back in Edinburgh by then)I'm in good shape.
A little sadder, but probably no wiser!
John Clark 29th January 2019 at 05:33
It's now nearly 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon on Wednesday 29th January, while most of you are lying in your scratchers in the middle of the morning!
==============================================
It's the 29th here john but it's only Tuesday.
shug 29th January 2019 at 05:53
'…It's the 29th here john but it's only Tuesday''
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Ha ha, shug, that fentanyl lasted longer than I thought!
John Clark, 29 January 2019, 05:53
______________________________________________
It's good to see your recent mishap hasn't affected your sense of humour nor your ability to tell a great story in a funny, self-deprecating way. Get well soon JC.
easyJambo 28th January 2019 at 22:52
Thanks for clarification.
………….
JC, get well soon.
John Clark 29th January 2019 at 05:33
"Aye, there's nae fool like an auld fool!"
I neither know nor care what your date of birth is but I do know that you are nae fool.
I also know that there are plenty of people in places of authority who wish you, together with your partners in honesty such as easyjambo, were fools as it would make their lives a lot more comfortable.
You had an accident. Lots of things have happened over the years which were not accidents. They were deliberate.
We know you're naebody's fool.
Get well soon.
Martin Canning "Canned" by Hamilton Accies.
Bad move.IMO Accies would be better with some stability during their annual battle against the drop.Seems the board think otherwise.
John Clark 29th January 2019 at 05:33 22 3 Rate This
======================
Luckily the accident hasn't affected your typing output.
Get well soon and please try and stop this outrageous attention seeming behaviour. Nobody expects it from a citizen of Edinburgh. Glasgow mibees aye.
torrejohnbhoy 29th January 2019 at 10:37
'…Martin Canning "Canned" by Hamilton Accies…..'
++++++++++++++
I cannot comment on anything other than that the sentence
"He has successfully managed to maintain our status in the Premier League and we will be forever grateful for his part in this achievement"
is perhaps one of the most gracious and genuine recognitions of a manager's efforts that I've seen when club and manager part company.
Whether any new manager will be able to get the supposed 'new manager' bounce , to gain some vital points, remains to be seen.
I wish Accies the best, all the more because the board seem to be decently appreciative of relative success in difficult circumstances, while thinking that change is necessary.
Fair do's.
it will be interesting to see what their choice of candidate will be.
Bogs Dollox 29th January 2019 at 12:26
'…Nobody expects it from a citizen of Edinburgh. Glasgow mibees aye.'
+++++++++++++++
Ah, Bogs Dollox, 'ye can take the man oot o' the city, but ye canny take the city oot o' the man'!
Possil born was I, only coming to Auld Reekie in my 38th year of life.
Thank you for your good wishes.
LUGOSI 29th January 2019 at 08:14
'…You had an accident. Lots of things have happened over the years which were not accidents. They were deliberate.'
++++++++++++++++
Yes, indeed.
For example, perhaps, the deliberate award of a UEFA licence to a financially distressed club which was not ,under the then rules entitled to such award, in order to slide a few million to it in (the vain) hope of it 'earning' many millions more and avoiding Administration.
Or , perhaps,the cynical creation of such a lie as has never before been attempted outside the Nazi Germany regime, namely, that a club which entered professional football in 2012 is the same club as a club that was founded in 1872: a lie as eagerly endorsed by today's SMSM as Goebbels' lies were embraced and endorsed by the Nazi 'Press'.
It is a monstrous situation that Scottish football is in.
And I say that without being under the influence of fentanyl or Fat Yak.( who drinks alcohol when on serious painkillers?)
Another CoS motion for tomorrow.
Wednesday 30th January
EXTRA DIVISION
INNER HOUSE UNSTARRED MOTIONS
A295/16 David Whitehouse v The Chief Constable of Police Scotland &c – A & W M Urquhart
===============================
"Unstarred" means the attendance of counsel is not required, but the fact that it is to the Inner House suggests that an appeal against an earlier decison of the court is being progressed.
I hope to get along for torrrow's TOP hearing, but I have dental appointment beforehand so might not make it.
JC,05.53
what a great piece of reporting on the days activities,although unfortunate,but you allowed us to be part of the action in more than one area,now if only our would be sports writers would learn from this and write about not just a football game but the lead up ,the happenings all over the field,everyone involved,doing their job,the reactions of the spectators!!! before during and after the game,not in the uk at the moment and having the equivalent of your fat yak,maybe I better stop
speedy recovery
Cluster One 25th January 2019 at 20:33
Could this be the softening of the bears. “Listen we had to sell our best player even if we did not get the price we wanted,listen we are a loss-making club and cannot run on loans indefinitely we had to sell.What else could we do?
………………
Latest from Phil.
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2019/01/29/selling-alfredo-and-appeasing-stevie-g/
…………….
I was steered today in the direction that Mr John Bennett had not gone off script recently apropos the unsustainability of getting by on director loans.
Rather this was a way of preparing the fans for some tough decisions ahead.
……………….
Something that we had discussed on SFM some days ago
I have been relatively lucky in my career to date, whereby I have joined organisations I specifically wanted to work for. And was proud to say I worked for said organisations.
But, if I worked in any capacity for the SFA I would be feeling increasingly uncomfortable and looking for an exit.
In fact, I would probably claim to be a politician rather than an SFA employee.
Or, in current speak: SFA staff are highly likely to be NOT fully engaged – which would be a total disservice to Scottish football, IMO.
Cluster One 25th January 2019 at 20:33
Could this be the softening of the bears. “Listen we had to sell our best player even if we did not get the price we wanted,listen we are a loss-making club and cannot run on loans indefinitely we had to sell.What else could we do?
=================================
Who may actually bid for Morelos?.
If discussions elsewhere online are correct,then he definitely wouldn't meet the criteria to gain a work permit to play in the EPL.They're quite strict & any appeal would be unlikely to succeed.Not many EFL clubs have the cash TRFC are hoping to raise by a sale.I can't see many top European clubs being interested either.Who knows,he might just end up in China after all,100% tax not withstanding.
No such problems for James Tavernier,though.The future England Right back/captain can move freely so there's a possibilty TRFC may get a wee windfall which could cover the cost of the Defoe,Davis loans.
torrejohnbhoy 29th January 2019 at 23:08
Who may actually bid for Morelos?.
…………….
Good question.
Not a lot to report from the CoS this morning. The courtroom was still locked at the scheduled start time and there were no legal bods hanging around. I checked with the front desk who confirmed that they had received an email advising that if there were any enquiries then advise that the case had been discharged until the end of February.
I took that to mean that TOP and the Court are content with the progress to date but will review the position at the close of the offer (15 Feb) and following any settlement period required (14 days).
easyJambo 30th January 2019 at 11:33
'…..if there were any enquiries then advise that the case had been discharged until the end of February.'
=====================
Well done for being there, eJ.
Who knows quite what is going on?
On the face of it, King has complied: the offer is there, it has been made, and King has therefore (presumably) finally complied!
What would be , could be, the further interest for the Court?
Other than having reservations about King's bona fides in the event that enough 'acceptors' of the offer will force King to buy , and that if he does not , his tea will be well and truly oot, and he can then be hammered by the TOP and done for really real contempt of Court.
End of February sounds good to me!
I've had a look at reconciling some of the loan figures in the Offer Document with what was disclosed at the financial year end (30/06/18) to establish what further borrowing has taken place this season.
Investor loans at the financial year end were reported in the accounts as £23.425m
The Debt for Equity share placement accounted for a reported £11.1m of the £12.6m "raised".
The balance of the lending after the DFE swap should therefore be £12.235m (give or take a few £k due to rounding of the amount converted).
However the current Offer Document states that the total of investor loans is now £14.165m. (I suspect that will be the figure at the half year point of 31 December)
The difference between the post DFE figure and the current figure is £1.84m or thereabouts. That difference I believe represents the new borrowing already undertaken this season. We were advised that £4.6m in new funds would be required this season, so it looks as if the requirement is already well established (the first tranche was expected to be needed during Jan 19).
Looking at the figures specifically for NOAL (King).
His £8.471m loan at year end should have been reduced by £1.84m by the DFE swap to £6.631m, but the Offer Document gives his loan figure as £7.031m. That suggests that King has contributed exactly £400k of the new funding.
The corresponding figures for Douglas Park suggest that he hasn't contributed any new money since the financial year end.
I'm unable differentiate between Taylor, Letham and Scott from the earlier figures to be able to say with any certainty what, if anything, they have contributed to the new funding.
easyJambo 30th January 2019 at 18:07
Another great piece of interesting investigative work EJ.
Now it may be that I, myself, am over analysing these figures, but increased lending of £1, 840,000 seems a rather exact amount. Not £1.8m, not £1,9m and not £2m, a nice round figure that would leave some money in the kitty, but an amount which kind of suggests to me that they are lending the club the exact figure required to meet, most likely, payday and bills as they fall due/overdue.
The naughty me, though, thinks this might indicate that every payment out is being met with individual loans, or that the hat is being passed around the boardroom table each month with each director putting in the maximum he is prepared/able to contribute at that time.
Probably indicative of nothing more than my nasty side
If anyone’s wondering what reverse gear sounds like on the radio have a listen to Donald Karaoke Findlay’s pre match interview.
beep beep caution this chairman is reversing beep beep. Caution this chairman etc etc.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/47062172
"Alan Stubbs says Hibernian "only have to pick up the phone" if they want to bring him back the to the club.
The Scottish Premiership club parted company with head coach Neil Lennon by mutual consent on Wednesday.
In 2016, Stubbs led Hibs to their first Scottish Cup in 104 years, then left for an ill-fated stint at Rotherham.
"I'd be very interested, definitely. I've got great memories and if it is what they want, I'd like to build some more memories," the 47-year-old said.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, he added: "They only have to pick up the phone and the rest is a formality. I think everyone knows my affection for club, my standing that I have with the fans."
"I worked with some fantastic people there, who were very supportive to me and did everything they possibly could to help improve the team when I was there.
"I had a brilliant relationship with [chief executive] Leeann Dempster. She let me get on with the job, and when I needed things she was very, very supportive. She's the best chief executive I've worked with."
Will Leeann pick up the phone? Ought she, after that flattery?!