I am privileged to have the chance to post a “guest” article on TSFM. As we get used to the lights being turned out, even temporarily, on RTC, we have a new forum for analysing the various issues which concern supporters of Scottish football.
It is undoubtedly the case that most of these issues involve the Rangers FC, either directly or indirectly, together with their interaction with the governing bodies of Scottish football.
One of the matters mentioned on “The List” page here is the Nimmo Smith report. I try to answer the question about what happened to it below, and note the relevance its apparent disappearance has for the soon to convene SPL Independent Commission.
I would encourage anyone who wants to do so to contribute posts for publication to TSFM.
RTC created from nothing a vibrant community looking at serious and complex issues of finance, law and corporate governance with a huge range of expertise, and not a little humour. TSFM can build on that legacy for the good of football in Scotland, and hopefully to the betterment of our media.
Whatever Happened to the Nimmo Smith Report?
On 21st February 2012 the SFA announced that it had appointed retired judge Lord Nimmo Smith to chair an independent inquiry into Rangers FC. His panel comprised Professor Niall Lothian, Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland; Bob Downes, former Director of BT and now Deputy Chairman of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, and Stewart Regan, CEO of the SFA.
The Inquiry was commissioned to investigate the potential breach of a number of SFA Articles of Association and to present its findings to the SFA Board within two weeks. Article 62.2 (q) of the SFA Articles of Association allows the SFA Board to appoint “a commission … to attend to and/or determine any matter(s) referred to it by the Board.”
Stewart Regan was quoted saying: “I am delighted Lord Nimmo Smith has agreed to Chair the Independent Inquiry. I am certain the experience contained within the panel will enable us to achieve more clarity on the situation regarding Rangers FC. There will be no further comment on the investigation until it is complete and its findings presented to the Board.”
One wonders about the use of the word “independent”, bearing in mind that one of the members was the CEO of the commissioning body, and on the Board which would consider it once prepared.
On 2nd March Mr Regan had more to say, although the investigation was not yet complete.
“We are now in the final stages of our independent inquiry into the situation concerning Rangers FC. The report by The Right Honourable Lord Nimmo Smith is expected to be completed next week and will go to a Special Board Meeting for consideration. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this stage in relation to the details gleaned from the inquiry, the potential contents of the report or any possible sanctions.
On 8th March the Special Board Meeting took place to consider the Nimmo Smith Report. Mr Regan commented:-
“I can confirm that the Scottish FA convened a Special Board Meeting at Hampden Park today to discuss the findings of the Independent Inquiry into Rangers FC, prepared by the Chair, The Right Honourable Lord William Nimmo Smith.
“Principally, it is the belief of the Board, taking into account the prima facie evidence presented today, that Mr Craig Whyte is not considered to be a Fit and Proper person to hold a position within Association Football.
“The report submitted by Lord Nimmo Smith, having been considered fully by the Board, highlights a number of other potential rule breaches by the club and its owner. The report will now be used as evidence and forwarded to a Judicial Panel for consideration and determination as per the protocol.
As such, the report’s contents will not be published at this time. Nevertheless, I can confirm that the club is facing a charge of bringing the game into disrepute.”
On 24th April Mr Regan, following the verdict of the Judicial Panel, said the following:-
“It was entirely right that the original inquiry into Rangers FC and Craig Whyte was conducted independently and chaired by the Right Honourable Lord Nimmo Smith. These findings were presented to the Judicial Panel Tribunal, who returned their verdict last night.”
That all seems clear. Lord Nimmo Smith, with the help of distinguished people like Mr Regan, carried out a quick but thorough investigation, and the results were put to the Judicial Panel for consideration.
However Gary Allan QC, who chaired the Panel, made the following comment on page 59 of the Panel’s written decision.
“It is remarkable that throughout the Judicial Panel Disciplinary Tribunal Process there has been repeated, and regrettably wholly misconceived reference to the Report of Lord Nimmo Smith. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Judicial Panel hearing this disciplinary matter was at no time presented with the report, as evidence or otherwise, nor was it presented with any of its findings. No member of the Tribunal has had sight of it. The report was not mentioned by any party at any time in the course of the proceedings. The determinations which were reached, therefore, were reached entirely independently of any view at which any other person, however senior or eminent, may have arrived in fulfilment of his remit prior to the disciplinary hearing.”
How can the Chair of the Panel deny having seen a document which, according to one of the people who sat on the independent committee, was presented to them?
The answer is two-fold.
Firstly, at pages 2 to 3 of the Judicial Panel decision, the procedural nuts and bolts of the case are discussed:-
“The Tribunal … directed that … it would proceed to hear the evidence and submissions and proceed to Determinations in relation to the complaints against both Rangers FC and Mr Whyte.
The Tribunal … noted that … it would proceed on the basis that there was an absolute denial on (Mr Whyte’s) part of each element of the alleged breach of the rules in all its particulars.
The Tribunal directed that accordingly, and notwithstanding the fact that in its written responses Rangers FC in substantial measure admitted the factual averments and a number of the alleged breaches of the rules, … the Tribunal would require to establish a clear factual basis for its Determination of both any alleged breaches and, if applicable, any sanction against either or both Rangers FC or Mr Whyte. … The commission and the circumstances of the alleged breaches would therefore require to be established by the leading of evidence before the Tribunal …
A discussion in relation to the procedure to be adopted took place. It was agreed that the Compliance Officer Mr Lunny would lead evidence ex parte by submission and reference to documentary material but would lead no witnesses, and would invite the Tribunal to accept the evidence in that form as provided in the Judicial Panel Protocol. Mr McLaughlin for Rangers FC, standing its position on the complaints contained in the written response previously submitted had neither issues with that proposal nor any other objection to the procedure which would be adopted. An opportunity would then be afforded to Rangers FC to lead evidence and make submissions as Mr McLaughlin on its behalf saw fit. Mr McLaughlin intimated that he would be likely to lead evidence from four witnesses previously intimated to the Compliance Officer and the Tribunal in terms of the Judicial Panel Protocol.”
At the hearing the positions of Rangers FC and of Mr Whyte were totally at odds. Mr Whyte did not appear nor lodge any substantive reply. He denied everything. On the other hand, Rangers FC “in substantial measure admitted the factual averments and a number of the alleged breaches of the rules”. As the Panel determined, they needed to be satisfied of the right verdict based on the evidence, but as the “prosecution case” was generally admitted, there was less rigour about this than if, for example, Mr Whyte had attended and denied the charges.
If Mr Whyte had appeared to deny the allegations, or if Rangers FC had disputed them, then evidence would have had to come from witnesses, who could have been cross-examined. In that event it would not have been sufficient to present the Nimmo Smith report, because, for all his experience, expertise and eminence, he is not guaranteed to be infallible.
One important principle in judicial and quasi-judicial procedure is the “Best Evidence rule”. If possible, original documents should be produced, rather than copies. Items of physical evidence should be brought to the court, rather than photographs of it. Witnesses should give evidence rather than having witness statements provided to the hearing.
This, I think, provides part of the explanation for the apparently mysterious absence of the Nimmo Smith Report.
The facts of the case had been admitted by the only party who attended the hearing, namely Rangers FC. Therefore Mr Lunny led “evidence ex parte by submission and reference to documentary material”. The Panel made 108 separate “findings in fact” derived from the evidence he put forward and that of Rangers FC.
Where Lord Nimmo Smith’s committee had, for example, analysed documents and offered a conclusion upon their import, the documents would be evidence but His Lordship’s conclusion would not. Similarly where a witness had been interviewed by the Nimmo Smith commission, or provided a statement, the former judge’s views on that would not be evidence, but the witness statement would be.
Mr Lunny, the Compliance Officer, was acting as prosecutor. Effectively Lord Nimmo Smith played the role of a senior detective co-ordinating an investigation, but not actually obtaining any evidence himself. In a criminal trial, where the officer in charge of the investigation has taken no part in the accumulation of the evidence, then their relevance as a witness is very small at best. It is up to the judge or the jury to decide what the totality of evidence means as far as guilt or innocence is concerned.
Therefore whilst I am sure that Lord Nimmo Smith’s report was on Mr Lunny’s table as he went through his presentation, ticking off the relevant parts as he led the primary evidence, the Report itself was not “relevant” evidence for the Panel. It is likely that, in discussion prior to the hearing, Mr Lunny and the solicitor for Rangers FC agreed whether the Nimmo Smith report would be used or not.
Mr Regan said prior to the Panel sitting “The report will now be used as evidence and forwarded to a Judicial Panel for consideration and determination as per the protocol.“ The presentation of the case of course was independent of him, and whilst the Report would have formed the basis for the charges laid against Rangers FC and Mr Whyte, it was not evidence itself, as agreed between the parties.
The second aspect which accords with this explanation is the precise phrase used by Mr Regan. He said, after the decision, “These findings were presented to the Judicial Panel Tribunal.”
He did not say that the report was presented, rather that the findings were. As the findings would form the basis for the “charges” admitted by Rangers FC, then to that extent the Nimmo Smith report played a part in the proceedings.
This issue has relevance now for the forthcoming SPL proceedings involving player payments and registrations which might have broken the rules. To great clamour and consternation from Ibrox direction, Harper MacLeod, the widely respected and highly rated form of solicitors, have carried out an investigation for the SPL into Rangers FC.
Mr Green has made clear that, as far as possible, the case will be fought, and no past titles will be stripped if he can do anything about it. Expect calls for the Harper MacLeod report to be produced.
However, it is in exactly the same position as the Nimmo Smith report was, except this time the accused is not accepting guilt. In that case, the relevant documents and witnesses will need to attend for scrutiny and examination.
On the basis that the First Tier Tax Tribunal, which looked at different but related issues, took many days to conclude, it is highly likely that the SPL case will not have a quick conclusion.
As a final aside, I must compliment Mr Green. All of the media speculation about punishment in the event that the independent commission find guilt on the part of Rangers repeats the mantra from Ibrox that the most severe penalty, namely stripping of titles, is the aim of the SPL.
I suspect that the SPL might believe that too now, on the basis that something which the club and the fans oppose so vigorously must be a draconian penalty.
But, of all of the various penalties listed, stripping titles would not cost the Rangers FC a single penny. The issue has already seen the supporters unite behind their team. Even if the commission finds the case proven, and as a result Rangers lose some of their historic titles, this will be seen by the Ibrox faithful as yet more treachery by the football authorities. Bearing in mind that the SPL rules allow various penalties, including the power to expel the club, impose unlimited fines and place a registration embargo on the club, altering the history books is the best thing for Rangers as a business, rather than a penalty which affects them just now.
Posted by Paul McConville – www.scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com
Goosy says:
August 10, 2012 at 17:52
Five arrested after Brechin v Rangers cup-tie over ‘offensive singing’ at football match
http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2879967
A fair old noise for five guys…
Frank Forrest says:
August 10, 2012 at 18:51
…”in the end, this is all about a game and how some people have cheated.”
————————————
Although an appalling incident, rangersgate is much more than the above quote. It demonstrates the soul of the nation.
Is Scotland a just society; are all equal in the eyes of the Law – is there a law for some and law for others; is there a ‘deeper’ Establishment that can manipulate others?
This is the stage where this particular drama is being enacted. How it plays out will be evidence of the State of the Nation. This is extremely important and not just a game where people have cheated.
There you go again above post!!!!!
Re the charges against Green and McCoist, the FF’ers seem to want the RFFF to pay for “a top QC” to defend them.
I;m not sure they understand what a QC, good or otherwise, actually does all day.
They seem to think that Counsel spend most of their time driving buses or trucks or wiping floors?
sarahleyden says:
August 10, 2012 at 19:02
5 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly for an aristocrat of these columns you have just
asked one of the most leading questions of our times – I can think of two million reasons why Craig Beattie might have chosen St Johnstone over Rangers. Do you want them in alphabetical order?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If I may, can I take them in order of relevance to the greater good of Scottish football. 😀
Senior says:
August 10, 2012 at 16:06
I think you will find that the Scottish government will dismiss anything with identical wording. This was their reason/excuse for dismissing the “consultation” on homosexual marriage. Mind you, when it comes to “identical wording” so was the voting papers that elected them…………………
Treat them with respect, oh really Ally
http://www.rangers.co.uk/index.php/news/headlines/item/1707-eager-with-anticipation
ALLY McCOIST can’t wait to get down to action as Rangers prepare to play the first non-top flight league fixture of their 140-year history tomorrow at Peterhead.
The match at the Buchan side’s Balmoor Stadium is a complete sell-out, with Light Blues players even struggling to get enough tickets for their friends and family.
A crowd of almost 4,500 will cram into the ground as Gers start the Third Division campaign as overwhelming title favourites.
The fixture marks the start of a new era at Ibrox as the 54-times Scottish champions continue to galvanise themselves after a difficult period of financial insecurity.
McCoist’s men will go into a high after 38,160 people turned up in Govan on Tuesday to see the hosts win 4-0 against East Fife in the first round of the League Cup.
And the manager is clearly enjoying the positive mood around the club at present after such soul-searching times in the early part of the year.
He said: “I’m really, really excited about the whole thing. In the last week or so, I’ve felt a feel-good factor around the team and the club, the fans and the support.
“Tuesday was a fantastic night for everybody and all parties concerned. The result and performances from the players and the fans were absolutely first class.
“We’re all looking forward to the game tomorrow and we’re travelling up today. It’s important we send out the right message.
“The fact we’re travelling this afternoon would indicate we’re treating everybody in this league with the utmost respect. That is what they deserve.”
Lord Wobbly says: August 10, 2012 at 18:12
Can we read anything into Beattie rejecting Hearts, presumably considering and then rejecting The Rangers and then signing for St Johnstone? Are Saints offering the best deal? Has he bought into the project in Perth? Did he just fancy a change?
What do our resident Hearts, Rangers, The Rangers and St Johnstone fans make of it?
==================================
Hearts had two issues re Beattie 1) they were reluctant to sign someone who injury record was such that he was unlikely to feature in any more that 30 games a season, and 2) there was no budget available to re-sign him.
Beattie only played 9 games including sub appearances in his time at Hearts.
easyJambo says:
August 10, 2012 at 19:48
0 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly says: August 10, 2012 at 18:12
Can we read anything into Beattie rejecting Hearts, presumably considering and then rejecting The Rangers and then signing for St Johnstone? Are Saints offering the best deal? Has he bought into the project in Perth? Did he just fancy a change?
What do our resident Hearts, Rangers, The Rangers and St
Johnstone fans make of it?
==================================
Hearts had two issues re Beattie 1) they were reluctant to sign
someone who injury record was such that he was unlikely to
feature in any more that 30 games a season, and 2) there was no budget available to re-sign him.
Beattie only played 9 games including sub appearances in his
time at Hearts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you suggesting Saints have bought a crock?
Careful. Sarah is watching 😀
And at least Sally understands Craig’s disappointment. What a fud!
We’re all looking forward to the game tomorrow and we’re travelling up today. It’s important we send out the right message.
Yep Ally – the message is you are richer than all the other clubs in the league as they cannot afford to incur hotel charges and a bus for an overnight trip. However time will tell whther The Sevco can afford this as well………..
Domaine Jessiaume says:
August 10, 2012 at 19:27
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Re the charges against Green and McCoist, the FF’ers seem to want the RFFF to pay for “a top QC” to defend them.
I’ve honestly wondered this many times, and not just in the Rangers context. Why is it ALWAYS a ‘top QC’? Aren’t there any mediocre or even a bit rubbish, ones? And as only ‘top’ QCs seem to be hired, how do the others make a living?
Frank Forrest says:
August 10, 2012 at 18:51
4 10 Rate This
~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the risk of seeming insensitive (which I’m not) this is not the place for that. Where would we stop? There are atrocities happening all over the world. We cannot hope to cover them all. This site arose from RTC’s take on the atrocities visited on Scottish football by Rangers FC. It is now doing its best to carry that forward to encompass a more wide-ranging remit. Let us stick to the job at hand.
Wobbles : 20.28
Well said your Lordship.
riw1 says:
August 10, 2012 at 20:38
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Wobbles : 20.28
Well said your Lordship.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aye. Right up until I bring music into it, because then I’ll look like a right Ally McCoist! 😀
From the BBC – Ally brass necking it again
‘I can feel a sort of feel-good factor coming back around the team, club, fans and everybody”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19210584
I wonder if the “everybody” includes all the small creditors who were screwed by the oldco?
Still totally shameless.
ExiledCelt 20:19
This is the most infuriating and disgusting aspect to all of this, and it is as if the 14th February and 14th June never happened
Sevco, Green and McCoist are sending out the business as usual message, which is hardly surprising, since the SFA/SPL/SFL, and the MSM are sending out the same message, and are in fact actively encouraging it
For all of these parties, Sevco MUST be seen as RFC (IA)
Longmuir’s statement that no trophies would be removed from the record if RFC (IA) were found guilty, and that as far as the SFL are concerned, they are satisfied with the way they have treated Sevco, is a disgrace
Longmuir I believe, is speaking not just for the SFL, but reflecting the attitude of both the SFA and SPL
They are not willing to impose any sanctions for the use of dual contracts on either Sevco or RFC (IA), and indeed will oppose any proposals to do so
The powers that be have broken so many rules in this fiasco, without the slightest sign of embarrassment, that the attitude seems to be what is wrong with breaking a few more
They control with a few exceptions the MSM, who are only too willing to give Murray a platform for his guff, and they also had no hesitation in printing a malicious and deliberately misleading statement from the supporters’ groups last weekend
When RTC handed them chapter and verse a story, it was totally ignored
Somehow we need to find a way of getting our views out there to the wider audience, and this should perhaps be our priority
By the way Paul, a good article on the Nimmo Report, and it is a shame it will be ignored, just as RTC’s was
Lord Wobbly says: August 10, 2012 at 20:53
…………….then I’ll look like a right Ally McCoist!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Class – I think you might have created some new terminology there
yeah, quite right. Sometmes we should get our priorities in order. It’s only a game of football after all. And there lies the problem!
Wobbles 20.53 :
Your Lordship, gentry of such deferential appellation are usually of a certain vintage. Did you know Dame Gracie Fields who sang Sally ? 😉
Chuckles easy steps to Sevco FC martyrdom
1. Get over excited at first big cup tie v Brechin City – We arra peepul phase
2. Make inflammatory statements to BBC utilising big words like ‘bogitry’ that re peeps can easily empathise with – No one likes us we don’t care phase
3. Provide ludicrous explanation to media – Taking the pish stage (see also happy clapping along to peeps Regan ditty)
4. Get SFA charge – Take one for the team stage
5. Churchillian announcement from Chairman Murray ‘Blah principles blah free speech blah defend the right blah good faith’ – No surrender stage
6. Contest but ultimately lose disciplinary hearing even with RFFF financed QC and accept SFA slap on wrist – We do do walking away stage
Cue Morality McCoist – ‘Who are these people? That Chuckles is absolutely first class by the way, even I trust him now. Oh and the season ticket deadline has just been extended to April 1st. Please dig deep like me, free Beef Slice with every four you buy. Pure dead magic’.
McCoist’s interviews annoy me intensely
The way he speaks, and the language he uses just grates with me
He is trying to portray the image of some sort of statesman, which without any shadow of a doubt he is not
He is no more than a rabble rousing ned, happy to play to the mob
The reply from CEO SFL to my email to him forwarding my email to the “Scotsman”(see my earlier post of 16.22 today).
“Dear Mr. …
Thanks for your earlier message.
I would urge you to re-read the article and look at the comments which were actually attributed to Mr. Longmuir in the article by Alan Pattullo.
Kind regards,
”
————
I have re-read Patullo’s piece in “The Scotsman”.
I don’t think I’ve misunderstood it.
Has anyone else read it, or some other account of what Longmuir said?
Is my understanding of unfounded?
Is Longmuir ‘not guilty’ ?
Is there a list of what punishments are available to the SFA for each charge? For Murray to mention that they have an explanation for Green but not for Ally suggests to me that Ally’s going to be cut loose or that they’re expecting the SFA to really come down hard on him (as they should).
Now, where’s that latin dictionary…aaah, Sine die, welcome to the 21st Century.
riw1 says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:16
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Wobbles 20.53 :
Your Lordship, gentry of such deferential appellation are usually of a certain vintage. Did you know Dame Gracie Fields who sang Sally ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m guessing you were not an RTC reader. No, Dame Gracie is waaaay before my time. My gravatar is more of a clue to my age. That and my memories of Crown Court.
The following true story touches on some issues raised by various posters over the last few days. We lived in Stornoway during the 1990’s and my son was quite a useful player. Working in retail, I didn’t get to see him play very often, but up there with the Sabbath stuff and long winter stuff many games were played on long summer evenings I saw more of him. Fierce competition between villages and townships, every game a derby. You cannot imagine how proud I was when other spectators would comment ‘ that laddie will play for Scotland’ or ‘he reminds me of Jimmy Johnstone’ about my boy. On to Glasgow Uni and the discovery of women and beer so there was no football career. During a visit, over lunch, he told me, 2 years for too late for me to do anything about it, that his Gym teacher at the Nicholson institute told him he was good enough and skillful enough for the North of Scotland select trials for the international team but he wasn’t big enough. Now two things, these buffoons have ruined our sport with their preference for power over ability and skill and look at the actual damage SDM has done to our sport with the mania he engendered for importation of overpriced underperforming foriegners at the expense of sourcing our own talented youngsters.What happened to the scouting system? Did the agents in their flash suits seem more credible? In an alternative universe I see my son in the blue of Scotland. I suspect when the whole sorry mess of financial doping at Ibrox is laid bare, I won’t be alone. If only, if only.
Just returned from the family holiday and a self imposed two week ban on reading anything about Scottish football and the activities of deadco/zombie fc or whatever they are calling themselves now. It was becoming rather obsessive on my part and I am glad to have taken a breather, because a breather is all it is. As the many excellent posters on here have pointed out there is still a long way to go in this saga and it is with great delight I see the comments of many people I have enjoyed reading for months now. Not only is it good reading it is great to see the good work started by RTC being carried forward in such a determined and insightful manner.
Long live the internet Bampot.
John Clarke 21.29 :
John I completely agree with your reading of “The Scotsman” article. Playing devils advocate, Mr Longmuir does not say his present stance is the end of the matter. There appears a fairly well hidden caveat that would allow a revisit in the event of culpability being proved. I freely concede it’s a tenuous possibility when clarity is called for. Clarity of course they don’t do.
Given he is currently “comfortable” the question to my mind is simply… why ?
Great article in Inverness local paper re you know who!! http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/toddler19/highlandnews_0001_NEW-1.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19218717?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=sportso
campsiejoe,
never a truer word re Sally the Fat Pieman who, only the other day was “pontificating”—if that’s not a contradiction in terms for the Fat Ned—about Mother Teresa, would you believe, of all people, on the subject of capacity for trust in a question with such as Chuckles Hughie Green, et al. Well, I don’t think even she would have touched them with the proverbial bargepole.
Then proceeding straight into inanities about the “astute” one of possibly 3, yes 3, “off the radar” billionaires.
“Shut it, oh Fat One”
Crikey. Stunney’s up early!
Campsiejoe,
Aye, Sally is difficult to listen to at the best of times. However, on the footballing front, he has no equal. His record in Europe speaks for itself. Its just such a shame he will not be able to show his tactical awareness and astute leadership at the highest level for a number of years. I hope he gets that opportunity; the prospect of him being the manager of Sevco Scotland for that amount of time is exactly what they, and he, deserves.
Wobbles 21.53 :
For the most part I did not read RTC. Came to it the last few weeks.
I was merely wondering if you were familiar with Dame Gracie’s work. She was of course a rampant “ursus arctos horribilis”. “Sally”, her tribute to Alastair Murdoch is well known but lesser known is her tribute to Sally’s guiding light “Walter Walter, lead me up the alter”.
I asked because you being of such barony, you may have penetrated her intimate circle ? I am now corrected & wont beg your indulgence again on matters pre “Crown Court” !
5StarsorBehindBars @ 21:48
Whilst I agree with you, there is a small voice inside my head saying “if Sevco hang around that long” 🙂
riw1 says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:50
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I consider myself a gentleman. I wouldn’t dream of penetrating anyones intimate circle unless invited.
But if you like old time music, you might want to try Tin Hat Trio’s version of Daisy…
http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuJkOMUkp3P0&v=uJkOMUkp3P0&gl=US
Wobbles 21.58 :
Yes I’m familiar with the song your Lordship but not the beat combo performing it. Thank you for the recommendation but it’s a bit uptempo for my hit parade I’m afraid.
Lord Wobbly says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:58
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riw1 says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:50
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I consider myself a gentleman. I wouldn’t dream of penetrating
anyones intimate circle unless invited.
But if you like old time music, you might want to try Tin Hat Trio’s version of Daisy…
The previous link didn’t seem to work. Try this one.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DJGomsh2zMmI&v=JGomsh2zMmI&gl=US
Apologies to the rest of you. You’re right. I’m a right Ally McCoist!
campsiejoe says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:56
There will always be a Sevco ! 🙂
Neither Walt Disney nor Oldco can escape their impecunious unnatural cryogenic state any time soon.
The creator of Minnie and Mickey can afford to rely upon the inflow of worldwide royalties to preserve the molecular structure of his past history, his desired return to futuristic resurrected good health.
The purveyor of Black and Sandoza can’t afford the outflow from future parochial fixtures lost to the miniscule efforts deployed to revive an already flogged corpse to resuscitated rude wealth.
Lord Wobbly.
At least your not a William Pullar
5StarsorBehindBars says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:48
Campsiejoe,
Aye, Sally is difficult to listen to at the best of times
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I`ve found a remote control solution to that
………..and it works every time
Paulsatim says: August 10, 2012 at 21:31
Great article in Inverness local paper re you know who!! http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/toddler19/highlandnews_0001_NEW-1.jpg
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
wow! thank you so much Paulsatim for posting this article. What a brave journalist – what a wonderful article.
If any journalists are reading this blog – please read the above article and have the good grace to blush
Senior says: August 10, 2012 at 16:06
& Fritz later on
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great Letter to the Scottish Government – and yes we can’t all write the same letter or they’ll ignore it.
so you can either write in your own words to the Scot Gov to ask them why they are sponsoring the Scottish League Cup with OUR taxpayers money – given the SFL are turnign a blind eye to financial doping scottisn.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
or write to your SNP MSP at the Scottish Parliament – and see if just one of them is brave enough to speak out against taxpayers being shafted by Rangers(IA) and by the SFL through our sponsorship
.
martin o’neill says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:23
1 0 Rate This
The following true story touches on some issues raised by various posters over the last few days. We lived in Stornoway during the 1990′s and my son was quite a useful player. Working in retail, I didn’t get to see him play very often, but up there with the Sabbath stuff and long winter stuff many games were played on long summer evenings I saw more of him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That reminds me of my rugby playing days. This was back in the days when your ability was determined by which school you went to. The best example I can share was during county trials, which featured three dominant schools and a number of ‘other’ schools. During the final trial match, a ‘b’ side (including yours truly) was pitted against the ‘a’ side. While I understood the concept of the ‘a’ and ‘b’ side, what I could not comprehend was the fact that the ‘a’ side was allowed to make wholesale changes at half-time, while the ‘b’ side wasn’t allowed to do the same. The ‘a’ side used their full squad. The ‘b’ side wasn’t allowed to. The game of rugby lost me that day.
PS I’m just amazed that they allowed Tony, ‘Geezer’, Bill and Ozzy on Stornoway!
Domaine Jessiaume says:
August 10, 2012 at 16:11
P.S. My old English teacher, Mr. Lennon, introduced a bunch of us spotty fifteen year olds to John Donne back in the eighties. One of the poems I recall was Elegy XX – To His Mistress Going to Bed. We were tickled (the girls were horrified) by the notion of the ageing Donne perving over his nubile mistress with the words:-
“Oh, my America, my Newfoundland,”
Quite racy really, now that I’ve re-read it after all this time.
————
Frank Lennon and his metaphysical poets – now there’s a blast from the past. Off topic but it’s a quiet Friday night so I hope nobody minds.
Frank Lennon was one of a number of influential teachers I was lucky enough to have in the mid-late seventies who had the innate ability to transfer knowledge and wisdom to sweaty oiks with warmth and humanity while, almost imperceptibly, generating interest and enthusiasm in their subject.
So…Frank Lennon (english), Ted Deighan (maths), Peter Boyle (chemistry), and the physics teacher whose name has sadly slipped my mind, step forward and take a bow.
Thank you Your Lordship, I’m honoured by your reply, on a rugby related anecdote when we lived in central Scotland we knew a talented rugby player, I have no permission to use his name so I won’t, but he was Captain of Boroughmuir R.F.C.but never got a sniff of a cap, was it because he maybe only went to State schools? That was the speculation at the time in his local club, that he’d graduated from obviously. Yours in comradeship.
John Clarke
The postponement of Supporters Direct could be a good thing IF it means the SFA have got the message they are not trusted.
It means the published agenda can be changed to reflect the mood of the support.
I encourage all supporters to join their supporter trusts and give them your views to present to the SFA to become the agenda.
Join your trusts and contact them.
If you want your voices to be heard then this is definitely one effective way of doing so and Im speaking from experience.
I will encourage all Celtic supporters to join the CST now and tell them what you would like them to tell the SFA..
CST web site. Find your own and get in touch.
http://www.celtictrust.net/
Paulsatim says: August 10, 2012 at 21:31
Great article in Inverness local paper re you know who!! http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a11/toddler19/highlandnews_0001_NEW-1.jpg
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Excellent article.
e-mail of thanks and commendation sent to Mr. Bannerman.
I think it’s as important to speak out in praise of those willing to put their heads above the parapet as it is to slate those cowards who are either too afraid to speak out or are complicit in the deceit.
martin o’neill, As an ex-alumni of the institute you mention (The Nicolson one), I suspect it was just incompetence. Particularly if Kenny Nurd was still in charge.
GeordieJag says:
August 10, 2012 at 22:58
0 0 Rate This
Domaine Jessiaume says:
August 10, 2012 at 16:11
P.S. My old English teacher, Mr. Lennon, introduced a bunch of us spotty fifteen year olds to John Donne back in the eighties. One of the poems I recall was Elegy XX – To His Mistress Going to Bed. We were tickled (the girls were horrified) by the notion of the ageing Donne perving over his nubile mistress with the words:-
“Oh, my America, my Newfoundland,”
Quite racy really, now that I’ve re-read it after all this time.
————
Frank Lennon and his metaphysical poets – now there’s a blast from the past. Off topic but it’s a quiet Friday night so I hope nobody minds.
Frank Lennon was one of a number of influential teachers I was lucky enough to have in the mid-late seventies who had the innate ability to transfer knowledge and wisdom to sweaty oiks with warmth and humanity while, almost imperceptibly, generating interest and enthusiasm in their subject.
So…Frank Lennon (english), Ted Deighan (maths), Peter Boyle (chemistry), and the physics teacher whose name has sadly slipped my mind, step forward and take a bow.
=================================
He was a natural teacher. Truly a Jinky, a Baxter, or Law of the classroom. (Feeble attempt to stay on topic, but also true.) He was also sufficiently rebellious and different to excite kids about the subject as you say. I recall he commented on an essay of mine “Not your best effort, but as Jock Wallace would say “It has CHARACTER!””
Not his most inspired comment perhaps, but I knew exactly what he meant.
May I suggest we add Charles Bannerman , journalist with the Highland news to the panteon? of heroes. Turnbull Hutton, C Bannerman, Mark Daly, Alex Thomson.
Itsagoal! says:
August 10, 2012 at 22:35
Superb and brave article. I hope he’s prepared for the vitriol he’s about to receive. Pity his fellow “journalists” on radio shortbread dont have the same principles and courage.
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bestdressedchicken says:
August 10, 2012 at 23:24
Found it on CM from an Inverness poster.
Senior says:
August 10, 2012 at 23:41
100% with you on that one!
Approx 0610 hours down in Australia,I read the Longmuir articles last night and decided to wake up nice and refreshed and post ;so who is pulling his strings ? Ogilvie,Doncaster,Regan ?
I followed and posted on RTC for many months,and am indebted to the many,many knowledgable and informative contributors.However IMO the scottish football hierarchy are winning the battle..Hector,Hector where art thou….they have used sevco 2012 as the thin edge of the wedge,and driven them into sfl existence….of course this was all totally against the rules and regulations e.g. no audited accounts,business plan,etc,etc.
Now that they are in one of the next steps is for rfcia 1872,to metamorphisise itself into sevco,and hey presto no unbroken history,world record title holders,the same vile songbook,and free from 100 + million pounds of debt.
Check the sfl website,go to div 3,there sitting down near the bottom is rangers ,click on and it says rangers f.c.,FORMED 1872,
How the hell can they do this ? because they have.
I have said it several times on here that scottish football is a total disgrace,and that is still the current position,until you get a proper impartial searching enquiry into the whole corrupt situation no change will occur.
Almost time to head to the golf course for the QF of the winter cup matchplay,golf a game of honesty,integrity and sportrmanship,pity other sports are not in the same category.
PHOENIX.
Auldheid.
I joined the cst, i dont know what to expect so i will paste my comment on here, is this the kind of request and support you are hoping to see taken up by fans of all clubs and their trusts, could you advise myself and others if this is the type of action we should be undertaking. Sorry for posting here but it could be amended and used as a template of sorts, feel free to skip if uninterested.
I have been encouraged to join by a poster called auldheid on The Scottish Football Monitor. I am a lifelong celtic fan of 38 years and although currently unable to attend games i have been to hundreds, and god willing will attend hunreds more in the future. I dont know what to expect from membership but i would like to add my voice to recent uprising of scottish football fans against the inept governance of our game, particularly in the case of rfc’s timely demise and the laughable situation with sevco/Trfc. Celtic have been badly damaged both financialy and in honours along with all scottish clubs and many in europe. The fact that we are to believe a multi million pound tax scam, many more millions of debt and a decades worth of cheating can be dumped, while spl oops, div1 oops, div3 better but still irregular, ( expecting reconstruction ) football continues is disgusting. As you are aware Celtic is more than football, and Celtic fans expect true integrity and dignity from our club and it is my hope to help our club to fight for the proper governance our club and game demands, otherwise i feel fans of all clubs will desert the game and celtic will still be at the back of the bus as it heads over the cliffs.
Thank you.
A Podcast that may interest those on here ‘Beyond The Pitch’ Interview with Sean Hamil of Birkbeck Sports Business Centre.
A fantastic discussion about football clubs in the UK and how they deal with taxation, Financial Fair Play etc. The Rangers case is used as a case study.
Having listened to it you would think Mr Hamil should write a blog on the subject 😉
Podcast is available on itunes
OT but sell out Saturday is a must if we are going to demoralise the peepul. Go and support your team – and if you can’t make it to Philadelphia then go to see Raith or somewhere else instead – show your colours wherever you go!!!!!! Truly if there is great attendances this weekend it will mean more to the cause that anything else
How come a lot of you guys reminisce about fantastic teachers, dedicated to their profession and honourable to boot.
Mines was called deathbreath.
And she was female.
Maybe thats why my spolling, punctuation? And grammar isnt as gooderer as the superb contributors. 😀
sarahleyden says:
August 10, 2012 at 19:02
Lord Wobbly for an aristocrat of these columns you have just asked one of the most leading questions of our times – I can think of two million reasons why Craig Beattie might have chosen St Johnstone over Rangers. Do you want them in alphabetical order? 🙂
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I look forward to searing criticism and insight from the Daily Retard along the lines of “One time Celtic player choses St Johnstone over New Shiny Rangers to wind down career”.
Jabba , how are you spinning this one – if at all ?
Could someone explain the difference between a private tribunal/inquiry and a court of law. Are the verdicts legally binding and enforcable in the same way as a law court?
While watching old footage of The Beatles imagine my surprise that Michael Jackson was not in the videos. He may have bought the rights to the songs and his estate gets paid the royalties, but he never actually took part in the history.
Can he be considered a Beatle.
Does this make ally a dung beetle.
rab says:
August 11, 2012 at 00:59
2 0 Rate This
While watching old footage of The Beatles imagine my surprise that Michael Jackson was not in the videos. He may have bought the rights to the songs and his estate gets paid the royalties, but he never actually took part in the history.
Can he be considered a Beatle.
Does this make ally a dung beetle.
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McCoist had a few shots at glory. It’s interesting that, in the UK, he will be best known for his stint as Sue Barker’s gagman.
Lord Wobbly
McCoists a gagman alright.
He gies me the boak.
may i suggest a re-look at Mark Daly’s docu from some months back on the BBC
brings it all back into perspective
re: the Beattie signing, I think from a Saints fans point of view it is an incredible coup for us. There is no way he will be on big money, unless 20 years of financial prudence has just been dumped. Pretty sure it hasn’t.
From what I have heard he was never offered a contract by Sevco – apparently Green was unwilling, and with his injury record he is probably a bad signing for a team with a transfer ban. I think Steve Lomas has also had an affect as he is well known and respected down south where Beattie has spent the majority of his career.
Either way, with Beattie, Tade, Hasselbaink and Vine, we have easily the best attack we’ve had since the days of George O’Boyle and Roddy Grant!
riw1 says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:31
John I completely agree with your reading of “The Scotsman” article….’
——
Thank goodness for that.
I’ve just been skyping my son in Oz, and he didn’t see anything in his on-line reading of Patullo’s report that wholly justified my response.
I’ve posted often about the need to be fair and objective, and I would genuinely be distressed if I had got it completely wrong.
Re-reading Patullo’s report, and your observations, I don’t feel that I did, but am ready to see that there might be wriggle room for Longmuir to argue that Patullo’s report is probably more like a report in the DR than one that the ‘Scotsman’ should indulge in.
Auldheid says:
August 10, 2012 at 23:12
‘..The postponement of Supporters Direct could be a good thing IF it means the SFA have got the message they are not trusted.’
——
I was rather hoping, or speculating, that it might have been the SD ‘board’ itself who had gauged the way the wind was blowing and concluded that now was NOT an opportune time for discussion by them of re-construction ,unless there were guarantees that the implementation date of any such re-construction would be such as would NOT allow Sevco/The Rangers into the ‘top flight’ any earlier than they would get in if they won their way through the divisions.
Or, perhaps, the word has got out that not only are RFC(IA) a busted flush, but that Sevco/the Rangers will be legally treated as liable for RFC(IA)’s tax debts: and therefore also be a busted flush in pretty short order. In which case, re-construction in a hurry becomes irrelevant..
The minutes of the meeting at which the decision to postpone was taken should be publicly available?
Surely it must be time for Mark Daly part 3. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t see this as his duty as a top investigative journalist to unravel the clear corruption that has taken place over the past few weeks (he has been dealing with the years of corruption at deid club). From the discussions on here I’m sure someone with Mark Daly’s skill and resources could quite easily blow this whole thing wide open. As things stand it is just us Internet Bampots and a few decent journalists that are making any attempt to keep this in the public domain. Without this level of exposure I fear we will be fighting a losing battle. Not that we will ever give up.
Lord Wobbly says:
August 10, 2012 at 21:58
‘.I consider myself a gentleman. I wouldn’t dream of penetrating anyones intimate circle unless invited…’
—
I laughed out loud at your Lordship’s witty shaft.
Roll up, roll up, erra hover pitches, erra casinos, erra billonaire, erra wealth aff the radar…
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/charles-green-claims-mike-ashley-will-earn-rangers-10m-a-year-1-2461089
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/rangers-newco-ally-mccoist-and-charles-green-to-face-sfa-disciplinary-hearing-1-2461490
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/lomas-delighted-to-take-beattie-to-perth-at-second-attempt.18556873
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/reynolds-not-sold-on-well-paid-tour-of-sfl-with-rangers.18555899