A Blog for Scottish Football Monitor by Stuart Cosgrove
At the height of summer of discontent I was asked to contribute to a BBC radio show with Jim Traynor and Jim Spence. ‘Armageddon’ had just been pronounced and if the media were to be believed Scotland was about to freeze over in a new ice-age: only a cold darkness lay ahead.
To get the radio-show off to a healthy and pretentious start I began by saying that Scottish football was experiencing an “epistemological break”. It was an in-joke with Jim Spence, who I have known since we were both teenage ‘suedeheads.’ I was a mouthy young St Johnstone fan and Jim was an Arabian sand-dancer. But even in those distant days, we shared a mutual distrust of the ‘old firm’ and in our separate ways wanted a better future for our clubs. We both grew up to become products of the fanzine era, Jim as a writer for Dundee United’s ‘The Final Hurdle’ and me as a staff writer for the NME. Without ever having to say it, we had both engaged in a guerrilla-war against what Aberdeen’s Willie Miller once characterised as “West Coast Bias”.
The term ‘epistemological break’ was shamelessly borrowed from French Marxist philosophy. It means a fundamental change in the way we construct and receive knowledge and although I used it on air as a wind-up to test Spencey’s significantly less-reliable Dundee schooling, deep down I meant it.
Social Media has proved to be one of the greatest disruptions in the history of the football supporter – greater than the brake clubs of the 19th century, the football specials on the 1970s; or the fanzine movement of the post-punk era. The pace of change in the way we send, receive and interrogate information has been so dynamic that it has wrong-footed administrators, asset strippers and sports journalists, alike. No matter who you support we are living through media history.
2012 had just witnessed an unprecedented summer of sport. The Olympics provided a snapshot of how sudden and pervasive the shift to social media has become. Over 40% of UK adults claim to have posted comments on websites, blogs or social networking about the Olympics and in younger age-groups that figure tips conclusively to a majority – 61% of 16-24’s posted Olympic comments. Think about that figure for a moment. Well over half of the young people in the UK are now participants in social media and pass comment on sport. The genie is out of the bottle and it will never be forced back. That is the main reason that Armageddon never happened: we no longer live in an age where the media can guarantee our compliance.
On the first day of the 2012-13-season, Rangers were in the deep throes of administration and facing certain liquidation. With no accounts to meet the criteria for SPL membership, one among a body of rules which the old Rangers had themselves been an architect of, the new Rangers could not be granted entry without a wholesale abandonment of the rules. It was not to be.
St Johnstone launched their new season at Tynecastle so I travelled with misplaced hope. We were soundly beaten 2-0 and both Hearts goals were entirely merited. On the day, I did a quick if unscientific survey of two supporters’ buses – the Barossa Saints Club, a more traditional lads-bus and the ‘208 Ladies’ a predominantly female and family-friendly bus. On both buses, over 75% of fans had mobile phones with 3G internet access and the majority of them posted updates or pictures before, during or after the match. They mostly posted via micro-blogging sites such as Facebook or Twitter, many commenting on the game, their day-out and the surroundings. Most were speaking to friends or rival fans. Some were publishing pictures and updating forums or blogs. And when he second a decisive goal went in some were undoubtedly taking stick from Gort, Webby DFC and DeeForLife, the pseudonyms of prominent Dundee fans, who as the newly promoted ‘Club 12’ were suddenly and very temporarily above St Johnstone in the SPL.
By my rough calculations, well over half the St Johnstone support was web-connected. I have no reason to think the Hearts supporters were any different. This small experiment reflects an unprecedented shift in the balance of communication in Scottish football and in the truest sense it is an ‘epistemological break’ with past forms of spectatorship. Social media has been widely misrepresented by old-style radio ‘phone-ins’ and by journalism’s ancien regime. The presumption is that people who are connected to the web are at home, in dingy rooms where they foam at the mouth frustrated by loneliness and mental illness. The term ‘internet bampots’ (coined by Hugh Keevins) and ‘keyboard warriors’ (Gordon Strachan) speaks to a world that is fearful of the web, irked by alternative opinions, and the threat that the new media poses to the traditional exchange of knowledge.
It further assumes that opinion from social networks is naïve, ill-informed, or unreasonable. Whilst some of this may be true, mostly it is not. No one would dispute that there are small enclaves of truly despicable people using social networks and comment sites, but they are overwhelmingly outnumbered by the multitude of fans who simply want to talk about their team and share their dreams and memories.
Social media is porous. By that I mean it has cracks, lacunae and fissures. This inevitably means that information leaks out. It can be shared, released and in some cases becomes so energetic it becomes a virus. It is no longer possible to ‘keep secrets’, to withhold information and to allow indiscretions to pass unnoticed. Newspapers have been caught in a whirlwind of change where views can be instantly challenged, authority quickly questioned and pronouncements easily disproved. Many papers – almost all in decline – have been forced to close down their comments forums. Undoubtedly some of that is due to breaches of the rules, the cost of moderation, and the rise in awareness of hate crimes. But another significant factor is that ordinary fans were consistently challenging the opinions and ‘facts’ that newspapers published.
Talking down to fans no longer works and we now have evidence – Armageddon did not happen. The beast that was supposed to devour us all was a toothless fantasy. In the more abrasive language of the terraces – Armageddon shat-it and didn’t turn up.
In one respect the myth of Armageddon was an entirely predictable one. Tabloid newspapers make money from scaring people – health scares, prisoners on the run, fear of terrorism, anxiety about young people, and most recently ‘fear’ of Scottish independence is their stock in trade. Almost every major subject is raised as a spectre to be fearful of. Most newspapers were desperate to ‘save Rangers’ since they themselves feared the consequences of losing even more readership. It was easier to argue that a hideous financial catastrophe would befall Scottish football unless Rangers were fast-tracked back into the SPL. Newspapers found common cause with frightened administrators who could not imagine a world without Rangers, either.
So we were invited to endorse one of the greatest circumlocutions of all time – unless you save a club that has crashed leaving millions of pounds of debt, the game is financially doomed. You would struggle to encounter this bizarre logic in any other walk of life. Unless Rick Astley brings out a new album music will die. That is what they once argued and many still do. That is how desperately illogical the leadership in Scottish football had become.
Armageddon was a tissue of inaccuracies from the outset. It tried to script a disaster-movie of chaotic failure and financial disaster and at the very moment when senior administrators should have been fighting for the livelihood of the league, they were briefing against their own business.
Armageddon was a big inarticulate beast but it faced a mightier opponent – facts. One by one the clubs published their annual accounts. Although this was against the backdrop of a double-dip recession and fiercely difficult economic circumstances it was not all doom and gloom. The arrival of Club 12 (Dundee) meant higher crowds and the potential for increased income at Aberdeen, Dundee United and St Johnstone. To this day, this simple fact remains unfathomable to many people in the Glasgow-dominated media. The arrival of Ross County meant an exciting new top-tier local derby for Inverness Caley Thistle and a breath of fresh air for the SPL. St Johnstone insisted on the first ever SPL meeting outside Glasgow to reflect the new northern and eastern geo-politics of the Scottish game.
European football meant new income streams for Motherwell. Of course times were tight, football is never free from the ravages of the economy and some clubs predictably showed trading losses. But the underlying reasons were always idiosyncratic and inconsistent never consistent across the board. Inverness had an unprecedented spate of injuries and over-shot their budgets for healthcare and so published a loss £378,000.
Meanwhile Dundee United published healthy accounts having sold David Goodwillie to Blackburn. Celtic reached the Champion’s League group stages with all the new wealth it will bequeath. St Johnstone – led by the ultra-cautious Brown family – had already cut the cost of their squad, bidding farewell to the most expensive players Francisco Sandaza and Lee Croft. The club also benefited from compensation for their departed manager, Derek McInnes and player-coach, Jody Morris. Paradoxically, Bristol City had proven to be more important to the club’s income than Rangers. Again this was not part of the script and proved unfathomable (or more accurately irrelevant) to most in the Glasgow media.
Hearts failed to pay players on time due to serious restraints on squad costs and internal debt. They were duly punished for their repeated misdemeanours. Motherwell and St Mirren despite the economic challenges were navigating different concepts of fan ownership. By November most clubs – with the exception of Celtic – were showing increased SPL attendance on the previous season. Far from the scorched earth failure that we were told was inevitable what has emerged is a more complex eco-system of financial management, in which local dynamics and a more mature cost-efficient reality was being put in place.
It may well be that Armageddon was the last desperate caricature of a form of media that was already in terminal decline. Flash back to 1967 when Scottish football had a so-called ‘golden age’. There was European success, we tamed England at Wembley and names like Law and Baxter brightened dark nights. Back then access to knowledge was a very narrow funnel. Only a small cadre of privileged journalists had access to the managers and players, and so fans waited dutifully for the Daily Record to arrive at their door to tell them what was happening. That system of ‘elite access to knowledge’ was in its last decadent throes nearly thirty years later, when David Murray would dispense wisdom to his favoured journalists. We now know they drank fine wine and ate succulent lamb in Jersey and the most loyal attended Murray’s 50th birthday party at Gleneagles. One journalist was so proud of his invite he danced round the editorial office mocking those who had not been invited. This was the early height of the Rangers EBT era but it is now clear that difficult questions went unasked by either journalists or by football administrators.
Although it may not suit the narrative of this particular blog my first realisation that David Murray’s empire was living on leveraged debt was from a small cadre of Rangers fans. It was around the early years of the Rangers Supporter’s Trust (RST) and they were determined to shake more democracy from the Ibrox boardroom. Whilst real fans of the club argued from the outside, the press took Murray at his loquacious word. He was in many respects their benefactor, their visionary – their moonbeam.
By the 1990s onwards, football journalism had ritualised and festered around the inner sanctums at Ibrox. This was an era where relevance meant being invited to a ‘presser’ at Murray Park, having Ally’s mobile or playing golf with ‘Juke Box,’ ‘Durranty’ or ‘Smudger’. Many journalists, showing a compliant lack of self-awareness, would use these nicknames as if conveyed closeness, familiarity or friendship. It is desperately sad that careers have been built on such paltry notions of access and such demeaning obsequiousness.
Around this period I had become a freelance radio-presenter and was presenting Off the Ball with my friend Tam Cowan, a Motherwell fan. We both wanted to fashion a show which saw football not trough its familiar narratives, but through the lens of the ‘diddy’ teams, a term so demeaning that we tried to reclaim it. Refusing to peddle the inevitability of ‘old firm’ power we sensed that journalistic compliance at Ibrox was now so ingrained that it was ripe for satirising. This was the main reason that Off the Ball branded itself as ‘petty and ill-informed.’ It was a self-mocking antidote to those journalists that could ‘exclusively reveal’ breaking stories from ‘impeccable sources,’ which usually meant they had heard it on the golf-course, from Walter, a man who needed no surname.
Many fans are astonished when I tell them how the journalism of this era actually functioned. On Champions League nights, journalists from opposing papers gathered together to agree what to write. Circulation was in decline, money was tight, agency copy was on the increase and foreign trips were under-scrutiny. No one dared miss the ‘big story’. So sports journalists who commonly boasted about their toughness and who ‘feared no one’ were often so fearful of returning home having missed an angle, that they agreed by consensus to run with variations of the same story. Celtic fans may wish to recoil at the image – but journalists would go into a ‘huddle’ at the end of a press-conference to agree the favoured line.
So the summer of 2012 witnessed an ‘epistemological break’ in how knowledge and information was exchanged. But let me go further and taunt Jim Spence one more time. It was the summer we also witnessed an ‘amygdala-crisis’ exposing the way the media works in Scotland. Amygdala is the nuclei in the brain that manages our tolerance for risk and is the key that often unlocks creative thinking. Many people in relatively high places in the media – a creative industry – demonstrated that they could not conceive of change, nor could they imagine what football would look like if Rangers were not playing in the SPL. They not only resisted change but lacked the imagination to think beyond it. A common language began to emerge that tried to ward off risk and an almost a childlike fear of the dark. ‘Scottish football needs a strong Rangers,’ ‘But there will no competition’; ‘other clubs will suffer’; ‘Draw a line in the sand’; ‘It was one man – Craig Whyte’, ‘They’ve been punished enough’ and of course, the daddy of them all – ‘Armageddon.’
The biggest single barrier to change was the lingering and outmoded notion that Rangers subsidised Scottish football. As a supporter of a club that had spent seven economically stable years in a league that Rangers have never played in made me deeply suspicious and I was in the words of the we-forums ‘seething’ that St Johnstone were portrayed as somehow ‘dependent’ on a club that was already fatefully insolvent. Because so little is known about the experience of the fans of smaller clubs, they are often misrepresented. For seven years my friends and I, travelled home and away in the First Division, often narrowly missing out on promotion as rival clubs like Gretna, Dundee and Livingston all used money they did not have to ‘buy’ success. It remains an incontrovertible fact that St Johnstone FC has been among the most consistent victims of fiscal misdemeanour in Scottish football. That is the irreducible issue. Several clubs have very real reasons to loathe financial mismanagement, rogue-trading and those that gain unfair advantage on the back of unserviceable debt.
Social media has allowed these smaller incremental versions of history to be told when the established media had no interest in telling them. Blogs can dig deeper than the back pages ever can and fans are now more likely to meet on Facebook than on a supporter’s bus. Many players now bypass the press completely and tweet directly with fans. Rio Ferdinand’s recent attack on racism in English football has been conducted entirely via social media, over the heads of the press. In the Rangers Tax Case context, restricted documents are regularly shared online, where they can be analysed and torn apart. Those with specialist skills such as insolvency, tax expertise or accountancy can lend their skills to a web forum and can therefore dispute official versions of events.
Not all social media is good. Open-access has meant a disproportionate rise in victim culture. The ‘easily-offended’ prowl every corner of the web desperate to find a morsel that will upset them but that is a small price to pay for greater transparency and even the most ardent bore is no excuse for limiting the free exchange of information.
We have witnessed a summer of seismic change. A discredited era that largely relied on ‘elite access to knowledge’ has all but passed away and information, however complex or seemingly unpalatable, can no longer be withheld from fans. The days of being ‘dooped’ are over.
It has been a privilege to participate in the summer of discontent and I yearn for even greater change to come. Bring it on.
Stuart Cosgrove
Stuart Cosgrove is a St Johnstone fan. He was previously Media Editor of the NME and is now Director of Creative Diversity at Channel 4, where he recently managed coverage of the Paralympics, London 2012. At the weekend he presents the BBC Scotland football show ‘Off the Ball’ with Tam Cowan. He writes here in a personal capacity.
Why oh why is nothing ever straightforward where the SFA are concerned ??? Apparently Craig Levein has not been sacked …….. Just ‘relieved of his duties’ but still being paid for the next 20 mths? Rid this country’s football association of these mealy mouthed ‘boards’ who CANNOT make a decision.
exiledcelt says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 00:57
Spot on, exiledcelt
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bunion says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 01:02
The very same, Bunion. He’s also a bloke who writes lists of people he considers to be enemies. Stuart Cosgrove was at number eight at one point.
http://forweonlyknow.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/chris-graham-rants/
As Christopher no longer publishes his list, one can only guess at whom he is currently obsessing over. Besides himself, obviously.
Brenda I think that’s normal
Instead of paying out a lump sum they just continue paying him till his contract runs out
rangerstaxcasesays:
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 23:30
StevieBC says:
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 21:25
______________________________
Stevie,
I don’t think this is true. It is certainly not true about Campbell Ogilvie. CO got harassed into admitting that he had an EBT for a lot more than a Chick Young night out when Alex Thompson was chasing him.
I would have heard if there was a Smith injunction on this matter.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Strange that the comment which stated that Walter Smith had an injunction preventing Walter being linked with his EBTs in print disappeared rather sharpish.
Maybe Walter has an injunction of the establishment type?
The kind of injunction that has existed in our sport for years.
It also means he’s still on their books, bound by confidentiality clauses etc.
bill1903 @ 8:13
Normal is not a word I’d use concerning the SFA however if Levein takes another job within the 20 month period the payments stop? (allegedly) …….. It’s more the stupid statement that he has not been sacked? But relieved of his duties DOH! Double speak cloak and dagger sh!t from our ‘transparent’ football association…….. When are these numbnuts going to be taken to task about their not fit for purpose status ……… They are killing the game
From : Random Thoughts Re Scots Law by Paul McConville
“The Rangers Story – Unpeeling the Rotten Onion” – Daly + Thomson – Edinburgh 19th November
On Monday 19th November Mark Daly of the BBC and Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News are scheduled to speak at Napier University’s regular Media Mondays event.
The event takes place from 1-2pm on 19th November at the following venue:
Room H5 Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH10 5DT
The university says that:-
Entry is FREE and open to all.
The discussion by Messrs Daly and Thomson goes by the title:-
The Rangers story – unpeeling the rotten onion.
___________________________________________________________________________
Should be broadcast.
Any tv or radio or podcast people out there interested?
Chris Graham is way out his depth if questioned. He has already humiliated himself over his ringing endorsement of Googlie and is half way to the same regarding Chuckles. The hard fact for these trumpets is waking up to the fact that, not only do we not want them, we don’t need them. Those years of ‘no-one likes us we don’t care’ were entrenched by the idea that they were essential to Scottish football. As Cossy’s article brilliantly articulates we will survive and have a future…..dawning on Chris ‘the weasel’ Graham et al. is the fact that they are dying……and we are smiling cos we will thrive without the hatred and poison they foster.
michaeljamesroy says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 00:04
Folks, I know it’s a bit @rsey, but he’s either Dr Cosgrove, Professor Cosgrove or plain Stuart. What he isnae is a simple mister – neither a simple mister or simple…if you catch my drift.
——
No, you were right first time. It’s a bit @rsey. SC is one of the down-to-earth Drs who don’t feel it necessary to flaunt their qualifications. (As am I … he said, flauntingly). 🙂
This boy Chris Graham.
Is it not about time, given the bile that emanates from his person, that he is dropped from television “debates” where he is given far too much respect?
Meanwhile, and entirely off-topic, have you seen the stuff people get away with in England with regard to historical religious divide? Lewes, in East Sussex, specifically … not sure what the Indians are doing there, mind:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2228318/Spectacular-parade-torchbearers-lights-streets-Lewes-Guy-Fawkes-Night-gets-underway.html
Chris Graham? who is this guy and what are his credentials & history etc? serious question – I’ve seen his name pop up now and again on here and RTC etc but if iam honest I don’t really know who he is or what he does.
From what I’ve read on here he comes across as someone lacking in intelligence, can anybody shed any more light?
thanks. 🙂
Had never seen this blog before. Brilliant stuff. Cosgrove the epistemologist!?
Surely, not even the SFA would be stupid enough to appoint Sir Walter d’EBT as Scotland manager. Would be worth it just to see FF and RM go into simultaneous meltdown at the ultimate betraya______________________________________________
What a novel idea! an addition to the honours list.
The Right Honourable Senior EBT – naw, it doesn’t sound right.
come on spill the beans , who was it that ran naked around the presstitutes office naked with a cowboy hat on , my guess its Traynor .
Senior says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 09:33
“… Sir Walter d’EBT …”
——
Aye, I saw what you did there, Senior. Good one. 🙂
“With no accounts to meet the criteria for SPL membership, one among a body of rules which the old Rangers had themselves been an architect of, the new Rangers could not be granted entry without a wholesale abandonment of the rules. It was not to be.”
Have to say, an excellent article overall. HOWEVER, …………
there is one glaring issue overlooked. Whilst Stuart tackles the issue head on with regard to the NEW Rangers failing to gain entry to the SPL (where RULES were applied and the life blood of the clubs, the support, listened to), there is NO MENTION of how the rules were circumvented, torn up, disregarded to allow NEW Rangers into the lower divisions.
That is an issue that should NEVER be overlooked.
Is that the real reason “ARMAGEDDON” and “SOCIAL UNREST” really didn’t happen?
timabhouy says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 09:36
2 0 Rate This
come on spill the beans , who was it that ran naked around the presstitutes office naked with a cowboy hat on , my guess its Traynor .
======
It says ‘ran’ !
Should be broadcast.
Any tv or radio or podcast people out there interested?
_________________________________________________
For many reasons this symposium should receive maximum publicity.
I haven’t the time – still constructing those bookshelves, but if someone has the time there is a list of relevant contacts at the top of this blog. perhaps they might send info on this symposium to these contacts, (what about it Rab?). I think all radio and TV outlets should be contacted also. Finally this symposium has free admission so there is no excuse, as many bampots as possible should attend to inform themselves on the up-to-date position of this ongoing scandal.
Brenda says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 08:41
bill1903 @ 8:13
Normal is not a word I’d use concerning the SFA however if Levein takes another job within the 20 month period the payments stop? (allegedly) …….. It’s more the stupid statement that he has not been sacked? But relieved of his duties DOH! Double speak cloak and dagger sh!t from our ‘transparent’ football association…….. When are these numbnuts going to be taken to task about their not fit for purpose status ……… They are killing the game
********************
I think this is getting normal – Celtic did same with Mowbray and Grant paying them until they found a new job – thankfully M’Boro took Tony on and Villla took Peter Pointer on. Not sure if it buys their silence or is easier to do than try to negociate a settlement of sorts – but am sure Levein will not be rushing to take a job…….unless Swally vacates one soon!
One thing that irritated me was McLeish being mentioned for it – given that he left in such a way I don’t think he should ever be mentioned for it
Premier League Birmingham City’s approach to the SFA for permission to speak to McLeish about their managerial vacancy was refused,[37] but on his return on 27 November 2007 from attending the draw for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification in South Africa, he resigned his post as manager of Scotland[38] and was announced as Birmingham’s new manager the following day. His assistants with Scotland, Roy Aitken and Andy Watson, were to accompany him. McLeish said he wanted to return to working with players on a daily basis and had “always harboured a desire” to manage in the Premier League.[39
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_McLeish
My pick is leaning to a boyhood hero – Joe Jordan – he cannot be any worse surely!
Almost forgot. It’s catching on. Several more clubs in Scottish football are to commence issuing thousands of complementary tickets – gossip has it that a new world record may yet be established – a premier league with no admission charge! Other leagues around the world are said to be interested.
Stewart Regan and Darryl Broadfoot (I think) have made a video.
(FYI – Darryl is the SFA’s Director of Communications. Seriously.)
The video might be entitled :
“Stewart speaks to Darryl about Craig” or
“Stewart reads to Darryl about Craig”
It’s on the SFA website. http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?
page=2986&newsID=10909&newsCategoryID=1
It’s also on YouTube. http://youtu.be/SOnwGFo9RRA
After saying nothing since April, Stewart gives us this.
This is a matter of such importance that he has to make a video of it.
It’s as if nothing of any significance has happened in Scottish football in the last 6 months!
Of course, the truth is, Campbell Ogilvie, President of the Scottish Fudge Association and the world’s greatest and most compromised administrator, has not given Stewart permission to speak about anything else, not since April.
And now this video. And they’ve put it on YouTube!
These people don’t know their ba’s burst.
Still, it could be worse – it could be “Stewart speaks to Jabba”
Ps. In case anyone would like to contact the SFA, you might find these useful:-
To contact SFA staff by Email please use the following format:
Firstname.Surname@scottishfa.co.uk
To contact by telephone:
0141 616 followed by Ext No
PRESIDENT’S OFFICE – Ext 6083
Karen Curwen, PA to President – Ext 6090
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Direct Line 0141 616 6004; Fax 0141 616 6003
Chief Executive – Ext 6002
Sandra Buchanan, PA to Chief Executive – Ext 6004
COMMERCIAL & MARKETING
Direct Line 0141 616 6010; Fax 0141 616 6012
Kenny MacLeod, Head of Commercial Operations – Ext 6009
Karen Presly, Brand Manager – Ext 6011
Andrea Rennie , Brand Manager – Ext 6081
Anne Marie McGhie, Personal Secretary – Ext 6010
Jennifer Hutchison, Brand Manager – Ext 6007
Colin Banks, Marketing Manager – Ext 6084
Customer Services
Alison Jack, Customer Services Manager – Ext 6194
Siobhan Boyd, Assistant Customer Services Manager – Ext 6195
Susan McCue, Customer Services Executive – Ticketing – Ext 6196
Michelle Rigley, Customer Services Agent – Reception – Ext 6221
Sharon Ellis, Customer Services Agent – Ticketing – Ext 6199
Aoibhin Friel, Customer Services Executive – Membership Services – Ext 6197
Vacant Post, Customer Services Agent – Membership Services – Ext 6198
Bob Bryan, Mailroom Manager – Ext 6062
Geraldine Buckman, Customer Services Agent – Reception – Ext 6223
COMMUNICATIONS
Direct Line 0141 616 6028; Fax 0141 616 6001
Darryl Broadfoot, Head of Communications – Ext 6028
Clare Bodel, Assistant Communications Executive – Ext 6192
Kayleigh Cameron, Assistant Communications Executive – Ext 6188
Vacant post, Assistant Communications Executive – Ext 6029
Stephen Tulloch, Graphic Designer – Ext 6032
Val West, Desktop Publishing Operator – Ext 6031
Joe McGlynn, Print Manager – Ext 6049
John Mathie, Printer – Ext 6049
FINANCE
Direct Line 0141 616 6024; Fax 0141 636 9514
Jim Hynes, Head of Department – Ext 6021
Keith Sharp, Financial Accountant – Ext 6022
Kirsten Thomson, Accountant – Ext 6023
Nicola Rae, Purchase Ledger Clerk – Ext 6024
Sandra Woodhouse/Clare Doherty, Accounts Assistant – Ext 6030
Lord Wobbly says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 00:28
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Do you think they ever say to themselves, I might not like it but they were right.
Craig Whyte wasn’t a billionaire, he was a chancer and a liar, there was no war chest for Ally, Rangers weren’t paying their tax bills, HMRC did not do a deal, a CVA was not agreed, Rangers did get liquidated, they weren’t too big too fail.
They said these things on their forums, some even went to the RTC site to tell us all. They were wrong and simply wouldn’t listen. All a “timmy conspiracy”, in spite of the fact that a lot of the people saying it were far from tims, some having as little time for Celtic as they did for Rangers. That didn’t matter though, if you are saying anything perceived as being anti-Rangers then you must be a tim.
Thing is, they are being told about issues again, and still won’t listen. There are none so deaf etc …
While I appreciate Levein didn’t get the results on the park it did look like he was trying to get things on the right track with regard to developing an overall system that could, in the future, make us competitive in the modern game. For that reason I am dissapponited to see a relatively young manager be given the bullet.
As for a replacement then I can’t see how Strachan fits the bill. Despite his record at Celtic half of Parkhead wanted him ott the door. He has done nowt anywhere else.
Walter, McLeish have had their shot and Souness & Dalglish are off the pace these days.
I hear Jordan has expressed an interest. While not having a great managerial record given his apparent role at Spurs I thnk that is as good a shout as any if we are going for a Scotsman.
Otherwise we need to splash some cash and get someone with a bit of a track record in european/world football along with experience is developing modern footballing systems that the whole country can adopt.
Was this the discussion on July 4th? An evening show, I think, tho there were several times the same names clashed over the subject. Anyway, I remember this one because Traynor was late showing up, and made more sense in his absence than he did when he finally appeared. He had no answer to anything put to him. Yet months later he’s still in a job and the Daily Record still exists. What a country.
Actually now that I’ve just posted, why not just get Harry and Joe as a package?
IPA response to my email re the Griergate tape.
—————————–
Dear SE
Thank you for your e-mail of the 26 October 2012 sent to my colleague David Kerr.
This email is being sent to all those who have submitted a complaint against Messrs Clark and Whitehouse in relation to their appointment as Administrators of Rangers FC and their handling of the insolvency of the club.
Your complaint has been noted and we would refer you to our website for further detail on the complaints process, link as follows: IPA Complaints. The most important point for you to note are that we cannot intervene in the handling of the Rangers FC insolvency. The purpose of our complaints process is to identify instances of misconduct on the part of our members and sanction that misconduct accordingly, for example by way of a publicised reprimand and fine.
We have been in contact with Duff & Phelps and continue to receive information from them in relation to the matters you have raised. We will then consider those representations in the context of the applicable law, best practice guidelines and the IPA Ethics Code for Members. The matter will then be referred to our Investigation Committee for a determination and it may be that you do not hear from us again until that has happened.
Yours sincerely
Liam Fowler MIPA
Regulation Officer
liamf@ipa.uk.com
Direct Dial: 020 7397 6434
Switchboard: 020 7623 5108
Fax: 020 7623 5127
This email is from the Insolvency Practitioners Association
———————-
Sent: 26/10/2012 11:59
To: David Kerr
Subject: Duff & Phelps
Sir
If you are not already aware, I draw your attention to the latest revelations by the BBC regarding the behaviour of Mr David Grier of Duff & Phelps. If true – I would have thought the BBC is confident of its sources – they appear to show Mr Grier conspiring with others to deceive creditors of RFC about the role of Duff & Phelps in the affairs of the company prior to Administration.
I would have thought this is inconsistent with your code of conduct.
SE
With regard to the discrepancies in attendance figures, I emailed Strathclyde Police on the subject, mentioning both TRFC and CFC (who have been subjkect to FOI requests for attendance figures).
Here’s what they had to say (“Not Protectively Marked”, therefore able to be shared with you lovely people as a direct quote, omitting the officer’s details) …
“The figures are provided to the police by the football club and is taken from live data compiled by the electronic turnstiles management system from patrons entering the stadium. The figures do not include some corporate hospitality guests and those patrons who enter the stadium outwith the control of turnstile management.
These figures are vital to ensure that there is effective queue management of spectators entering the stadium, to maintain spectator cross flow around the stadium and to ensure that there is no critical overloading of any area of the stadium during ingress.
The figures are also used as a baseline to effectively plan the resourcing of both stewards and police at future matches involving both clubs.”
—-
The way I read that, free tickets would be included in the police total – because they would have to be presented in order to operate the turnstile, which would then clock them in electronically and add them to the attendance figure.
Who else enters the stadium “outwith the control of turnstile management”? Apparently up to 10,000 at a time at both Ibrox and Parkheid?
Why do the clubs present the Police with this figure, and the press with an inflated one? Who are these 10K people, I demand to know etc.
As I’ve said previously there are a number of ways clubs can describe the attendance. I would guess that most clubs would give the headline figure as, the number of ST’s sold for that season + the number of tickets bought for the individual game + any complimentary’s handed out ie the potential audience, which is not necessarily the actual attendance.
If I have a show which has sold out all the tickets but only half of those who bought tickets actually turn up I’m still within my rights to call it a sell-out.
Where it should be called into question is when the actual numbers are being claimed as some sort of world record when this is clearly not the case but when has the truth ever mattered to Chuck.
I thought it would be interesting to juxtapose Stuart’s piece with the view from a long time poster at follow follow. This chap has posts in the tens of thousands and has been a member there for over 6 years so I think it’s reasonable to think that he is a genuine Rangers supporter and not a “timposter”.
This is the opening post in a thread he started entitled
Why do media peddle the ‘Scottish football is booming’ lie?
======================================
Surely they can’t hate us that much?
I have watched and listened with interest over the years as our media have failed to enlighten, explain or show any leadership. They simply repeat stories, crack in-jokes and explain events we can clearly see for ourselves.
The worrying aspect really began with Lawell and Lennon’s ‘Slophouse Tour’ – “We’re going to war….no more backing down” – and the resultant referee strike.
Now the refs are entitled to strike and the SFA are entitled to back Celtic (well they’re not but…) but surely the media are not entitled but honour-bound to write the truth? Why on earth did they not expose the strike’s real origins and come down clearly on the side of the referees?
This was also shown with our problem since 2011…..a media refusing to speak for the fans, players or coaches but who at times appeared to be using phrases taken from more extreme Celtic fan sites. A media who appeared to be more tribal, biased and base than educated and impartial…they WANTED us ruined and out of business altogether.
We now have Scotland ranked 56 and about to plunge to 70 in FIFA rankings, a sacked manager, a hapless SFA Chief Exec, a top league with no fans, investment or interest….and? The media don’t want change…they don’t mention youth football….they don’t slaughter Regan and Doncaster….they simply claim “It’s booming!” like an SMP cybernat typing “It’s coming!” as a response to reality, facts and actual events.
Why? Why have they all abandoned any ability to see the big picture and try and save our national game? Why don’t they care? Is it as simple as them being tims with typewriters? Surely not.
======================================
A slightly different take.
The same chap, a few posts later
=================================
Only Traynor has made ANY attempt to try and ask where this is all leading…he is only one to say:
“Okay, Celtic get a ‘win’, the diddy clubs get to laugh at Rangers for a while…but what then? What next?”
=================================
My son has recently embarked on a four year course in journalism at Uni.If he turns out half as good as Stuart Cosgrove I’ll be a happy man.
angus1983 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:21
Good work –
The Police response is what I would have expected.
For ongoing and future operational needs they need to know how many are in the ground.
Ideally they probably get a breakdown of how the crowd arrives by time and volumes so they can analyse queue forming and management etc.
If there are significant numbers entering the ground ‘outwith the control of turnstile management’ then as the Match Day Commander I would be asking questions.
Also if I was responsible for Health and Safety at these grounds I would be making sure all my recording systems and risk assessment prodecures reflected the actual crowd numbers while at the same reminding my board of directors of their corporate responsibilities.
tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:44
=======================
To make a claim based on how many tickets you sold is entirely different to making a claim based on tickets you simply gave away.
To claim an attendance based on that, when the people you gave them to for free didn’t even turn up is disingenuous in the extreme.
Agrajag,
I totally agree in the respect that it is disingenuous. It is however not unusual. Doesn’t make it right though but, when you are doing all you can to promote your club, it’s amazing what interpretations you can put on something as simple as an attendance figure. What annoys me the most is that our MSM simply corroborate these claims. Sadly nothing surpises me nowadays in this regard. TRFC seem to have an even stronger grip on the media than before (if that is possible) but one day it will all come crashing down, the media will move on to another love-child and this will all be looked upon as merely an event in history.
RFC (v.2) is a busted flush no matter how Chuck dresses it up. Whether a (v.3) emerges is still to be seen.
charliebrown@09.15
Chris Graham is a complete random nobody. He started a Blog a while back and used it to post utter nonsensical drivel. The same “reasoning” you hear off some of the extremists on FF.
He is an almost sober Leggo who simply repeats the usual mantra of “watp”, “it’s a Timmy conspiracy”, and “we are pyure victims”. Like Charlie Chuckles that is enough to give him Cult status amongst those who struggle to recognise reality.
I am not exaggerating any of this. If you were to read his 1st few weeks of blogs you would be literally astonished that this guy has ended up in the media being asked his opinions on our game.
Listening to Talksport this morning…Ronnie Irani and Ally Brazil…
Imagine the following…you are listening to radio’s version of the chuckle brothers discussing who the next Scotland manager should be…when suddenly and without warning Ronnie declares “what about Ally McCoist?…lets be honest he has taken Rangers as far as he can”..the uncontrollable laughter that came over me was…to be honest…so dangerous I had to stop the car.
I had considered calling the show to bring to their attention the shocking bahviour of said individual over the last 6 months let alone his abysmal managerial record that should exclude him from ever being considered never mind involved with the Scotland national team…
But seriously Ronnie Irani…ALLY McCOIST for Scotland manager…what a PHUD!
Bill McMurdo’s boy has been blogging about info he is sitting on, apparently deadco were not alone in the cheating stakes he has accused another team and it will be made public soon.Smacks of desperation and whataboutery i thought they were dignified and honourable, seems i was wrong
While applauding Stuart’s article, I feel I have to take issue with his assertion that the clubs’ annual accounts can be used in evidence of his position. As an example he uses Dundee United’s recently announced profits, but these are for the year to June 2012. It’s going to be another year before we see the real effect of Rangers’ collapse in the published accounts and even then it won’t be completely clear.
Senior.
Rest assured that i have taken snippets from posters on the blog, or built my own synopsis around information garnered from here and forwarded it to various contacts or relevant bodies, as i am sure many others are doing.
Unfortunately, like yourself, i havent been able to spend as much time as i would like on this project, though i am encouraged to see replies from MoJ and FOI requests being chased and followed up by eminent posters such as JC and LTL to name but two.
Our real strength is in our diversity and our numbers, and i dont mind standing on the shoulders of giants and lending my support. Having a media heavyweight like Cossy referencing and writing for us could be a watershed moment as we attempt to turn the tide of misinformation in the media.
P.S
I was going to suggest you buy a kindle and avoid the bookshelf construction, but i prefer a hard copy myself.
“Cohen and Stephen will remain interim liquidators until they are granted a formal appointment at the first creditor meeting. A creditor meeting must take place within 42 days of their appointment – however, the liquidators are trying to speed this process up.”
Full
http://www.creditman.biz/uk/members/news-view.asp?newsviewID=16863&id=1&mylocation=News&chksrc=NNow4251
.
Wow! – Somebody trying to speed things up? – Blimey!
chancer67 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:48
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Bill McMurdo’s boy has been blogging about info he is sitting on, apparently deadco were not alone in the cheating stakes he has accused another team and it will be made public soon.Smacks of desperation and whataboutery i thought they were dignified and honourable, seems i was wrong
———————————————————-
Maybe he’s just caught up with the Hearts tax tribunal story!
paulmac2 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:45
Christ, Ally Brazil has done well for himself. Last time I remember seeing him was as a poodle-haired midfielder/forward for Hibs in the mid-eighties. 😉
RM worthies, on what would happen if Mr Charles were declared “not fit and proper”:
Bear #1:
I imagine Imran Ahmed will take over if and when should Green have any hidden issues that raise alarm, simples. Green will be out.
Bear #2:
Or have Walter back on the board to turn up the heat with a few diplomatic volleys. They couldn’t aim that accusation at SWS. Reagan and Co (including P. Liewell) could never take on Smith as he is a winner , a bear and has many friends in Scottish football. Smith would have them running for the hills.
——
Aye – no way has Cardigan got anything to hide. He has an injunction that says so. 🙂
Meanwhile:
Bear #3:
Any news on the new kit deal?
Bear #4:
Did Green not say we were signing with Adidas next week, 2 months ago?
——
Unfortunately, they don’t seem to make the connection that it was actually just a bit of a fib.
chancer67 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:48
Bill McMurdo’s boy has been blogging about info he is sitting on, apparently deadco were not alone in the cheating stakes…
—————————————————-
it’s going to be about Juninho isn’t it…..oh dear!
chancer67 on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:48
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Bill McMurdo’s boy has been blogging about info he is sitting on, apparently deadco were not alone in the cheating stakes he has accused another team and it will be made public soon.Smacks of desperation and whataboutery i thought they were dignified and honourable, seems i was wrong
=======================================
I am sure i heard a rumour that Juninho had an EBT. 😀
chancer67: McMurdo Jnr has simply repeated what is posted on sites like this. To be fair that is showing an intellect not yet seen from the dark side. By acknowledging the facts and figures of the Bampots he is truly the first EVER to break from the head in the sand mentality.
His latest “revelations” will be on Hearts and will be information unashamedly taken from Bampot sites. As soon as information on what is going on at Hearts is posted on here or similar sites he will go public with HIS! “scoop”.
As many have said on here for a long time, Romanov has been unnaturally silent on the exposure of media, SFA and SPL bias and cheating. Something has obviously been brewing.
Sadly though McMurdo will simply see issues at another Club as an opportunity to deflect and excuse the £130 million con.
McMurdo is past denial, which is further than any of the others have managed, however he still has a long way to go on the “deflection” side of things.
NTHM
snap.
Deadco are not the only cheaters, sevco had unregistered players as well. I doubt if this mcmurdo’s angle though.
StevieBC says:
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 22:30
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Perhaps along with a copy of the FTT result, we could also donate JT, HK and CY to the Scottish Football Museum ?
———————————————-
What? Is it going to be a Black Museum?
Not good news for Hearts fans…..from Auntie Beeb
Hearts need help from fans, says John Robertson
By Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland
Former Hearts star John Robertson is urging fans to invest in the financially-stricken Tynecastle club.
Hearts hope to raise £1.79m with a share offer that will give supporters a 10% stake and Robertson has been enlisted to support the campaign.
“This is a call to arms,” Robertson told BBC Scotland. “It’s as simple and straightforward as that.
“We need all the Hearts fans to help, if they can. The club is in serious, serious trouble.”
The Edinburgh club are currently disputing a demand from HMRC for £1.75m relating to a number of loan players that were at Hearts from 2005.
But director Sergej Fedotovas has insisted that none of the money raised by the share issue will be diverted.
And Robertson, who is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and had a brief spell as manager, is convinced the club are doing the right thing.
“I spoke to David Southern [managing director] and Sergej and I asked for three things: honesty, integrity and transparency,” explained the 48-year-old.
“I asked a lot of questions about the state of the club and how they were going to go forward.
“The club is in a severe financial state.
“The wage level is coming down to a sustainable level but they need help to get to the end of the season.
“But it’s not all about wages. It’s about keeping the floodlights on, pitch maintenance, the plumbing and other staff salaries.
“Once we get there [the end of the season], the cuts that are in place will come in again and the club will be self-sustaining.”
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov is no longer bank rolling the club and wage delays have become common place at Tynecastle, the latest of which resulted in a player registration embargo.
“It’s been a helluva seven years [since Romanov took over],” added Robertson. “Some of the players that have been here have been incredible.
“But the wages paid were unrealistic.
“Mr Romanov wanted to challenge the Old Firm and he threw a lot of money at it.
“Now he has cut his personal investment right back.
“He may have lost interest a little bit but he still wants the club to go forward in a strong position.
“This is a bit like market research. If the fans come forward and show an appetite to get involved then I’m sure the next step will be to release more shares, with the potential for others to get heavily involved in the club.”
I think we need to update the Kubler Ross model for 17th century activists.
Duped.
Aggression
Bogitry
Destruction
Armageddon.
paulmac2 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:45
But seriously Ronnie Irani…ALLY McCOIST for Scotland manager…
——
But seriously … would you put it past them?
Juninho had an EBT!! The guy shouldn’t have even got a wage 😀
angus1983 on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:05
I think RTC tweeted within the last 24 hours that Mr Smith has not engaged an injunction.
Following the posting by Barcabhoy and his tweets has there been any further chatter on the nuclear issue?
I found Mr C.’s blog most interesting. Is there not a case though that we are actually in the throes of Armageddon but in a slightly different form?
What I am thinking here is an extension of some of what Mr C. says – it is actually the MSM that are facing Armageddon due to being outflanked by internet bampots and tweeters.
As Mr C. says information is flying over and around the MSM and no longer are they the sole conduit to ra peepul (in general) for this.
Now if the MSM offered credible analysis and comment, peppered with apposite questions they might still have a role.
Acting purely as unthinking printers of press releases places them very much in the position of all those red telephone boxes that found their niche was as a convenient place for dogs to pee against. Of course some of the MSM appear to have been already carrying out that function for some years….
tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:44
As I’ve said previously there are a number of ways clubs can describe the attendance. I would guess that most clubs would give the headline figure as, the number of ST’s sold for that season + the number of tickets bought for the individual game + any complimentary’s handed out ie the potential audience, which is not necessarily the actual attendance.
================================
As I understand it that is entirely standard practice. However it really isn’t of any interest to the Police, who are more interested in the number of people actually in attendance, when they arrived etc.
M8Dreamer
While not wishing to deflect the magnitude of the fraud carried out by Rangers FC(Dead) and the associated corruption to allow Rangers Tribute Act to continue playing football in Scotland, the impending financial doom emanating from the Diet Rangers Tribute Act is another reminder that
football clubs who do not comply with the rules will subsequently disappear.
The Hearts supporters are and always have been, in a state of denial of any dodgy dealings being associated with Vladamir Romanov. It will now end in tears with the remains of a football club that does not even own a stadium to play in and is worthless.
You were told, just like your cousins in Glasgow, but refused to beilieve and now you need to face the consequencies.
redlichtie says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:40
it is actually the MSM that are facing Armageddon due to being outflanked by internet bampots and tweeters
===========================
Yes. Armageddon from the MSM / RFC point of view, is a bright new dawn from the internet bampot / twit point of view! It is a natural cleansing… the old rubbish is being swept away to make way for the new age of reason and tolerance and shared information (or something like that)…
Agrajag says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:47
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I thought it would be interesting to juxtapose Stuart’s piece with the view from a long time poster at follow follow.
—————————————————————————–
That post you copied just goes to show it doesn’t matter how much you crawl to them, or suck up top them it will never be enough. It’s like the gangster (EGR) character in Key Largo – he will always want more no matter how much he gets.
So the MSM has been completely anti-Rangers has it? The MSM wants Rangers destroyed?? It’s almost like looking into another universe where reality had been bent into the complete opposite of what it is in our (real) world.
It’s almost amusing to see the likes of Regan etc. being attacked by those they corrupted and compromised themselves to try to help. Was it worth it you guys? (The Jabbas ot the world won’t be bothered, for them being ignored is the worst thing that can happen).
m8dreamer says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:57
… the Diet Rangers Tribute Act …
—-
Eh … I know what certain teams are referred to on other forums, but nae sure if there’s any need for it here. 😉
m8dreamer says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:57
I think many Hearts fans are more than happy to admit their club is on a shoogly peg.
Rather than denial I think it is more of a case that they really know how best to get out the potential mess they are in.
Vlad holds nearly all the strings
A Blog for Scottish Football Monitor by Stuart Cosgrove:
Great blog Stuart…
Could this not be the official handover by you & TC to the slugs at Clyde of that OTB coveted title…most petty & ill informed…
to SSB’s most rank un informed cringeworthy,denialist & succulent show on radio..?
redlichtie says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:40
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I found Mr C.’s blog most interesting. Is there not a case though that we are actually in the throes of Armageddon but in a slightly different form?
What I am thinking here is an extension of some of what Mr C. says – it is actually the MSM that are facing Armageddon due to being outflanked by internet bampots and tweeters.
As Mr C. says information is flying over and around the MSM and no longer are they the sole conduit to ra peepul (in general) for this.
Now if the MSM offered credible analysis and comment, peppered with apposite questions they might still have a role.
Acting purely as unthinking printers of press releases places them very much in the position of all those red telephone boxes that found their niche was as a convenient place for dogs to pee against. Of course some of the MSM appear to have been already carrying out that function for some years….
———————————————————————————
the new media does indeed pose a huge problem for the old media.
to date, the old media relied on access, t’internet bampots (didn’t exist but, if they did) didn’t have the access to the club and players.
how did the presstitutes get that access? they distributed the bulk of the clubs pr releases (unmolested) and from time to time, they wrote a wee but that went against the grain of the club – though usually in a way that was not likely to damage the cosy relationship.
This suited the old media AND the clubs. The club got to put it’s spin out there
However, all of a sudden, the old media are no longer needed, the clubs have their own channels to put their spin out there, directly to the clubs supporters.
but of course, this doesn’t suit the clubs 100% either – as now the fans/customers have access directly back to the club and the clubs supporters to counter the spin. The fans can no longer be treated like mushrooms by the club and every statement/act will be dissected by the internet bampots out there. Suddenly the clubs wil have to up their game and no longer treat fans like blind, compliant sheep who spew money when demanded. The clubs are going to have to work for the money now, in short, they are going to have to treat their fans like the customers they realise we now are.
but the clubs will respond to that and will get there, if they are seen to be doing the right things, the fans will stick around until they catch up
But where does this leave the old media?
what role do they have? Virtually nothing – in a traditional sense. However, as the rise of blogs and forums have shown, there is an appetite for the media to put the truth out there, to offer opinion (even if it’s wrong – so long as it is an honest opinion) to debate and to challenge. It might mean abandoning the cosy relationship with clubs and might mean they are denied the direct access to clubs and players, and it will almost certainly involve them working for a living!
many of them won’t be up to it.
twopanda says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:57
“Cohen and Stephen will remain interim liquidators until they are granted a formal appointment at the first creditor meeting. A creditor meeting must take place within 42 days of their appointment – however, the liquidators are trying to speed this process up.”
===================================
I think the liquidators will pretty much be able to do what they want when they want, within the limits of the law and procedure. Any creditors meeting or vote really just involves them agreeing what they want to do with HMRC, who I imagine will just let them get on with things and report back to them.
LongTimeLurker@13.36
I would be stunned if Abandon Ship Walter didn’t have EBT’s. But does Uncle Walter actually need a Court Injunction to have bad publicity ignored by the MSM ? Daly didn’t mention him in his programmes and I would have thought he would certainly not have been too scared to out Walter as a tax cheat.
Personally I think that either Uncle Walter and his puppet Sally shredded everything connected to themselves and Daly didn’t have enough to prove his involvement, or those at the very top in MSM have banned mention of him, maybe even at the REQUEST of Police and Politicians for fear of “Social Unrest”.
Well done, Stuart. A fantastic piece from someone in the media willing (nay, happy) to accept the new realities – not only in relation to TRFC, but to the consumption of media. Can anyone even vaguely imagine the likes of HK, JT, or CY actually boarding not one, but two supporters buses to guage feelings?!?! I hope your colleagues in the MSM don’t give you too hard a time about this article, though I know that being right and more intelligent you could tear them all to pieces anyway.
Finloch’s comment yesterday really made me realise the way newspapers are going. Like him, my 16 and 19 year old never show any interest in newspapers – tabloid or broadsheet – and will probably never read one in their lifetime. I hadn’t thought about that.
Without wishing to be too up ourselves, the response to Stuart’s blog has been great, too. Reasoned, accepting, forward thinking. Great stuff. Make sure we don’t become too smug that all is heading our way, just because a paragon of the MSM agrees with our stance. He is one (of few) against many, let’s be honest.
The response on here and the re-emergence of Barca and RTC him/herself shows much is yet to come and our need to be ready for it and contrasts markedly with some of the comment on the RFC* boards. My recent favourite is that Sally is now back in favour after one big win!
It appears that on this site, the musical heroes come from pre-punk and although I am of a similar vintage, I embraced punk and (some) subsequent evolutions. While I am no great fan of the Kaiser Chiefs, they are at least 21st century (!) and this chorus for me sums up so many facets of the lower elements of the RFC* (follow)following and their relationship with the bad elements of the press.
“We are the angry mob
We read the papers everyday
We like who we like,
we hate who we hate
But we’re also easily swayed”
I’ll kid myself on that any TDs are only my dinosaur-rock wind up! (hehe)
Agrajag says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:50
tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:44
As I’ve said previously there are a number of ways clubs can describe the attendance. I would guess that most clubs would give the headline figure as, the number of ST’s sold for that season + the number of tickets bought for the individual game + any complimentary’s handed out ie the potential audience, which is not necessarily the actual attendance.
================================
As I understand it that is entirely standard practice. However it really isn’t of any interest to the Police, who are more interested in the number of people actually in attendance, when they arrived etc.
==========================
That’s why I clearly stated this was the way the club might announce the crowd to the MSM. The figure supplied to the police would be the accurate one though.
Acting purely as unthinking printers of press releases places them very much in the position of all those red telephone boxes that found their niche was as a convenient place for dogs to pee against. Of course some of the MSM appear to have been already carrying out that function for some years….
——-
Very well put redlchtie. It reminded me that about 15 years a go we used to get 3 newspapers a day in our house, plus a Sunday paper and the local weekly newspaper. Nowadays I get the Herald twice a week, on Thursdays for the film reviews and Saturdays for the book reviews and the coming week’s TV guide. As this usually co-incides with comment pieces by the two Ians (Bell and Mcwhirter) it also gives me some intelligent opinion to chew over as well. The only time I miss newspapers is when I’m painting and need to put something down on the floor. The rest of the time there is less to recycle and therefore less waste (the first rule being don’t create waste in the first place). Of course I still buy a Sunday Post every week for my father but at 88 he can be forgiven an eccentricity. Having given up buying a Sunday paper for myself it frees up a lot of time to get on with something constructive at the weekends (even painting!).
Where does this lead – well the circulation of almost every newspaper is down and continuing to fall. It is clear they are increasingly being left behind, change in lifestyle and availability of online sources, blogspots etc. are certainly major factors. But how much alienation, gratuitous or otherwise is created by “journalists” themselves. My opinion is as good as Jabba’s isn’t it? Why should I pay him, or anyone else for that matter, to tell me what I should think? If that opinion was based on an intimate knowledge of the subject together with a penetrating forensic analysis I wouldn’t mind so much (see Stuart Cosgrove), but when it’s repetition of a press release dictated to him by someone else…
There is a lot of resistance amongst the “professional” press to the emergence of citizen journalists. After all they say, there aren’t citizen brain surgeons. But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a journalist. A bit of digging, asking the right questions and being able to put concepts across coherently isn’t difficult. Many of us have to gather facts, weigh opinions, come to conclusions and write reports in our professional lives. And if you still don’t like citizen journalists then the answer is simple – do your job properly!
Agrajag says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:50
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tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:44
As I’ve said previously there are a number of ways clubs can describe the attendance. I would guess that most clubs would give the headline figure as, the number of ST’s sold for that season + the number of tickets bought for the individual game + any complimentary’s handed out ie the potential audience, which is not necessarily the actual attendance.
================================
As I understand it that is entirely standard practice. However it really isn’t of any interest to the Police, who are more interested in the number of people actually in attendance, when they arrived etc.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If it is all based on season tickets and advance sales and the number of known freebies and hospitality then the attendance could be given out on Friday at noon for all it matters. How then do you record the number of ‘pay on the day’ briefs?
However is it not the case that crowd numbers are often announced during the game.
Come to think of it if listening to Radio Scotland gameday pundits will often be passed the crowd figure during the second half and comment is often made if it is good crowd or not.
The other week they actually questioned the figure at one game as the total they were given didn’t add up based on the info that was provided about the number of away fans.
I think I am right that I have heard other specific mentions of figures for the away ends on the radio?
These figures must surely come from the turnstile management system, if it is splitting up the sections of the ground.
Therefore the ones provided to Police and media on the day should be pretty similar.
Close on 10k ‘hospitaility’ (regardless of the club involved) outwith the knowledge of Police and stadium security (and possibly the accountant and tax man) is a bit of a worry in my book.
A fascinating insight from Stuart Cosgrove on the machinations of the meedja !
Tthe fact that he feels free to write it, and is happy to write it authored here – shows just how far we have come. Jabba is now kept solely for his comic value – he has the credibilty of a Leggo or a Chris Graham – just another ranting delude angry buffoon. Cosgrove is a different animal altogether.
I have stated here previously and will again – I think the BBC should put him in charge of Sports coverage in Scotland ( actually possibly all TV output of the beeb in Scotland – most of it is dire frankly) of the Beeb in Scotland. He understands how the media works and how it is changing and he could give some vibrancy and relevance to its output across TV, radio and crucially the new Media.
A Rangers free future , I believe, is coming very soon. The revelations of the tax affairs of Zeus, and CG’s own tax affairs, the realisation that the pledges on online were 80% timposters ( bad boys!) and that it will struggle to raise enough even to keep the club afloat never mind get anyone a payoff means that Time is almost up for new Rangers.
Many believe – I no longer do – that some other incarnation will emerge. The last eight months have been such a fiasco, the club is so damaged in terms of its reputaion and branding and the opportunity to replace like for like will not be available as the asset scramble of the disintegrating sevco devours Ibrox in its midsts that I think the Big Hoose will close and stay closed.
If something emerges – and I am not convinced that the bears truly have either the heart or the love of football to do a Wimbledon or a United of Manchester but they might – it will be small, organic, Govan based and playing juniors until a pyramidal system and some investment brings them into the league in a few or not so few years time.
I don’t think a team in blue at Ibrox called Rangers will be playing next season, or by the end of this one. I think it unlikely that such a club will ever re-emerge.
At that point an Armageddon of sorts will have arrived , most Scottish clubs will struggle more , a couple of administrations may well follow on from the inevitable Hearts and Dunfermline ones that are imminent, and a couple of clubs may in fact actually go under and disappear for good.
This is the price of reality kicking in. Without a Rangers, the print media (Sun and Record) will cut back their Scottish coverage to virtually zilch ( no loss really) and the era of the succulent lamb will end with a whimper.
manandboy says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 10:16
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WRT my previous post which attracted 3 TDs and which contained the contact details of SFA staff,
may I assure all readers that no malevolence whatsoever was intended by their inclusion, and, further,
all contact details were taken straight from the SFA website where they are in full public view.
Notwithstanding, I offer a full apology for any offence caused.
chancer67 says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 12:48
Bill McMurdo’s boy has been blogging about info he is sitting on, apparently deadco were not alone in the cheating stakes
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Ah for God’s sake, don’t tell me Newco are at it now.
tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 14:31
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Agrajag says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 13:50
tomtomaswell says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:44
As I’ve said previously there are a number of ways clubs can describe the attendance. I would guess that most clubs would give the headline figure as, the number of ST’s sold for that season + the number of tickets bought for the individual game + any complimentary’s handed out ie the potential audience, which is not necessarily the actual attendance.
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As I understand it that is entirely standard practice. However it really isn’t of any interest to the Police, who are more interested in the number of people actually in attendance, when they arrived etc.
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That’s why I clearly stated this was the way the club might announce the crowd to the MSM. The figure supplied to the police would be the accurate one though.
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I think I’m agreeing with you, I posted this on the previous blog comments yesterday.
Agrajag says:
Monday, November 5, 2012 at 11:53
Re attendance.
There really are two figures.
The attendance figure issued by most if not all clubs takes Season Tickets (whether the person attends or not) plus “match day” sales (whether the person turns up or not) plus any others for example complementaries. I believe this is common practice.
The Police figure for attendance will be just that. The number of people in the stadium, or as close to that number as they can get. They really won’t be interested in whether those people paid or not, or whether people paid but didn’t actually turn up.
Breaking.
Delegates from the San Marino FA, and the Turks and Caicos Islands FA call for the SFA to appoint Alistair Mc Coist to the vacant Scottish job.
thebasharmilesteg says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 14:32
There is a lot of resistance amongst the “professional” press to the emergence of citizen journalists. After all they say, there aren’t citizen brain surgeons. But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a journalist. A bit of digging, asking the right questions and being able to put concepts across coherently isn’t difficult. Many of us have to gather facts, weigh opinions, come to conclusions and write reports in our professional lives. And if you still don’t like citizen journalists then the answer is simple – do your job properly!
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When you hear sports presstitutes coming away with remarks like “tax matters aren’t my thing” or “it’s a finance story”
then, yeah, why should we pay to read the opinions of these guys
they work for organisations that have business and finance sections, they have access to lawyers and accountants who can brief them, they can read, google, research
basically, why should i listen to their opinions on a subject they don’t grasp and have no intention of learning about?
and to top things off, i’ve rarely heard one offer an earth shattering insight into the abilities of any individual player, or a wonderful tactical insight into how a game is panning out. In fact, i’ve often wondered if they watch the same game as me as i listen to radio commentary sitting inside the stadium
clueless feckers the lot of them….DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!
Agrajag says:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 15:03
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We are in agreement. The only point I’m trying to make is that Chuck’s figures can be construed as accurate if you want to take a certain point of view. It’s typical double speak and he uses it to great effect most of the time. The bears are only to happy to read that they are breaking all sorts of records, regardless of the truth, but hey who cares about the truth in this whole saga.
I would expect however his figures to be challenged by at least someone in the MSM but to date no-one has ventured down this path. It’s what we’ve come to expect from them, no challenge on the adidas claim, the Dallas Cowboys or the 500m fanbase. Their subservience is quite staggering.
If I didn’t know better I’d think it was all part of a plan to pull the wool over the eyes of the TRFC fans. 😀