Campbell Ogilvie’s appointment as president of the SFA was always controversial. As general secretary and director of Rangers, Ogilvie was the club’s chief administrator during the final 11-year period they refused to employ Catholic footballers. In many other walks of life, this background would make him an embarrassing relic of a former era, but in Scottish football it was enough to see him promoted to the ultimate honour position.
He remained in position at Rangers long after the new regime of Sir David Murray arrived and set aside the decades-old sectarian employment policy but left the club in 2005, joining Hearts as operations director two months later. All of this puts the SFA president in central position regarding the on-going tax tribunal, which is charged with deciding if Rangers illegally evaded tax from a period starting in 2000 and going on well beyond Ogilvie’s departure.
If the First Tier Tribunal finds against Rangers the SFA must ask for Ogilvie’s immediate resignation. The association cannot have a president embroiled in a tax evasion scam which, even before a verdict has been decided, has already caused untold harm to his former club and the reputation Scottish football. The scale of the damage to public finances has yet to be definitively established but it will not make good reading.
The SFA has just embarked on its first proper investigation into whether directors of a football club, in this instance Rangers, are fit and proper persons to hold such a position. Office holders at the association cannot exercise power over the game if they are not subject to the same standards they demand from clubs. Pending this investigation, and the outcome of the tax tribunal, Ogilvie should temporarily step aside. Scotland is not yet a banana republic, public bodies must have robust ethics and must not allow the shadow of contagion to be cast over the body charged with ensuring legal and moral standards are adhered to.
The SFA has some enormously important months ahead. Its president is currently in a position to influence which course it takes and, if the tribunal verdict falls against Rangers, could be implicated in the scandal which precipitated the crisis. While I am sure Campbell Ogilvie will be shown to have acted with impeccable ethical standards, the SFA must quickly establish a structure clear of contagion.
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Mort *****
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
Hail Hail
Mort
Mort *****
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
5 star podium performance.
Mort
voguepunter
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
hail hail
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
VP-Seen you blanked me reply:{,going to NY 16-19 March.
oglach
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
HH
themightyquinn
11:29 on 21 February, 2012
Pancake
Paddy Gallagher
11:31 on 21 February, 2012
Mort ***** says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:29
Brilliant podium and decorated in honor, what can I say…:-)
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
11:32 on 21 February, 2012
Ogilvie has a clear conflict of interests here and can’t be involved in anything that touches on his time at Rangers
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
11:32 on 21 February, 2012
Several companies have pulled out of the government’s Workfare scheme. But will that stop them forcing jobseekers to work for nothing?
You Must Work Without Pay Says The Government
Aipple
11:33 on 21 February, 2012
630am in Kentucky, will have to get up earlier to make top tens.
Off the Record !
11:34 on 21 February, 2012
Could Rangers bring down a government ?
voguepunter
11:34 on 21 February, 2012
!!Bada Bing!! Kano 1000 says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:29
VP-Seen you blanked me reply:{,going to NY 16-19 March.
______________________________________________
Didn’t blank it,don’t believe it was worthy of a reply,
for someone as esteemed as moi.:O)
KJamBhoy
11:35 on 21 February, 2012
RogueLeader says:
Leggat really is a horror. By using a pet name though does that not protact him from any legal action?
Steviebhoy66
11:35 on 21 February, 2012
Pulitzer Prize for this one Guys… :)
May have missed a post, any idea how far back this goes or is it only this season?
Going back to St Patricks Day in NY, was watching my 1st outside Trump Tower late Nineties…I think -5C . Yank woman next to me said to her friend
” Love this parade…but really wish they would have it in the summer” buckled up laughing.
Hail Hail
ToneLoc
11:35 on 21 February, 2012
Another great piece Paul, You are quite right that Ogilvie should stand aside temporarily until the findings of the FTT are published. How is it our football administrators can not see that this would be a proper course of action? Oh aye that’s right…….
RogueLeader
11:38 on 21 February, 2012
KJamBhoy – Not when it is easily traced who he means via previous blogs. As I said the defence he would offer is veritas. Spiers wouldn’t sue him for that reason.
Big Swee walks on with Neil Lennon
11:38 on 21 February, 2012
Cracking post Paul and spot on.
Off the record: Phil’s blog outlines what Paul stated very clearly in that we could be impacted if FIFA and UEFA see any govenrment intervention as a breach and could throw us out of European and National (Scotland) competition.
If such an e-mail chain does exist then for clarity and the assurance of the sporting fans of our national game, the exact nature of these mails should be made known.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
11:39 on 21 February, 2012
St. David did not give two tuppeny sucks about the huns once Lloyds toed his baws.
His 23 year dalliance with the huns has been proven without any doubt to be self serving. LOL
He didn´t sell to Ellis in the “nice London hotel” … where does he normally stay Travelodge
So after his bank baw booting escapade .. and warnings of homelessness and going back to plain old Mr he promptly phones Ellis back and puts the same deal back on the table .. the only interest on the table over a 5 year period.
Campbell Ogilvie is brought up to speed.
Ellis has a poor history within football and is an asset stripper.
Whyte is then nominated as being the Motherwell Born Billionaire ….. It has Murray and Media house hallmarks all over it.
Can´t wait until it all comes out in the wash.
Hail Hail
“Fighting the Fuzz” flavoured ice cream
11:39 on 21 February, 2012
ernie lynch says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:27
Talking about movies, why is it that Whytie’s involvement with the huns reminds me of The Producers?
———————————————
Do you mean in terms of the “going for bust” finance strategy, or the “Springtime for Hitler” singing?
LiviBhoy
11:39 on 21 February, 2012
I have a feeling today will be another big day.
Can you eat jelly and ice cream with pancakes?
LB
malceye
11:39 on 21 February, 2012
Oocha !!
Get in there Paul. He has been keeping his head down beneath the parapet.
Misfeasance in public office anyone?
weeminger
11:39 on 21 February, 2012
KJamBhoy says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:35
I don’t think it does, if the ‘owner’ of the pet name is common knowledge. I think the OC nickname was first used on FF and Leggat has picked it up from there, to show that he’s connected with the real fans.
RogueLeader
11:40 on 21 February, 2012
Paul67 – Good governance and corporate responsibility at the National Association? There is more chance of The Rangers Group being awarded the Crystal Clear mark for transparency in business.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
11:41 on 21 February, 2012
I think Ogilvie should step aside solely for allowing Whyte to take over. See my post above.
Stewart Regan does not look too clever by half also
HAil Hail
RogueLeader
11:41 on 21 February, 2012
Awe_Naw – I agree. The biggest bowls of Jelly & Ice Cream are yet to be consumed
celtic40me
11:42 on 21 February, 2012
paul67
had exactly this conversation with someone with a growing interest in all this at the weekend.
falling like dominos
The Prince of Goalkeepers
11:42 on 21 February, 2012
Paul67,
I’m delighted that you have published the above article, as far as I am concerned this has been yet another elephant (or gorilla) in the room. Yet again our mainstream media have been found wanting in ignoring this issue.
More power to your keyboard!
curly
11:43 on 21 February, 2012
LiviBhoy says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:15
voguepunter says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:02
It’s a quote from Indiana Jones. If you have seen the film it’s a great analogy.
LB
LiviBhoy -
“Raiders of The Last Orc”?
Yurcl
voguepunter
11:43 on 21 February, 2012
Paul 67
Great post,still prefer your wee cheeky ones.
Respect.
The Battered Bunnet
11:44 on 21 February, 2012
Paul
The defence “..but I’m a crap Director” would be a novel one :¬)
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
11:44 on 21 February, 2012
Looks to me like folding the sfa is the only way to go, newco sfa anyone :oD
The Battered Bunnet
11:44 on 21 February, 2012
Urcly
Terrific!
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
11:45 on 21 February, 2012
I think it is interesting that UEFA clearly see the hun sectarian singing problem as part of the local culture. That´s why they passed the buck onto the SFA for decades.
So the question remains especially after Saturday singing … why is Hugh Dallas still in employment with them.
Me thinks David Taylor and Campbell Ogilvie made sure of it.
UEFA needs challenged on this now. So Bhoys get writing
I think we should ask Shug Dallas back to referee the game to be held at Ibrox soon as a swansong … a kind of De Ja Vu moment
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning!
11:45 on 21 February, 2012
HELP!
I’ve no time to look back on the day’s developments re the mingers as really busy at work.
Can someone post a few bullet points of the main story’s today please?
Many thanks!
James Forrest is The Emperor of Ice Cream
11:45 on 21 February, 2012
Hey guys
First up, let’s start with the player registration story.
First, is it against the rules? And if so, who’s rules? No-one has been able to point out the rule to me.
Secondly, do we think they actually did this? That they were dumb enough to?
Finally, will we run out of jelly & ice cream if this turns out to be as bad as it sounds?
ulysses mcghee
11:46 on 21 February, 2012
Paul67
The Captains of Industry are beginning to lose their veneer…
Is Regan making any noises about the ongoing fiasco?
Apart from starting an already ongoing enquiry…?
U
LiviBhoy
11:47 on 21 February, 2012
curly says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:43
Great name for Ibrokes.
The temple of doom
LB
PjDali
11:47 on 21 February, 2012
Paul67
Who is going to actually ask the big question of C Ogilvie being in a position which he no longer should be? Have things within SFA changed enough in recent times that the self preservation society are no longer able to sign their own tickets?
I know Peter Lawell now has a degree of influence but seeing how SFA have done hee haw to drive answers out of their fit for purpose criteria regarding Craig Whyte, I reckon it’ll be more of the same and nothing will much happen unless a blogger like yourself, Phil or RTC (I’m sure others contribute to getting the truth out aswell) can produce documentary evidence of wrongdoing as lets face it our media is feckless and in disarray as their beloved rangers go down.
We’ve seen with DougieDougieGate \ Dallas how entrenched the SFA are when it comes to defending their own irrespective of wrongdoings.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo
11:47 on 21 February, 2012
For me is is also interesting that Steven Craven was not readmitted to the refereeing fraternity and that Campbell Ogilvie or Stewart Regan did not react to this
ME thinks Steven Craven …… may have a lot to tell … I certainly hope so
Hail Hail
South Of Tunis
11:48 on 21 February, 2012
The falling domino principle —– Disintegration time.
The joys of payback are just beginning—-
RogueLeader
11:48 on 21 February, 2012
JF – I have been digging this morning with no luck so far. I have 100% read the rules about this on this site before. I cannot remember what disaster we were discussing at the time but I have 100% read rules that players’ contracts and wages MUST be paid for by the football club and nobody else. Contracts MUST be with the football club also.
weeminger
11:48 on 21 February, 2012
curly says:
21 February, 2012 at 11:43
Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Rieperman
11:49 on 21 February, 2012
A Scotsman and an English man are standing in a bar talking about their children.
The Scotsman says to the Englishman “My son was born on St. Andrews day, so naturally I named him Andrew.”
“Thats funny”, replies the Englishman, “My son was born on St Georges day, so I named him George!”
On hearing this, an Irishman further along the bar turns to them both and says – “Jaysus lads that’s amazing, the very same thing happened with myself and my son Pancake!”
*Before anyone starts, I’m Irish myself – I just found it funny.
Kayal33
11:50 on 21 February, 2012
In any other country Ogilvie’s past, where he worked for an institutionally sectarian organisation, would have ruled him an unsuitable candidate for his current role. But when you live in the best wee bigoted country in the world, and the job is with the sfa, you’re an ideal candidate.
The Onlooker
11:50 on 21 February, 2012
Paul 67
I need to get in contact with a regular poster.
Is there a way I can find provide my email address outwith the open forum?
The Onlooker
pedrocaravanachio67
11:50 on 21 February, 2012
PeteTheBeat says:
21 February, 2012 at 10:31
No amount of money is worth that. Do we have a Witness Protection program :-)
He wont need a witness protection plan. he’s been wearing a mask ( just like dick turpin ) all this time…. that shiny latex skin and those froggy eyes. I’m sure i seen it in tamshephards. Agent Whyte will be fine.
PC67
fritzsong
11:50 on 21 February, 2012
Well done, Paul. Another piece of chicanery uncovered.
You’d wait another geological age for that to surface in the mainstream media.
The Honest Mistake loves being first
11:52 on 21 February, 2012
ulysses mcghee 21 February, 2012 at 11:46:
Pretty sure Reagan’s last statement included a ” it’s not appropriate to comment on this until the inquiry completes”
starry plough
11:52 on 21 February, 2012
Excellent Paul, I’ve been waiting a long time for this article!!!
Come out come out where ever you are!!
SP
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
11:52 on 21 February, 2012
Awe_Naw….,
The Honorable Mr Craven will be head of referee development in the newco sfa :o)