When you have a potential loss to the tax payer of £75m, allegations of tax irregularities, political interference, alleged sporting malfeasance and stand of the brink of the largest corporate failure in Scottish history (discounting the bailed-out RBS) the profile of the story rises above the blogs and regular Scottish media.
Alex Thomson, chief correspondent for Channel 4 News, a man who reports from war zones, interviews prime ministers and presidents, decided to look into how the SFA were handling the current crisis in Scottish football. Yesterday he blogged on the subject, raising many of the questions we have asked in recent months.
On Twitter this morning he reported his experience in trying to get some sense out of the SFA, this is what he said:
“SFA say President Campbell Ogilvie is ‘distancing himself from the current Rangers investigation’ but did not explain how.
“Campbell Ogilvie ‘did not know’ about EBT contract when he was Rangers FC secretary?
“When we asked why not – that was his job – SFA said they didn’t know.
“SFA say their President and fmr Ranger secretary Campbell Ogilvie will not be interviewed by c4news about what he knew…
“SFA say their President Campbell Ogilvie ‘has no plans to stand aside from his job pending current Rangers probes…
“Interesting SFA have just accused me of ‘lying’, ‘pig-headedness’ and then put the phone down mid-conversation….
“all because I put their own statement back to them that Campbell Ogilvie denied knowing about EBTs at Rangers…
“And suggested there might be a perceived conflict of interest in his current position until the investigations are complete”
Three weeks ago we suggested that Ogilvie’s position as SFA president was untenable, saying “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 SFA have been able to dismiss pleas for sporting integrity and ethical standards from the blogsphere while the mainstream media have either chased the hapless fall-guy, Craig Whyte, or refused to take the Improper Registration of Rangers players seriously.
SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, was flushed out his slumber by Mr Thomson’s comments this morning, Tweeting to the reporter, “Please could you confirm who you have spoken to. thank you.”
Stewart, if you really need to ask that question, you’re in more trouble than I thought. There are several thousand CQN’ers who could help answer that one.
Campbell Ogilvie and the SFA cannot hide from the facts of this crisis. He is president of the SFA and both he and the association must acknowledge there is work to do. We can only hope Uefa finally decide to take a look.
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podium!
boom
Another fine post, Paul.
pigalle
Podium?
Now 2-0 to the U19’s
Make that 3 after 17mins
I notice the SPL are saying to Alex Thomson that they’ll basically follow the ruling of the FTT re: the 2 contracts situation – total cop out – means they’re not doing a jot of investigating themselves…or perhaps know too much and don’t want to give further ammo to HMRC?
Aye???
1.30 Chelt Steps for Freedom win and Dancing Tornado each way 4.00
Keep getting this into the mainstream media outwith Scotland and we will get justice for all their cheating over the years
Bhoycott
hope alex thomson will go the distance with this
First past the post por moi! :)
See that Channel 4, weeks behind Paul67 and the internet bampots lol!
Can only hope Thomson keeps at it, this would be another big story in his already considerable career; although it pales into insignificance to reporting from warzones, the whole RFC/SFA story was always going to be a big story for whatever proper journalist actually started taking a peek behind the SFA drape: once again the Scots MSM are shown up for the lapdogs we know they are.
As Paul67 says, we must hope UEFA get involved though if i’m honest I can’t see them doing so :( “it’s a local problem” or some such
GOD BLESS HER MAJESTY
What colour of tie will Rahman be wearing at 6.15PM? Black for their funeral?
It is as plain as the nose on your face the SFA/SPL will do nothing about this conflict of interest until forced to do so just like Dougie Dougie and he Dallas got moved not sacked
S, REVENUE & CUSTOMS
Well done paul,you do indeed have the bit between your teeth and thank you. HH
Back fae the pub for the geegees.this could be even more interesting than my favourite four days of the year!
Rumours that Tom Bowyer-sp-is interested in this.
I’ve read a few of his books,Conrad Black and Gordon Brown in particular could tell you he is like a dog with a bone.
He’s not on Tony Blair’s Christmas card list either……….
From the last minute of the last article
The Rule
They couldn’t remember what was the rule?
Thinking everyone is just so easy to fool
Saying ‘we’re not really sure what they mean’
As spinning a line is just becoming routine
Fluster and bluster is the way that they rule
Thinking everyone is just so easy to fool
Forgetting that we’re now in the internet age
We read every line and scan every page
So next time they are unsure of a rule
Thinking everyone is just so easy to fool
Drop us a post here at the CQN blog
We’ll explain it to you and clear up the fog
Paul67
On one hand I am laughing at it all. On the other, it fills me with absolute despair because these are the people in charge of National game.
Of topic
But I’ve just got my 11 year old daughter a ticket for her first cup final at hampden!
Can’t wait to tell her when she gets home from school.
Im one Happy daddy.
jellyandicecreamsunday
serenity
I would have chose back log instead of fog
Brilliant stuff as usual
Nice to read you back
Hail Hail
contact channel 4 and
sing their praises on what
a sterling job Mr Alex
Thomson is doing
as the media in scotland
wont
Paulmcstayshorts
As RalphWaldo pointed out last night the use of two contracts will not be determined by the FTT decision.
If they rule ebts ok then that does not mean two contracts were not involved no more than a ruling ebts were eere illegal means there were two contracts.
However to be fair to the SPL they might mean the have to wait for the FTT to complete to be able to pronounce anything, the line being taken by the SFA too and with some justification that the FULL extent of guilt is not known yet.
Finger on the pulse as usual Paul. It will be interesting to see if Alex Thomson will keep up the pressure and how the SFA will respond if he does!
Glanced at a rumour yesterday – Investigation to be launched for payments from RFC (in adminisration) to SFA going back number of years. Did anyone else see this? Is there any substance?
Now 4-0 its a rout
My first podium and I read your article.
Noted something on the D+P website. It apperas normally D+P would give regular updates on the website regarding insolvancy and recovery cases. After taking over der hun they released two updates then stopped. Looking at the discomfort Paul Clark looked in during the weekend press conference I would suggest D+P board and MD’s are somewhat uncomfortable with the unprecedented media focus. Regardless of what advertising or payment D+P are receiving this cannot be seen as good period for the company. I’m sure they are doing everything that is possible to complete this sorry business.
As for SFA….. like Rangers they seem incapable of coping beyond the comfortable enviroment of scotland which has protected them for so long. if they want to prevent the focus on there organisation spreading beyond the borders of Scotland they need to take prompt action suggested by yourself Paul. The lawyers should be informing Regen that they have full control over protecting the credability of his organisation. Not how to worm his way thru the crisis.
keep up the good work Paul.
And i dont know if you aware but there is important meeting later today at CP
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/dangers-rangers-tax-shambles/850
ok folks click the facebook recommend button
Hail Hail
Bontybhoy
You make a good point about not getting caught up in motivation but concentrating on competence.
Avoiding that was how pressure was put on the SFA re transparency and accountability.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes – If I was a conspiracy theorist I’d suggest they were all members of some underground society that fast tracks incompetents to positions in business they aren’t worthy of
It’s an interesting theory.
Rangers aren’t the only once-mighty Scottish institution that has been brought low by the incompetence and arrogance of its leaders. The Royal Bank of Scotland did it in grander style. (thumbsup)
South Of Tunis – Fondly remember the fabulous Robert Maxwell being interviewed on Radio 4 boasting about how he was instilling the entrepreneurial spirit into his sons and opining that, when he retired, he had no doubt that Ian and Kevin ” would keep their old Dad’s ship afloat ” Boom Boom.
Let’s hope Sir David Murray hasn’t upset The Mossad. (thumbsup)
The Italian football scandal pales into insignificance compared with Scotland. Juventus merely tried to influence the appointment of referees for their matches.
It’s official. Scottish football is corrupt.
pigalle @13 02. [ previous thread ]
” And also a piece about the Duffers being improperly registered as Hun administrators ”
Mmm —– he is not the first to suggest that some of the legal necessities relating to their appointment might not have being kosher . [ no suggestion that D and P knew ]
It is interesting that the man who supposedly did the preparatory work , organized the necessary meetings, got the necessary approvals, did the necessary documentation, got the necessary signatures etc chucked his day job and disappeared shortly afterwards. Anybody seen Gary Withey ?
A fabulous mess . Things just get better.
Hun fighting fund
Walter Smith, Sandy Jardine, Jim Hannah and Rangers Supporters Assembly President Andy Kerr will control the bank account and pass on donations to administrators Duff and Phelps as and when the money is required.
PaulMcStaysShorts on 13 March, 2012 at 13:17 said:
I notice the SPL are saying to Alex Thomson that they’ll basically follow the ruling of the FTT re: the 2 contracts situation – total cop out – means they’re not doing a jot of investigating themselves…or perhaps know too much and don’t want to give further ammo to HMRC?
++++++++++++++++
Aaaargh, how can they possibly follow the ruling of the FTT?
Either:
the players had two contracts and didn’t disclose one to the SFA/SPL.
or
the players received undisclosed payments from a third party on behalf of the club
Seriously, this fact has to be given greater exposure: that by using the EBTs (and presumably not disclosing them) then irrespective of the FTT findings, for or against Renegers, they broke the rules.
5-0 would be great if we were 5-0 up against motherwell by 35mins next time we play them
Hun’s on the run!