So much happened yesterday, I’ll be as brief as possible:
Newco Rangers sent their counsel to the Court of Session to protest Charles Green’s contract with the club, stating it should pay legal expenses, now crystallising ahead of his forthcoming criminal trial.
In opposing Green, James Wolffe QC raised various objections, but as is often the case when people speak on behalf of Newco, included an arbitrary insistence that Newco operated the same club as the now liquidated Rangers.
Green’s QC, Jonathan Brown, put his pit boots on before stating his client’s case, but tantalisingly, before lunch informed the court that he would return to the same club/new club debate later. And didn’t he. Brown explained that Sevco Scotland purchased the assets of Rangers, not the club itself, with poetic prose adding:
“The team are paid by Sevco, plat at a ground owned by Secvo, are trained by a manager who is employed by Sevco and fans buy tickets from Sevco. That is the business that is being carried on.”
Adding that Rangers were “a collection of assets”, “What if the players were sold to one person and Ibrox to antoher, where is the ‘club’ then?”
I had to look away from court reporter, James Dolman’s Twitter feed at this point. It was like watching an acquaintance being humiliated. Not something you want to see.
Lord Doherty will determine if Newco should pay Green’s costs in due course, but this will be soon, as Jonathan Brown noted, “the rainy day has arrived”.
This next bit is really important:
Soon after court ended, Dave King was out with a rambling statement on the Newco website. If it was designed to play to the galleries, it hit the spot. If it was designed to influence what happens to his club, or how others will regard his input, it was surely an horrendous mistake.
It was a hard day to be chairman of Rangers International FC PLC. The court hearing only happened because the club objected to its contract with Green, so the unedifying episode could easily have been avoided. Despite this, sometimes you have to shut your mouth.
Sure, some Newco fans love a bit of grandstanding, but you know what yesterday’s statement will achieve. If the objective of the statement was to convince other Scottish clubs not to consider disciplinary action against Sir David Murray, or oldco Rangers, for their actions, it was an almighty miscalculation.
Threats seldom work. This one is unlikely to curry favour: “If the history of our Club comes under attack we will deal with it in the strongest manner possible and will hold to account those persons who have acted against their fiduciary responsibilities to their own clubs and to Scottish football.”
In short:
Don’t threaten clubs you are trying to influence.
Don’t grandstand to your own fans if you are trying to influence other clubs.
Keep a poker face. Keep your mouth shut, even if it means taking grief from your fans for the lack of public reaction.
King’s statement also addressed the sporting advantage issue from what we now know was an unlawfully operated tax scheme. While the EBT scheme saved tens of millions of pounds, and King earlier intimated this did provide a sporting advantage, yesterday he insisted the advantage was financial, that the shareholders were “committed to providing funding to the club” and would have done so, if required.
Here’s the thing, in 2012 another King statement revealed, “I have made a claim of £20m on the basis of non-disclosure by the then chairman, David Murray, of Rangers true financial position as far back as 2000.”
That commitment to further shareholder funding seems predicated on some controversial information. According to King, of course. Controversial enough to launch a £20m claim, but not to inhibit investment.
For the war-chest hunters among you, if you read this article covering King’s 2012 statement, you’ll find a strong clue.
One other quick but important point:
Some media are attempting to portray questions of sporting advantage as Rangers being punished for spending money they could afford, a travesty, as so many other clubs have done likewise.
This must surely be a deliberate attempt to misunderstand the issue and manipulate the debate.
No one suggests Rangers should be punished for spending money they could not afford. The questions are straightforward:
Did Rangers break tax law, break SFA rules and break SPL rules, when contracting football players?
Did they disclose matters openly with authorities (in other words, inadvertently make mistakes), or did they conspire to subvert the rules by hiding incriminating information?
Spending like the Borgias? Time to move on. Conspiracy to subvert the rules? We have a problem.
Don’t be distracted by potential ramifications to these questions, they are irrelevant for now. We should consider no more than did they break all of the above rules, should any the rule breaking be interpreted as an oversight, or does evidence of conspiracy to subvert the rules exist?
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As the world tries to come to terms with last night’s atrocities in Paris there must be serious doubts over next year’s Euro finals in France. The timing and place of last night’s attack was no coincidence.
COWIEBHOY
When did you start reading that rag?
Shame on you!
(I wouldn’t have posted my earlier comments if I’d read yours first,honest)
“cheating at any level will not be tolerated”
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/nov/13/athletics-governing-bodies-suspend-russia-from-all-competitions
Simple, eh?
Vive La France.
Why do the SFA refer to the LNS inquiry in legal terms ?
It was not a trial and there is no legal presidence.
Shouty-bwoo-tie-guy seemed well on-message with his “wade-in” statement……………………
Hmmmmmm.
*weary*
Canalamar,
Yip. One of the frustrating things is that LNS is frequently treated as having the authority of the law courts.
He was a retired judge presiding over an SPL-convened and regulated inquiry.
There was nothing legal about it, which is why he was allowed to accept evidence as laughable as Bryson’s.
Judicial Review would blow it out of the water. I think that’s where we’ll end up.
Was that the record or the Dandy? My goodness ! Talk about media spin, wow! A first year law student would blow that article apart, not one thing about the evidence being wither from the Law Lord, about Bryson, nothing, the man who wrote that has an IQ of a jellyfish, talk about desperate ?
With regard to that statement from Hampden.
That is excellent — just the kind of statement that is to be welcomed.
If it can clearly be shown that there was evidence that was never put in front of Nimmo Smith, evidence that was witheld from the SFA by their own officials or by others, or situations that misled Nimmo Smith into an altogether false position — Then the SFA itself is more sunk than the Titanic.
And all of that evidence does exist.
What a huge mistake that statement was!!!!!!
Can I thank everyone who has donated to the sleepout appeal so far.
There have been some truly fantastic and humbling donations and comments.
Thankyou – it is really appreciated.
For anyone who wants to make a contribution going forward here is the link.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jamesmcginley1?
Thanks again
BRTH
TonyD
Your on a roll this morning :-)
BMCuWP
I’m blaming that ghuy Sheik Yerbouti, forced me to have a look on News Now :-)
And
Canamalar, glad you have brought some clarity to the facts of the matter :-)
Thought it was a load of tosh ( pish for you Glaswegians)
Clearly the SFA is being run by office-bearers who believe that if they can facilitate a stitch-up,that is the end of the matter.
Time to welcome them into the real world. I’d start wi a few P45s.
BRTH what statement from hampden?
COWIEBHOY
Never mind the Sheikh.
The blame game is only just beginning on this one. Once it dawns on them that justice WILL be done,and seen to be done,just watch for the rush for the lifeboats.
NEGANON
Bottom of the last page,post from COWIEBHOY. An article from the DR,with comments from the proverbial ‘source’
BMCuWP
Just listening to the tele, drink 5 cups of tea a day if you want to live a long happy life :-)
Hope those lifeboats are from the titanic BRTH refers too
Hail Hail ( just been told I’ve got the hoovering to do :-(()
Sounds like Daryl Broadfoot has been out with his press pals from the Laptop Loyal…..
Bmcuwp
There’s just no mechanism tho
ah well
Shocking situation in France.
Prayers said for all concerned.
Where next?
Is anywhere safe?
Mechanisms to strip titles from tax cheats in Scotland has become the new haven for the scoundrel.
As it happens there is a 0-3 forfeiture against cheats in football,the logical,righ and next step is to remove successes gained.
Any opposition to this is part of the problem which is ruining or sport.
Thoughts with the many innocents killed in the planet’s power games by the few.
HH
Mr Pastry flounced?
He’ll be back soon under another guise.
As usual.
Let’s see who spots him/her first.
BT
Love you buddy!
The world has truly gone mad. God Bless all of the souls in Paris and their families. RIP
Philbhoy ;-)
Robinbhoy
How’s the knee?
Seems mine is fine for another year hopefully but my back is goosed. 8)
Surely LNS started from an assumption that the tax scheme was legal and considered the registration issues in that light? Now we know that basic assumption was false everything else from there on falls.
The papers today are wonderful. They praise athletics for taking swift action against cheats and also condemn Celtic for asking for action to be considered against cheats. And no hint of irony at all.
Never mind radio Clyde, never mind the Daily Record, they are playing to an audience, and never mind sporting integrity, stick to the facts “improperly registered” like Al Capone was never found guilty of murder but when it comes to taxes you can run but not you can’t hide (apologies to Al C for the terrible analogy)
Whether the titles and cups were “11 v 11” the question is what 11 were properly regestired ?????
LNS
it proceded under belief that EBTs were legal,
that has now been found to be wrong, so full LNS report should be torn up and binned,
hun media are squealing in desperation just now.
BT, is goosed but not bad enough for a TKR yet. Been to see Dr Alberto Gregori at Ross Hall, he said wait. I kneed (spot the pun) a complex knee replacement (3D printed custom made joint) so he wants to wait until I’m in significant pain which at the moment I’m not.
Only two hospitals in Scotland capable to do this, Hairmyres and Golden Jubilee so I’ll wait until he says go.
Take care, RobinBhoy
Gordon J
Stop inserting facts into the LNS enquiry, obviously he stated that his findings were indeed based on the then Rangers winning the “big tax case” another thing that the then Rangers actually admitted about wrongdoing in the wee tax case (£2.4m) so therefore in that case players were “improperly registered” which means 0-3 as in Legia Warsaw……..
Never mind follow the money chase them on the crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s
Gerryfaethebrig,
Aye those “facts” are inconvenient for them. That’s why they prefer the usual “sweep under the carpet” and “it’s all just tims getting obsessed” strategies
ROBINBHOY on 14TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:03 AM
‘The world has truly gone mad.’
###
I’m not sure that it’s any more mad now than it’s ever been, more likely that some of the symptoms of the madness are manifesting themselves closer to us, and that’s what’s disconcerting.
Robin bhoy
He operated on my brothers knee in March and he is back golfing and refereeing kids football matches
Take care
Gordon J
Their ignorance has been their downfall, I am definitely not obsessed but I do enjoy their pain, by the way next time you hear or read Mark Warburton he is morphing into sleekit McCoist, he loves the words “dignity” & my favourite “absolutely”
As for dodgy Dave No2, every time he opens his gub hopefully it annoys all the fans of other clubs, me personally, I just have a wee smile to myself at his desperation to get Celtic involved
I heard an interview on BBC with Jackie bird and Lee mcconnell
Titles should be stripped – medals awarded retrospectively – cheats must never win – think of the people who compete honestly and the effort and time devoted.
Of course this was all about the Russian athletes not rangers
Don’t have time to post often as I’m always playing catch-up. Been reading the guardian this morning re-the horrific Paris atrocities, then had a quick read of latest DR Orwellian twist to ensure Establishment cheaters aren’t punished.
Switch to CQN to restore my sanity to see the Paris story dominating but the focus of discussion then changes briefly to the dilemmas, difficulties and dangers of a poster’s delayed knee op.
Amongst all the madness, the juxtaposition of the 2 themes cheered me up enormously.
Thanks robinbhoy and good luck with the op whenever it happens.
HH
Stopthewhingers –
the beauty that is CQN! Off to look at a new car then later I’ve been told I’m shopping for a Christmas Tree ;-)
John Hartson on Soccer AM.
Celtic Park is my favourite ground.
Legend,
BOYD BLASTS MOLDE FOR TARGETING SIMUNOVIC
By Ruairi Daly 25 mins ago 3 min read time 53 reads No comments yet
Jozo Simunovic was targeted by Molde in the game and forced him to come off through injury, says former Celtic player Tom Boyd.
The 21-year-old was a doubt ahead of the game after aggravating an ankle injury he sustained in training following the Ajax game in the closing stages of Celtic’s 3-1 win over Aberdeen.
After spending a month on the sidelines recovering from the injury he was beginning to play regularly when he suffered another ankle injury and had to be substituted for Tyler Blackett.
As quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times, Boyd said:
It was late and I do think that it was deliberate. There has been no secret that Celtic have struggled defensively this season but they have looked more assured when Jozo has been in there.
Having him out of the game so early most certainly worked in Molde’s favour.
With barely five minutes gone in the game, Ronny Deila was forced to make a substitution in the game and ultimately could have cost Celtic their place in the Europa League this season.
Simunovic looked assured in defence alongside Dedryck Boyata in their four starts together so far, with both players feeding off each other and building a reliable partnership at the heart of the Celtic defence.
The Croatian did join up with his national team under the insistence from Deila that he must not play if the injury flares up. However, the Croatian manager Nenad Gracan, said he won’t use Simunovic as he hasn’t recovered from the ankle injury.
Instead, he will return to Lennoxtown and continue recovering from the injury, with the crucial game at home to Ajax on November 26th on both the player and Deila’s mind.
Shoppin’ for an ole Christmas tree in November?
All you bhoys that quote all these legal arguments are missing one point.This ebt debate isn’t getting played out in court. It’s happening at Hampden and its not a level playing field and with Celtic saying it’s up to the Authorities we admit it’s wrong but can’t get involved it’s operation SWEEP SWEEP. This comment maybe a ASS or a halfwit but that’s how I see it panning OUT.
Can anyone point me in the direction of all these press statements from other clubs asking from sporting integrity.