In his Q&A session with the Daily Record yesterday, outgoing SPFL chairman, Ralph Topping touched on the subject of who knew what when, regarding Rangers slide into liquidation saying:
“There wasn’t one single person ever who envisaged this case happening. You tell me who pointed out that this was going to happen – did you?
“The biggest assumption about the set-up in the SPL would be that you would have Rangers and Celtic playing in it in perpetuity – nobody thought that those two bastions of football would ever be involved in anything like this and nobody flagged it up.”
Well, in October 2011 I knew. This CQN article from 27 October 2011 notes in very specific detail Rangers were going to liquidate, a phoenix would be created which wanted direct access to the SPL (the top flight at that time). I got the timing wrong, predicting the phoenix would take place during the season, but to be fair, it later became clear this was Craig Whyte’s plan at the time.
Ralph Topping’s SPL knew too. Rangers alerted them to the situation that very month. The SPL spend November, December and January preparing the ground for Rangers administration and liquidation, a period during which a new TV deal was signed.
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Strip ’em!
CELTIC
StriptheAprons
TONTINE TIM on 28TH JULY 2017 12:38 PM
ABURNTOUTCASE on 28TH JULY 2017 8:51 AM
Well played Sen. John McCain!
*and that’s what happens when a draft dodger says that a Vietnam POW isnae a war hero because he got caught. As my oul da used tae say “hell scud him”.
Topping. “These 2 bastions of football”
Well, one bastion, the other a word sharing the first 4 letters
Paul67
there is a £2.90 delivery charge – making ticket £4.90 is that right
Paul67
sorry need to choose collect
Orange bastions.
Liar
TD67
I hear you.
I think, our only advantage is going to be the financial power of Celtic supporters.
We can decide who are enemies are, and act accordingly.
Its bad enough knowing the score about the masonic referees, but what the Blazers and Huns are trying here, is a different ball-game entirely.
They want it to be legal to cheat Celtic, under their own rules.
Its the old master-servant mentality of the huns.
They want us to submit.
That, wont be happening.
HH
HELP!! HOW DO I GET RID OF THE ADVERTS?? i CANT READ A BLOODY THING
PL if you are looking in then this should make you think
‘The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing’
Paul,
Agreed, you knew. So did our Board. When are they going to speak out about this blatant corruption? Can see many seats emptying if they leave things as they stand.
Notthebus
download an adblocker
So then why aren’t Celtic speaking out Paul?
“There wasn’t one single person ever who envisaged this case happening. You tell me who pointed out that this was going to happen – did you?
———-
Well, Ralph. In October 2009 Walter Smith said the bank was running the club (no holding companies back then remember).
Maybe you could have done some investigating at that point…..???
The SMSM read the the Celtic blogs, they know how to create a divide between Celtic supporters and the y will try it, the only way it can happen is if Celtic Supporters bite, and some will, as I said earlier there are Huns in every Celtic blog mixing it, that’s a fact, nick names make that a very easy thing to do, moi? I’m an open book, so that counts me out, and ones that I know also in my book that is to me don’t count, others?
GIRFUYs no offence but you could be one :))
NEGANON2
They are playing the long game – don’t you know :)
Reply to TD67 from previous article.
TONYDONNELLY
Not having a pop,but nothing would ever change anywhere if prevailing opinion and numbers counted more than truth.
I don’t see why you think that Celtic on their own can do nothing.
Right is right. It’s nothing to do with who has the loudest voice in the argument.
There is a serious concern crystalling amongst an increasing number of the support that Celtic are content with the status quo. And a few very uncomfortable theories being aired as to why that might be.
Now,these questions aren’t being asked by tinfoil heads. But by serious professionals in everyday life who just happen to be Celtic fans too.
There is a real problem here regarding Celtic’s stance. And I genuinely hope you are right,that we are waiting for the moment to pounce.
But I’m increasingly doubtful. And I’m becoming increasingly p’d off about it all.
My personal opinion is that someone somewhere made a serious error of judgement,but in good faith.
And that the board have accepted that,and decided to go with the flow.
Me,I could probably accept that too. If it was explained.
Meanwhile,nothing!
Some great, and still pertinent to the present situation, comments following that excellent 2011 article, Paul. A real determination not to let the Newclub start off in the top tier in the way the ‘authorities’ had planned.
TD67
I am sure your correct but I would also think that such bloggers would be on the side of ‘move on’ rather than apply the rules.
‘who knew what when’
…………..this statement was released on 5th July?
######
‘WE note today’s decision by the Supreme Court. Celtic’s position on this issue has been consistent – that this has always been a matter for the courts of law and also the Scottish football authorities, whose rules are intended to uphold sporting integrity.
In 2013, we expressed surprise – shared by many observers and supporters of the game – over the findings of the SPL Commission that no competitive or sporting advantage had resulted. Today’s decision only re-affirms that view.
We are sure now that the footballing authorities in Scotland will wish to review this matter. Celtic awaits the outcome of their review.’
notthebus
if you can’t download an ad blocker then switch off javascript which kills them.
HH
Tontine Tim on 28th July 2017 12:40 pm
Class by the Senator. Water off a duck`s back to the Trumpet though, I would imagine.
GENE on 28TH JULY 2017 12:49 PM
PL if you are looking in then this should make you think
‘The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing’
—–
Who are the good men in this case?
BMCW
Would you agree that more clubs would strengthen the case against the SFA/SPFL if they spoke out?
I honestly don’t see CFC backing down on they’r stance and the last statement, they have to much to lose, imo.
Ernie
Indeed.
“We are sure now that the footballing authorities in Scotland will wish to review this matter. Celtic awaits the outcome of their review.”
Celtic is no longer awaiting the outcome of their review.
In fact, PL was a member of the SPFL board when the “legal advice” was given to them, so even when they issued that statement they knew the “outcome of their review”.
What are they awaiting now? If that can be satisfactorily explained I’ll shut up.
Just reading through the comments from Paul’s Link and this stood out:
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 27TH OCTOBER 2011 1:14 PM
You know, it’s all so darned complex that there must be hundreds of possible scenarios to how this could play out.
It crosses my mind though, given the fragility of football finances, that even a newco could fail in jig time if not adequately funded.
Wouldn’t that be a riot….
=====================
Here’s hoping.
Ernie Lynch
Are the PLC really going to try to ‘move on’?
I will be astounded if they do.
This is nuts. Basically, Blazers and Huns saying, ‘Lets us cheat, or else’.
All we need now is for John Knox to appear, ‘Satan’s Bluidy Clawes’
Its like Twin Peaks, only much darker:)
HH
Paul, With the greatest respect I dont really see the point in an article nit picking on what or what Topping did or didn’t say. Everyone on this blog could offer a fairly accurate description of him, Doncaster, Regan, Ogilvie and the rest. We know what they are and what they have done to enable this to play out in the way it has. The authorities have shown their hand. All eyes are now on Celtic. If you’re not able to see that then have a think about it. If you’re not willing to ask the question then that’s up to you. I just don’t see the point in nit picking the finer details.
GENE on 28TH JULY 2017 12:55 PM
TD67
I am sure your correct but I would also think that such bloggers would be on the side of ‘move on’ rather than apply the rules.
I don’t know any Tims that want to move on, but that’s just ones I know? Most I know like myself are up for the fight, and I’m still backing the CFC board to come out swinging, why not? Nothing to lose.
TONYDONNELLY67 on 28TH JULY 2017 12:52 PM
So any criticism of the way the board are handling the situation can be dismissed by accusing people of being huns?
Is that the best you can come up with?
I don’t think anything can be done now that will remedy all that has gone wrong with football in Scotland.
All I want is for the Celtic board to keep faith with the fans by making it crystal clear exactly where they stand on 1. the same club lie, 2.Res 12 and 3. title stripping.
At a push I’d settle for just 1.
There’s no good reason why the Club can’t do that.
Just make their position clear and let the world know what the Club’s view is, whatever the SFA, the SPFL or whoever claim to the contrary. That would do for me. It’s not too much to ask for.
NOTTHEBUS
Assuming you have the same problem I have with my work PC so can’t change settings…
Refresh the page-sometimes twice!-and quickly click the black X in the bottom right.
Bliddy nightmare,so it is!
Paul,
So was a new TV deal was signed in the knowledge rangers was finished?
I recall during the early summer of 2012 the terms of TV deal was being used as leverage to shoehorn a new club into the SPL.
I also recall some press pictures of our own PL and Doncaster off to London together to negotiate a new deal. This might’ve been the one that subsidised the broadcast of newRangers from the lower leagues although my memory on this isn’t so sharp.
Not like Paul67 to avoid the big issue. What are Celtic doing?
Or is it just squirrels we will get for months to come and let’s pretend that Celtic aren’t complicit in this.
CFC should publish a full list of games when they fielded an illegally registered player, look at end of season placings, and see if Clubs were relegated due to the cheating.We could gain support from other Clubs.
A Q) and A) with Rekord Ralph……….?
he’s a rascal!
TONYDONNELLY67
Of course I agree that more clubs would be better. But that isn’t the point.
It doesn’t matter who knows that wrong has been done. Or how many.
It doesn’t matter who knows that the fix is in. Or how many.
It doesn’t matter at all.
As long as there is one single person/club to say…
Aye,that’ll be right.
Now,Tony,I’ve never met you. But I’ll bet you a pound to a pint that you’ve said
Aye,that’ll be right
plenty of times in your life when you know when you’re getting done over-and it’s just not for happening.
Maybe you went to your union,that’s what they’re there for,innit?
And got told that that’s just how things are.
I’ll bet that pint again that it happened. And I’ll go double or quits that your immediate response was
Aye,that’ll be right.
And went out and did something about it.
That’s the position we’re in,Tony. Shafted by the powers-that-be. Let down by our reps. Told to forget it,move on.
Aye. That. Will. Be. Right.