State aid advocates ready to help Rangers

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Quite apart from this week’s admission by First Minister, Alex Salmond, that he has been arguing with HM Revenue and Customs to “for goodness sake get a settlement” with Rangers, I continue to receive reliable assurances that HMRC are coming under pressure from all political angles to effectively offer state aid to Rangers FC PLC (in administration).

In short, if HMRC acquiesce, Rangers will have their debt zeroed and will be out of administration with only their 10 point penalty to show for years of financial doping.

Fifa guidelines explicitly prevent governments from interfering in football.  State aid to any one club is about as explicit a contravention of Fifa rules as there can be.  This jeopardises the places of Scottish clubs in next season’s European competitions and could lead to the Scotland national team being banned from the World Cup qualifying group, due to start later this year.

It is the SFA’s job to insist that all state intervention in football stops immediately.  I urge you to write to the SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, stewart.regan@scottishfa.co.uk and Uefa president, Michel Platini via his PA marion.haap@uefa.ch, asking them to take immediate action to stop all state interference in Scottish football.

Celtic have an excellent chance of Champions League football next season and we don’t want politicians of any colour getting Scottish teams banned from international competition.  The silence of the SFA on the subject, despite extensive media coverage, is very disconcerting.

It’s time for you to play your part in these important times.

Fancy writing something for CQN Magazine? Drop me an email and let me know what you would like to write about before you get started, just in case someone else has the same angle covered: celticquicknews@gmail.com.

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  1. 17 February, 2012 at 13:54

     

    hen1rik – Bhoys in any help in what to write in this emails would be appreciated.

     

     

    DEER SANTA

     

     

    GONNAE NO LIT THE RAINGERS GO INTAE LIKWI- LIQA- ehhh, DAE A MIDNIGHT FLIT.

     

     

    AH HUV BEAN A GOOD BEAR THIS YEER

     

     

    WATP

     

     

    “HENR1K”

     

     

    AGED 47 1/2

     

     

    (thumbsup)

     

     

    share

     

     

     

    No need to be nasty mate I’m only asking ok.

  2. Joe Filippis Haircut on

    Gordon J I agree with yor post there is to much at stake for HMRC to fudge this case. H.H.

  3. Borrowed from RTC

     

     

    Lord Wobbly says:

     

     

    17/02/2012 at 12:35 pm

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    8

     

     

     

     

    0

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rate This

     

     

     

    Pmacgiollabhain Excellent source in Holyrood: ” Salmond

     

    thinks he will be the hero of the hour if he can broker a

     

    deal with HMRC to save Rangers.”

     

     

    Pmacgiollabhain @CelticHub if Salmond gets his way

     

    then HMRC will back off from demanding payment should

     

    the FTT find in Hector’s favour.

     

     

    Salmond is seriously misjudging this if these tweets are accurate.

  4. Rangers Pub Names

     

     

    The Graveside Inn

     

    The Liquidated ship

     

    The Tombstone Tavern

     

    The Anti-Social

     

    Swally McMoist

     

     

    TJ

  5. SSN shauny alooko ahead in the poll for this weeks goal of the week

     

    Man that mob know how to back their team in a (dare I say it?) crisis

  6. Harald Flatpack on

    Paul

     

     

    It will never be as obvious as that. If HMRC relent to such pressure we will never prove it. A CVA will be agreed and an argument formed as to why it’s in everyone’s interest and stuff “moral hazard”.

     

     

    I have been more worried recently about how this matter affects our club and support than it does them. Collectively we were dancing on the grave of Rangers FC. If they end up debt free, major players in place and in reputable ownership I’m not sure even a treble will placate the anger of some of our fans. Furthermore the club must be ready to rise to whatever challenge a stronger Rangers brings.

     

     

    Nothing would give me more pleasure than Rangers FC failing but if they don’t it’s all about my club and not spending time and energy on why they didn’t fail

  7. jock steins celtic at 13:54

     

     

    A proposed CVA is put towards all the creditors and a vote is taken to decide if it should proceed. There needs to be a 75% (by value) majority to pass the vote. Say I was owed 12% and you were owed 12% and we were both opposed to this, the other 76% could still approve the CVA.

     

     

    Mort

  8. From a Q posed on twitter:

     

     

    Have Ticketus bought season tickets for Glasgow Rangers home games, or Scottish league games held at Ibrox?

     

     

    Is it possible then that a newco playing at Ibrox would also find their STs owned by Ticktus?

     

     

    Owning ST rights to an extinct club is n9o good t anyone. Surely Ticketus,/Octupus, with all its experience, wouldn’t allow itself to be duped like this?

  9. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Why can I not get the picture of Michel Platini watching the Tic play the huns at Celtic park sitting next to Dermot & John ?

     

     

    b>HAil HAil

  10. Rieperman says:

     

    17 February, 2012 at 13:20

     

    As this involves the HMRC, which are a BRITISH Govt dept, could this not then result in the banning of all British clubs as well as all British national teams?

     

    It would be interesting to hear how the English media feel about that?

     

     

    ———————————————————————-

     

     

    That is also my reading of it. HMRC are a UK institution (an actual one not a made up one) and as such any kind of assistance provided by them (for example in the form of tax write-off) would be a UK problem.

     

     

    In a best case (dream) scenario that means, EPL, WPL, SPL et al. are out of eurpoe. It may also mean the end of the English, Welsh, Scottish and N.Ieland football teams. That kills the SFA, WFA and FA and could lead o a BPl. British Premier League where Rangers start in the conference at best.

     

     

    It will probbably mean tha the Salmond will be forced into a humiliating climb down again.

  11. Glendalystonsils likes a mr whippy with his lime green jelly on

    KevJungle.

     

     

    You’re dead right there. Them that makes the rules can easily break the rules

     

     

    ……..simply by changing them.

     

     

    This country is run by peepil. We need to be at the top of our game, if that means involving bodies like EUFA/FIFA from outwith the “peepil” culture then needs must.

  12. BlantyreKev - Parcel=> on

    Folly Folly/others

     

     

    Aren’t they are saying they own the asset?

     

     

    The asset therefore does not belong to Rangers, so unless Rangers are liquidated they will continue to own the asset of the tickets for Rangers games, it will not be part of the administration if it is not owned by Rangers. This is therefore legacy restriction on the ability to generate money that even administration cannot wipe out.

     

     

    This is potentially dynamite and the biggest possible nail in the coffin. It does mean Ticketus are shafted if (and only if) Rangers FC (PLC) are liquidated and no longer can they sell tickets for ‘Rangers’ games.

     

     

    Now the question has to be how they could have bought a Rangers asset and not paid the money to Rangers! I’m guessing this is where Financial Assistance will be alleged and Whyte may soon be in the dock?

     

     

    Also if they bought the tickets in advance there is VAT to pay, no doubt.

     

     

    An opening salvo from Ticketus, back in your seat guys, buckle up… here we go again.

  13. Paulsatim

     

    Partisan Belgrade

     

    The thing that sticks in my mind about that game was no one joked on the way out. As someone who watched some awful Celtic teams there was always a bit of humour in the crowd. That night total silence, no anger no shouting. It was very strange

  14. Paul67

     

     

    Have sent email – from a practical point of view can I urge others to include the key message in the subject line

     

     

    There is no way Marion Haap is going to read through all of the messages but if theyhave something along the lines of

     

     

    “Scottish Government Interference in Football”

     

     

    as the Subject then the key message should get through!

     

     

    VertWolf

  15. jock steins celtic on

    Mort – HMRC still have over 25% of the debt with the 9 Million PAYE debt ? So they can block any CVA they do not like ?

  16. Ticketus again

     

     

    If they own STs, they can’t be fobbed off with a CVA. Because CVA is for debt. Ticketus would still get wjhat they were due from new ST sales.

     

     

    That makes it likely that Ticketus will covet for the CVA? Which, if we’re wroking on just 9m currently for HMRC, is enough to carry the vote until the new tax bill hits.

  17. TheOriginalSadiesBhoy on

    Does anyone have any news of Neil Lennon’s news conference today? They said on Clyde SSB last night that he would be asked questions about his tweet yesterday on RFC Administrators’ news conference.

  18. I don’t know how these people in the’ know ‘get all their facts from regarding possible state intervention in HMRC versus Rangers FC PLC (In Administration ).

     

     

    Todays leader in CQN initially had me a tad nervous. However, I believe that the article would have more credibility if the writer revealed his/her reliable sources. Chic Young, Traynor, Keevens et al,often used the rider ‘good reliable soursces’ and we know how reliable these sources have been.

     

     

    I read this extract in todays Scotsman On Line regarding state monetray suupport to R…..:

     

     

    “Sports Minister Shona Robison today confirmed that no public money will be used to help bail out Rangers. Despite reports earlier this week suggesting that public money might be used, Ms Robison issued a statement today saying: “While we are able to offer support…I want to be clear that no public money would be offered to bail out any football club and this remains the same with Rangers.”

     

     

    So, if no money is coming from the public purse, what other political pressure is being brought to bear, to help the bears.

  19. StMichaelsBhoy2 on

    I honestly can’t see HMRC being pressured to forego a tax debt in the current climate.

     

     

    Nevertheless, it wouldn’t do any harm to make sure UEFA and FIFA are aware of the posturing of our politicians re getting Rangers out of their current mess.

  20. StMichaelsBhoy2 on

    stflannansbg says:

     

    17 February, 2012 at 14:04

     

     

    I agree with your general point, but if Rangers are allowed to not pay even a fraction of the taxes they have withheld, then public money WILL have been used to bail them out.

  21. Here we are less than 50 hours away from a game against the hibees and the usual suspects want to keep on bumping their gums about the Huns and taxes

     

    Get a life they are finished wtf are you going to discuss when they are dead and gone……how paddy McCourt (who he) is world class

  22. Citibhoy Shoulder to Shoulder with Neil Lennon on

    My note to Reagan if any one looking for ideas etc… Lets get the pressure up

     

     

     

    Mr Regan,

     

     

    The issues surrounding the ongoing events at Rangers Football Club (in administration) are well documented.

     

     

    One of the areas of great concern to me as a fan of a club not implicated in financial doping is the involvement of politicians in the ongoing saga.

     

     

    I’m of course concerned about the interference in due process but also by the requests that HMRC compromise on the amounts of money due to the public purse.

     

     

    Please understand that any debt waiver/ restructuring of the debt owed to HMRC as a result of political intervention will represent de facto state aid for the benefit of one club.

     

     

    I’m sure you are aware of the FIFA and UEFA rules on state intervention and the implications for Scottish football.

     

     

    If my clubs involvement in any prospective European competition is jeopardised in any way, I would fully expect them to seek redress from you the governing body.

     

     

    I would encourage you and the board of the SFA to consider very carefully the consequence of any endorsement or support of these ongoing political machinations

     

     

    Yours sincerely

     

     

    Citibhoy

  23. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Rangers still owe the big tax case.

     

     

    They lost that case and are currently appealing it

     

     

    Therefore Rangers were served with this bill for the big tax.

     

     

    That bill has not gone away.

     

     

    so when it comes to dismissing CVA´s HMRC are in an untouchable position

     

     

    SO WHAT AM I MISSING ?

     

     

    Hail Hail

  24. Bhoys i refer you to my post in yesterdays ” keep our name out of it Salmond” article

     

     

    oglach says:

     

    16 February, 2012 at 12:17

     

     

    It all sounds so depressingly familiar.

  25. .

     

     

    Folly Folly..

     

     

    No Worries Buddi.. That tweet was from the Octopus website..

     

     

    Where as the Tweet I posted Re; Administrators was a Tweet.. Lesson Learned.. But still hoPe it’s True..

     

     

    Summa

  26. jock steins celtic on

    the question for Ticketus would be do they own the ST of a Newco.

     

     

    with Ticketus owed 24 Million the current Rangers are lumbered with it and can’t remove it with a CVA.

  27. Glendalystonsils likes a mr whippy with his lime green jelly says:

     

    17 February, 2012 at 14:01

     

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

     

    We have plenty of, well healed movers and shakers and, their contacts if need be so, I would imagine that there must be a, plan B,C,D etc for Celtic FC/PLC if, the mess becomes even more so ?

     

    My dream is that…we somehow pull a move to England out of the bag and, leave the dinosaurs back here in The Land That Time Forgot!

     

    Hail! Hail!

  28. mickbhoy1888 says:

     

    17 February, 2012 at 14:06

     

     

    You just finished the night shift?away to your bed grumpy.

  29. re Rangers Ticketus ‘debt’

     

     

    Are Ticketus creditors of Rangers FC PLC (in administration) or are they actually creditors of whatever parent company Craig Whyte used as the vehicle for the sale?

     

     

    The administrators were quite pointed about where the money did not go to, and it would appear that the deal was concluded prior to the acquisition of Rangers FC PLC (in administration), so again: are they creditors of the orcs?

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