Campbell Ogilvie was an executive director of Rangers for the first five years of their Employee Benefit Trusts and during their earlier illegally-executed tax avoidance Discount Options Scheme. He received a ‘loan’ from a Rangers EBT, which he has not repaid and is not expected to repay, and recently described his company responsibilities during this period to a friendly journalist as being administrative, and then legislative.
He has been a director of the SFA for 22 years and is now president.
During the period when Ogilvie was director of both Rangers and the SFA the club illegally registered dozens of footballers with the SFA. All directors are responsible for actions of a company, executive directors especially so. Those who represent themselves as having administrative and legislative roles, absolutely so.
SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, yesterday defended Ogilvie’s shameless refusal to resign by offering a defence which echoed Rangers ‘Craig Whyte acted alone’ defence, which was comprehensively dismissed by the SFA Judicial Tribunal.
Regan said, “We have had very clear feedback that the president was not involved in any letter or correspondence with regards to player EBTs.
“We are all aware of businesses being run where you have one owner and operator running the club and a number of directors sitting below. The way this process has been managed, a lot of this correspondence was done much higher up the chain than Campbell Ogilvie.”
This is cringe-worthy nonsense and gets to the heart of the lack of corporate governance at the SFA. Mr Regan is not qualified to assure us that Mr Ogilvie has no case to answer. That is not a judgement for him to make and is certainly not an inference that can be made on the basis of private comments from Mr Ogilvie or other former Rangers directors similarly contaminated by this issue.
Before the chief executive can state as fact how Rangers conducted their business, and the limited involvement of Mr Ogilvie, some form of inquiry must have taken place. No such inquiry happened.
“We have had very clear feedback”, said Mr Regan. Who is “we”, was it an independent panel that received this feedback, or did Mr Regan deal with this personally? Who gave the feedback? Was Mr Ogilvie subject to the same independent scrutiny as anyone else in the game, from Neil Lennon to Craig Whyte, or was this passed off with a handshake?
Mr Regan’s failure to recognise the serious corporate governance failures in his conduct is alarming. We don’t need this guy to know the offside rule but he has to understand good corporate governance requires questions against your president to be openly and independently investigated.
When these are our standards, what else is the executive turning a blind eye to?
Mr Regan was careful to limit his claim on what Mr Ogilvie was not party to. “We have had very clear feedback that the president was not involved in any letter or correspondence with regards to player EBTs” sounds like a substantial piece of information but it’s not.
This only claims that Mr Ogilvie did not author any side letter or contract relating to an EBT, which is not in doubt. The important issue is clearly Mr Ogilvie knew dozens of players had EBTs, he knew football players’ remuneration is subject to detailed written contracts and he knew all money paid to a player, from any source, in relation to football, must be detailed on his contract and registered with the SFA.
For Rangers players’ EBTs to be consistent with SFA and Fifa requirements they would need to be completely discretionary, an optional extra the players were unable to rely on. Mr Ogilvie, the Great Football Administrator, knew all of this.
Instead of good corporate governance we appear to have a self-certified president – we know Mr Ogilvie did nothing wrong because Mr Ogilvie said he did nothing wrong. He is at once, a Great Football Administrator and unaware of the football administration actions of the company he was legally responsible for.
Ogilvie was an executive director of Rangers. It was his responsibility as a director of Rangers to ensure that the club contracts and legislative responsibilities were conducted in a proper manner. He was simultaneously a director of the SFA. It was his responsibility as a director of the SFA to ensure the Association was run in an even-handed manner, that one club – his club or any other – could not load the dice.
Regan went on to say “Since February 14 he has had no involvement at all in any board meetings, any decisions or any meetings with the club.”
It is reassuring that he has withdrawn from an important part of the legislative process of the SFA but his prominent participation in yesterday’s AGM confirms that his influence in other areas remains.
Regan added “[EBTs] are illegal if they are used knowingly in an incorrect manner. That is something we are still waiting for facts on. But I am satisfied that Campbell has discharged his duty of care. He has done everything we could have asked of him and, so far as his integrity is concerned, he is a man with many years as a highly respected administrator across the game of football in Scotland.”
“So far as his integrity is concerned….many years …. respected administrator”. Those words may bring to mind all those years Ogilvie was at Ibrox while Rangers sectarian signing policy was in place.
Regan dismissed calls for his own resignation, no doubt confident he can self-certify his performance.
I am hugely reluctant to open a political debate, but does the painful lack of accountability and scrutiny in Scotland not alarm you? The actions (inactions) of Ogilvie and Regan would never be accepted in England, where structures exist to hold officials to account. As a relic from Rangers sectarian signing policy days, Ogilvie would be regarded as an embarrassing dinosaur, he would never be made president! The ability for officials to state facts without an inquiry would never be tolerated.
We look more like a rotten borough than a country with the mechanisms necessary to nurture a successful state. Where’s your voice now, Mr Salmond?
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DontB @ 11:08,
Heard an interview on the wireless earlier this year with a Celtic supporting Centenarian.
She was great the interviewer asked her who the best player she ever saw was.
Answer – James McGrory (by far the best)
ChairbhoyfromtheThamesValley, the thinking Mans North Lanarkshire.
South Of Tunis and all
My quotes come (if used) come from “Gazeta Wyborcza” who are first here to hunt racism.
The accident on youtube film here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOIfjNj1vhw
You can hear that about 100 Wisla fans singing :”Ole, F@@@ Euro.”
Holland captain takes whole team to the other side of the stadium. They did not move because monkey noises. Did they? Anybody hear them?
Wisla fans sang song against home rivals Cracovia (Cracovia is old wh@@@). Accident happened in 20th minute of the training session. After 25th minute there was only applause for the Dutch team. Probably those 25 000 fans felt ashamed and wanted to show true support to the Duch team.
Reports say that monkey noses were heard during political protest time. There was no political protest.
Couple of minutes from that training session.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3iH-r4YJ58&feature=related
Bert van Marwijk in the post training conference: “Training session in front of that big crowd is something extraordinary. The atmosphere at the stadium was fantastic.”
None of the players who was at the conference mentioned about jungle noises. No question(s) from the Ducth journalists about jungle noises.
The next day one of the Dutch journalists from the Telegraph wrote that he heard it. Now we have whole Europe talking about that.
Your source say that Holland are going to make official claim. BBC says they are not going to make official claim. What is the truth?
This is from the BBC. They say “Netherlands will not make racism complaint”
Jesus, why not complain racism ? They should, with all the evidence.
If, like they say, there were the journalists from Holland, many supporters from Holland, somebody must have it on the cameras. If you watch second clip you can hear every noise. There must be something recorded if really happened.
Euro 2012: Netherlands will not make racism complaint
The Netherlands will make no official complaint over the alleged racist abuse of players during an open training session in Poland.
Captain Mark van Bommel said the team’s black players were subjected to monkey chants in Krakow.
The Dutch FA said while some players said they heard racist abuse, the chanting was mixed with Polish fans making political statements.
The matter is now considered closed, the Dutch FA told BBC Sport.
Uefa said it had not yet decided whether to formally investigate, but was making preliminary inquiries in a bid to establish exactly what had happened.
Around 20,000 fans had turned up to watch the training session at the Stadion Miejski on Wednesday.
While van Bommel complained of racist abuse the Dutch FA said this was mixed with anti-Euro 2012 chanting. This is believed to have been prompted by the fact the city has not been given any matches in the tournament. Head coach Bert van Marwijk did not hear any racist abuse, the FA added.
When it was put to Van Bommel on Thursday that the chanting was a protest against Euro 2012 organisers, he said: “Open your ears. If you did hear it, and don’t want to hear it, that is even worse.”
The claims come on the opening day of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
Journalist Marcel Van Der Kraan, who writes for Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, said he heard the racist abuse.
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “The Dutch had an open training session which they always do at one of the big stadiums to make the public feel welcome.
“As the Dutch players did their warm-up, during the first lap of the pitch they could hear monkey noises from one end of the crowd.
“When the players heard this they said they would do another lap and if they heard monkey noises again they would stop.
“The Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk moved all the cones and started training on the pitch as far away from these people as possible.
“It was considerably more than two or three people. The Dutch media could hear it as well.”
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
Cheers, I had it in my head it was being referred back today.
That reliable old News (or similar rhyming word) Hound, David Leggate is alleging that Mr. Green is in an alliance with a Singapore Businessmen, Chan Fook Meng.
Which is an anagram of
Can He Fog Monk
Which is a clear slur against Brother Walfrid.
Yet Leggate is not backing the Green Bid.
More useless news when I get it
In this country, the MSM when talking about racism issue’s, always seem to have a starting point at – Mark Walters ?
This really gets on my nerve’s when i think of the, disgusting abuse that one of my most popular players, probably for sympathy reasons, a player called Paul Wilson(hunskelper), had to endure, not just from the orcs but, from a lot of other clubs fans in this country.
The ‘naked’ abuse that PW was subjected to was, of mass-murder proportions. imo.
Paul Wilson(hunskelper) – CSC.
I wonder what HMRC will tell Alex Thommo today re. why they result of the BTC was not produced after Easter as indicated.
Steinreignedsupreme – I’m surprised you overlooked Greenend, Gartsherrie or Kirkshaws on that list.
They’re all charmingly bijou arrondissements of the delightfully decorous iron burgh.
What could be more pleasant than a summer stroll from the historic Fountain, along Coatbridge’s grand 19th century Main Street, perhaps stopping to admire the hulking Edwardian resplendence of the Carnegie Library (opened by Andrew Carnegie himself in 1906), or the Gothic majesty of St. Patrick’s Church, designed by noted Victorian ecclesiastical architects Pugin & Pugin?
Then spoil yourself with a gastronomical adventure at Coatbridge’s premier Chinese restaurant, “Bon Appetit” before enjoying a night of mirth and merriment at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl, as recommended by Britney Spears.
Yes, friends: Coatbridge has it all.
Coatbridge: The Town Cumbernauld Wishes It Was. (thumbsup)
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam) on 8 June, 2012 at 11:16 said:
Kev Jungle
Never mind the Manchester riots in the city centre,
Working that day in Manchester all I heard all day was “Cor Blimey, mate”
setting free the bears on 8 June, 2012 at 11:34:
Has Legless managed to implicate Peter Lawwell in the SCAM?
A nice wee treble…
1. Lennon’s Lion’s – Champions
2. Cheating orcs – Liquidated
3. Trappatoni’s Tims – Euro Champs
Hail Hail
Steinreignedsupreme
He did allege that Peter Lawwell was over fond of East Asian Cuisine
QED I think
PHILVISRETURNS
FFS,BUD.
Harthill is the town Cumbernauld wishes it was!
Bob Welch ex Fleetwood Mac guitarist has died. Left a suicide note.
Very sad
HH
SIALF
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – I’ve never been to this place you call “Harthill”, but I hear it’s like Deliverance without the banjo music. (thumbsup)
Right,off to the pub.
Have a nice day……
setting free the bears on 8 June, 2012 at 11:46:
Legless never disappoints.
He is always just one drink away from a good story.
Gooogybhoy @11:44
It must have been a skin-crawling kind of day m8.
A city full of the animals for whom, no law applie’s to.
Not for me thanks :(((
Hail Hail
Steinreignedsupreme – He’s like Dudley Moore’s “Arthur”, but without the money or personality or good looks. (thumbsup)
PHILVISRETURNS
Suffice to say that it’s best feature is a service station,and the only good thing about it is that if you blink on the M8 you might just miss it.
philvisreturns on 8 June, 2012 at 11:42:
“What could be more pleasant than a summer stroll from the historic Fountain, along Coatbridge’s grand 19th century Main Street, perhaps stopping to admire the hulking Edwardian resplendence of the Carnegie Library (opened by Andrew Carnegie himself in 1906), or the Gothic majesty of St. Patrick’s Church, designed by noted Victorian ecclesiastical architects Pugin & Pugin?”
I can never get beyond Peaocks.
The Brig died the day the Record Shop closed.
RANGERS’ TAX BILL has grown by £4m in interest and penalties, according to the club’s administrators.
The Ibrox club now owe HM Revenue & Customs £18.3m for non-payment of PAYE and VAT in the nine months after Craig Whyte’s takeover of the club, reports Scottish publication STV.
A spokesman for the administrators confirmed to STV the increase is due to interest and penalties imposed by HMRC, not failure to pay PAYE and VAT since Paul Clark and David Whitehouse were appointed administrators on 14 February.
The latest figure is an increase of £4m from the £14.3m Duff & Phelps administrators reported to creditors in April.
The penalties come after the administrators drew up proposals to rescue the club, which creditors will vote on next week.
The taxman has now primed BDO liquidators should a rescue deal fail to materialise
KevJungle…..
I too remeber the abuse Paul Wilson got from opposition fans.
I remember the huns used to chant –
“Wilson’s a darkie”
To which we replied –
“I’d rather be a darkie than a hun!”
No offence meant to anyone.
God bless Paul Wilson.
philvisreturns on 8 June, 2012 at 11:51 said:
“Steinreignedsupreme – He’s like Dudley Moore’s “Arthur”, but without the money or personality or good looks”
Surely you mean he’s like Rab C Nesbitt, but without the money or personality or good looks…
Surely it is now in the interest of Ticketus to reject the CVA and allow HMRC to sell the assets for maximum value.
Kev Jungle
It was mate. They were coming into town from early morning four or more to a car. Most were already tanked up having driven down the M6. Crates of beer being “purchased” from town centre shops.
Took my taxi off the road in the early afternoon as the mood was changing. Would not pick any of them up anyway.
A few even made it to my local about 4 miles out of town centre. They were with young kids and had no tickets and had decided to get out town as it was turning nasty.They were decent enough lads.
City Centre was a mes the next day with glass everywhere. The local rough sleepers were delighted as there were full cans and half empty bottles of wine and spirits everywhere. They thought they had died and gone to heaven.
Steinreignedsupreme on 8 June, 2012 at 11:02 said:
philvisreturns on 8 June, 2012 at 09:33:
FFS, I’m surprised ye overlooked Motherwell!
Embdae know what telephone prefix number to use,to hide your own number whilst making a call?
!!Bada Bing!! on 8 June, 2012 at 12:02 said:
Embdae know what telephone prefix number to use,to hide your own number whilst making a call?
———————————————————
You’re a strange one.
BB
141
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 8 June, 2012 at 12:03 said:
BB
141
———————————————————-
You’re a strange one 2
!!Bada Bing!! on 8 June, 2012 at 12:02 said:
Embdae know what telephone prefix number to use,to hide your own number whilst making a call?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Put your hand over the screen and close your eyes.
Philbhoy-thanks mate.
VP-Took you long enough to find out :}
BB
Those chat lines never phone you back anyway.
Voguepunter
I work for a law firm and sometimes it pays to be discreet, if you know what I mean.
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 8 June, 2012 at 11:57 said:
_________________
Hear, hear m8!
Hail Hail
Thai Tims Rocky Road to Poland
Philbhoy – It’s just the beginning! on 8 June, 2012 at 12:06 said:
Law firm,see I was correct:O)
Hun towns-
Drongan!