The Daily Record won credit for scooping the off-field story of the week, multiple investigations into singing by Celtic fans, but others are beginning to ask who gave the newspaper details of a police investigation.
The stories broke in an unusual manner, with SFA referee and policeman, Eddie Smith, named as the person who reported Celtic fans to Uefa and the SPL. The officer made what looks like an inexplicable decision after some confrontations inside Celtic Park, without mentioning a word of his concerns to the Celtic security people during the game – the normal procedure for such incidents.
Smith, who has Celtic supporting credentials, was named, providing the perfect foil to deflect accusations that this was some sort of Masonic conspiracy, which it was not. The entire episode is a classic internecine dispute among Celtic supporters, but with the comments made to Uefa, the story was parcelled up for the Record by a Strathclyde Police spokesman.
The Daily Record reported, “A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: “For Eddie [Smith] to speak to the delegate after the match is nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it is standard practice””. This is completely irrelevant.
Celtic’s retort in the same article got to the heart of the issue – why the police are speaking to Uefa and the media but not speaking to the club: “This is quite unprecedented as no issues were raised to the club during the match and the police didn’t inform us directly about their concerns.”
Control over media communications from Strathclyde Police falls to Director of Communications, Rob Shorthouse, (pictured on the left). Shorthouse, whose own favourite team have taken a reputational battering from Uefa in recent seasons, despite silence from the police, should be concerned that the force have given newspapers material for three days of screaming headlines instead of addressing the key concern about departure from established procedure. This has only inflamed a volatile situation between Celtic fans and officers on the ground. Shorthouse, who held a similar position at the SFA until two years ago, will be familiar with the sensitivities of football issues.
Perhaps a Freedom of Information request will reveal who leaked a story that laid out details which reflected so badly on Celtic. All we want is equal treatment, as a former chairman once commented.
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Mr Shorthouse’s steak was from a farm in Ireland and that’s why he sent it back. :-)
TTT
May the ‘farce’ be with you!
:))
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo: 16 November, 2011 at 14:02
That’s an easy mistake for Shorthouse to make as most of his pals are dead from the neck up anyway.
I remember when I was a young lhad in my early teens,only thing on my mind was
getting money for my next kerry oot.
Used to hear stories about the masons running the country,poppycock says I .
Noo i’m not so sure.
steinreignedsupreme:
If this guy has abused his position, highlight the issue. I agree the matter seems to merit further inquiry, and not for the first time Paul67 has very quickly focused in on a controversy.
The man’s face being posted on the page adds nothing, however, nor does the fact he may or may not support Rangers. It is “disappointing” when CQN resorts to silly indulgences like this.
he is a hun and his mrs works with the DR-Fact
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – I’m hoping we can get Archie McPherson, Lord Flashheart, and the dog who played Schmeichel on Coronation Street to be founder Woofers. (thumbsup)
SOUTH OF TUNIS 1412
Very good point.
One wee question-who decides who qualifies as a nice person?
I’ve got a sneaking suspicion I wouldn’t be asked for an opinion…
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:02
Run along now,were you in school with Rob?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – Yes indeed.
Also, do you think an FOI request on the most visited websites by Strathclyde Police staff would be potentially interesting? (thumbsup)
Phil
And 2 camp roof tilers
U
How much does Rob Shorthouse get paid for his role in assisting with Glasgow´s Commonwealth games ?
he was with Gleeds but as we have won the bid I presume someone else is paying him ?
85k + ???? WAO you can see why he´s a good brother to have.
Hail Hail
philvisreturns says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:20
Is the site back up and running ?
I expect that Rob Shorthouse will soon be relived of his duties and that will be acceptable to Celtic´s hierarchy
Hail Hail
Thanks, opened an account and bet on.
ulysses mcghee – Well played. (thumbsup)
The Catch
If I catch anywan singing, I’ll hiv tae chuck em oot,
You see I’ve been sanctioned as the heid galoot,
You see I’m right pally with the UEFA delegate,
I want tae even up the score so yah lot can rotate!
If I catch anywan talking, especially at a match,
You see we’ve goat a squad, riot tae dae snatch,
You see I’m the match commander and I call the tune,
I want tae get the Green Brigade wae ma new lampoon.
If I catch anywan watchin, the Celtic fitba team,
You see I’ve goat a remedy, a dose of the extreme,
You see I’m the establishment, theres nuthin yah kin dae,
I want tae see yah oan yer knees but no tae bloody pray.
THE EXILED TIM 1422
Got your e-mails,very funny!
Still trying to ensure it has been freed from hacking,so I’m not using it to send while I monitor it. Otherwise I’ll have to close it,and set up another,which will be a pain.
In the meantime,again,apologies for the earlier ones I “sent”
For those of you who don’t know who Rob Shorthouse is (and many of you will not!)he is the Dire
Communications. Must be the best job in the Force just now as its very highly paid and so far has consistently failed to
communicate with staff!!! This is the person we have been directing all our attacks about the appalling lack of
communication at. Read on…….
caused. Please be aware that John Gillies note sets
wide communication tomorrow that sets all of this out in
miss-information circulating this week we asked the Force to clarify the situation.
Below is that clarification
22 September 2010
Colleagues
As you will no doubt be aware, the Force is planning to publish proposed structures shortly that set out how we intend to
manage the process of centralisation of key functions in Divisions and in other HQ Departments.
There has been an expectation that this would be happening today. In the Director of HR’s message of 13 September, he
stated that this would begin during the last week in September i.e. next week. It is our intention to issue more formal
communications tomorrow that set out how that process will be managed, but I think that some people still believe that
today is the day that the structures would be made available. We need to correct this.
If you have the opportunity to get the message out that it is likely to be the end of next week before the proposed
structures are published, I would be most grateful.
Many thanks
Rob Shorthouse
Director of Corporate Communications
Have a read of this if you have time. Its very interesting. We have repeatedly asked for Equality Impact Assesmenst to
be completed on all of the forces proposals. So far all we have had are some very badly completed documents disguised
as Equality Impact Assessments! So much so that we gave them back on Friday and told them to try again!
UNISON the public service union – Activists zone
What a day!
Good grief what a hectic day yet again trying to defend our UNISON members!
Two senior staff in HR communicated to some staff that their Allowances would be gone by next year! They obviously
must have a crystal ball. Sadly what is does show is the utter contempt that the forces has for our members Terms and
Conditions, no consultation, no real debate just they will be gone by next year!!! WRONG!!
Well let me tell you that the Police Staff Council Scotland have yet to put together a working party to look at allowances
and then present their findings to us. So yes the allowances are under attack by Strathclyde but we cannot possibly know
what the outcome will be. Bull at a gate yet again!
Then IR went to their staff and told them that the Force had been in consultation with UNISON since 6th September on
Structures. Utter rubbish and I am pleased to advise that after intervention by UNISON stewards this has since been
rescinded.
Then staff were told that structures would be out to staff this week. Not true folks. My understanding is that not all the
structures are ready yet and when they are we will know and so will you so watch this space.
If it wasn’t written here you’d never believe it would you!
Jeezo, I’ve said I agree the matter needs to be investigated, whether that be inappropriate briefing of journalists, petty footballing bias influencing the operation of a public office, or breach of police protocol at football matches.
What is “disappointing” is that these matters are actually, in my opinion, undermined by doing daft, even irresponsible, things like posting the man’s picture on the website, together with innuendo about his own football allegiance. Both the man’s appearance, and his footballing allegiance, are irrelevant to what should be the focus of the story.
When CQN works well (like with Dougie Dougie and Dallasgate) it is great to watch, or even feel part of; genuine investigative journalism.
That’s why it’s disappointing to see attention deflected away from another valid point by what seems to me like an unneccessary indulgence.
A Tale fae the Annals o’ the Los Angeles Dodger.
He looked innocent enuff.. He hid awe the Requirements.
Six Foot Tall,Eyes Colored Coffee…Two Eyes, Two Ears.. Wan Nose.. Awe his Teeth..i(and..Surprisingly, in Excellent Nick,tae… ed),and a Sunny smile..
This kid had everything..except, he seemed tae hiv an over whelming appetite fur..Candy Bars.
Who wid know that this Brown Eyed Kid.. would almost single handedly..
Wreck the Dodgers Pitching Staff??
Why.. Kojo.. wid!
Wan look at the Extremely Shoart lengths of time that his personable kid, had lasted at his previous Ball clubs..set Kojo’s Antennas .. Ahumming~
And it didnae tak him…Wan Year.. tae do a Number oan his Noo Club.(That’s .. The KID..no Kojo!..ed)
Shucks,oan looking back.. Ah figger he wrecked the Dodgers Hopes fur a Championship Season ..in aboot… A Month o’ Sundays.
Noo.. How did he Manage Tae Dae That?
Well.. Ah wull gie ye Three Guesses..
Kojo.
Serenity says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:24
Superb!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:17
No doubt about it. As I said on a previous post they got more pissy and more annoying the closer the march got to Celtic Park. I wonder why?
First Minister Alex Salmond has begun laying the foundations for a top-level summit into this week’s Old Firm shame game which led to more than 200 incidents of violence.
Mr Salmond branded the scenes at Wednesday’s bad-tempered game “disgraceful” and now a multi-agency crisis meeting will be held next week to study the future for the controversial fixture.
He will host the summit on Tuesday with police and representatives of Celtic and Rangers following the scenes at Parkhead which were screened around the world.
The First Minister was asked by Strathclyde Police chief constable Steve House to get the clubs round a table to discuss the violence and high number of arrests during and following recent matches between the two sides this season.
Mr Salmond said events on the pitch, when three Rangers players were sent off and Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Rangers assistant boss Ally McCoist squared up at the final whistle.
The fall-out from Scottish Cup tie continued today and there have been calls for alcohol sales to be banned around Old Firm matches in a bid to quell rising violence.
This season will see a total of seven Glasgow derbies and the cost of these have been put at £40million in terms of policing, prosecutions and hospital care.
A total of 187 violent or anti-social crimes were dealt with by officers on Wednesday night, almost double the normal rate, with 40 incidents of domestic violence recorded. A further 34 arrests were made within the stadium.
Just weeks earlier, an Old Firm match saw a wave of drink-fuelled violence, more than 300 arrests and domestic violence soar by 80%.
An 18-year-old girl is in hospital with serious head injuries following an incident outside a pub in Yoker, Glasgow, after Wednesday’s match which Celtic won 1-0. Six arrests were made after the disturbance.
Mr Salmond revealed Strathclyde Police had asked for a meeting and he said he would chair it personally.
He said: “While drink is never a defence for committing crime, neither is your team losing a football match. These things are never a defence.”
He added both clubs had agreed to attend the “summit” and said players and officials must realise they are role models.
He said: “They are in a position of responsibility and they must, absolutely must, behave responsibly.”
“The disgraceful scenes cannot be ignored. The Government will be happy to convene this summit to chart a way forward.”
Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan
It is understood Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell and Rangers chief executive Martin Bain will attend with Mr House, and Mr Salmond and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
Also attending will be Strathclyde Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan, Strathclyde Police director of communications Rob Shorthouse, Celtic security chief Ronnie Hawthorn, Rangers security chief David Martin, SFA chief executive Stewart Regan, SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and SFL chief executive David Longmuir.
Politicians and police have agreed that action is needed before the sides meet again in the League Cup Final at Hampden on Sunday, March 20. This has a 3pm kick-off.
Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan, who is in charge of policing football in Strathclyde, said that the country had so far failed to tackle the violent culture surrounding the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers supporters and that police could no longer afford to deal with the aftermath of the games.
Mr Corrigan said: “What we have to ask ourselves is what is the long-term cultural cost of this game?
“We have been arresting people around this fixture for years. Has it made a difference? I don’t think it has.
“We need to talk about limiting access to alcohol immediately before and a short time after the game in Glasgow.”
As reported in later editions of last night’s Evening Times, Stewart Regan, head of the SFA, said that the “unedifying sight” of the McCoist and Lennon confrontation “exacerbated an already incendiary atmosphere inside the stadium and throughout the west of Scotland.”
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell took issue with the comments. He said: “While I understand this will be part of an SFA investigation, I know both Neil and Ally have moved on from this in the correct manner.”
Martin Bain said McCoist acted “in the defence of our players”.
He blamed the increased tension on incidents at previous matches when two Rangers players had been subjected to “extreme verbal abuse” in the tunnel and around the dug-out area.
Tory leader, Annabel Goldie, called on the First Minister to meet her and other party leaders to discuss her concern over a rise in domestic violence when the Glasgow giants clash.
Ms Goldie said: “There is a moral obligation on football clubs. If they start to behave like thugs, then without a shadow of a doubt the minority element will behave like thugs.”
Glasgow SNP MSP Anne McLaughlin has tabled a motion in Holyrood condemning the violence following the matches.
She said: “The images of grown men tearing each other apart over a football match is abhorrent to watch..
“This is not the kind of Glasgow that I want the world to see when they come here for the Commonwealth Games.”
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo says:
Just checked and we had a similar FOI request in my place of work in the north of Ireland.
The top 100 websites visited by staff in the last 6 months was headed by Google.
I had a bit of a sweat looking for CQN I can tell you.
Árd Macha
Árd Macha
;-)
hail Hail
gerryguk7
What is the issue here? Anybody could find his picture online or indeed in a newspaper? It is valid to point out if this guy is connected in anyway connected with any club. Any media outlet would print a picture when talking about a public figure so why not CQN?
tommytwiststommyturns says:
16 November, 2011 at 13:22
Did Robshort House marry the ambulance chasing hack that is Lindsay Gardner ?
Hail Hail
BRTH ——
Rumbumptious———
Great word . It fits such people perfectly.
Reminded me of a former boss who used to describe historically much earlier versions of the same mindset as —– The Tweed Gusseted Turnips.
BobbyM
Haven’t had any for a while, not a bother anyways.
I get loads of them things some are superb, I will send a batch later if that’s ok :>)
gerryguk7: 16 November, 2011 at 14:18
Shorthouse has previous against our club from when he was ‘working’ at the SFA – and his integrity has been discussed on here previously. Sorry you missed it, but there you go.
There is no “may or may not” regarding his dubious choice of football club – he is a Hun of the highest order and he hates Celtic. I know someone who used to work with him.
The photo simply confirms what we already know about him unless you think he is simply comparing double chins with the other guy for the camera.
Gerry guk
If you’re no stranger to CQN – and I don’t doubt it for a second – then you should be well skilled at reading between the lines. Think what’s implicit in the story.
Think why?…
U
I bet you hate magic eye pictures too…
U
Seems the Huns are getting ‘Parity of Esteem’.
Sadly the only way it’s possible is by bringing us down to their level of ‘parity of esteem’ rather than them raising their game to reach ‘parity of our esteem’.
MWD
Remember when Rob Shorthouse and Duffield tried to get Novo to play for Scotland. They forgot he was baptised Catholic.. Silly billy´s
Hail Hail
Gerryguk—get out of school early? When Shorthouse was at the SFA a couple of years ago I mailed him and his cohorts–secretary, Office Head, Dept. Head, and a few others asking about an incident, captured on BBC highlights, showing Elbows McCullough deliberately smash an Aberdeen player in the face. I was shown round the houses. Shorthouse had been away with the Scotland team, replied he’d deal with it as soon as he came back–zilcho! I wrote a letter then posted it–no response. Now your’e complaining about his coupon being put at the top of an article? The man’s an out and out orc (I promised myself I wouldn’t use the nomenclature “hun” for the forseeable future, and anyway even though you don’t see handsome huns you do know what an orc looks like). He’s carried that across to Strathclyde plod. His blue-stained fingers look to be all over the so-called “illicit” singing. Eddie Smith, who backed the referee’s “strike” last year, is in good company. Two odious individuals, with not a pair o’ baws between them. I’m just surprised they got rid of the horns from both of the pictured individuals.
gerryguk7 says:
16 November, 2011 at 14:28
What IS disappointing is that a Public Servant with a clear conflict of interests get involved in daft even irresponsible things like leaking stories to the media, as opposed to following due process.
According to the Evening Times we are trying to sign Andre Blackman on a years contract just in case any of you Bhoys are intrested in football. ;- ) H.H.
Strathclyde Police was forced to close down its website last night amid fears it had come under attack from Chinese hackers.
The site went down soon after 6pm when a number of weblinks appeared that diverted users to a Chinese site with a history of distributing computer viruses. The force said that anyone who logged into the system yesterday would not have put their own computer at risk. Spokesman Rob Shorthouse said: “This matter is being investigated by our IT engineers. We have, as a precaution, taken the website offline. No other IT systems have been affected.” Internet users attempting to access the site encountered a black-and-white screen with a message that the website was “down for maintenance”. The purpose of the attack, in which hackers inserted a malicious code on to the home page and several other key pages, remains unknown.
Hobby Tony V1.0 behave !!!!