There’s an industry of deliberate misunderstanding in Scottish football (and on the pages of CQN). One of the last vestiges of this is the SFA’s fabled Fit and Proper Test. There is no test, never has been a test and in all likelihood, never will be a test. It was almost certainly a figment of some under-informed journalist, who provided the concept enough currency for it to endure in the imagination, despite many, many, people explaining reality.
To be a director of a football club you need to be Fit and Proper, you do not sit or pass a test.
It’s a bit like:
To do a job you need to speak English, you do not sit or pass an English language test.
If you accept the above job assuring your employer you can speak English, and you can’t, you are likely to be fired.
If you accept a job as a director of a football club, assuring the SFA you are Fit and Proper, and you aren’t, the SFA will ban you from football and discipline the club for failing to ensure a director was Fit and Proper before appointment.
This morning the incessant campaign continues to throw reputational damage on anyone who would be inclined to point out that Dave King contravenes the eligibility rules on becoming a football club director. This is different from being Fit and Proper, which is a subjective assessment, Mr King is simply ineligible.
The reasons for his ineligibility (he was a director of a football club which was liquidated within the last 5 years), and other matters, most notably, his 41 convictions for breaking the tax law in South Africa, and the blame laid at his door by the SPL’s Lord Nimmo-Smith report, make up material reason why the SFA may consider him not Fit and Proper to run a football club.
After targeting Peter Lawwell yesterday, the campaign today turns direct to the SFA, who are accused of allowing Craig Whyte to “bluff his way through the Hampden [non-existent] ‘test’ by simply filling out an official SFA form”.
As should be patently obvious to anyone with a dozen or more brain cells, the SFA form is neither a ‘test’ nor a certification of appropriateness from the SFA.
The obligation to ensure a football club appoints Fit and Proper directors lies with that club’s board. If the board fail in their duty to the game, the club is liable to sanction from the SFA.
So who was on the board which appointed Craig Whyte as a director of Rangers?
Our emerging heroes, the men who chased away the billionaire, Dave King and Paul Murray. As non-executive directors of Rangers they had a responsibility to the club’s stakeholders that their interests were being protected.
The Institute of Directors factsheet on the role of non-execs quotes the Cadbury Report, saying they “should bring an independent judgement to bear on issues of strategy, performance and resources including key appointments and standards of conduct.”
It was the Rangers board’s responsibility to instruct the necessary checks on Craig Whyte’s appropriateness to be a director of the club. They either failed to do this, or if they did, failed to act on the information, or withdraw their names from the club’s register of directors.
Sir David Murray may have controlled the majority of shares, but as recent boardroom events at newco demonstrate, there is a great deal non-execs, when in a majority on the board, can do to inhibit major shareholders if they believe the interests of other stakeholders are being jeopardised.
Non-execs are not there to wear the blazer and attend supporters’ events, they are the eyes and ears of the supporters, shareholders, employees and creditors who are not privy to the inner workings of the club. In this respect, Mr King and Mr P. Murray failed Rangers on a cataclysmic level.
They are, in every respect possible, perfect for the job of running newco. My prediction (no inside info) is the SFA will fold under sustained media pressure, set aside their ineligibility rules and allow Mr King and Mr P. Murray to work their magic one more time.
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Much talk about the SFA passing some judgement over whether the lying King is fit and proper.
I was under the impression, perhaps the wrong impression, that it was the law of the land that would decide if he was fit and proper.
If the UK law says his previous role in Rangers excludes him from playing a role with Sevco then thats it. Nothing to do with the SFA.
What is the legal position?
LIVIBHOY
“There are authorities and people in place to deal with them but it should not be our focus and discussion points daily.”
And there is the nub,mate. My personal opinion is that Celtic went along with the charade so as not to be seen to be to blame for destroying Rangers.
They knew that due process under the law would take place,and that would do the job anyway.
As a result,Celtic are blameless and the only peepul to blame are those who ran Rangers.
Into the ground.
What they didn’t expect-and I seriously doubt anyone did-is the legal gymnastics which followed.
I won’t blame the Celtic board for that. The evidence was there,due process was there.
Same here, all through Ronny’s lecture I was thinking Leigh Griffiths and after listening to LG’s interview at the end of the Dundee Utd game it’s already starting to fall into place. He spoke well about being left out, how he got his head down and starting working harder to get back into the team. I also think we will start seeing more of the development squad coming through as well as this seems to be what he sees his role to be, develop the young players into first team regulars…Good times ahead with Ronny…
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
I just don;t want to talk about them anymore.
We have done our bit.
I want to talk about Celtic and our future not about a rotten debt ridden club who have broken every moral, ethical, football and legal law in the country.
Let them wallow in their own hatred and ignore them.
You know the balance of power and the mentality of ‘Ra peepul’ has shifted when they have scarves which celebrate the lack of a Celtic treble. Are these the same idiots who less than a decade ago welcomed the chase?
The chance to bury them is gone. The chance to strip them is gone. The will fall on their own sword or begin to rebuild. Either way I am passed caring. Lets focus on Celtic as much as possible.
Tin hat still in place….
LB
Ohits,
Do you know they’re welding out there?
Apparently fat sally has a lecture on youtube. It also has subtitles, but only because his mouth was full of pie as he was talking.
On a serious note, I get the impression watching the Ronny video that the man could have been a success in just about any professional field. I am sure the board were aware of his qualities when we signed him.
whitedog
Just saw you posting. You mentioned that you were going to email me about something. But I haven’t seen an email. Let me know if I can still help out.
Cheers
Livibhoy
“the chance to strip them is gone”
Maybe not, if there is evidence that LNS was misled, as has been suggested on here.
And we can’ t strip Sevco of League titles, as they’ve only won 2 divisional titles in their 3 short, painful years.
It’s Rangers’ (1872-2012) side-letter titles that may yet still be expunged from the record.
Not holding my breath, though.
I don’t think King will be accepted – more to the point I believe that is the verdict he is hoping for.
It will give him an excuse for not investing and the most gullible football fans on the planet will happily believe the tale.
Alasdair MacLean
Dont care , just done my handover with my B to B happy days , yippee .
How are you , are you home at the moment ?
LiviBhoy
How many tin hats have you got:))
Good post mate, Sevco will fail because of a basic lack of humility and finance…
RIP Keith Harris.one duck for sale.
Srs,
I’d go along with that.
HH
I sincerely hope King gets the nod.
I think King, now that he’s looked under the bonnet, wants out, that’s why he hasn’t put any money in. He’s peered down the black hole and doesn’t fancy it.
I think he’d quite happily walk away and leave Park holding the big house keys.
One player I feel is having problems accepting Ronnies philosphy is Stokes I think he will be moved on in the summer also Boerichter we do have a lot of dead wood that we need to move on.We need to reduce the wage level and clear room for younger players to come through.H.H.
Livibhoy
I just can’t let go mate.
Sevconians at work reckon I’m obsessed and I have to agree.
I just cannot shake the fact that they cheated . They cheated our club, our support and our game.
LNS was a sham, a cover up with false direction from Bryson.
i travelled all over the country along with thousands of others to follow our team, in what was a rigged game.
Asterisk Years indeed and I for one will never forgive or forget and tell anyone who cares to listen.
I pray justice will eventually prevail.
HH mate
-Tojo-
14:47 on
28 April, 2015
I sincerely hope King gets the nod.
I think King, now that he’s looked under the bonnet, wants out, that’s why he hasn’t put any money in. He’s peered down the black hole and doesn’t fancy it.
I think he’d quite happily walk away and leave Park holding the big house keys.
———————————————————
Maybe this is all a charade so that Sevco can blame SFA for King not joining board and King returns to South Africa having “done all he could”?
Burghbhoy
Spot on.
It’s about fair play, honesty and sporting integrity, not obsession.
So far I have had no request to renew my Season Ticket. Am I alone in this situation or are others still waiting for word from the Ticket Office? I have e-mailed the Ticket Office and John Paul Taylor, but have had no reply from either source. .
‘gg
14:13 on 28 April, 2015
Mangling. MANAGING
Predictive text is a pain in the buttocks.
:::::::::
Agreed.
A complex paid in the backyard.
-Tojo-
Also, surely only one eye was peering down the black hole while the other was looking at the sky? He might have got it all wrong? ;)
What is the point of the SFA if it’s not as a regulatory body to enforce the rules?
Connaire12
Think the renewal packs were starting to get sent out yesterday.HH.
RIP Keith Harris. Orville the happiest, most relieved duck in the world today.
Kojo – flounced? I find it difficult to believe a man of his intelelct has taken a huff.
Dave King – please, please let the Monkey Messiah in. The entertainment factor will keep the close-season bouncing.
Livi Bhoy
are you saying just leave the sevco issue in the hands of the team who
allowed them back in the league
let them hold their titles
tried to give them a last day game vs hearts
denied us a certain penalty
etc
etc
I think if we just leave it up to those folks, sevco will be challenging us in a very short period of time, In fact if we had just left it up to them sevco would just have ditched their debt and carried on trying to beat us to a CL spot the very next season
The very people that you are suggesting we leave it all up to, are possibly the reason why there is still a sevco today
Rangers then
Sevco now
Huns forever
Connaire12
I had an EMail asking me to renew but I didn’t action it as I normally get a pack saying I’ve automatically renewed.
Still waiting for the pack
lct
Prayers for ur mum
connaire12 – Same here, I’ve had a couple of emails but nothing through the post…
Connaire,
Same as others. Email but no pack.
I believe they started sending them out on the 25th-ish last year.
HH
Whats all the Orvill stuff about??
livibhoy
12:50 on 28 April, 2015
Watched the Ronny video, get a positive feeling about our club and then read the new article.
Can we talk about Celtic please?
LB
Well said
Won’t be long until we’re playing in the CL qualifiers and we need a good backup keeper. Denayer going back to City is a huge hole to fill. We have 2 right backs that are continually injured and no cover for Izzy. Midfield is our strongest department but very weak up front.
But hey ho, let’s talk about the zombies.
LIVIBHOY 1425
Respectfully disagree that they are no longer worth talking about,that their cheating-for decades,remember-be ignored.
You might well be right that we are wasting energy on a fruitless pursuit. The people who wasted energy for over a quarter of a century are finally getting a result.
The truth is being told about Hillsborough and people are being held to account.
It looks like the same may eventually happen about Bradford too.
Asking a question and being told to eff off-rebuffed,in
Ernie
Cheers
Can’t help thinking that their must be a better way to get good revisers in their than allowing politicos to nominate their pals and acolytes to sit beside the feudal residue.
HH
Oops
Ohits,
Back where I was 25 years ago – albeit in a different role. Gies a phone when you’re back…
there … even
before the grammar FOCUS unit kicks my door in…
King is absolutely fit and totally proper…………………for The Rangers.
LIVIBHOY 1425
Respectfully disagree that they are no longer worth talking about,that their cheating-for decades,remember-be ignored.
You might well be right that we are wasting energy on a fruitless pursuit. The people who wasted energy for over a quarter of a century are finally getting a result.
The truth is being told about Hillsborough and people are being held to account.
It looks like the same may eventually happen about Bradford too.
Asking a question and being told to eff off-rebuffed,in more polite parlance-should make us more determined.
Not resigned.
There is absolutely no chance of the truth being uncovered if no questions are asked.
Btw,belated birthday wishes to yer gal.