Tomorrow’s SPL meeting is something of a formality, albeit as dramatic as a formality can be. The main scheduled action of the week is underway at Hampden right now. We hear that after issuing threats to exclude 20 SFL clubs from future access to the top two divisions in Scottish football, SPL and SFA chief executives, Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan, will face irate SFL chairmen.
In mitigation of the criticism coming his way, Mr Doncaster is offering your money, in perpetuity, to buy votes to allow Sevco to gain direct access to the First Division. If passed, they would probably enter the SPL next season, close to debt free, while Celtic carry peak debt of around £35m after playing by the rules and not qualifying for Champions League football during the last three seasons.
In short, if Mr Doncaster manages to persuade the SFL chairmen to back his plan, Sevco will become by far the strongest team in the SPL a year from now.
The plan has been rejected as wholly unacceptable by an impressive list of clubs with no association whatsoever with Celtic, many of whom exist hand-to-mouth and whose vote against will cost them considerable income.
Doncaster’s part in creating this shambles cannot be underestimated. He perpetuated the myth that “Rangers” should and would be in next season’s SPL, allowing people to invest in an undeliverable strategy, including Charles Green.
Mr Doncaster is an employee of the company Celtic are an equal-twelfth shareholder in. His actions are wholly incompatible with sporting meritocracy. As Celtic shareholders we call for his resignation and, if this is not forthcoming, demand he faces a confidence vote.
“Without fear or favour” was the promise from Stewart Regan when he told us he would apply the rules evenly as the Rangers saga unfolded. In advocating rules are torn up and replaced his words are laughable.
His assertion that the actions of Campbell Ogilvie over Rangers EBTs had been investigated and that Ogilvie was found to be without blame was misleading. It is our assertion that the actions of Mr Ogilvie were not investigated at all and that Mr Regan spoke to protect his ally, who remains in position despite being “heavily conflicted” according to Mr Regan, and the SFA being in desperate need of a strong and active president.
Mr Regan is now wholly compromised and must resign or also face a vote of confidence. Two years ago he joined a dysfunctional organisation. He had a great opportunity to make a name for himself as a successful troubleshooter. Instead he’s made matters worse!
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Chris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaug
#Rangers chairman Malcolm Murray apologises to Scottish football for the current mess.
Only the mess? Not the decades of cheating that led up to it?
thomthethim CQN (genuine) Badge Wearer
That ´s exactly what I meant bud.
In fact as a shareholder and if Denis O Brien or/and Dermot Desmond would prefer me to take up the cudgel I would do it as long as they paid the legal fees.
Why not include every single one of us that are shareholders ???
I think we should do this ANYWAY
HAil Hail
Patrick27 on 3 July, 2012 at 12:51 said:
To be quite honest, I’m sure most if not all of the Celtic board read CQN daily, excellent articles that they will probably use to determine what they will do next if they havent thought it up already and many opinions from supporters so they know what we as Celtic fans want. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Celtic board member was reading this now…
====
Ok then
Dear board member, please can we have a ‘proven quality’ striker and CB – ?
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo:
I know about FFP … of course I do.
And I am saying, are you suggesting the SPL and SFA, knowing about it too, are ignoring it and pressing on, daring UEFA to act?
oglach
They know that already ;)
Paul,
You’re forgetting the ol’ SFA, SPL, SFL mantra:
Never change a winning team (and if the winning team stops winning, change the rules).
Easy
Paul67 et al
We know Doncaster tried to bounce the SPL into accepting NewCo. We know that he also played a major part in the release of the joint SFA/SPL/SFL “document”. We do not know how, or even if, the SFL will vote today. I suspect they will not, but like the SPL back in April will set another date for another meeting. Despite all the talk of punishment, and pleas for leniency from the usual suspects, the fact is the only penalty Rangers have faced is a ten point deduction during last season’s SPL. The only penalty. Everything else that has trasnspired, such as Jamie Ness going to EPL team Stoke, is the result of their being in administration. Let the SPL and the SFA deal with Rangers Fc, extant, appropriately, before even beginning to address the problem of admitting a new company, not even a football club, into any level of Scottish football.
On the matter of Celtic taking a prominent, active role in deliberations on Rangers’ future, the directors, and Paul, are absolutely correct. Anyone with a vote, SPL or SFL, who is looking for an excuse to let Rangers off the hook, or who was just wavering, could – would – use Celtic actions and words as cover for a pro-Rangers vote.
There’s also the fact, bhoys, which we’re always slow to acknowledge, that Celtic is at least as unpopular as Rangers. Anything spoken aloud by Peter Lawwell, or even worse, Dermot Desmond, will be heavily counter-productive.
So, the tactic of using deniable spokespeople – odd blogs and occasional friendly newspaper and TV writers – is a sensible one. It’s also possible, of course, to use some of the same routes to get the message out that there’s real money – shareholders’ money – at risk here…
How many of us are share holders – i am assuming the majority?
I am one (share holder that is)
Forgot to add in my post that every game shown live is subject to 80% of the tickets being sold. If 80% is not reached it cannot be shown within 50 miles of the Stadium
EmeraldBee\o/ proud to be an internet bampot on 3 July, 2012 at 12:31 said:
“… BTW I’ve been thinking over the last week/ten days that as CEO’s both Regan and Doncaster were employees and as such were in place to execute the wishes of their employers (the clubs). Am I wrong in that assumption?”
I made more-or-less the same observation last week: Regan and Doncaster are but hired hands: they take instruction from their employers (which is why the Regan-Ogilvie dynamic is particularly vexing).
While we might hope for it to be the case, we can’t expect them to be torch bearers for truth and right: it’s not in their job descriptions (however much we might want it to be, or however much of an opportunity these guys might be missing in failing to make a name for themselves in what most of us would agree is a fairly straightforward matter of principle).
Also: I think it very likely that the pays of both Regan and Doncaster are linked to company turnover.
So with the drop in revenue that will follow the demise of The Foe Malign, it is likely they will have a vested in trying to ensure that Foe Malign II is kept as close as possible to SPL membership.
As for the separate matter of the missing announcement from the Celtic board: why should the Board take the risk? Who could have foreseen the bedlam that has unfolded over the past few weeks, as fans across the country have discovered their commercial muscle?
How could one be sure that any sort of public statement from Celtic during this time would not have been seized upon by the club’s myriad enemies and twisted in favour of the Foe Malign?
There may come a time when a comment is absolutely necessary, but IMHO we have probably been spared that moment by the fabulous and almost daily twists and turns of this farce which has been unfolding around us …
FF
Bourne
Some bugger’s papped the Gazebo outside Hampden!
cardiffbhoy on 3 July, 2012 at 12:47 said:
My original calculation was based on extrapolating what was in the public domain across the population size. Very broad brush so I was encouraged that two other estimates on RTC came up with figures in the same ballpark.
Sky should be asked for the actual figures, any msm journo with talent could find that out and if that figure is anywhere near the guestimates there should be a steward’s enquiry.
Chris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaug
#Rangers chairman Malcolm Murray apologises to Scottish football for the current mess.
————————
Entering begging stage.
Be under no illusion that you are dealing with the possibility that there are a few freemasons knocking about Scottish AND European football-they are everywhere
in all levels of society-they are motivated by money and power-they feel special because they have all the bases covered and feel safe and protected as part of a big family-if an “arab spring” does take effect and scottish football implements major changes be assured they will have planned for that too-and will have all theyre men in place to continue the influence malign-i have nothing against the principles of such organisations-but they dont stick to theyre own principles-it is deluded hypocrisy because too many of them have broken theyre own rules
Silver City 1888 on 3 July, 2012 at 12:54 said:
Chris McLaughlin@BBCchrismclaug
#Rangers chairman Malcolm Murray apologises to Scottish football for the current mess.
Only the mess? Not the decades of cheating that led up to it?
……………
To be fair thats not down to him or Green so why should they apologise!
@BBCchrismclaug
On the steps of Hampden ahead of today’s SFL meeting. Doncaster just arrived with the Monopoly board game he used to calculate that 16 million he came up with.#BBCSport for the latest.
@BBCchrismclaug
On steps of Hampden, George Peat calls Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton “tiresome” after Hutton said the game is corrupt. Says he’s been lied to, threatened and bullied. What’s the problem? It’s always been like that, says Peat#SFL
@BBCchrismclaug
David Leggat arrived at Hampden in a vomit stained white flannel suit. He harassed various club chairmen. Began shouting something about a big green hand. He has since been bundled into back of cop van#SFL
Excellent article Paul.
This is something I called for a couple of months back, wrt vote of no-confidence for Neil Doncaster. Now is the time to instigate it, and through their own doing incorporate Stewart Regan and Campbell Ogilvie (I am astounded of forehead he remains in his position).
I would add that Jim Ballantyne should also be part of this no-confidence vote, as he has been shown himself to be duplicitous, weak and and out of touch with the footballing fraternity.
Now is the time for the bodies governing Scottish Football to wipe the slate clean and re-build from the bottom up. A re-structuring committee should be appointed immediately to manage the change within the SFA/SPL/SFL. As more than ever we need united clubs. I suggest that it is imperative that there is one body governing all league clubs.
Now is not the time for an elite club set-up, as administered by the SPL, that creates an imbalance in financial distribution, thereby creating a divisive us/them mindset, and whose aim is driven by money to the detriment of sport and fair-play.
The SFA needs to be transparent, not just say it wants to be. There is no trust in this organisation, and not just by Celtic, but now as a result of their rule-book gerrymandering to suit RFC, by many clubs across Scotland. The trust needs to be re-built, and that means blood-letting and bringing in fresh personnel. That may involve burning some wheat with the chaff, but a scorched earth approach must be adopted.
Time for change.
That’s hitting the spot Paul!
Doncaster has been truely awful throughout. Everyone could understand the CEO of an organisation keeping a close eye on the financials and being wary of making recommendations which would admit to potentially less income for future years but such a lack of grasp of the reality of the situation is quite astounding. Given his (understandable) lack of knowledge of Scottish football, its dynamics & undercurrents I wonder what advice & briefings he sought and from whom? Bet it was someone with empathy for RFC (that was) – more fool him! Totally & utterly discredited.
I have real regrets about Reagan. Thought he was in the main doing good things. His failure to ‘garden leave’ C.O. showed poor judgement and a lack of ruthlessness needed. Amongst other things it would have strengthened his own position which any ‘normal’ CEO would never have let pass .IF he has been an active party to the most recent revelations concerning Sevco into SFL1 or worse SPL2 then he has in effect corrupted his office and is not fit for purpose.
Longmuir has been intimidated and bounced into this latest gamble & given the higher power & profile of the other two I suppose you could understand how he might have buckled. It would be a recognisable human response. Though he might be a decent person it would indicate that he would not be suitable in a more high profile position. He has effectively blown his chance to end up top of the pile.
But what then?
If they all go or are pushed now who comes in? These guys (two out of three anyway) shouldl go but not until after the decisions are made. After all at the end of the day it is the clubs who make the decisions. If clubs reject all the Save Sevco suggestions then the current rules will apply. The positions of the Executive Officers will then be untenable and it will be only a matter of time when they jump or are pushed.
Share holder same as yourself Oglach
James
That is my take on it.
I just cannot envisage the fall out if Ogilvie´s plan proposed by proxy by the three stooges was ever implemented.
UEFA and the Taxman would squash it within minutes of it happening.
They stand to lose gazillions if the prachute is approved.
WIth the proviso that an immediate invite to SFL 3 wouldn´t surprise me and may be considered an acceptable compromise due to the number of green huns that we attract as paying customers.
Hail Hail
I’ve got shares too. I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones. I got in on the last issue and they appear to be worth pretty much what I payed for them. I remember though when they had gone up over 3 times that. I wonder how much Rangers unlawful behaviour is responsible for destroying that value.
Give it a couple of hours and itll be like the Wailing Wall outside hampden,
and thats just from the journalists…
or in Traynors case
The Whaling Wall
It’s beginning to annoy me the number of people implying the majority of huns want Div 3 for contrite reasons – they want to punish Scottish football for having the audacity to stand up to them, plain and simple.
Auldheid – I think SKY are very cagey about giving details of their subscribers as it would likely show up how much they are ripping us off.
Also, thanks for the link to the CST, will check that out.
This all feels a bit like the 6-2 game now, even at 3-0 up I was still worried they would come back , but in the end they got the hammering they deserved.
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 3 July, 2012 at 12:53 sai
your usual high standard.
They are protecting themselves. They are protecting their reputations. They do not want errrrm lets say …. Jim Traynor , Robert Shorthouse et al explaining the 5,000 pound entry into their pensioner parents bank account from the Cayman islands ???
Hail Hail
Guys,
Just back from getting my car serviced. Had a coffe and there were complimentary newspapers lying around, picked up the DR ( something I have not done for a number of months now). Sickening, I knew it was bad before but is this rag now the ‘oldco news’. If Green wanted free publicity with unadulterated promotion for servco to enter the SPL then step forward the DR.
Please, if anyone lurking still buys this tosh please have another look at the content of today’s edition and ask yourself if Greene could have done any beter if he had written it himself.
Don’t buy another copy ( or go to their website it only encourages them). Absolutely shocking journalism.
Rant over Hail!Hail!
The Idiot on 3 July, 2012 at 12:24 said:
Paul67 – said it before and I will say it again, I believe the Celtic board are fairly relaxed about rangers getting back into the SPL in a year. Business is business and a weekened rangers back in the spl is a better business option than them in the 3rd division.
Sorry don’t agree with that, what does that say about us as a club.
Other clubs are coming out and are saying integrity far to important so for us to want them back in 1 year is not on and anyone who disagrees is saying cheating is acceptable in this country and i personally don’t want anything to do with my club if they want them back in 1 years time.
Without fear or favour
there cannot be a single interested party in Scotland who doesnt think that the scottish fitba authorities are trying to make clubs fear the consequences of a league with sevco
think about Mr Doncaster !
Paul67
The Gruesome Twosome have to go!
greenjedi on 3 July, 2012 at 12:58 said:
To be fair thats not down to him or Green so why should they apologise!
True but they’ll quite happily try to claim ownership of the positive aspects of Rangers’ history.
What is Malcolm Murray apologising for? He has nothing to do with Rangers – then or now,.
Do you think Real Madrid will swap their NINE European Cups with the “world’s most successful defunct clubs” twenty-eight League cups?
So,5Live gave the oxygen of publicity to Andy Kerr this a.m. who in his arrogance stated,”We’ll go down to Div.3…..”
Who is “we” ? There is no “we”. A newly formed club has to apply for entry anywhere within the footballing structure. There is no “we” to go “down” anywhere. “We” is a non-entity; a space where a place used to be; “we” is dead. The only place “we” should be going “down” to is “we”s knees to thank the masonic god that anyone is willing to give “we” a hearing anywhere anytime. And how do you manage to give a non-entity a hearing? It’s like holding a séance. Pointless. Today,at the stitch-up in Hampden,any fool speaking for the non-entity should be laughed out of the room.
Chucky Green is an arrogant chancer who is trying to take us all for mug punters. Even “we” don’t like him.
As for The Celtic Board making a public statement……unless and until the non-entity appears to be taking on corporeal form then silence is golden.
Our voice,for now, is being heard loud and clear here and elsewhere. And it’s saying loud and clear, “Never again.”
HH!
Regan making his speech now should he backs Doncaster then I guessing he will be leaving on the Southbound train too..
Auldheid
Your Sky numbers are out big time. Figures below for 2011 in £ Millions:
Retail subscription 5,455
Wholesale subscription 323
Advertising 458
Installation, hardware and service 112
Other 249
Revenue 6,597
For the Scottish revenue, minimum is 8% of the above, but I understand that Sky is more heavily subscribed in Scotland than elsewhere.
The key thing is that Retail Subscrition Revenue is almost 12 (twelve) times greater than advertising, meaning that Sky are very sensitive to subscriber dynamics, as opposed to say commercial TV which is entirely reliant upon advertisers.
How can a league negotiate a broadcasting contract that assumes that some teams will never be relegated? http://t.co/WrKqdHcd
James Forrest and NegAnon2 – I understand your frustration at the official silence from our club, but like first impressions, we will only have one chance to speak out for the first time. We still have that card to play, and I have little doubt it is an ace and we will play it well if and when we are required to do so.