The mainstream media, football administrators, football club directors, former football club directors, together with the executives from PR companies, are in a new space this week.
Many of these people have spent over 20 years controlling all important aspects of the media in relations to football in Scotland. Some have established a culture of dependency and fear; at the left of the telephone, or the click of a mouse, they could destroy reputations.
Most of these types backed Craig Whyte when Sir David Murray endorsed him as the right sort to buy Rangers, a situation which remained in place until administrators were appointed last year. Since then they have acted in unison to demonise Whyte, who has been painted as the solely responsible for the downfall of the football club.
Now, thanks to the industrious Charlotte, every underhand conspiracy is in danger of becoming exposed.
Find yourself in the dock over sectarian chanting? Don’t dispute the fact, simply allude to links which didn’t actually exist between the son of a Celtic director and the head of an anti-racism unit. The fact that some think there is an apparent scandal in the son of a Celtic director having links to an anti-racism campaigner is a bizarre thought. There were no links, but why shouldn’t there be, it’s anti-racism were talking here, which football clubs really should have affinity with.
And Oldco Rangers printed this rubbish in a submission to Uefa! Good grief.
Stewart Regan finds himself with a position to defend. One of his responsibilities is to ensure clubs are licenced correctly for Uefa competitions. I am not too exercised with him coordinating a response to this issue with the club concerned, but his assertion that Rangers were legitimately licenced for season 2011-12, despite the Discounted Options Scheme, or Wee Tax Case, seems more than odd.
In order to gain a Uefa licence clubs must have paid all social taxes due by 31 December no later than 31 March. Rangers advisors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, called Rangers £2.8m liability, which was unpaid by 31 March 2011, a “potential liability”, which was subject to discussions between the club and HMRC.
In quite simple terms, a club can call any liability a potential liability, however, this particular liability was very real. If the SFA allow Uefa rules to be circumnavigated by such a self-certified dismissal they are failing their duty to the game.
Mr Regan, the fact of this matter is that the liability was real. What evidence did you see to convince you otherwise? What processes are in place to ensure that a rogue SFA executive cannot rubber stamp a licence when one should not be granted? Can a club simply say “We’re all right, this stuff is under discussion” to make the SFA look the other way?
SFA president, Campbell Ogilvie, was secretary and director of Rangers during the entire operation of the Discounted Options Scheme. He was on the SFA board with oversight duties for ensuring clubs meet Uefa licensing standards when the club were issued with their 2011-12 licence, and he is currently seeking re-election to his post.
If Rangers were denied their licence for 2011-12 Celtic would have been eligible
The chat from PR companies is perhaps the most alarming, for them, of course.
Right now there is a campaign underway to ignore Charlotte. Any journo who takes on such an influential group of interests might is facing down some of the most influential people in the media industry. Here’s a thought for you: I reckon only circa 10% of available material has been looked at. Charlotte is not going away and neither is wee Craigie.
We have a special Father’s Day offer for the Willie Wallace book. Order between now and Thursday morning and we’ll include a Father’s Day card, complete with your own message. See the big graphic to the right..
You can choose from two cards, see explanation and choices here, one with Tony Watt after scoring against some Spanish lot, the other with Billy McNeill receiving some trophy or other.
Click on the button below, enter the text you would like to appear in the middle of the card, and Tony will post your book off in time for Father’s Day.
By common consent, the latest CQN Magazine has been voted the best yet.
For a proper read of the magazine cick here. Use the navigation buttons at the bottom to flick through pages or zoom in.
Order Heart of a Lion with your personalised Father’s Day card here:
[calameo code=0003901713852289beccb lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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“After missing out on key summer signing target Johnny Russell, who was lured by the greater riches of Derby County, Neil Lennon is about to sign unproven Portuguese striker Amido Balde. With Gary Hooper a target for a number of clubs down south and Anthony Stokes turning down a new contract, then Celtic manager’s striking options look thin.”
Do I get the job, Mr Editor?
BMCUW.
Congratulations to your dad for his hole in one
WEST WALES CELT
Planning a wee dayoooot in Cardiff wi my nephew hopefully Saturday 27 July.
You available?
.
Tom..
Ha..
Re; Feeling Daft..
A Few of My Ex’s were Daft..But I’m glad l Felt them..:-)
Summa
To those of you expressing concerns about new bhoy Balde’s goals ratio it might be worth considering that Liverpool are paying 7.7 million for lago Aspas. He is 25 and his stats are below. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.
Career total: Appearances 235 Goals 61
Driving tips Napoli style:
1) Around town, it’s first gear and neutral. Don’t get frustrated. Just read the spectacular graffiti all around as you sit in the queue. When eventually in 2nd gear, stay in gear until the tach exceeds the red line. This way you’ll fit right in with the vespa set.
2) Bumpers are practical driving aids around town. They are used extensively, particularly for parking. Take the additional CDW option when you hire and join in the fun.
3) Overtaking is a national sport. All cars are equipped with mirrors on both sides for good reason. The middle lane simply provides the space for flamboyant drivers to weave, using both warp and weft when conditions permit. Conditions are almost always permissive.
4) On the motorways the hard shoulder is a legitimate lane when the traffic is moving at less than 120kmp. By using your nearside mirror you will be ready to offer a respectful acknowledgement as driver after driver passes you on the inside of the inside lane.
5) Expert drivers and those seeking adventure in underpowered Fiats, are able to utilise the space between lanes. That is, on a dual carriageway when you are overtaking say a heavy truck, expert drivers are able to undertake you while overtaking the vehicle you are passing. It’s a classic high velocity sandwich, and a polite wave to applaud the manoeuvre is in order.
Have we not got stokes for another year as we have taken up that option?
Give him a till Christmas to earn his contract.
Tallybhoy .
Ravello .
A truly lovely place . Fabulous views .Great food .
In order to improve the experience of the patrons coming to watch hundreds of high handicap golfers hack round a beautiful Fife course may I confirm that my first duff shot off the tee is scheduled for 11.10 with my final 4-putts likely to occur just before 3.00.
Cameras at the ready…
BLANTYRETIM
He’ll be dining out on it for years-once someone relates the tale to him!
I reckon he enjoyed the occasion so much yesterday that his chances of remembering the details are zilch….
corkcelt – Ischia is a nice wee island about 1.5 hours on the ferry from Naples. Some of the bays have heated sea water due to volcanic vents, very nice if it’s a slightly chilly day.
starry plough
Aye and Goncalves’s scoring record in Portugal/France was a steller 3 goals in 28 appearances.
He then hit’s 8 in 16 games for St Mirren and becomes the new Eusebio.
scullybhoy
That’s nothing what about paying 10.5 million for Fabio Borini 16 goals in 46 appearances before Liverpool.
2 in 20 appearances for Liverpool!
CAVANSAM
Pretty sure Flo’s record-in games started-was similar at Chelsea.
The Battered Bunnet .
A wee tale from Catania .[ last summer ]
A him and her couple arrive on a late night flight at Catania . They take a taxi from the airport to the centre of town . It’s sweltering / they open the windows / guy leans his arm out the window —–cue a wee amputation by a passing surfboard attached[crossways ] to the back of a Vespa .
Auldheid,
Well done. I’m sure all on here appreciate your efforts.
tom mclaughlin
12:58 on 11 June, 2013
Summa –
When I saw Starry’s 4-0 comment, I assumed it was a wild prediction. Then when it went to 3-0 and Rogic came on, I thought . . . wait a wee minute here.
I soon realised SBS were showing a delayed broadcast.
How daft do I feel?
:~)
And they did the same with the Japan game last week. :-(
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Exactly what I’m saying stats mean diddly squat.
As somebody else mentioned on here Larsson scored 42 in 149 for Feyenoord, the rest is history.
Just off the ‘phone to a pal who is a taxi driver here in La Spezia.
Hire to Florence – Kuwaiti guy, his three wives and four weans!
Nice wee earner – about €500, minus tip.
He was in Portofino yesterday.
HH!!
To all those supporters in the celtic family who have donned the black cap in the expectation of Balde appearing in the hoops without seeing him kick a ball , i remember passing judgement on Henrik at easter road after one game and thinking he was a dud .
Supportingthehoops csc
cavansam \o/
Aye that’s him I couldn’t mind his name, for some folk it doesn’t matter what Celtic do they’ll still be unhappy, disappointed, angry, whatever their buguptheass is.
I would like us at least to sign the Bhoy before we start slaughtering him, I understand the Bangura/Murphy let downs but we have signed four successful strikers and that’s a good thing for this Tim..
Mon the Hoops..
Tallybhoy
Can’t remember if I mentioned to you before but La Spezia is where all of my mother’s family hail from.
99% of gargoyles look like bob todd
Cruise ships Docks in Napoli,duly set off for toon,meet folk coming back
“we can’t get across the road”feknvespas.
CAVANSAM
TBH,I am not convinced by anything that I have seen of Balde,but I remain true to the theory that Neil knows more about football,and how he wants the team to develop,than I do.
He’ll be a great player for us,or a flop,or a mediocre squad player.
Ask me this time next season!
Unfortunately Neil doesn’t have that luxury-he has to make a decision.
So fingers crossed….
starry plough
Totally agree mate lets give the lad a bit of time. He may just turn out to be the real deal like KoK, Sutton, BBJ etc.
KTF
HH
Surprised this was missed, guess who is an associate member…
Members will vote on matters including a plan to do away with associate memberships of the SFA.
Currently, any club applying to join the body must serve five years as an associate member before it is granted full status.
VOGUEPUNTER
Forwarded yer text the other night as requested.
He agreed….
ASonOfDan – a measure presumably not to be backdated…
BMCUWP
Forgot all about that….my GIRFUY,was not meant to offend :O)
AsonOfDan
Easy way to deal with that – throw out any “associate members”!
ht
I do remember you mentioning it some time ago.
My family come from just outside La Spezia – a place called Montedivalli, comune di Podenzana – a twenty minute drive away.
I am based in La Spezia for most of the year – lots of cruise ships during the season: one yesterday, one today and two tomorrow – taxi drivers making an absolute fortune, but still pleading poverty!
HH!!
Why do people decide how good or not a player is based on a few minutes clips on YouTube???
FFS, anyone can either look like a world beater or George Weah’s cousin (mind his stellar debut display for 25 mins for Southampton under the Beast???) on YouTube.
As for stats……everyone knows the old adage.
I’ll wait and judge Balde on his performances either in the Hoops…..or for Palace!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
greenyinfurrafenian
everybody`s doing the len ganly stance
Tallybhoy
I’ve never been but would love to get round to it one of these days!
Taxi drivers are the same the world over….La Spezia, Rutherglen, they’re aw the same :-)
voguepunter .
Recently helped 2 elderly English tourists cross a crazy road in central Palermo. I advised them that you simply have to start walking and praying . I had to hold their hands as the Vespas screamed and weaved .around us .
tallybhoy
italian taxi drivers imo are masters at shafting their passengers
i once paid 25 euro for a 5 min journey ..somewhat pie eyed and not speaking Italian i paid it to avoid any trouble ….was right narked about it tho
HT
I take it that was for my benefit?I’m being blacklisted for no chargin a boundary
to ole Ruglen.
heartofgold c.s