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:
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Also in relation to Balde is it a 2M fee or a 2M deal? They’re really quite different things.
Somebody mentioned McFadden earlier – this is in the E Times today:
James McFadden is put on green alert for Celtic swoop
James McFadden has been put on alert by Celtic, with the Parkhead club informing the playmaker of their interest.
It is believed that Neil Lennon’s side have a list of transfer targets they are working through, with the Motherwell hero told he will be made an offer if some of the deals don’t come off.
McFadden played out the second half of the term at Fir Park after a dreadful 18-month spell in which injury saw his career stall.
With a young family settled in Scotland, it is understood McFadden is desperate to remain in the vicinity rather than uproot them again.
The 30-year-old still harbours hopes of getting back into the Scotland squad where he made such a name for himself in the early years of his career.
He showed glimpses of the form he is capable of in the last few months – he netted five goals – and given he is now without a club then there would be no expensive transfer outlay for Celtic.
McFadden insisted towards the end of the season that he had heard nothing from the Parkhead club, although he was open to a move.
There was an inevitable headache for Lennon this weekend when news came back one of the many of his players off on international duty was injured.
The Celtic boss was left sweating on Victor Wanyama after the Kenyan – newly appointed captain of his country – required a scan on his leg while on duty for his country last week against Nigeria.
The 21-year-old is out of this Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Malawi, although Kenya are out of the running for qualification to Brazil 2014.
Meanwhile, Thomas Rogne has confirmed that he is on his way out of the Parkhead club.
The Norwegian defender turned down a new deal last February and will be off to pastures new this summer.
He said: “I still have a month left on my contract so I haven’t left yet but it seems that way.
Wonder if the mineshafters were unshafted when they heard we’d signed Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe?
….as our new recruit is so young and given his illustrious predecessor……
possible nickname….
Bebo Balde?
Welcome and hail, hail mate!
Carlton Cole? Surely not. Good player when fit, full international caps for England. He’s now 29 & will be on a high wage. Hopefully rumour not true.
The one striking thing about Balde’s Youtube, isnothisstriking ability, but his ability in winning aball in the air ; i.e the high ball
This is the type of player the N L has been crying out for.
I agree, he is not a replacement for any that we have, although I think Russell could play off him.
Has Amido Balde actually put pen to paper yet?
If he has I wish him all the very best on joining the best football club in the world.
Let’s give the ghuy a chance to show what he can do.
HH!!
.
Bourne..
Good Actor but l thought he could Smile More..
Summa
Is Mohamed Bangura back for next season?
I pad a bit temperamental with it’s use of the space bar.
Or, maybe it’s me !
When we signed Chris Sutton he was
a Chelsea flop…..don’t know if Balde is
the real deal, but let’s give him a chance.
The spirit of Arthur lee
I hope not! But he probably will. I wonder if he still sees us as a stepping stone to one of the ‘top clubs’
Hamiltontim
Let’s hope young Badle joins the list of successful strikers at Celtic signed from other clubs..
HooperWattStokesSamarasCSC
“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.”
>>>
And y’know what? He’ll succeed. All we can do is get our heads down and look to entertaining the fans here, and in Europe.
All the rampant corruption will just have to take care of itself. Our protestations are like howling in the teeth of a hurricane. Pointless.
And anyway, someone said earlier : the war is over, the manky mob are pan breed. I paraphrase. Forgive me my transgression.
Now, if only C.O. could issue words such as those. Then I suppose we’d all be in an alternative utopian universe. Not gonna happen.
HH!
Carlton Cole ?
For what it’s worth — Italian rumor mongers have him signing for LA Galaxy.
I’m just passing on some thoughts from two guys who have actually seen the lad play. Sorry if that seemed negative. If he does sign, I will be supporting him and I hope he does well.
Paul, do you know if Celtic will support the re-election of Campbell Ogilvie?
If they do, is that a message to all the Celtic fans that Celtic are happy with him, past, present and future, and that we should leave him be?
The spirit of Arthur lee
Apparently Bangura joined Elfsborg on loan for a year in January.
bournesouprecipe
hooper scored goals for Scunthorpe,more than andy carrol.
pabloh_AKA_NEIL LENNON
Cheers
should have said for Newcastle when the went down.
Carlton Cole will pick up 40k + a week from a Crystal Palace type EPL club.
miki67 @ 14 11.
Campbell Ogilvie
” and you know what ? he’ll succeed ”
I agree Miki . Sad Sad Sad .
How you doing ?
All I’ve said is I prefer players to do their talking on the park. History has generally shown those with most to say don’t back it up (Bangura, Hooiveld…). I hope he dis-proves my theory!
“Impeach Grimmond McCrummoch”
McFadden for Celtic is exactly the sort of guff which led our host to call this site what he did
CELTIC QUICK NEWS
NOT LAZY JOURNALISM
miki67
Great to see you on. Keep on keeping on. :-)
valentinesday
14:09 on
10 June, 2013
When we signed Chris Sutton he was
a Chelsea flop…..don’t know if Balde is
the real deal, but let’s give him a chance.
—
The Hun Skelper was a proven goal scorer remember his time at Blackburn and his partnership with (He’s a Wa##ker) Shearer , the SAS as they were know in Engerlund. Chris’s style didn’t fit in with Chealski but MO’N knew that a partnership of Henke and the Hun Skelper could terrorize teams across Europe and they did, 6 million for Chris – we robbed Chelsea.
At the moment we can only reminisce on the days, not so long ago, of high profile, big buck signings and wish young Balde all the very best and hope he can emulate the impact Chris Sutton had.
etims diary not bad today.
Miki67
It is good to see you posting again.
I would like Celtic to oppose the re-election of this corrupt individual, but doubt it is going to happen.
KTF
HH
Josimar – thought your commentary of your own shots was quite unique :-)
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
Think I’ve manged to get one after posting on Facebook…… Fingers crossed.
archdeaconsbench
Good man
Enjoy the Gig
Scary confession/dilemma time…..Stewart Regan keeps popping up on my LinkedIn as a potential contact! What does this say about the professional virtual company I’m keeping??!!?! Or maybe I should send him a wee request so that I can then follow it up with some ‘integrity’ questions???
Just watched a recording of young Balde arriving at Glasgow Airport.
First question he is asked by journo is,
“Crystal Palace were interested. Why didn’t you go to them?”
Honest to God. They take my breath away!!!
timhorton
Prolific for Scunthorpe! – didn’t impress me, turned out nice though.
Balde is a different type of player and unlike us John Park, NFL et all don’t have to rely on
youtube, – where incidentally Balde like every other strikers montage, looks useful.
I trust John Park, NFL PL et all , – win some lose some, in the main we’re doing very well
with signings IMHO ‘misfits’ get loaned and spirited away.
CHRIS SUTTON IS A LEGEND!
Another poster who is sadly missed,btw…..
I remember Arteta bossing a game against us,and mentioning to my sis that someone needs to sort him out
Next minute Chris stepped up to the plate,no foul,game over.
Marvellous player,and another one who “got” the club.
From previous thread
saltires en sevilla
You stated “Sevco have never beat us to anything” WRONG
They are “3rd Division SFL Champions!!”
Guess they can keep that World Title
Albert Kidds goals against Jam Tarts to make us Champions.
I think Corkceltic gave link to this BBC video.
Archie McPherson: “The half time whistle blew earlier than any of us were expecting”
Guess ref did not know we were 4 up at Love Street