Self-flagellation:
SPFL: “Rather than attempt to communicate through the media, it is far more appropriate that any substantive issues are presented to the SPFL board for careful and detailed consideration, based on a sound legal analysis of the facts.”
Translated: Whip.
SPFL: “To date, there has been no such representations to the SPFL board and it notes Mr King’s statement of 30 May.
Translated: Whip.
SPFL: “In its statement of 29 May, Rangers FC claimed “a business relationship”, existed between the SPFL chairman and minority shareholders in a SPFL club, despite no evidence of such a relationship being presented. There is no mention of the previously claimed “business relationship” in the 30 May statement.
Translated: Whip.
SPFL: “In the 30 May statement the central allegation has now become that “there was non-disclosure of the conflict that immediately arose when the SPFL chairman accepted” his appointment as a non-executive director of International News & Media PLC (“IN&M plc”). As with the 29 May statement, no detail was provided to support this allegation.
SPFL: “Within the space of about 24 hours two different and very public allegations have been made against the SPFL chairman without, in either case, an approach first being made to the SPFL with concerns or seeking clarification.”
Translated: Whip.
To you or me this would be embarrassing. The SPFL know the rules. In fact, they wrote the rules, so if you are going to go off like a paranoid loon, know your territory, get it right, be consistent, remember what you wrote yesterday before launching into another issue today.
The days when the likes of Jim Farry (or the many who followed him) ran Scottish football are over. There are professionals in place now. Murdoch MacLennan has been a senior executive of large companies for decades. He was a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution, is an Honorary Professor at the Glasgow University Business School.
Unlike Dave King, he has no criminal convictions.
I would also like to point out some of the reporting on this:
“Record Sport broke the story Doncaster would be standing by MacLennan, despite news emerging of the 69-year-old’s links with Desmond and fellow shareholder Denis O’Brien.”
Ask yourself this: on what basis could the SPFL act against Murdoch MacLennan? It would be more accurate to say “Neil Doncaster and others on the SPFL board have no choice but to stand by MacLennan as no evidence of wrong-doing whatsoever has been presented.”
And, no evidence of links with Dermot Desmond or Denis O’Brien have been provided. There are no such links, only innuendo. King may as well have said, “They go to the same synagogue” [they don’t, of course].
Stay classy, Dave. I’m sure outbursts like this are a sign that your troubles are all under control, but stop this self-flagellation nonsense.
Brogan Rogan is going to Malawi this month to support the Celtic FC Foundation’s work with Mary’s Meals. You can read a bit about what he is doing here, and support the project.
You can also contribute by buying one of these polos or Tshirts, all proceeds go to the Foundation Malawi Appeal:
Polos are £19:67 and T shirts are £12.99 or £30 for one of each. Postage is £2.80. Email Jim at jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk to buy (update: only the green T is still available).
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Good Morning.
Celtic.
What a great word to start a sentence with.
Yesterday, by sheer chance, after I had been told of Vanessa’s passing, I found myself at Celtic Park as I was going in to collect some things and have a chat to some of the foundation team about my forthcoming trip to Malawi.
I parked my car and was on the phone as I headed towards the main entrance and waited outside until I had finished my call rather than walk in through the front door while gabbing away on the phone.
It was a nice sunny day and from inside the front foyer I got a wave from Frank Rafters who is the head guide at Celtic Park and from the security guy on duty whom I know to see from attending various events.
As I talked on the phone I thought “It is nice to be recognised and acknowledged” – it is one of those simple good human things to do.
When I came off the phone, I was in no great hurry, and I found myself looking at three very familiar figures — Johnstone, Walfrid and Stein. All three looked down at me and said nothing. Or did they?
Jimmy Johnstone loved to play football as a wee bhoy. All he did was kick a ball and he was held back in primary school just so that he could remain in the school team. But Jimmy believed in practice, practice and more practice, running in and out of milk bottles to hone the ball skills that would later dazzle Europe.
Jimmy had some battles to fight as an adult and in later life thought those battles with a radiant smile and great bravery. He was loved dearly by friends and family as a man first and secondly as a footballer.
Jock Stein was in many cases a difficult man. Not the easiest to get on with some would say, but he had an idea or two about football. He loved Football just as much as Jimmy did but from a different perspective. He didn’t have the skills that Jimmy did but he saw how it should be played and knew that he could organise, coach, inspire and yes frighten players who had far more skill than he would ever have into performing at their best and as a team.
In every way, Stein was inspirational.
But not as inspirational as Walfrid who, from long before there was even a team to support, could see that football, the playing of football and the supporting of football, could be used as a vehicle to inspire and do immense good in the community.
A Community that Jimmy Johnstone would later be born into and which an ex miner from Burnbank would champion in many ways and say that football is nothing without their support.
And they say that statues don’t talk?
Once inside the building, I spent the next couple of hours talking to familiar faces from the foundation team. As I sat and watched all around me I listened to what they were about, what they were doing and planning re things which were months away.
There is just so much hard work being done here with planning and travel schedules that would exhaust many a person.
By sheer chance a man walked through the general office while chatting to another member of staff. He is someone whom I have known for many many years and who only on Monday of this week I contacted after a gap of many years about a business project. He was busy throughout the week he had said, but would contact me on Friday and lo and behold there he was at Celtic Park.
The chap concerned did not grow up with any Celtic background. I know his personal story from way back when I was in my twenties and I recall him being given a job of work to do by Fergus McCann many many years ago. Turns out that he has performed the same function every year for the last 22 years and in that time has worked with every chief executive since. In that period he has come to, how can I put this, just see what a good business, a good infuence, Celtic Football Club is.
He has no great interest in football at all — but he does have an interest in Celtic and what happens from Celtic Park.
Celtic — a word that inspires debate about players past, present and potentially future. A name that automatically means the recollection of great games, both victories and losses, and which is instantly recognised the world over where any knowledgeable football fans gather.
Yet it is also a word which, in my opinion, automatically means “Values”, an ethos, a way of life, something we should aspire to, strive for, aim for, play a part in, promote and take part in whilst all the time enjoying the passion for football and life which was epitomized by Jock Stein, Jimmy Johnstone and Brother Walfrid.
There can be no greater football club to follow than Glasgow Celtic in my opinion, and I say that with absolute respect to any other football club be they large or small, local or on the other side of the world.
The new season in front of us gives us another chance to cheer this club on and , yes, there is no doubt that some of us (me included) will not agree with every move the PLC makes, or with the decisions made about this matter or the next, or with my fellow fans in respect of various things.
But Celtic, at its very best, is a club full of love, full of hope, full of joy and has the ability to bring out the very best in football and its fans.
With that in mind I am up early and preparing for Malawi.
I am looking forward to this trip and to learning more, finding out what needs to be done and what can be done through the 67 kitchens and in the name of Celtic Football Club which sits in a wee corner of Glasgow on the other side of the world.
And in that wee corner, you will find three statues of three very different men, each with different attributes, skills and mindsets.
Statues don’t say much unless you let them inside your head in which case they can say plenty and yesterday, on a very difficult and sad day, serendipity, fate or whatever delivered me unexpectedly into the shadow of three guys who are no longer with us and their message was clear.
This is what it means to be Celtic. Get out there, do things that will inspire the neutral or the person who has no interest in Celtic or football. Do things the Celtic way, with a smile, with a laugh, with a song – do things that will make your fellow fan proud of you and the club you represent, and do these things in the name and in the memory of all the greats (fans, players, managers, workers, directors, groundsmen or whoever) who walked through Parkhead’s gates at any time in the past.
There has never been a greater vision for a football club than the one started and passed on by Walfrid and which is shared by thousands and thousands of Celtic fans today.
I am off to Malawi for the best of reasons and with as big a smile on my face as I can fit on this oul coupon.
Celtic. What a great word to end a sentence with.
This is how it feels to be Celtic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfJRX-8SXOs
BRTH
Thought should be fought — I blame the ITZ from primary school which wasn’t yesterday
BRTH You are Celtic. Hh
BRT & H
Should ITZ read as ITA?
If so, I think it may be more down to Keyboard error than a misguided reading scheme
Hello again all you young rebels.
Waow! what a post from BRTH for me to try and follow but here
we go.
Beautiful sunny winters evening here in Oz and a great result for
the Soceroos last night with big handsome Tom playing his part
as only he can.
Think maybe they could be a dark horse for the semi’s in the world
cup.
O.K. i promised you all a wee competition to keep the feelgood
factor on the blog going.
PADDYMACOZ AND I have got a quiz question for you all and the
winner will receive one of our much admired and sought after Csc
Celtic tops parcelled and posted free of charge.
These tops have previously been won by such CQN luminaries as
GEAROID and BMCUWP so not to be scoffed at.
I will give you all time to get your pencils and paper ready and pose
our question 1 hour from now.
Hopefully all our missing posters and lurkers will take part.
H.H Mick
BRTH what a post. This IS how it feels to be Celtic.
Caring, loving, compassionate, passionate, happy or sad this is what makes us who we are. This is Celtic, this is us, we are Celtic.
A lot better to love and care than hate, these are the things that most of our parents instilled in us.
Good luck fella and thanks for the wonderfull posts.
???
D. :)
BRTH
Thought should be fought
Orwellian t shirts 2 furra pound
Another eloquent and thought provoking post BRTH
HH
Bang bang
Oh dear, forgive me i was telling lies….
#anotherdualposter
No idea what you mean no suggestion of lies and dont get the #anotherdualposter?? Care to explain? cheers
Corruption in Scottish Football – LLP
I was approached by a law student who has elected to use the Five Way Agreement as a prime example of corruption. The following is my considered response to him:
Boiled down and stripped of legalese the shameful guarantee in the Five Way Agreement states:
‘The SPL hereby undertakes solely and exclusively to Sevco and to no other Person that the SPL shall not take or commence disciplinary proceedings against Sevco in respect of any EBT Payments and Arrangements.’
What is even more incredible is that this deal was struck before Lord Nimmo Smith began his so-called investigations and before the FTTT announced its verdict on Rangers’ tax anomalies.
I accuse Stewart Regan, from the appellate body that is the SFA, of apprising Nimmo Smith of the backroom deal which exonerated Sevco and provided LNS with a predetermined outcome.
Furthermore I accuse Doncaster and Regan of changing the scope of The LNS inquiry to exclude the ‘Wee Tax Case’ As HMRC had established that DOS/VSS instruments were little more than disguised means of remuneration in a test case against Aberdeen Asset Management.
LNS was bound and gagged by Regan, Doncaster and the most slippery of them all in the ample form of Rod McKenzie. After the main act they sent in the clowns. The name ‘Bryson’ is synonymous with ‘cheating’ amongst Scottish Football fans.
The LNS inquiry breathed life into the ‘continuing club’ controversy which has fuelled incessant and often bitter internet debate and sparked the recent vicious attacks on Jim Spence and his family. This was no accident. A few weeks after a ridiculous £250,000 slap on the wrist for registration anomalies, Neil Doncaster LLP stated unequivocally that Charles Green’s basket of assets were Rangers, as incorporated in 1899. This was a lie. Even a cursory glance at The Companies Act of 2006 would expose Doncaster’s sophistry.
Dave King, aided and abetted by Paul Murray and James Traynor, used the Charlotte Fakes Twitter site to expose the contents of Craig Whyte’s hard disk. Whyte’s PC had been hacked by William Stevenson. King paid £25,000 for this information. As RIFC were listed on LSE AIM at that time, King, Murray and Traynor are all guilty of manipulating the price of RIFC Plc equity. However DCI Robertson, who worked hand in glove with COPFS, appears to have cut a deal which granted these criminals immunity.
The final draft of the 5-Way Agreement between Rangers in Administration, Sevco Scotland, the SFA, SPL and SFL included a promisory clause that Rangers in Administration and Charles Green would not take legal action against the SFA, SPL or SFL and any of their officers and officials. Green reneged on this agreement when the SFA imposed a transfer embargo.
Lord Nimmo Smith, under oath if necessary, should make a statement on behalf of his discredited tribunal as to whether they knew prior to any evidence being collated that a secret guarantee of immunity had been given to Sevco Scotland which is now trading as The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
Would Nimmo Smith care to comment on Rod McKenzie’s metaphysical liquidation-defying entity, referred to as RFC in the Five Way Agreement, which has been derided in the highest court in Scotland?
And as for the SMSM isn’t it time you actually grew a pair and dealt with the serious allegations raised by the release of the Charlotte Fakes material? Does public interest count for nothing in Scotland? If you or your editors are frightened of the ‘dirty little secrets’ in the possession of a morbidly obese PR man then now is the time to be Spartacus and if you can’t manage that be Jim Spence.
If one continues to cower in a dark corner, close one’s eyes and dream of being a Twitter Warrior, then readers will turn in ever increasing numbers to the internet for their news; albeit with many imperfections but at a minimum some honest endeavour to prevent the truth being choked by a surfeit of succulent lamb.
On a final note Kris one should pay attention to the upheld SFA complaints. Dave King has already played the hidden deal card. Will this trump compliance?
Where is Joe O’Rourke from the Celtic Supporters Association ? Why is Neil Doncaster still in a job ?
Why are we not demanding the LNS enquiry is re-opened ?
Why were the dates changed from 1998 to 200” ? If oldco werent co-operative in habding ivsr documents from 98 then why were they granted a licence ?
These are questions that Joe and other Celtic bloggers should be asking.
habding ivsr = handing over
Last post from @sitonfence
Yes I know I know it’s John james but at least he’s asking questions and highlighting these issues whereas some of our bloggers would rather talk about what’s happening at Grey Skull constantly.
MELBOURNEMICK
How are you mhate ? Hope you and family are all well , wish i was having a Guinness with you in Melbourne !! E and i off to Glasgow for the day to meet my big Hibs pal and his Mrs , take care !! HH !
PARK ROAD 67
Hi mate, do you have happy memories of that drunk Aussie hugging
you in that bar in Melbourne and saying ” I don’t know anything about
soccer but i love Celtic and those orange bar stewards will never march
in our town ?
Only in Melbourne and the rebel peninsula.
Oh! and probably the rest of this vast continent.
H.H Mick
O.K. GHUYS
Ten minutes and then i’m posing the question
to win our treasured Celtic top.
Hope your all ready with baited breath, suppose it’s
a bit like waiting on dangerous Dave’s latest rant 8-))
H.H Mick
Was catching up on the blog and was very sorry to hear of Vanessa Riddle’s passing. I know her granddad Taf as he is affectionately known, drinks in Bruce’s Well in Troon, haven’t seen him for a wee while but he was always gushing about his granddaughter.
There were a lot of events in and around Troon at the height of the fundraising height, in pubs, car washes, you name it and a bucket collection at Tesco’s in Irvine. Tremendous effort and credit to BRTH for his efforts and the whole Celtic family and beyond who raised such a lot of money to try and help Vanessa, ultimately in vain.
Will say a prayer for her this morning and also for my great nephew Ross who died of the same terrible disease at aged 2.
God Bless them both RIP.
BRTH.
Thank goodness (and Celtic) for good people such as yourself. Your words can elicit so much emotion , uplifting whether the subject matter is a tale of sadness or happiness.
I had thought of saying something like “I wish I could express my thoughts half as good as you”. But you know what, I’m lucky having the skills I have and enjoy being able use them. And I get aid for it.
There are so many others who are denied this through no fault of their own.
And then there are those who get paid a pittance for doing far more important work than me. The doctors and nurses who attended to, and thankfully continue to do so, my Mother In Law after what we Scots euphemistically refer to us “a wee turn”.
#humblingCSC
BRTH
A great post from you to start a glorious day in Dalmuir. Decided to put on a Celtic shirt and go for a walk to shops there. The number of smiles and “s’appenin big yin” comments I received, sums up the Celtic effect. Best of luck in Malawi Jim.
This Is How It Feels To Be Celtic.
Inspiral Carpets CSC
aid = paid
https://wp.me/p8p6sl-Fd
Defensive Action Success can be measured across a number of core capabilities to assess overall effectiveness. Earlier in the season Ajer was reaching Van Dijk levels of defensive performance. Did he maintain that to the end of the season?
Are you all ready? here we go to win our Social Celts Mornington
Celtic top.
Name eleven Celtic first team players and one sub who also played
professionally in Australia.
I know you will all be reaching for wiki but remember it’s Paddy and
i’s twelve and maybe not as obvious as you think 8-))
H.H Mick
Of course, forgot to say the first to name the twelve wins the prize.
H.H Mick
MELBOURNEMICK
I reckon the blog will do well to get them as a collective!
MM
Can only get 7
Frank Haffey
Dixie Deans
Willie Wallace
Davie Provan
Mark Viduka
Scott McDonald
Tom Rogic
BMCUWP
PADDYMAC has actually played with some of them, think i just gave
a clue away there, and i played with one at junior level, but the
ingenuity and intelligence on here at times blows me away so i think
we’ll have a winner pretty quickly.
H.H Mick
MELBOURNEMICK
I reckon I can get nine of them,but I haven’t checked to see if they are all correct.
DELANEYSDUNKY
Davie Provan? Didn’t know that!
Good try DD and i reckon you never went to wiki.
H.H Mick
Michael mcglinchy
DD, I’ll give you Danny Crainie to add to your list as a freebie :-)
Melbourne Mick
Celtic Players to Play in Australia
Not sure I can get a full team but here goes.
Frank Haffie
Duncan McKay
Johnathon Gould
Dixie Deans
Liam Miller
Tom Rogic
Scott McDonald
Mark Viduka
Willie Wallace
Does the young lad from Australia who signed for the youths last year count?
Frank Haffie
Duncan McKay
Johnathon Gould
Dixie Deans
Liam Miller
Tom Rogic
Scott McDonald
Mark Viduka
Willie Wallace
Danny Crainey
Davy Provan
Robinbhoy
I believe I owe you a big “THANK YOU VERY MUCH ” for my cup final ticket which was passed on to me by Angel Gabriel.
Thanks for that. I had a great day
BRTH
If he signed professional and played in Oz professional then
it counts but remember it’s Paddy and i’s twelve.
H.H Mick
Frank Haffie
Duncan McKay
Johnathon Gould
Dixie Deans
Liam Miller
Tom Rogic
Scott McDonald
Mark Viduka
Willie Wallace
Danny Crainey
Davy Provan
And
Joe Miller
I think Ki S Y played in Australia. HH
BRTH
Up to your usual very high standards.
Safe trip to Malawi.
I believe you will be spending some time in Italy during the summer – Tuscany?
I’m just ‘up the road’, and it would be a great pleasure to meet you if it could be arranged.
HH!!
Tallybhoy
Yes I will be in Tuscany in July — more or less on the Umbrian border right enough.
Cheers
BRTH
MILD MANNERED PEDRO DELGADO
Michael was a New Zealand internationalist
but good guess..
H.H Mick