“The tax default and reporting rules are an integral part of maintaining a fair league competition”.
Neil Doncaster, SPFL chief executive, November 2014.
“A fair league competition”. Strong words. I wonder if Mr Doncaster is keen to apply his ethics as evenly when it comes to a team with more than a couple of thousand fans. Don’t bet on it.
I suggested last week you ignore the comments coming out of Hampden about there being little appetite to look into the enormous levels of cheating which we now know went on is our game for over a decade. There is very little appetite from those occupying executive positions at Hampden, but they will not decide what happens.
Ultimate authority at the SFA and SPFL lies with the clubs, and more than just Celtic are alarmed by what went on, and the apparent flippancy show towards it in recent days by those paid to protect the honesty and reputation of our game.
Instincts exist within any organisation to protect itself. We’ve seen this play out in the Church (against their own), the police (against their own), Fifa (against their own), so it should be no surprise that those who worked, and became friends with, some of the architects of Rangers EBT scandal had little appetite to open an investigation.
An SFA or SPFL commission could lead to the disciplining of two-term SFA president, Campbell Ogilvies, or Sir David Murray, men who have made friends in the game for decades.
It would inevitably lead to the examination of the Resolution 12 issue (how Rangers were granted a licence to compete in the Champions League in 2011 when they didn’t meet the criteria). And this one is current enough to involve many still active in their roles.
And then there is the weighty matter of dealing with the consequences of what went on in our sport for all those years.
The demand of an investigation into what went on sounds reasonable but you cannot look into something corrupt without consequences, and that’s where corrupt systems work against fair competition.
Rangers rigged the system, their practises are as clear-cut a case of Financial Doping as you will find. They were playing by different rules, different tax rules and different player registration rules.
They failed to disclose information which should have been disclosed, but could have incriminated them. Unlike Craig Whyte, who was banned from the game for his duplicities, the directors who embarked on this great subversion have never been called to account.
Nor will they unless voices are heard across Scottish football. Don’t lose focus on getting angry (not yet, anyway), right now, we need fans of other clubs to share our concerns and let their voices be heard. Winning allies is the first part of winning this debate, and that’s easier done by calmly making our point.
11 clubs suffered financial consequences of Rangers Financial Doping. Motherwell lost a minimum of £2.1m from not gaining access to European competition. How would they feel if they were a cyclist half a mile behind Lance Armstrong in every race? Would if be OK, as he didn’t get caught?
There’s a Christmas toy collection for Maryhill Foodbank at Wild Cabaret, THIS Saturday, 14 November, from midday to 4:30. Families who don’t have money for food don’t have money for Christmas toys. If you have something you can donate, drop it in. There’s mulled wine and mince pies on the go.
You’ll find Wild Cabaret at 18 Candleriggs (0141 552 6165).
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Ghuys I am off out tonight to see the Wolftones, an annual gig they do to support charity.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
The second…
johnjamessite
The EBT Decade
by sitonfence
I read Keith Jackson’s article in the Daily Record today. As I have stated on several occasions, Mr Jackson is one of a select few journalists who is prepared to write articles that would not be approved by Level 5. Scottish journalists have long been influenced by ‘poachers turned gamekeepers’ who now ply their insidious trade in PR agencies. Journalists are as prone to indiscretions as those from other professions. When PR agents become aware of these indiscretions they can unduly influence journalists. As we have seen at The Herald Group, a commercial arrangement to promote season ticket sales will often be accompanied by a positive story on Rangers. This is no accident. Chris Jack’s output is marginally better than that of Derek Johnstone or Barry Ferguson. There is often little more than a cigarette paper between his views and their pro-Rangers articles, despite the fact that Chris Union Jack never actually played for Rangers. If you are looking for balanced reportage, I suggest you look elsewhere. I’m in no way recommending the Record. It is a shoddy red top rag that does not appeal to the ABC1 demographic which The Herald pursues.
Keith Jackson is a former Rangers player (under 14s) and his affection for our club is evident in many of his articles. His detractors suggest that he is influenced by Phil Mac Giolla Bhain. Mr Jackson makes no secret of the fact that he follows Phil Mac on Twitter. This practice of monitoring the Twitter feeds of others is now commonplace in journalism.
Mr Jackson provided a piece of information that was unknown to me. David Murray charged Rangers £500,000 per annum as their EBT consultant. What an outrage. Not only did he benefit with a £6.3m EBT of his own, he bought a book written by Paul Baxendale-Walker and then charged Rangers for the privilege of using his tax evading strategy.Would anyone be surprised if he paid these fees to himself via an EBT? In the decade in question he paid himself a minimum of £11.3m off the books.
Mr Jackson articulates a view that our criminal chairman would go ‘nuclear’ if any attempt was made to strip Rangers of 13/14 trophies from an era that is now being referred to as the EBT decade. He did not expand on what nuclear options were available to the individual on licence for Contempt of Court charges. How this could play out is that the SPFL will establish a new commission. As I revealed yesterday, four of the participants in the SPFL board argued robustly for this option. Given that some members have threatened to resign if no further review is instigated, I am persuaded that this is the most likely course of events.
Let’s assume that there is no artifice by Campbell Ogilvie’s former colleagues at the SFA and that those with a self-preservation agenda do not pervert the findings of this commission. If they arrived at a conclusion of title stripping, Rangers would appeal to the SFA. As we have seen with the ‘fit and proper’ decision on King, four existing members of their board of seven will do everything in their power to protect Rangers.The appeal would be upheld and the commission would be told to look at other sanctions that do not include title stripping. You would have to be very naive to believe that the SFA are not subservient to the interests of Rangers.
It will be the perfect fudged compromise. A review that adds legitimacy to the SPFL board and assuages the consensus for title stripping, followed by an SFA veto.
A cynic might suggest that the SPFL and the SFA would engineer this outcome as their default position should the commission ‘go native.’
I’m assuming in the interests of fair play and balance that the BBC will decide that since they showed the Ross County league cup game in the last round live that they will decide against showing their semi final live.
Fairs fair.
And the third…
Fit for purpose
by sitonfence
In a previous article, The Balance of Power I pointed out that the SPFL board would be deliberating on the implications of Employment Benefit Trusts being ruled as illegal. Apparently four of the six representatives of clubs unequivocally and robustly stated to Chairman Topping and Chief Executive Doncaster that the Inner Court of Session directives were a game changer.
They insisted that the private investigation by Lord Nimmo Smith was not fit for purpose and should be set aside. Nothing short of a full, frank and on this occasion, truly independent, review of the facts would be acceptable. The four clubs have insisted that sanctions, including the possibility of rescinding the award of 13 trophies, are included in the tariffs at the disposal of this commission.
Mr Doncaster will not be allowed to hide behind the LNS report.. The four representatives informed him in no uncertain terms that Rangers engaged in an illegal enterprise to gain a competitive advantage. Some present resorted to expletives when outlining their demand for a thorough review and the word ‘cheating’ was used liberally.
SMSM and Level 5 are doing their utmost to derail the growing consensus for title stripping, however should Mr Doncaster not heed the the views of the four clubs, their representatives will resign and openly state their rationale for resignation.
The desire for vengeance is not confined exclusively to the supporters. Those in the boardroom are evidently spitting blood.
Reading a few contorted excuses why awards should be simply marked with an asterisk, compensation for cheated clubs and cheated finalists awarded the trophy, anything else is an excuse to ignore justice.
The asterisk is no enough, they will still claim to be the most successful club, allow the asterisk and allow that claim go unchallenged.
I hope that a lot of posters here are making their views known to Celtic.
At the end of the day, what Celtic do or don’t do will have a massive bearing on the outcome.
it is often suggested on here that DD should go …. and as often it is asked ‘well, who would you replace him with?’ …..
Here’s an idea…. how about Darren O’Dea? …. He may not have been the best player we have ever signed, but I always liked him … seemed like an honest player, who loved Celitc and, clearly, isn’t afraid to speak out for what is right ….
okay, he may not have the financial background for DD’s job …. but, you know what? He’s got the most important qualities… and ones that those leading our club going forward are going to need in abundance in this fight …..integrity and character. So, if not DD’s job, give him a seat on the board, or otherwise find a role for him at Celtic ….
I’m starting a campaign to bring Darren home! :)
I dig the ten-in-a-row chant.
Why not? The Huns hate it; it predicates a future where their shared record 9 – accumulated through cheating – is smashed.
All through the 90s we endured them vomiting ‘9-in-a-row’ at us.
We countered with hope in our crazed Italian, ‘Paolo di Canio says you’ll never make 9-in-a-row’.
But they did. The night they achieved it was a sunny evening at Parkhead, the Lisbon Lions stand half-built, us toiling on the pitch to a shambolic 0-0 with Raith.
Couldn’t move from my seat at the final whistle. Low as I’ve ever felt at CP. Up in Dundee the cheats were rolling in it, Laudrup having scored their winner.
Remember being taunted by jubilant Huns on the way home.
Now, nearly 20 years hance we have the chance looming to wipe away all that misery, and seal THEIR misery for eternity by making it to 10.
There is NOTHING ‘Hun-like’ about celebrating that possibility; About relishing the chance to live through it.
I see real excitement building around it in the next 5 seasons – real excitement that will keep us engaged in domestic football, that will raise gates as we close in.
I see it as taking back from the cHEATS what is ours – what the Lions rightfully and fairly won in the 70s, we will rightfully and fairly win as the new centruy turns into the Twenties.
We will also close in on overhauling their illegally-won league titler record while we do the 10.
The rebels will have risen from the ashes to trounce their petty achievements, and we will rub it in their ugly Hun perma-rage rictus faces.
And I for one will LOVE it!
Apols if already posted:
http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons-view/rangers-cheated-football-fraudulent-silverware/10066
O’Dea and plenty of others will have lost bonuses ,and possibly even contract extensions,Fraser Wishart will bend over backwards to help these guys out………
TET,
Cannae understand whats so difficult about demanding justice, justice will not be served by halting history, they cheated, history should make that very clear by awarding their ill gotten gains to their rightful owners and compensating those cheated where any award has any ambiguities.
Any bets on the biggest story on the radio shows tonight?
A few daft boys who shouted or the Huns statement ridiculing all of Scottish football?
Blantyrekev@ 5.44
Exactly right. The New club should stay away from matters that do not concern it. The old club died and if they wish to resurrect the dead they would need to be liable for all of the debts including the ones accruing from the “big tax case”.
But it’s none of their business. Anyway they have more than enough to be getting on with keeping the lights of this club on
Darren O’Dea, would improve our defence atm ..
Mind when he was training with us .. No sure if it was this summer ..
But Ronny could have done worse .. (Blackett)
Mind him and big Mick, just aboot kept AC Milan at bay in the CL knock out stages ..
Sure I read an article in the last couple of days .. Ronny quoting he would like to see some old heads back that know what it’s like to be successful in Europe .. Think it was the Herald..
Where’s Darren now .. China ??
STV News going tell us that the Rangers saying you wont take our titles ? I thought newco had nothing to do with Glasgow Rangers is that not what Dave King said yesterday ? Today Newco speaking on behalf of Glasgow Rangers ? Talk about confusing, part of there strategy I think. In Ronny and Peter I trust. H.H.
Posted by Edgar Blamm.
Link to a cached version of that now-deleted Neil Doncaster blog: https://t.co/Wqb7Gi3Umn
Courtesy of darkfish on the @huddleboard
Can you buy the history of an asterisk?
Kikinthenakas
LENNYBHOY on 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 5:29 PM
JOBO BALDIE on 9TH NOVEMBER 2015 5:15 PM
I agree don’t want their titles but I do want them erased from their history. On the say hello to 10 in a row chant, I too detest it. Same as the time we sang say cheerio to 9 in a row chant in the 96/97 season. It is a Huns type song and I hate.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
——————————————————————————————————————————————————-
I agree with all that Jobo and Lennybhoy have said re all titles and trophies being stripped. However I would consider that a starting position on the sporting advantage issue, Together with Sevco clearly being told they are a new club and also whatever sanctions are then applied by a wholly independant enquiry regarding every aspect of this scandal.
HH
HH
kikinthenakas
Only at Asterisks Direct courtesy of Big Mike he owns all the IP of the huns Asterisks:))
HEN1RIK. Well done fella in finding that post I think it puts Mr.Doncaster on the spot. In Ronny and Peter I trust. H.H.
How thick is BFSDJ? So high pitched now,only the dogs in the streets can hear him……..
From Wiki
Cheating is the getting of a reward for ability by dishonest means or finding an easy way out of an unpleasant situation. It is generally used for the breaking of rules to gain unfair advantage in a competitive situation. This broad definition will necessarily include acts of bribery, cronyism, sleaze, nepotism and any situation where individuals are given preference using inappropriate criteria.[1] The rules infringed may be explicit, or they may be from an unwritten code of conduct based on morality, ethics or custom, making the identification of cheating conduct a potentially subjective process. Cheating can refer specifically to marital infidelity. Someone who is known for cheating is referred to as a cheat in British English, and a cheater in American English. A person described as a “cheat” doesn’t necessarily cheat all the time, but rather, relies on unfair tactics to the point of acquiring a reputation for it.[2]
HH
BADABING. How can you listen to that rubbish your brain will turn to mush. In Ronny and Peter I trust.H.H.;- )
Weet weet weet..,
Nae punch line ? :)
derek johnstone making some excellent points on clyde
hibs aberdeen and dundee utd had it in for “us” he said
he also would support a boycott on away grounds
when pressed by gerry mcculloch
what a guy
a great example of an absolute bawbag
In Ronny and Peter I trust, are praying Sevco don’t go tits up and get promotion this season..
:)
For what it is worth …. I am on the camp that titles should be awarded to the ream that finished second/runner-up. I appreciate that it is more problematic in cups than leagues.
And I for one dont mind if they put an astericks beside each such cup in the record books …. in fact, I encourage it … something simple and true …. like Celtic (or whoever) were cheated by RiL. However, after RiL’s cheating was exposed, and they were liquidated, the trophy was awarded to the next placed team who
did not cheat
I generally make a point of always calling them Sevco … but I dont think that goes far enough … from now on, they will be ‘Sevco who cheated and got caught’ … it may not roll off the tongue, but at least its true..
Years of cheating is the real story bhoys, don’t let them forget it
In typical fashion STV sports news still see the need to show Molde scoring against us, commenting on our perceived lack of fitness and then telling us that John Collins refused to be drawn on the subject of title stripping. Why JC? Shouldn’t their intrepid reporters have been asking Regan, Doncaster and Ogilvie about it? Are they in hiding?
oops … hit enter by mistake … hadn’t cleaned up typos …. but, you get my point … I hope.
Mike in Toronto. 6.27
The phrase I’ve been using in work is Glasgow Rangers they cheated then died.
Not going down too well with some. The truth hurts.
Bada…
Your on a roll tonight, keep it up mate.
Mike..,
I think it rolls off the tongue quite nicely :)
But, we could have a wee comp to come up with a better phrase, such as
The adulterous sevco
“Everytime a cheating individual /organisation is successful it makes a sham out of the competition.” Dick Pound,independent commission president,Russian doping case.Do you hear this Scottish football authorities??
Lambert like Sutton pandering to the establishment Pathetic.
O Neill Lambert and Sutton didn’t have to fund the team. They were paid handsomely and took the club into debt. Pathetic.
This is not a Sporting Advantage story. That’s what’s being used to muddy the waters. They used an illegal tax scheme. Every player who had one is now ineligible to play in all those past games. 3-0 score line to their opponents. That is rule por cierto.
Stuart McCall being a filthy Hun on shortbread, “i don’t know enough about it but rangers shouldn’t be stripped of titles”