SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, appeared on BBC Radio Scotland this evening strongly pitching the appropriateness of a Newco to be voted into the SPL. He gave a couple of examples to back up his position and used gaps in his interviewer’s understanding to paint a strong picture.
While he accepted that a Newco had never assumed a position in an elevated league in Scotland he gave two examples of it happening in England and even went as far as suggesting that “going down the Newco route” was the normal way to exit administration now.
There is a crucial difference between the examples Doncaster gave and all other examples, including Rangers – over 75% of creditors agreed to a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement.
A note of explanation first:
Football clubs are free to change their corporate structure by application to their association. This has been done my most clubs over the years, in particular in the 19th century when they went from being private clubs to incorporated limited companies. There was another wave when the PLCs arrived. Celtic went through this process in 1897 when it became a limited company and again in 1994 when it became a PLC (Celtic PLC remains the same legal entity they became in 1897 with the same company number).
This facility to change your corporate structure has never been a charter to ditch your debts. Financially distressed football clubs in England often change corporate structure when subject to a takeover. The new boss comes in with the company he used to fund his takeover (like Craig Whyte’s Wavetower) then applies to the FA to associate the club with his new company. If over 75% of creditors support a CVA, this is in order and is always granted. The old company is then usually wound up.
Back to Neil Doncaster. He gave two examples: Crystal Palace and Plymouth Argyle.
Creditors of Crystal Palace agreed a CVA proposed by CPFC 2010 in June 2010. Following this, CPFC 2010 took ownership of the club and successfully applied to assume its league share.
Mr Doncaster may have been concentrating on matters elsewhere on 6 May last year when Plymouth Argyle’s creditors agreed to a CVA. The same day Craig Whyte completed his takeover of Rangers. Following this creditors agreement, the club was bought by the Akkeron Group.
Precedent in Scotland and in England is clear: if you get the agreement of your creditors (by a CVA, for example), the football authorities have no issues. If you don’t get agreement with your creditors, you’re finished.
Before I get asked the Leeds United question one more time…. 75.2% of Leeds United’s shareholders agreed to a CVA but on the 28th and final day creditors were allowed to act, HMRC objected. The Football League used emergency provisions to authorise Leeds share transfer as the CVA had sufficient support. HMRC dropped their appeal soon thereafter.
There is little we can do about controlling the debate on radio. Neil Doncaster has pinned his colours to the mast and tonight agreed to be interviewed by a journo who is also financially heavily conflicted towards supporting a Rangers-Newco in the SPL.
Doncaster also appears to have sprung the same misinformation on the organiser of the SPL Survey, who the SPL chief was very dismissive off tonight, implying the organiser accepted his view after he explained “the facts”.
This is the bottom line for you and for Doncaster. Crystal Palace, Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United all convinced over 75% of creditors to support a CVA.
Here is a list of the teams in Scotland and England (in modern times) who failed to agree a CVA:
Chester City
Farsley Celtic
Rushden and Diamonds
Airdrieonians
Gretna
All of them dissolved. None emerged as a Newco retaining their league status (although Airdrieonians fans bought and moved Clydebank FC).
This man – Doncaster – has no right to present you or SPL clubs with a selected version of English clubs history which plays fast and loose with the most important fact of all – did 75% of creditors agree to a CVA?
Precedents are clear and 100% consistent. Get 75% of creditors on side or start supporting another football team.
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JimmyQuinnsBits, 22:54
Entirely right
OG
I wasn’t having a go at Alex, he is a quality jurno, he has proved that over the years.
He is up against the brotherhood now, the goalposts are different than covering a war.
Ask your self how many programes you have seen in your life that condem the brotherhood, a handfull at most, but none are in the mainstream.
Everything is hidden in plain sight mi amigo, everything, right down to the dollar bill.
They extend well past the scottish borders.
I may well sound paranoid, but my upbringing and experiances have shaped the way I think and the way I know how it works.
We all know the info is out there, it’s just the problem of letting the people know.
The internet can be dismissed very easily, guys like AT can’t, I know he is hamstrung.
midfield maestro on 30 April, 2012 at 22:53 said:
The huns buy them with what?? Who at the huns Craig Whyte? Bill “murray” Miller, The Blue Tights??
Sound like another moonbeam…
Good article, Paul, though like many insights it will remain invisible to those who need to read it most, i.e Neil Doncaster.
I found his ill-conceived speil rather depressing tonight, not from the point of view of it being alarming or disturbing, nor its negative connotations for our desire for justice.
No, depressing in the sense that quite clearly here is a man administrating the Scottish game who has little understanding of the actual problem he faces.
Most of the CQN regulars could enlighten him as to the inaccuracies of his assumptions and comprehension of Rangers’ dire position regards liquidation, assests, Whyte, etc.
He seemed to be a man constructing like a nervous suspect, who has completely swallowed the magnificent Duff & Phelps magical media solution scenario potion.
He is either unwilling to understand the details of the hun plight or lacks the wit to do so.
Which only leads me back to a point I made a month or so ago:
Campbell Ogilvie has the reins in there; Campbell Ogilvie is influencing policy way beyond his job remit; Campbell Ogilvie has Doncaster in a gimp suit in a chest in his basement and Reagan in a pony harness with a butt-plug tail.
Ogilvie, the puppet-master. Celtic need to focus their sights on that sleekit charlatan.
This is all part of an evolving scandal that sooner or later will erupt,or be bulldozered under an orange carpet.
The Masons have way too much influence these days in the entire UK.
“A pox on all their houses.”
From end of previous article….turns out he spouted the same crap on Scotland Tonight.
Good evening CQN
Couldn’t believe my ears, listening to Neil Doncaster earlier. He was an absolute disgrace, an embarrassment with the incoherent rubbish he was spouting. The CEO of the SPL, made up stories, used incomparable examples and was almost encouraging football clubs to liquidate and shed their debts. A total imbecile of a man, I held high hopes for – totally out of his depth.
Thankfully, thems setting up a newco with access to Ibrox isn’t going to be straight forward and could lead to a lengthy court battle. they have got into such a mess there is no easy way out, irrespective of the authorities seemingly doing Pilates and yoga to help them out.
It is going to take the laws of the land and CW’s greed (& massive gonads) & tickets to ensure their future is extremely bleak, irrespective which form it takes.
great day yesterday ;-)))))))
I’m obviously not the only one who knows what The Masons are capable of.
They’re right down there with The Cosa Nostra,and they do things their way.
This is what the filthy hun relies on in his/her arrogance.
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
FourGreenFields on 30 April, 2012 at 21:35 said:
Bundoran Bhoy
Only if we sit back and let them , I suggested a while back that Celtic Shareholders should be looking at getting legal advice to explore any avenues open to us mounting a challenge to the events which have effected our club both on the park and off the park financially
FourGreenFields. set up a Fighting Fund, and I will happily contribute.
Now catching up after our wee day out yesterday , fantastic input by real fans, still laughing at numerous banners – and at them.
A couple of points on other issues – at end of game, watched form my seat, as one of them in an orange top walked across the top of seats ,trying to break them – got to have been seen on the CCTV, if polis know how to use it.
Also noticed Brian Quinn going in front door. quite sure Peter had a wee word with him regarding Financial Fair Play. as he followed him in accompanied by Kevin Kelly
We should’ve known all along with Ogilvie not being moved from his post that we can’t trust this lot.
Games up.
THE EXILED TIM, 22:56 said:
I didn’t think you were (and I wouldn’t care if you were as I’m not here to defend him, he can do that himself)
He is hamstrung, currently, and after a promising start, because those who have the paperwork have held on to it.
I now have a rip-roarin’ headache.
Painkillers and a movie about Brazilian corruption.
Nothing new there,then! Goodnight & HH!
Our enemies are making mistakes,i.e Doncaster,is it time to interupt? .When is it time for Celtic to comment? I hope when we do it’s worth the wait.Doncaster is telling lies,the lapdogs won’t correct him and the huns charges are being traded off behind the scenes with TBK /Miller.What do we do?
Simply superb, Paul67. Chapeau! (as they say on another site). I listened to the interview clip with growing incredulity. As well as the points you make, I was astounded of forehead at Neil Doncaster’s mastery of doublethink.
He says they delayed a decision today in order to ‘take the heat out of the situation and let some clarity emerge from Ibrox. In the same breath he says the rules need to be right for all 12 clubs and not just for one club!
He says the SPL were prepared for this situation. Then goes on to say they need stronger sanctions to avoid people going into administration in the first place, rather than trying to stop them come out of administration. Eh?
He kept repeating that ‘there’s a very fine line between a newco and a CVA’
At one point he agreed that he agreed with himself!
He was clearly confusing (knowingly or otherwise) changes in corporate status with a newco.
He also gave a very strong impression that he believes that RIA will succeed in agreeing a CVA, which I find impossible to believe.
There is an undeniable and unmistakeable agenda running right through his comments in this interview – which is to keep Rangers in the SPL ‘by any means necessary’.
Hunbelievable! – or not, as they case may be.
Hail! Hail!
A P.S.
Cowiebhoy on 30 April, 2012 at 23:02 said:
FourGreenFields on 30 April, 2012 at 21:35 said:
>>>>>>>>>
count me in.
O.G.Rafferty on 30 April, 2012 at 23:02 said:
Who is “they”?
And what (in general terms) does the paperwork involve?
Sandman.
Brilliant but you put pictures in my head that I could do without.
But you were spot on. I think we may have underestimated the pull of the ludge.
Were the SPL and SFA heed cheeses not pulled from the Yorkshire ludges to do their duty for the goatfiddling apronwearers? I do not know but I am sure they are doing there damndest now.
Paul67,
Excellent, concise article.
We have to remember that Neil Doncaster’s remit now is to salvage the SPL. Whether we like it or not, no RFC in the SPL next season means revenue reductions for most, if not all, of the other member clubs.
Doncaster is attempting to find a way to salvage the situation for RFC(ia), reduce the risk for other clubs and somehow keep the SPL intact.
If he were honest about this remit and acknowledged publicly that financial and commercial considerations are being prioritised over sporting fair play he could at least stand and try and make that argument on those grounds. I understand that position and why he would take it, but he isn’t being open and for a CE that will ultimately lead to his downfall.
He is attempting to mislead the Scottish football public with false comparisons and is being economical with the truth. Trying to sell us something which we know is based on false foundations is simply taking us for fools, and from that position there will be no way back.
Remember – this is merely the dress rehearsal. The offshore, undeclared payments and the consequential player registration implications will be the main event. From tonight’s evidence Doncaster is not the man to handle this when it comes along.
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
It’s contageous Neil. You appear to have caught the virus from someone down Ibrox way.
I will say this 1 more time, our club can STOP this if they choose to.
Let’s see what happens if cheats are allowed back in and let’s see what our club says about this.
Us as fans can put pressure on our board by not renewing just yet and advising the club on this.
It amazes me some on here are willing to allow a Newco back in to the SPL but they cheated our team for years out of champions league
revenue.
Can’t understand people haranguing our board over this – it’s understandable that we are frustrated but surely it can’t degenerate into a public Celtic v Rangers scenario – it’s not our battle to fight on our own.
Realistically, the only real hope of preventing the parachute drop will lie with the SFA or UEFA – will either prevent it?
If the parachute does go ahead, where will we be w.r.t. penalty points, loss of history and removal of their ‘tainted’ trophies? – does anyone have any insight into these aspects given Doncaster’s diatribe?
OG
It’s obvious that he is being restrained.
But for what reason ?
He would have found out in a week or so what all the scottish hacks have known for years, why is it not been allowed to come out, who is getting protected, the list is endless.
This is full scale corruption, this is corperate fraud at a seriously high level, the ammounts of money we are talking here is staggering, hundreds of millions, billions if you include MIH.
Who is protecting who ?
I’m sure Alex is in receipt of said info, but as ever it’s being supressed, why would that be then ????
Regarding Doncaster,is it another of these,go away timmy nothing to see here
THE EXILED TIM on 30 April, 2012 at 23:12 said:
Amigo even Tom Hanks took a whole film to find out the truth and he had a beautiful woman to help him!!
O.G.Rafferty on 30 April, 2012 at 22:48 said:
OG, I think I know who you mean, and it can only be because they believe it can be used to greater advantage behind closed doors. I also think they’re sadly mistaken, although who am I to say. Short-term deals are, well, short term; transparency persists.
So will we have more debt than them come the start of next season?
THE EXILED TIM, 23:12
No, Lots of people doing the talking, few doing the walking
Back to my old chestnut again ……. If the bhuns are still in admin at the end of the season, they cannot play in any league next season ……so, it’s liquidation, Fholks …… There won’t be a CVA…..and there won’t be a rankers
It’s liquidation / Newco, and there is no way they CAN be allowed into the SPL, since, for a start, the SPL cannot ignore the other team (2nd place) due for promotion to the SPL……….I’ll get my jammies …..night all
NO AUDITED ACCOUNTS……? …….BYE BYE BHUNS
Donkey `stepped down’ from his role as Chief Executive of Norwich in May 2009 after they were relegated from the Championship to League One.
July 2009 he is appointed Chief Exec of the SPL.
What part of that particular CV did the SPL find most appealing?
HH
doncaster, on being asked for a three course menu, says ‘it’s all just sh1te’
Paul67,
a belated, but heartfelt congrats on that. Succinct, to the point, and irrefutable.
StarryP
And they still got away with it :>)
………………….
OG
I suppose it’s worth waiting to see what comes out, we are talking hypotheticals, there are big fish out there, will they be allowed to be caught, we will have to wait and see, I can see a few scapegoats getting caught, just depends on how much their silence costs, or their lifes, tis a big baaad world out there.
The complex scenarios can be distilled down to two eventualities:-
1. CVA agreed and RFC remain in SPL
2. No CVA agreed, Liquidation, RFC gone and a Newco to apply for entry to SFL
Anything else is a re-write of rules to accomodate existing-rule breakers at any price.
I look forward to the stripping of titles when the Four Horsemen ride into town.
hen1rik said:
It amazes me some on here are willing to allow a Newco back in to the SPL
I hope that is not aimed at me. I clearly said I hope Newco Huns go down to Division 3, but went on to say if they do go straight into the SPL, they will be badly weakened for years to come, so we could get some consolation out of beating them.
In no way am I “willing” them back into the SPL.
One thing I did enjoy about Donaster’s appearance on Scotland Tonight was his continual referral to the investigation into dual contracts. This is an entirely separate matter, will be interesting to see how that goes, when we here the results of it in 2017…..
hh
bjmac
Goin for a nap. Thank you everybody and watch out for the hurting hurting hun, especially that zombie one that was posted earlier. Can anyone post that picture of McCabe and the Zombie.
THE EXILED TIM on 30 April, 2012 at 23:22 said:
Every so often they have to throw someone to the truth seekers to try and appease them while the big fish swim on but at some point you have to believe that the truth seekers are building a dam so that even the biggest of fish have no where to go.
That’s what Celtic gives me, a faith in truth, a love of the underdog and a relentless op-tim-ism!!
How do we get the truth out there though?? And quickly!
Word is that there is as little regulatory provision for them to enter the 3rd division as re-entering the SPL. The SFL would have to rewrite their rule book just as SPL are trying now.