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Fit & Proper test opens Pandora’s Box

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

I hear the SFA had asked for clarification on Craig Whyte’s alleged disqualification as a director, without getting confirmation one way or another, since the issue was initially brought to their attention by the landmark BBC documentary, Rangers: The Inside Story.  Rangers disclosure to the Plus Exchange (where the club’s shares are traded) on Wednesday that this specific BBC allegation was correct, was the information the SFA needed before they were in a position to act and apply a Fit and Proper Person (FPP) test to Whyte.

Dramatic though it sounds, failing a FPP test, in itself, is only likely to cause superficial damage to a club or its owner.  An owner would need to resign as a director but he could allow the other directors to continue running the business, or he could appoint a proxy to take control of the business, which is often the way controllers run football clubs anyway.

What is of more interest, however, are matters likely to be disclosed as part of the SFA investigation.  The Association would require Mr Whyte to explain what he did to be barred from holding a directorship for seven years, something the BBC lawyers would be able to question Whyte on in the witness box, should he actually sue, instead of repeatedly threatening to do so.

Of most interest to the SFA will be Rangers financial submission for their Uefa licence, which enabled the club to be nominated as Scotland’s participants in this season’s Champions League.  A condition of participation in Uefa competitions is that no debts to tax authorities due on 31 December the preceding year remains unpaid on 31 March.

In September HM Revenue and Customs gained permission from the court to freeze £2.3m of Rangers money in connection with an unpaid tax bill.  The principle element of this bill has not been disputed by Rangers.  The SFA will now be keen to establish if any part of this bill was in connection to taxes due in prior to 31 December 2010.  If it was, Celtic were entitled to be Scotland’s Champions League representatives, when overcoming the likes of Malmo stood between them and a £15m pay-day.

This is a legal minefield for the SFA chief exec, Stewart Regan, who has my sympathy. Things are about to become interesting.

While we are on the subject of that £2.3m tax bill, HM Revenue and Customs are due to get their hands on the cash after Friday next week, the last day Rangers are able to dispute the debt. If Rangers enter administration prior to that date, the cash would revert to the administrator and the club’s secured creditors would be entitled to it.

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  1. Ulster-Celt on

    Macjay

     

     

    you are the cheerleader for the “he was disliked for being too scottish and not celtic minded” thinkers.

     

     

    that view is media led bull.

     

     

    I should have mentioned it was a minority in my previous post.

     

     

    UC

  2. CultsBhoy hates being 2nd on

    philvisreturns says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:41

     

     

    Sorry I don’t fight with fellow Carpenters fans : > )

  7. blantyretim on

    Cults

     

     

    Mon left Celtic because he knew we where downsizing..

     

     

    I don’t want to belittle Martin o’Neils achievements at Celtic but he did it with money. WGS has to manage it inspite ot the board…

     

     

    the football wasn’t the greatest but we won 3iar despite the board…that it what makes WGS achievement all the better

  8. Margaret McGill on

    ok We shall see when it crops up again.

     

     

    and I defer to BABASONICOS71..he rocks!

     

     

    Laters my fellow CQN’rs.

  9. ernie lynch on

    Sneddoni says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:42

     

    ‘If you cant see my point of view your an idiot……’

     

     

     

    Claiming that Celtic fans regarded Gordon Strachan with contempt because he was non Catholic and Scottish is idiotic.

  11. Clashcitybhoy on

    BRTH

     

    Your article about concerts at the Apollo got me thinking about how inexpensive it was to go and see a band.

     

     

    In my youth I can remember going to the Apollo about one every two weeks, and typiically to see a band that had a hit album and a couple of singles was £1.50 – £3.00. Part of the fun was buying the cheapest upper circle seat and then blagging your way into the stalls.

     

     

    I am no expert on price inflation, but, I do remember at those times a pint was 35p -50p.

     

     

    So whilst a pint is now £2.75 -£3.75, to go and see a chart band is a minimum of £25 , and in many cases nearly £100.

     

    This is a terrible shame, because , in days gone by as a 4th / 5th year school boy , I want to see all sorts of bands – some brilliant , others not. But I view it as a privillege to have seen these bands live, which these days just would not happen.

  19. blantyretim on

    Cults

     

     

    Lawell came to Celtic in Nov 2003..

     

     

    Mon kept him in his box for a long time then.. eh

  21. iki on

    Sometimes when I heard some people condemn Gordon Strachan, it was like listening to those who hated Neil Lennon because he was ginger, narky, aggressive etc.

  22. setting free the bears on

    Cults Bhoy

     

     

    “He was full of his own conceit and disrespectful to the fans who paid his wages…”

     

     

     

    WGS never uttered one word to me that I found disrespectful. I think your straying in to speaking as a “we” and not an “I” again.

     

     

     

     

    Ulster-Celt

     

     

    “One Gordon Strachan was heard many times in those four years”

     

     

    I heard it sung by the Celtic support on 2 and a half occasions over the 4 years. It was sung at Rugby Park but not at Tannadice. It was sung once at CP. The other occasion I heard it, it was a half-hearted rendition and there were dissenting noises around.

     

     

    I would not count it as many occasions. Certainly not within the ground.

  23. Robert (RRC) on

    Clashcitybhoy

     

     

    You mentioned ticket prices

     

    I saw Led Zeppelin 1972 at Green’s Playhouse for £1.00

     

     

    I sold the retain portion of the ticket last year on ebay for £100.00

     

     

    funny old world..

  24. CultsBhoy hates being 2nd on

    M McGill

     

     

    interesting take on when the rot set in.. In essence I agree with you re MON going when the money dried up…but I think there are two ways to look at that…

     

     

    For many financially prudent Board supporters on here it was necessary as the debt was becoming unsustainable…despite the fact we had a packed stadium and yearly entry to Europe… for me that matched the ambition of the fans….and had it continued would have become sustainable as we would have obliterated our only rival for European income.

     

     

    The course of action taken has helped decreased crowds and made us also-rans in Scotland, let alone Europe….and gifted our only rivals £10ms that has ensured their survival for last few years..

     

     

    To me MON was an ambitious manager who looked to grow Celtic – WGS was too eager to buy in to the cycle of contracting ambition that has ultimately led to our current position.

     

     

    Did you ever feel better than under MON’s management? Have you ever felt worse than the last 3 years?

  25. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Ulster-Celt says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:45

     

    Macjay

     

    you are the cheerleader for the “he was disliked for being too scottish and not celtic minded” thinkers.

     

    that view is media led bull.

     

    I should have mentioned it was a minority in my previous post.

     

     

    Mate,Gordon was hugely successful,but disliked by significant numbers of Celtic supporters,particularly on these pages.

     

    I have a theory as to why.Just a theory.That`s all.

     

    I do not think it was because of religion.

     

    What was it?

     

    Others on here said he was ” not Celtic minded “,with great regularity.

     

     

    Bottom line.

     

    I wish he would return.

  26. harryhoodsdugbitme on

    Babas – I was almost about to call it a day until I clicked on your link. Yeeeha. Justice Tonight at ABC next week. The first time I’ll have seen Mick Jones since the Hammersmith Palais in 1978. Whare did time go! HH.

  31. the_huddle on

    iki says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:53

     

     

    Sometimes when I heard some people condemn Gordon Strachan, it was like listening to those who hated Neil Lennon because he was ginger, narky, aggressive etc.

     

    ————

     

    Same here, ask a hun why he hates Lenny and flash back to the tims who didn’t like WGS and they said the same.

  35. JimmyQuinnsBits on

    ernie lynch says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:33

     

     

    aye, but it was right up Minty’s street…. look forward to seeing the “audited” accounts

  36. Sneddoni on

    ernie lynch says:

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:48

     

     

    To claim that some Celtic Fans disliked Gordon Strachan for non football related reasons, seems pretty fair comment to me.

     

     

    I never ever heard anyone say something related to him not being a Catholic. But I saw plenty on this blog that was related to him not being ‘Celtic Minded’. What that is exactly, would obviously be up for a huge debate, and each Celtic Fan would probably have a different view. But it remains, some Celtic Fans never wanted him here, and they helped the LL, get what they wanted, by getting rid of him.

     

     

    To claim that it was because of the way his teams played, seems silly to me.

     

     

    MON has a reputation for understanding that teams needed to go and win the battle, then play football. Sure, there were better players while MON was here, but I really dont remember it being ‘pass and move’ or ‘total football’.

     

     

    They both got wins, yet both are not treated the same. I am sure there are various and many reasons. But not all of them are related to football.

  38. Ulster-Celt on

    SFTB

     

     

    if anyone would know it would be your goodself, maybe I just happened to be at games that it was sung.

     

     

    Macjay

     

     

    “Others on here said he was ” not Celtic minded “,with great regularity”

     

     

    yes I agree, but you are intelligent enough to separate the sly underhand hunnish types from the long time regulars who would not have held or even considered these ridiculous views.

     

     

    when I read recently that Neil had wanted WGS to return as a mentor but that it didn’t happen I will admit to being disappointed. Neil and WGS would make a smashing team.

     

     

    Hail Hail

     

     

    UC

  41. viewfaethewindae on

    ernie lynch says:

     

     

    2 December, 2011 at 23:59

     

     

    What is a miss placed g between old pals?

     

    Change the menu, watch the media squirm

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