Enormous congratulations to Georgios Samaras, Celtic’s Player of the Year, 2012-13. Scoring in five consecutive Champions League away games this season was a remarkable feat. His last minute winner in Moscow was a seismic moment in our progress in that tournament. Georgios is a player who thrives on positive reinforcement but endures negative sentiment without hiding. No wonder all his managers have valued him so highly.
I was also delighted Fraser Forster won the Players’ Player of the Year award. His performances against Barcelona were nothing short of incredible. It should surprise no one that Victor Wanyama and Kelvin Wilson received a large number of votes for the Players’ Player award. Kelvin will play for England if he continues to perform at the level he has this year. Victor was a genuine contender for all awards, including goal of the year, but was honoured only as the Young Player of the Year, reminding us all that his is gifted beyond his years.
I was referred in the direction of yesterday’s Sunday Mail online story about Rangers International FC’s finance director, Brian Stockbridge, showing a reporter the “deeds”, made eloquently famous by John Brown. Stockbridge used the deeds of Ibrox, Murray Park and the Albion car park to “prove Craig Whyte is on a loser”.
Craig Whyte’s current actions against the newco club and his report to the Serious Fraud Office are based on the belief that RIFC inappropriately took possession of Rangers assets, including Ibrox, when the club were liquidated last year. Proving RIFC have the deeds is no defence against Whyte’s claims, in fact, this merely establishes the premise of his point.
Despite discussing these matters with a reporter Mr Stockbridge made no comment on how Sevco Scotland Ltd (since renamed as The Rangers Football Club Ltd), acquired the entitlement to the assets which Sevco 5088 Ltd had an irrevocable agreement to buy after paying an exclusivity fee.
This interview contrasted with Scotland on Sunday’s interview with former oldco Rangers director, Paul Murray, who without a whiff of irony said, “Whoever is involved going forward has to look after the club’s interests first and their own interests second. You are a custodian of the assets and you’re passing it through the generations. That’s your role.”
Well done as a custodian, Mr Murray. I wouldn’t let you be custodian to corner flag (memories of Dougal from Fr Ted on corner flag-watching duty). He also suggests the club “should also get back to some of the values that were there under Bill Struth and William Wilton”. “Some of the values”, do you think he means that most distinct value? I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but why on earth could he not chose an inspiring custodian from a period when oldco was not blighted by their controversial employment policy? There must be someone. Surely?
Murray does, however, nail several issues in his interview. “You have Charles Green who said he had no involvement with Craig Whyte and that was patently not correct.
“The problem is that when you get found out on these things you then start to question other things. And one of the most important things in all of this is the SFA. The SFA sought very direct and specific assurances that Whyte was not involved and Charles Green gave them those assurances and I’m not sure that was actually correct.
“If Charles Green had a set of documents that proved that Whyte is lying then this thing would have been put to bed in two minutes, but it was then discovered that what Whyte was saying was broadly true.
“I’m not saying he does, but say Whyte owns the assets but on the other side he’s just lost a multi-million pound claim to Ticketus. Are we saying that Ticketus would then own the assets by default? And if they own the assets they’ll want to be paid in order to give the assets back to Rangers, but how will the club do that bearing in mind that it had an IPO [Initial Public Offering of shares] that is potentially not valid?
“It was then discovered that what Whyte was saying was broadly true” is perhaps the most significant understatement I’ve heard in years. The moment Pinsent Masons report will be a watershed.
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TET
There is one main road into the City centre. Difficult for the police to marshall the rump of each support when there is no traditional route ie Gallowgate/London Rd. Add a couple of Hundread to the mix…………
No excuses asonofdan.
We await the truth mate
Jungle Jim. I have to agree with you it takes years to earn a reputation as the best fans in Europe and only a few minutes and some hooligans to throw it all away. H.H.
JJ
I agree, in fairness I posted before I saw that tweet.
But whatever the rights and wrongs, the msm will lay the blame at our door, they always do.
Troontim
Don’t think anyone said it was a riot, but ripping up seats, any amount, is unacceptable…not a fart!!!
Pfayr
‘When did neds start following us’
Go to an away game at ICT or RC and its full of them unfortunately. Blootered out their brains before they even arrive.
JJ
quite so…I care not for the reputation of others ….I care a great deal for our reputation
Never mind. We await OG Raffertys good news!
Tonight’s exploits re seat ripping is a major blow to us bevvy merchants getting a few swallies at the game.
Seriously though , real disappointing news, Sevconian type behaviour from the Celtic support.
Our reputation has been earned over years, hopefully not to be thrown away by a few neds.
Poor poor chat indeed.
I really hope some people self policed tonight and the seat throwers have been identified.
A life ban from CP would be my punishment.
the euro reputation is safe and sound
every derby in the world has flashpoints
did you see newcastle v sunderland ?
the euro reputation is earned in europe just as others are tarnished
on way home, cycled past central station, 30-40 young casuals (very young) walking across hope street – no polis escort – nowt – only weans – but more than capable of causing trouble –
The Glasgow Cup is the new Champion’s League.
Other reports are suggesting the seats were damaged by standing on them, removed by stewards and set aside.
I dread the day we ever meet the zombie first team. The violence and bile they would bring would be like 1980 cup final all over again.
I would like to pass on my congratulations to Sevco under 17’s for winning the Glasgow Cup in their inaugural season.
This is indeed a new world record as it will also be the clubs last season.
The medals will be worth a lot of money.
Lads – better check the title deeds. That said, if you sell your soul to the devil…..
feckuCSC
Hearing the helicopters out! at an u17 match shocking stuff and they want this crap back for the good of Scottish football,I think not
its been over 20 years since i frequented away games – there were plenty drunks then too – nothing new
There are more seats damaged at a WWE event
Bhoys
Lets not jump to conclusions here… twitter etc can be as reliable as the msm
I thought that Garscube Rd. and Maryhill Rd. would offer alternatives.
Interesting to see how the win will be numerically reported.
3-1villa
3-1 villa
Saw some pictures on twitter, a few seats on the track, not good, but I don’t know how they got there. I’ll wait and and hear from some who were there what happened.
Che
21:10 on 29 April, 2013
I would guess that would be nearer the mark. What sort of mentality does ti take
to go to a game like that ( at a neutral venue) and start ripping seats up.
Coppers will just have to look out for 3 short a*&^es to apprehend the culprits.
Two routes into town from Firhill: Garscube Rd to Coocaddens, Maryhill Rd to George X Charing X
Sid Fishes @SidFishes 2m
People sitting on their arses condemning ‘scum’ breaking seats. Turns out, couple broken celebrating a goal. It Happens
4-1
4-1Villa
4-1
4 – 1 FOR VILLA
4-1
Mark Hateley says winning the Glasgow Cup is like signing a new player.
Ugly Betty caught out again
Lambo 4-1
4-1 villa
Ten Men said: ” A life ban from CP would be my punishment.”
Or as my mother used to say many years ago on hearing that capital punishment was to be administered to the perpetrator of some particulaly heinous crime: ” Hanging is too good for them A good slap on the face is what they need!”.
TET and Burghbhoy
Between you , you have it right. A reputation built over a long period is easily lost when we have a media desperate for any bad news about Celtic fans. Were they to concentrate on those responsible, I would be in agreement but we know thwy won`t. It will be reportes as being the behaviour of Celtic fans en masse.
JJ
pedrocaravanachio67
21:05 on 29 April, 2013
I’m just trying to keep it in perspective albeit through a not very funny joke.
3 broken seats could be much ado about nothing. The stewards looked very relaxed about the situation in the photo.
I’m very proud of our fans ability to self-police but also very aware of the MSM’s appetite for Celtic bad news stories.
HH
Three seats in a nice pile, looks like the alternative and more likely scenario of accidental damage…. although a picture tells a hundred stories, its how you use it…!