Georgios, Fraser, the deeds and Whyte broadly true

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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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  1. My boss is Peter Principle on

    BIG-CUP-WINNERS

     

     

     

    20:52 on 29 April, 2013

     

     

     

    THE EXILED TIM

     

    20:48

     

     

    Firhill was a poor choice of venue. The two sets of fans are not used to the locale and have no established separate routes back into town. Maryhill Rd will be a problem after the game.

     

     

     

    Has Garscube Rd disappeared, It was their a couple of weeks ago, change eh

  2. It seems it may have been over exuberence rather than vandalism. If that is the case and it is reported any other way then I would hope CFC do not take it sitting down. :)

  3. pedrocaravanachio67 on

    Troontim

     

     

    Nae bother, as a few have said, we need to find out exactly what has happened.

     

    I’ve done some cracking farts in my time….but none of them have broken a seat :-)

  4. ASonOfDan

     

    21:03 on

     

    29 April, 2013

     

    90 + 3 After the game is held up because of two pitch invaders.

     

     

    Funny how when the pressure is on the police and SNP a riot ensues.

     

     

    I mean it would never be the case a few establishment agitators were put in place…

     

    * * * * * * * *

     

     

    Please, please tell me this is satire ASONOFDAN. What absolute rubbish.

  5. Given the chatter already might be an idea for Celtic to come out with something tonight rather than await the usual media twist tomorrow.

     

    Official twitter… ?

  6. big-cup-winners

     

     

    21:05 on 29 April, 2013

     

     

    Two main roads to the city centre namely Garscube Road and Maryhill Road

  7. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Oldco would have received an award for leaving any stadium with less than 100 seats damaged……LOL

  8. Those who are saying we are jumping to conclusions re these broken seats. You are quite right and I am annoyed with myself for having posted in response to the unconfirmed ” news”. I will now impose a SFTB style ban on myself until tomorrow morning. The fact that I was just about to log off and settle down with an enjoyable book is mere coincidence. ` night all.

     

     

    JJ

  9. pedrocaravanachio67

     

     

    21:05 on 29 April, 2013

     

     

    Nae bother too.

     

     

    But you’ve never had a vindaloo from the Maharani in Troon!

     

     

    HangontoyourseatsCSC

  10. @MattMcGlone9

     

     

    These two 5 mins from the end ran out of Rangers end, ran across the front of Celts fans taunting them & arrested

  11. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Right …best buy Merc A class…Audi A3…..BMW 3 series ….???

  12. I’m sure more seats are broken during games at most stadia due to the celebrating when a goal is scored during a tense game.

     

    It’s our first game against a new creation after all. Hail Hail.

  13. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Really pleased for Lambo….great Celt…!!!!

  14. 67heaven

     

     

    The new Merc A class is overpriced

     

     

    Decent value to be had in the C class at the moment

  15. john o neil

     

     

    Yeah totally, that would be like some of Strathclyde polis wrecking a toilet at Celtic park or special branch taking a GB member to an empty arrivals in Glasgow Airport with a dossier of his movements, pictures and all. Never happen in real life…

  16. Enjoying watching the Villa game.

     

     

    It is demonstrating what we lack in our team,i.e. energy.

     

     

    The energy to take our opponents out of their comfort zone,forcing errors.

     

     

    We are too slow and measured in our buildups and this allows modest players to look like world beaters.

     

     

    I hope our Gaffer recognises this and has the means and know how to address it.

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