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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Good morning friends from a dry, clear skied sun bathed but rather chilly East Kilbride.
Good morning from bright and sunny bothwell-it’s almost like summer
SFA version of a professional foul
Referee runs away from the Sevco player, needed time to think? Think about his career?Commentator says it all Tony you were spot on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5J73qDVU18
Morning Celts, whits the craic?
Another sunny morning along the Fylde coast Jobo, light winds so looking good.
V
It was, however, Celtic who drew first blood on 16 minutes from the penalty spot after Paul McMullan darted past Brownlie and hared through on goal with the defender pulling the striker back and sending him tumbling to the ground.
Brownlie was a touch fortunate to only be yellow carded before McMullan effortlessly despatched the spot-kick past Liam Kelly
Referee S Brown you will go far
Lionroars
Wouldn’t have fancied the chances of a CFC player getting a yellow there
….PFayr
07:11 on
30 April, 2013
Very good player McMullan is PF, good to meet you on Sat
I suspect the Celtic player would have known his fate really quickly after the incident it would have been a red card displayed seconds after the whistle blew, but then we are all paranoid……………………
50 shades of green
01:32 on 30 April, 2013
$$$$$$
You’ve heard it then? :-D
lionroars67
07:02 on 30 April, 2013
The only circumstances in the world in which that is not a penalty is Scotland and Sevco are the offenders.
Remarkable.
On a different note, anyone notice the performance of the far side linesman on Sunday ??
Four straightforward calls to make and got all four completely wrong.
As Paul suggests – incompetence is easier to prove than bias.
Vhman,
Fine morning in G1. You all have a good on Sunday?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Liam kelly?
The orcs must like tim sounding names for keepers as my nephew has been asked down to Murray pk on a few occasions. He has of course politely declined the invites
The Lions ✅ @67Lisbon 6m
Walter smith meets Campbell ogilvie at last nights game. What is it they say about a picture being worth 1000 words. pic.twitter.com/XHpfK6whgw
Campbell the anonymous SFA president turns up at a Glasgow cup final greeting ole friends
Words caption…………………..
Palacio67
23:19 on
29 April, 2013
http://willievass.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/290413-Glasgow-Cup-Final/G0000fjxh69qmFbU/I0000Yv0xpT0obmA/C0000qJMjARBFTPU.
This link posted last night
President of the SFA meets next Chairman of Sevco
Words caption………………….
Morning,
I might have known the MSM want to put the blame for last night at Celtic’s door.
Lionroars67
The more I see that picture the angrier I get. It sums it all up really.
Happy Birthday to my Cousin, Comrade and all round good guy,
Marky Brown from the Calton, at rest in Milltown Cemetery Belfast.
Never a day goes by.
Maayong hapon sa Cebu…………..
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
We have to face reality here.
Last night’s attendance shows their is a demand among a section of the Celtic support to be playing the huns.
How many of those who were there last night have ever been to an under 17 game before?
The Ogilvie Smith photo at Firhill last night.
CO: Do you think the Tims will recognise me Sir Walter?
WS: No chance your magnificence!
HH!!
Lovely poem on yer fb page che.
KTF
* greenhillsbhoy
03:00 on 30 April, 2013
First time poster, long time lurker, on the events of tonights game such a shame our name will be dragged through the mud by the usual suspects in the msm, wish our fans hadn’t bothered going along, i hope we never play that mob again
*
Welcome
Agree mate next time we play them it will still be 2 bloody soon.
P.s Are you a hun.
Had to ask
From the many thousands (millions?) of comments made over the years by Scottish football fans,players,pundits journalists etc through to the in-depth studies and reports from the likes of Rinus Michels….remember him? to the McLeish report of 2009 which is now probably stabilising a shoogly table leg it takes ONE PHOTOGRAPH to encapsulate ALL that is wrong with Scottish football.
One handshake that sums the whole rotten state of affairs.
Unless/until that grubby wee secret is addressed and the wee grocery shop owners who get a badge and a blazer for their compliance get weeded out Scotland will remain a footballing backwater.
It really is THAT simple
Ogilvie-Smith photo.
CO: ‘We were hoping that Neil Lennon would be here tonight’. Never mind – we will still give him another three game ban for his post-match comments.’
WS: ‘HE he he!!!’
HH!!
blantyretim
08:07 on
30 April, 2013
I agree Campbells pretence of innoncence blown away with the obvious closeness displayed by in the photograph
Hope the recovery goes well
The sleekit look on smiths face says it all…
Cheers lionroars..
ernie lynch
08:12 on 30 April, 2013
We have to face reality here.
Last night’s attendance shows their is a demand among a section of the Celtic support to be playing the huns.
How many of those who were there last night have ever been to an under 17 game before?
@@@@@@
There’s an appetite out there for public execution without trial, but it don’t make it right!
How many knew they were at an U17 game last night?
Scotland has become a far better place to live in since they died-by their own hand-let’s keep it that way!
Deidco-gone & supurating!
ernie lynch
08:12 on
30 April, 2013
I like to attend youth games when i can, i did not attend last night due to whom the opponents were
My dad also likes to go along to the youth and pro youth games but thankfully he had a meeting with his fellow miki masons. He doesn’t do irony. .
Sevco captain shows his class, without irony he decries our hero LOL
Around 20 grand a week Lee is taking Sevco for……………….whooooooooosh
Published on 30/04/2013 08:06
RANGERS captain Lee McCulloch has revealed that concerns over Craig Whyte’s competency at running the club had arisen just two months into his tenure.
• Lee McCulloch claims Craig Whyte refused to pay £400,000 SPL title win bonus to Rangers players
• Coffee and newspapers were taken away as alarm bells rang over Whyte’s reign
Writing in his autobiography, McCulloch claims that Whyte held back £400,000 due to players after they won the SPL title in 2011.
Despite pleas from David Weir, Steve Davis and Allan McGregor, Whyte refused to hand over the bonus, which set alarm bells ringing for McCulloch.
“When he bought Rangers he inherited out bonus for winning the SPL in 2011,” said McCulloch, writing in Simp-Lee The Best.
“It’s hard to put an exact figure on it but I reckon there should have been around £400,000 to split between the players. We felt he treated us with contempt.”
He added that things got even worse when simple amenities such as newspapers and coffee began to disappear.
“Around September time, other things happened. Most of the guys have their breakfast at Murray Park. We read the papers and have a blether.
“We had every newspaper. One morning they were gone. The newsagent had withdrawn its service as the club had not paid. We had coffee machines and they went out of use.”
Rangers were condemned to administration on February 14 last year and deducted 10 points. They were subsequently liquidated in the summer and relegated to the Third Division last summer.
McCulloch also revealed how he challenged Paul Hartley to a fight after losing the 2009 League Cup final to Celtic in extra-time.
Provoked by a challenge from Hartley that had broken his foot at an Old Firm meeting 11 months earlier, and a series of “niggly” challenges, McCulloch admitted he threated the then-Celtic midfielder during the game.
“He was in the vicinity and I shouted, ‘Hartley, you’re getting it from me. If I don’t get you today then I’m coming to your house later’. I had totally gone.”
“[At full-time], I glanced over and could see them bouncing up and down as they waited to receive the trophy. That set me off.
“I made my way over. Hartley was standing beside Gordon Strachan. I challenged Hartley to a fight. I said , ‘Come on, right here and now. Let’s get it on. Down the tunnel, wherever you like.’
“Strachan stared at me in disbelief. Hartley was stunned. A few Celtic players pushed me away from him.
“I realise it’s no way for a player to react and sets a terrible example to kids. But the red mist came down and for that moment I felt like I was Rambo.
“But Paul and I laught about it now.”
Morning all. The sun has made an appearance today. Here’s hoping we see a bit more of it than we have recently.
I’m not going to make any mention of that match last night except to say I’m sorry the wee bhoys didn’t score a barrel load. Hard iines, lhads.
lioneoars67 Me too, avoided it like the plague, outcome was so predictable.
Will miss Wednesday’s game, over in the Emerald Isle. Gutted.
lionroars67
08:40 on 30 April, 2013
How many normally turn up at those games?
And how many Celtic supporters who were there last night would have turned up if it had been anyone apart from sevco?
They weren’t there to watch a game of football. They were there for tribal reasons. I thought we’d managed to ditch that, seems I was wrong.
And Celtic allow the whole ‘old firm’ bollocks to go unchallenged.
In the end it’s all down to £££££.
LIONROARS67
Disrepute charge for Elbows?
Shocking comments.
No doubt his defence will be that he didn”t write it,the book”s author did.
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/how-rangers-landing-in-sfl3-costs-glasgow-over-400k-per-annum/
Love this guy never read these truths in the SMSM
Good morning,
Shame the Wee Rovers are down.
However am bemused by some of the reasoning behind a possible name change…
““How does Coatbridge Albion Rovers sound at 4.45pm on a Saturday night when the results are being read out? After all, the ‘Old Firm’ are actually Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic are they not?” – said director Gordon Dishington.
Which of course wasn’t/isn’t their name, nor is it the way the names are read out at 4.45pm on a Saturday night.
HH!
RCO ‘sorry, I’m late, train delayed at Ayr, Troon, Irvine and Kilwinning to let loads of feckin’ Tims oan’………………….
TMWNS’ what the feck is happening in Ayrshire??? I blame that mob on CQN you know’
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
ernie lynch
08:53 on
30 April, 2013
Ernie in recent seasons the GB have gave our youth teams a healthy support in terms of numbers and in song at big games
I do not know every person who attended last night, therefore unable to answer the question if Sevco had not been the opponents would they have been there
I can only speak for myself, i was not there due to the opponents we faced