So the day has come. Several of the alleged conspirators in the Great Football Swindle have arrived at the High Court in Edinburgh to face their charges.
It will be four years next week since I first asserted that Rangers would be liquidated, with all of the consequences that would entail. For the last two years I’ve tried to stay away from the subject and to concentrate on the matters which brought us together in the first place, but this issue deserves coverage.
In 2012 the illegal Discounted Options Scheme and Employee Benefit Trusts (only some of which are still subject to appeal) put HMRC in a position to demand payment, and subsequently reject administrators’ attempts to agree a CVA. Thank you, Sir David.
Charles Green must be a great poker player. He raised enough seed capital to buy the rights to pay £5.5 for Rangers assets in liquidation. From that moment, we thought one of two things would happen:
Green would pull Newco together and within a few years things would look like the old days.
Or, Green would be undermined by those he out-manoeuvred, leading to a likely insolvency for Newco.
There were suggestions early on that Green and Whyte were acting in concert, but, as someone with more experience than I have on matters like this pointed out to me, to be convicted for this type of crime you need to take a billboard advert out explaining your misdemeanours, it’s so difficult to prosecute. Or you need to be very stupid and fall out with your co-conspirators.
Stupidity is alive and well.
Green’s claim for legal fees against RIFC will have a profound impact on the club’s finances within weeks, but the bigger issue at hand is what happens at the outcome of the various criminal charges relating to the disposal and acquisition of the assets of Rangers Football Club, now in liquidation.
If it is proven that the assets were acquired criminally, the transaction is likely to be struck down, meaning the club currently trading as Rangers would lose ownership of whatever assets they have, including stadium and the name “Rangers”, irrespective of who actually controls those assets.
I’ve discussed this matter with many well-informed people and no one actually knows how it will play out, or what the consequences of guilty verdicts would be. The only thing that is known for sure is that outcomes are currently indeterminate, cannot be planned for, and contingencies cannot be made.
The club itself has to get on with business as best it can until whatever happens, happens, but no one should believe that a Duff and Phelps-type liquidation-bounce is normal, or remotely possible again. Assets could be hamstrung for years and left derelict.
Back in 2012 I said the only way forward with any certainty is to start with a clean sheet. Find a tiny club on the brink (there are enough of them), change their name, give them blue shirts, ask St Mirren or Partick Thistle to ground-share, and build your way up the leagues. Let the courts take their course and bid for the assets you want when the dust settles.
But that’s not going to happen. It would require more strategic thinking than is possible right now. My guess is they’re finished. Finished.
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JFH
I totally agree, and keep an eye on the ref.
Good morning friends from a warm and sunny Ibiza Airport. Should be home around 3pm and will hopefully have missed all the dancing in the street so that I can then watch the game “as live”.
Town the table by 5 o’clock, Jobo time.
TD67. Fella your right the referee and his assistants can play a big part in our games and not in a good way. H.H.
Morning Tim’s
Internationals over ,back to the real football.
SUPORTING YOUR CLUB IS NOT A CRIME
anyone going today Be safe ,be smart .
COYBIG
Morning Jobo I hope you have had a great break and Sunny Scotland awaits your return. H.H.
Looks like Ciftci leading the line today
Hoopy Birthday to young Caityrollercoaster.
Morning all
Go on the celts
See you all later off to see the champs
HH
A very happy birthday to Caityrollercoaster!
Hope you have a lovely day.
Oh and please give your Dad a kiss from Olivia!
deary me ….
I dropped a p..
SUPPORTING YOUR TEAM IS NOT A CRIME
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPY Birthday
Caithyrollercoaster
you are a credit to yourself your family & our club.
have a great day young yin :))))))))))))))))))))).
Caityrollercoaster
Hoopy birthday
Gerryfaethebrig well said mate. Defenders don’t get the glory but I think Izzy is the best left back Celtic have had in decades. Big Efe takes more flack than he deserves. He is one of us and should get more breaks from the trolls. Top if the league in a few hours. Just off the phone to my da, he was telling me that Celtic are going to have a bronze statue of King Billy made soon. Hail hail Caesar.
.
Any Spare Waens going as I bought a Family ticket and My Nephew has Slung Me..【ツ】
Same applies.. Straight swap Adult for Family away ticket..
07856 635676
KTF
001
Today’s Celtic team v Motherwell – ko 12:00pm on BT Sport Europe
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 5s6 seconds ago
#Celtic team to play @MotherwellFC Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Blackett, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftci
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 7s8 seconds ago
Subs: Bailly, Tierney, Lustig, McGregor, Griffiths, Mackay-Steven, Stokes.
Jobo Baldie hope you had a cracker holiday. I went their in May with my olds and bro had a fab time, much more interesting place than I thought , Ibiza old town had a medieval festival Spanish bagpipes in the citadel , great wee spot. Enjoy the top of the league moment.
Hooooopy Birthday Caitlyn, bleed CRC dry, leave him without a penny:-)
Enjoy your day.
Good to see Broony in there, he’ll be needed in usual Motherwell midfield war-zone.
Catman spot on as per…HH
Hope Efe is playing, although I would rather he was at CB. I am aware that Izzie gets Celtic but I think young Tierney is the better player. If Tony is correct, that is the only change I would make. Glad if our captain makes it. Would have liked to see James Forrest making it as well but he seems injured once again. Shame.
Too long without seeing the Hoops, cannae wait.
Team looks fine to me, hope Leigh isn’t out too long.
Time for Ciftci to take his chance.
Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Blackett, Izaguirre; Brown, Bitton, Commons, Rogic, Armstrong; Ciftc
Tony d,
Any chance you can get your source to post on here? :)
HH
Told you that was the team :))
Geordie Munro
Oh no, lol, sorry can’t do that mate :))
Doc,
I’m hoping the fact that Griff is on the bench means he ain’t too far away.
Hopefully we won’t need him today ;)
HH
So a few players out but still a strong team. Midfield will be the key, if we control possession we control the game. Ciftci for the first goal.
Tony,
just give him yer login.
I won’t mind. :))
kidding csc
Enjoy the game 001 , I know what it feels like, have a great one mate. Hail Hail Summa.
Happy to see Ambrose in the side , a bit surprised he’s playing RB , allowing Boyata and Blackett to pair up. I assume Janko is injured, and Lustig not fully fit although a least he’s on the bench.
Yet another experimental back line, due to injuries, and all the internet whipping boys in the same starting line up, certain posters will be as happy as pigs in sh888e
Watch the live updates while watching the match – well then again maybe not.
Good day for Ciftci to start, banging some in, and who would have thought that Aberdeen would have gone off on such another great run.
Mon the Hoops
Taraungabhoy
Enjoy the game, yet again I have jinxed our Leigh, nipped up the bookies at 9.30am and placed a small wager on Leigh hattrick, shows how bad a gambler I am I told the lassie he was 10/1, she said Gerry my screen says 12s, I would be a rubbish thief !
Kris C was my second choice, alas hopefully we win and wee Leigh can sit on the bench and munch a few teacakes and at least I will get my cash back
Monthehoops
I think the alleged campaign against Efe is just something whipped up by the media.Yes we were all angry and sick when he made the error of judgement against the Turks,but for me,and I am sure many,many others,its in the past.We do have a few who wont let it go,which just gives ammo to the hacks to print their”Error strewn,bomb scare”comments on him.Efe is a terrific player,and will do us more good turns than bad.
Support the players,that includes Ciftci.Give the guy a chance.We have enough enemies out there waiting,without giving them licence to slaughter our players.
TD67
Has yer mate got any news of the lottery numbers?
Ta!
Efe to somersault back to form today…hopefully.
HH
Today’s the day,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that Cifti
………………………..scores a hat-trick
COYBIB
A few strange selections there. Griff injured I presume.
Forrest, GMS? No one to go past players.
Ach, Ronnie knows what he’s doing.
3-0.
Geordie Munro
Lol, and come in here as me? He would never talk to me again, and I would loss my interest in horses :))
So Iron Man Broony has made it today.Was there ever any doubt.The boy is an inspiration to the team.
One of our great captains.