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.
701 Comments- Pages:
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Cowieboy
If you are swimming with the turtles tomorrow tell them Res12 is with the lawyers.
One of the best experiences ever is watching the turtles glide by effortlessly, eyes wide open.
Faster than lawyers too.
Awe naw,
fingeronthepulse csc
:)
Any news on the two biggest liars to ever enter an Edinburgh court house?
Or is it a secret? (again)
Burgas Hoops
What are the Celtic board doing in an Embra court house ? Is Neil Lennon up again ?
HH
Awe_Naw
-)))
Them two could teach our board on lying mate.
follow @jamesdoleman for updates from DisneyLand Edinburgh.
It’s an open court case.
MWD said AYE
Have we got an ole dog in this fight?
Is it more amusing if they are found guilty, or acquitted?
It appears James Doleman has nodded aff then.
Fully agree with others on here who have brought The Brotherhood into the equation.
In any other country in the world..This mob would have been out the game..totally….years ago.
The fact that they are still here is a testament to the secrecy and skullduggery that goes on at the highest levels in football and the judiciary.
I will not be holding my breath waiting for “damaging revelations”…although some things will have to come out.
But how sanitised they will b… remains to be seen.
I have no intricate knowledge of the Law…but I know “dodgy” decisions when I see them…and there’s been a few in Sevco’s favour so far over the years.
I won’t be surprised if there’s a few more.
This is Scotland remember.
From TSFM
Lord Turnbull has ruled that proceedings may not be reported on Social Media, so it is going to be difficult to share what has gone on.
Be prepared for a long drawn out process though.
Doleman is on the brew
Murdochauldandhay,
And there’s yer dinner, a case that has such public interest is being censored, only those that can be counted on to provide establishment spin are allowed to report on it.
It’s a microcosm of the bullshit being fed to the west about Syria.
Lord Turnbull is famous for miscarriages of justice (or should that be injustice)
Lockerbie,
Luke Mitchell
Nat West
Tommy Sheridan (where he set aside the Juries verdict)
He was also one of the main offenders with regards extra special Junkets atteh tx payers expense
Are there any more miscarriages that anyone can think of ?
MMMhhhh I wonder why he was chosen
HH
James Doleman reporting an adjournment until 16.30. That’s late for a judge to be in court. looks like one for the nightshift
News of the trial is being surpressed to protect the innocent AND the guilty.
You know why.
at the tax payers expense
Just a word to the wise regarding posters who have the audacity to remark that the huns may be in some trouble. I am reliably informed that your ip addresses Will be sourced ( by any means ) and through this , All available data regarding said posters will be passed to the MASONS. After all this is SCOTLAND….You have been Warned!!! Jeezo…..
Oh Dear !!!
And some still believe that justice will be served.
Huns will act like huns, nothing to see here, move along now.
Legally Aware Bhoys.
“Lord Turnbull has ruled that proceedings may not be reported on Social Media,”
Is that significant? Unusual? Good news? Bad news?
JJ
A KILLER’S murder conviction has been quashed because of a judge’s blunder.
David Shepherd, 31, repeatedly stabbed dad-of-three James Hawthorn in a pub toilet, leaving him in a pool of blood.
A jury took just half an hour to find the thug guilty of murder.
But his conviction has now been overturned.
The appeal court has ruled that at his original trial, the judge, Lord Alan Turnbull, wrongly directed the jury to ignore defence claims of provocation.
The High Court in Edinburgh will decide today whether to order a murder retrial – which could mean Shepherd being released on bail – or substitute a conviction of culpable homicide and impose a fresh sentence.
Shepherd is still in Shotts Prison but his status has been changed to remand while he awaits the outcome of the hearing.
James’s former partner Rita Johnstone, the mother of his three children, last night blasted the criminal justice system.
She said: “Where is the justice in this? There has never been a more clear-cut case of murder up in court.
“There was CCTV footage of the guy going into a shop and buying a knife. He followed James into the toilet and stabbed him repeatedly.
“The stab wounds were in his back and Shepherd was out of the toilet again within seconds.
“This guy murdered James, pure and simple, and the jury didn’t have any doubt about it in their minds. I am now terrified that Shepherd will be released and I will see him walking down the street one day.
“I don’t wish any ill on him, other than he does the time that he was sentenced to.”
Rita, of Parkhead, Glasgow, added: “Surely a professional judge at a trial should know what he should and shouldn’t tell a jury.
Cubicle
“Something has gone badly wrong and if Shepherd is to end up getting out of jail early as a result, who knows who will be his next victim? “I have been badly let down by the criminal justice system.
“It is supposed to protect victims.
It seems to me it does more to support the criminals.”
Shepherd, 32, was convicted of murdering James, then 47, at the Gantry Bar on Shettleston Road, Glasgow, in October 2007, by stabbing him in a toilet cubicle.
A replica of the cubicle was constructed for the trial.
Leading advocate Donald Findlay QC defended Shepherd at the High Court in Glasgow in July 2008 and argued that he was provoked into killing James.
But Lord Turnbull told the jury there was no basis upon which they could return a verdict of culpable homicide based on provocation.
Shepherd was sentenced to life in jail and ordered to serve at least 15 years.
The High Court in Edinburgh quashed the conv ic t ion on December 15, ruling that Lord Turnbull had misdirected the jury.
Before becoming a judge in 2006, Lord Turnbul l led the Crown prosecution team in the Lockerbie bombing trial in 1998.
He also prosecuted Limbs in the Loch killer William Beggs, Jodi Jones’s murderer Luke Mitchell and Arlene Fraser’s killer Nat Fraser.
Canamalar
And there’s yer dinner, a case that has such public interest is being censored.
The charges against these liars include fraud, conspiracy and involvement in serious organised crime, but…………..it cant be reported to the public.
ONLY in Sc…………………………
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-particulars-of-a-charge-mr01
Is Mike Ashley involved in the MR01 ?
or is it Dermot Desmond ?
HH
https://rangersfraudcase.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/the-indictment/
Didn´t Lord Hodge effectively appoint Duff & phelps by allowing Craig Whyte to choose his own administrators ?
HH
ADMINISTRATORS from Duff & Phelps have been cleared of any conflict of interest issues at collapsed club Rangers FC.
David Whitehouse and Paul Clark, (pictured) both from Duff & Phelps, were appointed joint administrators of Rangers on 14 February last year.
An investigation by their regulator, the Insolvency Practitioner’s Association (IPA) was launched in May 2012.
The investigation centered around whether the administrators were conflicted in their role because a partner at the firm was understood to have advised the owner of the club on a deal to buy it.
It was alleged in a BBC programme that Duff & Phelps partner David Grier knew about a deal which would see the club hand over three years’ worth of ticket sales to a company called Ticketus.
It was uncovered during the administration that former club owner Craig Whyte had promised the ticket sales to Ticketus in a deal that would enable him to buy the club.
In May last year Grier said he “categorically” denied any knowledge of the deal between Whyte and Ticketus adding the accusation was “highly defamatory and betrays a lack of understanding of the facts”.
Following a “thorough” investigation the IPA has cleared the two administrators Whitehouse and Clark of any conflict issues during the administration.
In a statement, the IPA said: “The complaints centred on whether the insolvency practitioners were in breach of the insolvency profession’s code of ethics when accepting their appointment.
“The investigation committee, made up of independent practitioners and lay members, has, over the past 13 months, carried out a thorough investigation of the administration of Rangers Football Club and the actions of the joint administrators in agreeing to accept the appointment and has concluded that the practitioners complied with the relevant guidance and legislation.”
Looks like craigyboy got stitched up by charlie big huans
Westendofeastend
This is YogiHughes.
I checked out Brenda Beehan’s last night. Sound place. I think I’ll be there for all the Celtic games, so I look forward to meeting you at the Dundee United game.
Hail Hail
Yogi
P.S. I had to set up a new user here.
Would one of our legal minds explain why those Edinburgh court proceedings cannot be published. Is this common practice? Wee bitty worrying if not……………….Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
If Fergus was still in charge…I believe he would have giving the SFA/UEFA / Sky both barrels over the liqidation of Rangers. Fergus would have demanded Rangers apologise to Scottish Football, and he would have advised the SFA that Celtic be rembursed because of the flagrant circumventing of the rules. If the SFA did not concur he would have taken the SFA to court. He would dismiss the threat of EUFA sanctioning Celtic. I can imagine him telling them, servitude is gone, period. He would have demanded McLean be removed from refereeing ANY Scottish game. He does not have the wealth of Dermot Desmond but his default gene is I am not accepting this. Dermot Desmond just does not want the hassle. Fergus would slay any dragon that wronged him. Agree?
BGX
did you read that in GALLOWAY ST HERALD.or SPRINGBURN PARK POST. do they still do OOR WULLIE and THE BROONS.
finished.i would like to think so.
it is going to be interesting waiting for the squintfix to go in.
this is to complex for an LNS approach where a definitive answer was the settled aim(nae loosin titles ever)
it was further rolled in glitter by confusing the hard of thinking bout his statements over the club whose CVA failed on 14th june 2012. it all adds up to layer upon layer of kack.
anyway pinsent and mason awready had an investigation and that blew any links wi green and whyte out the water. dintit? aye ok mibbees naw.:-)
The thing that gets me bout this case is how Sir Dave of Aquid thinks he is telfon.
it always sticks Dave
you were the 87% shareholder who conceived and rolled out as rfc business policy the now defunct clubs suicide policy.like a bingo ball hovering above the vacuum :-)
Thanks Dave.You did it.history will only dig deeper :-)
=============================================
on the other topic of how Scotland are not qualifying for Euros/WC etc
my view is that our professional clubs produce players.
if a club is liquidated and throws 140 years of goodwill down the toilet
it simply cant produce players for our national side.
this is the case with the cheat.
take a bow again Sir Dave the effects of your selfish short and long term planning
are felt at national level in our game,not that you will read bout any blame directed at you.
HH
That blog from today’s court case by james doleman staggering
.
I’m Finnish ed
Mr001
Sadly they won’t be finished.
The judges removal of public accountability suggests the truth will be hidden.
In the best wee biased country in the world the huns are sacred .
James Dolman report
The Indictment
Five people appeared in court in Edinburgh today, Craig Whyte, David Grier, David Whitehouse, Paul Clark and Charles Green. For legal reasons we cannot report the bulk of proceedings but can summarise the charges as they stand at the moment.
The indictment read to the court is 20 pages long but can be broken down to three sections. The first set of charges relate to allegations that Craig Whyte fraudulently acquired Rangers Football Club (RFC) by concealing the fact he was funding his takeover using money borrowed from “Ticketus” (Octopus investments) instead claiming to various bodies that he was using his own personal wealth. He also committed fraud by not disclosing he had been previously banned from being a company director. David Grier David Whitehouse and Paul Clark are charged with conspiring in this alleged fraud to the sum of £28,262,094 with Whitehouse and Clark also accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by not disclosing information to a court.
The second set of charges relate to allegations of a conspiracy between Whyte, Whitehouse, Clark and Charles Green to place RFC in administration and then, after appointing Duff and Phelps as administrators acquiring the assets of the business for a sum significantly below the market value using a company, Sevco 5088 as a vehicle. This, the prosecution say deprived the company’s creditors of money that should have been due to them. Greens consortium, the Crown said, paid Duff and Phelps a £200,000 “exclusivity fee,” of which £137,500 of which was refunded by Craig Whyte. Green is also charged with misleading investors and others about Whyte’s role in the transaction.
The third set of charges relate to Green transferring the assets of the club to a new entity “Sevco Scotland Ltd,” hence taking possession of a “non-cash asset” without the approval of the directors of Sevco 5088. This also deprived investors in Sevco 5088 of a financial benefit and later led to inviting the public to invest in shares at an Initial Public Offering while depriving them of pertinent information, ie the potential claim of Sevco 5088 on the company.
No pleas or declarations can be reported. The case continues.
——
Now folks just because it’s not being reported on social media does not mean it’s not happening or not being recorded.
In fact if it were being open season my suspicion would be that justice for all sides is being subverted.
These are serious charges and have to be evidence backed or no case to answer.
Early doors but based on above I reckon we are looking at a roll back to BDO taking over again and that puts the matter back into the both getting the best for creditors, but also meeting football justice knowing what is now known from CF material about LNS deception and 2011 Licence deception.
That simply cannot be ignored in an attempt at a fresh start because in both cases there is no doubt whatsoever cheating did take place and that cannot be swept under the carpet this time.
Feel the effing fear and do it anyway.
Have a great weekend Celts
mon the hoops tomorrow
i feel a wee griff hatrick comin on :-)
HH
PCS,
Panic not.
wee Craigy is taping it all :)