Some weeks ago I received a painting of Neil Lennon in the post from US based artist, Joseph Gormley. We put it onto eBay this week to get our launch our 2012 charity fundraising efforts. As well as a couple of local charities we will again donate to the Martin Chambers Ecuador Trust and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. After so many Celtic fans have been touched by three kids, Oscar, Niamh and Vanessa, this year we added The Neuroblastoma Alliance who do research work into the childhood cancer.
The auction raised an incredible £5000. When I contacted the winning bidder and discussed some of the stories behind the beneficiaries I had to insist he took the painting, he was so affected he wanted to return it for another auction to raise more money. Joseph Gormley was so inspired by the success of the auction he has already offered to paint other subjects for us and I have a jersey signed by the Seville team in the pipeline.
So, if you were one of those who bid an incredible amount but were pipped at the post (and there were a few in this category), there will be another chance soon.
Running this blog gives me the privilege of witnessing so many great works, most of which come with the request of anonymity. It’s a real honour.
Well done and thank you.
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Kitalba, thanks so much for posting that Ali interview, it’s brilliant. For those who missed his post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QWvBBMtRak
Snake Plissken on 21 April, 2012 at 13:15 said:
Great post mate! Always meant to ask you what part of Slovakia are you in?
My daughter went to university in Kosice, the second city, which I had the privilege to visit on more than a few occasions, great wee country.
Hail! Hail!
First up, Paul67, great work over the last few days fella, especially with this.
Here, even as Celtic fans demonstrate, again, their remarkable generosity, spirit and compassion, we can look across town and see the Henry Hyde to our Dr Jekyll.
For years now we have heard about the Global Rangers Family, about its enormous reach, about how many bears there are around the world and about how their love for their club transcends everything … and for the last two years or so we have heard how, if the hour of greatest need arrived, that global family would come together and save the club from the abyss.
What are they waiting on? Engraved invitations? How much more critical does it have to get before these people come forward?
Rangers are a hairs breath from the grave. Where are these folk?
There should no longer be any remaining doubt as to the “reach” of the Rangers Family. That family, like the banjo playing inhabitants of Aintry, has become insular and corrupted, and has little appeal for those not “born into the faith.”
When you consider it, this should not be surprising. After all, when the “faith” you are born into is an idiots hodge-podge of bigotry, sectarianism and hate, anyone who finds the intellectual dexterity to emerge from that background and build a fortune must also have the intellect to understand and come to loathe what it is he or she came from, right? Is it a great shock that there is no billionaire flute playing yahoo with a King Billy tattoo on his backside?
Those of a more moderate disposition, those with some understanding of right or wrong, would, frankly, wish no association with tax cheats, fraudsters and liars, even if they were not also backward bigots.
It takes a certain TYPE of person to want to save a club like Rangers, and there aren’t many billionaires amongst that number.
Rangers very culture makes finding a buyer difficult, as narrow the ideology of the club has been allowed to become. Into that you also have to place a certain “law of unintended consequences” effect, as to the way they portray their rivalry with us. The picture of Celtic and our fans they hold up to the world – which bears no relation to the real one – creates further problems, as it turns our rivalry into a thing based on hate, and that too puts off prospective buyers.
Their howling at the moon behaviour of yesterday, jamming the phone lines of Duff and Phelps, with its echoes of stalking Lloyds, the BBC and others, is a clear sign that the bears are an intolerant bunch even to those who are trying to help them, and this is a further barrier to finding good bids.
To say they have crafted the engine of their own destruction is an understatement. Outside of this bitter, little land they are not liked, far less loved, seen through the prism of their own bias and the mirror they think they hold up to us.
Their fate is inevitable. Rangers will be liquidated, and they will probably be liquidated either at the behest of a preferred bidder – as part of the plan – or before one is found. Why do I say that? Because I don’t believe either The Blue Knights or Brian Kennedy, far less a combination of both, will come together and try to take them through a CVA.
A CVA is a non-starter. Everyone involved knows that to be the case. Therefore, to attempt it is to be the one with his fingers on the gears when the wheels fall off. Kennedy is a Hibs fan and a rugby guy. He does not want the burden of forever being known as the man who “tried and failed” to save Rangers, and actually signed the liquidation papers. Nor does Paul Murray.
Miller, for all his “bid” is laughable, and barking, and utterly unrealistic, is, at least, the one person in this charade who sees it for what it is and is willing to go on the record and favour the facing up of some hard facts. That his bid – with more conditions than Heather Mills next pre-nup – is being viewed as “credible” tells you the desperate pass this has come to … but also that it is the only bid where the man behind it has faced up to some harsh realities.
Rangers will die. They may or may not be reborn in some godawful form – that will depend on whether someone is willing to put up the cash and carry the can for what will be a long, slow nightmare – but Rangers FC as we know it is going to die and be no more, and that, to me, looks a stone certainty.
At the time when Celtic was on the verge, Fergus McCann came and put down the cash and saved the club. Yet, as Paul has said in a previous article, it was someone else who actually walked into the bank and paid the cool million which kept the wolf from the door. Some people may have forgotten, in the years since, that had Fergus bid failed Gerald Weisfeld was ready to step in, and behind him were at least two other bidders that I know of – one in Ireland, one here – who would have taken the slack had he not gotten over the line.
In the time since, we have seen Eddie Jordon buy a million of shares, Martin O’Neill spend two million on his, John Fisher, son of the Gap founder, buying half a million shares and on it goes …. On our board we have financiers, politicians, bankers and businessmen.
On the Rangers board they have a liquidation specialist, a failed property boss and a tax cheat.
The strength of our support can be measured in days like today. The strength of their can be measured by who turned up to save them.
Not the Blue Knights, but Curly, Larry and Mo.
miossed that handball ya wee swine
archdeaconsbench on 21 April, 2012 at 13:29 said:
I had a good laugh at that one………talk about ‘heads stuck in the sand’
“Hello, radio Scotland, agent Whyte has signed a contract with Ticketus to pay them over a few seasons …….please pay attention, and keep up with us. You can try to desperately speculate, ’till the (cash)cows come home, but you are dealing with hard-headed businessmen (agent Whyte’s being fekin’ steel)……… They will not buy them until all their conditions are met, and if they were to be sold, they will then be duly liquidated, even by Murray ………
The only imponderable will be when, and by which party (pardon the phun)…………Behave yourselves ……..!!!!!!!!!
Ten Men Won The League on 21 April, 2012 at 13:28 said:
Lasley suspended? Excellent news!
Snake- John Lambie eh? His sanity must have gone after all these years talking to his birds.
HH
hamiltontim
Totally agree! At last Sunday’s game he awarded a penalty whilst having full knowledge of the facts.It wasn’t a mistake it was calculated.
Copied from TalkCeltic
Opps!!
Funniest player related story you’ve heard
——————————————————————————–
Mine is when Hartson won player of the year award with Ricksen.
His mobile rang and he answered it “hi john the is Fernando Ricksen”
“Hi fernando how are you” he continued ” oh i got your number from celtic park, delighted to say we share the award” ” hartson says “yeah, great”
It was the first time Harston had spoken to Ricksen and he went on to say in a thick dutch accent “I can’t believe we’ve shared this award because i felt i was a much better player throughout the season”
Hartson replies “well i wouldn’t completely disagree with you, but i scored 30 goals, fernando”
Ricksen replies ” I’m gonna be in holland quite bait next year, can I have the trophy for ten months and you have it for 2?”
Hartson replies ” If it means that much to you keep it for the whole 12 months”
Ricksen starts to swear and added” john the bottom line is … it’s an absolute joke that we are sharing this award. I can’t believe it. I’m a much better player than you.
Hartson replies ” Why don’t you just feck off, I can’t wait till we play against you, I’m gonna kick you all over the park”
There was a massive burst of laughter, It was Alan thompson who had him on loudspeaker in his car, Thompson has phoned him pretending to be Ricksen and had him going for nearly ten minutes.
Just a couple of points for those who listen to the smoke machines that are phone ins and for those who phone to try to dispell the smoke.
1. The SPL membership transfer is a red herring in terms of Newco. SPL clubs are bound by SFA licensing rules and SFA licensing uses UEFA licensing rules to license SPL clubs (whether they qualify for Europe or not and National Club Licensing applies for other non SPL clubs.
There is no provison in UEFA licensing to allow a Newco a license, in fact UEFA licensing makes it impossible as it stands because of the requirement for audited accounts going back three years to grant a license. Just as UEFA do not want a brand new club with no financial pedigree entering their competitions, they think it a good idea to apply this proof of pedigree principle to national high level competition. There is provision in UEFA rules for an exception to be granted but someone has to make the case, presumably the SFA on behalf of Newco and this is highly unlikely in the tax dodging circumstances.
2. The media say that the new Sky deal requires Celtic to play Rangers four times a season. No one thought to question the sporting integrity principle being breached by this condition because no one thought either would face relegation. But a weakened Newco might, so what confidence would their relegation battling opponents have when playing Newco for vital points that decisions would not go Newcos way to keep the proposed TV contract in place?
It may well be the media are scaremongering on the Sky contract but Sky themselves should be asked if they considered the sporting integrity implications when proposing the condition and more important the SFA should be telling the SPL that they could not agree to such a contract being entered for sporting integrity reasons.
A lot of this is happening because of the failure of the SFA to govern and provide the checks required.
It is getting well past the time when the SFA should
a)confirm they have a governing role and
b) bloody well start doing it
or be shafted by a truck towing company from the US of A.
The SFA should be asked for a statement in response to the Miller “bid” and clarification of what role they play in Scottish football. A mission statement would help..
JF
the fact that the hoardes pester and threaten the administrator because noboby wants to buy them is utterly ridiculous and in a snap shot shows these louts for what they are
thick,self important bully boys …
Just a wee question……..if the administrator puts them into liquidation on Monday, ALL assets, including ipox, will have to be sold to pay the creditors as much as possible …..Where will the Newco play ….?
TGCW
I often think that the LL and MSM use the ineptitude of the country’s officials as an a means of excusing decisions like we saw by Norris last Sunday.
There in nothing to say that they can’t be shoite and biased at the same time.
Laird of the Smiles aka PMTYH
I live in a tiny wee town but very near Nitra (where Lubo Moravcik lives).
I’ve never been to Kosice but will be there this summer for a trip.
Hoping very much that Celtic pull the Slovak champions out of the hat for the CL.
I think that Zilina or Spartak Trnava will be champs. Hopefully Zilina. Love that town.
Used to live there.
Kitalba
I agree, The League is won. I would say the introduction of these players is of more benefit to Celtics future. The hard work is done, Let’s give these guys some game time and it will give them a huge boost going into pre season. HH
Is Darren Jackson John Dalys agent? p)
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 21 April, 2012 at 13:59 said:
So what do the SFA/SPL have to gain from pretending that this is not the case?
Absolutely first class, and very touching…these charitable roots which we hold dear will never leave us.
Bravo, the winning bidder, a great painting and one which apart from being a great piece, will have a little story behind it now.
HT
i believe that`s what i was alluding to earlier
radio Scotland …….Administrators Reducing the half million fee to let the Blue Kights back in…….anybody got some spare change to keep this going lol!
Morning All,
Thought I’d scribble down my thoughts on the proposal of ‘Wild’ Bill Miller to buy Rangers. I see, having done so, it is now the Afternoon, but I trust you all enjoyed a pleasant Saturday morning nevertheless.
The Rangers Administrators Duff & Phelps were at pains yesterday to make it clear that to date, no interested party had made a bid “capable of acceptance.” In other words, all parties expressing an interest in Rangers to date have attached conditions to their prospective offers that the Administrators were unable to accept or deliver against.
Given the substantial financial and legal challenges faced by Rangers, it is reasonable to turn that position around and ask whether the Administrators are actually in a position to present Rangers as capable of being bought. Rangers’ current situation is fraught on all sides with demands, investigations and uncertainties. What fool would be prepared to provide a £500,000 non-refundable deposit to progress a deal to buy Rangers when there are material issues out with the influence or discretion of both the Buyer and the Seller?
In this light, the objective of a CVA seems an increasingly remote prospect, and likelihood of Liquidation is becoming somewhat inevitable. Indeed, the Creditors were yesterday required to vote on a series of Resolutions put to them by Duff & Phelps, including the Creditors’ authority for D&P to effect a CVA, yet the outcome of this vote was not presented during yesterday evening’s extensive Media briefings given by the Administrators. One wonders if the Administrators’ Resolutions have not achieved the necessary Creditors’ support.
The Media briefings late yesterday appear to be a reaction to the surprising and unusual press notice issued by prospective bidder Bill Miller earlier in the day, in which he outlined his proposed bid for Rangers. More accurately, he outlined his proposal to purchase some of the assets of Rangers from the Administrators, leaving RFC(IA) plc behind.
While Miller uses some fairly fanciful language in his press notice, he is in effect simply offering to purchase Ibrox Stadium, perhaps with Murray Park also, together with a handful of fixtures and fittings for the sum of £11.2M.
Miller plans to start a new football club playing from Ibrox that kinda looks and sounds like ‘Rangers’. It is in effect a new company operating a new football club. Miller sweetens the pill by suggesting that, shorn of its property assets, RFC(IA) plc might yet be able to achieve a CVA with its creditors, rather than be dissolved as is the ordinary course in such circumstances. I assume that he plans to make an offer to the creditors to this effect, once the extensive legal arguments have been settled some years hence. If such a scenario is possible, the legal entity that is RFC(IA) will at some future point be unencumbered by claims, and having sold all of its assets and escaped its creditors, will be a corporate shell that will be capable of trading once again.
Miller says: “Once the CVA process has been completed… the administrators will return Rangers Football Club plc to me for a nominal sum.”
At that point, Miller’s Newco might be merged with the Oldco, and everything will be just fine and dandy again.
There are of course umpteen obstacles to achieving such an outcome. While technically it seems possible, in reality it is highly unlikely that the Oldco legal entity will survive the process. Miller’s suggestion in this respect is no more substantial than a nice idea to hold onto, that one day, far, far away, Oldco can once again play football.
In my view it is essentially a sop. A clever one, perhaps even an appealing one to some, but it’s essentially a peripheral pie in the sky. The reality is that Miller is proposing that a new company be incorporated to operate a new football team playing at a Miller owned Ibrox Stadium that returns a profit on his investment.
Central to Miller’s need for return on investment is the ‘operating environment’ that Newco will be ‘trading’ in. Clearly, a club playing in the SPL is highly likely to generate considerably greater gate money and commercial income than a club that needs to start at the bottom of the senior football structure in Scotland, SFL3. The revenue Model, and hence the RoI, is entirely bound by the league in which the Newco will compete. This much is straightforward I think.
Accordingly, it is axiomatic that he has had formal and/or informal discussions with those who have the power to determine this critical issue.
Miller’s press notice confirms this stating: “I have held a series of talks over the past week with officials from the SPL and SFA in an effort to ensure Rangers play in the 2012/13 season without further points deductions, fines or other punitive sanctions, relating to either the terms of my purchase or the actions of the prior administrations, beyond those levied during the 2011/12 season.”
Not content with gaining back door membership of the SPL, Miller wants assurances that there will be no sanctions applied to his Newco for the ‘sins’ of the Oldco Regime. Go for it Bill.
While the SFA told Channel 4 Reporter Alex Thomson last night that they had held no such discussions, contradicting Miller’s claim in his press notice, the SPL has not responded to Thomson’s questions, and we ought not be surprised.
Given that the SPL is a commercial operation, as opposed to the ‘public good’ mandate of the SFA, the SPL will in all probability have talked with Miller about his proposal, and in quite some detail I would expect. It is after all in the commercial interests of the SPL to maximise revenue, and Rangers are a significant revenue generator. The Executives of the SPL are actually obliged to talk to Miller. Ignoring him would be a breach of duty.
The problem at this point is that no individual or informal group within the SPL can provide any ‘guarantee’, assurance or even comfort on how the SPL in General Meeting might view Miller’s proposal. Such an undertaking is not within their gift. It is not procedurally possible for this to occur outside of a General Meeting, and moreover, it is not legally possible either. Even in General Meeting, the SPL cannot provide a cascading contingent contractual obligation to a legal entity that does not currently exist, regarding a set of future circumstances each contingent upon the next.
In effect, a Newco requires to be incorporated, then obtain the requisite rights to occupy a stadium, then satisfy the other formal requirements for SPL membership, and then submit an application for membership in the proper form. Then, and only then, can the SPL consider the proposition.
[Note: Supposing Neil Doncaster or the ‘Gang of Ten’, acting out with their powers to contractually bind the SPL, gave a written statement that if this, that and the next condition was satisfied, a Newco application would be accepted. In the event that the conditions were subsequently satisfied but the application was rejected, from whom does the spurned Bill Miller seek compensation for his loss?]
Of course we have SPL Resolution 2A to consider at this point. The details of the mechanism by which a SPL member can transfer its SPL share to a Newco are not known, and there are conflicting opinions as to whether the discretion over the share transfer remains with the SPL Board, the SPL members Generally, or indeed the Directors of Oldco. Each is possible.
Nevertheless, the Resolution seeks members’ approval for a procedural mechanism to be defined by which an Oldco can transfer its share to a Newco in certain Insolvency related circumstances, together with corollary sanctions to dissuade members from so acting.
If passed, Resolution 2A will pave the way for a Bill Miller type proposal, setting the framework for SPL shares to be transferred from Oldco to Newco in defined circumstances. The SPL will vote on this and other resolutions in General Meeting on 30th April.
Miller’s proposal requires this Resolution to be approved, but without the corollary financial and sporting sanctions. In one of the wonderfully eccentric conditions of his offer to Duff and Phelps, it appears that Miller requires the outcome of this vote to be notified to him in writing this weekend, 9 days before the vote is taken.
A further complicating factor is the Club Licensing Rules. I won’t quote chapter and verse here, but the SFA requires that all SPL member clubs satisfy the conditions for a UEFA Club License. Clearly, as one requirement of the License is three years trading history, a Newco cannot obtain the required license.
Moreover, a Club License cannot be transferred from one legal entity to another, preventing RFC(IA) from transferring its License to Newco when the stadium is purchased.
To overcome this little difficulty, another eccentric condition of Miller’s bid requires the SFA to provide a written guarantee that Newco would be provided with the requisite license, or be given some form of dispensation from the requirement. Again, this weekend apparently.
In short, for Miller to proceed with a formal offer to Duff and Phelps to buy Ibrox stadium, and thereafter to establish a new company to operate a new football team from the stadium, he requires the SPL to guarantee that his new company would be admitted to membership of the SPL, and the SFA to guarantee that the new club would not need to satisfy the requirements for Club Licensing.
Miller’s cleverness in all of this is his loose proposition that in due course of time, perhaps years from now, in the event that the shell of RFC(IA) plc exits Administration, he will merge his Newco into the Oldco shell, and hey presto! Rangers never really went away. While it is an unlikely outcome, it nevertheless plays to the good nature of the SPL and SFA. He is effectively asking the Governing Bodies to consider his proposal as a radical Life Support system for RFC(IA), without which the club will surely die. He is asking: Isn’t it better to bend a few rules here and there in order to have a chance of saving this great Scottish Institution?
Over to the SPL and SFA executives on that one. We’ll know soon enough what values these people hold dearest.
Others might suggest that a more straightforward and effective method to ‘save’ Rangers is for Rangers to pay its debts, or at least such a substantial part of them that satisfies the creditors. That though seems unthinkable to those hovering around the club, conditional bids in hand, Miller included.
There is a further complication to Miller’s plan: Staff. Miller is proposing that RFC(IA) plc remains in Administration for an indefinite period. Were RFC(IA) plc to be Liquidated, as is the ordinary course following such an asset sale, the registrations of the playing staff would revert to the SFA, who would thereafter sell the registrations, settle any football creditors, and return any surplus to the Liquidator.
But Miller is proposing the RFC(IA) remains IA – In Administration indefinitely. However it will not trade and will have no revenue to pay salaries. The players will therefore have to decide whether to accept redundancy, and join the queue of Creditors to be satisfied, or to accept a TUPE transfer from RFC(IA) to Bill Miller’s Newco.
Interestingly, Miller has no discretion here. TUPE is quite clear: The employment undertakings of Oldco to the players (and other staff) require to be transferred to and accepted in full by Bill Miller’s Newco. Given the reckless financial model of RFC(IA), with wages at entirely unsustainable levels, it is unlikely that Miller’s Newco will be inclined to pony up the money to fulfil these obligations. Indeed Miller himself states:
“We will focus on a disciplined business approach that uses strict adherence to budgets and metrics to ensure the club does not attempt to live beyond its means ..”
Miller is refreshingly clear that his Newco Rangers proposition does not herald Miller time for the support. Quite the contrary indeed. On balance, given that Miller’s Newco will live within its means, it is fair to conclude that the majority of the top players will leave, whether by sale from RFC(IA) to other clubs, or by redundancy.
In conclusion, we can see that Duff & Phelps have had a huge challenge in creating the conditions in which Rangers can be sold unencumbered via CVA, such that as I write, no prospective offer yet made has been capable of being accepted by them, never mind one being agreeable to the creditors.
We can see that Bill Miller’s offer is for some of the physical assets of the club only, and that even this offer is conditional upon what appear to be absurd demands of the SFA and SPL. It all seems rather fanciful, unlikely and even contrived.
Nevertheless, rather than dismiss Bill Miller as some reality-detached delusional, we ought to actually thank him for articulating in public the extent of the problems facing any solution to Rangers’ hopeless plight. We look forward to the response of Paul Murray and his Blue Knights as they attempt to stitch together an alternative to Miller before Monday’s last and final deadline.
TBB
Paddy McCourt – Five of the Best
James F
Really good post.
This story of a worldwide hun fan base is perpetuated by the same people who gave you Nessie, the Yeti, dragons, the tooth fairy, unicorns and Craigey Bhoys billions.
It’s a myth.
67 heaven
perhaps rent Bigotdome back ..no doubt at a reasonably stiff premium
leftclicktic on 21 April, 2012 at 13:40 said:
http://www.celticminded.com/forums/showthread.php?t=860418
The Big Jock ” Is it cold in his shadow” banner is on this page.
HAIL HAIL
***
Most interesting fact from that link – Big Jock appeared on Swap Shop!
Kitalba 13.58
A laugh out loud moment! wife says i’ve been on computer too long”sitting laughing to yourself” It would take too long to explain to her so its off to cut the grass for me, I will be smiling to myself thinking of Thommo sitting in car doubled up in laughter.
HAIL HAIL
Sir Paul
Ah wiz jist hivin’ a wee Ruminate… tae Masel
and the following ..is whit Ah Cogitated UP!!
Ah remember, well.. the very foist time… Ah read CQN.
It wiz a Friday.. and It wiz Rainin’ in Las Vegas.
Not that that maittered..
Ah jist threw that in.. tae capture yer interest!
Right fae the Get Go,kiddo..
Ah knew that Ah hid Stumbled oantae Something, Gooood!
Fur Ah am like that.. It disnae tak Me long tae Look at a Red Hoat Horse Shoe!.. especially, when Ah happen tae pick Wan Up!
And You pal, hiv a Knack o’ Writing doon. EVERYTHING,so Well.. that Ah wid hiv written doon.. if . Ah wiz as Smart as YOU!…
But, Ah am No.. as Smart .as YOU.. So, Ah Didnae!
Ah Wull Jist hiv tae be satisfied by Living Thru You.. a Leetle .. Vicariously..
You are the Alpha Dug oan Here.. and the Rest o’ us.. ur Jist
the Followers.
So..
Ah am writing this tae Tell YOU. and…
The whole o’ Celtica. .that
Paul Brennan, is a BRAMMER!
Withoot you, The WORLD wid be a Daurker and Mair Miserable Place,kiddo..
And.. Ye kin tak that tae the Bank!
There is a Place, Already, Booked fur ye in Heaven.
The Fix is in.. and the Big Guy, knows Awe Aboot ye..
Ach.. He knows awe aboot Me… as well.
.
But,as we dinna want tae lower the tone o this Submission. we wullnae Talk aboot , whit He knows aboot Me!
God Bless You Paul and Yer Sweet Wife and Children..
and Kevin.. the Silent Partner.
Ye are a Credit tae Yer Ma and Daddy..
Kojo
Bravely…Haudin’ Back a Tear!!
But..
Stil Laughin.. like Heidi, oan her Weddin’ Night!
I think Duff and Duffer will buy a windfall ticket next week.
admin on radio scotland …….the comedy hour !
Snake, you’ll love Kosice, lovely wee city centre full of character and some nice architecture. Not to mention some cracking pubs and one or two very good restaurants. When we played Rapid in Vienna me and the wife went to a restaurant that was owned and frequented by Slovaks. When they found out we were Celtic supporters they couldn’t do enough. Lubo’s best mate was in the place and insisted in giving us the book they had in the restaurant about Nitra. They couldn’t believe it when we told them our daughter was studying in Kosice and that our Staffy dug was called Lubo :-))
Hail! Hail! PMTYH
Paul67,
I’m guilty of taking CQN for granted at times – I should know better.
Paddy McCourt – Five of the Best
Another myth to add to the list…ol Dick Byrne buyin a round :-)))
Watching the Ali video made me think of an incident and article that happened some years ago.Whilst doing the commentary for a Rangers Aberdeen game,(Scotsport) Ian Archer was accompanied in the gantry by a coloured American basketball player.The following week he wrote of his “great embarrassment”and the treatment they received by the Rangers fans in the enclosure below.He had been subjected to disgusting racial abuse all afternoon.Finishing on a lighter note he pointed to the American’s sense of humour:”it’s ok,it could be worse,I could be that guy Pope.”
The ease in which all the scenarios (which amount to football/sport corruption) rolls off the tongues of the apologists on radio scotland right now is astounding. No challenge ot the d&p chap as he tells us how the spl will be rearranged to suit.
Fair play to cowan and cosgrove for telling it like it is.
mainstream BBC objectiveness failing as usual. No questions about the morality at all.
TGCW
Brilliant mate now are ye using your flymo this afternoon??
sparkleghirl on 21 April, 2012 at 14:07 said:
Auld Neil Lennon heid on 21 April, 2012 at 13:59 said:
So what do the SFA/SPL have to gain from pretending that this is not the case?
—————————————-
The SFA have been particularly delinquent in how they have dealt with Rangers since CW too over, from not withdrawing the license on 1st April to the delays in handling the Nimmo enquiry. The only conclusion can be is that they do not want to be seen as the organsiation who pulls the plug on Rangers.
I think both they and the SPL have been playing for time to see how it is all panning out and waiting for public reaction to the FTT decision. They probably see it in the best short term interests of football to keep Rangers on life support and I can actually understand that if I put myself in their shoes.
However once the dust settles the point about the massive failure of SFA governance has to examined and recommendations made to introduce measures to prevent it happening again. You are always going to have natural human bias to contend with in a tribal environment, but just as banks have accounting systems to deter dishonest employees dipping the till or giving honest ones pause to think about being caught, so too will the governance improve if real accountability measures are introduced.