Charles Green, owner of “The Rangers Football Club Limited“, formed in May this year, yesterday released a remarkable statement yesterday, ahead of the SPL Commission into How Rangers FC, formed in 1872, registered football players for over a decade.
“In short, what was decided by the SPL membership is that Rangers was finished as a member of the SPL. Despite this, the SPL now see the new owners of the company, and the new company itself, which owns all the assets of Rangers FC – including SPL championship titles – as fair game for punishment for matters that have nothing to do with us at all.”
We dealt with the purchasing of history on here some months ago. Once we realised it was possible, I snapped up ancient Egyptian history, the period from the pharaohs until Mark Antony. I AM responsible for the Pyramids of Giza but any slavery which may or may not have been used in their construction is NOTHING to do with me.
No one complained about the use of slaves at the time and I am sure each pyramid would have been constructed whether slaves were used of not. If slaves were so necessary for the construction I am sure “we” would have built many more.
Mr Green seems keen to protest against the SPL process, however, he, frankly, fails miserably. He doesn’t “question the impartiality of the individual panel members” but assets “whatever decision they reach is a decision of the SPL”.
So that will be independent members reaching a decision for the SPL! I think he doth protest too little.
There is also a threat: “”To make it crystal clear, the new owners purchased all the business and assets of Rangers, including titles and trophies. Any attempt to undermine or diminish the value of those assets will be met with the stiffest resistance, including legal recourse.”
Charles Green took steps to undermine his new company’s claim on Rangers titles in a BBC interview in June when he said that if his CVA proposal was to fail (which it did) and Rangers were to be liquidated (which they are), “the history, the tradition, everything that’s great about this club is swept aside”.
“Legal recourse”, which is prohibited by Fifa and which the SFA accommodated from Duff and Phelps, acting on behalf of Rangers, will provide Scottish football with a further drama. We mentioned at the time that the true cost of the SFA being so accommodating would be a repeat performance.
Mr Green asks why the “football authorities do nothing to address an issue that was public knowledge for at least two years, and was reported in the Club’s accounts for several years”? I think I can help here. Sir David Murray, who owned Rangers during the duration of its Employee Benefit Trust years, categorically denied that the club issued players with second contracts which were not submitted to the authorities. He reiterated this point most recently on a Sky News interview in March.
The football authorities have no issues whatsoever with Employee Benefit Trusts, it’s player contracts they insist are registered. Rangers insisted they had no case to answer until the SPL set a deadline on Duff and Phelps to fully disclose the nature of the alleged second contracts.
Charles claims during those lurid weeks when the SPL and SFA were negotiating with Green, that Neil Doncaster “repeatedly stated he was not interested in stripping titles from Rangers”. If he had evidence of this, ANY evidence, it would be fascinating.
If not, we should dismiss this claim.
A curious barb is made in other directions, “Rangers was not the only Club in Scotland to use EBTs yet nothing was done and little has been heard about it”.
One more time, for Mr Green’s benefit, EBTs are not against football regulations whatsoever. They are entirely legal and permitted by the SFA and SPL. The SPL Commission is not investigating whether Rangers used EBTs or not, it will investigate whether or not all player contracts were registered.
Mr Green goes on to make varied comments against “powerful representatives from Clubs within the SPL…. who appear hell bent on inflicting as much damage on Rangers as possible”, and that some “clubs were placed in an invidious position and we believe their interests were not best served by those in more powerful positions”.
Let’s have some context here. If we were to make a list of those who inflicted most damage on Rangers, representatives from other clubs would scarcely merit a mention. Those who allowed the club to spend more than it earned for so many years, who introduced the perilous tax avoidance system, those who failed to make accommodations for HMRC’s claim when it was first made, and those directors who personally benefited from the EBT scheme all carry primary responsibility.
Then would come the cheerleaders for the disastrous Craig Whyte regime – those who last year campaigned for the takeover, including putting pressure on Lloyds Banking Group to accept the terms.
Rangers opponents were spectators throughout this period. Any suggestion that our club were anything but opponents to Rangers, and alleged victims of trophies won by illegally registered players, when they should have been campaigning on behalf of their rivals, seriously misreads what was an established Glasgow rivalry. Of course it would be the same the other way – and rightly so.
Despite clearly feeling strongly about the Commission, Green didn’t address the key point….
There was no denial of the central charge that for a decade or more Rangers fielded improperly registered football players.
Yesterday some people suggested Green had offered the Lance Armstrong defence but Armstrong denied he was guilty while refusing to participate in the investigation into doping. This is a different matter altogether. Green has offered up something for every conceivable paranoid condition without actually claiming Rangers are wrongly accused.
The headlines today are all about titles being stripped but that is not the main topic in play. More importantly, after titles are stripped, what punishment will the SPL Commission levy on the Rangers membership, granted to Sevco in June?
The sheer scale of the charge makes this question incalculable. The toxicity attached to that membership is untenable and no bogeymen at other clubs, at the SPL or SFA are responsible for that.
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I have some good news for former fans of the former fitba team formerly knows as Rangers –
You did not get scudded 4-1 by St. Johnstone on March 30th 2010, with the Fenian Cillian Sheridan scoring the first goal after 7 minutes. It was in actaul fact, merely a 3-0 defeat.
In fact, almost every game you have played in the past 12 years was in actual fact a 3-0 defeat against your former team.
This of course means that your “leading SPL all-time scorer” Kris “Krissy Boydichenko” Boyd, never actually scored any goals while wearing thon strip of your former, now defunct so-called fitba team. Unfortunately for you and all your hell-bound brethern, the real, actual, never-cheated-to-achieve-his-record, genuine all-time SPL goalscorer, is in fact a Celtic former player. I give you Hendrik Larsson, ours cos we didn’t want Shearer, cos he was a . . . . .
Can I presume that once thems have been found out, the true situation re the leading goal-scorer will be corrected by the SPL?
Rucyl
The Prince of Goalkeepers
Cheers. His continuation with Miller, who is finished, and his negative tactics will speed his departure.
If the SFA had a pair then WGS would be in place by next qualifier in October, but as the last year (and longer) has shown, they don’t.
Another draw tonight and qualification chances gone completely.
OOPS!
Just realised that young Forrest IS in the starting line-up!
Fingers crossed for Jamesy!
HH!!
test.
hendrix67
14:26 on
11 September, 2012
Just read back. Sorry to hear that. I know how terrible dementia can be- worked in Care Home for many years.
I will keep your wee Gran in my prayers.
FPLG: Enough is enough…unless its a pie or a Greggs pasty.
dirtymac » fast forward to the G.O.D
15:00 on
11 September, 2012
stevenagebhoy
14:40 on 11 September, 2012
+++++
Phil Mac’s publisher tweeted yesterday, IIRC, that additional print runs are about to start
________________________________________________________________________
Good news really in many ways. I have ‘Neil Lennon – A Champion’s Story’ to read anyway.
Can’t remember the last time I saw Scotland .
I did see Macedonia last weekend . No mugs . Should have beaten Croatia but a lack of concentration saw them gifting Jelavic a goal …Hit the woodwork twice . Denied a stonewall penalty.
Play with 2 wingers and Napoli’s Pandev up front . Pandev is one of those he’s either good or awful players..
Ivan Trichkovski is a player..
Odds on a Macedonia win seem generous but notice that the Italian bookies are less so.
wonkyradar:
>>>>>
HH! “Per ardua ad Asda” as the more erudite of the Govanite perchance would utter.
In DelBoy they trust.
As Green is a Tyke (Yorkshireman) their motto seems particularly suited to him.
“Hear all, see all, say nowt, tak’ all, keep all, gie nowt, and if tha ever does owt for nowt do it for thysen!”
tomtheleedstim can do translations if necessary I hope?
Der Hun is starting to resemble a prickly hedgehog that has rolled into a ball and keeps squeaking “Enough is enough” over and over…and we are the wicked foxes tormenting the spiky wee critter.
Kayal33
15:28 on 11 September, 2012
Agree totally.
Just trying to remember who it was that said the history would be lost if the CVA was rejected …….think his first name began with ‘C’, and his second name with a ‘G’……. LOL
I need a kip. Today has been exhausting.
And I was up late last night after watching FIVE hours of Andy Murray achieve his life’s ambition : to become a Grand Slam Champion. And he did it honestly.
Wonky -that post was a bit eracineophobic. The poor ole hedgehog has enough on its plate these days without being likened to the hillbillies.
Wonkyradar
Thank you.
Has stringer emailed you yet?
Dontbrattbakkinanger
15:41 on 11 September, 2012
Aye.
And we’re more akin to a badger than a fox.
A hedgehog is safe against a fox, but has no defence against a badger.
Ole Legless playing a blinder on the subject of Huns and Scotland:
“They say they will only consider re-pledging their loyalty to the Scotland cause when the Scottish Football Association is gutted, starting at the top, which means beginning with Peter Lawwell and Rod Petrie’s pal, SFA head honcho, Stewart Regan.”
No mention of SFA President, Campbell Ogilvie – I would have thought he was above the others in terms of ranking…
Besides all that, these Huns would look ridiculous going to a Scotland match with the union flag and the red hand of ulster.
Anyone noticed there has been little or no sight of Bomber and Sandy?
They have embarked on a March to the Death…if Bomber wins he gets “tae seera deeds…ra deeds tae ra big House”.
So he says. They have been marching now for a solid two weeks. Sandy has went through four pairs of best of British emergency Brogues* already. The battle goes on for the hallowed title of GrandMaster of the Dignified Walk.
*Copyright to the Emergency Brogue is owned by Mr Jardine.
Downfall back in stock tomorrow at Waterstones Sauchiehall St.
Ole Ernesto- I see a fair number of dead badgers driving into work, can’t remember the last time I saw a hedgehog.
Whether culling badgers will make any difference to the incidence of bovine TB is not at all clearcut but it would help hedgehog numbers recover, and they could come round to my bit and sort out the slugs.
hendrix67
15:42 on
11 September, 2012
Wonkyradar
Thank you.
Has stringer emailed you yet?
Yes. Much appreciated. Seems like a great guy- can’t thank him enough for taking time out to give me such in depth advice.
I have posted a couple of times there might be a story regarding UEFA and rangers and the fact they have football debt. Just been told the story is about to break.
UEFA have announced the monies due to clubs whose players participated in Euro2012.
Celtic due 568,226.00 Euros.
RANGERS 339,263.00 Euros.
Because there is money due from UEFA they are now having to take an active involvement in what is ‘THE rangers’.
New club with no football debt? Old Club with monies owed to UEFA club members?
Not only eracineophobic but tautological too .
Never seen a hedgehog that wasn’t prickly.
Riccio CSC -Way down south
Dontbrattbakkinanger
15:48 on 11 September, 2012
Killing badgers isn’t really an answer to to the shortage of hedgehogs.
Banning slug pellets might be.
Dontbrattbakkinanger
15:41 on
11 September, 2012
Wonky -that post was a bit eracineophobic. The poor ole hedgehog has enough on its plate these days without being likened to the hillbillies.
I apologise to all Hedgehogs or any other prickly quadruped’s that might be reading this blog. No offence intended.
South Of Tunis
15:50 on
11 September, 2012
Not only eracineophobic but tautological too .
Never seen a hedgehog that wasn’t prickly.
Riccio CSC -Way down south
Its funny you should say that. I thought of that when I was typing. I thought to myself: I wonder what a shaved hedgehog looks like? Is there such a thing as a bald hedgehog? But I thought it strangely Freudian. SO I just didn’t mention it. And now I am. I’m off to see my shrink…
In just 48 hours, HMRC’s consultation on tax-dodging finishes. That means we’ve got just two days to tell them to get serious about closing tax loopholes.
This latest consultation from HMRC could be the start of a turnaround on tax-dodging. But if the government only hears from high profile corporate lobbyists, they could believe the fuss has died down and they can get away with slipping back on tackling the problem.
There’s a real risk that HMRC could recommend a weak law that experts say would only tackle a fraction of tax-dodging. [1] As HMRC read the responses to their consultation, there’ll be a pile a mile high from powerful companies who don’t want to pay their fair share. We need to work together, to tip the balance back in favour of strong rules on tax dodging.
Can you send a quick message to HMRC to say the law they’re looking at doesn’t go far enough?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/tax-dodging-48hrs
Now and again, companies do the right thing and walk away from a tax dodge. Our people-powered campaign forced companies like McDonalds, Coca-Cola and VISA to confirm they’d turn down the tax-dodge on offer to Olympic sponsors. [2]
But we can’t always rely on companies to behave well, when they’ve shown time and again that they often don’t. Instead, we need our politicians to step up and make rules that make tax-dodging impossible. We need a strong anti tax-dodging law that makes sure everyone has to pay their fair share, whether they’re Jimmy Carr or Google. [3]
Can you tell HMRC they need a stronger tax-dodging law? We’ve got just 48 hours to make our voices heard:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/tax-dodging-48hrs
ASonOfDan
15:50 on 11 September, 2012
+++++
Serious(ish) question, but…
…which Rangers players played at Euro 2012? And were they Rangers players or The Rangers players at the time? Were they bought and paid for?
I guess at least one of these questions will figure when Uefa have a look.
Ernesto -the shortage of hedgehogs [when their food supply is abundant] is probably due to a number of reasons. Winters [with one or two exceptions] are getting milder- are they coming out of huibernation at the wrong time?
Sir Busted Flush …….. brilliant – like a new signing that is!
any news from the hearing?
Actually aSoD, scrap that, this link (scroll down a third – right hand panel) appears to suggest that no Rankers players played at Euro 2012.
Orc Logic in full flow over in RangersMedia:
“Naismith isnae tae get done wae violent conduct noo efter eez elbow oan rat Serbian guy. He never dud hings like rat wae uz. But when he did, even though he didnae REALLY dae it, he always goat found guilty- like rat time against Dunfermline. Noo eez no wae us he gets away wae it but if he wiz wae us he wid huv goat punished fur it…even though he didnae dae anything…”
Moral Moronity in Action.
dirtymac
This money is also to cover qualifiers so any Rangers players who played in qualifiers will also be counted.
Again, UEFA need to be clear which entity they are providing the money too. If its to the Plc, then fine, this will help the creditors. If it’s to Sevco, then UEFA will have legitimised the claim that both clubs are one and the same (and newco should theoritically be accountable for actions of oldco).
Interesting times ahead.
Mort
New oxford dictionary word(s)
noun(s) Zombie denialist
Deffinition :An undead being , being in denial
Afternoon Bhoys,
Firstly as a bit of housekeeping, I would like to thank BJ Mac on all of our behalf for being the founding member of what has become the CQN Golf Society. Many a great afternoon has been had in the rough and just as many an afternoon has been spoiled by the Golf
For those of you in the know, I have been told, I mean gladly accepted, the role of Club Captain for a year or until I am overthrown, whichever comes first….
As with standard practice of playing during the international weekend Match day 4 has us playing on Sunday the 14th October.
If anyone who has not as yet received their invite and would like to join the society for this or other dates please email me at cqngolfclub@gmail.com
Hail Hail
Ryan O’D
Big Nan @ 15.34 – no need to translate that our kid, it speaks for itsen.
I suspect that motto originated near the famous “rhubarb triangle” – we don’t speak like that in leafy North Leeds (I don’t think so anyway!)
Hedgehogs were a bit of a 70s thing and could be seen frequently back then (in the summer months) crossing country roads or resting under hedges. By the early 80s they had gone right out of fashion, and have only been spotted sporadically since then…. a bit like Opel Kadetts and New Romantics.
My kids don’t believe in hedgehogs.