Huge day as Sword of Damocles hovers over Rangers

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Today the Scottish Premier League will vote on proposals to allow a Newco to parachute straight into the top league in the country if an existing SPL club goes into liquidation.  Fans from 11 of the 12 clubs have overwhelmingly opposed the idea.  Rangers fans are split, some would prefer a Newco to apply to the Scottish Football League, others think a Newco should be allowed into the SPL without penalty.

Long before this vote was a glint in the eye of the SPL, it was first discussed on Celtic Quick News.  Last October we raised the alarm that Rangers were undertaking an enormous charade.  They were preparing to liquidate in order to avoid the consequences of failing to pay their taxes for over a decade.

We also predicted they would present the SPL with a fait accompli – vote us ‘back’ or suffer our scorched earth policy, as we take the rest of you down.  For what it’s worth, I also predicted the league would capitulate and Celtic would stand alone in opposition.

10 of the 12 SPL clubs bank with Lloyds Banking Group (Celtic and Hearts excluded). For months I have suggested that LBG could threaten to withdraw overdraft facilities if clubs voted against the revenue Rangers bring but this is not the case. Clubs have a free vote, there is no banking overlord conspiring against democratic wishes, LBG, like the SFA Judicial Panel, have played this with a straight bat.

Right now, I have no idea how the vote will go.  The proposal to establish procedures to allow a phoenix club straight into the league could be passed or rejected.  If they are rejected, it may be because a majority would rather Newco was back without penalties, or it may be because clubs have listened to their fans and taken a stand.

If the vote goes against Rangers I expect we will see a rapid move to liquidate.  If it goes in their favour (and by that I mean a parachute, with penalties, is invented for them), liquidation becomes a more attractive prospect, if not, actually, attractive.

They would still have to overcome potential challenges from creditors, security of Craig Whyte over Ibrox, and, of course, the many penalties that Newco would inherit along with the gift of Rangers SPL share.  For now, this means last week’s SFA ban on signing players, but the alleged improper registration of players matter is coming over the hill soon, and the penalties for that… wow!

As I said, I have no idea which way the vote will go. Rangers are finished and it would genuinely be best for them if someone put them out of their misery and allowed them to start the recovery process, but in the light of the intimidation of Raith Rovers last week, it remains to be seen if the other SPL clubs are up to the task.

Most of us called last week’s SFA punishment wrong, what do you think will happen today?

Huge day. Huge, huge, day.

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327 Comments

  1. The Pantaloon Duck on

    Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 30 April, 2012 at 11:50 said:

     

     

    Uhh… pourquoi?

     

     

    *shrug*

  2. In my opinion Horace is the greatest Roman writer. Love Marcus Aurelius but Horace is my favourite. The Epistles in particular.

     

     

    Another great quote that Scottish football should heed:

     

     

    A good & faithful judge ever prefer the honourable to the expedient.

     

     

    One of my favourite quotes from a man who lived over two thousand years ago:

     

     

    We are are just statistics, born to consume resources.

  3. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Welcome to our nightmare, I think you’re gonna like it, I think you’re gonna feel you belong.

     

    A nocturnal vacation, unnecessary sedation, you want to feel at home ’cause you belong.

     

    Welcome to our nightmare whoa, ho, ho, ho…

     

     

    Welcome to your breakdown.

     

    I hope I didn’t scare you.

     

    That’s just the way we are when we come down.

     

    We sweat and laugh and scream here.

     

    ‘Cause life is just a dream here.

     

    You know inside you feel right at home, here.

     

    Welcome to your breakdown, whoa, ho, ho, ho…

     

    Yeah welcome to your nightmare, yeah eah eah eah

     

     

    Welcome to you nightmare

     

    I think you’re gonna like it!

     

    I think you’re gonna feel you belong!

     

    We sweat and laugh and scream here!

     

    ‘Cause life is just a dream here!

     

    You know inside you feel right at home, here!

     

     

    Welcome to you nightmare hoo, hoo, woo, hoo…

     

    Welcome to you breakdown…

     

     

    Yeah!

     

     

    Leaving lepidoptera – please, don’t touch the display,

     

    little hun, aha cute! Moving to the next aisle we have

     

    arachnida, the spiders, our.. finest collection.

     

    This friendly little devil is the heptothilidi,

     

    unfortunately harmless. Next to him, the nasty licosa

     

    raptoria, his tiny fangs cause creeping ulcerations of

     

    the skin *laugh*. And here, my prize, the Black

     

    Widow. Isn’t she lovely?.. and so deadly. Her kiss is

     

    fifteen times as poisonous as that of the rattlesnake.

     

    You see her venom is highly neurotoxic, which is to say

     

    that it attacks the central nervous system causing

     

    intense pain, profuse sweating, difficulty in

     

    breathing, loss of consciousness, violent convulsions,

     

    severe denial , smokescreening and fingerpointing

     

    and, finally.. death. You know what I think I love the

     

    most about her is her inborn need to dominate,

     

    possess. In fact, immediately after the consummation

     

    of her marriage to the smaller and weaker male of the

     

    species she kills and eats him – *laugh* oh, she is

     

    delicious.. and I hope he was! Such power and dignity

     

    – unhampered by sentiment. If I may put forward a

     

    slice of personal philosophy, I feel that hun has ruled

     

    this world as a stumbling dimented child-king long

     

    enough! And as his empire crumbles, my precious Neil

     

    Lennon shall rise as his most fitting successor!

     

     

    Hail Hail

  4. “Rumours” posted on RTC. Surely this whole debacle has been nothing but “Sweet Little Lies”?

     

     

    HH

  5. Tamlaghtduff Bhoy on

    Check out the thai tims on youtube celebrating our opening goal yesterday. Absolutley fantastic, then they burst into song. Love them wee guys!

     

    I hear they are playing in Belfast this weekend anyone know where and what time? Think the wee ghirl wants to become a member!

  6. Phil MacGiollaBhain ‏ @Pmacgiollabhain

     

    Reply RetweetedRetweet

     

    Delete

     

    FavoritedFavorite · Close Open Details Why would all those banking & finance people in Edinburgh be convinced that the end of RFC is imminent? Hmmmm

  7. Hmmmmmmm

     

     

    Phil MacGiollaBhain ‏ @Pmacgiollabhain Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

     

    Why would all those banking & finance people in Edinburgh be convinced that the end of RFC is imminent? Hmmmm

     

     

    C’mon Phil spill the beans!

  8. Auld Neil Lennon heid on

    Paul67

     

    Re my previous on club licensing:

     

     

    If Newco are subject to UEFA rules and fail the criteria, the rules do allow for an exception to be made.

     

    Now the ONLY basis for an exceptiom has to be the commercial damage clubs would suffer if an exception were not granted.

     

    This would put the SPL/SFA in the position of providing accurate estimates of that damage but also give UEFA a price of upholding integrity, a price they might be prepared to go some way to meeting by providing a financial parachute for the clubs that might be losing out if integrity holds sway.

     

    Such an integrity incentive would require UEFA to put its money where its mouth is, but it would be the ultimate test of how much they want sporting integrity to matter.

     

    It is another reason to look at the licencing issue more deeply to see if it offers, via UEFA another way out that satisfies integrity and protects those clubs who follow it and punishes those who do not.

  9. spikeysauldman on

    Ally McCoist has demanded to know then name of the defender who was supposed to be marking Mulgrew yesterday !! (courtesy of my mate on W Nile St this morning)

  10. hen1rik on 30 April, 2012 at 11:52 said:

     

     

    Because we have lived through their empire of dodgy deals and cheating for years and years.

     

     

    Maybe this time there just is no place left for them to hide..

  11. Awe naw. Yes indeed you are correct

     

    But Ellis said he would drop it if craigo would sell his shares

  12. After awe is said an no said at awe. The Celtic are the tap team in Scotland by a country mile.

     

     

    But if the players dinnae show the right attitude to the games as the wise Kojo keeps sayin. Well they wullnae achieve awe that they should.

     

     

    Right.

     

     

    Too Right.

     

     

    Kojak (nae relation tae the Wisest of em awe – Kojo)

     

     

    maks sense to us.

     

     

    Still Smilin like a cat thats got a kipper.

  13. So the SPL have postponed their decision until May. They’re going to let the money men do it for them. I would call them chickens, but actually I’d probably do the same.

  14. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Sydney Tim

     

     

    sell his shares at a price that Ellis agrees with ?

     

     

    Hail Hail

  15. Chris “shame the name” McLaughlin tweeting that the SPL meeting has been adjourned to May, Doncaster says clubs wanted more time for clarity..

     

     

    They bricked it!!

  16. Soz, Hen1rik,

     

     

    With the greatest respect to Paul McC, I suspect he was a little bored when he wrote that.

     

    I certainly wouldn’t be overly concerned about it.

  17. Well, gosh.

     

     

    Who’d have thunk it?

     

     

    #########################

     

     

     

    ernie lynch on 30 April, 2012 at 10:43 said:

     

    jock steins celtic on 30 April, 2012 at 10:40 said:

     

    ‘anyone any idea what time the vote will be announced ?’

     

     

    Middle to late May.

  18. Hen1rik at 11.45, better that the link gets posted numerous times than missed by anyone.

     

     

    Just hope it’s well wide of the mark.

  19. A huge well done to Charlie Mulgrew on getting Celtic’s Player of The Year last night.

     

     

    I am sure your da was looking down with pride.

  20. Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on

    Ibrox Park is falling down,

     

    Falling down, falling down,

     

    Ibrox Park is falling down,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Build it up with wood and clay,

     

    Wood and clay, wood and clay,

     

    Build it up with wood and clay,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Wood and clay will wash away,

     

    Wash away, wash away,

     

    Wood and clay will wash away,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Build it up with bricks and mortar,

     

    Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,

     

    Build it up with bricks and mortar,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

     

    Bricks and mortar will not stay,

     

    Will not stay, will not stay,

     

    Bricks and mortar will not stay,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Build it up with iron and steel,

     

    Iron and steel, iron and steel,

     

    Build it up with iron and steel,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Iron and steel will bend and bow,

     

    Bend and bow, bend and bow,

     

    Iron and steel will bend and bow,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Build it up with silver and gold,

     

    Silver and gold, silver and gold,

     

    Build it up with silver and gold,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Silver and gold will be stolen away,

     

    Stolen away, stolen away,

     

    Silver and gold will be stolen away,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Ask Awe Naw to watch all night,

     

    Watch all night, watch all night,

     

    Ask a Awe Naw to watch all night,

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Suppose Awe Naw should fall asleep,

     

    Fall asleep, fall asleep,

     

    Suppose Awe Naw should fall asleep?

     

    It´s all gone shady

     

     

    Give him a pipe to smoke all night,

     

    Smoke all night, smoke all night,

     

    Give him a pipe to smoke all night,

     

    It´s all gone shady

  21. Awe naw. Oops slip of I phone finger

     

     

    You are correct again

     

    But our hero would still prefer 75% of 15 million than 100% of a pound

     

    Still makes the transfer of his shares( and assets of dignity fc) , not an simple / easy task

  22. Fantastic result yesterday. Was very confident we would win yesterday but the ease of the win surprised me a little. Not that I thought we were not capable, just that sometimes we don’t always deliver on our potential. At three nil I thought we should have went for the jugular and really finished them off in style. We took our foot off their throats a little. My only complained: thought Lenny could have put on Paddy, Dylan & Watt after we went up three nil. All hungry to impress and in Watt’s case high on confidence. Why bring Stokes on when we already know what he can do? Small quibble.

  23. hamiltontim on 30 April, 2012 at 11:20

     

     

    Fairhill…..Hamiltons finest and most civilzed area.

     

     

    I think we have chatted on here before – are you in Woodhead?

  24. AFTER scoring the opening goal in the final derby match of the season, Charlie Mulgrew celebrated in the best possible way by scooping the Celtic Player of the Year award, sponsored by McEwan Fraser Legal, on Sunday night at the Thistle Hotel in Glasgow.

     

     

    The big defender had been a key player in Celtic’s 43rd championship title by scoring vital goals, assisting with other crucial strikes and, of course, helping to keep things tight at the back as well as filling out in a variety of other roles. And he also scooped the Players´ Player of the Year Award, sponsored by The Kitchen Depot.

     

     

    The Young Player of the Year award, sponsored by MEV, was snapped up by James Forrest, another performer who has been essential to the Hoops’ march to the title after a string of scintillating displays over the course of this season and being the prime advert for Celtic’s Youth Academy output.

     

     

    Another youngster who epitomises the value of Celtic’s Youth Academy is Dylan McGeouch and, despite some first-class competition from Celts further up the ladder, the teenager’s outstanding Paradise debut will be even more memorable now as his magnificent solo strike in the 5-0 win over St Mirren was voted by the supporters as the Goal of the Season, sponsored by Tennent´s.

     

     

    Another Celtic who found the net in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Rangers has picked up the Top Scorer award, sponsored by Ladbrokes, as Gary Hooper’s excellent third goal was his 24th of the season and there are still three more games for him to add to his tally.

     

     

    After the events of the last few months, Glasgow is definitely green and white and the same could be said of Nairobi in Nigeria and Kibera Celtic have been presented with this year’s Special Recognition award, sponsored by Scottish Leader.

     

     

    The team has been founded in slum on the outskirts of Nairobi and very much follows the template of Celtic’s birth in the East End of Glasgow in 1888 in a bid to combat hunger and poverty in one of the most needy areas in the world.

  25. Lads i hate to sound all doom & gloom but i honestly think we’ll be all disappointed at the end of all this.

     

     

    I hope and pray I’m wrong.

  26. Don’t really see how an adjournment can help the huns

     

    As it stands now , there is no route for a newco into SPL

     

    That meeting today would have made a route

  27. Unless I missed it, that Scotslawthoughts article doesn’t address the thorny issue of how D&P sell the rangers assets to a newco with craig whyte’s 18m floating charge hanging over them.

     

     

    Nor whether it’s all been discussed with the players (or other staff for that matter). Why accept the uncertainty of a newco when you can walk away on a free.