I have two significant concerns about Walter Smith’s comments yesterday. He spoke about the events which followed Rangers liquidation in 2012:
“There was no necessity for Rangers to be put down into the Third Division.
“That will always stay in Scottish football. There will be a bitterness in the Rangers ranks. It will be a massive motivation for the club. It would certainly be for me.
“How can they forget what happened to them? Nobody could forget that.”
I’ve spoken to people at Celtic about security concerns ahead of the weekend. The game itself will almost certainly pass off without incident, but what happens on the streets of Glasgow and surrounding towns is anyone’s guess.
You will hear nothing even close to inflammatory from Celtic, senior fans groups, or anyone who cares about the club’s fans and wellbeing. Justifying bitterness due to (mis)perceived persecution ahead of this fixture is inciteful. I’m astonished Smith said this.
On his subject matter, let me give you an alternative scenario:
Newco Rangers are parachuted straight into the Premier League, hundreds of creditors are abandoned, they have a full squad of players and are not a penny in debt. They would have been out signing players within minutes of registration (they even tried to sign a player while still in administration).
With Oldco having won the league accumulating debts they would never pay in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Newco, free of legacy financial commitments, would have an excellent chance of winning again in 2013 and beyond.
This plan was one strand of Craig Whyte’s lunacy and it would have killed Scottish football. Celtic, and others, would have been left to consider, do we pay these millions of debts, or liquidate and spend the money on players instead? I had this very conversation with a senior figure in the game in October 2011, when the realisation of what Whyte was planning became evident. Utter mayhem would have ensued.
The damage done to the Rangers brand of clubs by allowing Newco access only to the bottom tier was huge. It’s consequences are yet to be appreciated by most fans. Newco may never win a top flight league.
But the question was not whether to impose a trauma on ‘Rangers’ or allow everyone to carry on as we had before, this was not an option. It was whether to allow the existing rules and processes to stand, allow responsibility for the enormous mismanagement of Rangers to be carried primarily by Newco, and have other clubs deal with the fallout, with or without a ‘Rangers’ club in the league.
Whyte’s plan replicated what he’d done in other industries, but it would have devastated Celtic in particular. We were beaten for years on the field by a team who could not pay their bills or correctly register their players, then we would be beaten again as they walked away from debts without consequence, which is why I wrote this article in October 2011 on the Prepack route for Rangers Newco.
Pretty much all of what I wrote about in that article came to pass, it had to be stopped (and you’ll never know the key movers in doing so). Smith should consider if the boot was on the other foot, if he would be happy to allow his club to be subverted in the manner he suggests would be good enough for others. It was simply never an option.
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W Smith, who gives a penny for your thoughts?
Not I and I would go as far as to say not your loyal loyal.
You ripped the proverbal urine out of your paymasters, your supporters and in my humble opinion your insiders on the blue payroll.
Reap and enjoy, you are so inside out you would need an X- Ray to have a shave.
SFTB..
Yes – a pen but Iniesta should have been red carded for the offence which led to Atletico’s penalty – no ?
SFTB
Agree it was a penalty but thought Iniesta should have been sent off for the handball.
Thanks to having Virgin media I now get all the CL games after years of not seeing most of it as Sky don’t get my dosh, but rather like jmmcormick says I too feel disengaged and that’s only the second game I’ve watched this year
SoT
Saw some footage of the violence you mentioned at the weekend game. Absolutely sickening.
I agree Iniesta was a definite red card.
This guy is ranked as a top ref and made two very poor decisions
PB
All I was introduced to in the toilets of Saint Thomas Aquinas Jordanhill in my day was blaw and LSD. Accepted both gleefully and my life changed. Number 1 in the charts at the time was Pink Floyd Another Brick.
Elidor69
Am I right in saying you’ve posted on this site for a number of years?
DD
The Wall.
What an album that is.
Spent many a happy day listening deeply.
Roger Water’s Lyrics are superb.
Great Band.
HH
celtic ladies …
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10340
Bognorbhoy
Hows it going?
Hows the folks.
HH
——-
Set Yer Recorders For A Braw Film Tonite..
Oan Channel 4, 01:30-3:20am..
‘Crazy Heart’ (2009)….
“Jeff Bridges is effortlessly convincing as the flawed country singer whose career has taken a nose dive,and who finds his spark ignited when single mum, Maggie McGill,enters his life.
There are sentimental elements,but Bridge’s complex performance saves it from being pure mince.”
[ A rather flawed AND unkind review..? Ed ]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Heart?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C4629644046
Jeff Bridges Is A CLASS ACTOR….
An’ A Damn Good Tim Wi’ A Fine Voice!
He Also ENDORSES The DONALD….
For President….!!
(Ye Can Hear Him Tell Yon Alex Jones Fae Austin…
In His Interview Oan The “Prison Planet” Channel)
[ Aye,The Donald,He Wiz Grand In “The Fisher King” Too….Along With Robin Williams….Ed ]
~~~~
That’s me off then. Night night. HH.
TGM
Spent many an afternoon doggin Saint Tams in our mates house in Whiteinch puffin n trippin. Floyd became the Clash, Jam Specials Joy Division in a couple of years. Happy Days. :)
PADDY GALLAGHER on 13TH APRIL 2016 9:53 PM
W Smith, who gives a penny for your thoughts?
Not I and I would go as far as to say not your loyal loyal.
——
I wonder if that’s the case?
Why?
In struck by what I see online ref ‘let’s see how many likes we can get’ for the true ger who stood by the club in its darkest hour……etc
That’s sleekit they’re on about!!!
I honestly think that they honestly think that wattie is the godfather of their ‘club’
HH jamesgang
ELIDOR69 on 13TH APRIL 2016 9:44 PM
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Very well said! Sadly, I feel very much the same way about what will happen next season.
However, in the meantime, let’s hope that our team give them a real doing on Sunday!
The main thing is that I hope that everyone of us stays safe on Sunday, and that Police Scotland perform the duties that they are paid to.
HH
Night Weefra
HH jamesgang
setting free the bears for Res. 12 & Oscar Knox on 13th April 2016 9:57 pm
I agree Iniesta was a definite red card.
This guy is ranked as a top ref and made two very poor decisions
*what about the AM team leaving the pitch after the 2nd goal, some yellows there would have led to reds. Or is that only JVH.
I See the amazing cruncher o’neil from Belfast is playing st Vincent’s pub in Glasgow this weekend.
Possibly the Best ballad singer Iv heard live, well worth going along for a listen if it’s nearby.
Weefra
GNGB pal.
JAMESGANG
So looking forward to seeing you again at the next home game. Hope the wee fella is grand, and you of course. Been up early today for a hospital appointment. A body blow to a retired gentleman. Lol. HH.
Proudbhoy
When’s Cruncher playing?
Only team in top 4 divs in England and Scotland to play in a town without a railway station is Forfar, who ironically play at Station Park.
DD
Ditto. Lol HH
Night Frank.
HT
Night night to you and your wonderful family. HH
Proudbhoy
Thank you for the heads up. Saw Cruncher once before and was impressed.
HH
Barca have hit a slump in form at the wrong stage of the season. They will need to regroup if they want to get over the line in La Liga
the green man ..
not to bad considering ..
booked flights for may so will be in touch nearer the time for a meet up .
you take care on sunday.. :-)))
TSOAL
Please don’t highlight the Scunthorpe rude distinction that sewer brain BMCUW highlighted on here. ;)
DD
Sorry sir
Bognorbhoy
Will look forward to catching up.
Sunday….I will be straight-jacketed by my good lady:)
She said, that when i see that dirty blue dishrag of a strip….its like Lon Chaney turning into the werewolf:)
Take Care…give my regards to the folks.
HH
SoAL
You sure about that ?
HH
There was some touching emotional messages in Walter’s outpourings yesterday.
It brought back memories when he recalled the hardships Alistair faced. Maybe it’s time for Scottish football to select a whitewash, rather than airbrush this time and obliterate the last 3, sorry meant 4, seasons from the SFA annals ?
Scotland has managed to hide so much before: PLG, riots in Barcelona, the sacking of Manchester….
What would 1 or 2 seasons (ok 4) matter ?
Hey Weefra
The Wee Mhan turned 11 last Friday and is the height of nonsense.
See you at Paradise soon, preferably the earthly version!
HH jamesgang
THE SPIRIT OF ARTHUR LEE on 13TH APRIL 2016 10:18 PM
Only team in top 4 divs in England and Scotland to play in a town without a railway station is Forfar, who ironically play at Station Park.
————–
ironically a team once took a gamble on having a casino in their stadium, but bet on red when they should have went black.
cant remember the name of the club though.
My thoughts regards Sunday’s game.
Sevco will enter the fight like a wild fighter that knows they need to achieve a knock out in round 1 or round 2. A fighter that ultimately knows they will get severely out box’ the more the fight progresses.
Therefore, hope Ronny has the troops ready from the off.
Progress through the opening rounds, then dominate the fight. Put them on their pants before half time. Floor them again straight after half time. Then seal the bout with a final knock down in the 10th.
3-0 the Hoops.
DD,
Still at school when the wall is made, 1982 !
Did you have a paper round at two………, no meeting you again after that one… :0)
Since primrose ure and the lonesome boatman the huns have had some nasty individuals involved with them, however, naesurname must be one of the worst.
In an effort to deflect his own deficiencies he has had no shame in naming linemen’s surnames, attacking other managers, pushing officials out of the way and berating journalists with foul mouthed tirades, even slapping one of his own staff in full view of the crowd and cameras.
The elder statesman of Scottish football WTF.