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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Good old Kloppy, Liverpool to win and btts, 9/2. Thought I was well down ! Put winnings on correct score Sat, 5-0.
HH
Thunder Road: post split fixtures difficult for me now. Had four seats booked for last match at €40 return only for ruin air site to collapse. Stupid money now.
keepontryingcsc
HAMILTONTIM on 14TH APRIL 2016 10:04 PM
You never heard the expression ‘Neebs’ before?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Good to see the bog has been flushed & the blog returned to a nice, warm, welcoming & hun-free zone.
Long may it continue.
On another note; can someone please tell me the name of our opponents this weekend. As far as the media are concerned we are playing a team that ceased to exist 4 years ago.
Nostalgia CSC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36047575
Anyone else think Thompson won’t get the memo
With this rule Efe’s v County would surely be a yellow
Praying for the Villarreal/Celtic Submari to be drawn against Liverpool.
I would make the away end Anfield for that tie. :)
Not a huge fan of Liverpool (sorry Phylis!) but you can’t help but like Klopp.
Having said that, I’ll be over:-)
Stupidcsc
Lennybhoy
Naw is it a rural expression?! :-)
HT: Are you a Newcastle fan? :-)
HAMILTONTIM on 14TH APRIL 2016 10:04 PM
I’ve a mate who uses Neebs when he greets me…although he and I are from ML5, the word ‘Neebs’ is commonly used by Fifers…for Neebur or in English…Neighbour…every day’s a School Day…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Fantastic game / result ….. Just fantastic ….. Good on you, Liverpool
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/142805586521/topping-yourself-the-spfl-and-the-bbc-begin-a
Hate Liverpool
Song robbing scally wags
But that was a great win for the them,the swiney swines
Almore
Don’t like any other team to be honest but Newcastle would be near the top of my dislike list :-)
PATRICK27 on 14TH APRIL 2016 10:07 PM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36047575
Anyone else think Thompson won’t get the memo
With this rule Efe’s v County would surely be a yellow
______________________________
Don’t you know that the Referee’s carry a separate handbook of rules for Celtic.
The new rules state, as far as Celtic are concerned are as follows – Should a Celtic player accidently bring down an opponent in the opposing box then the offending player with receive a straight Red card (along with Leigh Griffiths) as well as the opposing team being awarding 3-0 Victory.
Lennybhoy
I’m suitably educated, cheers :-)
HT
Always knew you were a closet Mackem. ;)))
HT/WITS: Divided loyalties.
My Dad supported Liverpool but he didn’t make a big deal of it. My eldest brother supports Everton, as does my kid bro, but he’s (my kid bro) as big a Tim as I am.
Badasscsc
P
Sometimes I wish they hadn’t dreamed up the cash out option, but it does have it’s advantages now and again, pity you didn’t use it tonight :-)
HH
HT,
Yeah what lennybhoy said.
I was gonna comment on your Paul Mcstay post earlier but got distracted.
He’s the all time best in my lifetime.
I remember seeing John Higgins on Mrs and Mrs a while back (I think we are all about same age) and when asked who his favourite player was his Mrs said “Everyone will think it’ll be larsson but for John it’s Paul Mcstay!”
Or words to that effect.
My good lady said “that’d be your answer too eh?”
That’d be one question we’d get right if we ever got on the show. :/
HH
TET
Sevilla was the let down so cash-out in-play was poor – they were 1 down and got it back to 1-1 (now into ET).
Figured it was a good bet – BD win = £190 or Pool win = £250 unfortunately didn’t expect Sevilla at home to be so poor .v. another Spanish team. :-(
Thinking-cap on to recoup at the weekend!
DD
Ha not a chance :-)
GM
Just loved him neebs. Watching all those clips just reminded me of what incredible ability he had. His energy levels were also amazing, a fantastic desire to get up and down the park.
Can I get the blue paddle :-)
P
This has been my worst season for the past 20 seasons, couldn’t pick a winner to save my life.
Emptied the pot months ago, but thankfully resisted the temptation to fill it again, else it would have been worse.
Might have a crack at the Euros, might not, depends on how it feels.
HH
Going to pens @ Sevilla.
Interestingly as it stands – 4 Spanish sides through to UEFA Competition Semis.
Can Sevilla make it 5?
DD
Just scrolling back
Missing RC game but over for Aberdeen and Murder well games.
As a rule don’t like EPL but dislike Liverpool the least due to the justice for the 96 campaign and their recognition of our part in it.
Onlytheticcsc hh
Stupid stat by me – Sevilla opponents A.Bilbao!
Pens 2-2 so far!
3-3
Sevilla GK saves A.B. pen!
Sevilla 4-3!
Hamilton
North East Doric speakers greet each other with ‘fas yer Neebs?’ Which gets a response of ‘ still chaffing awa’
I think the translation is -How are your neighbours – still chatting away…
The NE version of ‘ howz it gaun?’
Final pen hold-up due to to stramash on halfway line.
Sevilla (the holders) through 5-4 on pens!
Bassas – if they’d won in normal time my line would’ve been up. :-(
Sevilla are very good on pens
Leftclick
I’m sure you’ll look great in your Kilt.
I always think of yourself as part of the holy CQN trinity. You An Tearnan and Jamesgang.
KILL ULTRA 639
I didn’t quote you out of context. I quoted your entire reply to the point you referenced.
Cults
I’ll stick to the Spanish it’s easier :-)