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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Petec:
Did you note that every single Villerreal player, without exception, got off his arse to show the boy compassionate courtesy and by extension… respect. It is the little things that shout the loudest, that say the most about the man and his heart.
It is never what you say… it is what you do after you’re finished speaking that’ll measures how tall you are.
KITALBA on 15TH APRIL 2016 1:05 AM
KILL ULTRA:
My little exchange with Canamalar had hee-haw to do with you. I have no idea why you choose to stroke your own ego by thinking it did… but let me assure you of this, you were not in my thoughts one iota.
Before now, never an iota, not ever.
Sorry!!!
———
Ok. My mistake
kitalba,
After watching the dressing room footage, I wanted the Celts to put a gentle challenge in at least, the bhoy had skills, most definitely and he would have Risen to the challenge. Too diplomatic.
Once again Thanks for the Links.
Good morning Celts,
See that the donations to the Glasgow Irish Famine Memorial Fund now reached £4,509.
Well done to the committee and those who conceived the idea. Hopefully a number of artists will submit bids for the design. HH
Kit
Your post was worth reading during my train ride into work
God bless and Keep The Faith
Incredible heading in the Daily Rangers – even for that gutter trolling rag:
“Celtic and Ran*ers heroes facing financial ruin as HMRC send cash demands over tax avoidance schemes”
Whit?
Not a single mention of a hoops hero in the “article”… plenty of thems, though.
Good morning friends and a Big Happy Friday from a dry, calm and cloudy (although it’s the light grey, positiver clouds) East Kilbride.
DD
Small world mate..I was very good friends with John Monaghan aswell.My name is Mulraney
Take a wee five minutes of your time this morning if possible to pray for the family and friends of John Murphy whose life is being celebrated this morning at his funeral
RIP John
And the 96
JF96
Good morning CQN!
Wonderful videos posted last night by Kitalba and a great post by him at 5.47 as well.
BLANTYRETIM
Prayers offered for the repose of the soul of John Murphy RIP, and for his family who have had to suffer so much anguish over the last few months.
John Murphy RIP
Drew67 – Andy is it?
No’ another St Tams bam on the ole sainted CQN!!
An intriguing possibility has opened up in the Champions League/Europa Cup:
it’s possible that Liverpool will win the Europa League giving them automatic qualification into next season’s Champions League.
If this happens, the team which finishes fourth in the English Premier league will not get a Champs League spot. The exception to this is if the team finishing fourth (currently Man City) happens to win the Champions League.
Now it’s possible that Man City could meet Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in the final of the Champions League.
if that happened, and if Liverpool won the Europa League, then Pep would be in the position where he was playing against the team he will be managing next season, and he will be playing to kill their chances of the Champs League.
Lots of ifs and buts, but I’d say Pep would be in a difficult position.
Anyone local to the St Andrews area fancy providing a wee weather report. Lucky enough to be heading up there to play golf with my Bhoy this afternoon. Not on ‘that’ course but on the Torrance at Fairmont.
loadsofballsrequiredCSC
A day of wallpaper stripping awaits me…..deep joy. I will also be deeply involved in wallpaper stripping from 11am till 4pm on Sunday. I cannot bear even hearing a second of that sham due at Hampden on Sunday.
Will still love to beat them but will not cry or be too concerned if the brothers get their way. At some point our day will come.
Hail! Hail!
sixtaeseven – Gardez la Foi on 15th April 2016 7:47 am
————
I’m no fan of the Daily Record – will never buy it – but let’s pick our battles.
The main article is about tax demands arising from investments schemes such as movies (separate from EBTs) and no ex players are mentioned in that section (other than alex Ferguson, if we’re being pedantic).
Celtic players MIGHT have invested in those schemes as individuals.
Thems players are named later in a reference to an earlier piece about EBT’s.
No Celtic players are named there because , of course, Celtic as a club didn’t use those while certain others did…
Drew1967
I am Dunky, you were in my sister Jackie’s year. We stayed Kirkton Ave. You Alderman Rd. :))
Jobo, I’m not in St Andrews today, however I have a good view of it and I’m close enough to experience much the same weather.
Right now there’s no wind, high, grey, bright looking cloud. It’s also a wee bit chilly. O would wear something warm (that North Sea is just a retitled Arctic ocean after all)
If you have time, pop into northpoint cafe om, er, north Street. They do good bacon and toasted bagels (of course, being St Andrews, you can’t just have a roll with square sausage and tattie scone!). Or there’s always janneta’s
Hope the info is of help and enjoy your day.
Feeling very chuffed (and slightly discombobulated to be giving Jobo a weather report)
Can’t stomach the build up to this game on Sunday. Such a huge collective effort from the footballing establishment in Scotland to talk up the “resumption of the OF”. So many of our ex players chipping in to this fantasy for their 30 pieces of silver. Disgusting. Won’t be watching it. Just hope Ronny finally discovers some gumption and rises to the occasion. Want them pumped this year, none of his Nordic ‘go easy on them’ crap he served us up last year.
JMCCORMICK
No wallpaper here and therefore no chance of wallpaper stripping.Sunday will be spent walking up ( and down ) Mt Etna.A ####### O## F### game at the HQ of the shysters who ” facilitated and accommodated ” the return of a cabal of cheats ?- no thanks.I hope to make it to Monday morning before knowing the score.
Dharma Bam
To offer Jobo a weather observation is special. You’re peerless now.
;-)
HH jamesgang
PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON on 15TH APRIL 2016 8:51 AM
An intriguing possibility has opened up in the Champions League/Europa Cup:
:;;;:;;:::;
Win it this year with a team or start again with another team next year .
To me that would be no dilemma.
DD
Haha some memory Dunky.Im back there staying with my ma..who still works for Celtic Pools at 80..Are you still local.Last time I seen Mick i think he was up Blairdardie way..not seen John in a long while.
PHYLLIS DIETRICHSON on 15TH APRIL 2016 8:51 AM
If Liverpool win the EL then there will be five English teams in CL next season.
Sevilla won EL last season and joined the top 4 from last season’s La Liga (Barca, Real, Atletico and Valencia) in this season’s CL.
Dharma Bam –
an excellent report, thank you. Playing at 1,20 and currently still in EK so might not make the pre-game meal venues but thanks for the suggestions. Haven’t hit a golf ball since last October but expecting to hit hunners today.
JOBO
Enjoy yer day,mate.
Hitting hunners wi a golf club is so nearly a dream come true,btw…
48hrs till the game, and fearties start to appear, “I’ll be stripping wallpaper”, “I’ll be walking up a hill”, FFS! The Hoops are on show, let’s get it on!!!!!!!
Drew
Mick and I emigrated to Dalmuir. John is in Scotstoun. My mam is still in Kirkton, 80 next week. Think I last saw you in the Albion social club.
Good to link up auld pal.
HH
21-5-79
When Celtic played deadco in SC final in 69 my grandfather went a walk down the Clyde and was met by a couple of bhoys about 5pm as he headed home
He worriedly asked them the score and when he was told 4 0 he was distraught until they told him it was for us Mr
Then the party commenced
DD
Aye Dunky nice one..tell the lads i was asking for them..theyl m
Morning Bhoys it is a lovely morning here in Central Scotland it is very still and the sun is shining Jobo a great day for a game of Golf. H.H.
BT
He must have left his iPhone in the hoose.
I see some folks saying Ronny should play Commons on Sunday he certainly has previous experience of big games but he hasnt played much recently and cant be match fit. What do you Bhoys think?
DD
Aye mate nice one.Please tell the lads i said hello.theyl no know me as Drew..family name…theyl mind me as Andy.Let me know if your headin down albion and il try and catch up wi you.
HH
“Pubs” declared football grounds says Police were buying a pint can get you arrested
How ridiculous & dangerous are the police new powers. kill the bill :)
OLD Firm supporters who flout the law in bars during the Scottish Cup semi-final risk being banned from future matches because they can be legally deemed “football grounds”.
Chief Inspector Stephen Stiff said a “small minority who spoil the occasion for others” will be targeted on Sunday when Rangers and Celtic meet at Hampden in Glasgow for the first Old Firm game in more than a year.
He said any public place which screens the match is deemed to be a “football ground” in law and anyone who is subject to a football banning order would be barred.
Jobo,
You’re very welcome. I would have recommended a tour of Eden Mill distillery in Guardbridge, however that might not be so good for the handicap.
Haha! Jamesgang, I feel like I’ve met Henrik and helped him choose a headband!
JFH
Commons is a no from me. Been poor all season. A place on the bench and give him half an hour if required.
Gordon
Lustig Boyata Sviatchenko (or Mulgrew) Tierney
Brown Johansen
Roberts Rogic McGregor
Griffiths
Subs Bailly Mulgrew (or Ambrose) Bitton Armstrong GMS CKR Commons
Gary67 – I stand corrected. Thank you.