I’ve heard some utter tosh from politicians over the years but never anything so blatantly untrue as the comments from our First Minister, Alex Salmond, reported today. This clown is telling people Rangers need to be saved for the sake of Celtic. He said:
“The most diehard Celtic supporter understands that Celtic can’t prosper unless Rangers are there. The rest of the clubs understand that as well. Therefore you have to have cognisance of these things when you’re pursuing public policy.
Keep our name out of it you incoherent fool.
If our prosperity depends on the survival of Rangers it’s time our values and priorities changed. You of all people should know this after your lecturing last year. Celtic have not been well served by their association with Rangers, nor vice versa. As a combined entity, the ‘Old Firm’ have not been good for Scotland.
I’m keen to hear what his “public policy” on the matter is. Salmond goes on to say:
“We’ve certainly been arguing to HMRC on one hand, and indeed to Rangers, to for goodness sake get a settlement, get a settlement and a structure over time whereby Rangers can continue because Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.”
How dare you argue with HMRC? Even Rangers admit the potential underpayment could be £75m. How many nurses, teachers and policemen would that employ, Mr Salmond? This is the true cost of his position.
This sorry business has nothing to do with Celtic, I hope our club make this clear to provocative politicians. All you die-hard Celtic supporters out there better let this man know he has no right to speak for you.
“Fabric of the country”. He got that bit right, alas.
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Kayal33 says:
16 February, 2012 at 12:52
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82KP7otdYJw
will the teams enter the field at Poundland on saturday to the sound of Harry Johnson and the All Stars?
No, but definately an anthem we should be playing at CP>
From the Letters Page in The Herald today, Seems like a fair few readers are not that bothered about Rangers FC PLC (in administration):
Wrong to prioritise football above social responsibility
Football isn’t a matter of life and death but it’s far more important than educating children or maintaining roads, as Bill Shankly never quite said.
What the recent travails at Rangers say about Scottish football are small beer compared to what they seem to say about politics in Scotland.
It seems likely Rangers will in due course undertake some accountant-led corporate restructuring, emerging as a new legal entity, miraculously cleansed of tax liabilities.
Nothing else discernible will change. Open-walleted fans will still hand over money for a redesigned strip every nine months or so, large amounts of money will be spent buying season tickets and a tiny number of young men will continue to be paid obscene sums of money and behave badly in nightclubs.
The public, however, with no great political clamour, will see services lose out to the tune of tens of millions of pounds. But what price hospitals or disabled children compared to Scottish football?
It’s depressing, but hardly surprising, that football fans put the interests of clubs they delude themselves into thinking as theirs ahead of legal or social responsibility. Far more disturbing is when our politicians go out of their way to hope this crisis is resolved, rather than argue that the law be upheld and people pay what they owe. Who can doubt they will laud the arrival of “New – no debts on us – Rangers” plc as a fresh start and, in the same breath, blame the rundown of meals on wheels on lack of resources. Of the culture of greed that makes football such an exemplar of contemporary capitalism they have nothing to say at all.
This really isn’t good enough. The clear message is that the sympathies of Government – and opposition – are with large (incompetently run) businesses rather than the citizenry. This isn’t a vision for Scotland – devo maxed, independent, or whatever – that should be endorsed or encouraged.
For the moment, just sack that foreign language assistant. No-one sings Follow Follow in Spanish and it’s not as if the team will be in Europe for a couple of seasons anyway.
Stephen Low,
59 Calder Street, Glasgow.
—————
While it is always sad to see any business in financial difficulty, I really am surprised at the column inches (not to mention the wailing and gnashing of teeth) devoted to the present problems of Rangers Football Club.
As the club is neither a major employer nor essential to the Scottish or UK economies, one trusts that no public funds will be forthcoming to bail it out.
If administration is unsuccessful, it may well be that the public interest is best served by liquidating the assets of the company in order to pay HMRC what they are due. Selling Ibrox off for housing development could maximise the exigible proceeds as the absence of football crowds on match days would certainly increase local property values to the benefit of residents and investors alike.
Once grounds and players are disposed of, there will also be a residual value in the Rangers brand which, if major clubs like Manchester United are not interested, could be sold to another local club like Celtic.
John Eoin Douglas,
7 Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.
————-
From as many sources we are hearing these are the darkest days of Rangers FC. I wonder what the relatives of the victims and the survivors of the disaster of January 2, 1971, make of this perspective?
Ian Duff,
41 Towerhill Gardens, Inverness.
————-
Given the position Rangers find themselves in with the country’s tax-gathering authority, perhaps, given the SNP’s determination to collect tax themselves, Alex Salmond should be careful what he wishes for.
Gordon Keir,
42 Kilbarchan Road, Bridge of Weir.
Madmitch – many thanks
If ticketus have been given ibrox or the floating charge as security then this could hamstring the newco for years!!!
How deep does the rabbit hole go?!
The Good
PS I have no idea who owns ticketus.
Awe Naw
I did. Once and never, ever again.
Papa John at 13:13
Having waited that long I’m sure you know you weren’t getting much back.
The reason why its so rare is the company seeking administration usually has to give some assurances that they have assets that can be used to pay some creditors. Possibly all they had was enough to pay administrators fees, after that everyone else got hee haw.
Mort
Dear Mr Salmond,
Are you in touch with reality ? (see below)
Are we speaking through a conflict of interest regarding Lee Wallace transfer fee to your beloved Hearts or your recent public love affair with Sir David Murray soon to
be inmate Murray I hope.
Now in this age of austerity you are backing systematic tax dodgers ?
The “fabric of Scottish society” with regards Rangers seems to me to mean an anti Catholic anti Irish anti Celtic FC Scottish society. Continual instant dismissal of this like the justice ministers assessment of the League Cup final and your minister more concerned about Rangers PLC employees than any other employees is very worrying indeed.
And you want my vote ?
From the BBC this week
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell insists his club “don’t need Rangers” to flourish financially.
Rangers are awaiting the verdict of a long-running tax case that could place the future of the Ibrox club in doubt.
But Lawwell says the eventuality of their Old Firm rivals going bust “would have no material effect on Celtic”.
“We look after ourselves,” Lawwell told BBC Scotland. “We don’t rely on any other club. We are in a decent position, we’re very strong.”
Celtic’s interim financial results for the second half of 2011 showed a profit of £180,000 – significantly down from the £7m at the end of the previous year.
Continue reading the main story
“
I’m disappointed to look at the performance of Scottish teams in Europe and the effect that that has on co-efficient
”
Peter Lawwell
Celtic chief executive
Bank debt has been reduced by £2m to £7m.
The Old Firm clubs had contrasting January transfer windows with Celtic able to preserve and strengthen their squad while Rangers sold top scorer Nikica Jelavic to Everton without signing a replacement.
Celtic lead reigning champions Rangers by four points in the Scottish Premier League and, unlike the Ibrox side, are still in both domestic cup competitions.
“Our aspirations and horizons are to dominate in Scotland but also beyond that; we want to compete at the highest level again in Europe,” said Lawwell.
“We have a stand-alone strategy, a stand-alone financial plan and a robustness hopefully that will take us through that.
“Times are pretty tough. I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to talk about any individual club, these things are hypothetical at the moment.
“I think we’ve a view, a very strong view on certain circumstances but we’ll only share that at the right time.
“In terms of Scottish football, I’m disappointed to look at the performance of Scottish teams in Europe and the effect that that has on co-efficient.
“I’m disappointed to see that financial constraints and problems in other nations as well.”
Earlier in the season, Celtic trailed in the league by 15 points and manager Neil Lennon alluded to a need for him to win the title in order to keep his job.
But Lawwell said: “That has never been said to Neil. We are absolutely delighted how he is performing, how he is developing as a football manager and as a man.
Celtic are four points clear at the top of the SPL
“I really, really enjoy working with him. He’s intelligent, he’s not only interested in the football side of the business but he’s interested in our strategy and other aspects of the business.
“He buys into what we’re doing here in terms of identifying players. He buys into the youth development side and I don’t there’ll be anyone else more suited to giving our youngsters a chance than Neil Lennon.
“We have built up a very strong squad. We’ve built up value in that squad. We’ve been able to keep our best players and at the same time, we’re performing on the field at the moment.
“We did embark on a strategy four or five years ago where we redirected investment into our recruitment, into our academy, into our facilities building Lennoxtown.
“It’s very, very early days but we’re beginning to see some green shoots of productivity from that in the players that we’ve identified and the kids that are beginning to come through.
“We haven’t won anything yet. Clearly, that is everyone’s priority at the club; to go and win the title and hopefully maybe add a couple of other trophies.
“But it’s still early. We are ahead but no-one’s taking anything for granted.”
Off the park, Celtic have been sanctioned by Uefa for the conduct of supporters and Lawwell added: “It’s a very small minority within our support, a genuine small minority that have infiltrated the Celtic support.
“What we can do is identify those, which we’re continually doing and take the appropriate action, which we are also doing.
“I don’t see it as a major issue for Celtic. This very small minority we will identify and make sure that they don’t come back to Celtic games.”
I posted this on Jan 29th. I felt obliged to do so again today.
In 1997 I came out the Star and Garter in Linlithgow and who holds the door open for me but none other than Alex Salmond. As I passed him he farted and I got a whiff of the future of Scotland.
Let me tell you its going to be a nasty nasty business.
It was Gust dusting
Mmm —-
I left Scotland in 2000 . My reasons for so doing were many but they included me being seriously worried that if I stayed I might well have ended up being ” ruled ” and ” governed ” by the likes of Salmond / Sturgeon and Kenny I Loveapartyatmosphere.
Truly scary.
DontPatmadug says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:16
Brilliant track I had forgotten about that..
Faithfulthruandthru says:
16 February, 2012 at 12:55
HANG THEM HIGH, FOR ALL TO SEE AND BE WARNED THAT JUST LIKE THE FOLLOWING THEY WERE NOT TOO BIG TO FAIL
LEHMAN BROTHERS
WOOLWORTHS
BEAR STERNS
WASHINGTON MUTUAL
___
WorldCom – $41 billion debt load. With $107 billion in assets
ernie lynch says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:06
Everyone should make there views known to Alex Salmond at scottish.ministers@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
It only takes a minute and no stamp needed.
Che, could you get someone to check your spelling and grammar before you send it off?
Paul67
Well said.
When I heard Salmond talk last night, although taken aback, I thought he was just trying to be political and keep as many voters onside as he could.
Today’s utterings, however, have certainly crossed a line and are totally out of order.
I do believe though, that if the big tax case goes against the Ranjurs and there’s talk of cheating and threats of criminal proceedings, then this will be a game changer. Support and sympathy will disappear and we’ll see the politicians distance themselves sharpish. At least, I hope they do.
Due to the volume of posts to read here, and on RTC, just to catch up, I have just been informed that my marriage is in Administration, with the distinct possibility of Liquidation to follow.
thomthethimInAdmisistrationcsc.
Been on the ‘just giving’ page for the Vanessa Riddle Appeal. While my mammy always taught me that you shouldn’t go around telling people that you gave to charity I couldn’t help but laugh at the options filling out the form.
It gave me a satisfactory glow inside that made me want to shout from the rooftops.
I am a UK tax payer!
Peace out.
El Mad
justcantgiveenoughCSC
I hope Lennie keeps the bhoys’ minds focussed. One way or the other it is going to be a weird weekend. Saturday vs Killie for Rangers, God knows what will go on there. Us versus Hibs on Sun, at the beginning of the season that might have proved very difficult, I hope we don’t take a step backwards, it’s going to be an emotional weekend for everybody especially with a celtic man in charge of us.
Paul67
I would agree that Salmond should not have brought Celtic into this (he is clearly wrong here) but the rest of his comments I would have thought any politician in his position would make and indeed we have heard similar comments from Labour politicians as well. He has not stated that Rangers should not have to pay the tax bill only that they come to agreement on how it should be paid.
Anyway he has a die-hard Celtic fan as his Public Health Minister who will be able to let him know how we truly feel on this.
Awe naw,
Thanks for posting all of the articles this morning. They all brilliantly expose the hypocrisy in the fabric of Salmond’s mind.
HH
RWE CSC
lochgoilhead bhoy says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:20
Alex Salmond isn’t interested in our views.
He’s made that perfectly clear.
Your efforts are becoming increasingly desperate.
“Keep our name out of it you incoherent fool.”
remind me never to fall out with oor Paul :-)
thomthethim says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:21
CQN addicts meets every Friday evening where we discuss our addiction openly and freely and without shame.
The meeting place is http://www.celticquicknews.com
topics that are welcomed are
amortisation
Wearing of the Poppy
Rebel songs & songs in general
Hun administration
Steven Fletcher
Willo Flood
Peter Lawwells bonus
It kicks off at 9pm just after a little quiz on Rangers FC limited (In Administration)
You wife said you take Milk without sugar in your tea
Please confirm your attendance. ;-)
Hail Hail
Billy’s Bhoy – Anyway he has a die-hard Celtic fan as his Public Health Minister who will be able to let him know how we truly feel on this.
A man who voted, as did all other SNP MSP’s, to impose an illiberal, authoritarian, and discriminatory law designed to criminalise Celtic supporters so as to, in the words of Christine Grahame MSP, “even things up”.
Die hard Celtic fan indeed. (thumbsup)
not expecting a reply from eck of course! that ass youzuf is wittering on about “saving jobs”; hardly think saving cousin, 7.5k a week, from gabon represents “local” jobs. hope celtic tell the snp to get stuffed
be interesting to see what neil says in his press conference tomorrow; hopefully put some myths to bed.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
I can only think we are being baited here: first the infringement of human rights through that ridiculous offensive chanting law, now this.
Is Salmond thinking if he can portray himself and his party as the enemy of Celtic fans the rest of the country will follow (follow) him?
Billy’s Bhoy says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:23
You appear not to have read what Salmond said.
Here it is.
########
‘The most diehard Celtic supporter understands that Celtic can’t prosper unless Rangers are there. The rest of the clubs understand that as well.’ ……
‘Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.’
######
Would you like to comment?
Salmond is a bampot. End of story.
“….. Rangers success in reaching the final of the Uefa Cup has been fabulous for the club and has enhanced Scotland’s reputation”
Are you serious? Do you think the people of Manchester would agree?
warszawabhoy says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:14
Good spot. Sounds like a FOI request is required now to discover if they are creditors or not.
It is remarkable that what the European Union describes a Small or Medium Sized Enterprise – fewer than 250 Employees, less than €50M Turnover – can be so important that its corporate failure, following years of malfeasance, chronic losses and tax evasion – will cause the unravelling of the very fabric of a nation.
Remarkable.
What School of Economics did you go to Alex?
Or did you learn the ropes at the bankrupt Bank of Scotland.
Arse.
(is that allowed Paul?)
‘Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.’
Aye Eck,
Only if the fabric of our country is a rangers tartan.
I suppose the £49m & £9m not paid in taxes seemed to be acceptable to them at the time; very hypocritical to have flag waving exercises marching service personnel into ibrokx and lauding them. Without getting into the politics of the services , im sure every one of them would have preferred an extra 6 apache helicopters on the front line to a free ticket to watch “them”.
With the Crisis at Ibrokes the future of Scottish football is at stake if Mr.Salmond and his cronies assist to help Rangers survive supporters of the other clubs would be as well giving up supporting there football club.With the establishment helping a fraudulent club it would be condoning tax evasion and cheating and it would be a open season for crooks Scottish football has been corupt for years and it has now been exposed.However,there is now a chance to clean it up punish the cheats and leave the honest clubs to get on with the football if this doesnt happen thousands of supporters throughout Scotland will see no point in following there football club as they will know cheating can take place and the establishment will look the other way so why waste your time and money following a corrupt game.H.H.
can we start a list of TOO BIG TO FAIL COMPANIES?
I will start it with mine and greenmaestro’s
LEHMAN BROTHERS
WOOLWORTHS
BEAR STERNS
WASHINGTON MUTUAL
WORLDCOM
ernie lynch says:
16 February, 2012 at 13:27
Che, once again you have not answered the question posed by Billy’s Bhoy at 13:23. Are you so thick that you are incapable of reading?
On Feb 13th 1689 Parliment passed the Declaration of Right in which it deemed that King James had abdicated the goverment of the realm and the throne became vacant. Parliiament offered the crown to William of Orange & Mary II as joint Sovereign. The reign went on to pass the Bill of rights- one of which was to levy taxes without Parliament consent handing powers to the Board of Taxes. The Board of Taxes would later be known as “The Inland Revenue” and later “Her Majestys Revenue and Customs” 13th February 2012- Rangers forced to file for Administration by what is essentially the legacy of their beloved King Billy…..Poetic Justice
I hope Enda Kenny is looking on with interest. This ‘avoid tax’ plan could be replicated to suit and might be how Ireland escapes its own money troubles…
Can Ireland appoint Duff & Phelps as well?
smickster says:
“He is envisioning his party’s line post ‘apocalypse’ – which will be that we need control of our own taxation to protect our national interests. The demise of rangers will be used as an example of this.”
Or perhaps
email to First Minister
Subj: Tax policy for an independent Scotland?
“We need to find out what’s best for Rangers and take it from there….”
I would hope that this is not indicative of how an independent Scotland’s tax policy would be formulated.
Can you reassure me?
I find your statement and that of other politicians to be an insult to the taxpayers and to those dependent on state funds.
Sincerely,
iki
Boys some articles from FF.
from someone who knows the ins and outs
A bit of reading but worth it.
My sister works in amdinistration and insolvency in London. She says…..
The administartor were called MCR until a recent merger.
They will ahve been working on this for some weeks already.
They are a very reputable company.
They will be working out Rangers value as we speak,from the price on ibrox to Murray park and right down to office furniture.
Once a valuation has been reached it is presented to the creditors who vote as whether they believe it is a true valuation or not. Whyte cant vote as he is the secured creditor but can chhose to relinquish being the secured creditor if he wants to vote.
Once a valuation is agreed a buyer will be sought asap.
When a business goes into administration a conduct report is done on the directors of the business to look for any wrong doing(if Whyte has been guilty of this he will be found out) the directors of the business can be looked at up to three years before submitting to administartion.
A meeting must be arranged within 8 weeks of administartion with all the creditors and the finding of this will be made public.
Administraters and legals get paid first then secured creditors then the rest,if these creditors cant be paid in full the monies left get split accordingly pro rata to what is owed.
Now the interesting bit…….
The big tax case is the question,Rangers in administration cant pay that so it is pointless to pursue RANGERS for it but if Directors are shown to be negligent then they can be pursued for it and if they have no means to pay it they can be made bankrupt…..so maybe this is why Murray and the old board didnt want administration and this is why Murray is not happy that we are now in it.
Time will tell what happens but make no bones about it if Whyte has tried to shaft Rangers ti will come out…………..
Paul67
Now tell me why the Scottish Elite of society are not clamouring to save the jobs of the 170 good people losing jobs at Donaghy Limited in Govan who have suffered in the economic downturn and went into liquidation. They never avoided paying tax or used loopholes in the tax system to rob the taxpayers of this country. Do me a favour please close the door on this bigoted little country on your way out.
MORE than 170 construction workers have lost their jobs after a company signalled it was going into liquidation.
Donaghy Limited, which has its headquarters in Govan, Glasgow, appointed joint provisional liquidators on Tuesday and 175 employees, out of a total workforce of 185, have already been made redundant.
The business – set up in 1999 to provide services for the social and private housebuilding markets – had an annual turn-over of around £18 million but is understood to have suffered during the downturn.
Output in the industry fell by 3% in real terms last year, according to industry body ConstructionSkills, and is estimated to drop by 5% this year.
Donaghy was working on more than 30 sites, mainly across central Scotland, when the provisional liquidators were appointed and 165 employees who were based on sites have lost their jobs, along with 10 office-based staff. A further 10 members of staff are remaining in their position to help the provisional liquidators.
Faithful … @ 13.32
Nail on head moment.
The banks were too big to fail.
Wee Eck has now forgotten everything and learned nothing.
Now we have a football club that is too big to fail.
He really is a political numpty.