Graeme Souness was in town to promote a book yesterday with some incredible statements for those of you who “rejoiced at Rangers’ problems”, saying:
“Scottish football needs a strong Rangers and a strong Celtic to create interest outside of Scotland.
“If that’s not the case, Scottish football would die.
“As much as Celtic supporters and other supporters of clubs in Scotland have enjoyed the moment, [Rangers’ liquidation] has damaged football in Scotland beyond belief.
“My luck was that, at the time, the English clubs were having to rebuild their stadiums post-Hillsborough.”
Set aside for a moment the fact that the 97 fans of Souness’ former club, Liverpool, died at Hillsborough three years after he took over at Ibrox.
Ignore, for a moment that we, according to Souness’ former Scotland team-mate Willie Miller, are as good a Celtic team as he has seen, that our income has reached new heights and will go higher still this season, that we are packing stadiums wherever we go, and that all of this is the product of a long-term, sustainable strategy.
Disregard that Hearts are nearing completion of their stadium expansion, or that Aberdeen are set to build an impressive new stadium, or that Hibs are packing out Easter Road at a rate not seen since the 60s.
Pay no attention to the fact that Motherwell have found an ownership model, a manger and players to have them sitting third in the table and in the League Cup final.
Instead, remind yourself why Rangers got into trouble. They introduced an aggressive tax avoidance scheme which they knew would be challenged by HMRC, and they made no provisions for this challenge.
The paid over 55 football players through this tax scheme, ‘loans’ which were never to be repaid and which were eventually ruled as disguised remuneration.
Most strikingly, while manager of Blackburn Rovers, Graeme Souness received such a loan from Rangers. When asked to explain by the Daily Record, Souness even claimed the loan was remuneration – for scouting services. More flagrant remuneration than disguised.
Souness went on to say, “I live in England and there was always an interest in Scottish football from football fans in England. That’s no longer the case.” Maybe if he spent more time with BT Sport, than Sky his impression of interest in the Scottish game would be different.
If Graeme Souness wants to offer advice on Scottish football, perhaps he should be magnanimous and write a cheque for repayment of that loan. Hillsborough matters way more than any book promotion. If you are a former Liverpool captain and want to reference Hillsborough as an aid, get it right.
Souness and the other ‘loan’ recipients should be chased out of town for the carnage they caused at Rangers. Instead, he gets a platform to spout nonsense about Hillsborough and Scottish football, despite appearing to know little about either.
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WBC,
+ 3
H.H.
Caltontongues 11:18am – thanks for letting me know my bhoy
TULLY57,
Lennybhoy just text to say he’ll take the ticket.
Can you email him on lennybhoycfc@gmail.com
or If someone has your Mobile and Lennybhoy’s to connect.
Said he’ll defo take it.
HH
enjoy sot,
bruno halves is crap, buying old players is a false dawn; we tried that and gave up, getting loans from man city only works if they have a stable team and strategy to fit into,there are no magic money trees, they’ve tried real wangers men and that’s failed, passion and knowing the club doesn’t make good football, their attractiveness to footballers and managers is decreasing…. the tunnel’s getting longer
Caltontongues – will email him now, thanks.
Re Big Jimmy and Jophes conversation re Raes looks reminded me of a visit to play golf in a tournament in Ballyliffen in Innishowen, it was a team event with teams of of four and played with two From one team playing with two from another team. This time we played with four guys From Cork during the round I was aware of one of the Cork boys in the game behind looking over at me, when we got into the clubhouse he came over to me and said he knew a guy in Cork who was my double, I replied tongue in cheek that he must be a good looking guy, no no not at all he said and could not understand why we all burst out laughing. Just as well im not vain keep up the entertainment Big Jimmy. HH
new article posted.
Lazio / Anna Frank .
20 Lazio Ultras lifted in the middle of the night , arrested and charged with racist discrimination . Looks like the law doesn’t think it was ” banter “.
On the fitba side Lazio and its President are being investigated and look likely to be charged with umpteen breaches of the relevant legislation . Serious media are opining that The President of Lazio could be facing a ban from football and that The Club are going to be heavily punished re turning a convenient blind eye to the behaviour of some of their support . Good -they deserve it !
For Fooey Men everywhere –
https://youtu.be/tk3TAknTyEM
Nebo 2.50 Newbury Nap
Dettori and Moore doubles, at least.
Eurochamps67
Mountain Bell 2:15 Newbury, good luck all.
Kelso 515 Andhaar
Good luck everyone
MIDSUMMER KNIGHT 8 15. WOLVERHAMPTON.
morning all ,ROGUE 2.20 Doncaster.Good luck.
On Fiddlers Green 2pm Cheltenham
Good luck to all
HH
13:45 Doncaster
Red Roman
HH.
Newbury 3.55
Moonlight bay
Cannae get beat
Back to the real racing for today’s nap…
Bells N Banjos (Cheltenham 14:00)
Good luck y’all !
Robin hannon 4.55 chelt
Cheltenham 2pm
Doing fine
Good luck all
Architecture 215 Newbury.
Coologue in 2.00 at Cheltenham
Solstice Star
3:45. Cheltenham
Good luck to all .
Been given a squeak for Mighty Thunder in the 5.30 at Cheltenham, so that it must be.
For anyone interested (sorry it’s too late for Ireland gigs):
OMD UK and Ireland tour dates 2017:
Mon 23 Oct – Vicar Street, Dublin
Tue 24 Oct – Mandela Hall, Belfast
Sun 29 Oct – Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Mon 30 Oct – Colston Hall, Bristol
Wed 1 Nov – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
Fri 3 Nov – Corn Exchange, Cambridge
Sun 5 Nov – De Montford Hall, Leicester
Mon 6 Nov – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
Tue 7 Nov – City Hall, Sheffield
Thu 9 Nov – Hexagon, Reading
Fri 10 Nov – Guildhall, Southampton
Sat 11 Nov – G Live, Guildford
Mon 13 Nov – Roundhouse, London
Wed 15 Nov – De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill
Fri 17 Nov – Manchester Academy
Sat 18 Nov – Barbican, York
Sun 19 Nov – Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Tue 21 Nov – Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Wed 22 Nov – Sage, Gateshead
Robinsfirth 2.00 Cheltenham please, HH
3.45pm Cheltenham
Thomas Campbell
Best of luck to all
Cheers GFTB
GERRYFAETHEBRIG
That was my papa’s young pal when I were a lad.
Smashing fella,him and his wife were fairly prodigious wi the Penguins when I was about four years old!!!
Seahenge @Doncaster 3.25
Happy Punting Bhoys
The Road Home in the 17:30 at Cheltenham for me
Good Luck to all
Hail Hail.
Templestatefloresco, C/ham 3.45. Time for a winner.
COSYCORNERBHOY Nap is
Spring Loaded. 400 Doncaster
18:45 @ Wolverhampton – Marbooh – NAP!
Good luck everybody.
Debonaire David 20:45 Wolve
BMCUWP 2.12pm
Good on Tam Campbell :-)
True story, I have lobbed a fiver (or more) on my nap on here for last year & a bit and not a winner, Hot Mustard 5/1 last week and Thomas Campbell 5/2 this week, not a brown penny on both winners, gambling is a mugs game (I love it)