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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Over on FF, this fella thinks they “are still mortally wounded” :)
“It’s plain to see that we are still mortally wounded mate and as someone else said the chipping away at us is continuing to damage us how far does it go and how do we fight back? winning games is a start but how many dodgy deliberate decisions will and have stopped that happening. The whole illegal punishments were part of a bigger more sinister agenda they wanted rid of bigotry one of us had to go for any excuse and the dignified silence made us an easy target,Thank God we survived but we are different now and it kills me saying that WATP.”
Please God, let it be Billy Davies :-)
If I didn’t think it would be cruel to the individual concerned, I would love Billy “Billy Davies” Davies to get the newHuns job. God, can you imagine!?
He wont though. More baggage than a Glasgow Airport carousel on Fair Monday.
P67
Souness is a despicable individual of the lowest order!
His crass reference to Hillsborough shows his lack of knowledge of facts that should be for ever ingrained in any ex-Liverpool’s brain.
His so-called luck was due to UEFA banning English Clubs from Europe for 5 years following the Heysal Disaster in 1985.
JF96!
SKY clearly been speaking to level 5 , Sevco dont sack managers they say, how many is that since 2012?
Mcliesh will be the new new rangers manager.
The reek of desperation about him will make him malleable enough to suit the purposes of those making the decisions.
Happy Hoopy Birthday to The Minx.
Have a great day.
HH
Parkheadcumsalford- well said.
When he came to Celtic Park with Aberdeen I used to love watching Willie Miller;just a great defender. I wasn’t so keen on his refereeing!
Himself and Michael Stewart are what prevents the ole Shortbread goin’ completely stale, with an honourable mention to the sadly underused Jim Spence.
Regardless of who is next, unless he was one of them, he will have to weed out those who undermined Pedro.
Minxy happy returns!
Happy birthday Minxy. Hope day not spoiled too much with sacking of Pedro.
MWD
Have a lovely day, Minx.
JJ X
If only we were p[laying the Huns tmorra with Murty in charge….and we took at least SEVEN goals aff of them just to show how lucky Murty got in March this year with the 1-1.
How many of Pedro’s backroom staff will now be sacked ?
How will ANY new manager improve total duds that Pedro brought in ?
How can they afford to pay the wee face painter to now come in and scrub aff all the WTP Grafftti from the Ipox walls ?
Seriously, did they get yet another Soft Loan to pay Pedro off ?
HH
Amongst all the other inaccuracies,
Souness said he signed the England captain for Rangers. Loves to big himself up does Graeme. I’m sure Bryan Robson would be interested to hear that he signed for Rangers!
Does this mean they can take the ole green boots out of the recycling?
The only club that needs a strong Rangers is Sevco
What time does Radio Shortie start at..I might listen for all of 5 minutes
HH
DBBIA- I wouldn’t be surprised if Willie Miller gets fewer gigs on Shortbread after last night.Jim Spence left after the threats from the gang, used sparingly now.Darren O’Dea was on quite often,until he said he wanted the titles stripped, never been back on since.If you don’t sign up to the big lie,you are out.
Just watch last nights game again. I was thinking how good is oor wee Kierdo. The best left back since Danny McGrain or as my late wee mither called him Granpaw McGrain. The rest of the bhoys didn’t do to badly. Sorry to hear of the sacking of Pedro, heard he had bought a Caravan Park in Portugal. Hope he has a better lineup of caravans than he had players at Ipox.
This time next year Rodney………………………….
Sevco
Would you ever have believed that there would be a 95th minute goal at Ibrox to level the game and it wasn’t Sevco who scored it?
Watched
Bourne
No but don’t forget it was the referee’s fault
First stage would be to steady the preverbial ship, become solid and consistent….:::
…..:like a good jobbie!
HH jamesgang
We want Bomber
We want Bomber
That Miller’s comments appear “controversial” when they are just plain facts just goes to show how dishonest and cowardly his colleagues are.
https://twitter.com/paddypower/status/923565308916494340
CHAIRBHOY on 26TH OCTOBER 2017 3:08 PM
SOUTH OF TUNIS @ 11:56 AM,
Thot you were setting us up for “Blue Monday” there… One of my Favourites, still you ain’t that predictable. Another Legend passes:( Does embdee know which rocking roller took their Name from Fats?
*Chubby Checker
However the Third Place Euro spot looks interesting. Motherwell are there, having once again put a team together under a Manager that has made them very hard to beat, I can’t see last year’s third place team Sevco Rangers repeating their high (beginners luck?). Though for me it’s got to be Hibs, they have the quality and experience within their ranks to secure the Berth.
*On the last 2 games performance and Hibbees a couple of weeks back against us I’m looking at them for 2nd place, especially after outplaying their city rivals on only 3 days rest after facing us at hunden. Sheep and FCM tae battle it oot for 3rd place.
The pick of Pedro’s priceless gags ‘I am a football manager!’
Seems many took that 1 literally tho.
HH
Well that’s a wee shame.
Pedro was class.
He was the funniest yet at the Comedy Factory!!!
Missing him already.
“ We wish the new Rangers club every success “
Walters Myth
New manager has to have the ability to polish a turd
URGENT MESSAGE FROM VATICAN CITY
Come home Agent Perdo, mission accomplished, congratulations on a job well done.
His Holiness the Pope
KINGLuBO
Progres 2 Nae Progres 1
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL
Deliberate is a word i use when describing those dishonest and cowardly members of the mssm.
Miller unlike these frauds had a very successful career.
I know whose words have credibility.
I see they are saying the decision to – ahem – “part company” with Caixinha was taken “after careful consideration”.
Not like the decision to appoint him then!
What length of contracts were Pedro and his team on and the players he signed.
Does that mean the Isis money will dry up?????
Ho Ho.