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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DESSYBHOY on 26TH OCTOBER 2017 10:35 PM
Having read Phil’s recent blog,I am inclined towards thinking that administration is a real possibility over the river due to onerous contracts .
But Dick Wilson on Shortbread said tonight, the huns have no money worries?…….:)
Hello this is WEE BGFC. I shall decline to say much on the matter of mojo in case he wasnt a hun, then again you’re probably right! Thank you all for the support and slaggings given on my behalf! :) Goodnight Timland!!!
HH
WEE BGFC
James
Ryan was telling me that the Glasgow Warriors fans at 5s last Tuesday were all shouting for Bayern Munich. One Jags fan was supporting Celtic in Munich, for Scottish fitba’s sake.
BSR @ 4:41 PM,
“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?
Do you know, I wasn’t really listening to Aberdeen game after match repartee (like to get the managers and players views sometimes) but heard reference to The Rangers… Didn’t really catch it so looked up the result on the BBC Web page…
Wow thought I, 1-1Sevco player sent off, opponents get a 95 minute equaliser… REALLY. Well, mibees they weren’t paranoid enuff…
Got the full story about the Nine minutes added time… Ah! Now that makes sense.
TONTINE TIM @ 4:51 PM,
*Chubby Checker
Sure was… Obviously…
Chubby – Fats
Checker(s) – Domino(es)
As The Chairman Of A World Famous, World Record Holding Football Clumpany Would Say… Let’s Twist Again…
*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.
Well there certainly looking good after an inconsistent start to the Season, hope that’s been corrected and you are right.
Hail Hail
Wee BGFC
The clue is in his moniker. Judas.
GNGB
HH
BMCIWP
Indeed, Karma is a beautiful friend. Looking forward to 11/11 my friend
HH
CRC
Even BMCUWP :-)
Bada
If you buy a bad car and have to still to pay up for 3yrs you are walking or using public transport,if you go and buy another bad car your are in serious trouble,what if you keep going and have accumulated 8 or more what options do you have?
Chairbhoy
The four best managers in Scotland are Irishmen. Rodgers, Lennon, Robinson and Wright doing the Irish proud. Hope they finish top four in the league.
DD
I posted about how my tim friendly dad was glad they couldn’t find a place with BT in Aviemore cos my brother in law, his crafty faither (killie fans) and my Man U/St Mirren nephew were just seeking a gloatfest.
They can all swivel!
I feel KT’s rocket that hit a rocket on the way in last night is a metaphor. Us to them… round yous!
HH jamesgang
James
Ryan sure texted his five a side, ex Rangers, now Glasgow Warriors, colleagues who were Aiberdeen fans last night.
“Kieran Tierney and Moussa Dembele are worth more than the rest in Scotland combined.” He got no reply. Haha
Looking forward to Celtic by Numbers post on last nights game. During the previous two games against Aberdeen they pressed us high with some success, forcing us to kick it long and out of our rhythm. I think Brendan anticipated that last night and that was one of the reasons for going 3 at the back. We had no trouble playing out from the back as we always had a spare man. That meant we sacrificed an attacking player (Sinclair) but KT stepped in to the void. He did say in his post match interview he has been told to get forward more than usual. It did help having Moussa up top running in behind and generally occupying both centre halves. I wonder if it was a tactical decision to leave out Sinclair or just giving him a rest. Overall credit goes to Brendan for the tactical masterclass.
TTR
I think Brendan and the players learnt a huge lesson in Munich. Hope we set up next Tuesday like we did last night.
DD
;-)
Timreaper
Credit also for NOT starting SS and PR, neither of whom had sparkled of late. And recognising that the Griff had done half a season’s worth of running already.
JF and CMcG both deserved their start.
HH jamesgang
Minx: Breithlá sona duit. Hope c looked after you.
Hope to see both before Christmas.
DD
Last night looked to me like a replay of Munich! Except this week we were the big good bullies.
Thought Aberdeen allowed us to play our ftom the back totally ‘un-pressed’ just as we had done in Bavaria.
HH jamesgang
FIFA World Awards on STV ……
DELANEYS DUNKY @ 10:52 PM,
That’s Very true, Wright’s Team have apparently been on the end of some dodgy Refereeing Decisions, I wonder why. Hope they can get up into the top 5.
Leave Hearts and Sevco to fight it out at the split;)
Mentioned Steve Clarke’s earlier this week, real potential hope he does well with Kilmarnock and gets a gig with a more Ambitious Scottish Club.
Hail Hail
DELANEYS DUNKY on 26TH OCTOBER 2017 11:12 PM
TTR
I think Brendan and the players learnt a huge lesson in Munich. Hope we set up next Tuesday like we did last night.
——-
Definitely, I’m hoping Bayern expect us to go with the same 4-2-3-1 we used last week and we catch them out with the 3-5-2 / 3-6-1. Got a feeling the Germans are too savvy for that though and would still have had us watched last night and may have a counter plan in place already.
Anyone else beginning to tire of this endless incessant bandwagon of Fenianology caused by Celtic winning game after game after game
I mean for the good of Scottish football we need a level playing field
Its just not fair
No one ??
Just me then ?
Dessybhoy- i agree, Admin might be there only option to move forward
Happy Birthday to Minx
by the way
James
I thought last night in Pittodrie was a mirror image of seven nights before in Allianz Arena. The team in green and white did to the team in red last night, what the team in red did to team in green and white last week in Munich. Spooky but nice. :)
WITS
I’m going to hold you to your commitment (that I completely fabricated) that you’ll run round George Square in your skimpies if we finish 2017 still domestically unbeaten.
So there!
HH jamesgang
DD
We’re of the same mind brother.
You going to be at the Corner on Saturday.
Want to get that Nesta book to you.
Imagine Tuff Gong being a guest at CP. Never mind your Coolio. Nesta would have given some lines to remember!
HH jamesgang
Chairbhoy
Stevie Clarke and Oen Archdeacon are good Tims. Hope they both get top 6.
I spoke to Johnny Hayes today about last nights game,
his view was that the Dons arent a poor side,but we made them look bad,
convinced they will finish well clear in 2nd
James
Will defo be there on Saturday. Henke is a fellow Robert Nesta Marley lover. Canny wait to read this book big yin.
HH
Jamesgang
Who’s going to beat us…only complacency and I dont think Brendan will allow that
Gordybhoy
I feel a bit sorry for Jonny Hayes,he hasnt really looked good enough for Celtic so far.
Would love to see him score a vital goal,late equaliser or winner just to give him a boost
Get yer speedos ready then big Bhoy!
Night Timdom.
OneLoveCSC
HH jamesgang
WITS,
agreed,he would benefit from a goal,
hopes to get some more game time with BR using the squad well
Gordy
Spoke to John McGinn’s pal, my nephew today.
J McG thinks Celtic are magic, huns are tragic. :)
Sunshine on Leith.
Delaneys,
very astute bhoy is young McGinn,
stii dont think he is good enough for the hoops
Gordy
All Saint Peter the Apostle Clydebank bhoys want to play for Celtic. Hope Chris and John make it. ;)
Delaneys,
JH also said he had bumped into Pedro today,
said he was upbeat and not in any way down,
mission accomplished
Happy Birthday to MInx 1888 and also to Tiny Tim
Please also Pray for Pedro and thank him for the 200+ days of fun and zombie carnage.
HH
CRC
Gordy
Agent Padre Pedro did his best to sink them.
Pedro is welcome in Horse and Barge anytime. Steamin for free Pedro. :)