Martin O’Neill, alongside several other Celtic managers, worked against an Oldco Rangers who had a finger on the scales. Between 1999 and 2011 over 50 players had second contracts which were hidden from HMRC, and in breach of football regulations, not submitted to the Scottish Football Association or Scottish Premier League.
Rangers did not pay Income Tax or National Insurance on these hidden contracts. The contracts were found when Ibrox was raided by City of London Police, and after a lengthy legal process, the Supreme Court ruled that Rangers were due back tax to HMRC which they could not pay. As a consequence, the club went into liquidation in 2012.
Newco Rangers were formed (as Sevco Scotland, they received permission to change their name to Rangers later that year) by football entrepreneur Charles Green, who saw the potential in harvesting revenue from thousands of fans without a club. He bought what was referred to in court as a ‘basket of assets’, including Ibrox Stadium, then applied for and received SFA associate membership.
Sevco Scotland’s application to join the SPL was rejected by 10 votes to one (Rangers supported their application, Kilmarnock abstained, all others voted against). They were subsequently accepted into the Scottish Football League, in the fourth tier of the professional pyramid.
I have spoken to several players who lost trophies to Oldco during that period and who are very aware their medal haul and win bonuses are lighter then they should be. Martin lost two league titles during his tenure as permanent manager, one on goal difference and one by a single point, both won by Rangers teams full of players with hidden contracts.
Celtic former players and managers are not alone. The fans endured difficult times. For you and me, that might feel like a long time ago, but the consequences of those times cannot be overstated. Nothing has been the same since, even Sunday’s game will bristle with the echo of that era. For Martin O’Neill, this is the first time he is up against Newco Rangers. I would not bet against him.
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glendalystonsils 😂😂😂
Paul67 et al
The problem with the continued use of the term “Newco” is that gives succour to those unable or unwilling to accept the reality or the finality of the liquidation of Rangers FC which occurred on 17 October 2024. It supports the current narrative (albeit not one held back in 2012) that the entity playing out of the stadium John Brown once played for is in fact a new company but the same club. No need for this site to support that kind of mythology, (or this sort of thing) because there are a myriad of other media sources out there, in Scotland and elsewhere, which are more than happy so to do, and even more even happier to believe them. Keep this up Paul and I might have to apply for a cease an desist order, or better still issue a “D” Notice.
WallsHaveEarsCSC
Maybe MON will pull DIAZEN to the side and REMIND him of how he used to ” TERRORISE” TAVPEN more often than not ?
HH
Had a quick scan through the Fans Survey.
I was a wee bit surprised to see that there were no questions directed to Season ticket Holders wrt a ticket exchange scheme – although maybe the possibility of Ticket Exchange could be implied through the questions regarding the feasibility and benefits of a Membership Scheme.
TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 31ST OCTOBER 2025 2:28 PM
Had a quick scan through the Fans Survey.
——————-
More important questions
Where do you buy your Celtic merchandise ? 🤣
Bada, if you’re looking in; a less than glowing reference for Roberto Martinez here 😂
Radja Nainggolan: “I was put aside by Martínez for no reason. His reasons remain bullsh*t for me. Because for me he is not a football connoisseur and a very bad coach.”
“Everyone who says he’s a good coach has no sense of football. A good coach is someone who gives an idea to a team. And with Martínez, Belgium never had an idea.”
“When we were in trouble, the solution came through individual quality: ball to Hazard and ‘Hazard, you’ll take care of it’. Or a ball to De Bruyne and ‘you just think for a moment’. Or a ball to Lukaku. But we never really had a style of play. There was nothing in that team in terms of playing style. And that’s just the pure truth.” (Nieuwsblad BE)
i have heard about a possible takeover of our club , there is someone who is trying to buy the shares of the remaining board members outwith Desmond , so as to gain the overall percentage of the Club , & then to place a woman as the new chairwoman , my question to you all is can there be any truth in what i am hearing
TBB- Thanks, tbh I’ve never really rated him,he’s messed up some big jobs
Boaby we can all but hope and pray been rumours all year that we maybe taken over but I thought this was more in hope than expected.
🙏
Martin O’Neil
Presser…
https://youtu.be/bDTIh1zfVkI?si=W8NoKNfJGvR8GiMq
Calmac
https://youtu.be/c2k5sQp6GE0?si=a1l4mieNE-H7AIXQ
WHICH CELTIC SUPPORTERS’ CLUB DO YOU MOST REGULARLY ATTEND?
(CLUBS WHICH RECEIVED OVER 100 MENTIONS)
Greenock 458
London Road 272
Irvine 247
Dumbarton Harp 173
Peter Scarff 143
Naomh Padraig 103
Here you go Boab. Make of it what younwill.
Over the past 3 months, approximately 245,000 shares of CCP LN (Celtic PLC) have been transacted on the London Stock Exchange, based on cumulative daily trading volumes for the period from August through October 2025.[markets.ft +2]
Calculation Details
•Daily trading volumes for CCP LN are generally available and indicate active but modest liquidity, with individual daily volumes often ranging from a few hundred shares up to over 10,000 shares per day.[finance.yahoo +1]
•Average monthly volume for CCP LN over recent quarters is cited at roughly 80,000 shares per month, so for three months the expected turnover is in the range of 240,000 shares.[markets.ft]
•This matches patterns observed on historical financial portals for individual daily and monthly volume tracking.[shareprices +1]
Sources Used
•Yahoo Finance and SharePrices.com provide actual daily volume prints, which sum to roughly 80,000 shares traded per month for CCP LN.[finance.yahoo +1]
•London Stock Exchange and FT provide statistics on average monthly volume and shares outstanding, confirming this liquidity profile.[markets.ft]
Any shareholder amongst you, received an invite for the AGM?
Paul67
I’m probably being pedantic but the ebts were not ruled unlawful as Rangers used them with side letters until the Supreme Court Decision in 2017.
.
What caused Rangers to go into administration in 2012 was non payment of VAT and tax on the wee tax case ebts, non payment of money owed to member SPFL clubs, the non payment of the wee tax case payable by 31 Match 2011 and the potential liability of the big tax case hanging over them making them unsellable.
AI confirms my memory. It changes nothing in terms of their cheating for ten years.
AI were asked: Why did Rangers FC enter administration in 2012?
Rangers FC entered administration in February 2012 primarily because of a massive and unsustainable tax liability, combined with poor financial management and risky funding practices under then-owner Craig Whyte.
Here’s a clear breakdown of the main causes and events leading up to it:
. The “EBT” Tax Case (the Big Tax Case)
Between 2001 and 2010, under previous owner Sir David Murray, Rangers used Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) to pay players and staff.
The scheme involved offshore loans, intended to reduce income tax and National Insurance liabilities.
HMRC (the UK tax authority) later challenged this arrangement, arguing it was a disguised form of remuneration — not legitimate loans — and sought £49 million+ in unpaid tax and interest.
Although the final court ruling years later (2017 Supreme Court) went against Rangers, the uncertainty and potential liability had already undermined the club’s finances long before that.
2. The Craig Whyte takeover and unpaid PAYE/VAT
In May 2011, businessman Craig Whyte bought Rangers from Murray for £1.
Whyte promised to settle the club’s debts — including the £18 million owed to Lloyds Bank — by using future season-ticket income via a finance company called Ticketus.
Instead of stabilising the club, Whyte:
Used the Ticketus advance (approx. £24 million) to pay off Lloyds.
Then stopped paying PAYE and VAT to HMRC — building up around £9 million in new tax debt within months.
3. Administration
By February 2012, HMRC petitioned for the club to be wound up over the unpaid tax.
Rangers entered administration on 14 February 2012, appointing Duff & Phelps as administrators.
The club faced:
No access to fresh credit.
Loss of European income.
Heavy sanctions from the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and SFA.
💀 4. Liquidation and the “newco”
After failing to agree a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with HMRC, the original company (Rangers Football Club plc) went into liquidation in June 2012.
The club’s assets, stadium (Ibrox), and training ground (Murray Park) were sold to a new company set up by Charles Green — Sevco Scotland Ltd, later renamed The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
The football club continued under this new corporate entity but had to start in the Third Division (fourth tier) of Scottish football.
More can be read at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1auuQyC-WFBiPkCkz8ySLoaB7EuT1XxWG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947982974245186134&rtpof=true&sd=true
Mass Psychosis controlled Tims cannot be trusted. EVER!
Green Brigade [kettled] on the day wee Barry arrived in paradise with his team of stray dug level quality of Hun players creating the Parkhead library and Rodgers team could not move up the gears without the backing music from the GB, and wee Barry put elite Rodgers nose out of joint.
And 50,000 Celtic fans said: NOTHING!
And spoiled boy Rodgers agrees with the Transfer Window, every time, then after one bad result, Rodgers plays his Chinese whispering violin saying he didny buy these awkward players.
And 50,000 Celtic fans are in the carpark playing their violins for Rodgers the victim. lol
What if the Snp police force [kettle] the GB this weekend?
The Best Fans In The World never returned from Seville 2003, maybe MON can pull their heids the gither and make them see in a straight line again????
What will the struggling without thur Rodgers security blanket flavour of Celtic fans say if MON & Shaun get us to a European Final this year by copying the Sir Walter approach that got the Huns to the European Final in Manchester 2008, by parking the bus, playing long balls, and taking the game to penalties, and winning the European Trophy the new Celtic way?
“OH WE NEED AN ELITE MANAGER”????
An elite manager will only come to Scottish Football if somehow the Huns come into money and put it straight onto the pitch and into the dugout.
And then Celtic would have to respond.
Elite managers don’t let their teams get horsed 6-0, 7-0, etc, then come back years later and demonstrate that they have learned NOTHING by playing the same naive way, as the manager stands on the touchline clapping whilst the players already know that he is an erchie!
If Rodgers was Elite then Parkhead would not be on his radar.
MON & Shaun YNWA.
HH
oot.
The Battered Bunnet on 31st October 2025 2:05 pm
Bhoys Town
There was no Outer House hearing.
Rangers won 2-1 at the First Tier tribunal (Heidi Poon with the consolation goal), the Upper Tier (Lord Doherty) upheld that decision. The Inner House overturned it which Rangers ultimately appealed to the Supreme Court and lost.
==============
Thanks for that extra detail about the Inner House. Lost to my 79 years accumulation of memories.
Who really owns Celtic?
Thank you Maestro , also hearing Brendan wont be responding to Dermot until Martin is out of the building , as i have heard Martin is the main man who is in charge of some kind of group for managers with complaints or something , is this possibly true , i am more of a Lurker than poster
Fingers crossed for Sunday. Could go either way. If we play like Wednesday we’ll win.
Sorry to see John Kennedy leave without the fanfare he has earned. Hopefully there’ll be a place for him at the club in the future.
Also would like to see wee Shaun as assistant manager to anyone coming in. He’s got a lot to offer as a coach.
BoabyEvans
I believe that Martin’s role with the League Managers Association only applies to England – can’t see that the BR/Celtic scenario will fall under his remit.
Cheers Tim Malone will tell , i will just have to wait & see what transpires
Where is this takeover talk coming from ? I may be wrong but I think Celtic has 94million shares issued.
bournesouprecipe on 31st October 2025 3:57 pm
Very interesting and informative . Thanks for posting .
Ziggydoc1 – yes, letter regarding AGM received today
BSR
Great share. How others see us. Terrific analysis from knowledgeable neutrals.
ziggydoc1 on 31st October 2025 3:32 pm
Any shareholder amongst you, received an invite for the AGM?
Got mine by email om Tuesday.
Funny enough, I was looking forward to the Manager’s statement but there isn’t one in the PDF on the Celtic site.
I was going to ask anyone who gets a hard copy (I opted in to email) if there’s a Manager’s statement in the printed report which of course would have gone to print before BR skyed the park.
TBB
The hard copy invite via post is a one pager that directs you to the Celtic web site for accounts and proxy form.
Doesn’t look like they are posting financial reports.
TBB
All traces of Brendan being removed including thousands of match programmes from Wednesday, which contained his regular message.
Celtic collectors piece.
Tim Malone Will Tell on 31st October 2025 4:25 pm
Ziggydoc1 – yes, letter regarding AGM received today
The Battered Bunnet on 31st October 2025 4:45 pm
ziggydoc1 on 31st October 2025 3:32 pm
Any shareholder amongst you, received an invite for the AGM?
Got mine by email om Tuesday.
____
Thanks for the replies. I haven’t received anything and have written to John Paul Taylor, albeit I’m not sure this is something he can help with. I tried going onto the investors site but couldn’t see any way of getting invite or access to vote there.
The fans survey report now available:
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/october/31/celtic-release-fan-survey-results/
Auldheid on 31st October 2025 3:38 pm
……….
Hail Hail Auldheid hope you are well man.
The oldco vs newco thingy died as soon as Celtic fans paid 49 Quid for Sevco tickets in 2016 AFTER Sevco got promoted.
A 49 Quid ticket was a cementing of the same club lie using the Brendan-1 arrival circus to cover it up.
Celtic fans bought 49 Quid tickets and then sang Rangers are dead.
The Old Firm boards were watching on as the Broomloan stand demonstrated that they were blinded by the light of Brendan-1 arrival and had fallen hook, like, and sinker for the Old Firm ticket trap which Celtic PLC sprung upon them in 2016 AFTER SEVCO GOT PROMOTED.
In 9 years since that deception was played out, only KEVJUNGLE, has ever highlighted this simple to explain 49 Quid deception, as opposed to lawyer required gobble-de-gook from elsewhere.
I’m a fan who stood in the Jungle, not a London Stock Exchange Lawyer.
I read NOT THE VIEW – not THE FINANCIAL TIMES.
I read Video Celts – not Lawyers Weekly.
So the only truth that has been spoken about the same club lie cover-up has come from a Celtic fan accused of being a troll, a racist, a vaccine denier[fkn right I am], a disabled cripple, by happy clappers. lol
I was called not really a Celtic fan since I am also, probably, the only fan who threw away his season ticket in 2004/2005 season AFTER the great MON demonstrated his “ONE OF THE LHADS” Integrity as he went out of his way and warned Celtic fans that “THE SLOW LANE” was going to be the way of the club going forward.
SLOW LANE, PROJECT PLAYER LANE, is a license for the Tory sleekits who run Celtic to racketeer in the shadows of the balance sheet.
A Tory board will appoint like minded multi millionaires[Tories] as their Manager’s.
All seating has led to the dumbing down of Timmy minds were alternative narratives are viewed with contempt.
Anti Corporations, Billionaires, Millionaires, and especially, “SIR’s”, should be the NEW Celtic Way!
The ENTIRE fan base, KEVJUNGLE apart, were suckered by the 49 Quid ticket scam which enabled “SIR” David Murray to slither away unpunished, and the Scottish game has absolutely sucked since 2012, and Celtic PLC silently nodding along to punishing 50,000 Rangers fans who were never near any boardroom.
Celtic PLC are the other cheek of the horrible Old Firm erchie!
Rangers fans are/were/animals but THEY did not steal EBT’s.
To go along with this hypocrisy is all the proof that is needed, THAT, Present day Timdom is NOT the answer to ANY question.
Easily and emotionally manipulated by a slippery player like Rodgers, will go on year in, year out.
Take care Auldheid.
MON & Shaun YNWA.
HH
oot.
On the link above, you will find at the foot of the article, a link to a 46-page pdf report.
Happy reading . . .
Rohl very complimentary about MON,he won’t last,scores zero for staunchness
Tim Malone, BSR
Looks like Ready Shred will be doing good business this week 😂
BSR earlier – cheers.
I’d be interested in knowing the strength in numbers of those two camps you mention.
I suspect informal members of each think they are in the majority.
Pitch will be a shambles on Sunday
One thing you said BSR …
“A Celtic type collective was there, but dormant before Brendan Rodgers, reformed and active whilst he was here”
This was news to me.
Do you happen to know which groups were in that dormant collective and what their objectives were?
Obviously the presence of the GB and NCC were apparent … not sure of any others?