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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Who is conducting the search to find a head coach/manager and what criteria will the search be guided by, what will the structure of the club and most importantly that of the football dept
With Big Dog in charge sadly I can’t see anything changing, he will be the last and most important hurdle any prospective candidate will go through like all previous managers that interview with big dog and negations with him will be the deciding factor
With football constantly evolving at an ever faster rate, tactically clubs have to be versatile, an example was Man City this season at Arsenal going a goal ahead, Pep parked the bus at Highbury, Pep! despite having attacking talent led by Haaland, Foden and Doku (we would love a front three of that quality) we have fallen off a cliff in terms of the development of players below 1st team involvement, with no reserve league and the Lowland league unsuitable as a development standard, players have to find a loan which can offer important playing chances within a league with a decent professional standard, recruitment by top tier clubs has been ever increasing its scope worldwide scouting is ever more sophisticated and allied to new (Jamestown Analytics) new standards of professionalism are being set in recruitment, all of this evolving means it is abundantly clear that Celtic need to have a transition away from the big dog dictatorship, sadly billionaires never give up power it is a very powerful drug, 20 year habits are hard to break
we need to be a modern progressive club with a defined structure at executive level with clear accountability within defined roles, and a similar structure within the football dept, recruitment, development, tactical team selection etc should be the sole matter within the football dept, there are many who want to see a DOF being the bridge between executive and head coach/manager, it may take us time to transition to get the personnel and structure correct but this is now the time for change, we lifted the SPFL title last season clear by 17 points our nearest challengers Aberdeen and Govan works team blew up last season, this season we find ourselves at this stage in 2nd place and in a dog fight for the most important prize the SPFL title, no doubt the usual online bravado will be on soon to say nothing to worry about we are Celtic (ho hum) serious changes at Hearts and the Govan works team mean we have to up our game
Given all I have said above I see no need to rush this appointment as I would prefer to see the transition to a modern progressive club first, Im quite happy if it is required to let MON see out this season at Celtic to facilitate the necessary structural and personnel changes we need
I will be at Hampdump on Sunday to hopefully see Celtic win, it won’t define our season the fight for the SPFL title is the prize we need to keep our focus on
aff oot
Onto Sunday and a semi final against the latest incarnation of the Govan works team, a club clearly in transition with new owners, Martin said in his opening Presser Celtic should be looking for a young dynamic manager with a decent CV, is Rohl (head coach) the man to take the Govan works team forward we will see, I
Apologies to the grammar police in a rush this morning
SPIKEYSAULDMAN on 1ST NOVEMBER 2025 12:51 AM
https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/25586575.palestine-protestor-cleared-two-charges-glasgow-trial/
Excellent news another acquittal, if police Scotland would like to pursue religious hatred in Scotland there is some low hanging fruit to be found
Pleased for Mick, in a world now full of gaslighting propaganda misinformation and disinformation(Kev bungles posts) Mick is pone of they rare voices of truth, lang may his voice be heard
Def aff oot
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BELMONT ( GRANDAD ) BRIAN.
Have a great day my auld Mate.
Hopefully the Celts Tomorrow can give you a great belated Birthday Present.
HH.
Good to see my other auld mate ( BRRB ) Posting.
Hopefully the Bhoys in GREEN will give you a celebration toast Tomorrow.
HH Mate.
Chairbhoy
Here is the SFA statement that describes the type of membership Sevco were given.
The late Paul McConville called it ” ultra vires” meaning not covered in the rules.
From memory The SFA used Art 14/15 with title Prohibition of Transfer of SFA Membership with a clause that allowed xfer at SFA Board discretion.
Here is the exact wording from the joint statement issued on 27 July 2012 by the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and the Scottish Football League (SFL) on behalf of Sevco Scotland Ltd (which was to become The Rangers Football Club Ltd):
> “We are pleased to confirm that agreement has been reached on all outstanding points relating to the transfer of the Scottish FA membership between Rangers FC (In Administration), and Sevco Scotland Ltd, who will be the new owners of The Rangers Football Club.
A conditional membership will be issued to Sevco Scotland Ltd today, allowing Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup tie against Brechin City to go ahead.
Following the completion of all legal documentation, the Scottish Premier League will conduct the formal transfer of the league share between RFC (IA) and Dundee FC on no later than Friday 3rd August 2012. At this point, the transfer of Scottish FA membership will be complete.”
So the membership was termed a “conditional membership”.
Tim Malone Will Tell on 31st October 2025 5:31 pm
Ziggydoc1
My letter lists contact points as…
____
Thanks. I’ll be there
An Dún on 1st November 2025 6:38 am
I expect a very close game on Sunday despite what the bookies think. I’d start Maeda if he can give us 60 minutes. A win would be a great boost to our season and could see us go on a bit of a domestic run.
Well done, CalMac, spoke very well on Brendan and John Kennedy. History will not judge Desmond or his acolytes well. But at least our Captain set the record straight.
——
I think Maeda will start and play the full 90, plus 15 minutes of added time to allow the Huns to try and claw back a 3 goal deficit 😁.
Calum spoke brilliantly yesterday, as always. An articulate boy.
There’s more on the conditions.
The formal term used at the time was:
> “Conditional (or Temporary) SFA Membership”
This interim SFA membership was granted on 29 July 2012, allowing the new club to participate in Scottish football (specifically, in the Scottish Football League Third Division) while negotiations continued over the transfer of the full SFA membership previously held by the old club.
The arrangement depended on:
Acceptance into the Scottish Football League,
Agreement on football debts and disciplinary liabilities from the old Rangers FC plc, and
Transfer of the full SFA membership once conditions were satisfied.
Once those conditions were met, the full membership was formally transferred from the old company (in liquidation) to the new entity later in August 2012.
Important game for both teams and their management teams.
It will be tense and physical.
A late winner for the Tic will do the trick…
Their back3,,if they play it is hopeless.Hibs should have cashed in.Tactics all important.
Great words from Callum. Somebody who would know Brendan better than anybody.
Lionroars67 7:58
Excellent post.
Martin ONeil saying he is here for the short term,also saying the club are looking into employing a young progressive coach,which i agree,This talk about Ange coming back rules him out ,he left us for pastures new ,and look what happened, sacked by Spurs and Nottingham Forrest, we had 2 that came back for a second time, and looked what happened, Lenton throw some of the players under the bus and losing the 10 in a row,as for Rodgers eact same with the 2 cars statement, also I believe he wouldn’t have signed another contract, so he actually began to work his ticket for leaving,
Yip.
Thought CalMac was superb in the press conference.
I would start the game tomorrow with the same one which started against Falkirk.
A wee quiz for those of a certain generation.
Nick names, some easier than others
Jinky
Holy Goallie
Buzz Bomb
The boy wonder
The silent assassin
Big Shirley
Quizball
Big Bertha
Wispy
Squiggly
A coconut awaits the winner
KINGLUBO
so new banner rap arounds for celtic park and magnificent they look to.
i wonder how much they cost.
anyone got a qualified guess ?
We’ll have a better idea tomorrow whether Desmond and The Sun source (if a different person) are right that Rodgers was the key reason for our abysmal form or the Board really has exchanged Ferraris for Honda Civics. I think it’s a combination of both, but hopefully the civics get the job done.
Tam Cowan said was doing a gig with Strachan on Tuesday,he said they are waiting till November for new manager….Norwegian League finishes then, Knutsen from Bodo………?
king lubo
1. Jimmy Johnstone
2. Boruc
3.Bobby Lennox
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. Jim Craig
8. ?
9. Willie Wallace
10. ?
If I win can I get a tangerine instead? Or are they ran oot?
5. David Hay
6. Roy Aitken (I think because he had curly hair, so named after Shirley Temple)
10. Frank McGarvey
Big Bertha : possibly Tommy Gemmell?
Boy Wonder :?possibly George Connelly or Brian McLaughlin ( not the Eddie Munster one)
Kinglubo
1. Jimmy Johnstone
2.Artur Boruc
3.Bobby Lennox
4. ?
5. David Bay
6. Roy Aitken
7.Jim Craig
8. ?
9.Willie Wallace
10. Frank McGarvey
Bellamy could be available from 18th November, if Wales lose WC play off
I don’t know why we need a young manager when they only ever stay for 2 or 3 years. At that rate, why not employ an octogenarian who has the right skills.
Jinky Jimmy Johnstone
Holy Goalie Artur Boruc
Buzz Bomb Bobby Lennox
The boy wonder Tommy McInally
The silent assassin Davy Hay
Big Shirley Roy Aitken
Quizball Jim Craig
Big Bertha ?
Wispy Willie Wallace
Squiggly Frank McGarvey
My listening pleasure for this afternoon- Van der Graaf Generator, Frank Zappa and Led Zeppelin. Gravy Booby.
Bada Bing – according to Cowan, Strachan said it would be December before new manager would be available. Cowan speculated it could be Bellamy. Timeline also fits Knutsen and Muscat.
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 1ST NOVEMBER 2025 2:42 PM
Standard in the Vicky Bar Jukebox has fair risen 👍
BSR
They sold the jukebox in 2012 to Charles Green. 😂
Good (bad ) goal from Shankland .
Any way to watch the game tomorrow with a one off PPV?
celtic dawn on 1st November 2025 3:36 pm
Any way to watch the game tomorrow with a one off PPV?
I think i posted an offer from Premier Sports last week….
Seems Prime Video doing an offer for Premier Sports
Answers.
Jinky, Boruc, Lennox, McStay, Hay, aitken, Craig, Gemmell, WallaceMcGarvey
Coconut on the way to Celtic Mac, sorry got to be a green one
KINGLUBO
Rumour Iheanacho contract terminated
Thanks guys
the Bada Bing on 1st November 2025 4:15 pm
You playing up front tomorrow?
the Bada Bing on 1st November 2025 4:15 pm
Rumour Iheanacho contract terminated
WTF
I’m nervous about the game tomorrow already. It’s getting worse as I get older. And so am I. 😂