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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the Bada Bing on 1st November 2025 4:15 pm
Rumour Iheanacho contract terminated
would tyhat not have been the sevilla contract???
celtic dawn on 1st November 2025 3:36 pm
“Any way to watch the game tomorrow with a one off PPV?”
……
Try this.
Premier Sports Ireland 1 | Watch | DaddyLiveHD – Live Sports Streaming Free – DaddyLiveHD.sx – DLHD
https://dlhd.dad/watch.php?id=771
MON & Shaun YNWA
HH
oot.
login annoying
KB- Still recovering from foot surgery,should be back on the grass,after the international break
the Bada Bing on 1st November 2025 5:24 pm
Hope you are sorted soon.
Did a nice wee pub crawl through Shawlands yesterday starting at Sweeneys on the park and working our way towards The Lok…every pub had something different to offer…only made it to pub 7 out of 10 due to other arrangements…Cheapest James Tassie…best…I’d go for The Corona…nothing better to do?…give it a go…
Even when I was sober I could not spot a handsome hun. The search continues.
I lived in Shawlands back in the ‘80s…was the place to be…went downhill a bit over the years but seems to be on the up again…
Is The Granary still there!
In the fans survey, 41% said the would be oppossed to being moved from their season ticket seat to make way for a standing section.
This was a comment from The Celtic Way-
“I really don’t care what 41% of Celtic season ticket holder want if that thing they want is detrimental to the club.
Get. Yer. F*kin. Coat. Yer. Movin.”
(they didnt star out the expletive)
The Celtic Way hacks dont even go to Celtic Park for the games, either in a work capacity or as fans.
So there may or may not be a debate to be had about this subject, but fked if we are going to let a few folk running a Daily Record Lite load of pish, who dont even go to the ground, tell us what we should do
BRRB
Yer back (lowering the tone again ;) )
Thats my job…
2-0 St Mirren.
Nice finish for the second.
Was up in Hamilton today, at the Hamilton Palace Sports grounds for my kids footie
Some place!
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
The Granary is still there…the stuffed ostrich has gone and replaced by 100 flat screen tvs…sports bar vibe now…
Clunks
I know C. How we suffer for our art. Anaw that. 👍
31003 – glad to hear it.
I worked in The Mission and The Church on the Hill back in the day, but always liked The Granary.
If memory serves they used to sell a bucket of 10 beers on a Sunday for a tenner😂
KB- HH
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
Tigers and Tarts night on Friday nights…those were the days…..pint of Castlemaine XXXX….£1.95….we kicked up merry he’ll when they raised it to £2.00….
Very good game .If there has been a more consistent defender than Yogic this season,I have not seen him.WTF were Hibs thinking?.2-0 scoreline,a bit deceiving,but those two strikers for Saints a handful for anyone.
Motherwell manager has really transformed this team.He is a good un.One to watch.
A Well goal really set this up.Enjoyable.
But,WTF do I know?.🤔
Gogic,FRS.Its guessing Yogi there.56 years too late
BADA
The rumours are pretty horrible.
GUN HORROR Two dead and at least 10 injured after horror shooting on popular Brit tourist hotspot in Greece,Crete
31003 on 1st November 2025 6:16 pm
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
The Granary is still there…the stuffed ostrich has gone and replaced by 100 flat screen tvs…sports bar vibe now…
Jeez taking me back there,was at its opening night,top place for a time,Shawlands like a lot of areas would be empty if charity shops paid rates.
It’s a changed area,still a lot 1st time buyers in the area.
Blogger was the mission run by a Brian M??.
Looking like the Iheanacho rumours untrue and still set to face a late fitness test for the game.
AT
You’re right about the charity shops…there’s plenty in Shawlands…but strangely they seem to be helping the areas other shops with an increased footfall…money being so tight for many, they head there mainly for the charity shops ….
2-1 now.
This has been a good game of football.
7 minutes left.
Jeez.
Some game.Great entertainment from two good tteams and managers.Gogic an absolute brick wall for Saints,and the any two from three up front,a night made to play against.
4-1, a bit harsh,but very enjoyable.
Hope MON was watching.
“Nightmare.”What this iis to type with.
😣😣😣
Ireland v All Blacks from Chicago coming up.
Should be a cracker.
3sy
Think we touched on shawlands before,recall the nightclub opp doune castle minskys/mrD’s/,Roscoes,sticky carpet lumber pots :-)
Heard Shed is shut now.follows on from MrDs and Tusk opp shawlands academy,it used to be well vibrant
AT
Never knew the Shed had closed…I remember a few years back they were in danger of losing their late night license due to the noise levels as club era were leaving at closing time…their solution they provided to the licensing board to reduce the noise was to provide everyone leaving with a lollipop…..more sooking less shouting……got to admire their efforts…
Every able bodied Tim out tomorrow.Kasper,Engels,Tounetke,Trusty,Some of who could well be Tims,Calmac,honorary Tim..
Mentioned before that Scarrachi can play RB.
Kasper,
Scarrachi,Trusty,Scales,KT
Engels. Calmac
Nygren
Jamesy,Maeda,Tonetke
Subs Luke,Balik,Iheanacho,Bernardo,Tony,Kenny,Dale Winton.
WTFf do I know.
Be brave.
scarrachi at LB for me, KT biggest disappointment so far.
The best price i can get for us tomorrow is 10/11.
I tried everywhere to get evens and it was ‘no chance’
Celtic will hammer them tomorrow.
The Celtic players will play like men possessed because of MON.
Celtic 5 Sevco 0
For some reason, I can’t get ‘Demolition’ out of my head !!!!!!