When asked on Twitter four years ago how Rangers were granted a licence to play European football in season 2011-12 when they were overdue with HMRC, SFA chief executive, Stewart Regan, replied, “If someone sends you a bill you disagree with then you do not accept it was overdue”.
Any business is allowed to dispute a tax demand, but former Rangers director, Donald McIntyre’s evidence at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday was clear, Rangers had accepted liability for unpaid PAYE and National Insurance claims in connection with the Wee Tax Case (DOS) in 2010.
If, as Regan suggests, Rangers misrepresented this fact to the SFA Licencing Committee in their March 2011 application, the Association now have action to consider.
If you have been around this story for the best part of the last decade you will recall a number of us writing on the perilous state of Rangers finances while the club was under the control of Sir David Murray. This was robustly disputed by the club at the time, but in his evidence McIntyre noted that, under Murray, the club appointed an insolvency expert to ensure they were not trading illegally.
Just one month before the sale of the club to Craig Whyte in May 2011, in an email produced by Craig Whyte’s counsel, Donald Findlay, Mr Mike McGill of Murray Holdings, advised that “it would appear forecasts for club have deteriorated, we will breach bank facility”.
Asked by Findlay if “HMRC were coming for the club and were after blood”, McIntyre said “Yes.” The directors of Oldco Rangers omitted this sentiment from their public comments at the time.
Rangers were a football club running a perilous financial strategy from the 1990s until liquidation was eventually confirmed in 2012. They established a mindset, not only in their own support, but in parts of ours too, that spending money you couldn’t afford on casino football was the only acceptable way clubs should behave.
You still hear the echoes of those times, from Willie Henderson’s request that Newco spend £50m, to comments a lot closer to home when Celtic fail to win a football game.
Please remember that while it is OK to report evidence discussed at court, you should not comment on matters pertaining to the charges against Craig Whyte.
T-SHIRT STOCK UPDATE: Remaining stock as follows….Small 2 left, Medium 3 left, Large ONLY 1 left, XL 11 left and XXL 8 left. There won’t be a re-print so order now if you want the t-shirt (£14.99) or t-shirt and book (£19.67) at cqnbookstore.com
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!!Bada Bing!! on 27th April 2017 7:26 am
Very very good :-)
BROGAN ROGAN TREVINO AND HOGAN on 27TH APRIL 2017 7:44 AM
You are sharp this morning!
KTF
The King and Lie
Lady Shatitlately,s Live-in
Smiley judge thing
Braw.
Enough movie titles to make into a T- Shirt…..over to you WC…
Jamesgang at 7.50.
The King and Lie, my favourite so far.
Its a cracker
Hun Flew Over The Crooked Nest
Dallas Dallas
Thank you kind Sir!
Have a very Hoopy day.
HH jamesgang
Last one on films from me THE ACCUSED
Roll on 10:00 for part two of the knight sphincter twitching
Canamalar it looks like OCD obsession on 27th April 2017 8:23 am
I think he will get a far harder time today from start to finish. Only start on the hard stuff when you leave little time to recuperate or rehearse a recovery. The only break he will get today will be at lunchtime.
Findlay developed his reputation in court by occasionally starting some cross-examinations with a question that was akin to a headbutt, the effect of which is to discomfort the witness immediately and immediately make them seem awkward, unsure and defensive in front of the jury thus creating doubt from the outset.
Of course he may take another line but look out for that in his early questioning. Donald will want to take control of the court and set a memorable tone early on.
Joey Barton
Deserves all he gets.
I agree with his points on the over reliance on gambling sponsorship in the game.
But for other reasons I cannot go into on here maybe he is being pre judged before he while living and rightly so.
I hated the thought of this horrible individual ever wearing the green when it was muted on here and elsewhere prior to his signing for the Orcs.
MWD
MWD
Joey Barton
Spoke some ‘Celticy’ words and phrases.
Lived the values of an orc and found his true place there.
HH jamesgang
Good QC’s start well and finish well.
The Brendan Rodgers effect.
‘Hey son, check out the guy in midfield…. model yourself on him in your football, education and demeanour…..’
Joey Barton
Stuart Armstrong
You choose. ;-)
HH jamesgang
Game still on You Tube for anyone who missed it
YOUTH CUP FINAL Celtic v Rangers 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELPl_pOazCk&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=t.co&utm_m
How about a nice positive start to the day? What about Celtic themed movies?
The Jungle Book!!
Hotel Paradiso
The magnificent 7 obv!
HH
Celtic movies
The man who would be King
Winning Captains books and T-shirt arrived yesterday thank you.
HH
KTF
UTLR
The Silence of the Lambs
Last hun movie from me.
It’s a MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD World.
Hoopy Gilmore.
Planet of the Papes
Titanic
Joey Barton .
To paraphrase my Liverpool FC pal –
Called his son – Cassius . Presumably in tribute to his favorite Devil Dog in Huyton .
23 degrees at 9.30 AM -way down south –
Enough time for 4 choons from 67 —
7″ -David McWilliams – The Days of Pearly Spencer -(Major Minor )
7″ The Doors — Break on Through ( Elektra ) -the only Doors choon I have
7″-King Davis House Rockers -We All Make Mistakes Sometimes ( Verve )
7″ –The Velvet Underground -White Light / White Heat ( Verve )
Exciting day ahead — harvesting Broad beans then podding and freezing them . . Hold me back !!!
Legion of the Damned
Bhoys Town.
10 to Midnight
For whom the bell tolls
Liar Liar
Joey Barton – finally annoyed enough people and has effectively been told to retire. Interesting to see the difference in punishment for players caught gambling in Scotland and England.
He did make some valid points regarding the conflict of interest that arises when gambling companies get too close to the game.
Loosely related – YOUTH cup final last night and the Celtic strip sponsorship replaced by the Celtic foundation. Sevco keep their first team sponsors on the strip. A gambling company.
Shit Happens
Fall from grace
Grave
Sleepless in Sevconia
Look, I wasn’t going to get involved in this movie name thing as puns aren’t really my thing.
But the movie would surely be The Life of David’s Fail.
Hun movie quotes,
‘You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off’
‘I’ll no be back’