Nimmo Smith’s Black Cap

1213

I see a bit of debate on the blog this morning on Lord Nimmo Smith’s SPL Commission, which has retired to prepare its report.  In March last year former Rangers owner, Sir David Murray, insisted no Rangers players had “side contracts”, inferring there was no case to answer.  This line has not been peddled since.  Instead, various excuses are offered in mitigation.

BBC’s award winning The Men Who Sold the Jerseys documentary established that a large number of players received money in connection with playing football which was not recorded with the SPL and SFA.  Even Rangers counsel at the First Tier Tribunal conceded tax should have been paid on five of these players.

The real issue for Nimmo Smith is how to impose an appropriate punishment for illegal registration on this scale, which is consistent with punishments recently handed out to Spartans, Dunfermline and others, all of whom were kicked out of competitions, and fined up to a quarter of their annual income, for offences relating to single games.

For a couple of years now we have discussed the toxicity of matters surrounding the Rangers group of clubs.  Actions carried out during the Murray and Whyte eras put Rangers into liquidation with vast governance issues plaguing the game and the new club which inherited their player registrations.

On the assumption the SPL Commission concludes Rangers were guilty of fielding illegally registered players in hundreds of games, what would an appropriate punishment be?  Forget about stripping titles, or reclaiming prize money, both of which are merely consequences of the facts being established, not punishments.

I have total confidence Nimmo Smith will submit a report beyond reproach on whether Rangers broke the rules, but would he send for a Black Cap before handing out a sentence?  I’m not so sure.  Spartans and the rest might feel their 25% annual income fine for a single-match offence might become an embarrassment to some of the game’s administrators.

“Without fear or favour” was what we were promised last year.  Let’s see.
[calameo code=000390171980e8545b80a lang=en page=10 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

1,213 Comments

  1. Green Lantern (((((0)))))

     

    17:29 on

     

    23 February, 2013

     

    Dundee fans in open revolt at the prospect of Ra Bummer taking over.

     

    =====

     

    He will take comfort in the fact that this will be the one and only time that he is in the same category as Rafa Benitez.

  2. Tallybhoy,

     

     

    Wouldn’t be surprised to see mccrindle in amongst the hordes ; certainly his loyalist friends on Facebook would be familiar with the words. Campbell Corrigan sent Focus all over europe to target Celtic fans, yet won’t send them to Berwick to deal with the sectarian hordes. I would not be surprised to see Campbell Corrigan take over Focus himself and see if he can complete the mission himself.

  3. estorilbhoy

     

    17:38 on

     

    23 February, 2013

     

    Gene,

     

     

    Think there was more at my wedding.

     

    ———————————————————–

     

    True …an you would think they would have been scared o the shotgun.:O)

  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TALLYBHOY 1706

     

     

    “Got stuck in a snowdrift today – but that’s another story!”

     

    ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

    Tallybhoy

     

    13:08 on

     

    23 February, 2013

     

    James Forrest…

     

     

    Very many congratulations!

     

     

    The short story genre has always been a particular favourite of mine.

     

     

    Best of luck!

     

     

    HH

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    Make yer mind up,old bean-what kinda story do you like?

     

     

    And btw,that’s the first time I’ve ever seen the words “short story” and James Forrest in the same post!

     

     

    James-delighted to have you back posting,as the nightshifts can be long at times.

  5. Green Lantern (((((0)))))

     

    When I heard about bummer getting job ,I thought Imagine being a Dundee fan and getting that news broken to you.

     

    Ps Me thinks its bombers we earner for not causing any more waves over at the HATE FACTORY.

     

    There you go brother Brown

  6. If TFOD take the team off the park if they hear sectarian singing???

     

     

    Now would that not be a sight to behold!

     

     

    Radio Clyde caller

     

     

     

    You can tell I’m making the dinner and listening to the radio…….

  7. voguepunter

     

     

    17:41 on 23 February, 2013

     

    estorilbhoy

     

    17:38 on

     

    23 February, 2013

     

    Gene,

     

     

    Think there was more at my wedding.

     

    ———————————————————–

     

    True …an you would think they would have been scared o the shotgun.:O)

     

     

    —-

     

     

    LOL, what are you insinuating old chap :))

  8. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    SSB pundits struggling bigtime with ‘Thomas’, and others tonight………

  9. I would urge all Celtic fans to avoid all Scottish newspapers and phone ins.

     

    I gave up after the “Thugs and Thieves” trash and it’s done my blood pressure a world of good.

     

    I never watch the Huns and only wish that poisonous institution the worst as that’s what they attract.

     

    PS Their manager is a fat liar who gets away with the cheeky chappy routine as the Scottish media are part of the problem.

  10. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    glasstwothirdsfull

     

     

    16:53 on 23 February, 2013

     

     

    You need to appreciate that bigots don’t think they are bigots…..

  11. Green Lantern (((((0))))) on

    leftclick. I heard earlier that a Dundee board member with Aye Broke connections has been promoting his case for interim manager.

     

     

    Shortbread now saying there are rumours Bummer has resigned due to the reaction of Dens fans.

  12. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    ‘Know what a mean’ on SSB now….hilarious

  13. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    On another subject, when is someone going to confirm that £22 did not ‘change hands’ at their share issue ……..

  14. 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

    The first outsider to see their “mythical accounts”

     

    Till later

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    67 HEAVEN

     

     

    £22?

     

     

    Shoooooooorly they made it in to four figures at least……….

  16. Bomber ‘show me the deeds” Brown manager at Dundee.

     

    Did anyone here the Dundee fan on Off the ball today ?

     

    Says it all.

  17. Speirs on Shortbread…’Rangers have being making strides in regards to singing while Celtic have been going backwards recently’

     

     

    Did any one else here that…..

  18. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers

     

     

    18:04 on

     

    23 February, 2013

     

     

    Hahahahahahahahahaha…..£22…MILLION….!!!!!!!!

  19. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    monteblanco

     

     

    18:11 on 23 February, 2013

     

     

    Surely he didn’t say that…..

  20. monteblanco

     

     

    18:11 on 23 February, 2013

     

     

    Speirs on Shortbread…’Rangers have being making strides in regards to singing while Celtic have been going backwards recently’

     

     

    Did any one else here that…..

     

     

    Spiers is a deaf weasel

     

     

    Hail Hail.

  21. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    MONTEBLANCO

     

     

    That post is good reason for us to listen to their nonsense-to report what is said about us,and being accepted as fact.

     

     

    Years ago,I respected Spiers-a long time ago.

     

     

    A career ago,Mr Spiers,if you are reading…….

  22. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    67 HEAVEN

     

     

    I reckon your first guess will prove nearer the truth.

     

     

    And not only because I want it to be!

  23. Summa

     

     

    Just back on and noticed that in response to my comment about hating the huns you claimed that hate is worse than racism.

     

     

    To say I’m disgusted at that response would be putting it mildly.

  24. Yip

     

     

    He is repeating it now……Cosgrove mentioning ‘peodos’ chanting…in a context of St Johnstone v Hearts game!!!!