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.
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philvisreturns
13:19 on 22 February, 2013
‘In years to come,people will look back on the first few years of this century and ask how people could be so stupid,same as we do with the tulip bulbs.’
Then they should read this.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24518
As for climate change. I blame Thatcher.
http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/108102
Che
Tis a Lanarkshire thing.
In order of superiority I believe that the pecking order now runs….
Hamilton
Cumbernauld
Coatbridge….
Hamilton should always be on top of Cumbernauld, too many rounabouts in them new towns!!
Miki
thoughts and prayers with you.
For whatever it is worth, I was diagnosed with cancer at 30 (17 years ago), and my sister-in-law about 8 years ago, and we are both still kicking…. so, fight it … it can be beat. And you have a great support system here if you ever need anything.
HH
ernie lynch .
Ken Clarke ?
Remember seeing him at an Art Pepper gig . He would have being doing his Health gig at the time —— he looked like a very unhealthy person . So did Art . Art didn’t live long after . Ken is still around.
Tim Malone
The Rangers may or may not have been granted a National Club licence but if they were then it had to be done in the absence of 3 years accounts and what was used instead is unclear underlast years rules.
This year there are a couple of interesting additions to last years of which clarification is being sought.
Even so the SFA Licencing Commitee face the same issue in the coming round and that is what to use in the absence of 3 years accounts, although I read The Rangers hope to produce something of an accounting nature but not agm audited obviously before the end date of submisson on 30th April
Club licencing is not to be confused with SFA membership, SPL or SFL membership which are subject to less detailed criteria and full of discretionary overide.
What would be a significant game changer is making membership of SFA or Leagues conditional on meeting licencing criteria.
That puts a kybosh on licencing avoidance and is a key change that in my opinion must be introduced.
Interestingly had The SPL agreed to allow The Rangers entry they would have been subject to UEFA club licencing criteria that even allowing them to be the same club with continuing association membrship, would have required the SFA to get UEFA agreement to waive their criteria on unpaid social tax (the unpaid Paye/NI) unpaid debt to other clubs and no audited accounts that it was never going to happen anyway.
That the SFA thought it a possibility in talks with CG tells us Campell Ogilvie, football’s great administrator did not know the rules or thoight he had enough clout at UEFA to get a licence through.
On either counts he should go.
TIN TANIUM
Keep fighting the good fight re Burns,the world’s first published Socialist.
He lived in difficult times,an era where his views were extremely unwelcome by the UK Govt,which had only recently seen off a second rebellion in it’s “northern territories”
His reputation was trashed after his death,his life made impossibly difficult.
His legacy however could not be erased.
BROGAN,ROGAN,TREVINO and HOGAN wrote a marvellous piece about him a month ago. It opened a few eyes,I know that. Some may have missed it. Others may have dismissed it,their call.
Each to their own,but I know where he sits in my very limited list of heroes.
Paul 67.
How do you think this will play out,
Guilty ot not?
Titles and cups removed ? (if guilty)
Fine? (can they pay any kind of fine?)
When can we expect the verdict to be known?
Paul 67 –
Nothing would surprise me on the outcome, but after our former rivals got over the first hurdle on the big tax case on a technicality, I tend to think they will get off lightly.
Which is utterly-butterly when you consider Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s lawyers and the Vatican are all involved in what the Zombies call a ‘witch hunt’….
Auldheid
Good point re Sevco in the SPL. And don’t be missing Neil Doncaster with whatever tar remains on your brush.
He has said on the record that Sevco in the SPL would have been good because of money. As you say, he was either ignorant of the consequences this would have brought or deliberately ignoring them.
Miki …… Thinking of you…
HAMILTON TIM 1353
Roundabouts,is it?
You’ve never lived till you’ve seen people panic at this wee beauty during rush-hour.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)
And by the way,it’s NOT helped by having to go round the central one anti-clockwise!!
The Front of The Bus
A blog about Celtic, the supporters and our enemies. All typos, errors and untruths are copyright me.
Thursday, February 21, 2013Oh for a George Clemenceau
As the wait goes on for a verdict into the Lord Nimmo-Smith inquiry, my mind has been drifiting towards one question:Who is fighting our corner? We all have the same dog in this fight but, outside The Bampots, I’ve not seen many pushing for a verdict in our direction.
Everyone in Scotland has a vested interest in this thing and that can lead to the word no Celtic fan wants to hear in this:Compromise.
Whilst not touching the amount of suffering that led to it(he lied), I often think about this in relation to the Treaty of Versailles. David Lloyd George(spit) wanted Germany punished but not too badly as there was still money to be made from them. Woodrow Wilson wanted punishment for Germany too but wanted a “League of Nations” so it would never happen again and we all know how that ended up. Vittoria Orlando of Italy wasn’t really sure about anything, got nothing he wanted and so spat the dummy and left early.
George Clemenceau of France was different.
He wanted Germany punished to the absolute fullest extent possible and also wanted them weakened to the point where they would never be a threat again.
He saw this fitting given the level of their crimes.
Oh for a George Clemenceau now.
HT,
keep yir South Lanarkshire trashtown South of the Clyde where it belongs!
Anyway, the world and its devil dug is very well aware, that both Coatbridge and Cumbernauld, fall way behind their fellow North Lanarkshire “C”s, Carfin and Cleland…….in that order of course!!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
GrottoCentral CSC
Hamiltontim
Roundabouts….Hamilton has more than enough.
Noddy land is not cursed by roundabouts…its the lack of pavements and people walking on the roads that cause the problem.
Miki67
Miki, we have never met, never conversed and never exchanged words on CQN yet I feel I know you given I’ve read your many rants. I was truely saddened to read your post, I’d like to let you know that I will say a prayer to my God asking that your God may help you through this.
All the very best Miki.
Thomas Rogne has rejected the offer of a new contract with Celtic.
Manager Neil Lennon confirmed on Friday that the Norwegian defender, recruited from Stabaek in 2010, has turned down new terms to extend his stat beyond the end of the season.
Rogne, 22, is free to sign terms with another club to move for the start of the new campaign, but Celtic would be entitled to training compensation if he was to leave.
Frees up space on the treatment table!!
leftclicktic,
I have to say if there is one man in Scottish football who shows real leadership and integrity it is Turnbull Hutton.
I was never a great fan of Raith Rovers before – tbh, never really thought much about them.
However following Mr Hutton’s performance last summer I find myself looking out for their results and genuinely wishing them well.
If this man was to take any type of leadership position within Scottish football I think the game would be a lot better off.
He is a breath of fresh air and I think would be a great President of the SFA.
I link to think that Cumber naud is actually part of East Dunbartonshire just as Berlin was part of West Germany.
Miki67
Posts tell us much about the person.
I detected a bit of “balls” if you will pardon the impression in your posts and thought bet he has a tale to tell.
Then I saw you were waiting for the kind of bad news life can deliver at any time and am sorry to see it has arrived.
Heid doon and keep gaun is all I can now say.
I would like to record my gratitude to all at CQN who took time out to post messages of condolences for my Mother.
Every one has brought a great sense of comfort ,not only to myself but also to family members who have also read your messages.The one downside of me sharing your posts with them is that my closely guarded secret of me being channelislandcelt has now been blown apart :)
Before I started lurking/posting on CQN I considered myself as the complete Celtic supporter. This blog has proved me wrong in so many ways.
The good people from this parish ,their well informed comments and the way they go about their business is very humbling indeed.
My Mums Vigil Mass takes place at 6 O’clock this evening and it is in the knowledge that then and tomorrow when we lay her to rest that the thoughts and prayers of CQN will be with us all.
That to me will prove a true Inspiration.
Thank You CQN.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Celtic First
There’s plenty more tar where that came from. :)
petec – Why is Germany so strong in these turbulent times?
As far as I’m aware, German wages are lower than UK ones on average. (thumbsup)
bournesouprecipe – Thank you sir. Perhaps with a 5p bag of Eenie Meenies and a frozen jubilee (thumbsup)
ernie lynch – I think the rot set in when chancellors stopped smoking and therefore no longer had a box of matches handy to help them understand what was going on.
I think we could plot a graph showing a strong correlation between the decline of smoking and the ruination of our country. (thumbsup)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS – It is madness. (thumbsup)
Tallybhoy – I would recommend e-Lites. They’re not perfect, but they’re a very good simulation of smoking a real cigarette. What I need is the sensation of a satisfying drag and e-Lites deliver that along with a decent tobacco-ish flavour (I like Menthols and Reds, the gold packets are good too though, quite similar to Marlboro Lights). It’s nice to be able to “smoke” in the office as well.
If you get one and like it, you’ll probably want to have at least 2 e-Lite cigarettes and chargers, they can take 2-4 hours to charge via USB (I have 4). Thankfully they’re not very dear although the refills aren’t the vast money saving improvement over real fags they’d have you believe. They say each refill is equal to 40 cigarettes but it’s more like 20 in my experience.
For me though, the main thing was getting off possibly cancer-causing smokes without being utterly miserable, and e-Lites have been a great help. (thumbsup)
jimmci
Click the link later bud, he will go up more in your estimation the honesty in the interview is fantastic.
He speaks about not wanting promotion at one time when all their money would have had to go on ground improvements,so would have no money for new players, therefore would be “cannon fodder”in the spl get relegated and be back where they started only worse off financilly.
Kayal33@14:10
I like Thomas Rogne. I think he is one of our better defenders but as you say, he spends far too much time on the treatment table.
I would wager his contract offer would have been heavily dependent on appearance money hence his refusal of the terms.
TTT
Plains-Toi ;-)
ernie lynch – Aye, she got that one wrong, but she did wise up within a few years. Cameron, Miliband, and Clegg haven’t wised up because, I suspect, they don’t actually give a damn where the truth lies on “climate change”, the important thing to them is how they can work it to their own advantage. (thumbsup)
Well, good luck to big Thomas. A very fine lad.
I think he would do well in England. I think he’s good in the air and at the physical side of it.
Pistorius bailed, cue car chase in S.Africa highway.
Philvis
Well done on getting on with giving up. More power to you.
I saw some 12-year-olds smoking in Liverpool yesterday. Dear God. What part of the message is it that’s not getting through?
Ten Men Won The League
14:19 on 22 February, 2013
I like Thomas Rogne as well and hope he stays. He does need game time though as his defending in the lead up to St. Johnstone’s goal on Tuesday shows!
TTT
Carfin….Grotto
Cleland….Grotty
Is that it???
Anyway they all fall short of the modern metropolis that is ML3 :-)
BMCUW
That’s a Charles Green invention to entice the hun hordes to buy into another share issue isn’t it?
Tin
I genuinely have no idea how the good people of East Kilbride and Cumbernauld move around without transport.
Paths etc appear from dense wooded areas, it’s extremely disconcerting and may go some way to explaining why they all look like one another.
CHANNELISLANDCELT 1414
A bit of you will go with her,but all of your Mum will stay with you.
leftclicktic
I listened to the Turnbull Hutton audio you are talking about last night and have to agree, a more honest man in Scottish football I’ve yet to hear.
http://www.thecelticnetwork.com/2013/02/21/turnbull-hutton-on-league-recon-and-rangers-demise/
PHILVIS RETURNS
“petec – Why is Germany so strong in these turbulent times?
As far as I’m aware, German wages are lower than UK ones on average. (thumbsup)”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m fairly sure that you are wrong there-wash my mouth out!!!!-and that the answer lies in a question asked by Tony Blair of Angela Merkel following the crash.
TB-Why have you recovered so quickly while we have not?
AM-Because we still MAKE things….
leftclicktic @ 14 07.
Clemenceau ?
Many people think that his determination to punish Germany played a big role in the rise of Hitler and what was to come ..
One of his quotes gets an outing in one of my favorite movies — Dr Strangelove –
” War is too important to be left to the Generals ”
General Ripper CSC
I am pretty certain that Thomas Rogne’s problem does not have anything to do with any judgement of his ability.
His coat has been on a shoogly peg since he ( or more likely his agent ) went to the press during his contract negotiations.
It seems that our CEO was ‘incandescent’ at any negotiations between club & player becoming public knowledge.
Intemperate words were spoken.
Celtic_First – Thank you.
I saw some 12-year-olds smoking in Liverpool yesterday. Dear God. What part of the message is it that’s not getting through?
And how can they afford it? When I was 12 I could barely afford chocolate cigarettes to annoy teachers with. (thumbsup)
Does P67 know of something that may be in the offing (please, please mister!!)