Press stories yesterday that Newcastle United and newco Rangers would not be able to play in Uefa competitions in the same season have caused Mike Ashley considerable angst. While it would appear few things are untenable for Ashley, having one of his clubs bow out of Europe to allow the other to compete is beyond what even he believes to be acceptable.
Newcastle issued a statement early today challenging the reports, which initially appeared in the Daily Telegraph, a newspaper Newcastle have banned from their premises. The Telegraph reported that Uefa confirmed newco Rangers and Newcastle would be prevented from competing in Europe in the same season due to Article 3 of their competition regulations, which relate to multi-ownership.
I contacted Uefa this morning, who confirmed that the report in the Telegraph is incorrect; Uefa have made no such ruling. However, this is because they have received no complaint and no investigation has taken place. Uefa do not trawl looking for administrative breaches and will not investigate such matters unless asked to do so. This issue, it appears, has not gone beyond the Uefa Media Office, and will only be passed to Compliance if a complaint is made.
I reckon Ashley will be comfortable dealing with the SFA, who he can delay and confuse until after newco’s next funding round, which will take place before Christmas, but he doesn’t want Uefa, or the FA in England, on his case, as either could jeopardise plans.
It’s incredible that months after Ashley bought into newco no one has complained to the one body who have the power to dissuade him.
The scenes outside Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday were predictable. Craig Whyte stands accused by the court of public opinion of liquidating Rangers Football Club. I know some of the bile directed towards him went well beyond what is acceptable, but you can’t liquidate a football club and not expect some push-back at the fringes.
The court of public opinion, isn’t making sense, though. Rangers fans are angry at Craig Whyte, who, apparently, played hardball with the evil HMRC, then was cheated out of his rightful place in the Premier League by a combination of the SFA, the SPL, Celtic, the BBC and bigotry.
If it wasn’t for these dark forces, Craig would have used the [cough]perfectly legitimate business tactic of liquidation, to carry the same club through the crippling debt Sir David Murray had lumbered it with and back to its rightful place in Scottish football.
So if it’s all someone else’s fault, why are they so angry at Craig? Genuine question. He either released the club from Murray’s excesses, and was victimised, or he brazenly killed the club and tried to flog them a newco as though nothing had changed.
The only reason I can think they are angry at Craig is because our old pal Cognitive Dissonance is gnawing away in the background. Whyte’s plan was to liquidate Rangers, present the SPL and SFA with a fait accompli midseason, and have the newco pick up the vacant league position the following week.
This was a horrible plan. Rangers fans’ ‘No to liquidation’ campaign was correct. Everyone else’s opposition to this aberration was also correct.
The fait accompli didn’t work. The rest of Scottish football chose to step off the cliff into the unknown, although many Rangers fans quickly adopted Whyte’s – liquidation means nothing – logic, however they couldn’t bring themselves to accept the man himself.
The 2015 CQN Annual is churning through the system and will be ready to ship week commencing 8 December. You can order yours here today.
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MIKEINTORONTO
TBH,we don’t have any time for you at all. We’re only interested in that lass of yours.
Nothing personal.
Partick beating Accies 2 nil ,R Stevenson with both
!!bada bing!!
16:07 on 29 November, 2014
Good shout
TCR is at the Cliftonville game today.
The score was nil-nil at half time .
Cliftonville are only after scoring 6 goals in 20 minutes.
HH.
BMCUW
No offence taken. I fully understand. She is really much more interesting and cute than I am.
My family told me recently that if we ever split up, they are keeping her!
Minceyheidman
Around thirty.
Disappointing to see that The Herald censors comments on their articles. This morning I wrote this about Gary Keown’s article:
“Ronny’s got a long way to go but this bitter little article might have acknowledged that to lose only one game in five so far in the Europa League is worthy of praise.”
What they published omitted the words “bitter little”. I’d rather they chose not to publish a comment than to alter it.
beatbhoy
:-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Sheepies oot……good
Murderwell going oot…….good.
Liverpool one up.
Glen Johnston via HT’s coupon :)
mike in toronto
Happy birthday buddy from pitch dark Strathaven. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Mike in Toronto.
Enjoy! All of it….
HH jamesgang
Gon the Albion Rovers 1-1
Weefra
It’s that bloomin dark you lost yer hoose?!?
It’s well dark isn’t it!
Glad I don’t suffer from SAD.
HH jamesgang
Gordon
Izzy deyner/efe virgil Mathews
Forrest Brown Johnson tonev
Thumb/stokes. Guidetta
Team for tomorrow
jamesgang
Great news the wee fella getting a hat trick. Brilliant. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Cheers Weefra
Their team is the epitome of mixed ability. Some even have ‘mixed feet’ – 2 left or 2 right! So it was grand to see them work their wee erses aff and get their reward!
HH jamesgang
Cheers lads
What’s this story that New Balance are making our strips as off next season
Ma heids nipping trying to work out a formation wi that kinda available side. Hahaha.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
jamesgang
Give the wee mhan a high 5 all the way from ML5.
fitba goal scoring abilty to go with they fine looks he got off his Mam …………. & Dad :)))
Lock up yer daughters CSC.
till later all
Bolton 1-0 ft
Spartans 2-1 Morton ft
bye bye murderwell & Cooooodenbeath in the cup :)))
Charles Kickham –
First I’ve heard of it but their running shoes have served me well for about 20 years ;-)
12 Sep 2014, 01:32 PM
Celtic Underground have just tweeted that New Balance looking like being our new kit suppliers.
Bolton 13/10
QPR 13/10
St Johnstone 10/11
Ya fcuking beauty
I see Liverpool won…..Hamiltontim and ryecatcher kissing
and cuddling on the Kop.
Good away point for the vale against gillingham – equaliser came 4 mins into added time.
I heard the rumour that warrior (reebok) are making the kit, but don’t know if true
mike
I believe warrior parent company is new balance
Gene
I had heard a while ago it was warrior. Hope not … The Liverpool strip is honkin
may 67
dont be disappointed in the Herald.They engaged a hun historian to write Hugh Adams obituary.mentioned the disgraced dave more times than Hugh Adams himself.They,had so many complaints another obituary was written.
They try and play their part in news(‘lambing,’)speak
hh
nye bevan
That must be a sight to behold. Hahaha
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
hope Ashley gets his double up on sunday
hail hail
meeting a workmate from Ayrshire tomorrow in the city centre before going to see The Who ,whats the best Celtic pub near the central station to watch the game in ?
mike
it takes great effort to mess up the hoops – but there has been a couple of good attempts
Off to Mass with my cqn prayer list- till later
Walk round to Failte on St. Vincent St., a couple of doors up from Drum & Monkey. Good Celtic shop.
HH