I caught an online synopsis of Rangers’ owner Craig Whyte’s recent meeting with a group of the club’s fans last night. The group report that Whyte hopes, “’Rangers Football Club Plc’ could survive any administration event but feels it would not be the end of the world if it didn’t.”
We can all agree, it sure wouldn’t be the end of the world if that particular entity didn’t survive, although I suspect Mr Whyte is alluding to the possibility of a new club emerging. Celtic Quick News first raised the liquidation scenario back in October and explained a prepack route for Rangers Newco FC. If a football company goes into liquidation a secured creditor, in Rangers case this would be Craig Whyte, can retain control of key assets, such as the stadium, but would not own a football club which was part of any league structure.
In Scotland any Newco FC would have to apply for membership of the Scottish Premier League or Scottish Football League. A simple majority of the SPL board (three votes required) would be enough to vote a club into the SPL. The board currently has representatives from Celtic, Dundee United, Motherwell and St Johnstone, as well as SPL chief exec, Neil Doncaster. It is chaired by Ralph Topping, who only votes in the event of a stalemate.
If Rangers lose their tribunal against Her Majesty’s tax authorities (think of her underequipped soldiers), Celtic will not be the only club who will consider the commercial and competitive disadvantage they suffered while paying their taxes for the last 12 years, but they may be one of the few clubs that would survive without the sponsorship and TV income dependent on a club with the Rangers brand participating in the league. Celtic would vote against allowing Rangers into the league but I can see zero chance of Dundee United, St Johnstone, Motherwell or Neil Doncaster doing the same. If the board voted Newco FC into the league, the liquidation of Rangers would not be the end of the world; a football club would die but another could quickly emerge at the same location, selling tickets to the same people.
Opening positions on what sporting cost Newco FC should face for league entry were taken months ago when it was reported that Rangers would fight “tooth and nail” against a 25 point penalty on a Newco. A 25 point penalty on the phoenix of a failed club after 12 seasons of financial benefit would be an insufferable insult. This amounts to little more than a the loss of a single league title. 12 seasons of benefit should result in a 12 seasons of penury at the insolvency-event rate of 10 points per season. Small cost for the enormous gift of a league place and a huge football franchise. The SPL must also strike from the record any financially doped titles won by clubs still in existence or not.
Can you imagine if Peter Lawwell said, “It wouldn’t be the end of the world if Celtic PLC didn’t survive”! There would be an impromptu media village outside Celtic Park that would rival the Obama inauguration in size. Huge story sitting on a plate just waiting to be written up. Or not.
You can order a hard copy of CQN Magazine, issue 5, with credit/debit card or Paypal and buy direct from the UK for only £3.50 + £1.50 postage and packing. Shipping costs £2 to ROI, £3 to Europe and £4 to elsewhere. Click on the link below to order.
Click here to view the new issue of CQN Magazine online for free. You can support the online edition by making a discretionary donation here.
1,216 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 32
- »
Ten Men Won The League says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:01
BMCUW@13:50
Once the Devils XI go belly up the one of many delights i will take from that situation is that he will be thrown on the scrapheap, due to him being rubbish at football and a high earner
Hopefully once the league, is won our players can make the last derby game a ‘Who can tackle Elbows the hardest’ occasion until he has to be withdrawn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Big Johann would be my favourite.
He has form for it when the slug played for his previous team up here.
Melted,and I mean,MELTED him,for doing Henrik just once too often.
Anyone out there got the link?
Desperately want to add it to my favourites!
SFTB
Thanks for the civil reply, something I can’t always rely upon from some of the ‘Celtic Supporters’ on here.
Sure, it appears my take on it might be a little out of kilter, but, not so much as is often portrayed on here. Indeed mostly it’s just a tweak on the more rational view we all hold.
Anyway, I think it’s worth addressing your points as best I can.
1- you were saying if Rangers finish 7th or 8th they will no longer be attractive to Sky. I don’t agree, the fanbase will always be 2nd. Also, this isn’t the EPL, in the SPL from 3rd to 12th the budgets are broadly the same. Rangers will have resources to outstrip most, even if this isn’t in monetary form. So the real question for them will be how well they manage expectations or galvanise behind a common goal. They’ll still be a long way short of a healthy Celtic though.
2 – I agree, the crime of a club, particularly Rangers, is undermining not only their own status but the health of the league. There should be a harsh penalty. The kind that is never forgotten. I just don’t think they will be demoted, and if they’re docked 25 points a year for 12 years or whatever then what’s the real difference. I’m just being realistic.
3 – Perhaps, but, I don’t think we’d have had much more CL success either way. More to my point, if our league is destroyed by the absence of Hearts and Rangers with other on their knee’s it’s hard to imagine how Celtic could put a team together that would ever be competitive again.
4 – If it were Celtic I wouldn’t consider it a soft landing… however I take your point, it is much more than they deserve. That said, and this is the most bizarre part of all this, what on earth do Rangers fans actually think of all this? Those capable of any thoughts must have something to say. It’s a little unsettling how quiet it all is.
5 – I have long championed our board and their prudent fiscal approach. And it would be a massive slap in the face for the board. However they are sensible chaps and they simply won’t react in an emotional way. I’m looking on this farce with some trepidation, because I can’t quite see how we escape unscathed. Let me just say, if we supporters play any part in the downfall of our own club…. well I’d like to make a dire threat at this point, but what can I say other than it would be utterly shameful if we let Rangers folly and our anger blind us from the needs of our own club. If you want to take advantage of this situation then I’d like to hear some better ideas. And by the way there is no ‘want’ in any part of my commentary. We can be dispassionate observors, even of things we love. Indeed I rather hope that’s how our board and management team are.
6 – I offer no plan whatsoever. I observe the very flaw you suggest is part of my plan. If I had a plan it would be to get the hell out of the SPL, using the farce at Hearts and Rangers as our excuse, and put as much distance between them and us as possible. We need to be saved from those who would destroy our league and competition from without and those within who are so vindictive and hateful that they would put the punishment of Rangers ahead of the welfare of Celtic. It’s not logical and we’ll certainly regret it.
Just to re-iterate I offered no plan whatsoever in my previous post.
Anyway, I recognise the strength of feeling… because I feel the same. However it’s doesn’t take a genius to work out that we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Suddenly blood lust isn’t important, suddenly instead of being the healthy hunter we’re in danger of hunting in a field full of dead and diseased animals. I genuinely say to hell with that pish if some idiotic ‘Old Firm’ fans really want a dance ’til the death then go dance. Me, I’m wanting to watch Celtic play.
Thanks Paul.
Very encouraging words re the stance of Celtic and any vote.
Re The Manager, I’d hope that the long term gain of trying to restore sporting integrity would be of greater importance than the short term of cheering The Bhoys on to a win at St Johnstone for instance.
I have never been in favour of a Bhoycott and if justice is done when the day of reckoning dawns, there is no need. If we are a lone voice however, I feel that Celtic, it’s custodians and our global following would need to pull the plug. We, and to a lesser extent the smaller clubs, may well have the future of Scottish football in our hands. It would be a huge choice to make but I believe it would be the only true option.
So that’s Motherwell,St.Johnstone and Dundee Utd that will have to be boycotted.
Boycott them a season per title the huns won.
Anybody really think the huns will be stripped of titles? As long as we have a European Cup and they don’t it will never happen as their number of titles is all they have to hold onto.
And let’s think of the soldiers,Help For Heroes I think the charity/campaign is called.
Re the 50-50,
While unable to tell at the actual game whether it was a bad tackle or not.
Myself, hamiltontim and one other mate watched it again that night and all thought it was a fair 50-50 with both hitting the ball at the same time.
Now, I hate elbows with a vengeance but…
YEEZ can all slaughter me now but leave Kitalba alone OK!
:-))
Sub/Chris, very very good indeed.
DBBIA Rico’s did not have 3 stars. In saying that, it did not have 4 crowns either though the Dockers definitely did.
Kayal crocked by a player who should not have been on the park. In US tax law, you can face severe financial penalties for taking a position on your tax return that is deemed to be frivolous or without merit. The appeal by Hades XI against McCulloch’s card was entirely without merit and was a cynical exploitation of a rule that was meant to protect those harshly punished. 139 years of unattained dignity.
CaltonTongues says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:19
Yir a wee fibber,
no way have you got two mates.
Paul67 call me a cynic a sceptic whatever. But our board and executive only care about remuneration and financial success. So the loss of trophies while playing at a less than even playing field in the past with mean nothing to them. They still got their bonus and we’re well looked after. They will not vote for anything likely to reduce future revenue regardless of fairness or sporting integrity. This
Paul
Now, my heart rate increased a wee bit when you (just) said:
“Uefa’s scrutiny of any decision would be more valuable than anything local attention could do.”
As UEFA just demonstrated with their patient demolition of Sion and the Swiss FA, this organisation can administer justice if their authority is threatened.
Maybe a bit more hope than I expressed above then!
Presumably, UEFA will be our first point of contact come the great day!
HH
Paul, appreciate your answers, wish I felt better about the business integrity of our board, I’m sure PL would want to take them on, but the absentee landlord…………. I’m not so sure. This is simple, if Celtic refuse to take part in a revised SPL with newco present then its game on. The same scenario is in play, no Celtic, no TV money or 2 bumper crowds per season.
On your point about the Div 1 team being promoted, same surely applies to SPL team being relegated (say Hibs) wouldn’t they want to take legal proceedings to remain in the SPL if rangers go out?
On another note, Celtic play Peterhead on Sunday, managed by one of the biggest Celtic supporters working in Scottish Football, Jim McInally, ask to see his season tickets, he will show you them.! If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Jim and talking Celtic with him, well there is man who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t hide his love for Celtic.
Celtic should give the SPL/SFA a bill for Kayals wages, lost win bonuses and treatment should also be delivered for allowing McCulloch to play while he should have been suspended due to them being incompetent therefore allowing him to badly injury opponents!
squire danaher,
With five voting members, I guess there could only be a tie if someone abstained.
Let’s say that NewCo applies. Mr Doncaster, hypothetically, decides that as an employee he should not go one way or the other on such a contentious issue. The four voting members vote 2 – 2.
What does Topping do then? He has the casting vote in this scenario.
Bangura’s agent has been advised to find his player another club during this transfer window – sale preferred, loan acceptable #Celtic
Retweeted by Phil MacGiollaBhain
CALTON TONGUES 1419
My family near disowned me for saying that!
But that is how I saw it too.
Unfortunate,but possibly not as bad as Elbows would have liked……
If however the celtic vote doesn’t matter because of how the others are lined up. I expect we will see some sabre rattling. Who knows PL might give the press a few soundbites to run with.
Che says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:21,
Ha, let’s say a distant relative of yours? (PR)?
Kayal and Brown
Talented players, but all they ever do is pick up long term injuries.
Wanyama and Ledley in the middle of the park every game for me.
HH
I’m sick of these scumbags cheating, injuring other players, even bending the rules to get a player on the field to cheat and injure our players.
Life without them can’t come soon enough.
F&££ mccoist. F£&£ him, just f£&£ him.
MadraRua says: 6 January, 2012 at 14:09
Doc is Neil Lennon says: 6 January, 2012 at 13:07
Regarding punishment, I’d go for 8 years hard labour.
Very lenient MadraRua.
12 years for me,thats one year for each year the EBT’s were being used by the Huns.
Starting in division 3,
Bhoys I honestly think if the poundland mob get re entry into the SPL as newco Rangers or some other such name Celtic will cease to exist in the form they are in today. I say that because I believe thousand of fans would give up on following scottish football as like me they would fail to bother with a league were cheating was allowed to prosper.Crowds at Celtic Park would be considerably reduced as would income.So I think the powers that be should take there time before making a decision and look at all the possible ramifications.H.H.
Allyhuntersgloves says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:22
the board did it the hard, unpopular, completely proper way for the last twelve years while they cheated and cut every corner they could. no way would dd let them get away with it, no chance
CT
Yep we agreed upon viewing the tackle on TV after it and I still maintain that belief. My problem is with the thug being allowed to play in the first place.
They took advantage of a flaw in the rules which was supposed to have been addressed.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
The Idiot says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:21
Paul67 call me a cynic a sceptic whatever. But our board and executive only care about remuneration and financial success. So the loss of trophies while playing at a less than even playing field in the past with mean nothing to them. They still got their bonus and we’re well looked after. They will not vote for anything likely to reduce future revenue regardless of fairness or sporting integrity. This
………
Celtic and the other teams who have lost out on European revenue and trophies should sue Rangers for lost income. In our case that could be well over £60m and other teams would be due a fortune as well! I know we wouldn’t get the money, but should insist on the trophies correctly awarded to whoever was cheated!
Plastic Surgeons who remove tattoos could be very busy if they get stripped of several titles!!!!!!
ASonOfDan says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:25
you’re kidding right? mcculloch almost crippled kayal and thats him picking up injuries. what a stupid thing to say.
Asonofdan. Kayal picked up that injury?
No he didn’t, he was assaulted. Doesn’t matter who was on the pitch they would have been done by that assault.
….and Healy had been told to crock one of our other top performers…..thankfully he couldn’t even do that right.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:24,
Maybe hamiltontim will disown me if I’m lucky:-))
Allyhuntersgloves says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:22
Jim mcinally – a decent player in his day too.
Paul67
The general rules for SPL Board voting gives the Chairman two votes, the second being a casting vote in the event of a tie.
“Each Director shall, subject to the provisions of these Articles, have one vote. In the case of an equality of votes at Board Meetings, the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.”
Is there a different system for New Co voting? If not then approval might just require Topping plus two others. Or if he opposed it, it would effectively require four of the other five unless there were any absences / abstentions.
celtic4me and others.
I’d hate to be a Celtic fan assumed sticking up for any Rager, let alone that one.
Neil Lennon was asked about the challenge, and didn’t condemn it, whereas if they’d asked me
I’d say McCulloch took him out, then feigned injury (always a giveaway)
From the terrible news today McCulloch’s tackle will get worse.
Celtic4me, I pray you are right, but I don’t think DD gives a damn ( this man can’t turn up for 2 AGM’s in a row), but he gives a damn enough not to want to see his money go. A new SPL with Newco on board and his investment intact, yes thank you……………..
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:22
squire danaher,
With five voting members, I guess there could only be a tie if someone abstained.
Let’s say that NewCo applies. Mr Doncaster, hypothetically, decides that as an employee he should not go one way or the other on such a contentious issue. The four voting members vote 2 – 2.
What does Topping do then? He has the casting vote in this scenario
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gordon,in all honesty,I would not be surprised to discover that,on grounds of vested interest,WE abstained!
Celtic under -19s live in Stuttgart tourney, official live feed, http://mercedes-benz-junior-cup.de/index.php?id=106 I believe young hoops on around 1500 hrs.
Rico’s new barmaid unveiled.
At least 2 stars…
setting free the bears says:
6 January, 2012 at 12:19
Excellent summation of what I believe to be a majority view amongst our support.
I am one of those 60 year supporters who will have some serious soul searching, should we facilitate a soft landing. Me and Exiled Tim.
The important aspect for us to focus on is ,not what “the Good of Scottish Football” come up with, but, what will Celtic’s response be, should the possibly inevitable happen.
I think we have to look back to 2008m when Celtic challenged Extensiongate.
We ignored the pleas for “the good, etc.” and the co-efficient blurb.
Instead, we made it a single issue. The integrity of the competition.
That is all that is required from us this time. No compromise. Integrity.
As a club, we would be failing in our duty if we haven’t prepared a case for exiting Scottish football.
We as supporters, and, perhaps, more importantly, shareholders, should not be handicapped by the mal-administration of the SFA/SPL and fellow clubs.
We have enough evidence.
Cardiff and Swansea joined the English League system through lack of competition.
Allyhuntersgloves
On another note, Celtic play Peterhead on Sunday, managed by one of the biggest Celtic supporters working in Scottish Football, Jim McInally, ask to see his season tickets, he will show you them.! If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Jim and talking Celtic with him, well there is man who wears his heart on his sleeve and doesn’t hide his love for Celtic’.
All the more surprising that he was quoted in the Daily Mail telling his players and i quote “Kick and scratch them, get in their faces and leave the boot in”
If another of our players receives a season ending injury at the hands of a Peterhead player this time, i wonder if we will still hold Jim in high regard?
Does anyone know if Celtic could legally challenge a Rankers Newco Fc being admitted into the SPL regardless of the SPL vote? It is the very least I, and I suspect the majority of Celtic fans, would expect from our board. Doing nothing would be tantamount to tacit agreement. Would the current Celtic board survive the predicted backlash from incensed fans if they were to simply wash their hands and say ‘we voted against it”?
hamiltontim says:
6 January, 2012 at 14:26,
Totally agree but them’s the rules.