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.
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Paul 67
You seem to be suggesting that a Rangers of some description will be voted into the SPL.
Celtic may only have one vote, but there is no way the could ask our support to pay to watch a league where financial chicannery also led to the loss of trust in the game as a whole by way of titles that were won other than by financial cheating. (aka Honest Mistakes).
So the suggestion that the punishment fit the crime (10 or more points a season) is an absolute must if Celtic were ever able to contemplate taking part in any competition that involved Rangers in whatever form they continue.
In addition other condition would be a review of refereeing to make it a service answerable to the customers (clubs and their support represented by the SPL) and not the suppliers (the SFA), much closer examination of the financial evidence provided for licensing (had that existed Rangers would not be in danger) and of course club governanace by individuals fit to do so.
This is an opportunity to reform Scottish Football for good and for the good and Celtic cannot pass it up. If that means walking away then that should be made clear to those opposed to severe sanctions.
Why is there no additional punishment for a failed appeal? You get a 2 game ban,a quick check of the fixture list then decide to accept it, or appeal and player is eligible for next game.Piece of nonsense.
bournesouprecipe says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:01
“Great deal from @RangersStore, fans who buy a home top with name printing receive a free upgrade to XXXXXXL!”
Not that great if it’s only one size upgrade
Dontbrak@1701
You’re at the wind up shurely Shun!
Admitted the Championship is a high pressure league to get out of….
but well within our capabilities IMO
HH
squire danaher says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:01
In fairness to D Murphy he could take a penalty!
LB
cadizzy,
That is the dilemma.
Do Celtic take the pragmatic approach, shrug the shoulders and say, “we need them”.
If they do this, they will alienate vast swathes of the support. Like Salmond appears to be doing with his Bill.
It has always been a corrupt game, but ,up until now, there was never a smoking gun.
Now, they have been exposed and only a reconstruction or bending of the rules will save Them.
This will happen.
When this happens, if not before, Celtic should post their NOTICE to resign, if the INTEGRITY of the competition is not respected.
As I said in an earlier post, Celtic adopted a stance based on the integrity of the competition during Extensiongate.
That stance was enough to ensure that the integrity was preserved.
Are you arguing that integrity is only desirable up to a point?
Does it have a price?
If so, then that is the point where many Celtic men will say, “no more”.
And THAT is Celtic’s dilemma.
Belfast Celtic did not take the easy option. Neither should Celtic.
If we are forced to play in a lower league, then it will be a test for the support.
Stick with the club, or turn your back.
“Ask not what your club can do for you, but what can you do for your club”.(paraphrase JFK).
tomthetim
Correcto mondo!
HH
cadizzy says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:01
We are at least as essential to the other clubs as Rangers are and if the choice is a league less one of us, they will vote for a league with both of us.
My dear,dear,dear,friend… Jist.. Patrick.
Hiya.. Pal?
Remember, whit Ah wrote.
Ah based Ma opinion…oan..
THE FACT THE WE WUR BAITH MEMBERS of the S.P.L.
And if we ur.. and remain, as such..
CELTIC wull Need the G.A. and Vice Versa, in order fur the S.P.L. tae remain as a Viable Organization.
Sure,
Ah Heartily agree with you..and also… oor Mutual Friend..
BUNBERRYBHOY..
that..
Celtic, Must seek Pastures New.
Me?
Well.. If Ah wur King…
Ah wid enter The Celtic Football and Athletic Club, into the
Unfortunately En-Titled.. “BLUE” Square League.
Tout de Suite!
If not even .. sooner.
In Four Years..which is no a Long Time.. really..
We wid be firmly… and Happily… and Joyfully ensconced..
in the English Premier lLeague,and wid be delightedly partaking of it’s Bountiful Cornucopia of Luxurious Benefits.
Nevertheless…awe o’that being said..
A Vibrant and Financially Stable G.A… must be oor
Partner…till Death dae Us Part..
AS. LONG AS BAITH OF US.. Remain in the S.P.L.
In Ma Opinion.
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye aloater.
Kojo
Will get back tae ye in 5 hours once I decipher yer cunning linguist gymnastics
A Bloater
HH
England would be fine by me.
a few years in the lower leagues.
No Europe, but we could be lucky and get a couple of glamour ties in the FA or league cup each season.
Full house at parkhead, Sky tv rights etc.
James Forrest is Lennon says:
6 January, 2012 at 12:47
I can quite often get frustrated at your posts and comments, however credit where it is due. That is BANG on the money for me.
An excellent post and up there with the best have read on the subject. It mirrors how I feel, but presented articulately – I have trouble transferring my thoughts/opinions/feelings to written form – thank you for doing it for me on this occasion :-)
hh
bjmac
bunburybhoy – the Championship is full of ‘big’ teams that think they should be in the top division, and then find they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.
You would also have to persuade some of our better players to be willing to go down to a lower standard with a thinner pay packet, for their troubles.
Good luck with that one ;/)
Bjmac
Ya sook :-))
Taken from Yahoo.com
Apple could be set to rush soccer broadcasting into a new era with a revolutionary, multi-billion dollar bid for television rights to the English Premier League.
And it could have implications far beyond soccer.
The technology giant is interested in acquiring exclusive rights to screen EPL games in England when the next package (for the 2013-2016 seasons) is tendered. The Cupertino, Calif., company is set to wade into a bidding war with established television heavyweights such as Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky Sports, ESPN and Al Jazeera.
Using its platform of Apple TV, a small box costing less than $100 that allows users to stream internet content on their television screens, the company already showcases properties from Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association. But this is different.
By going for full English television rights to the EPL, one of the most lucrative sports products in the world, Apple could be signaling the start of an assault on cable’s turf.
Apple’s interest was first revealed by Charles Sale of London’s Daily Mail newspaper and was confirmed to Yahoo! Sports by Apple sources on Thursday. The company is still in the early stage of formulating its bidding plans, but is keen to expand its sports packages and it sees soccer as a valuable way to gain a stronger footing in the British market.
SOAL
A “P” please Bob, cue outrageous laughter from the audience both in the studio and at home…..a real Blockbuster of a show
hh
bjmac
thomthethim says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:05
If Celtic let it be known they were up for transfer, I can see a Championship not too far away who would be more than happy to make room for them with suitable compensation to any club lower down missing out on promotion to that Championship being arranged. That would be pennies to DD compared with the income opportunity.
Only clubs in the championship with realsitic EPL ambitions would be concerned, I reckon that would be eight from 24.
thomthetim
My preference would be for Celtic to fight this publicly including enlisting the support of UEFA/FIFA, the EU, FBI, BBC, BB King (Beatles reference there). I do not advocate a shrugging of the shoulders and getting on with it meakly and mildly. Celtic should make this THE world news in football. This, as with Extension gate, would be a stance sufficient to ensure that integrity was preserved so, no, I am not arguing that integrity is only desirable to a point.
If Celtic genuinely does everything in its power to stop this, it will have highlighted the huge wrong that has been done in and to Scottish football. I don’t see why Celtic should then pay the price that should be paid by Rangers.
The THREAT of resignation is certainly a potential tactic but (broken record time again) if we have nowhere to go then we are in deep trouble.
hamiltontim says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:18
You know you’re the only one for for me (well you & Tosh) x
hh
bjmac
Ed Milliband successfully tweets himself out of a political career.
squire danaher says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:01
To suggest that African born players (black presumably) can’t make it as a striker is at best ridiculous and would be easy to interpret as racist.
Bonty Bhoy (from earlier)
“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.”
They may still attract a reasonable sized audience to Sky but they will not attract the numbers who followed when they were a successful team. They will not fill the seats to watch their team lose regularly to the others in the SPL and their enthusiasm for watching their team lose 8 out of 10 matches to Celtic would be seriously tested. TV companies too want a Celtic v Rangers match that can go either way; they will not find a predictable Celtic win so easy to market. This Newco you envisage which still has resources to outstrip most “even if it is not in monetary form” (are we talking refs and lodges here?), will it be be able to pay players at a higher level than St. Johnstone, even when they have to rent a stadium from an absent landlord looking to make a killing from them, and they have to re-up all their operations (shops, marketing, catering etc;). All their previous sponsors and debenture holders will have to be persuaded to re-invest too.
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.
Newco Rangers will not accept any punishment of that duration and magnitude and I doubt that other clubs have a resolve to attempt even half of that. Rangers will look to be treated like Airdrie United with a new name, a clean slate, and a “let’s all pretend we’re the same club” attitude. Even if they did accept a small penalty (5 to 10 points) over a small period (3-5 years) they would be appealing for a sentence reduction after a year.
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.
We do not have to have CL success to have missed out on money. You earn just by qualifying. In the years we were cheated, we lost much more than the TV deal brings. We had to sell Aiden McGeady, thus reducing our chances of future success. We had to look away from big money buys because they were too risky thus making future CL success less likely. We lost co-efficient points affecting our status and seeding. That loss was plapable, real and significant. The TV deal is small fry in comparison.
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.
You are imagining it as not a “soft landing” because you see the imposition and acceptance of points sanctions which are heavy and long lasting. I see no chance of rangers Newco accepting these terms or, if accepted, they would seek to appeal and reduce their severity, once they are back in. If you could guarantee me a 20 point penalty for over a decade, I might just hold my nose and see a Newco in the same league as my team.
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.
I do not accept that I am any more or less emotional than you in my reaction. It is not a hatred of Rangers per se. Gretna and Airdrie get no sympathy from me for expecting others to fund their inflated lifestyle. Motherwell, Livingston and Dundee are different cases because they tried to pay back some of their debts and worked their way out of Administration. Rangers will not attempt to do so. BTW, if there is no “want” in your repeated advancement of the merits of the plan, why do you present/promote it as the likely outcome, against the wishes of the majority of fans. You have ben presented with alternative plans on here. Let Rangers go to the wall of their own accord. Assist Rangers in going to the wall by applying pressure. Let their poor club play in poorer leagues. All of the above are workable alternatives. What is wrong with them?
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.
But, Rangers and Hearts ( and to lesser extents Kilmarnock and Motherwell etc;) are the ones destroying our football by paying and operating above their needs in order to see our prudent spending, and that of Hibs, St. Johnstone and St. Mirren (possibly). It is not vindictiveness but a sense of fairness and justice that drives my viewpoint.
You, on the other hand, have a difficulty in espousing how you can reconcile a fair sanction on Rangers because it may have a small punitive effect on Celtic. The future is always uncertain. I am happy to face an uncertain future without them.
I am hearing young Adam Matthews has been offered a new improved contract, well deserved in my opinion.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
My dear,dear,dear,friend..BunburyBhoy
Don’t Kid yersel, yersel.. pally..
You Underestimate yer ain ability tae Comprehend.
Figger oan.. Two Minutes!
Whit Ah am up agin, here…as always..
Is MA readers.. insistance, oan communicationing in
the Queen’s English..
Right?
and.. As Ah pay nae Homage tae that Illustrious Personage..
in any kinda manner..
Ah march tae MA ain Beat…
So…
Ah write ..in Patois.
Kojo
yer pal.. who thinks yer swell.
Bjmac
An overnighter in Aberdeen may test the strength of our affections. I’ll keep you posted :-))
What about the much laughed at idea from twitters ITK-Agent
“Celtic in talks to join the Dutch Premier League?”
It has been laughed at, hypothetically, would anyone give it any consideration?
surely to ghod if the orcs are reinstated into the league, on the assumption that scottish football is finished without celtic and rangers.
the humiliation must be equal to the misdeeds. ie……the winning of leagues, cups and CL monies. these tainted titles must be removed from history publically.
but where does that leave the integrity of the game up here, seems like the precedent would be set…………………..
spend money you dont have, gain advantage over everyone in the league thro’ fraud and hey presto when it goes “tits up” wipe the slate clean and start again with all intact except the name of your club …..simples really!
SonsOfErin says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:20
“Ed Milliband successfully tweets himself out of a political career.”
What did he say?
Here is one from the left field…
If Glasgow Celtic moved to Dublin…
Think Ryanair…
Think welcoming City..
Think and out in 6 hours if need be on match days…
Think Aviva Stadium…
Think
Think Champions league
Anybody heard from bjmac?
bunburybhoy says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:28
Think you’ve lost your mind
Looks like this puts to bed any rumours of Kris Commons going
I think there is interest from Southampton in Kris,” said Lennon.
“I will try and fend off any offers that come in.
“To have him back for the second half of the season is a huge bonus. He came in at this time last year and scored 14 in 18 so it’s like having a new player.”
Celtic will be forced to make at least one change for the trip to Balmoor to face Peterhead with Gary Hooper out with a groin strain.
“We’ll go with a pretty strong squad and one’s thing for sure, we’ll not be complacent or taking this game lightly,” said Lennon.
Bourne
Nope but I spoke to his hat the other day…..
tim to go home
tim to go home
lalalalalalalalalala
tim to go home
tim to go home
cadizzy is waving goodbye
bunbury bhoy
Celtic is a Scottish Club.
Not moving home, just moving leagues
thomthethim says:
6 January, 2012 at 17:05
Took the words right out of my mouth, only you say it better than I ever could :>)
cadizzy,
We are in total agreement.
Excuse my inability to express myself properly.
I highlighted the “shrug” position as one side of the dilemma facing the club, not suggesting that that was your position.
Auldheid,
Over the last few weeks, or so, TET and I have been advocating Celtic serving Notice to resign, should the needs arise.
As far as I’m aware, two years notice is required to quit, therefore, plenty of time for Scottish football to come to it’s senses.
There is no argument, either by the SFA/SPL or UEFA when the pillar of your case is Integrity.
Off to shave before dinner guests arive.