What you and I have known for months was established as true by the BBC last night, Rangers improperly registered players for over a decade. Following the programme there was some bluster by a firm of accountants who clearly have a lot to worry about, but nothing has been said to dispute the dual contract claim.
The SLP have not added to their 65 word statement released ahead of the broadcast. SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has told the BBC the association will not act, unless called to do so as an appeal body, and SFA President What-school-did-you-go-to has not uttered a word.
Campbell Ogilvie was an executive director of Rangers when it carried out a dual contract system in contravention of the rules of the SFA. This is an established fact which is likely to have severe repercussion for the Scottish game and the club. It is inconceivable that he continues to act as president of the SFA, especially when it has taken the decision not to become involved, despite being the only body competent to investigate breaches across all domestic competitions.
He must resign immediately or be fired. If Mr Regan does not understand this he should be fired too. He is there to take the hard decisions, not to make friends. He has abandoned fans at the time they most need clear leadership.
Anyone on the board in any doubt about this matter must follow them out the door. The SFA is professional body with budget of millions of pounds, not an old boys club, and should act accordingly.
You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.
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politicians get to be politicians by compromising. Compromising their beliefs, their convictions, their motivation, their moral sense. Politicians are not necessarily bad people, it’s just that if they resist compromising they are portrayed as cranks and weirdos.
Vince Cable said what he really thought, had to resign.
A politician is effectively a reactive individual who tries to see the way the wind is blowing and then go with it.
Bawface is just another spiv who tries to second guess the DR.
VMHAN What does A M P Stand for
Frequently when a new boss takes over an organization — could be anywhere from a squad of infantry, to a prison guard, to a large soccer organization — the new boss will be tested by a member of that organization. The new boss then has a choice: Stamp down, leaving no doubts as to what is unacceptable, or cave in, and never again have control of that group. Regan was presented with just such a challenge in late 2010, when Douglas and his cabal lied, cheated, slured the Pope, etc. He did nothing. In that one act, or failure to act, he proved everything anyone needed to know about his lack of integrity and management ability. So it is hardly surprising that Regan continues to fail to appropriately act when summoned yet again into the breach.
Vmhan on 24 May, 2012 at 19:51 said:
Paddy G …. 2 minds think alike ….. Serious Fraud Office …. Tic toc
V
Hx2
*************
We have been talking a lot about the lack of statements from SFA, SPL and Duff and Phelps. These people have lawyers mate – no comment.
Paddy G –
I told me! And it is. Still about 22 degrees and sun still shining brightly (for it is the month of Mary, the love-er-ley month of May).
Jobo
Vmhan:
I was always under the impression that Port Glesga wiz ful a tims- a know Greenock CSC is a really massive club just aff the high street…or is it a case of the old boys network in said factory?
Welcome back Kojo.
Hope your keeping well.
Nothing serious I hope.
Your fingers will be itching to get back onto your keyboard.
Your friend.
SPF
Jobo Baldie on 24 May, 2012 at 19:55 said:
Good man, get yer Guinness HP sauce on the rolls bud.
The joint sponsorship fell through because we were getting the Guinness on our shirts and they couldn’t get HP. :-)
Eyes Wide Open at 19:53
Steven Davis
An executive director of Rangers (when it knowingly and deliberately acted in contravention of the rules of the SFA) became the national football governing body’s president. The same scam was still going on after he moved and he actually benefited financially from the same scheme that should have invalidated dozens of player registrations for the institution he now presided over.
I must not be understanding this correctly. Maybe his employer doesn’t know about it yet because as soon as they do they’ll have to fire him, or at the very least pass him the pearly handled revolver with a knowing look.
He HAS to go.
KevinBhoy.
The Idiot on 24 May, 2012 at 19:17 said:
>>>
The things orcs say…there must be a correlation between their lack of intelligence and the diet of sewage they’re fed,and seem to consume with relish.
I blame their schools………
24th May 1967
Little did our heroes know their deeds would have so many ramifications for our rivals as they prepared for the match of their lives.
God Bless them.
As I said earlier I canny see Prince Albert of Monaco wearing a burbery cap/pie encrusted Rangers top…drinking super lager & dae’in the bouncy wae the bigot brigade oan the train up tae Elgin next season…
In saying that, after the last few months: anything must be possible now.
HP Guinness
http://www.heinz.co.uk/sauce-partners/hp-sauce/products/hp-guinness
Alex Thomson had enough of it by the sounds of it.
So what now? Well first off a thank you to
the BBC team for what looks on the face of
it a significant piece of public service TV.
Let’s look at Duff and Phelps next, the
Rangers administrators. As any journalist
who’s ever gone beyond asking ‘How do you
feel?’ will tell you, toughtalk about
defamation, shoddy journalism etc is just PR
and a routine reaction to journalism-for-
grown-ups.
Channel 4 News has received actual lawyers
letters threatening action in the course of
investigating Rangers – never mind whining
drafted by PR people – and frankly it’s all an
occupational hazard when you put stuff in
the public domain that rich men with
lawyers don’t want known.
So ignore all the legal threats against the
BBC from Rangers administrators. It’s hot
air. The only thing that matters is the writ.
Wait. Watch. But I do not advise the holding
of any breath.
Craig Whyte said he’d sue over the last BBC
film. He has not done so. He told me he has
identified 47 defamatory articles about
himself in the Glasgow press – particularly
the Daily Record – I am not aware of any
writ.
Talk is cheap. So are warning letters from
lawyers (relatively). We are not even at the
latter stage yet.
Broadcasters operate in a much stricter
culture than news papers. One reason why
you have to wait to gets comments up on
this blog is because they all have to be
screened.
It goes without saying the BBC film will have
been greenlighted by their lawyers before
being broadcast.
So what of football? Well the clue is in Duff
and Phelps’ press release last night, where
they won’t comment on EBTs til the First Tax
Tribunal finally utters. It is currently
considering the legality of the Employee
Benefit Trust payments to staff.
Everyone will follow suit. Of course the
matter is hardly sub judice – you cannot
prejudice a judge considering a verdict at
appeal which is what the Tribunal is. But
Rangers administrators are using it as cover.
The Scottish Premier League, the Scottish
Football Association and UEFA will all
effectively now hide and play for time.
The SPL and SFA will take cover behind the
tax Tribunal a la Duff and Phelps. But both
have the extra cover of the SPL investigation
into double contracts. Both will say and do
very little I predict, until that is complete.
We know the SPL wants it to be the full job.
Forget prima facie stuff and a quick glance
from the legal team investigating to prove
the basis of a case or not. The game’s
shifted. SPL strategy is to have every
possible Rangers player who may not have
been properly registered investigated here
and now. And they’ve asked around at other
clubs too of course. We have a major line-
drawing operation here. So when the job’s
done there are no comebacks.
Actually I think they’re probably right here.
The BBC reported how some players had
‘double contracts’ but what matters is what
Rangers actually told the SPL. Only the SPL
can know.
It’s frustrating but it is as well that they get
this fully crossed off. Of course it also suits
their position to have the whole thing
delayed as long as possible whilst Rangers
itself prepares to exit administration via a
Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) or
liquidation and becomes a Newco (new
company).
The SFA as the overisght and appeal body
for the SPL, can effectively sit on their
thumbs and wait. Down in Switzerland, UEFA
can and will say ‘this is a matter for
sovereign countries and their governing
bodies’.
The meeting at the end of May to establish
new financial penalties for clubs like Rangers
who seem to need sectioning, as well as
accounting, will likely postpone any action
yet again and Rangers’ attempts to become
a CVA will grind on through June as many
players up and leave any how.
All in all I have no plans to travel to
Glasgow today, nor Switzerland in the light
of all the above. I am however, going on
another foreign assignment on Friday so –
like others it seems – I might be quiet on
the Rangers saga for a little while.
I will however, put up another blog on all
this with (pace Jonathan Swift) a Modest
Proposal which appears to get Rangers and
Scottish football, off the hook. Stay tooned.
Bhoys,
Thought I’d warn you. I am about to post my longest ever epistle right here on CQN.
I make no pretence to be as informed or enjoyable to read as the many posters here who deserve our attention, but please read my next post.
We fans don’t have much sway in most aspects of the ongoing scandal afflicting our fitba, but I know one guy we can bite on the backside…
This is a long post. Please read it. It matters. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
John McClelland has had a colourful career. Here’s his resume from the Scottish Funding Council website…
“John McClelland has extensive business experience across the private and public sectors. He was Vice President of Worldwide Operations for IBM’s personal computer company before joining Digital Equipment Corporation in 1995 where he was a Senior Vice President. He was also Global Chief Industrial Officer and board member of Philips Consumer Electronics and latterly President of 3Com’s Business Networks Company.
He is Interim Chair of Skills Development Scotland and Chairman of NQC Ltd.
In 2006, John conducted a review of public sector procurement in Scotland (The McClelland Report) and in 2011 completed a Review of ICT infrastructure in the public sector in Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government.
In 1994 he was awarded a CBE for his services to industry and education.
John is a former member of SHEFC and chaired its Quality Assessment Committee. He was appointed to SFC from 3 October 2005 to 2 October 2009. He was reappointed for a second term from 3 October 2009 to 2 October 2013.”
The SFC website also has a register of interests page. Here’s an interesting excerpt…
“Significant shareholdings in a public company where the value is more than £25,000 or less than £25,000 but more than one per cent of the total issued share value of the company.
Rangers FC PLC”
Our John is a busy lad. In fact, it’s a miracle he is able to find time to go and support his team. He is also the Chair of Skills Development Scotland.
According to the Scottish Government’s website, he is also very well paid.
for his work at the SFC…
“John McClelland’s reappointment is part time and for four years, effective from 3 October 2009 until 2 October 2013. The remuneration is £45,760 for a time commitment of 2 days per week.” http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/09/23151637
for his work at SDS…
“This appointment will be for four years and will run from February 28, 2012 to February 27, 2016. This post is part-time and attracts remuneration of £26,208 for a time commitment of around 6 days per month.”
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/03/SDS13022012
Mr McClelland was appointed as a director of Rangers Football Club (not yet in administration) in 2000 and was Chairman between 2002 and 2004. Last night the BBC identified Mr McClelland as being a beneficiary of an EBT from RFC (now in administration) to the tune of £225,000.
Selected extracts from the SFA Judicial Panel…
“That for many years prior to 6 May 2011 Mr John McClelland was a Non Executive Director of Rangers FC and he had previously been Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. He was well informed and experienced in business matters and well informed of the financial and business circumstances and history of Rangers FC prior to 6 May 2011. He was a close associate of Sir David Murray, a previous Chairman and majority shareholder through Murray International Holdings Limited.
…
That shortly after the date of their resignation, Mr John McClelland was aware of rumours outside Rangers FC about late payment of taxes. These rumours increased in the course of November 2011 and became rumours of non payment of taxes. He did not discuss these rumours with any continuing director of Rangers FC or take any other action.
…
Similarly, Mr John McClelland and Mr John Greig resigned in October because they knew that they were being excluded and marginalised at the same time as they had great concerns for the governance of Rangers FC and were deeply suspicious of Mr Craig Whyte before and after his acquisition of the majority shareholding from MIHL. Other than resignation there was no evidence that either of these directors took any steps with any person or authority to do anything about what they knew was happening. Criticism might be levelled at these directors and others. MrSimilarly, Mr John McClelland and Mr John Greig resigned in October because they knew that
they were being excluded and marginalised at the same time as they had great concerns for the governance of Rangers FC and were deeply suspicious of Mr Craig Whyte before and after his acquisition of the majority shareholding from MIHL. Other than resignation there was no evidence that either of these directors took any steps with any person or authority to do anything about what they knew was happening. Criticism might be levelled at these directors and others…”
The good panel were less than impressed.
Here’s the point. Most of us, rightly, are very angry that the President of the SFA refuses to resign from his position at the SFA despite his involvement in the events which have overtaken RFCIA. There isn’t, however, very much we can do about that except complain. They are, effectively, a private business. However, Mr McClelland, who gained more from the EBT scheme than his former colleague Mr O’Gilvie, is making a very comfortable living courtesy of you and I – the taxpayer. Talk about irony!
Just to pile it on, the SFC are in the process of managing a very severe round of cuts in education funding which may put at risk the futures of our children, which have resulted in hard working educators like what I am (!) suffering a loss of income in real terms, and (for example) have caused more than a thousand job cuts in the last year, with more likely in the near future.
I object to a man who was closely involved in the refusal of RFCIA to pay taxes and NI presiding over a budget of £1570.3 million this year, all of which has come from decent, law abiding taxpayers. Do you?
The relevant minister is Michael Russell, MSP.
This is one guy that we have the power to make pay…
Anybody know if Alan Thomson is bringing the trophy over tomorrow for the Jersey Celtic CSC annual dinner dance?
Eyes Wide Open,
Steve Davis and Sasa Papac were members of the EBT club.
SFFS
Would it be quicker to make a list of their players that were not members of the EBT club?
Sandy Jardine,”Rangers have been on the front and back pages everyday and the fans are sick of it”.Question Sandy,how much money did the hun fans waste on fixed titles???You all have an absolute cheek!!
SFFS – just when I see you on. Apologies for the wrong namecheck the morning after the Hearts game. Was trying hard to remember all the new CQNrs I had met and I appear to have named you rather than Setting Free The Bears. However, hope to meet you one day…
Stewart Regan was complaining on Twitter he couldn’t get to see Mark Dalys doc, “don’t have BBC iPlayer in Turkey” so I posted the You Tube links to him, hope that helps;-)
miki67 on 24 May, 2012 at 19:49 said:
Vmhan on 24 May, 2012 at 19:36 said
****************
Aircraft Marine Products = AMP (Port Glesga) the Port yins will know it…….. its gone now, why ye asking?
V
Hx2
Where does McLelland- is that the proboscis guy- getvthe time to do all that?
I get exhausted just going into the fridge for another tinny!
Kojo
Welcome back.
Long may your chimney reek .
TT
Paddy G ye never invited me ya f’er ye……. yir chucked and yir two biddies innaw :¬)
V
Hx2
Hmmm
Considering the first stone being unturned into the EBT debacle it would seem the huns did continue to ride that gravy train with two fingers stuck up at the HMRC between the 2nd and last stops.
And to think the Scottish Govt actually used their position of power to lean on the HMRC and plead for leniency..!
Vmhan on 24 May, 2012 at 20:14 said:
Flights available tomorrow and always room for mates :-))
theglasgowcelticway on 24 May, 2012 at 20:09 said:
>>>
Aye these msm fuds are prayin’ that the silly season,holidays,and the lack of footballing programmes will allow this to all just go away and they & Thug F.C. can get back to stroking each other.
Fat chance…the world has changed and they still don’t get it.
Ffs,RTC just won the Orwell!
Just wait till Traynor and Young gets a whiff of this story, they will whyte the floor with them
i missed bbc last night – anybody give us the ame for bbc iplayer ?
wonkyradar on 24 May, 2012 at 19:55 said:
Vmhan:
I was always under the impression that Port Glesga wiz ful a tims- a know Greenock CSC is a really massive club just aff the high street…or is it a case of the old boys network in said factory?
*****************
The Port is grand but remember its a Protestant country, in the Port there is a ludge near the town centre, the Bouverie rankers supporters club and no doubt a wee bit more that I dont know about, but its mainly timmy as far as I know, of course that wouldn’t be the reason I married a wee Port lassie (O’Neil’s and Docherty’s to boot … thumbs up)
V
Hx2
wonkyradar on 24 May, 2012 at 20:13 said:
Where does McLelland- is that the proboscis guy- getvthe time to do all that?
Point is, he gets paid more than twice what I get for teaching full time… For fourteen days work a month. By taxpayers.
jackiemac
In 4 parts on youtube here http://inyourfacejournalism.blogspot.co.uk/#!/2012/05/bbc-men-who-sold-jerseys.html
Not sure about iplayer
Football first
In everything that we do, football must always be the first and most important element that we take into consideration. Football is a game before being a product, a sport before being a market, a show before being a business.
The above is the number one value of eleven values listed on the UEFA site.
If that is not forgotten there will be no vote on a new club,ther will only be expulsion.
Anything else following last nights confirmation is a betrayl of that number one value.
Paul you continue to do a fantastic job in making the football msm an ever decreasing relevance .
Kojo hope yir feeling fine.
merci hotghirl
voguepunter on 24 May, 2012 at 19:49 said:
…….and a great number of Protestants fled to Scotland, America etc from the north of Ireland during the famine……bigots don’t do history / honesty. They only do BLIND HATRED ……..sad peepul
On another subject, if the SFA / SPL don’t act with integrity by ruling that the newclub need to start ‘at the bottom’, we really will have to Byoycott EVERY away game next season, at least…