We are all familiar with brinksmanship; adopting what seems like an uncompromising position despite acute potential consequences. Correspondence recently released around the goings-on at Rangers International and associated companies suggests at least two combative parties have been edging towards the brink since last year. Now it is clear they are both well over the brink, it’s too late for either to back down.
The conclusion of Pinsent Masons’ report was released to the stock market this morning and found “no evidence that Craig Whyte had any involvement with Sevco Scotland Limited (now called The Rangers Football Club Limited), the company which ultimately acquired the business and assets of The Rangers Football Club P.L.C. from its administrators; nor which would suggest that Craig Whyte invested in The Rangers Football Club Limited or Rangers International Football Club plc”.
All of which, sharp-eyed observers will note, is exactly what Mr Whyte is so animated about.
Let me run through that list of companies which Mr Whyte was not involved with again:
Sevco Scotland Ltd: check
AKA The Rangers Football Club Ltd: check
Rangers International Football Club PLC: check
Sevco 5088 Ltd: wait a minute, they missed out Sevco 5088 Ltd!!
This is where the project resembles trying to push water uphill:
Rangers International plc claim Sevco 5088 Ltd is a subsidiary of theirs.
Mr Whyte claims to be a director and beneficiary of Sevco 5088 Ltd.
Pinsent Masons’ report’s published conclusion fails to comment on Mr Whyte’s status in connection with Rangers International’s claimed subsidiary company, Sevco 5088 Ltd.
The SFA prohibited the new associate member club from having any connection with Mr Whyte. Last week the SFA chief executive acknowledged the seriousness of the club potentially breaking the conditions of membership, but said the Association would await the outcome of the Pinsent Masons’ report. The published conclusions of which does not address the question.
Rangers International have just dared the SFA to act. They are familiar with the tactics of brinksmanship, however….
Just in case you are new to this subject…..
Hell will freeze over before any football association with Campbell Ogilvie as president will act on this matter. “Heavily conflicted” Campbell will ensure his board take no action.
I was delighted to read one man who knew exactly what he was dealing with when he took on the SFA. Echoing the comments made here yesterday, Fergus McCann said:
“Filling Celtic Park against Barcelona or Spartak or Rangers is the easy part.
“The part that really counts is consistent support at every game at Celtic Park and that will deliver the top-level matches.
“My time at the Croy CSC reminds me of the importance of dedicated support.
“The members knew that their role was vital, especially in the hard times.”
The future of our club is very much in our own hands and these are important times to fill out Celtic Park.
Waterstones, Stirling, 5-7pm TODAY!
I’ll be at Waterstones, Stirling, with Willie Wallace from 5pm until 7pm this evening. Willie will be available for photographs and signing copies of his autobiography, Heart of a Lion. If you’re from the area, call in, I’ll see you there.
Many thanks to all who bought tickets for the Celtic top signed by the Seville squad, we sold out last night. Thanks also to those who are bidding on the fabulous signed Messi top, you still have a few days left to get involved. The spirit of Walfrid is alive and well 125 years on.
Heart of a Lion:
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timmy7_noted
13:26 on 30 May, 2013
__________________
The atmospheres – rubbish in there anyway – too many seats.imo :)
Nothing like it was when the REAL Celtic supporters supported the team
without a dj having to play choons to ignite them :)
Hail Hail – Off oot this time.
Mort,
True, but you can say that with a lot of positions with the budget we operate at. It’s your Donald Duck as they would say.
I know we aint seen much of him but I still reckon Miku is a player, maybe not for us obviously now, but i think you’ll find he will turn out alright at the correct club.
The particular wording of the announcement is also intriguing. It does not say that the Report found no evidence of connection, but rather that the Company considers that it did not. So the Company has applied its own conclusion to the “independent” report and is not prepared to disclose the content of the Report itself. I wonder if the SFA will get a copy?
Kev Jungle,
Your CONSTANT negativity about all things Celtic is very depressing.
There MUST be occasions when you have something positive you could say about the club.
You should give it a try.
You might even enjoy it.
Good luck.
Jude2005 – completely off topic… But are you ex L&G?
Tonev ——-
Italian media claiming that Fiorentina and Lazio have dropped their interest .
Italian media claiming that Aston Villa , Fulham ,, Aston Villa and Celtic are interested. The prediction is that he will sign for Aston Villa.
Who is the poster with all the negativity towards the Club because his Da fell out with PL?
Awe naw you been writing spivcos announcements to the stock exchange?
Have they really made a boo boo or is it carefully worded?
Methinks the latter.
emusanorphan
13:43 on
30 May, 2013
Who is the poster with all the negativity towards the Club because his Da fell out with PL?
‘Sno me…
Cant believe people on here “aren’t bothered”if hooper goes or stays..ffs best striker since henrik an bbj..as mort has shown his record is very impressive..take some of his important goals away and your left with a crap season for Celtic fc..i hope to God we can keep him and he scores a lot more in that 88Hoops top..like our qualifiers in a few weeks..if he left and we didnt qualify for uefa what would you say then?sack lennon..sack this blaa blaa..the guy scores in big games for us and we can’t afford premiership gloryhunters..as lenny said on some of our player options for games its horses for couses..some players dont settle in this country(no fekn wonder) weather and zombies inc..gravesen and jarisik for eg..always quoted paul elliot as an example of players settling in..once he did he was a top player for us h.h
stirlingbridge…………well how u doin?
Wgs
name them?h.h
emusanorphan
13:29
Celtic first wore the Hoops in 1903.
—
I have carried out a private internal enquiry and have found no evidence that I am 110 years old. I don’t look or feel a day older than 106.
No Bobby Does It Petta
Hoops .v. Stripes 1903 (as other posters have indicated).
Believe Celtic came out 2nd in a cup draw (final?) and there was a clash of strips – both sides normally playing in stripes.
Strips were borrowed from (I believe) St. Anthony’s (in the parish of Govan) who played in green & white horizontal stripes – legend has it that Celtic won the match and the ‘Hoops’ became the regular home kit from then to present day.
………. or so my Granny told me! :-)
I’ve not been Stokes’ biggest fan in recent years. Indeed, I haven’t even been his smallest fan, but fair play to him for producing a terrific performance in the Cup final.
He’s now out of contract.
Johnny Russell is a couple of years younger, and while Stokes got all of the attention and the big moves as a teenager, Russell has developed his career quietly. After doing the tours of the lower divisions of the SFL, Russell made the 1st team at Dundee Utd 3 yesrs ago:
2010/11
Apps 33 Goals 9
2011/12
Apps 43 Goals 14
2012/13
Apps 33 Goals 20
That’s a fairly linear progression from 1 goal in 4 games, to 1 in 3, to this season almost 2 goals every 3 games, and reflects an increasing number of first team starts as his talent has emerged and developed.
Stokes on the other hand broke through much earlier in his career, with Arsenal and Sunderland both taking a punt on him as a kid, Stokes opting for SAFC aged 18, over an offer from Celtic at the time when Arsenal sold him. It didn’t work out, and after loan spells here and there which yielded little more than frustration, he was out of contract and landed at Hibs.
His remedial year at Hibs, aged 21, produced 22 goals from 40 starts, and 24 from 48 in total. 1 goal every other game.
At Celtic, he has the following record:
2010/11
Apps 35 Goals 19
2011/12
Apps 47 Goals 21
2012/13
Apps 23 Goals 7
Clearly, injury has been a factor this season, but this ignores the fact in recent seasons that Neil Lennon has rarely selected Stokes to start in the big games, particularly in Europe. Stokes’ diminishing return is a reflection of his diminishing value to the manager, which in turn is perhaps a reflection of his apparent stalling development.
Where’s this going? There’s little point in signing Johnny Russell and keeping Anthony Stokes. They serve the same purpose in a Celtic team, and are likely to be 2nd choice behind Hooper or his replacement.
While each has an eye for goal scoring, Russell is the quicker player, and the more versatile – I think he has more tools in the bag. Neither is a first team starter for a strong Celtic side. Stokes was initially but lost his place, while Russell would have to prove he’s worth a start.
Russell is the younger by 2 years, has more to his game (imo), and more career development to come. He’ll cost around £1M in transfer fee, plus a decent wage.
Stokes is essentially a free transfer, and as the older, more experienced player, I imagine he would draw a higher wage than Russell.
Over the next 4 years the cost to the club of each player will likely be pretty much the same.
Question is, what is the likely contribution to the club from each?
My money is on Russell.
right who has changed their blog name to stirlingbhoy.
stirlinghirl , i did warn you about them
KevJungle
In relation to you response to me on the last thread.
You are a fair weather supporter.
If the team has (so called) big names in it I will go and support them.
There are many like you.
I prefer the diehard supporter , who supports the team through thick and thin.
They can criticise , the team all they want.
They are at least physically, emotionally , and financially supporting the team , and their fellow supporters.
You have ceased to do this in any meaningful way.
You are a lapsed , kid on supporter.
The real supporters find a reason to go.
You find a reason not to.
Celtic
Always have been.
Always will be.
TT
Dont want a list forget it..i’l get the blame lol ..take your point to a degree but imho i’d rather have him in our team than not..yes we always get by when players go…but he hasnt yet h.h
Awe naw-I think the last bid for Russell was 500k last January.
stirlingbridge even
TBB
My money is on Stokes.
He links up play better than Russell, and is more experienced.
We have seen some I’d his downside.
He is about to mature.
TT
Mort
It was Davie Badcock …. Googled it.
HH
TT.@13.57.well said in reply to Kevjungle..nail right on the head there.
Bada
I like Russell. I also think their is a player in Lassad. I would prefer to keep Hooper, Wanyama and Forster. This time two years ago Izzy was off to Man U.
HH
There even
I definitely see future chairman potential in this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKV88nEMu50
Thanks for various replies.
Is it fair to assume their is no definitive, official account of both the switch to hoops and dropping the ‘k’ from the name?
All part of the mystique and romance of the club I suppose.
Will be interesting how Peter Mullan will approach it, if he indeed ever develops a film project.
TBB 13.56
Largely agree re Russell/Stokes. However, I’d keep Stokes on meantime. I reckon he’s good for 20+ goals a season when fit. If Hooper leaves then we’d be looking at only Samaras as a known quantity – and he’s not a 20 goals striker.
TT
Fair enough, but I might be inclined to dispute your view on link up play.
TBB
The battered bunnet,
Great post buddy. 100% agree with you.
Stokes is a good SPL level goalscorer and seemingly a nice guy……but he lacks pace and therefore will never be first choice in the big games!!
Russell for me:-)
minx1888
X L&G? yipp!!
By ALAN PATTULLO
Dundee are set for a summer of turmoil after three directors resigned from the board yesterday, meaning only three directors, all representing the Dundee FC Supporters Society [DFCSS], remain in situ at the Dens Park club.
Bill Colvin, Steve Martin and finance director Ian Crichton have quit the six-man board over the DFCSS’s refusal to accept an investment offer that would have maintained the fans’ group’s status as single biggest shareholders.
The three remaining directors, interim chairman Dave Forbes, Fraser MacDonald and Maurice Kidd, have become the target of disapproval from some fans, with a DFCSS meeting scheduled for Dens Park on Saturday. Supporters are angry that a proposed investment by a group including two American-based business partners has been withdrawn, after the three representatives on the board from the DFCSS, which owns a majority shareholding in the club, asked the consortium to again postpone the deadline for the £650,000 offer. The deadline had already been extended to tomorrow from last Friday.
The DFCSS wanted to conduct further due diligence, after complaining that they had still not received details of the three-year business plan that the consortium had proposed. They also wanted more than £100,000 paid up front to cover the cost of due diligence as well as allowing manager John Brown to put in plans for the coming season, when Dundee will seek to gain promotion back to the Scottish Premier League from the First Division.
That request has been deemed unacceptable by the consortium, two of whom, Colvin and Martin, were directors at Dundee. Both Colvin and Martin have now resigned. Crichton has also tendered his resignation, having described the board’s response to the investment offer as “embarrassing”. Dundee must also now look to quickly appoint another financial director to replace Crichton, in line with Scottish Football Association regulations.
Colvin, the Surrey-based businessman who helped fund the club’s emergence from administration in 2010, was also angered by the board’s response to the latest offer. The DFCSS directors on the Dundee board proposed that Colvin’s group consider purchasing 22 DFC 50 bond memberships at a cost of £5,000 each, to provide funds to be used “at the club board’s discretion” and to cover the cost of due diligence.
Colvin had been prepared to invest a six figure sum from his own funds in addition to the £500,000 being put up by Tim Keyes, the American-based founder of an equity firm called Keyes Capital. After he and Martin had themselves made a fact-finding trip to the States, Colvin is understood to have felt insulted that the Dundee board wanted to engage in a further protracted period of due diligence.
Ten years ago tomorrow, Dundee took part in the Scottish Cup final against Rangers, a game they narrowly lost 1-0. Since then, the club have been in administration twice. After Aberdeen businessman Calum Melville walked away three years ago after promises of investment, circumspection is to be expected from Dundee, but some supporters have accused the board of dragging their heels, to the point that the chance of securing much needed income, it seems, has been lost.
“We are quite happy to accept investment, we are not frightened of it,” said Dave Forbes, the DFCSS interim chairman, yesterday. “But we need to be assured that it is legitimate and above board.”
John Nelms, Keyes’ Texas-based business partner, spoke last week of wishing to create a football academy at Dundee, one with links to his own academy at the Dynamo Juniors of Central Texas football club, which runs teams for more than 700 children in Austin. It is understood that he has now been contacted by as many as seven other British clubs – three from Scotland – who are interested in joining forces with the investors.
One of the three remaining Dundee directors last night described the news of his colleagues’ resignations as a “bombshell”. Maurice Kidd said that he “got a phone call at 7am” before turning on his computer on to find out the news that Colvin, Martin and Crichton had resigned, and the proposed deal was off the table. “What I would say is that I would strongly urge the other three directors to consider their position,” said Kidd.
“I would like to see them come back round the table and bring stability to the club. The dialogue has to continue. I personally emailed Bill Colvin and still feel the proposal on the table can be progressed.
“If there is a bit of understanding on both sides we can still get round the table and progress the deal, so I was very disappointed to find out they had resigned.”
Scot Gardiner, the current chief executive, is understood to be willing to remain in place for the time being. John Brown, who signed a two-year deal in April after being handed the interim post of manager two months earlier, was at the club yesterday meeting the parents of Under 12 and Under 13 players. He has expressed his desire to remain as manager, despite the uncertainty
HaHa, the huns are so gullable…blah blah, they never learn, chortle chortle etc.
I am of the opinion it is us who never learn, everyday on here….a tweet or a rumour of cast iron evidence that would be enough to impeach a US president…..on and on and on. They’re done for this time bhoys! For sure!
When Sevco kick start SPL2 with a team of ‘trialists’, the spivs will be in the mother of all courtroom battles, the twitterati cyber tims will be all excited until the judge for the case is announced, Nimmo Smith or one of his pals will see it out and we all move along, wailing and gnashing teeth as we go, apart from poor old Craig, he will be ruined… as Del Amitri said, the needle returns to the start of the groove etc….
The huns are like midgees, irritating wee *********, but ye jist canny eradicate them. Even if ye got a big massive cannister of hairspray strapped to your back with a lit nozzle and ran about the highlands for weeks burning everything in your path….as soon as ye stop, ye would still feel a wee prick on yer neck. They are there, they will always be there, unfortunately.
If FF leaves during the the summer , and thats a big if, what about bringing back Séamus John James “Shay” Given as a replacement? I understand he has been told he can leave Villa and who knows he may well wish to finish his career with Celtic.
As for buying another Mo Bangura type player no thanks – loan deals only for speculative punts. A try then buy policy must be adhered to if they aren’t proven 25+ goal a season strikers from a decent league. And what about our much vaunted youth team -how many of the young talent have went on to establish themselves as 1st team regulars over the past few years rather than being on the periphery of the 1st team for a couple of seasons before heading off to lower English league obscurity on a free ? Something wrong there when we ‘waste money’ on the Murphys etc.
Celtic First
Did he not say he wd walk if Murray got booted off the board?
minx1888
Were you at L & G?
Jude
Don’t know if he did say that or if it was just something a poodle in the press put about. It will surely be funnier if he actually tries to be the chairman of the spivs.
Where is Bangura?