SPL chief executive, Neil Doncaster, has until this week insisted that the inquiry he instructed Harper MacLeod to conduct had yet to establish if there was prima facie evidence that Rangers had, in flagrant abuse of league and SFA rules, operated a dual contract system for over a decade.
BBC Scotland’s documentary, Rangers – The men who sold the jerseys, established that at least 38 Rangers players had written agreements to pay them money in connection to playing football and that none of these agreements were registered with the SFA and SPL.
We have gone several stages beyond prima facie. Harper MacLeod can stand down, their inquiry is moot.
Fifa rules dictate that all national associations to hold records of player contracts in order that they can ensure rules are followed and a level playing field is established. These rules are reflected in the player registration process of the Scottish FA and the Scottish Premier League rules.
While every other club in the country was paying tax on player wages, Rangers were able to recruit more and better players for the same amount of money as Employee Benefit Trusts were not taxed. This enabled them to put better teams on the field, win games and win trophies, while their opponents played by the rules and on five occasions lost league titles narrowly.
Rangers told Ronald Waterus’ agent, in correspondence seen by the BBC, was told, using the trust was “in the interests of Ronald as it enables him to receive funds tax-free.
“I can confirm that we will not pay these amounts to [Ronald] unless they are made through the use of the remuneration trust.”
Our game has been rigged since at least 2000. The level playing field some of us were naive enough to believe existed was a mirage. The reach of this practice at Rangers is staggering. 72 staff in total, including seven former directors, one of whom remains president of the SFA.
For corrupting Scottish football on this scale, there can only be one punishment.
The documentary was a triumph of investigative journalism by Mark Daly, Martin Conaghan and the team, who were drawn from news and sport. The BBC is in a class of its own when it comes to complex projects like this. It is incredible that they managed to acquire side letters for 38 players. Perhaps a full investigation by the authorities will reveal more evidence.
You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.
The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.
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in administration the gift that keeps on giving…
Sky Sports
Rangers are looking at Hearts’ Scottish Cup final hero, Ian Black, according to a scout at the Ibrox club.
The midfielder, who was inspirational as Hibernian were defeated at Hampden Park last weekend, is a free agent after it was decided both parties would part company this summer.
And Rangers could look to take advantage if they succeed in having their ban on signing players lifted.
“Black’s an excellent, solid, intelligent player,” Rangers scout John Brown said in the Daily Record.
“He is a player who would enhance our squad and is on the list.”
googybhoy ♥ / Leftclicktic
Thanks Bhoys
Paul
Craig Moore 1994. Any chance he was on EBT then?
Some thoughts on last night’s TV revelations:
Rangers – The Truth Behind The Cheating Revealed
No Way Back
I never thought I would see the day
Honour so casually thrown away
Integrity discarded, lying in the dust
Forsaken by those that we should trust
Questions of sport should be asked
These corrupt people taken to task
Integrity so completely removed
Now that the charge can be proved
No way back from this shame
All for the greed of the game
Hang your head, avert your eye
You have witness Scottish football die
.
Paul67
I wonder if Ogilvie has been handed the ‘smoking gun’ and told to go for a long walk…
ASonOfDan
” Rangers scout John Brown ” – 4 words that gladden the heart.
gosh
Embdy heard fom Jim or “charles”?
How must it feel to be a former Rangers player who didn’t get paid though an EBT?
Relief? Or slight?
voguepunter – CQN Horseracing Naps Champion of 2011/2012, many happy returns auld yin.
Although, rumours are rife that you utilised a professional tipping service and your win could very well be tainted….! :-)
HH
TTTT
PS Feck the SFA
thanks for all the work Paul
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 24 May, 2012 at 10:39 said:
I saw Britney last night stipulate that the hun players have only a two week period where they can negotiate a new deal .
Did he make this up ?
Hail Hial
+++++
Once they’re out of contract, the players are, erm, no longer contracted to Rangers and as such, presumably he meant that such contracts cannot then be extended as they’d in essence, indeed in fact, be new registrations as per their registration ban – IIRC it clearly stated that existing player registrations may be extended.
Sleep lay behind me like a broken ocean
Strange waking dreams before my eyes unfold
You lay there sleeping like an open doorway
I stepped outside myself and felt so cold
Take a look at my new toy
It’ll blow your head in two, oh boy
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
I thought about it and my dream was broken
I clutch at images like dying breath
And I don’t want to make a fuss about it
The only certain thing in life is death
Take a look at my new toy
It’ll blow your head in two, oh boy
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Where you want to be, won’t you ever see?
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Truth hits everybody, truth hits everyone
Ah….now!
regarding the article and prima facie – is it at all telling that whoever passed the side-letter details to Mark Daly did so either because they were exasperated with SFA/SPLs inactivity on same, or that they perhaps did not trust them (the side-letters) to ever see the light of day had they been passed to the relevant football authorities?
Or am I reading too much into this?
Urgent Memo
Drama Dept
BBC
Melodrama
Working Title
“SFA – Blood on the carpet tiles”
or
“Brown Brogues Rogues Gallery”
dirtymac
I was just highlighting Britneys primeval hun animal instinct …. protect .. lie.. obfuscate
Was that what we were watching or have the players negotiated a two week grace period where they can effectively leave for free ?
HAil HAil
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 24 May, 2012 at 10:37 said:
Kilbowie Kelt
ah those Klu Klux Klan followers who have nothing against blacks but just like the evening wear
Hail Hail
_______________________
Aw-Naw,
That reply is a caricature of what I actually posted.
I know perfectly well that MOST of those who go to watch Rangers ARE bigots.
I also know that they are not ALL bigots.
To keep it simple for you, .. Are you saying that you have NEVER worked or socialised with thoroughly decent guys who were Rangers men ?
Of course you did.
Don’t be like MOST of them are.
dirtymac
his first name was Hector
HAil HAil
Anyone else doubting that any spl/sfa statement will come today?
Forget about all this double contracts jazz: Does anyone know if Prince Albert of Monaco is renewing his season ticket? Canny see him turning up for Annan & Berwick games…will he go all hardcore & do the bouncy wae the hordes travelling up for the Elgin gig?
Canny see it masel.
One interesting part from last night was Peter Stevenson’s recollection of SDM having an alleged “crack” at Joanna Lumley when he was 26. This would be the same time he was already married and had 2 boys…..Dignity indeed
Kilbowie Kelt
I am prepared to make allowances for their inability to differentiate that doesn´t mean that they are squeaky clean. In fact it is a testament to what a great guy I am not them. Sorry if that sounds a bit blow hardy but it is the truth. Something they lack.
You watch this newclub rise up more bitter than before and how those that are good guy huns have a chance this time to either distance themselves from it or do it properly.
Your mates (and mine) will I reckon do nothing about it.
Hail Hail
Take a bow Paul67 fantastic work stating the obvious as you have done for many a year now. Soon.
Is it just me, or have the MSM been ignoring the big story here? Seem to be concentrating on Duff and Phelps. The biggest revelation from last nights programme is the fact the huns have cheated for the last ten years. Haven’t had time to trawl through all outlets, but most seem to have passed over this.
Has Sally called for the full list of EBT recipients to be published yet? He supports transparency doesn’t he?
Emusanorphan, don’t think so.
ASonOfDan, Ogilvie strikes me as the shameless type.
whitedoghunch, it was my pleasure.
I am NL in NZ Tauranga, cheers.
Prince Albert is a “dyed in the wool” tim.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 24 May, 2012 at 10:56 said:
dirtymac
I was just highlighting Britneys primeval hun animal instinct …. protect .. lie.. obfuscate
Was that what we were watching or have the players negotiated a two week grace period where they can effectively leave for free ?
HAil HAil
+++++
No, I though that it’s more that the orcs have two weeks, as of last night, to get contracts extended, or the players all walk (those out of contract) and cannot be re-signed.
Many thanks Paul for all your efforts and, in particular, all the articles yesterday. I managed to catch up either side of the “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” show last night.
I read “eye-popping” and “mind-blowing” earlier in the week and those words were so accurate. Brilliant stuff. I also read someone say that the likes of yourself, Phil and RTC had opened the doors on all this mess and again – bang on.
If the Independent Tribunal genuinely toyed with expulsion as a sanction last month and the appeal did likewise last week there is indeed only one suitable punishment.
Oxford Dictionary Definition – the action or process of forcing someone to leave a place. The word? EXPULSION.
That Paul Baxendale Walker character looked like Gary Lineker after electro-convulsive shock therapy…aaahhh!
Did anyone notice a vibrating device on his window sill?
A pornographer always has to keep their tools close to hand…
If anyone has doubts about Duff&Duffer then yesterday rangers announced they were using what was left of the fighting fund to relay the ibrox pitch.
Now I can think of a MILLION other things they will need that money for before the pitch. It appears Duff&Duffer are trying to get rid of every penny of cash available.
Although two weeks brings us around to that 6th June date again.
mmmmmm….
Well done to all involved in getting this info out there , especially you Paul67 .
This is not the end ,this is just the beginning ( as someone once said ).
Now we have to make sure the proper penalties are applied to all involved in this scandal.
Come on Regan and Doncaster get on with it .
wonkyradar
I spat my Cider out when they showed the close up of that. Wife enquired what was wrong, rewound and showed her.
She then asked who he was and I told her he had been rangers main financial advisor, she snorted her wine through her nose at one…
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous Hilbillies the day?
If/when this becomes a movie,who would play who?
Paul Baxendale-Walker-Leslie Phillips
Paul Murray-Max Clifford
SDM-Raymond Burr
TTTT
Thanks ,can’t get done when you’ve lost money.
SFA WHAT U SAID