Since Stewart Regan’s letter to the 93 SFA member clubs was uncovered by STV yesterday evening I’ve read what feels to me like unfounded concern at the news. Regan asked clubs to declare “any written agreement(s) falling within the scope of Article 12.3 which has/have not previously been lodged with the Scottish FA in the previous ten years, in respect of any current or former players of your club.”
The most pleasing point is that the letter was dated 9 March. A look at the chronology of events is perhaps useful.
Rangers troubles with HMRC have been public knowledge since 2010 but it was only on 22 February this year that questions were first raised (here, of course) as to whether the club registered the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) payments with the SFA. Everyone knew Rangers players had EBTs, we knew HMRC were contesting that these should be taxed, but there was no reason to believe Rangers did not to declare them to the SFA (unless you count the “sniff test” on Sir David…).
The EBTs were noted in Rangers audited accounts so it appears clear that Rangers at least notionally believed they were both legal (which they were) and legally executed (which we will soon find out). When we took a shot in the dark on 22 February and posed the registration question, there was no reason to assume the SFA board had even considered the issue. I’m sure they hadn’t and like the rest of us, were caught cold by the question.
Earlier that day the SFA announced an inquiry into Rangers headed by Lord Nimmo Smith. His report was considered by the board on 8 March, when they presumably decided to send letters out to the member clubs the next day. In short, this issue has been active at the SFA every day since it was first raised.
Had we known this at the time I suspect our view of the (apparent) SFA inactivity would have been different. Maybe a PR lesson there.
Several friends and one brother have suggested that Stewart Regan’s letter is a prelude to an amnesty. I doubt this. The SFA chief exec does not have the authority to offer an amnesty and in his letter Regan says, “the Scottish FA reserves the right to refer any Club to the Compliance Officer, which might result in proceedings before the Judicial Panel”.
The letter is an attempt to establish if the problem is prevalent in one, or more than one club, a perfectly reasonable step at this stage. I’m guessing around 90 clubs will be able to respond within minutes.
As a result of this letter, the phoney war is over. Comments like “there were no double contracts” can no longer be reported as though they have some validity to questions over unregistered payments to players. Even those reporting from the back of the class will now have to recognise the validity of the questions we have been asking for weeks.
More on the nature of these questions later, specifically, is it cheating?
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Houl yer wheest on 21 March, 2012 at 20:22:
Could well be right mate, should have checked. The point though is they would take it to the highest Court.
Thanks for the clarification.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
neveralone on 21 March, 2012 at 20:34 said:
Saint Stivs on 21 March, 2012 at 19:13 said:
cheers.
see if you can find a link, it deserves to be shared
notthebus
come back from enemy lines
hes paid his road tax in advance
IF praecepta or any other Quuens Park Cafe people are on?
Following the game on Sunday, I caught sight of one of the pics on the QPC wall of Jock and Sean Fallon visiting a crocked opposition player in hospital. It looked like it may have been the badge of Uruguay’s Nacional FC whom we played but I was not sure.
Anyone know for sure?
Rangers fighting fund reaches £110,000 meaning the “250,000” fans who had a “good time” in Manchester have donated 44p each
Jelly Ice Cream (and custard) CSC
St Stivs 20:38
Just check CelticWikki and it was 10th Aug 1968. (feeling chuffed with my memory lol)
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1968-08-10%3A+Rangers+0-2+Celtic%2C+League+Cup+-+Pictures
I’ve tried the link but don’t know if it will work!
Malone 19
Strike Through
Huddle Online of 21st March
Superb !
(free, but you may have to register)
http://www.celticfc.tv/freeview?vid=373
neveralone on 21 March, 2012 at 20:46 said:
St Stivs 20:38
Just check CelticWikki and it was 10th Aug 1968. (feeling chuffed with my memory lol)
—————-
world class memory, impressed.
now who are the 4 bhoys un the background ?
Hi folks, liking the jokes so thought id share my favourite one with you.
3 women were having lunch together,
A wife, a mistress and a girlfriend.
They decided that they were going to give their partners a treat and get all dressed up in sexy gear, and meet up the following day to tell what happened.
The following day they are all sat round the table having lunch and the girlfriend started off.
She said, “My boyfriend came home and I was all dressed up in sexy lingerie, he took one look at me and pounced on me and we made mad passionate love all night. At the end of it he proposed to me so now we`re engaged”.
That’s brilliant news the other 2 exclaimed..
The mistress then said, “My man came round last night, only for an hour, and when he walked in and saw me standing there all dressed up sexily, his jaw dropped, he swooped me off my feet, carried me into the bedroom and ravished me. It was amazing. Before he left he said he was leaving his wife and we can be married, so I guess I’m sort of engaged too!!”
That’s fantastic said the other 2.
The wife then took her turn; she said “I was standing in the hall with my hands on my hips waiting for my husband coming in from work. I was dressed in a black Basque, black stockings, long black gloves, and a sexy wee black mask. My husband walked in, looked at me and said,
Alright Batman, what’s for dinner!!!!!
Love it!! PB
why do i find chas grin so funny
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/lifestyle/lifestyle-leisure/footballers-and-harris-tweed-1-2187035
the 4 in the daily mail picture
berty auld ,bobby lennox, billy mcneil john hughes
St Stivs
Well Yogi & Lennox are clear. I guess they are running to congratulate Whispy. No idea who’s hidden by Jinky (Kinky!!) maybe Stevie Chalmers?
Actually more impressed by the brave Bhoy in the main stand in the white shirt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Apparently the new Doctor Who’s assistant once played the part of a Lesbian in Emmerdale.
CQN Facts CSC
‘White shirt’ in a black & white picture!!! See what I did there? D’oh!
….which part???
;)
Celtic fans venturing to The Big Top on Sunday are reminded to take their own toilet roll.
TimesAreTuff CSC
bankie
(⊙_⊙)
Is the big top a rangers jersey signed by allistur?
What do you call a wumman with one leg?
Eilleen…
Peg
st.sivs & neveralone
yuos got me looking on wiki scroll down & see lions walking to training in 67
changed days.
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Lisbon+Lions
HAIL HAIL
Bsr @ 20.44
:)))
Was it a donation or a loan? Hh
Two blondes walk into a building…well you would have though one of them wid have seen it !
I don’t know if this was posted already, but here is a site on Kilmarnock FC’s official site where you can offer your condolences to Liam Kelly’s family on the tragic death of his father at the end of the game last Sunday.
http://www.kfcsa.org.uk/guestbook/sign.php
leftclicktic on 21 March, 2012 at 21:06 said:
st.sivs & neveralone
yuos got me looking on wiki scroll down & see lions walking to training in 67
changed days.
————
thats another cracker.
is that the trainer at the front with the scarf, bag, paper and fag ?
@Celtictaxcase is now on twitter
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Paddy
I gave the answer ya loony :-)))))
….not Big “Growler” Grimthorpe, the tattoed-temptress from Upper Fellsdyke?
TooFar CSC
johann
Ha – £2.00 per Union Jack on Sunday all proceeds to Hector
i dont know if “spot, spot the loony, spot spot spot the lunatic” would pass a pc fit and proper chant decleration anymore
sftb@20:41
I will be in there on Sunday to watch the game and i will try and clarify for you
hamiltontim on 21 March, 2012 at 21:10:
Don’t give up your day job…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
FAO Any away match attendees
What’s the story on boycott of Kilmarnock game?
I was in today picking up for Sunday and Killie, few other bhoys were buying for Killie too, not aware of boycott but read on here earlier and was text today too.
Hail Hail
Lennybhoy
Where do you think I learn jokes like that!! :-)
Bsr @ 21.12
But have they got a leesonce to sell from one of their creditors?
feedthebear
Got my tickets today haven’t heard anything about it mate.
Feedthebear
It`s about the other ten SPL clubs meeting without us, and it seems that if they deem Scottish Football too important not to have Rangers in it then they`ll sell their souls, therfore WE shall see if they can do without our money.