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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exiled tim
whats a dans saff accent
Casillas had hardly touched the ball.
Ramos also aff.
EDB
I gave DBBIA your mobile number tonight he wanted to text you about his daughter did you get it?
Sorry, distracted by the red card for Ramos.
Casillas had hardly touched the ball in the second half.
Otzil, aff. Madrid down to nine.
Zbyszek
We’re good thanks. Must get in touch with you. Are you at home?
Cristiano gestures that Real Madrid are being robbed.
It must be all those penalties they get given against them.
Are these meetings of the Gang of Ten, from which Celtic are excluded, in accordance with the S.P.L. constitution, and are any decisions taken legally binding? Are these clubs who turn up at Celtic Park with two busloads of supporters, expecting to get 50% of a 50,000 gate? As John McEnroe would say -‘You cannot be serious!’
Radio Nacional blames Mourinho for the players losing the heid.
OG rafferty
Excellent !
I will await updates.
Feel free to be as indiscreet as you like…
HH
TLWIO
magnificent7
take your erse out your nose
Fitness coach Rui Faria, aff.
There are 90 seconds plus stoppage to go. Radio Nacional say there should be six minutes.
Timabhouy
Mojacer is full of brits as are most of the costas, hence I keep well away from them.
This Tim live in the mountains, well away for the frothing brit masses, and the best thing about the place I live, it’s completley hun free.
Hunabhoy
we all know your game ;-)
Four minutes added.
Madrid still sound the likelier team to score.
Cristiano dives but doesn’t get the Kris Boyd penalty.
Malorbhoy. You’re way past your bedtime. Indeed I got the message bearing great news. Very well done to Miss DBBIA and another great achievement from an OLSP Dumbarton pupil.
Passed on the news to K who has just arrived back from a conference in Harrowgate.
Guys asking about tonights talk of a boycott, the following article was posted by Paul67 on CQN a couple of weeks back. Sorry about not linking it, I forget how to do it so you`ll just have to copy and paste it.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/?p=8195
magnificent7
what game be prescise
exiled tim
villareall toma un goal es bien para te
90 seconds of stoppage time to go.
C1st
You think they are panicking a wee bit ?
I do hope so
Corner Madrid. Last chance.
ElDiegoBhoy
Not at home, my friend. Still no permanent job but far from Warsaw at the moment. Tomorrow I should get concrete answer about the job in the town 150 miles West from my house. They do the bussines with Russia. Maybe they take the guy who knows the culture and language.
Maybe will be going to Breda in Holland next week to be back before Sunday. Weeks with family are my dreams.
Ok, I lied, I still remember how to do links……….
purechancecsc
BobbyRussell
Have no paste left!
Is it true, that having seen Real Madrid see a 10 point lead in the league, reduced to just 6 points, in the space of just 4 DAYS!!!!, that Barcelona fans have started referring to jose marinho, as the “Thin Ally McCoist”?
the long wait is over, 22:43
It will be released, that has been promised. It’s the timing that matters and the fear is that it may come out when it will have less impact – after the story has moved on to the ‘where now for sorry Rangers’ stage.
I may know more tomorrow
Full time.
1-1. The gap is six points.
My dear,dear,dear,friend..El Diego Bhoy
Hiya Pal.. ?
Yep.. Ah canny stoap laughin’.. right enuff.
at the fine Mess that the G.A. hiv goat themsels Intae.
Fur every time, Ah stoap..Laughin’..
Anither Fine Mess, that naebuddy,hid previously knew aboot.. is revealed!
and that sets me aff.. Again!
Great Entertainment,Really.
And we are still only seeing the First Act.
There ur still..
The Second.. and the Final Acts tae come..
Ah canny wait.. until’
Ah see how this Thing Ends!
Wull there be an ulooked fur Twist,at the End?
Ah expect there wull be…
as.. They’re awe a Bunch o’ Twisters, anywey!
Kojo
yer pal who thinks yer swell.
Still . Laughin’
Regarding the Bhoycott.
I can understand people wanting to support the Hoops but ultimately by going to away grounds they would be giving financial support and creedence to an irredeemably corrupt football league.
If the 10 SPL clubs are willing to betray sporting integrity for thirty pieces of silver then they will not get one green penny from me or my CSC.
HH
Barcelona will win la liga league now.
Reals bottle has crashed.
I needed +2.5 goals, ah well that’s why they call it gambling.
The Exiled Tim
A wee bit, aye.
Villarreal had two stonewallers denied in the first half when Arbeloa pulled players back when they were about to shoot. And then they have the cheek to lose the plot completely because the ref gave Villarreal a free-kick.
Rui Faria has, apparently, been sent to the stands four times this season.
Real Madrid should have had the league sewn up, but Mourinho’s strange ways are costing them. Six points. Game still to come in Barcelona. Tricky trip for Real Madrid coming up to Pamplona before that. Aye, pressure time.
Gotta go
HH
TLWIO
the exiled tim
good luck anyway
buenos noches
Timabhouy
In the fairly short time you have been posting on this site you have managed to alienate many good guys who have posted here for many years.
I don’t care whether or not you are indeed a Celtic supporter, I hope you’re not as your behaviour is unbecoming of how I consider a Celtic supporter should behave towards fellow supporters, but this great site would be the better for you disappearing from it.
Just saying like.
TCC
The thin Ally McCoist.
Lovin it!