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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eldiegoboy
give me a few examples of why you seem so upset
about my behavior
just wondering like
EDB reckon he may be the `truth`?
If it looks like a hun……..
EDB
Don’t bother with him.
He is boxing clever in his daftee role, obviously just at the wind up.
Bhouy is just too daft a mistake.
diegoboy
cant wait for your relply
maybe some other time
good night
and dont get so upset
for crying out loud
Goodnight all – thanks.
the long wait is over on 21 March, 2012 at 21:31 said:
I’m not holding my breathe either, just pointing out this particular issue could be a two edged sword if used to have a go at Celtic. What I’m saying is any digging might turn up something not to the diggers liking. Celtic will have their copies of the paper work and interestingly, on the RTC blog where I also posted, I was asked if the rumour that B Quinn told SDM personally that EBTS were the road to ruin was true.
I suspect that was just an on the spot rumour to wind up non Celtic supporting readers but chances are that conversations between both on the subject did arise at Director level.
C1st
A strange man is Jose.
A qualiy coach, but has tendencies to wander at the crucial time, I thought Barca’s snub the other week to the referee summit was timed perfectly, maybe we are seeing the results, just like the admin men in scotland are no longer seeing what they have been used to for as long as I can remember.
May it long continue.
Timabhouy
Won’t waste my time. You’ve been found out.
I’ll scroll past any response.
scroll past this
He`ll have to if he wants to read this…
Scroll, scroll on..
Timabhouy on 21 March, 2012 at 23:10 said:
scroll past this
********************
Possibly the kind of behaviour alludes to!
Nobody read this.
I think Declan found out his twin bro was a hun and locked him in the cellar. Looks as if he escaped.
nothing of interest then scroll along
Nobody read what?
Sorry – Possibly the kind of behaviour ElDiegoBhoy alludes to!
Re the BBC report including statements from anonymous SPL club chairmen bemoaning “one club dictating to the top end of Scottish football.”
How insulting and lacking in any kind of moral fibre does this go?
When oh when will we find (even) anonymous chairmen willing to render quotes to feed the media, that will bemoan the dangerous SFA-RFC(IA) axis in Scottish football, and the impact of decades of fiscal and football law breaking. It sickens me.
SillyseasonCSC
Somebody must have something interesting to say.
Interesting to say??
Not me, so everyone scroll by this :))
Declan lives in the Bates Motel!! Dont go for a shower.
Anybody fear a hun backlash on Sunday? Me neither.
Night all.
Declan is Peter Lawell doing a charicature of David Murray.
We should be doin the backlashing after Sunday.
Night all -2
BobbyRussell
Pass them to death, that is the answer.
Win the midfield, win the game.
http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/2012/03/21/our-hearts-are-broken/
O.G.Rafferty on 21 March, 2012 at 21:48 said:
the long wait is over, 21:31, Auld Neil Lennon heid, 17:25
There is another possibility – namely that there is a paper trail that says otherwise…
—————————–
Just saw that after my previous response.
Now that would be most excellent.
Any views on the rumour B Quinn told SDM it was a disaster waiting to happen?
Now THAT would be explosive.
I dont have anything interesting to say, so I’ll say what’s on my mind.
After unsuccessful root treatment, followed by unsuccessful extraction, I’m going to some sort of surgical dentist tomorrow.
No Prior instructions, so I guess I am awake through the proceedings.
I will be still alive at the end of this stuff, but I really wish I’d looked after me teeth.
So you are ‘The Tooth’ :-)
4 more sleeps………..
Rascar,
I haven’t been able to find mines since I woke up yesterday morn.
Trips to the dentists are nae fun though to be fair.
Just bear in mind, they don’t ALL enjoy inflicting pain…
Paddy Gallagher on 21 March, 2012 at 23:25
thoughts and prayers with his family and friends
HH
Auld Neil Lennon heid, 23:26
See the posts I added after that.
Re: Quinn, I haven’t heard anything (nor do I know if that question has been asked)
Someone earlier today suggested that the SFA should be investigating further back than 10 years and probably the Gascoigne transfer should be looked at. I can remember about 10 years ago (guessing) a fly on the wall documentary about him. It was about the time when he was coming to the end of his Lazio career and was with his advisors discussing the various options. One phrase that stuck with me, was that the RFC offer was worth considering “for obvious reasons”.
“For obvious reasons” could be because they were very successful, loads of silverware, Europe guaranteed every season. Still seemed odd though, even back in the mid 90s.
Ah well, probably just me being paranoid again. Off to bed.
Lawrence Olivier is my dentist.
Rascar Capac on 21 March, 2012 at 23:27 said:
Mate, I`ve been there.
It`ll probably be more painful on your pocket than your mouth.