I enjoy Roddy Forsyth’s articles and broadcasts but I’m staggered at today’s article in The Telegraph. The initial headline read “Scottish clubs fear bankruptcy if Rangers are stripped of titles for tax avoidance”, but was amended to “SPL (sic.) clubs fear they will be hurt financially themselves if Rangers stripped of titles”.
Justification for this claim lies with the fact that clubs who lost a cup final to Rangers during their tax evasion (not avoidance) era, may have to pay a win bonus to players, which would be enough to tip them into bankruptcy.
These clubs would, we are told, prefer to sit tight as runners up, than be awarded a cup win. One chairman told Roddy, “Celtic might be able to afford that but nobody else could”.
Nobody else could afford a win bonus, so let’s not impose the unwelcome burden of winning on them! Consider what that makes supporters of these clubs!
Another chairman told Roddy, “my view is that the EBT scheme was questionable and maybe even reckless from the start but they were given expert advice and they acted on it”. “Questionable”, “reckless”, I think the word you’re looking for is illegal. Paul Baxendale-Walker’s expert advice was only one aspect of his flamboyant commercial undertakings.
Documentation was also hidden from HMRC, the SFA and SPL, and as ‘Mr Black’ told the Tax Tribunal, the ruse was designed to recruit better players. Who win more trophies.
Falkirk, Queen of the South, Dundee, St Mirren, Dundee United, Motherwell and Ayr United all lost finals to an EBT-fuelled Rangers, as well as Celtic, of course. Let’s hear from any of them who don’t want the matter formally examined. And let the door slam on their backside on the way out of competitive sport. Forget what’s happening in Russia, this is going on TODAY in Scotland!
If any of these clubs are campaigning for Rangers to keep their EBT trophies, it’s important their fans know about it. Roddy doesn’t suggest his two chairmen-sources come from any of these clubs, in fact, he describes them as “SPL” chairmen, the former name for our top flight.
So who are they?
Celtic, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hearts can all be excluded from consideration. Think what you like about any of these clubs, but I cannot imagine any of their chairpersons considering this nonsense. Which leaves:
Kilmarnock. Michael Johnston is no longer chairmen, that role is fulfilled by Jim Mann.
Partick Thistle: David Beattie.
Motherwell: Brian McCafferty.
Inverness: Kenny Cameron.
Dundee: Bill Colvin.
Hamilton: Les Gray.
Ross County: Roy MacGregor.
St Johnstone: Steve Brown.
To the horror of Accies fans, in 2012 Les Gray said “SFL clubs should not be put in the position to vote on something which may destroy Scottish Football”. I wonder what Les is saying off the record now.
The Brown family have chaired St Johnstone through many issues, but their fans were off the mark quickly in 2012 to let Steve know their thoughts the last time Scottish football faced a decision to follow the rules, or not.
Roy MacGregor bristled with irritation when others tried to influence him in 2012. He has a reputation of knowing his own mind.
I don’t know anything about Bill Colvin, Kenny Cameron, Brian McCafferty, David Beattie or Jim Mann, but I suspect the names of both Roddy’s chairmen are on this page.
You’ll never read a better insight into why corruption was allowed to fester in our game than the glimpse available in today’s Telegraph, or that it remains endemic. Scottish football cannot be a comfortable haven for lawbreaking.
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The funky Glibbon wants the names and addresses of all those who don’t want to’ move on’ from here.
RWE on 12th November 2015 4:41 pm
An in law twice removed.
The best kind of in law.
what’s great about the current hoo hah is that it’ll distract from the plight of latestco – any chance there ever was of a competent leader saving them is even more improbable now the hordes will be in reptilian mode. They do not have enough money, they do not have anybody to give them money, they don’t know who owns what. They do not have a leader. Sooner rather than later they will have to cope with the now and the past. They will implode. I will laugh at those who couldn’t say ‘sorry we were wrong. We will start again and try to get it right’.
CANAMALAR on 12TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:30 PM
I think that HMRC want this water tight so that they can go after the mega bucks in England without too much fuss.
Ron Atkinson
“I never comment on referees and I’m not going to break the habit of a lifetime
For that Prat”
HH
quonno on 12th November 2015 7:27 pm
Magnificentseven on 12th November 2015 4:21 pm
I sincerly hope that there is not an appeal.
However, if there is not, there will be some serious goat abusing to save various skins.
It might even emerge that there were side letters to side letters covering Minty’s pockets should the shit and fan collide
The end game is very close, BDO will not spend money on a fruitless appeal, their job is to get as much money as possible for the creditors, including HMRC, why should they fight the main creditor in a court case they cannot win
I hope Regan noted the ‘civil unrest’ tone of the Sevco statement,does King know that Tin Foil Heid has issued a statement?
Come on you Bhoys Mr. King admits they had EBTs but they never got any sporting advantage from them obviously the judge was wrong.I think we can move on now we know the truth.Mr. King would never lie to the public. H.H.
NYE BEVANS’ REBEL SOLDIER on 12TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:26 PM
Their either going to build bridges with the
rest of Scottish fitba or kick it’s fcuking head
Come on Nye. Give the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, just maybe THEY have learned humility.
I have reread the above and can only conclude that I am truly Radio Rental.
in.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/scottish-football-cannot-be-haven-for-lawbreaking/comment-page-7/#comment-2717607
Quonno
Ref BDO and the possibility of appeal.
The further you go in this appellate process the greater the scrutiny of the legal merits of the case, and the greater the costs.
BDO have to balance one against the other and take advice (more money) on whether there is any useful purpose to be served by appealing. IE Will it make a blind bit of difference to the creditors?
They are indeed, not Duff & Phelps, but what do the creditors gain by them appealing a decision in the Supreme Court which has just been unanimously decided with great care and detail by three law lords.
If the case has legal merit, if they decide to proceed, if the case is heard, if the appeal is won – the Supreme Court will not award them costs. The advice that BDO will get is that this is a high risk venture with costs on them.
That is just not going to happen on such a flimsy appeal over the carcass of a liquidated company.
Thus BDO or the interests of the creditors will have to pay for all the men in wigs and black dresses and their attendant preparation and lunches.
My opinion only.
JOE FILIPPIS HAIRCUT on 12TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:38 PM
Come on you Bhoys Mr. King admits they had EBTs but they never got any sporting advantage from them obviously the judge was wrong.I think we can move on now we know the truth.Mr. King would never lie to the public. H.H.
Did he go to thesame school, or more likely the same minoge as LNS.
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/scottish-football-cannot-be-haven-for-lawbreaking/comment-page-7/#comment-2717612
BARRACH OBAMPOT @ 7:21 PM,
largely On Their own merit
…well apart from the governing bodies turning a blind eye to them trading insolvent and giving them a footballing licence when they didn’t fit the criteria”
Well that’s where the “largely” comes in, I think most of Sevco’s problems stem from the flawed 5 way agreement, James Forrest did a great piece on this from Nov 2013, that he reposted last night. I don’t know if they could unwind this agreement or even if there’s an appetite to do so, but for me Sevco as well as all of Scottish Football would be better off without this nonsense and I for one would be prepared to draw a line if that happened.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the guardians of Sevco will be able to run a business any better than they’ve done to date. It also doesn’t mean we hang fire on the Oldco misdemeanours and title stripping.
But if they could surgically remove this tumour from the body of Scottish Football and stop treating the Ibrox Clubs as special cases, I’m all for moving on.
Hail Hail
Mr Q
Just saw your in law crack.
Now that seems like another best kind of in law..
:o)
Quonno,
I think that’s their ideal, but as magnificent7 says, BDO are responsible to all the creditors, though one never know does one.
Nacho Novo being on an EBT is explosive. Stolen from under Celtic’s nose by Rangers, now we know why… Richard Wilson 2012.
While we dodged a bullet there, it does illustrate how EBTs were used to entice players away from their competitors.
It takes a lot to top The Telegraphs story earlier in the week,Jeremy Corbyn has been criticised for not bowing deeply enough after laying a poppy wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday but Roddy Forsyth’s piece shows how low most of Scottish Football journalist are going to stoop to try and brush this under the carpet.
To all posters.
Should there be no appeal, I will come on here with a very public mea culpa, mea culps, mea bloody maxima culpa.
~With bells on.
Lot’s of statements flying about since the ruling
last Wednesday.
Apart from the dignified chief victim.
Norway v Hungary play off SS3
Not wanting to tell Servo how to deal with their situation but I hear George Clooney is helping homeless people
Sevco – bluddy spellchecker
“for the good of Scottish football.”
You couldn’t give him a red neck with a blowtorch …
Further to what some people were discussing yesterday, and following on today’s incredible new events, I’ve decided to publish the first part of an exhaustive article I’ve spent the last day or two working on, charting, in detail (but not exhaustively) the course of the scandal that’s still unfolding in our game.
I’d welcome comments, criticisms, suggestions and any help I can get.
Part two will be up over the weekend, hopefully.
For now, here’s the incredible backstory … and the most unbelievable part of it is that every single word is true …
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/a-very-scottish-scandal-how-rangers-almost-wrecked-scottish-football-part-one/
My friends in Celtic,
I feel the GSL can unite Celtic supporters in a way that PL and DD could never do.
HH.
saint columba day.
Bada..,
That fixture throws up one of those peculiarities that happen in football
If you take the first part of Norway and the second part of Hungary you get
Norgary
The the second part of Norway and first part of Hungary you get
Hunway
Strange innit :)
King’s ramblings seem to be that of a man who knows the game is up, for him at least, and is now covering his own backside with the Neanderthals before it all goes t1ts up again. Next we’ll start to get the blame statements on why it’s all over for him/them and Lang out who’s to blame. I would doubt you will see him on these shores again for a long time unless it’s via an extradition request from the crown prosecution service.
Dont know if its been Posted( Havnt read back) But Uber Hun , chriss grahem saying on twitter that the clubs leading on stripping the huns of titles ARE….Celtic , Aberdeen, Dundee Utd and…Wait For it..YES you Guessed it..The Mighty….ALLOA…Yes You Read it Right…ALLOA…….LMFAO….Same Old ALLOA…always Bitchin….You Couldnt Write This Stuff….ALLOA…RIGHT ON…
GSL STATEMENT
For the avoidance of doubt, however, I wish to make one point clear. If the history of our Club comes under attack we will deal with it in the strongest manner possible and will hold to account those persons who have acted against their fiduciary responsibilities to their own clubs and to Scottish football.
STIVS STATEMENT
aye mon then, ootside
BDO: I think I read somewhere that GSL had been seen sitting with BDO people at Ibrox in October with the purpose of discussing acquiring old RFC carcass on the basis that they would appeal
Anyone read this?
BGX on 12TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:53 PM
That’s the four out of the six elected members of the professioNal game board who had the conference call last Friday who allegedly want titles stripped. Riley (Celtic), Thomson (DU), Fraser (Aberdeen) & Mulraney (Alloa). The other two elected members are from Raith & Brechin with Doncaster & Topping the full time members
Canamalar-touché ;)
celtic – strip their titles or heads roll in SFA (this is what will be negotiated)
All this stuff about whether x or y would or wouldn’t have signed without an EBT is a red herring.
The point is that by avoiding paying tax they had more money.
More money to buy players. More money to pay players. More money to spend on coaching. More money to put a better team on the park every week. That’s not an advantage?????
i’m loving this!! watching the bully squirm into the corner- scottish football will be healthier, fairer and ultimately stronger without them.
Don’t you just love Roy Orbison !!
It’s over it’s over it’s over !
ITS OVER ;)
Third Rankers a racing stock car certainty now !
Cowdenbeath are aye ready to be the next establishment pillar of society is that not right Donald where’s yer trooser leg gone ;)
It is astonishing that the Chairman of a public company could issue such a statement…..threats and all. King really is a knuckle dragging moron.
Chris Graham @ChrisGraham76 45m45 minutes ago
@STVGrant @PhantomL5 I think if they can find a way to try and strip titles then they’ll give it a go. You think different?
Grant Russell @STVGrant 45m45 minutes ago
@ChrisGraham76 @PhantomL5 I’m optimistic they’ll think different. Simply because: what’s changed? Unless the new(ish) tax rule is invoked.
Twitter conversation between Chris Graham and Grant Russell STV. Impartial journalism at it’s finest. ‘What’s changed?’ Errr they lost the big tax case, you know the biggest scandal in Scottish football history! Apart from that nothing really….
BGX
Tinfoil heed has a problem with their owner~chairman, Mike Mulraney, must be the Timmy name that bothers him.
HH