The matter of Rangers tax affairs in the 14 years prior to their liquidation are so lengthy, this video presentation will hopefully provide you with a summation of the salient points, ahead of tomorrow morning’s Supreme Court ruling on the matter.
It’s the most important 6 minutes you’ll spend today………
NEW CQN PODCAST WITH SFA PRESIDENT ALAN RAE OUT NOW!
Episode 2 of ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ finds Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham discussing a variety of topical subjects concerning Celtic Football Club, including:
* Callum McGregor: The Youth of Today;
* Death of the Cult Hero;
* Norwegian Wood – Ronnie Deila’s Exit Interview;
* Farewell to The Stone Roses;
* Hillsborough: The Truth.
Paul John Dykes also chats to SFA President, Alan McRae, to challenge him over recent comments made about Celtic’s domination of Scottish football.
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine or just listen using the link below…
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Good morning CQN
The war is over, the rebels have won
In a verdict which upholds decency common sense and fairness to all tax payers
Now do we have any rebels in the Celtic boardroom to fight for justice and fairness with the SFA, all the necessary armaments are there the SFA have no defence, go on Celtic show us
Happy Birthday, Tully57!
Strip The Titles – Bring On The Asterisks
No matter how much they try to dilute the consequences, it is official and established by law.
They cheated -They died.
They lie tainted in their grave for Eternity .
Like Macjay, I never thought that I would live to see the day.
It must be the Jeremy Corbyn effect!
: > )
So we finally see some justice…
It’s the close season and appropriate time to speak up about what we have been witnessing …
Specifically, the role of our Celtic Custodians in the complete and ongoing farce that is Scottish football!
My view that debating such matters during the season is an unhelpful distraction to the efforts of the team out on the pitch.
It is rather daunting prospect, as anytime anyone has anything to say on the subject they risk opprobrium from fellow Celts. So with tin hat firmly on napper and chin strap fixed tight, I will prepare for the incoming from some fellow hoops fans who will inevitably point me to an Invincible Treble and advise me to lighten up.
I accept that for some that is all that matters, and I try to understand that thinking, even if I cannot agree with it. I’m certainly not going to judge anyone or have an online punch up!!
My contact with CQN regulars informs my view that most are from the generation who remember first trips to Celtic Park when the Lions were in their heyday. When the birth of the Quality Street Kids saw us continue on our merry wee way towards the Original 9 in a row.
I remember a stream of constant victories and delicious glory, winning quarter finals,semi finals and final…and that was just in Europe!!
Fantastic days, and in hindsight we were rather spoiled, compared to the ‘faithful’ generation of our fathers. Men who had few, but albeit glorious successes, in a period when our club was generally becalmed in the doldrums.
Saturday afternoon was the bread and butter of domestic league football and regular trips with dad and his mates, in the car or supporters bus, to Paradise to watch the ransacking of one of the 100 also-rans in the old Scottish 1st Division ( actually only 17 other teams;-)
One of my hobbies back then was taking cuttings from the colour supplements issued with the Evening Citizen ( was it called the pink?). Tremendous action colour photographs of the players and always available immediately after the game.
How did they do that so quickly then?
As I got older I became fascinated with the crowds attending games in all the divisions and somewhere in my mum’s attic there is a scrapbook of pasted photographs with lists of aggregate crowds at Scottish games, week by week. Don’t ask me why I was focusing on that then, but I do remember 40,000 plus crowds were extremely rare in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Yes, I now appreciate they were poakling the attendance numbers to confuse the taxman…a touchy subject … when one really thinks about it!
Dareisay we recall the reports of clubs buying pubs to retain star players who were considered a ‘risk of flight’ back in the day when the game was ‘amateur’ in Scotland.
How reasonable to conclude there has always been surreptitious chicanery in Scottish fitba? Some acceptable and a ‘blind eye’ turned when it suits the individual or club narrative…
Ouch!! Stoappitt!!
If going to games on a Saturday and spending an hour or so poring over the blatts, was a ritual for this Bhoy in those days, so too was the ITV wrestling programme aired around dinner/tea time ( mebbes one of those toasted/roasted cheese debates in there?)
I have clear and fond memories of the whole family crowding around the DER television to watch the ‘Blue Eyes’ versus the ‘Heels’ or the ‘Goodies/White Hats’ v the ‘Baddies/Black Hats’ as they grappled and groaned on the canvas, we all watched it in our house, boys and girls, young and old. Simple pleasures!
The public interest in that period was huge. In 1963, 22 million viewers tuned in to watch a televised bout between ‘Blue Eye’ Jackie Pallo and my favourite ‘Heel’ Mick McManus. Imagine the potential revenues for ITV or London Weekend/Thames back then?
Channels would kill for that exposure now… ahem!
The scene was set and battle lines drawn. A ‘good guy’ from Highbury in North London versus a ‘bad guy’ from Dulwich, South East London. The fact that neither were originally from either location and that Pallo was actually Jack Ernest Gutteridge and ‘Mick McManus’ was actually William George Matthews, hardly mattered. It was all about picking your side, White Hat v Black Hat, North v South, Anglo Saxon v Celt, Good v Bad!!
I was too young to understand that particular bout ( although I’m sure I saw it), and by the time i was old enough to have an opinion I was naturally inclined towards the underdog ‘Mick’ McManus in his black shorts, Dracula style haircut and short forearm smash. He was the hero in our house.
Much later, and by the time I had already sussed out it was all a complete sham, I was still cheering on the ‘Irishman’ (folks from Mayo) Giant Haystacks against the Top Hat/Union Jack wearing arrogance of Big Daddy.
Underdog v Top Dog.
I didn’t know 40 stone and 6′ 11 Giant Haystacks was ‘ Irish’ back then, and it hardly mattered, as I was naturally inclined towards the underdog in almost all circumstances.
The majority of the public wanted the good guys to win, but the controllers of professional wrestling had realised that the underdog had to be thrown the odd bone…to keep the interest going and the gate receipts and tv advertising money rolling in. Otherwise folk might get bored and start watching other stuff…like darts or snooker…
Despite the fact I knew the wrestling was simply a pantomime of light entertainment, one ex-wrestler, now comedian, claims ” wrestling wasn’t a sham…it was a fix!” I didn’t care, it was just fun and it wasn’t costing me anything but time. There was no personal investment in the outcome.
As I grew older I continued to watch occasionally , out of habit, with the rest of my family until around 1982, but had lost interest completely by the time I reached my early twenties.
The rest of the UK was no longer watching, and tv audiences had halved by 1988 when the programme had been axed completely.
The growth of American RAW & WWF may have had an influence on
UK tv viewing figures too, but mainly folk had given up on watching an obvious sham that had become tired and dull.
The fitba? Now that was altogether different…there was a significant cost, both emotionally and financially.
The age old complaints about masonic refereeing and establishment clubs gaining advantages were there, almost legend! Much discussed and debated in my family and circle of friends.
As I was playing football at school and youth/juvenile level and had seen my fair share of crap refereeing, my attitude was resolved that there were always going to be weak ‘homer’ refs and linesman (we even had coaches running the line in some games)…but, generally the guys were trying their best. Some of them were excellent and some were just awful. Just like the players.
As there was no actual proof of any wrongdoing in the senior game, and we were all enthusiastically enjoying those leagues, cups, trophies and general success, I actually believed in the integrity of the senior game. Any odd or unusual decisions were put down to win some/lose some. That and blatant hunnery by individuals acting alone!
When I gave up any dream of making my living playing at a serious level after one failed senior trial, my focus moved to following my beloved Celtic and to find a proper job…of sorts.
Phrases like ‘Honest mistakes’, ‘Gratuitous Alienation’ and ‘Trading whilst insolvent’ were half a lifetime away.
However, Attitudes were changing during the Nineties!
Realisation was slowly dawning. Doubts about affordability were already there. Then by 2000 (Y2C) we were confronted with £12 million Tore Andre Flo!
How?
On one hand we had the obvious sham of professional wrestling in the UK “you grunt, I’ll groan” ( see Pallo’s autobiography) and the assumed genuine integrity of professional football.
Albeit with a few half-formed, puzzled questions forming!
Both sports were Incomparable…or were they?
As we now know the definitive outcome of the Big Tax Case, I am fully expecting my club to demand justice for a generation of wrongdoing by the SFA and by Rangers FC. I’m not having the argument that all the other clubs must share the burden and responsibility should not fall not solely upon Celtic.
Naw!
Hold that thought!
I’m slowly reaching the conclusion and beginning to suspect the custodians at Celtic Park have always been willing to play the role of ‘Mick’ McManus or Giant Haystacks or Kendo Nagasaki. The role of Heel to the Blue Eyes of Rangers??
Think about it!! The potential rewards are obvious…if you are motivated by personal greed, and what billionaire or millionaire isn’t, at some level, prepared to grasp the main chance?
Happily sucking up shoite whilst patiently waiting for their inevitable turn on the trough?
There are exceptions, but how many of them have sat on the Celtic board in your lifetime? …I can think of only one who put up his own million to save the club in 1994, and is an honourable exception that proves the general rule. I am prepared to be convinced otherwise!
Of course, the actual fans will not be thinking like that. Most will just be happy humping the huns, regardless…
Yet there is an alternative question to consider.
Are Celtic slowly morphing into the White Hats/Top Dogs in the absence of the Blue Eyes/Shirts. Is Celtic’s traditional role reversing?
How does that sit with everyone…hmmmmm?
I’m clear about what must happen next:
I want the club I support to act, alone, if necessary!
I want Ogilvie and company to pay the price, including forfeited pensions.
I want the SFA and League organisation from top to bottom to be restructured, with capability, visibility and accountability, at all levels.
I want the refereeing structure revamped and existing office holders removed with a classic cleansing of the stables. Adopt the model that works best in Europe and make it happen. In a few years with some assigned refs from Europe our game will reap benefits in quality of play, with the clugging style we see now consigned to the rubbish tip where it belongs! Remove ANY lingering Doubt by declaring club supported!
I want criminal charges, prosecutions and convictions for trading whilst insolvent and probably other fraudulent activity that may or may not emerge, for David Murray and his cohorts/company.
I want to see ‘Nimmo Smith’ revisited and titles stripped. Not necessarily awarded to Celtic or other clubs. My feeling that we cannot move forward and look one another in the eye until it happens is practically stifling me emotionally… (dear father it has been x weeks since my last confession. ..)
I want EBT taxes repaid to the treasury and the revenue to benefit the disadvantaged in society.
Knowing what we know now, there can be no excuses for failure to act decisively by Celtic, and if they choose to hire a group of consultants to take the personal focus away from vulnerable individuals, then fine.
I’m not expecting all of above to be achieved. However, the questions and challenges must be put forward without rancour or emotion. Discourse visible, openly and with no back room deals.
The wording must be clear and with the Celtic crest shouting loudly on the page!
If this does not happen, all the considerable efforts of the ‘internet bampots’ will be as relevant and effective as those mental but adorable wee grannies who jumped onto the wrestling rings and battered the wrestlers with their handbags back in the day!
My haunting fear is that we are condemned to a future watching a WWF version of fitba.
Then, slowly and painfully, reality will dawn on more and more fans, season by season and it will die…and be lost and gone forever.
For me, I’m already inclined towards other pastimes than going to, or even to watch the games on tv.
Like the ‘all in’ wrestling back in the day, I might be ‘all out’ with fitba, very soon..
The game I love is rapidly losing it’s lustre.
I want it back!
Alex Thomson
“This now means that Rangers cheated their way to 14 trophies: they cheated the taxman, they cheated us all.” por cierto
SALTIRES EN SEVILLA
You been up all night??? :) por cierto
The Pope of Rome is behind all this. There must be a passage in Revelation that’ll set things right.
Get you letters and emails off to Celtic. Make the demand for action overwhelming.
Stewart Regan Stewart Regan
We can see you sneaking out…….
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TULLY57!
TULLY57 IS 57.
Have they not suffered … oh I think we all know the answer to that one.
Two cracking results in two days, and to think summers used to drag on when I was young.
‘Is Rangers result worse than Celtic being knocked out by Lincoln Red Imps last season?’.
Jim White just said this on a national radio station.
Good Morning (and I really do mean that).
Ernie Lynch is absolutely correct. It will be very interesting to see the detailed written decision and the comments made in the midst of that decision by the learned judges as to their rationale and the detail of this case.
It is that detail which may yet cause ever bigger problems for some.
BRTH
…..a right guid result!
Morning Celts
We have waited a long time for this result.
I expect the PLC to be men and hold these cheats to account.
Regan and Dungcaster should be in handcuffs with the rest of the lawbreakers.
I demand Justice.
Peter Lawwell. Lets see you now.
HH
I’ve heard of a good day to bury bad news. Is this a bad day to bury bad news?
GARY67 on 5TH JULY 2017 10:11 AM
‘Is Rangers result worse than Celtic being knocked out by Lincoln Red Imps last season?’.
Jim White just said this on a national radio station.
And Tony Cascarino has just agreed with him that Celtic’s loss was worse than Sevco’s.
Radio off.
There will be a right few huns nailing their letter boxes closed this morning,
in fear of the HMRC brown envelope
Celtic have to act now, there is no wiggle room here..
Oh Campbell oh Campbell where for art thou??
POR CIENTO
Aye buddy this was the result we have been waiting for ;-)
S i S
that was an excellent read, full of emotion and intention, ta for sharing.
i am currently watching sky sports news, interviewing rent a wig dobber Gordon smith, as beneath him the ticker tape scrolls past with “HMRC wins big tax case against old co rangers”.
meanwhile the daftie says
“so gordon is this the worst result in rangers 146 years history”
oh the feckin irony.
i have the mixed emotions of yes its over, and anger at the cheating
At to think the first tier tribunal ruled in their favour. Corrupt cheating Huns.
Had the appeal been successful the SFA would have already had a press release vindicating the LNS decision and stating it was time to move on. How long, if at all, for them to comment on the confirmation of the cheating?
We now have to do whatever it takes to see justice done.
I truly hope you are listening Celtic because this is not going away.
As a shareholder I will be demanding my Club takes all steps necessary to have the cheating Huns stripped of all the titles they won through cheating, subterfuge and financial doping.
May God Bless all those who have in the past, and will continue to fight for what is right
Stand up my fellow Celts. Stand up for all those who have gone before us and for all those who will come after and see justice done
Hail Hail
Jim White is trailing his jaicket, looking for calls and hits. Best ignored!
The result Celtic didn’t want
Who was it that called it a “Phantom Tax Bill”?
Saint Stivs
Smith must score…
HH
new article posted.
I really hope that the PLC dont run away from this.
I will be very angry if nothing is done about the criminality in Scottish Football.
Stand against it….or be considered the same as them, that is the choice.
I will not accept any backsliding from the PLC on this, and ive never been more serious.
Ogilvie should be in handcuffs with Regan and Dungcaster.
Peter Lawwell. do your job, now.
HH
At the heart of the issue,
this is about the love of football, the delight in playing, the despair of losing, the hopes and fears of supporters rolled up in a package served up by the Scoddish authorities.
This is about championing fairness for all, not the currant Sweet FA……..
This is an issue for us all, Scotland is better than the huns – let’s consign thum to an asterisk’d series of footnotes in a tainted historical record.
Scotland The Brave?
HH
TET,
at least give them time,
there can be no hiding for PL and the board,
lets see what the next few days brings
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 5TH JULY 2017 10:05 AM
No matter how much they try to dilute the consequences, it is official and established by law.
They cheated -They died.
They lie tainted in their grave for Eternity .
Like Macjay, I never thought that I would live to see the day.
It must be the Jeremy Corbyn effect!
: > )
====================================================
Can`t help thinking of those before us who introduced us to the Celtic family .
In a joyful , not a morbid way.
Jeremy ? Aye , Ok. :-)
Aye punish them……..have them play in Luxembourg for the rest of the season.
Anyway everyone at Celtic just get on with what you do best…….winning trebles
thetimreaper on 5th July 2017 10:17 am
At to think the first tier tribunal ruled in their favour. Corrupt cheating Huns.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
I don’t think you have that right, honestly.
The First-tier decision was decided on a very narrow point of law as was the second tier decision. That was the argument that HMRC had invited the court NOT to treat the trusts and loans involved as shams. they said that they should be considered as “Real”.
This was because HMRC did not want to have to prove a fraud or a sham because that involves a higher standard of proof and an extra step.
If the loans were to be treated as genuine, then the first tier ruled that no one pays tax on a loan – which is true.
However, they allowed Heidi Poon to absolutely let rip on the quality of the evidence and the veracity of the witnesses and for 60 pages she tore into them.
The two judges who found in favour of MIH in terms of the law did not write a single word which disagreed with her view of the credibility and reliability of those witnesses and that is REALLY unusual.
At the third step, HMRC subtly changed their argument. Instead of saying that they wanted to the court to treat the trusts and loans as real they now argued that it was not NECESSARY as a general principle to prove that the trusts and loans were real — they might be, they might not be — the most important thing was to look at the contract and what had actually happened here in this case.
That allowed the Court to look beyond the real loans argument and guess what? They found a detailed explanation of the evidence provided by Heidi Poone with the other judges tacitly assenting to her findings.
Game set and Match.
Not only that, when it came to the Supreme Court, at the end of the hearing part of the grounds of appeal were ditched at the last minute.
Why? Becuase this was BDO (on the instructions of HMRC as the biggest creditor) appealing against a decision in favour of HMRC – and HMRC wanted the detail of the judgement to read exactly the way they wanted it and I will bet it makes a point of law which is causing lots of people not connected with MIH or Rangers to reach for the chequebook this morning or book a hasty flight to God knows where.
I said at the time of the first tier tribunal that the judgement was an odd one and that when you realise what they had done — Judges are sometimes clever bar stewards!!
Ernie Lynch
But it’s worth remembering that it was the involvement of the City of London Police that set this whole thing running.
That’s kind of the way I was going with that one Ernie, no slaps on the back for anyone in Scotland in getting to the truth on this one, it had to be outside Scotland , but we all knew that I think.
Anyone who had an EBT, will be paying 29p in the £1:00
The way I see it, I put this on my Facebook.
When you cheat at anything never mind sport, but including it, and you have been caught at it red handed completely guilty you have to put your hands up.
There is no way that you can prosper or make a profit from it you have to accept the consequences from others or a governing body, now the leaders of the game here in Scotland MUST take RFC (in Liquidation) to task on this one as there was clearly an advantage to that old club (in Liquidation)
Over that period of non payment on players tax and NI they clearly didn’t register players earnings to the football association in Scotland and also HMRC.
So now that HMRC have dismissed RFC (in Liquidation) appeal it is now time for the authorities here in Scotland who run our game to take three points from every league game they played in those tax avoidance years, and strip them of any trophies they won during that time too.
They have to, because as I said at the start of this post, you can not prosper or prophet from ill gotten gains in any way or form, it’s not even an option, it was not a level playing field, call it what you want, cheating, tax evasion, what ever, just get it done.