Let’s be clear from the off, Craig Whyte is not your friend. He was not the man who “murdered” Rangers any more than Alasdair Johnston, his accuser, who was paid to ensure the club was run in an appropriate manner in the years prior to its crash into liquidation.
If Whyte has your job, your pension or your wellbeing in his hands, you would likely fair no better than those who have had the misfortune to be vulnerable to his exploitative nature before. He is the worst manifestation of our corporate system.
As yesterday’s verdict at Glasgow High Court established, he was merely a collaborative player in the drama which saw Murray Group shed its liabilities to Rangers fans into an all-too certain, and limited, future.
The SFA were right to quickly fine and sine die Whyte, despite the fact that he has no inclination to become involved in football again. What the Association must now do is examine the role of those who had explicit and executive oversight responsibility of managing Rangers through the process of its decline and sale to a character with a lengthy corporate irresponsibility charge sheet.
Whyte was not in any way a bad choice for the job required at Rangers. For those with most to gain, he was the perfect choice. He was, in fact, the only choice, if the desired result was to be delivered – and it was.
No one else would have had the stomach to pick up a corporate basket case, manoeuvring bank debt, securitising years of ticket sales, brazingly stiffing public service funding, and in doing so, freeing Murray Group from a disabling liability.
What do I care? I predicted, then watched, Rangers inevitable crash into administration and liquidation. Patience and thick skin was all that was required through the years of bravado from Ibrox. Those who shouted down the glaringly obvious in support of these charlatans have been shown up as malleable accomplices.
There is one outstanding matter I do care about. In my opinion, Sir David Murray did not discharge his duties as the ultimate controlling director of Rangers FC in a responsible manner. If there is one issue which every Scottish football fan can unite on, it is surely this.
The deplorable sequence of events at that club, from it’s exploitation of the Employee Benefit Trust scheme to pay millionaires tax free sums through a system which was designed to allow employers to aid staff through periods of hardship.
To its submissions to the SFA on taxable overdue. To the shredding of correspondence, and failure to disclose other correspondence.
Rangers were a huge influence on our game; on the SFA, the SPL, the media, and more. The executives concerned had placemen who protected them. The SFA must now charge those responsible for bringing the game into disrepute.
More sine die punishments would mean little to men who are already finished with the game, but it would be a hugely significant act of faith towards the paying public, of all colours. It is time for us all to unite against the men who really did sell the jerseys.
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Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 1:04 pm
On this debate,I would think it would be a good idea to leave politics out of it.All politicians need votes.How they get them has never been snow white.Labour,Tory,SNP,have nothing to do with whats going on at Hampden.As I said,there is no outcry from clubs,certainly not the SMSM.With an election coming up,no politician will go near this.
==================
Its tomorrow, by next week it will be back to business. Politicians don’t need to go near it, just support those who will without making it political. Scottish Football is an industry employing thousands that is in trouble. If it were steel or coal etc they would be expected to get involved, why not football that is incapable of self policing?
Celtic currently operate a Waiting List for Season Tickets. A fee of £10 and an Internet fee of £1.50 grants you the privilege of joining the queue. That is a sign that the Plc’s financial strategy is working and the bean counters have more profitable things to do than sort out the administration of the game (if it’s possible).
Folk are paying to queue up and watch Sevco get hammered. That won’t go on forever.
Sadly I feel vindicated today with my decision not to contribute a single penny to Celtic Plc until they demonstrate some measure of credibility.
Sevco are now in Europe, Whyte cleared, Charles Greene, same club, debt gone (?), Johnson back, Glibby back…Murray back in business and the Scottish Establishment (and tax payer) is now clearing up the mess…
Sevco not only are a ‘huge influence on the Scottish game’, they are running Scottish football.
Was last season a “30 pieces of silver season” in exchange for the Plc’s complicity/silence?
Hopefully the Supreme Court will do the right thing.
At what point will the apologists for the Plc on here begin to concede that game is up?
Is it wise to sit back and say nothing while Sevco make a laughing stock out of the game? This Plc were the ones that gave us two seasons of Ronny Delia and CL failure.
Are they to be trusted?
Maybe they’ll wake up and do something before long?
The Scottish media are only doing in football what they do with most issues, conceal the truth and propagate an agenda. There really is no point in watching or reading any mainstream news source in the UK (or Ireland) with anything other than a very cynical eye.
All very predictable unfortunately.
Till Later
ThirtypiecesofsilverCSC
Anyway, not to worry, not long till the new season begins. We’re only one defeat to Sevco away from the punters putting these issues to the top of the agenda. The Brendan Rodgers effect indeed.
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:47 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:28 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:18 PM
Yes the last thing this country needs is more Romanian chefs, Polish builders or Filipino nurses
.you leave the Filipino nurses alone.
===============================================
Don`t you mean Filipina ?
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:17 PM
It’s not childish criticism; it is a vacuous truth asserting that the net increase in migration will increase the homeless queue in the UK.
Those who come to the UK as immigrants have to establish a means of supporting themselves and that includes accommodation. The idea that people emigrate to the UK and are given a a home under homeless legislation just doesn’t stack up. Unless you are equating refugees with immigrants of course.
Also consider that the number of homeless isn’t an accurate figure; we should be talking about roofless or in hostel accommodation; those are, IMHO (as someone who spent numerous years working in housing in the statutory and voluntary sector) far more relevant .
Final point: if you are looking at cause and effect, look no further than the housing policy (including Right to Buy) brought in by the Conservative Government after the 1979 election. Therein lies the truth.
Over and above all that, how are you? I’ve been very seldom on the blog over the past few weeks and have missed your acerbic wit and banter! (Especially with Mags and TGM).
KTF
Interesting post from Auldheid about the factors behind Whyte’s disrepute charge. I wonder what they would do if a director – say – failed to comply with an order form the Takeover Panel…..
South of T:
TC is the player in question.
Absolute euphoria over on Monkey websites as Galactico after Galactico “Jets in”.Cardoso today,another couple of “Internationals”tomorrow,pending clearance.Wonga must be rubbing their hands.Either that or they are penniless by Xmas.
This is what I was saying earlier,where is the finance coming from?.Take Alves.Now I know from reading the Turkish Sports papers here,that Galatasaray were prepared to give him a one year,with option contract of 40 grand a week.OK,the Huns have given him a 2 year deal up front.500,000 transfer.I would think at least the same to the player,then the agents fees.25 grand a week.we are talking for the 1st year,around,2.5 million.For one player,a quarter of their ST income.
Aberdeen,Hearts and Hibs,sitting watching this,and saying nothing.Trying desperately to balance their books.The SFA,well,we know all about them.Unless they have a shock,and Ashley is prepared to do a deal with them,they are on the road to oblivion once again.
Next season should be good.
Donald Findlay QC told trial the material was ‘for purposes of potential blackmail’.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1390627-rangers-chairman-dave-king-bought-hacked-whyte-emails/
In the open, why the media couldn’t touch it.
Malleable is probably the kindest discription, I could think of other words to describe them.
MARADOMINIC on 7TH JUNE 2017 1:31 PM
We should at least have spoken out.
Yep,barrack room lawyers always get plenty of attention.
Why only us?.Answer my question.
https://twitter.com/delbhoy007/status/872236256817631232
Vegas Pool Party
AULDHEID on 7TH JUNE 2017 1:31 PM
Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 1:04 pm,
Never think I am disagreeing with you on the fundamentals of the problem.You say Scottish football is in trouble,but the figures do not really prove this.Per head of population,we do very well.Politicians,I think,barring the odd idiot,would like to steer well clear of football.Its a no win situation.You gain votes,you lose votes.
There is no widespread condemnation of the SFA,SPFL,from any other source bar Celtic fans.The SMSM do not want to know,and never will.As you know,whats needed is a groundswell of public opinion,backed by the press to make any significant change.Sadly,I just dont see it.RES 12,is all that we have.If Celtic do not back it in the future,I really dont know what the future of our game is.
Clougher Celt,
Back at the beginning of this fiasco, when RTC and CQN were unmasking the dirty deeds at Hampden, many were calling for Celtic to “do something”.
My view then and now is that there were only two options for Celtic, neither of which was feasible.
Remembering that Celtic are a member club of an association, but only one voice and recognising that the whole of Scottish Establishment and perhaps UEFA too, were on operation Save the Hun what could they do.
My conclusion was that they could make their protest, then shut down the club, like Belfast Celtic.
OR
Make their protest, then wait to be invited into another league, like Derry City.
What was/is obvious is that the SFA/ SPFL/ UEFA, etc., were not going to clear the stables just because Celtic complained.
The only time any brake was applied to the scam was when fans of other clubs applied pressure on their Boards to stop the Big Shoehorn.
Therefore, if anything can be achieved to cleanse the game, it will have to come from the fans of ALL clubs.
Otherwise, whether we like it or not, we are all complicit in condoning the scandal.
BC or DC.
CLOUGHER CELT wrote,
The Scottish media are only doing in football what they do with most issues, conceal the truth and propagate an agenda. There really is no point in watching or reading any mainstream news source in the UK (or Ireland) with anything other than a very cynical eye.
All very predictable unfortunately.
Till Later
So after reading what you wrote,do you think our club standing up,alone,screaming injustice from the rooftops,would not get short shrift from this media?.Remember who we are,where we play,and what forces are aligned against us.
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH JUNE 2017 1:43 PM
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:47 PM
ERNIE LYNCH on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:28 PM
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 7TH JUNE 2017 12:18 PM
Yes the last thing this country needs is more Romanian chefs, Polish builders or Filipino nurses
.you leave the Filipino nurses alone.
===============================================
Don`t you mean Filipina ?
I know what I meant,Ducks,
Oooohhh Matron.
Paul67
‘No appetite’ in Scotland for title stripping?
so we are told , ‘why can’t you just be glad you’ve got Brendan Rodgers
and are doing so well’
There is no authority in Scotland nobody, formal or otherwise who will receive anything other than derision should they ask obvious questions of the rancid SFA.
Pilloried for taking out an advert in The Herald, poo pooed by our own club over Res 12, don’t see Craig Whyte’s not guilty changing the status quo that was created when Sevco were granted the spare licence.
Next up the big tax case?
The real crime and slight of hand was the Sevco licence in 2012.
Beacause we are Celtic and shouldn’t be part of the corruption. Simple as that. Only raith Riovers chairman spoke the truth about corruption
!!BADA BING!! on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:02 PM
Brilliant, however I am now totally jealous as some friends of mine are there. HH
UEFA quite happy to take a backseat and let the complicit SFA cover it all up, as i’ve said before the huns contaminated every Euro tournament they were in with a wrongly approved licence.The legal claims from Clubs the huns done over, will be millions.
B67- ditto mate
MARADOMINIC on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:21 PM
Beacause we are Celtic and shouldn’t be part of the corruption. Simple as that. Only raith Riovers chairman spoke the truth about corruption
Yes,and were did it get him?.What major changes came from it?This country does not want to know.SFA dont want to know,UEFA dont want to know,and our SMSM definitely dont want to know.Without support,we would be making a pigs ear of ourselves.Get the clubs that matter behind any revolt.Aberdeen,Hears,Hibs.Sadly,they dont want to know either.
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:31 PM
‘Yes,and were did it get him?’
##
It got him on to the moral high ground.
Which is better than the alternative.
“Those Fuzzy Wuzzies…….They don’t like it up ’em!”
Corporal Jones
SoT
Paul’s still Puffin too. If you email him via paul@celticquicknews.co.uk he’ll join the dots.
TBB
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:31 PM
You are paraphrasing my overview of the situation, but, sadly, too many of us don’t see it that way and go for the sabre rattling, futile option.
Grass cutting awaits.
Sevco swoop as Celtic dither.
LOL csc
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:43 PM
It isn’t futile to call out wrongdoing, even if you don’t manage to right the wrong.
Integrity matters.
https://twitter.com/scotlandsky/status/872449566536331265
O.G.Rafferty on 7th June 2017 1:51 pm
Donald Findlay QC told trial the material was ‘for purposes of potential blackmail’.
https://stv.tv/news/west-central/1390627-rangers-chairman-dave-king-bought-hacked-whyte-emails/
In the open, why the media couldn’t touch it.
================
Actually the material in question was freely released in 2013 on social media at no cost and only to inform the public of skulduggery a year before DK tainted it. I think it was the Levenson enquiry that made the media wary of using it in 2013.
That DK subsequently paid for it in Oct 2014 for blackmail purposes might have rendered it unusable for criminal court purposes, but as the original material was issued to enable the pursuit of truth I don’t think it should be tainted by the tar brush DK subsequently applied.
Indeed it might be argued that apart from blackmailing purposes he paid for it to prevent its pursuit of truth use. After all he was a Director of RFC in 2011 when the UEFA Licence was being processed and would not want anything relating to that revealed.
However that was all in a court looking into civil and criminal law, what some of that material shows applies only to football law and regulations.
The very fact it exists should be enough to request it formally if any enquiry ever happens, but lets stop pretending it does not exist or is unusable if it makes a case that fraud took place (although that is not now dependent on that material )
Indeed that was the purpose of Res12, to ask the UEFA CFCB to use their powers to obtain the same documentation and so surmount the provenance argument the media used not to publish in 2013.
Now that the court cases are out of the way and now we are in the public court of football law there is no reason why anything on social media relating to what took place in 2011 in respect of the processing of the UEFA licence cannot be brought before a football enquiry or discussed openly as it reveals the truth and is no longer subject to criminal proceedings with risk of prejudicing anyone on charge.
ERNIE LYNCH on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:51 PM
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:43 PM
It isn’t futile to call out wrongdoing, even if you don’t manage to right the wrong.
Integrity matters.
****
Of course it does. That is what it is all about.
But, what then?
Do you turn around and see who is behind you?
In this cse, they would all be behind us……..well behind us!
Bada Bing!! on 7th June 2017 2:29 pm
UEFA quite happy to take a backseat and let the complicit SFA cover it all up, as i’ve said before the huns contaminated every Euro tournament they were in with a wrongly approved licence.The legal claims from Clubs the huns done over, will be millions.
================
Indeed they were, indeed they were in 2011.
That might explain Celtic’s reluctance to ask UEFA to investigate but take it up with the SFA.
Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 2:31 pm
.Without support,we would be making a pigs ear of ourselves.Get the clubs that matter behind any revolt.Aberdeen,Hears,Hibs.Sadly,they dont want to know either.
================
That is exactly what Id be expecting Celtic to do NOW!
If the other clubs don’t value the integrity aspect then if that is what comes out Celtic can tell us they tried.
ERNIE LYNCH on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:40 PM
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 2:31 PM
‘Yes,and were did it get him?’
##
It got him on to the moral high ground.
Which is better than the alternative.
See,this is the problem.Sound bites getting thrown around.”Moral high ground””Integrity”In todays climate,they mean Hee Haw.There are some on here who would see our club crash and burn.as long as they did it with “Integrity”.Until the rest of the clubs show some of these traits,I am quite happy for us to go on from our position of strength and dominate.You will disagree,but I really dont care.
No use showing these worthy traits if they produce nothing,except give people like you a warm,rosy glow.
TURKEYBHOY on 7TH JUNE 2017 3:15 PM
So, eh, why bother supporting a football club then?
AULDHEID on 7TH JUNE 2017 3:11 PM
Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 2:31 pm
.Without support,we would be making a pigs ear of ourselves.Get the clubs that matter behind any revolt.Aberdeen,Hears,Hibs.Sadly,they dont want to know either.
================
That is exactly what Id be expecting Celtic to do NOW!
For the 1st time,I will have to disagree with you.If they dont care,and they should,why should we?.There is no integrity in the game.Not in the Ruling bodies in Scotland,the clubs,the media,UEFA,FIFA.Reagan just given a UEFA post,with UEFA knowing the facts of what went on in 2011-12 sums it all up.
We are in a position now we can cock 2 fingers to the lot of them.Let them all stew in it.
Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 2:10 pm
AULDHEID on 7TH JUNE 2017 1:31 PM
Turkeybhoy on 7th June 2017 1:04 pm,
There is no widespread condemnation of the SFA,SPFL,from any other source bar Celtic fans.
===================
How do you know if the smsm don’t report it? Catch 22.
================
The SMSM do not want to know,and never will.As you know,whats needed is a groundswell of public opinion,backed by the press to make any significant change.
============
Catch 22 again but the SC Decision has still to come.
=========================
Sadly,I just dont see it. RES 12,is all that we have. If Celtic do not back it in the future,I really dont know what the future of our game is.
=========================
Correct although its the process that we have not Res12 itself.
What if a resolution of no confidence in the SFA that asked Celtic to support an enquiry on behalf of supporters of Celtic and all clubs were placed at the next AGM, would that get support? Would the media dare try and present it as anything but a governance issue in view of what is known?
If Celtic don’t have the courage balls, do they need to be encouraged?
Maradominic … if nothing else, your attitude will get you into heaven … and a beer or two from me, if I am ever fortunate enough to meet you in person.
Going along just to get along was never, and should never be, the Celtic way. Certainly not if the going along means going along with that disreputable shower/covering up cheating (especially cheating against Celtic!).
We should aim high… if Celtic try, we could bring about some change. And even if we only accomplish a part of what we hoped to any change would be good / a start.
Even if we try, but nothing really changes, at least we will know that Celtic stood and stand for something good and decent.
(what happens if we try? Could the league suffer some bad PR? sure.. but in the long run, it will make the situation better?
are they going to hate us more than they already do? I dont think that is possible, and if so, let them. Are they going to cheat us any more than they already do? Again, I dont think that is likely or possible. And, if some light is shone on their cheating, they may not be able to do it with such impunity.
Conversely, if we continue to say nothing, they will take it (and with some good reason) that we are prepared to accept being shafted… and will continue to do so with impnity.
As a start, Celtic should come out with a statement setting out (i) their understanding of what happened, and (ii) what issues they would like to see addressed. I presume that Celtic is privy to a lot of information that the general public may not (and some of it may have been given in confidence). But, even if they just raised the issues, for example, highlighted in the recent posts by BRTH and Auldheid, the weight of that statement from Celtic would, in my opinion, be tremendous.