Rangers director Dave King’s remarkable statement today read like a manifesto for taking over a football club. I’ll leave aside most of his allegations, speculation and threats for now and discuss the central point to be considered by the Scottish Football Association.
King has asked the SFA if he would be deemed a Fit and Proper Person to run a football business. He has been a director of Rangers for the last 12 years, starting pretty much in tandem with the Employee Benefit Trust scheme which has precipitated so much trouble for the club. One of the key responsibilities of a non-executive director, defined by Wikipedia, are to:
“Satisfy themselves that financial information is accurate and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible”
It was his responsibility to ensure that Rangers’ tax submissions were accurate and defensible. He was employed (and presumably paid) to carry out this duty on behalf of the thousands of ordinary shareholders. This particular duty has been subject to gross underperformance. Being a bad director is not a suitable defence.
Last year the Daily Record reported that a South African court judgement said: “In our assessment [King] is a glib and shameless liar”.
Adding he, “has no respect for the truth and does not hesitate to lie … if he thinks it will be to his advantage”, before ruling his company was liable for a £250m bill served by the South African tax authorities. The very mention of the phrase “tax authorities” should send alarm bells ringing at Hampden.
Even Craig Whyte has never been called a shameless liar by a court.
King served as Rangers director with SFA president and board member, Campbell Ogilvie, for five years. The SFA have yet to respond to his Fit and Proper Person enquiry.
You are beginning to see why the SFA president’s position is simply untenable. We have been plunged headlong into the biggest scandal in the history of Scottish football and he sat around the table with most of the people involved when many decisions were agreed.
SFA chief exec, Stewart Regan, might be tempted to issue another “Campbell is clearly conflicted with this…” comment but would be much better served by:
Making it clear that works like “glib and shameless liar” from a court do not make you Fit and Proper for Scottish football.
Calling an emergency board meeting and instigate an immediate and wide-ranging inquiry into Rangers – with an initial response before the end of this month.
Advising the president that he should immediately offer information to the SPL inquiry and do the same with the SFA inquiry once convened, and step aside until all related matters have concluded.
More on King’s self-serving claim that trophies Rangers ‘won’ during and around their EBT period are secure soon.
I would like to be the first to congratulate St Mirren on their League Cup win in 2010.
Issue six of CQN Magazine, the Fit and Proper edition, is set to become a landmark collectors item. You can browse the magazine online here but you can buy your own hard copy by clicking on the link below. Read with 20-20 vision…..
You can support the online edition by making a discretionary donation here.
171 Comments- Pages:
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(thumbsup)
1st ?
ahhhhhhh
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Merry, merry king of the bush is he
Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!
Gay your life must be
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gum drops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
Leave some there for me
Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!
That’s not a monkey that’s me
Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail
Gets a boo-boo in his tail
Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, kookaburra!
Oh how life can be
Very strong feeling for liquidation proceedings to start tomorrow possible Friday
top 5 dink!
Let cheating dogs die
Urlyc
Paul, Ive told you before you really must stop holding back!
Hail Hail
Who’s going to be first to set up the new blog?
It could be named :- The Kings Tax case
I’m sure there are many great headlines out there mixing together HMRC, King, SARS, RAND etc..
No point in waiting for the MSM to investigate Dave King.
Has Tommy got his phone number?
http://celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=885%3Apodcast-175-carluke-shamrock-csc-meets-tom-english-and-chums&catid=34%3Aaudio&Itemid=58
someone posted this earlier. its 1.5 hrs long but well worth it. give it a go if u get time.
I don’t think we’ll ever see Craig Whyte’s googly eyes again. :(
Thank you, Craig. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. (thumbsup)
Paul67, well said, keep at them.
Apply the rules as they stand, without fear or favour, and have them seen to be applied.
Hold them to it Celtic.
Paul67
Is there/will there be a Fit and Proper person enquiry relating to Campbell Ogilvie ?
pigalle
Getting your back up now Paul67 huh? be patient mate, they will turn on each other and then uefa will swoop to see rfc got off so lightly and bring the whole mess down after the club have went to the wall. its all politcal and the stalling by the admin is just that, see how much influence can be used each day to soft the clubs fall.
Cynical you bet ya!
KLV
Repost
Apologies for the long post (and feel free to scroll by) but given the comments of Neil Doncaster in relation to a Newco being parachuted into the SPL and his comments in respect of how the current Rules and Regulation, Articles of Association of the SPL would be applied with particular reference to whether it will be a decision for the Board of the SPL or a the Company in General Meeting, I believe it is now an appropriate time to publish my correspondence with Mr Doncaster on this very subject.
=========================
(Original later sent to Neil Doncaster dated 13/01/2012)
Dear Mr Doncaster,
As an avid supporter of Scottish Football, the Scottish national side and Celtic Football club I write to you today asking you, as Chief Executive of the SPL, to clarify the procedures, process’s, Rules & Regulations of the SPL and The Articles of Association of the SPL that would be applied by the SPL if a member club holding one share finds itself liquidated, therefore no longer holding entitlement to its share in the SPL.
In particular I am interested as to whether a brand new club/legal entity being formed, with a similar name, team colours, badge, playing in the same stadium and being supported by the same supporters as the liquidated member would/would not be afforded direct entry into the SPL in place of the liquidated member?
If the aforementioned new club would/would not be afforded direct entry can you provide me with the following:
a) details of the specific rule(s)/articles(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article/s from The Articles of Association of the SPL that would support any decision to allow/disqualify a new company as previously described direct entry into the SPL?
b) based on a) above would this decision be a Reserved matter for The Board of the SPL and if so provide details of the specific rule(s)/article(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article from The Articles of Association of the SPL that would support this?
c) based on a) above if the decision is not a Reserved matter for The Board of the SPL is it a matter for the non-liquidated Members of the SPL in General Meeting passing an Ordinary Resolution, a Qualified Resolution or a Special Qualified Resolution, providing details of the specific rule(s)/article(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article from The Articles of Association of the SPL that would support this?
I look forward to your reply on the questions raised.
Yours Sincerely
=========================
(Neil Doncaster’s reply to letter above dated 24/01/2012)
Thank you for your letter of 13 January 2012.
The nature of the questions that you ask is somewhat technical – and to do justice to your questions would require far more than a simple paragraph of explanation. Suffice to say, the existing rules would cover any situation involving an attempt to transfer any of the shares in the SPL, while that rulebook remains in place. All of our rules are available online at http://www.scotprem.com.
Thank you for your interest in the Scottish Premier League.
Yours Sincerely
Neil Doncaster
Chief Executive
==========================
Dear Neil,
Thank you for your letter dated 24th of January 2012 in reply to my letter (attached) dated 13th of January 2012.
I understand the nature of the questions put to you in my original letter were ‘somewhat technical’ and I understand that it would take more than a ‘simple paragraph of explanation’ to answer each question. However, I do not believe I requested that you provide me with a ‘simple paragraph of explanation’ in answer to my ‘somewhat technical’ questions.
As Chief Executive of the SPL I would appreciate that you treat this letter with the same due respect and regard you would expect in your position. Given the precarious financial position of a number of clubs holding 1 equal share of the Scottish Premier League at this time I believe you would be failing in your duties, as Chief Executive of the SPL, to the SPL, to each member club, to each member clubs supporters organisations and every independent football supporter if you were not fully aware of how the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and the Articles of Association of the SPL with regards the ‘Transfer of Shares in the SPL’ would be applied if a member club was to be liquidated and did not have a plan in place in readiness for such an outcome.
I have read the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and the Articles of Association of the SPL as well as the clarification letter/s posted on the SPL website August 2011 a number of times, prior to both my original letter to you and your subsequent reply. I am interested, however, to know exactly how these Rules and Regulations and Articles of Associations as well as any clarifications (in the form of letters to member clubs) of the aforementioned will be applied with reference to the questions asked in my original letter of the 13th of January 2012 and expanded upon below.
As Chief Executive of the SPL please clarify the procedures, process’s, Rules & Regulations of the SPL and The Articles of Association of the SPL (inclusive of clarification letters to members) that would be applied by the SPL if a member club holding one share finds itself liquidated, therefore no longer holding entitlement to its share in the SPL?
In particular I am interested as to whether a brand new club/legal entity being formed, with a similar name, team colours, badge, playing in the same stadium and being supported by the same supporters as the liquidated member would/would not be afforded direct entry into the SPL in place of the liquidated member?
With regards the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and the Articles of Association of the SPL including all publically published clarification letters please advise as to whether the aforementioned new club would/would not be afforded direct entry to the SPL and provide me with the following:
a) details of the specific rule(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article/s from The Articles of Association of the SPL that would support any decision to allow/disqualify a new company as previously described direct entry into the SPL?
b) based on a) above would this decision be a Reserved matter for The Board of the SPL and if so provide details of the specific rule(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article(s) from The Articles of Association or subsequent clarification letters of rules or articles of the SPL that would support this decision?
c) based on a) above if the decision is not a Reserved matter for The Board of the SPL is it a matter for the non-liquidated Members of the SPL in General Meeting passing an Ordinary Resolution, a Qualified Resolution or a Special Qualified Resolution, providing details of the specific rule(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article(s) from The Articles of Association of the SPL or subsequent clarification letters of the rules or articles of the SPL that would support this decision?
With regards the questions detailed above I was interested to listen to Radio Clyde Football phone in show and in particular Hugh Keevins, Sports Journalist for the Daily Record Newspaper, on the 23rd of January at 19:37, during a discussion on the topic of Rangers FC being replaced in the SPL by a new company/football club reformed from the old Rangers FC after liquidation, make the following statement “I wrote about Rangers situation – I was briefed about what would happen by the SPL.” Given this public statement by Hugh Keevins can you please confirm if such briefings have taken place with regards the situation of Rangers FC being liquidated and a new company/club being afforded direct entry in place of the old company/club back in the SPL, between Sports Journalists and the SPL and if so were these briefings presented to journalists prior to your reply to me date 24th of January 2012?
Further to the above you state in your reply “the existing rules would cover any situation involving an attempt to transfer any of the shares in the SPL”. Is there a possibility that the rules could change in order to accommodate a transfer of a share in the SPL between an existing club/company experiencing a liquidation event which sees that club/company re-emerge as a new club/company taking the old club/companies place in the SPL? If so would this be a decision for the SPL Board or would it be a decision for all non-liquidated members of the SPL in General Meeting passing an Ordinary Resolution, a Qualified Resolution or a Special Qualified Resolution, providing details of the specific rule(s) from the Rules and Regulations of the SPL and/or the particular article(s) from The Articles of Association of the SPL or subsequent clarification letters of the rules or articles of the SPL that would support this decision?
Are the SPL and as Chief Executive Officer, you, fully aware of how the SPL plan to apply the Rules & Regulations of the SPL and/or the specific Articles of Association of the SPL in relation to the questions put to you with regards a non-specific SPL club/company holding one equal share of the SPL as detailed in my original letter dated 13th of January 2012?
I look forward to your reply to the questions raised and hope that on this occasion you treat my request with the respect your position as Chief Executive of the SPL holds.
Yours Sincerely
=========================
Thank you for your further letter of 30 January 2012, which I received this morning.
Your letter asks a number of technical questions about the SPL Rules. However, there is little I can add to my previous response to you in this matter.
The SPL’s existing rules (as set out at http://www.scotprem.com) would cover any situation involving an attempt to transfer any of the shares in the SPL, while that rulebook remains in place. That rulebook can of course change – but any change would require to be voted on in general meeting by the members. Whether any such change would require eight, ten or eleven votes depends on the nature of such change, in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company.
I am not going to comment on any specific situation regarding any of the SPL’s member clubs. Nor am I prepared to speculate how any such situation might develop and, therefore, how the SPL would treat any such development.
I am sorry that I cannot assist further.
Yours sincerely
Neil Doncaster
Chief Executive
=========================
MWD
This is a new one. Glasgow City Council regeneration of the East End of Glasgow for 2014 is “financial doping” to the benifit of Celtic according to this half wit
http://www.followfollow.com/news/tmnw/an_insight_into_the_disturbing_antirangers_witchhunt_733214/index.shtml
The Cheese man just arrived at Murray Park.
Make sure you get cash mhate!
philvisreturns
From previous thread.
It shows their desperation, they accept liquidation. They just want to keep their memories… :)
Excellent Paul.
Reagan must surely take action or be tarnished by implication thru his inactivity to make some decisions.
St Martin De Porres on 7 March, 2012 at 12:57 said:
Very strong feeling for liquidation proceedings to start tomorrow possible Friday
Just a feeling or hearing rumblings from somewhere?
oops stretched the blog!
excellent stuff paul
what is it with these peepul?
Paul – Dave King is to fit and proper what the SFA is to strong governing bodies.
Paul 67
Is being a Shameless liar to Fit & Proper not part of the norm these days at Ibrox
So much so that collective amnesia becomes eh something so trivial like where did I leave ma specs
Oh the brass necked irony of it all
Hail Hail
paulsatim is neil lennon on 7 March, 2012 at 13:06 said:
Its a decent source but he did state that its a changing situation.
St Martin De Porres on 7 March, 2012 at 13:08 said:
Cheers!
Whatever part of my club is dependent on Rangers I am willing to lose – formerly known as Malone19 :
Watched last years cup final in the bar below, place was jumping BTW :
O’Sheas Irish Bar
80 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 6NF
0161 236 3906
Paul67
HMS Rangers is practically below the water line. The few remaining bridge crew are now fighting over the final life boat.
The Captain was on the very first one right enough and has his feet up in front of the fire with a nice red wine in hand…
ASonOfDan – It shows their desperation, they accept liquidation. They just want to keep their memories… :)
The Kubler-Ross model was right. (thumbsup)
Neveralone, OK, I’ll get myself wound up.
Doc, apply the rules. That’s all.
pigalle, clearly, no such inquiry occurred.
kevinlasvegas , aye.
excathedra44, the situation is crying out for SFA action. Surely?
celtic40me, don’t ask me!
St Martin’s Bhoy, indeed.
Thindimebhoy, aye.
Paul 67
Consistently excellent leader articles. Keep up the pressure, Paul. We’re behind you all the way!
In respect of your footnotes, I dont like to rain on your parade but, in a period when Celtic have won the league title an unprecedented 16 times in a row (soon to be 17), I find it a little disappointing to note that we have only won the treble twice during that time. Last year, obviously, and in 2000-2001.
We, as a club, need to be more ruthless in our pursuit of trophies that reflect our long period of dominating Scottish Football.
HH
Liquidation cannot start until after the deadline of the 16th.
The 20th has been mentioned several times in the last few days. I reckon if that is the case we should all meet up on the 25th for the wake.
Paul67,
Apply the rules indeed.
This has become my mantra when discussing the issues with Rangers supporting friends, “aye but……….” is a common response, “aye but nothing” the reposte.
Philvisreturns, you’ve been shared.
merseycelt, ha! Excellent. Thanks.
HH..
What I find incredible over at the Govan tax haven. Is the COMPLETE disregard for integrity, humility, intelligence….. We could go on…
King/ Murray emerge from under rocks and seek the oxygen of the media..
Most people in their shoes would walk away and hide..
The arrogance is quite stunning..
Even the admin process.. The players all arguing the toss.. Most admins I ve seen candidates are fired on the spot.. No messing..
Let’s hope that justice prevails and I CAN say to my family… That’s what happens to bad people!!!
Liquidation… Because they’re worth it…
HH
12.50pm: Keith Wyness, former Chief Executive of Aberdeen has said he believes Rangers should be stripped of their honours if an inquiry shows that they’ve broken rules regarding payments to players. Wyness also believes that Scottish football could be stronger if Rangers do go out of business.
Paul67 et al
With apologies to the Proclaimers;
Clydebank no more
Third Lanark no more
Airdrie no more
Rangers no more
When you go will you send me a letter fae South Africa?