So much happened yesterday, I’ll be as brief as possible:
Newco Rangers sent their counsel to the Court of Session to protest Charles Green’s contract with the club, stating it should pay legal expenses, now crystallising ahead of his forthcoming criminal trial.
In opposing Green, James Wolffe QC raised various objections, but as is often the case when people speak on behalf of Newco, included an arbitrary insistence that Newco operated the same club as the now liquidated Rangers.
Green’s QC, Jonathan Brown, put his pit boots on before stating his client’s case, but tantalisingly, before lunch informed the court that he would return to the same club/new club debate later. And didn’t he. Brown explained that Sevco Scotland purchased the assets of Rangers, not the club itself, with poetic prose adding:
“The team are paid by Sevco, plat at a ground owned by Secvo, are trained by a manager who is employed by Sevco and fans buy tickets from Sevco. That is the business that is being carried on.”
Adding that Rangers were “a collection of assets”, “What if the players were sold to one person and Ibrox to antoher, where is the ‘club’ then?”
I had to look away from court reporter, James Dolman’s Twitter feed at this point. It was like watching an acquaintance being humiliated. Not something you want to see.
Lord Doherty will determine if Newco should pay Green’s costs in due course, but this will be soon, as Jonathan Brown noted, “the rainy day has arrived”.
This next bit is really important:
Soon after court ended, Dave King was out with a rambling statement on the Newco website. If it was designed to play to the galleries, it hit the spot. If it was designed to influence what happens to his club, or how others will regard his input, it was surely an horrendous mistake.
It was a hard day to be chairman of Rangers International FC PLC. The court hearing only happened because the club objected to its contract with Green, so the unedifying episode could easily have been avoided. Despite this, sometimes you have to shut your mouth.
Sure, some Newco fans love a bit of grandstanding, but you know what yesterday’s statement will achieve. If the objective of the statement was to convince other Scottish clubs not to consider disciplinary action against Sir David Murray, or oldco Rangers, for their actions, it was an almighty miscalculation.
Threats seldom work. This one is unlikely to curry favour: “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.”
In short:
Don’t threaten clubs you are trying to influence.
Don’t grandstand to your own fans if you are trying to influence other clubs.
Keep a poker face. Keep your mouth shut, even if it means taking grief from your fans for the lack of public reaction.
King’s statement also addressed the sporting advantage issue from what we now know was an unlawfully operated tax scheme. While the EBT scheme saved tens of millions of pounds, and King earlier intimated this did provide a sporting advantage, yesterday he insisted the advantage was financial, that the shareholders were “committed to providing funding to the club” and would have done so, if required.
Here’s the thing, in 2012 another King statement revealed, “I have made a claim of £20m on the basis of non-disclosure by the then chairman, David Murray, of Rangers true financial position as far back as 2000.”
That commitment to further shareholder funding seems predicated on some controversial information. According to King, of course. Controversial enough to launch a £20m claim, but not to inhibit investment.
For the war-chest hunters among you, if you read this article covering King’s 2012 statement, you’ll find a strong clue.
One other quick but important point:
Some media are attempting to portray questions of sporting advantage as Rangers being punished for spending money they could afford, a travesty, as so many other clubs have done likewise.
This must surely be a deliberate attempt to misunderstand the issue and manipulate the debate.
No one suggests Rangers should be punished for spending money they could not afford. The questions are straightforward:
Did Rangers break tax law, break SFA rules and break SPL rules, when contracting football players?
Did they disclose matters openly with authorities (in other words, inadvertently make mistakes), or did they conspire to subvert the rules by hiding incriminating information?
Spending like the Borgias? Time to move on. Conspiracy to subvert the rules? We have a problem.
Don’t be distracted by potential ramifications to these questions, they are irrelevant for now. We should consider no more than did they break all of the above rules, should any the rule breaking be interpreted as an oversight, or does evidence of conspiracy to subvert the rules exist?
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France is the one Country who stood up to the extremists, they are paying a heavy penalty tonight. Haven’t much stomach for banter tonight either, so I’m signing off as well.
Roy Croppie
Loved The Associates link, I am sure you are with me… Nous somme Francais, toute son Francais, Viive la France! Apologies for the Higher grade French.
Explosion heard outside the ground during the France V Germany game tonight
https://twitter.com/Conflicts/status/665288608446816256
Owen
I wondered why he played both Brady and Hoolahan but as Ray Houston said he wasn’t given any service tonight
Night all. God bless.
The stuff from Paris or anywhere else in the world puts everything into perspective, count our blessings and appreciate what we have
Good night and God bless Cqn
Vive la France
Goodnight and god bless
Thoughts with the people of Paris and those sleeping out tonight.
God bless you
I’m out to folks
Sitting with mini trying to explain
God bless
O.G.RAFFERTY on 13TH NOVEMBER 2015 7:59 PM
What?
No….
sitonfence says:
November 13, 2015 at 7:27 pm
Where I’m going Jim is Campbell Ogilvie and Sandy Bryson allegedly conspiring to cover up their exposure and withholding documents to agents acting for the commission
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/spending-like-the-borgias-time-to-move-on-conspiracy-to-subvert-the-rules-we-have-a-problem/comment-page-9/#comments
=====%%%%%====
Now does JJ know that for sure or has he been reading the SFM blogs about how the LNS Commission was compromised.
Maybe I’ll ask.
Sipsini
Regarding JJ
Do you mean whether he is actually one of them?
Been trying to make a point of reading his blog recently as it is excellent regardless of whether he is/isnt but he said something about a week ago that i found strange to be coming from one of them when he called them ‘The establishment team’
I know we call them that and perhaps supporters of other clubs do…….maybe its my ignorance but i cant say ive heard them calling themselves that before.
Thought it was strange at the time and still do unless someone tells me they actually call themselves that.
Vive Le France!
Auld Alliance.
God rest the souls of the faithful departed.
Good night God bless. There by the grace of God I sleep in my bed tonight.
Last one from me too Blantyretim.
But Wes Hoolahan could not hold the ball up or even control it tonight. I do believe the term is his second touch was a tackle. Goodnight and God bless. Any buddy of Dena’s is all right by me.
Apparently Celtic have no interest in Marco Motta, despite claims from Italy.
Tweet from Celtic underground
Im glad i dont pay UK taxes anymore
Im glad i dont pay Scottish taxes anymore
Im glad I no longer contribute directly to celtic FC anymore
Im glad I dont contribute directly to internet bampots anymore
CO is not in jail yet!
However, i am distressed that i am paying taxes that have probably led to the mass mayhem in paris tonight
what you lose on the swings you lose on the roundabouts you lose.
Unless you are corrupt of course then you win!
They are now talks my of 40 deaths in Paris. Absolutely shocking.
Good night all. God bless the families of those who have died tonight in France.
THUNDER ROAD on 13TH NOVEMBER 2015 10:23 PM…
There was a thread running on hunmedia outing him as a a timposter last week, showing photos of some of his relatives with the hoops on, they posted a photo of him, with his address.
Horrible peeple.
He has said he is a Hun and I’ve had e-mails from on here to back that up. HH
Sadly, there is more going on just now that maybe puts things in reflection.
Watched a horrific program last night about Hondurus. Seemingly its the most dangerous place in the world to live. Nearly 500 people killed in 5 months mostly women. Izzy & family be careful.
Rod Stewart on bbc 4. Concert from Hyde Park
Celtic crest on the drum.
Plenty Hoops in the audience
I am sometimes sceptical about celebrity fans but Rod is the real deal.
Hrvatski Jim
You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul
Capitalism is an astonishing belief prevalent that the most selfish of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone and that poor peoples plight is their own fault.
Probably been posted but what a real good ambassador Rod Stewart is.
Watching his concert from Hyde park- Celtic everywhere.
DidDallasgetanebtcsc
Just came on to comment on the Celtic Statement. To my horror I discovered about the horrendous happenings in Paris. God grant eternal rest to the dead and help to those in pain and suffering there this night.
When will we ever learn?
Off now to contact cousins who live and work in Paris to see how they are bearing up in this terrible situation for all in that city.
We all need a lot of heart and a lot of soul to face the world tonight .
Rod is a great pop star but there is depth to his songs . Some of them are confessional .
He finishes the concert with I am only Joking , one of my favourites
More Rod starting on BBC now but bedtime for me.
Today was a unique Friday the 13th as you’d ever seen. For example, Celtic FC posted a statement. I feel down. I always feel that way when the language assumes I am a retarded child but a faithful retarded child.
Evening to all Tims
Mrs RWE and i extend our gratitude to all who still click on our wee items form Tony’s Huddle.
We have been on the road for the last 6 hours so I Have a back log to get through.
Thanks to JungleJimHot Smoked, Green Pinata, Sipsini, and gerryfaethebrig. There may be others who have posted a wee comment on here and if so and I have missed you so far, thank you all.
Gerryfaethebrig, ref your question
Tony was a left fitter and played midfield as a bhoy. He was obliged to go in goal one day since the normal goalie had gone sick and he was never allowed outfield after that game. He became Reading Schools goalie, then Reading FC youth goalie. Meanwhile, he had a club side and every Sunday would turn out for them as a center back. He was fearless in all positions but as a CB he was majestic in the air and cool on the ground. Mind, I have seen treacle run faster but he had great upper body strength and usually didn’t bother when other players caught up with him. That’s one of the reasons he broke his leg – he just didn’t dump the ball off early to jump out of the way of a tackle. He just rode all the tackles – normally.
He went to college in Amurka on an academic scholarship but as part of their saccur programme. They signed him as a center back and that’s where he played in college and thereafter.
Wee bit long winded but then that’s my way..:o)
Hope all are well in Timland.
Mayhem in The City Of Lights.God help them all.100 hostages also held.60 now dead.Dear God
RWE
Take care
For Paris, swap London. Madrid, Edinburgh or indeed Glasgow. Horrible stuff and horrible people that do this. No justification for this. We need to be careful around us as the freedom of movement in Europe means bad stuff moves equally as well as normal traffic.
Prayers and thoughts to all those concerned
HH
CRC
French President Hollande, closes all French Borders declares state of emergency….wow!
Something big going down right now!
Absolutely disgraceful scenes in Paris tonight God bless all involved
Mags France is under attack.
Including 3 killed in bomb at Stade de France,game over most of the fans kept in the stadium
Tony Blair must be happy with himself
Events in Paris Tonight Make so many other things Seem So Small, May God Have Mercy on the souls of The Departed…Amen…
BT – surely not a night for point scoring, my friend.
BT
Many thanks.
NOWA