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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Turkeybhoy
Good luck in the darts, let us know how you get on, make sure the other 3 semi-finalists are properly registered !
Listening to the debate on youth football on Sportsound. Truly depressing.
My son is just beginning the Development squad/Pro-Youth system. He also still plays with the local boys’ club. He much prefers the training with the boys’ club simply because he’s a bit of a shimmy merchant and he’s allowed to express himself. I can understand the ‘over coaching’ mantra that some suggest.
One thing is for sure, there is no lack of natural talent amongst youngsters in Glasgow but something ain’t working. I don’t know the answers.
Excellent work Clumpany, again.
The biggest ever propaganda mission in Scottish history; a pathetically hopeless campaign to stave off armageddon at one poisonous football club, old and new, with a ‘To hell with the others, and the rule book’ narrative.
Stuck on wee yankee on this morning
1st Sausalito Sunrise @ 7/1
1st Mindurownbusiness @ 5/1 (nap)
1st Goken @ 8/1
Waiting for Parkour in the 17:45 @ Wolverhampton.
FINGERS XXXXXXXXXXXX’D -)))
As the latest crisis at Sevco unfolds, we should examine our expectations and hopes for the future. The whole sorry mess has shown up possible corruption in not only the old club, the new club, but also in the governing bodies of the game. But it is even wider than that….it exposes aspects of our institutions…the media, the law, the moral fabric of society. These are hugh issues and they do need to be examined and reformed. However, their shear magnitude makes it unlikely that there will be speedy change, if any change at all. The phrase, “too big to fail” comes to mind.
Let us suppose that Sevco fails financially. Do you really believe that a similar creature will not emerge to replace it? There are thousands of “supporters” who will support it; institutions who want it to happen, including a compliant media.
Think of the flip side, suppose it was our club that was in financial peril and did suffer liquidation. Are there Celtic minded individuals who would seek to establish a replacement. Would you support such a venture? I know that I would.
No, Sevco may perish; the SFA, SPFL may be reformed;titles may be stripped, but some incarnation of “Rangers” will appear in the future, like it or not. It is part of Scottish Society, just as we are.
Saturday shopping beckons…got to go and get Xmas lights.
Rebus
Another thought in regards to my previous post. I’m not sure if it was Alan Preston who suggested the game has become a middle class sport but I have to agree. Even at boys’ club level for us it’s £3.50 three times a week add to that money for kits, petrol money etc. Its not cheap for a say, a single parent with 2 boys.
He said the scheme teams used to be the best by far, not anymore. This I think is true. Football isn’t free anywhere now. The schools are dubbed up like government buildings, the streets are a no-no due to cars.
Works out easily £100 a month for us. Not everyone can afford that.
Burgas Hoops
Best of luck
I bet Buywise (ew) 2nd then Sir Mangan (ew) 2nd, if you want I will put a fiver on your nearest competitor if it gives you a better chance
Gerryfaethebrig
lol i’m up 2700 even if it finishes last.
itsabouttimeCSC
Eddieinkirkmichael
Pity that it isn’t correct.
Burgas Hoops
Well done mate, have you been offered
a cash in?
Herbo
The conveyor belt of young boys wanting to be footballers means that they are often just simply taken for granted by clubs, scouts and coaches. Of course the clubs will deny this.
Comments such as these were commonplace when my lads were coming through in England.
“If the boy doesn’t make it then he couldn’t have been good enough in the first place.”
“All tanner ba but nae guts”
“Good player but bad attitude.”
“Talented but lazy.”
and the unspoken or even whispered, worst comment of all
“There’s plenty more coming down the pipe so let’s just look for one of them. This kid ain’t going to make it.”
In essence, most coaches don’t have the time to coach kids at all except in the preferred system of play.
Skill, attitude, strength and focus are all assumed to a great degree.
The real success rate for young lads in this system is not high.
Hope your bhoy is a succes.
Nye Bevans’ rebel soldier
Nothing as yet mate.
Burgas Hoops
Don’t listen to Nye Bevans…. He is the good angel on your shoulder, go with the devil on the other shoulder
Let the bet roll, the reason you put a line on is to chase the gambling dragon
All kidding aside best of luck
winning captains on 14th November 2015 3:20 pm – 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-21/#comments
I noticed he put a smiley face at the end, what was his point? Was he making some kind of joke?
Absolutey agree RWE
This ain’t a new thing either. Back in the early 90’s I was Papped from Celtic at 16 because I was ‘too wee’. Of course the club was in its darkest days at that time. I went to England and couldn’t hack it.
I was shocked to hear that there is over 3000 kids in the Pro-Youth system today. How can that be managed. You’re talking 20 kids at most clubs from 11 to 16 . . Crazy stuff.
As for my wee Bhoy, he’s only starting out. He’s decent but it’s very early days. I just try and tell him to have fun. It’s a game, enjoy it.
Burgas Hoops
I’ll watch the race without burdening your beast
with my money,hope it stoats for you.
Gerryfaethebrig
Let the bet roll, the reason you put a line on is to chase the gambling dragon.
Thats about it mate – I dont want to tempt fate so ive not worked out the winnings if it romps home -)))
Gerryfaethebrig
Yer very brave wae another man’s money smileyfacething.
Catching up on the “source” at the SFA and the nonsense he/she spouts!
I take it the SFA receives money from the government in either London or Edinburgh. Are they really suggesting that a club which stole millions of pounds from British taxpayers should face no punishment?
Are they really suggesting that a club which made secret illegal payments to players should face no punishment?
If they are then CFC and the other teams in Scotland have a stark choice to make.
They either go under and continue to play in a corrupt game or they take down the SFA as unfit for purpose.
I have been a ST holder since the 1980s and a share holder since Fergus arrived.
If CFC accept the stance of the SFA on this then I’m out of here.
I will sell up my shares and discard my ST. My parents raised me to respect myself and others.
They did not raise me to accept cheating at anything.
Ashley is showing the way by holding these comedians to account. CFC – hopefully along
with others – need to take the SFA down by sueing them for any losses in SFA competitions like the Scottish Cup and any competitions that they oversea the registrations for like the leagues and league cups. CFC should also sue them for lost European revenue from at least the season for which the Huns were granted a licence even although the had the WTC outstanding.
For me the following scenario would be acceptable –
Huns stripped of titles.
Sevco recognised formally as a new club. If they suffer an insolvency event then they should be relegated.
Current SFA disbanded
Hampden sold to pay our compensation
All future internationals and cup final etc to be played around the country.
Time for our board and DD to show what they want!
HH
Winning Captains- doesn’t bear an resemblance to the article he wrote here
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2015/11/12/mr-green-in-the-boardroom-with-the-truth/
Eddie
We USED quotes from the Court of Session. The story is that the MSM ignored the quotes.
It is perfectly legitimate to use quotes.
See subsequent tweets. Happy to ad credit for quote reports for Court of Session. A fine job.
Huge effort goes into the features, a good few hours this morning. First mention on here is somewhat snidey.
And the trending ads are set as family friendly but are also responsive. I’m clearly missing out in the raunchy ones!
Croppybhoy,
Your being a bit harsh on queens park there, selling their ground to pay for the SFA’s sins
Croppy
Don’t hold your breath. Espescially on Dermot Desmond. A horrible capitalist Celtic Tiger ‘C’ word and the main reason our 28,000 shareholders should be ramming into CP next Friday. I won’t be holding my breath for that. I’ll be there voting them all down as usual.
Almost ready for the Celtic chaity foundation sleep out.
Thanks to some fabulous donations I have raised well over £4200 so far – ultimate aim is to get to £4567
So if you have any small change left please throw it in.
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/jamesmcginley1?
If you need any persuasion about what being homeless means and how it happens – please watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7NTDjnywVM
Cana
That’s another joke – an amateur club “owning” a ground that huge amounts of public money was spent on!
The relocation of the SFA and old SFL in to Hampen was a really bad idea.
As the Dallasgate affair exposed – all it did was bring together two separate groups of bigots and put them all in the one place!
The whole disgusting edifice needs to be brought down. That would allow an overhaul of the refereeing department as well!
HH
Nye Bevans / Burgas Hoops
Firstly I will always be brave with other people’s money, Nye Bevans don’t get that mixed up with I would spend other people’s money (smiley face thing also) secondly Burgas cheers for sharing, I love any punter getting a few quid back, as you said you are getting a decent return so far, never count the winnings leave that to somebody else to count (it’s usually Mrs GFTB when I ever win)
BRTH…..all the best tonight,it’s a well know fact
that alcohol and hypothermia don’t go,so nae
hip flask, you here!!!!!
Winning Captains, sorry if you thought I was being snidey. I simply saw his tweet and thought he was saying that you had stole his work, something that was a bit surprising as I know how much work you all do on the articles.
Of course anyone can use quotes, I think everyone and their dug has used James’s quote from the court over the last few days. He seems a bit precious about them though.
Herbo
Personally don’t care if he’s capitalist, socialist, Marxist or nothingist!
If he and the rest accept cheating on an industrialist scale for over a decade – then they can keep it!
You would think as a capitalist he would be exercised that his dividend and profit was reduced by cheating opponents enough to do something about it!
If they don’t move on this then the game is over and the cheat will have won!
HH
All the best BRTH
I hope the weather doesn’t get too heavy for you. The seed from our mutual friend Dermot has certainly been sewn and grown.
God Bless you all.
Gerryfaethebrig……..I’m a great believer in if you get
a turn spend it quickly,and nobody spends it quicker
than our better half’s.
Croppy
Indeed. I gave up my season ticket 2 years ago and pick and choose my games. For right or wrong that is the decision I made. The silence on corruption, the OBFA, the Tory Lord, Hawthorne, Jamieson.
Viva la revolution n aw that
winning captains on 14th November 2015 3:46 pm
And the trending ads are set as family friendly but are also responsive. I’m clearly missing out in the raunchy ones!
————————-
I get the raunchier ones at work, yet our IT system is very closed (it’s Government) so even if i wanted to search more mature sites I wouldn’t get past the filter.
Yet on my phone where i can look at anything I see the more family friendly ads.
Nye Bevans
I had a decent wee run the last couple of weeks my oldest sister asked my good lady is he gambling too much, the good lady said quick as a flash “he only puts on what I allow him” she not only sounded like my own mother but think she was sort of sticking up for me, any win I get the Mrs gets the winnings (well at least half) the more she sees a return the less hassle I get for putting my crazy South American 2-1s on !
Croppy
What I mean is. I’ll be very, very surprised if Celtic come out and say anything like you want them to say. It’s not going to happen. They will fudge it, they are experts at spin. The Living Wage a prime example.
Interesting to hear Chick Young stumped on Paisley being a city. He quotes Paisley Abbey and is told by others on Sportsound that it needs to have a cathedral.
Well Chick. There is a cathedral, it’s called St. Mirins Cathedral the centre of the diocese. I don’t suppose he’s bern there much.
Come in Mister King.
I’ve been expecting you.
Herbo
Even chick couldn’t miss the cathedral on the wayear from ibrox to Paisley