We told you back in October last year that Rangers were likely to be liquidated and a Newco FC would be formed, which the SPL would vote back into the league. Today the SPL issued terms of how the deed will be done as they issued 8 resolutions to be voted on later this month.
The key resolution is 2A, which establishes a procedure to phoenix a Newco into the place of an ex-club. Crucially, this resolution only requires the support of 8 SPL clubs, all 12 of whom will be eligible to vote at the meeting. 5 clubs would be needed to block this proposal and right now there is only one willing to do so.
Resolutions are as follows:
Resolution 1 proposes an increase in the sporting sanction (points deduction) on any Club which suffers or is subject to an Insolvency Event from 10 points to the greater of 15 points and 1/3 of the Club’s SPL points in the preceding season.
This resolution increases the penalties imposed following an insolvency event, it requires the support of 8 clubs to be carried and should be supported.
Resolution 2A proposes further sporting sanctions in the event that any Club undergoes an Insolvency Transfer Event (i.e. transfers its share in the SPL to a new company where this occurs because of the insolvency of the transferor) of 10 points in each of two consecutive seasons from the Insolvency Transfer Event.
This resolution provides for an ‘Insolvency Transfer Event’, defining what happens when a club ceases to exist and a Newco FC is formed. No provisions currently exist for such a scenario and I see no reasons to introduce any. The resolution requires the support of 8 clubs to be carried and must be opposed.
Resolution 2B proposes revisions to the fee payment arrangements i.e. SPL fees to any Club which has undergone an Insolvency Transfer Event will be reduced by 75% in each of three consecutive seasons from the Insolvency Transfer Event.
This resolution provides for a financial penalty in the event the Insolvency Transfer Event resolution is voted through and requires the support of 11 clubs. This is an outrageous and arbitrary increase in support required to impose financial sanctions. All an Insolvency Transfer club needs is the support of one other club to halt financial penalties.
If resolution 2A is passed, resolution 2B should be subject to the same voting criteria and must be supported. The SPL must ensure a financial penalty is imposed for financial misdeeds.
Resolution 3 proposes extending sporting sanctions where an Insolvency Event is suffered by a Group Undertaking of a Member Club of the SPL (Group Undertaking is defined in Section 1161(5) of the Companies Act 2006).
This resolution confirms insolvency events at group owner level are applicable to the club, requires the support of 8 clubs and should be supported.
Resolution 4 proposes updates and extensions to the definition of Insolvency Event in the SPL Rules.
I assume this is an administrative requirement and needs the support of 8 clubs.
Resolution 5 proposes updates and extensions to the definition of Insolvency Event in the SPL Articles and clarifies the process in the event that a Member which is the subject of an Insolvency Event is required to transfer its share in the Company.
This is a technical resolution defining how clubs lose or transfer their share in the League. It requires the support of 11 clubs but it is not clear if has any consequence, more than clarifying administrative procedures.
Resolution 6 proposes a specific requirement in the SPL Rules that Clubs must pay their Players in terms of their Contracts of Service on due dates and places a duty on any Club to report any failure to pay its Players in a timely manner to the SPL. Failure to pay Players and / or to notify such failure to the SPL would be a breach of SPL Rules.
This resolution should enhance fair play, requires the support of 8 clubs and should be supported.
Resolution 7 proposes a requirement in the SPL Rules that Clubs report to the SPL any failure to make payments to HMRC in respect of PAYE and NIC (a Default Event). Any Club suffering such a Default Event will be subject to a Player Registration Embargo. Any failure to report a Default Event shall be a breach of the SPL Rules.
This resolution prohibits clubs in tax arrears from signing players, requires the support of 8 clubs and should be supported.
If only they would pay their taxes we would not need to bother with any of this.
More on the consequences of these proposals later.
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Punishment should be punitive. It should be used to discourage this behaviour by others. 2 years with a 10 point deduction and 3 years with 75% loss of their SPL income is a minimal slap on the wrist. Cancel Sky and ESPN subscriptions now, this will have an impact. If enough people do it they will have to take notice.
“SPL Reduce Scottish Football To Farce”
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2012/04/11/spl-reduce-scottish-football-to-farce/
raging but wait & see what the club say ,in the meantime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5f54_RUqf0
HAIL HAIL
I am away continue to celebrate Celtic FC winning the league.
I feel sorry for those that have stopped celebrating our first title in 4 years because of this.
I will not be part of it.
I look forward to beating Rangers again next year for the SPL title.
Hail Hail
“handicapped start” as chic describes the points deduction.
He chose those words because that’s what he thinks……it’s not a sanction or a punishment……..it’s an impediment, an obstruction to the ranjurs………
Shameful.
ernie lynch
I was already aware of Hughie’s eejitness and also his dishonesty.
The point I made was that, on this occasion, the outcome he has been predicting has now come true. If Hughie was able to divine this outome in advance, Peter Lawwell should also foresee it and be prepared to respond. He seems to have told Paul 67 that he was taken by surprise by today’s statement. Well, that’s as believable as Whyte duping Murray.
Whoops, meat to add
. . .somewhere else. So the time is coming to inflict maximum pain on them. We won’t win but we can leave some carnage in our wake that will leave the rest of the footballing world in no doubt as to what happened in the backwater that is the SPL.
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 18:30 said:
If you cant answer the question then whats the point?
Answer the question.
Back up what you are claiming with facts.
Taking a time out for a few days away from this madness. cant stand hun talk at the best of times. dirty cheats
Big thank you to all the tims who have sent celtic shirts so far there was a huge amount arrived today alone, 22! your help is much appreciated. hh
TheCelticOne
I am not at the moment suggesting chucking it in and your crude suggestion that protesting means you hate rangers more than you love Celtic is pathetic.
If these proposals come to pass all sporting integrity and fairness go out the window, if you wish to fund any team playing against a Co-Co the Clown X1 in a three ring circus league that is your choice.
The only way to stop this is simply to pursuade other clubs to vote against it. Do we as a club have an alternative? A bigger share of tv cash to other clubs if they block it? More prize money? A 14 team league so that those at the bottom get more gamesV
I am not shocked in the slightest about these shenanigans to get them straight back into the SPL as this takes place in the context of Scottish football. However, liquidation and the formation of a new company will have to adhere to the rule of the real world. They can’t just decide to keep their history, ‘because they want to’.
TheCelticOne on 11 April, 2012 at 18:28 said:
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 18:26 said:
”How could Celtic stop it?”
Threaten to resign and (assuming no other league was available) apply for the vacancy in the third division.
How would the SPL clubs react?
How would Sky react?
How would any potential SPL sponsors react?
####
”Please explain with facts, in detail and prove your outlandish claims.”
I can’t provide facts for a future, hypothetical situation. The fact you think I can makes me wonder why I’ve bothered to respond. Pearls before swine, and all that.
Is this why wee alex snp the bigot lover has been so quiet on dignity’s behalf recently.
Its just that its job done, mission save the bigots is a success.
I wonder if our 1st minister has had any dealings with the SPL/SFA recently that we wont be told about.
Alex Thomson must be wondering what he’s got himself into, the most corrupt footballing country in the world.
Duff and duffer must also be glad its the huns up here their at and not Portsmouth down south were there are laws you must adhere to, not just make them up to suit the huns as you go.
hunbelievable!!
Ernie Lynch
I understand everyones moral outrage at this,i have plenty of it myself.
We will just have to accept it and negotiate our way out of the SPl and into another league within the next few seasons.
I do agree that the SPL has no long term credibility,and if Celtic just settle, we will die along with the SPL.
However we have no viable immediate exit to another credible league.
We must get out of the SPL.
I have been advocating this for several years,well before the financial skulduggery at Ayebrokes was made public.
TT
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 18:36 said:
You want Celtic to go to the 3rd division in protest?
My god.
Someone please tell me this guy is having a laugh.
Embarrassing
SKULLDUGGERY.
TT
Good caller on Clyde right now. “Why are you guys no gettin’ aff yir arses and asking the questions.”
Good mhan.
Guy on Snyde handing Keevins his arse on a plate for not asking why John Greig et al made from EBTs,and why he is not paying it back.
what are the origins of these new regs
why consider the “newco” regs …other than to provide the hun with an out clause and to make the sanction clause require a more onerous voting structure …risible (makes one wonder about the cosying up to Yorkson and Dunfermline…..debt of honour and all that gash )
who in the SPL decided this ..committee?,if so who ?
and ..some say we`re paranoid
Sean on Clyde right now…. Probably the best call I’ve ever heard on SSB…. More power to you sir!!!!
BontyBhoy and TheCelticOne
I’m not turning my back on Celtic either, but I refuse to financially support clubs that are party to this farce, so its away Bhoycott’s for me.
HH
For those who are saying Celtic can do nothing against the proposals I dont see that, Celtic can come out with a strongly worded statement on how they see the proposals Corporate Leadership. Those who are saying we as fans can do nothing I dont see that individualy each fan can make his or her choice and my choice would be to not put another brown penny into corrupt Scottish Football saying that will hurt Celtic doesnt need to be said but continueing to put my hard earned cash into corrupt football would hurt me more.I think it is very unlikely as a group of fans we can do a lot as we have to many differnt views to forma cohesive action group.H.H.
In the event this goes through we should ensure that no club benefits from Celtic again.
Boycott all away games and all joint sponsorships. Let’s see how they cope with getting Huns crowds but no Celtic crowds. Almost what they are voting against
Celtic need to take this to UEFA and FIFA. It’s OK to cheat as long as you cheat big.
We might not be able to carry a vote but can we tie them up in court? Can we start to claim damages for lost titles and income?Can we bankroll the creditors and give then a united platform to pursue their money? One thing which all establishment powers know is how to divide and conquer.
As I said earlier, we won’t win but we could cause massive problems for them and their backers.
This is ludicrous, the huns are up in arms because as it stands they could be parachuted back in as newco with NO penalty just on the strength of a vote! They don’t see what we all see, the smoothing of their path. The road map that bypasses financial fair play. A set of resolutions specifically designed to allow a financial deviant safe passage away from its creditors.
But wait a wee minute here, has the legal team looked at this? The SPL has voting criteria (11 – 1). Doesn’t there have to be a resolution to amend the voting structure before any resolutions can be put forward with an altered voting system?
OK, so even if that is not an obstacle (which is therefore a very clever bypass of the current rules by the gang of 10, and hats off to a McBride-esque play) then presumably the proposals were put forward by these members, i.e. the gang of 10. Since Celtic did not know about them and are represented on the Board then they could only have been put forward by the members, not the Board.
Ergo we have to assume they will be passed.
That being the case Celtic (like the Trust do at our own AGM) should put forward our own proposals for the vote. Proposals that highlight exactly what is going on.
Example: Resolution 8 (in opposition to resolution 2A): In the event of a liquidation the member club’s share will revert back to the SPL to be allocated as deemed appropriate by the remaining members. All applications will be viewed on merit, safeguards and guarantees of financial propriety.
Simple as that. Any veto is with an agenda and shines a light on what is going on – operation restore Rangers.
In the event that these proposals are passed my other suggestion is that we do not fulfill our final fixture this season. The SPL can keep their trophy. We will be deducted all our points for being unable to complete the season, and we will take our place in the SFL Division 1 next season to packed stadia in Dundee, Hamilton, Livingston and Maryhill. To be honest there’s no difference to Dunfemline, Kilmarnock, St Mirren or Motherwell.
No Champions League but I’m afraid we have to make a stand. Win the Cup and play in the Europa League. Watch Motherwell and St Johnstone embarrass themselves in the CL qualifiers. Bhoycott all cup ties against SPL competition. Romp the league and turn down promotion. Reek havoc on Scottish football.
Historic times. Cool heads and big strong men required.
Hail Hail
TinyTim on 11 April, 2012 at 18:39 said:
We won’t be leaving the SPL for a bigger league any time soon.
Though it would be a useful diversionary tactic for the Board to deploy (holding out the prospect of jam tomorrow) if they allow these proposals to go ahead.
If we threatened to resign, what would Sky do?
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 18:22 said:
ernie,
The Sky deal represents appx 10% of the value of SPL income. Sky are not the billionaire paymasters here that they are in England.
I fail to see why we should play in the 3rd division because of the corruption of a governing body and a member club. The drop in income from no European comp, gate money and TV money, would ultimately mean that Rangers fraud and the SPL’s corruption ends with the death of Celtic.
I am not prepared to play any game which potentially ends with the death of this club, regardless of the reasons.
Bye the way, when you’re in a negotiation and this is the only hand you have to play, your opponent will smile smugly at your empty threats, pat you on the head and send you home with your tail between your legs.
Regardless of how you feel about it ernie, the board (quite rightly) will not countenance self destruction as a negotiating ploy.
I agree with that stance as a supporter but, apart from anything else, this is a public company and these men have a duty to the shareholders. Regardless of what watching the Orc board in action would have you believe, there is a legal, financial and moral responsibility on the club’s management ,which precludes any such drastic steps. It would always be an empty threat and they all know it.
Cheers
Yogi
Am ah missing something here ,these proposals refer to a newco.
That newco first of all needs 10 out of 11 teams to vote for the transfer of the oldco’s share.
TheCelticOne on 11 April, 2012 at 18:26 said:
MayoD on 11 April, 2012 at 18:21 said:
I will NEVER turn my back on Celtic.
Hate Rangers more than you love Celtic? If so then hopefully someone like me will take your seat.
Fek sake we have just won the league. I am still in celebration mode and you lot are ready for chucking it.
Hail Hail
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Sorry mate but that’s why this league is corrupt and is a farce with attitudes like that.
They’ve been getting away with it for far to long in this corrupt country.
Boycott the lot of them.
setting free the bears on 11 April, 2012 at 18:27 said:
Interestingly I did describe some elements of today’s proposal a few months ago. It seemed fairly obvious then, and of course that’s because it is. I didn’t present them as my plans, and I didn’t indicate support for them. I did, as I did again today, try to inject some reality into the debate, and I think where some got confused was when I posed the question of whether there might actually be some benefit to Rangers being held afloat whilst having to repay the debt in full and deal with stiff sporting sanctions. I don’t think that is likely, but there was a specific context to this at the time which I thought was worth exploring.
My expectation, and not preference, is that Rangers will liquidate and a newco which looks an awful lot like Rangers will resume play in the SPL, whilst dealing with sporting penalties and some less onerous financial ones – less onerous than honouring their debts.
Appreciate the straightforward question though. Dare say you realise I don’t visit CQN to make friends, as such, but to engage people with alternative perspectives, not always my own. However, way from the internet I do make friends, often with Celtic fans (in spite of my forgiving attitude, not too often with Rangers fans, and it’s not because they’re bigotted!) and I desperately want to have the pleasure of an evening in the pub revelling in the great things that bring us together, but these days I find myself talking about the one club in the whole world for which I have no fondness and cast the biggest shadow over our game.
To paraphrase an earlier post; if your negative feelings for Rangers outweigh your positive ones for Celtic then you’re no use to us.
Not aimed at you, just trying to summarise where I’m coming from.
My predictions:
Rangers will be liquidated
A newco will form and be admitted immediate entry to the SPL
Some,but not all, of the recommendations will be passed and the penalties will not be as ‘severe’ as proposed.
Rangers supporters will be quite happy with it given the alternatives.
Supporters of other clubs will accept the proposals and hope their team can finish second/third in the league for a few seasons.
More importantly:
Celtic will accept above although they may well vote against them. They will be a lone voice.
The Celtic supporters will buy their season tickets and turn up as normal.
The away support will continue to follow the team everywhere as before.
All the jumping up and down and scweaming and scweaming and scweaming will make no difference. Done deal. Move on.
Boycott the teams who support the Newco fit-up.
I am disgusted at the immoral Arfur Daley/Bernie Madoff spivs who run the SPL and the vast majority of its clubs.
At Celtic Park, and at every away venue, we are bombarded with propaganda about “unacceptable conduct” not being tolerated; about clubs being at the heart of their community, and chapter and verse on clubs` community programmes promoting social good and health and well-being through school education and coaching programmes and such like.
What a lot of hypocritical tosh all this is when the same clubs connive together to bend the rules to bale out one basketcase of a club to the detriment of the same “communities” in which these clubs sit.
I would regard welching on debts to the butcher, baker and candlestick maker and forcing these businesses into hardship or their own insolvency as being unacceptable conduct.
Even more unacceptable is deliberate non payment of millions of pounds of taxes that is used to build the schools, hospitals etc that form the bedrock of communities within which the SPL clubs sit.
Especially when the club which dodges these debts is managed by directors who filled their boots with illegal tax dodging “loans” and have amassed personal wealth that should be used to settle some of the outstanding debts.
If the likes of Rangers and Hearts are allowed to default on their debts to suppliers and the country`s taxpayers then the ball is well and truly burst.
This is not about football anymore. This is about the wealthy, the establishment, the greedy, being able to do what the hell they want, filling theirboots and laughing at the rest of us as they do so.
Minty Moonbeams gets off scot free.
Craig Whyte and Andrew Ellis get their millions for 9 months work.
Duff & Phelps get their £3million for 2 months work.
Michael Johnston, John Yorkston and the other subsidy junkies get their one or twice annual RFC game cash injection (as well as the right to brag down the lodge as to how they did their bit to save ra Gers).
Paul Murray gets to front Newco Rangers.
“Ra Peepul” get their sense of entitlement indulged and have their club saved without putting their paws in their pockets.
And the UK taxpayer, and the small businesses who were daft enough to trade with RFC get nothing.
Scottish football is morally bankrupt if this ever comes to pass.
TheCelticOne on 11 April, 2012 at 18:39 said:
ernie lynch on 11 April, 2012 at 18:36 said:
‘You want Celtic to go to the 3rd division in protest?’
No.
I’d want Celtic to threaten to do it, because it would stop the move in its tracks.
And if it didn’t, and Sky and the sponsors were to continue supprting the SPL without our involvement, (how likely would that be?), we would at least have retained our integrity.
Maybe you’re not bothered about something like integrity.
The ‘proposals’ are even worse than I anticipated, and that’s saying something. They’ve even managed to rig the voting such that the financial penalties bit won’t get passed.
Pardon my ignorance, but who made these proposals? The SPL board? Neil Doncaster? Who? And what possible logic can they use to justify them? In the name of God, they’ve entitled the proposals as ‘financial fair play’ – it’s beyond satire.
The incredibly sad thing is that Celtic fans on this forum are talking about not going back. I don’t know if I could either, not to punish Celtic, who are damned whatever they do, but simply because I don’t know if I can put money into a league that is without credibility or integrity. It’s supposed to be a sport, after all.
So my club suffers. For playing by the rules.
Celtic could state now that they will refuse to fulfil any fixture against an NewCo in the SPL next season.
Terry o- I see what you are saying mate,but rules are being re-written as we post.I think the only way we are going to get a reaction is to unite with other fans’ groups who are sick of the huns cheating ways.