The SPL deadline for clubs to provide information on improper registration of players was six weeks ago today but the league has yet to report findings to clubs, while the chief executive rallies support to allow a Newco access to the league.
Time has expired on this policy of non-disclosure until it’s too late.
If the SPL chief executive ever tells us that Rangers fielded improperly registered players between 2000 and 2012, resulting in years of 3-0 defeats being awarded, there will be an enormous amount of anger, not only among supporters, but in boardrooms across the country, as they ponder money which was rightfully theirs but which went to Rangers – perhaps including Rangers prize money for finishing second this season.
We have made an attempt to quantify this money. Some of the losses were easier to calculate than others. For example, it was easy to calculate that when Rangers won the title in 2009 with improperly registered players, earning automatic qualification to the Champions League group stage, they denied Celtic £15m European earnings, plus £340k SPL prize money. Other losses are less clear, specifically when a club was denied a place in a qualifying round for the Champions League or Uefa Cup, which they may or may not have progressed from.
We have established three figures for each club in the SPL during the season just finished, to cover the period from 2000 to 2012:
Minimum loss:
The absolute minimum each club was denied from European and SPL prize money as a result of Rangers finishing above them with ineligible players.
Weighted loss:
The figure based on Scottish clubs gaining entry to Champions League/Europa League (Uefa Cup) group stages from 20% of their qualifying campaigns (which is slightly less than trend).
Maximum loss:
The maximum a club could have achieved if it qualified for the European group stage it was denied entry to.
Out estimates take no account of the subsequent effect money has on future years. For example, If Celtic earned an additional £15m from entering the Champions League group stage in 2009-10 their league challenge for that season would have been £15m stronger, and Rangers £15m weaker, potentially resulting in consequences in future years.
This multiplier effect would have benefited Celtic but it would be likely to have a greater effect on other clubs, some of whom would be denied the enormous percentage increase in budget automatic qualification to European group stages would have brought.
Hearts finished immediately behind Celtic and Rangers more often than any other club over the period and suffer the greatest potential losses, even more so than Celtic. Hibernian, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Motherwell also suffered significant losses.
Several clubs got nowhere near European football over the period, and some of the 11 spent only a few years in the SPL but each club lost over £1m.
Figures for each club are:
Hearts
Maximum: £72.3m
Weighted: £16.3m
Minimum: £6.2m
Celtic
Maximum: £46.7m
Weighted: £21.9m
Minimum: £17.4m
Hibernian
Maximum: £34.8m
Weighted: £8.4m
Minimum: £3.6m
Aberdeen
Maximum: £21.1m
Weighted: £5.5m
Minimum: £2.7m
Dundee United
Maximum: £20.8m
Weighted: £5.2m
Minimum: £2.4m
Motherwell
Maximum: £16.7m
Weighted: £4.4m
Minimum: £2.1m
Kilmarnock
Maximum: £5.1m
Weighted: £1.9m
Minimum: £1.3m
Dunfermline
Maximum: £3.4m
Weighted: £1.8m
Minimum: £1.5m
Inverness
Maximum: £1.3m
Weighted: £1.3m
Minimum: £1.3m
St Johnstone
Maximum: £1.1m
Weighted: £1.1m
Minimum: £1.1m
St Mirren
Maximum: £1.1m
Weighted: £1.1m
Minimum: £1.1m
In the event Rangers fielded ineligible players during the period under consideration, which everyone apart from Neil Doncaster knows, and even he will be unable to deny next week, we know the following:
Rangers received a minimum of £40.9m which should have gone to the 11 other clubs, assuming each club lost all their European group stage qualifying campaigns. This calculation does not include earnings from clubs now in the Scottish Football League, such as Hamilton Accies or Dundee.
If Scottish clubs progressed to the group stages of European competition on only 20% of their qualifying campaigns the loss would be £69.0m.
The figure for total potential losses if clubs successfully progressed to every European group stage is, as the figure for 100% failure, more illustrative than likely, but the maximum cost to the 11 SPL clubs is £224.6m.
Results will be changed, trophies can and will, be re-awarded, but these are the harsh financial consequences clubs, their lawyers and supporters, will consider when the facts are presented to them next week. The SPL executive has had six weeks to consider if there is sufficient evidence to commence disciplinary proceedings; they have failed to do so. They have failed you and every other football supporter in the land, while shamelessly pursuing an accommodation for the errant club BEFORE REVEALING THE FACTS TO YOU.
Time will be up soon, Mr Doncaster. You’ve had your chance but you have convinced no one. The people who really matter in this entire debacle are those who buy tickets for Celtic Park, Pittodrie, Easter Road, Tynecastle, Tannadice, Fir Park and the rest, they will hear the truth and read these figures. You have failed them.
You can read our calculations here. European income figures were sources from Uefa data.
Celtic’s disadvantage deepened when their winger John Doyle was sent off ten minutes into the second half for kicking the scorer, but there was an equaliser from Aitken, who was especially suited to a night of such fervour and force. Never bashful, Aitken was stimulated by the challenge of being in an outnumbered line-up.
From Celtic: A Biography in Nine Lives, by Kevin McCarra.
You can buy a hard copy of the new issue of CQN Magazine via Magcloud here.
The graphic below is just for a flick through, to read the magazine go here to it’s dedicated site.
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Soal
One more than you should suffice.
HT
Bring it on auld yin
7) Which ex Celt now plying his trade in England, made the most substitute appearances for the Hoops?
Maloney
what player held that record before Shaun for the bonus ball
Saint Stivs on 18 May, 2012 at 21:49 said:
Good to see you volunteering the confession there. Surprising that, considering so many on here go looking for a badgering session from time to time full of ‘i told you so’s’ and ‘you know who you are, I knew I was right’.
I may as well hold my hands up to Mulgrew, seeing as we are all being honest!!
.
.
.
(p.s. and F Forster)
whitedoghunch on 18 May, 2012 at 21:53 said:
7) Which ex Celt now plying his trade in England, made the most substitute appearances for the Hoops?
Maloney
what player held that record before Shaun for the bonus ball
—————-
a modern phenomenen with so many subs now and the under age rule?
i am going to guess Ross Wallace
My battery is going flat, hurry up!
Soal
In your absence I’ve been champion the last 2 weeks!!
I don’t need no stinkin double badge points :-))
All sorted for tomorrow?
Scott Brown is Lenny’s man on the park. The beating heart of the team.
Ask any Celtic player who they want on the pitch beside them and they’ll tell you Broonie.
Round 4: Highlight on a Hoop: Mike Conroy
(2pts per first correct answer: 1pt per answer if you are correct but not first. Remember only 1 submission per round; 5 bonus points if you get the correct order from first to fifth correct)
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final?
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic?
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at?
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name?
EWO
spot on buddy
previously for SB playing for CFC was a job
i know for a fact that he wanted to play for the hun …CFC were offering way too much cash for him to turn us down
of late imo he has improved as a player and is becoming an excellent CFC captain
we missed him when we went thro` our bad patch last autumn
previously i was on record as calling him a hun in a CFC shirt …that allegation cannot be levied at him now ….long may he play for and captain us
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final?
centre half
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? No
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic? Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at? Cork
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name? Micheal
share on F’book or Twitter
HT
I noticed that and well done.
I dont think i would have made any difference
Ignore the 5 bonus pts nonsense..Jobo waling away distracted me
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final? Centre half
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No no
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic? Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at? Cork City
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name? Mike
i think the dark nights are beginning to creep in now…21.55 pitch black outside
its a fix, its a fix.
Port player question for the Port Onion
hehehehehhehehehe
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final?Centre Back
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No
no
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic?hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at?cork city
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name?
Michael
walking not waling…this sober business doesny help
1 CENTRE HALF
2.NO
3 hIBS
4.
5. Mr conroy Mick??? Conroy
Can I get a bonus point for saying it was the 1980 Riot Cup Final????
Eyes Wide Open @ 21:44 – spot on! Exact same as wee Gordon. He proved it when TB passed away.
EWO
Mulgrew …me too
slagged him rotten two years ago
another player Lenny has improved out of all recognition
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final?
Right Wing
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No
Yes
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic?
Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at?
St Patricks Athletic
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name?
Mr Conroy (OK… George?)
You see, us fenians aint that bad a folk are we!!!
Good comment Pfayr
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final? Right midfield
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No NO
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic? Motherwell
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at? Dundalk
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name? Steve
share on F’book or Twitter
….PFayr on 18 May, 2012 at 21:58 said:
another player Lenny has improved out of all recognition
– naw, I still recognise him, its definately him.
tal
1 played in the 1980 cup final at centre half
2 no
3 hibs
4 cork
4 michael
This is a stich up
Centre back
No
Hibs
Cork city
Michael
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final? Centre hauf!
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? No
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic? Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at? Cork
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name? Michael
The Spirit of Arthur Lee on 18 May, 2012 at 22:01 said:
u know what I meant…as I said sober doesny work
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final?
Centre half
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? Yes/No
No
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic?
Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at?
Cork City
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name?
Michael
1) What position did I play in the 1979 Scottish Cup final? Centre Back
2) Did I play any games for Scotland? No
3) Which current SPL club did I join after leaving Celtic? Hibs
4) Which Irish club did I finish my career at? Cork City
5) My father also played for Celtic. What was his name?
Michael
T4
Pfayr
So basically what yer sayin us ye cannae spot a decent player for toffee??!! :-))
St Stivs – you’re the fastest in the west, a bit like Ernie!
Answers to round 4
Centre half
No
Hibs
Cork City
Mike
For a bonus question who has been cheating for the last 12 to 15 years?
St Stivs!
Shat Given on the Late Late Show in RTE.
Moving to Celtic instead of Man Utd at the age of 16.
Ryan Tubridy asks why.
Shay says at the time I was a big Celtic fan, big Packie was there and so was Liam Brady and Schmichael had just signed for Utd so it made sense.
Ryan asked about the culture shock.
Shay said he was very home sick for 18 months but was very lucky in that a young Derry man (anyone remember him) Nigel Melly was in the same boat and they lived together and helped him through it.
Shay then goes on to say there is a massive connection between Donegal and Glasgow Celtic, he said there are probably Celtic supporters clubs up and down the country but that they were all over Donegal. Hid Dad was also a Celtic supporter and also advised him to go.
Conversation moves on to the next subject.
I go into a daze for 2 mins till the Mrs says – ‘did that make you feel good me turning it over just as they were about to talk about Celtic’
I say ‘na, im just foaming at the mouth thinking of the prick who released him’