Hibernian chairman, Rob Petrie, yesterday told BBC Radio Scotland “Integrity is beyond purchase”. It’s incredible to think that we live in times where this is actually news.
It’s hard to imagine how anyone would go about arguing with Rod on this matter. Kilmarnock chairman, Michael Johnston’s recent comment, “The [SPL] clubs are mindful of a sporting integrity aspect but the commercial benefits may outweigh that” offers the alternative view, but the logical conclusion of Petrie’s argument is stark. If integrity of top clubs can be purchased, what about officials, referees and players with bookmaker friends?
We can assume Hibernian will join Celtic in voting against admitting a Newco directly into the SPL, should such a vote occur. Five clubs in total are required to block such a proposal. With Petrie declared against, would Romanov at Hearts vote for Newco? His previous public pronouncements suggest he would relish the opportunity to take on one of the big Glasgow clubs.
Dundee United and Aberdeen are two other clubs under significant supporter pressure. Both teams are also keen to change the 11-1 voting rule, which would be possible without a Newco.
Rangers, Kilmarnock, St Johnstone (through manager Steve Lomas) have all declared in favour of admitting a Newco, I expect Motherwell and St Mirren will do the same. Ross County and Inverness may fancy adding Dundee into next season’s relegation fight instead of Newco but there has been no indication how either club would vote.
The 7th May vote was the best chance of getting Newco provisions voted through. The more time clubs have to consider the decision the more susceptible they will be to supporter lobby.
I am of the view that SPL chief, Neil Doncaster, will not allow himself to become aware if Rangers have a prima facie case to answer as a result of the SPL inquiry into contractual arrangements until after a vote is taken. Deadline for clubs to respond to the inquiry passed over five weeks ago. A simple check of submissions against SPL records is all that is required. Even if each clubs issued an all-clear, the inquiry should have reported.
Doncaster perhaps has no idea of the flood that will come his way soon and wash away all of these questions. His opportunity to act before events overtake him is limited.
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playfusbal4dguilders – Disappointed about Cervi. I hope he gets regular football elsewhere.
To my knowledge only one player from the USA has ever featured in Celtic’s first XI. (thumbsup)
Good Luck to big Dan … Hope he scores from a corner ball before he retires would be great for the big man
HAil HAil
quonno on 15 May, 2012 at 13:49 said:
Just my opinion:
There are only 2 ways Celtic MIGHT abstain:
1) if the 10 ask Rangers to abstain too.
2) if the Newclub sanctions to remain in the SPL are very severe.
Otherwise there is no way on the Good Lords Earth they will vote for Newclub. Never!
As I say, just my view.
HH
Otherwise
Paul
(As I’m sure you are aware …) other places on timternet have recently taking to calling Zombie FC ‘Newclub’ rather than ‘Newco’.
I know that technically ‘Newco’ may be the normally accepted terminology, but – in the interests of helping to spread the full meaning of the stunt the owners of RFC(IA) will try to pull when the ball is finally burst – I wonder what your views are on joining the trend towards referring to Newclub … ?
FF
Now that big Dan has gone can I be the first to say Bring back Dan he’s so much better than what we’ve got at the moment moan moan moan sack the board
Minus 1 ‘Otherwise’!
Paul 67
How about another deferral until Doncaster reports? That would make him work for his employers money surely?
HH
che
midfield maestro has no soul and he looks like a fish out of water with his running style……surprised nobody’s battered him :-)
mm
what a great day that was, working in the morning, few beers, off to the game. 5-0, Albert Kidd, pitch invasion, greetin hearts fans, stopping the traffic on caledonia street……oot in paisley till the wee hours, made a weekend of it.
Had the good fortune to meet Tommy at a supporters function, a true Celtic man and a gentleman, couldn’t do enough for us that night.
TB RIP
Maybe one good thing to come out of Kayal’s and Izzy’s injuries is that they could have possibly gone off the radar of the big clubs, meaning hopefully at least another year with them, with them both tied up on long term deals :)
ASonOfDan – “But what Scotland has to gain after what may amount to an expensive feasibility study and withdrawal from the Euro 2020 race is unclear.”
Think of all the foreign junkets, the dinners, the “fact finding” trips. (thumbsup)
neveralone on 15 May, 2012 at 13:50 said:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
ernie: If it is ‘yes’ to Newclub, Celtic will make sure everyone knows how the votes were cast – no doubt!
………………………………………….
Are you sure ?
Mmmm interesting times ahead.
Hail Hail
neveralone on 15 May, 2012 at 13:54 said:
I have never at any time said that Celtic would vote for a newco.
I simply do not see them voting against it.
Quonno
abstention is as far as they will go ????????????
IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO ANYTHING ELSE AND THEY LEGITIMISE A CHEATS CHARTER BY PARTICIPATING.
Hail Hail
At least we still have Zheng Zhi. (thumbsup)
..should have said that Bobby Murdoch died 11 years ago today and would have been 67…
Paul 67
I apologise for the ‘line-thingy’ @13:55
typo
quonno on 15 May, 2012 at 13:55 said:
You’ve not been paying attention, then.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 15 May, 2012 at 13:56 said:
Quonno
Admittedly a fairly valid viewpoint. But how would ordinary fan vie abstention.
bournesouprecipe on 15 May, 2012 at 13:57 said:
Please enlighten me further.
Big Dan’s best game was Season 2010/11 St Mirren away – absolute rock at the back, and a superb last-ditch clearance right at the death when St Mirren broke on us.
Age may be catching up on him, but his influence has been underestimated. His experience was very important, not just in terms of his own game, but in helping younger players like Rogne, Mulgrew and Wanyama.
All the best, Big Dan.
15 May 1525. Battle of Frankenhausen
Thomas Muntzer PEASANT ARMY!
Thomas Muntzer PEASANT ARMY!
Thomas Muntzer PEASANT ARMY!
Thomas Muntzer PEASANT ARMY!
Thomas Muntzer PEASANT ARMY!
Quonno
That would depend on the accompanying statement of why we abstained.
Which I would FULLY EXPECT
HAil HAil
South Of Tunis, 13:45
Hard, yes and they really did move the ball about which made them great to watch – though Celtic were more than their match that night until they hacked Burns.
Belanov scored all 3 in the 4-3 defeat by Belgium that summer, what and end-to-end game that was. He was European Footballer of the year too I think
quonno on 15 May, 2012 at 13:55 said
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo on 15 May, 2012 at 13:56
Of course if the 10 agreed a joint strategy what RFCIA & Celtic FC think wouldn’t matter a jot.
Mon the Treaty of Westphalia. (thumbsup)
Len Brennan
I agree. David Biton is not bad striker. I would offer him and them loan deal first (permanent deal option).
Go for Toto Tamuz as permanent deal for Celtic. He could be your man.
Let’s be clear; there are a few things which need to be remembered here.
First, as has been pointed out, under the Qualified Resolution rules, the vote needs TEN votes to go through, NOT eight.
Celtic, I hope the lawyers are all over this. It’s right there in the goddamned rulebook, and I will be amazed if we allow ourselves to be railroaded on something as fundamental as that.
Second, the vote at the end of the month is to decide on potential punishments for a Newco … not to vote on one. The position from our club must be clear; the decision to admit a Newco still has to be done by qualified resolution voting, and only at a time when a Newco presents itself for that purpose.
Thirdly, and finally, in the event Rangers becomes a Newco they HAVE NO VOTE on the big decision itself. Only clubs which hold a share have that vote. Which legal entity is going to be at the vote? The OldCo or the NewCo? The very nature of the discussion negates the possibility of giving Rangers a vote on it. They would have to abstain … and again, I hope our lawyers are all over it because in that event Hibs and Celtic would have enough votes to halt this.
Celtic must not get railroaded here.
Paul67 et al … any views on whether HMRC, having turned down a CVA, might regard a winding up order as the most effective way to get their (our) money back? Not been much mention of this so called “nuclear option”.
I’d like to think that Sir Tom would have had wee a role in that…………..
neveralone
Still shouldn´t influence our abstention
http://www.celticfc.net/corporate_socialcharter
Hail Hail
Forgotten List
* Juarez and Murphy *
SoT and OGR
Was it really Belanov who did for Tommy that night?
I wouldn’t have guessed.
I was at that game (in the Jungle, more or less in line with where TB was chopped) and there was no question it was a ‘tackle’ designed to injure.
I recall, too, that Tommy was turning into a marvelous left back at the time.
I also can’t remember who would have been keeping him out of a midfield berth at the time?
FF
If Steve Brown is right and the demise of Rangers means the end of the road for a number of other clubs, they should not let the door hit them on the bahookie on the way out.
If your business cannot survive unless as the plaything of a corrupt Rangers that withholds taxes, lies about its remuneration to its players and refuses to pay its way, it is simply not a sustainable business and needs to close.
If Scotland ends up with only ten or 12 or 16 viable professional football clubs, so be it. It’s not our fault.
Surprised we are letting Glenn go. He was coming onto a game and we have lost the Polish CH.
Who would win in a fight between Steve Kean and Sam Allardyce?
By Scott Burns
CHARLES GREEN’S consortium will hand Ally McCoist a multi-million pound war chest this summer – if the Scottish Football Association can be persuaded to drop their transfer embargo.
Express Sport spoke to one of Green’s backers, former Sheffield United owner Mike McDonald, and he admitted that their group have serious wealth that has been put together from the medical worlds of Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Singapore alongside major investment from European and UK property developers.
Top football agent Paul Stretford will also have a major involvement in the football operation, helping the club to buy and sell players.
McDonald admitted that once Green’s consortium complete their takeover and sort out the debts they are willing to plough significant amounts into the team to help McCoist’s team to become big players in Scotland and the Champions League.
That investment, however, may have to be delayed unless Wednesday’s SFA appeal against their one-year transfer ban is overturned.
Charles has brought significant funds to the table because we know we need hundreds of millions to be successful at this level
Former Sheffield United owner Mike McDonald
“It is pointless to get involved if we weren’t going to invest in the playing side right away,” McDonald stated.
“We see that as a major priority, although, obviously, that is dependent on the Scottish Football Association’s transfer embargo. We know that Ally McCoist needs to strengthen his team and also to keep some of the players he already has at the club.
“We have got all our funding together for every aspect of the take over and now it is just a case of sorting it out. Charles has had a good conversation with Ally McCoist and we want him to carry on managing the team. Charles has brought significant funds to the table because we know we need hundreds of millions to be successful at this level.
It was McDonald who advised Green to get a group of businessmen together if he was really serious about buying Rangers.He admitted: “That is the reason why there is a consortium involved because unless you are a sheikh or you have extreme wealth then it is very difficult for one person to fund a big-name football club, like Rangers.
“I told Charles that if he wanted to do it then he would need to go down the road of a consortium so we would have the financial clout that Rangers needed. Charles has gone away and done that and that is why we will have money coming from Europe, the UK, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Singapore.”
McDonald has also assured the Rangers fans that Green’s consortium are the real deal. They have the funds and the backers and they also know the football world and are committed to the club in the long-term – with the Champions League success their ultimate goal.
“Every one of the consortium wants to get Rangers back where they should be,” McDonald admitted. “It is a massive club and it should be at the forefront of British and European football. Why can’t that be done? I know it can’t be achieved overnight but we have a long-term plan to achieve that goal. We have to sort the club out and to get them back on a stable and sound financial footing. Charles is definitely in it for the long haul.”
Green has been given the green light from Duff and Phelps to take Rangers out of administration and they hope to have their deal completed by next month.The new owners plan to go down the road of a Creditors Voluntary Agreement although they have put a fall-back newco plan in place should they fail.
They are also aware many of McCoist’s first-team can also leave this summer as a result of clauses put into contracts when they agreed wage cuts with the administrators.
Well played Rod Petrie. I think our own Leadership will need to declare Celtic’s position ahead of the vote, but the situation remains complicated by D&P/Green’s insistence on performing the CVA charade.
My sense is that while this CVA charade is being played out, the Green People are busying themselves with creating the structure that will permit NewClub to be Licensed in time for next season. In essence, in a short number of days the SFA and SPL will know the intention of the Green People, but will be bound from revealing that to the rest of us by non disclosure terms.
Meantime, we have the SPL Inquiry into the issue of the invalid Registration of Players by Rangers. D&P, acting in their capacity as Court Appointed Managers of Rangers, are obliged to cooperate fully with the governing bodies of the game, acting at all times according to the various Articles, Rules and Contracts regulating Rangers’ participation in the Game in Scotland.
They are obliged to disclose any and all relevant information requested, albeit that disclosure of documents that form evidence presented to the Tax Tribunal may be subject to restrictions.
Nevertheless, what the SPL have asked Harper McLeod’s top legal brains to undertake is essentially a simple Quality Audit. Such a process is very straightforward, requiring little more than a clear description of the Process and Procedures in question, and a comparison of Rangers’ actions against that Process to determine Compliance.
My understanding is that Rangers registered around 75 players in the period in question whose registrations may be questionable.
The SPL will have provided Harper McLeod with a written Instruction that includes Methodology, Deliverables, Stage Gates and Timescales. A formal brief.
As with any audit, a sample of transactions will have been tested initially. This is a practical approach that prevents unnecessary expense from being incurred. Harper McLeod will initally have tested perhaps 10 Regostrations against the defined Process. The results of this will have been reported on within a short timescale, at which point the Brief reached a Stage Gate, and the SPL will have had a decision to make on whether to proceed or not.
If the testing revealed no breaches of Process,the purpose of the audit has been satisfied,and it is likely that the Instruction will have been terminated, and the book closed.
More likely, the testing has identified one or more breaches of Process, and the SPL decision will have extended the Instruction to investigate all relevant transactions to quantify and qualify the extent of the breaches.
It takes around one hour to audit a transaction, if you’re really, really slow. I’ll betya even BlantyreKev could do one in less than 55 minutes. All you require is the relevant Documents and the defined Process. Follow the trail. Was the Process implemented properly? Yes/No. Tick/Cross. Next.
The initial brief was provided on 5th MArch or thereabouts. The SPL knew the result of the initial testing when they received the draft report weeks ago. It is likely that they have instructed a full audit, which would have been completed within 100 labour hours. Perhaps further issues have arisen, and the Auditors are testing other related Processes.
Whatever the situation, it is a given that the Final Report is not delayed by Harper McLeod’s diffidence or restraint.
The consequences of breaches of Player Registration are profound. A player whose registration is invalid, is INELIGIBLE to play. Rangers are suspected of invalidly registering around 75 players, who subsequently participated in as many as 500 SPL matches.
The purpose behind the breaches in Registration was to disguise a multi-million pound fraud on the Treasury, itself conceived to gain competitive advantage on the football pitch, which subsequently delivered 6 Champions League participations worth some £20M per season.
Additionally, Rangers were awarded an additional £1.5M per season in results related SPL prize money over and above participation fees.
The economic benefits to Rangers of this approach to Tax and Football regulation, is in the order of £50M of payroll costs saved, and in excess of £100M of SPL and UEFA prize money won. Perhaps as much as £200 Million of benefit in total.
During the period of this ‘irregular’ approach to regulation, Rangers Directors Campbell Ogilvie, John McClelland and Martin Bain were at various times Directors of the SPL. McClelland was Chairman of Rangers during the period of acceleration in the use of these schemes while being SPL Director 2003-2005.
He was also a member of UEFA’s Club Competition Committee and a member of the European Club Association.
Martin Bain was an SPL Director from 2008 to 2011, a period in which Rangers use of the Tax scheme continued despite HMRC having determined that it was illegal in 2008, and submitting a £36M demand for payment that same year.
Campbell Ogilvie was a SPL Director for a short period only at inception, while simultaneously a Director of Rangers and Director and then Vice President of the SFA.
Bain and Ogilvie we now know were benficiares of the EBT scheme, in addition to being responsible for implementing it.
Rangers, if the allegation is held, will have breached a number of SPL Articles and Rules, the most significant of which is the undertaking to act ‘in the utmost good faith’ to the SPL and member clubs at all times.
Rangers in such a situation, will have rendered the SPL a meaningless circus since its inception in 1998.
The only reasonable sanction for such a breach of faith is expulsion from the SPL.
The results of this inquiry are germane to the integrity of the competitions run by the SFA, the SFL and UEFA. Each in turn will require to consider any appropriate measures for Rangers having breached their Articles and Rules, and corrupted their competitions in the same manner as the SPL’s.
At face value, the outcome is a given: Expulsion.
However, this is Scotland, and it seems the Rules of the Game are applied to everyone equally, except Rangers, without whom we would….. well, we would have honest competition and a fair Game.
RodPetrieCSC
philvisreturns
would that be JD from the USA?
p