Alex McLeish is busy preparing for his first game as Scotland manager this weekend. It is a gig he will be delighted to have, now that he has confirmation HM Revenue & Customs are on his case for tax due when Rangers paid him through an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT).
The reach of the Rangers’ EBT recipients runs deep in Scottish football. The Scotland manager is employed by people who were promoted during an EBT recipient’s presidency, who refused the SPFL’s request for a review into the EBT scandal. And, his performance will be reviewed by EBT recipients now working in the media.
There are others active in the SFA and the media who had nothing to do with EBTs, but many of these people have been friends for over 20 years. They will not be so indiscrete as to embarrass a friend by suggesting their actions brought our game into disrepute.
The consequence for Rangers were absolute. The consequence for the recipients will vary from an inconvenience, to financial ruin, but we have had no candour from any of them, no mea culpa. I have no axe to grind with McLeish, and I prefer some recipients who work in the media to several former Celtic players, but blindly ignoring their role in the biggest story in Scottish football in half a century discredits us all.
Alex, you are Scotland manager, sit down with a journalist you respect and tell him how wrong this sorry business was.
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JAMES FORREST
A light at the end of the tunnel. thanks James good piece and thanks for all your work on this too:)
HH
‘Dissent into treason’ arrived today Almore – thanks again.
The first line ‘August 1649, the Puritans Arrive in Dublin’. It’s only going to go one way!
I’vehad powerful stuff with the old Haka
???
D. :)
The Republic are getting a severe doing here.
On Celtic’s wage bill calculation : I have resting among the cob webs of my hard drive an excel spreadsheet from 2011 that separates first team squad from the rest and allows additions of managers and football ops staff and NI . It also caters for ST Income and more can be added.
It produces what is a fairly accurate estimate of the football wage bill IF the weekly wage allocated to each player is sensible.
I cannot be bothered updating it but if any of the wages debate guys want a copy to update e mail me via Paul and I’ll send it.
The players names need replaced, the assumed weekly wage updated and anything to emerge since catered for as in the higher wage to Brendan Rogers but it is a useful tool if anyone wants to keep it fresh season from season using wage figures in the accounts to ring fence the final result.
Go on. You know you want to. :)
In the meantime I commend James Forrest latest blog on Res12.
AULDHEID
“Ur we there yet Da'”:))))
Is occupied Palestine a racist endeavour?
you can now be charged with sectarian hate crime for making such a claim, the zionists demanded it became an anti-semitic statement. A bit like the same club stuff, expect in the not to distant future calling The rangers, sevco will be deemed hate crime.
Good evening all from the Govanhill trout mask replica.
James Forrest, The Celtic Blog
I don’t always agree with what you write but I do always feel it comes from the head and the heart and in the end, we want the same thing. Your blog today is good reading.
The Principality 3-0 up against The Republic.
There has been remarkably little public discussion of the EBT issue. That’s because the media doesn’t want it discussed. And, in turn, that was because it was Rangers.
At the time no-one in the media, no-one from the governing body and certainly none of the players had the integrity to question EBTs. I maybe wrong but if the final decision on EBTs had gone to a Scottish court I doubt it would have found against the club or its players. (In fairness, very few professional sportsmen would question a scheme which made them wealthier.)
As for the decisions to exonerate Morales and, more recently, McGregor they beggar belief. Sports governing bodies here in the UK and across the globe rarely serve the public well. But here in Scotland they are arbitrarily changing the rules of the game solely to benefit one club. The SFA must know its decisions are dishonest but they are not the slightest embarrassed about it.
RIP Burt Reynolds
Deliverance 1972… “Squeal like a pig”
MON gone soon ?
Make that 4-0.
Seems someone at the Record has grown a pair-two articles having a go at the new disciplinary interpretations at the SFA.
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/football-man-ian-maxwell-must-13199177
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/facts-behind-allan-mcgregors-sfa-13202927
Chwarae teg i Gymru.
Ivehadto: Enjoy the read.
FOOLTIMEWHISTLE
I posted earlier today regarding the attack on Charlie Phelan , I live in Girvan and it sounds as if he was attacked by some thug who was either on the Stranraer hun bus or the Wigtown /Newton Stewart hun bus , there is CCTV so they shouldn’t be hard to find and as you say find out who was on one of these buses wearing union jack shorts ? Can’t be too difficult !
Park Road67,
The Russians have a joke term for it, ‘never found Joe’, because no one is ever looking for him.
PARKROAD67
The authorities are as much to blame for this as the thug himself. They have been utterly craven in their dealings with the huns,no matter how disgraceful their behaviour.
Give them an inch and they’ll take liberties,but the worse their behaviour the less the appetite for properly punishing it.
GORDON64 mentioned this last week.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/06/clapton-cfc-anti-fascism-shirt-global-audience
CANAMALAR/BMCUW
Aye typical Police Scotland attitude towards another assault on a Celtic fan , every game that mob have been involved in this season has resulted in trouble , hope your well Bobby HH fae South Ayrshire
BMCUWP
they ur ra peepl
Bmcuwp
Hey bobbyio
Thanks for putting up that Clapton link
Massacre at Ballymurphy 9pm Saturday Channel 4.
Supposed to be worth a watch
PARKROAD67
On the up,mate. On the up.
I’m not suggesting a zero tolerance approach to hunnish behaviour. Just equal treatment with the rest of society.
CANAMALAR
They are that,and a bunch of bullyboy thugs to boot. Only needs three or four of them to get together and they act like the rules don’t exist.
WHATISTHESTARS
Not talking to you,ya bootlicking boardlover.
Only kidding. Aye,it’s a great idea. I heard about it on R4 last week,and I’ve been trying to find a site selling them.
I’ve been wondering what to get MACJAY for Christmas,you see(!)
How’s trix?
AULDHEID on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2018 8:28 PM
In the meantime I commend James Forrest latest blog on Res12.
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James / Auldheid – is something happening behind the scenes that means this is coming to a head now? I haven’t seen anything that would indicate any new steps were being taken.
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CANAMALAR IT LOOKS LIKE OCD OBSESSION on 6TH SEPTEMBER 2018 8:41 PM
Is occupied Palestine a racist endeavour?
you can now be charged with sectarian hate crime for making such a claim, the zionists demanded it became an anti-semitic statement. A bit like the same club stuff, expect in the not to distant future calling The rangers, sevco will be deemed hate crime.
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CANAMALAR
I wholeheartedly agree with you – this whole direction of this discussion is illiberal.
Someone / some body makes up a definition – if you don’t agree with the definition you are a racist / sectarian bigot? Nonsense – it completely undemines the rights of the individual to have free thought and reasoning, and to arrive at their own conclusion about any given situation.
Heard a similar discussion about the suggested classification of ‘misogyny’ as a hate crime. Depending on how you define mysogeny, and what aspects of ‘sexism’ you encompass in that definition, many on here would find themselves criminalised. All those who objectify a certain weather presenter better watch out.
There is a problem is in defining a label as illegal – e.g., anti-semitic, mysogenist, etc. It leaves the way open for marginal or even extreme views to be grouped under the umbrella of a commonly-used and commonly-understood term.
An additional issue is that once some self-appointed ‘official’ body sets the definition, anyone who disagrees with their definition is instantly regarded, and treated as, some form of heretic. You become a target just for having an opposing view about their definition.
HH
BGFC
BIGGEORGESFANCLUB
I’m particularly disappointed that political criticism of Israel is classed as anti-semitism.
That’s just ridiculous.
Canamalar,
Good to see you back posting.
TGSC,
Sailing On….
Good Ship Celtica
Good to see you back posting yourself.
BMCUWP
God bless Peter Lawwell ??
BGFC
what if a black catholic disabled israeli lesbian with a rangers scarf came in to my bar and I refused to serve her.
Could i be charged under any hate crime/anti discrimination legislation
I believe in the State of Israel as defined by the pre 67 borders.
I believe the state of Israel is entitled to defend itself to the utmost against enemies including those who reuse to recognise the State and are determined to wipe it out.
I can see the logic in deciding to have a Zionist state…..without necessarily agreeing with it.
I believe in the creation of a Palestinian state on the condition of a two state mutual recognition of the right to exist.
I believe both sides are due close examination and censure.
Beyond that……it’s all too sad
HH
WITS…..
I sincerely hope so!!!!!
Thirds63
Maybe..
But which one ?
Good evening fholks
Was at the opening night of The Celtic Musical last night. also went two years ago
If you have not got a ticket, then get it sorted as a great night for all.
Good to see LIonsroa67r there as well
HH
CRC
Also saw Lionsroar67 as well :-)
WITS…..
NEARLY all of them. ;-)
Thirds
Except the Rangers scarf maybe?
That could be legitimate grounds