In his Q&A session with the Daily Record yesterday, outgoing SPFL chairman, Ralph Topping touched on the subject of who knew what when, regarding Rangers slide into liquidation saying:
“There wasn’t one single person ever who envisaged this case happening. You tell me who pointed out that this was going to happen – did you?
“The biggest assumption about the set-up in the SPL would be that you would have Rangers and Celtic playing in it in perpetuity – nobody thought that those two bastions of football would ever be involved in anything like this and nobody flagged it up.”
Well, in October 2011 I knew. This CQN article from 27 October 2011 notes in very specific detail Rangers were going to liquidate, a phoenix would be created which wanted direct access to the SPL (the top flight at that time). I got the timing wrong, predicting the phoenix would take place during the season, but to be fair, it later became clear this was Craig Whyte’s plan at the time.
Ralph Topping’s SPL knew too. Rangers alerted them to the situation that very month. The SPL spend November, December and January preparing the ground for Rangers administration and liquidation, a period during which a new TV deal was signed.
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my gut feeling is this; if Topping, Doncaster & Reagan all knew from 0ctober 2011 what was really coming down the pike then so did Peter Lawwell & Celtic…
Put your house on it….
And board apologists can continue to claim Celtic are playing the long game or see the err bigger picture. You are increasingly looking like you are defending the indefensible.
Lawwell left the SPFL board so he didn’t have to answer to us on their announcement. He is a coward, hiding behind everyone else.
CATHEDRALVIEW 117
You mention something I’ve only alluded to in e-mails. And it is a concern,in hindsight.
Just read the Q&A. Good grief! Dumb, dumber and dumberer!
McKenzie (that’s the guy who gets his information from the newspapers, right?) says Rangers didn’t disclose the payments to the SPL or SFA because they didn’t think they had to (because – ahem – the payments weren’t to the players).
But – everyone and his dog involved at Rangers said they DID disclose the payments. “It was all in the accounts” – remember that one?
ERNIE LYNCH
well! If that’s what I posted, that’s what I posted, the usual spin Ernie, there are Huns on here and other Celtic blogs, you refuse to believe that, then that’s your best shot, fine by me, but post where I said all Celtic supporters, me thinks you protest to much, I’m watching you from now on :))
THEGREENJEDI
They would be mad not to have investigated potential fallout.
And bliddy styoooopit not to have seen it coming.
As such,war games. How do you interpret the results?
That’s where we f….d up,IMO.
And that misguided response,though in good faith,has left us complicit,and more importantly,FUBAR’d.
It made us part of the conspiracy
So much for our own serious professional keeping his powder dry,looks like instead of listening,he said…
I’ve got an idea!
Sticking up for your club and it’s board makes you an apologist, statements like that are Hunnish, imo.
Caught between the devil and the deep blue pound
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL
McKenzie,ffs?
Did Mr Toad qualify as a lawyer?
Looks like it.
He’s sure as hell driving a juggernaut through our game.
Still,doesn’t end well for him.
CFC will make a statement when they are ready to, malcontents get off on this one…when they gonny make a statement…when they gonny make a statement…shouldent matter to the malcontents when the statement is made, like the result of the tax case the malcontents are doing now what they accused the SFA/SPFL knowing the result and taking action before a statement Hippocrates?
Only a moron or barking seal would offer the legally responsible, an excuse to abandon their obligations.
Other clubs do not represent Celtic shareholders.
Just a thought.
“a period during which a new TV deal was signed.”
———-
Indeed, Paul. Even though the existing deal still had three years left to run.
Hmmmmm…….
Sticking up for very highly paid individuals who make up a Plc board f directors is a long long way from sticking up for the club,
Wasn’t that long ago another group of supporters done the exact same by trying to denigrate anyone who uestioned their boards motives and actions, remind me how that worked out for the supporters who advocated blind faith ?
Now let’s talk about Hunnish behaviour ha ha ha ha
Thanks all
thetimreaper on 28th July 2017 1:08 pm
With all due respect to P67 that is bang on.
Its depressing to watch how many stooges there are who are prepared to risk whatever integrity , if any , they have left and issue statements that reveal either that they are, at best , stupid or think that we are.
This statement alone “The biggest assumption about the set-up in the SPL would be that you would have Rangers and Celtic playing in it in perpetuity – nobody thought that those two bastions of football would ever be involved in anything like this and nobody flagged it up.” is such utter nonsense that his whole statement should be ignored as a smokescreen which not even the most gullible would buy.
For a kick off does he not remember 1994 when we were perilously close to admin and would have been given the final push by most in Scottish football without a moments hesitation?
Also – which business runs on such a fundamental “assumption” ?
He and all his utterances should be ignored as should the rag they appeared in.
Let’s hope that there are people in and around Celtic – and I have to believe there are – who can see through this rubbish for what it is and get to a robust and transparent review of the whole scenario now that the Tax case is concluded.
That the LNS enquiry was not tasked with providing recommendations based on the perfectly obvious possibility that the tax case might ultimately be lost and the EBT’s therefore established as illegal is so
outrageous that the whole enquiry should be scrapped and started again.
As BRTH pointed out in superb detail earlier in the week / last week the facts have moved on so much that no reasonable person could hold the LNS enquiry conclusions as having any validity now.
Not even Ralph Topping could seriously convince himself of that, could he?
The Celtic supremo was spotted at the premiere of Rocky 132:The Ghost of Adrian’s Revenge,and when asked about the possibility of the Club seeking justice for the years of improper conduct at Iborcs over 6 decades ago he remarked,”We are preparing our powder in a moistening chamber and will only confirm our tactic of playing the long game.”
BMCUW
The Q&A is so bad that it looks like a comedy sketch.
Topping says there is a wound to be healed!
Doncaster takes about transparency and openness!
Come on then Neil – where’s that 5 way agreement? Ready any time you are…..
My team selection for Wednesday:
Gordon
Lustig Simunovic Ajer Tierney
Forrest Brown Ntcham Sinclair
Rogic
Griffiths.
Brendan, who possibly know a little more than I do about professional football, might go with Armstrong instead of Ntcham.
JJ
Does Topping think that by being bullish and assertive he can put a lid on this?
Trying to get on the front foot when you don’t have a leg to stand on, can lead to you falling on your face.
I very much doubt Celtic will make any statement, they has asked for a review , Topping says there will be a review when the terms of reference are agreed between the SPFL and the SFA, this was also include the appointment of the reviewers, if those bodies are allowed to provide these functions we will get another Nimmo Smith outcome, Celtic in my opinion knew what the SPFL were proposing, Lawwell left/resigned and we have Celtic asking for a review and the SPFL saying there will be a review of sorts. A carve up in my opinion ladies and gentlemen, football looking after those in power. whether supporters will continue to allow this and pay to watch football will be up to them, I think clubs all clubs are prepared to gamble on the unconditional emotional attachment fans have to their club, and, if there is a collateral loss to them they will hope to make it up by attracting younger supporters in the future.
This stands I have paid to watch my last game.
“The Q&A is so bad that it looks like a comedy sketch. ”
What Q & A ?
So nobody seen it coming.
If I recall correctly, Chico Young almost got his head in his hands for uttering the word ‘Administration’ long before everything fel apart.
TTR
Sorry been out – I would hope that our board are ‘the good men’ in question.
I live in hope rather than expectation.
CFC statement
CFC to a man are challenging this decision by the SPFL and will be taking this up next week.
Malcontents
What took you so long.
How can you not tell us now.
Why wasent this posted yesterday.
I’m not happy with that statement.
Sack the board.
What about the GB.
Brendan Rogers is a board man.
What day next week?
This is rediculess.
On an on an on an on an on……no pleasing them, and you never will, to much hash when the where at uni, no right in the heed :))
Had someone lit a flare on Wednesday night, PL would have plenty to say about it.
We have been cheated for years and the Board is like a bunch of Cistercian n Monks.
dessybhoy on 28th July 2017 2:05 pm
This stands I have paid to watch my last game.
========================
Heres the problem with that – boycotts are highly divisive and getting a significant enough % on board is a hard ask for a number of reasons. I’m sure we could all list a few.
You haven’t actually called for a boycott or any action in this post – are you just prepared to walk away?
The other issue with the boycott calls is that in the real world there isnt a mention of it. Its all happening online, and much of it from fans who don’t/can’t get to games anyway. Not a mention amongst the rank and file.
Two points:
1). I would hope any fans like yourself wouldn’t just be prepared to walk away and hope that those in power assume you have chucked it due to governance issues.
2). Calls to withold money from the game are tactic that would hit clubs where it hurts but a disorganised, invisible protest from a few hundred is not going to have the desired effect. Any action needs to be coordinated and carefully planned involving stages of action.
Going straight to hitting Celtic where it hurts ought to be a last resort, strangely for a few it seems to be have been the first option.
HH
Hot Smoked
The one referenced in Paul’s leader.
Daily Radar (I know!)
dessybhoy on 28th July 2017 2:05 pm
This stands I have paid to watch my last game.
———————————————————————————————————————-
I made that decision two years ago. We will all get their eventually. It’s just takes longer for some than others.
– nobody thought that those two bastions of football would ever be involved in anything like this and nobody flagged it up.”
.
I know what Rangers were involved in but what were Celtic involved in.
Interesting to see terms to describe us on here, that came from the Kellys/Whites regime
– nobody thought that those two bastions of football would ever be involved in anything like this and nobody flagged it up.”
.
I know what Rangers were involved in but what were Celtic involved in.
…
Glasstwothirdsfull,
Thanks for that. Is the Q & A available on here somewhere ? I would rather not click on the DR site.
JJ
traditionalist88 on 28th July 2017 2:18 pm
dessybhoy on 28th July 2017 2:05 pm
This stands I have paid to watch my last game.
========================
Going straight to hitting Celtic where it hurts ought to be a last resort, strangely for a few it seems to be have been the first option.
————————————————————————————————————-
Part of the money supporters pay to watch Celtic goes to fund the SFA and SPFL the very organisations who cheat the club. If you don’t want to pay to be cheated then what choice do you have but to stop buying into the professional game in Scotland?
so good. Had to say it twice. oops
TRADITIONALIST88
I’m with you on this one. Said for long enough that we shouldn’t boycott the club.
As such.
I didnae have photies of the Kellys and Whites,et al,on my bedroom wall when I was a kid. Guess who they were though,my heroes every one.
Wore The Hoooops,just to put a smile on my face.
(Maybe if I’d had a dartboard at the time,Des White might have made an appearance,but…)
Disnae stop us refusing to buy the merchandise though. Etc.
Or a Big Mac,or bet at another bookies.
But I genuinely dread to think that our perception-which is f…..g plenty!-that our club did sod all,and might even have been complicit,will lead to so many turning their backs that the only winners are..
.
The cheats.
And that really breaks my heart.
QUONNO on 28TH JULY 2017 2:14 PM
Had someone lit a flare on Wednesday night, PL would have plenty to say about it.
No one did dafty, but you find plenty to say about it, if by any chance anyone ever does light a flare in the future I hope your next to them and the ram it up your )( but chances of you being at a Celtic game are about as much as Rolf Harris driving a school bus .
Cheerio now I’m off to the Brazen HH
Malcontents GIRFUYs.
Here’s a statement from a proper football club:)
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/1916-martyrs-kim-jongun-propaganda-machines-and-jackie-healyrae-bray-wanderers-release-second-statement-35977255.html
Traditionalist88
Yes I did just walk away,but not before giving my reasons to PL and the board in several letters, i usually got a reply but really they were not interested in my points of view and told me they have a good team on the park and thats all that matters is to win on the park.
M6Bhoy
I was gone before you, I would also be back tomorrow or a soon as a season book is available if the board could assure me they are more interested in the team than a balance sheet. Now the cheating is exposed that we all thought was going on, that adds another barrier to my return unless its dealt with.
From the above you can see my support is not unconditional, but these should be a given not a reason not to go and watch your team.