Topping’s who knew what when?

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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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This stunning Lisbon canvas signed by Billy McNeill is available for raffle on behalf of the 2017 CQN Open, being held at Aberdour Golf Club TODAY Friday 28 July.

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  1. I’vehadtochangemyname@6:11

     

     

    As did McLeish recently.

     

     

    While of course reserving the right to deliver a ‘right-hander’, (or was it a left-footer?) to anyone foolish enough to come to collect them!

  2. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Evening Celts

     

     

    When is the protest march?

     

     

     

    HH

  3. Rest in peace wee Charlie!

     

     

    God will look after you.

     

     

    Prayers said for his Mum and Dad.

     

     

    Away for a greet.

  4. prestonpans bhoys on

    St Pauli on BT2 @7:30 if you want Friday footie and some mental ultra’s too

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    PB

     

     

    Hope it is not on in the Brazen.

     

    St Pauli ultras will put Tony aff his pint.

  6. mike in toronto on

    cant believe the statements/q&a today … . they just dont give a rats ass how stupid they sound … it is almost like they believe that, no matter how ridiculous they sound, no one will stand up to them …

  7. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    DD

     

     

    Im on the case, nobody is getting away with anything.

     

    The Blazers and the Huns are on notice.

     

    This aint over by a long shot:)

     

    Id be two minutes with that hun security mob run by the wee ex-polis.

     

    Two minutes.

     

     

     

    HH

  8. Jimmynotpaul on

    D.D.

     

    If it’s poacher turned gamekeeper,then in the interest of fairness you will be in charge of dope testing :-))

     

    #Bobmarleyeasyskanking

     

    Hail Hail

  9. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    MIT

     

     

    They Blazers might think they are clever:)

     

    But we know the reality.

     

    They havent been put under any pressure, yet!

     

    There is a storm coming.

     

     

    HH

  10. prestonpans bhoys on

    DD, imagine if they were ultra’s and uni students too, blood pressure would go through the roof :0)

  11. BABASONICOS71 on

    Wee Charlie Gard RIP.

     

    Fair knocks the energy to worry about football out of you that kind of news.

  12. The_Huddle

     

     

    “What can you even say about that answer”

     

     

    ******************

     

    Worth a Gold at the World Mental Gymnastics Championship.

  13. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Prestonpans Bhoys

     

     

    Students!

     

    Dont mention them, they upset me:)

     

    I had one last term who wants to be a Conservative candidate, and he was serious.

     

    Took me months to brainwash him back to reality:)

     

     

     

    HH

  14. glendalystonsils on

    ERNIE LYNCH on 28TH JULY 2017 4:48 PM

     

    GLENDALYSTONSILS on 28TH JULY 2017 4:34 PM

     

     

     

     

    ‘I’m all in favour of prompt and decisive action against the SFA/SPFL’

     

     

     

    ####

     

     

     

    Such as?

     

     

    If I knew the answer to that, or your duplicate question, I would be CEO of Celtic.

     

    Sorry for the delay in responding.

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    TGM

     

     

    Hawthorne in his former job has some skeletons in his cupboard. Charlatan.

  16. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Park Road 67

     

     

    There is a vicious mood out there, the bhoys dont like to be cheated by huns.

     

    Hurricane Hunskelper is approaching:)

     

     

     

    HH

  17. MIKE IN TORONTO on 28TH JULY 2017 6:22 PM

     

    Doc @ 4:50 ….

     

     

     

    Nice idea, but I dont think that is too likely to happen …

     

     

     

    BRTH can probably confirm that administrative law principles (dealing with tribunals, etc.) are pretty consistent among the commonwealth countries ….

     

     

     

    a basis principle is that a party cannot be involved in deciding a case in which he or she has an interest …. which would mean that PL would not be able to hear the appeal, if the outcome of that would impact Celtic …

     

     

     

    this assumes that the zombies would object to him sitting on any such appeal … which is as sure to happen as God making little green apples …

     

     

    ——————————–

     

    Forgive me MIT, but that logic precludes any investigation never mind appeal into any misdemeanour in Scottish football. Who does not, within the game, have an interest?

     

    The SFA Professional Game Board is the appellant body from what I have been able to find out. PL sits on that body now. He may have to sit out, but so would all the other club representatives wouldn’t they?

     

     

    I am happy to be wrong of course, just my reading of the way this is going.

     

     

    Oh, and 0-3 reversal each and every time a player with a side contract played.

     

     

    Every thing else is a distraction.

  18. thetimreaper on 28th July 2017 5:03 pm

     

     

     

    AULDHEID on 28TH JULY 2017 4:22 PM

     

     

    I was thinking about the AGM earlier. PL could decide to step down beforehand. I think his position is untenable if nothing is done. Being complicit in this affair whilst wearing a Celtic tie is unforgivable.

     

    ===================

     

    That thought did occur to me but I think ownership of the issues has taken place since the trials ended which is in line with what I was looking for.

  19. Park Road 67 on

    THEGREENMAN

     

    A massive TIM TORNADO is on it’s way ! We’ve been cheated enough , no more mhate !!

  20. The Green Man says SACK THE Board on

    Park Road 67

     

     

    We just want to watch Celtic, without being cheated.

     

    If we cant have that, there will be a huge scrap.

     

    Its simple as that.

     

     

    HH

  21. TheLurkinTim on

    mike in toronto on 28th July 2017 6:44 pm

     

     

     

    cant believe the statements/q&a today … . they just dont give a rats ass how stupid they sound … it is almost like they believe that, no matter how ridiculous they sound, no one will stand up to them

     

     

    Mike….at his most ineloquent…..;-))

     

     

    BSR……the naughty step fur you lol ;-))

     

     

    FTSFA

     

     

    don’tgetdistractedCSC

     

     

    H.H.

  22. NegAnon2 on 28th July 2017 3:44 pm

     

     

     

    And crc I know you know paul67 well. But ask yourself, why won’t he call on the board to act? Hey won’t he say anything about the board and res12.

     

    ==========================

     

    Check my previous post. One of the issues was Res12.

     

     

    As matters stand its now going as it should be with Celtic taking ownership.

     

     

    That is not to say it should not have gone that way at long time ago but that’s an even LOOOOONGER story.

  23. It’s maybe been mentioned on here before but Simon Ferry has a good Youtube channel where he conducts in-depth interviews with players. The latest is with Aiden McGeady where he shares anecdotes about his time at Celtic and inside info on Tommy Burns, WGS, Lenny and MO’N. It’s well worth a watch,

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXJI8N7WM1E

  24. I think Peter Lawwell resigned his position with the SPL strategically before the

     

    announcement of the phoney baloney ‘review’ to prevent angst from Celtic

     

    fans saying he was a party to it.

     

     

    The ball has been in Celtic’s half since the announcement was made, and it’ll be

     

    a while yet before Celtic kick it back to Hampden.

     

     

    ButKicKItTheyWill CSC

  25. Delaneys Dunky on

    PR67

     

     

    The Tim dander is up.

     

    Had a coupla guinness after work there in my local. The normally mild mannered Clydebank Tims are angry. We will accept being beat fair and square on a level playing field. We hate being cheated and conned. Some raging Tims ready to revolt. Come the Revolution!

  26. fergusslayedtheblues on

    I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or cry at the answers to those tame questions put to those charlatans

     

    If Scottish football supporters were ever in doubt as to how much disdain these peepil hold us in then the answers they spat out today should leave us in no doubt at all .

     

    If this scandal ,with it’s cover up’s and lies is not addressed and sorted ,football in this country is dead and buried .

     

    It won’t happen overnight but the rot will be there and it will eat our game from the inside out .

     

    Long after this cabal have left the scene of their crime new supporters will be expected to prop up this farce and one click on the net will leave them in no doubt that they should think twice about investing their time and MONEY into a fixed and rigged game

     

    To ALL the clubs in Scottish football …..YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

  27. AULDHEID

     

     

    A long time ago ..i asked you why Pl as our leader did’nt stand up and question the situation regarding Rangers and the SFA debacle ala..Turnbull Hutton.

     

     

    Your reply to me was ….

     

     

    Why should Peter put a target on his back .

     

     

    Do you think that position has changed now as in, there wont be any targets on his back if he takes the bull by the horns and takes these issues forward .

  28. Chairboy

     

     

    This is what Topping told the SPL Board in 2013 who were discuss the LNS Decision.

     

     

    Does he see in any enquiry/appeal his chance to right a wrong?

     

     

     

     

    From: Ralph Topping Sent: 07 March 2013 14:49 To: Iain Blair; Neil Doncaster; Duncan Fraser; Stephen Thompson; Eric Riley Cc: Rod McKenzie Subject: Appeal to SFA

     

     

    STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

     

     

    Gents

     

     

    I understand that Iain has spoken with most people from the Board about the appeal process and having spoken with Rod I have his advice that in a nutshell we have to appeal today and be clear as to the grounds of appeal .

     

     

    I also understand that Eric is overseas on holiday but for the understandable reason of time zone difference is uncomfortable with the timescale being asked of him .

     

     

    As things currently stand Duncan , Michael , Stephen and Neil are in favour of no appeal being made . In the circumstances , given this is as important a subject as I think the SPL Board has discussed in my time as Chair I want to make my own position clear and not hide behind arithmetic as I could do !

     

     

    I believe the proportionality of Lord Nimmo Smith’s determination is questionable . A fine of £250,000 for an enterprise of Rangers Oldco’s size and turnover and indeed strong leadership position in Scottish football on the evidence led as to the scale of the undeclared payments is not proportionate .

     

     

    I am also uncomfortable with Lord NS’s view that whilst the SPL Board wanted no sanction ruled out we seem to have led no evidence or made no statement in the course of the consideration by LNS on competitive advantage Ranger’s Oldco enjoyed which effectively ruled LNS from considering it .

     

     

    My question therefore to all Board Members is this : are you happy that in not appealing you are effectively saying that competitive disadvantage to all SPL clubs is immaterial and that you are happy with the scale of the fine ?

     

     

    My question to Rod is having not led evidence on Sporting disadvantage is this ruled out as a ground of appeal ?

     

     

    I remain uneasy on both counts but accept that recovering monies from Oldco is unlikely no matter the quantum . The outcome in my view is still not proportionate .

     

     

    I would have liked more time to discuss this in person but as I am advised we don’t have it if you could confirm that you are not for turning I would be grateful . Sorry to ask but I feel I must given the importance of this matter .

     

     

    Ralph

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