This morning the Daily Record led with a front page headline “Celtic and the tax dodge firm”. They went on, “Celtic supremo Peter Lawwell and other club figures have been linked to a £434million tax dodge”, linking Martin O’Neill, Neil Lennon and a number of players from the O’Neill era.
Let’s be clear on the facts of this case:
Celtic employees (they did speak to each other) took advice from one of the big four accountancy firms and made arrangements accordingly.
Each of these employees declared these arrangements to HMRC.
HMRC informed them that these ‘investments’ were not offset-able against tax.
All Celtic and former Celtic staff settled this issue with HMRC years ago.
This was reported in 2012 (a cursory internet search will confirm). Nothing new has happened to any Celtic or former Celtic employee since. No Celtic or former Celtic employee is involved in any on-going related issues.
Celtic pay employees through income declared to HMRC. Tax was and is deducted at source and paid to HMRC – including the matter referred to today. They even asked HMRC if tax was due on Juninho’s EBT and paid by return when told it was.
There are no hidden tax schemes at Celtic. There are no side-letter arrangements at Celtic nor has there ever been. There are no disputes with HMRC.
The newspaper headline is misleading; “Celtic and the fax dodge firm”. There is not once piece of correspondence between Celtic and HMRC or any other body on this matter. Celtic deducted and paid tax to HMRC which their employees subsequently applied for relief against. HMRC have not demanded any connected payment from Celtic, nor is any due.
They can pick on Peter Lawwell, Martin O’Neill and Neil Lennon if that is their motivation (their hostility to each of them has been clear for years), but headlines putting the words “Celtic” and “tax dodge” are designed to damage your club. This is unacceptable.
The bigger question is “Why?”
It’s a tax issue reported years ago which nothing will subsequently happen about because nothing is in dispute by any of the parties concerned. So why make it a front page story now?
That remains a mystery for the time being, but know how ‘news’ works in Scotland, and more importantly, know who instructs what makes the news. This has all the hallmarks of a deflection piece before something bigger hits the fan. Someone is panicking.
The issue remains what do Celtic do about this kind of media distortion. Some newspapers are under so much financial pressure they live for tomorrow’s headline, accountability is a luxury they cannot afford to think about. They do not appear concerned at biting the hand that feeds them.
One (good) news journalist I know told me the football guys keep his ‘paper afloat, as no one would buy to read his (worthy) submissions. Football is the last gig in town for the old media. As a consequence, your club will be savaged at any opportune moment, with or without just cause.
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Kitalba – you make a fair point!!! What they do is neither journalism or work!!
Dear Marge.
Now that the new club is circling the plug hole and going the same way as the old club, it appears that jelly and ice cream time is approaching rapidly.
My problem is that, although I appreciate the pleasures of the ole gelato in all its myriad flavours, I cannot abide the wobbly stuff.
Can you help?
Yours in anticipation of flavourful schadenfreude.
RW.
auldheid et al
That should read; ‘Report to Creditors 7 June 2016 – BDO’
Sad to see the TD67 vendetta shows no sign of abating.
More Celtic Supporters read Paul67 and James Forrest than purported journalist who are employed in the sports department of the Daily Record.
Paul67 and James Forrest too, neither has a press pass with all the associated privileges which are gifted to leeches from the smsm who want nothing less than to see us bleed.
“More cognac Derek?”
They must have forgotten how much Martin O’Neill enjoys a libel case.
Jerry
Diddums.
MWD
As part of its services to Sevco strategy, the Record employs fan ease.
A Vendetta you say?
More like a viennetta.
MWD
ACGR
Excellent. See you Saturday.
Off to the dentist now.
Cheerio,
JJ
The issue remains what do Celtic do about this kind of media distortion.
Celtic, could, if it has the stomach for it, grow a set of haw maws and ban these reptiles, for that is what they are, from Celtic Park and anything Celtic.
As Paul acknowledges in his article, they need us more than we will ever need them.
As to the purpose of the offending Record headline. The rag is simply trying to play a tax related version of the old ‘one is as bad as the other’ game.
The reason for it is that a judgement in the big tax case is due in November.
A few short weeks away.
Can’t agree with my fellow celts , who don’t want to see a total ban from celtic park for the record .
Total scum rag if ever there was . But it shouldn’t, stop there. BBC Scotland are IMHO even worse . Whoever heads up that company ,has a serious hatred of our club . It’s another outlet that is needing investigated .
the petty squabbling isn’t a good look, especially on the first couple of pages following an article that explains a news story in a way that you won’t find anywhere else on the internet
Maybe a bit more consideration for paul and the other people who read the blog might be in order
level5 are in a flap about something with their anti us story,
I wonder if sevco have paid them.
JERRY CORNELIUS on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 2:27 PM
Sad to see the TD67 vendetta shows no sign of abating.
Only if you take life to serious, Moi? Am off to the zoo for a swally, amazing the conclusions people come to in here who and what people are, .
Sad cases in here honestly, it’s a blog ffs, get real, yi don’t know each other, unless your a regular at the ALB as I call it, others call it hootenanny.
Quonno
They’re best ignored, no point in lowering yourself to the level of a reptile.
I don’t think we really need to bother about anyone who believes what the daily record prints either
Would it be true to say that Celtic fans have a habit of uniting in the face of oppressor / aggressor? Would a united fan base help the club ie encourage the fans to buy tickets/merchandise as an act of defiance and a general GIRUY?
No such thing as bad publicity as the old cliche goes.
Have Celtic been paid for the tickets for the last Old Firm game ?
I would be surprised if the answer is yes based on what is been written in the blogosphere.
Would today not be a good time if that is true for Celtic PLC to release that information onto the official Celtic website
Or do the PLC condone the lack of a possible payment ?
HH
Anyone seen the clip of the Norwegian TV panel after San Marino scored their first goal in 15 years against them? It is absolutely hilarious, cannot imagine our TVs pundits reacting like that. Can any of you gifted ghuys post it from You Tube – with subtitles. Caught it on BBC NEWS this morning. Hail Hail Hebcelt
The Daily Record has used a headline and a story to imply that Celtic Football Club and it’s employees has participated in tax avoidance. This story could have a detrimental effect to the finances of the Club. A statement is pointless, a ban is pointless, Celtic need to drag them to court for renumeration and a front page apology. I have generally never sought for Celtic to dish out statements on any given subject (especially those which would tie us to sevco) but this is a story which could cause businesses to avoid dealing with us. Their is a serious financial implication to this story and surely the board have a duty to shareholders to react.
hebcelt on 12th October 2016 3:03 pm
As requested…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6KV9tThO8A
HEBCELT
Good to see you posting!
Hope you are well!
This article with regards contagion compared to Resolution 12 is beyond negligible.
HH
West end of east end thanks for that, the BBCversion was longer with subtitles where you found out what they were saying as they turned out the light, Philbhoy thanks for your kind words , doing ok one more week of treatment to go. Hail Hail Hebcelt
HEBCELT
Fingers crossed!
Wee prayer said too!
hebcelt on 12th October 2016 3:34 pm
Not sure if this is the one you’re looking for, FTA Mods, some sweary words, feel free to bin it after Hebcelt has watched it…..:-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPh0KaXaY4E
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10614709/rangers-refuse-barton-questions
Just so flyer to go to Celtic shop in town and meet players
Gary McKay Stevens and Boyatta…..
I had forgotten all about Boyatta..
https://twitter.com/McNallyMirror/status/786208604781154304?s=08
Awe Naw
Is Jim Traynor the ‘Power that Be’ at ole Ayebroke?
I think we should be told!
No words need saying beyond the video at the bottom of the piece. What a circus that club is :)
http://thecelticblog.com/2016/10/blogs/amazing-scenes-at-sevco-press-conference-as-traynor-treats-warburton-like-a-five-year-old-in-front-of-the-hacks/
Sipsini
whole video posted above
HH
Nevermind Jelly & Ice Cream….
Anyone else feeling a return to the auld ‘F5 days???’
everycoupleayminutesCSC
CELTIC MAC
lets hope so
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/james-traynor-why-this-is-my-last-ever-newspaper-1470050
I think nod gate has not gone away
HH
Serious question …. shocked that I have to ask it, but this is Scotland we are talking about ….
Have there been any OBAF Act charges related to the singing of Grace? A song about JP must surely have offended some of the WATP brigade…. or do they not know what it is about? Mind you, that hasn’t stopped them from being offended in the past.
CelticMac
Re the reduction in pot from 24 to 16
Is the majority of that bdo’s own fee?
HHh
What an astonishing video that is – Warbiola didn’t even get to use the word “respectfully” once.
So many questions need to be answered but the primary one is “Just what exactly is Jabba’s role at Ibrox?”