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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I thought Stokesy used Pantene Pro-V (o)
Read some stuff on another site about the magic hat’s presser today and saw a link from James Forrest, that didn’t work. Was this a spoof or is there another embarrassing sevco moment to be savoured?
JJ, I assume your seat count doesn’t count all the empty Motherwell seats. Pretty sure last time they visited they brought about three mini bus loads of support.
Celtic should reduce the allocation to all clubs who bring a tiny support and maximise our own support. If there are only 20 seats left outwith the away end then that says there is a demand to reduce away allocation based on previous statistics.
Oh, and I’d happily see our club reduce the hun allocation to zero and would have no issue with them do likewise.
BURGHBHOY on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:23 PM
I must confess to a little disappointment when hearing about the Rectum article today.
I understand that Dead club cheated, gaining an unfair sporting advantage by paying players they would otherwise not been able to afford in the form of a loan to avoid tax.
I was cheated as were supporters of other clubs.
And that hurts.
My frustration is our plc seem to have done little to pursue this injustice on behalf of me and u.
My disappointment is I can’t help shift the thought that maybe our reticence in pursuing this is in some way down to the fact that some of our plc may have tried to evade tax in their personal affairs?
Am I way off the mark ?
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With respect mate, I think you are off the mark. The huns gained an advantage because they failed to declare tax and NI on the wages they provided to their players. They were therefore able to afford to pay more to these players and consequently recruit better players than they otherwise would have been able to.
Celtic paid their players and other staff in a regular manner and payed the appropriate tax and NI for them. No different to any other club in the league – except the huns.
What people do with their pay (after tax and NI) is entirely their own business. If they want to take advice and invest it in any kind of scheme they can do so. They all did so on the advice of accountants and tax experts. The rules changed and they had to pay additional tax on their investments. End of. Tax planning is not the same as avoidance.
Anyone who has a personal pension or ISA or gifts their estate to their kids is undertaking tax planning – not illegal.
Matt. I saw that ITV4 programme you mentioned earlier.
It was telling how much money there is in football,when Lee Chapman said some current players were receiving in.a week what he earned in a year and according to him he had a good wage in 1992.
NATKNOW/ SIPSINI
There’s nothing funnier than real life.
Just look at the stickies lol.
H.H Mick
Vale Bhoy , if you are around.
I read your question yesterday.
Champions League games are shown in Poland on TV platform called NC+.Please try to contact restaurant “Time Out” kontakt@timeoutrestauracja.pl
http://timeoutrestauracja.pl/en/home_page/
Ah another attack by the establishment on Celtic and continued silence from our board.
Naw it’s up to supporters to fight the fight.
After all you can’t use the record to spread your own lies and misinformation and then complain when they do it to you.
In bed with the devil Plc.
ACGR –
I clicked on some links on this very blog earlier to see the footage (I think!) but now can’t seem to find them. However, it is linked here :
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/watch-rangers-press-officer-abruptly-shut-down-press-conference-759087.html?
Still none the wiser about the hat / jabba stuff posted. The JF link does not open.
Anybody…………………?
Natknow
I understand all of that mate and that it is up to each individual to decide what advice to take regards their finances.
I also understand about deadco and how they cheated.
I just wondered if our plc executives were silent on this injustice and part of this reason was to do with their own personal tax arrangements?
As I say maybe totally wrong , , but just a gut feeling
HH
If this is not straightforward libel where Celtic PLC can sue for mucho damages and I am assuming it is in their best interests to do so because these allegations will be repeated then it must beg the question…why not?
Celtic should sue tomorrow.
Is this Saturday’s game the ‘bring summit for the food bank day’?
Thank’s in advance.hh
ACGR @ OUTLOOK DOT COM – GET YOUR FREE THE ZADOK RINGTONE on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:52 PM
Still none the wiser about the hat / jabba stuff posted. The JF link does not open.
Anybody…………………?
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See above! :-)
Watching an old classic, David Copperfield, can’t help but think of king( tgsl) the shameless one when seeing Uriah Heeeeeep. :))))
BURGHBHOY on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:53 PM
Natknow
I understand all of that mate and that it is up to each individual to decide what advice to take regards their finances.
I also understand about deadco and how they cheated.
I just wondered if our plc executives were silent on this injustice and part of this reason was to do with their own personal tax arrangements?
As I say maybe totally wrong , , but just a gut feeling
HH
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I could only speculate on their reasons for not making comment TBH. I can imagine they wouldn’t want to attract any attention to their own affairs, but personally I suspect they have other reasons…
NatKnow, thanks for that pal.
What to make of that? The poor tragic doormat looks like a lost puppy.
Jabba running the new hun club is just terrific, long may it continue, until they die. The sooner the better.
HH bruv
ACGR/NATKNOW
Try this one lhads…..
http://videocelts.com/2016/10/blogs/latest-news/watch-the-dynamic-video-as-traynor-takes-centre-stae/?
https://twitter.com/McNallyMirror/status/786208604781154304?s=08
ACGR…
Voguepunter, the food bank collection by that dastardly green brigade is on the fifth of November before the Caley game.
ACGR @ OUTLOOK DOT COM – GET YOUR FREE THE ZADOK RINGTONE on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:59 PM
NatKnow, thanks for that pal.
What to make of that? The poor tragic doormat looks like a lost puppy.
Jabba running the new hun club is just terrific, long may it continue, until they die. The sooner the better.
HH bruv
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Totally agree dude – the longer these morons are there the better. It was mentioned on Radio Scotland earlier and one of the journo guests suggested that the hun fans would be delighted about it because someone was sticking the boot into the Sky reporter who asked the questions. I see what he’s saying but TBH if it were Brendan being taken offstage at the request of Jabba, I’d be mortified and furious. Mind you, Brendan would have had the balls to tell Jabba to eff off…
MM:Thanks for the big shout out for Dr. Marc. He is really looking forward to it. He will be bringing a friend with him. I sent him some dosh to buy you and Paddymacoz a pint so make sure you take him up on the offer. I really appreciate what you are doing for him.
!! Bada Bing!!
Warviola?
VOGUEPUNTER on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:59 PM
ACGR/NATKNOW
Try this one lhads…..
http://videocelts.com/2016/10/blogs/latest-news/watch-the-dynamic-video-as-traynor-takes-centre-stae/?
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Cheers dude – works for me!
ZBYSZEK
Thank you very much for taking the time to pass on that information.
I’ll check it out.
Disappointed to be missing the games but looking forward to visiting your country again.
Again, much appreciated.
HailHail.
Vale Bhoy
Dallas,cheers mhate……..need to start plankin stuff fae the cupboard.
Evening ACGR…..
As oor new moderator… Whits your angle on Phil ending his blog on the words ‘they are f””ecked’. !!
BTW ….your bottle needs raffling…..wee Forfar loons Cannae afford the whole glass…kissy kissy..
Braw
Knatknow / VP / BB, thanks. I’m still pishing myself laughing at that. What an embarrassing event to see your club manager undermined by a fat prick who used to masquerade as a journalist,
VP, I hope it’s not Saturday for the collection, the size 20 has buggered off to Dumfries and left hee haw in my cupboards. I’m barely surviving here let alone putting together a food parcel. A man canny live on frozen sausages alone, although I’m happy to give it ma best shot.
Warbiola looks totally bemused by lard ass Jabba throwing his weight about
ALMORE
Its the Celtic family,its what we do.
H.H Mick
But the chance of getting one of your treasured ones round Oor gums!!!!
Joy joy joy
Smiley satisfied thing..
Braw
Raffles rule OK..
The Warburton/Traynor fiasco has been regarded as newsworthy on here and other Celtic blogs. The BBC seems a tad less interested in the affair:
” Manager Mark Warburton’s media conference on Wednesday was halted briefly by the club’s PR advisor Jim Traynor after repeated questions on the Barton situation.”
…that`s all folks!
….and it`s all from me as well.
Goodnight.
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 10:16 PM
The Warburton/Traynor fiasco has been regarded as newsworthy on here and other Celtic blogs. The BBC seems a tad less interested in the affair:
” Manager Mark Warburton’s media conference on Wednesday was halted briefly by the club’s PR advisor Jim Traynor after repeated questions on the Barton situation.”
…that`s all folks!
….and it`s all from me as well.
Goodnight.
JJ
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It was discussed a fair bit on Radio Scotland earlier tonight. Lotta laughing going on….
ACGR,
you going to game on saturday,
if so i will give your wee hipper to DD,
thanks very much for the dram,lovely it was
MARGARET MCGILL on 12TH OCTOBER 2016 9:53 PM
If this is not straightforward libel where Celtic PLC can sue for mucho damages and I am assuming it is in their best interests to do so because these allegations will be repeated then it must beg the question…why not?
Celtic should sue tomorrow.
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Mags, I have it on good advice that although they are skirting the libel law they have not said anything that is factually inaccurate; it’s all half-truth and innuendo so no grounds for libel from the Club.
The best bet is to complain to IPSO and seek a retraction from the Record on the grounds that it breaches the IPSO Editors Code of Practice. I posted contact details earlier. As it’s online, you are permitted to be offended overseas!
NATKNOW, I have a gut feeling that you are right and the PLC Board are waiting till the fat lady sings before making their final move. I certainly hope so.
BURGHBHOY, I don’t that it has anything to do with alleged tax avoidance by our Board members – nothing they did was illegal and the Club as a business was never involved in any tax scam.
FAC the Act
KTF
Braw bhoy, I wouldn’t be much use as a moderator due to my lack of self control. In fact I’m in the camp that would prefer less moderation on here. Between pop up adverts for all sorts of shite that make it almost impossible to read and post, and moderation, its a pretty gash site these days.
Just about to bottle a Glenfarclas in the next few weeks. We’ve got some new hoops to jump through regarding the labelling which I need to overcome. Change in the law stating that all private bottlings must be labelled at the site of the bottling, size and font, blah blah specifications. I use a graphic artist in Coupar to produce our labels and I need to speak nicely to get this round her. She’s a lovely lady so should be ok……hopefully.
Once I have this one in glass, I’ll let you know. You can send me your details and I’ll be very happy to send you a bottle to sample, for feedback purposes like, not for marketing. Ahem…………………:_)
HH ya forfaararar loo n y…………………………….:_)
Celtic need to be cute about the “Daily Record” . Their sales are continually falling as we all know, why not hit them where it hurts, speed their decline up a notch by a carefully worded statement encouraging celtic fans to stop buying the rag because of the lies and continuous smears against our club. I stopped buying it years ago but still amazed at the number of Celtic fans who still do so, my brother still does and first thing he said to me this morning was ” I see Celtic are up to their neck in tax cheating just like the deid club ” I kid you not. Proves that damage is being done . Deal with them Celtic
Roddybhoy
gordybhoy64, sure am bud. Glad you enjoyed it. Another happy drammer.
HH
ZBYSZEK
Dont know if you have seen this ,but f not I know you will enjoy :-)
http://youtu.be/erHEJsNw4AI