I hear from good sources at Celtic Park that despite Victor Wanyama declining to sign a contract extension since October last year, the player is an absolute joy to deal with. His professionalism is well rooted; there have been no “rolled out of the pub” emails about this guy, nor is there likely to be.
There are usually reasons why a player with the best part of three years left on his contract (as it was) declines a one year extension for dramatically better wages (Victor is on an entry level contract and was offered a top pay deal). We now know discussions were taking place for a proposed move to QPR last summer.
According to Victor’s agent, Celtic blocked the proposed move, costing the player £1m in wages. It could be argued that advising Victor to decline Celtic’s new contract offer also cost Victor a substantial sum.
Herein lies the problem. QPR were paying the kind of money that would make Louis XVI wince. Staggering sums were paid to players, well beyond their value. Despite this, those very same players are now readjusting to life as lower-division players.
The irony has escaped Vic’s agent, but the contract value proposed to the player during QPR’s pre-guillotine era made declining Celtic’s offer almost a year ago look like a good idea. The contract offered by saner-Southampton clearly pales by comparison, which will make the decision to sit on entry-level wages at Celtic for nine months look ridiculous. Of course people are getting irritated, there are questions to answer about the advice given.
My guess is that the agent needs to pull a big contract offer out of the bag. Victor is a special talent but Louis XVI-type offers don’t always come along in twos. If Victor goes, it will be to a club matching Celtic’s valuation and the money will come in handy. If he stays, Celtic expect to retain their top player for another two years. No one, and I mean no one, is distressed at this prospect, after all, Celtic sell when they choose to, not because they have to.
So the Daily Record have (for the second time, in case you’ve not been paying attention) dipped their toes into Charlotte waters. Items “leaked on to the internet, where they are openly available” have been used, without reference to source, and without concern for apparent legal consequence.
As far as I am aware, none of the owners of the material leaked have disputed their authenticity or declined permission for it to be used. Our media are a huge part of this story, they feature in galling terms in many of the leaked documents. The cry of legal probity was convenient, but has twice been shown to be nonsense by the Daily Record (who have been highly selective on who to target).
It is a huge story.
There are months of material waiting to be written about.
The Daily Record are doing what many said cannot be done, without consequence.
But, this one does not fit popular narrative, and is likely to cause the kind of schism Mme Guillotine did in 18th century France. Seek Truth, as someone once said.
Willie Wallace………… what can we say?
Willie came onto CQN last night before leaving for Australia today. This is a taste of what he said:
“I just wanted to come back onto CQN this evening to say my farewells as myself and Olive head back to Australia tomorrow. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the Celtic supporters I have met during the past month, at book signing events, in supporters clubs such as Greenock and at the CQN Golf Day.
“Also to everyone at the Lions Roar event last Friday where Bertie stole the show as usual! I came all the way from Australia and I couldn’t get a word in! The 1254125 charity tells you everything you need to know about Celtic supporters.
What is amazing about this Celtic family of ours is that when you live at the other side of the world you still know that this is a special club with wonderful supporters. Then you come back to Scotland and realise you actually under estimated these things because Celtic is even better than you remember and the fans are truly amazing. The best in the world.
“To everyone on CQN can I say a very special thank you. I hoped that the book would go well and we’d sell a few copies but it was never about money – it was about telling my story. I arrived at Winning Captains house and was met by a mountain of books to sign – all ordered by the CQNers. I had to go back another day to finish signing and the mountain was as big as before! I’ve been avoiding him ever since!
To Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan – when I heard his name I thought that would be some round of drinks! He’s been great, helping make Heart of a Lion what it is – a really good Celtic book – and turning up at the CQN events and book signings.
“Thank you the CQN’ers.
“Thanks to the Celtic family and I look forward to our next trip home to Paradise.
“Hail Hail and all the best to each of you and your families.
“Willie Wallace
“Keep the Faith!
“Hail Hail!”
Willie, it has been an utter joy. Thank you.
Heart of a Lion:
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All the best Tom
Thoughts with you and your family
Doubt we’ll sign Sancho Panza.
Former Defence Secretary John Reid has insisted that the security services could have stopped the Woolwich attack had they been given additional powers.
“If M16 had been given the power to record every phone call, monitor all emails and arrest everyone in the entire country just because they looked a bit dodgy then I am convinced this attack would never have happened”, John Reid told reporters.
“As I now work for G4S I know all about intelligence failures, as no one at this company has ever displayed the slightest bit of intelligence. However, we are always happy to accept more work if necessary, which of course it now is in the spirit of brother Walfrid Dumbledore of Dumfries.”
Best wishes,Tom.
Reasons to be cheerful.
Julia`s gone.:-)
Free Free Free Nelson Mandela
Free Free Free Kimberly McCarthy
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/27/us-usa-execution-texas-idUSBRE95Q02Z20130627
Watch and see,watch and see…When the famous Celtic of Glasgow come to town.
All this scaremongering pish…”Belfast this,Belfast that,and Belfast the other hing.Tha huns,tha zombies,the twalf…tha marchin’ season…blah,blah,blah!!”
And all that there and all.
It will be brought to a standstill,and you had better believe it…but this time it will be on our terms,as we welcome the big club to our neat little town.
And you can take that to the bank,guaranteed.
From the Cage to the Jungle.
Free Free Free Magdalene laundries
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23064112
16 roads – Neil Lennon walks on water.
03:32 on 27 June, 2013
Who we playing? Glentoran?
McGill – This is going to be something else chara.
Don’t believe the hype,i know.
But the town is really buzzin’,seriously.
Outside of anything related to it’s recent troubles,i honestly cannot remember any event that has this place so united.
And then they are talking about the mighty Belfast Celtic,and Charlie Tully,and Mickey Hamill and all.
It’s starting to become emotional.
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i78/BelfastCelticSociety/Celtic%20Circles/Circle5.jpg
Margaret McGill
03:33 on
27 June, 2013
Free Free Free Magdalene laundries
——————————————————————————-
Delighted to see that issue is being addressed,and the victims are being compensated.
When are you going to begin to highlight the abuse of human rights that continue to take place in South East Asia?
Take a little time to speak about the “Culture of death” a little closer to home…The BBC,for instance…multiculturalism,diversity,liberalism,leftist,pro abortion,anti Christian,pro gay marriage,pro euthanasia,secular,agnostic,zionist tripe.
But sure,concentrate on some crimes that occurred fifty years ago in Ireland,why not?
Why not speak about white genocide in South Africa sure?
You are an even worse hypocrite than TSD ever was.
GCT
Best of luck mhate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vnukxmZXE8
That is all………………………..
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/06/27/celtic-eye-prolific-monaco-striker-ibrahima-toure/90404/?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI4a9-kuiLM
Back from hospital.
Didn’t get the results of the scan.
Will have to wait until I see the consultant.
2 down, 1 to go.
CT scan next Friday and that should be it.
Then it will be the results and . . . decision time.
Maggie –
Looking forward to it. I still have a copy of your last OOR WULLIE effort.
Genius!
GCT good luck I will be visiting my brother in Brisbane in December hope to catch up then
Tom
Sincere wishes for positive results. You are coming across as upbeat in your posts – KTF
gordon_j backing neil lennon
13:17 on 26 June,
voguepunter,
Beginnings are easy (once upon a time … )
as are endings (The End).
It’s that big bit in the middle that’s tricky.
—
Loved that comment I’m gonna steal it next time someone says “you could write a book about that” ;) – congratulations on your book, I’m sure it will be good, I really like your writing style on your blog. Hail Hail
pyfinl
celticrollercoaster
I’ve sent you an email, thanks.
HH
Larsson se7en
In the beginning there once was a team called Glasgow Rangers…
Then in June 2012 came THE END !
Tom McLaughlan
Hope all goes well with u today , Tom.
Keep the faith
Good morning all from a cloud covered but still currently mild and dry East Kilbride.
.
Tom English: Hearts and Rangers are no comparison
SINCE Hearts went into administration there has been an uprising in parts of the country where Rangers fans sit with long memories of their own horrors from last summer.
In the eyes of some of these Bears, the narrative is strangely different this time around. Barely a day goes by without some – or many – getting in touch via social networking to accuse the media and the SFA of double standards in the twin administrations. The bludgeon for Rangers a year ago but sympathy for Hearts now. What is the difference, they ask. Why hammer Rangers and then go easy on their counterparts in Edinburgh when they both fell foul of the same thing?
The aggrieved Rangers fans remember the findings of the SFA’s judicial panel. The headlines were a whopping fine of £160,000 for the club plus a 12-month transfer embargo (later over-ruled by Lord Glennie, but still in force now on account of the agreement that saw Rangers’ entry into the Third Division). There is lingering resentment over all of that among Rangers folk plus a feeling that the treatment doled out to them last year should be repeated now that Hearts are in administration, too. Time and again Rangers people ask: “What is the difference between us then and Hearts now?” Truth be told, the difference, as it stands, is stark.
Some remember the judicial panel’s bottom line in 2012 but forget the many steps the panel took to get there. It is surprising the number of Rangers fans who have it in their heads that their club was fined £160,000 and banned from signing players for a year simply because they were in administration. That is not the case. Far from it. The overall fine constituted a number of different fines for different offences that Hearts have not been charged with. Maybe the landscape will change a little once the SFA pull up the bonnet and have a look at what was gone in recent times at Tynecastle, but it is an almighty stretch to demand the same punishment for Hearts now as was handed down to Rangers then. That is what some Rangers people want. They claim that there is one rule for their put-upon club and another for Hearts. Yes, there is. Because their stories are different.
Consider what Rangers were found guilty of by the judicial panel. Apart from being guilty of an insolvency event, they were found guilty of not disclosing the fact that Craig Whyte had been disqualified from being a company director. They were found guilty of failing to comply with the rules of the PLUS Stock Exchange by not disclosing Whyte’s disqualification. They were found guilty of failing to lodge annual accounts by 31 December, 2001 as required by the Companies Act 2006. They were found guilty of failing to hold an annual general meeting by 1 January, 2012 as required by the Companies Act 2012. They were found guilty of non-payment of PAYE, VAT and National Insurance contributions in excess of £13 million. They were found guilty of failing to pay money due to Dunfermline as per the rules of the Scottish Premier League. They were found guilty of non-payment of money due to Dundee United for a Scottish Cup tie as per the rules of the SFA. They were guilty of non-payment of money to the SFA in relation to the rules of competition in the Scottish Cup.
When you bracket all of these breaches together you get to £160,000. Of that number, only £50,000 relates to the insolvency act. Most of the rest of it comes under the banner of bringing the game into disrepute. How many of these offences are Hearts guilty of and what is their rightful punishment? That’s what must be mulled over in the coming weeks.
Did they have a director who failed to declare that he’d been struck off? No. Did they publish their accounts? Yes. Did they have an annual general meeting? Yes. Did they – or do they – owe monies to other clubs? As far as we are aware, no. For sure, they need to be punished for the things they are guilty of, but you’re not comparing apples with apples when you lump Hearts’ offences in with the myriad breaches perpetrated by Whyte’s Rangers. And let’s not fall for the easy cop-out that Whyte was the only one to blame for the fall of Rangers. The jJudicial panel report collared many of the directors at Ibrox and held them accountable in varying degrees for not doing enough – or anything at all – to raise the alarm with the authorities, despite being suspicious of what Whyte was up to.
Importantly, the judicial panel’s findings were endorsed by Lord Carloway and Lord Glennie. Glennie had a major problem with the legality of the transfer embargo imposed on Rangers, which he ditched, but in no sense did he disagree with the rest of the report, nor the grave tone of it. Remember, the panel found that only match-fixing could constitute a more serious offence than the collective violations of the Whyte era.
Hearts failed to comply with HMRC and that is to their shame. But the contravention is of a different order to the brazen defiance displayed by Whyte, is it not? Hearts had come to an arrangement to pay up previous arrears with the taxman – a state of affairs that HMRC appeared to be content with. They had fallen foul again lately with a bill of about £100,000 dropping on the doorstep at Tynecastle. Around half of that has already been paid, with huge credit due to the supporters (and credit also to the Rangers fans who worked tirelessly to try to pay off the entire football debt of their club). We’ll have to wait for BDO to crunch the numbers to find out precisely how much Hearts will end up shafting HMRC for but it’s not going to be in the same ball-park – or the same country – as the £13m-plus that Whyte’s regime at Rangers stiffed them for.
All of this has to be factored into the reckoning. And it is the reason why Hearts’ administration is being reported differently. It’s not so much sympathy as an understanding of two distinct and sad stories.
Summa
Good morning Timland.
Time tae get big Vic oot the door…….we canny
let this drag on………remember the carry on wae
PVH, we don’t want this tae disrupt the start of
our season.
Good morning CQN
Joe Filippis Haircut @ 19:08 26 June, 2013
Thanks for the reply.
May I just respectfully point out that I simply cut and pasted some comments from a person he advertised as, “ Marvellous. Whit a Gal! She always hits the spot.. dead center.” to highlight the point of view he was promoting.
I wholeheartedly support Kojo and defend his right to say what he wants, however, I also reserve the right to take a pop at him when I disagree.
Its the way the Celtic support works best and ensures we retain a proper sense of perspective.
valentinesday
06:51 on
27 June, 2013
Calm down, no need to be so drastic, take it easy
Neil Lennon today being quoted this morning on bIg vIc
“It is a bit of a stand-off at the minute and you hope that can be resolved in the next week or so.
“Our relationship as a club with Victor is as good as ever. If the deal doesn’t go through, if it collapses or no other offers come in, we will welcome him back with open arms. There has not been one day when he has said he is unhappy here. He is actually very happy here.
tom mclaughlin
05:34 on 27 June, 2013
Hoping and praying for a positive result …. maintain your obvious fortitude …God Bless….
Just thinking the only draw back about this great new wifi set up at Celtic Park is that it means old firm fans will be able to post/tweet about a daft wee irrelevant division 3 (three) club.
The lack of talk about them during games was one of the highlights of games last season.
Aand for that Lawwell has to go, enough is enough.
valentinesday
06:51 on 27 June, 2013
Don’t forget to close the door behind you ……… Seriously, though, I’ll be delighted if Vic stays with us ….!!
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
07:25 on
27 June, 2013
Absolutely i would be very happy to keep big Vic, C/L group stages to be reached very important and requires our best talent available with the correct attitude.
.
Estadio Nacional..
Yea..But we can get Live-Updates of Sammi’s Hair Style and Colour of Boots..With or without Polo Neck Etc..
Summa of SammisStylistCSC
Summa of Sammi….
23:11 on
26 June, 2013
MacJay..
Would be Interested in Your thoughts on the Events in Canberra Yesterday..
Hope yir Guid..
Summa
G`day,mate.
First of all,I vote Liberal,so you can understand that I hope Abbott will win the forthcoming election.
The departure of Gillard is seen as being good for the Labour govt.Her numbers were so low that her party faced annihilation.That is not good for democracy,so a landslide would not have been in the interests of Oz.On a personal level,I felt she was hugely divisive.Gender wars?Who needs that?
Again,why should there be that level of acrimony in a country like Oz.I feel she had personal axes to grind and her South Wales background suggested to me that she needlessly brought that to her role as P.M.Class war?Who needs that?
Rudd describes Abbott as ” the most right wing leader this country has seen in living memory.” For me,a ludicrous scare mongering description.
Centrist govt.,for me,is the go.
Any way up,I`d much rather be here than back there.
Mon the Hoops.
67heaven & lion,
Agreed. Vic would be missed imo.
I don’t think there are many CL clubs after him and would have no problems letting him go after qualification is done and dusted.
Morning from a dreich Troon, the garden needs some water though so saves me doing it!
Hope big Vic’s situation is sorted out soon, his agent needs a kick in the bahookie.
Cant believe Neil Lennon is saying that Southampton would be a good destination for Victor, Everton or a similar or better club yes but Southampton? Never in a million years.
RobinBhoy
.
MacJay..
I Like Wee Kevin..Well before he was PM..After ‘Oh My God they’ve Killed Kevin’ 3 Yrs ago l thought it would come back to bite Gillards Bum..
Abbott..I’m Not going to Comment..
The Key in All this is Bill Shorten and The Unions..He Basically Sacked Gillard..Can you imagine that Happening Back Home..
I Would rather be Here as Well..In the Summer ha ha..My Six Month here Six Month there has been blown out the Water..
EnyWhooo..I’m off Oot to Dads of St Mary’s Primary night out that l arranged..What is the Betting I’m in the Bad books with the Grade 2 Mums Tomorrow..;-(
Summa
the podcasts on this blog are great
http://www.hailhailmedia.com
best wishes tom mc
HH