Fan groups statement on the SPL

[forlanssister 3,114]

Minor report about it in The Scotsman:

 

By JOHN LEES

Published on Monday 6 August 2012 00:00

 

RANGERS fans have reacted angrily to the news that Harper MacLeod, who they allege have links to bitter rivals Celtic, will be investigating claims against the club.

 

The Scottish Premier League have commissioned the Glasgow-based legal advisors to probe the use of dual contracts by previous owners of the embattled Ibrox club.

 

But a joint statement from the Rangers Supporters Assembly, the Rangers Supporters Trust and the Rangers Supporters Association read: “Harper MacLeod have acted for Celtic FC, who would be the main beneficiaries of any finding of guilt. Indeed, until it was recently removed, they included a testimonial from Celtic CEO Peter Lawwell on their website. The SPL could have chosen any law firm to carry out this investigation and it was extremely naive of them to appoint a firm with such a close connection to a rival club.”

 

In full: Rangers Supporters’ statement

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/rangers-newco-investigation-firm-upsets-rangers-fans-1-2452233

 

[forlanssister 3,114]

The Herald:

 

Rangers fans' groups call for justice and fairness for all

Richard Wilson

Sports writer

The three leading Rangers supporters' group have called into question the manner of the SPL's investigation into allegations of undisclosed payments being made to players during the club's use of Employee Benefit Trusts.

 

They have called for assurance that no members of the independent commission established to adjudicate have not been prejudiced by media coverage of the issue of stripping the team of titles won during the time in question.

 

The Rangers Supporters Assembly, The Rangers Supporters Trust and The Rangers Supporters Association released a joint statement yesterday criticising the SPL for using the law firm, Harper McLeod, to carry out their initial investigation, because of its previous working relationship and links with Celtic, who could benefit if Rangers were to be found guilty of any misdemeanour.

 

"As with other consequences of the mismanagement of the club in recent years, if there has been wrongdoing then we would be victims, too," the statement said. "We are asking for justice and fairness, but in discussing the stripping of titles, it appears the SPL has assumed guilt when nothing has yet been proved. We hope the authorities will now act with the necessary independence, transparency and integrity.

 

"There would appear to be a conflict of interest in the choice of law firm appointed by the SPL to carry out their investigation. The SPL could have chosen any law firm to carry out this investigation and it was extremely naive of them to appoint a firm with such a close connection to a rival club.

 

"There is a concern that any tribunal appointed to rule on this matter will have been seriously prejudiced by the negative media coverage sur-rounding it. We want reassurance on the selection of the tribunal members and confidence in their impartiality.

 

"We are concerned that, despite the SPL having 18 sanctions available, the only punishment being discussed is the most serious yet no guilt has even been established. We believe this is being driven by influential members of the SPL board and recently formed 'steering committee' with the most to gain. We would question why there appears to be no on-going investigation into the so-called 'Juninho EBT' used by Celtic FC. Celtic acknowledged that this was not declared to the football authorities as part of their licence application. If this is the case, then why is a tribunal not being set up to look into this? We want justice and fairness for all."

[bluedan 93]

Corruption at it's finest,if there us such a thing. I suppose it would have been too much to have the SPL hire investigators that have no connection with Scotland or a Scottish club?? They are dying to shaft us.

[Steve1872 4]

Celtic, the SPL and Harper Macleod

 

Posted on August 6, 2012

 

 

When I suggested back in March that the SPL’s investigation in to Rangers useage of EBTs was a kangaroo court, it was a simple conclusion drawn from the fact that the law firm appointed to investigate were Harper Macleod, who had acted for both the SPL and Celtic.

 

http://williampoole.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/the-spls-kangaroo-court/

 

When I checked their website I was stunned to see testimonials from two individuals that immediately rang alarm bells.

Peter Lawwell is an obvious one given his role at Celtic, but the other testimonial from Manus Fullerton sent a shiver down my spine.

Fullerton, of course, was the founder member of the Celtic Trust, and the Lloyds Banking Group Director directly responsible for Rangers during the period that the club were being starved of cash.

 

Harper Macleod’s lawyer Rod McKenzie had acted for Celtic on various occasions over a number if years.

 

At the time of writing, I believed that this conflict of interests would be picked up by the Rangers support and the tabloids, and would then be challenged.

 

We were however in such a unique situation with so much going on at the club, that this just didn’t seem to register as it should have to any of us, despite the story also being covered by David Leggat and appearing on various Rangers messageboards.

 

The battle for ownership and our very existence distracted many of us.

 

Last Monday, when the SPL made a press release that they were to set up an “independent” panel to investigate Rangers use of EBTs it was clearly a message that the position taken by the SPL during negotiations over Rangers’ SFA licence was going to be followed through to a conclusion.

 

The conclusion looked blatantly obvious, as those in the media and internet who apparently act as a conduit from Peter Lawwell to the public again started suggesting that Rangers could be stripped of titles.

 

What the SPL didn’t bargain for this time though, in their haste to exert their strength over Rangers, that perhaps this time the wider Rangers support would take notice.

 

To my delight, they have.

Firstly, Vanguard Bears wrote a piece on it, and last night 3 other Rangers fans groups released a joint statement to the media, challenging why Harper Macleod are undertaking this investigation.

 

http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=259:neil-antony-doncaster-and-celtic-fc-corrupt-to-the-core

 

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/

 

This is a welcome intervention, and the BBC picked up on it fairly quickly.

As I write this it has now been picked up by the Herald and Scotsman, and my information is that the groups are not for letting this go, and will, with the RFFF, seek to take this to their own conclusion.

 

I believe there are also further revelations about the aforementioned Rod McKenzie to appear.

 

Picky as ever, I was slightly disappointed in the subtle wording of the statement, which did not name specific individuals.

 

I’ll be crystal clear.

 

The driving force is Peter Lawwell.

He is being backed up in the SPL by Neil Doncaster, Rod Petrie, Stephen Thompson and Stewart Milne.

 

Harper Macleod employ Manus Fullerton. It also became apparent last night due to the diligence of some Rangers supporters that Macleod also employed Peter Lawwell’s daughter on a summer placement in 2010.

 

The choice of Harper Macleod was always suspect, but must now be untenable.

 

As fans we are entitled to fair treatment by a genuinely independent group, not a cabal with an incestious relationship to Peter Lawwell of Celtic.

 

If the questions raised regarding Manus Fullerton are not satisfactorily answered I’d suggest Rangers either take legal action, or call in the police, aswell as the law society.

 

Bill.

[Steve1872 4]

vb statement

 

Neil Antony Doncaster and Celtic FC â?? Corrupt to the core

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Opportunity Knox

 

 

 

Friday, 03 August 2012 12:09

 

 

 

 

Rangers fans rightly point out that SFA CEO Stewart Regan has an agenda against the club, and have a wealth of evidence to back up that assertion.

 

Itâ??s been well documented both here and elsewhere, that Regan is an enemy of the club. His agenda, however, has a more than obvious slant to it, which is why Rangers fans have challenged much of his decision making.

 

Interestingly, on â??sell out Saturdayâ? on the first day of the new season in Scotland, my information is that Regan may well be sampling the hospitality at the Olympics sprint finals courtesy of Coca Cola, rather than show face at any Scottish stadium.

 

I do hope my source is wrong, and that Regan will indeed show the Scottish game a modicum of respect.

 

While Reganâ??s agenda is ignored by the Scottish Media, who try and starve the majority of football fans in Scotland of the truth; at least Rangers fans are wise to Regan, who unfortunately adds a level of incompetence to his agenda. This makes it more obvious to us that he is working against us.

 

From the recruitment of Vincent Lunny, to the cosy meetings inside Celtic Park, to the illegal punishment of Rangers, to him attending meetings with Celtic supporters groups, then walking out of a meeting with Rangers fans, and the â??favouritingâ?? of a death threat* to Lee McCulloch, itâ??s fair to say Regan isnâ??t very discreet.

 

*You can bet your bottom dollar, that had the tweet been about a Celtic player, then this is how the press would have reported it.

 

Doncaster, on the other hand has been far more discreet, and his relationship with Celticâ??s Peter Lawwell is only now getting some attention.

 

In the last fortnight Doncaster and Lawwell have flown together to London for SKY talks, despite Lawwell not having any official Capacity within the SPL Board.

 

Most of the Scottish Media reported on these clandestine meetings with no comment or question over why Lawwell was there.

 

Clearly, thinking it looked suspect, the SPL briefed the media that Lawwell had been appointed to a steering committee to discuss the TV Deal. No one questioned it, other than blogger David Leggat.

 

Arenâ??t the SPL board capable of negotiating TV deal on their own? If not, why are they there?

 

Why Lawwell?

 

Do they know something we donâ??t? Does he have high level contacts at Sky they thought would swing a deal?

 

In any case, the eventual deal rescued some cash for SPL clubs, but at a far lower value. With Rangers now in division 3 and no Old Firm Games, Sky were not willing to play ball.

 

It seems that the agenda to remove Rangers from the SPL but keep their TV rights, and keep the quantum of the SPL deal did not work out.

 

What it means is that SPL clubs will now have to make drastic cuts to their staff, or go cap in hand to their banks, or they will be in trouble.

 

VB has learned that over the last few weeks, when Rangers acceptance to the SFA was under discussion was that the original plan from Regan and Doncaster included very tough sanctions, and that Charles Green was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

 

Some of the details were leaked as both Doncaster and Regan faced extreme pressure to resign from various SFL and SPL clubs.

 

It bought both of them some time, and both have looked and acted more comfortable since.

 

The details we have been advised of is that draft 1 was along these lines

â?¢Rangers stripped of 6 (not 5 as reported) titles

â?¢Rangers stripped of 4 Scottish Cups

â?¢Rangers waive any right to challenge any decision from either SPL or SFA for anything else â??foundâ? in future investigations

â?¢Rangers enter SFL Division 1

â?¢Rangers accept original (illegal) transfer embargo

�Rangers pay £160,000 Fine

â?¢Rangers pay outstanding debts to Scottish teams

â?¢Rangers to be refused entry to European Competition for 5 years

 

Charles Green, Ally McCoist and Malcolm Murray challenged the plan very strongly, and last Friday prior to achieving an SFA Licence, made concessions on the fine, the outstanding debts, and a slightly deferred transfer embargo, on the basis that our club was now out of Europe for three years, and starting at the bottom of Scottish Football in division 3.

 

The Rangers delegation at no point accepted that any titles or trophies should be stripped, and have reached a stalemate with the SPL, who are insistent that they will punish Rangers in terms of titles.

 

While their position is somewhat weakened by the fact Rangers have negotiated no cups will be stripped, the SPL are making it clear that they will do as they please.

 

When an investigation was launched by the SPL in to Rangers use of EBTs back in March, it was quite rightly pointed out in two blogs that the investigation was flawed, as it was being carried out by the law firm who work for Celtic

 

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/doubts-surround-rangers-ebt-defence.17102845?_=1f927f440f0d4981ebc6b80725f69a0fcd4bd15c

 

http://leggoland2.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/celtic-lawyers-chosen-by-spl-to-probe.html

 

http://williampoole.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/the-spls-kangaroo-court/

 

What is interesting is that the investigation has been re-launched. Why it has been re-launched is anyoneâ??s guess, but it is absolutely clear that the SPL intend to strip these trophies.

 

Furthermore, the man responsible for choking Rangers finances, and effectively ensuring his own transfer embargo on Rangers while being Lloyds bankâ??s top man in Scotland, is now working for the self-same lawyers Harper MacLeod.

 

Manus Fullerton, who was a founder member of the Celtic Trust, alongside arch Republican Jeanette Findlay and house breaker Alex Mosson, once had full access to Rangers finances, and strangled the cash flow of the club. He now consults for Celticâ??s lawyers Harper MacLeod, despite not being a lawyer.

 

I think itâ??s fair to ask if Fullerton was head-hunted by MacLeod, why and when, and if he is working on, or has worked on the Rangers case.

 

If there is any sniff that Fullerton has breached the confidentiality of his former client he and Macleod should be sued

 

In any case, there is a clear conflict of interests for both the firm, and Fullerton.

 

Rangers, and Charles Green have a clear case to ask for the case to be scrapped in its current guise. This is potentially more than a conflict of interests. It could be a pre-determined strategy to strip Rangers of titles, by corrupt individuals that should not be allowed to utter the words â??Sporting Integrityâ? ever again.

 

Letâ??s be clear, the only beneficiaries to Rangers being stripped of titles are our enemies across the city.

 

This war to keep our history is NOT over, and we Rangers fans need to ensure that the agenda to damage our club is fought at every turn, by whatever means at our disposal.

 

This is one fight we cannot lose.

 

EDIT 15:41 on Friday 3rd August 2012

 

If any Rangers fan doubts that this "new" investigation will involve Harper Macleod, then perhaps this picture of Neil Doncaster at the offices of said law firm taken THIS MORNING, should convince you. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

[Steve1872 4]

Ronnie Esplin‏@RonnieEsplin

 

Rangers fans; there should be movement in SPL/EBTs issue after 2pm. Press Association primed to release statement from an interested party.

[Steve1872 4]

Ronnie Esplin‏@RonnieEsplin

 

Just to be clear, by movement, I didn't mean any sort of decision. Statement is likely to add to the ongoing debate.

[kuznetsov 0]

who is ronnie esplin?

[Frankie 8,683]

SDM to comment on this in around an hour's time.

[Frankie 8,683]

who is ronnie esplin?

 

Freelance journo and author mate.