As you may have noticed, the diary didn’t appear over the weekend. Thats because I took a wee sojourn north of the border, to meet up with a few people and have a blether.
You know, in many respects, those of you who live in and around Glasgow are very lucky. a few of us had a wander around the city centre, and its been a while since I’ve done that, and it really is a wonderful place. I’d forgotten just how wonderful.
The buildings are magnificent, the streets clean and tidy, the people helpful, and the pubs-lets face it, thats why we were there-warm and welcoming.
And the area around it ?
I drove home on Sunday morning through a delightful cascade of greens, golds and browns as summer turns to autumn around Loch Lomond.
Scotland has a lot going for it. you should appreciate it and protect it.
Theres a lot wrong with it as well, which is one of the reasons I was up there.
The Resolution 12 issue, despite threats , intimidation and all sorts of underhand skullduggery isn’t going to go away. The hassle from the dark forces is tedious now, and their desperation beginning to show.
Over the last few days, we have Scotzine, the popular Scottish football website, close down after the intimidation and threats got too much for the guy who runs it and his family.
After all, its just a hobby, and when protests to her majesty’s finest are ignored, there really doesn’t seem to be any point in carrying on. There is a time when even the most dedicated will ask themselves if its all worth it ?
That’s for the individual to decide, and no criticism should be offered of anyone who decides they prefer the quiet life. All we can say is thanks for the work they’ve done, and wish them all the best.
I heard many tales of intimidation and abuse over the weekend, and could only shake my head in disbelief, yet I still believe every word of it.
In England and Wales today, and not a moment too soon, its now an offence to publish personal details of someone else online. Its also an offence to bully someone else on line, and prosecutions, according to Radio 4 this morning, will now be considered.
Thats if the police decide to investigate, something that clearly isn’t going on in Scotland.
Sooner or later, something will have to give.
But in the meantime, theres a few conclusions to be drawn from my wee trip, and a few questions to be asked. A five hour drive home gives you plenty of time to think.
First, and foremost, its easier now to understand why some in the media are reluctant to discuss Resolution 12, the issues it raises, and the conclusions that can be drawn from it.
There can be little doubt there is an organised campaign of intimidation to keep it out of the news.
In understanding their reluctance, however, we must make a distinction that to understand it cannot be the same as accepting it.
Thats why we have an independent press.
To report on such matters, to expose those involved in wrong doing, and to look behind the events for a possible motive.
Their job, which they have been trained for, and which they have acknowledged, with all the responsibilities that comes with it, is to investigate all the allegations of abuse, all the threats and all the intimidation.
By leaving themselves open to the same intimidation, they have , from editors all the way down to the office intern, let themselves and their readers down.
They’ve let them down very badly indeed.
For most of us, the abuse has been coming from supporters of a club that went into liquidation, and was replaced by another entity, using the same premises and trademarks as the previous one.
For some reason, these peepil have embarked on their own wee crusade against those they deem as “haters ” or “bigots ” for reasons unclear.
This is the bit I don’t quite get.
The new club, which has the unquestioning backing of those they set out to appeal to, is encouraging this mentality. Statement follows statement every time they encounter a perceived sleight on their good name, which is in itself debatable, and whilst the statements are written as though by a five year old, their supporters lap them up, and they escape serious comment by anyone in the media, either spoken or written.
But why ?
We understand that they need that support, or rather the money from that support to survive. Thats how any football club survives.
Surely the correct way to promote any business is to do just that.
Promote it.
Encouraging a siege mentality, building a wall away from supposed aggressors is only ever going to be a temporary fix. Sooner or later, the media will find out why they are choosing to deflect attention away from the very business they are supposed to be building, in favour of merely trying to run down all of its competitiors.
It doesn’t work in the real world, especially when you have a product which is inferior to your rivals, and it isn’t going to work in the narrower confines of Scottish football.
But my point is this…
Why so much fuss, and why so much fear among the media, of what is merely a football club ? A new football club at that .
Why does it matter, especially after the last four years, if they live or die ?
Why would their support, and the PR behind them, actively encourage the kind of behaviour that doesn’t happen in the grown up world outwith the Scottish borders ?
And why isn’t someone doing something about it ?
Recently, the Offshore Game website published a report on corruption in Scottish football, which was largely ignored by the media.
Other institutions are taking an interest, but as yet, no one is looking below the surface of a campaign which is , to any society which claims to be civilised, beginning to look like some piss poor airport novel which will , despite its lack of a believable plot and lack of character development, soon be turned into a largely forgettable holly wood movie starring an actor who specialises in forgettable movies with a leading lady who can smile convincingly.
This is what I can’t figure out.
All this crap, all this intimidation is supposed to be over someone not wanting the world to know that “Rangers” 2012 is not the same as Rangers 1872.
We all know it isn’t, and to be honest, if some people prefer to believe that it is, then thats fine.
It’s their money, they can spend it on what they want.
Resolution 12, of course, isn’t about that.
It never was, and it never will be.
Its about malpractice at the SFA.
Yet again, the media , although that may be changing, have failed miserably to even entertain the fact that there may have been a few dodgy deals , a few underhand incidents or a few funny handshakes where things were approved that shouldn’t have been , or ignored that should have been questioned.
Based on the evidence I’ve seen, the powers that be have a few questions to answer.
Based on articles like that in the Offshore Game, the powers that be have a few questions to answer.
No-one is asking them , though.
Everyone everywhere knew the old Rangers were in trouble. It appears those at the SFA were aware that their spending was spiralling out of control, and that one or two things they did were against the rules.
Yet no-one is investigating.
Theres been a few stories here and there, but nothing like a prolonged and intensive inquiry as to their behaviour, not just in 2011/12, but in the years before that.
Yet this is only a football authority.
Surely not worth a campaign of threats and intimidation like we have seen in the last few years.
Some journalists, who continue to ask questions, combined with some “bloggers ” , have carried on the fight, despite all attempts to discredit or intimidate them.
The abuse, and I’ve had some of thatis distasteful but its only words, can be wearisome, and no doubt these guys, who carry on regardless, will have asked themselves if it really is worth it.
The abuse , of course, hides the real issue.
This is one huge campaign of deflection.
Its working in that we don’t even know who they are trying to protect.
What is scaring them so much that they have to resort to ridiculous levels of behaviour that really belong in the playground, except when you’re an adult, its much more serious.
It a reaction brought on by fear.
But what are they afraid of ?
It can’t be over a football club.
That doesn’t make sense. Deep down the supporters of any club at ibrox are just that. supporters. If they think its the same club, nothing you or I can say will change their mindset, and after all, its their money, so why should we care ?
Yeah, theres the whole truth thing, but we know what happened, they know what happened, and the media know what happened.
But its their money, let them spend it how they wish.
After all, we know the truth, and theres no point in trying to convince them otherwise, and realistically, apart from the comic value, it doesn’t especially serve any purpose.
Supporters of a football club may feel the need to lash out from time to time when they are reminded its not the same club, but eventually everyone will get tired of that and find something else to argue about.
The intimidation and threats are not about this. It doesn’t make any sense.
Some however, would like us to think that.
After all, if we are arguing amongst ourselves, then we won’t have time to investigate their wrongdoings, and that suits the SFA right down to the ground.
So , again, there doesn’t seem to be any real reason for them to be behind it. Sure they are benefitting from being out of the spotlight, but their policy , when confronted by uncomfortable questions, is just to ignore it and hope it goes away.
It doesn’t make sense.
Those of you who are aware of the work done by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post back in the seventies, will know that with diligent work, they eventually brought down the then president, Richard Nixon, who had been a naughty boy and was rightly exposed.
They, too, suffered threats and intimidation, but kept going. And finally got a result.
They had inside help, the mysterious-even to this day-informer known only as Deep Throat, who told them to “follow the money “.
Maybe thats where the story is.
Money does things to people. Greed leads to greed which leads to the misplacing of morals.
We know that the original Ibrox club spent more money that they earned. Anyone in business knows that will only lead to one result, that you will cease to trade.
How much money you lose is down to how much you can get your hands on.
At some point , though, even the most egotistical and stubborn businessman will realise that things can’t go on. Sooner , rather than later, the fun stops and everyone has to get off the ride.
Is this where we should be looking for the real reason for the threats ?
Does the web spread further than the world of football ? Are htere more caught up in it than we may think ?
Is this why there is a campaign of intimidation running through a whole country ?
A country so wonderful to look at on the surface, her cities and her countryside ? Her breathtaking shorelines and lochs ?
On the surface, Scotland is one of the best countires in the world.
Yet scratch at that surface, and an obnoxious odour is released, and no one is trying to find out the cause.
No one seems to want to know, and nobody is asking why.
Seriously, what the fuck is scaring the media so much that they cling to ridiculous excuses about legalities and avoid the subject as though their eyes would burn up should they even look at the story ?
What are they afraid of ?
Who are they afraid of ?
Why should they feel that they have to ignore a story, which demands investigation, a story which demands political attention and even public inquiries ?
Just how deep does this one go ?
The deflection is clear, the provocation of arguments away from the issue can only serve one purpose. to keep the eyes and the thoughts of the public elsewhere.
Isn’t it about time someone tried to find out what this really is all about ?
Great diary, keep up the good work
It is very easy to understand why.
Living in the west of Scotland,the orange order and the masonic lodges are very influential in high places. An investigation would not be able to happen in this wee bigoted country,as too many handshakes take place in high places.
There can be no investigation,as this would reflect badly on the lodges and their influences with the established club.
Take your seat at the back of the bus Timmy,nothing to see here.
It is shameful and corrupt,and in any other part of the football world,would have been exposed long before now.
It was given to them on a plate,yet they preffered the succulent lamb,to the truth.
HH
Possibly your best ever piece keep up this great work HH
Strong words Ralph and there’s me thinking you had crept up
On the QT to watch Scotland at Hampden.How many of WGS’s team would get into the Celtic side. The one top defender Scotland has probably isn’t as good as KT. But hey let’s blame the manager.
No let’s stay with blame, in most societies journalists pride themselves on their commitment to free speech, to highlighting injustices to confronting corruption. Why is the Scottish football media the exception. In Africa, China, the Far East journalists lay their lives on the line to tell it as it is. Why is this not the case with Scottish journalists, where are they hiding or what are they hiding and why?
When the tactics are “Just punt it to the big lump” then its only right to start asking questions of the Manager.
Scotland were awful and if that goal hadn’t went it ( we now rely on long throw ins!) then I doubt Strachan would have lasted to the Slovakia game in all honesty.
I don’t know why Robertson got MOTM and that game was crying out for a Tierney style overlapper on one side and an in form James Forrest on the other with a hungry Leigh Griffiths in the centre( did we ever hit the by line?)
I want to see confident players from an in form Celtic getting the nod over players from a struggling Hull etc or Championship sides who are used to being losers in games every week.
Barry Bannan and Darren Fletcher were going sideways more than Broony and Biton under Deila and it does not bode well for the rest of the campaign going by Saturday night.
I await the Sky Campaign to get McLeish or McCoist in starting with them in the studio for next game.
Spot on Desi.
Good try but nae coconut.
I am astonished that people are stilling pushing the “James Forest” line,ffs look around you look at opposing teams I haven,t seen one team with players the likes of Forest I,e mall/weak/average,get a grip.
They would be playing their lives on the line. There is a Kabul and this Katalogansicht the media.
Who made you write this?
You do not have to look to far back in Scotia!s history to find out about State sponsored bigotory,its like looking under a beutiful womans petticoat to find a pair of hairy legs.
Its the we are the people attitude,it MUST be preserved dont ya know.
All over the world despotic governments have fought to preserve wrongs that should have been righted,even today its happening,if its the so called Western Country!s its ok. if its not a Western Country then the cries of moral indignation are very loud.
If the current buns in Government just now do not see it, then they are blind.Will they ever see it,who kens,but dinny haud yer breath.
Absolutely spot on about western hypocrisy Mike.
If you haven’t already you should check out this by John Pilger…
https://youtu.be/glnYs7Fz0SM
Cheers charlie s.
The reason that they want this to go away is the extent of the Ibrox pay-roll. I reckon, based on my reading of the issues and not any research admittedly, ids that many journalists and officials withing the SFA were not merely fans and supporters of Oldco/Newco but were also on the pay-roll. Of course this will never be fully exposed as the entire game would be crushed. It may even result in prosecutions. I think that what happened under Murray at Rangers and possibly even prior to his tenure, might make events in Italy look tame. This will never be allowed to come out as the validity of Scottish football over generations would be called into question. That is why there is the Omerta and the cover-ups. They never thought they would ever be subjected to the level of scrutiny that they already have been. It is a classic case of an elite not keeping up with the times. They seriously under-estimated the intelligence and commitment of the bloggers and bampots. They thought it was business as usual but after 2007 that was never going to be possible. With the fall of the banks the cry to ‘follow the money’ was always going to become louder and it is in this murky world that Murray lived. But the level of secrecy that he needed to continue was stripped away. But it will take a whole renewed commitment and different levels of expertise to get any further. Hopefully there are individuals who are up for the fight.
John you are dealing with the “Edinburgh establishment” they control and have controlled all of Scottish society for hundreds of years,the will not be shaken loose,the Ibrox institution is a part of this an integral part of it.
Many of us have known for a very long time that the funding of the Murky era was in no small way tied to Masterton at RBS and despite years if operation hornet investigating his misuse of bank funds and corporate rules, not one charge has stuck. The whole thing has more or less disappeared. There are deep rooted issues tied to how’s this could happen, Hopewell it could disappear and who is involved.
To make such a huge fraud and financial management simply disappear you need many institutions to collaborate.
Conspiracy theory? I honestly don’t thinks so.
BTW – I hadn’t yet read your comments about Masterston when I added my own rant (which also mentions him)
I think you hit the bullseye there. Great post. Many thanks for your insight.
Cracked screen work so apologies for typos.
Fantastic read,you absolutely nailed it.
I have had similar thoughts for some time,it goes deeper than the football,it touches the very fabric of our country and it scares me,is there some great secret that only “they” know about and if the secret is dicovered,will it result in consequences of biblical proportions, who knows! Maybe this is why the media are afraid & the establishment don’t act.
Good questions posed here Ralph. The free press who are supposed to route out scandal actively oppose doing here in Scotland. The police who are supposed to protect the community from threats and intimidation also seem to sit idle, banks which are supposed to make good loans on a commercial basis failed to do that and allowed outrageous overdrafts to be run up and the Football authorities who were supposed to provide oversight and governance seems to look the other way. Take all of this together and one has to wonder how all of this can happen at the same time? It is either spectacularly coincidental or there has been collusion
First Minister (at the time), Alex Salmond talking about the imminent demise of Rangers: “Obviously HMRC have got to pursue, in the public interest, taxation.
“Equally, they’ve got to have cognisance of the fact that we’re talking about a huge institution, part of the fabric of the Scottish nation, as well as Scottish football, and everybody realises that.”
He was actively lobbying the government of the UK to do a bail out of Rangers. This shit runs deep and it stinks to high heaven. It’s easier to see, but harder to believe, when you’re away from it for a while.
Morning Ralph,
Good piece.
I’m just surprised the estabishment allowed them to slip into administration and now the liquidation process.
Scotland is the home of the Peepel, Protestant and Orange and at the very heart of it’s core they have the Masonic and Orange figures pulling strings.
I have worked in many places where blue and Protestant is the accepted practice, the expected practice.
The ‘ Bosses ‘ in many of these working environment were 100% Masonic/Rangers/Orange, i’m sure this is still the case in many work places throughout Scotland.
These elements will be in place in industries and will have a far reach, they exist to further their own people.
Intimidation and violence are just two of the end products of a people who are sectarian and bigoted to their core, born into it and taught it in their homes.
Irish, Catholics and Celtic, especially a strong Celtic are not to be tolerated.
A strong winning Celtic hurts a lot of people in Scotland, a lot of people.
We are seen as Irish and Catholic, two of tbe biggest sins we can have apparently.
Scotland has a cancer and it is riddled throughout the country.
Remember the ” what school did you go to ” or the ” Irish need not apply signs ” or Alex Salmond describing ” Rangers” as ” Part of the fabric of Scotland “?
No they weren’t, they were the most vile and Sectarian club in the history of British football.
Journalists won’t report the truth for fear of their lives, because it’s what the Hun does, violence is acceptable to them, especially if it’s aimed at us.
I remember a Policeman calling me a ” Papish Bastard ” a senior Policeman at that.
The only place to beat them is on the park, this brings a deeper victory than they know!
They fear a strong Celtic and so does a large part of Scotland!
HH
Morning sensible Monti.
I concur with all of that.
Morning, Charlie Saiz.
Unless you were under restraint, if you didn’t chin him then I’ve lost all respect for you. 🙂
I was 17 m8 and the first time in bother….i didn’t know what to say.
We got fucked 5-1 as well, not a good day out!
Lets take off the “How we used to live” glasses for a second:
We are the club with a man who donates massively to The Tory Party to help with contract tendering whilst having a TORY LORD on our Board who was advising Camerons Foodbank creating Cabinet.
LORD PARKHEAD ..a TORY LORD of PARKHEAD….FFS!
WE ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT.
Before you look outwards, look within,,,what have Celtic done to change things then?
One Tory Board member does make Celtic the establishment in Scotland.
Bit over dramatic Desi.
1 is one too many (and a thousand not enough).
Anyone playing this “We are up against THEM” card should ask what they themselves have did lately to fight said powers that be.
Please feel free to list every Celtic Board action below since getting onto all major Boards at Hampden:
Desi,
Pish
It was ever thus, them (board) against us (supporters).
For all the Kelly, Whites, Reid, Livingston etc there are great supporter initiatives, Trust, GB, Foodbank collections, #matchthefineforpalastine etc.
It’s the latter that I identify with not the former parasites.
Well said.
Desi,
What has Celtic got to do with institutionalised racism and Sectarianism in this country?
Are you saying Celtic can influence the wider working environs or the Police and Judiciary?
Are you saying Anti-Catholic or anti-Irish discrimination is thing of the past?
The trouble is this is not news and has been the case from day 1 of Res12.
The media, authorities and, shamefully, Celtic have done bugger all about this.
Despite the heroic persistence of the Res12 guys I don’t see that we’re one iota forward after4 years.
Sorry about this but that’s just the way I see it. 🙁
” Part of the fabric of Scotland “?
Yes, the fabric of a lot of Scotland is actually vile and bigoted. Unfortunately.
Monti I have read into so much of this malaise in our country to try and get into the mind set of this hatred into why these “peepil” do not even consider themselves as Scottish,it is a real puzzler,all I can come up with is the fact that these or most of these are sons/daughters of the “Black and Tans” of the frontline troops of the “British Empire” they fought and died not for Scotland but for Britain,I might be wrong but it,s all I can see.
Got a phone call this morning,wondering if i would accept the Norwegian Managers job,apparently they are offering it to any daftie.
Show them your medals Mike and the jobs as good as yours.
Mike,
You got the job then?
No i refused it,because,
Indiana wants me,Lord i can!t go back there,
Indiana wants me, Lord i can!t go back there,
I just want you two to talk to.
Come noo Mike or Drew or Ken when they said naw
Ye huffed then sighed and cried
It wisney yer Dundee manner yer gid looks as a
daftie yer over qualified
WOW! Great stuff Ralph.
There are no easy answers to the questions of what’s behind it all & how deep does it go. However, if we stick to the “follow the money” adage there’s little doubt that many of the roads here lead to, or through, one man – The Teflon Knight himself – Sir David Murray.
It beggars belief that, despite debts of >£300M when MIH went bust (including a £22m pensions shortfall) – this man still seems to able to throw his weight around as if he was squeaky clean. Where else but Scotland would this charlatan be “in talks with Scottish Government ministers” as he was last November discussing threatened Scottish steel plants, or given the go ahead – as he was in June this year, to build 1500 homes (a £1bn project) in the green belt west of Edinburgh?
Also worth noting are his links to fellow shark & fellow bankrupt Gavin Masterton who funded SDM’s escapades at Ibrokes whilst boss of Bank of Scotland. However, it seems that, despite a distinctly fishy smell surrounding him, SDM remains curiously untainted & unquestioned. Why is this?
To me – although a case could be made for historical/religious bias of a masonic nature – the most likely answer to the question of “what’s behind it all” – and who would have the weight to keep it suppressed in the SMSM – is a cabal of the powerful elite within the very top strata of the Scottish establishment (in every field from legal to industry ) all of whom are culpable in one way or another -even if it’s only collusion in a cover-up- but who all would be in danger of being exposed financially and/or their reputations tarnished, if the whole story was exposed to public scrutiny and their carefully constructed house of cards came tumbling down.
The day Murray is brought to book for his crimes against Scottish football will be one I look forward to. But I do not live in a country where justice is served. The man controls large parts of the country that he has bought up and he has recently been in the news trying to persuade Edinburgh council to build on land he owns to the west of the city. He is looked on by the powers that be as an entrepreneur so gains great respect in their eyes. To the ordinary football fan he is the man who fucked our game.
HH
Spot Tam before he got involved at Rangers our League was probably as competitive as it had ever been.
Tam,
Absolutely!
I think or should I say suspect this is all linked with the stuff brought up by Paul Larkin in the Asterisk Years.
I said it years ago when it was apparent they were headed for the edge of the cliff you need to go back to Murray and you need to follow the money from the day he took over Rangers.
The Money leads you back to 2 places.
Him and the Bank.
When the Bank was merged with the LLOYDS and they sent their team up to Scotland to review the books that is the day the wheels fell off the wagon.
From what I gather Murray was effectively circulating and bouncing Loans back between the Bank RFC and MIM in a continuous loop(all the while increasing the levels of debt without question)
When you consider the Banks reaction to Celtics Debt around this time it leaves you to draw no other conclusion than to think both were in cahoots at that time when putting the extra squeeze on Celtic at a time when we needed it least.
No coincidence.
Bankers are not naive people everything they do is done with careful planning and consideration before hand.
There is no way Murray could have continued to circulate the Loans/Debt without this being agreed and encouraged beforehand.
This of course then takes us back to Larkins Book and how he that is Murray ingratiated himself into the Endinburgh Elite.
I have no doubt that the SFA were involved in bending the rules in order to facilitate the takeover by Whyte and subsequent series of disasters under him Green and King.
The media can’t ask questions because the fact is throughout all of it they have effectively acted as Rangers PR company.
In doing so they would be leaving themselves wide open to ridicule and mistrust.
Their failure to Investigate is purely a damage limitation exercise because in doing so they would only be highlighting their own part in it.
Sweep sweep move along Timmy nothing to see here.
Charlie Saiz,
Spot on with that!
Since I went International it’s like my potential has been realised.
I wouldn’t say that, but i will agree with you when you talk sense…..which isn’t often 🙂
Great diary Ralph. Many questions. Will we ever see the answers?
For a similar viewpoint I recommend Paul Larkin’s “The Asterisk Years”***. This documentary made for great viewing. It details the connections between the establishment and the establishments club. How Celtic were hounded and nearly closed for a couple of million by the same bank that threw any amount of millions at “the rangers”. We all know how that worked out!
Well worth a watch.
HH,
Brendan
Brencelt ,
this is why I can’t understand Celtic’s action/inaction in summer 2012.
As THE major power in Scottish football , I don’t believe sevco/rangers 2012 could have been born without Celtic’s nod of approval .
it’s my opinion that for a moment Celtic had the power of “life or death” over a newco ; at least over a newco being able to take to the field in time for the start of season 2012/13.
As you state , they actively tried to drive us out of existence in 93/94 , and don’t doubt for a moment that the new entity would do the exact same , given the opportunity .
Whilst we may see this as highly unlikely in the foreseeable future , who’s to say way down the line ; I’m thinking of the future generations of Celts who may have to face such things , when there was a moment in time where we could have simply said ” do not resuscitate “.
jpm88, I can’t understand the inaction either. I’d have pulled the plug on the huns life support. As they tried and would try again to obliterate Celtic (for every £5.00 Celtic spend…..). Hopefully our future generations of Bhoys don’t regret this. It would be hunbelieveable if this were to happen.
I’m hoping that the Celtic board have a bigger plan and are maybe aware of a silver bullet that will kill the huns. I’m hoping the board just wanted someone else to fire this bullet.
Here’s hoping jpm88!
HH
Brencelt/jpm88,
While i would have loved the club to have openly called them out, i understand toa point Celtic’s silence.
The media here would have loved Celtic to get involved, that way they would have turned it into a Celtic/Rangers issue, when as we all know, it is Scottish football concern, involving all fans and all clubs.
The scenes the world witnessed in Manchester with marauding huns rampaging through the City, would be nothing compared to the violence directed at Celtic supporters.
We are dealing with a violent people here, they are and to quote Graham Spiers ” Rangers fans must be the most socially challenged in British football”.
If Celtic cut the Huns life support as you put it, there would be a lot more cutting getting done! HH
I hear you Monti. I agree to a point. But if it’s right to pull the plug on the life support, then I believe it’s right to pull that plug.
For example. If you believe in a united Ireland, as I have done all my life, then you believe in a United Ireland. Outside influences should not impinge on what you truly believe to be the right course of action. No amount of threat of civil unrest or the guarantee of economic upheaval will ever change my belief in and my fervent conviction that only when a United Ireland comes to be will Ireland’s true destiny be achieved. Again just my long held opinion.
Again I fully understand the consequences that you painted as potentially happening and that could be horrific. But if you believe….
HH (no huns were hurt in the forming of my opinions)
Monti, I replied but it disappeared. Probably just as well as I said I kinda agreed with you!!!
My point was, would you give up a deep rooted wish of yours just because some consequences may happen? Would I give up on a united Ireland because of possible economic or social knock on effects? No I would not.
HH, Brencelt
Monti ,
my belief is that Celtic’s stance was taken on commercial grounds .
Whilst I “get” where their thinking was on that , i believe long term , we’d have been given a path out of our current confines .
Obviously the club didn’t share that view , and it’s they who had the decision to make .
Our point was it’s to be hoped in future generations , no Ibrox entity has the power over us as was exerted in 93/94 ; else summer 2012 will be looked on as a defining moment in OUR history .
Your point on “cutting getting done” is unfortunately quite accurate , and telling ; however the day we don’t do something that we should do , for fear of rangers fans is a sad day and the day we’re , quite frankly “fucked”.
After all ,isn’t that part of what this article is about , TOO MANY people running in fear of their intimidation .
This only emboldens and empowers them to continue with their violent actions .
I think I know your views on subjects such as NI “troubles”, from your posts; I think we’re on the same wavelength there .
We know that the same tactics were used against the nationalist population , for the same purposes .
They didn’t bow in fear , nor should anyone , or else the bully has won and his tactics been vindicated .
Jpm/Brencelt,
I fully agree with your points and i understand that you want the Huns dealt with without fear or favour, like yourselves i want justice to be done here.
It must be a unique situation we have here, that the truth can’t be delivered to the nation out of fear of reprisals.
I remember lord nimmo smith with his ” no sporting advantage gained” pish, what the fuck?
It was all about sporting advantage.
We are all aware that the origins of all this shit dates back over many centuries,even today despite the most recent alterations to the Constitution,to allow Monarchs to be of any gender,they could not,would not alter it to accept a Roman catholic to be Monarch.
Until this fundamental change is implemented then Catholics will always be treated differently,to other citizens.
I will long remember the Catholic Knight Sir StJohn Stephens arguing that the Constitution does not need to be altered and was to complicated to do so.
What a load of pish.
Catholic royalty?
You will be telling me we will be allowed a Catholic Prime Minister next?
It would be a first at least!
Tony Blair not a Catholic?
He converted after he was elected to office m8
He converted AFTER leaving office….the Pope himself did the nod and a wink welcome too!
Blair used to attend Catholic mass with his Catholic wife as an Anglican guest when he was PM.
Jimmybee,
Quite correct, i thought i remembered something about Blair being a Catholic.
It’s a great pity that it did and probably still matters in certain places.
There is no god. Most – if not all – global wars comes doon to ‘ma gods better than your god’ nonsense. In the bigger scheme of things catholasim & protesatism are really very much alike.
Saying that, ma memories of Scotland are one where being a catholic meant being second class citizen.
Anyhoo…HAIL HAIL to one and all, regardless of yer beliefs.
His name was St John
But he pronounced it sinjun
And Now hes long gone
And so’s his whingeing!
Oh St John, he was the fastest milkman in the west.
Gavin Masterton (spit) was declared bankrupt with debts of £1.1 million pounds in 2014.
Once removed from the comfort of the BOS he awarded himself something like £12 mill.from the bank to furnish his ego and take over his hame club Dunfermilne,he was ousted from there and accrued the debt above.
So of course there was complete collusion their and we the taxpayer was allowed the great privilege of paying of the mankers debts.
Great diary and much better reporting than we get in the MSM. Keep up the good work. You’re speaking for all of us. I was raised in a ‘mixed’ religious home: Catholic and Protestant and I know where the prejudice comes from and who it goes to. I did not go to a Catholic school though many of my friends did. Sectarianism is Scotland’s and Britain’s greatest shame. I didn’t solve it by becoming an atheist either: “But are you a Catholic or Protestant atheist?” people asked!
Anyway, well done as usual Ralph.
Minky Scumdee (Sung to the tune of Bonnie Dundee)
Frae the high-rise tae the terraces everyone’s broke!
In door-ways and parks on heroine they toke,
Noo abdy wi’ sense they can’t wait to break free.
Coz naebdy wants tae bide in minky Scumdee.
CHORUS:
Come speed up your car, come speed up your van.
Put your right foot down hard, drive as fast as you can.
Speed along the Kingsway hurray up and get free!
Coz naebdy wants tae bide in minky Scumdee.
Scumdee’s got nae culture, only neds you will meet.
They’re dressed in their tracksuits as they walk doon the street.
They’re not scary or hard, but leave as fast as can be.
Coz naebdy wants tae bide in minky Scumdee.
They serve Seagul as chicken, the saltiness shocks.
They’ll be stealing your bike on the way to the shops.
There’s Chav teenage mothers three-thousand times 3.
An’ naebdy wants tae bide in minky Scumdee.
So run to Kinross make your way to the Forth
Paradise is South-West and Aberdeen’s to the North.
As you cross the Tay Bridge you’ll shout out with glee.
With luck you’ve seen the last o’ minky Scumdee
Ha, ha Mike!
Beat it yoo,bet yoo stay in muirton,part of Perths,multicultural society,where bad bhoys are in the majority and good bhoys all wear skirts.
Beutiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay,
with your numerous arches and pillars in so grand array,
and your central girders,which seem to the eye,
to be almost towering to the sky.
William Mcgonagall.
Very good that Uralius made me smile.
I hope you don’t mind, I’ve emailed a link to your excellent article to The Herald. I’ve ben contacted by them asking why I no longer take their Paper and invited to discuss my reasons face to face with the editor.
I’ve asked for his response to the criticism in the article and I will post it, if there is a response.
No-one will do wrong by another “Brother”, no matter the offence.
One of you very best Ralph..
I m not a conspiracy nut but one guiding principle, which you highlight, that does hold true when things seem strange or confusing from the outside is: follow the money.
The very birth of 2nd Rangers is shrouded in mystery – Charles Green certainly didn’t personally have £6.5 million pounds to invest and did nothing of the sort, but the truth about who really invested from the start at Sevco and on what terms has never been explored in any detail.
Why were the “costs” of the IPI so much higher than average, meaing huge amounts of the money raised were immediately diverted elsewhere?
Why was Rafat Rivzi, wanted by Interpol, meeting with then director Sandy Easdale in Glasgow?
Why did rumours of “onerous payments” persist for months, alluded to by the returning “real Rangers men” as “legacy issues?” They name Ashley but who else don’t they name? Who was being paid and for what?
Deals such as their farcical Wi Fi and jumbo screens – both way over normal market rates are some examples we know about where money might have been being siphoned off to line pockets they shouldn’t have, are their others?
The examples I highlight all refer to the NEWCO/ NEW CLUB and none of them have been given any serious consideration by any reporter in Scotland. That is to say nothing of what went on at the previous incarnation.
And this leads to the second strange element as I see it – the total hatred from all people Ibrox of any objective investigation, criticism or negativity.
Like most Celtic fans they seem to distrust the SFA, SPFL and Doncaster / Regan, but this seems more for “what was done to them” than what the Offshore game report pointed to as failings in SFA governance.
They hate the BBC, for telling them the truth about Craig Whyte, despite their football coverage often resembling Rangers media in all but name
They hate the Record, despite its track record of avoiding harsh truths, and years of printing unchallenged moonbeamery from Ibrox while comparing McCann to Sadam Hussein and making up stories about thugs and thieves.
They watched one club / engine room subsidiary die and complained “why did no one tell us?” then proceed to hound anyone who tried to tell them unpleasant truths.
From an outsiders point of view the club is positioning itself more closely with its more hard-line elements such as the Vanguard bears with its recent statements which are all blame and no responsibility, the forming of an “independent” fans board which has people with close connections to current board members and control over just about the only untapped source of money they have, and again, no questions are being asked.
But ultimately, and despite becoming obsessed at times with the Rangers Tax Case stuff, I m no longer concerning myself with it
If Celtic are being run properly, doing the business on and off the pitch, which I feel we are, and our support continue oversight of our board in the manner we do, then really, hell mend them. I encounter a few decent bears on Twitter – Yojiimbo, Andy McKeller, but many more exude a supremacist intolerant attitude that you really despair for them so much that sympathy for the decent ones dissipates in the bile you wade through while trying to discuss issues with some modicum of respect.
There are none so blind as those that will not see. Having been fooled at least once before by Craig Whyte (to say nothing of course about David Murray, or later, Charles Green) which led to their club being liquidated – the truth there not a personal opinion, and they and a willing media are unrepentant and seek to learn nothing from the experiences, that is their choice and will have in my opinion unpleasant consequences for them in the future. Celtic first and Celtic last and Celtic over all
Cracking post bud.
HH
Elcormaco, The word hate is used often in your post,no other word sums them up more than that one word HATE.
Mike,
I disagree…..unwashed would have been a more apt and often use term to describe the Hun!
Follow the money is always right but I fear too many people were paid and then beholden to the cunt that is Murray. It seems that it is not only the journalists who were taking the succulent lamb but also the Scottish Establishment and this might explain the Carpetbaggers down South thinking that any iteration of the Ibrox club is a license to print money. Chuckles thought that pretending to be an Orange bigot was enough to make him loadsamoney…and guess what? He was bang on the money. Until Scotland invents a non Establishment political party the lamb munching will go on. Thanks for keeping the fight alive, Ralph.
I post on here for fun and japes,
not to be the recipient of your sour grapes.
The solution is simple,it!s not so vast,
don!t let your finger,linger,
just scroll on past.
after reading ralphs article this morning it kinda depressed me a wee bit so i decided to take the dug a walk as i walked along i saw 2 zombies of my aquaintence coming doon the other side ae the street fuckit i thought comic value will need to do for noo ha ha aint huns fuckin dumb
When you look back at the Murray years,and especially the transfers for players from ex managers,financial help was given to Murray, long before the taxes had to be paid.
Souness McLeish all paid over the odds for players,to assist their former boss.
Boli Hutton Ferguson, etc look at the transfers of former players to Murray and the money they gave them back when managing other clubs. It stinks to the high heavens.
HH
Boumsong I meant not boli.
Sevco and the SFA are run by the OO. I can say this till i’m blue in the face haha. and i can say it because it comes from the mouth of a former director of the rancid so called football club.
The SMSM are controlled by the same. So truth and justice in our sport will never come to pass. The only satisfaction we will get is when the rancid mob go bust again. The sooner the better.
Great article and some brilliant comments.
I’ve got no more to add to the discussion that hasn’t already been said. Stupid prick.
Except it’s sites like these that really get the word out. The slow drip is much better against all these cunts then the massive dump, so keep up the brilliant work of spreading the word and getting the discussion going!
PS. I’ve got the word ‘cunts’ saved in predictive text on my phone! Oh yeah.
Maybe things are changing, a small crack appeared on talksport this morning on the Jim White show, when one of the presenters commenting on the Joey Barton saga said that he felt the rangers were waiting for the sfa to do their dirty work for them (hence the further ban from ibrox)and he couldn’t work out why this would be so !!!!!!!!
The only positive that i take out of the liquidated club,is that,it was liquidated.
We MUST by financially contributing and supporting Celtic,ensure that they are financially starved of prizes and entrance to Europe,if we can do that,then over time they might collapse again (hopefully).
Surely then nae cunt would be daft enough to try to prop them up again.
Victor Wanyama great player,but has to be thick,Spurs may be richer financially to Celtic,because of Sky money,but are never in the same League as Celtic in terms of a World Wide support.
So stick to the fitba. Vic.and keep yer daftness to yersell.
Spurs are nothing more than a stepping stone for Victor Mike as were Celtic.
He is destined for bigger things I feel and can see him at one of Europes Elite Clubs in the not too distant future.
For me he has the tools to be the next Michael Essien.
Spurs seem to be giving him a bit more freedom than Southampton much like we did in allowing him the odd forage forward.
I think once he batters in a few long range digs these bigger sides will starting taking notice.
I gather he’s a Man Utd fan so I wouldn’t rule that one out under Jose.
start’ (or alternatively read it in a Bombay lilt)
I am away for a wee lye down,this topic has irked my ire or should that be ira.
A great read Ralphy, keep up your great work,we ALL need to be reminded and kept up to date with all that is going on,now and before.
So take a bow,that sound you hear is me applauding yoo.
Scotland, the best wee bigotted country in the world, Protestant country for the Protestant people, our eternal shame
He he he nice.
Not l but k, same cracked screen prob as previous poster.
“You may have noticed, the diary did not apear over the weekend”
Fuckin right I noticed… I have been unable to officially begin the day since Friday!
Come on Ralph you are not allowed a life outwith etims 🙂
Good to see you back and great article today. The walls have to come crashing down around these clowns eventually but with the Res12 guys on the case, hopefully it happens sooner rather than later.
HH
Ralph, Bob Woodward’s contact , deep throat, was former FBI deputy director, Mark Felt.
He was peed off at being looked over for promotion in the FBI , he contacted Bob Woodward and gave him cluesand information of where to look in the Watergate cover up.
WikiLeaks diplomatic cables showed that Woodward was on the FBI payroll.
I see young Wardrop has opened the scoring tonight..now back in his familiar RWB role(where he should be IMO)
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 34s35 seconds ago
McIlduff delivers a wonderful cross from the left and his fellow full-back Wardrop is on hand to guide home the header.[1-0]
Telling ye Bhoy young Sam is another KT on the other side of the pitch has all the same qualities.
Strong,hard in the tackle,overlaps all day and can deliver a nice ball in.
Out the two I see more chance for him than Ralston but that’s only an opinion.
Brilliant diary today and brilliant comments from everyone as well, really hit the nail on the head.
Caption: The SFA and MSM response to R12 and Offshore Game report.
Winner!!
HH
Caption:
Dave Kings Warchest has been located hidden in the snow on Ben Nevis
Well in there Ralph. Keep up the good work.
Best diary for a while,well done everyone for their input.Ralph great read.HH
just watched a crackin documentary on you tube called jfk to 911 everything is a rich mans trick all about coruption
Reading about the plans of some guys looking to erect a Statue of Lisbon Lion, Bobby Lennox, in his hometown of Saltcoats in Ayrshire.
Great idea and hope it happens.
When Lemmons Statue is in place, i was thinking about setting up a crowdfunding account to have a statue of Craig Whyte erected in Motherwell.
‘Walls ice cream’ have agreed to get things started…..
Can it be made of jelly
I don’t see why not m8 🙂