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Celtic Diary Tuesday June 13: Pressure Grows On SFA and SPFL

Neil Doncaster will face holyrood MPs on Thursday to explain why some Scottish clubs are paying below minimum wage to staff.

Which is against the law.

He shouldn’t worry too much, as he’ll be accompanied by the twisty turny chief of the SFA, Stewart Regan, who is used to ignoring difficult questions about the shoddy way football is run in Scotland,

Together, our very own version, though much less amusing, of the chuckle brothers will face a grilling after childrens commissioner Tam Baillie effectively called the pair not fit for office, after he became aware that they hadn;t been regulating youth contracts.

But Stan and Ollie have their defence all ready…

They have made a joint submission….

“FIFA/UEFA statutes specifically prohibit any form of third party influence/intervention, including government intervention, in football. 

“FIFA has not hesitated to suspend the membership of a national association whose independence it considers to have been compromised by government interference.”

Football, they claim, is above the law.

It isn’t, of course, and the two are about to find that out.

FIFA will not take the side of an association who encourages -or at least tolerates-the exploitation of basic workers rights.

They will simply ignore it, and say it is down to the association to sort it out.

Which FIFA or UEFA spokesman is going to back an association that exploits kids ?

As ever, Doncaster and Regan haven’t thought this one through.

But its shameful that they have even attempted to go down this line, which is purely a desperate attempt to keep the way they run one of the country’s biggest commercial operations away from prying eyes, difficult questions and common sense.

As with Al Capone many years ago in Chicago, it doesn’t matter how they are taken out, or on what charge, just as long as they are taken out.

some people will stoop to any level to stay in a job…

 

Joe Rourke, over at the Celtic Supporters Association, piled on the pressure with an open letter to Regan…

( taken from the CSA forum)

Mr Regan 
I promised myself I wouldn’t write to you again, because my time and energy are more important to me than your opinions, even if you had the guts and the courtesy to reply. But I find that your silence for several months was quite strange in as far as there were several incidents in Scottish Football which I believe merited comment from a person in your position.
But you only ended your silence to make comments on the trial of Craig Whyte in the High Court. I found that strange as Mr Whyte no longer holds a position in any football team in Scotland, even one that is only five years old.
I might be wrong here but I believe Mr Whyte was acquitted of all charges and free to leave the court of his own free will. But you decided that he had some case to answer by claiming that he was no longer welcome in Scottish Football, I wonder if you could enlighten me on what grounds that is the case, bearing in mind that Dave King is welcome.
There has been as I said previously a couple of incidents in Scottish Football that deserved comment from the SFA Chief Executive. For whatever reason you have kept your council on these incidents, but I believe that genuine football supporters would agree with me in thinking that it is part of your remit to make comment when the situation is important enough. 
Let me take through a couple of those incidents, not in any particular order. First of all when my team Celtic played at Ibrox stadium on April 29th, our Club Captain Scott Brown was confronted on the field of play by a supporter of Rangers, I use the term supporter loosely. At the time of the incident the response from the Police/Security was at best lax, and at worst pathetic. I would have thought such a serious incident would have merited comment, but all we got from you was silence. 
At the same match there was another incident which if anything was even more serious. After Scott Sinclair scored for Celtic he was celebrating with his team mates when he was subjected to the most obscene Racist abuse, by more than one supporter of Rangers, and again I use the term supporter loosely. Again the silence from you and the rest of the SFA was deafening. 
During that match, and in fact at every match we have played against Rangers we have been subjected to almost non-stop Sectarian singing, and while I would not contend that our support is perfect, they are certainly not Sectarian. I have met with Police Scotland on several occasions this season, they have for the most part been very complimentary in regards to the Celtic Support and their behaviour. 
Another question which is being asked by football supporters of all clubs is in regards to the criteria which must be met to be awarded a European spot by the SFA for season 2017/18. Do all the clubs in Scotland which have been awarded a place meet the criteria? 
I also note with interest this morning in the media, your colleague (should that be Brother?) SFA President Alan McRae state that it would be a “very boring and dreary” season in Scottish Football if our Invincible Treble Winners aren’t challenged. McRae doesn’t want just any team to challenge, he just wants it to be Rangers who are doing the challenging. I’m sure his predecessor will be proud of him. 
This is coming from a guy who has contributed absolutely nothing to Scottish Football, except at Amateur or Highland League level, the guy like you has been an embarrassment to Scottish Football, and those in power at UEFA must wonder how you both got into your high level positions. 
Finally Mr Regan, I would like to ask you if you have changed your position on the questions sent to you by the group of Celtic Supporter Shareholders known as “Resolution 12”. Although I never followed the Craig Whyte trial very closely, I read enough to suggest that contrary to what you claimed, the Tax Liability had Crystallised and therefore a European Licence should not have been issued to Rangers. 
That means without a shadow of a doubt one or more people were telling lies, the question is Mr Regan were you one of them? I don’t expect you to answer that, but I thought I would ask the question anyway. There is also the case of the DOS/EBT with side letters schemes ran by Rangers, was the full truth put before Lord Nimmo Smith? Again were one or more people telling lies? 
That only leaves me to reiterate the position of the Celtic Supporters Association. After the six blind officials match at Hampden our members passed unanimously a “Vote of No Confidence” in you, I think you can safely add your colleague Mr McRae to that now. I also think it is time that you actually asked the supporters of all the member clubs in Scotland if they have any confidence in you to take Scottish Football forward. I would safely predict that UKIP would be more popular than you.

For the benefit of Scottish Football please go now. 
Joe O’Rourke,
General Secretary,
Celtic Supporters Association,
Independent Shareholder in Celtic Football Club.

 

A neat summary of everything we’ve seen over the last few months, and yet another voice adding to the demands that Regan explain himself.

Will he get a reply ?

Unlikely, but its important that as wide a cross section of Scottish football keeps asking, and it would be just dandy of other supporters groups from other clubs took up Joe’s lead…

Meanwhile, Resolution 12 supporters will be pleased to know that the lads have begun the endgame, with the big tax case no longer relevant to any accusations of cheating, it looks like the gloves are coming off.

Over on CQN there’s a more detailed account of “The Cheating Years ” which deserves your attention…

The Men in The Room

And again, its time that we got some answers.

There is no excuse now for Celtic to delay any action.

Or is there ?

Lets consider a few things that may have gone unnoticed… well, one thing…

Did UEFA decide not to look too closely after the events of 2011 because it showed that their rules were not fit for purpose, and open to abuse by member associations and clubs ?  

The SFA found a loophole and exploited it to gain entry to lucrative financial rewards . That much is clear.

Whether or not they were lied to or colluded with is irrelevant in this consideration because UEFA didn’t check either.

Shouldn’t other Scottish clubs be asking UEFA how it was allowed to happen ?

It would have to be UEFA as its the SFA who are complicit in rule breaking, and even though UEFA might find its rules to be shown to be ineffectivem they need to do something.

 

Hang on, maybe they aready have asked , and were told to shut up….or, as they would have said…UEFA would not welcome an enquiry. 

 

The more we look into this, the muddier it becomes.

How exactly was the wee tax bill explained to UEFA ?

Did the SFA tell UEFA that Rangers needed the UCL money, and would be able to pay the bill when they got it ?

So many questions, and no one to answer them.

But whichever way you look at it, it needs to be thoroughly investigated and relevant action taken against anyone who broke the rules.

Seems to me that Scottish football is in a mess.

And those who could do something about it are afraid that by opening the windows and letting in some fresh air, they could inadvertently weaken the structure and bring the whole house down around them

 

Back at the ranch, and Celtic haven’t sold anyone yet.

The papers have linked the club with a number of other players.

And I’ll just copy and paste this bit and stick it in the next few diaries until Brendan gets back off his break.

Although the deals themselves are done by Peter Lawwell and Lee Congerton, the manager will want to be the one who announces them, and his new bride is unlikely to approve of him holding press conferences while they are on their honeymoon.

Look what happened to the last guy who did that

Image result for john lennon yoko ono honeymoon

 

Perhaps the funniest thing you’ll read today comes from the Birmingham Daily Mail..

West Brom and Leigh Griffiths: The pros and cons of the Scottish striker

We take a look at what Griffiths would bring – and the potential down sides 

West Brom are on the hunt for a striker this summer.

Strikers who can score a hatful of goals, have a proven record in doing so and cost in the remit that Albion are willing to part with are hard to come by; the criteria rules out many and means the Baggies will have to be quite nifty when it comes to spending money this summer.

Troy Deeney has been linked, Andre Gray too.

The latest name that has appeared out of the woodwork is that of Celtic and Scotland striker Leigh Griffiths.

Albion, and newly-promoted Newcastle, are reportedly weighing up an approach to the Bhoys this summer. 

Here, we do a spot of ‘weighing up’ ourselves. 

(Lack of) track record

While he had a stint in England, it wasn’t exactly in the Premier League.

With Pulis preferring tried and tested individuals, those who have proven they can perform amongst the elite, does Griffiths make the cut?

Will he improve the squad?

It’s a bit of a to-the-point question, but would Griffiths be considered an upgrade on Salomon Rondon and Hal Robson-Kanu?

Now more than ever, it’s pivotal Albion spend their budget wisely. In attack isn’t the only area that could do with investment.

The tone of this piece  is remarkable.

Its West Bromwich Albion, and the paper is  talking about a man who has scored more goals at champions League level than anyone in the England team he scored two against last Saturday.

Image result for fucking idiots

 

Yesterday we showed you this picture…

puggy 67 June 12, 2017 at 3:30 pm · Edit · Reply

Caption: Lying in a park with an empty bottle and 2 black eyes wondering why you continually fail to procreate effectively – another day out for Sevco Loyal SC.

and today..

 

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jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: Wee Billy gets doused in Holy water at his inauguration to Holy Cross primary school.

D'Fhinnein Mick
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

I remember well the Holy Cross situation. It was stunningly horrific,and showed the Loyalists for what they were,and are.

I had serious contacts over there at the time,and phoned one of them,told him to get his people away from it.

It was probably the first time that a rolling news network showed stuff like that live,it allowed the world to see them for what they are.

Throwing pipe-bombs at 5yo kids,ffs,what part of anyone would want to be a part of that?

jimmybee
6 years ago

Ralph,another good read on the sfa corruption.
I agree something is murking the waters,as it really should be an open goal to get rid of brothers Regan and Doncaster.
There seems to be no appetite by other clubs to clean up the game. It looks like they are all delighted with the extra income the new club brings to them.

Sadly the lone voice of the Celtic supporters looks like an us v them scenario, which is a real shame,as Scottish football deserves better than those two crooks and that of the brotherhood which undoubtedly runs our national sport.
But well done to the association for keeping the pressure on.

I wonder if your petition could be used in other clubs blogs.
Aberdeen,Hearts Hibs etc etc, only then could we see all clubs of Scotland demand justice.

IRISHGUY
6 years ago

Caption…………

Gareth Southgate , the early years.. Water Torture..

“If it was good enough for me it was good enough for these Prima Donna English Players”

……..

Awright,awright, I’ll get ma coat…………….

Like the Capone reference, there is more than one way to Skin a Cat.

As for Theresa May, surely she has advisors to tell her that any coalition with the D.U.P. would breach certain terms the Peace Agreement.

Wee Bertie
6 years ago
Reply to  IRISHGUY

I was watching the news at lunchtime and saw the following.
Reporter shouts to James Brokenshire NI Secretary:
“Are you up for a deal with the DUP?”
Sub-title comes up”
“Are you up Freddy Woodward DUP?
I thought that was a bit personal.
Also saw Ian Paisley Jr. taking a selfie with his DUP colleagues and Arlene Foster quips “the future is bright” Paisley remarks “the future is orange”.
May has emboldened these tossers.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Wee Bertie

Wee Bertie,
I just viewed that on the BBC news there, fucking scummy bastards!

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Caption.

Newco team shower arraignment after church water supply was cut off..

Bognorbhoy
6 years ago

Arrangement… deary me..

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption : Maam Oor Monti has has pissed in the watering can again.

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  jimmybee

🙂

charlie
6 years ago

caption wee timmy tells wee billy hees gettin his yearly bath wether he thinks he needs it or not

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Charlie,
Good morning sir!

charlie
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

good afternoon monti m8 sorry had to do the fuckin garden this mornin

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  charlie

Charlie,
No bother m8

Corktim
6 years ago

Great letter from joe o rourke,why are’nt hearts and st Johnstone talking to the sfa about eligibility for Europe

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago
Reply to  Corktim

NO,due to alleged masonic influence at both clubs….

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Corktim

Corktim,
If you do the required digging, you will unearth the fact that UEFA will be monitoring licensing from NEXT season onwards.

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Caption
The great new Conservative and Unionist future.

The unbelievable disaster that is Sevco, praised for signing all these world beaters.Remember Maguc Hat and the fantastic business done in theEnglish lower leagues, Waggy, Tavey and Joey. What a shower of stupid stupid Huns the SMSM are.
As for

mike
6 years ago

The Celtic Graves Society.

These bhoy’s do fantastic work, looking after the graves of former Celtic players, from John Thomson Cardenden in fife, the legendary Celtic goalie, to former players throughout Britain and Ireland.
They have just brought out their very first news letter, advertising their next event on – June 17th at Ayr cemetery 2.00pm, when they will commemorate James “Dun” Hay, who was Celtic’s 5th captain.
A fund raising raffle open to everyone with a brilliant Celtic canvass print created by artist Barry McGonigle, showing and signed by Jim Craig, the raffle closes on Thursday.
You can also purchase from their shop in Glasgow (music glue) a featured booklet on Jock Stein- featured 30 years after his death in Wales 30 years ago.
celticgraves@gmail.com

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  mike

Mike,
The Celtic graves thing is doing a wonderful job, very interesting & worthwhile cause!
HH

Monti
6 years ago

Yeah….but his business seems to be your business when he involves me.
See what i did there?

Your posts are growing in hostility towards me, i put that mainly down to his influence over you.
Expect that to be returned…..wee man!

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

Caption :Young McRae shows he’s always been a Brocklebank!

Cartvale88
6 years ago

Continuation of the above:
As for the recent trial Matin Hannah in the National today raises Murrays evidence when questioned about EBTs, “it gave us an opportunity to get players that we may otherwise not have been able to afford”
The defence was that the tax avoidance scheme that anyone could use and it did not give them much of an advantage, yet now Murray has admitted on oath that it most certainly did, is that not cheating and should the Chuckle brothers not reinstate an enquiry as the proof is now lcourt evidence
Or do they blame Whyte and Green for all that is wrong at Sevco, remember British Home Stores,.
The fans should inundate Celtic and the SFA querying why they threaten Whyte who is no longer in football, but ignore the scallywags at Ibrokes.
Have been to a few Celtic graves events, must resuscribe.

Apricale
6 years ago

Caption: Look, the next time that nun Maria asks what we’d like, let’s suggest raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..

Apricale
6 years ago

Caption; Look, next time that nun Maria asks what we like somebody say raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

ECHO,ECHO….

ROB O'KEEFFE
6 years ago

CAPS RULE OK! and JESUITS

6 years ago

The chuckle bros re-instating enquiry only allows them to redraw terms of evidence , so that enquiry cannot come up with guilty verdict.

Monti
6 years ago

Weered,
Go fuck yourself & ignore my posts.
I have read through the last few threads & you seem to be enjoying yourself….well fucking bring it weeman, you & your friend, your string puller!

Rob O'Keeffe
6 years ago

Warning:Don’t read “ra peepils court” it’s time you will never get back.Warning,it’s poor,awful signed BR

6 years ago

Caption
Childhood trauma results in bitter forum banter thirty years on

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Thirty years on? 40 maybe 🙂

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Iancelt67

Go on……

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Aahhh…was it now?

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Yeah ok then…..hmmm, err naw!

Martin67
6 years ago

Caption: Leigh’s weans just can’t get enough of the cutting edge West Bromwich plumbing

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: Maam see those new pampers pull ups you got me, that says it will keep you dry,well it’s no doing what it says on the pack., ps I’ve shit maself tae. I will need to jump in with wee Benny. Nawwwwwww Maaam stop him,please he’s fuckin reeking and its ma bath time sob sob sob.

jimmybee
6 years ago

Caption: earliest pictures of ice bucket challenge uncovered.

mike
6 years ago

Oh Leigh, Leigh, super Leigh,
I bend before ye on one knee,
Yer two free kick’s were just sublime,
they went in, in the nick of time.

and yet it didny matter,
we had them oan fish wi batter,
oh Leigh Leigh what can I say,
your two strikes made ma day.

I went to ma bed greetin sair,
ma euphoria carried me up the stair,
efter I wis picked up oaf the flair,
I gret till I could greet nae mair.

It was pure joy in the chuckle mincers.

she, the misses

mike
6 years ago

she. the misses WTF. Strong and stable aint that right Mabel.
Neigh bovver.

The Charlie Saiz International
6 years ago

Win a treble
Go a full domestic campaign unbeaten
6 League Titles on the trot…
Spend the summer ripping into each other like 5 year olds in a play groon pished oan Top Deck?

Magic

FAIL FAIL

Monti
6 years ago

Charlie saiz,
I wouldn’t call weered & his pal ringhole, 5 year olds…..
In the words of Walter Sobchak…” eight year olds, dude”

Monti
6 years ago

Looks like brother Pedro was right when he said Aberdeen, are coming to the end of their cycle.
McGinn, Taylor, Hayes, Jack all left or leaving and rat face Mcinnes in talks with Sunderland?

I expect the sombrero’s from Govan to finish second…..Si!

Monti
6 years ago

Weered,
Your bringing it on yourself, when your friend isn’t around with his threats, you are taking a back seat, then when he appears you join in with him.
It’s called being a sleekit cunt…which you are!

Monti
6 years ago

Not so much insight as instinct!

Pensionerbhoy
6 years ago

Ralph,

I never know whether to laugh or cry these days after reading the Diary. You could bring great happiness to the jailer when she finds me hanging loose in the attic one of these fine mornings. Now, if only the DUP can negotiate a hard Brexit……..Who kicked the fucking chair?

Caption: “Watering can bring tears to your eyes!!!!”

H H

Rebus67
6 years ago

McInnes potential move must be encouraging for Sevco. We have seen what managerial change did to Hearts, now we have the threat of instability in Aberdeen. Could it be that Pedro’s stars are beginning to line up? Chances of a SECOND place finish have just increased slightly. As for Celtic, this is also good news. Will the Dons be as competitive this season?
Hopefully, they will bring in Alex Neil who has proved thst he can hit the ground running. He is currently unemployed so there is no compen. Fee! The 0.8 to 1 million pounds can all go into the player budget. Tack on the other million for Hayes and that is a reasonable spend for a Scottish club outside of Celtic.

Neil would be an asset to the SPL.

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago
Reply to  Rebus67

Rebus,
Stewart Milne’s hair would fall out at the prospect of spending 1-2m.
This is a guy who wore a Toupee……….

Rebus67
6 years ago
Reply to  Monti

Monti,

A toupee is just a type of bunnet …….with a touch of nature added!

Milne spent relatively large bucks on McLean?

Rebus

Monti
6 years ago

Awful images from the London tower block fire, hopefully there are not as much fatalities as first feared, shocking!

Monti
6 years ago

Ringhole,
I went to ‘Our lady of lourdes High’
I didn’t get your ‘host’ joke…..
Your turn now, let’s see what you’ve got?

BTW your a fucking clown with nothing nothing to bring, now fuck off!

Monti
6 years ago

Bring what you have then? Come on….

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