It certainly was a strange week.
Peter Lawwell , facing pressure at the upcoming AGM to do his job with a touch of integrity and actually look after his customers interests instead of helping to turn Scottish football into televised wrestling, would have been delighted to see attention focused on the other side of Glasgow for a while.
Especially as it gives the fans something to laugh about.
The London Times (Scottish division ) made themselves look rather silly with an article that hinted-stepping just short of actually saying so and thus offering any evidence -that the taxman was at fault for the demise of Rangers back in the early part of this decade.
The problem for its author, Magnus Llewellin, was that in an unprecedented move, the accused shot him down rather publicly shortly after publication..
The row over the firing of a columnist at Glasgow’s Sunday Herald shows no signs of dying down.
Members of Scottish PEN, wrote a letter to the paper’s editor-in-chief, Magnus Llewellin, to register their concern about Angela Haggerty being dismissed.
The letter, published on the website of the group that campaigns for freedom of expression, said its members are “deeply troubled” by the newspaper’s decision to sack Haggerty “for showing her support for fellow journalist Graham Spiers.”
Spiers decided he couldn’t write for the Herald after disagreeing about the timing of its publication of an apology for one of his columns about the problems of bigotry “around” Rangers football club. Haggerty then expressed her support for him on Twitter.
The National Union of Journalists accused the Herald of “pandering to the mob”. It removed its statement for a while but later reinstated it.*
Like Scottish PEN’s admission that it was unaware of “details” about pressure exerted on the Herald by Rangers, the NUJ’s decision reflected a lack of knowledge about the incident.
My understanding is that a single sentence in Spiers’s column, an allegation about a Rangers board director, was regarded as defamatory.
Although contentious articles are usually read for possible libels prior to publication by the paper’s lawyers, Levy & McRae, an editorial staff error meant that Spiers’s column, which was published on the Herald’s website, slipped through the net.
Once Rangers objected, Llewellin found himself in a bind familiar to all journalists in such situations. He received legal advice saying the allegation was indefensible, and that if he tried to defend it – which he spent a fortnight initially trying to do – the paper would have faced major costs.
Crucially, I understand that the costs would most likely have been borne by the editorial budget and, in Llewellin’s view, could therefore have resulted in job cuts. (I’ll deal with this in a moment).
So Llewellin felt he had to publish the apology. It stated: “We acknowledge every member of the Rangers board is fully committed to fighting bigotry and offensive chanting, wherever it occurs in Scottish football, and that the club is actively tackling the issue.”
Its publication upset Spiers who responded with an online statement saying he wanted more time to clarify his position. He realised that his opposition to the apology would effectively cut his ties with the Herald.
He acknowledged that he could afford to be bold because he has other income, writing for the Times and through broadcasting for the BBC.
But Haggerty, a relatively new columnist with the Sunday Herald, was sympathetic to Spiers’s plight and, as someone who has previously suffered abuse from from Rangers fans after editing a book about the club, she wrote a tweet in which she complained about Rangers’ bigotry.
As I wrote previously, she maintains that she was referring to fans, but the Herald saw it differently and considered it to be a reference to Rangers’ directors. The paper therefore viewed it as a failure “to act within the spirit of its apology.”
Lewellin told me he regards Haggerty as “a brave and talented journalist” but her reference to “glaring bigotry at Ibrox” only hours “after we’d published a very carefully worded apology to avoid legal action, she (unwittingly) undermined it.”
In a Bella Caledonia piece about the circumstances of her sacking, Haggerty said Llewellin had informed her that “representatives of Rangers Football Club” had brought her tweets to the attention of the Herald, “and that, to cut a long story short, the paper was under so much legal pressure that he felt he had no option but to let me go.”
She wrote: “He also informed me that Neil MacKay, editor of the Sunday Herald, had fought strongly to stop it happening, but in the end he was overruled.” Mackay underlined that fact in a tweet saying it was not his decision to remove Haggerty.
I emailed Llewellin to ask if he would consider reinstating Haggerty but he replied that “as things stand at present, and to show the good faith and collective responsibility… bringing her back would be difficult – for the time being at least.”
At least that final phrase offers Haggerty a possible lifeline for the future, if she wishes to grab it.
Now let me go back to that matter of legal costs being borne by the editorial department. I am not doubting Llewellin’s word, but I am amazed that a publisher – in this case, Newsquest/Gannett – might expect an editor to sacrifice jobs over a legal action.
That casts the whole business of Llewellin’s decision-making in a new light.
*This sentence was amended after the NUJ reposted its statement
The Times has decided to stand by the article, at least until Llewellin is summoned to London for that chat about the paper moving in a new direction, and he hasn’t got a seat on the train….
The stunning Times revelations reveals that due to, as yet, unidentified means, reasons or origin, Rangers were overcharged by HMRC to the tune of around £60M when something under £20M was more accurate.
This invalid sum, chased up by the Inland Revenue, was simply too much for Rangers’ coffers to pay, and despite it being effectively illegal, it caused Rangers’ existing holding company to cease trading and nearly cost Rangers fans their club.
For 7 years this club has had every vindictive jibe under the sun thrown at it, from cheats, tax dodgers, sc*m of the earth, you name it.
Yesterday’s report from a highly-respected newspaper, following an investigation, confirms Rangers did absolutely nothing wrong and were charged a sum they were unable to pay.
Ergo, the apology from the SPFL, SFA and Scottish football at large has been thoroughly welcomed.
Hint: irony alert.
Rather than accept the findings and apologise like men, we’ll hear nothing.
The BBC have already effectively whitewashed the story, leaving it to the ‘gossip’ columns and no more, while the major of news north of the border has absolutely ignored this.
Only in Scotland could an institution like Rangers being scammed in this manner not be worthy of discussion, or indeed apology.
Rangers are considering legal action over what happened 7 years ago, and as well they might. But you won’t hear a soul in this country admit they were wrong.
Indeed, following this story the site received an email abusing the club further, asking us why we had a problem with the BBC and Sportscene among others, and why did we feel superior to them.
If nothing else indicates what’s wrong with this country, that’s it.
Think we should move for dabbour from red bull. Great player.
He plays for Sevilla now. Mental money involved. Very good player though.
Cheers for the info more fool me for not knowing. He destroyed us twice last year. Intelligent and deadly.
Votes have been cast.
Voted against each and every board member, voted against the boards recommendation on Res 12.
Unfortunately, they will stifle the debate and move it to shareholder votes and that’s where the fuckers have the numbers.
Too many Celtic fans do not give a shit about this. As much as I admire the work the Res 12 guys have done, I believe it is now doomed.
Disgusted with our club.
I hope you voted FOR the Resolution.
It is the Board who are Against it.
An x in the For box is a vote against the Board’s position and For Res12 2019.
Just checked back. You had me doubting myself but don’t worry, I voted for Res 12
Seeing Levy & McRae in green made me laugh.
Apropos of nothing …
I watched the Colombia v Peru friendly yesterday. A scrappy game with few highlights. El Grufalo began the game (the two first choice strikers were injured) and somehow managed to finish it too. He not only stayed on the pitch (yellow carded in a friendly) but scored the winner too – a last gasp scramble in the box following a corner. Based on that performance I doubt anyone will pay anything for him – petulant, off the ball push and shove, well off the pace, huffing and puffing from the off, not a team player, easily dispossessed. He’ll be at Ibrox for a while …
Agree Charlie it’s with contempt that imho he’s quality of a rough variety and only going to get better. He could easily play for the likes of Burnley or Southampton. They can thank Pedro for making one good signing though the Portuguese’s player they got rid of was quality. Better than Arfield. His qualities are bullish and his finishing is better with his back to the goal than odsonnes. Oddsone gets goals running at the defence.
I have always said that the sooner Lawwell goes the better. He is a despicable individual who, through his over inflated ego, has cost Celtic millions of pounds in Champions league revenue. How he has the arrogance and audacity to try and dictate recruitment is absolutely farcical. He is an accountant, has never kicked a ball in his life and his handling of Res12 is a disgrace.
I cannot understand why a club like ours obsesses over their rivals and the reincarnated version of their rivals. If we had the collective mindset to consign the biggest cheats in football to the history of our mindset and treat them as the irrelevance that they are, then we can lead the way in creating a game that is respected around the globe. Let’s remember, after they died, numerous clubs won domestic trophies and gained access to Europe.
There are an abundance of clubs around Europe who have had great success currently or in the past and as I list them, you will not immediately know who their “bitter” rivals are without Google or Wiki.
Wake up Celtic. Forget that lot and Mr Lawwell……Your time is up.
Rosenborg
Ajax
Sevilla
Shakhtar Donetsk
Panathanaikos
Valencia
Genuine question and one that’s been on my mind for a while – I believe the infamous 5WA contains the signatures of the SPL, the SFA, the oldco and Sevco….question for the panel but is the fifth Peter Lawell’s?
I think the other signatory was the SPL.
VooDude, I think you meant SFL (as SPL’s already mentioned)and it’s SFL that makes up the official “5”. Shortly after this the SPL and SFL merged into the SPFL which we now have. My own belief is, and has always been, that our own Peter (TB) Lawwell will have been involved and indeed encouraged this fraud of an agreement but too astute to have his name on it or connected to it. The Cunt!
HH
Alternative thought here is that the board don’t want to break up their cozy relationship with UEFA as it would lead to a ban for all Scottish teams in Europe as a result of any court case / CAS involvement
Unlikely. Where other national associations eg Albania, Serbia were found guilty of improper licensing, special arrangements were put in place to improve their performance.
Yes TicToc, that is indeed what I meant.
Thanks for the correction.
The SPL and SFL merger to the new SPFL was to obliterate the ‘Conditional Membership’ of Sevco Scotland Ltd.
No. Celtic were covered by the SPL who would have/should have shared progress with member clubs
It was the SFL who were 5th party. They and SPL came together later 2013/14?
That club that plays at liebrox are the most successful cheating club ever rfc LIQUIDATED 2012 thats afact so why all the lies and covering up for that club plus dave king he’s a convicted criminal even in a court of law he was told he was nothing but a liar the corrupt sfa spfl are shite scared of that club thats why the 5way agreement was made up to suit the biggest cheats in Scottish football disgrace its masons freemasons that run this country again disgrace..i hope CELTIC share holders and RES.12 guys take this the full road because cheats never won only die like that denial mob at LIEBROX…THATS AFACT.
Anybody there
Yes.
Congratulations on being Top of the League.
Cha… Yes indeed, it wasn’t a classic game, the last 10 mins were”difficult” 🙂
Weered, how does it feel to have BOTH your teams top of the league?
Devoy…. It’s nothing that I didn’t doubt would be the case. My Reds have a great squad, I remarked to a friend at the match that I hadn’t seen such a strong bench in many years. We have a core of talented and pacy young men who can play the fast passing game with style… As for Celtic… They have a great squad which has gelled together nicely with great results.
Although both squads are poles apart…
HH to both teams
The Reds seem to have a bit of steel about them this season.
There was a couple of games earlier in the season where last minute wonder saves preserved 3 points.
That’s the kind of winning mentality that’s needed to win leagues, although obviously still early on.
One of the games was against Glantoran, who had a player sent-off for leaving the field in the wrong place when being substitited!
Hopefully you were there an d had a good laugh at it.
Cha… Our new manager was touted as a no nonsense guy. He has their fitness levels such that they play to the final whistle and they play for each other. It’s a joy to watch them in full flow. As for that Glen’s player he is a young bloke with a suspect past. We acquired him and sacked him within a season… He ended up at crusaders and was sacked within 6 months…
A waster/wanker who can play football but lacks application in all facets of the game
Cha. Reply went astray ffs
Plus ça change, plus c’est pareil
I think you’ll find a fair few right wing Scottish politicos asserting their ‘peepul’ credentials in the next few days. Part of a campaign to mobilise the Scottish right wing prior to the election by positioning them as staunch victims – like the Brexit numbnuts, hence the Times Ragers tax article. Pathetic but it’s an old tune.
Dear Etims friends.
My wife is due for an operation tomorrow to remove a small breast cancer tumour. Pleas keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I wish to express my thanks to Monti for keeping in touch with me over the last short while and keeping my spirits up during this time and further back during my own bout of depression. This might help explain my “absence” since mid September
Weered, my wife had the same thing and it has all turned out fine. I also understand depression so pal, the world-wide Celtic family will be rooting and praying for you and yours. Peace and good health.
Weered,
Put your faith in the lord & speak to him daily, he is there & he is listening!
God bless you & your family at this time comrade!
Celtic & Cliftonville
‘ Brothers across the sea ‘
You and your wife are in my thoughts, as are all of the Celtic family that are going through a difficult time.
Wishing for the best possible outcome for your family.
Weered
Thoughts and prayers for your wife.
YNWA HH
Best wishes to you and your family, Weered, especially your wife for a full and speedy recovery.
Weered, thoughts and prayers are with you both.
Weered, an aunty of mine had similar treatment about 25 years ago followed by Chemo. She’s still going strong my man!!
So keep thinking positive thoughts and you and your wee wife will put this behind you. God bless.
Funky.. Same with my wife 24 years ago
Weered best wishes to both you and your wife I’m sure she will receive all the love and care both in hospital and at home. For your good self Remember to keep talking when you can and it’s ok not to be ok m8 never walk alone it’s not the Celtic way. Best of luck and prayers for you both that a brighter day is about to dawn.
Stay positive Weered.
Port… +++++
The subscription thing doesn’t seem to be working, I know Ralph’s been busy but the last few posts I haven’t received my wee Etims email letting me know it was there.
Ditto and I can’t see a new subscription option.
I hope everything turns out fine Weered. You’re contributions have been missed. All the very best mate.
Terrific comment on the absence of integrity in Scottish football and why not pursuing Res 12 to a proper conclusion is unacceptable.
Allowing what took place from 2000 to 2012 to go uncorrected, with visible signs of the consequences reappearing, is an act of disrespect to the integrity of the Celtic support that will not allow moving on no matter the commercial and sporting sucess arguments for doing so.
http://twohundredpercent.net/saracens-the-shaming-of-scottish-football-governance/
For those interested in such things, there’s a good round up on VideoCelts on our injuries.
“SEVEN NAMES ON CELTIC’S GROWING INJURY LIST”
Click on my name to link to article.
Weered belatedly caught up
on your news, thoughts and prayers with you and your family. I am another no
longer receiving ETims.
Borne Victims…
sevco poison recall FC.