Celtic Diary Friday March 1

No matter how much the Nimmo Smith decision upset us yesterday, think about this poor wee fellow, and the weekend he has facing him, literally being on the end of debauched celebrations as Scotlands unique judiciary passed judgement on the secret payments to players scandal at now defunct Rangers. Poor fellow will be passed around like a blond boy in prison.

Many, many years ago, my great great granny took her sons to Scotland from Donegal in a wee rowing boat to escape the hardships of the Great Hunger. More than at any other time, yesterday, I wished that they had all put in a wee bit more effort and turned left instead of right and headed to the USA.  That way, the “best wee country in the world” would have just been something occasionally mentioned in the news.

Initial reaction to the publication of the findings of Lord Nimmo Smith from Celtic supporters was furious. The games a bogey seemed to be the general opinion, as Rangers were found guilty of secret and illegal payments to fifty seven players over a number of years, and fined £250,000 in the process.

Anywhere else in the sporting world would have seen crushing sanctions and punishments, but in Scotland a fine was given to a club which is already in liquidation, so as Craig Whyte said once,

“Good luck in getting the money”

Lance Armstrong is furious, and has demanded an appeal against his misdemeanours, but only if Nimmo Smith can be the adjudicator.

Even Oscar Pistorious wants him for his trial.

Desi Mond has found a wee story about Scottish  divorce courts facing a compensation backlash, now that its been set down that “its not cheating if the wife found out after the affair”

So, who is this guy Nimmo Smith? What is his Lodge number, and where does he sit at Ibrox. Of course, its unfair to jump to conclusions about the mans character with little or no evidence. A quick look at Wikipedia, however, says he was a staunch member of the Boys Brigade, a ballboy at Ibrox and a high ranking member of several orange lodges who is a major shareholder in Sevco.

Well, it doesn’t actually say that. Not until I’ve edited it.

But wait a minute here, lets take a step back and consider what the real picture is , and it isn’t one of heady times ahead for the Blue hordes.

Despite the press spin on it, and the truly mind boggling decisions made by Nimmo Smith, there are a couple of points that have slipped under the radar, as pointed out by Etims colleague Monty Burns, who notices this sort of thing.

(Go on, you tell me when you last saw him in the same room as Alex Thompson…)

Consider this,

-Nimmo Smith found that Newco is Oldco

-Green has to pay £250k fine to accept that. Which he will be advised to delay because;

a) by doing so he creates precedent

b) by creating precedent he claims continuity

c) The UTT appeal is coming soon

d) LNS said they did indeed use EBTs and covered them up.

e) They will lose the appeal.

As Monty concludes, this is all about EBTs and tax evasion. Which makes me feel a whole lot better.

Meanwhile, in a quiet suburban street somewhere in Englands home counties, a man called Hector put down his cup of tea, straightened his tie, and set off for work, whistling a tune about a unicorn in his fathers room….

One other thing that should come out of this is the removal of Stan and Ollie themselves, or to use their work names, Regan and Doncaster. The latter couldn’t even make time to be in the country yesterday for the decision, which is a gross dereliction of duty. The Ibrox mob are calling for their heads, as should every other club in the land, which should make their positions untenable.

Then we can have Gordon Smith and Campbell Ogilvie. Perhaps we’d better just shut up.

The Rangers Supporters Trust have released their statement, which is , er, interesting reading.                                                                       rst-statement-on-spl-ebt-commission

When you’ve read it, delete it. You don’t want the police finding that sort of stuff on your computer.

Well, they have their pyrrhic victory, but they still woke up this morning supporting a club in Division Three which isn’t the same one they were supporting  about thirteen months ago.

And no amount of bent judges, piss poor reporters or ignorant football experts is ever  going to change that.

I’ll leave the last word on the subject to David Murray, the man who put them out of business.

“The problems arising at Rangers brought no credit to Scottish football and have been a tragedy for the club and its fans . They cannot be condoned.”

I looked through the statement, but the bit that said;

“I am terribly and deeply sorry for all the trouble I have caused with my dodgy financial dealings, which ultimately led to the liquidation of the club.”

Well, that bit seemed to be missing.

Ach, thats that chapter of the long and thoroughly enjoyable-in the main- demise done, and as supporters of the only top level club in Glasgow we have a cup quarter final to look forward to.

Its over to Paisley in the morn to avenge the defeat given to Celtic in the League Cup, and move forward in this seasons quest for at least two trophies. (Not giving up in Europe until its mathematically impossible to win, even though right now its fair to say we need a number of snookers.)

James Forrest, or Neils boy, as the other players call him, has said he is already looking forward to the game. (Note, this is not a criticism of Forrest, its a reflection on Lennons O’Neillesque policy of having favourites.)

He said, obviously embarrassed by his gaffers praise the other night,;

“Its a team game and maybe in the next match I won’t play well and somebody else will.”

To be honest, I was kind of hoping more than one player would play well in these games.

He continued, on the Motherwell game;

“We knew that they are second or third in the league,and we were all up for the game. It just wasn’t to be our night.”

Wee insight to the meticulous pre match preparations there, “Second or third” ?

Arguably , Motherwell away is the most difficult game in the new Post Apocalypse SPL, so maybe a little more than “These guys are second or third” as a team talk could have helped to avoid defeat, and perhaps not so many changes..

Still, we are all wiser after the fact, but lets just make absolutely sure that Lennon reminds the players what St. Mirren did to us last time out.

Then we should all be fine.

A discrepancy with yesterdays answer, with eye witness Pensionerbhoy insisting that McGrory got 62 in 1927-8, which I will happily concede, as I got my info from Wikipedia, and you’ve seen the stuuf they wrote about Nimmo Smith. Well, you should do later. If I get time.

Todays answer is more clear cut. A run of 63 games unbeaten is needed to usurp the previous best of 62, set in and around 1917.

Now, why should Paul Hubbard, a deaf American quarter back from 1896 get a mention when discussing a modern Celtic tradition?

Frankly, I’ll be amazed if anyone gets this. I only discovered it myself by complete accident.