You may have noticed that next season, after a journey of four years costing around £100m of supporters money, Second Rangers will take their place in the Premier League. Yes, i know its called the Scottish Premiership or something these days, but if that lot can call themselves Rangers, then I can call it the Premier league.
In fact, we can all call anything whatever we want these days.
It doesn’t seem to matter.
I’ve just bought a Ferrari, for instance.
and I’m going to drive it down the sunny California coast.
The new club, which has a warning note as a Going Concern attached to its latest set of financial figures is apparently going to save Scottish football.
And we should all get down on our knees and thank the lord they are here.
Down on our knees, up to their knees. Something like that.
Neil Doncaster, somehow still in charge of the SPFL, was over the moon, and not as a result of a kick up the arse from my sturdy Dr. Martens Steelies.
“There’s no question Rangers being back in the top flight will help Scottish football,”
“It will certainly drive more interest in the game.”
Really ?
If the new club take the place of the old one, and are allowed to continue as though nothing happened, it may be the death of the game. We’ve seen the effect on the spineless goons at the SPFL and SFA when threatened by one club, so how will they react when forty one turn the screws?
Or more accurately, the fans of forty one clubs ?
“It creates the return of Celtic-Rangers matches in the league,”
No, it doesn’t. It creates the first league clashes between Celtic and a new club, who may well go on to become a new rival, there is certainly potential, but little else. their financial situation suggests it may be some time beofre they could be a realistic challenger for honours.
“We’ve got an appetiser in 11 days’ time and up to four main courses to follow next year in the league,”
“Those are genuine global events. For a lot of people around the world that’s what Scottish football means.
I wonder how the rest of the world would view Scottish football if they actually had any inkling of what really happened four years ago. Or perhaps that was the plan all along, keep it in house and hope no-one notices…
“They will turn the eyes of the world towards Scotland and help to commercialise the game for the benefit of all member clubs.”
Ah-commercialise the game. Thats the important thing.
We need a club owned and ran by a convicted tax fraudster which has ritually sucked in supporters money by pretending to be something they aren’t, whilst simultaneously ignoring the debts ran up by the previous entity whilst they cheated and lied their way to “success” , to help boost the game up here ?
Is that to boost it in the same way they boosted it under murray ?
The same way they boosted those poor unfortunates who trusted them enough not to ask for money up front when carrying out services ?
The only thing they will boost is the feeling among other supporters that the game in Scotland is finished.
The Resolution 12 issue, the fight to highlight one of the many, many examples of SFA/SPFL/ Rangers collusion and exact retribution for the first bout of cheating goes on, and takes on a new importance.
Failure here could open the door for a whole new period of , shall we call it assistance, for the new club, in exactly the same way that the old club benefitted.
Scottish football had the chance to cleanse itself of the stench it surrounded itslef with after the first club went down.
Instead, it helped to set it back up, it helped to ignore what they had done, who had been responsible and taken appropriate action to prevent it happeneing again. They colluded with a succession of new owners, some of whom are already convicted criminals, others who may be about to be, all of whom are experts in what we could call the seamy side of the financial world.
Today, the media are falling over themselves to welcome them back. As though they never went away.
It’s sickening.
And before any supporters of the now defunct Rangers come on and tell me i’m wrong, or bigoted, or whatever else happens to be your default retort this week, it’s you i feel most for.
You got turned around and penetrated from behind.
I would genuinely have liked to see a new club spring up from the ashes.
One prepared to admit its guilt, clean itself up and start afresh.
Football is about fans, whether we get on or not, and the authorities have completely forgotten that. Now its about sponsorship, its about tv deals, and its about money.
Our money.
Well, they ain’t getting mine anymore.
And I don’t think i’m the only one.
Thats not because the Rangers are coming and I’m afraid . Its not because i’m bitter, bigoted or just bloody minded.
It’s because the games a bogey.
And everyone in authority, everyone in the media and everyone running a club seems quite happy with that.
Ralph, great summary of the corrupt lap dogs,from the so called journalists to the SFA/ SPFL fat cats… I would have more respect for them if they started afresh, admitted thier failings or indeed did what hearts did and paid it back, all of it…
Hail, Hail , Res 12
It is the greatest football swindle of all time.
A bobby Ewing moment when he realises what went on the pain the suffering to others was all cleansed away by a shower it was in fact a dream.
They were never going to be let go to rest in peace,it was something that couldn’t be allowed to happen. So everyone who suffered,the small business the ambulance service the face painter,Hector your money is all there,for it was only a dream.
So lets rejoice that the game we love is saved.
Lets not worry about sporting integrity,truth,justice,lets be thankfull that the rangeruz are back. It has saved the day.
Shame on the media,shame on the powers at be who rule our leagues,and bigger shame in our club for not calling out the lies and deceit that has shafted our shareholders.
Turnbull Hutton RIP the only guy who had the guts and determination to stand up for sporting integrity,Honesty and Truth.
Your likes we wont see again.
Jimmybee,
Good stuff m8!
Quality Ralph,bang on!
Great piece i feel exactly the same. the only thing these scumbags are interested in is our money, the only way to beat them is withhold our money its not easy to do it but the only way. as long as these parasites have got there big houses and millions in the bank they dont care how they get it, wake up comrades, theve been laughing at us for years.
If we the Celtic support ‘chuck it’ then they win, they being SFA, OldCo, NewCo etc.
I am not for chucking it, our forefathers had to put up with all of this albeit in a different form, did they ‘chuck it’ ??
I refuse to bow down just like Neil Lennon refused to bow down.
I get our board have a role to play but even if they make the wrong calls, I will not go away.
Whoever they are, lets pump them and let then regret they day the darkened our door.
shug i salute your indefatigability ive always wanted to use that word haha
If there is clear collusion ‘proved’ in a court of law, between whyte and green I fully expect HMRC to go after ‘all’ money due to the exchequer from the ‘phoenix company’ RIFC, who are already in £30m worth of debt in only 4 years of their existence. You couldn’t make it up. HH
hope your right scoosh
Perfect article Ralph. Nothing to add. Good stuff.
great article ralph exept the bit about new club springing from the ashes the cheating bastards should have been stricken from the history of scottish fitba but what we got was zombies crawling from the grave
celtic have always been cheated in scotland but when our own board collude with the scum like ralph says the games a bogey
Well said Ralph,keep on telling it as it is,they have there collusion friends all over,we need you to tell the truth and keep on telling it.
Me, before i make any judgements about our Board,i will wait until all the facts come out and will make a decision then.
H.H.
Great post Ralph
Whatever Celtic have won on and off the park, we did it ourselves, and didn’t need secret organisations and agreements, to get us where we are.
Glasgow Celtic 1888 UNBROKEN
HH
Great post which speaks the minds of many of us and well summarised in closing paragraphs.
HH
Our board are up to their necks in this and have facilitated their return. I would not be surprised if Lawwell is invited to the party. But, me too. I will not even watch the semi on TV. I have made my feeling known to those at our club (for all they care what suporters think or feel!), how they have betrayed the club and the supporters and after this season I will not return to Celtic Park after over 40 years and neither will any of my family. The facts are never going to come out, we know as much as we are going to. the game is over. However, why are so many ‘Celtic supporters’ giving them recognition by going to the semi-final. You are not supporting Celtic you are supporting the Old Firm. the best thing you could do is refuse to go. The world does not know the intricacies of what happened and actually believe that they were hard done by. An empty Celtic end would at least make people ask questions. But be honest, you miss them. If you don’t why are you giving them the time of day and the legitimacy they crave. You are damaging Celtic not supporting them.
That is their right to choose John you or anyone else should not be questioning them on that.
So we end up with a support divided whilst the manky mob finally get down to uniting?
Who’s the real winner in that scenario?
I would suggest tuning backs to the cameras on the 12th minute at every ground.
You want serious change at Celtic we need to buy them out.
It’s that simple.
Charlie i believe that john is right,if our support is divided it is not the supporters fault.Who is the winners no one but why support when you know that the game is Rigged,that is a fact very sad but true.
Buy them out, i would be totally with you on that and i am prepared to put my money into backing that.
Ah hear what you are saying John, but living in Australia ah don’t see Celtic gems live. I’ll watch the gemm hoping obviously ti see Celtic pummel them and shut their baying mobs mooth. But John, am watching Celtic, am no watching ‘the old firm’ for reasons well stated by others. Ah would prefer never, ever to see the shite from ibrox ever again.
I too am finished with this rigged/bent game, even if I am the only one I couldn’t give a fuck. Good luck to you Shug, after the knuckledraggers undoubtedly being royally shafted by many shysters and con men, I refuse to take it up the dung chute from Regan, Doncaster, King or worst of all Liewell.
So you are quite happy to facilitate the ongoing cheating and lying, in what basically amounts to a game that resembles WWF fantasy. Not for me Shug. The game is dead as far as I’m concerned and if these issues are not pursued, then football in this country is nothing more than a bent and corrupt freak show which has no place in a true sporting arena. Our forefathers would be birling in their graves.
great post andybhoy
Andyboy
Wouldn’t say I am happy about it, however our club has suffered cheating in lots of guises over 128 years, this is not new.
I will fight it firstly with defiance and then whatever means I have.
For me not going is what they want.
But this is at another level completely Shug. This is no longer a game, it has gone way beyond that.If we carry on regardless, only the cheats and corrupt win.
I’m done too, no more money from me after this season. I have a ticket for the semi and doubt very much if I’ll use it.
I can understand the feeling in this post I gave up paying for Football a long time ago scunnerd with the greed and absurdity of paying players more in a week than most earn in a year for kicking a piece of leather filled with air.
Football sold it soul many yeas ago I salute those that still go of course but until It get’s back to a modicum of respectability then my cash will go elsewhere.
I would rather the Celtic Foundation got my dough than some spiv in a suit personally.
SKY fucked fitba initally those now running it are fucking you week in week out.
It’s either a fan owned and controlled game or it is nothing because without us it is exactly that nothing.
Look you live in a W..A.S.P country. Had the opportunity to have our own thing. I don’t live over there anymore but I’m sure a Scottish independent country would’ve narrowed the scope for this kind of evil to exist. Rangers. Masons Westminster or whatever it’s up too Celtic as an entity to maintain its moral compass and show by example. Best whatever is in front of us not wilt under corrupt footballing bodies. Their misgivings is what makes us strong
Beat not best
What did you expect ? They were always coming back makes winning the league that more sweeter in future years. It’ll pan out alright denying the club your money diminishes your right for a platform to opine
Only a class action by every other club in Scotland would give credence to your feelings there Ralph if it’s just us then it sounds like we fear a threat to our dominance regardless of the truths. When money is involved there are always distortions
For me personally I have known the game has been rigged for a long time, its the country we live in.
Are our board complicit, maybe but for me as a supporter I will judge myself on what I do.
In 1992/93 a group of our supporters took decisive action to save our club, they showed the way and galvanised us to take action. They didn’t stop going.
In fighting is what they want, Celtic fans not turning up is what they want. Celtic on their knees is what they want, SevCo having a free run is what they want, SevCo lording it over us is what they want.
In 10 years from now what will you say to yourself, the liars and cheats wore me down and I just had to walk away or we stood up to their cheating and got behind Celtic (not the board, not the players) just Celtic.
I’ll be there next year to see Celtic !
They did stop going Shug and that is the point. Carry on regardless and we will kill our own club.
AndyBhoy
The Celts for Change group did go to the games, I recall a possible boycott of a match (Kilmarnock) but remember them with their ‘Back The Team Sack The Board’ banners and t-shirts at the games.
I accept we need leadership from the board particularly on Res 12 but I restate I will not allow the SFA, OLdCo or SevCo to drive a wedge between me and Celtic.
So, what if the board have been complicit on Res 12?
If you carry on propping up a lie and living in a fantasy world the game will shrivel and die, it’s that simple.
The truth on this will come out , it is the kind of concealment that cannot be kept quiet. I don’t have any facts at this time upon which to base a judgement of our Board or P.L However reading some of Phil’s recent blogs we might not be far away from getting to the bottom of this. I won’t desert the club at this time , this is a time to be counted. I am waiting for the end of The Big Tax case to see how Celtic react . I am also waiting for a response from our chairman to Phil’s recent submission , What response we get will go a long way to telling me if The Board are prepared to back the support.☘☘☘
I actually don’t care if Sevco come up or not, they won their league and so are now in SPL. That’s not what will stop me paying to watch games.
It is the clear and obvious lies, deceit and corruption involving SFA, Doncaster, and dare I say our club (happy to be proved wrong on that one).
The fact they have all been allowed to remain in position despite their utter incompetence, rule breaking, and not moving or promoting the game forward beggars belief. I am literally dumfounded that none of the clubs have done anything to get rid of these shysters and you have to ask why.
As you say Ralph, the game is a bogey and I seriously don’t know if I can continue to help fund it or watch it.
I know it would take a great deal of organising by the supporters but couldn,t the whole Celtic end at Hampden get up and walk out at a specific time as a sign of protest ,it has been done here in Australia during games ,and made the media take notice of why it was happening.
SHug,in1974 I came back to Scotland for a holiday and went to parkheid for the first time since August 1969.it was the debut of that much heralded English player signed by Luigi the great,Wayne Biggins.the crowd was about 11,000 so that gives the lie about the fans not staying away.i realise that I don’t have much clout down here in Tasmania but I did my bit this year in cancelling bein sports who were showing spfl games.every so-called pundit would be sticking the boot into Celtic at every opportunity and every Hun under the sun would be on the panels especially attilla and andy gray who did not bother to hide his bias.it was all about when we(the huns)do this or that that sickened me.i saw keech jackson being interviewed in Melbourne (I think) and was asked straight out by the mc if rangers died and after some hesitation agreed yes.its probably available somewhere on the net so he can’t deny it.rant over but still seething.HH
Hi John
I guess you mean 1994.
My point is the fans who organised us under the ‘Celts for Change’ banner did not stop going, they went to the games, ‘back the team sack the board’ being the mantra.
One game V Kilmarnock was earmarked for a boycott can’t remember if it went ahead though.Boycotting one game is not the same as ‘I’m never going back.
My view is a section of our support has got ‘fat and lazy’ since the demise of OldCo and forgotten that they have a huge role to play.
This is not the time to abandon Celtic, the dark forces are at work once agaian.
Watched a really intersting documenatry about Obama last night. Heard aquote form Martin Luther King I had forgotten and will mangle for you now:
The arc of history is long but bends towards justice
there is much legal proceedigns to come, and my feeling is that we will all be in no doubt at the end of them thre real truth about Rangers Then Rangers Now Rangers forever.
I m not going to hurt the team I love for the sins of others
Maybe the new Rangers will wake the fuck up with their bigotry put on the back burner. I hope their exile has given them time to reflect and the can concentrate on being decent football fans but I fear they will come back with renewed hatred. My only opposition to them coming back is the possibility of stabbing a in the streets and more wanton and senseless violence. Let’s hope not
Boy, what a depressing week and it ain’t over yet. We have the potential for euphoria/doom and gloom tomorrow, and Saturday. To crown it all, 20 cms of snow landed on my slice of paradise yesterday. I have to clean that off the driveway and why? To go and get groceries! Further my eldest son has gone to Prague and left his two cats with us. One of them used the sofa as a scratch pad and now the sides look like a collection of trailing strands of useless material…..you know, you’ve seen them over st Ibrox!
It is so depressing. I think I need to up my dose of SRI’s. The one I am on at the moment is Celtex. Trouble is sometimes it works and mostly it doesn’t! What’s the source of our problems? Why, it’s the future….thinking about the future; worrying about the future…..the league, the semi, the Motherwell, the…..oh, heck! To Hell with the future, there is an alternative fortunately. More Celtex? Nope, the past. The past never lets you down. Good it was good then….in the past. Why did I leave it? I could play football for 90 minutes, different girl each week. I liked my body. I never worried when I ate carmel wafers. Yes, the past is the place! Wait a minute, bugger it, the past used to be the future. Is that good? Well I am still here, aren’t I? And so is Celtic.
Support the future that is soon to be the past and love Celtic.
Rebus
Damn! Another post gone walkabout. Why is this blog prejudiced against me?
Is the length of the post that flags the blog to block a post? Is it the length of my nose? If it is the length of the post, then I am reminded of Oscar Wilde, I think, who apologised for writing such a long letter, as he did not have time to write a short one!
Rebus
Think it’s better to write the post again rebus and not go on about it. Then you run the risk of repeating yourself when your post finally appears looking like a right eejit
Ian,
I am a right eejit! I like it. I cannot write it again because it was a stream of consciousness post. Free flowing and beautiful! By the time it arrives it will be old news. I feel dirty and used!
For God’s sake, everyone, cheer up. You have had bigger problems to face, and you are a TIM.
Rebus
OK. So that sucker got through. It is the length of the post. Brevity is the soul of wit, I suppose. Ronnie, here’s a Plan B….I shall divide my posts into bit sized bits and post in a multiple manner!
I think I’ll leave snd support Oxford United! i already have ayellow Celtic strip from the Sutton days.
Rebus
“The forthcoming Scottish Cup semi-final has been controversial ever since the draw was made. The problem arises from our opponents.
“Incredibly, some ‘Celtic supporters’ are suggesting we boycott the match because they do not recognise the existence of our opponents as Rangers. That would mean, if it were carried out, going into a cup semi-final without moral support or backing in the stands, and giving an advantage to our opponents.
“Others, on various, web-sites, insist perversely or pedantically as calling them Sevco, or Rangers 2012 or whatever. This ostrich-like posture largely ignores the fact that we are playing a re-incarnation of our traditional rivals: still playing in the same colours, still playing at the same stadium, still holding on to their support … and still apparently worthy of intense scrutiny from our supporters…
“I would like to make a modest proposal. Let us not call them Rangers, or The Rangers, or Sevco, or any other imaginative or abusive title. Let us call them ‘Rangers’, and the inverted commas around their name will have the same effect as an asterisk in the record books, and remind everybody that they paid in part the football consequences of their financial indiscretions.”
Here is another proposal Tom, lets call them Haugh/Spittoon,that seems a more credible title, anyway, i like it.Who could have predicted the Liquidation of Haugh/ spittoon,a source of Tim amusement for 4/5years and then what happens,michty me they reappear and to cap it all they have morphed into themselves,same name same ground same number of trophies and titles and are bummin that they will challenge for the title for years.Well i never,there friendly Ludge members will assist them from the SFA,Spfl,refs Ass. and a very great write up from the unwashed press,meanwhile even though we can prove it,we all have to pucker up and accept it,that is the problemo though can and will we accept it,what have our leaders from the Board said,well as yet not a lot,but we shall wait and well listen to see what they do and say and if its nout well its judgement time.
great post oh mikey mikey mikey mikey mikey mike the farmer
MMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,MEEHHH.MEEHHH
MOO.MOOO,MOOO.
Charlie is ma darlin the young (he he)cavalier.
As a supporter of the Celtic FootballClub I shall continue to support the team, however that does not ran I accept the attitude odour cowardly board and the Chief Executive.
The luring and cheating has been going on in this wee country since 1888.
The supporters clubs should take up the debate with the board, also contact other supporters clubs, as the majority agree with your analysis Ralph.
We should stop buying the rags that cover up the deceiving and blatant stealing from the taxpayer.
The media in general are in denial about the history of Rangers/sevco, and point their fingers at the Panama Papers.
Think if the EBT mob had paid their taxes where that money could have been used.
For years our support have been dragged down to their level by the media, we are better than that.
Support the team, we are all Celtic Foorball Club, as Stein said, without the fans there is no football
Keeping it short! Cartvale and what is a fan? Not being philosophical here. For example, in the EPL the fan that is becoming more and more important is the one warching the match on the TV or Web. Follow the money, it is broadcasters cash that sustains teams in that league and others.
Shameful or just progress? Still, it keeps you save in the streets and during the match if you are a CelticTV fan.
Short, short.
Rebus
Fine words Cartvale i salute you,the thing is Jock had a pair off balls and nobody but nobody could or would challenge him.
At that time (those were the days)we suspected we might be cheated today we absolutely know we were being cheated,then what happens if we ken that the board were complicit with the cheating,well that is a completetly different ball game.
Perhaps without the fans,the message might get through,I believe that together we could move mountains in scottish fitba,we are strong together and the green pound would achieve what we require.
Excellent stuff Ralph!I think you’ve just about encapsulated the feelings of most Celtic fans on the subject.
Our problem/”obsession” with The Tribute Act is not based on bias or bigotry, but from a wish to see justice properly served and a sense that complicit guilty parties from the Telfon Knight Murray through the ranks of the SFA/SPFL & various other spivs & charlatans, have gotten away scot free with the biggest scam in Scottish sport, under the noses of a complaint SMSM, and that all those who’ve suffered – including every single taxpayer, every creditor, every Scottish football fan of every club, even
the bluenosed hordes themselves – are entitled to finally hear the unadulterated truth and see justice fully served.
Rebus, a fan is someone that believes his football team is more important than life as someone once said a long long time ago .
Cartvale,
Maybe you are thinking of Bill Shankly of Liverpool? He said football is not a matter of life or death. It is more important than that!
He stole it from a US coach, I believe.
Rebus
Great article Ralph,it must cover a vast majority of how Celtic fans feel at the moment, this has nothing to do with how gash we are at the moment or whether your Ronny in or Ronny out its all to do with the biggest scandal in world football, For oldco to have cheated like they did for as long as they did is criminal but when a sporting governing body is complicit in it all then the games over, but what sickens me to the bottom of my stomach is possibly the inclusion of the Celtic board in some of the crimes. I can’t even get excited aboot playing them cheating DOB nxt week because i know their not Rangers,and I’m not that bothered aboot watching it, of course I want us to destroy the zombies but only as much as if it was Hearts or Motherwell..Theirs some v dark days ahead for Celtic unless this board stands up for the club and more importantly the fans…good read on Phil Mac site right now aboot Dermot Desmond and Resolution 12…,KTF
If it’s not against Etims’ protocols, I suggest a wee look here on Res. 12.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/dermot-desmond-and-resolution-12/
Could Lawwell’s ‘baw’ be finally burst. I, for one, certainly hope so. He’s got away with murder for years.
HH
Good stuff Ralph,no,excellent I should say,straight from the head and not from the heart.You have stated nothing more than FACT and if they don’t like what you’re sayin ….fuck them.I really have enjoyed the last few years without their bile,now they know for sure they really can do whatever the fuck they want without fear of redress…..keep at them,support your team and don’t ever let the bastards get you down.
Ralph
I wanted everything in and to do with Ibrox GONE in 2012 and the reason is simple. I knew we would be reading posts like yours today. Thank God I had my tea before reading your article because I am heartily sick to the pit of my stomach. I knew the dreaded day was coming despite financial or other irregularities but I guess I still believed in miracles. Celtic have been such a major part of my life that when younger and fitter I made many major life choices on the basis of simply being able to go to games. I am getting closer and closer to turning away from football altogether and if Scottish football continues to breed corruption and Celtic sit back and say or do nothing regarding it or Resolution 12, I am most certainly finished. I would rather peel tatties as submit to this detestable scenario.
H H
Well said Ralph. My thoughts exactly. I’ve never been so disillusioned by football in general in my entire life.
Truth will out.( here’s hoping )
HAIL HAIL N aw that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I remember in 2012 the zombies saying they’re gonnae kill the game if they go down.well lets all get together fans of all scottish clubs except the(cheats)and meet outside hampden and lets these corrupt bastards no that football in scotland is finished if we dont get this mess sorted and the best day is the semi final to do right outside their front door cos football is nothing without the fans.Hail Hail to the celtic family and the rest of Scottish fans except they dirty cheating scumbags.LETS GO FOR IT WANT A SHOCK THE SFA WOULD GET EH.
I think Thor first year back will provoke an incendiary reaction amonst Celtic fans possible running battles and maybe reciprocal sanctions for opposition fans going to I roc and park head alternatively it may just turn out a damp squib. But you’re never going to get 100 per cent solidarity because there are those who just want to go to the football and those who want to turn it into a political platform
I live in hope for a renewed rivalry and a corruption free environment fucking dreamer
Ibrox not iroc
Maybe the ancestors of the first rangers team should be asked if they should be allowed to use the name of the club their distant relatives started maybe they would say no RIP let the dead rest why don’t you call it the Govan wheel tappers and shunters club ?