Blue Moon

I joined Twitter about the same time as I joined Gersnet and for the same reason - to find out information about Rangers. I only follow Rangers guys, journalists, a certain political party, Alex Thomson (want to know what he is up to) and one or two celebs that are good value. Last year I contacted several key politicians about something that was of particular interest to me and from the replies I got it is clear that Twitter is an important tool for communicating with politicians. It serves notice of articles that are often of interest to me that I wouldn't otherwise know about. I think it is facile to see it as a series of soundbites for attention seekers.

Thought you would say that. That's what Charles Green said.

What's the word for "any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference" against a football club?

Does Duitser mean German?

GDS also said categorically we wouldn't be stripped of titles. He's gone very quiet on this.

Must admit, I wondered what JC was talking about

Nice wee statement. I would just like to say that we at Rangers would also like to put the past behind us and look to the future. Try telling that to your ruling bodies, Motherwell.

What an act of crass stupidity if he is a Rangers supporter. Is he living in a fog? Rangers fans are no longer prepared to accept these kind of slurs. Someone should point out to him the climate has changed. People who make threats only assist our enemies.

Very strong statement from Alistair Johnston. Well done sir.

What a superb article setting the background to Rangers admin and putting the subsequent events into one thread. Why are these people still in a job?

The SFL are saying we're innocent until proven guilty, so the SFA/SPL assumption of guilt makes a mockery of their process and is tantamount to a witch hunt. What I am saying is that it is unlikely to stop the process that has started. The Commission answered this in their statement yesterday in response to Rangers objections. While the views of this person concur with ours and it is great to see, I cannot see the SPL cancelling the whole thing. They rae far too arrogant for that. Also, the HMRC process isn't to prove innocence or guilt, it's to identify whether a legal scheme which we (and others) operated is taxable. If it is we'd be liable to pay back the tax. It's not about guilty or not guilty. Sorry, I should have made it clear I was referring to a scenario where the Commission decide to fine us. In his statement Lord Nimmo Smith set out that to fine the Oldco would be taking money from the creditors pot and leave them open to litigation. The enquiry is about whether these payments were contractual, not the fact we operated them. That's why the SFA/SFA process is a sham, as the EBT debate is between us and HMRC, and nobody else needs be involved. The SFA/SPL have known we used EBTs since we started using them, so why wait the best part of 15 years to decide they're 'illegal' for Scottish teams? I know that, you know that, everybody knows that but it hasn't stopped them. We all know it is a witch hunt, now someone from the SFL has said it, what difference will it make?

This report cranks up the pressure and is great to see but I can't see what good it will do at this stage. The process is under way and there is no way it will stop now. The important phrase is "innocent until proven guilty", so presumably if we are found guilty the SFL will accept it. They will not fine us or face the threat of legal action from HMRC, so it will be stripping of titles or innocent.

Having established that we are the same club therefore the legality of the proceedings, it is no longer in our interests to fail to represent ourselves at this hearing, in fact it is critical that we do, especially in the light of the point made that the conduct of the SPL is not relevant at this time but may become so in the future. Secondly, I think we can rule out financial sanctions which would require the SPL to go to court.

Thought that one was said to Souness.

Pretty dynamite question that requires an answer. If it is the SPL then who at the SPL and to what purpose? More evidence coming out about the underhand tactics used against us. Well done the fans and fan organisations. Perhaps someone in the MSM will pick this up or start to do their job.

He just needs to use 2 words in his defence...... Turnbull Hutton.

This is precisely why I have always objected to being called a Hun. Take your pick from a barbaric tribe or Nazis. The one handed salute many of the fans give is too similar to the Nazi salute for my liking. The sale of NF publications out side Ibrox has always enraged me. They seem to think they are on a fertile ground. Whatever the convoluted reason for us being called Huns, I detest being called a Hun because of the historical connotations of the word. It is used as a term of abuse by bigots.

This article would be quite at home in the Celtic View.

I suspect that is what Templeton was trying to do yesterday.

It would be extremely harsh to strip us of titles on a technicality ie the side letters, especially since the EBTs were declared to the SPL every year. As for the latest catchword that is getting right up my nose, "financial doping", the payment of big money signings by Celtic directors is exactly the same. The players are paid what they are paid. Our players were paid by the club, end of story. The EBts are not illegal, apparently the way we administered them was. It has been said repeatedly that this was done after consultation with experts and that the club did not knowingly administer them wrongly. In other words a technicality. As for the explanation of Celtic's EBT being after The player left. Don't insult my intelligence by expecting me to believe that it was not by prior agreement ie a side letter.

That is one of the most unbelievable statements I have seen on here.

That wouldn't be a wise move.

It is not as simple as a fine costing money and titles costing nothing. Green is nobody's fool and I am sure he is aware of how tenuous the support of the fans is. If he doesn't defend the titles he will be well aware the fans will turn and this will affect the future of the club. He needs to be sure the fans will stick by the club when the time for it to be sold arrives. He needs a healthy, well supported club. Although he is a hard nosed businessman, he cannot possibly have known just how huge our club is. He must be influenced by this and by everything that has happened to the club. All in all it makes no sense to me for him to accept the loss of titles as opposed to a one off or short term financial penalty. I think he may fight it whatever.

I meant selling him on.

Boumsong was the deal of the century.