D'Artagnan

For years I was an outspoken critic of SDM's undignified policy of â??dignified silenceâ?, so having a chief executive who is prepared to speak up for the club is a most welcome breath of fresh air. And whilst the hullaballoo and focus of attention will, undoubtedly be, on us seeking to play our football elsewhere than in Scotland, perhaps there is an important point which seems to be being missed in the latest round of verbal broadsides. The point in fact, is more about attitude and courtesy rather than what was actually said. Mr Green before you go before the board to suggest that Rangers seek to play their football elsewhere in Scotland, would it not be prudent to ensure that such a motion reflects the wishes of the us, the fans of Rangers ? After all it was us who exercised a huge leap of faith in you by investing in season tickets after the previous owner had well and truly shafted us. And its our continued loyalty which makes Rangers the biggest draw anywhere, either in terms of income from supporters revenue or television viewing figures. Any move outside these shores will affect the Rangers support more than anyone else as we seek to follow our club. Given what has transpired over the last few days I'm sure you will understand more than anyone the anger felt when you are left out out of consultations, you deserve to be privy to.

I think the figure is 75% of the clubs accepting it.

Well not all the SFL are going for it - East Fife appear ready to reject it - so it may not yet happen

If the status quo had remained, and we had won the league we would not be playing the same teams as we have done this season. Furthermore he quotes the example of Ross Perry's injury - should we risking players in matches which will have no bearing whatsoever on where we play next season ? Valid point imo.

The 3rd tier in name only - its still the bottom tier which we are currently in, therefore winning the league will make no difference whatsoever to our starting position next season. Hence why he says the matches are meaningless.

Would do for this bear GS

If you take their top 7 attendances GS and compare it with ours they still come up short.

It' a long time since I enjoyed a good chuckle. The kind which have you aching in pain with laughter. It's also a considerable time since I last saw an episode of Dad's Army, or even thought about it. ( For the younger Bears among us Dad's Army was popular British sitcom based around the goings on at a Home Guard platoon) However events this week, courtesy of some of our most prolific and outspoken Rangers haters have ended both periods of abstinence. And there is certainly an element of â??old reliableâ? about chuckle No.1 as it features BBC Scotland and Stuart Cosgrove. Fresh from his mealy mouthed apology for labelling Rangers cheats over the use of EBT's he was back to his old self again, on Sportsound Extra, suggesting that Charles Green was using inflammatory language for financial gain ie to sell season tickets. Oh how I laughed. The man who is no stranger to the sectarian term â??hunâ? and who proudly relates a story on a train where he describes Rangers supporters as â??Orange Wankersâ? lecturing anyone on â??inflammatory languageâ? is an absolute hoot. Seems Charles Green having the temerity to defend Rangers has raised the ire of Mr Cosgrove. Well have I got news for you Mr Cosgrove...get used to it. Not only does this club not do walking away, we no longer do dignified silence either. To quote Corporal Jones....â?They don't like it up them do they ?â? Chuckle...or rather sides splitting No. 2 came courtesy of Leggo and his revelation that Phil many surnames had complained to the PCC over the Sun suggesting â??he was tarred by the sectarian brushâ?, with the PCC finding in favour of the newspaper. Perhaps there is some truth in the latest murmurings from republican supporters that Phil has something of an ego problem. Has no-one ever been kind enough to give Phil the cautionary advice that when you are in a hole donâ??t keep digging ? As Captain Mainwaring would say....â?Stupid boyâ? Those of us old enough to remember Dad's Army will remember the title credits at the end were always preceded by the caption â??You have been watchingâ?..... And this provides the biggest laugh of all courtesy of Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB) who publish British Television Viewing Figures. SPL Celtic v Aberdeen 91,000 Dundee Utd v Hibs 16,000 Hibs v Hearts 25,000 Ross County v Celtic 70,000 Dundee Utd v Dundee 75,000 ICT v Celtic 67,000 St Johnstone v Celtic 85,000 Aberdeen v Motherwell 41,000 Aberdeen v Hibs 44,000 Celtic v Hearts 183,000 Inverness v Ross County 38,000 St Mirren v Celtic 103,000 Hearts v Motherwell 61,000 Motherwell v Hibs 63,000 Dundee Utd v Celtic 87,000 Inverness v Hearts 48,000 Hibs v Dundee Utd 51,000 Inverness v Motherwell 51,000 Aberdeen v Celtic 105,000 Motherwell v Hearts 36,000 Hibs v Hearts 124,000 Hearts v Celtic 129,000 Dundee v Dundee Utd 89,000 Kilmarnock v Celtic 106,000 arbroath v Celtic 255,000 kilmarnock v Hibs 59,000 Hearts v Dundee Utd 61,000 Dundee Utd v Celtic 96,000 Total viewers 2,259,000 Average 80,679 per game. Rangers Peterhead v Rangers 166,000 Berwick v Rangers 96,000 Rangers v Elgin 85,000 Clyde v Rangers 127,000 Rangers v Elgin 291,000 Montrose v Rangers 79,000 Queens Park v Rangers 174,000 Total viewers 1,018,000 Average per game 145,428 Who else but Private Fraser could finish off this piece...? Was he speaking about the SPL when he gave us his catchphrase ? â??We're doomedâ?

Given the tribunal's verdict was not unanimous, I think that was always going to be the case bud.

Yes it certainly had that tone about it. Then again its difficult to decide which of the 2 is the most discredited - the one who it appears has had his bigot sttaus officially confirmed, or the one who exposed himself as a liar on national TV. Perhaps Spiers should try and claim some kind of Royalties commission in view of the considerable nos. of screenshots of his tweets which whizzed there way around the cyber world demonstrating what he claimed on national TV was a downright lie.

Yes I had noticed them communicating previously via Twitter - though on the occasion I saw, even Spiers was instructing 3 names to get therapy !

There is certainly a time limit placed on their right of appeal. But they first have to establish a right of appeal based on legal grounds - not just because they disagree with it and apply to the tribunal to do so.

David Gauke who has ministerial responsibility for HMRC has said they will appeal. They have to first negotiate the right to appeal however.

Im aware of the former Anchorman but has Spiers ever actively promoted his work ?

Appologies Ian - I had to look it up myself... http://www.barb.co.uk/ Provides weekly audience viewing figures for the UK.

Here are this seasons Edge - taken from BARB SPL Celtic v Aberdeen 91,000 Dundee Utd v Hibs 16,000 Hibs v Hearts 25,000 Ross County v Celtic 70,000 Dundee Utd v Dundee 75,000 ICT v Celtic 67,000 St Johnstone v Celtic 85,000 Aberdeen v Motherwell 41,000 Aberdeen v Hibs 44,000 Celtic v Hearts 183,000 Inverness v Ross County 38,000 St Mirren v Celtic 103,000 Hearts v Motherwell 61,000 Motherwell v Hibs 63,000 Dundee Utd v Celtic 87,000 Inverness v Hearts 48,000 Hibs v Dundee Utd 51,000 Inverness v Motherwell 51,000 Aberdeen v Celtic 105,000 Motherwell v Hearts 36,000 Hibs v Hearts 124,000 Hearts v Celtic 129,000 Dundee v Dundee Utd 89,000 Kilmarnock v Celtic 106,000 arbroath v Celtic 255,000 kilmarnock v Hibs 59,000 Hearts v Dundee Utd 61,000 Dundee Utd v Celtic 96,000 Total viewers 2,259,000 Average 80,679 per game. Rangers Peterhead v Rangers 166,000 Berwick v Rangers 96,000 Rangers v Elgin 85,000 Clyde v Rangers 127,000 Rangers v Elgin 291,000 Montrose v Rangers 79,000 Queens Park v Rangers 174,000 Total viewers 1,018,000 Average per game 145,428

I agree with some of the points raised - there is a distinct lack of clarity surrounding events - some we will sadly never know. I was thinking something more around a timeline of events we do know and how it felt from a Rangers supporter's perspective.

At present the only book which looks at the Rangers crisis over the last 12 months has been written by someone with a particular hatred of our club. Is there a need for a book which seeks to look at the whole debacle from the perspective of the Rangers support ? I ask because a number of bears have suggested I address this imbalance.

There was a PDF document on FF recently Edge. They made grim reading.

There is a suggestion f om Longmuir in his most recent interview, that the SFL will try and negotiate a separate deal with the TV companies from the SPL.

And a haughty spirit before a fall. And there is ample evidence of that haughty spirit. After reading a number of newspaper columns over the last few weeks there is a consistent theme emerging that the SPL is going through something of a Utopia period with the absence of Rangers. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with marketing which attempts to â??sex upâ? the product, the danger comes however when you begin to believe the hype and ignore the facts. Part of that Utopian myth appears to suggest the absence of Rangers has made the SPL more â??family friendlyâ? In the last 2 weeks we have seen scenes at Dens Park which one official compared to a â??throwback to the 70'sâ? and â??the worst scenes in 20 yearsâ?. Add to that a 10 year ball boy being the victim of someone spitting in his face at the Edinburgh derby, as well as chairs damaged at Pittodrie in the Aberdeen vs Dundee United match. Perhaps it's just me but such scenes are not my interpretation of â??family friendlyâ?. Furthermore the â??sexed upâ? product does not appear to be selling that well despite considerable marketing. Attendances are down, but more significantly, TV viewing figures have also seen a considerable drop. Clubs are having to offer considerable discount on batches of ticket sales in an effort to encourage sales. The Sell out Saturdays campaign is a dim and distant memory. Rangers in the 3rd Division of the SFL continue to draw attendances which outstrip those of the combined SPL games. Tam Cowan was pontificating in a recent column that the predicted Armageddon for Scottish football had not happened. I think Tam needs to go back to bible class, Armageddon comes after considerable signs and warnings. Contract talks between Dundee United and their manager Peter Houston, have dragged on for some considerable time without resolution. Quite simply Dundee United don't have the money to give him the kind of favourable contract he negotiated in the aftermath of their Scottish Cup triumph. I have little doubt the pinch is being felt throughout the rest of the SPL. Of course part of the â??sexing upâ? of the SPL in the newspapers, is nothing more than a GIRUY to Rangers and their support. It would be a complete humiliation for all of those involved with the rejection of Rangers membership if they had to subsequently concede that the SPL needs us, or more appropriately, the money and viewing figures we generate. This is not a Rangers supporter gloating at the trials and tribulations affecting the SPL, just someone objective enough to compare the hype with the hard facts and the harsh realities of market forces. It is perhaps appropriate that the decision whether or not to unleash Armageddon on Scottish football will not come from a Rangers hater or a Rangers lover for that matter, but rather a TV executive reviewing this season's SPL viewing figures which will be devoid of any â??sexing upâ?.

Some great pics in there

LETTER 3 Shona.Robison.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Dear Ms Robinson, I write to you in your current capacity as Minister of Commonwealth Games and Sport, with regard to the conduct of those involved in the governance of Scottish football, the SFA and the SPL. The demise of Rangers FC in the early part of 2012 set about a chain of events, many of which are now the subject of criminal investigation, however there are a set of circumstances which appear to have gone without comment from Scottish MSP's, and that is the conduct of the governing bodies of the SFA and SPL. It has been clearly discussed in the public domain, by a number of respected journalists who have seen the documentation in question, as well as the Chief Executive of Rangers FC that Rangers FC were subjected to a 5 way agreement. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-football-chiefs-secret-plan-1167046 Such a document totally usurps the founding principle of Scots, and of course European Law, that a party is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore in seeking a solution to the accommodation of Rangers FC in Scottish Football, those same governing bodies appear to have embarked on a course of conduct which is nothing short of abhorrent in this day and age. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/mobile/sport/morton-chiefs-blast-at-spl-sfa-bullies.18115147 http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/109094-raith-director-we-are-being-bullied-and-lied-to-over-rangers-situation/ As if bullying, threatening and manipulating are not in themselves sufficient damning indictment on these regimes of governance, the fact that Rangers FC are currently playing their football with a transfer embargo hanging over them, in direct contravention of Lord Glennie's ruling at the Edinburgh Court of Session, merely underlines an apparent willingness by these governing bodies to usurp both the fundamental principles and application of the laws of our country. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/9297771/Rangers-transfer-embargo-ruled-unlawful.html Perhaps the suggestion that Rangers Chief Executive, Mr Charles Green, was “blackmailed” into accepting such an embargo in return for an SFA licence confirms that this situation is totally untenable. The individuals concerned remain in post at the respective governing bodies. I would ask you to give careful consideration to the ramifications and consequences of this. In a country where we instruct our schoolchildren not to bear the bully, where we encourage workplace staff to report intimidation, is it acceptable that we turn a blind eye to such conduct within the governing bodies of our national game ? Where we have a whole host of respected SFL chairmen providing corroboratory evidence that they were bullied, threatened and manipulated by those in governance of our national game, is it it not incumbent upon us to not only ask questions within parliament, but to launch an enquiry in order to establish what actually transpired ? I look forward to your comments. Yours sincerely

I agree Scott - it would be of greater worth if anyone writing used my material (or their own) as a basis rather than a copy & paste

LETTER 2 maria.miller.mp@parliament.uk Dear Ms Miller, I write to you in your capacity as Minister for Media and Culture, having taken particular note of your letter to Lord Patten at the BBC Trust, dated 23.10.2012 in which you commented :- â??In all our conversations we have talked about the paramount importance of full public trust in the BBCâ??s inquiries and agreed that it is essential that licence fee payers can be assured that they are being conducted thoroughly and with the full cooperation of the BBC, in line with the Trustâ??s duty to â??ensure that the BBC observes high standards of openness and transparencyâ?. I wish to bring to your attention a set of circumstances at BBC Scotland which does little to engender public trust in the BBC, nor does it suggest that BBC managers are operating to a high standard of openness and transparency. On the 16th November, 2012 I wrote to the BBC to complain about an apparent Breach Of Trust within BBC Scotland. The subject and nature of my complaint was as follows :- Dear Sir/Madam I write to you regarding an apparent Breach of Trust involving an employee (unknown) at BBC Scotland. On the 17th October 2012, BBC Scotland announced an â??exclusiveâ? interview with the former chairman of Rangers FC, Craig Whyte. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19975957 Refers. However prior to this interviews release details of the interview had already been published on an internet bloggerâ??s website and BBC Scotland had lost â??exclusivityâ? with regard to this interview. http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/hurricane-craigie-set-to-hit-ibrox/#more-3237 As you can see Mr Macgiollabhainâ??s blog appeared the day before BBC Scotland published their â??exclusiveâ?. The only possible explanation for this is that someone at BBC Scotland leaked the details of this interview to Mr Macgiollabhain thus gazumping BBC Scotlandâ??s scoop. Please could you investigate this matter and advise me if the person responsible has been identified and what steps BBC Scotland have taken to ensure licence payers money is not used in the future for some internet bloggerâ??s benefit, and the exclusivity of BBC Scotland journalism is protected in the future. This complaint was allocated a unique reference no. CAS-1795300-0JMSKS and I received an interim notification from the BBC that the matter was under investigation and would take them longer than their normal quality of service commitment for correspondence. On the 27th December, 2012, I received the following communication from the BBC with regard to my complaint :- Thank you for your e-mail addressed to the BBC Trust, who have forwarded it to BBC Scotland for response. Your comments were passed to the Head of Sport, who has asked that I forward his response as follows: "Thank you for your comments. BBC Scotland takes issues of security and confidentiality in relation to editorial material very seriously and we have spoken to staff to remind them of their responsibilities in this area." Thank you, once again, for taking the time to contact us. Details of the BBC complaints process are available online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/handle.shtml Kind Regards Patrick McManus BBC Complaints It is my opinion that such a serious breach of trust warranted a far more robust response than merely a reminder to staff. The lack of any type of internal investigation or attempt to identify the culprit means the opportunity exists for further breaches of trust. All correspondence from the BBC with regard to this matter was sent from automated accounts and thus I am unable to respond to their communication. It is particularly disappointing that BBC Scotland management display a complete lack of willingness to protect the journalistic integrity of their own staff and a complete lack of accountability to the BBC licence payer who could be forgiven for thinking their licence money is being used to resource and benefit an internet blogger in the Republic of Ireland. I look forward to your comments. Your sincerely