chilledbear 16 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 @RangersStandard: Big story going up on the site tomorrow morning. Nothing for Rangers fans to be concerned about though. Brace yourselves. ''Dotting the i's and crossing the t's. Should be up within the hour. Impatient bunch aren't you? In all seriousness we need to get this spot on so please bear with us.'' ''With all due respect, we "know something you don't" because we spent the time going out and finding it. We are not keeping anything to ourselves but we do this in our spare time and need to ensure we are covered legally when breaking a story as opposed to giving opinions. I'm sure you understand that? Taken from FF. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,239 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 "Nothing for Rangers fans to be concerned about" ... this is all the info one needs at this moment and time. You hate people murmuring about big news and earth-shattering events ... without giving at least a hint in what direction it might go. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juancornetto 1 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 So?.............. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltersgotstyle 297 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/305-exclusive-european-commission-seek-explanation-on-celtic-land-deals Interesting article... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluedell 5,329 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/305-exclusive-european-commission-seek-explanation-on-celtic-land-deals Celtic representatives have been in Brussels as part of a preliminary investigation by the European Commission into land deals between Celtic and Glasgow City Council. The probe relates to question marks over the purchase of various plots of land, including their Lennoxtown training complex, which it has been alleged constitute State Aid. In recent months, the European Commission Directorate General for Competition State Aid has announced several formal investigations into allegations of State Aid involving Spanish and Dutch clubs - including Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven. The latest club to become embroiled in an investigation, over an arrangement with their local council regarding the Liberty Stadium, is Swansea City. The situation with Celtic is not yet at the same stage as the Spanish and Dutch investigations, but preliminary meetings have been held and information has been requested by the European Commission. When contacted by the Rangers Standard, an EC spokesperson said: "We have indeed received complaints about alleged aid in land deals between Glasgow and Celtic and we have requested and received detailed information from the UK authorities, lastly in December 2013." "There is no legal deadline to conclude a State aid investigation; the duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case". It is understood that both Celtic and Glasgow City Council are extremely concerned at the possibility of the preliminary investigation leading to the type of full investigation which has been initiated in respect of Spanish and Dutch clubs. Celtic have purchased several plots of land from State organisations, which have historically been Labour controlled, at low prices. These include the purchase for only, £497,000, of the land their Lennoxtown training ground was built on. It is believed that the recent sale of London Road Primary School may also now fall under examination. If you are interested in more forensic detail on the various purchases and valuations then you should visit the excellent http://footballtaxhavens.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/state-aid-assembling-the-case-for-the-eu/ The European Commission has wide ranging powers if there is found to have been a breach of the regulations. The Commission can require the Member State to recover the aid with interest from the beneficiary (in this case Celtic). This could lead to a potential bill of over £30m for Celtic, which would have to be repaid over a maximum period of ten years. Any finding of guilt would put pressure on the SFA to probe ianyadvantage that any sporting advantage that discounted deals brought. It may also fall foul of new UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations. This news comes only a day after the announcement that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are to examine the conduct of Co-Op Bank officials over allegations of tie ins with the Labour Party. Celtic, who can count former Labour Minister, John Reid and former Labour MP, Brian Wilson amongst their former and current directors, were the recipients of extremely favourable loan deals from the Co-Op Bank and those are almost certain to be examined as part of the investigation. It is believed that the State-owned land obtained by Celtic was used as security for these loans. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2514682/Co-op-Bank-slammed-cheap-loans-Celtic-Football-Club.html The European Commission probe is separate to this however and Celtic will potentially have to fight on two fronts to show that they have not been the beneficiaries of either State Aid or politically motivated, favourable loans secured against the land purchased. Last year Celtic employed a lawyer with litigation experience as their Company Secretary. If anyone has any information regarding these allegations then please contact The Rangers Standard in confidence and we will incorporate it into any further enquiries. Anyone with detailed information or any specific complaints relating to State Aid on this matter should contact the European Commission at Stateaidgreffe@ec.europa.eu . Also if you have any relevant details on the Co-Op investigation you can contact the PRA at PRAwhistleblowing@bankofengland.co.uk . 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,239 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 At long last. You hope these organisations outwith Lawwell's and Desmond's reach will go after them and take them to the cleaners. Not that I expect that much response in the Scottish media with regards to financial doping (Coop deals et al) and bringing the game into disrepute and whatnot ... 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Artagnan 173 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 A great article - and a set of events we need to keep highlighting 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,409 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 McConnell denies influencing M74 land deal with Labour donor THE First Minister yesterday denied influencing a land deal after it emerged he met a high-profile Labour donor shortly before an award of £16 million in compensation was made. Willie Haughey, a former director of Celtic Football Club, was in the midst of a compensation row over the route of the M74 through his premises in Glasgow when he met Jack McConnell at a social event. The businessman asked Mr McConnell if the Executive was involved in the negotiations. Mr Haughey confirmed that he received a reply within days. Opposition parties said the meeting raised questions over Mr McConnell’s own involvement in the land deal. But both Mr McConnell and Mr Haughey insisted there was nothing sinister about the brief interaction. The meeting took place in November or December 2003 - neither side can recall exactly when. At that time papers show an ongoing wrangle between Mr Haughey’s City Refrigeration Holdings (CRH) and Brian Kerr from the Valuation Office Agency - a branch of the Inland Revenue - regarding the sale of the properties. In November 2003, Mr Kerr made a fully-costed recommendation of 7.4 million compensation which was then rejected by CRH, which made a claim of 26.5 million. However, weeks later, CRH was offered 10.2 million, then 12.8 million, and talks were opened with the Executive’s regional selective assistance officials. A deal was effectively sealed on 6 April, 2004 for 13.3 million, but the figure has since risen to 16.5 million plus a tenancy agreement involving rent at a discounted rate. When Mr Haughey met the First Minister, the valuation was still ongoing. However, he said his brief conversation with the Mr McConnell was simply to check that the district valuer was not part of the Executive. Mr Haughey said it was just a "ten-second conversation" but within days he received a phone call telling him the valuation was nothing to do with the Scottish Executive. Mr Haughey, who reportedly donated 330,000 just days before the meeting, said claims Mr McConnell had a personal involvement in the valuation was "laughable". "I made sure all the Ts were crossed and the Is dotted because of my profile, and because I am a member of the party we wanted to make sure every single thing is above board 100 per cent and double- checked," he said. A spokesperson for Mr McConnell also denied the First Minister had personally influenced the land deal. However, she confirmed that the pair had met and that Mr McConnell subsequently checked whether the Executive was involved. She continued: "After finding that the Executive had not been involved in the deliberations between the company and the district valuer, the matter was closed." The Tories claim there are still unanswered questions. A spokesman said: "Some important questions have been raised in the media, and we are sure everybody concerned will want the full answers to emerge since substantial amounts of money are involved." Nicola Sturgeon, the Holyrood leader of the SNP, said: "We are not suggesting any wrongdoing on the part of the First Minister. "It is the case, however, that the First Minister has now admitted an involvement in the case prior to the offer of increased compensation to Mr Haughey’s company. "It is important in the interests of complete transparency and accountability that the full details of Mr McConnell’s interest and activity, however limited these may be, are made public now." After years of wrangling, the Executive gave the go-ahead for the 500 million extension to the M74 two weeks ago. Rosie Kane, the Socialist MSP for Glasgow who lives along the route, was "utterly disgusted, appalled and ashamed" by the latest development. She said: "This route will bring pollution and toxic fumes. It seems the decision-making in relation to this route is toxic as well. It is people getting their pockets lined at the expense of the community." http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/mcconnell-denies-influencing-m74-land-deal-with-labour-donor-1-706605 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Rebo's Big Blue Nose 0 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 This should be front page news on every rag/broadsheet in this country but that will never happen. The mhedia will not touch this as they dont want to upset the "establishment". 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTP 0 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Haughey has history of dodgy dealings along with his mate Purcell from GCC does he not. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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