Stewart Regan under fire as details emerge about Scottish Cup final meeting

[ian1964 10,441]

THE issue strikes at the very heart of the integrity of one of Scottish football’s most influential figures and puts Regan’s reputation and his job on the line.

 

RELATIONS between Rangers and the SFA are in disarray over claims Stewart Regan misled the Daily Record about a Scottish Cup meeting.

 

Record Sport can reveal there have been angry exchanges after the SFA chief executive cancelled a get together scheduled for yesterday he tried to deny was even taking place.

 

The issue strikes at the very heart of the integrity of one of Scottish football’s most influential figures and puts Regan’s reputation - and maybe even his £250,000-a-year job - on the line.

 

Ibrox managing director Stewart Robertson and Regan last week arranged a meeting for “early next week” to discuss the aftermath of the publication of the Bowen Report into the chaos that followed the cup final in May.

 

However, Regan subsequently told Record Sport no such meeting had been agreed because the judicial process had to be seen to take its course and he was mindful of the reaction of Hibs, in particular.

 

Rangers are furious at Regan’s version of events and the questions it unfairly raises over the trustworthiness of Robertson.

 

A club spokesman said: “Rangers have written confirmation that such a meeting was to have taken place early this week.”

 

After verbally agreeing the meeting last week, it was formally put in the diary by the offices of both men on Thursday afternoon, to take place yesterday at 10am.

 

However, Regan claimed he was unaware that admin task had been completed between personal assistants and scrapped the get together, accusing Rangers of trying to score points.

 

Rangers had released a statement on Friday August 5 demanding urgent talks with Regan, Bowen and McGlennan because they felt the independent report missed the point in several key areas.

 

Robertson and Regan held discussions over the phone last week and Rangers were told a meeting with Bowen and McGlennan was out of the question.

 

However, he agreed to an “informal” get together with Robertson, in the presence of the SFA’s chief operating officer Andrew McKinlay.

 

Record Sport, following up on the initial Rangers statement, contacted the SFA last Wednesday to ask if the Ibrox club had requested a meeting, as they promised and, if so, when it would take place.

 

Regan confirmed to us a meeting with McGlennan and Bowen was impossible, but he would be happy to meet Robertson at an “appropriate” time and ideally when the independent process had been completed.

 

In a call to us the following day he added: “The fact of the matter is, if that meeting is positioned as a formal meeting then clearly it’s not right to be doing it before the process is played out.

 

“There was no meeting, there was nothing finalised, nothing arranged. It was literally left that we weren’t going to get involved because of the independent process.”

 

Rangers maintain they are well within their rights to ask for talks and have no desire to influence the position of compliance officer Tony McGlennan, who has yet to rule what football charges, if any, should be brought against the cup finalists.

 

The Ibrox club have drawn up a series of recommendations, with the assistance of security boss Robin Howe, they were adamant would safeguard all players and clubs in future, but which were overlooked by Bowen.

 

The spokesman added: “Rangers have no wish to become embroiled in a situation not of their making. All Rangers did – and it was a perfectly natural and understandable reaction – was to request a meeting.

 

“We wished to point out inaccuracies contained within the Sheriff’s report and make suggestions which might help prevent any repeat of the scenes witnessed at the end of the Scottish Cup final when Rangers players and members of staff were attacked.

 

“It is important to stress we sought nothing more than to discuss safety procedures so that no other club suffers such a terrifying experience. We should all be united in trying to achieve that outcome.”

 

The SFA last night declined to comment.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-sfa-stewart-regan-under-8639005

[D'Artagnan 173]

I dont know if anyone remembers the BBC phone in on the Monday following the Cup Final - I think it was presented by Kaye Adams (though she failed to confirm when asked via twitter) Rangers & Hibs fans were phoning in to give their versions of events. I tried searching for it on BBC IPlayer but it does not seem to be available.

 

At least one Hibs fans claimed the intention to invade the park in the event of a Hibs victory was all over Social Media the week before whilst another said it was obvious towards the end as Hibs fans positioned themselves that a pitch invasion was imminent.

 

Yet Bowen's report claims there was no evidence of a pre-meditated intention to invade the park.

Edited August 16, 2016 by D'Artagnan

[Frankie 8,182]

Why on Earth would the SFA not welcome such a meeting?

 

A circus once again led by the clown in chief.

[jhunter 0]

what are these rats up to now?

Edited August 16, 2016 by jhunter

[ian1964 10,441]

I dont know if anyone remembers the BBC phone in on the Monday following the Cup Final - I think it was presented by Kaye Adams (though she failed to confirm when asked via twitter) Rangers & Hibs fans were phoning in to give their versions of events. I tried searching for it on BBC IPlayer but it dos not seem to be available.

 

At least one Hibs fans claimed the intention to invade the park in the event of a Hibs victory was all over Social Media the week before whilst another said it was obvious towards the end as Hibs positioned themselves that a pitch invasion was imminent.

 

Yet Bowen's report claims there was no evidence of a pre-mediated intention to invade the park.

 

Aye, I remember it and recall the the Hibs fan saying it was preplanned.

[Uilleam 5,486]

Presumably, Bowen interviewed SFA officials, and the Police, either or both of whom averred

that there was no evidence of a pre-planned invasion.

It would be interesting to know the actual amount of research Bowen/his team undertook in this regard,

given the categoric nature of the report's finding.

[ian1964 10,441]

Regan is C****c Peters' patsy,corrupt to the core and have a free run at it without question from any other Scottish club!

[D'Artagnan 173]

Presumably, Bowen interviewed SFA officials, and the Police, either or both of whom averred

that there was no evidence of a pre-planned invasion.

It would be interesting to know the actual amount of research Bowen/his team undertook in this regard,

given the categoric nature of the report's finding.

 

Yes that would be interesting - furthermore if his assertion that it was not pre-meditated came from the Police, who of course were not prepared, then I think its fair to assume such evidence has been completely overlooked.

[compo 6,212]

Seen this on the front page of the record almost bought it into l I picked it up and seen the newspaper was thinner than a beggars wallet what better way to sell a west of Scotland rag than rent the buyer with another Rangers story does the paper have direct quotes from Ibrox or from the SFA is there a copy of this meeting on sofa letterheading even an email keep you 65 pence in your pocket or buy a decent paper .

[ian1964 10,441]

Regans' side kick is also a patsy for C****c Peter.

 

Neil Doncaster: We were right to let Celtic KO Partick game

 

NEIL DONCASTER has defended the SPFL’s ‘joker game’ system, insisting it has HELPED Scottish clubs financially.

 

Partick Thistle boss Alan Archibald claimed it was “farcical” that Celtic postponed a Premiership match against Jags to face Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup.

 

But SPFL chief executive Doncaster insists the controversial system is a reward for Scotland’s biggest clubs voting to take LESS money in 2013.

 

Doncaster told SunSport: “When the SPFL was formed three years ago, there were a lot of negotiations around the redistribution of wealth down the leagues.

 

“The bigger clubs were giving up fairly substantial amounts of money to clubs lower down the leagues and particularly in the Championship.

 

“These clubs have to look at the ways to recoup some of this money and the joker system is part of what enables that.

 

“That money they gave up had to come from somewhere and the bigger clubs look at different ways of generating income — with the International Champions Cup one of them for Celtic.

 

“I understand the inconvenience that it can cause for clubs to have games postponed, but it’s a balancing act.

 

“To have our SPFL champions invited to such a prestigious tournament involving the world’s very best teams is a huge accolade and brings positives.

 

“It reflects well on the league and at a time when money is tight, these sort of tournaments can bring revenue into the game.”

 

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/7224908/Neil-Doncaster-We-were-right-to-let-Celtic-KO-Partick-game.html