Sadly, I was not surprised to learn that BBC Scotland had, at least temporarily, dispensed with the services of Mikey Stewart.
On Monday the ex-Manchester United midfielder had said live on air that Mr James Traynor was “a dangerous character”.
The pundit then outlined several facts about the PR man.
One of his references to Traynor sending copy to Craig Whyte for prior approval was entirely accurate.
Stewart’s assertion was based on this exclusive by Channel Four correspondent Alex Thomson.
You can read it here.
For something to be actionable it must be untrue.
Mr Traynor, of course, has recourse to law if he feels that he has been defamed.
The BBC, unlike the print media, does not have to worry about advertising revenue or circulation figures.
Consequently, they can fulfill their role as public sector broadcasters with impartiality.
The management at Pacific Quay has demonstrated admirable resolve in the face to Sevco’s attempt to dictate which member of staff is allowed into Ibrox.
Essentially the basket of assets was told that if Chris McLaughlin wasn’t acceptable then no one was.
Fair play.
However, this recent incident with Stewart merely fuels the belief at Sevco that they can get the local media to do their bidding.
For the avoidance of doubt, the role of the Fourth Estate is to hold power to account.
By caving into Sevco on this matter the BBC is failing in that crucial duty.
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The BBC and Sky are overrun with former Rangers players. It’s almost a right of passage.
Qualifications for the job son?
‘Gies a break, don’t you know who I am?
A played for the Gers, the Teddy Bears, hate the Cellic.’
Hired, welcome aboard, lets shake hands on it.
Joseph…your last 5 words are the key to a job with this mob.
Hail hail
I found the best way to challenge the Bullingdon Boys Club was to stop paying the TV TAX/License.
I had the displeasure of receiving the obligatory threatening phone call that followed the numerous letters I received after filling out the online opt out forms.
But to counter that I had the upmost pleasure into telling them to Foxtrot Oscar in person after dismissing their rather pathetic attempts at bullying.
I would urge any of you who are still forced into paying this farce of a stealth tax to do likewise.
https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/topics/cancellations-and-refunds-top7
Go on it’s the best £154.50 I never spent this year.
The basic CTV package only cost £50 for the year 😉👍🏼
The Klans forum’s have more hatred than normal tonight as the morelos FAKE news story continues. They are going ballistic about no one from their club/board having come out to back morelos up . They must be wondering where the fantastic Mr King is in all of this as he is usually the first out the traps to keep the Klan on side but no sight of him or even a whimper from him . Anyone would think he has done a runner either that or he is on a sponsored silence due to him supposedly being out of there by the middle of January. Anyway interesting times ahead with the PANIC button just about to be pressed.
Posts are improving Scud!
I just get the feeling some people found Mikey Stewart a thorn in their sides and have been waiting to slam dunk him. As soon as they got hold of anything slightly contentious they made their move. He tells the truth get him back on our screens or a mass boycott of unpopular bbc licenses might Ensue.
This episode will be available soon
06/02/2020
Sportscene2019/20
Jonathan Sutherland is joined by Michael Stewart and Steven Thompson for a look back at Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership action.
58 minutes
The bbc Sportscene website is stating tonight’s episode at 7pm will be available soon on iplayer. It states Stewart is presenting but James McFadden took his place.
The failure of the BBC to comment on anything pertaining to Celtic’s press releases regarding Sky Sports, and indeed a fellow broadcaster being reported to Ofcom proves just how selective the national broadcaster is in its ‘news’ output.
Moreover, if this were Manchester United or Liverpool then it would most likely be on the front pages of every national (UK) newspaper as well as the back pages.
The same would be true if the Rangers saga applied to one of the great English clubs.
Once again, Scotland is shown up as a footballing backwater. What I refer to are scandalous events which the police should be investigating thoroughly.
As for Michael Stewart, it is refreshing to see someone who did not play for Celtic or Rangers to hold such a prominent position in football punditry. He is a cut above the average pundit because he is intelligent, articulate and insightful. I don’t agree with everything he says, or indeed his politics, but I enjoy his contributions on the whole and for him to be gagged in this way is a complete violation of the right to free speech.
As for the BBC’s apology to Mr Traynor, it was of the succulent lamb variety.
Is there a crime here? He’s paid to speak his mind.
If there even is a crime the severity of the punishment far outstrips it.
A verbal warning yes. Going straight to pulling him from screens or sacking him is overreaction and unbalanced.
Sadly it’s pretty obvious MS is f&+#@d …. He will not get another BBC gig now… Hopefully BT take him in … But sadly he’s done. What a place our wee country is….. Sally et asll will always get a gig … Those not singing to the inbox time will not …
A rather awkward Sportscene tonight. I can’t blame another former player from accepting the invite. They have wives and kids to look after and if you knock back the bbc when asked that’s u probably blacklisted and not asked back on anything.
Turnberry and Sevco hooking up with no money changing hands. Both have not posted a profit in the last eight years. Have both received Scottish Government funding? I won’t be playing golf there. Donald needs to step in and tear it up.
If Derek MacKay is not fit to be a Scottish Govt minister then he is not fit to be an MSP either. Is his actions commensurate with holding a MSP seat?
SNP vulnerable children care provisions are failing incidentally.
Get Ofcom involved with BBC as well Mckintyre & Co are getting a freebie here by doing The Fat Controllers work for him without any come back from anyone . Get this bigoted lot barred from Celtic Park as they are sticking up for Traynor they are buying into his lies . Let them know we ain’t taking any of their s**t .
Of course news like this and Morelosgate are just part of the plan to shine the light anywhere but on the club’s financials.
The last annual accounts showed a £13m loss on a turnover of £52m.
So the running costs then were just over £5m per month.
Costs are now higher. Full year wages for Davis and Defoe, new contracts for Morelos and Barisic plus Kent’s transfer fee and wages.
Revenue is topped out and will be comparable with last season, unless there is a serious run in the Europa.
A minimum of £25m is required to take them through to the arrival of 2020/21 ST monies.
With not a single big money bid for Morelos or Tavernier, or Kamara from Juve, where is the cash going to come from?
You can be sure that if any big offer had come in for anyone on the Rangers payroll the MSSM would be splashing the news all over the back pages, bigging up how the Ibrox club knocked back huge offers to keep their best players in situ.
Haud on, when does that Chinese transfer market shut?
Thats all without mentioning the Close Bros arrangement nor the bill which eventually will arrive from Sports Direct.
Follow the money and thats where the real stories are.
Lol Joseph apparently The Sun are running with this one that Morelos is away to Liverpool in the next transfer window . Klopp is making him his number 1 target and signing . I could not believe it myself a week after the transfer window shuts he is already mentioned about another big move oh dear .
For all that Michael Stewart said and it’s the truth why has The Fat Controller not got some lawyer’s on to him . Because he knows Michael Stewart is telling the truth . There are still people on follow follow who are in denial of the morelos interview and what he said as they continue to say he did say he was racially abused at Celtic Park by our fans . There is also talk on there that it was Celtic that got the interview set up with morelos and they are to blame for the subtitles. You really do wonder what planet these people are on .
No one says it better than Michael Stewart and someone at Celtic should hire him as a PR/Spokesman for the club should the Beeb continue to pish itself from fear of Jabba. HH
Yep, you can have an opinion on BBC Scotland, as long as its nothing negative about Rangers.
That can end your pundit career there and then.
Evening all…. it goes to show what lengths all the society members will do to tarnish reputations of folk who speak the truth and facts. They all ought to be ashamed of their continual actions…. Typical deflections and trying to cover up the mess that they are all in… Scotlands Shame.
I write to the BBC fairly frequently…on a variety of matters…and its always to query or complain.
Not once, however, have I had a satisfactory reply.
I receive mealy mouthed explanations at best…and basically… go and get lost at worst.
The bottom line is…This is an organisation that is flame-proof…and is answerable to no one.
Its worse in Scotland…because here there is absolutely no doubt that, when it comes to football matters,their policies are geared to all things Sevco.
And the irony of that is…They are barred from the hallowed halls of Govan…Go figure that one.
The Mikey Stewart situation surprises me not one little bit…its in their DNA to re-act as they have done.
Oh and Mikey should always remember…unfair dismissal is challengeable.
Go get ’em son. !!
Oh and here’s a wee gem of a story…
Back in the 60’s my mate ( slightly inebriated ) was being supported by his good lady as they made their way home from a party in their home town…around 1.am.
A car pulled up beside them and the lady passenger explained that they were trying to get to their home town of Gourock…but admitted they were lost…and could my mate give them directions ??
He bent down…looked in the car…and then said…
“Are you Peter Thomson fae the BBC sports programme ?”
“Yes I am ” was the reply.
“Then find yer ain way tae Gourock …ya Bluenose bastart.”
True story.
The BBC being afraid of legal action from a “Mr James Traynor” is laughable and shows that it is scared to upset The Rangers.Soon the long standing feud will end and Kenny Miller will join Thompson. Dodds,McCann,(Derek)Ferguson and(Willie) Miller to ensure that the BBC gives out the right message to its viewers and listeners. Also since Sky Sports News ‘hostility to Celtic and its supporters has now been exposed and STV having a Business contract with The Rangers,it’s suddenly become harder to watch foofball on TV without getting angry at the bias being displayed.With regard to the West of Scotland newspaper industry,Celtic is treated as a foreign body by the Scottish Sun,Evening Times and the Glasgow Herald so there’s not much left for us!!
Hi Phil any reason for my posts not going through .
I notice that the SFA remain entirely silent on the entire matter. Had I been in charge, Sky would be invited to jump on the next available flight from LHR to GLA to explain themselves fully, and if unsatisfied by their answers, their broadcasting contract would be handed to them, which they could subsequently use as toilet paper. Likewise, the BBC would also be in the firing line for backing down to Scotland’s most (ie: ONLY) corrupt club.
I would dearly love to know EXACTLY what hold Jabba has over the entire SMSM. Jacob Otto Dietrich would be proud of Jabba’s machinations!!
Not only have the BBC thrown Michael Stewart under a bus they have refused, as far as I can see, to release the Podcast from the night Mr Stewart stood up and was counted.
I generally laugh when foreign leaders complain of the impartiality of the BBC. I feel they are seen as impartial and beyond reproach by most sensible people.
However, consider this.
BBC Scotland felt the need to issue a grovelling apology to Jabba.
They extensively carried the story of the Morelos interview and it’s very negative implications for Celtic supporters.
When the story was found to be a fabrication of translation they have only referred to it obliquely in their gossip page.
When Celtic released a press release complaining to Sky the BBC don’t seem to find this newsworthy.
When Celtic follow up with a scathing denunciation of Sky’s response they still don’t find it newsworthy.
Add to this the apology to Sevco for the Chinese bid for Morelos story based on no substantiated evidence at all.
Are the BBC really impartial. Non football and non Celtic fans should be equally shocked at this editorial malpractice and question where they mislead in other news areas.
Justso.
I was thinking the exact same thing myself. As tthey say: mud sticks,
Imagine anyone anywhere in the world just casually seeing the Morelos interview (whice was broadcast in many platforms) or reading the headlines about Celtic supporters….. now that its been disproved where is the big headlines stating either Sevco or sky have either individually or collaborated in damaging Celtic and its supporters reputation.
We live in the age of smartphones where big headlines like this pop up on your newsfeed, I read a story about Liverpool once and ever since that i get Liverpool stories pop up my new feeds. I had this racist story about Celtic come up on my phone’s new feed but have not had any story pop up about it all being a load of lies! Like I said at the start :Mud Sticks. So its job done as far as Sky or Sevco are concerned.
Celtic really need to go after this one hard.
Follows of the Independence move,ent land Independence parties have known for a long time that the BBC is far from impartial, in news, current affairs and now football. They are the mouthpiece of the Establishment (Tory) and the establishment team.
Thin end of the wedge
It’s such a shame that truth seeker is treated this way.
I would love to see, Mikey Stewart and Chris Sutton, head fro Sky when theBT deal ends in Scotland. Can you imagine Kris Boyd’s face, then…. If he looks like a baldy, Marti Pellow who’s just been stung by a bee, can you imagine, the swelling when Sutty, Stewart and Co rolled into town. …
No more Buffalo Soldier sing songs then. Micheal Stewart has had his wings clipped, because he couldn’t be bought, bartered or sold, the guy’s taken a real stepforward for open, free thinking In sport media in Scotland.
This in time will serve Michael well, it may not be today but his integrity and respect will come out of this debacle with a five star rating.
Whomst could have foresaw the BBC failing to hold power to account?
Good afternoon
MICHAEL STEWART – SPORTSCENE
Assuming the veracity of media reports regarding Michael Stewart being ‘axed’ from BBC Scotland’s ‘Sportscene’ programme, I am dismayed that such a knowledgeable, and professional contributor is being removed from the show, even if only for a short time.
Stewart’s – now well-documented – contribution regarding the necessity of providing evidence in support of potentially damaging claims made for a refreshing, truthful sharing of a professional opinion. Similarly, highlighting that the possible motive of presenting such claims could be to deflect from other false suggestions after someone was found suspiciously examining the car of a high profile footballer, is entirely credible and justified.
If such as Michael Stewart is to be ‘gagged’ whenever opinions likely to upset individuals and/or organisations are expressed, then the right of free speech is being seriously compromised. Notwithstanding that Stewart’s views on this occasion have articulated and given voice to the perspective of many right-thinking people, this instance of attempting to sanitise and censor contributors does a significant disservice to BBC licence payers.
I trust that Michael Stewart’s absence from our screens is a temporary measure, and that calm reflection will result in immediate reinstatement to Sportscene. Failure to do so will represent a cowardly submission to individuals and organisations who, if confident of their ability to challenge such as Michael Stewart’s views, should pursue appropriate legal redress. To even appear complicit in the denial of free speech, and to be selectively aiding those who might seek to disguise their actions and silence any public challenges to their position would represent a wholly inappropriate stance and be a serious injustice to the BBC’s paying public.
Please accept my thanks in anticipation of your response.
Regards.