There is a rule in journalism that you must never become the story.
That is also true of the PR world.
Sevco’s communications impresario was always too much in view to be truly effective.
Of course, Translategate and the spat with Mikey Stewart was the final straw for many in the Sevco High Command.
Consequently, the news that Mr Traynor was been deselected came as no great surprise to your humble correspondent.
However, his replacement, although not formally in post yet is already in need of some…well, PR!
When you have to firefight for your own communications chap then you’ve probably made a bad appointment.
I have already explored the rationale behind why the Sevco High Command hired Mr Graham.
Today I spoke to a Belfast City Councillor who could provide me with some background on this chap.
For the avoidance of doubt, she isn’t in the DUP.
It was an off the record conversation and for background only.
However, the picture that she painted of him wasn’t very positive.
On the politics front my source said that, to her knowledge, Mr Graham has always been seen to toe the party line on LGBTQ issues while in the council chamber.
Now, that doesn’t exactly chime in with the Everyone Anyone marketing campaign.
My city council source did tell me that she understood that Mr Graham had intimated to colleagues that he hoped to be able to keep both roles running in tandem.
My takeaway on this is that the Stenography Corps will have to work very hard to fire fight for this chap once he takes up his post at Sevco.
Of course, PR folk are meant to be the ones fighting the fire not pouring petrol onto it…
This is a misreading of the job description that would please Ray Bradbury.
Therefore, expect Statement O’Clock to be rather combustible in the future.
I suspect that I will be returning to Mr Graham the story in the weeks ahead.
This really could all go up in flames.
Aon rud eile…
My followers on Twitter might have noticed this one from me:
To follow this up I submitted some questions to the top chap at Umbro UK:
18 Mar 2020, 13:45
Hello Mr XXXXXX,
Dear reader, as always, if I receive any reply I will publish them here for you to read.
I see the blue side numpties are revelling in Hearts and Aberdeen’s financial issues, made worse by the pandemic and cancelled games.
Lucky for them that the Ibrox club is being run by professionals on a sound basis with lots of cash in the bank, a credit line from their bankers, no debt to a finance company who has every moveable asset pledged against the loan and a steady flow of income from merchandising, no millions of pounds due on instalments for players brought in by Gerrard and finally no pending court cases hanging over the club, oh and £4m for Hagi.
If the Far East ‘investment’ is indeed a goer no doubt the ‘investor’ will initiate some due diligence and perhaps find that things may not be as rosy as has been presented to him.
On the 16th of March I suggested in “A dignified Appointment” that the new Sevco media appointee was a good friend of Arlene Foster and all that might entail. A certain blogger who is paranoid about being plagerised is now running with a similar idea. He is being praised for “opening up a very dark theory”. Great minds think alike and fools seldom differ so I would not, for one minute, suggest he heard it hear first but it is now the 22nd March.
Serial fantasist who lives inside his own heid.
Lives in a safe hoose in Renton apparently 🤪
This wont be the first he has done that . Now on another matter on FF there is an article asking if Hearts go bust do sevco get their place in the semi final. Oh dear desperado times over there or what . Imagine wanting a club to go bust to take their place in a semi final.
Sevco are beaten and out the tournament.
The club Hearts were playing get a bye if Hearts cannot play.
Follow follow has been put on meltdown
Newspapers say about title no 9 on way to
Paradise again
With Celtic SPFL Premiership Champions with 98.87% certainty that’s clearly any legal threat to awarding them the title null and void.
No REASONABLE PERSON could expect Celtic not to win the title. That’s the legal threshold.
The New Sevco-Rangers position (1.13%) falls on its legal arse.
DONCASTER and the SPFL have a very easy decision to make when the time arrives. Celtic retain their title and are your Championees 2019/20.
The daily ranger has one of their two bob journalists writing a virtual article on the sevco player Edmondson playing virtual manager on one of those computer games . He has put it out there on the virtual game that sevco have accepted a £12 million bid for Aribo oh ma sides . How desperate are these jokers becoming at the daily ranger when this is getting passed by an editor for this to go to print oh dear. Just how they will react to Celtic being crowned champions again is anyone’s guess . As for the virtual £12 million for Aribo he will be one of the players walking away from his contract when the brown stuff hits the proverbial over there in the coming days . And sevco will end up with usual middle of a doughnut for another player .
So wee Coco will now bite your hand off and accept £4 million for Tavernier a player he valued at nothing less than £10 just a few weeks back . Though what makes Coco think they can get £4 million for a player they will be lucky to get £500,000 for is anyone’s guess . A player who has completely lost form and even when he was on his game he was never a £10 million player . Watch as the days go by as wee Coco brings the value of each player down he previously had through the roof only a few weeks back . Example morelos he quoted nothing less than£100 million but now he wants his club to punt him for £2 million. All these nickel & dime players to be punted out the door at knockdown prices but he wants his club to finance Slippy up to £50 million to rebuild the team oh dear . This is the same team he is talking about that Mr Me Me has put together himself and FAILED miserably as well as being trophyless. Now where £50 million is coming from wee Coco does not say how this maybe financed it’s possibly fantasy football he is playing the same as Edmondson was when £12 million was spoke about earlier for Aribo .
The powers that run Scotland are trying to figure out a solution that will appease the Klan.Simple just give them massive loans,as they will never be repaid.
We are now seeing the difference between the have and have nots.
The UK is now being exposed to the massive gap in salaries,and the system shown in stark reality.All of a sudden some of the lowest paid
workers,are asked to put their lives in jeopardy.
When we emerge from this virus some people will be richer,but no doubt lower paid workers will be poorer.
Will people who received State aid be asked to repay this,as lower paid workers will find it hard enough without the worry of repaying this.
The government salary bail out for companies and employees will be 80% of their wages up to a maximum of £2500 per month.
If you have a number of football players on £20k per week, £80k per month, it’s hardly going to keep them in the style to which they are accustomed and the Hearts solution may be the first of many.
Due to the fine job done by the Scottish media in burying any negative stories about Rangers their fan base is completely unaware of what impact the Corona crisis could have on their club.
Some of them are so out of touch with reality that they reckon they are better placed than Celtic to see out the impending financial tsunami about to hit Scottish football.
Dermot Desmond’s fortune will have been wiped out they claim!!!! The guy’s a real billionaire and he’s not from Motherwell into the bargain.
With a guaranteed mega loss in the next set of financials their cumulative losses since birth in 2012 will be north of £50m.
Delusional doesn’t cover it. They are due to pay out millions in the coming months as instalments on Gerrards many recruits whilst not a penny in transfer revenue has been generated to balance the situation,
Their previously touted.most saleable asset has hit a dry spell which when added to his discipline issues has seen his value plummet.
£7m on Kent and Genk await £4m to take Hagi off their hands!
All of which is bad enough without the merchandising shambles which instead of bringing in cash is going to be a costly exercise.
Despite all this there is a large number on the blue side expecting Gerrard to be splashing the cash in the next window.
And then you have the Klan having to deal with no 12th July parade this year so they are going to need something else to focus on . What better way than to have a man from OO onboard to to keep the PR machine on the go.
Rangers have been awarded the league title!
Brora Rangers, though, and it’s the Highland League.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51987594
Phew!
I see that according to the Daily Rubbish Genk are awaiting Rangers to commit to purchasing Hagi.
Best of luck with that. £4m won’t be easy to pull together so naturally a rabbit is released in the form of interest from Lazio and the player’s wish to play in a higher profile league.
There was a reason why Hagi wasn’t a guaranteed starter at the Belgium club.
The good news is that with all football revenue taking a hit then the price may well be discounted, however the down side of that is that their own saleable assets value will head south and that £22m valuation of Barasic may not materialise.
Joseph have you not heard the news Wee Coco at ibrox noise has it out there HUDGIE is sevco player . He can only be sold on to another with sevco say so first as they have first dibs on him . That’s why I find wee Coco so funny he so precise with his information.
BBC:
In truth, it is unlikely we will witness any last-gasp title drama in any of Europe’s top five leagues.
Current leaders Bayern Munich have an 84.37% chance of winning the Bundesliga, Italy’s top-placed side Juventus (83.98%) are almost certain to claim a ninth successive Serie A title, Paris St-Germain (99.98%) have France’s Ligue 1 all but wrapped up, while Barcelona (74.22%) are firm favourites to beat Real Madrid to La Liga’s crown.
In Scotland, Celtic’s 13-point advantage over Rangers means they have a 98.87% chance of winning the Premiership, although the latter will cling to that 1.13% until the bitter end.
Robert any end is “bitter” with that lot, as are the beginning and the middle.
It’s a play on words, people know they are heading into a bitter end. A final end.
Operation rage against nine in a row is a squirrel to dupe fans into distraction.
The truth is on their forums FF and others that the Champions league is not recognised by their fans from 2012 onwards as they had not took part in any of this . Null and void is what they are crying .
BBC:
In truth, it is unlikely we will witness any last-gasp title drama in any of Europe’s top five leagues.
Current leaders Bayern Munich have an 84.37% chance of winning the Bundesliga, Italy’s top-placed side Juventus (83.98%) are almost certain to claim a ninth successive Serie A title, Paris St-Germain (99.98%) have France’s Ligue 1 all but wrapped up, while Barcelona (74.22%) are firm favourites to beat Real Madrid to La Liga’s crown.
In Scotland, Celtic’s 13-point advantage over Rangers means they have a 98.87% chance of winning the Premiership, although the latter will cling to that 1.13% until the bitter end.
I’ve read that news on the bbc website.
Strange the Daily Record doesn’t replicate it the way it regularly copy cat’s SCOTTISH football news.
Operation keep the berz paying in, no bad news, deeply deluded at 1% chance.
It’s only a matter of time before the cash situation at Ibrox bites.
I doubt if the No Surrender PR guru will be able to use the Scottish media to throw water on the flames in the same way Traynor did.
With regards to the merchandising shambles a phone call to Hummel or Elite will be enough to send any prospective kit supplier running for the hills.
Not quite on topic but I can see The Rangers* getting through their liquidity crisis by claiming 80% of their wage bill this month.
80% up to a maximum of £2500 per month won’t even touch the sides…
You forget the creative nature of Sevco accounting. Phantom players would not surprise me. I mean, FFS, it’s ONLY the tax-payer that’s losing out.
True,
Seriously, can they not just roll over and die. I’m worried that with all this panic buying there won’t be any jelly and ice cream, when the inevitable happens. And just think of the joy it would bring to the masses.
The Daily Record’s really got a scoop of the century there: Orangeman used loyalist slogan and has used disparaging language about Celtic.
I hear tomorrow’s scoop is that the Pope is a Catholic and bears do shit in the woods.
If you’d ever used a public toilet in either the Rocky Mountains or Yellowstone National Park you’d understand WHY bears shit in the woods!!
Well done CELTIC! Wouldn’t expect anything less!
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/celtic-fc-foundation-pledges-ps150k-support-those-struggling-amid-coronavirus-crisis-2504264
On another note, I am reliably informed Universal Credit is £317.50p for over 25’s per Month.
That’s £3,810 per year income to pay for everything.
Today the Chancellor increased that by £1,000 per annum. That’s £4,810 or £401 per month to live on.
Why can he pay businesses staff wages up to £30k per year per employee, to sit at home doing nothing, but Universal Credit folks have to survive on £4,810 per year whilst having to demonstrate 35hrs per week job searching plus having to accept a minimum wage job if their case worker insists?
Guy 1: take £30k per year mate. Sit at home do nothing. Isolate safely. Your office is shut down.
Guy 2: get down to ASDA and work minimum wage, catch COVID19, or we’ll stop your £3,810 per year.
Get the £30k down to £24k and get the £3,810 up to £7k, without the threats and pressures.
This is a great comment Brian. Can you please run for office? Even if it seems appalling. Succinct and (‘scuse the pun) on the money. Chapeau
Because –
Guy 1 – you are still working, you still pay taxes back into the system and are more likely to have pressing bills such as mortgages, etc that are not supported by the benefits system when you miss a payment or two.
As such if we pay your wages this month, you keep your job and continue to work “x-amount” of years, your payment will be recouped many times over.
Guy 2 – on UC your bills are assisted by government where possible to receive reduced payments or even assisted payment plans. In the current climate we’re not sure when you’ll return to work, or if you will do so.
As such, your benefits are not taxed and so the money you receive does not generate income for the government (dont start with the ciggy argument etc, tax is always less than you receive).
Realising this, to increase UC by £1000 per year at this time is actually one of the governments BETTER moves.
To cover wages also ensures/helps to ensure that when this thing blows over, the economy starts to move properly again.
So I’m sorry, and while im not a Tory, but the measures taken can only be viewed as fair and just.
Jimmy two shoes, there’s no assisted bills for Guy2. That’s his lot. He might get a council tax reduction but that is it.
Not return to work? Didn’t you read the forced return to minimum wage jobs or UC stopped threat?
Get the money up to £7k or £8k, nobody can live on £4-5k without sacrificing health or sanity. The pressures must be huge.
£4,810 doesn’t cover my gas, electricity, telecoms, internet and council tax annually. How can anyone live on that?
There’s no jobs Boris, the need to keep universal credit low to force people to accept low paid work no longer exists. Get the benefit up, and significantly. Stop pressurising them.
Social distancing means everyone should be wearing surgical masks as PPE. It was bollocks we were told they were useless. Why do medical workers wear them if they don’t work?
On masks, two words…… Herd Immunity.
Wearing masks stopped transmission of the disease. Therefore masks had to be dismissed as useless for Herd Immunity infections to ramp up.
The military has tonnes of stuff like masks, they have exercises every year dealing with this scenario. Dpntvte be there no masks.
Dpntvte???
What the fuck does that mean??
Is it Russian??
I can usually make a guess at Phil’s odd phrase in Irish, but you’ve got me beat pal.
Westminster offered SNP Salmond and Sturgeon powers of all benefits in Scotland. SNP Govts have refused powers over benefits. They don’t want to run them or increase them. It just adds to the deficit. The negative fiscal balance for running Scotland.
Scots need to wise up.
SNP would probably lower benefits if it edged them closer to an Indy Scotland.
Bollocks, not to put too fine a point on it.
Utter bollocks.
Utter pish and bollocks.
Back under your wee stone hunny.
You have no evidence to show that this Scottish Govt would cut benefits. None. Your whole post hangs on a crock of shit. Useless.
Umbro…offffft now now stop sniggering at the back
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t CELTIC FC employ an Executive who allegedly, long before joining Celtic, describe on social media Rangers fans as “the great unwashed”.
Wasn’t his job declared untenable and didn’t he resign and leave rather sharpish?
Here we now have a RIFC PLC Executive who has previously dubbed Celtic Park “The Piggery” on Facebook.
His position is clearly untenable. Time for him to be resigned.
Totally agree what’s good for the goose is good for the gander etc. Oh how they complained in their dignified way. Something that has surprised me though was the Daily Rancid openly attacking him today with links to all his dirty dealings. Wow they must have had a change of heart……not…..more like Traynor has taken the total hump and is ordering his lackeys at the Rancid to dish up the dirt which really doesn’t phase me to be truthful just glad to see the implosion getting going.
Its also strange how they have been hinting since December last year of the massive investment coming in from China, not a name mentioned and then out of the blue(pardon the pun) Jackson drops the world exclusive…….again seems like someone who was in the know has thrown the toys out of the pram and wants a bit of pay back especially knowing the investor in question wanted to keep a low profile before deciding to invest.
There will probably be some sort of retaliation from Sevco such as tagging Traynor with translategate. Let the game of Ping Pong commence we will need something to keep us entertained in the upcoming months.
Excellent point let’s see if dafties in the press the so called journalists pick up on this and run with it. Or Michael Stewart could throw a spanner into the works at the BBC and highlight it . On another matter I see The Rocket man is still in pole position as the PR GURU for the moment he must have a few aces up his sleeve . No way he is going to go quietly.
One guy tells the truth and loses his job.
One lies through his teeth and keeps his job.
Life is just NOT fair.
It was Gary Hughes, who was an independent SFA director, rather than being with Celtic.
He was one of us and a long time ago he described them as the great unwashed and was hounded out of his position by them.
However don’t expect consistency.
Indeed, since 2012 the books at RIFC have not only been cooked,
but seared, char grilled… and soon to be flambeed!
Perhaps the Interims simply spontaneously combusted? 🙂
Surely the Elite deal judgement provides the clear legal precedent that unless any Umbro deal has been provided to SDI in detail and that they have declined to match it then it is in breach of the SDI and whichever Sevco entity it is (I forget) existing agreement. Why would Umbro put themselves front and centre of a train crash.
Maybe OO gauge spin.
It’s what you might call groundhog day. And it will continue like this for as long as big Mike has them in a vice . But as you say why would Umbro get themselves caught up in all of this . Has the Umbro deal been signed off or is it just another FAKE news story to keep the Klan happy .
Meant to say…
There seems to be confusion regarding the words ” reign ” and “rein “…and that includes, it would appear,Neil Doncaster…if his reported statement regarding Sky is accurate.
I try and remember it like this….
When Rangers died…Celtic took up the reins….and now reign supreme.
Stay safe.
two words suffice, over and in.
Disaster of an appointment for a disaster of a club.
No doubt there will be a few tricks up his sleeve when there are a season tickets to be sold. He will probably be over in the North of Ireland giving it goodoh to the Catholic Church to knock up some support,
On the other hand he might just be brought in to help Sevco bring in new players next season as the tories did say there would be no place in the UK for ‘low skilled workers’ to apply for a visa, seeing as Sevco’s full team have been made up of them for the last 8 years..🙄
ill get my coat.
I am still at a loss to understand why this appointment was made ( although I’ve previously alluded to skulduggery).
Unless,that is, Sevco truly don’t give a toss about anyone but themselves and are admitting that their Everyone / Anyone is a scam…and the bigot pound supersedes all.
This is not only a GIRFUY to all Catholics in Scotland….it is an insult to all decent people in Scotland…and the most inflammatory appointment they could have made.
Why…??
Oh…and why would anyone at Sevco who is a Catholic or has Catholic links….stay there?
That’s always baffled me.
For the avoidance of doubt btw …My mother ( may she Rest in Peace ) was a Protestant all her days….and my wife of long standing is also a Protestant from a family of blue noses….with whom I get on exceptionally well.
Hope that clears that up.
That’s nice!!…
Sevco will (perhaps) have a kiddy-on diamond, to complement their kiddie-on stars on their shirts. Given their perilous financial state, it’s good to know at least the diamond is forever. Shirley Bassey has already gone on record (pun intended) with that statement. I only hope that Umbro realise that, when they stitch the club crest on each shirt, their motto is READY, and not NULL AND VOID!
So Bamber Gascoigne at ibrox noise has admitted to Celtic making it 9 in a row . He has also accepted that our club has more finances than his club and that they are better when it comes to money in the sponsorship deals . He has admitted to the points gap between us and sevco. But he said all that is required to catch Celtic is to compete more in the head to heads . Oh dear so the defeats to Hearts Hamilton Kilmarnock draws with Aberdeen St Johnstone did not happen then . Wee Coco at his best .
Phil with all the best intentions for my question, but could you please tell me when, of all the correspondence you’ve sent to various contacts, promising your readers that you’d inform us if a reply was received, have you ever received such a reply?
This has DISASTER written all over it but the appointment of Graham was to keep the Klan on board with the board . Watch as the days go by and each day another fake news story is fed to the press to keep the gullibles happy . You might even get a red herring thrown kn there like they are rolling in money and linked with a big money signing in the summer .
It would be Red Hand Herring.