For the day that’s in it, I should probably re-state some truths that I hold dear.
A free press is a sine qua non of any functioning democracy.
Indeed, it is difficult to think of a totalitarian regime that tolerates a functioning Fourth Estate.
One of the hallmarks of repression anywhere is a sustained attack on journalism.
Throughout the world, journalists risk their lives on a daily basis to serve the public interest.
We should remember that today of all days.
At the moment the role of the journalist as the interrogator of government is vital during the Covid19 pandemic.
This is a moment when the term “a matter of life and death” is entirely apposite.
Over a decade ago this site became an unintentional Samizdat for Planet Fitba.
It has endured only because of the ideological obedience of the Stenography Corps to the needs of the Ibrox brand.
It is the role of the Fourth estate to hold power to account.
Of course, that does not mean that those being interrogated on cannot answer back.
For example, yesterday was not a good outing for Mr Tom English of the BBC.
I felt for him as the entire basis of his scoop was demolished live on air by Mr Neil Doncaster of the SPFL.
As I listened to the broadcast my reaction on Twitter was instantaneous.
To ram home the points made by Mr Doncaster live on air the SPFL then issued this stinging clarification.
As Mr Roy Keane of Sapian fame once observed:
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail”.
However, Mr English deserves two cheers.
He was willing to ask questions of those in power on Planet Fitba and that is a rare enough event.
Indeed, the Limerick-born journalist is no newcomer to the dangers of this trade.
In the 1990s he criticised Pat Whelan, the manager of the Irish Rugby team.
English in his own words recounted what then happened:
“That tour was a shambles from start to finish. It was great craic but it was a shambles.
Then there was my incident with Pa Whelan [in 1998]. That almost embodied the 90s. Loads of players were briefing me off the record. I had four or five players and a coach briefing me off the record about his divisive influence in the squad.
I had written a couple of very critical pieces. It was awkward because he lived 20 metres up the road from my parents and still does. One night after an All-Ireland league match, I was in Limerick in a pub with my pals. Pa was in there too.
I went into the toilet and he came in after me and threw a couple of digs. That’s why it was like rugby’s Wild West. There was weird stuff going on all over the place.”
For the avoidance of doubt, whatever Mr English wrote about anyone, even the Irish Rugby manager, that should not have happened to him.
An attack on a journalist is an attack on journalism.
Of course, all that happened yesterday was some mild ridicule on Twitter and that’s fair enough.
Now, if the Shannonsider wants to redeem his rep on Planet Fitba then there is the gushing pish that emerged from Ibrox yesterday.
Something about the sunlit uplands of their new commercial arrangements.
There is plenty for a free press to be getting on with there Tom.
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Even though the SD deal is coming to an end, I was under the impression that they still had matching rights going forward. Those matching rights were not restricted to finances but included the outlets and the infrastructure to deliver.
It’s difficult to see how anyone other than one of the big boys, who wouldn’t touch sevco with someone else’s barge pole, could come close to matching SD in these areas.
Unless of course, big Mike has decided to take his bawbees from the court case and walk.
No SPFL Club can scream corruption publicly in the media, shout for three most senior execs to stand down, demand an EGM, demand an investigation, damage the game without providing evidence and not be punished.
If the Sevco purported alleged evidence does not measure up, then there must be equal and measured punishment.
As Sevco is concerned with Hearts being relegated, I propose Sevco is relegated And fined in punishment and Hearts stay up.
Relegate Sevco to the Championship to think over its sins and crimes against the SPFL clubs.
“RANGERS have reportedly agreed a £20million kit deal with Liverpool based sports company Castore.” – various sources.
Up to £4m revenue from Castore per year for five years could be seen as a way to fill 40% of the structure losses that Sevco runs each year – at least for five years – let the good times roll ! ! !
Ashley’s onerous merchandise contract may be coming to an end, but £4m/yr would also be enough to pay off the court settlement that King engineered by trying to shaft SDI – it would take only 2-3 years – but then the structural losses would remain unsolved.
That’s assuming Big Mike shows mercy and does them a Brighthouse-style deal – but why would he – they slag him off at every opportunity – he knows their business model is lunacy – and he’s learned the hard way that they are not to be trusted under any circumstances.
So, Sevco may need to borrow to pay Big Mike the full lump sum. Any normal business would be able to borrow against such future revenue at sensible rates – but that requires confidence that the business remains – well – in business – see structure losses.
So it is probably back to Close Bros as cash-flow-lender-of-last-resort – but with no chattels left to hock – so personal security from the directors – that’s you big Dougie – may be necessary – just in case of any unpleasantness you understand.
At premium rates, the Castore deal may pay off the Close Bros loan to pay off Big Mike’s court settlement in maybe 3-5 years.
Sevco must be so so so pleased to have consigned Ashley to their past – once and for all.
P.S. Don’t mention Hummel, Elite, Wall Builders Inc etc etc and spoil the party.
P.S.S. Is mentioning Castore’s Liverpool location some pathetic attempt to get reflected glory from Liverpool FC who are swapping New Balance for Nike?
So Marco Van Basten thinks the only fair and proper way to end the European leagues is to call them null and void, as if they never happened, according to the Daily Ranger.
Try telling that to the clubs that have played 80% of the matches and are well clear in their respective league tables.
The sooner the SPFL call Celtic as Champions the better and let the Ibrox board and fans howl at the moon for their failure to challenge Celtic since the turn of the year.
It’s only a matter of time before the crazies turn their attention to the Scottish Cup and try to get that scrapped for the season as well.
They can talk all they want about asterisks but have a distinct case of memory loss when it comes to the trophies won by them during the EBT years, every one of which should have been stripped from them for cheating via financial doping but thanks to their Hampden placemen that didn’t happen.
And let’s not forget the major fraud carried out in 2012 on the UEFA licence application which the SFA should have passed to Police Scotland fraud squad and whoever at Ibrox signed off on the application should be in very serious trouble.
The evidence led at Craig Whyte’s trial made it clear that the overdue taxes were admitted by Rangers and their auditors, why the SFA hasn’t contacted the police is known only to them.
Oh and once again why is the Alistair Johnston fit and proper status taking months and months to resolve?
Come on Mr Maxwell, what exactly is the problem?
We know King failed the football club test but according to the SFA they could do nothing about him being Chairman of the company that owned the football club.
We deserve answers Mr Maxwell.
It seems to have gone very quiet in relation to the Far East based Mr Gibson and the £20m investment that he’s bringing to Ibrox.
Of course any self respecting businessman who has amassed that amount of money will be carrying out due diligence to establish Rangers current financial position before committing his millions to the cause.
As he will be quick to find out the current board have not seen a return on their respective ‘investments’ unless equity in a concern with losses of £50m plus since 2012 can be considered as a return on their money.
Celtic have generated money over the last 8 years with a couple of visits to CL Group Stages and the sale of players.
This model is the only one which could possibly allow Rangers to return a profit of any kind.
There’s no CL for them next season and the value of Morelos has fallen off a cliff, poor form, the Pandemic effect on the transfer market and the off field nonsense with his wife employing someone to fit a tracker to his car for reasons known only to her.
Perhaps Alfredo has to go to bring in some cash before Hagi’s move can be made permanent?
There is further fall out on the way from the Sports Direct court case and Hummel and Elite may well be jumping on that particular wagon as well.
No doubt Mr Gibson’s investment would be most welcome and now would be a good time.
It’s no surprise that the SPFL Clubs want the Scottish Premiership called with Celtic crowed Champs for a ninth successive season and Hearts relegated.
Nine clubs are reportedly pushing the SPFL for this to release their much needed prizemonies.
They have raised the issue that players are out of contract on 31st May and cannot play in the summer months of June and July. The clubs won’t have enough contracted players. Or money to pay their wages.
I presume Celtic are sitting quiet with Sevco-Rangers and Hearts agitating against making up the 12.
If there’s a vote, I hope CELTIC vote in favour, in support of the hard pressed clubs.
Unfortunately, no one will get money until Sevco-Rangers have their EGM to deal with their damaging and outrageous allegations about the SPFL. Sevco damaging Scottish football, stopping clubs getting their money they are pushing the SPFL for.
Where is the evidence to back up this EGM call? This damaging EGM to all clubs hasn’t even been called in light of evidence! Astonishing!
Phil on a seriously different subject. Why have none of the Scottish, Irish, Welsh or English journalists asked the simple question to Nicola and the rest….how many care home residents have been hospitalised with suspected covid 19….and how many were saved? I think I know the answer. The most vulnerable of our society are being sacrificed. Absolutely shameful. It wouldn’t happen in Germany.
I completely agree on this issue but a journalist did ask her two days ago. It was a man from a newspaper. He got flim flam in response. Too frail to move etc…
They are catching covid, not receiving oxygen and being left in their rooms to suffocate to death and not removed to hospital. Denied medical care.
Life saving Bottles of oxygen are not being transported to care homes.
How many covid positive pensioners in care homes have survived? NIL?
Care homes are more critical than hospitals. Always have been.
While I agree that it is indeed a tragedy that so many vulnerable people have fallen victim to the virus in Care Homes, it was, in hindsight, entirely predictable. I would go so far as to say inevitable.
They WERE the people MOST susceptible. They were in an enclosed environment where they were coming into contact with pretty much the same people every day. Anyone coming in from outside, a care worker, a resident out on a trip, a health visitor, a family visitor, a delivery person, a tradesman carrying out a repair. It only took one person, in all probability showing NO symptoms, to spend no more than minutes in the place and in those minutes to touch multiple surfaces. One resident, or member of staff, touching one infected surface and becoming infected themselves, could infect several people, each infecting several others, long before tbey were even aware they had it.
The only way it could have been prevented would have been to close the doors on all Care Homes, for both staff and residents, allowing no one out and no one in, from the minute the first case was confirmed in the UK. And that would NOT have been a guarantee.
To turn this into a political football and start playing the blame game is appalling. Not everything bad that happens in life is someone’s fault.
Hindsight ALWAYS has Twenty-Twenty vision.
Still no one in the media is prepared to call out Rangers on their only motivation being to deny Celtic 9 IAR, having failed miserably on the field of play.
Thats what all this secret dossier, smoking gun shit is about, nothing more, nothing less.
Now we have a new, very new, supplier taking on the merchandising deal. I do hope they have had a close look at the small print in the Sports Direct contract.
Are they so desperate to get into football merchandising that they are prepared to jump into bed with a club mired in legal cases, having had to pay Sports Direct £3m which Rangers claimed in the notes to their annual accounts that the payment was the end of the Sports Direct contract and Big Mike was gone for good. Not true, another lie.
Now here we are awaiting the next payment to Sports Direct confirmed when the courts reopen for business, likely to be considerably more than the initial £3m.
Their obedient media monkeys are quite happy to do Rangers bidding by running with the new supplier story and the claim that this time around Sports Direct has finally exited stage left.
During Murray’s triumphant period at Ibrox succulent lamb was the order of the day and the media did as they were told.
Even when Murray dumped Rangers and sold them to a charlatan for £1, having been incentivised by HBOS to be able to buy back part of MIM, Murray’s original love child, he was able to walk away with hardly a bad word spoken about him in the Scottish media.
That succulent lamb must truly have been special.
With the succulent lamb days long gone you have to ask why the Scottish media continues to be in thrall to Rangers and still run with stories, without asking the questions they should have, even to the extent that they then become objects of fun when the truth finally outs.
For example, Jacksons Motherwell billionaire with wealth off the radar piece.
A 100% concotion which any journalist worth their salt would have blown apart with even a cursory examination of Whyte’s history.
I still laugh out loud whenever I see that photo of Whyte walking down Edmiston Drive surrounded by Rangers fans welcoming him as the new saviour.
How can you put your name to a piece like Jackson’s and still keep your job?
The same question can be posed of Jackson’s boss.
Guess it’s too late to initiate a;
“World Internet Freedom Day” ?
😦
I wont hold my breath, but I’ll live in hope.
And phil keep up the good fight your words inspire me, I’ll give what I can when i can, it’s my only way of playing my part.
The forth estate should be asking questions about more than just football governance,below is a link for a petition to stop them from making these Covid-19 jab/vaccine compulsory‼️
Failure to comply will result in arrest and possible confiscation of property,ie.your house.Seemingly, I’m led to believe,these are law ALREADY and that IS what they’ve been doing while everyone else is trying to prevent infection.Sleekitly passing laws to rob EVERYONE of their basic human rights.
This is an absolute outrage and we must All stand and say,enough is enough.
Please at least consider this,or at least read the petition description.TIA✅
Thanks Phil🇮🇪
https://www.change.org/p/cancel-the-covid-19-vaccines-public-health-control-of-disease-act-1984
The Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Parliament are the other three estates not sure that you’d want to be a member of an estate assocaited with those mobs Phil. A free press sits better with me but hey I can dream.
Yesterday’s Sportsound was an embarrassing attempt to try to trip up Neil Doncaster and backup an agenda. Richard Gordon asked him four times about being able to advance teams money. On each occasion he wanted “just to be absolutely clear”. I’m no fan of Neil Doncaster but I thought he stood his ground well and was sharp with his answers. No ums and ahs Gordon hoped to probably push him into with incessantly going over the same questions. The rest of those on the show were quite pathetic in their after interview analysis to the point that the SPFL immediately released a statement to counter English’s view that Anne Budge is an experienced business woman who knows a loan from an advance. The SPFL statement made it quite clear Anne Budge was wrong and further made English look a fool who was badly prepared for Doncaster’s answers.
To cap it all off in a childish like manner English says on his twitter feed today that it “was a shame” Neil Doncaster could not take questions from others on the show. A little petty dig unbecoming of a man of English’s experience. I don’t recall any open forum questions for the DUP muppet last week nor a similar post on English’s twitter.
What amazes me is the sudden ability for Radio Scotland reporters, and Willie Miller, to look into financial matters such as SPFL accounts going back 10 years. A financial interest that could have been put to good use 8 years ago. A financial interest that could still be put to good use investigating a “loss making organisation without a credit line from a bank” who spends money hand over fist and makes losses year on year.
So for the SPFL EGM three clubs have requisitioned it. Two have a clear self interested reason for doing so as they financial impact for being relegated so we can understand that. There is no financial impact for Sevco. They have suggested payments be made on current standings. So their sole motivation is bitterly clear. They lose no money, they lose no league status. It’s stop Celtic at all costs. Even if football started again next week and we still won the league they would spout something about the continuity of the league being broken so it’s really not the same competition. Any outcome will be countered with a Sevcocentric slant.
Lastly, I heard an Alloa director on today’s show being quizzed about bullying and he refuted any had taken place. Robust discussions and lobbying FROM BOTH SIDES. Not bullying whatever that amounts to anyway. Bring on your “evidence” Sevco. Scottish football and it’s supporters all wait with baited breath. I suspect if the “evidence” is ever released it will be something that Sevco, in their paranoia, interpret in their own crazy way but everyone else will see nothing in. It needs to be clear, unambiguous and damning evidence of threats to clubs. Not one club has come forward so far to say such a thing happened.
JS.
Rangers people in media can speak out without fear of retribution. Celtic people in the media are terrified of offending “the people”.
They bend over backwards and excell at diplomacy.
Chris Sutton and John Hartson are exceptions.They tell it as it is. Fortunately, they don’t live in scotland.
The best wee anti-catholic country in the world.
The Fourth Estate, White Knights for the people, are reduced to being Presstitutes and Deludamol Blue Pushers in Scotland.
They’ve long since sold their arses to various suits atop the marble staircase of Rangers corruption.
If there’s a modicum of manliness, of respectability still in them then making themselves honest and men of integrity is a good place to start their path to redeeming themselves.
Yes Phil.
It’s your blog and make sure TRUST is everything that you post.
The pound for the coffee hits home.
TRUST your post for truth and honesty.
Hopefully some papers go bust
Daily rec even time thay only published
Story after Sm have splashed it out
And having to drag them into it.
Keeping safety first .
Do you think that wee CRAIG white
Gave MURRAY sorry sid
One dodgy pound coin to buy the old
Rangers . Now sevco 2o12
I wouldn’t put it past him.
Gloves and masks outside save lives
Washing everything that passed through
Your front door is a must .
Pity bleach is only good for virus and not for sevco fans to drink
You would see them coming with Brilliant white smiles and heads held high
No shame over at Govan.
Troops staying safe hh
Almost every loan that was mentioned on Saturday sportsound pre-dated the SPFL.
When challenged by Michael Stewart on Sportsound yesterday English came back at Stewart on a rant about everything and anything . English said to Stewart why are you asking me about loans what do I know, Michael Stewart replied well I’m asking you about loans because you wrote an article on them last night . Dopey English was gubbed he could not even answer back about his own article he had apparently just wrote. Now as I have said before English was the guy that got the gig just think of how bad the rest was that got refused .
Even Arch Rangers man Kenny Dalgliesh comes out today stating Rangers needs to bring forth ra evidence. That all this is damaging the game and losing sponsors. Dermott Desmond’s Ladbrokes has walked.
Whurs ra deeds? Erm naw ra evidence?
Go easy on Tom English, he is a “Deludamol Blue“ purveyor.
The Ibrox Boardroom is the drug factory of choice where the ingredients are cooked up into Deludamol Blue. Thereafter the hacks of the daily record and the SMSM deal out the Deludamol Blue to the Gullibillies who need their fix.
There’s MSPs Sabre rattling for safe fix rooms throughout Glasgow on their behalf. The Gullibillies are to be pitied, not to be marginalised and alienated from society to fix up in graveyards and dilapidated buildings (Ibrox).
Deludamol Blue, sold to Gullibillies by Tom English. A nice little earner. If he doesn’t do it someone else will.
I listened to Sportsound yesterday he made a total arse of himself . Embarrassing to see him at a level where he is fighting the sevco corner. Michael Stewart asking him Tom don’t you know the difference between a loan and an advance he flapped . As you say Phil a chance for him to bounce back by digging up all things sevco with the new kit deal and manufacturer but I won’t hold my breath . Infact if anything he will probably keep digging himself in deeper.
When a country’s Press and other media are owned by the very people it is meant to hold to account, it can never be seen as Free. However, good journalists will always get the truth out. It’s just a pity there are so few of those in the UK. Thank heavens we have the internet now – it is a good place to find many of the good ones.
It was a quite a gruesome spectacle yesterday. Mr Doncaster was on top of his brief and articulate. And there was me thinking the media pundits were on the brink of exposing a shocking loan and bribery scandal… https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/a-shocking-loan-and-bribery-scandal/
Sadly they don’t need to attack the press in this ununited Kingdom. Both sports and political press are tame and do what they’re told. At a time when we need the Government in a Westminster held to account over their lies and misrepresentation over the virus there are few doing their job or allowed to do it. Thanks to bloggers like you we do get some coverage of reality.
Although I live in Spain, I totally echo your comments. This is where I look for the real take on events.