Hibernian

Hibernian confirm they will vote against admitting newco Rangers to SPL

Hibernian have confirmed that they will vote against a proposal to transfer Rangers' Scottish Premier League share to Charles Green's new company.

Club chairman Rod Petrie had previously spoken of his belief that sporting integrity had to be maintained and a statement on Hibernian's official website confirmed the board's decision to vote against the move when the SPL meets on July 4.

The statement read: "Following a meeting of its Board of Directors, Hibernian FC confirmed that the Club will vote against the transfer of the Rangers share in the SPL to a newco at the General Meeting of SPL clubs on 4 July 2012.

"This re-affirms the view of the Board that the sporting integrity of the SPL is of paramount importance.

"The Board is also acutely aware that in making this decision, Hibernian - like other clubs in the SPL - will suffer collateral financial damage at a time of severe economic hardship and uncertainty.

"The Board believes it is time for all fair minded supporters to get behind their clubs and to contribute in whatever way they can to the viability of the professional game in Scotland."

Dundee United and Hearts have already said that they will oppose the move to admit a new Rangers company, while Motherwell will ballot members of fans group The 'Well Society.

Eight of the 12 SPL clubs would have to vote in favour in order for the proposal to be passed.

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Comments

There are 31 comments

Why are they even being asked to vote on a proposal to allow a club less than two weeks old, with no players, no SFA membership, which would fail the criteria for entry into the SFL, to enter into the top flight of Scottish football?

Have I missed something here? Has the world gone crazy? Can myself and 10 of my mates just set up a football club and apply to the SPL?

Well done to Hibs for standing up for fairness in football, assuredly, I'll be buying a ticket for Easter Rd if offered one.

Declan Murphy 24/06/2012 Report this place
So what does that make it now, 5 against? And Declan, i wouldn't worry about having to pre-purchase that ticket to Easter Road, there's almost always seats empty unless Hearts/Celtic/Rangers are/were playing.

bluenoseam 25/06/2012 Report this place
Well now, bluenoseam, you never can tell how demand is going to go.

From what I understand, there'll be a quite a few more supporters without a club in the coming season, they'll have to go somewhere...

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
If all the teams that are saying no then Rangers should never ever be in the SPL again and the death of Scottish football it is certain that gates will be down on last year and no TV deals what now the the game they have to stick to thier guns and keep Rangrs out cant change it when it suits who wants to watch a one horse race

poch 25/06/2012 Report this place
Sporting Integrity: these two little words will come back to bite those who try to claim the moral high ground!

What goes around comes around!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
Declan you most certainly have missed something. A number years ago Celtic failed to meet the SPL criteria and instead of being demoted they were given the keys to Hampden for an entire season. No mention of sporting integrity then. Hibs no surprise about their vote, they would probably vote against entry for the third division.

littleian 25/06/2012 Report this place
Celtic played their home games at Hampden Park during the 1994–95 season!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@littleian

Eh, Celtic fulfilled all the criteria necessary. I've no idea why you think they didn't? Do you think that Hampdump itself is unsuitable for the SFL or something?

(Incidentally, Celtic were charged well over the odds by the SFA, such that there was basically no home gate income for that season, the SFA at that time ran by one Jim Farry, hmmm hmmmm, wonder what happened to him...)

@Co-ordinator

And? Clubs can play wherever they please, as long as they fulfil the criteria.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
More stupidity from Hibs!This will force clubs like Motherwell into administration.Hibs?A club with under 8000 fans showing up in a 20,0000 man stadium?What a joke and dumb and dumber.

The Ref 25/06/2012 Report this place
Is that the same Motherwell who would have gained an additional £965,000 in SPL prize money had they finished second, not third, possibly due to one team in the SPL ripping off the taxman, their own employees, small businesses and individuals to pay their players?

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
The same motherwell who despite Rangers having 10 points taken off them still finished 9 points behind them - you can't assume that had Rangers not been there they would have finished second though. Motherwell have just been sensible in warning of the implications of vastly reduced media deal, reduced gate receipts & potential loss of sponsorship earnings as opposed to saying half way through the season "oh, we have to go into administration" like its some form of surprise move. I believe that most places would call that "corporate responsibility" (hark at the Rangers fan knowing anything about that!).

bluenoseam 25/06/2012 Report this place
Dunfermline also would have gained an additional £965,000 in SPL prize money had they finished second, not last!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@bluenoseam

If Rangers FC (IL) had not stolen from their own employees, and HMRC, for Income Tax, NI, and employers contributions, they would not have been able to finish the campaign.

Rangers FC (IL) cheated Motherwell out of nearly £1m.

@Co-ordinator

Had a certain club not illegally avoided its duties to HMRC, then Dunfermline wouldn't have finished last.

Rangers FC (IL) cheated Dunfermline out of more than money, they cheated them out of a place in the SPL.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
I think you confuse "stolen" with "negotiated" - had they just slashed wages by 75% then it would have been stolen, however players agreed to that in order to attempt to save jobs, there's a major difference there. As far as I'm aware D&P were responsible for ensuring that during administration relevant payments were made - that would be tax, so you'd have to check with them, prior to administration this was not the case during Whyte's tenure. As I told you, there is absolutely no way you can predict that had Rangers not been in the SPL last season Motherwell would have finished second. Stop living in conditions of "what might have been", that's the realm of the dreamer, the realist works in actuality - Rangers fulfilled the fixtures, finished second & Motherwell were STILL 9 points behind them despite a 10 point deduction. Says a lot about the state of Scottish football when even a 10 point deduction is still not enough to split the old firm.

bluenoseam 25/06/2012 Report this place
"Had a certain club not illegally avoided its duties to HMRC, then Dunfermline wouldn't have finished last."

I take it yet again you do not read, nor do you comprehend what you post!

If they had not avoided them they would have paid them!!!!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@bluenoseam

I'm referring specifically to the payments of NI and Income Tax from employees, and the associated employers contributions, which were due and payable to HMRC, and which RFC(In Liquidation) stole from the taxpayer in order to fund their season. Rangers fulfilled their fixtures via theft. That's cheating.

@Co-ordinator

Please stop, you're really embarrassing yourself now.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
Here we go again, declan digging holes.

Is English not your first language?

If they had not avoided their duties to HMRC they would have paid them!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

Yes, I know, they didn't. They used the funds to keep the club running. Had they not avoided their duties (ie had they paid money to HMRC rather than stealing it from the taxpayer), then they would not have been able to finish the season, and Dunfermline wouldn't have been relegated.

It's not a difficult concept.

I swear, it's like teaching abc's to weans in here sometimes.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
"Had a certain club not illegally avoided its duties to HMRC, then Dunfermline wouldn't have finished last."
Declan Murphy

So if they had not avoided them, they would have paid them?

If they had paid them how would that change Dunfermline's situation?

I take it we are just one post away from a one of your mysterious hypothesis that circulate as a reality in your obsessed take on this subject!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

Are you even reading what I have written?

I've answered both questions in the post immediately above your own.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
No you did not explain anything; you produced yet another hypothesis, just one of your many hypotheses!

Did you go back in your time machine to find out what happened when Rangers paid the HMRC.
Did they not come to some other financial arrangement?
What date did all these things happen?
Do you read your horoscope on a daily basis?

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

I'll explain this in as simple as terms as I can, once more, because it still seems to be eluding you.

RFC(IL) stole money from the taxpayer, among others, starting from May 2011, up until February 2012.

It used these funds to continue to fund running costs to play in the SPL.

Had RFC(IL) acted within the law, they would not have been able to use those funds to continue to play in the SPL.

Had RFC(IL) done so, it would have been unable to fulfil its fixtures, and it would have been expelled from the SPL.

This would mean that Dunfermline would not have been relegated.

Is there anything here which needs explained further?

I've tried to make this as simple as possible, in order that the message is suited to the intended recipient.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
Had RFC(IL) acted within the law, they would not have been able to use those funds to continue to play in the SPL.

How do you know?

Had RFC(IL) done so, it would have been unable to fulfil its fixtures, and it would have been expelled from the SPL.

How do you know?

You have produced yet another two hypotheses, just two more of your many hypotheses!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
Declan

You confuse reality with what you wish; not only that you confuse what you wished had happened with what really happened!

Did you read your horoscope today?

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
"Had RFC(IL) acted within the law, they would not have been able to use those funds to continue to play in the SPL.

How do you know?"

Well, I'm pretty certain that once you give money to HMRC, you can't take it back from them and use it to pay players, staff, essential bills etc. I might be wrong, but I think once money is spent, you don't get it back. That's always been my experience of paying bills etc.

"Had RFC(IL) done so, it would have been unable to fulfil its fixtures, and it would have been expelled from the SPL.

How do you know?"

Because liquidation would have occurred approximately 5 months sooner than it has done, some time around October 2011. The SPL would have invoked Rule H5, and RFC(IL) would have been expelled.

Unfortunately, RFC(IL) chose to steal money from the UK Army, the NHS, charities, schools, councils, the police, the fire service, St Johns Ambulance Service, face painters etc to fund their tainted campaign.

I still find it unbelievable that there are people defending these actions tbh. They must have no shame whatsoever.

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
Declan

You just do not seem to realise the difference between what you wish for and what has happened.

You cannot change history; even in the 'what if' section of your brain!

What if that 'bad person' had not been connected to your club and had not brought shame on your club and Scottish Football!

What would you hypothesise would have been the outcome in your little 'what if' world?

Would your club now have been less tainted?

Remember it is your 'what if' world!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

Would you like to try again, this time without the crappy Yoda impersonation?

Declan Murphy 25/06/2012 Report this place
Declan

You just do not seem to realise the difference between what you wish for and what has happened.

You cannot change history; even in the 'what if' section of your brain!

What if that 'bad person' had not been connected to your club and had not brought shame on your club and Scottish Football!

What would you hypothesise would have been the outcome in your little 'what if' world?

Would your club now have been less tainted?

Remember it is your 'what if' world!

I impersonate no one!

Co-ordinator 25/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

And neither do you make any sense.

Declan Murphy 26/06/2012 Report this place
Declan

Now what would have happened in your ‘what if world’ if Craig Beattie had still been a Celtic player when Celtic played Hearts in the 2012 Scottish Cup semi final at Hampden?

Would that have been 2-1 to Celtic in your hypothetical world?

Another hypothetical trophy?

Most people stop dreaming when they waken up!

Co-ordinator 26/06/2012 Report this place
@Co-ordinator

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Declan Murphy 26/06/2012 Report this place

Hibernian

Hibernian confirm they will vote against admitting newco Rangers to SPL

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