Something less than Semper Vigilo

Rangers fans could be forgiven their wry smiles on hearing the motto of the Scottish Police Service, Semper Vigilo – Always Vigilant. One could point to the massive banners depicting them as “H** Scum”, somehow smuggled past the “vigilant” officers or perhaps the inflatable effigies which were then hung from the rafters of celtic Park, an action which again managed to escape the gaze of Scotland’s finest. Meanwhile Northern Irish Rangers supporters, carrying the flag of their country, find them being seized by Police Officers as they attempt to enter Ibrox, on the pretext of them being “sectarian”. The fact that the latter has happened on more than one occasion, accompanied by a subsequent apology from Police Scotland, suggests someone, somewhere is not paying attention.

The job of the Police is difficult and challenging, particularly at football matches, exacerbated by a recent increase in whataboutery and individuals being faux offended, much of which is played out across social media platforms.

Warwick University, WBS Research Projects offers the following explanation on Public Confidence:

“For any police force to be effective in safeguarding the public, retaining public confidence is critical. This is because the public are a key source of information, and their trust and cooperation are often key to law enforcement.”
 
But that trust has to be earned and two significant incidents which pertain to public safety, and which rise above the simply annoying or exasperating examples cited in the opening paragraph, have significantly eroded the confidence and trust of Rangers supporters with regard to Police Scotland.

The aftermath of the 2016 William Hill Scottish Cup Final still rankles with many Rangers supporters. As someone who was there, and who witnessed first hand the events which unfolded, I sill find it particularly difficult, that 30 seconds after the final whistle standing in the traditional Rangers end at Hampden, I was faced with a Hibs fan standing not 50 yards from me in the six yard box challenging and goading myself and other Rangers supporters to fight. This individual’s course of conduct had nothing to do with joy, celebration nor overexuberance and any attempts to explain it or rationalise it as such are quite simply erroneous.

But its events off the pitch which served to undermine confidence in the Police. As Rangers supporters raised questions about the preparation, speed and deployment strategy of the Police, they found themselves in the eye of a storm as accusations were levelled that Rangers fans had used their own children as barricades to hinder and impede officers reacting to the ongoing situation at Hampden. The author of the story, Jane Hamilton from the Scottish Daily Record, appeared to receive corroborative assistance from Callum Steele of the Scottish Police Federation, who tweeted that this version of events was consistent with reports he had received from officers on duty that day.
The Independent Press Standard Organisation (IPSO) ruling following a complaint regarding the story can be read in full here:

https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/ruling/?id=03188-16
 
Both Jane Hamilton and Callum Steele remain in post.

The SFA ordered an independent Commission into the disorder which was chaired by Sheriff Principal Edward F Bowen CBE QC. Regretfully, I am unable to guide you to an unabridged version of his findings, as the SFA, for reasons best known to themselves, have decided to no longer promulgate his report.

https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/documents/scottishcupfinal2016report/scottish cup final 2016 commission of enquiry - report of sp bowen.pdf
 
Since publication, Rangers have contested the findings of the report and official statements from the club reflected that.

"We can state however that we will be seeking an urgent meeting with the author of the report, Sheriff Principal Edward Bowen, the Scottish FA’s Chief Executive Stewart Regan and his Compliance Officer, Tony McGlennan.
 
It is imperative that we gain insight into the underlying basis for the findings in the report given that we consider it contains a number of factual inaccuracies and contradictions.
 
It is right that the club gives the author and requisitioner of the report the opportunity to comment on our concerns prior to making a conclusive statement.”
 
Such concerns were not without foundation.

Although not widely reported by the press, who focussed on the report’s main findings namely:

·         Police and steward numbers were appropriate
·         Neither club to blame for crowd trouble
·         Call for debate on criminalising pitch invasions
·         Physical interaction between players and fans to be discouraged
·         Retractable tunnel could improve player safety
·         Pitch invasion sparked by Hibs fans' high excitement
·         Overwhelming majority of Rangers fans behaved properly

there was also remarks in the report regarding intelligence prior to the match itself.

In the absence of the complete report I will refer to this exert from the Edinburgh Evening News dated 5th August, 2016.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/report-concludes-hampden-pitch-invasion-down-to-high-excitement-1-4195707
 
In particular, I would draw your attention to this paragraph:

“Mr Bowen said he was satisfied both clubs and the Scottish Football Association took reasonable precautions to minimise the possibility of a pitch invasion. He concluded there was no evidence to suggest the pitch invasion was planned, that the Hibs support had not been infiltrated by individuals holding some form of malicious intent, and that while some supporters were affected by alcohol, both male and female, that hadn’t played a significant part in what happened.”
 
On the Monday following the Cup Final, BBC Radio Scotland hastily scheduled a phone in hosted by Kaye Adams, to discuss the events and the aftermath. It consisted of both Hibs and Rangers fans phoning in to offer their own versions on events. I mention this programme because some of the Hibs supporters phoning in made reference to the fact it was all over social media, that in the event of a Hibs victory there would be a pitch invasion.

Given the vast galaxy which is social media it is not unreasonable to accept that those responsible for either Policing pre-match intelligence may have missed this, but for the subsequent investigation and report into the aftermath to either miss or totally discount testimony which has been aired by the country’s national publicly funded broadcaster?

Rangers supporters are more than familiar with the failings and selective nature of “low-level intelligence gathering”

Fast forwarding to last week and the reputation and confidence in Police Scotland suffered further erosion following the Rangers vs Osijek tie at Ibrox, which was marred by violent disorder prior to the match. Concerningly for Police Scotland, criticism of policing arrangements came not only from Rangers supporters but also from Paul Goodwin, former head of Supporters Direct and co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association, who accused the Police of being blindsided and failing to take into account the violent reputation of Croatian fans.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/16398308.police-scotland-deemed-Rangers-match-which-saw-two-stabbed-to-be-low-risk/
 
Whilst I appreciate I do not have access to the resources, expertise and research facilities of  analysts at Police Scotland, my somewhat crude google searches tend to suggest Mr Goodwin may have a point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6dKP4tpzNU
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vR7WATnpigY
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r9DAclKcGY
 
It is perhaps worthy of note that the violence involving Osijek fans in Switzerland was only last year, which makes Chief Inspector Bowater’s assertion that there was “no intelligence” to suggest extra policing was required, particularly difficult to fathom.

Warwick University Research Projects, previously mentioned, goes further in its examination of Public Confidence in the Police, citing the various array of measurements used by the Police to gauge and determine such confidence, including customer satisfaction surveys.

Of course in order to ensure favourable feedback, Police Scotland could tailor their customer satisfaction phone calls to 3pm every other Saturday when Rangers supporters are likely to be elsewhere, or alternatively, they could afford Rangers supporters the same level of commitment, transparency, protection and treatment which everyone in Scotland is entitled to expect from them.

Red Hands, Red Poppies & Red Flags

She was just a slip of a girl, perhaps 6 or 7 at most. Her starched white blouse with its razor like creases, complimented the perfectly pleated grey school skirt and black shoes, the latter having been cleaned to a standard which afforded a mirror like reflection. She was almost dwarfed by the large wreath she bore, lilies and poppies interlaced by a florist who was quite clearly at the very top of her game. The little girl would soon be relieved of her floral burden as she laid it in accordance with the instructions her mother had given. Her mind turned to the great great grandfather she had heard of only in story, who fell at a place called Thiepval , and an elder brother  she would never know, for he died just a few yards from where she currently stood. Across the street on a plain grey and white sign were the words “Omagh Shopping Centre”.

Sometimes the ordinary, the everyday, that which we take for granted, can in themselves be symbols of bravery when exercised elsewhere. Perhaps we should be grateful we live in communities which make no such demands of us.

The recent confiscation of a Red Hand Flag from a Northern Irish Rangers supporter entering Ibrox, and the subsequent furore it caused, only served to emphasise how raw the subject of Ulster remains within the Rangers support. With a significant number of Ulstermen contributing to the Rangers support such rawness should come as no surprise, notwithstanding the shared heritage, faith and history and language between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Those with longer memories will remember the airbrushing of picture to erase the Red Hand Flag from a Rangers photograph as well as the censure of Zoe Salmon on BBC’s Blue Peter for having the temerity to say “'I'm from Ulster and I'd like to cover a plane with the Red Hand Of Ulster” when explaining a British Airways “Best of British” logo competition.

The enemies of the Protestant/Unionist community in Ulster have sown their seeds of hatred well. And perhaps more significantly, continue to cultivate.

Of course in the broad church, or Rangers family, such sentiment or concern is not shared by all. There are those amongst our support who view the whole subject of Ulster and her trials and tribulations as “nothing to do with us”.  Thankfully, a view not shared by the Ulstermen who laid down their lives to protect these shores in 2 world wars; or the generations from Northern Ireland who have supported this club overcoming significant logistical difficulties to follow follow. Nonetheless it does however remain a legitimate position to adopt.

But perhaps not without cost.  Having no interest in the political or religious affairs of Ulster may well be proposed and argued as a reasonable viewpoint, particularly amongst an ever increasingly secular support, but does such disconnection and disassociation from the issues affecting a considerable section of our support usurp and weaken the notion of a “Rangers Family” ? Before anyone accuses me of waxing lyrical, many older bears will attest that years ago being part of the Rangers support had a sense of family at its beating heart.

It is a strange anomaly of life that one has to either step outside, or come from outside in order to effectively defend something, whether that be an organisation, an institution or a community of people.

Ruth Dudley Edwards did just that.  The Dublin middle-class academic of Catholic background was given warts and all access to the Loyal Institutions in Northern Ireland. Her critically acclaimed book “The Faithful Tribe” not only gives intriguing insight to the loyal institutions themselves, but also wider aspects of community life in Northern Ireland. She completely destroys much of the Sinn Fein propaganda and exposes the true nature of the “residents groups” and their formation.  The way she disarms the veiled threats against her for speaking the truth, is well worth the read itself.

I fully accept and understand that there will be those reading this who are genuinely struggling to understand the raw emotion Ulster generates amongst our support. I can only leave you with a signpost however – the words of the late Labour leader John Smith:

“These are my people, and I will never desert them”

Size Matters ?

If you are a bear of a certain vintage you will be experiencing a sense of déjà vu this morning. A few weeks ago I noticed a considerable shift in the support for Ally, with Sunday’s result, but in particular our performance, being the final straw for many. It’s a horrible scenario to be in, and some of us have experienced it previously – the last days of John Greig’s tenure as manager were deeply uncomfortable for many of us.  How do you say to a man who has given his all to the club that he is just not good enough ? But if we believe that no man is bigger than the club then that must be without exception – even John Greig or Ally McCoist.

There were many who believed starting off at the bottom would allow us to build afresh, a team built around youth perhaps reminiscent of a certain Manchester United squad whose potential was never fully realised,  tragically due to the Munich Air Crash. Maybe not quite Busby’s Babes but more Ally’s Apprentices.  But of course it never happened that way, much to the disappointment of many, myself included. The cobbled together squad and less than impressive performances, were allowed considerable leeway due to factors such as no pre-season and lack of familiarity. It wasn’t pleasant to watch but eventually Stage 1 was completed.

However this season should have been completely different with a new fitness coach,  pre-season training and Ally able to secure certain targets to boost the squad.  Instead, despite the completion of Stage 2, that pre-season optimism has all but evaporated.  Instead we have been subjected to one-dimensional football ,with the long ball game being not so much the favoured option, but often alarmingly, the only option. When Daly was substituted against Albion Rovers and Mohsni  thrown up front, it only served to confirm our total reliance on this type of football.  Is it any small wonder the Raith Rovers game plan was simply “to defend the long ball” ?

Those making excuses for Ally do our club no favours with their well intentioned but nonetheless misplaced sense of loyalty to Ally. We have a full time squad of players the quality of which makes our peers in the league look on with envy, the best training facilities in the country and we undergo pre-match preparations which other clubs can only dream of. So you have to honestly ask - where does the buck stop ? 

Those who cite the need for Ally to stay in view of the fact a relatively unknown board are running our club – did Ally being manager help prevent the chaos and damage inflicted by Whyte or the avarice of Charles Green ?

Even out with the Ibrox faithful questions are being asked of Ally’s ability. His Cup Record alone, highlighted by Tom English and others recently, would have seen previous incumbents dispatched.

Which all in all creates a huge problem for our current board.  Will they have the mettle to remove such an iconic figurehead ? Albeit one who appears to be underachieving in his current role. Or has the fear of further fans backlash rendered them impotent in making the critical decisions which affect our club’s future ?  As I warned several weeks ago writing in WATP magazine, militancy may be a new weapon in the Rangers supporters’ armoury – but it has to be used responsibly. When a guy like Dave King suggests that some Rangers supporters are looking for a fight – perhaps it’s time to check your own actions and motivations.

Perhaps in the days and weeks to come, remembering that no man is bigger than the club, may prove to be an essential navigational tool.

Consistent inconsistency

My tweet announcing my retiral from online forums came as a surprise to some but not to others. What was once a rich and abundant land of views, debate, humour and Rangers related stories never to be found in any book, have at times become little more than “gang huts” where you hang out according to your take on all things Rangers. Either that or the same tired arguments are done to death in every thread, as opposing factions slog it out,  exchanging profanity and insults to fellow bears who happen to hold a different perspective on things.  I’m an ex-Marine, a bit of profanity doesn’t bother me, watching a community I care deeply for, tear itself apart from within, does however. 

The Rangers online community is fragmented, divided and marginalised.  I often wonder if those who appear to have an appetite for such a status quo remaining, realise that such fragmentation and division makes us something else – ineffective.  As we expel energy and effort into trumping one another at  7 card insult, how are we faring at defending our club from those who would seek to cause her fatal injury ? With the various technologies available to us via social media, forums, e-mail, blogs etc did we manage to mobilise and ensure the 100,000 signatures required for the E-Petition  into HMRC confidential leaks were attained ? Brace yourself – we didn’t even reach half the desired number of signatories.

We appear to struggle with the concept of consistency. Outwardly we take umbrage at inflammatory language used by other club’s officials, supporter’s trusts spokespersons and journalists yet inwardly, we are guilty of much worse towards one another.  As we not only strive, but demand equality, parity and respect from others, how debilitating to our case is it that we seem incapable of exercising these qualities to one another ? But I do consistency something of an injustice, for it is far more than just a standard we need to aspire to in order to establish credibility. It also serves as a compass in determining motivation. 

I’ve realised Twitter with its limitations, is not the ideal platform for engaging in the kind of debate we as a support need to have. And have as a matter of urgency. But I find it a valuable tool for gauging the motivation of others. Yesterday, demands were made of Rangers Media to exercise responsible and appropriate moderation on their site – I would concur with such sentiment but only with an additional caveat. Should we not be making similar demands of all forums ? Why single out one when others are equally as guilty of allowing the unacceptable to remain unchecked ? RST members had to suffer the unedifying sight recently on Follow Follow, of former board members engaging in accusation and counter accusation, a tit for tat exchange involving allegations of serious criminality, along with what has almost become the “obligatory” character assassination.  A support demanding equality and parity from others need to be consistent in the demands we make of ourselves if we are to be taken seriously.

Bill McMurdo and I had a very public disagreement recently on Rangers Media. Bill’s proposal recently that we as supporters have no right to question the board, to me smacks of a dis-empowerment of our support. The club we love only continues in existence due to one of the few things we manage as a support to get collectively right – our ability to support the team no matter what.

But I would like to continue the theme of consistency by asking you a hypothetical question.

What would your feelings be if an e-mail was produced from the Easdales or Jack Irvine on which Bill McMurdo was an addressee, asking him to ready himself for one final push around the time of the AGM ?

Martin Luther said “Peace if possible, truth at all costs”

My dance of peace is over. Whatever the cost, its time truth prevailed.

In delivering that truth I can offer you no “inside info” from Ibrox nor an exclusive from an “unnamed source”. The only agenda I offer is putting our club and support first. 

But I guess you already knew that, it’s probably why you got this far in the first place.



Yours in Rangers

D'Artagnan

An "internet bampot" responds

We were the target of the Scottish Press with our far fetched theories and agendas. Dismissed out of sight as little more than “internet bampots”. Of course such dismissal was often based not on the often well researched evidence which had been collated, but more on the accusations we levelled. I remember in particular one article about BBC Scotland which received particular criticism from many quarters, sadly many on Rangers forums, when I alleged Pacific Quay had a particular anti-Rangers sentiment running through it. Unthinkable for most back then. Who within the Rangers community would argue with that now ?

And what of my fellow internet bampots with their conspiracy theories, agendas suggesting dark and sinister forces at work in our country brought together with a common purpose by some Opus Dei like controlling force – could be straight out of a Dan Brown novel. Unthinkable ?

Well we have the aforesaid BBC Scotland receiving stolen evidence, publishing it online and making award winning documentaries. I doubt there would be many within the Rangers community who would view their coverage of our club as fair, balanced and objective. Their language in reporting, their choice of words, the manner of their presentation, leaves little to the imagination as to the motivation behind the foregoing. Nor their hatred of our club.

Now in my internet bampot mode I have long campaigned that the Rangers Tax Case Leaks came from within HMRC themselves – a fact dismissed (though not denied – very clever) from HMRC themselves. We all know the drill after hundreds of letters “HMRC do not comment on speculation about breaches of confidentiality.”

But in the clamour to destroy our club the SPL cabal made one of their biggest ever mistakes with their SPL Commission. And this is where it became interesting. For not only did the learned Lord Nimmo's commission review the evidence, I believe they detected a considerable rat at work.

[98] Meanwhile, BBC Scotland came, by unknown means, into possession of what they described as “dozens of secret emails, letters and documents”, which we understand were the productions before the Tax Tribunal. These formed the basis of a programme entitled “Rangers – The Men Who Sold the Jerseys”, which was broadcast on 23 May 2012. BBC Scotland also published copious material on its website. The published material included a table containing the names of Rangers players, coaches and staff who were beneficiaries of the MGMRT, and how much they received through that trust. It also listed the names of people where the BBC had seen evidence that they received side-letters. This event appears to have been the trigger for more activity in response to the SPL’s request.

We will discuss this further in due course but just for the moment lets look at the use of the word trigger in that statement. Its is used to describe a catalyst, a reaction to more activity. Which tends to suggest that the documentary and information presented by the good old fair, balanced and neutral BBC Scotland has been anything but fair, balanced and neutral. Particularly in light of the findings of a 1^st tier tax tribunal and an SPL commission.

And what of the reference to “productions”. If they are productions then they must be evidence, and there is only one organisation which seized evidence in the Rangers Tax Case – the same organisation, who funnily enough, do not comment on speculation about breaches of confidentiality.

Which is likely to make my blog particularly interesting over the next few weeks for a number of reasons. You see I asked the Right Honourable David Gauke to confirm for me that HMRC had reported the theft of this evidence to the Police. But David Gauke MP declined to answer, instead he passed me to HMRC Ministerial Correspondence Unit who sent me a long winded letter which avoided answering my question. Needless to say I have requested confirmation from them as to my original question. In the meantime my enquiries with Strathclyde Police confirmed that they are currently undertaking a criminal enquiry with regard to the leaking of evidence – Rangers Tax Case.

It coins a new saying – Hell hath no fury like a Rangers shareholder scorned.

One wonders if HMRC will answer my latest enquiry with a refusal to comment on “speculation” about breaches of confidentiality when Strathclyde Police are busy running a major investigation into such leaks ! Oh dear – someone somewhere has a lot of answers to give the Rangers support and I'm sure I will not be the only one demanding them.

But perhaps the dark and sinister forces at work made a considerable mistake last weekend when they temporarily broke cover, Amazing how many legal rights lawyers, top QC's just happened to be in the Gallowgate last weekend on the occasion of an illegal march. Amazing how many politicians were suddenly lobbying Kenny MacAskill about “heavy handed policing” so much so that the Justice Minister was forced to make a statement. In fact it reminded of another situation at Berwick a few weeks ago involving the Rangers support which I described as “almost contrived”

And now today remarkably, we have the Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins forced to write a letter to The Herald defending their position despite the fact it was an unlawful protest.

Dark and sinister forces at work within our society ?

Unthinkable ?

HMRC & The Ticking Clock

“We do not comment on speculation about breaches of confidentiality”

I'm sure many of us who have written to this organisation are familiar with this statement. In fact I'm willing to bet that thousands of Bears across the world have letters with the aforesaid phrase included. My advice – keep them, you may find a need for them in the future.

I asked HMRC a different question. Well actually I asked it of David Gauke MP at the Treasury who, interestingly, rather than answer the question, referred me to the Ministerial Unit at HMRC. The question I asked, as some of you will be remember was “Did HMRC report report the leaks relative to the Rangers Tax Case to the Police ?”

I receive a long winded response which failed to answer the question. In other words waffle. I have sent another letter asking for confirmation.

You see HMRC have a problem. A problem which increased in magnitude following the Nimmo Report, where the learned Lord Nimmo commented in [98] :-

Meanwhile, BBC Scotland came, by unknown means, into possession of what they described as “dozens of secret emails, letters and documents”, which we understand were the productions before the Tax Tribunal.

Now allow me to elaborate. The term “productions” is a legal description for evidence i.e. the murder weapon in a murder case would be a “production”. What Lord Nimmo is referring to is the various documents etc. which were seized during the HMRC investigation into Rangers and which were evidence or as Lord Nimmo  refers to – productions -  in the BTC. Now in any criminal or civil case for that matter where there are copious amounts of productions the investigative body will keep what is known as a Production Register. This carefully catalogue every single evidential item and assign it a Production Number for easy cross referencing at a later date.

Therefore when the Rangers Tax Case Blog was proudly revealing yet another “exclusive” which some in the journalistic community were moved to describe as “sourced from within HMRC” it would have been a simple matter for someone at HMRC to review the document on the Rangers Tax Case Blog and then compare it to their own Production Register. If any of that documentation matched then that should have set alarms bell ringing (actually booming) within HMRC.  So did they ?

If they haven't then they have failed to take all reasonable steps to protect confidentiality, furthermore they have failed to take all reasonable steps to protect evidence which they have seized, and I would respectfully suggest that given  they are bound by the Official Secrets Act, they have failed, not only to investigate, but report a crime which is rightfully viewed as grave in this country.

But let me give HMRC the benefit of the doubt for a moment. Let us suppose they did cross reference the exclusives on the Rangers Tax Case Blog with their own Productions Register and found that they matched. What action did they take ?

 Did they instigate an internal enquiry ?

In fact were they qualified or equipped to undertake such enquiry.

Given that such leaks constitute serious criminality did they report this to the Police ?

It is perhaps significant that following the result of the FTTT Sir David Murray, through his legal representatives, wrote to Crown Office, asking for a criminal enquiry to be launched into the leaks. This suggests that no such enquiry was currently underway and that HMRC had not reported the leaks to the Police.

Of course the Police have different powers and tools for investigation than HMRC. The Police have DNA/Fingerprinting, the power to search homes, seize computers demand ISP addresses as well as many other investigative tools and powers which are not available to HMRC.

The spotlight is now firmly focussed on whether HMRC took all reasonable steps to protect the confidentiality and security of the evidence it had seized.  That spotlight will not be turned off until every Rangers fan has answers to the question posed in this article.

Tick Tock.

Scotland the Depraved

Hark when the night is falling
Hear, Hear the pipes are calling.

The problem is Scotland is not hearing. It has not been hearing for some time, and it continues to turn a deaf ear to the truth.

Quite simply - Scotland can't handle the truth

For several months now it has vented it's hatred on a football club and sought to justify that hatred with accusations of “cheating” “financial doping”,  in fact if you believed everything which had been written in these last few months, soldiers on front line service have been deprived vital equipment, children essential textbooks, all because of a certain football club.

Two very high profile commissions have ruled on these allegations. Men of considerable knowledge and expertise in their relevant fields, and have dismissed various claims from tax evasion to cheating, to gaining an unfair sporting advantage. Its there in these learned men's published findings but still Scotland cannot accept the truth.

Scotland would rather form it's opinion on the commentary of a now defunct web blog, which operated a very one sided perspective, based on stolen evidence it had received. Or on the “expert” opinion of a disgraced lawyer who is not allowed to practise law without some degree of supervision. The credibility or accuracy of the aforementioned doesn't matter – they say what Scotland wants to hear, even if the song they play is at odds with the truth. Its no longer a search for the truth, because the truth has been published. – its a search to justify their hatred of Rangers FC.

You get an understanding of the depth of such hatred, and how deep it runs when newspaper executives comment on the result of the tax tribunal as follows : “Its a fu**** government conspiracy”

But there is considerable truths which the published findings do not address and allow me to highlight some of them.

Scotland's  football authorities usurped the fundamental principle of a presumption of innocence, both declaring and treating a football club as guilty before hearing, and tried to strip it of it's fairly won titles and trophies. If in any doubt please refer to the 5 way agreement. The men responsible remain in charge of the governance of our national sport.

Those same men decided to impose a transfer embargo on Rangers FC which a court ruled as unlawful and out with the scope of punishments available.  That embargo has been imposed as a result of blackmail by those charged with governance of our game.

A legal firm whose neutrality was always questioned, have relentlessly pursued an investigation into Rangers FC. Rumours that one of their representatives commented to Rangers officials during the investigation “You bastards have been cheating us for years” did little to assuage any fears regarding objectivity. It will be interesting to see what the final bill is for what was described as “low level intelligence gathering”

Richard Wilson in today's Herald on Sunday touches on the subject..

That was a prejudicial and misguided decision, and the commission's verdict calls much else into question. Rod McKenzie, the Harper McLeod lawyer who presented the case against Rangers, had to accept during the hearing there was a different interpretation to SPL rules than his own.

But the aforementioned pale into insignificance when we consider [98] of Lord Nimmo's findings, perhaps I should remind you all what that was, as it appears to be something our press and media are reluctant to discuss it. They would rather pour over the fine print with their apparently newly acquired ”legal expertise.”

[98] Meanwhile, BBC Scotland came, by unknown means, into possession of what they described as “dozens of secret emails, letters and documents”, which we understand were the productions before the Tax Tribunal. These formed the basis of a programme entitled “Rangers – The Men Who Sold the Jerseys”, which was broadcast on 23 May 2012. BBC Scotland also published copious material on its website. The published material included a table containing the names of Rangers players, coaches and staff who were beneficiaries of the MGMRT, and how much they received through that trust. It also listed the names of people where the BBC had seen evidence that they received side-letters. This event appears to have been the trigger for more activity in response to the SPL’s request.

Despite this observation from Lord Nimmo, its apparently ridiculous for any Rangers fan to utter the terms “agenda” or “witch-hunt”. Of course it's entirely possible that the stork baby's gps was defective and she flew right into the HMRC evidence cabinet, opening same in the process, collected a bundle of documentary evidence items, (which she had clearly mistaken for a new born baby), continued on her journey but alas dropped the bundle over Pacific Quay right into BBC Headquarters. Just a bad day at the office for the stork baby ?

After all if there was no agenda why on earth would anyone break into an evidence cabinet, steal documentary evidence and then pass it on to a media organisation ? Why would that media organisation then make a documentary ( for it's objectivity and neutrality note Lord Nimmo's use of the word “trigger”) using that stolen evidence before the relative hearing ?

But let me put to rest once and for all this much muted notion that Rangers fans should forgive, forget and move on. Even if we were willing to do so it would be  a pointless exercise and allow me to explain why.

Because our capacity for forgiveness is easily outstripped by the depth and depravity of Scotland's hatred of Rangers.