The bampot that set the Record straight

In terms of size it escaped the attention of most Bampots but Saturday’s postage stamp retraction of the ‘miracle of Ibrox’ from the Daily Record was highly significant.

(Bampot- a shameless anonymous internet based individual who dares venture away from accepted wisdom).

For the army of 183,365 people who bought the Record on a daily basis through August, among the tales of wonder about Mark Warburton (a former city trader) and promises of investment from Dave King’s war-chest there was one piece that went a little too far.

Unlike the BBC newspapers are more than justified in taking a particular slant on issues and few would be in any doubt about where the loyalty of the Record lies.

From Dave Murray through to Dave King via Craig Whyte and Charlie Green the regime in charge at Ibrox can be assured of the wholehearted backing of the Glasgow based title- whilst in power. After leaving the blue room of dignity some decisions may be questioned.

Like their backing for New Labour and the Iron Chancellor Gordon Brown you know what you are getting from the Record and a very significant number of people are happy to pay for that view.

There are however some areas that really aren’t open to interpretation and top spin. Taxes and death are unavoidable, even if the failure of Rangers to obtain a CVA and subsequent move into liquidation is an event that many would rather body-swerve.

The tax issues of the old club are unavoidable, over £6m was owed on the wee tax case relating to illegal payments to Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer.

During the 2011/12 season the club decided to stop paying Income Tax and PAYE in a bid to prevent Neil Lennon’s Celtic from winning the SPL title. When this came to light there was no one willing to step up and settle with HMRC.

When the Record decided to report on a phantom tax bill that was later cleared one contributor to The Scottish Football Monitor decided that it was a step too far.

Taking up the story he wrote to the Record stating: “I wish to point out a factual inaccuracy in this article- http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/old-rangers-board-signed-deal-6510560

The relevant paragraph reads as follows- “The club went into administration and subsequent forced liquidation by HMRC over a “phantom” £80million tax bill, The club were later cleared of having ever owed the taxman”

The “club” were, of course, put into administration for failing to pay over to HMRC several months PAYE tax and VAT. The “Big Tax Case” is still in the appeals process, so the “club” haven’t been cleared of anything yet, and even if they eventually win on all outstanding appeal points, there will still be over £20m owed to HMRC. That sum is not in dispute, and was the reason for RFC entering administration.

To say that “the club were later cleared of having ever owed the taxman” is clearly untrue. Here is a link to the liquidators’ report of last November-

http://www.bdo.co.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/879165/Rangers-Creditors-Circ-13-November-2014.pdf

From that report- “5. EBT As previously reported to creditors, HMRC appealed the First Tier Tribunal (“FTT”) decision in respect of the EBT Scheme previously operated by the Company, commonly known as the “Big Tax” case. The Big Tax case represents c£72m of the £94m claim submitted by HMRC in the Liquidation proceedings, and may therefore have a material impact on the dividend payable to unsecured creditors.”

So the HMRC claim was £92m, of which £72m is subject to an ongoing appeal process, and £22m is undisputed. It is impossible to reconcile these facts with the statement in your article that “the club were later cleared of ever owing the taxman”. On any construction the taxman is owed between £22m and £94m, the precise sum being contingent on an unfinished appeals process, but in any event not less than £22m.

Please let me know when a correction is published. I really do expect better from a reputable newspaper.

And the Record’s reply received today- Further to my recent email to you, below, please note that the Daily Record carried a clarification over this point in our regular page 2 column on Saturday. Thanks you for bringing this to our attention.”

With the storm clouds gathering over Ibrox, the season ticket money running dry, no sign of audited accounts, no prospect of a share issue and Mr King thousands of miles away in South Africa even a low level internet bampot can see the trouble brewing.

Having been endorsed by veteran blazer chaser Paul Murray it’ll be a difficult decision for the Record to explain to their readers the true situation at Ibrox.

Meanwhile the Bampots have even been joined by an Ibrox fan going under the name John James. The evidence isn’t difficult to find for a company that spends over £30m a year and has a turnover well under £20m.

When the news hits the street the Record will probably tell it’s readers how ‘we told you first’. The reality, like the phantom tax bill that was later cleared, is somewhat different.

This man, who kept clean sheets in the Bernabeu and San Siro, will be signing copies of his book in the Celtic Social Club, London Road from 12.15pm on Sunday (please don’t ask him about referees)