Will Campbell Ogilvie finally do the honest thing and walk away from the presidency of the SFA after yesterday’s damning verdict on his so-called administrative skils?
For years we’ve heard the tale of how wonderful Ogilvie is when it comes to paperwork, his incredible knowledge of the rule book and understanding of the game from grassroots through to FIFA level.
That myth was well and truly dismissed yesterday by Lord Nimmo Smith’s enquiry into undeclared payments to Rangers players and officials, including Ogilvie, for over a decade with the SFA President at the heart of the matter for a number of those years.
Nimmo Smith’s report states: “Mr Ogilvie dealt with all aspects of football administration at Rangers until late 2002 or early 2003”, and “assumed that these (payments) were made in respect of the players’ playing football”.
The report added: “It should be noted that Mr Ogilvie was a member of the board of directors who approved the statutory accounts of Oldco which disclosed very substantial payments made under EBT arrangements.
“There is insufficient evidence before us to enable us to draw any conclusion as to exactly how the senior management of Oldco came to the conclusion that the EBT arrangements did not require to be disclosed to the SPL or the SFA.
“In our view, the apparent assumption both that the side-letter arrangements were entirely discretionary, and that they did not form part of any player’s contractual entitlement, was seriously misconceived.
“There is no evidence that the Board of Directors of Oldco took any steps to obtain proper external legal or accountancy advice to the Board as to the risks inherent in agreeing to pay players through the EBT arrangements without disclosure to the football authorities.
“The directors of Oldco must bear a heavy responsibility for this. While there is no question of dishonesty, individual or corporate, we nevertheless take the view that the nondisclosure must be regarded as deliberate, in the sense that a decision was taken that the side-letters need not be or should not be disclosed.
“No steps were taken to check, even on a hypothetical basis, the validity of that assumption with the SPL or the SFA.”
“It is the board of directors of Oldco as a company, as distinct from the football management or players of Rangers FC as a club, which appears to us to bear the responsibility for the breaches of the relevant rules.”
Ogilvie stood down from Rangers in 2005 as Martin Bain rose to the top taking over many of his roles.
Since 2003 Andrew Dickson has been head of football administration at both Rangers and Sevco, Dickson was named by the BBC in May 2012 as having received a £33,000 EBT.
While the scale of Lord Nimmo Smith’s punishment is laughable for serial rule breaches lasting over a decade the continuing involvement of Ogilvie and Dickson in Scottish football probably says even more than applying a fine to a club in liquidation.
As he communicates daily with his president Stewart Regan really ought to be concerned about his next career move, Ogilvie’s continued involvement makes Scottish football, and in particular it’s chief executive no favours.
CLICK HERE for the BBC list of EBT’S.
CLICK HERE for Lennon: Some good players may be leaving
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I’ve absolutely no doubts that Ogilvie knew how dodgy the EBT scheme was & that these side contracts SHOULD have been notified to the relevant authorities. But testimony to his own non mythical knowledge, I also strongly suspect HE has been able to put pressure on Sandy Bryson to find the loophole which enabled them to escape.
Make no mistake, Ogilvie is a very sharp cookie, knows these rules inside out. The chances of him choosing to walk away I think are remote, unless he has another position lined up at UEFA. All he has done is cover his own tracks, as it turns out very well indeed, kept his head down and ignored the flak knowing only a full scale vote of no confidence from the clubs will see his position untenable.
He like some of his predecessors rules the SFA, can tell Doomcaster what to say / do and the majority of others like puppets. With all the outcry in recent months, we are now facing an amalgamation of SPL / SFL, yet the primary body that requires the most urgent makeover the SFA led by Ogilvie will remain, probably in an even stronger position being THE leading authority.
Unless our clubs revolt and en bloc resign from the SFA to form a brand new Association there will be little if any change. If Ogilvie goes, I have no doubts at all that another highly dubious character will be elected in his place. We NEED a clean start to give ALL fans some faith in those running our game…The SFA will forever be seen as a corrupt body due to their mishandling of recent events.
A kick in the Haw maws will do for starters, the guy will never leave he’s greens inside man at the moment do you think for a second he’s not going back to the scrappy with info as long as he’s useful to the darkside he will stay. HH
He is doing the job he is there to do, look out for Rangers interests, and a superb job he is doing too. And it’s us mugs who are paying him to do it. Like you say, he will stay and continue to do the job he is there to do.
“No competitive advantage”. It just goes goes to show that you can be a Lord and a Judge, you can have a double-barrelled name and still be a half-wit and/or a crook. But I guess most of us already knew that.
I suppose the biggest shock is thst so many seemingly quite intelligent Celtic supporters actually expected justice. (Although some of them did seem to have some legal training- so you can’t really blame them for getting it wrong).
Where’s the historical precedent for justice against the establishment? It’s not the British way. Cover it up for 30 years then have a public enquiry when no-one cares anymore. That’s the British way.
I think what most Celtic supporters including most of Scottish clubs fans didn’t consider was an esteemed learned legal mind coming to the conclusion that yes they are guilty, BUT that didnt give them a sporting advantage, out of the 42 page verdict that is the part that takes the piss.
What qualifications has he to make that assessment/judgement? ?
If Barcalona/Real Madrid etc played a St Mirren, Dundee etc then who would have the sporting advantage ? Not St.Mirren/Dundee of course, we all know that, want to know the reason Mr LNS – Because the quality of player in both the Spanish clubs as they got more money to spend on a better quality of player than what St.Mirren could afford to spend.
So that blows his decision right out the water and convinces me it was a back scratching operation all along. Publicly hyped up in the media about title stripping blah blah blah, all orchestrated to have everyone believe that was the main adjective,
No all we wanted was for them to be found guilty on fielding ineligible players, so in finding them guilty on the administrative error thus dropping the title stripping possibility in the Sevconian eyes and pea brains that gives them the victory where they claiming they been vindicated as not being cheets, forgetting they actually been found guilty as their spin continues and will continue as they will not have it any other way, as I says all orchestrated in my opinion.
#TheGamesABogey.
£47 million in secret payments to players, but no competitive advantage. What an idiot! Scottish justice has big ears and a tail and says EEHAW!
I dont know why your bothering asking the question in the first place . After yesterdays results scottish football doesn’t exists for me now , I wont spend a penny on it why waste your hard earned coin on a rigged game ?,
Isn’t the whole point of being a Celtic supporter to stand up to these things, these bastards, as best we can?
Nothing has changed: the struggle goes on.
Don’t let the cretins get to you mate. Celtic is not just out team but our culture. We are built for bigger and better things, KTF
NO offence,but where or how do you see celtic fans standing up against this past or present? Hate to be so pessimistic but yesterdays VERDICT has got me thinking bout chucking it and i dont think i’m alone
Keep the faith my Celtic friend our future lies elsewhere and as Celtic people we need to stay together. Let’s trust our club will grant our wishes and take us forward out of this corrupt backwater and the sooner the better. HH
The amount of Celtic fans who are saying they are not going back is fuckin shocking. What’s wrong with you’s ffs grow a pair and stop acting like idiots. Anything that happens in Scottish european or world football will NEVER make me stop going to see Celtic the day I die is the day I stop going. We are Celtic supporters FAITHFULL THROUGH AND THROUGH everybody sings it not enough are it. This is going to get used as an excuse not to go It’s a fuckin joke
My suggestion is to canvas other supporter associations regarding a boycott hibs,dundee united would be a starting point not so sure about their inbred cousins hearts n kilmarnock,but if we could get as BIG of an organised boycott of games involving as many supporter groups as we can then MAYBE just MAYBE they will listen,we should start with demanding an overhaul of the S.f.a and more importantly Olgilvies removal,we as a support seem to forget the power we could have if we act in unison as a group and with other supporters,without fans paying their cash there is no game,a successfull boycott of a round of games would make them act or at the very least highlight or grievances
How would boycotting hibs and dundee utd help get rid of the SFA they hate what’s happening as much as us, if you want to hurt the SFA don’t go to hampden that’s where they make there money. A won’t be back to hampden but a will still go the away games. HH
Sorry mate what am suggesting is to ask hibs and dundee utd if they would boycott their matches aswell as way of protest,i would like to see as many fans of other clubs involved as possible,IMO they would have to act if the boycott was big enough,its drastic i know but its the only way we can force change.
Might be wee bit out of touch here but is it just celtic fans who feel so strongly about this?
Havent researched but i thought the whole of scottish football would be outraged ommiting the huns and thier closely related of course
Davie bhoy, have a read at Auldheids blog on TSFM site, discusses the issues you suggestion.
http://scottishfootballmonitor.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/a-question-of-trust/
Get what you mean mate you want every supporter of all teams to boycott got you. Still not sure its the way to go every team would get weaker and the zombies if there still around would get stronger, not saying you are but that’s what a zombie would want ……… strange thing to want HH
Lots of disgusted punters are just unsure about about what to do, and it’s not just Celtic fans. One of the only positive things to come out of this, and it is a huge and welcome seismic change, is that Football supporters across Scotland have finally been shown the truth, that the myth that Celtic were as bad as them and given the same favoritism as them was a well orchestrated lie.
The lie has been exposed and fans now see the Old Firm myth for what it is and why it was peddled. Muddying waters, deflecting attention from the corruption, dragging Celtic into it at every opportunity to hide the collusion between Rangers and those running the game.
Thankfully supporters across Scotland can now see that the MSM have been at it for years, labelling Celtic fans paranoid and gaining support for the lie amongst the fans of other Clubs is a thing of the past. That is a huge victory on its own for us. HH
Agreed we can take some comfort from that but THEY are still in charge and calling the shots,until that changes the cheating in various guises will continue
Sorry for being downbeat about this am gutted TBO
We all know this place is rotten to the core but for me yesterday’s events should act as a catalyst for our departure. The bunnet had the courage bringing fat farry to justice but the game is up here, Lawwell and Desmond need to lead us out of the corrupt wilderness..time for timmy to say ta ta. CFCLCO
The only possible scenario I can envision is Ogilvie continues to ride the storm out as in the way that he has being doing up in till now ‘Brass Neckit ‘ style, desperately hoping for that much sought after all important call from UEFA, where he can join up in the corridors of power alongside his fellow disgraced brother, a Mr FTP Dallas..(Retirement Plan).
It’s the only possible conclusion that i can come up with as to why this compromised charlatan has remained in office during these ‘Disgrace Scottish Football Episodes ‘ ?Real life comedy continuous drama (s).
The disrespect towards us, we the customers who fund this fraudulent ” Mr Nice Guy’s ” salary who in return shows a complete disregard towards the integrity of the competition’s rules that he is supposed to uphold and govern, while being handsomely paid for it by all of us and our club(s) monies. How do they manage to look at themselves in the mirror I wonder.
My personal opinion is that having prior knowledge of these rules breaks while at Mordor he was all to familiar with these loopholes ins an outs therefore set the whole LNS thing up knowing that a precedent had been set by the Sfa regarding rules breaches by teams like Spartans etc, where it was the Sfa who dealt with the matter, so hand it over to a sharp legal mind knowing fine well there was room to fudge the charges in question, in the process no sevconia backlash over title stripping etc.
Remember wee Fat Ecks comments about the ‘Fabric of Society ‘ .. Well for me that told me from the beginning all of Sevcos treatment would be favourable, the distress signals sent out , self preservation, this Brother thing ain’t going to allow SDM etc to be dealt with anything more than a poncy slap on the wrist.. Mr Campbell likewise is ‘walking’ no where.. #BrothersInArms
#ScotlandsDirtyShame.
HH ?
To make matters worse we have to endure Murray,Mccoist etc saying see’told yese we didnae do any wrong ” even though it was a GUILTY verdict,getting into EPL isnt tha answer IMO we would still be treated unfairly there to as its the same establishment that hates celtics very existance
That is just the start of it. What bugs me the most is that football rules are being bastardised by law when it suits one Club, Football rules are not written for legal scrutiny, they are there to ensure a level playing field for a SPORT, purposefully incorrectly registered players and hidden payments are against the very principles of SPORT, the whole notion of fair COMPETITION has been shat on from a. great height. Football rules can be picked apart legally, that’s why going to Courts to challenge Football rules is so severely frowned upon. What LNS has done is to ignore the fact that improperly registered players are simply void in Football, it is common sense, accepted by all Football Clubs on Earth (except for one). There may not be provisions legally binding and airtight, because there has never had to be.
IMO its time for us to unite as a support and say enoughs enough we are not taking this anymore,MONEY could change this starve the game of YOUR money and they will have to act.
This might sound extreme and would hurt our club aswell but we need to look at the bigger picture.
Do nothing and the status quo remain or
Act and they will listen they will have to.
The only thing i want for celtic is a level playing feild is that to much to ask?
The only only option open to us fans is at every home game sing a little song as “feck the SFA” and something about Ogilvie.
Especially if we get to Hamden and throughout Europe embarrass them at every opportunity.
HH
You get banned from Celtic park for singing mate so watch focus don’t spot you or your door Will get a knock . HH
Thats a start stevie but we have always done that remember singing ” whos the mason in the black ” all through the 90s it has no effect mate.
What youve got to remember people governing our game and where there wages come from US the supporters.
The only weapon we can use against them is to withdraw monetray input,its the only thing that will work IMO
Agree Stevie, my god we’ve got enough ammunition to make a hundred songs. Btw to all the boycotters get a life. Explain how is supporting your club supporting your club??
Hail hail
“Not supporting “
So you think singing songs is going to change things? Yer kidding yer self pal
I can just imagine them sitting round their boardrooms or lodges absoloutley shitting their pants cause we are singing songs about them,im sorry but thats not going to change nothing IMO
By the way were no debating the merits of supporting celtic here but asking how do we get change or are you happy to let the cheating continue?
I don’t think no attending Celtic games, especially at home is the answer to anything.
Fully agree the game is corrupt to the core…but the main aim on contention should be squarely focussed on the SFA.
As fans we will already have purchased tickets for the St. Mirren game so too late for any direct action. Hopefully all going well we qualify for the Semi-final & Final then we can show our disapproval for the SFA in a public vote of no confidence by boycotting the potential semi-final AND even the final itself.
It would be asking a lot but if the opposition fans also felt similarly cheated they should also stand down form these games.
I feel such action would bring about change quicker than mere songs, protests or boycotting SPL matches….hurting the SFA where it counts most and in their flagship tourney.
I hear what your saying regarding games at CP but i just feel that might not be enough as it might only be a couple of cup games then its pre season then a new season with the same people running it.
I think we need to get other fans groups involved if thats possible,the more people boycotting the bigger the effect it would have
Just dream for a minute here,what a legacy it would be to leave our kids ” Thats right son the fans revolted and scottish football was changed forever” aye maybe i am a dreamer but if enough people feel as strongly as i do then there is a chance for change
The next move is Lawwell and Desmond’s. They have to exert their power and represent their people. We should all know by now and look forward to a future out with this insular corrupted nation. Time to embrace a new chapter in the Our Celtic story. Peter and dermot .. Time to stand up and lead your culture forward in to an exciting new future for us and our children. CFCLCO
We would make our feelings abundantly clear via NOT purchasing season tickets, right now they already HAVE our money. As you say it will soon be close season, so only direct action we will have is via Season books & ignore all Scotland games !
While the Scottish Cup might at most be 2-3 games (Both semi-finals & Final) it WOULD be a huge embarassment for the SFA. Personally I’d withdraw the team from the competition but I can’t see Celtic doing this.
There is to much acceptance of these instances from Lawell n co at least publicly,boycotting games could give them the nudge they need to act on our behalf but thats something they should be doing anyway.Act that is.
It should embarass s.f.a but i dont think thats something that effects the brass necks they have.
Something needs to be done thats for sure or should we just forget about all of this to avoid ” Social unrest”?
Withdrawing the team from this weekends tie would be a massive statement but we have to appeal to Platini at UEFA that our position and I suppose every other team who plays legally within the rules, is untenable.
another idea here,since the scum have announced there new sponsers,would it not be a good idea to have banners with there names attached to any slagging of the sfa or the scum,might think twice about joining a corrupt gang of scum
Of course he won’t! We all know this corruption goes deeper than it was at the old club who used to be called rangers! The corruption went on for years, clearly known tothe SFA & SPL. The are part of it, snd it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.
The cheating and theft was never goung to be punished. We all knew that since day one! Too many people involved would stand to lose also if there was to be punishment fitting the crime. Look at verdicts in the past twenty or so years.
When literally millions of people watch a manager being attacked yet a verdict comes in as “not proven” jusy because that manager happens to be an Irish Catholic, managing Celtic, you know what you face. When you have the SFA & SPL victimize the same manager for non-offences letting guilty parties off at the same time, you know what you face. The corruption is in all power areas in the country. So just think about this when you are standing there in your polling stations voting for independence! You are voting for more of the same!
Don’t get carried away thinking Sctland s better off independent. The lives of Catholics and Celtic fans will worsen in corrupt bigoted smal-minded Scotland if independence goes through.