Lawwell’s Rory Bremner gag at Sevco’s expense keeps fans laughing
Among resolutions about the re-election of directors and debate about the club paying a living wage to employees most attention was focussed on the red carpet treatment that the SFA have given to Sevco since they replaced Rangers after the Ibrix club went into liquidation.
While the footballing establishment in Scotland avoid using the ‘l’ word in favour of financial meltdown, administration and crisis, supporters across Scotland know the reality of how the SFA have favoured the Ibrox clubs at every opportunity while attempting to give the current club the same identity as the one in liquidation.
“Rory Bremner can pretend to be Tony Blair,” Lawwell joked to the amusement of shareholders gathered at Celtic Park.
Despite the ongoing shambles at Ibrox and attempts to draw Celtic into an ‘Old Firm war of words’ Lawwell has kept a distance as the debate rages between Sevco 5088, Sevco Scotland, the SFA and The Rangers International Football Club.
Two years ago the Celtic chief claimed to have received a £30m bid from an unknown club in an unknown universe following claims made by Whyte that Rangers had turned down a £10m for Nikita Jelavic who was sold to Everton four months later for £3.5m.
Lawwell was speaking today during a Question & Answers section after it was announced that the controversial issue of questioning the SFA over granting Rangers a licence for the 2011/12 season was adjourned.
That motion questioned why a licence was granted to a club with unpaid tax bills which allowed Ally McCoist to lead the club into Champions League qualifiers against Malmo with £6m from the so-called ‘wee tax case’ unpaid.
If the SFA had applied the laws and refused a licence Celtic would have represented Scotland in the Champions League qualifiers allowing the club the opportunity to pick up a £20m windfall as they did in the following two seasons.
Had the SFA refused a licence the crisis at Ibrox would have come to a head much earlier allowing fans of the club to apply pressure on Craig Whyte and preventing the club from completing two thirds of the season without paying National Insurance and PAYE.
The motion to discuss that issue was adjourned due to ongoing talks between the club and the group of supporters that made the proposal.