Celtic have moved quickly to calm down the excitement of BBC Scotland over financial scandal at the club.
With audited accounts published every year, AGM’s held on time and a succession of blue chip directors ranging from cabinet ministers to former directors of the Bank of England the state broadcaster really should have known better than to run with financial fantasies created by the lunatic fringe of the Sevco support.
Having stood back and watched their own club go into liquidation, in contrast to the honest hands on approach of Hearts and Dunfermline fans, the Sevco support has attempted to find scandal at their city rivals.
After failing in their attempt to blacked the clubs’ name with the £31m debt to the Co-Operative Bank the Sevco accountants have been kept busy looking at land deals involving the Scottish champions around Celtic Park and Lennoxtown.
Anyone with a passing interest in the city will know that land values around Celtic Park are rather less expensive than elsewhere in the city while Lennoxtown was an out of town development on land that even polar bears would think twice about occupying.
Despite all that evidence the BBC, led by business and economy editor Douglas Fraser, decided to lend credibility to the story by running with claims that the EEC were investigating the land deals involving Celtic, a club that has always paid every penny owed to HMRC.
Excitedly Fraser tweeted: “Euro Cmmn on claims re Celtic, Glasgow CC & state aid rules: “requested & received detailed info from UK auths as always with a complaint”
Shortly afterwards, to dampen down expectations, he returned to the real world with: “Euro Cmmn on Celtic, Glasgow and state aid: “info being analysed: no conclusions can be drawn at this stage. No formal investigation”
For the hard of thinking that effectively confirms that the story is a non-issue. Perhaps Fraser could have spent his time more productively joining the dots that link Gavin Masterton, Davie Murray, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds TSB and £800,000,000,000 of tax payers money used to keep the show afloat.
At 5.30pm, clearly without any attempt at validating the story the BBC were telling their website readers about ‘EEC looking into Celtic land deals. Half an hour later Celtic were forced into action.
The club statement read: “IN response to stories in today’s media concerning Celtic, the club has released the following statement.
“Celtic Football Club operates to the highest standards and with the utmost integrity. At a time when the Club is committed to investing in and improving areas around Celtic Park, not only for Celtic supporters but for the benefit of the local community, it is sad that these baseless accusations have been raised with the European Commission.
“Any suggestion that Celtic has been the beneficiary of state aid is preposterous – as ludicrous as any suggestion that we have benefited from soft loans from our bankers. The historic transactions referred to were negotiated with the Council on commercial terms at market rates.
“The Club will assist the Commission fully with the process and will not be deterred from our work to improve our local area.”
Once upon a time the BBC stood for standards but the current mob in Pacific Quay have shown their colours time and time again, happily trotting out without question the latest announcements from whoever is in charge of the Ibrox club at any particular time.
This latest episode highlights just how badly the urge is within the BBC to link Celtic to any scandal while they attempt to curry favour for the next batch of Sevco moonbeams.
Up until the late 1970’s BBC Scotland used a similar recruitment policy to Rangers (IL) and while those practices are no longer active their attitude remains with the Sports Department the grooming ground for former Sevco Communications director Jim Traynor.
While Douglas Fraser is given a platform as a state funded blogger for his Sevco fantasies the reputation of BBC Scotland continues to plunge with their coverage of real business and economic stories lacking any credibility.
Hopefully the EEC will turn their attention to the state aid provided to broadcasters like the BBC and the unfair advantage that they receive against properly run commercial organisations.
Whole sorry episode is yet another embarrassment for sevco And their punters. It must burn them so much that their nemesis is governed so well.
We will start with an apology from Pacific Quay hun supporters club ,it has gone into salivating mode.
Think its time the governers of the bbc had a look at their employees if their receiving income from pr companies
Factual,as always,Joe.
As you say, ” financial fantasies created by
the lunatic fringe of the sevco support “.
Expertly and professoinally put by your
good self,Joe.
This is a non-story.
The BBC and the lunatics look foolish for
putting it out their.
The lunatics are GREEN with envy,with our
financial muscle,and possible 6M striker.
They are trying to dig dirt,but unlike them,
we are clean.Her majesty can vouch for us.
The lunatics are looking over the hill, and
it’s not the Tax Man that’s coming this time,but something far WORSE for them,
the MAGIC ‘ 10 ‘ in-a-row for US.
The FEAR is getting to them.
As for BBC scotland, they have never had,
or will have any credibility.
What a surprise…BBC Scotland trying to damage Celtic’s reputation……
Since Peter Thomson of the 1950’s ( and before that I’m pretty sure)….this organisation…paid for by mugs like you and I…..has been openly pro the club from Govan….and openly anti-Celtic.
Nothing it says or does surprises me….
It’s an organisation for Huns…. run by Huns…..
Shower of shit….!!
Questions need to be asked of the BBC about their own leanings to the Orange Lodge as all the evidence points to that organisation having a very large say in the running and influence of the BBC.
It was only a few years ago that Jackie Bird did a BBC radio programme called ‘Un-peelling The Orange’ where she tried to give the impression that this toxic organisation was just a family run charity for nice happy people and not the bigoted sectarian gang of thugs that everyone knows it to be.
Complaints and questions to the BBC FIRST THING TOMORROW!
you cant reason with ignorance,go after them legally is what I would love to see.
Most people with any integrity know that whenever someone lets up a smokescreen like this, it is usually done to deflect visibilty from ongoing corruption elsewhere. Therefore, this raises the question, “what are the Sevco group trying to hide this time around?”
More corruption on the horizon maybe?
Would this be the same BBC organization who protected, therefore encouraged the paedophilia of Jimmy Saville and many others who were under contract with them around the same time?
Such a fine upstanding organization I say!
Yes where is the proper journalism? Fep their licence fee. Sue me and I will show them who the criminals are…
Then I will be executed for crimes against the state. ;P
Let me laugh at sevco.
I am reliably informed that the pie stalls at ibrox are closing.
Volunteers are wanted for the soup kitchens.
This is the real story of the day and no mention on the BBC.
Haw haw haw.
Fraser is as accurate with his football related reporting as he is with his political reporting. What a sorry excuse for a broadcaster. Bring on independance and scrap the lot of them.
PS: Douglas what happened to your wife Isobel she’s a much better reporter than you ya jobs worth!
Please not the SNP guff – just imagine how we will be treated in a separate Scotland – 90% of Celtic-minded people will vote NO – the other 10% are misguided and mistake the ‘klan’ for the UK – they are not! A separate Scotland will be no friend to us.
John,totally agree re snp guff.
The snp’s Offensive Behavoir Act attacks
one set of fans, and one set of fans ONLY.
Us, the Celtic fans, with our Irish background and non-sectarian songs.
My late mother was a wise woman.She
said don’t trust the snp.The first to go
would be denominational schools ( which have high achievement levels )
Ask yourselves this,why did the snp govt.
recently have a commission into denom
( Catholic ) schools being the cause of
bigotry.
First, to have the study was outrageous.
Implying guilt.
Secondly, as the study found there is no
link,no apology for wasting tax payers
money, or to the schools who have an
excellent ethos.
We know who Scotland’s Shame are.
Fellow Tims, think of your own shame, if
you vote the snp, to have a go at us at
every opportunity.
You r way off the mark there if u think only 10% of celtic fans want independance , i would say its mores like 50/50.
For me i cant understand how some people go on about getting the brits out and r totally anti british yet at the same time want to remain british and keep scotland under english rule .
U make the mistake of thinking scotland is the sevconians to rule and maybe upto 20 years ago that was the case but not now . if u havent noticed we r the ones getting stronger and they have already died and all thats left us is a desperate bunch of zombies going nowhere fast and they dont want independance and why ? because they now the scotland that once was has gone and so has there power and they r terified of an independant scotland and this is why we should stand up be strong and brave and make scotland the country we want it to be and free
hail hail
Ewanbhoy,
Please address my point re commission into denom. Schools.
I await your reply ?
I cant reply to that as i dont know enough about it but that wasnt my point.
Scotland runs its own affairs and have done so for a long long time and all of the negatives u talk about have happened with scotland being part of britain so being part of the uk doesnt work or help in any way .
All i am trying to say is scotland is there for us to change and make it better and for real change to happen we have to have full contol of our country. it wont be easy or quick but im up for the fight to make scotland a better country to live in.
To me scotland has a great and proud history up until we became part of the uk and i think the only way for us to create a new and proud future is by getting out of the uk. as i say it wont be easy but i belive its something we can do and if u look back at the last 20 years things have been getting better,i know there is still alot wrong but in time we can make that wrong right
Ewanbhoy,
Thanks for the reply.
I do understand your point fully, re
independence.
The BIGGEST negative I see is the SNP.
I do support independence.
But I would rather see a NEW SOCIALIST party driving this forward.
Labour have sold out, and I do not trust smary Salmon and the SNP to
deliver a Scotland, based on freedom
and equality to all.
The rhetoric is their from them, but the
will and honesty is not.
Do you believe the SNP would put an
end to orange sectarian marches, that
blight our streets ?
While dismantling our successful denom. schools,because the ‘ peepul ‘
say they should go ?
Sorry Ewan,
I say NO, to the SNP RUINIG this country for US.
As the majority of the ‘ PEEPUL ‘ would
have to much say,which would be detrimental to our lives !!
so vote yes for independence and vote for whichever party you want to vote for at the next general election.
Regarding your worries over catholic schools being done away with – the snp already have the power to do that – they haven’t. So instead of being worried about what might never happen look at what has happened to catholics under westminster rule, look at who caused this divide in the first place, look at who caused the bigotry in ireland that has creeped over here. look at the recent revelations that the british government sanctioned the murder of any and all innocents with any link at all to the IRA. but you think the snp are bad for a bill stopping you singing a few songs?
Regarding your comments on the offensive behaviour bill – if you think being allowed to sing whatever you want is more important than, taxes, wars, child poverty, employment, health care, education, nuclear risk, etc then you shouldn’t be allowed to vote – get a grip of yourself.
So what are you saying John, your a Unionist? Misguided? Voting for independence is NOT a vote for the SNP, they are two entirely different things, also there will be an election after the referendum so you can vote for whoever you like after a Yes vote. Maybe then OUR voices will finally be heard in this country and not drowned out, by the pro-Unionists up here and down south, like they have been for centuries. Ask yourself this, under who’s rule and who’s policies did the sectarianism you so despise originate and who allowed it to fester and grow?
Peter I usually find myself agreeing with most of your comments but not this time. Again voting for independence is NOT a vote for the SNP, or any other party for that matter. There is NOTHING shameful in voting for independence, quite the opposite, as I have said above it is a chance to finally have OUR voices heard instead of being drowned out and marginalised by the Unionist rabble who would love you to vote No because it keeps all of us in our place. An independent Scotland would be too small a nation to allow such prejudices to continue as it would be to the detriment of everyone in the country, remain part of the union and you will continue to be marginalised, ignored and treated with contempt by the people who you constantly complain about.
I find it perplexing and quite ironic to hear fellow Celtic fans are willing to side with the Unionists and vote against independence, remember that the next time your complaining about the biased and anti-Celtic reporting by the pro-Unionist BBC or Daily Record’s of this world, because you will have stood shoulder to shoulder with these people in making sure it continues.
Hail Hail.
Andybhoy,
You are correct re independence.
And you are very persuasive in your
arguement, to vote yes.
I will vote yes.
But my fear is,I don’t trust the SNP.
Likewise, I have no faith in the current
Labour party.
I would prefer to see a NEW SOCIALIST
party, whose ideals didn’t have any
hidden agendas.
Thanks Andybhoy,for enlightening me.
Peter, you are absolutely correct not to trust any politician regardless what party they represent. As the old saying goes, you can always tell when a politician is lying, their lips are moving!
Fear is a good thing it keeps us vigilant, but we should not let it define us or our country. It is up to the individual how they choose to vote in the referendum but I personally would rather the future of this country was determined by it’s own people than leave it in the hands of self defined elites and people who would sell us out for a taste of power. They have had their chance and all they have achieved is massive inequality and massive divisions in society, most of which I suspect are deliberate.
We have a ONCE in lifetime chance to change this. In my opinion we should take it!
Hail Hail.
Hopefully, a lesson learned by our plc board. This is what we are all up against.
No more leaked stories re- the GB , to the so called MSM. No more co-operation with THEM.
We, the fans, staff, board inc Lawwell, and yes ,even the GB are all on the same side.
Unity will be our strength.
Maybe good will come from this garbage, in that it may focus ALL our minds on that fact: namely we are all on the same side and now must unify to bury this mob financially, football wise, status -wise , and support-wise.
Totally agree J. we are Celtic,we are family ! We dont walk away ….we come together as one ! HH
3 superfluous 0’s?
But yeah, good article.
(1) the allegations are unfounded and are made as mischief by people of low intelligence. Yes I said it people of no or low intelligence.
(2) the problems Rangers face were indeed caused by “too much leveraged debt” no different in its source and supply than that of Hearts or Dunfermline?
(3) the problem for Celtic is how do we keep players ( starting with the Goalie and Van Dyke) when the economics of football in Scotland are so dire?
I’d liked to know when my club’s board members are going to grow a pair of balls and start going after these mud slinging ‘impartial’journalists.God rest him .but Paul mc’bride would have roasted these slanderers.
This board is showing more and more loyalty to the media and pound than to the people that pay in.
F33k the bbc i so hate them Liveing in Canada i cant understand how they can still make you pay to wach such a ant Celtic org tell lies and slanderers the club.Also i am told they like to take a shot at the Catholic church were it the truth or not. Hail Hail JMJ
This was investigated by Audit Scotland 4-5 years ago when the Celtic Mafia and Celtic Triangle (as the paranoid called it) were brought to light.
After investigation by a Senior Audit Manager, whom I have the utmost respect for, it was noted that there were no secret land deals or state aid. The property was independently valuated and sold for a fair price.
Desperadoes ra lotta them!
Same embarrassing BBC SCOTLAND, do they not realize they are the laughing stock in media circles just like the newco club they jump in bed with, everytime one of these pathetic stories comes out of BBC SHITLAND it usualy means that something big/disastrous is about tae happen down at the BIGOTDOME, thanks BBC for the heads up..hail hail, KTF+
Ban them from CP.