The other day I mentioned that I suspected some sort of propaganda campaign was in progress at Fortress Rangers. (Not paranoid, honest)
I found it interesting that in the space of a few days we had press statements from Sir David Murray, Walter Smith, Alex McLeish and Ally McCoist, all basically taking the same line that they personally (and Rangers FC) did nothing wrong, and that any monies paid to Rangers players by way of EBTs was all ship shape and Bristol fashion, all perfectly above board, nothing to see here move along.
I was convinced that this was some new PR campaign, but I was not quite sure what had brought it on or made it necessary at this time. Having read Rangers Tax Case (RTC) today I think it is apparent why the wagons are being circled and the drawbridge is being pulled up. If RTC is correct (and let's face it, he has been mostly right so far) then Rangers truly are up the proverbial **** creek, sans paddle.
Here's an extract from yesterday's RTC blog:
Gavin Rae signed a three and a half-year contract with Rangers on 1 January 2004. This contract- the official one filed with the SFA & SPL- lists an annual wage of £260,000. Curiously, the contract does not mention appearance money or bonuses. On the very same day, 1 January 2004, Rangers provided Gavin Rae with a letter that said that money would be deposited in a sub-trust of the Murray Group Management Remuneration Trust on his behalf. These amounts total £336,000. The letter also said that Rae would receive £1,000 as an appearance fee for every competitive first-team game played. From February 2004 to July 2007, Rae received five payments totalling £336,000. He also received the following amounts through the EBT for appearances: £11,000 (2003/04); £8,000 (2005/06); £20,000 (2006/07). The appearance money matches his first team appearances for Rangers.
This side letter torpedoes the argument that these payments were not contractual. (Short version: these letters constitute a contract under Scots Law). This letter, and the others like it, demonstrate that Rangers used the EBT scheme to pay wages (appearance money) and contractual obligations related to employment. This is just one fragment of the masses of evidence that demonstrate that Rangers were âat itâ.
The task for the SPLâs investigators is simple in this case. Obtain Gavin Raeâs contract as submitted to the SFA & SPL. Next, they should demand to see Gavin Raeâs side letter. After that, the task is to review the actual payments. There will be a match between promises and payments. Repeat for each of the 82 other employees of Rangers FC (now In Administration) who used the trust scheme.
The current PR campaign from Murray, and other senior Rangersâ personnel who were beneficiaries of the EBT scheme, is designed to reverse any sense of inevitability regarding amending the sporting record to reflect the cheating that took place between 2001-2011. All Scottish football fans- Rangers fans included- were cheated during these years. Do not believe the spin and dissembling from those who did most to damage Rangers FC and Scottish football.
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The other common theme from the 4 Musketeers is that Rangers âhave been punished enoughâ and that âStripping of titles would be the ultimate punishmentâ. Iâm afraid that is a totally illogical and not a little disingenuous. To remove something that someone has no right to in the first place is not a âpunishmentâ and never has been, it is a forfeiture of ill-gotten gains, like a thief being made to hand back stolen property.
IF RTC is correct, Rangers were âat it,â and yet we have at least 3 individuals (who apparently made vast amounts of money out of a tax avoidance scheme) trying to get the Gers fans onside by making out this is all about honours won on the field of play, and why they should be retained.
Itâs deflection (pardon the pun), they simply appear not to want their financial gains put under the microscope by anyone, if they can get the support they crave and have the investigation dropped, then their personal financial gains will escape scrutiny. That's what motivates them I believe.
Hopefully we will find out soon enough whether i'm paranoid or not
I found it interesting that in the space of a few days we had press statements from Sir David Murray, Walter Smith, Alex McLeish and Ally McCoist, all basically taking the same line that they personally (and Rangers FC) did nothing wrong, and that any monies paid to Rangers players by way of EBTs was all ship shape and Bristol fashion, all perfectly above board, nothing to see here move along.
I was convinced that this was some new PR campaign, but I was not quite sure what had brought it on or made it necessary at this time. Having read Rangers Tax Case (RTC) today I think it is apparent why the wagons are being circled and the drawbridge is being pulled up. If RTC is correct (and let's face it, he has been mostly right so far) then Rangers truly are up the proverbial **** creek, sans paddle.
Here's an extract from yesterday's RTC blog:
Gavin Rae signed a three and a half-year contract with Rangers on 1 January 2004. This contract- the official one filed with the SFA & SPL- lists an annual wage of £260,000. Curiously, the contract does not mention appearance money or bonuses. On the very same day, 1 January 2004, Rangers provided Gavin Rae with a letter that said that money would be deposited in a sub-trust of the Murray Group Management Remuneration Trust on his behalf. These amounts total £336,000. The letter also said that Rae would receive £1,000 as an appearance fee for every competitive first-team game played. From February 2004 to July 2007, Rae received five payments totalling £336,000. He also received the following amounts through the EBT for appearances: £11,000 (2003/04); £8,000 (2005/06); £20,000 (2006/07). The appearance money matches his first team appearances for Rangers.
This side letter torpedoes the argument that these payments were not contractual. (Short version: these letters constitute a contract under Scots Law). This letter, and the others like it, demonstrate that Rangers used the EBT scheme to pay wages (appearance money) and contractual obligations related to employment. This is just one fragment of the masses of evidence that demonstrate that Rangers were âat itâ.
The task for the SPLâs investigators is simple in this case. Obtain Gavin Raeâs contract as submitted to the SFA & SPL. Next, they should demand to see Gavin Raeâs side letter. After that, the task is to review the actual payments. There will be a match between promises and payments. Repeat for each of the 82 other employees of Rangers FC (now In Administration) who used the trust scheme.
The current PR campaign from Murray, and other senior Rangersâ personnel who were beneficiaries of the EBT scheme, is designed to reverse any sense of inevitability regarding amending the sporting record to reflect the cheating that took place between 2001-2011. All Scottish football fans- Rangers fans included- were cheated during these years. Do not believe the spin and dissembling from those who did most to damage Rangers FC and Scottish football.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The other common theme from the 4 Musketeers is that Rangers âhave been punished enoughâ and that âStripping of titles would be the ultimate punishmentâ. Iâm afraid that is a totally illogical and not a little disingenuous. To remove something that someone has no right to in the first place is not a âpunishmentâ and never has been, it is a forfeiture of ill-gotten gains, like a thief being made to hand back stolen property.
IF RTC is correct, Rangers were âat it,â and yet we have at least 3 individuals (who apparently made vast amounts of money out of a tax avoidance scheme) trying to get the Gers fans onside by making out this is all about honours won on the field of play, and why they should be retained.
Itâs deflection (pardon the pun), they simply appear not to want their financial gains put under the microscope by anyone, if they can get the support they crave and have the investigation dropped, then their personal financial gains will escape scrutiny. That's what motivates them I believe.
Hopefully we will find out soon enough whether i'm paranoid or not
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