What have the SFA got to hide?

[scottish]

Interesting developments at the SFA re the Rangers story. Channel 4 news chief correspondent Alex Thomson has tweeted about a series of questions he put to them this morning regarding SFA president Campbell Ogilvie. Thomson was told Ogilvie is distancing himself from the current investigations into Rangers and that he had no knowledge of EBTs during his time at Ibrox. When asked why he didn't know the SFA said they didn't know, Ogilvie would not be giving any interviews and would not stand aside while the investigations were ongoing.

Here's where it gets interesting. When Thomson put their statement back at them that Ogilvie denied all knowledge of EBTs at Rangers and suggested there might be a perceived conflict of interest, he says the SFA accused him of 'lying,' 'pig-headedness' and put the phone down on him.

Now, according to his bio on C4 news, Alex Thomson - almost as familiar a face as Jon Snow - has covered many big stories in 22 years on the programme, including 20 wars. Does anyone on the sixth floor at Hampden think he's going to be intimidated by insults and rude behaviour from Darryl Broadfoot's press team?

Forget the supine Scottish sporting hacks. The Chicos, Traynors, Jacksons and the preposterous Leckie. There's a proper investigative journalist on the case. This is not going to go away and the sooner the SFA realise it the better. Just as much for their own image as in general. I can't image Stewart Regan will be too happy when he finds out a senior C4 news journalist has been insulted.

[scottish]

And no sooner do I write the above than sure enough, Stewart Regan has asked Alex Thomson who he spoke to at the SFA. Bound to become more interesting as the story develops.

[LEATHERSTOCKING]

Tres juicy!! You`re right, Alex Thomson isn`t going to say,"Oh dear, I`d better leave this story alone." & get back to the piddling little stories about Syria, Iran, Afghanistan etc.

[Skyline Drifter]

Fair play to Alex Thomson if he's managed to get a response of any sort from the SFA's communications department. I haven't managed that since the esteemed Mr Broadfoot was appointed. They have singlularly ignored several emails to different departments all with a very simple request.

It was never like this when Andy Mitchell was in charge.

[ScottishFA]

It was never like this when Andy Mitchell was in charge.

You say the nicest things.

[scottish]

He's just a big sook! He's also right (I'm a big sook too).

Anyway, it gets worse (from an RFC pov, more fun for the rest of us). Alex Thomson is now saying: "Christian Aid raise serious questions over the governance of Glasgow Rangers Football Club. Yes, Christian Aid."

Now, unless that's some dodgy player signed during the Advocaat era, this scandal is growing bigger by the day. More to be revealed on his blog tomorrow but worth a look anyway to see an impartial eye cast over the whole business.

[the hibLOG]

From Thomson's Twitter:

"@fitbafan who is Chick Young?"



At last, a journalist on the case!

[scottish]

From Thomson's Twitter:

"@fitbafan who is Chick Young?"



At last, a journalist on the case!

Chico suggested tonight that Campbell Ogilvie had no responsibility for EBTs but was aware of them and was happy to answer any questions from anybody. A bit at odds with the earlier SFA (Broadfootian) statement that he had no knowledge of EBTs and wouldn't permit any interviews.

And from the You Couldn't Make It Up department, the new Rangers Fighting Fund was set up with the wrong link posted. Instead of going to the fund, anyone wanting to contribute ended up on a site for children's comedians called Mr & Mrs Custard. No doubt just the thing to be added to all that jelly and ice cream. You can see how the error arose though as the site is bluenose.co.uk instead of thebluenose.co.uk. OTOH it suggests no one was bright enough to check the link before it went live. Not the kind of people I'd trust with my money.

Better still, payments are made via paypal. Cue the new rallying cry. "We Are The Papal."

[the hibLOG]

Better still, payments are made via paypal. Cue the new rallying cry. "We Are The Papal."

Accordingly, after liquidation the newco team could adopt a new strip:

[scottish]

Alex Thomson now saying "Former senior man at Rangers and SFA says demotion of Rangers to Divison 3 would be good for competition and Scottish football." Who fits that description? Surely not Gordon Smith?

[scottish]

Let's sum up the past 24 hours.

Yesterday: Darryl Broadfoot (or someone at the SFA) tells Alex Thomson that Campbell Ogilvie had no knowledge of EBTs at Rangers during his time there, then goes on to call Alex Thomson 'pig-headed' and a 'lying.'

Last night: Chico, having spoken to Ogilvie, takes to the airwaves and the tune changes slightly to Ogilvie being aware of the EBTs but having no responsibility for them.

Today: Ogilvie issues a statement via the SFA in which while he still insists EBTs were not his responsibility, he admits not only being aware of them but confesses to being a beneficiary.

What a difference a day makes.

[killiegradge]

I doubt very much any politician would survive after the past few days Ogilvie has had. However being the closed shop "gentlemans club" that the SFA is he will survive this fiasco.The only hope in this case is that UEFA will force the SFA to act in the same they they forced the Swiss to penalise Sion?
Shambles!

[scottish]

Still, Chico has come to his rescue tonight, furiously asserting he didn't say what he is on the record as saying. Still sticking up for his big pal Campbell. Last night he said Campbell knew nothing about EBTs and certainly hadn't benefited from them. Tonight he not only says he is aware that Ogilvie benefited from them but he knows exactly how much it was and it was less than the cost of a good night out! Incredible!

"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down the remains of his reputation for his friends."

Question is: if Ogilvie is right and he knew nothing and had no dealings with EBTs, "side letters" dual contracts or any murky business at Ibrox, then fine. Who did? Other question: what exactly was Mr Ogilvie's job if these matters formed no part of his remit?

Now it may well be that Campbell Ogilvie emerges from all of this with his reputation unsullied. But it really is in his own best interests to speak out now with greater clarity. Remember, it's always the cover-up that brings people down. And he should get a better media adviser than Darryl Broadfoot while he's at it.

[the hibLOG]

Lest we forget, Campbell left Rangers and swiftly accepted Vladimir Romanov's shilling, presiding - as Operations and then Managing Director - over Hearts' triumphant march towards... non-payment of taxes, winding up orders from HMRC, non-payment of unaffordably high wages, general teetering on the edge of insolvency. No wonder the SFA were so keen to secure him for president. He really has the Midas touch.

[the hibLOG]

Here's Alex Thomson's latest instalment, with that surprising contribution from Christian Aid: http://blogs.channel4.com/alex-thomsons ... -field/906