The list of inspections, in the league, according to the SFL website are: -

Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir – Saturday at 11:30am
Arbroath v Airdrie United – Saturday 11.00am
Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath – Saturday at 9.00am
East Fife v Brechin City – Saturday at 9.30am
Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic – Saturday at 11:30am

SCOTTISH CUP

There is no First Division fixture list this weekend due to Cup action so where are the likely upsets, are there any likely and who should progress? Ayr United v Falkirk has the two beaten semi finalists up against each other. Brian Reid has managed to secure the signing of two loanees in the shape of Kiegan Parker and Sean Higgins. Falkirk will be a very different looking side as they recover from the loss of Kallum Higginbotham to Huddersfield. This could be a very tasty tie if it goes ahead and we would all expect an away win but Ayr have proven handy cup specialists over the years so it may take a replay to separate them. Motherwell v Morton gives Allan Moore some respite from the vagaries of the league campaign on which he has embarked this year. SPL opposition at home should triumph surely? Moore has major defensive injury worries so a shock seems highly unlikely.

St Mirren v Ross County may well spell the game of the day for the SFL as the leaders of Division One get to play against a club they would be expected to beat if they wanted next year to consolidate in the SPL. Of course that would be if they got promoted… St Mirren have already fallen foul of SFL opposition in the league so will be keen to avoid lightening striking twice. On top of that County put the Saints out the league cup last year so it is all measuring up! County are likely to be without David McNamee, Jonny Flynn and Marc Fitzpatrick. I fancy a home win and the end of a dismal cup run for Danny Lennon’s side. Finally Aberdeen v Queen of the South has Gus McPherson’s side likely to field new signing Sam Parkin and hope he continues to find the net as he did the last weekend. They are without Kevin Smith and Marc McCusker though Craig Reid and Stephen McKenna should be back. New signing John Potter for Queens, like Gavin Rae for the Dons is cup tied. A home win for me I am afraid as I think the Doonhamers need to concentrate on the league.

SECOND DIVISION

I think we can safely say there will be more than a few games off following the inspections which shall be a pity and a shame because there were quite a few ties with the word intriguing hanging over them! Dumbarton v Cowdenbeath fitted into that category as Colin Cameron’s side won 4- 0 the last time they visited on league action and Arbroath are beginning to catch them again. The Sons will be without Kevin Nicoll whilst Killie loanee Garry Fisher will feature in the squad for the Blue Brazil, taking Cameron’s place. Thomas O’Brien is still out for Cowdenbeath too but the rest of
the squad should be available. For me it will possibly end up Alan Adamson’s fifth win on the spin as Cameron dictates play when on the park… East Fife v Brechin City has Darren McCormack and Ryan Wallace back for the Fifers though John Robertson may still be without Craig Johnstone and David Muir. Brechin are looking like they will be without Charlie King as well as Gerry McLachlan and Derek Carcary. For me I would put money on a postponement – possibly like every fixture this weekend – but if it gets the nod I think John Robertson’s side may shade it.

Arbroath v Airdrie United sees Paul Sheerin sweating over the fitness of 4 players with Stuart Malcolm, Mark Baxter, Josh Falkingham and Beau Busch struggling. Michael White and Jordan Elfverson are out. Kieron Stallard returns for Airdrie and Cameron MacDonald is added to Jimmy Boyle’s squad. Tough game for the visitors and I would expect each to snuff the other out making the Dumbarton result one that could become more significant as the afternoon draws on. Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir would be one on my bucket list this afternoon. Rangers loanee Jack Werndly may make his debut for the wee Rovers whilst there will be no John Gemmell, Tony Stevenson or Jordan Halsman. At least Barry Russell looks like he is coming back. Stenny will be missing Stevie Murray and Martyn Corrigan. With so much at stake for both in terms of getting a consolidated play off place this could be a fascinating 0-0 draw or one of those big scoring games that have been a feature of this season…

Finally Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic sees Stirling wanting off the foot of the table. Brian Allison is back as well as John Cawley though the swings have roundabouts – out are Stevie Nicholas and Shaun Fagan for the Binos. The visitors will welcome back David Mowat, Iain Campbell and Martyn Fotheringham whilst Stephen Tulloch may be missing. After losing to Arbroath midweek the Binos will be desperate to make amends but I can see them slipping further.

THIRD DIVISION

Queens Park v Alloa Athletic should beat the frost otherwise it might be a national scandal! There are no changes for the Spiders from the team that was beaten by Peterhead so they could once again struggle. For Alloa Ben Gordon will be available as well as Ryan McCord. For me Alloa are on a fine run and that will continue. East Stirling v Stranraer should be as easy an away win as any this season especially as Stranraer have already registered a 6-0 win against East Stirling already this year! Stranraer have Chris Aitken back and are at full strength. Tipping the winner may be the easiest tip of the day as I cannot see past the visiting side.

Montrose v Annan Athletic has the team that was neck and neck with the league leaders Alloa now 13 points adrift trying to make up the gap. With Montrose down to only 15 fit players prayers may be answered and the team that lost to Alloa last Saturday could find themselves on the end of a humbling experience. However Annan arrive without David Winters who has left after a trial period, Graham Bell and John MacBeth. A late test for Sean O’Connor and Ian Harty starting is the other squad news as Annan need a win to get their season back on track. Stewards’ Enquiry if they don’t get it. Finally Berwick Rangers v Peterhead sees a resurgent – at last – Blue Toon ready to keep the train a going against the Borderers. The home side will have Ben Gordon back with Lee Currie, Kevin McDonald and Elliot Smith out. In come John Ferguson and Stephen Tulloch. There is no Barry Sellars and doubts for David Ross and Scott Ross as Jim McInally hopes he has found the turn in Peterhead’s season. I think he might find the light at the end of this tunnel is NOT an oncoming train and gain another three points.

Top scorer Nikica Jelavic was sold to Everton on transfer deadline day and no replacement were brought in, leaving David Healy as the only fit striker at Ibrox.

Ally McCoist had to deny internet gossip that he was about to walk away as manager with the club legend apparently having been furious at a lack of investment from upstairs.

Throughout the week many Rangers fans have vented their fury at different figures including Whyte, McCoist and members of the old board such as David and Paul Murray and Alastair Johnston.

Well I have had enough of people pointing the blame at their favourite target. It simply plays into Celtic’s hand as they try to wrestle the league title off Rangers for the first time in four years.

Rangers are still well in the hunt for two trophies, and the fight for them continues on Sunday at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup against Dundee United.

The only positive Rangers and Ally McCoist can take from the last week came on the pitch when they emphatically beat an albeit dreadful Hibs team 4-0 without star man Nikica Jelavic.

After the match, McCoist said this proved his team could survive without the Croatian, having also beaten Motherwell 3-0 in January without him.

But no Rangers fan should kid themselves, with only Healy fit enough to start up front, there is a severe worry where goals are going to come for Rangers. That’s precisely why Rangers fans must stop the in-fighting and get behind the manager and the team over the next few months.

Let’s not beat around the bush, if Ally McCoist pulls off this title win for Rangers this season, it would be one of the greatest ever achievements by any Rangers manager.

With some of the negative press this week, you could be forgiven that Rangers are only ONE point behind Celtic in the league (with Celtic having a game in hand), albeit having blown a 15 point lead at one stage in the season (although Celtic did have two games in hand).

Since Steven Naismith got injured in October, Rangers have been devoid of creativity and energy but there has been no better side at facing up to adversity in recent years than the Ibrox men.

Remember season 2008-09? After Scott McDonald scored a post-Christmas Old Firm winner at Ibrox, Rangers slipped seven points behind Celtic and with their superior financial position the Parkhead side were all set to win the title.

But after failing in a bid to sign Steven Fletcher (then at Hibs), Celtic allowed Rangers back into the title race, with Rangers eventually winning the crown at Tannadice on the final day.

That can happen again. Players such as Sone Aluko and Maurice Edu are currently in excellent form and if Steven Davis can get back to his inspirational best, then Rangers still have the attacking options to win the league.

And whose to say players such as new signing Mervan Cellik and Salim Kerkar can’t step up and become Rangers heroes overnight. McCoist is the ultimate Rangers legend and will drum what it means to play for such a big club into players like that.

So Rangers fans should be optimistic about winning four in a row and get behind the team rather than pointing the finger at the way the club is ran.

As big Marvin Andrews once said “Keep Believing”.

Pressley fumed at the post-match press conference: “I’m so disappointed for the players, we gave so much to the game and it was decided on two debatable decisions. The two pivotal decisions in the game went Celtic’s way and we paid the price for that.

“I just wanted justice for my players. The issue for me is would it have been given in the other box? That’s the question for me.”

However Pressley failed to mention a Celtic goal which was ruled offside, despite Gary Hooper being a yard onside.

Pressley will appear in front of the SFA on February 23 to answer the SFA questions.

Rule 68 of the SFA states: “No recognised football body, club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, shall in an interview, a ‘blog’ on the internet, on a social networking or micro-blogging site, or in any other manner calculated or likely to lead to publicity (i) criticise the performance(s) of any or all match official(s) in such a way as to indicate bias or incompetence on the part of such match official; or (ii) make remarks about such match official(s) which impinge on his character.”

© Scotzine

Ali Russell had stated yesterday: “Nikica told Ally McCoist personally on Monday he wanted to move to the English Premier League.”

But when McCoist was asked at a press conference today, if Jelavic had asked him to leave the club, the manager replied: “No he didn’t, not at all. I have a wonderful relationship with Nikica. He never said that. It has been very well documented that Nikica has had big ambitions to play in the English Premier League. He’s away down there now to Everton and we wish him all the very best.

“He was wonderful for us for the period he was here. Sorry to see him to go, but everyone at the club offers their best wishes.”

The club ultimately took the decision to sell the player, with McCoist understandable.

He added: “We received a bid from Everton which Craig [Whyte] found acceptable. Therefore business was done. He probably would have (wanted to stay). Like any business, any asset – if you receive an offer which is to the benefit of the club – you maybe think about doing that.

“That’s certainly been the case. There’s maybe been a little bit too much made of it. There’s absolutely no ill feeling between any of us and Nikica. I can understand Craig’s situation a lot better. I know the financial situation at the club isn’t good. It’s been well documented that if a suitable offer came in for any player, it would be accepted.

“This wasn’t news to me. As disappointed as I was to see Nikica go, Craig’s only made that decision for the benefit of the club financially in terms of the running of the club.”

So McCoist’s comments differ from that of Craig Whyte and Ali Russell’s, whose comments could be construed now as untrue, factually incorrect, whatever words you want to use. So why the deception from Whyte and Russell over the sale of Jelavic?

Source: STV Sport

Speaking to Motherwell TV, Ojamaa said: “I am delighted to get thing tied up. It was a goal of mine when I first came here to win a longer deal and it’s great it has happened so quickly.

“I would like to think it has been a reward for me, not only for how things have gone, but how well the team have played as well. Working with great players and a great manager, in front of great fans, can only improve me as a player.”

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall added: “We are pleased to have it finally tied up. I must pay tribute to the chief executive, Leeann Dempster, for the amount of hard work she has put in both with Henrik and his representatives. The lad has put himself in the shop window a bit and there was a sniff of interest already from elsewhere but we were always hopeful he would sign with the club.

“He has said how much he enjoys it at the club and we like having him around. He can continue to develop here, become a better player and hopefully he’ll play a big part from now until the end of the season and beyond.”

© Scotzine

Rangers chief operations officer Ali Russell said: “Nikica told Ally McCoist personally on Monday he wanted to move to the English Premier League so to suggest he didn’t want to leave Rangers is nonsense.

“Nikica, and indeed his family, were widely quoted throughout January about playing in England and his agent also communicated the fact he wanted to achieve a lifetime ambition and test himself in the Premier League.

“He wants to earn a starting place for Croatia at Euro 2012 and felt a move to England’s top flight would help him achieve that.

“Nikica was a terrific player for Rangers and we wish him well at Everton but to suggest he was forced to leave Ibrox is just ridiculous.”

© Scotzine

Whyte insisted that he had no choice to accept the bid for Jelavic, he stated: “One, the player wanted to leave and there is no point in trying to keep a player who no longer wants to be at Ibrox.”

“Two, the club is simply not in a financial position to turn down offers for players which give the club a good return on its original investment.”

However Nikica Jelavic dismissed claims that he forced a deadline day move away from Rangers. His £5 million transfer to Goodison Park ended continued speculation about his future, however the Croatian insisted that he was not searching for an exit from Ibrox.

At a press conference to announce his arrival at Everton, Jelavic said: “My dream was to play in the English Premier League but I never forced my transfer. I spoke with Ally McCoist and said if the president wants me to stay I’ll stay and if they need money and want me to leave I’ll leave – the club decided.

“It is a difficult situation for them I know and I heard inside information about them having problems. It is still my team and my friends are there and I am worried about the situation but I think they will find a solution because they are a big institution.

“The last two days were difficult for me. I was struggling. But I am glad it is finally done and I am fully focused on Everton.”

“The English Premier League is the biggest in the world. For me, it is a big step forward in my career. I want to prove myself here and play well for the club and supporters.”

Jelavic joined Rangers in August 2010 for £4 million and despite reported bids of £7 million from Leicester City, along with an alleged £9 million from an unnamed club in the summer and another reported bid of £7 million from West Ham this window, Jelavic eventually made the move to Goodison Park for a fee of around £5 million.

Jelavic’s late departure from Ibrox caused problems for the Glasgow club, as manager Ally McCoist had mere hours to find a replacement and despite an ‘insulting’ offer for Norwich City captain Grant Holt for around £500,000, Rangers failed to bring in a much-needed replacement for the Croatian striker.

It is another issue in which Rangers fans will be looking on with unease when their owner says one thing and their departed top scorer issues claims to the contrary.

In an open letter to the supporters, he said:

“To all Rangers supporters, I write to you today to address a number of key issues facing the Club. First, I would like to address specifically the latest attempt to undermine Rangers in today’s Daily Record which devotes five pages to trashing our efforts to get this Club back on a sensible financial footing.

“In the most lurid terms, the Record accuses the Club’s management and, specifically me, of using supporters’ money to help fund the buy-out of Rangers. Not true. The Club is accused of not paying £5million in VAT. Not true.

Once again Whyte failed to state which company the £18 million came from which paid off the bank debt.

He continued: “I can categorically assure supporters that when I launched a takeover bid for the Club it was funded entirely from one of my companies and that was demonstrated clearly to the satisfaction of the previous owner, Lloyds Banking Group and professional advisers.

“What is true is that Rangers, like many other clubs, has a financing arrangement in place with a company called Ticketus which enables the Club to receive revenue from a portion of season ticket sales in advance.

“There is nothing unusual or untoward in this arrangement which was put in place at the Club long before my takeover last year and was used by the previous management. For members of that regime to criticise the use of a scheme they put in place is, frankly, outrageous.

“This is a perfectly straightforward way of raising working capital for the Club. Money from season ticket sales goes directly to the Club and is used for the Club’s operations and that remains the case. In effect, all this financing arrangement does is release the revenue to the Club earlier.”

Whyte continued his broadside on the Daily Record, “The Daily Record’s approach to this story sought to distort and dramatise the matter. I for one will not be reading or buying the Daily Record again and I’m sure many other Rangers fans will share my disgust at yet another smear on this football club.

“It was, predictably, fuelled by accusations of former board members of the Club. I simply ask Rangers fans what these men did for Rangers in the Club’s hour of need? They were all talk and no action and presided over the Club as it careered to the brink of financial collapse.

“The overarching issue that affects Rangers financially is the HMRC tax tribunal, which has been hanging over the Club for many years and long before I became chairman. As I have said many times before, the sooner that is resolved the better.”

Craig Whyte then commented on the news that striker Nikica Jelavic is Everton-bound. He continued: “In terms of the playing squad, you may know the Club has agreed a fee with Everton for the transfer of Nikica Jelavic. We wish the player well and thank him for his contribution to Rangers.

“The reality of Jelavic’s departure is two-fold. One, the player wanted to leave and there is no point in trying to keep a player who no longer wants to be at Ibrox. Two, the Club is simply not in a financial position to turn down offers for players which give the Club a good return on its original investment.

In terms of the club’s transfer dealings, Whyte said: “Investment in the playing squad has been a thorny issue since I took over the Club in May and is the source of endless debate, much of it ill-informed. I want to set the record straight.

“In the summer transfer window last year we conducted 14 different pieces of transfer business, more than any other club in Scotland. This included new signings and improvement to existing contracts with key players, increasing the players’ wage bill significantly. We now have a first team squad of 30 which includes 18 full internationalists.

“Admittedly, there were transfer targets we did not secure but that is not uncommon. As chairman, I have supported Ally McCoist in his choice of targets and will continue to do so. The timing of Jelavic’s departure so late in this window is far from ideal and efforts to improve the squad will continue until the transfer window closes.

“That said, we must be realistic. Media coverage of the transfer window has bordered on the hysterical. As it stands at the moment Rangers has operating costs of approximately £45 million a year and revenues of around £35million – not including revenue from possible Champions’ League and Europa League participation.”

“As we know, European money cannot be taken for granted and it doesn’t take much to work out that without it there is a big financial hole to fill every year – regardless of who owns the Club.

“I’ve said many times that in Scottish football we have to move on from this mindset that you have to keep spending more and more money – that’s what got this Club into financial trouble before. We have to live within our means, continue to develop talent and spend wisely.”

“What I can say to you as a Rangers fan is that everything I will do as chairman will be in the interests of the Club and I thank you for your continued support.”

Source: Rangers Football Club official website

According to the report, Rangers director Dave King and former board member Paul Murray have been talking to tax officials as part of the HMRC investigation which has revealed that £24.4 million has been borrowed against future season ticket sales.

The tickets over four seasons have been sold to Ticketus, a London-based company, a deal that was claimed to help finance Whyte’s operating costs after his takeover of Rangers Football Club.

The Daily Record stated that Whyte had confirmed that he sold off the tickets, but denied that he used the money to pay off Lloyds Bank insisting that the £18 million for the bank debt came from one of his companies.

Mr Whyte – If the money did not go to the bank debt? Where did it go then? And how much is left? Also which company?

The current debt at Rangers Football Club sits at £21 million, which is owed to Ticketus plus £5 million VAT on the ticket deal. This is before other bills are due – including interest payments to Ticketus – and the club are still awaiting the verdict of the EBT tax case with HMRC.

Whyte’s spokesperson insisted that everything was legal and normal practice for football clubs, he said: “The suggestion that the Rangers takeover was funded through financing arrangements on season tickets is categorically untrue.

“Rangers FC is no different in that it has a working capital facility with Ticketus, as have many, many other clubs. It is a common arrangement in football. This facility was in place at Ibrox long before the takeover.”

Former board member Paul Murray spoke to the Daily Record, stating: “These documents prove to me that Rangers fans have actually paid and will continue to pay for the sale of their club.”

Murray has also stated that HMRC have told him that they are due VAT, around £5 million, in relation to the deal with Ticketus.

HMRC officials are looking at the documentation which has revealed the borrowing against ticket sales from this season, season 2012-12 and 2013-14 as Whyte raised £24.4 million.

The first repayment occurred on June 27th, around £9.5 million, but Whyte could only come up with £3.5 million and to make up for that deficit he mortgaged off part of season 2014-15 to value of £6 million.

British football clubs have used this practice of selling future ticket sales, although clubs have seen problems arise – including Leeds United – who borrowed too often and too much.

Murray added: “HMRC asked for a meeting at the end of last week to find out what knowledge I, having been a director of the club at the time, had of these transactions prior to the takeover. I knew nothing about this and although I have been questioned by HMRC and seen some especially revealing documents which are in their possession, it is still very hard to take in what has been going on.

“Collyer Bristow were acting for Craig Whyte during the takeover and I have been shown their client account, from the opening of it until today. I’ve also seen all invoices from Ticketus to Rangers and Rangers to Ticketus supporting all these actions. I can’t believe Rangers have been handed over in this way.

“Remember also, the Independent Board, set up to make sure any potential buyers were capable of making the purchase and then funding the business, asked repeatedly where Craig Whyte was getting the money.

“He said it was from his own personal wealth and through Liberty Capital, which he insisted he owned 100 per cent, in the British Virgin Islands. Plans were being made to sell off future ticket sales but the directors were never told. This was all being done behind our backs.”

Dave King, who has had his own fair share of financial issues, was shocked to learn of Whyte’s deal and said: “Securitising season tickets is a valid seasonal funding strategy to smooth cash flows within the year – but no longer.”

However, Whyte’s spokesperson has claimed that Rangers and Ticketus were already linked before Whyte took over. He said: “The takeover team instigated discussions with Ticketus prior to the takeover because the relationship with Rangers was already in place and the new owners wanted to continue it. They were clear from the outset they wanted to ensure there were robust working capital provisions in place that could deal with the many financial challenges the club faces.

“The takeover was funded by one of Mr Whyte’s companies. Several months before then – and long before any discussions with Ticketus – Mr Whyte was asked to provide proof of funds for the takeover and he did that to the satisfaction of the previous owners, Lloyds Banking Group and professional advisers.”

In the lead-up to taking ownership of the club and after it was finalised, Whyte claimed that he would:

• Provide £5,000,000 for investment in the playing squad.
• Invest £20million by 2016 for investment in the playing squad. Up to £5m per year – which will come out of the £20m investment.
• Provide up to £5,000,000 of additional working capital facilities to the Club.
• Contribute to the Club the amount required to meet a liability owed by the Club to HM Revenue & Customs in relation to a discounted option scheme tax.
• Provide £1.7m to the Club to improve kitchen and public address equipment at Ibrox.

After eight months of ownership has Whyte lived up to his promises?

Rangers debt now stands at £35.4 million specifically relating to the Ticketus deal alone, which does not include interest payments also. Ticketus will also have the right to sell the tickets they have bought at a price they set and not the club, who sold them at a discounted rate – the usual way that Ticketus works.

Former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston was in a sort of ‘it old you so’ kind of mood when he spoke to the Daily Record, but was far from gloating.

He said: “We asked Murray International to ask that specific question: Is he raising the money to buy the club or to finance the operations of the club against the assets of Rangers Football Club? He said he wasn’t doing it. But we didn’t believe him.

“We were trying to say at the time that selling the club to Craig Whyte could be a disaster. We were ridiculed by a lot of people for saying it but I take no gratification or satisfaction from being proved right.Inevitably, it was only a matter of time before this happened. The destiny of the club is now clearly not in its own 
hands – it’s in the hands of Octopus.

“Unfortunately I think administration is now almost inevitable because the club’s debts are unsustainable and Octopus want their money back. In my view, the only way the club can clear these debts now is by going into administration. I just wonder if he still has his position as the secured creditor. It was always his intention to be the guy on the other side of the river when the club came out of administration. But it looks to me as if Octopus is now essentially the secured creditor.”

He added: “First, during the process of due diligence it became clear he didn’t care about cash flow. That indicated to us they were in for a short ride. They had no interest in operating the club. Also, the day after we won the championship at Kilmarnock I had a meeting with Whyte and his lawyer during which they both asked me to disband the Independent Committee.

“They said now the sale had taken place the Independent Committee had no value. I said no as I had a written agreement we would remain in place until he provided our shareholders with a circular. That was a warning. They were trying to get rid of us because they knew at that point in time they had embarked on a track of borrowing against season-ticket money.

“He had told us it was all his money and it hadn’t been borrowed against the assets. He then used all sorts of excuses to get myself, Paul Murray, Martin Bain and Donald McIntyre off the board. The day before that happened I had seen the latest financial statements and knew there was a real problem.

“That’s why they got us out. They knew we would never approve their plan. They then spent the next couple of months discrediting us and saying we were yesterday’s men. But we knew we were right. We knew we had an obligation to the fans and shareholders.

“But he launched a very effective PR campaign and used lawyers to intimidate everyone. He made out any criticism of Craig Whyte was actually an attack on Rangers. Fans rallied around him. But it was like a human shield. He used Rangers Football Club as a human shield to protect himself.”

However such revelations are not new to those who are regular readers of the Rangers Tax Case blog or Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s website, who have been covering these issues since Whyte came on the scene and took over at Ibrox.

Source: Daily Record