The Mysterious Past And Recruitment Of Stewart Regan

[JCS 649]

I was requested to post this in the Bears Den. Hope it's doing some damage to Mr. Regan and his disreputable cohorts at the SFA!

In July 2010 the weather was rather dismal. There was some infrequent sunshine, but long suffering Glaswegians mostly had to deal with spells of scattered showers and heavy rain. Nothing new as far as Glasgow weather goes, but the month turned out to be more depressing still when on Wednesday, 28th July it was announced that Stewart Regan had been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association.

Mr. Regan, a native of County Durham, joined the SFA after four years as Chief Executive of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club. But even before his appointment was ratified - even before the ink was dry on his lucrative contract - his appointment was shrouded in mystery and controversy.

It is alleged that the recruitment and selection process (if, indeed it can be called that) was subverted by individuals who consciously 'touted' Regan for the job. Many believe that Regan was 'hand-picked' for the job and was urged, initially by telephone, to apply for the post. During that infamous phone call, it was suggested to him that he might wish to apply for the SFA job, and later it is alleged the caller went much further and specifically invited him to apply for the job, which of course he did to the everlasting detriment of Scottish football and Rangers FC in particular.

Not long after his appointment, the rather suspicious link between Kevin Reid (John Reid's son) and his best buddy Paul Nolan of Nolan Partners (who helped the SFA to recruit Regan) was uncovered by our own Rangers Media, and we now know of course that Regan and Peter Lawwell worked together during their time as employees at Coors Brewers. We also know that Nolan Partners is a business supplier to Celtic, and that the rumour mill suggested that the SFA committee tasked with finding a new Chief Executive was headed by Eric Riley, a prominent Celtic director. Some might, therefore, conclude that Regan's appointment was a stitch up.

Not a very auspicious start for Stewart Regan, and a highly dubious appointment made in the total absence of the transparency and openness that Mr. Regan so recklessly and glibly espouses.

Upon his appointment he said, "I am aware there is currently a great debate on the way forward for Scottish football and it is my intention to bring all the relevant parties closer together to achieve the obvious common goal of improving the overall standard of the No.1 sport in this country". A laudable objective, but one that he has signally failed to achieve!

Was Stewart Regan the right man for the job or is he simply the Lawwell lapdog that we all believe him to be? The available evidence would, perhaps, suggest the latter. In fact it would not be unfair to say that the 'relevant parties' he referred to in his inaugural statement are as far apart as ever, and the Scottish game irreparably damaged, fractured and factionalised under his abysmal stewardship and his blinkered partisan support for all things from the Dark Side.

For instance Lawwell's appointment to the SFA's new Professional Game Board was greeted with considerable suspicion by many, given the bitter and acrimonious legal disputes between the two organisations over disciplinary procedures and, particularly, their vitriolic clashes over the Dougie McDonald affair. Other high profile disputes characterized their relationship up to the point at which Lawwell was appointed to the Professional Game Board.

A Celtic statement read: "It is well known that following events last year, Celtic called for a fundamental review of the processes and procedures within the SFA. We fully supported Stewart Regan's plan for reform and we feel that the creation of this new board is a very positive outcome of the SFA's own review. Peter Lawwell, on behalf of Celtic Football Club, will be pleased to accept this invitation to join the professional game board."

You can bet your life he is! Yes, I'm quite sure he is tickled pink to think that he now has an influential 'foot' in the SFA camp and ready access to its malleable and gullible Chief Executive, Stewart Regan. I wonder would he have been so pleased, and Celtic so willing to 'bury the hatchet', had he been excluded from this prestigious, hand-picked committee?

However, we should not be so surprised by Stewart Regan's courtship of Peter Lawwell and Celtic, or his antipathy to all things Rangers, after all Mr. Regan is no stranger to intrigue, controversy and scandal as his tenure as Chief Executive of Yorkshire County Cricket Club suggests.

In April last year the English press reported on the conclusion of a libel action which detailed an alleged plan, to launch a Twenty20 cricket league in England reportedly worth £1.2 billion. The plan was called ''Project Victoria'' and many believe, had it come to fruition, the proposal would have irreparably damaged English cricket.

It is alleged that the plan was revealed by Lalit Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League, during a meeting in Delhi on 31st March 2010 with Stewart Regan, then the Chief Executive of Yorkshire CCC, and two of his professional colleagues, Colin Povey, chief executive of Warwickshire CCC, and David Hodgkiss, the treasurer of Lancashire CCC. Regan took notes of the meeting with Modi and representatives of IMG, the international sports marketing firm, and subsequently produced a minute of the Delhi meeting that he then circulated to Giles Clarke, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board under cover of an email dated 2nd May 2010.

When he had fully absorbed Stewart Regan's email, and the attached minute of the Delhi meeting, Giles Clarke was so shocked by its content that he described Project Victoria as ''destructive of the structure of world cricket, especially in England. Some days later, on 8 May 2010, he wrote to Mr Shashank Manohar, the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) alleging a plot to destroy the structure of world cricket, and as a result of his accusations, Lalit Modi, was charged with financial impropriety and suspended as vice president of the BCCI and barred from participating in the affairs of the Board or the Indian Premier League.

In light of Regan's involvement with Modi at the Delhi meeting, the Chairman of Yorkshire CCC, Colin Graves, moved at light speed to distance his club from the scandal. The Delhi trip, he said, "Was a fact-finding mission. Lalit Modi did not put a proposition on the table. There were no secret proposals, no secret agenda, nothing underhand." Oh really?

His statement is in stark contrast to the view of English cricket supremo Giles Clark, and it should be noted that Graves was not at the Delhi meeting and is solely reliant on Regan's account of what took place.

"We attended that meeting in an educational capacity, as we wished to learn more about how the IPL has gone from nowhere to being one of the biggest sporting businesses in the world inside two years," said Regan immediately after the BCCI made public the accusations against Modi. Thereafter he made it clear that he would not comment any further and he has been true to his word - his lips remain sealed!

I have been unable to obtain a copy of the minutes of the Delhi meeting and it is, therefore, impossible to establish what actually passed between Modi, Regan and his two colleagues. However, Regan's role remains the subject of speculation and suspicion in some quarters, and questions continue to be asked about how he (and his colleagues) could have been so naïve - so gullible - as to continue to participate in a meeting which was so potentially explosive for English cricket. Remember, this was not a mere 'spot-fixing' scandal but a major conspiracy described as ruinous for English cricket.

Giles Clarke maintains that Regan's notes of the Delhi meeting provides clear evidence that Modi had presented the English counties with a commercial proposition wherein if they supported his idea, the IPL would guarantee each county a minimum of $3-5 million per annum plus a staging fee of $1.5 million. An incredible and very attractive inducement to undermine the existing cricket regime in England!

If that is the case, and knowing the full implications of Modi's proposals, why did Regan not withdraw from the meeting? Why did he not tell Modi that he was exceeding his remit? Why did he not explain to Modi that this was purely an 'educational' exchange? Why did he not tell Modi that he did not have the authority to broker any agreement? Why did he not tell Modi that his plans would be extremely detrimental to English cricket? In other words, why did he not tell Modi 'where to get off?'

Stewart Regan seems to lurch haplessly from one crisis to another and the 'Delhi incident' certainly has not enhanced his credibility - if, indeed, he ever had any! His judgement and competence is suspect, and as each day passes it becomes more apparent that he is incapable of providing the innovative leadership that the SFA so desperately needs. He is a bumbler and a buffoon; a comic character with no charisma and no clout. His position as Chief Executive of an organisation constantly ridiculed and under relentless attack by all and sundry, is fast becoming untenable, and what little respect he may have had, has all but disappeared.

His unholy alliance with the evil empire at Parkhead and his willingness to 'kow tow' to the dark and dangerous forces who seek the demise of our great club is repugnant. Prime amongst those dark forces is Regans sycophantic and Machiavellian buddy Peter Lawwell, a man well versed in the art of sophistry - the clever use of arguments which seem true but are really false in order to deceive people.

There is no doubt that Regan has been deceived by Lawwell and others, although I believe that he is content to be deceived. Indeed, I think that was the purpose of his appointment - he is the ideal patsy!

I conclude this article with the prescient words of Oliver Cromwell. I think our Chief of Men may have had some presentiment about Regan and the SFA when he made this speech to the Long Parliament in 1653.

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches and would, like Esau, sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. In the name of God, go!

I demand that Regan take Oliver Cromwell's sound advice, and go now!

[sillybilly 151]

If this is accurate, this guy must resign. Why do the mainstream media not pick up on this. I am going to repost this on Twitter and FB and suggest all bears to read it, similar to boss' article the other day. THis must be brought to light before any more damage can be done

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

A complete carve up - not only does it reek of Liewell but the hand of Sex Pest Reid and his manipulative Labour spin machine is all over this appointment

[Gillete 1,338]

I wint stop till this character resigns

The rodents have hounded out too many good men , now let's see how they can cope with some heat from the people

[covenanter 158]

The Guardian exposed John Reid's son, Kevin Reid a decade past. He was stung by a couple of Guardian journos looking to open an account with his employer, Beattie Media. They would only award the business if they received guaratees of access to both the Scottish and Westminster Governments. Kevin Reid ran his mouth off, my Dad's a big wheel in the Labour Party, cabinet minister, Jack McConnell is always available at our house, ...................... etc.

Kevin Reid should always be remembered for his peddling influence for cash.

[Turnberry18 3,204]

Interesting reading here.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

The Guardian exposed John Reid's son, Kevin Reid a decade past. He was stung by a couple of Guardian journos looking to open an account with his employer, Beattie Media. They would only award the business if they received guaratees of access to both the Scottish and Westminster Governments. Kevin Reid ran his mouth off, my Dad's a big wheel in the Labour Party, cabinet minister, Jack McConnell is always available at our house, ...................... etc.

Kevin Reid should always be remembered for his peddling influence for cash.

Can anyone recover any articles in respect of this as I could use that.

[Thermopylae 15,286]

Always reminds me of the first pope's visit him saying to all the great and good of timmy society up on the stage in Bellahoustion Park how well they had done to get on and rise to prominent positions in Scottish society.

Coming from wretched immigrant stock they will always look to do this and when in a position of power shamelessly give free reign to their ingrained bitterness and bigotry.

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

Always reminds me of the first pope's visit him saying to all the great and good of timmy society up on the stage in Bellahoustion Park how well they had done to get on and rise to prominent positions in Scottish society.

Coming from wretched immigrant stock they will always look to do this and when in a position of power shamelessly give free reign to their ingrained bitterness and bigotry.

I for one have not forgotten those poor trees that were slaughtered, for that altar to the anti christ in the Bella Park.

[ray 105]

There is no mystery everyone knows they worked together at Coors.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

Can anyone recover any articles in respect of this as I could use that.

Here we go - it was the Observer, not the Guardian.

Gordon Beattie is the founder of Beattie Media one of the biggest and most controversial PR firm in Scotland.

Beattie Media came to public attention in September 1999 when The Observer newspaper published a sting on two key employees, Kevin Reid, son of then Scottish Secretary John Reid, and Alex Barr [1]. The Observer sting had been inspired by a tip-off from a senior Labour party source, who was ‘appalled’ at the flood of job offers from lobbying consultancies ‘who wanted him to basically call in all the favours he was owed on their behalf’ (Dean Nelson on Radio Scotland, October 1999). This story quickly developed into the first crisis of the Scottish Parliament and was dubbed 'Lobbygate'.

Reid and Barr were asked about their contacts with politicians and what differentiated Beattie Media from competitors. Barr mentioned his former colleague Jack McConnell was now Minister of Finance in the Scottish Executive. He also pointed out that the Beattie Media did ‘a lot of [PR] work with the public sector, and with large corporate organisations and we are constantly involving politicians in launches, exhibitions, speeches, presentations, that type of thing’ (Observer transcript, 1999: 3) [2]. Barr stressed Beattie Media’s links to the business community in Scotland:

"We’re in contact on a very regular basis, not only with politicians and the Scottish Office (sic), but also with business journalists, industry journalists, and movers and shakers within local authorities and local enterprise companies…So we’ve got our finger on the pulse of what’s happening in business and in construction". (Observer transcript 1999: 6)

http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Gordon_Beattie

[Thermopylae 15,286]

I for one have not forgotten those poor trees that were slaughtered, for that altar to the anti christ in the Bella Park.

Yes, I'm sure one of them could have been used to make a stake to finish the old bugger off

[Edmiston Drive 3,846]

Yes, I'm sure one of them could have been used to make a stake to finish the old bugger off

Well he could have had on as it was not a Friday

[covenanter 158]

Here we go - it was the Observer, not the Guardian.

Gordon Beattie is the founder of Beattie Media one of the biggest and most controversial PR firm in Scotland.

Beattie Media came to public attention in September 1999 when The Observer newspaper published a sting on two key employees, Kevin Reid, son of then Scottish Secretary John Reid, and Alex Barr [1]. The Observer sting had been inspired by a tip-off from a senior Labour party source, who was ‘appalled’ at the flood of job offers from lobbying consultancies ‘who wanted him to basically call in all the favours he was owed on their behalf’ (Dean Nelson on Radio Scotland, October 1999). This story quickly developed into the first crisis of the Scottish Parliament and was dubbed 'Lobbygate'.

Reid and Barr were asked about their contacts with politicians and what differentiated Beattie Media from competitors. Barr mentioned his former colleague Jack McConnell was now Minister of Finance in the Scottish Executive. He also pointed out that the Beattie Media did ‘a lot of [PR] work with the public sector, and with large corporate organisations and we are constantly involving politicians in launches, exhibitions, speeches, presentations, that type of thing’ (Observer transcript, 1999: 3) [2]. Barr stressed Beattie Media’s links to the business community in Scotland:

"We’re in contact on a very regular basis, not only with politicians and the Scottish Office (sic), but also with business journalists, industry journalists, and movers and shakers within local authorities and local enterprise companies…So we’ve got our finger on the pulse of what’s happening in business and in construction". (Observer transcript 1999: 6)

http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Gordon_Beattie

My apologies on the newspaper, 13 years ago too.

Alex Barr went on to be ra Sellik's PRO for a couple of years. Next, he held the same designation for the SFA for several years.

Reference Kevin Reid, his defence was all mitigation. Under pressure, misintepretated, pregnant wife, ....... etc. Really, his only regret was being caught.

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

My apologies on the newspaper, 13 years ago too.

Alex Barr went on to be ra Sellik's PRO for a couple of years. Next, he held the same designation for the SFA for several years.

Reference Kevin Reid, his defence was all mitigation. Under pressure, misintepretated, pregnant wife, ....... etc. Really, his only regret was being caught.

Absolutely rotten to the core.

Hope this is being collated somewhere like 'if you know their history'

It needs to be all kept in the one place.

It shows a cabal of Bheast activists moving and shaking in Scottish society which Salmond is either oblivious to or is too scared to take on.

I'm about to fire some e-mails off

[RangersMedia 35,961]

Lalit Modi's a wank. A corrupt, wank.

Stewart Regan " ". " ", ".

[Carsons Dog 9,878]

My apologies on the newspaper, 13 years ago too.

Alex Barr went on to be ra Sellik's PRO for a couple of years. Next, he held the same designation for the SFA for several years.

Reference Kevin Reid, his defence was all mitigation. Under pressure, misintepretated, pregnant wife, ....... etc. Really, his only regret was being caught.

Looks like they tried to circle the wagons and wheel out the Opus big hitters to defend the indefensible, McNulty being one.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/1999/oct/03/scotlanddevolution.devolution1

Unfortunately he was made to apologise - hung out to dry by the Sex pest by the look of things.

Bet he wished he hadn't stuck his head above the parapet on behalf of his mhate.