Billy Dodd in Scots Herald

[jerfeelgood 0]

I refuse to believe major players evaded paying millions in tax

I want to address the revelation in Wednesday night's BBC Panorama programme that I was one of the people to receive money at Rangers through an employee benefit trust (EBT).

I feel that I have to defend myself and fight my corner because I have not done anything wrong. I have paid every bit of tax throughout my professional career, at every club, including Rangers.

The full story is that David Murray came to me and asked if I would receive a payment that was due to me, after tax, through the EBT trust. And I said that I would. It was money that was owing to me when I had six months left on my contract and I moved to Dundee United. After the tax was deducted, that money was put in the trust fund.

This was a single payment made when I was leaving the club. I did not receive any payments through the trust fund at any other point of my Rangers career. I don't know what other EBTs there were while I was at the club, and we never discussed them as players, although I refuse to believe that major players evaded millions of pounds in tax.

There was certainly no benefit to me from being paid this money through the trust fund. It was simply what I was due, the tax was deducted, and the club simply asked that they pay it to me through the fund. I had no issue with that and, of course, EBTs were legal at the time. It was Rangers who asked me to use the fund.

As a player, you're aware of all sorts of different schemes for putting your money into.

It's not that players are dodging tax, it's just that there are different avenues open to them to pay lower tax rates. There are schemes such as film partnerships that you could pay money into as an individual and so not pay higher tax rates. Image rights seem to be a more recent one that is popular in England.

There is nothing illegal in it, and the EBTs were the same. I want to stress that mine was simply a one-off payment, after tax, when I left the club, not some sort of remuneration scheme.

I never heard anything about side letters when I was at the club, not one person ever mentioned anything like that.

I've been in Spain golfing, so I've not yet seen the BBC programme, but I was shocked to hear that 87 players and staff were involved in the EBT scheme at Ibrox – but it should also be remembered that the trusts were not illegal.

People do have to understand that this wasn't players or staff trying to do something that would harm Rangers. And I do feel that it wasn't telling the full truth for the programme to bracket all the players and staff together if the EBTs were different for each of them.

All I can say is that in no way did I avoid paying tax, in no way was I paid wages or anything through an EBT over the course of my contract, and in no way was I aware of any side letters.

It amazes me that John Yorkston has the gall to talk about Rangers not paying their bills. He's a hypocrite, and he should start making sure that his club pay their bills instead. Jim McIntyre served a writ on Dunfermline on Thursday because he has still yet to receive his settlement after being sacked by the club last season.

The issue is with the court now, because Dunfermline said they cannot pay it in one instalment. Yet John Yorkston is in the press all the time talking about other clubs. He should be looking after the financial affairs of his own club.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/i-refuse-to-believe-major-players-evaded-paying-millions-in-tax.17704904

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

Jug eared wee bastard.

Fuck Billy Dodd and Ken too.

[Mikhailichenko 90]

At last Billy, you are talking some sense.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Well said. Still a shite pundit though lol

[Mikhailichenko 90]

I must add that he only spoke sense when his own name was dragged in to it. He has had plenty of opportunity to defend us prior to now and as far as I am aware he hasn't.

[Saddam Ghandi 17]

This is not looking good, I don't believe Billy Dodds would come away with this crap, putting the club right up the creek.

Someone should have told him to keep his wee trap shut, why are we even giving this air time, can we get this post removed?

I still believe there is nothing in this EBT nonsense though, mark my words.

[elephants stoned 2,994]

Jug eared wee bastard.

Fuck Billy Dodd and Ken too.

Is billy dodds actualy the inspiration behind the diddy men?

[Facebook 11]

Doses has just confirmed the EBT was a side contract for salary.

We are royally screwed.

Big mouthed fuck.

[Thermopylae 15,287]

I think on balance it's good that the players are starting to come out and talk about it ... every little bit of cold water poured on timmy's smoldering resentment is good news .

Interesting that is Traynor and now Dodds who both work for the bbc have came out and distanced themselves from the programme

[elephants stoned 2,994]

This is not looking good, I don't believe Billy Dodds would come away with this crap, putting the club right up the creek.

Someone should have told him to keep his wee trap shut, why are we even giving this air time, can we get this post removed?

I still believe there is nothing in this EBT nonsense though, mark my words.

Sounds to me like hes sticking up for the club, or the players anyway.

[legalbeagle 3,734]

If the payment, in this case, was related to money owed under his contract, then there is no issue regarding dual contracts, it is instead just in relation to how the payments were made, which is of little concern to the football authorities, although important to the taxman.

If we were to find out that the players were due a certain value of money under their contract, and the club paid some of it through a trust, I can't see how that equates to a dual contract.

[watp1690rfc 32]

Love all the comments under that piece there. Tarrier tax experts!

[OneDavidCooper 2,505]

He doth protest too much.

[ray 105]

I refuse to believe major players evaded paying millions in tax

I want to address the revelation in Wednesday night's BBC Panorama programme that I was one of the people to receive money at Rangers through an employee benefit trust (EBT).

I feel that I have to defend myself and fight my corner because I have not done anything wrong. I have paid every bit of tax throughout my professional career, at every club, including Rangers.

The full story is that David Murray came to me and asked if I would receive a payment that was due to me, after tax, through the EBT trust. And I said that I would. It was money that was owing to me when I had six months left on my contract and I moved to Dundee United. After the tax was deducted, that money was put in the trust fund.

This was a single payment made when I was leaving the club. I did not receive any payments through the trust fund at any other point of my Rangers career. I don't know what other EBTs there were while I was at the club, and we never discussed them as players, although I refuse to believe that major players evaded millions of pounds in tax.

There was certainly no benefit to me from being paid this money through the trust fund. It was simply what I was due, the tax was deducted, and the club simply asked that they pay it to me through the fund. I had no issue with that and, of course, EBTs were legal at the time. It was Rangers who asked me to use the fund.

As a player, you're aware of all sorts of different schemes for putting your money into.

It's not that players are dodging tax, it's just that there are different avenues open to them to pay lower tax rates. There are schemes such as film partnerships that you could pay money into as an individual and so not pay higher tax rates. Image rights seem to be a more recent one that is popular in England.

There is nothing illegal in it, and the EBTs were the same. I want to stress that mine was simply a one-off payment, after tax, when I left the club, not some sort of remuneration scheme.

I never heard anything about side letters when I was at the club, not one person ever mentioned anything like that.

I've been in Spain golfing, so I've not yet seen the BBC programme, but I was shocked to hear that 87 players and staff were involved in the EBT scheme at Ibrox – but it should also be remembered that the trusts were not illegal.

People do have to understand that this wasn't players or staff trying to do something that would harm Rangers. And I do feel that it wasn't telling the full truth for the programme to bracket all the players and staff together if the EBTs were different for each of them.

All I can say is that in no way did I avoid paying tax, in no way was I paid wages or anything through an EBT over the course of my contract, and in no way was I aware of any side letters.

It amazes me that John Yorkston has the gall to talk about Rangers not paying their bills. He's a hypocrite, and he should start making sure that his club pay their bills instead. Jim McIntyre served a writ on Dunfermline on Thursday because he has still yet to receive his settlement after being sacked by the club last season.

The issue is with the court now, because Dunfermline said they cannot pay it in one instalment. Yet John Yorkston is in the press all the time talking about other clubs. He should be looking after the financial affairs of his own club.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/i-refuse-to-believe-major-players-evaded-paying-millions-in-tax.17704904

How wizza jug eared we turncoat no oan radio shortbreed yesterday, the purridge thickens.

[Saddam Ghandi 17]

I must add that he only spoke sense when his own name was dragged in to it. He has had plenty of opportunity to defend us prior to now and as far as I am aware he hasn't.

DEFEND US?????

where do you see this? To my eyes he's admitting it was a post tax payment and contractual!

[WVB 2,560]

Not particularly helpful.

[mav3ric 13]

Not getting how some members see this as a bad thing. I actually believe he is helping the club. He states he paid all his taxes and everything was above board, why do some see this as bad?? We need more players from the 10 yr period in question to come out and denounce the allegations and thus give credence to the claims that we have been in the right all along.

[Mikhailichenko 90]

DEFEND US?????

where do you see this? To my eyes he's admitting it was a post tax payment and contractual!

Read it again.

[Facebook 11]

Take the blinkers off and read this again. He has fucked us. Its a smoking gun.

He is a useless prick.

[mav3ric 13]

DEFEND US?????

where do you see this? To my eyes he's admitting it was a post tax payment and contractual!

He quite clearly does at the end of paragraph 3.

[Mikhailichenko 90]

The payment was due to him, he states this. Tax was paid on the payment. The payment was made through the EBT this was all above board and shown in our books. How any can see this as a bad thing I fail to understand.

[fyfe 19]

Saying that the use of EBTs was for a single one-off payment sounds like it doesn't break the rules regarding having a second contract. Or maybe I'm misinterpreting it.

[Saddam Ghandi 17]

Take the blinkers off and read this again. He has fucked us. Its a smoking gun.

He is a useless prick.

Completely agree, opened his mouth to salvage a Media career, ha should have been left to rot with the SPL/First Division also-rans and he would never have had a BBC gig in the first place.

Thankfully the case is decided now and his outburst surely won't affect any verdict.

As far as Traynor 'distancing himself', the fat one who wants us in in Div 3 stated recently he does NOT receive a wage from BBC.

[mav3ric 13]

The payment was due to him, he states this. Tax was paid on the payment. The payment was made through the EBT this was all above board and shown in our books. How any can see this as a bad thing I fail to understand.

Completely agree with you here mate. This is the kind of piece that helps us, imho.

[Mikhailichenko 90]

Saying that the use of EBTs was for a single one-off payment sounds like it doesn't break the rules regarding having a second contract. Or maybe I'm misinterpreting it.

It was money due to him for the remainder of his contract as far as I can see. It would appear that it was all above board and accounted for from what he says.