That F****r Thomson is at it again

[robg58 319]

http://www.channel4....s-key-questions

I hope that when this is all over there is an investigation by Channel 4 into this arses vendetta against us

Tuesday 29 January 2013

The unravelling of Rangers - key questions

Rangers were once among the world's most successful football clubs. Now they no longer exist, replaced by a team currently plying their trade in Scotland's third division. Alex Thomson explains why.

Why it is the biggest scandal of its kind in football?

Football, politics, business and the media in Scotland have suffered a seismic shock. The unthinkable happened, prompting profound debate about how sport, business, media and the law operate.

One of the biggest and best-supported clubs in football went into administration, then outright liquidation, owing millions. A newco (new company) was formed and admitted to the Scottish Division Three after lower league clubs voted it in. It is a monumental fall from grace for a club that was in a European cup final only five years ago.

What went wrong?

Just before the turn of the millennium the club spent a lot of money - more than was coming in. Rangers broke the Scottish transfer record in 2000. And even then it had significant debts.

It was a combination of those years of overspending and the use of certain tax avoidance schemes that ultimately led to the former chairman Sir David Murray selling the club in April 2011 to a little known venture capitalist called Craig Whyte for the token sum of £1.

For that pound Whyte assumed ownership of the club, its debt and a looming tax bill, the cost of which was estimated to be as high as £49m.

Why did HMRC pursue Rangers?

Director after director, and even players, took large tax-free loans. Large homes got larger. Second homes abroad got bought. To date, not a penny in the loans appears to have been paid back - all (for now) quite legally.

It was done under a complex tax-avoidance scheme, called an employee benefit trust (EBT), set up by struck-off lawyer and soft-porn baron Paul Baxendale-Walker over a decade ago.

Initially HMRC won its case. But an appeal to a tax tribunal found that use of the EBT as legitimate by a 2-1 tax tribunal majority in November 2012. HMRC is seeking leave to appeal, and told Channel 4 News the issue will probably go to the high court.

The tribunal noted Rangers had been evasive and obstructive, and even the club agreed that tax arrangements for at least five players were improper. The issue was widely reported as a victory for Rangers in the Scottish media.

Why then did Rangers collapse?

On top of that tax issue, the club's problems mounted when Craig Whyte bought the club and then, according to a Scottish FA investigation, led a regime which was reckless in the extreme, heaping further tax debt on the club. Mr Whyte disputes this but, claiming he feared for his personal security, did not attend the SFA hearings.

It is alleged that under Whyte, Rangers stopped making national insurance contributions, and HMRC is chasing the club for a fee believed to be around £3-4m.

What actions were taken and who faces punishment?

Sir David Murray remains locked in combat with HMRC. Liquidators may well have questions or start legal action against former directors.

In June 2012 the Crown Office announced it had instructed Strathclyde police to conduct a criminal investigation into Craig Whyte's acquisition of Rangers football club.

The newco operates under a transfer ban and faces a minimum of three years in relative lower-league wilderness as it fights its way back up the league to the SPL. Rangers newco chief executive Charles Green has said the club will not play in the SPL as long as he is in charge.

According to the NUJ, at least 32 journalists have complained of intimidation by Rangers fans in the past year, as have at least one football club and a leading criminal QC who needed police protection. Police have made at least one arrest in recent months as a result of this.

What happens next?

Basically three key things this year -

• The tax issue will be resolved either in favour of Sir David Murray, the former Rangers owner, or in favour of the HMRC. The implications are huge since thousands of companies in and outside football use similar tax avoidance schemes, or have used them. It is a major test case.
  
• The other big outstanding issue should also be resolved: did the liquidated club tell or not tell the FA about all the money it paid players? If it did not, the Rangers name could be removed from a large number of cups, championships etc for fielding ineligible players, and the club's history could be radically re-written. An independent commission, led by Lord Nimmo-Smith, should begin soon and rule on this one way or the other.
  
• Liquidation - the liquidators BDO have to recover the money. There isn't any. Or rather, not in assets etc as the stadium and training ground are transferred to the new Rangers FC.
  

But there are people. That is where BDO can go, in theory. If so, a lot more litigation could follow before some of the small businesses, educational establishments and councils who are creditors of Rangers, finally get at least some money back. No-one is holding their breath.

Does it affect English football clubs?

The answer depends on the verdict of the tax court over the use of EBTs.

It is possible that English football clubs have employed the same tax avoidance scheme in the same way - in which case Rangers could be the harbinger of things to come for the footballing world outside Scotland.

[andymcg1986 259]

Fucking hate this cunt

[Phil 1,150]

He's shown himself up, and discredited any reputation he may have got from his work in the Middle East.

No point even giving the cunts name a mention, he's wrong and he knows it but doesn't have the sense to shut up and hope people forget what a bitter small man he really is.

[wearethepeople1 3,897]

Absolutely hate this wanker

Should some twist of fate befall him, I would welcome it

[nimrod 62]

Worth a wee contact with the NUJ to see if his claim of at least 32 complaints holds water.

Even if there are that many I'd be interested as to how they know Rangers fans were involved.

IMO if anyone was disposed to go round and punch anybody then Thompson woulda heard from them by now. He'd be top of anybody's list.

[loyalfollower 1,543]

Just keeps repeating his stories, but re arranges them to look like exclusives.

An obsessive toss pot of the highest order

[RFC55 109,970]

Thankfully the criminal lawyer now doesn't need police protection

Tomo you're a fucking roaster of the highest order. Its a pitty yae don't find these guys walking around the town at 2 or 3 in the morning, would be good for a wee chat

[JTP 221]

Have the VB been doing any digging against this cretin?

[topgoalie 637]

Hahaha what a fckn grade one arsehole,get over it knobhead....

[The New Era 339]

Trouble is this filth must never be ignored.

Jim Traynor must deal with this article with great urgency.

[Gaffbear 4,101]

Another obsessed nobody spouting lies to further his own agenda.

If we're a newco then we have nothing to answer in the EBT case true?,so why are they still having a meeting when the "guilty" party is no longer with us ,according to wankers like Thomson.

If we are still Rangers football club then we'll answer such allegations like we did with HMRC and were found NOT guilty.

Guilty parties are Craig Whyte for deliberately taking us into liquidation after failing to pay tax and Scottish football for making us out to be guilty before a ball was kicked.

[Der Hammer 160]

I hope he dies today and the reason I hope its today is I am quite impatient. CUNT OF A MAN.

[nelsonRFC82 305]

Don't want to bite to these fuckers but that cunt Thomson winds me up.

I have complained to Channel 4, fuck knows if it will do any good.

[ready1873 3,902]

What a bitter, twisted cunt.

[Jodz 98]

Gave up reading after the first sentence. Went back and read on a bit later. Funnily enough the rest of it is just as pish. Wee prick

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

Fucking hate this cunt

Why? Don't waste your energy hating this no-mark spunk stain.

He's a no-mark wank that's been outed as such by the Sun newspaper thanks to his incestuous (possibly Gay?) links with the sectarian bigot Philth Multinames.

He works for a no-mark downmarket TV Channel that's known for its left-wing anti-British stance - a station that has a known Rangers-hater, Stuart Tossgrope (if the shoe fits?) within its ranks.

Ranks rhymes with WANKS, which is what both these tossers are.

As stated - don't waste your energy on this fuckwit.

Justice will visit his fucking life one day........it's called Karma.

[Faircity 186]

...Just had to laugh when i read his nonsense this morning....hes another one who will drown in his own shite and we will all stand and laugh.,.

..Has to be said channel 4 has done themselves no favours employing lowlife like this!...

[Beaujolais 1,371]

Given this is just rehash of his previous comments- nothing new.

Actually given the timing his comments are provocative and uneccessary.

One would think he is the final abritrator...

Given the purpose of a News Channel is to report news, it is quite disturbing that Channel 4 are letting one of their staff attempt to influence and manipulate outcomes.

This guy on his present form should be offered a contract by the BBC- I am sure they have a vacancy at Newsight that this guy is suitably qualified to fill.

[Hamie 4,852]

What a bitter twisted little man.

I'm pretty sure there was a bigger scandal in Scottish football, but maybe he deems Child Rape no higher than a civil dispute.

[nelsonRFC82 305]

Why? Don't waste your energy hating this no-mark spunk stain.

He's a no-mark wank that's been outed as such by the Sun newspaper thanks to his incestuous (possibly Gay?) links with the sectarian bigot Philth Multinames.

He works for a no-mark downmarket TV Channel that's known for its left-wing anti-British stance - a station that has a known Rangers-hater, Stuart Tossgrope (if the shoe fits?) within its ranks.

Ranks rhymes with WANKS, which is what both these tossers are.

As stated - don't waste your energy on this fuckwit.

Justice will visit his fucking life one day........it's called Karma.

While I agree with your sentiment he does have a standing in the media that someone like the Donegal bigot with various names does not. People who are unaware of his track record, may well take his writing on us more seriously and be fooled in to believing the lies he spreads.

I still cannot accept that any media outlet can be allowed to spread outright lies as facts and not be held to account for this. Hate driven opinion piece is a bit more subjective but a statement of fact that is blatantly false should not be allowed to stay on their sight for the world to see!

[WWTC 2,247]

By the way, we really should take action against this. This is a channel 4 news investigator writing that our club no longer exists, yet doesnt offer a single shred of evidence to support this.

Im away to my bed fuckin disgusted by that. Has he written similarly about teams like leeds? A wee bity closer to his own fuckin doorstep.

[jimgers 565]

Thomson's pal Phil-3-names was proven to be a bigot, Thompson wont be far behind being outed as a rancid bigot.

[Falcoholic 1,348]

This is just the same old bullshit regurgitated and re-released as a new article.

His hatred of our club knows no bounds but then he's one of a whole host of them who are happy to fly the flag of bigotry and hate.

Isn't he the one who endorsed Phillup Mabumhole's book?

Says it all really.

[Mr Soprano 13,964]

Why anyone actually bothers about this rancid tarrier fuck anymore is beyond me.

[CanadianBacon 2,088]

While I agree with your sentiment he does have a standing in the media that someone like the Donegal bigot with various names does not. People who are unaware of his track record, may well take his writing on us more seriously and be fooled in to believing the lies he spreads.

I still cannot accept that any media outlet can be allowed to spread outright lies as facts and not be held to account for this. Hate driven opinion piece is a bit more subjective but a statement of fact that is blatantly false should not be allowed to stay on their sight for the world to see!

Thomson's "standing in the media" starts and ends with his bosses at Ch-4.

He's seen a figure of fun by many and whether you accept it or not his incestuous (gay?) links with Philth Multinames has him marked as a crackpot by those and such as those in the TV industry.

That said, he's ideal for the Rangers-haters at Pacific Quay, though I'd doubt this no-mark wank would dare move up to Scotland given that he's supposedly in "constant fear for his life" from us murdering Rangers fans.....yaddah-yaddah-yaddah......