Bearwithme Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Tedi and bennett - it's equally easy to take Tom English's article and bolden bits that are completely contrary to your positions. Apart from the fact RangersTaxCase got his prediction of the outcome wrong, of course! (He didn't get it completely wrong, but he got it wrong enough to look silly.) Was it the RTC blog that called Whyte's takeover a "fakeover" and said it would never happen? Or was it "Phil"? Or both? Wish they had got that one right! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williemillersmoustache Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Tom English: Blogged down by its own hubris Published on Sunday 25 November 2012 00:00 THE rangerstaxcase blog began as a beacon of truth but ended up losing sight of its principles. At its peak, the rangerstaxcase blog was, by its own estimation, generating traffic of up to 100,000 hits a day, each dispatch from the front line of the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT) drawing, in some cases, thousands of responses, mostly from people who saw the mystery person behind the blog – a Celtic fan – as not just as an investigator or crusader but some kind of deity delivered from on high to report on the destruction of their rivals. To call it a blog would have been an understatement, it was more of a phenomenon fuelled by the unwavering certainty of Rangers' guilt as well as its condemnation of the Scottish football press in failing, as the blog saw it, to cover one of the "biggest sporting scandals in history". It quickly built a Twitter following of nearly 23,000. It won the prestigious Orwell Prize for the material it produced on the Big Tax Case and was at the forefront of most discussions about the problems that Rangers faced with HMRC. If you wanted to know the latest news on their tax travails, rangerstaxcase was a place you went because, unlike newspapers or radio stations, rangerstaxcase was connected to the heart of the FTT and everybody knew it. It had documents and detail that were beyond dispute. When illustrating one point it was making it would summon up information that could only have come from somebody within, or very close to, the tribunal. Once, it wrote of Gavin Rae, the former Rangers player. Rae, said the blogger, signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club on 1 January 2004, his official contract lodged with the SFA and the SPL showing an annual wage of £260,000. The blogger pointed out that on the same day, 1 January, Rangers provided Rae with a letter that said that money, totalling £336,000, would be deposited in a sub-trust of the Murray Group Remuneration Trust on his behalf. Rae would also receive £1,000 as an appearance for every first-team game he played. It reported that between February 2004 and July 2007, Rae received five payments totalling £336,000 plus appearance fees of £11,000 for season 2003-4, £8,000 for 2005-6 and £20,000 for 2006-7. These numbers weren't plucked from the sky. They were taken from documents it was given by its source, or sources, close to the Tribunal. On this story, rangerstaxcase was leading the media a merry dance, revealing a steady stream of sensitive and confidential information. In the past few months you could tell that it was building to a crescendo, the moment of glory when the FTT report was published, confirming everything that the blog had been saying. Convinced that the endgame was going to play out exactly as it had forecasted, rangerstaxcase became ever more emboldened. It tweeted matter-of-factly about Rangers' "reign of destruction" and the "inevitable disaster" that awaited them when they would be found guilty of a "giant scam" and "premeditated financial doping". Anybody raising the slightest doubt about its interpretation of the tribunal's as-yet unknown findings were rubbished. The findings, it said, would reveal the industrial-scale cheating and the lying that went on at Ibrox in the illegal implementation of the EBT scheme and anybody who thought otherwise was a gullible idiot. On 20 October, the blogger that led the way tweeted that the FTT will conclude that Rangers underpaid their tax to the tune of £18-20 million with another £18m-£20m on top in interests and penalties. The decision is coming, it said, and it was going to represent devastation for what it called "the deadco". That was a word it used a lot, a derogatory word that suggested the blog had long since crossed the line between, on the one hand, reporting and analysing and, on the other, spiteful goading. Tuesday was the most instructive day in the short and remarkable life of rangerstaxcase. Having built a reputation on the back of analysing documents that few would ever see, the reputation was lost when failing to analyse properly a document that everybody could see. Its bombastic declaration of victory on Twitter was revealing. On judgment day, rangerstaxcase saw only what it wanted to see. It was only later that it realised that it had read the conclusions incorrectly. It hurriedly deleted some triumphant tweets, removed all the blogs from the website that won the Orwell Prize – and disappeared. The final message was plaintive and pitiful. "This blog brought light to a matter of public interest," it read. "This blog has been accurate on all of the major points of the case except the one that matters most to date – the FTT outcome." What is happening now is that the hunter has become the hunted. Rangers fans have an e-petition on the go to try and out the source of his information, which they believe, possibly erroneously, came from within HMRC. They want rangerstaxcase outed as well. They believe criminal activity might have taken place in the leaking of documents. Whatever the truth of that, the fact is that rangerstaxcase, seeker of truth, has run away. Its rise and fall is a story of our times, a story with many lessons for fans and bloggers and media alike. It surfaced first in March 2011 with a mission statement. "I have information on Rangers' tax case, and I will use this blog to provide the details of what Rangers FC have done, why it was illegal, and what the implications are for one of the largest football clubs in Britain." In the beginning, it was a fount of information. It produced – and continued to produce – fascinating detail about the workings of the EBT scheme and why there was a potential for disaster for Rangers. It attacked the football media in Scotland for what it called its historic sycophancy for all things Ibrox and there was no doubt but that it had a point. Many football writers agreed with the point. Some media in Scotland have been cheerleaders for Rangers over the years and everybody knows it, but the cheerleading is isolated, not pervasive. It was a ludicrous and ignorant assumption to bracket the "mainstream media" together and find it collectively guilty of subservience. But this is what happens when a movement of people all think the same way with no room for an alternative opinion. As the masses flooded on to the blog, the blog slowly metamorphosed into a nasty anti-Rangers, anti-media rally. It became extraordinarily pompous, accepting its Orwell Prize and comparing the bravery of its own work with the courage of the great author. Later, it opined: "One of the best aspects of this blog is the way in which articulate and reasonable fans from both sides (and even a few others) can have an online discussion that does not degenerate into sectarian bile-hurling." But it was nonsense. The blog became poisonous. It was as if rangerstaxcase and all who worshipped it were the chosen ones and everybody else was either stupid or corrupt or both. There were no shades of grey, no room for doubt. Rangers were guilty of cheating and the mainstream media –mostly hesitant in categorically pre-judging Rangers' guilt in "premeditated financial doping" – were complicit and cowardly. That was the way of it. When the hordes began to revere the blogger and tell him that everything he did was the one and only truth, that was the point it started to go wrong, the line in the sand when proper analysis of the detail he was being given went out of the window. Posturing soon took hold. We should remember something, though. Before the unsavoury side of its personality was unveiled, rangerstaxcase made many pertinent points. Rangers fans derided it as bullshit. Craig Whyte said the revelations on the blog were "99 per cent crap." They weren't. Far from it. If you read the FTT report and turn to the pages where Dr Heidi Poon outlines her thoughts as the one dissenting voice, you come to understand that the information rangerstaxcase revealed took us to the heart of the Tribunal, it just wasn't the majority view. The information was straight. It was the analysis that was twisted. David Murray might be pursuing rangerstaxcase now, but the irony is that in one respect they have something in common. Hubris hurt them both. The difference is that Murray is visible and whatever you think of him, he has always fought his corner. The blogger, on the other hand, has fled. I like highlighting 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS-18 ICBM Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 CLICK HERE. ANONYMISED FORM OF THE DECISION [2012] UKFTT 692 (TC) TC02372 Appeal number: SC/3113-3117/2009 Income Tax and NIC – Schedule E – emoluments/earnings – tax avoidance scheme - Remuneration Trust – employees’ individual sub-trusts – “protectors” - (1) whether payments by employer into trust represent emoluments subject to PAYE and NIC; - (2) whether benefits (particularly loans) derived by employees from the Remuneration Trust represent emoluments subject to PAYE and NIC; - (3) “Ramsay” doctrine – whether applicable – whether trust and loan arrangements artificial and fall to be disregarded; - No - Appeal allowed. FIRST-TIER TRIBUNAL TAX CHAMBER MURRAY GROUP HOLDINGS and OTHERS Appellants - and - THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HER MAJESTY’S REVENUE & CUSTOMS Respondents TRIBUNAL JUDGE: Mr Kenneth Mure, QC Dr Heidi Poon, CA, CTA, PhD S A Rae, LLB., WS Sitting in private at George House, 126 George Street, Edinburgh on 25 October – 5 November 2010, 18-21 and 26-28 April, 3-6 May and 7-10 and 16 November 2011, and 16-18 January 2012 Andrew Thornhill QC, Mark Studer, Jonathan Bremner and Thomas Chacko, Barristers, for the Appellants Roderick N Thomson, QC., instructed by the Office of the Advocate General, for the Respondents © CROWN COPYRIGHT 2012 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenolly Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 My heart bleeds for the poor RTC blogger, all those lies, all those loyal fans of his decieved, all those journo's (Mark Daly) who took everything he said at face value and now they all have to eat humble pie. Tick tock as they say. Wait a minute was Tom English not also reporting that Rangers were dead and impounding doom as late as last week? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoseKillie Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I love it when P&Bers use a when you know that a would suit them better. Taking out the P&B trash since November 2011. Oh, thank God we've got Bennett to make sure P&B remains a valuable resource for fans of all teams to exchange views in an atmosphere of mutual respect. As you completely failed yesterday's challenge, Bennett, here's another one - maybe a bit easier.... See if you can find three non-rangers fans on here* who think you are anything other than a mendacious, disrespectful, bigoted halfwit with nothing positive to contribute to the discussion if the possibility of defaming a fellow "P&Ber" will do instead. *Weasels who put "Scotland" as "my team" don't count, BTW. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnstoun Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Oh, thank God we've got Bennett to make sure P&B remains a valuable resource for fans of all teams to exchange views in an atmosphere of mutual respect. As you completely failed yesterday's challenge, Bennett, here's another one - maybe a bit easier.... See if you can find three non-rangers fans on here* who think you are anything other than a mendacious, disrespectful, bigoted halfwit with nothing positive to contribute to the discussion if the possibility of defaming a fellow "P&Ber" will do instead. *Weasels who put "Scotland" as "my team" don't count, BTW. That's a tad unfair, I don't think he's a halfwit. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoseKillie Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 That's a tad unfair, I don't think he's a halfwit. Funny thing - that would be to "damn with faint praise" - care to guess the poet it's a quote from? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Tennis Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Wait a minute was Tom English not also reporting that Rangers were dead and impounding doom as late as last week? Indeed and he was right then too. There's nothing inconsistent in attacking the vanity fuelled errors of RTC, while also highlighting the hilarious drivel that emanates from Charles Green. I can see why some our friends on the forum might struggle with it all though. After all, English is an enemy of 'the people', is he not? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennett Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Oh, thank God we've got Bennett to make sure P&B remains a valuable resource for fans of all teams to exchange views in an atmosphere of mutual respect. As you completely failed yesterday's challenge, Bennett, here's another one - maybe a bit easier.... See if you can find three non-rangers fans on here* who think you are anything other than a mendacious, disrespectful, bigoted halfwit with nothing positive to contribute to the discussion if the possibility of defaming a fellow "P&Ber" will do instead. *Weasels who put "Scotland" as "my team" don't count, BTW. Looks like a job for a secret agent Norm. You know what to do 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennett Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Wait a minute was Tom English not also reporting that Rangers were dead and impounding doom as late as last week? Which is why i wrote about all those journo's who believed RTC's every word, the amount of backtracking in the last week has been astounding. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteRoseKillie Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Indeed and he was right then too. There's nothing inconsistent in attacking the vanity fuelled errors of RTC, while also highlighting the hilarious drivel that emanates from Charles Green. I can see why some our friends on the forum might struggle with it all though. After all, English is an enemy of 'the people', is he not? This is what is making the reactions of rangers fans so bewildering to me. A bit of "told you so", and a smidgeon of "f**k you lot" is fine - many of us called it wrong in the end not totally wrong, mind, given the partial guilt established - and the fans of rangers are quite entitled to their day in the sun. Those of them who didn't just crawl out when they thought it was safe, anyway. But.... The FTTT (that's three Ts, btw) verdict materially changes nothing. The club are still dead (or soon to be so) - the verdict doesn't change that. If anything, the dirty laundry aired in the verdict of the FTTT may well tip the SPL's hand when it comes to the allegations of fielding ineligible players - the SFA might take some action as well. When Charlie agreed to conditions for obtaining a licence, did he not agree that the new club be responsible for any footballing penalties handed out to rangers? If I were at ICBINR, I'd be less concerned with the titles of the old club than the possible fines that could soon land on the new, blameless club's doormat. How much of a financial hit could they afford to take? As I say, were I of the blue Ugly persuasion, I'd be saying, "right, that's that out of the way, we got away with most of it. Now what's next?" From posts on here, many bears cannot even see that the FTTT and the SPL investigation are actually separate deals, looking at totally different (alleged) wrongdoing. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beermonkey Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Oh, thank God we've got Bennett to make sure P&B remains a valuable resource for fans of all teams to exchange views in an atmosphere of mutual respect. As you completely failed yesterday's challenge, Bennett, here's another one - maybe a bit easier.... See if you can find three non-rangers fans on here* who think you are anything other than a mendacious, disrespectful, bigoted halfwit with nothing positive to contribute to the discussion if the possibility of defaming a fellow "P&Ber" will do instead. *Weasels who put "Scotland" as "my team" don't count, BTW. He's still not got back to me where i "twisted his words", & that was only a couple of hours ago at most. And he accuses others of talking shite. :lol: Or should that be. Ach who cares...rangers are deid & sevco are heading the same way. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS-18 ICBM Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 (edited) Ach who cares...rangers are deid & sevco are heading the same way. Edited November 25, 2012 by SS-18 ICBM 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS-18 ICBM Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 This is what is making the reactions of rangers fans so bewildering to me. A bit of "told you so", and a smidgeon of "f**k you lot" is fine - many of us called it wrong in the end not totally wrong, mind, given the partial guilt established - and the fans of rangers are quite entitled to their day in the sun. Those of them who didn't just crawl out when they thought it was safe, anyway. But.... The FTTT (that's three Ts, btw) verdict materially changes nothing. The club are still dead (or soon to be so) - the verdict doesn't change that. If anything, the dirty laundry aired in the verdict of the FTTT may well tip the SPL's hand when it comes to the allegations of fielding ineligible players - the SFA might take some action as well. When Charlie agreed to conditions for obtaining a licence, did he not agree that the new club be responsible for any footballing penalties handed out to rangers? If I were at ICBINR, I'd be less concerned with the titles of the old club than the possible fines that could soon land on the new, blameless club's doormat. How much of a financial hit could they afford to take? As I say, were I of the blue Ugly persuasion, I'd be saying, "right, that's that out of the way, we got away with most of it. Now what's next?" From posts on here, many bears cannot even see that the FTTT and the SPL investigation are actually separate deals, looking at totally different (alleged) wrongdoing. Indeed. The Bears that you are referring to are in for a BIG surprise if they truly think that the FTTT investigation absolves Rangers FC (R.I.P.) of cheating (fielding ineligible players) during the last ten years of its life. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacksgranda Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 You had to edit an "emoticon"? And you got a green dot for it? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beermonkey Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 (edited) You had to edit an "emoticon"? And you got a green dot for it? Edited November 25, 2012 by beermonkey 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fotbawmad Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I hope Minty DOES try to take legal action against RTC. That way his own business dealings can be exposed on a public platform. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingrodent Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I like the way the RFC mob believe that the SPL commission is a kangaroo court designed specifically to strip Rangers' titles AND that there's no way it could possibly strip Rangers' titles. And I hope David Murray does take some kind of legal action against bloggers or Hector. I suspect he won't, because of his well-known aversion to any kind of scrutiny of his business affairs. By which I mean, the man is a cheating rat and even the slightest scrutiny makes that clear. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4menhadadream Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Indeed. The Bears that you are referring to are in for a BIG surprise if they truly think that the FTTT investigation absolves Rangers FC (R.I.P.) of cheating (fielding ineligible players) during the last ten years of its life. . Did you not learn from the last time, a think the term is innocent until proving guilty. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunfellaff Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 . Did you not learn from the last time, a think the term is innocent until proving guilty. 4 men ha dad ream ? Bennett banned and aliased already ? Say it ain't so Bennett................ 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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