SENTINELCELTS

CRIME/PUNISHMENT & CONSEQUENCES

There was always be a ‘Rangers’ in one form, or another, even if they had actually stopped playing in 2012 and Ibrox had been partially bulldozed and sold to a developer. The ‘Rangers’ constituency is too big to disappear in Scotland, they would have bought over another club and called it Rangers – unhappily the Bears outside the ‘big hoose’ were right in the strictest sense – “Rangers will never die”.

When a crime is committed and the perpetrator is caught and convicted, a punishment is meted out based on a tariff system – however every punishment has consequences and quite often the delayed consequential impact is felt much harder by the offender than the actual punishment itself – the exception being of course in the case of capital punishment, where the sentence and consequences are almost inseparable.

When a person in a position of trust commits a fraud, the consequences of being convicted may far outweigh the actual punishment imposed – e.g. perhaps a one year custodial sentence, but the prospect of never being able work in their chosen field again – and in the case of the driver given a fine and a one year ban for drink-driving – the consequential effect in terms of unemployment and loss of driving licence and company car can be calamitous.

So what have been the punishments and consequences for the occupants of Ibrox and Murray Park since we all found out that they cheated Scottish Football, HMRC and umpteen creditors in 2012? Of course administration and liquidation have been forced upon them – but what has it actually meant to the entity that tens of thousands in the West of Scotland call Rangers?

Financial Consequences

1,,,An enforced four year absence from the top-tier of Scottish Football for the first time in the brand’s existence – probable cost 80 million pounds.

2,,,A seven year absence from European competition – probable cost 50 million pounds.

3,,,Loss of transfer fees for players who would not ‘TUPE’ – McGregor, Naismith, Lafferty, Davis, Bocanegra, Whittaker and others – probable loss around 30 million pounds.

4,,,Loss of merchandising income to Sports Direct – probable cost 30 million pounds.

5,,,Loss of sponsors – probable cost 10 million pounds.

6,,,Thrown off the London Stock Exchange.

7,,,Unable to get a credit facility with any major bank.

8,,,Current debt of around 30 million pounds.

Punishments

9,,,Fines totaling around half a million pounds – largely still unpaid.

Operating Consequences

11,,,Taken over by a fraud and a charlatan – Craig Whyte.

12,,,Taken over by a fraud and charlatan – Charles Green.

13,,,Taken over by a convicted tax criminal – David King.

14,,,Supreme Court find Rangers guilty of criminal tax evasion.

15,,,Hauled through the courts by Mike Ashley and MASH.

16,,,Stadium dilapidated and in need of extensive repairs.

17,,,Recruiting only free-transfers and players from lower leagues.

18,,,Probably not trusted any other club on staged transfers-payments.

19,,,No major honours for seven years

I imagine if the above ‘package’ had been mooted at the time, many of our support would have never believed that it would come to pass – however as we all know, it has. Would we have been satisfied at this retribution? – Yes I think some of us would have.

Now I am not joining the “we’ve been punished enough brigade” – I still believe that titles and other prizes won during the ‘financial doping’ years should be forfeited and, of course there must be some kind of ‘closure’ to the Resolution 12 issue, which of course also includes the SFA.

In monetary terms, I believe the cost to the Rangers/Sevco of their deceit has been of the order of 200 million pounds (my best guess). The loss of status and reputation is impossible to quantify.

I doubt we will get what we want with regard to closure on Resolution 12 and the stripping of honours that were gained by cheating.

A Guest Blog by Gold.