One thing that marks out people with true leadership qualities from the rest of us is the ability to see the big picture.
When I left my glen last Thursday for England’s North East to attend the NUJ’s Delegate Meeting in Newcastle I had little time to take in Charles Green’s vision for his new club.
It was contained in what was, reportedly, an accurate minute of a meeting he had with supporters.
I have not seen a club statement repudiating the contents so I must assume their veracity at this point.
Mr Green’s aspirations for the club he is the CEO of are truly impressive.
He envisages that the Sevco chaps will be in the last eight of the Champions league on a regular basis and in the semi-finals “in a good year”.
Clearly this is a long term plan.
Even with all of the available assistance to Sevco from the folks on the 6th floor at Hampden in getting into the top flight of Scottish football UEFA will not allow Sevco into their competition for three years.
If Sevco are ready to become one the big boys in the Champions League in only three years especially from where they are now then this will be truly historic.
While I was at the NUJ DM Sevco’s chaps were defeated by Stirling Albion, a club at the foot of Division three they were officially the worst team in Scottish football.
To go from being beaten by the bottom team in Scotland to locking horns with the big boys in the latter stages of the Champions League shows that Mr Green has such magisterial vision, whereas mine is so miserly.
I could not help and think how the media in Scotland would have approached the exact same words had they come from Peter Lawwell’s mouth.
Celtic are currently in the Champions League Group Stages and have been undefeated in European competition this year.
However, if the Celtic CEO said that he saw Celtic as a regular contender in the latter stages of Europe’s premier competition and in “the semi-finals on a good year” I can only imagine the hay that would be made by the hacks with that statement.
It would be treated as risible.
Perhaps Mr Green’s statement was so eviscerated.
If it was then I missed that reportage.
My focus over the week end was on weightier matters.
The main event for me was to speak to a late motion at DM on the threats that are regularly made by the Ibrox klan to journalists working on Scottish football.
The motion made specific mention of me and the recent publication of my book on the death of Rangers as a catalyst for an upsurge in such threats.
One colleague came to DM armed with a list that he had compiled of journalists who had been named on social media and then threatened by the dignified denizens of the blue half of Glasgow.
The list was eclectic; broadcast, print, freelance and staffers.
He counted out the names to me, twenty five in all including the NUJ President Donnacha DeLong.
The pattern was well established.
A journalist would somehow transgress against the klan and then be named on social media.
Soon after that the online threats and smears would start.
There would also be threatening calls made to places of work.
He was on this list himself.
Despite getting death threats he said he would not stop doing his job.
Respect.
Although concerns about boycotts and a drop in circulation are a legitimate concern for editors the personal safety of journalists should be a matter for all of us and not just those who own and control the media.
Even in the age of social media society relies on journalism to gather and sift information and present it to the public.
Indeed with the blizzard of digital data cascading down into your smart phone from all angles people need good journalism now more than ever.
Unless people are open to hearing the truth on a story then they have no legitimate cause for complaint when they suddenly realise that they are badly informed.
I started the week end by attending a lecture given by former British Ambassador Craig Murray.
Quietly spoken to the point of diffidence, this is a man of genuine courage.
As the UK’s chap in Uzbekistan he decided that it wasn’t in his job description to attend cocktail parties with the local capo Islam Karimov.
The top boy in Tashkent had a penchant for boiling his opponents alive while Britain looked the other way.
Not surprisingly Karimov wasn’t too keen on a free press.
Murray resigned from the Foreign Office and became the classic whistle blower.
Unable to get the mainstream media to take his material he started blogging; his site was attacked and taken down on several occasions.
Over dinner he related tales to me from his time inside the British state that I considered to be of genuine public interest.
What we discussed were matters of global significance and a solar system away from that which exercises Planet Fitba.
However, the principle is the same and it is that journalism has a key role in any democratic society.
If Scotland allows the Ibrox klan to impose their will on the Fourth Estate then it is a country that is incubating a major problem for the future.
From my vantage point on Ireland’s west coast I once more see someone in a position of power at Edmiston Drive escaping proper scrutiny by the Scottish media.
My own work on the life and death of Rangers Football Club has convinced me that the Ibrox klan are an evidence resistant sub-culture.
They do not wish to be informed of anything that upsets their fascist world view.
Subsequently, they are key players in their own lack of awareness.
I told my NUJ colleagues in Newcastle that, in my opinion, an attack on any journalist is an attack on journalism and ipso facto an attack on democracy.
The motion condemning these threats made by the Ibrox klan was passed unanimously.
I am proud of my union.
They’ve got the vision thing.
iain
i think you have now left the building phil ..your blog used to be a refreshing piece of journalism .a genuine guy fighting for equality and fairness for all .you now seem to be fixated by all things sevco or whatever name is given to this new club . give the new guy a chance , he will in time find his feet and learn to control his emotions. you on the other hand phil are much more wise in that respect but in my view you need to widen your audience scope or you will forever be known as the guy who dug dirt on rangers for the celtic fraternity’s benefit …cheer up phil its constructive critasism
October 10, 2012 at 10:41 am
auscot
Ian
Cannot beleive your post is allowed on
October 10, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Try and make a point without being abusive to me and you maybe more successful.
There’s a good chap…
October 10, 2012 at 2:18 pm
auscot
My aim is not to be successful re this site
Only raising the point of the one eyed dribble you spout
Good chap
October 12, 2012 at 1:44 am
Annie M
Can I ask you a question Phil? I wish you no ill will. But you have never worked on a newspaper or in a broadcasting capacity in your life. What on earth gives you the experience or legitimacy to serve, then, as an office bearer of the NUJ? Particularly when you spend much of your time attacking rather than defending members. You’re like one of those cabinet ministers who has never had a proper job. It’s all about what you can be, not what you can do. It’s incredible.
October 10, 2012 at 10:18 am
Dal
Annie
Would you have the audacity to define the Scottish press as serious journalists? Getting seduced by David Murray, and being servile to a discredited club is not something to boast about. Any examples of what you percieve to be decent reporters?
Truth is…there’s bitterness in your vocabulary.
October 10, 2012 at 1:24 pm
haha
I must say its been a hell of a long time since I have seen such a one sided article. I would like to state that ‘sevco’ is actually called The rangers football club. Also to the point why isit it seems to suit clubs to shoot us down and say we can not keep our history? But they expect us to honour the debts? It seems to me people ought to make up there mind If we are a new co (as every one seems to go on about) then that should be the end of the story.
October 10, 2012 at 8:47 am
Stu
I think you’ve misunderstood (deliberately or otherwise), it’s not ‘We want to strip you of the history, but we want you to pay the debts’ – it’s more ‘If you want to keep your history, then you must pay your debts.’
I can understand why you might think that though, given the way that the SFA/SPL muddied the waters with their previously unheard of ‘transfer of share’ mechanism, in an attempt to circumvent their own rules…
October 10, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Brian Corcoran
Hello Phil,
It is my belief that many many Scots of Irish descent are more than obliged to you. Then again many many decent people who wish for a reasoned and fair society are also beholden to you. The degree (perhaps a wee pun?) of concentrated collusion seen in the MSM in mainly the Central belt of Scotland and in associations beggars belief.
Without your good self this would not be exposed. Indeed the non-stop grunge spouted from ibrox(I cannot capitalise a wee football ground) with their honesty knowing no bounds and their decency with huge portions of dignity is a front used as a propaganda tool by said MSM.
Yet when they should do the decent thing such as Ogilvie it does not apply.
well done at the conference and your continued search for basic rights.
Thanks
October 10, 2012 at 7:52 am
Dal
No comment in the Scottish media about threats towards journalists from Fascist FC. The ‘succulent lamb’ fraternity won’t change the habits of a lifetime.
October 9, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Paddybhoy
Phil as ever thank you for bringing this up at your conference and telling them the truth.
Thank God for you and the other journalists and internet bampots’ who continue to tell the truth without fear or favour.
Keep up the great work.
‘Keep Digging Away’ mate!
Paddybhoy
October 9, 2012 at 9:20 pm
tallybhoy
The cowardice of the sevco klan has no equal. If they hear or read anything that criticises ‘them’, they become apopleptic and bombard ‘their’ blogs spewing their bile and hatred. This is quickly followed by threats of violence – or death.
The Scottish msm, however, continue to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to all this – it is left to people like yourself, Alex Thomson, RTC and others to set the record straight.
I often despair at what I hear coming from the hacks of the laptop loyal – but that is what we have come to expect of them. Cowards one and all. But their day will come – of that I am convinced!
HH!!
October 9, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Southside Tarrier
Sadly, I don’t think a motion passed at an NUJ conference will have any impression on the mindset of the sports jounalists ( I use the words with tongue in mouth )from Scotland.
How did the delegates from Scotland vote?
October 9, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
The chair said the motion was passed unanimously.
October 9, 2012 at 8:05 pm
tamtic
Keep at them Phil, you and the rest of the genuine journos must never still your voices in the face of intimidation and threats. The craven hacks cower in case circulation falls as the `peepul` marshall their forces to try and stop freedom of the press. The next thing is the burning of the books, God help us.
October 9, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Shiltrum
Tamtic
Or shredding of books
October 10, 2012 at 10:57 pm
Thomas
Phil thank you for raising Scotlands shame to this level, you and the much missed Paul McBride have done so much more than any Individual I can recall.
Scots MP’s now and past are in disgrace.
Thank You!
October 9, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Dhougal
BrillPhil QUALITY !!!! as usual . Listenin to SSB now . A caller just said several journos’ have been ”threatened” by ”THEM” , Daryl King said he’ll ”investigate this as he had heard something”? . Any chance you could do his job for him as usual ? , coz i’d like facts !
October 9, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Mark
Hi Phil,
Maybe a bit off topic but has a similar (under)tone to it. Do you have any information on the Scottish journalist who threatened Alex Thompson for asking tough questions about Rangers? I thought Thompson was going to make an official complaint to the Police and it was all going to come out in the wash.
What ever happened to all of this?
October 9, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Dougie
Excellent yet again Phil – but I despair at the lack of realism extended to us here in Scotland from the ‘local’ media.
They are truly an embarrassment to themselves but oblivious to this fact. In denial perhaps?
Better be careful though Phil – you slipped in that word again – incubator
I still fear the gossip of the SFA etc indicating they will fast-track Serco in to a higher league, so your regular common sense statements help keep me upbeat.
October 9, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Auldheid
Surely though Phil if they keep eating their own excrement they are bound to die?
I take your point but threats from toom tabards are by definition bound to be empty.
Feel the fear and do it anyway – as you have.
October 9, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Kenny McCaffrey
Excellent piece Phil. As a journalist and former editor (in the B2B sector), I am disgusted that what you discuss here is not the subject of editorial pieces in the mainstream media.
Would it be possible for the NUJ to publicise this abhorrent and cowardly treatment of bona fide journalists who are only doing us all a great favour by trying to tell the truth?
Keep up the good work Phil. You’re a credit to your profession.
October 9, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Edward McCandless
May be if the weak gutless cowardly creeps who
Call themselves journalists yes the ones who attended catholic schools had courage credibility
And balls to open their gagged mouths instead
Of earning a living on everything negative on Celtic
This bigoted hole would be a better place.
October 9, 2012 at 3:35 pm
k
Sorry Craig., me heads full of murrays, greens, whytes and blues.
October 9, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Indeed:0)
Good links.
Thanks
October 9, 2012 at 3:28 pm
k
Hi Phil. MSM=Ministry of information, Paul murray brave call.
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2011/11/the-hottest-potato/
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/11/14/matthew-gould-and-the-plot-to-attack-iran/
October 9, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Billy Crawford
Good stuff Phil. You tend to get reactionaries responding in this fashion as they are only oo aware of the dearth of their argument.
October 9, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Slugger O'Toole
Fascist Sevco bad , Democracy good .
October 9, 2012 at 2:47 pm
jimCB
Perfect Phil, You have to think that when the ‘peeple ‘ have conversations unheard by just them the content would be pretty extreme. We know this anyway. The fact is they have put in place a ‘masonic mafia’ call it what you will and the top guys spout out what the rank ( no pun intended ) and file want to hear and the foot soldiers get on the phone to make threats and post letter bombs. The best thing about all this is that the truth is at last coming out thanks to yourself and others and in this internet driven society theres nowhere to hide or cover up.The secret society social club is defunct. The main players are still there and haven’t changed their views but life will never be the same again will it?
On the football front I see Owen Coyle is available. Why doesnt Charlie get him in right away to stop the rot? Its all about football… isn’t it?
October 9, 2012 at 2:05 pm
jimthetim
Are we taking a sweep on when Coco and Crusty (MasonStalker and MoT) will be on here to tell you how inaccurate your piece is and that they are not aware of any Klan members who would behave in such a fashion?
Oh, and that its ‘just a small minority’.
October 9, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Tony
Phil,
Are the named and shamed of the Scottish media (Traynor et al) members of the NUJ? If so, do they condemn the actions of the Rangers fans? Would seem to be double standards if they did as they endeavour to play to these same masses with their misinformation and one eyed reporting.
October 9, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Stu
Phil,
The reason that Green’s pipe dream hasn’t made the papers is because it’s a bit like ‘Cruyff for Dumbarton’ – it’ll never happen. A small part of me likes to think that journalists have had their fingers burnt by those at Ibrox before and are reluctant to report such nonsense now, given the consequences for what’s left of their credibility, not to mention the need for someone to be blamed when things don’t turn out as expected, as you allude to yourself.
I know your angle is about the reaction to such a story had it been Celtic that were the main protagonists – and you’re quite right that it would have been snorted and hooted at – but the very fact that it’s not been reported AT ALL is probably indicative of where The Rangers are in the scheme of things. Once upon a time statements like that would have been plastered all over the back (and possibly front) pages, perfect fodder for the Good News Bears, but the days of Moonbeams and soothing Casino stories for the Ibrox masses have long since passed.
October 9, 2012 at 1:48 pm
tony montague
how can they be euro big guns when green states they will never play in the SPL again lol
October 9, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Sean South of the dead
Hi Phil. This story is not being told by MSM.
CG is either, simply dismissed by Jabba and Co. as a harmless old uncle misbehaving at a wedding, or praised for his business acumen in the way he keeps the zombies onside by feeding them morsels of misinformation.
October 9, 2012 at 1:22 pm
hang 'em high
Excellent piece brother Phil,very interesting and informative, the great american civil rights leader Martin Luther Kings words comes to mind, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,you must keep on exposing the corrupt media in scotland they deserve to lambasted for their silence on what is happening at ibrox and indeed along the corridors of hampden, surely the clubs will at some time soon have to get together to rid themselves of regan,doncaster,and OGILVY,NUFF SAID
October 9, 2012 at 1:21 pm
keighley bhoy
Quality Phil, maybe when the sevco zombies get fed up ov dominating Scottish and European football they could apply for the North Korean league, they would fit in just nicely there, quell freedom of speech if it doesn’t fit your agenda, state run msm, rule by aggression and death threats to all who dare question you, oppression of the minoritys, they pass the North Korean fit and proper test by miles, theres a place for them afterall. HAIL HAIL, GOD BLESS IE CELTIC+
October 9, 2012 at 1:09 pm
robertg
Maybe the Ramsden Cup is moving to a group format next year….
I have to praise your (on going) courage. I have an unusual enough surname not to wish to disclose it on forums such as these on the grounds that one never knows when one of these bams is going to do something daft.
Congratulations to you and your colleagues. Would the NUJ taking this to the police (as a body, rather than individual complainants) not elicit some action from them? Hopefully other than you getting lifted for breathing.
October 9, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Ah bless…
You are clinging to the “one side is as bad as the other” fiction.
Well it isn’t.
We are not discussing a Rorschachian symmetry.
The problem overwhelmingly reside in the blue half of the city and anyone working in Glasgow knows this to be true.
The Ibrox klan are a serious social problem facing modern Scotland.
It is time to call them out.
Now run along…
October 12, 2012 at 2:52 pm