2012 in review

We thought it would be good to show the audience we have had over the last few months, and to say thanks to all those who have helped to make this a thriving community in the short time we have been on the go.

A Happy New year to all from everyone at TSFM.

 

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

About 55,000 tourists visit Liechtenstein every year. This blog was viewed about 3,500,000 times in 2012. If it were Liechtenstein, it would take about 64 years for that many people to see it. Your blog had more visits than a small country in Europe!

Click here to see the complete report.

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Tom Byrne

About Trisidium

Trisidium is a Dunblane businessman with a keen interest in Scottish Football. He is a Celtic fan, although the demands of modern-day parenting have seen him less at games and more as a taxi service for his kids.

1,424 thoughts on “2012 in review


  1. theoldcourse says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:42

    Totally agree.

    Have said for long enough now that if the top clubs wanted a European Football League run on a similar basis to the NFL then it will happen.

    Like in the original Rollerball, the top level of the sport will then be truly run by the ‘corporations’ (or holding companies if you will πŸ™‚ ) and the World Cup and other tournaments will be a thing of the past or a second rate competition for footballers outwith the EFL.

    From that view point I have to agree with Mr Charles that this is something clubs with huge fan bases should be keeping an eye on, regardless of where they are playing now.

    Despite being in the EPL T’Rangers the potential to fill a 50k plus stadium every home game is always going to look more attractive.

    To be an EFL then you would want to spread the franchises around, so there is no reason why T’Rangers and Celtic wouldn’t be considered. It would really depend on what size of league the powers that be wanted.

    The main problem I see for for such a plan is how to structure some form of draft system to ensure the available talent gets spread around the league and how to ensure that a handful of teams do not domiate for long periods, otherwise it could get boring pretty quickly.


  2. Danish Pastry says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 06:34 This

    Dollox, they are planning financial redistribution anyway. That should mean a thinner spread. As someone pointed out in a previous post, they also have to factor in what clubs will lose by supporters walking away from the current league that is low on variety.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Call me Bogs. The point I was making is that a league of 18 increases the number of clubs by half again and spreading the TV money thinner I can’t see at least 9 of the current SPL staying full time if that happens.

    The financial redistribution you refer to is about removing the bias that has funded the Old Firm for the last 25 years. That would make a big difference in a 12 club SPL and could increase competitiveness if you ignore the fact that Celtic will continue to outstrip all others with their Euro and domestic success.


  3. Here is how Airdrie deal with it.

    http://airdriefc.com/history.html

    Maybe Longmuir should check out what his longer term members think about how best to deal with a club’s ‘continutity’
    —————————————————————————————————————————

    the past cannot be forgotten…

    We cannot forget the tremendous pride that a football club can give to a community – why should our 500 year old town lose the right to enjoy similar successes in future? Airdrieonians FC (1878 – 2002). Indeed, a club called “Airdrie” was playing around the time Queen’s Park pioneered the game in Scotland. From September 23, 1922, until December 5, 1925, Airdrieonians were undefeated on their own ground – a record to remember with pride.

    Airdrieonians FC played in four Scottish Cup Finals, winning the cup in 1924. In 1992/3 they played Sparta Prague in The European Cup Winners Cup – losing only 3-1 on aggregate.

    More recently, they won the Bells Challenge Cup in both 2000 and 2001 and again in 2008, a considerable feat for a club that, at that time, was making more news from off-the-park activities.

    The list of well-known ex- Airdrieonians FC players is so impressive that it would probably take our new Airdrie United FC another 100 years to emulate – Jock Ewart, Hughie Gallacher, Willie Russell, Bob McPhail, Jimmy Crapnell (9 caps – 1928-34), Bobby Flavell, Frank Brennan, Hughie Baird (53 goals in 1954/5), Ian Macmillan, Tommy Murray, Paul Jonquin (708 appearances 1962-79), Jim Black, Drew Jarvie, Derek Whiteford, Sandy Clark, John Martin (755 appearances 1980-99), Jimmy Sandison, David Fernandez, Owen Coyle and Sandy Stewart. The list can go on and on – let’s hope the tradition can also.
    —————————————————————————————————————————–

    The only mistake is the inference that Airdieonians FC won the Bells Challenge Cup in 2008, other than that this seems a wholly approproate way to deal with history and tradition while acknowledging that at some point in time Airdrieonians FC (134 years of history) ceased to exist. Of course there is not mention either that they are, corporately, really a continuation of Clydebank but what they have done is drawn a line in the sand at 2002.

    Maybe when Jim Traynor is revamping T’Rangers website he can look to his home town club for advice?


  4. angus1983 says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 10:06
    I know that, you know that – but if they were prepared to ignore that fanbase, then TRFC would currently be in the SPL.
    __________________________________________________________

    I think they were always prepared to ignore the fanbase but were caught on the hop by we, the fanbase, being more aware than they ever imagined. The clubs, too, were caught out by the reaction of their fans, and panicked. We played a blinder πŸ™‚ but they are prepared now, and you can bet that, somewhere within these restructuring plans, there are new rules/regulations to be put in place that will give the governors of the game greater power to do as they see fit, possibly created specifically with TRFC in mind. They haven’t learned a lot though, and still seem to think that all they need to do is get the MSM onside, which, as long as they’re nice to TRFC, they’ll manage without too much effort, to pull the wool over our eyes, as they did so often in the past, before the interenet bampots arrived.


  5. I think the powers that be are now sitting in the middle of a financial minefield ,to restructure our game ,surely they will have to request all member clubs to produce accounts and business plans before gaining membership to any new league structure ,sorry but Hearts for one will not make the cut and prob a few others ,again I imagine UEFA if also not FIFA will need involved in a membership being applied for as it will be basicly a new association will it not [SFLA]? for our clubs to gain entry to external competitions,anyone got any thoughts on this.


  6. theoldcourse says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:42
    ———————————————

    Some interesting points, but all this assumes that the English league would welcome TRFC with open arms. There is no evidence to suggest there is any great appetite in England for TRFC (or any other Scottish club) competing in their league, or that they care the slightest amount about this prospect. It’s just another facet of TRFC arrogance to talk in terms of, if it wasn’t for UEFA rules we’d just walk into the English league.


  7. Celtic Paranoia (@CelticParanoia) says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 13:27

    theoldcourse says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 11:42
    β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”β€”

    Some interesting points, but all this assumes that the English league would welcome TRFC with open arms. There is no evidence to suggest there is any great appetite in England for TRFC (or any other Scottish club) competing in their league, or that they care the slightest amount about this prospect. It’s just another facet of TRFC arrogance to talk in terms of, if it wasn’t for UEFA rules we’d just walk into the English league.
    __________________________________________

    I never ever believed there was any real chance of either Rangers or Celtic playing in the English League, but now there is absolutely no chance for Rangers (they don’t exist) or TRFC (whose future is uncertain and don’t comply with the financial criteria ie balance sheets plus past/lack of financial history. The FA actually have very stringent criteria for any club looking for entry with regard to financial management, and liquidation is a definite no no, even for an English club.). On the other hand, I have a sneaking suspicion that, in the event that Scottish football doesn’t get itself sorted out and so becomes less and less viable, then there just might be an opening for Celtic. But the Scottish League system would have to be more or less kaput for Celtic to be even considered. Then there are all the English clubs who might just see themselves ahead in the pecking order!


  8. ecobhoy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 13:21
    1 0 Rate This
    There is a very interesting article at the link below by former Rangers director & Blue Knight Paul Murray which gives a more balanced view than normal from the Blue Camp IMHO. Touches on a lot of interesting areas and questions for the future. Well worth a read.

    http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/202-paul-murray-the-rangers-standard-interview
    =============
    Thanks for the link, and as you say, a reasonably balanced view from the Rangers side. My opinion of Paul Murray has been revised upwards accordingly.


  9. Yourhaving@13.22: You’ve hit the nail on the head – whether it’s the doctrine of unintended consequences or the nalogy of the hornets’ nest, any league reconstruction will raise as many problems as it solves.

    Fundamentally, clubs need to demonstrate they are financially sound – do they have audited accounts? What is their turnover compared to their outgoings? Do they have creditworthiness?
    If they cannot answer these questions positively, then they cannot gain admission to any new league.
    Hearts would almost certainly be a casualty, but equally t’Rangers could not qualify (unless they cheated – surely not?). League reconstruction could see the loss of two of our most ‘loyal’ teams (nudge, nudge). Is that a price too high to pay? It may dawn on the authors of this ill-conceived scheme that it is. And it’s up to the fans to remind them of that.

    PS Longmuir is no part of the solution; he’s just another aspect of the old gang that run Scottish football.


  10. ecobhoy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 13:21

    There is a very interesting article at the link below …
    ——
    Apart, perhaps, from this bit:

    PM: “Jim Traynor, in my opinion, is, by a country mile, the best sports journalist in Scotland. He is a fantastic journalist …”


  11. ecobhoy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 13:21

    There is a very interesting article at the link below …
    ======================================================================

    I agree the PM ‘interview’ seems well balanced and presents him as someone who would probabaly be doing a good job if he had a position of power at Ibrox.

    In terms of his Traynor comments, well he couldn’t really say anything else in light of Traynor’s pro TRFC take over the past few years, also he probabaly gauged his interviewees correctly and told them what they wanted to hear !

    Be interesting to see if / when Graham and McKillop report back to Green on the interview if Green actually takes up Murrays suggestion of trying to build bridges etc.

    Time will tell but lets look out for the olive branches coming out in the DR (via Traynor) over the next few weeks and in the lead up to the DUTD game in Feb.


  12. angus1983 @ 13:55

    And that is where he loses all credibility


  13. ecobhoy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 13:21

    There is a very interesting article at the link below …
    β€”β€”
    Apart, perhaps, from this bit:

    PM: β€œJim Traynor, in my opinion, is, by a country mile, the best sports journalist in Scotland. He is a fantastic journalist …”
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Also I noted his idea of clearing out all the blazer wearing, brogue shuffling Rangers appeasing Alecadoos and replacing them with……………………………….You guessed it another ex-Rangers man. Shock horror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  14. campsiejoe says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 14:33

    angus1983 @ 13:55

    And that is where he loses all credibility
    ________
    Agree that it’s an amazingly ‘Rangers’ type of thing to say and therefor loses credibility. And while most of what he says is the most sensible thing I’ve read from anyone connected with Rangers for a very long time, and he appears to be the first to step outside and take a look inward, the following just shows how he still considers his club to be so much more important than everyone else (and not just to himself and other supporters):

    “He’ll have to take more of a rounded view, he can’t just go to the Record all the time and say β€˜right, that’s the main story’, he’ll have to bring in the other tabloids and indeed the other newspapers. It’s a big job, it’s a really big job and it’s critical to the club’s future success.”

    In other words, he’s going to have to make sure ALL the newspapers see Rangers as ‘the big story’.

    It also confirms what has been said by so many, particularly RTC, about exactly how the MSM works; Rangers first, then; Rangers first, now; what the hell? it’s Rangers and that’s all that matters! “Who gives a hoot about Celtic playing some johnny foreigner team in that Champions League thingy, anyway, when we’ve got Rangers playing in some teuchter town in the Highlands? Or is it in Ayrshire? Won’t matter, I’ll be on the team bus anyway.”


  15. Interesting right enough.

    1/ He doesn’t think Jim Traynor’s qualified for the job he’s been taken on for.

    2/ As ‘inside’ as he is he still believes Whytie’s involved in the background.

    3/ Again as an inside man at the end Dec he clearly didn’t know Malcom Murray was offski (has that been confirmed by the way)

    4/ The 5m abroad are auld mannies and their offspring are more into halo than hello*2

    5/ Their is a businessman’s brain in there somewhere. Green making money and institutional investors making money means less for the team, not more. His gut feeling is there for all to see.

    6/ Clearly questioning Greens conflictory nature and its effect long term. Good shout in my opinion.


  16. briggsbhoy says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 01:08

    Great post! I can almost hear Scunner Ogilvie reading it out on the BBC now………….errmmm, maybe not, but great summation of what should have been done/should be done.


  17. From The Rangers Standard interview with Paul Murray, I thought his comments regarding the state of Scottish football were spot on. What he should have noted was this 20 year decline corresponds with the period of time that Sir Minty was in charge of Rangers

    P. Murray: “I don’t know how old you guys are but I’ve been watching Scottish football since the 1970s and the decline in Scottish football in the last twenty years is staggering, absolutely staggering. It’s reflected in the national team, the fact that most of the teams in Europe get knocked out at the first round-it’s just an embarrassment isn’t it?””I don’t know how old you guys are but I’ve been watching Scottish football since the 1970s and the decline in Scottish football in the last twenty years is staggering, absolutely staggering. It’s reflected in the national team, the fact that most of the teams in Europe get knocked out at the first round-it’s just an embarrassment isn’t it?”


  18. A few minutes ago there was a discussion on radio 5 Live, with James Shaw doing a rundown of the proposed Scottish football leagues reconstruction. As it was being described, Peter Allen said things like ‘you’ve lost me now’ and ‘it’s bizarre, isn’t it?’, to which James Shaw replied that the reasoning was ‘perhaps to make it easier for clubs like Rangers to move through the divisions’.

    How many of these clubs ‘like Rangers’ are there, I wonder?

    And it looks like the footballing authorities are being pretty transparent, in one way at least.


  19. SPL and SFL to merge.
    I am of down to the cyber bookies for odds on this ……….

    LNS investigation delayed and delayed until the new body is formed.
    New body has no authority to continue/conclude the business of a then defunct company.


  20. SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said: “We have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland. I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football.”
    Regan added: “That will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.”
    _____

    Wonder if they`ll have a [very quick] vote for the single league body before LNS reconvenes on the 29th? All this rush – these sleakit critters have never moved so fast on anything before – smell a rat in this


  21. For T’Rangers share watchers.

    First big off load appears to have gone through this PM
    400,000 shares sold for Β£360k therefore Β£80k profit based on a 70p share.

    Nice work if you can get it.


  22. smugas says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 15:25

    3/ Again as an inside man at the end Dec he clearly didn’t know Malcom Murray was offski (has that been confirmed by the way)
    =====================================================================

    Malcolm Murray is no longer a director and therefore not chairman of TRFCL but he is a director and Non-exec chair of RIFC Plc.

    The only directors left at TRFCL are Green, Ahmad and Stockbridge who are all linked to Zeus Capital.


  23. Who will be the president of this new super governing body, the worlds greatest administrator Campbell Ogilvie?

    I think we need a repeat of the response from fans when we were being told The Rangers were to be granted entry to the SPL as a top club. I hope supporters have the appetite to bring about the changes the paying customers deserve. The governing bodies are banking on apathy setting and we just just accept the dross theyre planning on serving up.


  24. twopanda says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 16:46
    7 0 Rate This
    SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said: β€œWe have had a very productive meeting of the Scottish FA’s professional game board at which we had board representatives from around a third of the 42 senior clubs in Scotland. I’m delighted to say that we have agreed a set of principles to restructure Scottish football.”
    Regan added: β€œThat will include a single league body, subject to club consultation.”
    _____

    Wonder if they`ll have a [very quick] vote for the single league body before LNS reconvenes on the 29th? All this rush – these sleakit critters have never moved so fast on anything before – smell a rat in this

    ——————————————————————————————————————

    Carfins Finest tweeted the following.

    No SPL board = No LNS enquiry = Very happy Sevco very happy Charlie Green and an ecstatic SFA.

    ————————————————————————

    Smell a FEW rats.


  25. wottpi says: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 16:56

    Quantcast
    For T’Rangers share watchers.

    First big off load appears to have gone through this PM
    400,000 shares sold for Β£360k therefore Β£80k profit based on a 70p share.

    Nice work if you can get it.
    =====================================
    There was a second lot of 400,000 sold off 15 minutes later.

    http://www.iii.co.uk/investment/detail?code=cotn:RFC.L&display=trades&it=le


  26. Doesn’t matter guy on RM says that it is never going to happen.
    Knows a chairman, don’t cha’ know?

    Following the recent talks on restructuring of the league system and todays news that ‘an agreement in principle’ has been reached. I have been told that the consensus amongst second & third division clubs is to reject these proposals. This has came from the Chairman of one of the Clubs in these divisions.

    Back to the drawing board then? The revolution has been cancelled, a guy on RM said so!


  27. The SFA however will not undergo any change and that imo is where the trust issue lies.

    Until as such times as they take steps to restore supporters trust in them, reconstruction is not just rearranging the deck chairs, its failing to pump out the water pouring in.

    Regardless of where The Rangers end up initially unless steps are taken to reform the SFA root and branch as they allowed Rangers to go bust by not policing the licensing process properly then what is the point of the SFA? We absolutely MUST nail down their purpose.

    Reconstruction is a deflection.


  28. ohhappydayz says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 17:06

    The SPL aint going to disappear by end of Feb. LNS sits end of Jan I believe.If we are setting hares running lets give them a chance to beat the greyhound.


  29. I think a lot of the comments made about Traynor miss the point in that he has probably been the most powerful journo in Scotland in recent years. It doesn’t really matter whether you like him or not on a personal level or even whether he writes shampooe all of the time or just 99% of the time or even that IMHO he invariably has had it in for Celtic.

    Many journos over the years have jumped ship but not every poacher survives as a gamekeeper. Personally I will be very interested to watch and observe what internet and new media expertise that Traynor brings to Rangers. Sitting as King of the Castle at the Record is one thing but he’s in a very different ballgame now.

    As far as I can make out he won’t just be just distributing exclusives to his favourites but trying to build the offishal club website into the one-stop shop for all Rangers fans wanting news on the club.

    They’ll get the diet that Charlie decides to feed them and I’m sure that fan forums will be added and probably restricted to ST holders only allowed to post and non bluenoses only being allowed to view posts but they’ll help keep the advertising click-rate up. They’ll be all sorts of paid extra content.

    Not sure how existing fan forums will take to this but it’s all about money and control and the fans on the official site will be the ones polled on issues which will remove a lot of potential for one of the many disparate Rangers fan groups to actually cause hasle if things like the warchest doesn’t materialise.

    Building-up the internet/new media side of things also looks good to potential purchasers/investors – it doesn’t actually need to be making a profit as long as the numbers are signed-up.

    I think there will be a lot of changes coming along quite quickly at Ibrox and they’ll have to be in place before the institutional and major investors start punting shares in just over 5 months from now.

    The clock is ticking and there’s a helluva lot to be done and I really wonder if Traynor is actually up to the task πŸ™‚


  30. layman00 says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 17:02

    The one body is for the leagues not the SFA. This makes it even more imperative that the role of the SFA is set out in terms of upholding sporting integrity and how they intend to do that.

    Operation Trust is still operational.


  31. allyjambo says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 12:09
    10 0 Rate This

    DP,
    Sorry for the delay in replying.
    ———-

    Nae bother Ally, I don’t really expect replies as such, just the TDs πŸ™‚ I understand there are thorny issues, but I’d like to think progress is possible on several fronts.

    ————————————–

    Bogs,
    Bogs it is.
    ————————————–

    Briggs – truly great post.


  32. ecobhoy says:

    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 17:49

    Interesting.

    JT should find that easier to do with The Ranger’s support who want to be led than Celtic would with a support where we all want to be the leader.

    What you describe sounds very like an idea Celtic have looked at but has gone on a bit of a back burner although The Oveseas Season Book did come from the exercise.


  33. Any move that has the potential to negate the LNS enquiry must be resisted. Do the blazers honestly believe that sneaky actions that result in an unenforcable ruling regarding the removal of tainted honours from rangers ( after a fair hearing of evidence ) will just be accepted as a consequence of reconstruction. I am not looking for these honours to be re-allocated, i could never accept that Celtic are currently on 12 iar or whatever it would be, Celtic have earned the titles we currently have and those are the only ones i want, but if another club have honours that have not been earned fairly then those titles should be struck from the record. I appreciate other clubs may wish to include cups that they may have earned and that is fine by me and solely between those clubs, their fans and the governing bodies to sort out. The prize money issue is also irrelevant as the club has since been liquidated and any money due would only be added onto the final bottom line of unpaid creditors.

    Unless of course the new club is allowed to be seen as a continuation of the old club, then all bets would be off.


  34. Just listened to Longmuir and he referred to the pillars in strong foundations.
    It was a phrase that stuck out from his previous rhythm and vocabulary.
    It reminded me of Alistair Johnston.


  35. This article is from Mr Traynor.

    http://t.co/MjedqiuJ

    Sums him up, he is a dangerous individual with a licence to incite hatred, from a club with a conditional licence which includes fair play to all clubs.


  36. Don’t worry Rab, we still have Dundee United, Hibernian and Celtic to scupper any efforts to de-rail the LNS……maybe more? Remember there must be an 11-1 majority for anything to change, and then of course the 75% of SFL clubs to negotiate………..they held their nerve in the summer and will again.


  37. Remember Sporting Integrity?
    Written by James Traynor

    Remember Sporting Integrity?

    THE shape of things to come, three divisions of 12-12-18, has been agreed in principle.

    This abomination will now be pulled and stretched by selected members of the SPL and SFL in a desperate attempt to make it more presentable.

    Good luck with that.

    It would be easier trying to iron out the lines on the face of the old broad, Madge, in Benidorm.

    12-12-18. It’s ridiculous, especially when you remember the two 12s will fragment into three eights.

    Yet this time supporters will just have to buy into it. Whatever happened to that new and bold notion that fans were all important?

    It isn’t that long ago clubs, particularly those in the top flight, were solemnly insisting that ignoring the views of fans would be akin to financial suicide.

    Remember? It was when the game was wrestling with the problem of what to do with Rangers.

    All the clubs were squealing that the wishes of fans had to be granted. If you swallowed any of that bilge you probably also believed in sporting integrity.

    Of course it was all nonsense. Sporting Integrity was a cloak of convenience, albeit a rather thin, practically transparent one, behind which club leaders huddled together to come up with sanctions.

    Rangers had to be punished, they deserved to be punished but it seemed as if additional penalties were being randomly introduced depending on who was in which meeting.

    Many Rangers fans like to think the frenzy to cause the club as much additional pain as possible was driven by one club but that wasn’t strictly the case. Many fans of many clubs waded in but this is not to say Celtic fans or their club didn’t attempt to influence the outcome of debates on Rangers and possible sanctions.

    Of course they did. And they are still at it on social media sites and on blogs clattered out by individuals who are no better than semi-literate.

    The sheer hypocrisy of what is happening within Hampden’s corridors of power right now will be lost on them but let’s not pretend sporting integrity or the wishes of supporters really are important to all those clubs pushing for this change.

    If they were listening to fans they wouldn’t be sticking with a top division of 12 , and if there was any integrity there would be no rush to bring in changes for the start of next season.

    If, as seems likely, the structure is altered for 2013-14 supporters won’t get what they’ve already paid for, especially those following teams striving for promotion. Actually this entire season will be rendered meaningless.

    Sporting integrity won’t merely be compromised, it’ll be crushed but this is what happens when desperation slips in and throttles reason.

    This belief won’t sit well with the few who are more or less running the SPL and influencing thinking within that desperate organisation but they can’t complain. After all, they’ve dismissed Rangers’ views completely.

    This club, the biggest one in the country, were not invited to take part in talks which will shape the game’s future.

    We are then entitled to conclude that this club are not important, which is strange indeed when so many fans of other clubs continue to be obsessed by Rangers, who are simply getting on with their own affairs asking no favour from anyone.

    We do, however, expect commonsense to be applied, along with fair play.

    Look, Rangers will return to the top flight, which will of course have to be rebranded. Rangers will take a seat at the head of the table where, despite the latest insult of being shut out of reconstruction talks, we will act with the good of Scottish football in mind.

    We’ll work through the divisions and we will return stronger and better than ever before.

    This club accepted their sanctions and moved on but too many others have been unable to do the same. They continue their assaults and while the deranged, who are using social media sites as conduits for their twisted agendas, should be ignored there are more than a few in the mainstream still maligning the club at every opportunity.

    In a BBC radio debate last Saturday night one pundit, in a matter-of-fact manner, said Charles Green speaks with β€˜forked tongue.’ No attempt to explain or justify the statement, just as no explanation was offered when another radio voice claimed there was a dishonesty about Walter Smith when he went public with a late bid for the club.

    Word of advice gentlemen. From now on be very careful when talking or writing about this club.

    To paraphrase something said about another club, Rangers will not be treated less than others. And although there is no desire to pick fights, be assured that no one will attack Rangers with impunity.

    Better, however, to quote Bill Struth: β€˜Never fear, inevitably we shall have our years of failure and when they arrive, we must reveal tolerance and sanity. You do that, you will emerge stronger than before.’

    Tolerance and sanity. That’s what Rangers will demonstrate and maintain, especially when back at the summit.

    After all, someone has to. 12-12-18. Dear God.


  38. easyJambo says: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 17:20
    wottpi says: Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 16:56

    For T’Rangers share watchers.

    First big off load appears to have gone through this PM
    400,000 shares sold for Β£360k therefore Β£80k profit based on a 70p share.
    ====================================================================

    Or if they were penny shares the profit on 400,000 shares sold at 90.5p is Β£358,000.

    Look as though someone anticipated the league reconstruction and thought it might affect their shareholding adversely.


  39. To the poster who put up about Oldco, Newco, RFC(IA), RFC(IL), The Rangers Football Club, Rangers International Football Club, The Proxyrangers etc.. forming their own league…
    There are a few “hurdles” to overcome first.
    1) Which team is the REAL Rangers?
    2) What colours do other dopplegangers play in?
    3) Which team plays at Ibrox?
    3a) If all teams use Ibrox which team is home team?
    3b) What teams pay rent to the home team?
    4) What team/teams will the bears boycott?
    5) Which team is favoured with referees “honest mistakes” or do they each get a turn?

    Confused…. Copland Road


  40. only difference between traynor on ranges website and traynor in the record is the use of the word WE


  41. 3 leagues of 14 , with playoffs – 3 promotions/ relegations.

    with the sfa statement of fair play and respect for all. 3 years accounts to play in the top league.

    club encouraged boycotts will result in sanctions.


  42. In Traynors World sporting integrity doesn’t exist: “If you swallowed any of that bilge you probably also believed in sporting integrity”.

    Oh sorry, a few lines later it does: “Sporting integrity won’t merely be compromised, it’ll be crushed”.


  43. Is that piece by Traynor genuine .
    If so then god help us all ,this is beginning to look less like the rantings on of a profiteer and more like a club strategy and if you mix that with a volatile gullible fan base then the police better start a recruitment drive right now
    These complete idiots are turning on a tap of hatred they will never be able to turn off and will make Murrays pathetic orange strip stunt seem like a good weeze


  44. Have just re-read the Traynor piece a couple of times – I never ever thought he could write his way oot a wet paper bag and now I see just how badly he is missing the Daily Record sports subs. He comes across as a complete fud.

    Always a problem with a major ego – you really do need someone objective to sit-back and sub your copy.

    Looks as though there’s going to be quite a battle at Ibrox to decide whether it’s him or Charlie that fills the Gawd Slot πŸ™‚

    Ah love his comment: ‘And they are still at it on social media sites and on blogs clattered out by individuals who are no better than semi-literate’. Perhaps someone should whisper in Traynor’s ear that being semi-literate doesn’t prevent you having sporting integrity in bucket-loads.

    And to be fair I would say that the offerings of the vast majority of keyboard clatterers far surpasses the output of most so-called quality paper journos let-alone a tired old hack who jumped or was pushed from a downmarket failing redtop rag that used to be the Voice of Scotland before it became The Rangers Bugle.


  45. To the poster who put up about Oldco, Newco, RFC(IA), RFC(IL), The Rangers Football Club, Rangers International Football Club, The Proxyrangers etc.. forming their own league…
    There are a few β€œhurdles” to overcome first.
    1) Which team is the REAL Rangers?
    2) What colours do other dopplegangers play in?
    3) Which team plays at Ibrox?
    3a) If all teams use Ibrox which team is home team?
    3b) What teams pay rent to the home team?
    4) What team/teams will the bears boycott?
    5) Which team is favoured with referees β€œhonest mistakes” or do they each get a turn?

    Confused…. Copland Road

    ————————————————————————————————————

    Are they all not rangers really.
    Paying rent?? is that like paying taxes.
    Bring back the orange strips (Charlie mentioned in NI)
    The ref gives both teams 2 penalties (integrity and fair play)
    The bears boycott the team whose fans do not sing the BB

    It would resolve the issue of the players who TUPED.

    Admission free so nobody is DUPED


  46. andy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 18:36

    6

    0

    Rate This

    only difference between traynor on ranges website and traynor in the record is the use of the word WE
    ———————————————————————————————

    Just beat me to it Andy. Notice he also launches his defence of The Rangers and Charles Green with threats of litigation to anyone who dares question the mighty bears! They just can’t help themselves, snarling, bitter, and vengeful then, now and forever!


  47. this will probably be a regular game from now on.

    guess what jim means

    A. Rangers will not be treated AS less than others ?
    B. Rangers will not be treated less SOMETHING than others ?
    C. just as it says – “Rangers will not be treated less than others” ?
    D. Ach, you ******* know what I meant!!!!

    still got it jim, still got it.


  48. More threats from Rangers, they are now trying to bully the media who dare to question them. I see this as a positive development as now they cannot lay all the blame at the doorstep of the internet bambots, unfortunately I also see it as a very negative development with the language and sinister tones used.

    More concerning over the last few days is how they seem now to be happy to mention Celtic FC and their fans as instigators, add that to the shocking targeting of Dundee United, I cannot see how this can possibly end well for Scottish football.


  49. justshatered says:
    Monday, January 7, 2013 at 23:08
    115 4 Rate This
    I’m surprised, when everyone has been looking for a message to send to the governing bodies, that all fans of the four clubs in the league cup semi-finals should have refused to buy tickets and left the national stadium empty on both days.

    As a St.Mirren fan, I personally don’t agree with this. A lack of St.Mirren fans at a game is not a boycott, it’s just a fact of life.

    St.Mirren don’t get to many semis, so I’ve got my ticket. We can voice our opposition at the game

    If Celtic fans want to boycott…fine ( you will have your day out in the final, no doubt )

    Thumbs down all you want…I’m going to Hampden πŸ˜‰

    Boycotts is what ‘they’ do….don’t stoop to ‘their’ level


  50. I do not think you should boycott your semi final. Banners or a chant by both sets of fans would be better.


  51. Restructure the governing body’s first then talk about restructuring the leagues.

    Without this just end up with double the amount of useless, conflicted bureaucrats sucking life out of the game.

    When are these guys going to get it into their heads that they are the problem?

    The way they have dealt with the problems that have confronted Scottish football over the last year is testament to the fact that they are only interested in promoting one club.

    If you don’t believe that then just cast your mind back and think how many times you heard the words ‘league re-construction’ prior to February 14th when Rangers went into administration despite the fact that the McLeish report had been lying on everyone’s table for more than a year. Now count how many times you have heard that ‘league re-construction’ is imperative for the survival of the Scottish game since May. Why was it so urgent since February when no one gave a hoot about it up to then?

    Make no mistake about it this is the ‘Armageddon’ argument by stealth.
    The school of vested interest is alive and kicking within the Hampden bunker.

    It is time for another fans campaign I think and I’m in the process of drafting the email to my club complaining about this proposed setup.

    This has long since been about sport but has become an attitudes and social issue. It is the attitude that a small group of people, who probably last paid for entry to a football match pre decimalisation, have the audacity to dictate to the people that pay their wages the format of the sport without even asking the fans. It is a social issue in that any sense of justice or fair play have been shamelessly abandoned by a cabal of hopelessly conflicted individuals.

    The only line missing from the meeting today was β€˜we are all in it together’. It is quite clear who they are all in it together for!


  52. Guys,

    Is the reason that they have not been asked for their views on reconstruction or as Traynor described it snubbed / ignored / insulted (can’t be bothered re-reading his drivel) is that they are Associate Members of the SFA and as such are not entitled to vote on any matters such as reconstructions.


  53. andy says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 18:36

    The only difference between traynor on ranges website and traynor in the record is the use of the word WE

    ___________________________________________________________________________

    Spot on Andy, that article really took the breath away. He really is an absolute disgrace of a journalist who is clearly devoid of any professional pride. On the plus side I guess less people will read his nonsense as it’s no longer in a national newspaper.


  54. Awesome rant from Traynor which would seem to confirm Paul Murray’s carefully coded but pointed remarks that he might be a terrible mistake by Green.

    Why is he so angry about reconstruction? Surely the proposals get them to the top tier one year faster? How are they being “shut out”? Surely poodle Longmuir is in there batting for them?

    Celtic seem to be absolved of the biggest sins, major bust-up elsewhere?


  55. Just thought I would check what the Rangers AIM Prospectus aid about League reconstruction and which no doubt helped institutional investors make informed investment decisions.

    ======================================================================

    ‘Under the current league structure, 2015/16 would be the earliest that the Club could return to the Scottish Premier League, although these timescales could be accelerated should there be a restructuring of the Scottish Football League.

    ‘SPL are reviewing whether the SPL should be split into two divisions and the SFL are considering a proposal for one league body and three leagues of 16, 10 and 16 teams respectively, which would result in the end of the SPL and the opportunity for colt teams to participate in the league.

    ‘This structure could lead to an increase in teams in the SPL and in addition a realignment of teams and the division in which they play which could facilitate a faster return for the Club to the SPL than under the current structure’.

    ========================================================================

    Would appear that the best-laid plans of mice, men and investors can gang aft agley – I don’t have my Olde French Dictionary to hand to get a Yorkshire translation but I’m sure that Heid Puddin’ Traynor can do a translation on the hoof for his Maister.

    His Maister’s Voice really is a lovely description of Nipper and his faithful servitude to the Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin Race which is rewarded with an occasional side dish of succulent lamb.

    Interestingly, Nipper of HMV fame listened to wax recordings of his dead master’s voice played on a phonograph – strange all these connections to deid people and organisations although to be fair Nipper Traynor is on Ibrox tannoy watch listening for strains of Zadoc the Priest and if the wind’s in the right direction next month he might just be able to hear it coming from the East πŸ™‚


  56. incredibleadamspark
    Do not be too quick to think that traynors dog whistling ranting will not be in a national newspaper
    watch what happens tomorrow .


  57. iki says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 18:23

    Just listened to Longmuir and he referred to the pillars in strong foundations.
    It was a phrase that stuck out from his previous rhythm and vocabulary.
    ——

    Boaz and Jachin, was it?

    Do these people really think that these references are actually “secret” in this day and age?

    I despair.


  58. mirrenman says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 19:18

    I was just thinking out loud as I’m almost at the end of my tether regarding this.
    I, probably like most people on this site, have been pumping money into Scottish football for decades and, while we complain that the clubs don’t listen to us, the people governing our sport treat us with utter contempt.
    While sites like this allow us all the opportunity to articulate our feelings we seem to be incapable of a coherent response to the continued attacks on the integrity of our sport by people who you would not trust to find their backside with both hands…………………… and a map.

    Anyway mirrenman I hope you enjoy your day out.

    I personally think Hampden, since its redevelopment, is one of the most soulless stadiums I’ve ever been in.
    This is also one of my gripes about the SFA; how can you take a stadium like Hampden, that had a maximum attendance of over one hundred and forty thousand, spend that obscene amout of money and leave you with a fifty thousand capacity stadium on exactly the same foot print.
    Anyone who knows Hmpden knows where the money was spent during the re-development. It was spent on the main stand where the administrators quaff drink at our expense and plush offices were created for the very people who are ruining our sport.


  59. Traynors phrase 2 huddled together is an infants attempt at planting the seed of hatred towards Celtic pure and (he is) simple


  60. If Traynor and The Rangers Tribute Act is so against the proposed league reconstruction then I think we should all stand back and have a wee rethink. It might be a good idea after all, if only to get right up his and their noses.


  61. wjohnston1
    I would caution against any so called anger at the plans coming out of Ibrokes ,they will be telling us they are against being fast tracked next oh wait


  62. Excuse this old confused brain, but wasn’t there something in at least one of the SFA/SPL rules that there would need to be one year’s notice for any structural change to the league set up?


  63. justshatered says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 19:43

    This is also one of my gripes about the SFA; how can you take a stadium like Hampden, that had a maximum attendance of over one hundred and forty thousand, spend that obscene amout of money and leave you with a fifty thousand capacity stadium on exactly the same foot print.
    =========
    Given the way these clowns have driven Scottish football into the dirt, 50,000 will be more than enough for the foreseeable future. Maybe that was part of their planning.


  64. A Football fan enters the SFA

    Football fan: ‘Ello, I wish to register a complaint.

    (The owner does not respond.)

    C: ‘Ello, administrator?

    Owner: What do you mean “administrator”?

    C: I’m sorry, I have a cold. I wish to make a complaint!

    O: We’re closin’ for winter.

    C: Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this league reconstruction what I was told about not half an hour ago from this very office.

    O: Oh yes, the, uh, the 12 12 18…What’s,uh…What’s wrong with it?

    C: I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it, my lad. we already have 12, that’s what’s wrong with it!

    O: No, no, ‘e’s uh,…its a new 12.

    C: Look, matey, I know a dead league reconstruction when I see one, and I’m looking at one right now.

    O: No no it’s not dead, it’s, it’s restructuring’! Remarkable proposal, the SFLs, idn’it, ay? Beautiful proposal!

    C: The proposal don’t enter into it. It’s stone dead.

    O: Nononono, no, no! ‘E’s restructurin!

    C: All right then, if he’s restructuring’, explain it!


  65. Can anyone tell me where I can listen to traynor’s tantrum πŸ™‚


  66. Justshattered. Re your comments regarding the botched redevelopment of Hampden. At the Scotland v Italy game in Nov 2008 (i think) my mates and I were lucky to get tickets in what is the Debenture area where you can buy food and alcohol. At the end of the game I was approached by a Steward who threatened to throw me out for daring to wear a Tartan scarf. He told me no colours were allowed. I wrote a strongly worded letter to the SFA and surprise surprise am still waiting on a reply. How not to encourage fans to attend games. I should add that we were all either in or approaching our sixties and are not stupid wee boys..
    Sorry if slightly off topic.


  67. `Word of advice gentlemen. From now on be very careful when talking or writing about this club.`
    sic; `Keep of the grass` [WE`ll do our own media from now on]
    MSM Faustian Pact just ended methinks – Laughable really – and after all they`ve done for them too πŸ˜‰


  68. wjohnston1 says:
    Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 19:57

    It is almost like ‘let them eat cake’ as long as it is cake they have bought from us, at an exorbatant price, that is made of saw dust.

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