A Guest blog by redlichtie for TSFM
From what I can see Mike Ashley is likely to be the only game in town for RIFC/TRFC fans unless they want to see another of their clubs go through administration/liquidation.
That particular scenario potentially allows for a phoenix to arise from the ashes but on past evidence it is probably going to be an underfunded operation with overly grandiose pretensions taking them right back into the vicious circle they seem condemned to repeat ad nauseam.
Ashley has the muscle to strongarm the various spivs to give up or greatly dilute their onerous contracts and I suspect that is what has been happening behind the scenes.
From Ashley’s point of view I believe that what is being sought is a stable, self-financing operation that he can then sell on whilst retaining income streams of importance to SD.
I also suspect that he will come to some arrangement with the SFA to dispose of his interest once he has stabilised the club.
The problem for RIFC/TRFC fans is that Ashley is not going to fund some mythical “return to where they belong”, though that is beginning to appear to be the second division of the SPFL where they are heading to have a regular gig.
Like at Newcastle, Ashley will cut their coat according to their cloth. This will mean, again like at Newcastle, a mid-table team with good runs every so often. If the finances can be fixed then they will have an advantage over most other Scottish clubs but in the main we will be back to actual footballing skills and good management being what is important (pace “honest mistakes”).
With recent results and footballing style clearly those are issues that will require attention and McCoist seems likely to present RIFC/TRFC with an early opportunity to address at least one aspect of that if he continues with his current “I’m a good guy” press campaign. It may take just one unguarded comment or action and he will be out.
But will the Bears go for Ashley’s plan? So far they seem antagonistic and still cling to their belief that the world owes them a top football club regardless of cost.
If the fans don’t get behind the current entity I can see Ashley deciding the game’s not worth it and cashing in his chips. Some ‘Rangers Men’ will probably turn up and create a new entity for The People to believe in and Ashley will continue to draw in income from shirt sales and, most likely, charging fans at the world famous Albion car park which he will then own.
The upcoming AGM is crucial and from what we have seen of Ashley so far he gets what he wants.
The crushing reality about to descend on The People is that there really is no Santa Claus. A Sanity Clause, perhaps but no Santa Claus.
From the AGM statement
In the early days, while developing our list of legacy issues to be addressed, Graham Wallace wrote a review, which became known as the 120 day review. In this he indicated a desire to spend £20-30 millions in reaching the top levels of Scottish and European football.
————————————————————————————–
Even under Graham Wallace the business model for RIFC was based on financial doping. It is instructive that the only owners of the club/company that the fans seem to reject are the ones that want them to live within their means.
Scottish football needs strong guest contributors on TSFM who support Arbroath!
The above blog was written before AM went off to tend his garden but that action and the internal appointment of RM further evidences my point about Ashley’s limited ambitions for the club.
Somers statement preaches to the delusional and for his own sake I hope he has not succumbed to that view too.
Good Morning
Good post. I agree that the only way is Ashley’s way and he will steer the good ship TRFC to calm waters then divest himself of the club to “Real ” Rangers men.Anything else just does not add up.
Whether the insane bears with their sense of entitlement will see sense is a long way from certain.
Radio Scotland phone-in this morning (Morning Call) is about a new club with a legendary manager who’s just been told he’s NRB.
Here’s your link if you want to listen live from 08:50.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/on-air
Hoopy 7 says:
December 22, 2014 at 8:41 am
===============================
It’s hard to imagine any other group of fans with the expectation some organisation or individual should throw tens of millions of pounds into a black hole just because in their mind their club were born to be top of the pile.
Can’t believe we haven’t had the gardening puns yet.
Kenny McTrowel anyone?
Thanks Redlichtie. Well done on a great guest post – I managed to follow it from start to finish without getting confused or my mind going off on a tangient. That’s a first!
Do you think Ashley and co will curb the luxury lifestyle of Sevconia
when travelling to away matches now?
He could always design a new, multi-functional bus by cutting the top off so they could celebrate reaching any semi-finals in style, whilst keeping the lower deck functional for travel to the more exotic destinations of “The journey.”
Sorry, I’m in silly holiday mode, just cannae think straight with all they presents lying around tempting me.
I expect that those Ranger’s fans who are expecting answers on running of their club and its future will be sorely disappointed by today’s AGM. Likewise, those in the SMSM that are expecting “fireworks”.
My expecation is that Mr Somers and Mr Llambias will stick to their knitting regarding the resolutions up for voting at today’s meeting.
There is nothing to be gained by the Board or Mr Ashley in laying out future plans for the financing or running of the club.
Their priority will be implementing further austerity measures to try and establish a cost base that would be sustainable in the SPFL Premiership. This isn’t something that the fans or SMSM want to hear.
Alan Shearer is hurting after Sunderland grabbed a late winner in the Tyne/Wear derby yesterday. He writes a Monday column for the Enlglandshire Sun. The Headline is
If that isn’t enough to convince Bears he is no sugar daddy then all look at the McCoist situation. TRFC can not afford to both pay up his contract and pay for a confidentiality agreement. While he is still contracted to TRFC they don’t need a confidentiality agreement because it comes part and parcel of the contract and any breach would be gross misconduct. McDowell in means no change in the costs, unless he has been offered a slight uplift and potentially a better product on the pitch. It is though only a potential improvement and if they need to raise £2m from player sales next month then McDowell could find himself being a youth team coach again albeit the first team squad.
Interesting times ahead indeed,do the fans vote with walking away making any new share issue worthless in a matter of months start up their new club and live happily ever after ,or go with the Ashley Adventure,the next share issue won’t be the last unless upwards of 40k fans buying season tickets for whatever division they end up in next season,now the question,who is next up to deliver the big sell as all the real Rangers men have now exited stage left.
redlichtie says:
December 22, 2014 at 8:40 am.
If written before the statements then you have called it right.
Somers talks about the possibility of legacy issues still coming to light, however he refers to Ashley and the SD agreement as a ‘long term’ partner.
More importantly as you say with regard to Newcastle being a mid-table team the Somers statement appears (only a quick read thru) to make no reference to any aims or objectives for the club on the park.
A wee admission that Zadok the Priest CD may be in the drawer for a good time yet
OK I will be the first to bite, there is no such thing as a “sanity clause” ………
Will be interesting to see if TRFC will now allow themselves to talk to the BBC again.
To me it’s one of life’s great mysteries…,you ban discussion with an organisation – the national broadcaster at that – who seem desperate to give you their (our) cash and are allowed to get away with it. Indeed, you prosper through the fawning claptrap of Yound, MacIntyre, Wilson, et all.
Ironically in their very fawning I believe they have done the organisation greater harm by cheerleading than they could have with objective and balanced coverage.
Great work Redlichtie. We await today’s developments with interest. My guess is that Ashley won’t turn up, and most relevant questions will go unanswered. Time everyone faced up to him!
Re the record questions. Good to see number 9 appearing but no mention of player sales. Anywhere. Just like Mariah Carey at Christmas, it just wouldn’t be a rangers AGM without number 9.
I think we’re being a little hard on MacDowell (sp). Untried certainly but level of wages aside I’m fairly sure a lot of other clubs would take him as a trial manager and that playing squad pretty quickly tbh.
The issue for me for the AGM is the quantum (there has to be a quantum) of a ‘stick’ play for Ashley. (I’m taking the wild guess here that despite the rhetoric that ‘twist’ isn’t an option). He’ll be £3m down and another £8m by August. There’s no guarantee of promotion (I hope Mr Ogilvie) but even if he does he’s £11m in to a company currently annually losing £8m so he’s hoping the knights in whatever form are going to ride over the hill, which seems to be a very long, high and winding hill I have to say) with a circa £20m budget.
Firstly history is not in his favour in this regard. Secondly, if I was a knight I would simply try to starve him out, particularly if promotion is missed. Yes he’s got ample reserves but again, throwing good money after bad just doesn’t seem to be his style.
jimmci says:
December 22, 2014 at 9:27 am
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Will be interesting to see if TRFC will now allow themselves to talk to the BBC again.
To me it’s one of life’s great mysteries…,you ban discussion with an organisation – the national broadcaster at that – who seem desperate to give you their (our) cash and are allowed to get away with it. Indeed, you prosper through the fawning claptrap of Yound, MacIntyre, Wilson, et all.
Ironically in their very fawning I believe they have done the organisation greater harm by cheerleading than they could have with objective and balanced coverage.
……………………
Strangely, Chic Young was on BBC Radio Shortbread this very morning, telling the listener
…Ally has refused to do interviews with the BBC
…”but, Ally speaks to me – regularly” !!!!
Maybe Chico is as much a friend and apologist for Ally, as he (Chico) was for Walter.
(remember the debate with Gym Trainer, live on BBC radio about which one was the biggest apologist for Walter)
Somers has set the scene for the AGM
Not our fault . It was the last lot and the lot before etc.
The only headlines I suspect to come out of this will be if a shareholder fails to control their emotions.
Prepare to be underwhelmed
Nice piece @Red. Concise and to the point.
Spot on with that I believe. If that doesn’t work you’d think he’ll keep ‘the business’ at arm’s length as he does with NU and rule unemotionally.
Listening to Call Kaye (unappealng radio voice, imo). Some interesting callers. Graham Spiers has got to be the most confusing pundit of all. On the one hand defending oldco, newco and Ally, while on the other attempting a form of criticism. Stick tae the gawf Graham.
DP,
Yes, but again I repeat my point. Similar to the traveller receiving directions, if I was trying to get to there (the sale of a sustainable club) I wouldn’t be starting from here (already £3m in and about to punt in another £8m) as I would feel somewhat exposed. Is the car park under security really worth that much to the whole operation, that a sizeable blue knight bid would be guaranteed to be forthcoming, particularly if promotion was missed?
This is the most intriguing game of Christmas pass the parcel ever!
Two Things about today’s announcement by Somers
Somers, who also admits falling crowd numbers and season ticket sales have hit the Ibrox club hard, insists that there is an “anti-Rangers feeling” in Scotland.
His statement reads: “In these past 12 months, I have been surprised at a number of things. Firstly, the highly negative aspect of most of the media reporting regarding Rangers.
“Secondly, because it is clear to me that a stronger Rangers is good for Scottish football, I have been very disappointed to realise that outside of Ibrox, there sadly still exists a great deal of anti-Rangers feeling, perhaps (although I hope not) even in the football establishment.”
One – why would any institution – “invest” in RIFC after the RFC PLC went bust and RIFCPLC have blown so much money already an are locked into “onerous contracts”
Two – why would the institutions “invest” in RIFC PLC, if the police are investigating various dealings and the potential ownership of the assets has still be be “clarified” ??
Have just seen a picture of Ghent gazebo at Ibrox to hold the key players and only just realised the AGM is being held OUTDOORS.
Dear God, it’s 22 December in Scotland and the AGM is not in one if the many function suites within the stadium???
They’re taking the Mickey, yet again.
Unbelievable contempt from the Board to their investors and they’ll have the nerve to ask shareholders to dig in again.
Astonishing!
As plc AGM statements go, this one is remarkably candid, though what it doesn’t cover speaks volumes. There is no end in sight to Ranger’s difficulties, was the message from the Ghost of Ranger’s Future.
Speaking of ghosts, I’ve just read McMurdo minor’s latest effort, I can only conclude that Phil is ghosting this blog
“Here we are the night before the AGM – arguably the most important in Rangers’ long history – and we are in a place I never wanted to be.
By that, I mean having to trust in one man’s good intentions toward Rangers.
The Murray years were the same – and many put their faith in the steel tycoon. Saner voices were swept aside as Rangers crushed all domestic opposition and rivalled English clubs for prestige, power and financial clout. Even during the glory years I predicted that David Murray would be the ruin of Rangers and his tenner for every fiver philosophy proved to be based on arrogance, vanity and friendly bankers to fund his moonbeam ideas.
Eventually Murray ran out of mugs who would gladly hand over investment money for a piece of the dream. Sadly, Rangers proved to be the house of cards that shrewd analysts could identify it as being. The dazzle of silverware from on-field success couldn’t hide forever the shaky foundations financially on which the glory was obtained.”
Quintessentially Mad Phil blogging! (Or maybe just a not so tacit admission that Phil et all were right all along)
On a more serious note, it looks to me like Ashley is reprising his Newcastle experience. By all accounts the original intention was to flip Newcastle as soon as possible, when that failed Ashley became determined to recoup his investment, and is still there.
I think he is heading into a similar quagmire at Ibrox.
It will doubtless be a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for many on here, those sentiments will not be shared at Hampden or Edmiston Drive, hell mend them.
AGM Statement
“I was always taught to be cautious”
Oh my word take heed Mr Oglivie,we are onside I think is the message.
Excellent blog, Redlichtie.
TSFM needs a strong redlichtie 🙂
This stood out for me in Somers’s AGM statement:
“I know that most fans will not really be interested in such efforts, because it is not about football, but these legacy issues and contracts have had to be dealt with so that we can begin to move forward. I was always taught to be cautious, so I hesitate to say that we have dealt with all of these legacy issues, as whenever I think that, another legacy issue quietly appears, but we do seem to have addressed many or most of them.”
Does this refer to the onerous contracts? If so, I’d be interested to know how they’ve been dealt with. The statement also suggests to me that, even now, the current board are not 100% certain that all legacy issues have even been identified.
Overall I find Somers’s statement quite amateurish. It’s a hasty mix of the avuncular and the accusatory. Is the bit about anti-Rangers feeling an attempt to re-unify the support by engendering a siege mentality?
Does Mr.Somers really believe this or is it one final, desperate attempt to get punters back through the door at Ibrox?
The Titanic needs a strong Feng Shui.
Taken from Rangers AIM Prospectus wrt McCoist’s employment contract and its termination
I would assume that confidentiality issues will be dealt with in a gagging clause contained in his actual contract of employment which will apply until his contract finally terminates at the end of his 12 months ‘gardening leave’ or earlier if Ashley decides to pay him off.
It’s also clear that the agreement automatically requires McCoist to be paid his basic salary during the notice period which means his voluntary agreement to take a wage cut is basically null and void.
It removes many of the ‘greedy’ allegations made against McCoist and, indeed, it’s quite possible the ‘basic salary’ clause was effective from 8 January 2007.
I have always said that McCoist is very careful about money matters and that certainly isn’t a crime. He has stuck to his long-existing contract and is entitled to benefit from it as mutually agreed with his employer.
Off to a good start
Andy Newport @AndyNewportPA 3m3 minutes ago Glasgow, Scotland
Board arrive to a huge chorus of boos and heckles
Grant Russell @STVGrant 2m2 minutes ago
Exceptionally loud and united cries of “Out, out, out” as the top table arrives for the Rangers AGM. Plenty booing also. #rangersagm
Grant Russell @STVGrant 2m2 minutes ago
Chairman David Somers attempting to start his address but being drowned out and interrupted by booing and shouts. #rangersagm
Grant Russell @STVGrant 2m2 minutes ago
“Shall we start again?” asks Somers sarcastically. Met with even louder booing.
Matthew LindsayVerifiedTwitter_Icon.png@MattLindsayET
David Somers appeals for calm. “Come on guys, we have to do this,” he says. Somebody shouts: “Thieving b******s!”
Morning all.
Thanks to Redlichtie.An excellent post that even an eejit like me could understand.
My own theory is that the SFA will allow Ashley to increase his shareholding,citing DD at Celtic as an example,whilst ignoring the fact that DD has no conflict of interest wrt ownership of another club.
As to the DR questions,especially No7,
Why not ask the board why they refuse to prove,once and for all,that TRFC own the properties,thus removing the Contingent Liability.
I wonder with all the abuse being directed at the far away stage if Ashley is now wondering if its all worth it.
“far away stage” – or is it just small?
ecobhoy says:
December 22, 2014 at 10:39 am
I am sure Ashley or whoever else has weighed up the options and in addition to being able to pay Ally off in easy monthly installments it gives them 12 months to try and get their stories straight and sort out the mess before Ally goes to the press.
As you say Mr McCoist is careful about money matters and I am sure he too has weighed up the options on whether there is anything to be gained financially by staying put or calling it quits blabbing to the press or releasing a ‘warts and all’ book.
Neither way will turn out good for him in term of his legend status as they both involve him taking a pop at the club one way or another.
Welcome to the AGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfSoIGbU4lk&feature=youtu.be
I note from Grant Russell’s twitter feed that the top table has been placed in what appears to be the edge of the coin / egg tossing range!!
EDIT
Sorry missed Easy’s post
You have no money. In fact, you’re already 3m down to the only realistic hope you’ve got. You need another £8m from the same source just to get to August.
Thieving B*****d is not the phrase that instantly springs to mind I have to say!
David Somers asked about funding. He tries to take another question without answering first. Shareholders furious.
Shareholders imploring next person to ask question not to ask his question until previous is answered.
(STVGrant)
can the next guy not just ask the same question then?
easyJambo says:
December 22, 2014 at 11:02 am
EJ all thats missing is the Star Wars Imperial March tune as the board troop down the steps, bow down before your imperial masters Rangers fans, priceless
“Grant Russell @STVGrant 35 secs36 seconds ago
Llambias: Ally came in yesterday afternoon to prepare for AGM. We felt it was better we took opportunity to put him on gardening leave.”
Indeed…
Re – RIFC Plc AGM
Does there not have to be anyone there from the Company’s auditors?
If not, why not
(as certain things may need to be explained to shareholders)
Just who was the guy on the YouTube video calling a sc#mb@g it sounded very singular to me,we should be told.
Sommers tells the crowd that they (the board) will be meeting the SFA tomorrow – interesting.
Some good twitter comments: one wag, on seeing the top table tent in the middle of the pitch, remarks:”Is that a new marquee signing?”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30573031
Cut to the last paragraph …..
“Secondly, because it is clear to me that a stronger Rangers is good for Scottish football, I have been very disappointed to realise that outside of Ibrox, there sadly still exists a great deal of anti-Rangers feeling, perhaps (although I hope not) even in the football establishment.”
Please tell me that’s a wind-up!
Let’s catalogue how the “establishment” have wilfully gone against them:
1. Allowing entry to UEFA competition in 2011 while technically insolvent.
2. Allowing Duff & Phelps to process the Administration.
3. The 5-Way Agreement.
4. The First Tier Tribunal farce.
5. The LNS tribunal farce.
lagerbeer says:
December 22, 2014 at 11:54 am
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30573031
Cut to the last paragraph …..
“Secondly, because it is clear to me that a stronger Rangers is good for Scottish football, I have been very disappointed to realise that outside of Ibrox, there sadly still exists a great deal of anti-Rangers feeling, perhaps (although I hope not) even in the football establishment.”
Please tell me that’s a wind-up!
==================================================================
I read it differently. To me he’s stating quite clearly that the vast majority of the SMSM are ‘in the Ibrox Camp’ and only a few – no doubt deluded in his opinion – journos are outside denying that Scottish Football will crumble without Rangers returning to its Rightful Place at the top of the top flight.
Somers comes over as an arrogant and patronising prick. If he had any credibility left, he has just blown it today.
If he thinks that his performance at the AGM will attract fans back to the club, then I fear that he has badly misjudged his audience.
Now, here’s a surprise:-
AGM has been a disaster for UoF, who have ranted instead of probed, snarled instead of exposed. Angry amateurs who are achieving nothing
— Tilly Wrye (@TillyWrye) December 22, 2014
Excellent post redlichtie. Plain English and easy to understand. Thanks for that.
I thought folk were kidding when they mentioned an AGM ‘alfresco’ 😯
surely Jean that would read Allyfresco.
Ok i shall get my coat 🙁
jean7brodie says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:06 pm
You’ve just given the The Currant Bun their headline for tomorrow:
Rangers AGM: Alfresco Fiasco 😳
easyJambo says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:05 pm
Hard to judge a person from tweeted reports but agree that he comes across as a court jester when the ship needs a steady hand at the tiller.
You wonder how these guys ever manage to get to a position of responsibility when they are clearly clowns. All up their own backsides in thinking that because they got a lucky break at some point in their career they can look down on people.
He will be next out the door and pretty soon IMHO.
wottpi says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:13 pm
The best bit surely was when the crest broke off the table in the middle of Mr Easdale’s Q & A.
Sony should buy the movie rights to this AGM.
Another sterling job from Russell Grant at STV on his twitter feed.
Well done.
The AGM seemed precision engineered to piss of the fans even more – somethiong I thought was barely possible. If this is a cunning plan, then it is a very, very,very cunning plan.
Or the board are only interested in the resolutions and they are in the bag so they don’t give a flying feck about the fans. But how many STs did Somers cost TRFC today with his smart arse arrogance ???
Rat Gazeebo is sumpin else – Av seen classier decked-oot pitches itra Barras 😆
scapaflow says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:10 pm
2 0 Rate This
jean7brodie says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:06 pm
You’ve just given the The Currant Bun their headline for tomorrow:
Rangers AGM: Alfresco Fiasco
Alfresco Fiasco…in excelsis Deo !!!!
(A wee Christmas flavour perhaps)
So, shareholding dilution resolution is (almost certainly) approved.
Next steps for Mike Ashley?
‘scapaflow says:
December 22, 2014 at 11:26 am ‘
‘..all thats missing is the Star Wars Imperial March tune as the board troop down the steps,’
———-
I was half-expecting to see a leering, black-bemasked, executioner thumbing the edge of his axe!Somebody will need to put an appropriate bit of music to that dead mans’ ‘march! 😆
Next step is obvious – punt in money because he has to or it folds (or we wait on king and his tumbleweed soft loans). Its the two or three steps after that that will kill or cure. By cure I assume a return to some semblance of health but I know the blue masses will think of something more akin to Steve Austin circa 1980.
Actually, its just occurred to me, Steve Austin with his bionic powers was still only worth half an Andre Flo!
I’ll predict (hopefully) outcome of Ashley meeting with SFA.
They will both agree that the only future for TRFC is that they live within their means.
The way to do that will be for TRFC to sign up to domestic FFP and given statements at AGM and AIM I think Ashley will have no problem with that.
Protects him and any investment he makes to keep TRFC alive.
After that it’s about playing the game to the same rules as everyone else and making sure they do.
That requires a concordat between SFA and all the clubs,which includes accountability, that their supporters will accept to put the game back on an even keel.
Auldheid says:
December 22, 2014 at 12:55 pm
leaving the dual ownership issue as the elephant in the room that didn’t trumpet its presence?
Red Lichtie
I posted a copy paste from CQN before reading your blog so sorry if I repeated some of your points.
The CQN leader itself is worth looking at http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/ as it adds to your blog.
Illusion has left the building
Last night saw the departure of the fan’s favourite to pastures new, and with it a big chuck of what remained of the WATP ethos.
Today’s AGM (via twitter – thanks to Grant Russell) saw the departure of any respect the board has for the fans as “The People”. That is the people who must be flattered and cajoled, the people who must be and given hope and reassurance, the people who must be reminded of their superiority and fed illusions of their continuity.
Today the people were presented with the future, where their opinions and questions are openly ridiculed and scoffed at by the people who should treat them with paternalistic kid gloves.
Make no mistake; there is no going back from today. Today, the name of Somers marks the end of the pretence. If Ashley is to stay, the bears had better learn to cherish the purity and depth of his disdain.
[with apologies to the late, great Ian Dury for mutilating word from his favourite song]
Scapaflow
You eat an elephant a bit at a time.
Redlichtie’s excellent piece says the really important thing:
‘The crushing reality about to descend on The People is that there really is no Santa Claus..’
I am more than ever convinced that Ashley, via Llambias, has settled for Administration/Liquidation, supported by Laxey Partners.
What has Ashley to gain by throwing money at such a discredited brand as TRFC, discredited both in the sporting world and the world of finance?
Such gains as might conceivably accrue in terms of wider European marketing opportunities on the back of turning TRFC into a successful CL prospect are too far in the future and too uncertain to make it worth his while doing anything but getting back what he has so far spent.
I think that, astute and financially savvy as he may be, Ashley may have miscalled this time, and is sensible enough to admit it to himself.
And, when Llambias reports back on today’s proceedings, he will decide the game is not worth the candle, even if the SFA were to promise him the earth tomorrow ( or,at least,signalled that they would accommodate him)
Auldheid says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:04 pm
Normally, I’d agree with that, as the situation is more than a bit complex. However, I do not trust a single person on any of the Hampden boards. Your analysis may be right, but, we will hear feck all substantive about the dual ownership issue, tomorrow, or indeed ever, beyond a tokenistic fine, if the people currently sitting on the Hampden boards get their way.
Now I realise that we’ve only got some tweets to go on regarding what was said at this AGM, but from what I can gather there was not one optimistic word said by any of the board. It would appear they assumed some humour might improve things so why didn’t they just end with the tannoy blasting out ‘Things can only get better…’? as the thrust of their speeches seemed to be ‘we inherited a lot of problems and have worked hard at getting rid of them. Our only success is that we’ve got rid of some (or is that a few?).’
I’d suggest the people in charge at Ibrox know nothing about what makes the bears tick, and certainly a lot less than Charles did. I did expect something, at least, to give the supporters hope (semi-truths that couldn’t come back to haunt them legally, even), but, unless Grant Russell missed it out in his tweets, there was nothing good for The Rangers, the football club!
mcfc says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:03 pm
John Clark says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:06 pm
Both posts could easily be right. It is a hard one to call.
One thing is for sure it is coming down to make or break time.
Man up and deal with the realities of austerity and having an assistant coach acting up as manager. Bite the bullet and get on with some honest hard graft and back the team not with the aim of glory but the aim of pure survival and take every win on the park as a bonus.
Alternatively why should Ashley even bother with the basketcase. If the sums make it not worth the hassle then depart a few quid down on the deal and let someone else sort out what is left.
AJ
Llambias repeating the the Sports Direct mantra said it all, “We are acting in the best interests of RIFC”, paraphrasing a bit. Everyone had better get used to it, the Newcastle experience shows that fans approval/disapproval ratings are no where to be seen on Mr Llambias’ Balanced Business Scorecard!
I do hope the fan who had to restrained was a certain Ex manager
Then the SMSM can have a great headline
Super Ally Go’s Ballistic
scapaflow says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Although things seem to be working out alright for Ashley at Newcastle (if you ignore the hatred felt for him, and I’m sure he does) in a financial sense, with the supporters still filling St James’s Park, even though he has been unable to fulfil his main aim of selling the club at a profit, I do suspect that he has misjudged, based on this success at Newcastle, things at TRFC quite badly. As has been said before, the Geordies are a totally different breed from the bears. They live to WATCH Newcastle; they don’t live to see them win things!
I’m sure Ashley will have made many bad investments that we never hear of, some he’ll sort out, others he’ll just abandon. He won’t be able to abandon TRFC (much too public) but I doubt he’ll spend too much money before realising he’s throwing it away. Depending on how much time he spends thinking about TRFC, I think he will be learning lessons about football club ownership that he didn’t learn at Newcastle.
wottpi says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:14 pm
One thing is for sure it is coming down to make or break time.
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At the moment Mike is just dabbling – a few small change loans to support shirt sales – all secured – no risk.
If he wants funds to get to the next AGM he needs a ‘prospectus’, a serious evaluation of current status, a serious analysis of prospects, an optimistic pitch, a meaningful plan with his credibility attached. That’s a big step up in risk – financial and credibility.
The absence of anything remotely positive or forward looking from Llambias today makes me lean more towards him being Mike’s undertaker of choice.
But I can’t beleive that anything the SFA have to say will make much differnece – except as a convenient excuse if they play hard ball – ho ho ho
Maybe, while Ashley doesn’t seem to have the monstrous public ego that many guys in his position develop, what evidence there is, suggests a thrawn streak coupled with a reluctance to admit a mistake.
As I said earlier, I think he is marching into a quagmire, and he will find it difficult to find a way out, moreover, if Phil is correct, he has been well warned by his lieutenants.
scapaflow says:
December 22, 2014 at 1:35 pm
As I said earlier, I think he is marching into a quagmire, and he will find it difficult to find a way out, moreover, if Phil is correct, he has been well warned by his lieutenants.
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Question is, how wide is Mike’s stubborn streak and how much time does he have for this, and if Derek walks (for being ignored) does he have other football-hardened lieutenants to see it through. After all, one third of one percent of Mike’s reported net worth (£3bil) would see The Rangers dancing to Zadok – well maybe with a fair wind.
I watched Salmon Fishing in the Yemen last night – could be prescient
Scapaflow
Indeed which is why supporters need to impress on their own clubs the conditions for a settlement. I’ll send a copy to Celtic.
Any arrangement that does not heed that is doomed to fail.
From McMurdo minor’s initial reaction to the Alfresco Fiasco, I’m not sure if he is walking in the air, or preparing the ground to walk away and perhaps become one of Findlay’s Heirs of Struth?