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.
More Moody Blues with a Knight’er Shade of Bail:
Ouch!
Danish Pastry says:
January 8, 2015 at 6.22 pm
The Scotsman carries the story under the heading “Businessman who tried to buy Rangers is jailed”.
You have to wonder! Why only one?
James Doleman says:
January 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
Been thinking about Sarvar’s motives and can see why he would be interested in RFC.
He might be thinking ‘Celtic are valued at around £80M. If I could pick up RFC for £20M, invest a bit and get them near to Celtic’s level you would quadruple your money. That’s a tasty return for not much work.’
Of course we know it would not be as simple as that, but does he?
==================================
In 2012 I recall Neil Patey regularly peddling the theory that what Celtic had/were worth, Rangers could easily match. Perhaps with a quality board of Directors, willing to stick to their business plan in the face of media and some supporter hostility he might have been right.
RE: Blue Pitch, Margarita etc, as I’ve said many times on here, the person behind that is Albertino Abela, whose lawyer is Mazen Houssami. Other names connected to him are Pierre Haddad, Elias Kaisar and Chris Morgan (who is also a sidekick of Rafat Ali Rizvi).
Albertino has a recent conviction for fraudulent bakruptcy in Italy, which is probably why he doesn’t want his name mentioned.
Abela’s connection to Rangers was revealed by the Charlotte leaks linking the Blue Pitch and Margarita shares to the Barbel C Abela Trust (Barbel is mum to Albertino and restaurateur Marlon).
Of course, Abela may just be a cover for Rizvi. Or for Whyte, given that the Abelas have homes in Monaco and also in Grasse in France, where Whyte also had a hidey-hole for a while (in Baby-Doc Duvalier’s old hoose, I believe).
As for Whyte and the Worthington Group, all you need to know is that wee Craigy’s pals, the Earley brothers, are still heavily involved there.
It’s fun this, isn’t it?
Actually, Mr Sarver sounds like a Real Rangers man to me
“Phoenix Suns: It’s tough to find an owner as loathed by his team’s fans as Robert Sarver. The 53-year-old Tucson native made his money running and selling a series of community banks, writing more than $1 billion in loans to Arizona businesses and homeowners during and after the financial crisis. He bought the Suns in 2004, and since then has presided over a steady exodus of talent—both on and off the court. Phoenix fans, who argue that he’s insanely cheap, are hyperbolic about his tenure, arguing that he’s run the team into the ground for his own profit. ESPN’s Bill Simmons once said Sarver “destroyed basketball” in Phoenix.”
Full article
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/10/nba-basketball-owners-cartesian-coordinate-plane
Curtesy of Andy from Scotszine
scapaflow says:
January 8, 2015 at 5:35 pm
“Mr Sarver has never met or spoken to Mike Ashley, Sandy Easdale or James Easdale… he has never met or spoken to Charles Green or Craig Whyte. He is not working with, acting for, or alongside any of these individuals.”
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Isn`t it amazing?
From a contradiction you can deduce everything
For example
Accuse a man of having contact with one Spiv
And he denies having contact with 5 Spivs
So we can assume
He has has contact with Ashley
He tells porkies
That you CJ? 🙂
Could do with a line on the Airley connection to Worthington. New one on me.
Is there an explanation to the strong rejection of Mike Ashley by Rangers Fans groups?
Ok, he may be making money, but in terms of his already personal wealth,anything he is gaining is a pittance.
So why the vehement attitude towards a man who has invested in the “club”,and has provided significant funds, in the absence of any others coming forward ?
The Saints follow the SFA rules and rightly run for cover at the sight of a convicted fraudster ( even a wee one ) anywhere near their club and won’t touch him with a barge pole .
By comparison Rangers fans are on their knees begging a major convicted fraudster to bail them out with his dirty money and will go mental if the SFA do anything to stop it
It would be very nice if Campbell and Stewart and Neil came out and applauded Saints for their integrity in upholding the rules of the game !
oddjob says:
January 8, 2015 at 7:56 pm
1 0 Rate This
Is there an explanation to the strong rejection of Mike Ashley by Rangers Fans groups?
==============
He has a rare genetic disorder, which makes him immune to Rangeritis. Even worse, he is a businessman who makes real money from selling stuff, and doesn’t deal in the Ibrox staple of moonbeams. Some of the fans even think that he might run the club on a balanced budget! Oh no!
Shock, horror, now where’s that Dave King- he ticks all the boxes- 1) Rangeritis- check 2)Moonbeams- check 3)Spend other peoples money- double check.
Je suis Charlie 🙄
Scapaflow,
MOI AUSSI !!
It’s clear that spivs and ne’erdowells like football clubs, which is a shame as they are ruining the game. It all seems a little at odds with their need to keep a low profile. It also seems unlikely that many of them can make much money out of the actual football.
Why do they like football so much?
“Is there an explanation to the strong rejection of Mike Ashley by Rangers Fans groups”
The “fan groups” have been in Dave King’s pocket for the last year IMO.
I Wouldn’t be surprised if there was some funding involved
Three thoughts for a Thursday
1 On why Rangers fans ( some not all ) are resistant to Ashley, then I would refer to the reaction to Bill Miller and Bill Ng as examples of why this is the case.
Rangers fans for decades wanted players from a specific background to represent the club. I suggest that the noisy element objecting to Ashley haven’t evolved to the point of preferring an owner from his background when there is a traditional alternative.
Ashley as owner is exactly what Rangers need just now. He has the financial firepower to bring stability and the business expertise to make the club sustainable and eventually competitive. He also has connections & influence to the richest league in the world. Why all of that is a bad thing for a club that has shown no ability , in any form or incarnation, to run profitably since the 1960’s mystifies me. I would rather compete against Dave King any time rather than Ashley.
2 Paul Murray has been shown yet again to fail in his judgement and his duty of governance. He had in his Blue Knights consortium an individual who has just been sentenced to prison time for very serious financial and business related crimes.
Yet Murray was happy for this now criminal to be part of his attempted ownership group. Murray has previously spoken in glowing terms of another criminal in Dave King. I have no doubt Paul Murray is an honest individual and a decent guy, however he really has dreadful judgement. He failed as a non executive director of Rangers in exactly the same way Alistair Johnston did. He was unable to stop , or as far as is known, David Murray in hiving off significant Rangers contracts to MIH. Were these contracts awarded in an open , tranasparent bidding process, was the interests of minority shareholders protected ? Based on the decisions taken by Paul Murrays board to take absolutely no action to prepare for the consequences of both tax cases , it wouldn’t be uncharitable to conclude he did absolutely nothing and allowed David Murray to act as he pleased , regardless of the consequences for minority shareholders and to the club itself
3 Delighted for Alex Neill. We need all the good news stories we can get in Scotland. It is also encouraging to hear broadcast and print media enthusiastically extolling his track record, thereby enlightening the Norwich fans of Alex’s qualities and suitability for the job, where hopefully he will be a fantastic success
What is not surprising in the least is that some of those doing the extolling are the same ones claiming Ronny Deila is not big enough for the Celtic job. Despite Ronny having a longer and more succesful track record than Alex to this point.
The Jingoism and desperation for controversy generated by some pundits in downmarket broadcasters and publications is not what we need in our game. The hypocrisy is laughable , however given the lack of intellect and / or moral integrity not in the least surprising
[]
On Ashley, is he sailing close to the wind hoping that a licence will be revoked, or some other such sanction imposed as a pretext for admin or a form of liquidation? Bit of a gambler, I hear, so maybe this whole thing is simply a high stakes poker play?
James Doleman says:
January 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
‘..Been thinking about Sarvar’s motives and can see why he would be interested in RFC.
He might be thinking ‘Celtic are valued at around £80M. If I could pick up RFC for £20M …’
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A right few millions over perhaps a couple of seasons would have to be invested before TRFC could be brought up to European competitive standard whether as to football quality or to physical infrastructure.
If Sarver is a truly wealthy man, he might consider the game to be worth the candle.
But is he a truly wealthy man of the kind that wouldn’t miss £20M if things went pear-shaped, and and his investment proved to be incapable of giving him any kind of reasonable return?
I have no idea how wealthy he is. Forbes magazine lists only 3 sources of income for him, (not including what he might have as managing partner of the Suns).
Have a shufty at this link
http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-sarver-1/
and see what you think. The current share price of Western Alliance Bancorp shares is about $26.00, and Sky West Inc shares are at $12.50.
So he’s doing not too badly. But scarcely mega rich.
Unless of course, , he has a stack of inherited wealth or many other holdings of shares and so on as may be (perhaps probably is)the case.
But there must be many,many more investment opportunities elsewhere in the world that would give more certain returns with a lot less hassle.
I think the guy has somehow got hung up on the idea of being Glazer-like, on an ego trip for vanity’s sake rather than for sound business reasons.
Oops apologies if my previous attempt at humour has transgressed the rules of the board and also to Danish Pastry for getting him involved in it. Think I might go back to lurking before I get banned 😳
Not sure if this has been considered on hereyet but for my tuppenceworth re Kings unexpected share purchase.
For me he had no choice, even the Scottish media including the bear centric Clyde 1 SSB and dismissed King as a non player
D King must’ve felt he was being overlooked being portrayed as a fur coat nae knickers kinda boyo, a chancer if you will, and the share purchase was nothing more more than a wee stack of chips that he could meet the ante and stay in the game. There appears no strategy other than to say “look what I did!?”
I wouldnt be surprised if ALL the money came from the fans money in yon account for season tickets!
I would also not be surprised if King had already agreed that in the event the 3 bears get controlling interest he is obliged to sell them to them.
He for me is still a chancer, most certainly a convicted criminal and no more a player than I am as I approach my 47th year at the local discotheque (it is still called that right?)
Barca
secured debts are not compromised in a CVA. Because of this, the secured creditors do not get a vote at all. They have no financial interest in the CVA so they don’t get a vote.
In other forms of insolvency proceedings they can sometimes have a vote.
Barcabhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I agree that Ashley may well be the best thing to have happened to Rangers in a generation.
However, I am not sure he is the best thing to have happened to Scottish Football. I want Scottish football cleaned up. I am not convinced that replacing one self centred oligarchy, with another equally self centred oligarchy of a different stripe, is the way to go about reforming the structures.
As important as the professional footballing businesses are, they are not, either individually, nor collectively, bigger than Scottish Football.
Scottish Football would be nothing without the amateurs, who give their time week in, week out, for ladies, junior & kids football, or, the fans, who pay their season books, who turn up in the pissing rain to watch a sport.
Driving home tonight bbc radio Scotland news said that official sources had said that rangers owe millions that need to be paid in the next 48 hours.
I did not catch who these official sources were, does anyone know if this is true? If so who wants their money back?
Did anyone think it strange that amongst all the denials of people met by this American fellow, Mr Llambias’ name never came up?
acciesbhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 11:13 pm
I heard that too, its all a bit odd, even for Rangers.
Could it be possible that they are owe Ashley more than the reported £3 mill, if so how?
Have they been engaging in off the books deals, again how, and when HMS Dignitatis leaks like a sieve, how could they have kept it quiet?
Or are the press being used to lean on people to pony up some cash?
We could be in for stormy weekend, in more ways than one
Can only be uncle Mikes off and wants his dough back with interest.
Bye Mike.
Bye Pretendygers.
Re millions owed, if isn’t HMRC, isn’t Mike, isn’t RIFC then I can only think it’s an onerous contract holder who hasn’t been paid?
Was the Wi Fi into the millions?
Smugas says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:05 am
Could be didn’t Sommers say something at the AGM about giving some contract holders the bums rush? Maybe someone bit back?
I recall phil mentioned a kick back, was it not that Wifi people got x and BPH or similar got 2x.
The WiFi chap is owed 300k.
However another 200k was magically added by 👿
It remains outstanding.
I meant to put in
instead of : 👿
😳
Brass neck alert, the mail is reporting that Sommers has been seeking a pay rise
man overboard? In this weather too 
acciesbhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Did anyone think it strange that amongst all the denials of people met by this American fellow, Mr Llambias’ name never came up?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Not really
He was accused of contact with a Spiv
So he denied contact with 5 Spivs
And named them in alphabetical order
Ashley Easedale Easedale Green and Whyte
LLambias isnt a Spiv
So his name was left out
Huewai as they say in WiFi land Phil.
Makes more sense. 😳
Campbellsmoney says:
January 8, 2015 at 10:29 pm
15 0 Rate This
Barca
secured debts are not compromised in a CVA. Because of this, the secured creditors do not get a vote at all. They have no financial interest in the CVA so they don’t get a vote.
In other forms of insolvency proceedings they can sometimes have a vote.
——————
Thanks , I don’t see administration as likely now , but you never know.
If you were a stakeholder could you see any insolvency event that would be manageable, given the farce that deveolped under D & P
Barcabhoy says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:42 am
Probably not, but “Events, Dear Boy, Events”. Sometimes even the smartest players, just don’t have the remotest control.
There is no telling how this will all play out
scapaflow says:
January 8, 2015 at 10:33 pm
26 1 Rate This
Barcabhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I agree that Ashley may well be the best thing to have happened to Rangers in a generation.
However, I am not sure he is the best thing to have happened to Scottish Football. I want Scottish football cleaned up. I am not convinced that replacing one self centred oligarchy, with another equally self centred oligarchy of a different stripe, is the way to go about reforming the structures.
————–
Agree with that sentiment. I was just answering the question about why Rangers fans were Anti- Ashley. Given their circumstances I doubt very much whether they give 2 hoots right now for the overall welfare of Scottish Football.
The rest of us should have it at the top of a priority list though
Barcabhoy says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:49 am
Amen
Memo to self
If ever in PR bother do not, do not, phone Gordon Taylor. Petrol, Flames, Pour
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/oldham-athletic/11334388/PFA-chief-Gordon-Taylor-sparks-anger-by-relating-Ched-Evans-plight-with-battle-for-Hillsborough-justice.html
I see the PR lackeys have been visiting the site again. I really don’t know why they bother , however if we needed any more motivation to keep pressing for change , fairness and integrity, and to expose the crooks from the recent past, these paid for nobodies certainly provide it
Keep up the good work !
A piece in The Times this morning, by Mark Walker, rakes over the coals of yesterday’s announcements, and then states that “an offer of £6.5m” by The Three Bears is “still on the table”.
Genuinely in the dark here: the AIM announcements of the last couple of months don’t seem to include this. Could anybody enlighten this (lower case) bear of very little brain?
If true that £6.5M is needed within a couple of days to keep the lights on at Ibrox than why is that amount? £1M to meet wages and other immediate costs I can understand.
upthehoops
We only have to ask Neil Doncaster.
After all, he was given a fully costed breakdown of the club’s financial prospects for the rest of the season and declared himself wholly satisfied with what he heard.
I’m sure that such an astute person will also have it all in writing.
Some serious movement of the Rangers shares yesterday.
An American basketballing banker wants to take over the Ibrox entity, and now Felix Magath is uncovered as a shareholder? It’s like a party game, trying to work out who the next randomly unlikely participant will be. Kim Jong-un? Steven Gerrard? The Count of Monte Christo? More and more bizarre by the week
Barcabhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 9:17 pm
95 8 Rate This
1 On why Rangers fans ( some not all ) are resistant to Ashley, then I would refer to the reaction to Bill Miller and Bill Ng as examples of why this is the case.
Rangers fans for decades wanted players from a specific background to represent the club.
Ashley as owner is exactly what Rangers need just now.
————
Barcabhoy, I spat my coffee out this morning, when I read your post, almost staining my cardigan.
Do you really believe that Ashley cares or has any interest in restoring Rangers? He cares about his onerous contracts and anything that might negatively influence them.
As for Rangers fans wanting “players from a specific background”. If you mean with a ‘background’ of specifically good ability and attitude, then I wholeheartedly agree!
Good one Barcabhoy.
What a contrast in conduct between St. Mirren yesterday calling off a takeover due to one of the takeover group having ONE previous conviction (My cap is duly doffed at this display of dignity and integrity) and……the Rangers.
Rivzi – On Interpol’s wanted list
King – Guilty on FORTY ONE counts of tax evasion plus assorted fraud charges.
Easdale – Done time for tax dodging
Shameful, a complete embarrassment, to not only our national game but to the nation. Banana republics would cringe at this behaviour.
The SFA and SPFL are a complete disgrace, not fit for purpose.
Tartanwulver..to your point …agree!
It is just hilarious entertainment if it wasn’t so serious!
My outside bet for 2015 is the Coolmore Mafia Magnier and McManus buy them out , appoint PMcG as the PR guy and Roy Keane as director of football and manager..team colours changed to you know what!
Sorry ..couldn’t help it
Carry on!
@Tartan
A 1 per cent stake. Seems to imagine himself restructuring the football side of things according to the BBC T’Rangers PR dept. who cannot actually talk to Ibrox, unfortunately.
So which of the multi-factions has Felix the Bear been in dialogue with?
Felix will sort the kids out.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/scott-parker-covered-20000-fines-4294663
Six figure salary, company car, chalet at Cameron House ‘until we get you fixed up’, lots of expenses-paid international travel, manager taking the flak for the team… You can see why Magath fancies the director of football role at Ibrox.
James Doleman says:
January 8, 2015 at 5:49 pm
‘..Been thinking about Sarvar’s motives and can see why he would be interested in RFC. He might be thinking ‘Celtic are valued at around £80M. If I could pick up RFC for £20M …’
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It’s always difficult to understand why usually objective professional people like ENIC, Laxey and the Institutional Investors are talked into buying a turkey.
Obviously Sarver having some kind of connection to either side in the Rangers stramash sounds a possibility.
The more I read about him wrt to his current US sporting franchises the more obvious it is that he’s very defo a showman and hooked on publicity but under attack for his running of the Phoenix Suns.
So perhaps his mission at Rangers is the old traditional ploy of when there’s trouble at home then look for a foreign diversion.
It’s served democratic governments and bloody dictators equally well down the centuries and not beyond the whit of a showman to give it a whirl.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30739618
Rangers: Felix Magath has bought 1% of the Ibrox club
By Richard Wilson BBC Scotland
Former Bayern Munich manager Felix Magath has bought around a 1% stake in Rangers International Football Club.
He purchased the shares late last year, and has held discussions with one of the groups vying for control of the club, but it is not Robert Sarver.
Magath has no ambition to succeed Ally McCoist as Rangers manager, but does want to rebuild the club’s football infrastructure as technical director.
=====================================================
I wonder who he bought from – worth checking price late last year but it could be a cheap way of proving Rangers credentials to get a highly paid berth at Ibrox.
If that was the plan it might have been a good idea pre-austerity but maybe not in the current financial climate.
However it ties in nicely with the report of him being in a Cumbernauld Hotel at which Jim Traynor was supposedly spotted on the same day. I wonder if Jim has kept-up connections with any of his old chums at Ibrox 😆
While I am not sure it is appropriate for comment on here I note that the Ched Evans case is getting comment from some.
Having only ever seen the headlines on the case and therefore having no views or opinions on the case one way or the other I decided to have a wee Google to look at the case in a bit more detail in the same way many of us on here do in relation to matters of share ownership/dealing, tax dodging, footballing rules etc etc.
While I have only had time for a cursory look at some of the information the actions of Evans and his co-accused in the case, McDonald, on the night in question appears to be dubious, undoubtedly questionable and unpalatable in terms of what I and I assume people on here would accept as decent behaviour.
However in the same way many on here question the legal decision making process in all types of matters down Ibrox way, from what I can see the Evans case is far from clear cut, appears to be open to various interpretations and questions can be asked about how the jury reached its decisions. Without taking any particular view point on the rights or wrongs of the conviction itself, I can see why, given the evidence, the man with a rape conviction against his name may believe he is indeed innocent.
PFA’s Taylor linking the case to the Liverpool 96 is perhaps crass but the principles are never the less sound in that the legal process is not always as sound and reliable as we would all hope.
Evans, following due process, remains a convicted rapist out in licence and will no doubt suffer for his actions for the rest of his life. It certainly is going to make it hard for him to pursue a footballing career anytime soon. However he is entitled to use all the appropriate channels available to him to overturn his conviction, if indeed he does believe he is innocent. That process is still ongoing.
I would kindly suggest that the Mods may want to kick any further posts on this issue into the long grass and let those who are interested in the case keep it a private matter.
Which of the two Cumbernauld Hotels? The Travel Lodge or the Westerwood? One of these suits the budget of T’RFC the other its self image- so it will be the one with the Ballesteros Golf Course then…
bfbpuzzled says:
January 9, 2015 at 10:28 am
Which of the two Cumbernauld Hotels? The Travel Lodge or the Westerwood? One of these suits the budget of T’RFC the other its self image- so it will be the one with the Ballesteros Golf Course then…
==================================================================
The original story and I can’t remember where I saw it didn’t identify the hotel.
I doubt if The Travel Lodge is in the frame as it’s also used as a local pub and small so hard to be anonymous and I mean more wrt to Traynor than Magath.
Westerwood is often used to tuck people away by newspapers and IIRC is the only up-market hotel in the area. But there is also the Castlecary Hotel quite close to Westerwood – and more up-market than the Travel Lodge and with the privacy bonus of chalets or at least it did have about 10 years ago.
I used to do quite a bit of travelling and over the years Cumbernauld was a useful stopping-off point in my journey and all the three hotels are literally minutes from the motorway with Glasgow probably 15-20 minutes away and Airdrie must be 10 minutes away at most.
So could be a handy rendezvous point 😆
Barcabhoy says:
January 8, 2015 at 9:17 pm
The Jingoism and desperation for controversy generated by some pundits in downmarket broadcasters and publications is not what we need in our game. The hypocrisy is laughable , however given the lack of intellect and / or moral integrity not in the least surprising.
———————————————————————
It’s the desperation of leeches not fit to hold the title of ‘Journalist’ who are incapable of moving to a new career outwith the dying industry in which their lack of skill and integrity has trapped them.
They truly are the dinosaurs of the modern internet and social media age and day and daily their uselessness has been exposed and they no longer have a place in news gathering or its dissemination with a non-PR driven agenda.
wottpi says:
January 9, 2015 at 10:26 am
The case was appealed already, and denied.
However, whilst a case review, is not the same as an active court case, nonetheless, I take your point.
There is a wider issue here, around the behaviour of young men, and given the tweets of an Arniston Rangers player yesterday, Football does have an issue with how women are treated.
Football has taken steps, however ineffectually at times, to deal with religious bigotry & racism. The sport really does now have to tackle the way that far too many players view & treat women. It is societal problem, but so is bigotry & racism, that does not absolve football of a responsibility to put its own house in order.
PMG has some interesting news i n his new offering – could be we will hear more ‘ 5.00pm LSE time!
It’s the little things in reporting that annoy me more than the obvious
Felix Magath – Ex Bayern Munich manager
not MaGath – failed Fulham manager
If he was being touted for any other position in Scottish football the description would be the latter.
McMurdo minor & Phil seem once again to be singing off the same hymnal
McMurdo is also reporting that “a beleaguered” board is seriously considering the Sarvar offer. Furthermore, he is making it clear that the fate of the offer lies with lofty and the boys. Will they accept Sarvar, or will they come up with a better offer?
Incidentally, Sarvar made his pile in regional banking, a sector that has not been without its difficulties in the US, ( Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, are as familiar to Americans, as RBS & HBOS, for not too dissimilar reasons), having asked a few questions, of old colleagues, The Bold Robert will fit right in, though perhaps more of a Vlad the Mad, than a Duc de Normandie.
Interesting times look set to continue down Edmiston Drive.
scapaflow says:
January 9, 2015 at 11:12 am
wottpi says:
January 9, 2015 at 10:26 am
I am very wary about making any comment in a case like this and especially not on the basis of possibly selective media reports of the evidence given in court.
It was a jury trial and the jury had the benefit of not only seeing and hearing all of the evidence but how it was given by the accused and witnesses and their responses under cross examination.
It is a fact that some people who claim to be innocent and totally deny their guilt end-up serving much longer custodial sentences although that doesn’t appear to have happened in this case. The basis being of course that without genuine acceptance of guilt their can be no repentance and without that no real rehabilitation.
I have shaken my head at recent news reports – from usually respected media sources – which more or less state what’s the big deal about Evans not saying ‘Sorry’.
In very serious cases such as murder and rape I very much doubt that saying ‘Sorry’ means anything especially not when put against the refusal to admit guilt. That’s the key issue. In any case whilst any legal actions are being taken wrt the original trial I am sure that Evans will have been under legal advice to say nothing as is his right.
The very belated and weak apology to the victim now given IMO means zilch unless accompanied by an admission of guilt.
It is a fact that some of those who continue to proclaim innocence are telling the truth but it is also a fact that others are lying for a variety of reasons and sometimes because they themself are completely unable psychologically to accept what they have actually done.
I have no idea which, if any, of these scenarios apply to Ched Evans and it’s impossible for me to ever reach a conclusion on this matter so I am left having to rely on the jury verdict.
It’s worth remembering that there were two accused and the jury found one not guilty and the other guilty. That appears to me to indicate a degree of care by the jury in reaching their decision.
It is difficult to successfully appeal a jury decision and an appeal has failed but there is a review under way. It might well have been better if Evans had waited until that was completed before attempting to sign for a club. However that was an issue for him to make.
I obviously must point out that for all those who portray Evans as a ‘victim’ we have to remember the real victim in this case who suffered the original rape but who has been further victimised and harassed by those supporting Evans on a number of occasions.
Evans claims he has no connection to these people and he might well be telling the truth but that doesn’t lessen the effect on the victim and the culture of frightening any future victims not to come forward.
But the issue has extended beyond the victim and Evans and because of the role-model aspects of his profession and the seriousness of the repulsive crime he has been found guilty of the FA and, indeed, other national sports bodies have a decision to take.
The issue is clear: ‘Should a football player be allowed to continue his profession after being convicted of a crime like rape’.
The decision-making will be complex and no doubt could eventually end-up in the European Courts. And the original victim might well be unable to rebuild their life with the continuing publicity or, at best, find it much more difficult to do so.
I have held-off previously commenting on this issue but with recent posts I felt that we have to attempt to move from seeing this as simply an Evans via the victim issue which many on the internet and the media appear to be doing.
ecobhoy says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:04 pm
Well said
Just read Phil’s piece properly, Incognito leverage? Interesting phrase, I wonder, are we about to find out why the crown jewels have not been seen in the pawnbrokers window? Oh Charlie indeed.
Incognito Leverage…
What a delicious euphemism
Phils latest.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/off-the-radar-debt/#more-5699
If Phil is correct about the call-in of ‘off the radar’ debt – and I have no reason to believe he isn’t – then immediate notice has to be given to AIM.
If someone is demanding £6.5 million is paid up-front then it has to be reported to AIM especially as a Takeover Bid has been launched and is under consideration.
Not to do so would be criminal IMO and I would think all Board Members would require to deal with such an issue speedily, openly and with scrupulous adherence to the rules of governance.
scapaflow says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:15 pm
2 0 Rate This
Just read Phil’s piece properly, Incognito leverage? Interesting phrase, I wonder, are we about to find out why the crown jewels have not been seen in the pawnbrokers window? Oh Charlie indeed.
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Quite so….
I think my question the other day about a straw breaking the camel`s back,May be answered quite soon.
I’m not sure how the Sarver bid can be considered at all if this bombshell about a huge, previously unknown debt is true. Surely Sarver would need to be informed in order that he can re-evaluate his proposal?
And wouldn’t one of the first questions asked by any potential investor be “are there any more of these?”, and if the answer is “we’re not sure” then any right minded person will walk away.
It seems so obvious but maybe I’m missing something.
ecobhoy says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:22 pm
6 0 Rate This
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I am not aware if the entire £6.5m is made up of this…ahem…incognito leverage.
However, I understand that it is a significant part of it.
Per STV Grant
Name Holding %
Dave King 11,869,505 14.57%
George Taylor 7,575,000 9.30%
Mike Ashley 7,265,000 8.92%
Douglas Park 5,000,000 6.14%
River and Merc 4,704,827 5.77%
Artemis Invest 4,286,000 5.26%
Sandy Easdale 4,242,110 5.21%
Blue Pitch Hold 4,000,000 4.91%
George Letham 3,299,515 4.05%
Margarita Funds 2,600,000 3.19%
Cazenove Capita 2,450,000 3.01%
FMR LLC 2,000,000 2.45%
L and G Investment 2,000,000 2.45%
Kieran Prior 1,100,740 1.35%
Ally McCoist 1,071,429 1.31%
Rangers Supporters T 826,029 1.01%
Felix Magath 810,000 0.99%
Rangers First 610,000 0.75%
James Easdale 572,749 0.70%
Malcolm Murray 271,429 0.33%
Vanguard Bears 132,694 0.16%
Ryan King 123,000 0.15%
Norman Crighton 96,222 0.12%
Walter Smith 71,429 0.09%
clients of Hargreave Hale 69,450 0.09%
David Somers 61,186 0.08%
Unaccounted for 14,369,887 18.65%
The Sarver deal appears to have come out of the blue. Does anyone know whether he’s done any due diligence, or is it still the case that the offer can be accepted and he can pull out after getting a closer look under the hood? Were it any other business I’d be amazed at someone offering millions of pounds to buy it without proper due diligence, but nothing surprises me about this any more.
andygraham.66 says: January 9, 2015 at 12:33 pm
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Artemis sold their entire holding to King on 2nd Jan.
Blue Pitch should be 4,426,485 after upping their stake in the Sep share offer.
Beaufort Securities hold over 5M for their clients which forms part of the Sandy Easdale proxy.
Phil,
Tantalizing wee piece. Another Stockbridge type deal? The one that took everyone by surprise?
Seem to remember Charles saying that he would buy any shares not taken in the initial release.
Not sure what he meant with ‘buy’. Can he be sitting in there somewhere in the ‘unaccounted for’ with a wad? That 18.65% andyg.66 posted above is quite a significant block.
toadinthehole says:
January 9, 2015 at 12:35 pm
The Sarver deal appears to have come out of the blue. Does anyone know whether he’s done any due diligence, or is it still the case that the offer can be accepted and he can pull out after getting a closer look under the hood? Were it any other business I’d be amazed at someone offering millions of pounds to buy it without proper due diligence, but nothing surprises me about this any more.
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IIRC if the Board recommend the offer then that allows Sarver access to do due diligence.
If they reject the offer and Sarver makes a hostile bid then he doesn’t get access and has to scarpe-up what info he can from external sources.
If someone is knocking at the door out of the blue – or perhaps that should be green – looking for long forgotten millions then it has to be reported via a RNS on AIM.
And if Sarver were to go ahead without a legally binding answer on this question then quite simply he is certifiable and his soccer sons should be calling in the local mental health officials as he would obviously be suffering from a diminished mental capacity and unable to continue with his bid.
One thing about the knock on the door is that it kicks away the excuse that King et alia are the ones responsible for kicking the Sarver Offer into touch. Not much going Somers way it seems.
Somers can’t have much time left on board as all the deck chairs have been sold, all the lifeboats launched and gone and only lead lifebelts left on the fast-sinking HMS Dignity.