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.
John Williams @footballmadjohn
· 20h 20 hours ago
#Rangers FC have offered Fruity King option to rename Ibrox for £1.5m “The fruity king arena” desperate times #SPFL
No idea who tweeter is, nor who Fruity King is/are, but #Fruityking was mentioned in tweets by winnersports too. Just seems too incredible for words, a ridiculous name, and it includes ‘King’.
rabtdog says:
January 11, 2015 at 8:47 pm
If journalists have all failed then…Why not get one on the podcast and have a ritual witch-burning?…
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A wee bit harsh rabtdog ?
As a group, the SMSM has indeed failed.
And the incontrovertible evidence ?
Why was there a need for the RTC site in the first place ?
Why is there still a need for the TSFM site ?
And why have both sites been extremely popular ?
…and despite the deficiencies of this site – as you suggest – you still choose to log onto TSFM and contribute…which is welcome.
IMO, the SMSM is still failing in its coverage of TRFC and Scottish football in general.
Allyjambo says: January 11, 2015 at 9:24 pm
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There are some bizarre tweets coming out the woodwork tonight.
e.g. @haynesherwyya9: McCoist leaves Rangers manager post
What connection she has with Rangers, I haven’t a clue.
Fruity King????? £1.5m doesn’t really sort the problem tho does it?? Thought they needed £6.5m pronto??
There was this piece in the Metro a few days ago:
http://metro.co.uk/2015/01/09/whats-in-a-name-the-emirates-the-etihad-what-next-the-fruity-king-arena-5014958/
I think ‘the Fruity King Arena’ would indeed solve their problems, all it would take would be a whip round of every fan, of every club, to keep TRFC alive so we can all visit, ‘The Fruity King Arena’ – the bears would never live it down 😀
To think they were up in arms at the prospect of ‘Sports Direct Arena’, at least that would sound a bit like a football stadium.
Still, always thought ‘King you know who’ looked a bit of a fruit on that white charger 😉
Allyjambo says:
January 11, 2015 at 9:24 pm
2 0 Rate This
John Williams @footballmadjohn
· 20h 20 hours ago
#Rangers FC have offered Fruity King option to rename Ibrox for £1.5m “The fruity king arena” desperate times #SPFL
No idea who tweeter is, nor who Fruity King is/are, but #Fruityking was mentioned in tweets by winnersports too. Just seems too incredible for words, a ridiculous name, and it includes ‘King’.
============
AJ, they are an online gambling company tipped to sponsor a number of clubs and recently linked with sponsoring the SPFL.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/gary-gowers/the-fruity-king-arena-any_b_6434306.html
I really hope that this is true. I can hear ra Peepul signing now : “We Are The Fruity Kings!” 😆
Scottish Football does not lack a pantomime.
Matty Roth says:
January 11, 2015 at 9:47 pm
Thanks for that, Matty. Seems to put that rumour to bed because the SPFL would never be involved with sponsors that had the naming rights of any Scottish football club’s stadium. They would just be so openly conflicted…
Unless, of course, the CEO of the SPFL pointed the much needed suitors of a league sponsorship deal in the direction of a more needy recipient…
All still rumours
http://www.winnersports.co.uk/rangers-fc-ibrox-stadium-naming-rights-unofficially-on-the-market-39295
The Fruity King Arena- has a ring to it, doesn’t it???
http://www.winnersports.co.uk/rangers-fc-ibrox-stadium-naming-rights-unofficially-on-the-market-39295
redlichtie says:
January 11, 2015 at 9:56 pm
The Fruity-King Arena?
It just CAN’T be troo – can it?
Honestly, if it was us making that up, they’d be having a fit on the Bear sites and the MSM. I really can’t see anyone here coming up with anything so hideously embarrassing or demeaning.
As AJ says, the Rangers fans would never, ever get over it.
Dignity ffs?
Big Pink says:
January 11, 2015 at 10:23 pm
The RM server is returning an error, between the Hearld ad and this, more than a few blood pressure spikes today I would think. As someone else pointed out we are the Fruity Kings, works in a certain well known ditty
A well executed wind up
Big Pink says:
January 11, 2015 at 10:23 pm
The Fruity-King Arena?
It just CAN’T be troo – can it?…
====================================
Well since you mentioned it… 😉
Mibbes this gaming company could team up with the betting company William Hill, to produce a more acceptable name for the bears ?
The Fruity King Billy Arena ? 🙄
Just a suggestion.
[Am I on the naughty step for that ?]
Please let it be true!
I think broadcasters are duty bound to call named stadiums by their proper title. If this happens it will be fun!
A quite ridiculous amount of traffic coming through the site tonight. We are keeping a watchful eye on it but it is most certainly affecting performance.
If neccessary, we will transfer over to the wordpress.com site to continue dicussion. Please mail tsfm@tsfm.net if you are having any difficulty.
Could this be a softening up exercise? Maybe they reckon the Bears will lap up “The Wonga Arena” as being much more dignified.
Scottish Football greatly appreciates this gift that keeps on giving. 😀
PS does this mean that RIFC/TRFC have nicked the sponsor lined up for the SPFL? What will other clubs think of that?
OT, but if want a giggle, Fox news are getting ripped to shreds for their latest scaremongering stupidity at #FoxNewsFacts
Whenever I get really depressed about the ate of the Scottish media, I remind my self, that they are not as bad as Fox
Tis slow. TSFM got a mention on twitter (on one of the funnier threads) that there was a good discussion on here. So maybe generated extra traffic?
Is The Fruity King Arena not a wind up? Someone must have slipped in a spoof story.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
January 11, 2015 at 12:20 pm
“Maybe just conjecture but it adds to the debate.”
http://t.co/nSWnW6VASL
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I can see further discussion on this post but have not got to it yet.
This CQN article was interesting enough for a Sun sports journalist to highlight its content to Craig Whyte at the time, according to a post by Charlottefakeovers. It does persuasively fit like a glass slipper.
The initial alleged sale and leaseback comprised Ibrox, Murray Park and the Albion Car Park. We know the Car Park was subsequently purchased by some of the proceeds of the RIFC share issue and has been used as loan security since. This strongly implies that the Albion Car Park is unencumbered. However there have been indications (PMcG) that finance could not be raised against Ibrox and Murray Park.
The phrase ‘…rent is securitised against ticket receipts…’ again plays in with a PMcG comment concerning attendance thresholds being a trigger for onerous payments. Perhaps if attendance fell below a certain threshold the rent requirement scoops all the money and the spivs don’t get a cut.
It doesn’t provide a timescale for the £6.55M loan repayment but the three year timescale is mentioned concerning reducing the overall loan liability by 3 times the annual rent. This has got to be a post liquidation proposition so the 3 years is not yet expired. The conjecture might be that the turn of the year triggered the loan repayment.
I am intrigued by the suggestion that Sports Direct have effectively picked up the Whyte/Ticketus role. I’m glad I didn’t write this since it might be construed as potentially libelous. Unless its true of course.
There has been much head scratching concerning Mr. Ashley’s wish to involve himself with this fracar. An over active imagination could easily leap to conclusions.
I think sometimes the quality of a piece of information can accrue with the maturation of time. Arising corroboration might make speculative propositions appear more noteworthy.
Server seems to have settled a bit, but will keep watching.
Putting on my Po-face for a moment, I assume that the FKA is indeed a wind-up. Has to be ..
TSFM says:
January 11, 2015 at 11:45 pm
sadly yes, though it would be lovely if it were true.
Cast of thouands
Barca did a good piece on the CQN story a couple of pages back
Castofthousands
As we know there are some things in life that we might like to say but it is better to check in with the legal people, like the SFA , before we upset anyone,as if
scapaflow says:
January 11, 2015 at 11:22 pm
OT, but if want a giggle, Fox news are getting ripped to shreds for their latest scaremongering stupidity at #FoxNewsFacts
———————————————————–
Scapa, you beat me to it.
Here is the original fox news item 🙄
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwq8Bwr9wUg&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop
For anyone wanting a giggle #foxnewsfacts is almost as funny as the Fruity King Arena. Please let this be true. Please.
OK, no genuine leak, because there is still no deal.
Squeaky bum time?
“keith jackson @tedermeatballs 30s30 seconds ago
Right off to my cot. For those interested, Park group believe they’re on brink of agreeing funding package. Still think DK will call EGM.”
‘Fruity King Arena’ indeed.. As if a respectable gambling company would have the gall to anticipate that oor Dave fae the ‘mulk will win the boardroom battle! No,it’s all a cunning plan by TSFM to generate increased traffic! 🙂
Such fun. Even Mrs C laughed when I explained why I was convulsed over the keyboard.
But ‘moving on’ ( as the SMSM and our Football Authorities so desperately wish us to do) let me go a wee bit OT for a minute:
The other day there were some ( OT!) posts touching on science/theology.
Today a poster told us the date of the Procedural hearing re HMRC’s appeal against the UTTT’s decision.
Now, without a word of a lie, earlier this evening and by a set of circumstances that occasioned me to be in an entirely unexpected place, I chanced upon a notice advertising a talk to be given this coming Wednesday evening.
The title of the talk?-“Why is there something rather than nothing?”
The speaker? The professor of Condensed Matter Physics in the school of Physics and Astronomy in Edinburgh University.
The name of the speaker? Would you believe, Professor Wilson Poon!
Now, I’ve no idea whether Prof Poon is related to or connected in any way with our FTTT heroine, Dr Poon.
Nevertheless, serendipity or what? 🙂
The only thing I don`t like about calling Ibrox the Fruity King Arena is
I didn`t think of it first
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 12:13 am
At least we’ll get the Fruity King EGM by the looks of things
redlichtie says:
January 11, 2015 at 6:56 pm
“At what point does this become obvious to the Bears and the SMSM stenographers?”
——————————–
I think initially there was an inbuilt resistance to absorbing information articulated by RTC and PMcG. The SMSM had monopolised the information sources for football fans and others and were not about to cede ground to new disruptive market entrants. The flow of positive news stories that emerged to obscure the reality had a long historical foundation and once that gravy train was rolling there was reluctance to apply the brakes.
More recently the scepticism amongst the Rangers fans is palpable; even amongst the more rabid elements. I even noted Tom English applying a ‘wait and see’ caveat concerning speculation that the 3 bears had returned home to eat their porridge.
In truth, the SMSM were never equipped to cover this story. Even a speculative blog like TSFM has disappeared down umpteen rabbit holes pursuing potential suspicions. A traditional media organisation would shake itself to bits negotiating the tortuous route of this saga. It is possibly best pursued by online forums, which gaining credibility, can be syphoned for the more intelligible analysis by the SMSM. I think this happily falls within this blogs remit of ‘Asking the questions the media won’t ask’.
It doesn’t excuse the SMSM complicity but it might help explain it. However the suggested mirroring by the SMSM of blog analysis implies this forum is fulfilling the remit its inceptors intended.
Although I digest very little media it is clear to me that the Rangers saga is the longest running soap opera in Scottish sporting history. Barely a week passes without a new plot twist. In the circumstances it might be logically thought that a follow up to Mark Daly’s expose’s was overdue. It appears there has been no appetite for this despite the rich array of ingredients that could have been thrown into the mix to comprise a tasty offering.
The upcoming court case might put any more searching public analysis on hold since there is the prospect of a forum that certainly will be reported taking a forensic interest in a number of these matters.
Not long now.
Danish Pastry says:
January 11, 2015 at 6:32 pm
“Btw, is it just me, or does the blog appear, at times, to be a blog within a blog?”
———————————-
I conclude that you are espousing the Copenhagen interpretation.
“The Copenhagen interpretation was first posed by physicist Niels Bohr in 1920. It says that a quantum particle doesn’t exist in one state or another, but in all of its possible states at once.”
http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/quantum-suicide4.htm
The Fruity King arena would be funny, but for funny stadium names nothing will ever beat the Wankdorf Stadium in Switzerland.
rabtdog says:
January 11, 2015 at 8:47 pm
“…since they’re •all• guilty anyway what difference will it make?”
——————————
http://youtu.be/XbOx8TyvUmI
Castofthousands says:
January 12, 2015 at 12:40 am
1 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
January 11, 2015 at 6:32 pm
“Btw, is it just me, or does the blog appear, at times, to be a blog within a blog?”
———————————-
I conclude that you are espousing the Copenhagen interpretation.
“The Copenhagen interpretation was first posed by physicist Niels Bohr in 1920. It says that a quantum particle doesn’t exist in one state or another, but in all of its possible states at once.”
____________________________________________________
Are you suggesting that the blog exists and doesn’t exist at the same time?
Ha ha, very good. More Niels Bore than Bohr! Catching up sometimes takes time on a single thread blog. I think I counted 20 posts from one source, with a quantum of 16 on one blog page alone. Crivvins! Ma heid wiz spinnin 🙂 More doughy pastry than Partick Physics.
Btw, you’re up late. I’m actually on late-night Copenhagen taxi duty masel (picking up my son).
Keeping myself amused on twitter, though. The Fruity Loop Arena is a peach!
In case anyone posts…
There is a document on Twitter that is the original of many drafts of a statement to be placed as an advert in the Sunday Herald in a couple of weeks.
It is not the final version that took on board many of the comments and suggestions made since it was originally posted on CQN. It’s how the drafting process works in a “cloud” environment.
Anyoo folk seeing it are asking if it is true an advert will be placed then commenting on it as if it is the document they have read.
What is true is that a final statement has been given to the SH and cleared by them for publication.
But for the avoidance of doubt 🙂 the document circulated on Twitter is not what has gone to the Sunday Herald.
The cost of advert was met by contributions from CQN posters.
Apart from the content and ensuing hoo ha, this way of making matters public may be the shape of things to come in pursuit of transparency and accountability o the SFA that I believe is an objective of TSFM.
Time waits for no man. You write in response to an older comment with trepidation knowing that your theory might have been trashed before it has even been postulated. So yes the question answers itself: When is a theory not a theory?
What’s even more spooky was that when I was making my post John Clark was stealthily unearthing the existence of co-incidental physicist, Dr. Poon. Now it that isn’t an indicator of parallel universes then I’m a fruity king.
Castofthousands says:
January 12, 2015 at 12:32 am
‘… it is clear to me that the Rangers saga is the longest running soap opera in Scottish sporting history. Barely a week passes without a new plot twist. In the circumstances it might be logically thought that a follow up to Mark Daly’s expose’s was overdue…’
—————–
You’re absolutely right, CoT.
The ‘saga’ has all of the universally understood ingredients for a universally intelligible drama- on stage or screen.
The sad thing is, no Scottish playwright/screenwriter would be ‘Charlie’ enough to write the script!
And, for sure, no Scottish-based media chappie would get away with producing an accurate, truthful,TV documentary.And if he did, the BBC Scotland supremo would not allow it to be screened, whether by reason of personal bias, or for fear of frightening the horses.
It would need some Indian, Chinese, or Japanese film maker or author to put Scottish Football mis-governance in its whole sociological/historical/political context in any kind of objective way!
In my opinion, early of a Monday morning. 🙂
@Auldheid, read that piece. Outstanding initiative. Just wish it had been from more than Celtic fans. That it isn’t might generate the hoo-ha you mentioned. Still, nothing ventured. Huge respect for that one. The latest nastiness, now directed at Jim Delahunt, shows it’s high time this issue was made mainstream. Nice riposte to Doncaster, too, hopefully.
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 1:11 am
‘.. I’m actually on late-night Copenhagen taxi duty masel (picking up my son).’
————
And there’s nothing to beat that,is there, I ask, while a tear drops into my beer glass! Would that I were doing the same! 😥 ( and only half kidding! 🙂 )
auldheid it has already raised the blood pressure of excite able types. Is this a first in Scotland, it’s a common tactic in the us if a group feels a point of view is being ignored
Auldheid says:
January 12, 2015 at 1:20 am
‘..There is a document on
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 1:33 am
‘@Auldheid, read that piece. Outstanding initiative..’
___________
What’s going down, then, chaps? Where do I go to catch up? ❓
I think it’s @cqn or some such twitterer that’s posted the document image, John.
John Clarke
Danish Pastry
Scapaflow
Remember folks the image posted is NOT the final version that has gone to the SH.
It is different and whilst it is from a Celtic supporting perspective with regard to the media trying to keep the idea of “The Old Firm” alive, hopefully some of it will resonate with fans of all clubs.
However folk will have to wait until it is published to comment accurately on the content but not on the initiative, although even some of that depends on the content.
Great work Auldheid and I look forward to the finished article.
Perhaps the idea could be expanded and other clubs added?
Something like an open letter to the SPFL with 4 or 5 of the most burning questions, and signed by the relevant supporter’s clubs might add some pressure.
Statement to AIM says the Sarver offer is being rejected, as before, on the grounds that 75% have to vote for disapplication, and the board has spoken to enough of them to realise it’s a non starter.
Confirmation to AIM this morning that the revised Sarver bid has been rejected once again as it wouldn’t get shareholder approval.
I note in the Scotsman today George Taylor stating Rangers should be owned by the fans. One good thing that might come of that is the fans will find it’s not easy to get a person or an organisation to hand over £50m for players and not expect any of it back.
easyJambo says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:09 am
Confirmation to AIM this morning that the revised Sarver bid has been rejected once again as it wouldn’t get shareholder approval.
===========================
I expect through time Sarver may well consider he’s dodged a bullet. Perhaps it would be better if he hadn’t listened to an ex-player with an unrealistic view of Rangers potential.
Where now for Mr Sarver? Does he try and pick up a holding (Ashley’s?) and go hostile?
Could be expensive and for what? A loss-making operation riddled with spivs and their onerous contracts?
Back to Phoenix I think.
Scottish Football awaits the next episode of…..
Bring back jim traynor, we miss press releases such as this….
“ONCE again, Rangers are the subject of media reports and speculation which are at best misleading and at worst malicious.
In an ideal world, for instance, one in which journalism wasn’t at such a damning low it has to be investigated by the highest authorities with culprits facing jail sentences, there would be no need for this Club to respond.
However, because it has become clear Rangers cannot rely on basic honesty, decency or integrity from enough of the country’s media outlets we must speak for ourselves. We have a duty to our supporters to put the record straight. Rangers have been disputing a payment to a foreign company, Orlit, although it should be stressed we have never said there is no bill to be met.
What we have said and what we are telling our supporters is that not all of the invoices submitted with regard to this bill are legitimate.
Clearly there has been a lack of understanding within the media about this when all we have done is refuse to be forced into paying sums we do not owe. It is as simple as that. Who on earth would pay out when faced with a spurious request for money?
No matter what anyone else says, Rangers have agreed a figure to settle this issue and it is a figure which, as we have already tried to explain, is significantly less than the initial demand. Only the wording, which would put this matter to rest once and for all, has still to be signed off. And despite what some over-excited but desperately ill-informed bloggers claim, there is no threat of this Club being closed.
That is downright malicious and ludicrous. But let’s make one thing clear: If Orlit wish to instruct their lawyers to go to court then we will defend our position vigorously. We are absolutely convinced we’d win but we did think it would be better to avoid giving our many detractors another bar with which to beat us over the head.
That’s why we made an offer to settle but we now find we are still being harassed. The thought process seems to be that if we have £22m from the recent IPO we should just pay up. Bizarre. Why should we? Of course we can pay the amount demanded – it is, as we’ve already stated, a small amount – but it is ridiculous to hand over more than is due.
The money belongs to Rangers and we will not give it out to anyone who comes along with invented invoices. That would be reckless in the extreme and suggest that nothing has been understood from the past when Rangers were in effect mugged by money grabbers. We are here to make sure that does not happen again.
We do pay our bills on time and we have always been prepared to pay this one. There are many people and journalists who will choose to disbelieve this truth but that is up to them. They will continue to attack Rangers no matter what we say but this statement is not for them. It is for our supporters. They deserve to know and understand the exact and precise state of play, Rangers will not be closed.
This Club will never run up crippling debts and we will not pay over-inflated salaries to players. However, we will have a sensible pay structure which won’t threaten the club’s existence. That is what we believe the fans want. Having said that, Rangers are rising and we will return to the top flight where we will be competitive again. We are still very much at the beginning of a long road back and although there will be potholes to be negotiated, nothing will stop us.
Rangers are no longer soft touches. We will not bow to or run from bullies and we will not be pressured into handing out even £1 if it is not merited. We are sorry if this, or the fact that Rangers are financially healthy, isn’t what people want to hear but this is the new reality. It is for others to come to terms with that and also our continued revival. It would, however, be a pleasant change if we could be left alone to get on with our business.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vflqJOp_0Wk
I’m still not convinced Sarver was ever serious. The ploy seems to have been to leak the news of his bid to force K&T3B to waste money on shares.
Remember, in this “battle” with Mike pounds are the soldiers and although Ashley’s Army has enough reserves to steamroller over K&T3B’s unit, like any good General he’s softening them up before deploying boots on the ground.
Maybe I’m wrong, but Sarver is clearly a clever man and clever men don’t decide to invest in a sport in which they know little about, which is based 3000 miles away and which can only be described as a omnishambles from top to bottom, purely on the strength of some guy who coaches their kids saying it’s a good deal.
Good Morning
Much smoke and mirrors to come over the next few days.
3 Bears want a seat on the board. Even if they get it they can and will be outvoted by Mash puppets.
The only man who comes out with any credit in this whole sorry saga is John Brown. He saw it for what it was and walked without taking a penny.
I would echo the words of bomber and ask show us the deeds.
If I were an investor or fan I would not give a penny until they were produced and confirmation obtained that no one is sitting on an unrecorded Title.
Enjoy the week
The
amous song says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:09 am
12 0 Rate This
Statement to AIM says the Ashley(Sarver offer) is being rejected
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Oh Dear
Some news just hits you out of the blue
But not this one
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:38 am
0
0
Rate This
amous song says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:09 am
12 0 Rate This
Statement to AIM says the Ashley(Sarver offer) is being rejected
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Oh Dear
Some news just hits you out of the blue
But not this one
=========
it wasn’t a bid it was a possible bid
First post in a while, so wish all a Happy (and fruity?) New Year.
Just a comment on the Herald advert. While I applaud the sentiment and drive behind this (and whilst admittedly not having seen the final version), I fear making it such a blatantly “Celtic” fan advert is a big mistake.
Some form of combined Scottish Supporters Club conglomerate would make it significantly more powerful.
I fear as it is it will be all to easily ignored as just another attack by those dreaded men in hoops over the peepul. I hope that, as indeed Auldheid hints towards, the final version will be more all encompassing.
@ModgePKR says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:12 am
I’m still not convinced Sarver was ever serious. The ploy seems to have been to leak the news of his bid to force K&T3B to waste money on shares.
========================================================
I’m still unsure whether the bid was serious or not and that’s because I haven’t a clue what the motive behind his moves actually is.
He may have been a lure to draw the 3B plus King into the buying arena but if that’s the case IMO it proves the bid was never genuine – simply because any significant shareholders previously on the cusp of selling might have been tipped into selling their holdings to 3B plus King.
This would leave a hostile bid by Sarver was doomed to failure because there weren’t any swithering significant sellers left.
So if he wished to continue Sarver would need to pay well over the odds and even mystery offshore shareholder with onerous contracts will have a price they would settle for.
However it’s like dealing with an infestation of any kind of pest – the initial outbreak is easily and swiftly dealt with and on the surface all looks fine.
However in the cracks and crevices lie the eggs and grubs waiting for the opportune moment to emerge and once again feed on their host.
And that’s the problem it seems in buying out some shareholders – you can never be sure what they leave behind deep in the listed brickwork of Ibrox.
Sadly – just like all the financial regulations which apply – the listed building regulations can’t protect the shaky facade at Ibrox when Death Watch beetles are on the rampage. Metaphorically speaking of course.
As to Sarver? Who knows? Will he be told to pay the price and put-up or shut-up as King was before him? Or will he simply be another ‘billionaire’ who diappears off the radar.
As usual the bampot early warning sytem will require to remain on high-alert scanning the once blue skies above Ibrox for incoming 😆
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 2:01 am
++++++++++++
Can someone post a link to the image? I appreciate this is not the finished version though always interested to see which way the wind was blowing at the time.
Didn’t Sarver say he was interested in buying pretty much any club in Europe – now some clubs have upside – TV, sponsorship, etc – but the reality is, and history has born this out, Scotland is a commercial backwater when it comes to football. Did Sarver make this “bid” as a statement of intent – given the attendant media circus when it comes to anything “Gers” related, he’s certainly got himself on the radar when it comes to sellers of football clubs.
Keith Jackson pretty sure that T3B will get two seats
Rangers boardroom battle: Douglas Park consortium winning the battle for Ibrox as they hold advanced talks with club bosses
Record Sport understands the Lanarkshire-based businessman and his allies, George Letham and George Taylor, are on the brink of agreeing a deal to plough over £6million of emergency money into the club to spare it from insolvency – in return for two seats on the board.
An announcement is expected early this week as the current regime scrambles to secure fresh funding.
And last night, with Park and his group on the cusp of forcing their way into a position of power, directors James and Sandy Easdale appeared to pave the way for their imminent arrival by insisting they will be welcomed into the boardroom.
tayred says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:44 am
Just a comment on the Herald advert. While I applaud the sentiment and drive behind this (and whilst admittedly not having seen the final version), I fear making it such a blatantly “Celtic” fan advert is a big mistake.
Some form of combined Scottish Supporters Club conglomerate would make it significantly more powerful.
I fear as it is it will be all to easily ignored as just another attack by those dreaded men in hoops over the peepul. I hope that, as indeed Auldheid hints towards, the final version will be more all encompassing.
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I agree that some dangers could lie in store for a purely Celtic fan initiative.
However we have to be realistic as to how long it would take to hammer-out an acceptable wording to even half-a-dozen different fan organisations.
There is also the argument that Celtic fans have been informed by the Chief Exec of their club that it is suffering financially in the absence of Rangers.
I have no intention of arguing whether that’s actually the case or not because it’s enough that fans who don’t accept the proposition have a right to make their view known. That IMO is what forms the basis of what a ‘club’ actually means.
It isn’t a lefal entity. It is something much much more – an emotional beast that lives forever in the hearts and minds of its fans and it can mean many different things to different fans.
But crucially, whatever it is, it can’t be parcelled-up and sold to legal entities. And it can die make no mistake about that. But that is and always will be a decision for the fans.
The CQN advert to me is a manifestation of my interpretation of what Celtic as a ‘club’ means to me but again I don’t want to divert attention and energy from the CQN initiative by taking the eye of the main objective.
Even if CQN go this alone in terms of it only being perceived as a Celtic fan initiative this time. It can lay the foundation for future joint and combined action on various issues that trouble Scottish Football governance.
Indeed we have the recent Doncaster sophistry which IMO is offensive to every decent Scottish Football fan and I include Bears in that as well. If our clubs fail to act and tell us whether this was Doncaster acting alone or actually representing the finance departments at all our clubs then we have every right to drag it into the public arena.
Our legal entities could of course act and tell us whether they support Doncaster or are going to discipline him. We actually do have a right to know becase we are all the paying customers.
So good luck CQN as you may be providing a blueprint mmmmmmmmmm 🙄 for the way forward to publicise and spread the concerns of football fans to a wider audience.
andygraham.66 says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:28 am
Keith Jackson pretty sure that T3B will get two seats
My my I didn’t realise that both Easdales were on the RIFC Board 🙂
They certainly are showing great loyalty to the holders of their proxy votes. However their time at Ibrox is coming to an end and Somers is toast.
Otherwise I don’t see how any deal can be effectively sold to the Bears.
As it is getting 2 seats on the Board would leave the vote at 4-2 with the chief exex, finance director and chairman all in one camp plus Easdale with his proxies.
I really think it has to go to an egm – that might show the incumbents that the Bears are serious and its time to look at booking Pickfords.
Eco
I agree, the timescales and organisational minefield that would be required to get a multi-club posting together are big hurdles to get over. But not insurmountable ones.
There are multiple risks involved with the CQN go-it-alone path. A few that quickly came to my mind. Firstly, it dilutes the message – anything said by a Celtic fan will be automatically ignored by I’d guess 95% of Rangers fans (he says plucking a number out of the sky).
Secondly, it could be taken by Rangers fans as further proof of their self-imagined importance. As one poster on an Aberdeen site has said about the posting on CQN “Let’s show how little we care by taking out a full page ad in a national newspaper to tell people how little we care…”. I should point out that several on the same site were more positive about the posting.
Thirdly, it further stokes the fire for what many of us fear could turn into a very nasty day in the history of Glasgow and its associated tribes. If it was posted under a Premier League club fans banner, for example, it will attract significantly less anger/hatred from certain parts of society. We all know about, and Delahunt has been the latest to suffer from, the bile that can be generated from very little provocation.
Again, I commend the stance and hope it has the desired effect. It can only help bring the nonsense to the attention of some that have ignored what has been going on. It may even prick the attention of the UK national press. I just think with a bit more work (and I am holding my hands up here in admission that I for one wouldn’t have the time to devote to it, so it is a bit rich that I am asking others to do it!) it could be something much more potent.
The fruity king arena seems to be a kind of cod north of England reference to a fruit machine of royal bent. Perhaps it would play better in Glasgow if a more local version were used now should it be the Puggy King or the Wan Armed King – to use the full Wan Armed Bandit King is both over prolix and too close to home. In fact the whole thing is too close to home as we all know only the house wins with these things
From BBC webshi1e
“…Rangers turn down Robert Sarver’s £20m takeover bid
Rangers have rejected Robert Sarver’s proposed takeover of the Ibrox club.
American Sarver, who owns the Phoenix Suns basketball team, had offered £20m for a majority stake in the Championship club.”
…………..
Why are they allowed to get away with this?
I thought the BBC board agreed that accuracy was paramount and that a distinguishment would need to be made between
The “company” and the “Club” ???
Sarver offered to buy the shares in the (parent) company
(did he not) – which is not the same as buying the “club”
or
huv I goat that wrang?
I commend the Celtic fans for their initiative but If they’ve employed anyone from a PR background they need to sack them! Too verbose, poor intro (Donald Findlay!?) and not the right time given that it will precede a sell out at Hampden where the SMSM can revel in “back to business as normal”.
However, a good idea that can be worked on perhaps? It’s a bit of an industry in the USA and subsequently there is a standard response strategy – dismissal as obsessives, question the funding, suggestions of ulterior motives and eventually a (usually smarter) response full page advert from someone with better PR.
What it does do is bring the subject on to the pages of the MSM which is commendable.
jimlarkin says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:07 am
The Rangers Football Club is, currently, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rangers International Football Club.
As I understand it, if RIFC were to enter admin, TRFC would not face an immediate points deduction, until such times as TRFC entered admin.
A fair charge to level at the Scottish media, is that their poor coverage of events down Edmiston Drive, has inadvertently helped the bottom feeders do their worst. That some of the worst offenders have gone on to win awards from their peers, is embarrassing to say the least.
Has anyone got a link or can they paste up the article for the Sunday Herald ?
Would be appreciated
How good would it be if the fruity king thing provoked a bid from a commercial rival (in a joint venture) and we ended up with ‘THE FAIRY LIQUID 888 ARENA’
(say it fast . . . ) 😆
tayred says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:55 am
I think your concerns are legitimate and should be voiced as CQN are on a learning curve as well.
I am not involved with the CQN Initiative although I confess to reading the site usually when something posted here direct my attention to it.
But as a fairly long-in-the-tooth-obsever and participasnt in the Old Firm sectarian issues I have learnt a couple of important things: 1) There is never a right time. 2) Celtic fans often had to either do it for themselves or crawl into a dark place and hide.
I do hope that Point 2 is something that has been changing and that what has taken place wrt to Rangers and the obvious bias ehibited and extended to the Ibrox entity by the SFA, SPL and SPFL may have made a lot of supporters of other Scottish clubs perhaps realise that the two clubs are not identical peas in a pod.
But that really is an issue for the fans of other clubs to reach their own conclusion on.
As to the more specific points you raise I would observe: On Dilution – I would have said it started as 100% and it may well have fallen as low as 75%. The experience of the journey has and is changing Rangers fans.
Self imagined importance: I genuinely believe that is under severe self-attack as many Bears realise where the road to isolationism leads.
A lot of the external organisation structures that once surrounded ‘The Rangers Family have been dissolving for decades as Scottish Society changes. It’s easy to ignore others when you have a strong network of family or tribal support. Not so easy when only a modern family and especially not when the religious divide is disintegrating through the collapse of traditional religiouns in Scotland.
No matter whether CQN run with their ad or not won’t make a blind bit of difference to what happens at a certain forthcoming match. What will determine that to a large extent IMO will be the score and the amount of alcohol consumed.
As to the latter a strict No Alcohol policy should be in place and anyone showing signs of having consumed alcohol pre-match should be turned away with an indelible stamp on their hand to identify them if arrested later. If we really mean to clen-up our act then we have to get tough.
I simply have never ever seen the justification for getting totally tanked-up before a game. These supporters cause trouble and often spark the major battles that can break-out.
As to whether it would attract less angst if posted under a League-wide platform I actually don’t see as the point. It is a question of freedom of expression and that shouldn’t be only enjoyed by the majority.
Indeed by the very nature of the Beast it is often the minority who require defending to be allowed to express their point of view.
As I say the points you make are valid and well worthy of broad detailed discussion but sometimes someone has to take that first step into the unknown and I feel this is one of those times.
It might work and it might not but I genuinely don’t think it will affect the scale of violence wrt the forthcoming game.
What we cannot allow is to be forced back into the cave because of the fear of attack from those with an opposed viewpoint. That would be turning the clock back and returning to the worst of the really bad dark old days.
People of my generation who lived through it and did their bit to try and change society for the better when it came to bigotry and sectarianism – on both sides btw – would wonder why we bothered and just didn’t concentrate on getting a bigger cave with all mod cons and central heating and the ultimate luxury of an inside cludgie.
jimlarkin says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:07 am
Sarver offered to buy the shares in the (parent) company
(did he not) – which is not the same as buying the “club”
or
huv I goat that wrang?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No offer was actually made.
“Nothing in this announcement constitutes an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer for the purposes of Rule 2.7 of the Code and there can be no certainty that any offer will be made.”
RNS Number : 5986B
Robert Sarver
08 January 2015
ecobhoy says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:48 am
That the Herald have agreed to run an ad of this sort, is in itself an indicator of how much has changed.
Here’s hoping, they stand firm, as the cat is now well and truly out of the bag. #Incoming!
jimlarkin says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:07 am
Why are they allowed to get away with this? I thought the BBC board agreed that accuracy was paramount and that a distinguishment would need to be made between The “company” and the “Club” ???
Sarver offered to buy the shares in the (parent) company (did he not) – which is not the same as buying the “club”
========================================================
The answer lies in an appeal to the BBC Trust. I admired the tenacity of the 2 Rangers fans who travelled every step of the BBC Complaints Procedure to win part of their case.
More importantly they provided the blueprint to follow for everyone else including Celtic Supporters.
All you need to do is read the link below and send-off your email and eventually there will be a decision.
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/assets/files/pdf/appeals/esc_bulletins/2013/apr_may.pdf
Pages: 7, 25-35