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.
Honestly obsessive, deluded , call it what you like. Most people will just laugh.
rhapsodyinblue says:
January 12, 2015 at 5:45 pm
They will see through, this is no way a neutral viewpoint, it is tainted with bias, and I dare say with a hint of sectarianism
behind it.
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Whilst I understand your frustration at what you discern as an attack on your club, and whilst I can see the logic in your argument that it is a biased advert, coming from Celtic fans, and whilst in my own opinion its unnecessarily antagonistic approach (in some parts) tends to detract from the point of the OCNC thrust of the advert, it in no way shape or form can be described a sectarian. That, quite simply, is a dog whistle to garner the ‘troops’. The idea that if you disagree with Rangers fans you are therefore a sectarian bigot, taig, mhank…whatever, is delusional mince. I’m heartily sick of it.
To be honest I’m bored of it. Fix your club and stop trying to intimidate people.
rhapsodyinblue says:
January 12, 2015 at 5:45 pm
6 17 Rate This
A hint of sectarianism behind it?
Where?
Stating facts is sectarianism now?
Seriously, these are the attitudes that have caused many of the Rangers fans’ problems.
Just because someone says something you disagree with doesn’t make it sectarian.
Facts are still facts.
Just a reminder that name calling is not the way of the blog. Casual references to Derek Johnstone, Charles Green Mike Ashley and a host of others are fine as long as their names are used. Anything else sucks our credibility, and muddies the water for debate.
RiB’s post was removed, not for the disrespectful tone he employed about other fans (where I gave him some latitude), but for the ridiculous sectarianism charge. Unfortunately many of you responded before I got there (I had removed the post to head off responses). Pleasingly, the responses have been temperate and considered.
Please let that matter lie now.
RiB has been venting some frustration of late, but the rules are the rules for everyone. May not be what he wants to hear, but he has to hear it 🙂
If anyone wants to completely waste three minutes of their life and learn absolutely nothing about the Ibrox omnishambles here is Chris McLaughlin’s take on what happens next.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30783217
Derek Johnstone is now calling ‘The 3 Bears’ ‘ The 3 Amigos’ 😉 …… Why???
As a riposte to the CQN advert in the Herald, the only way Rangers fans can come back is to issue a rebuttal in the same format. Imagine the form that will take!
Also, good luck getting it cleared for publication by the Herald legals.
3Amigos either Cowboys or reference to a comedy film….
Somewhat Conflicted
This chap seems in danger of hyper tension at HMRC’s “relentless pursuit of Rangers” in a case many bears claim vindicated their club of all wrong doing.
He ends with “We want a full government enquiry into this whole process and we will not rest until we get it.”
Well good luck with that, Nessun Dorma.
http://www.dothebouncy.com/articles/20-million-reasons-for-a-public-enquiry/
Brenda says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Derek Johnstone is now calling ‘The 3 Bears’ ‘ The 3 Amigos’
/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
Maybe Johnstone thinks (I know, I know) that “Amigos” is more appropriate than “Bears”. I think that “Blind Mice” better describes the trio.
Brenda says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Derek Johnstone is now calling ‘The 3 Bears’ ‘ The 3 Amigos’ 😉 …… Why???
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The Three Amigos from IMDB: “Three unemployed actors accept an invitation to a Mexican village to replay their bandit fighter roles, unaware that it is the real thing.”
That sounds quite apt and jolly compared to Goliilocks and the Three Bears where the three are the victoms of casual petty crime and suffer PTSD due to their lack of reasonable security precautions.”
The Three Amigos also cuts out Golidlock – I mean Dave King.
I just heard an ad for tomorrow’s Sun which will be highlighting Peter Løvenkrands opinion on Mike Ashley.
Some good PR needed?
And even the fans’ group Rangers First had an ad on urging fans to buy shares. Usually just take the podcast so not heard the ads too often, certainly not that one. New tactic?
Al Lamont stating on BBC News that 3B want a 2 on and 2 off deal wrt to directors. I haven’t seen the 2 off mentioned before. Looks to me an egm is inevitable if the Board doesn’t fold.
If the 3B get their 2 on 2 off deal then King will then demand another directorship – not for himself obviously. The only other solution is either Ashley puts in more cash – which reinforces the SFA control argument – or the mystery investors with onerous contracts cough-up.
Will they do that? I suppose it all depends whether their contracts are insolvency proof or not.
And what about the hidden liability – when will that rear its head?
“This chap seems in danger of hyper tension at HMRC’s “relentless pursuit of Rangers” in a case many bears claim vindicated their club of all wrong doing.”
Her ignores the obvious possibility the infor about HMRC’s investigation came from inside Ibrox itself.
slimshady61 says:
January 12, 2015 at 3:20 pm
94 3 Rate This
For my part, I would prefer a shorter more concise statement along the lines of “Rangers Are Dead, get over it. We have.”
54-0
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Slim…welcome back…missed your acerbic wit…buon natale!
A lateral thought
Suppose you owned the assets in two football clubs and hid ownership of one of them for 2 ½ yrs.
Suppose you needed to legitimise the situation
Suppose the fact that you hid ownership of one of them could cause you problems
How could you legitimise the situation without getting caught?
Here’s an idea
Become the biggest Creditor in one of the clubs and force it into liquidation. That way you could appear to acquire the assets for the first time when in fact you were simply making a liquidation achieve much the same result as a CVA
Neat isn’t it?
But it would take an astute businessman to figure that out
Somebody with lots of experience in liquidating companies
…e buon anno!
Caveat Emptor says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:41 pm
As a riposte to the CQN advert in the Herald, the only way Rangers fans can come back is to issue a rebuttal in the same format. Imagine the form that will take!
Also, good luck getting it cleared for publication by the Herald legals.
==================================
As has repeatedly been pointed out the final version to the Herald is different from what we’ve seen. If they’ve cleared it then clearly they believe there is nothing legally incorrect in it. I expect a retort by Rangers fans, with LNS no doubt the basis for their argument. Will be interesting to see what the Herald legals make of it.
Goosy
That’s some size of a box your thinking outside off.
Hey Mods,OT but what ever happened to the podcast with Christopher Brookmyre? You hinted about it months ago. Only ask as I’m going to one of his book readings in Glasgow on Thursday. Wee donation made.
yourhavingalaugh says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:30 pm
He’s giving the bar stewards ideas, hope you’re on commission Goosey
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:20 pm
—
Not to try to pick holes but in the spirit of eliciting extra clarity, I’d like to ask, if I may:
1. Why would “an astute businessman” get himself into the predicament of owning the assets of two clubs in the first place?
2. When you say “appear to acquire the assets for the first time”, do you mean post-insolvency event? Either way, I don’t understand because the astute businessman would be back to square one, owning the assets in two clubs.
Thank you.
Jim Larkin
Date of publication is 25th Jan. I’d view the advert as a counter to the propaganda war waged by the smsm using the smsm.
mcfc says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:48 pm
Somewhat Conflicted
This chap seems in danger of hyper tension at HMRC’s “relentless pursuit of Rangers” in a case many bears claim vindicated their club of all wrong doing.
He ends with “We want a full government enquiry into this whole process and we will not rest until we get it.”
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These are the hard-core who will never accept any responsibility for anything and will always look for excuses because they refuse to live within their financial means.
They tried to distract their own supporters from the financial implosion coming to Rangers with their ludicrous State Aid claims which the European Commission threw in the garbage bin.
As always the threat:
This is the latest wheeze to whip-up the support and deflect them from founding a decent Rangers which has no interest in orange shirts and baggage. They want to peddle the Rightful Place myth it really is that simple.
And, as always, the delusion of big numbers. It’s usually the 500 million worldwide fan base. This time it’s 20 million reasons why the HMRC are bullies.
20 Million? Don’t make me laugh! You couldn’t even raise 40,000 signatures for the anti HMRC petition over 12 months. That’s the Government petition the support cynically and fraudulently abused by adding names of people without their permission; using babies’ names; using the names of pets; using multiple applications via remailers; and on and on. A blatant and cynical attempt to corrupt the Parliamentary process.
He gives the game away right at the start when he states: After a period of unhelpful adjectives and metaphors, which military men would aptly describe as “blue on blue”, we are at long last reminding ourselves where the real enemies of our club are, and it’s certainly not from within.’
In a nutshell he claims it’s not Rangers men who were responsible for not paying tax before Whyte arrived which is of course bolloks – Wee Tax Case. So to feed the conspiracy it must be an external enemy so it might as well be the HMRC.
He ignores the bits of the Big Tax Case that Rangers have admitted or had found against them at the two earlier tribunals. That just disappears from the history.
He also seems to be unaware that the first appeal wasn’t by HMRC but from Rangers. The HMRC didn’t agree with some of the findings of that initial appeal.
In order to protect the public purse the HMRC then appealed the relevant findings it didn’t agree with in the first appeal. He either ignores or is incapable of understanding how our legal system operates and that it includes being allowed to appeal.
It also escapes his attention that the resolve shown by the HMRC has encouraged hundreds of other companies including football clubs to pay up on EBT tax assessments and the extra revenue raised dwarfs the expense incurred in pursuing Rangers to date.
He turns a blind eye to the loopy and fiscally dangerous decision to get involved with something as toxic as EBTs and also ignores the fact that they weren’t run in accordance with the rules set-out by their porno pal Baxendale.
He also doesn’t ponder why Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise – Yea that’s right: HER MAJESTY’S C&E! have decided to launch such a dastardly attack on her loyal FC.
Well that’s an easy one – the club did everything in its power to hide, delay and destroy the evidence of the EBTS and relevant paperwork. I wonder why they did that when they claim to have been perfectly legal?
It was only after years of stalling that a police raid on Ibrox managed to seize important documentation. Sadly it has been impossible to restore the memory of some who worked in important positions at Ibrox who, to this day, appear to suffer from amnesia and apparently find it difficult to recall or explains transactions over a 10-year-period.
I could go on but there’s no point as we are dealing with a combination of closed minds and dreams of a glorious footballing past that will never ever be repeated. All paid for by non-taxed EBTs. I hope you enjoyed that period because it has destroyed your club possibly for ever. And only a handful of supporters questioned the madness and as is the Rangers Way – they were howled down at AGMs.
Do you really still think it was worth it?
ecobhoy says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:00 pm
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Al Lamont stating on BBC News that 3B want a 2 on and 2 off deal wrt to directors. I haven’t seen the 2 off mentioned before. Looks to me an egm is inevitable if the Board doesn’t fold.
If the 3B get their 2 on 2 off deal then King will then demand another directorship – not for himself obviously. The only other solution is either Ashley puts in more cash – which reinforces the SFA control argument – or the mystery investors with onerous contracts cough-up.
Will they do that? I suppose it all depends whether their contracts are insolvency proof or not.
And what about the hidden liability – when will that rear its head?
_________________________________________________________
They could just pay the wages late, triggering immediate SFA sanctions.
That would be a way to put pressure on the ‘real’ rangers men and focus minds on squeezing more money in.
Wouldn’t necessarily lead to insolvency, if they could show a reasonable prospect of making up the shortfall subsequently.
I can just see the propect of a winding up petition being placed by the players :), King being left with no option but to stump up or head for the hills, then Sandy and MASH riding to the rescue, to the relief of the Ibrox faithful.
My name is Flocculent Apoidea and today I read a bit of the Scottish Daily Mail. Mrs FA bought it so I can’t feel fully responsible. Page 66 has a bit giving Mr Sarver some advice – that, if he’s serious, he should be “jetting in” (that’s actually what’s printed) to put pressure on those seeking control at Ibrox. The piece highlights the puzzlement of people here at his interest but goes on to say “Far more comforting for supporters is the thought that the Three Bears – good Rangers men in Douglas Park, George Taylor and George Letham – or former director Dave King, a throwback to the big-spending days of old, could come in and make everything alright again.”
I didn’t read any more of this pish but genuinely thought this could be the funny column – a bit like the stuff Tam Cowan does. There’s a picture of the writer at the top of the page. He’s got a kind of a Mona Lisa smirk so that backed up my theory but he’s also wearing a tie, suggesting a more somber approach. Apparently, John Greechan is the “Chief Sports Writer”. I don’t know what Chief Sports are but maybe he should stick to writing about those.
Hmmm…Jim Traynor officially enters the world of PR.
http://level5pr.co.uk/
upthehoops says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:21 pm
Hmmm…Jim Traynor officially enters the world of PR.
http://level5pr.co.uk/
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No clients listed 🙁
New gig at Rangers ❓
wottpi says:
January 12, 2015 at 5:44 pm
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I for one wholly understand the point about fans wanting to be the spiritual continuation of a club that went tits up.
Does that mean that the blokes running Third Lanark and Gretna 2008 can argue that they are the spiritual continuation of the old clubs and demand a place in the professional ranks as they never should have been thrown out in the first place over a silly little thing like being liquidated?
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Only if granted a franchise by SFA/SPFL.
Only one franchise has been granted to date under the terms of the secretive 5WA.
If that experiment proves successful and the Doncaster Interpretation is adopted for all clubs outwith the current 5WA, Thirds or Gretna would be able to apply for a new franchise as part of the expansion process that will see names like Renton and Vale of Leven returning to the top division with their trophies from the 19th century fully restored.
Esteban says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:48 pm
IMO
1. Why would “an astute businessman” get himself into the predicament of owning the assets of two clubs in the first place?
,,,,,,,,,,,
Money
All the onerous contracts. Next time round they will be tied up forever never mind 20yrs
What’s the real predicament for the astute businessman?
Has to be something outwith his control like the fallout from upcoming court cases
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2. When you say “appear to acquire the assets for the first time”, do you mean post-insolvency event? Either way, I don’t understand because the astute businessman would be back to square one, owning the assets in two clubs.
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With a Prepack Insolvency the assets can be “sold” to yourself via a pretend buyer
Thereafter some local Spivs take the flak from fans because the club is a shoestring operation run to make money
Candidate for “Astute business man”
Someone with lots of dough
Candidates for Newco Bidder?
Probably a Basketball Owner who invested up to £100 in making a pretend bid
What did it achieve?
Visibility and therefore a stake in the ground for gullible fans and MSM to remember
He has now become a “serious“candidate to non Bampots and thus will be a known face when he re-appears on schedule as a post insolvency Bidder
Who else has figured this out?
King
Once again the old boys network seems to be alive and well and kicking as we see how our officials at work on the 6th floor.
Just read that Andrew Dallas, a young up and coming referee, has been fast-tracked by the SFA onto the FIFA elite list where we are allowed seven nominees.
I’m thinking this is a surprise since he seems barely to have started to ref any top league games.
The official SFA Referee profile of their top 21 referees does even profile him such is/was his status at the start of the season.Link http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football_referees.cfm?page=2064&start=1
So, just how does this lad merit such accelerated promotion?
Sadly, cynics will point to nepotism rather than ability giving him his helping hand – I’ve never seen the boy in action so can’t judge – but another example of how the SFA make themselves such easy targets for criticism.
Wonder how our other aspiring refs , without highly placed dads, feel as they see this…..
Me? Well, I guess I’m just a cynic where the SFA are concerned.
This is the reply I received this afternoon to my email re their action v Collyer Bristow.
” Today at 3:46 PM
To me
Hi,…., and many thanks for your email which I have forwarded on to the
team for them to reply.
If you haven’t heard back from them by later this week, Thursday / Friday,
do please come back to me and let me know
Best regards
H……
_____________________________
From:
Sent: 09 January 2015 19:23
To: Media@worthingtongroup…..
Subject: worthington legal action/collyer bristow
Dear media@worthingtongroup
With reference to your announcement today of the FCA’s decision on Reverse
Takeover, may I take it that this in no way interferes with the continuation of your current legal action against Collyer Bristow which,I understand,is scheduled to resume this month?
Yours faithfully
(my real name)
upthehoops says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:21 pm
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Hmmm…Jim Traynor officially enters the world of PR.
http://level5pr.co.uk/
Mr Traynor has 500 million potential clients with this snippet —
Core Values
We offer a specialised, personal service based on trust, morality, belief and integrity and we take on only those clients who share our core values and ideals
Just saw the advert posted in the Herald.
Explains why I got a blizzard of TD’s at mentioning the term “O*d F@#m” on a recent post. Sorry, won’t do it again ….. 😳
@Goosy, you convinced Ashley and Sarver are hand in glove on this?
lagerbeer says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:38 pm
0 1 Rate This
Just saw the advert posted in the Herald.
Explains why I got a blizzard of TD’s at mentioning the term “O*d F@#m” on a recent post. Sorry, won’t do it again ….. 😳
………………..
Is it in Today ? (Monday’s Herald ?)
@Jim, think it’s still at the planning stage. Final draft apparently different from what’s circulating.
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:20 pm
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I don’t think it is that simple.
I think the man with the club has been part of it since very early days.
But part of a wee team.
I don’t know if he of whom you infer was at our sair missed pal Corsica’s famous Swiss meeting or indeed if not then who maybe represented him there – I’d guess it might have been the property man who has had no front role in the game but who was a player back then.
These guys were always clever enough to have an exit plan and the only thing they probably were never sure of was how long they could milk it all till the final roll of the dice.
Pretty impressive stuff.
ecobhoy says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:01 pm
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He also doesn’t ponder why Her Majesty’s Customs & Excise – Yea that’s right: HER MAJESTY’S C&E! have decided to launch such a dastardly attack on her loyal FC.
Well that’s an easy one – the club did everything in its power to hide, delay and destroy the evidence of the EBTS and relevant paperwork.
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But surely, that was the holding company not the club? 😈
Until that myth is destroyed once and for all, they will carry on with such nonsense.
If only idiots like Doncaster would think through the consequences of their actions or words before they spoke or wrote, we would be in a far better place, and far sooner.
gerrybhoy67 says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:37 pm
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upthehoops says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:21 pm
0 0 Rate This
Hmmm…Jim Traynor officially enters the world of PR.
http://level5pr.co.uk/
Mr Traynor has 500 million potential clients with this snippet —
Core Values
We offer a specialised, personal service based on trust, morality, belief and integrity and we take on only those clients who share our core values and ideals
====================================================================
No mention of truth or honesty though, so at least he’s consistant.
Auldheid says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:55 pm
12 1 Rate This
Jim Larkin
Date of publication is 25th Jan. I’d view the advert as a counter to the propaganda war waged by the smsm using the smsm.
………………………..
Thanks
Should be an extra memorable Burns day !
(did Rabbie Burns have an EBT ?
The Deils awa … wi the exciseman)
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:58 pm
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I just heard an ad for tomorrow’s Sun which will be highlighting Peter Løvenkrands opinion on Mike Ashley.
Former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands says Mike Ashley is just a “down to earth guy” who enjoys sharing a drink with his players.
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And yet i have never seen and pictures of a good night out down ibrox way with him and any TRFC players 😉
Cluster One says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:18 pm
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Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 6:58 pm
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I just heard an ad for tomorrow’s Sun which will be highlighting Peter Løvenkrands opinion on Mike Ashley.
Former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands says Mike Ashley is just a “down to earth guy” who enjoys sharing a drink with his players.
—————
And yet i have never seen and pictures of a good night out down ibrox way with him and any TRFC players 😉
================================================================
I’m sure I once saw a photo of a fattish chap on a karaoke night out with the TRFC players.
Wasn’t that MA? 😀
Lacrosse?
A view on the advert/statement to be published in the Sunday Herald by someone who has seen it.
http://thecelticblog.com/2015/01/blogs/celtic/celtic-fan-groups-leads-the-way
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:41 pm
@Goosy, you convinced Ashley and Sarver are hand in glove on this?
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DP
I just join the dots The Sarver involvement had far too many unanswered questions for it to be a credible approach. Many of them have been mentioned on this blog
To me
There has to be another reason for a charade that was so obviously a nonsense in the first place
And there are plausible reasons to me that join dots that say it was a pretend bid all along
One pleasing aspect of Sarver exiting stage left will be we no longer have to watch him every night on the news springing off a trampoline to put a basketball through a hoop. What was the point of showing that night after night?
Could not have been a tactical/bunkum bid SSB panel was amazed that such a wondrous pot of gold could turned down. I was quite gratified to hear that they knew all of the intricate details of it, No-one would make such comments without proper knowledge. Alternatively they were spinning mountains out of moonbeams.
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:51 pm
‘..The Sarver involvement had far too many unanswered questions for it to be a credible approach…’
—————-
I agree with that observation.There must be a personal connection between Ashley and Sarver,something that enables them to trust one another, over and above any business connection. I find it irritating that none of our hacks seem even to have thought of trying to establish what that connection is!(I’m sure a guy like Sarver would not take any business advice from his sons’ ‘soccer coach’)
Whatever the connection, it seems to have blind-sided the 3Bs- and made Fruity King look vaguely foolish and irrelevant.
Does anyone else feel drained/fatigued/weary of this whole f*ck**g pantomime/charade or is it just my age?
scottc says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:31 pm
Lacrosse?
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In the Daily Mail? Nah. Sounds a bit….you know?…..”foreign”.
Ecobhoy says
January 12 2015 @8.01pm
Eco, in my reasonably short life on this blog, I have come to realise that you maintain meticulous records for future reference if necessary.
For that reason , I would like to say that Her Majesty`s Customs and Excise would have had no interest in EBTs. These would have been the responsibility of the Board of Inland Revenue.
Both departments merged to form (in my view, disastrously) HMRC.
EBTS were on going prior to the merger.
Goosy Goosy FWIW I think you hit the nail on the head with your latest dot-joining hypothesis. It solves several small mysteries from the events of the past couple of years, including Johns Brown’s “show us the deeds”, Sports Direct signage ready for deployment at the big hoose, and the current power balance in the Blue Room.
Presumably Mike Ashley doesn’t want “the club” – he just wants another Sports Direct stadium advertising his brands (which will include The Rangers brand). I suspect that he already has most of what he wants legally tied up, and is now just angling to complete the set with 100% of Ranger Retail. The bigger toys are already in his toybox, I reckon.
I stick with my prediction of a liquidation of RIFC plc by the board imminently (obviously before any EGM). When TRFC ltd are called on to settle the loan from RIFC, it will be found that there are no assets left, save a bunch of unsellable players… Cue several RRM with big holes in their pockets…
Ashley (or his associates?) end up with another Sports Direct Arena, and the Rangers brand rights. As for the eternal ghost of “The Club”, that can presumably be left to the RRM to resurrect at their own (ruinous) expense…
This whole saga is truly an education in legal and commercial sleight of hand, and the practical applications of smoke and mirrors (and squirrels).
And what of the urgent panic for 6.5 mil. Due today?
All well then?
upthehoops says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:03 pm
One pleasing aspect of Sarver exiting stage left will be we no longer have to watch him every night on the news springing off a trampoline to put a basketball through a hoop. What was the point of showing that night after night?
———————————-
To mentally prepare Rangers fans for Kris Boyd being replaced by Mike Ashley? On a contract complete with a win, draw, lose, score, don’t score bonus. (I’m assuming he’s not already registered with another club – as will the SFA).
jean7brodie says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Does anyone else feel drained/fatigued/weary of this whole f*ck**g pantomime/charade or is it just my age?
—
I often feel my mind being tied in knots by the many twists and turns… but when I manage to just relax, sit back, and observe, it becomes top entertainment, and educational to boot! Don’t let it get to you, there will be many more instalments to come over several seasons yet… Here’s hoping for some of the loose ends of the plot being tied up soon, though… 😕
Auldheid says:
January 12, 2015 at 5:01 pm
41 0 Rate This
The ad was accepted by the Herald after being checked by their legals so it will be difficult to stop without causing a bigger problem than publishing it would.
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I sincerely hope you’re right Auldheid but never discount the forces of darkness who, thanks to injudicious leaks, now have a full 2 weeks to grease palms, don aprons, spin the ouija board, call in favours, phone a friend (Kenny MacIntyre), offer EBTs, utter threats & generally do the things that ought otherwise to be done in the privacy of the SPFL match official’s room.
I don’t trust any of the Scottish press any more than I trust Nicola “JesuisCharlie” Sturgeon who proclaims free speech at the same time as her polo neck-wearing gauleiters lift innocent citizens for having the temerity to wear “Free Palestine” t-shirts in a free country.
But it will make a statement if indeed it is published; better as you say for the son (Sun???) to send an imperfect letter home, than never send the perfect one – much better.
scarecrow666 says:
January 12, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Hey Mods,OT but what ever happened to the podcast with Christopher Brookmyre? You hinted about it months ago. Only ask as I’m going to one of his book readings in Glasgow on Thursday. Wee donation made.
________________________________________________________________________________
I am sorry to say that the Brookmyre podcast was delayed due to events taking precedence at the time of its planned release. Subsequently, when the news-storm which had prevented publication had died down, the content of the interview was out of date.
I have spoken to Big Pink about having it re-edited and put out as an historic thing, because it was very interesting and entertaining. Watch this space.
We are also hoping to talk again to David Low about the Hibs saga – and Turnbull Hutton to reflect on his legacy at Raith Rovers.
Auldheid,
perhaps you could ask these guys http://level5pr.co.uk/ for a proposal on how they might help you gain maximum “penetration” (is that the right PR word?) for the wonderful CQN initiative you mention. They seem terribly well connected (endorsed by all the right people -Roddy Forsyth, Sir Walter, the SPFL etc) and probably even have some personal experience to call upon. Just the sort initiative a young start up company with its stated values of honesty and integrity would love to get its teeth into as it attempts to make a name for itself in such a competitive environment.
I will mention no names at the moment. There is a story doing the rounds that the SPFL have asked one of the four LC semi finalists to pay the ticket money up front. If true would the club have the right to insist the other three should do the same?
GoosyGoosy says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:51 pm
13 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:41 pm
@Goosy, you convinced Ashley and Sarver are hand in glove on this?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
DP
I just join the dots The Sarver involvement had far too many unanswered questions for it to be a credible approach. Many of them have been mentioned on this blog
To me
There has to be another reason for a charade that was so obviously a nonsense in the first place
And there are plausible reasons to me that join dots that say it was a pretend bid all along
———-
Even to my untrained eye it seemed a very pretendy.
Can’t see who he’s aided, though.
I suppose if it was leaked to the RRM trio early, then they’ve maybe bought in a panic as mentioned here. The thought has crossed my mind that the current board want their rivals to use as much moolah as possible before pulling a stunt, which would leave said rivals seriously out of pocket having achieved nothing. It would also neuter them for any new bid in your scenario and leave the current lot looking like the cat that got the cream.
Keith Jackson has been sounding upbeat for days on a deal for the triple bears, but still no announcement (he was expecting one last Friday!). Maybe Ashley seriously wants it to crash so he can start newco newco as Sports Direct Rangers? Nowt would surprise me at this point.
Whatever the connection, it seems to have blind-sided the 3Bs- and made Fruity King look vaguely foolish and irrelevant.
—————————————————–
JC
He is a self made man, and has by his own efforts made himself foolish and irrelevant.
His family Trust is down a couple of Million into the bargain.
howiemac says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:35 pm
__________________________________
Thanks howiemac, I am now going to relax, sit back, and observe and let the Karma happen 😉
Auldheid says:
January 12, 2015 at 9:38 pm
I haven’t read the statement that CQN propose to put out but was there ever any contact with other supporters blogs such as Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Motherwell etc to make this a joint process. Each group of fans could have made separate points while grouping them around a main statement. A joint statement from other clubs would have been welcome, possibly ridiculing Doncaster’s continuation theory.
I would expect that our media, as contemptible as they are, will specifically turn this into an ‘Old Firm’ issue, regardless of what this statement says, to stoke the rivalry of the up coming semi. If other fan groups had been contacted and co-ordinated their actions it would have a much larger effect.
This should not be about one fan group leading the way but about all fans who are concerned about our sports governance and independence. There should be statements, possibly from this site which has a broad following from various clubs, that all fans could stand behind.
oddjob says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:16 pm
Ecobhoy says
January 12 2015 @8.01pm
Eco, in my reasonably short life on this blog, I have come to realise that you maintain meticulous records for future reference if necessary.
For that reason, I would like to say that Her Majesty`s Customs and Excise would have had no interest in EBTs. These would have been the responsibility of the Board of Inland Revenue.
=====================================================
If you look at the start of my post you’ll see that I correctly refer to HMRC I think at least six times in a row.
In the legal actions referred to by the original poster I was referring to HMRC was the defendant in the first tribunal and the appellant in the second.
So HMRC obviously had an interest in EBTs. Also IIRC the 2004/5 merger transferred outstanding Board of the Inland Revenue cases to HMRC the new combined agency.
Where I did make a mistake I notice from re-reading my piece was that after correctly using HMRC 6 times in a row I inexplicably used HMCE twice in the same sentence when I meant to again use HMRC.
So apologies for my senior moment 😳
Head Hunter says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:46 pm
Auldheid,
perhaps you could ask these guys http://level5pr.co.uk/ for a proposal on how they might help you gain maximum “penetration” (is that the right PR word?) for the wonderful CQN initiative you mention. They seem terribly well connected (endorsed by all the right people -Roddy Forsyth, Sir Walter, the SPFL etc) and probably even have some personal experience to call upon. Just the sort initiative a young start up company with its stated values of honesty and integrity would love to get its teeth into as it attempts to make a name for itself in such a competitive environment.
============================================================
Yes they talk the talk but they don’t seem to have much in the way of PR experience between them and it seems to involve the same employer who possibly dispensed with their services.
I think I’ll just stick with Mr Irvine 😆
I wonder who they are using as their registered football agent?
Ecobhoy says,
January 12 2015. A 11.10
Eco, I appreciate your response and accept all of the other references you made in the original post.
I was not wishing to be pedantic in my post,just hoping to ensure you were aware of your “slip” and able to correct !
ecobhoy says:
January 12, 2015 at 11:27 pm
Head Hunter says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:46 pm
Perhaps these new kids on the block would benefit from a tie up with http://williammcmurdo.wordpress.com/
Blue Pound Consultancy has a nice ring to it, they could offer to do for others what they have been so successful in enabling at Rangers
dit
Ok its been a long day, and I’m feeling a bit silly, but lordy, the DR sub out did himself with sel-tic as a strapline
slimshady61 says:
January 12, 2015 at 10:38 pm
…………..
And here’s hoping there are no typo error’s that could suggest they are the same club…can you imagine how that would pan out?
I agree with you Slim…if they are gonna do it…make it short…to the point and crystal clear…in big print…that has more impact…and greater effect.
Ps. I thought Sarvar was MA’s way of keeping control whilst removing the dual control issue with the SFA….after all who really would spend 20 million plus 6.5 million of their own cash on a basket case without a hint of due diligence…
Real stupid qestion.
Sorry!
With mk1 admitting some tax liabilities, only some way off the HMRC calculations, could the HRMC have taken some hold over Ibrox and MP as security, pending a final resolution to this case.
I am not as bright or as informed on these matters, as a few others on here, but would help with the answers, if only to consign the questions to the bin.
Thanks.
ecobhoy says:
January 12, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Some Rangers fans in my work informed me of the HMRC “witchhunt”.
Murray offered £10m! A waste of taxpayers money! A Celtic fan in HMRC caused this and should be sacked! etc…
I tried to explain why I thought the case was important to HMRC.
The Ramsay principle.
It could have been Widgets PLC and HMRC would still have pursued the case to a higher court.
HMRC saw this as a great case to help bolster the Ramsay principle as a number of other rulings had weakened its scope.
The Ramsay principle is a powerful legal tool for tackling companies that dodge tax by developing elaborate avoidance strategies.
This guy below – whose job is to help people avoid tax – recognises why the case is an important one to HMRC.
“That HMRC has not managed to convince the courts to agree with its interpretation of the law in this case adds to the sense that this is an important decision.”
http://www.gabelletax.com/blog/2014/07/18/glasgow-rangers-2-hmrc-0/
All normal taxpayers should be backing HMRC in its bid to support the Ramsey principle. If this case involved Widgets PLC then any Bluenoses who gave the matter a second glance would be backing HMRC in its ongoing battle with corporate tax avoidance.
It should be noted that this explanation as to why the “witchhunt” is a myth only served to antagonise the Bears in my work and helped spark a bit of barney that contained the ubiquitous ingredient of whataboutery in the shape of Dermot Desmond’s tax affairs.
I have now decided that supporting HMRC’s stance in this debacle when Rangers fans are present will inevitably activate the Rammy principle. 🙂
ecobhoy 8:09 pm
Superb post. For me you’ve left only one box unticked, and RayCharlez above has addressed it at length.
My much shorter comment is that tax authorities investigating very aggressive tax avoidance isn’t a witchhunt but rather people simply doing their bloody job!
A quick and dirty online check this morning sees headlines regarding Sarver ‘pulling out’ of a Rangers takeover. So there you have it. A player who played for Rangers when they were falsely financed who probably has a ridiculous idea of their true worth, and presumably has no major knowledge of business at all. A wealthy American who presumably didn’t make his fortune taking business advice from football coaches. An interest is expressed in Rangers and at face value no due diligence has been carried out, despite the club living hand to mouth on crisis loans. The impression given though is that Rangers are a brand to almost match Manchester United worldwide, when they clearly are not. Whoever is behind this farce can consider it job done in terms of keeping up just one fantasy in an absolute ocean of fantasies, half truths and downright lies.
The Sarver bid summarised:
“A’right troops. Ah’m ‘hinkin about buyin’ ye’s. How aboot £18m for cash?”
“Naw”
“£20m?”
“Naw”
“A’right then fair enough. See ya later”
I do longer due diligence when choosing a sandwich.
@ModgePKR says:
January 13, 2015 at 8:08 am
I do longer due diligence when choosing a sandwich.
+++++++++++++++++
I’m the same. I went for a BLT today. Tough choice, Ham & Cheese almost got the vote.
I had heard last week Rangers needed money by Monday (yesterday). Well, it has come and gone and no sign of a solution. Are there secret talks that have, for once, managed to stay secret? The press is eerily quiet on the subject. Rangers need £6.5M by Monday, now no-one is talking about it.
What’s going on?
I find the Ashley-Sarver link a bit fanciful: I can’t see why the latter would do such a favour.
He’s gained a lot of publicity and attention while presenting himself as something of a player on the international sports ownership scene (looked at teams in England and Spain, etc..) all achieved without spending a cent. Had either of his offers been accepted there would have been plenty of time to back out during the due diligence period citing the onerous contracts, etc… leaving his ego inflated, money safe, and reputation intact.
As Alan Sugar tweeted at the time of the many “bids” during the admin period, “So many people talk..”.