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.
Sorry guys, I just don’t buy it. Unless of course this is really the end, that the trough is now empty, that all the spivs have stripped everything and the SFA have been given the green light to eventually find their “set” and show some steel. I just think that this is all part of the choreography and just another scene in the ” Every Spiv Has A Role ” swindle. Well only time will tell. There has been too much time, money and fiendish plotting for someone to come in too early and out of sync. Nah! They were in on it then, and are in on it now…..Where’s that turd motif ?
It is Christmas Present
But
If Christmas Past is anything to go by……..
Mr Somers will put TRFC into liquidation on 14 Feb
The assets will be bought by Mr Winter a bluff Lancastrian from Blackpool
Mr Winter will insult a fellow Director by agreement and be “forced” to resign
He will retire to a Chateau somewhere in the North of Italy where he will race a greyhound called “Timmy”
He will be succeeded by a Mr Wensleydale who sells cheese door to door in
Wishaw
Mr Wensleydale will sit alone in the Directors box wondering why his fellow Directors sit in the stand
A Mr Butcher will join the Board as the Fans Representative He will advocate a strict dietary regime for the playing staff.This will make him unpopular with the team.He will be nicknamed “mince” by many of the fan who elected him.
This explains why he beams a lot during home games
And so it will go on…..
Great start from Deeyell on SSB.
First words were that the SFA’s decision is a blow to Mike Ashley and ‘HIS’ board.
For a Motherwell fan he sure seems to know something the rest of us don’t.
Let’s hope the :slamb: get new crayons in their Christmas stockings, and we might get treated to some proper sports journalism in 2015…
I know, and I’ve not had so much as an eggnog either !
Merry Christmas to the Internet Bampots around the world, and hope Santa is good to you. 😉
First of all, happy Christmas, I hope that 2015 is a good year for everyone.
Something was annoying me in the pub this afternoon.
Either at the AGM or post AGM someone involved with the AGM stated that there would be informal discussions with the SFA re the MA share holding this week.
Now, the SFA statement said that the [SFA] board had unanimously rejected the proposal for the increased MA share holding.
This does not sound like an informal meeting, if the SFA board were involved.
Long Time Lurker says:
December 24, 2014 at 7:31 pm
The proposal to increase Ashley’s stake has been kicking about for a while. I’m sure I read a recent quote from Regan, that the SFA were still awaiting the business case.
Looks like Llnabias and Sommers presented it yesterday, and it went down about as well as the last time a Rangers Mk II chair and CEO made a presentation…
The one thing that has puzzled me about raising the stake, was whose shareholding was Ashley proposing to buy out?
I don’t buy that the SFA have suddenly grown a set. Something stinks about this today.
My gut feel is that Ashley isn’t the spiv of choice. I feel it’s an attempt to put a hole below the waterline to allow the preferred candidate to come in to play.
Call me über cynical.
Like everything else in this clusterf**k the truth will become apparent when the smoke clears
Merry Christmas to all posters and lurkers in here even the large green ones with sticky out ears that live in a swamp. Have a good one. 🙂
So the panto continues in Govan. Hopefully just hopefully this stance by the SFA may be the beginning of getting our sport back on the right track.
Merry Christmas to all and thanks to the staff behind TSFM for everything. Hope all fans and their clubs prosper next year.
Scotland needs a strong mince pie
A happy and peaceful Christmas to everyone.
Regrettably I’m right with you wildwood. I also note there is no confirmation of what it was they unanimously objected to. The money in? Or the failure to spend it manically and out of control?
Wildwood,
I agree. Check my post at 2.37 pm.
Smoke and Mirrors.
May you all have a peaceful and happy Christmas.
Well. I don’t quite know which emotion is uppermost-Hope or Suspicion.
I am willing to hope that the SFA Board’s unanimity in refusing Ashley a greater shareholding is a sign that they recognise the danger to all other professional clubs that control of two clubs represents.
But I am, as others are,suspicious that they may already have been engineering a ‘fail-safe’ strategy to ensure that somebody, anybody -with or without criminal convictions- will get every assistance and concession either to keep TRFC alive if Ashley, failing to get his own way, bails out in a huff, or to ‘resurrect’ it in the same scandalous way as was attempted in the 5WA.
But it’s Christmas, and let me thank all the clever, dogged, witty ( (Amazingless’s new verse is terrific),bampots for the education and entertainment that make it such a pleasure to be on this blog.
And a happy, relaxed and peaceful Christmastide to you all- including the mods!
scottc says:
December 24, 2014 at 5:06 pm
17 0 Rate This
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At this stage the Sevco circus is beyond calling.
I would suspect anyone who claims certitude or prescience on this.
@JC What about the punks and the teds?
howiemac says:
December 24, 2014 at 3:53 pm
5 0 Rate This
Danish Pastry says:
December 24, 2014 at 3:33 pm
@Howiemac, there is an alternative to outright takeover and that is an amalgamation to create a single new entity club.
—
An interesting option, though it may be a bit too alternative for the traditional types?
———
Cheers @howie, to be honest, I agree. But alternative thinking is a nice cat among the pigeons. For that scenario to work, though, it would have to be two clubs/fan groups who really have some kind of mutual respect/affinity. Don’t see it either, not in this case, but stranger things have happened. Would create some bad feeling if a club disappeared as the result of an aggressive takeover.
Dear all, I will be playing happy families tomorrow and like most of you probably wont be posting on the blog.
A very merry Christmas, and peace and goodwill to all.
Have spent (as has become a tradition in the Parttimearab household) the last couple of hours watching “The Nightmare Before Christmas”…Rangers fans may feel they’ve spent the last week doing that.
With others I’d like to give season’s greetings to all on this site…a haven of sanity in the mess that Scottish Football (and it’s reportage has become).
But I’d also like to extend these good wishes to fans of Rangers – no supporters should have to put up with the c@@p from their owners (with a little help from the football authorities) that they have.
I know that many on here will point (rightly) to their acquiescence to the leadership of spendthrifts and charlatans (yes Charles that means you) – but let’s be honest they’re probably not the first and sadly I doubt they’ll be the last.
It’s probably a forlorn hope, but you never know, one of these days football fans will be able to put the nightmares behind them and concentrate on the game they love.
Wishing all at TSFM the very best at this time of year.
I think this forum proved in 2014 that the need for a Fitba Fifth Estate is more pressing than ever.
Just watching ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. Magic!! (sobbing)
Great message in the story.
StevieBC : your idea for a new board game….
How about “Snakes and Spivs”?
Scottish Football needs every club to be strong and financially viable without sugar daddies or dodgy funding.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all and your ainfolk.
Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ * /______ /~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚And a happy new year
Jean,it is a wonderful life! We all live in hope and trust that goodwill will prevail. Goodnight and God bless all the parents who will be rudely awakened in a few hours time !!
Danish Pastry says:
December 24, 2014 at 3:33 pm
“Would that work with Rangers support and say a St Mirren? Hard to say but it would bring something to the table for both sets of fans. And ‘Mirren Rangers’ or, even better, ‘St Rangers’ could surely be a fan-owned entity.”
……………………………….
Sorry Danish but I feel a song coming on…..
…..StRangers and the Knights, exchanging glances
Wond’ring in the night what were the chances …….
Hope everyone at TSFM has a happy and peaceful Christmas. Also wish everyone the best for 2015.
Only an hour or so to go until Christmas in Glasgow.
It is a very bitter sweet occasion bearing in mind the tragic events of Monday afternoon, and I am sure the thoughts of all of us at TSFM go out to those who have suffered at a time when we were all expecting to celebrate.
I know it is a cliche but our football grumbles are nothing at all compared to what some of our fellows are enduring right now. I wish for strength for them – and others who are not as lucky as the rest of us – that they can get through this difficult time
It has been an exciting and interesting year so far, and with only a week of it left, the most interesting period may yet be ahead of us. More on that next week, but in the meantime, on behalf of the moderators, TSFM wishes ALL fans of football a very merry holiday season with lots of smiles and happy memories.
Wishing all the contributors and the lurkers like myself a happy and peaceful Christmas time. I read all your comments and wanted to thank you all for the great work that you all do. Please recognise that your efforts are very much appreciated.
Danish Pastry says:
December 24, 2014 at 9:22 pm
… Would create some bad feeling if a club disappeared as the result of an aggressive takeover.
—
yes it would – I hope we will not witness such a thing. I have little faith that the SFA or SPFL will protect smaller clubs from predatory behaviour, if that is what it comes down to… but, with luck, this grand pantomime will play out differently.
I wish all a happy and peaceful festive season.
It will be forty-five years tomorrow morning that I woke up to my new bike – and immediately taking it out for a spin in Beauly Road in Baillieston (big hill!) and consequently tearing the skin from my elbows and knees when I crashed catastrophically 🙁
Christmas has never been the same since, but who knows, a Bronco Box Set with bonus Bronco Toilet Paper might well be waiting in the morning to emulate Christmas 1969 🙂
Happy Christmas to everyone at TSFM!
So..summing it all up today .in really basic terms ..net net net.
Access via Ashley to the dreamed about £100m mega war chest to get seamlessly to the champions league in short order has just gone up in a complete puff of smoke ..hasn’t it?..
The SFA heirarchy might well have a clever agenda we don’t know of…but they i assume ,forced by the big clubs , have for sure killed in one fell swoop that dream!
As all have said ad nauseam ..Reality is slowly but surely seriously setting in….A VERY BIG IF ..ie ..IF THEY SURVIVE
as good as it wil get is a battle to get thru the play offs
what a Christmas !
parttimearab says:
December 24, 2014 at 9:47 pm
13 0 Rate This
But I’d also like to extend these good wishes to fans of Rangers – no supporters should have to put up with the c@@p from their owners
*****************************
Hear Hear that man!
Off to Espana for some festive festivities but will keep in touch.
Compliments of the Season to all at TSFM.
Feliz Navidad!
Hasta la Vista!!
The SFA have by all accounts, followed their own rules, which is a blessing in itself.
No hallelujah yet from me as snakes seem to be the order of the day within this organisation.
The question now arises. Where does Ashley go from here as he seems to be the one holding all the aces. Not only was Llambias working for him but Somers was also fighting his corner.
Does he request his £3mill? Effectively closing the joint. There is also the matter of being summoned before the SFA regarding undue influence. Can we honestly expect the SFA to obey their
rules twice in succession?
Llambias has looked under the bonnet and his advice would seem to be ‘slam it shut and do a runner.’ Could the next meeting about undue influence tip the balance and chase Mike out of dodge.
The gift that continually gives and don’t you just feel for the poor supporters
I fear that my club, Greenock Morton, might well be a prime candidate for an aggressive takeover. The club is in the doldrums now and the current owners are desperate to recoup the money they have put into the club over their 13 year reign of abject failure. The Easdales might well be interested in a takeover of their hometown club.
Top Cat 1874
Understand your worry …but!
The Easdales are much maligned….but as they say ‘let him who is without sin cast the first stone’ so surely their money would be much better spent down here with a potentially greater return ?
.rather than being pumped wastefully into the RFC black hole?
Just a thought !
Merry Christmas!
PS Nightmare since half time at Spartans!
A very Merry Christmas to all at TSFM – mods, contributors and lurkers.
Seasons greetings to you all!!
🙂
Just heard what Santa has on his gift list for the following…mibbes… 🙄
McCoist – a roll of 100 garden refuse bags
McDowall – a tin hat
Somers – a course at the local ‘Charm School’
King – teeth whitener
Lee McCulloch – elbow pads
Ogilvie – cribbage set [deluxe bunker edition]
Regan – a spine
Doncaster – clippers
Whyte – bumper box of AA batteries [for the tape recorder(s)]
Green – a seat in the Directors’ Box at Ibrox [gift might be returned though]
Deila – a book on football tactics
etc…
Will a third party now step up to the plate, say an existing overseas shareholder, to underwrite the share issue?
I trust that the SFA will require details of the beneficial ownership of any such company before allowing allowing them to amass a large stake in RIFC/TRFC.
Transparency and all that….
Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.
Great days, and they’re not over yet!
A very Merry Christmas to all on TSFM or, as we say in these parts, Nollaig Shona Daoibh.
I think this is a good day and a good time to share the following. I first read it around 1993 before the internet provided a stage, and looking back it is kind of prophetic in terms of what has happened since.
We all have our song to sing, it is the song of our experience and every post comes from that self same source. The song is therefore beautiful (even if we don’t get the harmony right every time. 😉 )
Keep on singing, keep on listening, keep on sharing and have a peaceful Christmas.
In John Powell’s book, Through Seasons of the Heart, he has a thought for every day of the year.
This was his thought at Christmas.
December 25th
“There is an old Christian tradition that God sends each person into this world
with a special message to deliver
with a special song to sing for others,
with a special act of love to bestow.
No one else can speak my message, or sing my song, or offer my act of love.
These are entrusted only to me.
According to this tradition, the message may be spoken, the song sung,
the act of love delivered only to a few,
or to all the folk of a small town,
or to all the people in a large city,
or even to all the people in the whole world.
It all depends on God’s unique plan
for each person.
. . . Your message has been heard in my heart,
Your song has warmed my world,
And your love has brightened my darkness . . .”
– John Powell
And you TSFM. And thank you for the medium of allowing us bampots to vent our views.In the years to come, this site will be proved instrumental in how people accessed information about the decline of Scottish Football and how some have been duped into putting their professional career on the line to prop up a toxic club that demanded they were still relevant. Well, in the spirit of Christmas and all that,well Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of rum…you’ll never get anything by us, not now were totally tuned in to the ways of the spiv. And that is down to the forensic analysis of ordinary guys,who we’d never heard of, just waiting for something to get their teeth into…
and then RTC came along.It is important that this site keeps going for us, the ordinary guy and gal, and fan, to give us all an alternative view of what the tabloids are keen to tell us.Thank you.
Merry Christmas Everyone on TSFM
Good xmas all of you on the reservations.
Rank Badjins bin outgunned so far. Up the injins
Ill get me wagon.
Having witnessed scenes in George Square a couple of days ago that will haunt me for the rest of my days, it is difficult to write “merry Christmas” while knowing that for some it will be haunted forever.
All I can say is, to all my fellow posters, may the good Lord bless you and keep you and may you all stay safe, well, happy and held in the warmth of your family this christmas.
Another TSFM Christmas…
May peace be with you all.
Seasons greetings to all.
A time to contemplate and look forward and with George Square weighing heavily on us all.
Yesterdays announcement of unanimity at the SFA committee might be a sign that it is finally following its rule book when issues arise.
It might be that but might it also show us which tribe in the upcoming dispute the SFA is aligning with?
We all believe Campbell has had influence since the days of the granting of the licence ahead of the disastrous Campions League and UEFA Cup campaigns and then the equally disastrous chain of events and slide we’ve all watched in slow motion.
What has happened since the first insolvency wasn’t what RCO and the facilitators had hoped.
Maybe now he and his are ready to call time on the rape of the business that was once his club in the hope that someone will get it right this time.
We’ll find out soon because there will be bills to pay and that will dictate the agenda and timings.
I’m dropping my guard momentarily and saying I hope that whatever happens will be for the all round benefit of all the fans in Scotland.
So Happy Christmas Campbell, Stewart and Neil.
Warmest Christmas greetings from a sunny but chilly Vienna.
Hope all of you enjoy a happy, harmonious and joy-filled day with your family and friends.
Thoughts too, of course, for my fellow Glaswegians wh are having to cope with sadnesses on such a day as this.
Strange Freudian moment on Radio 5 this morning. They were doing a section about the SFA’s decision on Ashley and mistakenly introduced Richard Wilson’s recorded piece as “here’s Roddy Forsyth”.
When the recording (a fairly bland explanatory thing) ended, the presenter (Chris Mason) said,
“That was Richard Wilson of Rangers”!
Ta Da moment of the week so far 🙂
parttimearab says:
December 24, 2014 at 5:04 pm
David Somers really isn’t having a very good week.
==================================================
And according to Roddy it ain’t getting any better…
” the Telegraph understands that the contents of the email between Somers and Barnes has perturbed the Scottish Football Association”
….indeed it just seems to get worse…
“also questions to be answered about why votes were cast by board members against their own proposal, at Rangers’ annual general meeting on Monday, for an open share issue, rather than one principally confined to existing investors, such as Ashley.”
….and, if possible, err..worser…
“one Rangers shareholder has written to the AiM investigations office, as well as the club’s LSE nominated adviser (NOMAD) and Ian Davidson, the MP whose constituency includes Ibrox, asking them to probe Somers’ conduct.
The shareholder wrote: “On Tuesday 23rd December, the Telegraph newspaper online carried a story by journalist Roddy Forsyth, regarding an e-mail sent by the Rangers International Football Club Chairman David Somers to members of the board and surprisingly non-members, including a representative of Sports Direct – Justin Barnes.
“The e-mail not only indicated the Chairman’s preference for investment by Mike Ashley of Sports Direct, it actively encouraged this investment, in order, it seems, to secure the Chairman’s position and that of other board members and strangely enough a non-member (one Sandy Easdale), who seems to be party to PLC Board internal communications and – if the e-mail is to be read correctly – acting as a shadow director.
“A major concern for shareholders such as myself is, does activity such as this construe a “Concert Party” arrangement between board and non-board members with regards to overall boardroom influence?”
The shareholder goes on to ask if Somers’ email is in breach of AiM and corporate governance practice and if it triggered a legal threat from Ashley to the Rangers chairman and/or other directors. The Telegraph understands that other Rangers shareholders are prepared to add their complaints to that already lodged with the financial regulators.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11312941/Rangers-chairman-David-Somers-could-face-probe-by-Stock-Market-regulators-for-his-role-in-Mike-Ashley-bid.html
As I caught up with the events of the last week on here with my usual mix of laughter and outrage (faux generally tbh) Mrs Ernie enquired,
“Fit’s ‘at ye’re reading?” “It’s that Scottish Fitba Monitor thing” says I.
“Ye daft auld bugger” says she for she was immersed in yuletide felicitationness “nae that again. Ye’ve had mair comebacks than Frunkie Sinatra.”
“Darling” thought I to myself because I ken better “I’ve had mair comebacks than Dave King.”
A peaceful and happy Christmas to all on TSFM. Och, and to all those who aren’t as well, why not?
Point of pedantry – he went away and has produced a lot of tour schedules but hasn’t actually made it back once (yet)
Aye Ernie, I’m sure most of us are no stranger to the “fit’s that ye’re reading?” question from the other half followed by “nae again!”.
Back in 2012, Regan thought it was best if we could ‘all draw a line in the sand and move on’. Hopefully this might happen in 2015 with Mr Regan moving on to pastures new and who knows, events transpiring that finally bring a bit of stability and integrity 🙄 back to Scottish fitba.
Merry Christmas to all on TSFM and their long suffering partners 😀
Merry Christmas all
Surrounded by all my family today and really appreciate that.
God bless all who aren’t as fortunate at this time of year.
Take care all and have a lovely day
Ryan, well said and a continuing well done to you and also the other Rangers men who come on here.
I genuinely hope Rangers get sorted out in a good way with no help from anyone other than themselves and that it happens in 2015 …..so we can all march on and enjoy our football without further bitterness and rancour!
I come at this from the viewpoint of a decent sized once very well supported club fallen on painful and hard times but having lived and operated within the rules and financial reality and which also never at any time sought or received favours from authorities or anyone else…so I find it very difficult to accept special cases for anyone especially one of the big guys which is why I tend to be a bit anal on this topic
Ashley operating as he is and King with his background wouldn’t be allowed near any other club in Scotland …and they shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Control of Rangers
I hope Rangers fans see through this sensibly …and as has been suggested ad nauseam by many on here …find from within their ranks a few Ann Budge types …(And i am sure they are there and hopefully waiting to move ) who together with all the fans supporting them go reform ..leaving the spivs to rot with what they have got
instead of many enemies ..i suspect you might suddenly have lots of friends
I fear it won’t but I do hope it does turn out this way for the good of us all
Merry Christmas!
It looks like all the posters in the uk must be all watered and fed and resting up as its all quite on here,still to sit down to dinner here in Canada,birds cooked and everything is ready to go,thoughts are with you all and particularly the families that their Xmas day will be tinged with sadness,for these families xmas will never have that bit of magic that most will enjoy but might just be brought back in the future with new arrivals into families that might just deflect the sadness for one day.
Merry Xmas
Sadly, once again, spending Christmas at work (as is my dear wife), and having just returned from a rather expensive (thankfully not my expense) unjoyable Christmas dinner, may I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas.
As with last Christmas, a tear has been shed in Derbyshire for those suffering as a result of another horrific accident in the fair city of Glasgow.
Happy Christmas to one and all.
A particular greeting to Ryan and those who challenge the received wisdom that many of us come to this site with.
The ownership of Rangers was assumed by those who cared nothing for the football team. We are now seeing the end game of that extraction of value from the husk that remains. I sincerely hope that a football club survives from these shenanigans.
That a club should live within its means should not be a novel construct. The Rangers following should always be able to ensure that their club is a top challenger. They will nevertheless be playing catch up for more than a decade, as the past several years have demonstrated that there are no sheiks to leap frog the abilities of the already well run incumbent premiership clubs.
The next few weeks will be pivotal.
Adeste Fideles
RyanGosling says:
December 25, 2014 at 1:22 am
===============================
Ryan, a very poignant reminder that football, despite what the late, great Bill Shankly said, is not more important than life or death.
Apologies if already covered, I’m out of the country and out of touch at present, but wasn’t the reason given as to why the SMSM wouldn’t publish anything Rangers Tax Case related was because the nature of the way the information/emails were obtained? Yet they seem to be all over this “leaked” Somers email?
Wes Mantooth says:
December 26, 2014 at 8:48 am
Some RTC and Charlotte stuff never made it into the MSM for the reasons you mention. The Somers email has been covered, PDQ, by The Telegraph and the BBC.
Therefore, IMHO, fair game for public discussions on the presumption these bodies lawyers will have given it all the OK. Someone has given it to SoS in the first instance but who and why??
In an article published in today’s Evening Times, Derek Johnstone takes stupidity to previously unseen levels. With newspapers currently struggling for survival why allow this man anywhere near a column inch? It is an insult to anyone with a modicum of intelligence. Have a read for yourselves.
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/sfas-ashley-snub-opens-the-door-for-return-of-the-king-192756n.115187645
THE SFA’S decision to stop Mike Ashley increasing his stake in Rangers has opened the door for Dave King to seize power at Ibrox.
That was the prediction from stunned Gers legend Derek Johnstone today as he reacted to the governing body’s surprise move.
MASH Holdings Limited had applied to raise their shareholding in Rangers from 8.92 per cent to 29.9 per cent.
If that had been approved, Newcastle United owner Ashley would have taken control of the Glasgow giants – without having to launch a takeover.
However, the SFA Board stunned Scottish football earlier this week when they “unanimously” knocked back that request.
The Rangers board controversially decided to accept a £2 million loan from Ashley back in November.
They dismissed a £16 million rescue package proposed by an eight-strong consortium led by King due to their failure to provide “proof of funds”.
A brief statement posted on the Rangers website on Christmas Eve confirmed the board were “very disappointed” and would “consider all our options”.
But SportTimes columnist Johnstone believes the SFA decision has increased the likelihood of South Africa-based financier King coming in.
Johnstone said: “This is probably a chance for Dave King.
“I would imagine there have already been meetings and discussions between the eight members of the consortium he fronted.
“And I think there is every chance that something could happen on that front in the New Year.”
He added: “There are only two options for Rangers. One of them is Ashley and the other one is Dave King.
“If the SFA have refused Ashley’s attempt to increase his stake in the club then I think the only other way to go is King. This could the best chance he has had.
“I know that the members of the group haven’t gone away. They have been monitoring developments at Ibrox with interest.”
Ashley and Rangers have been charged with breaching SFA rules issued with notices of complaint over dual interests in clubs.
He has an agreement, struck back in 2012, that prevents him from holding more than a 10 per cent interest in the 54-times Scottish champions.
But Johnstone admitted he was shocked the governing body stood in the way of the Sports Direct tycoon taking over.
Because the move now raises puts the future of Rangers – who need to find £8 million of additional investment to stay afloat next year – in serious doubt.
Johnstone said: “Do the SFA not want Rangers to survive? That is the way it is looking.
“They have a man who wants to put money into a club and they aren’t letting him. “What are they frightened of?
Of Rangers getting back into the top flight and dominating?
“Every club is struggling financially at the moment and the league is up in the air without a sponsor.
“Rangers getting back into the SPFL Premiership would help bring in sponsorship and increase crowds.
“I am shocked. I would like to hear the SFA’s reasoning behind the decision. I can’t believe some of the decisions the governing body are making. “I just don’t know where Rangers go from here. Have they got the money to survive?
“But, as I say, I think this now opens the door for Dave King. He and his associates certainly haven’t gone away.”
A general thought but related to the possibility of Kenny McDowell recalling the youngsters out on loan.
While putting guys out on loan may help them get game time I wonder how much care is given to where loan players go and what coaching, philosophy and attitude etc they may pick up at the other clubs?
Does anyone know how much contact loan players have with their parent club? Are they and the loan monitored or left to their own devices. Out of sight out of mind? How demoralising is it for a decent youngster to find himself being the only real talent in a team loosing by a few goals every week?
Could it be the case that perhaps some of our brightest talents have ended up with their development being stiffled by taking them away from a higher class playing and coaching environment?(No disrespect to those doing honest work in the lower divisions).
wottpi says:
December 26, 2014 at 9:20 am
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I have no knowledge of these matters but I guess if a club is still paying say, 80% of the young players salary while on loan then they will retain a significant interest in his development. Thinking back to the past I recall Charlie Mulgrew having a successful loan spell at Dundee Utd while a young player at Celtic. I imagine Celtic would have viewed Dundee Utd as a club of quality in terms of looking after young players and that will always be a factor.
Then again I have no knowledge of these matters so it’s only a wee guess on my part.
I note that the DR is reporting on the potential reinvestigation of King’s tax affairs and saying he struck a deal with the tax man.
Is it not the case he struck a deal with the court to avoid jail time!!
wottpi says:
December 26, 2014 at 10:13 am
If that happens I wonder if it places the same foreign investment embargo on him as before under the previous case.
Xmas at ibrox. .
The “star in the east” turns out to be just the glow from the cash-burn. .
The “three wise men” turn out to be the three “wise-guys” (something completely different).
And on the (latest) resurrection of the King a screeching voice is heard to cry out . . ” HE’S not the messiah ! . . he’s just A VERY NAUGHTY BOY ! ! “
The King thing is still a bear trap lying in wait for the SFA. By any objective standard, he is not a fit and proper person to own a football club. The SFA’s decision on that, if a decision ever has to be made, will be viewed through the prism of the FA’s retrospective decision on Massimo Cellino at Leeds United.
Given that Cellino’s tax evasion conviction was for an amount which is a drop in the ocean compared to King’s, the SFA are in a difficult place if they are put on the spot. I was told (several months ago) by a director at a Premiership club that King won’t be considered fit and proper. However, I just don’t believe that when push comes to shove he will be sent packing.
I do share Derek Johnstone’s incredulity that Ashley was refused his increased ownership, but the sharing ends there. That article is possibly the most idiotic thing I have ever seen written on this subject. It is also just as much a shameful dog-whistle as McCoist’s “who are these people” – except this time enabled by a a major newspaper.
The notion that the SFA fear the “return” of Rangers and are actively trying to sabatage their “progress” – given what we know has gone on at our clubs since 2012 – is utterly preposterous.
My – admittedly rather paranoid – slant on the Ashley decision is that it enables the King consortium.
Does anyone actually think the Ashley case demonstrates that the SFA have suddenly been imbued with a sense of sporting integrity or a Damascene conversion to application of their own rulebook? If so they clearly haven’t been paying attention over the last few years.
Ashley (and I am not a fan of how he has behaved as the owner of NUFC) is clearly a more fit ambassador for the game than King (on the trivial basis that he is not a common criminal).
Naturally then, the SFA will decide otherwise. The individual clubs, when taken to task by their own fans, will hold up their hands in horror at the decision and protest that it was the bad boys at Hampden who are to blame.
Part one of the plan to crown the new King has just been put into effect.
Just when you think that the seeds of sanity are starting to grow around the rules of our game along comes a wind of stupidity to stunt this growth,we already know the Johnstones of Rangers past struggle to understand any form of reasonable thinking and along comes a platform,albeit a seriously shaky platform,to insult any readers they have left,intelligence,what are the chances of the editor of this peace of cat basket liner doing an interview with Mr Johnstone and enlighten yet,albeit very dimly,the Rangers fans on what business plan is required to run the vision that has been bestowed on him this Xmas, this type of nonsense has really got to be lanced and if the Rangers supporters allow the lower minions to be continually fed this low quality manure then any seeds of sanity will never come through.
DJ is a low quality clown. How much money is enough for Rangers? Clearly its not the tens of millions they have burned on their ‘journey’. Instead of blaming the SFA, he might want to ask why Rangers currently don’t have any money. It seems the only business people attracted to that ethereal entity are there simply to take, not ‘invest’.
It must be an awful feeling for them knowing there’s not an endless pot of other peoples money to spend! ☺
Big Pink says:
December 26, 2014 at 10:44 am
I agree with everything you say in your post, almost.
I am as bemused by the SFA ‘integrity discovery’ as anyone, but find myself thinking that, as Ashley is undoubtedly the easier option to argue in favour of (they only need to ignore their rules, having their regular ‘get out’ clause in place), the fact that King is recognised by everyone with a brain to be a criminal and is also disbarred from being a board member due to past failures, makes it far more difficult to justify allowing his re-entry into Scottish football. There is also the fact that Ashley undoubtedly has the funds to hand, while King, well he always has promises to hand…
While there’s always the possibility the SFA are favouring someone not on our radar, or someone who continually pops up before popping down, it could be the case that the SFA realise that they just can’t accept Ashley under any circumstances (perhaps Llambias provided a business plan that was completely unacceptable). The reason so much has been done to facilitate TRFC is basically down to the ‘Scottish football needs a strong Rangers’ mantra. If Ashley has no intention of ‘returning Rangers to their rightful place’ and merely intends keeping the club alive to his own profit, there may well be no incentive for the SFA to bend the rules any further.
And while King’s jaws have flapped following the AGM dog’s dinner, he hasn’t come up yet with any of his usual promises of millions! I know it’s not a time for business, but I’d have thought he’d have rushed out a ‘Christmas Message To The Bears’ as soon as he’d heard of Ashley’s ‘failure’.
TRFC may well have reached the point where the only thing that’s going to save them, from administration at least, is a whiter than white blue knight with the vast sums readily available to propel the club into the stratosphere. The football authorities have maybe realised that, for the benefit of Scottish football (or maybe just their own) it’s all or bust for TRFC, with bust preferable to the ongoing hand to mouth existence of a ‘once proud club’ (the PR blurb, that is, not the reality!).
I may, of course, be totally wrong, with your assessment sadly correct.
Big Pink says:
December 26, 2014 at 10:44 am
No ❗
I think what we are seeing is that since the past few years of rule breaking, rule bending and rule invention is that it’s now become “normal” for meetings to be held and the breaking, bending and invention to take place.
Like most people (I imagine) I was very surprised, particularly given the widely understood financial situation for TRFC. And like most people (I imagine) I too have spent some time pondering why the SFA would take this route … the application of existing rules.
In any other circumstance, applying rules would simply be expected and pass unquestioned.
So my own paranoia leans more towards a lack of trust in the statement the SFA put out. That statement will not fully cover the entirety of the meeting that took place. Nor will it be the end of the matter.
Who is to say that MA does not already hold more than 9% through other parties, the fabled offshore mysterons.
Re the earlier discussions about the continuation of onerous contracts, ultimately we don’t know how many they are or what they relate to but if they are that much of an issue to ongoing activity they must be integral to the process of putting a team onto the park.
Many have already suggested that McCoist’s contract would be one, I can’t remember if the crest/logo bampot investigation was ever resolved but that would be #2 for me. There’s the broadband account too.
I imagine there are a great many other things behind the scenes in terms of the physio/conditioning stuff that takes place. I understand from a good source that despite playing amongst the diddy teams, the facilities available to the players were and are still of premier standard. If, as has been explained wrt retail, these functions were broken up and separated, it may be that these are some of the mystery contracts too.
upthehoops says:
December 26, 2014 at 9:07 am
In an article published in today’s Evening Times, Derek Johnstone takes stupidity to previously unseen levels.
Maybe time for someone to ask him a couple of questions on a phone in.The last time i heard him he was telling listeners “Let’s just wait and see who Ally spends the £10 million on” 🙂
Reganomics, SFA style 😮
This morning, the Met Office have issued a yellow snow warning.
40 years too late, i fear.
In the seventies Frank Zappa cautioned;
“Watch out where the huskies go
Don’t you eat that yellow snow”.
upthehoops says:
December 26, 2014 at 9:07 am
In an article published in today’s Evening Times, Derek Johnstone takes stupidity to previously unseen levels. With newspapers currently struggling for survival why allow this man anywhere near a column inch? It is an insult to anyone with a modicum of intelligence.
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Firstly let me extend Seasons Greetings to fellow posters and lurkers and I hope that Xmas and the New Year brings us all some of the things we seek for ourselves, family and friends and all the various wider issues and causes we believe in.
As to Derek Johnstone – a buffoon of a paid mouthpiece is the kindest description I can label him with and he’s lucky I still regard us as being in the Season of Goodwill 😆