A Sanity Clause for Xmas?

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.

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Tom Byrne

About Trisidium

Trisidium is a Dunblane businessman with a keen interest in Scottish Football. He is a Celtic fan, although the demands of modern-day parenting have seen him less at games and more as a taxi service for his kids.

3,813 thoughts on “A Sanity Clause for Xmas?


  1. Just watching the con movie “American Hustle” again, and it got me thinking…

    It seems that all along since early 2012 there has been a steady stream of ‘others’ who have shown an interest in buying or ‘investing’ heavily in TRFC.
    IIRC, we’ve had the Blue Knights, Dave King, Brian Kennedy, Kieran Prior, Rafat Rizvi.

    And even at this very late stage, whilst Ashley is very publicly trying to boost his control of TRFC, we apparently have Dave King still desperate to throw GBP 16M of ‘consortium’ money at the Ibrox club. 🙄

    It all seems to have been a crafted illusion, to create an air of interest and relevance around TRFC.

    And of course this – IMO – deception could only have been possible with a weak and compliant SMSM.

    And as usual, I have no idea in which direction this saga is going now…


  2. At this stage it is a funding proposal…although it does seem a tad strange…why would these so called businessmen not wait for the club to be placed into admin/liquidation which would allow them to pick up the assets a lot cheaper and without taking ownership of onerous contracts…although they will need to negotiate seperatley with Charlie to buy the history


  3. PhilMacGiollaBhain says:
    December 27, 2014 at 12:53 am

    Immediately deduct £3m from that £6.5m for Big Mike.
    Unlike EBTs his loans have to be paid back.
    …………………….

    Yep they will need to deduct the 3 mill for MA…these are the same chaps who by the way could have stepped in and bought the club at the outset for 5.5 mill?…or could have bought the club from CW before it went teets up…no no no no…they want to wait until 3 years down the line…when the financial mess has grown to monsterous proportions…with uncertainty as to where the asset ownerships reside…where the repair and maintenance costs are through the roof so to speak…with losses running at approx 8-9 mill a year…and onerous contracts that could be crippling…as Mr. Sommers suggested..some they re-negotiated…and others they will see in court…(with no specifics of how many or how much is involved with the court comment)

    As a businessman…would you want to buy into that without due diligence?

    Buying shares is not a loan…they would be handing over money for a piece of paper that states they are a share holder…and I would imagine they will be determined not to exceed the 29% ceiling otherwise they are into tens of millions…for a club that needs AT least 8 mill to keep running for 12 months…at least 15 to 20 mill to repair the stadium…with a squad that is looking likely to miss out on promotion this season…

    It strikes me as odd…why now?…


  4. What am I missing? 3 rich business men have offered to buy 40 million shares thus diluting the ownership of Blue Pitch, Laxey, Mike Ashley et al.Existing shareholders will be happy to agree to this? I think not. This will cost them 6,500,000 pounds and give them approx 29.9% of the company. They would get two directors and probably the head of Llambias.
    They still have onerous contracts siphoning off funds.
    They still have the second highest wage bill in Scotland.
    They still have a manager earning 62,500 a month to pick some weeds.
    They would have to repay MA 3,000,000
    That reduces funds to 3,500,000
    The company is losing 1,000,000 a month.
    Funds run out again at Easter.
    14 games, 7 at home.
    Why not allow liquidation and pick up the corpse with no onerous contracts, no salaries and no other shareholders?
    Corpses are cheap.
    Can anyone explain why 3 rich men would spend 6,500,000 to park their bums 7 times in the directors box at Ibrokes.
    That’s virtually 1,000,000 for 90 minutes of football.
    Can anyone explain how such spending makes any sense?


  5. Could this bid be MSM nonsense knowing it will be rejected, primarily to apply pressure to board members?
    Matthew Lindsay of the same parish as Derek Johnstone tweeted.

    Matthew Lindsay‏@MattLindsayET
    Reckon Rangers fans will storm the front doors of Ibrox if the board turn this offer down.

    More dog whistling, desperate times.


  6. ‘The Three Bears’

    Pathetic, subservient nonsense from the media yet again.


  7. Paulmac2 says:
    December 27, 2014 at 3:14 am
    5 0 Rate This

    PhilMacGiollaBhain says:
    December 27, 2014 at 12:53 am

    Immediately deduct £3m from that £6.5m for Big Mike.
    Unlike EBTs his loans have to be paid back.
    …………………….

    Yep they will need to deduct the 3 mill for MA…these are the same chaps who by the way could have stepped in and bought the club at the outset for 5.5 mill?…or could have bought the club from CW before it went teets up…no no no no…they want to wait until 3 years down the line…when the financial mess has grown to monsterous proportions…with uncertainty as to where the asset ownerships reside…where the repair and maintenance costs are through the roof so to speak…with losses running at approx 8-9 mill a year…and onerous contracts that could be crippling…as Mr. Sommers suggested..some they re-negotiated…and others they will see in court…(with no specifics of how many or how much is involved with the court comment)

    As a businessman…would you want to buy into that without due diligence?

    Buying shares is not a loan…they would be handing over money for a piece of paper that states they are a share holder…and I would imagine they will be determined not to exceed the 29% ceiling otherwise they are into tens of millions…for a club that needs AT least 8 mill to keep running for 12 months…at least 15 to 20 mill to repair the stadium…with a squad that is looking likely to miss out on promotion this season…

    It strikes me as odd…why now?…

    ……………………………….

    . . . “these are the same chaps who by the way could have stepped in and bought the club at the outset for £5.5m. . .

    bought THE CLUB !!!??? (Not the assets ?)


  8. The more you think of it this so called ‘investment’ of £6.5M is a joke. Not that I can laugh at cash of that level, and I’m sure the three men involved are wealthy beyond most peoples dreams. The bottom line is though with Ashley’s loans taken off it doesn’t even get them to the end of the season.

    As for the allegation the SFA knew about this move and had it in mind when refusing Ashley. Why don’t the SFA just go to Amigo loans, sign up as a guarantor for a £30M loan, give it to Rangers, and be done with it!


  9. Been trying to understand The Three Bears from posts above.

    According to Richard Wilson:

    The three businessmen emailed their offer – which included two representatives being appointed to the board – to Somers immediately after the club’s annual general meeting at Ibrox on Monday, but before the results of the shareholder vote were known.

    The proposal was also sent to the company that oversees Rangers’ listing on the Alternative Investment Market and Rangers’ lawyer, while the Scottish Football Association has also been informed.

    So, it was a planned offer — scuttled by the Res. 9 outcome?

    When is an offer not an offer? As some have mentioned, there’s a huge pong of Blue Knight bluff about this.

    PS Who is Goldilocks in the Three Bear analogy?


  10. The three bears should do something more useful with their money. I have a bridge in New York I can sell them.


  11. Interesting point from Greenjedi on KDS – why would someone seek to join the board of Rangers (International Football Club) at the moment. If the entity were to go into administration and perhaps liquidation, would this not present problems for a board member then having a role at board level in another entity that may form to play football in royal blue (for arguments sake named Rang3rs)?


  12. ecobhoy says:
    December 26, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    The problem I see is that the SFA might hold Ashley as having ‘power’ whether that amounts to control or influence or whatever is for them to determine after a hearing. However I’m not so sure a court would go down that road because the rule specifically refers to a ‘person’ and not to a private or public limited company even if that ‘person’ might ultimately control any of these companies.

    =======================

    In law, both individuals and companies are “persons”, in that they both have a “legal persona”. Any rule intended to apply only to people, as opposed to companies, should use the term “natural person”, which in effect means a human being. Unless the rule makes that clear, then use of the word person would be interpreted as including companies and associations as well as people.


  13. I understand the offer in its most simplistic sense. Money in to avoid liquidation. Or, alternatively, the offer of money in so mike can’t pull the plug. What I don’t get is how it can work long term, by which I mean post April.


  14. Jumping back to the SFA’s rejection of MA control at Ibrox, I don’t recall any details of why (beyond reference to the relevant articles in the press release) being given.

    It would seem that Roddy has been given some additional detail (not much it must be said)…

    “Telegraph Sport can reveal that a principal objection was that Ashley had already been granted a degree of latitude to protect Sports Direct’s interests at Ibrox – the club’s merchandising is sold through the chain’s stores – but that it would be another matter entirely to permit him to control Rangers as well as Newcastle.

    A major fear was that Ashley might decide to flood Rangers with surplus Newcastle players. It was also agreed that Article 13 of the SFA Articles of Association had been constructed to allow a degree of latitude for the good of the game – but not an outright bid for control of one football club by a man who already owns another.”

    This was filed on Xmas eve so I must have overlooked it in the traditional eggnog induced seasonal stupor…

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/11312737/Mike-Ashleys-bid-to-control-Rangers-blocked-by-SFA.html


  15. On the offer of £6.5m

    Since Res 9 was not passed, the board will have to put together some sort of prospectus to offer first refusal of the shares to all shareholders, presumably with this £6.5m used to underwrite the offer (if the 3B are agreeable to this). That will surely mean there can be no offer until about the end of January at the earliest, which in turn, means more loans to tide them over to that point. It also means, the best part of £0.25m (at least) will be swallowed up by ‘costs’.

    Who will they find to buy into the next share offer, in April?


  16. When your most implausible dreams don’t even get you to the end of the season, it’s time to wake up and realise that the MSM are spiking your bedtime coco.


  17. Re the proposals []. Be in no doubt that while many on here talk about insolvency there are enough people out there who will drip feed the Ibrox club in an attempt to get it back to the Premiership. That is the aim. Pure and simple. The mistake was allowing McCoist to stay for so long thus meaning the lottery of promotion by play off looks like the most likely way of progressing at present.

    What happens if when they get to the Premiership is a different story but in terms of getting people through the gates and buying special edition ‘Return to the Top’ strips better to be there than not!!

    All that being said a win for Hibs today would make things interesting, however I expect the T’Rangers team to get a new manager bounce in their steps. Could be a cracker of a game.


  18. BTW I must declare a financial interest because my lovely family have recently injected much needed cash into the entity that will not die. Yes I’m sitting here drinking my coffee from a Rangers mug with a very slim Ally holding up a shirt with my name on it whilst standing on the hallowed turf of the next asset to be security for Ashley. Not my best Xmas gift – but certainly the one that made me laugh most.

    I haven’t been crass enough to ask how much they paid, but I guess about a tenner so at least 20p must have gone to keeping the lights on. If that doesn’t certify my neutrality then I don’t know what does. 🙂


  19. Mcfc.
    Does your ever lasting Mug refill its self? Or do you get free tax advice from Starbucks with it ?
    😛


  20. neepheid says:
    December 27, 2014 at 8:57 am
    ecobhoy says:
    December 26, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    The problem I see is that the SFA might hold Ashley as having ‘power’ whether that amounts to control or influence or whatever is for them to determine after a hearing. However I’m not so sure a court would go down that road because the rule specifically refers to a ‘person’ and not to a private or public limited company even if that ‘person’ might ultimately control any of these companies.

    ===============================================================================

    In law, both individuals and companies are “persons”, in that they both have a “legal persona”. Any rule intended to apply only to people, as opposed to companies, should use the term “natural person”, which in effect means a human being. Unless the rule makes that clear, then use of the word person would be interpreted as including companies and associations as well as people.
    ================================================================================
    You are correct as far as you go. However the most important bit to remember is that they are not the same but different legal persona even if a single natural person owns and has 100% control of a number of different artificial persons such as limited companies.

    Therein, I believe could well lie the problem for the SFA especially in relation to its legal ability to control separate ‘artificial persons’ or limited companies – as I chose to use in my original post – going about their commercial business in accordance with the laws of the land.

    However we aren’t discussing a hypothetical situation but a specific set of disciplinary charges brought against a named Mike Ashley and Rangers FC by the SFA.

    Of course one might consider whether Rangers FC is a legal entity as far as the SFA and its rule book is concerned. I will leave that to others to deal with if they wish as I’ve got a match to go to today and would never get there if I started down that route 🙂

    Returning to Ashley he is individually named in a charge brought against him under SFA Disciplinary Rule 19 as is Rangers FC in a separate identically worded Rule 19 charge.

    RULE 19

    Disciplinary Rule 19: Except with the prior written consent of the Board: (a) no club or nominee of a club; and (b) no person, whether absolutely or as a trustee, either alone or in conjunction with one or more associates or solely through an associate or associates (even where such person has no formal interest), who: (i) is a member of a club; or (ii) is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of a club, or (iii) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club, may at the same time either directly or indirectly:- (a) be a member of another club; or (b) be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club; or (c) have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club.

    I think the issue that Ashley might fight on is if the SFA discipline him under ‘(iii) has any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration or a club’. As I explained in an earlier post that might not be as simple as it looks on the surface and I’m sure that before Ashley made any moves that the matter would have been looked at in detail to ensure there were no legal surprises in store.

    I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if the SFA found Ashley ‘Guilty’ as I have little faith in the orgamisation, its Rule Book or its disciplinary procedures when ‘political’ issues are involved.

    Taking the matter to court offers a reasonable chance of success IMO for a variety of reasons and even if not won under Scots Law I’m sure it could be in Europe. However in view of the latest developments who knows – Ashley might well decide the game’s not worth the candle and the lights may well go out.


  21. TSFM AT ITS BEST!!!

    The last 12 hours have illustrated just how valuable a resource we have here, quite literally at our fingertips.

    Pre-RTC I would have read this ‘article’ in the DR, swallowed it hook, line and sinker and spent the rest of the day in a foul mood while several of my erstwhile work colleagues celebrated the fact that, yet again, someone had appeared over the horizon, Audie Murphy-like, to rescue their beloved Gers in the final reel.

    Now? Not so much!

    Leaving aside the fact that I wouldn’t pick up the DR if it was left on the bus or in the pub so I wouldn’t know what pash it was spouting today, my reality now is that within minutes of it’s publication it has been analysed, dissected, and unspun and I (if I hadn’t retired in the interim) would be able to patronisingly congratulate my colleagues, but explain that all was maybe not what it seemed – thereby successfully tuping my foul mood over onto them.

    Sometimes I really do miss going to work.


  22. Is it possible some board members voted against passing resolution nine inviting investment from all simply because passing said resolution would have obliged them and their NOMAD to publish a no-doubt costly prospectus which may have had to reveal some details they would prefer to remain in-house?


  23. HirsutePursuit says:
    December 26, 2014 at 11:26 pm

    Over 30% triggers an automatic offer to all other shareholders at the highest price in the preceding 12 months.
    ===================================================
    I always get this one mixed-up. But is it the ‘highest price in the preceding 12 months’ or the highest price paid in the previous 12 months by the person breaking the 30% limit and thus triggering the general offer?


  24. Some background info on “Douglas IRELAND Park”

    Exactly 26 years ago, bus tycoon Douglas Park, then a director of Hearts, was fined £1,000 for locking referee David Syme in his dressing-room at Tynecastle after a bruising contest against Rangers that the visitors won 2-1.

    Park insisted he was acting in the best interests of the ref following that particularly contentious game. He wanted to buy time to allow tempers to cool and prevent a major incident.

    Park also pointed out he returned the dressing-room key as soon as he felt the tension had been defused, and that Syme could then press the alarm bell inside his room to attract attention. Unfortunately, neither Syme nor the Scottish League Disciplinary Committee saw things that way, hence Park’s fine.

    Ironically, Park used to travel to many of Rangers’ away European ties as part of their official party!


  25. So as things stand there is, in fact no offer from the 3 Bears. Their offer was to underwrite a public offering at around 16p per share, but that public offering will not now take place. You would have thought that they would have waited 24 hours to find out whether the public offering was going ahead before asking to underwrite it, wouldn’t you?

    Now the company is presumably going ahead with a rights issue, but with only around a 3% holding, the 3 Bears don’t look to me to be in a very strong position. They can offer to buy every share that is available, but so can every other shareholder. I just can’t see the larger shareholders simply standing by with their hands in their pockets while the 3 Bears hoover up a 29.9% stake on the cheap.

    As for the 3 Bears getting their men on the Board, I can’t see that happening unless and until they have a significant shareholding. Blue Pitch, Margarita, Ashley and Laxey still hold all the aces, in my opinion. They might well prefer administration to allowing any troublesome new guests into the party.


  26. Again I’m probably missing something. Wasn’t Ashley’s additional £1m loan to help meet November payroll? Does/did the December payroll need another loan to cover it? Is that another £1m from Ashley? Even if the 3 bears offer is taken up won’t the rights issue take us past January payroll? Is that another £1m loan from Ashley or A N Other? So when the share offer money arrives in February in the region of £5m would be committed to repaying loans and whats left will just about cover February payroll. TRFC/RIFC will be back to being potless with nearly 3 months of the season still to go


  27. parttimearab says:
    December 27, 2014 at 9:44 am
    ‘….. It was also agreed that Article 13 of the SFA Articles of Association had been constructed to allow a degree of latitude for the good of the game – but not an outright bid for control of one football club by a man who already owns another.”
    ———–
    And the band played ‘believe it if you like’.
    Now that we know that the SFA Board had been informed of the 3 Bears’ ‘offer’, we can see the hypocrisy in their stance against Ashley. A ‘bend the rules’ panic move,and a sudden conversion to the path of integrity when the need for panic seems to have been removed by another three chancers!
    Who could trust such a shower of untrustworthy ‘governors’ of our game?


  28. tykebhoy says:
    December 27, 2014 at 11:48 am

    Again I’m probably missing something. Wasn’t Ashley’s additional £1m loan to help meet November payroll? Does/did the December payroll need another loan to cover it? Is that another £1m from Ashley? Even if the 3 bears offer is taken up won’t the rights issue take us past January payroll? Is that another £1m loan from Ashley or A N Other? So when the share offer money arrives in February in the region of £5m would be committed to repaying loans and whats left will just about cover February payroll. TRFC/RIFC will be back to being potless with nearly 3 months of the season still to go
    ========================================

    I believe December payroll was met without any further loans from Ashley.

    I imagine January’s will be met by a loan from one of The 3 Bears, which will then be converted to Equity once the rights issue is complete.

    RIFC will limp on until the end of the season, when we’ll have a wonderful summer pantomime!


  29. Just listening to the Richard Wilson half-arsed description of the ‘offer’ . Sometimes he out-Chicks Chick in his enthusiastic fairground barker’s role ” Roll up, roll up, to see the 3 Bears make their fantastic offer’.
    Not any intelligent question, no discussion of the 30%, no reference to any questions asked of the big shareholders, no questions asked of the SFA as to whether they would accommodate a 29% share-holding…… Just mindless, uncritical parroting of what he’s been given.
    We are indeed ill-served by guys like him.


  30. My post of 12.22 pm
    Strike the ref to 30%, 29%- I was forgetting that the 3Bears are not owners of a second club!


  31. 😉 comedy double act on SSB Mr Dalziel and Mr Wishart reporting with total indignation that ‘rangers’ are getting played of the park??? Oh and black’s getting picked on!!!!!


  32. Moved to London a few months ago… Not seen a football match yet… Thought Boxing Day trip out would be ideal. Who’s at home?
    Tried Crystal Palace but you need to pay £25 to become a member then the ticket prices are £35-£45. That seemed excessive to see Palace v Southampton.
    Tried Arsenal and Chelsea for a laugh – both sold out.
    Tried Brentford, doing well in the Championship, playing Ipswich. Sold out.
    Tried Charlton who were playing Cardiff – got a ticket for £28 in the lower tier of the home end but the booking fee bumped it up to over £29.
    Didn’t try Leyton Orient (League 1) or Dagenham & Redbridge (League 2).
    The Valley holds around 27,000 and Charlton got a crowd of 17,500 or so for a mid-table Championship game on Boxing Day. David Marshall, in goal for Cardiff, pulled off some fine saves. There were also some other former English Premier players on show like Kenwyne Jones in the Cardiff side, Tal Ben Haim for Charlton. I presume they’re not on tuppence a week.
    The total number of people who passed through turnstiles to see football in the London boroughs yesterday was 161,696 – mostly at Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace but Brentford and Charlton attracted five-figure crowds as well.
    There are big markets across this island for football merchandising and the number of fans who follow a healthy Rangers is not to be sniffed at. But let’s keep it in perspective.


  33. Re Mike Ashley and the SFA disciplinary panel, what seems clear to me is that the SFA can’t bar MASH from buying as many shares as they wish on the open market (RIFC). MASH are free to do whatever they want with their money?

    However there are clear rules (on the SFA side) which boil down to, you want to be a member of our association then you shall not own another club and have influence over a member of our association. And thus sanctions fall on the member club.

    So TRFC could ply their trade in any association that does not have dual ownership rules. So in my lay mans opinion the SFA rules are no bar to free trade?

    Also we would have to denote what defines influence, a close associate is CEO, a close associate is a consultant. The chairman of rangers has had an email “supporting MASH” published in the national press.

    MASH are also tied up in a retail operation relating directly SD controlled ultimately by Mike Ashley.

    So in my lay man’s opinion MASH can so what they want but you wanna come to my house then my rules.


  34. Chick Young on BBC Scotand: “… today was a big step On the Road to Hell for them”(guess for who?) There’s a title for a new ‘On the Road’ film sans Hope – sans everything. Well done Hibees – a long way to go but so full of promise!


  35. As with the QoS game after McCoist had handed in his resignation, the TRFC players couldn’t raise their game for their new manager today.

    And it sounds like the manner in which TRFC played was a shocker.

    IMO, the Board has called it wrong. A new, external manager ‘could’ have given Ibrox a boost, but with the inexperienced McDowall at the helm the downward spiral could continue – and in front of dwindling crowds too…


  36. Prohibby says:
    December 27, 2014 at 2:35 pm
    15 0 Rate This

    Chick Young on BBC Scotand: “… today was a big step On the Road to Hell for them”(guess for who?) There’s a title for a new ‘On the Road’ film sans Hope – sans everything. Well done Hibees – a long way to go but so full of promise.
    ———-

    Hugely impressive. Come a very long way since that embarrassment against Malmø.

    Kenny McD. shell-shocked afterwards. Seems genuinely bewildered at being manager.

    Why anyone would drip-feed millions on that is beyond me. Funnily enough, the guy on Sky suggested the directors dip into their own pockets to hire a new manager ‘for some of the money they’ve taken out of the club … [on-screen mental scramble] … in pay and bonuses, of course.’ Jings.


  37. StevieBC says:
    December 27, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    As with the QoS game after McCoist had handed in his resignation, the TRFC players couldn’t raise their game for their new manager today.
    ============================
    David Somers has a way with words…Maybe they could get him to give the first team a wee motivational talk 😈 ….Then again having watched the match maybe he did… 😛


  38. I have been addicted since the early days of RTC
    And recall something along the lines of BIG EPL teams watching on anxiously regards RFC EBT case, and NUFC being one of them

    Could it possibly be that the MA interest all things TRFC/RIFC is merely The Big Guy keeping his eyes and ears on what is going on behind the scenes regarding RFC(IL) – BDO ?

    Gained all knowledge I have in these things on here
    But wouldn’t BDO have some sort of presence at Ibrox
    i.e. All the relevant paperwork that wasn’t shredded would be there ?
    And the office/sectarial/innocent people involved would be there

    Aye/Naw ??? No learnt anything ?

    And IF The Big Guy had a case to answer … he apparently has the wherewithal to lose !


  39. StevieBC says:
    December 27, 2014 at 3:04 pm
    13 0 Rate This

    As with the QoS game after McCoist had handed in his resignation, the TRFC players couldn’t raise their game for their new manager today.

    And it sounds like the manner in which TRFC played was a shocker.
    /////////!/

    Completely wrong 🙁
    TRFC played as good as they get
    Hibs were just far superior in every department


  40. This quote from above was amusingly cogent:

    Ibrox sources tell me that if the Three Bears actually looked under the hood at Sevco then the Onerous Contracts would give them such a fright that they would be running for the woods to answer a call of nature.


  41. Ah

    So not popped the bonnet yet.

    Being vehicle savvy chaps be interesting to see the reaction when they find the carburettor is connected to a pipe that not only feeds the engine but extracts twice as much out to an unknown tank or reservoir as we call it EN Le France.

    Happy Racing


  42. ‘Wells biggest home attendance today bar Celtic.

    Thanks to the 1276 Thistle who attended.


  43. whisperer says:
    December 27, 2014 at 4:03 pm
    ‘..But wouldn’t BDO have some sort of presence at Ibrox
    i.e. All the relevant paperwork that wasn’t shredded would be there ?’
    —————–

    On the face of it, since TRFC/RIFC plc is a new creation quite unconnected legally with the the business of RFC(IL), one would think that they would have had to open a new bank account and institute new ledgers and accounting systems for trading and tax and VAT purposes; and would have no more right to retain any of the business documentation relating to RFC business than you or I would. The Liquidators presumably seized anything and everything to do with the Finances of RFC(IL) ( that had not been shredded)from the Administrators.
    I don’t know what powers the Liquidators have to question anyone other than former directors who run an organisation into Liquidation, except, perhaps, to refer suspicions about dodgy Administrations, and perhaps collusive cut-price sales of assets, to the Polis.
    Maybe some of our respected and respectable beancounters/finance people could let us know whether the staff and other workers of a liquidated company ( apart from those who had been directors, of course) can be required to provide ‘evidence’ to the Liquidators?


  44. A few coupon busters today which makes the league so much more interesting. United as Jackie knows lost a big opportunity today but well done St Johnstone. Well done the bottom 3 and I I hope we have a well attended and entertaining game tomorrow. Celtic need pushed and challenged so I for one am not complaining. As for the result at Easter Rd my mate who is a Hibs fan said when I texted him at half time that the first half was great entertainment. If Hibs can get more consistency we may have an exciting end to that league. If Sevco continue to falter and get humped in Feb (which I doubt) by Celtic it will be extremely interesting what happens down Ibrox way.


  45. briggsbhoy says:
    December 27, 2014 at 7:47 pm

    “…… If Sevco continue to falter and get humped in Feb (which I doubt) by Celtic ……”

    Oh ye of little faith, Briggsbhoy!


  46. ianagain @ 7.18pm:

    Good for them. I’m a new-found fan of your lot, as your new boss is my cousin’s husband. Delighted to see Ian get two positive results in his first two proper games in charge. Here’s to many, many more.


  47. rabtdog says:
    December 27, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    19

    1

    Rate This

    Moved to London a few months ago… Not seen a football match yet… Thought Boxing Day trip out would be ideal. Who’s at home?
    Tried Crystal Palace but you need to pay £25 to become a member then the ticket prices are £35-£45. That seemed excessive to see Palace v Southampton.
    Tried Arsenal and Chelsea for a laugh – both sold out.
    Tried Brentford, doing well in the Championship, playing Ipswich. Sold out.
    Tried Charlton who were playing Cardiff – got a ticket for £28 in the lower tier of the home end but the booking fee bumped it up to over £29.
    Didn’t try Leyton Orient (League 1) or Dagenham & Redbridge (League 2).
    The Valley holds around 27,000 and Charlton got a crowd of 17,500 or so for a mid-table Championship game on Boxing Day. David Marshall, in goal for Cardiff, pulled off some fine saves. There were also some other former English Premier players on show like Kenwyne Jones in the Cardiff side, Tal Ben Haim for Charlton. I presume they’re not on tuppence a week.
    The total number of people who passed through turnstiles to see football in the London boroughs yesterday was 161,696 – mostly at Arsenal, Chelsea and Crystal Palace but Brentford and Charlton attracted five-figure crowds as well.
    There are big markets across this island for football merchandising and the number of fans who follow a healthy Rangers is not to be sniffed at. But let’s keep it in perspective.
    —————————————————-
    Try Fulham? Lovely wee ground on the banks of the Thames, not too far to walk from the station too.

    I have a mate that lives in the other side of London who
    buys a season book for there – he loves it!

    We used to travel up to Celtic park together on the overnight coach from Victoria station, and got the coach back down on the Saturday night. Not too many were as dedicated/mad in those days as we were up against Gavin Masterton and his bank!!!

    Anyways, according to his reports from the cottage, the atmosphere is really friendly, the club really cares about the fans – sometimes there are fantastic deals for away travel too!

    I keep on hinting to him to start coming back up to Scotland for games again, but he is really enjoying Fulham games now – win, lose or draw.

    Maybe he’s got wiser with old age – my feet are still thawing out after that game today! I don’t think he would enjoy sitting near these ‘new age’ boo boys either. I can’t get my head around that one at all. I’ve never seen how it helps the team myself.

    Anyway rabtdog, keep the Cottage in mind. The best place I frequented in London by far.


  48. thanks yakutsuki … would have tried Fulham but they were away at Bournemouth yesterday… one for the New Year 🙂


  49. Re yayutsuki’s mention of Fulham there is a great story in one of the Secret Footballer books about Berbatov’s time with them.

    Apparently he was moody, a loner and not a team player at all. After internal discussion about what to do one of the Fulham coaching staff said he knew a coach at Man Utd and he would call him to seek his advice.

    He called and explained the situation. It had been the same at Man Utd.

    “How did you deal with it?” asked the London man.

    “Easy” says the Man Utd coach “We f*cked him off to Fulham.”

    Scottish Football has a very strong Arbroath!


  50. whisperer says:
    December 27, 2014 at 4:03 pm
    I have been addicted since the early days of RTC
    And recall something along the lines of BIG EPL teams watching on anxiously regards RFC EBT case, and NUFC being one of them
    Could it possibly be that the MA interest all things TRFC/RIFC is merely The Big Guy keeping his eyes and ears on what is going on behind the scenes regarding RFC(IL) – BDO
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    I`m pretty sure the original Whyte plan was to crash the business using a prepack Administrator and be left with some worthwhile assets
    McCoist put paid to that idea going out of Europe in short order
    However
    He also put paid to the notion that the scam would run smoothly
    This not only affected Whyte and Green and D&P
    It also affected the original investors in Ticketus 2 who put up the original funds
    Which begs the question
    If the bulk of these funds came from Minty or Ashley or both then a tasty scandal would be on the cards
    A scandal well worth keeping the lid on


  51. GoosyGoosy says:

    December 28, 2014 at 12:00 am
    If the bulk of these funds came from Minty or Ashley or both then a tasty scandal would be on the cards
    A scandal well worth keeping the lid on

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Goosy
    Know them pressure cooker things. Always came with a warnimg not to screw the yon 🙄 middle thingy down too tight?
    The Pretendygers ones been done up such for way too long. The 3 bears are going to spread the 2 handles and the stews going to paint the ceiling.
    Other cooking shows available.
    😉


  52. Leaving aside issues fans may have with their teams performance (and I have many with mine!) I see a very interesting picture today. The supposedly best league in Scotland this season has a runaway leader. The league that was supposedly going to be the most boring is much tighter at the top.

    Just thought it was worth saying.


  53. John Clark says:
    December 27, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    On the face of it, since TRFC/RIFC plc is a new creation quite unconnected legally with the the business of RFC(IL), one would think that they would have had to open a new bank account and institute new ledgers and accounting systems for trading and tax and VAT purposes;
    ================================================================
    Your post jogged the old grey matter into gear 🙄

    The new outfit will have a new VAT number – just another little indicator that it is a new and separate enterprise. If anyone has the old and/or new VAT numbers it might be worth posting them for the record.


  54. So, summary of the Sunday papers. Apparently us mere diddies aren’t allowed to beat the mighty rangers (whichever version) 4-0. Not allowed I tell you. And the solution? Let’s just say they’ve shown some control in avoiding the word war chest!


  55. Re; Phil’s latest

    I think the most interesting part was him alluding to the strong possibility of Castlemilk’s most famous South African expat facing the prospect of facing a spot of time at someone else’s pleasure. Now wouldn’t that put a wee spanner in the works.

    With regards to the most predictable title race in world football ©SMSM, as BRTH wrote last season, Aberdeen will never have a better chance of applying a wee bit of pressure on Celtic and making it a genuine competition this season. This Rougvie, as will big Doug, will be hoping the Dons pick up the points at Inverness today, just to see how the lads from the jungle deal with the pressure.


  56. Theres been some pre Xmas activity at Ticketus 2 LLP
    http://companycheck.co.uk/company/OC346235
    32 partners withdrew their investment on 10 Dec 2014
    One new partner ( Mr Latham) invested on 11 Dec 2014
    And
    On 10 Dec 2014 RIFC released the following news
    Norman Crighton Leaves board
    On 27 Nov 2014 RIFC released the following news
    The Board will be seeking shareholder approval at the forthcoming AGM to issue additional shares
    Coincidence?
    Were these changes all made from the same office?
    Have most of the 32 investments been consolidated and re-deposited under Mr Latham?
    If so this is a mega investment worthy of a multi millionaire
    Who is Mr Latham?


  57. @GoosyGoosy probably Paul Latham who needs the arms of an Octopus to keep in touch with all his Ticketus directorships 😉


  58. redetin says:
    December 28, 2014 at 11:16 am
    At the end of the year it’s always worth a look back to remind ourselves what went on.
    There is probably detail that we didn’t see the relevance of back then.

    SuttonFakes

    https://www.scribd.com/SuttonFakes
    ……………….
    Agreed
    As we approach the second Liquidation in this Pantomime

    I have a feeling the work of RTC is unfinished


  59. Can someone point me to the play-off arrnagements please. Am I being cynical in suspecting that a couple of honest mistakes in play-off matches could overcome an awful lot of drubbings along the way.

    If so, the question must be, would premature elevation to the Premiership be a kindness or a cruelty – assuming of course that participation next season is secured by the tooth fairy riding to the rescue on a unicorn carrying aloft the pot of gold from the end of the rainbow.


  60. @MCFC http://spfl.co.uk/spfl/ To be promoted to the Premiership 3rd or 4th would have to win 3 x 2 legged ties. 2nd place would need to win 2 x 2 legged ties with 11th in the Premiership surrviving solely by winning a 2 legged tie against whoever emerges from the two championship ties. Hibs of course failed to do that last season


  61. GoosyGoosy says:
    December 28, 2014 at 11:49 am

    redetin says:
    December 28, 2014 at 11:16 am
    At the end of the year it’s always worth a look back to remind ourselves what went on.
    There is probably detail that we didn’t see the relevance of back then.

    https://www.scribd.com/SuttonFakes
    ……………….
    Agreed
    As we approach the second Liquidation in this Pantomime

    I have a feeling the work of RTC is unfinished
    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

    I was hoping for more from Sutton / Charlotte Fakes or some other party.


  62. ecobhoy says:
    December 28, 2014 at 9:29 am
    24 1 Rate This

    John Clark says:
    December 27, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    On the face of it, since TRFC/RIFC plc is a new creation quite unconnected legally with the the business of RFC(IL), one would think that they would have had to open a new bank account and institute new ledgers and accounting systems for trading and tax and VAT purposes;
    ================================================================
    Your post jogged the old grey matter into gear 🙄

    The new outfit will have a new VAT number – just another little indicator that it is a new and separate enterprise. If anyone has the old and/or new VAT numbers it might be worth posting them for the record.
    ========================================

    A small additional point; all prize money paid to Oldco would have been received in an account in the name of RFC 2012 (IL), as it is now known.

    All prize money paid to Newco is paid to an account in the name of RFCL.

    So although the SFA might claim it is the same member and therefore the same recipient of any titles/trophies, it is absolutely 100% a different recipient of the prize money associated with those titles/trophies.


  63. tykebhoy says:
    December 28, 2014 at 12:26 pm
    @MCFC http://spfl.co.uk/spfl/
    =====================================
    Thanks Tykebhoy. So for the sake of argument let’s say it finishes Hearts, Hibs, QoS, Rangers. For promotion Rangers would need to win:

    2 x QoS vs Rangers
    2 x Rangers vs Hibs
    2 x Rangers vs St Mirren (currently)

    On recent form that looks very unlikely even allowing for a few HMs. I can’t see many players leaving in a Jan fire sale – who would want to offer good money for habitual under achievers. Their best hope seems to be getting freebie loaners from NUFC in order to fight for second place – fewer HMs needed for promotion – but still less than evens I’d say.

    Has anyone at Ibrox watched the Dragon’s Den and seen that hard-nosed business people only want to “risk” their money on dead certs with a strong fall back position if all goes wrong.

    The RIFC pitch is give us £8mil – £12mil for less than a 50% chance of getting into the Premiership with a thread bare squad and on the brink of insolvency in the hope the fans will flock to buy STs in May. If it doesn’t work out then all your money is gone.

    Did I mention I’m pitching a new TV show to the BBC on 1st April. It’s called the Bears’ Den, where the deluded pitch for investment in hopeless projects based on the investors’ cultural attachment to bye gone social structures of privilege and supremacy.


  64. GoosyGoosy says:
    December 28, 2014 at 12:00 am
    55 0 Rate This

    In DJs piece last week, he stated that MA had shares in 2012 and was speaking to SFA.
    That was news to me, but could have been a typo.


  65. rougvielovesthejungle says:

    December 28, 2014 at 10:22 am

    Aberdeen will never have a better chance of applying a wee bit of pressure on Celtic and making it a genuine competition this season. This Rougvie, as will big Doug, will be hoping the Dons pick up the points at Inverness today, just to see how the lads from the jungle deal with the pressure.

    ———————-

    I hope they do, I really hope they do. We need the other teams to do what Dundee UTD did the other week and not allow Celtic’s wealth dictate how the League pans out.

    As a Celtic fan, I want to go into every game believing we can wash the floor with the other teams, I never want to go into the game expecting it.

    C’mon the Dons!


  66. Mcfc says
    The RIFC pitch is give us £8mil – £12mil for less than a 50% chance of getting into the Premiership with a thread bare squad and on the brink of insolvency in the hope the fans will flock to buy STs in May. If it doesn’t work out then all your money is gone.

    Assuming its share capital of course. If it’s secured loans on the other hand…..


  67. ecobhoy says:
    December 28, 2014 at 9:29 am

    John Clark says:
    December 27, 2014 at 7:32 pm

    The new outfit will have a new VAT number – just another little indicator that it is a new and separate enterprise. If anyone has the old and/or new VAT numbers it might be worth posting them for the record.
    – – – – – – – – – –

    The VAT number must be included on invoices. So for example, here:

    http://www.scribd.com/doc/192787982/179011475-148999313-Rangers-FC-Invoice-to-Ticketus-Agency-pdf-pdf


  68. A word I have read and heard the media use frequently over the past few days is ‘investment’ with regard to the so called three bears and their alleged £6.5M. Puzzled as to what I have always regarded ‘investment’ to mean in financial terms, I can’t get away from this just being another crisis loan, which minus big Mike’s £3M (did he lend even more for this months wages ❓ ) won’t even see out the season. It’s not really an ‘investment’ at all, is it?


  69. Correct. It’s investment by the shareholders but it’s simple operational crisis funding, fire fighting and dam hole thumbing by the club, or the business, or the company, or…..


  70. You’ll only hear the media refer to this as “investment”.

    The Company have already confirmed in the accounts etc that this is an injection of working capital.


  71. upthehoops says:
    December 28, 2014 at 1:39 pm
    3 0 Rate This

    A word I have read and heard the media use frequently over the past few days is ‘investment’ with regard to the so called three bears and their alleged £6.5M. Puzzled as to what I have always regarded ‘investment’ to mean in financial terms, I can’t get away from this just being another crisis loan, which minus big Mike’s £3M (did he lend even more for this months wages ❓ ) won’t even see out the season. It’s not really an ‘investment’ at all, is it?

    ………………………….
    Good point.

    The thing I don’t understand in all this shinanegins, is the p#sh about “needing” “investment” ?

    RIFC PLC /TRFCL Ltd have a playing squad on the second HIGHEST wages in the Scottish Football Leagues.

    The players are well paid in comparison to other teams.

    It is this absolute waste of money that is not being challenged by any Sevconians – either in the stands or the chip wrappers.

    The ship of fools sailing towards the waterfall ?

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