From the TSFM Manifesto 🙂
A spectre is haunting Scottish Football — the spectre of Sporting Integrity. All the powers of the old firms have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this spectre: Billy and Dan, Blazer and Cassock, Record and Sun, Balance Sheet and P&L.
Where is the football fan in opposition to these that has not been decried as a “sporting integrity bampot” by his opponents in power?Two things result from this fact:
I. Sporting Integrity is already widely acknowledged to be itself a power for good.
II. It is high time that Lovers of Sport should openly, in the face of the whole world, publish their views, their aims, and meet this nursery tale of the Spectre of Sporting Integrity with a manifesto of fair play.
To this end, Lovers of Sport of various partisanship have assembled on TSFM and sketched their manifesto, to be published on tsfm.scot.
Those who love sport though are challenged not just by the taunts of the monosyllabic automatons in the MSM, but by the owners of our football clubs who have displayed an almost total disregard to our wish to have a fair competition played out in the spirit of friendly rivalry. In fact the clubs, who speak those fine words, are not nearly as outraged as we are by the damage done to the integrity of the sport in the past few years .
In fact the term Sporting Integrity has become, since the latter stages of the Rangers era, a term of abuse; a mocking soubriquet attached to those who want sport to be just that – sport.
Sporting integrity now lives in the same media pigeon-hole as words like Islam, left-wing, militant, Muslim – and a host of others; words which are threats to the established order now set up as in-jokes, in order to reduce the effectiveness of the idea.
In fact, a new terminology has evolved in the reporting of football by both club officials and The Succulent Lamb Chapel alike;
“.. Sporting Integrity but …”.
For example
“We all want sporting integrity, but finance is more important”
Says who exactly?
Stated in such a matter of fact way that the obvious question is headed off at the pass, it is sometimes difficult to re-frame the discussion – perhaps because crayon is so hard to erase?
This is the backdrop to The Scottish Football Monitor and the world in which we live. Often the levels of scrutiny employed by our contributors are far in excess of any scrutiny employed by the MSM. Indeed our ideas and theories are regularly plagiarised by those very same lazy journalists who lurk here, and cherry-pick material to suit their own agendas; regularly claiming exclusives for stories that TSFM and RTC before us had placed in the public domain weeks earlier.
This was going to lead into a discourse about the love of money versus the love of sport – of how the sacred cows of acquisitiveness, gate- retention and turnstile spinning is far more important to the heads of our football clubs (the Billys, Dans and Blazers of the intro) than maintaining the traditions of our sport.
However events of Friday 14th November have given me cause to leave that for another day. The biggest squirrel of all in this sorry saga has always been the sleight of hand employed instil a siege mentality in the Rangers fans. The press have time and again assisted people (with no love of football in general or Rangers in particular) to enrich themselves – legally or otherwise – and feed on the loyalty of Rangers fans.
A matter for Rangers fans may also be the identity of some of those who had their trust, but who also assisted the Whytes and Greens by their public statements of support.
Our contention has been that rules have been bent twisted or broken to accommodate those people, the real enemies of the Rangers fans – and fans everywhere.
Through our collective research and group-analysis of events, we have also wondered out loud about the legality of many aspects of the operating style of some of the main players in the affair. That suspicion has been shared most notably by Mark Daly and Alex Thompson, but crucially now appears to be shared by Law Enforcement.
I confess I am fed up with the self-styled “bampot” epithet. For the avoidance of doubt, the “bampots” in this affair are those who have greater resources than us, and access to the truth, but who have lacked either the will or the courage or the imagination to follow it through.
We are anything but bampots. Rather, we have demonstrated that the wisdom of the crowd is more effective by far than any remnants of wisdom in the press.
I have no doubt that the police investigation into this matter is proceeding in spite of great opposition in the MSM and the Scottish Football Authorities – all of whom conspired to expose Rangers to the custodianship of those for whom football is a foreign language.
I have no doubt that the constant exposition of wrong-doing on this blog, in particular the questions we have constantly raised, and anomalies we have pointed out, has assisted and enabled the law enforcement agencies in this process.
If we are to be consistent in this, our enabling of the authorities, we MUST show restraint at all times as this process is followed through. People who are charged with a crime deserve to be given a fair trial in the absence of rumour or innuendo. We must also, if we are to continue as the spectre which haunts the avaricious – and the real bampots – be seen to be better than they, and give them no cause to accuse us of irresponsibility.
This affair has now evolved way beyond one club gaining unfair advantage over others. For all the understandable Schadenfreude of many among us, the real enemy is not Rangers, it is about those who enabled and continue to enable the farce at Ibrox.
This is now about systematic cheating at the heart of the Scottish game (in the name of cash and in spite of lip service to sporting integrity), and how the greed of a bunch of ethically challenged officials allowed another group of ethically challenged businessmen free rein to enrich themselves at the expense of the fans.
Whether laws were broken or not, the players at Rangers have come and gone and are variables, but the malignant constant at the SFA and SPFL are still there. Last night, even after the news that four men had been arrested in connection with the takeover at Ibrox in 2011, they were gathered together at Celtic Park with their Irish counterparts, tucking into succulent lamb (perhaps) and fine wines, doing some back slapping, making jokes about the vulgarities of their fans, bragging about the ST money they have banked.
The revolution won’t be over until they are gone, and if they remain, it is Scottish Football that will be over.
Danish Pastry says:
December 12, 2014 at 8:27 pm
_______________________________________
Thanks for reply DP. Still sick 😥
If the TRFC players couldn’t manage a win against QoS tonight – to keep close to Hearts, and to demonstrate support for their beleaguered manager – then it doesn’t bode well the longer McCoist stays in charge, IMO.
They have to have a new manager ASAP, to remove the negativity around McCoist and to give the players and fans a boost.
Richard Wilson
“The manager has shown too much faith in them (his players). I think this comes back to an inherently cautious approach by McCoist. He was let down by certain players tonight.”
Now ally’s management deserves many descriptions, but “inherently cautious?”
Ally
now saying promotion is the aim
,you what.
So who released the story?
Who contacted the press agencies?
Surely, if an £800k liability just landed on your doorstep, you might need make provision? What would that mean if you were already rooked?
So has Ally McCoist tendered notice of his resignation or not.
Listening to the BBC eavesdropping on his post match interview tonight, it remains unclear.
Apparently he can’t comment on speculation.
One would have thought he would be in a unique position to clarify the matter.
Chaos!
It seems to me that Ally has today thrown down the gauntlet at the feet of Uncle Mike. I’m pretty sure Mike won’t like that, so we should get a fair idea shortly of how he deals with insubordination from overpaid underlings. The idea of an insolvency event tailor made to deprive Ally of his pay-off must seem very attractive indeed.
andygraham.66 says:
December 12, 2014 at 8:58 pm
keith jackson @tedermeatballs
I hear McCoist addressed his players on the bus with the words ‘I’m going nowhere’.
===============================================================
I think after the return journey when McCoist gets off the bus his last words will be: “I am just going outside and may be some time” but then perhaps Captain Oates was made of sterner stuff.
This truly is one of the most bizarre episodes so far but I doubt if Ashley will appreciare being a laughings stock so he might just poney-up the money.
Listening to McCoist being interviewed tonight I get the feeling he’s made his decision and a weight has lifted off him. And if he ever needed any confirmation it was the right decision then his team provided that.
But that’s not to take anything away from QoS who were a joy to watch – Come back Ally all is forgiven I don’t want QoS getting promoted – too bluidy good by far 😆
Still intrigued by the timing.
Why didn’t McCoist hand in his resignation after the Hearts loss – or even after being dumped out of the cup by Alloa ?
Why now ?
Phil has alluded to impending player losses in January, but IMO, I would still think that McCoist would stick around to ‘complete the journey’, which should still be doable via the play-offs – if more risky.
Has he planned this action to coincide with the impending AGM ?
TRFC could maybe choose to let this drift a wee bit, but shirley there would have to be a public pronouncement at the AGM at least? Either supporting McCoist or having him replaced ASAP. [Ideally, he should be replaced by the AGM, somehow.]
Or is McCoist just calling Easdale’s bluff ?
Who knows ?!
But at least it’s never boring down Govan way… 🙄
Well even by the standards set in this tale, today takes some beating.
Was there any need for a team talk in the QOS dressing room than to hear that the opposition manager has tendered his resignation/notice to quit but that the club cannot get rid because they are skint.
It truly is beyond parody.
Meanwhile the board are in London, probably having a Christmas party, and cannot respond to the story.
Someone therefore leaked the story to the press that the resignation/notice had been served.
I think now that Ally has been told only to speak about football matters hence his responses tonight at the end of the match.
If he speaks about anything else the board will start the process of verbal warning, written warning, written warning, and your sacked and they won’t need to pay him.
Absolute shambles.
neepheid says: December 12, 2014 at 10:21 pm
It seems to me that Ally has today thrown down the gauntlet at the feet of Uncle Mike. I’m pretty sure Mike won’t like that, so we should get a fair idea shortly of how he deals with insubordination from overpaid underlings. The idea of an insolvency event tailor made to deprive Ally of his pay-off must seem very attractive indeed.
=====================
An insolvency event won’t deprive him of his pay day unless Rangers dies forever.
His current options are:
Paid off to leave now
Paid gardening leave
Work his notice
In the event of an insolvency:
Becomes a preferred creditor (employee due wages)for Xp in the £
Becomes a football creditor in which case he will receive the full amount from the new owner of Rangers. (same as Hearts)
easyJambo says:
December 12, 2014 at 10:54 pm
‘..An insolvency event won’t deprive him of his pay day unless Rangers dies forever..’
——-
TSk, Tsk,easyJambo. A little more precision, please. 😀 Rangers DID die forever!
But I know what you mean.
ohn Clark says:
December 12, 2014 at 10:58 pm
5 1 Rate This
easyJambo says:
December 12, 2014 at 10:54 pm
‘..An insolvency event won’t deprive him of his pay day unless Rangers dies forever..’
——-
TSk, Tsk,easyJambo. A little more precision, please. 😀 Rangers DID die forever!
But I know what you mean.
———————————————–
Try telling that to the dyed in the wool fans
Talk of the board being in London but earlier on SSB mention was made of the Easdales being at tonight’s game.
All very confusing.
John Clark says: December 12, 2014 at 10:58 pm
valentinesclown says: December 12, 2014 at 11:17 pm
======================
OK OK, as long as no club seeks to masquerade itself as the ghost of Rangers past or present in the future.
Danish Pastry says:
December 12, 2014 at 8:51 pm
9 0 Rate This
Someone seems to have contacted KJ from The Bus:
@tedermeatballs: I hear McCoist addressed his players on the bus with the words ‘I’m going nowhere’. This situation is far from straightforward.
—
Absolutely shocking.
I can’t believe they didn’t fly from Glasgow to Dumfries.
justshatered says:
December 12, 2014 at 10:50 pm
‘..Someone therefore leaked the story to the press that the resignation/notice had been served.’
——-
The initiative in this ‘resignation’ matter did not, in my opinion, lie with Ally.
‘They’ want him out, by fair means or foul and as cheaply as possible.
Stevie BC earlier mentioned a gentleman who has withdrawn his application for a managerial post for which he had already ( apparently) been interviewed.
I suspect Ally was told to submit his resignation ( and possibly given hints on how to dress it up [solidarity with redundant workers?],and express his intention of working his full notice ( for the sake of ‘not walking away’), and then in a week or two reach an accommodation with an appreciative Board, which will let him walk away honourably, and adequately rewarded by some suitable shares arrangement/future dividends, when the club, under a bandaged-headed hero of a new manager brings glory and success back to Ibrox!
You’ve got to feel for these Rangers fans who masquerade as journalists.
Here is an extract from Richard Wilson’s match ‘report’ from tonight;
“Yet McCoist’s team selection saw three players out of position and Bilel Mohsni, a regularly erratic player, at centre-back. Yet there were options on the bench that would have allowed McCoist to drop Mohsni, move Darren McGregor to centre-back where he is more comfortable, and Richard Foster to right-back, while Dean Shiels did not need to be used on the flank when he is at his best playing off the main striker.”
Surely the BBC should expect better journalism than this fitba forum standard pish? 🙄
Reading the reaction to all the McCoist news makes it very obvious that most of the Rangers fan base, along with the SMSM, can’t understand the basic political compromise that gave birth to Sevco.
Charlie and the Spivs had the assets. Ally and the Real Rangurz Men could deliver the fans.
Recall that when the Green One showed up he was originally talking about austerity himself. Thinking, incorrectly, that the Rangurz Men would recognize this necessity and the fans, understanding that the original iteration of the club was being LIQUIDATED because it couldn’t meet its obligations to its creditors, Charlie was in the period where he was supposed to be “Nanny McPhee” and the fans would have to thank him later.
In all fairness, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. A set of distressed assets, burdened with unmet liabilities and too high of a cost base, has its value unlocked by drawing a line under the old business model and putting the capital to more efficient use. Charlie would make his money the old fashioned way: selling on the reorganized business at a profit.
I’ll say this for Chuck: whether the death threats and safe houses were real or not he figured out the score pretty quickly and opted for a far better scheme. He saw the power of the Rightful Place myth and adjusted accordingly.
The fundamental problem: how do you make money from a company that doesn’t make money?
Well, as long as you’ve got *ahem* “loyal” customers, naive investors, and the threat of being able to put a valued institution on ice (ask Bomber) you don’t worry about the business making money. You just figure out as many ways as possible to drain liquidity out of the business as possible and make sure you’re not around when the money runs out.
But to make it work he needed the fans. And that meant dealing with McCoist and his crew and making sure they got theirs. Was Ally cynical, or merely naive? I’m not sure I care. ANY time austerity was suggested he stood in its path. To him, the myth of Rangers had to be sustained at any cost… including his totally inappropriate cost. Handy that.
Then I read nonsense like this from Tom English: “A few weeks back, a Rangers supporter wrote McCoist an open letter and published it on a fans’ website. . . And here was the thing. The fan wanted McCoist to leave his post as manager and to publicly expose those who had brought the club to its knees – a last and selfless act that would guarantee his beloved status forever and would render all mishaps, including the recent capitulation against Alloa, utterly meaningless in the big picture.
It was a plaintive cry, well-argued and, it would seem, it had the support of a growing number of the club’s fans. McCoist could have arranged his exit and left to the sound of respectful cheering, a hero once more.”
It’s. Not. A. Mystery.
Who “brought [Rangers] to their knees”?
They all did. And you still can’t see the obvious.
McCoist knows the support much better than his bosses
He understands that the fans have no time for the Directors.
So we may be witnessing the first shots in a battle between Ally and the Board for the loyalty of the fans and the future of the club
It depends on whether Ally`s offer to leave wins the sympathy of the support. If it does the reason for the boycott shifts from dissatisfaction with Ally to an enhanced dissatisfaction with the Board
With Ally offering to leave the onus is on the Board to accept his resignation and pay him off
If they don’t do so the responsibility for poor football management rests with them and not Ally
Lurking over the horizon is the prospect of an almighty hiding in the semi final. Ashley & Co have no idea how difficult it will be for the board if this happens
And as for whether or not Ally should walk with no contractual payment
The view of the fans is bedded in their history
If there’s a millionaire around let him pay for any shortfall in cash .Hes got megabucks anyway
So
IMO
Things could well get very ugly in the New Year
Not for Ally
For the Board
By putting himself ‘on notice’ does ally become creditor of the current incarnation of sevco?
Andrew Smith of The Scotsman has just been deleted from McCoist’s Christmas card list
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/andrew-smith-super-ally-wasn-t-heard-even-once-1-3633411?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
wottpi says:
December 12, 2014 at 11:19 pm
7 0 Rate This
Talk of the board being in London but earlier on SSB mention was made of the Easdales being at tonight’s game.
All very confusing.
———
Not really Wottpi, the bored were in London 🙂
This was a bold statement Yerevan. Fewer people seem concerned with going on that list for some reason.
John Clark says:
December 12, 2014 at 11:28 pm
justshatered says:
December 12, 2014 at 10:50 pm
‘..Someone therefore leaked the story to the press that the resignation/notice had been served.’
——-
The initiative in this ‘resignation’ matter did not, in my opinion, lie with Ally.
‘They’ want him out, by fair means or foul and as cheaply as possible.
Stevie BC earlier mentioned a gentleman who has withdrawn his application for a managerial post for which he had already ( apparently) been interviewed.
I suspect Ally was told to submit his resignation ( and possibly given hints on how to dress it up [solidarity with redundant workers?],and express his intention of working his full notice ( for the sake of ‘not walking away’), and then in a week or two reach an accommodation with an appreciative Board, which will let him walk away honourably, and adequately rewarded by some suitable shares arrangement/future dividends, when the club, under a bandaged-headed hero of a new manager brings glory and success back to Ibrox!
———————
But if that were the case, why the silence from the board? They may not particularly care, but a lack of response makes them look both indifferent and incompetent, and given they need to raise millions in the near future, that’s not an impression they’d presumably want to give to potential investors or whatever remaining section of the money markets they still have access to.
If board had presented his ‘resignation’ as a fait accompli to McCoist, you’d have expected at least some sort of holding statement acknowledging his offer of resignation and saying a full statement would be released in due course. If the board had taken the initiative, I’d have expected them to have had some sort of response lined up for when the news broke because I’d have expected them to have a plan in place for seeing the whole thing through before implementing it. That would have included covering all McCoist’s possible reactions and – given the way things seem to leak out of Ibrox – a plan for managing the story in the media.
In short, I reckon McCoist started it.
I’ve noticed within the Rangers ‘family’ there appears to be a meek acceptance that all McCoist has done is hand in the one year notice period of his rolling contract. This is despite the club being an on and off the park shambles living on a hand to mouth basis. McCoist is not solely to blame for that but he must accept a large part of the blame along with others. So he should be glad today that the rather bizarre policy of ex Rangers players in the media who refuse to publicly criticise their own appears to be holding water. Add to that the many Rangers supporting hacks who have joined the circle of wagons. This tells us much about how the media operate but what good is it doing?
Please excuse me for using Celtic as a direct comparison, but under the same circumstances no Celtic Manager would survive. The pressure from ex players and the media would make sure of that.
GoosyGoosy says:
December 13, 2014 at 12:19 am
30 0 Rate This
McCoist knows the support much better than his bosses
He understands that the fans have no time for the Directors.
So we may be witnessing the first shots in a battle between Ally and the Board for the loyalty of the fans and the future of the club
It depends on whether Ally`s offer to leave wins the sympathy of the support. If it does the reason for the boycott shifts from dissatisfaction with Ally to an enhanced dissatisfaction with the Board
With Ally offering to leave the onus is on the Board to accept his resignation and pay him off
If they don’t do so the responsibility for poor football management rests with them and not Ally
Lurking over the horizon is the prospect of an almighty hiding in the semi final. Ashley & Co have no idea how difficult it will be for the board if this happens
And as for whether or not Ally should walk with no contractual payment
The view of the fans is bedded in their history
If there’s a millionaire around let him pay for any shortfall in cash .Hes got megabucks anyway
So
IMO
Things could well get very ugly in the New Year
Not for Ally
For the Board
. . .”The view of the fans is bedded in their history”
They can always SELL that bit of their HISTORY – can they not?
Yerevan says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:47 am
A very well directed piece from Andrew Smith, one of the very few, probably as few as one, to consistently avoid any hint of accepting the ‘same club’ argument, though, for his own safety, no doubt, hasn’t always been as forthright as this:
‘that could yet cause this post-liquidation Rangers to go the same way as the original club.’
That is written without a hint of ‘fear for his job’ or any other kind of fear, and signifies, I think, the entry of less/no pressure on journalists to perpetuate the myth.
So what might that mean in the unravelling that is going on at Ibrox?
I was already thinking of the gradual dawning of reality amongst the bears, most notably the statement from that most Rangersness of Rangersness, Donald Findlay QC, where, while avoiding making the legal argument, he made it clear he doesn’t consider TRFC to be the ‘real’ Rangers.
The hasty, then just as hastily removed, same club statement from the other day showed a kind of desperation to ‘get the message out there’, then not only did TRFC refrain from clarifying why they removed the ‘lie’, the support didn’t look for any affirmation of the ‘same club’ status, perhaps/probably afraid that the club might not oblige (thus affirming a certain blogger’s claims re BDO).
Now, with the results getting less and less ‘Rangers-like’ the supporters must be dreading the upcoming ‘Old Firm’ re-enactment as, surely, it will result in their clubs greatest ever humiliation. But would it? Well, not if TRFC are not actually Rangers, it won’t.
I’m not suggesting that Celtic will, definitely, inflict a record Derby defeat (even if we ignore the fact it’s not Rangers FC), but it must be in the minds of the bears that it could be. With anticipation for a dream season moving from winning the Championship, to promotion, to goodness knows what over the next few weeks, could many bears continue to cling to the ‘same club’ belief, or will the desire to hold onto the history of Rangers, unsullied by a failing imposter, lead to more and more of them preferring to accept that their loved one died still holding onto it’s past glories?
And now, with one of the ‘trinity’ of true connections to ‘real Rangers’ – Ibrox, the strip, and the Super One – proving to be a major part of the disaster, just how many will begin to question the same club belief they were so desperate to hold onto nearly 3 years ago? Then take into account the questions over the ownership of Ibrox and now the release of an alternative ‘Rangers’ top. What’s left of Rangers?
Allyjambo
You triggered a thought.
It is conceivable that this incarnation of Rangers could be so abject that fans start to make a distinction themselves in order to avoid tainting their view of what Rangers must be.
Rangers = Success. Therefore an unsuccessful team posing as Rangers cannot be the same thing.
Things don’t just happen.
Things like
“The Board are in London”.
I don’t know if they were or still are in London for certain but lets assume they were there yesterday.
That fact (if it is true) should have been followed up by any real journo.
Why?
Well they are a diverse bunch of characters who don’t socialise together and don’t all meet in the same pub every Friday.
They were almost certainly not down south to have a Board Christmas Party away from the Glasgow lenses.
So if they were/are all in London then it is surely for a reason and a reason related to something happening at the club they all represent.
And while they are all away Ally takes centre stage with a very slick and stage managed PR bomb for two reasons.
The first is self preservation.
He is ensuring he has a future, maybe in the media and has to come out of this as a good guy. Well paid for sure but a good guy nevertheless.
The second reason is perhaps linked to the reason that took the board to London.
Maybe Ally and the people behind him know what the board are down in that London for.
And on their behalf he is ceremonially and theatrically drawing the line in the sand on behalf of these Rangersmen unknown (but some of whom might be in London).
They see themselves as the future and are making a play.
Interesting times because deadlock is not an option.
On the board in London story.
The Easdales were at the QoS game last night, Llambias will be in London for the Arsenal v Newcastle game with Ashley which leaves I think 2 other board members Somers and Leach who may or may not have been in the city.
Bit of a squirrel story methinks.
Allyjambo says:
December 13, 2014 at 9:19 am
I’m not suggesting that Celtic will, definitely, inflict a record Derby defeat (even if we ignore the fact it’s not Rangers FC), but it must be in the minds of the bears that it could be.
——————————————
There are countless examples of ‘wee’ teams holding or even beating their more favoured opponents by packing the defence and scoring a goal on the break (or via a penalty, for example). But even if the more favoured team wins by three or four goals, they may not get much credit for doing so. If they do run up a record score, then the difference in resources between the clubs is likely to be pointed out, no doubt free of any irony regarding the Rangers’ march through the leagues against assorted piemakers and mechanics. Given the less than objective viewpoints of many in the Scottish media, the Rangers(eque) v Celtic game offers up all sorts of positive narratives for the blue team.
I suspect Ally’s resignation is driven primarily by the “fact” that the jungle drums are pointing to a significant reduction in the playing staff in both January and the summer.
This is a traditional reason for managerial resignations. I would read no more into than that.
Given the club / clumpany dire financial position then Ally will soon find his name dragged through the gutter , as a money grabbing rascal …….. I suspect Ally is being too clever by half …… really he would be better advised to just chuck it, keep it simple.
I am expecting some choice tails in the Sunday rags …..
I believe that Mr James Traynor was at the QOTS game last night. Coincidence? A former club employee (media director?) there on the same day that Mr McCoist does his best to avoid announcing his reported resignation etc. etc.
The thought occurred to this morning, if there is going to be two opposing groups fighting for the heart and sole of Rang3rs does the internetbampot community need to look out for two media outlets working the SMSM? In the blue corner Media House in the other blue corner Traynor [communications]?
I wonder if Mr Traynor has had a succulent lamb lunch recently with a well known QC?
As to the Board reportedly being in London – I posted yesterday that a Regulatory Notice was posted on AIM yesterday afternoon appointing a new NOMAD for RIFC Plc with immediate effect.
That might well explain why the Board was there or at least the Chairman and Lambias. Who knows about Easdale but the two brothers were at the game last night.
Rangers have the agm within days and they will need to announce how they are going to raise operating capital to the assembled fans or they will drop to under 10K attendances until they are liquidated again.
The only route they have is a share issue and to do that they need a NOMAD and a helluva lot of tough discussion and decisions to be made in a hurry and it might be the case that AIM itself wanted some questions answered and presumably they might be trying to get some institutional investors on board. Good luck with that one gents 😆
So they might well have been in London and the reasons I’ve given above – if correct – might well have been known to McCoist or others close to him.
It could be argued that others who might want to take over the club for peanuts could have their plans thwarted if it gets a cash injection and will actively be trying to prevent that taking place and also the disapplication of share pre-emption rights which again would destroy any hope of them gaining control.
Would the McCoist ‘will he won’t he – will they won’t they’ shambles be enough to derail a share flotation? I don’t think it would.
So, like everyone else except Ashley, I don’t have a clue and in view of the cack-handed way the Blue Knights of every shade and hue have dealt with business in the past then I don’t think they’ve got a scoobie either.
We will see what we will see and time is running out.
The current Ibrox companies set-up doesn’t have money to pay off McCoist. Mike Ashley does.
Tartanwulver says:
December 13, 2014 at 10:08 am
Allyjambo says:
December 13, 2014 at 9:19 am
I’m not suggesting that Celtic will, definitely, inflict a record Derby defeat (even if we ignore the fact it’s not Rangers FC), but it must be in the minds of the bears that it could be.
——————————————
There are countless examples of ‘wee’ teams holding or even beating their more favoured opponents by packing the defence and scoring a goal on the break (or via a penalty, for example). But even if the more favoured team wins by three or four goals, they may not get much credit for doing so. If they do run up a record score, then the difference in resources between the clubs is likely to be pointed out, no doubt free of any irony regarding the Rangers’ march through the leagues against assorted piemakers and mechanics. Given the less than objective viewpoints of many in the Scottish media, the Rangers(eque) v Celtic game offers up all sorts of positive narratives for the blue team.
=================================================
It’s a funny one for Bears desperately wanting the game and a decisive win against Celtic but deep-down terrified they might get a gubbing.
Tbh I think the rational Bears I speak to are more worried about promotion to the Premiership which they started the season thinking wouldn’t be that difficult.
They now are exhibiting serious anxiety symptoms and beginning to wonder if they can even manage a play-off place. These guys are clever and sane enough to see that in their footballing state – especially come the January transfer window – they really don’t need the distraction of Celtic or any cup games.
They need as a minimum a play-off spot and that’s what should be concentrated on.
However what footballing Bears want is highly unlikely to be what the spivs and money-takers want and we all know that football is low on their list of priorities.
I see that QoS packed their defence and managed to hang-on to their lucky wafer-thin lead – yip that’s defo the way to do it and they showed-up some Premiership sides that meekly lay-down to the Rangers myth.
However – all kidding aside – QoS were a wonderful advert for Scottish Football last night and BT Sport picked a real winner in covering the match.
Ally may be a clever wee lad amongst his peers, but he’d be foolish to play chicken with Mike Ashley if he’s done his homework – which I suspect he hasn’t, becuase he thinks he’s too cool for school. He’s excluded himself from the AGM where he might find that his terms and conditions are discussed to explain the board’s unhappiness with his cost / performance ratio. That could hurt his position with the fans if it indicates some mega porkies have been told.
The QoS match was on BT Sport last night and I caught some of the second half. I was genuinely surprised at how bad The Rangers were – genuinely. If the players play so poorly and the manager manages so poorly while they are burning so much money, then what is the whole charade about. The teams looked a league a part last night not a single place in the same league.
The story is now leaking down south. QoS’s goals and a bit of Ally’s post match interview were shown on the Breakfast sport slot.- so probably on News 24 too. I’m not sure it means much to the locals, just another downbeat manager facing the chop and trying to sound philosophical. However, if the story gets juicy, it may lead to incredulous questions of how The Rangers got themselves in such a state.
Jake Cantona says:
December 13, 2014 at 6:53 am
In short, I reckon McCoist started it.
========================================
You base that assumption as far as I can see on there having been no statement from the Board wrt the issue.
I posted yesterday that it might well be the case that the Board is unable to make any prior public statement until it has published a notice on AIM as this matter could have consequences for the share price.
As to who started it I can think of at least half-a-dozen contradictory but equally valid explanations for the way the scenario has panned-out so far and how it will end.
But they might all be wrong and like so much of this saga the explanation that emerges might not have been predictablt to any outsider. Of course even then it might not be the truth.
In dealing with the denizens of a snake pit it’s wise to stand well back and observe their fight for supremacy.
When the victor slithers from the pit that’s when the big stick hidden behind your back is employed to maximum effect – preferably by a Bear.
Off topic. Unemployed people will be allowed in free to the Celtic v Ross County game on 27th December. Present the relevant documents to the ticket office from Monday 15th December onwards.
Quite a few people picking up on PMG’s suggestion that Ally is walking because he’s been told of squad reductions in January and the summer. Without a hint of sarcasm, I can say that after watching half an hour of last night’s match I think he would be well rid of most of them. They say The Rangers have no scouting system, but they’ve had two and a half years to scout some decent semi-pros up and down the land that could do better than the current squad given a day’s rest before a match, a bit of coaching and maybe a decent nutrition plan.
Ian Barraclough new Motherwell manager. http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/12/13/ian-baraclough-appointed-well-boss/
Ray McKinnon had posted on Facebook that Van der Gaag had got it.
Yerevan says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:47 am
Andrew Smith of The Scotsman has just been deleted from McCoist’s Christmas card list
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/andrew-smith-super-ally-wasn-t-heard-even-once-1-3633411?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
=====================================================
Back in the old days there would have been demands to boycott QoS and have the DJ sacked. Oh yea and demands for an apology.
Why do I have the feeling that nothing will happen because the Blue choo-choo has run out of steam – the mojo’s gone. No need for the boycott anyway as I can’t see any Blue away-fans being able psycologically to pass through the Palmerston Portals and nobody’s going to Ibrox anyway.
Rab*
Tartanwulver says:
December 13, 2014 at 10:08 am
I get where you’re coming from, and agree the media will do their best to turn the match into a TRFC victory, whatever the result, but the idea that painting Celtic as the BIG team will somehow mollify the TRFC support is way off beam. They will absolutely hate that! ‘We only got beat by Celtic because they are a lot bigger than us’, idea would get blasted on any ‘Rangers’ site as trolling, and anyone saying it in a pub…
The important thing at the moment, though, is that the club’s aspirations are getting smaller and the match, that a few weeks ago looked like being a high point in the ‘Rangers recovery’, must now feel like a milestone they don’t want to reach. What’s more, this TRFC side don’t look like they have it in them to raise their game against Celtic and are finishing games looking weaker than they started. I also doubt that Ally McCoist has the tactical nous to ‘park the bus’.
It might be easy to pretend that they are the same club while winning, even against more lowly opposition, for the evidence against is so easy to avoid – stay away from the truth. Once there is evidence on the pitch, however, it’s not so easy to pretend! Beaten in 3 of their last 4 games – I wonder if even John Greig managed that sequence of results!
ecobhoy says:
December 13, 2014 at 11:11 am
You base that assumption as far as I can see on there having been no statement from the Board wrt the issue.
I posted yesterday that it might well be the case that the Board is unable to make any prior public statement until it has published a notice on AIM as this matter could have consequences for the share price.
As to who started it I can think of at least half-a-dozen contradictory but equally valid explanations for the way the scenario has panned-out so far and how it will end.
But they might all be wrong and like so much of this saga the explanation that emerges might not have been predictablt to any outsider. Of course even then it might not be the truth.
In dealing with the denizens of a snake pit it’s wise to stand well back and observe their fight for supremacy.
When the victor slithers from the pit that’s when the big stick hidden behind your back is employed to maximum effect – preferably by a Bear.
—————
Yes, I did base it on there being nothing from the board, and yes, as you say, the board may not be in a position to make a statement for regulatory reasons. If so, I’d suggest that the board wouldn’t have started something that would have the potential to make them look that stupid or indecisive. They’d have got something out somehow. Surely even a simple statement to AIM saying “Alistair McCoist has indicated to the board his intention to relinquish his position as manager on completion of a year’s notice, commencing from this date.” should have been possible.
And a final agreement, yes, there are plenty of scenarios and explanations, and ultimately it’s all really just guesswork from those of us in the cheap seats.
Yerevan says:
Andrew Smith of The Scotsman has just been deleted from McCoist’s Christmas card list
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/andrew-smith-super-ally-wasn-t-heard-even-once-1-3633411
—
I like the comment beneath, by The Jazz Man:
“Here’s how it’s done. You write a letter saying something along the lines of:-
To whom it may concern,
I, Alistair McCoist, herby, tender my resignation as Rangers manager, effective immediately.
Sign and date the letter. Gather your personal possessions. Say goodbye to players and staff. Say goodbye to the admin/kitchen staff etc. Put your coat on. Say goodbye to the doorman. Jump in your car. Drive away.”
Whatever happened to “dignity”? I guess it was trumped by “we don’t do walking away (until we get wir pay)”…
Damn, damn and treble damn. The Hearts match at Cowdenbeath has been called off because of the bad weather. TRFC still only 9 points behind when Ally comes in to work on Monday.
McMurdo minor has gone all apocalyptic, or is Phil ghosting his blog?
“I’m going to be honest and say this: Cash-flow issues aside, if Rangers FC is in a position where it cannot afford to pay off its manager, serious questions must be asked of the club’s solvency and ability to trade.”
“In a nutshell, Rangers supporters are being let down by the manipulations of everyone involved. We have a manager dictating his own terms to a hamstrung board and a man whose intentions towards RFC are largely unknown holding the club by the balls over emergency loans.
If this “resignation” is about protecting McCoist’s legacy, then he needs to get some professional PR advice pronto, a date expired tabloid hack is the last person that should be advising him.
Well, this should make things much clearer for the TRFC supporters. Absolutely!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30451727
I reckon it’s only 6-8 weeks since a bunch of our illustrious hacks were debating on Twitter just how much Ashley would speculate to accumulate with. £20-30M was the talked about figure. Some even began to talk of Champions league qualification as another domino in the line that would simply fall over as part of the plan.
Why are some of these people employed to do the job they do when they just indulge themselves in the popular nonsense of any given day rather than daring to lift the lid and take a peek?
If they, or their employers, only motive is not to upset the bears too much then words fail me.
The Mail Online match report on the QOS – Rangers game has a photo with the caption “Rangers chief executive Charles Green (top row centre) talks to Ally McCoist before the match”. Can someone please clarify who is Rangers manager and who is chief executive now – I’m confused?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2872155/Queen-South-2-0-Rangers-Kevin-Holt-Gavin-Reilly-pile-misery-fire-Ally-McCoist.html
Scottish football appreciates a strong Queen of the South that’s clear enough.
I’d put Ally on gardening leave and employ a journeyman manager for 100k for Ally’s years notice. When the results of the team no doubt improve it would put him in a pretty weak position. If his back room staff won’t work with the new manager they can be gotten rid of for nowt. Simples.
yeti says:
December 13, 2014 at 12:44 pm
The Mail Online match report on the QOS – Rangers game has a photo with the caption “Rangers chief executive Charles Green (top row centre) talks to Ally McCoist before the match”. Can someone please clarify who is Rangers manager and who is chief executive now – I’m confused?
==================================================================
Very naughty of the Mail Online. That wasn’t the QoS match but looks like Ibrox directors’ box. Certainly an old pic.
Crunch Time is fast approaching in the Big House
The supporters will not accept a club that lives within its means, and will demand the success that they believe is their birthright, hence the continual demands for someone to bankroll their ambitions
So far there has been no sign that there is anyone prepared to take on this role, and if such an individual were to come forward, he will have to dig deep, not just to see out this season, but for each and every future season
And what would this individual receive in return ?
He certainly won’t get a return on his investment that’s for sure
He would though be able to bask in the reflected glory, but wealthy people didn’t become wealthy via this route
As an added bonus he would become public enemy number 1 if the success demanded isn’t delivered
If nobody is willing to write a blank cheque to satisfy the perceived birthright, the choice will be accept reality and live within their means, or watch the 2 year old club self destruct just as the old RFC did
Nobody knows for sure what will happen, but the latest McCoist moves could indicate that the end game approaches
As they say, we live in interesting times
howiemac says:
December 13, 2014 at 11:51 am Here’s how it’s done. You write a letter saying something along the lines of:-
To whom it may concern,
I, Alistair McCoist, herby, tender my resignation as Rangers manager, effective immediately.
Sign and date the letter. Gather your personal possessions. Say goodbye to players and staff. Say goodbye to the admin/kitchen staff etc. Put your coat on. Say goodbye to the doorman. Jump in your car. Drive away.”
==============================================================
Let me assist with a slight correction to the last line: ‘Don’t jump in the company car. Walk away’.
UTH
I don’t know, but Charles green and various other onerous contract holders are gutted that they finally have!
Joking apart, I was listening to Stuart and Graeme there and he was fairly damning of mcoists managerial record. The guy won two leagues one of them unbeaten. It’s hard to see what more managerially he could have done. Yes, he could have done it a hell of a lot cheaper. In fact by using someone else they could have done it even cheaper still. But the guy isn’t stupid. He knew and he knows that latterly he alone was bringing the fans to the party. With that in mind he had some negotiating power. The various boards then Came to him and said right ally, do you want to do this football stuff the easy (expensive) way or the hard way? Ally replies if I bust my ass and do it the cheap way for you will the money still be there in mid 2014 onwards as predicted by this blog site I’ve been reading? Reply? “Aye right!”
There’s a touch of the fall guy arguement about this again which to be fair ally is possibly trying to pre empt.
I’m no defender of the cheeky chappie but like all in this saga it’s not as simple as some make out either.
campsiejoe says:
December 13, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Nobody knows for sure what will happen, but the latest McCoist moves could indicate that the end game approaches. As they say, we live in interesting times:
The origins of that phrase are interesting and it may be takern as a blessing or a curse. We’ll see how it turns out and it might have both meanings depending on individual viewpoints.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/may-you-live-in-interesting-times.html
Personally I would advise Ally to follow the Mao Maxim: ‘When in the sea of the people swim like a fish’ 😆
When next will Dave King be trotted out in the SMSM?
upthehoops says:
December 13, 2014 at 11:16 am
Off topic. Unemployed people will be allowed in free to the Celtic v Ross County game on 27th December. Present the relevant documents to the ticket office from Monday 15th December onwards.
Great idea but beware
Wallace Mercer tried something similar years ago at Tynecastle. Show your UB40 and you got in for £3(?) less. Guys were selling blank UB40s in the pubs around Tynie for £1.
ecobhoy says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Depends on which side of the line you are as to which meaning you give it
As for your advice to Ally, I don’t think he is capable of acting as a guerrilla
Fair play just stuck on the radio after lunch and Craig Paterson and tony Fitzpatrick were making exactly the point above. As usual one side said “the fans won’t stand for kids losing” the other says “but they can’t afford ‘proper’ players winning” and then …………. Silence.
And it’s that silence that’s killing them!
The Cowdenbeath V Hearts game has been postponed.
The match has been rescheduled for Tuesday 23rd december (eh?).
As pointed out on the radio, both teams are free on the
Saturday of the next round of the Scottish Cup.
Baffling!?£!?
Forget the chaos of the last 3 years, its decisions like this that
prove the authorities are not fit for purpose.
Even though the Govan club has had some poor results lately and Ally has resigned (in a no comment type of way) and has not really walked away as yet. The SMSM have in my opinion have not really given Ally to much criticism as what we are hearing is such comments as, No manager has had to put up with what Ally has. Really I can think of one not to far from Govan who was treated rather harshly in the not to distant past. Then we here Ally has had enough of non playing staff being sacked. Really? Also mentioned is players have let him down. These are the players Ally brought in. The DR states that if Ally walks he will lose, wait for it £400,000. This is the problem we have and will always have with SMSM, as long as a club from Govan exists this is the type of press we will have to endure. To be fair to a very large section of the fans from Govan club want Ally to leave as he is a poor manager and are not happy with his stance at this moment in time. The difference is Ally in not a pal of the fans but is certainly a buddy in the SMSM. The fans pay money to see the club play the SMSM make money as a result of how they portray the club, so it does not pay to have a go at Govan club manager as history has shown. The SMSM will wait till all fans go against Ally and only then will they have to bad press him. That is how it works IMO in the press.
Smugas says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:09 pm
@smugas – you are quite right! Nothing in this saga has even been as simple as it was painted. Indeed there are so many layers of deception that we might never ever discover the truth in its entirety.
As to McCoist he was used to achieve spiv ends and well rewarded for that. But even if he had walked away they would have found someone else to take the spiv equivalent of 30 pieces of silver.
And I have always thought that it suited the Blue Knights to have McCoist still embedded in Ibrox to do the same job for them that he did for the spivs if required and also provide them with the possibility of a Trojan Horse within the gates.
There is no doubt that McCoist is a complex and contradictory character but personally my attitude to those who attack him purely on the salary issue is: ‘Would you have refused it and walked away’.
And to those who staunchly declare: ‘Of course I would’ then I would ask: ‘And when in your working life have you actually done so’.
It’s amazing how all these people who so easily moralise and tell others what they should do never seem to have personally experienced or witnessed acts in the workplace that required a principled person to walk away – sometimes from a very good job and salary.
crawford says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:41 pm
As pointed out on the radio, both teams are free on the
Saturday of the next round of the Scottish Cup.
_________________________________________
But wouldn’t that help the supporters who attend the match and have already bought a ticket for a Saturday? In the world of Scottish football that’s a very good reason to stick the game on on a freezing cold night two days before Xmas! What business would ever dream of doing things in the best interest of their customers?
valentinesclown says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:57 pm
I think you over-complicate the explanation problem. The simple reason the SMSM revere Rangers is that it is still regarded by them as the premier Establishment Club and the old ‘Auld Firm’ rivalry is an important part of their business model.
Sadly it also appears to form an important part of the Celtic business model.
Of course the SMSM regarded Celtic as the junior partner in the ‘Auld Firm’ and will continue to do so if the bigoted spectacle is again allowed to fuel the psyche of rabid supporters from both clubs.
The SMSM’s current agenda is geared to returning Rangers to its Rightful Place as the top Establishment Club in a vain attempt to breathe life into their collapsing business model.
However that requires a supine Celtic along with all the other clubs who see an opportunity in the resurgence of Scottish Football.
Rangers needed Armageddon and not only did it not happen but other clubs want a slice of the top table action and we have seen the changes taking place before our very eyes.
Clubs are no longer sitting still waiting for the crumbs to fall – they are putting out younger, often self-developed players and it’s great for the whole game.
QoS was a master Class the other night not only of what can be achieved but the difference between the old and the new. And even the news from Motherwell on the business side looks great.
The only stench of fear I smell is from the SMSM and Hampden suits but they’ll eventually get the message.
The tiresome wall-to-wall McCoist media coverage really is diverting attention from the likes QoS and Alloa, among others. Last night’s result, as some have pointed out, was all about the quality of the home team. A 4-5 nil scoreline would not have been out of order. In fact, 2-0 flattered the visitors.
The exposure the Championship teams are getting this season, on screen at least, will hopefully lead to more permanent coverage of games from that division, no matter which team(s) exit the league at season’s end.
A more equitable distribution of the actual coverage, tv money and prize money can only be good for the entirety of Scottish football. And if there’s clubs deserving of a bigger slice of the pie it’s surely those playing attractive football within their means and developing their own youth from the local region.
Hopefully, it will ultimately lead to a bigger top league and stronger lower divisions where increased relegation and promotion places will see more competition and excitement. Right now you could probably include the top 4 or 6 from the Championship in the top tier and have a pretty exciting season, with it all ending in two direct down and a third play-off place between the 1st and 2nd tiers.
Off the Ball and Sportsound over the past few hours have spent an unreasonable amount of time on a dead-end club and its failed manager. Been very long time getting around to the Motherwell situation which is a hugely postive story to my ears.
Would it be overly paranoid to think that forcing Hearts to play two days before Xmas, might be favouring their closest (current) challengers? 🙄
campsiejoe says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:24 pm
ecobhoy says:
December 13, 2014 at 1:13 pm
Depends on which side of the line you are as to which meaning you give it
As for your advice to Ally, I don’t think he is capable of acting as a guerrilla
======================================================================
Ah – I would say that Ally makes an excellent guerilla and that’s why the Mao saying came to mind 😉
He can also effortlessly change sides at the drop of a hat or change of regime and like all good guerillas sniff the wind and anticipate the change before it happens and ensure he is best-placed to ride the waves created.
He is no financial mug and never has been and I won’t fault him on that given the amount of top-flight footballers who end-up in the financial gutter.
Danish Pastry says:
December 13, 2014 at 2:39 pm
The exposure the Championship teams are getting this season, on screen at least, will hopefully lead to more permanent coverage of games from that division, no matter which team(s) exit the league at season’s end.
_______________________________-
I think the lack of previous coverage might actually have helped the likes of QOTS to be a surprise package, particularly for TRFC and their manager. Clearly all and sundry expected TRFC’s bulldozer brand of football to be too much for all, even Hearts and Hibs, but the quality of the football has taken everyone, and I include myself, completely by surprise. I’ve enjoyed watching Hearts win so many games, but even in those they’ve won very comfortably, I’ve noticed that most of the opposition have tried to play the ball to feet and have eschewed the long ball. I reckon that those playing that style of game are getting better at it as the season progresses, while any side that sticks to the old fashioned punt up the park remains stagnant and unable to cope with what is now an alien environment!
The latest from the land of Merlin. Ally hung out to dry, I fear.
https://billmcmurdo.wordpress.com/
ecobhoy says:
December 13, 2014 at 2:47 pm
He can also effortlessly change sides at the drop of a hat or change of regime and like all good guerillas sniff the wind and anticipate the change before it happens and ensure he is best-placed to ride the waves created.
———————————————-
Eco, when I read that bit the thought of Ally as a chameleon came to mind 😉
I then rememebered this cracker:
“We had hoped to have been bringing you Arthur the Human Chameleon, but this afternoon, he crawled across a tartan rug and died of exhaustion.”
Ronnie Barker. 😆
For balance to the decent Scotsman article.
This effort in the DR is from Barry Ferguson’s ghost writer, [Keef ?]
Bazza sharing his opinion on the reporting of the shambles around the Govan club…
“…It’s not easy to read stuff like this in a national newspaper but you have to wonder where the Rangers fans would be if it wasn’t for the work that this paper has done over the last few years. Because no-one inside that club seems prepared to tell them the truth about what is really going on…”
😯
We all must have missed that truthful reporting on RFC/TRFC over the last few years.
DR = Daily Revisionist.