Now that we are at the end of the league season, and with respect to the job still to be done at Tannadice and McDiarmid Park, it seems like a good time for a post holocaust report.
Fig 1 Average Weekly Attendances SPL 2011-2014
Peppered around this page are three charts and a table* showing the attendance figures for the SPL in the last three seasons. A school kid could tell you that there is a positive trend in those charts and figures, but the people who run our national sport will look you straight in the eye and tell you “that can’t be right – Armageddon is coming!”
It is one of the most ridiculous and mendacious situations I have ever come across. The people who run our national game, aided and abetted by those in the MSM (sans the eye contact though) are actually trying to persuade us of how awful our game is and how unsustainable it will be in the absence of one, just one, club.
Think about that. The SFA and the SPFL trying to talk us out of supporting the game unless we all recognise the unique importance of one, just one, club. That is what has happened, no matter how they try to spin it. And despite evidence to the contrary contained in these figures, not one of them has admitted to an error, never mind the downright lies that they told to support the position they held, the one where anyone speaking of sporting integrity was mocked and ridiculed.
Whilst growing up as football supporter in the 60s, one of things I was constantly bombarded with via the medium of the tabloid newspapers was that football clubs should be grateful for the publicity afforded them via their back pages. These were probably reasonable claims, especially in the light of the relative lack of access to players and officials conceded to the hacks in those days, and the pre-eminent cultural position in which they helped to place football. Alongside that, the broadcast media, particularly Archie Macpherson’s Sportscene and Arthur Montford’s Scotsport could be relied on to talk the game up. Of course, there was something in it for the papers – sales. The more column inches devoted to the national sport, the further northward their sales, and consequently advertising revenues travelled.
Fig 2 Avg. Attendances excl Celtic & Rangers
The situation was further cemented by the fact that the press in that ante-interweb era held a monopoly over the exchange and dissemination of information. That symbiotic, win-win relationship between football and the press was as much a part of football reality as the Hampden Roar. It also endured for decades. The press would talk up the game to such an extent that folk often remarked that they hadn’t realised how much they had enjoyed a particular match until they had read Malky Munro or Hughie Taylor’s report the next day. Archie Macpherson is on record as having said the same thing about legendary commentator David Francey, “It was a much better game to listen to than to see!”
Today that symbiosis is broken. The press themselves, in print and in front of microphones consistently belittle the product, talk of crises and Armageddon, of our own version of the Eisenhower domino effect of clubs going to the wall one after another.
Aided and abetted by the two chief bureaucrats in charge of Scottish football, Stuart Regan and Neil Doncaster, who have consistently helped to hammer home the message that Scottish football is not good enough, and cannot sustain itself financially without Rangers, a club that could not itself sustain itself financially to the extent that it is being liquidated.
At a time when Scottish football was clearly in crisis, and badly in need of sponsorship which could mitigate the effects of that crisis, the press and the authorities sought to strengthen their own negotiating hand by making negative claims about the state of the game which never came to pass, and for which they have never apologised. The actual situation, which would not have been hard to predict had anyone actually bothered to analyse the business of Scottish football, is summarised quite easily by saying this;
- Since Rangers’ liquidation and subsequent absence from the top league, the average home attendance of the other clubs has INCREASED overall (See Fig 2).
- In this season, the other clubs have added 50,000 fans to home attendances compared to 2011-12 (the last year Rangers were in competition).
- In that time the league has been won (twice) by Celtic, and the other honours have been claimed by St, Mirren, Aberdeen, Celtic and (either) Dundee United or St Johnstone.
- In that time, both Dunfermline Athletic and Hearts (who both had historical financial problems) entered – and exited – administration after fan-led buyouts.
- Dundee United have cleared off their bank debt.
- Kilmarnock have restructured their bank debt, freeing the club from a precarious long-term situation.
- League reconstruction has allowed some money to trickle down to the second tier clubs in an attempt to mitigate the immediate effects of relegation and to reward ambitious clubs.
Looking at the table of attendances above, it is pretty clear that immediately upon Rangers exit, the overall figures took a dip. However there was little difference the in the figures if you leave Rangers out of the equation (Fig 3) – despite Celtic’s attendance taking a hit that year (down by around 5,000 per home match).
Taking Celtic out of the calculations, it is clear that there is a 6,000 uplift in this average (Fig 2).
It is still undeniable that less people overall are watching football (Fig 1), but the trend is upward if one leaves the Ibrox club out of the picture.
Furthermore, this statistic exposes the double edged sword that is retention of home gates. The fact that gates are not shared is predicated upon the notion that the bigger clubs do not depend on the smaller clubs for income. And since the smaller clubs are no longer recipients of big club largesse, their fortunes are not affected, at least not as much as was suggested by the Regans, Doncasters and Traynors of this parish. The “Trickle-Down” theory of Reganomics said otherwise – but clearly and demonstrably it was wrong.
The abandonment of gate sharing has made Scottish football less interdependent than it once was, but the irony is that it works both ways. There is hardly a club in the country that depends on Rangers for their own existence, and here is the news; small clubs are no longer financially dependent on the former Old Firm.
Fig 3 Excluding Celtic
The fact, that is F-A-C-T, is that Scottish Football attendances in the top division are on the increase. The absence of Rangers has made no appreciably negative difference to any other club, far less caused a catastrophe of biblical proportions.
Even if the fools who were the harbingers of our doom were simply guilty of making an honest mistake, it is clear that they are uncontaminated with the slightest notion of how the game in this country operates. The Old Firm may be dead, but the OF prism is still being peered through by Stuart Regan, Neil Doncaster and the vast majority of print journalists. The latter who failed to honour that age-old football/press symbiosis because they believed, erroneously that David Murray’s dinner table was the hand that has fed them for over a century.
The irony is that as job opportunities diminish in the print sector, so too will the fine dining and patronage. I think they call that evolution.
Two years ago, in the wake of the fans’ season ticket revolt which saw the new Rangers forced to apply for membership of the league and begin at the bottom, those same MSM hacks taunted fans about putting their money where their mouths were. The fans responded splendidly as our statistics demonstrate, but typically there has been no recognition of this either at Hampden or in the media.
And the message from those fans is this: Scottish football is not dying. Not any more. At least not as surely as it was when David Murray started to choke the life out of it in the late 80s. The supporters are returning in numbers to see a competition untainted by the outrageous liberty-taking and rule-breaking of the last couple of decades, and all but one club has emerged from the mire of the Moonbeam Millennium looking forward to a new era.
If authorities allow the new era to thrive by restoring sporting integrity to the agenda, then the numbers, like the opportunities available to more and more clubs, will grow. The question is … will they?
Admittedly, these figures, like any set of statistics, can be cherry-picked to suit almost any argument that you care to construct. The fact remains though, that whilst it would be fanciful and ridiculously over-optimistic to claim that they bear witness to a burgeoning industry, it is utterly dishonest to conclude that they represent financial Armageddon. Armageddon? Aye right!
Nah. We had those documents linked here a couple of weeks ago and I am sure at some point last year as well.
Although he, at least, seems to be earning it
@Eco I have watched the SoS facebook page for months and have been impressed by the way Craig Houston and his co founder Sandy Chugg have handled themselves. During the days of legal threats from Mr Easdale despite some severe coordinated provocation they maintained their cool and came through it. SoS have brought a lot of fans groups together but I fear joining the Dave King camp may have been a mistake. As you say SoS are attempting to do something to save their club so fair play to them.
My humblemost apologies to Craig Houston, I didn’t intend to be disparaging, in any way, about him. I genuinely didn’t know who he was but he is clearly a well thought of individual by some who do. On a slow news day I seem to have used the wrong person from the TRFC soap opera to try to introduce a little humour. At least I caused a slight increase in the number of posts.
PS As I didn’t know who he was, would my comments still have been disparaging if no one on TSFM, who did know who he was, saw anything commendable about him?
highfibre says:
May 29, 2014 at 11:32 am
6 0 Rate This
Regarding executive pay, the following information comes from the most recent filed accounts.
SPFL Directors Remuneration £246,000, Highest paid director no amount given
SRU Directors Remuneration £775,000, Highest paid director £431,000.
The Rugby high heid yin is doing very well for himself thank you.
———–
Indeed! And if there’s a Doncaster-type bonus on top of that he’ll be well set.
Btw, @ecobhoy, Craig Houston does come across as a pretty straight-up guy. Not only has he stood up to the brothers, he’s faced off a bit of wrath from other fan groups, or their spokesmen at least. Maybe he’d be a character sensible people would gather around if an alternative Rangers were to be established?
If he’s been spun a yarn by the invisible King guess he’ll not hold back in letting people know?
WRT the proposed tour of the US by TRFC,
The club has announced fixtures and dates.The games are on the west coast and appear to be against 4th tier sides on the US soccer pyramid.
I don’t see this tour being a money spinner.In fact I’d think it would probably cost cash.
Here’s the info:
Ventura County Fusion in California on July 15
Sacramento Republic FC in Sacramento on July 19.
Victoria Highlanders in British Columbia on July 21st
with another fixture on July 23 that has still to be confirmed.
I also think TRFC could be on cup duty around 26th July so tight schedule.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
May 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Are you sure it’s not actually a Charles Green type tour of the US?
Sandy Chugg, the co-founder of the SoS has had a colourful past.
You can read all about it in his book – “My Life With Scotland’s Most Feared Football Hooligan Gang”.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sandy-Chugg/e/B008FPRVNG
Chugg, who has previously received a lifetime ban from attending games at Ibrox is now a ‘reformed character’. Well that’s how he is described by the Daily Record although how the board of RIFC plc describe him is another matter.
Allyjambo says:
May 29, 2014 at 3:03 pm
1 0 Rate This
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
May 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Are you sure it’s not actually a Charles Green type tour of the US?
—————–
It’s in the Evening Times so it must be true.
So much for austerity.
Wonder if it coincides with any charity white water rafting.
YALLYJAMBO says: May 29, 2014 at 3:03 pm
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: May 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm
Are you sure it’s not actually a Charles Green type tour of the US?
======================================================
A virtual tour? Maybe on an app or some such… 🙄
Getting really confused now.
Blow money you don’t have – against unknown teams in an area with minimal (?) TRFC support – and on the West Coast…
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
May 29, 2014 at 2:53 pm
WRT the proposed tour of the US by TRFC,
The club has announced fixtures and dates.The games are on the west coast and appear to be against 4th tier sides on the US soccer pyramid. I don’t see this tour being a money spinner.In fact I’d think it would probably cost cash….. I also think TRFC could be on cup duty around 26th July so tight schedule.
========================================================
Is there any chance this tour could be undertaken by a Tribute Act for the Tribute Act? A real World First?
Or maybe they are trying to find a level “where they belong”?
Scottish Football needs an injection of fun from Craigieboy or old pal (‘You are Sevco’) Charles to help pass these summer doldrums.
I’m actually surprised it didn’t coincide with a wedding.
So Sevco have the cash to send teams to Hong Kong and North America. I wonder how the shareholders and loan owners feel about that…?
I only managed to catch the second half of the game last night.
My thoughts were – really lively support – shocking strip.
Given how paltry the attendance has been at Hampden for some friendlies recently, the
atmosphere last night was a bit of an eye-opener. It wasn’t all Scots of course (and good luck to Nigeria in the World Cup) but I think it shows that if you get the venue correct then a 20,000 sell-out in a nice tight stadium makes for a far better atmosphere than 20,000+ in a 50,000 stadium.
I really wish I had been there. It looked great fun.
But the Scotland strip – oh dear.
Para Handy says:
May 29, 2014 at 4:50 pm
So Sevco have the cash to send teams to Hong Kong and North America. I wonder how the shareholders and loan owners feel about that…?
……………………….
Is Mr. Ahmed due back in court any time soon?….after all…
“if we were short of cash your Lordship…would we be arranging US tours?”
Para Handy says:
May 29, 2014 at 4:50 pm
So Sevco have the cash to send teams to Hong Kong and North America. I wonder how the shareholders and loan owners feel about that…?
_____________________________________________
Or they are caught up in other onerous contracts, set up by CG a year or so ago, that sees the Green one make some more money!
You have to wonder, though, what benefit for the team there is, apart from a nice wee jolly, in flying across to the far side of the US to play some teams that no one this side of the pond has heard of, even if money was no object. I’m sure they could get all the benefits (sun and facilities), and maybe more, from a jaunt to Spain or Italy. They could probably do that on a budget not much more than the cost of the flights alone. It’ll be interesting, if it ever happens, how the MSM bum up the US clubs they will be playing, especially if TRFC get good results. Hail the returning heroes!
Of course, if, say, Phil’s mole has got it wrong about there being no plans for administration or liquidation, it wouldn’t matter how many ridiculously expensive training jaunts TRFC book, they won’t be going on any of them 😈 It’s not only on here that squirrels can get thrown about 🙄
Well it looks as though the Rangers v Victoria Highlanders clash could end-up with a real flavour of home 😆
Turns out the Highlanders ‘uber’ supporters group are known as the Lake Side Buoys (LSB); whose mission is: To participate in Victoria Highlanders games as true supporters and to facilitate and encourage the team by singing, chanting, and tifo displays. No mention of pyro for the moment 😉
The Lakeside Buoys moniker is based on the supporter’s location at Bear Mountain Stadium by a pond and an effort at a ‘light hearted’ version of the term Bhoys – ‘commonly associated with overly serious supporters of Celtic F.C’ according to Wiki. Yip even in Canada they can’t escape the local Green Brigade 🙄
Obviously word of the slump in Ibrox ticket sales has reached the USA west coast with Sacramento Republic FC Technical Director Graham Smith stating: “Rangers Football Club is steeped in tradition with a rich and proud history and thousands of supporters around the globe”. I genuinely hadn’t realised the 500K global fan base had shrunk so badly.
Mr Smith also rather unwisely IMO wished for the same future as Rangers when he eulogised: ‘“We are honored to host a club with over 142 years of football tradition as Republic FC embarks on its inaugural season and the creation of what it hopes will be as successful a Club history as Rangers.”
VC Fusion echoed the decline in Rangers support when Director of Soccer Graham Smith stated: ‘Rangers Football Club is steeped in tradition, has a rich and proud history and is a name that conjures up magical memories in the minds of thousands of supporters around the globe’.
Seems that Graham Smith seems to be a common name in American soccer circles or a very busy Bhoy 😆
Has no one else spotted that the tour will take them quite close to some quite marvellous White Water Rafting.
Ecobhoy, Brilliant.
John Brown on the steps of Ibrox tomorrow handing in a petition.
Wonder if Doncaster has sold it to Sky for PPV
I would buy
(this info revealed by Raman as he passes over to @stvgrant to do a five minute piece on how great the Championship will be next year and interviews with the Alloa chairman)
ecobhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:06 pm
Obviously word of the slump in Ibrox ticket sales has reached the USA west coast with Sacramento Republic FC Technical Director Graham Smith stating: “Rangers Football Club is steeped in tradition with a rich and proud history and thousands of supporters around the globe”. I genuinely hadn’t realised the 500K global fan base had shrunk so badly.
=============
That’s 500 million to you, Ecobhoy, if you don’t mind. You have just personally shrunk that figure by a factor of 1000. It’s as if some people on here doubted Charles Green’s figure.
Allyjambo says:
May 29, 2014 at 5:18 pm
6 3 Rate This
Of course, if, say, Phil’s mole has got it wrong about there being no plans for administration or liquidation, it wouldn’t matter how many ridiculously expensive training jaunts TRFC book, they won’t be going on any of them It’s not only on here that squirrels can get thrown about
————
One puzzling and quite intriguing part of Phil’s latest inside scoops has been about Blue Pitch and Margarita not being in favour of what seems the sensible and pragmatic solution — because it could lead to their identities becoming known.
I understood quite a few Middle Eastern names were in the mix for those two. So either they are a front for Green & Whyte or they have other reasons for wanting their identities protected. Most foreign owners like to brag about their engagement in football, so what’s the catch with these guys?
neepheid says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:26 pm
ecobhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:06 pm
Obviously word of the slump in Ibrox ticket sales has reached the USA west coast with Sacramento Republic FC Technical Director Graham Smith stating: “Rangers Football Club is steeped in tradition with a rich and proud history and thousands of supporters around the globe”. I genuinely hadn’t realised the 500K global fan base had shrunk so badly.
=============
That’s 500 million to you, Ecobhoy, if you don’t mind. You have just personally shrunk that figure by a factor of 1000. It’s as if some people on here doubted Charles Green’s figure.
===================
For goodness sake Neepheid dontyaknow that a missing 499.5 million means absolutely nothing to the mighty Glasgow Rangers 😎
Danish Pastry says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:43 pm
I understood quite a few Middle Eastern names were in the mix for those two. So either they are a front for Green & Whyte or they have other reasons for wanting their identities protected. Most foreign owners like to brag about their engagement in football, so what’s the catch with these guys?
————————————————-
What indeed? they have been there from the very beginning as original investors in the small consortium that put the money up for Sevco 5088 to buy Rangers from D&P although they apparently verbally agreed to switch their dosh to Sevco Scotland 1/2 days before the actual sale.
And it’s not just them – Norne Anstalte and Putney Holdings are equally as anonymous and have been there since the start and are both offshored.
Ra Bears need a strong Ally McCoist to demand: ‘Who are these people – We demand to know’.
http://www.rangers.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=543511
Caption competition….?
Will rangers be wearing their new ‘Orange’ Red shirt for the American tour, yep Orange Red..!!! And after two washes it is just Orange, it is known as the Gobstopper top.. But I am not bitter..
That league table is a bit out of date, or have they been sent down instead of up?
JimBhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:57 pm Caption competition….?
“thats my honeymoon sorted” 😛
Bomber Brown back on the steps of Ibrox tomorrow according to STV news. Going to demand legally binding assurances over the stadium and the training ground. Why do I think he’s going to go home a disappointed man!
Danish Pastry @ 6:43 pm [edit]
One puzzling and quite intriguing part of Phil’s latest inside scoops has been about Blue Pitch and Margarita not being in favour of what seems the sensible and pragmatic solution…………..
……………….So either they are a front for Green & Whyte or they have other reasons for wanting their identities protected. Most foreign owners like to brag about their engagement in football, so what’s the catch with these guys?
———-
It is a puzzle DP – got me thinking 😉
Monthly costs of 3.4m or nearly 41m a year makes me doubt the viability of the options presented
– and that these onerous contracts increase 10% each year of progression.
Whether its admin of any form, liquidation or austerity – the onerous contracts seem to remain.
It’s the scale of the deficit. To me it seems you could slim it to an austere skeleton operation
– but if the onerous burdens remain – what’s the point?
It all seems deliberate.
If they run short of cash – All they could do is defer payments on these `contracts`.
All they have to do is win leagues on a shoestring budget – how might they do that – mmm
Where it could get interesting is 2/3/10 years down the line and the prospect of European Money – where deferred payments [& interest & charges] could be met on these `contracts` – and possibly on the `soft` 19m `debt` on TRFC where the IPO largesse is booked.
Is the nest egg – a chicken farm?
ecobhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 11:52 am
44
25
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It’s easy to be disparaging of Craig Houston
_______________________________________________
Agree with much of this sentiment.
Houston deserves to be lauded here as a fans rep who has thrown off the blind loyalty and stirred the bears into action. I would question whether he is shooting towards the correct goal though. It looks like CG is the one who has sold them down the river, not GW. Easedales and Laxey have actually parted with real cash for their holdings, unlike BPH and Margarita who seem to be the ones on the make. And you have to question the judgement of any who sides with Dave King I am afraid.
It looks like a ‘controlled admin’ as planned isn’t going to happen. However, that must leave the genuine possibility of an ‘uncontrolled admin’ where the club simply runs our of money and stops paying its bills, on account of a plan to raise urgently needed cash simply falling through,
If they don’t cut things soon, this seems unavoidable: Trips to the US? What planet are these guys on?
Unless they want Mr McCoist out of the country for a few weeks – away from the Scottish press pack perhaps, and in a different time zone?
I’d like to extend a genuine TSFM invitation to Craig Houston to engage on this blog.
What have you got to lose? What might you gain in winning more general support?
Scottish Football needs rid of these spivs.
Solved they’ve been found I knew you were all worried
– The missing Dave and G man mistakenly stormed ashore beer and whiskies in hand to find that they were at – ERR – Wandsworth pier – the one with nae fitba ground. And I thought I was away wie it!
Chust sublime. G man from Peterheid too.
twopanda says: at 7:36 pm
Should have added to that post;
Do LSE / AIM know what they’re doing?
Genuine Question
twopanda says: at 7:36 pm
Should have added to that post;
Do Deloittes know what they’re into?
Real Question
Or Laxeys?
Or any of them?
Seems a rudderless ship
Resin_lab_dog says:
May 29, 2014 at 7:57 pm
ecobhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 11:52 am
It’s easy to be disparaging of Craig Houston
_______________________________________________
Agree with much of this sentiment. Houston deserves to be lauded here as a fans rep who has thrown off the blind loyalty and stirred the bears into action. I would question whether he is shooting towards the correct goal though. It looks like CG is the one who has sold them down the river, not GW. Easedales and Laxey have actually parted with real cash for their holdings, unlike BPH and Margarita who seem to be the ones on the make. And you have to question the judgement of any who sides with Dave King I am afraid.
=============================================
I was careful in my original post to make it clear that I passed no judgment on Houston’s motives or tactics and that’s quite simply because I happen to believe that it’s up to the Bears to decide what kind of club they want to have. As to the DK involvement I think it’s madness and a return to the core problem that has propelled Rangers into its current financial sink-hole.
But I also doubt if we have actually seen a fraction of the DK Plan and his actual motivation might not be what it currently appears to be. There will be a helluva lot going on that we don’t have a clue about so I tend to be cautious over what might be planned.
I wouldn’t argue with anything you have said except that I view the Easdale position possibly differently – yes they have put their own money in to buy shares it would appear. However is it acceptable that they are wielding the proxy vote for the mystery shareholders? If I was a Bear I wouldn’t accept it and would view their role with as much suspicion as those overseas-based interests they speak for.
I actually wonder if they have a clue as to the actual identity of those whose bidding they carry out.
As to Green he was the ‘front man’ and has been handsomely rewarded for taking the flak – but basically he never invested a penny in the club. He too had his Masters to keep happy and some may have gone but others are still there which means IMO they believe there is still money to be made out of Rangers.
“Sheila Begbie quits SFA for Scottish Rugby”
(Head of womens’ football at SFA).
Interestingly, following the recent report of rugby’s success in securing sponsorship – it appears that the SFA is losing a valued employee – and who is prepared to switch sport.
Is this another cost to the corrupt SFA – and Ogilvie as President: good people just walk away?
And would the SFA be able to attract the best people?
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/sheila-begbie-quits-sfa-for-scottish-rugby-1-3427084
It’s all very strange
MSM impotent
Law & Financials in a world of their own
Guess we have to make our own way on judging a critical Scots Football position
@Eco The Easdale thing is something that could be analysed and explored more IMO…. On the face of it 2 rangers men but inexplicably linked with Green.. They came out of leftfield to take on Green’s shares, not even sure it happened.
Where businessmen since have come, looked and scarpered I ponder the motives of the Easdale businessmen. Is it just true blue loyalty, rangersitis or something more nefarious… Who knows. They seem intent on keeping things going and have proxy for the unknown investors who some have alleged are involved in the Onerous contracts at Ibrox. So what motive the Easdales.. Mmmm! I do not think they would be investing in something they are not getting a return on in some way, even though it looks like they are the rangers men. Smoke, mirrors anyone….
whisperer says:
May 29, 2014 at 10:59 am
MCFC … I’ve been asking after you … Well really what i was curious to hear was your take on Mr Graham Wallace C.E.O … ? … And his time at Maine Road
Were you once m.c.f.c. … ?
——————————————————————————-
Yeah that.s me – mcfc on Random Thoughts (GBPMcC and family) but couldn.t register as mcfc on TSFM so went for m.c.f.c. – maybe should have chosen themcfc – then mcfc worked when we all had to re-register. To be honest I don.t have any great insight into Mr Wallace – he was just a back room boy when there was lots of action in the squad and on the pitch. He was perfectly competent as a COO (not CEO) by all accounts and Mike Summerbee had good things to say about him – which goes a long way with me. I tended towards seeing him as a decent guy on a fool,s errand amongst sharks – but the longer he stays, the more he looks like a would-be shark. Some of his recent statements have definitely smelt of telling the vulnerable what they want / need to hear. Btw – been a bit busy recently so been reading but not writing – but remain fascinated (obsessed) by the greatest story never told by the MSM.
Easdale’s imo Green’s front men to keep him and the original investors getting paid… While Waldo struggles thru the maze to get to the financial Leaky pipes whilst the bears growl, the majority strengthen their hold so that the plumber can do nothing but suggest there may be more leaks than he can patch up but he knows some other plumber pals who can help but it will COST YA…. And so it goes on until someone is willing to refurb the big hoos and replace the full infrastructure..
StevieBC says:
May 29, 2014 at 10:05 pm
”Interestingly, following the recent report of rugby’s success in securing sponsorship..’
———–
It is this point in your post , StevieBC, that is of principal interest to me ( although the loss of good people like Sheila is very relevant in so far as it may be a sign of a wider malaise in Scottish Football ).
Do we know whether BT ‘s reported sponsorship deal with the SRU/Murrayfield means that they will definitely not be renewing their sponsorship of Hampden Park?
If that is the case, some serious questions would have to be asked of our SFA President and his CEO in that, on their watch, they have let the premier sport in Scotland fall into a position where a ‘minority’ sport can successfully woo and take away from them one of their major sponsors.
I think this needs serious airing. Is the SFA Board ( leaving aside the damned ‘saga’) fit for the modern,commercial marketing and administration of Football?
@MCFC that puts my theory that you are in fact Mr Wallace to bed . 😆 Not sure about Wallace but if Phil is correct and his generous bonus was put in place early this year I fear he may have sold out.
A good copy of Bombers last rant at Ibrox and another of tomorrow’s hilarious snarl should be made and kept for 30 years. It will be worth a fortune…
Broon the loon tuned to the moon thought he could shout doon the toon that he is now back roon…. And the Bears were paying £30 to listen to Souness at the Louden. Apparently Like the team there are two Louden’s, my big rangers pal tells me, both claim to own the history and be the original..
Allegations that Charles Green had safe houses at each are not true, the 5 stars description was a misnomer.
ecobhoy says:
May 29, 2014 at 6:06 pm
……………………
I did get to wondering about the choice of clubs…
Victoria Highlanders founded in 2007
Sacramento founded in 2013
VC Fusion founded in 2007
Is it an age thing?
Or is it the fact all teams play in the PDL…Player development league for 17-23 year olds?
Just like Hong Kong it will be a Gordon Durie youth team they send…
@Hector MCFC would definitely not be Waldo IMO… He would be as much Waldo as I am Jimmy Sommerville and not just a smalltown bhoy..
JC – 6 year deal with BT expires in 2014.
http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTUKandWorldwide/BTRegions/Scotland/Sponsorships/index.htm
Could be wrong but think the SFA may not be involved. Per SFA website BT is not a partner – but Sky is a partner.
And Hampden operations looks like a separate entity – with BT sponsorship.
http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/
JimBhoy, Hector – I hate to ruin a good conspiracy theory – but. However it raises an interesting moral question of would you do the Wallace gig for that amount of cash if it meant shafting fellow football fans time and time again. Putting aside that it is Rangers – could you be that cruel for £350K plus £350k tax free plus big perks per year. What if it was Hibs or Portsmouth?
Allyjambo says:
May 29, 2014 at 5:14 pm
‘ It’ll be interesting, if it ever happens, how the MSM bum up the US clubs they will be playing,.’
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Interesting also to see how Ventura County Fusions [ Ventura College Campus: ground capacity 3000,tickets for the ‘big game’ $25], Sacramento Republic [ Hughes Stadium, 20,800.], and Victoria Highlanders [amateurs, Centennial Park, 5000] have accepted the Big Lie. They are bumming up a team that, in its day was quite successful, but no longer exists, having sadly gone into football’s Valhalla: taking with it its honours and titles( some of which, of course, they were not in any sporting sense entitled to). They do not seem to understand that they are preparing to play a team that is actually younger than two of them, in terms of date of legitimate birth.
JC – if the US had proper pubs – these would be pub teams.
StevieBC says:
May 29, 2014 at 11:41 pm
And Hampden operations looks like a separate entity – with BT sponsorship.’
———
Happy to be put right. And, when I put my mind into gear,I now realise that Queens Park are still the owners! (Are they the ones that are also getting paid for the use of Hampden for the Comm.Games? Geez, these arrangements are so complicated that you’d need to be the best administrator in the world to handle them!) : 🙄 :
But I withdraw that charge (but no other) against the SFA Board.
Rangers North America Tour
I have visions of Sevco travelling round the States in a bus like some old vaudeville or circus act trying to make ends meet.If this ever comes to pass it will be interesting if they were to go belly up half way round the tour. Again I have visions of players sitting on their suitcases trying to make their way back to the UK after the tour goes bust, selling their football shirts to buy the tickets home. Do they not usually ask you if you have sufficient funds to afford your stay on arrival. Maybe an ex employee should write a letter to US Immigration. 😉
BB – whilst I am not familiar with the US tax system, (legitimately 🙂 ), I do believe that any monies earned by TRFC ‘on their tour’ would be subject to tax.
And I don’t think 142 years of history (sic) would cut it with the IRS. 🙄
Paulmac2’s observation looks reasonable – I.e. youth team involved. If it happens at all.
But youth or first team – the flight costs will still be the same.
And flights in June/July won’t be cheap.
MCFC my friend, I pay at source a fair amount to let the spivs operate across British businesses… Dude who is daft?
HMRC take a bow, why doesn’t the government sort that out. Because most of the millionaire ministers have a BVI account.. Nothing will change as long as those say so..
Too political? But true..
redlichtie says:
May 29, 2014 at 8:11 pm
48 4 Rate This
I’d like to extend a genuine TSFM invitation to Craig Houston to engage on this blog.
What have you got to lose? What might you gain in winning more general support?
Scottish Football needs rid of these spivs.
===================================================
Great idea and would work on a number of levels. It would go some way to showing those that look to mr houston as a figurehead that this is an inclusive site based on scottish football and one that tries to be fair and objective. If even some fans of the new club are now looking for answers they could do far worse than coming here to look for them. anything that can be done to break down existing barriers should be looked into seriously as it will be seen as a genuine effort to include fans of all teams and not only the other 41 that fans of the new club seem to see it as. Any invitation should be made in the spirit of reconciliation, inclusion and progress. presenting a united front of all clubs in the country may go some way to showing the sfa that fans are simply sick and tired of their multifaceted approach to the rules and regulations governing the game in Scotland.
Good morning everyone. Friday again 🙂
I caught a headline in the Scotsman this morning, but have not read the story. Three words in the headline caught my eye, these being ‘Doncaster, ‘Championship’, and ‘Terrific.’ Is he the latest to join the bandwagon, and if so what is his motive, given he has never talked up Scottish Football since the demise of the old Rangers. Why don’t they just go the whole hog and award the Champions League slot to the winners! Go on, we know you want to!
Morning all.
This may be of interest.
@RangersInter: For those that are unaware. Ticketus are funders of Zebra Finance and have full visibility over accounts.
http://t.co/5mNA2e1B2n
John Clark says:
May 29, 2014 at 11:51 pm
They do not seem to understand that they are preparing to play a team that is actually younger than two of them, in terms of date of legitimate birth.
———————————–
No doubt, with the ease of intercontinental communications via the internet these days, the American colleges are being educated about such facts even now. But they’re probably only being polite anyway
Re the TRFC Tour of North America.
It seems to be common knowledge that the TRFC ship has run or is running out of funds. The slow/low uptake in season tickets seemingly just keeping the wolf from the door. So why spend money on a jolly for the boys. What is their to gain from this jaunt. It’s not like taking part in a pre arranged high profile tournament where a payment to participate is made. Playing teams of a level lower than that of The Scottish Highland League will prove nothing. Is the desperate need to be seen as Billy Big Bollards so great that nothing else matters? If I was a Bear who had renewed my season book after agonising for weeks over the decision I would not be ecstatic at seeing the guys all dissapear over the horizon for a wee American Holiday using my hard earned cash to fund it. When will reality hit home?
Re North American Tour
Steviebc as you say flights won’t be cheap. It could be that their hosts in the US are funding the costs in the hope that they get a return on ticket sales. Is a youth or senior Rangers team a big enough attraction, maybe’s aye maybe’s Naw. There may be a large Scots community in these areas !
briggsbhoy says:
May 30, 2014 at 8:16 am
Re North American Tour
Steviebc as you say flights won’t be cheap. It could be that their hosts in the US are funding the costs in the hope that they get a return on ticket sales. Is a youth or senior Rangers team a big enough attraction, maybe’s aye maybe’s Naw. There may be a large Scots community in these areas !
====================================
I had a quick look at the websites of the three teams and I doubt if stadiums are that big so not sure how much the hosts would be able to pay towards costs. The three clubs are fairly new as well IIRC.
probably dormitory college accommodation so taht won’t be a lot.
Personally I think this is a marketing move aimed at Narsa and possibly a means of raising cash from ex-pats out there. Going on past experience I’m not sure how successful it will be. The 3 US and Canadiam matches so far scheduled are all on the west coast and I would have instinctively thought pretty far away from the bulk of Narsa members but I don’t know the detailed demographics involved.
There is probably wuite a few Scots in the Vancouver area but it’s obvious that old rivalries are active oiut there with at least from the rangers side with the not so subtle dig at Celtic by using ‘buoys’ in the official support group name.So it might be that Scots of the Celtic persuasion out there might well give the match a miss. But I think Rangers TV are televising the matches live but whether timing will suit the potential 500 million worldwide audience ( mea culpa Neepheid) I know not.
Who knows – it all seems a strange decision. I can understand Brora and the other far flung Scottish destinations as part of the essential cost-cutting. But just not sure about how they make anything from America.
But between the Scottish tour and the States/Canada the players and presumably Ally and staff will be away from Ibrox for a significant period – not sure if there will be time to make many new signings although that might not be the only reason to keep him out of the way.
BroguesRoguesAndILikeThePogues says:
May 30, 2014 at 2:41 am
redlichtie says:
May 29, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I’d like to extend a genuine TSFM invitation to Craig Houston to engage on this blog. What have you got to lose? What might you gain in winning more general support? Scottish Football needs rid of these spivs.
===================================================
===============================
There is no barrier to Craig Houston or any other Rangers supporter posting on this site. In any case I think it would be wrong to issue an invitation to one group and not to all as that would be a sure signal that a side had been taken.
There is also the remit of the Blog to be looked at and personally I believe turning it into a battlefield between bitterly opposing factions in the Rangers support would do little to create informed and rational debate.
The pressure on mods would be enormous and if control was lost then this blog could well be destroyed. Rangers fans do participate here to my personal knowledge. They don’t post but they lurk and can make their own judgements about the arguments advanced and the stance of posters towards the kind of Rangers that must of these lurkers probably want.
As to moderation policy I have always taken the line on any site that if I am truly unhappy then I leave. I have had the odd question wrt moderation but if it is something serious I do it privately. I think I have used the Mod Thread a couple of times and not had a specific answer but that doesn’t bother me because I have made my point and I trust TSFM enough to believe that my point has been noted and hopefully considered.
Moderating any site is difficult and a thankless task despite the fact that any site even those dealing with crochet patters are capable of dissolving into anarchy without moderation. And of course mods are ‘human’ – some might not believe that. But it’s true so they are capable of calling things differently.
The jocular speculation as to mcfc’s identity makes me think. Doncaster is there as the pantomime villain to protect the clubs. Wallace is where he is in a similar role although no-one can quite work out how, why or the motive. Anyone think when the bell goes they both head for the pub and regale each other with stories of “you’ll never guess what my lot came up with today,” or “You won’t believe how they reported this little gem…” It reminds me of the mildly humorous chocolate biscuit advert running just now where the cops and robbers take a break from their chase to have a brew, the afore mentioned biscuit and to discuss traffic.
As you were.
briggsbhoy says:
May 30, 2014 at 12:13 am
Rangers North America Tour
I have visions of Sevco travelling round the States in a bus like some old vaudeville or circus act trying to make ends meet.If this ever comes to pass it will be interesting if they were to go belly up half way round the tour. Again I have visions of players sitting on their suitcases trying to make their way back to the UK after the tour goes bust, selling their football shirts to buy the tickets home. Do they not usually ask you if you have sufficient funds to afford your stay on arrival. Maybe an ex employee should write a letter to US Immigration. 😉
=================================
It’s funny because I was seeing something very similar but thinking of Bud Neill and the Ibrox pawnees and especially of ‘GI Bride’ She was always trying to get back home to her beloved ‘Pertick’ after moving to America with her GI Joe who she met during WWII.
Anyone who hasn’t seen Annie’s statue in Partick Station in Glasgow’s west end really ought to take a trip – it will make you laugh but there’s a lot of poignancy there as well as she stands with her thumb-up beside her kit bag and her wean under her oaxter.
Every time I pass her from now on I’ll think of what might lie in wait for Rangers who headed for America full of hope and expectation only to find out the reality was somewhat different.
From memory I don’t think we ever found out whether Bud’s heroine successfully hitch-hiked home from Calron CreeK in the Arizona Desert which was peopled by emigre-Glaswegians and of course Lobey Dosser and Rankbadyin locked in their eternal conflict.
Today is Friday the 30th of May 2014, ’twas 3 years ago, I first heard that David Murray had finally sold Rangers Football Club, to Craig Whyte.
A member of my family and I had the following conversation (approximately.)
“Murray has sold Rangers” Oh, who to? “Craig Whyte from Motherwell” what does he do? “he’s a billionaire venture capitalist.” (a mouth full of tea nearly sprayed the living room wall.) Venture capitalist, honestly? think Gordon Gekko.. What did he pay for it “he paid one pound” Billionaire my bum, but, haud the bus, my curiosity had been tweaked.
So a quick retro search for the now infamous “wealth off the radar” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/craig-whyte-profile-the-scots-billionaire-1076110.
This I had to follow, RTC, Downfall,TSFM,Charlotte-Fakeover,and,3 years later, it’s still rolling along (on one wheel now).
So thank you to all the players, the people who have shared their expertise, who have delivered the “newspapers” to my monitor, who brighten up my day. Well Done!
Here’s to the next three years!
woodstein says:10:52 am
The article remembers me things I had forgotten.
3 years of having a “for sale” notice….
Enough time to bury lots of stuff from anticipated prying eyes like Hector’s mob.
First Dave King heads up an unsuccessful consortium…
Then Andrew Ellis another man with off the scale wealth becomes forerunner…
Then Craigie Boy seals the multimillion pound deal for a pound.
And am I right in remembering that at Corsica’s famously reported Swiss meeting long after the £1 deal had been done and after it had hit the rails and to use “Charlie-speak” was “in between companies” in July 2012 three of the attendees were King, Ellis and Whyte who had earlier “competed” for the right to being the first post-Murray owner.
Sounds like some kind of coordinated plan to me.
And Charlie (another attendee in Switzerland) did not just appear as if by magic.
Apparently rather a shoogly one – quite possibly with toasted bearings too.
JimBhoy says:
May 30, 2014 at 2:02 am
My friend, I pay at source a fair amount to let the spivs operate across British businesses… Dude who is daft?
=================================================
JimBhoy – who could disagree! I feel exactly the same about education. How can we ever have an effective state education system when 99% of the major decision makers educate their children in a different system? Too many important systems in our country are designed to protect privilege – not benefit the mass of citizens and the country in the long term.
ecobhoy says:
May 30, 2014 at 10:01 am
From memory I don’t think we ever found out…
——————————————————————————-
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/bud-s-gi-bride-is-home-in-partick-at-last-1.1082830
From Cast O’ Thoosans. Lobey Dosser Further Adventures Of The Wee Boy ISBN 1 901984 00 1
The GI Bride”
“A forlorn figure, the GI Bride pops up in the most unlikely places with wee Ned and a large duffle bag in tow. Her efforts to hitchhike home are usually fruitless but on the odd occasion our intrepid Sherriff Dosser will speed her home to “pertick”.” 😆
So CG has deals which render the brand useless, and they have a following who have no interest in rebranding. Checkmate.
Pay up, bang the drum for another 800yrs or shut it. I understand why he paid so little now, and all the references to the toxic brand.
This quaint little backwater will promote such a way of life for some time yet, maybe even longer than his onerous 20yr deals, but there will be a weeping and teeth gnashing. It just won’t be in the daily record.
Carry on.
upthehoops says:
May 30, 2014 at 6:58 am
21 3 Rate This
Good morning everyone. Friday again
I caught a headline in the Scotsman this morning, but have not read the story. Three words in the headline caught my eye, these being ‘Doncaster, ‘Championship’, and ‘Terrific.’ Is he the latest to join the bandwagon, and if so what is his motive, given he has never talked up Scottish Football since the demise of the old Rangers. Why don’t they just go the whole hog and award the Champions League slot to the winners! Go on, we know you want to!
———————————
UTH, The article can be found online here:
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/big-three-in-championship-terrific-doncaster-1-3427412
Doncaster is actually coming across quite well for him as he is being reasonably honest and pragmatic. Doesn’t mean he isn’t still a sleekit, wee nyaff of a man but at least he is trying.
http://www.ayrunitedfc.co.uk/to-our-support/
Worth a read, I think. Nice to see a club communicate with its fans, if nothing else.
With Torrejohnbhoy’s post revealing scribd docs, the one I took interest in was the forced appointment of Easedale to the board. This wasn’t a request but an order. Now the accepted norm wrt the two brothers is one of dyed in the wool rangers men. I would beg to differ and suggest they were supporters of their deep river team playing out of Cappielow.
Going from snippets in my grey matter, Blue Pitch under Houssami placed them onto the board which in effect makes them nothing more than spiv placemen. They are then assumed to buy Greens shares but is there any proof that the transaction occurred? Could we assume, Houssami moves Green on as he is no longer effective because of his big gob and puts Easdale in.
If this is correct, Blue Pitch rule and call the tune. The Easdales are still Morton fans and simply do the bidding for Blue Pitch and will be royally rewarded for keeping their gobs shut, something which Mr Green found impossible.
Over to you Eco.
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/media-questions-to-sevco-regarding-major-staff-changes/#more-4726