Any organisation’s plan for a top-down review of development would ordinarily be welcome news. Self evaluation, or even better independent evaluation is an ongoing process amongst professionals, individually and collectively alike. In the case of the SFA however a healthy scepticism is required. We are after all dealing with people who are the poster boys for self-interest and short-termism.
The SFA had previously commissioned a thorough review of the game (decades ago) by Rinus Michels, the inventor of “Total Football” and his report was largely ignored, partly because it implied criticism of the then current regime, and partly because it would cost money. A “Total Shambles”.
Henry McLeish also famously recommended (again after being commissioned to do so by the SFA) a more balanced approach to governance between the SFA and SPFL. This would have required a blazer or two having less say in the running of the game – and was therefore ignored.
Mark Wotte, the prominent Dutch coach hired as performance director at Hampden also suggested during his tenure that, in order to improve technique, more ball time should be provided for players in games.
He recommended seven a side competitions as the norm for u-15s (less players – more participation).
To accommodate this, club infrastructures would have required expensive upgrading, and coaches in clubs, not responsive to new ideas lobbied hard for the status quo.
The upshot is that we carried on with the same eleven-a-side games where many players hardly got a kick.
And in this classic Einsteinean definition of insanity, no overall improvements were to be found in the national team’s fortunes.
No wonder Wotte fled the scene in 2014 after three years.
Of course the details are debatable and subjective, but experience tells us;
Anything that
a) costs money or
b) upsets old boys’ networks
has a tendency to be hidden out of sight.
The recent “announcement” is merely a reaction to a couple of poor results, caused in part by inaction in the wake of previous reports’ recommendations.
An increasing number of observers of our game refer to an inferior mindset amongst players in Scotland, that we accept losing as the norm.
Hardly surprising that such a mindset is prevalent amongst professionals.
They must despair at the chronic self-interest, ineptitude and fecklessness of the “leaders” of our sport – an organisation that appointed Gordon Smith as CE (think about that for a minute) based on who his pals were, where McGregor and Petrie can become senior officers – “because it’s his turn!” – despite being unqualified squares in a round ball game, and where fairy-tales take precedence over reality.
As long as the blazers have a seat on the SFA bus, nothing will change.
As regards the quality or relevance of the SMSM WRT football coverage: it's arguably just as deficient / deceitful as it was back in 2011/12.
If we didn't have SFM and other Internet Bampot sites TODAY, we would be in the dark about Scottish football – just as many of us were in the days before the RTC site was created.
And sports coverage aside – I just don't know why anyone would buy or subscribe to newspapers.
If you strip out of the papers their incessant coverage of;
– reality TV programmes
– reality TV z-list 'celebs'
– paid for articles promoting books / films / products
– paid for articles from desperate, forgotten 'celebs'
– viral videos lifted off the internet
etc.
…the papers would be empty!
[Or maybe it would just be Brexit coverage left.
]
Update on the Cold Shoulder.
If Ralgex doesn't meet SFA or SPFL requirements GASH has also got some Deep Heat and if that isn't good enough Jimmy The Jannie Bell is on standby with a shovel of sawdust.
Nothing to see here. Move along. Nothing of interest to the likes of you. Move on. Best interests of Scottish football at all times without fear, favour, love or affection. By the way did we say our dog ate Resolution 12 and we're not allowed to use copies? Why? Five Way Agreement. By the way did we say our dog ate the Five Way Agreement and we're not allowed to use copies? Why? Five Way Agreement. What's in the Five Way Agreement? Are you deaf? The dog ate it. It's gone. Never existed.
Anyway how's the top of the SPFL looking? What? What do you mean top on goals scored? There's a bit in the Five Way Agreement that El Guffalo goals count treble. Pity the dog ate it or you could have read it for yourself but I'm sure you'll take our word on it.
Hello! Hello! What do you mean "Aye, right"? Does that mean you believe us twice?
StevieBC 20th October 2019 at 14:08
……………
One day we will look back and see you were proved right on that one.
Actually, thinking about it again, the perilous position of Metro Bank could be the most immediate – and significant – risk to RIFC/TRFC.
We all know that the original Rangers was recklessly funded by HBOS. Following its takeover by Lloyds in 2008 due to the financial crash, Rangers was instructed to reduce its debt level ASAP.
After Rangers died in 2012, The Rangers started up in the summer of that year, and its financial services provider was Metro Bank.
Metro Bank was a new bank, created as recently as 2010. It didn't have a physical branch in Scotland, (and it still doesn't in 2019). The nearest Metro branch is in Manchester. Not a major problem for Personal Banking needs – but a potential problem for Business Banking needs.
So, why did The Rangers go with Metro Bank and not a more established – and local – high street bank like RBS, Co-Op, HSBC, Barclays, etc.?
It would seem that after the very public and nasty fallout with Lloyds HBOS by the indebted Rangers, the new Rangers was not welcome to do business with the other banks?
Having only opened its doors in the UK 2 years earlier, Metro Bank might have been hungrier for new business clients – and its appetite for risk might have been higher. A high profile business account like The Rangers might have helped raise the Bank's profile in Scotland as well.
So far, so good.
But, IF Metro Bank was to go bust where does RIFC/TRFC go?
If the Ibrox business couldn't secure a high street bank in 2012, it's highly doubtful it could do so today for the same reasons, IMO.
Add on top of that a convicted, Cold Shouldered Chairman, red flags all over any agency credit ratings of RIFC, etc.
What other bank would take on RIFC/TRFC ?
LUGOSI 20th October 2019 at 09:08
'..The Note follows a Hearing on 31st May 2019 and you can see why it took four months to produce. The Note is particularly interesting, to me anyway, when after disposing of the arguments put forward by the Appellants the Sheriff proceeds to arguments which were not put forward. '
+++++++++++++++++
I have just read the Note.
Not ever having been even a law student never mind a lawyer, I nevertheless found it relatively easy to read and extremely interesting, particularly the Sheriff Principal's scrupulous explanation of 'judicial knowledge' and the potted histories,and of how he justifies drawing on 'judicial knowledge' in arriving at his judgment.
StevieBC 20th October 2019 at 22:18
'..and its appetite for risk might have been higher..'
++++++++++++++
Their present difficulties apparently stem from a cavalier attitude to the classification of risk, an attitude which seems to have left them short of the proper level of liquidity!
LUGOSI 20th October 2019 at 09:08 '..The Note follows a Hearing on 31st May 2019 and you can see why it took four months to produce. The Note is particularly interesting, to me anyway, when after disposing of the arguments put forward by the Appellants the Sheriff proceeds to arguments which were not put forward. ' +++++++++++++++++ I have just read the Note. Not ever having been even a law student never mind a lawyer, I nevertheless found it relatively easy to read and extremely interesting, particularly the Sheriff Principal's scrupulous explanation of 'judicial knowledge' and the potted histories,and of how he justifies drawing on 'judicial knowledge' in arriving at his judgment.
its a fascinating read. Closes all sorts of doors to appeal as well. Almost as if the Sherif anticipated that would be coming.
as an aside Im told Sherif Reid is very good to work with and not the usual “public school educated” lawyer.
Just in the passing, I am happy to say I was in Court One of Parliament house about an hour ago to hear Lord Carloway ( with Lord Drummond Young and Lord Brodie ) announce that the case against the PM will be continued until it becomes clearer whether he has complied with the order .
I was only just in time to be in court as the judges returned from their deliberations, so I missed the submissions made by either party, which clearly must have been very short because the hearing began at noon.
The Court room was pretty full-no sign of James Dolman-, and the TV camera was there.
Beautiful sunny, bright , chilly morning, with a flame-eater performing in the High St, and still lots of tourist groups about.
It's not often you hear a manager claim he needs less players but Gerrard has said exactly that ,he wants to cut his squad from 26 down to 18 in the January window. Has someone been putting coffee in his coffee? Is the reality of the situation at Ibrox beginning to hit home? Does he realise that a few injuries to a squad of 18 will leave it threadbare? He has previously said that if Morelos or Tavernier were sold he would scweam and scweam until he's sick , is he now conceding that keeping the lights on is the reality at Ibrox. Gerrard may just have let the cat out the bag that not everything in the garden is rosy , something most on here and elsewhere realised a long time ago. Elsewhere it has been reported that King is demanding 20m+ for Morelos , sorry Dave that's not how the market works as for the reported 8m valuation they have for Tavernier …….well his last 2 games in particular has seen that price tag being passed by a flying pig . Here's how it really works , people realise the club* is in trouble , when you're desperate to sell then the vultures circle and offer pennies on the £, players sit tight knowing that an admin event releases them from their contract and gives them better bargaining power.
Moving on to matters boardroom and the need to remove King from his position. A 27p offer for his shares will cost over 18m , a 20p offer will cost 13m a 10p offer will cost 6.5m . Any current member with 4% will trigger an offer for all the other shares if they take Kings 26.6% , clubbing together won't help as that will be seen as a concert party so that leaves new investors to come in and save the day. With all the outstanding issues still to be resolved it's unlikely to attract many bidders. The problem with accepting a 10p offer is it revalues the club far lower than it was previously and makes balancing the books a Herculean task.They can't afford to buy King out and they can't afford not to buy him out , no wonder the January sale signs have gone up in October. Nobody is going to spend millions buying this club* when they can wait a few months and get it for £1
Timtim 21st October 2019 at 18:48
………………….
A good post as how things stand i believe.
January sale signs have gone up in October. Brilliant.
Timtim 21st October 2019 at 18:48
'…players sit tight knowing that an admin event..'
+++++++++++++
I think, Timtim it is only the event of Liquidation that nullifies contracts.If a club gets out of Administration by paying its debts or reaching some settlement with its creditors, it carries on as legally the same entity , and all its commercial and employee contracts remain in force.
Whereas, when Liquidation ends the club's life , as in the case of RFC of 1872, all contracts are rendered null and void.
Fraser Wishart as the PFA rep did a good job in making sure that at least those players who wanted to leave the dead club knew the legal position, that the contracts they signed with RFC of 1872 were unenforceable by the chap who set up the new club SevcoScotland.
I assume, but would not be surprised if I assume wrongly, that the legal position of all contracted employees at Ibrox , not just the playing staff, but the office workers etc., would have been explained to everyone by the Liquidators, if not by D&P when they saw that the pl.. saw that Liquidation was inevitable and that there was no way out of Administration that would have kept the club alive.
In general John that is the case but during admin a player can be released from his contract (by mutual consent) if it helps bring down the running costs , this then gives the player free agent status and he can sign for other clubs out with the transfer windows, this will in general only apply to those with low market value. I will have to check the rules on what happens if admin occurs out with the transfer window to see if other clubs can buy , from memory I don't think they can .
Did anyone else catch a fleeting glimpse of the Hampden Scarlet Pimpernel – aka SFA CEO Maxwell?
I think it was STV News @6pm tonight, during coverage of a study linking football to an increased dementia incidence. *
Anyway, I was surprised to see Maxwell in front of the camera – and talking all by himself. Softball questions and he gave bland and non-specific answers about the study results and player safety in general.
Like his recently disclosed writing abilities: he didn't impress in front of the camera. [And that's being kind.]
…well, what the hell do you expect for a £300K salary?
Suppose Maxwell is safely locked away in the bunker now!
* The study is probably, sadly, not surprising – although it did not explicitly state that heading the ball was the cause, and concussions during a career could have contributed.
Although I'm not that old, I'm old enough to remember as a very young kid the laced up leather balls…which when wet weighed a ton and heading them when wet was certainly painful, from what I remember.
Heading that type of ball when wet was best avoided.
But, from the c.70s/80s onwards those balls were phased out, and replaced with plastic/rubber balls – and their weight didn't significantly increase in the rain.
Ergo, the incidence of dementia 'should' decline in future amongst football players, one would think?
Plus, there has been more awareness – and a much more serious approach taken – with regards to concussions and suspected concussions in recent years.
But for those ex-professionals who did play in the old days, and suffer today from dementia – they should get some recognition and support from the UK football industry, which they effectively helped to develop, IMO.
[Disclaimer: I'm not aware if ex-players with dementia do currently receive any assistance e.g. from Players' Unions or via the FA's.]
Timtim 21st October 2019 at 20:42
…………………………Ally was told to draw up a list of players he could do without, he refused. Players could be axed to reduce costs some players could offer to continue playing at reduced wages.
https://twitter.com/ClusterOne2/status/1186376507972825091/photo/1
………………
Players union.
StevieBC 21st October 2019 at 21:05
'..The study is probably, sadly, not surprising – although it did not explicitly state that heading the ball was the cause, and concussions during a career could have contributed.'
++++++++++++
I think it is only fair to record that the Hampden medical chap, Dr McLean, was eager to relate that the study is a high value Scottish study, published in the ( most important) European Journal of Medicine ( or some such) and that the subject of possible changes in relation to heading the ball will be on the agenda of IFAB sometime soon. Meantime, there may be suggestions that training on heading techniques be limited to one session per week, with the development of neck-muscle strengthening exercises.
As you say, StevieBC, no one is saying it is definite cause and effect: just that a fairly huge sample shows that footballers are 3 times more likely to suffer from dementia related conditions than the population at large.
( I thought also there was an implication, perhaps, that if footballers were not the athletes, non-smoking, non-drinking, healthy-eating people they are today, the incidence of dementia might even be greater!)
I saw the dementia report on STV and was left with the impression that the contributors cared more about gaining further funding for their research programmes than they did for the illness itself.
Am I too cynical?
Timtim@18.48 yesterday
So if the *Rangers squad is going to be reduced then the corollary would mean no new signings in the January window. Not an entirely earth shattering conclusion to draw but it is perhaps a sign that the influence of Dave King is beginning to diminish and the support are being prepared for regime change and a lowering of expectations.
Ex Ludo 22nd October 2019 at 00:43
'..and the support are being prepared for regime change and a lowering of expectations. "
++++++++++++
Not by the ' Herald' today with its
'Crystal Palace 'prepare £20m bid for Morelos'
or the 'Scotsman' with its
'.Dave King has put a £20million price tag on Alfredo Morelos.According to reports the Colombian is a target for Aston Villa.'
What are these charlatans of sports journalists like?
We can all play that game. Yesterday, in Parliament House, I was confidentially informed that a senior editor on the 'Scotsman' has piles, and that his counterpart on the 'Herald' is ahent wi' his mortgage repayments.
Honest to God.
These ridiculous valuations are not just to soothe the fans fevered brows they are also to convince creditors that the basket of assets really does have some valuable assets. There is also the hope that if they say he is worth 20m often enough then some gullible club will offer 10m and think they are getting a bargain. It didn't work for Barry MacKay who was a reputed 6.5m bid from a German outfit but eventually went to Forest for just 10% of that figure. There is also the small matter of a work permit if they are going to sell him to an EPL club , unfortunately a few International caps in friendly matches doesn't tick the boxes. Far from convincing anyone with this propaganda I believe it is having a negative effect , people will see this as an act of desperation from a cash strapped club* . It's almost as if they have some large bills on the way , some accounts written in red ink about to go public or a boardroom that makes the Conservative party appear cohesive. They have likened Morelos with Gerd Muller , Aribo with Jay Jay Okocha and Ryan Kent with Sugar Ray Leonard , all I see is Rangers* 2011 a spitting image of Rangers* in 2019
I am no finance guru, and maybe I'm as thick as our national dailies would be thin without their pages of advertisements which keep them alive but, like TRFC, not exactly flourishing.
But which individual big shareholding of RIFC plc is making rather than losing money by holding on to their shares?
Their investments of millions is earning them nothing, and may very well be lost if TRFC Ltd goes bust and RIFC plc with it? Wouldn't it make sense for them to bale out with whatever they might get by selling up now, an re-investing in some profitable company?
In my view, having 10, 20, 30 million shares in a failing football club is scarcely an intelligent thing to do.
Can they really be hoping that somehow over the next few years the share price will rise to levels that might make it somewhat worthwhile holding on to them?
Can someone explain to me what Douglas Park or George Taylor or Borita Investments Ltd hope to achieve?
John Clark 22nd October 2019 at 16:17 I am no finance guru,
———————————————
Ditto John. I don't know about Taylor, but for Park D'Bus he has other businesses to consider which trade locally. Baling out may be a fearful situation for D'Bus, who must be well aware of the Boycotting prowess of the follow followers. Something the big liar has utilised to great effect and seemingly, something he can rely upon at the drop of a point.
However, Finance guru or not, if somebody or something is losing money, then someone is gaining. (Five companies twice removed).
Aside from the odd dropped coin or misplaced note, money, in such large volumes can never be truly "Lost"………Somebody has it.
It was racked up to almost a billion last time, (not inc. taxes owed).
An over-active imagination may even conclude that it is not just drug dealers or bank robbers who may need to get money out of the country………Or "invest", as some like to call it….
But what do I know.
Utterly sickening story on the BBC Sport Scotland website today about Rangers* 'remarkable achievement amid downsizing' the last time they played Porto. That was in 2005, right at a time the public purse was being illegally shafted by Rangers* for tens of millions in unpaid tax, in order to better what was on the field of play.
What strange principles the publicly funded BBC has.
Ex Ludo 22nd October 2019 at 00:43
So if the *Rangers squad is going to be reduced then the corollary would mean no new signings in the January window. Not an entirely earth shattering conclusion to draw but it is perhaps a sign that the influence of Dave King is beginning to diminish and the support are being prepared for regime change and a lowering of expectations.
……………….
If Celtic win the Glasgow derby at the end of the year and pull clear of the pack and strengthen again in Jan.
No new signings and a depleted squad over at ibrox maybe a large bill from Ashley.
If the £20mill? striker is moved on for a fraction of his hyped price and Celtic heading for 9 in a row, will the We deserve better banners get another airing down ibrox way?
John Clark 22nd October 2019 at 13:42
‘Crystal Palace ‘prepare £20m bid for Morelos’
or the ‘Scotsman’ with its
‘.Dave King has put a £20million price tag on Alfredo Morelos.According to reports the Colombian is a target for Aston Villa.’
…………….
I am beginning to loose track of how many clubs have been linked with this £20mill? striker.And i believe the last time Mr Gerrard spoke about him there had never been any calls from anyone about him.
Porto will most likely be the next club linked with him if he has a good game on Thursday;-)
@CO
https://twitter.com/Gastro_Celtic/status/1186603147344732165
Aston Villa – £20m Beijing -£20m Fenerbache – £3m Bordeaux – £4m Nice – £8 Dortmund – £19m Leicester – £19m Marseille – £19m Betis – £20m Beskitas – £10m Newcastle – £20m Palace – £20m Frankfurt- £8m Betis – £30m Milan – £20m Unnamed Chinese Club – £30m West Brom – £10m
That's just the Records' links
Timtim 22nd October 2019 at 19:00
Unnamed Chinese Club – £30m
……………….
Hebei Fortune.
https://twitter.com/ClusterOne2/status/1186718003695706112/photo/1
JC@16.17
Why don't they bail out ? The simple answer is they need someone to buy their shares from them and the queue is so small they've asked Charles Green to turn up with a teapot . They did have the option to force King to buy their shares for 20p a while back but for whatever reason they chose not to do so ,maybe they believed the propaganda that the squad was worth billions or Gerrard was on the cusp of CL riches . Had King been issued with his chilly shoulder before the vote or the full implications of Ashleys case been known to them then only a fool would have kept their shareholding. In saying all that anyone who goes into business with Dave King is a fool especially a business where he is the majority shareholder.
https://twitter.com/financialtimes/status/1186899474981031941?s=21
Yet another Knight of the Realm becomes unstuck. No doubt his pension arrangements will be bulletproof.
Ex Ludo 23rd October 2019 at 08:06
'.Yet another Knight of the Realm becomes unstuck.'
++++++++++++++++++
Sadly , there is one who has not yet had the honour ripped from him for his cheating, dishonourable, cowardly behaviour.
upthehoops 22nd October 2019 at 18:28
'..What strange principles the publicly funded BBC has. '
+++++++++++++++++
Yes, the BBC agonised during the second world war over the extent to which it should broadcast actual lies on behalf of the Government.
Today, they happily propagate the myth that a seven year old club is entitled to the honours and sporting record of a club that was Liquidated due(ultimately) to its tax and sports cheating behaviour.
They sing the same song as ex-First Minister Alex Salmond, arrogantly defending and propagating wrongdoing because it was done by a club which was an essential 'part of the fabric of Scottish society' and bugger concepts such as Truth and Sporting honour!
There is no more 'honour' and 'truth' to be found in Pacific Quay than on the sixth floor at Hampden, when it comes to telling the simple, unvarnished truth about the cuckoo club's 'history'.
JohnClark@11.07
Quite.
Whether you agree or disagree with his actions or motives, it has been illuminating that the UK MSM has generally avoided reporting on the Julian Assange hearing on Monday.
More pertinently, the UK MSM didn't accurately report on the disturbing hearing itself – or on the conditions of Assange's confinement at high security Belmarsh Prison.
Additionally, it could have been embarrassing for the London government to be seen to be falling over itself to extradite a whistleblower to the USA – whilst at the same time the USA is telling the UK that a mother accused of killing a teenager in a road accident simply won't return.
[Needless to say, and absolutely for their own reasons, both RT and Al Jazeeera had extensive – and ongoing – coverage of the Assange situation].
…And then we have our very own local, sports churnalists who obediently copy/paste any old nonsense on the instructions of PR companies or clubs.
And no questions, [nevermind follow up questions], are directed to the SFA or SPFL about their failing stewardship.
Mibbees it's not just TRFC, the SFA and the SMSM that's in a death spiral…but ultimately Scottish football as well if nothing changes?
John Fleming head of refereeing at SFA has died. RIP
John Clark asked what Park or Taylor hope to achieve.
John i am no finance expert, but i will give it a go. If you look at the chairmans past in business he tends to have a tried and tested formula.You reduce the share price then sell at a higher price. EG he could be saying to them you buy a million shares at 10 pence ( or less? ) We qualify for the champions league ( i know ) The share price rockets to something like the Celtic one of say £1 20. So 12 times profit. If you have 2 million pounds invested and then walk away with 24 million its not bad business. I know it is simplistic but it is the only one i can think of , well unless someone like easyjambo who i look to on these things can tell us otherwise its the best i have.
watcher 23rd October 2019 at 16:53
'… If you have 2 million pounds invested and then walk away with 24 million its not bad business. '
+++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you for that crystallisation, watcher.
So the continuing spending to stay alive is no more than a wild gamble( funded in substantial part by gullible folk like those who contribute(d) to Club 1872 without any right to personal ownership of and profit from the shares their money bought) , while the fat cats may( remotely possible) cream off profit at their expense.
Sounds like a wizard wheeze to me.
Timtim 22nd October 2019 at 19:00
Now now, let's get this right.
The £30m to China deal was just his wages.
They were going to pay the club's valuation of £15m, then pay him £10m a year for three years.
It was him who turned down the move worth about £200k a week. Clearly he loves being a bear far too much for that sort of deal.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11774188/alfredo-morelos-rangers-striker-rejects-30m-offer-from-china
The three-year deal would have seen the Colombian earn £10m-a-year before tax.
Sky Sports News understands Hebei were willing to match Rangers' valuation of the striker, believed to be in excess of £15m, although no official bid was received.
John as you say a wizard wheeze. Indeed.
On 8 October, while in Pennsylvania, I sent an email to the FCA reminding them of previous emails that had not been acknowledged.
I have now sent this:
To:ceocorrespondence@fca.org.uk
23 Oct at 16:49
Dear FCA,
Please may I have an acknowledgement of my email of 8 October reminding you of previous reminders of previous letter and emails that have been unacknowledged never mind properly responded to?
I am beginning to think that there must have been something irregular about the authorisation of the IPO prospectus issued by the Rangers International Football Club in 2012.
That prospectus implied to potential investors that the football club which was to be the main business of RIFC plc was a club which had been founded in 1872 and had been very successful for 140+ years: when in fact that club was (is still) in Liquidation, unable to operate in Scottish football; and the club that RIFC plc operates is in fact and law 'The Rangers Football Club' admitted for the first time to Scottish Professional football only in 2012 under its original name of 'SevcoScotland'
Why will you not explain how you appear to have concluded that everything was done quite properly by the FCA in scrutinising and authorising a prospectus which at the very least was misleading?
I intend to raise this question with my Member of Parliament if you do not do me at least the courtesy of acknowledging this email.
Yours sincerely,
watcher 23rd October 2019 at 16:53
=============================
King has "invested" the following via NOAL
£2.37m – original share purchase – Jan 2015
£1.84m – loans converted to shares – Sep 2018
£7.03m – loans converted to shares – Aug 2019
£2.09m – loans converted to shares – Sep 2019
That's a total investment of £13.33m. The first £2.37m went to the selling shareholders (Artemis, Miton Capital and River & Mercantile). The remaining £10.96m was cash that went into the club initially as loans and has either been spent, or will be needed to keep the lights for the immediate future.
watcher 23rd October 2019 at 17:19
2 0 Rate This
John as you say a wizard wheeze. Indeed
………………..
Only one or two problems i see with that
1. Gerrard has already stated there will be downsizing in Jan, and if you do that the chances of winning the league never mind getting to the champions league are slim. Then the chances of you walking away with 24 million become very slim.
2. Even trying to find a buyer who is willing to take that chance on buying shares in a company that runs a loss making football club who through luck and it will be only luck and a one time only break even with champions league money, will go back to being a loss making football club the following year, then to watch your share value decrease. Anyone in that kind of business won’t take that kind of gamble.
unless they are willing to wait years like the 3 bears in the hope that you can cash in on the first time you can after years of hope and waiting
I think there are many and varied reasons for investing in football in general and RIFC in particular, the 1st one is emotional attachment as much as one can become emotionally attached to something with so little history but this is where club 1872 and perhaps the 3 bears involvement comes from . There is also the desire to be "back where they belong"and re establish themselves within the fabric of society. For those with local business' there is also the perception of spin offs in trade from fans who will choose to buy for example a car from Park rather than Arnold Clark ,there is of course the reverse effect where fans of other clubs will now shun Park because of his connection. Certainly though an invite to the Directors box on a European night has not been known to be a negative when trying to deal with other business'.Money laundering ? well if there is one business which is corrupt then football is a top contender , one look at those who run the game at the highest levels will confirm that. It is said if you want to make a small fortune in football then start off with a large one and bar a few exceptions such as Fergus McCann that generally holds true. For people like David Murray it's also a vanity project , for King I suspect he saw it as an opportunity to fleece some sheep and be seen as a heroic figure amongst the fans , if it wasn't for his narcissistic and sociopathic personality he could have succeeded but now the odds are stacked against him. The closest I have come to investing in football is on a fixed odds coupon and I haven't done that for over 20 years , and for the record I very rarely won .
Homunculus 23rd October 2019 at 17:14
3 0 Rate This
Timtim 22nd October 2019 at 19:00
…………………..
If king has put a £20mill valuation on the ibrox player i just hope he is paying him in that kind of wage bracket or there may be trouble ahead.
dom16 23rd October 2019 at 12:49
9 1 Rate This
John Fleming head of refereeing at SFA has died. RIP
…………………
When Maxwell took over i thought he would be a breath of fresh air, he turned out to be just as bad at what had gone before.
Will be interesting who will replace John Fleming as head of refereeing at the SFA.
Will it be as bad as what has gone before or will it be a chance to overhaul. But knowing the SFA who had a chance back in 2012 to overhaul the game and the charlatans who could enter the scottish game, it will be same old, same old.
Indeed CO , as every time they make up a false bid with higher and higher valuations it appears that the agent of Mr Morelos approaches the board and secures not just an extension to his contract but better terms and conditions as well. The sting in the tail here is he will go nowhere unless he can secure better terms from a new club .
Re : King's Investment in The Rangers
I agree with TT's summation @ 18.41 of the reasons why people invest in football clubs – both King & Park fit the reasons given but with King there is the special lure of having your money outwith SA – I have been to SA a few times on business & have yet to meet a business man out there who is not obsessed with getting their money (or part of it) out of the country by fair means or foul & are constantly looking at ways to beat the financial constraints out there (its a national pastime) .
I would suspect any sale proceeds coming King's way from his shareholding will stay offshore (particularly if all his investment came via NOAL) .
Timtim 23rd October 2019 at 18:41
emotional attachment
Are the words i was looking for. Thanks.
Would anyone with no emotional attachment take that chance?
Auldheid's turn .
https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr1tlm
CO@ 19.06
No emotional attachment investors would (should) look at the potential for their investment to be profitable. This very much depends on who they are getting advice from regarding the company concerned. After all if you want advice on whether you need a haircut or not then you don't ask a barber. Similarly if you were to ask Chris Jack or Jim Traynor for their advice on investing in RIFC then there's only one outcome. This also applies to the narrative you are fed , are they (as JC points out) a club with 147 years of history and a bulging trophy cabinet as stated in their IPO or a new venture with skeletons hidden in many of the closets . Due diligence is the responsibility of the individual and those who are easily persuaded with talk of big profits just around the corner will end up the loser . To answer your question – "Would anyone with no emotional attachment take that chance?"- the answer is yes , that's why people like King and Murray and Green and Whyte can earn a good living.
paddy malarkey 23rd October 2019 at 19:21
2 0 Rate This
Auldheid’s turn .
https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr1tlm
If it was all as straightforward to explain legally as this guy (Steerpike?) says it is, then I am sure the SFA and/or Celtic would have done so by now. Look at the problems they could have saved themselves.
I can remember mainstream journalists along with many bloggers telling us Rangers so called tax problems were a fantasy. In fact IIRC a group of lapdog journalists fawned around Alastair Johnston on a plane back from a European tie then obediently repeated his issued edict that things were nothing like those mad bloggers were saying. Remind me how that all worked out!
Racism with a twist ?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50159587
upthehoops 23rd October 2019 at 20:04
'.. If it was all as straightforward to explain legally as this guy (Steerpike?) says it is, then I am sure the SFA and/or Celtic would have done so by now. '
+++++++++++++++
Whereas the SFA has steadfastly refused to allow an independent investigation, and Celtic plc has buggered about for 6 years instead of forcing an investigation.
These are not the actions of people who have nothing to fear and who could demonstrate why they have nothing to fear.
Celtic plc AGM is only a few weeks away now.
I do not speak for the Requisitioners, but at the Celtic plc AGM a few weeks away , nothing but independently verifiable truth from them will be acceptable to me.
I am not forgetting that the legal advice given in many matters both to the dead RFC of 1872 and to TRFC may have been given by a chap who was stated publicly by a High Court judge as having lied to his Court.
Timtim 23rd October 2019 at 20:01
Due diligence is the responsibility of the individual and those who are easily persuaded with talk of big profits just around the corner will end up the loser . To answer your question – “Would anyone with no emotional attachment take that chance?”- the answer is yes , that’s why people like King and Murray and Green and Whyte can earn a good living.
………………
They make a good living but not in the hope of owning shares in a company that runs a club that hopes all it’s money problems will be solved with getting to the champions league. Murray, whyte, Green and now king have all tried and are trying that and it’s not worked.
As you say Due diligence (another word i was looking for. Jesus where is my head today)
Anyway anyone doing due diligence will take one look and no thanks.
upthehoops 23rd October 2019 at 20:04
Alastair Johnston on a plane back from a European tie then obediently repeated his issued edict that things were nothing like those mad bloggers were saying. Remind me how that all worked out!
………………..Gers will never go bust April 2, 2011.
https://twitter.com/succulentlambs/status/1184177134421643265/photo/1
…………………….
Wary of Gorilla in the room.
https://twitter.com/succulentlambs/status/1184177060090130434/photo/1
paddy malarkey 23rd October 2019 at 19:21 Edi
Auldheid's turn .
https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr1tlm
==========
He is fishing
In the wrong pond
With the wrong rod and line
and the wrong bait.
Auldheid 23rd October 2019 at 22:21
He is fishing In the wrong pond
With the wrong rod and line
and the wrong bait.
———-
No doubt he will still catch some pondlife though.
Cluster One 23rd October 2019 at 18:42
==================================
Only a guess on my part, however I suspect he will be getting at most 10% of that deal, which he apparently rejected.
He must really love playing for Rangers.
Bearing in mind it's not just about the wages, it's also the trophies he has been picking up.
“Rangers urge fans going the Europa League group game with Porto not to sing songs or behave in a way that "Uefa could deem unacceptable".”
The above is from a BBC Sport Scotland tweet. It’s interesting that the BBC should highlight that small part of the Rangers statement. It begs the question about what it would take for the BBC to deem something unacceptable.
https://twitter.com/bbcsport/status/1187267479820632065?s=21
Marketing football in the 21st century or a desperate measure to sell something which is of little interest to football fans whose teams are not taking part in your elite tournament?
I'll be sorry to hear if this happens next month. I don't know if it has something to do with the sale of Hampden to the SFA and having to restructure themselves to meet future needs.
stephen.mcgowan @mcgowan_stephen
Queen’s Park members will vote on ending 152 years of amateur status at an EGM on Thursday November 14.
Easyjambo@10.22
Perhaps the SFA are about to confirm their amateur status.
Two things from the puff piece below;
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50152777
How do you square
"The behaviour of our fans in recent times has been exemplary but it is important to maintain those standards at home and abroad."
With,
"Twice this season, the club have had to close a section of Ibrox for European games after sectarian chanting, and the club opted not to take tickets for the game with Young Boys in Switzerland."
Also,
"Be loud and be heard and hopefully celebrate a victory, but please keep in mind that Uefa's view of racism is wide-ranging"
What they forgot to add;
"Compared to the SFA's view of Racism, which permits Irish Racism and sees Anti-Catholic chanting as acceptable, providing it is carried out by enough people.
They really have no shame…
The SFA, their own Diversity & Social Inclusion Department, and the senior clubs themselves should ensure that the next Head of Referee Operations appointment addresses the necessary and long overdue changes, WRT;
&
The clubs should be insistent that change is effected – for the benefit of the game, and to address fans' long held complaints.
An appointment from outside Scotland would send out the right signal…but won't hold my breath.
And after years of complaints, I now fully expect my own club CFC to be vocal – and to let their fans know that the club is actively using its influence to effect meaningful change – and improvement – to the Scottish refereeing structure.
Is this good or bad for women's football in Scotland ? Discuss .
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50161910
I would not hold my breath that the sad passing of John Fleming will signal any sea change in the governance of Scottish Refereeing. Look out for someone like Kenny Clark to be put in charge. After all, he thinks it doesn't matter if over 80% of Scottish Refs support the same team. He would be ideal for the job should he wish it. It may not be Clark of course but I doubt it will be anyone versed in modern diversity and inclusion law. That would be a step too far.
Uth, based on past experience, I too don't have high expectations for meaningful change at the Referees Association.
However, my main point is that if clubs don't kick up an almighty fuss about the Head of Referee Operations position NOW…
well, they can just b*gger off if they have complaints with the standard of Scottish refereeing in future.
I wear a little lapel badge on a very casual wee waistcoat/jacket/gilet thing I have had and worn for about twenty years.
Watching the Porto v TRFC of 2012 game earlier this evening, I'm sure I heard voices singing what sounded like the UK national anthem.
That puzzled me.
I'm reasonably au fait with the general 'news' and football news. But I'm bugg.red if I can remember when TRFC was recognised as a club playing as representing the national team of the UK ( if such a thing existed)
The wee lapel badge I wear is worn because my dad who, in so far as he was a football supporter, was a Motherwell Born non-multi-billionnaire , and supporter of Motherwell FC, was very, very badly wounded ,in the week after he had spent a week with 'S' company Scots Guards in Cassino town ,on the steep slopes of Monte Piccolo on 27 May 1944.
It is inappropriate for the supporters of TRFC ( as it was for the supporters of the dead RFC of 1872) to believe that they can appropriate to themselves some notion of 'patriotism' as a partisan chant,thinking that it's the next best thing to sectarian chanting.
JC, at the acknowledged risk of raising claims of whataboutery, couldn't a similar charge be levelled against fans of Celtic who adorn themselves in Irish Republican flags and paraphernalia and who sing patriotic songs of that nation too?
https://twitter.com/bbcsportscot/status/1187633139549724673?s=21
Scottish referees, whit are they like eh?
Highlander@07.45
At the risk of raising Brexit into the discussion, if the the people in Northern Ireland can self identify as being Irish or British or both then could we not extend that arrangement to Caledonia and allow people here to feel Scottish, British or Irish or indeed all three or a combination thereof?
https://twitter.com/asromaen/status/1187499961023422466?s=21
A bit more on the standard of Scottish referees.
Highlander 25th October 2019 at 07:45
'…couldn't a similar charge be levelled against fans of Celtic who adorn themselves in Irish Republican flags and paraphernalia and who sing patriotic songs of that nation too?'
++++++++++++++
My basic point is that no one club in any country has the right to use the national anthem of their country as if it were their own particular club anthem.
Club games between clubs agains of other nations are NOT 'internationals' in which the teams are supposedly representing their countries: especially these days when there is scarcely a club in Europe that hasn't a barra load of players from other countries in its squad!
For the cuckoo club to try to claim proprietary rights to the union flag and the UK national anthem as if they and they alone of football clubs represented the UK is manifestly just a piece of nonsensical tosh.
This sounds a bit familiar
Laura Sports Law @laurasportslaw
New Balance claimed they had triggered a ‘matching clause’ in their existing contract with Liverpool who thus had to renew their partnership, rather than allow it to fall. Liverpool, however, argued that NB could not "match" terms offered to them by Nike.
Reports stating that New Balance have been refused permission to appeal today’s decision.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11669/11844642/liverpool-win-court-battle-with-kit-supplier-new-balance
Amendment to my post of 12.55;
'Club games between clubs agains of other nations' should, of course, have read ' club games against clubs of other nations'.
That's the auld arthritic fingers .
Just when you thought our SMSM sports 'journalism' couldn't get any poorer…
This awful / hilarious example is from the DR where an article attributed to a 'Fraser Wilson' includes the Italian take on the Lazio game last night.
The only problem is that Wilson appears to have simply lifted the Italian reportage – and copied/pasted it into a free, online translator.
Alternatively, he's asked a guy in the pub to translate for him!
Anyway, it's fair padded out the DR article…
=====
"…
The acclaimed Italian sports outlet, [Gazzetta dello Sport], reported:
"In the challenge against Celtic the Biancocelesti had control of the advantage and many scoring opportunities.
"But, on the one hand, they are out of luck with Forster who invents the miracle of expired time on Cataldi's shot, on the other Inzaghi's team remains the victim of an intermittent concentration.
"Individual errors become unforgivable: Correa wastes the chance of a second goal, Immobile and Parolo waste the advantage after Christie levels.
"And also on the occasion of the two Celtic goals, mistakes are unforgivable.
"On the first goal, despite the three-point marking on Edouard, the striker manages to play in the midfielder left alone in the penalty area.
"On the winning goal, Julien is left free to pull away and score with a header from a corner kick.
"The judgments made by Inzaghi are also under judgement. Two out of three are too offensive: Lulic for Jony and Cataldi for Caicedo."
==============