This headline is a quote by George Washington, but it is also friendly advice to Keith Jackson of the Daily Record in response to his ‘exclusive’ today on the reasons Derek McInnes turned down Rangers.
May I begin by drawing people’s attention to two statements by the same organisation on what was essentially the same subject matter:
Aberdeen FC Statement 14th June 2017:
https://www.afc.co.uk/2017/06/14/club-statement-management-team/
“The club can confirm that early this afternoon Sunderland FC agreed to meet all the contractual obligations for both Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty and they have, reluctantly, been granted permission to speak with both of them about the vacant managerial position at Sunderland.
Aberdeen FC will be making no further comment at this moment in time.”
Aberdeen FC Statement 5th December 2017
https://www.afc.co.uk/2017/12/05/club-statement-18/
“Aberdeen Football Club has announced this evening that Rangers have contacted the Club asking for permission to speak to Derek McInnes and that permission has been refused.”
It is clear from the first statement there are contractual obligations that, when met, mean the club must allow their manager the option of dialogue with interested parties, however reluctant the club may be.
Although money is not mentioned, contractual obligations can only relate to the commitments on either side to terminate the agreement and these are usually financial. In the case of an interested suitor, it would be expected of them to pay this on behalf of the employee.
There is no mention of contractual obligations in the club statement on 5th December, from which one can only infer that Rangers either refused, or were in no position to meet, the financial commitments required. Aberdeen FC therefore exercised their right to refuse permission to speak to McInnes, a position they are perfectly entitled to maintain until such time as Rangers agree to meet all contractual obligations, just as Sunderland did.
The story for the press to pursue is obvious yet Keith Jackson wants to have us believe that the McInnes decision -and ultimately it was his decision – has nothing to do with money. Jackson even suggested that an offer of £1m up-front was on the table in a piece that was published on Wednesday:
In it, Jackson states;
“Dons chairman Stewart Milne made his hardball position clear last night after booting out an official approach from the Ibrox club – and turning down a cheque for £1 million in compensation.”
I’m not entirely sure what Mr Jackson means by an ‘official’ approach, I would have thought ‘formal’ to be more apposite but it’s a moot point in the grand scheme of things. Fact is, Jackson didn’t think long and hard enough about this statement because it contains not one, or two, but three glaring inaccuracies.
- Mr Milne did not ‘boot out’ any approach – official, formal or otherwise. If Rangers had met the necessary contractual obligations then Aberdeen FC could not have refused McInnes the opportunity to speak to Rangers – that would have been a breach of contract on the club’s part and McInnes could sue.
- Mr Milne is not ’playing hardball’. Playing hardball is about getting what you want. Mr Milne already has what he wants. He doesn’t need to play hardball – it is Rangers who, if they cannot afford the compensation or wish to alter the terms of the compensation, would need to attempt to play hardball. Jackson has this the wrong way around – a common failing when trying to justify a lie and pursue a biased narrative.
- I don’t dispute that Rangers offered to pay £1 million in compensation, but I do not believe for one millisecond that it would be paid in a single instalment either by cheque, cash or bank transfer because the audited accounts published last month prove that such a commitment would not be possible. A shortfall of £4m was required in soft loans to see out the current season, with monies required immediately, and a further £3.2m after June 18. Furthermore, these figures did not consider the additional cost of a change of management at the club/holding company/engine room subsidiary/call it what you will.
It’s rather telling that Mr Jackson makes no mention of this £1m cheque in his ‘exclusive’ today. Instead, he offers another inaccuracy. He says’;
“When Milne made it clear he was unwilling to grant the move his blessing – and that McInnes would have to rip up his contract to pursue a return to Ibrox – the ex-Rangers player was boxed into a corner.”
Mr Milne is in no position to grant a move, whether with his blessing or otherwise. There is a binding contract in place and only if contractual obligations are met then – as is glaringly obvious from the Aberdeen Club Statement of 14th June – Mr Milne would have to, albeit reluctantly, allow the manager to speak to the other club, just as he did in the case of Sunderland. He cannot box his manager into a corner. There is no decision for Mr Milne to make if the requisite compensation is agreed to be paid in full to terminate the manager’s contract with Aberdeen FC.
More plausibly, Rangers could box McInnes into a corner. The job is his if he wants it, but he will have to resign his position to take it because Rangers won’t meet the contractual obligations. Once again Jackson has it the wrong way around because he is lying and pursuing a biased narrative.
Any reasonably minded follower of Scottish football knows why McInnes is not going to Rangers. It’s all about the money – or the lack of it – and no amount of lying or high-level fantasy by award winning journalists will alter that prosaic fact.
For my sins I still buy the Sunday Mail. Imagine my surprise to find a 10 page section (not a pullout!) on the McInnes debacle.
Makes you wonder if they had it all lined up to proclaim the new manager at The Rangers and had to do a hasty rewrite.
Just so I know. What is a category mistake? Do you mean categoric?
as to your hypothesis above. Eh, naw.
This is apparently a quote from Graeme Murty, Rangers U20 coach and interim first team manager.
“Identifying players is down to the new scouting department that’s been put together expressly for that purpose.
“Those things will be collated by Mark Allen [director of football]. As to who the personnel are I’m not sure yet, but my thoughts have been asked for and given freely.
“That’s how we operate. The person who comes in as permanent manager will get the benefit of that, albeit he might want some input also.”
Would that possibly go part of the way to explaining why decent managers might not want to take the first team job. They might get some “input” into who is brought in.
Maybe people like Derek McInnes are used to more than a bit of “input”.
There is absolutely no moral defence for the lies told to the SFA and the then SPL by the board of RFC(IL) over a ten year period.
As I have frequently said, it does not matter a damn whether the black-hearted knave of a knight used his own or his granny’s money to pay his players :he lied about what he was paying. And in doing so, breached pretty fundamental rules of both organisations.
In former times, he would have been shot at the card table for such blatant cheating, or strung up from a tree.
People who wilfully refuse to see the enormity of that crime, and defend such cheating with reasoning which is philosophically unsound (and absolute sh.te) must themselves be morally bankrupt.
And/or just plain stupid.
“Tax avoidance schemes were not against SFA rules …”
Not having read those rules I suspect murder, genocide and hamesucken aren’t specifically mentioned either. However I would like to think that they were at least frowned upon.
Deliberately stealing tax by abusing the rules cannot reasonably be implied to be acceptable, simply because it is not specifically disallowed.
I’m not usually in agreement with Gordon Waddell in the Record/Mail.
His piece today is rather better than his usual witterings. An example of his new-found testicular fortitude:
‘McInnes’ two most successful stints in management have come at clubs where he has developed a strong daily rapport with stable, clear leaders. At St Johnstone, it was Geoff Brown. At Aberdeen, it’s Stewart Milne. Owners, figureheads, direction-setters, decision-makers. Simple, concise relationships.
Who would that have been with at Rangers? King on the end of a phone? Stewart Robertson with so little executive power? The hired help hovering over your shoulder? He was rightly concerned about all of it. So concerned, he wasn’t prepared to risk his reputation on it.’
A critical word for Level Sinko? Has the PR agency overplayed its hand & made mugs (ha!) of the SMSM once too often?
It’s too much to expect a sea-change from them (the SMSM), but if RIFC/TRFC feel that their guru has lost his hold, will they make a change? Is Darryl available?
Jingso.JimsieDecember 10, 2017 at 11:29
I agree with the drift of your post, but on the following:
‘His piece today is rather better than his usual witterings. An example of his new-found testicular fortitude:’
I’d have to say I don’t agree, as I see it as just another eyewash piece to divert from the real reason, which appears to be a combination of many problems at Ibrox, not least of which is money. I’m sure the bears would rather read that it’s the personalities at their club that put McInnes off instead of the fact that the whole club, founded on rottenness, is itself rotten to the core.
I think we will end Celtics run today but the officials are crap big Edouard offside in his own half ffs lol.
SHUG
nope
SHUG
maybe lol
You sure Tony
Last 10 mins jeez my wee heart lol.
SHUG
honours even
Very good post Concomitant – and as far as my information goes, 100% on the money.
The question may not be so much about the actualité but on the reasons why TRFC apparently torpedoed the move with their cack handedness.
1. Are they really so feckless that a six week pursuit of their #1 target could end like this?
2. Did they sabotage the deal because of a lack of money, but try to shift the blame on to McInnes being either an ingrate or bottle-merchant; or Aberdeen being intransigent
3. Did they sabotage the deal as described by the dark rumours (which arise predictably) about Docherty’s ‘unsuitability’
McInnes of course will know, as will whoever was making decisions at Ibrox. Whatever the truth of it though, neither scenario is satisfactory if you are a Rangers fans from the 21st century.
And yet, despite TRFC fans smelling something fishy about the snake oil these past few days, new infusion of more fragrant snake oil, with a dash or three of bunker mentality will be enough to bring the bears back into line.
The trouble for TRFC fans is not the message – it’s the messenger. Until a sufficient number of bears carry that message to the rest, the fortunes of the new club will be described most accurately by reference to a sine wave.
Lying to the authorities is not acting in utmost good faith. The artists formerly known as Rangers did the former thus demonstrating the latter.
Since there is mention of category errors might I recommend After Virtue on the consequences of burning social capital.
Good blog, Concomitant – have you posted here before under a less topical name, or is this your maiden post?
The previous two managers of TRFC thought they were coming to Rangers FC, a huge Scottish club with a long list of trophies, but whether he would admit it publicly, or not, Derek McInnes knows it is not that club. He knew to think long and hard before even going as far as talking to TRFC, and to factor the truth into his thoughts of what football club now plays at Ibrox. What’s more, that thinking wasn’t done over just 48 hours, for we know he was being ‘tapped’ via the media, at least, and that it was having a clear effect on his team’s performances.
I’d suggest that, though it might look like TRFC were looking to upset Aberdeen’s form by this protracted media led manager grab, the truth of it was that the club, or King, was trawling every possible lender for the cash to make some sort of offer to Aberdeen, and they failed miserably to scrape together enough to get Stewart Milne interested. In the end, to appease the supporters, and to be concomitant with the ‘leaks’ to the press, they just had to make an approach that was bound to fail. That 48 hours, I’m sure, wasn’t about deciding to go or stay, but about clearing his mind and finding a way to let TRFC down gently. He (McInnes) did that, but in true TRFC fashion, they responded in a way truly concomitant with their ‘blame the other guy’ style evident throughout their five year history.
The media, so ably encapsulated by Keith Jackson, were left reeling and so desperate to fulfil their role as TRFC’s PR machine, they are pushing out so many lies that they can’t remember what the last one was.
Just as an aside. On the basis the posh big words beats a trail to Kings door. Is anyone going to publicly ask why the unfit and improper holding company chairman is having anything to say about our very own dearly loved engine room subsidiary? It seems to be a bit opaque?
Good analysis. Jackson was clearly trying to paint a specific, untrue version of events with a heady mix of lies and emotive language.
It seems much more likely that Stewart Milne told Derek McInnes that Rangers were not willing / able to pay the compensation so he was not willing to let them speak to him. That if he wanted to speak to Rangers then he would have to breach his contract and that he (Milne) would then sue both of them for that breach.
The rest would surely fall naturally from that.
Stewart’s version is very different though. Money wasn’t discussed apparently. To use his term, it was simply “inferred” it (the money) was there in so far as he clearly wasn’t prepared to release him without it.
i think they (Sevco) have to come to terms with the fact that they asked if Derek would speak to them and for whatever reason, including the possibility that Derek might have been of the opinion that the money wasn’t there, and having considered the “fabulous opportunity” (Milne again) said no.
Good effort Concomitant.
]
[You’re not posting from South Africa are you…?
Yes, Keef is the biggest joker in an SMSM full pack of jokers – masquerading as sports journalists.
And anyone with half a brain must realise by now that the SMSM output WRT Scottish football is absolute mince.
Full disclosure: I do avidly read Keef and Chris Jack’s output as it is unintentionally entertaining / funny.
But I won’t miss them when their papers have joined Rangers on the other side.
ALLYJAMBODECEMBER 10, 2017 at 16:52
That 48 hours, I’m sure, wasn’t about deciding to go or stay, but about clearing his mind and finding a way to let TRFC down gently. He (McInnes) did that, but in true TRFC fashion, they responded in a way truly concomitant with their ‘blame the other guy’ style evident throughout their five year history.
——————
Maybe McInnes just could not muster the fact when interviewed if he became the new trfc manager had to drop in the customary
140 year history.
the best team in scotland.
and a we are the people,
That the previous two managers of TRFC had to come out with. Derek McInnes knows it is not that club. He knew to think long and hard before even going as far as talking to TRFC, and to factor the truth into his thoughts of what football club now plays at Ibrox.
he would not want himself to look a fool
Cluster OneDecember 10, 2017 at 21:06
Whether McInnes knows, or admits to himself, that TRFC is not RFC, I don’t think matters much in this instance. He knows enough to know that TRFC is in a mess, that its chairman tells lies and there’s nobody in the boardroom that he feels he could rely on should he need them. Most of all he knows there is no money with which to build his own squad. But, of course, knowing all this, he would still be expected to act as though he was managing one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Corporal Jones: “Don’t panic, don’t panic, Waghorn will make his 63 games target with the Tractor Boys”
It seems that Club1872 have asked the board of RIFC PLC a series of question, which have been answered as follows.
1. In March Club 1872 raised formal concerns over the length of time taken to identify a new manager following Mark Warburton’s departure. At that time we were given assurances that lessons had been learned and that in future, succession planning would be in place to ensure that a similar situation would not arise again.
Despite this we have now seen what’s been described today (by chairman Dave King) as an appropriately timed process, but which supporters feel to have been an unacceptable delay in appointing a new manager at a crucial time of the season. This has seen us lose ground in the league, has caused supporters a great deal of frustration and has led to a vacuum of information which has been filled with speculation and innuendo – this has been very unhelpful for the image of the club.
You’ve given a detailed account today of the process you’ve been going through to appoint a new manager, but would the board accept that prior to today, communication between the club and supporters should have been better, and will the board commit now to engaging with the Club 1872 board to formalise communication between Club 1872 and the club for the benefit of our members and the wider support?
DK: On the second part absolutely, certainly. We’ve had various discussions about that. I think it is right and it is appropriate for the club, in discussion with Club 1872, to look at ways to improve the communication. I think because our attention has been in other areas we have perhaps not invested as much time on that as we should have. There is a strong intent from the company to open up dialogue and ensure that we communicate better.
As far as the manager, I don’t accept the comment you’ve made. It’s difficult to put a time limit on it. The issue with Pedro was not one of succession planning, there’s maybe a perception that Pedro was doomed to failure. It wasn’t my view, I don’t think it was the board’s view, we continued to back Pedro. Ultimately results speak for themselves and having taken action we were extremely aware that this is going to be a 3 year appointment. We have got to be a careful we don’t let adverse results distract us from the process and I’m personally happy that we have taken the correct amount of time.
2. Given the volume of lies being published and broadcast daily about our Club, do the Directors intend to adopt a more robust stance with our detractors in the media, and will any changes be made to our PR approach going forward?
DK: The quick answer is yes. I think we are deficient in the technical means of communication and are not up to speed in where we should be with using our social media platforms and that’s an investment issue. We just haven’t invested the money in that area. It is becoming increasingly important that we can communicate effectively with our supporters.
What we will not be doing is communicating on some of the individual lies that are out there. We understand that stuff is happening. I was sent a story that stated we were interviewing a certain candidate for manager and the comment on social media was hugely negative but of course we weren’t even talking to the chap.
It wouldn’t always be appropriate of the club to deal on that detailed level but it certainly is important that we can communicate regular messages. And yes if there is an accumulation of individual items that start to reflect on the club then yes we have to deal with it, and I repeat I don’t think we have been as strong in that as we could have been over the past couple of years.
3. With the accounts identifying funding of £7.2m being required by the end of season 2018/19, when do the board forecast that the club will become self-sustaining and what is the plan to convert loans to equity? Will this be staggered or will it be done in totality at the next share issue?
DK: The company will only be self sustaining when we are back to successfully competing in Europe and that remains our target. We are in a position at the moment where we can’t budget. If we had given Pedro a budget and he went off and spent that budget for the season then when the DoF comes along and tells us we need to replace the manager then we have to say we can’t do that because the budget is gone.
The view we are still taking is that we will continue to do whatever is necessary to get the club back on track as soon as we possibly can. We’ve had to now make funds available and we’ll continue to do that until the club is back at the top in Scotland.
On the point about the conversion, yes that will be staggered. I think at this point there is a situation where there are certain investors who have advanced loans in excess of the ability to convert in one go. That means some of the loans will remain outstanding beyond any initial share issue and will continue to be interest free funding to the club.
4. If Resolution 11 is passed has the board considered when they will hold a share issue and will Club 1872 be able to participate in such an issue to allow it to maintain or increase its percentage shareholding in RIFC?
DK: Absolutely.
Club 1872 directors were able to address 4 of those questions directly to the RIFC board yesterday, with other topics being partially covered during the remainder of the AGM Q&A and Dave King’s address.
The 4 questions asked on members’ behalf and the answers given are laid out below:
1. In March Club 1872 raised formal concerns over the length of time taken to identify a new manager following Mark Warburton’s departure. At that time we were given assurances that lessons had been learned and that in future, succession planning would be in place to ensure that a similar situation would not arise again.
Despite this we have now seen what’s been described today (by chairman Dave King) as an appropriately timed process, but which supporters feel to have been an unacceptable delay in appointing a new manager at a crucial time of the season. This has seen us lose ground in the league, has caused supporters a great deal of frustration and has led to a vacuum of information which has been filled with speculation and innuendo – this has been very unhelpful for the image of the club.
You’ve given a detailed account today of the process you’ve been going through to appoint a new manager, but would the board accept that prior to today, communication between the club and supporters should have been better, and will the board commit now to engaging with the Club 1872 board to formalise communication between Club 1872 and the club for the benefit of our members and the wider support?
DK: On the second part absolutely, certainly. We’ve had various discussions about that. I think it is right and it is appropriate for the club, in discussion with Club 1872, to look at ways to improve the communication. I think because our attention has been in other areas we have perhaps not invested as much time on that as we should have. There is a strong intent from the company to open up dialogue and ensure that we communicate better.
As far as the manager, I don’t accept the comment you’ve made. It’s difficult to put a time limit on it. The issue with Pedro was not one of succession planning, there’s maybe a perception that Pedro was doomed to failure. It wasn’t my view, I don’t think it was the board’s view, we continued to back Pedro. Ultimately results speak for themselves and having taken action we were extremely aware that this is going to be a 3 year appointment. We have got to be a careful we don’t let adverse results distract us from the process and I’m personally happy that we have taken the correct amount of time.
2. Given the volume of lies being published and broadcast daily about our Club, do the Directors intend to adopt a more robust stance with our detractors in the media, and will any changes be made to our PR approach going forward?
DK: The quick answer is yes. I think we are deficient in the technical means of communication and are not up to speed in where we should be with using our social media platforms and that’s an investment issue. We just haven’t invested the money in that area. It is becoming increasingly important that we can communicate effectively with our supporters.
What we will not be doing is communicating on some of the individual lies that are out there. We understand that stuff is happening. I was sent a story that stated we were interviewing a certain candidate for manager and the comment on social media was hugely negative but of course we weren’t even talking to the chap.
It wouldn’t always be appropriate of the club to deal on that detailed level but it certainly is important that we can communicate regular messages. And yes if there is an accumulation of individual items that start to reflect on the club then yes we have to deal with it, and I repeat I don’t think we have been as strong in that as we could have been over the past couple of years.
3. With the accounts identifying funding of £7.2m being required by the end of season 2018/19, when do the board forecast that the club will become self-sustaining and what is the plan to convert loans to equity? Will this be staggered or will it be done in totality at the next share issue?
DK: The company will only be self sustaining when we are back to successfully competing in Europe and that remains our target. We are in a position at the moment where we can’t budget. If we had given Pedro a budget and he went off and spent that budget for the season then when the DoF comes along and tells us we need to replace the manager then we have to say we can’t do that because the budget is gone.
The view we are still taking is that we will continue to do whatever is necessary to get the club back on track as soon as we possibly can. We’ve had to now make funds available and we’ll continue to do that until the club is back at the top in Scotland.
On the point about the conversion, yes that will be staggered. I think at this point there is a situation where there are certain investors who have advanced loans in excess of the ability to convert in one go. That means some of the loans will remain outstanding beyond any initial share issue and will continue to be interest free funding to the club.
4. If Resolution 11 is passed has the board considered when they will hold a share issue and will Club 1872 be able to participate in such an issue to allow it to maintain or increase its percentage shareholding in RIFC?
DK: Absolutely.
ALLYJAMBODECEMBER 10, 2017 at 21:44
managing one of the biggest clubs in the world.
———–
Darn i forgot that one
The press are still reporting the decision by McInnes to fulfill the generous contract that he freely entered into less than one year ago as a surprise, the more hysterical are portraying it as some kind of betrayal.
His only previous statement had stated his desire to carry on the job he had. That was referred to as a “claim” in one report I read. it was a statement.
i was not surprised that McInnes stayed but was surprised at some sports hacks outlining how he could take the job even though his employer had refused permission to even engage in discussion.
Their suggestion was not to get Sevco to meet the contractual requirements to instigate talks (which may not have led to an appointment). The solution was for McInnes to resign and let Aberdeen sue him or Sevco.
Apart from being about the daftest course of action he could take, it is clearly unethical and that it was suggested without any comment as to the ethics says a lot about those writing it.
Had he resigned without having a deal sown up with Sevco it would be a “Ratner” moment. If he had a deal with Sevco it would be unenforceable as it would be entered into illegally, therfore if Pep or Jose became available he could be dumped without recourse.
Of course if he signed up and escaped the lawsuit everything would be rosy for up to one year, then he would be resigned.
Some party or parties in this episode were acting disgracefully. Milne, McInnes and Aberdeen football Club got most of the flak for acting with honesty.
Sour grapes or just some mischief making? I heard on Radio Scotland’s sports slot this morning that Chris Jack is reporting there’s more to the McInnes appointment saga than meets the eye. Apparently, progress talks even got as far as Derek selecting the Ibrox side for the Ross County game on Saturday. Has the Concomitant King instructed his PR guru to stir the pot?
Graham’s uttering is typical of (concomitant with?) paid bum kissers that hang around spivs. See Tony Curtis in Sweet Smell of Success. He is trying to re start a non story on the basis that his spivs tapped up McInnes. What a tit!
DenDecember 10, 2017 at 23:08
The press are still reporting the decision by McInnes to fulfill the generous contract that he freely entered into less than one year ago as a surprise, the more hysterical are portraying it as some kind of betrayal.His only previous statement had stated his desire to carry on the job he had. That was referred to as a “claim” in one report I read. it was a statement.i was not surprised that McInnes stayed but was surprised at some sports hacks outlining how he could take the job even though his employer had refused permission to even engage in discussion.Their suggestion was not to get Sevco to meet the contractual requirements to instigate talks (which may not have led to an appointment). The solution was for McInnes to resign and let Aberdeen sue him or Sevco. Apart from being about the daftest course of action he could take, it is clearly unethical and that it was suggested without any comment as to the ethics says a lot about those writing it.Had he resigned without having a deal sown up with Sevco it would be a “Ratner” moment. If he had a deal with Sevco it would be unenforceable as it would be entered into illegally, therfore if Pep or Jose became available he could be dumped without recourse.Of course if he signed up and escaped the lawsuit everything would be rosy for up to one year, then he would be resigned.Some party or parties in this episode were acting disgracefully. Milne, McInnes and Aberdeen football Club got most of the flak for acting with honesty.
______________________
It’s quite noticeable that no one from TRFC has stated that TRFC made an offer that matched, or came close to, what they believed was required (however much that might have been). No one on the AFC side has stated that any amount was actually offered or that any money was, indeed, offered. All we know, from Stewart Milne, is that TRFC made an approach to Aberdeen to speak to McInnes, and were refused that permission.
From the (official) information available, it is ludicrous that anyone should state that McInnes ‘refused’ to go to TRFC, far less ‘bottled’ it (I had to wipe my screen free for that p*ss again this morning), all we know is that he is clearly happy with the way Aberdeen have handled the matter and keen to get on with his job at the club.
From the official (non-urine) information available it looks very much like no money, or nowhere near enough money, was being offered by TRFC, and that they were going to leave it to McInnes to settle with his current club. That is the story the hacks should be chasing, they should be asking representatives of both clubs whether or not money was offered, and did it come close (I am sure AFC wouldn’t want the actual figures involved bandied about), and if the answer is no to either question, they should then accept that TRFC were expecting McInnes to stump up.
You are 100% correct, Den, when you say some parties acted disgracefully, the big problem is, the same parties continue to act disgracefully, with the SMSM probably the biggest disgrace of all.
The big story is not Derek McInnes, it’s TRFC’s inability to both carry out their business in an honourable, dignified and respectful manner, and to meet the required price to speak to their number one choice of new manager. These are the points the media should be making, and asking the questions that, if they remain unanswered, the obvious and appropriate conclusions are drawn – that RIFC/TRFC is closer to administration/liquidation than it is to winning their next Derby Match!
Instead, they continue with the excuse making and blame laying, a classic example of having something to hide!
Barry Scott appointed to the Sevco Board. Perhaps a read through to the end of this piece by Andy Muirhead might be wise before posting.
http://www.scotzine.com/2016/01/rangers-announce-who-helped-to-pay-off-mike-ashleys-5-million-loan/
Not sure if everyone heard the Stewart Milne interview on Sportsound on Saturday but my impression was that he holds McInnes in very high regard both on a professional and personal level.
Milne also continued with his mantra that Scottish Football needs a ‘strong Rangers’. Therefore despite the saga he still appeared to be supportive of a club playing out of Ibrox but perhaps not the current board (at whom he took a small side swipe with regard to no-one having the balls to put their name to the club statement).
As others have said Milne said there was no direct talk of money with T’Rangers (mainly Stewart Robertson) but that there was an inference or implication it was there if need be.
Milne also said that if McInnes had wanted to go talk, he and his board would have found a way. I read that as Milne feeling that not to do so would have damaged the aforementioned relationship he clearly respects and enjoys with McInnes.
I am sure Milne is a shrewd businessman but I think I would rather take his word that anyone else’s on the matter.
Whether compo was on the table or not McInnes just didn’t fancy joining the circus and that is really the bones of it.
IMHO it is hard to see anyone with any half decent stature in the game being willing to take on the task that is there for the next manager to ascend the marble staircase, given the salary isn’t going to be that great in the wider scale of things and the lack of finances will not allow a great deal of progress to be made on the current position. (Still 2nd place BTW which cannot be denied or sniffed at).
Celtics unbeaten run may come to an end but over a season they are still going to walk it in the league for the foreseeable future.
Any half decent team can win a cup given the right circumstances so that doesn’t necessarily need tonnes of cash thrown at it.
Euro glory? As discussed its the CL that gives you the real cash. Yes a decent run in the Europa is not to be sniffed at but does anyone think, looking at the last 32 this year, that anyone other than the current Celtic team would get far in that competition and Celtic may struggle to progress further given the odds of drawing very decent opposition in the next round.
I note over on Phil Mac’ twitter feed there is reference to Orlit Enterprises being in court on Wednesday v The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
Looking back to Feb 2013 these guys had a beef for around £400k for unpaid invoices for services rendered for introducing investors to the club back in the Green days.
The talk then was of winding up orders but the club said it was nonsense, some of the invoices were bogus and a payment plan had been agreed for any outstanding fees.
More court fun (and fees) ahead?
wottpiDecember 11, 2017 at 13:30
‘……I note over on Phil Mac’ twitter feed there is reference to Orlit Enterprises being in court on Wednesday v Rangers Football Club Ltd.’
_________
Good spot, wottpi.
it’s in Glasgow Sheriff Court,but it looks as if it will be just “conducted by conference call facilities. Should any person wish to observe such proceedings they should let the Sheriff Clerk know. He will make the necessary arrangements.”
I’ve just phoned, and the chap had to go away and ask someone, and came back to say that he was not entirely sure but it was probably just a telephone conference arrangement, not on video,and not in open court.
I didn’t pursue the matter, because I think it’s likely that there will be no sort of discussion of the merits of the case, just procedural business.And, in any event, I think that, as happened before in the Court of Session, when hard questions are asked about a company’s finances, details are heard in camera, so I probably wouldn’t hear anything that TRFC Ltd had to say to convince the judge that they weren’t about to go bust!
I’ve just had it confirmed that TRFC are in rude financial health; because unless RIFC’s lenders are brain dead it is obvious they have the appropriate funding in place to cover these losses for the next two years.
I should have known that, because it is so evident that nobody ever lends to a business that eventually ends up in, say, liquidation. The truth is there, folks, nobody, not even banks, lend to businesses that are heading to ruin!
Don’t think it’s been mentioned yet, but we could be faced with yet another transfer saga!
Looks like another blogger is trying to poach our very own JC!!!
And despite the fact that this particular blogger routinely derides SFM.
Hold out JC : you’re sure to get a better offer.
STEVIEBCDECEMBER 11, 2017 at 14:59
Don’t think it’s been mentioned yet, but we could be faced with yet another transfer saga!
Looks like another blogger is trying to poach our very own JC!!!
And despite the fact that this particular blogger routinely derides SFM.
Hold out JC : you’re sure to get a better offer.
——————————————————————————-
JC – only go into talks if the correct compensation is paid up front.
I believe a box of Tunnock’s Tea Cakes is the going rate!!
I quite enjoyed Chris McLaughlin’s article on the BBC today:
“It actually all seemed so simple and obvious back then. The Ibrox club would whistle at some point and their former midfielder would surely follow. That’s the way it works………
It is unimaginable to think there weren’t some Rangers fans listening to Milne on Saturday with grudging respect.
The man who has been at Pittodrie for more than 20 years, and rarely speaks to the media, gave a self-assured display of magnanimity and class that many would argue has been missing from the Ibrox boardroom since… God knows when.”
Now Stephen Craigan on BT:
“A few other points of interest for the potential new manager are; who will pick the incoming players, the manager or the Director of Football Mark Allen? What is the budget to improve the team? Finally, what are the short, medium and long term goals based on that budget? They must be realistic within an achievable timescale.I’m genuinely not sure they’ll be able to tempt a manager who is currently employed, due to the uncertainty surrounding my previous points, so it may have to be someone out of work, a manager with no baggage or cost.”
Good to see a modicum of reality starting to come through.
WOTTPIDECEMBER 11, 2017 at 13:30
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I note over on Phil Mac’ twitter feed there is reference to Orlit Enterprises being in court on Wednesday v The Rangers Football Club Ltd.
Looking back to Feb 2013 these guys had a beef for around £400k for unpaid invoices for services rendered for introducing investors to the club back in the Green days.
The talk then was of winding up orders but the club said it was nonsense, some of the invoices were bogus and a payment plan had been agreed for any outstanding fees.
More court fun (and fees) ahead?
—————
Alex Thomson and channel 4 had Sources close to this legal action speaking exclusively to Channel 4 at the time.
https://www.channel4.com/news/by/alex-thomson/blogs/revealed-rangers-windingup-petition
———–
“With regard to stories circulating about Rangers and Orlit, the sums sought are insignificant and agreement has been reached subject to the necessary paperwork.
“Rangers Football Club is capable of meeting any debts presented legitimately and we would like to stress to our supporters there is no threat to the Club whatsoever.”
so no agreement reached then, how strange for the ibrox club to tell lies
StevieBCDecember 11, 2017 at 14:59
“..Looks like another blogger is trying to poach our very own JC!!!”
_________
The SFM management board refused to let me be directly approached, because money had not been spoken about. Concomitantly, word came from the poacher that I was no feckin good anyway and he couldn’t think why he had bothered!
BTW, I’ve not turned into a cheerleader for the Scottish media – heaven forbid – but maybe we should encourage them when they say something sensible.
I see the SMSM are having a right go at level5 . almost Like A Lover Scorned.
Or are L5 finding out how they can easily be ridiculed when the SMSM have been made to look fools for to long.
Make 2018 the time.The Time to do your jobs lads at the smsm and not relay on a PR firm making life easy for you. Yes life could be easy but credibility is lost.
2018 which do you choose
John Clark – Have you been tapped up?
JOHN CLARKDECEMBER 11, 2017 at 15:39
————
No one has told you yet you have resigned? why did they leave it up to me for you to read on the internet
Just a wee thought since both Ernie and JJ seem to think Celtic have been slacking it a bit recently.
In terms of competitive games Celtic have already played 16 League, 4 league cup and 12 Euro ties to give a grand total of 32.
T’Rangers on the other hand have played 17, 3 and 2 to give a total of 22.
Aberdeen have played 17, 2 and 4 to give a total of 23
Hibs have played 17, 7 and 0 to give a total of 24
Motherwell have played 16, 8 and 0 to give a total of 24.
Hearts have played 17, 4 and 0 to give a total of 21.
Not wanting to wave the Celtic flag but is a ‘dip in form’ not perhaps understandable given they have played at least 8 more competitive games (four of which involved a good deal of chasing around after two of the best teams in the world) than the rest of the current top six clubs.
On that basis, and to the tune of 11 games fresher, I am hoping the Hoops are well and truly knackered and off the boil by the time they come to Tynie next Saturday and we can stop the undefeated record.
FinlochDecember 11, 2017 at 15:59
‘..John Clark – Have you been tapped up?’
Cluster OneDecember 11, 2017 at 16:00
‘…No one has told you yet you have resigned’
____________
Actually, I think I must have missed something- what was StevieBC referring to?
(I just had to take the opportunity of of using ‘concomitantly’)
Testing 4 5 6
Wottpi, a good point to make. On top of that Celtic have a load of Internationalists in the squad who have been playing when other players are having a rest. It was one of the reasons I thought it strange when Brendan Rodgers, not long after he came here, said he thought the first team squad was too big!
Thankfully we can afford a large squad but my goodness we need it. We must play approaching 70 games a season if friendlies are brought into it.
JC, the following is an excerpt from JJ’s latest blog.
Would it not be possible for JC to work concomitantly with his new team and SFM?
HIGHLANDER
that jj needs to see a proctologist,as i think his head is stuck
HighlanderDecember 11, 2017 at 16:49
‘….JC, the following is an excerpt from JJ’s latest blog…’
____________
Thanks, Highlander.
I hasdn’t seen that because I don’t try to access that blog, and know of it only because others sometimes post extracts.
from kerrydale
Orlit Enterprises, who are threatening Rangers with a Winding Up Order over a contested bill for £400,000, appear to be a bit of a mystery. They have an office in Singapore alongside Unilegal, the law firm that Orlit’s known director Chan Fook Meng is connected with. But who else is involved?Well, let’s track back a bit. Charles Green’s last role before being called in to front the Rangers takeover was with AIM-listed Nova Resources, where Chan Fook Meng was also a director.This company was previously known as Tembusu Investments, but changed its name after its then Chairman and Chief Executive Rafat Rizvi was convicted of corruption and money laundering charges in Indonesia involving a total of £367million.When Rizvi resigned, his place was taken by Ms Zhang Yun, whose CV indicates that one of her positions was as Director of Orlit Enterprise (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Oh, and she’s also the WIFE of convicted money launderer Rafat Rizvi.
So that’s the type of company Green looked to when he needed help raising the funds for his takeover.And that’s the type of company Green has already paid cash to, despite his spokesman accusing them of inflating bills and even faking invoices.No wonder Green wanted the Press to decide this matter was “unworthy of comment”.It stinks.
But then again:
PS: The decision to allow Mrs Rizvi to take her convicted man’s place as boss of Tembusu was approved by the firm’s nominated advisers Allenby Capital.Allenby’s representative at Tembusu? Rangers Director Brian Stockbridge.
Was looking for something and came across this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4224894/Rangers-job-doesn-t-insists-Derek-McInnes.html
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Interesting is some of the things, Mr McInnes said back then with Mr Warburton’s sudden departure and being linked to the ibrox job.
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McInnes counts himself fortunate that the solid relationship he enjoys with Pittodrie chairman Stewart Milne is identical to the one he had with Geoff Brown as he set out in management at St Johnstone.
I only have one question really, who is the other small-minded guttersnipe who hangs on his every word looking for a dipthong (sic) out of place.
Not to be churlish, but is it not actually called a diphthong.
In other thoughts, pointing out where he makes ludicrous mistakes is hardly that.
Though to be fair now that I know he is a conspiracy theorist who believes that the CIA killed JFK and that the moon landing was a $20,000,000,000 hoax the rest kind of makes sense. The whole use of sock puppets, the break down at the awards ceremony, the story that it was actually The Mensch who collected the award on his behalf (presumably the ninja security team could not guarantee his security) etc.
The invitation from a reader to pay for our chum to fly to Buenos Aires, then stay with them for free was nice. It’s a pity he can’t afford to take a bottle of wine as a present so will have to reject that kind offer. I’m sure someone will offer to pay for a virtual bottle of wine.
None of the above is exclusive.
TONY
DECEMBER 11, 2017 at 18:33
PS: The decision to allow Mrs Rizvi to take her convicted man’s place as boss of Tembusu was approved by the firm’s nominated advisers Allenby Capital.Allenby’s representative at Tembusu? Rangers Director Brian Stockbridge.
==========================================
Am I not right in saying that Allenby Capital was formed by Imran Ahmad. Charles Green’s “Wee p@%! friend”.
You will remember the phone call between him and Malcolm Murray, all hugely embarrassing stuff.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-crisis-listen-leaked-phone-6557589
HOMUNCULUSDECEMBER 11, 2017 at 19:45
You will remember the phone call between him and Malcolm Murray, all hugely embarrassing stuff.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-crisis-listen-leaked-phone-6557589
——————
Takes you back that article.
What sort of board would be so stupid as to sign a severance deal with their chief executive agreeing to cover his legal costs if he was ever accused of being a criminal?
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must be something with stupid ibrox boards that sign deals.
The Ally must be installed as manager one springs to mind
It seems clear to me that any employed person will consider any offer of a new job. So is it any surprise that?:
“Derek McInnes will give full consideration to any offers he may receive in the future…” [Herald]
But in the Herald case this becomes some kind of “admission” with the headline: “Derek McInnes admits he will consider offers in future”
The Sunday Herald goes one better than its sister rag: “McInnes open to offers” screams the front page. “After Rangers snub, Dons boss won’t rule out quitting club”. A snub? He might quit? There’s hope here yet for the scribblers. And the Sport pages offer readers the contorted “McInnes open to listening to offers”.
Now how did we get from this simple statement, that any prudent person would adopt, namely, considering the merits of any future job offer, to this mangled Herald version of events?
I thought my already poor memory had taken a turn for the worse there:
“Rogic……. was left out of Celtic’s squad altogether on Monday for the 2-2 draw with Hibernian FC, raising questions over his form and/or fitness.”
I was of course reading from Fox Sports (Australia).
Glasgow Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Barry Scott as a Director on the Ibrox board. Scott, who is based in Hong Kong, was named in January 2016 as one of three benefactors who had contributed to the £6.5 million loan paid to Rangers in a bid to pay off Mike Ashley and help pay for the day-to-day running costs. Chairman Dave King along with the ‘Three Bears’ – Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor – provided most of the cash with Scott, fellow Hong Kong-based fan Andy Ross and director John Bennett adding to the total. A brief statement on the club’s website said: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Barry Scott as a director of Rangers International Football Club PLC. “Barry is a successful businessman and lifelong supporter of the club.”
—————
Has Barry scott’s part of the contribution ever been paid back?
One for the accounts guy’s on here.
Or has he been given a job as a director for his contribution of a loan?
will he contribute more loans?
————-
I just remembered this was the king “i just picked up the phone moment”
Homunculus
I wonder how JJ expects us to know when he puts a diphthong wrong given that it refers to a sound rather than written language.
I used to look into his site from time to time but it becomes more ungentlemanly by the day so I stopped. Not only that but his tendency to meretricious sesquepedalianism betrays something is out of balance there as does his offering square goes to those who point out that he is by no means inerrant.
HOMUNCULUS
i think so re imran achmad,but surely we have the company name wrong,i thought they where slightly dodgy at the time but check this out
http://www.allenbycapital.com/team.html
they look a wee bit professional,yes i know it’s a website,but still looks the part
That’s easy for you to say.
HIGHLANDER
it’s a street in wales
Tris is refusing to comment re the scurrilous rumour that John Clark would allow the thought of leaving SFM for a ‘much bigger blog’ to enter his head.
He is also unhappy at further rumours that JC could be accompanied by his backroom team of Finloch, and EasyJambo – rumours initiated by news of a secret meeting attended by all three, at an Edinburgh hostelry only two weeks ago.
Glasgow Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Barry Scott as a Director on the Ibrox board. Scott, who is based in Hong Kong, was named in January 2016 as one of three benefactors who had contributed to the £6.5 million loan paid to Rangers in a bid to pay off Mike Ashley and help pay for the day-to-day running costs.
———————–
When Donald Muir joined the rangers board in the autumn of 2009 he was variously described as a “turnaround specialist” and a “company doctor” Lloyds put a gun to the clubs head and insisted that he went on the board. Former chairman Alastair johnston said the Bank made it clear that it was a condition of rangers credit facility that Muir had to be a director.
http://www.baztechnology.com/gersnet/invision/topic/20641-donald-muir-the-banks-inside-man-at-ibrox-has-questions-to-answer/
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just wonder if Barry scott who was one of three benefactors who had contributed to the £6.5 million loan paid to Rangers in a bid to pay off Mike Ashley, also had a condition
BIG PINK
could be taking his backroom team?i thought they concomitant
HIGHLANDER
DECEMBER 11, 2017 at 21:38
BFBPUZZLED
DECEMBER 11, 2017 at 21:22
meretricious sesquepedalianismThat’s easy for you to say.
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It actually is, he has been saying it for years.
I think the irony appeals.
TONY
DECEMBER 11, 2017 at 21:31
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Imran Ahmad formed Allenby Capital, however he left it a few years later and joined Zeus Capital, which he left to join Rangers.
BIG PINKDECEMBER 11, 2017 at 21:43
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If JC does a u-turn and stays will there be a statement his bottle has crashed and the job was to big for him anyway,
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That is another thing in the DM saga how can he do a u-turn when he never agreed to anything?
BFBPUZZLED
DECEMBER 11, 2017 at 21:22
==========================
I’ve often wondered about the “square go”.
Is he returning from exile to the UK to fight me. If so will I be given a date, time and place.
That seems a bit mental from someone who is in exile because of the credible threats against his life from paramilitary organisations.
Having said that, I have his photograph so at least I would recognise him if I seen him. Though to be fair I could end up fighting The Mensch by mistake if I relied on that photograph.
Re the diphthong thing, do you think he might have meant an umlaut, which as I understand it is a written form for modifying a sound.