Mr Green and Opportunity Knocks— For Aberdeen?

Good Morning,

In the last week, we have seen a number of strange occurrences in Scottish Football, which if taken together might just point to a very different land than the one we were lead to believe we live in just two short years ago.

First of all there was the report from a firm of well known accountants which pronounced that a significant number of Scottish Football Clubs had, in fact, sold more season tickets for this coming season than they had in the course of the last several years.

Then we had the spectacle of the National team travelling to Wembley and playing very well AND being cheered on by a very large travelling support who appear to have been full of fun and who acquitted themselves well in the big smoke.

This morning I read that today’s match at Pittodrie is a sell out — with the old stadium being packed to the rafters for the visit of Celtic. This is the first time that Aberdeen have been able to sell out the fixture for some 6 years!

Not only that, various Celtic supporting websites have lead with articles saying that the return of a strong Aberdeen and Dundee United are to be welcomed– in fact not only welcomed but positively wished for.

In contrast, stories abound about the in fighting on the Ibrox Board. There are surreptitious share dealings and all sorts of company jockeying being deployed by the rival factions who are trying to gain control of The Rangers. Further, there is the suggestion from some well informed parties that not only will Ibrox and the Albion be sold and leased back to the club to generate much needed immediate cash, but that Murray Park has been sold off completely and will no longer be available to The Rangers for any purpose whatsoever!

Clearly, there are big troubles at the club which will not assist in the stated intention of rising to the very top in Scottish Football.

In between all of this, the debate goes on about Campbell Ogilvie, Press manipulation, the correspondence between Media House and the SFA, and between The SFA and Ibrox re the relationship between Charlie Green and Craig Whyte and so on.

Standing with my business hat on, I looked at all of this and wondered what it all meant, and pretty quickly reached the conclusion that we are now in a time of supreme opportunity for some of the clubs in Scottish Football—- particularly Aberdeen FC.

There is a view abroad, that in the absence of the “Strong Rangers” that Celtic Football Club will win the SPFL title for almost evermore — or at least until they are toppled from the top spot by the rise of a strong Rangers club somewhere towards the end of this decade or early in the next– because we are assured that they will be back– in one form or another– in a rather Arnold Schwarzenegger like fashion.

That return or initial rise if you like– its timing and its manner— is dependent on a number of things– not least the exit strategy of Charlie Green and his cohorts.

If it is true that The Rangers are going to part company with Ibrox and the Albion, that they have taken on a loan of funds which attract a rate of interest that amounts to 15% per annum, and that there are set figures for buying the old ( and decaying ) stadium back any time soon, and that they have yet again hawked the season ticket money, then the already flawed Ibrox business plan is burdened even more by interest and rent payments of an additional £3M per annum and rising!

It should also be noted that the accounts for old co from the mid naughties onwards boasted that season ticket sales, merchandising, corporate hospitality and so on had reached unprecedented levels—- but—- the club still did not make an operating profit without strange internals transactions such as the repurchase of media rights which added £15M on to the P&L’s AND the sale of Jean Alain Boomsong!

Accordingly, the current position will not make for good financial reading.

So– let’s presume that in the current climate Celtic are out of sight and will always be champions for ever and a day. What do the rest of the clubs say in the absence of the Ibrox club without whom they have been told they will perish?

Well, If I were in charge of Aberdeen FC I would look out across a city with an inherent population of some 220,000 souls sitting in a county which takes the population up by another 40,000 or so. I would note that the compact city also houses two universities and a number of colleges — all of which attract visitors to the city— and that its position as the oil capital of Europe also draws in a substantial number of itinerant workers.

Further, personal knowledge shows that many who studied at Aberdeen University or Robert Gordon’s in the 80’s left the city as Aberdeen FC fans and no matter where they have ended up in life they still make the journey back to Pittodrie when they can– especially in good times!

Alas, however, Aberdeen has not enjoyed ” Good Times” of late— in fact not really since ……….. the arrival of David Murray at Ibrox!

If you cast your mind back to the pre Murray era, Aberdeen were a force not only in Scotland but Europe as the recent nostalgia re Gothenburg has reminded us.

The city has an economic micro climate which suggests that it can ride economic hardship better than most and so all things considered this current period provides a great opportunity for the Dons.

Unlike Dundee United, Hearts, and Hibs, Aberdeen FC sits in a large one team conurbation and should be on the doorstep of a populace which can fill Pittodrie every single week …… IF that fan base can be motivated.

And there lies the rub– how do you get a notoriously fickle fan base out of the armchair and into the stadium?

The late Bob Crampsey once described Pittodrie by saying ” And there are the masses of Aberdeen fans, masquerading as rows and rows of Empty seats!” yet in their heydey an Aberdeen crowd on a visit to Glasgow were among the noisiest– and to this football fans eyes — the scariest ( in a good sense ) supports to be seen.

Well, at this juncture, Derek McInnes and team need only look at every other football club in the land ( bar Celtic ) and determine that come next May those others will be below them in the league. If Aberdeen maintain a strong league run keeping everyone behind them then there is the possibility of a huge revenue swing in favour of the Dons– such a swing that would put them in an even stronger position for the following year.

Further, Aberdeen are a European name. Perhaps a European name from yesteryear and not the recent past, but the pedigree is there and as such there will be those who remember the heady European Nights both home and away. Reviving those memories and that reputation– at least to an extent– is not beyond the club, and with no disrespect to Motherwell and St Johnstone both of whom are liable to lose key players or even a manager between seasons, Aberdeen may just be of a size to consolidate each year rather than scramble to maintain the momentum of one good season which comes along every now and then.

Financial management and football rewards can go hand in hand when combined properly, and of all the clubs in Scotland who can benefit from a level playing field in terms of proper football governance, Aberdeen FC are uniquely placed in my opinion.

That is not so say that The Arabs, or the Hibees or anyone else cannot benefit– on the contrary— but the Dons are the most obvious candidates in terms of potential structure to really motor forward and regain a by gone status.

Such a situation, and the recognition of that potential, should be borne in mind by all at Celtic Football Club, as last year they struggled for a period in the league while they concentrated on their European exploits. If Celtic want to go further and further in Europe ( and why shouldn’t they ) they will have to be wary of any club which is capable of reigniting its fortunes from a lowly position or a position of having to look back at glory and potential glory rather than looking forward.

Further, with the way things are being organised at Ibrox, there is absolutely no guarantee ( some would say likelihood ) that an eventual challenge to a perceived dominance by Celtic will come from that quarter, and life in the top flight for any returning Rangers could prove very difficult if the likes of Aberdeen get their act together and start to produce the type of home grown team of old.

For now, I sense a degree of optimism about the Dons– not just on the playing front either. They have a fan base, they have a business model and a good young manager, and any comparative business exercise must conclude that they have every chance of rising above most of their rivals in the league, in terms of revenue, in terms of brand development and business expansion.

If I were an Aberdeen fan I would like to think positive and be ambitious in this climate, whilst at the same time casting an eye back to the days when they were top of the tree.

As one Aberdeen supporting ( but now Edinburgh based ) friend put it to me:

” Ah, those were the days my friend, those were the days……………”

2,310 Comments so far

SouthoftheborderPosted on6:20 pm - Sep 4, 2013

HirsutePursuit says:
September 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Does anyone have a copy of the management accounts?

——————————————-

https://anonfiles.com/file/4d7a7390fff8b1f2eda43945e71931b6

View Comment

Lord WobblyPosted on6:25 pm - Sep 4, 2013

On BBC Sportsound, someone (didn’t catch who) said that he hoped that the new guys on The Rangers board would learn from the mistakes of the past.

Clearly they won’t because they’re still claiming it’s the same club. They haven’t gone through the process of understanding the consequences of their (in)actions. They still blame everyone else except themselves.

upthehoopsPosted on6:29 pm - Sep 4, 2013

arabest1 says:
September 4, 2013 at 4:31 pm
==============================
Your views on McKay-Steven are obviously made with tangerine specs on and you are no different from other fans in that respect. Stats tend to be released at some point on who the most fouled players are so they may or may not back up your argument.

Where I fully agree with you is on the hypocrisy of bans being handed out for incidents like the one involving Gavin Gunning compared to some of the savage assaults that are punished only by a yellow card, when TV evidence shows a red would have been more appropriate. While Gunning and others like him are daft to kick out, the chances of them causing serious injury are often less than some fouls where no attempt has been made to go for the ball and the Ref fails to issue the correct punishment. Why the authorities are happy to let these things go is beyond me. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the non-transparency of how incidents are brought to the SFA’s attention.

upthehoopsPosted on6:32 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:25 pm
On BBC Sportsound, someone (didn’t catch who) said that he hoped that the new guys on The Rangers board would learn from the mistakes of the past.
===========================================
Looks like they’re not going to ever repeat the mistake of issuing audited accounts again.

john clarkePosted on6:34 pm - Sep 4, 2013

HirsutePursuit says:
September 4, 2013 at 3:29 pm
“….The problem with the “fit & proper” rule – as it is written – is that its use must (quite rightly) be tempered with the knowledge that defamation can be an expensive mistake to make..”
—-
Maybe Art.59 of the SFA Articles of Association would protect the SFA board from any legal action if they declare a proposed director as ‘not a fit and proper person’?

“59.
The Association or the Board shall be entitled to publish in the public press, or in
any other manner it shall think fit, reports of its proceedings, acts, resolutions and
decisions whether the same shall or shall not reflect on the character or conduct
of any recognised football body, club, official, player, referee or any other body or
person and all of the aforementioned shall be deemed to have assented to such
publication and to regard the same as privileged in law.”

valentinesclownPosted on6:36 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Just listening to bbc sport sound. Conversation about board changes at Govan. Within a 10 min period dodds stated good rangers men in paul Murray and mcclellend 5 times. Also mcclellend s very nice man.
Unbelievable analysis of situation.
Couple of good points raised concerning new members not buying in earlier. New members do not hold the aces.
Dodds Scottish football needs a strong rangers blah blah blah.

wottpiPosted on6:42 pm - Sep 4, 2013

18:10

Rangers Int F.C. PLC – Further to requisition of general meeting RNS
RNS Number : 2667N
Rangers Int. Football Club PLC
04 September 2013

4 September 2013

Rangers International Football Club plc

(“Rangers”, the “Company” or “Club”)

Further to requisition of general meeting

Further to the announcement on 2 September 2013, the Company confirms that the Board’s discussions have been continuing with representatives of the group who requisitioned (together the “Requisitioners”) a general meeting to consider the proposed resolutions (“Requisition”) detailed in the announcement on 2 August 2013 (“General Meeting”).

Following recent press speculation, the Company can confirm that the Requisitioners have put forward a proposal to withdraw the Requisition based on their request for the appointment of four additional non executive directors, being John McClelland, a former Chairman of Rangers Football Club, Sandy Easdale, an existing shareholder of the Company, Paul Murray, a former director of Rangers Football Club and Frank Blin, formally of PwC. As part of the proposal, the Requisitioners have also confirmed that, subject to the above, they are not seeking to remove any of the current Directors.

The Company confirms that discussions are continuing with the Requisitioners with regard to reaching an agreement for the withdrawal of the Requisition. The Board considers that any decision on any proposal for the withdrawal of the Requisition would be subject to the provision by the Requisitioners of a vote of confidence and continued support for the current Directors and to all necessary regulatory approvals.

Further announcements will be made as appropriate.

chancer67Posted on6:44 pm - Sep 4, 2013

The Sevconians are surely desperate if their latest rant is true,apparently they want to sue Paddy Power the bookie for using Ibrox in an ad.They are not for walking away from this latest slur and one informed poster even suggested that all PP money could be taken off him and given to Sevco.

This is becoming sad for the rest of Scottish football ,watching the straw clutching going on, I have said consistently on here that the one thing we must not let up on is the same club nonsense, it is all they have left and they will fight to the last man to preserve the same club status,but until they accept that they are not above insolvency and company law then we must redouble our efforts and remain vigilant.

Lord WobblyPosted on6:46 pm - Sep 4, 2013

upthehoops says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:32 pm
2 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:25 pm
On BBC Sportsound, someone (didn’t catch who) said that he hoped that the new guys on The Rangers board would learn from the mistakes of the past.
===========================================
Looks like they’re not going to ever repeat the mistake of issuing audited accounts again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I thought Jim Spence was going to stick to his guns on the various issues, relating to McLelland and Murray in particular, but alas he let it go far to easily.

upthehoopsPosted on6:54 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:46 pm
===============================
It certainly doesn’t appear the media are going to question the SFA much on the fit and proper rule. Not that we should be surprised at that though. For the most part they yearn for the good old days and see people like Murray and McClelland as a step closer to that.

Lord WobblyPosted on6:59 pm - Sep 4, 2013

upthehoops says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:54 pm
0 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:46 pm
===============================
It certainly doesn’t appear the media are going to question the SFA much on the fit and proper rule. Not that we should be surprised at that though. For the most part they yearn for the good old days and see people like Murray and McClelland as a step closer to that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oh lordy. Don’t tell me they’re hoping for a return to Chick’s utopian world of EPL level transfers into Scotland?

john clarkePosted on6:59 pm - Sep 4, 2013

A propos ‘fit and proper’ persons, this is the text of an email I sent ( under my real name) to Kenny Macaskill on 12th July. ( The reply is just in today!)

”Mr Kenny MacAskill, MSP
Minister for Justice,
Scottish Government
Dear Mr MacAskill,

May I ask, please :

a) does Police Scotland currently have a representative on the Interpol UK National Central Bureau?

b) on Independence, will Scotland specifically sign up for membership of Interpol and create its own National Central Bureau?

I ask these questions having read a disturbing piece in ‘The Economist’ about how easy it is for international fraudsters/drug dealers to use football clubs as money-laundering operations.
And, like many people, I have been startled in recent times at how lax the Scottish Footballing authorities appear to have been in applying ‘the fit-and-proper person’ checks on potential owners/directors of football clubs in Scotland.

The last thing I would wish for is for Scotland to become any kind of haven for international fraudsters.

It would seem to be common sense to ensure that we were signed up to share in the pooling of criminal intelligence across the world.”

(The reply is pages long, covering everything ( it seems) that the Government has published about the governance of the country after independence. I haven’t read it but I’m sure it’s bound to say that Scotland will be up there with the other nations in the fight against transnational crime!)

chancer67Posted on7:00 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Danish PastryPosted on7:15 pm - Sep 4, 2013

HirsutePursuit says:
September 4, 2013 at 5:31 pm
3 0 Rate This
————

I suppose the fans will say the company spent the money. Therefore the company is in debt, not the club. Then what? The offload of the intangible mythical entity for a quid (cue, Rangersitis and magnanimity) to ‘real Rangers men’? Then put a For Sale sign on Ibrox and Murray P to scrape the last cash out of the asset barrel? You’d think it had all come full circle to the RFC status, pre-sale to Whyte – except that one division as been climbed by a newco and the D&P-appointed favoured bidders have made a small fortune for themselves. How is the weather on the Cote d’Azur?

Lord WobblyPosted on7:16 pm - Sep 4, 2013

john clarke says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:59 pm
1 0 Rate This
A propos ‘fit and proper’ persons, this is the text of an email I sent (under my real name)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOAH! Hold the bus! John Clarke isn’t your real name?
😯

But please take the time to read through the reply. It might be illuminating as much for what it doesn’t say as what it does.

Gym TrainerPosted on7:26 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:16 pm

WOAH! Hold the bus! John Clarke isn’t your real name?

—–8<———-8<———-8<———-8<———-8<——

I checked Burke's Peerage and Lord Wobbly isn't in there… I checked Berk's Peerage and you're not in there either… Where else to check? 🙂

AngusloonPosted on7:27 pm - Sep 4, 2013

It was Murray who first signalled this when he said ‘There is an unwritten rule among Old Firm chairmen that you don’t criticise Rangers or Celtic, but I do find that this has changed since John Reid arrived,” “He has taken a few shots at us. We have not responded because there has been an unwritten rule between Rangers and Celtic that you show respect, and I will continue to do that. When you are the chairman of Rangers or Celtic, you have to be very careful. There is a strong argument, especially in the west of Scotland, that for a politician to become a chairman of a football club could be verging on being a bit dangerous.”
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Oh,is that right ?
Remember this ? “Murray said; “For every five pounds Celtic spend, we will spend ten”
How did the “show respect ” statement sit with the above statement ?
They’re a disgusting bunch down Govan way & I mean each & everyone of them from management up from the last 25 years to present.

StevieBCPosted on7:29 pm - Sep 4, 2013

wottpi says:
September 4, 2013 at 6:42 pm
…
Rangers International Football Club plc

… appointment of …Sandy Easdale, an existing shareholder of the Company…
================================
Did I miss this earlier : was he rumoured to be an additional director as well ?

Not such a controversial appointment when he is sneaked onto the board behind Murray & McLelland in particular.

Good job Irvine ?

Danish PastryPosted on7:33 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Gym Trainer says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:26 pm
1 0 Rate This

———–

The fact the he is Wobbly is in and of itself evidence that he is, in fact, drunk as a Lord. What more evidence do we need?

😛

Lord WobblyPosted on7:42 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Gym Trainer says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:26 pm
1 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:16 pm
WOAH! Hold the bus! John Clarke isn’t your real name?
—–8<———-8<———-8<———-8<———-8<——
I checked Burke's Peerage and Lord Wobbly isn't in there… I checked Berk's Peerage and you're
not in there either… Where else to check?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You didn't look hard enough. I got sick of jelly and ice cream and needed to utilise them in other ways ….

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/lord-fosters-really-wobbly-bridge-6849513.html

* any similarities between Lord "Wobbly" Foster and myself are entirely for comedic effect.

Lord WobblyPosted on7:45 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Danish Pastry says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:33 pm
0 0 Rate This
Gym Trainer says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:26 pm
1 0 Rate This
———–
The fact the he is Wobbly is in and of itself evidence that he is, in fact, drunk as a Lord. What more evidence do we need?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the risk of repeating myself, Wobbly by name, wobbly by closing time. 😉

Danish PastryPosted on8:02 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Deary me, Jim Spence is not flavour of the week on the interweb right now. He should know better than to dare utter the truth on the quintessentially British BBC. His statement is proving un-bearable for some.

helpmaboabPosted on8:02 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Watching the Bristol City v Bristol Rovers game and there’s a billboard saying mcgill’stransport.com.Would that be the same mcGill?

valentinesclownPosted on8:03 pm - Sep 4, 2013

chancer67 says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:00 pm
17 0 Rate This

Didn’t hear sportsound but Jim Spence apparently said something along the lines of” McLelland former chairman of the old club that died”, and it has created a firestorm in RM land,they want him sacked, they want to sue the BBC for peddling lies about the status of their club,its gonna be a long night for the lurkers on RM
——————————————————————————————————–
I heard Jim Spence say that and he also added that he will receive a lot of emails for that comment (got that right).
They are a new club and we should not ever think otherwise.

Lord WobblyPosted on8:06 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Danish Pastry says:
September 4, 2013 at 8:02 pm
0 0 Rate This
Deary me, Jim Spence is not flavour of the week on the interweb right now. He should know better than to dare utter the truth on the quintessentially British BBC. His statement is proving un-bearable for some.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So did Jim, in his capacity as an impartial broadcaster, get it about right in straddling the line between what the WATP types want and what the rest of us want, or should he have pursued the truth?

Over to you Jim…

Lord WobblyPosted on8:11 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:42 pm
0 0 Rate This

zero thumbs for Lord “Wobbly” Foster

———-

Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 7:45 pm
4 0 Rate This

Four thumbs up for “Wobbly by name, wobbly by closing time”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What sort of message is that for younger readers? 😯

arabest1Posted on8:15 pm - Sep 4, 2013

As a tax payer, it is heartening to see a journalist at the BBC (funded by the tax payer) have the strength of character to call it like it is…..rather than be intimidated by the threats (32 instances according to NUJ) . Perhaps I will contact the BBC with a email to that effect…..I find it galling to here the lick-spittle press pack brazen this out as though nothing happened.

Danish PastryPosted on8:16 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Aye, it’s all go now @M’Lud. Images being posted on twitter as LNS saves the the day for some, apparently …

https://mobile.twitter.com/JGreen93/status/375331798219517952/photo/1

Lord WobblyPosted on8:40 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Danish Pastry says:
September 4, 2013 at 8:16 pm
0 0 Rate This
Aye, it’s all go now @M’Lud. Images being posted on twitter as LNS saves the the day for some, apparently …
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well I can’t blame them for clinging on to hope. Forlorn though it is.

ShooperbPosted on8:50 pm - Sep 4, 2013

It would interesting if Jim Spence went ‘take me to court, then’ – the last thing they would want would be for this to be given proper corporate legal scrutiny. Far easier to just make threats, I reckon.

seniorPosted on8:57 pm - Sep 4, 2013

nickmcguinness says:
September 4, 2013 at 10:54 am
60 1 Rate This

What a dangerous message is being sent out to Scottish society by the board of Rangers International Football Club, the SFA and their assorted media lapdogs:
That law-breaking, tax avoidance, financial crime, the ripping-off of creditors, massive fraud and outright gangsterism is not only to be tolerated but encouraged and even applauded, with a blind eye turned to every transgression and the rulebooks ignored or rewritten.
Sic a parcel of rogues . . . in brogues.
____________________________________

Apologies, convalescing in the White House – not that one!. Straight-jacket will be removed next week, typing this with my foot!
Nick it’s called poetic licence -I think! ‘A latrine of roques in brown broques’
I also hear that the new shareholders the Ellis’s have driven ‘A COACH AND FOUR’ through the rules (joke) of Scottish football.
On a more pertinent note I was going to write something serious about the SFA but I thought to myself how does one write seriously about a circus? The SFA is a farce with only one item on it’s agenda. Integrity, honesty, spirit of the game, sportsmanship, fair-play, ethics etc. are all foreign concepts to them, Their overriding concern, nay, their reason d’etre is to ensure a particular entities interest/ethos is at all times on top. The ironic/funny thing is they killed them with kindness. Had they applied even a diluted version of their own rules, the dead club would still be here amongst the living. My grandchildren call this Karma – whatever that means.

torrejohnbhoyPosted on9:03 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Here’s a wee cryptic tweet from someone who’s normally well informed:

David Low ‏@Heavidor

Here’s a Q; who sold Edmiston House & Albion Car Park? I’ve been told the answer but will have to check coz I don’t believe it.

Lord WobblyPosted on9:09 pm - Sep 4, 2013

torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:03 pm
0 0 Rate This
Here’s a wee cryptic tweet from someone who’s normally well informed:
David Low @Heavidor
Here’s a Q; who sold Edmiston House & Albion Car Park? I’ve been told the answer but will have to check coz I don’t believe it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jimmy Bell?

tomtomPosted on9:09 pm - Sep 4, 2013

helpmaboab says:
September 4, 2013 at 8:02 pm

Watching the Bristol City v Bristol Rovers game and there’s a billboard saying mcgill’stransport.com.Would that be the same mcGill?
====================
No.
http://www.ijmcgilltransport.com/

FIFAPosted on9:20 pm - Sep 4, 2013

torrejohnbhoy
It would not have been a family member of the Murray clan

pau1mart1nPosted on9:23 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Richard Wilson?

newtzPosted on9:26 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Lord Wobbly says:

September 4, 2013 at 9:09 pm

torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: September 4, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Here’s a wee cryptic tweet from someone who’s normally well informed:
David Low @Heavidor
Here’s a Q; who sold Edmiston House & Albion Car Park? I’ve been told the answer but will have to check coz I don’t believe it.
—————————

Charlotte Ventures (Edminston House) …….. (S)DM
£800K

Though I understand Lloyds split his mining and property groups up and took some as debt for equity

yakutsukiPosted on9:34 pm - Sep 4, 2013

orrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:03 pm
======================================================
Peter Lawwell? Pleeease let it be him 😈

Paulmac2Posted on9:34 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Well done Mr. Spence…..

I have a feeling Mr. Irvine will be gunning for you….however you will never walk alone Jim…I’m Spartacus…

Rangers Football Club FC were liquidated and died….there I said it!

Madbhoy24941Posted on9:34 pm - Sep 4, 2013

newtz says:

September 4, 2013 at 9:26 pm

Charlotte Ventures (Edminston House) …….. (S)DM
£800K
————————————

That would be to imply the question was about the “1st” sale to Newco……

FIFAPosted on9:45 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Deep breaths,more deep breaths
here goes
Rangers Football club where liquidated and died
wow just wow what a feeling
you should all try this
well the ones that have bottling it,not bottling it up,just bottling it
you know who you are
unfortunately ,we know who you are as well
Cue for a song
There where ten Blue bottles sitting on a wall
well you all know the rest

newtzPosted on9:51 pm - Sep 4, 2013

For Clarity …… Edmiston House

From the RIFC IPO …..

12.1.6 Agreement in relation to the purchase of Edmiston House
RFCL on 20 November 2012 concluded legally binding missives with Charlotte Ventures
(Edmiston House) Limited (“the Seller”) creating an option in favour of RFCL to purchase
the subjects known as Edmiston House, 100 Edmiston Drive, Glasgow, G51 2YX comprising
the subjects registered in the Land Register under Title Numbers GLA28534 and GLA62016
(“Edmiston House”).

Lord WobblyPosted on9:55 pm - Sep 4, 2013

newtz says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:26 pm
3 0 Rate This
Lord Wobbly says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:09 pm
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says: September 4, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Here’s a wee cryptic tweet from someone who’s normally well informed:
David Low @Heavidor
Here’s a Q; who sold Edmiston House & Albion Car Park? I’ve been told the answer but will have
to check coz I don’t believe it.
—————————
Charlotte Ventures (Edminston House) …….. (S)DM
£800K
Though I understand Lloyds split his mining and property groups up and took some as debt for equity
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aw….that’s almost a given. I was hoping for Jimmy Bell.

taxman comethPosted on10:03 pm - Sep 4, 2013

newtz says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:51 pm
1 0 Rate This

—–

I think what is being suggested is that it has been sold again very recently

Paulmac2Posted on10:15 pm - Sep 4, 2013

yakutsuki says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:34 pm
6 0 Rate This

orrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) says:
September 4, 2013 at 9:03 pm
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Peter Lawwell? Pleeease let it be him
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Here’s hoping he sold it to Dermot 😆

neepheidPosted on10:19 pm - Sep 4, 2013

taxman cometh says:
September 4, 2013 at 10:03 pm

I think what is being suggested is that it has been sold again very recently
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If TRFC have sold Edmiston House, then that should appear in the Land Registry very quickly. The most interesting aspect to me is who they have sold it to- and for how much.

Could this be the start of the property transfers from TRFC to RIFC, so getting the stage ready for the imminent arrival of the real “rangers men” to take over a debt free, asset free, losing £15m per annum, football business? I hope they have plenty of money to burn!

Arnold LaynePosted on10:30 pm - Sep 4, 2013

arabest1 says:
September 4, 2013 at 4:31 pm
41 3 Rate This

Re Gunning I have little sympathy for him in this instance, he really should know better with his experience. The point you make is a good one though Andy, so far this season I have watched as EVERY team I’ve seen set out to clatter Gary McKay-Stevens (I lost count on Saturday, 6? maybe more?), St Johnstone much the same the previous week, and a Caley midfielder could have ended his season/career in the 2nd game with one particularly despicable challenge……among many over 90 minutes. Should this not be an issue for video evidence? I mean one player being targeted week in week out because he has exceptional skills? I watch a lot of football, and over the years what constitutes an illegal challenge has become ever ‘lighter’…..I assume to protect the ball players, unless its in Scotland. High time we caught up with the rest and cherished our skillful footballers rather than boot them all over the pitch, our naivety when facing cute/streetwise international opposition or the faux-machismo demanded from the stands does us no favours in the long run.

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You obviously missed the opening game of the season. McKay-Stevens played the second half. At no point did any Partick Thistle player clatter or set out to clatter him.

I do remember some tasty challenges from Calum Butcher however.

borussiabeefburgPosted on10:40 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Arnold Layne says:
September 4, 2013 at 10:30 pm
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I think the point the guy was making about Lunny concerned the compliance officer’s interest in a fresh air swipe and offering 3 game bans for the same, while ignoring career threatening lunges.

And Lunny should have more important dramas to look into anyway: has McCoist been called in yet with his list of over 100 players who are illegally betting on the outcome of games?

CarntynePosted on10:47 pm - Sep 4, 2013

wottpi says:
September 4, 2013 at 2:29 pm

Doesn’t seem to have been mentioned but it looks like Pat Fenlon’s inconsistent Hibs team defeated the migthy T’Rangers 3-1 in a closed door game last night.
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That game doesn’t count.

According to Chico Young….”it was just a bounce game”.

So there.

I wonder what he would have said had Sevco won….

Danish PastryPosted on10:50 pm - Sep 4, 2013

An opinion piece from Spiers in The Herald:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/opinion/spiers-on-sport-peace-at-rangers-fat-chance.1378327763

Not The Huddle MalcontentPosted on10:52 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Danish Pastry says:
September 4, 2013 at 10:50 pm
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not read it yet, but i guess it’s utter tosh.

Back in a mo with my opinion of Britneys latest guff.

CarntynePosted on10:53 pm - Sep 4, 2013

It wouldn’t be Craig Whyte…would it?

Much stranger things have happened in the Rangers farce.

Not The Huddle MalcontentPosted on11:01 pm - Sep 4, 2013

OK, not a bad article, but very shallow….yeah, covers the issue of the 4 new board members and their situation, but thats about it.

doesn’t touch on the important stuff – why is Mather et al so desperate to avoid the EGM?
When are audited accounts and and AGM happening
Nothing really about the morality of Murray and McLelland going onto the board – or teh SFA allowing it, in fact they are not even mentioned.(the SFA)
No discussion of what the 4 new directors will bring, why it’s a good/bad idea to have a 9 man board – even if they all got on famously its likely to be a bad idea.
No mention of the argument that these 4 members are being allowed to join to save the cost of holding an EGM – reported at £80k, but likely to cost nothing if rolled into the AGM. How much will these 4 takeout of Ibrox.

Basically, it’s nothing more than what every single person who read the latest Sevco stock exchange announcement thought to themselves as they took in the news.

Billy BoycePosted on11:10 pm - Sep 4, 2013

” … which led to the financial disarray and liquidation of the club in the late spring of last year.”

Get your facts straight Graham. Shirley you mean, ” … which led to the financial disarray and liquidation of the company operating the club in the late spring of last year” ?

Lamp Post SanniesPosted on11:30 pm - Sep 4, 2013

Re Vicast ltd who were mentioned earlier today. Is my memory failing or was Jacqueline Gourlay (of Rangers charity fame) not connected there somehow. Sure I can remember reading that on here months ago

TSFMPosted on11:47 pm - Sep 4, 2013

new post up

Not The Huddle MalcontentPosted on8:35 am - Sep 5, 2013

Celtic – over £60M in debt!!!!! (according to FF)

Celtic FC Ltd accounts show current liabilities, due within a year, of £37.5m
PLC show loan Facilities of £24m and neatly included in thos pages is the £12M overdraft facility, over and above the loans, this gives debt of over £60m but also by including the overdraft in with the term loans and using the word “facility” it throws, or attempts to throw people off by implying they have not actually drawn down the monies, which then takes me back to my original question, why a repayment schedule then?

🙂

Arnold LaynePosted on10:21 am - Sep 5, 2013

borussiabeefburg says:
September 4, 2013 at 10:40 pm
18 0 Rate This

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I think the point I was making was that if he was concerned about career threatening lunges he should be looking at his own defender, Calum Butcher. A couple of dreadful two footed examples at Firhill.

arabest1Posted on1:06 pm - Sep 5, 2013

Arnold, I genuinely did not see that game….none of it as I was on holiday. This not a partizan issue for me, it’s about the use of TV evidence to monitor the game in Scotland. I have attended 3 games at Tannadice this season and on each occasion GMS has been kicked off the park, and faded in the 2nd half, yet the authorities are more concerned with a petulant flick with zero consequences. Bad tackles happen at all clubs and should be dealt with, particularly if the perpetrator receives a mere yellow card, that I agree with.

valentinesclownPosted on2:28 pm - Sep 24, 2013

Summer football in Scotland. Maybe try that once we eradicate armageddon, doom mongering poor SMSM and SFA propaganda about our game needing a deid club in the top league. Hell may freeze over before CO admits his wrong doings.

Mr Green and Opportunity Knocks— For Aberdeen?