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……………”
PhilMacGiollaBhain says:
August 20, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Thanks Ecobhoy
I was told by an excellent source that the change of NOMAD was a major event.
Perhaps the Share Lock In being changed/ re-negotiated is part of that.
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I was quite amazed especially with the splitting of roles between a stockbroker and a Nomad because I had always thought that the light-touch self-reporting regulation on AIM hinged on the Nomad and stockbroker being the same company so that nothing could be passed by one without the other knowing.
Obviously I was wrong but the great thing about observing spivs is that they are great educators and way ahead of the Regulators it would appear.
Just an observation…. but in trying to work out what is really going on my impression of all contributions is that they come with a major disadvantage – the thoughts come from minds where ethics is the default position.
When dealing with the unethical every possibility of deceit or deviousness needs to be factored in but is perhaps denied because of the unease it creates.
It seems to me that the sheer lack of ethics produces behaviour which verges on or crosses the criminal line.
That is why we emply police or elect politicians- to think as we prefer not to and protect us from such unethical/ criminal behaviour.
If what has been going on at Ibrox from a year before the club was handed over from well to do spivs to ne’er do well spivs is not a matter for criminal investigation then their is either something wrong with laws that allow it or with those charged with upholding them.
This issue has to go political. How can we possibly vote for independence when those in charge after an independence vote stand by and watch without a word from either side?
Where is the political leadership? Where is a statesman ready to put a civil society and the laws that protect it first?
As matters stand Scotland’s establishment’s silence indicates a very very weak verging on incompetent but most of all totally unethical society.
Here is what the AIM Press Office just sent me (You getting this Jacko?) :
Lock-ins for new businesses
7. Where an applicant’s main activity is a business which has not been independent and
earning revenue for at least two years, it must ensure that all related parties and
applicable employees as at the date of admission agree not to dispose of any interest in
its securities for one year from the admission of its securities.
This rule will not apply in the event of an intervening court order, the death of a party who
has been subject to this rule or in respect of an acceptance of a take-over offer for the AIM
company which is open to all shareholders.
Tif Finn @ 12:57
Thing is, it’s all so predictable.
Now where is the money going to come from to actually run the club.
————
I believe that was part of Mr Black’s remit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23767983
No Chris. The conclusion from that investigation was that there was no evidence Mr Whyte was involved in the formation of Sevco Scotland nor that he had invested in RIFC plc.
But, as Mr Whyte never claimed to be involved with Sevco Scotland nor RIFC plc, these findings are a complete irrelevance.
It is a matter of public record that the acquisition of Rangers assets was negotiated by Charles Green on behalf of Sevco 5088. Mr Whyte claims to have/had legal control of Sevco 5088. He further claims to having been defrauded by Mr Green & Mr Amhad when the Sevco 5088 deal with Duff & Phelps was novated to Sevco Scotland without his authority.
From the P&M investigation, there has been no public reference made to Mr Whyte’s alleged involvement with Mr Green & Sevco 5088 nor of the allegations of criminal behaviour by Mr Green & Mr Ahmad.
It is only true to say the “investigation found no evidence of Whyte’s claims” if they had reported on the basis of his claims. It simply did not address the Whyte claims in any way.
This is the sort of journalism we have come to expect, I suppose 😳 ; but we still deserve better!!!
Tif Finn says:
August 20, 2013 at 1:06 pm
That would give the Easdales something in the region of 14 – 15% if I remember correctly. I wonder if they will get the shares from Ahmad and Hughes as well.
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As discussed I will only believe those types of figures when Regulatory News is given of either James Easdale’s director’s shareholding increasing or notification of holdings above the 3% thresholds.
At present all we know is James Easdale holds 357143 shares
If Sandy holds shares then they must be below 3% or held in little packages up to 2.99% spread around family members and trusted friends.
Until we see the colour of their money the Easdales currently have an open and transparent holding of 0.5%.
34. wottpi says:
August 20, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Absolutely no problem, I have read reports that the brother hold or control those numbers of shares. It is clearly a matter for everyone to decide what they believe and what they don’t.
I have also heard many stories about both of them, from people who live in the Inverclyde area and who I trust. They are without question gangsters and I would no want them anywhere near my club. I do not expect anyone to believe that, and will not try to convince them it is true. It really is a matter for individuals what they choose to believe based on the evidence presented to them.
Your position is perfectly reasonable.
Just had another quick look at Companies House records for Sevco 5088 Ltd.
http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//wcprodorder?ft=1
04/05/2012 DIRECTOR APPOINTED CHARLES ALEXANDER GREEN – no sign of any resignation or termination as yet.
12/04/2013 DIRECTOR APPOINTED MR CRAIG THOMAS WHYTE
12/04/2013 DIRECTOR APPOINTED AIDAN CHAS EARLEY
– again no sign of any resignations or terminations as yet
Some jiggery-pokery in April over the registered office and two Voluntary Strike Off’s suspended on 03/05/2013 and 08/08/2013.
Of course back on 23 April STV reported that Rangers had announced to the Stock Exchange the day before that Sevco 5088 was a ‘subsidiary’ of Rangers International Football Club plc.
http://news.stv.tv/west-central/222380-rangers-claim-control-of-craig-whytes-firm-sevco-5088-ltd/
Perhaps Pravda can clarify why no action has been taken to remove Mr Whyte and Mr Earley from Directorships of RIFC’s ‘subsidiary’?
Are the Bears aware of this continuing involvement of these gentlemen with their Club? Why has no action been taken if Sevco 5088 Ltd is truly a ‘subsidiary’ of RIFC?
Scottish football needs a dangerous proliferation of anonymous obsessives on various social media sites.
Tif Finn says:
August 20, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Like the Ian Black situation I pass no judgement on the Easdales on the basis of innocent until proven guilty by the appropriate authorities and would remind people to be careful with what they say on here.
These blogs and sites are public forums and as we have seen in recent cases, such as Lord McAlpine, if folks are of a mind to chase down people making unfounded allegations then individuals and the site could find themselves in trouble. Clearly you did not see Jack’s piece in the Sun the other day.
Debate and informed supposition are a must but to maintain the integrity of site, we need to be wary of taxi driver rumours and bar room chat.
We can of course Charles Green a rude, foul mouthed chancer because we have all seen and heard the evidence from interviews and his MO of fleecing cash out of a new start companies was well known within a few days of him being named as T’Rangers saviour.
I for one will miss him but am not ruling out a wee bet on him coming back for a third bite at the cherry 🙂
Finloch says:
August 20, 2013 at 1:54 pm
First blood to the Green Consortium.
He has lined up his ducks like the pro he is or rather they have lined up the ducks like the pros they are.
A clue to the MSM about the surety of what is coming next is that Green did not appoint himself recently as a consultant on his £12K pa package. Someone working for the club had the authority to bring Charlie back and agreed his “employment” package. Its just the start of a coordinated cashing-in process.
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Finloch – I know my mind is turning to an other game which is in a new town a helluva long way away.
But I always thought the Rangers Board had OK’d Green’s appointment as a ‘consultant’. I see you are teasing the MSM but you’ve baffled me as well 😥
Obviously they will flense the beached corpse of Rangers and may need a little extra time but if they don’t get that window of opportunity how do you think they’ll cash-in ❓
I could never ever figure out why he was only on £12k pa – that’s ludicrously low so what does he stand to gain from it ❓
ecobhoy says:
August 20, 2013 at 3:10 pm
Directing the circus from the shadows?????
wottpi says:
August 20, 2013 at 3:04 pm
0 1 Rate This
Tif Finn says:
August 20, 2013 at 2:46 pm
Like the Ian Black situation I pass no judgement on the Easdales on the basis of innocent until proven guilty by the appropriate authorities and would remind people to be careful with what they say on here.
These blogs and sites are public forums and as we have seen in recent cases, such as Lord McAlpine, if folks are of a mind to chase down people making unfounded allegations then individuals and the site could find themselves in trouble. Clearly you did not see Jack’s piece in the Sun the other day.
Debate and informed supposition are a must but to maintain the integrity of site, we need to be wary of taxi driver rumours and bar room chat.
======================================
What if it’s one of Easdale’s taxis I’m in, can I quote the driver then 🙄
quickie response to two comments:
1. Auldheid, 2.11pm – it’s not just about Scotland, ethics, ‘the establishment’ and Rangers/The Rangers. HSBC •laundered drug money•, got fined a proportion of their turnover and were told not to be naughty. Joe Schmoe who launders drug money gets banged up for a very long time. The financial system and its wildlife is out of control internationally – not just in Scotland.
2. Tif Finn, 3.04pm. Sound advice re making statements about innocence or guilt. Thing is, some people have the resources and legal advice to relish court. It’s their turf AND it’s always dumb to let the antagonist define the rules of engagement. That’s another good reason not to make allegations in (digital) print. Solid investigative work backed up by verifiable facts is another matter.
I’m trying to spot Craig Whyte in all of this. What happened to the myriad court cases? is it still a case of ‘You are Sevco’?
Oh, and good luck to the Scottish Champions tonight. Too far to drive this time so off to navigate satellite channels instead 😎
Skotsk fodbold har stærkt brug for fremgang!
Danish Pastry says:
August 20, 2013 at 3:46 pm
we might need all the luck we can get at this rate…..
timtim says:
August 20, 2013 at 12:47 pm
5 0 Rate This
Programme starts at 3.45 kick off at 4
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Could everyone delay any commentary by an hour? I’m heading home to watch it on ITV4+1. Thanks awfully.
wottpi says:
August 20, 2013 at 3:04 pm
If you consider what I said ” taxi driver rumours and bar room chat.” fair enough. Like I said I have no inclination to try to persuade people.
It is not gossip or ill informed rumour to me, it is first hand accounts from people I trust. Or reliable witnesses as they are commonly known.
Oh I don’t think Charlie will sell his shares. He has become so immersed in the teddy berz that he’s gonna hang around and keep his shares for his grandchildren……yeh remember them Charlie or will I just file that one with the Campions League anthem, Dallas Cowboys, the 500 million, the egnaro tops, park re-naming et al?
For Charles Green and co this was never about running a football club ,it was always about filling their boots and boy they keep cumming back with new pairs to fill,question at this point how big are Charlies boots ,if they are anything like his Yorkshire shovels for hands then its goodnight rangers,the puzzle here ,where is the new wonga going to come from,back to the fans to dig deep as the Easdales do not have the kind of wonga needed to run a 1st division club never mind anything else,surely the SFA will require an updated ,sorry,any businness plan as if they are out of cash the end is nigh,over to you Mr Ogilvie
Kevin Kyle on Sky saying the rules around players betting needs clarified. Ok Kevin,pay attention……one potato, two potato,three potato,four………..five potato……..
“20 August 2013
Rangers International Football Club plc
(“Rangers”, the “Company” or “Club”)
Departure of Charles Green as Consultant
Following today’s Board meeting a discussion was held between CEO Craig Mather and Charles Green. The result of those discussions is that the consultancy agreement between Rangers and Mr Green has today been terminated by the Company with immediate effect.
For further information please contact:
Rangers International Football Club plc
Tel: 0141 580 8647
Craig Mather, CEO
Brian Stockbridge, FD
Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated Adviser)
Tel: 020 7409 3494
Stuart Faulkner / Rory Murphy / Richard Tulloch
Daniel Stewart & Company plc (Broker)
Tel: 020 7776 6550
Paul Shackleton
Newgate Threadneedle (Financial PR)
Tel: 020 7148 6143
Graham Herring / John Coles / Fiona Conroy
”
is it usual to announce sacking of £1000 a month employee?????
I’d be investigating Kevin Kyle if I were the SFA.
Tif Finn says:
August 20, 2013 at 4:53 pm
Hear what you say but just passing on a friendly warning.
ecobhoy says:
August 20, 2013 at 3:10 pm
I could never ever figure out why he was only on £12k pa – that’s ludicrously low so what does he stand to gain from it ❓
………………………………………………..
I’d guess the £12K consultancy role was a great excuse to get back into the game and close up and personal with the blue minded people and the MSM who print his every utterance.
There will be a reason why the fee was just £1K per month but I don’t know what it is.
I also didn’t know it was the board who had invited him back as you infer.
If it was the board then who proposed it and drove it through what we have led to believe is a dysfunctional forum?
And why?
Why – because it was always going to be combative and divisive.
Knowing that would be an insight to who is in which camp and who is really in real control.
Fair play however Consultant Charlie has and is is currently playing a blinder with confusion everywhere.
More squirrels than in Princes Street Gardens.
He is certainly safeguarding the Green Consortium payday.
And for the record I personally don’t believe half of what I’m hearing about his plans.
I don’t believe he has “left Rangers” as BBC Scotland have just told me.
He may no longer be an extremely good value consultant but his paws will still be all over the valuable bits and he will still call the real shots with his people until they have all cashed in.
Methinks there is more than a little misinformation about but I do believe it is not rocket science about how the spiv consortium will seek to maximise their income.
And that despite what we’re being told, is the only game in town.
Start with more than one company with similar names.
Pay great salaries and bonuses and be over generous to the self interested blue muppets you need to carry with you.
Move on with no brainer deals and favours for your pals along the way.
Think about ways to safeguard and then separate the family silver (Ibrox, Murray Park the car park etc) from the car crash club either before or after impact.
And get full value for what will eventually be worthless shares.
Lovely jubbly.
Kevin Twaddle on STV re Black. Yeah no problem, Blackie will be fine .Eh?
Oh well. That’s a few of my regular browsing places now off-limits till all the screaming stops!
Thank heavens for this oasis of calm, reasoned debate!
Kilgore Trout says:
August 20, 2013 at 6:30 pm
==================================
I’ve just had a look at one, and the screaming has not stopped. The screamers are being screamed at to stop screaming.
helpmaboab says:
August 20, 2013 at 5:16 pm
14 1 Rate This
Kevin Kyle …
———————
He’s on Sportsound talking about double standards. It’s bordering on whataboutery, but the point he makes about football embracing betting companies is valid.
upthehoops
😆 Think I’ll give it two or three days.
Couldn’t one of you have told me the score? 🙁
Cheer up Lord Wobbly. It’s only half time. Anyone who remembers Artmedia must be able to talk himself or herself into an optimistic state of mind before the return leg.
Kilgore Trout says:
August 20, 2013 at 6:49 pm
0 0 Rate This
upthehoops
Think I’ll give it two or three days.
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I’m not a Celtic supporter and I feel a bit gutted at that result. On top of that, I just had a contretemps with Celts on another forum who believe in spend, spend, spend and who don’t believe a football club has a moral responsibility to its local area, support base or the youth of it’s home nation 🙄
Oasis of peace. NIce.
THE Board of Rangers Football Club has issued the following statement today.
Following a Board meeting this morning the Club’s directors decided to terminate the consultancy agreement with Charles Green. The decision was unanimous and takes effect immediately.
However, the Board wish to make it clear Mr Green was not the only point on the agenda at today’s meeting.
The Directors can state categorically that they have always been open to adding to the current size of the Board and are actively seeking a new chairman, one who will bring instant and significant benefits. In particular it will be necessary to connect strongly with Corporate Britain if the Board’s ambitions for Rangers are to be fulfilled.
This Board has been working tirelessly to find an intelligent solution to the request for a general meeting and all of the Directors are open to sensible and reasonable additions. For instance, the Board are not against Frank Blin becoming a Director but do have reservations about other proposals.
Even so, the Directors remain hopeful compromise can be reached and that everyone, the fans especially, will see this Club emerge a much more stable and vibrant operation.
It is the Board’s belief that with the right level of understanding from all sides Rangers will prosper and be stronger than at any time in its history. This is what the Directors are committed to achieving through the work of an enhanced but perfectly balanced Board.
Danish Pastry says:
August 20, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Some of the hysteria on celtic sites is way over the top. A bad day at office, they did to celtic what celtic did to barca. Defend, give up possession, hit on the break.
Still confident celtic will go through, a pity the co-efficient suffers again tonight.
andy says:
August 20, 2013 at 7:01 pm
That’s cheered me up! ROFPML 😆 😆
Danish Pastry
The result is a bit gutting and I wholeheartedly disagree with the spend spend spend philosophy.
I try (sometimes unsuccessfully) not to let the vagaries of any one match colour my view of the footballing world.
However, the wholesale systematic corruption at the heart of the governance at almost every level of my favourite sport in my own country is quite another matter!
Kilgore Trout says:
August 20, 2013 at 7:05 pm
================================
It is always easy to vent fury at a football board who haven’t spent as much money as some fans would like. A phrase that really does me in is ‘speculate to accumulate’, especially when not so clever people think saying it makes them sound clever. I just wish some thinking could be in order instead of just lashing out and bawling and shouting at all and sundry.
Disappointing result but the grass surface should make a big difference next week.
At least the sheep didn’t die in vain..
Ahem 😉
Let`s strip out the verbiage
THE Board of ….
…decided to terminate……with Charles Green. … unanimous… effect immediately.
….. state categorically [without exception/qualification?] …. always open to adding to current Board [eh? true?] …actively seeking a new chairman [what happened to the last one?] , … instant …significant benefits.[instant?] …necessary [necessary?] ..to connect strongly [was weakly connected?] ….. Corporate Britain [BP? Rio Tinto?] …ambitions for Rangers .. fulfilled [money?]
This [not the other one] Board has been working tirelessly [no sleep for three months] to find an intelligent solution [others were daft] to request [haha] a general meeting open to sensible and reasonable [wot no fans?] – additions. …. not against Frank Blin [sensible / reasonable] becoming Director .. reservations others [PM – nuts ].
…. remain hopeful compromise reached [at war] , and the fans especially, [ the fans especially – isn`t that sweet of them – all is forgiven after ripping them off!]
Who writes this stuff? 😉
I appreciate the argument that Celtic hedging their bets with regards to bringing players in and hoping they can get through the qualifying with what they have.
That being said hopefully Peter Lawwell or Dermott Desmond can afford to go down to the local corner shop and see if the fireworks are in early because a few of the players they do have at present need a rocket up their arses. Some guys clearly up for the battle but others looked like they wanted to be elsewhere.
Once again I go back to moaning about the lack of grit drive and determination shown by some ‘so called professional’ footballers when compared to other sportsmen and women.
Can’t imagine some of our athletes etc lacking such commitment when places in the Olympics or Commonwealth games was at stake.
‘It is the Board’s belief that with the right level of understanding from all sides Rangers will prosper and be stronger than at any time in its history. This is what the Directors are committed to achieving through the work of an enhanced but perfectly balanced Board.’
—————————————————————————————————————
This garbage must come from the new PR company and I would assume JI is having a good laugh 😳
An ‘enhanced but perfectly balanced Board’ is such a wonderful concept when watching a ballet performance, FFS get real we are talking about a football board which the Legend WS has described as dysfunctional.
It’s time to get the tackety-boots on and fight for the survival of the club never mind dreaming of it being stronger and more prosperous than ‘at any time in its history’. Seems as though the new PR company has been told what the fans expect to hear and I hope to gawd there are some who refuse to swallow this garbage.
At this rate there really is no hope for Rangers and if the Bears swallow this claptrap then their club is truly doomed.
Danish Pastry says:
August 20, 2013 at 6:46 pm
helpmaboab says:
August 20, 2013 at 5:16 pm
14 1 Rate This
Kevin Kyle …
———————
He’s on Sportsound talking about double standards. It’s bordering on whataboutery, but the point he makes about football embracing betting companies is valid.
==================================
I disagree. Football and football clubs receiving funding from the betting industry in no way justifies football players betting on games. To make it games that their own club is involved in is so wrong as to beggar belief.
theoldshed says:
August 20, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Disappointing result but the grass surface should make a big difference next week.
====================================================
I try not to discuss football on this site as I do it elsewhere. However there was only one thing I knew about the opposition beforehand and that was the danger from long throws.
I would suggest that Celtic water Parkhead well so that the ball doesn’t bounce as tonight was a disgraceful performance. We failed not only to defend the first ball but sometimes the second and third. We were slow, passed too square and failed dismally to get behind and overcome a rubbish team.
This is nothing to do with not having new signings – this is about having to clear-out players who apparently have lost the will to win or at least to break sweat in the attempt
I reckon the Scottish Coefficient requires our teams at least to show some kind of interesr in winning and half of them tonight appeared to be lacking in that department.
If that really is a statement from the RIFC PLC board I find it incredible.
Their response to calls for an EGM to decide on whether the CEO, FD and another director (the guts of the board) should be removed is to basically offer those calling for it a seat on the existing board is astonishing.
If that offer is accepted it makes the whole situation even more laughable.
The history of football is as a working class sport and part of that culture is betting and gambling.
Lots of football fans are into gambling and so are players. The players can gamble on anything except football – so what is the problem ❓
The problem is that some players are idiots and some think they can break the rules with impunity. Why should football fans lose the right to gamble and the game lose the valuable income it earns from gambling companies.
For personal reasons I don’t gamble and have never gambled in my life – on odd occasions I buy a lottery ticket and some might regard that as gambling and I wouldn’t argue with that. I hope Black, if found guilty, is absolutely hammered pour encourage les autres.
A perfectly balanced board appropriates money from both sides of the balance sheet.
When are the audited accounts for the youngest team due??
andy @ 7:01
A very empty statement, isn’t it?
Other than to show the world that their new person in charge of producing statements in joined-up writing is every bit as useless as their Ranter-In-Chief, Mr Traynor, I can’t see what purpose it serves.
Brenda says:
August 20, 2013 at 8:50 pm
There’s the rub.
There may be audited accounts for the PLC, they may even be consolidated to include the subsidiary Ltd Co. However anything which clears up the position with regard the actual football club is very unlikely in my opinion.
Expect smoke and mirrors, obfuscation and misdirection in my view.
Thank you Tif Finn
Aren’t they required to convene an EGM? The 21 days are up tomorrow, I believe.
Statement from Ibrokes :
Everything here on the Titanic is fine.
Go away nasty people.
The primary kid internship in the PR Dept is going well.
Scottish football needs to find a cure for delusion.
y4rmy says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:16 pm
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Aren’t they required to convene an EGM? The 21 days are up tomorrow, I believe.
———————
3 weeks to respond to the request for an EGM and then it must be held within 3 weeks of the response.
response is due tomorrow
Unless they reach a compromise which is acceptable to the shareholders of course.
I was just having a look on the map to see where Kazakhstan was and I’m amazed they have a team in the CL as 3 quarters of the country is east of the Ural mountains. It is further east than Iran & most of Iraq and it borders China and Mongolia. The countries such as these should not be in the CL in my opinion of as Stu McCall was saying the other day these countries should be in qualifying rounds before teams in central and western Europe have to travel there.
Tif Finn says:
August 20, 2013 at 8:14 pm
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Danish Pastry says:
August 20, 2013 at 6:46 pm
helpmaboab says:
August 20, 2013 at 5:16 pm
14 1 Rate This
Kevin Kyle …
———————
He’s on Sportsound talking about double standards. It’s
bordering on whataboutery, but the point he makes about
football embracing betting companies is valid.
==================================
I disagree. Football and football clubs receiving funding from
the betting industry in no way justifies football players betting
on games. To make it games that their own club is involved in
is so wrong as to beggar belief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot see anything wrong with a player betting on games in other leagues. How can there be a problem with someone in Scotland betting on the EPL or La Liga?
I can see that there are huge problems with betting on games in your own league though. This should not be allowed under any circumstances.
briggsbhoy says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:42 pm
They have had, and won, two qualifying rounds.
That’s why they’re in this round as well.
Lord Wobbly says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:44 pm
================================
Seriously, you don’t think professional football players move from country to country, playing for different clubs in different leagues, making contacts as they go through their career. Maybe getting calls from their contacts elsewhere that a specific bet might be a good “investment”.
Or that they have team mates with contacts in different countries playing in different leagues getting information from elsewhere, or inserting influence elsewhere.
Lord Wobbly says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:44 pm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot see anything wrong with a player betting on games in other leagues. How can there be a problem with someone in Scotland betting on the EPL or La Liga?
I can see that there are huge problems with betting on games in your own league though. This should not be allowed under any circumstances.
——————————————
Player A bets on team B to lose
5 players in team B have same agent as player A
Agent and all 5 players can have a material outcome on the game and also receive a financial reward for it – assuming player A gives them all a cut.
doesn’t even have to be that complex though, 2 former team mates could simply bet on the time of 1st throw in in a game and both agree to punt the ball out of the park in the opening minute
might not really affect the result – but maybe it could, certainly changes the game
the corrupting power of money is pretty powerful and should not be cast off lightly.
justshatered says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:45 pm
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briggsbhoy says:
August 20, 2013 at 9:42 pm
They have had, and won, two qualifying rounds.
That’s why they’re in this round as well.
======================================
SMcC wasn’t on about pre qualifying he was misquoted. what he was on about was regionalising these early rounds. Last year they did in Europa. This year unaccountably not.
Anyhow you cant discount the human exchange element of meeting someone totally different. I met several of the Cossacks from Krasnodar and it was very interesting to meet them and get their stories.
That was in Scotland.
Over there of the 50 odd who could afford the 1300+ quid for the trip a bunch got ambushed by some bams the day of the game and had their flags scarves nicked. Amazingly the guys who came over here found the toe rags and got everything back and are in process of sending it all back. Having met them I believe toe rags maybe minus a few toes!
Scotland needs strong Cossacks
Sir Walter of Cardigan
==================
Has anybody heard from ‘Walter’ recently ?
I haven’t read his name being linked with Murray / Blin / MColl.
My assumption then is that he is not ‘waiting in the wings’ for a triumphant return.
Has the Legned shuffled off, now that he has hoovered up all the money he can from the Govan club ?
You would also think that someone with his long-term allegiance to the Govan club would now be continuously in the MSM giving his opinions to all and sundry about what – and who – is required at Ibrox.
Or maybe he’s just not that bothered about that club anymore… 🙄
tom_farmery @tom_farmery 3h
Spoken to a current influential shareholder at #Rangers. Believes Green sacking is “smokescreen” for board’s incompetence. In Times tomorrow
tom_farmery @tom_farmery 7m
Tomorrow’s Times: Read why one influential #Rangers shareholder believes Charles Green leaving club is “smokescreen” clouding bigger picture
tom_farmery @tom_farmery 6m
Story also reveals Charles Green contacted various investors saying he would “be on the board within a week” when he was appointed. #Rangers
The whole Green episode still doesn’t sit right with me and I tend to agree with the posters who are speculating that it was simply a method for him to cash out without looking mercenary to the fans. The parts that I find just weird are :
1) The public playing out of the ‘consultant’ role and Mather seeming to be unaware – so we have the CEO of a listed company all but admitting he has no input on hiring of outside consultants? and could not find out who hired him?
2) The board meeting today – really? a full blown properly convened board meeting with public announcements to fire a part time consultant? – in any other company the contracting manager or junior HR person could have terminated the consultancy contract with a phone call.
All too public and all too formal for the supposed role, which leads me to believe the posters with the lock-in agenda angle.
StevieBC says:
August 20, 2013 at 10:01 pm
1 1 Rate This
Sir Walter of Cardigan
==================
Has anybody heard from ‘Walter’ recently ?
I haven’t read his name being linked with Murray / Blin / MColl.
My assumption then is that he is not ‘waiting in the wings’ for a triumphant return.
Has the Legned shuffled off, now that he has hoovered up all the money he can from the Govan club ?
You would also think that someone with his long-term allegiance to the Govan club would now be continuously in the MSM giving his opinions to all and sundry about what – and who – is required at Ibrox.
Or maybe he’s just not that bothered about that club anymore…
——
Or maybe Sir Walter, knowing full well that “auld club is deid” (so his real loyalties aren’t tested any more)
and
having spotted that there was no more safe and easy money coming from Scotland’s newest club and Chuckles, abandoned the sinking ship like …. like a Sevconian?
Justshattered I think Ianagain has clarified the point I was trying to make regards qualiying rounds in that they should be regional for these countries. Overall I just question how countries such as these are in the European champions league. I refered to the ural mountains because in terms of insurance any country that is east of the Urals is not covered under under a European policy. As Kazakhstan in the main is East of the Ural why is it termed a European country ? I suppose it’s historical with the old USSR
ecobhoy says:
August 20, 2013 at 8:03 pm
“An ‘enhanced but perfectly balanced Board’ is such a wonderful concept when watching a ballet performance, FFS get real we are talking about a football board which the Legend WS has described as dysfunctional.
It’s time to get the tackety-boots on and fight for the survival of the club never mind dreaming of it being stronger and more prosperous than ‘at any time in its history’. Seems as though the new PR company has been told what the fans expect to hear and I hope to gawd there are some who refuse to swallow this garbage.
At this rate there really is no hope for Rangers and if the Bears swallow this claptrap then their club is truly doomed.”
—————————-
ecobhoy, a genuine question:
I have read many comments re the daft Bears not actually realising what is going on and paying no heed to the many warnings given to them.
What would you suggest the run of the mill Rangers fan do?
I think many fans thought the thing to do was to buy season tickets and buy shares in order to keep their club going – if we can please leave the arguments of Rangers V The Rangers for one second – there has been much derision that the Bears didn’t cough up as much as Mr. Green expected, but that can only be a good thing. As far as I can see the Bears have done what they thought right to support their club.
Hopefully my posting history will identify me as someone (a Rangers fan, albeit from a distance) who is not claiming that all is well at Ibrox and that all of RFC’s troubles are to do with some sort of bizarre Cabal and, according to some on-line Bears, Peter Lawwell personally.
If you, or any other poster were a Rangers Fan (apologies if that is too much to imagine for some folks), sitting down with other Rangers fans, what would you be suggesting at this point in time?
Unfortunately there is no wee guy in a bunnet, telling the truth, and spelling out his intentions for The Rangers.
Like I said, this is a 100% genuine question.
StevieBC says:
August 20 2013 at 10.01 pm
Sir Walter Cardigan
I can remember reading on RM, just after he ‘resigned’ as Chairman, that the statement he released was not what he wanted to say, but was in effect censored. I do not recollect this being mentioned here. Anyone else remember this. New poster, by the way.
andy g says:
August 20, 2013 at 10:40 pm
StevieBC says:
August 20 2013 at 10.01 pm
Sir Walter Cardigan
I can remember reading on RM, just after he ‘resigned’ as Chairman, that the statement he released was not what he wanted to say, but was in effect censored. I do not recollect this being mentioned here. Anyone else remember this. New poster, by the way.
=========================================
Welcome andy g.
Perhaps then Walter accepted / negotiated a ‘gagging clause’ as part of an enhanced settlement ?
What a bloodey nose Celtic suffered tonight, their opponents ducked and bobbed and woved and damn well won the game. What would it do for Scottish football if the rest of the top league saw that rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in about the champions can yield results? I may be the biggest Celtic fan in the world (well Aberdeen) but I don’t want Celtic strolling to league titles. It’s interesting to note that they face the King of sleeve rollers at the weekend. What Scottish football needs this year (and every year) is a closely fought league, it will certainly shut up the Armagedonites Heavy machine guns for the Celtic full backs Darling!!
Surely there’s more that everyone who contributes and/or reads this blog can do to remind the SMSM about some key facts. I mean constantly remind them on a daily basis, via online comments, email and phone ins.
Here are my current bug bears:
Rangers were rescued from Administration
Charles Green invested his own money when buying the assets (he created an internal debt)
The Blue Knights did nothing (they were legally prevented from offering more than Chuck)
Pinsett Massons cleared Green of being involved with Whyte. (Legal privilege)
And the latest one, Charles has agreed to sell his shares to the hugely reassuring brothers. Despite AIM rules preventing this from happening for the time being.
The Glen says:
August 20, 2013 at 10:39 pm
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___________________________________________
Definitely vouch for Glen’s posting History, which betrays nothing more or less than a decent and concerned fan of the Ibrox club, with a healthy degree of scepticism of both the custodians of his club and the protagonists of this blog.
Engaging positively with you and your ilk in this forum Glen can only be to the betterment of Scottisf football as a whole.
Can anyone help me plot the point in time when @ChrisGraham76 stopped being big Chuck Greens most ‘ loyal ‘ and vocal supporter and realised he was a conman?
Similarly he same exercise can be done with the MBB.
To use a fantastic expression from this blog, you couldn’t mark his neck with a blow torch.
Hopefully the question you pose is not just for ecobhoy but for anybody following with disbelief the week by week, sometimes day by day, the trials and tribulations down Ibrox way.
The information that has been freely available regarding the things totally f*cked up inside Rangers and its subsequent incarnation, through RTC, then this blog have largely been ignored by the SMSM (largely due to the fact they are roundly ridiculed) is cast aside by the huge majority with any Ibrox allegiance.
This blind spot, to acknowledge that anybody outside ally, Walter, media house, or frighteningly James Traynor, can have useful information to what is really going on behind the scenes has been and always will be a step too far for the majority of Rangers fans to come to terms with.
For so long Walter and Ally have been the barometer of what is good for the club – but look where the club is. My cat, as manager, could win the division Rangers are in. Another possible administration looms, Green’s men still incumbent. He may be gone, but he’s just waiting for his pay off. His work is done. There are disparate Rangers fans groups. They don’t speak with clarity or are prepared to look further than the FF line or RM line fed to them. This must change. They seem to have parochial agendas or affiliations. Surely your club is bigger than any tangential acrimony ? The answers to the 50 questions the supporters groups asked a week ago – any answers ? Green’s gone but his legacy – not a good one – will linger for a long time. Have things got better cos the current wicked witch is off stage ?
What would I do as a Rangers fan ? There’s no easy answer – that’s why you ask the question, I guess. The truth is on this blog and many others. Unpalatable as it is, frying pan to fire. You have to question those who seek to lead the club. What’s in it for them. McColl doesn’t want to dip his feet in the water – so far, as he quite rightly sees lining greedy opportunistic suits pockets is not his place. The fans should’ve used the power their season tickets empower them with til they got the answers they needed. But Walter & Ally backed the cause. Information is power – even John Brown knew this.
StevieBC says:
August 20 2013 at 10.50 pm
No doubt their may have been some inducement with regard to his statement, but if memory serves me, whoever stated that he was censored, seemed convinced that it was not what he wanted to say and that there was some degree of threat involved otherwise.
I will do some research on it and get back if I find the source, one way or the other.