On the Old Club vs New Club (OCNC) debate, the SFA’s silence has been arguably the most damaging factor with respect to the future of the game. Of course people get frustrated when there is a deliberate policy of silence on the part of the SFA which results in the endless cycle of arguments being trotted out again and again with no resolution or closure possible.
The irony (it’s only irony if you assume that the SFA have gone to great lengths to create the conditions for the unbroken history status of the new club) is that the mealy-mouthed attitude they have adopted has actually polarised opinion in a far more serious and irreconcilable way than had they just made a clear statement when Sevco were handed SFA membership. A bit of leadership, with a decision either way at that time would have spiked a lot of OCNC guns very early on, but as history shows, they were afraid of a backlash from wherever it came.
I am now convinced that Scottish Football has passed the Event Horizon and is broken beyond the possibility of any repair that might have taken it back to its pre-2010 condition. Rangers fans will never – no matter what any eventual pronouncement from Hampden may be – accept that their next trophy will be their first. The trouble is that no-one else – again despite anything from Hampden – will cast them as anything else other than a new club who were given a free passage into the higher echelons of the game. Furthermore, they will forever force that down the throats of Rangers fans whenever and wherever they play. A recipe for discord, threats of violence, actual violence, and a general ramping up of the sectarian gas that we had all hoped, only a year or so ago, was to be set to an all-time low peep.
There is a saying in politics that we get the government we deserve. It works both ways though, and the SFA will get the audience it deserves. In actual fact it is the one it has actively sought over the last couple of years, for they have tacitly (and even perhaps explicitly) admitted that Scottish Football is a dish best served garnished with sectarianism. They have effectively told us that without it, the game cannot flourish, and they stick to that fallacy even although the empirical evidence of the past year indicates otherwise.
That belief is an intellectual black-hole they have now thrust the game into. They have effectively said that only two clubs actually matter in Scottish football. The crazy thing is that to put their plans into action they have successfully persuaded enough of the other clubs to jump into the chasm and hence vote themselves into irrelevance and permanent semi-obscurity.
That belief is also shared by the majority in the MSM, who despite their lofty, self-righteous and ostensibly anti-sectarian stance, have done everything they can to stir the hornet’s nest in the interests of greater sales.
Act as an unpaid wing of a PR company, check nothing, ask nothing, help to create unrest, and then tut-tut away indignantly like Monty Python Pepperpots when people take them to task.
Consequently the victims of all the wrongdoing (creditors and clubs) walk away without any redress or compensation for the loss of income and opportunity (and history) – stripped of any pride and dignity since they do so in the full knowledge of what has happened. But even as they wipe away the sand kicked in their faces, those clubs still insist on the loyalty of their own fanbases, the same fans whose trust they have betrayed with their meek acceptance of the new, old order.
The kinder interpretation of the impotence of the clubs is that they want to avoid the hassle and move on, the more cynical view that they are interested only in money, not people. In either case, sporting integrity, in the words of Lord Traynor of Winhall (Airdrie, not Vermont), is “crap”.
The question is; which constituency of 21st century Scotland subscribes to that 17th century paradigm?
Sadly, this massive hoax, this gigantic insult to our collective intelligence, is working. Many will leave the game – many already have in view of the spineless absence of intervention from their own clubs – but many, many more will stay and support the charade.
If you doubt my prediction, ask yourself how many tickets will be unsold the first time the New Rangers play Celtic at Parkhead? That my friends will be final imprimatur of authenticity on just exactly who New Rangers are, no matter the proclamations of both sides of the OCNC argument.
As predicted, it appears the Rangers AGM is a foregone conclusion.
tom_farmery @tom_farmery 4m
Story tells how S Easdale, Laxey Partners, Mike Ashley, Artemis and Richard Hughes of Zeus will back current board. Total of 54.67% #Rangers
TSFM says: (576)
December 15, 2013 at 9:49 pm
I agree with your point about the fans not having the money to fund another decade of overspending, but I’m not so sure about the institutions. I base that on the (as it turned out false) expectations that they would not pony up in the first IPO. I wouldn’t be so sure that there won’t be interest from that area.
==========================================================================
I too was surprised that the institutions stumped up in the first IPO and to be honest still don’t know why they did. I will speculate though.
The Rangers were desperately short of money and were going to go broke without an injection of cash. The original ‘investors’ who had put up the money to buy the assets from the administrators faced losing them unless they put up more cash. their pledge of cash may have convinced some other investors to take a punt as a long shot, or with Christmas coming they were buying Turkeys anyway. There was a lot of hard sell and it may have been possible to justify investment based on the perceived asset value, plus whatever stories Green and Co were feeding them.
The original ‘investors’ got most of their money back via arrangement fees and other fees; they got a significant amount of cash in to keep the sham alive for longer and then pay themselves handsomely.
At 70p per share and now trading at 35p today, no one would suggest that it has been other than an exceptionally poor investment. How many want to repeat the exercise.
I suspect that any institution which invested at full value with no safety net will have dismissed the analyst responsible and wouldn’t touch any future offering from the Ibrox direction.
Of course, as I admitted above, I was wrong the first time.
Sandy Easdale, the largest shareholder at Rangers, has said the only way the Scottish football club can operate in a financially viable way going forward is if fellow investors vote at an AGM to keep the current board in control at Ibrox.
His comments come only days before shareholders will arrive in Glasgow to vote at Thursday’s AGM to decide the future of the Rangers boardroom. Investors will decide between the current boardroom and a requisition group led by Paul Murray and Malcolm Murray, respectively the former director and chairman of the club.
After speaking to a number of top ten shareholders at Ibrox, The Times understands that the current board will win the AGM vote by a clear margin.
It can now be revealed that Mr Easdale, whose current holding is 4.37 per cent but has voting rights of 26.62 per cent, Laxey Partners, Artemis Investment, Mike Ashley, the owner of Newcastle United, and Richard Hughes of Zeus Capital will all back the present outfit at Rangers. Their votes collectively would produce a total of 54.67 per cent, over three per cent more than required to secure a majority.
“I’ve always been confident that the board as it is now would be secure. It would be ridiculous to think anything else,” said Mr Easdale, whose brother, James, was appointed as a non-executive director in July. He added that where necessary more funds would be made available if the current board is still in charge on Friday morning.
The board consists of five members, with Graham Wallace, the chief executive, David Somers, the chairman, and Norman Crighton, a non-executive director, all joining last month.
Mr Wallace’s appointment in particular has helped sway investors such as Artemis. The London-based funds manager, that holds a 8.42 per cent stake, initially backed the requisition group when it first became clear in October that an AGM would be held with resolutions relating to the retirement of the current board and the appointment of both Murray’s, along with Scott Murdoch and Alex Wilson.
But sources close to Artemis have told The Times that the appointment of Mr Wallace, who was the chief operating officer and chief finance officer of Manchester City between 2009 and 2013, was a “major step in the right direction”.
It is also understood that rather than wanting to meet with the requisition group as a whole, Artemis sought only to converse with Paul Murray in an attempt to persuade him to join the current board. Those talks, as recent as last week, have since broken down.
Malcolm Murray, who holds 0.3 per cent and has been the mouthpiece for the rebel group, was chairman of Rangers from May 2012 until he stepped down in July this year following speculation that fellow board members wanted to get rid of him.
He has remained confident that his group will win the AGM because he claims they have “the best interests of Rangers at heart”.
Mr Murray said last night that he didn’t want to comment on the outcome of the AGM suggested that even if his group is defeated “the war would still be very far from over”.
“What people need to understand is that we have the fans’ vote and they want us on that board. Nothing can be more significant when the fans start saying they won’t buy season tickets. We are here to provide a future to a club that lacks transparency,” said the Scottish businessman.
Mr Easdale added, though, that the prospect of Mr Murray ever returning to Ibrox in a position more senior than “a season ticket holding fan” was “ridiculous and ludicrous”.
Not only will the AGM conclude weeks of trying to sweeten up investors, it also caps what has been a torrid year off the pitch at Ibrox. There has been infighting in the boardroom, a racist comment made by Charles Green, the former chief executive, confusion over who was running the club, a yearly operating loss of £14.4 million and a month ago had only two members on the board and no chairman.
On departing in August as the chairman of the club currently top of the Scottish League One, Rangers icon Walter Smith called for a clear up of what he called “boardroom turmoil”.
Neil Patey, a partner at EY and a football finance expert, added that “where Rangers has really failed over the last year or so is in corporate governance”.
“There was effectively no platform for the club to control itself in a sensible manner. It really has been a complete mess and that has translated into a football club being known for its exploits off the pitch rather than good performances on it.
“Now there is that platform of corporate governance in place. Graham Wallace has a very impressive background in football but after all of this is over there will need to be a prolonged period of harmony so that the club can move on and start concentrating attentions on the football it plays rather than the trouble among board members.”
fergussingstheblues we are in almost total agreement, not that agreement between you and I is important!!
Apologies for mentioning OC/NC. I probably should have said.. The acts of the MSM/SFA and others with RFC(NIL) and TRFC are misleading the RFC/TRFC supporters and confusing many Scottish football supporters who do not read this blog! Dressing propaganda and PR as journalism is causing lots of anger overall.
I do explain to many average bears (and some who now refuse to discuss RFC/TRFC with me) what is going to happen next, normally after they spout a headline from the DR/Sun. The worst is yet to come for the RFC/TRFC supporters. Their emotions are being played superbly by the spivs and now the rebels.
My continuous advice since february 2012 is to get organised and get going, look for no one to save you, if you want RFC/TRFC (or whatever it is you are emotionally involved in) to continue to exist then you better get together and get control. Otherwise detach a bit emotionally and get on with your life.
I agree there is an imminent RFC/TRFC shape changing moment due within the next year, However, based on the actions and words of those involved in the SFA it will again be twisted in some other strange way to allow RFC/TRFC/RFC3 to exist and the same people will be emotionally attached to it!
To be clear, in my opinion the judges in the independent commission should have found RFC GUILTY of CHEATING on the evidence presented and the sanction should have been expulsion form the SFA. Then the whole hooky transfer of membership should have been moot. The entire reason they did not is the evidence of Sandy Bryson was not challenged by the SPL lawyer present. Others such as eco are far better at explaining this. I would think you or I attending would have changed the result.
Buddy
Tif Finn says: (1019)
December 15, 2013 at 11:41 pm
‘..Sandy Easdale, the largest shareholder at Rangers, has said the only way the Scottish footbal..’
—–
Do you know, Tif, who authored this article?
john clarke says: (1437)
December 16, 2013 at 12:29 am
1 0 Rate This
Tif Finn says: (1019)
December 15, 2013 at 11:41 pm
‘..Sandy Easdale, the largest shareholder at Rangers, has said the only way the Scottish footbal..’
—–
Do you know, Tif, who authored this article?
&&&&&
Did jack mean ‘tallest’ or ‘largest small shareholder’ or ‘largest shareholder of another company at Rangers’ or ‘the largest contributor to possibly the most crack handed PR outfit since that mob that dreamt up ‘Nothing sucks like an Electrolux’ shareholder in Rangers’?
Disturbingly, there appears to be no plan to deal with the bogeymen!!!!
“Neil Patey, a partner at EY and a football finance expert, added that “where Rangers has really failed over the last year or so is in corporate governance”.
Tic 6709 says: (573)
December 15, 2013 at 8:39 pm
‘….We’re all waiting for Armageddon Thursday..’
———–
I get a little bit concerned sometimes about the level of expectation about what may or may not happen at the long-delayed AGM of the illegitimate club.
Because we have not yet lanced the boil of corruption.
Corruption that will do it damndest to ensure that there will still be some kind of ‘rangers’ fast-tracked to European football.
After Thursday, there could be Administration, Liquidation, sell-off of the assets, many evil bast.rds buying villas in France or the Middle East. Who knows?
But there will still be the Scottish Football Authorities in there pitching for some shambolic new, ‘new ‘rangers” to be catapulted into the ‘big time’.
As said before, the propaganda machine has been working overtime about the ‘need’ for there to be a ‘rangers’.
It has even descended into an appeal almost on behalf of Celtic for there to be a ‘rangers’ in order to keep Celtic up to proper competitive level!
The liars have to be shot down, on the fundamental grounds that to concede any kind of legitimacy either to the present illegitimate RIFC, or to whatever little runt of a pretendy ‘clumpany’ that might emerge after the AGM , would be to administer the kiss of death to football sporting integrity , badly wounded as it is by the almost complete disregard of player betting scams and by the acceptance of the weasel words and actions of people like Bryson and CO..
The stake has to go through the heart of the SFA Board, who keep a zombie club alive, and will strive to keep zombie club 2, or 3, or 4 alive, in complete disregard of truth, if need be.
The board-room fights and general chaos at Ibrox are fun, and interesting, but actually not all that important compared to the wickedness of men who are supposed to run Scottish Football in the interests of all the clubs in the SFA and SPFL, men who have shown by their pqast actions that they they are not worthy of the offices they hold.
Men who should be utterly ashamed of their cowardice and venality.
Not forgetting the apologies for ‘ journalists’ who let them away with it.
john clarke says: (1438)
December 16, 2013 at 1:06 am
Excellent. Well said john clarke!
john clarke says: (1438)
December 16, 2013 at 1:06 am
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Good post.
I bumped into a Pinsent Masons partner the other last week and we had a discussion. I asked him about the report. He hadn’t even been allowed to read it. I said that was because there was so much damning evidence there was no point in involving the innocent in it.
We got onto talking football, he insists he isn’t into football, but was able to offer the opinion that it was worse off with Rangers out of the top league, I explained he was bang wrong and that it wasn’t really form to have one club CHEATING to win. One thing he did mention is that make sure you get paid up front for work by the clumpany.
GeronimosCadillac says: (138)
December 16, 2013 at 1:06 am
“Neil Patey, a partner at EY and a football finance expert, added that “where Rangers has really failed over the last year or so is in corporate governance”.
He’s good isn’t he?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I love when they roll Neil Patey out with his wise predictions for the future wellbeing of that team/club/company down Ibrox way…you just know that, whatever optimistic nonsense he spouts about the future, pretty much the exact opposite will unfold…
….enore Neil, encore…..
A couple of weeks back I said I was hoping that Charles Green would be wheeled out to do another message to the nation, following the spot-on hilarity of the last one. Not to be it seems, but I may have underestimated the sheer entertainment value promised by this year’s big Christmas panto spectacular on the 19th. No doubt a lot of time and effort is being put into ensuring that the actual AGM will be a damp squib, but it should set things up nicely for phase 43 of the debacle, and give us all a lot of meat to digest over the holidays.
And especially nice to see Neil Patey back, as part of a comedy greatest hits package presumably! The man whose predictive abilities rank alongside Michael Fish’s hurricane reassurances. A classic piece of entertainment for the festive season.
Re Neil Patey. Did they really need to roll out the only accountant in the world whose view matters to tell us lack of corporate governance has been a problem at Rangers? Now the great man has spoken we can finally understand some the mess down Ibrox way. We’d really never have guessed there’s been a lack of corporate governance would we!
More than ever I’m convinced the media believe we are all thick, I really am. God help us all.
Morning all.
v
john clarke says: (1438)
December 16, 2013 at 1:06 am
Tic 6709 says: (573)
December 15, 2013 at 8:39 pm
‘….We’re all waiting for Armageddon Thursday..’
———–
I get a little bit concerned sometimes about the level of expectation about what may or may not happen at the long-delayed AGM of the illegitimate club.
====================
John,it was a joke.
I have only morbid interest in the upcoming AGM,as you and many others have said, in particular Auldheid ,the pathetic shambles that has unfolded over at Ibrox is of secondary importance to the wellbeing of our national game.
I think it is the Tom Farmery piece, John. Certainly, judging by the tweet in the post immediately preceding it.
The media in Scotland work on the premise that they speak for and to the general public. They assume that everyone is as ignorant as they are and that anyone who holds a contrary opinion is
a) Wrong
b) Motivated by hatred
C) a Celtic supporter (even when faced with vehement denial)
d) All of the above.
Wheeling out Neil Patey highlights their ignorance. No doubt Mr Patey is eminently qualified, but is he the only accountant in Scotland with an opinion on the Sevcoshambles? Or is he the only accountant in Scotland with an opinion which smooths the hacks furrowed brow?
Morning all.
I see Mr Easdale has stated that if the present board is still in place on Friday morning then “more funds” will be available when necessary.
This sop to the fans means nothing but will be taken as a promise of untold riches.
Are the current board pledging to carry losses of £10m per season for the foreseeable future?.
I doubt it.
Meanwhile,according to reports this morning,Ally is giving his proxy to the fans.We’ll see.
At the start of what could be a very traumatic week I think we should spare a thought for Alistair McCoist.
Despite all his valiant efforts he still seems to be up against insurmountable obstacles in his efforts to halve his ludicrously high salary.
Add to that the fact that even if the value of his shares fell by another 70% he would still realise a 1000% profit.
All in all it would appear that no matter how hard he tries he just can’t prevent himself from bleeding the club he loves so dearly dry.
torrejohnbhoy(@johnbhoy1958) on December 16, 2013 at 8:15 am
@@@@
‘More funds’ = TRIFC lending RFC money secured on what?
How much of the Lee Wallace fee will Ally get?
Re Neil Patey et al
At the end of the day most journos are just looking for an easy and quick ‘cut & paste’ to meet deadlines to fill their columns or airtime.
They have a number of folk on speed dial. They may even be on some kind of retainer for all I know. Anyway the result is that you get the same folk turning up time after time offering the same opinion again and again.
Patey is one of those guys.
If you think about it here are some of the others :-
Politics =Professor of Politics John Curtis
Infectious diseases =Professor of Bacteriology Hugh Pennington
Road safety = AA head – Edmund King
Scottish Policing = Les Gray. Former Chairman. Scottish Police Federation
Travel = The Independents Simon Calder
Lingerie matters = Michele Mone
I am sure many of us on here have done the old cut and paste in our working lives. However while that can be fine for the run of the mill stuff, sometimes you have a delve a bit deeper and put in some hard work yourself or seek out alternative views to gain some balance and perspective !!
Kilgore Trout says: (103) December 16, 2013 at 8:25 am
. . . .I think we should spare a thought for Alasdair McCoist.
. . . .it would appear that no matter how hard he tries he just can’t prevent himself from bleeding the club he loves so dearly dry.
________________________________________________________________________________________
He’s worth it !
Every penny – just for what his managerial failures (esp. v NK Maribor Aug 2011) alone have cost Rangers/Sevco.
Rangers manager Ally McCoist will give the proxy for his 1.5% of shares in the club to the East Kilbride Supporters club at Thursday’s annual general meeting. (Various)
Ahhhhh !
So It IS the CLUB – not the company !!
wottpi says: (1326)
December 16, 2013 at 8:30 am
3 0 Rate This
Re Neil Patey et al
At the end of the day most journos are just looking for an easy and quick ‘cut & paste’ to meet deadlines to fill their columns or airtime.
They have a number of folk on speed dial. They may even be on some kind of retainer for all I know. Anyway the result is that you get the same folk turing up time after time offering the same opinion again and again.
Patey is one of those guys.
If you think about it hear are some of the others :-
Politics =Professor of Politics John Curtis
Infectious diseases =Professor of Bacteriology Hugh Pennington
Road safety = AA head – Edmund King
Scottish Policing = Les Gray. Former Chairman. Scottish Police Federation
Travel = The Independents Simon Calder
Lingerie matters = Michele Mone
I am sure many of us on here have done the old cut and paste in our working lives. However while that can be fine for the run of the mill stuff, sometimes you have a delve a bit deeper and put in some hard work yourself or seek out alternative views to gain some balance and perspective !!
=====================================================
I reckon michele mone could be a special adviser on all things Sevco
– as she’s seen a lot of diddies in her time !
I assume that Ally knows that he can’t give his “club shares” voting rights to the fans as any reasonably educated person knows that the only shareholders in the club are RIFC.he owns zilch,as do the fans.
wottpi says: (1326)
December 16, 2013 at 8:30 am
0 0 Rate This
Re Neil Patey et al
At the end of the day most journos are just looking for an easy and quick ‘cut & paste’ to meet deadlines to fill their columns or airtime.
=======================
I fully understand that, but what I fail to understand is why this Patey person appears to be the goto man on football finance for every single media outlet in Scotland. Patey has been wrong so many times and on so many levels that you would think at least one newspaper might look for an alternative.
Anyway, just for once, Patey is correct. Corporate governance at Ibrox is a shambles (some would say nonexistent ) and has been for years. However why is Patey only making this statement of the blindingly obvious now? He has had a media platform many times over the last 2 years, but said nothing, except to tell us all how very rosy the Ibrox garden was looking that day.
As regards this AGM, it will be like all AGM’s. The current board will be sitting with enough proxies to win every vote.There will be a lot of hot air from the floor and sweet nothings from the platform. Malcolm Murray’s latest statement, promising that the fight will continue after the AGM, seems to acknowledge that.
Easdale’s promise of funding is interesting, but I note that none of our intrepid press corps thought to ask the two obvious questions- exactly who will supply this “investment”, and what form will this take, soft loans, hard loans (that’s secured on Ibrox) or more shares?
And then there is Ally. He’s giving his proxy to the fans. Well, whatever else you say about Ally, he is a lot better at sitting on a fence than managing a football team. It seems a clever move, designed to enhance his standing with the fans while he continues to fleece them. However I’m pretty sure that Easdale will see it as disloyal, and Ally’s jaiket will be on an even shakier nail than before. I can’t see him lasting much longer after the AGM.
jimlarkin says: (696)
December 16, 2013 at 8:49 am
So now as holders of 1.5% of ‘the club’ will the EK Bears be asking why the manager’s wages still haven”t been cut?
I note the other day that Stockbriodge said the reason behind the dely in the cut back was due to matters being complex.
I am sure I am not the only one on here who saw HR departments manage to alter a shed load of contracts a few years back to allow reduced hour working , non payment of pension benefits etc to enure some companies made it through the recession.
What can be so complex about alterting one person’s contract especially when they apparently are keep for it to happen and the FD predicts ‘the club’ will be running on fumes by April?
1. jimlarkin at 8:54 am said:
‘I reckon michele mone could be a special adviser on all things Sevco
– as she’s seen a lot of diddies in her time!’
—————————————————————-
To be fair: Michelle Mone is also an expert on designing things to go tits up …
Re Neil Patey,
I suspect that his idealistic opinions are voiced constantly ,as any other expert accountant would tell the truth!
Not what the establishment /MSN want to hear; and definitely not what JI would allow to be put into print.
Easdale’s promise of funding sounds awfully like blackmail to me. Is that not a form of corruption???
neepheid says: (928)
December 16, 2013 at 9:09 am
2 0 Rate This
… Easdale’s promise of funding is interesting, but I note that none of our intrepid press corps thought to ask the two obvious questions- exactly who will supply this “investment”, and what form will this take, soft loans, hard loans (that’s secured on Ibrox) or more shares?
———-
@neep
I seem to recall the question was actually asked by Peter Smith in the extended STV interview.
The response was: ‘If they’re no tellin, a’m no sayin.’ His reason for not revealing them then was merely because the ‘gang of four’ wouldn’t reveal their investors.
I thought his (S. Easdale) mention of short-term investment/loans sounded ominous. To be honest, he seemed a bit downbeat, maybe he realizes now that half of his ‘investment’ is already gone?
Danish Pastry says: (1800)
December 16, 2013 at 9:29 am
I seem to recall the question was actually asked by Peter Smith in the extended STV interview.
The response was: ‘If they’re no tellin, a’m no sayin.’ His reason for not revealing them then was merely because the ‘gang of four’ wouldn’t reveal their investors
I thought his (S. Easdale) mention of short-term investment/loans sounded ominous. To be honest, he seemed a bit downbeat, maybe he realizes now that half of his ‘investment’ is already gone?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good for Peter Smith- I stand corrected.
This short-term stuff has a Wonga-like ring to it, but we’ll find out soon enough, because that money will have to be “invested” within the next couple of months or it’s game over. I think we can expect some interesting activity on the financial front early in the New Year.
call me a cynic but…….
within a few hours of a story appearing in the press confirming that the Board have a 54% (had to be 54 didn’t it!) majority we get a story suggesting Super Salary has given his proxy to a supporters club who will vote with the Rebels.
I’ll suggest that either
1. He hasn’t
or
2. He has, but only on the say so of the current board who now don’t need his vote and do need him on board looking like a guy with the clubs best interests at heart – he’ll be handy when it comes to selling season tickets next year when the next load of spivs are in charge
Of course, if the vote goes for the board this thursday, you would expect a man of such moral standing as Ally, who’s shareholding he authorised to vote against the board, to walk away on friday morning. O, is the charachter of the man better displayed by the fact he didn’t have the spine to vote against them directly and instead asked someone else to do it for him. Is that the Rangers way?
Well played ally (whoever it is that is playing you!)
The AGM is irrelevant to the business that is Rangers International and their wholly owned loss-making football team, The Rangers.
However it will allow the various players and factions to state their positions ahead of whatever is really about to happen as the un-sustainability of the current situation starts to reach its critical point.
Both sides need someone to blame.
Especially those who will be perceived to have fleeced the fans.
Neil Patey says (among other things too bland to mention):
” “Now there is that platform of corporate governance in place. ”
Based, it would seem, on the very recent appointment of a Chief Executive into a company where Director’s appointments last for a matter of months on average. Mr Wallace may be the man to change things but let’s wait for some evidence.
Mr Patey is one character who has mystified me in this whole fiasco, if he is not stating the bleeding obvious he is getting it all wrong. i don’t want to drag the discussion down a rat hole so will say no more on the subject.
I am calm now, just hope nobody brings up Duff and Phelps.
If Neil Patey gave you last weeks lottery numbers he’d get them wrong.
http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareTrades.asp?shareprice=RFC&share=rangers_int
40,000 shares dumped today, but no drop in price !.
If you need a meaure of how gullible the TheRangers fans are, just think of Alistair McCoist giving his proxy votes to the Bears to demonstrate his Rangerness now the AGM is safe of the spivs – what a stand up guy, what a hero, what a tower of loyalty and virtue.
Bears – here’s a thought – he’s taking more cash out of your club than many of the spivs – that makes him a SPIV – and he’s laughing at you from behind his bank statement
CFC should change their name and donate the, “the” back to companies house in case anyone needs one, must be a few EBT recipients bricking it ( T(-)SDM, TCO, The Dick Advocaat etc) and, just because they can as well. Just a thought. Carry on.
Ally pledged the proxy to the EKB Supporters Club, when did he do that?
First thing you think of when you are given a load of cheap shares “who will I give the voting rights to?”.
I can only imagine how overwhelmed I would be if somebody offered me their proxy vote because they didn’t have the nerve to stand up and be counted.
Who is going to be walking away with the handsome profit on those shares ?
John Clark and others.
The phase that I think we are now entering is simply this. TRFC simply have to be handheld back into Europe – possibly not fast tracked because that would simply make the assistance too obvious – but hand held or they fold (presumably reincarnating once more but this time without a stadium). A competitive division 1 (assuming they get there without any further hiccups) doesn’t appear to get them anywhere since receipts will be where they are now, save for two elements – a ticket price increase which would be justified given the fairer competition on the park and a further share offer to the fans on the basis of them visibly seeing where they were relative to the other teams and assuming they won’t stand for 2nd place (the reason the proposed middle tier 3 eights structure still leaves a bad taste in my mouth incidentally). But institutional funding? On those financials?
The reasons for being where they are relative to where they want to be are equally glaring, and feck all to with corporate governance. Firstly they are losing money at speed. Thus without a tank filler the behemoth so beloved of our media grinds to a halt. Secondly, they are about to hit more competitive football (no disrespect to the 3rd and 4th btw) with a fuel tank that’s already on fumes. It is a situation entirely of their own making (remember the strongest club/balance sheet boast!) so frankly I have little interest in Thursday in how they propose to get out of their self imposed howk. I am however extremely sensitive to any hand holding that may be suggested. This model does not work, pure and simple. I fail to see how this model even gets them to 2nd in the SPL where they need to be and even then I would query if they can be profitable once they make it to Europe since, one would have thought, they will also be trying to repay the debt accrued in getting them from here to there.
I can see this now. I’m not afraid to say this now. Others regrettably appear less prepared to report it how it is.
While I am sure there will be some interesting developments I can’t help feeling the AGM is going to be a bit of a damp squib.
I think the real markers for trouble will be when Allys pay cut is confirmed and Wallace is up for transfer.
davythelotion says: (289)
December 16, 2013 at 8:07 am
38 1 Rate This
The media in Scotland work on the premise that they speak for and to the general public. They assume that everyone is as ignorant as they are and that anyone who holds a contrary opinion is
a) Wrong
b) Motivated by hatred
C) a Celtic supporter (even when faced with vehement denial)
d) All of the above.
Wheeling out Neil Patey highlights their ignorance.
No doubt Mr Patey is eminently qualified, but is he the only accountant in Scotland with an opinion on the Sevcoshambles?
Or is he the only accountant in Scotland with an opinion which smooths the hacks furrowed brow?
====================================
Errrrr, well, errrr, there is another qualified accountant they could ask
His name . . . Paul Murray !
If Wallace is put up for sale how much would RFC realistically expect to get for someone plying their trade in the third tier. He’s a good player (certainly a class above the rest of the squad) but I can’t see any team shelling out big bucks for him.
Would £500k get them through until ST renewal time? I can’t see them getting any more than this and certainly not up front. Any buying club will be aware of their financial predicament and will use it to their advantage. Hoist by their own petard.
Just out of mischievous interest.
RIFC are owed say 23m ish now. TRFC own Ibrox recently purchased by them for maybe £1m all in, call it £2m with MP and ignoring what they have subsequently valued it at. So, RIFC are still in the hunt for liquid assets to cover their very real debt. Whats that you say? TRFC are about to sell Lee Wallace and convert him into cash….Interesting…….
Here’s hoping there’s not an acrimonious AGM coming up! If Stockbridge et al were to be erm, moved along, there’s no end of possible consequences.
Of course the players interests must be looked after. I mean an administration could mean a release and another signing on fee with all the money the purchasing clubs save by waiting.
Kippers. Up. Stitched. Make own sentance.
Smugas says: (630)
December 16, 2013 at 11:50 am
John Clark and others.
======================================================================
Smugas – if TRFC won the SPL next season and got to the CL last 16 the following season (bear with me) they would still be a basket case because anyone at Ibrox who understands money is taking it out and anyone who understands football (sit down McCoist) wants to spend like the old days. There is simply no soft landing for this business model. The SFA/SPL?SFL exhausted their powers and integrity getting this far and have little else to offer other than honest mistakes and rule bending to allow TRFC into Europe even if they lose a cup final. But this squad would get panned across Europe leading to more calls for mega spending – the lunacy never ends.
In summary, doomed, doomed, doomed – it’s just a matter of how and how long
You missed a year.
Tic 6709 says: (574)
December 16, 2013 at 7:32 am
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Morning all.
v
john clarke says: (1438)
December 16, 2013 at 1:06 am
Tic 6709 says: (573)
December 15, 2013 at 8:39 pm
‘….We’re all waiting for Armageddon Thursday..’
———–
I get a little bit concerned sometimes about the level of expectation about what may or may not happen at the long-delayed AGM of the illegitimate club.
====================
John,it was a joke.
I have only morbid interest in the upcoming AGM,as you and many others have said, in particular Auldheid ,the pathetic shambles that has unfolded over at Ibrox is of secondary importance to the wellbeing of our national game.
=========================================
I’m copying this over from CQN as the conclusion (still to be verified from what the SFA have said and what the other evidence suggests is one of the examples of the unravelling of football governance. It relates to Res 12 but the general point is are the rules a sham if based on trust?
Fred C. Dobbs
02:23 on
16 December, 2013
macjay1 for Neil Lennon,
How much did the Huns and the SFA cost us with their euro licence skullduggery?
How much of those Millions could we have donated???
================================
Fred (everyone)
The answer is nothing in the technical terms of granting the licence. At the point of granting at 31 March the actual payment determination had not arrived, doing so on 20th May 2011. So at that 31 March point not only was the tax not overdue it was not technically payable either and the timing of events allowed the SFA to grant the licence.
As it turns out (and it would have been useful to know this at the time) Celtic queried the granting of the licence at end of 2011 and were correctly told that under Article 50 of UEFA FFP that requires at 31 March no tax overdues payable from earlier years the licence was properly granted. No mention was made of subsequent monitoring requirements.
Now that would have been the end of it all had it not become public knowledge that the bill been not been paid by Aug 2011 and had there not been monitoring rules asking clubs to state the overdue payables position at 30 June under Article 66 and 30 Sept under Article 67.
As a result of Res 12 Celtic picked up on the significance of Art 66 and 67 and wrote to the SFA for clarification.
The demand to pay was served on 20th May which is when the bill became due and what needs to be established is if it became overdue by 30th June i.e. had to be paid by then AND if it was overdue was it also an “overdue payable” because none of the 4 criteria described in Ann VIII of UEFA FFP for ignoring it as such applied.
There is doubt around this which should be clarified over the holiday period and it is possible that technically the SFA are correct in what they say about it not being overdue or an overdue payable at either 30 June or 30 September.
What also needs to be clarified is what the SFA should have done under Art 66 and Art 67 monitoring rules should they have decided it was an overdue payable or should the result of the aforementioned checking suggest the SFA got it wrong.
It looks like any consequences would have applied from the following season but of course by then in Feb 2012 Rangers had no audited accounts and were refused a licence on those grounds for season 2012/13 under Art 47 (and Sevco were refused one for 3 years as a club with less than 3 years membership of the SFA under Article 12) so the issue of the their behaviour in 2011 with regard to what they and the SFA were up to from June 2011 never arose.
A suggestion has also emerged that the process at the Art 66 stage (and perhaps before) is one of self certification and Regan has stated on Radio (but not sure what SFA have actually written down in response to Celtic ) that once a licence was granted the matter was out of the SFA’s hands. If what he says in writing is what he said on radio he and the SFA fail to understand the SFA’s role with regard to monitoring as required by UEFA FFP rules on the matter.
My take on the issue is that Rangers misled the SFA and so possibly UEFA who were prepared to believe what they were told rather than really investigate the situation for fear of what they either already knew or suspected.
If self certification is indeed the foundation on which the process is built then the issue facing football authority across Europe is what to do if a club are dishonest and a national association fail to do their job properly.
I’m not sure it is a question football authorities want to answer, but if they are serious about applying their own rules then they must.
MCFC
Increasingly it appears to me that TRFC (as opposed to the somewhat healthier holding company) are back in a staring competition with the SFA/SPFL and waiting to see who blinks first. On that subject, guess which of the following is CO 😯 or 😥 .
Seriously, its unquestionably time for the “too big to fail” card again. And yet this time, people are hardened that maybe they’re not, and secondly that they are only big by their own petard and can only remain big by using other people’s money to be so, firstly BoS, then HMRC, and now ‘institutions’ and fans. Oh and definitely the fans. Again, and again, and again…
“However I’m pretty sure that Easdale will see it as disloyal, …”
Nope, he (they) won’t. The incumbent board now know that they have majority support and thus the vote wrapped up. If they had needed Ally’s vote then they would have got it. This is a very good exercise in PR – Ally’s vote is now effectively worthless, but he is still one of the spivs’ best weapons on the PR front and his “PR share value” has taken a bit of a knock of late with the salary news. The idea of giving Ally’s vote to a local supporters’ club is also excellent – it means that he doesn’t align himself with any of the major supporters’ groupings, who are mostly against the incumbent board, while showing “concern” for the ordinary supporter. One of the most interesting aspects of this whole charade for me has been the PR management aspect (ably aided by the largely emasculated and obsequious Scottish MSM) and this, forgetting all else, is an example of good PR.
Ordinarily you would think so – if D Murray were still in charge, then I wouldn’t be so sure. You can bet there’d be some ex Manager/Player etc. currently in charge of a club, who would offer over the going rate for ‘inexplicable’ reasons. Maybe they would just really want that player…..
However, you could look at it another way – it’s simply TRFC adjusting to the proven business model in Scotland; You get a player, develop them, move them on for a transfer/development fee. It’s what Celtic do, it certainly appears to be what Hamilton do, and it looks as if it’s what Dundee United realised they would have to do several years ago and is now bearing very valuable fruit for them.
Of course, I’m not sure if one panic sale for less than the value paid for the player in the first place (albeit by a different….er… company) would really count under that particular model!
Why have Celtic and other clubs sat back and watched the TRFC / SFA / SPL / SFL indignity fest?
Some say it’s cowardice, some say it’s self interest. As an outside I’d suggest it’s something else – they simply understood that the single act of fan-power denying TRFC entry to the SPL would seal Sevco’s fate. A business model that was unsustainable in the SPL/CL would be a mill stone in the lower leagues. So there was no need to create enemies and bogeymen by acting further. The fact that TRFC were denied access to SFL Div One simply confirmed the death sentence. The added bonus for the patient observers was seeing the authorities whore themselves trying to avoid the unavoidable. Was it Napoleon who said that when your enemy is making a dreadful mistake, you should not intervene.?
Re McCoist’s “side step”:
Perhaps it is his “So long and thanks for the fish” moment assuming he has read Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy.
He knows the belt will be tightened, so need I say more?
Smugas says: (632)
December 16, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Seriously, its unquestionably time for the “too big to fail” card again
=============================================================================
I’m sure they’ll try but RIFC/TRFC and SFA are wounded beasts – Armageddon didn’t happen – the rest of Scottish football seems happy without them. The SFA managed to see their old friends over a rough patch but they are now vulnerable themselves. I can’t see what the SFA could do to sustain the Ibrox money inferno. So any efforts will be highly entertaining.. Ultimately, the old Ibrox regime could not compete without illicit spending. Have the new lot proved significantly better at either football or finances ?
Bill “Merlin” McMurdo not too impressed by McCoist’s vote giveaway.
http://billmcmurdo.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/board-tipped-to-win/#respond
““an incredible abdication of responsibility.”
m.c.f.c. says: (28)
December 16, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Why have Celtic and other clubs sat back and watched the TRFC / SFA / SPL / SFL indignity fest?
Some say it’s cowardice, some say it’s self interest. As an outside I’d suggest it’s something else – they simply understood that the single act of fan-power denying TRFC entry to the SPL would seal Sevco’s fate. A business model that was unsustainable in the SPL/CL would be a mill stone in the lower leagues. So there was no need to create enemies and bogeymen by acting further. The fact that TRFC were denied access to SFL Div One simply confirmed the death sentence. The added bonus for the patient observers was seeing the authorities whore themselves trying to avoid the unavoidable. Was it Napoleon who said that when your enemy is making a dreadful mistake, you should not intervene.?
==============================
Could I nominate this post as TSFM’s equivalent of the film Its a Wonderful Life!
FWIW I do not wish TRFC any harm by it (I hope Ryan is beavering away as we speak). They held their own destiny in their own hands and appear to have blown it (whilst always being wary of the standard controversial equaliser in glasgow :wink:). But to have watched our previously trusted authority and media figures, to use your perfectly accurate term MCFC, whore themselves so publicly (thanks charlotte) so humiliatingly, so desperately, whilst completely ignoring the futility of their situation if there were to be no efforts from within to address their achilles heel has been a joy.
So why do I feel a fall coming?
The Loyalty Liability
Has the loyalty (gullibility) of the Bears become a liability for the spivs. The fag packet strategy could have read: employ the worst possible CEO, employ the worst possible Manager, employ the worst possible Chairman, do a quick IPO, suck out the cash, bombard the fans with wave after wave of bollox until they lose heart and drift away, then sell off the assets when no body cares. But in a plot twist reminiscent of The Producers, the fans have proved immune to bollox and they still care in their own unique way,hanging around to threaten the safety of anyone seen talking to a major retail outlet. Well it started as The Producers but it seems to be morphing into Misery.
m.c.f.c. says: (29)
December 16, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Why have Celtic and other clubs sat back and watched the TRFC / SFA / SPL / SFL indignity fest?
Some say it’s cowardice, some say it’s self interest. As an outside I’d suggest it’s something else – they simply understood that the single act of fan-power denying TRFC entry to the SPL would seal Sevco’s fate. A business model that was unsustainable in the SPL/CL would be a mill stone in the lower leagues. So there was no need to create enemies and bogeymen by acting further. The fact that TRFC were denied access to SFL Div One simply confirmed the death sentence. The added bonus for the patient observers was seeing the authorities whore themselves trying to avoid the unavoidable. Was it Napoleon who said that when your enemy is making a dreadful mistake, you should not intervene.?
________________________________
It’s a Wonderful Life Indeed! I’d love to believe in a master strategy of inactivity among the major clubs but I’m as likley to believe in that as I am in guardian angels looking after philanthropic bankers (I mean, really!, both are clearly works of fiction).
The voice of fanpower was heard in summer 2012 by which time there had been chicanery a plenty across the establishment to prevent RFC slippling quetly away. The clubs and their chairmen had numerous opportunities to ensure rules were followed prior to their clubs’ fans making their voice heard. That they kept their heads down after the SPL and SFL1 votes was just consistent with their stance before them.
In terms of McCoist and his jacket being on a shoogly peg. He is secure whilst his presence brings in fans income. As soon as he doesn’t, he’s gone to be replaced by someone on a fraction of the salary. Not because the business model won’t support his salary but if the fans are walking away then the cash cow is drying up so who cares what they think. The move to realise the assets can then sart in earnest.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says: (1061)
December 16, 2013 at 9:50 am
“2. He has, but only on the say so of the current board who now don’t need his vote and do need him on board looking like a guy with the clubs best interests at heart”
_____________________________________________
That matches my immediate thoughts on reading about Ally’s ‘gesture’. Keeps him covered with both the fans and the board. Typical of the wee self serving ‘man of the people’. Your point about the board needing him on board is also a good one with this gesture upping his ‘good Ger’ factor, making the gullible even more gullible when he exhorts them to buy season tickets.
Meanwhile Neil Patey says the obvious about RIFC’s recent corporate governance in a way that suggests, now they have men who will provide good corporate governance on the board, that everything is hunky dorey. He doesn’t even hint at how this will solve things for RIFC, and indeed, how this will help TRFC, because it most probably won’t. Better corporate governance will lead, at best, to massive cutbacks, even if they find some miraculous cash input.
It’s a bit like putting Frankie Dettori on an old nag; he will undoubtedly make it look better, it might win a few races against other old nags; but in the end, it is still an old nag, and on it’s last legs!
It wouldn’t be the first time reference to Max Biallystock had been made on this blog.
Who would have thought the Rangers support would be such big fans of “Springtime for Hitler and Germany”
Auldheid says: (1098)
December 16, 2013 at 12:43 pm
and Sevco were refused one for 3 years as a club with less than 3 years membership of the SFA under Article 12
—————————————————————————–
now, the recent ASA ruling stated that the SFA had confirmed Sevco had received the SAME membership from RFC and therefore had CONTINUING membership
if that is what the SFA really believe – and appear to have confirmed publicly to the ASA, then we may well have an interesting summer should Sevco “qualify” via the Scottish Cup this year.
interesting times indeed.
If my reading of the blogs from the Dark side is accurate then the Easdales have turned into duplicate, cloned Santas, just in time. They are now the ONLY show in town.
No sugar daddy, off the radar billionaire was forthcoming so these two will have to do. Any port in a storm eh? No secret consortium waiting in the wings. No King, McColl, Bill Miller, Bill Ng, No Arab Sheiks.
And all they have to show for their last week’s work is a couped Burger van in Larbert.
Scottish Football needs a secure Chip Shop.
Re McCoist gift of shares to the fans. A wee touch of the Pontius Pilate there – noney ma bisness ma breed’s well buttered already.
justpedylan says: (36)
December 16, 2013 at 2:11 pm
It’s a Wonderful Life Indeed! I’d love to believe in a master strategy of inactivity among the major clubs but I’m as likley to believe in that as I am in guardian angels looking after philanthropic bankers (I mean, really!, both are clearly works of fiction).
=============================================================================
I’m not suggesting a master plan – or even a strategy – or even concerted action – I’m much more of a reductionist myself – each day the boards of the other clubs pondered what to do and decided their best option was to wait and see how things worked out given the strong odds that Sevco would need a financial miracle or two to survive.
We can speculate how bad the books are at Ibrox but the other boards have a much deeper insight into the mechanics of keeping a club afloat – even without the millstone of Ibrox and MP and outlandish expectations around your neck.
This week’s vote was won a long time ago. In the fact the vote has always been won. Does anyone really think that those now running the club haven’t made sure that they always, through the “consortium” of individuals and groups, had enough votes to retain control? (not counting Ally’s votes – he’s not one of the cabal, merely their number 1 PR weapon). They just couldn’t admit it straight away in case it led us all to understand the true situation of the extent of their control (as if we didn’t know already). Also, far better to only let it be known that a majority was obtained as late as possible in the game, and as close to the meeting as possible – it’s always better to let the opposition get a bit of wind in their sails before deflating them, while not giving them enough time afterwards to get those sails up again before the meeting.
I think you’re being a bit generous in your interpretation of the New Struth’s actions. He doesn’t do walking away from 1 million shares, even at only 35p each.
Auchinstarry at2.45pm says. Good post, I laughed out loud at that vision of the “couped burger van” hat doffed. 😀
There is a battle going on at the moment over the control of Rangers, but it doesn’t concern this week’s vote. Instead it is a battle for the hearts and minds of the Rangers support. What the Rangers supporters don’t realise to its fullest extent yet is that they are the most powerful player in this game.
The spivs in control have always known that the income generated by the supporters is crucial, at least in the short/medium term, to the fruition of their plans and have approached the problem of keeping them onside in several ways. Firstly they figured out what the support wanted – the carrot of future success, a continuing belief that the rest of Scottish football hated them and was out to sink them, and the continuation of the WATP / Rangers Men mantra. They have cleverly managed PR, with the help of the Scottish MSM, to ensure that the support is happy about the first two, and used, among others, Ally, and to a lesser extent, Walter, to ensure the third. In addition I would be very surprised if they haven’t concentrated their efforts on the leaders of the supporters’ groups, trying to keeping them close and “cherished”.
So what changed? Well everything was in fact going quite well until the requisitioners came along and used the same tactics against them. Now we all know that both sides are blowing hot air, but the support, perhaps finally starting to realise that something is afoot, have appeared to still have a need to believe in the same old fluff and so have started deserting one sinking ship for another.
This is what has made the current owners scared. With the supporters against them, their plan is not perhaps dead in the water, but they’ll have to carry out their “fast withdrawal” contingency plan (which I imagine has been in place for a long time) and very probably they won’t earn as much from the whole shenanigans as they would originally have expected. That is why it was excellent PR when a wee while ago a representative of Rangers warned supporters that they could kill the club if they revolted. Fear is almost always effective as a control measure. He was right (except we all know Rangers would never die, they would just be reborn), but what he really meant was “you could kill our plans if you revolt”.
So, the next few days and weeks will see the biggest PR offensive that the owners can muster in order to try and win the support back. They will have a fair bit of time to do so because the move from “we don’t like what you’re doing” to “we’ll boycott you” to an actual boycott is not one that will happen overnight). I’ll be interested to see how they go about it.
Just had a squint at the DR site (I was actually looking for the AVB story if truth is told). I see Jackson is playing the ‘Smith and Greig won’t be back’ card.
And its only Monday!
Oh, and weejie Board.
I reckon a January headline list full of War chests, La Liga links and, this year, a fair sprinkling of “Utd stars willing to take step down to help their beloved Gers” will do the trick. Its worked for the last 25 years after all.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says: (1062)
December 16, 2013 at 2:22 pm
“now, the recent ASA ruling stated that the SFA had confirmed Sevco had received the SAME membership from RFC and therefore had CONTINUING membership
if that is what the SFA really believe – and appear to have confirmed publicly to the ASA, then we may well have an interesting summer should Sevco “qualify” via the Scottish Cup this year.
interesting times indeed.”
Part of me would like to see Sevco victorious in the Scottish Cup, (courtesy of a few honest mistakes of course) with a hurting vanquished Hibs as runners up. It would be priceless to see the SFA contorting/ignoring/changing rules where possible, or summoning Mr Bryson for clarity in their case to propel the Sevco into Europe. Failing that using the old “discretion” get out clause.
I’m sure Uefa would turn their customary blind eye and the desired outcome achieved……only to be trumped by an appeal by Hibs to the courts. Nothing would please me more than see the governors of our game squirming under oath in a witness box at the sustained questioning of an untainted lawyer working for truth and transparency.
I can but dream…………
Read Keevin’s diatribe in DR on internet today, It is now creeping into his column every day now that his “persona non grata” at Celtic Park is getting under his skin. Without an apology to CFC and the Fallon family he will remain outside the tent. 😥
I would concur with fellow Bampots, that there is nothing of substance to decide at the AGM on Thursday, [assuming it still happens 😉 ]
The decisions / votes have already been made / counted well in advance.
It’s just the PR aspect to manage on the day.
So, for my tuppence worth…
1) Stockbridge.
Suppose he could actually choose to resign, to escape the demonisation from the bears.
Presumably he would walk with a decent payoff – and would be unable to repay the GBP200K bonus.
…and this might have been his planned / anticipated ‘exit strategy’ anyway.
2) Irvine.
Arguably irrelevant in the great scheme of things, but his name does generate an emotional response from the bears for calling an ex-football player ‘thick’ ! Shocking… 🙄
The announcement of a ‘planned’ termination of Irvine’s services would be an easy sop to appease the fans.
3) Can the fans be bothered to protest ?
The expected / hoped for fireworks at the AGM might be reduced to a couple of sparklers.
The AGM should still be good for a laugh though, what with all that dignity on show.
BBC Newsdrive -The former Celtic player Paul McGowan has pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers.
Why is it not reported firstly that he is a St Mirren player? McGowan who made his debut in 2007 failed to make any impact and has been with Morton,Hamilton on loan since 2007 and eventually signed for The Buddies.The Celtic connection is tenuous to say the least.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says: (1062)
December 16, 2013 at 2:22 pm
11 0 Rate This
Auldheid says: (1098)
December 16, 2013 at 12:43 pm
and Sevco were refused one for 3 years as a club with less than 3 years membership of the SFA under Article 12
—————————————————————————–
now, the recent ASA ruling stated that the SFA had confirmed Sevco had received the SAME membership from RFC and therefore had CONTINUING membership
if that is what the SFA really believe – and appear to have confirmed publicly to the ASA, then we may well have an interesting summer should Sevco “qualify” via the Scottish Cup this year.
interesting times indeed.
=====
You can be sure that the SFA will do all it can to award a UEFA license if sevco win the scottish cup
So continuous membership – 2 separate entities (you need that at least to transfer anything)
How does that work exactly, one is the club one wants to be the club
So who played Brechin on 29/07/12 under the mysterious “conditional Membership”
Continuous must mean something else in that alternate reality
normanbatesmumfc says: (48)
December 16, 2013 at 5:07 pm
…
Part of me would like to see Sevco victorious in the Scottish Cup …
I’m sure Uefa would turn their customary blind eye and the desired outcome achieved…only to be trumped by an appeal by Hibs to the courts. Nothing would please me more than see the governors of our game squirming under oath in a witness box at the sustained questioning of an untainted lawyer working for truth and transparency.
I can but dream…
===============
Well, actually we should also remind ourselves on a regular basis that another aspect of the SFA / Govan club shambles is that the SFA took no punitive action against the club for daring to appeal to the Court of Session re: the transfer embargo.
That is surely going to come back to bite the SFA on the bum in the future?
Whenever another club feels so strongly that the SFA has acted in an incompetent / unfair / corrupt manner, appealing to the Court of Session could be considered as an option without repercussions ?
Just a matter of time I suppose…
Can’t agree with that. The only reason the clubs did the right thing was because of fan power pure and simple. They would have been quite happy to continue with ‘a Rangers’ in the SPL in any form, lest they lost the crumbs that would get from the TV deal etc. It was only when they were rudely reminded that it is their own fans who keep them afloat, that they all of a sudden saw the light. Traynor didn’t get a lot right, but his ‘sporting intergrity’ sneering was spot on – the clubs could hardly come out and go ‘Well, we’d have been quite happy to keep taking your tainted pound, but our fans made it clear that they’d have walked away in droves had we done so.’
You only have to look at the amount of pressure that was put on the SFL by the SPL (i.e. the clubs, because they were the SPL, lest we forget) to drop the new club straight into the first division, so that they’d only have one season being denied the blue pound. Rod Petrie was especially vocal about this, and his reward is to be seen as one of the ‘enemies of Rangers’.
However, what the last couple of seasons have hopefully shown the boards of our top teams is that actually, you don’t need their money, Armageddon didn’t result, and guess what, your crowds have actually gone up as a result of the renewed interest in our game. I would hope that if the situation did arise again (and given the way that TRFC are going about their business, it’s a distinct possibility) the clubs would have the fortitude to go ‘You know what, we don’t need you. Take your bullying and your threats to the semi-professional leagues, and work your passage back up.’
I’m in the “damp squib AGM” camp. As posted by various, the board has the votes. Ally’s proxy vote to the EK Bears has been correctly called a bit of PR spin.
Stockbridge may be sacrificed or want out, fully paid up as per contract of course, to be replaced by another hand picked spiv bean counter. All of our original cast will have then departed the stage.
What better moment to choose than a cold and frosty Jan or Feb morning, as the bears nurse their credit card bills, to quietly announce the shareholders (for who they really?) have transferred Ibrox & MP to RIFC.
The board can whistle up Jack so the press fill all the column inches required to make it clear what a fantastic money saving ploy this is, freeing up money for a top flight war chest etc etc. If the bears kick up a real fuss I’d imagine Messrs. Easdale will be wheeled out to quieten down any dissent.
As clean a getaway as you could imagine with £20m IPO cash, the title deeds to £30m in property and either long term rental income or a big pay day if they flog RIFC to a property co.
It’s often said a frog will jump out of boiling water but will sit there as the water is gently heated until its dead. I don’t know if that’s true or not but I think we’ll see if it works on bears shortly.