Our latest podcast features Big Pink chatting to Stuart Cosgrove.
The discussion focuses on the role and impact of social media in sport, but also includes Fair Play, Leadership, Interdependence, Rangers, Celtic, St. Johnstone, Forgiveness – and Bruce Springsteen!
The link below is to the iTunes store page for our Podcasts. If you go there, you can subscribe to the podcast (on your PC or iPhone) and new episodes will automatically be sent to you.
Since we have just been approved for a spot on iTunes, the iTunes search side of things may not work properly for a day or so.
Anyone got any thoughts on this?
Bartin Main @MainBartin 48m
The new KDS Sevco thread has “remember Wavetower?” as it’s sub- header. Can anyone shed any light on that- #RangersFCGroup #FloatingCharge ?
Five things
First I’m laughing out loud while I write having scanned the above posts and seen the photo.
The new away football kit is what you would expect from an organisation run by RCO and SR.
Out of touch and off the pace.
Quite embarrassing.
Quite hilarious.
And will be as successful as the Ford Edsel.
It must be a joke.
Secondly Stuart and Pinkie’s Podcast was superb.
Whether on or off the park there is always going to be a tendency to cheat your way to victory.
The big blue club are not even the first blue club to cheat their creditors (and their fans too)
Livvy and Gretna are right up there and for every cheat that wins there are honest clubs and folk who miss out.
Its how we manage and deal with the cheats that matters.
That takes me to my third point
Stuart rightly gets tore in to the administrators even though he was nice about it.
None of us believe that they are fit for purpose or even even-handed because incompetence is one thing and can be worked on but the inherent and institutionalised bias is more difficult to eradicate.
Our clubs need help because the guys at the top keep them in the dark.
I have a friend on the working board of a diddy SPL club and his boss knows well he is not in the SFA “inner sanctum”.
His boss (the chairman) wasn’t asked about his views on the 5 way agreement – he was told what was going to happen and told it was for his own good too!
He was fed their bull – the same stuff they tried to feed to us too – Armageddon and all that.
That’s just the way it is and only the clubs can fix it but the good guys – people like my pal who are in every club are too busy worrying about surviving to spend the time to address the big picture.
Fourthly his take on the MSM with their 3 pages every day for each of the two biggest clubs and one for the rest was bang on the money and does our game no favours.
Finally I agree that anonymity comes with issues.
I personally just followed the norm when I came to RTC/TSFM and earlier WordPressers had already taken my names, I had to make one up or steal one and I did a bit of both.
However Stevie BC part outed me in an earlier post when he guessed the Smith part.
So now I’m half anonymous, Finloch Smith.
allyjambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 12:40
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I agree that knowing the names of bloggers etc would not attract TRFC fans to TSFM. What I’m saying is that a site that is more transparent and accountable might be the first move in working toward reconciliation. Only when ALLl fans are reconciled can the issues we have with the SFA/SPFL be tackled effectively.
I’m not sure how inventing a convoluted scenario involving your son defending your honour is an argument against relinquishing anonymity but as you say in your post anout the scenario there’s “Not much of a chance of it happening”.
I’m not so sure TSFM is in the bears firing line so much these days. There is a realisation amongst them that they have been stitched up by their own “saviours” and therefore less need to direct their anger at all and sundry.
Can somebody please confirm for me that the Scotland away strip thing is a bad joke organised by a photoshop expert? Please? Pretty please?
Bogsdollox, I’m not sure I follow your zeal on the anonymity issue. It seems to have raised more posts from you than I’ve seen you make before? How can me posting as, say Graeme Milne – a made-up name that sounds more like a real name than Nawlite – possibly help anyone?
Anonimity is good practice on the WWW, generally. I am on a forum which deals with speciallity in engineering where the majority use pen names. There is no danger from other posters but you would end up getting spammed non stop. The nuisance is from the internet. It’s the way it is.
nawlite says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:24
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So you’re suggesting I’m a troll. I’m not – my Bogsie monicker is an old one because on this site I can’t login under the name I use on the new site (forgot password) and before you ask who I am on the new site I must ask you to respect my anonymity on that one.
As for “zeal” – I’m not too bothered one way or the other. I think it is a decision for each blogger to make taking in to account their own individual circumstances. Cosgrove takes part in Podcasts and Blogs on here in his own name and he’s still in one piece!
I thought SC made a good point about anonymity and that it was worth discussing. We’re not getting much of a discussion – more a let’s leave it like it is because the extreme bears are too troublesome which conveniently deflects from the argument about transparency and accountability which I am trying to make.
Ask yourself if being anonymous adds or subtracts from the credibility of TSFM’s claim to represent all football fans and can therefore be trusted to ask the questions the MSM don’t?
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:01
Sorry you found my scenario involving my son as convoluted, I realise it’s a bit invented too, but we are talking about a section of society that sends letter bombs and bullets through the post, maybe not all of that section, but the WATP mindset lends itself to all forms of unreasonable, and violent, actions. My poor effort was merely to show how, even as remote as I am from their bile, I have others to think of before feeling free to post here under my name. The moderators and principal bloggers might have greater concerns for their own, and families’ safety/jobs, – that was my point. For most people, our own desire to see the right thing done comes a remote second to protecting our families, however unlikely it is that they be put in harms way.
Though I agree there is a need for all fans to be reconciled, I can’t see how giving real names on this site will help in reconciliation. TSFM might not be in the bears firing line, right now, but they have previous on how that can change should things hit the fan once more. They like to blame someone for their ills, ills usually caused by one, or more, of their own.
However, taking the idea of retribution out of the discussion. Finloch has just posted a very good post on 5 topics, one of which mentioned a friend who works on the board of a diddy SPL club. Do you think he could be as free with this information, perhaps risking trouble for, or a falling out with, his friend, if he used his real name? If nothing else, it might mean an end to ‘inside stories’. In many ways, anonymity will give us access to information we might otherwise never read.
Your quotes…
“Re Anonymity – It appears I continue to plough a lone furough on this one.”
“TSFM is part of the media and also acts as a public servant in defending the interests of Scottish football fans. It too should be accountable to that public and not least to the people who fund it.”
Then, in reply to being challenged…..
“I’m not too bothered one way or the other. I think it is a decision for each blogger to make taking in to account their own individual circumstances.”
Hmmmmm.
neepheid says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 10:36
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From Richard Wilson in the Herald, interviewing Wallace.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/wallace-still-short-of-trust-after-loan.23534300
“Rangers’ last set of accounts contained a £2.5m unsecured lending facility from directors. According to Wallace, this has never been drawn against and is no longer in place.”
I find that interesting. I recall that when the accounts were published, there was speculation that Deloitte’s had insisted on this facility as a condition for signing off the accounts on a “going concern” basis. Now it seems that whatever assurances Deloittes were given were worthless, since the facility turns out to have been “withdrawn” just when it was most needed.
I can’t imagine Deloittes being happy about this, since it now looks very much as if they were duped. They shouldn’t really be signing off companies as going concerns that very predictably run out of cash 8 months into the next accounting period.
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Spot on……… the previous Directors produced a spurious loan note to get the Delloites sign off. Shocking fiscal management although in keeping with what was going on at that time. Can Wallace “I am putting my career on the line” really turn this around. I will tell you that I would not put my career in such jeopardy
allyjambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:40
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Your apology is accepted. I accept there are WATP bampots out there. All I am saying is that we shouldn’t cower before them and let them set the agenda by enforcing anonymity on one section of society for expressing views they may or may not get violent about.
See my comments above about individuals making their own decisions about anonymity. As for it assisting in reconciliation I think you would accept the principle that the perceived protaganists have to step out of the shadows at some point.
Re Finloch Smith’s (aye right!) point about his diddy club Board member. I’m not asking for posters to reveal their identity but if he did reveal his then I’m sure another channel could be found for the gossip to be made known i.e. a made up user name like Lochfin Thims
nawlite says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:44
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You need to learn to distinguish between a point of principle and a personal opinion.
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13
I am sure you’re not a troll, and you’ve posted quite a bit too of non-troll variety 🙂 , though you do seem a bit keen to criticise the blog’s use of anonymity. I still can’t see how people using their real names will enhance the blog, unless they are obviously in the know ie a respected media personality, or football administrator. Of course, well known people might have good reason not to divulge knowledge, no matter what club they were talking about, so maybe there are one or two posters on here who’s postings would take on greater weight if they used their real names, but we must, of course, respect their right to remain anonymous.
Of course, posting under your real name does have a really nice side effect, just ask Angela Haggerty! Someone who doesn’t have the benefit of the prestige, and protection, of being a well known media figure. Someone that was perceived by the vilest of online heroes to be vulnerable and lacking in the platform that radio and television gives to hit back and blacken the name of a club’s supporters, should they choose to attack him!
allyjambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:01
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I’m not “keen” to criticise the blogs use of anonymity. What I’m seeking to do is air the very important principals about transparency and accountability which are raised by the use of anonymity. Others clearly do not agree but I think it is a debate we have to have to protect the integrity of TSFM. We’re not having a debate about the principals. Instead we are having a discussion about the big bad bogeyman.
Angela posting in her own name took courage in the first place and deep inner strength to repel the morons who attacked her. I have the utmost respect and admiration for her. However, we know now from that episode that the vile online cowards will be dealt with by the authorities and that must give us confidence.
I need to do some work now so this will be my last word on this subject.
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:01
2 11 Rate This
Only when ALLl fans are reconciled can the issues we have with the SFA/SPFL be tackled effectively.
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I agree wholeheartedly with the spirit of this Bogs, but alas there will be no peace without justice….and fans of TRFC and the rest are somewhat out of kilter when seeking justice. IMO title stripping is a an absolute must before we can progress. How can a club who have cheated on an industrial scale (and admitted as much to the FTT) for over a decade expect to suffer liquidation as a result, then claim the tainted titles and subsequent triumphalism? How can the rest of us trust an investigative/appellant body to deliver justice when its president is in receipt of tax dodging baubles? Paid by felons!!!!!? How can the rest of us ‘reconcile’ when a supine media perpetuate a parade of half truths and untruths through a steady tide of repetition, regarding the nature of the Govan club and their shameful role in the corruption of Scottish football?
Fans of TRFC appear to be demanding an apology from everyone and fast tracked back to their ‘rightful place’ sneering down on the rest. Reconciliation is further away now than at any point in the recent past. I shudder to think how far notions of reconciliation will be if TRFC ever reach the SPFL.
On anonymity,
If the identity of any poster was required to be known by the ‘authorities’ due to a post’s content maybe breaking the law, then it most certainly can be.
I would suggest respectfully that anonymity on any medium of this kind is in reality a veneer.
To the specialists in this, everything leaves a fingerprint.
Everything leaves a trail.
Conversely, I would suggest that, working at the level of effort and expertise currently available to the mods, identity would not be guaranteed/verified in any case?
They could get much more info on posters than they do if they wished, but it quite simply would not be worth it.
Leave as is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26351867
Scotland’s new away strip “is a fun, modern interpretation of one of Scotland’s most iconic jerseys and pays homage to the colours of Lord Rosebery,” according to the Scottish FA website.
“First worn in the 1880s and continued throughout the next two decades, Scotland played in the primrose hoops which were synonymous as the racing colours of racehorse owner Archibald Philip Primrose, Lord Rosebery, who was an early patron of Scottish football,” the SFA said.
Reaction to Scotland’s new away strip ? – Away . . . .
.
.
Oh for a court report.
arabest1 says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:28
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Agreed.
allyjamboo: I don’t think the “Chairman of the diddy-team” story should be treated as ‘information’. It is uncorroborated hearsay and should be treated as such.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/feb/26/rangers-hmrc
The view from Englandshire of our beloved Scottish press. They are not impressed. In fact they wonder what the hell is going on.
Richard Wilson
Dave King has urged Rangers supporters to pool their season ticket money and withhold it from the club until their concerns about the running of the club are met
King, a former Ibrox director, wants to lead a fresh fundraising drive for the club, through a new shareholder, but does not believe that the current board will allow to do that.
King believes that with the board having agreed to take a £1.5m loan from Sandy Easdale, the Rangers Football Club chairman, and Laxey Partners, the largest single shareholders in Rangers International Football Club, the intention of the directors is to not seek new funding but use season ticket income. So he has told fans to draw their financial power together to make a series of demands of the board, including representation.
He has also raised concerns about the club’s ability to challenge Celtic for the league title when they eventually return to the top-flight, unless fresh funding is sought. King has reiterated his desire to invest in Rangers again, despite having lost £20m under Sir David Murray, and wants to lead a group of like-minded, high net-worth Rangers fans in a fresh share issue.
Statement by Dave King on Rangers FC
Because of my ongoing interest in the future direction of the club I have deliberately avoided immersing myself in the day-to-day “noise level” that is being played out in the media. By doing this I had hoped to serve as a bridge between non-aligned stakeholders and the club, as well as seeking a way forward that could accommodate all interests. I no longer believe that I can achieve this with the board that is presently in place. I consequently wish to update the fans on my current position.
Late last year I travelled to Scotland in an attempt to find a way forward that would accommodate all parties and ensure sound corporate governance and sound financial planning for the club. Unfortunately, my efforts were in vain. During this period I made it clear to the board that I am a potential source of funding by way of a new capital injection. My prime condition is that any funds introduced by me would go into the club for the benefit of the team and the dilapidating infrastructure.
For the avoidance of doubt, I appreciate that the Rangers board has no obligation to engage with me or to agree with my vision for the future of Rangers. My assessment is that the business is not commercially sustainable in the short term and hence requires a level of soft investment. The board is focusing on right-sizing the business ie. cutting costs to match the income. It is correct that anyclub must, over the long term, operate within its means but in the short term Rangers needs a significant once-off financial boost that cannot be met from the current revenue stream. Without this we will not get back to where we should be. If we cut our costs to suit our present income we will remain a small club and Celtic will shoot through 10 in a row – and beyond – while we slug it out for the minor places. That is not the Rangers that I grew up with and not the Rangers that we should be passing down to our children and grandchildren.
Such a soft investment will only come from a fan based group that regard their return as winning trophies in the top flight. I have been such an investor and want to be so again. I would like to lead a fan-based initiative to acquire an influential shareholding in the club.
I hope that the board will belatedly recognise the importance ofcommunicating with fans on the true state of the club’s finances.Financial transparency should now be a non-negotiable requirement of the fans prior to investing in season tickets. It is an easy deflection for the board to suggest that it has had insufficient time or that it is restricted by AIM regulations. That is simply not true. Legitimate concerns about the club’s financial position have been voiced for a long time. It should have been the board’s number one priority to provide the comfort that the fans need – if it is able to do so. Craig Whyte employed exactly the same reasons for avoiding disclosure of the true financial state of the club during his ill-fated period of ownership.
The board has previously dealt with queries around the club’s finances by giving categoric assurances that there was sufficientfunding until the end of the season. We now know that these assurances were untrue and that emergency financing has been put in place on terms that are not commercial and that indicate the desperate financial position that the club is in. This lack of transparency on the present and projected funding position isextremely worrying. The Craig Whyte purchase would never have happened if the true source of “his” funds had been known. Similarly, the fans would not have purchased season tickets at that time if they had known that their funds were going out of the club. The fans lost their cash and almost lost their club. So now, at this critical time, I remind fellow supporters of the old adage – fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
The fans have no proper insight into the owners of the club and who represents which shareholders on the board. The board has strenuously resisted any attempt by the fans to find out who key shareholders are. What is known is that the current board members have a very minor stake in the club. Rangers has also developed an extremely un-Rangers like culture of “turning on its own”. It is not in Rangers culture to have spin-doctors that feed information to the media in an attempt to damage our own players, management, potential investors, and supporters. Much of what has been fed to the media is clearly untrue or exaggerated.
Ultimately, it is in the hands of the existing shareholders (through the board) to decide to issue new shares to investors. There is a clear reluctance to do this at the present time and the reasons for this can only be speculated upon. Undoubtedly, the club requires a significant injection of new equity from existing or new shareholders but this will take some time to put in place. A proper financial evaluation will have to be undertaken and all the necessary AIM requirements etc. complied with. Clearly, by not having acted sooner the board is making it clear that it has decided to rely on the fans’ cash once again.
The big question is- “What can fans do to protect themselves but still assist the team and management”? Fans must remember that the purchase of a season ticket is essentially an individual loan from the fan to the company until such time as all games are played. No banker would lend money to a company without knowing its true financial position. Unless the board departs from its present stance of opacity the fans will be asked to lend money to the company with no security and with no comfort that the loan advance is not going into a financial black-hole. It must be stressed that the board was happy to give security to Laxey Partners for the recent facility as well as a massive return on this short-term loan. It seems wrong that, if the board gets its way, these new loans will be repaid from interest free and unsecured loans provided by long suffering fans.
If the board does not provide disclosure to the fans then it is time to draw a line in the sand. I propose that the fans buy the season tickets only on one of the two following bases;
1. The fans pay the season ticket money into a trust and the funds are released to the club on a “pay-as-they-play” basis.
2. The fans pay the season ticket money into a trust and the funds are released in full to the club but against security of the club property until such time as all games are played. In that way the fans will have some protection from a future event of failure if the board cannot bridge the funding gap that clearly exists.
Additionally, the fans should insist on a board appointee prior to renewing their season tickets, to look after their interests.
I also suggest that the following questions be put to the board on condition that satisfactory answers must be given prior to fans agreeing to make cash from season ticket sales available to the club.
1. Will the board provide legally binding assurances that the club is a going concern and has sufficient funds and/or facilities in place for the 2014/2015 season.
2. Will the board undertake that none of the proceeds from season ticket sales will be used to settle any financial obligation that arose prior to receipt of the season ticket monies by the club.
3. Will the board confirm that the club assets continue to be unencumbered.
4. Will the board explain its previous statements that the club had sufficient cash resources to last until the end of the season.
I previously invested 20 million pounds in the club and lost it all.Like all Rangers fans I continue to loyally support the team and the manager. I am willing to provide funding again but I do not believe that Rangers should be under the control of one owner/benefactor. We have already seen the damage that has been caused at Rangers (and many other clubs) when the club becomes a hostage to thefluctuating whims and wealth of a single owner. I see my role as being the lead investor of a like-minded consortium that will invest in the club, along with the supporters, without the “short-sightidness” of an immediate return on investment. An immediate return on investment will guarantee a non-immediate return of the team to the top flight.
The fact that it believes it can proceed as it is doing without financial transparency makes two major statements about the board’s thinking. First, they have correctly understood the fierce and unbending loyalty that Rangers fans display towards the club and the team at a time of common difficulty. Secondly, they have seriously misunderstood this loyalty as being something they can take for granted and offer nothing in return. We shouldn’t allow that to continue. At this critical juncture, the fans control the funding that the board is relying on. How we proceed will determine our club’s future.
arabest1 says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:28
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:01
Only when ALLl fans are reconciled can the issues we have with the SFA/SPFL be tackled effectively.
———————————–
…………….Fans of TRFC appear to be demanding an apology from everyone and fast tracked back to their ‘rightful place’ sneering down on the rest. Reconciliation is further away now than at any point in the recent past. I shudder to think how far notions of reconciliation will be if TRFC ever reach the SPFL.
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Speaking of which has anyone seen a dignified public apology from T’Rangers marketing department for the Stirling Albion/Albion Rovers gaff?
If you ignore who is saying it, and just focus on what the glib and shameless liar and convicted criminal is saying, then the points made are largely valid
With the obvious exception of not using PR companies in an unethical manner previously. That unsavory part of the Rangers DNA has survived intact
testing the ‘test’ test
manandboy says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:36
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26351867
Scotland’s new away strip “is a fun, modern interpretation of one of Scotland’s most iconic jerseys and pays homage to the colours of Lord Rosebery,” according to the Scottish FA website…
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The ‘Battenberg cake’ strip ? 🙄
At least it might distract the opposition…
eepheid says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:18
Can somebody please confirm for me that the Scotland away strip thing is a bad joke organised by a photoshop expert? Please? Pretty please?
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I’ve seen another pic where it doesn’t look quite as bad but I’m afraid it’s real.. there is actually a reason behind it, it’s the Earl of Rosebury’s colours (racing colours, he won the Derby 3 times) – and Scotland played in these colours a few times in the early days of international football as a kind of tribute to him – he was also honorary SFA president.
BTW what are Ogilvie’s racing colours?
The “Glib shamless liar” has spoken:) let the fun commence 🙂
heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/king-urges-rangers-fans-to-pool-their-season-ticket-money-and-withhold-it-from-the-cl.1393425745 …”
Ooops, I’m too slow at typing StevieBC
Dohhhhhhhh
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/king-urges-rangers-fans-to-pool-their-season-ticket-money-and-withhold-it-from-the-cl.1393425745
Spivs v Tax Cheat. I need to order some popcorn
Club Statement
Written by Rangers Football Club
THE Scottish Sun has stated that the Board of Rangers International Football Club has been offered an interest free loan by Mr Dave King. I can confirm that this is untrue.
I have been in email correspondence with Mr King and suggested that, even though he is not a current shareholder, I would be interested in hearing any proposals he might have. Mr King replied and indicated a willingness to consider participating in any future equity issue that the Club might undertake.
This has been the extent of the discussion and I repeat that no offer of an interest free loan has been received from Mr King, or anyone else, apart from Mr Sandy Easdale.
David Somers
Chairman
=======================
Mr Somers, I’d suggest that you concern yourself with the story in the Herald, rather than that in the Sun.
A wee bit about that hearing “where the judge is a Celtic fan” and perhaps not even a mason (“Where will it all end Mr Twelvetrees?”):
http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/feb/26/rangers-hmrc
monsieurbunny says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 15:50
…
BTW what are Ogilvie’s racing colours?
================================
Edging in brass
Blue
Tangerine
mibbees 🙂
Scotland’ we away strip. It looks like a Homebase paint chart
It looks to as though the King across the water has decided that the time is right to make his move. Calling for what is, in effect,a ST boycott, is King’s nuclear option, and he has just pushed the big red button. Whether the result is a damp squib, or capitulation by the Board, we are about to see an end game of sorts played out over the next few weeks.
If it’s a damp squib, and the Board somehow manage to hold out until the ST money starts rolling in, then that’s probably the last we hear from King. If there is a mass ST boycott, then the Board have to either cave in to King’s demands for a share issue, or shut the shop and walk away.
One problem I foresee is that a share issue on the scale that King wants would take a couple of months and a lot of money to organise. The company currently has neither time nor money.
King’s 4 questions are clearly aimed at embarrassing the Board. Especially this one:
“2. Will the board undertake that none of the proceeds from season ticket sales will be used to settle any financial obligation that arose prior to receipt of the season ticket monies by the club.”
Sandy and Laxeys are going to just love that. How are they ever going to be repaid, if not from ST money? The only alternative is King’s proposed investment, if that ever happens.
barcabhoy says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 15:33
Was the glib and shameless liar not a board member of a football club that acted even less transparently than the board of TRFC? I wonder how transparent he was with the shareholders of the South African companies he’d floated, then left with his swag-bags full, or the SARS and judges at his trials/hearings.
As you say, ‘if you ignore who’s saying it’, though his plan to pool season ticket money into a trust sounds a bit naïve to me, and even if feasible, there’s not much time left to set it up, especially with a board that will most likely tell them to get to… or, at least, resist it quite forcefully.
It looks more like an effort on his part to get the bears to do his dirty work so he can step in and set up a situation he can exploit; for if he has the money to invest, and truly wants to do the things he says, he’d have done a bit more than just send wordy puff pieces to tame lambs.
‘Fool me once….’ he trips off glibly; for the bears it’ll be the third or fourth time!
andy graham (@andygraham66) says: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:58
Richard Wilson reporting on Dave Kings statement.
Dave King – “It is correct that anyclub must, over the long term, operate within its means
but in the short term Rangers needs a significant once-off financial boost
that cannot be met from the current revenue stream.
Without this we will not get back to where we should be.
If we cut our costs to suit our present income
we will remain a small club
and Celtic will shoot through 10 in a row – and beyond –
while we slug it out for the minor places.
That is not the Rangers that I grew up with
and not the Rangers that we should be passing down to our children and grandchildren.”
Mr Wilson acting as Mr King’s promoter.
Mr King angling for a ‘once-off financial boost’ using the irresistable ‘Celtic-10 in a row bait’
All they need now is Disney.
easyJambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 16:00
Club Statement
Written by Rangers Football Club
THE Scottish Sun has stated that the Board of Rangers International Football Club has been offered an interest free loan by Mr Dave King. I can confirm that this is untrue.
I have been in email correspondence with Mr King and suggested that, even though he is not a current shareholder, I would be interested in hearing any proposals he might have. Mr King replied and indicated a willingness to consider participating in any future equity issue that the Club might undertake.
This has been the extent of the discussion and I repeat that no offer of an interest free loan has been received from Mr King, or anyone else, apart from Mr Sandy Easdale.
David Somers
Chairman
=======================
Mr Somers, I’d suggest that you concern yourself with the story in the Herald, rather than that in the Sun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can we expect to see a statement from RIFC in response to every tabloid/newspaper article from now on?
Or will they get themselves a PR firm? 😀
Dave’s game ?
Head he wins – place on the board – fan’s saviour – minimal personal investment
Tails he wins – reduce STs, summer cash crisis – he buys TRFC Ltd from admin for minimal personal investment
From King: ‘I previously invested 20 million pounds in the club and lost it all.’
Is that not a wee fib from the glib and shameless liar?
….plus some bad news for the more intelligent Bears in that Herald article.
‘Like all Rangers fans I continue to loyally support the team and the manager.’
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:54
Sorry, I didn’t understand this. So are you the principled champion of transparency ploughing a lone furough, or are you the guy with the personal opinion of “I’m not too bothered one way or the other”?
allyjambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:40
“Do you think he could be as free with this information, perhaps risking trouble for, or a falling out with, his friend, if he used his real name?”
————————–
That’s a very good point. Bogsdollox counters that sensitive information could be posted under a pseudonym but that to me undermines his own point.
Last year I worked for a large Scottish engineering concern. I felt that I was subject to some sectarian comments and made this known to the upper echelons of Human Resources. This apparent culture was not the only reason I resigned (I really didn’t have a choice in the end) but it certainly coloured my perspective.
Very soon afterward I went to an interview. I thought the interviewer’s handshake was a little unusual; not the firm acknowledgement I was trying to give. It never occurred to me at the time that this could be a masonic handshake: After all my curriculum vitae shows my name is Brian Patrick Dunne. He seemed to know I had already left my previous employer which I openly admitted, even though I was being paid till the end of the month and therefore technically still an employee. It seemed strange that he had this information. Would a potential employer contact a potential new employees employer and thus possibly damage the relationship between the employee and that employer? Possibly they would.
The rejection e:mail was in my e:mail inbox by the time I got home. I wasn’t entirely suitable for the job but the suspicion lingered that somehow the interviewer had gained information that a more professional organisation would not likely have access to. There was a revelation a few years ago that construction companies had access to a blacklist of workers who had made health & safety complaints against their employers. Such things happen. Should we be so naive to think they do not.
Should any future employer now google my name they will get a match with this post. Will they like what I have written. Will I come across as a paranoid small minded individual? Will this affect my future employment prospects? Have I been brave or very very stupid.
I can recover from a beating but malnutrition has more deleterious effects.
2. The fans pay the season ticket money into a trust and the funds are released in full to the club but against security of the club property until such time as all games are played. In that way the fans will have some protection from a future event of failure if the board cannot bridge the funding gap that clearly exists.
So Easdale and Laxey get Edmiston House and a car park while the “trust” gets the asbestos dome and the flood plain Murray park.
Do not pass GO, do not collect £200 and go straight to jail springs to mind
john clarke says:
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 21:18
Just wanted to thank you for the report from the UTT 2nd day – you most have been a lawyer and a journalist at the very least in previous lives 🙂
Once again it takes me back to my reading of the original Decision and doubting my own logic and understanding of the law as it stood when I looked at what the Two Duffers had to say. Thank gawd there was a touch of reality from Heidi who could obviously spot a ‘sham’ a mile away!
Castofthousands says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 16:52
Pretty grim tale, Cot, and a frightening thought of how prospective employers might use the internet. A clear example, too, of how anonymity is to be advised here, and elsewhere, in the land of the bampots. You only have to look at the way a loose ‘tongue’ on facebook and twitter can lead to people getting the sack to realise what you tell us could well be happening. I just hope you haven’t actually included your real name in your post, and suggest you have the post deleted, or edited, as soon as possible if you have!
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scotland/top-stories/scottish-independence-bbc-would-leave-scotland-1-3320940
All we need now is a cast iron guarantee from STV that they won’t sign up Chick Young and a ‘YES’ vote is surely secured.
King states: ‘ It is correct that anyclub must, over the long term, operate within its means but in the short term Rangers needs a significant once-off financial boost that cannot be met from the current revenue stream.’
Was that not what the £22.5 million raised by the IPO less than 15 months ago was meant to do?
He’s right when he says the fans need to use the ST money as a lever but I really seriously doubt if the bitter factions within the Rangers support can effectively co-operate to achieve that aim.
There is also the moves being made by the club to subvert fan power by setting-up a puppet Supporters body that will be controlled from on-high. It might not be obvious to some fans but the Board will have its placemen there to ensure there is little or no criticism of the Board and that STs are bought and no money withheld.
I don’t think I have any place telling Rangers fans what they should decide – it is their decision and, at the end of the day, as I have often said, they will get the club they deserve. That goes for all clubs IMO.
But this whole affair gets more and more complex with every passing day and trying to take a Rangers fan view I don’t see even a glimmer of light and I’m not even sure the train is still on the track let alone in the tunnel.
paulsatim says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 12:43
“The new KDS Sevco thread has “remember Wavetower?” as it’s sub- header. Can anyone shed any light on that”
——————–
I wasn’t around in the early RTC days but I understood that Whyte’s acceptance of Lloyd’s bank debt gave him a floating charge over the clumpany.
The Sale and Purchase agreement and audio implied that CW then crafted a debenture that would allow his interest to survive the failure of a CVA. I’d imagine that the Wavetower floating charge is now wrapped up in CW’s 5088 claims that appear to be hobbling the fixed assets from being used as loan collateral. Its a brief synopsis and based on a bit of conjecture. Perhaps it will give a framework that others can flesh out.
McMurdo has a blog up. The gist is that King is just a tyre kicker who will never invest any of his own cash, plus he is seeking to drive down the share price with his boycott call so he can buy in cheap. I know, I know, but don’t ask for logic or consistency, this is McMurdo, remember.
Civil war will no doubt break out (again) among the bears, but I think that King may have misjudged this one. Unless of course the boycott call is simply designed to give the spivs a really good excuse to walk away, leaving the field free for the return of the King. Or is that too cynical?
free for King to reurn
King is the last chance Messiah, though only time will tell if he is not, perhaps, a false one. He has many flaws, he is a liar, a cheat and a fraud; he was on the board of RFC and either allowed DM to get away with what he did best (destroy Rangers) or he colluded with him; he lost £20m, though probably not his own, rather carelessly; he is, though, ‘a real Rangers man’. And he’s back, again, with a lot of rhetoric, and so far, not much, or anything, more. What’s more, though, he is making life difficult, as if it wasn’t difficult enough, for the current board, the only people currently in a position to ‘save’ the club.
The Rangers/TRFC situation has been compared with Hearts, where the fan rescue is well under way. I suspect, whether the Hearts are eventually ‘saved’ or not, it is their example that might well be a blueprint for King’s, or anyone else’s, plans for a fan takeover/rescue.
But when I look at what has been done by the Foundation of Hearts, I am of the opinion that plans were being made well before the club fell into administration, as they were almost full steam ahead as soon as it was announced. As has been said oft times before, even the knowledgeable and influential bears were in hibernation when administration struck, and have been happy to sit around, waiting for the sugar daddy, ever since. Things might not be quite as bad as they were when Craigie boy stood on the steps of Ibrox and announced administration, but they are a hell of a lot worse than the day Charles Green got the reins there, which was when the ‘good guys’ should have been around the table, planning, even plotting, with everything in place, banking facilities, direct debit facilities etc and the backing of a large number of ‘real Rangers men’, who hadn’t already ‘tried and failed’ so miserably. In fact, if King is going to be the next Ann Budge, he needs to have the money at hand now, and not just plans to raise it, and he needs to be a lot more stealthy, and TRFC board friendly, than he has been so far, to get anywhere near pulling it off.
In reality, though, I suspect he is waiting for administration/liquidation before he makes his real move. His rhetoric is just a precursor to this.
He is so looking forward to the day he is chaired, Craigie like, towards the marble staircase!
Re Kings offer , I strongly suspect that this is the ace in the pack that provides the Rangers Board and their SFA accomplices, with an admin event. Lots of wrist slapping , CEO and Chairmen replaced as the revolving door kicks into action , and King & Easdales kiss and make up.
Good time for Celtic to announce some random plan to ratchet up the pain across the city. If King is the answer then Rangers yet again have posed the wrong question. Noses in the trough at Ibrox , happy days around the corner.
I can’t help reflect that we are near the end game now. We’ve previously seen them go from world domination and 500,000,000 fans worldwide via world record crowds to the ignominy of a mere 10 million warchest but now we’re discussing a 1.5 million pound (or an eighth of a Flo as it’s called) crisis loan and someone ringfencing 750k (an allysalary?) to protect a 500k claim. Mr Kings latest statement has the obligatory “ten in a row” bogeyman and the poor spivs don’t know how to counter that without upsetting the bears.
As for his question number 2:
“2. Will the board undertake that none of the proceeds from season ticket sales will be used to settle any financial obligation that arose prior to receipt of the season ticket monies by the club.”
To me it’s indicative of the almost childish, playground manner in which this whole charade has been played out. No club, company (whatever) could undertake this or would want to operate in this manner. I would be gobsmacked if Aberdeen (for example) would not be using their ST money to pay the bills. If he is asking them to operate in this manner as a protection for the fans, again he knows they cannot undertake to do this. He is at it. He and the spivs deserve each other.
In an ideal, parallel universe…
Immediately before Ogilvie, Regan and Doncaster resign, the SFA announces that TRFC is not getting a license to play footie for next season, 2014/15.
This is due to the ongoing financial uncertainty around TRFC – as confirmed by their CEO’s public confirmation of an ’emergency loan’, and his seemingly contradictory, AGM-timed announcement that there was ‘cash until April’.
The SFA simply cannot rely on information as provided from Govan to assure ALL Scottish football fans that the club will fulfil all its fixtures next season. And due to the negative impact of this one club on Scottish football over the last 2 years in particular, this unprecedented action is being taken by the administrators ‘for the good of Scottish football’.
TRFC sits out a year to sort themselves out financially, and the SFA / SPFL will assist fans to take control of the club, [or start a new one], and help constitute a new, modern, all inclusive community club.
The spivs – and King – are flushed out one way or another, and the club repositions itself with a sustainable business model – as approved by the newly headed SFA / SPFL.
A year down the line, Scottish football gives the club the benefit of the doubt, and welcomes them into the league, [e.g. Championship league].
But to maintain their initial, temporary membership though, strict guidelines on finances and behaviour are independently audited on a regular basis.
I know… 🙄
So correct me me if wrong.
The Rangers last week had virtually no money.
A rescue package of 1,500,000 was given which with virtually no other income stream will cover costs and losses for only about 3 weeks. ( and in return will cost Edmiston House and the Albion car park in September)
There is no money for redundancy payments.There is no overdraft facility.
Season ticket monies do not arrive till July.
No money for wages in late March April and May.
It does not look good.
It looks terrible financially.
Another Scottish company goes to the wall laying off staff – will that be next month’s headline in the fish and chip wrappers? I doubt it.
Watch for the ” too big to fail” Scottish icon” headlines being rolled out.
Bogsdollox
You talk about reconciliation without mentioning the necessary pre condition – TRUTH.
Now what the truth is is often debatable but when evidence of wrongdoing is simply ignored because some folk cannot handle it or some folk are afraid of the consequences of facing, it then reconciliation is impossible.
The term Truth and Reconciliation had its genesis in South Africa and a key element in it taking SA forward was the establishment having to admit apartheid itself was wrong and much individual wrongs had been done in its name.
What we have here is not only lack of an admission that wrong, and by wrong we mean lieing to HMRC and lieing to the SFA took place but, what is almost unforgiveable , lieing to cover up the extent of the lieing is still taking place . Uncomfortable as it obviously is for the liars to accept, the truth is either folk are being lied to or feel they are being lied to. That has to be faced.
Folk do not like being lied to, it disrespects their worth as persons and before reconciliation is possible that worth has to be recognised. There is no sign of that recognition, quite the reverse, that worth is being attacked and so devalued when those who do have value and respect their own worth are accused of being “haters”.
Is it any surprise that those at whom that charge is levelled, because those making it do not recognise their worth, are wary of giving up the very thing that protects them from such an attitude i.e anonymity?
The time will hopefully come after the truth is faced that anonymity can be dropped, but first the truth and magnitude of the wrong has to be faced and until then reconciliation and forgiveness wait on the wings until the stage on which to make an entrance is ready.
StevieBC 19.44
Do not forget the apology for misleading Rangers supporters and supporters of all clubs deceived by SFA disingenousness, foolish judgement, cowardice and incompetence.
neepheid says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 14:53
http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/feb/26/rangers-hmrc
=============================================================
At a quick count I recall at least seven different Judges being involved with various parts of this Ibrox saga, including those who officiated at the FTT. Only one has appeared on a front page of a tabloid regarding the team he supports. Can we conclude that:
(a) None of the other Judges are football fans?
or
(b) None of the other Judges are Celtic fans?
I know which one my money is on!
nawlite says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 16:51
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:54
You need to learn to distinguish between a point of principle and a personal opinion.
Sorry, I didn’t understand this. So are you the principled champion of transparency ploughing a lone furough, or are you the guy with the personal opinion of “I’m not too bothered one way or the other”?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For what it’s worth I’m both.
I believe there are important principals of transparency and accountability that it would be useful if the blog explored. (this one is the point of principle). I accept the blog doesn’t want to and will say no more – but it does concern me.
I also believe, as I have stated in more than one post already, that it is an individual decision for bloggers to make for themselves.(this one is my personal opinion)
So we could have a blog where some might give up their anonymity whilst others don’t . I can live with that.
Castofthousands says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 16:52
43
1
Rate This
allyjambo says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:40
“Do you think he could be as free with this information, perhaps risking trouble for, or a falling out with, his friend, if he used his real name?”
————————–
That’s a very good point. Bogsdollox counters that sensitive information could be posted under a pseudonym but that to me undermines his own point.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Err – my point was that it was gossip and hearsay which was correctly posted under a pseudonym given the nature of the information.
BTW – sorry to hear about your employment problem. I hope you get work soon.
Castofthousands says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 18:25
Thanks!
Auldheid says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 19:55
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I don’t disagree with anything you have said.
Another world record for the Ibrox crew- world’s shortest ever Board statement-
http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6416-board-statement
“THE board notes Mr King’s comments with concern as they are potentially de-stabilising and damaging to Rangers Football Club.”
fisiani says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 19:45
Watch for the ” too big to fail” Scottish icon” headlines being rolled out.
=============================================================
Surely that should read “too big to fail…………………………………….. twice”!!!!
I posted before that the way people talk about this club, sorry company, you would think it was a multi-national company employing tens of thousands of people instead of an organisation employing just over 250 that cannot make its mind up whether it is a club or a company, that does not pay tax an NI, leaves Police and Ambulance services out of pocket and does not pay many small companies and businesses.
When RFC first went into Administration in 2012 there was also a building suppliers in Glasgow went under the same day employing more than RFC. Virtually no mention in the media of this and yet this was a company who supported over 260 people, none of them expensively paid footballers, or hangers on, While I have sympathy for the office staff and the normal workers I don’t have sympathy for grossly over paid footballers who employ advisors to tell them that this company was a pup both in dog years and a business sense. They have taken the money and will be left high and dry when this goes belly up.
I know it is not that likely, but It would be fitting if Dunfermline were to be promoted as a result of a ‘Tribute act’ insolvency event this season.
Given that DAFC would have avoided relegation from the SPL if the RFC(IL) administration had been done correctly, it would be a wee bit of a victory for karma.
(I know… its a new club, but try telling them that!).
And looking at King’s statement, his main objection to the current board seems to be the possibility that they might actually engage in some of the cost cutting that is actually needed at the debt dome.????
The WATP arrogance of (convicted felon and tax dodger) King’s stance is staggering and he comes accross as an utterly odious individual here! The jury is still out on Wallace, who may or may not turn out to be of the spiv persuasion, but any fan of the Ibrox shower siding with King, I am afraid, is worthy of our derision.
How is it even possible for a group of individuals to suffer so much and yet learn so little???
Castofthousands says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 16:52
44 1 Rate This
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COT, a very timely reality shock for me and perhaps others.
Personally I had a fairly open mind to the idea of all of us using our real names, I wasn’t probably still erring towards keeping the safety of anonymity but it seemed a sensible thing to discuss.
I think your disturbing story has put any though of using my real name from my mind somewhat!
And if I’m not prepared to put my own name to my occasional comments then I certainly wouldn’t expect the writers of the main Blog articles or the Mods to use their own names either.
resin_lab_dog says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 20:36
The WATP arrogance of (convicted felon and tax dodger) King’s stance is staggering and he comes accross as an utterly odious individual here! The jury is still out on Wallace, who may or may not turn out to be of the spiv persuasion, but any fan of the Ibrox shower siding with King, I am afraid, is worthy of our derision.
How is it even possible for a group of individuals to suffer so much and yet learn so little???
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since Mr Wallace’s appointment Mark Guidi on SSB has been promoting him as the right man for the job and saying things like “I don’t know him personally but he is a man of integrity who will take Rangers forward”.
Tonight on learning of Kings statement he carried out a complete about turn and said his trust had gone and he supported a ST boycott and said the fans “should burst into the Boardroom”.
What else can I say but Marvellous! I don’t know Guidi personally but he is a man of strong but variable opinions who has been stirred to action by the King Dog Whistle.
As for King. He’s now played his Joker and needs to get organising the fans coalition. Good luck with that one Dave.
As for the Lying King(copyright ackn.) I don’t believe that he is outside the tent p…….in, he is inside, along with the rest of them.
The plan was, dump the dept…done
Get the spivs and Ticketus their cash back……almost there.
Then Admin and this is the good bit….due to fan power,I.e., withholding ticket money and starting again, with Real R……. Men in control.
The Rebels will have won(irony bypass) and the World is back on it’s axle(sic).
All in the plan, hatched by DM /CO et al.
Statement by Dave King on Rangers FC
If the board does not provide disclosure to the fans then it is time to draw a line in the sand. I propose that the fans buy the season tickets only on one of the two following bases;
1. The fans pay the season ticket money into a trust and the funds are released to the club on a “pay-as-they-play” basis.
2. The fans pay the season ticket money into a trust and the funds are released in full to the club but against security of the club property until such time as all games are played. In that way the fans will have some protection from a future event of failure if the board cannot bridge the funding gap that clearly exists.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Sorry Dave
You may have lots of experience in dealing with lawyers and tax authorities
But you haven’t a clue when it comes to herding bears
Better men than you have tried to rally them and failed
When you make a mass appeal on how the average punter should spend his hard earned money
Lesson No 1
Keep it simple
Like
“Don`t buy a season ticket”
“Just pay at the gate”
Allyjambo
You are right to highlight the differences between Hearts approach to saving the club and the current latest crisis at Ibrox.
There is much nonsense spouted about wealth , Billionaires and off the radar riches. If Mrs Budge is worth £40 million, and it appears she is , as there is evidence to suggest that this is not a far fetched figure, then she is in very very rarified territory for a Scottish based individual. Hearts are very
The PR companies for ego driven individuals such as David Murray and Michelle Mone have spun so much garbage that people who don’t understand company valuations , can end up accepting this valuation as fact.
Murray was happy to promote his wealth at £650 million when in fact his business is worth precisely £Zero , with the balance sheet shot to pieces. He may have been able to retain several million in personal wealth, but i would doubt he would be as wealthy as Mrs Budge , who’s wealth is real and not the figment of a PR companies imagination.
Mone is even more ludicrous . Her claims that her business is worth £50 million is utterly ridiculous. The trading results would barely support a value of 1% of that number, and whilst she has brand recognition , increasingly for bizarre and transparently spurious reasons, the business has been unable to turn that into any kind of real value.
The Easdales publicised self valuation of £100 million falls into Mone territory based on the figures available at companies house. There is no evidence whatsoever that they have anywhere near Mrs Budge’s wealth
Hearts have done well to attract one of the richest people in the country, one who’s wealth was in cash, not crazy self valuations. Hibs also have a wealthy owner, who sold his business and has the abilty to write a significant cheque when it was needed.
As far as i can see the rest of the clubs in the SPL are owned by individuals who are not particularly wealthy, with the obvious exception of Celtic who’s most important shareholder is in an entirely different league to any other football club owner / largest shareholder.
By not particularly wealthy i mean they haven’t turned what may be a good business , which generates profit and large salary and bonus for the owner, into a large pile of cash by selling the business.
It is extremely difficult nowadays to leverage that business asset for the benefit of a football club, particularly in Scotland. The banks are extremely reluctant to lend for that purpose and individuals with a good business asset are very reluctant to risk that asset on the almost certain financial loss of a Scottish club.
Which means that Mrs Budge is a very rare individual indeed. First of all there are hardly any individuals with her liquidity and secondly those rarified few have shown a marked disinclination to spend their own cash on a football club .
So the message is forget about rich and wealthy saviours , they are not there or don’t appear when needed . Individuals like Fergus, Tom Farmer and Ann Budge are the exception , and an individual like Dermott Desmond is unique in Scottish football .
King is correct in that Rangers fans hold the key. They are the club , however they are challenged by the reality that what they have to do is follow the example set by Celtic fans in denying revenue and then funding alongside a genuinely wealthy individual. Celtic have 27,000 fan shareholders , Rangers less than a third of that number, so you have to question their capacity to achieve this.
I agree King is the wrong person the be giving this message. He has a criminal conviction for tax evasion. He has demonstrated his unsuitable character by being labelled a glib and shameless liar by a South African judge. These aren’t insignificant issues.
The legacy of David Murray in ruining a famous and important football club lingers to this day. Not only did he not use his own money, he installed a host of subsidiary companies to provide services for which he charged £millions . This culture has been mirrored by the spivs as they awarded contracts to friends and saw fee’s charged way in excess of the norm.
The alternative is of course led by a guy who spent jail time for VAT fraud !
What King has just done is to give the ST non-renewers a gilt edged excuse for not renewing. Add that to those who will genuinely hold off because they agree with him, and a bad week just got worse for TRFC.
It’s more or less a self-defeating plan, as plenty will still renew, while quite a large number will fall in line with King. The result will be that TRFC don’t have the ST income they require to reach the point where they can do whatever it is they think they can do to avoid the iceberg, and King’s men, all of them*, won’t provide a large enough base for his plans to go forward, or at least not quickly enough to prevent another, and that could be a second this year, administration at Ibrox.
*…and all the King’s men, couldn’t put sevco together again…
Oh dear, A’ll get ma medication 🙁
EKBhoy says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 19:33
Re Kings offer , I strongly suspect that this is the ace in the pack that provides the Rangers Board and their SFA accomplices, with an admin event. Lots of wrist slapping , CEO and Chairmen replaced as the revolving door kicks into action , and King & Easdales kiss and make up.
Good time for Celtic to announce some random plan…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t worry. If Peter Sleepswell doesn’t have one, I’m sure GCC will come up with something.
😉
What?
(insert innocent face smiley here)
barcabhoy says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 21:03
=====================================
Isn’t Stewart Milne fairly wealthy, i.e, at least up there with Anne Budge?
McCoist is going to find his fence-sitting act difficult to sustain, with ST renewal time approaching, and King calling for a boycott. That fence could become very uncomfortable very soon. Still, I’m sure the cheeky chappie will think of something creative. It had better be good, though.
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 13:52
“I’m not asking for posters to reveal their identity but if he did reveal his then I’m sure another channel could be found for the gossip to be made known i.e. a made up user name like Lochfin Thims”
bogsdollox says:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 20:15
“Err – my point was that it was gossip and hearsay which was correctly posted under a pseudonym given the nature of the information.”
——————–
bogsdollox, I may have been a bit cursory concerning your counterpoint to Allyjambo’s post and I don’t want to appear contrary or pedantic but…
It has been the stock in trade of TSFM to indulge in conjecture and supposition. The blog’s mission statement is ‘Asking the questions the media won’t ask’. Now this aspiration is a little disingenuous since TSFM does not occupy the status of a traditional media organisation and is, as a result, not bound by the constraints that such an organisation would have. Over time, as the value of the debate on here becomes more worthy it will necessarily gain more credibility and we might naturally curb our commentary to maintain such a new found status. However we have not reached that point thus far.
Whether the mainstream media constraints are a function of its civility or its compliance to an unpublished agenda is what we are trying to get to the bottom of. We do not have access to their resources or contacts so it is not a level playing field. We have to resort to the tactics of the new social media which is discussion of the possible and likely scenarios. As a result any number of scenarios necessarily have to be played out. The blog (and RTC) has proven how powerful a tool this can be. However for every reasonable assessment there will be a number of fruitless pursuits. The saga has taught that it is not the most likely outcomes that are ‘the most likely’. We have considered vast ranges of possibilities and as events have taken their turn, selected from those conjectures the one’s that fit the facts.
I’ve come away with all sorts of nonsense in the past and I suppose that I should have been more considered in some of my comments. However it is the very volatility in commentary that has often sparked new theories and points of view. It is largely ‘gossip’ that we have been transacting but some of it has proven very insightful. As the mainstream media are not using the same processes to come up with well thought out and well written final articles then it has fallen on us it seems to exercise the scenarios.
Certainly we might be a bit less candid if our identities could be easily tied down. However we are not expert and don’t claim to be. Stuart Cosgrove is willing to engage with TSFM as we seem to have some credibility but that credibility is not based on unadulterated high quality insight. It has been arrived at through conjecture and supposition and in the absence of the forums that should be performing this task actually performing it.
I didn’t intend to garner the sympathy vote I was just trying to add a bit of poignancy to the debate.
BogDollix, you are requesting everyone use their real name or at least wonder why not?
OK I’m brave enough to do so
I’m SPARTACUS! (I think we’ve been here before!?)