Reflections on Goalposts

A recent autumn storm caused the destruction of the metal goal fame in our garden. The small goal with the weather-beaten net had fallen into disuse. But I liked it seeing it there on the grass. I suppose I half-expected, half-hoped, it would be used again. Once, it was a father and son thing and had been constructed carefully from a nice set of plans. At the time, it impressed both son and daughter no end. But that was then, this was now.

One of our trees, blown over by the recent high winds, caused the goal frame’s final demise. As I unscrewed the twisted metal I thought of the hours of innocent fun it had given us. It had been the scene of many goals and not a few great saves. My son, who is soon off to uni, smiled thoughtfully as I mentioned that this was the end of the ‘goalposts of childhood’. Perhaps he knew what I meant.

My own childhood goalposts had been ‘doon the back’. Drawn with chalk on the red brick of the ‘sausage wall’ at one end, and on part of the ‘wash hoose’ at the other. Many a league, Cup and international match was played out between those goals on the Dennistoun dirt. We once put on a parallel version of a historic England v Scotland match while the real match was being played at Wembley. Jim Mone sitting on one of the dykes had a transister radio to his ear. As we played our match he chalked up live score updates on the wall — our Twitter and FaceBook anno 1967. What a day.

We did use a pile of jackets up on the old Dennistoun cricket pitch, but only rarely. Mostly, we played on the red gravel surface at the Finlay Drive entrance. That pitch was fitted with real goalposts — like the ones they had at Hampden. Or so we imagined.

These sentimental memories of receding years accompanied my removal of the ruined metal goal frame. But, as you can imagine, it seemed an almost symbolic act. For fans of Scottish football the ‘goalposts’ that once defined the game of our football childhoods — have not only been moved, they’ve been been twisted and mis-shapen out of all recognition.

The past decades have seen a fundamental change in the way our game is run and governed, at home and abroad. Money is now king and sporting consideration is a luxury we sometimes have to put to one side — or at least, so we’re told.

At the risk of stating the obvious, sport, if it is to mean anything at all, has to be based on clearly defined rules and principles. These rules must be applied equally to all the participants, they are certainly not optional extras. However, to misquote and paraphrase George Orwell, ‘all teams are equal, but some teams are more equal than others’ — at least, when it comes to Scottish football.

The efforts by the SFA to re-interpret rules to fit the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the demise of Rangers FC in 2012 have left most of us scratching our heads. Much of the Scottish media has backed up the SFA’s efforts, something which has added to the general confusion and chaos. In fact, it’s become clear that the death of Rangers, as we knew them, has been such a traumatic event that it must be denied. The authorities and media seem to have been so besotted with one club that its loss is out of the question. And so, it’s been gifted a bizarre kind of immunity from liquidation and death that implies its on-going existence, long after it drew it’s final breath.

This situation has opened the door to a legion of businessmen on the make. They have been allowed to perpetuate the myth, with SFA blessing, that they ‘saved’ Rangers. And their unwavering message is, that they can only succeed if fans keep giving them their hard-earned cash. To those outside the blue bubble it looks like a huge con trick. If the only source of real money in football is the fans, then the Ibrox faithful have been royally fleeced.

How different it could have been if the former club had been allowed a dignified end. A year out of the game would probably have allowed fans to restart a newco of their own. They could have applied for entry into the professional leagues along with the other clubs waiting in line. Chances are they would have been given special dispensation, and walked straight into the bottom tier. Of course, they would have claimed to be the continuation of the spirit of the previous entity — but would anyone have argued against that? How different it could have been if the rules governing the game had been respected. The SFA may even have kept their dignity intact and the press not felt obliged to print half-truths, falsehoods and lies.

You’ve got to wonder why Dunfermline and Hearts fought so desperately to avoid liquidation. After all, the Scottish football authorities now seem intent on convincing us that liquidation has little or no effect on a football club. Even past sins, such as wrongly-registered players are as naught — if, at the time, they were thought to have been registered correctly. By this logic, we have to ask: if a ‘company’ running a ‘club’ bribes a referee, will retrospective action will be taken against the ‘club’. The players and the club, after all, will have done nothing wrong. And since the referee was not known to have been bribed, and not struck off, he was qualified to referee the match in question, at the time. Using the SFA thought process, the result would probably be allowed to stand. Personally, I’m not sure I follow SFA logic. They’ve ‘moved the goalposts’, and (you saw it coming) bent them into an unrecognisable shape.

Which brings me back to our garden. The old metal goal frame is waiting to be driven down to the local re-cycling centre. The twisted metal and worn-out net are useless. Ruined by forces beyond our control. There is no interest in a replacement at present. Perhaps, if we have grandchildren, they will show an interest in football. If they do, I’ll build a new set of goalposts. They’ll be straight and true, the way the goalposts of childhood should be. The way goalposts should always be.

4,642 thoughts on “Reflections on Goalposts


  1. If reports coming out of Murray Park are correct it was McCulloch who spoke at length to the players.
    It comes as no surprise that they gave McCoist sort shrift.
    This was the man who pleaded with the players less than 2 years ago to take a massive pay cut to help the previous club out. Many did, some eventually did walk away.
    When things settled down a bit McCoist Tuped across at a salary of approx £850,000, with god only knows what bonus arrangements.
    In addition he was awarded, or rewarded, with a million shares at 1 penny.
    A very rough calculation would indicate that in less than 2 years he has been paid approx £2 million.
    Having supposedly offered to take a pay cut in September, it has taken almost 4 months for it to be implemented. Deferred even?
    Is it little wonder he has lost credibility.


  2. “Tom English ‏@TomEnglishSport 41s
    The Ibrox board’s grand plan, Operation Buckpass, hasn’t fooled many among the support. Players asked to bail out the suits. Fans’ turn next”

    Meanwhile, in the other papers I’m half expecting the “Return of the man who would be King” tomorrow.

    popcorn anyone?


  3. not defending ally in any way….though i guess i kinda am..

    but, regards mcculloch speaking to the players…..i believe this is quite common with regards SOME financial matters – usually bonus payments for cup wins, europe etc. the team captain will discuss it with the manager and then the players and he will go back to the manager.

    it may be an old and outdated practice, and it may well be acceptable still when talking about BONUS payments, but in a matter like this, it should be the manager addressing them all and the manager should tell them all his door is open if they want to discuss their individual circumstances.

    So, he still fails, but i do think this is not as unusual as we might all be thinking.

    oh feck it, he’s a slimy, weasely weak toley of a man


  4. 15% of a wage bill of £7m is around £1m.

    That would equate to around 1 months losses covered.

    If this happened then I do not believe it was a serious attempt to address the problem, unless it was just one part of a major cost cutting exercise. It seems more like a PR stunt to me, we tried to cut costs but this set of players just weren’t willing to do their bit.


  5. scapaflow says:
    January 16, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    No pelters from me comrade , those boys signed legally binding contracts and are entitled to every thin dime . Wage cuts couldn’t save the good ship RFC 1872 . Now that the lifeboat has sprung a leek , they’re trying the same type of ”botch job repair” again . Not going to happen , is it ?

    The question is , will the lifeboat go down with dignity ? One thing is a certainty , whichever vessel rocks up next in blue , it’s ”berthing licence” from the SFA/SPFL has already been drawn up .


  6. Good Evening.
    So Sevco are heading armageddon and the bears are crying.
    They did not listen the last time, they did not listen this time. Let us hope there is not a third time.
    Time to end their intimidation and sense of entitlement.
    SFA and SPFL set to pull every dirty trick to keep them afloat and we have to be vigilant.

    I sincerely hope that HMRC are keeping an eye on the due payment date for PAYE and VAT because if they don’t their money, our money, will be used again.

    Where is CW?


  7. scapaflow says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:06 pm
    =========================
    It was interesting to see the back page of the Record today laying it on heavy about Hearts predicament. No-one denies that club’s problems, least of all their fans, but they have never taken a scatter gun approach to dishing out blame. Yet on the same day it emerges the screaming ‘cut to the bone’ headline applies equally to the club from Ibrox. What a quandary for them now – I guess the Kingathon will be in full swing by Saturday, all with a wee hint of putting Celtic firmly in their place.


  8. Esteban says:
    January 16, 2014 at 8:50 pm

    ___________________________________________
    Check my schedule and think yourself luckier 😉

    Work full shift. CHECK
    Get home more than 12 hours after leaving. CHECK
    Spend Two Hours ❗ making everyone’s dinner. CHECK
    Spend two minutes eating own dinner. CHECK.
    SPEND 1hour?????? WASHING UP A MILLION KITCHEN UTENSILS CAKED IN GOD KNOWS WHAT.
    Something needs to change around here. I’m a mother and wife and have done this for 40 years!!!!


  9. Must admit to a small amount of admiration for Elbows. When the chips are down, it always seems to be him who’s at the fore. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was manager in everything but name.

    Of course, that small amount of admiration would be bigger if he wasn’t picking up a 5 figure weekly wage for getting the better on the pitch of the guy who delivered his post that morning….


  10. essexbeancounter says:
    January 16, 2014 at 4:56 pm
    7 0 Rate

    DP…being a then teenage teetotaller (would that I was now!) my lasting nasal impression is that of the Molendinar “burn”, aka open sewer!
    ——-

    On the subject of things that are no more! That burn was covered over when I was at primary and so I never actually saw it, apart from a little bit that was visible near Duke Street. I was next to Cumbernauld Road and the scent of the brewery grain and malt blew our way, it was gorgeous, not an alcoholic smell at all.

    Funny how elements of Glasgow’s past, that are there most of your life, suddenly disappear and are no more 😉


  11. Tif Finn says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:14 pm
    ======================
    Unless their recent bedtime reading has been ‘How to cost cut the Duff and Duffer way!’


  12. upthehoops says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:19 pm

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    scapaflow says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:06 pm
    =========================
    It was interesting to see the back page of the Record today laying it on heavy about Hearts predicament. No-one denies that club’s problems, least of all their fans, but they have never taken a scatter gun approach to dishing out blame. Yet on the same day it emerges the screaming ‘cut to the bone’ headline applies equally to the club from Ibrox. What a quandary for them now – I guess the Kingathon will be in full swing by Saturday, all with a wee hint of putting Celtic firmly in their place.

    I think you’ve forgotten the most important point – that this will somehow be down to Peter Lawell….. God, I’ve missed Traynor’s statements on the website….


  13. hamemadesoup says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:15 pm

    I think the good ship TRFC would struggle to pass a survey in Piraeuse, (yes the surveyors are “negotiable” there, but they have standards)

    Unhappily, it seems the surveyors on the Clyde no longer have a Lloyds A1 reputation, and will certify any old hulk as fit for sea, as long as Rangers appears somewhere in the name


  14. jean7brodie says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:19 pm

    It’s the disproportionality of the different components, Jean. There must be a mathematical formula for it.


  15. Scapaflow – agree 100%.

    Tom English also agreeing with you!

    Tom English ‏@TomEnglishSport 19m
    The Ibrox board’s grand plan, Operation Buckpass, hasn’t fooled many among the support. Players asked to bail out the suits. Fans’ turn next


  16. Football players are generally simple souls. They only want to play football, and make money. So when they read about a new man coming in, at a huge cost, to arrange cuts, they are going to ask just how many goals he’s scored for the club, and then tell the messenger to p*** off! Now, I suspect, they will try to persuade the players they actually want to keep (low paid) to accept the cuts with promises for the future and the guarantee of hero status, while setting up those that they want to move on to be the villains of the piece, but not actually giving a monkey’s as to whether they fool the bears or not. One big difference this time around is that, while it was part of Green’s game plan to hang around for a year or so, the guys in charge now just need to syphon off the assets to RIFC then move the holding company to the BVI, or wherever, and never step inside Ibrox again. You don’t need to live in Glasgow to collect rent for a property there.


  17. On Hearts’ situation.

    I have yet to see or hear a Hearts fan, either in real life or on the interweb try to blame anyone else for their problems, or try to play the victim card. Rather they seem to have accepted the issues and put their time, effort and money into trying to solve those problems. Accepting the cuts and supporting their team.

    The contrast between them and the Rangers support is clear for all to see, and it is to their credit. I genuinely wish them well for the future, they seem to be going about things in the right way.


  18. Tif Finn says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:14 pm
    This isn’t anything other than crisis management at this stage.
    Get over the line-and the line is the ST cash starts to come in.


  19. PhilMacGiollaBhain says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    That much is obvious, but, this particular crisis management strategy, may well boomerang, if the paying customers refuse to fall for it.


  20. Danish Pastry says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:20 pm

    The Molindinar Burn ran between St. Kent’s and the Great Eastern Hotel, and, in my time, it was indeed an open sewer. On a warm day, with the wind from the east, the smell wafting across the playground was appalling, but, compared to the stink now coming from the Hampden offices, it was sweet perfume………………


  21. Didn’t the easdales claim that if the current board got through the AGM then it would lead to a period of stability and that there was further investment already lined up.

    i take it that investment is based on savage cuts to the current spending at ibrox


  22. Apologies if this has already been covered.

    2.2m shares in TRIFC sold, 14-Jan-2014 for 20.5 pence. No details of sale posted until today.

    Looks as if today was an excellent day to bury news, given the leaks from the club that the players have refused to accept a 15% pay cut.


  23. Phil

    Getting the season ticket money in is fine and they may even get there, but it does not change the fact that £1m losses every month have to be dealt with, just to break even.

    To be honest I am not even convinced that they can survive to renewal time without someone lending them money, and the terms are going to be horrendous. As discussed earlier there is every prospect those terms will be seriously under-priced shares in return for the loan required. It will also be even more debt from the club to the PLC, on the assumption that it is the PLC which borrows the money and then gives it to the subsidiary.

    In other cash flow considerations, the only season ticket money which really helps is the money which is actually paid. People taking out credit to buy those tickets may effect the profit and loss account, but in the situation rangers find themselves in cash flow is, as they say, king.


  24. Esteban says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    There must be a mathematical formula for it.
    ——————————————————————-
    Aye. It’s called 100% S.K.I.V.V.Y. 😉


  25. Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:39 pm

    Didn’t the easdales claim that if the current board got through the AGM then it would lead to a period of stability and that there was further investment already lined up.

    i take it that investment is based on savage cuts to the current spending at ibrox

    Flatlining is pretty stable. 🙂


  26. jean7brodie says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Jean, you need a union


  27. Tif Finn,

    It’s all your fault, I say, your fault! With that Irish name, you must be out to get us, it’s obvious. Anyway, we’ll be saved as soon as your lot get into trouble over all those dodgy land deals. That guy of yours, Peter Lawwell, the one that runs the SFA, he’s to blame as well. They’re all out to get us, I tell you. But you’ll all be sorry, we’ll come back and win 10 in a row, coz, coz, it’s written in the stars, and God’s a Jambo, and, and…

    I’m a teapot, I’m a tea pot…


  28. It’s all coming home to roost for both the Ibrox club and the SFA. Once more, and unsurprisingly to all on here, the papers and airwaves are filled with the impending disaster facing the new club from Govan created and illegitimately given space in Scottish football by the afore-mentioned duo.
    You could be forgiven for thinking you’d got yourself a wee trip in a souped up Delorean driven by a mad scientist and headed back in time to two years. You can’t underestimate the part the SFA and Doncaster have played in this farce, granting a licence to any kind of new club pitching up at Ibrox and here we are again.
    This time 2 years ago there were probably a lot of people, myself included, maybe prepared to give a new club the chance of a new start, to do things properly, show some contrition for the way the previous club had behaved and work their way up the leagues but only after waiting their turn after queuing clubs to get into the Scottish set up. As it turns out we would may as well wished for Messi and Iniesta signing for the Hoops this month. Old club or new club – they are an unmitigated disgrace.
    What has been allowed to happen to the game as a whole is one stinking mess – by licensing the manifestation at Ibrox is just desserts for all those complicit in the tawdry charade. Well played boys, Stewart, Neil, David, you have lined many a spiv pocket much to the chagrin of the 5 million Rangers supporters – give or take 🙂 across the globe must be universally scratching their nappers. After all Ally had it all sussed, he didn’t expect any cuts – why would he – he’s still hoping Kenny Miller, Jelavic and Daniel Cousin will swan through the door this month and will surely have the whistle out if he doesn’t get what he wants…it really couldn’t happen to a cheekier chappy !
    I would say, if you have popcorn, jelly and ice cream at the ready, or a special celebration planned for this years Valentine’s day – I would maybe suggest put them on hold. Our governing bodies have proven themselves time and time again capable of anything – a disgrace of equal measure, one could argue, to the new omnishambles at Ibrox, given that they sanctioned it.
    Anyone got a spare Delorean handy ?


  29. TSFM

    Apologies, I think I may have broken AJ.

    (In other considerations Tif Finn is not intended to sound Irish. It is just a personal “joke” between an old friend and myself. He got it right away as I knew he would)


  30. Tif Finn says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    Do you take it with or without crumpet?


  31. scapaflow says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:49 pm

    I’ve had one for 40 years and it has been productive on multiple occasions Also says I’m a great worker!! 😉


  32. We shouldn’t gloat now.
    ====================
    It really is a shame, what’s happening down Govan way…again.

    Those clubs / companies have provided us with ‘absolutely’ huge entertainment over the last couple of years.

    Maybe we could give something back – maybe we could organise a collection for them ?

    We could call it the ‘Keep All Rangers Memories Alive’ fund, [or KARMA for short].

    Please donate generously. 🙄


  33. scapaflow says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:22 pm

    Can’t disagree with you there . When their liquidation was announced, I assumed , that was it . Game over . That was just the simple way I understood the word ”liquidation” . The resulting shennanigans and gymnastics to get a Rainjurz into existence and competition has been as astonishingly ludicrous as is possible .


  34. StevieBC says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:56 pm

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    We shouldn’t gloat now.
    ====================
    It really is a shame, what’s happening down Govan way…again.

    Those clubs / companies have provided us with ‘absolutely’ huge entertainment over the last couple of years.

    Maybe we could give something back – maybe we could organise a collection for them ?

    We could call it the ‘Keep All Rangers Memories Alive’ fund, [or KARMA for short].

    Please donate generously.

    To be honest, I don’t see it as gloating – we’re not laughing at events down Ibrox way (we all knew it was going to happen), we’re despairing that the SFA rubber stamped their proposals without a by-your-leave.


  35. scottc says:
    January 16, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    I wonder if this is an opportunity for Super Ally to fail in another cup campaign? Raith Rovers will be looking forward to that final now
    ———————————————————————-
    I remember joking after the semis that Stenhousemuir should keep the day of the final clear in their diary just in case. Seems a bit less improbable now.


  36. Tif Finn says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    Could the joke be from that classic movie, Carry On Up the Kyber? It would be so fitting as we examine the Carry On Up Govan!

    Anyone for Tiffin?


  37. Allyjambo says:

    January 16, 2014 at 10:13 pm

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    Tif Finn says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    Could the joke be from that classic movie, Carry On Up the Kyber? It would be so fitting as we examine the Carry On Up Govan!

    Anyone for Tiffin?

    I love Khyber! ” I’m not standing around waiting for mine to stiffen!”


  38. The Molendinar burn comments take me back to 1970-71 when I was at St Kent’s with its sunken playgrounds. 1A and 2A. Boys were send there from all over city. Either for academic ability or football ability. I was probably the former as I left to go to medical school not Celtic Park. Wonder if any reader can guess who I am. I’ll leave a red headed clue.


  39. Soon be time for Pateys non committal nonsense, telling us all what is bl..dy well obvious with little or no criticism of that lot from Govan.


  40. I agree with Tif Finn, I just don’t see them making it to ST time without a substantial cash injection. The cost-cutting we are hearing about is far too little, and far too late. A token exercise, in my opinion. I don’t doubt that they could get a cash injection, but the cost of that injection would be very high.

    None of the large shareholders have the slightest interest in football in general or Rangers in particular. All of them just want a payday, and the sooner the better. They can sense the bears are starting to stir from their long slumber, so maybe skinning them might be a bit more difficult than it was last year. Time to check out now? That’s what I’d be thinking.


  41. I suppose, in a way, you could say it’s Armageddon. Just not quite as wide spread as Regan thought


  42. AJ

    Spot on. Said old chum had Tiffin at 15:00 hours on a daily basis.

    Anyway, sorry for off topic stuff.

    Carry on.


  43. Not long home from my own REAL footie life, Ally can’t put a full bench together from his 50 or more players, he should try coping when 2 of your squad for the day are GROUNDED….

    Paycuts I hear, Ally must feel such a hypocrite..!

    Has the last of Chico’s gang been given his pay off yet? Stockbridge will be out by end of the month and will get his £200k golden handshake and allowed to keep the £200k he was asked to give up for the EGM… Another who has easily fleeced > £1m from the bears in his short spell at the club…The only mistake Shockbridge made IMO was buying a house in Scotland..

    Things must be as desperate as we all thought as the january window allows disgruntled players to jump ship then again maybe that is part of the rangers plan instead of the pay off route..


  44. What happens if they get to season ticket time?

    costs last year were 33M, 4.5M were 1 off costs and operational losses were 14M

    so, lets take 15% (across the board) off 33M costs – thats 5M off costs

    so, operational losses of £9M

    so, £1M in the bank in April, lets assume ALL the income comes in in April – and instead of £19M, it’s £23M – so they would have 24M in the bank in April – that gets them to December at the very very best.

    bigger cuts needed, more income needed, simply enough, the business isn’t viable and the nest egg of the IPO cash won’t carry them through this time

    don’t they have to apply for SPFL license in April – can they proce they are a viable entity for the following season? regardless of administration or not, should they be allowed to start next season?


  45. Fisiani says:
    January 16, 2014 at 10:21 pm

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    The Molendinar burn comments take me back to 1970-71 when I was at St Kent’s with its sunken playgrounds. 1A and 2A. Boys were send there from all over city. Either for academic ability or football ability. I was probably the former as I left to go to medical school not Celtic Park. Wonder if any reader can guess who I am. I’ll leave a red headed clue.
    ======
    Sofia Loren?


  46. can anyone clarify the situation with footballers contracts in administration?

    the administrator can terminate/breach contracts (within 2 weeks of their appointment i think)

    but then what?

    1. is the full value of contract added as a debt in the creditors pile – if so, do they get a vote in CVA?

    2. Is this then regarded as a football debt? i.e. will the SFA force sevco or newco2 (if sevco get liquidated) to honour those payments?

    David Low is suggesting rules were changed on this after Motherwells administration stiffed players.

    anyone confirm?

    I thought admin was an easy route to breach employee contracts – but maybe footballing rules mean thats not the case


  47. indy14 says:

    January 16, 2014 at 10:37 pm

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    Fisiani says:
    January 16, 2014 at 10:21 pm

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    The Molendinar burn comments take me back to 1970-71 when I was at St Kent’s with its sunken playgrounds. 1A and 2A. Boys were send there from all over city. Either for academic ability or football ability. I was probably the former as I left to go to medical school not Celtic Park. Wonder if any reader can guess who I am. I’ll leave a red headed clue.
    ======
    Sofia Loren?
    =================================================================================

    are you harry burns


  48. According to the bearsden Rangers cannot go into administration as they have ‘NO DEBT’…!!! And no-one could put them in administration..

    Karma, Wouldn’t it be divine justice if the wee face painter was owed again and she finally called for their administration for her unpaid debt on the 14th Feb.

    People debating a pre-pack CVA, I wonder if there is a pre-pack SFA also..

    Anyone know if they are paying NIC and PAYE or will that be delayed as long as possible before they default?


  49. 29 1 Rate This

    And where does this fit into the picture?

    14-Jan-14 10:08:01 20.50 2,200,000 Sell* 27.00 28.50 451.00k

    2,200,000 traded at 20.50p on Tuesday

    Stockbridge away?

    ——————————-

    Rangers international website has a regulatory announcement confirming it was Richard Hughes disposing of his shareholding in company

    http://rangers.g3dhosting.com/regulatory_news_article/367


  50. Did anyone else hear Sally Magnusson saying the wage cut was requested from now until the summer of 2015.

    If so that it says to me they need to do with the players they have and most likely if someone did go they won’t be replaced.

    That’s if they even get to the end of this season!


  51. Sounds like it is good time for Kingy to get a scottish holiday, get another few slots of publicity, face on the telly, have the desperate bears serenade him with the usual supremist songbook…Pump up his ego some more, come over have a few fantasy meetings like before then fly back to the sun when he realises he is only wanted to keep the guy in a job, he who was reported earlier, employed at Ibrox to set fire to £20 notes… Great analogy BTW…


  52. On the subject of costs of making players/staff redundant, I thought that redundancy payments were only due to persons employed for AT LEAST 2 YEARS CONTINUOUSLY.
    If correct then this means at this period in time all players/staff who have signed contracts since the new club was founded (less than 2 years ago) could be made redundant without cost.


  53. Shame on the sfa. Is the 5 way agreement basically you can go into administration/liquidation 5 times and still be the same club?


  54. spanishcelt 11.00

    Pro footballers will have contracts of service with a defined duration with equivalent notice except for cause rather than contracts of employment


  55. So…we are led to believe from the SMSM…that Scottish football would collapse due to the Armaggedon that would occur because they refused to accept the industrial level of cheating and financial destruction created by the liquidated club destroying itself from within….and that to stop this happening all we need to do is allow this new club to be unfairly elevated into the top tier of income?

    What do we find…Scottish football has survived and improved it’s financial position…whilst this NEW club has carried on the tradition of the old club and destroyed itself from within..

    The top tier in hindsight should be grateful their fans through the threat of refusing to renew ST saved them from this second Armaggedon….


  56. Who will be the first journo to state the current situation was caused by preventing the new club into the top tier?


  57. Tif Finn says:
    January 16, 2014 at 9:47 pm
    Agreed, but this move today-and the ones that will follow in the days ahead are all about just getting over the ST line.
    They’re in short term/crisis management mode.
    They’re not thinking that far ahead-and they’re correct.
    This is about survival in the here and now.


  58. @Scottc I would think HMRC would be less flexible to a business who have screwed them over before… Oh wait the business is different it’s the team that are the same right..!


  59. To genuine TRFC supporters
    I mean
    The overwhelming majority of Bears who are our close friends and relations
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    — If the real Fergus McCann was willing to return to the UK
    —-Buy out the Spivs with his own money
    —Create a genuine non sectarian club that could compete with Celtic
    —Sell out to a genuine non sectarian fan group after 5 yrs

    Would you support him ?

    Enough to send a delegation asking him to get involved?


  60. Share price tomorrow should be interesting. If I had sold in the last couple of days I’d be heaving a huge sigh of relief. 6 furra pownda anyone? 6 furra powndahhh.


  61. spanishcelt says:

    January 16, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    Spanish – as I understand it TUPE entails retention of terms and conditions, and also years service transfers across.


  62. Tif Finn says:

    January 16, 2014 at 9:54 pm (Edit)
    TSFM

    Apologies, I think I may have broken AJ.

    _______________________________________________________

    Don’t worry. We’ll fix him!


  63. Surely for goodness sake they will survive thru till ST time.!
    Unless we are all missing something the size of the hole this time is nothing like it was 2years ago.. a few million Versus the £59m they officially left behind last time?
    For sure it is hand to mouth stuff ..and will be for a long time unless mega money shows up….
    So In the here and now ..For the sums involved (and the background and access to funds of all the various characters in the background etc ) there just has to be someone to bail them out short term ( agree at a very high price ) and some smart set of moves a decent FD can make to stagger along till ST time

    IMO ST money will come in for absolute certainty…it’s life or death for most of the fans now. Given their built in Superiority mentality .they won’t be able to handle ,and cannot even begin to contemplate yet more and brutal humiliation from all other fans if the latest version of the club went down particularly if they were seen not to help out
    So Even if they know the money will be partly syphoned off…they will just pay up close their eyes and pray that King or someone will show up and fix it all
    Assuming they can stagger thru next year , Even with a weakened squad and a poor manager , they will win the league next year …as trust me there isn’t much to beat in that division …
    The big big big job will be the following season as they hit the premier league with a 2/5m pound team with CFC with a 50/60m pound team and the other bigger teams getting stronger and stronger
    As I said we may all be missing some other big black hole we don’t know about ..but assuming not ..they should be able to ride it out ….but it will be very ugly…and of course..very entertaining!!!

    Last thought ..the bill to catch CFC?
    £20m to buy control
    £10m for working capital and plug the operational holes
    £70m to catch and overtake CFC on the park
    Roll up roll Up. Only £100m to burn …anyone for the CL music…?


  64. Paulmac2 says:
    January 16, 2014 at 11:15 pm
    ‘..Who will be the first journo to state the current situation was caused by preventing the new club into the top tier?’
    ———–‘
    Oooooohhhhh, that’s a hard one to call. I’ll go for Jackson, with what’s that old geezer’s name?-Keevins!-a close second.


  65. The 1st time Sevco can actually buy players outside of their embargo … and they don’t have any money. Is this irony or karma? …


  66. Obviously they are down to fumes at Ibrox but does anyone know when season tickets are normally purchased for a season starting in August. January, February or March sales of Season tickets would smack of desperation. I assumed ST money starts rolling in July. Am I wrong?


  67. Hi everyone I’m new on the site so plz go easy on me 😳

    Does anyone think the sfa should be held accountable if the new club went tits up. As they flaunted they’re own rules regarding letting new clubs join the football league without 3 years audited accounts?.

    Surely the 3 years worth of audited accounts would have some bearing on if someone was a fit a proper person to run a professional football club?

    I remember old co fans slated the sfa for allowing craig whyte to take over they’re club over the fit and proper person test.


  68. The call has been sounded. We Are Not Taxpayers are in need. Who can help?

    1. Is there anyone who WILL buy any of the players? (This would mean like Sir Cardigan at Everton, or Mr. Souness at Newcastle) I cannot think of anyone who can.

    Maybe Motherwell, Morton, or Hibs? They have ties, but do those ties bind post-ebt kick-back?


  69. A football club running out of money in January? Needing funds to get through to season ticket time? Well don’t worry Sevco, there is this company called Ticketus who will pre purchase the season tickets and give you the cash now…

    what? wait… No. That isn’t going to work this time…


  70. Problem = Rangers have far too many players in their squad and need to cut costs.

    One possible solution would be to send players out on loan.

    SPFL ‘spontaneously’ change their rules to allow clubs in Scotland to take 2 players on loan from any other club.

    Any connection?

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