Good Evening.
When considering any type of protracted negotiation or discussion that seems to be going on too long, there is a story that is always worth remembering– whether it is actually a true story or not as the case may be.
It is said, that heads of state all met at a congress in what is now modern Germany sometime after the Franco Prussian war of 1870-1871.The entire congress was being run almost singlehandedly by the then Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismark and he was keen to get all the necessary signatures on paper to seal some deal or other.
However, others at the congress were not too keen to sign up to certain elements of the proposed deal and so they hithered and dithered and in the eyes of Bismark they simply waisted time by concentrating on the minutiae- the little matters, with a view to ensuring their own interests were best served in these small areas– and did not focus on the big issue.
Having tried to talk these others round and educate them in his own beliefs and point of view on the bigger picture without any success, Bismark grew weary of the continuing delay and the posturing of his colleagues. All attempts at reason and diplomacy had failed in his eyes and so he decided to take a different tack.
Accordingly, it is said that whilst others were still inside debating endlessly on this matter or that, Bismark left the building and began simply shooting the windows in with the aid of a riffle which he just happened to have handy.
Those inside were naturally alarmed at this turn of events. They soon forgot about the minutiae under debate, they abandoned the previously expressed self interest and simply signed up so that they could get away from the mad chancellor and his house.
Job done so to speak.
Whilst I do not in anyway condone the behaviour of Otto von Bismark in this instance, and have no doubt that he was an autocrat, what I will say is that he believed that there was too much time being spent on the unimportant stuff and not enough time recognising what really needed doing– from his point of view of course.
Today– and it seems every day for months— we have endless debate about the future of Scottish Football. League reconstruction and the redistribution of footballing wealth has become a marathon– even before it has started.
Yet I believe that at the moment all parties concerned are not focusing on the radical reform that is fundamentally needed which is the creation of one, strong, properly structured and constituted body which is capable of the proper and ethical governance of Scottish Football and the business that surrounds football.
No matter what system you try, or distribution you agree, without proper sensible strong governance you are wasting your time.
Further, whatever body is set up, and whoever is chosen to be its CEO (or whatever the head honcho is going to be called), they must tackle the issue of corporate and fiscal compliance and the proper administration of any body corporate which actively takes part in Scottish Football– and that includes any such body or person who is involved in the running of a member club.
In addition, in so dealing with any corporate malfeasance or chicanery or whatever, the rules have to be applied with a rod of iron by an iron body.
As we can now clearly see, Football clubs and football in general is not, and never will be, immune from the effects of bad corporate governance and on occasion downright manipulation of facts, figures and contracts.
Whilst great play has been made of the fact that Gavin Masterton has handed over his shares in Dunfermline FC ( or its holding company ) the fact of the matter is that this in no way solves the problem faced by the football club. Whoever gains control of that club will still have to rent the ground from Mr Masterton’s company– and it is a rent that the club may just not be able to afford.
Ever!
It is only my opinion of course, but I am of the view that Mr Masterton has sealed a loan deal with his bankers which is of a type and duration which could not normally be achieved by other borrowers. The Loan has a lengthy period during which no repayments are necessary and interest can continue to accrue.
All very good you may say, but the level of debt concerned is not one that appears to be sustainable by Dunfermline FC and so whoever buys the club as a going concern ( if anyone buys it at all ) will have to pay an agreed rental to Gavin Masterton– and if the rental is not sufficient to repay Mr Masterton’s lenders, then I suspect that the end game here will be a search to find a buyer for the ground at some point over the next twenty years or so, with the hope that as part of the deal a space will be found somewhere for a new ground like New St Mirren park– the difference being that in that instance St Mirren were in charge of their future whereas Dunfermline are not.
The Governance of that club and the financial arrangements behind the club should have been looked at and examined by the SFA long before now– and the Dunfermline fans warned about the dangers of any such arrangements. Effectively those finance arrangements, should they continue, will probably mean that the club will have no option but to move from its established home!
All to suit one man!
Thankfully Dundee were spared a full takeover by Giovanni Di Stefano, however is it not a bit worrying that this man who has been jailed for over 14 years for various fraudulent acts, was allowed to roam around Scottish Football for a prolonged period?
Not so long ago Di Stefano did play a part at Dens, was in line to buy almost 30% of the shareholding, and was oft quoted in the papers and so on. The thing is that there were those who were prepared to give him a place at the Dundee table and in so doing invited him into Scottish Football.
Surely the SFA, had they been inclined to, could quite easily have pointed out that many of the claims of Mr Di Stefano were at least dubious if not completely incorrect? Yet nothing was being said at the time and silence prevailed.
Whilst not in the same calibre as Di Dtefano, Vladimir Romanov has now been at Hearts for a prolonged period. While I have no quibbles about the legality of Romanov’s takeover of Hearts, any money of a sizeable size which is transferred into Scotland from a foreign country will be subject to scrutiny by the Crown office to ensure that it is clean. Lithuania in particular is said to have a banking system which is governed loosely and sometimes does not meet the compliance standards expected in this country.
With his bank having gone bust, Romanov still retains the majority shareholding at Tynecastle, but there are questions still to be answered about what has happened at Hearts but life will be very different for the Edinburgh club going forward.
Again– could the SFA have done more to monitor the situation and could they have demanded clarity and detail from the Hearts owner as to his business dealings and the detailed arrangements with his bank?
At Ibrox, well things just go from the weird and inexplicable to downright astonishing– and all through a tremendous amount of smoke and mirrors.
It is clear that the SFA have no idea what to believe from Charles Green or for that matter Craig Whyte. On the face of it, there are clear links between Whyte and Green with the former paying over a six figure sum in return for absolutely nothing it would appear– with similar transactions going between Whyte’s colleague, Aiden Early, and Charles Green.
What is clear is that Green gave a clear undertaking to the SFA that he had nothing whatsoever to do with Whyte and would have nothing to do with Whyte going forward. Now, at the very least he is admitting that he met Whyte on several occasions, and whilst he may have made representations to Craig Whyte— these were all lies designed only to get Whyte to where Green wanted him.
This is hardly the act of someone who has been bona fides in his business dealings either with Whyte or with the SFA as the licensing body.
It is against this background that the Scottish Football Agencies need to wake up before they find the fans of the game ( at least those who want to stay interested in the game ) doing a Bismarck and panning in the windows of this whole house of cards.
Football Clubs, football fans, and indeed football itself needs protected from the financial and corporate shenanigans, and the governing body must be much more active and permanently vigilant in watching out for and if necessary anticipating the people and the transactions which have and will jeopardise clubs and the game in general going forward.
It is clearly no longer acceptable to rely on self regulation or mere declarations and undertakings from the clubs themselves. The Administrators must be much more active and employ far greater professional expertise in carrying out an almost constant analytical and reporting function in relation to club finance and corporate regulation.
All and any changes in funding, boardroom changes, investor changes and anything else major should be the subject of immediate and proper scrutiny by the SFA and there should be fair, immediate and stiff sanctions for non compliance, and any type of dilatory behaviour on the part of club officials who would seek to conceal the truth or who fail to properly disclose vital matters which should be out in the open.
Further, the funding detail– such as the never ending loan re Dunfermline should be a matter of public record in all its detail so that fans and investors can make information based value judgements when dealing with any club.
Such stiffer regulation should not develop into anything like a corporate witch hunt or any kind of draconian big brother syndrome, however the need for change given all of the current troubles is obvious to one and all.
Further, the attempted fudge surrounding Rangers league status last summer and the ongoing disquiet surrounding the position of Campbell Ogilvie does nothing to boost faith in and the reputation of Football Administration in Scotland.
Things are far from clear and there appears to be continual dithering and fudging. No one has any idea where the Nimmo Smith Report has gone nor what import it is to have— if any. Why is that?
Dithering and bumbling over detail is no longer an option. Strong clear governance is required to protect the game from being hijacked by those who have their own corporate and financial agendas.
Such people cannot be allowed to determine the way Scottish Football runs or to conduct themselves in a fashion that leaves football and everyone involved in limbo.
It is time for Scottish Football to find its own Iron Chancellor! There is a need for someone who will, if necessary, come along and shoot the lights out of any club or Company Director who wishes to play fast and loose with the game of football.
Not The Huddle Malcontent says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 11:48
“In the case of McCoist, it was agreed well before Walter left that he would be taking over and he was groomed for the position – I believe he was responsible for the 1st team in the cup competitions”
Which supports Bombers argument. Even with all this mentoring and the like, McCoist is still appearing to be a bit of a dud and has yet to receive the criticism that was doled out to the current Dundee manager before he even set foot inside Dens Park.
Lets be frank, it should be the case that a trained monkey would do a half decent job at either Celtic or Rangers of old.
Lennon has done better than I and others (http://forum.celtictalk.org/topic/22391-how-long-would-you-give-lennon/) expected and all credit to him but who knows how he would have faired if his first real job had been at Clyde or similar. Celtic have done right by him and supported his development. Given some of his earlier anticts another board of a smaller club may not have been so supportive and could have quickly booted him out after a string of poor results. where woul d he be then?
Howevr that is all agame of ‘What if’s ‘.
Now Bomber may indeed fail but I think he is saying he at least deserves a chance to do the job Just like Lennmon and McCoist) before people judged him so harshly in the way he felt Tom English’s rant did.
HirsutePursuit says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:32
Re John Brown and what he “knew”.
………
If this theory is broadly true: who could have told Mr Brown? Who would Mr Brown trust enough to believe such a tale?
_________________________________________________________________
Very good question, let me just unwrap a mint while I think about it.
And more…
@corsica1968
Finally told they all know going to go bust again. Options: Murray or Mather find short-term finance quick, DCK comes back, or death.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:16
Murray or Mather find short-term finance quick, DCK comes back, or death.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
DCK..?
Where are the Nuclear shelters ?
Iran, Barcabhoy & North Korea on the axis of “—-“, LOL
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 10:5
Interesting quote from Mather in today’s Herald:
“I’ve always wanted to be more of an integral part of the business and of football. I’ve worked very hard with Ally [McCoist] to get a better understanding of him, the dynamic of the man, so that we can work together in the next transfer window. I believe it was the right thing for the club to move me into this position in the circumstances.”
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
I was sure they said Mather was only a temporary/interim appointment while they continue their search for a new CEO?
As in this announcement to the market.
Rangers International Football Club plc
(“Rangers”, the “Group” or the “Club”)
Directorate Change
Rangers announces that the Board has appointed Craig Mather, aged 42, to the role of Chief Operating Officer for the Group. In addition, Craig will act as interim Chief Executive Officer and will be a member of the Board as the interim Chief Executive Officer. In the meanwhile the search for a permanent replacement for Charles Green will continue and a further announcement will be made as appropriate. Craig has been director of sports development for the Club since October 2012 and is currently a shareholder in the Club having invested prior to its initial public offering in 2012. Craig currently holds 1,800,000 ordinary shares, representing 3.1 per cent. of the Company’s shares in issue.
wottpi says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:14
Lets be frank, it should be the case that a trained monkey would do a half decent job at either Celtic or Rangers of old.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Tell that to Liam Brady, Lou Macari, Jo venglos or John Barnes 🙂
DCK is one Dave King. Remember?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_King_(businessman)
Fit and proper, my backside.
It is clear that John Brown knew about the links between Whyte & Green and the uncertainty over the ownership of Ibrox & Murray Park.
Someone he trusted told him; but clearly someone he could not quote directly. Is he protecting his source… or is he protecting himself?
Who would have known this information at the time?
What was this person’s motivation for telling bomber?
What was this person’s links to Mr Whyte?
A quick reminder. John Brown stood on the steps of Ibrox on 27th June 2012.
This is the same day that STV revealed that Rangers assets had passed to Sevco Scotland rather than Sevco 5088.
This would be the day that Craig Whyte would have realised that he had been shafted.
Coincidence?
HirsutePursuit says:
good spit HP, Craigie boy did not leave anything to chance did he?…:)
Good spit? Spot!
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:31
DCK is one Dave King. Remember ?
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<,,
Thanks.AMQC,
Ahhhh its the glib fella, & here's me thinkin it was a typo…missing the i
🙂
spanishcelt says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:30
1 0 Rate This
wottpi says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:14
Lets be frank, it should be the case that a trained monkey would do a half decent job at either Celtic or Rangers of old.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Tell that to Liam Brady, Lou Macari, Jo venglos or John Barnes
——————————
I absolutely INSIST you remove Venglos from that list – he was a good manager.
Brady & barnes are funny(strange) ones, great players of legendary status, but no real Celtic connection – should never have got the job.
I think Celtic learned a little from that brady experience and hence the reason why Barnes arrived with kennyDal in tow
Brady had a poor Celtic squad with a poorer board against a rampant rangers full of Murray hubris and spending. Indeed, i reckon he was a last role of the dice for the old board to keep the fans onside – not long after he left – Celts For Change deposed the old board (with a little help from Fergus of course!)
as far as a trained monkey doing well at Celtic – well, had Larsson not broken his leg, i believe Barnes would have won the league – Celtic were playing some cracking stuff until Henke disappeared for a year – then barnes, when faced with poor results and no experience/understanding fell to pieces.
Luigi Macari was an experienced manager and shouldn’t be on the list either – even though he was useless for other, personal reasons
I don’t agree either mcCoist or Lennon should have received the same derision of Browns appointment – because of the fact they came through the ranks at the club. They had “done their time” in the backroom of that club – Brown didn’t, and he’d a poor record when giving it a go elsewhere.
However, on McCoist – i’m delighted he was a appointed, he doesnt possess any characteristic which suggests to me he’ll be a good manager. Long may he continue in the hot seat as far as i’m concerned.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4901967/Craig-Mather-I-fell-for-Gers-passion-as-a-kid.html
raminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:16
@corsica1968
Finally told they all know going to go bust again. Options: Murray or Mather find short-term finance quick, DCK comes back, or death.
===========================================================
Who would want to loan this basket case money?.
Spivs,maybe,at a punitive interest rate.There’s no real possibility of getting your cash back.
Could always try Ticketus,I suppose!.
i agree that bomber brown is the one guy in all this mess that has been truthful to the fans of the club..he just wasn’t articulate and believable enough back in june to really make him a figure to follow …he clearly worked out or was told that green and his cronies were spivs (as most of us who followed rtc and here thought at the time) and that they were bad news for the new club…after he wasn’t listened to by enough of the fans and after mccoist and smith jumped on board with green…he fell silent…
i find the fact that mccoist and smith were told by brown what was going on and ignored it very interesting…bomber brown is clearly a rangers man at heart…whatever you think of him…and the fact that mccoist and smith sided with charles green opens up all sorts of questions that they will need to answer at some point…because if they had come out back in june 2012 and stood along side brown against the spivs…maybe sevco would now not be staring at another administration and the fans would not have been conned out of millions by the dodgy share issue.
Interesting stuff on Twitter – Edgar Blamm - @EdgarBlamm – poses the question as to whether Charles Green has been posting on Rangers Media account as “In the know”?
See http://i.imgur.com/rIyiTn4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WaQD6Ey.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/PObMuij.jpg
it certainly reads like him; if that is the CEO disclosing price sensitive and other sensitive info on a website, then we really are into internet bampottery.
What next, is Keevins really rantinrobin? Could Richard Wilson be Danish Pastry? How do we know Brenda isn’t really Imran Ahmad’s dear old mum? And what pseudonym does Campbell Ogilvie like to go under?
Ironically, 100 years ago Man in the Know was a notorious Celtic reporter some of whose articles would undoubtedly land him in hot water these days.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:31
DCK is one Dave King. Remember?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_King_(businessman)
Fit and proper, my backside.
========================
It really depends if you think a money laundering tax fraudster, who has been described by a Judge as a glib and shameless liar, to be a fit and proper person to run Rangers.
Personally I don’t see what the issue is. Traditions and so forth.
No idea if it’s him or not, but this is textbook Greenspeak re: the Qatar Dream League.
“If it happens and Gers is one of the teams invited we will potentially be worth over 500 million”!
Of course the Qatar Dream League turned out to be a hoax anyway, but the hyperbolic drivel is very familiar.
Thanks for that ramantbaron, if there’s even a hint of truth in these RM accounts belonging to the ex-CEO and Commercial Director then they are absolute dynamite.
I had always just assumed that they had people posting on the major supporters websites. There have also been suspicions that the PR men have been putting people here, and formerly at RTC.
I thought that was a given.
However actual execs providing information on internet forums, and potentially trying to manipulate potential shareholders and customers is surely a whole other kettle of monkeys.
chipm0nk says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:13
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Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:31
DCK is one Dave King. Remember?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_King_(businessman)
Fit and proper, my backside.
========================
It really depends if you think a money laundering tax fraudster, who has been described by a Judge as a glib and shameless liar, to be a fit and proper person to run Rangers.
Personally I don’t see what the issue is. Traditions and so forth.
============================================
If DK is the only choice available to the SFA/SFL he’ll be accepted,nay welcomed with open arms.
Question is still the same though:
Who in their right mind would take this on,knowing it’ll cost the best part of £50m to reach the SPL and build a side capable of challenging CFC for the CL place,with no guarantee of success or any return on your cash?.
Its getting on for 2 o’clock and no significant bad news out of Ibrox yet. Is this a new world record?
http://www.philmacgiollabhain.ie/the-sevco-sitcom/#more-3688
torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 12:58
I’m convinced that money is running out fast. Murray was careful to point out what was on the balance sheet, but balance sheet is not the same as being in the bank. If I sent a credit note to Rangers for £10million they could quite rightly include that on the balance sheet as money due. However, they do not (and never will) have my (imaginary) £10million in the bank.
Show us the deeds, show us the bank statements (all of them), show us who bought the shares and when the money was received, show us what money is still to be received.
And while you are at it, show us the 5-way agreement.
therampantbaron says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:09
6 0 i
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Interesting stuff on Twitter – Edgar Blamm - @EdgarBlamm – poses the question as to whether Charles Green has been posting on Rangers Media account as “In the know”?
See http://i.imgur.com/rIyiTn4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/WaQD6Ey.jpg and http://i.imgur.com/PObMuij.jpg
it certainly reads like him; if that is the CEO disclosing price sensitive and other sensitive info on a website, then we really are into internet bampottery.
What next, is Keevins really rantinrobin? Could Richard Wilson be Danish Pastry? How do we know Brenda isn’t really Imran Ahmad’s dear old mum? And what pseudonym does Campbell Ogilvie like to go under?
Ironically, 100 years ago Man in the Know was a notorious Celtic reporter some of whose articles would undoubtedly land him in hot water these days.
= = = = =
I can confirm that I’m a nondescript everyday celtic fan that sympathises with most Gers fans poster that would like to have seen SDM screw the nut c.2001 to avoid the whole omnicarcrashfuckup.
…. with occasional bad corny jokes.
torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:31
And also, financial fair play rules should in theory prevent people just throwing money at a club to buy success.
therampantbaron says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:09
y4rmy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:21
———–
The Rangers Media poster ‘In The Know’ (whom I personally believe to be Charles Green) joined RM on the 27th of July, 2012, the exact day Sevco were given the go-ahead to play football in Scotland.
On the day that the Lord Nimmo Smith inquiry decision was due to be announced, ‘In The Know’ went public with the outcome – including the nature of the ‘punishment’ and exact figure of the fine – hours before anyone else.
I clocked this at the time, tweeted his prediction, and was later (thoroughly undeservedly) credited with a scoop of my own, whereas all I’d done was copy & paste info from a monkey forum.
Very few people would’ve had access to this LNS information, so it stood to reason that this poster was an insider and worth keeping an eye on. Time-after-time he disclosed sensitive information that could only have come from someone inside Green’s camp at Ibrox; most recently attempting, quite unconvincingly, to rubbish National Treasure Craig Whyte’s claims of ownership.
Considering the distinctively chummy yet hyperbolic writing style (try reading it an a Yorkshire accent) and propensity to refer to folk as ‘prats’ and ‘muppets’, I eventually began to suspect that it was Chuckles himself!
Anyway, I (perhaps stupidly) exposed him a few weeks back, and he stopped posting on the 12th of April.
The ‘IamRangers’ (a play on IMRAN RANGERS?) account, on the other hand, has continued to be used to post sensitive information – mainly hysterical accusations towards Craig Whyte.
Interestingly, the IamRangers account, while clearly being used as a propaganda tool by someone in the Whyte camp inside Ibrox, pre-dates Administration, so is either a generic ‘Club’ propaganda account, or Imran has been at Ibrox for quite a while….
chipm0nk says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:49
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torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:31
And also, financial fair play rules should in theory prevent people just throwing money at a club to buy success.
===================
Hang on old chap, 3rd division titles don’t come cheaply nowadays 😀
torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:34
———————————
The answer to Phil’s question, not surprisingly, is that the new point man at the SFA, McKinlay, is a very regular attender at Ibrox Stadium, where he has a season ticket all to himself.
I am sure it is good for Campbell Ogilvie and Darryl Broadfoot to have someone to turn to in times of strife.
The SFA’s Director of Governance and Regulation, as mentioned in Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s latest blog might be uniquely qualified to assist in any possible scenario if TRFC does suffer another insolvency event.
Mr Andrew McKinlay’s previous appointments include:-
“Head of Asset Management
National Australia Group Europe
Public Company; 10,001+ employees; NAB; Banking industry
May 2009 – April 2012 (3 years) Glasgow
Leadership of team responsible for the asset management of the bank’s repossessed properties”
Hmm, repossessed properties…very interesting…
tomtomaswell says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:55
0
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chipm0nk says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:49
0 0 Rate This
torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:31
And also, financial fair play rules should in theory prevent people just throwing money at a club to buy success.
===================
Hang on old chap, 3rd division titles don’t come cheaply nowadays 😀
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Cant be that expensive, Green bought 54 titles, 30 odd scottish cup wins umpteen league cup wins, glasgow cup wins, european cup winners cup win and more for a word record 115 trophies,,,,,,,PLUS,,,,,,,,,,,,,, an old bike, training ground,,, AND,,,,, an asbestos riddled stadium for just over 5 million. 😀
From today’s Sun artcile on Craig Mather;
‘The tycoon’s appointment ….’
———————————————————————————————————
Hart will be joined by fellow non-executive directors Walter Smith, motors tycoon Bryan Smart and Phillip Cartmell, the former boss of a security firm.
They will demand answers from Green before today’s match against Clyde.
http://www.dailyreco…ecutive-1828656
US tycoon Bill Miller given preferred bidder status
http://www.heraldsco…3eb8524745bd8b6
Scottish tycoon Craig Whyte appeared to move closer to a takeover of Rangers after an agreement over the club’s debt was reached with Lloyds Banking Group.
http://www.newsrt.co…ver-104063.html
Charles Green sells up to bus tycoon
http://www.express.c…p-to-bus-tycoon
MURRAYBAGS; Rangers Tycoon Rakes in Pounds 2.6m from His Empire
http://www.questia.c…ounds-2-6m-from
With King the club’s second biggest shareholder behind Whyte, the rumour mill went into overdrive about why he’s in Glasgow. The party line seems to be that the Scots-born tycoon was simply meeting administrators Duff and Phelps to help with their investigation.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co…l#ixzz2RThWCQhK
Rangers chief executive Charles Green dramatically walks away from … The Scottish Sun he had shafted the tycoon to buy Rangers last year.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/scottishnews/4895862/Charles-Green-quits-as-Rangers-chief-executive.html
———————————————————————————————————————–
My advice, try and get someone in that is not a tycoon.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:33
It’s getting on for 2 o’clock and no significant bad news out of Ibrox yet. Is this a new world record?
__
Always a sign to old hands – that another frog`s about to hit the hotplate –-Fridays were pretty regular for take-overs – now with the Markets – you could synchronise your watch 😉
Re Craig mather’s Rangeritis
the Sun says
RANGERS’ new chief executive told how his love for the club was sparked by a childhood trip to an Old Firm game.
Englishman Craig Mather, 42, revealed he inherited an interest in the Light Blues from the Scots side of his family.
It came as he took up an interim role yesterday to replace Charles Green who quit last week after a controversial reign. Mather said: “One of my parents was born and raised in Scotland, and I was fortunate to come to an Old Firm game. I’ve never forgotten it — the passion, the noise, it’s unexplainable.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
So no mention that the Scots side of the family, or the one parent referred to, were definitely Rangers Supporters.
Therefore the Scottish side of the family could easily be fans of any other Scottish Team.
However it seems he was taken, as a boy, to an Old Firm game.
Now we know the an Old Firm game of old was a spectacle and something that some neutral football fans would like to attend.
But how many people of Scots descent that don’t have an interest in Celtic or Rangers choose to attend that fixture, especially say 30 years ago when the interim CEO would have been around 12.
I wonder what scarf he wore to attend that game.
It couldn’t have been ? Could it?
A few months more and sleeper agent Mather will have completed his mission 🙂
I notice that there seems to have been no trading on RFC shares since early this morning. Canny investors clearly sitting tight. Or…?
Rangers share price has dropped to 57 within the last half hour.
Gads! Spoke too soon – people are dumping 7k shares at a time. Price heading south.
correction share price 58:5
Wait!!!!! The SFA DEMAND ANSWERS!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22297679
How’s the postal service to France? Speedy?
wottpi says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:26
Mather and old firm attendance
——————————————————————-
I just wasn’t allowed to go until I was 16 and that was with two uncles and I was a big fit boy.
Wonder if Craig won any school sprint records?
The CE says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:03
From today’s Sun artcile on Craig Mather;
‘The tycoon’s appointment ….’
—————————————————————————————–
Is there a jab you can get to prevent tycoonitis as it sounds a serious condition especially in the later stages when it might indeed be lethal.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:28
rantinrobin says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:29
I suggest you get on to your broker and cover your back by buying Worthington shares 🙂
spanishcelt says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:03
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tomtomaswell says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:55
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chipm0nk says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:49
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torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:31
And also, financial fair play rules should in theory prevent people just throwing money at a club to buy success.
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Hang on old chap, 3rd division titles don’t come cheaply nowadays
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Cant be that expensive, Green bought 54 titles, 30 odd scottish cup wins umpteen league cup wins, glasgow cup wins, european cup winners cup win and more for a word record 115 trophies,,,,,,,PLUS,,,,,,,,,,,,,, an old bike, training ground,,, AND,,,,, an asbestos riddled stadium for just over 5 million.
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Inflation has taken it’s toll. Charles could have won 10 of them titles for the price of a cold cup of tea, served in a cracked cup (without milk or sugar)…..
… or tea!
Apparently, Dingwall has posted on SevcoMedia, warning the Buns to brace themselves over the next few days, as things are about to get a whole lot worse.
*rubs hands*
*rings Zurich to move some money around and buys into Worthingtons*
* or Follow, Follow – not up to speed with Berz fans forums. It was all fields round here when I was young…
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:53
Apparently, Dingwall has posted on SevcoMedia, warning the Buns to brace themselves over the next few days, as things are about to get a whole lot worse.
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Does it ever actually get worse, always seems to wander along at the ‘calamitous near death’ stage without anyone/thing ever being able or willing to just end it all!
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:40
Being a big fit boy were the two uncles needed to lift you over the turnstiles? 🙂
ForresDee – Yes, we seem to have been in the same limbo for a few years now, with the occasional leg up or down. It does appear the end game is nigh, though.
Wait! Imran’s leaving the board.
Drip, drip, drip…
AM QC,
I hope your right, I think most of us come here to read and discuss with others, as to the reasons why rules are not being followed without fear or favour. Also to take comfort from knowing that our sense of injustice is not misplaced or indeed just wrong, most of us are probably pedants in the nicest possible way.
Well, I am anyway 🙂
Have to say not being the most studious of people I do not know what to believe. On here it is armageddon for the bears, over there its as you were. What to believe?
angus1983 says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 15:12
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From BBC Sport:
“Neil Lennon has described the absence of any of his Celtic team on the shortlist for PFA Scotland’s player of the year award as “abysmal”.” etc etc.
*****
Just shows how good a coach Neil Lennon is when he can win the SPL, reach the Scottish Cup Final and last 16 in Europe with a team that doesn’t contain any players worthy of nomination for POTY.
What a guy!
therampantbaron says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:59
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torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 13:34
———————————
The answer to Phil’s question, not surprisingly, is that the new point man at the SFA, McKinlay, is a very regular attender at Ibrox Stadium, where he has a season ticket all to himself.
I am sure it is good for Campbell Ogilvie and Darryl Broadfoot to have someone to turn to in times of strife.
_________________________________________________________________________
I wonder at what point the SFA discovered that Andrew McKinlay
was an Ibrox season ticket holder !
Probably not until after he had got the job.
Wasn’t that lucky !
Now there’s Campbell, Darren, Sandy and Andy .
All working together at the SFA, side by side, for the team they love!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22295492
Oh dear, that looks nasty. Seems everyone got out safely
Wonder if someone had left something combustible in the engine compartment by mistake? Bit of paper? Lots of bits of paper? Title deeds?
Previous post seemed to get lost. try again.
For the avoidabce of doubt Mr Mckinlay is clearly hopping aboard the good ship SFA from current SPL sponsors Clydesdale Bank.
A question for those businessy legal types or even legally business types…
What happens if all of a company’s directors and senior officer(s) want to resign?
Can they?? Does someone have to stay to pull the plug? Is it last in first out, last in last out or first in and first out or by how important they are squared or the inverse thereof?
Would YOU want to jump ship if you had a place in the TRFC boardroom, especially if you were likely to be the last one left??
Just a hypothetical question, – for the avoidance of doubt I do not have such a role, nor is my real name Smith.
On the POTY thing, apart from Forster, I cannot think of one player I would have said was a consistent stand out in the league this season. Collectively they were the best but you have competition for the stand out, for that reason, many votes for Celtic players would have been split many ways.
Now take the other teams, it is much easier to pick one single player that stood out for them as they don’t have as many. So when you think of certain teams, you automatically think of those players. Players from other teams always remember the strikers who game them problems so the short list is no real surprise.
Although also an initial shock for me, I agree with Angus, I am not sure this is something NL should be complaining about.
angus1983 says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 15:12
17 5 Rate This
From BBC Sport:
“Neil Lennon has described the absence of any of his Celtic team on the shortlist for PFA Scotland’s player of the year award as “abysmal”.” etc etc.
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Is the lack of Celtic nominees by the players another victim of the demise of the Old Firm? Nobody to backsratch with hence no nominations?
As for Neil’s comments – he’s entitled to his opinion but needs to turn it down a bit. After all the players have voted democratically.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 14:53
Apparently, Dingwall has posted on SevcoMedia…………
If this were true [?] it would lend credence that whatever`s happened in the past was well known to many
Like why the liquidation committee is populated so
“Notwithstanding the fact that all four nominated players were stand-outs for their clubs this season, I’d not be surprised if there was an element of, “Let’s back the wee guys” in the voting.”
Maybe, but why not? Celtic have had a fantastic season, whinging about this is just daft
[Agreed. It’s also OT and an excuse for some of our part time trolls to start an argument. Take it elsewhere please folks – TSFM]
re the discussion of Imran and Chuck posting on blogs/forums under assumed names – as they are/were both E level managers at a public company, leaking privileged information anonymously to a “select” group of people (or even watp) could be considered as insider trading. A criminal offence. also – most blogs/forums allow logging of IP addresses on posts and comments (yes even this one!) so the admins can traceroute to a location or domain. It would be interesting to see if any of the offending posts originated from rangers.co.uk – be difficult to pin it on them though through IP only, but the access to knowledge plus the IP may be enough.
Personally I do not give a diddly about player of the year awards. Trophy’s is where it is at! And therefore I agree Lenny should not be getting embroiled in arguments about this.
scapaflow14 says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 16:01
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“Notwithstanding the fact that all four nominated players were stand-outs for their clubs this season, I’d not be surprised if there was an element of, “Let’s back the wee guys” in the voting.”
Maybe, but why not? Celtic have had a fantastic season, whinging about this is just daft
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scapa, I’d agree on both points.
Also, apologies to bogsdollox for associating Michael Higdon with the word “wee”. It was a grievous error. He’s still worth his nomination though.
blu says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 16:07
Also, apologies to bogsdollox for associating Michael Higdon with the word “wee”. It was a grievous error. He’s still worth his nomination though.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It was an immense achievement to beat Pettigrew’s record, who when he set it actually scored more goals than Kenneth Dalgleish.
Any way no apology required I will advise The Higgalump that you have cacked it!!
POTY
The players nominated have been standouts for their teams. For guys like Griffiths he has been the whole Hibs team!!
Lennon has got a good team together and they have performed as such but, like others, I find it hard to identify a stand out individual.
Unfortunately despite winning the league, being in the frame for the double, having a run in Europe, beating Barcelona etc Lennon falls into the Celtic / Rangers trap of feeling the need to ‘defend’ the club and players in public on every single little issue.
It doesn’t always have to be about Celtic, who have had their fair share of winners
(14 Celtic and 9 Rangers winner of the last 23 winners since Jim Bett in 89-90)
>> therampantbaron says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 15:41
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22295492
Oh dear, that looks nasty. Seems everyone got out safely
Wonder if someone had left something combustible in the engine compartment by mistake? Bit of paper? Lots of bits of paper? Title deeds?
Why is that fireman taking his axe to the bus when the fire is quite clearly out? Is it Peter Lawwell moonlighting as a fireman doon Paisley way? We should be told, but we won’t be.
it would be interesting to see if any of the suspected posts originated from : 80.5.176.140, oh were I an admin on FF/RM, 🙂
If the next bit of bad news isnt some Director resignations it could be suspension of the shares which could be the kiss of death for RIFC
Corsica 1968 dropping not so subtle hints that Dave King may already control a sizeable portion of RIFC shares
“Can’t stop laughing @corsica1968 1m
DCK is Dave Cunningham King, former director of RFC plc and current holder (allegedly) of over 12% shares in RIFC plc thru client accounts.”
Once again, it’s a democratic process.
The players voted for who they thought was best, and the finalist have been nominated. So long as it was a fair and democratic process then fair do’s as far as I am concerned. It is the Professional Players choice, and it is up to them how they go.
I personally disagree, for example I cannot understand why Wanyama isn’t nominated for both. However that is just my opinion, and as I amn’t a professional footballer and as such have no say in it then my opinion is really rather irrelevant.
As is Neil Lennon’s. He may well disagree with the nominations, and is entitled to his opinion, however in this instance it is meaningless.
Was King not a Director of OldCo? That would be a teeny problem, surely?
SFA Demand Answers.
Is this linked to fit and proper persons?
Campbell Ogilvie to investigate?
IMO it will take the route of you have the look of watp about you and therefore you will fit in nicely.
Also do you know how to use a shredder in a proper way?
Will you also do favours without fear for the good and benefit of sevco like we all do at the SFA?
If all the above is yes then you have passed the fit and proper test to work in Govan.
I’m getting worried here, I’m agreeing with Angus. NL should not be getting involved in this nonsense. I can imagine John Stein would have simply said something like, “That’s unusual. I wonder when the League Champions last had nobody considered good enough even for a nomination”, and left it at that.
Araminta Moonbeam QC says:
Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 16:29
Nah The SFA got Lewis Carol to write a special “Rangers are fecked what do we do” edition of the rule book:
” “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”
Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. “They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they’re the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!” ”
Mr Ogilvie is a huge fan of Humpty Dumpty……