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.
StevieBC says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 17:23
So, TRFC is not only needed to save Scottish football, but the club is also required to save the UK generally ! …and I just thought they played crap football in SFL3 ?
==================================================================
They really do have a totally false air of not only their own importance but strength. They launched their epetition against the HMRC back in Novermber 2012 with the fanfare that it would be the fastest-ever to reach 100,000 signatures.
Now almost 5 months later they still haven’t reached 40,000 signatures despite mass scale cheating and duplication of signatures.
So much for a 500 million fanbase – they were registering their budgies, cats, dogs and babies as well as creating duplicate email accounts for themselves and even friends, relatives, neighbours and workmates – without their knowledge – to try and get their figures up. Basically I reckon their own mainstream support didn’t have the brassneck to attack Hector because they knew exactly what the EBTs were all about.
And I love the simplistic notion that the establishment would allow Scotland’s shame to be dragged into the light of day and debated in Parliament – even if there was 1 million signatures that would never happen because too many hands are dirty.
BBCSpotssound Chic Young stated that Fergie offered job at Ibrox in the 80’s. Fergie refused on the grounds of their sectarian policy as his wife was a Catholic. The team portrayed as the fabric of our society.
Do you think sevco would be where they are just now if Fergie took charge when offered the role.
Well done Fergie congratulations on your success. Without Fear or Favour.
upthehoops says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 15:25
I took the afternoon of work to come home and watch that game in Rome such was my interest in it and my support for United even as a Celtic fan, they were great team back then.
The wife say to me the other day “I think you love Celtic more than me” to which I replied “I love Rangers more than you” 🙂
valentinesclown
Both Ferguson and Jim McLean turned down the job for the same reason in the 80s. The public nature of these knockbacks – and the reasons why – may well have been the dawning at Ibrox of the realisation that their policy was in fact denying the club access to not only a fifth of the population, but to people with progressive, 20th century outlooks.
I suppose both men have to be admired for that as well as his enduring humility whenever he is compared (quite correctly) to Jock Stein.
However I reserve the right to be churlish and point out that Ferguson’s behaviour towards POTY-elect Bobby Murdoch in the 1969 Scottish Cup Final rendered him a non-person in my early-teen, green-tinted eyes 🙂
He was afforded much more respect as a St. Mirren and Aberdeen manager than he ever was as a player though. The wounds he caused as a player were mere grazes, but the cries from the Jungle of “Fergie, Fergie, shut yer mooth!” were clear evidence of the deeper wounds he inflicted as a manager.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 13:56
72 0 Rate This
areyouaccusingmeofmendacity
My favourite story of an arrogant “English” mentality actually
occurred in Australia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While there is no doubt that many English folks take arrogance to an entirely different level, we’re not exactly immune here in Scotland.
I give you the Daily Record…
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SLO+WHO+IS+THIS+JO%3F%3B+Celtic+boss+signs+up+his+unknown+mate+Lubo.-a060944675
Noticed the following amongst Leggo’s ramblings this morning
“For Murray has been clinging onto power in a desperately deluded and damaging attempt to dig some dirt on financial director Brian Stockbridge over a complicated deal involving £300,000 and investors.
The truth is that, despite his claims to the contrary, Malcolm Murray knew all about this totally legal, legitimate and above board payment at the time it was sanctioned and Stockbridge has the documentation to prove it.”
Can’t think that i’ve come across mention of this payment before? Presumably someone in Sevcoworld thinks the Bears need to know what an upright pillar of the business community Mr Stockbridge is?
And funny how when Leggo uses the phrase “totally legal, legitimate and above board” i just can’t help thinking the opposite.
I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr. Ferguson in the Stakis Casino Aberdeen back in the 80’s playing black jack one evening…I didn’t realise who it was at first…until this mountain of 5 pound chips got plonked on the table….and me sitting with my 30 quids worth of chips….a side glance revealed…the Aberdfeen Manager….I tried to say hello and was politly told…in that very angry looking…dour Glaswegian face of his….’I’m no here tae talk to you’…’if a wanted a chat..a wid’ave sat wi the wife in the restaurant’…to which I replied…’I know how you feel…my wifes at hame in Glesga…why do you think am playing kerds in Aberdeen’….a wry smile followed and not another word…
Just that very brief and insignificant meeting…gave methe impression…he was not a guy to mess with..
Anyhow….Leggo…a more obnoxious example of a human being you will not find anywhere…best ignored…
My dear Lord Wobbly,
First of all a sincere thank you for helping me with my through’s and threw’s the other night. The post was made just as I was in need of an urgent lie down and some shut eye and within seconds of posting I was deeply unconscious– although to the passing observer this may not have been immediately obvious or indeed viewed as being any different to my normal level of alertness.
In any event, the article you refer to above is one that is well known to me and serves as a supreme example of the utterly tosh like and lazy journalism we have come to expect in Scotland– as there was ample evidence available to demonstrate exactly who Moravcik was and what he might bring to Celtic had the– ahem— journalist concerned cared to look.
It was neither the first nor last time that the writer concerned would make such a blunder.
However, the scribler concerned was too busy trying to put the boot into Venglos to notice that the player concerned had been a target for Juve in an attempt to replace some guy called Platini who could allegedly play a bit.
Of course, we await the writer concerned admitting that he might have called this one wrong.
We wait…. and wait….. and wait….. and wait.
An Phoblacht @An_Phoblacht 5h
Alex Ferguson says being a trade union activist kicked off his success http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/23028 #MUFC #alexferguson @labourstart @USILive
……………………………………………
Funny that…there were 2 players at Rangers in the 60’s never to pay their union subs…I wonder who one of them was?
As told to me by my mother….
“Spiers on Sport: the men who can stabilise Rangers
Spiers on Sport
Graham Spiers.
Wednesday 8 May 2013
It is no exaggeration to say that Rangers is going through a second fit of self-destruction, as if the events of the past 12 months have not been bad enough for the club’s supporters.
Malcolm Murray, the Ibrox chairman, will step down. Or, putting it more bluntly, he will be ousted. The independent investigation, commissioned by the club to Pinsent Masons, is causing growing boardroom ill-feeling, an ill-feeling which is spreading to others employed at the club.
Murray finds himself in a remarkable situation – by the quirks of his character he is trusted by just about no-one on the Rangers board to carry out the chairman’s job convincingly. He and Charles Green grew contemptuous of each other and the two men have contrived to secure their mutual demise.
Walter Smith, sooner or later, will step down from the Rangers board, having never fully been at ease in the role, even prior to the current upheaval. Smith often felt disdainful of the way Rangers’ business was done under Charles Green and Imran Ahmad.
Whatever Smith’s mood, when he leaves Ibrox he will be a loss to the club, simply for his presence and ballast as a knowledgeable Rangers figure. Smith, unlike Green or Ahmad, has nothing but the good of Rangers at heart.
Two other key figures at Ibrox, who are less well known to the public at large, are the non-execs, Ian Hart and Bryan Smart. These two men also now have the chance – and maybe the imperative – to stabilise and revive Rangers.
To those who know him, Hart is viewed as a determined, decent man, a lifelong Rangers supporter who does unsung charity work and has a successful business track-record.
Hart certainly has the gift and know-how to lead Rangers forward – it is a question of whether, amid this mess, he also has the inclination.
Some would like to see Hart installed as the next chairman of Rangers, though he himself might baulk at the prospect.
Smart is seen as another “straight up and down guy” with a city/finance background who could help pave a path out of this boardroom mess. A former director with Mercedes Benz, and a man with a penchant for classic cars, he is now viewed along with Hart as an essential, stable presence at Rangers.
More has emerged about the growing disenchantment with Green’s tenure at Ibrox – especially in his war-war rather than jaw-jaw approach to the football authorities in Scotland.
Green’s aggression in this context went down a storm with elements of the Rangers support – but not with men like Walter Smith, who desired a less confrontational and more consensual approach.
In recent months Smith had been lined up on behalf of Rangers to hold peace talks with both the SFA and SPL in the aftermath of Green’s belligerent style – though that has been temporarily shelved until the current Ibrox boardroom turbulence settles.
Ironically, although Green’s uncontrollable tongue, such as his disastrous interview using racist language, eventually brought him down, many inside Rangers still believe he will be largely exonerated by the Pinsent Masons report.
Green played hardball, to a point of misleading Craig Whyte, in the weeks prior to Rangers failing to secure a CVA last May, but he may be measured in the fullness of time as having done far more good than bad for The Rangers International Football Club.
Some Rangers figures remain convinced that Green made a fatal error in resigning when he did two weeks ago. The board were turning on him but, had he chosen, he could have hung in, at least until Rangers’ internal investigation was published.
A further question concerns new Rangers appointments. Martin Bain, the old club’s former CEO, would step back into the role in a whisper, though that scenario might be unlikely. Others hope that Paul Murray, a member of the old Ibrox board, who has been open and eloquent on the issues facing Rangers, can make a boardroom return.
Murray would make a welcome presence in the Ibrox boardroom. More than anything what Rangers require right now is an honest, emotional and intellectual understanding of the club’s needs. These are instincts, strangely, that many seem to lack.”
parttimearab says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 19:31
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Good spot….
‘Totally legitimate payment…. ‘ would pass unremarked
But ‘Totally legal, legitimate and above board’. Triple tautology!!! A liars ‘tell’ surely?
Methinks leggo doth protest too much!
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:06
0 0 Rate This
It was neither the first nor last time that the writer concerned
would make such a blunder.
However, the scribler concerned was too busy trying to put the
boot into Venglos to notice that the player concerned had been a target for Juve in an attempt to replace some guy called Platini who could allegedly play a bit.
Of course, we await the writer concerned admitting that he might have called this one wrong.
We wait…. and wait….. and wait….. and wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For goodness sake, don’t be holding your breath!
areyouaccusingmeofmendacity says: Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 13:34 59 0 Rate This
Should perhaps point out that I’m a little biased. I was a childhood Dundee United fan – Cumbernauld had no team at that point – and Paul Sturrock was a hero of mine (alongside David Narey). I think it was the fact that he always looked as if he’d just fallen out of bed onto the football pitch that endeared him to me – his socks were all over the place, his shirt always looked about 2 sizes too big for him, and his haircut was the absolute worst attempt at a mod haircut in existence. Of such things are cult figures made!
——————————
Back in the day when Cumbernauld only had Cumbernauld United, a young Kenny Dalglish scored his first professional goal …. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/03/article-1362725-0D698E7D000005DC-447_634x370_popup.jpg
Who was the DR hack that penned the nonsense about Lubo?
Spiers on sport , as lifted from the post by scapaflow at 20.13
‘…In recent months Smith had been lined up on behalf of Rangers to hold peace talks with both the SFA and SPL ..’
——
The good old revolving door has been kept well oiled throughout, of that I have but little doubt!
scapaflow14 says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:13
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Am I mistaken in thinking that both Bain and Paul Murray would be disqualified from joining any board related to TRFC, RIFC, WTFFC, whateverFC (delete where applicable) after their roles in the previous incarnation?
fara1968 says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:54
Who was the DR hack that penned the nonsense about Lubo?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Clue – a year later, said hack was being removed from Celtic press conferences by one Finbar O’Brannigan. 🙂
Thanks, he was my chief suspect.
🙂
scapaflow14 says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:13
“Spiers on Sport: the men who can stabilise Rangers
Spiers on Sport
Graham Spiers.
Wednesday 8 May 2013
A further question concerns new Rangers appointments. Martin Bain, the old club’s former CEO, would step back into the role in a whisper, though that scenario might be unlikely. Others hope that Paul Murray, a member of the old Ibrox board, who has been open and eloquent on the issues facing Rangers, can make a boardroom return.
============
Are these men not barred from holding office at Ibrox for at least 5 years?
parmahamster says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 21:01
Yes and No. One interpretation says yes they are, another says, its possible that they might be Ok, depending on circumstances.
It’s laughable, really: all TRFC need is someone in charge who will make sure that costs don’t exceed revenue. All this drivel about “Rangers-minded” men who understand the values and ethos of the club ignores this simple obvious fact.
scapaflow14 says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:13
“Green played hardball, to a point of misleading Craig Whyte, in the weeks prior to Rangers failing to secure a CVA last May, but he may be measured in the fullness of time as having done far more good than bad for The Rangers International Football Club”
—————————————————————–
Bit of a bold statement from GS.
Unless he has information or knowledge that is not in the public domain, we only have Chuck’s word that this is what happened. So rather than believe a proven liar like Whyte he is willing to believe a proven liar like Green. Or is he too stupid to get the fact that everything Green has done has been to the benefit of him and his cronies (some of whom we know but the vast majority still remain hidden) rather than for the good of Rangers. Green might have tried, and maybe succeeded, to pull a fast one over Whyte but that doesn’t make him a paragon of virtue. What will his take on it be if it transpires that it is this double handedness that eventually brings Rangers down. Spiers at times is beginning to write like the posters on Follow Follow.
Has Spiers ever been seen in the same room as Leggo?
If the SFA can pre=approve the Man who Would be King, then Mr martin Bain, and, Mr Paul Murray will have nothing to worry about……
scapaflow14 says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 21:23
3 0 Rate This
If the SFA can pre=approve the Man who Would be King, then Mr martin Bain, and, Mr Paul Murray will have nothing to worry about……
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Posted earlier, but worth a look in the context of recent posts. There is more to it than just a blessing from the SFA
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/05/08/how-section-216-of-the-insolvency-act-could-prevent-the-return-of-dave-king-to-rangers/
y4rmy says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 21:21
It’s laughable, really: all TRFC need is someone in charge who will make sure that costs don’t exceed revenue.
==========================
To steal from the Spartans* and paraphrase their one word reply to Philip of Macedonia … “all”.
(*The ancient Greeks, not the football team cheated when Rangers were given place in SFL 3 they didn’t deserve.)
y4rmy says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 21:21
It’s laughable, really: all TRFC need is someone in charge who will make sure that costs don’t exceed revenue. All this drivel about “Rangers-minded” men who understand the values and ethos of the club ignores this simple obvious fact.
=================================================
That’s it in a nutshell. All the evidence of the past points to ‘real Rangers men’ being the ones who were unwilling for the club to live within its means.
What the SFA said was “they would have no objection in principal”
what they failed to say was that it really isnt up to them
A return of old Directors is playing with the fire of phoenixism
its a very risky strategy that while making newco look like oldco
for all their supporters it does the same as far as HMRC and the law
are concerned as well
What Rfc* really need is a brand new start with a brand new club
ran by new people with no links to the past .
It won’t happen ,even if they change their name another 3 times
and re buy their history at a £1 a go they will claim to be the same
club that never surrendered .
They have never been a sporting institution but a vehicle for supremacy
and that is the crux of the real problem
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 20:06
============================================
As I recall at the time Rangers also made a major purchase of a player who wasn’t too far off the same age as Lubo. The player was Colin Hendry, he cost £3M, and he didn’t really make a great impact at Ibrox. Rangers were roundly lauded for signing ‘Braveheart’ though.
I’m f***ing lost!!! Don’t know what’s happening. I’ve read AT and looked at things elsewhere and I’m really confused about situation with TRFC.
Can anyone clarify things for me?
jean7brodie,
TRFC are fecked 😉
Timtim@22.07
Spot on tt. From its inception it’s been one of superiority,triumphalism and contempt. Even their language reeks of it.Pioneers,Assembly and of course WATP.Sooo outdated. Our society could well do without that sort of thing.
Good Evening All.
Somewhat facetiously, I sent a tweet to Graeme Spiers earlier in response to his message sending out the article reproduced above.
It read– Oh dear– Hart, Smart, Mart, Tart and Fart. Sorry to disagree but Rangers will get the Chairman that Zeus says is good for them!
I think Graeme Spiers is a well intentioned journalist, a decent fella, and his article screams that what he is seeking is to find the best way to settle The Rangers Football Club down for the best of reasons.
However, with the greatest of respect to Mr Spiers he seems oblivious to the fact that what any– or at least many– decent folk would want to happen over at Ibrox will just not come to pass because that is not the way it is meant to be.
I am sure that Mr Hart and Mr Smart are decent men with good business backgrounds who can bring various talents, experiences and contracts to a business boardroom. They may well be the kind of men who would be seen to be an asset to any business.
With the greatest respect to Paul Murray, I am less convinced as to his credentials. To be clear, I also think that Paul Murray comes over as a decent man, someone who publicly espouses many good things and who has a deep attachment to his chosen team. However, perhaps that attachment somewhat blunted his objectivity in the past as there is an argument that he did far too little in the past to warn fellow Rangers Shareholders of the financial car crash that was taking place under the stewardship of Sir David Murray.
To be fair, much of the worst of that regime may well have been kept from him. If that is so, then he should say so as to remain silently loyal to those who were in charge of that administration is naive.
I’m afraid Martin Bain was at the very heart of a completely flawed Rangers Administration. He was there for a prolonged number of years and in an executive position which bears the responsibility for all of the workings of the club. The failure in registrations, the flawed finances, the disastrous decision to go down the EBT route, the repeated losses over successive years, and the failure to timeously deal with the HMRC enquiries ( in so far as they related to Rangers PLC ) are all business disasters which can be plainly said to have been the responsibility of the former CEO.
The fact that Bain was literally no more than a SDM puppet does not excuse any of this. It merely shows a lack of independent thinking and a lack of balls on his part.
Further, his penchant for shredding important but potentially embarrassing documents should not be forgotten or overlooked.
Irrespective of all of that, the position is that until things change dramatically at Ibrox none of these men will be bringing stability to Edmiston Drive. Neither Smart nor Hart has sufficient power or influence. Further, Graeme’s article ignores those facts which are plain for all to see.
Rangers– whether it be the club or the company or the International Company or a whole series of companies— is an entity which is controlled by…………………….?
Well we don’t know who it is controlled by,who it is governed by or who it is owned by.
What we do know is that Smith has no power, Murray has no power, Hart and Smart have no Power, and if Craig Whyte is correct Charlie Green has no power– even if Whyte is wrong we still wouldn’t know if Green has any power as he was always acting on behalf of “His consortium”– whoever they are.
Rangers the football club, the company, the entity or whatever, has been hijacked by the money lenders, the finance merchants, and the wheelers and dealers. Until you get those guys out of there, The Harts and Smarts of this world are impotent.
They are Farting against Thunder.
By the way– Zeus was the God of Thunder.
And so, contrary to Gary Ralston’s scoop in the DR, Sir Walter de Brogue did not do walking away.
Just as well really.
Given events in Manchester today it would have been the equivalent of being shot on the same day as JFK.
Sir Govan chucks it, days after his Man Utd legends graced the hallowed turf of the Debt dome. Anyone think that the shennanigans of the spivs and the others who have overseen the demise of his old team sickened him with football. I know the previous regime sickened him with their signing policy when he was a bit more mature after being part of the fabric of society at one point as a player. Being unable to beat a strong Celtic at the time souldn’t have helped in his palying days.
Would Alex be revered the world over had he took the mamagers job at RFC 1872 all those years ago???? No only the small minded 500 million fans SEVCO now have would see him as a messiah…much in the same way they see Sir Cardigan.
As much as it pains me toparaise any ex Ranger ..Ferguson a man from real from working class background is a real world leader in Football… an achievement for all our young people to aspire to….
get Campbell an his cronies out … c’mon Alex , sort out the fiasco that is Scottish Football. Lead the way. Who better for us to have at the head of our Football in this country..
Tomtomaswell says..
Did G Spiers make some sort of fruedian slip when he muses that CG may have done more good than bad to RIFC? Shouldn’t the subject at hand be TRFC??
If it is RIFC Mr Spiers is addressing, then CG has probably done more good than bad for the collection of investors, but as for the football club/operating company that is TRFC, that might be a different calculation altogether.
I wish professional journalists would be a bit more precise!
From Celtic Joe on KDS. Some sleuthing!
There was something about that Craig Whyte – Worthington Group tie-up that was bugging me. So I had a wee look over my notes again.
Worthington Group has paid Whyte £250,000 for a share in his new company that is suing Rangers, claiming they own the assets. That’s Worthington Group, who agreed to give Whyte a £3m loan from one of their pension funds (Jerome Group) but now want it back.
That’s Worthington Group, whose previous owner, chairman and chief executive was Joe Dwek, a close ally of Whyte and his pals the Earleys. Dwek is still a major shareholder in Worthington Group.
That’s the same Joe Dwek who is an inspiration to Richard Hughes, a co-founder of Zeus Capital (who are running Rangers right now). In 2005 a profile of Zeus Capital said: “Dwek has provided Hughes in particular with guidance and advice as he has seen the potential to transform them from hustlers into owners of a business with depth.”
Hughes said: “Joe Dwek is one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met, real class.”
Dwek, though, really made his name as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive of Bodycote plc from 1972 to 1998. He transformed the company from mainly textiles manufacturers to specialists in the heat treatment of metals for engineering and transport companies.
And one deal in particular helped Dwek’s firm make that transformation:
In 1990 Bodycote acquired Metallurgical Testing Services Ltd (MTS) of Edinburgh, Scotland, from Murray International Holdings plc, laying the foundations for what would become Bodycote’s world-class Materials Testing business.
So . . . Minty knows Dwek who knows Whyte who knows Dwek who knows Zeus.
Probably just a big coincidence.
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1961&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=11827
Campbell Ogilvie pops his head above the turret. I wonder if any East Stirlingshire players were banned due to missing signatures, wrong dates on forms, duplicates presented instead of triplicates, the wrong colour of blue carbon paper used etc etc etc when the conflicted CO was only a mere assistant secretary at the SFA
On the fergie theme – I believe his auto biog indicated he was offered the Gers job three times in the 80’s and was answered the same way each time. To be fair as well as the signing policy he also specifically cited that he was being approached by ‘Rangers men’ without the knowledge of the present managerial incumbent (Greig and Wallace from memory) which didn’t sit well with him. Always was a man of vision and principle!
smugas says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 23:41
On the fergie theme – I believe his auto biog indicated he was offered the Gers job three times in the 80′s and was answered the same way each time. To be fair as well as the signing policy he also specifically cited that he was being approached by ‘Rangers men’ without the knowledge of the present managerial incumbent (Greig and Wallace from memory) which didn’t sit well with him. Always was a man of vision and principle!
—————————————————————————————————————
He also had a board who knew how to run a football club (as a business) behind him and he trusted them, as did the board with Fergie. Pity we don’t have that nowadays but playing catchup throughout the 90’s didn’t help when a certain team weren’t being honest.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 22:57
…By the way– Zeus was the God of Thunder
paulsatim says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 23:12
A goodnight kiss.
http://youtu.be/OnBAvvXdzHE
It really is quite extraordinary…where do they get this drivel?
‘…but other names in the frame are Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who is keen to leave Celtic as he faces the prospect of his transfer budget being cut this summer…’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2321634/Everton-target-Roberto-Martinez-replace-David-Moyes.html
Lord Wobbly says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 00:00
The frenzy erupts
Ferguson retires from Man Utd
Moyes from Everton to Man utd
Martinez from Wigan to Everton
Phil Neville from Everton to Everton
Lennon from Celtic to Everton
Mark Hughes from ??? to Everton
Martin O’Neill from ??? to Everton
Michael Laudrup from Swansea to Everton
Where is Ally going?
iamacant says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 00:24
Where is Ally going?
___________________________________________________
Greggs, maybe?
resin_lab_dog says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 00:31
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Greggs-FC/222164024464582
————————————————————————————–
Is that 5 stars on the shirts? It’s a team in blue.
I want to know why nobody in the Scottish MSM has yet reported that Sir Alex has already inquired about a NED role at iBrox?
Mibbees… 😉
smugas says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 23:41
On the fergie theme – I believe his auto biog indicated he was offered the Gers job three times in the 80′s and was answered the same way each time. To be fair as well as the signing policy he also specifically cited that he was being approached by ‘Rangers men’ without the knowledge of the present managerial incumbent (Greig and Wallace from memory) which didn’t sit well with him. Always was a man of vision and principle!
=========================================================
I vividly remember once the very public playing out of Fergie and an approach by Rangers. It was presented as a done deal by the media, but as soon as he said no the speculation re-signing Catholics started. If anyone remembers they then went after Jim McLean, who also knocked them back, possibly for the same reason. I believe Ferguson, in particular, would have made a huge difference to them, and they would not have needed an endless B.O.S credit line to do it either.
Odd story about Vlad. Is he ill or is he trying to avoid an immediate return to Lithuania? Any news about a fans’ offer being made to the administrators in Lithuania to buy the club?
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/prosecutors-demand-evidence-hearts-owner-1877049
I recall from the 80s a line in a newspaper (my dad got the Scotsman at the time, so probably that) saying that Jim McLean would insist that he could sign ‘whoever he liked’ if he got the Rangers job. My dad had to explain to me what the delicate journalese was really saying. It amazed me then, it amazes me now
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/05/09/some-questions-about-rangers-international-football-club-plc-and-market-disclosure/
GS states: ‘Smart is seen as another “straight up and down guy” with a city/finance background who could help pave a path out of this boardroom mess. A former director with Mercedes Benz, and a man with a penchant for classic cars, he is now viewed along with Hart as an essential, stable presence at Rangers.’
I never realised that GS was a City Financial Reporter so I can but wonder what PR whispered this lot in his ear?
Perhaps he should be asking about the financing of Hart’s shareholding in RIFC Plc which was apparently found lying about in Rangers and apparently missed by both Whyte and D&P. Not, of course, that I suspect the slightest impropriety on Hart’s part.
But I do wonder about his public denial of Green’s statement that he was an original investor in Green’s consortium that purchased the Rangers assets from D&P although he was later publicly forced to admit that Green had told the truth.
And to read GS advance Hart as a possible new chair of RIFC Plc – well that’s an interesting one.
Perhaps GS should stick to writing on matter where he has some expertise – like football. Well, perhaps not 🙂
upthehoops says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 07:25
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Aberdeen were a very successful exceptionally well run club and although the catholic thing has been mentioned I personally believe its more likely Sir Alex did not see any club in Scotland at the time as the next step up. Aberdeen were paying Sir Alex more than Manchester United were paying Ron Atkinson at the time. In fact according to those at Manchester United involved in getting SAF Archie Knox was also on more than Atkinson. Hard to imagine now of course.
Its easy to forget that Scottish football at the time was on a par with the English game and Aberdeen were at the very top of the Scottish game. Its long been quoted that privately SAF said he would only leave Aberdeen for 3 teams in the world – Manchester United were one of them. Another I believe was Spanish – I very much doubt there was ever a Scottish team on that list.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 22:57
Quantcast
Good Evening All.
Somewhat facetiously, I sent a tweet to Graeme Spiers earlier in response to his message sending out the article reproduced above.
It read– Oh dear– Hart, Smart, Mart, Tart and Fart. Sorry to disagree but Rangers will get the Chairman that Zeus says is good for them!
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BRT I have posted fairly regularly on RTC and P Mc C and historically my blogs, apart from the surprising institutional investment support for RIFC, have been very accurate. I also admire much of your work. However, I can assure you that Zeus are not active players at present. Zeus saw the whole thing as “just another deal” at the time although I think you may now find they are very disappointed at EX employees of the company and amazed at the antics of Charles Green.This is not my opinion this is a fact. Regrettably I cannot state here why it is a fact so people will have to judge my post history and take a view.
My opinion of the whole deal is that Green and Ahmed needed Whytes shares in a CVA solution. As I have said before Whyte would undoubtedly have covered his position to cater for a liquidation event. Sevco 5088 undoubtedly had Whyte equity in it. I dont blame Charlie on this as anyone wishing to do a deal would have had to deal with Whyte. He was the kingmaker at this point of the deal. Then when the deal turned to a liquidation position Green and Ahmad decided to shaft Whyte with the deal vehicle becoming Sevco Scotland. As Sevco 5088 had an exclusive and binding agreement with The Duffers in this regard, this is the most interesting issue for me in resolution terms. It should be interesting.
My opinion on Green having previous knowledge of Whyte, predating the RIFC deal, would be that he did not although I cannot speak for Ahmed. I would, however, instruct the independent panel not only to look for Whyte/Green links, but also to look seriously at every major deal done at RIFC and in their previous guise by Green and Ahmad. Examples would be players agents ( who organised the signing of some of the club’s international signings), the Sports Direct deal (10% equity funded by selling Rangers merchandise without an upfront payment…..looks like 10% free and a poor deal for me). Any property transactions should be checked out rigorously and there is the amazing tale of the Broxi Bear/Crossbar challenge which is dealt with in detail by the redoubtable Econ on Paul Mc Convilles excellent site. I read this article, looked at the provenance of the company involved and then noticed the hugely expensive phone number used as an entry point to the competition and………………sighed. Another rip off for the fans. Quite terrible really. I issue mu usual disclaimer that I do not support Rangers or Celyic although as a proud Scotsman I do not like to see any of my fellow countrymen being abused like this.
Good Morning,
I don’t recall the year that Jimmy Burns died. In fact I had never even met the man.
Jimmy had left his native Scotland with his wife many years before to seek a new life in the new world. The United States of America was to be his home and it would be there that he would pass and meet his maker.
However, irrespective of where he would shuffle off his mortal coil, irrespective of where he would live and bring up a family, he was always a Glasgow Man– a Celtic Man.
On the anniversary of Jimmy’s death, the family phone rang in the middle of the Florida day. It was answered by his Widow.
At the end of the phone was Jimmy’s lifelong school friend and pal– Alex Ferguson— calling from the dugout in the middle of a match.
He called Mrs Burns that morning– at a time that suited her clock and not his—- just to let her know that he was thinking of her, and that he was thinking of his friend– the boyhood Govan friend– who was always a friend no matter what. Different religions, different teams, different career paths, different countries– none of that mattered. Friends are friends— and friends look after one another– and their wives– and yes– those that they leave behind.
The story above clearly wasn’t told to me by Jimmy Burns. However it was told to me by his younger brother Tommy.
Yes a different Tommy Burns– but no less a Celtic man or a football man than his more famous namesake– and no less a Govan man than his late brother or the soon to be retired Manchester United manager.
I have known Tommy for many years. He is someone who is and has been very good to my ageing parents and he likes nothing more than to sit down and talk football– especially Celtic.
For many years Tommy was involved with lower tier football with another pal of his– David Moyes senior. Together they looked after football at Anniesland College and of course David Snr was Mr Drumchapel Amateurs.
I recall many years ago being told to “Keep an eye” on young Moyes.
Whilst his father was more of a Rangers man, it was his wee “red heided” Irish mother who instilled in David junior a fancy for Glasgow Celtic. Like Ferguson, Moyes senior did not care too much for any local convention or tradition dictating who his spouse would be or what background she had. Nor would it prevent him from scouting for Rangers when asked– nor recommending players to Celtic.
Football– or Fitba— was Fitba. Nothing else mattered.
I was advised, by the same Tommy Burns, to keep an eye on Moyes junior– not because of his playing ability but because of his burning desire to manage and understand the game. He simply wanted to know everything about football systems, coaching techniques, strategies and sports medicine and development.
I am not sure that anyone- even young David— knew at what level he would use this message– but he wanted the knowledge nevertheless.
That meant him going to get coaching badges in places like Germany when everyone else was going to Seamill. He also attended coaching courses in various other European countries as well.
Management in the big time started with Preston North End where he had 143 appearances as a player, though he also had spells at Dunfermline, Cambridge United, Bristol City, Shrewsbury Town, Hamilton Accies and of course 24 appearances for his Mammy’s team in Glasgow.
Preston is a Northern working class town– with areas of aspiration not unlike his native Glasgow.
Everton, is a team that is said to be not unlike Celtic, and when Walter Smith and Everton came to a parting of the ways, Smith was in no doubt as to who would do the best job in replacing him. He did not hesitate in recommending Moyes.
Sometimes– just sometimes—- we fail to learn lessons in this wee country and especially in and around the largest city.
Football is Football—- Football people are Football people.
I have written before about the fact that many young men of different backgrounds, religions and traditions fell under the spell of Moyes senior at Drumchapel amateurs. There they learned about football– and they learned to be men– and what it took to be good men at that.
When looking over at events at Ibrox it is all too easy to be swayed by an all too natural and easily embraced rivalry which can make you blind to the real goals in life.
I have no love of Sir David Murray, Craig Whyte, Charles Green and many others who have overstayed their welcome in and around Ibrox. I have no time for many of the traditions of the club– traditions which were rejected by the men mentioned above.
However, I have a deep respect for anyone– and I mean anyone irrespective of nationality, colour, creed or circumstance—- who is from a working class background and who makes a career in sport– especially football— where they demonstrate skills and leadership which would be the envy of any of the institutions that claim to be University business schools and which demand immense academic qualifications for mere entry.
In a society where our children are forced to chose their academic and career paths from a ridiculously early age, we should be holding the likes of Moyes, Ferguson, Stein, Shankly, Busby, Lennon, Jackie Stewart, Paul Lambert, Owen Coyle, Andy Murray and yes Walter Smith and others up as an example of what can be achieved if you dedicate yourself to a sport.
Many people who do not show academic skills at school and who do not succeed in examinations set by faceless examiners, go on to absolutely excel in many other fields— art, industry and the trades all have similar examples.
However our sport is infected with the money men, the non footballing men, the types who have none of the basic working class and decent qualities of the people mentioned above– and right now that is especially clear at Ibrox.
I accept that sport can be big business and that business means professional management, but at the core of the very best management there is not only drive and ambition, but a desire to manage people and businesses the right way– with decency and integrity and with a respect for rivals and colleagues.
To be a football manager at the top level is always going to require good man management– and the ability to be a shoulder to cry on whilst delivering a boot up the arse in what might be described as non parliamentary language in a robust manner.
The very best managers were as tough as tough can be– that is why they are the best.
Accordingly I write this drivel this morning because there is a real fear that our televisions and newspapers will hijack reminiscence of Fergie’s career and Moyes’ appointment.
The fiery Govan man has managed in England this many a year, and Moyes will travel from one great English city to another to take command of his new charges.
However, from the soles of their feet to the tip of their barnets, they are Glasgow men. They are Football men. They have been raised and imbued with much of what is right in this city and with the game of football. That should never be forgotten whether you ever support their team or not.
Those who sit in judgement of the game and who wield power in the game from that same city —- should take note of the core values which run through the two Glaswegians who are central figures in English Football today.
They might learn something.
We need more of that ilk— at Hampden, at Ibrox and elsewhere.
100bjd
Re your post above.
I am more than happy to defer to any detailed knowledge that you have on the situation and the active, or otherwise, role being played by Zeus.
However, as I suspect you are a man who chooses your words carefully, I cannot help but notice you say the following:
” However, I can assure you that Zeus are not active players AT PRESENT. Zeus SAW the whole thing as “just another deal” AT THE TIME although I think you may now find they are very disappointed at EX employees of the company and amazed at the antics of Charles Green.This is not my opinion this is a fact. Regrettably I cannot state here why it is a fact so people will have to judge my post history and take a view.”
My comments re Messrs Smart and Hart were intended to point out that as far as I can see they have no power– none at all.
It is most unclear as to who does have any power.
Previous statements all seem to suggest that Whyte went to Zeus and that Zeus went to Green.
I have a little knowledge of Zeus and the type of thing that they do. I have dealt with similar companies in London– indeed companies where some Zeus folk previously worked. Accordingly, if they still have an investment– if they act on behalf of people who have an investment— in a company where there is a real mess which may affect future returns, it is not unreasonable to assume that a prudent course of action would be for the money men ( such as Zeus ) to dictate ( if they can ) who will run the company going forward until such times as they make their exit.
It is for that reason I say that GS is mistaken in his suggestion that Hart and Smart can bring stability. They can only do so if they are also the appointees for the money men who hold the power and influence.
If that is not Zeus at the moment– then who the hell is it?
However, I stress that I bow to those who have far greater and immediate knowledge than the likes of me.
iamacant says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 23:47
smugas says:
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 23:41
On the fergie theme – I believe his auto biog indicated he was offered the Gers job three times in the 80′s and was answered the same way each time. To be fair as well as the signing policy he also specifically cited that he was being approached by ‘Rangers men’ without the knowledge of the present managerial incumbent (Greig and Wallace from memory) which didn’t sit well with him. Always was a man of vision and principle!
—————————————————————————————————————
He also had a board who knew how to run a football club (as a business) behind him and he trusted them, as did the board with Fergie. Pity we don’t have that nowadays but playing catchup throughout the 90′s didn’t help when a certain team weren’t being honest.
___________________________________________________________________
The impact of Richard Donald and Chris Anderson on the fortunes of Aberdeen in the 80s shouldn’t be underestimated. Donald learned the hard way that you didn’t want to be in hock to the bank having had to break up the title winning team of the 1955 because the bank called in their overdraft. The Club was never in debt again until after his death. Chris Anderson was a real progressive thinker and his untimely demise due to motor neurone disease IMHO is the biggest reason that the Club didn’t manage to make it’s breaking of the duopoly a more permanent thing (like Porto who broke a Benfica/Sporting duopoly around the same time).
A real opportunity was missed and it may never come again.
Unfortunately, the board that followed under first Ian Donald (who managed to kill his fathers entire business empire in a few short years) and Stewart Milne (put your money where your mouth is man!) has taken the Club backwards rather than forwards and it make take us years yet to even get into the doldrums!
BRTH,
Surely Mr Drumchapel Amateurs was Dougie Smith?
Whilst on the subject of Aberdeen, Radio Scotland this morning played a bit of commentary from THE Bayern Munich game.
I nearly had to pull the car over as the memory of being in the Beach End for those completely mental two minutes of equaliser and winner came flooding back. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Lovely stuff. 🙂
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 08:57
the Sports Direct deal (10% equity funded by selling Rangers merchandise without an upfront payment…..looks like 10% free and a poor deal for me). Any property transactions should be checked out rigorously.
=====================================================================
On the issue of the Sports Direct deal there is an interesting piece which actually details the property aspects of that deal and their potential implications for Rangers and I have undernoted the link. Most people think the deal is about selling kit but it potentially involves much more.
I wondered if you knew yet how the ‘surprise’ institutional investment was achieved as I think most people were caught-out by it.
As to Zeus – I wonder whether they are happy having Stockbridge in control of the money at Rangers in view of their past association with him which I hasten to add is a matter of public record and not under any question.
But is it just coincidental that he was prepared to come to Glasgow when he did as it seems a little strange that he would leave a rapidly expanding Zeus for Rangers or was he just another one smitten by Green’s sales patter? I just feel Rangers is a bit of a financial backwater – although the currents certainly run deep with a lethal undertow – and wonder why he has deserted Manchester or London for a quiet life in Glasgow. Possibly more of a ‘minefield’ than a backwater now but still deadly with a potential to bury careers.
UNDERNOTE
http://scotslawthoughts.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/rangers-stadium-naming-sports-direct-by-ecojon/
100bjd
Re your post above.
I am more than happy to defer to any detailed knowledge that you have on the situation and the active, or otherwise, role being played by Zeus.
However, as I suspect you are a man who chooses your words carefully, I cannot help but notice you say the following:
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I agree that I try to choose my words carefully. I also agree that your comments on Smart and Hart are completely correct. In answer to your question of who is the real power behind Rangers I would say that a lot of the original equity investors started their journey as lenders. Zeus were in this category as were other significant players. I would suggest that there were some interesting loan arrangements, as you have already witnessed on the prospectus, and a drive to convert other loans into equity. The floatation provided some more shareholders who were attracted to the asset position/story/tax position in a let’s take a punt scenario. At this point I consider that the shareholding is pretty eclectic and not really capable, unless organised by someone of credibility, that there is a genuine need for such organisation. So I think that Green and Ahmed are bluffing the RIFC board that they are in control of the board when in fact, in my opinion, they are not. Charlie…..God help us is lying! He and Ahmed only want the money so they need the RIFC board to clear their ability to sell their shares and sort out the taxman so they can utilise the AIM tax benefits. This is their end position and they are threatening the board with the shareholders in exactly the same way that they threatened some initial investors with the fans in relation to the aforementioned debt equity swaps. So nobody is in charge of Rangers except for some spivs and some perhaps well intentioned people who cannot exist in the commercial world of messrs Green and Ahmed.
From “The Daily Ranger” blog(not the DR):
Peace in our time?
Posted on May 8, 2013
As I make my daily trawl through blogs, newspaper articles and tweets I can’t help but spot a worrying trend starting to develop. One that every bear should be worried about.
This trend is the growing consensus that Rangers should ditch these Johnny-come-lately’s in favour of the old guard, the brown brogues and blazer wearers.
Most of it is just pure unadulterated snobbery from holier-than-thou types who sit back and sneer down their noses at “oiks” like Charles Green and his undignified outspoken behaviour.
No that kind of behaviour simply wouldn’t wash in the clubhouse after 18 holes don’t ya know, we don’t want “your kind” lowering the tone around here.
This trend started for me with a Tom English interview with Paul Murray slithering his way out of the woodwork to chastise us all and call for “core values” to return to Ibrox.
Then the other day we’ve got that delicate little flower Alex Rae in the Daily Record, no friend of Rangers I might add, telling us that he expects a certain level of decorum at Ibrox.
Followed by those paragons of virtue over the Rangers Standard, fresh from braking a damaging story about Rangers, telling us in a long-winded, waffling diatribe that “core values are long overdue”.
Then Graham Spiers, no stranger to the clubhouse, decides to echo these sentiments and throw his weight behind men like Ian Hart and Walter Smith who wants a peaceful reconciliation with the SFA and SPL.
Peace in our time.
There is an agenda being pushed here with these naive ramblings regarding some long-lost 1950′s morality that anyone connected with Rangers should extol. That it’s better to show a stiff upper lip, accept the slings and arrows and meet our enemies head on with a “dignified silence”.
There’s only one problem with that: It’s utter bullshit.
There seems to be some form of amnesia that’s taken hold of Rangers fans recently when they start talking about “core values” and “the Rangers way”. But let me remind you, we, as a club, as a support, are at war.
A war against a malignant group working through an agenda driven media to tear us down at every opportunity. Has everyone forgotten how our club was kicked to within an inch of its life? How our tax documents were leaked through the Rangers Tax Case blog? How our trial by media had us branded cheats before the trial? How they wanted our titles stripped as part of an effort to blackmail us for our entry back into the league?
This war hasn’t stopped, we’re still fighting it. Yet men who would stand up toe to toe with these cretins are being hounded out of Ibrox to allow the return of the softly softly brigade.
Walter Smith is a good man and a Rangers legend but he hasn’t the faintest concept what we’re up against or how to deal with it. He’ll happily stand like Neville Chamberlain waving a meaningless piece of paper proclaiming peace in our time as our enemies are fueling the tanks.
I reject this call for “core values” and “the Rangers way” because it will see us become limp, powerless weaklings crushed under the jackboot of those don’t abide by such lofty ideals.
Charles Green might have not have been everyone cup of tea but he wasn’t afraid to rattle cages.
Who will rattle those cages now? Walter Smith? Paul Murray?
While Bill Struth might not approve of such methods he certainly wouldn’t have seen Rangers grovelling to its enemies.
It’s time to wake up and to put away childish things.
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:00
Quantcast
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 08:57
the Sports Direct deal (10% equity funded by selling Rangers merchandise without an upfront payment…..looks like 10% free and a poor deal for me). Any property transactions should be checked out rigorously.
=====================================================================
On the issue of the Sports Direct deal there is an interesting piece which actually details the property aspects of that deal and their potential implications for Rangers and I have undernoted the link. Most people think the deal is about selling kit but it potentially involves much more
—————————————————————————————————————————
Ecobhoy,
I did not know the draw down/asset security aspect of the deal. It actually makes my less detailed appreciation seem understated. Good work as usual…did you check out the hotel in Ardrossan I mentioned yesterday.
On Zeus I know Zeus are seriously unhappy with things. Your comment about Stockbridge’s move timing to Glasgow is unquestionably correct and obviously part of the plan. I do think, however, that there are a few rogue operators out there. This whole story is about terminal greed. Even you Celtic boys must have some sympathy for decent Rangers fans…..and there are many of them. I cerainly see this as a national disgrace… not just about Rangers.
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:08
‘they are threatening the board with the shareholders in exactly the same way that they threatened some initial investors with the fans in relation to the aforementioned debt equity swaps’
=======================================================================
I thought it interesting that a rather wealthy Pakistani-born Dubai banker appears to have been the only one to tell Green to get stuffed and be repaid in cash as originally promised to all or most of the original investors in TRFCL.
I have always thought that Green must be faced-down or he’ll walk all over you and looking at the Rangers Neds on the RIFC Plc Board I think they were well-picked by Green and have just about shot their bolt although Hart might decide to stay IMO although I wouldn’t necessarily see that as breaking ranks.
And then we return to Stockbridge – surely he must see Green’s threat for what it is so how will he react?
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:24
Even you Celtic boys must have some sympathy for decent Rangers fans
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I have always openly expressed sympathy and support for ordinary Rangers fans who don’t carry historical baggage and it goes all the way back to the Murray days when a handful of Bears could see clearly what was coming down the track. Their fellow Bears wouldn’t listen to them back then and I truly hope some lessons have been learnt otherwise the mistakes will be repeated ad infinitum.
I was around and active when Celtic tetered on the edge of the abyss so I have some understanding of what Bears are going through. In purely financial terms it also IMO makes sense to have Rangers competing in the top flight once they have earned their promotions on the field and the Rangers fans I know and socialise with don’t want shortcuts either.
Supporting any football club goes beyond rational thought and logic in my experience and even with some maturity it still manages for me to go way beyond habit I’m glad to say.
I missed the bit re the hotel but will have a search for it. Oh, on Mather is he just a horse racing acquaintance of Green who was ‘sold’ the idea of a punt on something a bit different which happened to tie in with his sports agency business?
BT fire the !st shots in the broadcasting war:
BT Sport to be free with BT Broadband!
Posted by BT Life Newsdesk
May 9th 2013 at 11:29
BT Sport
BT Sport will be free to any consumer BT broadband customer – the first time in more than 20 years that weekly live matches from the Barclays Premier League will be free to watch.
The three BT Sport channels – BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN – will be packed with world class sport, including 38 exclusively live Barclays Premier League matches, as opposed to the 23 ESPN offered. This includes 18 of the best quality ‘top pick’ matches which for the first time ever are not all with Sky Sports.
BT Sport will also offer matches from the Bundesliga, The FA Cup with Budweiser on ESPN, Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League, Serie A, Ligue 1, MLS and many more.
BT Sport is also the new home for domestic club rugby with exclusive rights to televise up to 69 live Aviva Premiership rugby matches per season (previously shared between Sky Sports and ESPN).
In 2014 BT Sport will also be the new home of MotoGP with exclusive live rights to all the Moto GP races (Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP) of the season (18 GPs). This includes all Warm Ups Practice and Qualifying live (previously on the BBC).
We have also added top women’s tennis from the WTA, exclusive rights to UFC Women’s Super League football, Australian ‘A’ league soccer and action sport and lifestyle programming from Red Bull Media House.
Only one in five UK homes currently take a sports channel – possibly due to the high prices that have resulted from there being little real competition, so we want to increase the number of customers enjoying high quality sports on TV.
Ian Livingston, BT chief executive said:
“UK Sports fans have had a rough deal for too long. Many have been priced out of the market but we will change this by giving away BT Sport for free with our broadband. Sports fans are the winners today.
You’ll be able to get BT Sport direct from us via our own TV service, on Sky’s digital satellite platform and also online or via a new App letting you enjoy the channels on the move or at home on your PC, smartphone, or tablet.
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:26
Quantcast
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:08
‘they are threatening the board with the shareholders in exactly the same way that they threatened some initial investors with the fans in relation to the aforementioned debt equity swaps’
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I thought it interesting that a rather wealthy Pakistani-born Dubai banker appears to have been the only one to tell Green to get stuffed and be repaid in cash as originally promised to all or most of the original investors in TRFCL
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Eco……..demonstrates my point!
This is abit OT but when all is said and done Scottish football has to find away too bring all the other clubs within at least a chance of challenging Celtic and Rangers/Sevco ,because in afew years they will be in the same league and what will have changed ,they will by crowds and advertising wealth be that further ahead than the other clubs, so I guess they will be challenging and winning as in previous years every thing sight [well not quite everything ] So what will have changed ? As I see it this is the fundamental problem with scottish football . In my opinion ,By the way Im English and have no bias either way
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:26
I know of four people, two of which I do know personally, who invested £1m between them with a written contract doubling this amount after 6 months.
It was around the turn of the year, perhaps just prior.
They have since collected their money.
CG tried to convince them to leave it a bit longer.
They declined.
He tried again and again and again, very nicely of course. The two I know are not to be confused with an soft touch.
They insisted.
100bjd says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:57
Ardrossan Hotel
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I’m afraid I can’t find the post on that one and I doubt you would have mentioned it if not at least interesting 🙂
torrejohnbhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 11:11
From “The Daily Ranger” blog(not the DR):
Peace in our time?
Posted on May 8, 2013
While Bill Struth might not approve of such methods he certainly wouldn’t have seen Rangers grovelling to its enemies.
It’s time to wake up and to put away childish things.
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Those The Rangers fans do love their war metaphors. I have considered the matter of whether the club I support has any “enemies”. After much thought I have concluded that they have some fierce rivalries but in the matter of the game of football we sadly have no enemies.
The Graham Speirs article posted further up is so much mince. However, like Mr Hart I too have a “penchant for classic cars” much in the same way as Bertie Wooster did except I can’t afford them, and so the word I shall be slipping into all golf club conversations and correspondence today will be “penchant.”
bawsbustedanatha says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:04
I know of four people, two of which I do know personally, who invested £1m between them with a written contract doubling this amount after 6 months. It was around the turn of the year, perhaps just prior. They have since collected their money.
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Interesting – I’m a little confused on timing as to when they actually invested their £1 million and when you mention ‘turn of the year’ I assume you mean Dec 2012 to Jan 2013. Were they actually investing in TRFCL as seems likely. It really makes you wonder what kind of unexploded bombs are out there waiting to be paid.
And how much from the flotation has actually been paid-out to meet these ‘loans’ presumably made to TRFCL. If RIFC Plc is making these payments and therefore lending money to TRFCL I assume this would be secured against the assets of TRFCL to protect the position of RIFC Plc.
I wonder if any of this made the interim accounts – I suppose it boils down to the repayment date and/or the date the loan plus interest was repaid.
It may be unpatriotic of me, but I have sneaking feeling Jose will get the Man U job…..one last poke in the eye from SAF, to his assumed suitors, Chelsea and Man C………..
arabest1 says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:26
It may be unpatriotic of me, but I have sneaking feeling Jose will get the Man U job…..one last poke in the eye from SAF, to his assumed suitors, Chelsea and Man C………..
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I’m afraid I can’t see it old bean. Jeeves tells me that Man Yoo do not have a penchant for Jose. Their penchant is for classic scots managers such as that working class little oik David Moyes.
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:25
Sorry, yes I did mean the new year just past. I go abroad for christmas and the new year and thinking about it this was just prior to that when we were catching up.
Two old school pals who’ve done well.
bawsbustedanatha says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:43
ecobhoy says:
Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 12:25
Sorry, yes I did mean the new year just past. I go abroad for christmas and the new year and thinking about it this was just prior to that when we were catching up.
Two old school pals who’ve done well.
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I’m also confused by the timing. Are you saying the loans were made after the world record breaking AIM listing? Why loans and not equity? Why such a ridiculously high return? The word Ponzi comes to mind.