As we all know, this site emerged from the ashes of RTC. The wish of the original administrator of the site, one which I wholeheartedly share, was to keep together the wonderful community RTC had built, in terms of both personnel and spirit. There are still many individuals around who were also part of RTC, and regrettably many who are no longer with us. The RTC spirit however, that of a cross-party football site where issues can be discussed in a respectful and insightful manner remains. The “wisdom of the crowd” phenomenon is also with us to perhaps an even greater extent than before, and consequently SFM’s credentials as a formidable alternative to the print media have grown.
In recent times, many contributors have expressed frustration that we are pretty much a talking shop and little else; characterised as “a lot of gum bashing and no teeth”. I think that is fair comment up to a point, but then again our aim – up to now – has been to simply present an alternative view – a view that has increasingly become the fan view as opposed to the industry view (the industry being made up of club officials, players, and press).
In fact the way I see it personally, SFM has evolved to a point where it has become the watchdog (monitor if you will) of an industry which is subject to very little oversight. The Rangers situation will eventually be done with (no laughing at the back please), and like everything else will be consigned to history (albeit more than one). The same self-interest and lack of regard for sporting integrity though will still remain, and the need for oversight will remain also.
Having arrived at those conclusions, we have two alternatives; the first is to remain as we are (which is not a bad place to be), and the second is that SFM has to expand its role.
In recent weeks, the mods have met to discuss this, and we think that we ought to give the latter option a try. As to how we want to achieve that, and we have come up with a skeleton plan as follows;
1. We need to move into the area of gathering news content as well as commenting on what appears elsewhere;
2. We should act as a cross-club portal to get good fan site content from all clubs to a wider audience;
3. We need to highlight the positives in the game as well as the negatives;
4. We should become an actively campaigning body, aligning with fan groups to lobby for the changes we think important.
In order to achieve these objectives, more time will need to be spent on communication like podcasts, adding news content, expanding membership and building links with other fan groups. Time will also need to be spent setting up features, attending press conferences etc. Later in the year, one of the mods will have much more time on his hands to help achieve this.
Podcasts, premium content, labour, organisation and all of the above costs money, and ultimately a subscription based model backed by sponsorship seems to be our best way of achieving that. In order to give us a head start, we will in the next few months be putting together a business-plan and a pitch for Crowd Funding investment.
This is not to say that our existing model has been a failure. We have successfully managed to keep ourselves afloat through the ad-hoc generosity of people in our community, although the inability to keep the podcasts going has been a bit frustrating. Finding income streams which are more solid will allow us to respond to events more quickly (for example mounting an ad campaign to respond to some event or other, or buying new equipment), and hopefully achieve all of our objectives – and build a bigger audience base for our message.
Of course a move of this nature will require that, in the interests of transparency, anonymity of SFM will have to be set aside. That will not affect any of our contributors, and our practice of using (sometimes) imaginative names on the blog will remain. However, for crowd funding to be successful, we will require to have a board in place, and there is no hiding place from Companies House. The make up of the board is also crucial, and in addition to consideration of blog members for that role, we will be looking to have respected people from without.
I imagine there may be a consequent subtle effect on moderation policy to take into account.
The reason I have made this post is to keep the community up to speed with events. Although we have decided to move forward to see if we can get support for our business plan, that plan is by no means finished. As I said earlier, the “wisdom of crowds” has made our community unique and given it its credibility. There’s a lot more wisdom out there we hope to tap into before we go ahead with our initiative.
We already had someone in mind for chairman of the new board, but events have conspired tragically to rob us of that – and had the effect of postponing this announcement. However we would like to hear suggestions for suitable outside candidates for board and committee places.
We also want to hear from you if you have a suggestion to be added to our wish list of SFM function above – or even if you think it is a mistake to embark on this course.
This is a very big move for SFM, so we don’t want to rush into anything. We need to listen to what you folks have to say, because if the merging SFM is not considered a better SFM by our community there is very little point in looking to fund it.
James Forrest says:
Member: (91 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 3:58 am
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Good stuff James, and much to think about.
Last night I finally got round to listening to the BBC podcast from 19th May that has been much discussed on here. Quite frankly I believe the BBC once again let itself down by allowing someone like John Brown to contribute. The argument in favour of Dave King, whether we agreed with it or not, was put forward in an articulated manner by Richard Wilson. Would it not have been possible to have someone else of that ilk to balance the opposing views of Jim Spence and Tom English to two apiece? I won’t even discuss Derek Ferguson because in my view he is simply out of his depth and should be kept well clear of such matters. Spence and English conducted themselves very well in my view and the all round silence when Spence spoke of the lack of support he had when under attack from a section of the Rangers support spoke volumes. Perhaps he has previously been instructed by his BBC bosses not to mention it, who knows. The view of Wilson that we simply have to accept the SFA ruling is beyond reproach is ridiculous. When such a vague statement is issued stating a convicted tax evader is suitable to take control of a major Scottish club it is only natural that alarm bells will ring. All stakeholders have a right to know more detail of the reasoning behind it. The history of this country has shown investigations in the past have had the outcome pre-determined with persons having to find a way to fit the investigation around that outcome. Unless the SFA release substantive information, we are more than entitled to question if that was the case re Dave King. We need only go back to the late 90’s when twice the SFA found Jim Farry innocent until the determination of Fergus McCann eventually saw a properly governed, independent legal case show those SFA judgments to be a sham. I do not believe mankind has evolved so much in the years since that event that it is now impossible for the SFA to act improperly at worst, or at best structure an argument to suit an outcome they wanted from day one – I guess there’s little difference between the two!
Has anyone been able to access the sportsound podcast from the other night? Tried the links provided on here but no joy!
Melbourne dee.
Couple of things. I think you immediately see how king operates. Get the MSM to report it unchecked and it will become fact. There is no doubt 1.5m has been put in else they’re bust again, but it’s not necessarily from king, albeit that’s not to say the 3Bs original investment could easily have been from the same source.
(Incidentally, myth prolongation is not solely an RFC issue “I heard Lawell voted naw” is from the same source, the key difference is the MSM’s willingness to print it, even make it up on their behalf.)
Second point is I suspect you’re seeing the bones of Kings FFP proposal. “Here’s a 1.5m cheque for the May wages for (looking like) your promoted team. Bounce me and I bounce the cheque, wages fail and we call admin, and it’ll all be reported as your fault.”(see point above)
They really handle Armageddon style ransom notes rather well don’t they.
:slamb: :slamb: :slamb: alert.
Please don’t look at this headline while eating your cornflakes…
“New Rangers chairman Dave King declares Ibrox club’s finances are the envy of world football”
I assumed that on reading the article that Dave had said nothing of the sort….oh dear…
“Rangers are in an incredibly strong financial position. It has got shareholders who can fund it, it has got virtually no debt.
“How many clubs in the world don’t have debt? Our balance sheet is incredibly strong for any football club in the world.”
Still I was only laughing my head off at this because Rangers were a financial omnishambles, or so I thought, fortunately Dave was able to put me right on this…
“We have really just got a little cash squeeze”
Yes you did see that, but just in case….
“We have really just got a little cash squeeze”
😯 😯 😯
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/mobile/rangers/new-rangers-chairman-dave-king-declares-ibrox-clubs-finances-are-the-207686n.126826008?
@Melbournedee
Or perhaps the Daily Express has just published a Level5 press release verbatim. There is certainly a large element of bias in describing L&L as puppets. They were much more independent of Ashley than Murray (P) was of DCK
@Dannyfergus are you trying to access from within the UK. The links worked for me but I think it was Danish had to resort to use of a VPN to access it abroad. Mibbes the BBC thought that Ferguson and particularly Brown’s thoughts should not be aired worldwide.
parttimearab says:
Member: (341 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 8:57 am
“New Rangers chairman Dave King declares Ibrox club’s finances are the envy of world football”
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As PMG has been saying consistently for years now; “For the avoidance of doubt, RIFC/TRFC remains a loss making business without a credit line from a bank”
Has King sorted a credit line from a bank yet – the most basic indicator of fiscal responsibility.
parttimearab says:
May 22, 2015 at 8:57 am
Sure I have heard something similar before around the time of shares issues.
He (Green) added: ‘Now we are a debt-free business there is every opportunity for the club to be run efficiently, effectively and successfully.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2217205/Charles-Green-thanks-Rangers-fans-backing-share-issue.html
He (Green) asked how many clubs in Europe were sitting with no debt, no borrowings and £25m in cash.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-chief-charles-green-needs-1502550
I note the DR giving us the same message that contracts between the Club and Legend Gardener McCoist are water tight and Ally is wholly within his rights to take what is owed.
Meanwhile Ashley is just going to bend over, give up on his contracts for a weaker position and give King what he wants.
Aye right!!
Re Ashley and options for doing a deal.
If King is such a supporter of the SFA and its processes then he must surely agree with their stance that Ashley cannot hold anymore shares in T’Rangers that takes him beyond the 10% while still being owner of Newcastle.
If the intention was for the SD £5m loan to be swapped for equity what how will the SFA view that along with Mike’s personal MASH holding.
What chance they would nod that one through, if necessary, arguing that SD is a separate shareholding entity?
melbournedee says:
Member: (38 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 4:59 am
And to add to all that, there’s the request he made to the world’s worst football manager, the one who, though rather well off, has no future in football and a perhaps uncertain future anywhere else:
‘Ally, we are about to pump £30m into the club’s coffers. To help us out, can you just forget about the money we owe you?’
Once again, that man who doesn’t recognise the value of truth, contradicts himself repeatedly.
‘No debt’ equates to ‘won’t pay it back’, in Kingspeak!
King may well be about to pump millions into TRFC; I just can’t understand why he has to make so many contradictory statements that are all open to interpretations of such variety.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if those men at the SFA, who found King ‘fit and proper’, are scratching their heads (if they can find them without the use of the mirror they are afraid to look in) and wondering where King’s current flim-flam fits in with what he told them up to the point they announced their decision!
If King has zillions to invest then why is he, according to MSM/Level5, hussling an RRM legaedary employee to surrender his contractual gardening allowance amounting to only about £500,000, up to December.
King’s statements and actions have always struck me as being of two entirely different people: Mr Glib and Dr Mendacious.
Allyjambo says:
Member: (945 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 9:26 am
King may well be about to pump millions into TRFC; I just can’t understand why he has to make so many contradictory statements that are all open to interpretations of such variety.
===================================================
Ally – I genuinely think King does not understand when he is telling untruths and contradicting previous untruths – he just tries to impress the people and blag his way through life – as he tried so successfully with SARS over thirteen years. You can’t say he isn’t fully committed to this MO.
It would be ludicrous in any other business or sporting environment, but the MSM pick out the bits they want to hear and ignore the bulk of bullshit that real journalists would interrogate to death.
Auldheid says:
Blog Writer: (431 comments)
May 21, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Putting aside my red nose, straw hat and cane
==========================================================
Nail on head. These things were done, and we know they were done. If King was in no way involved, then it is the perfect time for him to start pointing fingers(and not solely at Wee Craigy)at the ones who were involved. That would go a long way to establishing his credentials as a rehabilitated offender, and not holding a chairman’s position within Scottish fitba merely as a convicted offender.
I don’t see it ever happening, due to the fact they all shared the same bath water,but in no way has it diminished the irrational man-crush I have developed for you on you and your continued efforts re res 12.
I understand these wheels turn slowly, but now would be a good time to urge Mr Lawell to get off of the cart and lend a hand pushing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQBHzzGrSPk
@wottpi, my thought too — Green’s old press releases being dusted off 🙂 And credit to KJ today for highlighting two glaring inconsistences in King’s statements over the past year and yesterday 😯
* @tcup It was a good broadcast with no tech glitches at all (apart from a rougue mouse cursor on the screen, later removed). That’s part of the future of fitba broadcasting right there. Good game annaw and the smiling kids, in what seemed a good atmosphere in the ‘closed door’ event, were great to see. Hopefully, there’ll be a modest SPFL Webcast TV trial soon.
Today’s herald is boak inducing. Graeme MacPhersons article is a work of wonder.
Ally being asked via the media to help out – ie for the good of the club give up your contractual rights. Then various moonbeams – where have I seen these before? – on SD, envy of Europe blah blah
http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/king-respects-mccoist-contract-but-hopes-former-manager-may-consider-personal-sacrifi.126833720
mcfc says:
Member: (1245 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 9:11 am
Has King sorted a credit line from a bank yet – the most basic indicator of fiscal responsibility.
=============================
I am sure that if King and the Three Bears will provide unbreakable personal guarantees backed by legal charges over their houses, then some bank will be prepared to provide a line of credit. They would be the first directors in the brief but eventful history of TRFC to do so, though, and for very a good reason- none of the previous directors were totally stupid..
As regards today’s Scotsman article, I see that it is now stated as fact that King has matched the Three Bears loan of £1.5m. I also see that not one of our intrepid press corps thought to ask whether King has any security for that “investment”.
Incidentally, I see that we can’t call it a loan, because absolutely the only debt which “one of the strongest clubs in the world” (and yes, folks, King did actually say that) has is the £5m owed to Ashley.
And let’s not forget King’s respectful comments about the return to the top of the top flight- “Our first year back, we are expecting to compete with Celtic. It’s our natural competition and, hopefully, within the first year there will then be Europa League income.” Bugger all the other clubs, then. They don’t even merit a mention.
At least with Charles Green, you knew the guy was having a laugh, and he was genuinely funny. There is nothing even slightly funny about King. He really means it. It’s just David Murray all over again.
Scottish football is going to deeply regret letting this weasel into the hen house. But that’s what the clubs have signed up for. The situation is now entirely out of their control, as they will find out in very short order.
Got back into Scotland last night,chatting to one of the guys and he was on about the previous nights play off’s 1st leg at Ibrox and a corner to Hibs,he showed me a you tube video of a Hibs player trying to take a corner while being pelted with items intended to break his concentration,one being a drumstick apparently,I see the Referee made him retake the kick and all was well,not,I take it Rangers have apologised for this unfortunate incident from their fans and the lack of stewardship and it will not happen again,no ,thought not,well at least we can be thankful it will be mentioned in the Ref’s report,along with the booking of Miller for jumping the hoarding to embrace the crowd,eh what’s that,Miller wasn’t booked,surely he was and it was just missed in the match report.
Is that a dog-whistle I hear, designed to bring the original dog-whistler to heel?
“King hoped there would be no ill-feeling from the supporters towards McCoist should the one-time striker elect not to forego the remainder of his contract.”
http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/king-respects-mccoist-contract-but-hopes-former-manager-may-consider-personal-sacrifi.126833720
Note: “The one-time striker”, not “The Ibrox Legend”.
Traynor’s fingerprints all over this IMO.
If the reported £5m deal for Bitton goes through then how will King entice top quality players to Glasgow when Celtic will have around say £3m profit, from that one deal alone, to trump anything going on down Govan way.
Still believe one tactic will be, where possible, to offer half decent contracts to key players from the likes of Hearts and the existing top sixers outside Celtic to weaken the opposition for second spot, should then manage to negotiate past Hibs and then Motherwell.
Help me out here, if £30 million will put TRFC on a par with Celtic and make them a force in Europe again (sic) and that includes a new team refurbished stadium paying off outstanding pay day loans secured and unsecured and gardeners various, how much would it cost Celtic to become a force in Europe again? I assume of course that the £30 million is not based on TRFC being ahead of Celtic already although given the source that is a dangerous assumption.
Apart from two or three clubs that immediately come to mind (and the blue club would be one of them) Scottish senior football clubs are being run as businesses.
First rule of survival is that businesses have to balance their books or have a benefactor who covers off any short term gaps or eventually the inevitable occurs.
If we look closely at the team playing as Rangers we can see it has had 3 broken models in rapid succession.
We can also conclude that each time the club has hurt those who “invested” in the dreams of its owner, although not necessarily the owner himself.
– The Murray Regime relied on Masterton and EBTs in an attempt to punch above its weight but ran out of cash.
– Mr Whyte who relied on Ticketus, European income that never came and then non-payment of monies and taxes due as he ran out of cash.
– And the colourful Mr Green who in true PT Barnum style made a market and rooked the city and the fans with the help of his anointed manager who was a Real Rangers Man all though his glorious reign but the business ran out of cash too even though they had raised enough to become legit.
So we have had three regimes which were fronted by what historians might consider to be confidence tricksters on the make.
Now the King has come and we are easing into Regime number 4.
And being a clone of regimes 1-3 it will probably need the biggest confidence trick yet to get other people’s money funding the new leader’s business plan.
We’ve all seen it starting in a well coordinated “free” media campaign/blitz in our back pages.
So we know what is coming and the fans will be brainwashed into a funding frenzy.
And while some will shy away I think the right kind of frenzy might just do the trick.
Having “enemies” to overcome like Ashley will help to further gird the loins of the loyal to cough up more.
But I still have one thing I’m not sure about.
Its the connectivity of it all.
At our late friend Corsica’s reported “secret meeting” in Switzerland a few pantomimes ago, both King and Ashley camps were represented as well as the other players who’ve all had their turn at the helm.
Some time ago someone on this site cleverly used the Dem Bones song to illustrate the connectivity of the players when he said, or maybe sang
“The Murray bone’s connected to the Whyte bone,
The Whyte bone’s connected to the Green bone,
The Green bone’s connected to the King bone” etc
I still think that is a good analogy and I’d go further –
I think Ashley has been ever present cartilage all along.
Investing on the ground floor then making money like a San Franciscan Merchant in the Gold rush.
Raking it in and even taking his turn as the lead villain till someone else steps up to shake the corpse for more sheckels.
The Rape of Rangers continues.
One can only wonder what media shy (savvy) Ashley is making of King’s bullshit fest. Will Ashley be more likely to regard King as:
a) a loose cannon – to be kept at a safe distance
b) a good, shrewd, reliable partner for future ventures
c) a temporary embarrasment who will burn himself out – patience rules
d) the kind of big-mouthed tosser he’s done over many times before
e) a serious operator and rival
mcfc says:
Member: (1248 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 10:27 am
a), c) and d).
Did I get it right?
Why does King want to be front facing,he seems to be intent on setting himself up for the big fall,Ashley like Dermot Desmond are quite happy to let their hand picked lieutenant’s carry out their instructions and unsurprisingly both are highly successful,staying in the background but keeping control of the reigns,it seems to me King has something to hide and needs to be in on all that will go on in the blue room,recipe for disaster,Patsy Murray is just that,he will do as he is told when King has to jet back to SA but the 3 Bears will soon pick up on this and the fall out will gather speed,probably these guys will have started to realise the glib one is to be watched,particularly with their grand children’s future investments,would you buy a second hand club from this man.
MCFD
Can it be in any order,I would go for,
CAD
Finloch at 10:13 am
Very good, amigo.
A question arises, however. Who are the Easedales? Where did they fit in? Where are they now?
yourhavingalaugh, it’s simply down to ego and it’s a fairly common trait amongst people who take on football clubs. Ashley doesn’t seem to be exempt from it if you remember the cockney boy donning a Newcastle scarf and sitting beside the real fans. Murray at Rangers had it, Mileson at Gretna, Romanov at Hearts, di Stefano at Dundee (not sure he actually ever had any control there but it was certainly an ego trip). The owners of Hull City, Cardiff and Chelsea all seem to be satisfying their egos.
I think that Dermot Desmond and Tom Farmer have big egos, how else would they have been successful, but neither seems to need to have it fed through their football club association.
It could all be hubristic though, which despite all the money he still has, is undoubtedly the case with the second last owner of Rangers Football Club.
Can I just check that there is still no date set for the hearing of HMRC’s appeai against the UTTT’s decision?
And no advance in the matter of the charges made against certain administrators and such like?
Tsk,tsk, how slowly grind the mills of justice! Let me hope that they grind exceeding small.
The pity is that the real bad guys, like certain members of the governing body of our game, are not in any criminal dock- at the moment, at least.
But I live in hope.
The Sage of Omaha
Warren Buffet, a multi billionaire (genuine) who’s wealth is even on Radar Jackson’s detection apparatus is very keen on getting to know the management team of potential investment targets – because they will determine the future of that invetsment. He’s looking for attracting talent, retaining talent, developing talent and stability. All key indicators of a healthy organisation with a good culture and values. It made we muse what Warren would make of Rangers International Football Club plc over it’s short history:
[btw Chris Graham’s innings was too short to trouble the scorers]
13/04/2015 New Board Member Mr D.I. Park appointed
26/03/2015 Mr M. Wood has resigned as company secretary
24/03/2015 New Company Secretary Mr J. Blair appointed
24/03/2015 New Board Member Mr P. Murray appointed
24/03/2015 New Board Member Mr J. Gilligan appointed
24/03/2015 Mr B.J. Leach has left the board
24/03/2015 Mr D.D. Llambias has left the board
24/03/2015 Mr D. Somers has left the board
10/03/2015 Mr J. Easdale has left the board
20/01/2015 New Board Member Mr B.J. Leach appointed
13/01/2015 New Accounts Filed
23/12/2014 Mr N. Crighton has left the board
18/12/2014 New Company Secretary Mr M. Wood appointed
13/12/2014 Annual Returns
04/12/2014 New Accounts Filed
20/11/2014 New Board Member Mr D. Llambias appointed
20/11/2014 Mr P.T. Nash has left the board
20/11/2014 Mr I.G. Wallace has left the board
20/11/2014 Mr P.T. Nash has resigned as company secretary
11/08/2014 New Board Member Mr P.T. Nash appointed
01/08/2014 New Board Member Mr P.T. Nash appointed
25/02/2014 New Board Member Mr N. Crighton appointed
18/02/2014 Mr B. Stockbridge has left the board
18/02/2014 New Company Secretary Mr P.T. Nash appointed
18/02/2014 Mr B. Stockbridge has resigned as company secretary
07/01/2014 New Accounts Filed
18/12/2013 Annual Returns
04/12/2013 New Accounts Filed
27/11/2013 New Board Member M.N. Crighton appointed
27/11/2013 New Board Member Mr I.G. Wallace appointed
14/11/2013 New Board Member Mr D. Somers appointed
21/10/2013 Mr C. Mather has left the board
21/10/2013 Mr F.B. Smart has left the board
21/10/2013 Mr I.H. Hart has left the board
04/09/2013 Mr W.F. Smith has left the board
15/07/2013 New Board Member Mr J. Easdale appointed
11/07/2013 Mr M.A. Murray has left the board
11/07/2013 Mr P. Cartmell has left the board
06/06/2013 Mr C.A. Green has left the board
02/05/2013 New Board Member Mr C. Mather appointed
28/12/2012 New Board Member Mr P. Cartmell appointed
18/12/2012 New Board Member Mr F.B. Smart appointed
18/12/2012 New Board Member Mr P. Cartmell appointed
18/12/2012 New Board Member Mr I.H. Hart appointed
18/12/2012 New Board Member Mr M.A. Murray appointed
18/12/2012 New Board Member Mr W.F. Smith appointed
13/12/2012 New Board Member Mr B. Stockbridge appointed
06/12/2012 FFW SECRETARIES LIMITED has resigned as company secretary
06/12/2012 FFW SECRETARIES LIMITED has left the board
06/12/2012 Mr E.L. Lumb has left the board
06/12/2012 New Board Member Mr C.A. Green appointed
06/12/2012 New Board Member Mr B. Stockbridge appointed
06/12/2012 New Company Secretary Mr B. Stockbridge appointed
29/11/2012 Change of Name
20/11/2012 New Company Secretary FFW SECRETARIES LIMITED appointed
20/11/2012 New Board Member Mr E.L. Lumb appointed
20/11/2012 New Board Member FFW SECRETARIES LIMITED appointed
Warren Buffet; “Most broadway shows have a smaller cast – next!”
Scott McDonald red reduced to a yellow.
http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2566&newsCategoryID=1&newsID=14798
Danish Pastry says:
Blog Writer: (1176 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 9:46 am
@wottpi, my thought too — Green’s old press releases being dusted off 🙂 And credit to KJ today for highlighting two glaring inconsistences in King’s statements over the past year and yesterday ?
* @tcup It was a good broadcast with no tech glitches at all (apart from a rougue mouse cursor on the screen, later removed). That’s part of the future of fitba broadcasting right there. Good game annaw and the smiling kids, in what seemed a good atmosphere in the ‘closed door’ event, were great to see. Hopefully, there’ll be a modest SPFL Webcast TV trial soon.
9 2 Rate This
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Danish
I would start with the
Challenge Cup
Which has had half decent coverage over the last few years
But what sort of coverage and back page interest will I get
If TRFC get promoted?
Would even stream the early rounds of the League Cup
One more thing since League 1/2 seem to have disappeared from our TV screens
Who would it hurt putting both these league’s on the net?
Follow the money, eh? It’s even hard to keep track of the wads of £1.5m already…have there been two of them? Three? Two from the 3Bs? Or wait, didn’t Roddy Forsyth say that one of them was “via” the 3B? So that’s from someone else then? And does that mean the other one was too? And is there one from King? Or not? And are they loans? Or something else? And secured against what again? Maybe Roddy Forsyth will return to the fray and spell it out, if he knows what the deal is.
And even at the press puff yesterday, King still couldn’t seem to crack a smile. There’s a REAL job for level 5 to get to work on. The poster boy for ‘money doesn’t buy you happiness’.
“The envy of the footballing world!”
– Except for the clubs who don’t lose £1.5m cash every month.
“The envy of the footballing world, except for the clubs who don’t lose £1.5m a month!”
– And the clubs who are not run by convicted tax fraudsters.
“The envy of the footballing world, except for the clubs who don’t lose £1.5m a month, and clubs who are not run by convicted tax fraudsters!”
– Oh and the clubs who actually ARE debt free and don’t owe £8m in soft loans to various shareholders.
“The envy of the footballing world, except for the clubs who don’t lose £1.5m a month, clubs who are not run by convicted tax fraudsters and clubs who don’t actually owe £8m to shareholders!!”
– Oh and not the clubs who have banking facilities, they aren’t very envious.
“The envy of the footballing world, except for the clubs who don’t lose £1.5m a month, clubs who are not run by convicted tax fraudsters, clubs who don’t actually owe £8m to shareholders and those silly clubs with banking facilities!! Apart from that they all envy us!! They DO!!”
John Clark @ 12.05,
To which I would add when do BDO hope to settle on p:£ out of old club? I can’t help feeling DK’s investment in new club has a link to what he expects to get out of old club and his miracle late appearance at the creditor’s show. And, lest we forget of course, any settlement will be entirely down to the new money introduced from the Withey insurance payout, itself having more than a trifling link proven to the old board.
mcfc @ 10.27
Joking apart I can actually see King and Ashley being a good mix although not necessarily for RFC* per se. Ashley has money. King likes OPM. King can sell jerseys. Ashley likes people who can sell jerseys. Ashley is prepared to maintain a dignified silence even when those representing his arms length investments are talking absolute sh*te. King likes no interference. King doesn’t appear to have the capacity to see past an emotional investment to look at the true figures behind what he is purporting Instead he relies on there (still) being so much spare profit that it doesn’t really matter if the other guy gets a wee turn. Ashley likes that bit most of all! Nothing to lose (he’s secured remember). Everything to gain.
A little bit on footballers who bet (not the current topic but onyhoo):
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/partick-thistle/archibald-offers-support-to-help-lawless-after-betting-ban-207684n.126812743
The 2nd part can be ignored as only of interest to jags fans but I thought it was worth posting about someone in football suggesting we help guys who maybe have a problem.
Esteban says:
Member: (91 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 11:56 am
Finloch at 10:13 am
Very good, amigo.
A question arises, however. Who are the Easedales? Where did they fit in? Where are they now?
=========================================
Counting the profits from the tenders that they have been awarded since they went “high profile”. Their “investments” in RFC were a small price to pay.
Succulent lamb is not only served to journalists.
Smugas says:
Member: (790 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 12:59 pm
To be honest, I don’t think King is that emotionally mature. Is there any precedent for him working co-operatively with an approximate equal in a successful business venture – ie sharing and caring and maintaining a trust-based relationship over an extended period?
If I was Ashley, I’d always be half expecting cold steel between the ribs.
Matty Roth says:
May 22, 2015 at 12:49 pm
“The envy of the footballing world!”
—————————–
Gretna also had no debt, I am sure they are not the envy of anyone just now.
This is exactly the same rhetoric we received from Charles Green and exactly why we cannot move on; these people are having a pop at the other teams currently living within their means.
Even if we were to take this statement at face value, that means Dave King (and others before him) are telling us that ‘we’ are the same club that only 3 years ago were anything up to 150 million pounds in debt, but after shafting creditors, we are now minted.
I would have more respect for them if they said what they were honestly thinking and just came out and said: “Get it right up ye”!
Coineanachantaighe says May 22 2015 at 1.18 p.m
“….worth posting about someone in football suggesting we help guys who maybe have a problem”
_________
Interestingly, this very afternoon (Brisbane time) I was having a hair-cut (well, more a beard and eye-brow trim rather than anything on the old pate).
The barber, while doing me, engaged in conversation with another customer who was also clearly a friend/drinking buddy or what-have-you.
About an employee / friend of the other customer.
The barber related his own personal experience of clinical depresssion, and was urging the other guy to talk and listen, privately, and away from their workplace,to the guy, and encourage him to talk about what he was feeling, and ask him if he had suicidal, end-it-all thoughts.And not simply accept the “I’m fine, no problems’ kind of response, or to go into ‘ aw, snap out of it’ mode.
I sat there, silently, and quite impressed, that two fairly basic guys like what I am ( good old Ernie Wise, what?) were into that kind of awareness that a friend/employee might be needing help.
Luckily His Big Mikeyness has a lot of onboard protection to prevent all but the longest of steels getting that far.
I notice a cheeky wee poster on the Bears Den asking if the New Board and Mr King are publicly proclaiming the club is in such rude health with regard to being debt free apart from Ashley’s £5m interest free loan with no set payment date – given Murray et al have only had time to sift through the books is such an enviable financial position for a football club not all down to the actions of the previous (and apparently incompetent and odious) board? 🙂
Madbhoy24941says May 22 2015 at 2.07 p.m
“…….if they said what they were honestly thinking and just came out and said: “Get it right up ye!””
________
They have no need to do so,Madbhoy.
Their running dog lackeys in the SFA board have
already , and once again, done their bit and and told
Scottish Football to go f**k itself, on behalf of one particular, new and struggling club.
Aided and supported by a cringing, fawning, lap-doggish parcel of mendacious, wholly partisan, cheap, and fairly trashy guttersnipe-type of ‘journalist”.
A propos my last post,it has occurred to me that congenital liars, fraudsters, tax-evading criminals and, certainly, football writers in the SMSM, may all need help.
They will get none from me.
Just a silly thought – but aren’t Murray Park, Edmiston House, Albion Car Park, all the precious trademarks and 25% of merchandise revenue worth a vast amount more than £5mil? So why not just arrange a £10mil loan from a consortium of RRM against these emotional-charged assets and bingo – thanks ta-ra Mike – hasta la vista baby!
What’s that you say Skippy, no RRM want to know? Really Skippy, Wonga won’t give them a bridging loan. Are you sure Skippy, Dave won’t even lend them his own money against rock solid assets. But, but, that can’t be right Skippy, how can that be – because Dave just told everyone he’s minted, and RRM are minted and The Rangers are minted and …. Skippy, what are you on about, “glob”, “shomless”, you’re not making any sense at all Skippy – I’m going to have to call Neil Patey.
Two points on King;
The first is that the MSM, in their rush to smooth the path for him, have never once questioned how deep his pockets actually are. Does he have the money to cough up “up to” 50% of the ballpark (and extremely conservative) £30m? As a supplementary to that, where in the name of God is the other £15m plus coming from?
The second point is this, and it was triggered by the comments on King putting himself right up front. How can he manage an organisation such as TRFC from afar? My feeling is that it is impossible, and he must know that himself.
My conclusion then on the second point (which possibly may even explain the first)is that either King is to be repatriated, or he is a front for someone else. John Gilligan, who has up to now been almost ignored, and whose presence has dumfounded many, has many former associates who have pockets as deep as King, and who may well be as shy of publicity as Desmond or Ashley. Adding to my wild conspiracy theory, the nebulous statements attaching to the actual donor of the last two, or is it just one £1.5m loan smell as fishy as any nebulous thing could.
I still don’t think we have seen the last twist. In fact I am beginning wonder if it can go on forever.
Trisidium says:
Moderator: (206 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Two points on King;
==============================================================
Are you saying that King is just a lipsmackin’ dream-quenchin’ snake-sellin’ lamb-tastin’ ST-motivatin’ bear-buzzin’ cooltalkin’ highwalkin’ fastlivin’ evergivin’ coolfizzin’ Charles Green Mark 2 ?
Tartanwulver says: May 22, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Follow the money, eh? It’s even hard to keep track of the wads of £1.5m already…have there been two of them? Three? Two from the 3Bs? Or wait, didn’t Roddy Forsyth say that one of them was “via” the 3B? So that’s from someone else then? And does that mean the other one was too? And is there one from King? Or not? And are they loans? Or something else? And secured against what again? Maybe Roddy Forsyth will return to the fray and spell it out, if he knows what the deal is.
==========================
Here is a transcript from yesterdays press conference re the loans:
Q. Dave there was a loan a few months back from George Letham, Douglas Park, of £1.5M.
Has there been additional investment since then?
A. (PM) Yes there has been additional investment made. There will be further investment made as well in the coming days. As I’ve said before we have to, because of the share structure and the de-listing etc. there’s obviously technical issues. You can’t just issue shares tomorrow, so we have to provide that by short term funding, until, as I said before, we get to the process of raising capital through a share issue, and that will probably coincide with a relisting of the club on the ISDX exchange.
Q. Can you say who has provided that additional investment and how much?
A. (PM) Well the same parties basically reinvested and Dave will be reinvesting, Dave’s family will be reinvesting as well in the coming days.
Q. How much was put in?
A. (PM) I think another £1.5M was put into the club.
———————–
So the running total of known debts incurred since January is as follows:
SD – £5M
Letham and Park – £3M
King – £1.5M
easyJambo says:
May 22, 2015 at 4:40 pm
———————–
So the running total of known debts incurred since January is as follows:
SD – £5M
Letham and Park – £3M
King – £1.5M
————————————–
Thanks eJ, but even so, the transcript doesn’t really clarify it. It says
– 1.5m loan from Letham / Park for sure, OK clarified.
– there has been ‘additional investment’. Who from and how much? ‘Basically the same parties’- why not simply say that Letham / Park put in another £1.5m loan if they did?
– ‘Dave will be reinvesting’ – future tense. Is there another statement that says how much and when? It’s hard to keep up.
– ‘How much WAS put in?’ (ie the question is past tense so must refer surely to the ‘additional investment’. ‘I think another £1.5m’ – Think? That’s blurred and doesn’t clarify who it is from.
Nit picking perhaps, but I’m assuming that what we’re being shown is constructed of smoke and mirrors until confirmed otherwise.
Good Afternoon
I am still scraping myself up off the floor having read King’s extraordinary comments about Sevco being the “envy of the world football”. As others have commented, it sounded awfully like the boasting of a well-known Yorkshireman in 2012.
Here a few further thoughts on it
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/greens-heir/
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Trisidium says:
Moderator: (206 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 3:55 pm
…The second point is this, and it was triggered by the comments on King putting himself right up front. How can he manage an organisation such as TRFC from afar? My feeling is that it is impossible, and he must know that himself.
==================================
(S)DM was told when he took over that RFC would take up 90% of his time, even though it was (then) less than 10% of his portfolio. That turned out well for MIH/MGH & RFC, didn’t it?
DCK has such an able deputy in PM & then there’s whoever is appointed CEO, so I’d think it was manageable if I had as tenuous a grip on what’s happening as the Chairman
appears to have. A skoosh, in fact!
easyJambo says:
May 22, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Tartanwulver says:
May 22, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Funnily enough I looked over the presser again for that very point being Roddy Forsyth seems to be saying King put in the £1.5m.
Once again instead of simple open and transparent answers we have flim flam and gobbldygook.
Being that no-one was going to get hurt from their current de-listed status by issuing market sensitive information a proper answer should have been a simple.
The three bears invested a further X on date
Dave/his family has kindly provided Y on date.
Now Dave has been given the SFA’s FPP both he and the 3 Bears will combine forces to ensure we have a further Z on date to get us through to the end of the season and the point when season ticket money begins to come in.
These amounts are in the form of soft loans because as everyone and especially our fans know these guys are RRM.
King’s current agreement with fellow board members is a 50/50 split in investment/loans. Forget the £30m “needed” (still not enough IMO) How much are his fellow board members worth? Anybody know?
Trisidium
Don’t trial the system in Glasgow if seeking forgiveness.
Three concepts alien to the Glaswegian mind: salad: dentistry and forgiveness.
From The Long Glasgow Kiss by Craig Russell.
Otherwise good luck. 🙂
Trisidium, not sure if I missed some posts about the phone in idea (though I read every day). I saw it suggested and agree it could be progress, but I’m not sure what it is you/we are trying to do with it. As Auldheid hints, there are potential problems and I’m just not clear on what the content might be? I’m probably not thinking it through well enough, but for me there are only a few ways in which a phone in could work –
1. It’s only us on here (or others of similar mindset) who know about it and phone in. We then only have a verbal version of the forum which as you know has been accused in the past of being no more than a talking shop.
2. We try to engage with Rangers fans so as to really become the SCOTTISH football monitor. Auldheid’s fear could come true whereby nothing can be agreed because of the ‘deid/no deid’ viewpoint or the differences between ‘the SFA help TRFC* more than any other club’ vs ‘F*** off, they demoted us and stole our money’. If the aim is to engage wider, can you see us overcoming those problems?
3. As someone suggested, we could talk about the facts (as we see them) in a public manner to educate those who don’t understand and/or the MSM who (probably) know but ignore them. Again, how do we get the uninterested to hear what we are saying and debate it?
I’m sure there are other plans/content, but after a nice tea I’m not up to thinking too well. I’d be glad to hear (even a little) detail of how you see it working. If you’re loathe to for fear of giving strategy away, that’s fine.
Evening all,
It’s been very intriguing to me over the last couple of days about why so much anger has been vented over the decision to declare Mr King a fit and proper person. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the reasons people disputing that he should attain such status, but every poster I can remember on this site has said for some time that they were 100% certain the SFA would reach this decision. I was expecting more of a tone of resignation than the disgust we have seen.
Anyway, just an observation. On a football note I saw today that Scott Macdonalds red card had been rescinded and I’m disappointed; not on the merits of the decision but should my team avoid a catastrophe at Easter Road the former Rangers hero of Helicopter Sunday will be a valuable addition to the Motherwell squad for the playoff final.
John Clark says:
Member: (861 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 3:08 pm
A propos my last post…..
===================================
The first step for getting help is to admit you have a problem, so …..
BTW your description of your haircut pretty succinctly describes my instructions to the barber these days. 🙂
Today’s PR puff has given me the most painful ribs in a long time…
However…if memory serves me correctly…Phil Mac previously has stated that Mr. Ashley’s walking away price was in the region of 27 million…
Add that to the stadium repairs….the stadium payments that leave every month…the stadium offshore owner which means you cannot borrow against it…expenditure greater than revenue…
Then I suppose just on that basis…envy doesn’t even begin to describe how they must be viewed…
The envy I think he is referring to is the blind loyalty given to the new club by the SFA governing body….every club in every country would want that..
http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/1321205-watch-dave-kings-live-news-conference-as-he-outlines-rangers-future/
Does Mr King and the other ‘Directors’ not really understand the differences between ‘shareholders’ , ‘Fans’ and ‘investors’ and what they respectively want and how they are to be respectively represented by the board.
Then of course there is the differences between
‘The Company’
and
‘The Club’
:slamb: :slamb: :slamb: :slamb: :slamb: :slamb: :slamb: :slamb:
Ryan
A tone of resignation would suggest acceptance of bias and incompetance
In other words at complete odds with the ethos and aims of the blog. The day this blog accepts the corrupt behaviour of the authorities without complaint is the day the blog should shut the doors
RyanGosling says:
Member: (144 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the reasons people disputing that he should attain such status, but every poster I can remember on this site has said for some time that they were 100% certain the SFA would reach this decision. I was expecting more of a tone of resignation than the disgust we have seen.
================
Good to see you back, Ryan.
To answer your point directly, once we all move from outright disgust to mere resignation, then the game really is a bogey, and we can “move on” to playing golf or watching tiddleywinks or whatever. When stuff like King’s anointment by the SFA no longer provokes a response on here, then this forum is finished.
Barcabhoy, Neepheid,
Thanks for your replies. The point you both make is valid and something I agree with, the observation I made was more along the lines of I was expecting “now that they’ve done what we all knew they would” whereas what happened was almost “I can’t believe this!!”
My view on the King situation is along the lines of the rest of the contributors, I’m not at all surprised. I’ve said here before that I think if the original vote regarding King and co had gone against them I think it would have been game over anyway, because the fans were too disillusioned with what was going on. Mr King might be good for Rangers in the long run, but my view is that the SFA should be custodians of our game and if there is to be a fit and proper person rule then it must be applied, so in my view he should not have been allowed to take up this position.
Did anyone else catch the tweet from a dormant CharlotteFakes account that resurfaced tonight and quickly disappeared again?
I won’t repeat what it seemed to be suggesting, but I must have been following it originally for some reason if it showed up on my timeline on TweetDeck.
Ryan
Presume you have been lurking but good to see you posting again.
Your thoughts will be welcomed come the next phase of developments.
OK The latest 1.5mil did come from DK.
In fact it came from here:
http://www.oasis.co.za/default/content.aspx?initial=true&moveto=332
Go to it chaps.
Adeste Fideles says:
Member: (16 comments)
May 22, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Did anyone else catch the tweet from a dormant CharlotteFakes account that resurfaced tonight and quickly disappeared again?
I won’t repeat what it seemed to be suggesting, but I must have been following it originally for some reason if it showed up on my timeline on TweetDeck
=========================
Just clocked it Jack rules it seems.
ianagain says: May 22, 2015 at 11:08 pm
OK The latest 1.5mil did come from DK.
In fact it came from here:
http://www.oasis.co.za/default/content.aspx?initial=true&moveto=332
Go to it chaps.
====================
Going by the statement on the TRFC website, you would get the indication that Letham and Park have only “invested” once which seems to contradict what P Murray said yesterday.
———————-
http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/9345-loan-agreement
RANGERS International Football Club PLC is pleased to announce that it has entered into a loan agreement with New Oasis Asset Limited for facilities totalling £1.5m. This money is available to be used for group purposes.
As is the case in the arrangements agreed in March with Douglas Park, George Letham and George Taylor for a similar amount no interest or fees are to be charged in respect of the facilities. This loan, with New Oasis Asset Limited, the vehicle through which Dave King holds his interest in the Company, is being provided on an unsecured basis.
These loans will provide the Company with time to deliver a longer-term funding strategy and the parties providing these loans to the Company have advised that they intend to convert them to equity when the opportunity arises.
Wottpi,
Thanks. I Always read the site daily. I haven’t posted recently because I’ve had nothing of value to add.
One thing I would like to post though- this site is always confident that it appeals to supporters of all scottish clubs. Picture yourself as a Rangers fan, read through the last couple of days of comments, and ask yourself if you’d feel welcome.
I think King is actually showing his hand with these ‘loans’ = asset grab is the game.
Advance unsecured loans until ST renewal.
Repay MASH with ST cash.
Secure assets on renewal of existing loans.
And what do we have:
A club which is ‘Free of Ashley’ (..er not quite) with all the ST money gone, with all remaining Assets in hock to King and co. but no money to run until the end of the season? And Out goes the clarion cry:
“Stand up bears, your time is now… (rattle tin rattle tin….)”
Anyone want to buy shares in a club with a glorious history and no unencumbered assets, as it marches back to its rightful place?
Slam on the Lamb :slamb: at gas mark 7… baste frequently.
They couldn’t be that stupid again could they?
We’ll know soon enough, but I think they could.
Now I for one would like to see their financial predictions w.r.t. avoiding a mid season insolvency.
Because I certainly don’t see why ICT should be left in the lurch to pay for the SFAs negligence in letting this shyster operate a football club.
Just a wee reminder of our gripes wi Rangers and how ~I’m hoping we get well up for this:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19780419&id=QcpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=waUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4219,4263453&hl=en
It may be old but encapsulates the feelings now manifested towards Sevco. Some memories never die. Not only did the pitch invasion happen the supporters (Rangers as was)encircled the touchline and even tripped ‘Well players up. Polis/Ref did nothing. I know I was there.
Read front and back pages. You will get where I come from.
PS Sorry Ryan too long ago for you but you may get where the rage comes from .
Maybe a while since I related this but be in no doubt at all DK is rangers mad. I posted way back on RTC about having a late night session with him and an a pal of mine and a VV expensive Cognac in wee Chicks “South side club”
The thing is he is what we would we call stingy. He arbores being owed money.
So what next from Oasis. No Idea.
Maybe our accountants will drill through the myriad companies and find a black hole?
ianagain / easyJambo
So does it appear then that
– end of March wages met by £1.5m loan from Park / Letham
– end of April wages met by £1.5m loan from King / Oasis ‘via’ the 3Bs (as worded in Roddy Forsyhth’s article), the secrecy for the assumed reason of King not wanting to be too visible prior to the SFA ‘fit and proper’ judgement?
– an attempt to ‘double count’ this at the recent press puff so that it appears there is more money in the coffers than is the case?
– If so, Is more required to meet the May wage bill?
Did Scottish FA break own rules during process of granting new Rangers chairman Dave King fit-and-proper status?
Rangers chairman Dave King was awarded fit-and-proper status this week
Eight members of the SFA board made the final decision on Tuesday
Sportsmail has learned of surprise and concern among members of the 11-man Professional Game Board over their exclusion from decision
By STEPHEN MCGOWAN FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 00:53, 23 May 2015 | UPDATED: 01:05, 23 May 2015
The Scottish FA were last night facing fresh questions over the process which ended in Dave King being granted fit-and-proper status.
The new Rangers chairman was given the green light on Tuesday by the eight-man full SFA board following a protracted debate over his South African tax convictions and his presence on the Ibrox board when the club suffered an insolvency event in 2012.
Sportsmail has learned, however, of surprise and concern among some members of the SFA’s 11-man Professional Game Board over their exclusion from the final discussion and decision on the matter.
The PGB last met three weeks ago, on April 30, when they granted interim Rangers chairman Paul Murray the all-clear on his own fit-and-proper status. In the aftermath of the Murray vote, PGB members expected to be summoned for a final King ruling.
This week’s SFA statement confirmed, however, that the decision over the South African businessman was actually taken only by the eight-man SFA board despite SFA Board Protocols section 3.15 (iv) stating that responsibility for ‘approving persons to hold position within Association Football’ lies with the PGB.
In exceptional circumstances article 64.1 of the SFA rulebook says the full Board: ‘shall at any time be entitled to exercise its powers in relation to areas of responsibility… like matters considered and determined by the Professional Game Board.’
However Sportsmail understands that, after ruling on Murray, members of the PGB now want clarification on why they were excluded from voting on King.
The current PGB consists of Rod Petrie (Hibs), Neil Doncaster (SPFL), Ralph Topping (SPFL), Peter Lawwell (Celtic), Duncan Fraser (Aberdeen), Mike Mulraney (Alloa), Sandy Stables (Highland League), Andrew Waddell (Lowland League), Stewart Regan (SFA chief executive), Campbell Ogilvie (SFA President) and Alan McRae (first vice-president of the SFA).
The main SFA board consists of Regan, Ogilvie, McRae, Petrie, Barrie Jackson, the independent non-executive director, Peter Lawwell, Ralph Topping and Tom Johnston of the Junior FA.
The SFA are facing fresh questions over the process that led to fit-and-proper status being awarded
The statement confirming King had been given the green light referred only to the ‘Board of the Scottish FA’ with the key passage reading: ‘Having considered all submissions received from Mr King and the club in respect of this matter the Scottish FA Board granted an approval, conditional upon further submissions from Mr King in respect of documented agreements with the appropriate authorities in South Africa.’
In contrast Murray was passed by the PGB, a statement last month confirming: ‘The Scottish FA can confirm at a meeting of the Professional Game Board (PGB) on Thursday, 30th April, consideration was given to the fit and proper status of Mr Paul Murray as a director of Rangers Football Club.
‘Having considered the documentation provided and taking into account Mr Murray’ s detailed personal submission before it, the PGB is satisfied that Mr Murray is fit and proper in terms of Article 10.2.’
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on the part of Rangers or Dave King.
There has been a concerted campaign waged against Rangers over the last few years that has blackened our name amongst other fans and some gullible journalists who position themselves as the voices of the people.
This has happened almost by accident, and been propelled by the rise of new media, where fans with often twisted agendas can present themselves as journalists and publish speculation, half-truths and rumour as fact without fear of legal recourse or being held to account by a non-partisan readership.
Some of these individuals couldn’t spell journalism let alone have the self-awareness required to analyse their obvious short comings and the way they denigrate the very profession they claim to uphold.
Despite the mountain of evidence discrediting these people, in the parochial and tribal world of football, they have been able to develop a narrative of Rangers being a cheating, corrupt and sectarian club.
Sadly the way this narrative has taken hold can be seen in the reaction to Dave King’s passing of the SFA fit and proper person test. Normally you would accept a bit of uproar from the East End but this story seemed to run into much deeper waters across Scotland.
The utter distain for Rangers as a club cannot be masked by faux moral uproar at King’s tax avoidance convictions. Where was this moral panic when Giovanni Di Stefano pitched up at Dundee or at the antics of Vladimir Romanov?
The fans of both these clubs were offered condolences and the general position was one of solidarity with long suffering fans. Rangers on the other hand? Any fool can see that there are serious unanswered issues surrounding both Craig Whyte and Charles Green’s tenures and that current police investigations suggest dark manoeuvrings. Sympathy? Not a sliver.
PAVladimir Romanov’s time at Hearts never caused as much of a fussVladimir Romanov’s time at Hearts never caused as much of a fuss
The moral uproar that has accompanied the SFA’s clearly exhaustive investigation is in reality nothing but thinly disguised hatred. People have loved to kick sand in our face, see the fallen giants as a laughing stock and now we look to be getting back on our feet and their fun is over? The laughter turns to rage.
If people are truthful they will admit that they don’t want Dave King at Rangers because he represents the best hope for returning the club to its former glory.
Tax avoidance is, of course, morally wrong and it needs to be stamped out but show me a multi-millionaire businessman that has never been involved in any morally questionable deals? Do King’s convictions make him less suitable than Mike Ashley’s use of zero hour contracts for example? Morality is probably left to the philosophy professors.
Of course, the new board and fans have a part to play in changing this perception. There is no doubt in my mind that we lorded our past success over other teams and showed arrogance at times in the way we went about our business.
I believe that the pain of the last few years has shed a lot of that and that fans have gained new perspectives about the good governance of the club. There is realism where there was often crushing expectation.
As the years go on, and new fans emerge, too young to remember the tears and the agonies, we shall remind them what this time meant, how it shaped us and how it made us stronger.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/record-fc-rangers-dave-kings-5742507
ianagainianagain says:
Member: (483 comments)
May 23, 2015 at 1:13 am
Just as an aside to that Motherwell game in 1978, Rangers ended up winning the league by 2 points from Aberdeen that season. Aberdeen had a superior goal difference. Had their ‘supporters’ not invaded the pitch, we would probably have won the league.
The old club should have had several titles removed for their use of EBT’s and other dodgy contracts but 1978 is arguably a title their ‘fans’ won for them.
sickofitall on May 23, 2015 at 8:04 am
———-
Unless I read that incorrectly, the piece was penned by a ‘new media blogger’ criticising new media bloggers for the Ibrox misere? He very funny man.
Content straight out of the John Brown PR book, lately of BBC Sportsound.