SFM – The Next Steps

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.

This entry was posted in General by Trisidium. Bookmark the permalink.
Tom Byrne

About Trisidium

Trisidium is a Dunblane businessman with a keen interest in Scottish Football. He is a Celtic fan, although the demands of modern-day parenting have seen him less at games and more as a taxi service for his kids.

3,023 thoughts on “SFM – The Next Steps


  1. Regards Keevins
    Does anyone know of a time when this man came out with anything positive.


  2. If a tree falls in a forest and no-one is there to witness its fall, does it make a noise?

    If Scottish football is utterly corrupted and no-one with responsibility to the fans raises a finger, is it corrupt at all?


  3. yourhavingalaugh says:
    Member: (256 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 1:56 pm
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    When he announced his retirement from the written press..?

    😈


  4. Smugas says May 26th 2015 at 1.04 p.m
    ‘…Their club can be what they want it to be..’
    ________________
    Well,in their own wishful thinking it can be, of course.
    Just as my grand-daughter’s teddy bear is
    a ‘real’ person to her, any 5-year old who supported
    the now dead RFC ( killed by a knight of the realm)
    could be indulged in the little fantasy.
    But grown men and women , some of them even
    journalists and,God save the mark, “broadcasters”
    on the tax-payer funded BBC, should not be
    encouraged in their delusions.
    They must be called out at every turn.
    As for the cabal of men who, in my opinion,
    deliberately and for base reasons, sold Sporting
    Integrity,such men cannot claim to be ‘delusional’.
    No.
    They are liars to a degree far higher than even the
    old tax-evading and football- finance- cheating RFC
    was.
    Because they were/are (still!) the fecking rule-
    makers and rule-enforcers who told us all, by the
    secret (and why so bloody secret if they were
    acting properly and honestly??) 5-way agreement to fcuk off and stop wittering on about the nature
    of sport, and sporting integrity, and UEFA and FIFA
    fair play.
    It is absolutely necessary that we keep hammering out the truth.Rangers FC, the Gers, the club that Willie Woodburn, George Young, John Gregg, Sandy Jardine,Wullie Henderson, played for, died-, murdered by a faithless knight.
    End of story.
    Fact, not fiction.
    And the SFA records must be appropriately written to reflect this truth.


  5. neepheid says:
    Member: (591 comments)

    May 26, 2015 at 9:28 am

    http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/will-hibs-slip-off-the-map-if-rangers-go-up-1-3783045

    From The Scotsman today. And as if we needed reminding, it’s all about “Rangers”, even when it’s supposed to be about Hibs.

    The final paragraph caught my eye-

    Of course there’s a school of thought – and one of Scottish football’s most venerable told me on Saturday he is utterly convinced it would happen – that if Rangers don’t beat Motherwell then league reconstruction will come to their rescue. But that’s another story…

    Looks to me like the “establishment” are getting the great Scottish football public nicely warmed up for a quick reconstruction “just in case”.
    ………………………………………………….
    http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/resources/documents/RefereeAppointments/SPFL/47.%20SPFL%20Appointments%20Thursday%2028th%20-%20Sunday%2031st%20May%202015.pdf

    With the appointment of former Ibrox season ticket holder “Bobby Madden” for the first leg and Craig (Davy Weir doesn’t foul) Thompson taking charge of the second leg, I doubt very much there will be any need for reconstruction.

    All of a sudden 8/11 looks a very big price!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  6. mcfc says:
    Member: (1255 comments)

    May 26, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    If a tree falls in a forest and no-one is there to witness its fall, does it make a noise?

    If Scottish football is utterly corrupted and no-one with responsibility to the fans raises a finger, is it corrupt at all?
    _____________________________________________________________

    Interesting point, especially in regard to the OC/NC debate. What is blindingly obvious to all but the most devoted club adherents is that the clubs themselves have been actively engaged in efforts to see a “return” of a continuity Rangers to the top flight. For all the licensing scandals, liquidation, stiffing of the clubs themselves in terms of prize money and opportunity, our clubs see that as an economic imperitive.

    So from their perspective, there is no corruption, merely ad-hoc rule changes to shape and protect their income streams and their industry. The key word is “rules”. They have rules to establish a veneer of sporting integrity. Rules which convey the impression to the fans that the Scottish Football industry is a sport and not just entertainment.

    Fans who are sporting enthusiasts are comforted by this, until they see the rules being ripped asunder for non-sporting purposes.

    The corruption from my perspective is not in their efforts to bring Lazarus back to life, rather it is the myth they peddle via the rule book (which they ignore when they choose) that Scottish Football is a sport. In other words, there is a fundamental corruption in the contract between clubs and fans – the lie that there is a level playing field (or sporting integrity).

    However look at the large attendances at football last weekend. People, fans, are voting with their feet because club loyalties are trumping the realities of corruption that most intelligent people can see.

    That is why the game needs independent oversight, because the clubs are lying to us about who and what they are about.

    If they say they are wedded to sporting integrity, yet display no personal integrity whatsoever; over Ogilvie’s re-election, the LNS commission, or the FPP disgrace; they are quite simply lying.

    Perhaps the numbers will vindicate the clubs’ positions, and we are all just anachronistic remnants of a Corinthian past. I have to confess that I buy into that far more readily than a soul-less future which exploits sectarianism for profit and scorns the need for public safety.

    I don’t believe most people do buy into that. They need to be told about it though.


  7. bfbpuzzled says:
    Member: (153 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 12:39 pm
    Liquidation is death. If something came out of the ashes and claimed it was the same entity except that only the debts died I would be repulsed and have nothing to do with it. That there are tens of thousands ho claim to believe that nothing has changed except that the debt including taxes and emergency services had gone shows demonstrates a mind set which I cannot begin to understand. Yet not only do they claim to believe that, but talk about the Rangers way as a code for dignity and resolve. Add to that the carnival of dodgy characters making fortunes from the ashes and an endless stream of lies and contradictions even over very short times then I really cannot understand why someone would want either to adhere to that entity or fund it out of limited wages.
    In this post modern time it would appear that people will believe in anything to give them a tribal identity.
    This whole farrago is really deleterious to the common good
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Agreed
    Sadly,for a majority,I think its about cherishing the worse elements of the old RFC baggage. They realise that this can`t die because it has nothing to do with football
    Accepting the need for behavioural change is probably seen as some kind of betrayal
    They have been brought up to believe this baggage is an integral part of a worthwhile culture that has its roots outside Scotland
    They wont change which is why the onus is on the rest of us to show we wont put up with it


  8. normanbatesmumfc says May 26, 2015 at 2.39 p.m
    ‘.. with the appointment of former Ibrox season ticket holder ….”
    _________________
    Good God Almighty!
    Have they lost their reason as well as their moral sense?
    What on earth do they take us for, that they should so insult us, these dreadful men who administer our game, our sport! with such a maliciously hubristic contempt for us?
    Who will rid us of these poltroons and their commitment to untruth and deception and a rigged ‘sport’?
    Is there no one in Scottish Football who is straight?


  9. John Clark says:
    Member: (867 comments) May 26, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    Bloody Marvellous!


  10. John Clark says:
    Member: (867 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Is there no one in Scottish Football who is straight?

    ====================================================

    It is notable that Ceasar promised the unruly masses bread and circuses – never sport – to distract and quell them.

    The Scottish fans have the circus – the clubs/SFA/SPFL care only about the bread. There is no sport.


  11. mcfc says:
    Member: (1255 comments)

    May 26, 2015 at 2:17 pm

    If Scottish football is utterly corrupted and no-one with responsibility to the fans raises a finger, is it corrupt at all?
    =======================================

    I’m reminded of the quote attributed to Bob Marley:

    “If something can corrupt you, you’re already corrupted.”

    QED.


  12. Big pink @ 2.53

    Nail on head sir. I thought about writing a post earlier about the difference between distortion which I’m sure the clubs think they’re carrying out for the greater good and corruption which they clearly were, even just by turning a blind eye, and, we suspect, continue to do.

    You cover it perfectly. That, particularly to me as a non old firmer, the base corruption is the determination to return to the old model (OC/NC notwithstanding) with absolutely no justification but, were they ever to be questioned directly of it you can bet your bottom dollar that they would say they were doing it on all of our behalfs.

    I genuinely regret my children’s interest in club football (just as I did at their age) as without it I’d happily walk away tomorrow. That’s not just a close season thing btw!

    That said, the summers mission is to try to get them hooked on golf instead.


  13. ohn Clark says:
    Member: (867 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Is there no one in Scottish Football who is straight?

    ______________________________________________________________________________

    Steady there John Clark STEADY, having come out of a bruising (excuse description) referendum here in Ireland I now find your use of words dicey!


  14. senior says:
    May 26, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    John Clark says:
    Member: (867 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Is there no one in Scottish Football who is straight?

    ______________________________________________________________________________

    Steady there John Clark STEADY, having come out of a bruising (excuse description) referendum here in Ireland I now find your use of words dicey!
    ———————————————————-
    The amazing thing is that there is (apparently) no-one in Scottish (even British) football who isn’t straight, in that sense at least. And that’s about as credible as a £5 billion TV deal for Scottish football being on its way.


  15. senior says May 26,, 2015 at 3.58 p.m
    ‘..I now find your use of words dicey.’
    _______
    ???


  16. To be fair, bobby madden has shown himself to be fair as the man in the middle of TRFC games in the past and not afraid to give big decisions against ‘his’ team ? ( ???) ?


  17. The 41 Way Agreement

    The official narrative is that the SPL clubs honourably refused Sevco a place in their SPL and the SFL clubs courageously refused Sevco a place in their First Division. But the SFL did allow Sevco a place in their Third Division because to refuse that would have killed the survival myth stone dead. The real corruption was done in that single step, as the fans were still marvelling at the SPL and Division One diversions. This was perhaps seen as a lesser corruption than allowing Sevco into the higher leagues but it was in practice 99.99% of allowing Sevco into the SPL, because it officially facilitated the survival myth with no respect to the written rules. It bound the 41 into a collective pact of cowardice for not demanding what they knew to be right, honourable and just is the face of bullying. Even the late lamented Turnbull was party to this unwritten 41 Way Agreement of silence.

    Since that very day, no club has broken the 41 Way Agreement by objecting to anything that the renamed Sevco have done or has had done for them. And there has been plenty to object to. That anyone now expects them to behave differently is a futile triumph of hope over experience.


  18. causaludendi says:
    Member: (69 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 4:35 pm
    To be fair, bobby madden has shown himself to be fair as the man in the middle of TRFC games in the past and not afraid to give big decisions against ‘his’ team
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    On the other hand bobby madden may well be retiring and has asked the SFA to let his final game be at Ibrox
    We shall see


  19. mcfc says:
    May 26, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    The 41 Way Agreement
    ————————————————————
    They know if they speak up one at a time they face certain ridicule by the press, the mob will be dog whistled to issue its threats, and the football authorities will look the other way unless there is no other option. They only have strength collectively. Maybe they need to form a ‘non-aligned’ collective to be a third force in Scottish football beside Celtic and The Rangers and not ask for, but demand a hearing.


  20. Tartanwulver says:
    Member: (167 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    They know if they speak up one at a time they face certain ridicule by the press,

    =========================================

    I understand what you mean, but given what has passed without even comment, let alone action, I can’t see a situation where the 41 would muster the courage to do anything about the corruption of Scottish football:

    • Horrendous honest mistakes in the play-off final – No

    • Reconstruction to help only one club – No

    • Dual ownership rules ignored to allow Ashley ownership – No

    • Extension of Ogilvie’s reign beyond the rules – No

    Worse things have already gone challenged.


  21. Company statement (not CLUB statement) !!

    Statement on Requisition for General Meeting

    After correspondence with MASH Holdings Limited (“MASH”) regarding their S.303 requisition for a General Meeting, the Board of Directors of Rangers International Football Club PLC (the “Company”) has agreed to call a General Meeting at which an amended Resolution from MASH will be placed alongside a Resolution from your Board. The meeting will also discuss certain items of business requested by MASH and some matters as to which the Board thought shareholders should be informed.
    The Notice of Meeting is set out at http://www.rangersinternationalfootballclub.com/shareholder-centre/circulars-admission-document
    The Board of Directors will provide shareholders with recommendations as to how to vote on the Resolutions separately but would advise shareholders that their legal advice from a senior QC is that the Requisitioned Resolution, if passed, would not create a binding legal obligation on the Board or the Company.


  22. Has war just been declared between King and Ashley. In calling the General meeting, King is effectively saying that they are not going to repay Ashley’s £5million. Not only that, unless I am mistaken, King appears to be about to let everyone know the contractual situation between Sports Direct and Rangers retail. To me he’s going to dish the dirt in an attempt to discredit Ashley. What will Mike do next? All very interesting.


  23. jimlarkin says: May 26, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Statement on Requisition for General Meeting
    =========================
    It’s not exactly seeking reconciliation between the Board and Ashley.

    Ashley puts pressure on the Board re the NOMAD, delisting and the repayment of the £5M

    The Board responds by revealing details of the RRL agreement (which Mash claims confidentiality)
    The Board seeks to renegotiate the Mash/SD deals
    The Board seeks to restrict the voting powers of MASH by using the SFA Dual Interest commandment to support it (Thou shalt not meddle in Kingco Boardroom affairs)


  24. Hmm This game of chess will not last too long before someone’s King is in check mate and it won’t be Big Mike’s.I don’t imagine we will hear any mind games from Big Mike,but the Glib one,well we know he can’t help himself,all will be quiet until after the play off’s then the entertainment begins,just as well my wife has ordered the latest 15 different flavours of popcorn from QVC,happy June ahead.


  25. With legal cases pending re the purchasing of RFC@s assets, etc.,what would the position be, re the 5WA, if Green, Whyte and co were proven to have been naughty boys?

    Would the 5WA be declared null and void or would the Bryson Amendment apply, i.e, we didn’t know they were crooks at the time?


  26. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-announce-general-meeting-promise-5767026

    Level 5’s (sorry the The Record’s) take on the EGM. This is a corker-

    “As a result of these penalties and to prevent a situation where further breaches of these rules could trigger severe sanctions on the Club, the Directors are considering incorporating (SFA) disciplinary rule 19 into the Articles of Association of the Company and disapplying voting rights in respect of any shareholding(s) which breach these rules.

    My first reaction is that such a move would be against UK company law, which is designed, in theory at least, to protect minority shareholders like poor old Uncle Mike.

    War has been declared, there is no doubt about that. Place your bets, mesdames et messieurs, can real money (Big Mike) beat a Real Rangers Man (Dave King- allegedly) in today’s Scotland? I honestly don’t know.


  27. Bryson passes no judgement about not knowing they were crooks, after all known crooks are acceptable as fit proper and so on. I suspect it would be that we did not know they did not own it then and therefore are bound not to renege now not only that but ownership of the ethereal entity is diffused among the people so any involvement by any one of the people justifies the actings in the 5 way agreement ie if Campbell O wis involved it must be ok


  28. bfbpuzzled says:
    Member: (154 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 7:38 pm
    Bryson passes no judgement about not knowing they were crooks, after all known crooks are acceptable as fit proper and so on. I suspect it would be that we did not know they did not own it then and therefore are bound not to renege now not only that but ownership of the ethereal entity is diffused among the people so any involvement by any one of the people justifies the actings in the 5 way agreement ie if Campbell O wis involved it must be ok

    ******
    Thanks for that.

    That fairly clears up any potential confusion over what would be fit and proper. Oops, there’s that phrase again! 🙄


  29. With the appointment of former Ibrox season ticket holder “Bobby Madden” for the first leg and Craig (Davy Weir doesn’t foul) Thompson taking charge of the second leg, I doubt very much there will be any need for reconstruction.

    All of a sudden 8/11 looks a very big price!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    =========================================================
    Madden hates the ‘well stats prove it.
    Thompsons even worse. His love for them knows no bounds.
    Disgusted. Not surprised.

    We will need to be very clever and cagey to get round these two.


  30. To threaten a major shareholder, with very deep pockets and highly experienced legal resources on tap, with disclosure of confidential contractual arrangements, removal of voting rights and a proposal to override any properly passed shareholder motion to repay a substantial interest free loan is a novel and most interesting approach.

    Even more so when the Govan Crown Jewels have been pawned as part of the loan agreement.

    The finances of the Govan operation must truly be in wonderous condition to take such risks.

    I suspect we may see this tested shortly.

    Scottish Football needs a strong Arbroath.


  31. Another 20 minutes of Radio Clyde tonight and another utter savaging for Motherwell, and (to a lesser extent) Hibs.

    Let’s examine what is now in the public domain

    1. Rangers allowed Hibs just over 900 tickets for the play off
    2. Hibs allowed Rangers around the same for the return.
    3. Neither stadium was sold out, with Ibrox being over 9,000 short of capacity.
    4. Motherwell asked Rangers for 2,000 Ibrox tickets for the play off with Rangers getting 4,800 for the return. Rangers refused that deal
    5. Rangers are allowing Motherwell just over 900 tickets.
    6. Motherwell are allowing Rangers just over 1,000 tickets.

    The reporting on this is utterly shocking. On Radio Clyde the host Alison Robbie tried to put across the point of the deal Motherwell offered, but both Rangers supporting pundits immediately shouted her down. I switched it off with a laugh though, at their views that people all over England will be watching the game. Really?


  32. Here’s a straightforward article from AJ (one of the Well podcast guys) about the games coming up.
    https://ajr2022.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/just-a-game-hardly/
    Just a Game? Hardly……

    May 26, 2015Uncategorized

    Every so often football throws up a scenario that stirs up a huge variety of emotions – Motherwell’s play-off clash with Rangers is a perfect example of one of these occasions.

    It has been a season to forget for ‘Well fans as the team that clinched second spot in the Scottish Premiership table last season have spun into free fall, eventually finishing second-bottom this term and now therefore facing the prospect of a two-legged showdown to decide which league they will take their place in next season.

    With just over 48 hours until the first-leg gets underway I already have such contrasting emotions – nerves, excitement, dread, anticipation and strangely pride.

    I’m proud to support my local team, to have seen them compete in a number of countries across Europe, to have witnessed them defy the odds on the park, watched young players come through and go on to great success with the Scotland national team and down south, to have been there through good times and the struggles.

    Supporting Motherwell has never been about the glory and of course there has been plenty of low-points too. Administration, crushing cup-final defeats and of course the tragedy of losing a number of players at a young-age including our inspirational captain Phil O’Donnell, who died after collapsing during a league fixture against Dundee United in 2007.

    In the heat of the build-up to what is undoubtably a massive game for both ourselves and Rangers the inevitable insults have been thrown between both sets of fans, particularly following the decision of those at Motherwell to reduce the allocation of tickets given to Rangers supporters.

    There’s nothing that will change my viewpoint that the club reached the right decision, the play-off is simply about winning, the potential to be outnumbered in our own ground in what will be the deciding chapter of the biggest two games in recent memory would have been handing an unnecessary advantage to our opponents.

    Of course Rangers have a bigger support than most club’s in Scotland, that in no way gives their fans a right to be accommodated in opposition grounds though.

    Stories of their fans snapping up tickets for Motherwell areas of the ground were prominent from the day tickets went on sale (bare in mind at this point Rangers had not yet even qualified for the final). It was when MFC finally stepped up and refused to bend over to the ‘bigger team’ the toys were tossed from the pram.

    Accusations of Motherwell being a ‘tin-pot’ club on the basis there will be empty seats and Rangers fans can’t simply turn up at Fir Park and buy tickets for an area of the ground they have no right to be in is particularly amusing.

    A sell-out at Fir Park is a rarity, we are a club with a small but loyal fan-base – those fans are the lifeblood of the football club and there is no way they should be forced to consider whether or not to attend one of their team’s matches on the basis their is potential for trouble due to opposition fans in the Motherwell end.

    By reducing Rangers’ allocation we have simply ensured there will be more Motherwell fans inside Fir Park than fans of the opposition. Whether it looks bad on television shouldn’t be a concern – the only important issue is winning the match.

    That being said any Motherwell fans in two minds over attending Fir Park on Sunday should be under no illusions of how much the team needs your support – this game is MASSIVE!

    To the players at MFC, the fans have behind you through the majority of this difficult season, even after times where we’ve travelled in great numbers only to be let down. There is still time to make amends and what better time than in front of a big crowd in our biggest two matches in the club’s recent history.

    You have our support, make us proud.


  33. neepheid says:
    Member: (592 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    Taking all precautions by keeping a healthy pinch of salt handy, and not running away with what is said in the article, because it is the DR, I do wonder what King hopes to gain by releasing details of the arrangement/contracts between RRL and SD. It is generally known that the deal is heavily weighted in SD’s favour, and is, indeed, more than a little onerous, so, unless there is some smoking gun (and I doubt that) that could lead to trouble for Ashley, it is more likely to harm TRFC/RIFC than it will SD/Mike Ashley by showing the world how bad the deal is for shareholders, and potential shareholders, of RIFC.

    If King does manage to enshrine something within RIFC/TRFC’s Articles to prevent Ashley increasing his shareholding, then, that, too, could have a detrimental effect on the club should King’s lot fail and Ashley, the only known potential saviour, will be blocked, not by the SFA, but by the company’s own Articles!

    So, instead of heading off Ashley by repaying the loan and answering his fully justified questions, King chooses to go to war with one of the wealthiest predators in the country – and one that knows everything that King knows about the company, and probably quite a bit more. Oh, and King has chosen to ‘have a go’ with someone who doesn’t give a fig about whether TRFC lives or dies, as long as he gets his money back! And he will, coz he’s got the security!!!

    Thinking about it, if King has been honest (I know) in what he has said in the past week, he could quite easily pay off the loan, answer the questions, and have Ashley off his, and TRFC’s, back, with only the retail problems left (which might very well be insurmountable anyway).

    It’s almost as though the man is putting on a show 🙄


  34. The Board of Directors will provide shareholders with recommendations as to how to vote on the Resolutions separately but would advise shareholders that their legal advice from a senior QC is that the Requisitioned Resolution, if passed, would not create a binding legal obligation on the Board or the Company.
    ________________
    does that mean if the resolution is passed they dont have to do it anyway ?


  35. mcfc says: Member: (1258 comments) May 26, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    The 41 Way Agreement
    ———————–

    Don’t you mean The 43 Way Agreement, including RFC plc (IL) and TRFC Ltd? 😉


  36. “Would not create a legally binding obligation” if one was suspicious one could read that as meaning that the legal obligation exists already and would not be created at the EGM.


  37. Allyjambo says: Member:(954 comments) May 26, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    It will be interesting to see how RIFC plc’s “The Board” will get around the following shot across the bows from MASH Holdings Ltd, when detailing the terms of the RR Ltd “deal” without ending up having their erse sued aff them.

    http://www.rangersinternationalfootballclub.com/images/staticcontent/documents/GM%20Notice%2025_5_15.pdf

    The Directors note that MASH Holdings Limited through its solicitors has written to the Company advising that the Company (and its subsidiary undertakings) are subject to various confidentiality agreements made between the Company and MASH Holdings Limited, and the Company and Sports Direct International plc (and its subsidiary undertakings), and also that the RRL Shareholders’ Agreement (and related agreements) contain confidentiality provisions, which MASH Holdings Limited will seek to enforce. The Directors note that the meeting will have to be mindful of these confidentiality provisions and of the confidentiality provisions agreed between the Company and prospective Nominated Advisers and required by AIM. Any questions from shareholders will be required to respect the obligations placed upon the Company and the Directors’ own comments will be similarly respectful.


  38. mcfc says: Member: (1258 comments) May 26, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    The 41 Way Agreement
    ____________

    one of the clubs never voted sevco into the sfl

    was it stranraer ?

    SFL chief executive David Longmuir confirmed that 29 of the 30 member clubs had voted in favour of allowing Rangers newco into the Scottish League set-up


  39. bfbpuzzled says: Member:(155 comments) May 26, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    “Would not create a legally binding obligation” if one was suspicious one could read that as meaning that the legal obligation exists already and would not be created at the EGM.
    ______________________________________________________________

    Does the fact that all of the EGM resolutions are “Ordinary” not just indicate that neither side has sufficient (75%) shareholdings to pass any Special Resolution?


  40. andy
    It was.
    And, to my mind, they were the only club that voted with integrity.
    The rest wanted to avoid the only valid but, to them, unpalatable outcome.
    In the process they besmirched the Scottish game forever.


  41. andy says:
    Member: (53 comments)

    May 26, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    The Board of Directors will provide shareholders with recommendations as to how to vote on the Resolutions separately but would advise shareholders that their legal advice from a senior QC is that the Requisitioned Resolution, if passed, would not create a binding legal obligation on the Board or the Company.
    ________________
    does that mean if the resolution is passed they dont have to do it anyway ?
    ________________________________________________

    What it certainly means is they’ve just wasted another 50k if they have consulted a QC


  42. Kilgore Trout says:
    Member: (48 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 9:35 pm
    andy
    It was.
    And, to my mind, they were the only club that voted with integrity.
    ,,,,
    Agreed
    although
    They may have got fed up being serenaded every fortnight by fans waiting for the ferry


  43. Scotland’s greatest sports writer, bar none, saying the shirts deal with Ashley is on a seven year rolling contract.


  44. I find it instructive how Rangers, quite rightly, can cut away allocations at Ibrox, yet all hell breaks loose if any other club dares to cut a Rangers away allocation.

    There is a real victim mentality at play, and a very real sense of entitlement. We are the people, indeed.

    Whatever that means.


  45. mcfc says:
    Member: (1258 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Who knows UEFA and FIFA may decide they ARE the same club after all – and they need to accept ALL their history.
    ======================================================
    I have no doubt that UEFA would be happy to decide they are the same club…as has been dissected on here before other associations are happy to work with a frachisesque approach (Italy being a good example)…Wrt FIFA..our upside down friends in Australia do work with a franchise system including (IIRC) the continuance of sporting history…as it were.

    What is odd, if not unique, in Scotland is that the governing body appear to have no opinion on the matter.

    For that matter nor do the SPFL…other than the odd off the cuff remark from Doncaster.

    I should also add that I have no idea why, were it to be formalised, that this position would put any newco/same club at any risk from action by the oldco/same club’s creditors…could someone please explain the thinking/law here?


  46. Ianagain
    I sense your concern,and so will quite a few others, the trust in the people that are charged with running our game,in all departments,stopped being trusted a long time ago and will be a long time before it will be restored,the two match officials given charge of the two games have had a good season,the pity is their past,one having a leaning towards Rangers and the other having a tendency to lean away from Motherwell,so there we have a paranoid situation in the making,the addition to cement this would be the additional officials that have had a less than complimentary season,that’s before we start on the low life that make up the smsm ,any wrong decision in the games we will be sure will be given against one club and one club only and it won’t be a club from Glasgow,will Mr Madden be able to deal with the missile launchers we wait and see,one thing is for sure,Scottish Football is once again under the microscope and what has been seen in the past under this microscope is a cancer that requires a cure that probably will not be available until the present encumbents of our game are flushed out with more than a strong disinfectant.


  47. andy says:
    Member: (53 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    one of the clubs never voted sevco into the sfl

    was it stranraer ?

    ————–

    They would really have needed to vote against to avoid inclusion in the shame of the 41 Way Agreement.


  48. John Clark says:
    Member: (868 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    ==========================================

    The fans are straight.

    Season tickets should not be bought until we know where Rang3rs will play next season. The pantomime around the sports deal is just King telling us who the big boy is, before he does it and runs away.


  49. FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland by US forces investigating corruption ,times are a changing,there is a god.


  50. yourhavingalaugh on May 27, 2015 at 6:30 am

    FIFA officials arrested in Switzerland…
    ———-

    Not often you wake up to a FIFA headline that brings a smile to your face. Someone should send the Swiss police to Hampden to check on the unusual number of chocolate teapots 🙂


  51. So FIFA officials arrested for corruption

    TRFC to hold a GM

    The first shots in thet rally the fans against Ashley campaign fired

    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-board-ready-war-after-5768552

    And the main point D King can make is a resolution to renegotiate the RR deal with Mr Ashley (looks good to the fans)

    Wonder how that will go

    D King … Mr Ashley we would like
    meet to discuss

    Ashley…. Please leave your message after the tone

    D king …. Mike mike we need to discuss this

    Ashley… Beeeepppp

    D king….. Mike mike are you there mike


  52. I especially liked this little exsert from Kieths PR release

    As a consequence of the heightening tensions between the board and Ashley, it now seems certain there will be no chance of an agreement being struck between Rangers and Newcastle for the permanent transfer of Haris Vuckic.

    So not being able to afford him has nothing to do with it?

    And the player all ready stating he doesn’t want to stay is completely irrelevant?

    Its all Big Bad Mikes fault we can’t have him
    (jump up and down / stampy feet motocon )


  53. “Renegotiated on a basis which is fair and reasonable to both parties”

    Is very different to the same statement when the second word is replaced with “to”. The original statement is about process the amended one about outcome. That is the trouble with being caught lying in future one’s intentions are always seen to be duplicitous. Even as it stands the ideas about the process are at odds with reasonable expectations apart from the possibility of intending to damage SD in the eyes of the TRFC supports (sic). Even then, the supports have an extremely negative view on SD if I understand things correctly- so any fanning of the Flames would be otiose. Also it would appear to be undignified to deal with large suppliers and shareholders so.


  54. tcup 2012 says:
    Member: (209 comments)
    May 27, 2015 at 8:26 am

    And the player all ready stating he doesn’t want to stay is completely irrelevant?

    Its all Big Bad Mikes fault we can’t have him
    (jump up and down / stampy feet motocon )
    ==========================================

    Exactly! And no mention of the fact that without kindly Uncle Mike’s generosity, Vukic would never have been near Ibrox in the first place, leaving them reliant on Kris Boyd scoring some goals 🙄 🙄 to get them to the play off final.

    Level 5 must be getting paid a lot of money by the current Ibrox Board, given the volume of PR puff pieces being channelled via Keith Jackson recently.

    This open declaration of war by King on all things Ashley seems very badly judged to me. Even if the rights attaching to Ashley’s shares can legally be altered against his will (and I have serious doubts on that front), to do so would certainly require as a minimum a Special Resolution, needing a 75% majority. Can King command 75% of the voting rights? I don’t think so.Just before the last EGM, the Ashley camp held over 30%. So as usual with King, it would appear to be nothing but bluff and bluster.

    King’s only way of getting rid of Ashley from RIFC is to buy him out. That won’t be cheap, especially if King wants control of Rangers Retail as part of the deal. I think Phil MacGB mentioned a figure close to £30m a few months ago. I can only think that King’s showboating over recent weeks is just pushing the price up.

    I can’t see King paying that sort of money anyway, but what are his options? Ashley now has so much security that an insolvency would achieve nothing for King. TRFC need a cash injection urgently to rebuild a squad, regardless of what league they are in next season. Even if Ashley is given back his £5m, the onerous contracts remain in place, and Rangers Retail remains firmly under Ashley’s control.

    Does King really intend to just stop paying out on any contracts that he considers to be “onerous”? That really must end in liquidation, because once the goose stops laying those golden eggs, it’s time to pull its neck. The holders of the onerous contracts have no sentimental attachment to the goose, that much is certain.

    I find it very difficult to make out what King’s plan is, other than to poke Ashley with a pointy stick on a daily basis and see what happens. I can imagine the three bears with their heads in their hands, wondering why on earth they were crazy enough to get involved with King in the first place. And as for Ashley, I’m sure his lawyers have made certain sure that he comes out winning in every conceivable scenario.


  55. The thing about King’s bluster is, that for all it’s bombast, there is nothing in it that is going to do more harm to Ashley/SD than it’s potential harm to TRFC.

    Unless King has got something other than his arms up his sleeves (and who can believe him if he was to say he only has two arms?), then what he is saying is; ‘we are going to break a confidentiality agreement (no doubt actionable); we are not going to pay back a £5m loan until it suits us (maybe never, and very surprising if Ashley has left a door open to allow that); we are going to attempt to stop MASH from voting in future; we are going to re-negotiate our retail deal after making those we want to negotiate with a very angry holder of a very fruitful contract.’

    And after avoiding mention of the AIM questions, he offers absolutely no olive branch to those he wants to negotiate with!

    Sounds a bit like the true blue colonial in a land grab, waving his swagger stick but not even offering the natives a few beads…while threatening to cut off their water supply! It worked before, but he’s not yet realised that this time it’s Zulus (with a posse of lawyers) that stand before him!


  56. Just a wee thought.

    Does Ashley really give damn about how much T’Rangers retail deal is bringing in.
    The way in which the deal has been brokered is that he gets some cash whichever way you look at it.

    If the fans don’t buy but he plays hardball and stays put for the alleged seven years then what is the real hardship?

    While his SD income may be down on what it could be it just means his competitors do not have long term access to the 500 million shirt sales year on year. 🙂


  57. Loving some T’Rangers fans spouting forth about how shareholders deserve to know the details of the Ashley deals as it may have an effect on their investments when so many of those self same folk were willing to vote in King et al on a wing and a prayer of being a RRM.

    David Murray six to ten year JJB deal good.
    SD seven year deal bad.
    The fact is that both deals were needed at the time to keep their heads above water.


  58. Does King Understand Ashley?

    King seems to think Ashley wants to own The Rangers when all he wants to do is milk them for profit. In fact, Ashley is behaving like a classic activist investor, holding a board to public account for his own benefit. Ashley would like to have had 29.9% of shares that would have allowed him to block any special resolution requiring 75% shareholder support – but the SFA blocked that to facilitate King’s return.

    King thinks you can get rid of an activist investor by changing the plc’s rules. Bullshit. There would be no concept of activist investor if that were possible.

    King thinks Ashley can be influenced by shaming him and setting the lunatic fringe attack dogs on him. But Ashley has no interest in Ranegrsness status and no interest in visiting/attending Ibrox.

    King thinks he can hit Ashley in the wallet by boycotting merchandise sales – he has previous with boycotting ST sales. If the fans don’t buy Ashley’s tat – The Rangers are contracted to buy it at full price. Doh!

    King thinks he can ring concessions out of Ashley by playing the hard man, but Ashley is only there for the money – so why negotiate it away. Double Doh!

    King seems to think that any contract he doesn’t like, signed by previous directors of his plc that showed insufficient Rangersness in his opinion can be overturned in the courts. King doesn’t seem to understand that the most money buys the best lawyers and Ashley will always have the better lawyers – who penned the contracts in the first place.

    If King doesn’t learn his place in this situation pretty quickly, Ashley will teach him in public – and the bears really won’t like that Mr King.


  59. King’s tactics, if at’s what they are, are becoming almost as baffling as his head gardener’s. I just can’t fathom why he is poking Ashley so much. A M£5 loan outstanding, K£500 more should the promised land be reached and all he does is antagonise.
    Think we could see a demand for immediate repayment being made and a land transfer of three prized assets. Where will they train next season when the padlocks are on Murray Park?

    It is truly baffling to this observer.


  60. jimmci says:
    May 27, 2015 at 10:10 am

    I have no doubt Ashley is willing to play hardball however while he doesn’t appear to be overly worried about his public image, being seen as killing off a football club is hardly going to be good PR whichever way you look at it.

    That is the only reason I can see for him perhaps being willing to do some deal with King. One that keeps the club alive and puts him in a slight more favourable light with fans but at the same time lets him lick the cream off the top of any deal – which if re-brokered will of course become very confidential again!!

    For a flight of fancy how about a wee flutter on Haris Vuckic suddenly being unavailable for tomorrow night, You know that type of injury that occurs when you pick up that call from Newcastle too quickly 🙂


  61. Scenario:
    The 3 bears know the state of finances under the hood, so to get the assets on the cheap, they facilitate a PR war against a minority shareholder who holds all of the majority profit making elements of the business.
    They poke MASH with a big pointy stick, forcing him/them into crashing the bus.
    The PR campaign is set that the 3 Bears will be blameless because they have tried to negotiate, but MASH wouldn’t, so the consequences are that the latest re-animation is liquidated.
    The 3 Bears pick up the pieces and drop any debt that isn’t tied to an onerous contract, and re-animate.
    The onerous contracts are negotiated in such a way that the 3 Bears have no choice and decide to work with MASH for the good and benefit of the ethereal football club.
    The SFA and compliant media are on board with subtle PR pieces in support of the new re-animation, with a points deduction pre-arranged and set, as not to interfere with the re-animated journey to the Champions League.

    Just a thought……………..


  62. steph1895 says:
    Member: (8 comments)
    May 27, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Scenario:
    The 3 bears know the state of finances under the hood, so to get the assets on the cheap, they facilitate a PR war against a minority shareholder who holds all of the majority profit making elements of the business.
    They poke MASH with a big pointy stick, forcing him/them into crashing the bus.
    The PR campaign is set that the 3 Bears will be blameless because they have tried to negotiate, but MASH wouldn’t, so the consequences are that the latest re-animation is liquidated.
    The 3 Bears pick up the pieces and drop any debt that isn’t tied to an onerous contract, and re-animate.
    =================
    The problem is the securities- it’s Ashley who will get most of the pieces on any liquidation scenario, unless he is repaid his £5m before the event. If the bears want all the pieces, they need to deal with Ashley, and I don’t think the pointy stick method is going to help. In fact any liquidation could see Ashley emerge in total control of all things Rangers, while King and the 3 bears lose their shirts.

    Since they themselves have no security whatsoever, and are in for several million, King & Co will surely do just about anything to avoid insolvency, while Ashley couldn’t care less. The fans might blame Ashley, but they will also turn on King if he allows an insolvency because he wouldn’t produce his untold millions in their hour of need.


  63. Allyjambo says:
    Member: (955 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 8:45 pm
    neepheid says:
    Member: (592 comments)
    May 26, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    If King does manage to enshrine something within RIFC/TRFC’s Articles to prevent Ashley increasing his shareholding, then, that, too, could have a detrimental effect on the club should King’s lot fail and Ashley, the only known potential saviour, will be blocked, not by the SFA, but by the company’s own Articles!
    So, instead of heading off Ashley by repaying the loan and answering his fully justified questions, King chooses to go to war with one of the wealthiest predators in the country – and one that knows everything that King knows about the company, and probably quite a bit more. Oh, and King has chosen to ‘have a go’ with someone who doesn’t give a fig about whether TRFC lives or dies, as long as he gets his money back! And he will, coz he’s got the security!!!
    Thinking about it, if King has been honest (I know) in what he has said in the past week, he could quite easily pay off the loan, answer the questions, and have Ashley off his, and TRFC’s, back, with only the retail problems left (which might very well be insurmountable anyway).
    It’s almost as though the man is putting on a show
    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    Another view
    IMO
    King and Ashley are in cahoots with the aim of putting the best possible gloss on a liquidation event ostensibly aimed at the non Ashley Spivs
    The Ploy might be something along these lines
    King wins a contrived vote to refuse to repay the £5m at the GM. He discloses the true extent of onerous contracts held by Ashley and other Spivs He hints it may take a liquidation event to dump these baddies
    Ashley applies for a winding up order under which he appoints the Liquidator. He claims the support of other Creditors
    King declares he will be around after any liquidation event to “save the club” by buying the assets
    RIFC and TRFC are liquidated with both sides blaming the other
    King bids for the assets with the support of the Gullible
    Ashley (Sarver) reappear with a counter bid
    The parties hold a summit meeting at which a compromise is reached
    King is off the hook in funding the new newco
    Ashley (Sarver) get control and the business is run from afar for the benefit of Sports Direct
    The residual non Ashley owned onerous contracts are bought out by Ashley (Sarver) with the income taken over by SD


  64. Or is it a case of King engaging the only way he knows how to do business,the way he fleeced so many companies in SA to make his zillions,just might be a fleece too far.


  65. I don’t think uncle Mick has any intention of calling his loan in, but I do think King is trying to force him to. Was the loan not with Sports Direct, while the requisition from MASH?
    As for scrubbing his share-voting rights. HA! Was it not Sevco who approached the SFA to grant him some “Discretionary ruling” in the first instance, which they were happy to do.
    Here’s hoping Vuckic’s phone doesn’t ring, advising him it is in his best interests not to return to NUFC injured from his last two games 👿 😀


  66. I love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next bampot, but I’m not sure why Ashley would spend so much effort on The Rangers – especially when it means working with and trusting sincerity-challenged RRM. After all, he has no more “invested” than you and I buying a raffle ticket and hoping for a bottle of plonk. He has far more profitable, far more straightforward work to do. He also has The Rangers finances in a vice-like grip until at least 2022 (allegedly) and enough shares to be a constant thorn in the board’s side and he still has two board places to fill once they’ve official chosen, at the EGM, not to repay the £5mil loan. A lovely twist of irony because the new regime will be formally endorsing the contract that L&L were accused of agreeing with their master to the detriment of The Rangers.

    My best guess is still that Ashley wants all the RRM to burn themselves out so he becomes, de facto, the only game in town. Then, if he’s still interested, he can do whatever is necessary (admin/liqui) to get rid of any remaining onerous contractors he doesn’t like and specify terms to the SFA. By then the bears and MSM will have learned to show a bit more respect if they know what is good for them.

    btw Did Ashley’s “I’m staying until we win something” at NUFC strike anyone else as just a little Greenesque ?


  67. Does anyone know if HMRC have a Court date for the appeal against the UTTT decision?


  68. Good Afternoon

    I see Keith Jackson was deploying the “war” rhetoric again in his ‘coverage’ of the SD rolling contract and RIFC EGM.

    The suggestion of restricting Ashley’s voting rights looks like a huge piece of bluster to try and appear “on the front foot”. I would be amazed if it ever happened.

    As others on here have said, if the Board wanted Ashley’s grip to be loosened, they could repay him right now. It would make a powerful statement of “intent” in terms of seizing control of the “club’s” destiny. I don’t buy the argument that the £5 million loan needs to be considered “holistically” with the commercial contracts. Unless they really do smell a rat in the paperwork…

    And of course, if the Board *really* wanted to “take on” Ashley, they could have tabled a resolution amending the Articles of Association for the 12 June EGM…

    Hmmm….

    If you are interested, here are some more thoughts.

    https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/rollin-rollin-trollin/

    Enjoy the rest of the day

Comments are closed.