Good Afternoon.
Announcing outstanding financial successes for Rangers PLC the then Chairman of the club opened his Chairman’s report in the annual financial statements with the following words:
“Last summer I explained that the Club, after many years of significant investment in our playing squad
and more recently in our state of the art facility at Murray Park, had embarked on a three year business
plan to stabilise and improve the Club’s finances. The plan also recognised the need to react to the
challenging economic conditions facing football clubs around the world.
Following a trend over a number of years of increasing year on year losses, I am pleased to report that
in the first year of this plan we have made important progress by reversing this trend. Our trading loss
for last year of £11.2m reflects a £7.9m improvement versus the £19.1m loss for the previous year and
although it will take more time to completely reach our goals, this is a key milestone. We also intend to
make significant further progress by the end of the current financial year. This improvement is the
consequence of having a solid strategy and the commitment and energy to implement the changes it requires”
Later on in the same statement the chairman would add:
“Another key part of our plan is associated with the Rangers brand and our Retail Division goes from strength to strength. Our financial results this year have been significantly enhanced by an outstanding performance in merchandising Rangers products, in particular replica kit, which makes our Retail Division one of the most successful in Europe.”
In the same set of financial reports, the CEO would report:
“To further strengthen Rangers hospitality portfolio, a new dedicated sponsor’s lounge was unveiled this season. The Carling Lounge is a first for the Club and was developed in conjunction with our new sponsor, Carling. ”
and
“Our innovative events programme continues to grow and this year saw a record number of official events including the highly successful annual Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony, Player of the Year and 50 Championships Gala Dinner, all of which catered for up to 1000 guests.
At Rangers, we continually develop our portfolio of products and as a key area of income for the Club, we evaluate the market for new revenue opportunities on an ongoing basis in order to exceed our existing and potential customer expectations and needs.
Demand for season tickets reached an all time high last season with a record 42,508 season ticket holders in comparison with the previous season`s figure of 40,320. Over 36,000 of these season ticket holders renewed for this season – a record number.
For the new season, we are delighted to welcome brewing giant, Carling on board as our Official Club sponsor. Carling is one of the UK’s leading consumer brands with a proven track record in football sponsorship.
The Club also continues to work with a number of multinational blue chip brands such as National Car Rental, Sony Playstation 2, Bank of Scotland and Coca-Cola. This year, we will also experience the evolution of the Honda deal via Hyndland Honda and welcome the mobile communications giant T-Mobile to our ranks.”.
The year was 2003 and in the previous 24 months Rangers Football Club, owned and operated as a private fiefdom by Sir David Murray, had made operational losses of some £30 million.
Yes – 30 MILLION POUNDS.
Of course the chairman’s report for 2003 was written by John F Mclelland CBE and the CEO was one Martin Bain Esq.
As Mr Mclelland clearly stated, by 2003 the club already had a trend of increasing year on year losses covering a number of years and was losing annual sums which stretched into millions, if not tens of millions, of pounds.
However, the acquisition of Rangers Football Club was absolutely vital to David Murray’s personal business growth, and his complete control of the club as his own private business key was more important than any other business decision he had made before buying Rangers or since.
When he persuaded Gavin Masterton to finance 100% of the purchase price of the club, Murray had his finest business moment.
By getting control of Rangers, Murray was able to offer entertainment, hospitality, seeming privilege and bestow favour on others in a way that was hitherto undreamed of, and he bestowed that largesse on any number of “existing and potential clients” and contacts – be they the clients and contacts related to Rangers Football Club or the existing and potential clients of David Murray, his businesses, his banks, or anyone in any field that he chose to court for the purposes of potential business.
His business.
It wasn’t only journalists who benefited from the succulent lamb treatment.
Accountants,lawyers, surveyors, broadcasters, football officials, people in industry and construction, utilities, financiers and other areas of business were all invited inside the sacred House of Murray and given access to the great man of business “and owner of Rangers” while attending the “record number of official (hospitality) events”.
Twelve months on from when John McLelland made those statements in the 2003 accounts, David Murray was back in the chair at Ibrox and he presented the 2004 financials.
In the intervening 12 months Rangers had gained an additional £10 million from Champions League income and had received £8.6 million in transfer fees from the sale of Messrs Ferguson, Amoruso and McCann. Not only that, the Rangers board had managed to reduce the club’s wage bill by £5 million. Taking all three figures together comes to some £23.6 million in extra income or savings.
Yet, the accounts for 2004 showed that the club made an operational loss of almost £6 million and overall debt had risen by an additional £7 million to £97.4 million.
However, the 2004 accounts were also interesting for another reason.
Rangers PLC had introduced payments “to employees trusts” into their accounts for the first time in 2001 and in that year they had paid £1million into those trusts. Just three years later, the trust payments recorded in the accounts had risen to £7.3 million per annum — or to put it another way to 25% of the annual wage bill though no one in Scottish Football asked any questions about that!
By the following year, the chairman announced that the 2004 operational loss had in fact been £10.4million but that the good news was that the 2005 operational loss was only £7.8 million. However Rangers were able to post a profit before taxation if they included the money obtained from transfers (£8.4 million) and the inclusion of an extraordinary profit of £14,999,999 made on buying back the shares of a subsidiary company for £1 which they had previously sold for £15 million.
All of which added up to a whopping great profit of ……… £12.4 million!
I will leave you to do the maths on 2005.
Oh and of course these accounts included the detail that 3000 Rangers fans had joined David Murray in participating in the November ’94 share issue where the club managed to raise £51,430,995 in fresh capital most of which was provided by Mr Murray… sorry I mean MIH ….. sorry that should read Bank of Scotland …… or their shareholders……. or should that be the public purse?
The notable items in the 2006 accounts included the announcement of a ten year deal with JJB Sports to take over the merchandising operation of the club and increased revenue from an extended run in the Champion’s League. However, the profit before tax was declared at only£0.1 million in comparison to the £12.4 million of the year before but then again that £12.4 million had included player sales of £8.4 million and the £15 million sweety bonus from the repurchase of ones own former subsidiary shares for £1.
Jumping to 2008 Rangers saw a record year in terms of turnover which had risen to £64.5 million which enabled the company to record a profit on ordinary activities before taxation of £6.57 million although it should be pointed out that wages and bonuses were up at 77% of turnover and that a big factor in the Rangers income stream was corporate hospitality and the top line of income was shown as “gate receipts and hospitality”.
However, 2009 saw a calamitous set of figures. Whilst Alastair Johnston tried to put a brave chairman’s face on it, the year saw an operating loss of £17.325 million which was softened only by player disposals leading to a loss before taxation of a mere £14.085 million.
Fortunately Sir David did not have to report these figures as he chose to stand down as chairman in August and so Johnston stepped in and announced that he was deeply honoured to do so.
In 2010, the income stream jumped from £39.7 million to over £56 million with the result that the club showed a profit before taxation of £4.209 million.
However, by that time the corporate hospitality ticket that was Rangers Football Club was done for as a result of matters that had nothing to do with events on the football field in the main.
First, the emergence of the Fergus McCann run Celtic had brought a real business and sporting challenge. This was something that Murray had not previously faced in the football business.
Second,the Bank of Scotland had gone bust and Lloyds could not and would not allow Murray to continually borrow vast sums of money on the basis of revalued assets and outrageous hospitality.
Third, the UEFA fair play rules came into being and demanded that clubs at least act on a semblance of proper corporate governance and fiscal propriety.
Lastly,Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs tightened up the law on the use of EBT’s which meant that Rangers could no longer afford to buy in the players that brought almost guaranteed success against domestic opposition.
On average, since 2002 Rangers PLC had lost between £7 million – £8 million per year – or roughly £650,000 per month if you like – yet for the better part of a decade David Murray had been able to persuade the Bank of Scotland that this was a business that was worthy of ever greater financial support or that he himself and his MIH business was of such value that the Banks should support him in supporting the Ibrox club whilst operating in this fashion.
Of course, had Murray’s Rangers paid tax on all player remunerations then the losses would have been far larger.
Meanwhile, all the other clubs in Scottish football who banked with the Bank of Scotland faced funding cuts and demands for repayment with the bank publicly proclaiming that it was overexposed to the football market in Scotland.
But no one asked any questions about why the bank should act one way with Murray’s club but another way with all others. No one in football, no one in the media and no one from the world of business.
Looking back,it is hard to imagine a business which has been run on such a consistent loss making basis being allowed to continue by either its owners or by its bankers. However, a successful and funded Rangers was so important to the Murray group that David Murray was clearly willing to lose millions year after year to keep the Gala dinners and corporate hospitality going.
Rangers were Murray’s big PR vehicle and the club was essentially used by him to open the doors which would allow him to make more money elsewhere on a personal basis and if it meant Rangers cutting every corner and accumulating massive losses, unsustainable losses, then so be it.
Today, the new regime at Ibrox run the current business in a way which clocks up the same colossal annual losses whilst the club competes outwith Scotland’s top division. Each day we hear that the wage bill is unsustainable, that the playing staff are overpaid, that the stadium needs massive investment and that the fans are opposed to the stadium itself being mortgaged and the club being in hawk to lenders.
Yet, in the Murray era the Stadium was revalued time and time again and its revaluation was used as the justification for ever greater borrowing on the Rangers accounts. The playing staff were massively overpaid and financially assisted by the EBT’s and most years the Chairman’s annual statement announced huge losses despite regular claims of record season ticket sales, record hospitality income, European income, shirt sponsorship and the outsourcing of all merchandising to JJB sports instead of Sports Direct.
The comparison between the old business and the current one is clear for all to see.
It should be noted, that since the days of Murray, no major banking institution has agreed to provide the Ibrox business with any banking facilities. Not under Whyte, not under Green, not under anyone.
Yet few ask why that should be.
The destruction of the old Rangers business led those in charge of Scottish football to announce that Armageddon was on the horizon if it had not actually arrived, yet today virtually all Scottish clubs are in a better financial and business state than back in the bad old days of the Bank of Scotland financed SPL. Some have succumbed to insolvency, and others have simply cut their cloth, changed their structure, sought, and in some cases attracted, new owners and moved on in terms of business.
In general, Scottish Football has cleaned house at club level.
Now, David Murray has “cleaned house” in that MIH has bitten the dust and walked down insolvency road.
What is interesting is that the Murray brand still has that capacity to get out a good PR message when it needs to. Despite the MIH pension fund being short of money for some inexplicable reason, last week it was announced that the family controlled Murray Estates had approached those in charge of MIH and had agreed to buy some key MIH assets for something in the region of £13.9 million.
The assets concerned are land banks which at some point will be zoned for planning and which will undoubtedly bring the Murray family considerable profit in the future, with some of those assets already looking as if they will produce a return sooner rather than later.
However, what is not commented upon in the mainstream press is the fact that Murray Estates had the ability to pay £13.9 Million for anything at all and that having that amount of money to spend the Murray camp has chosen not to buy any football club down Govan way.
Perhaps, it has been realised that a football club which loses millions of pounds each year is not such a shrewd investment and that the Murray family money would be better spent elsewhere?
Perhaps, it has been realised that the culture of wining, dining, partying and entertaining to the most lavish and extravagant extent will not result in the banks opening their vaults any more?
Perhaps, it has been realised that the Rangers brand has been so badly damaged over the years that it is no longer the key to the golden door in terms of business, finance and banking and that running a football club in 2015 involves a discipline and a set of skills that David Murray and his team do not have experience of?
What is clear, is that the Murray years at Ibrox were not good for the average Rangers fan in the long term and that when you have a football club – any football club – being run for the private benefit of one rich individual, or group of individuals, then the feelings and passions of the ordinary fan will as often as not be forgotten when that individual or his group choose to move on once they have decided that they no longer wish to play with their toy football club.
David Murray did not make money directly out of Rangers Football Club. He used it as a key to open other doors for him and to get him a seat at other tables and into a different type of “club” altogether. He did not run the club in a day to day fashion that was designed to bring stability and prolonged financial, or playing, success to the club. its investors and its fans. He did not preside over Ibrox during a period of sustained financial gain.
Mike Ashley will not subsidise 2015 version of Rangers to anything like the same extent that the Bank of Scotland did in the 90’s and naughties.
However, Ashley, like Murray, will use his control of the Rangers brand to open doors for him elsewhere in the sports retail market, and he will use the Rangers contract with Sports Direct to make a handsome profit. He will also control all the advertising revenue just as he does at Newcastle. In short, Mr Ashley is only interested in The Rangers with a view to using it as a stepping stone to achieve other things elsewhere.
However, don’t take my word for any of this, take the opinion of someone who knows.
Mr Dave King is quoted today as saying the following about the current board of Directors who are in charge of the current Ibrox holding company.
“History will judge this board as one of the worst the club has ever had. There is not one individual who puts the club above personal interest.”
That is an interesting observation from a man who became a non executive director of the old Rangers holding company in 2000 and who had a front row pew for every set of accounts and all the financial statements referred to above.
Whether or not Mr King is a glib and shameless liar is a matter of South African judicial opinion. Whether or not he can spot someone who puts their own self interest ahead of the interests of Rangers Football Club and the supporters of the club is a matter that should be discussed over some fine wine, some succulent lamb and whatever postprandial entertainment you care to imagine.
I wonder if he has ever read the accounts of Rangers PLC and compared them to the corresponding accounts of MIH for the same period?
Justshatered,
I appreciate your thoughts.
The only way I can see us getting out of this it death. All revenue streams have been sewn up; this is not about living within your means, this is about living within your means while some guy takes all your profit. We are dead. And we could do nothing about it.
Justshatered,
I agree entirely but you missed a step. On e you’ve bought him out (and your 10m isn’t enough for the retail side btw) you have to make a choice. Either run the thing sustainably or fund it for the long haul. Surely to goodness it is now accepted that the latter just doesn’t work except for occasional and temporary downturns.
Accept that and they’re almost there. But fight it on a bizarre twist of aye ready principle then you feed the very beast that people like Ashley feed off.
Ryan
Feel your pain mate but not sure what the future holds even if there was a New Rangers.
What would be its USP? I’m not sure it is now possible to sort out the good parts from the bad being that the like of King may get involved in a project if it is going to be more than restarting a community based club.
Like folk voting No but still belting out songs about rising to be a nation again and Yes voters happily joining in and not questioning why the volume is not 55‰ lower, football fans are a funny bunch and Ashley is hoping that enough will fall back in line for their usual fix soon enough. However given the depth of your hurt he may have misjudged the Bears on this one but I wouldn’t bet against him.
RyanGosling says:
January 29, 2015 at 12:05 am
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Justshatered,
I appreciate your thoughts.
The only way I can see us getting out of this it death. All revenue streams have been sewn up; this is not about living within your means, this is about living within your means while some guy takes all your profit. We are dead. And we could do nothing about it.
________________________________________________
Ryan,
Football never was or will be about profit. That kind of thinking is what got TRFC into this mess. They were a hooked gambler stuck in a game of ‘double or quits’ until the bank broke.
But it is about a break even.
Caley burn £4m a year.
Caley earn £4m a year.
We are good.
With your crowds, we could be immense.
With your crowds attitude, though we’d be perma-fecked!
Your attitude is your altitude.
That – and no other reason – is why Ibrox fans are populating the gutter!
Take a good hard and unblinkered look at yourselves? Where do you REALLY belong? If not in the past, then your attitudes surely do!
(no nastiness intended)
James Forrest says:
January 28, 2015 at 11:35 pm
“The poison that’s seeped into this fixture is new, and it’s a creation of a media which does not recognise any social responsibility.”
I have to disagree with you James.
While the violence that marred the 1909 Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers may not have been sectarian in nature – violence and sectarianism were soon regularly associated with the fixture.
As shown by this section of the book “Bigotry, Football, and Scotland”: http://tinypic.com/r/macy2e/8
There is a long, unromantic, violent history surrounding this fixture.
The “poison” is not a new thing.
Ryan Gosling
Read Barcabhoys post at http://www.tsfm.scot/spot-the-difference/comment-page-11/#comment-44282 and the comments that follow.
I believe there is a perception amongst football supporters generally that Rangers:
a) Lied for over 10 years and broke trust with and in the game over EBTS and the side letters they failed to register with the SFA as required by the rules and no Pharisee like reasoning by Bryson or LNS is going to change that perception of moral guilt. This feeling of justice not being done (not helped by transfer bans circumvented or fines dodged) is exacerbated when it is later discovered that Rangers
b) Lied to HMRC when they denied the existence of side letters to two players in 2005 when asked to provide them. A strong indication of intent and guilt.
c) Lied to SPL lawyers in the sense of not providing them with the self same evidence kept from HMRC in 2005 along with what HMRC had made of that concealment since 2005 to justify their demand to pay the evaded tax.
d) Lied (almost certainly) to get a UEFA licence in 2011, in a situation where the SFA have questions to answer as to their role and personal knowledge of the history of the tax demand in question. There is a very persuasive Timeline document supporting this view based on the documents leaked last year which is being sent to BDO. It might have been published but cannot because of criminal proceedings.
When you add it all up the ten years of non registration and the lies being uncovered since 2011 it is a HUGE deal and Barcabhoy sets out two things:
Rangers Board under Sir David Murray misled you and your support for a number of years from 1999 to 2011.
Rangers Board under SDM AND CW lied to and so cheated Scottish football over that same period and some of those involved at Rangers were in positions in the SFA to minimise the degree and consequences from 2011 onwards.
What in my opinion is needed (and it is part of my response to Barcabhoy on the same page, particularly the article linked to ) is an admission of guilt and contrition from Sir David Murray to Rangers supporters and to the rest of Scottish football.
There are some in the Scottish media (and we know who they are) who also have had a part to play in covering up the degree of wrong doing over the period 1999 to 2012, but will remain silent unless the lies referred to reach the general public consciousness, and they will at some point.
Whether such an admission of truth by the guilty parties will lead to reconciliation is an unknown, but if you want hope look at the positive responses you have received here tonight.
These suggest most supporters, once they have had a chance to express their feelings of resentment and have them acknowledged as genuine and not dismissed as paranoia, obsession, delusion or even hatred, will be ready to reconcile if the truth is admitted.
However to help them move to that point both sets will want assurances that those running our game and those running our clubs will do so in a future where integrity takes precedence over commercial concerns if the latter conflicts with the former.
That will require guards to guard the guards for a few years until the current mis-governance culture is eradicated from the game. There are many supporters well able to take on that role with the right support framework.
It will, even although forgiveness is advocated, require that those responsible since 2011 for not dealing with the issues mainly on ethical grounds (and I do think they thought they were doing the right thing but got it wrong) step down to be replaced by others for whom ethics is more important than money. (They will still get rich, but honestly so)
If we can get that Ryan, we might even come to realise that the pain we have all felt in our different ways as supporters was worth it.
Resin_lab_dog says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:43 am
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RyanGosling says:
January 29, 2015 at 12:05 am
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Justshatered,
I appreciate your thoughts.
The only way I can see us getting out of this it death. All revenue streams have been sewn up; this is not about living within your means, this is about living within your means while some guy takes all your profit. We are dead. And we could do nothing about it.
________________________________________________
Ryan,
Football never was or will be about profit. That kind of thinking is what got TRFC into this mess. They were a hooked gambler stuck in a game of ‘double or quits’ until the bank broke.
But it is about a break even.
Caley 😳 burn £4m a year.
Caley 😳 earn £4m a year.
We are good.
With your crowds, we could be immense.
With your crowds attitude, though we’d be perma-fecked!
Your attitude is your altitude.
That – and no other reason – is why Ibrox fans are populating the gutter!
Take a good hard and unblinkered look at yourselves? Where do you REALLY belong? If not in the past, then your attitudes surely do!
(no nastiness intended)
……………………
But it is about a break even.
Caley [Thistle] burn £4m a year.
Caley [Thistle] earn £4m a year.
We are good
Scottish Football needs a strong Inverness Caledonian Thistle
🙄
If we accept that the MA model of running a club might become more prevalent and take over football, and if we also accept that the manager’s brief will be to avoid any European qualification, and stay away from relegation…then we may have the intriguing prospect of leagues where most or all of the clubs in a division are vying for the much cherished 5th and 6th spots in Scotland, 8th and 9th spots in England and so on. If one or two clubs are aiming for that then they are likely to achieve it, but if lots have the same aim, perhaps one day we will see the top clubs at the end of the season having play offs – the losers go into the next season’s champions’ league etc, the winners of the Hampden / Wembley finals are officially awarded 5th / 8th place.
Tartanwulver says:
January 29, 2015 at 7:24 am
If ever there was an ideal situation for match fixing then you have just described it.
IMO for the good of not just Scottish football but football in general big mike should GTF
Ps Newcastle is my English team, I have no time for MA
joburgt1m says:
January 29, 2015 at 7:32 am
If ever there was an ideal situation for match fixing then you have just described it.
—————————————–
It certainly seems like a slippery slope.
I was being slightly facetious, but how many times have I heard in the English media in particular that qualifying for the Europa league (or whatever its equivalent name is at the time) is a poisoned chalice, and that such-and-such a team will be hoping they miss it? More than I can recall. I don’t mean to single out Newcastle, and the Bentitez discussion may just be unfounded rumour, but there does seem to be an established media mindset that, if you can’t be a champion’s league team, then it is better to fall in the zone between relegation safety and European non-qualification. At the very least, a very odd model for a supposedly competitive structure
ThomTheThim says:
January 28, 2015 at 8:29 pm
No apology needed, Thom, but thanks anyway.
@RyanGosling
Some of the above comments to you echo my own thoughts on the matter. Scottish football patently does not need “Rangers” but I think it would want and welcome a version of “Rangers” stripped of all the hubris and historical baggage, and I’m not referring to title claims etc. but the socio-cultural supremacist posturing that was the old entity’s stock-in-trade.
We are in the same place that we were three years ago, just before the collapse of Rangers Mk I. I recall saying to Bear friends at the time that a golden opportunity lay ahead to take the power back and form their own club, an AFC Rangers if you will, analogous to AFC Wimbledon here in London. Such a club would be a fresh start but, as with AFCW, would be recognised by football fans pretty much everywhere as the natural heirs of the history of the old club. I was laughed off and reminded by all and sundry that “it’s all about the history”. Well, the spivs took the supporters to town as a result and so here we are again.
So I repeat my words of three years ago to the friendly Bears. Once again a golden opportunity to form “AFC Rangers”, “Third Rangers”, call it what you like so long as Mike Ashley can’t claim payment for it, presents itself. It would require a paradigm shift in thinking among the majority of your support, and you would no doubt lose some along the way, but there are clearly enough intelligent Bears able to lead and persuade others. All it takes is a willingness, an energy and some cash (and isn’t there half a mil sitting in a bank account somewhere for Rangers fans to buy shares? Money can clearly be found). Talk to Kris Stewart at AFCW for how to do it if you need guidance. I sense that among the more rational Bears the tide is turning away from TRFC. Time to grasp the nettle. Do it right now and you could possibly have a “Rangers” club in the Lowland League in time for next season. And I have no doubt that the majority of Scottish football supporters would wish you well as you embarked on your journey, unencumbered by baggage of any kind but with dignity reclaimed. I know I would.
THC
How likely is it that a new Rangers could start up without the ‘baggage’? I remember back a couple of years to when a few Rangers fans held up a banner at Ibrox denouncing Green, something which now seems mainstream Rangers opinion. But at the time, a couple of thuggish looking guys went across to them, the banner was folded, and that seemed just to be accepted, the intimidation was not howled down. I’m not saying that in that situation I would have had the bravery to be the first one to tell those guys off, but neither were the supporters who were just there to watch their team, and they are the ones that will likely be faced with the dilemma of how to deal with it if they want to have the status of official heirs to the Rangers identity.
All this talk of starting anew is fine. It would take a huge effort and be extremely time consuming but the rewards could be great. The fly in the ointment may be the fact that, should the new baby show signs of early growth Uncle Paul Murray and his band of merry men will almost certainly turn up on the doorstep one day demanding that the child be handed over to them for its own good. If allowed this would signal an end for the new creation.
Dryathlon
Interesting discussion about AFC Rangers, but I think the time for that has passed. Mike controls all the intellectual property and would come down hard on a fledgling club whenever possible – legally plus the full textbook of dirty tricks.
The only avenue left to the fans in to walk away completely for a number of years until Mike understands there is no revenue at Ibrox and he goes away. ZERO fans next season home or away would attract worldwide attention and embarrass the hell out of Ashley – and shine a light on his exploitation of the situtation. That’s the only weapon the fans have left against him. Mike is betting that the fans can’t get organised to do that – and all the evidence supports that view. It’s time for the reasonable fans to get organised and make a strong final stand – it can still be won!
I heard a psychologist on the radio the other day talking about how it takes 21 days to make or break a habit – which struck a chord because I’m doing the no booze January Dryathlon. It’s getting easier, and I’m looking forward to a drink on Sunday – but much less than expected.
The fans can have a zombie club ruled by Ashley – or they can abstain for as long as it takes for him to go away and then start again – they have all the lessons they need on what NOT to do – if they want to avoid future spivs and parasites.
Just say NO until he’s gone – not a penny more !
@Tartanwulver
The crucial difference now is that majority Bear opinion does seem to be against Ashley, the only man with the funds to keep Mk II going. And he is hardly likely to engage on a charm offensive to win them over, as
did. I don’t pretend that setting up a new club will be easy, in part for the reasons you allude to. However, if a critical mass of free-thinking and politically savvy Bears were to come together with that in mind, anything is possible.
THC
Rangers fans need to accept the Ashley model or boycott, its that simple.
As for the SFA. They need to start applying all rules and stop worrying someone might challenge them. If this was the EPL, nobody would jump to Ashleys tune.
THC says:
January 29, 2015 at 8:43 am
7 0 Rate This
@RyanGosling
Some of the above comments to you echo my own thoughts on the matter. Scottish football patently does not need “Rangers” but I think it would want and welcome a version of “Rangers” stripped of all the hubris and historical baggage, and I’m not referring to title claims etc. but the socio-cultural supremacist posturing that was the old entity’s stock-in-trade.
——————————————————
This may not got down well but it highlights the historical image the club has from an outsiders point of view (Stan Collymore). Which is still relevant/exists IMO. If a new club can survive without this baggage it has got to be good for the game.
http://t.co/eg1JOrEamu
Last night Rangers denied Novo’s backing for Rangers First was behind the decision to tell him to pack his kit bag and go forth.
A statement read:
OK I’m quite happy to accept the Offishal Rangers ‘Line’ that Nacho wasn’t asked to leave because he joined a Rangers supporters’ group.
All we need to know now is why they did ask him to leave and instruct McDowell to give him his marching orders.
It really is that simple but telling the truth is usually harder than spinning a fragile lie. And the key to unlocking the lie is usually to uncover the reason for it.
Quite simply Nacho – just like Brown – has been getting in their face and annoying them and it was decided to make an example of him pour encourager les autres.
I think it’s just another total misjudgement of the fans and the lack of any actual real Rangers connection left at the top of the club I reckon has played a part in it.
The disconnect with the fan base seem to be deepening and as I posted last night Ashley has done what I thought was probably impossible: He’s well on his way to actually uniting a deeply fractured fan base.
I see that following Ryan’s post there is a lot of sympathy for the boycott of Ashley and start a fresh argument.
Surely that’s what Sons of Struth are doing but with the caveat they still want Rangers Men with Deep pockets at the helm and currently that includes convicted tax dodgers.
The problem, as discussed the other day it that the previous and current model doesn’t really work without being bankrolled in some way or another.
I said on RTC that the initial links with McCoist and then Smith were a big mistake (well not in Green’s plans of course) if the club was to get a fresh start.
All links to the major players from the SDM era should be severed – players, coaches, staff directors etc etc.
A whole new set of aims, objectives and ethos would need to be developed.
Anything else, including ‘back to where we rightfully belong’ and you end up with the same nonsense as before and such a project would be doomed from the start.
As a wee aside I note that while trading is light the share price for RIFC has risen by around 10p to 30 odd pence over the last few weeks and heading back towards the 52 week high years high of 35p.
So folks like Ashley or he is managing to up the price making it more expensive for the Bears to get more shares.
mcfc
… ”I heard a psychologist on the radio the other day talking about how it takes 21 days to make or break a habit…”
It’s always interesting to hear the experts views…
I saw/heard on Ch4 News yesterday a Journalist being asked a question in relation to
the ”job” they do
. . . He stated that ”JOURNALISTS ONLY DEAL IN FACTS”
seems that a few positions in Scotland will be needing to be reviewed and the incumbents made to re-apply for their jobs before the next round of media pay-offs ?
h
jimlarkin says:
January 29, 2015 at 10:15 am
. . . He stated that ”JOURNALISTS ONLY DEAL IN FACTS”
===========================================================
Fact – I need to fill this space quick
Fact – I’ve got this press release
Fact – I need a catchy headline
Fact – The headline doesn’t match the press release – who cares
Fact – I don’t have time to check facts
Fact – It’s so long sonce I check a fact I’ve forgotten how to
Fact – Some snotty, zero hours, sero pay intern is after my job
Fact – This industry is dying – think I’ll take up blacksmithing
A very few rise above this – but not many at all these day – especially when it comes to sport.
Some great comments on here over the past 12 hours or so.
I think the following is the sort of thing that needs to happen for a version of Rangers to live and possibly thrive.
1) The establishment of a proper fans representative body with no links to any of yesterdays failures or current would-be protagonists.
2) The body sets out a plan to create an ethically based modern fan-owned version of Rangers.
3) A total boycott of all home games and merchandise. This should include existing season ticket holders giving up those tickets and asking for partial refund.
4) Money saved by individual fans instead used to support new body and will be converted into membership shares when the time comes.
5) New body should begin preparations to create new club and communicate what this will involve and map out likely starting point and aspirations.
6) Continue to deny current owners/board any income from fans until they choose to liquidate or enter negotiations with fan body with transfer of 100% of ownership, trade marks etc with no encumberances being the only acceptable outcome.
6) If there is no willingness to deal with fan body then the new organisation should make it clear that fans will have no truck with any purchaser of the assets post liquidation. The new body should continually state clear aim that subsequent owners will receive same level of support as incumbents ie none.
7) Continue journey to deliver a fan owned version of Rangers where no individual or linked group can hold more than 5% of membership shares.
There are many obstacles along this route but a properly organised and committed fan base could make it happen.
I won’t be holding my breath though because if Ryan is indicative of a wider malaise then it may be too late as decent fans may just have had the life sucked right out of them.
I hope not.
It’s been a frustrating week for Celtic fans having to endure all manner of media nonsense and spin … but one thing is constant;
The truth is still the truth.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/nothing-but-the-truth/
Apologies for two para 6s in my last post. At least there’s not three.
THC at 9:23
“I don’t pretend that setting up a new club will be easy, in part for the reasons you allude to. However, if a critical mass of free-thinking and politically savvy Bears were to come together with that in mind, anything is possible.”
—
Starting in the right place or the “rightful” place, though? That is the question. At the first sign of a shoe-horn, all bampot leave should be cancelled.
A new Rangers without the old baggage would be widely welcomed. It is often said and I have probably said it myself more than a few times.
But two questions arise (for me):
1. Without the baggage, how would you know it was Rangers? It would have to publicly dissociate itself with much of the history of the first incarnation, including both the historic signing policy and the later financial doping. Between them, that is an awful lot of its history.
2. Would anyone, Rangers fans and fans of other clubs, believe that any AFC Rangers somehow carried forward some sort of purged identity, an essential burning flame of the old “dignity” that I know many decent Rangers fans felt the original club embodied in some sort of way?
The truth, for me at least, is that the process we have seen unfolding over the last few years has essentially stripped away the image of Rangers as the Establishment club and a paragon of some sort of virtue / dignity etc.
Decent Rangers fans are being confronted with the appalling, but ultimately undeniable truth, that the club that they supported was indefensible for the vast majority of its history. It is not worthy of continued support in its current form, and it is questionable that there is sufficient non-toxic material to support resurrection in a new form.
No-one can take away their memories of great victories, narrow defeats – all the glory and pain of being a fitba fan.
History, however, is full of examples of good, essentially decent people reaching a turning point when it becomes apparent that causes they may have fervently believed in, turn out to be corrupt or misguided and become no longer socially acceptable.
You do not have to look far for this in Scottish society today – massive changes in political alignment are taking place, often involving lifelong activists realising that they can no longer support parties that they have dedicated their lives to. Religion is another place where belief and core fundamental values can become strained to the point of severance.
To me, the decent Rangers fans are facing this type of moral crisis. Finding meaning in the vaccuum that this creates is terribly difficult and I think most of us know folk that are genuinely struggling to deal with this pain.
There does not appear to be any real prospect, at least at this time, of a serious attempt to do an AFC Rangers. To do so is not beyond the realms of possibility. But it would require a new definition of what Rangers means.
I have yet to hear a convincing argument for what that might actually be.
PS. For the record, none of this is to suggest that I think my own club is without its own problems. I would like to see the Celtic community having more influence over what goes on at our club. There is a great, unresolved tension between the club as a PLC and the club as an expression of community identity.
Apologies as I must have missed the press follow up on the police Scotland visit to Murray Park to advise the team there about over exuberant celebrations as they done at Lennoxtown
I would be grateful if someone can post the link
James Forrest says:
January 29, 2015 at 11:04 am
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/nothing-but-the-truth/
=======================================
James – you must feel better after getting that off your chest – excellent ! excellent ! ! excellent ! ! !
If there were to be a new Rangers, surely what form it took, would be a matter for those creating & supporting it? I might have a wish list of things I would like to see them do, but, I would have absolutely no say in the matter.
Isn’t that how it should be?
All I can really do is wish them luck, and hope the end result is better than what we have.
Edit
If you want a lunchtime giggle check out McMurdo minor
Such gems as:
“More mischief-making in today’s media trying to paint Mike Ashley as a big, bad asset stripper when the opposite is the case. Ashley’s position in control of assets is to protect them from predators. When threat is gone, assets will be restored.”
Theres still one puzzle remaining
Which onerous contracts still remain out of Ashleys reach ?
if the answer is “None worth bothering about”
Then
What we have really been witnessing in the past few months is not Ashley repeatedly saving TRFC with his short term loans
But
Ashley gradually legitimising and progressively disclosing onerous contracts he has held since 2012
And to add insult to injury
he has been doing this by lending TRFC their own money
scapaflow says:
January 29, 2015 at 12:09 pm
If there were to be a new Rangers, surely what form it took, would be a matter for those creating & supporting it?
================================================
MK Dons is a good case study – on the face of it, just another football club in a new town – but to attract supporters and make the money work, they’ve taken a very family-friendly, community based approach. It has a kind of clean cut, wholesome American feel to it – and actually what is missing are all the vestiges of the bad old days of football – violence, disgusting grounds, all fans treated as thugs, crap catering etc etc.
I wouldn’t worry about the shape of a new club – it will evolve to survive and prosper – and if the founders/owners try to steer it towards the dead and discredited model and away from the mass market of modern Scotland it will simply fail.
It’s doing it with RIFC’s own money that makes it art
Reading Keith Jackson’s piece today reminded me of the old days. His description of Rangers is just as it was under David Murray. The only difference is that MA is not handing out wine and lamb so the hacks are raging.
A New World Record
McMurdo today: start with your own self-importance and mix in the inevitability of your superior club returning to where it belongs. Then assemble assorted, distorted facts around it for those less educated, less perceptive, less invested in modern society who share your child-like belief that all will be well at the end of the scary fairy-tale when mummy and daddy RRM tuck you in and kiss you goodnight and leave on the night light.
I predict a world record density of psychology post grads in Glasgow doing their PhDs on sub-culture delusion and psychosis.
https://billmcmurdo.wordpress.com/blog/
Slightly confused by the BBC website today – the current lead story is ‘Old Firm Return Good for Game’. Apparently, Kenny McDowall thinks that the return of Old Firm derbies will be ‘good for Scottish football’.
I’ve read the article several times, and to be honest, I still can’t find where he states why that should be the case. I’m presuming he must have done, as I can’t see the BBC just printing ‘”I think Scottish football needs this fixture,” he told BBC Scotland. “Hopefully it will help Scotland get back to better things in the future.” ‘ without asking him for at least some modicum of justification.
Scottish football needs anything but this fixture. We’re in the middle of a revival of Scottish football, and yet the media seem all too keen to tell us how much poorer the game is. They’re right, of course, ……. assuming you think Scottish football is just TRFC and Celtic, because they are undeniably poorer. However, I, and, I suspect, hundreds of thousands like me can quite happily live with that.
They will tell you that the lack of progress in European competition is somehow evidence of this. Well, remember that ‘Golden Period’ that they seem to hark back to? (and it’s always the late 90’s to mid 2000’s – never the actual golden period of the early to late 80’s) As well as including Rangers doing relatively well in Europe and Celtic making the UEFA cup final, it also contains Aberdeen losing to the Latvian Champions, and being knocked out by Irish ‘giants’ Bohemians. Contrast that to this season, with Aberdeen absolutely thumping Latvian competition, beating a very decent Gronigen team, and giving a good account of themselves against one of the top Spanish sides. Admittedly, Motherwell getting dumped by an Icelandic team was poor, but then, given that they’ve been dumped by virtually every Scottish side they’ve played this season, it’s evidence of how poor Motherwell are, rather than the Scottish game!
There’s no doubt in my mind the overall standard of football is far better now in Scotland than it was a decade or two ago. Watching non-Old Firm teams at the turn of the century was to watch a ‘who can kick the ball highest’ competition. These days, virtually ALL TEAMS are trying to play passing football. Alright, it’s got a way to go before we classify it alongside tika-taka, but it’s entertaining, it’s retaining the punters, and it’s developing players, which wasn’t the case during the golden era. When was the last time you heard a coach describe his new signing as ‘got a good engine, gets up and down the pitch, can run all day’? This used to be repeated so often a few years ago that it was a cliche. Nowadays, coaches refer first and foremost to a players technical ability.
And yet, the MSM can’t bring themselves to say all this. We’re now in the days when home-grown Scottish players are commanding multi-million pound fees, surely evidence enough that outside observers of our game recognise what’s going on here, but nope, we need a strong Rangers, otherwise the game is shot. Nevermind that the strong Rangers of a decade ago was nothing but a mirage, built on endless credit that could never be paid back.
The Old Firm match, if you wish to call it that, is nothing but a detraction from our game. The Media will insist that it’s the one that generates interest, and is therefore vital. However, what they fail to acknowledge is the nature of that interest. The outside world aren’t watching because they expect breathtaking football and spectacle – they’re watching for the same reasons that people used to go to freak shows. They want the vulgar, the shocking and that which is deemed unacceptable. Our game is so much more than that, but the MSM would rather it was presented to the world with the hurling of cakes and excrement that typify a chimps tea party.
Sorry for going on a bit of a rant, but the whole ‘Yay! The Old Firm are back! Rejoice!’ is starting to get to me…..
ecobhoy says:
January 29, 2015 at 9:41 am
Last night Rangers denied Novo’s backing for Rangers First was behind the decision to tell him to pack his kit bag and go forth.
A statement read:
“At no time was Nacho instructed to leave Murray Park due to him joining a Rangers supporters’ group.
OK I’m quite happy to accept the Offishal Rangers ‘Line’ that Nacho wasn’t asked to leave because he joined a Rangers supporters’ group.
All we need to know now is why they did ask him to leave and instruct McDowell to give him his marching orders.
________________________________________
In what circumstances was Novo present at Murray Park?
He has no contract of employment with the club. I realise he had been training for the Ricksen tribute and that there could be a certain etiquette to this but I can also understand that clubs have business to be getting on with and wouldn’t necessary feel inclined to let every single former employee of the club come and go as they please from their business premises. Perhaps Mr Novo was becoming a bit of a nuisance hanger on?
Seems Mike Ashley has contracted Rangersitis after all
and he’s biding his time waiting to throw some of his billions Sevco,s way. . .
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
Tom English meant to be doing a question & answer session?
@BBCSportScot: You can also join in @TomEnglishSport’s Q&A at #asktombbc. What do you want to ask him about the upcoming semi-finals?
AmFearLiathMòr says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:20 pm
===================================
I despair mate.
Here we are (Celtic supporters), doing all we can to destroy the O** F*** myth.
Hell, we even had to go to the trouble of putting our hands in our own pockets to the tune of £1600 (£50 from me) to put the TRUTH in the Scottish Press to point out exactly WHY there is no O** F*** and you guys keep punting it.
“The Old Firm match, if you wish to call it that Arrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO we don’t.
I agree the standard of Scottish football is improving, Rangers are dead, there is no O** F***, long may the upward spiral of our game continue.
Lawwell (for whatever reason) stated the club (Celtic) lose £10 Million PA by virtue of no Rangers, Champions League income dwarfs that.
Can someone tell me who is playing in the other semi final – am assuming its this weekend too – would be really nice if it was someone like the New Firm of the 80’s as that was a really good rivalry based on 2 great footballing teams who were located geographically near each other – now that would be something Scottish football could do with returning. Yet I have never seen any coverage of the other semi – so am assuming its 2 teams with nothing to play for or any history behind their fixture………….
Tartanwulver says:
January 29, 2015 at 8:19 am
Your argument has more than just merit IMO.
Even the fans at Man Utd cheered when it was finally confirmed they could not qualify for the Europa League last season; fits your model to a ‘T’ (that’s not a model T btw 🙂 )
You can’t reason with a sick mind:
“The big bad billionaire is a bit of a cuddly toy, hard right enough but he genuinely wants us [TheRangers] to succeed beyond our expectations if and when he takes full control.”
I’d assume he hasn’t stood outside St James’ Park and done a detailed study of their experience of the cuddly one – ffs 🙂
When the billionaire keeps his hands in his pockets, this guy will be just like one of those Mayans the day after the world didn’t end.
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
The Exiled Celt says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:53 pm
Can someone tell me who is playing in the other semi final – am assuming its this weekend too – would be really nice if it was someone like the New Firm of the 80’s as that was a really good rivalry based on 2 great footballing teams who were located geographically near each other – now that would be something Scottish football could do with returning. Yet I have never seen any coverage of the other semi – so am assuming its 2 teams with nothing to play for or any history behind their fixture………….
……………………………….
It has also surprised me that more hasn’t been made of the other big match this w/e. And so you’re not to be faulted for mistaking it for another semi – it’s not. It’s Friday night’s league match between St Mirren and the Jags.
I’ve never heard of us as being referred to as the New Firm, however…. 😯
On another topic, I have been amazed at how the SMSM have given so much wonderful publicity to The Advert. I was mistaken in that – being sure they would ignore it, the better for it to vanish in the shadows.
Nice work. 😀
THC says:
January 29, 2015 at 8:43 am
Exactly.
If F.C. United of Manchester can do it on the doorstep of two of the worlds richest clubs then surely a new AFCR in Glasgow must have a chance.
There’s more than a few Bears out there with at least every bit as much good intent as any other fans; go for it I say.
jimlarkin says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:49 pm
2 0 i
Rate This
Tom English meant to be doing a question & answer session?
@BBCSportScot: You can also join in @TomEnglishSport’s Q&A at #asktombbc. What do you want to ask him about the upcoming semi-finals?
=====================================
I have a few questions I may like to put to a decent sports journalists way, however, i’ll need to wait a while yet in Scotland before one turns up.
Things for the bears to look forward to after the Non Firm match.
February
Need Ashley’s second £5mil tranche to pay the wages – after due diligence
Expect Mike to find worrying stuff that requires more securiy
Ibrox is the only big asset without a charge – oh dear
The Three bears return to the woods
The hard slog for a play-off place – with no manager and the same old squad of journneymen
Extraordinary General Meeting – to fire llambias and Leach.
Mike immediately uses his two director cards to reappoint them if he loses.
March
SFA hold their “undue influence” hearing – apparently – will probably be punted to the 12th of Never.
The SFA have no balls for a fight with Ashley – he has his foot on their throat.
The hard slog for a play-off place continues – do the twelve leaving journeymens have the stomach for a fight
April
The second tranche all gone – oh dear.
Need more loans – but who from ?
slog on to those play-offs
May
Those pesky play-offs – if you are lucky – so little supremacy on display
How many honest mistakes will it take – a world record?
End of season – exodus of the twelve journeymen
More loans needed to pay the wages
Mike extends grip on shirt sponssorship to 2050 and gets 100% of retail and Ibrox naming rights.
Maybe Mike’ll leave the Ibrox charge until the doors are closed for the summer – to avoid protests.
So deep in hock to Mike that no shareholder or board revolt can afford to over throw him.
ST time – pay Mike or walk away, sit down if your brain hurts.
Could it come to an impasse, where the turnstiles stop turn and the tills stop kerchinging and the good ship Sevco runs aground.
Would that be the time to start anew, squeaky clean?
What would hasten the coup de grace?
What if the SFA, through one of their thorough investigations, chance upon information that would warrant the suspension or withdrawal of the licence.
TRFC folds, leaving the way clear for RRM to start again.
Bonus is that the SFA are seen to be doing their duty.
Quite amused to learn That Brian Donohoe MP, scourge of asset strippers, travelling people and invisible non-orange submarines, is in receipt of donations from our old friends at Media House
You really couldn’t make it up.
His constituents, politics, and even the Labour Party, deserve better
ThomTheThim says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Bonus is that the SFA are seen to be doing their duty.
============================================================
How would the SFA ensure that the mob understood it was a good thing – not just “haters kicking our club when it is down”. My money is on Ashley paying for more PR and stenographers than the SFA.
Just can’t see it, don’t think the SFA has anywhere near enough courage, conviction, interest in integrity, feckin clue.
mcfc says:
January 29, 2015 at 2:01 pm
You can’t reason with a sick mind:
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
—————————————————————
I really hope that was written by a pro Ashley PR spinner. The alternative that the author actually believes what he’s written is just too scary to contemplate.
MoreCelticParanoia says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:30 pm
ecobhoy says:
January 29, 2015 at 9:41 am
Last night Rangers denied Novo’s backing for Rangers First was behind the decision to tell him to pack his kit bag and go forth.
A statement read:
“At no time was Nacho instructed to leave Murray Park due to him joining a Rangers supporters’ group.
OK I’m quite happy to accept the Offishal Rangers ‘Line’ that Nacho wasn’t asked to leave because he joined a Rangers supporters’ group.
All we need to know now is why they did ask him to leave and instruct McDowell to give him his marching orders.
________________________________________
In what circumstances was Novo present at Murray Park?
————————————————–
The full club statement answers your point viz:
If You’re Interested
There is a real Oil Firm match this weekend: CFC Vs MCFC
Mind bending remarks from Stewart Regan on Twitter earlier.
Time this guy packed up his pencil box.
http://thecelticblog.com/2015/01/news/stewart-regan-argument-from-ignorance
mcfc says:
January 29, 2015 at 2:01 pm
You can’t reason with a sick mind:
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
—————————————————————
I really hope that was written by a pro Ashley PR spinner. The alternative that the author actually believes what he’s written is just too scary to contemplate.
************************************
On the upside , it looks like Tynecastle is safe from Mike’s ire.
On the down side ….where do you even begin with that article.
It’s totally deluded.
scapaflow says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:17 pm
////////////////////////////////////
I am one of Mr Donohue’s constituents and have actually voted for him in the past. I have now sent him an email asking what he intends to do if Dave King succeeds in being appointed to the board, given his involvement with ‘oldco’ and his convictions in South Africa. I would expect Mr Donohue to be opposed to the glib and shameless liar being involved with his club and await his reply.
Bawsman says:
January 29, 2015 at 2:17 pm
jimlarkin says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Tom English meant to be doing a question & answer session?
@BBCSportScot: You can also join in @TomEnglishSport’s Q&A at #asktombbc. What do you want to ask him about the upcoming semi-finals?
=====================================
I have a few questions I may like to put to a decent sports journalists way, however, i’ll need to wait a while yet in Scotland before one turns up.
==================================================================
Q1. Tom, what makes you think you have the credibility to hold a Q&A session ? 🙄
There was also some anecdotal evidence that the Sunday Herald sold very well last weekend – presumably because of the Celtic fans’ advert ?
Would anyone know what the sales uplift was on the day ?
And if the sales were decent, would this not flag up to the Herald bean counters that there might be some additional sales to be made by reporting the truth in the TRFC saga ?
God loves a trier… 😕
tearsofjoy says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:55 pm
No-one’s told him there are THREE billionaires on the Celtic board … and here we are, scrabbling around for the extra £1,000,000 that will sign the best young prospect in Scotland.
These people think because the guy HAS money he’ll automatically spend it. All history, fact, and logic will not convince them otherwise.
Jungle Jim says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:19 pm
yeah, well, er no, sorry, he’d be in the “none of the above” category, however loyal I might be to a particular party, I expect to find an intellect at work in those I seek to send to either of the parliaments
From yesterday’s website of a share tipping company ShareProphets.
http://www.shareprophets.com/views/10306/rangers-international-football-club-plc-is-it-breaching-the-companies-act-is-its-nomad-a-cretin-or-worse
Three Billionaires ? who are they ? i know of Desmond and O’Leary but who is the other ?
TamBooze82 says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:30 pm:
That was a wee mistake on my part 🙂 Eddie Jordan is a shareholder, but not a director.
tearsofjoy says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:55 pm
mcfc says:
January 29, 2015 at 2:01 pm
You can’t reason with a sick mind:
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
—————————————————————
I really hope that was written by a pro Ashley PR spinner. The alternative that the author actually believes what he’s written is just too scary to contemplate.
=============================================================================
That article is indeed quality PR mince !
But I do agree with one point: Ashley should show up for the game – if he can be bothered of course.
mcfc says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:25 pm
6 0 Rate This
ThomTheThim says:
January 29, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Bonus is that the SFA are seen to be doing their duty.
============================================================
How would the SFA ensure that the mob understood it was a good thing – not just “haters kicking our club when it is down”. My money is on Ashley paying for more, etc.
******
In my highly unlikely scenario, the Bears would be in such a state of despair, unable to see a way to escape Mick’s clutches, that they would beg the SFA to deliver them from their nightmare.
jimlarkin says:
January 29, 2015 at 1:41 pm
https://rangerssupportersloyal.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/ninjaman-gets-the-battle-fever/
—————————————-
The oddest remark in this is that the writer rails that Ashley should “…understand that truly no one likes us and we really don’t give a s***.”
I don’t think that Ashley needs any lessons in understanding that mindset. The writer doesn’t seem to grasp, however, that that may spell bad news, rather than good, for him and his fellow supporters. Time will tell.
Well that’s my Sunday planned.
Up sharp to watch Andy Murray in the Ozzie Open final followed by a wee lunchtime nap for a few hours to make sure I don’t fall asleep during the night watching the Superbowl. A wee dip into Ski Sunday around Teatime as well to watch highlights of the Schladming night slalom.
Fantastic.
What a jam packed sporting day of the best top class sporting action from around the globe. Hope I’m not missing something out 😛
Giovanni says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:30 pm
From yesterday’s website of a share tipping company ShareProphets.
http://www.shareprophets.com/views/10306/rangers-international-football-club-plc-is-it-breaching-the-companies-act-is-its-nomad-a-cretin-or-worse
————————————–
“We shall be contacting AIM Regulation asking for a formal investigation. Since they are chocolate teapots, we will also be contacting the Scottish FA asking it to launch a formal probe as it appears a watchdog with some teeth.”
Watchdog with teeth? I must have missed that bit…irony I hope!
You might remember
http://news.stv.tv/west-central/217910-thirteen-arrested-in-aggressive-protest-by-green-brigade-in-gallowgate/
Just in 13 not guilty verdicts
wottpi says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Well that’s my Sunday planned.
Up sharp to watch Andy Murray in the Ozzie Open final followed by a wee lunchtime nap for a few hours to make sure I don’t fall asleep during the night watching the Superbowl. A wee dip into Ski Sunday around Teatime as well to watch highlights of the Schladming night slalom.
Fantastic.
What a jam packed sporting day of the best top class sporting action from around the globe. Hope I’m not missing something out 😛
________________________________________
By jings, ye’re a fitness fanatic. 😆
James Forrest says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:25 pm
These people think because the guy HAS money he’ll automatically spend it. All history, fact, and logic will not convince them otherwise.
________________________________________________________
I heard Andy Cameron on Off the Ball saying “somebody going to have to come in and sign a cheque”.
So, as one who buys and sells stocks on a weekly basis, I’ll never understand the logic of some supporters.
It is a balanced equation.
Putting money in (to one entity) = Taking money out (of another entity)
So would I fund a share purchase in the most famous football club in the world, by selling shares in Marks & Spencer? MKS is going to give you a twice yearly dividend, and the possibility of capital increase and capital gains if you buy/sell at the right time. You can visit your “asset”, get a feel for how the shops are doing, see the quality of the goods they hold in stock. All these represent the value of the share.
The value behind RIFC shares is what precisely?
The more observant among you might note my username as having no particular axe to grind and certainly no great allegiance for any particular team, anathema as that might appear.
Is not the point of following ‘your’ team to relish the victories, be magnanimous in defeat and accept that you shouldn’t actually expect to have it all your way all of the time ?
Is that not the point, the ups balance the downs, and even in rivalry with supporters of other teams, you can sometimes accept that, well everyone deserves their day in the sun ?
We are in fact ‘not’ the people ?
Everybody gets a shot ?
Perish the thought that Scottish Football might have a league structure and relative wealth between the clubs that every autumn, all the supporters groups can genuinely think, “you know, this might be our year”.
No one assumes a “rightful place.”
I will desist incurring the wrath of Godwin’s Law being called down upon me but, well.
Let’s just say this.
If one group actually believes they are superior to everyone else, it’s not exactly healthy, is it ?
Perish the thought that all of the rest might actually be happy with an ocassional go at being primus inter pares and can handle it when they aren’t.
So the BBC has renewed its deal to show Premier League highlights on Match of the Day for a further three years for £204 million.
Is the SPL still on the £500K a year deal from 2012 which is all I could really find on it?
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/26758782056/spl-tv
neutralaxis says:
January 29, 2015 at 5:41 pm
If one group actually believes they are superior to everyone else, it’s not exactly healthy, is it ?
Perish the thought that all of the rest might actually be happy with an ocassional go at being primus inter pares and can handle it when they aren’t.
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Additionally it is extremely unhealthy that a group is so implicitly inadequate and needy that it seeks to cover itself with a ‘superiority blanket’ drawn from a third party i.e. a football club.
Very sad in fact.
Scottish Football needs a weekend of good football and commonsense.
Giovanni says:
January 29, 2015 at 4:30 pm
From yesterday’s website of a share tipping company ShareProphets.
http://www.shareprophets.com/views/10306/rangers-international-football-club-plc-is-it-breaching-the-companies-act-is-its-nomad-a-cretin-or-worse
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The guy that runs this site is a hoot and I put-up a link to his podcast yesterday where he truly was getting stuck into Rangers Nomads.
Looks as though he is turning his eye on Rangers and their recent loan dealings.
Not sure if its possible to embed an image on a post, however the link below is a little reminder of the incredible , and hollow, claims made by the RST.
The first rule of any business proposal is that it has to be grounded by what is realistically achievable. The link shows the RST claiming they would , not might , but would raise £31 million to buyout David Murray in 2010
https://twitter.com/Barcabhoy1/status/560863448415096833