Spot the difference?

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?

 

4,992 thoughts on “Spot the difference?


  1. SR
    we are a members’ organisation – in 2012 we attempted to introduce UEFA style strict liability. It was defeated.
    10:48pm – 6 Feb 15

    Daz
    defeated by who?
    10:50pm – 6 Feb 15

    SR
    the members of the Scottish FA.
    10:55pm – 6 Feb 15
    ***************************

    Well, well , well,

    So the SFA does not take action on sectarian singing because it was clever enough not to make a rod for it’s own back ( or should that be a rod for certain of it’s members ?).

    Perhaps Ewan Murray will continue the “debate” with Regan and ask him why the SFA has a deliberate policy of ignoring what goes on in its own members stadia (with regards to sectarian chants). This policy by the SFA should be outed as national disgrace.

    Very clever of Regan to deflect attention to the inability of the police to fight mob role. But contrast that with the deliberate inaction of Scottish football clubs and their refusal to acknowledge and deal with these problems.

    If I lived in Scotland I’d be asking my MSP to take this up. I really would.

    Perhaps EM can ask Regan the killer question – does that mean the SFA and its member clubs see no difficulty or issue in families having their sitting rooms polluted with sectarian filth during Scottish football’s show piece games ?


  2. iceman63 says:
    February 6, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    Beatipacific scotia is fundamentally wrong, with his assertions that Scottish football would be weaker without Rangers fans. They offer nothing in terms of honest competitiveness, and a desire to see good football played, they offer nothing in terms of widening the appeal of the game, they offer nothing in terms of the ethos, the culture and the track record of the club in terms of an inclusive game, they offer nothing positive at all.
    A smaller Scottish fan base without the denizens of Ibrox is the best way forward. Imho. The grief, the criminality, the sectarianism, the cheating, the entitlement, the bullying, the arogabce, the air of menace, the hysterical cast of undesirable characters are something the rest of us could survive and prosper without. They are beyond saving, financially, ethically and culturally. Their day has gone.
    _______________________________________

    I have a bit of an issue with this post. You chose not to use clarifying words such as ‘some’ or a ‘section of’ when describing Rangers fans and are making a sweeping generalization about tens of thousands of people which I find pretty insulting. Every Rangers fan is like this? That’s not possible. My father isn’t nor are any of my Rangers supporting friends. That you post this a week after a 10 year old Rangers fan lost three front teeth and suffered a hairline fracture to his face when someone hit him with a bottle makes it even more disappointing.

    A general observation about this blog is that this incident passed with minor comment. Possibly about the same amount as whether Novo was or wasn’t ejected from Murray park and nowhere near the level of comment or genuine disappointment as Rangers loaning five players from Newcastle. If a Celtic supporting youngster been hit with the bottle, instead of a Ranger one, the outrage on here would have been far greater. I have no doubt about that. Call it wataboutary if it makes you comfortable but for me it highlights a blind spot on here.

    I have slowly become disillusioned with this blog. More than ever it resembles a Rangers speculation site where we comment on every facet of Rangers, no matter how insignificant. Where hypothetical scenarios about Rangers are posited and then used as evidence of bias or wrong doing. I appreciate the time effort and frustration that must go into running and maintaining this site, and it’s greatly appreciated, but lately I feel we have lost our way.

    Comments like iceman63s, and the lack of issue many posters had with, are so far from what I thought this blog was about. I think I’ll take a break from this site for a while, no great loss, I know. Scottish football is on the up and filled with positives. Good times ahead.


  3. If the twitter exchange was really from Stewart Regan and not a spoof we are left with a number of options as to what he was thinking as he wrote….
    1) he really doesn’t care
    2) he’s taking the mickey….looking for an early separation with a payoff?
    3) he just doesn’t have a clue
    4) perhaps he’d had a few too many sherbets?
    5) Any permutation from the above

    Thank heavens the Rangers fans didn’t call anyone fannies or the wrath of the SFA would have crashed down ob them like a ton of bricks.
    Can’t imagine how he’ll justify his comments to the world’s greatest administrator and his boss, Mr Ogilvie.


  4. Long time reader, first time poster.

    Not much comment about Modi wanting to invest in TRFC – the fact that a Norse god wants to invest is surely a first (world record?) in football circles. The fact that he is the god of battle wrath and served as the patron for the berserkers must just be an ironic coincidence.

    Maybe his good friend Charles Green (or Loki as he is affectionately known) told him it was a good investment opportunity.


  5. Should have added that one of the frustrations that posters and mods share is that we are a fairly closed group (though not completely) preaching to the converted.

    Whilst I agree that there is some substance in that, there is still value in reinforcing the message. I think there is also enough counterpoint to encourage a dialectic process which helps to continually evolve our understanding on many matters.

    We wouldn’t be having a TU/TD debate otherwise 🙂


  6. Smugas says:
    February 7, 2015 at 2:27 am
    …………………..

    Two words….Berwick Rangers

    When the SFA can ignore reports from The Northumbria Police Constabulary…then there really is nothing that can be done…they nailed their colours to the post at that point…

    You can do what you want…sing what you want…whenever you want…wherever you want…

    The SFA (Special Friends Association)


  7. jimmci says:
    February 7, 2015 at 11:01 am

    Imagine if the supporters had chanted that the SFA were ‘the Glasgow Mafia’ or the SMSM were ‘monkeys’.

    These words upset the SFA so much that they amended the rules so that Hearts could be fined a, then, record amount due to a rant from Romanov.

    I can’t imagine anybody, on reading Romanov’s rant, went out on a rampage of assault and mayhem. Only a few men felt a little insulted by what was said, with the suspicion then, and now long confirmed, that the descriptions he gave were fully merited.

    It makes no difference that it was Romanov or Hearts involved, it’s just an example of how the SFA act, or react, depending on the situation or who’s involved.

    Livingston have a dual influence scenario that is getting dealt with, with all the determination the SFA and SPFL can muster. No one is quite sure just how this influence has manifested itself in Livingston’s favour, but something has to be done about it, the whippersnappers that they are.

    There can be no doubt that Mike Ashley is playing a leading role in what’s happening at Ibrox, and his influence is obvious to all but the most blind observer and already providing them with an onfield advantage, and yet, like the sectarian chants, Regan is happy to put it all to one side while he concentrates on the good work done by one, quite small, club.


  8. With regards to the singing and Mr Regan’s comments (which I haven’t read in full, just what I’ve seen here) he said something along the lines of “the police can’t arrest them all”.

    This is the part that really confuses me. Are the songs illegal? Arrest them one by one, the singing will stop completely very quickly.

    I posted here a while ago about hearing a few kids, couldn’t have been more than five years old, singing these songs at the playground. It is being ingrained in people from a young age. Another anecdote I remember hearing is that crime in New York was rapidly reduced in the 90s by hammering down on people for minor offences, and thus catching more hardened criminals. Put the two stories together and what I am saying is arrest anyone caught in the act of anything sectarian, whether singing or punching, and you’ll cut it out faster than you though possible.

    Let’s say there were 20,000 singing proscribed songs. After the first 100 had been arrested and taken out, the songs would be over.


  9. Allyjambo says:
    February 7, 2015 at 9:32 am
    16 4 Rate This

    Highlander says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:11 am

    “There were a number of complex and challenging issues involved but, primarily, the Scottish FA had to be satisfied that the new owners of Rangers would operate in the best interests of the club, its fans and Scottish football in general.”
    ___________________________________________

    In that statement, Regan sets out what the SFA should have done, but failed. What he said in that statement is what they should be doing now, but are failing to do.

    These failures are what has led to the influx of spivs and wealthy undesirables into Scottish football via Ibrox.

    ‘Failure To Act’ should be added to the SFA badge.
    ……………
    Even ‘Selective Failure to Act’, Alyjambo?


  10. Prohibby says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    Very true, and there’s me just posted something that touches on that selective nature 😉


  11. incredibleadamspark says:
    February 7, 2015 at 10:57 am
    ………………….

    Whether we like it or not…the main issue facing Scottish football currently is the dishonesty and corruption that has been running for the last 10 years …which the SFA by their avoidanc eto deal with it is supporting and encouraging it…the fact is the vast majority of this behaviour is circulating around one particular club to the detriment of all other clubs and the supporters..

    A quick look ove rthe comments on this page shows that of the 36 comments…4 are directly aimed at the Ibrox club..the rest in the main are aimed at the overt dishonesty of the SFA.

    The dishonesty of the SFA our governing body…sadly has evolved and become the main discussing point…and in the main by association to that one particular club…

    Yes we could ignore this and focus on various other monit topics…but in reality this blog was created to stand against the SFA and its rotten behaviour to Scottish football

    I am sorry you feel this to be one sided…but what is happening in Scottish footbal is one sided…which is what we are fighting against…

    I appreciate your opinions my friend but I do not believe them to be a s you have potrayed them.


  12. Whilst I completely agree that the SFA are absolving their responsibilities in the matter of banned songs etc, and the police are also doing so although I suspect for reasons of fudge rather than favouritism, I have to say that that does not stop the clubs from doing something about it. They choose not to.
    I oft stated that Celtic and/or Rangers could publicly and demonstrably distance themselves from all this irish/history/religion/ethnicity cr*p any time they want and they choose not to do so. Whatever their particular issues, so could all the other clubs of course. The SFA attempted to bring in a points/fines/banning regime for “offensive” stuff last year; it was voted down. None of our brave lads wants to risk losing a few points or pounds over the odd nutter. Fair enough but that does not mean they can’t take action. I join in the general disrespect for the SFA but that does not mean we are not responsible as citizens or clubs.


  13. As I sit in the clubhouse overlooking the 18th green and pondering whether or not to venture out on the front 9 I was surfing the web and came upon this story on the BBC website.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-31148503

    It tells a tale of a little known third football club in the great city of Liverpool. Quite interesting stuff, but I did find this paragraph amusing

    Local historian Mike Chitty, from the Wavertree Society, says: “They were around in 1891 and they sought entry to the Football League a year later, and they went into liquidation by December 1892 so that was the end of the club.”

    Mike Chitty gets it…


  14. Ernie
    I understand why you see the Irish connection as a negative thing, but I don’t think many Celtic fans would see it that way. The Irish connection is a pretty fundamental part of the club’s history, and as long as there is no exclusivity involved, I honsetly don’t see it as negative.

    I think it is important to seperate the Irish heritage that clubs like Celtic, Hibs, Dundee United and St Johnstone share (maybe more for all I know) from the lumpen GIRUY sectarianism of the Plastic Paddy, which unfortunately is only a problem for Celtic. Maybe the club themselves don’t do enough to differentiate, but I am wary of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.


  15. Big Pink. I don’t see Irish heritage, or any other heritage, as a negative thing at all. I am an egalitarian, a lover of diversity and I’m also proud of my own heritage, we’ve all got one. It’s the use/abuse of same in a completely irrelevant context (game of fitba) that is the problem. Fitba history and history are not really comparable are they? One is about life and death and the other merely a sport, a diversion at best.
    I’m just glad us Dons fans have managed to get over that 36-0 drubbing. Scottish fitba needs a strong Arbroath and a sense of perspective.


  16. I think the last few weeks represent the angriest I have felt about Scottish football administration since the LNS verdict.

    I will gloss over sectarian chanting, the state of the Hampden pitch and the quality of refereeing in both of last weekend’s semi-finals and focus instead on Ashley’s influence at more than one club and Dave King’s fit and proper status in particular.

    It is utterly astonishing that there is even a debate taking place about the latter. It should be the easiest decision the SFA ever have to make. Instead we have Spiers and Keevins both stating that the authorities will not stand in King’s way, simply because the Rangers (sic) fans will not tolerate the alternative. Neither offers any coherent elaboration or further discussion. We have already had King state that the SFA have let him know they will not stand in the way of his directorship only for an SFA spokesman to deny this. The only two explanations I can come up with for this claim are that firstly King has been given a nod and a wink from an individual within the organisation (Campbell perhaps) or he is trying to pressure the SFA to obtain ‘a favourable outcome’ through expectation management.

    What is really galling is that King can easily appoint a lieutenant, and unlike Ashley’s arrangement with Llambias they would not even have to pretend that King was not in the background pulling the strings. The only barrier to such an arrangement is the size of King’s ego.

    The most charitable explanation I can come up with for the SFA’s silence and procrastination is that events out with their control might mean they only have one supposedly difficult decision to make, either around dual influence or fit and proper status, rather than two.


  17. ernie says:

    February 7, 2015 at 1:42 pm

    Big Pink. I don’t see Irish heritage, or any other heritage, as a negative thing at all. I am an egalitarian, a lover of diversity and I’m also proud of my own heritage, we’ve all got one. It’s the use/abuse of same in a completely irrelevant context (game of fitba) that is the problem. Fitba history and history are not really comparable are they? One is about life and death and the other merely a sport, a diversion at best.
    I’m just glad us Dons fans have managed to get over that 36-0 drubbing. Scottish fitba needs a strong Arbroath and a sense of perspective.
    ___________________________________

    I knew you didn’t suggest that Ernie, but I was making the point that there is often a conflation between the two modes.

    .. and Arbroath have slipped a bit since those heady days 🙂

    BTW did you know that there was another game that day when the score was 35-0, but the officials disagreed on whether there were 35 or 38 goals scored, but settled on 35?


  18. Bryce Curdy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Totally agree with you, Bryce, especially the bit about the SFA hoping to only have one ‘difficult’ decision (neither are actually difficult, just stick to the rules) to make.

    The thing is, while allowing the Ashley decision to lie on the back burner, they might be putting themselves in an impossible position, at least if they decide to apply the rules, without fear or favour. If Ashley shouldn’t be there, then his placemen shouldn’t either, nor should any players brought to the club as a result of their connections.

    If they decide that Ashley’s presence is breaking the rules, and that his placemen shouldn’t be there, then the club has a very unfair advantage in every game the Newcastle players play in. The SFA and SPFL will then have to decide – do they dock points from TRFC for every game these players played in, or do they find a Brysonism to get round it all? In fact, will it be an almost carbon copy of LNS – ‘we didn’t know they were ineligible at the time’ kind of thing?

    I expect they will be praying for a King victory, then, not only do they only have the FPP decision to make, they will then be able to forget about the Ashley issues! Perhaps that’s why they don’t want to make a ruling on King and Murray, as King might jet home in the huff with his bid and promised money, keeping the current board in place, leaving the SFA with a rather large headache!


  19. ernie says:
    February 7, 2015 at 1:42 pm
    I’m just glad us Dons fans have managed to get over that 36-0 drubbing. Scottish fitba needs a strong Arbroath and a sense of perspective.
    =====================================================================
    Possibly the oldest OC/NC debate in Scottish Football. I completely agree with Ernie but there is a hard core of Dons fans :slamb: who still cannot accept the situation. 😈

    And what does BP mean when he says “Arbroath have slipped a bit since those heady days”? How dare he ❗

    Current score : Hibs 0 Arbroath 1

    Actually, from what I understand, the dandy Dons of that time were not dissimilar in standard to one of our recent cup semi-finalists.

    Scottish Football does indeed need a sense of perspective and a grasp of reality rather than harking back to some past model that didn’t work then and won’t work in the future. Are you listening Doncaster & Regan? Time to start cleaning up the mess you have made of things.


  20. It’s been a while since I’ve highlighted the ridiculous ravings of Chick Young, so here goes.

    On Sportsound today he said Aberdeen ‘stole’ Kenny McLean from St Mirren. Even the normally unflappable Richard Gordon sounded irked. It was pointed out to Chick that Aberdeen offered a fee to St Mirren which was accepted, so what’s the problem. Still the uncontrolled ranting continued without any attempt to see reason. Richard Gordon asked Chick the next time he asks him if he wants a pint and Chick says yes, is it then an act of theft!


  21. Bryce Curdy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 2:07 pm
    ==================================

    The notion from senior journalists that wrong decisions have to be made simply because Rangers fans won’t tolerate the right decision is worrying. King’s fit and proper status is a no brainer, and the SFA already have their own established guidelines to hold up as the reason for stating he is NOT fit and proper. What is equally worrying is if the SFA genuinely make decisions based on fear of the Rangers fans, does this cross over onto the field of play? As it stands it is likely Rangers will be involved in the play off’s. They will HAVE to be successful. I’ll leave the rest for everyone else to make up their own minds.


  22. Fair point upthehoops, and in addition if they do make decisions based on fear of Rangers fans, they will actually only end up hurting Rangers in the long run as has been proved with the likes of the five way agreement.


  23. @big pink 12.44pm

    St Johnstone have an Irish Heritage?? 😯

    That’s a new one on me but you live and learn on here every day


  24. theoldcourse says:
    February 7, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    As I sit in the clubhouse overlooking the 18th green and pondering whether or not to venture out on the front 9 I was surfing the web and came upon this story on the BBC website.

    I thought briefly you meant Tranmere Rovers


  25. RossCo looked doomed, Hearts are up. That leaves St Mirren and Motherwell fighting to avoid the playoffs; The Rangers and Hibs in the playoffs plus QOS or Falkirk as the fourth team. On footballing grounds, who’s favourite to clinch a spot in the top tier?


  26. The SFA have an easy sanction to take in the event of Proscribed singing by mobs.
    They simply make the club stage the next fixture without any of their fans allowed to attend.
    No one need be arrested.
    No one need be singled out.
    No one need be banned.
    The only people temporarily hurt would be the club involved and their fans.
    And this would ultimately more than be made up for by the family atmoshpere at subsequent fixtures that would progressively encourage decent folk back into the terraces.

    And when the unholy chorus was struck up by some defiant idiot at the subsequent fixture plus one where the fans were allowed back in, pretty sure there would be fewer joining and and more ‘shushing’ to be heard.

    The extent of proscribed singing evident and obvious at the semi final was more than sufficient to make such a sanction entirely justifiable. And a strongly worded accompanying statement laying the blame unequivocally at the door of the unheavenly choir, and threats of more extreme sanctions should they persist in their folly would cut the mustard.

    The SFA could do this.
    They choose not to.
    Regan’s handwringing is pathetic.


  27. redlichtie says:
    February 7, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Being something of an exile, I’ve just listened to the match on Hibs TV and have to say that your team was given a lot of praise by the very pro-Hibs commentary team. So, hardlines over the final result.

    Teams like Arbroath are the backbone of Scottish football.

    Scotland needs a strong footballing backbone!


  28. Echobhoy…
    King and Company Bankers Ltd (Gibraltar) Deputy Chairman = Peter Watson
    Gibralter Asset Management. Director = Gregory King
    Both registered Irish Town 28, Gibraltar.

    It’s been a while since I had a sniff around Gibralter but iirc this info was a result of a look at Mortimer/Whyte. Check the KdS archive.


  29. TallBoy Poppy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    I say nothing 😆


  30. ecobhoy 6:08 am

    I agree with most of that, with the exception of scrapping the TUs and TDs which I think are helpful if you are struggling to find the time to carefully read every single word posted. I don’t think the relative numbers of TUs and TDs matter as tmuch as the total number of thumbs full stop. As another poster stated earlier, long posts and links with few votes may not be worth the effort of reading although I accept such an approach carries a risk of missing a gem.

    I’m sorry you are losing your enthusiasm for the blog as you clearly bring a lot to it. I was one of the individuals who privately emailed TSFM as I think the single biggest criticism of the blog is that we are preaching to the converted and not influencing th wider debate sufficiently. To give an example, we all know about the key role of ‘the Bryson interpretation’ in allowing LNS to reach his decision, but I reckon we probalby account for about three quarters of the Scottish football fans who do.

    I agree the CQN advert was a success but perhaps its biggest weakness was that it only represented Celtic fans. Auldheid has already addressed this criticism and it is entirely understandable. Even allowing for their bigger fan base, Celtic are over represented on this site, but I still cannot think of another forum where the views of fans of so many clubs are represented. The challenge, of course, is determing the most effective way of spreading our message.


  31. Is there a Celtic fan spokesman like Chris Graham,Craig Houston etc.?

    Dangerous job I’d imagine making yourself a target .

    The press don’t seem interested in other teams fans viewpoint.


  32. Bryce Curdy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 6:33 pm
    ecobhoy 6:08 am

    I agree with most of that, with the exception of scrapping the TUs and TDs which I think are helpful if you are struggling to find the time to carefully read every single word posted.
    —————————————————————–
    I personally take the line that if I am not prepared to take the time to read all of a post and consider it then I would never give a TU or TD to it.

    And that’s my whole point – TDs and TUs are clicked for a number of reasons which actually have nothing to do with the content or arguments presented in a post.

    For a site like this how can it possibly be regarded as acceptable to TD or TU a post without reading it fully and possibly questioning the poster’s views?

    Reading my post I see I have 6 TDs but don’t actually have a clue as to the reasons or thinking behind the decision to TD my post. How can that possibly enhance my understanding of why people are opposed to my views.

    If I can’t understand why people TD me how can I possibly address my own position to see whether it is incorrect or not. Without constructive feedback how do we actually increase the quality of debate and analysis on the site?


  33. Given that the it is reported by Sons of Struth that the the biggest mobilisation of The Rangers travelling support since the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester is a likelihood.

    I trust that The Metropolitan Police will be consulting their colleagues at Greater Manchester Constabulary.

    On imagines that such contact might lead to the discolosure of some perhaps useful information as regards their own experiences with their guests at the aforementioned Cup Final.

    I feel sure that The Met will have what it takes to ensure that the law is upheld.


  34. ecobhoy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 6:22 pm
    4 8 Rate This

    It’s the easiest thing in the world for posters to arrive and spout whatever they want to – indeed I often wonder looking at some posts whether the authors have ever been an ST holder at any club.

    I judge a poster by what they bring to this site and many are empty vessels IMO who are prepared to mouth-off but not prepared to put in the hard graft and time to expand and spread the core message of TSFM.

    Recently I have been very disappointed at the direction of the blog for various reasons and have questioned whether it’s worth my spending time here. That issue hangs in the balance.

    Have you ever considered creating your own blog echo? It might be the way ahead for someone like yourself.

    Btw, I agree that this blog needs to spread its wings, and also re-focus on the SFA & SPFL. If I judge by the other sports I follow and am involved in, issues of governance are central to most of the main issues. Indiviuals and/or teams — and their sports directors — have no more influence than their governing bodies allow. The interaction between Ewan Murray and Regan is exactly what’s needed. We ought to all support EW in his attempt to take on the authorities — or even ask him to write a blog, do an interview, whatever. Regan, Doncaster & Co probably dismiss blogs and bloggers but they’ll sit up and notice journos who can get stuff into the MSM.


  35. @easyjambo at 548pm
    Re refereeing.

    My dad says Craig Thompsons performance today was the worst he’d seen in over 60 years of going to Pittodrie!

    He didn’t learm much from last weeks shocking display then 😮


  36. ecobhoy 7:13 pm

    Think we may have crossed wires. What I meant was that if I was catching up and saw a lengthy post or a link with few total thumbs of either description I might not read it at all. I totally agree that to TU or TD a post not read is poor show. I don’t agree, however, that having to justify in writing every single TD is either reasonable or in the overall best interests of the blog. It runs the risk of tedious and self-indulgent arguments that quickly switch off other readers.

    PS. Your original post appears to have been deleted.


  37. ecobhoy says:
    February 7, 2015 at 7:13 pm

    If I can’t understand why people TD me how can I possibly address my own position to see whether it is incorrect or not. Without constructive feedback how do we actually increase the quality of debate and analysis on the site?
    ========================================================
    I tend not to bother too much about TU/TDs and have seen them as a way of engaging if you don’t have the time or confidence to fully engage by responding to a comment.

    Your comment above though has given me pause for thought and deserves consideration – I don’t think losing the TU/TD facility would harm the blog and it could be trialled for a period and then feedback sought ❓

    On the future direction of the blog and its ability to impact on the wider debate about Scottish football, I think an increase in the quantity of blogs and a widening of the scope/focus of these would enhance the reach and credibility of the site.


  38. neutralaxis says:

    February 7, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    1

    0

    Rate This

    Given that the it is reported by Sons of Struth that the the biggest mobilisation of The Rangers travelling support since the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester is a likelihood.
    ———————————
    The latest meeting, which will be held in a 500-capacity conference room.
    They have over 5,000 small shareholders and There were more than 2000 in attendance at the recent AGM.
    Will it be first come first seated or will it be like a Black Friday free for all to fit into the 500 capacity conference room 🙄


  39. Is Mr Regan actually saying that nothing can be done to stop racist and sectarian singing at football matches in Scotland. Is his answer just to grin and bear it? Really?


  40. parttimearab says:
    February 7, 2015 at 7:34 pm

    On the future direction of the blog and its ability to impact on the wider debate about Scottish football, I think an increase in the quantity of blogs and a widening of the scope/focus of these would enhance the reach and credibility of the site.

    Totally agree regarding the quantity of blogs. As things are, a new blog goes up and is talked about briefly until the next news cycle brings something else to consume our interest. I’d much rather see soemthing more like a ‘front page’ with regularly updated blogs/stories/links to items of interest and then the forum behind that where these things can be dissected at length in their own threads and with whatever else takes our fancy.

    Oh, and I have always thought the TU/TD add nothing of any use


  41. I have been away on a short break – limited internet access.

    I thought that the HMRC procedural hearing re MIH/Rangers use of EBTs was scheduled for 09 Feb. According to media reports in January, this was scheduled for 03 Feb.

    I cannot see anything in the media re the outcome of the procedural hearing, if indeed it was held.

    Can anyone shed any light on the procedural hearing – was it held? If so, any outcome?

    Thanks.


  42. On the TD/TU debate.

    I actually find the system quite useful as, if I remember correctly, prior to it’s introduction, whenever anyone posted a well received comment there was quite a number of follow up posts saying no more than ‘I agree with you’, ‘great post’, or similar, filling up the comments pages with not very much. It is good to be able to show appreciation for a post, in my opinion, with a quick TU, and further comment if you feel you have something to add or particularly want to engage in the subject within that post.

    I tend not to TD often, and generally, if I do, I follow up with a post of my own. The only time I TD without a follow up post is if the post in question is so ridiculous, or an obvious troll, that it doesn’t merit the courtesy of a response.

    I think one thing the system adds to the blog is that casual observers will get a taste of what the blog is about much easier if they see how well certain issues are received and how ready TSFMers are to accept opposing (to the expected) views.

    A flurry of TDs at least lets us know that somebody isn’t happy with what we are writing, but is too cowardly to engage. Quite pleasing really 😀


  43. Allyjambo,

    It is sickening. The fact that some people are paid 1,300 times more in a day than others is utterly, utterly contemptible. Very glad to see that your club pay the living wage. Actually to be honest as a Rangers fan I’m also just jealous that your club is actually able to pay wages!


  44. RyanGosling says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    The really sad thing, Ryan, is that it’s not just within football that that inequality exists and the attitude that goes with it. I doubt the footballers are aware that the people they bump into at training etc are so badly paid, and I’m sure many would like to see it sorted out. It’s really up to the boards, and people of influence like ‘Sir’ Alex Ferguson, who should be sorting it out.

    It is something I will never be able to understand, this ability of the wealthy to shut their minds off to the plight of hard working poor people. They always have some twee ‘economic facts’ to back up their heartlessness and in years gone by would use sayings to placate the poor that had words like camel eye and needle in them!


  45. The London venue for the RIFC E.G.M. was always going to cause problems. A disgruntled ‘bear’ has now discovered the Nomad’s home number and has taken him to task on the matter.

    This soundbite is of Paul Shacketon being interrogated whilst at the same time trying to cope with his baby.

    https://soundcloud.com/casper-wilson-1/shackleton-at-home


  46. Carfins Finest says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:11 pm
    24 0 Rate This

    Is Mr Regan actually saying that nothing can be done to stop racist and sectarian singing at football matches in Scotland. Is his answer just to grin and bear it? Really?

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

    Worse than that, what he is saying is large bodies of individuals can sing racist and sectarian songs safe in the knowledge no action will be taken.

    While smaller groups or individuals we are to assume will have the book thrown at them.

    Luckily for the cowards attaching themselves to the larger supporter bases they are free to do whatever they want, as long as they all act together.

    Once again its one rule for some and and another for the rest.


  47. Allyjambo says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    On the TD/TU debate.

    +++++++++++++++++++++++

    I got an enormous amount (over 100) TDs for a recent post which was promoting what I believe a cry out for good sense and stability.

    I got some constructive response agreeing and disagreeing, thanks for that. I think it was slightly misunderstood. There was a couple of comments on promoting the 2-Club model. This was certainly not what I had in mind. I don’t care if Rangers finish 10th every year in the Premiership or are never promoted from the Championship. What I want is good governance, and from that stability.

    Ranger are the moment are like a ticking bomb and no-one can see what’s on the timer. The SFA are failing to take ownership of the problem. I am tired of the never ending circus. Wouldn’t it be nice to get back to talking about football? A bad tackle, a dodgy offside, and the occasional “stone-waller” not given. That’s what I hope we can get back to soon.

    I believe the real “journey” for Rangers was a 3 stage process:

    1 – Asset purchase and IPO
    2 – Burn through the cash
    3 – End game

    I don’t profess to know what the end game will look like, or even who the players will be. I can say with some surety that we are reaching the end of stage 2. Now is the time for the SFA to act. The game may or may not need Rangers, but it most certainly need stability and an end to this mess.

    TD away, but you know if makes sense.


  48. Carfins Finest says:
    February 7, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    36

    0

    Rate This

    Is Mr Regan actually saying that nothing can be done to stop racist and sectarian singing at football matches in Scotland. Is his answer just to grin and bear it? Really?
    ================================================
    I felt sick reading that pathetic excuse for a suit saying that. If Martin Luther King, JFK or Nelson Mandela were looking in on that, what would they think?. Time for Regan to f**k off along with the other apologists.


  49. This is as a reply to several private communications regarding TSFM taking an initiative similar to the CQN thing. Apologies for not replying to each personally, but I thought it best to air it on the blog, and I have made it a sticky for the rest of the day.

    Firstly, there is a cost attached to such an initiative, and logistically there would have to be a fund which ring-fenced resources for that particular purpose. That is akin to giving the mods a blank cheque and I can see problems with people donating, but disagreeing on the precise items of expenditure. People who are unhappy about small things on the blog often jump to scatter-gun conclusions (see recent post above as an example) in a binary universe.
    That is something we can live with, but money is such a sordid subject, and I am concerned that our whole existence would be tainted if we started arguing about it.

    Secondly, cash is a scarce resource, and there is an opportunity cost to the blog if we are more aggressive in our fund-raising. It is a challenge to break even as it is, and I am a bit concerned about disturbing the precarious balance we have right now. The costs of a newspaper ad are not only limited to the cost of the ad itself. There would for example have to be legal oversight to help streamline the process (and possibly other unforeseen hitches).

    Thirdly, time is also an issue. Moderation is becoming increasingly onerous, and the first casualty of that recently has been the slow-down on the Podcast front.
    Organising something like the CQN thing is a little more involved than just penning an ad. In the coming months, one of the mods will possibly have more time on his hands through early retirement. We have discussed the possibility of using that time to widen the scope of the blog, offer better service and functionality, and be more creative in the fund raising areas. We will update you on that as matters progress.

    In the meantime, we are not ruling anything out, but offer these thoughts as a basis for discussion moving forward.


  50. The frustration that is currently being expressed about a viable way forward for TSFM is a recurring theme on the blog. This type of forum is a fairly new concept and we have no model to tell us what success should look like. I personally like this element of bewilderment because we don’t have concise targets; we address issue as they arise.

    I believe that TSFM has become a valuable information source at a time when football governance is undergoing unprecedented travails. Any forum that assists football supporters, the media and perhaps even the governing authorities in orientating their perception almost certainly has value. New posters are ever joining in the discussion and bringing new perspectives as well as echoing past information thus ensuring both freshness and continuity.

    No-one could have predicted that the Rangers saga would have taken on the leviathan proportions that it has. This has made the topic even more fascinating for the contributorship than would have been the case in the absence of the drama. It may be that TSFM is unable to escape the Rangers thrall until Rangers themselves can right their own ship. One can be forever hopeful.

    I done a wee exercise a year or so ago where I attempted to summarise a weeks comments into a kind of gazette. Though this may not be an ideal format, maybe there is some way of picking up on major topics without breaking the blog into individual threads; thus diluting the community spirit. The organic nature of the blog is both one of its strengths and its weaknesses.

    For the time being, despite this being a reference source rather than a main stream front page, there is plenty on the go to keep us occupied. I too wish it wasn’t all about Rangers but such are the times we live in.


  51. Bill1903 says February 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Re refereeing.”My dad says Craig Thompsons performance today was the worst he’d seen in over 60 years of going to Pittodrie!”

    If daft refereeing decisions are due to incompetence, which is possible, and the referee remains useless, strange decisions will level out over time, and affect every team in equal measure. I think everybody knows this.

    If a referee’s daft decisions go consistently in a particular direction though, that’s a horse of a different colour. It’s also interesting to note how assistant referees perform.

    I hope people are recording games where possible. I’ve been doing that for over twenty years.

    I’ve been going to Celtic Park about the same time Bill’s dad’s been going to Pittodrie. Not so much lately though.


  52. Imagine 80 to 10000 Tsfm’ers/Scottish football fans protesting at the doors of the rangers egm. The bears can come along too. Much cheaper than putting out an advert and sure could make a statement about total sfa governance failure


  53. Please correct me if I am wrong.
    Mike Ashley has loaned $5,000,000 to pay off his $3,000,000 loan and pay Jan Feb wage bill. He has an option to loan another $5,000,000 when these funds are exhausted. He does not have to lend this money. He can ask for his money back and if this is not forthcoming he takes ownership of several pieces of Glasgow real estate.
    At the current increased rate of spending, 5 Magpies on $5,000 a week is $100,000 a month. McCoist still pocketing $62,500 a month and $278,000 a month on rent like overseas payments. Does anyone think there will still be cash left over come the EGM?
    What assurance will Mike Ashley have to be offered before lending the second lot of $5,000,000? Already Dave King is stating that if he wins he may not repay the loan.
    Some day soon in February perhaps the 14th, the money will all be gone. At that point the company will be insolvent. If they somehow get through to the EGM and King triumphs then the Nomad has said he would resign. That would mean the shares would stop trading on the AIM and that would trigger an immediate repayment of the Sports Direct loans.
    Does anyone think that Mike Ashley expects to be beaten by Dave King…..I have a bridge to sell you.


  54. castaway says:
    February 8, 2015 at 12:05 am

    0

    0

    Rate This

    Bill1903 says February 7, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Re refereeing.”My dad says Craig Thompsons performance today was the worst he’d seen in over 60 years of going to Pittodrie!”

    If daft refereeing decisions are due to incompetence, which is possible, and the referee remains useless, strange decisions will level out over time, and affect every team in equal measure. I think everybody knows this.

    If a referee’s daft decisions go consistently in a particular direction though, that’s a horse of a different colour. It’s also interesting to note how assistant referees perform.

    I hope people are recording games where possible. I’ve been doing that for over twenty years.

    I’ve been going to Celtic Park about the same time Bill’s dad’s been going to Pittodrie. Not so much lately though.
    ====================
    If referees are part of the SFA remit, why is anyone surprised at the end product?


  55. On the living wage, see Ryan Gosling and Allyjambo, it’s the right thing to do.

    But as an example of inconsistency, Aberdeen Asset Management is a living wage payer. AAM also stiffed the tax payer with Illegal EBTs.


  56. Cluster One says:
    February 7, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    13

    0

    Rate This

    neutralaxis says:

    February 7, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    1

    0

    Rate This

    Given that the it is reported by Sons of Struth that the the biggest mobilisation of The Rangers travelling support since the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester is a likelihood.
    ———————————
    The latest meeting, which will be held in a 500-capacity conference room.
    They have over 5,000 small shareholders and There were more than 2000 in attendance at the recent AGM.
    Will it be first come first seated or will it be like a Black Friday free for all to fit into the 500 capacity conference room 🙄

    ____________________________________________

    Erm… How do ‘proper’ businesses deal with this type of problem?
    i.e. people wanting to attend a business meeting but being unable to for logistical reasons?

    erm… video conferencing anyone?
    Skype?
    If you have more than 500 shareholders wanting to partake in an EGM, there are means by which remote connection can be provided so that they can be accommodated. Maybe tickets could be allocated to those expressing and interest in attending directly, on a first come first served allocation basis, with the remaining given a skype password.

    Business like. They can propose resolutions ahead of time. They can vote by proxy. If people can buy multi million pount works of art at auctions from the other side of the world without difficulty, I see no reason why a 500 seater venue would be inadequate for a business meeting of a £30m market cap company in financial difficulty.

    Because if you have 5000 idiot thugs with fire in their belly hellbent on creating a scene and interfering with the business of business that is the purpose of the meeting.. well I see no reason whatsoever WHY they should be accommodated.


  57. The Cat NR1 says:
    February 8, 2015 at 12:21 am

    castaway says:
    February 8, 2015 at 12:05 am

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

    If referees are part of the SFA remit, why is anyone surprised at the end product?

    ——————————

    Exactly, though I think “amazed” would be a better description. Amazed that in the light of the level of knowledge and technology available, these people still have the neck to put people onto the field to perform in the manner they do. Amazed that they cling to office until all self respect has gone. It is sad.


  58. Given that people have been speculating on future ideas for TSFM, one thing I’d love to see would be a news page. Mainstream media is so frequently agenda driven, I think we could agree, that it would be great if we had a page to go to where facts, and only facts, were reported and we could then discuss them.


  59. RyanGosling says:
    February 8, 2015 at 1:06 am

    Given that people have been speculating on future ideas for TSFM, one thing I’d love to see would be a news page. Mainstream media is so frequently agenda driven…
    ================
    Agreed RG that a ‘single source of truth’ – if possible – would be ideal. But I guess that would take a good bit of time and resources.

    In an ideal world, IMO…

    TSFM could beat the SMSM into their transition from print to digital media only.

    It’s maybe a ‘generational’ thing, but print is on its way out for cost/ecological/convenience reasons. We know that.

    IMO, TSFM currently has an edge over the MSM in producing truthful, useful and reliable analyses – but maybe not specifically ‘reporting’ as such.

    The media types here can correct me, but IMO the choice for TSFM to get to the ‘next level’ and beat the SMSM for football reporting is to get significant backing. Either from an established individual or institution,[but which might impose its own agenda], – or via subscriptions at a higher level.

    Certainly there is an opportunity to move away from the TRFC focus – eventually – to provide honest, appreciated information on ALL Scottish clubs, the SFA and the SPFL.

    I might be talking mince, but TSFM could evolve to comprehensively fill an information gap before the SMSM – and maybe even wider than just football.

    I look at how ‘The Metro’ free newspaper has developed in recent years, from a virtual ‘comic’ to a reasonable competitor to at least the high selling tabloids. Not much difference in quality, IMO.

    Just some thoughts lobbed in…


  60. Given that costs would seem to be a stumbling block on other formats, wouldn’t the present one suffice. There is no doubt RTC & TSFM were and are excellent sources of information along with other blogs. Granted, many find it a little high brow or know all but on substance alone with informative knowledge, it is up there with the best.

    A trawl through many blogs can give the reader a much better understanding of the actual rules or shenanigans to the state of play and it must be said, for the last three years, have mainly dented on one club.

    As much as a reader follows one club or another, the happenings down Ibrox way have been unprecedented and continue to be so. If a non fan of that club takes an interest, they are labelled ‘haters’ or ‘obsessed’ but to the supporter of that club, the reality must have dawned and statements as such are just deflectors tactics.

    To Fisianis post @ 12.18, it made me think. King thinks he has the numbers, nay he is convinced he has the numbers. Assuming this is true, does Ashley call in the loans and take what’s rightfully his? Would King be so stupid?

    It’s anybody’s guess which makes this pantomime absolutely fascinating. A ring side seat without this circus ever stopping.


  61. If this was a poker game then Ashley has a full house and King is merely bluffing. His bluster is designed to make Ashley fold. Ashley is the largest creditor, can pull the plug in an instant, has the retail contract sewn up and his appointees running the Board. I fully expect Mike Ashley to go all in and Mr King will blink.


  62. THE man the Rangers fans see as their saviour says he is basing his rebuilding plan on Fergus McCann’s business model rather than following the riskier strategies employed by the Ibrox club’s former owner David Murray.

    Dave King sat on the board during the Murray era, alongside his current ally Paul Murray, during a period of high spending that ultimately helped bring Rangers to its knees and saw the club offloaded to Craig Whyte for one pound. King said that they had been led to believe that David Murray’s personal finances could cover the spending and he was not in a position to do anything about it once the truth came to light.

    FOLLOW US

    Twitter | Facebook | Google+

    Subscribe to our DAILY NEWSLETTER (requires registration)

    SCOTSMAN TABLET AND MOBILE APPS

    iPhone | iPad | Android | Kindle

    But, with the general meeting of Rangers shareholders now set for 4 March in London, when King and his allies hope to assume control of the Ibrox club, they insist they have learned lessons from past mistakes and that a successful ousting of the current board will allow them to steer the club towards a brighter and more stable future, using McCann’s 1990s revamp of Celtic as an example of how it can be done.

    “Fergus’ model was a more responsible model,” King said. “It was a managed approach and he did very well, whereas David’s model was fine as long as he’d the money to put into it. It’s one thing if you’re [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich and you’ve so many billions that spending a couple of million doesn’t really matter to you. Ultimately, even big clubs can hurtle down the leagues quite quickly when a dominant owner isn’t around any more. We’ve gone through event risk [an unforeseen event negatively affecting the company] too often after 135 years of ups and downs in football terms. It’s been turmoil and this board has to make sure we’ve a funding and financial policy to make sure we never even have the responsibility of event risk again. Hopefully the fans will understand that, that we won’t take them to the abyss again.”

    Reports have suggested that Rangers football board chairman Sandy Easdale and his brother James, a member of the PLC board, may jump ship before the general meeting, with multimillionaire Indian businessman Lalit Modi expressing an interest in buying their shares, but King has already dismissed their shareholding as an irrelevance in his quest for control. He is adamant that he has enough backing from other parties.

    His intention is to never again leave the club reliant on one man’s wealth but in the short-term King and Paul Murray acknowledge that they and other wealthy fans will have to dig deep, even if King’s family would prefer him to be splashing his considerable cash on Liverpool. “My family are Rangers fans because they have to be and they’re Liverpool fans probably because they have to be as well. My son at university streams every Liverpool game so I think they’d prefer Liverpool but they understand why I’m doing it. It’s part of their inheritance.”

    From stadium and training ground maintenance to more realistic staffing levels on the football front and behind the scenes, the men attempting this takeover say a massive cash injection will be required to take the club back to the Premiership and, eventually, Europe. But by re-engaging with supporters and proving themselves attractive to commercial partners and sponsors, they say the long-term approach will be self-sustainable.

    That view is at odds with the scenario outlined by the incumbent board who, in announcing the date of the general meeting requisitioned by King, launched a scathing attack on him and his assertion that he is a fit and proper person to control the club.

    King has baggage, of course, having pled gulity to 41 different contraventions of South African tax law. He paid a £4,500 fine for each contravention, as well as settling a £40 million tax bill. The tax case remains a stick with which to beat the South African-based businessman, while his involvement as an investor and director in the David Murray board is something else he says he will have to answer to if he wins his battle for control and has to face up to an interrogation from the Scottish football authorities.

    But those who have been slinging the mud will have to hope they are squeaky clean themselves, according to King, who dismissed the idea of launching a witch-hunt but stressed that people would have to be held to account for any wrongdoing.

    “One of the things about the last four years is that if there is a level of impropriety by anyone with a fiduciary responsibility to the club and who – not through incompetence – but knowingly and negligently did not carry out their responsibilities, it’s important that we hold them to account and that we’re seen to hold them to account. So one of the first things we’ll do is conduct a forensic investigation into all commercial contracts negotiated during that period.”

    But King feels that with his tax issues settled, and relaxed at the idea of any SFA or SPFL scrutiny, he now has the best blueprint for success at the club and he is confident that fellow shareholders agree and will vote with him and his colleagues in next month’s crucial ballot.

    “If they do win, the wheels will be quickly set in motion. If the resolutions are passed, we are in and we have the first board meeting within a minute,” said King. “There’s no waiting period.”

    Describing last Sunday’s League Cup semi-final performance against city rivals Celtic as surprising, he said he had not expected such a clear gulf in class. “It just looked like a squad that was ill-equipped to go and compete without a major overhaul next year, which is of some concern given the financial restrictions and the fact that one has to get that balance right,” King said. “It goes back to needing more of a coach than a manager because it’s going to be a critical appointment.”

    Underlining the need for swingeing changes in the football department, he has ruled out a return for former manager Ally McCoist, who is still on gardening leave and picking up a salary, claiming the striking legend has no desire to be reinstated. But despite the financial burdens, King and Paul Murray agree that they cannot scrimp on what they consider such a pivotal role, agreeing that they would pay compensation, within reason, to another club to get their number one target. Although they admit they have still to identify who that would be.

    “I think everyone would accept that Rangers have to completely rebuild the squad and one wouldn’t easily take the second choice when a little bit of money would have got you your first choice. I think we have just got to get it right.

    “It’s not as though we are bringing a manager into a strong team, we are bringing a manager into a team that is obviously not equipped to compete in the Premier League and is really struggling. You would have thought that when Rangers were demoted they would have fairly comfortably come through the lower leagues into the Premier League and then maybe struggled around fourth or fifth for a season or two but right now we are struggling to get out of the league [Championship].

    “Given the need to balance budgets and be more sensible about the way the money is spent, we are going to have to get a manager who has the capacity to identify and manage players. So, I would imagine that the single most important decision will be identifying the right manager, who has all these qualities.”

    But, on the field and off it, getting the right men in the key positions has, arguably, been Rangers’ biggest failing in recent times.


  63. Dave King has said that if he loses the vote at the EGM he will buy another 5% of the shares and hold another EGM. The only problem is – buy shares from whom? If he buys from the losing side he still will not have the numbers. Why would the winning side sell him shares? This is just bluster. He is glib and shameless.


  64. Cluster One says:
    February 7, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    They have over 5,000 small shareholders and There were more than 2000 in attendance at the recent AGM.
    Will it be first come first seated or will it be like a Black Friday free for all to fit into the 500 capacity conference room 🙄
    ===============================

    The Old Bill could be busy that day. As might the London media. Just my view of course.


  65. sickofitall says:
    February 8, 2015 at 6:28 am
    1 0 Rate This

    THE man the Rangers fans see as their saviour says he is basing his rebuilding plan on Fergus McCann’s business model rather than following the riskier strategies employed by the Ibrox club’s former owner David Murray.
    ===========================================

    Reading that whole article there are some contradictions. The Fergus McCann approach IMO could never work at Rangers simply because of the sense of entitlement that exists. I also see no mention of just how much Ashley may be owed and neither are the cash draining onerous contracts mentioned either.

    Fergus McCann took over Celtic at a time they were a sleeping giant, with much commercial revenue waiting to be exploited. Rangers on the other hand have nothing more to give. Everything has already been taken by men the fans and media applauded through the front door and hung on their every word.

    It remains to be seen how much of an open cheque book Dave King has. However, his ability to tell the media the world is flat and be believed will be worth its weight in gold to him, at least at the outset.


  66. Allyjambo says:
    February 8, 2015 at 7:37 am

    Beyond belief, now if that had been on a Sevco player today, the culprit would walk, be in no doubt whatsoever.


  67. OT, but I just finished reading Martin Pararnau’s book ‘Pep Confidential’ about Guardiola’s first season at Bayern. I recommend it, a useful read alongside this blog, as it is so immersed in the tactics and day to day intensity of what happens on the training ground and the field of play. It gave me a greater respect for all those managers and coaches who are trying to emulate at some level what Guardiola has done, as even for him, success is a ‘bottle hanging by a thread’. I’ve been spending the last while going between the book and this blog – for all its sins, the game remains utterly fascinating at all levels, from boardroom shenanigans to the beauty of seeing a team come together to achieve something on the pitch.


  68. RyanGosling says:
    February 8, 2015 at 1:06 am

    Given that people have been speculating on future ideas for TSFM, one thing I’d love to see would be a news page. Mainstream media is so frequently agenda driven, I think we could agree, that it would be great if we had a page to go to where facts, and only facts, were reported and we could then discuss them.

    Agree entirely with this. I don’t know if the press conferences that teams (those who do) hold are recorded by the teams and made available rather than edited versions, or worse: the reports/articles that appear on websites.

    If you take the recent McDowall interview/statements. As someone alluded to earlier, the questions and his answers can be interpreted differently but it’s the write-up that goes onto the STV website and is then reduced and regurgitated by other media sources to a single line of “he’s been told they must play”.

    It’s similar to the recent threads on the back of the CQN advert where a cast of ex-OF players and managers suddenly strode into the limelight to proclaim one thing or another. The headline will be “x says whatever” but we don’t always see the question that was asked, the answer given or the context of it (the discussion before and after).

    The problem is how to sift through the information that we are fed as opposed to the facts. With reference to the original post for this discussion, it’s easy to see how facts (annual statement of accounts) can be presented in an entirely different light. The way it was presented is in itself a “fact” I suppose. What’s missing is the healthy questioning and discussion that I think/hope we all want and is why we come here.


  69. Billy Boyce says:
    February 7, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    The London venue for the RIFC E.G.M. was always going to cause problems. A disgruntled ‘bear’ has now discovered the Nomad’s home number and has taken him to task on the matter.

    This soundbite is of Paul Shacketon being interrogated whilst at the same time trying to cope with his baby.

    https://soundcloud.com/casper-wilson-1/shackleton-at-home

    Having not seen the RIFC Mem and Arts, would it not be the case that shareholders can nominate someone as a proxy for their vote for each of the resolutions?

Comments are closed.