The Elephant in the Room

A Guest blog by @heavidor:       

Given The Takeover Panel’s success in procuring a Court of Session order to compel Dave King to make an offer for all Rangers International Football Club Plc shares not owned by the Concert Party it would be impossible for King to remain a director unless he complies with that Order.

The co-option of Barry Scott to the board and the elevation of Alistair Johnston as a person with significant control could be construed as repositioning, however it will be whether King makes an offer of 20 pence per share to all the shareholders not included in the Concert Party or not that will determine what happens next and we shall know later this month.

(King resigning) is the correct thing to do and should have already occurred. Instead, Rangers financial reputation has been dragged through the mud by association.

Irrespective of whether King complies with the Court Order or not this story is far from over, and it will continue to hamper Rangers’ prospects until it is conclusively resolved. A King resignation as a director of RIFC would reduce the prospect of contaminating the club, its directors and advisors from the full effect of cold shouldering should he decline to make an offer.

That would mean that King, as distinct from RIFC, had financial pariah status and not the club. That is the correct thing to do and should have already occurred but, instead, Rangers’ financial reputation has been dragged through the mud by association with King.

What should not be underestimated is the reality of cold-shouldering, not for just the offending party, but for those involved in business with the offending party. The consequences are dire for the individual or organisation who falls foul of the rules, making it impossible to carry out normal business activities within the sphere of influence of The Panel, and the same consequences face those who shelter the cold shouldered.

It should be appreciated that there are members of the RIFC that are members of regulated financial professions who would be further prejudiced through association with a cold shouldered non-resident King.

Perhaps unfortunately for a large slug of the mainstream media and football authorities, financial pariah status pursuant to cold shouldering in the UK coming on top of criminal convictions in SA would be impossible to spin in any positive way or to maintain continued fit and proper status. I mean, we could have the SFA cold shouldered, couldn’t we? All said though, the cognitively dissonant will carry on regardless.

If King does the right thing by resigning from the board, it is still important to appreciate that the ‘4 Bear’ Concert Party as determined by The Panel will continue to exist irrespective of how Kings deals with the instruction to make an offer for the shares. This is the elephant in the room that remains.

The Concert Party via their shares and loans will retain the same level of control they currently have, and therefore remain compelled to abide by The Panel’s rules.

King’s resignation would not remove that impediment.

It doesn’t end there. By challenging the authority and insulting the intelligence of The Panel and the Court, King has ensured all large share transactions in RIFC will be scrutinised and questioned and could additionally determine, for example, that the Concert Party is increased to include Club 1872 and Barry Scott on the basis they are working in concert with King and/or other concert party members.

There are some who think that The Panel has been slow to respond and impose sanctions and that they are all bark and no bite. It would be wrong to think so. The reality is that King has moved the whole dispute into uncharted territory. There has been no precedent for such continued brazen and naïve flouting of Panel rules. Accordingly, The Panel has chosen to move at its own pace, dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s and I suggest they’re being methodical rather than indecisive in dealing with the estimable Mr King.

The true value of RIFC shares was a key point in the recent court case with all kinds of claims being made. Some think that the lack of significant arm’s-length trades makes it impossible to arrive at a correct price, and others say that the price paid to Mike Ashley in recent trades is the benchmark. In my opinion, neither is correct. Current and prospective shareholders have the financial figures in the accounts to work with, and can determine the real worth from there. On that basis it is clear to me the shares are not worth anything like the last alleged trading price on Jenkins. Rather it seems that the shares only have nominal value given the business has never declared a profit, continues to lose money and is reliant upon ongoing shareholder loans to stay in business.

Any subsequent share issue – even with King gone – could muddy the waters further; The Concert Party members may expose themselves to another Panel instruction to make another offer should any of its members acquire more shares without coming to an arrangement with The Panel beforehand.

To illustrate such an arrangement, Dermot Desmond got Panel permission to increase his shareholding above 29.9% the last time Celtic had a share issue. This is preferable to trying to hoodwink the financial authorities with tall tales.

It should be clear to all followers of RIFC’s financial travails that the status quo is unsustainable. So, the question is ‘what’s next’? The chairman’s statement that accompanied the annual accounts once more talked about loan to equity conversion without reference to the impact of the existence of a Concert Party amongst the RIFC Board of directors and providers of loans. This is remarkable any such conversion cannot take place without the permission of The Panel and/or without dragging the other directors and lenders in the quagmire with another possible offer for the shares not owned by the Concert Party.

.. the shares only have nominal value given the business has never declared a profit, continues to lose money and is reliant upon ongoing shareholder loans to stay in business

So, what should happen and what is required for RIFC to rid itself of this terrible yoke? The answers are pretty obvious; King should make an offer of 20 pence per share to all those shareholders not included in the Concert Party. He has said the shares are worth more than that and that no one would accept. If he’s correct he has nothing to worry about and he would create a clear path forward for Rangers. He would also resolve the dispute with The Panel, creating the conditions for a debt to equity conversion.

So, why might that not happen? Because if the shares are worth 27 pence as the directors have suggested that means the loan to equity conversion would have to be at the same price and, of course, if the shares not worth anything like that there would be a rush to accept 27 pence and the ball would be on the slates, so to speak.

It appears to me the board is stuck between a rock and a hard place, that King will resign, and that there will be no offer.

If this happens the position would be precarious. The current board doesn’t have the credibility, money or experience to take Rangers forward. Being a true blue should not be the defining characteristic of what’s required to make Rangers competitive but it appears to be the preferred qualification of most of their customers.

I believe Rangers need a need owner with a controlling shareholding and deep pockets to sort out this mess, and I have reason to believe this view is shared by some of those with influence.

That is not to say that a solution is imminent, but the reality check is at least a start.

1,315 thoughts on “The Elephant in the Room


  1. On the subject of Airdireonians liquidation. An Airdrie supporting work colleague of mine hated SDM with a passion, not just because it was his pursuit of a 30 grand debt that eventually sunk Airdrie, no, the thing that bugged him most was an interview David Murray gave to the Rangers News magazine in which he stated he was “so sick of the whole Airdrie affair” he’d given the £30,000 to the Save the Diamonds campaign. Bugged my colleague severely ’cause he knew that was a lie.No such payment was ever received.


  2. jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 01:14

    BP, As usual I’m a bit confused.  The guy who seemed to be playing lead guitar had a guitar with all the key things on one side like a bass guitar.  But there were 5 of them.  Whats that all about?

    ____________________________

    The guy is Jimmy Page. There are six of the key things (tuning pegs) on the side of the headstock. Some guitars have all six on one side and some have other configs.

    And, not all bass guitars have all the tuning pegs on one side either.

    Every day is a school day 🙂


  3. HighlanderJanuary 20, 2018 at 00:05
    “..Neither the legal advice provided by the eminent Q.C. mentioned, nor the conclusions of the deeply discredited LNS commission constitutes law, regardless of the utter bollox trotted out by Doncaster and his fellow flat-earthers..”
    ______________________
    Absolutely spot on: as is proved (at great expense to many litigants/accused) by the fact that on  any given day, the opinions of Lawyers, advocates and Queen’s Counsel are proven not to be well-founded, as their clients lose their cases in the Courts! 
    And proved as well  by the fact that you advert to, namely, that the same QCs who have been involved in representing  either of the two Rangers clubs, the quick or  the dead, could just as easily have represented the other sides in the legal debates.
    I have no doubt that the SFA’s approach to seeking legal advice was  not to ask : “what are our powers?” but ” can you find a way of telling us that we cannot legally change what we have done?” 
    By the time they would have sought advice, I think they were steeped in a fundamental dishonesty created by their absolute, frantic determination not to face the fact that Rangers Football Club of 1872 was no more,  had gone bust, was literally out of the game, and the fact that whatever else TRFC Ltd may be, it is not, could not possibly be, in law or in sport, RFC of 1872!
    We might expect that the Board of, say, RBS, or Carillion, or of any ordinary business in other industries might try to lie their way out of trouble to save their businesses.
    But for  a Sports governance body to  pervert the very essence of the ‘industry’ they are supposed to look after and promote is just mind-blowing in its illogicality.


  4. Tykebhoy,

    Aye that’s Shotts alright.  Think that photo was taken last June.


  5. Well that was a pleasant wee surprise getting the Aberdeen v St. Mirren game live on BBC1.  Great game to watch.  So thumbs up to BBC.  You won’t hear me saying that very often.

    Sensational goal from GMS.  MOTM deservedly so.

    Willie Miller is a very good pundit.


  6. Yes there are 6 tuning pegs on Jimmy Page’s guitar in this clip.  He must have added one on.

    Talking of Jeff Beck.  I went to see Beck Bogert & Appice in Lothian Road Edinburgh.  Hundreds of years ago.  I met Harvey Goldsmith in the North British Hotel.  He kindly arranged free tickets for me and a pal.


  7. “Rangers stun Bayern Munich as development side earn impressive win against German heavyweights U-19s”

    A headline from DR today.

    No comment required.

    TRFC is gubbed. 09


  8. I’m not even going to comment on that guitar in the pic.  that’s just ridiculous. There’s about 18 of those tuning pegs on it. Bet you he got mixed up a lot.

    Anyway, a good day at the office.  Looking forward to the Edinburgh Derby tomorrow.  Hope it’s on BT.


  9. The fifth round Scottish Cup draw is tomorrow after the Edinburgh Derby.

    Brora Rangers in the last 16 for the first time.


  10. In November Brora Rangers played Stranraer in the cup.  A 600 mile round trip.  18


  11. Jimbo , any idea why our game against TRFC on January 31st is postponed and not this Wednesday’s match at Ibrox v Sheep ? It’s not like they need the money (according to them ).


  12. Think you answered your own question there Paddy!  02 

    Needs must.

    Fixture arrangements – a dark art with meetings held in a secret cave somewhere.


  13. Call me cynical but if the game against Fraserburgh was a home tie at Ibrox then I think the Aberdeen game would have been rescheduled to Tuesday.  Fraserburgh on Thursday.  Cash rich week.

    They have a big enough squad for it nowadays.


  14. Really hope James McCarthy recovers from a terrible leg break today playing for Everton.  I can’t watch the incident they say it is horrible, but faultless from the other player involved Salomon Rondon.  Get well soon.


  15. I know things are quiet just now but I’m getting a wee bit concerned about AJ he’s not been on much for two or three days.  Very unlike him. Hope he’s not got one of those flu’s going around.


  16. OK. I hope TRFC go into liquidation tonight.  There I’ve said it. 01  At least it would get you all back on.  I feel like I’m trying to hold the fort on my own here.  And I’m only a fringe player at best.

    Auldheid & JC get back on here please.  Or I’m going to start posting about the merits of Regan and Doncaster.


  17. My wee great nephew plays for the local YM boys team.  He loves his football.  I asked him at Christmas ‘what position do you play? ‘ He looked puzzled.  All over the place! was his reply.  I asked him who he supported.  Half his family are Celtic supporters, the other half, I’m not sure actually.  Anyway, he said nobody.  I asked him if he watches football on the TV.  He said no.  He just loves playing football.  God bless him.  Was trying to encourage him towards Motherwell (well at least it’s better than you know who) and his big brother played for TRFC youth teams.  But he wasn’t really interested.  He’s about 8 or 9 years old.

     I’ve got a notion for me and his uncles to take him to Celtic Park for a tour.  What do you think?  Would this be indoctrination?


  18. jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 17:11
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 19:00
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 19:16
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 19:50
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 20:04
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 20:51
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 21:07
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 21:19
    jimbo
    January 20, 2018 at 21:41
     
     
    Jimbo  you are a STAR you have been keeping this place alive for  4 and a half hours!  04040404


  19. Woodstein, It’s a heavy burden.  Thank goodness you are on.  Anything you want to discuss my friend?


  20. Oh good God I’ve just had a brilliant idea.  The first this year.

    This is my plan.  I’m going to leave this part of TSFM and hijack Ernie B’s thread.  To talk about music and football as a collective.  It’s a new concept.  I know by the amount of thumb downs I get for talking about music that it’s a no no on here.  So this will suit me and BP perfectly.  Right I’m off.  Bye all. lots of love. maybe see you on the ‘other side’.

    Jimbo.


  21. JIMBOJANUARY 20, 2018 at 19:00
    If I may be so bold, FrancesStar Brora Rangers (that most definitely is a euphemism by the way; the ‘F’ being instructive!), Scottish football needs a strong East Fife – this seasons’ curse of new Bayview strikes once more (after seemingly being exorcised last week) and all major Fife teams eliminated from the Scottish Cup on the same day, nae bloody guid!


  22. Somethings going on. My first post on my new thread on Ernie B is in moderation.  I don’t get it.  The thread has been dead since the 4 of January and I have livened it up to 5 posts so far.

    Caus. my commiserations mate.  As part of my job I used to visit Methil.  I understand.


  23. jimboJanuary 20, 2018 at 21:07

    I know things are quiet just now but I’m getting a wee bit concerned about AJ he’s not been on much for two or three days. Very unlike him. Hope he’s not got one of those flu’s going around.
    ______________________________

    Thanks for your concern, Jimbo, but glad to say I am quite well, just had nothing to add in what is, as you say, a quiet period, with TRFC having gone for a few days, now, without making a ludicrous offer to sign a player on the never start the never, never!


  24. ALLYJAMBO
    JANUARY 21, 2018 at 07:27
    ======================================

    The thing I find most extraordinary is how the Rangers support seem to have bought into the current situation.

    Going by social media and speaking to Rangers supporters in real life they appear to be entirely content that they are bringing in loan players rather than actually building a squad for the rest of the season and beyond. Though how much of that is because deep down they know there is no option is another thing. Like the number of people who now say that Warburton was terrible, in spite of their fear at the time that he would be taking the England job. 

    If they have budgeted on European income, and the accounts suggest they have, then the way to do that is to have a settled squad. With a first team used to playing together. That is the best way to finish in a good enough place in the league, and then get through the difficult qualifying stages. All of our European participants know how difficult that is. Particularly as the qualifying games are before our domestic season starts. 

    The words from the club, supporting the manager and making money from Europe, are not in line with the reality, which has “short term” written all over it. If they have budgeted for decent European income and don’t get it then the £3.2m predicted losses could be even higher. 


  25. ALLYJAMBOJANUARY 21, 2018 at 07:27
    with TRFC having gone for a few days, now, without making a ludicrous offer to sign a player on the never start the never, never!
    ——————
    Or even sell a player
    Seen this on twitter.
    @scotsunsport EXCLUSIVE: Rangers star Alfredo Morelos being targeted by English club this month thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football…2:34 pm – 20 Jan 2018Rangers star Alfredo Morelos being targeted by Bristol City as they push for promotion to Premier…
    ——-
    @WilloughbyKirk Replying to @scotsunsport I can tell you right now that this is very poor journalism. As the Bristol City senior scout in Scotland there is absolutely no chance of Bristol being interested in Morelos.
    ————————-
    They have not had a very good few days down ibrox way with the buying and selling of players
    the propaganda  is just not working for them now


  26. JIMBO you were on at the wrong time, everyone is up early.
    you night owels miss all the action22


  27. Shortly after both Aberdeen and Hibs decided to throw Scottish football under the bus by publicly proclaiming that there was nothing to see here and we should all just move on, Aberdeen were given the next Scotland match, against Holland. RTC tweeted that the SFA might have left a longer gap before awarding Aberdeen an international match, as people might see it as more than coincidental. RTC wondered whether Hibs might be next in line to host a Scotland match.
    I note the SFA have announced that Scotland will play Costa Rica in a friendly later this year. However, the SFA have apparently not made their minds up yet about the venue.
    Watch this space…..


  28. CLUSTER ONE
    JANUARY 21, 2018 at 08:13
    ==================================

    Clearly the current “business model” is to unsettle players, make a derisory offer for them, then when that is rejected take them on loan. All supported by a compliant media, making it out that the move (on loan) to the third club in the SPFL is any player’s dream.

    The “allowing Naismith to move to Hearts” must be the best one yet. 

    Maybe, just maybe, and I know I’m putting my neck on the line here, that was the best move for the player and the club. I know that’s mad talk but there you go. 

    “I definitely think I’ve made the right choice,” said, Naismith, who is unsure whether he will return to England in the summer but re-iterated his desire to finish his playing career in Scotland.

    “I’ve worked with the manager before and from when I was last in Scotland, the transformation in terms of training facilities to the new stand – it’s exciting times for the club. To be part of that with the youngsters coming through is something that I felt ticked all the boxes.


  29. jimboJanuary 20, 2018 at 21:19
    ‘..OK. I hope TRFC go into liquidation tonight.’
    ____________________
    jimbo, in the interests of intellectual honesty, I think we have to make a sharp distinction between, on the one hand, the desire that Truth and Sporting Integrity be restored to Scottish Football, and on the other hand, the exasperated  wish that the disruptive, poncing-about, and basically deceitful  behaviour of a  desperately struggling 5-year-old club  should be brought to an end.
    The restoration of Truth and Integrity requires that Scottish Football recognises that TRFC Ltd is not Rangers 1872, is not entitled to the honours and titles of Rangers 1872 (even the legitimate ones), and is not entitled to have claims to such permitted: and also requires that those officers and members of the SFA Board who permitted and continue to permit TRFC Ltd to make these claims should be forced to resign/stand down and never again be permitted to have anything to do with football governance.
    For an end to the unseemly, and irritatingly unsporting,  behaviour on several levels by those running  TRFC Ltd  and RIFC plc, Liquidation of either of those entities is not an absolute requirement.
    However, given that the same Governance body that created the Big Lie is not likely to take any action other than supportive action of the offending club, Administration leading to Liquidation may be the only hope for a movement to begin restoring Truth and Integrity.
    We may, however reluctantly, have had to accept that TRFC Ltd was admitted into Scottish Football, and that it legitimately exists as TRFC Ltd [not as RFC 1872, though].
    If it comported itself with respect for itself and for other clubs by renouncing any claim to be what it is not, and paid serious attention to earning for itself a name for respectability and truth and compliance with the conventions of professional sporting competition  then I, personally, would have no particular ‘reason’, irritated though I be, to wish for it to die the same death as RFC 1872.


  30. CLUSTER ONEJANUARY 21, 2018 at 08:13

    They have not had a very good few days down ibrox way with the buying and selling of playersthe propaganda  is just not working for them now

    The propaganda works for so long, then actual events overtake it. For example their loan signings can be portrayed as Galacticos until the point they take to the field then there is every chance it will be shown they did not deserve the fanfare they were getting.  I have only heard one media person, ironically ex-Rangers player Gordon Dalziel, pointing out these players are only here because their current clubs are not giving them a game.  Despite that we have people waxing lyrical on Sportsound about how ‘exciting’ the signings are.  The same people who were scathing towards Russell Martin in a Scotland strip are now portaying him as the Kaiser. Also, every single one of them could have gone to several clubs but chose Rangers because of how ‘massive’ they are.  Isn’t it incredible that every single one of them is in the exact same position, almost word for word! 

    Personally I am more than than happy for the media to align with this flight of fantasy, which in reality is no different to the last summer transfer window, and the summer window before that. On each occasion a managerial genius (both of whom are now cast as pariah’s), was going to tear the league apart.  


  31. JIMBOJANUARY 20, 2018 at 20:51

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

    Jimbo, I notice you have some thumbs down to your post about wishing James McCarthy well after his leg break. Incredible. 

    Thankfully my experience of decent football fans of any team is that they never wish a serious injury on any player from any team.  Anyone giving your post a thumbs down should be utterly ashamed. 


  32. UPTHEHOOPS
    JANUARY 21, 2018 at 10:35

    On each occasion a managerial genius (both of whom are now cast as pariah’s), was going to tear the league apart.  

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

    To be fair they now have their U20s coach in charge of the first team, after having received thousands of applicants, none of whom were suitable, and having been rejected by their back up choice.

    So at least that part is sorted out. Him, along with the loan players should see things sorted.

    As Sean Goss, the expert in all things to do with Scottish football has said 

    “The gap has closed. The club is heading towards where it used to be, being back in the Premiership. We have really high ambitions for the rest of this season as well. We want a cup and to finish as well as we can in the league.”

    High ambitions indeed, do as well as we can. Nothing like pushing the envelope. 


  33. HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 10:48

    To be fair they now have their U20s coach in charge of the first team, after having received thousands of applicants, none of whom were suitable, and having been rejected by their back up choice.

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

    In the pub last week the second half of Rangers Florida Cup game against Corinthians was on. The Brazilians were two up at half time but changed all eleven players to a mixture of youths and reserves. Rangers went on to win 4-2, but it was down to Murty’s tactical genius, nothing else. Incidentally I don’t think Rangers actually won that Florida Cup thingy, although you wouldn’t know. 


  34. HomunculusJanuary 21, 2018 at 08:12 
    ALLYJAMBOJANUARY 21, 2018 at 07:27======================================The thing I find most extraordinary is how the Rangers support seem to have bought into the current situation.Going by social media and speaking to Rangers supporters in real life they appear to be entirely content that they are bringing in loan players rather than actually building a squad for the rest of the season and beyond. Though how much of that is because deep down they know there is no option is another thing. Like the number of people who now say that Warburton was terrible, in spite of their fear at the time that he would be taking the England job. If they have budgeted on European income, and the accounts suggest they have, then the way to do that is to have a settled squad. With a first team used to playing together. That is the best way to finish in a good enough place in the league, and then get through the difficult qualifying stages. All of our European participants know how difficult that is. Particularly as the qualifying games are before our domestic season starts. The words from the club, supporting the manager and making money from Europe, are not in line with the reality, which has “short term” written all over it. If they have budgeted for decent European income and don’t get it then the £3.2m predicted losses could be even higher.
    ______________________________–

    I think you have hit the nail on the head there, Homunculus. There are some, the more financially aware, who will realise that it’s an absolute necessity to cut their cloth, and will know it’s a necessary move to steady the ship, but just like the less aware majority, they will be hiding that fact in the back of their minds and convincing themselves that it is a actually part of a clever rebuilding plan.

    As I wrote the other day, it surely flies in the face of their identity issues to have so many players in their squad who, undeniably, are not ‘Rangers’ players. There was a time when that would be totally unacceptable, unless it was a genuine top class star.

    As so often, this reality blindness can be viewed as a result of their WATP attitude, where they are unable to acknowledge their club’s poverty (of both cash and morals) because ‘The People’ are the masters, and the masters deserve to live like kings.

    As for Europe, well it would appear, on the face of it, to be a disastrous approach, with qualifying matches due to start about the time as they will be re-negotiating loan deals, or scraping around trying to find new ones, while, at the same time, looking for permanent signings. In the summer of 2016 Hearts found it necessary to replace a number of players in a rush for their pursuit of Euro qualification, it was an absolute disaster, and one we might face, again, should we qualify for Europe mainly on the Naismith effect!

    Now that has given me cause for yet another of my ‘wee thoughts’. TRFC are currently in third place, five points above Hibs, and ten above Hearts, so pretty well placed to qualify for Europe, even with their pre-window squad. We know they’d like to offload a number of players, but are currently just increasing their squad, and wage bill, when Euro qualification must have been quite likely even without these new signings. So, while it appears to make good financial sense to sign reasonable quality players on loans, rather than permanent deals, if they can’t offload the unwanted players, they may, in fact, be seen to have unnecessarily increased their wage bill – for no practicable gain – which is something they most certainly cannot afford to do.


  35. upthehoopsJanuary 21, 2018 at 10:40 
    JIMBOJANUARY 20, 2018 at 20:51============================Jimbo, I notice you have some thumbs down to your post about wishing James McCarthy well after his leg break. Incredible. Thankfully my experience of decent football fans of any team is that they never wish a serious injury on any player from any team. Anyone giving your post a thumbs down should be utterly ashamed.
    _____________________

    While it is absolutely disgusting that anyone should give a TD to that particular post, I did notice that all of Jimbo’s posts, all quite inoffensive to anybody, managed to attract 3, 4 or 5 TDs. It’s almost as though some late night visitor(s) is(are) in the habit of sticking TDs on posts without actually paying attention to their content!

    Have to add my own wishes for a speedy recovery for James McCarthy, I couldn’t watch the incident myself, and hope the breaks turn out to be clean and without any more complications than a double break would naturally bring.


  36. upthehoopsJanuary 21, 2018 at 10:53
    ‘.. I don’t think Rangers actually won that Florida Cup ‘
    _________
    You’re right,uth:
    http://www.floridacup.com/press/news
    “Jan 20, 2018 Atletico Nacional are 2018 Florida Cup Champions”


  37. I’m sure I read somewhere (JJs blog maybe?) that the loan players were here until August where we will then have the option to buy them. That surprised me at first until I read through some of the comments above and now (assuming this is true) then the deals make perfect sense. Bring in players now, have them work together for 6 months and if they work out, AND if we qualify from the early Europa league rounds in July, we buy the players. If we don’t qualify then the players return to their clubs and we cut our cloth accordingly? 


  38. DARKBEFOREDAWNJANUARY 21, 2018 at 12:12
    “If we don’t qualify then the players return to their clubs and we cut our cloth accordingly? ”
    There’s a first time for everything I suppose.


  39. I have just listened to Chick saying that he has never ever given wrong information.
    I think: DK “settled”, was not a convicted criminal?
    And did he not say that CO’s EBT was just about enough for  good night out?
    What was he trying to do but minimise the offences of DK ,and dismiss as nothing the fact that an officer of the SFA had personal knowledge of EBTs ( very personal, at £90 grand!) and how they were used at Ibrox?


  40. JOHN CLARKJANUARY 21, 2018 at 12:59
    I have just listened to Chick saying that he has never ever given wrong information.===================
    I too listened to the fork tongued one relate some of his anecdotes. He is presumably paid to deliver a certain agreed minimum anecdotes per show and they are stultifyingly boring. He needs to go.


  41. DarkbeforedawnJanuary 21, 2018 at 12:12
    ‘..Bring in players now, have them work together for 6 months and if they work out, AND if we qualify from the early Europa league rounds in July, we buy the players.”
    _______
    Now, if TRFC’s PR chap had arranged for that kind of message to have gone out, it would, in its own terms, have seemed a sound enough rationalisation , a scrap of a blanket to cover the naked impecuniosity that is at the heart of the club’s present problems.

    TRFC know that they are strapped for cash resources. They must know that everyone else knows it as well.
    Some of us, perhaps, know what the odd episode of financial embarrassment is like, and for pride’s sake we might make a wee excuse to save our blushes. But we don’t pretend to be super-rich, and behave like the ‘financier’ who had to tap Craig Whyte for a few quid!

    Level5 seems not to be very good at PR. If it’s their own ‘professional’ view that is being put across, then TRFC should ditch them and find a more sensible PR firm (maybe the new one set up by Traynor’s former business partner! 19)

    If they are meekly accepting their client’s megalomaniacal rubbish , they need to have regard to the damage it does them as a PR agency.


  42. Thank goodness things are back to normal.  Good to see you all back.  I couldn’t cope with another day like yesterday.

    BTW my comment about wishing TRFC into liquidation was very tongue in cheek, trying to instigate a reaction.  I agree with JC and Auldheid over on CQN today that Truth then Reconciliation is the way forward.  But the truth must come first.  There can be no reconciliation without it.

    The major problem is the suits at Hampden.  As Auldheid said there needs to be Statesmanship.  Do these people have it?  They have not demonstrated it so far.


  43. Looks like the Edinburgh Derby is heading for a goalless draw.  Replay will be at Easter Rd.

    10mins. to go.

    Both clubs will be happy with the extra cash!  21

    And no I’m not saying it is a fix! 07


  44. Oops I spooked it 21  Hearts 1-0

    Hearts fans very happy. Hibs fans not so much.

    Probably wont see AJ for a few days again. Away on the juice.


  45. HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 08:45
    All supported by a compliant media, making it out that the move (on loan) to the third club in the SPFL is any player’s dream.
    ———–
    UPTHEHOOPSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 10:35
    Also, every single one of them could have gone to several clubs but chose Rangers because of how ‘massive’ they are.  Isn’t it incredible that every single one of them is in the exact same position, almost word for word! 
    Personally I am more than than happy for the media to align with this flight of fantasy, which in reality is no different to the last summer transfer window, and the summer window before that.
    —————-
    HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 10:48
    To be fair they now have their U20s coach in charge of the first team, after having received thousands of applicants, none of whom were suitable, and having been rejected by their back up choice.
    —————————————-
    They can get these players on loan who can’t get a game for their parent club,and they only moved because of how ‘massive’ they are.?As you say UPTHEHOOPS every single one of them has been given a script what to say,and why would they not go along with it, they know that instead of sitting in the stand at their own club they now have a chance to be on the TV  a compliant media,making them out to be something they may not be(sometimes i believe some of these players may look at themselfs in the mirror and ask, is that me? who knew i was that good, even i did not know that but if the media say that it must be true. Then as we all find out the hype is not all it is made up to be.
    Anyway19 back to what i wanted to say so sorry for the long post.
    when you can’t get a manager after having received thousands of applicants, none of whom were suitable, and you can’t get a manager on loan (like you can a player)and get then to say word for word how massive.etc,etc they are, the next best thing is get the U20s coach in charge of the first team All supported by a compliant media, making it out that the move is a massive step up to a massive club and he just can’t believe how big it all is etc the managers who rejected them or the one’s who never made the grade don’t know what they lost out on.
    Personally I am more than than happy for the media to align with this flight of fantasy, which in reality is no different to the last summer  and the summer before that. Roll on this summer


  46. Phil Macgiollabhain claiming Rangers have increased their bid for Greg Docherty, but are still unwilling to pay a penny until August. If Phil knows you can bet your bottom dollar many in the media do too. Of course they are coming out in increasing numbers to defend the Rangers valuation of players (Graham Spiers is the latest), while maintaining a silence on how Rangers propose to pay for them, or more to the point not pay for them!


  47. https://johnjamessite.com/2018/01/21/lites-induced-loan-game/

    A football agent source of mine has apprised me of the fact that should Mark Allen of Rangers Lite continue to play the ‘induced loan‘ game he will be effectively ‘Cold Shouldered‘ by all agents.

    The latest scam by Rangers is to pursue players that they cannot afford. It was a strategy that worked a treat before for Alastair Johnston and Dave King who were both aware of Sir Bribe & Lie’s EBT tax evasion and the acquisition (note not winning) of seventeen bent titles. When Jamie Murphy’s move to Auchenhowie broke down my agent source informed me that the player was in limbo. With no other bids on the table Allen then offers to take the unsettled player on loan until August of this year, which was the date proposed by Lite for the first of three payments; with the second in August 2019 and third in 2020.

    When Traynor briefed his BBC Freemasonry lickspittle Richard Wilson that Brighton had ‘moved the goalposts‘ he was of course lying. Allen’s offer of a first payment in August was dismissed out of hand. Allen anticipated this. The loan deal was all Lite could afford. It’s easy when you know how.

    Allen played the same game at Kilmarnock apropos Jordon Jones and at Hamilton with Greg Docherty. He made bids for both and proposed the same payment terms as he did with Brighton. Allen knew that the capital quantum and payment terms would be unacceptable but having unsettled the players he then offered to take the disgruntled players off their hands in loan deals.

    Steve Clarke is alive to Allen’s scam. Hamilton won’t return Allen’s calls. Docherty is being wrapped in cotton wool prior to one of Cardiff or Millwall signing him. Nice try Mark but no cigar.

    Should the SFA not step in to prohibit Allen from unsettling players by making bids that Lite cannot afford to induce loan deals? The SFA sat on their hands for a minimum of 13 years as Sir Bribe & Lie signed players that he could otherwise have not afforded had he paid HMRC what was due.

    Regan is so obsequious to the denizens of The Blue Room that he is perceived as a squeeze ball. Besides, Regan is far too busy orchestrating a whitewash in regard to Rangers’ bogus UEFA licence in 2011. Is it not high time that the compliance officer calls in a retired Lord Ordinary to dismiss the licence application as an honest mistake?

    There are those who suggest that arch criminal King’s impending Cold Shoulder won’t affect the club. I believe we will soon discover that it will have far-reaching consequences for the new club.

    Allen who left Manchester City under a dark arts cloud is playing a dangerous game. Those who suggest that Lite are not running on fumes should revert to the evidence.


  48. DARKBEFOREDAWNJANUARY 21, 2018 at 12:12                                                                                                    Bring in players now, have them work together for 6 months and if they work out, AND if we qualify from the early Europa league rounds in July, we buy the players. If we don’t qualify then the players return to their clubs and we cut our cloth accordingly? 
    ————–
    And fall further behind celtic and Aberdeen, that will not make the fans happy.
    If we don’t qualify then the players return to their clubs. Then it’s back to the same Bring in loan players again and try and qualify for europe.
    Is the identity of the club ruined in this way, the fans don’r really have any long term hero’s to look up to,no stability. Just someone that did them a turn.Or will The fans see their club as being passed about like a cheap whore for loan players to have some play time with.
    Ps. Edit sorry for that language


  49. Thought from post above.
    With all these players coming and going from ibrox.Has the ibrox club had the most turn around of first team player’s for a club in the last almost 6 years. just how many players(signed/loaned/trialed) have had a game for the ibrox club.
    Is the ibrox club now like the music charts(A we mention of music will keep me in there with jimbo and BP22)
    Is the ibrox club now like the music charts of today such a big turnover of acts and number one’s that are not very good and know one will remember them and no one gives a toss about them.And when people are asked about them they say WHO! never heard of them.
    not like in the old days16


  50. JC, I got a reply from Gary Innes, it was sitting in my spam folder since 9 Jan and I never noticed.  Anyhow, I had mentioned The Scottish Football Monitor to him.  But the worrying thing is he headed up his rely with ‘Hello Hello’.  Please God he doesn’t think I’m a bear. 18

    I’ve requested My Love is Like a Red Red Rose seeing as it’s around Burn’s Day.  He’ll probably think I’m an Aberdeen fan now.  Or even worse Liverpool.


  51. I’m away over to the Ernie B thread now I’ve got a couple of lovely songs to post. (one from the Byrds)


  52. Here’um, Jimbo, sober as a judge, but a hundred times happier04

    jimboJanuary 21, 2018 at 15:49


  53. Picture the scenario.

    I announce that my business is losing money this year and that I will have to put in £4m of my own money to keep it going.

    I then say that it will lose money next year as well, and I’ll have to put in another £3m next year just to keep it going.

    I am quite open about this and everyone knows it. No supposition, no guesswork, it’s all out there. 

    I then come to you and say “Can I take one of your major assets please. I’ll give you a third of the money in about six months, then another third a year after that, then the rest a year after that”.

    What’s your answer. 


  54. View Comment
    jimboJanuary 21, 2018 at 19:42
    JC, I got a reply from Gary Innes, it was sitting in my spam folder since 9 Jan and I never noticed. Anyhow, I had mentioned The Scottish Football Monitor to him. But the worrying thing is he headed up his rely with ‘Hello Hello’. Please God he doesn’t think I’m a bear. I’ve requested My Love is Like a Red Red Rose seeing as it’s around Burn’s Day. He’ll probably think I’m an Aberdeen fan now. Or even worse Liverpool.
    ——————————————————————
    Pretty sure Gary will be a shinty playing bear Jimbo! You two could strike up a grand friendship though? Take the floor 12.


  55. I swear the pundits on Radio Scotland read my post last night about the Dark Arts of fixture arrangements.  To a man none of them could understand how it all comes about and who is responsible.  Which is what I said!

    This is what they were talking about.  The SFA have arranged some friendlies for Scotland in advance of our European adventures in September.  Here is how it will pan out.  It particularly affects Celtic but other clubs too, to a lesser degree.

    The last SPFL fixtures 13 May.
    Scottish Cup Final 19 May (Yes assumptions being made here)
    Scotland in Peru (Yes Peru) 29 May
    Scotland in Mexico (yes Mexico) 2 June
    1st CL Qualifier for Celtic (assumption again) 10 July

    Now assuming Celtic will want pre-season 3 weeks before CL that around 19 June.

    Given the amount of Celtic players in the Scotland squad and two who will be on World Cup duty this is significant.

    A fortnight off perhaps?  Remember when there was a six week summer break?

    Why fly half way across the world?  Surely not for the suits?


  56. HomunculusJanuary 21, 2018 at 20:26 
    Picture the scenario.I announce that my business is losing money this year and that I will have to put in £4m of my own money to keep it going.I then say that it will lose money next year as well, and I’ll have to put in another £3m next year just to keep it going.I am quite open about this and everyone knows it. No supposition, no guesswork, it’s all out there. I then come to you and say “Can I take one of your major assets please. I’ll give you a third of the money in about six months, then another third a year after that, then the rest a year after that”.What’s your answer.
    ___________________

    Are you TRFC Ltd in disguise?


  57. Oh and the SFA are skint by the way.  Can’t afford to match NI offer to Michael O’Neil.  And heaven forbid that they could contribute towards goal line technology.


  58. HomunculusJanuary 21, 2018 at 20:26 Picture the scenario.I announce that my business is losing money this year and that I will have to put in £4m of my own money to keep it going.I then say that it will lose money next year as well, and I’ll have to put in another £3m next year just to keep it going.I am quite open about this and everyone knows it. No supposition, no guesswork, it’s all out there. I then come to you and say “Can I take one of your major assets please. I’ll give you a third of the money in about six months, then another third a year after that, then the rest a year after that”.What’s your answer.
    —————
    There’s been a bid,nowhere near acceptable.It was not even worth considering.
    We will have to turn down this generous offer


  59. CLUSTER ONE
    JANUARY 21, 2018 at 21:13
    ============================

    Well if you aren’t actually using the asset just now can I borrow it.

    I’ll cover the maintenance costs, at least you won’t have to pay that. So you are better off and at least the asset is getting used by someone, it’s just sitting reducing in value just now. 

    It’s still your asset of course, if I can come up with the money later I can pay you then. We can call it my “option to purchase”. 


  60. HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 21:23
    Name a “fixed Price” and we will shake on it, ok let’s not shake on it.You do promise to come up with the money right05


  61. JIMBOJANUARY 20, 2018 at 20:51
    Really hope James McCarthy recovers from a terrible leg break today playing for Everton.  I can’t watch the incident they say it is horrible, but faultless from the other player involved Salomon Rondon.  Get well soon.
    ——————————————————————————————
    I cannot fathom why anyone would think that Jimbo’s comments regarding James McCarthy would merit thumbs down.


  62. HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 20:26

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

    What a pity not one single member of the media is willing to comment on the farcical nature of what they are doing. Is it bias or is it fear, either from them or their Editor?


  63. PHILMACGIOLLABHAINJANUARY 21, 2018 at 21:43

    I cannot fathom why anyone would think that Jimbo’s comments regarding James McCarthy would merit thumbs down.

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

    It doesn’t take much working out IMO. McCarthy is despised by many Scottish football fans for the same reason as Aiden McGeady. I think it is likely the thumbs down are coming from that grouping. 


  64. jimboJanuary 21, 2018 at 15:16
    ‘..I agree with JC and Auldheid over on CQN today..’
    _________
    Ah,jimbo, the missing comma (between ‘JC’ and ‘and’  creates ambiguity! )
    For the sake of the lieges, jimbo, and the avoidance of doubt, I am a one-blog chap: I do not post on CQN ,or any other blog. Apart from anything else, I wouldn’t have the time!
    ( I am incidentally and pleasantly reminded of the old puzzles from primary school: one, to write a complete and meaningful sentence in which there are 5 ‘ands’ consecutively with no intervening words; two, to write a complete sentence with 7 ‘hads’ consecutively, with no intervening words) 


  65. The 
    William Hill Scottish Cup Fifth Round draw will see Ayr United v Fraserburgh or the ibrox club.Now if the ibrox club reach the fifth round this is another away tie in the scottish cup for the ibrox club, not what we have come to expect.
    would home draws against  the lower opposition have cost the ibrox club money they don’t have to stage these ties?


  66. Sorry JC, bad grammar on my part, didn’t mean to give that impression.

    As for the thumbs down on James McCarthy I don’t recognise one poster on here who would do that.  They must be lurkers.
      I know I get loads of thumbs down, sometimes deserved.  When I stray on to non football matters I get it on the chin.  I love having a laugh and this site is probably not the perfect fit for me.  But I love it here.  When really serious matters are being discussed animatedly I usually absent myself.  It’s when things are deadly quiet I go off the rails.


  67. ( I am incidentally and pleasantly reminded of the old puzzles from primary school: one, to write a complete and meaningful sentence in which there are 5 ‘ands’ consecutively with no intervening words; two, to write a complete sentence with 7 ‘hads’ consecutively, with no intervening words).
    Hi JC, I remember the 5 “ands” OK but couldn’t recall the 7 “hads”. I looked it up on Wikipedia but the explanation  was kind of complicated.
    For anyone interested, there are various versions of the “ands” but all essentially the same: a sign writer is told by his client that he would,”like more space between my name and ‘and’ and ‘and’ and ‘Son’.
    Here’s Wiki’s version of the 7 hadshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_while_John_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_a_better_effect_on_the_teacher
    Maybe JC can explain it more clearly.What a great site this is.1904


  68. PhilMacGiollaBhainJanuary 21, 2018 at 21:43
    ‘..I cannot fathom why anyone would think that Jimbo’s comments regarding James McCarthy would merit thumbs down.’
    __________
    As a wee boy, attending a match in the east end of Glasgow with my sainted mum and her sister (dear ‘old’ Auntie Sarah (she would at the time have been about 25 years younger than I am now!), I heard a fan, exasperated by the length of time treatment to an injured player was taking, cry out “Ach dig a f..king hole and bury him”. This observation  was treated as being a comedic expression of the fan’s exasperation, not of malicious desire that someone should be dead.
    For anyone to sit remotely  at a keyboard and ,in cold blood, seriously wish ill on a sportsman who has suffered a serious, career-threatening injury, betokens an evilly disposed, possibly sick, mind. 
    Either that or pissed thumbs hitting the wrong button by mistake!
    Let’s hope, for the sake of the thumbs-downers that they are not actually so evil as really to wish physical harm on a player injured in a game of football! 


  69. Cluster OneJanuary 21, 2018 at 21:30
    ‘..HOMUNCULUSJANUARY 21, 2018 at 21:23..
    “….Name a “fixed Price” and we will shake on it, ok let’s not shake on it. You do promise to come up with the money right.”
    ________
    “. and see that judge in South Africa? Don’t believe a word of what he said!

    My credit is good, ask anyone on the Panel for takeovers and mergers.
    Naw, better still, ask Chick..he’ll vouch for me! Even though he supports St Mirren!”


  70. BallyargusJanuary 21, 2018 at 22:35
    ‘…James_while_John_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_had_a_better_effect_on_the_teacher    cher.’
    _______
    I got it a wee bit wrong in saying ‘a’  sentence. I should simply have said 11 ‘hads’ consecutively. Sorry about that.
    It’s all to do with the pluperfect tense-and the use of inverted commas to do the two-double-fingers- quote  waggly thing in the air.
    Grammatically, syntactically, the thing should be written:
    “James, where John had had ‘had’, had had ‘had had’. ‘Had had’ had had the teacher’s approval.”
    ( and remind me to tell Michael Stewart that we do not say ‘could of’ or ‘should of’. The contractions are  ‘could have’ and ‘should have’.)


  71. Appeal update:

    Target: £2000 – Raised: £1073

    Just nudged over halfway earlier tonight folks. At this rate, we are hopeful of raising enough to buy the TBU which will allow us to produce better quality podcasts.

    Thanks to everyone who has donated – and of course to the folk who still subscribe monthly. 


  72. Noticed that Jimbo had hijacked the ErnieB thread last night, and we’re inclined to think that a suitable use for the thread, which has been unused since its inception, is for exactly the kind of off-topic stuff that Jim has used it for.

    Not sure that we are ready for a forum style design, but I am pretty sure that it might be an idea to redesign the front page to accommodate a direct link to off-topic, non football chat – a Mosh Pit kinda thing.

    If it becomes a success, we could maybe even create pages where fans of any particular club can go and blether in isolation about their own team.

    In the absence of any direct replies/suggestions, we’ll watch the TU/TD count for guidance.

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