435 thoughts on “The Ernie B Thread


  1. read downfall,

    I don’t read revisionist history,he got a tip off, he hoped it would bankrupt RFC, it didn’t, CW did.


  2. Ernest Becker says;

    “There is a big difference between converting loans into shares and not getting it back for goodness sake !!”

    Try telling that to the shareholders in the original club, (now in liquidation) 


  3. Ernest BeckerDecember 13, 2017 at 01:27
    read downfall, I don’t read revisionist history,he got a tip off, he hoped it would bankrupt RFC, it didn’t, CW did.

    Out of curiosity how much money was in the kitty when CW came in i recall he had to have 6 mill for running costs and 18 for the bank and he tapped this from ticketus not really bankrupting the club is it?
    I mean big Davie Murray if hed known would have sqaured this eh.
    “The money used to pay the bank debt was Ticketus money, which became the club’s money”,
    eh no it became CW’s money it would have been the fans money had he decided to stick around as they would pay of the loans, but he never did , the fans lost the club and the massive creditors debts to the taxman written off in liquidation, the owner became bankrupt and let big davie boy off the hook and the huniliation .
    “He then arranged a loan to Wavetower to pay the debt.
    Not exactly bankruting the club more like making himself bankrupt taking loans and doing a favour for the old boys network. The club was already bankrupt mate if you had read downfall Martin Bain was tipped off Big Davie Boy hitting the road mate, yer EBTs are no worth a toss.
    Hope you are not a wordsmith like the other tosser over on the moon, see you later off to the game to support my team, keep that history intact.


  4. bigboab1916December 13, 2017 at 18:00 
    Ernest BeckerDecember 13, 2017 at 01:27read downfall, I don’t read revisionist history,he got a tip off, he hoped it would bankrupt RFC, it didn’t, CW did.
    Out of curiosity how much money was in the kitty when CW came in i recall he had to have 6 mill for running costs and 18 for the bank and he tapped this from ticketus not really bankrupting the club is it?…
    ___________________

    The thing is, it doesn’t matter who killed RFC (though I agree with you, Boab), Rangers are deid, and Phil got that 100% right! Nice to see, though, that our visiting troll agrees that someone bankrupted the club.


  5. The club was already bankrupt mate if you had read downfall 

    Mate, i have read through Insolvency Law and cannot for the life of me find the term  ” already bankrupt appropos Phil “.
    Sounds Greek to me.


  6. No.  It was profit dependent,

    Yeah, that is why CFC made a 7 million loss in 2011-12 gambling on CL qualification, it is called the SDM business model,had they failed to qualify they were stuck with this wage bill for at least 2/3 years and annual losses of 7 million.
    They got rid of their rivals to double their chances and had a punt, a punt financed by secured lending.

    Anyone who thinks flogging players back in 2011-12 would have solved CL failure losses better think again@
    No CL, no RFC and a team devoid of stars?????

     £100 discount wouldn’t have saved the day, they would have lost a fortune with huge fixed overheads and the Golden Era becomes a Golden Shower.

    CFC £90.6 million
    Accies -1 million.

    Pffft.


  7. I would crowd fund money to send John James to the moon where he can howl at the flat earth.

    The sooner JC gets him on a couch the better.


  8. Ernest BeckerDecember 14, 2017 at 00:11
    No.  It was profit dependent,
    Yeah, that is why CFC made a 7 million loss in 2011-12 gambling on CL qualification, it is called the SDM business model,had they failed to qualify they were stuck with this wage bill for at least 2/3 years and annual losses of 7 million.
    They got rid of their rivals to double their chances and had a punt, a punt financed by secured lending.
    ===================
    Sheer tripe. Believe that and you will believe anything.
    Celtic’s wage bill had to be high to keep pace with the financially doped one at RFC including ebts, but not high enough that player sales would not offset the risk. The sale of McGeady in Aug 2010 for £9.5m kept the wolf from the door that year. 
    EBTS were still being offered to signings in 2008 when with £25m to £40m BTC tax bill on the table at Ibrox,RFC splurged £10m on players to take the titles in 2009/10/11. They actually spent around £21m but net spend after receipts from 3 transfers was £10m. These figures can be demonstrated
    RFC got rid of themselves and started the process in 2008, although to be fair, like the Spanish Inquisition they never saw the bank crash of October 2008 when the money tap was turned off. 
    If you are going to tell porkie pies try and get some facts to fill them. 


  9. On this Ernest Becker Troll (EBT) carbuncle …

    I am instinctively against censorship, even of such as this fifth columnist from the fourth estate, armed with a sack full of familiar old squirrels.

    However, we (by which I mean many of this site’s big hitters) do seem to be going round in circles with this joker.

    While I understand that it’s good to practice one’s replies to old saws such as those being regurgitated (ad nauseam) by EBT, is it really necessary to keep doing so?


  10. Rubbish, when Juninho went to Celtic he had an EBT from Middlesborough, Celtic approached HMRC and asked about them (they were unkknown to Celtic at the time) to be told that HMRC regarded them as illegal and tax evasion, as such Celtic paid the tax due.

    Not sure why CFC would be liable to pay tax on a Middlesborough EBT?


  11. I very much doubt RFC will be offloading some poor performing high wage earners in January,nobody would be stupid enough to pay their wages and i doubt they will move for less.


  12. Celtic took one look and thought ‘Naw.’  Warm?

    CFC had second thoughts may be warmer, if my memory serves me they repaid over £650,000 some months after agreeing to an EBT,not sure if any side letter was involved.


  13. I cannot see any problem with RFC using lending facilities and share conversion as a legitimate method of realising a historic domestic turnover,as long as it complies with FFP rules.
    I accept there is some risk but compared to SDM’s madness it is frugal by comparison.
    My position on RFC’s strategy is unchanged,much ado about nothing,one cannot expect the biggest club in Scotland to just sit back and accept mediocrity, Rangers is concomitant with glory.


  14. JOHN CLARK
    DECEMBER 15, 2017 at 12:57

    I suspect this will be the one and only time i am in complete agreement with you.


  15. Jeezo !! Deliberately stayed away from the site for about 2-3 weeks because the site was being led down a dead end by the troll that is Ernest Becker …..came back tonight and hes still here and we are still indulging …..Get a F@@@ing grip guys ( and Girls ) 01


  16. roddybhoyDecember 15, 2017 at 22:06 
    Jeezo !! Deliberately stayed away from the site for about 2-3 weeks because the site was being led down a dead end by the troll that is Ernest Becker …..came back tonight and hes still here and we are still indulging …..Get a F@@@ing grip guys ( and Girls )
    ___________________

    Couple of points on ignoring trolls.

    Ignoring them completely might well look to an occasional visitor that we can’t counter their point/argument;
    and each time they bring up some old argument it gives us the opportunity to revisit the facts which can refresh our thoughts on it and also raise things, in the light of what we know now, that we hadn’t thought of or realised before.

    Of course, engaging with them does seem to encourage them, so might I suggest that instead of arguing with them directly, we take the point they (try to) make and, without mentioning them or quoting them, proceed to revisit the facts they choose to ignore/misrepresent?

    So, if they have even the slightest modicum of self-awareness, they will realise that what they are doing is presenting us with an opportunity to post the things they hate to read, while their presence isn’t even acknowledged. Hopefully that modicum of self-awareness will lead to an eventual disappearing act. If they have no self-awareness, nothing we do, including ignoring them completely, will dampen their ardour.


  17. I am just saying that you do not need to own or control 25% of the PLC to be a person with significant control. 
    Not sure about this,no point in insisting on a declaration if it is meaningless.

    If i had to blindly guess the significance of the persons involved i would suggest one has been appointed to represent the interests of non-supporter investors and the other represents New Oasis to put some distance between DK and the family trust.It may be necessary to avoid DK being involved with too many shares when a share issue takes place.


  18. No, the SFA were quite prepared to let  Hearts  die, as a consequence of the mismanagement by the Russo/Lithuanian, 

    Oh i believe had Hearts gone into liquidation the SFA would have accommodated them much like RFC, as long as the same conditions were met they could hardly do otherwise.

    In my opinion.


  19. Had a wee look at the Hearts insolvency affair and it struck me as rather ironic that had Hearts gone into liquidation on or around mid April they would have been unable to complete their fixtures.
    Now if memory serves this would have terminated their membership,the club would have died and a new club would have to apply.
    They should have put the COMPANY into liquidation in the summer of 2013, Bidco buys the assets and history,requests a membership transfer to Bidco and avoid the risk of complete extinction by pursuing a very risky CVA during the season.

    Maybe the creditors would have got more than buttons from an asset sale.


  20. Good Evening and Welcome.

    Tonight’s topic. ” The importance of being earnest ”
    I find it interesting the most competitive and absorbing tier of Scottish football over the last few years has been the Championship and this league has seen significant growth in support.
    In fact one could argue there is little between this division and the bottom six of the top tier.
    The cause of this levelling out effect seems obvious to me,Rangers spent 2 years in this division and at the other end spent 4 years out of the top tier.
     All top tier clubs felt the commercial pain of Rangers 4 year absence and Championship teams received 2 years commercial benefits.
    I don’t find this particularly amazing given RFC’s huge market share but i do find it baffling when some deny the vital importance of RFC to Scottish football then and now.
    Therefore i say this in all earnest to those who continue to pray for the demise of RFC,be careful what you wish for because without RFC our diddy leagues will become the Irish League and your kids and grand kids will be wearing EPL strips on holiday.

    Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of Rangers away support try and focus on the much needed income they provide to all Scottish clubs,and a simple thanks would be nice.


  21. ERNEST BECKER
    DECEMBER 18, 2017 at 23:03
    Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of Rangers away support try and focus on the much needed income they provide to all Scottish clubs,and a simple thanks would be nice.

    I have a cunning plan.

    What if we were to take no action following a football club’s decade or more of industrial scale cheating and leave all the ill-gotten titles and trophies in place – because they provide much needed income to all Scottish clubs?

    What if we were to pretend that a football club that died the same death of liquidation as Gretna and Third Lanark never actually died at all – because they provide much needed income to all Scottish clubs?

    What if we were to be in permanent thrall to a delinquent football club and its b*stard offspring and fail to apply rules, regulations and punishments as they would be applied to any other club – because they provide much needed income to all Scottish clubs?

    Oh wait! Someone has already applied my cunning plan.


  22. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42625322

    Airdrieonians have announced that the controlling shareholding in the club has been sold to new owners.

    The Airdrie Diamonds Limited have bought the stake from M&H Logistics Glasgow Limited.

    The Scottish League One outfit have also announced a new interim board, chaired by former manager Bobby Watson.

    And first-team coach Stephen Findlay has the “full support” of the board, who “believe in his coaching abilities and vision for the club”.

    Director of football Gordon Dalziel has, though, left the club by mutual consent.

    “With the club under new ownership, training is now reverting back to Excelsior Stadium for evening sessions through the week,” Airdrie said in a statement.

    “Unfortunately Gordon’s evening commitments with Radio Clyde don’t allow him to commit to both.

    “We have provided [Findlay] with a budget to strengthen the squad during January and confirmed that signings should have next season in mind.”

    Gordon Dalziel has left his position as Airdrie’s director of football, 15 months after joining the club

    Currently sixth in their division, Airdrie are five points outside the promotion play-off places after 20 games.

    They drew 0-0 with East Fife on Saturday and are next in action against Stranraer this coming Saturday.

    “When asked, we have clarified that our objectives from here are to stabilise the club in all departments and then advance,” the club said.

    “We hope all fans of Airdrieonians Football Club get behind us and support all endeavours on and off the pitch from here on.

    “Everyone involved at the club, whether they be supporters, playing staff, sponsors or directors, share the same objective of shaping a club that the town of Airdrie can be proud of.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airdrieonians_F.C.

    Airdrieonians Football Club are a Scottish professional football team based in Airdrie who are members of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and play in the SPFL Scottish League One. They were formed in 2002 as Airdrie United Football Club following the liquidation of the original club. The club’s official name was changed in 2013 with the approval of the SFA to the traditional name of Airdrieonians. As with the earlier team of the same name, this is often colloquially shortened to simply “Airdrie”.


  23. Now this one has only got a tenious link to football. As we all know Rugby and cricket is for the toffs.  Whereas football is for the working class (and millionaires).  So this Grimethorpe Colliery Band playing ‘Proccesion to the Minster’.  It’s very powerful.  As a matter of interest that’s me sitting at the back on the R/H/S with the shoulders going up and down playing the tuba.  Some lungs eh?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPhNAwTWVWM


  24. Oh my God that brought tears to my eyes.

    Right I’ll go and search for one for I heard tonight on the radio. It was beautiful.

    Couldn’t find the one I heard but here’s this version.  The Voice Squad. Banks of the Bann.  To the same beautiful tune of ‘Be Thou My Vision’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq01OuEGCfA


  25. Struggling to think of a song for BP.  I did go to two concerts in the Apollo with Deep Purple.  I’ll have look.  No couldn’t find the original group.

    Think I’ll turn to Punk.

    Ah yes the Sex Pistols when guitars were real genuine guitars.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6GDdKrQ8EI


  26. Told you all this would be a sport related music thingy.

    I can just imagine BP and his squad doing this number with a gorgeous girl at the front.

    No I can’t.

    Anyway on we go.
    Blue Order for the Bears on here.  I know I don’t like it either but you leave me with little choice.  I tried Blue Eyes last night with Elton John and it went down like a brick.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk


  27. I can see a problem.  All my customers posts are appearing in the list of ‘recent posts’.  Why don’t you exclude posts to Ernie B from the ‘recent posts list?


  28. JIMBO
    Do you do requests?
    Given whose thread this is:
    Jethro Tull-Thick As A Brick?


  29. Some great contributions there folks.  Paddy, those clips were hilarious.  Laughed out loud.

    10


  30. Seeing as it is Sunday this is a lovely song whether you’re of a religious persuasion or not.

    The Byrds,  Turn Turn Turn.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4

    The football connection is in the words.  It contains ‘season’.

    “To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)And a time to every purpose, under Heaven”


  31. OK, since you’ve posted something by The Byrds, how about another – “I’ll Feel A Whole Better”, a great song by Gene Clark and the B side of the 45 “All I Really Want To Do”.  This was also covered by Tom Petty.  Gene Clark and Tom Petty, both sadly gone!

    I’ll feel a whole lot better when Sevco start to live within their means?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cuWjHoEB0Q


  32. Enjoyed that Gaslamp.  I always liked the Byrds that twangy guitar sound and great vocal harmonies.

    ‘All I really want to do’  Getting nostalgic now.  04


  33. ; I think that we have here is a perfectly usable resource thet’s not being utilised so the weans take over  and all is well until the adults get involved and frown,or worse .  Maybe Ernie will pay a visit again and entertain us with his musical choices . It’s all education to me .


  34. Paddy, ya big eejit.  We have a new forum for us.
    When you sign on there is a black strip along the top.  Click on forums.  Then click on  Forum<Erniebeechat, then make a choice.  Probably Music Tastes on SFM.

    See you there.  I’ve left a lovely song for you.


  35. Well, Ive found my home.  In the site I love. as a columnist, not in the front page.  Good.

    The front page is about all the things we care about, you know what.

    But life is about so much more.  Everyone of you know that.  I feel that the multi club friendships, against bigotry and sectarianism, favouritism and cheating by those at Hampden is a common bond.

    But that aside,  we are human beings.  With loves outside football.  We should never be a single issue inteligencia with our noses so stuck up our rectums that we become a boring, Tory broadsheet.


  36. Good song choices Jimbo. I do like Coldplay despite the lead singer being a bit of a prat. Glad to see your spirit has not been broken by recent events on the main blog. At the end of the day, everyone who contributes to this blog are all after the same thing – transparency, fairness and honesty in the game. I wish there were more Rangers fans taking part in the debates as the fundamentals being pushed for on here would actually help our club more than any other! If enough of us with hard enough skin who won’t be put off by views that are maybe different to our own could work together to rid the game of the Kings, and the crooks in the SFA it would only help Rangers as well as the rest of Scottish football


  37. Ive just thought of a great way to mix Coldplay with football.  Chris Martin is Henrik Lasrson and the Scottish guitarist with them is Billy McNeil.


  38. I think I’m getting punished in some way.  I couldn’t correct my misspelling of Henrik.  BP in a bad mood.  I don’t care, I’m on my todd. Enjoying my wee chats.   God love you BP & Tris Respect


  39. You know what I would like?  If Ernie B came back on.  Talking like a normal person instead of a robot from level 5.


  40. Something all you guitarist folk should know. 

    I love Bass guitarists.   They are unseen, unspoken heroes of groups.


  41. Went to see the great man in the year of culture (as if Glasgow ever needed that accolade) in the Secc

     

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