The Rangers saga as it happened…

The last 12 months has seen a lot of water pass under the bridge.  For a newcomer it is very hard to see past what the MSM are currently printing – I hope this article will go someway to rectifying that, and allow those who didn’t follow this story from the start to get a basic understanding of the views that have been formed on Rangerstaxcase.com and on TSFM.  Further, I hope it refreshes the memories of those of us who have followed the saga since the early days and focuses our attention on asking key questions that remain unasked or unanswered.

I have provided links where possible throughout the time line.  I have also highlighted in red where the story seems to end, a question remains unasked, or no answer has been forthcoming.  I may also have missed some critical points – feel free to mention these and we can add as we go.

The Rangers Saga as it happened…

June 2001: Christian Nerlinger joins Rangers.  Little be known to the rest of Scottish football he will be the first player paid by an EBT (an Employee Benefit Trust) which will later be declared illegal (as administered by Rangers) by HMRC.

Summer 2004: Jean Alain Boumsong rejects English Premier League sides to sign for Rangers on a free transfer.  Six months later he is sold (January of 2005) to Newcastle in an 8million deal .  This deal is later investigated by the City of London police who raided Newcastle and Rangers in June 2007.

A later report from Lord Steven remarked:

“There remains inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness – a former manager of the club – and Freddy Shepherd – apparently acting in an undefined role but not as a club official – as to their respective roles in transfer negotiations.”

April 2010: HMRC hit Rangers with a tax bill of 24m before penalties for non payment of taxes  on monies remitted to players and staff via the EBT scheme.

27th March 2011: A new blog appears on wordpress named ‘Rangerstaxcase.com’.  Little did we know the impact it will have on Scottish Football.

6th of May 2011: Craig Whyte buys Rangers FC PLC for 1gbp from David Murray, with his holding company Wavetower taking over 85% of the Football club.

Mid-May 2011:  Craig Whyte renames Wavetower to the ‘Rangers Football Group Ltd’, the holding company for Rangers FC PLC.  He immediately claims he has cleared the Rangers debt to Lloyds Bank and is ready to invest in the team.  He quickly removes Alastair Johnston and Paul Murray from the Board and suspends  Martin Bain and Donald McIntyre.

5th June 2011: RTC uncovers a MG05 document filed at Companies House showing that Rangers have assigned 4 years of season ticket sales to another company.  This is later denied by Craig Whyte, but later on turns out to be the mechanism by which Whyte funded the takeover.

19th June 2011: Craig Whyte is asked about the RTC blog, remarking:

“I’m aware of a website that has dedicated itself to talking about our tax case, I’ve looked at it. What they’re saying is 99 per cent crap”

August 2011: Rangers are knocked out of Europe by Maribor.  A seemingly irrelevant event, but one that leaves a £15m hole in Craig Whytes budget.  One that he meets by not paying the tax man.  RTC questions in October where this money was coming from…

10th September 2011: Court papers from Martin Bain, related to his employment case against Rangers explode across the internet (papers in full here).  Within them there is a plea from Bain’s lawyers to freeze the claimed compensation as they feel there is a question mark over the clubs solvency.  Further it exposes the assignment of ticket sales to a 3rd party and shows that the debt owed to Lloyds Bank has not been discharged completely.  RTC analysis’ of these ‘Bain papers’ is concluded with the following:

While Rangers’ supporters might not be in any mood to thank anyone for helping shed light on this situation, it is good for their club (if not its current and previous owners) that this information is in the public domain. It is especially good for our national game as a whole that we discuss the problems of the last decade openly. Rangers supporters need to ask themselves why they have meekly stood by while the future of their club has been imperiled and whether their “friends” in the media have done them an injustice by becoming complicit in the cover-up of this story.

Unfortunately, despite the information being exposed to all, the Rangers fans failed to listen…

October 2011:  In the first mainstream feature on the case, the BBC air a documentary proving that Craig Whyte had been banned from holding a director position in UK companies for 7 years for ‘putting assets out of the reach of creditors’.  BBC are banned from Ibrox and Whyte claims he will sue the BBC for presenting false evidence – but later admits that he was disqualified.  Rather amusingly he admits this the same day he reveals Rangers have reduced their debt to 14m…. (they hadn’t)

The SFA stay silent on the matter and the writ received by the BBC in February 2012 has since vanished.

30th November 2011:  Rangers PLC release un-audited accounts for the year 2010/2011 revealing profits of 2 million pounds and NET Assets of 76m.  The accounts are NOT signed by an auditor leading to rumors all is not well in Ibrox.

January 2012: RTC explains in detail Succulent Lamb Journalism…  the phrase becomes a defining point of the story, along with ‘internet bampots’, coined by Hugh Keevins.

18th January 2012:  The ‘Big tax case’ concludes.  We still await the findings…

13th February: Rangers file papers at the Court of Session giving notice of their intention to enter administration within 7 days…

14th February:  HMRC petition the CoS to allow them to appoint administrators.  After a short hearing, HMRC withdraw the motion and Rangers PLC promptly appoints the now infamous Duff & Phelps as administrators.  On Valentines eve, Craig Whyte stands on the steps of Ibrox and announces to the angry mob the unthinkable… Rangers FC PLC is now in administration.

That evening it is confirmed that HMRC had pushed for administration over £9 million in unpaid VAT, PAYE and NI since the Whyte takeover.  This later rises to 18m.

99% what Craig?

15th February 2012: The SPL immediately deduct Rangers (IA) 10 points for entering administration, as per league rules.  Possibly the last time they follow their own rules throughout this saga.

Bizarrely, Rangers (IA) push ahead with the proposed signing of Daniel Cousin on wages of 7500GBP/week.  The SFA make no comment, despite this being against the rules for a club in administration.

David Murray, in typical fashion, professes surprise at events which RTC warned about 12 months earlier while Murray was still in charge.  Murray also says:

“Firstly, there has been no decision, and there is no present indication as to the timing of a decision, from the first-tier tax tribunal concerning the potential claim from HMRC of £36.5m excluding interest and penalties.

“Secondly, legal opinion on the strength of the club’s case remains favorable.”

21st February: Daily Mail confirm what RTC told us last year, by confirming that Ticketus bought 100,000 season tickets at Ibrox over the next 4 years.  It was this money that Whyte used to buy the club.  Rangers fans are up in arms.  Even though they ignored the warnings a year earlier.

The SFA announce that Lord Nimmo Smith will chair an inquiry into the circumstances leading to administration.

25th February 2012: The Sun on Sunday launches by printing what they claim is a ‘side letter’ given to Rangers players. A financial expert tells them:

“Number one, you are going to get £122,000 and number two you get £1,200 for a first-team game.

“It equates to salary as far as I am concerned. I would say this sort of letter will be a central thread in the big tax case.

RTC will later confirm they are correct.

27th February 2012:  The SFA confirm they will start an investigation into these ‘side letters’

3rd March 2012: D&P admit Rangers have no chance of making Europe next season, as they admit audited accounts by the 31st of March would be almost impossible.

However, in a baffling move, one month later D&P reveal they are ‘appealing’ the decision to ban Rangers from Europe.  UEFA respond by saying

“Licence applicants must demonstrate that as at March 31, 2012, they have no payables overdue towards their employees or social/tax authorities as a result of contractual/legal obligations to their employees that arose prior to December 31, 2011.”

8th March 2012:  Lord Nimmo Smith forwards his report to the SFA Judicial Panel.  The report contains prima facie evidence that Craig Whyte was not a ‘fit and proper person’.  A hearing is set for the 29th of March.  This is later postponed at the request of Whyte.  The full Nimmo Smith report has still not been released by the SFA.

9th March 2012: With no redundancies in sight, Rangers players agree to pay cuts, ranging from 75 – 25%.  It is later revealed that these are not ‘pay cuts’, but pay deferments which must be repaid in the summer, otherwise Rangers will be in breach of contract.  No info is forthcoming in the summer on whether this was paid or not.

5th April 2012: D&P reveal in their first creditors report that Rangers debts could top 134m, with HMRC claiming 93m of the total.

The report also details debts to football creditors of around 2.3m.  It also details debts of hundreds of creditors, such as that for Susie Thomson – a face-painter from Glasgow owed 40quid.  These were the real human losers in this story.

Interestingly, assets are valued at 116m, as per the 2011 accounts.

23rd April 2012: The SFA’s independent panel finds Rangers (IA) guilty of 5 different breaches of SFA rules relating to disrupte charges and are handed a 160,000GBP fine, the maximum available and a 12 month transfer embargo.  The judicial panel state that the offenses committed by Rangers were only one step “lower than match fixing”, and reveal that they considered the punishment of suspension of license or expulsion from the SFA.  They determine a fine would not be enough given the seriousness of the charges and thus impose a transfer embargo.

In the judgement, the panel make reference to evidence given by the Rangers Financial Controller who said invoices to Ticketus were such that they ” appeared as though Clip Art computer processes had been involved in their creation.” The FC tells the  panel he had never seen them.

24th April 2012:  The uproar from Ibrox is loud, with the Bears taking their anger out on the SFA.  McCoist makes a rallying call, demanding to know “who these people are”  He makes an ‘apology’ the next day for putting their lives in danger, but stops short of apologising for forcing names to be released, despite his club previously voting in a motion to keep names confidential.

As a result, a poor director at Raith Rovers takes his family into protective police custody, and Raith are forced to hire round the clock security after arson threats to their ground.  Finally, in August 2012, McCoist is charged by the SFA for his remarks.  He has decided to challenge the charge and the case is ongoing.

Rangers blame the SFA for not stopping Whyte earlier, despite warnings before he took over from RTC.

“Why did the SFA not investigate when they said they had suspicions before Christmas rather than wait until the club went into administration?

9th May 2012:  American tycoon Bill Miller walks away from a proposed offer for Rangers (IA) after being subjected to threats from the Ibrox crowd and discovering a “30 million black hole” in the Rangers accounts.

11th May 2012: Rangers reveal they will appeal the transfer embargo and fine imposed.  The SFA inexplicably name the 3 man panel that will oversee the decision, going against SFA rules agreed by ALL clubs, including Rangers (IA).

13th May 2012:  Reports suggest Charles Green, backed by a global consortium (still unknown!) has bought shares from Craig Whyte for 2quid.  He is given an exclusivity period to propose a CVA worth 8.5m.

17th May 2012: SFA uphold the transfer embargo against Rangers (IA) .  The SFA state that it was “proportionate to the breach, dissuasive to others and effective in the context of serious misconduct, bringing the game into disrepute.”

The Rangers Fighting Fund along with D&P announces they are paying a lawyer to challenge the SFA in the Court of Session.  SFA say nothing.

22nd May 2012:  It is now May, 3 months since the SFA/SPL announced an investigation into side letters and unauthorized payments to players from Rangers FC.  RTC once again provides evidence of a ‘prima facie’ case by revealing details of Christian Nerlinger’s EBT letters.

23rd May 2012: BBC air a damning documentary revealing details of EBT payments and side letters to Rangers players since 2001.  They also uncover emails showing that D&P’s David Grier seemed to have prior knowledge of the Ticketus deal.  D&P and Craig Whyte threaten legal action, but none is forthcoming.  The BBC also hint at payments made to managers not employed by Rangers at the time, including Graeme Souness.

29th of May 2012:  D&P reveal their ‘CVA’ proposal.  One that was doomed to fail, offering creditors little or nothing.  It also revealed if it was rejected then the ‘assets’ would automatically be sold to Charles Green and Sevco 5088 for just 5.5m (the ‘new’ value of the assets.  No evidence has yet been presented on how these ‘assets’ were valued.)

On the same day (seeing the pattern of bad news being overshadowed by good news yet?) Rangers ‘win’ at the Court of Session, with the court ruling that the SFA had no powers to give a transfer ban.  They decide to refer the decision back to the SFA judicial panel to decide on a new punishment.

Lawyer Gregory Ioannidis remarks:

“If the Scottish Football Association decides to not take action against Rangers, in relation to Rangers submitting the application to the Court of Session, then Fifa can actually penalise the SFA, and the individual club, and the national team of Scotland, and impose an international ban on all of them.”

No action is ever taken by the SFA or FIFA.

12th June 2012:  HMRC release a statement saying that they will reject the CVA.  Given that they have over 25% of the debt, it makes the creditors meeting scheduled for the 14th irrelevant.

“A CVA would restrict the scope of such action. Moreover, the liquidation route does not prejudice the proposed sale of the club. This sale can take place either through a CVA or a liquidation, so the sale is not being undermined, it simply takes a different route.

“Liquidation will enable a sale of the football assets to be made to a new company, thereby ensuring that football will continue at Ibrox. It also means that the new company will be free from claims or litigation in a way which would not be achievable with a CVA.

“Rangers can make a fresh start.”

14th June 2012: The CVA is formally rejected.  D&P immediately sell the assets to Sevco 5088 Ltd and Rangers FC PLC (IA) cease to operate as a football club.   The assets are later assigned to Sevco Scotland Ltd.  SPL rules state that a club that ceases to function as a football club should immediately relinquish its share and membership.  This does not happen.

15th June 2012:  Ian Hart denies being part of the Green consortium buying the Rangers assets.  Green had earlier named him when pushed to name his backers

So starts the misinformation campaign from Sevco.

17th June 2012: Rangers FC are excluded from the fixture list for the forthcoming SPL season, replaced instead by ‘Club 12’.  It is widely reported, that if Sevco Scotland are refused a place in the SPL, then Club 12 will be Dundee.  The SPL give no reasons why.

17th – 27th June 2012: Walter Smith, Allan Stewart and Stephen McKenna, and then John Brown all turn up in the papers making ‘bids’ for the assets which Green has already bought.

22nd June 2012 – Lord Hodge seeks report from D & P re: a potential “conflict of interest”, after information given to him by the BBC.

25th June 2012: The BBC reveal that Sevco Scotland will not be granted admission to the SPL, after 6 clubs publicly declare their opposition, after season ticket sales fail to materialize as fans make their views known.

27th June 2012:  John Brown stands on the steps of Ibrox and pleads with Rangers fans not to buy season tickets until Green reveals who are his backers and who owns Ibrox.  This question remains unanswered.  Brown is now silent.

4th July 2012:  Despite weeks of pressure from the SFA, SPL and MSM, the SPL clubs reject the application from Sevco Scotland to join the SPL.

Stewart Regan warns of Armageddon for Scottish Football if Sevco are not admitted to SFL1 instead.  We are still waiting.

5th July 2012Stenhousemuir reveal details of a talk given to them by Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan, where SFL clubs are threatened with bankruptcy if they don’t vote Sevco Scotland into Division 1.  Figures presented are ridiculed by the internet bampots.

Clyde and Raith Rovers emerge as the cheerleaders for sporting integrity in the lower leagues, with both clubs openly speaking out against what they describe as “irresponsible”.  Raith Chairman Turnbull Hutton suggests the SFL clubs send their mascots to vote on the proposal for Sevco to enter SFL1.

9th July 2012: the SFA refuse international clearance for players who decided to leave Rangers (IA) when the assets were sold, as were their rights under the TUPE laws.  This decision has yet to be explained, and is contrary to legal advice.

Meanwhile, Sevco director Imran Ahmad, when asked what he felt was the exit price to sell Rangers/Sevco was, replied:

“On a bad day the club is worth £50m.”

Of course, they had just bought the club for just 5.5m, and still had no league place for the forthcoming season.

13th July 2012:  Expiry of deadline for submission of report on D&P conflict of interest.  News suggests that Lord Hodge is on holiday.  No news has been heard since and the administration continues…

13th July 2012: Sevco Scotland are allowed to start life in the 3rd division, subject to gaining an SFA licence, after SFL clubs vote to reject the proposal to allow Sevco Scotland into the 1st division.   There is no sign of Armageddon.

15th July 2012FIFA write to the SFA asking for reasons why former Rangers IA players are having their registration transfer blocked.  The players claim their free agents and have rejected the TUPE arrangements with Green’s new club.  As of August Allan McGregor’s move to Turkey is still onhold as they wait on international clearance.  We await an answer, as we suspect FIFA do to.

24th July 2012: Ian Black signs a 3 year deal with Sevco Scotland.  It is unclear how he is registered or who he is contracted to.

9pm, 27th July 2012:  Just 48 hours before the first scheduled match for Sevco Scotland the SFA grant an unheard of ‘conditional’ membership to Sevco Scotland.  It is reported that Sevco Scotland have agreed to a 12 month transfer embargo, starting on the 1st of September 2012.  They also agree to pay all football debts of Rangers (IA).

Sevco, playing in strips of Rangers (IA) defeat Brechin City in extra time to record their first ever victory.  Ian Black plays as a trialist, despite signing a contract with Sevco Scotland earlier in the week.  It is further unclear whether players are registered to Rangers IA or Sevco Scotland, and if the former, how?

31st July 2012: At an EGM of Rangers FC PLC (IA) the directors change the company name to Rangers 2012 (IA).  At the same time Sevco Scotland pass a resolution to change their name to ‘The Rangers FC Ltd’.  Companies house data shows that Charles Green owns more than 10% of The Rangers FC Ltd, despite his claims that no one person would own more than this.  No one from the MSM thinks to ask this question.

3rd August 2012:  The Rangers FC Ltd are granted full SFA membership, after having the membership of Rangers 2012 (IA) transferred to them.  Under what rules this was possible is not clear.

ESPN follow SKY in agreeing a new deal with the SPL for TV rights.  No sign of Armageddon yet.

15th August 2012: Dundee Utd in a short statement reveal that they have not been paid by Sevco/TRFC for the unpaid debt relating to last season’s Scottish Cup with Rangers (IA).  Despite an agreement with the SFA to pay these debts, Charles Green blames the SPL for going back on a agreement made in May to pay this out of money owed to Rangers (IA).  Dundee Utd, and other European clubs remain unpaid, as does the poor face painter from Glasgow.

It is unclear how the ‘conditional’ membership works if the ‘conditions’ have not been met.  

STV further report that SPL clubs still do not know how much TV cash they are going to get from the new SPL SKY deal.  The SPL make no comment.

17th August 2012: Lord Nimmo Smith is appointed to chair an independent commission into Rangers (IA) making undeclared payments to players from 2001 onwards.  They are unlikely to sit before October.

22nd August 2012: ‘The Rangers’ announce they have signed a joint venture with Sports Direct for the merchandising rights.  Companies House shows that the new company, ‘Rangers Retail’, is owned 100% by SportsDirect.com

23rd August 2012: There is still no word on who are the investors in Sevco Scotland.  The SFA have not released any details to explain how Green passed the fit and proper person test.  No details of proof that Sevco Scotland have the finances to last the season.  The question of where are Ticketus is silent. Lord Hodge has still not returned his findings on a conflict of interest in the appointment of D&P.  The FTT result is still awaited, just like BDO await the liquidation of Rangers 2012 PLC.  Meanwhile, Stewart Regan resurfaces to announce details of league reorganization in time for next season, reducing Scotland to 3 leagues from 4.

Oh… and there is still no signs of Armageddon.

28th August 2012: Campbell Ogilvie finally breaks cover to talk about how league reconstruction was on the agenda long before Rangers ran into problems.  He managed however to proclaim;

To be fair, nobody really saw the situation coming

Yes Campbell… just like you didn’t see the side letters.

—-

StevensanPH is an exiled St.Johnstone fan living in the Philippines – he runs the SaintinAsia blog writing about all aspects of Scottish Football.  Thankfully the MSM don’t sell papers in the Philippines…”
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About neebs67

I am a ST holder at Celtic Park, lifelong Celtic fan approaching my 60th birthday. Took "early retirement" after being made redundant three years ago. At that time I was living in the NE of England, moved back to Scotland just over two tears ago.

1,011 thoughts on “The Rangers saga as it happened…


  1. When Ian Black, Fran Sandaza and Dean Shiels are being signed on 3 year deals its a bit strange that young Barrie McKay has 9 months left on his contract.
    He could sign a pre contract in November.
    Is no one at Ibrox ensuring that the players they have will see them through the next 2 transfer windows??? I wonder why.


  2. So,Lord Haw Hawdges not come out of his shell yet? Los Dufferos still swillin’ the champers as the continue in the admin. scam? SFA still flip flopping like landed fish? Police still draggin’ their heels and viewing everything through the wrong end of the telescope? Weren’t there some other incompetent inquiries goin’ on? The lazy,hazy crazy days of summer.
    Any,any any other club that had behaved like the angry razor-boys formerly known as rfc would have been mercilessly hammered into pieces by now,ripped to shreds in a variety of courts and unceremoniously buried in the furthest corner of the cemetery.
    But no,according to the scurrilous msm,they live on as if nothing has changed and nothing ever will. We stupid peasants have been told.
    Maybe they’ll get their stupid heads together and write a bestselling self help manual and call it “How To Commit Major Fraud and Get Away with It.”


  3. In which I look at what Duff and Phelps have cost the creditors of Rangers, and what they have been spending time on since they sold off all the assets in June.

    I also take a very “broad axe” approach to the value of the administration process, which seems to suggest that the creditors would have been several million pounds better off if the liquidators had come in on 14th February!

    The figures are mind-boggling.

    That applies to each of the total costs, the weekly bills, the hourly rates charged, and the amount of time spent on this job.

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

    Paul , one of your previous articles seemed to suggest that duff and phelps sold the club as a going concern … Surely that cant be the case ??


  4. The usually reliable NI man Sean Dillon, corrected that for him.


  5. The premise that D&P were making the Bears last until the end of the season was, forgive me if my memory is wrong, purely stated to get the prize money for the creditors. This was given as the basis for the players taking a pay cut (but no redundancies).

    However once the end of season was attained, the creditors got shafted (again).

    The prize money of 2.5 million was given to CG to barter with SPL with – and they took the pot and let him in.

    So how can anyone this side of Fraudsville think that anything that these adminstrators did in 4 months is worth anything – bear in mind the object of the admins is to ensure there is something for the creditors – nowhere did it state their prime objective was to ensure The Peepil could maintain their history, which now seems to be the prime objective all along……..

    If BDO does not do anything about this, I would be delighted in everyone followed suit shafting Hector in this way – because if they don’t do anyhting about this sham, they will have brought it on themselves.

    One last observation – SR and ND are idiots granted – but they are not so sure of themselves in a strange country to be going along with all of this. Which begs the question – who told them the MO? My money is on someone who told Al Jazeera about a great Scottish institution that could not be allowed to fail………not knowing it would get back here. No way these 2 muppets would have the balls to bend the rules the way they did – someone on high has assured them he has their back………….


  6. Jimbo Milligan says
    A going concern? Yep, going straight down the toilet.

    Seriously, thats exactly what the strategy appears to be, except the figures don’t add up. The beneficiaries of the new “going concern” aren’t the creditors, but those behind the plan. Who’s plan it is of course is open to debate, and I wonder if the liquidators will get into that debate.

    Reading PMcC’s analysis leads me to wonder if the flagrant fees being charged aren’t a smokescreen…get the liquidators busy on reducing the charges but letting the strategy continue.

    Previous posts on RTC often commented on the mindset of criminals, with the long term consequences very far from their thoughts, so making sense of the apparent risks and of their hoping that they’ll get away with things if they can just get a little more time to work on another plan. Is this unprecedented adminstration another example of this?


  7. During the summer and the run up to the SFL clubs voting I stopped buying the Daily Record and turned to the Daily Express instead. On the day of the vote they were excellent – no opinion led drivel from any journalist (and certainly no pleading for Newco to go into the First), just good honest reporting from the people involved in the vote, Turnbull Hutton, Mike Mulraney of Alloa, etc. I have stuck with the Express until today, which will be my last purchase. Why? No reports from the games at Hamilton, Dunfermline and Livingston last night. Isn’t that incredible? There is just no decent newspaper available to buy in this wee nation of ours. The Record today I’m sure will have good reports on all the games but I cannot bring myself to buy that rag anymore. There is definitely a gap in the market for a decent Scottish daily paper. Maybe that could be the next project for the brains on TSFM? I’ve ruled myself out there!


  8. Lord Wobbly says:
    August 29, 2012 at 07:23

    Sorry the link didn’t work……….. I’ve been on a twitter propaganda campaign lol 😉

    I lurk now and then. Not much happening just now………

    Great to see the continuation site and many of the originals and new posters coming into their own.


  9. Here’s the “STATEMENT” from *Rangers Unite in full……..

    (apologies for the confusion earlier and the confusing use of *Rangers and not THE Rangers/ Sevco Franchise, in statement) 😉

    “Mr Graham, Mr Davidson and Supporters Direct, we would like to take this time to thank you all for your approach to RangersUnite in an effort to eliminate opposing Membership Schemes focussed on the acquisition of Rangers Football Club.

    RangersUnite have been very active over the last few months, bringing in additional support and expanding our Association, with this expansion RU have had to expand our Purpose to encapsulate all that is required to bring about a supporters majority ownership of OUR Club.

    For avoidance of doubt RU believe the following Purposes must be Core to achieving a successful outcome and in the best interests of all supporters.

    1. DELIVER FAN MAJORITY OWNERSHIP

    2. UNITE ALL RANGERS SUPPORTERS UNDER ONE SUPPORTERS PLATFORM.

    3. TO SUPPORT A ROBUST SUPPORTER OWNED VEHICLE THAT HAS AN ACHIEVABLE MODEL AND PLAN TO BRING ABOUT MAJORITY OWNERSHIP OF OUR CLUB.

    4. JUSTICE TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE TO OUR CLUB

    5. OPPOSITION TO THE LIQUIDATION OF RFC “OLDCO”.

    The implementation of these Purposes must be governed by Values.

    • Honesty and Transparency.
    • Equality.
    • Unity.
    • Democracy.
    • Respect.

    RangersUnite believed that the initial approach by Supporters Direct would have followed a minimal diligence that would ensure that any such progress would have to align with each of the respectful parties. To date we have seen no evidence of any structure that could ensure a successful outcome.

    We appreciate that Supporters Direct are a competent advisory Group, but to date there has been a lack of any advice.

    In our opinion there has been a lack of the following:

    1. Due Diligence between the parties

    2. Structure to permit progress.

    3. Lack of Consultation with RangersUnite

    4. Lack of Urgency with little support to the leadership of Supporters Direct.

    This leads us to our concerns related to the democracy of such a venture.

    1. Two groups were invited to participate, RST and RU, this lacks a quorum.

    2. RU opposed the proposed public identity should an agreement be reached, however this opposition was dismissed regardless.

    3. Supporters Direct met with Charles Green to discuss proposals that had not been created nor approved.

    4. The imposition by Supporters Direct that all supporters could only participate by joining RST, an item of great contention by RangersUnite and most certainly opposed by RU, every supporter should be able to participate free from membership of any group.

    5. The appointment of Mr Ian Davidson MP, there was no consultation or approval by RU.

    6. RU respectfully believe that the political views of Mr Davidson are in conflict with the vast majority of Rangers Supporters, which would be an obstacle to success.

    7. Due to a lack of transparency, consultation and overruling opposition of critical items RU believe there is a Private Agenda, which is not in the best interests of the Rangers Supporters.

    RangersUnite do not believe that these proposals shall succeed as they lack transparency, democracy and integrity. We believe that only proposals that have the supporters and RFC as core will succeed and will only succeed when they have been given the transparency, democracy and respect they are entitled to, especially due to the significant negative events that have occurred to THEIR Club over the last 18 months.

    Although we may all be agreed that supporters involvement is critical to all, we believe that what has been discussed tonight is not in line with the Purpose and Values that are central to RangersUnite, which we believe is in the best interests of EVERY Rangers Supporter and RFC and therefore cannot support such a proposal.”


  10. celtic1967 says:
    August 29, 2012 at 08:41
    Could it be that intellect, knowledge, honesty and fairness are capacities outwith Gordon Smith’s universe? I’d rather listen to the wisdom of my grandchild’s rabbit than what he has to say.
    —————————————————————————————-

    And QUITE RIGHT TOO is what I say.


  11. Torrevieja Johnbhoy / Jimbo milligan

    I’ve always been intrigued by this statement. Now I’m no insolvency expert / IP, but surely (either) a *COMPANY (whether that be a PLC/ Holding Co or company husk)or *CLUB (football club/stadia/ licensed entity etc) in administration (soon to be liquidated) cannot be sold as a going concern?

    “4.6 As part of a wider agreement with the Joint Administrators which was finalised prior to the
    CVA meetings, Newco was obliged to purchase the business, history and certain assets of
    the Company should the CVA fail. Accordingly a going concern sale to Newco completed
    shortly after the meetings, which has resulted in the Joint Administrators achieving the second
    objective identified on the previous page, as a better result for creditors has been achieved
    than if the Company had been wound up without having first being in Administration. “


  12. Mr Bunny says:
    August 29, 2012 at 11:25

    celtic1967 says:
    August 29, 2012 at 08:41
    Could it be that intellect, knowledge, honesty and fairness are capacities outwith Gordon Smith’s universe? I’d rather listen to the wisdom of my grandchild’s rabbit than what he has to say.
    —————————————————————————————-

    And QUITE RIGHT TOO is what I say.
    =====================================================================
    Agreed.No point in splitting hares!

    I’ll get my scut. 🙁


  13. TheBlackKnight says:
    August 29, 2012 at 11:26
    ===================================================================
    This was discussed a few days ago.
    If a going concern,who’s being liquidated?.
    If a going concern,why transfer membership.they could just have kept it.
    If a going concern,why the necessity for staff to TUPE to Newco?.
    etc,etc.


  14. Torrevieja Johnbhoy August 29, 2012 at 11:35

    yup. I know! thats why I said… “I’ve always been intrigued by this statement.”

    I’m still confused as to why the Administrators thought/ state the sale of the club as a ‘going concern’ would realise more than liquidation. Why stake your reputation on such nonsense?

    It is a fallacy!

    Has the intention always been to stiff the creditors and make the “club”, in some form or other, survive?

    I think what we have seen is crystal clear on that!


  15. The Invisible Line says:

    August 29, 2012 at 11:04

    TIL,

    I agree with your hint that Wee Eck may have had a hand in all this. Too many things don’t (or do) add up. ‘Parking the tanks’ at Hampden, the lobbying of HMRC, the suppression of numerous FOI requests, HMRC’s strange assertion that ‘Rangers’ could make a fresh start. And I’m not naive enough to think that SR wasn’t receiving advice from Holyrood when he made his infamous ‘social unrest’ statement.


  16. smallteaser says:
    August 29, 2012 at 10:39

    When Ian Black, Fran Sandaza and Dean Shiels are being signed on 3 year deals its a bit strange that young Barrie McKay has 9 months left on his contract.
    He could sign a pre contract in November.
    Is no one at Ibrox ensuring that the players they have will see them through the next 2 transfer windows??? I wonder why.

    ———————————————————————————————————————

    I was hinting at that the other day when I listed T’Rangers squad. At present they appear to have 24 or 25 depending on how you include Goian and Broadfoot.

    Some Tupe players contracts must come to an end during the ‘transfer ban’ and despite any long terms deals some players may be attractive to other clubs. e.g. Ok it is Div 3 but if Andy Little keeps up his goal scoring form then someone may well come looking in January.

    Then of course with a few older guys in the squad (e.g Kyle) there are possible injuries to consider.

    Only two more sleeps till then transfer window closes Friday night.

    What happens over that period will give an indication of Green’s commitment to the footballing side of things and whether or not the much talked about investment money is coming in this season.

    Now one could argue that the squad should be enough to win the division, however, so far the clubs in Div 3 look like they are being sent out to enjoy the experience and play like it was a cup tie. And we know what happened to Killie and Hibs last night.

    Either Sally will be getting a few ‘quality’ players or Charlie boy will be saying make do with what you have because it is all we can afford.

    As I said 5 players of £5k a week (52) is £1.3m on the wage bill.


  17. Seamus says:
    August 29, 2012 at 11:21

    many thanks Seamus but I haven’t been “away” ……. 😉


  18. Torrevieja Johnbhoy
    August 29, 2012 at 11:35

    “If a going concern,who’s being liquidated?.
    If a going concern,why transfer membership.they could just have kept it.
    If a going concern,why the necessity for staff to TUPE to Newco?.
    etc,etc.”

    Is it because its a NEWCLUB? shhhhhhhhhh 😉


  19. TheBlackKnight says:
    August 29, 2012 at 11:46
    ======================================================================
    I suppose if they think they can charge £42k for work carried out BEFORE they were even appointed then they’ll feel they can do what they like.
    Surely that shows wrt the “Conflict Of Interest Report” that D&D were involved with RFC(IA) and by billing them for work done before administration,confirms that whatever the forward strategy was supposed to be,they were a party to it.


  20. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:03

    one would certainly hope so……… wonder if Lord Hodge has picked up on that….. 😉


  21. TheBlackKnight says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:05

    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:03

    one would certainly hope so……… wonder if Lord Hodge has picked up on that….. 😉
    =============================================================
    This brings up a question for our “Legal Team”.
    Do D&P have to include the fact that they carried out billable work on RFC(IA)s behalf before he actually appointed them in their COI report.?.
    Is it an offence to withhold information?.


  22. Excellent timeline – it’s just missing one important detail which underlies the business acumen of the previous regime.

    Murraymints not only put in place the EBTs, in 2002 in another master stroke he decided to manufacture the strips in-house. Anyone remember the dodgy defective strips? Larkhall must have looked like something out of a post-apolcalyptic zombie movie with the punters shuffling around in torn tops!


  23. smallteaser says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:07

    Good news for all Forres supporters.

    http://news.stv.tv/north/187739-rangers-second-round-cup-tie-will-go-ahead-at-forres-mechanics-ground/
    ======================================================================
    So around 1500 tickets at,say 15 quid each.Gate receipts circa £22k.Less VAT(£3.7k approx) and match expenses,say 15%(£3.3k approx) leaves £15k split 2 ways.
    £7.5k income for that week.Bet CGs delighted with that.
    (There may be a wee bit TV income but a big loss will be incurred that week).


  24. Arabest says:
    August 29, 2012 at 09:43
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Wow…Arab that is indeed an astonishingly acidic and venomous attack on Dundee Utd….it appeared that he could not find enough derogatory things to say and people at United to aim them at….

    Why would he be is so p****d at United losing to Killie…

    Was it because United voted against SEVCO?
    Was it because United went public with money still owed to them?
    Is it because it burst his fixed odds?
    Is it because he hates Killie?
    Is it because he is just a 24 carat phud?


  25. From KDS.I can’t confirm how reliable this info is but if true,the second paragraph makes interesting reading:

    Is Broadfoot`s “sacking” the first sign that Charles Green is maybe not raking in as much money as he would lead us to believe.? Seems strange that just a few days ago mcCoist is shouting for more players and not to let any more go and the next thing Broadfoot is being “let go”

    And another wee snippet of info from a100% impeccable source is that Rangers staff who work in the ticket office are buying season tickets at a discount price for the main stand ,right on the half way line, basically best seat in the house….and for how much for?..£88.00 !!!

    How can that be making Sevco money selling at that price,…again it seems that Mr green is just trying to get as much cash in the door as quickly as possible


  26. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:24
    0 0 i
    Rate This

    smallteaser says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:07

    Good news for all Forres supporters.

    http://news.stv.tv/north/187739-rangers-second-round-cup-tie-will-go-ahead-at-forres-mechanics-ground/
    ======================================================================
    So around 1500 tickets at,say 15 quid each.Gate receipts circa £22k.Less VAT(£3.7k approx) and match expenses,say 15%(£3.3k approx) leaves £15k split 2 ways.
    £7.5k income for that week.Bet CGs delighted with that.
    (There may be a wee bit TV income but a big loss will be incurred that week).
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Forres could also apply the CG’s methodolgy…and charge £15 for a programme with a £1 entry fee..

    Wonder if in the discussion between Charlie and the Forres secretary he will ask for the match ticket to be closer to £25 than the £15 Forres will look for…and maybe even suggest the game be moved to a bigger stadium…sayyyyy Ibrox for instance…”tis only a suggestion you ooonderstand ah kid”


  27. Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:24

    Given the long drive and their penchant for fine living any chance they will be staying somewhere like this on the Friday night prior to the Forres Game

    http://www.cullodenhouse.co.uk/

    Based on twin rooms at £270 a pop a bus load of players and staff – call it 40 – so thats 20 rooms =£5,400 for B&B add on £2000 for the evening meal and thats the gate money gone. 🙂


  28. paulmac says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:34

    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:24
    0 0 i
    Rate This

    smallteaser says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:07

    Good news for all Forres supporters.

    http://news.stv.tv/north/187739-rangers-second-round-cup-tie-will-go-ahead-at-forres-mechanics-ground/
    ======================================================================
    So around 1500 tickets at,say 15 quid each.Gate receipts circa £22k.Less VAT(£3.7k approx) and match expenses,say 15%(£3.3k approx) leaves £15k split 2 ways.
    £7.5k income for that week.Bet CGs delighted with that.
    (There may be a wee bit TV income but a big loss will be incurred that week).
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Forres could also apply the CG’s methodolgy…and charge £15 for a programme with a £1 entry fee..

    Wonder if in the discussion between Charlie and the Forres secretary he will ask for the match ticket to be closer to £25 than the £15 Forres will look for…and maybe even suggest the game be moved to a bigger stadium…sayyyyy Ibrox for instance…”tis only a suggestion you ooonderstand ah kid”
    =======================================================================
    Funnily enough,this has just appeared.All it does is highlight the difference between what RFC could be,and are actually playing for.

    http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/celtic/186280-what-are-the-financial-implications-of-champions-league-qualification/


  29. WOTTPI says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:38

    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:24

    Given the long drive and their penchant for fine living any chance they will be staying somewhere like this on the Friday night prior to the Forres Game

    http://www.cullodenhouse.co.uk/

    Based on twin rooms at £270 a pop a bus load of players and staff – call it 40 – so thats 20 rooms =£5,400 for B&B add on £2000 for the evening meal and thats the gate money gone. 🙂
    =====================================================================
    Not quite,100 quid left.No doubt the DR will run a story about RFC raking it in. 😉


  30. With regards to our infamous MSM – slightly OT, but, did anyone catch the man on Scotland tonight stating that at least three newspapers were sitting on the story that the results of the Scottish government’s “surveys” supporting homosexual marriage were fixed?

    Never mind football – can we trust the MSM on anything?


  31. WOTTPI says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:38

    Torrevieja Johnbhoy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 12:24

    Given the long drive and their penchant for fine living any chance they will be staying somewhere like this on the Friday night prior to the Forres Game

    http://www.cullodenhouse.co.uk/
    =========================================================================Thank God there’s only 40 travelling.CG would have a heart attack if he seen this:

    Exclusive use fee – All 28 bedrooms for a maximum of 54 guests inclusive of breakfast and tax – £14,000.00 per day – Please note that the above price is based on arrival at 3.00pm and departure at 10.00am. Should you have specific requirements please contact us directly for pricing.
    Check out the Menu.I’ve got trouble pronouncing it,never mind eating 🙂


  32. Pah what a lot of nonsense – Super Ally & the boys will see to it that any financial losses incurred that week are more than made good in the Replay at Ibrox!! 🙂


  33. Danish Pastry says:
    August 29, 2012 at 10:06

    To his credit he’s one of the few who’s resigned rather than cling onto the job for dear life.
    _______________________________

    Gordon Smith supposedly resigned his post at the SFA for personal reasons. He told the nation he needed to spend more time with his aging parents. However, within a very short time of leaving Hampden Gordon was busy on the airwaves once more as well as in print. It did not take him long to be back at Ibrox in the full time employ of Rangers.

    Smith was Chief Executive of the SFA when HMRC first began to investigate the extent of the EBT scam at Ibrox. He would have realised from his ongoing contacts with players and other agents (not to mention those of a blue persuassion inside Hampden) that the HMRC inquiry was dynamite and could even expose culpability within the ranks of the governing bodies.

    Many people suspected he quit the SFA before the solids hit the fan. Nothing, so far, changes my suspicion of that. I do not subscribe to his Sergeant Shultz’s defence (“I know nothing”). It is all too convenient for Gordon boy to play the dummy in this saga.


  34. Well I know that Sevco stayed in the Dakota Hotel in Queensferry on Saturday before the Berwick game and that place isn’t exactly cheap, but Bruce’s new bus looks lovely daubed with 5, albeit white, stars. 99 BC is it’s reg number if anyone’s interested.


  35. Regarding the transfer embargo and The Rangers signings this year, what effect would it have in a years time?
    They miss the transfer window in mid season and the transfer window at the Summer next year. Then come the 1st September 2013 they sign up those free agents, like Black, like Kyle, like Sandaza, like Shiels, the embargo means the miss one transfer window only, the rest will be signing frees.
    The MSM nonsense that they cannot register anyone till 2014 is just that, nonsense.


  36. smallteaser says:
    August 29, 2012 at 13:14

    Regarding the transfer embargo and The Rangers signings this year, what effect would it have in a years time?
    They miss the transfer window in mid season and the transfer window at the Summer next year. Then come the 1st September 2013 they sign up those free agents, like Black, like Kyle, like Sandaza, like Shiels, the embargo means the miss one transfer window only, the rest will be signing frees.
    The MSM nonsense that they cannot register anyone till 2014 is just that, nonsense.
    ====================================================================
    Good point.


  37. My latest lunchtime angry email crusade continues.

    A very bitter wee man you must be. I have never read a report on a football quite like yours, full of vitriol, spite, sarcasm and downright nastiness.

    Is the problem that D Utd have found the bravery to speak publicly about all the wrongs perpetuated on them by firstly rfc and now the tribute act trfc, and your bitter wee heart cant stand it.

    As much as i have enjoyed the hilarious demise of rfc, i think i am enjoying more the utter pain that laughable churnalists like yourself are showing in your evermore bitter articles.

    Are you annoyed that you and your colleagues failed to cover up the tax cheating or havent been able to make the ordinary fan bend to your will, and with your printing of uncle jacks propaganda pieces, then you must take a huge portion of blame for allowing the silly bears to sleepwalk into the death of their club. They did die you know, everyone knows, despite your blatant muddying of the facts to try and bluff their way out of it.

    Why not do a piece on the berwick game along the lines of ragtag mercenary internationalists swanning into a wee backwater and getting humped bar for a scandalous honest mistake. Why not berate the laughable attempts at management by their statistically worst ever manager, and his continued failure to put a vastly more expensive squad on the road to a sustained winning run. By all means mention the number of fans they bring to small venues, but at least balance this by saying the songs they sing belong in the dark ages along with the perpetrators, remember, they are breaking the law.

    I look forward to a more balanced piece next time, and if its not, i guess i will just enjoy your obvious pain instead.


  38. What is clear from the actions of D and P and from reading their report is that the intention – the sole intention – of the administration was to allow RFC to continue until the end of the season regardless of the costs to creditors. Why this was ok’d and not challenged by HMRC or the courts themselves is baffling if one assumes that the judges and politicains are upholding law and seeking fairness.

    It does call into question again what was said by Salmond to the HMRC, what if anything was the reply and why we are denied access to this correspondence.

    What is clear is that this administration clearly and deliberately did not fulfil its purpose of protecting creditors , indeed in cash terms it cost creditors 10 million in fees and extraneous charges which were in no way in the interests of creditors and the eventual sale for 5.5 million – minus the prize money earned by the old club and allowing the transfer of players over to the new company were again in no way in the creditors’ interest. I suspect the loss incurred to creditors over the whole saga amounts to somewhere in the mid 20 millions – about ten in fees and a gross undervaluing of assets sold to a prearranged bidder with no public sale of assets ( only the company as a “going concern”). The correct procedure to follow was a sale of all assets to the highest bidder for each – up to and including the replica trophies, the noticeboards, the carpets and the bike – any administrator acting in accordance with the creditors interests would have done this.

    That it was not invalidates the administration and if it is approved proves collusion from the courts of Scotland in defrauding creditors. If Hodge pays them a brass razzoo and accepts their report then the fraud extends clearly to the judiciary, and the lack of transparency over the communications between HMRC and Salmond suggests executive involvement also. They are the establishment club. Not just the football establishment has been making it up and breaking rules to keep them playing but the political and legal establishment also.

    I think our aim is too low here – we should also be monitoring the judges and politico’s as regards their role in this scandal!


  39. CE says:

    August 29, 2012 at 11:49

    The Invisible Line says:

    August 29, 2012 at 11:04

    TIL,

    I agree with your hint that Wee Eck may have had a hand in all this. Too many things don’t (or do) add up. ‘Parking the tanks’ at Hampden, the lobbying of HMRC, the suppression of numerous FOI requests, HMRC’s strange assertion that ‘Rangers’ could make a fresh start. And I’m not naive enough to think that SR wasn’t receiving advice from Holyrood when he made his infamous ‘social unrest’ statement.
    ++++++

    Correct CE – the words Social Unrest and Armageddon came from a politician – and ND nor SR are even close to using or thinking using these words. When I heard SR say this, I knew he had been primed from the FM………

    By the way (I was EC over on RTC) – how is the SMFC fans buyout going now?

    Still waiitng for my first shot on that St Ettienne bike lol – one day!


  40. Tommy says:
    August 29, 2012 at 13:06..

    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
    Did anyone pickup Gordo the Duffield “I knew nothin” Smith,last night on SSB hastily blurting out his now standard & repetative denial to anyone listening…just to eh clear up any callers ready to call the show & ask me..???
    I was an agent for a few of the (deid clubs) previous players & saying he knew nothin..knows nothin.. about any ebt’s…
    He is a lying slug of a man..totally at ease among his SFA/SPL/RFC( NiL) peers & his fellow MSM Slugs..


  41. Is the transfer embargo not really a 12 month registration embargo, so it means sevco can only sign out of contract players from end of August 2013.


  42. The Iceman nd CE – correct.

    While Swally is now shown himself as the despicable bitter old man in the corner of the bar and CG is shown as only teling lies when his lips move, neither were the instigators in all of this.

    Neither are ND or SR – they are the old men in the box on the Muppets. CO is torn between 2 lovers – his career and SDM.

    What is becoming clearer to me is that no one at ground level would attempt this knowing the wrath woudl be unleashed on them.

    Delays and deflections have been the order of the day – the delays have been done for a purpose.

    Ask yourself this – if a pal came to you and asked you to do something at work to help him out – maybe run a credit report or background check on someone and there was a possibilitiy you may get caught and be fired or imprisoned – woudl you do it? Of course not!

    So why would D&P, ND and SR and all the willing perpetrators put their necks on the lines?

    Someone somewhere has said nae worries – it’s ok.

    One day – some day – we will find the extent that this has been shamefully organised by those on high.


  43. Angus says:
    August 29, 2012 at 13:37

    Entirely off-topic, I know and apologise …

    Hamish the Goalie (RTC passim) had a heart attack at the weekend and is in hospital. I’m sure many will join me in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.

    http://news.stv.tv/tayside/187624-legendary-dundee-united-goalkeeper-hamish-mcalpine-suffers-heart-attack/
    =====================================================================
    Don’t think apologies are necessary,Angus.
    Best Wishes to a great goalie and part of a great team.


  44. CE says:

    August 29, 2012 at 11

    The Invisible Line says:

    August 29, 2012 at 11:04

    TIL,

    I agree with your hint that Wee Eck may have had a hand in all this. Too many things don’t (or do) add up. ‘Parking the tanks’ at Hampden, the lobbying of HMRC, the suppression of numerous FOI requests, HMRC’s strange assertion that ‘Rangers’ could make a fresh start. And I’m not naive enough to think that SR wasn’t receiving advice from Holyrood when he made his infamous ‘social unrest’ statement.
    ========================

    I have just made a request for details of the conversations between Salmond and HMRC,knowing that there would be no joy from Holyrood i have requested the Info from Hector.They have 20 days to reply. I will let you all know if/when they reply.


  45. WOTTPI says:
    August 29, 2012 at 09:30

    Re Gordon Smith.

    I must admit that a few years back as a Radio Scotland Pundit I thought he did ok. Listening to games he seemed to have a grasp of the game and made good calls on the need to switch tactics and make substitutions, who was going to be coming off in tens time etc.

    When he got the SFA job I thought it was worth giving him a chance as he appeared to have experience in various aspects of the game and apparently had backed this all up by gaining some business experience following his playing days and actually having a Degree in Business.

    Same for me, except I always felt he had a huge conflict of interest when at Radio Scotland whilst commenting on players he represented or on clubs he might hope employ those players.


  46. As a riposte to the Jackson match report on Killie/United, try this:

    http://arableague.co.uk/single/?p=8025347&t=8575442

    THE RANGERS failed to put a credible challenge to Berwick, let alone being up to beat Peterhead.

    THEY swaggered into Shielfield Park on Saturday feeling for all the world like title contenders.

    If they had any sense of decency or shame they would have left by the back door. Shuffling out with blankets over their heads.

    The Rangers’s players may well bounce back quickly from this horrendous and embarrassing capitulation but the black mark it leaves against their names will take a long while to disappear. When they wanted to be taken seriously they ended up being laughed out of town.

    In fact, the very fact they crashed so spectacularly merely underlines why neither they, not anyone else for that matter, can be considered capable of making a genuine fist of challenging Peterhead for the big one this season.

    Painfully, this was the day Ally McCoist’s players were exposed as frauds. It didn’t take long did it?


  47. Tic 6709 says:

    August 29, 2012 at 13:43

    Cheers – keep us updated – as you say, we can have low expectations and so won’t be disappointed…..


  48. Hi ECNIL,

    Yeah I’d noticed you’d had a change of nome de plume, so hard to keep with a lot of RTC’ers changing.

    Since you asked, here is 10000hrs(fans consortium) latest statement:

    On an almost daily basis we had been expecting the football club to get more information on how much and when it would receive its SPL payments.

    We have been informed today that these issues have now been resolved, thankfully with very little effect on the cash flow or income of the club.

    While our funders are still supportive of our bid they, understandably, want us to re-submit all the up to date information for their approval.

    We will be continuing this process in the background, however, we do not feel it is fair to either our members or the selling consortium to wait any longer to try and conclude the deal as the next direct debit date of August 31st rapidly approaches.

     

    We have therefore intimated to the selling consortium that we will be submitting a new bid based on our revised cash flow forecasts tomorrow, Friday 24th August.

    —————————————–

    We hope to hear back from the selling consortium by the end of the week. And have our application for a shareholders licensed premises in next week! 🙂


  49. Tic 6709 says:

    August 29, 2012 at 14:16

    Doing fine mate – Getting set to get up at 2am to watch the game tonight 🙂 Cheers!!!


  50. The Jackson story is the latest in a long line – there was a particularly embitterd Herald article denouncing Celtic’s victory in Helsingborg as an injustice last wednesday – despite Celtic making 6 clear cut scoring chances away from home – It would have been “grand larceny” apparently had they scored a third – similarly in the record website where Celtic’s demolition of ICT was secondary to the gloss being lost in the headline of the two late ICT goals.

    We are seeing a bitter and bruised beast in the MSM – they cannot accurately even report on games any more without that bitterness coming to the fore. As SEVCO unravels and more of the truth comes to light despite their attempts at concealment, expect more vitriolic match reports in addition to lies about the parlous state of the clubs without the majesty of the beloved ‘Gers. They are all on borrowed time – their failure even to report truth let alone seek to discover hidden truths has ensured them all a slow painful demise.


  51. CE says:

    August 29, 2012 at 14:21

    Hi ECNIL,

    Yeah I’d noticed you’d had a change of nome de plume, so hard to keep with a lot of RTC’ers changing

    *********

    Thanks for the update – good luck on getting some more fans involved! Another layer removed from the layers that keep the fans from knowing the real financial facts 🙂

    Yes – I decided to have a new name for here to fit in with the Scottish Fitbaw theme – I did liquidate the old name, kept the good history of knowledge but jetisoned the bad history (including the spelling mistakes and typos, annoying Adam and Oldgold/Jack). If its good enough for Charlie and Swally, then why not – however as a disclaimer, thousands of creditors were not shafted in the remaking of my nom de plume!

    Still hopeful we will cut through the guff and find the “real” story one day 🙂


  52. CE says:

    August 29, 2012 at 14:21

    Hi ECNIL,

    Yeah I’d noticed you’d had a change of nome de plume, so hard to keep with a lot of RTC’ers changing

    *********

    Thanks for the update – good luck on getting some more fans involved! Another layer removed from the layers that keep the fans from knowing the real financial facts

    Yes – I decided to have a new name for here to fit in with the Scottish Fitbaw theme – I did liquidate the old name, kept the good history of knowledge but jetisoned the bad history (including the spelling mistakes and typos, annoying Adam and Oldwhatsisnmae/Jack). If its good enough for Charlie and Swally, then why not – however as a disclaimer, thousands of creditors were not shafted in the remaking of my nom de plume!

    Still hopeful we will cut through the guff and find the “real” story one day


  53. Does anyone know if Celtic are able to end the joint tennents sponsorship deal now that their original joint partners are about to be liquidated.
    Surely to god we should have no connection to a brand new 3rd division club who cheat, bully, intimidate and lie as a matter of course.
    The new club have the same sponsor name as Celtic and I would hate to think that some joint initiative has been entered into.


  54. pantoon maloo says:
    August 29, 2012 at 14:38

    … Surely to god we should have no connection to a brand new 3rd division club who cheat, bully, intimidate and lie as a matter of course.
    —–

    But it was OK to have a similar deal in place with an established SPL club who had a long history of such behaviour, was it?


  55. The Invisible Line says:
    August 29, 2012 at 14:30
    ‘…but jetisoned ..’
    —–
    ? 🙂


  56. Would it not be that Smith was sent back to Ibrox with his brief to help bury any info on the EBT scandal that was about to hit,no problem at the SFA as they will cover their end ,they could not even administer this correctly ,and when the Raygun was brought in he did not fire off in the right directions as poss CO would have hoped,the horse was dead by this time and no one noticed ,can someone tell them to get off the poor animal.


  57. Christ! At least the RTC blog stuck to its task.

    On here you are left with a few posters who are worth reading…

    The others!!!! Obsessed with Rangers, why not read or talk about your own team or go to the forums that are into nonesense and leave this blog for the intelligent!


  58. Number7 says:
    August 29, 2012 at 13:36
    1 0 i
    Rate This
    Is the transfer embargo not really a 12 month registration embargo, so it means sevco can only sign out of contract players from end of August 2013.
    =========================================================
    That was what I had said, it does make you wonder why all the fighting to supend the Embargo for a year if the only players signed were free anyway??
    I take it it was just a timing issue rather than the ability to spend, it also made the free transfer appear to be Charles Green throwing money around, Season tickets sold on this basis..


  59. john clarke says:

    August 29, 2012 at 14:51

    Some old habits are hard to break 🙂


  60. john clarke says:
    August 29, 2012 at 00:02
    20 0 i
    Rate This
    StevieBC says:
    August 28, 2012 at 22:18

    ‘In the first instance, Regan could jettison Ogilvie to try and avoid a vote
    ——-
    Unfortunately, Regan is just the monkey. CO is the organ-grinder! Remember, Regan is just a hired hand, his bosses are the SFA Board. It’s more likely that Ogilvie would throw Regan to the lions ( and what about that daft story about the Essex ( non-beancounting) lion) tosave his own skin.

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

    JC….I can assure you that as Essex yarns go…it is not too outlandish…!

    Re CO, I believe you are spot on regarding his internal structural powers, which makes it all the more farcical when Regan, as his “hired hand” can refer to his “boss” as “heavily conflicted”, with the greatest of accuracy, and still remain in post.

    As the man said…”you could not make this up”.

    PS superb earlier post re the “s.ectarian” influnces, which one day, I am sure we all hope, will be swept away…but until then…….


  61. john clarke says:
    August 28, 2012 at 23:41

    I freely confess, now as an old man, that right up to the 1980s, I emotionally believed that Scottish football fans in general looked for their own team’s result on a Saturday, and then looked to see how Rangers had done. If their own team had won and Rangers had as well, that was a nice wee double. If their own team had won and Rangers had beaten Celtic, that was a wee treble.And so on and vice-versa.
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Wow!! thats quite a confession. Any others on here want to fess up?


  62. Fifer – are you ready to help Jack give Charles his opening statement in front of the beaks tomorrow for calling them all brigots? Remember to include the word “sorry” – you lot keep forgettign that word 🙂


  63. Re the Brechin Choir and Torch Carriers

    Sheriff Anderson told them: “You are being allowed bail on the special condition not to attend football matches Rangers are playing in.”

    Well that’s nae bother for the lads then. The last Rangers game was at McDiarmid Park on 13 May 2012.


  64. The Invisible Line says:
    August 29, 2012 at 15:01

    lol good one, like that , need to watch what they say in front of SAlmonds storm troopers


  65. Fifer,

    We I wish to discuss my on team I go their forum. When I wish to read about and discuss the monitoring of Scottish Football, I come in here.

    Since you are obviously so intelligent, which particular posts have stoked your seething, or was that just a mindless Keith Jackson style rant?

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