The increasing attacks on social media by the main stream press, fuelled in some respect by David Murray’s vague threats of litigation against bloggers, has brought into sharp focus the challenges facing the Blogosphere. It also brings into even sharper focus the prescience of Stuart Cosgrove’s assertion that this summer’s ‘epistemological break’ had begun to marginalize the Scottish sporting wing of the MSM.
The reality of that assertion is embedded in the misreporting of the FTT decision as a victory for RFC, falsely alleging that those who operated the EBT scheme had been exonerated, that RFC had ‘done nothing wrong’, and consequently accusing ‘vindictive anti-Rangers bloggers’ of playing a part in the downfall of that once great Scottish institution. It is also evident in Tom English’s rather bitter and one-dimensional anti-RTC polemic today in the Scotland on Sunday. Had it been entitled “Self Preservation”, it may have rung a few more truth bells.
I am not of the belief that the MSM is an instinctively pro-Rangers estate, but I do think that their reportage of the FTT is more geared towards discrediting the newly emergent forces in the social media area than it is towards rehabilitating the public image of RFC or David Murray.
However despite the contempt in which many people here hold the MSM and Murray, English does have a point that we would be foolish to ignore. No-one can deny that we do have a duty to ensure that we are responsible in how we present ourselves to the public. Now that our (and others’) success as a real and creative alternative has spurred the MSM into action, we are subject to greater scrutiny than at any time in the past. Our view is that we have to be pro-actively engaged in setting a standard for ourselves that is above those that the MSM have set for themselves.
We have on TSFM an audience exponentially greater than the number of posts. That presents us with a great opportunity to get our message across, but it also burdens us with an increased responsibility not to fall into the trap which has besought the Succulent Lamb Brigade.
We are a very different animal from RTC. RTC him or herself had information and insight to bring to the table that the administrators of this site do not. The founder and former admin of TSFM had the idea that the talent available from posters on the RTC – not just RTC himself – should continue to have a forum in a post-RTC world, and that those talents could be used to challenge the myths regularly represented as facts by lazy journalists in the MSM.
We have at our disposal on this blog forensic analysis of legal, media and corporate matters. We have an abundance of creative minds, all passionate about the game of football AS WELL AS a partisan love for their chosen club. With all that talent and expertise, we can make an impact on the agenda by challenging the misinformation and substandard journalism of the MSM, and our finest moments are when we do that. We lose authority and influence when the debate is impeded by bald accusation or innuendo backed up with little more than an historical view of our country.
Our biggest impact (and largest audience) is to be found when when our experts have collectively torn apart those myths presented as truths by the MSM, and when we have asked the questions that the MSM either can’t or won’t ask or answer. Those are the things that have driven the traffic to this site, and many of the emails we get congratulate us on that.
Our credibility plummets though when we go down the partisan path. We also get literally hundreds of emails from fans who ask that we cut down on the comments of those who are merely venting outrage at how they see the game being mismanaged (mainly so they can access the important stuff more quickly), and from fans who are just fed up with the constant name-calling – almost exclusively aimed at Ally McCoist and other Rangers figures.
If we claim to be an intellectual and journalistic rung or two above the likes of the Red Tops (not to mention to be decent and respectful of others), we need to refrain from the name calling and accusatory culture. We can ask questions, put items for debate on the public agenda, point out apparent irregularities and anomalies. In rushing to judgement of others from the comfort of the glow of our own laptop screens, we are guilty of the same lazy journalism we see in others. Name calling (all good fun of course on a fan site) is just a lazy thought process and as English says, comes across as “nasty”.
We never saw RTC as a fan-site. The original administrator of this blog never saw TSFM as one either, and nor do we. In order to succeed properly, we need sensible fans of ALL clubs to be comfortable and feel secure in our midst. Of course we are not breaking any laws, but can anyone honestly say that we have evolved into a welcoming place for Rangers fans?
TSFM is not about hounding any one club out of existence or into shame or infamy. In the Rangers saga we have sought to ensure that the football authorities play fair with everyone and stick to their own rules. One well kent RTC contributor, and no friend of Rangers, often said that if the FTT found in favour of Rangers we should move along and accept it. Well they did find in favour of Rangers in the majority of cases. That may not suit many of us, but we are the Scottish Football Monitor, not a Judicial Watchdog. We can say why we disagree with the decision, but criticism of the process through which the decision was arrived at is beyond our purview.
Since the accusation is often made in the MSM, we should state, unequivocally and unreservedly, that we are NOT anti-Rangers. Their fans face the same issues as the rest of us and they are welcome here. We are however, equally unequivocally against the gravy train journalism of the Scottish Football Wing of the MSM (with one or two honourable exceptions).
If the Anti-Blogateers in the press are correct, the popularity of the TSFM will recede as the Rangers Tax case reverts to the back pages before disappearing for good. However I do not believe that they are correct. I don’t believe that Scottish football fans are only motivated by either hatred – or even dislike – of one club. I believe we are more concerned with the game itself than the pot-stirrers in the MSM would have us believe, because we understand the interdependence of football clubs.
But we also understand that the people who run football clubs do not always run their clubs for the benefit of the fans. In the business world, that may not be out of the ordinary, since businesses are run for the benefit of shareholders.
However football reserves for itself a special place in the hearts of people in this country. If the people who run football clubs want to retain that favourable status, they have to be accountable to the fans.
The difficulty in holding them to account though, is that the cosy relationship cultivated between club directors, managers and players and the press renders the access to information a closed shop, and the information itself is heavily filtered and spun.
As long as we keep asking questions in response to the fruit of that cosy relationship, we will be providing people with an alternative angle and viewpoint, allowing them to come to their own conclusions, and not the one the MSM post-presser huddle delivers to us wrapped up in a bow.
For the SFM specifically, we believe that to have any influence, we need to enable the expertise at our disposal to flourish. It is also vital to our project that Rangers fans are included in our dialogue. We just can’t call ourselves the Scottish Football Monitor if they are largely excluded from participation because they feel they are being treated disrespectfully.
We can’t tolerate the accusations and name calling. We need to stick to what we have done best; factual analysis, conjecture based on known facts and on-line discourse leading to searching questions being asked.
One of the things we are looking at for the near future is to set up some kind of formal and transparent channel of communication between the SFM and the football authorities. Being truly representative of fans will make that easier to achieve.
The MSM will continue to attack the social media outlets. In one way you can understand it. Their jobs are at stake. The business model of the print media in particular has changed massively over the last five years, manifesting itself mainly in increasingly under-resourced newsrooms. Consequently it is besought by increasingly unreliable and under-researched journalism, even to the point where much of it is no longer journalism at all.
By comparison the Blogosphere has access to greater human and time resources, is able to react to unfolding events in real time, and crucially (because it has been eschewed instead of embraced by print media proprietors) has been occupied by ordinary folk with little or no vested interest.
We are still in position to provide a service in our small niche of the on-line world. We have rights to publish and speak freely about our passion, but we also have to live up to the attendant responsibilities, and thus the appeal for discretion on posting comments.
Where Tom English got it completely wrong (in the uniquely ironic way the MSM have about them), is that his industry has mistaken the rights others have earned for them as entitlement, and ignored almost completely the responsibility they had to act on behalf of those who pay their wages.
IMO the Farrygate affair should have blown the whole of Scottish football apart the fact that it was one days news ,next days chip wrapper told me all I needed to know about the peepil in charge of our game .
Can you imagine the head of the EPL delaying the registration of a Man Utd player till after a big game against Liverpool and then being found out .
Only in Scotland
borussiabeefburg says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 18:05
16 0 Rate This
wottpi says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 17:36
End of play on Friday and still no word from the SFA in relation to DUtd’s request for guidance and information re the ‘boycott’.
Last minute decisons
Ages to sort out
FFS guys get a grip and take some action.
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A bit unfair: as I pointed out yesterday, the authorities were rapid in their actions against the errant Elgin City, then ‘kicked them when they were down’ by issuing a charge against their chairman.
And I recall them throwing Brechin, Spartans and the ‘Shire out of their competition pdf too, for serious rule breaking (forgetting a date on a form, a letter not arriving at the SFA offices in time, that sort of thing).
It’s just CO,CEO, can’t always “do his job properly due to” his “previous association with Rangers”.
………………………………………………………………………………
The threat of that EBT being recalled…..sure does sharpen the mind to what you can and cannot decide about a certain club…
Extracted from RM / no source.
========================
“…McCoist had talks with fans’ chiefs this week…
“They feel quite vociferous and vocal in not taking tickets for this game. I don’t know how they feel about other clubs. Hopefully that occasion will arise because it will mean we are into the next round of the Cup…
I was involved in discussions and once the club decided to take the stance I was 100 per cent behind it.
When we were voted out of the league a lot of the chairmen told us they had listened to their fans. We have decided to do the same…”
============================
McCoist perpetuating the myth that TRFC was voted “out” of the league.
And as well as supporting the boycott publicly – he is now creating uncertainty for the next round of the Scottish Cup, assuming they beat DUFC.
And still no comment from the SFA ?
Why do we bother… ?
McCoist quotations source.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20648534
The only solution I see available to Dundee Utd, is to call for an extraordinary meeting of all SPL Clubs primarily with the intention of isolating the club impersonating Rangers.
There should be a motion calling for a total two way ticket embargo for any future fixtures between them and any SPL side, in All competitions. If the tribute act want to play silly then in the long run they should be treated likewise.
Other measures should include non-cooperation on Transfer issues, TV rights, Sponsorship, and of course exclusion from any future re-structuring of the top Division. Time to nip this lot in the buds.
The no-one likes us we don’t care, (but we’ll get you back) should be intolerable for every club in Scottish Football, not just Dundee Utd.
Humble Pie says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 12:52 30 0 i Rate This
The Law of the Hammer
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Brilliant Humble Pie – hit the nail smack on the head !
Simple, throw them out the cup, no other decision makes sense.
auchinstarry says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 20:33
The only solution I see available to Dundee Utd, is to call for an extraordinary meeting of all SPL/SFA/SFL Clubs primarily with the intention of expelling TRFC from all leagues and competitions
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Fixed that for you 😉
m8dreamer says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 16:56
As each week goes by, Rangers Tribute Act and everyone connected with them continue to bring
Scottish football into disrepute with their incorrect statements of the number of SPL Clubs that are responsible for them now playing in SFL3.
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The number of clubs responsible is easily calculated. The answer is ‘one’, and the responsible club are currently in the process of liquidation.
We have all debated long enough regarding what can be done to stop this fraud being continued.
The legal eagles would be able to confirm whether it is possible to have an injuction/interdict served on the various media outlets to prevent them stating that Newco are Oldco or indeed linking them in any way with the previous occupants of Ibrox.
What is also getting on my ‘thruppenny bits’ is the fact that there is no comment coming from the rest of Scottish football. This is encouraging even worse behaviour time after time.
Why can an official statement not be made by all twelve clubs of the SPL stating that they deplore the actions of a new club against one of their members. This would serve two purposes; it would challenge the adopted mind-set that they are the same club while at the same time stating that they support United in their current plight.
There should be no doubt about it that if this goes unchecked it is going to get worse. The bully boys will not go away but what they fail to understand is that they are uniting every support in the land against them. The fans of other clubs will not buckle under this intimidation but the resentment will continue to build due to the lack of protection from the authorities and it will eventually explode with unforeseen circumstances.
This whole problem has been created by the powers that be refusing to clarify the five way agreement, the media expounding that they are the same club because to them they MUST be the same club as it allows them to still use the Old Firm tag in an attempt to sell papers. Chas Green knows that if he did not adopt the “same club” attitude then he would have had no punters in through the door or to buy his shares. It is not a school of vested interest but a university.
What the print media fail to understand is that if they printed the truth, and robustly challenged the nonsense coming out of Ibrox then people would start to buy their papers again.
If the powers that be actually put this new club in its place by clearly stating that they are a new club then perhaps the supporters of most of the other clubs in Scotland would begin to take them seriously again. This would also be a clear shot across the bows of Chas Green.
An information vacum has been allowed to develop in the last three months of this shambles only to be filled by the most arrant nonsense, inaccuracies, and downright lies ever published regarding Scottish sport.
Supporters of ‘The Rangers’ do not seem capable of rational thought but now seem to be at war with everyone, continually lashing out at imaginary enemies. The media are feeding this belief that they have been hard done by day after day stoking a rage that should never have been there in the first place. In some ways I can understand this because if I was told continually that my club was the same club as it has always been then I would struggle to understand why my club is currently in Div 3.
To me this is where this nonsense has started. If the authorities clearly stated newco’s position most of the problems would go away.
The Peter Houston quote “Because they’re a Third Division team by name, doesn’t mean they’re a Third Division team by quality.”
Very cool… “because they’re a Third Division side by name”. Loving your work, Peter.
And the quality remark……. I think he’s also correct… they are several divisions below the third in quality…. no other third division side has insulted their opponents with such arrogance as displayed by Newco.
I M H O the SFA don’t have a clue what to do in this situation because this situation has never arisen because any other team who tried any of cheats fc(in whatever form) antics would have been bagged long ago………. Truth is they have run out of rules to bend for them and they know if they go easy on them there will be a backlash from most other clubs or companies or whatever form they take 🙂 in Scottish football at whatever tier ………. Nobody likes a cheat 🙂
I remember that football clubs are sometimes motivated by bad press by posting the newspaper cut outs on the dressing room wall.May i suggest that the Rangers board comments about revenge,be posted on evrey spl and sfl dressing room wall to remind them that the rangers are coming to get them.
If the custodians of our game don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, I can see Regans prophecy with regards to social disobedience coming true and it emanates from one club only.
If they don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, the entire board should be voted out at an extraordinary AGM and a new one voted in post haste with Turnbull Hutton et al as interim president and board.
I am becoming completely and extraordinarily p*ssed off with the spineless cowards we have running our game
Lots of Twitter chat that the ‘Traynor to Ibrox’ rumour is legit. Head of Comms? Oh my aching sides.
iamacant says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 21:10
If the custodians of our game don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, I can see Regans prophecy with regards to social disobedience coming true and it emanates from one club only.
If they don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, the entire board should be voted out at an extraordinary AGM and a new one voted in post haste with Turnbull Hutton et al as interim president and board.
I am becoming completely and extraordinarily p*ssed off with the spineless cowards we have running our game
========================================================================
There is no doubt they are spineless and lacking in any leadership qualities.
However, what gets to me is the fear (justifiable?) of the actions of Rangers fans. Its almost like we are not dealing with a football team but a social force with the ability to threaten and bully to get its own way.
A few posters have referenced Rangers Media, so I went there…………….They REALLY don’t get it, do they? bizarre. I baulk at broad brushing a support but it’s difficult not to really when you trawl through that sludge.
The whole nation are united against tax dodging shysters and scammers…………..that place is an off shore haven.
Just been tolling on Bears Den 🙁 have to laugh they have a thred going about boycoting Celtic park if they get drawn there (didn’t know they had played Utd let alone beat them) 😉 1of the posters (well most) is saying he won’t because the boycoting is about starving Clubs who need the money and Celtic don’t text:) He go’s on to laugh at Utd for 40% of there money having to goto charity and how that Will teach them to mess with the gers ! Lol 😉 You really have to pity these Dullards doesn’t he know or realise 40% would be going to his club no matter WHAT? It’s sevco’s cut that’s going to charity It’s not money out of Dundee uniteds pocket lol 😉
Seeing as TRFC are “playing United at their own game” by listening to their fans, I have no doubt that it will now be acceptable to TRFC if other SPL sides announce that they will be taking TRFC’s example and will not be allocating tickets to TRFC for any future fixtures where they are drawn against them.
After all, Mr Green has already insinuated social unrest should his club play any of several un-named SPL sides. So he could hardly moan if others agreed and decided, like him, not to place a strain on security arrangements.
The time is ripening whereby TRFC may well, by their own actions, become an inconsequential club in Scottish football. They are creating a glass ceiling for themselves, under which they will bay and froth at those looking down on the remains of what they themselves have bastardised and alienated.
What a pleasure it will be when it comes to pass that hordes of beergutted, unshaven Peepil will never again walk the streets of Aberdeen on matchday, terrorising normal folk.
No-one likes them. True. They don’t care? Doesn’t look like that from here. Spiteful orcs.
Catching up.
DUFC ‘rise above it’ thats easy lol.
Kenny Shiels, ketamine and bathwater don’t mix.
Birthday already 140yrs, time flies when your having fun.
bogsdollox says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 19:32
…………………………………………………………
If you are suggesting we should just accept lies…dishonesty…threats and corruption as acceptable within Scottish Football…then were do we stop…
I am willing to let them just get on with it….but not when it involves lies and continued threats against Scottish Football…if we ever resign ourselves to the belief that lies and threats are acceptable in Scottish Football then we might as well pack up and find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon.
heard billy dodds on sportscotland bbcshortbread – back o 6.
he siad this –
“i was greedy when i was a player”
(i wonder why, but I immediately thought – EBT)
If the rumour doing the rounds about Traynor to Ibrox then I think that could be an issue for the media themselves.
Why would ‘The Rangers’ require someone to feed stories to an already compliant press?
They gobble, probably litterally, every tit bit of information without question and print it anyway.
However the problem for Traynor is that whether he knows it or not he will have enemies in the media and they will not make life easy for him.
Remember when Gordon Smith went to the SFA and then went back for an interview with former colleagues on radio Scotland?
They slaughtered him and if Traynor attempts to shout down anyone while on radio it will not present his new employers in a good light. Then again ‘The Rangers’ don’t seem to be interested in good PR just bullying everyone so Traynor should fit in just fine.
justshatered says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 20:49
34 0 Rate This
We have all debated long enough regarding what can be done to stop this fraud being continued.
The legal eagles would be able to confirm whether it is possible to have an injuction/interdict served on the various media outlets to prevent them stating that Newco are Oldco or indeed linking them in any way with the previous occupants of Ibrox
………….
This reminds me of a point I made a while back. Is the false claim that Sevco are Scotland’s most successful Club not costly to Scotland’s most successful Club, Celtic?
Sevco are claiming in advertising and business transactions that they are Scotland’s most successful Club, as they have done in their share prospectus, is it not time for Celtic to challenge this legally as it can have financial implications and cause issues when Celtic start to use it as a merchandising tool or a way to encourage potential investors in future?
If Traynor does end up at Ibrox, will the majority of the support there still believe that he is just another rangers hater from the “mhedia”? Will they consider that as they got that wrong, they might be wrong about other astonishing, paranoid delusions, like Ogilvy having it in for them?
ordinaryfan says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 22:31
7 1 Rate This
justshatered says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 20:49
34 0 Rate This
We have all debated long enough regarding what can be done to stop this fraud being continued.
The legal eagles would be able to confirm whether it is possible to have an injuction/interdict served on the various media outlets to prevent them stating that Newco are Oldco or indeed linking them in any way with the previous occupants of Ibrox
………….
This reminds me of a point I made a while back. Is the false claim that Sevco are Scotland’s most successful Club not costly to Scotland’s most successful Club, Celtic?
Sevco are claiming in advertising and business transactions that they are Scotland’s most successful Club, as they have done in their share prospectus, is it not time for Celtic to challenge this legally as it can have financial implications and cause issues when Celtic start to use it as a merchandising tool or a way to encourage potential investors in future?
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If it appears in advertising and is factually incorrect then complain to ofcom. They regulate advertising and print media.
I honestly cannot believe that Traynor would be so brazen if indeed he is part of Sevco comms. And so soon as well.
I mean, talk about undermining those old school “journalism” skills he so mourns…….
Re “Most successful club”
Advertising Standards Authority is probably your first port of call.
“Honest, Decent, Legal,Truthful” is their mission statement.
I suggest that Sevco may have a problem with one or two of these qualifications.
Traynor wasn’t working for The Rangers PR already? I’m surprised there’s been any delay at all.
Maybe The Rangers are baulking at actually having to pay him now.
They’d be better using their resources to butter up whoever replaces him at the Record. Plus, Traynor and PR might not be the best combination when JT isn’t in charge of deciding what goes into a major sporting media outlet.
Actually, thinking about it, making Traynor head of The Rangers PR could be a massive mistake.
paulmac2 says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 22:12
bogsdollox says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 19:32
…………………………………………………………
If you are suggesting we should just accept lies…dishonesty…threats and corruption as acceptable within Scottish Football…then were do we stop…
I am willing to let them just get on with it….but not when it involves lies and continued threats against Scottish Football…if we ever resign ourselves to the belief that lies and threats are acceptable in Scottish Football then we might as well pack up and find something else to do on a Saturday afternoon.
========================================================================
That’s not what I’m saying and you know it. Are you related to James Traynor?
ordinaryfan
If any sevco supporter thinks for one minute that CO has it in for THEM then there really is no hope for the delusional peepil .
I on the other hand believe that this is just a smokescreen to make the scam seem more legitimate
Think back to bombers rant on the steps of Ibrokes he clearly hit on something and had the fans attention then he fell silent ,now he appears backing the boycott and is onside with chuckles .
IMO the only answer to his disappearing act was that he was deemed not important enough to be put in the big picture until his Ibrokes address. He was ranting on and in the end the peepil had to let him in on the plan add this to sally and wattie getting into bed with CG and it all leads to a wider plan that predates CW and his short stint at Ibrokes ,if ticketus end up having a stake in the new club after HMRC and the creditors have been shafted then the question must be who were the ticketus investors .
IMO something stinks to high heaven and I hope Hector gets to the bottom of it
TSFM – any chance of a new post?
Perhaps another guest blog?
What about asking Darryl Broadfoot to communicate with the fans?
Or if he could ask Regan or Ogilvie ?
I know – but he can only say “B*gger Off !”
Just a wild suggestion…
Is it just me?
Or is there a strong similarity between how Ulster Unionism reacted under pressure and what we are witnessing now?
Am I deluded ?
or
Could the vast majority of ex Rangers fans ( otherwise normal decent people) have been subliminally brainwashed over decades to genuinely and sincerely think this sort of behaviour is acceptable?
If so
Could there be some Nutter out there willing to organise serious civil disorder in the so called name of football?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Or
Has it never been just me?
Have the Scottish Gov believed this all along ?
Have they leant on the football authorities all along to keep the peace?
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
There has to be some rationale explanation for permitting the disgraceful behaviour of RFC(IL) mgt in the Summer to be copied by TRFC going into the Winter
IMO the BIG question is why would a company pre pay 24m to any Scottish football team ,let alone one that had a BTC hanging over it and had just been sold for one pound.
follow follow the money and the truth will out
auchinstarry says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 20:33
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angus1983 says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 22:05
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Absolutely. Since this recent fiasco re DUFC begun I have been waiting for Mr Regan and / or his pal Doncaster having something to say – One on behalf of the tournament itself and the other on behalf of one of his member clubs, which would be Dundee United.
These people aren’t slow to speak when it’s anyone else – but when you are complict in a scam (and they even messed that up..) and the scammers have you by the nuts then whay can you do?
Surely it cannot be just the TSFM community that see the obvious problem here?
MSM, BBC, STV et-al – Cannot any of you see that Mr Regan and his SPL counterpart Neil Doncaster and their respective org’s are acting in the most bizarre of manners?? What do you think would happen if such a situation arose in the England? Would the English sports press and the FA hide under the bed, fingers in their ears shouting ‘la-la-la-la-la-not listening-la-la…’ ??
The SFA have gotten away with being absolutely rotten and completely at odds with the good of Scottish football since their inception over a century ago – a time many of the SFA’s wee blazered, brougue wearing men still exist in – and they actually do.
Dundee United are fair game says the 5088’s first team coach – They voted us oot, oor fans don’t want us to take tickets so we wont and I agree wholly with them..etc..etc…
‘Oh chraayst on t’ flamin bike’ as Charlie would say – in his best Emmerdale accent obviously:) – but what a complete disaster our governing bodies really are, they truly are an utter disgrace and are so bad – they are actually despicable. Ogilvie and EBT’s? Oh ffs – c’mon here…how can they be brazen? How can Campbell be so brazen?? Because they get away with it!! They always have unless civil courts loom – in which case they bottle it, every time, and do anything and everything to avoid a public airing of their stinking laundry.
The 5088’s are a club who are so desperate – or at least it’s current leadership are – they will do absolutely anything to keep the ££ coming in – they have too – so we have a bunch of ‘watchdog double glazing company’ type guys, chancers, total flannel merchants and liars who are propagating the sentiment of their misinformed (misinformed at best…misguided and violence threatening at worst…) fans throughout the Scottish football community, using the club as a vehicle for what is quite extreme behaviour and that the actual club itself is condoning it all is utterly astonishing – eh??! Can you imagine if St Mirren or Dundee United themselves behaved like this? Can you imagine if it were Celtic’s PLC that was doing the same??! Not just would the SFA be threatening fire and brimstone – the MSM would have the club and all it’s fans crucified!
That is the problem – with the exception of our very own celebrity poster Stuart Cosgrove and a couple of others, there is simply no-one with either the balls, or even enough savvy, to simply make sure a few choice but very obvious ‘oddities’ are answered by Regan et-al and to remind the 5088’s that no-one relegated them either and that they are – in reality – quite fortunate to even be where they are now.
It’s a joke. A perpetual farce. Do the MSM realise the potential for sales if only they did a decent job of being hacks? Their loyalty to whatever occupies Ibrox stadium these days shows no bounds unfortunately – it won’t change quickly either – though a certain bloated clown being shown the door at his particular soon-to-be ex employers is a start it has to be said…and quite a good start – yes, viva la revolution indeed but..well..there are still other issues like being threatened for anti-5088 stories – so there is always that too i suppose…nope, the MSM will continue their amazing ability to peddle logic defying nonsense whenever it’s for the 5088’s…but that’s their perogative, it isn’t the same for the SFA, they are the governing body, it’s clear they are – for whatever reason – hand-tied with regards to the 5088’s.
The SFA has to act to protect their own cup tournament from being damaged by the Sevco’s and the morons that are driving the ever-increasing volatile direction that clubs being driven. Sponsors won’t be so sure after this mess and it’s just plain damaging – I expect the SFA to be at least the measure of any other ‘developed’ European countries counterpart – not like their Georgian or Zimbabwian equivalents. That is exactly what they are. Like a pack of despot leaders in their respective org’s.
I have asked before about the tartan army supporters orgs, that’s who i feel would have the biggest influence with the SFA but surely if enough people lobbied their clubs then something would have to give – they have to be stripped bare and their peculiar way of operation put into public scrutiny. As things stand, they hide behind, quite literally, their doors at Hampden and limit communicado to stupid twitter statements and daft press ‘releases’ when it gets a bit too awkward – it isn’t good enough.
The minute McCoist opened his mouth, the 5088’s should have been simply thrown out the tournament. End of.
Dundee United don’t need them, they don’t need the hassle either but if it wasn’t them, it would be any other SPL club. Or would it? Ally? Why don’t you tell us who else is on your band conductors black list??
bogsdollox says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 19:32
‘..is it not better just to let them get on with it rather than this kind of bitterness. All you are doing is giving them ammunition to call you Rangers haters.’
—
I agree, of course, that sometimes it may be better just to ignore things.
But we are trying to resist cheatery, rule-breaking AND any readiness on the part of the media and/or other commentators to condone, or try to excuse, attempts to cheat, in the world of football.
And, by extension, in the world of finance as it relates to football.
There is no doubt that the AIM application document submitted by Cenkos Securities was carefully crafted to try to suggest that any would-be investors in ‘Rangers International FC’ would be investing in an already highly successful, record-breaking club.
They manifestly will not be doing so!
The club to be acquired is actually playing in the lowest division, and is not eligible to play in the top flight European competitions.
That, I think, ought to have been included in the document published for AIM purposes.
We simply cannot allow such an apparent piece of ‘financial adviser sleight of hand’ to go unremarked and unchallenged.
Cenkos will no doubt be able to spin the same kind of weasel words that the MSM ( strangely silent on the ‘boycott’ issue, by the way) are accustomed to use. And AIM Regulation might be satisfied.
But at least, a question has been raised that requires some kind of response.
And, as repeatedly said by me and others, this is not a “hate Rangers because they are Rangers” blog.
It is fuelled, rather, by indignation and justifiable anger that we as football supporters (of many allegiances or none) have been practiced upon
by one of our major clubs trying to seek unfair ‘sporting’ advantage
by the very governors of the game who meekly and venally bowed to pressure not to apply the rules
by the MSM, which also bowed to pressure and/or flattering , perhaps also succulent,blandishments
And now, it would appear, by the Financial Advisers to perhaps the most destructive personality that Scottish football has ever had within its ranks. A blustering bully-boy , whom the football authorities have spinelessly left unchallenged for the most disgraceful and unprincipled acts of opposition to the very nature of the game and the rules under which it is administered.
I, for one, will continue to scrutinise events and ask questions.
There are more than enough people too ready not to do so.
Is the share prospectus going around for public consumption?
In order to retain the Club’s fanbase, the Directors believe that the ability of the Company to
exploit the media will be increasingly important. As part of this strategy, the Company has approved the
appointment of a head of media who will start work with the Group on 1 January 2013.
rangersshareoffer
ordinaryfan says:
Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 00:48
Is the share prospectus going around for public consumption?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thanks to the KDS accountants:-
http://kerrydalestreet.co.uk/single/?p=11913751&t=8748656
The prospectus. Chuckles wants the dosh in for the 19th. Feast your eyes.
12.1.7 5 Way Agreement between SFA, SFL, SPL, RFC 2012 plc and RFCL
The SFA, SPL, SFL, RFC 2012 plc and RFCL entered into an agreement dated 27 July 2012
(the “5 Way Agreement”) pursuant to which RFC 2012 plc’s SPL share was transferred to
Dundee Football Club, RFC 2012 plc’s SFA membership was transferred to RFCL and RFCL
agreed to accept an embargo on registering players (for the period 1 September 2012 until
31 August 2013 excluding players under 18, those on loan from the Club and reregistering
current players of the Club) and provide various undertakings in consideration for the transfer
of (i) the SFA membership of RFC 2012 plc to RFCL and (ii) the registration of the Club and
players from the SPL to the SFL’s third division. One of the undertakings provided by RFCL
was the payment of all outstanding Scottish and other football creditors of RFC 2012 plc.
Therefore, notwithstanding the provisions under the APA which states that creditors of RFC
2012 plc were not be transferred to RFCL, the provisions of the 5 Way Agreement required
RFCL to take responsibility for such football creditors as a condition to the transfer of SFA
membership. RFCL agreed to indemnify the SFA against all losses suffered by it as a result
of any breach of the obligation to pay football creditors by it. RFCL also agreed to release
the SFA, SPL and SFL and their directors and officers from all claims connected with their
conduct, the registration embargo and the obligations under the 5 Way Agreement. Further,
RFCL agreed to procure that its directors and officers will not commence any proceedings
in this connection. The Administrators of RFC 2012 plc disclaimed all liability in relation
to the 5 Way Agreement.
bogsdollox says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 19:32
is it not better just to let them get on with it rather than this kind of bitterness. All you are doing is giving them ammunition to call you Rangers haters.
____________________________________________________________
2 Things…
1. That is how is how you came across….just let them get on with it…even tho it is legally wrong!
2. James Traynor…really? Just let them get on with it…is more in line with a James Traynor approach…
Have you got the PR media job at SEVCO? 🙂
From the pospectus:-
4. Liquidity and capital resources
RFCL meets its daily cash requirements using a balance of cash. RFCL does not have access to any further banking facilities.
The Company also has two finance lease agreements totalling £2.1 million. Going forward, the Company expects that its operations will be funded through a combination of cash from its operations and the equity issuance arising from this Transaction.
As at 31 August 2012, the Group held £4,186,000 of unrestricted cash.
8. Property Matters
The property valuation report from DM Hall dated 10 October 2012 includes a valuation of the RFCL Group’s properties under a depreciated replacement cost method at 31 August 2012 as follows:
• Ibrox Stadium – £65.2 million; and
• Murray Park – £14 million.
This represents a combined value of £79.2 million.
The Group’s Historical Financial Information in Part IX of this document, includes the Properties at an existing use valuation of £40.5 million at 31 August 2012.
At each balance sheet date, RFCL reviews the carrying amounts of its non-current assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss by reference to their carrying values (including their revalued amounts). As at 31 August 2012, prior to increasing the value of RFCL’s properties based on the valuation report, the Directors completed an impairment review by reference to discounted cash flows to ascertain the value at which the property and other non-current assets could be supported.
This exercise supported a carrying value of RFCL’s non-current assets of £63.5m. Accordingly, RFCL’s property, which has been revalued under an existing use basis, has been included within the Historical Financial Information at £40.5 million with other non-current assets being included at their fair value of £20 million. The Directors will re-visit this exercise at each subsequent balance sheet date to consider whether the value in use calculation can support a higher value of RFCL’s properties.
Prospectus page 104, paras. 9.1 & 9.2 Working Capital.
==============================================
Can’t copy/paste so to paraphrase;
Directors believe for AIM rules there is sufficient Working Capital for 12 months operations…
RFCL
means The Rangers Football Club Limited a private limited Company incorporated in Scotland under the Companies Act 2006 with registered number SC425159 which acquired the business and assets of the Club from RFC 2012 plc
RFC 2012 plc
means RFC 2012 plc (in liquidation), a company incorporated in Scotland with company number SC004276 whose registered office is at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, G51 2XD and which was formerly known as the Rangers Football Club plc
From the pospectus it looks if they are deid.
Parson St. Bhoy says: Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 02:24
…
RFC 2012 plc means RFC 2012 plc (in liquidation), a company incorporated in Scotland with company number SC004276 whose registered office is at Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, G51 2XD and which was formerly known as the Rangers Football Club plc
From the pospectus it looks if they are deid.
======================================
Indeed, PSB, I would concur.
It is there in black and white in the official prospectus – for all and sundry to peruse.
Yes – Rangers is in fact ‘Pan Breed’… 🙄
I think I’m missing something.
The income for season ticket sales to August 31 was just under 500,000. But they claim to have sold 35,000. That would be 14gbp per season ticket.
That sounds AWFULLY like the amount ticketus would have paid TRFC as their selling agents. What am I missing?
Tenure/Title Deeds and Leases
We have not had the opportunity of inspecting the Title Deeds of the subjects under valuation and, for the purposes of our valuation, we have assumed that the subjects are held under Title which is the equivalent of Heritable Ownership (formerly Feudal) unless otherwise stated as being subject to a Lease. We have further assumed that the properties are free from encumbrances, restrictions or outgoings of an onerous nature which would have a material impact on the value.
—-
So valuation is based on the fact that TRFC own the stadium… yet no one, even the valuers are yet to see the title deeds!!!
ok, ignore my post about season ticket figures. I have discovered what I was missing.
The 1.7m of revenue includes 480k of season ticket cash. The rest of the 8m has been placed in deferred income. This 1.7m was raised from 3 home matches (1 league, 2 cup). Now, lets say Rangers have 22 home matches this season. This would work out at a total revenue of 12.5m. Ironically – almost exactly what I estimated 6 months ago! http://saintinasia.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/how-are-sevco-affording-sandaza/
Now, wages in the 3 month period were 3.5m. Interestingly none of the directors were paid in this period. The prospectus lets us know they are now on between 200 – 350k a year (3 directors) and with that doubled in bonus’ should they be promoted, so thats an additional 2.5m a year to be added. Anyway, if wages in 3 months are 3.5m, that gives a wage bill of 14m a year.
On top of that there were additional expenses of approx 2m in 3 months. That is another 8m/year. Add to that the 2.5m in directors salaries and we have total expenses of around 24.5m/year.
For a 3rd division club
So… revenue = 12.5m
costs = 24.5m
Hmmm… don’t think I’ll be investing in this one. In effect, Charlie needs 10m from the share issue just to see out the season.
Meanwhile, the prospectus claims the stadium is indeed owned by TRFC… however the valuers made sure to include the caveat that they had not seen proof of ownership. I wonder if anyone has?
Finally, it confirms that 1.7m of transfer fees is still outstanding to European clubs. Seeing as the 5 way agreement confirms TRFC assumed liability for these, why are they still being allowed to play in clear breach of this agreement?
martybhoy… the prospectus says they do own the stadium. However the valuation report makes a point that no one has verified this and they assume there is no lien on the property.
Assume… first thing I was taught in my first job was to ASSUME was to make an ASS out of U and ME….
‘Having played in the SPL since its inception, the Club was voted out of the SPL in July 2012 and began preparing to rebuild from Division 3 of the SFL.’
Well thats a lie.
I was wondering how Sevco fans would dissect the Prospectus and had a quick squint at RM for any signs of forensic talent. Doesn’t look good:
————————————————————————-
– Am I reading it right that we made a profit after tax of £13 million between June and August 2012? Seems decent.
– If that’s correct thats f****** phenomenal!
– Page 105, Premium TV want £850k for settlement of the old online contract. Told to whistle. The players who rejected the TUPE (us chasing them), and PFA Scotland representing 67 players (them chasing us.) That all looks pretty manageable.
– So lets get this right. Say if I wanted to buy shares worth £100, I couldn’t, it would have to be £500?
– Need to find away of making £500 sharpish then.
—————————————————————————-
I can only hope that their fans read one of the most important sentences contained in the Prospectus:
“Before making any investment decision, shareholders and prospective investors are advised to consult an appropriate independent advisor authorised under FSMA, who specialises in advising upon investments.”
bogsdollox says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 21:27
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iamacant says:
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 21:10
If the custodians of our game don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, I can see Regans prophecy with regards to social disobedience coming true and it emanates from one club only.
If they don’t clamp down quickly and severely with TRFC, the entire board should be voted out at an extraordinary AGM and a new one voted in post haste with Turnbull Hutton et al as interim president and board.
I am becoming completely and extraordinarily p*ssed off with the spineless cowards we have running our game
========================================================================
There is no doubt they are spineless and lacking in any leadership qualities.
However, what gets to me is the fear (justifiable?) of the actions of Rangers fans. Its almost like we are not dealing with a football team but a social force with the ability to threaten and bully to get its own way.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With greatest respect BD I am surprised that anyone is only now coming to the conclusion that
what we have is “a social force with the ability to threaten and bully to get its own way.” The underlying threat of some kind of social disorder has always been present in this RFC situation. It has coloured many decisions (often leaving them otherwise inexplicable) and will continue to do so. I suspect this ‘fear’ is also a contributory factor to the voices of the decent Rangers fans not being heard at any stage. It’s always a case of the loudest being the only ones heard from Ibrox.
As a side issue it’s also a reason why Celtic fans dislike being grouped in with those from the other side of the city.
@CelticResearch Staff salaries are double revenue at £3.5m #workingcapital
I would imagine that the SFA would have to ask if the Club has enough finances to survive the season and to meet its license obligations?
On Chris Graham – have also tried to engage him but I find he is as nonsensical in debates as Adam was on RTC and who is now ruining Paul’s blog with his penchant for his 180 dgree u-turns and trying to state that was what he had said all along….
Anyway – to Chris Graham
On his blog he states the following
This is rounded off by the scandalous decision by Dundee Utd to deny a refund to Rangers fans for a game in 2009 which was abandoned due to torrential rain and to then charge for the replay. Dundee Utd were successful when a Rangers Supporters Club took them to court over the matter, but surely we need to look beyond mere legal decisions at the “morality” and “sporting integrity” of such a decision? No?
http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/194-listening-to-your-customers
Read the last main sentence about a case a RFC supporters club lost
surely we need to look beyond mere legal decisions at the “morality” and “sporting integrity” of such a decision
Now compare this to his trumpeting of the FTT ruling in Night Terror’s excellent response to his “Vindication”………
Could he not apply the same morality to the FTT ruling? Or is that too much to ask?
“When we were voted out of the league, a lot of the chairmen and club representatives told us that they were listening to their fans, which is totally understandable and acceptable.
“With this stance, we’ve decided to do the same.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to your fans. In fact it’s the right thing to do. But you have to know the difference between right and wrong. The Chairman of the other clubs recognized the just and true nature of the stance the fans took when insisting that the replacement Rangers must not be allowed entry into the SPL or indeed SFL1 or 2.
The Rangers, on the other hand, do not have ANY justification for their boycott of the cup tie with Dundee Utd.
Their fans have, of course, whipped themselves up into a frenzy with quite mind boggling instances of perceived slights, none of which should even hint at the sort of action now being taken by Green and his gang.
Those in charge at The Rangers are simply showing themselves up as cowards. They have shiny brass necks but absolutely no backbone whatsoever. They should have listened to their fans, of course they should. But then they should have politely informed them that they could not support a boycott and they should have urged fans to go and support their team. That they didn’t do so is utterly reprehensible.
Has anyone seen this?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/time-celtic-and-the-rest-of-the-spl-merged-1476949
New Rangers prospectus, p13 “any restructuring of Scottish football may enable the Club
to return to the top division of Scottish football sooner than currently anticipated and to therefore benefit from access to different sources and levels of income.”
Who’d have thought?
New Rangers prospectus. They state that there would be income from prize money from Cup Competitions….hahahahahaah Knocked out of every cup competition they have played in except this years Scottish Cup. With their shenanigans just now they may not be even allowed to take further part in this competition.
Regarding the boycott . Green says that he will donate his share of the gate to charity.
Dundee Utd should now state that they will pass the share straight to the charity of his choice.
This would eliminate the possibility that all the money did not reach the charity.
Fans of other clubs could then attend the match showing solidarity with DU.
A charity and DU would then benefit and The Rangers would have egg on there face.
The attraction to the major investors is clearly the status of RIFC as qualifying as a VCT and EIS, thus attracting tax releif (30%)
Can anyone translate this for the laymen, please? http://thedemiseofrangersinpictures.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/ticketus-increase-shareholding-in-newco.html
Ticketus increase shareholding in Newco Rangers
Rangers International Football Club PLC.
The scam the ‘people’ never seen.
Charles Green
5,000,200
8.67%
Hargreave Hale Limited
4,949,000
8.58%
Artemis Investment Management LLP
4,286,000
7.43%
Blue Pitch Holding
4,000,000
6.94%
Mike Ashley
3,000,000
5.20%
Margarita Funds Holding Trust
2,600,000
4.51%
Cazenove Capital Management Limited
2,450,000
4.25%
Richard Hughes
2,200,000
3.82%
Imran Ahmad
2,200,000
3.82%
Legal & General Investment Management Limited
2,000,000
3.47%
Insight Investment Management (Global) Limited
1,900,000
3.30%
Craig Mather
1,800,000
3.12%
Above is a list of new shareholder in the Newco Rangers.
I have already blogged about the Ahmed / Stockbridge / Zeus / Allenby connection with Octopus Investments the owners of Ticketus who were left £28m out of pocket when Craig Whyte put Oldco Rangers into administration and soon to be liquidation.
I then blogged about how Metro bank were funded by Octopus and that Newco Rangers were banking with Metro.
I then blogged about how Cenkos Securities, Capita Finance, Field Fisher Waterhouse (FFW) who all worked on behalf of Octopus were now the driving force behind the Newco Rangers share issue.
So do any of the new shareholder have connections with Octopus who own Ticketus?
Lets take a look. The links below show the connection to Octopus.
Hargreaves Hale.
Will become the second largest shareholder in Newco Rangers 4,949,000 (8.67%)
Hargreaves Hale have had a long standing working relationship with Octopus shown below.
http://www.google.co.uk/finance?cid=728058
http://www.nasstar.com/Investors/ShareCapital
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/e…l?issueId=8723
Artemis Investment Management LLP
Artemis will become the 3rd largest shareholder in Newco Rangers with 4,286,000 (7.43%)
Artemis are joint shareholders and have a working relationship with Octopus shown below.
http://www.enteq.com/investors/share…formation.html
http://www.londonstockexchange.com/e…l?issueId=8764
http://www.georgeson.com/emea/downlo…sisSummary.pdf
Cazenove Capital Management Limited
Cazenove will hold 2,450,000 shares. (4.25%)
Octopus are investors in Cazenove. Cazenove are included in Octopus ‘asset documents’, in other words Octopus own Cazenove.
http://www.octopusinvestments.com/!d…s/pdfs/959.pdf
http://www.qubis.co.uk/uploads/docum…bis_7nov12.pdf
Legal & General Investment Maganagement Limited
Legal & General will have 2,000,000 shares. (3.47%)
Legal & General have a working relationship with Octopus.
https://www.cafonline.org/charity-fi…vestments.aspx
http://www1.sjp.co.uk/about-st-james…-services.aspx
So far:
Newco Rangers>Brian Stockbrigde>Zeus>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Imran Ahmed>Allenby>Zeus>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Richard Hughes>Zeus>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Metro Bank>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Cenkos>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Capita>Octopus
Newco Rangers>FFW>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Hargreaves Hale>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Artemis Investment Management LLP>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Cazenove Investment Management Limited>Octopus
Newco Rangers>Legal & General Investment Management Limited>Octopus
The total shareholding of the people and companies connected to Octopus is 18,085,000 which equates to 31.37%.
Once Newco Rangers admission to the AIM market is completed, Octopus Investments Limited who own Ticketus will become the ‘Major Shareholder’ in Newco Rangers with 31.37%
I blame Peter Lawwell, myself. http://www.octopusdei.org/static/gif/logo/logo.big.gif
The prospectus is littered with misleading information….I wonder why?…take the following for example….
————————————————————————————————
Recent years have seen changes in the structure of European football. Since the creation of the Champions
League in 1992 (replacing the European Cup), the tournament has been significantly expanded. In addition,
the UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup merged to create the UEFA Europa League. In 2009, UEFA…
————————————————————————————————
The Champions league did not replace the European Cup…
The competitions name is ‘THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE CUP’….the term Champions league is the brand name…not the name of the competition….it was only the format that changed…
Clearly someone at TRFC or Cenkos hasn’t done their homework…
“The current registration embargo may limit the short term ability of the
Club to improve the playing squad, which could have an adverse effect
on the Club’s income if contractual counterparties then seek to terminate
or renegotiate short term contractual arrangements. The Club is unable
to enter into contracts with players aged 18 and over until January 2014.
This may have a negative impact on the performance of the Club which
may in turn have an adverse effect on the Club’s prize money and may
result in difficulties with sponsors.”
So the plan to recruit free agents after the end of the transfer deadline next August doesn’t seem feasible.
“Whilst the liabilities and creditors of RFC 2012 plc were excluded from the business and assets
transferred to RFCL, there can be no certainty that there are no liabilities attached to the business or
which may otherwise arise in relation to assets acquired by RFCL (more specifically, whilst RFCL
did not acquire liabilities or creditors pursuant to the APA, as a condition to the transfer of the Club’s
SFA membership to RFCL, RFCL was required by the Scottish football authorities (SFA, SPL and
SFL) to take responsibility for football creditors of RFC 2012 plc pursuant to the 5 Way Agreement.
Three of these football creditors remain outstanding and the maximum amount payable by RFCL is
approximately £1.7 million).”
————————————————
No external debt? Other than the fee for Wallace who are the other two creditors?
They are stil claims and counter claims re the players who refused to TUPE across to TRFC Ltd. The first hearing is due to be heard on 7th January.
Sorry for all the posts but I’m commenting on them as I read them rather than compiling a lengthy post. Further to the transfer embargo they later state
:
The current registration embargo may limit the Club’s short term ability to improve the playing squad
The Club is unable to enter into contracts with players aged 18 and over until January 2014, although the Club is able to re-sign players who are currently with the Club and sign free agents from 1 September 2013. Therefore the management team will in the short term not be able to register further players with the aim of gaining promotion. This may have a negative impact on the performance of the Club which may in turn result in an adverse effect on the Club’s prize money income and may result in difficulties renewing or resigning sponsors.
—————————————-
Why on earth would you contradict an extremely important part of the operating nature of the club in a document such as this?
As we remember an old club, formed 140 years ago, which is in the terminal stages, I thought it would be fitting to recall some of their contributions to the Scottish game. Feel free to add your own, but recalling Murray’s position on the demise of Airdrieonians, here’s a reminder of an act they tried to perpetrate in the 1960’s:-
(taken from an unofficial Stenhousemuir site) http://historicwarriors.comuv.com/index_files/page0053.htm
In the summer of 1964, the fans of the Warriors, and four other small clubs, were shocked to discover that the other 32 clubs in the Scottish League were planning to dissolve the structure in place, and replace it with two new leagues of 16 teams. The plan, instigated by Rangers, had been revealed, secretly, to the 31 other selected teams at two April meetings held at the home of the Glasgow club, Ibrox. Albion Rovers, Berwick Rangers, Brechin City, Stranraer and Stenhousemuir would have no part to play in Scottish senior football if Rangers got their way.
The secret plans, according to Rangers, would make for a more competitive, attractive league set-up. However, for the excluded five, the scheme would possibly signal their demise, especially as in the mid-sixties, smaller clubs were highly dependent on pools money distributed by the Scottish League at £35 a point. In the season just ended, 1963-4, the Warriors gaining 35 points, were awarded £1225, a not inconsiderable sum at a time when many clubs were under pressure of extinction. Only three years later, Third Lanark, neighbours of Rangers, would go out of business, and the Steedman brothers were in the process of trying to kill off East Stirlingshire.
Previous efforts to restructure the leagues had ended in deadlock, therefore secretly Rangers were making an attempt to wind up the structure in place, and enforce one of their choosing. Of course, emotions ran high in Larbert and Stenhousemuir when the underhand plans were revealed. However, resentment and rage as sentiments themselves would not have halted the iniquitous scheme. Two special elements arrested the Rangers expulsion plans although it took four years to finally win a great victory!
Firstly, Jim Weir, the Warriors indomitable secretary, and Robert Turpie, committee man and Glasgow solicitor, formed a formidable partnership in forging a united approach from the five, and using every legal avenue open to rescue the situation. And secondly, although the press sided with Rangers in their illogical attempts at bullying, the 31 bedfellows gradually became more and more uneasy. In fact, at one of the secret meetings, on 28th April 1964, Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Ayr United, Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton, East Fife, Montrose, Queen’s Park, Raith Rovers and Stirling Albion were told that if they did not agree with the proposals, and vote with Rangers, then anyone of them could be expelled in place of one or more of the five.
Mr Turpie won an interim interdict on May 26th 1964, preventing Rangers winding up the structure at the Scottish League AGM two days later. This victory was short lived, although Rangers were finding support for their plans evaporating. Twenty-seven clubs led by Rangers issued a summons against the five in October 1964, and against five other clubs (including neighbours East Stirlingshire and Celtic, now powerful ally for the five). The summons stated that the Ibrox side should be allowed to submit winding up papers at a future meeting of the League.
.
The process of law is protracted. In November 1965, Lord Avonside rejected the majority of the preliminary defence pleas put forward by the five in opposition to Rangers: the five then turned to the Inner House of the Court of Session, who took over a year to issue a judgement. In December 1966, the Avonside decision was upheld. Nonetheless in February of that year, Stirling Albion had indicated withdrawal of support for the Rangers scheme.
The lowest point came in July 1967, when one of the five co- defendants was forced to give up the legal fight due to spiralling legal costs. This could have been the end of the fight. However, the four others agreed to meet any further legal costs, while, on the surface, the five looked to remain ‘as one’.
In the meantime, the support of those clubs remaining on the side of the Ibrox giants was weakening.
Even so it came as a huge surprise when on 7th November 1967, Rangers announced an out of court settlement had been reached with the five, which meant that, in exchange for a withdrawal of legal proceedings, the five could stay as part of any future new league set up! A Special General Meeting in April 1968 confirmed the status of the five, where a Brechin City proposal found the necessary two-thirds majority with ease. The greatest victory?
“Under an agreement dated 7 December 2012 but effective on Admission, the Company shall
employ Charles Green as Chief Executive of the Company for a salary of £360,000 per annum
plus all reasonable expenses properly incurred and all accommodation and related cost and
expenses including rent, utility charges and local taxes. Mr Green is also entitled to a bonus of 100 per cent of his gross salary in the event that the Club wins promotion from the SFL
or otherwise transfers to another football league; and to participate in any share option or
other incentive scheme adopted by the Company.”
I’m no accountant, but perhaps those who are could give an interpretation of the financial reporting? My layman’s view of the info is that the main boosts to income from the company’s start to 31st August 2012 come from p49 ‘non-recurring items’ of £17m or so which note 6 gives as ‘release of negative goodwill’, and p50 ‘gains on property revaluation’ of £33m or so. So (if I’m reading that properly, which may not be the case) that’s £50m+ of items which are no doubt standard and in line with good accounting practice, but are nevertheless theoretical. Perhaps other money can be borrowed against them, in which case they may have a ‘real money’ effect?
Definitions:
“Club or Rangers – Rangers Football Club”
Isn’t it about time someone legally defined “Rangers Football Club”?
Andy M @ Scotzine @scotzine
Sone Aluko, Kyle Lafferty and Jamie Ness have raised employment tribunal claims against Newco. They claim constructive dismissal.
Expand
32m Andy M @ Scotzine Andy M @ Scotzine @scotzine
RFCL’s advisers have taken issue with PFA’s right to bring such a claim on behalf of the players.
Expand
33m Andy M @ Scotzine Andy M @ Scotzine @scotzine
PFA Scotland has raised an employment tribunal claim against RFCL on behalf of 67 unnamed players at the employment tribunal in Glasgow.
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34m Andy M @ Scotzine Andy M @ Scotzine @scotzine
Albion Car Park is leasehold property and is not owned by club
Andy M @ Scotzine @scotzine
I did love how TRFC claim players have no right to go through their union. If the footballers union doesn’t have jurisdiction, then just who did? The whole basis of the claim is TRFC saying as they were not members of the SFA at the time, the PFA have no say.
If thats the case… just who was registered to play Brechin?
Excellent piece by Tam Cowan in the DR:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tam-cowan-charles-green-needs-1479139
Lord Wobbly says:
Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 07:46
“When we were voted out of the league, a lot of the chairmen and club representatives told us that they were listening to their fans, which is totally understandable and acceptable.
“With this stance, we’ve decided to do the same.”
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to your fans. In fact it’s the right thing to do. But you have to know the difference between right and wrong. The Chairman of the other clubs recognized the just and true nature of the stance the fans took when insisting that the replacement Rangers must not be allowed entry into the SPL or indeed SFL1 or 2.
The Rangers, on the other hand, do not have ANY justification for their boycott of the cup tie with Dundee Utd.
Their fans have, of course, whipped themselves up into a frenzy with quite mind boggling instances of perceived slights, none of which should even hint at the sort of action now being taken by Green and his gang.
Those in charge at The Rangers are simply showing themselves up as cowards. They have shiny brass necks but absolutely no backbone whatsoever. They should have listened to their fans, of course they should. But then they should have politely informed them that they could not support a boycott and they should have urged fans to go and support their team. That they didn’t do so is utterly reprehensible
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they were not VOTED OUT OF THE LEAGUE.
they were refused entry.
why – because they were being wound up, as a consequence they lost their share of the SPL.
the spl chairmen didn’t agree to the rules being broken and allowing a “new” team into the spl.
entry into the spl has to be via promotion.
as the rangers were a new team, they would have to start at the bottom division and gain access to the spl on merit, i.e via promotion.
in fact, they shouldn’t have been allowed into sfl 3 either, as spartans [and others] were/are waiting in the queue to get entry into sfl div 3, so they took spartans place and to make matters worse, they [the rangers] got a “temporary licence” which isn’t even in the rules !!!!!!
how wrong can aly mccoist be? [btw – ally is the female version of allison]