UEFA Club Licensing. – To Comply or not to Comply ?
On 16 April 2018 The UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) adjudicatory chamber took decisions in the cases of four clubs that had been referred to it by the CFCB chief investigator, concerning the non-fulfilment of the club licensing criteria defined in the UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
Such criteria must be complied with by the clubs in order to be granted the licence required to enter the UEFA club competitions.
The cases of two clubs::
Olympique des Alpes SA (Sion Switzerland )
and
FC Irtysh (Kazakhstan)
are of particular interest to those following the events under which the SFA awarded a UEFA License to Rangers FC in 2011 currently under investigation by the SFA Compliance Officer because
- The case documentation tell us how UEFA wish national associations to apply UEFA FFP rules
- The cases tell us what might have happened to Rangers FC in 2012 had they not gone into liquidation and as a consequence avoided the same type of sanctions that UEFA applied to Sion and Irtysh.
FC Sion (Olympique des Alpes SA)
Here we are told how the Swiss FL and then the UEFA CFCB acted in respect of FC Sion in 2017 where a misleading statement was made in the Sion UEFA licensing application.
Full details can be read at
but this is a summary.
In April 2017 the Swiss FL (SFL) granted a licence to Sion FC but indicated that a Disciplinary case was pending.
In July 2017 the CFCB, as part of their licence auditing programme, carried out a compliance audit on 3 clubs to determine if licences had been properly awarded. Sion was one of those clubs.
The subsequent audit by Deloitte LLP discovered Sion had an overdue payable on a player, amounting to €950,000, owed to another football club (FC Sochaux ) at 31st March 2017 as a result of a transfer undertaken by Sion before 31st December 2016, although the €950,000 was paid in early June 2017.
Deloitte produced a draft report of their findings that was passed to SFL and Sion for comment on factual accuracy and comment on the findings. Sion responded quickly enabling Deloitte to present a final report to the CFCB Investigation Unit. In response to the Deloitte final report Sion stated:
“il apparaît aujourd’hui qu’il existait bel et bien un engagement impayé découlant d’une activité de transfert. Ce point est admis” translated as
“it now appears that there was indeed an outstanding commitment arising from transfer activity. This is admitted”
What emerged as the investigation proceeded was that the Swiss FL Licensing Committee, after granting the license in April and as a result of a Sochaux complaint of non-payment to FIFA, had reason to refer Sion’s application to their Disciplinary Commission in May 2017 with regard to the submission of potentially misleading information by FC Sion to the SFL on 7th April 2017 as part of its licensing documentation.
Sion had declared
“Written confirmation: no overdue payables arising from transfer activities”, signed by the Club’s president, stating that as at 31 March 2017 there were no overdue payables towards other football clubs. In particular, the Club indicated that the case between FC Sion and FC Sochaux regarding the transfer of the player Ishmael Yartey was still under dispute.
The SFL Disciplinary Commission came to the conclusion that FC Sion had no intention to mislead the SFL, but indeed submitted some incorrect licensing documentation; the SFL Disciplinary Commission further confirmed that the total amount of €950,000 had been paid by the Club to FC Sochaux on 7 June 2017. Because of the inaccurate information submitted, the SFL Disciplinary Commission decided to impose a fine of CHF 8,000 on the Club.
Whilst this satisfied the SFL Disciplinary process the CFCB deemed it not enough to justify the granting of the licence as UEFA intended their FFP rules to be applied.
Sion provided the CFCB with a number of reasons on the basis of which no sanction should be imposed. In particular, the Club admitted that there was an overdue payable as at 31 March 2017, but stated that the mistake in the document dated 7 April 2017 was the result of a misinterpretation by the club’s responsible person for dealing with the licence (the “Club’s licence manager”), who is not a lawyer. The Club affirmed that it never had the intention to conceal the information and had provisioned the amount due for payment and that, in any case, it has already been sanctioned by the SFL for providing the wrong information.
The CFCB Investigation Unit accepted that the Sion application, although inaccurate, was a one off misrepresentation and not a forgery, (as in intended to deceive ) but that nevertheless an overdue payable did exist at 31st March and a licence should not have been granted.
Based on their findings, the CFCB Chief Investigator decided to refer the case to the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber and suggested a disciplinary measure to be imposed on FC Sion by the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber, such measure consisting of a fine of €235,000, corresponding to the UEFA Revenues the Club gained by participating in the 2017/2018 UEFA Europa League.
The CFCB Investigatory Chamber submitted that it was appropriate to impose a fine corresponding to all the UEFA revenues the Club gained by participating in the competition considering the fact that FC Sion should not have been admitted to the competition for failing to meet one of its admission criteria.
The Adjudicatory Chambers took all the circumstances (see paras 91 to 120 at http://tiny.cc/i8sxsy ) into consideration and reached the following key decisions.
- FC Sion failed to satisfy the requirements of Article 49(1) of the CL&FFP Regulations and it obtained the licence issued by the SFL not in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
- FC Sion breached Articles 13(1) and 43(1)(i) of the CL&FFP Regulations. (Documents complete and correct)
- To exclude FC Sion from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next two (2) seasons (i.e. the 2018/19 and 2019/20).
- To impose a fine of two hundred and thirty five thousand Euros (€235,000) on FC Sion.
- FC Sion is to pay three thousand Euros (€3,000) towards the costs of these proceedings.
Comment in respect of the award of a UEFA Licence in 2011 to Rangers FC.
It is now public knowledge that an actual liability of tax due before 31stDecember 2010 towards HMRC, was admitted by Rangers FC before 31st March 2011.
This liability was described as “potential” in Rangers Interim accounts audited by Grant Thornton.
“Note 1: The exceptional item reflects a provision for a potential tax liability in relation to a Discounted Option Scheme associated with player contributions between 1999 and 2003. A provision for interest of £0.9m has also been included within the interest charge.”
The English Oxford Dictionary definition of potential is:
Having or showing the capacity to develop into something in the future.
Which was not true as the liability had already been “developed” so could not be potential.
This was repeated by Chairman Alistair Johnson in his covering Interim Accounts statement
“The exceptional item reflects a provision for a potential tax liability in relation to a Discounted Option Scheme associated with player contributions between 1999 and 2003. “ where he also added
“Discussions are continuing with HMRC to establish a resolution to the assessments raised.”
This could be taken as disputing the liability but In fact the resolution to the assessments raised would have been payment of the actual liability, something that never happened.
In the Sion case it was accepted the misleading statement was a one off misrepresentation, but at the monitoring stages at June 2011 in Ranger’s case the status of the liability continued to be misrepresented and in September the continuing discussions reason was repeated, along with a claim of an instalment paid whose veracity is highly questionable.
The Swiss FL Licensing Committee did at least refer the case to their Disciplinary Committee when they realised a misleading statement might have been made. The SFA however in August 2011, when Sherriff Officers called at Ibrox for payment of the overdue tax , did no such thing and pulled up the drawbridge for six years, one that the Compliance Officer is now finally charged with lowering.
The case of FC Irtysh of Kazakhstan is set out in full at http://tiny.cc/y9sxsy and is a bit more straightforward but is nevertheless useful to compare with events in 2011 in Scotland.
Unlike Rangers FC , FC Irtysh properly disclosed that they had an overdue payable to the Kazakhstan tax authorities at the monitoring point at 30th June 2017. This caused the CFCB Investigatory Unit to seek further information with regard to the position at 31st March
It transpired that Irtysh had declared an overdue payable at 31st March but cited their financial position (awaiting sponsor money) as a reason for non payment to the Kazakhstan FA who accepted it and granted the licence. The outstanding tax was paid in September 2107.
The outcome of the CFCB Investigation was a case put to the CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber who agreed with the CFCB Investigation Unit that a licence should not have been granted and recommended that Irtysh be fined the equivalent of the UEFA prize money, (that had been withheld in any case whilst CFCB investigated.)
The CFCB Adjudicatory Chamber however decided that a fine was not sufficient in sporting deterrent terms and ruled that:
- FC Irtysh failed to satisfy the requirements of Article 50bis(1) of the CL&FFP Regulations and it obtained the licence issued by the FFK not in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
- To withhold four hundred and forty thousand Euros (€440,000) corresponding to the UEFA revenues FC Irtysh gained by participating in the 2017/2018 UEFA Europa League.
- To exclude FC Irtysh from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which it would otherwise qualify in the next three (3) seasons (i.e. the 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons). This sanction is deferred for a probationary period of (3) three years. This exclusion must be enforced in case the Club participates again in a UEFA club competition having not fulfilled the licence criteria required to obtain the UEFA licence in accordance with the CL&FFP Regulations.
- FC Irtysh is to pay three thousand Euros (€3,000) towards the costs of these proceedings. “
The deferral was because unlike Rangers FC, FC Irtysh had properly disclosed to the licensor the correct & accurate financial information required, so the exclusion was deferred for a probationary period of (3) years.
Comment in respect of the award of a UEFA Licence in 2011 to Rangers FC.
From the foregoing it could be deduced that had Rangers FC qualified for the Champions League (or European League) and not gone bust as a result and so not entered liquidation BUT it became public knowledge by 2012 that a licence had been wrongly and possibly fraudulently granted then
- Rangers would have been fined the equivalent of their earnings from their participation in the UEFA competitions in 2011
- At least a two year ban from UEFA Competitions would have been imposed, but more likely three in view of repeated incorrect statements.
- The consequences of both would have been as damaging for Rangers survival as the real life consequences of losing to Malmo and Maribor in the qualifying rounds of the Champions and European Leagues.
Karma eh!
Interestingly in the UEFA COMPLIANCE AND INVESTIGATION ACTIVITY REPORT 2015 – 2017 , the CFCB investigatory chamber recommended that both the Kazakhstan FA and Swiss FA as licensors
“pay particular attention to the adequate disclosure of the outstanding amounts payable towards other football clubs, in respect of employees and towards social/tax authorities, which must be disclosed separately;
Would the same recommendation apply to the Scottish FA with regard to their performance in 2011 and will the SFA responses thereafter to shareholders in a member club be examined for compliance with best governance practice by the SFA Compliance Officer investigating the processing of the UEFA Licence in 2011?
This would be a welcome step in fully restoring trust in the SFA.
ALLYJAMBO
MAY 3, 2018 at 16:55
PS Sounds a bit like I’m getting at you, Jingso but I’m not, just fed up with this ongoing stupidity of so called journalists who, in their desperation to maintain the continuation lie, make such fools of themselves.
——————————————
Doesn’t feel like that to me at all, so no worries.
Actually, what we’re seeing (again) is sports journalists getting out of their comfort zone when writing about business matters.
One of the great disappointments (to me, anyway) of the past seven years is that the RFC/Sevco5088/SevcoScotland/RIFC/TRFC shenanigans has been treated as a football story with business elements, whereas it’s really the polar opposite.
Looks like the Gerrard deal is happening then.
There will be differing opinions on this and I don’t buy the idea that the world will suddenly develop a lasting interest in Scottish football as a result but it is very useful timing given the tv deal is soon to be negotiated.
In terms of the move itself I think it’s pretty low risk for all involved tbh. Given Rangers’ budget in comparison to the rest of the league they would need to make a complete mess of the transfer window yet again to not finish comfortably 2nd. I imagine they will chase Gerrard the next season when he can’t close the gap any further to actually overtake Celtic but by that point 2 more sets of season tickets have been sold & he can move on with the narrative he did a decent job.
Football is meant to be about entertainment and whether you expect/hope Gerrard does well or falls flat on his face this is undeniably intriguing and exciting. There will likely be crowds outside Ibrox today akin to those when Rodgers or Keane were unveiled at Celtic or going back a bit further like when Gascoigne arrived there.
Gerrard, Rodgers, Clarke, Lennon, Levein and McInnes all going at it next season should be great fun if nothing else.
I know McInnes isn’t Gerrard but we have seen all this nonsense with regard to nearly signing on the dotted line and talk of guaranteed transfer budgets before – only for things to supposedly fall through at the 11th hour.
The longer the wait for Gerrard to sign and be formally unveiled the more chances of the deal not happening.
Even if it does happen I still think it is a hell of a gamble for all parties.
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2017/6/13/15790000/mcinnes-on-the-verge-compensation-all-but-agreed-hes-due-to-be-unveiled-on-wearside-shortly
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/rangers-believe-they-can-make-derek-mcinnes-move-work-1-4605160
WOTTPI MAY 4 09.37
The reason the deal to take DMI to Rangers fell through was nothing to do with finance.
Gave Nick a TD meant to give a TU it’s my clumsy thumb that is the problem…yes exciting times ahead Nick ?
Real ShadySlim, please stand-up, please stand-up…
It’s on not “in”, your not “you”
Oooooh, an admonishment over semantics and a typo? Busted, much like the horny, hungry panda that “eats shoots and leaves”, but I’ll get over it. You probably should too.
Can’t have a “version of the facts”
I agree that you shouldn’t have but people (or ra peepul in this case) choose to interpret facts in different ways – the fact is Rangers, a former sporting club founded in 1872 is in liquidation. That is a fact. Playing the shell game with company names means different names can be attached to things (on a temporary basis if so wished), and indeed bits of that organisation can be sold off piecemeal – that’s kind of the point of liquidation isn’t it? But the absolute fact is the entity that was a sporting club founded in 1872 is still very much in liquidation.
How can you die twice?
Anything that comes back from the dead (as some claim the team currently playing football out of Ibrox has done, despite the undeniable fact stated previously that organisation is in liquidation) will surely die again – whether it’s in a season or two from financial mismanagement or the sun going supernova in about 5 billion years, it will die. My money’s on the first scenario btw.
Can i use “Shadyslim” in future?
Bien sur.
All this talk of warchests to topple Celtic has to be the biggets pile of crap ever.
How can you possibly win titles with finances been better, are we to suggest that money attracts better players, would this not fly in the face of the great LNS who made the observation, there is no aporting advantage in buying up players you could not otherwise afford.
Was he merely not just meaning, its folly to go into debt to buy the best, because simply the best does not provide a sporting advantage, so would Sevco not be better just using a warchest to turn Halliday etc into terminators by simply spending money on their physique etc and providing the bestest breakfast money can buy.
Wisps of hubris in the air. What a hypnotist thon boy King is!
From Twitter.,.stephen.mcgowan
@mcgowan_stephen
Rangers press conference moved to 3.00.
Chris McLaughlin
@BBCchrismclaug
Steven Gerrard will be confirmed as the new #Rangers manager at a 3pm Media conference.
Wow its Good Friday all over again.
In addition to which BIGBOAB, if there was ‘loadsamoney’ from new investors(?!), Sevco certainly wouldn’t have gone for an untried manager.
IMHO. this is a shrewd ‘nothing to lose’ career move by Gerrard which will not last the predicted 3 years
slimjimMay 4, 2018 at 09:41WOTTPI MAY 4 09.37 The reason the deal to take DMI to Rangers fell through was nothing to do with finance.
True it was they considered at a blackball session after he attended the grand meeting and left the role was too big for him and appointed Murty. Just like the Scotland job could only be in safe hands by giving to Alex EBT McLeish. Wake up WOTTPI
From Twitter.,.stephen.mcgowan@mcgowan_stephenRangers press conference moved to 3.00.
Stevie G moving from the well-oiled, lovingly tended Rolls Royce that is Liverpool FC to the broken down, basket case that is The Rangers FC, reminiscent of one those old 1950s jalopies found on the streets of Havana.
Good luck, Stevie: you’ll need it.
PS – Don’t sell your home in Liverpool.
Just cleaning house before the weekend Slim…
Hi All,I still read the blog everyday but my contributions are few and far between. My theory which, may sound crazy, but may well be possible as Rangers/Sevco are not treated like any other club!It now looks like that Gerarrd and McCallister will become the new management team? My thinking bizarre as it may seem, is that next season they will repeat history and buy loads of players that they cannot afford, and worry about the consequences later?They have done it before and got away with it, and King being the kind of man who appear to think that laws are there to be broken, will make this his last stand, in the attempt to stop Celtic winning 10 in a row! He will try and bring in players that they cannot possibly afford, and if they win the title next year, King will disappear, with the law and cops chasing him!There is no doubt in my mind that the fans will back him, going on current form the SFA will not stand in his way. As for the media, well we all know the answer to that.Celtic have few allies, if any to stop another season of Sevco buying and cheating their way to the only thing that matters stopping Celtic win another title?Or, maybe Football Supporters will not allow this to happen? They are the only people who have morals!
Managed to get Liverpool U18’s to a solid third . Should be a dawdle up here .
https://www.sfm.scot/comments/feed/
Tried adding to my RSS reader but not fetching worked before. Has something changed?.
I might be too cynical, but is it likely that this is just King’s way to get a final payoff? Joining the dots (cynically!)…….
– King needs fans to renew/buy season tickets by 14 May
– King has “guaranteed” SG sufficient funds/investment to compete
– King’s evidence is not to be trusted unless supported by corroborative evidence
– Unlike TOP and the South African judge, SG and his advisers may (stress may) not be aware of the need to see proof of funds before signing up
– No detail of investor(s) has yet been publicly announced
Could King just be lying to everyone, so that SG signs on, fans buy STs, King runs away with the money?
When no investor shows up after 14 May, SG walks away saying that’s not what I signed up for – no money, no manager, bang!
It’s far fetched as it’s unlikely King could access the ST money on his own, plus I’m guessing that scale of fraud would be extraditable so I AM probably being too cynical, but I can’t work out what’s going on….unless King HAS found an investor(s).
JOCKYBHOY MAY 4 09.46
Merci.
Dave King is in town…..
STVRaman reporting on Twitter
NAWLITEMAY 4, 2018 at 12:56
I might be too cynical, but is it likely that this is just King’s way to get a final payoff? Joining the dots (cynically!)…….
——————————————————————————————————–
Do I recall from recent court cases, that Minty gave Fat Salary a bumper contract before high-tailing it out of town?….Of course I do !.
Football reporter on UK BBC lunchtime news waxing lyrical re Steven Gerrard. Gives a potted history Rangers* for viewers and points out how the club has emerged from administration and liquidation. Does nobody check facts any more?
Considering JN will be in charge for the last 3 games will SG contract be showing to the fans before they part with their cash and DK slips away into the sunset, just asking as no-one else will.
Considering May 13th is last game of the season v Hibs away and STs need to be purchased before 14th May 2018 the fans could insist show me the contract and warchest and we will give you ST money on the 13th after the game.
Its how you get a club back from spivs not much to it really show me your hand and i will show mine, easy aint it.
What’s the chances of Stevie Gerrard walking onto the stage with the Darth Vader Theme playing in the background.
Well it is May the Fourth.
https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/steven-gerrard-confirmed-as-manager/
Exciting times ahead.
Stay positive SJ, that’s the spirit.
SLIMJIM
MAY 4, 2018 at 14:12
================================
I still think that if by some chance Rangers have found money to spend (and I have no idea where) then an experienced manager should have been the first step. From my perspective spending the money to bring Brendan Rodgers to Celtic was probably our best signing in several years.
However if there wasn’t one available, or the board thought going down this risky path was the better option then we will just have to see how it ends up.
On a positive note, that will be the season tickets sold now.
Homunculus.
That joke was awful
FINNMCCOOL
MAY 4, 2018 at 14:32
==============================
You imagined it happening though, didn’t you.
slimjim May 4, 2018 at 14:12
https://rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/steven-gerrard-confirmed-as-manager/
Exciting times ahead.
===========================
Indeed SJ. But a word of caution. For every Graeme Souness there’s a John Barnes.
slimjimMay 4, 2018 at 14:12
Exciting times ahead.
——————————————————————
You may be excited by the prospect of a return to the duopoly from the monopoly SJ but I don’t think I will be alone in not being. I have to think that SG has been promised a transfer budge and player wages budget far far far (repeater) in excess of any other team in Scotland bar Celtic. Where is this war chest coming from? Time will tell, maybe.
A good day for TRFC fans worldwide , then . I always found Gerrard to be a bit of a cheat and a liberty-taker as a player (plenty of examples of misdeeds available), with a “win at any cost” mentality, which should fit in perfectly at his new place of employment .
Well congratulations Rangers. What a coup. An under 18s manager with less than a years coaching experience. What could possibly go wrong…
It’s crazy to think it’s only 12 years since we were all excited about the prospect of PLG becoming the new manager – a manager who most definitely did have a pedigree, a stellar record and a real coup. He was chased out of town 6 months later for not being a ‘Rangers man’. And now here we are with Stevie G being touted as the saviour. It shows quite how much standards have fallen in the last decade.
And yet I’m sure my fellow fans will flock in their hoards to renew their season tickets and not question the ongoing shambles at the club. Did anyone even know SG was looking for a job in management just 3 weeks ago?
Well, if Gerrard does sign for TRFC, then, grudgingly, it’s well played Dave King.
[I know, I know].
…and as for StevieG…he’s made his bed, etc.
HOMMUNCULUS MAY 4 14.12
Either SG advisers are totally incompetent or assurances have been given and they are satisfied. I know what one i believe.
Agree re -Brendan Rodgers.
Season ticket sales would have been decent anyway but this appointment ensures a sell-out imo.
BORDERSDON MAY 4 14.46
I can’t see SG arriving at Ibrox unless financial guarantees have been given and he and his advisers are satisfied.
David Low
@Heavidor
Stevie G hasn’t joined the King circus and the appointment is not an isolated event. More news to follow.
DARKBEFOREDAWN MAY 4 14,48 & 14.53
Are you not even the least bit excited as a Rangers fan by this appointment.?
PLG failed due to a combination of poor results & being let down by the more influential players at that time. Nothing to do with not being a “Rangers man” as i think you know.
EASYJAMBO MAY 4 14.35
Indeed.
SLIMJIM
MAY 4, 2018 at 15:02
HOMMUNCULUS MAY 4 14.12Either SG advisers are totally incompetent or assurances have been given and they are satisfied. I know what one i believe.
=================================
Or decent men believed assurances made by a proven liar.
As I said earlier, if there is money available it should have gone on a proven manager, in my opinion. Either no-one was interested in taking the job, or they chose not to do that and appoint a youth coach instead.
I know what I believe
Speaking as a Celtic supporter and nothing else, I pretend no neutrality in this and speak for no-one else other than myself.
I take this from a thread title on a well known Rangers’ supporters site.
“The jealousy is ripping out of the rest of Scotland and I love it”
If I was choosing between the Celtic manager and the Rangers manager I would pick the Celtic manager every time. It’s not even close.
If I was choosing between the Celtic squad and the Rangers squad I would pick the Celtic squad every time. It’s not even close.
If I was choosing between the Celtic finances and the Rangers finances I would pick the Celtic finances every time. It’s not even close.
If I was choosing between the Celtic board and the Rangers board I would pick the Celtic board every time. It’s not even close.
What is it I’m supposed to be jealous about exactly. Or do people think that just saying things like that make them true.
HomunculusMay 4, 2018 at 15:33“The jealousy is ripping out of the rest of Scotland and I love it”
Somethings are best left unanswered.
Is David Low’s tweet suggesting that King is off and there are indeed other invetsors to provide funds to match SG’s ambitions?
SlimJim, not in the least bit excited. I wanted a tried and tested manager, not another gamble. We have the big name, but only as a player. He’s a complete unknown as a manager, and will bring unnecessary focus and expectations on himself. As I said previously, a good player does not a good manager make
One thing I’ll give the The Rangers board credit for, they get their tactics absolutely spot on every year for the great Season Ticket chase. Out of the disillusioned fag end of every season, having seen disaster piled on humiliation, the next season is unerringly set up with optimism and anticipation, and the previously angry fan sites switch, and start celebrating as if the league is won. And in comes the cash. Each close season becomes a triumph – the actual football part of the year rather less so, but that is irrelevant, the money has been banked. Warren Buffet could learn a thing or two from the guys on the board about maximising returns from an unpromising financial environment.
From Mr. Gerrard’s presser, as reported in the Scotsman:
‘Gerrard said he will give himself some time in the role before he starts making changes.’
‘I need to get my feet in the door and teeth into the job before I work out where we need to improve.’
Rookie mistake, Stevie: the one thing you don’t have is time.
You’re not taking up your post officially until the season is finished. You’re going to rely on people who’ve failed this season (Nicholl/Johansson/Allen/Robertson/King!!!) to help you make recruitment & retention decisions affecting your team next season. If you get a Euro licence, you could be playing before the Glasgow Fair (but you’ll be fine; matchday one is the the 12th of July!).
As to where the team needs to improve: watch the two recent matches against CFC repeatedly. Ask Murty (if he’ll speak to you) & Nicholl if the players played to their specific tactical instructions. If you can’t analyse those games & see that numerous players in blue aren’t of the mental & technical standard required to challenge/overtake the current champions, then football management is going to prove difficult for you.
Good luck. You’ll need it.
I would tend to trust D Lows take that King won’t be involved going forward .
IMO King would have to be gone for this to make the slightest bit of sense ,King has not got the wherewithal for a deal like this and no serious investor would get involved with him at the helm .
The question is ,how much will it take for King to walk away
BIGBOAB1916MAY 4, 2018 at 15:39
That is a wind up of course ,who photoshopped it
Gerrard in place is very good news from the perspective of widening the treatment of this entity from myopic, SMSM stenography to sycophantic, but nevertheless desperate for real news, full blown attention of the national media. As they report on “Stevie G’s Rangers” they will not back off should any shady ownership issues, schoolboy PR announcements or, most importantly, “up to the knees” nonsense crop up.
ST now sold. Ibrox fans delighted delusional again like every new season. Smsm no doubt ecstatic and so it begins. New investment on its way. Will the ending be the same again? As Mr Low hints at is glib away. It seems very strange under all these new and positive events that rrm Murray and Scott resigned. A possible story to investigate but no lets get a strong Ibrox club for the benefit of our game. ffs only in Scotland.
It must be a wonderful feeling for a new manager when he arrives at his new club to a rendition from the supporters of one of their favourite traditional football club songs. Yes, the Ibrox faithful welcomed Stephen Gerrard with a rousing chorus of, The Billy Boys!
Lovely photo of the deliriously happy Chairman, having got his new manager.
DBD MAY 4 15.56.
Anyone spring to mind?
ALLYJAMBOMAY 4, 2018 at 17:20
Are you joking ? Please say “yes” .
On the subject of the presser , Why was Mr King there ? He holds no post on the board of TRFC, the football club , but is merely the agent of a shareholding Trust ,who have shares in RIFC , a holding company . Where were Blair , Dickson and Robertson . I must say , though , somebody did a masterwork on Dave King’s fringe .
Sorry , wasn’t allowed to edit that post . Apparently I need permission ?
ALLYJAMBO MAY 4 17.20
Have seen several videos from this afternoon and none contain the BB.
Where did you see/hear this?.
Not shocked but still a bit surprised SG has taken the job.
I note David Low suggesting King is out but Phil Mac saying he is still pulling the strings despite a split Plc boardroom.
Given SGs first statement about wanting time to settle in, if I was a Bear I would’ve hoping there was new investment and the condition is King and his cohorts sling their hook after one last PR scoop.
Park may then be able to progress with the slow rebuild he suggested a while back and SG will be given time.
While SG may have been able to call on his old boss had he been placed in a lower league English club, I doubt BR will be all that accommodating.
I recall what someone said to me when I said I came across one of their old colleagues.
“Oh yes him. Taught him everything he knows – but I didn’t teach him everything I know!
Plg never managed sevco he was gone long b4 they came into being of course you know it was deadco he managed.Heard a twat try tp say this would be their 4th manager in 14 years think he meant 2 years.
I have a voice in my head saying this, you run a company and have a personal liability of approximately 11million in relation to that company, how could you reduce that liability?
My answer is this: get the company to pay for a feel good factor (SG), If you were a fan and wanted to get rid of your shares in an upcoming forced share offer to show your displeasure at the current board members then you might change your mind and hold on to your shares?
Jam tomorrow
Gerrard’s appointment, of course, cannot and should not be allowed to deflect us from the task of restoring integrity to Scottish Football.
The Compliance officer MUST be made to publish his findings on the application for and granting of the UEFA licence ,
and the Football record books MUST reflect the fact that RFC (IL) have not kicked a ball for 6 years and have not added to the honours and titles they already may legitimately possessed when they went into Liquidation and lost any and all entitlement to participate in Scottish football.
And TRFC Ltd must be shown in the record books as a new foundation admitted for the first time to Scottish Football in 2012.
As for Gerrard personally, I know not the man-but I think he is either totally naïve or a cheat at heart who does not mind working for a cheat of an employer.
Either way, he will probably be appropriately rewarded– with failure and consequent humiliation.
Shug, I’ve said on here multiple times I see no reason to bring the OC/NC debate into every topic. We both have polar opposite beliefs on that matter (and I’m sure very similar beliefs on others) but none of us will ever convince the other. I don’t bring it into any discussion so I don’t understand why it’s not possible to have a discussion on here about completely non related matters without it always being brought back to the OC/NC? Everyone should be free to their own views and interpretation of it so why the need for folk on here to try and turn every discussion back to it? When I mention Rangers I relate both versions as the same – I know you don’t. When you mention Sevco or new rangers I never try and get my opinion over as it detracts from the topic. When I use the term Old Firm I use the term recognised by myself, the media (and for that matter a huge number of Celtic fans) as the game between Rangers and Celtic. When you use New Firm or Glasgow derby again I don’t comment or try and correct you as I accept that is the term recognised by yourself.
There is no oldco newco debate 1872 rangers are dead when people start to admit this then there will be no need to mention it but as I said plg never has and did not manage sevco.
SLIMJIM
MAY 4, 2018 at 17:52
ALLYJAMBO MAY 4 17.20Have seen several videos from this afternoon and none contain the BB.Where did you see/hear this?.
————————————————-
I’ve just watched the TRFC fanzine that was STV’s News At Six.
I clearly heard the ‘Hello, Hello…’* as Gerrard came out of the tunnel & STV then dropped the volume.
*Of course, perhaps they were singing the opening of the Gary Glitter classic, ‘Hello, Hello, It’s Good To Be Back’. That would be embarrassing, though, wouldn’t it?
Well to me Gerrard is the sixteenth Rangers manager as reported widely today. To you he’s the 4th. What’s that got to do with the falling standards at Ibrox since PLG? I don’t know about Sevco as I don’t pay attention to the corporate structures. It is a debate – where people disagree then regardless of how certain you may be of your view, it’s still a debate. And what benefit does it have to completely non related discussions such as Steven Gerrard? I like to think I’m anything but a WUM on forums and so I ignore 9 out of every 10 times it’s mentioned.
JINGSO.JIMSIEMAY 4, 2018 at 19:05
Looked again and, yes .
JJ I also heard that
.
I just heard that Rangers are something like 7/1 to win the double next year. The mind boggles.
If that happens, which it absolutely will not, it will only be because of financial recklessness of a magnitude which would place the existence of the club in even more jeopardy than it is in now.
By all accounts Steven Gerrard has done a good job in the youth team at Liverpool. It is still a gamble on both sides, but I’m glad to see he’s signed and it’s all sorted. As for next season and “stopping ten”, it’s nonsense. If I was in charge of Rangers now the remit I would give to the new manager would be to finish in the top six if possible but with an average age of no more than 25 at the very most. Players should be promoted from within if possible, signed young and hungry if not, and absolutely under no circumstances should there be talk of the likes of Bruno Alves or even as I hilariously and frighteningly heard suggested on the radio, John Terry.
Apologies if if this is off topic, haven’t had the chance to catch up on the blog today.
DarkbeforedawnMay 4, 2018 at 18:53
‘.. I see no reason to bring the OC/NC debate into every topic.’
_____________________
Of course you don’t, because you are quite happy to accept that jiggery-pokery by RFC (IL)(before it was IL), and by SevcoScotland and by the Football Authorities should be permitted to foul the very nature of sport.
Rangers Football Club of 1872 died the footballing death of Liquidation.
SevcoScotland/TRFC Ltd football club did not exist prior to 2012.
These are actual facts.
And your readiness to believe a lie and call it a ‘difference of opinion’ cannot and will not change the facts.
Rangers Football Club(In Liquidation as Rangers 2012 P.L.C) is in the same place as Gretna FC, Third Lanark and any other football club that was liquidated and went out of footballing business- and as dead!
If that truth is unpalatable to you and other deniers, it is very much in the forefront of the minds of those of us who will not allow our game to be destroyed by wicked men, and who will insist that guilty men be brought to book for their complicity in deceit.
Whoever they may be.
JC, if this is the case why not have a closed door policy for this site where to be allowed to comment you must have to agree with the club being a new club, instead of an open for all fans of Scottish football forum that you try and sell it as? I have no issue with your view or your attempts to get it across to a wider audience.
DBD,
a closed door policy is not needed. Most certainly people should be allowed to present their opinion – which is what your idea of the club in question’s status IS – versus reality/ fact which is what JC, Shug, myself, legal eagles and the dog in the street believe.
i have always believed in the tooth fairy: many disagree.
it’s my opinion versus their facts, I fear. I suck it up.
Two narcissistic megalomaniacs vying to be simply the best. What could possibly go wrong?????
DARKBEFOREDAWNMAY 4, 2018 at 19:40
JC, if this is the case why not have a closed door policy for this site where to be allowed to comment you must have to agree with the club being a new club, instead of an open for all fans of Scottish football forum that you try and sell it as? I have no issue with your view or your attempts to get it across to a wider audience.
________________
You know very well that was not what JC was suggesting, while you, yourself, were pushing the ‘let’s move on’ mantra.
SlimJim, I note others have responded to your question about the disgusting Billy Boys song being sung by disgusting people welcoming an, until today, potential target for the sentiments of that song. I have to ask, though, did you seriously doubt that it would have been sung by your finest choirboys, just because their latest Messiah is a Catholic?
Whilst a bit gobsmacked at the unveiling of Gerrard, I still just don’t get it.
Even if he is brilliant in his first season and wins the treble next season…which I think we would all agree would be an incredible feat…his achievements would still be heavily discounted in England.
Assuming he wants to eventually become an EPL manager, IMO, he would still need to cut his teeth in the Championship or League 1.
And if Gerrard fails at TRFC, the English MSM would ridicule him for not being able to dominate ‘such an easy league’. [I know.]
Which is why I am still confused: it’s an extremely high risk gamble on his part as well, IMO.
Unless, as mentioned before, there is some element of TRFC ownership involved?